Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n
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A43816
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God's eternal preparations for his dying saints discovered in a sermon at Paul's, May the 7th 1648 / by Thomas Hill ...
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Hill, Thomas, d. 1653.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing H2022; ESTC R25713
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29,286
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46
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God's Eternal Preparations FOR HIS DYING SAINTS Discovered in a Sermon at PAUL'S May the 7th 1648 By Thomas Hill D. D. Master of Trinitie-Colledg in CAMBRIDG Isai. 9. 6. Unto us a childe is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall bee upon his shoulder and his Name shall bee called Wonderful Counseller the mighty God the Father of Eternities the Prince of peace Isai. 45. 17. Israël shall bee saved with an everlasting Salvation Incomparabiliter clara est civitas aeterna ubi victoria ubi veritas ubi dignitas ubi sanctitas ubi vita ubi eternitas August de Vita aeterna Repente quidem alta seculi corruunt pulcra transeunt nam cùm stare in his floribus suis mundus cernitur repentinâ fortunâ turbatur aut festinâ omnia deturbante morte concluditur vana ergò sunt gaudia seculi quae quasi manentia blandiuntur sed amatores suos citò transeundo decipiunt Greg. in 1 Reg. cap. 11. LONDON Printed by William Du-gard for Nathanaël Brooks at the sign of the Angel in Corn-hil 1648. VIA VNA COR VNVM HONORATISSIMO D. D. JOANNI WARNER PRAETORI Spectatissimis Senatoribus unà cum gravissimis Communis Concilii membris celeberrimae Civitatis Londinensis Gubernatoribus Auditoribúsque mei candidissimis Thomas Hill S. Theolog. D. concionem hanc habitam in Templo B. Pauli Maii 7o Anno Dom. 1648 Tenue admodum sinceri tamen amoris in Christo pignus erga animas vestras devotè D. D. D. AA To the Worshipful his worthy Friend Richard Foxton Esquire one of his Majestie's Justice of Peace for the Town of Cambridg and others my ingenuous and candid Hearers therein SIR IOW you much respect as an ancient Imanuël-Colledg man where by the good hand of God upon mee I had both my first Universitie beeing and wel-beeing and like-wise as an old Disciple a great friend to the most reverend and learned Mr Perkins yea and as an Instrument of advancing Justice in the Common-wealth of encouraging Religion in the Church and Learning in the Universitie according to your sphere as also my attentive and candid hearer for som years formerly in Cambridg And I know not how better for the present to make any reciprocal return then by tendering this Sermon such as it is to your acceptance and hopeing that by you it may with the more advantage bee transmitted to others in Cambridg who are prepared to receive the love of the truth though delivered by mee as also for your Soul-improvement by raising your thoughts in your declining years to minde Eternitie It was the greatest part of it preached by mee at Trinitie-Church in Cambridg Febr. 13. 1647. and I can truly say it was both framed at first upon a sick bed when such thoughts are very seasonable and preached when I was under sad symptoms of wel-nigh six months Quartane Ague So desirous was I to promote the intended Combination for morning Sermons there which depended upon mee for the begining of it that with apparent hazzard to my own health being not onely weakened by my desease but having upon an occasion of a Communion preached three times within a few dayes before in Trinitie-Colledg Chappel I adventured upon the work out of an honest intention though I had neither consent of Friends or Physicians Admit I were not able to carrie on or finish my discourse as I desired should I not rather have been pitied then bespattered then grosly disparaged by son and the present prevailing of my disease most shamefully mis-interpreted by others as if this were a Judgment of God upon mee for defending the Universitie against the Town wherein they shew as little Christianitie as Wisedom As for them I earnestly desire they would seriously consider what our Savior saith Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment And if of every idle word then undoubtedly of every uncharitable censorious lying and blasphemous word And likewise often remember that of the Prophet Zacharie I am very sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction When God whippe's his children it is most unbecoming brethren to add to their stripes Hee is no ingenuous servant that triumph's over his fellow unless hee bee guilty of som offence when hee is brought low before his Master And as for mee I am not ashamed to bee made comformable to my head Jesus Christ who was accounted Beelzebub the prince of devils and to bee reproached as one that was mad which was the portion of the most wise and holy Apostle Paul Neither shall I deny that this was an humbling Providence that such an indisposition should surprize mee then though it might well bee so after a longer and stronger intention of spirits in prayer then my condition would bear to let splenatick fumes more prevailingly surprize mee in preaching at that time then in any other imployment since my ague began wherein I desire to sanctifie God's Name by abasing my self and exalting Him without whom wee can do nothing I wish all may make a right interpretation of his actions which are infinitely wise and consider that Ministers being publick persons as they have consolations that they may comfort others so have they many times afflictions for the edification and salvation of others Paul is an instance of both And they must make account they may possibly inherit the same Apostle's portion one while possibly to bee adored and almost sacrificed unto Act. 14 11 12 13. and yet soon after to bee stoned vers. 19. I were very stupid did I not observe the various aspect of divers in Cambridg-Town towards mee in som by-past years wherein I have and I hope still shall unchangeably endeavor to approve my self a true friend to their best good in defiance to all unkindeness and a faithful servant to their souls Yet by the good hand of God upon mee there have been withal a generation of Seekers which have cleaved unto and with som fruitful acceptance attended upon my Ministerie I would not value personal respects in comparison of that acceptance which hath reference unto the glory of Christ in Gospel-success I remember not without thankfulness to my good God with what welcom entertainment many entertained my weak and plain preaching here in former years when I was your preacher at Andrew's I hope I shall never forget how much of God's goodness I found amongst you both in his assistance and your acceptance in the great plague hee can make by his presence a Wilderness prove a Paradise neither must I pass by with what readiness of minde you attended upon my occasional ministerie in 1643 when Providence cast mee for som time amongst you the sons of violence having forced mee from the place I then had in North-Hampton-shire But whence is this Eclipse
grace of God which is a place they alledg for that purpose But 1. It may bee this grace here mentioned is chiefly the grace of Bountie 2. If it bee meant of spiritual gifts and graces and their exercise in prophesying I grant in Ecclesiâ constituendâ in a Church to bee constituted occasionally especially when upon triall by competent Judges of their abilities for the ministerie with learned Dr Ames somthing may bee don that way sine singulari vocatione without a singular call But that the admiration of som few ignorant though honest women who judg much by quick expressions which are often beyond the experience and judgment of the speaker himself being borrowed rather from others or that one young scholar applauding of another should bee the call of Christ I am not yet satisfied but shall welcom any light that shall clear up any truth of Christ though never so much against my present opinion I do not lay the strength of a Minister's call upon a Prelate's blessing of him nor upon a concurrence of all external circumstances and formalitie though I heartily love and desire order in the Churches neither must any judg of their call by their assistance Many dear Saints call that a spiritual desertion of God in prayer which is rather som darkness by the clouding of Melancholie Other Novices account that assistance from God in preaching oftentimes which is rather heat of phansie som warmth by applause mixed indeed with som stirring affections Bee whetstones to sharpen one another to raise som monument of your thanksgiving and thanksdoing for God's distinguishing goodness to Cambridg When other parts of the Kingdom were steeped in blood you were drie when destroying Angels swept away many in other places you were but scratched O never let it bee forgotten how God snatched Cambridge out of the fire in staying the plague these two last years should not you now provoke your Magistrates more to minde the sanctifying the Lord's day to restrain by their power those profane pollutions which cry for another more sweeping plague Because they may not do all but the Universitie must share in power therefore will they do nothing This I doubt will bee no satisfying answer when the Lord shall say to a Magistrate Give an account of thy stewardship I could likewise wish there were a greater harmonie of Judgments amongst you however let not difference of opinions breed difference of affections Love the meanest Saints more for that of God you see in them then you neglect them for what they differ from you that is not sinful Convers meekly together distance encreaseth difference you may possibly satisfie one another As long as wee nourish prejudices and take it for granted there is no possibilitie of reconciliation the devil blow's the coal more and exasperate's the flame till it may bee men bite and devour one anothers names and reputations at least do not suddenly excommunicate all you account carnal for Reprobates though you cannot embrace them with a love of Complacencie yet must you with a love of Pitie there is not onely Brotherly kindness but Charitie so will you commend Religion to them who judg more of it by what they see then by what they heare Finally as for my self when they speak evil of mee I will satisfie my self with that of the ancient Writer If the things thou producest bee true thou hast not hurt but advantaged mee whilest thou by reproving faults may'st procure reformation if they bee fals thou do'st more advantage mee for thou makest mee more watchful to abstain not onely from such actions but even from such thoughts onely the more vigilant others are over mee pray the more for mee because of my observers I must say with the Father I thank as wel God for the crueltie of my Adversaries as the love of Friends It hath been my portion to suffer much by tongues amongst you since my being Vice-Chancellor and to receive more unkinde and unjust censures from som of Cambridg then ever in all my life before my comfort is they are but few and men whose interest was crossed and therefore Self will bee angry and revenge often though never so injuriously yet nothing shall it discourage mee from serving your and their souls Let them mis-interpret the hand of God upon mee in my sickness and the effects thereof yet when ever God please's to restore my bodily health by preaching to promote the health of their souls I will beg by prayer the best good from God for them who cannot speak a good word of mee before men I had enemies enough because I appeared for Reformation which I would not decline if I know my heart out of love to my God though I had not been as I am under the bond of a solemn Covenant obliging mee thereunto When the competition comes between God's will and man's Peter hath taught how to resolve Act. 4. 19. yea that heroical Heathen Socrates which may make us blush being accused said If upon such conditions they being dishonorable you Athenians will absolve mee I embrance you I love you well yet I will rather obey God then you None need especially not such as I think fear God express more passion because I would not contrary to my oath betray which it may bee they expected from mee having been their preacher with more acceptance formerly then it is fit for mee to mention priviledges with which I was betrusted as Vice-Chancellor lifting up my hand to the most high that I would maintain the statutes which include's them so far as they were agreeable to the Statutes and Ordinances of the Kingdom which are or shall bee extant If the Parliament had altered them or when they shall please to bound them any way the matter of my oath being taken away I am at libertie In the mean while why may not the Vice-Chancellor act for the Universitie as well as Mr Major for the Town of Cambridg in pursuance of his Oath The Mighty God of Peace dry up the spring of these most unhappy and unseasonable differences when there are so many dissensions abroad which shall bee my prayer and endeavor till the Lord please to accomplish it If I must still suffer under the uncharitableness of any I shall desire to kiss the rod of my Heavenly Father who hath appointed it in this place where hee hath been good unto mee and earnestly labor that overcoming my self I may overcom evil with good and not suffer my self to bee overcom of evil that in so doing I may heap coals of fire upon their head not to destroy them by burning but coals of charitie to melt them and so mould them into an unfeigned love of all the Brethren who love the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely If this prevail not I will make use of Paul's soveraign cordial Rejoycing in the Testimonie of my conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie and not in