Selected quad for the lemma: honour_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A60140
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No peace to the wicked a sermon preached on the fast-day, May 23, 1694, being the day appointed by authority for a general and publick fast in London and Westminster, &c ... / by John Shower.
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Shower, John, 1657-1715.
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1694
(1694)
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Wing S3676; ESTC R454
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31,697
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42
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Catholick Cause Ambition and Pride ignorant Zeal and Envy Covetousness and Cruelty are the Spring of those Disorders in the Christian World 2. God has threatned as the Punishment of Sin to take away Civil Peace from a People Jer. 4.16 17 18 19 20 21. Because thou hast rebelled against the Lord saith the Prophet there shall be Destruction upon Destruction These things hast thou procured unto thy self this is thy Wickedness because it is bitter it reacheth unto thy very Heart c. For the Punishment of a particular People God appoints the Sword where he will and as long as he pleaseth Against Ashkelon and the Sea-shore it is said he hath appointed it Jer. 47.6 and therefore it shall not be quiet the Sword shall not be put up into the Scabbard The like Passages you have in other Prophets Isa 10.5 6 7. O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger the Staff in thy Hand is mine Indignation I will send them against an Hypocritical Nation against the People of my Wrath will I give them a Charge to devour and destroy The like is threatned by another Prophet Ezek. 7.25 26 27. Destruction cometh and they shall seek Peace and there shall come none Mischief shall come upon Mischief the Law shall perish from the Priest and Counsel from the Antients The King shall mourn and the Princes shall be clothed with Desolation and the Hands of the People of the Land shall be troubled I will do unto them after their way and according to their Deserts will I judg them and they shall know that I am the Lord. 3. On the contrary if Sin be repented of and forsaken Civil Peace is the Matter of a Promise Isa 48.18 22. O that thou hadst hearkened to my Commandments then had thy Peace been as a River and thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea But there is no Peace saith the Lord unto the Wicked If our Ways please the Lord he has promised to make our Enemies to be at Peace with us Prov. 16.7 All their Designs and Attempts tho never so probable never so formidable shall be blasted by God's appearing for us Isa 8.9 10. Associate your selves and you shall be broken in pieces Gird your selves and you shall be broken in pieces take Counsel together and it shall come to naught for God is with us The most insolent Invader shall have Orders to retreat from such a City or shall not come nigh to such a Place Isa 37.33 Thou shalt not come before it with a Shield or cast a Bank against it or make a Trench or shoot an Arrow says God of the proud King of Assyria the old Enemy of Jerusalem For I will defend this City to save it saith the Lord of Hosts To the like purpose it is promised in several places of Scripture Isa 32.19 My People that obey my Voice shall dwell in peaceable Habitations Prov. 1. ult and quiet resting Places They shall dwell safely and be quiet from the fear of Evil. Every one shall sit under his own Vine and Fig-tree Mic. 4.4 and none shall make them afraid I will be their God Ezek. 34.25 and I will make with them a Covenant of Peace and they shall dwell safely in the Wilderness and sleep in the Woods c. There are many such Promises of Peace to an obedient reformed People 4. The turning from Sin besides the Promise of God to reward it hath a natural direct Influence in it self on the Peace and Welfare of any Country For nothing would more promote the good of Human Society than a faithful Observance of the Laws of Christ By the Rules of Christian Religion God has provided for the Welfare of Mankind in all Capacities and Relations If Men had the Wisdom to observe and follow what God hath mercifully directed and enjoined the World would be blessed with Peace Every Man 's just Rights would then be preserved in his Relations Life Liberty Estate Reputation c. For the Divine Commands are caculated to make a People happy tho some of them are such as suppose the Corruption of Mankind to be so great as that the Generality will not observe them And even that is an Instance of the Divine Wisdom and Mercy We are under an Obligation to think of Phil. 4.8 and pursue whatsoever is True and Venerable Just and Pure Lovely and of good Report and to do Good to All to have an obliging condescending Carriage to All and as much as in us lies to live peaceably with all Men. This would prevent Contention or quickly end it But there can be no valuable or lasting Union among Men without practical and serious Religion especially without Humility and Christian Self-denial For sinful Selfishness which is the contrary to it is the source of all Confusions and Quarrels but Humility and Self-denial would bring Men to Peace and Concord it would make us propose and prosecute the most excellent uniting Ends and by conquering and curing the inordinate Love of Earthly Things take away the great Occasions of most Quarrels It would make Men follow after Peace and value it and the things that make for Peace It would make them of a publick Spirit and do what they can to promote the publick Welfare and prefer it before their own private Interest as Mordecai Nehemiah David c. Esth 10.3 Neh. 1.2 2.3 4. Psal 137.5 6. But a selfish Man is his own End and cares not what becomes of the Publick Good so he thinks he can promote his own Magistrates and Subjects could not live in Jealousies of one another as having contradictory Interests if the honouring and pleasing of God and the common Good were the principal End and Interest of both Husbands and Wives Brothers and Sisters Masters and Servants Neighbours and Acquaintance if obedient to Christ would not live at Variance with one another The Lust of the Flesh Sensuality and Luxury have expos'd many Countries to the Desolations of War and particular Persons and Families to Ruine The Lust of the Eyes or lusting after those things which Men see others enjoy hath had the like Effects The Pride of Life tends to Discord and Contention which produce private Animosities and bloody Wars But serious Godliness would keep the World in Peace as forbidding these Sins and mortifying these Lusts It would render Magistrates and Subjects mutual Blessings to one another if they would mutually observe the Laws of Christ It would make Princes and Rulers to be Just and Gentle and careful of their Subjects Good It would oblige and animate them to preserve Right encourage Vertue and check and punish Wickedness It would make Subjects Obedient Loyal and Peaceable paying due Honour and Tribute to Magistrates If our Rulers were Men fearing God they would be Ministers of God for Good Terrors only to Evil-doers but a Praise to them that do well They would then seek the Glory of God and keep up