Selected quad for the lemma: city_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A73787
|
Poleo-nao-daphne. Londons laurell: or a branch of the graft of gratitude First budded in the temple, and now begun to blossome, upon Davids thankfulnes to the Lord for a cities kindnesse. By Edw. Dalton one of the lecturers in the Cathedrall Church of S. Pauls, London.
|
Dalton, Edward.
|
1623
(1623)
|
STC 6204A; ESTC S125303
|
74,299
|
216
|
Two Cherubims prying into that Arke 2. Time when and person to whom moue admiration 3. Two Tables by which and to which all duties to God and man are directed both ayming at Gods glory 3. His. In himselfe abiding yet to man extended and in both respects reflexing vpon his owne praise 4. Manner not ordinary but beyond expectation and common euent Maruellous 4. Aarons rod by which miracles were wrought 5. Place where this Kindnesse was reserued in a strong Citie 5. Pot of Manna 6. The Heart from which thanksgiuing a sacrifice so acceptable to God issued Blessed be the Lord. 6. Censor from which the smell of incense so sweetly ascended Logically the 1. Agent He 2 Act shewed 3. Obiect Kindnesse its Opportunity in the Time when Hath Trāscendency in the person to whom Mee Propriety in the person by whom His. Rarity in the Manner how Maruellous Particularity in the Place where In a strong citie Errata PAg. 4. in marg read 2 Sam. ch 17 18 19. 1 Sam. 30. 1 Sam. 23. pag. 19. in marg adde Amos 6.6 p. 35. l. 12. for but r. to be p. 44. l. 10. after loue r. looking on the Compasse of his mercy p. 46. l. 11. before For r. Freely p. 54. in M. for Vers r. Cha. p. 55. l. 2. r. as God p. ib. l. 3. r. as our God p. 68. l. 20. r. former in that p. 69. l. 6. r. speciall l. 10. for word r. house p. 79. l. 9. r. teares p. 84. l. 15. r. publishing p. 85. l. penult r. did in PSALME 31.21 Blessed be the Lord for he hath shewed mee his maruellous kindnesse in a strong Citie EVery thing hath its turne and time Eccles 3.1 yea time giues to euery thing its 〈◊〉 insomuch as man himselfe neuer continueth in one stay Iob. 14.2 the truth whereof no glasse can better shew than the Psalmes for in them wee may liuely behold the variable and mutable condition of man though neuer so neere in affection or deare in estimation vnto God in them Dauid that anointed of the Lord Psal 107.26 and in him all Gods chosen may be seene in this life as the Ship in the Sea in estate and respect euen now lifted vp to the clouds sayling with a pleasant gale in the calme of prosperity and by and by let downe to the bottome with the impetuous violence of the blast of one or other calamitie in soule and spirit sometimes soaring with the wings of hope aboue the heauens and againe plunged as low as hell with the weight of distrust through some disaster either inflicted or feared Whence proceed such and so sundry varieties of expressing in diuers of them his owne hopes and feares comforts and corasiues solace and sorrowes restraints and deliuerances But in this Psalme he stands as it were in the view of all vpon the worlds Theater and sounds in the eares of all a Diapason whiles warbling vpon his harpe hee toucheth the string of euery passion For he powreth out his praier with instancy in the first and second verses gathereth assured hope in the third and yet as one not fully freed from feare nor dispossest of hope returnes againe to praier and giues the reason of his assurance in the third fourth and fift pleadeth in expresse termes his holy affection and confidence which hee had in the time past in the sixt publisheth his resolute purpose of gladnesse and reioycing in the time to come by reason of the Lords fauour already shewed as one forgetfull and not fearing any present misery in the seuen and eighth Yet on the sudden calling as it seemes to minde the trouble and danger he was then in reneweth his suit which is pressed and amplified with relating by way of complaint sundry miseries and indignities which he doth endure and formerly had vndergone to the fourteenth in which miseries and indignities he reports what was and is his trust and patience in the fourteenth and fifteenth and that againe is seconded with another supplication in the fifteenth and sixteenth as also with an imprecation in the seuenteenth and eighteenth after both which without interruption as the Riuer in a cleare channell into the Ocean he falleth into an admiring exclamation for the greatnesse of Gods goodnesse towards them that feare and trust in him in the nineteenth together with a reason of that his admiration in the twentieth from thence hee comes to giue thanks for a kindnesse whereof the Lord had made him partaker in his owne particular in some extraordinary manner and that in a strong Citie Either Ierusalem which Absolom had surprised 2 Sam. 18.19 and where Achitophels counsell by Hushaies to his preseruation was deluded Iansen Lorinus 2 Sam. 30. as some or Ziglag where the people were in minde to stone him and the spoiles whereof he recouered Arias 1 Sam. 19. as other or Keilah which Saul purposed to haue besieged and to whom the citizens thereof as the Lords Oracle reuealed had deliuered him if there he had staied as the most imagine Howsoeuer or in what citie soeuer Dauid is mindfull of that mercy and thankfull for that benefit in such termes as iustly giues me occasion to thinke vpon Salomon his sonne Salomon the mirror of men 2 Sam. 12.25 the beloued of the Lord not liked as a seruant John 8.35 but beloued as a Sonne that abides in the house for euer built a glorious Temple to the God of Israel and diuided it into three parts The first or outmost was Atrium Populi the court of the people called otherwise the Porch of Salomon the next was Atrium Sacerdotum the place for the Priests the third and inmost was Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies When I see these words of Dauid I suruey that worke of Salomon and hearing this warbling tune of the Father I behold that worthy Temple of the Sonne For if we looke for that part which concernes all it is here in the Author He who maketh his Sunne to rise on the euill and the good Matt. 5.45 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust Would we see what concernes those that are sequestrated to his seruice and linked to him by a neerer bond as are all faithfull who being a royall Priest-hood Pet. 2.9 enioy a rarer priuiledge than others here we find it All haue not the Lords mercy manifested to them as had Dauid or if it be made apparant to them yet are not they made partakers of it as was this anointed of the Lord. He shewed me that is made me partaker of Long you to see that which Titus Vespasian desired Ioseph de bel Iud. l. 6. c. 10. nay commanded to be especially preserued from the fury of the fire the Sanctum Sanctorum into which the High Priest must enter Heb. 9.7 yet not oftner than once in the space of a whole yeere such was the glory of it and that it signified Here is the like maruellous kindnesse in a
strong City whereof Dauid is partaker but once in all his life as is very probable for this mercy in this manner was but once conferred seeing it is no where else in the same phrase remembred This then is a portion of Scripture euery word whereof hath his worth euery circumstance his weight and presenteth vnto our meditations Dauids gratitude Blessed be the Lord and the Lords great goodnesse towards him He hath shewed me his maruellous kindnesse in a strong City In dilating of both which though we may perfectly discouer the branches before we can discerne the tree yet we know that the roote and bole is in respect of time before the branches and when we perceiue the effect and consequence we must needs presuppose a preceding cause So howsoeuer Dauids thankfulnesse be the first expressed yet it must needs be granted that the Lords kindnesse was the first extended and therefore without preiudice to that order which is here vsed in the expressing of both these acts for my more methodicall proceeding and your better profiting Let the Lords kindnesse be the first subiect of my speech and the first obiect of your attentions because it was the first in action For first the Lord shewed his kindnesse and then Dauid testified his Thankfulnesse In the Lords kindnesse obserue three circumstances First the Agent He. Secondly the Act what this He did He shewed Thirdly the acts obiect what he shewed kindnesse First of the agent He that is the Lord here is the first court of the Temple wherein I no sooner set my foot but on the sudden so rare a Maiesty is vnueiled in my sight as my minde is amazed and my feet so fettered that I cannot moue till I glance at the properties of that glorious Person on whom if we cast our eyes wee may behold in him not onely the winter of sharpe seuerity but also the summer of cheering clemency Wee may see as well a dimple in his cheeke cheerefully fauoring as a wrinckle in his brow seuerely frowning For this He though he had before smitten as a Foe yet now doth he smile as a Father This He hauing drawne a foggy veile ouer his face shewed a cloudy countenance and yet remouing that veile againe manifesteth a gracious looke This He now altogether refresheth Dauids languishing spirits with a comfortable calme who a little before had almost ouerturned his soule with a tempestuous storme For he said in his sudden apprehension of his danger wherein he iustly was through his sinne I am cast out of thy sight Vers 22. So that in the Lord are indifferently seated as in their proper subiect two different properties Mercy and Iustice and by him are indifferently executed two diuers workes Seuerity and Clemency As is partly shadowed in the creatures plainly shewed in the sacred Scriptures by his workes demonstrated in reason may bee confirmed by all must be confessed Shadowed in the creatures Thinke not much by things created to learne the knowledge of their Creator For Praesentem narrat quaelibet herba Dâ—um Euery plant represents Gods presence There is no creature though most contemptible but either his vnsearchable wisdome or his vnresistable power or the all-warming Sunne of his goodnesse or the all-seeing eye of his prouidence One or other of his ineffable properties is lesse or more shadowed in it And as we may finde the Fountaine by the Riuer and the Spring by the Streame so wee may attaine at the least a glance at and see with Moses the hinder parts of the Lord by his workes For the inuisible things of God from the creation of the world are cleerely seene being vnderstood by the things that are made euen his eternall power and Godhead as Saint Paul affirmeth Rom. 1.20 And therefore aptly is Seculum called Speculum this worlds Globe termed a looking-glasse And not without cause doth Iob send vs to the senselesse creatures to learne our lessons concerning him Ch. 12. ver 7 8. Aske saith he the beasts and they shall teach thee and the Fowles of the Heauen and they shall tell vnto thee or speake to the earth and it shall shew thee or the fishes of the Sea and they shall declare vnto thee euen this amongst other that as the Lion hath his paw to imprison his voice to terrifie and his teeth to teare his prey yet withall commiserateth the woes of the prostrate and suffereth no rauenous beast to touch that which he hath vndertaken to protect So the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda can as well encounter his foes with terrour Reu. 5.5 as entertaine his friends in fauour As the Eagle hath his talents to strike and his wings to shadow so the Lord hath his threats to chastise and his fauours to encourage As the Leopard hath comely spots to delight as well as a crooked countenance to affright and as whom the beautifull skinne of the Panther allureth to fancy his speed and cruell pursuit admonisheth to feare so the Lord hath a terrible countenance to beget a dread of his might and varietie of mercies to breed a delight in his Maiesty and whomsoeuer the beames of his bounty cannot warme in affection the flames of his fury shall pursue to destruction But if the creatures be not sufficient trumpeters of this truth because they in part doe only shadow it let vs heare the sacred Scriptures as Heauens Heralds proclaiming it as vndeniable for they plainly shew it Sometimes drawing our eyes to view the Lord seated on a white Iuory Throne of Maiesty with eyes sparkling forth nothing but signes of fauour with a tongue pronouncing words of comfort to raise vp the deiected soule and refresh the wearied spirit with lips divulging promises in their due time certainly to be performed to confirme the wauering mind and make resolute the inconstant and vnresolued man with armes stretched out ready to imbrace those that in reuerence approach vnto him and with a countenance assuring the freenesse of his grace and the firmnesse of his goodnesse somtimes descending from his Throne of excellency to examine the truth of transgressions cry and see the sinnes of man before he strike as a mercifull Iudge vnwilling to condemne the accused till the euidence be too cleere against him and loth to put the sword of Iustice into the Executioners hand till the prisoners fault be palpably proued but on the contrary when the clamour of impiety is iustly apparant and punishment is declared to be sinnes desert they present him exalted on a sable seat and set vpon wraths tribunall eyes darting out flames of fury mouth threatning certaine misery hands casting downe fire and brimstone storme and tempest and a countenance menacing the furiousnesse of his wrath and the fulnesse of the disobedients woe Somtimes they call him a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 Psal 31.3 to imply the greatnes of his displeasure and a Fortresse to decipher the firmnesse of his fauour Somtimes they compare him to a Lion roaring for