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
B08096	The great assize, or, Day of iubilee. Deliuered in foure sermons, vpon the 20. chapter of the Reuel. ver. 12.13.14.15. : Whereunto are annexed two sermons vpon the I. chapter of the Canticles, verse 6.7. / [By] Samuel Smith, minister of the work of God at Prittlewell in Essex..	Smith, Samuel, 1588-1665.	1617 (1617)	STC 22847.7; ESTC S95246	88,613	364

were parched and for lacke of rooting withered away From whence wee obserue a twofold instruction 1. That the Church of God sometimes is in the very heate of persecution 2. That Christ the good Shepheard euen then forsakes not his bur at Noone-day euen in the extremitie of the same prouides a shadow and place of comfort and refreshing for those that are his sheepe Obiect 3 The Church of God somtimes is in the very heate of persecutiō First wee are taught heere that it is the will of GOD that his Church sometimes should be tryed And it is his will that sometimes his People should vndergoe persecutions according to the rule of the Apostle S. Paul 2. Tim. 3.12 Whosoeuer will liue godlie in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution This is expresly taught by the Prophet Dauid Psal 34.19 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all This was the condition of the Israelites in Egipt who remayned there a long time in cruell bondage vnder Pharaoh Exod. 1.12 And in Hesters time how were the poore people of God in the heate of persecution Est 2.23 This was the State of the whole Church of the Hebrewes described thus That Some were racked and would not bee deliuered Hebr. 11.35 c that they might receiue a better resurrection And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bloud and imprisonment They were stoned they were hewen asunder they were burned slaine with the Sword wandered vp and downe in Sheepes skinnes and in Goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented whom the world was not worthie of c. This we might further consider in the examples of Abraham Isaac Iacob Iob Ioseph Dauid Ieremy and the like whose liues are a plentifull store-house to testifie this truth That the people of God doe many times endure manifolde afflictions and sundry trialls And this haue wee had experience of in this Land in the dayes of Queene Marie when the Sunne shone hot and that the fire of persecution was great to the wasting of the bodies of many a deere Childe of God So that if we hope to liue with Christ in the Church Triumphant we must first die with him in the Church Militant For none shall raigne with Christ there that haue not first suffered with him heere Nor none shall haue their teares wiped from them in heauen that haue not first shed them on the earth Thus hauing seene the Doctrine that it is the State and condition of Gods church heere vpon earth to vndergoe sometimes many and grieuous afflictions Now let vs see the Reasons that so the Doctrine may leaue the greater impression in euery one of our affections In regard of Gods enemies Reason 1 themselues which know not the Father nor IESVS CHRIST his Sonne they haue nothing to stoppe and to stay their rage and malice as our Sauiour witnesseth when he saith They shall excommunicate you yea the time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you will thinke that hee doth GOD seruice And these things will they doe because they haue not knowne the Father nor yet mee So that it is no maruel though the enemies of gods Church doe rage against the faithfull seruants of God being stirred vp thereunto by the instigation of Sathan seeing that they know not God nor Iesus Christ Iohn 15.19 but haue their eyes blinded by Satan the prince of this world Reason 2 GOD suffereth his children many times to vndergoe some sharpe and bitter triall of affliction and to suffer euen the burning heate of Persecution to make knowne the Vertues and Graces of his Children as Saint Paul saith It is necessarie that afflictions should come that the elect may be manifest who they be As it is not possible to know the valour of the Souldier if hee lie alwaies in the Campe and neuer come into the Field So is it impossible to know the Courage Patience Obedience Zeale Loue c. of his children till triall come And therefore God would haue Abraham tempted to make his faith knowne So Iobs patience Dauids pietie Pauls courage c. The earth which is not tilled and broken vp will yeeld nothing but briers and thornes And Vines will waxe wilde if they bee not pruned and cut Euen so the vnruly affections of our hearts as so many noysome weeds would quickly ouer-runne the whole man if the Lord by sanctified afflictions should not manure vs. It is good therefore said Ieremy or a man to beare the yoke in his Lam. 3.27 youth And in another place the same Prophet saith Ier. 48.11 Moab keepes his sent because hee was not powred from vessell to vessell but hath beene at rest euer since his youth There are besides these diuerse other reasons wherefore the Lord doth thus exercise his deere children in this life with crosses and afflictions as to humble them for sinnes past and to preuent sinne in them for the time to come Because when we shall perceiue that the only weapon whereby Sathan woundeth our Soules is sinne it will make vs repent of sinnes that are past and warie of sinnes for the time to come And also to humble the pride of our hearts For knowledge puffeth vp and in whatsoeuer thing wee goe before our brethren naturally we waxe proud of the same Now the Lord by these afflictions like a skilfull Physition le ts out the superfluous humours of pride and vaine-glory when wee shall see what wee are by nature Well let vs make some vse of this Doctrine to our selues Vse 1 Wee haue had a long Morning and yet are in peace and rest but it will not euer bee Morning the Sunne will rise and it will bee Noone day the Lord will haue a time of triall It is the Lords vsuall dealing after long time of peace to bring some trials that the Elect and true Christian may bee discerned Of all things in the world the Lord cannot indure that his glorious Gospell should bee contemned and despised as it is at this day amongst vs Oh then seeing that wee must euen looke for a triall Let vs prepare and arme our selues with all needfull vertues with patience with humility with courage zeale c. Alas any thing wil serue the turne now to bee a Christian a small matter But if in the time of triall we shrinke Luk. 14.25 or else yeeld vnto the enemy then wee shall shew that wee are but hypocrites and cowards Oh then let vs be good Souldiers now in the time of peace prouide and sharpen our weapons against the time of warre Let vs cast it what it will cost vs to bee the Sheep of Christ losse of Lands liuings gold siluer liberty country yea life it selfe yet to resolue by the helpe of God neuer to bee ashamed of the Gospell of Christ let persecution come neuer so hote vpon vs. Secondly we learne hereby Vse 2 not to promise vnto our selues worldly Peace and Prosperitie while

his wife hath made herselfe ready Reu. 19.7 So then this booke containes in it the wonderfull loue and mutual affection betwixt Christ Iesus and his Spouse the true Church of GOD and euerie true beleeuer Thus much may serue touching the book it self we will now come to the words of the Text. Shew thou me O thou whom my soule loueth c. IN the beginning of this chapter the Church beginneth to speake to Christ and being rauished in heart with his Loue desires most earnestly to be embraced of him that shee might be ioyned vnto him and haue fellowship with him preferring Christ Iesus with the blessings and benefites she reapeth by him before all other things in the world In the third Verse shee confesseth her vntowardnesse and her want of power to embrace Christ and therefore she desireth him to draw her heart by his Word and Spirit whereby shee sheweth her earnest desire to receiue Iesus Christ Verse 4. She remoues an obiection that might be made for it might be said Alas thou art black and deformed how canst thou then hope that hee will take any pleasure in thy beauty seeing that hee is the most pure blessed and glorious Son of God To this she confesseth that though by Nature shee be blacke ful of blemishes and naturall corruptions by reason of her originall sinne and naturall corruptions as also her actuall transgressions yet notwithstanding being washed in Christs Bloud cloathed in his Righteousnesse and being decked and beautified vvith the Graces of his Spirit Knowledge Faith Repentance Zeale Patience Loue Obedience c. shee is faire and comely Now in the sixt Verse shee puts vp an earnest request vnto Christ that he would in mercie shew her where hee feedeth his Flocke and where he prouides comfort for them in the time of trouble For Christ being the great Sheepheard his Church on earth seekes onely after him to be fedde resting assured that there is but one true shepheard who feedeth all his Sheep with wholesome pasture In these two Verses we haue two things to be considered of vs Viz. 1 The Request and Petition the which the Church doth make vnto Christ Verse 6. The Tex● diuided 2 The most kinde and louing answere of Christ Iesus vnto his Church directing her and comforting her according to her Petition Verse 7. In the first of these wee are to consider two things First the Request and secondly the reason of the Request In the Request note First the person to whom she resorts Oh thou whom c. Secondly the Request it selfe which is twofo●d First that Christ Iesus would shew her where he feeds his Flocke with his holy Word Sacraments to this end that hee would feede her as he fed the Flockes of former times Secondly where hee prouides shelter and shadow in the heate of persecution as the manner of those Shepheards was in those hot countries to driue their sheepe to shade in the heate of the day And lastly the Reason For why should I bee as shee that turneth aside after the Flockes of thy companions So that if CHRIST doe it not it will not bee for His honour nor yet for her good The person vnto whom the Church seekes for direction First for the Person to whom shee seeketh for direction and comfort it is CHRIST IESVS the Sauiour and Redeemer of his church and people whom shee describeth thus Oh thou whom my soule loueth c. q. d. O Lord IESVS CHRIST my Sauiour and Redeemer whom I loue with all mine heart yea whom I loue most earnestly aboue all the world So as if the question were asked what I loue best in all the world I speake it from my heart It is thou Lord alone Doctr. 1 Christ Iesus must be loued with the stFaida Hamdiongest affection of loue Hence wee learne with what affection euery childe of God and true beleeuer must loue IESVS CHRIST namely with the greatest and strongest affection of loue they can So as if it were asked what or whom dost thou loue most thou canst truely say with the Church here the Lord Iesus CHRIST O thou whom my soule loueth So did S. Peter whose loue was so great that he died for CHRIST So that hee might verie well say to Christ when hee asked him this question Whether he did loue him or no Yea Lord Iohn 21.15 thou knowest that I loue thee The like is to be seene in Marie whose loue was so great to Christ that in testimonie thereof shee washed his feet with her teares and wiped them with the haires of her head So that CHRIST giues this testimonie of her to her euerlasting praise Luke 7.47 That shee loued much So doth the Church and Spouse of CHRIST testifie her loue to Christ in diuers places of this most worthy book calling CHRIST IESVS her Beloued Cant. 2.10 My beloued spake and said c. And againe Stay mee with Flaggons and comfort mee with Apples for I am sicke of loue Cant. 2.5 Yea it is a Precept giuen by the Lord God himselfe that hee must haue the chiefest loue and the first roome in our hearts Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart with al thy soule with all thy strength Deut. 6.5 The Lord will not be satisfied with the loue of our eyes to behold his workes the loue of the eare to listen to his word the loue of the tongue to talke of him the loue of the feet to go to his Sanctuary but the Lord doth require all these loues together in one So as a man may truely say with Dauid the prophet Psal 83.25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee And 〈◊〉 desire nothing in earth in comparison of thee The Lord cannot abide that a man should haue a heart and a heart one for God another for the Diuell We can not serue God and Mammon Mat. 6.24 wee must not part our loue to the world the Flesh or the Diuell but Christ must haue all Now the reasons are diuerse to shew with what an ardent affection wee must loue CHRIST IESVS First because he is our Husband Reason 1 and wee are his Spouse for so saith the Prophet Esay Esay 54.5 Hee that made thee is thy Husband whose name is the Lord of Hoasts And agayne Reu. 19.7 Let vs reioyce and giue glorie to him for the Marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready Now our Spirituall seruice and worship of God is as it were a certaine Marriage of our soules vnto God When wee take vpon vs the profession of Christ Iesus as in Baptisme then wee betroth our selues to Christ as to an husbād entring into couenant with CHRIST To keepe vs onely to him vnto our liues end So then by this meanes the Lord is become our husband we his Spouse Now then as an honest man can not endure that another man should haue a portion in his wife so will not

the Doctrine is apparent man was first cast out of Paradise for sin neither is there any thing that doth hinder his returne but only sin for it is sinne that makes vs execrable to the Lord and doth hinder all good things from vs. Psal 38.4 For as long as sinne remaynes it is as a weightie burthen to presse downe a sinner into hell and the wages and stipend of it is eternall death Therefore Romans 6 if sinne be taken away and pardoned as it is from all the Elect what should hinder their happinesse God hath against them no matter of displeasure and the obedience of Christ Iesus being imputed vnto them heauen can not bee denyed vnto them but they must needes bee saued Secondly Christ Iesus doth Reason 2 esteeme highly of his Church and the Church is most excellent in her selfe because in it alone saluation is to be found and no where else When the Lord brought the great and generall deluge ouer the face of the whole earth What place was there left more excellent then the Arke in the which Noah and his Family were saued and out of the which the whole world besides perished What was that Arke but a Type and Figure of Christs Church wherein saluation is to bee found and out of the which there is no saluation to bee looked for Seeing therefore that remission of sinnes is proper onely to Christs Church and that therein is saluation and eternall life to bee found wee may safely therefore conclude that the estate of Christs Church and of euery member thereof is most excellent and blessed The vses of this Doctrine is Vse 1 excellent as the nature of the Church is First then seeing that Christ will thus passe by the sinnes of his children and iudge them faire without any spot and blemish of sinne if they do truely repent and embrace Him and his Righteousnesse by faith Here is matter of endlesse comfort to euerie poore childe of God Note Doest thou repent of thy sinnes and art truely humbled for them Doest thou embrace CHRIST IESVS for the pardon of them Hath God sanctified thy heart by his Spirit so as thou hatest euerie wicked way and dost desire and endeuour to obey God his will in all his Commandements Well then comfort thy selfe and cheere vp thine owne soule Christ Iesus will couer all thy sinnes they shall neuer be layd to thy charge but hee will wrap thee in his own righteousnesse whereby thou shalt appeare faire and beautifull in his sight Indeed many a poore child of God looking on their owne infirmities and manifold corruptions see themselues to be black indeed deformed and stained with sinne it grieueth them that they do hang downe their heads and goe drooping all their dayes striuing and also struggling with their rebellious hearts and vile corruptions and thinke that CHRIST IESVS cares not for them cannot loue them being so defiled with sinne But I say againe Be not discouraged for if thou doest repent of them beleeue in Christ hate thy sinnes and prayest often vnto God to giue thee power to withstand them vsing all godly meanes to withstand them Christ Iesus wil couer them and passe by them all as he did deale with Dauid Peter c. Oh then how carefully ought all men daily endeuour themselues to be the members of this Societie that so they may haue a part in all these excellent prerogatiues and then howsoeuer the world doe esteeme of them counting them miserable grinding at them with their teeth and nodding at them with their heads and euerie way contumeliously reproching them yet are they deere and precious in the sight of Christ who hath redeemed them with the ransome of his owne bloud Let vs learne by Christs example Vse 2 heere that if we see anie good thing in the childe of Almightie God to commend it and to embrace it and if we see any blemish or infirmitie that we wincke at it and couer the same with the cloake of Loue and not as the maner of wicked and vngodly men who though they see many good giftes and graces in GODS children as knowlege faith patience loue zeale c. passe by them all and if they shall espie but one blemish or infirmitie or weakenesse by and by they blaze it abroad with open mouth note them with a blacke cole calling them Puritanes Precisians Hypocrites and the like reuiling them in a most odious manner like a Coorrector of a Booke passe by all that is well and if but one fault find that out like the horse-Flie passing by many floures and sweet hearbs lights vpon some noysome sore these are not like vnto CHRIST but to their sire the Diuell who is the Accuser of the Brethren Thus much for the exceeding loue and kindenesse of Christ Iesus toward his church in that he cals her by this kind appellation The fairest amongst women Secondly his gentle reproofe of her If thou know not q. d. This seemeth strange 2 Christs gentle reproofe that thou shouldest be ignorant where I doe feede my sheep where my truth and gospell is truely preached and soundly professed But if thou know not The church of God somtimes may be at that straight as not to discerne the truth I will direct Doctr. 7 thee and shew thee how thou shalt finde it out Hence we are taught that the church of God and true beleeuers may sometimes be so blinded and left to themselues that they stand at a stagger and doe hardly know which is true religion Where Christ doth feede his Flocke where the word is faithfully preached soundly professed For we are all of vs readie to erre by nature How apt are wee in matters that do concerne our Soules to be mistaken partly through our owne blindnesse ignorance and carelesnesse in not searching of the Truth and trying of the spirits and partly by the subtile policy of the diuell who is Gods Ape and so like him in many things as that it is hard to discerne his slights and falshoods Wicked men false teachers lying prophets set such a face and shew on their errors and beare them out with such a countenance credite and authoritie and the truth is so neglected plaine and simple troden vnder foot that it is hard for a man yea the true Church of God sometimes to discerne where Christ feedeth his Flocke 1. Reg. 18.12 When as Elias was left alone and Baals foure hundred and fiftie prophets who could almost then discerne the worship of GOD from Idolatry when all was corrupted So when Michaiah told the trueth and Ahab had foure hundred false Prophets it was hatd to discerne the truth of God from the lying of Sathan In Christs time how did the Scribes and Pharisees confound Religion dimme and dazell the truth for the which our Sauiour himselfe did often reprooue them And in our times how doe the Papists labour to obscure Religion how bold and impudent are they to defend Idolatrie