Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	army_n	enemy_n	great_a	1,068	5	2.8750	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53292	The unconquerable, all-conquering, & more-then-conquering souldier, or, The successful warre which a believer wageth with the enemies of his soul as also, the absolute and unparalleld victory that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ : as it was discussed in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England, on the day of the artillery-election there, June 3d., 1692 / by Urian Oakes ...	Oakes, Urian, 1631-1681.; Shepard, Thomas, 1635-1677.	1674 (1674)	Wing O24; ESTC W28467	45,642	48

dangerous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Army Christ your Centeral is as apprehensive and jealous of such things among his People Wo●…ul was the case of Ierusalem when besieged by the Romans on this account of divided parties and Factions Wi●…hin which hastened their ruine and facilitated the Roman Conquest And do you think that Divisions in and among Churches are not of threatning Consequence to such societies The Lord be merciful to us in this respect Must the Sword devour for ever Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end I hope you do not wage here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An irreconcileable War If the Sons of men shou'd be implacable yet one would think the Sons of God should put on as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-Suffering Forbearing one another a●…d Forgiving if any Man have a Quarrel against any as they expect Forgiveness from the Lord Iesus putting on Charity which is the Bond of perfectn●…ss Col. 3. 12. 13 14. Shall that of the Apostle speaking of the worst of the Heathen Rom. 1. 31. be verified in any of the Professor●… among us that they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Implacable God forbid They are your Enemies yea common Enemies to the Interest of Christ and his people that will go about to Foment these Divisions or advise to the perpetuating of these Differences If I were not well assured that Christs Name and Interest and your own Souls suffer unspeakably hereby I should not have opened my Mouth in this manner However I hope none here are so much in love with Contention as to be angry with Counsels of Peace It is a matter of great Consequence O les us not turn our Swords into one anothers Bowels as the Midianites Judg. 7. 22. Philistines 1 Sam. 14 15 20. Moab tes Ammonites and the Inhabitants of Mount Seir a Chron. 20. 23. as well as others have done to their own Destruction I believ●… really that it is with these Churches or Companies of Christian Souldiers in this place so far as there is any Contention among them as it is with Souldiers now then in the Heat of Battel Sometimes through mistake in the Hurry and Consusion of Battel one Reg●…ment or Company chargeth another of the same Army slaughtering and destroying their own dear Friends engaged on the same side and for the same cause instead of their Enemies This hath occasioned great Mischief So through Darkness Confusions Mis understandings and Mis-representations of Persons and Actions in an Hour of Temptation it comes to pass that Brethren contend and quarrel and wound one another with the wound of an Enemy and of a cruel One. Mistakes and Mis-apprehensions are the usual sad occasions of great Divisions We had need watch and Pray that we enter not into Temptation in this respect and to exercise Charity towards such as differ from us in Circumstantia●… 〈◊〉 in matters of Doubtful Disputation only lest we bl●…ndly and pr●…pitately run over and ruine hack and hew down ou●… Friends and Brot●… under the notion of Enemies Oh make and Maintain Peace among your selves you Sould●…ers and Military Companies of J●…sus Christ A Cessation of Arms for the Present is not enough It is a League of Amity and Friendship and Brotherly Communion that I contend for O that is might be speedily effected lest a Common Enemy prove the only effectual Mediatour between the Brethren at variance and a pacification be made at last by such Instruments and Means as neither Party will have any joy or pleasure in And the Blessing of the Peace-maker be upon the heads of those persons that shall be graciously instrumental in Gods way to settle a good and lasting Peace and Correspondence among these Churches or sincerely and vigorously endeavour it 7. Make it your chief care and business all the time of your Warfare to please your Great General the Lord of Hosts the Lord Iesus Christ in all things That is the property of a good Souldier 2 Tim. 2. 4. He design●… to please his Commander in chief by a ready Obedience This was the singular commendation of the Centurions Souldiers Mat. 8. 9. Luk. 7. 8. No Men are under more absolute Command then Souldiers that must not dispute but obey the Orders of their General In like manner do you observe all the Orders of the Lord Jesus obey all his Words of Command adventure upon the hottest and hardest pieces of Service when he requires it hold no Intelligence or Treacherous close Correspondence with his Enemies In every Motion or Action consider with your selves whether this or that course and carriage and Posture will please Christ. And in particular please him by a ready and cheerful Obedience to Inferiour Commissioned Officers for his sake Obey them that have the Rule over you is one great word of Command which our Lord Saviour gives Heb. 13. 7 17. Though I am as truly heartily opposite to the Presbyterian Perswasion with due respect to the Piety and Learning and Orthodexy and Excellent Abilities and Accomplishments of those our Fellow-Brethren and Souldiers that march on that side of the way be it spoken wherein it lies in direct Opposition to the Substantials of the Congregational-way as any of you and though I am remote enough from the intention of improving the Text but now mentioned to the establishing of such an Absolute and Arbitrary Rule in the Presbytery as is really inconsistent and incomportable with the due priviledge and liberty of the People yet I am sure that all are not Guides Overseers and Rulers but that there are Rulers and Ruled the Governours and the Governed in all particular Churches according the Sovereign Institution of Jesus Christ there are Officers and Private Souldiers according to the appointment of our Lord General And I must say freely that that way of Church-Government that allows not the Rule and Government truely and properly so called to Church Officers is not the way of Christs Institution Obey therefore such as the Lord Jesus hath set over you in the Lord if you mean to please him Otherwise you may be sure that your General will severely punish the undue contempt of the meanest Officer in the Christian Army 8. Be willing to endure Hardship This is another Qualification of a Souldier 2 Tim. 2. 3. Church-Officers are called to this in a special manner but it is the duty also of every Christian Soulders that must expect to wrestle with many Difficulties A man must never think to be a Souldier that is nice and delicate and loves to favour himself and indulgeth to pleasure and ease Nimi●… delicatus es Christiano qui voluptatem hec seculo concupiscis Tertull. Every Souldier must resolve upon enduring Hunger and Thirst and Cold and Wet and Weariness and lying upon the Ground many Hardships and Inconveniences in the course of his Militery Imployment As A●…cas the Scythian said to Philip of Macedon