Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	babylon_n	church_n	zion_n	42	3	10.3856	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35945	A brief explication of the other fifty Psalmes, from Ps. 50 to Ps. 100 by David Dickson ...	Dickson, David, 1583?-1663.	1653 (1653)	Wing D1396; ESTC R19237	330,684	408

few to assist it their enemies were many they were straitned with poverty and famine and the hearts and hands of the Godly were weakened they were like to faint and despaire that either Church or State should flourish any more amongst them for comfort in such a time was this Psalme fitted leading the Lords people to live by faith and to work on in the building of the Lords house and reparation of the City looking to God the Builder of his Church and maintainer of his people To which purpose the Psalmist giveth them seven consolations opposite to so many tentations unto discouragement The first is that they should look to God who had founded his owne Temple solidly and so not saint for the weaknesse and fewnesse of the builders ver 1. The second that they should look to Gods love and good will and not be troubled for want of externall power and riches ver 2. The third is that they should look to the prophecies concerning the Church and not be troubled for what present outward appearance and carnall reason did represent ver 3. The fourth is that they should not be troubled for the multitude of their foes for the present time but look to the multitude of friends and converts which they should have hereafter ver 4 5. The fifth is that they should not be troubled with the feare of the ruine of the Church but look to Almighty God who would establish her so that no power should overturn her ver 5. The sixth is that they should not be troubled with the present contempt under which they did lie but look to the glory and estimation which God should put in his owne time upon the Church and her children ver 6. The seventh is that they should not be troubled with their present grief they were in but should look to the spiritual joy and causes thereof which the Lord was to furnish to his people ver 7. Ver. 1. HIs foundation is in the holy mountaines The first comfort of the afflicted Jewes troubled for the hindering of the building of Gods Temple is that God had by his decree and promise made the mountains of Sion and Moriah the place of his rest amongst his people till the Messiah should come in whom these types were to be accomplished and for whose cause they were to be preserved till he came who is the only solid rock whereupon the Church is builded Whence learn 1. When the builders of the Lords Church are few and weak his people had need to be comforted against their feares and doubts as here we see and the way to be comforted in such hard times is to look by faith to God as the builder of his own house who hath laid the foundation upon solid grounds that every believer that trusteth in him may be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed His foundation is on the holy mountaines Ver. 2. The LORD loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Iacob The second comfort is that God had chosen Sion above all other places to be his rest and did love there to dwell rather then elsewhere Whence learn 1. The dignity of any place person or society proceedeth not from any thing in the place or society but from the Lords election and free love The Lord loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Iacob 2. The love of the Lord to his chosen Church is a solid ground of assurance of her continuance as here in the figure we are taught Ver. 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah The third comfort is from the prophecies past about the Church and promises made unto ●…her in figurative termes Whence learn 1. The Church is the incorporation in which the Lord reigneth ruleth and resideth It is the City of God 2. The priviledges of the Church are very glorious the glory of Kings Crowns and Diadems is nothing to them but bodily and temporal shadows of what is spiritually and everlastingly bestowed on the Church Glorious things are sp●…ken of thee 3 Albeit glorious things are bestowed on the Church yet it is not so much any thing already done as what is to be done which maketh the Church blessed it is not present possession but hope not sight but faith which maketh the Church blessed and the Scriptures are a sufficient right to us for all blessings which are to come Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Ver. 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me Behold Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia this man was borne there 5. And of Sion it shall be said This and that man was borne in her and the highest himself shall establish her The fourth comfort is that the Churches chief enemies should be converted to the faith and should count it their greatest honour so to be Whence learn 1. It is among the troubles of the Church that she ha●…h so many enemies and those so mighty and potent as the Egyptians and Babylonians I will make mention of Rahab that is Egypt and Babylon and Palestina and Tyre and Ethiopia which are here named as the most eminent oppressors of the Church among all other Kingdomes 2. It should comfort the Church that God is able to make her chiefest enemies to become Converts and that he hath done it sundry times and will yet do it more and that he can take order with those enemies which shall not be converted as he did with Rahab and Babylon for I will make menti●…n of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me signifieth a mention-making of them viz. to the edification of the Churches children both concerning what God had done to those Nations in justice and what he would do to them in mercy or unto other enemies like unto them 3. As it is the glory and comfort of the Church to have her enemies made Converts so is it honourable to the enemies were they never so potent in the world to be Citizens of the City of God I will make mention of them that this man was born there that is in the City of God 4. The conversion of men from Paganism and Idolatry unto fellowship in the Covenant with the Church is a sort of new birth to the externally converted f●…om which their new birth and n●…w being is to be reckoned This man was borne there 5. As whatsoever honour men have in the world it is not to be compared with the honour of regeneration and being born Citizens of the Church so whatsoever contempt the members of the Church do suffer of the world it 's made up by the honour of being bo●…n in the Church for of Sion it shall be said This and that man were born in her 6. I here is no reason to feare the ruine of the Church or the not continuing of her from age to age to be a mother and receptacle of Converts For the highest himself shall establish her

siege about them that they escape not They encamp against thee saith the Psalmist speaking as it were to every one of Gods People 4. Wra●…h pursueth the Persecutor both living and dead and ceaseth not to follow him so long as there is any thing of him capable of punishment for God not only ●…iseth the 〈◊〉 and destroyeth the enemie and consumeth his flesh but also he hath seattered the b●…es of him that en●…ampeth against the●… 5. When the●… is nothing left of the P●… 〈◊〉 unpunished in the world the wrath of God pursueth his name and memo●…ial and the wrong done to the innocent is the Persecutors great●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast put them to s●…me 6 As true h●…ur and th●…●…ring of ●…pect from men upon any is the gift of God who honoureth them that honour him so deserved s●… and 〈◊〉 for ●…n committed when it is po●…ed out as the eff●…ct of God●… justice maketh them who 〈◊〉 him to be lig●…ly esteemed Thou hast put them to s●… because God hath 〈◊〉 them Ver. 6. O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when God bringeth back the captivity of his people Iacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad The last ground of comfort to the persecuted godly is the hope of compleat ●…ion to the Church of God and of every true member therof in Christ. Whence learne 1. There is no ●…lid consolation against persecution or any other grievance save in the salvation which is to be ●…ad in Christ He is the S●…iour and salvation of Israel 2. As Christs coming ●…o accomplish salvation by p●…t and part in his own order and time is most certainly to be bel●…ved and hoped for so is it most earnestly to be wished longed after and prayed for as the example of the Lords People here longing for his coming to ●…ion in his incarnation and mani●…ion of his grace and then in the spreading forth of his grace and salvation out of Sion to G●…ntiles and Jewe●… doth teach us O th●… the salvation of 〈◊〉 were come out of Sion 3. As the captivity of Gods People d●… remain in any degree and measure which may make 〈◊〉 coming to be so much the more de●…eable and to be the object of wishes and matter of Prayer so shall every sort and degree of captivity at last be removed from Gods People till Redemption be compleatly fulfilled God shall bring back the captivity of his People 4. As of all People whoever had the name of Gods People the miseries and captivities of the Israelites because of their provocation against God have been the most conspicuous and signal So of all the People on the earth and of all the Nations which have been honoured with the title of Gods People the deliverance of Israel from captivity shall be most eminently and conspicuously comfortable for when God shall bring back the captivity of his People then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad PSAL. LIV. To the chief Musician on Neginoth Maschil A Psalme of David when the Ziphims came and said to Saul Doth not David hide himself with us DAvid being betrayed by the Ziphims First doth make his Prayer to God for delivery ver 1 2. Secondly he strengtheneth his faith by some reasons ver 3 Thirdly he is confident of his own delivery and of Gods judgement on the Ziphims whereunto he subscribes ver 4 5. And last of all he promiseth praise to God for his own assured deliverance ver 6 7. From the Inscription Learn 1. Particular straits and particular deliveries should be particularly remarked as David here remembereth the danger he was in by the treachery of the Ziphims 2. Mighty men will finde readily more friends in an evil cause then the godly do finde in a good cause As Saul hath the Ziphims to offer their service to his cruelty when David was in straits 3. The wicked are very hearty to do an ill turn and glad to finde occasion of it Doth-not David say they hide himself with us as if this had been good and blessed newes Ver. 1. SAve me O God by thy Name and judge me by thy strength 2. Heare my Prayer O God give eare to the words of my mouth From Davids Prayer Learne 1. The godly can never be so surprised with trouble but they should flie to God for delivery as David doth here and it is a rare vertue not to forget this relief in depth of distresse 2. When men beleeve that God is all-sufficient and answerable to what is spoken of him they have great encouragement to go to him in diffi●…ulty Save me by thy Name saith David Gods name gave him ground to pray and hope for deliverance 3. Albeit no man should rashly call God to give judgement yet in a good cause against a strong Party an upright man may call for and expect assistance from God Iudge me by thy strongth saith he 4. In servent prayer the very voice hath use as with the supplicant to expresse his earnestnesse and his faith in God and to sti●… him up and hold him fixed to his supplication so with God also hath it use in regard it is an expresse invocation of him and a signe of dependance upon him and of expectation of a good answer from him Heare my Prayer O God give care unto the words of my mouth Ver. 3. For strangers are risen up against me and oppressours seek after my soule they have not set God before them Selah The reasons supporting his saith in his Prayer ●…e taken from the unkindnesse unnatu●…alnesse and cruelty not only of his Countrey-men but also of his father in law and of his old acquaintance slippery Courtiers who sometime professed friendship Whence learn 1. No strangers are more strange then they who cast off the bands of civility and nature wherein they were bound false Countrey-men false brethren false friends false alliance are those of whom men may expect le●…st in their need for David findeth such men to be his greatest enemies Strangers are risen up against me saith he 2. When they who should protect a man do him most wrong God will hear the p●…ints put up against such men oppressours seek after my soul or ●…e 3. When the fear of God is laid aside there is nothing to be expected of the godlesse man but the worst of evills which he is able to do there is no aw band to restrain him for they have not set God before them 4. The lesse hope there be of mans mercy the more hope is of Gods help the more unkinde and cruel men be who should be friends the more may the Lords kindnesse and comfort be expected for supply of inlacks as here the d●…ist of Davids argument holdeth forth Ver. 4. Behold God is mine helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies cut them off in thy truth In the third place he is assured of help to himself and to his friends