Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	arm_n	king_n	see_v	975	5	3.2257	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88994	A shadovv of the victory of Christ, represented to the Honourable House of Commons, in a sermon preached at Margarets Westminster on the day of the publick fast, Octob. 28. 1646. / By John Maynard, Minister of the Gospel at Mayfield in Sussex.	Maynard, John, 1600-1665.	1646 (1646)	Wing M1453; Thomason E359_5; ESTC R201167	22,927	30

were to Cesars Souldiers he slighteth them all in all these {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} we do more than conquer through him that loved us it may seem more proper to have said through the Almighty power of Christ our Captain But he chuseth the sweet attribute of love shewing that it is a speciall act of his love that he leadeth on his followers to such conflicts intending to make them happy gainers more than conquerours I beleeve so many would turn Souldiers that we should want hands for other imployments if they could be assured of two things First to be entirely beloved of their Commander as his own right arm Secondly that they should return with safety and victory This is the happinesse of all the servants and souldiers of Christ He loveth them tenderly as the members of his own body as the apple of his own eye He will bring them off more than conquerours Secondly He delivereth all his faithfull servants from all those cruell task-masters to which they were enslaved Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are under grace Oh what an happinesse is it to be freed from so many tyrannicall monsters to have the strength of pride covetousnesse lust sensuality broken This should wonderfully provoke us fully to yeeld up our spirits in subjection to Christ Blessed is the Soul that maketh such a change that is freed from the slavery of sin and Satan carrying it on to destruction and is now governed and led by Christ in the way of salvation 3. He pitieth them in regard of the infirmities accompanying them in his services for which themselves mourn against which they strive and graciously spareth them as a Father spareth his son that serveth him 4. Yea He helpeth their infirmities cometh in upon them by his Spirit when the work is too heavy for them is a co-worker with them easeth their yoke and delighteth to manifest his power in their weaknesse 5. The happinesse of his subjects and servants appeareth in their reward that is 1. Sure 2. Incomparable 1. Sure Verily there is a reward for the righteous The wicked worketh a deceitfull work that is a self-deceiving work as the opposite member sheweth he that hath to do with sin dealeth with a cheater which promiseth gain pleasure satisfaction but meerly deceiveth him payeth him with shame sorrow miserie but to him that loveth righteousnesse shall be a sure reward righteousnesse and true holinesse is such a kinde of seed as never miscarrieth he that soweth it is sure of a good harvest it is a seed taken out of the granary of heaven it will grow and prosper in any ground Christ saith Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me His reward is ready Those that serve Princes or States most faithfully must wait long for their reward many times though they whom they serve be very desirous to satisfie them because their reward is not alwayes with them not alwayes ready I have fought a good fight saith the Apostle henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousnesse c. his Crown was ready for him before he was ready to wear it it was laid up and kept in store for him Secondly the reward is incomparable 1. In the service 2. After it 1. In the service In scelere sceleris supplicium sceleri paena coaetanea Sin carrieth vengeance in it own bowels sin and punishment are contemporary fin it self is a misery holinesse it self is a reward Now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life This is a certain truth and the people of God find it by experience that the present reward that goeth along with the work of Christ the sweet refreshings which Christians meet with in the way of holinesse are far above all the pleasures of sin and the best things which the world can bestow upon it lovers That sweet peace of conscience those tastes of heaven those glimpses of glory those beginnings of eternall life are far above all earthly comforts But secondly the reward that is prepared for them after their work is done is more than they are able to desire or conceive Saith Moses I beseech thee shew me thy glory The Lord telleth him Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live As if he had said Moses thou askest thou knowest not what the weight of glory which would result from my face is more than thou art able to stand under in this mortall condition That exceeding weight of glory which Christ hath provided for his people is so great so incomparable that they are not capable of it untill they be transformed into the likenesse of Christ it is more happinesse than their hearts can hold in that estate wherein now they are Oh that the Lord would give us hearts to beleeve these things really as they are most sure and reall truths Doth not many a man think if I could get into such a mans service I were a man made This is onely true of the service of Christ thou art more happy if thou hast him for thy Master than if thou hadst all the men on earth for thy servants His service is a greater preferment than the richest Crown under heaven If our hearts were not wretchedly muddy earthly unbeleeving how could we sleep quietly untill we were entertained by Christ in his service Thirdly consider the misery of those that do not yeeld subjection to Him No enemie so dreadfull as Christ to them that stand out against Him Who knoweth the power of thine anger Little do poore souls know the weight of his Almighty arm Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me let me see them executed Kings Rulers people conspire in rebellion against the Lord and against His Christ Let us break their hands asunder and cast away their cords from us Alas poore worms He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure That wrath which springeth out of the earth which men of the world can shew seemeth terrible but who is able to endure that wrath which is powred down from Him that sitteth in heaven Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in peices like a potters vessell Then followeth the Use that now we are upon Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth It is the wisdom of Kings and Rulers yea and of all degrees of people to stoop to Him who can and most certainly will subdue all to Himself Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Kisse the Son rest he be angry and ye perish in the way when his wrath is kind●ed but a little A little of

foure and twenty Elders which sate before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned Where they seem to speak of Christ as of some mighty Prince who seeing his kingdom to be invaded by forraign enemies suffereth them to go on in acts of hostility for a time as if he had laid by his great power but when he seeth his time taketh up his power again raiseth his Armies to suppresse them So Christ may seem for divers ages to have laid by His great power suffering the Dragon and his Angels and then the Beast and his ten horns to reign and domineer But at the sounding of the seventh trumpet He should take to Himself His great power and reign And therefore now let the people of God expect wonders to be wrought by the great power of Christ daily It followeth And the Nations were angry the devill being cast out of the throne by Christ stirreth up his vassals to anger and we have had great experience of their fury Some of them have seemed even mad with anger so as to run on desperately upon their own ruine when the hand of God hath been apparently against them when the Lord hath blasted their counsels crossed and confounded their plots broken their strength leaving them no such grounds of hope as might encourage rationall men yet on they would and why they were angry and their anger and rage carried them headlong But I beleeve Christ will anger them yet more whilest He goeth on conquering and to conquer Again the Elders proceed in their doxology And thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the time when Christ should judge and avenge the cause of His servants that have been slain by executing vengeance on their bloodie enemies And that thou shouldst give reward to thy servants the Prophets and to thy Saints and to them that fear thy Name small and great and shouldst destroy them that destroy the earth Christ shall raise the spirits and encourage the hearts of his despised Ministers and people and destroy their destroyers This hath been done in part and shall be more fully accomplished And the Temple of God was opened in heaven the glory of Christs Church shall become more visible and it shall have a free and open passage many which were without entring into it And there was seen 〈◊〉 his Temple the Ark of his Testament the secrets of his kingdom shall be manifested the Ark it self that was hidden from the multitude within the veil shall be discovered And there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and great hail dreadfull judgements upon those who will not see and submit to the mighty power of Christ And an earthquake dreadfull concussions great changes and alterations in the kingdoms of the world The hearts of God his people should now be filled with expectation of the glorious acts of Christ in asmuch as the time is come that He hath taken to Himself His great power Secondly If Christ most certainly will subdue all things to Himself it is our wisdome willingly to stoop unto Him Let us assure our selves Christ will not part with his royalties in the least degree He will maintain to the uttermost his supremacy and soveraign authority We must bow or break one way or other we shall undoubtedly be brought under either we must willingly yeeld to the golden Scepter of his love or we shal be crushed with the iron rod of his wrath Joseph I conceive was a type of Christ both in his abasement and exaltation when he was made ruler over the land of Egypt it is said they cryed or proclaimed before him Bow the knee let all people throughout the Knigdom submit to his authority So when Christ for his Fathers glory and mans salvation had greatly humbled Himself even to the death of the Crosse God highly exalted Him and gave him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things vnder the earth He proclaimed before Him throughout heaven earth and hell Bow the knee All men angels devils and other creatures shall be subjected to Him A necessity lyeth upon us and woe unto us if we do not willingly submit For this end take these three considerations 1. The glorious and magnificent titles attributed to Christ in Scripture The Blessed and Onely Potentate earthly Potentates have but a shaddow of power in comparison of Him though all due honour and subjection must be given them by those under their Government But in respect of Christ their power and authority is no more than the light of the Starrs in the presence of the Sun He is Lord of Lords other Lords are but his vassels King of Kings other Kings are but his Subjects so they are de jure so they ought to be and they shall de facto actually at one time or other one way or other be brought under Yea He hath this Name written upon his thigh and upon his vesture King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Name which He weareth on His lower parts upon the skirt of his robe proclaimeth Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords If we poore worms are so apt to tremble at the name of an earthly King or Ruler Oh let all the powers of our souls prostrate themselves and lie lowe before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Secondly consider what a blessed condition they are in who in sincerity have subjected themselves unto him 1. In regard of His singular love toward them He is infinitely above all others the most gracious Master toward those whose spirits are subdued to His government Saith the Spouse His banner over me was love What an encouragement is it to Souldiers to have the love of their Generall Thrice happy souls that have Christ for their Commander and are led governed and conducted by Him as their King and Captain of their salvation His very banner over them is love all His Commands are commands of love all the service He requireth of them is imposed in love He never enjoyneth them any thing but what is for their good they are never losers by obeying his pleasure all their losses come by their disobedience He never putteth them upon any suffering but it is done in love He chasteneth us for our good that we might be partakers of His holinesse If He leadeth them into the field and letteth them meet with any sharp encounters He maketh them more than conquerours The Apostle having as it were searched Satans muster-rolls and taken a view of his severall brigades tribulation distresse persecution famine nakednesse perill sword enemies of a terrible aspect to the eye of flesh as the grim visages of Ariovistus his Germans

His wrath is more dreadfull than all the rage of man Let us beg this wisdom from above that we may be taught of God in all humility to yeeld and submit to Christ If a people rising up in rebellion against the Authority of the State could be fully assured of two things first that if upon summons they lay down their Arms and submit they shall not onely be pardoned but much advantaged in their estates and secondly that if they remain obstinate it will be the ruine of themselves their families and posterities were it not meer madnesse to shew themselves wilfull We are all from our birth enemies and rebels against Christ The silver trumpet of the Gospel proclaimeth pardon mercy adoption salvation the promises of this life and that which is to come to those that have been deepest in this rebellion if they come in On the contrary it is most certain all that stand out against Christ in their naturall estate and impenitency shall be subdued to their everlasting ruine and destruction For He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet Thirdly how carefull should we be throughly to examine our selves whether we be truly subjected to Christ or not whether His grace have bowed us that so we may be sure his power shall not break us whether we are over-powred by his love that so we may not be overwhelmed with his wrath Beloved this is one of the principall enquiries which we are to make throughout our whole lives We are fallen upon times which are full of questions and controversies I beleeve there have not been many ages since Christs ascension wherein more queries have been stirring more doubts and disputes agitated than in these dayes Now I suppose a man of ordinary observation may take notice of two sorts of people among us Galli●es meer spectators that look on and care for none of these things who mind the things of the world the main question that seemeth to stick with them is how they may compasse their worldly ends or how they may satisfie their lusts and make provision for the flesh these as they trouble not themselves to finde out the truth of things in controversie so they are securely negligent about this great enquiry whether they are subjected unto Christ or not Others are very busie in various disputs about things pertaining to religion some of whom I feare take little or no care to be resolved in this great busines whether their spirits are effectually subdued to the Government of Christ I beseech you let us in the fear of God set our selves to study this point If once we can by good evidence of Scripture rightly infer this conclusion that our souls are brought into a willing subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ that we are loyall Subjects to the King of Israel we may assure our selves that The Spirit of Christ will lead us by the light of His word into all necessary truth And though we be not able to answer every cavill and frivolous objection made against some particular truth yet if we can confute those arguments bent against the saving work of Christ upon our souls in reducing us under the Scepter of His Gospel we shall find more solid comfort and sweet satisfaction then those that tosse the word of God in restlesse and doubtfull disputes and shall be sure to have so much knowledge as may serve to light us the way to heaven 1 Then are our minds understandings and judgments subdued to the wisdom of Christ revealed in His word In reference to this head let us put our selves to these three interrogatories 1. Do we verily account all that wisdom to be meer foolishnes which lifteth up it self against any truth of Christ Do we sincerely desire and endeavour to have every thought within us captivated under the power of His truth Doe we abhorre it as no lesse than a degree of rebellion against Christ when we find any imaginations any carnall reasonings in our minds crossing the Gospel of Christ in any part For instance it is one of the great truths of Christ which the Apostle hath taught us by the Spirit of Christ Godlines is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come And first he confirmeth it as a most certaine truth This is a faithfull saying Secondly he valueth it as a most precious truth and worthy of all acceptation Thirdly he justifieth it as an approved experimented truth For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that beleeve Beloved if every one here present were examined upon this interrogatory and conscience were to make the answer how few would be able to approve themselves in the sight of God as true and loyall subjects unto Christ Do not many of you entertain such thoughts as these in your hearts If I should observe the Lord His day according to the strict rule of godlines if in the course of my life I shall make godlinesse my rule in performing duties in secret in my family in publick in buying selling in all the businesse of my calling in conversing with others if I should regulate all my votes in Parliament according to the principles of godlinesse I might lose my friends my repute many advantages for my estate much prejudice if not ruin my self and my posterity What answer the tongue would give I know not but I am perswaded many an ones conscience within would plead guilty This argueth non-subjection to the Scepter of Christ and rebellion against His Soveraignty Saith Christ Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of living water springing up into everlasting life Here is a point of divine wisdom uttered by the mouth of Christ Himself Are not many that read and hear this so far from subjecting their reason to it that they are ready to scorn or slight it Let them have wine and strong drink their pleasures let their cisterns be filled with worldly abundance and they do not much trouble themselves about this living water they can live without it Their minds are not subdued to the wisdom of Christ But he that looketh upon Christ as a fountain of living water beleeving verily that if once he hath him dwelling in him he shall never be exhausted and drawn dry but that this spring of grace and spirituall consolation shall stream forth into the ocean and full sea of everlasting glory He whose thirsty soul cannot be satisfied without the saving graces and comforts of Christs Spirit fully submitting himself to this wisdom of Christ and renouncing sence and reason which seemeth to contradict it he may say I am a subject of Christs Scepter the Lord Jesus is my Christ and King Again saith Christ Enter ye in at the strait

gate for wide is the gate and bread is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Are your minds subjected to the wisdom of Christ discovered in these truths Are ye verily perswaded that the gate is strait and the way narrow that it requireth much striving and contending to enter that a cold sluggish common formall way of seeking will never give you entrance If not if you please your selves in your own conceits and vain imaginations contrary to the wisdom of Christ that it is an easie thing to go to heaven ye hope to be saved as well as the best though ye hold on in an easie broad way sliding down the hill carried with the streame of the world the tide of your lusts the wind of Satans suggestions and applause of the multitude assure your selves ye are rebels against Christ ye oppose your carnall conceits and exalt your blind reason against His heavenly wisdom Secondly if your understandings be subdued to the wisdom of Christ then ye will yeeld to particular truths of Christ notwithstanding former engagements to the contrary A man cannot approve his loyalty to that Prince or State to whom he oweth Allegeance unlesse he renounce contrary engagements to a forreign Prince If by education mistake weaknesse of judgement seducements of others thou hast been engaged in defence of any errour and because of such prejudice will stiffely maintain it against the contrary truth of Christ what is this but rebellion against the wisdom of Christ But that is a sweet gracious loyall spirit that is freely ready to quit all engagements for receiving of any truth of Christ and is content that all his own notions should fall to the ground that the wisdom and truth of Christ might be exalted and maintained in it just and full authority Thirdly when thy mind and judgement stoopeth to the truth of Christ held forth by such Instruments as the proud world despiseth so soon as ever thou seest the Kings stamp upon it that is so soon as thou findst Christ His authority for it not regarding by whom it is presented to thee but looking up to Him who sitteth at the right hand of God humbly subjectest thy self to his wisdom Secondly if a man be brought into subjection unto Christ then is his will subdued to and by the Spirit of Christ Barnabas being sent from the Church of Jerusalem to confirm the new converts of Antioch When he came and had seen the grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord As if he had said Brethren I rejoyce to see these happy beginnings to see the kingdom of Christ thus enlarged and withall let me exhort you that ye yeeld up your wils fully and steadfastly unto Him cleaving to Him with purpose of heart This shall be a sweet evidence to your souls that ye are indeed subjected to Him That is a reall subjection of a loyall-hearted people to Christ when they are resolvedly His not when they have some slight inclinations toward him but when the purpose of their heart is fixed upon Him and they are steadfastly resolved that Christ shall give law to them It is grievous to a loyall subject of Christ to have any thing remaining in his will that savoureth of rebellion against Christ any renitency any unwillingnesse and indisposednesse to the work of Christ Thirdly when a man is subjected unto Christ his affections are subdued to Him He obeyeth Christ and he obeyeth Him in love he shunneth sin and he loveth to avoid it He doth the will of Christ with a desire exceeding his performance and ability A carnall person not subjected to Christ his performances exceed his affections he doth many outward services to which he hath no heart Again the loyall subject delighteth in his subjection He would not for a world be free from this yoke Wheras those rebels said Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us he saith from the bottome of his heart Blessed be God that ever He brought me under the government of his Son that instead of a slave of Satan He hath made me a subject to the King of glory As it is said of one of our English Martyrs that he kissed the stake saying Welcome the crosse of Christ welcome everlasting life So saith he whose heart is subjected to the Lord Jesus welcome the sweet yoke of Christ the very entrance into everlasting life I rejoyce in the Law of God saith Paul I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart or in the midst of my bowels saith David He professeth it was his delight to do the will of God and giveth two reasons the former imployed in those words O my God thou hast given me thy self for my gracious God and portion and therefore it is my delight to give up my self to thee in obedience The second expressed in these Thy Law is within my heart When the Law of God is once lodged within a man written in his heart fixed in his bowels then is he a loyall subject of Christ and goeth on in the way of holinesse with rejoycing he delighteth in godly sorrow for his disloyalties and wheras others strive to forget and shake off the fear of God he rejoyceth to find his heart over-awed by Christ It is delightfull to him to curb his lusts to controll his own will It is the joy of his heart to see these enemies of Christ within his own soul lye slain before Him Fourthly He that is a true subject of Christ rejoyceth to see the kingdom of Christ enlarged his cause prosper his implacable enemies brought under but especially to see rebels so subdued as to become loyall and obedient subjects What spectacle so glorious in his eye as to see Christ victorious to behold the Captain of his salvation on a day of triumph Those that are otherwise affected shew of what spirit they are whatever they pretend I heard a voice from heaven come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues For her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and double unto her double according to her works If this be a voice from heaven what shall we think of the clamour of those that contradict it is not that a voice from hell It followeth in that place how the enemies of Christ mourned at the funerall of the whore of Babylon as many of late seemed to be vexed at the fall and weakning of them that fought for the