Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A25356
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The Scotch Counsellor. Communicating his advice to all that stand well-affected in England to King and Parliament. With a reprehension of all those who refuse to helpe the Lord against the mighty. Also shewing what shall be the event of these troubles. Written by reason of an eminent person in this kingdome diserting the cause, and flying: and now published for the common good. Imprimatur. Ia: Cranford.
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Anderson, George, 17th cent.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing A3090; ESTC R17632
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4,703
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9
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many of your deare brethren in the kingdome of England have beene so far from preferring their worldly treasure before the good of Gods Church that they have not onely liberally contributed thereto but even sacrified their lives in the cause against the enemies thereof whose memory shall bee recorded with the just when the name of those that disert the same shall infamously perish in oblivion Consider againe I pray you the pestilent sect of Papisticall Malignants who spare no cost they possibly can procure either by begging borrowing selling pawning morgaging filching stealing oppressing and all to re-edifie the Synagogue of Satan and Antichrist againe in this Kingdome This generation of Vipers shall rise up in judgement against all those that come not forth to helpe the Lord against the mighty And so I come to your third reason which is your inability to help To which I answer The helpe that is required in such a case as this is fourefold viz. either in body in purse in counsell or in prayer and though I nominate prayer last yet is it to be joyned with the first and also with all the rest for no action can be well performed without it But grant that you are to be excused for the first in regard of age and other infirmities attending thereon yet for the second you can have no such pretence to excuse your selfe God having blessed you with abundance to doe good either in this or any other kind if your heart be answerable thereto And therefore remember Salomons caution Prov. 24. 25. He that spareth more then is meet shall surely come to poverty So then if you extend not your liberality in this busines for the publick good of Gods Church you spare more than is meet and God is able to send a thousand crosses upon you to diminish that which you so carefully keepe And if you be not able in body nor willing in your meanes yet be not deficient by good counsell to provoke and encourage others and joyne with the Church in hearty and unfained prayer and you shall see God will send as strange a deliverance unto the Church as he did unto Peter at the prayers of the Church of which admirable deliverance you may reade at large in the Acts of the Apostles chap. 12. Your fourth reason is the potency of the enemy O let not this discourage you For though their power bee never so great yet the power of God is greater and if he be on our side as undoubtedly he is what need we feare what power is against us Rom. 8. 31. And although they say in the pride of their hearts as once the AEgyptians did Exod. 15. 9. I will pursue I will overtake I will divide the spoile my lust shall be satisfied upon them I will draw my sword my hand shall destroy them Mark what followeth the Lord did but blow with his winde and the Sea covered them and they sanke as lead in the mighty waters And therefore I say unto you as Moses said to the children of Israel Feare not stand still and see the salvatian of the Lord Exod. 14. 13. For of this you may be sure the more they prevaile and the stronger they grow the more they exalt themselves in the pride of their hearts to the filling up of the measure of their iniquities and the sooner becomming the objects of Gods wrath in their sudden destruction For then the Lord shall speak to them in his anger and vex them in his sore displeasure And their lofty looks shall be humbled and their haughtinesse bowed down Isai. 2. 11. And as a whirl wind passeth away so shall they be no more but the righteous shall bee an everlasting foundation Pro. 10. 25. And as they are by their pride exalted to their destruction so are the people and children of God by suffering persecution affliction and oppression under them fitted for mercy and deliverance for when the afflicted cry unto the Lord he delivereth them out of all their distresses as you may comfortably reed in Psal. 107. Be therefore faithfull and obedient and you shall have cause in your happy deliverance with holy David to say Other men would praise the Lord for his goodnes and for his wonderfull works to the sons of men Feare not therefore their mightie power nor their cruell oppression For the rod of the wicked shal not rest upon the lot of the righteous but God shall send peace on Israel And so I come to your last Reason which is Vnlikelihood of Reformation When it is most unlikely with man yea when it seems impossible then is it most likely and possible with God I will give you two instances herein In the second of the Kings and seventh chapter when the famine was great in Samaria and the Prophet prophesying of the great plenty that should ensue the next day that the Lord on whole hand the King leaned thought it impossible although the windows of Heaven should be opened yet it came to passe according to the words of the Prophet and he for his incredulity was not permitted to taste thereof Therefore trust you in the Lord alwayes for with him unlikelihood is likely and impossibilities are possible Another instance almost yet in the memory of some men living viz. after the death of that hopefull young King Edward the sixth when Queene Mary got the Crowne and had established Popery in your Kingdome of England there was then little likelihood of Reformation but when she had strengthened her selfe by marrying with a Popish Prince there was then far lesse yet here was some hope left that she might have died without issue But when she had conceived with childe then there was no hope left at all And yet even then was the Churches deliverances neerest at hand when the Lord turned the storme of Antichristian fury into a sweet and delectable calme of grace and mercy till now of late some of that viperous brood are againe sprung up to disturbe our peace But be you faithfull and continue constant in all obedience and you shall see that God will yet againe build up the walls of Jerusalem and repaire all her breaches And thus I conclude with the Apostle Iohn in his 2. Epistle and 12. verse Having many things to write unto you I will not write with paper and inke but hope to come unto you and speake face to face that our joy may be full Edinburgh Nov. 6. 1643. Yours to love and pray for you Geo Anderson FINIS