Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	church_n	earth_n	triumphant_a	4,427	5	11.4398	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58211	A sermon delivered in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, concerning church-musick by John Reading ...	Reading, John, 1588-1667.	1663 (1663)	Wing R452; ESTC R6076	11,596	24

preach it to them I hate him said Ahab he prophesieth no good but evil to me That sweet Oyntment should kill Vultures and Scarabes which delight in carrion and filthy stench it must needs be in the indisposition of the receivers for good savours are very pleasant and comfortable to others 2. They are offended because we sing some Prayers And are not many parts of David's Psalms excellent Forms of Petitions to God and did not he and the Church of God with and after him in every Age since sing the same Was it then lawfull and expedient to sing holy Elegies solemn Prayers and Doxologies to God If so how cometh it since to be unlawfull 3. They say they cannot understand what is sung On whom is their not understanding to be charged Aquinas after S. Augustine answereth hereto All the affections of our souls as they are divers have their proper Moods in the voice and singing by whose secret familiarity they are stirred up so in hearers among whom though some understand not those things which are sung by others yet they understand why they are sung to wit to the praise of God and this faith he is enough to stir up devotion Give me leave to doubt whether if these pretenders to so much knowledge were presently taken up into Paradise as S. Paul was and admitted to hear those ineffable words there sounding they would understand c. though c. all to the praise of God c. 4. They say Musick is abused to superstition and corruption of good manners I answer so have the best things been meat drink and the spiritual food of souls Gods holy Word and Sacraments not excepted Can you reasonably think that impious abuse by some concludes a necessary abolition of an holy use of these to all others I say of things so excellently serving to our necessary use in the worship and praise of God keying and tuning of holy Chores so much approved by the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs the wisest and best of the sons of men as also by the continual practice of heavenly Chores of Saints and holy Angels above all by Iesus Christ daily hearing therewith their Prayers and accepting the same as sweet odours of incense what is this lawfull in Heaven but not in Christ's Church on earth May we not in imitation of such patterns of sanctity with sacred musick heighten our dull minds to speak hear pray and in the praises of God as it were tune at the door until we be admitted into the full Chore in the Church triumphant Doth not our Saviour Christ teach us to say and do we not accordingly say Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Must we pray to be enabled to do that which however enabled we may not do Let the most bitter-spirited Antagonist ingenuously say Is not the whole Book of Psalms so often avowed cited and used by Christ Sepher-Tehillim a Book of Praises composed for the Churches use unto the end of time or think you that this so excellent a part of Scripture was written onely to inform us what the Saints of God did before us but not what we also must do by their example As for the abuse of Musick we abominate it but affirm that holy melody is accommodate to every estate and condition the Apostle saying without exception Is any merry let him sing There may here be a fault in defect for some like those curious Solar instruments make sweet musick and bless the Lord so long as the Sun of prosperity shines on them but no sooner is that clouded but they are silent and then Musick is to them as the Lords Song in a strange land But David in his affliction called to remembrance his song in the night And Paul and Silas laden with stripes and in strict durance did sing and pray at midnight with admirable effect to their own comfort and others It is above all dispute that we have as much need to have our minds and affections calmed and lifted up from worldly thoughts deviations and distractions in God's service now as his Israel had of old time when he prescribed them both singing and instrumental Musick to prepare and fit them to his Worship and why we may not now use the means thereto expedient and formally commanded I challenge all gain-sayers to shew us any good Reason So come I to the Principal Cause of the specified Effect The hand of the Lord came upon him that is the power and influence of Gods Spirit which Metonymical manner of speaking is frequent in Scripture as Ezek. 3.22 The hand of the Lord was there upon me Judg. 6.34 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon So on Iephtah so on Sampson So Elisha said to Elijah I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me that is of Gods Spirit wherewith thou hast been assisted The sum of all amounteth to thus much The Spirit of the Lord enableth his servants to prophesie Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost His hand and power is still upon them in their Ministration as 't is written The spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets And our Saviour Christ faith to his Apostles I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world and He that heareth you heareth me And now the time admonisheth me that the remainder of this Discourse be like a natural motion swiftest near the end I must tell you therefore that the Apostle makes our Application 1 Thes. 5. 20. Despise not prophesyings He gave the reason before 1 Thes. 4. 8. He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit and He that despiseth you despiseth me Let the Grecians in their profane levity account Preaching of the Gospel foolishness and the Pharisees reject the counsel of God against themselves they shall once though too late know who now neglect so great means of salvation undervaluing this Heavenly Treasure because we have it in earthen vessels that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth Consider therefore before it be too late That he that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath done despite to the Spirit of Grace Which secure sinners do when they undervalue the Word and Ordinance of God If thou so do there will be in thine own Conscience not onely two or three but a thousand unavoidable Witnesses which can neither be withdrawn by favour nor silenced by reward If thou hast been a careless or negligent Hearer yet seriously repent thee and henceforth more diligently frequent holy Assemblies and more attentively hear the Word of God It is as the Eastern Star to