Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	evil_a	good_a	overcome_v	2,148	5	9.0851	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13854	Directions for a godly life especially for communicating at the Lord's table. Intended first for private vse; now publish'd for the good of those who desire the safty [sic] of their owne soules, and shall bee pleased to make vse thereof. By H. Tozer Mr of Arts, and fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford.	Tozer, Henry, 1602-1650.	1628 (1628)	STC 24161; ESTC S122218	43,206	213

set vs at variance among our selues though sometimes vpon small occasions that so thereby hindering vs from the performaunce of good dueties as the receiuing or the Sacrament and such like which are the meanes of our Saluation hee may the more easily tempt vs to worse imployments while others are better exercised and so make his side the stronger against vs and who knowes what power it may please God to giue him against vs at such times Wherefore as we loue our owne safety let vs seeke to crosse him who thus opposeth vs by his temptations and if wee will needs bee at strife let it bee with him who will neuer bee at quiet with vs vntill hee haue gotten the vpper hand of vs which wee may the more easily perswade our selues vnto if wee haue respect not so much to other mens wrongfull actions as to his wicked suggestions the cause of all and assure our selues that in putting vp a wrong wee right our selues and crosse him which should bee our chiefest ayme Againe as the Diuell is the Authour of our wrongs so GOD who is the Disposer of all things hath a hand in it who permitteth the Divell thus farre to provoke vs perhaps for the tryall of our constancy and patience or for other some ends best knowne vnto himselfe and if wee could but see that the finger of GOD is in our Crosses wee would patiently answere with David Psalm 39.10 I will become dumbe and open not my mouth because it is thy doing and so commit our cause to him that hee might make our righteousnesse cleare Psal 37.6 These are the chiefest Motiues to perswade vs to this duty of Loue and Charity to all which wee may adde another taken from the exceeding loue of God to vs who so loued vs without any loue receiued first from vs that he sent his Sonne to bee a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Iohn 4.10 whence the Apostle gathereth this powerfull consequence if GOD so loued vs wee ought also to loue one another vers 11. Which that wee may the better doe let vs in the next place see the manner how it ought to bee performed Heere wee are to haue respect both to the time past and also to come As for the time past either vvee haue vvronged others or they vs. If vvee haue vvronged others vve ought to performe two thinges 1. vndoe that which vvee haue done by making restitution as farre as in vs lies according to the example of Zacheus Luk. 19.8 who was willing to restore fourefold whatsoeuer hee had taken from any man by false accusation such ought wee to bee ready to make good whatsoever wee haue taken from any man and to giue satisfaction for any vvrong that vvee haue done Neither is it sufficient to bee vvilling thus to make satisfaction vvhen vvee are moved therevnto but wee must also in the second place seeke peace with those whom wee haue wronged though wee bee not ask't which is the Counsell of Christ himselfe Matt. 5.23.24 If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leaue thy gift before the Altar and goe thy way first be reconciled to thy brother hee saith not stay till hee come to thee or be reconciled when he commeth but goe thou to him And so David also adviseth vs Psal 34.14 Seeke peace and ensue it stay not till it be offered to or required of thee but seeke it But perhaps those whom we haue offended are farre off wee cannot come neere them or neere and will not bee reconciled to vs what shall wee doe in this case Heere wee ought to vse all meanes that wee can for the procuring of peace and quietnesse but if either occasion or acceptance bee denyed vs wee need not doubt but that God will bee pleased to accept of our desire Now if others haue wronged vs wee must though perhaps it may seeme somewhat hard freely forgiue them loving even them that hate vs wherevnto our Saviour Christ often admonisheth vs in every Gospell saying If thy brother trespasse against thee seven times a day thou shalt forgiue him Luk. 17.4 And againe I say vnto you loue your enemies blesse them that curse you Matt. 5.44 But some one may say such an one hath vvronged me so much that flesh blood cannot take it It is true if thou consult with flesh and blood it will seeme hard to beare the least wrong but flesh is not a friend whom vvee may safely consult but rather a bosome enemie whom vvee ought to resist if vvee aske counsell of Christ whose counsell vvee ought and may most safely follow hee will bid vs goe and bee reconciled and Saint Paul bids vs to feede our enemies and to overcome evill with good Rom 11.21 and Solomon can tell vs that it is the glory of a man to passe over a transgression Pro. 19.11 As for revenge it is not for vs to meddle with it because the Lord himselfe saith Deut. 32.35 To mee belongeth vengeance and recompence and Saint Iames will assure vs that to haue bitter envyings and strife in the heart is wisdome which descendeth not from aboue but is earthly sensuall divelish but that wisdome which is from aboue is easie to be intreated and full of mercy I am 3.17 wherefore let vs greiue at such wrathfull motiōs assuring our selues that it is a point of heavenly wisdome to forbeare certainely if wee can but once find that God hath wrought in vs a readines to forgiue those which haue wronged vs and to pray for their conversion wee may esteeme it an euident signe of Sanctification As for the time to come that wee may the better preserue the bond of Charity wee must resolue carefully to obserue these 2 sortes of rules 1. How wee may keepe peace with others 2 How others may doe the like with vs. As for the first because others may outwardly wrong vs either in word or deede that wee may in both avoide discontent and strife therevpon wee must propose vnto our selues a twofold rule 1 Concerning their words which is the rule in Solomon Prov. 7.21 namely That wee take no heed vnto all words that are spoken for this is that which often stirreth vp strife amongst vs which otherwise might easily and without any prejudice bee avoyded if men were not too inquisitiue and ready to take notice of every thing that is spoken and therefore wee should here not entertaine but fleight yea reject such men who vnder pretence of loue vnto vs will whisper in our eares and maliciously informe vs against such or such an one whom Solomon calleth pickthanks whisperers tale-bearers such as will separate chiefe friends Prov. 16.28 for occasion of separation may bee giuen if so taken even betweene friends as wee often see that he which is singularly affected to another may hastily speake some reproachfull wordes of him which perhaps hee will presently bee sorry for and not speake the like againe yet