Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	corn_n	hear_v	oil_n	2,009	5	9.5924	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94156	The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature and necessity of it is discovered. : As also the Christian directed how he may perform it in [brace] religious duties, natural actions, his particular vocation, his family directions, and his own recreations. / By George Swinnock ...	Swinnock, George, 1627-1673.	1662 (1662)	Wing S6266A; ESTC R184816	359,824	637

of my person nor performance may appear to my shame The matter of prayer I wish that all the flowers which I present to my God in the posie of prayer may be gathered out of his own garden the Scriptures I mean that I may never exceed those bounds which he hath set me for the matter of my prayer but may use much caution that all those spices which I make my incense of may be of his own prescription and O that to this end his holy spirit who knoweth his mind fully Properties of prayer might draw up all my petitions for me I wish that my prayers may be ever presented upon the bended knees of my soul Humble and also in regard of my body in the lowest and most submissive posture Ah how humble should dust and ashes be when he takes upon him to speak to the most High God Hearty I wish above all that I may never mock the most jealous God in this duty by speaking Parrot like what I neither mind nor mean but whatsoever dish be wanting on the Table to which I invite my God my heart which I know he loveth above all may be there and that my prayer may be the travail of my soul and not the labour of my lips I wish that I may so feel my spiritual wants that my bowels may so pinch me that as the hungry and almost starved begger I may cry aloud for the bread of life yet not so much Fervent in regard of the extension of my voice as the intension of my spirit When I am petitioning for pardon and grace I wish I might beg as earnestly and beseech God as importunately as if it were in the power of my prayer to change his mind and procure the blessing but when I am asking temporals Caution I would not as the dry earth cry and cleave and gape for corn and wine and oyl but willingly be at my fathers allowance and desire no more then what his infinite wisdom seeth needful to hear my charges till I come to my blessed and everlasting home Constant I wish that I might observe that standing law according to which Heavens bounty is dispensed In all things to make my requests known to God and never expect though the mercies of God be never so ripe that any of them should fall down upon me in mercy unless I shake the tree by prayer I wish that every mercy may come flying to me upon the Wings of prayer and may fly back to God upon the Wings of praise that prayer may be the Mother to breed and bring forth all my blessings that not one child of them but may be named Samuel asked of God that when I first open my eyes in the morning I may then in some ejaculatory prayer open my heart to my God that at night prayer may make my bed soft and lay my pillow easie that in the day time prayer may perfume my cloaths sweeten my food oyl the wheels of my particular vocation keep me company upon all occasions and guild over all my natural civil and Religious actions I wish that after I have poured out my prayer in the Name of Christ Subsequents of prayer according to the Will of God having sowed my seed Waiting I may expect a crop looking earnestly for the springing of it up and beleiving assuredly that I shall reap in time if I faint not yea that though the promise may stick long in the birth yet it will at last bring forth when God will give me large interest for my forbearance Finally I wish that though before sorrowful having opened my mind to God about any suffering my countenance like Hannahs may be no more sad that I may never busie my self about Gods work the success and event of things nor like an idle lazy begger Working be careless about my own work but may in my place and to my power be industrious in the use of all those lawful means which his providence affords me for the enjoyment of my desires that as I did lift up my heart in praying so I may lift up my hands in working to God who dwelleth in the Heavens CHAP. XI How a Christian may exercise himself to godliness in hearing and reading the word and of preparation for hearing THe blessed God as he appointeth the Children of men their ends namely to serve him here and to injoy him hereafter so he doth also afford them directions about the way how they may attain and accomplish those ends He is our Master and cutteth out that work for us which he expecteth we should make up He bestoweth on all the starlight of nature which though it be but small and dull by reason of our first fall yet it ruleth and commandeth the night of the Pagan World and is sufficient to leave them inexcusable for not working and walking by it When Heathen shall be thrown into the Goal of Hell and bound with chains of everlasting darkness their own consciences will hinder them from the least thought of commencing a suite against God for false imprisonment because they are judged not by the Law Moral written in Tables of stone but by the Law Natural written in the Tables of their hearts But out of his infinite favour he is pleased to give some in those places where he intendeth to gather a people to himself for his eternal praise beside the twinkling Star-light of nature the clear and perfect Sun-light of Scripture to guide their feet in the ways of peace Which word is one of the most signal mercies that ever he bestowed upon the Sons of men the whole World without it being but a barren and rude Wilderness The Word of God is a Spring of living water a deep Mine of costly treasure a table furnished with all sorts of food a Garden wherein is variety of pleasant fruits the Churches Charter containing all her priviledges and her deeds many infesting her Title to the purchased possession It hath pious precepts for the Christians reformation and precious promises for his consolation If the Saint be afflicted it can hold his head above water and keep him from sinking when the billows go over his soul there are Cordials in it rich enough to revive the most fainting spirit If the Saint be assaulted the word is armour of proof whereby he may defend himself manfully and wound his fo●s mortally If the soul be unholy this word can sanctifie it ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you Joh. 15.3 this water can wash out all the spots and stains if the soul be an heir of Hell this word can save it From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Other writings may make a man wise to admiration but this onely can make him wise to Salvation This word which is of such unspeakable worth God hath deposited as a

the whole earth Thou hast spent a whole day idly and thou hast much cause to sigh out with the Roman Emperour at night when he had neither done norreceived any good all day Hodie diem perdidi Today I have lost a day Fourthly If thou wouldst exercise thy self to godliness in thy particular calling look up to God for a blessing upon thy labours therein Creatures may be the object of thy diligence but God alone the object of thy confidence Thy supplication must be to God and thy expectation from God Thou canst as soon by thine own power add a cubit to thy stature as a penny to thy purse Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 All thy endeavours without Gods blessing are but as Cesar said of Senecas works arena sine calce Sand without Lime they will not hang together if God bless them they prosper if he blast them they perish The Devil himself was so far Orthodox Job 1.10 Thou hast blessed the work of his hands and his substance is increased in the land Alas the whole course of nature turneth onely as it is moved by the hand of God It is not in the frame of nature as in frames of Art when a watch is made it may go though the workman be many miles off or though he be dead but there is not the least wheel in the frame of nature which doth not depend upon God for its motion every moment As the vapours exhaled by the Sun depend so much upon it that if that withdraw its influence they fall to the earth so do the Creatures depend on God if he withdraw his influence from them they presently come to nothing Take notice Reader to instance but in one calling how the genealogie of Corn and Wine by a Concatenation of causes is resolved into Jehovah I will hear the Heavens and the Heavens shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they shall hear Jezreel Hos 2.21 22. God hath the key of food under his own girdle Psal 145.16 Hence some call the Earth Gods great Purse which he openeth for mans profit and shutteth for mans punishment The Jewish Rabbies call the Earth Alma Parens A kinde Mother and the rain her Husband because the showers do foecundate and make that great Mother of plenty fruitful But as likely a Mother as the Earth is to bring forth she is barren unless God open her womb 1. The plowing and sowing of the ground is from God the hands of men cannot do it without his protection and providence and the heads of men would not have thought of it without his direction and assistance Isa 28.24 25 26. to the end 2. When the ground is plowed and sowed it must be watered or the grain will quite dye this also is from God alone The Monarch of Mexico was wont to take an Oath at his Coronation that it should be what weather he pleased but Can any of the vanities of the Heathen cause rain Jer. 14.22 God alone can unstop those bottles of Heaven they are all above mans reach The most spungy clouds distil not one drop no more then a rock till God give the Word of command He decreeth rain Job 28.26 He prepareth rain Psal 135.7 and he poureth down the former and latter rain Deut. 28.12 Joel 2.21 Job 5.10 He also covereth the body of the Earth with the white mantle of snow whereby the corn is warmed and the ground mellowed Psal 147.16 3. The Stars those purses of gold as one calleth them out of which God throweth down riches which good men gather and bad men scramble for are all at Gods beck and bidding Psal 19.4 5. Mat. 5.45 Job 38.32 4. The fruitfulness of the earth after it is ploughed sowed watered with the clouds and warmed with the influence of the Sun and Stars is wholly from God Thou crownest the year with thy goodness and thy pathes drop fatness Weems Cerem Law Psal 65.11 Heb. 6.7 This some of the Heathen acknowledged by the light of Nature and therefore when they went to plough in the morning they did lay one hand upon the plow to speak their own part to be painfulness and hold the other hand up to Ceres the Goddess of Corn to testifie their expectation of plenty to be from their supposed Deity How easily can God blast all the corn in the field or blow upon it in the barn if he do but will it it is done The whole Creation indeed is but a glass without a bottom which cannot stand of it self but as God is pleased to hold it up The Philosophers tell us the Sun and man beget a man the Sun and the earth bring forth corn and speak of the Sun in every thing as a principal efficient But the Divines tell us more truly God and the Heavens God and the Earth cause harvest God by the Creatures doth all things God is the onely principal efficient the Sun it self and all other Creatures are but liveless instruments moved and acted by God according to his purpose and pleasure Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it It is in vain for you to rise up early to sit up late and to eat the bread of sorrows Psal 127.1 2. Apricock trees that depend upon their own strength leaning on nothing as experience teacheth us bring forth little or no fruit when they that lean on the wall abound in clusters The way to thrive in thy trade is not to trust to thy own head or hands but to trust in the Lord for a blessing on thy endeavors Fifthly If thou dost prosper in thy Calling let God alone have the praise Do not Sacrifice to thy own net Hab. 1.10 as the Jews did as though by thy skill and wisdom thou hadst met with such a draught but consider the providence of God hath brought in all thy profit Beware when thy herds and thy flocks multiply and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied lest thine heart be lifted up and thou say in thine heart My power and the might of my hands hath gotten me this wealth Deut. 8.14 to 18. Man is apt to make himself his Idol and to attribute all to his own pains and prudence Men boast saith Luther Hoc ego feci Luther in Psal 1.7 hoc ego feri and shew themselves to be meer feces They brag This I have done and this I have done and thereby appear to be nothing but dregs God took it ill that Tyrus should say By my traffick and my wisdom I have encreased my wealth and telleth her That she had set her heart as the heart of God Ezek. 28.3 4 5. The Israelites were commanded to bring their first ripe fruits to God whereby they acknowledged him the owner and author of all their encrease Exod. 23.16 19 Levit. 23.10 The very Heathen were somewhat sensible of

of it to consume the cedar of their souls The Heathen have admired and bemoaned mans industry about earth Sen. lib. 6. nat cap. 26. they have wondered what made man who is of an erect countenance looking up to Heaven Tertal de corona militis thus to bow down and bury himself alive in the earth Tertullian stood amazed at the folly of the Romans who would undergo all manner of hazards and hardships to be Consul which he fitly calls One years fleeting joy The Prophet tells such that they rejoyce in a thing of naught Amos 7. Nay the forementioned Moralist tels us that such worldlings operose nihil agunt Take a great deal of pains to do nothing That their whole life is but a laborious loytering or at most a more painful kind of playing their account will be nothing but ciphers like children they run up and down and labour hard to catch a gaudy Butterflie which when caught will foul their fingers and flye from them O mortal men how long will ye love vanity and follow after leasing Psa 4. Is it not sad that so noble a being as mans soul should be wholly taken up with such mean sordid things That phrase in Psa 24.5 That hath not lift up his soul untovanity is read by Arius Montanus He that hath not received his soulin vain O how many receive their souls in vain making no more use of them then the Swine of whom the Philosopher observes Cujus anima pro sale their souls are onely for salt to keep their bodies from stinking Who would not grieve to think that so choice a piece should be employed about so vain a use Reader If one should be intrusted with the education of a great Prince who was descended of the blood royal and heir to a large Empire and should set him onely to rake in Dungils or cleanse Ditches thou wouldst exceedingly condemn such a governour Wouldst thou not think It is pity indeed that so Noble a person should be busied about such low unworthy projects God hath intrusted thee with a precious soul descended highly even from God himself claiming kindred with the glorious Angels and capable of inheriting that kingdom to which the most glorious Empires of the World are but Muck-heaps Art thou not one of them that employ this Princely soul altogether about unsutable and earthly practices and causing it as the lapwing though it have a coronet on its head to feed on excrements It was one cause of Jeremiahs sad lamentation that the precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine gold should be esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the potter that they which were brought up in Scarlet should embrace Dunghils Lament 4.2 5. Have not we more cause of sorrow that mens souls the precious sons of God should be put to no better use then earthen pitchers that they which should be brought up delicately in the nurture and admonition of the Lord should be busie about dross and imbrace Dunghils that thy precious soul should thus lacquey after earth and vanity when it should like an Angel be always standing and waiting in the presence of God Who can read the stories how Domitian the King spent his time in catching Flies Solyman the Magnificent in making Arrow-heads Achmat the last in making strings for Bows Harcatius the King of Persia in catching Moles Caligula the Emperour in playing the Poet Nero the Emperour in Fidling and not admire at their folly that such great Princes should busie themselves in things so infinitely below their places But thy folly Reader if one of them I am writing of is far greater in that thy practices are more below thy spiritual and heavenly principle May I not say to thee as Philip to Alexander when he heard him singing Art thou not ashamed being a Kings Son to sing so well Art thou not ashamed being an immortal angelical substance the off-spring of God and capable of his likeness and love to be glewed as a Toad-stool to the earth to spend thy time and strength venture the perishing of thy mortal body and immortal soul too for that meat which perisheth It is storied of Pope Sixtus the fifth that he sould his soul to the Devil for Seven years enjoyment of the Popedom What fool ever bought so dear what mad man ever sold so cheap yet every worldly person doth implicitly the same with this Pope He selleth what is more worth then all the World for a little Wind. Ah how costly is that treasure which makes him a beggar to all eternity O Lord what a foolish silly thing is man to prize and take pains for husks before bread vanity before solidity a shadow before the substance the Worlds seraps before the costly feast the dirty Kennels before the Christal water of life an Apple before Paradise a mess of Pottage before the Birthright and the least fleeting and inconstant good before the greatest truest and eternal good Their particular callings are but about earth the lowest meanest and vilest of all the elements in these callings they deal but with men and bruits their gains here at best cannot be large because their lives here cannot be long and yet how eagerly are they pursued how closely are they followed how constantly are they busied about them their general callings are about their souls their eternal salvations in these they have to do with the blessed God the lovely Saviour in communion with whom is Heaven upon Earth their gains here are above their thoughts and beyond their most enlarged desires no less then infinite and eternal The profit of godliness is invaluable above price It cannot be gotten for gold neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir with the precious Onix or the Saphir The Gold and the Christal cannot equalit and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine gold No mention shall be made of Coral or of Pearls for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it neither shall it be valued with pure gold Job 28.15 to 20. yet how lingringly is this calling entred upon how lazily is it followed and how quickly cast off O foolish man who hath bewitched thee that thou dost thus dislike and disobey the truth I cannot more fitly resemble man then to a silly Hen which though much good Corn lie before her takes little notice of it but still scrapes in the Earth The favour of God the promises of the Gospel the Covenant of Grace the blood of Christ the embroydery of the Spirit the life of faith the hope of Heaven joy in the Holy Ghost are laid before man yet he overlooks them all and lives like a Mole digging and delving in the earth Though men see before their eyes a period and end of all earthly perfections that the beauty bravery of all earthly things is but like a fair Picture drawn on