Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	countenance_n	iron_n	sharpen_v	849	5	14.5973	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A22562	Three treatises Viz. 1. The conversion of Nineueh. 2. Gods trumpet sounding the alarum. 3. Physicke against famine. Being plainly and pithily opened and expounded, in certaine sermons. by William Attersoll, minister of the Word of God, at Isfield in Sussex.	Attersoll, William, d. 1640.	1632 (1632)	STC 900; ESTC S121173	371,774	515

the Gospel be more generally entertained and the places of our assemblies be better replenished But we will not learne this lesson or at least we will not practise it This is a generall fault among us all if we come to the house of God our selves we thinke we have done enough and many will not doe so much whereas in the meane season we neglect the rest of our families never considering that our children and our servants must keepe the Sabbath as well as our selves not remembring that we must give an account to God for them what they doe when they are in the house of prayer that they doe not abuse themselves the holy place of Gods worship and hinder the edification of others that they do not turne the house of God into a play-house and his service into a may-game And if any proceed so far to have an eye to their families we must know that God hath given yet a farther charge even of our neighbours except we will be like to wicked Caine who said Gen 4.9 Am I my brothers keeper As he dealt cruelly toward his brothers body so doe we unmercifully to his soule when we shake and shift from us all care therof as if we were not made keepers one of another There is a mercy to be shewed the soule as wel as the body If a man should escape the hands of theeves be brought out of danger ought he not to give warning to others that trauail that way to look to themselues if he do not is he not guilty of the losse he sustaineth So it is in this case And certainly when we see the coldnesse backwardnes of all persons we should sharpen whet up one another Pro 27.17 according to the precept of Salomon Iron sharpneth iron so a man sharpneth the countenance of his friend and say Come neighbour come friend let us go to the house of God let us go to the Sermon there we shall heare that will doe us good and be to our soules health I have found much comfort and benefit by being there and so I doubt not you may If it be to sporting and playing to a drunken feast or to a prophane meeting we see how ready men are not only to call their neighbours to goe with them but also if they were not there with them to set it out to the full at their returne as largely as they can And doth not God looke for as great care for the soule salvation of our brethren But some will say Ob. I could be content to doe so but alas I shall doe no good Solut. I were therefore as good sit still and let all alone Pro. 18.13 and looke well to my selfe I answer or rather let Solomon answer He that answereth a matter before he heareth it it is folly and shame unto him Againe be it 2 Cor. 2.13 it were so that which is said to the Minister belongeth to all We are the sweet savour to God in them that perish Let it be with us as it was with Peter Luk. 5.5 he said Master we have toyled all the night and have taken nothing neverthelesse at thy word I will let downe the net Thus ought we much rather to fish for mens soules and leave the successe to God God sent his Prophets to the people and telleth them before hand they will not hearken unto them yet they went and obeyed Ezek. 3. Math. 13. Object Others likewise pretend that it is a thanklesse office we shall be accounted busi-bodies and medlers in other mens matters What thanklesse thou wouldest Solut. I am sure thou shouldest say thankfull yea doubly thankfull Thou shewest thankfulnesse toward God for thine own conversion Can we better shew it toward God than this way And do we not owe him more seruice than this for our calling who might have left us in blindnesse and ignorance as he hath done many thousands in the world Yea doubtlesse we should do more good hereby 2 Thess 3.2 than we can imagine For as the Apostle saith All men have not faith so all men have not a love to religion they must be perswaded and provoked to it As then the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7.16 1 Pet. 3.1 What knowest thou O husband whether thou shalt save thy wife or what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband So may I extend it farther and say what knowest thou O man whether God hath ordained thee to be the meanes to convert thy neighbour thy kinsman thy acquaintance and familiar friend that is contrary minded at least use the meanes and then thou hast delivered thine owne soule whereas otherwise thou maist be guilty of his blood Never say therefore thou shalt loose thy labour God that commandeth this duty Dan. 12.3 will reward thy seruice and labour of love as Dan. 12. They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for ever And if ever it shall please God to open their eyes to see their owne misery 1 Sam. 25.328.33 it will be with them as it was with David toward Abigail who had advised him well and kept him from doing evill who said to her Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me and blessed be thy advise blessed be thou c. Neither can there be a better property of a good neighbour than to wish well and to doe good to the soule and if any desire to be accounted a good neighbour in the sight of God and man let him shew it this way Secondly The second reproofe it reproveth all such as are come to this passe that they cannot abide to be admonished much lesse reproved but are like to the Israelite Exod. 2. when Moses reproved him for smiting his fellow and put them both in mind that they were brethren he that thus did the wrong thrust him away Exod. 2.13 Act 7.27 Gen. 19.9 saying who made thee a ruler and a judge over us or like the men of Sodome Gen. 19. This fellow came in to soiourne with us and he will needes be a judge But let such remember the saying of Solomon Rebuke a wise man Pro 9.8 and he will love thee If God require it as a duty at the hands of every one to exhort to admonish and to rebuke he requireth it by the rule of relation that others suffer the word of exhortation and admonition Psal 141.5 and Psal 141. the Prophet saith Let the righteous smite me and it shall be a kindnesse and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyle which shall not breake my head Therefore it is no matter of unkindnesse Thirdly The third reproofe it reproveth such as being pressed to this duty doe it indeed sometimes but it is never in love or in the spirit of meeknesse but in rage and choler or else it is in a taunting disgracing and deriding manner and