Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

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
A85774	Christ tempted: the divel conquered. Or, A short and plain exposition on a part of the fourth chapter St. Matthew's Gospel. Together with two sermons preached before the University at Oxford, some years since. By John Gumbleden, B.D. and chaplain to the Right Honourable the Earl of Leicester.	Gumbleden, John, 1598 or 9-1657.	1657 (1657)	Wing G2232; Thomason E912_11; ESTC R207548	83,000	98

betraying him false witnesse accusing him Pontius Pilate condemning him the souldiers crucifying him yet all together too weak to subdue and conquer him who rose again the third day from the dead and the Divel afterwards never in his own person assaulted him any more who at first after he had tempted him departed from him for a season but our Saviour will never depart from his Church and Chosen not while they are Militant here on earth Lo I am with you always even to the end of the f Mat. 28.20 world and there is no cause to fear his departing from us when we are triumphant in Heaven where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt g Mat. 6.20 and where thieves do not break through and steal nor Satan break through to tempt and destroy But I will not say too much by way of Preface least the Gate become wider then the City the Introduction larger then the Exposition In brief here I say but this or rather the Apostle saith it 2 Tim. 2.3 Be thou careful as a good souldier of Jesus Christ to fight the good fight of h 1 Tim 6.12 faith against Satan and then in and by the power of thy victorious Saviour thou shalt obtain the victory over Satan which is the dayly prayer of him for thee who faithfully believeth by the same power to be made partaker with thee of the same victory Amen Thine to accompany thee in the Way to Heaven JOHN GUMBLEDEN CHRIST TEMPTED the Divell conquered OR A Short and plain Exposition on a part of the fourth Chapter of St. Matthews Gospel In the first Chapter of this Gospel the Evangelist speaketh chiefly of the Genealogie and Birth of Christ In the second of the swise men that came from the East to Jerusalem to worship him and of his speedy flight by night into Egypt for feare of Herod after they had worshipped him In the third of the preaching and Office of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ who baptized him in Jordan being then about the age of thirty yeers Luke 3.21 23. But in this fourth Chapter a part whereof we have now before us the Evangelist from the first to the twelfth verse beginneth to treat of that which immediately followed afterwards after our Saviour was but then newly baptized of John this Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the divel v. 1. and when he had fasted fourty daies and fourty nights he was afterwards an hungred v. 2. and this we may properly call the preparation or introduction to the whole following narration both touching the single combat between Satan tempting and our Saviour conquering The whole then being thus divided in generall into an Introduction v. 1 2. and a narration in the nine following verses comprehending therein the happy issue of all on our Saviours part in respect of his conquest and the Angels ministring unto him to congratulate his victory we will examine the words in order beginning vers 1. where there is mention both of the Spirit 's work who led up Jesus into the wilderness and also of the Divels work who afterwards tempted Jesus in the wilderness See! different Agents and as different Actions yet all relating to one and the same Subject even to Jesus led up of the good Spirit into the wilderness and to the same Jesus to be tempted of the evil spirit in the wilderness But perhaps at the first hearing this may seem strange unto you that the Saviour of the world should be tempted by the destroyer of the world yet if we rightly consider the first promise made by God to man of a Redeemer to save man strange it is not and the promise in sense is this The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents a head giving power notwithstanding even by the samo promise to the same serpent to bruise the heel of the womans seed But who properly was the womans seed Surely the Son of God that promised seed who in the fulness of time was made man of a Gen. 3.15 b Gal. 4.4 woman by the powerful overshadowing of the holy c Luke 1.35 ghost according to his Fathers purpose and intention when he first promised him under the name of the seed of the woman and by the Serpent who doubteth but that the Divel is meant who at that time used the serpent both as his Active and Passive Instrument to beguile the woman there being none of the beasts of the field found so fit as the serpent was to express to the life the craftie subtilties of d Gen. 3.1 Satan that old e Reu. 12.9 serpent who is still suffered to Tempt but not suffered to overcome Suffered by many both outward and inward Tryals and Temptations to bruise the heel of the womans seed of Christ in his members which is still acknowledged to be a real tempting of Christ even by Christ himself Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Acts 9.4 Satan Satan why temptest thou me but denyed it is to be any Conquering on Satans part either of Christ or his members the faithful the womans seed also by any of those temptations God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are f 1 Cor. 10.13 able that is not so far to be tempted by Satan as to be overcome by Satan So that it is no new thing to hear of the Divels malice either against Christ or against Christians or of the g 1 Pet. 5.8 lyon and that Lyon of the tribe of Juda. Revel 5.5 of the battel between Michael and the h Rev. 12.7 Dragon Or of the wily and subtile practices of the Divel that i Rev 9.11 Apollyon that destroyer of the world against the Son of God made man that Saviour and Redeemer of the world no new thing at all onely to be malitious proper it is to Satan but to be victorius both for himself and us most proper it is to our Saviour for God who said to the serpent I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her k Gen. 3.15 seed never said that the serpent the Divel should bruise the head and finally prevail against the womans seed never said it will never suffer it and if we had no other proof from the holy Text to confirm us in the full assurance thereof yet this Combate here between Christ and the Divel partly in the wilderness v. 4. partly in the holy City on the pinacle of the Temple v. 7. and partly on an exceeding high mountain v. 10. our Saviour in each place prevailing against Satan is abundantly sufficient to strengthen our saith and confidence in this sacred truth but as yet we are no farther then the Introduction the Gate and entrance into both both to the Combate and the Victory Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Divel v. 1.

their ministry in the production of his omnipotent works in the beginning for that cause the creation of Angels is concealed there and the ministry of Angels for a time suspended here For that cause that our Creator might not be robbed of his glory by a misconstruction of the one nor our Redeemer robbed of his by a misinterpretation of the other But now when the Temptation was fully ended and the Conquest on our Saviour's part fully obtained there being not the least ground at all left why any creature should presume to engross any part of the honour of that victory as due unto themselves now those glorious Spirits were commanded to do him service again as they had done before and commanded they obey Behold Angels came and ministred unto him Angels ministred unto him Ministred not onely food and sustenance unto him if they did that after his long-fasting as was done by the hand of an Angel to r 1 Kings 19.5 6. Elias in the like case but no doubt they also ministred comfort unto him and there was cause for it because as man he was then in most need of comfort even when he was but newly escaped from the snares and temptations of Satan and cause there was for Angels then men were not fit to do it to minister comfort unto him as at another time one of that heavenly host did when being in a great agony an Angel most opportunely appeared unto him from ſ Luke 22.43 Heaven strengthning him Nay I see no cause why I may not also safely affirm that part of this Angelical service and ministry was spent at that time in congratulating his late and happy victory and in singing an Eucharistical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a song of praise and thanksgiving to his Father for delivering his Son from the Temptations of Satan When the Israelites had escaped out of the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians there was joy and thanksgiving for that Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord and t Exod. 15.1 said c. At another time when they were delivered from the Tyranny of Ja●in King of Canaan and Sisera the Captain of his Host Judg. 4. there was joy and thanksgiving for that Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Ali●●am on that day saying Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of u Judg. 5.1 2 c. Israel When David after the death of his son Absalon was delivered from the hands of all his enemies round about him there was also joy and thanksgiving for that And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hands of all his enemies and cut of the hands of w 2 Sam. 22.1 c. Saul And can we think that our Saviour was delivered out of the hands of Satan a far more potent Adversary then either Saul or Sisera or Jabin or Pharaoh or all can we conceive I say that this was done without an Eucharistical song of praise and thanksgiving unto God Surely no it was not and who were so fit to do it as Angels that holy and heavenly Quire who in multitudes together magnified the Father for the birth of his Son saying Glory be to God on x Luke 2.13 high All heavenly Hallelu-jah's being most properly set to their melodious voice which is Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his y Isa 6.3 glory And John in his vision heard the Angels about the Throne cry out with a loud voice saying Worthy is the Lamb to receive honour and glory and a Rev. 5.11 12. praise Lo the work of praise and thanksgiving all and all at other times performed by the holy Angels Therefore David putting them in mind not of their duty which they always remember but of the constant and continual delight they have in praising God which they never forget saith O praise the Lord ye Angels of b Psal 103.10 his which they continually do and then in particular did when h●re praising God for Satans overthrow and our Saviour's victory they came and ministred unto him They ministred unto him And therein they did but that for which they were Created even to be ministring Spirits to be God's messengers from Heaven to Fa●th and again from Earth to Heaven between him and his Church before his Son's Incarnation afterwards between him and his Son the head presupposeth the body also whole he was here on Earth and now our Saviour being bodily absent and the Angels having no more to do for him on Earth in this matter as touching his own Person Ministring Spirits they still are and shall be between God and his * Angels minister unto Saints Saints so long as they shall remain here even to the worlds end as it hath been ever even from the beginning surely so it is and that it is so the Apostle plainly proves saying They are all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of c Heb. 1.14 salvation Lo the Angels work is to minister as here they did to our Saviour and still do to us Lo they themselves are the Sons of God by d Job 38.7 creation and 't is most proper for such to take care of and diligently watch over those that are his sons by grace and adoption which that their ministry may never cease they carefully do and will do and that both while they live when they die and also after they are dead While we live the holy Angels are appointed to protect and defend us both from corporal and spiritual dangers The Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear him and delivereth c Psal 34.7 them When we die they shall carry our souls as they did the soul of Lazarus into Abrahams bosome into f Luke 16.22 heavens and at the last day when the general resurrection shall come though our bodies have long before been resolved into their first principles the son of man shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to g Matth. 24.31 another So sacred are even their very ashes unto him and the dead in Christ in the faith of Christ shall rise h Thes 4.16 first that they first may be glorified both in soul and body before the reprobates be in both eternally punished Lo God never forgets his Church those that shall be heirs of salvation God never forgets them not in their life not in their death no nor after death neither and therefore the holy Angels shall never forget their office which is to minister for the spiritual and eternal good of all those that shall be saved and that they shall never cease to minister unto us an argument it is in that they here came and ministred unto our Saviour

their diligent attendance on the head while he was on earth is our full assurance that they will never fail to take care of the body while it is on earth Mystically the body is the Church the whole company of all true believers through the whole world Christ alone is their head the Angels really came and ministred unto him and assuredly they will come and upon all occasions as God shall see it best for us and our salvation as really minister unto us till we shall all be like them in heaven But'tis now time to make an end and well may the lamp fail when the oyl is spent the Temptation is ended and the Exposition is ended the sum whereof is briefly this our Saviour led up of the Spirit into the Wildernesse was thrice tempted of the Divel after he had fasted forty days and forty nights and the Divel likewise was as often conquered by our Saviour with the sword of the Spirit It is written and thus conquered he leaveth him but not until our Saviour with indignation sent him away Get thee hence Satan And thus in fury dismissed and speedily gone the good Angels not willing at all to defile themselves with the Divels company came and ministred unto him Ministred comfort unto our Saviour who so lately had so many conflicts with Satan and their ministring unto him concludes by an argument drawn from the greater to the lesse that they are also appointed of God to minister unto us and that they are appointed of God to minister unto us unto those that shall be heirs of salvation is most true and comfortable First Most true it is or else the Book of truth hath failed me for do but ask the Question whether this doctrine be true or not and presently God's word will resolve us to the full in the Affirmative As who delivered righteous Lot from the rage and fury of the vicious Sodomites i Gen. 19.15 16. Angels Who brought the welcome message to Abraham that Sarah his Wife should bear a son that message including a promise of a Saviour and that promise manifesting God's favour to Abraham k Gen. 18.10 Angels Who comforted Jacob when he fled from the face of his brother Esau l Gen. 32.1 2 c. Angels Who restrained the natural heat of the fire when Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were in the furnace seven times more hot then it was wont to m Dan. 3.19 28. be Who shut the hungry Lions mouths when Daniel was in the Den God by his n Dan. 6.22 Angel Who warned Joseph in a dream to take the young child Jesus and his mother and flee into Egypt from the cruelty of Herod An o Matth. 2.13 Angel who at that time even in that also ministred unto our Saviour as many Angels now did when he was newly released from Satan Who opened the prison doors and brought forth all the Apostles at one time persecuted for preaching in the name of p Acts 5.19 Jesus Who delivered Peter out of the hands of q Acts 12.7 Herod Who comforted Paul with a promise of secure safety in his dangerous voyage to Rome at another time An Angel The Lord by an r Acts 27.23 Angel Now as there is the same God still so no doubt when there is cause there is the same ministry of Angels still commanded by the same God to guard and protect us a truth which none but a Divell will impugne can deny Secondly Most comfortable it is and to those only that shall be heirs of salvation most comfortable it is 't was so to Abraham who had the happinesse to receive Angels into his ſ Gen. 18.5 c. house 't was so to Lot who also had the same happinesse Gen. 193. 't was so to Manoah the Father of t Judg. 13.15 Sampson 't was a comfort unto them that they received Angel into their houses knowing they were such as bare good will unto them and that they were God appointing it to be so and would be their Guardians to protect them in any time of trouble the consideration whereof should also be a comfort unto us who though we now receive them not into our houses visibly as they did yet if we truly serve the Lord our God we have a promise that we shall never be left destitute of their help and protection as they never were He shall give his Angels charge over u Psal 91.11 thee and they who by God's appointment have a particular charge over us will never fail when God sendeth them forth to be watchfully present with us though to the outward eye not discernable Some put their trust in Chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of the Lord our w Psal 20.7 God We will remember him with joy and thankefulnesse with all comfort and cheerfulness because he never forgetteth us but as he instructeth us by his word sanctifieth us by his spirit saveth us by his Son so also in the way to that end he most powerfully defends us and most graciously ministers unto us by his holy Angels whereof we reioyce Jacob in his dream saw them ascending and x Gen. 28.12 descending that right motion noting what their dayly office is even always to come down from God to man and when their work is done on earth to return from man again to God in Heaven and all for the good of man and who hears of this and is not comforted with this When the wise men that came from the East saw the Star Stand●ver the house where the young Child was they rejoyced with exceeding great y Matth. 2.10 joy And surely if we rightly consider that the Angels of God commanded to watch over us all our life long and keep us in all our ways stand oftentimes though now invisible over our house nay in our house if we belong unto him we also have just cause to rejoyce with exceeding great joy all is but this God hath several ways to bring us unto himself one whereof is by the ministry of Angels who as their duty was came and ministred unto our Saviour and as their office is will in all times of need minister unto us and because all is for our good all should also be for our comfort But above all let all be for the glory of God the Creator of Angels to whom let us always give praise both with heart and tongue even in the Angels own words of thanksgiving Glory be to God in the a Luke 2.14 highest who though he hath made us lower then the Angels yet when we want it and he seeth it most expedient for us hath vouchsafed us for our comfort the never failing service of Angels But more of this in the Sermon following A Prayer O My blessed Saviour who sufferedst thy self to be tempted of the Divel but not to be conquered suffer not me poor sinner to be conquered when I am tempted I do not because I may not neither is it thy will I should pray wholly to be exempted from all manner of temptations but that I may not be led into temptation not be left destitute of thy divine help in it and that I may not be tempted above what I am able to bear but that where mine own strength faileth me as it doth O Lord I confess in every temptation thy assisting thy sanctifying grace may always support me and my sinful weaknesse for this I pray Lord hear my voice thou O Jesus conqueredst Satan for me that I might have the benefit of thy victory wherefore grant I beseech thee that what thou hast gained for me I may keep and be ever truly thankeful unto thee for what of thine own infinite love unto me thou hast gained for me who in my self am too weak to contest with Satan unlesse thou be present with me by thy grace by thy Spirit by thy power to rebuke and overcome sin O let not my Lord be angry and I will speak but this once And O most merciful Saviour my humble Petition is that thine holy Angels may be commanded to guard me to protect me to minister unto me while I live and while I am within the danger of Satan and when I die to carry my soul into those eternal joyes which thou hast prepared for all that love thee Amen Amen FINIS