Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	heathen_a	let_v	publican_n	2,742	5	10.9981	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80737	Knovvledge & practice, or, a plain discourse of the chief things necessary to be known, believ'd, and practised in order to salvation. Drawn up, and principally intended for the use and benefit of North-Cadbury in Somersetshire, / by Samuel Cradock, B.D. & Pastor there: sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge.	Cradock, Samuel, 1621?-1706.	1659 (1659)	Wing C6751; Thomason E1724_1; ESTC R209799	322,548	715

But if he shall not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established V. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican CHAP. XVII Of the Duties of the Rich and Poor First Of those that concern the Rich. I Cannot better begin this Chapter than by setting down that strict charge the Apostle directs Timothy to give to rich men in 1 Tim 6.17 18 19. Charge them that are rich in this world He saies not intreat or perswade them but charge them charge it upon their Consciences that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy V. 18. That they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate V. 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life From this and other Scriptures we may gather that the duties that concern the rich are these following I. They ought to look to it and be especially careful that they be really religious and truly Godly They have many great engagements to it God hath dealt bountifully with them The things of this world serve them and flow in unto them When poor people must take pains and work hard to earn their bread before they eat it They have their Tables spread to their hands God hath raised them above many of their Brethren and therefore they ought to honour love and obey him from whose bounty alone they receive all their plenty And as they have greater engagements so they have greater opportunities and advantages to be religious than others have They may spend more time upon their souls than poor people can They have more leisure if they have hearts so to employ it to attend the means of Grace and to work out their salvation They should consider though they are rich in this world yet there is another world that is to be look'd after Though they enjoy the good things of this life yet there is a life to come which must be car'd for Though they are encreas'd with worldly goods yet if they have all their portion here they are most miserable Seeing 't is well with them here on earth their main design should be to secure their state in Grace and their title to Heaven They should above all things be careful to lay hold on eternal life This life they cannot hold nor their riches estates and possessions here They should therefore lay hold on that which they may hold and which will never fail them They should be so wise as to take the right course to be heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven that when they must bid farewell to this life and their estates here they may enter upon that glorious inheritance And yet strange it is to see how this one thing absolutely necessary is neglected by far the greater part of them that are rich in this world In those places where Silver and Gold are found they say there groweth neither grasse nor plant nor other thing that is any thing worth Many rich mens hearts are as barren of true Piety as those countries are of grasse Job speaking of such saies Chap. 21.13 They spend their daies in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave v. 14. Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy waies v. 15. What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray unto him 'T is grown almost into a Proverb a little Religion goes far in a rich man or Gentleman How do such persons usually bless themselves in a few formal outward performances of religious duties And if they live not in the grosse defilements and pollutions of the world but are of a fair and civil conversation as to men how easily can they dispense with themselves from engaging in the stricter and more serious parts of Religion Nay those things wherein the life and power of Godlinesse consists are too often matter of their scorn and slighted and neglected by them as more ado than needs And thus it often happens that they that have fulnesse of estate have leannesse of soul as 't is Psal 106.15 And they that are well provided for in this life take no due care to provide for eternity not to lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.19 They that should be examples of Piety and goodnesse to those among whom they live and by their power wealth and greatnesse should countenance and promote the power of Godlinesse prove many times the greatest discouragers of it Solomon observed this as a sore evil under the Sun Eccles 5.13 Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt And not only for their hurt but the hurt of many others round about them Many could never have been such great sinners and dishonourers of God if they had not had so great estates II. They ought to be exceeding thankful unto God The more God hath bestowed upon them the greater is their debt of thankfulnesse and the greater is their duty of obedience If the Lord hath lifted them up if he hath shined upon their Tabernacle and given them power to get wealth as 't is Deut. 8.28 Let them not sacrifice to their own net to their own wit or wisdom their own labour or industry but thankfully acknowledge his favour whose blessing maketh rich Prov. 10.23 Let them consider Promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West nor from the South but from above Psal 75.6 7. 'T is reported of one of the Kings of France that he was wont to say that many thousands no doubt were born on the same day he was yet not one of them born to be a King but himself which he noted as a free favour of Divine Providence to him in that he was born to the Honour and Happinesse of a Kingdom when at the same time many others were born to mean conditions some possibly to beggery and want 'T is God alone that sets up one and puls down another He gives power riches and estate to one man and sets another in a mean condition And therefore those whom he is pleased to blesse with a rightful possession of riches should be exceeding thankful and constantly remember who hath made them in this to differ from others Gods impost on all his blessings is thankfulnesse If we neglect to pay this impost the commodity is forfeit God can quickly blow upon and blast all our blessings if we be unthankful as 't is Mal. 2.2 If ye will not hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give Glory unto my Name saith the Lord of