Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	death_n	swallow_v	victory_n	1,217	5	9.2933	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78144	A Christian standing & moving upon the true foundation. Or, A word in season. Perswading to sticke close to God, act eminently for God. In his present design a- against [sic] all discouragements, oppositions, temptations. Expressed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monthly fast, Octob. 25, 1648. By Matthew Barker, M.A. late preacher of the Gospel at James Garlick-hith, London, and now at Morclacke in Surrey.	Barker, Matthew, 1619-1698.	1648 (1648)	Wing B772; Thomason E468_40; ESTC R10148	45,680	72

Jesus 3. In respect of their Original vers 47. The first man is of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven The first man was earthly in his originall and all that we have received from him brings us not up above an earthly estate but the second Adam was the Lord from Heaven and so in him wee rise up into an heavenly estate Thus you have a briefe account of his skill in divine learning His skill in humane learning appeares as in the excellency of his stile so in the exactnesse of his method He first begins with his Prooem and there prepares the mindes of the people to entertain that heavenly discourse that he was to insist upon and this you have in 11. first verses Next we have the narration wherein he states the Question and layes down the subject that he was to speak to and that you have in the 12. verse Now if Christ be preached that be rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead As if he should say The Doctrine that we Apostles Ministers of Christ preach is that there shall bee a resurrection of the dead Now there are some among you whether of the Sect of the Epicures among the Heathens or of the Sadduces among the Jewes or of both some there are that deny it And whether they or we have the truth with us is the matter in controversie And next he proceeds to the confirmation wherein he doth prove his own assertion by many solid and undeniable arguments from the 12. verse to the 33. which would be too long to give a particular account of at this time After this he comes to the Confutation wherein he answers an objection and that we find in the 35. verse But some man will say How are the dead raised up and with what bodies doe they come This he answers by a double Metaphor The one is of Corn which by dying is quickned as you read 36 37 38. verses The other is from the severall formes and qualities wherewith God hath cloathed other creatures in nature as you read in 39 40 41. verses And then he further proceeds to the Illustration in the 42 43 44 verses wherein he unfolds and describes the nature and manner of the resurrection And lastly we have the Epilogus where he windes up all and makes a practicall application of his whole discourse Wherefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord as knowing that your labour is never in vain in the Lord. That we may rightly understand the ful Emphasis of the Text we must look back to the Context The Apostle having largely discoursed of the resurrection wherein he seeth both himselfe and all Saints raised up into a state of victory as he speakes in the 54. verse Death is swallowed up in victory like a Conquerour he doth perform these three things in the end of the chapter 1. He makes his triumph and sets his feet upon the neckes of his enemies O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory v. 55. 2. He offers up his sacrifice of praise to the God of his victory But thankes be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus v. 57. 3. He gives out his Orders for the right improving of his victory and that two wayes as wee read in the Text. 1. To a Christian stedfastnesse and resolution Be you stedfast and unmoveable as if he should say God hath made you Conquerours in Christ over Death Grave the Law Sin and all your enemies the victory is fallen on your side therefore now stand your ground-give not back stoutly maintain what you have won 2. To a spirituall activity and sedulity Alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord as if he had said Hath the Lord Jesus done such great things for you as to bring you up into such a conquering estate and is there such a glorious estate abiding you in the resurrection as before he had described therefore now esteeme no labour or travell too much to undergoe for him In the Text we have these two maine parts 1. A Loving Compellation my beloved brethren 2. A double Exhortation the one is to a constant unmovablenesse be yee stedfast unmovable The other is to a continuall motion alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. Both which are backt and inforced with a double Motive The first implyed in the first word the Adverb ●● wherefore seeing it is thus that there are such victories won and such hopes laid up for you therefore be yee stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. The second is exprest in the last words as knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. What ever labour you undergoe either in standing unmovably upon your foundation or in your spirituall motion in the worke of Christ it is not lost labour not an empty worke your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Thus you have a briefe account of the Text. For the first part the Compellation we shall not insist upon it at all it being only to make roome in their hearts for the entertainment of the duties he commends to them That which wee shall therefore God assisting spend the time that yet remaines upon is the two Exhortations wherein he stirs them up to make a right improvment of the victory they had gotten in Christ The Motives we shall not particularly insist upon as intending to make use of them in the Application First then to the former Exhortation to a Christian unmovablenesse and constancy be you stedfast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a Metaphor either taken from a Basis or Foundation upon which the building will stand firme and stedfast So that the Apostle exhorts them to stand fast upon that sure foundation on which they were placed in Christ Or else from a Chaire or Seat in which a man sits firme without tortering or in danger of falling and so he exhorts them to sit quietly and stedfastly in that Seat of rest that Chaire of State that Throne of victory and glory which they were placed upon in the Lord Jesus The other word in this former Exhortation is unmovable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies one that will not be moved from his place or standing The Apostle knew that many things would assault them to draw them off from their foundation and spirituall stability but saith he yeeld not a jot be unmovable like the Pole of the heavens or like a Rocke in the Sea be unmoved in the midst of all Thus from the first Exhortation we shall gather this Doctrine To stand fast with an unshaken spirit upon the true foundation is the wisdome and worke of Saints Doct. That as they are raised up into a full free firme and victorious state in Christ so here they are to live abide and reigne amidst all encounters all changes from

within from without or round about them and our Apostle might the better presse this upon others as having in so great measure attained it in his owne person as we read in Rom. 8. latter end Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation distresse nakednesse famine c. nay in all these things we are more than conquerers and then adds I am perswaded that neither life nor death principallities nor powers things present nor things to come shall ever be able to seperate us from the love of God c. He like a wise Commander espies out the utmost strength of his enemies and surveying them in their number in their nature in their severall kinds and he is not one whit moved or shaken but standing firm upon his foundation concludes against them all that they shall never be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ So in 1 Cor. 16. 3. Watch y●● stand fast in the Faith quit you like men He speakes in military language for Christianity is a fight lest your enemies surprize you watch if they approach to an encounter stand ●ast retreat not at all if it comes to an engagement quit your selves like men So in Ephes 6. 13. Therefore put on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whole Armour of Go● that yee may bee able to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand or having abolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strength of all enemies to stand First as good Souldiers they are to put on their armour next stoutly to make resistance and not to cease the fight till they had quite scattered their enemies and like conquerours keeping the field having done all to stand So often doth our Saviour encourage his Disciples to stand fast Matth. 24. 6. When you heare of warres and rumours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of warres see that you be not troubled Some Criticks observe that the word implies such a trouble as when Souldiers receive some sudden alarm what strange disquietments distraction confusion may then be seene but saith Christ be not you thus troubled let not these things amaze you or draw you off from the foundation of your repose and rest One place more I shall adde John 16. last These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheere I have overcome the world It is true you are to encounter with the troubles of the world but the world and every thing in the world that fights against your life and peace is overcome in me therefore be not you moved be of good courage notwithstanding all 1. For the clearing of the point we shal first shew you wherein a Christian is to shew forth his stedfastnesse of spirit 2. Secondly the way whereby God brings up the soule to it Then we shall acquaint you with the grounds and lastly apply all to our selves For the First a Christian is to shew forth this stedfastnesse in oppsition to those severall things which are apt to shake him 1. The First is the guilt of sin this hath brought many a precious soule under sad disquietments conflicts and agonies Job felt them and expresseth them Job 6. 4. For the arrowes of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God set themselves in array against me David felt them and elegantly describes them by that dismall appearance of things upon Mount Sinai at the delivery of the Law God came downe upon it in his Majesty and glory and then the Earth shooke the foundation of the hills moved there was seen also fire smoake and burning coales darknesse darke waters thunder lightning and thick cloudes of the skie All this the Prophet did finde spiritually in his own soul so dreadful and disquieting is the presence of God to the guilty conscience But now a Christian is to stand stedfast here to live above the feares of hell and wrath and amidst all that unworthinesse weaknesse sinfulnesse he beholds in himself yet to esteem himselfe in Christ perfectly righteous in the sight of God and so to be at peace The Apostle exhorts to this Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh with full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience c. Nothing more unfits the soule to draw nigh to God than an evil conscience a conscience under the workings of guilt and feare of wrath not that we exclude mourning for sin such mourning as flowes from faith and calls not the soule off from the true foundation 2. The Second thing which is apt to disquiet the soule is the temptations of Satan he is an unquiet turbulent spirit and is still seeking to draw the soule off from the Centre of her rest and peace and though he cannot rob her of her inheritance in God yet he makes her to posesse it with as much trouble as he can Disorder and ataxy are the very basis of his Kingdom when every thing is brought backe to its proper place then doth his Kingdome fall Christ told his Disciples that Satan desired to winnow them as wheat Luke 22. 31. wheat is not winnowed without much moving and shaking Now a Christian is to stand fast against Satan to resist him stedfast in the faith to 1 Pet. 5. 9. 1 John 5. 18. keep himself that the wicked one may not touch him And thus he doth when he stands upon his foundation when he lives above with God and in God he hath Satan under his feet though he cast his fiery darts at him yet they are all quenched and hurt him not But when hee comes from his foundation and parlies with him and consents to his suggestions then is he wounded by him The Devill could not touch Christ because hee abode stedfast in the Godhead and the will of the Father hee set the Lord alwayes before him and kept Satan behind him Psal 16. 8. Mat. 16. 23 and so conquered Had our first parents done thus they had not fallen but they turning their eyes from God and his will and fixing it upon the temptation were bewitched and fell 3. The third thing that is apt to disquiet the soul is the Law When it was delivered the Earth shook the people trembled and Moses himselfe said I exceedingly feare and quake This is the naturall effect of the Law to cause earthquakes and shakings in the Soule When a poore Christian lookes upon the purity and strictnesse of the Law pointed with wrath curse against the least transgression as also the holinesse justice and majesty of the law-giver and his own vilenesse and filthinesse he is then ready to quake and tremble and say with those men of Bethshemesh Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 1 Sam. 6. 20. But yet looking up to that free estate to which he is advanced in Christ having the Law with all its

is he that lives most directly upon his foundation lives in greatest conquest over his lusts and so most at liberty The second place of reason is from the Honour of Reason 2 Christ we cast a deep stain upon his glory when wee stand not fast 1. We dishonour him in his Sufferings yea in all his great transactions for us in the flesh when we stand not fast He hath sweat bled died rose again that he might bring us into a state of Conquest over all our enemies and having conquered them for us he calls us as Joshua did Josh 10. 24. the men of Israel in the type to set our feet upon their necks and triumph over them Now what dishonour is this to Christ if we shal flie before these enemies that he hath thus conquered You know of whom it was said Hanniball that he knew how to conquer but not how to use his conquests We improve not our victory aright if we stand not fast if we keep not those enemies still under us that have been conquered for us 2. We dishonour him in his Spirit that Spirit which was in Christ and brought him off with conquest in all his agonies conflicts and sufferings he hath given to dwell in the heart of every Christian that it might bring them up into the same victory When therefore we suffer our selves to be overcome we grieve we dishonour that victorious that * So that word may bee read 51. p. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 princely Spirit which dwells within us doth not this speak that there is more power in Satan to destroy then in this Spirit to save that he that is in us is lesser then he that is in the world 3. We dishonour him in his truth how doth the Gospel suffer when those that professe it stand not fast how doe the enemies of the Gospel triumph over the truth Religion Gospel all when Christians fall Lactantius professeth that he saw in Bithynia a chiefe Ruler boasting tanquam barbarorum gentem aliquam subegisset as if he had overcome some great Nation when he had made but one poore Christian renounce his profession which Lact. lib. 5. cap. 11. he had for two yeares stoutly maintained against all his tormentours And I remember it is an argument that he much insists upon to prove the truth of the Christian religion by viz. the constancy and unmovablenesse of Christians Eadem ubique patientia idem contemptus mortis c. 4. We dishonor him in his alsufficency as if he could not protect us against all evil and supply us with all good as if we might finde some good in the creature which is not in himselfe for if that we finde all fulnesse here why then doe we not stedfastly abide in him From the end of the Gospel there are three things Reason 3 that will much establish the heart faith hope and joy and the Gospel is said to be written to worke all these in us First joy 1 Joh. 1. 4. These things we write unto you that your joy may be full Secondly faith 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things we write that you may beleeve on the name of the Son of God Thirdly hope Rom. 15. 4. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope But there are especially three things revealed in the Gospel which will establish the soule John 16. ult 1 Cor. 15. penult 1. In the Gospel is revealed our conquest in Christ over all our enemies and may not this be a strong bulwark to establish the soule against all their assaults that she hath to doe with conquered enemies By this the Roman Generall sought to put new courage into the ●cipi● hearts of his Soldiers telling them Cum iis est vobis hodie pugnandum quos priori bello terrâ marique vicistis you are to encounter with those to day whom in a former battle you conquered both by Land and Sea 2. In the Gospel is revealed that sweet fellowship wee 1 John 1. 3. have with the Father and the Son And what will more tend to establish the soule in all conditions than this that shee is made one with power wisdome life and happinesse it self and beholding the infinite God giving himself to be her shield reward and portion As God to quiet the heart of Abraham when he had left countrie kinred lands all to follow him tells him Gen. 15. 1. I am thy shield thy exceeding great rewara Emptinesse is as fulnesse losse as gaine poverty as riches death as life nothing as all things to that soule that hath heard such language from heaven 3. In the Gospel is revealed the hope of our caling that inheritance imortall incorruptible undefiled reserved for us in the heavens 1 Pet. 1. 4. and this being seen will carry on the soule with stedfastnesse and invincible resolutions to the possession of it It was Canaan that the Israelites had in their eye that encouraged them to walke through the midst of the Sea through a land of drought of desarts and pits and the shaddow of death The recompence of reward Moses had in his eye which made him neither to decline by the flatteries of the Court nor the afflictions of the Church The incorruptible crowne was in the eye of Paul which made him not to faint in his race and to keep his body under and in subjection 1 Cor. 9. latter end yea to glory in the crosse of Jesus Gal. 1. 4. The joy set before Christ made him to endure the crosse and to despise the shame Heb. 12. 2. Thus you have an account of the Reasons The main part of the Sermon is yet behinde which lies in the bringing of all these thruths home to our owne hearts and that we now are addressing to in the strength of Christ From what hath bin said may not every soul here present Use 1 weepe mourne and bleed afresh before the Lord this day Could I have insisted upon any Point that speakes out so much to our shame and debasement that may lay us lower in the dust than this I am now upon who is there that may not take up a sad lamentation over the instability of his owne heart and its cursed declinings from the true foundation every day When men take an account of their stature in Christianity by the performance of some externall duties and the avoiding of grosse and scandalous sins by the goodlinesse of their profession c. They are ready to say as the young man in the Gospel Master what lack I yet But if they lay themselves in this Ballance measure themselves by this rule try themselves by this touchstone Oh how exceeding light short and corrupt will they be found This is that which God so sadly complaines of in his owne people Psal 78. 7 8. They are a rebelious generation a generation that set not their hearts aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God And ver 37. Their heart

complain that you have been ill rewarded by some for the favour you have shewed them it hath not won them over to you but emholdened them against you and rendred your Authority more contemptible And therefore did you onely move upon principles of just policy you could not well dispense with justice But surely you are in this case to act upon higher grounds hath not your cause been stiled the Cause of God and your warres the warres of Christ against Antichrist For what ever power it is that doth presse the forms of godlinesse to the destruction of the power that tramples upon the Saints of the most high that in the Temple of God sits above God and will make times and places holy which God hath left common impose Laws to binde the Conscience in matters of divine worship which Christ hath never instituted is certainly Antichristian and hath not that power against which you ingaged been of this nature Now hear what the voice from heaven saith concerning Babylon when she is falling Revel 18. 6. Reward her even as she rewarded you and double to her double according to her works And the third Angel having powred out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters and they becoming blood Revel 16. 4 5 6. the Angel of the waters saith Thou art righteoas O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus For they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy You see what a foundation you have to build the execution of justice upon to supersede all objections and resolve all scruples in it 4. Lastly shew your resolution in the propagation of the Gospel and promoting of Religion within your spheare that it may have a free course in the Kingdom Let the faithfull Dispensers of it be encouraged and countenanced by your Authority though all see not by the same light and cannot act by the same rules let men be own'd and countenanced not by their opinions but by their piety and faithfulnes in the work of God owning them upon other grounds will be apt to make parties and raise jealousies among them And certainly nothing will tend so much to the establishing of the Kingdom to the advancing of Reformation to the ●●ine of Antichrist as the free progresse of the Gospel Those seeds of Popery that are yet in the hearts of the greatest part of the Kingdom will never be rooted up but by this means Antichrist hath a double sword in his hand temporall and spirituall his temporall Religio suaderi potest non cogi Lact. Sword shall be beaten out of his hands by the temporall and the spirituall by the spirituall even the Word and Spirit And was his spirituall power removed his temporall would fall of it self He first enslaves the Conscience and then he picks mens purses and brings them under his power Whiles Episcopacy is received upon a Jus Divinum no wonder though it stands firme And that to meddle with the Lands that bore it up in its pomp and pride is the highest sacriledge forsooth and who ever toucht them it would be as that Aurum Tholosanum their ruine and undoing Whiles men are thus perswaded and abused a Bishops title is the surest in the world but let the Gospel and truth take place in the hearts of men and both the fabrick and the props will fall down together Antichrists kingdom is nothing but darknesse and light destroys it We read Revel 14. 6. of an Angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the Earth and then in 8. verse another Angel comes saying Babylon is fallen is fallen And Revel 18. 1 2. When the earth was lightned with the Angels glory Babylon fell The spirituall whore doth dresse up her self in a false glory with scarlet purple gold and precious stones Revel 17. 4. which is discovered and destroyed as the true glory breaks forth in the world Thus you see your work is to stand fast to move and encourage to it let me propound these severall considerations 1. Consider how deeply God hath ingaged you to stick fast to him how wonderfully he hath gone forth with you in your counsels and Forces and hath done greater things by you and for you then any Parliament before you your bowe hath abode in strength and Gen 49. 24. your Arme hath been made strong by the Arme of the mighty God of Iacob He hath given your Enemies as the dust to the sword and as the driven stubble to your Isa 41. 2. bowe If ever any victories had the Arme of the most high God ingraven upon them then have yours Can you Sirs look back and see what difficulties God hath brought you through what mountains he hath led you over and not cry out even with astonishment as Balaam in his parable What hath God Numb 23. 23. wrought Could a man ever have thought to see the Hierarchy f●ll and the Kingdome stand to see that power that had so twisted it selfe in the power of the State to be pull'd away and yet a visible power of the Kingdome remaining To see a poore despised handfull of men as the Saints were to have their heads lifted up and to become a terrour to their numerous Enemies as the Iews were in the dayes of Morde●ai What had become of you and all those that faithfully adhered to you if God had not wrought for you after an extraordinarie rate had he suffered your enraged Enemies to prevail could you have expected to be followed with Propositions to restore you to Honour Safetie and freedome Or could you have compounded for your lives at a lower rate then slavery and beggery Think upon this and you m●y easily see your ingagements to cleave close to God Magnus Animus magnam fortunam decet Answer that high estate to which God hath brought you by high resolutions for him 2 Consider how you have ingaged your selves to God by Protestations Covenant and such Declarations as have revived the hearts of your friends and raised up their hopes of you to a great height and made them ambitious who should appear most eminently for you in this cause Never did Parliament before you pretend so much to God and entitle him so immediately to the work before them as you have done Now as Nehemiah said Shall such a man as I flee Nehem. 6. 11. A man that have made the Lord my confidence and am set apart for his immediate service So shall such a Parliament as you ever flee or faint that have thus bound your selves to God and profest your relyance upon himself in the managing of the work in hand And have more solemnly upon all emergent difficulties set your selves to seek God then any former Parliament shall such a Parliament as this ever give back faint or flee 3. Consider the necessity of your standing fast A whole Kingdome