Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	adversity_n	brother_n	time_n	850	5	3.9961	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02744	A cordiall for the afflicted Touching the necessitie and utilitie of afflictions. Proving unto us the happinesse of those that thankfully receive them: and the misery of all that want them, or profit not by them. By A. Harsnet, B.D. and Minister of Gods word at Cranham in Essex.	Harsnett, Adam, 1579 or 80-1639.	1638 (1638)	STC 12874; ESTC S114895	154,371	676

them Such is the unmercifulnesse and crueltie of many that they are ready to set their feet upon the necks of those whom the Lord hath cast down Indeed it is an easie thing to go over where the stile is low hee that is cast down to the ground may easily bee crowed over as the Chaldeans would make themselves merry with the poore captived Jewes They that led us away captive required of us songs and mirth when wee had hanged up our harps Psalm 127.3 To require a song from those whose cheeks were bedewed with teares and whose heart within them was as heavie as lead yea even ready to break with sighs and sobs was a thing unreasonable even adding of sorrow to their misery Whereupon saith the Lord unto those Babylonians Esay 47.9 I was wroth with my people I have polluted mine inheritance and given them into thine hand thou didst shew them no mercy but thou didst lay thy very heavie yoke upon the ancient therefore now shall destruction come upon thee Though God doth afflict his children for their good yet hee will not give their enemies leave to trample them underneath their feet or unmercifully to triumph and insult over them because he hath brought them under When Jobs miserable comforters began to crow over him and to censure him for his great afflictions Job tells them that hee that is in miserie ought to be comforted of his neighbour but men have forsaken the feare of God Job 9.14 What dost thou know to the contrary but that the Lord hath brought thy neighbor into misery to be the object of thy mercie that thou shouldest exercise thy charitie upon him releeve and comfort him which if thou dost not it is an argument that thou wantest the true feare of the Lord for the Lord hath commanded us to relieve the oppressed Esa 1.17 It is a service most acceptable unto God to relieve and refresh our brethren when they are in any trouble or distresse and such a service as seldome or never goes without a blessing Blessed is hee that considereth the poore the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble Psalm 41.1 Therefore as thou desirest that God should blesse thee be thou as willing as thou art able to succor and comfort those that are in adversitie If thou wantest outward means of helping and relieving of them let them have a word of comfort from thee to support them advise counsell and direct them as thou art able if not yet pittie them pray for them that God would sanctifie their crosses give them faith and patience to beare their crosses and to give them in good time a good issue out of them and in the mean time do thou entertain a charitable opinion of them do not say or think that they are greater sinners then others because peradventure their afflictions and crosses are greater but that the Lord is pleased to prove them more then others for their greater good This wise judging and mercifull considering of the poore afflicted even when some heavie and strange calamities do befall them is a thing which God much respecteth yea and will certainly recompence with some blessing or other But if thou beest censorious or regardlesse of others woe and miserie it is a signe that thou wantest bowells of pitty and compassion thou wantest true charity for this would teach thee to remember them that are in affliction as if yee were also afflicted in the body Hebr. 13.3 Thus it is with Christ the head of the body hee is touched and affected with all their afflictions hee hath a feeling of every evill that befalls them as if it did befall himselfe They may be brought unto a low ebbe and pittifull plight by reason of afflictions yet doth not Christ esteem them the worse neither is he then ashamed to call them and take them for his brethren yea hee esteems of poore afflicted Christians as a part of himselfe though they be vile and contemptible in the e●es of the world yet are they honorable and precious in his sight though they be hated of the world yet are they beloved of him Thus should it bee with all true and sound members of the body of Christ we must have a fellow-feeling of the afflictions of our brethren to weep with them that weep and to be of like affection one towards another Rom. 12.15 16. So full of pitty and charity was Paul that hee was touched with the misery of all his brethren Who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I burn not 2. Cor. 11.26 Nehemiah was a man in favor and credit with King Artaxerxes hee enjoyed the pleasures of the Court and felt no want yet when he understood of the affliction of his brethren and in what contempt and miserie the people of God were it is said that hee fell down and wept and mourned certain dayes Nehe. 1.4 The Prophet Jeremiah wished that his head were full of water and his eyes a fountaine of teares that hee might weep day and night for the miseries of the people Jerem. 9.1 But alas how few are they that do lay to heart the afflictions of their neighbors They sing to the sound of the violl they drink wine in bowles and anoint themselves with the chiefe ointment but no man is sorry for the afflictions of Joseph Amos 9.5 6. Thus too many Christians shew themselves to be Stoicks or rather stocks without any charitable affection without any bowels of compassion Many will be kind unto their friends all the while they are able to requite their love with kindnesse againe but in the day of adversitie as was touched before they are ready to turn their backs upon their neighbors whereas a true friend loveth it all times and a brother is borne for adversitie Pro. 17.17 These are hollow-hearted and false friends who like many a dog will fawn upon a man and follow him all the while hee hath somthing to give him but when all is gone hee is gone also So that it is true which the Wise man speakes Wealth maketh many friends but the poore is separated from his neighbor Prov 16.4 Take wee heed therefore that wee be not so taken up with our own fulnesse and prosperity that wee forget the wants and miseries of others so as there is left no place in our hearts to grieve for them for if wee be without compassion God will one day smite these incompassionate hearts of ours that wee shall stand in need of and be glad to have pittie from others but it shall be denied us For there shall be judgement mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercie Jam. 2.13 Therefore let us beare one anothers burthen and so fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 Thou helpest to beare thy neighbors burthen when thou labourest to comfort him in the time of affliction for it is a great ease and comfort unto him that is in any distresse to have others to condole with him to have