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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	church_n	member_n	mystical_a	3,558	5	10.4248	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68954	A three-fold treatise containing the saints sure and perpetuall guide. Selfe-enriching examination. Soule-fatting fasting. Or, meditations, concerning the word, the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and fasting. By the labours of that late Reverend, and learned divine, Master Robert Bolton ...	Bolton, Robert, 1572-1631.	1634 (1634)	STC 3255; ESTC S106789	149,468	268

were sent out into the World as Sheepe amongst Wolves There come after and drinke of the same Cup millions of blessed men and women under the primitive Persecutions Of which some were scalded some burned some broyled some hanged some beheaded some throwne downe from rockes upon stakes some stabbed in with forkes some racked and torne in pieces their tongues cut out their eyes bored out their flesh twitched off with Pinsons womens brests feared off with hot yrons pricked under the nayles with Needles and a thousand more wayes tormented with as great varietie and exquisitenesse as politike malice could devise and prophane crueltie execute If wee passe along from thence even to these Times yea and if our eyes were so enlightened that we could looke upon the state of Gods children and their way to Heaven even to the Worlds end we should ever be able to trace them along by the teares of Brine and bloud which are powred out and spilt for the profession of Gods Truth and practice of holinesse This then is was and ever will be the lot and portion of all those who are fitting and preparing for Heaven They are ever persecuted one way or other If by reason of the milde and peaceable Times they fight not unto bloud and passe the fierie Triall yet they shall have their troubles oppressions and disgraces at least they shall be ever sure to be payd home with the scourge of tongues they shall be loaden with slanders and false reports they shall be made a gazing-stocke a by-word and Table-talke a scorne reproach and derision to them that are round about them as David was Psal 79. 4. Which being so why should not a common case in the cause of God breed a common comfort in true Christians Why should any of them thinke much to drinke of the same Cup that the dearest Saints and soules now blessed with the Lord have begun to them in and of which all that will be saved even to the last day must taste and follow Why should any man that truly loves God or lookes for the joyes of the other World seeke or desire a priviledge above all the children of God that everwere and even above the Sonne of God himselfe Christ Iesus Most unworthy is hee of the glorious comforts of Grace of the inward Peace that passeth all understanding and of that Glory which is to be revealed who for a slanderous tale a lying tongue a reproachfull tearme or the feare and face of any mortall man slinkes back from a bold profession of sinceritie and from the true service of the living God In sufferings and afflictions for Gods cause there is not onely matter of patience but even occasion of glory They are like starres in the forehead honourable maimes conformities to Iesus Christ Liveries of a Christian souldier Fifthly let him consider that his momentanie crosses and afflictions cause an exceeding and everlasting weight of glory Let his vexation be never so grievous his persecutors never so great and mightie neither they nor that can last long For the life of man and all the glory thereof doth passe away like a Ship in the Water whose tract cannot be seene againe like an Arrow through the aire or a Weavers Shuttle through his worke like a fading Flower suddenly plucked up and withered like Grasse like Smoake like a Dreame like a Bubble of the Water Though a Christian therefore be never so deepely plunged into miseries he shall abide but a while under the waters of affliction the day of redemption cannot be farre off Though he should passe through the teeth of wilde Beasts upon the sword of the Tyrant through the flames of fire though his braines should be dasht against the walls his limbes lye scattered in the streets and his bloud runne downe every channell yet shall he ere it be long gloriously rise againe in despight of all the powers of Darkenesse and bloudinesse of cruell men Hee shall entirely be restored by the mightie and immediate hand of God hee shall be clothed with Light and immortalitie his bloud shall be revenged and all teares wiped from his eyes and there shall be set upon his head a Crowne of everlasting joy peace and happinesse Sixtly comfort unspeakable and glorious may spring up in the heart of Gods child amidst his sufferings for the cause of God out of a consideration That in all afflictions without exception Christ suffereth with him Paul was the mirrour and miracle of all Christians for the varietie and gloriousnesse of his sufferings you may see a strange and unmatchable Catalogue of them 2 Cor. 11. 23. c. He was in stripes above measure plenteously in prison in death oft Of the Iewes five times received hee fortie stripes save one he was thrice beaten with Rods he was once stoned he suffered thrice shipwracke night and day was he in the deepe Sea In journeying he was often in perils of Waters in perils of Robbers in perils of his owne Nation in perils among the Gentiles in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils among false Brethren in wearinesse and painefulnesse in watching often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and in nakednesse Yet all these and what other crosses and afflictions befell him he calls and accounts them the sufferings and afflictions of Christ Now saith Paul Col. 1. 24. now rejoyce I in my sufferings for you and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church And 2 Cor. 1. 5. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation aboundeth through Christ. Lazarus in all his povertie contempt sicknesse sores or what other miseries suffered nothing wherein Christ was not partaker of his griefe and sorrow So sweet and blessed a consent and sympathie is there betwixt Christ the Head and all true Christians his members that so long as the great mysterie of that mysticall Vnion stands true and sure which is for ever all holy men and servants of God in all their sufferings for the Name of Christ profession of his Truth and practice of sinceritie shall have Christ himselfe partner and partaker of their miseries which is able to refresh the heaviest heart in the greatest extremities I have stayed long upon this point to wit how Sathan labours might and maine by crosses and slanders to discourage Gods child and to stop his course in the wayes of righteousnesse and in laying downe some comforts against them because thousands at the very first entrance or after some small continuance are wofully turned backe from grace and sinceritie by temptations reproaches and troubles raysed against them by their owne rebellious flesh Sathan and prophane men Now in a ninth place if all this will doe no good if the heat of persecution inflame the zeale of the true Christian if reproaches and afflictions be so

Polititian of France tels us that the common people are much deceived who thinke that the price of Corne Cattell and other necessaries should hold the same rate it did of old They doe not understand and consider that the price of things is more by ten parts saith he than it was anciently by reason of the plenty and abundance of Gold and Silver which is brought out of the West Indies into Europe whereby it comes to passe that money is lesse esteemed for plenty of any thing lessens the estimation of it Besides for our owne Countrey wise men have observed another particular reason For say they immediately after our coine in the time of King Henry the eighth the prices of all things generally among all sorts of people rose for that they thinke that the alteration of the Coine was the chiefe and principall cause of an universall dearnesse of things And why our English Coine being restored by our late Queene that blessed Saint of glorious memory to its former purity and perfection the prices of all things fall not backe to their old rate they give sufficient reasons As for pastimes Playes and other fearefull prophanation of the Sabbath it is a good signe the power of grace is there planted by the Word from whence they are banished and abandoned They are fit pleasures for Papists which have no comfort in the joyes above and well agreeing to the darknesse of superstition But the light of the Gospell dispels such vanities and Gods children have all their pleasures in holy exercises upon the Sabbath day This last objection then of Papists and prophane men That the world is worse since there was so much preaching is idle vaine and frivolous Many such like conceits perswasions and objections as these which I have now reckoned up unto you there are abroad in the world and in the hearts of prophane men by which they are hindred from hearing the Word of God with that heart zeale and diligence as they ought Now I come to acquaint you with some slights and temptations of Satan whereby he labours to bereave us of the blessings and benefits of profitable hearers and to hinder the effectuall working of the Word in our consciences and conversations A first plot and practice of Satan is to keepe men from diligent hearing the Word If he cannot that way prevaile in a second place he labours to make the Word in vaine fruitlesse and unprofitable unto them And that hee doth by such meanes as these I If by the grace of God we breake thorow all lets and snares which might withhold us from holy assemblies and hearing of the Word then Satan that he might make it uneffectuall for our conversion and salvation first labours to worke in us a negligent carelesnesse and heedlesnesse in listning to those things which are delivered and that by a kinde of heartlesnesse in holy things by dulnesse of spirit drowsinesse sleepinesse gazing about talking or such like And such hearers as these are never a whit moved or affected with the Word preached but remaine in the same state as they were before There is neither passion or impression wrought upon them for the present nor any thought of it profit or practice afterward 2 But if he cannot speed this way but that we rouze up and addresse our selves to heare the Word of God as desiring with care and good conscience to profit thereby Why then in a second place hee seekes by all meanes to fill our heads and hearts with idle musings and wandring thoughts which may distract and steale away our minds from attending to the Word And that he doth either by offering and suggesting to our consideration and memory the world and the vanities thereof as our affaires and businesse our profits and preferments those pleasures and delights wherein our corrupt affections finde most sensuall sweetnesse Or if this will not prevaile by casting into our mindes very craftily and cunningly things which in their owne nature may be good honest and religious But because they are thought upon out of due and convenient time they deprive us of the profit of the present holy Exercise which ought for the time onely and wholly to take up our mindes If this yet will doe no good but that wee marke diligently and attentively all the while what the Minister delivers unto us from God for our good why then in a third place 1 In some he makes it uneffectuall by nourishing in them a neglect of reading the Scriptures and ignorance in the Principles of Religion so that though they attend never so well and stare the Minister in the face yet they understand not the Sermons they heare Let the younger sort therefore to prevent this mischiefe acquaint themselves with the Scriptures from their youth by the example of Timothy 2 Tim. 3. 15. Salomon Prov. 31. 1 c. Samuel 1 Sam. 1. 24. See also Psal 119. Prov. 2. 1. And let the miserie upon Elies House terrifie negligent and indulgent Parents see 1 Sam. 2. 1 2. c. In this depth the Word is either buried as it is brought forth or dies at the Church doore 2 In others he earnestly endeavours utterly to extinguish and abolish all thought of it quite to drive and banish it out of their heads so soone as they have heard it And that thus If mens hearts be hardned through unbeleefe or custome in sinning and like the High-way in the Parable of the Sower then the Evill one comes immediately and catcheth the Seed of the Word so soone as it is sowen and stealeth it out of the heart As we may see many times Birds hovering greedily after the Sower to snatch away the Corne before it be covered with Earth or take root in the ground even so Sathan the ravenous Crow of Hell waites all opportunities to pecke up the Seed of the Word out of the hearts of men before it sinke into their affections or fructifie in their conversations Or otherwise if the World hath stolne mens hearts out of their bodies so that they have no hearts left within them for matters of Holinesse and Heaven but are wholly set upon Gaine and exercised in Covetousnesse then needes not Sathan much to bestirre himselfe he knowes full well that worldly Cares will presently choake the Seed of the Word As soone as the Sermon is heard and ended and they turned their backes upon the Church there comes immediately into their heads whole swarmes of earthly thoughts and they are presently plunged over head and eares into the cares and plottings of earthly businesses So that these men whom Sathan conquers by this temptation never meddle with meditation conference or talke about the points handled by the Preacher by which the Word of God should be better as it were digested and prepared for practise Nay they have no delight at all to heare others repeat the Sermon but are very wearie of the place

would you take this Letter and how often would you reade it with what willingnesse of affection Now here is an Epistle sent from Heaven to advise you that you are all Traitors and Rebels against Heaven and yet here in this Letter God offers the bloud of his Sonne and you may be reconciled and will you neglect it This is the matter of this Epistle it brings matter of deliverance from the greatest Curse that can befall the creature and the greatest advancement 6 It is the bottomelesse Treasurie of all high sweet and excellentest things The Mysterie of the Trinitie the Majestie of God the Love of God and of Christ this sufferings the Spirits workings the happinesse of the Saints and the glory of Heaven c. 7 It must be our Iudge at the last day Ioh. 12. 48. Every honest Sermon is but the Word of God unfolded and a bunch of Arrowes wrapped up and unfolded are all one 8 It onely can cure a wounded Conscience the greatest calamitie that ever the heart of man was acquainted with and that which no Arme of flesh or created Power no man or Angel can ease at all 9 In it onely are to be had Deeds and Evidences to shew for eternall Life and Acquittances for discharge from eternall Death 10 It hath saved all the soules that are in Heaven Rom. 10. 13. 11 It onely is the object of divine and infused Faith Humane testimonies and authorities beget onely humane Faith Therefore you must reverence this Word 2 Some Motives taken from the most fearefull and cursed estate of those who neglect and reject the Ministerie of the Word hating to be reformed by it Marke and take to heart thine unspeakable miserie whosoever thou art that despisest the Ministerie Take a taste of it in these passages 1 They are deprived by this meanes of the love and favour of God the onely fountaine of all comfort peace and glory which is infinitely the dearest and most unvaluable losse that can be imagined 2 Of their part and portion in the bloud of Christ one drop whereof is incomparably more worth than Heaven and Earth men and Angels or the creatures of a thousand Worlds 3 Of the fatherly protection care and providence of the blessed Trinitie the glorious guard of Angels the comfortable communion of the blessed Saints and all the sweet contentments that follow thence 4 Of the quiet joy and tranquilitie of a good Conscience a Iewell farre more worth than the whole World were it all turned into one unvaluable Pearle of unvaluable price and of all the heavenly illuminations cherishments and comforts wherewith the Holy-Ghost is wont to visit and refresh the hearts of holy men 5 Of the sweet peace and true contentment in this life and of all comfortable right and religious interest to any of the creatures For without a good Conscience there was never found joy in any mans heart or sanctified enjoyment of any thing in the World and never shall any man have a good Conscience that gives allowance to any Lust or lives delightfully in any sinne 6 Of a Crowne of Life the unspeakable joyes of Heaven that immeasurable and endlesse comfort that there shall be had with all the children of God Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyrs all our Christian acquaintance yea with the Lord himselfe and all Angels with Christ our Saviour and Lambe slaine for us the Prince of Glory yea the Glory of Heaven and Earth and brightnesse of the everlasting Light c. To these privative consequents adde a serious consideration upon those terrible flaming places Deut. 29. 19 20. Prov. 1. 23 24. Isa 6. 9 10. 1 Sam. 2. 25. Act. 13. 46. By continuing thy contempt and rejecting the Light of the Gospel thou mayest come thou knowest not how soone to sinne against the Holy-Ghost as the Pharises did Math. 12. 24 31. For sinne against the Holy-Ghost may be committed as well 1 By those who although they doe acknowledge and confesse the Truth which they doe blaspheme yet they have not yet professed it or given up their names to it as were those Scribes and Pharises and there are many such in these dayes who have not as yet given their name to the Truth which yet notwithstanding being well knowne and acknowledged they doe blaspheme 2 As those who have not only acknowledged in themselves the Truth that they blaspheme but have professed the same before others that are the favourers of Truth as Iulian Porphyrius Alexander the Copper-smith and many others of which you may see Heb. 6. 10. So many amongst us at this day 3 Some taken from the survey of those judgements which contempt of the Ministerie may bring upon the place where it is planted 1 It may remove the Candlesticke and be plagued with the utter losse of the Ministerie Consider Math. 8. 34. 10. 13. 21. 41. 2 They may have Prophets but such as are fooles they may have men of the Spirit but those that be mad Hos 9. 7. By a foole is meant not a naturall but spirituall foole Prov. 1. 8. Ier. 4. 22. Isa 5. 20. By mad is understood not a man out of his wit or distracted in minde but he that like a mad Dogge rageth and rayleth against the Truth of God and sinceritie of his Saints which is a great judgement 3 They may enjoy faithfull Teachers but to their further hardening as the Israelites did Isaiah Isa 6. 9 10. Which of all other judgements that God can inflict in this life is the most fearefull 4 By this meanes they may make sad the heart and affections of their Teachers that they cannot with that chearefulnesse as they desire performe the offices of their Ministerie Which as it discourageth the Teachers and will one day light heavie on the causers and procurers thereof so it is unprofitable for the hearers and deprives them of much good they might otherwise enjoy as appeares Heb. 13. 17. 4 Some from consideration of those confusions and desolations which it pulls with great violence even upon whole Kingdomes Looke upon such places as these 2 Chron. 36. 16 17 c. Ier. 25. 3. c. Cap. 35. 15. Rev. 6. 4. c. The glorious Light of those seven Candlestickes in Asia mentioned in the Revelations was long since for their unfruitfulnesse coldnesse and contempt of the Word turned into the darke Midnight of Heresie Apostasie and Mahometisme Rome that was anciently the glory of the Westerne Churches lyes now drowned in Superstition soaking in damnable Idolatry and plunged over head and eares in the Doctrine of Devils Many strong and noble Limbes of the reformed Churches in high Germanie have lyen for some yeeres in their teares of bloud groaning under the mercilesse tyrannie of the bloudie Antichristians and have wofully received the marke of the Beast againe Now assuredly it was the loathing the heavenly Manna which made the Lord to utter his Voice before the Armie of the enemies at Prague