Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	david_n	king_n	saul_n	2,955	5	9.9011	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15815	Soueraigne comforts for a troubled conscience Wherein the subtilties of Satan are discouered, his reasons and obiections fully answered. And further, the truth laid open and manifested, to the great consolation and strengthening of such as are distressed and afflicted in minde. Written by the late faithfull seruant of the Lord Mr. Robert Yarrow. And now published for the benefit of such as groning vnder the burthen of an afflicted conscience desire comfort.	Yarrow, Robert.; Maunsell, John.	1619 (1619)	STC 26077; ESTC S111781	167,803	456

in what manner soeuer in this earthly mansion he doth deale with them His loue being once begunne which is euen from all eternity neuer altereth or changeth it is an euerlasting loue which neuer shall haue end Now then answer mee I pray thee thou that in this sinister manner doest iudge hatred to be in God towards his children and art greatly troubled and disquieted in minde with this euill and wicked cogitation Was not Dauid a man after Gods owne heart afflicted Was not lob a man blessed of the Lord greatly afflicted Were not Daniel and all the Propbets of the Lord afflicted Were not the Apostles yea and all the fauhfull Martyrs and Witnesses of the Lord afflicted Nay did not our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe taste deepely of this cup in his owne person And did he not in many places and many times foreshew vnto his Disciples that this must be the state of his seruants in this world to beare the Crosse and to suffer afflictions Surely this is so plaine that it cannot bee denied The Scriptures are in this cose very plentifull and apparant And were not I pray you all these the beloued of God This also is so manifest that none can doubt thereof which is led by Gods Spirit And canst thou then say that the afflictions wherof these holy men yea and the Sonne of God himselfe also were partakers came of hatred which God had conceiued against them It is possible that the Deusll may put into the heart of some so to think but it is impossible that euer this should bee found in God who is loue 1. Iob. 4 8. and whose loue towards his seruants is euerlasting Thirdly the very considerations of all ages By compating his dealing with his faithfull seruants and those that were his enemies in all ages from the first Abel euen vnto this time wherein we now liue will approue no lesse but that the miseries and afflictions of this life inferre no hatred or want of loue in God vnto his children For if it were so that they did make such inference then see and consider well what monstrous and deuilish consequents would follow vpon the same Hath not alwaies the Church of God beene throwne vnto the walles Hath it not beene from age to age and from time to time cruelly persecuted And is not that certaine which the Prophet Dauid affirmeth Psal 73.4,5 that the wicked haue no bands in their death but are lusty and strong they are not in trouble as others neither are they plagued as other men Iud. 5.7 8 c. Dost thou not consider that the Israelites were in bondage and slauery when the Egyptians enjoyed liberty The people of God afflicted when the Moabites Iud. 3.6 13. Midinnites Philistims and other their enemies were in prosperity Was not Dauid persecuted when Saul was honoured as a King Luk. 16.19 20 c. Ioh. 18.40 Lazarus hunger-starued when the rich Glutton was choicely Tabled Christ arraigned when Pilate was Iudge and murthering Barrabas was acquitted and deliuered The Christiant most cruelly massacred when the Heathenish and Idolatrous people liued in peace and quietnesse To the which effect might be brought infinite examples more besides the testimony of the Scriptures Where now wilt-thou say was the hatred of God In Israel his chosen people In Dauid In Lazarus In Iesus and in his faithfull Martyrs which suffered these things at the hands of the wicked And where I pray you was loue in the Egyptians the Moabites Midianites Philistims Saul the rich Glutton Pillate and Barrabas which liued in prosperity and at liberty I hope thou wilt not so affirme Such a conclusion inferring such horrible absurdities thou seest to bee both loose and dangerous Fourthly the fruite and end of these afflictions By considering the end c. which is for correction to stir vp the graces of God in him Psal 119. is likewise to be considered The end hereof is the correction and amendment of his seruants and the increase and stirring vp of his graces and gifts in them which otherwise would bee decayed and smothered It is good saith Dauid that I haue been afflicted that I may learne thy Statutes Now then what is a greater argument vnto vs of Gods loue then to see him vse those meanes and waies vpon vs though sharpe and sowre vnto our nature for vnto our flesh no affliction seemeth ioyous but grieuous whereby his graces may be furthered increased and multiplyed in vs to his glory and our endlesse comfort good and benefit Fiftly the danger which vsually ensueth vpon the absence of these things Men are then most apt to fall into great sinnes when they are most free from trouble doth proue sufficiently also that Gods loue especially shineth forth most cleerely in the presence of them and that his hatred most appeareth when they are furthest remoued from vs for euen then especially aboue all other times haue the seruants of God fallen into the committing of the greatest sinnes and mischieses when they haue had no afflictions no troubles to occupie and exercise themselues withall Noah Noah so long as hee had the scorning world to molest him continued to walke vprightly with God but when they by the Floud were taken away and there were none to trouble him and that hee liued in peace in his priuate family hee was ouer-taken with drunkennesse and was in his drunkennesse vncouered in his Tent. Lot Lot so long as hee had the Sodomites to vexe his righteous soule liued well and carefully but when by fire and brimstone from heauen they were destroyed and hee at rest with his two-daughters without any disquiet or molestation hee was likewise ouertaken with drunkennesse and committed incest with his two daughters Whiles Dauid continued vnder the dread of Saul Dauid and was cumbred with enemies hee liued vprightly and gaue himselfe wholy to serue the Lord but being freed from these dangers hauing gotten peace and quietnesse hee became secure gaue himselfe to the contrary his eyes and heart fell on lusting and neuer ceased vntill hee had committed both Adultery and Murther Many examples to the like effect might be brought but these I trust may suffice in this so plaine and euident a matter And this the rather for that euery one of vs if we will iudge vprightly doth finde in himselfe that hee neuer seeketh lesse after God or lesse hath him in his minde then in the time of prosperity and contrariwise neuer prayeth and sueth vnto him more earnestly then when hee is pressed with aduersity Shall any man now thinke that God bateth him and hath cleane cast him off because hee hath laid this crosse vpon him to be borne Nay rather let him herein boldly acknowledge the great loue and fauour of God towards him in that her laboureth in this so fauour●ble and Fatherly a manner to call him home and will not suffer him by any meanes to grow into security and so

the Enemies do not come vpon vs at vnawares The Citie or Country hauing enemies encamped against it and looking euery day for nothing else but that battell shall be made against it wherein the Citizens and Inhabitants must shew themselues valiant and couragious for that then they are either to winne a peace or hazard a perpetuall slauerie carefully doth bring out make ready all their furniture muster their men and traine out all their best and most able Souldiers to the end it may be sufficiently prepared for the purpose against so great a Day Euen so the meditation of this great and strong conflict at the time of death with so great mighty enemies which how sudden and how soone it will bee is to vs vnknowne would teach vs to bee prouided and prepared to traine vp euery part and member in vs in this spirituall kind of fight that we may bee able to withstand these our deadly enemies at euery pinch Now that according to that which I haue said we may bee throughly and strongly armed I thinke it good as the Apostle Paul hath left vnto vs the description of the Panoplyo and complete armour of a Christian Ephes 6. to deliuer the same in the seuerall parts that so the vse of euery piece may stand vs in the better stead and serue our turnes the better in this conflict First therefore 1. Coat of Constancie according to the Apostles counsell thou art to put on the Coat of constancie For that it is which the Apostle meaneth Gal. 5.1 Ephes 6.10 14. when as hee biddeth the Ephesians and in them willeth all Christians to stand fast or bee strong When thou art to enter into this fight all feare all fainting must be vtterly exiled and banished from thee although thine enemies will vse many meanes to beate a feare into thee and to make thee to shrinke and flie away yet thou must haue a care vnto this to stand fast But herein thou art to looke well vnto the matter and take a good view of this piece of armour I meane this Coat of Constancie lest thou be deceiued For it must be Armour of proofe or elseit will not serue thy turne it is so far off from doing thee any good that it will rather turne to thy great hurt That thou shouldest not in this piece be deceiued the Apostle hath put a stampe and a marke thereupon that thou mayst easily discerne know it from that which is counterfet and that is in the Lord. Except thy constancie and courage then be in the Lord thou wilt easily bee ouerthrowne thou art not able to stand Thou must therefore when thou commest to occupy a roome in this fight which thou must doe euen all thy whole life time vtterly forsake thine owne wit and policy thine abundance and wealth all trust and confidence in thine owne workes and merits How sure soeuer these things appeare and be iudged of some yet they are found meere weake and insufficient of themselues in the iudgement of the Holy Ghost whose iudgement thou art aboue all to stand to approoue and like of Learne therefore to bee bold and resolute against the rage of thy furious enemies not because thou hast naturall strength or worldly wit and policie or the riches and goods of the world neither for that thou art attended vpon with many Popish ceremonies which are worse then vanities or because thou hast some store of good workes But be thou therefore strong and stand it out with constancie because the Lord is with thee Be bold and resolute in him and in his power might for in him alone thou shalt be sure and also able to preuaile against thine enemies 1. Sa. 17.45 Dauid comming to fight with the Gyant Goliah came in the Name of the Lord and in his name by his power by his might ouercame the Enemy of God and his people So fight thou still in the Name of the Lord and thou shalt surely triumph ouer all thine enemies be they neuer so great neuer so many and neuer so strong and mighty The Apostle proceeding in more particular manner 2. Girdle of Truth with the description of this Christian Armour and setting downe the seuerall parts thereof appointeth in the second place the Girdle willing vs to put on the girdle of Truth Stand therefore saith hee hauing your loynes girded with the girdle of Truth Ephes 6.14 Many girdles it may be shall bee offered thee and they shall through the craft of the Enemy be gloriously set forth making a shew outwardly as though they were sure and strong but in this take heed and beware thou bee not deceiued For it is not generally all truths neither that which man wil presumptuously obtrude and thrust vpon thee for truth Of which sort are almost all the Popish points of Religion beautified with the vaine shew of many vaine and idle ceremonies But it is onely the Truth and sinceritie of the Gospell which the Apostle speaketh of The knowledge of this Gospell hauing a Christian obedience annexed thereunto for a Buckle serueth as a girdle to containe vs and to hold vs in that we may be strong and able to resist the Diuell binding vp as it were about vs al those long loose garments of our naturall and fleshly reason which would otherwise greatly trouble and hinder vs in this Spirituall combate A necessary part of Armour no doubt and so needfull that without it it booteth or auaileth vs nothing at all to goe into the field And although it be neuer so needfull yet alas how small is the number of those which are carefull to prouide themselues of it For euen in these golden dayes of peace and safety from persecution when as the Gospell by the preaching thereof is offered vnto men in most plenteous manner it is a world to see how diuersly men are affected towards it that in the worst manner Some giue themselues wholly vnto the world some follow the pleasures of the flesh some although they haue tasted and felt the great fauor of God in deliuering them from the palpable darknes of Romish superstition and Idolatry yet now lothing the sweet Manna of the Gospell like the rebellious and murmuring Israelites in their hearts returne back againe vnto the flesh-pots of Aegypt And almost generally it is to be found in men that euery thing of light moment and weight yet is of force sufficient to hold them from prepating of this girdle whereby no small aduantage is offered to our deadly Enemy to preuaile against vs. The third piece of Armour to helpe to defend vs in this fight 3. Brest-plate of righteousnesse Ephes 6.14 and to furnish vs in this preparation is by the Apostle called the brest-plate of righteousnes And this is that which elsewhere in the Scriptures is called a good conscience which is a dutifull care and study to walke sincerely and vprightly according to the Spirit to lead our life