Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	aaron_n	abraham_n	solomon_n	26	3	7.5093	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00935	The diamond of deuotion cut and squared into sixe seuerall points: namelie, 1 The footpath to felicitie. 1 2 A guide to godlines. 81 3 The schoole of skill. 181 4 A swarme of bees. 209 5 A plant of pleasure. 245 6 A groue of graces. 283 Full of manie fruitfull lessons, auaileable to the leading of a godlie and reformed life: by Abraham Fleming.	Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607. Footepath of faith, leading the highwaie to heaven. Selections.	1581 (1581)	STC 11041; ESTC S102282	82,454	300

knowledge wherein who so walketh he shall haue roome enough and when he runneth he shall not stumble or fall 6 In this waie once were placed our great progenitors Adam and Eue if they could haue béene content but they for sooth so busie were they and inquisitiue after another waie which the diuell put into their heads forsooke the first waie which was the safe-waie and tooke a second waie which was the waie of death wherevnto they were persuaded by Sathans subtill suggestion and ouercome at length by his malignitie and hellish vndermining tasted of the trée of life wherevpon did growe the fruite which they were bidden not so hardie of their hearts so much as once to taste Ah fooles void of wisdome and destitute of grace why did you so fie vpon your follie which hath purchased immortall shame Were you placed in the waie of perfection in the waie of plentifulnes in the waie of felicitie in the waie of blessednes in the Lords owne waie and yet would be better but sée the iudgement of God the earth by this meanes became accursed and all the ofspring of man subiect vnto death 7 There haue béene that haue walked in this waie of the Lord some though in number not manie whose names for perpetuall memorie are recorded in Scripture Among these were Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Iacob oMses Aaron Phinees Iosue Caleb Samuell Nathan Dauid Salomon Elias Elizeus Ezechiell Isaias and diuers other whome by name to rehearse were labour necessarie I confesse but for tediousnes That these men walked not in the waie of the Lord who dare be so bold as to affirme séeing the singer of the holie Ghost hath registred the same in the euerlasting courtrolles of the holie Scripture the vnchangeable word of the eternall God whereof not so much as one iot or tittle shall passe when all things else shall be consumed and vtterlie come to naught 8 Thinke you that this waie of the Lord is anie other thing than the rich treasure hid in the field which when a man hath found he departeth for ioie and selleth all that he hath for readie monie to purchase that field Or is not the waie of the Lord that rich and pretious pearle which liked a Merchantman so well that he was content to make an exchange of all that he was worth for the same Or is not the waie of the Lord that pure and fine siluer seauen times tried in the fire and purged from all kinde of drosse so that nothing is comparable therevnto Or is not the waie of the Lord that same rich iewell house wherein are laide vp for all such as walke therein gifts of excéeding great valuation yea so excellent as that they cannot sufficientlie be commended I thinke yes and to warrant me herein I haue the expresse word of God 9 We reade in the Gospell that Iesus Christ walking vpon the sea was supposed and thought of his disciples to be a spirit for the resolution whereof Peter among the rest required to come vnto him vpon the water which being granted he lept out of the ship and walked on the waues toward Iesus but a mightie winde arising Peter was afraide and began to sinke Why was this euen because he wanted the walking-staffe which euerie one that would go in the waie of the Lord ought to hold in their hand and that is faith For had not Christ stretched out his hand and supported him he had perished had he had a thousand liues 10 Christ passing vpon a time betwéene Samaria and Galile opened the waie of his father vnto ten lepers Among these ten there was one Samaritane who onlie and alone notwithstanding the benefit which they receiued was generall had this walking staffe whereby he kept his féete right in the way of the Lord. For the other nine as soone as they were cured forgat themselues and returned not to giue thankes vnto him by whose helpe they were healed Such lepers there are among vs not a few who from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote haue no sound place but all intected lothsome and filthie that is ouergrowne with sinne in so much that there is no part of their soule but it is attainted If among this great and infinite number one Samaritane might be found some signe it were that the graces of God are not powred vpon vs in waste neither his benefites ill bestowed 11 But it is so far vnlike that anie of vs should be a Samaritane that we shew and proue our selues rather to be Gadarens vpon whome the common prouerbe is iustlie verefied that it is no casting of pearles before swine It is now twentie and odde yeares since we haue had among vs the iewell of Gods word than the which nothing is more pretious vnto the which anie thing compared appeareth méere mucke by the which anie thing tried is found lighter than vanitie This word notwithstanding it be the trumpet whereby we are called into the waie of the Lord and continuallie moued to treade the footepath to felicitie is contemned neglected and despised the preachers of the same derided the prophaners thereof preferred the professers of it abused the suppressers thereof mainteined so that it is no maruell though the waie of the Lord be so little naie nothing at all in comparison frequented or vsed séeing the ordinarie meanes whereby we are called and lead therevnto is so careleslie reiected 12 Among manie that were healed of their infirmities deliuered of diuels and restored to their right wits we reade of thrée women namelie Marie Magdalen Ioanna and Susanna these saith the holie text ministred vnto Christ of their substance thereby acknowledging the benefits which they had receiued and declaring in like maner by their perceiuerance and knowledge of God that they were in the waie of the Lord. Is it not a shame that women which are the weaker vessels should put vs in minde what we ought to do That which they receiued was temporall it was corporall it was transitorie and yet they shewed themselues thankefull we haue had at Gods hands the riches of his truth which are spirituall and euerlasting subiect to no change vnder no alteration yet we haue not the grace to glorifie and praise God as we ought for the same naie rather we loath the truth we surfet of it such fulnes we haue thereof we are wearie of hearing it taught we prefer vanities yea diuelish vanities before it whereby we bewraie our hellish inclination and manifestlie proue how far wide we wander out of the Lords waie and leaue the footepath to fclicitie we knowe not in what corner 13 To passe through this waie we must be content to carrie the crosse euen the crosse of Christ I meane afflictions and persecutions for his holie name sake otherwise we shall not bée thought woorthie followers of him We must renoūce our selues we must forsake friends and kindred we must cast awaie wicked mammon we must refuse no tribulation no

kingdome of heauen 6 To be short and to speake summarilie in this pit is the portion of all such as haue cast the commandements of God contemptuouslie behind them couetous persons robbers adulterers swearers rebels blasphemers bloud-suckers extortioners vsurers idle liuers wantons enimies to Gods truth Antichristians liers false disciples teachers of diuelish doctrines prophaners of holie things superstitious persons sowers of sects and schismes in the Church Atheists Nullifidians Apostataes mainteiners of erronious opinions Papists and to conclude all that liue after the flesh blundering like Bitelles in blindnes hating the light like Bats and Owles whose lot is to drinke the dregs of Gods wrath and vengeance out of a full cup to their comfortlesse condemnation The second Chapter 1 Of the waie of the righteous 2 Nothing can hurt them whom the Lord defendeth 3 Of the power of God and his grace also who are fortunate and who miserable 4 The same opened and prooued by one speciall example instead of manie 5 What we must do if we will walke in the waie of the Lord. 6 Of the waie of righteousnes and who walke in the same 7 Wholsome counsels and admonitions THen since it is apparent by this recitall of offenders who they be that walke in the wide waie that leadeth to destruction it is soone to be gathered who they be that abhorre and auoide who they be that detest and defie it woorse than a Scorpion which stingeth vnto death 1 The waies of the righteous are in the hands of God and he disposeth the footesteps of the iust he is at the elbowe of the faithfull to staie them from falling and by his spirit he maketh their treadings stedfast How then is it possible for the godlie man to miscarrie hauing the Lord God his gratious gouernour 2 What afflictions can alter his happines that hath the King of glorie to be his helper What weapon can wound his soule that is armed at all points with the spirit of fortitude and strength What temptations can ouercome him whose right hand holdeth fast the sword of Gods word which cutteth in sunder whatsoeuer it smiteth and pearseth betwéene the marrowe and the bones 3 With whome Gods power is present nothing can turne to his annoiance Before whome the grace of God breaketh the yse his passage cannot be perillous and therefore that man is most happie and fortunate whome God vouchethsafe to gouerne as he contrariwise is most miserable and accursed whom the spirit of the Almightie hath forsaken 4 Examples hereof are in the holie Scriptures most plentifullie to be gathered For let vs but looke vnto the two first sonnes of Adam Caine and Abell who being brethren and both comming of the loines of the same parents were notwithstanding contrarie in all respects the one a murtherer the other a Martyr the one bloudthirstie and violent the other mercifull and innocent the first a persecuter the second a sufferer the elder refused the yonger receiued Caine accursed Abell blessed Héere we sée the effects of Gods grace and his iudgements in one example for manie 5 But to returne vnto the footepath of felicitie which is nothing else but the waie wherein the Lord hath commanded vs to walke it is necessarie that we heare the counsel of the holie scripture namelie that if we will be perfect we must walke before the Lord as Noah did who for so doing was called the iust and vpright man of his time Salomons aduice ought not onelie to be receiued but also folowed who teacheth vs a néere and readie waie to the footepath of felicitie exhorting vs in all our waies to thinke vpon God and he will direct our steps 6 There is a beginning of this good waie which the wicked haue not the grace to attaine vnto but it pleaseth the Lord to reueale it to the iust This beginning is expresselie noted by the holie Ghost to be righteousnes which is the greatest riches that anie Christian hart can wish This waie of righteousnes is the Lords waie it is the holie waie wherein the Iewes in Esaies time and in them we and our posterities after vs are commanded to walke without shrinking aside either to the right hand or to the left 7 In this waie being the waie of perfection it is not possible for vs vnlesse we put off our imperfections to walke for it is a sanctified and holie waie and therefore nothing that is common or vncleane can treade in the same Let the counsell of Tobie teach vs what to do in this case namelie to beséech the Lord that he would guide our paths and direct vs in our waies Let vs harken to the counsell of Dauid and praie as he praied Staie my steps in thy paths O Lord that my féete do not slide For the saieng of Salomon is most agréeable vnto truth That the heart of man purposeth his waie but the Lord doth direct his steps Let vs therefore go vp to the Lords hill and to the house of the God of Iacob and he shall teach vs his waies that we may treade in his pathes The third Chapter 1 The maner how we ought to examine our selues whether we walke in the waie of the Lord or no and first of our Christian beliefe 2 Of the keeping of the commandements and how we haue discharged our duties therein 3 Of the violating of the sabboth daie and how it is prophaned 4 The sundrie waies whereby concupiscence is kindled 5 A testimonie and token of ae cleere and vnguiltie conscience HOW shall a man persuade himselfe that he walketh in the waie of the Lord and is guided and conducted by his grace Let him enter into his own conscience and call to examination his continual trade of life conuersation thus communing with his owne heart 1 Hast thou perfourmed the solemne vowe which thou madest with God in thy baptisme Hast thou renounced and detested the diuell and all his workes Hast thou beléeued in God the father in God the sonne and in God the holie Ghost Hast thou bene a mainteiner of the ancient and apostolicall faith which acknowledgeth the incarnation of Iesus Christ his passion his descension his resurrection his ascension and his glorification 2 Hast thou bene an vnfeigned worshipper of God and not mingled his diuine and sincere seruice with mens imaginations vaine ceremonies irreligious rites superstitious traditions and hereticall constitutions Hast thou not bene derogatorie in thought word nor déede to the honour of God whereby he hath bene depriued of some part of his glorie Hast thou not bene a worshipper of images a fauourer of idolatrie a popish canonist an anoiled sacramentarie a Franciscane a Dominicane a Trinitarie a popish Sectarie a Iesuite a seede of Antichrists seminarie a bringer in of nouelties into the Church to the sowing of sectes schismes and heresies Hast thou not bene a swearer a forswearer a blasphemer a lier a dissembler an hypocrite and false-hearted whereby thou hast taken the name of God in vaine and abused

The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh awaie and that of Dauid The earth is the Lords and all that therein is Praise him therefore aduance him magnifie him vnto whom all glorie doth of right belong This is the footepath to felicitie 4 Let not the King triumph in his strength least the omnipotencie of the most mightie confound him with Pharao with Nabuchodonozor with Achab with Saule Let not the Quéene trust to her glittering pompe least it happen to her as vnto Iesabell Let not the Noble man 〈◊〉 too boldlie vpon the sand of his honor least he come tumbling downe with Haman and Achitophel Let not the vnnoble repine at his basenes for the Lord is able to crowne him with noblenes Let not the forrener grudge at the want of his fréedome for if he feare the Lord he shall lacke no good thing So I saie to him that is frée boast not in it for God is able to turne thy libertie into bondage remember the Iewes So I saie to him that is a maister that he behaue himselfe humblie casting an eie vp to heauen where he sitteth that séeth all secrets So I saie to the seruant that he be trustie and honest faithfull and obedient forget not Ioseph So I saie to the godlie rich that they be mercifull distribute to the néedie make amends where they haue done wrong restore their euill gotten goodes and be liberall like Zacheus and to the wicked rich that they howle and weepe mourne and wring their hands for that the daie of their torment approcheth and houre of their horrible vexation draweth néerer and néerer in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone with hard harted Diues So I saie to the poore that they be not idle neglecting the good and ordinarie meanes prouided of God to liue by namelie labour if they be able to endure it therby to susteine themselues and their familie if vnable and yet distressed vncomforted vnestéemed forsaken miserable compelled to beg and commonlie denied rebuked rated and threatned that they hold themselues contented with this their crosse of affliction whereby they are in possibilitie to haue entrance to life euerlasting remember Lazarus This is the footepath to felicitie 5 If all states and degrées of men would thus aduise themselues the footepath to felicitie should be more frequented the pathwaie to paradise more troden and the streight gate to heauen more violentlie thrust at But alas what is he that thinketh vpon this Euerie man déemeth his owne waie best as for the waie of heauen it is not regarded The fathers haue eaten soure grapes and the childrens téeth are set on edge the successors haue vowed to tread in the steps of their progenitors the yongers to kéepe the footepath of their elders the people to applie themselues to the example of the Prince and all degrées to sweare allegiance to the diuell the prince of this world the word of the Lord continuallie sounded by the mouth of his Ambassadors notwithstanding Alas for pitie 6 There is a waie saith Salomon which men take to be good but the ende thereof is death In this waie walked Adam and Caine the father and the Sonne mother Eue and Lots wife yea Dauid by your leaue though he was a man according to Gods owne hart and liking before his conuersion and penance at the sermon of Nathan In this waie walked proude Nemrod Senacherib Ieroboam and Manasses in whose heart if the grace of God had not kindled the fire of repentance he had receiued his portion with the wicked 7 The safe and sure waie the plaine and perfect waie that leadeth to life euerlasting Christ himselfe pointeth out as it were with his finger saieng I am the waie the truth and the life If therefore we will go to the father and wish to enter into the shéepefold of Saincts we must forsake the synagogue of Satan we must take our leaue of the pleasures of this world yea if there be anie one thing déerer vnto vs than another be it life it selfe than which nothing is more pretious we must set it naught to finde Christ the true waie by whome we come to the Father and the dore which letteth vs in to the shéepfold of the Saincts This is the footepath to sclicitie The eight Chapter 1 Of the waie of flesh the remembrance and forgetfulnes thereof 2 The state of man in this life like a plaier vpon a stage 3 The compasse of the world compared to a Theatre 4 The long life of Adam who notwithstanding died and other Patriarches 5. Of Abraham Moses and Enoch 6 None exempted from paieng tribute vnto Caesar. 7 Of Samson and Salomon walking the waie of all flesh 8 One waie of all flesh though the meanes be diuers 1 THus far we haue waded in shewing the waies of the world wherein the wicked are not onlie desirous but also delighted to walke It shall not be amisse to touch the waie of all flesh which if some did consider they would not runne so desperatelie into voluntarie destruction for the due and dailie remembrance of this waie maketh men to retire and drawe backe from seruing Satan in the wide and large field of sinne as the forgetfulnes thereof blindeth the eies of their mindes and maketh them growe past grace out of hope to be reclaimed reprobates forsaken and castawaies To this purpose it was wiselie spoken and as the counsell is good and necessarie so it is to be embraced and folowed namelie to remember our ende if we will not sinne eternallie This is the footepath to felicitie 2 We are not placed in this world as continuers for the scripture saith that we haue no abiding citie héere but as trauellers and soiourners whose custome it is to take vp a newe Inne and to change their lodging sometimes here sometimes there during the time of their trauell Héere we walke like plaiers vpon a stage one representing the person of a King another of a Lord the third of a plowman the fourth of an artificer and so foorth as the course and order of the enterlude requireth euerie acte whereof béeing plaid there is no more to do but open the gates and dismisse the assemblie 3 Euen so it fareth with vs for what other thing is the compasse of this world beautified with varietie of creatures reasonable and vnreasonable but an ample and large Theatre whereon all things are appointed to plaie their pageants which when they haue done they die and their glorie ceaseth We may sée this proued in men the most excellent creatures of all other and therefore it must néedes be confessed in the rest of the baser and inferiour kind 4 Adam was the first that entred vpon this stage a long time it was before he had rehearsed and plaid all his part euen the tearme of nine hundred and thirtie yeares neuerthelesse when death came and gaue him his last Q he had not a word to answere but was conueied awaie and went from whence he came euen

and guided by them to square and frame the whole course of our life by their rule we shall not onelie not walk in the wais of the wicked to eate with them in hel fire the bread of affliction and to drinke the dregs of torments but we shall tread in the footepath of the godlie at last enter into the Common wealth of Israel the kingdome of heauen which God grant Amen The tenth Chapter 1 Of waies the sundrie kinds 2 Of the way of life opened by authoritie of Scripture 3 A lesson how to be perfect and vpright 4 The safetie of such as walke in the Lords way 5 The benefites flowing from this way 6 The mischiefe folowing the transgression of Adam and Eue. 7 Notable mens names remembred who walked in Gods way and of the eternitie of the word 8 The excellencie of the Lords way set forth by similitudes 9 Peters boldnesse in venturing to tread the Lords way without the staffe of faith 10 Of ten leapers and the thankefull Samaritane 11 That we of England are like to the Gaderens 12 Of Marie Magdalene Ioanna and Susanna and what we may learne of them 13 What we must doe if we meane to walke in the Lords way and of the merchant and the husbandman by way of example 14 Of Nichodemus who sought the way of the Lord by night 15 Of the pretiousnesse of our soules 16 The way of the Lord and the waies of the world are quite contrarie 17 How they differ is proued by things that vtterlie disagree 18 All creatures couet places correspondent to their nature of the Salamander and the Hydra with an application of this doctrine 19 The immortalitie of the soule and a lesson for all Christians to learne 20 A praier or request that it would please God to guide our feete in his way 1 THere is a waie for the birds in the aire a waie for the beasts in the field a waie for the wormes in the earth a waie for the fish in the sea There is a waie for the winde a waie for the raine a waie for the sunne a waie for the moone There is a waie from the East a waie from the West a waie from the North a waie from the South There is a crooked waie a streight waie a rough waie and a plaine waie There is a sandie waie a stonie waie a soft waie and a hard waie There is a waie aboue a waie beneath a waie before a waie behinde a waie on the right hand and a waie on the left There is an open waie a secret waie a darke waie a bright waie There is a waie to hell a waie to heauen a waie to death and a waie to life Of this last waie I meane to open the commoditie and so to make a conclusion 2 The waie to life euerlasting is the waie wherein we all should walke it is the safe waie for the soule to saue it from all annoiances all other waies this onelie excepted are dangerous to enter for they are darke lanes as it were leading to the dungeon of death The excellencie of this way is such as that it cannot be described For it is the way of God euen his owne way established in righteousnesse and perfection And therefore the Prophet verie notablie speaking of this matter hath this worthie sentence My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are my waies your waies saith the Lord. As if he should say your thoughts are vncleane corrupt earthie vile vnpure vnperfect sinfull abominable wicked variable momentanie vncertaine wauering for they are ingendered in your hearts which are nothing else but a sinkehole of sinfulnesse a dunghill of naughtinesse a puddle of filthinesse a lake of vncleannesse and what is worst that is your heart As for your waies they are no better Thus by an antithesis or opposition the Lord teacheth vs what his waies are euen the waies of truth righteousnesse puritie and perfection wherein who soeuer walketh no doubt he is in the high way to heauen and treadeth the footepath to felicitie 3 Abraham being nintie nine yeares old was instructed and taught how to become perfect the Lord appearing vnto him and giuing him his lesson in that behalf I am God all sufficient walke before me that is kéepe thée within the compasse of my paths wander not this way or that way but walke in one way euen my way and be thou vpright There was no meanes either for Abraham or anie other holie man to vse wherby to attaine and come to vprightnesse but onlie the walking in the way of the Lord as we may sée prooued confirmed in this place by Gods owne mouth How preposterouslie therefore they goe to woorke which séeke sinisterlie and indirectlie to recouer perfection and vprightnesse some building vpon traditions of men some vpon custome some vpon ceremonies some vpon Paule some vpon Apollo some vpon Cephas some vpon good woorkes some vpon merits some vpon pardons some vpon indulgences some vpon pilgrimages some vpon professions all which to be but sand Christ the rocke refused a blind man may discerne For is this to walke in the waie of the Lord nothing lesse 4 This waie of the Lord is the waie of beautie peace saith Salomon it is the waie of holinesse saith Esaie it is the waie of streightnesse éeuennesse plainnesse and smoothnesse saie Ose and Ieremie in this waie whosoeuer walketh the moone shall not hurt him by night nor the sunne annoie him by day the pestilence shall not touch him the arrowes of the hunter shall not wound him he shall not stumble nor hit his foot against a stone the Lord will ouershadowe him with the shield of safetie the Lord will be his defence his buckler his speare against all his enimies no lightning from aboue no earthquake beneath no consuming fire on this side no raging sea on that no element no planet finallie no creature shall do him anie harme This honor will the Lord vouchsafe all such as walke in his waie which is the waie of life the high waie to heauen and the footepath to felicitie 5 Dauid oppressed with the crueltie of his enimies and fearing great dangers calleth vnto God for succour His petition consisting of manie partes whereof some concerne himselfe othersome his aduersaries this is one thing which he craueth at the hands of his maker Make thy waie plaine before my face saith that good man Giuing vs to vnderstand that by walking in the waie of the Lord we haue our felicitie fulfilled as by the contrarie the measure of our confusion and cursednes is made vp Yea to walke in the waie of the Lord is the rule to make our crooked waies streight the plainer to make our rugged waies smooth the lanthorne to make our darke waies bright and lightsome according to that saieng of the Prouerbewriter The waie of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect daie This is the waie of wisdome and