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
A86883	A Brief receipt moral & Christian, against the passion of the heart, or sore of the mind, incident to most, and very grievous to many, in the trouble of enemies. / Being one single sermon by I. H. Minister of Froome. Published at this rate by itself, that any who need it, and have it. For the ease and benefit especially of the more tender, weak and melancholy; who feel these arrows stick in their spirits, but know not the way of plucking them out, or aswaging the pain of them.	Humfrey, John, 1621-1719.	1658 (1658)	Wing H3672; Thomason E1895_1; ESTC R209916	24,345	123

and sin is upon him though the wrong be indeed private unto thee Now if he shall hear thee that is be convinced by thee thou hast gained him that is by reducing him to repentance for his sin and wrong against thee thou convertest him to God closest thy self with him It follows But if he will not hear thee then take with thee two or three more the reason of this is added that by their testimony thy words may be established and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church that is I suppose such as have authority wheresoever seated I enquire not neither to rebuke him publickly but if be neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen and an Publican that is to our present purposes let him alone to the judgment of God thou hast done all a private Christian can do Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind on earth that is while you leave the man to the judgment of God as thus bound by you seeing he will not be brought to repentance that you may forgive him shall be bound in Heaven this is most fearful and patheticall and what you shall loose that is upon his repentance forgiving him as you ought upon pain of Gods severity v. ult shall be loosed in Heaven that is forgiven also of God which is a most sweet effectual motive unto this excellent duty Again as speaking of the same matter I say unto you if two or three of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask that is if these two or three that come with you or you your selves that are reconciled do as is fit upon reconciliation fall to prayer together unto God as to the forgivenesse of these Trespasses and removeall of your grievances wherein you are agreed and so joyn in love again it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven See here how amply and blessedly this matter is set forth Not that I will deny this Text to be taken both usually and properly of Church-Discipline but that it may also be thus interpreted of private binding and loosing for the more vigourous enforcing the much-wanted duty of fraternal correption I assent to St. Augustine Chrysostome Theophilact as they are quoted by others The other is to prosecute him after this with all the offices of neighbourly kindnesse and Christian Charity I say unto you love your Enemies Mat. 5.44 And if thine Enemy hunger feed him if he be thirsty give him drink for hereby shalt thou heap coals of fire on his head and the Lord shall reward thee Pro. 25.21 22. These coals of fire is a metaphor probably from Goldsmiths which they use in their metals and so import not we may conceive the using means barely to aggravate our Enemies Iudgement which yet it may indeed consequently do but the using means directly and immediately to melt him to wit that these coals upon his head may fall into ashes on his heart and he repent in them And these are the wayes we are to take I know many may be apt to think there be others more brave and befitting them who look uppon 't as poor abject and mean for them to stoop or seek to any whom they had rather overcome with gallantry and scorn But as we read of Daniel and his companions who having purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves looked more fair fat and lovely in their countenance with their own pulse and water only that was lawfull for them than they could have done with the portion of the Kings meat So will the wayes of God how coarse soever they may seem to the Stomack of a proud man make a person let them but the tryed come off with better liking and shew fairer in the eyes of those with whom he has to do than all those wayes of height and bravery which do passe for the most noble and royall in the World Whereof yet I think I may even apply that of our Saviour Yea are they that justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abnomination in the sight of God And that of Solomon Ahaughty heart goes before destruction but before honour humility Luke 16.15 Pro 18.12 VSe 2. For support or consolation to all those that thus set themselves to please the Lord. Three things may comfort such as to our purpose 1 That howsoever thou hast Enemies and troubles in the Earth yet the order and dispose of them all is of God 1. In their rise They are but what he hath designed long since 1 K. 12.15 2. In their measure He that hath said to the Sea hitherto shalt thou pass no farther he dothlikewise bound limit the raging of the People Psal 65.7 3. In their ends He hath many gracious ends oftentimes hereby To prove thee To humble thee To discover thy sins To file off thy rust To cleer thy innocency To excercise thy graces which are many patience hope love gentlenesse c. To make thee weary of the World And in the whole to draw thee neerer to him That howsoever he disposes of thee as to enmities without yet cannot all that thy Enemies do ever take away thy peace within thy peace in thy conscience thy peace with God with whom thou walkest It is observed by Iosephus of Herod which is seen likewise in his History of him that he was a man Ever and most highly successefull in his affairs abroad as in his comming off with Cesar and in his warrs but he was unfortunate still in his own house as in his jealousies abort his Sons and Wife with the sad effect of those things It fares quite contrary now with the good Christian who may indeed have his plagues mischiefs and troubles in the World but he comes off well still with his matters at home he hath his quiet however in his own breast I remember good Eli hath such a speech If one man sin against another the Iudge shall Iudge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall entreat for him 1 Sam. 2.25 From this passage I gather by way of contrary it is nothing in comparison with what men we fall at odds so long as we have but God still to be our Friend 3. That thou hast here so firm a bottome to rest upon to wit that whatsoever thy Adversaries are God is engaged to take up the matter between thee and them for thy present satisfaction or final good so that thou art only to go on in thy duty and cast all thy care upon him He shall lift up thy hands from thy loins when thou lifts up thy eyes unto him When Israel shall serve the Lord then shall Strangers that is his Enemies no more serve themselves of him Ier. 30.8.7 VSe 3. For direction And ther are seaven or eight directions which I shall humbly offer you about this matter Direct