Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	devil_n	divide_v	satan_n	2,318	5	9.3446	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01711	Certaine sermons, vpon diuers textes of Holie Scripture Whereof some haue been seuerally before published, and other some for the greater benefit of the godly reader are here now added. By M. George Giffard, preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon Essex.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the parable of the sower. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Two sermons upon I. Peter 5. vers. 8 and 9. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. Foure sermons uppon the seven chiefe vertues of faith. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A godlie, zealous, and profitable sermon upon the second chapter of saint James. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the thirtie day of May. aut; Gifford, George, d. 1620. A sermon on the third chapter of Saint Iames. aut	1597 (1597)	STC 11848.5; ESTC S120470	152,707	288

be drunken his senses are then oppressed drowsinesse cōmeth vpon him and he falleth into a sound sleep his aduersary may come vpon him and doe vnto him what he will this we all knowe to be true He that keepeth himselfe in sobrietie is not ouercome with wine or strong drink but vseth them moderately he can if need bee watch for to eschue and withstand perilles and dangers Now as the bodie is made drunken with wine or strong drinke so is the mind oppressed and made drunken with earthly cares with carnal pleasures with euil lustes and vaine delightes which bring a drowsinesse vpon it and a dead sleepe so that the spirituall enemie may come vnto it at pleasure to doe what he will On the contrary part hee that keepeth his mind sober touching those cares and pleasures so that hee is not oppressed nor drowned in them he can watch to auoyd the spirituall dangers This then is the thing which Saint Peter doth exhort vnto that we cast out cares and vain pleasures out of our minde that they make it not drunken and cast it into a sleepe and so into extreame perill but that it may continue sober and fit to watch against all spirituall dangers Our Sauiour Christ doth teach that the heauenly seed is choked with cares pleasures of this life Luk. 8 verse 14. And if any shall now demaunde Doth S. Peter exhort here only vnto that sobrietie of the mind or is it his purpose to exhort vnto sobrietie in drinking also together with that other I aunswere that he requireth both in as much as a man cannot haue a sober and watchfull minde which doth follow the drunkennesse of the body For such as be giuen to gluttony and drunkennesse or to take pleasure in pampering the flesh their minde is drowned in all lustes and carnall pleasures and then cares doe also enter how they may prouide for the filling of those insatiable lustes and so their minde is also drunken and in a deade sleep so that they cannot watch for to eschew any spirituall danger This is the extreame miserie of such as doe flowe in vaine delightes that they bee drunken and asleepe the diuell may put into them almost what he list And therefore our Sauiour Christ warning his disciples to watch for his comming to iudgment willeth them first to beware least at any time their hearts should be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse and with the cares of this life and so that day should come suddainly vpon them Luke 21. vers 34.36 Where we see plainlie that our Sauiour ioyneth both the bodilie drunkennesse and the drunkennesse of the mind together as making men vtterly vnfit to watch Then beloued let vs giue good heed and follow this wholsome counsell which the holie Ghost doth here giue vnto vs by this Apostle If we watch not we are vtterly vndone we are vtterly cast away as it shall appeare by the next words We cannot watch vnlesse wee keepe our mindes from the drunkennesse of cares and carnall pleasures and our bodies from excesse of wine and strong drink and continue them sober And thus much touching the first part Now to the second For your aduersary the diuell c. If we be not senselesse voyd of all care yea euen as stones almost or blockes if we be not like mad men this may mooue vs vnto all sobrietie and watchsulnesse of minde here is so fearfull and so horrible a danger set before vs if we do not watch namelie that our cruell enemie the diuell seeketh about continually and lieth in waite greedilie to deuoure our soules yea euen to swallow vs vp vnto eternall damnation in hell Is it a light matter beloued to be deuoured of the diuell Is it nothing to goe to hell we are sure to fall into his handes wee are sure to bee deuoured and swallowed vp into the wofull gulfe of hell if wee doe not learne to be sober and to watch and so to auoyd him for if we be drunken and so asleep in mind he commeth vpon vs and there is no helpe nor any way to escape him Behold here what the cares and pleasures of the flesh do bring men vnto that is to say they cannot watch but their mind is drowned and cast into a deepe sleepe so that the diuell commeth vpon them and taketh them as a praie swalloweth them vp vnto eternall captiuitie But there is great force in euerie worde to expresse vnto vs this danger and therfore I will handle them particularlie Your aduersarie Saint Peter propoundeth vnto vs an aduersarie and what doe men looke for at the handes of a deadly aduersarie but all the harme and mischiefe that he can worke them and therefore each man hath an cie to his aduersarie to beware of him that hee catch him not at any aduantage Now this aduersarie which is here propounded doth so burne in extreame hatred and malice against God and against all mankind that it is giuen vnto him as a proper name for in the Hebrue tongue he is called Satan which is as much as to say an aduersarie For he is the aduersarie as I may say of addersaries or the chiefe of all other There is no way of reconciliation to be sought with him there is no truce to bee made nor yet any mitigation of his cruell furie to be looked for but we may be sure of all the mischiefe and harme that hee can any way doe vnto vs make full account of that There is no pittie of mercie with him neither is he any way to be trusted for he is alyar he is a deceiuer hee is a Diuell Your aduersary the diuell As hee is called Satan in the Hebrew tongue so is he in the Greek tongue called Diabolos which we call Diuell it is as much as to say one that doth accuse one that with cauillation doth depraue lay crime Look what is best done that doth displease him most he is nothing but falshood and lies as I said heere is no trusting here is no way or hope of mitigation of his cruell rage But it may bee obiected seeing the multitudes of nations and people vpon the earthare so many how can one Diuell put all in danger for Saint Peter speaketh as it were but of one Diuell While he is in one countrie he cannot be in another and while hee is dealing with one man another then goeth free For answere vnto this we are to vnderstand that S. Peter speaketh as of one diuell not because he is but one for the holie scriptures do teach that there be multitudes and as it were Armies of Diuels which doe compasse vs about seeking our vtter destruction wee reade in the Gospell of a legion of Diuelles which did possesse one man as it is sayd they were manie But S. Peter heere speaketh as of one because there is but one kingdome of Satan one prince of darknesse that kingdome is not diuided Satan is not diuided against Satan as our

number I need not to repeate them they bee too well knowne and too much practised and yet they be more sought vnto then faith is which armeth vs with the power of God What a dishonor is this to the high Maiestie of the Almightie What an infidelitie is it Shall men run to the diuell for help Is he fitter to teach them or of more power then God But ye say we see the thing is wrought by those meanes which could not otherwise be obtayned Satan is expelled and ease hath followed Hath Satan expelled Satā or hath he taught how he might be expelled indeede Is the diuell become so simple Wil he hinder his owne kingdome Are men so foolish as to beleeue that he is by such things in very deed driuen out A man tormented sore in his bodie he feareth that it is some witch that hath done it He is aduised by his neighbours to sende vnto some cunning man Worde is sent backe that indeed he hath bad neighbours let him do such or such a thing and he shal haue ease Well he doth it hath ease What shall we think that the diuell is driuen out A wofull driuing out He doth cease from tormenting the bodie for a time that he may enter deeper into the soule He winneth by this driuing out The like may be said where he hath power giuen vnto him to destroy mens cattell They be taught many thinges howe to resist him among other to offer some burnt offering vnto him they must burne somwhat aliue Well he commeth no more there is a power aboue faith that hath put him to flight And where as you say that some haue beene of the minde that they would not seek any way or meanes but only to God and would rest vntil he should restrain the diuell but haue been glad in the ende to vse other meanes It is a lamentable hearing that the saith of any should so farfaile that in steed of approching neerer to God by strong repentance they haue turned to the counsell of the diuell If they could not find helpe by praier they might be assured that the Lord would yet afflict them further that with al humblenes they ought to submit themselues vnder his mightie hand yea they ought to haue considered the weaknesse of their faith and the grieuousnes of their sinnes and so haue sought by all meanes possible to get a stedfast faith and vnfained repentance This their affliction by Satan should haue been a warning vnto them to make thē cleaue more firmlie to God to look better to themselues and see how it hath driuen them to run backe from God to the diuell But you say God hath appointed meanes and hee that refuseth the meanes tempteth God As for example shal a man crie Lord help and not stirre Indeed if you could prooue that God had appointed such meanes to driue away diuels where faith cannot your saying were true But where can you prooue in al the whole word of God that any such meanes are appointed to put diuels to flight If those meanes be not in the holie Scriptures they be not ordained of God they be not of faith it is not the power of God that expelleth Satan but it is his owne sleight that seemeth to be repelled and vanquished when he is not they be means of his own deuising which he hath taught by those that haue familiarity with him The holie Scriptures do condemne it as a most wicked thing that men should haue any dealing with diuels to be taught at their handes Wee are to be taught of God Christ Iesus is our onely Doctor shall we then learne at the mouth of Diuels A man is taken lame he suspecteth that hee is bewitched he sendeth to the cunning man Hee demaundeth whom they suspect and then sheweth the image of the partie in a glasse When this is done he sheweth and prescribeth what the lame man shall doe for to get remedie howe hee shall cause the olde witch to come vnto him and how he shall vse her Heer all is done by the direction of the diuell are these meanes then appointed by God Also there is one whome Sathan doth as it were possesse and doth torment the bodie there is seeking vnto god but not like the Cananitish woman that came to Christ to haue the diuel driuen out of her daughter who with the strength of her faith would not be denied Math. 15. but like to king Saule who receiuing no answere from God gate him by and by vnto a Witch for not finding helpe by faith and prayer or by those waies that God hath appointed they then begin to hearken to the diuell and he telleth them that if they shall doe such a thing such a diuell shall depart Heere be the meanes which some doe holde to bee appointed by God But is not this a woonderfull blindnes that Satan can set vp himselfe to bee a teacher and men learning of him shall thinke that they learne of God Well say some wee are glad to haue ease we find that the diuell is expelled we may think that God doth allow it Shall a man be glad for to buy ease so deare May we call that ease when the diuell ceaseth to vexe the body for a time to the end that he may torment soule and bodie in hell for euer If a man be sicke of a burning ague and take that to coole the heat and to giue ease for the time which will afterwarde cause it to bee more burning is that a good remedie Is that a good remedie which for a little while doth seeme to mitigate but afterward doth increase the disease Euen so the blind people doe imagine that Satan is expelled by those meanes by which indeed he entreth more deepe into them For tell me but this wherein doth the kingdome of the Diuel consist Is he not called the prince of this world and the prince of darknesse This his kingdome doth consist in infidelitie in darknesse and in sinne Hee that is vnder the power of sinne so that sinne hath dominion ouer him hee is vnder the power and working of Satan Sinne is his kingdome there is his throne ye cannot separate them he cannot be cast forth and sinne still remaine in force If pride enuie couetousnesse hatred malice selfe-loue fornication or any other such sinne doe raigne and rule in the heart of man there ruleth the diuell for these be the workes of the diuell Heereupon our Sauiour said to the Iewes Ye are of your father the diuell ye doe the workes of your father Ioh. 8. Hee that will then caste foorth the diuell hee must cast out those workes For hee that committeth sinne is of the diuell as Saint Iohn saith in his first Epistle chap. 3. Hee that still committeth sinne and therefore is of the diuell is the diuell expelled or driuen from him I suppose that there is no man so void of reason that he will imagine that the diuell is driuen

wee trauell on the day hee obserueth vs when wee lie vpon our beds in the night he dealeth with vs there is no time that we can be free from him If hee cannot preuaile at one time he wayteth for another if hee cannot ouercome a man in one sinne hee trieth him in another and most carefullie he watcheth his fit occasions and then he tempteth strongly To bring a man vnto drunkennes riot excesse and to spend his time in vaine exercises he hath his instrumēts euen riotous persons which are wholy giuen that way for to draw and to perswade Wo be to that man which lighteth into the familiarity of such sinners that will so allure and intise him What a wonderfull force there is in companie for to drawe men vnto euill cannot almost bee expressed and therefore when Satan hath founde such instruments for to set vpon a man hee hath gotten great aduantage When a man is in place where he may secretly commit some foule sinne as theft or adultery and the occasions offred then Satan layeth in hard And so is it in other sinnes What should I enter into particulars seeing hee hath a thousand wayes a thousand occasions yea ten thousande sleightes and crafty meanes for to winde in himselfe Alas what shall we doe Our Sauiour saith Watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Mat 26. vers 41. And as hee saide to Peter Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat Luk. 22.31 so let vs al be assured that he hath many wayes to sift vs and to make triall what is in vs. We are taught to pray Lead vs not into temptation and this place doth shew how necessarie a prayer it is for if the Lord giue scope to this enemie and leaue vs to our selues hee will find a thousand meanes vtterly to spoyle vs hee wil euen deuour vs as his praie and wee shall not perceiue it for there in lieth the greatest daunger that he blindeth the eies of the minde and hardeneth the heart when men feele not his working nor imagine any suchthing Hee that is sober and doth watch feeleth when he setteth vpon him and what harme he doth vnto him where as on the other side he may doe what he will vnto those that are drunken and asleep and they know it not Thus much touching the second part now let vs come to the third and last part Whom resist stedfast in the faith If a mans aduersarie be too strong for him by many degrees what is he the better that he watcheth if hee can not auoide but that he will find him come vpon him will he not kill him for all his watching The like obiection may heere be made namely that the power of Diuels far exceedeth all power of man as we see they be described to be mightie and terrible and there is no way for a man to hide himselfe from them but they finde him out and come vpon him what is hee then the better that he doth watch Saint Peter doth answere vnto this that although in our own strength we are nothing to this mightie roaring Lyon yet there is a power in which we shall resist him put him to flight and ouercome him and be armed against al harmes and that is the power offaith Whome resist saith he stedfast in the faith Let it not seeme strange vnto any that this power should resist him and keep vs in safetie for it is the power of God The Diuell is strong and mightie but what is he vnto God God is aboue all his power is infinite there is no power that can stand against it He that is stedfast in the faith hee is armed and standeth in the power of God for faith apprehendeth the power of God and armeth vs with it He that standeth in the faith standeth as it were in God compassed about and couered with his power And as it is vnpossible that Sathan shoulde preuaile against the power of God so is it vnpossible that he should ouerthrowe that man which standeth stedfast in the faith for so long as God cannot be ouercome faith cannot be ouercome Is not heere a most singular comfort and consolation vnto vs in this battaile Let the Diuell be neuer so mightie neuer so subtill fierce and raging we haue a rock of defence a safe tower to fly vnto euē the inuincible power of almighty God which we stād armed withal throghfaith This is it which S. Paule teacheth where he speaketh of the battell which we haue with the diuel My brethren saith hee be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power Put on the whole armour of God that you may stand against the assaults of the Diuel For we wrastle not against bloud and flesh but against rulers against powers c. Therefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that yee may bee able to resist in the euill day haning finished all things stand Ephes 6. vers 10.11.12.13 Now it is faith that putteth vpon vs the whole armour of God and maketh vs strong in his mighty power It is faith as he sheweth in the same place by which we shal quench all the fiery dartes of the diuell Likewise S. Iohn setteth foorth this matter saying Whosoeuer is borne of God ouercommeth the world this is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlds but he that beleeueth that Iesus is the son of God 1. Ioh. 5. ver 4.5.6 By the world he meaneth the whole corruption of sin or whatsoeuer is against the commandementes of God and so the Diuell the Prince of the world is included He that ouercommeth the world ouercommeth the prince of the world for all the power of Satans kingdome is in darknesse and in sin Then when Saint Iohn saith that faith is our victorie and that by it we ouercome the world he teacheth that it is faith by which wee are armed with the power of God in which we stand safe and ouercome the Diuell Heerby it is manifest what a woonderfull precious thing faith is There is no force that can ouercome it he that hath obtained it cannot be poore he cannot be vnhappy or wretched all the diuels in hel cannot preuail against him They thatt rust in the Lord are as mount the Sion which cannot be mooued but standeth fast for euer Psalm 125. vers 1 If it be then the most excellent thing that is to stand stedfast in the faith then are we aboue all other things to seeke after it For wisdome teacheth to seeke most for the best thinges Golde pearle and precious stones doe excell in price and therefore they be greatly sought after and men do much reioice when they finde them They bee more then drosse being compared with faith by which we put diuels to flight and obtaine eternall glory Shall wee not then seeke for faith Shall we not make account that if we find it we haue found all for what can a

this worlde but in the kingdome of Christ whose power is aboue all and can neuer come to an end but is as hee saith here eternall it is farre otherwise because his state is vnchangeable so is theirs that bee once entred thereinto and therefore they are sure they can neuer fall Whosoeuer doeth but euen straightly looke ouer these words of the Apostle if he haue any sight at all hee must needes confesse all this the matter is so cleere that wee can but maruell how it should come to passe that this doctrine of the Lord set forth by his Apostle should find so fewe friends and so many extreme enemies but in deede men which are lyars doe in this thing confesse the trueth that they feele not any such matter and therefore can not abide to heare that all true godly men and faithfull Christians haue this knowledge in themselues but let vs giue eare to the Apostle who telleth vs how we shal come to haue Christ to be our king and to raigne ouer vs namely if wee yeelde vp our selues to the gouernance of his spirit which worketh all goodnes in our heartes subduing and vanquishing all the rebels which we be are about in vs. Contrariwise it must needes bee granted that such as are beastly Epicures following their owne fleshly minde letting loose the raines and giuing the swinge vnto the raging lustes of the flesh despising the knowledge of Gods will and therefore regard not his worde though with full mouth they call Christ their king and their Lorde yet when God saith here by his Apostle that the entrance into his kingdome is by this meanes that men follow after vertue knowledge and godlinesse they shewe that they bee none of his subiects beeing altogither void of his spirit but the bondslaues of sinne and Sathan whose kingdome they vpholde with tooth and naile and that maketh them euen as those which are of another corporation to fight against the truth and those which professe it deuising all the colours and shiftes they can to maintaine sinne inuenting all the slanders that may be to discredit the godly conuersation of such as follow the way here prescribed condemning them as ouer precise and curious if they doe but looke this way which God willeth all his seruants to walke if God do open their eies to see but euen in a glimmering that which he doth teach in this place they would be ashamed of their master blush at that which now they boast and bragge of they would also confesse that like blind buzzards and madde beasts they haue fought against God and not men finally it would make them change their waies and seeke diligently to haue the witnes within themselues that they be the seruants of God Wee must marke well one other thing which is here spoken to wit that he saith an entrance shall be ministred vnto you abundantly or richly as if hee should say When yee haue laboured and trauelled to be as it were well soked and seasoned in godlinesse and plentifullie decked with all graces and giftes of the spirit yee shall by degrees proceed so far gaine so much that your entrance into the kingdome of Christ shall be very great wherupon it doth follow that they shal be past danger may wel warrant thēselues of sure standing in as much as Christ hath not only begun to raigne in them and to be their king but also in great measure and mightily But doth he not adde this one worde more then needeth Is it not enough to haue an entrance vnles we haue a rich entrance into his kingdome doth Christ once begin to raigne in a man to driue out the power of Sathan and afterward cast him off again to destruction I answer that this word is not added in vaine for wee are taught thereby to take heed that we content not our selues with some little taste and small entrance for his purpose is to make a difference between such on the one part as make some beginning haue some good desires and motions in them and doe taste of the good worde of God and are in some sort lightned but ouercome with sinnefull lusts and vaine delights of the flesh they slide back againe suddenly they were but for a brunt it bringeth forth no ripe fruit in thē neither to speak properly did Christ euer raign in them such on the other part as proceed vnto the deepe rooting out of sin sure and fast planting the truth in their hearts going forward daily from grace to grace from strength to strength vntill Christ haue set vp his throne in them beare sway to the ouerthrow of the power of darknes bereauing the deuill of the interest he had and thrusting him from the possession which he held a doctrine which must needs do vs much good if we beleeue it very needful to be vrged instantly considering the nature disposition of men at this day they are afraid of going too farre in vertue knowledge they count it a needles thing to be admonished or taught diligently they take great scorne to be counted such as may be amended yea and that which is more when as they haue not learned the first point of a christiā scholler they will seem perfect so far are they from hauing this abundant entring into the kingdome of Christ Learne here therfore dearely beloued learne it well lay sure hold thereof that it do not slip from you for God teacheth vs here the only way to life and happines let go the vaine dreames and doltish opinions of people sotted in their ignorance which are so farre blinded by the malice of Sathan that which way soeuer they goe still they are in hope of eternall glory as though the way to heauen were so broad that a man could not go out of it the entrance so easie that he may enter whē he will for this is the diuinitie of our time howsoeuer a man spend his time in ignorance not caring for nor seeking after the true knowledge of god howsoeuer he be defiled with foule beastly sins that indeed there be nothing in him but pride selfloue vainglory enuy gluttony the lusts of adultery such like yea so far that the scripture doeth liken him to a swine or a dog yet as if they say he haue God in his mind cā say Lord haue mercy vpō me they think this is all that can be required of men they will not sticke to acquite all such beeing nothing at all acquainted with that which God telleth in this place by his Apostle how farre men must proceed in his feare before they can well warrant themselues to be in good case For yee may as well ioyne heauen and hell togither fire and water will assoone agree light and darkenes are as like one another as the common faith is to that which we are taught in this place But I will returne to apply this doctrine to the godly for