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	act_v	numb_a	23	3	9.4205	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A23635	New-Englands choicest blessing and the mercy most to be desired by all that wish well to this people cleared in a sermon preached before the court of election at Boston on May 28, 1679 / by James Allen ...	Allen, James, 1632-1710.	1679 (1679)	Wing A1028; ESTC W13883	18,844	19

New-Englands choicest Blessing And the Mercy most to be desired by all that wish well to this People Cleared in a SERMON Preached before the COVRT of ELECTION At Boston on May 28. 1679. By JAMES ALLEN Teacher to the first gathered Church therein BOSTON Printed by John Foster 1679. To the Reader Christian Reader THe general acceptance this Discourse found in the time of it together with the earnest desire of many that it might be published for their further benefit as also the intreaty of the honoured Court of Deputies who invited to the preaching of it which I acknowledge to the praise of that gracious guidance and assistance given from the Lord to the unworthy Instrument hath occasioned the exposing it to publick view The worth of the Author will not much commend it to any but that of the Subject may it being of that absolute and universal necessity and excellency both for the spiritual as well as outward happiness of this whole people so also of each particular person as the experience of the Generation immediately foregoing abundantly testifies You must not expect any curiosity or quaintness the design of it being to edifie more then to please any further than pleasing is a means to edification and where there is so good a frame as to be most satisfied with that by which they may be most spiritually profited I remember what I have heard were some of the dying words of that excellent man Dr. Vsher that he thanked God he had been a plain Preacher and used that way which the Lord is wont to accompany with the demonstration of his Spirit it is by that way of preaching which the world counts foolishness that God will save them that believe I doe not by this aime at my own credit nor expect it will be promoted by it but if I doe decrease so Christ may increase I shall account it my glory and the matter of my praise If Faith and Love to God in Christ and to his People the spring of evangelical obedience and the way to Gods Covenant Presence with us may hereby be furthered I shall thereby obtain my design In the applicatory part I have rather laid down rules how each should carry it in their several capacities then reproved any for miscariages in them as judging it the best way to the end such misdemeanors of publick Persons being more in report then proofs that never truly represents any man Besides Regula est index sui et obliqui wise if good men will use it as a glass to discover faults for the rectifying what is amiss as well as direction to them in the right way and where they are not so it is a means God blesseth for that end Rom. 7.9 when God so commissioneth it as he did the commandment to Paul My hearty desire is the gracious presence of God may be with it to promove thine and his Peoples happiness by engaging your endeavours and prayers that the Covenant Presence of God may be with you I am Yours to serve you in the Lord James Allen. 1 King 8.57 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake us AFter I had received the invitation and call to this service I cannot express the Soul tremblings I had indeed sense of my own unfitness at any time to speak before such an Assembly as this and upon such an occasion especially in a day so circumstanced as this is lest you should be disappointed of that which you so much need the best Counsel Heaven can afford But being satisfied your desire was the Lords Call I was so far encouraged as to venture upon it in expectation of divine Assistance And now humbly beg this may be the wish of this whole Assembly all the Lords people in it that God may be with me as he hath been with those who have formerly spoken in his Name upon the like occasion that through the help of your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ that which is lacking may be supplyed and this service may turn to your Edification THe words read to you are part of Solomons blessing of all Israel who were assembled at the dedication of the Temple and was after that solemn Prayer he had made for Gods savour to them in the variety of Cases and Emergencies might befal them ver 55. After all this he stood and blessed all the Congregation He blesseth them 1. By declaring them blessed and acknowledging that favour the Lord had shewed them ver 56. 2. By this holy and pathetical wish and desire as comprehensive of all the particular mercyes before prayed for God might so be with that Generation as with the former with the end and effect of that desire ver 57 58. 3. His further desire wish for them that what he had particularly mentioned in his Prayer before might be accepted of God for them ver 59. and performed with his designe and end the advancement of Gods glory ver 60 4. His holy Counsel and advice to them how they should carry it to the Lord that they might enjoy the good desired for them ver 61. The Text is the second way by which he blesseth them wishing all that good to them that truly will make them blessed such a presence of God with them as is comprehensive of all that follows We bless others when we do wish truly desire that for them which will make them so especially when it is not a bare desire but with Autority as this was Solomon being a Prophet as well as a King and here acting in an extraordinary way doing that God commanded should be done by Aaron and his Sons Numb 6.24 to the end To which he promised the ratifying it as being done in the way of an Ordinance and Institution of the Lord. In the words we have Solomons wish or desire for Israel 1. The petition it self exprest 1. Affirmatively that God may be with us amplified and illustrated 1. By the kind of his presence as our God 2. The Degree as with our Fathers 2. Negatively by variety of words to the same sense not leave nor forsake us 2. The Petitioner that is Solomon a wise man their Ruler acting as a Prophet and in the name of all that People 3. The Persons for whom it is all the Congregation of Israel I shall not spend time in giving you the various readings or Criticismes about the words they are well rendred to comprehend the sense of them 1. The wish or that is desired 1. What is meant by the presence of God or his being with us 2. Our Fathers 3. As with them 4. Not to leave nor forsake and why that is added These must be a little cleared to make way for the Doctrine 1. Gods being with them There is a twofold Presence of God or he is said to be with any two wayes 1. By his essential Presence by which God is alwayes

Israelites found Clothes houses food was not necessary not the ordinary way of its supply God could supply it another way but this cannot Luk. 10.42 there is one thing necessary that is the gracious presence of God therefore Moses chuseth the Wilderness with Gods presence rather then Canaan without him Exod. 33.15 Heaven is not desireable without it Psal 73.25 2. It is the most suitable blessing to the People of God nothing more pleasing as well as profitable to them Psal 4.6 therefore the best blessing 3. It is a sufficient good you cannot desire a more comprehensive blessing this is enough Gen. 33.11 Jacob when he had obtained it by earnest prayer he acknowledgeth he had all nothing less will make a people happy more is superfluous It is a saving and it is a satisfying presence Jer. 14.8 all good is in it it is sufficient for defence against danger Rom. 8.31 Psal 27.2.23 4. To support assist and succeed in every duty Hag. 1.14 Math. 28.20 Gen. 39.2 so that promise intimates thus much as was made to Joshua and applyed to the use of every Believer Heb. 13.5 against fears of Enemies or of want you cannot want providing for that have God graciously with you Psal 144.15 4. The most distinguishing favour Exod. 33.16 our experience proves it Reas 2. The want of it is the greatest evil so God threatheth it Hos 9.12 and the Prophet in the Name of the Lords people Jer. 14.9 deprecates it as the worst that can befal them though Sword Famine were threatned he takes no notice of them but endeavours to prevent a greater Lord do not thou leave us nor forsake us be not thou a stranger Deut. 28.15 at this gap all other evils enter if God forsakes Ordinances will leave you any benefit by them friends will forsake all comforts he carryes all with him they are but his Attendants Creatures and other enjoyments are but umbra Dei especially when all your outward good came with Gods presence it will leave you if God doth it is the presence of God hath multiplyed you enriched you outwardly sanctified any of you if he forsakes these will not stay no nor the People of God neither then Enemies will come all misery such shall say are not all these things come upon us because God is not among us Enemies will know our shadow is removed Num. 14.14 It was that kept off Enemies from Israel they heard the Lord was among them that encouraged the Psalmist Enemies Psal 71.11 God hath forsaken hence while God is with his People no evil will assoil them therefore as you would see the prosperity and prevent the misery of the people of God desire the gracious presence of God for them VSE 1. For Information See hence who are the best friends of a professing People Who are thine O New-England that love you best though they have not at least they are not so accounted of by you Those they are who wish pray endeavour that the gracious presence of God may continue with you and be with you as signally as with any of his People in former times or in the first times of this People A praying zealous reformed and reforming Magistracy Ministry and People Isa 62.7 8. that upon your walls give God no rest that promote keep up the seperation between the precious and the vile Jer. 15.19 Ezek. 22.26.30 These are your gap-men who prevent Gods going away and ruine coming but doe you not think them the troublers of Israel Are you not weary of them and fain would be rid of them The old and faithfull ones that have seen the works of the Lord doe you not wish others were in their room that you might have more elboe room Doe you not dig pits for their soul that pray for yours for a converting presence of God that you might be with him as your fathers were Jer. 18.20 Thy best dayes are gone O New-England if their Prayers should be turned against you O Sirs yet you may revive the hopes of such if you would prize and value them the presence of God might be desired and obtained by them 2. Then those that desire Gods departure from a People are their worst enemies Such as would drive away or remove his gracious presence from you Job 21.14 15. There are such men as would fain be rid of the presence of God some such bold sinners they say it with their mouthes would have no Sabbaths nor preaching nor precise walking would be rid of godly Magistrates Ministers Christians they have too much of them all wicked men say it in their hearts others in their practices and wicked works especially sensual Sinners and that have fullness of the world have all their carnal hearts doe wish they love not the presence of God it s not the way to sinfull pleasure or profit or credit in the world Mal. 3.14 Isa 30.10 11 12. will not endure plain distinguishing seperating preaching but must be soothed pleased in a sinfull way so would have the holy one to cease from among them the sanctifiing presence of God that they cannot bear and what follows These are the worst enemies among the people that would take away your God Judg. 18.24 he thought so of them that took away his dung-hill gods and those means of worship of his own inventing how much more reason have you to look upon them that would take away your glory the signs of Gods gracious presence even his own holy institutions 3. Hence see how to make a right judgement of the happiness or misery of any people it is according to the presence of God among them his gracious presence Exod. 33.19 It is that makes the most noted difference between one people and another the same people in one time and in another according to the manifestation of his presence Psal 144.15 May it not in this respect be truely said former dayes were better than these when they had more of Gods presence then now but the Wise man reproves the saying so that former dayes were better Eccles 7.10 Answ The meaning is not that some dayes of the Church and people of God are not more troublesome and others more prosperous and that we should not bewail with godly sorrow the evil of the dayes we live in and the sins judgements that make them so you must see they are so and enquire into the cause but the meaning is 1. That which is blamed is so to complain of the evill of present time as not to take notice of the good in it that the Lord continues that is folly when the Lord hath removed many choice and precious ones from the Bench and the Pulpits yet we ought to take notice with thankfulness of the precious ones there whom he hath left and so much of his presence with them This was their sin Numb 14.4 5. Exod. 16.3 2. Nor should we complain that our Lot is cast in such a day that is to murmure