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

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91943	The fast friend: or A friend at mid-night. Set forth in an exposition on that parable Luke 11. 5.-11. Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at mid-night, &c. By Nehemiah Rogers, minister of the Gospel.	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1658 (1658)	Wing R1822; Thomason E953_1; ESTC R203374	432,120	516

Nox enim omnis tentatio media autem nox omnis tentationis fervor Theophil Hoc est ostium quod aperiri sibi etiam Paulus exposcit Ambros in Loc. Aug. quest Evang. Lib. 2.21 Colos 4.3 Amos 8.11 Math. 25.16 Luke 13.25 That time of night is mentioned because then all are at rest and none will rise out of their bed without much calling And it may intimate the strength of temptation and trouble under which we are By the Door shut Ambrose understands that Door which St. Paul prayed might be opened that he might speak the Mystery of Christ for which he was in bonds Colos 4.3 So Austine understands it to be meant of the Famine of the word spoken of Amos 8. It was shut to the Jews when the Apostles turned to the Gentiles And afterwards when bloody persecution did arise for preaching of the Gospel I conceive we may understand it in a larger sense for when any oportunity is lost of doing good the Door is said to be shut by a Metaphor By the Children in bed some would that the blessed estate of the Church Triumphant in Heaven should be understood there indeed all is quiet and at rest with Christ their Head Others understand thereby the members of the Church Militant here on Earth Pueri autem qui in lecto quiescunt sunt hi qui conve●si sunt facti sunt pueri digni habiti sunt qui quiescerent cum Domino Theoph. Aug. Tom. 4. Quaest Evang. Lib. 2. c. 22. who are converted and become as little Children these are said to be in bed with God in regard of his care and protection over them nor is he willing that any of them should be disquieted of their rest and tranquillity of mind Others conceive that all Creatures in generall are meant thereby for God is the Father of all and they are a bed with him being no way able to help and succour us in our misery if God doth not arise to help us And this seemes most Genuine By the Bread Fish Egg mentioned in the Applying part of the Parable some are of opinion the same is meant that was before by the three loaves Austine understands by Bread Charity by the Fish Faith by the Egge Hope It appears that the Gifts of the Spirit are meant thereby by what our Saviour speaks verse 13. To all these particulars we shall speak more fully in due place We begin with the preface or introduction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he said unto them The Person teaching is Christ the Persons taught are his Disciples his Domesticall servants The twelve who were constantly with him and attending on him being of his family to whom he had prescribed the former plat-form of Prayer and being now in a private place and free from Companie he said to Them The Analytical Table OR A View of the Method observed and followed in this ensuing Exposition of that Parable Which of you shall have a Friend c. Luke 11 5.-11 In which Parable we have considerable The Preface to it And he said unto them where The Person speaking He said The Per●ons spoken to unto them The Body of it wherin The Protasis or part propounding vers 5 -9 Wherein A case put vers 5 6 7. And there The manner of proposing it which is By way of Interrogation Which of you By way of Supposition Shall have a Friend The matter proposed shewing Whose case it was A Friend's in general The Disciples in special What it was a case of Necessity where The Indigent or person in want who was a Friend His exigent where to take notice of the Thing wanted The course he takes to supply it and there Bread His Address And shall go unto him at Mid-night c. Where we see To whom he goes unto him that is his friend In what manner he makes it seen By what he did he goes unto his friend at Mid-night where His Action he sends not but He goes The Amplification from the Circumstance of Time at Mid-night By the Request he made which is Proposed and there The manner of proposing it which was By way of Insinuation With a respective compellation Friend The matter of it where The thing desired Lend me The motive it being an easie request Bread for quality Three loave for quantity Pressed from the compulsive ca●se and that In respect of his Guest where The relation he had unto him he was his Friend A Friend of mine His friendly visitation of h●m for Being in his j●●●n●y he is come to me In respect of himself who at that time was unprovided to entertain him I have nothing to set before him His Repulse vers 7. And he from within c. Where Who answers him He from within What answer is given Trouble me not c. where An Inhibition and in it The thing inhibited Trouble me not now The Reasons rendered The Door is now shut My Children are with me in bed The Resolution I cannot rise And give thee Resolved ver 8. where The Persons Resolving I say Resolved unto you The Determination and in it A Concession though he will not rise and give An Affirmative Attestation where The thing attested He will rise c. Either His vigilancy for he riseth His Bounty seen in that He gives not lends Not three loaves onely but As many as he needeth The Reasons rendered Negative Not because he is his Friend Affirmative because of his Importunity The Apodosis o● the part applying vers 9 10. containing in it A Mandare vers 9. where The Warrant I say The work imposed expressed by three Acts. Ask Seek Knock The motive from a gracious Promise of Audience which is Enfolded with the Duty It shall be given you You shall finde It shall be opened unto you And amplified ver 10. For every o●●e that asketh receiveth c. and there The Extent of the Grant which reacheth to every one Every one that asketh c. The truth of the Thing It being a try'd Case For every one He said In his own Person mouth to mouth face to face and not by his Servants and Messengers as he spake in former times nor as he speakes in these ●atter times to us but Heb. 1.1.2 as the best and highest Fourms are taught by the Master himself so were these by Christ this duty of Prayer Had we no other Reason to embrace the Doctrine delivered in the Parable propounde and cause us to be in love with the Duty of Prayer therein pressed this were enough It is the voyce of our wel-beloved that requires it Christ himself whose lips are like Lillyes dropping sweet-smelling m●rrhe Cant. 5.5 Cant. 5.5 he who came from heaven out of the bosome of the Father he puts the meat into our mouths teacheth us how to pray and encourageth us in the Duty He said Vers 1 He that was himself abundant in the duty although he had not that need to pray as we have having no sin

i. e. thou wilt arise it is spoken prophetically and have mercy on Sion c. for he will regard the Prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer vers 17. And Isa 33.10 Now will I arise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self that is now that the Enemies of God's People grow so tyrannical and insolent and that my people call on me for help as they did ver 2. The truth of this I might shew you in sundry Examples but I shall not overburthen you with many Cast but your eyes upon the afflictions of God's Church under Pharaohs Tyrannie An Iron Yoak was laid upon their necks to use Moses's expression Deut. 28.48 upon a suspicion of revolting heavy burthens are imposed on them they tread in Mire and Clay Exod. 1.11 and are enforced to serve with rigour so that their lives were made bitter with hard labour ver 12.13 they proceed from burthens to bondage from bondage to bloud from vexation of their bodies to destruction of the fruit of their bodies Midwives are suborned to destroy all their Male-Children they whose Office it was to help the Birth must now murther it ver 15. If they refuse the multitude shall do it ver 22. Cruelty that before but smoaked now breaks forth into a flame and to add to their misery an insupportable task is laid upon them they could neither make straw nor find it yet they must have it and for not doing what was imposed they are made daily to feel the lash of the Whip Exod. 5.12 14. All this while God seemes to be as one asleep holds his peace lets their Persecutors alone The persecuted sigh groan cry and call on God which God heard as before Exod. 2.24 3.7 8 9. And now he ariseth comes to deliver them and being arose Now thou shalt see saith he what I will do to Pharaoh Exod. 6.1 and with a strong hand he delivers them out of the hand of their Oppressours and brings out his people with joy and his chosen with gladness Psal 105.48 Look again upon the state of God's Church in the dayes of Ahashuerosh Ester 3.5 6. Haman had obtained a decree for the slaughter of the Jews the Decree was sealed published the day set and appointed for the execution of it all this while God seems to be asleep he looks on seems to take no notice of it the Jews are greatly perplexed they fast mourn weep lye in sackcloth and ashes they cry out with a loud and bitter cry then God awaketh and ariseth for their help Chap. 5.1 2 3. and being risen awaketh the King Chap. 6.1 causeth him to send for the Chronicles of his time turns him over to the Record of Mordecai's fidelity in discovering a Treason intended against his person by two of his Eunuchs upon which Mordecai is honoured Chap. 9.22 the Decree comes to be disanull'd Haman the Conspirator and his Sons are hanged and to the Jews deliverance is granted for which days of joy and rejoycing are by the Jews celebrated Many other proofs may be brought for confirmation but I shall onely produce one more unto you Math. 23.28 In that History of Christ's Sea-Voyage with his Disciples a great Tempest arose stirred up as some are of opinion by the Devil who questionless would have drowned Christ if he could so that the ship was covered with Waves Christ he was fallen asleep in the hinder part of the ship saith St. Mark that is the stern Nark 4.3 being wearied probably with exercise of his Ministery amongst the multitude on the shore His Disciples being terrified and much afraid thinking their case desperate come to him and awake him with an Out-cry Master save us we perish Christ thus awaked reprehends them for their immoderate fear and the weakness of their Faith Why are ye fearful O ye of little Faith and then rebukes the Wind and Sea charging them even with threatning and menaces to be still upon which followed a great calm to the admiration of all beholders Besides the truth of the story there is a mystery in that passage of Scripture by the consent of all Divines Antient and Modern it sets forth unto us the state of the Church of God militant on Earth resembled unto a Ship wherein Christ and all the Faithful do pass from Earth to Heaven The Sea is the World a very unconstant Element resembled by St. John to a Sea of Glass Rev. 4.6 The great storm and tempest that ariseth is a lively Representation of the great troubles and persecutions Rev. 1.16 which are raised by the Devil and his Instruments against the Church intending the ruine of it Christ his being asleep in this storm sets forth the seeming neglect that he hath of the peace quiet of the Church for the greater manifestation of his power and our patience The crying out of the Disciples sets forth the Prayers of the Faithful who night day cry unto him for the defence of the Church Christ's arising rebuking of the winds intimates his reproving and plaguing of the enemies of the Church The great Calm that follows signifies the peace that the Church and People of God shall enjoy in the end in despight of Sathan and all his adhaerents And thus much for the Confirmation of the Point propounded The Use followes Use If this be thus let not the wicked triumph for when God doth arise his enemies shall be scattered Psal 68.1 and they that hate him shall fly before him and arise he will and not alwayes keep his bed nor close his eyes Oh! what navock do the enemies of Gods people make whilst God seems to sleep Psal 83.2 4 12 94 4 5 6. David tells us Psal 83.2 4 12. Psal 94.4 5 6. and they are encouraged to all this mischief upon a conceit that God is asleep and sees not verse 7. But understand ye bruitish amongst the people Verse 7.8 9. and ye fools when will you be wise he that planteth the ear shall not he hear and he that formed the eye shall not he see Verse 8.9 His eyes behold yea his eye-lids try the Children of men saith the Prophet in another place Psal 11.4 God hath both an eye and an eye-lid God seeth with an open eye saith a reverend Bishop when he discovers a thing at present Psal 11.4 and causeth us also to see it And he considereth with his Eye lid when he winketh at the wayes of men B. B. King Serm. at Whitehall Nov. 5. 16●8 and maketh as if he slept and taketh leisure and respite before he brings things to light God in the sufferings of his Church and people may be silent for a time as one that seeth not and heareth not but his eyes are at no time so shut but that he sees through his Eye-lids and well considereth the doings of the Sons of men on earth The Master sometimes makes as if

suffers much by her Watchmen page 282 The Churches peace disquieted by many page 277 The Church troubled by her own Children page 280 The Church scandalized by her distractions page 288 God is highly offended with the Churches disturbers page 289 Many blessings attend on the Churches peace page 287 The Church militant like a ship on the Sea page 341 God will arise for his Churches succour page 340 Company if good comfortable in our journey page 200 Complements not altogether to be condemned page 137 Conditions required in both Covenants yet with a difference page 437 God performes the Condition for us that he requires of us ibid. The benefit of a good Conscience and horrour of an i●l conscience page 272 Covetous persons no sure Friends page 46 No Creature can comfort us whilst the Creator hides his face page 270 D. DAngers are to be prevented page 247 Under the greatest Darknesse seek for light page 135 Dead should not be di●quieted page 276 The Devill may enter into a Dead Corps and move it page 275 A double dealer not to be trusted page 47 Decree when past all hope is past page 259 Delayes whet desires page 227 God may Delay us and yet heare us page 224 Why God Delayes before he answers page 225 Meanes to sustaine our hearts under Delayes page 229 What to do when God Delayes us page 231 Denyals how to be made page 216 Depopulatours like Caterpillars page 93 Desires should be kept within bounds page 176 Rules given to that purpose ibid. Desires in some cases should reach beyond our abilityes page 181 God is better to us then our Desires page 349 He doth not alwayes answer our Desires in the same degree nor kind page 345 Gods gratious denyalls are better then his angry yieldings page 355 Discipline no family may be without page 25 Discouragements should not keep us from seeking to God page 302 Doggs their fidelity to their Masters page 193 Doore Heaven hath two leaff'd page 425 426. It stands not alwayes open page 427 No enterance into Heaven but by the Door ibid. When the Door may be said to be shut page 259 The Door is open whil'st meanes are continued page 260 When the Doore is shut Prayer is not speeding page 259 All Doors fly open to Prayer page 433 Drunkennesse brings to beggary page 94 The Drunkard not to be trusted page 47 It is a signe of Drunkennesse to forget what we heard at a Sermon page 13 E. Earlinesse twofold page 422 Earnest we must be for small things as well as great yet not with the like degree page 362 Eloquence of superiours is in Action page 12 Enemy reconciled hard to trust page 48 Endeavours must second our Prayers page 415 Enough is a language few can speak page 178 Epicurism one of England's sins page 164 Evill of two sorts page 181 How of two Evils we may chuse the lesse page 184 Example of Christ is our Samplar page 10. 15. The force of the Rule lyes in the Example page 11. Excuses sinfull manifold page 236 Experience what page 453 What is required to make Christian Experience page 460 It is good reasoning from Experience page 453 In what sense it is said to be the Mistris of fools page 455 None so wise but may learn by it page 455 Experience teacheth what reading cannot page 456 Experience may be bought too dear page 455 The benefit that comes by Experience is great page 456 How to make a right use of Experience page 458 Our Experiments to be pleaded to God page 459 It is not alwayes safe to ground our confidence upon former Experiments page 460 Others should be acquainted with our Experiences page 463 Eye of God is healing page 185 God sees through his Eye-lids page 342 F. FAith of a Christian not grounded on sense yet confirmed by it page 454 Family the Foundation of all societyes page 16 Familyes to be instructed by Governours page 15 It is a great honour to a family to be Godly page 18 The sad complaint that untaught familyes will one day make against Governours page 19 Neglect of instructing Families whence it ariseth page 20 Familyes should have Church-Government page 24 All that offer themselves may not be admitted into our Familyes page 23 In good Familyes may be some bad page 28 Familiarity with God in a humble way God admitts of page 399 Famine the sad face of it discovered page 96 The effects of it shewed page 97 Sin causeth God to send it page 100 Fare homely contented former times page 164 Feast not to be judged of by full cupps page 168 Some Feasts made not for laughter but for slaughter page 168 Rules for Feasting given page 170 Fervency wherein it consists page 358 Flattery all smooth language is not page 137 Food of the soul is to be sought after and motives thereunto page 175 Counterfeit Friends of divers sorts page 37 Friends true very few page 35 The world is a Time-serving Friend page 59 The flesh a Table-Friend page 60 The Devill a Treacherous Friend ibid. No Creature stands in such need of a Friend as man page 44 The sad condition of a Friendlesse man page 103 What Friends to make choyce of page 46 The bad wayes that some take to procure Friends page 51 The best way to obtaine them page 52 To find Friends when there is no need and to want them when there is need are both alike easie page 105 A true Friend was borne for his Friend page 107 Earthly Friends are subservient to God page 108 Earthly Friends faile us page 109 Praying Friends are best Friends page 205 Earthly Friends not to be confided in page 72 Difference amongst Friends may arise page 69 Such differences are hardly composed page 42 Adversity tryes Friends page 64 No change of state can cause any alteration in a Friends affections page 102 A Friend may be in want page 71 A Friend may deny his Friends request yet remain a Friend page 214 A Faithfull Friend a great treasure page 41 A Friend will judge his Friends case to be his own page 187 Friends love not to be suspected page 66 Two sorts of Friends to make use of in the time of Affliction page 103 Three sorts of living Friends page 104 Dead Friends to whom we may resort in our distresse page 105 Some would make the Devill their Friends page 111 Friend Paramount God only is page 108 He is generally a Friend to all page 56 But to the Godly in a more speciall manner ibid. A high honour to have God for our Friend page 59 How to be assured that God is our Friend page 64. 112 Gods Friends cleave close to him in tryalls page 64 Gods Friends love his Friends page 65 A great encourgement to come to God in that he is our Friend page 113 God only can be Friend us at all times in all places and in all our wants page 108. 109 He communicates his purposes to his Friends