Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	abraham_n	church_n	zion_n	11	3	9.3195	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49960	Ecclesia Gemens, or, Two discourses on the mournful state of the Church, with a prospect of her dawning glory exhibited in a view of two Scriptures, representing her as a myrtle-grove in a deep bottom, and as a knot of lillies among thorns.	Lee, Samuel, 1625-1691.	1677 (1677)	Wing L894; ESTC R2097	33,479	98

sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease Zech. 1.15 When Gods a little displeased they leap like Lions from Bashan upon the Church Is 47.6.37.29 When God is wroth with his People for their unholiness and defilements they shew no mercy But God will put a Hook in their nose and lead them back like beasts into the Land of Slaughter for Sacrifices in the Temples of their own Gods Heathen briars may flourish and spread their twins far and near but when once they molest his Church they are nigh to burning Pompey prospered not after he stumbled in the Temple of Jerusalem Many and fatal instances occur in History of Gods vindictive Justice upon his enemies when once they laid hands upon the precious things of Zion Discite justitiam moniti c. learn to beware of Herod's destiny smote by an Angel in the midst of all his glory 6. These Thorns never prick and vex the Church but by his permission and guidance and when he hath performed his work upon Mount Zion Is 13.12 he will punish the fruit of their stout hearts and the glory of their high looks When the People of Zion are meek and humble then they shall arise out of obscurity and shake of their dust and Kings shall come to the glory of Zions rising Is 60.3 Bern. humiliatio parit humilitatem Sanctified humiliation brings advancing humility All their thorns shall be consecrated into sweet briars and all their pricking vexations shall prove medicinal like potions made of the Carduus bendictus the blessed thistle The troubles of the Church both for time and measure are guided by her wise ad holy Husband who hath charged the tossing waves of the Sea hitherto shall ye come and no further 7. He praises his Church and sets off her beauty by the uncomeliness of the adjoyning thorns She is black but comely scratcht but beautiful A Dove begrim'd among the Pots but a Dove still Song 2.10 Arise my Dove my love my fair one Song 1.5 my joy come away The Tents of Kedar set a lustre upon the Curtains of Solomon A Jacob in Laban's Family a Joseph in Pharaoh's an Obadiah in Ahab's gives a perfume to the place they dwell in there 's a wall of fire between the lillies and the thorns Zach. 2.4 to cherish the lillies and to consume the thorns There 's a black side of the Cloud to dannt the Aegyptians but a bright side to enlighten and comfort Israel Let not the Church be discouraged for Christ owns and loves her in the midst of deformities Inser 1. imbecilities and conflicts Though sometimes weak and a little heady and conceited 't is his beloved Spouse still whom he intends to form and beautifie for himself A tender father pitties his sick and weakly Child most of all A gracious Husband compassionates his sickly Spouse especially if sick of love His left hand is under her head Song 2.6 and his right hand doth embrace her A little pettishness and frowardness does not alienate his heart from her if right in the main his generous love winks at many things and pardons all Though the Moon have her spots the Sun distains not to shine upon her and though a Saint may have some foolishness Ps 69.5.14 yet God delivers him from draggling in the mire and suffers him not to sink Uprightness may consist with many imperfections Infer 2. God takes his measures by sincerity and not infirmity that 's a Saints joy He considers our tentations and knows our frame and remembers that we are but dust Ps 103 14 Some frowardness and frettings in the midst of integrity nay a spark of grace is highly regarded though at first struck from Heaven into an ocean of corruption within us its kindling and will be flaming We have our coolings and our warmths some beauty though some deformities and the heart is all with God if the bent and tenour of the spirit be towards him onely take heed lest our weaknesses should eclipse his praise despond our spirits in holy duties and indulging of touchy flashes should habituate into fierceness and thereby become envious at our betters in grace and at last droop and sink into an uncomfortable frame of spirit and then censure and backbite others that faithfully and meekly reprove us for our folly and would restore us to a heavenly frame and communion with God Be sensible and meek under every tryal Infer 3. Let crosses crucifie the flesh within thee and let every affliction mortifie the body of sin and death and still remember thou art Christs Lilly though distressed by manifold thorns Keep in the royal highway to Heaven between fainting and confidence He that faints Prov. 24.10 the strength of his faith is small Nourish faith by Promises they are the milk and hony of the Land of Canaan Keep always some of these precious cordials in the bottles of memory be ware also of too much confidence selfconceit Qui se sibi magistrum constituit stulto se discipulum subdit Bern. Epist 87. a self taught person has a fool to his Master The Church as far transcends the World as a pure unspotted Lilly outshines a crew of intricate thorns upon a cragged rock Inser 4. or as a garden of roses in Sharon is more pleasant then the cursed Mountains of Gilboa unpassable by briars and brambles Puniceis humilis quantum saliunca rosetis As sragrant roses prickly thorns excel Brambles and Myrtles yield no parallel Is 55.13 Let none value true Saints by external grandeur but their vertues and graces humility sweetness peacefulness and innocency Many Professors are esteemed for riches and titles for gold rings and gawdy cloths James 2.3 Sit here at my right hand make room for a Silken Vest and fine toyes upon an empty head and a barren heart Oh how our estimates stick in the mire whom do you most prize and admire a poor sheep-skin Saint that stands his ground in Persecution Heb. 11.37 or a proud Peacock that yelps at a Storme Are ye not carnal and judges of evil thoughts James 2.4 Since it appears not now what it is to be a true Son of God but at that day it will be revealed when we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 Infer 5. Let none stand amazed at the pageantry of false Churches nor value the Whore of Rome because of her bravery Rev. 18.16 She 's deckt with Pearles and precious stones but smells strong of Aegypt All the Persumes of Arabia can't hide or choak her stink 'T is not Lateran Musick will consecrate her Masses into audience nor her incense procure access to the Throne of Grace Amos 5.22 I will not smell says the Lord in your Solemn Assemblies Take away the noise of your Songs the melody of your Viols let judgment run down as waters and righteousness like a mighty stream I shall end

with Bernard to Eugenius the 4th * Bern. de consid l. 1. f. 238. Plena est ambitiosis ecclesia non est jam quod exhorreat in studiis molitionibus ambitionis non plus quam spelunca latronum in spoliis viatorum The Church of Rome is stufft with ambitious persons they tremble no more in the studious endeavours after ambitious designs then a den of Robbers at dividing the spoyls of innocent travellers and then tells him to his face among other smart but serious reflections upon his Lordliness † id l. 3 f. 240. praesis ut prosis c. ut dispenses non imperes c. Nullum tibi venenum nullum gladium plus formido quam libidinem dominandi govern to edification act like a Servant and Steward not an Emperor I dread no poyson no assassinate more fatal to you then the lust of domination Be not offended at the Church of Christ because of her mean and troublesome State Inser 6. What if the King of Zion come meek and lowly riding upon an Ass Zech 9.9 or his holy Apostles walking on foot for the Conversion of Nations through the World what if the showrs of Heaven sall upon the cheeks of the lovely lowly Lilly and she sit weeping among the briars must true religion and pure worship be never courted but when the Sun shines The way to Canaan lay through stones and rocks Deut. 8.15 amidst Lions and Tygers among Scorpions and fiery flying Serpents true genuine Israel must through all and never be appaled dismayed or dare to face about to Aegypt of which the Lord hath said ye shall return that way no more Deut. 17.16 If we startle at the briars about the lillies flinch for a few prickles we are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 10.37 The troubles are but momentany the glory eternal They may hurt the flesh but cannot hinder the flight of the soul into the bosome of Abraham Let not the Churches afflictions obstruct your associating to her company which is passing under the conduct of her 2d Joshua Heb. 4.8.9 into everlasting rest Judge not her beauty 't is under a mask and though besmeared by the soil of her malignant enemies she is all glorious within 'T is our ignorance of the Churches beauty A comely face must not be disingeniously wip't by a malicious tongue till the dust and spots be wash'd off and its aspect clarified nor a sweet temper dropt upon because of calumnies before converse does open it 'T is want of holiness in most and true love to it 1 John 2.10 that causes stumbling at the holy ways of God Resign your selves into his sweet and strong tuition Inser 7. who can incline the worst of brambles to be a fence and security to his lillies and the sharper and stronger they are the more offensive to the Churches enemies Is 46.11 Cyrus a ravenous Bird from East God called to feast upon the sacrifice of his wrath in the Land of Chaldea to root up the briars of Babylon which had so greatly vexed and abused his beloved people All Histories yield notable instances of divine severity against barbarous persecutors when once they stretch out their hands against the Church they are quickly withered To what fearful issues the inraged and infatuated instruments of Satan in the 10 primitive Persecutions were reduced Ecclesiastick and Civil story is very pregnant let 's endeavour with all sincerity and sedulity to lead lives unblameable and keep Conscience unspotted before God and man and arm our selves with holy resolutions against every sinful course wherein we would tremble to appear at the dreadful Judgment seat of Christ and God our gracious father will take care of his part to give us divine protection and preserve us to his heavenly Kingdom What blessed lives might Christians live did they walk always as under the eye of an Omniscient God and with what comfort might they resign their spirits at death into his hands as of a faithful Creator and merciful Redeemer obtaining an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ FINIS