Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n
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A14386
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Romphaiopheros = the sword-bearer. Or, The Byshop of Chichester's armes emblazoned in a sermon preached at a synod by T.V. B. of D. sometimes fellow of Queenes Colledge in Oxford, and now pastor of the church at Cockfield in Southsex.
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Vicars, Thomas, d. 1638.
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1627
(1627)
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STC 24705; ESTC S119120
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20,427
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32
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were scattered and all they that hated his word did flye before him like smoake For all those Gardiners and Bonners those Iehoiakims and Antiochusses that wrought despite to Gods word are dead and rotten and their names are perished with them sed verbum Domini manet in aeternum but the word of the Lord endureth for euer and this is that word that is preached among you this is that word that God hath appointed to be written for your sakes and hath preserved mightily unto these times wherein we inioy it in great puritie Onely let us remember to make good use of this loving kindnesse of the Lord to read in the booke of God continually to delight in it to meditate therein day and night as it is in the 1. Psalme There are none now debarred from reading we haue the free use of the Bible neither is the booke sealed but wide open and plaine enough in your owne Mother tongue It is not in the heaven in Gods bosome that you should say who will ascend up into heaven and fetch it downe thence that wee may know it For God hath revealed himselfe in the holy writings Neither is it beyond the Sea in the bosome of the Pope that you should say who will climbe over the Alpes and goe to Rome and bring it thence that we may know it and doe it but the word is neere unto you even at your doores in a manner nay it is in your mouthes and in your hearts to obserue it I shut up the point with that excellent exhortation of the blessed Apostle Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome Coloss. 3. The word of Christ is the holy Scripture this you must get to dwell in you you must not giue it lodging in your breasts as in a thorough-faire for a night and so farewell but you must get it to dwell in you and that not sparingly but plenteously and in all wisdome too Coloss. 3. 16. So from the Secretaries Commission I come to the Subscription of the letter which containes a description of the partie from whom the Epistle is sent These things saith he that hath the sharpe two edged sword The words in this description are very emphaticall It is clearely proved as the learned in the Greeke tongue know by the apposition of the article to every word for thus it runnes in the originall These things saith hee that hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that two edged sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sharpe two edged sword Of these in their order And first of the sword 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then of the two attributes giuen to it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is a two edged sword and that it is a sharpe sword By the sword here is ment the word of God which is called the sword of the spirit Ephes. 6. and compared to a sharpe two edged sword Heb. 4. Now the word of God is called a sword in a double relation 1. In relation to Christ 2. In relation to Christians First in relation to Christ the word that is the sword is an embleeme of his Majestie and authority in governing the Church and shewes him to be a King Kings and Princes you know haue the sword borne before them as an ensigne of their authority So Christ our blessed Saviour is no sooner made King of the Church but he hath this sword set up before him as a token of his Majestie as you shall finde in the 2. Psalme I haue set my King upon my holy hill of Sion I will preach the law whereof the Lord hath said c vers 6. I haue set my King there Christ is made an appointed King of the Church I will preach the law and there is the sword set up before him whereby he is to governe the Church unto the end and that is the preaching of the word And hereof you haue a most manifest proofe in that description of Christ Reuel 19. where he is set out in his full glory Upon a white horse with many crownes on his head and with his heavenly guard and attendants about him but where is the sword It is presently said in the next words that out of his mouth there came a sharpe sword that with it he might smite the Nations and rule them with an iron rod. This place consorts wholly with the 2. Psalme Yet that we might not at all doubt of whom this scripture is ment his name is called the Word of God that is the essentiall word of the Father vers 13. and verse 16. he is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords By which it is plaine that in relation to Christ this sword is an embleeme of his authority and dominion ouer the Church And let us make this use of it that seeing Christ hath set up the word in the Church for our gouerment let us learne like obedient Subjects to submit our selues to Gods ordinance and giue up our selues wholy to be guided and governed by the scepter of Christs word Let it haue such sway and authority in our hearts that whatsoever we finde therein condemned we may avoyd that and whatsoeuer we finde therein commended we may follow after that and be sure we doe nothing if it be possible for which we haue not some ground in the scripture II. In relation to Christians the word of God is called a sword and that in a twofold respect 1. In respect of that it worketh in them 2. In respect of that it worketh for them First for that it worketh in them so this appellation of a sword setteth out the vertue and power and efficacie of the word of God It is a powerfull word and lively in operation yea sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing a sunder of the soule and the spirit of the joynts and the marrow and is a discerner of the secret thoughts and intents of the heart Heb 4. 12. No wonder then as it hath beene observed that in some congregations whilest the Minister was speaking in the Pulpit there appeared compunction in the hearts teares in the eyes blushes in the cheekes feare in the consciences and a kinde of horror over all the body of the auditorie For why it was not the power of him that spake but the power and efficacie of the word that he spake which wrought all those passions and strange motions in the hearers Ense velut stricto quotiens Lucilius ardens Infremuit rubet auditor cut frigidamens est Criminibus tacitâ sudant praecordia culpâ Iuvenal a Poet spake it of Lucilius another Poet. I may more truely affirme of a Preacher that brandisheth this glittering Sword and layeth about him manfully to strike downe sinne and impietie that he makes men sometime to wax red sometime to grow pale sometime to swet and fret and scratch where it doth