Selected quad for the lemma: land_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	lord_n	sing_v	song_n	1,893	5	9.6892	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93382	A sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, at their monethly fast, May 29. 1644. By Peter Smith Doctor of Divinitie, minister of Gods Word at Barkway in Hertfordshire, and one of the Assembly of Divines.	Smith, Peter, d. 1652? or 3?; England and Wales. Parliament.	1644 (1644)	Wing S4142; Thomason E52_24; ESTC R9534	45,343	53

Afflicted or not afflicted let us pray Merry or not merry let us sing Psalmes And I beleeve it was not said amisse by that great Divine * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil Nag● Singing and praying are in every season seasonable But when we have said all we can we must acknowledge that for every work there is an appointed time and every thing is most pleasant and beautifull in the fittest season of it There is a time to mourn and a time to rejoyce How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange land Psal 137. 4. If Danniel could not sing the Lords song in that captivity there spoken of Daniel I am sure could pray unto the Lord then and that most fervently Dan. 9. 4 c. y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chryside Orat. hom 1. Nay he chose rather to die saith Chrysostome then to be deprived of the use of this holy Ordinance This Psalme hath taught us how to addresse our selves to God according to his minde and our necessities and occasions at all times and in every season when we are in trouble to crie to God as in the Text and when delivered to call upon our selves and others as in vers 8. O that men would praise the Lord c. Vse 1 1. The use of this point may be first for exhortation and to excite us to blesse our gracious God who hath not onely given us leave to approach into his presence with our worthlesse sacrifices of prayer and praise but hath been pleased to direct us how to honour him how to seek his face That one place Psal 50. 15. may serve our turn added to what you finde here in this Psalme Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and what then requires he of us and thou shalt glorifie me And Secondly let us here be instructed to be acquainted with these wayes of God and to be ready to turn our selves to him as he shall turn or change his hand to us z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. active in every holy duty God hath directed us and all for our good We may justly fail of our desires if we fail in these performances especially being so exactly taught and that by such a teacher Obser 3 3. There is yet one Observation more which I would offer to you and that very briefly touching the two verses here so oft recited It seems all repetitions even in prayers as well as praises are not condemned nor will fall under that prohibition of our Saviour Matth. 6. 7. But when you pray use not vain repetitions as the Heathen doe There are repetitions which are not accounted vain Blinde Bartimeus cries after our Lord Christ and again in the same words Thou Son of David have mercy on me Luke 18. 38 39. Yea and our Lord himself in the dayes of his flesh when he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Hebr. 5. 7. even then as appeareth in the Gospel he prayed once and again and a third time * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saying the same words Matth. 26. 44. Vse This serves to comfort such as are of weakest abilities to expresse themselves in prayer God lookes not after elegancy or variety of words or phrases when thou comest to powre out thy soul before the Lord in some request thou hast to make unto him resolving not to let him go untill he blesse thee though asking the same thing thou art enforced to use the same words often but with renewed breathings of the Spirit thy prayer shall be as well accepted as if with much variety of language thou wert able to set forth thy suite to God Vain bablings such as are found in formall Liturgies had such superstitious veneration of too many and called The Divine service either for the excellent divinity thought to be in them or that the Divine Majesty is best worshipped by them such I say justly may be ranked with the follies of the Heathen as when the Minister whose Office it is to be the peoples mouth to God in publike shall onely propound things to be prayed for and then the people twenty times shall say We beseech thee to hear us c. we beseech thee to hear us c. onely out of formality and without devotion as we know it hath been practised God is a Spirit and as he heareth without ears so he looketh not much after thy tongue or words whether plaine or polished whether the same or varied a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ma●● Hom. 33 it is the heart the minde the spirit that he requireth both in prayers and praises I fear I have detained you over long in these few observations I come up now more closely to the Text it self Then they cried c. In these words we finde three things remarkable first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the condition of Gods Church and people trouble and distresses Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the practise and the exercise of Gods people in this state Then they cried unto the Lord. Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their successe and the good issue of this practise And he delivered them c. Doctr. 1 1. In the first place touching the condition of Gods Church you may observe That the condition of the Church or it s most usuall lot is to to lie under sorrows and afflictions I say most usuall For I will not saith God contend for ever neither will I be alwayes wroth for the spirit should faile before me and the souls which I have made Isa 57. 16. But as we say of the severall Callings and Trades of life this man professeth such a Calling and that man another and as the Poet said of Hermogenes b Et quamvis ●a●et Hermogenes Cantor tamen Though he hold his peace peradventure being asleep yet hee 's a good singer and a Musician by profession so say I of the people of God their trade of life is suffering and as Iulian told the Christians when they complained of his cruelty c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is your profession to endure tribulation Though they may have some short refreshings now and then and d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocr. some fair dayes though such commonly prove but as we say weather-breeders This truth appeareth from all Stories of the Church Should I begin where even now I left at Noah should I recount the lives of Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph and all their posterity Aegypts captivity and their long travails in the wildernesse should I remember but the sufferings of our primitive Martyrs since the Gospel and of later times you would require no other proof of what I said touching the usuall portion of the Saints in this pilgrimage As the lilie among thornes so is my love among the daughters Cantic 2. 2.

me he shall lie all night between my breasts Cant. 1. 13. A bundle of bitternesse yet as sweetly lodg'd and as neer the heart as may be Fifthly and lastly let this be a motive of comfort in our miseries that look by how much the light is sweeter unto him that hath for a long time been shut up in some darkesome dungeon then unto those who have alwaies enjoy'd the Sunne in his brightnesse as the haven is to the mariner that hath been toss'd for many moneths in the tempestuous seas so shall heaven be unto that soule that hath walked heavily in the darknesse of affliction and hath been weather-beaten with the stormes of griefes and troubles Thus much may serve touching the state of Gods Church here on earth 2. I come now to the second thing considerable in the Text which I call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the practise and the exercise of the Church remaining in this state in these expressions Then they cried unto the Lord. In which words you readily observe three things First that which is here implyed which I may call the act they prayed Secondly that which is here expressed which is the manner They did it servently They cried Thirdly that without which all had been in vaine and that is the obiect unto whom they prayed crying that is to the Lord. Then they cried c. I might well here observe that c Afflictio facit religiosos Eras in Coll. Distresses force devotion Erasmus hath observ'd it in the rudest mariners and we find the same in that Prophecie or history of Ionah When Numa had ordained many religious ceremonies in Rome and had induced the people to a constant practise of them Tullus Hostilius who succeeded him cast them all out again and held as the * T. Li●ius Historian tels us nothing lesse comely in a King then to submit himself to such observances But when a pestilence had once raged in that great Citie and a long lingering sicknesse had pull'd down his own proud flesh then not great sacrifices onely must be offered but every trifling superstition must be punctually observed The Psalmist noteth how even the brute creatures do in their kind crie and call in time of need and that to God the great Creator and preserver of them all The lions roare saith he suffering hunger and they seek their meat of God And again Thou feedest the young ravens that call upon thee But I will not stay you upon this Consideration But shew you what this practise of the Saints more fully declareth to us And to this purpose shall make this my second generall Doctrine Doctr. 2 Earnest d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys de Orat. prayer or crying to the Lord is an effectuall meanes to get helpe and full deliverance in troubles and distresses Where we have just occasion for the clearing of this point to open at least briefly every of those three things forementioned as First the act which is praying Prayer is a duty necessary and that vi praecepti God hath commanded it It is as well Dei veneratio as hominis petitio a speciall part of Gods worship from man as well as an expression of mans suits to God God hath made this a character of his people who worship and serve him they are such as call upon the Name of the Lord. He hath given this title to the place of his publick worship My house shall be called the house of prayer to all Nations While we pray to God we give him that honour which is due unto his Name as first of e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Cyril Hieros Cat. 6. Omniscience knowing the hearts of men For prayer is the f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damasc lifting up of the soul to God Secondly of Omnipotence as that he is able to grant us what we ask and g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Mac. hom 12. to do what he will Thirdly of Mercy as being ready yea more ready to hear then we to ask He prepareth the heart to prayer and his ear hearkneth thereto And which concerns our matter in hand prayer is required of us necessitate medii as a necessary means of procuring good unto us from him from whom every good giving and every perfect gift doth come Iam. 1. 17. Ask and ye shall have saith Christ Luke 11. 9. And Ye have not because ye aske not saith Christs Apostle Iam. 4. 2. If thou wantest any thing that may be good for thee praier is the key of heaven Those four keyes whereof the * Paraphr Hier. in Gen. 32. Paraphrast of Hieros speaks saying That God ever keeps them in his own hands and will not give them unto any Angel whatsoever the keys of the womb of the grave of rain of food are all turned in Gods hand by prayer or prayer is able to do the office of them all Hannah prayed and her barren wombe was opened Christ prayed and the grave was opened to Lazarus Elias prayed and it rained and he openeth his hand and filleth every living thing with his blessing and that undoubtedly when they call upon him If thou desirest deliverance when afflicted I cryed saith our Prophet unto the Lord in my trouble and he delivered me h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys de Orat. 〈◊〉 2 If the whole Land or the Church be in distresse through any judgement or any correction of the Lord see what Solomon obtained by his prayer at that solemn dedication of the Temple 1 Kings 8. 33 c. the place deserves that you should read it out at large and see how it confirms the Point in hand And to conclude that you may know how necessary your most diligent and frequent prayers are in afflictions David a man acquainted with sorrows hath penn'd a Psalm of purpose which he cals the poor mans prayer or as the title of it is translated in our Bibles A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed c. Psal 102. Secondly but in the next place let us consider the manner how we must pray that 's fervently feelingly the word is here They cried Indeed we seldom reade of any of the Saints of God in prayer but some way or other we may observe this kinde of zeal and vehemency expressed or implied We read nothing uttered by Moses in way of prayer in that place where yet the Lord saith to him Wherefore criest thou unto me Exod. 14. 15. there were assuredly those groans unutterable Rom. 8. 26. such as were in the heart of Hannah praying without vocall expression and though Eli most rashly censured her she modestly and like her self replied I am ● Sam. 1. 15. a woman of a sorrowfull spirit c. I have powred out my soule before the Lord David most frequently in this book of Psalms is found praying and sighing praying and weeping praying and groaning and nothing more usuall with him then to expresse his prayer by this

Calendar how most of the Apocrypha are brought in stead of them as it seems thought the more edifying of the two Besides that other injunction of waving the ordinary lesson upon the Lords day in case a festivall of mans appointment with his proper lesson shall fall upon it doth both prefer the feast before the Sabbath such lessons being many of them taken out of Apocryphall books doth manifestly shew the precedence given to these humane things before those which are divine Strange fire indeed It is withall notoriously known what strange fire in stead of that which God himselfe hath kindled hath for some yeers past broke forth from Pulpits and Presses Arminian Socinian popish opinions of the deepest die have every where gain'd applause and the broachers and abettours of them justified nay preferr'd to the most eminent places the Church afforded And whereas Mr. Calvin upon the place and story before cited tels us that we are taught from hence not to c Ne dei cultum ullis extraneis commentis viticmus Calv. in Levit. corrupt Gods worship with any strange devises we know how much of this strange fire was kindled in our Churches not onely the erecting of altars and their superstitious ornaments prepared both for the altar and the Priest that was to wait thereat But bowings and religious worship hath been practised and by some enjoyned toward or before the altar pretending it to be Christs seat or throne as Shelford and our d Speech in the Starre-Chamber Arch prelate call it whereas those that are skilfull in the Originall shall finde by comparing e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 4. 9. with f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 4. 7. that the worship to or before an idol is all one in Scripture language and our Translatours rendring both places by the same expressions do shew that in their judgements they are the same A popish Doctor g Dr. Sheldon who had been a Romish fugitive sometime told me how Papists deride our Masters of these Ceremonies affirming that they in their worship towards Altars professe their adoration is to the Host or Wafer which consecrated is supposed by them to be Christs body really this being inclosed in a Pix hanging over the Altar or else if no Pix there then to some relique or the like Host hid in the sepulchre or hollow place made in their Altars for that purpose And whereas Ambrose saith h Ignis alt●●us est libi o. Ambr. Epist 3. ad Simplic that strange fire signifieth lust he means unclean lust and filthinesse Did not Hophni and Phinehas the sonnes of Eli runne into this slander causing men to abhorre the offering of the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 17. 22. I blush to uncover this shame full nakednesse of too many of our priests so they desire to be styled it 's done already by i Cont. 1. by that religions Gent and worthy Patriot M. I. White another Some of the Rabbins seem to excuse Aarons sons pretending that they were in drink and thereupon say they a law presently was made that the Priests shold neither drink wine nor strong drink when they were to go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation c. Levit. 10. 9. Though surely this would have aggravated rather then extenuated their offence And if you aske the worthy Authour before hinted you shall see though we be silent how much the Priests of England a sad thing being seriously considered have offended in this some which by an ancient Father is called a k Ebrietas in alto crimen in sacerdotesacrilegium P. Chrysol Serm. 26. crime in other then but in a Minister no lesse then sacriledge But I dare go no further we shall want tears to bewaile sufficiently these abominations Let the whole house of Israel be will the burning which the Lord hath kindled Levit. 10. 6. upon occasion of such strange fire as you have heard of Farre be it from any Christian to disport himselfe with these relations l Qui de lapsu alleno gaudet gaudet de diaboli victoria He that rejoyceth at anothers fall doth but triumph upon the Devils victorie and 't is little honour to any man to countenance such triumphs Ah! what pity it is to see that such as should have been starres in the firmament of Gods Church to give light unto his people and to have wrought upon them by their influence and motion and night have been great instruments for the conversion of others unto righteousnesse and m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Musaeus so themselves have shined as starres in the firmament of heaven for ever and ever Dan. 12. 3. that they should become Planets or * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 erring starres as it is Iude 13. vers erring and so causing others to erre with them Or that such should become stella cadentes falling starres a third part of which the Dragon with his taile should cast down to the earth Revel 12. 4. Oh that our soules could weepe for these things in secret and on this day of humiliation remember them with sorrow Secondly I shall now passe from the Courts of Gods House into the Courts of Iustice shall I say or injustice I confesse I have nothing to say of these from mine owne experience But as Plutarch writing of Vsury saith that he never had to doe with any of that craft n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. de Vsur nor did they ever seize upon his oxe or horse so may I truly say and I blesse the Lord for it that I never yet was suiter in any of those Courts But I have heard and the whole Land hath heard the cries of many and I fear those cries are heard in heaven too who by wofull experience have complained that sometime o Cum more pecudis aut mancipii passim illic veneat Clemang de laps repar justit Cap. 13. Quid detestabilius c. quam praefecturas alia publica officia justitiae publicae venundart Ibid. justice hath been bought and sold even as cattle in the market And let no man wonder at it for if publick offices of publick justice have been set to sale surely there have beene Chapmen And must not he that buyes his place next sell his practise Nicolaus Clemangius a good man as good men went in his age seemes to speake very hardly touching the kingdome of France wherein he lived and he acknowledgeth in his Preface to his speech that his words may sound but harshly in the hearing He said p Dico plane mihi videri plus justitiae in inferno esse quam in regno isto c. Ibid. Cap. 10. Sinc causidicis satis olim foelices fuere futuraeque sunt urbes Colum. that there is more justice in hell then was in that kingdome And might we not have said the same of ours as truly take but his reason along with you In hell saith he there is no