Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n
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A54659
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Light in darkness, or, A consideration of a comfortable and instructive resignation of the Church of God by an eminent and faithful watchman upon his departure : occasioned by the sad loss of ... Thomas Moor, Junior / by C.D.
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Phelpes, Charles.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing P1980; ESTC R34380
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157,055
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186
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care And now Brethren I commend you to God c. In which resignation we have 1. The time of it Now. 2. The persons whom he resigns Brethren 3. The resignation it self I commend you c. 1. The time when he thus solemnly resignes them Now namely 1. When they were full of heaviness and sorrow had filled their hearts because of his departure from them for ever as to any further personall visiting of them or being visited by them he did not cease or fail from among the children of men as our Brother the removall of whom was the occasion of this discourse doth but was so taken away from them that he should be no more of any personal usefulness to them as to his bodily presence amongst them for they should see his face no more Oh this is a time of wailing and heaviness when God is taking away faithful ones in the midst of their dayes or work a day of trouble and perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts in the valley of vision Where the vision of all even the vision of all visions and that in which all may see themselves concerned the testimony of Christ in which especially and fundamentally in the first branch of it there is declared tidings of great joy to all people hath run and flowed abundantly like a River in low places to the causing fatness and fruitfulness Isay there a day of perplexity breaking down the walls that his judgements may break in threatning to plaâ—t his vine in a dry and thirsty ground this is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation as Ezek 19. 13. 14. And the Lord God of Hosts in this day is calling to weeping and to mourning especially those that are devout persons fearers of him Isa 22 4 5. 12. Acts 8. 2. And thus were these exercised to whom the Apostle speaks as ver 37. 38. They all wept â—ore and fell on Pauls neck and kissed him sorrowing most of all for he words that he spake that they should see his face no more it might have occasioned heaviness though he had departed but for a season but they sorrowed most of all because they should see his face no more and because hereby a way was made not only for Gods anger to break forth more immediately but for evil men and seducers to come in amongst them as ver 29. 30 Isa 57 1. 4. 5. Psal 12. 1. 4. And now they might with sadness remember how they had failed in shewing forth Love to him so as his hands had ministred to his own necessity and those that were with him Yet now when they were thus full of grief he thus resigns and commends them to God c. To signifie That when faithful and eminent watchmen and instruments of help are taken away and sorrow is thereby greatly occasioned this is now proper to moderate our grief that we sorrow not as those that have no hope That he that keepeth Israel shall never slumber nor sleep the Lord liveth and is faithful to keep our souls supply all wants and perfect what concerns us when the good man is removed or perished out of the Earth This therefore he now speaks that they might not be swallowed up with overmuch grief he speaks it not to prevent all sorrow it is meet to be humbled under God's mighty hand and ashamed before him when our Father thus spits in our face who is the God of grace when he covers us with anger and persecute us when he slayes and pitties not when he covers himself with a cloud that our prayer should not pass thorow as Laâ— 3. 42. 44. And it is an evidence of great hardness and insensibleness when Gods hand is so highly lifted up not to see or take notice of what he is reproving Isa 26. 11. and 57. 1. Nor doth the Apostle here rebuke theâ—e for sorrowing as he doth those at esarea who wept because of some troubles that were to come upon him at Jerusalem for he was not so taken from them as from these but saw them again Acts 21. 13 with 25. 1 4 c. But this he may speak and it is proper to qualifie and moderate our sorrow that we exceed not herein that there is the God of grace still to commit our selves to and have our expectation From in this time of great affliction Indeed while I am thus speaking I am somewhat fearful lesâ— this conâ—olation on such an occasion be generally needless I mean that there is more fear of not sorrowing enough for such an heavy tellimony of displeasure as God hath been ordaining to us then grieving abundantly and out of meas râ—for it cut for the sakes of some and to restore comfort to them and to their mourners I speak it and what is noted may be a liâ—ting up when God is thus casting down in his Providences that the Spirit of such may not fail before him surely at such a time God and his grace is sufficient for them 2 Cor 12. 8. 9. 10. Thus our Saviour when because he tells his Disciples of his departure sorrow had filled their hearts he now to comfort them in bis prayer commits them to God so now saith he I am no more in the World but these are in the World and I come unto thee holy Father keep thorow thine own name those whom thou hast given me c. While I was with them in the World I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept c. of him it might be eminently said he was pure from the blood of all so now I come to thee and these things I speak in the World that they might have my joy fulfilled in them Joh. 16. 6. 17 11. 13. So Peter when ready to depart commends to the beleâ—verâ— and commends them to the word of Gods grace 2 Pet. 1. 12. 16. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. And so the Prophets and holy men have comforted and and incouraged themselves in the Lord on like occasions thus Isaiah doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be iâ—norant of us one that was a Prophet and powerfully made intercession who was called the friend of God of whom God saith I know him that he will â—â—mmand his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord c. In whose steps our Brother walked Gen. 20. 7. and 18 18. 19. And Israel acknowledge us not one that behaved himself princâ—ly with God and by his strength had power with him yea he had power over the Angel and prevailed And an Israelite indeed was our Brother Gen. 32 28. Hos 12 3. 4. thou O Lord art our Father our redeemer from over lasting is thy Name Isay 63. 15 16 With this Israel comforted Joseph as with respect to himself and his Brethren and Children Israel said Behold I dye the Pâ—â—phets do they live for ever Zech. 1 5. But God who haâ—â— only immâ—rtality shall be with you Gen. 48