Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	cast_v	devil_n	divide_v	3,310	5	9.5405	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A63912	The middle way betwixt. The second part being an apologetical vindication of the former / by John Turner.	Turner, John, b. 1649 or 50.	1684 (1684)	Wing T3312A; ESTC R203722	206,707	592

have such power over the Elements as Satan is represented to have had at that time and it was a convincing argument to the Disciples that our Saviour was an extraordinary person and had his mission from above when the Winds and the Sea did hearken to his voice Matth. 8. 27. What manner of man is this that even the Winds and the Sea obey him Thus when the destroying Angel smote the Host of the Assyrians when Moses with his Rod divided the Red-Sea and when Gideon with his Trumpets blew down the Walls of Jericho We must not think that it was the power of that Angel that wrought that execution the natural strength or skill of Moses or of Gideon by which those miraculous effects were brought to pass which are so plainly above the activity and beyond the sphere of all humane efficiency and power but it was the will of God overruling the ordinary course of Nature and positively concurring to make its laws give place to the will of these Instruments commissioned and employed by him neither is this any more than what Satan himself acknowledges in the parable of Job where although God is pleased to say Behold all that he hath is in thy power v. 12. Yet Satan plainly acknowledges v. 11. That he had no power to do that mischief which he did but what was truely and properly the power of God v. 11. But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face My opinion therefore is that real miracles that is effects far surpassing the regular strength of Nature and as much exceeding the power of those at whose will those effects are brought to pass may be and have been actually allowed by God to false Apostles and false Christs as well as to true to the Magicians as well as to Moses and to the Devil himself who is the Prince of darkness as well as to an Angel of light and sure they were not mere Juggles and impostures which our Saviour honours with the Majestick titles of great signs and wonders so great that if it were possible for such to be deceived they should deceive the very Elect and yet this was a power with which the false Christs and false Prophets were to be indued by the express prediction of him who was truth it self Matth. 24. 24. Neither is it at all prejudical to such a supposition as this that the wonders of Antichrist and his adherents are called lying wonders 2 Thes 2. 9 For I do not deny that many have pretended to a power of miracles who really had it not and besides if you take the whole place together you will perhaps look upon this place instead of doing any prejudice to be a confirmation of my opinion in the Greek it is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose coming or appearance is after the working or activity of Satan with all power and signs and wonders of a lie Now it may seem very strange that perfect Tricks and Juggles the Cheats of Hocus Pocus and Legerdemain should be called not only by the magnificent names of power and signs and wonders but of all power all signs all wonders for the word all is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be referred to each of these It will therefore be better to interpret 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonders of a lie as if the Apostle had said wonders to confirm a lie or in confirmation of a false Doctrine as those works may be said to be works of Darkness which are done at Noon-day because they tend to the confirmation and Establishment of the Kingdom of Darkness or to the promotion and encrease of Satan's usurped rule and Soveraignty over the minds of men In Miracles there are three things to be considered the nature of them as to their Causes the nature of them as to their Effects and the tendency of them as to their design First As to their Causes it is necessary they stould be such as plainly carry along with them the marks and signatures of a supernatural power otherwise they are not miracles but Tricks and Juggles Secondly As to their effects if they do nothing but Mischief in the world or if they are calculated only for wonder and amazement not for use these are not sufficient grounds to rely upon that they are intended by God as a testimony to the truth but it is on the contrary justly suspicious without some further reason for our belief that it is a doctrine of Devils not of God whereas the excellence of our Saviours miracles consisted in this that setting aside his Doctrine they themselves were so useful and beneficial to mankind he healed Diseases he cleansed Lepers and he cast out Devils and he went about continually doing good which was a very strong argument that he had no ill design to bring any damage or prejudice to the world which is the whole tendency of Diabolical wonders when all his miracles were so full of Love so full of Charity and Goodness to mankind But Thirdly The tendency of these miracles is to be considered we must examine carefully those Doctrines which they pretend to advance if they be inconsistent with right reason or with natural Religion they are either Juggles and Impostures or at best they are but Diabolical wonders or it is the power of God cooperating with the wicked Insinuations of the Devil for the Sins of men to harden and to blind the world but it is impossible the Elect should be deceived they who are truly pious and sincere God will not suffer them to be so fatally imposed upon and men of rational and sober minds will easily conclude that these miracles are wrought in the name of Belzebub because they tend to the promotion of his interest and to the advancement of his Kingdom in the world Whereas if the Doctrine be consonant to reason and useful to mankind then these miracles are divine miracles then the Doctrine and the miracles do mutually confirm and strengthen one another because by our Saviours invincible argument it would be an absurd thing for the Devil to cast out himself since a Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand St. Paul seems to have foreseen that false Prophets might be and would be endued with a power of working real miracles and that the Devil might and would put on the appearance of an Angel of light when he so straightly charges his Galathians Gal. 1. 8. If an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Nay the same Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 17. 1 2. That though a man have the gift of prophecie though he speak with the Tongue of men and Angels though he understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge and have all Faith so that he could remove Mountains yet if he have not Charity he is nothing that is he is nothing in himself and to others he ought to be looked