Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	afflict_v	holy_a	zion_n	77	3	9.1344	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10928	The vvild vine: or, An exposition on Isaiah's parabolicall song of the beloued: Isa. 5. 1,2,3, &c. By Nehemiah Rogers, pastor of Messing in Essex; Strange vineyard in Palæstina	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1632 (1632)	STC 21200; ESTC S116115	254,274	348

a smaller one would doe Let the wicked storme and fret and breathe out threatnings against Gods Church and people this we know assuredly they may doe what they can but they cannot doe what they would And thus much for the first circumstance which concerneth the Author or inflicter of the iudgement Now followeth the second which concernes the punished or the parties on whom it is inflicted and they are Gods owne people a people whom hee chose for his peculiar before any other people in the world beside it was his Vineyard his owne enclosure as these words thereof and it doe note vnto vs. Let this then be our obseruation hence Doct. God will not spare his owne people if they sinne against him That God will not spare his owne people if they sinne against him but will visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquities with strokes The Scriptures propose many examples our eares haue heard many reports our eyes behold daily many presidents which may confirme this Doctrine What dolefull complaints doe we reade that the Church maketh euery where in the Lamentations x Lament 1.18.20 2.1 c. Behold oh Lord how I am troubled my bowels swell my heart is turned within me for I am full of heauinesse The sword spoileth abroad as death doth as home c. How lamentably doe the godly bemoane themselues and the estate of the Church in the Prophesie of Isay y Isay 64.9 10 11. Be not angry O Lord aboue measure neither remember iniquitie for euer behold see we beseeth thee we are thy people Thy holy cities are a wildernesse Zion is a wildernesse Ierusalem a desolation Our holy and our beautifull house where our Fathers praised thee is burnt vp with fire and all our pleasant things are laid waste And how doth the Prophet Dauid expresse the burden of his afflictions wherewith he was afflicted in the z Psal 6.3 32.4 Booke of the Psalmes a Psal 38.2 3. Thine arrowes saith he sticke fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne And againe thus b Psal 116.3 The sorrowes of death compassed mee and the paines of hell gat hold vpon me I found trouble and sorrow and many such like patheticall complaints he makes The whole Booke of the Iudges may be a proofe for this truth wherein wee see how the people of Israel proceeding to doe euill in the sight of the Lord he sold them into the hand of his and their enemies We might further instance in Solomon Asa Iehoshaphat Iosiah Hezekiah and others all which make this good that God spareth not his owne people when they sinne against him Reason 1 Two Reasons may be giuen hereof First That the Lord might declare himselfe to be an aduersary to sinne in all men c Psal 51.4 and that the wicked may see he is not partiall to any when his commandements are not regarded Reason 2 Secondly That he may reduce his seruants from running on headlong with the wicked to perdition For were wee altogether exempted from the rod how wanton and froward would we grow and into how many perils would wee cast our selues And so saith Saint Paul d 1 Cor. 11.32 When we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord that we might not be condemned with the world Obiect But did not Christ giue himselfe for his Church and shed his bloud for their redemption was not their sins punished in him How comes it then to passe they are still subiect to Gods heauie v●sitations Resp. True it is that Christ did beare away all our punishments but he hath not freed vs from fatherly corrections Now when God affl●cteth his in this world it is more for medicine than for punishment more for a correction than for a penaltie Losses crosses pouertie imprisonmeent sicknesse yea death it selfe are not to vs punishments nor curses properly but fatherly chastisements being inflicted as furtherances of sanctification not as meanes of satisfaction And thus you haue this obiection answered and my doctrine confirmed viz. God will not spare any no not his owne people when they sin against him Vse 1 Which being so this may terrifie wicked and vngodly ones who make a trade of sinne driuing after it as it was said of Iehu in another case as if they were mad and yet imagine because God for a time e Psal 50.21 holdeth his peace and keepes silence that hee is such a one as themselues a louer and approuer of their wicked waies But oh you fooles how long will you loue folly and when will you grow wise Doth God correct the flock of his owne pasture the children of his owne houshold and shall you goe scot-free Doth the Lord chastise them so heauily the burden of whose sins Christ hath borne in his bodie on the crosse and shall such as Christ neuer died for no nor yet f Iohn 17.9 prayed for escape shall not many prayers and teares sighes and groanes petitions of Gods Saints requests of the Spirit together with the daily intercession of Iesus Christ Gods only and welbeloued in whom he is well pleased keepe off such bitter things from them who but now and then breake out Woe and alas then what shall become of you who neuer pray sigh nor shed teare for sinne for whom Gods blessed Spirit makes no request and who haue no interest in the mediation and intercession of that iust and righteous Aduocate who sinne not of infirmitie and weaknesse but boldly and presumptuously with a high hand against the Lord Thinke of an answer to those interrogatories which the Spirit of God propoundeth to thee in holy Writ g Ier. 25.29 Loe I beginne to bring euill on the Citie which is called by my name and shal you goe vtterly vnpunished And againe h Cap. 49.12 Behold they whose iudgement was not to drinke of the cup haue assuredly drunken and art thou he that shalt escape And againe i Luke 23.31 If these things be done to the greene tree to them who haue in them the sap of grace what shall be done to the drie to them who haue no moisture of goodnesse And againe k 1 Pet. 4.17 18 If iudgement first beginne at vs who are the house of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospell of God And if the righteous scarcely be saued where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare What answerest thou to these why speakest thou not And now O my God behold how I am troubled my bowels swell my heart is turned within me for I heare an answer true but terrible l Psal 11.5 6. The Lord indeed will trie the righteous in his furnace but the wicked and such as loue iniquitie doth his soule hate vpon the wicked shall he raine snares fire and brimstone and stormie tempest

yet let vs not lie still and wallow in vncleannesse For casuall defilements there is hope but for wilfull pollutions there is little How can God dwell or abide with vs if we be swearers drunkards vsurers oppressors or the like Assuredly he neither can nor will for these impieties and such like are more odious to him than any carion is or can be to vs nay the Deuill himselfe is not so hatefull to him as sinne is Non odit peccatū diaboli causa sed diabolum peccati causa for he hates not sinne for the Deuils sake but the Deuill for sinnes sake And therefore to shut vp all with that exhortation of the Apostle n 2 Cor. 7.1 Dearely beloued let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Hitherto we haue intreated of the Vineyards plantation The supplantation of it followes next to be handled which is contained in the 3 4 5 6 verses wherein we haue First the Lords Plea with them vers 3 4. Secondly the Verdict or Iudgement past vpon them vers 5 6. In the Plea we haue first an Appeale made to them vers 3. And secondly an Inditement against them vers 4. In the Appeale diuers circumstances are considerable As 1. The Manner of it which is not in commanding-wise as it might haue beene but by way of intreaty and request I pray you 2. The Matter requested and for which this Appeale was made and that is that they would discerne wisely of the matter and accordingly passe sentence Iudge 3. Who they be which are made Iudges of the cause and they are the men of Iudah and inhabitants of Ierusalem euen the whole multitude 4. The Parties betweene whom the controuersie and variance is and they are God and his Vineyard God being the Plaintiffe and Israel the Defendant And now ô inhabitants of Ierusalem iudge I pray you Text. Vers 3. betwixt me and my Vineyard c. And now or Now therefore Expos These are the words of God himselfe q d. Seeing it is thus that my Vineyard hath so frustrated my hopes therefore now c. O inhabitants And men The words are in the Originall read in the singular not in the plurall number O inhabitant and man By whom some would haue the Lord Iesus to be meant as before was shewed but it is euident that here the Lord appealeth to the Iewes themselues and makes them Iudges in their owne cause referring the matter betweene him and them to their owne consciences And we know it is no rare thing in Scripture to finde one number put for another the plurall for the singular and the singular for the plurall Now the reason why the Lord speaketh to one man as it were rather than to all or to them all Singulariter loquitur postulans non simpliciter omnes sed vnumquemque Muscul as if they were but one may be this because he would haue iudgement not as simply of them all together but particularly of euery one willing euery singular person of Iudah and Ierusalem to commune with their owne hearts and accordingly giue sentence And therefore Tremellius and Iunius with diuers others Imò viri Ichudae singuli reade as the Originall hath it Ierusalem Iudah Iudah was the Country Ierusalem was the chiefe Citie in that Country and indeed one of the most famous Cities of the world full of people great amongst the Nations Princesse amongst the Prouinces and in one respect exceeded all other Cities in the world besides for therein was Mount Zion the place of Gods seruice and worship and therefore it was called the o Psal 48.1 8. Citie of the Lord of Hoasts The Citie of God Iudge To iudge sometimes signifieth to passe an vpright or vnpartiall sentence against any true or false so Christ willeth the Iewes to p Iohn 7.24 iudge righteous iudgement and sometimes it is only taken for the vnderstanding and discerning of all things so meaneth the Apostle when he saith q 1 Cor. 14.29 Let two or three speake and let the other iudge i. discerne what is spoken This latter some would haue only here meant as if the Lord did not require sentence but only an inspection into the cause But it may rather seeme the Lord requires not only that they should consider and discerne but also that they should speake their minde and giue sentence against such a Vineyard We shall not need to stand longer vpon Interpretation the other words are cleare we come now to Doctrine with the Vses and duties which we are to learne from each of the particulars And first from the Manner of this Appeale I pray you learne that Doctr. Gods proceedings against sinners is with meeknesse and much mildnesse With much meeknesse and mildnesse doth God proceed against sinners When he hath to deale with them he doth not come in furie and rage but in milde and peaceable termes with kinde intreaties He doth not as we see imperiously command them with Sic volo sic jubeo c. but vouchsafeth kindly to request them Iudicate quaeso I pray yee iudge The like was Gods manner of proceeding with Adam after his transgression r Gen. 3.9 11. Adam where art thou Who told thee thou wert naked Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I told thee thou shouldst not eat In the like manner he comes to Cain ſ Gen. 4.9 Where is thy brother Abel What hast thou done And so our blessed Sauiour how mildly did he deale with him that smote him vniustly t Iohn 18.23 If I haue spoken euill beare witnesse of the euill but if well why smitest thou me And what mildnesse and meeknesse did he shew to Iudas when he came to betray him euen at that time calling him friend u Matth. 26.50 Friend betrayest thou the Sonne of man with a kisse In that parable of the mariage of the Kings sonne * Matth. 22.11 wherein Gods proceeding against wicked and vngodly professors who repent not of sinne neither doe beleeue in Christ is set forth this point may haue further confirmation for to him that hath not on a wedding garment the King saith thus Friend how camest thou in hither c. quietly and peaceably examining and conuincing him And this the Lord doth Reason that he may the sooner and the better bring the sinner to a sight and sense of his sinne and fault and that he might if it were possible be pricked in his heart and be brought to see that it is out of loue which the Lord beareth to him as he is his creature and that he desireth not his death but his repentance that he might liue And certainly this milde and gentle kinde of dealing doth much sooner cause the offender to see his fault than a hastie and passionate proceeding doth or can So that vnworthy guest when he was so friendly dealt withall had nothing to answer but

be admonished not to trust those too farre who are irreligious a Lion is a Lion though he be chained it is good not comming within his reach though he seeme to fawne a Wolfe is a Wolfe though he be in sheeps clothing and at length will shew his woluish disposition they haue the voice of Iacob but the hands of Esau words of a brother but hands of an enemie they can salute with a kisse but persecute with the sword The Fisher baits the hooke when he would deceiue the fish and the Fowler sings swetly when hee would deceiue the bird So the enemies of the Church when they pretend greatest curtesie then they intend greatest villanie when they offer treaties of peace leagues of mariages and such like confederacies then is it to be feared the net is a spreading and the snare a laying It is wisdome therefore not to trust them No faith saith the Papist is to be kept with heretikes and we are ranke ones as they say therefore no faith to be kept with vs. Take heed therefore of them and though they seeme now to be Foxes passant and Dogs couchant yet were time and opportunitie offered which Lord for thy mercy sake neuer suffer they would shew themselues to be Lions rampant seeking only our ruine and desolation And secondly seeing the enemies of the Church are Vse 2 so outragious when they are suffered to enter into Gods vineyard making strip and waste of all oh then let vs all striue with God by earnest prayer that we may be deliuered and preserued from such a 2 Thess 3.2 vnreasonable men whose wrath and malice knoweth no end nor measure being of Hannibals minde in whose eyes no sight was more pleasing than a ditch swimming ouer with mans bloud And seeing that by reason of our sinnes we haue deserued great plagues which we may daily looke for and expect let vs pray with Dauid b 2 Sam. 24.14 that we may rather fall into the hands of God than of man because with him is mercy yea in his very correction c Hab. 3.2 he remembreth mercy But if we be giuen ouer into the hands of the wicked there is no mercy to be looked for no moderation to be expected They can neuer finde in their hearts to say that to themselues which God did to his destroying Angell d 2 Sam. 24.16 It is enough put vp thy sword Hitherto God hath taken the rod into his owne hand and smitten vs himselfe by famines pestilence inundations of waters and the like but if he should deliuer vs into the hands of our bloudy enemies the Papists we should then soone discerne the difference betwixt the louing chastisements of a father and the bloudy strokes of an enemie Let vs therefore turne to God with Israel and pray with their words e Iudg. 10.15 We haue sinned O Lord we haue sinned doe thou vnto vs whatsoeuer seemeth good to thee deliuer vs only we pray thee this day Why shouldst thou sell vs into the hands of idolatrous Papists who will giue thine honour to stocks and stones and not vnto thy maiestie who giueth them the victorie For thy names sake be mercifull to vs our God and if we must fall by reason of our fearefull sinnes let thine owne hand cast vs downe not theirs for there is mercy in thy blowes Doe thou then take vs to doe O God and shew thy selfe a tender and indulgent father towards vs by correcting vs thy selfe as hitherto thou hast done and deliuer vs not to that mercilesse generation whose f Psal 30.14 57.4 teeth are swords and their iawes as kniues who know no end of scourging vs till they haue also made an end of vs whom they scourge So shall wee sing praises to thy name and say g Psal 124.6 Blessed be the Lord who hath not giuen vs as a prey vnto their teeth Text. And I will lay it waste Or I will make it a desolation so that it shall haue none to inhabit it The people of the land shall be swept away with the sword and the earth shall be robbed of all her goodly ornaments It shall neither be inhabited by men nor adorned with her beautifull fruits as it were with her princely coat of diuers colours but become as a desolate and forsaken wildernesse This is the meaning And hence note we the miserie of warre Doct. War●● is the forerunner of desolation War is that miserable desolation which findes a land before it like Eden and leaues it behinde like Sodome a desolate and forsaken wildernesse The fiercenesse rage of it Moses expresseth and describeth when he telleth the Israelites h Deut. 28.49 58. of a Nation that should come from farre as swift as the Eagle fleeth and of fierce countenance who should not regard the person of the old nor shew fauour to the young who should eat the fruit of their cattell and the fruit of their land vntill they were destroied who should not leaue them either corne wine or oile nor increase of Kine nor flockes of Sheepe but should besiege them in their gates vntill their high and fenced walls came downe wherein they trusted throughout all their land by reason whereof they should be driuen to eat the fruit of their owne bodie the flesh of their sonnes and of their daughters which the Lord their God had giuen them in the siege and in the straitnesse wherewith their enemies should distresse them So that men should haue euill or couetous eyes towards their brethren and wiues of their bosomes and their children which they should leaue in not giuing to any of them of the flesh of their children which they should eat for feare lest they should haue none left for themselues in the straitnesse of the siege And the tender and delicate women who would not aduenture to set the sole of their feet vpon the ground for delicatenesse shall be as niggardly towards their husbands and towards their sonnes and daughters and towards their young ones For they shall eat their children secretly and in corners that none might get any part away from them because of the siege wherewith their enemie should distresse them Fearefull threatnings But is it possible that the miserie or mischiefe of warre should be so great Were not these threatnings made to keepe them in obedience only Surely nothing is there threatned but warre hath brought forth To instance in that vnmatchable instance of the destruction of Ierusalem by Titus and Vespasian who besieged it for the space of fiue months threescore and eleuen yeeres after Christs incarnation or thereabouts In which time there passed many assaults and skirmishes much slaughter and bloudshed being made both on the one side and other The famine meane while afflicting the City was such as no Historie can parallel i Fame impellebantur vt vel equorum lora suos baltheos calceos coria comederent Pontan Bibl. conc Tō 4.