Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	cloud_n	night_n	pillar_n	4,723	5	10.5941	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29529	Stand still: Or, A bridle for the times A discourse tending to still the murmuring, to settle the wavering, to stay the wandring, to strengthen the fainting. As it was delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, Anno 1643. By John Brinsley, Minister of the Word there, and now published as a proper antidote against the present epidemicall distempers of the times.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1647 (1647)	Wing B4729; ESTC R217245	80,497	119

the out-casts of Israel Psal. 147. Expulsos Ejectos those that are cast and driven out as Exiles from house and home Incertâ sede vagantes wandring as those Primitive Saints are said to doe not having any certaine habitation but exposed to the wide world as we say such the Lord gathereth Stepping into his people in the midst of their greatest straits and extremities then shewing himselfe to them most clearly most gloriously perfecting his Power his Goodnesse in their weaknesse their wants Whatever our condition then be though wee be stripped never so naked of all humane helpes and creature-assistances yet despaire not If God have a purpose to save us to deliver us his counsell shall stand his purpose shall take place My counsell shall stand saith the Lord and I will doe all my pleasure I have spoken it I will also bring it to passe I have purposed it I will also doe it Take wee this for an universall Truth and build upon it whatever God hath purposed to doe whether against his Enemies or for his people it matters not what seeming improbabilities or impossibities may crosse the way of his Providence it shall be performed It is that which the Prophet Ieremy saith concerning Babylon Jer. 51. Every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon What he there speakes of the literall it may as truely be said of Mysticall Babylon One purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon Now wee know what the Lord hath purposed concerning it Babylon it is fallen it is fallen It shall certainly fall it shall speedily fall both imported in that phrase and manner of speech And this purpose it shall be performed It matters not what Babylon it selfe be though seemingly never so impregnable Such the Eastern Babylon was and such the Western Babylon is yet this shall not frustrate or make void the purpose of God Babylon the Great is fallen Though Great for Power Great for Iurisdiction Great for Wealth Great for Honour and Reputation Great for Friends and Allies yet Babylon the Great is fallen On the other hand we know what God hath purposed concerning his Church Ierusalem shall be established and made a praise in the earth Isa. 62. The Mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills Isa. 2. Above the Hills I above those seaven Hills whereon the woman in the Revelation is said to sit whereon the Citie of Rome is built The Church shall be elevated and lifted up above all Romish Power and Iurisdiction This is Gods purpose concerning Babylon and concerning Sion the one shall Fall the other shall Rise this shall come to passe It matters not though at the present we see no meanes no likely instruments to effect this great worke God can if he please Create both rayse up both in an instant A truth excellently represented and set forth unto Zachary in a vision the vision of the foure Hornes and foure Carpenters Zach. 1. I lift up mine eyes saith the Prophet and saw and behold foure Hornes vers. 18. And the Lord shewed me foure Carpenters vers. 20. Now what were those foure Hornes Why the Enemies of the Church as the 19 verse expounds it which are called Hornes for their Power and said to be foure in reference to the foure parts of the World East West North and South from all which they come as the Geneva Glosse explaines it And what are the Carpenters Why instruments raysed up by God to break batter those Horns to oppose to overthrow that adverse power so the last verse explaines it and they againe are said to be foure to import an equalitie of power and strength Thus when God hath a worke to doe be it to ●eat downe Babylon or build up Ierusalem he can rayse up Carpenters instruments that shall be sufficient for the worke It may be making use of meane instruments to effect great matters by Trumpets of Rams Hornes to lay the walls Iericho flat Nay more rather then faile he both can and will worke without instruments Hee hath done it he can doe it and rather then his purpose should not stand he will doe it Though instruments faile yet the Promise shall not faile Though the Carpenters should not strike a stroake yet God hath wayes to take off the Hornes of his Enemies Though the Church should be destitute of all humane protection yet God hath wayes to deliver it to secure it Expresse is that of the Prophet Esay Isa. 4. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoake by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night alluding as you know to the Pillar of the Cloud and of the Fire which went before the Israelites in the wildernesse pledges and tokens of Gods gracious protection and direction These saith the Prophet the Lord will Create Now to Create you know what it is viz. to bring something out of nothing to worke as I said without meanes without instruments And thus rather then faile God will worke salvation and deliverance for his Church he will Create it bring it out of nothing effect it without any such meanes or instruments as it may be our eyes are fixed upon Which let it serve as for the bearing up the hearts of the Lords people in the midst of these drooping and doubtfull times So in the second place for the taking off their eyes from looking too much at meanes too much at instruments a thing which generally we are very act to doe And there is it that our pulses beat so unequally that there is so much unevennesse in our spirits they are up and downe like wells digged upon the Sea shore neere the highwater marke which rise and fall according as the tide ebbs and flowes Even thus is it generally with our spirits they Rise and Fall with the Tide and current of meanes and instruments When the Tide commeth in meanes and instruments appeare to us so as wee apprehend things outwardly in a hopefull condition then our spirits are up but if there be a slake of them presently they are downe againe Thus it should not be and thus it would not be did we not live more by Sense then by Faith Faith will tell us that Gods decrees and purposes they doe not Stand or Fall to secondary causes That which God hath purposed to doe he can doe it he will doe it he will carry through his owne worke Bring wee it home to the particular case of the Kingdome at the present as sad a case as ever this Kingdome saw If God have a gracious purpose towards it to save and deliver his people to build and to plant and to purge his Church to establish his Gospell to settle Truth and Peace amongst us it is not the deficiency of whatever