Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	aaron_n	church_n	law_n	22	3	4.4066	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86708	Gods appearing for the tribe of Levi: improved in a sermon preached at St. Paul's, Nov. 8. to the sons of ministers, then solemnly assembled. / By Geo: Hall, minster at St. Botolph Aldersgate.	Hall, George, 1612?-1668.	1655 (1655)	Wing H336; Thomason E859_1; ESTC R202510	19,055	39

Aarons Rod did not onely bloom Blossoms but also yeilded Almonds not onely gave hopes and promises and Earnest of Fruit but the fruit expected and that not overhastned but kindly and come to due maturation This was the height of the wonder Buds Blossomes ripe Fruits and all within so little a time as a night who sees not in these severall productions both satisfaction given to that present age in the Fruit a sure proofe of Aarons Calling to the Priesthood and security given to Posterity for constant succession in the Buds and Blossoms which did tell what fruit should come in after times from the same Stock Of these Almonds much good use may be made many wayes we content our selves now with this There is no such good and sure proofe of the calling of God as Fruitfulnesse Some more weak and scrupulous sheep of Christs Flock do stand looking upon their Pastor and question his Calling to take the care of them when they should be feeding they scruple whether their Ministers be lawfully called to the oversight of them though never so duly ordained when they might find it by their owne Improvement let that scruple cease If with right Ordination and the continued practice of the Church determines what that is there be fruitfulnesse in their Ministry if there be on their part laboriousnesse watchfulnesse desire to approve themselves to the consciences of men endeavour to gaine soules unto God if they be Doctrinall men as Doctor Donns word was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Living Lawes their lives sound Commentaries upon their Doctrine these be evidences enough here be Almonds upon Aarons Rod And in this will we make our free appeals to God to judge between us the legally ordained Ministers of the Church of England and whosoever our opposers If we have not fruit to shew of our Callings which Gifted pretenders shall vainely boast of if there be not in all places where we have been setled some seals of our Ministry Epistles and Letters of Commendation of it to be produced if men have not thrived happily under our labours and been fitted for Heaven if Christs Kingdom be not more advanced by us then it can be by any of those Invaders of our Ministry then let Heaven and Earth be witnesses against us let us be razed out of the land of the living yea we may boldly make the imprecation Let the earth do by us as it did by Corah Dathan and Abiram even swallow us up quick But stay Fruits so extempore so soon ripe as these Almonds on Aarons Rod might perhaps as soon wither not so they were kindly and lasting by this good token That for perpetuall memory both the Rod and Fruit were kept in the Arke of God And in this if it be fit to make comparisons between them saith a Reverend Auther This Rod of Aaron had the pre-eminence above that of Moses though that did very great Miracles yet the wonders which it did passed away But this carried still the Miracle in it self and so was a most precious Relique And that the Fruit should continue upon it and that be continued in the Ark was also most necessary for a signe of the perpetually succession of the Priesthood By the way If we had then lived and should have seen the Ark rifled the Buds Blossoms and Almonds all the good Ornaments of the Rod pluckt off and the Rod it self broken would we not have shaked our heads at it If any of Levi especially should have been accessary to the mischief would we not have cryed shame upon them It is well considered by a Master of Contemplation who spends good thoughts upon this Subject what comfort Aaron must needs take to see his Rod among all the rest thus flourishing and fruitful what a good Assurance he saw in this of Gods gracious Election and Approbation of him And what a satisfaction is it to us also whom God hath called neerer to himself to knows what ample Testimony he hath given to our sacred Calling And who shall make my Glorying vaine If I now take a fit occasion {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the Apostle to magnifie and speak big words of our holy Office After so much Dirt and Contempt as hath been cast upon our Coat let none call what I shall bring for the honour of it swelling words of vanity but a just vindication and Apology To the stopping of the mouthes of all our Vilifiers and Contemners We will plead the high dignity of our Office and to the Conviction of all such as do suggest our uselesnesse the high necessity and importance of it 1. For the Dignity of it first who can deny that in the beginning of the World for many hundreds of years the Kingdome and Priesthood did concur in the same person and when they were severed were divided between two brethren Moses and Aaron To Minister before the Lord was the Prerogative of the First-born And how observable is it that the Spirit of God supposes Royalty annexed unto the Priesthood Yee are a Royall Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and so the Sept. renders that Exod. 19.6 Yee shall be unto me a Kingdome of Priests As if to be Royall without the Priesthood were not Dignity enough {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. To Raigne as a Monarch and to Officiate as a Priest these are properly inherent in the same person saith Aristotle And that even among Heathens the Priests were in the highest Esteem and Veneration is a State Truth Among the Egyptians {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Grace with the precious Crown of Priesthood Is Isid. pelusiots of them And that they were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Next to the Prince in dignity and Authority Di. Siculus assures us That they were so among the Greeks known by the several names of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} their Authors give us full account In what high strains the Greek Fathers speake of this Function is obvious to all that read them {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the excelling Priesthood is St. Chrysostomes language of it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the greatest of all Ornaments Nazianzen calls it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is S Cyrills a thing honourable and great in Gods esteem And those who are in this Office to be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} venerable and to be lookt upon with most respect nay a Counsell gives it this Elogy {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The name of Priesthood to be Divine and in the first place to be reverenced Hath our Profession been set so high and have we lived to see it in a Christian reformed Nation scorn'd and layd as low as the dust The name of Priest cast as a reproach this is not more the Atheisme then the Folly and weaknesse of