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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	aaron_n	according_a	call_v	142	3	4.0778	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29529	Stand still: Or, A bridle for the times A discourse tending to still the murmuring, to settle the wavering, to stay the wandring, to strengthen the fainting. As it was delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, Anno 1643. By John Brinsley, Minister of the Word there, and now published as a proper antidote against the present epidemicall distempers of the times.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1647 (1647)	Wing B4729; ESTC R217245	80,497	119

Ruler of thy People Pray for them I though they should be persecutors That is the Rule Pray for them that persecute you This doe we and doe we it in the first place So the Apostle there presseth it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} First of all Oh that murmurers would but take out of this lesson to pray for Superiours first of all pray for them before they let flye at them or murmur against them certainly this would take off the Edge of their murmuring The more they prayed for them the lesse they would murmur against them Sure I am They which murmur most are such as pray least To prevent the one practise the other Pray for ●●r Superiours And that as the Apostle there directs First for the King whom we acknowledge by a divine and speciall Providence set over us as a Supreme Governour in these his Dominions Be we earnest with God for him that he may be made a Moses to us having Moses his spirit put upon him and if it might be doubled upon him as Elias his spirit was upon Elisha a wise and a large spirit proportionable to the charge committed unto him that he may be wise as an Angell of God as the woman of Tekoah said to King David able to discerne betwixt good and evill And with Moses his head beg we for him also Moses heart a heart faithfull to his God that like Moses he may be as a faithfull servant faithfull in all the house of his God A heart tender and affectionate towards his people Carrying them in his bosome lovingly tenderly carefully As a Nurse beareth her sucking child as the Lord requireth Moses to doe to his Israel So making him in truth what he is by office Patrem Patriae a Father a Nursing Father to his People Gods People Every wayes a Moses a Saviour a deliverer to the Israel of God Praying for him Pray we also for those which are in Authoritie over us under him And here in speciall for the Representative Body the great Synedrion our English Sanhedrim the supreme Court and Councell of this Kingdome now assembled together in the name of God to be unto their Prince as those seventie Elders were unto Moses a Councell of Assistance to beare the Burden of the People together with him For them beg we also that God would do for them what he there promiseth Moses to doe to his Counsellours and Assistants viz. take off the spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon them even a spirit suitable and proportionable to the Burden layed upon them Making them a Wise and faithfull Councell to their Prince and Wise and faithfull guides unto his people leading them on in such wayes as God himselfe hath layed out for them so as in due time they may conduct them through this Red-Sea this Sea of blood and this wildernesse of Confusion whereinto at the present we are cast unto a Canaan a Land of rest and peace where Righteousnesse and Peace may dwell together And remembring them forget we not the Sons of Aaron who are now called together to consult about the businesse of the Tabernacle For them also beg wee a spirit proportionable to the worke which they have in hand Even the same spirit that the Lord put upon Bezaleel and Aholiab when he called them to the worke of the Tabernacle The Spirit of wisedome and understanding and knowledge to know how to worke all manner of worke for the service of the Sanctuary according to all that the Lord hath commanded Such a Spirit beg we for them that so all things in this Tabernacle-Temple-worke may be done and performed according to the Patterne in the Mount according to the mind and will of God himselfe Begging direction and assistance for them withall beg we a blessing upon their endeavours that the Rod of Aaron may Bud and Blossome and bring forth fruit No such way to quiet the murmurings of the people as this It was the Lords owne way which he bad Moses take and make use of for this very purpose Numb. 17. The people being subject to murmuring upon all occasions and in particular about the Priesthood as you have heard for a Cure of that Disease the Lord directs Moses to take twelve Rods according to the number of the Tribes for every Tribe one laying them up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony And it shall come to passe saith the Lord That the mans Rod whom I shall choose shall blossome and I will make to cease the murmurings of the children of Israel c. This was the meanes propounded What the successe was the sequell of the Chapter will shew It came to passe that Moses went into the Tabernacle and behold Arons Rod which was for the house of Levi was budded and brought forth blossomes and yleeded Almonds whereupon the Lord ordereth Moses to take that Rod and lay it up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony there to be kept for a Token against the Rebells and saith the Lord Thou shall quite take away their murmurings I shall not need to tell you that the chiefe ground of our murmuring at this day is if not the same yet not unlike to theirs about the Priesthood O that the wonder-working God would be pleased to worke the like wonder in our dayes that we might see the Rod of Aaron which at the present through the Calamitie of the times seemes to lye secure and dead to Bud and Blossome and Bring forth Almonds yeelding us not onely Hopes but Fruits Hopes of a quiet and comfortable condition to the Church with the sweet and blessed fruits of a Glorious administration in it No doubt but this would have a strong influence upon the present and future distempers of unquiet spirits either to cure and stay their murmurings or else to be a witnesse against them to all succeeding ages This we know our God is able to doe and this we hope he will yet doe In the meanetime let us and all the Lords people Stand still waiting and quietly waiting upon our God for his salvation It is good for us so to do so faith the Church Lam. 3 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord I have done with the first Branch of this Direction which I confesse hath taken more of my thoughts and your patience then at the first in my intentions I allotted it Stand still not Wavering Passe we now to the second Stand still not Wavering This men naturally are very apt to doe being all by nature ever since the first man left his standing become very unstable but some more then others It is that which the Patriarch Iacob saith to and of his sonne Ruben Gen. 49. Vnstable as water Water it is an unstable Element seldome standing still specially if there be any wind stirring then we

flying to him Fourthly In the fourth and last place holding their Tongues and Hearts and Feet still he bids them also hold their Hands still not Murmuring not Wavering not Flying he tels them they should not need to fight neither So Master Calvin here construeth the phrase Verbo standi vult quietos manere Bidding them stand still saith he he wils them to rest themselves quiet as if he had said there shall be no need for any of you to stirre a hand to move a fingar in this service stand you still God will doe the worke for you and without you And this exposition the verse following seemeth to countenance where Moses tels them The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your Peace ye shall be silent ceasing as from speaking so from doing any thing in this businesse so that phrase is sometimes used being applied to actions as well as words Keep not ●ilence O God saith the Psalmist Hold not thy Peace and be not still Psal. 83. I haue a long time holde● my Peace saith the Lord I haue been still and refrained my selfe Is. 42. refrained my selfe viz. from taking vengeance upon mine Enemies which when God doth forbearing to punish them then hee is said to hold his peace and sit still In a like sense not improperly may Moses be conceived there to speake unto the people yee shall hold your peace i.e. yee shall not strike a blow nor draw a sword nor lift up a hand let God alone with the worke stand yee still Put these foure together and you have as I conceive the full latitude of the word as here it is used Stand yee still saith Moses to the people not Murmuring not Wavering not Flying not Fighting Never a one of these but will afford us somewhat for our Instruction I shall touch upon them severally by way of Illustration Application Stand still not Murmuring First Stand still not Murmuring whether against God or me This corrupt nature is very prone and readie to doe to murmur against God and Superiours those whom God hath set over us and made his Ministers for our good To make good this charge we shall need no other evidence or instance but this of the Israelites whom if we follow in their march through the wildernesse wee shall take them murmuring no lesse then eight severall times besides that in the Text against God and his servant Moses Looking upon them stand not to wonder at their wawardnesse and forwardnesse but rather reflect upon our selves in this Glasse beholding our owne faces taking notice how prone our corrupt nature is to fall into this distemper upon all occasions This we are prone and ready to doe but this we may not doe Sand still saith Moses unto them willing them not to give way to any discontented Passions that might cause them to murmur A Lesson for all the Lords people the Israel of God teaching them what to doe or rather what not to doe in all their straits and difficulties viz. Stand still not Murmuring It is Pauls advice and charge to his Corinthians 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmur yee as some of them also murmured some of the Israelites in the wildernesse And how did they murmur Why upon all occasions they were discontented and displeased with Gods administrations and dealings with them and withall ready to vent their discontents expressing them both in words and deeds As for instance In case 1. They wanted something which they would haue 2. Liked not what they had 3. Met with some dangers difficulties discouragements 4. Saw others honoured and preferred before themselves In all and every of these cases we shall find their spirits like the Sea in this Winter season presently stirred and their Tongues ready to pumpe out the secret discontents of their hearts in quarrelling with and murmuring against God and his servant Moses Take a briefe view of particulars First In case they wanted somewhat that they would haue Thus we find them thrice murmuring for water viz. once in the wildernesse of Shur Exod. 15. A second time at Rephidim afterwards called Massa and Meriba from their strivings Exod. 17. A third time in the Desert of sinne Numb. 20. Twice for Food viz. once for Bread Exod. 16. once for Fl●sh Numb. 11. and every time ready to fall foule upon Moses Secondly In case they liked not what they had Thus being cloyed with their Mannah they nauseate and loath it and loathing it fall to murmur against God and his servant Moses for not making them better provision They speake against God and against Moses saying Wherefore have yee brought us out of Aegypt to dye in the wildernesse Here is neither Bread nor water and our soule loat●eth this Mannah this Light-Bread Numb. 21. 3. In case they met with any danger thus in the Text any difficulties or discouragement Thus at the returne of their Spies making a discouraging report to them of the good Land which they had taken a view of representing to them a great deale of difficultie in the conquest of it hereupon they fall soule upon Moses and Aaron and upon Caleb and Ioshuah ready to Cashire the one and to stone the other and so to create a new Generall that might conduct them back againe into Aegypt of all which you may read Numb. 14. Fourthly Seeing others honoured and preferred before themselves This was the ground of that grand Rebellion or Sedition raysed by Korah and his Confederates those two hundred and fiftie Captaines or Princes of the Assembly as they are called i.e. Chiefe Senators principall States-men Famous in the Congregation men of renowne of which you may read Numb. 16. These combine and make head against Moses Aaron whom they maligned and envied onely for their promotions and preferments that they should be in any thing preferred before themselves Hereupon they charge them to be too Pragmaticall too busie to usurpe and arrogate to themselves more then was their due Yee take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation is holy v. 3. And afterwards when God had made the chiefe Actors in that Conspiracy exemplary by causing the Earth to take vengeance upon some and the Fire to doe execution upon others of them the next day the people begin to take up the quarrell afresh making a fresh charge upon Moses and Aaron calling them to account for the disaster of the day past charging all that Blood upon their heads On the morrow all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying Ye haue killed the People of the Lord v. 41. Thus did some of them murmur But take wee heed that none of us thus murmur This is Pauls counsell to his Corinthians and this is mine to you at the present and I beseech you in the feare of God to hearken to it Thus let us not murmur A piece of counsell I think

and out of Egypt what must wee now stan●●●●ill Are we not to advance and march on Canaan-wards Are we not to goe forwards seeking after further degrees of puritie and perfection A. True we are so to doe but Tarry till God lay out our way for us It was Israells case here in the Text being come out of Egypt to the Red Sea they were not to make a stand and fit downe there but to advance and march on I but being brought into a strait they must stay till God lay out their way for them And the very same is our case at the present God having brought us out of Egypt it is both our dutie and desire to advance forgetting what is behind as Paul speakes of himselfe to presse forwards towards further puritie of ordinances and perfection of administrations But being in a strait as at this day we are we must tarry Gods time till hee have layed our way till he hath divided the waters for us This wee trust he is about to doe and in his time will doe and that by the like meanes as here he divided the Red Sea for the Israelites By what meanes he divided the waters for them the Story will tell you viz. by his owne Rodin the hand of his Servant Moses His owne Rod so Moses calleth it Exod. 17. I will stand with the Rod of God in mine hand The Rod of God in the hand of his Servant Moses this was the Instrument to lay out the way for this people in this strait of theirs as you shall find it in the 16. vers. of this 14. chap. Life up thy Rod saith the Lord to Moses and stretch out thine hand over the Sea and divid● it Now what was hereby signified Why the Rod of God it signified the Word of God so our Aynsworth most fitly interprets it which is sometimes called the Rod of his mouth Isa. 11. and the Rod of his Power or strength Psal. 110. This Rod in the hand of Moses what is it but the Word of God in the hand of lawfull Authoritie And by this Rod wee trust God ●ill in his time divide the waters and lay out a way fo●●is people to walke in Which till he doe it is our dutie to doe what Moses here requires from the people of Israel to Stand still not running every one his way Had the Israelites done so here in the Text what doe we thinke would have become of the Body of the Armies And shall we take the advantage of the times every one to runne his way What doe wee thinke will become of the Body of the Church And therefore for the present stand we still onely doing that in Faith which some of the Israelites here did out of Feare Cry unto the Lord that he would shew us the way wherein he would have us to walk to that end blessing all endeavours for the finding and laying out of that way Why but what needs that Obj. 3. when as the way is layed out already and that so plainly as those which have eyes may see it To such who so think and speak I shall only commend that of the Wise man Prov. 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart but leane not to thine owne understanding thine owne judgement Surely this it is which hath deceived many a one and may deceive any one even leaning to the private judgement whether of a mans selfe or others It is Elihues speech in Iob Job 32. I said Dayes should speake and multitude of yeares should teach wisedome If one would rest upon the private judgement of any in reason it should be upon the Antient those who have greater experience then others yet even they may bee deceived So Elihu there found it True it is as hee there goeth on There is a spirit in man and the Inspiration of the Almightie giveth understanding Now were a man sure of the immediate assistance of this spirit were hee Divinely inspired as the Prophets and Apostles were this Iudgement of Inspiration he might safely leane upon but not upon his owne judgement For as Elihu there proceeds Great men are not alwayes wise neither doe the aged understand judgement The Spirit of God onely is an infallible Spirit that can neither deceive nor be deceived Not so with the spirit of man no not of the Wisest no not of the Learnedest no not of the Holiest man And therefore bee not over-confident of our selves resting too much upon our owne opinion our judgement is no more so Elihu there goeth on Hearken unto me I also will shew mine opinion Specially in points litigious and controversall betwixt men both Learned and Godly such as the present controversies of the times are In this case it will be good for us to be rather jealous of our selves suspecting and suspending our owne judgements and so to wait for the decisions and determinations of others particularly of those whom by vertue of their office God hath made the proper Iudges in differences of that nature Under the Law the manner was when the Priests were gone in to the Tabernacle or Temple there to officiate before the Lord to offer Incense unto him and so to receive answers from him the people stood without waiting and praying as you may see it in the first of Luke Here see what we are to doe at this day and doe it Divine Providence hath singled forth some to enter in to his Tabernacle to draw neer to himselfe to consult with his Oracle his Word and to enquire his will for his people Now whilst they are within let us be waiting and praying without importuning the Throne of Grace for a blessing upon their consultations that when they come forth they may bring with them an answer from Heaven such an answer as may evidence it selfe to every mans conscience in the sight of God Which receiving so farre as wee shall finde it agreeable to the Rule of the Word let us readily imbrace and submit unto it Taking this course now our advance will be not confused but orderly Such were the Israelites march through the Red Sea and through the wildernesse an orderly march wherein their Leaders went before and the people followed after So the Psalmist describes it Psal. 77. vers. last Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron God led his people but it was by the hand of Moses and Aaron Moses their Prince and Aaron their Priest And by them he led them as a flock as a flock of sheepe so the word in the Originall properly signifieth Now antiently sheepe were wont not to goe before their shepheards as at this day they doe I mean it literally but if any shal take it metaphorically they shall find but too much truth in it but to follow after To which custome our Saviour alluding in that tenth of Iohn he tells us that his sheepe

the out-casts of Israel Psal. 147. Expulsos Ejectos those that are cast and driven out as Exiles from house and home Incertâ sede vagantes wandring as those Primitive Saints are said to doe not having any certaine habitation but exposed to the wide world as we say such the Lord gathereth Stepping into his people in the midst of their greatest straits and extremities then shewing himselfe to them most clearly most gloriously perfecting his Power his Goodnesse in their weaknesse their wants Whatever our condition then be though wee be stripped never so naked of all humane helpes and creature-assistances yet despaire not If God have a purpose to save us to deliver us his counsell shall stand his purpose shall take place My counsell shall stand saith the Lord and I will doe all my pleasure I have spoken it I will also bring it to passe I have purposed it I will also doe it Take wee this for an universall Truth and build upon it whatever God hath purposed to doe whether against his Enemies or for his people it matters not what seeming improbabilities or impossibities may crosse the way of his Providence it shall be performed It is that which the Prophet Ieremy saith concerning Babylon Jer. 51. Every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon What he there speakes of the literall it may as truely be said of Mysticall Babylon One purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon Now wee know what the Lord hath purposed concerning it Babylon it is fallen it is fallen It shall certainly fall it shall speedily fall both imported in that phrase and manner of speech And this purpose it shall be performed It matters not what Babylon it selfe be though seemingly never so impregnable Such the Eastern Babylon was and such the Western Babylon is yet this shall not frustrate or make void the purpose of God Babylon the Great is fallen Though Great for Power Great for Iurisdiction Great for Wealth Great for Honour and Reputation Great for Friends and Allies yet Babylon the Great is fallen On the other hand we know what God hath purposed concerning his Church Ierusalem shall be established and made a praise in the earth Isa. 62. The Mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills Isa. 2. Above the Hills I above those seaven Hills whereon the woman in the Revelation is said to sit whereon the Citie of Rome is built The Church shall be elevated and lifted up above all Romish Power and Iurisdiction This is Gods purpose concerning Babylon and concerning Sion the one shall Fall the other shall Rise this shall come to passe It matters not though at the present we see no meanes no likely instruments to effect this great worke God can if he please Create both rayse up both in an instant A truth excellently represented and set forth unto Zachary in a vision the vision of the foure Hornes and foure Carpenters Zach. 1. I lift up mine eyes saith the Prophet and saw and behold foure Hornes vers. 18. And the Lord shewed me foure Carpenters vers. 20. Now what were those foure Hornes Why the Enemies of the Church as the 19 verse expounds it which are called Hornes for their Power and said to be foure in reference to the foure parts of the World East West North and South from all which they come as the Geneva Glosse explaines it And what are the Carpenters Why instruments raysed up by God to break batter those Horns to oppose to overthrow that adverse power so the last verse explaines it and they againe are said to be foure to import an equalitie of power and strength Thus when God hath a worke to doe be it to ●eat downe Babylon or build up Ierusalem he can rayse up Carpenters instruments that shall be sufficient for the worke It may be making use of meane instruments to effect great matters by Trumpets of Rams Hornes to lay the walls Iericho flat Nay more rather then faile he both can and will worke without instruments Hee hath done it he can doe it and rather then his purpose should not stand he will doe it Though instruments faile yet the Promise shall not faile Though the Carpenters should not strike a stroake yet God hath wayes to take off the Hornes of his Enemies Though the Church should be destitute of all humane protection yet God hath wayes to deliver it to secure it Expresse is that of the Prophet Esay Isa. 4. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoake by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night alluding as you know to the Pillar of the Cloud and of the Fire which went before the Israelites in the wildernesse pledges and tokens of Gods gracious protection and direction These saith the Prophet the Lord will Create Now to Create you know what it is viz. to bring something out of nothing to worke as I said without meanes without instruments And thus rather then faile God will worke salvation and deliverance for his Church he will Create it bring it out of nothing effect it without any such meanes or instruments as it may be our eyes are fixed upon Which let it serve as for the bearing up the hearts of the Lords people in the midst of these drooping and doubtfull times So in the second place for the taking off their eyes from looking too much at meanes too much at instruments a thing which generally we are very act to doe And there is it that our pulses beat so unequally that there is so much unevennesse in our spirits they are up and downe like wells digged upon the Sea shore neere the highwater marke which rise and fall according as the tide ebbs and flowes Even thus is it generally with our spirits they Rise and Fall with the Tide and current of meanes and instruments When the Tide commeth in meanes and instruments appeare to us so as wee apprehend things outwardly in a hopefull condition then our spirits are up but if there be a slake of them presently they are downe againe Thus it should not be and thus it would not be did we not live more by Sense then by Faith Faith will tell us that Gods decrees and purposes they doe not Stand or Fall to secondary causes That which God hath purposed to doe he can doe it he will doe it he will carry through his owne worke Bring wee it home to the particular case of the Kingdome at the present as sad a case as ever this Kingdome saw If God have a gracious purpose towards it to save and deliver his people to build and to plant and to purge his Church to establish his Gospell to settle Truth and Peace amongst us it is not the deficiency of whatever