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
A92843	Englands condition parralelld with Iacobs for [brace] troubles. Salvations. Hopes. Laid open in two sermons, lately preached at Marlborough in Wilts. By Iohn Sedgwick, Batchelour in Divinity and Pastor of the Church at Alphage neere Cripplegate, London.	Sedgwick, John, 1600 or 1601-1643.	1642 (1642)	Wing S2360; Thomason E115_23; ESTC R18288	48,093	63

the wrath of God let fall upon them and his displeasure conceived against them when God is angry his Churches are troubled Thou hid●st thy face and I was troubled and againe by Psal 30. 7. thy wrath are we troubled This you know that a little fire causeth 90 7. a great deale of trouble say that there bee but a finger burned or an House on fire doth it not occasion a great deale of trouble and unquietnesse how much more shall Churches and people bee disquieted through the angry countenance of God Reason 4 Fourthly finally Churches have their troublous times for these ends and purposes 1. For tryall and manifestation both of soundnesse and of graces 3. Ends of the Churches troubles troublous times are trying times it is not times of peace ●ut times of Warre which trieth the mettle of a Souldier all the while the Ship lies on the shoare or is in its harbour its strength to beare its burden is not knowne but when it s put out into the Sea meetes with blustering stormes and is tossed and tumbled if it now hold out then its strength is manifested wee have many Trees with faire tops and make a goodly shew in calme seasons which topple downe in blustring weather for want of firm rooting in the earth the case is the same with men in the profession of Religion Multitudes seeme to be Religious own the Gospell and goe for Christians in dayes of peace who in more troublous dayes will quit their ground and forsake their Captaine whereas now well ●ooted and throughly sanctified Christians will keepe their standing and rather die then dem Jesus Christ grace in truth will be grace in tryall here is the faith and patience of the 〈…〉 Sain●s q. d. if men have faith and patience indeed troublous times will manifest it 2. For the manifestation of wickedmen their madnesse and malignity of spirit would not appeare and be evideat unto men and they would not shew themselves in their colours if there were no troublous times in peacefull dayes enemies seem to be friends and with the Viper they hide their teeth in their gummes but when troubles appeare then they will spit out their venome making that the opportunitie for their dealing cruelly with Gods Saints 3. For the correction of abused peace when Christians do not well use their peacefull times God doth punish them with troublous times Vse 1 In the first place we may informe our selves that outward durable peace is no infallible note of a true visible Church the Church of God in Heaven is beyond all troubles in Heaven there is full and lasting peace but on earth her condition is fluctuant with the Arke of Noah and Militant as an Army that is in the field beset with an enemy having so many malicious enemies she cannot be long quiet and shee may better be discerned by lasting tryalls and troubles then by constant peace Gregory the great speaking of the Church saith Ecclesiaest haeres orucis the Church is heire to the Crosse and I would demand of papists what outward peace had the Church in Aegypt under Pharaohs oppressio●s what peace had she in her forty yeares travell thorough the Wildernesse which was a place of temptations journeyings Warre and many other straites and inconveniencies tell me sadly had shee not many encounters by enemies in the Land of Canaan where was her outward durable peace whilst she was under 70. yeares captivity in Babilon and whilst Antiochus Epiphanes did waste and spoile her in her Ordinances and members what meaneth the three hundred yeares persecution by the heathenish Emperors could these things happen to her and yet is the true Church discernable by out ward and durable peace by this very note we can disprove Rome from being the true Church for when Rome was burnt by the Goth●s sackt by Charles Duke of Burbon in the dayes of Pope Clement the seventh nay when their Popes were glad to flie and hide themselves yea were banished and imprisoned where was the outward peace of that Church Wee deny not but sometimes outward peace may bee the portion of visible Churches but that alwayes they have the same only ignorance and impudencie must affirme Vse 2 Secondly weeare not to wonder when we see the Churches of God cast into troublous times we have this day this Scripture Times are and will be troublous upon foure occasions fulfilled the times are troublous the Lord in mercy looke upon us yet let us not think it strange no new thing is hapned to us let me tell you th●t upon foure occasions times will be troublous When Dagon is to goe downe 1. When Dagon and Baal is to goe downe no great and prevailing evill can be hindred or cast down without much trouble and tumult if Gideon cast downe the Altar of Baal and cut downe the grove by it the men of the City keep a mighty stirre about it the man they must have that did it and die he must for it or it shall cost bloud reade the History lud 6. 28 29. if the Goddesse Diana be in danger what a noise and uproare is there in the City they shout and make a hubbub Acts 19. 28 34. I conceive thus much that England hath many bad tennants who having gotten possession and can plead prescr●ption though no Scripture title for themselves are resolved not to goe out without blowes and bloud neither can it be imagined unlesse a miracle be wrought by God as was in the case of the Scots that so many proud Prelates so many idle scandalous Non Residents and so much Rubbish of humane invention crept into Gods worship will ever bee cast downe or carried out without troubles can you conceive tha● Satan will loose a Kingdom and never wag his taile believe it brethren there are many thousands in the Kingdom so set upon Idolatry Superstition and the wayes of formality that they cannot bee quiet if these things be taken from them When the Temple is to goe up 2. when the temple is to bee reedified No great and good worke can be carried on to perfection without much trouble this is certaine that God hath brought us to Church reforming times and these alwayes have beene troublous times The Angell said to Daniel the streete and the Wall shall bee built in troublous 〈…〉 times Out of which Text I note these two things 1. That when the Church begins to goe up then troubles begin to come on 2. That though troubles come on the Church shall goe up The 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 the Temple was 〈…〉 I conceive that the times were very troublous when the City and the Temple was in building upon these eleven reasons First They were mocking and scorning times to the Iewes as is plaine in these words But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Gesh●m the Arabian heard it they langhed us to scorne Neh. 2. 19. These fellowes fell a jearing

saved by the Lord The Lord is my Deut 33 ●● Exod. 〈…〉 Psalme 9● 12. streagth and song and he is become my salvation God is my King of old working salvation in the midst of the earth when the Angell had spoken unto Daniel of the greatnesse of the miseries of the Church under Antiochus he saith and at that time thy people shall be delivered 2. By th●se confirming grounds First In God there is every thing which may make for the salvation of his peo●le out of troublous times As 1. Might and power he is one able to save Esa 63. 1. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fierie furnace Daniel 3. 1● Yea so omnipotent is God that nothing is able to withstand his power in saving his out of trouble and therefore it is often said that with a mighty and a strong hand even as it were by force of Armes hee brought them out of the house of bondage 2. Mercy and Love unto his Churches and people God doth not cease to love his when they are in Captivity and Calamity his bowels are troubled for them and therefore he will surely have Ierem 31. ●● mercy upon them and deliver them had God no love in him not love unto his Churches then they might lie and rot in the prison but we know that he loves them with an unchangeable love they are his darlings deare and tender unto him and this makes him to arise to their deliverance Israel is my sonne even my first b●rne Exod. 4. 12. 13 let my sonne goe saith Moses to Pharaoh 3. Will and desire God is willing to save his people Loe this Esay 15 9. Daniel 3. 17. is our God we have waited for him and he will save us and hee wi●l deliver us out of thy hand O King God hath a readinesse of min● to succour and save his children out of troubles and what can hinder their salvation 4. Wisedome and skill the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly ● Peter 2 9. out of temptations all wayes and meanes for salvation are to be found in God 5. Faithfulnesse and truth God hath undertaken to save and promised deliverance but upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance Obadiah v. 17. Zech. 8. 7 8. and there shall be holinesse and the house of Jacob shall possesse their possessions and againe thus saith the Lord of Hostes behold I will save my people from the East Country and from the West Country and I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Ierusalem and they shall be my peopl● and I will be their God in truth and in righteousnesse 6. Care and provid●nce as the generall care of God goeth along with all his Creatures so his speciall care and providence is held over his Churches and doth compasse them as the hills doe compasse Ierusalem hence it was that Noah had his Arke and Moses his basket or Cradle of Bulru●hes 7. Name and Title God is stiled in one place the Saviour of Ierem. 14. 8. Psalme 40. 17. 1 Chro● ●6 ●● Psalme 65. 7. Israel in another place a deliverer and in a third place the salvation of his people now these Titles are made good in this Act of freeing his people and taking them out of their miserable conditions 8. Soveraignty and dominion God is Lord and King the ruler and over-ruler of all persons and actions men and devills death and the grave heaven and hell are at his disposall every condition 〈◊〉 45 ● of peace and trouble light and darknesse are his creatures all things stoore to him and are ruled by him now having this absolute command over all he can with a nod or a word make the Seas to give up their de●d and command deliverances for Iacob the creature shall bee so farre from resisting and opposing his will that it shall further and hasten the same and therefore it is that the Churches have their deliverance Reason 2 Secondly In the Lord Iesus who is the great and mighty Saviour and one that saveth his Churches spiritually and eternally be having saved them from the greatest danger by sin will also set out himselfe to save them out of the lesse danger by misery he is one that goes along with Iacob in all his troubles he it was that was Daniell 3. 25. in the burning furnace with the three Children hee was in the Ship with the Disciples upon the Seas and he is that Michael the Daniell 12. 1. great Prince which standeth up and standeth for the Children of thy people We may not conceive the Church to be under misery and trouble but Iesus Christ puts himselfe into its condition in their affliction he is afflicted Christ is persecuted when they are Isay 63. 9. Acts 9. 6. Hebrewes 4. 15. persecuted hee is an High Priest touched with our infirmitie and he will arise and shew himselfe to bee on his Churches side and doth never faile them in present assistance and seasonable deliverance all the dangers of the Church are but the awakenings of Christ and the calling of him forth unto their succour he will now be working for their good he saith for the oppression of my Church I will arise they shall not alwayes lie among the pots be in the graves and burne in the fire I will not alwayes stand looking Psalme 12. upon their miseries but will come downe rebuking their enemies and delivering their persons for they are my flesh and bone even such whom I tender as a man doth the apple of his eye Reason 3 Thirdly In the enemies and troublers of the Church I know that there is no will in them to further the Churches deliverance they are their oppressors and would still detaine them under bondage as wee may see in Pharaoh yet there is a necessity in respect of them that the Churches be delivered For 1. The ●ride of their heart must be taken downe 2. Their projects and purposes must be broken in pieces 3 They must returne with shame and dishonour 4. They must have their spirits filled with vexation and indignation Psalme 112. 10. Prov. 11. 8. 5. They must come into misery themselves and in a word 6. They must be made to confesse that great is the truth and it Zech. 12. 3. will prevaile strong is Christ and he will overcome heavie and burthensome is Ierusalem even such a stone that all that burden themselves therewith shall be cut in pieces Reason 4 Fourthly In the Churches themselves to make this cleare to you Note 1. That the Church of God is not made only for misery but misery is made for the Church miserable conditions are the proper portion of wicked men dangers are accidentall to Gods people and brought upon them for an end better and beyond troubles and therefore they must not alwayes lie under troubles 2. That the Churches of God under troubles and dangers are very praying we see

and all is lost Religion is lost Liberty lost estates lost yea and the glory of England lost Vse 3 Thirdly Let us expect and waite for the deliverance of Iacob in a praying and believing way what though the Churches miseries are great grievous and of long continuance yet bee not dejected neither doe you despaire your hearts Remember what is written O my people ye shall know that I am the Lord when I Ezek. 37 1● have brought you out of your graves stand still fe●re not behold Exodus 14. 13. the salvation of the Lord which he shall shew unto you this d●y when were these words uttered was it not then when they were going into the Red Sea Brethren pluck up your spirits deliverance shall come to the Church God will make a way for our escape Oh that we could now set our prayer and faith on working our times are fitted for prayer and faith had we not these two pillars for our u●holding I know not what we should doe come therefore into the presence of God seeking the Churches salvation and deliverance say with David redeem Israel O God out of all Psalme 25. 22. 13. ●1 Esay 62. 4. his trouble remember David and all his troubles Oh that with the Prophet we could say For Zions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest untill the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse and the salvation thereof as the Psalme 53. 6. lamp that burneth Let this be the daily wish of our soules Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion further be you intreated to exalt your faith in believing that the Church shal have deliverance that the earth shal open and bring forth salvation and ●say 45. 8. Esa● 26. 1. that God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarkes what though the times doe threaten ruine and destruction yet know 1. That God is above all the troubles of his Churches and doth command them so that they shall never exceed his will and power though dangers are great yet God is greater then all dangers 2. That God hath all deliverances in his hand and can command Psalme 44. 4. deliverances for Iacob the Lord saith I forme the light and create Isay 45. 7. darkenesse I make peace and create evill I the Lord doe all these things Say not in the feare of your hearts by whom shall Iacob arise Amos 7. 5. Esay 33. 2. for he is small Looke upon God who is our arm● every morning our salvation also in the time of trouble doe not reason unbeleevingly can these dry bones live or Churches under such deep dangers be delivered I assure you brethren that dry bones shall live and miserable Churches shall bee delivered Say not that you see no meanes for deliverance all meanes are shut up in God and he hath means beyond our sight what men either cannot or will Esay 63. 4. not doe that God can and will doe marke what God saith the yeare of my redeemed is come and I looked and there was none to helpe and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine owne arme brought salvation to me doe not stand objecting the many blockes that stand in the way or the many improbabilities and impossibilities for deliverance but know that God maketh his way through the Seas he is omnipotent a wonder working God to whom nothing is impossible remember what is written who art thou O great mountaine before Zurabbabel thou shalt become a Zech. 4. 7 plaine and he shalt bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying grace grace unto it be not a disheartned people under the Churches trouble but lift up your eyes to the hils whence salvation commeth say with Dan I have waited for thy salvation ó Lord Genesis 49. 18. Psalme 3. 8. Esay 49. 8. Psalme 69. 35. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord and he will helpe or raise up his Churches in a day of salvation God will save Zion and build the Cities of Iudah that they may dwell there and have it impossession Vse 4 Fourthly Let us further the Churches salvation and deliverance God doth many times save his Churches by meanes he raiseth up men Saviours and men deliverers and there is not a Christian man and woman among us but they may doe something for tho Churches safety though we cannot doe alike yet something we may do will our riches and estates deliver bleeding Churches part from that you honour God with your riches when you lay them out for the Churches security will your persons further the salvation of Iacob goe out in your might and helpe the Lord against the mighty have you no Silver or Plate or bodies that are serviceable then helpe the Church with your prayers and tears go to God and mind him of his promise put him to it give him no rest night nor day till hee establish and till hee make Ierusalem a praise in the earth ô let none us be Esay 62. 6 ● Neuters let none of us sit still let us up and be doing and no doubt but God will be with us and for his Churches FINIS ENGLANDS HOPES HOSEA 2. 15. And the Valley of Achor for a doore of Hope IN this Chapter we have a double representation of Israel and a double representation of God First Israel is represented unto us under 1. A sinfull condition She was idolatrous adulterous unmindfull of and unthankfull for mercies She sinned under against and with mercies we reade of her whoredomes adulteries between her breasts playing the harlot going after lovers not knowing that God gave her corne and wine and oyle multiplying her silver and gold which she prepared for Baal she had her dayes of Baalim and times for lewdnesse 2. A sorrowfull condition Shee was divorced stript naked made as a wildernesse set as a dry land slaine with thirst deprived of mercies hedged in with thornes and made every way miserable Secondly God is represented unto us under 1. Acts of severe justice He doth quickly espie sharply rebuke terribly threaten and miserably punish Israel for her sins she is left to enjoy the recompences of her lewdnesse and made to feele the fury of an angry God 2. Acts of sweetest mercy In the midst of wrath God remembers mercy under her afflictions he makes her promises notwithstanding her sins which she had committed and her miseries which were to be endured God doth tell her that hee will speake to her heart words of comfort and pardon and whereas for her sins she was justly stript of all outward and inward comforts yet he would in his own time and by his own free grace make a full restitution of all good things unto her it was not the misery of her condition which should hinder or keep out the comming in of his mercy From thence I will give her her Vineyard even from the wildernesse and whereas her heart under her