Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	appear_v	great_a	time_n	915	5	3.1574	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31459	The life and death of that holy and reverend man of God, Mr. Thomas Cawton ... with severall of his speeches and letters, while in exile, for his loyalty to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty : to which is annexed a sermon preach'd by him at Mercers Chappel, Febr. 25. 1648 ... : published with the approbation of several of his brethren, ministers of the Word in London.	Cawton, Thomas, 1637-1677.	1662 (1662)	Wing C1653; ESTC R36292	43,772	96

at Mr. Whitakers and spent it most in Prayer every week one day was set apart on purpose for it and indeed his case was so full of Labyrinths that he knew not what to do only his eyes were towards God to extricate him and to lead him in aplain path because o● his enemies It was thought dangerous ●●ly long hid for fear of his being discovered and therefore having asked Counsell a● the mouth of the Lord and his judicious friends they agreed he should be conveyed away into Holland in which voyage Mr. Nalton being much threatned fo● the same crime was his companion an● fellow-sufferer A little before they set upon their voyage He most solemnly takes his leave of his dear Wife in two letters sent speedily one after another which because they shew his faith patience and resolution in sufferings I think ●t will not be amisse to insert The one was this Dear Heart I am joyfull that God hath assisted thee in the midst of thy sorrowes and sufferings so that thou art enabled to bear up and to encourage thy self in God and look upon his hand as the work of a Father towards his Child Read Heb 12. and then see what way God takes with his Children I do not fear but God will be thy husband in mine absence and the Father of my fatherless Children let them be taught the fear of the Lord and then they shall not want any good thing and then he that leaves not his will be their portion and God alsufficient I shal indeavour to lay up a stock of prayers in heaven for them I hope I shall Pray and not faint both for thee and them the Lord increase our faith and then be it unto us according to Gods promises and our faith We must not be so covetous as to desire two heavens the wicked have their Portion in this life we in another here persecuted in the world to come the crown that is laid up for us which the righteous Judge shall give unto u● reioyce more to see grace in thy Children hearts than if thou hadst thousands t● give them Know that he that is our Go● is the God of our seed and thou remembrest what the holy man of God said I never saw the righteous forsaken nor b● seed begging bread Train up our children in their catechism and in frequent reading of the Scriptures let them know the Scriptures from their childhood and they will make them wise unto salvation let me and them enjoy thy prayers an● the fervent prayers of all our sincer● friends whatsoever is laid aside let no● the work of prayer be forgotten Min● my friends of my condition that they may begg a way of the Lord for me an● that I may be counselled from Heaven how to imploy my self and that may not be wholly laid aside as useless and that if God will give me my life thi● time also I may lay it out more than eve● for his glory and that God would kee● me from the snares of the place where ●● may dispose of me I have lost much tim● and now would fain redeem some of it if God will give an opportunity when God has brought me to a place of rest shall I hope not loyter in my studies as ● have done If I have an opportunity m● friends of the Ministry and others sha● hear from me The Lord help us to keep the word of his patience that he may keep us in the hour of temptation Whatsoever my Brethren can lawfully do and without scandall to the wisely Godly I desire if it may advantage me for my true and safe liberty that I may not be left out Remember me to all our Friends that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Improve thine Interest for me i● Heaven that as the Church had two wings of a great Eagle given her that she might flye from the Draggon into the Wilderness so God would make me a member of that Church give me the benefit of those wings What shall I say more to thee the Lord blesse thee the peace of God that passeth understanding guard thy heart the joyes of the Holy Ghost that are unspeakable fill thy soul I wish thy perfection Thou art mine and I am thine the great sea shall not quench our love the blessings of heaven and earth be upon thee Farwell farwell in the Lord the Lord in his good time bring us together again Adiew in Christ Thine through Christ really cordially a sympathizing Husband The other letter written upon the receit of a letter from his Wife in which she testified her willingnesse to submit to God and to follow him where ever God should place him was this Dear Heart I have read thy sweet and gratious letter with teares and great ioy the Lord make way for our happy meeting at the throne of grace we shall meet I hope every day I know God will appeare for thee and me and stirr us up friends let us labour to act faith and say dayly Lord increase our faith It 's a very great mercy that the Lord was pleased to deliver me this time as I hope he will I grieve at the very heart to hear what have done not only to accuse themselves but to betray the lives of their Brethren yet I will not boast I do not know what my vile heart might have done I will rather judge my self I know my own great unbelief and base fear the Lord help me against them I do not fear but that Christ will be thy Husband and make up all in my absence If God make my way plain before me I shall look upon it as things now stand as the greatest mercy ever befell me in the matter of deliverance and that if he give me my life this second time I hope I shall improve it better for his glory than ever I have done I see I could not be without this tryall and yet I think I was not fit for the greatest of this affliction and therefore I hope God will lay no more upon me than I am able to bear and will make away to escape I hope that I shall at last learn to live that which I have preached unto others I grieve for my dear friends in the Parish that will be left as sheep without a shepheard but God will provide for them remember my dear affection to them all they shall have my prayers and I hope I shall have theirs I hope God will make way for the imployment of that poor Talent he hath given me if not in my Native Country yet some other where I have been unprofitable and therefore God may lay me aside but I hope he will still make use of me But sweet soul how shall I leave thee and my little ones behind me yet we shall only in body and place be separated not in mind and affection For directions I know not what to give thee only be thankfull if God hath left this back

their hearts than the correction it self He was often so moved with compassion his fatherly bowels did so yearn over them that the tears would trickle a pace from his eies when he was correcting them nothing ever wrought upon me like this sight which did plainly convince his Children of his unwillingness to chastise but that he was forced to it his tea●● did sink so deep into their hearts that the●●●ould not but be softened at least for that time for believe me to see ones Parents weep cannot but be a great grief to dutiful Children He had his Children in subjection with all gravity and yet I may say that never was Father so little feared as he because so much loved In a word he left his Children God for a Father when he left them and they count it no small priviledge that they can call God the God of their Father for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that kept the Fathers will keep the Children Thus I have given you a rude draught of this Man of God in his several relations in every one of which he was another Apelles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 approved in Christ a currant Christian as the Greek word signifies one accepted and allowed of as being not counterfeit but of the right stamp He was good in all his relations which is a character of a good man and which is much was never known to give offence to any To return from whence I digressed This Man of God had not been long at Rotterdam but his fame was spread abroad all over the united Provinces especially Holland He that valued Gods glory above his Name in his own Countrey received his own name in a strange and Gods glory in an heavenly Countrey He shone in that Firmament as a Star of the first magnitude and was highly esteemed of by the Dutch French and English Ministers round about He had correspondence with most of the famous Professors particularly with Dr. Gisbert Voetius Divinity Professor and Mr. Leusden Professor of the Oriental Languages at Vtrecht with Mr. Vchtman and Mr. Hulsius both Hebrew Professors the one of Leiden the other of Breda several Letters there passed between them some of which I have to shew From England he had whole showers of Letters from his Brethren the Ministers and his friends congratulating his safety and liberty to speak boldly in the name of Christ He was much honored and often written to by Dr. Walton was not a little useful in promoting the great work of the Polyglot Bible partly by procuring subscriptions partly by sending over Manuscripts He was afterwards written to by Dr. Castell whose Polyglot Lexicon got several Subscriptions by his means and by Mr. Samuel Clark concerning another Volume to be added to the Oriental Bible he was known to be of so publick a spirit in any thing that was for the profit of the Common-wealth of Learning and the good of Gods Church that he was sought to of most that did any singular matter in order to the encrease of learning Though Rotterdam were a place very waterish and could yet He took great notice of Gods great goodnesse in reference to his health which was better the five first yeares than ever it had bin in any place in his own Country It 's not an healthful climate but a good Physitian even the Lord that healeth us that makes us healthfull He would say I thank God I have preached twice a day every Lords day besides fast and thanksgiving days as also his monthly administration of the Sacrament for five years together and have not had five three was the most Sermons given me But the two or three last yeares he was weak and for half a year together went with a continuall pain at his stomack so that it was a very difficult thing for him to Preach yet he left not off but cheerfully and constantly preached as at other times though he never went up into the Pulpit but every one thought he would either faint or die before he came down he was indeed weary in his work but never weary of his work Once he did faint in the Pulpit insomuch that his voice failed him and he was taken down being unable to proceed but by the means of cordial Waters given him he recovered his Spirits in some measure yet not so as to Preach in the afternoon when his Friends came about him in the evening he told them the Pulpit is a good place to die in By the next Sabbath he was by Gods blessing recruited and preached forenoon and afternoon with much vigour and zeal but from that time till within half a year of his death I saw him evidently decay About this time he had an only Son almost fit for the University whom he did always but especially now much instruct and forward in his studies Mr. Robert Sheringham being then in exile at Rotterdam he sent his son to him to learn the Hebrew Syriack and Arabick tongues before he went to the Academy and would every morning call him to his bedside to expound a Greek or Hebrew chapter He spent much time in catechizing him in particular seasoning him with the knowledge of God and charging him to walk as in Gods sight when he was from under his Fathers eye The time coming he went with him to the University of Vtrecht and there bestowed him committing him to the care of Dr. Gisbertus Voetius and his son Mr. Daniel Voetius both Professors in that University and eminent for learning and piety He gave his son much good counsell and directions in his studies and was very desirous of his progress He would strive to enflame this young schollar's heart with an Heroick ambition to get learning and as he himself had done and would exhort him most affectionately to strive to be inter eruditissimos non inter mediocres He gave him these four rules which being observed were very effectuall to get learning and to keep it in readiness 1. To consider one's own parts and time and accordingly to order and dispose one's time 2. To be always doing constant in studies like Mr. Calvin who being asked why he was always at it returned this answer Dominus cum venerit inveniet me laborantem when the Lord comes he shall find me working 3. To review over things again and again this rule is so profitable that Al●●edius said all learning was contained in this one word REPETE this was famous Dr. Whitakers practise he read over his Grammar and logick once a year 4. To note in reading some specialls and many things to referr His Son thought good to communicate a Letter of advice written to him by his Father to me which because of the use it may have among young Students and to show his great care in training him up for the work of the Ministry I cannot but impart the Letter is as followeth out of his sons own copy Son Tho. I am glad to

that your Father and Mother both shall be so carefull of you that you shall have all the encouragements we are able to give you even to our uttermost that you may proceed cheerfully and with courage in your studies do all that is of good report want nothing Have a care of your health and use some Schollar-like exercise that will stand without loss of time read note write meditate pray much lose not the least inches of time The reason I press you to so many things is that when you are dulled with one you may refresh your self with another variety will fallere taedium in the course of your studies Your mother and my self send you our blessing counting it our only blessing here to see our children walking in the truth that good man old Dr. Voetius will endeavour to season your heart in the matter of religion without which learning is but a sword in a mad mans hand Christ Jesus dwell in your heart and keep you and open your understanding to understand the Scripture I have nothing else but to believe that God will make you an instrument of his glory and our comfort to his grace I commend you and rest Your Loving Father THO. CAWTON Having setled his Son at Vtrecht it pleased God to give him another son which was his third child in Holland and the last he had He named him Gershom for be said I have been a stranger in a strange Land and devoted him like another Samuel to the Lord and the Ministry from his cradle but Gods providence hath taken him away from us to be a companion to his Father in glory as well as in sufferings A little after in the year 1658. the Kings Majesty being at Bruxells and calumniated as being a Papist his Majesty was pleased to send a Letter to Mr. Cawton testifying his constancy in the Protestant religion and desiring him to wipe off that unjust aspersion by satisfying all of his stedfastness in that religion the Letter was printed a little before his Majesties return to this Kingdom to clear him then and deserves here to be inserted it is this CHARLES R. TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well we have received so full a testimony from persons to whom we give intire credit of your good affection to our Person and zeal to our service that we are willing to recommend an affair to you in which we are very much concerned We do not wonder that the malice of our enimies should continue to lay all manner of scandals upon us which might take away our reputation but that they should find credit with any to make our affection to the Protestant religion in any degree suspected is very strange since the world cannot but take notice of our constant and uninterrupted profession and exercise of it in those places where the contrary Religion is only practised and allowed And though we do not boast of doing that which we should be heartily ashamed if we did not do we may reasonably believe that no man hath or can more manifest his affection to and zeal for the Protestant Religion than we have done or in some respects hath more suffered for it And therefore we are the more sensibly affected that those calumnies can make impression to our disadvantage in the minds of honest and pious men as we are informed they have done And we do the rather impart the sense we have of our suffering in this particular to you because as you have the charge of the English Congregation in Rotterdam so you cannot but have much conversation and acquaintance with the Ministers of the Dutch Church and others in that populous place with whom we would not suffer under so unjust and scandalous an imputation And we presume and axpect from you that you will use your utmost diligence and dexterity to root out those unworthy aspersions so maliciously and groundlesly laid upon us by wicked men and that you assure all who will give credit to you that we value our self so much upon that part of our Title of being Defendor of the faith that no worldly temptations can ever prevail with us to swerve from it and the Protestant Religion in which we have been bred the propagation whereof we shall endeavour with our utmost power And as we shall never fail in the performance of our duty herein so we shall take the offices you shall do in vindicating us from these reproaches very well from you In which we promise our self you will serve us effectually And so we bid you farewell Given at our Court at Bruxels the seventh day of November in the tenth year of our Reign By his Majesty's command EDWARD NICOLAS The Latine Translation of this Letter was sent at the same time from the King which for brevities sake I omit The last half year he was taken notice of to look better and some said fatter in the face than ever before insomuch that many of his friends were not a little deceived the truth is he himself found himself better than ever yet did many times cast out speeches as if he could not live long The last Sabbath he ever preached was the third of August 1659. that day he administred the Sacrament of the Lords Supper with his wonted heavenliness and preached forenoon and afternoon with as much zeal as ever he was known to do his Text was that of our Saviour to his Disciples Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you shewing that the usual means whereby men are made clean was the preaching of the Gospel the Word which I have spoken non quia dicitur sed quia creditur not because it 's spoken but because it 's believed the Word is the Instrument by which men believe and believing they are made clean He made two excellent Sermons on those words and if he had known he should have concluded his Ministry that day he could not me thinks have chosen a fitter Text to conclude withall Now ye are clean now ye have heard me preach so often now ye are so diligent and attentive to what I preach now I shall preach no more now ye are clean though the word believed embraced and accompanied with Gods Spirit at least now I am clean and clear from your blood I have Spoken unto you and my words will judge you at the last day if you will not hear the privledge you have had above others to hear will aggravate your sin and punishment These were the last words of this man of God to his people and I question not but they have taken some impression on their hearts Having spent himself much with preaching and being wearied by the great pains he had taken that day after the afternoon Sermon according to his usual manner he laid himself down upon his bed to rest and repose himself a little after he had slumbred about half an hour he awaked and having some warm thing