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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	heaven_n	militant_a	4,766	5	11.7120	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A18036	The conscionable Christian: or, The indeuour of Saint Paul, to haue and discharge a good conscience alwayes towards God, and men laid open and applyed in three sermons. Preached before the honourable judges of the circuit, at their seuerall assises, holden in Chard and Taunton, for the county of Somerset. 1620. By Richard Carpenter, Doctor of Diuinity, and pastor of Sherwell in Deuon.	Carpenter, Richard, 1575-1627.	1623 (1623)	STC 4681; ESTC S107676	65,416	130

in the duties of holinesse and piety towards God or of righteousnesse peace or equity towards men And heerein c. which words being thus expounded by way of diuision offer to the duty of our consideration Three remarkable points of obseruation 1. The first S. Pauls Christian practice and actuall imployment grounded on the hope of the resurrection Heerein therefore doe I exercise my selfe 2. The second is the matter subiect of his Diuision imployment and exercise to haue and preserue an vpright conscience 3. The third is the latitude extent of the same either In respect of time to haue a good conscience alwayes In respect of the obiects to haue and discharge a good conscience towards God Men. THe blessed Apostle confesseth in the verse Illustr Text. foregoing my Text that he confidently beleeued the doctrine of the Resurrection and therfore in a well groūded expectation therof professeth himselfe heere studious of a godly life and vnblameable conuersation Hee had well learned that Christianity consisted not in idle speculation but industrious negotiation and therefore sets to the worke not doing it by a Deputy or putting it ouer to after-times but for the present without doubt or delay exerciseth himselfe Heerein I exercise my selfe He vnderstood well enough that the best duties required the greatest diligence and therefore vltimata voluntate with all might and maine exerciseth himselfe in this to haue alwayes an vpright conscience Hee knew that to make a shew of deuotion and piety towards God and not to procure things honest in the sight of men sauoured of hypocrisie and on the contrary to obserue a kind of peaceable truth and plausible equity in our dealing with men and to be regardlesse of Religion and Zeale in matters of Gods worship was no other then prophane formality and therefore with a settled resolution indeuoureth to hold a concurrence and correspondencie of both in their order that is first to approoue the truth and sincerity of his seruice in all duties Diuine towards God and then with all diligence and dexterity to performe all humane dues and duties towards men These Right Honourable and Beloued are the seuerall bounds and limits of my intended Meditations on this Text answerable to the seuerall limmes and lineaments of S. Pauls holy practice and profession shaddowed forth therein for the more liuely describing and portraying of which in their proper colours and proportions three generall doctrines and instructions 3. Doct. obs are principally to bee obserued Whereof the first resulteth and issueth from the motiue The second from the manner The third from the matter of Saint Pauls religious exercise and imployment as in order they offer themselues to bee handled The first Doctrine arising from the motiue 1. Doct. to wit the hope Saint Paul had of the resurrection of iust and vniust is this That the assured hope and settled expectancy of the day of Resurrection and Iudgement to come when we shall render account and receiue a reward according to our deeds is and ought to bee a forcible allectiue to draw on Christians to the earnest pursuit of godlinesse and constant practice of true Religion Tolle spem Resurrectionis Chrys in 24. Mat. saith golden-mouthed Chrysostome resoluta est omnis obseruantia pietatis Take away the hope of the Resurrection and the building of piety wanteth her foundation For vpon this foundation all the Apostles haue builded their exhortations to amendment of life and sanctification as Saint Paul Acts 17. Now God admonisheth Acts 17. 30. 1. Thes 4. 2. Tit. 11. all men euery where to repent because he hath appointed a Day in which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse And 1. Iohn 3. 1. Ioh. 3. 3. Wee know when Christ Iesus shall appeare wee shall bee like him and euery one that hath this hope purgeth himselfe as he is pure So S. Peter Seeing the Heauens shall passe with a 2. Pet. 3. 11. noise the Elements melt with heate and all these things be dissolued what manner of persons Vers 14. ought yee to bee in holy conuersation and godlinesse Yea seeing that ye looke for these things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace and blamelesse in that Day The expectation of which Day called the Day of Restauration Acts. 3. 21. of all things hath euer beene is and will be to such as feare God a forcible prouocation to vertuous atchieuements and religious actions Then then indeed runs a man cheerefully in the Race of Christianity when hee knowes that he runs not at vncertainety Tolle Bernard viatori spem perueniendi continuò franguntur vires ambulandi He blunts the edge of industry that denies recompence and where there is no apprehension of a Day of remuneration there is little care of proficiency or striuing to perfection For to reason as the Apostle doth Reason 1 Phil. 3. How can we dwelling on earth desire Phil. 3. 20 21. to haue our conuersation in heauen if we looke not for the second comming of our Sauiour and how can we looke for his comming except we beleeue the Resurrection and how can we beleeue the Resurrection vnlesse wee acknowledge that power by which he is able to subdue all things to himselfe Againe How doe wee acknowledge our God to bee Almighty in power without the faith of the Resurrection and how can wee haue the faith of the Resurrection without the hope of a Sauiour and how can we haue hope of a Sauiour without an heauenly conuersation So that the life of this conuersation is hope by which wee expect the comming of a Sauiour and the ground of this hope is faith by which wee are assured that at his comming hee will change our vile bodies and make them like to his glorious Body and the reason of this faith beyond reason is his power by which hee is able to accomplish all things after his good will and pleasure All these be linkes so diuinely hanging and depending each on other in that golden chaine of the Apostle that if we let slip one we lose the comfortable hold-fast of all but good Christians misse not of any but established in faith rooted in hope and abounding in loue set forward in an holy course of life and follow hard towards Phil. 3. 14. the Marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ knowing that they are begotten by the immortall seed of the Word in the bosome 1. Pet. 1. 3. of the Church Militant on earth to a liuely hope of an inheritance immortall and vndefiled in the Church Triumphant in heauen Reason 2 This hope as it giueth vs an edge that wee should earnestly affect couet spirituall things so doeth it giue vs a backe also to indure all things for why doe the seruants of God beare crosses and losses so patiently abstaine from euill so carefully pursue the things that are good so cheerefully but because

vnto vertue Be timorous of doing euill and wrong because it offendeth God though there were no hell to terrifie thee bee studious of executing Iustice and doing well because it pleaseth God though there were no heauen to reward thee But because there is a reward in heauen for all well-deeded Christians prepared and such a reward as is life eternall Rom. 6. A Kingdome Rom. 6. 23. that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. and an inheritance Heb. 12. immortall and vndefiled 1. Pet. 1. Let 1. Pet. 1. intuitus mercedis the view of this recompence serue as the hand to winde vp the plummets to continue the curious clocke-worke of our sincere Christian obedience Vse 2 Now forasmuch as the sincerity of our Christian obedience consists not only in rectifying our owne courses and doing good our selues but also in repressing the euils of the time in reforming the irregularities of others as much as in vs lyeth Giue mee leaue I beseech you Right Honourable Right Worshipfull to insist somewhat heereupon as the occasion requireth I come not hither to play a prize or to vent spleene But a great doore and effectuall seemes to bee opened vnto me at this time so that if euer I were with Saint Iohn in the Spirit Reu. 1. 10. on the Lords Day I trust Gods Spirit is in me this Day of the Lord moouing mee thus to speake vnto you and to complaine that this practical politicall part of Christian obedience in reproouing and repressing sinne in others is commonly neglected of all especially of those whom it doth most concerne I meane Magistrates to whom authority from God and the King is committed if not with Phineas his zeale to slay sinners ipso facto yet with Moses his courage to slay sinne in grosse offenders saluo iure But alas how doe many luke-warme neuter-passiue Magistrates now a-dayes slay it aures omnium pulso conscientias singulorū conuenio that is I speake to the eares of all in generall and appeale to the consciences of euery one in particular Surely euen by being content with it or else by yeelding consent vnto it If it were not so why then are not the hurts of the daughter Iudah healed why are not the breaches of this our Sion stopped vp Is there no balme in Gilead is there no Physician there Yes Physicians there are some but the most like to Iobs Iob 13. 4. friends Physicians of no value Rephaims by Deut. 2. 20. name Zamzummims in deed Deuter. 2. who wheras by their places and callings they ought to be patrones of peace and piety and patternes of temperance and sobriety and as Leaders of the Vantgard to stand in the forefront of Gods Battels against all Canaanites and Canaanitish fashions which beare sway in Towne Country they either runne a race of like ryot with others or goe a foraging or boot-haling for themselues not caring what become of the Ship of State in generall so they may saue themselues in the Pinnace or Cocke-boate of their owne fortunes in particular not daring to strike one stroke in the warre against Gods enemies Such as are seditious mischiefe-plotting Papists horrible blasphemers shamelesse fornicators incorrigible drunkards and the like prophane lewd licencious liuers not daring I say to let them blood with the sharpe Razor of reprehension much lesse to giue them a downe-right blow of condigne punishment for their sinfull presumption It grieueth me to thinke and I euen blush to speake how weakely the sword of Iustice is by the Paralyticke hands of these meale-mouthed Magistrates brandished against the friends of Baal Balaam and Bacchus too Vse 3 Oh then for a Moses in these dayes to fetch Exod. 17. water from the rocke teares from the eyes yea drops of blood from the hearts of our common drunkards which carowse mans blood in cans flagons and hardned by impunity commit daily outrages in Towne and Countrey Oh for a Phineas to runne resolutely with the Num. 25. speare of due censure and castigation thorow the very heart as I may say of whoredome and all filthy abomination Oh for a Iehu to 2. King 9. march on couragiously in the Lords businesse against truth-opposing poore-oppressing Ahab and Iezabel and all other idolatrous enemies of Gods sanctuary Magna quidem est in illa seueritate Greg. pietas per quam tollitur peccandi libertas Great godlinesse indeed is shewed in that seuerity where many by the exemplary punishment of a few are restrained of their sinfull liberty c. My good Lords your places of authority and these exulcerate times of iniquity require in you Moses his spirit Phineas his zeale and Iehu's inuincible fortitude Oh put them all on as complete armour sutable to your calling and dignity Brandish with heate and courage the sword of iustice against the very faces of Gods enemies Especially let Romish Iezabel howsoeuer 2. King 9. 33. she be painted not be spared tumble her out at window let Babylons brats no more bee dallyed with or dandled but rather dashed in pieces For they are meditating more mischiefe and it is to be feared they will prouide more Powder and poysoned Kniues too if they bee not fettered and manacled Obiect Yea but they haue now taken the Oath of alleageance and will do no more hurt Answ Yea but according to the rule of the Parthians they will keepe faith with none nisi quantum expedit but as it serues their turne and therefore looke from them no good and as for Oathes to the most of them they are no other then collars for Munkeyes which vpon dispensation of superiours they slip off their neckes at their pleasure especially if they bee such State-Papists as haue beene inspired with Iesuiticall impostures whom a Reuerend Father Bishop King of our Church rightly tearmeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the falsest coozeners of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with whom no bond of nature consanguinity alleageance alliance affiance wedlocke oath Sacrament standeth good if they list to dissolue it Dij terrae talem terris auertite pestem O yee Gods of the Psal 82. 6. earth purge I beseech you this Westerne region of the ayre as much as in you lyeth of these pestilent exhalations shake not onely the sword of the Law against them but lay it close home vpon them and let all such as will not doe the Ezra 7. 26. Law of God and the King receiue iudgement without delay Ezra 7. To conclude forasmuch Right Honourable as your comming forth in Circuit to minister Iustice and Iudgement is like the comming forth of the foure Angels Reuel 7. to whom Reuel 7. 1. power was giuen to punish the wicked of the earth but with this restraint that Gods Saints and seruants sealed should not bee touched or like the arising vp of foure Carpenters Zech. 1. Zech. 1. 20. to cut off the foure hornes which scattered Iudah that is all the aduersaries of the

Church and Common-wealth that the people of God might in peace and piety be the better maintained O rowze vp your selues I beseech you in the name of God of the Gospell of the King and Countrey and with a zealous conscionable affection and a constant couragious resolution shew your selues such Angels such Carpenters such Worthies in opposing the violent streame and torrent of these vicious times and in executing iust and speedy iudgement on all malicious and seditious transgressours of the Lawes of God and the King And for a perclose of the premises heerein exercise the vprightnesse of your conscience and the sincerity of your conscionable obedience viz. in cutting off putting downe or shutting vp all mischiefe-practising-workers of iniquity and all mischiefe-plotting seeds-men and fauourers of Schisme and soule-murthering Popery Thus by taking away the wicked from before Prou. 25. 4. the King his Throne in righteousnesse shall bee established your places of authority shall in their full strength and vertue bee preserued Gods fierce wrath be turned away which is imminent on Prince and people where grosse sinnes passe vnpunished and the peace and piety of these quarters of the Land shall more and more bee increased All which the Lord grant for his great mercies sake for his Gospels sake for his Glories sake and for his Christs sake and so plentifully distill the sweet dewes of his heauenly grace on the high Hill Hermon and all the Mountaines of Sion that there may be still a fruitfull watering and ioyfull refreshing of this whole Land of Israel and that maugre the mischieuous proiects and practices of the malignant enemies of the Gospell truth and peace may meet together righteousnes and mercy kisse each other in all the quarters thereof as long as the earth rests in her Center and the heauens continue their restlesse motion Amen THE CONSCIONABLE CHRISTIAN Preached at Taunton Aug. 8. 1620. The Text Acts 24. 16. Heerein I indeuour my selfe to haue a good conscience alwayes towards God and men RIGHT HONOVRABLE Rightly regarded and beloued in the Lord Iesus c. As good Ionathan 1. Sam. 20. 20. in loue vnto Dauid whom hee loued as his soule did shoot three Arrowes of admonition to driue him the further off from Sauls death-breathing fury So in loue vnto your soules I am now from the as-yet bent Bow of my Text to send forth a third Arrow of instruction and direction to draw you the neerer home to Gods life-giuing fauour Whereof you shall be sure to haue the stronger hold-fast and assurance by how much the more you indeuour and exercise your selues in this to haue alwayes a good conscience towards God and men For the care of a good conscience brings comfort in holinesse and comfort in holinesse breeds assurance of blessednesse and blessed shall you be if to those diuers Ingredients which concurre to the composition of an vpright conscience whereof yesterday I spake at large it shall please you to adde this as the complement of the rest viz. Doct. perseuerance in doing well and cherishing the vertuous and constant boldnesse in repressing euill and punishing the vicious wheresoeuer you haue to doe being as earnest in the pursuit of grosse sinne as worthy Eleazar was in smiting the Philistines 2. Sam. 23. and cleauing as fast in your 2. Sam. 23. 10. hearts to Gods Word the warrant of your wel-doing in this as his hand claue vnto his sword the instrument of his well-doing in that What if for your zeale and religious resolution herein you be sometimes crossed with mischieuous intentions thwarted by mighty oppositions wronged by malicious detractions yet desist not faint not feare not Regium est cùm benefeceris Alexander malè audire It is a princely thing to heare ill for doing well In which course of well-doing as I am bound to be a suiter vnto God for you that your Bow may abide strong and that your hands Gen. 49. 24. and armes may be strengthened by the mighty God of Iacob So giue me leaue also in the name of God to be a bold sollicitour vnto you and for the Gospels sake which you professe and are bound by your best actions to beautifie now the third time to be your humble Monitor and Remembrancer that according to your places of command and greatnesse you would therein striue with an holy kind of emulation the more fully and freely to exercise your goodnesse And as it hath pleased God to indow you with greater meanes power and ability so to account it the best Christian policy by your good workes on earth to lay vp treasure for your selues in heauen and euery day to bring in somwhat into Gods Exchequer as the Israelites did Exod. 25. to the Tabernacle the remembrance whereof may long after both in life and death comfort you and whereof you may say in singular confidence claiming an especiall interest in Gods fauour and expecting the promised recompence Remember me O my God according to this Neh. 13. 22. Note Math. 5. 26. For albeit the glory of God must be the vltimus terminus of our cogitations and actions and the principall motiue of our good workes and the primum mobile of our obedience yet in the Aquin. actions of obedience whilest we seeke the aduancement of Gods glory in the first place wee may as a secondary obiect or adiunct respect Caluin our owne commodity and haue an eye to our eternall reward yea it is lawfull for euery sanctified Christian maugre the spirit of contradiction in weaklings or wranglers whilest he remembreth God in sincere obedience as Abraham did in sacrificing Isaac Moses in guiding Gen 22. 1. King 2. Luk. 7. and going before Gods people Obediah in relieuing the Lords Prophets Magdalen in washing Christs feet Dorcas in making garments Act. 9. for poore widowes Philemon in refreshing Epist Philem. Nehem. 5. 19. the bowels of the Saints and Nehemiah in doing good to Gods House and his people to desire God to remember him by a gracious recompence and to say with Nehemiah Remember Nehem. 13. 22. me O my God concerning this but yet as conscious to himselfe of many imperfections in his best actions of defects and defaults either in the end matter manner or measure of his obedience he is as it followeth in the same place to supplicate for mercy and to pray as there Nehemiah doth But pardon me according to thy great mercy For as Saint Augustine saith Nisi Aug. in Psa 100 Deus per misericordiam parceret non inueniret quos per iustitiam coronaret Except God should spare vs in mercy hee should finde none whom hee might crowne in iustice But yet in hope and expectation to be crowned in mercy let vs all as the Almners of the Almighty remember daily to doe good in our seuerall callings according to our ability to be plentifull in the works of charity to bee faithfull in the exercises of piety that