Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	new_a	old_a	10,166	5	6.7627	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43747	Some legible characters of the faith & love towards the blessed cause & kingdom of Christ worthy to be known and read of all men : some of the last meditations of that faithfull servant of the Lord Mr. Thomas Higgenson, lately deceased a very firm friend (both living and dying) unto the interest and work of the Lord Jesus in these last days.	Higgenson, Thomas.; Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.	1659 (1659)	Wing H1949; ESTC R11217	28,165	38

darkness and wasting in their spirits counsels and proceedings the very report whereof put a fear upon the Nations about while lie owned and blessed and comforted his People by a glorious leading Presence among them What is the meaning of these things Is there not a far other more Excellent State of things signified and intended hereby then the present frame of things of late set up under which worldly pomp and policy the old oppressive and corrupt Interests of former worldly States and Governments with a too general defection of many from their first light love and purity is springing and growing up again in the Land The changes that of late have passed over us are a further Testimony from God unto us that he is doing some new thing in the Earth It is said Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come The first coming of our Saviour was ushered in by a change upon all Nations the Romans possessing themselves of the Kingdome of David and of the Government of the whole World Joel saith chap. 2.30 31. I will shew wonders in the Heavens and in the Earth bloud and fire and pillars of smoak the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come We are to know the second coming of the Lord Jesus to set up his Kingdom on Earth draws near when we see changes coming upon the whole frame of things both in Church and State This Nation a Nation wherein Profession is reformed unto the greatest degree of Light and Purity of any Nation in the World yet how has it been turned upside down How have the Heavens of our more reformed as well as the Earth of our more loose corrupted Church-state been shaken How has the Sun of Monarchy Kings and Nobles been darkened and the Moon of our Civil State been turned into bloud How have formes of Government and Authorities hastily risen up one after another and have as fast dissolved in weakness and confusion Revel 21.1 I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more Sea When the Governments Kingdoms and Common-wealths throughout both the Antichristian and the more Reformed Nations become unsettled shaken and falling in pieces it is a sign they are grown old in sin and guilt and as fit for no more use are ready to be done away The time for the fulfilling of that Prophesie seems at the very door Revel 14.15 Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe Who ever saw the Nations round about us in such a posture of warr and wrath as at this day so fitted for destruction What Earthquakes Eclipses Comets raining of Bloud and raging Pestilences have there been of late How is the whole Creation sensible of the drawing near of the Lord Jesus whose coming in the Spirit of Grace and Glory in his People and in Wrath and Judgements against his Enemies is that which causeth all these changes which have been and are yet to be in the World It is well known to many that both the spiritual and visible Interest of Christ hath begun to shine forth more of late in this Nation and God hath given more visible testimonies in a way of owning of it here then in any other Nations besides So soon as this Interest and Cause was placed among us what a series of changes did presently flow in upon us What commotions were stirred up against us from abroad and how are all the Nations about us since put into a flame Nations long settled upon their lees of Antichristian blindness and corruption when God begins to empty such from vessel to vessel to bring upon them one breach and change after another it is a sign he has some new and special thing to do with such People Oh that we might see the Lord Jesus as he comes forth through these things and lifts up himself still more and more by them The Refinings that have attended our changes have a fresh significancy with us that God is about some new and extraordinary things among us every change was as a fire purifying the succeeding parties into a more refined Spirit and Principles then those that were before as new work and new difficulties were presented while many went off their hearts failing them through darkness weariness or fear a new Spirit was put upon others in a fresh supply of light and strength giving a more piercing sight into the excellency of the interest and cause in hand and further Resolution to presse forwards towards it Principles in the beginning of the day were dim and weak both in the Civil and Military Instruments carrying them forth a little higher then unto the Interest of meer civil right and freedome against the Arbitrarines and excess of Monarchy and Prelatical Church state these Generations being most of them laid aside a choicer People were raised up in their place of clearer Principles and higher Aymes calling for Impartial Justice removal of burdens dethroning of Kingly Power abolition of Worldly Pomps and Splendour a Religious Magistracy a Spiritual Ministry liberty of Worship c. they had so much light as to discern the present frame of things to be exceedingly corrupted with Antichristian mixture and to see there was a better state of things to be had framed and acted not according to Humane Reason and Prudentials of State in the hands of men as men but according to the Decrees and Laws of Christ in the hands of men as spiritual and Saints Further changes so far heightened this Principle as that the Interest and Right of Jesus Christ to exercise a Kingly Authority over the Kingdomes of men was publickly and solemnly owned for a reason among us let it be observed how the Lord winnowed and purged one party after another how the said old dark and corrupt fashion of things was a going away and a new face of things began to appear with a new lustre both upon Church and State upon Doctrine and Worship garments of mourning and bondage formerly upon the People of God changed into a state of liberty and gladness a loose and worldly Church reformed first to the letter after to a degree of spirituality the contest begun for a civil Interest refined into a contest for spiritual Faith Prayer and expectations in many rising higher and higher first for civil liberty then for a spiritual after for the Kingdom and Government of Jesus Christ And here that word may not unseasonably be minded Psal 68.13 14. Though ye have lain among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold when the Almighty scattered Kings in it it was white as snow in Salmon When the time came that the Lord would

Power and the Ecclesiastick State should mingle together the Church should borrow many corrupt constitutions customs and helps from the wicked and worldly power this mixture is yet found among us the old leaven of Antichristian pollutions manners and proceedings that was begun to be purged out is leavening us again even the whole lump if grace prevent not The Basis upon which God will set up his Kingdome namely the Word of God as the Law and the Spirit of Christ in his Saints as the Counsellor is not admitted Ezra 9.14 Should we again break thy Commandements and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations Whilst worldly aims and ends run along with the Work of Christ he had many followers but now that the God of this World hath given to many the golden Cup whereby they are overcome in security and ease to make another step in that Work beyond what the present state of things will bear such love and zeal is found but with few amongst us this is a low unworthy Principle If the blessed Reformers of former Ages or more later of our times who alwayes found every new step in Reformation to be attended with difficulty and opposition had been of this low and unsearchable spirit or could have been content for the enjoyment of their lives and liberties ease and pleasures with the losse of the Gospel and Reformation in the greater purity of it we should instead of seeing the things we have seen in our dayes have been inheriting the blindness and bondage of our forefathers It is worthy to be remembred while we were a people as one standing upon an Interest distinct from all Nations about us the Lord was graciously sought of us and that his Presence was nearer his wonderful Works declared but since we have made peace with the Enemies of the Lord this peace has pierced deeper into our sides then ever their swords before could do which puts me in mind of what is said Dan. 8.25 By peace he shall destroy many When Antichrist saw he could not prevail among us by the sword through his policy he prospers and by peace and ease and quiet he destroyes many wherefore the Lord will have a people of such light sincerity and love as will not be contented with the peaceable enjoyment of Wives Children houses Lands Honors or Preferments until the Lord Jesus in his Laws Government Spirit and Saints be exalted over all the Earth and his glory above the Heavens 2. Whilst there is a setting up the Maxims and rules of worldly corrupt States and Kingdoms yea though it were the most prudent and righteous Principles of Civil Interest when this is done to keep down the Work God is about in our day this is a sign we are a People of Principles low and unsuitable to the Promises and Dispensations that we are under as when the Kingdom of God comes into the heart the most rational and refined Principles or Nature that were there before must give place to the powerful convictions of Grace and the light of the Spirit so when the Kingdom of God is come forth visibly in the World the fashion and frame of things in Kingdoms and Nations must passe away before it and when God is about to do such a Work as this for any to insist upon the most righteous and prudent Principles to the hinderance of the Work of God cannot be justified Exod. 1.9 10 11. Behold the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier then we come on let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to passe that where there fall out any warr they joyn also unto our enemies and fight against us and so get them up out of the Land Therefore they did set over them Task masters to afflict them with their burdens Herein they exercised their wisdom of State against the Work God had in hand and paid dearly for it Judg. 8.22 The men of Israel said unto Gideon rule thou over us both thou and thy son and thy sons son also for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian What a more just and reasonable thing could have been thought upon and more conducing to common settlement and safety But observe what answer was returned verse 23. And Gideon said unto them I will not rule over you neither shall my son rule over you the Lord shall rule over you A noble and choice Spirit he looked upon Israel as under Gods more immediate Government and any other settlement by humane and worldly wisdom however pretending to common good was not by any means to be admitted I shall add only one Instance more Numb 32.5 Reuben and Gad said unto Moses Let this Land be given unto thy servants for a possession and bring us not over Jordan Their desire was just and reasonable for they had many Cattle and it was a place for Cattle But Moses answered Shall your Brethren go to war and shall ye sit here verse 6. behold ye are risen up in your Fathers stead an increase of sinful men Moses having his eye upon the Work the Lord was about would not indure that any Civil Interest how publick or just soever should be taken into any competition with the Lords Work It was Reason of State that set up Ieroboams Calves for the preservation of the Kingdom that erected the Romish Chair for preserving of unity in the Church and the peace of her Kings that formerly imposed uniformity of worship and other laws upon the Conscience and of late new Lords over the Church of God all devised by the Man of Sin thereby to put a check and stop upon the blessed Spirit of Christ and work of Reformation that both these might be kept under and might not grow up to any considerable height for fear of bringing in a change of things into the World During the time of the Churches being in the Wilderness Kingdomes and States and Churches have been left to be ordered by carnal Force and Policy and at the best by the Rules of Morality and Civil Right and these times of ignorance and corruption God winked at But now that the Kingdomes of this World are about to become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ it will be the wisdom of all that fear the Lord to take heed of sitting down in or contending for any wayes or interests how just and prudent soever against the Work and Word of Christ that is about to be fulfilled When the Office and Right of Christ as Prophet and Head of the Church was brought to light in our dayes among us what a blow was there given to that corrupt state that was before so likewise when the Royal Prerogative of Christ as King of Nations began to be owned in the Government and publick Affairs among us how the Lord stood by a despised remnant of his People therein and how he left and laid aside all those that stick to their State Maxims to their