Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	key_n	open_v	shut_v	2,164	5	9.3630	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17332	The narrovv vvay, and the last iudgement deliuered in two sermons: the first at Pauls Crosse, the other elsewhere, by G.B. preacher of the word at Alphamston in Essex.	Bury, George.; Brian, G., attributed name.; C. B., fl. 1607.	1607 (1607)	STC 4179.5; ESTC S115853	53,682	90

but when as God shall haue opened the eyes of our vnderstanding then with Dauid may we see the wonderfull things of Gods law and then with him may we runne the way of his commandements when as God shall haue set our hearts at libertie But before we do all euen the best of vs lie lame and impotent like the cripple at the poole of Bethesda Iohn 5.5 all the dayes and yeares of our times are spent like his without the case of our infirmities and the vertue of the waters of life like those waters in that poole can neuer comfort vs. Seeing therefore that mans reason since the fall of our first father Adam is so cleane perished and decayed in it selfe that of it selfe it is not able to make choise of that which is good it remaineth for a truth that vnlesse Gods grace do accompanie mans reason as the Angel did Toby do go before it as the starre did before the wise men vnto Christ man shal neuer be able to walke in the way nay he shall neuer be able to find out the way that shold leade him vnto life but he shal go on like a naturall and carnall man in that broade beaten path which leadeth vnto death So that you see mans reason being not able to discerne good from euill the way of life from the way of death and by the fall of Adam preuailing ouer all the sonnes of Adam to be one maine let in vs why so few of vs do find out this way of life 2. Peruersnesse of will But let vs grant that mans reason were such in him and so well rectified as that he could discerne good from euill the way of life from the way of death yet is there a second let impediment in man and that is peruersitas voluntatis the peeuishnesse the peruersnes of his will It was the error of the old Manichees and it is at this day the practise of many prophane Christians euermore to cast their sinnes vpon God excusing themselues and accusing him as the author of their iniquities but the Scriptures are all directly against this for as they make God to be the sole cause and author of all happinesse and good that befalleth man so do they make man the sole cause and author of all euil that betides himselfe It is Gods owne speech in the Prophet Hosea 13.9 Perditio tua ex teô Israel salus ex me O Israel thy saluation is from me but thy destruction and ruine from thy selfe As some locks there are which will lock without a key but without a key they neuer can be opened so without a key I meane without any other meanes then their owne proper sinnes men may shut vp the the gates of Gods kingdome against thēselues but without the key of Gods mercy and gracious goodnesse to them it neuer can be opened And as the Magitians of king Pharaoh had indeed power to bring plagues into the land of Aegypt Exod. 7. but had no power to remoue the plagues thence so men of them selues may be the authors of death vnto themselues but to giue vnto themselues either the life of grace or the life of glory they haue no ability God is so farre from barring vp the gate of his kingdom against any that he setteth it wide open vnto all I will not the death of a sinner but that he liue be saued in the Gospel Come vnto me all yee that labor and are heauy laden Math. 11.28 and I will refresh you but such is the peruersenesse of mans will such the obstinacy and rebellion of his corrupt nature that though God doth offer grace yet mā wil not accept it though he do as it were chalke him out the way that should leade him vnto life yet he will not walke in it yea though he lay before him the crowne of eternall glory as his reward and recompence yet will he take no labour or paine for it If then man by following the sway of his crooked corrupt will and by reiecting the good meanes which God giueth for his saluatiō do eternally perish let him not lay the fault vpon God but vpon his owne peeuish peruerse will You shall see the truth of this by a most familiar example and yet such a one as a whole generall Councell hath thought fit for the illustration of it If two men should fall out of a ship Con Colonien and there were no way to saue them but by casting forth a rope vnto them whereby they might be drawne vp if one of them shall lay holde of it and be drawne vp but the other in the peeuishnes and peruersnes of his will shall refuse the meanes of his deliuerance is it not a cleare case that he which layes hold vpō the rope is saued by the great kindnesse of him that threw it out but the other which obstinatly refuseth it perisheth by his own peruerse will Euen thus and no otherwise doth the case stand with vs for by one mā sin hath entred into the world and we are all cast out as it were from that arke of innocency in which we were created But behold the great mercy of God vnto man he casteth forth if I may so speake a rope to saue vs he hath sent his sonne into the world Iohn 3.16 That whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life If then thou dost lay hold vpon this meanes of thy saluation by the hand of a liuely faith thou must acknowledge God to be the author thereof but if in the peruersnes of thy will thou dost refuse it then thy perishing it proceedeth from thy selfe from thy obstinate and rebellious will This Saint Austin knew to be most true and therefore he was bold to say Non est punitor Deus antequàm peccator homo God neuer doth become a punisher till man first becomes a sinner and we see it to be true in that speech of Samuel vnto Saul 1. Sam. 15.26 thou hast wilfully cast away the Lord and this saith Samuel is the cause of thy reiection why the Lord hath cast away thee This peruersnes of will was that which in the daies of our Sauior kept the people of the Iewes from finding the way of life and this is that which in these dayes of the Gospel keepes many of vs frō finding it As Christ said vnto thē Math. 23.37 so may he not as truly say vnto vs Quoties volui sed noluistis How often wold I but you wold not hath not God to vse that speech in the Gospel piped vnto you by vs and you haue not danced Luke 7.32 hath not he mourned vnto you by vs and you haue not wept 2. King 4.31 haue not we the Prophets by the appointmēt of our maister Christ layed the staffe of Gods iustice and Gods mercy vpon you that are dead in sinne as Gehezi did his maisters staffe on the dead child and like