Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
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A61227
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Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them, Psal.39.6.
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Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.
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1700
(1700)
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Wing S5142; ESTC R221820
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22,526
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32
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more readily thou wilt subscribe and inwardly assent unto the truth of what the Spirit of God saith by the Psalmist Surely every Man walketh in a vain shew Surely they are disquieted in vain He heapeth up Riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Secondly I would apply the foregoing Discourse as to my Publishing the Truths of God unto the People of this my Generation and Country and as to their receiving of them One principal Consideration which first brought me acquainted with the Ways of God was concerning the vanity of all things of this World And there was a desire in me if I might somewhat take off from this vanity of things by real and enduring actions It is certain that nothing remains in a Man but what he doth in the service of God and for the good of his own Soul and all his doings besides that great end are vain Which Consideration throughly weighed should instruct and exhort those who shall hear or read these words to frame and bring all their doings towards this great end of serving God and saving their Souls or for the good of them For whatever their Hand finds them to do besides is vain Even our week day Labour in our several Callings and Occupations which takes up most of our time may be all brought under this great end And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3. 23 24. Even so in whatever we Labour or are Employed Provided always it be in things Lawful and Right and in compliance with and obedience unto that primitive Ordinance of God In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread It may be also Spiritualized and referred up towards God by having our heart fixed on the invisible God at the very same time According to what David saith My heart is fixed My heart is fixed And so in our several Work and Business in our Trade and Employment we may serve God and Christ also The Huâ—band-man whilst his Hand is upon his Plow may have his heart upon God at the very same time and then altho the Plowing of the Wicked is Sin yet all things are good to the Godly and this last Person even in his Plowing may and doth serve God So it may be as to others whilst each one is handling the Tools or Instruments of his respective Trade or Employment Let him lift up his heart unto God in the Heavens and have the desire of his Soul towards him that he may please and find Acceptance with him and then all along he will in his Labour serve the Lord and so his Labour will not be in vain in the Lord But after that he hath therein served God in his Generation he shall at last enter into the Rest which remaineth for the People of God Although he did meet with weariness in his Earthly Pilgrimage yet abundant compensation will be made for all When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The same wise Man who saith All is Vanity saith also All things are full of labour But thus it might be ordered even by referring it up towards God who is the beginning and end of all things that we may not labour in vain but labour in hope to come and partake of those good things which the Lord God hath promised For all People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Micah 4. 5. So it is seen that though we are in a World of vain things and in the very midst of them yet every one is for going on in his own ways That expression is very observable And Samuel said into the People Fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart and turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain 1 Sam. 12. 20 21. Here it is expresly said that if People turn aside from following the Lord then they go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain But further even in the things pertaining to God and Religion if People Walk in a way that was not good after their own thoughts Isa 65. 2. And go according to their own imaginations and not according to the Rule and Direction of God's written Word Here also they go after vain things which cannot profit that is not avail to the saving of their Souls nor deliver from the Wrath to come and from the fierceness of the Wrath of Almighty God For they are vain And yet how many nevertheless do outwardly serve God and mind Religion only according to the thoughts of their own Corrupt and Ignorant Heart and they do content themselves meerly with the customary Worship and formal Religion of the multitude although Christ Jesus who is The Way the Truth and the Life saith expresly Except your Righteousness shall exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven In like manner it may be truly reasoned Except your Religion shall exceed the common customary and outside Religion of the multitude ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and it will not be a Religion Unto the saving of the Soul How many do even on the Lord's Holy-day stand in the The doors of their houses Ezek. 33. 30. Or sit in the Chimny-corner or walk in the Fields Finding their own Pleasure and speaking their own words both which are reproved Isa 58. 13. And talking of vain things Which cannot profit nor deliver nor do them one jot of good as to their own Salvation rather than they will hear or read the good Word of God Or meditate in his Law day and night They are like The deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear which will not hearken to the voice of Charmers Charming never so wisely Psal 58. 4 5. Yea even amongst the seemingly Religious also are found those who shew forth much Sin and Stubbornness against some part of what is in truth the Word God But unto Israel he saith observe that word Israel for it is not there said unto the Heathen All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying People Rom. 10. 21. So it is unto the Named Israel For all are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. Unto the Professors and those who call themselves Christians and not altogether to the prophane and ungodly sort he saith I have stretched forth my hands all the Day unto a disobedient and gainsaying People as truly such are the People of this my Generation and Country Who reject and receive not my Ministry of the Word for the same and