Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	chapter_n	child_n	verse_n	1,906	5	9.5247	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93382	A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, at their monethly fast, May 29. 1644. By Peter Smith Doctor of Divinitie, minister of Gods Word at Barkway in Hertfordshire, and one of the Assembly of Divines.	Smith, Peter, d. 1652? or 3?; England and Wales. Parliament.	1644 (1644)	Wing S4142; Thomason E52_24; ESTC R9534	45,343	53

behold and see it If God be God then follow him He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter such as Nimrod Esau hunters of men so the Scripture styleth persecutours of Gods Saints whereupon I remember Hierome saith k Penitus non invenimus in scripturis sanctis aliquem venatorem piscatores invenimus sanctos Hieron in Psal 90. Nullum invenimus in divinarum seric scripturarum de venatoribus sanction Ambr. in Psalm 119. Serm. 8. we read of holy Fisher-men but never of holy Hunters Such Hunters have been spoyling with all cruelty many of our brethren every where and still the hunt is up and they make but a matter of sport of it The time shall come when God shall laugh at their calamitie and mock when their feare cometh Prov. 1. 26. Let them while their sport lasteth boast themselves as if they had all sure enough and let them adde to their other blasphemies and say with that proud Tyrant in Synesius l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes Epist 58. No man shall escape our hands no though he held Christ himself by the foot m Fidant legionibus illi perfugioque parent reparatis moenia muris Nulla salutiferi quibus est fiducia Christi Paulin. in Nat. S. Foel Let them presume upon their strength who have nothing else to rest upon But it is good for us to keep fast by God Psal 73. 28. not to let go our hold As Homer said of the walls of Troy n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iliad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vse 2 Their forts and bulwarks cannot be strong that are built without God nay against him Let us then still trust in God and be unwearied and undaunted in his service Who hath delivered and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1. 10 In the next place this must instruct us in all our deliverances to return praise and glory and thankes unto the Authour of our helpe and hopes We are too ready as those fishermen in Habakkuk who sacrificed to their Net and burnt incense to their Dragge Chap. 1. 16. so with that Souldier in the Poet o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ascribe much unto the sword and spear unto our valiant men and to our forces It is observed by that wise heathen p Nimius sui suspectus insitum mortalitati vitium se suaque mirandi Sen. De Benef. c. 26. that this over-weening of our selves is a great cause of our ingratitude Alas q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Opp. what are we if God should leave us and while he stands by us what can stand against us Mountaines of difficulties shall bee overturned if he put to his hand the proudest enemies shall bee made to know and feele what folly it is to kick against the pricks and s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rhod perioch Hom. 17. to contend with the Almighty and therefore as we see and hear daily of the mightie things that God hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes Epist 137 wrought for us so let him have the glory that is due unto his Name and let our hearts and mouths be ever filled with his praise But some may say do you not forget the season this is not a day of gratulation or Thanksgiving but of humiliation and of seeking God by prayer Ah let none think these duties inconsistent which truely I conceive should never be disjoyned We have beene taught already what grace and glory ariseth from afflictions sanctified Are we then humbled under the sorrow of them let us be also thankfull for the solace t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes Epist 57 of them But let me intreat you further to consider whether we we I say in particular living in these parts of this distracted Kingdom do not even now enjoy a great deliverance that wee meet here in safety and in peace while others are imbroiled in many dangers either of fights or flights How unworthy are we of such enlargement of Gods mercy if we improve it not but most of all are we unworthy if wee be silent in thanksgivings Let me adde one thing more What if the Lord should bring the line of other parts upon us and cause us to pledge them in that bitter cup whereof they have been forced to drink deep shall we not yet have cause to praise him for this his patience and long-sufferance And had we but the spirits of many of the Primitive Martyrs we should think our selves the lesse esteemed in that we are reserved amongst the last of those who shall thus honour God and be honoured by him in suffering for his sake They a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lust Mart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucius Martyr ad mortem designatus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iust Mart. Apol. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Naz. triumphed in their deaths and accunted death as no death but as a benefactor to them that preferr'd them speedily to the fruition of their long desired happinesse They freely thus offered their children also unto God rejoycing that they were laid so sweetly and so safely in Gods armes They could not but remember how God dealt with Iob How after his long patience under sore calamities with the losse of his substance the Lord was pleased to refresh his wearied soule and to give him twice as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. but yet if you compare this Chapter ver 13. with Chapter 1 2. you shall find he had no more children given him then he had at first He had great comfort in his children why were not they doubled likewise surely he had them double because the former were not lost who were lock't up safe in heaven I the rather speak this because it may be it hath been the case of some of you already and who knoweth how many of us may see our children sacrificed in this cause of God and may at length taste of death herein our selves The will of the Lord be done Onely let us learn to make a right judgement of these things That we call death the Scripture call's but sleeping and do but mark that place Revel 20. 6. where it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power What is that first resurrection but the rising from the first death which is the death of sinne and what is the second death that we find vers 14. The lake of fire is the second death Where is then that we call death surely b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocr. it comes not in the account For otherwise that should have been the second and the lake of fire had been more fitly styled the third death This then hath onely the c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost ad pop Antioch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 empty name of death voyd of the thing that is so dreadfull to poore flesh and blood Nay it is no other then a blessed deliverance and a joyfull rest and freedome from all cares and troubles Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours Rev. 14. 13. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints Psal 116. 15. Whatsoever then the Lord is pleased to do for us whatsoever with us let us be thankfull Vse 3 The third and last use where with I shall conclude is for terrour to the ungodly and such as now amongst us are enemies to his Church Is God the Authour of deliverance to his people then without doubt he is the Authour of destruction to their enemies If to the one a wall of fire to defend them then to the other a consuming fire to destroy them We need not seek up Scriptures for the proof of this it is written every where even as it were in capitall letters or with a beame of the Sunne he that runnes may read it and he that is not starke blind may easily behold it It is recorded in all the stories of the Church Those men of Belial that are now in arms against us that will not read the Book of God or haply dare not because it no where prophecieth good unto them I wish they would peruse our Ecclesiasticall Writers and see what they find there touching the divine vengeance which pursued such as led the way to them and taught them this art of crueltie and instructed them how to be skilfull to destroy by their examples Let them read the deaths and horrid ends of Nero Trajan Hadrian Vaterian Maximinus Iulian and of many of their instruments and under-ministers whom they set on work and they shall finde that true which that holy Martyr Cypian wrote long ago that d Nec unquam Christianorum s●●l●rein nostrum nomen exurgitur ut non statim divinius vindicta comitetur Cyp. contr Demetr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syn Epist 35. never did any in their wickednesse rise up against the profession of the truth he means by persecuting the professours of it but straight-way vengeance from God followed them at the heeles and overtook them They may peradventure escape mans judgement which is that our enemies are so affraid of yet the just avenging sword of God cannot be avoyded who when he comes most slowly comes most surely and severely It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10. 31. Let our adversaries consider this and tremble whilest we comfort our selves with that of the Apostle as if directly spoken to us It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Thess 1. 6 7. Even so Lord Iesus come quickly Amen FINIS Errata in text Page 7. line 23. read had in p. 9. l. 28. r. rapt p. 10. l. 8. r. non salvum p. 11. l. 22. r. such a narrand p. 18. l. 18. r. with his p. 31. l. 14. r. Popish p. 39. l. 21. r. Zarephah Errata in marg Pag. 3. r. Zach. p. 10. r. Athen. ex Pos p. 14. r. in Ca● Mos p. 17. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 27. r. Cyr. Hieros p. 45. for Christianorum r. impiorum

but even for them it had been well were he where he so much desired to be for then he might have been their intercessor with God and might have presented all their prayers unto him but he knew no such doctrine he hath taught us otherwise We read in Revel 8. 1. that there was silence in heaven for half an hour and what follows An Angel with a golden Censer stands at the Altar and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the Throne Vers 3. I will not stand to open this whole prophesie unto you let this suffice The Incense that is offered with our prayers is Christs intercession which smels so sweetly in the nostrils of God that he is content silence should be in heaven for a little time where yet his praises are sung eternally untill those prayers of the Saints so perfumed be fully heard Remember then Christ sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for us Rom. 8. 34. let all our prayers then be made in his Name and presented unto the Father by his hand Vse 5 Fiftly there is an use of consolation arising from this consideration touching the Object of our supplications Have we a God to call upon and doth he call upon us that we should do so and do it freely frequently and the more often the more welcome O blessed and thrice blessed be his Name that hath so graciously invited us He hath not put us over to any such as the Papists fancie to be Favourites or Masters of Requests in heaven God the great King of heaven and earth is not like these his Vice-royes who must have their other u Satrapas quosdam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellatos Philost vit Apoll. Tyan lib. 1. cap. ●● cap. 19. Eares and Eyes to see and heare their subjects in their suits Whereas he by himself alone seeth and heareth all things his eies and eares going at once through all the world He is that friend spoken of Luk. 11. who when his children were in bed x P. Chrysol serm in Luc. 11. his Saints and Angels asleep rose himselfe to lend bread unto his friend How ready was he to heare that placed his bed so neer the door that no sooner his friend knocks but he heares him Not like that idol Baal of whom Elias said unto his Priests when with much clamour they cried after him Cry aloud for he is a God either he is talking or he is pursuing or he is in a iourney or peradventure he is sleeping and must be awaked 1 Kin. 18. 27. Nor like the heathens Iupiter who when the Grecians and the Troians were together by the ears was gone to visite his old friends y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. Iliad 15. Oceanus and Tethys He is alwaies nigh at hand to all that cal upon him yea unto all that call upon him faithfully It is he that said Before they call I will answer and whilest they are yet speaking I will heare Isa 65. 24. And when they thus come unto him z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 C. Rhod. Perioch Hom 9. he turns about to meet them graciously He is that father of the prodigall who when his sonne was at last returning to him with an humble confession and a poore petition Make me as one of thy hired seavants Luk. 15. 19. When he was yet a farre off saw him and had compassion and ranne and fell on his necke and kissed him And when he had made his confession stop 's him there and before he utters his request in stead of a servants livery cals for the best robe to put upon him and puts a ring upon his finger and much more he doth as if nothing had been too good for him who was dead and is now alive againe who was lost and is now found Read the parable and be comforted Vse 6 But then give me leave I beseech you to adde one use more Let it not seeme a digression which truly I conceive a seasonable direction and that is Since prayer is so effectuall and consequently so usefull in these calamitous times let us from hence be all directed especially upon this day of solemn humiliation to make our humble confession unto God and here principally of such sinnes as may be thought to have the greatest hand in these great judgements that are upon our Land We finde this to have been the constant practise of the Saints of God Thus did good Nehemiah he wept and mourned fasted and prayed Nehem. 1. 4. and withall makes a large confession of great sins ver 6. 7. and more largely Chap. 9. 33 34 35. he confesseth the sinnes of their Kings and Princes of their Priests and of their Fathers and of all the people Thus also did Ezra as appeareth Ezr. 9. 5 6. Thus Daniel exceeding them both Dan. 9. 4 c. I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadfull God c. We have sinned and have committed iniquitie and have rebelled c. An example worthy to be imitated and therefore worthy to be read over and over againe and to be learned and put in practise by us all And for our help in this holy duty suffer me to present unto you some of those foule offences that have provoked God against us and which may be the present matter of our mourning and of our serious confession before God First I shall begin where I fear our miseries began Our prophets have prophecied lies and the priests have ruled by their means and the people love to have it so Ier. 5. 31. The dayes of visitation are come the dayes of recompense are come Israel shall know it The prophet is a foole and the spirituall man is mad for the multitude of thine iniquitie and the great hatred Hos 9. 7. Our Nadabs and Abihu's Aarons sonnes have offered incense with strange fire before the Lord and no marvell then if fire be gone forth from the Lord to devour them The story of those men Levit. 10. and of their fire is by divers Interpreters expounded and applied to such things as have been the great abuses of our times Procopius upon the place saith a Exemplum habemus clarissinum humana non admiscenda divinis We have here a cleare example that humane things are not to be mixed with divine And have not we mixed Apocryphall writings with the Canon of the word of God and which is more to be lamented have we not preferred them before the divine Scriptures b Calend and Order for reading c. Before the Common prayer Our directions for the publike service so punctually to be observed by the late commands upon us do in expresse termes tell us that certaine books and chapters of the Old Testament are left unread as least edifying and yet you shall find by perusing the