Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	let_v	people_n	praise_v	12,053	5	10.9906	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93076	The clear sun-shine of the gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in Nevv-England. Or, An historicall narration of Gods wonderfull workings upon sundry of the Indians, both chief governors and common-people, in bringing them to a willing and desired submission to the ordinances of the gospel; and framing their hearts to an earnest inquirie after the knowledge of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. / By Mr. Thomas Shepard minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at Cambridge in New-England.	Shepard, Thomas, 1605-1649.	1648 (1648)	Wing S3109; Thomason E431_14; ESTC R206115	39,184	54

the English do not usually meet in companies to pray together after such sad occasions yet it seemes God stird up their hearts thus to doe what the substance of their prayer was I cannot certainly learn although I have heard some things that way which I therefore name not onely I have and shall indeavour to get it if it bee possible for the poor Indian to expresse the substance of it and so shall send it if the ship stayes long onely this is certaine by him who was occasionally an eye and care witnesse of these things that they continued instant with God in prayer for almost half an houre together and this godly mans words to mee who understands a little of their language are these that this Tutaswampe did expresse such zeale in prayer with such variety of gracious expressions and abundance of teares both of himself and most of the company that the woods rang againe with their sighes and prayers and saith he I was much ashamed of my self and some others that hav● had so great light and yet want such affections as they have who have as yet so little knowledge All this he saw standing at some good distance alone from them under a Tree Thus you see Sir that these old obdurate sinners are not altogether senselesse of Gods afflicting hand and humbling providences and though naturall affection may be much stirring in such times yet you see how God begins to sanctifie such affections among them and I wish that many English were not outstript herein by these poor Indians who have got the ●art I seare of many English that can passe by such sad providences without laying them in this manner to heart I confesse these and many such things which wee see in divers of them do make some to thinke that there is more of God and his Spirit in some of their hearts then we yet can discover and which they hope will break out in time Thus you have a true but somewhat rent and ragged relation of these things it may be most sutable to the story of naked and ragged men my desire is that no mans Spectacles may deceive him so as to look upon these things either as bigger or lesser better or worser then they are which all men generally are apt to doe at things at so great distance but that they may judge of them as indeed they are by what truth they see here exprest in the things themselves I know that some thinke that all this worke among them is done and acted thus by the Indians to please the English and for applause from them and it is not unlikely but so'tis in many who doe but blaze for a time but certainly'tis not so in all but that the power of the Word hath taken place in some and that inwardly and effectually but how far savingly time will declare and the reader may judge of by the story itself of these things Some say that if it be so yet they are but a few that are thus wrought upon Be it so yet so it hath ever been many called few chosen and yet withall I beleeve the calling in of a few Indians to Christ is the gathering home of many hundreds in one considering what a vast distance there hath been between God and them so long even dayes without number considering also how precious the first fruits of America will be to Jesus Christ and what seeds they may be of great harvests in after times and yet if there was no great matter seen in these of grown yeers their children notwithstanding are of great hopes both from English and Indians themselves who are therefore trained up to Schoole where many are very apt to learne and who are also able readily to answer to the questions propounded containing the principles and grounds of all Christian Religion in their own tongue I confesse it passeth my skill to tell how the Gospel should be generally received by these American Natives considering the variety of Languages in small distances of places onely hee that made their eares and tongues can raise up some or other to teach them how to heare and what to spake and if the Gospel must ride circuit Christ can and will conquer by weake and despicable meanes though the conquest perhaps may be somewhat long The beginnings and foundations of the Spaniard in the Southerne parts of this vast continent being laid in the blood of nineteene Millions of poor innocent Natives as Acosta the Jesuite a bird of their own nest relates the story shall certainly therefore bee utterly rooted up by some revenging hand and when he is once dispossest of his Golden Mansions and Silver Mines it may be then the oppressed remnant in those coasts also may come in In the meane while if it bee the good pleasure of Christ to look upon any of the worst and meanest of these out-casts in these Coasts of New-England let us not despise this day of small things but as the Jews did of old so let us now cry mightily to God and say and sing Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee then shall the earth bringforth her increase and God even our God will blesse us I have sent you two witnesses beside my own of the truth of the Indian story printed you may publish them if you please as they have writ and subscrib'd with their own hands THOMAS SHEPHARD FINIS

THE Clear Sun-shine of the Gospel BREAKING FORTH UPON THE INDIANS IN NEW-ENGLAND OR An Historicall Narration of Gods Wonderfull Workings upon sundry of the INDIANS both chief Governors and Common-people in bringing them to a willing and desired submission to the Ordinances of the Gospel and framing their hearts to an earnest inquirie after the knowledge of God the Father and of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World By Mr. THOMAS SHEPARD Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Cambridge in New-England Isaiah 2 2 3. And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall bee established in the top of the mountains and shall bee exalted above the bills and all Nations shall flow unto it And many people shal go and say Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem London Printed by R. Cotes for John Bellamy at the three golden Lions in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange 1648. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE LORDS COMMONS Assembled In High Court of Parliament Right Honorable THese few sheets present unto your view a short but welcome discourse of the visitations of the most High upon the saddest spectacles of degeneracy upon earth The poore Indian People the distance of place if our spirits be right will be no lessening of the mercy nor of our thankefulnesse That Christ is glorified that the Gospel doth any where find footing and successe is a mercy as well worthy the praise of the Saints on Earth as the joy of the Angels in heaven The report of this mercy is first made to you who are the Representative of this Nation That in you England might bee stirred up to be Rejoycers in and Advancers of these promising beginnings And because to You an account is first due of the successe of the Gospel in those darke corners of the World which have been so much inlightned by Your favour enlivened by Your resolutions encouraged by Your fore past indeavours for God hope stil being parts of Your selves to be further strengthned by Your benigne aspects and bountifull influences on them The present troubles have not so far obliterated and worn out the sad mispressions which former times have made upon our spirits but we can sadly remember those destructive designes which were on foot and carryed on for the Introduction of so great evils both into Church and State In order to which it was the endeavour of the Contrivers and Promoters of those designes to wast the number of the godly as those who would never be brought to comply in such destructive enterprises which was attempted by banishing and forcing some abroad by burthening and afflicting all at home Among those who tasted of the first I say not the worst sort of their cruelty were these our Brethren who to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel were content to sit downe and pitch their tents in the utmost parts of the Earth hoping that there they might be out of the reach of their malice as they were assured they were beyond the bounds of their love God who doth often make mans evill of sin serviceable to the advancement of the riches of his owne Grace The most horrid act that ever was done by the sonnes of men the ●●rther of Christ God made serviceable to the highest purposes of Grace and mercy that ever came upon his breast That God doth shew that hee had mercifull ends in this their malicious purpose as hee suffer'd Paul to be cast into prison to convert the Act 16. 30 33 34. Acts. 8. 1. 11 Jaylor to be ship wrackt at Melita to preach to the barbarous so he suffer'd their way to be stopped up here and their persons to be banished hence that hee might open a passage for them in the Wildernesse and make them instruments to draw soules to him who had been so long estranged from him It was the end of the adversary to suppresse but Gods to propagate the Gospel theirs to smother and put out the light Gods to communicate and disperse it to the utmost corners of the Earth that as one saith of Paul his blindnesse gave light to the 〈…〉 whole World so we hope God will make their distance and estrangednesse from us a meanes of bringing many near and in to acquaintance with him Indeed along time it was before God let them see any farther end of their comming over then to preserve their consciences cherish their Graces provide for their sustenance But when Providences invited their return he let them know it was for some farther Arrand that hee brought them thither giving them some Bunches of Grapes some Clusters of Figs in earnest of the prosperous successe of their endeavours upon those poor outcasts The utmost 〈…〉 ends of the earth are designed and promised to be in time the possessions of Christ And hee sends his Ministers into every place where he himself intends to come and take possession Where the Ministery is the Harbinger and goes before Christ and Grace will certainly follow after This little we see is something in hand to earnest to us those things which are in hope something in possession to assure us of the rest in Promise when the ends of the earth shall see his Psal 22. 27. Rev. 11. 15. Psal 72. 8 9 10 11. glory and the Kingdomes of the world shall become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ when hee shall have Dominion from Sea to Sea and they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him And if the dawn of the morning be so delightfull what will the clear day be If the first fruits be so precious what wil the whole harvest be if some beginnings be so ful of joy what will it be when God shall perform his whole work when the whole earth shall be full of the knowledge Isa 11. 9. 10. of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea and East and West shal sing together the song of the Lamb In order to this what doth God require of us but that we should strengthen the hands incourage the hearts of those who are at work for him conflicting with difficulties wrestling with discouragements to spread the Gospel in that the same and honor of this Nation to the utmost ends of the earth It was the design of your enemies to make them little let it be your endevor to make them great their greatnesse is your strength Their enemies threatned their hands should reach them for evil God disappointed them And let your hands reach them now for good there is enough in them to speak then fit objects of your incouragement they are men of choice spirits not frighted with dangers softned with allurements nor discouraged with difficulties

preparing the way of the Lord in those unpassable places of the earth dealing with such whom they are to make men before they can make them Christians They are such who are impressed for your service in the service of Christ can stand alone but desire to have dependence on you they feare not the malice of their enemies but desire the countenance and incouragement of their friends And shal your Honors in consideration of their former sufferings their present service and reall deservings help the day of small things among them shal you interest them in your assistances as you are interested in their affections you wil thereby not only further these beginnings of God by incouraging their hearts and strengthning their hands to work for him but also as we humbly conceive much add to the comfort of your owne accounts in the day of the Lord and lay greater obligations on them yet more to pray for you to promote your counsels and together with us your unworthy servants to write down themselves Yours humbly devotedin the service of the Gospel Stephen Marshall Jeremy Whitaker Edm. calamy William Greenbill John Downam Philip Nye Syd Symptson William Carler The. Goodwin The. Case Simeon Asbe Samuel Bolton TO THE Godly and Well affected of this Kingdome of England who pray for and rejoyce in the thrivings of the Gospel of our LORD JESVS Christian Reader IF ever thou hadst experience of this day of power these visitations of Christ upon thine own spirit I suppose thee to be one who hast embarqu'd many prayers for the successe of the Gospel in these darke corners of the earth to strengthen thy faith inlarge thy heart and assure thy soul that God is a God hearing prayers An account is here given to thee of the conquests of the Lord Iesus upon these poor out-casts who have thus long been estranged from him spilt like water upon the ground and none to gather them Formerly thou had The Day-break some dawnings of light after along and black night of darkenes here thou seest the sun is up which wee hope will rejoice like the strong man to run its race scattering those thick clouds of darknesse and shining brighter and brighter till it come to a perfect day These few sheerts give thee some footing for such thoughts and some further incouragements to wait pray for the accomplishment of such things Here thou mayst see the Ministry is precious the feet of them who bring glad tidings beautifull Ordinances desired the Word frequented andattended the Spirit also going forth in power and efficacy with it in awakening and humbling of them drawing forth those affections of sorrow and expressions of tears in abundance which no tortures or extremities were ever observed to force from them with lamenting we read here their leaving of sinne they forsake their former evill wayes and set up fences never to returne by making laws for the punishment of those sins wherein they have lived and to which they have been so much addicted They set up prayers in their families morning and evening and are in earnest in them And with more affection they crave Gods blessing upon a little p●rched corn Indian stalks then many of us do upon our greatest plenty and abundance They rest on the Lords day and make laws for the observation of it whereinthey meet together to pray instruct one another in the things of God which have been communicated to them They renounce their diabolicall Charmes and Charmers and many of those who were practitioners in these sinfull and soul-undoing Arts being made naked convinced and ashamed of their evill forsake their may and betake themselves to prayer preferring the Christian Ma. 26. 16. Incantario mushtatio ler. 8. 17. Ecclef 10. 11. Charm before their diabolical Spells herein God making good that promise Zeph. 2. 11. I will famish al the Gods of the earth which he doth by withdrawing the worshippers and throwing contempt upon the worship And men shal worship me alone every one from his place even all the Isles of the Heathens All these are hopefull presages that God is going out in his power and grace to conquer a people to himself That he begins to cast an owning look on them whom he hath so long neglected Act. 14. 16. Acts 17. 30. 〈◊〉 despised And indeed God may wel seek out for other ground to sow the seed of his Ordinances upon seeing the ground where it hath been sown hath brought forth no better fruit to him he may well be peak another people to himself seeing he finds no better entertainment among the people he hath espoused to him and that by so many mercies priviledges indeerments ingagements We have as many sad symptomes of a declining as these poor outcasts have glad presages of a Rising Sun among them The Ordinances are as much contemned here as frequente there the Ministery as much discouraged here as embraced thre Religion as much derided the ways of godliness as much scorned here as they can be wished and desired there generally wee are sick of plenty wee surfet of our abundance the worst ofSurfets and with our loathed Manna and disdained food God preparing them a Table in the wildernes where our satieties wil be their sufficiencies our complaints their contents our burthens their comforts if he cannot have an England here he can have an England there baptize adopt them into those priviledges which wee have looked upon as our burthens We have sad decayes upon us we are a revolting Nation a people guilty of great defection from God Some fall from the worship of God to their old superstitions and corrupt worship saying with those in Ieremy It was better with us then now Some fall from the doctrin of grace to errors some to damnable others to defiling some to destructive others to corruptive opinions Some fal from professed seeming holynes to fin profanenes who like blazing comets did shine bright for a time but after have set in a night of darknes We have many sad symptomes on us we decay under all the means of nourishment are barren under all Gods s owings dry under al the dews droppings showres of heaven like that Country whereof Historians speak where drought causeth 〈◊〉 dat 〈◊〉 imbres pulverem dirt and showres causeth dust And what doth God threaten herein but to remove the Candlesticks to take away the gospel that pretious Gospel the streams whereof have brought so many ships laden with blessings to our shoar that Gospel under the shadow whereof we have sate down and been refreshed these many years where the power is lost God will not long continue the form where the heat is gone he wil not long continue the light The temple did not preserve the laws when their hearts were the Synagogues of Satan nor shall any outward priviledge hold us up when the inward power is down in our spirits God hath forsaken other Churches as eminent