Selected quad for the lemma: end_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
end_n day_n lord_n week_n 2,734 5 9.9831 5 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A19297 The worldlings aduenture discouering the fearefull estate of all earthwormes, and men of this world, in hazarding their pretious soules for the enioying of worldly happines / deliuered in two sermons before the worthy visitors of the right worshipfull Company of the Grocers, at the visitation of their free grammar schoole at Oundell in North-Hamptonshire, by Thomas Cooper, Batchelour in Diuinity, imployed in that businesse. Cooper, Thomas, fl. 1626. 1619 (1619) STC 5710; ESTC S3391 41,588 88

There are 3 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

our Calling rather then to enrich our selues and so ayme at a Spirituall end euen the furthering of vs to a better life The Summe of all is 1. Our ciuill Callings one the Lords day must wholly cease but vpon the former occasions 2. On the weeke dayes they must be followed not with worldly but with heauenly minds They must be begun with Prayer both priuate and if it may be with the Familie they must be continued with spirituall Meditations tending to weane vs from the loue of them by experience of the manifold distractions the basenes and corruption incident thereto and so prouoking to raise vp the minde to heauenly obiects and they must bee ended with contentment and thankefulnesse with prayer and humbly submitting to the will of God and waiting by Faith his glorious Blessing Thus if we doe our thoughts though conuersant with the world yet shall haue sweet commerce with heauen our time though more dayes spent in our ciuil Callings yet now thus employed shall sanctifie them vnto vs and sanctifie vs more and more by them and so make euery day a spirituall Sabboath Thus we shall walke with God while we haue dealing in the world haue our conuersation in heauen while wee are thus strangers on the earth Our thoughts though imployed vpon the world yet shall not rest thereon but retire againe to their true Center of heauen and our wayes though trauailing in the world yet shall stil be ayming and hastening to our country which is aboue So that though we liue in the flesh we shall not liue after the flesh and though we may take care for the flesh yet wee shall not care to satisfie the same nor vse our libertie as occasion thereto In a word we shall hereby so vse the world as that we may not loue it we shall so desire to liue and seeke meanes for the maintenance thereof as that still wee shall bee ready to die and to leaue all for Christ. And this may serue for answere to the second Question Hence ariseth a third scruple Whether it be not lawfull to desire riches and aboundance To which we answere 1. By a distinction of riches which may be considered 1 As they are necessary and sufficient and so a small thing may be counted riches as contenting Nature and being sufficient for vs. 2. They may be cōsidered as they are in the estimation of the world and in their own Nature and so aboundance is to be deemed riches so they are vnnecessary A 2. Difference now to be considered is of the persons which may desire them which are of two sorts First publike such whose Callings cannot be well executed without aboundance as that of the Magistrate and such other publike Callings Secondly some persons are priuate and these also in regard of their charge and such like occasion may lawfully desire more or lesse A 3. Difference is in respect of our desires which are either absolute such as require simply the performance of what we desire such as are all desires for Spirituall graces which for the grace simply must be absolute though for the measure thereof they may be conditionall 2. Our desires are conditionall with subiection to Gods will as may make most for his glorie and our good and so ought all our desires be for earthly things because that God hath so onely promised them as they shal be for our good And so must we onely desire them Out of these distinctions arise these conclusions 1 First we may generally desire riches as they are in the first sence necessary and sufficient not as they are lesse necessary aboundant Genes 28. Deuter. 17. 16. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 8. 2 Secondly we may desire what may aswell fit our callings as persons though this may be satisfyed with lesse yet the calling may desire more and so such callings as require state and maiestie may require aboūdance yet so as that 3 All our desires for these things must be conditional submitting to Gods pleasure both for the thing as also for the meanes to obtaine the same and so for the measure and continuance thereof vnto vs and so not enlarged by our owne couetous minde but confined to the iudgement and example of the most sober and frugall persons And therefore 4 All our desires for these things must be accompanied with prayers vnto God both for the thing we desire as also for the measure and blessing thereon Thus may we lawfully desire Riches A fourth question ariseth hereupon whether we may vse such meanes for the gathering of riches as mans law doth tollerate and come not within the compasse of the Penalty thereof As vsury Monopolies letters of mart trading with Infidels and Idolaters tentering and burnishing our wares by pressing sliking and keeping in and storing our commodities changing of our callings c. To which we answer first by some generall rules to all 1. That whatsoeuer is not against the law of equitie and charitie without intent to deceiue as we would be done vnto that may lawfully be done herein That wherein the law of man is subordinate to the law of God we may safely venture That the law of man may dispense with some things which yet it allowes not simply but so only tollerates as to preuēt a worse mischief so confines in the tolleration as indeed in a manner implyes the impossiblitie of what it tollerates or condemnes the same Of this nature is vsury which though it be tollerated by mans law yet is restrained within such straight limits as if the law were straightly executed it might easily restraine what it seemes to tollerate My purpose is not to enter into the mystery and sleights of this dangerous Trade I leaue this to that worthy treasure of Maister Doctor Fenton who hath very profitably waded heerein Only my cōclusion is that though couetousnes is vsually the ground and Broker hereto yet there may be some vse therof vpon some necessary occasions extreamities in these barren times wherein so few will lend freely and few make conscience to repay what they borrow as may tollerate the same and that rather for the borrowers sake then the lenders so that oppression be hereby avoyded and the rules of equitie be obserued which because each mans vpright conscience must be the iudge therefore I leaue the discussing and ordering thereof to that soueraigne arbiterment touching Monopolies engrossing of cōmodities though they be somewhat of diuerse nature and being abused may tend to the oppression of the subiect enriching of priuate men yet seeing the Prince hath his prorogatiue and may lawfully aduance whom it please him seeing heereby there may be a speedier vent for the inning of commodities from abroad if few buy vp the same that they may not lye vpon the Merchants hands and so he hindred from his seasons and occasions of venture and hereby also there may be a speedier communicating of them to the subiect that is to retaile
and being rich in content though wee are base and contemned of the world Happy contempt to keepe vs from the loue thereof and make vs long the more after heauen yea most happy abasing of man that casts vs vpon our God to haue experience of his fauour and euerlasting compassions Let them make the wedge of golde their hope that haue no repose in God and let their glory be their shame whose belly is their God Let them take their fill of dalliance till a dart be strucke through their Liuer and let them be contented with the leprosie that will needs run after the talents of deceit Miserable foole that will be thus led to the stockes and as an Oxe to the shambles wretched Gehezi that to receiue that which his Maister refused partakes of that plague which his Maister cured To conclude all a Bargaine you see is a bruing and our vnsatiable hearts driue the same A match is made vp and we see the danger of it wee are deceiued therein and yet cannot helpe our selues Let vs therefore bee wise to set bounds to our restlesse desires and let vs turne the currant contrary that so wee may wade safely and enioy our endeauours vnhappy they that so desire as that they can be sooner wearied then satisfied with their labours Miserable men that seeke for happinesse in sinfull vanitie and changeablenesse and can finde this their onely content to be restlesse in the pursuit of what they cannot compasse or what they compasse increaseth their miserie most desperate their estate that haue no hope but in this life wherein notwithstanding they are iustly deceiued and confounded Oh then happy they that haue the God of gods for their refuge who sweetens vnto them all their bitter pilles and hereby preuents surfaiting of worldly excesse happy they that haue their affections set vpon heauenly things which can neither be taken from them though they are from them and so being from them doe encrease their spirituall appetite that so they may neuer cease longing till they be satisfyed with him Oh happy are they that can be contented with their estates because what the Lord disposeth is best and fittest for them and yet by faith can still be restlesse after what is promised that so God may fulfill the desires of them that feare him Yea they are happy and euer more blessed are they that vse the world as strangers and as strangers are entertained thereof that so they may approue themselues to belong to another countrey and may hasten to that Countrie and Citie which is aboue This happinesse of the way he which is the Way grant vnto vs euen for his trueth sake that so by him we may be conducted to the happinesse of our Countrey To whom with God the Father and the blessed Spirit three glorious Persons and one God in vnitie might and maiesty be ascribed of vs and all Saints as it is most due all glory power dominion and thanksgiuing with all feare and obedience both now and for euer Amen Conclusion to the Reader Resoluing certaine Cases of Conscience i●oident hereunto THus hast thou gentle Reader a Briefe of such Meditations which by obseruatiō of worldly courses I haue conceiued concerning the desperate estate of Worldlings endangering their soules for the gayning of worldly commodities And for thy further satisfaction herein that thou mayest preuent deceit in thy Christian libertie lest it be an occasion to the flesh and follow thy earthly plough so that the better Plough still goe forward I haue thought it necessarie to adioyne hereunto certaine Cases of Conscience whereby thou mayest be resolued in such difficulties and seeming contradictions as appeare betweene thy generall and ciuill calling that so thou mayest wisely subordinate the one vnto the other and make thy ciuill calling a furtherance to the perfection of thy generall To this end seeing as the keeping of the Sabboath is a speciall tryall and furtherance of synceritie in all other occasion so the maine quarrell of Worldlings is against the same either they would vtterly abolish the same that it may not be kept at all or else they would delude and frustrate the power thereof vnder pretence of Christian libertie Therefore the first Quaere shal be concerning the libertie which the Sabboath allowes What vse of our ciuill callings and other accedents thereto may bee allowed vpon the Lords day To which we answer briefly that such liberty hereto is onely allowed herein as the word and equitie therof doth confine vnto vs. Namely 1. That in case of necessitie for the preseruation of life so that without present helpe it may be certainly endangered wee may lawfully exercise our ciuill callings but neither in the same manner as at other times or to the same ends First I say Not in the same manner that is not with the same intention of the minde which on this day must be more abstracted from earthly affections then another day not so much our loue to the person as our loue vnto God must now beare sway in doing the thing with an entire respect to God commanding the same that he may haue the glory of our simple obedience thē that man may receiue benefit therby which though I acknowledge is to guide vs at all times yet specially the Saboth requires this retired obediēce And in our releeuing the person though his body or state be in present danger yet our principall ayme must be the reliefe of the soule by exhortation reproof c. as occasion serues and that without any respect of refreshing the minde or body by any such labour which is lawfull at other times Thus is the different manner in regard of the minde and so also there must be a difference in the vse of the body as so to exercise the body as specially to humble and abase it by the manner of our labour whereas at other times wee may more respect the ease thereof And yet so farre onely to exercise it as not to tire weary it if vrgent occasion donot require lest wearisomenesse require some such recreation thereof as is not meete And if any vrgent occasion may bring wearisomenes yet now insteed of such bodily recreation the minde may be enlarged to heauenly meditations and thankesgiuing thereby to refresh the wearied carcase Whence it followeth that all bodily recreations that do not further vs to diuine worship are vnlawfull on the Lords day Because they serue onely to refresh the body after labour which is restrained therefrō otherwise I say thē they shal make vs fitter to serue God when we haue any liberty to labour vpon case of necessity though we may vse that liberty to wearisomnes yet this is to be releeued specially with spirituall recreation 2 This inferreth that the vse of our Ciuil callings on this day is not as they are Ciuill but rather as they are abstracted from all Ciuill respects And this shall appeare the better if we consider the different Ends
of imployment on this day from the other Our End on ordinary dayes may be benefit to our selues for the encrease of our outward meanes and maintenance in the world so may we not do on the Lords day Here wee must labour freely without hire or see our paines must be a free will offering without respect of recompence to approue the sincerity of our obedience wholy for Gods sake and not our owne And that our labour must now be seuered from al respect or cōtentment of the body but rather to the humiliation both of soule and body The like must be resolued concerning such other workes as are allowed this day As. 2. Workes of Charitie which though they may now bee performed as relieuing the poore visiting the sicke and afflicted yet here they must be limited by the former circumstances as after a diuers Nature and to diuers Endes then at other times 1. Now they are to be performed more liberally then at other times in regard of the matter we giue because this day requires a restrayning of our selues herein that we may be more enlarged to others both in that our lesse bodily labour hath need thereof and the greater labour of the mind requires the lesse lest it be hindred and dulled hereby And yet in regard of the manner they are to be performed more sparingly lesse time bestowed thereon lesse wearying of the body and all this that both bodie and soule may bee more free and ready in the worship of God The like may be concluded of that other bodily worke allowed on the Sabboath namely the view of the creature Now the minde must be abstracted from all delight in them as they serue for present vse which may be allowed at other times and onely inflamed hereby to glorifie God in the wonderfull varietie and vse to them for the aduancement of his power and prouidence in their creation and gouernment without any respect of right or vse of them to our selues Whence it followeth 1. That all liberall vse of the Creatures in prodigall Feasting c is now forbidden but onely such as may serue necessitie and bee agreeable vnto good reason 2. Generally no other bodily labour is now admitted but what is confined within the former bounds of necessitie and charitie and the like together with such other circumstances of different manner and end as before are laid downe And thus of the first Case and Resolution thereof A second case ariseth That seeing the Lord hath set apart but one day for his Seruice and left vs sixe for our ciuill callings Whether it be not lawfull to spend more time in following the world then seeking after heauen And so whether though our thoughts runne more vpon present occasions of this life then vpon those of a better we may not yet haue comfort that our estate is secure our interest good in eternall happinesse The Resolution hereof consists First in the Consideration of the right vse and intent of the Sabboath which is principally to confine and employ our thoughts wholie vpon heauenly things and such occasions as that day are publikely offered to further the same and that for two ends One that this heauenly employment of our thoughts on this day and so of our words and actions sutable thereto may be both a resemblance of our pure and perfect estate in heauen when all our thoughts words and actions shall be thus wholy exercised and also on euidence of our right in that happinesse and withall may prouoke vs to sigh and hasten to that perfect estate by how much our experience of fayling in these things on this day argues our shortnes and abertation from that perfection And hereupon followes another vse and intent of the Sabboath Namely that by restrayning and setting our thoughts now onely vpon heauen he obiects wee may at all other times keepe them better in order that though they may haue libertie on the other dayes to worldly occasions yet by the former imployment of them on the Sabboath they may now be so bridled and seasoned with holy grounds and Spirituall ends as that we may so vse the world as if we vsed it not our hearts may not bee set vpon the same though we must conuerse therewith but both lifted vp to God for the sanctifying of our businesse and kept still euer with God in the prosecuting thereof and so returne vnto God for the blessing of the same and relie again vpon God in waiting on his prouidence and meditating of the heauenly riches making still these worldly occasions daily matter to humble vs hereby in that we cannot be without what in some sort hinders our intire fellowship with God to exercise our Faith and patience in that our labour is nothing without the blessing of God to try our synceritie that we can spare time for heauenly occasions and season our earthly affaires with Spirituall Meditations And so to prepare vs by a daily viewing of our reckonings and making euen with God to our great account and so hereby to fit vs the better to the next Sabboath and so to prouoke vs to hunger after the eternall Sabboath Thus doth the right vse and entent of the Sabboath extend to the holy ordering of our ciuill Callings And surely if we consider rightly in the second place the right vse and ende of our ciuill Callings Which is not so much for present maintenance of life or to thriue thereby as to humble vs vnder the mightie hand of God in that we haue need of such meanes which had not sinne entred into the world we should not haue had and so daily to renew repentance and thereby to prouoke to loue and compassion towards others that so we may lay vp a good foundation against the life to come The wise consideration and comparing of both these together both the right vse and ende of the Sabboath and our ciuill Callings will happily further the resolution of these doubts and satisfie the Conscience in any scruples that may arise there-from For out of this comparison will arise these conclusions First though the Lord hath allowed vs sixe dayes for our ciuill Callings and but one for the generall yet from this proportion it doth not follow that though more time be allowed for our worldly occasions then for our spirituall therefore wee may enlarge our thoughts so much the more after worldly things then after those of a better life seeing as our ciuill Callings are ordained not so much for the maintenance of this present as that life which is to come so our managing of them must bee Spirituall with thoughts and actions deriued from that Fountaine guided by the same Rule and ayming at the same End And therefore as the Sabboath doth restraine vs altogether from these carnall worldly thoughts as being simply euill on that day so neither doe the other dayes otherwise allow them then as they proceed from a spirituall intent to glorifie God in obedience to him in