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	bless_v	close_a	32	3	10.0539	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76788	Endevors aiming at the glory of God, that peace & truth may meet together: wherein is contained the excellency, benefit, and necessity of good government and governors: a loving reply to Mr William Prynnes speech made to the House of Commons, and afterwards published. Some matters are propounded to the consideration of the ministry; and also to particular (and to all) opinions. The first, purest, best and most blessed form and manner of government, prescribed by God, (and recorded in Gods sacred word;) together with the way of entrance, or Gods calling of persons to places of chief government, the great consequence thereof. Wherein is shewed, that government by succession, from the father to the son, was none of Gods institution, in the first and purest times. And also the government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of government, being Gods immediate direction, most blessed and approved for Gods glory, and for a peoples greatest good, comfort, and safety. / By John Blackleach.	Blackleach, John.	1650 (1650)	Wing B3074; Thomason E590_5; ESTC R206330	147,760	171

so rest in peace because a good Shepherd is their watchman Was not this the very foundation and cause that David Ps 23. found such great comfort and refreshment namely from his Shepherd Dear Friends if God help us to obtain good Shepherds good Governors our strife will end our differences will be composed Corrupt Opinions on the one hand and desperate Blasphemy and Profaneness on the other hand will vanish as smoak before the winde The very presence of Moses destroyed the profaneness of Idolatrous Worship Dear Christian Friends if God help us in this matter then shall peace and truth meet together and as Moses and Aaron they shall kiss one another in the Mount of God Then shall we well provide for the comfort of our children and for their posterity Then shall the generations to come have cause to bless us Then shall the Name of the Lord be praised with joyful hearts Then shall the Lord bless us and we shall be blessed I shall endeavor to write in this ensuing Treatise without partiality without turning to the right or to the left hand without respect of persons further then in a way of righteousness accept of this my mite And let those men who have received more abilities and opportunity put more into the Treasury Dear Friends and Country-men I dare not say that for your sakes I could be content to have my name blotted out of the Book of Life Nor with Paul That for this cause I could be content to be a cast-away from the presence of God for ever For the thought of that would be more bitter then death But this I do say That so far as I know my own heart provided that the loss of my temporal life would be the means to procure this happiness to you namely that you might possess Judges as the first and Counsellors as at the beginning I could be content to lay down this temporal life that for a little season I do here enjoy Beloved Friends I considering that there is so great a distance at this time between Opinions but more especially there is a greater difference between the affections of many I shall desire leave of the courteous Reader that without offence I may propound some other matters to consideration My ends therein are that I may extinguish that heat if not wholly yet in some measure that is burning or smothering in the hearts of many For otherwise these will lie as a block or as a bar in the way to hinder that peace and truth should not meet together I remember Jacob his example herein he being intended and desirous to be reconciled to his brother Esau who had determined or threatned his death He labors to prevent and pacifie his brothers anger by sending presents and soft answers good words before him Such gifts as I have I offer to you Silver and Gold I have but little I desire that I may finde the like acceptance that Jacob did The first and great hinderance that I find laid in the way to hinder Peace and Truth from meeting together is the death of the late King the removing of divers Lords and some others from their present Being or acting as Members of that Court and the pretended wilful breach of a former Covenant I am not desirous to call back those things that are done and past I am not desirous to take abroad those imbers in which wherein hath been or may be contained coals of fire that might or may kindle such f●●●es as are not easily quenched It is better for peace sake to suffer some yea much wrong then to endeavor to right our selves in such a way as may turn to far greater loss Our Saviour counselleth us rather to suffer wrong then to contend in Law and rather to lose our garment then to contend too earnestly for it In those things wherein sin is committed by others and we no actors nor consenters in it we may in some cases especially then when by seeking revenge we may plunge and throw our selves ●●to greater dangers and temptations in such cases we may wait patiently and commit those cases to God that judgeth righteously Sin shall slay the wicked doer and God will bring down the evil and the deceitful men He that riseth up to right another mans cause must look well to his own calling and abilities Did not these lie as a bar in the way to hinder Peace and Truth from meeting I should be silent and commit the matter to him that judgeth righteously and so I desire to do I shall not use here any carnal weapons onely make some use of Truth so well as I am able that thereby we may find the way to Peace And first touching the late Kings death consider that we cannot recall that What then Are you resolved to set up the eldest Son upon the Throne of his Father Consider well of it Can you tell whether he will prove wise or foolish Can you tell whether he will care for the Flock Can you tell whether he will love or hate the Flock Can you tell whether you should obtain your desires or whether that the pursuance thereof may not be a means to ruine your selves and many others that desire to live in peace Are you nevertheless resolved to have such a Watchman such a Shepherd Will you expect grapes from thorns I have indeed to my sorrow heard this with my ears lately spoken That if a Turk or any other as bad almost should come hither and contend for the Government there would be a great party for him Oh horrible impiety that men should so far be transported beyond the bounds of Reason and Religion Indeed there is a generation too apparent that by their works by their swearing and prophaneness and hatred of those that love and fear the Lord declare evidently that they are Gods enemies It is therefore not to be wondred that God should give them over to strong delusions to believe lies What if Gods Word declare evidently That the Government by Judges be better more agreeable to his mind more useful and more comfortable to us will you nevertheless have a King consider of it Friends Countrymen Beloved I have no prejudice against a King but this I say I honour love worship and desire to cleave to the Precepts and Commandments of him that is the King of Kings of him who gave me life and is able to raise me up to life when this span of time is past when the King of Terrors hath done his utmost spite I was no actor in the Kings death I had taken a great journey above four years before the death of the King and was many hundreds of miles distant from this Land and returned hither very lately I speak therefore the more freely with more liberty I have endeavored with the greatest care I could to weigh mens words and passages in the ballance of the Sanctuary and I find many that speak loosely carelesly and many more prophanely Is

Afterwards thou shalt be called a City of righteousness a faithful City Isai 1.25 26 27. ch 2.2 3 4. Of this I purpose to speak more afterwards Dearly beloved friends thus much I can and do affirm to you all in the presence of that all-seeing ●od who will bring hidden things deeds of darkness to light even in the presence of that God who I do Love Fear Worship who is my Hope my Joy from whom I received all the Good I have from whom I expect my comfort for the time to come I have not so far as I know my own heart any prejudice nor respect of persons nor any past present or future by or sinister respect in the writing this little Treatise I have never received the value of one penny in recompence of my endeavors and for the time to come I am so far from thoughts that way That I do expect rather that I shall receive injury hereby and that this may be a great hinderance to me in wordly respects only this is my comfort That I know whom I have trusted And this further can I say likewise That at the writing hereof I know not nor did ever see either those truly honourable Generals the Lord Fairfax nor the Lord Cromwel nor any Captain or Souldier amongst them except some few I lately saw in or neer to London as I passed by them nor do I know any one of them if I see them again so far as I conceive It is possible some of my acquaintance may be in the Army but if it be so I know it not And concerning those worthy men for so I esteem them to be that now sit in the Parliament I never saw any one of them to my knowledg except one who I have seen I think three or four times yet I know not certainly whether he be of the Parliament or no only I think he is Whereas I affirm that I know not any of the Army or of the Parliament I intend that I know not the persons of the men but by their fruits I know much concerning them Some may judge this to be superfluous to mention but I shall shew you what moveth me so to do In discoursing with divers men I find to my best apprehension That there is such a crooked and perverse generation of men that imagine mischief that invent base false and slanderous reports against Parliament Generals Army and indeed against the most that truly fear God Blame me not therefore courteous Reader if I labour to prevent slanderous and lying Tongues And this likewise I affirm That with due regard of Gods presence in the fear of God being much sensible of my own weakness seriously considering of how great weight it is to write books and to present them to publique view I am very fearful to presume above what is meet and this I say further that my purpose is to propound the matters and causes I shall principally insist upon in this following Treatise I purpose likewise according to the measure of light grace and opportunity that God shall give me to prove and clear the matters propounded and then having presented the cause I shall earnestly desire of God to stir some persons who are more learned and better able then my self and to enable and direct them so That they may more largely and clearly shew forth to publique view the mind of God in these matters of Government and Governors It is now a long season that the Nations have been so kept under by Corrupt Governors above two thousand years during which time where or who was the man that durst or did punctually discover the Corruption of Governors or of Government 1. This is one reason that moveth me to present the cause to publike view namely because I know not or do not discern that any one writer from Samuels days to this time the pens of the Scriptures excepted that hath punctually written upon this subject 2. This is another moving cause because now being a time of more Liberty and considering that I my children and posterity are concerned in the case of Government I conceive there is reason good why I should present this cause to publike consideration 3. This is another motive I look upon the great effusion of bloud that hath been shed about this matter the cause for ought I know being not yet wholy determined but is still so that I conceive that our godly Governors are ready to prefer Gods glory and the common good before their own interests in those matters that they shall clearly see to be the mind and will of God 4. This is another motive seeing apparently our miserable condition people being divided in judgment and in affection so that our condition is much like a ship in a Tempest Therefore the end of my endeavors shall be so far as God shall assist that I may reconcile differences and that Peace and Truth may meet together as Moses and Aaron met together in the mount of God and kissed each other And as this is the end I propound to my self so likewise I purpose it shall be the Title or Superscription Dearly beloved friends all you that love and fear the Lord all you that have obtained like precious faith I earnestly intreat you to assist me in this work with your prayers with your most best uttermost and strongest abilities Contend for the truth in love but strive not lust not to be contentious Reject not that Truth that Good wholy which is accompanied with some blemishes Men cast not away a good garment because of a little dirt Consider the great differences and troubles about Governors and Government Therefore I humbly request thee to weigh try prove examine search the Scripture cleave to the Truth Seek the favour of God with more then ordinary prayer That the good holy Spirit of God may lead thee into truth For it is evident that many unclean Spirits many false and lying Spirits are permitted to deceive many in these our days This point of Government is of great concernment if God help us to discern the good and right way prescribed practised owned and blessed by God to chuse persons so that God may be said to chuse for us to shut up all windows and by-ways that so Wolves Foxes and beasts of prey may be kept from the Sheep If God help us to discern the way the true and right way and in that way to set open the door that the good and true Shepherds may enter whose fruits will soon discover them to be good and true Shepherds for they will love the flock they will watch over them not for the fleece mostly but to defend them from beasts of prey These good Shepherds will seek the comfort of the Flock they will drive them to the wholesom pastures and to the still waters where they may be refreshed where they may bless the name of the Lord and lie down without fear for true love casteth out fear and

callings of Governors by God to their places in those first and purest times But this is not so safe and clear a way so far as I understand First Because we read not we cannot find it recorded that I can find and I have searched the Scripture with diligence that God did appoint the people to chuse that way Consider That those acts that the people did are not therefore Gods Commandments and Institutions for then we must follow them in many actions which would be vain to conceive Secondly The People may err and are much subject so to do Thirdly Gods Law is express we may not add nor diminish we may not turn to the right nor to the left hand to or from Gods Commandments Fourthly I believe the promises of God lead us to chuse most exactly according to the purest Institutions noted in Isai 1. I will that is God will restore thy Judges as at the first c. that holdeth out as in the purest times c. Before I make Application of what is mentioned touching the calling of these chief Judges I conceive it will be needful to answer an Objection which is this Object May not the people chuse chief Governors did not the people chuse Jepthtah Answ The exact manner of Jepthtah's choyce is not so plainly described but that for ought I know they might have some further enquiry then is set down much we read not of Jephthahs acts this is to be noted concerning him That he did such an act as no other Judg did that we re●d of namely he vowed such an unllimited and unlawful vow as occasioned him to sacrifice his daughter and so he did which was the direct breach of Gods Command in a high degree But secondly consider That it is a safe way in dubious matters especially in such eminent matters as do so immediately concern Gods glory and the peoples good to walk by the plainest by ●he most evident ways that God hath prescribed 3. God saith expresly with many threatnings and many times That we shall neither add nor diminish from his Institutions Now this is evident That God chusing immediately either by voyce by Prophet or by lot is Gods own appointment It is without denyal or question and God foreseeing that the people would corrupt their ways and break his Institutions by desiring to be governed by Kings yet God was so jealous of his honor and tender of the peoples good in the choyce of the chief Governors that he saith expresly Deut. 17. Thou shalt make him King whom the Lord thy God shall chuse Therefore considering that we may neither add nor diminish it is without comparison much safer to chuse by Gods plain Rules For in both the Government by Judges and in the Government by Kings it is to be noted That God did immediately chuse Governors and I cannot see that a people that will follow Gods express Command and President can avoyd but that God and not men must chuse the chief Governor It is expressed and recorded That God raised up Judges and made them Saviours to the people but because the manner how God raised them up is not so plainly expressed therefore I conceive that it is the safest way to follow the plainest and clearest ways by which are plainly declared the manner how God did chuse and wherein God did act own and most eminently bless but where God raiseth up men and maketh them eminent Instruments for his glory and by them worketh deliverance to a people in such a case I dare not oppose it doubtless I believe it is a way nearest to Gods immediate callings and nearest to the plainest Presidents recorded in the sacred Scriptures Fourthly If the people chuse they are subject to err and mistake they see but the outward appearance and they may intend one man and it may be a great number carryeth the choyce to another or they may be mistaken in the man most meet for Government which will appear if we consider that Samuel a wise and holy man was mistaken in chusing but amongst one mans children how much sooner may we be mistaken when we having less understanding then Samuel are to chuse out of a multitude and we may be over-powered by money by friends by kindred by beauty by eloquence by fraud or force or ways we know not of Fifthly Experience may teach us That people do err very often and chuse those men to be their Judges or Governors that prove direct enemies to them and to their posterity witness Abimeleck and a multitude of others recorded for our learning and for our instruction Sixthly God never erreth and he doth bless with his holy Spirit men of his own sending Seventhly God complainenth of this by his Prophets formerly cited saying They had Kings but not by me Princes but I knew it not From the premisses may be gathered three ways whereby Governors were in those first and purest times chosen and ordained two of them are very clear the third I dare not absolutely oppose but leave it to the consideration of the godly-wise-hearted I shall propound to consideration somewhat touching the particulars and then make a general Proposition to consideration touching all the three joyntly as God shall assist First concerning the immediate Call of God by voyce or Prophet or some such way as God shall see meet I know no place of Scripture that doth declare That God will no more appoint Governors as at the first as he did Moses and Joshua Secondly This Prophecy Isai 1. holdeth out much for these words as at the first and as in the beginning may for ought that I know be determined by God to be accomplished in the full latitude namely as in the time of Moses and Joshua That Prophecy Dan. 7.27 in these words And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the holy people of the most High This seemeth to me to import That God intendeth to do great things for his people in these latter times Read Micah 7.17 According to the days of thy coming out of the Land of Egypt I will shew unto him marvellous things This to my apprehension holds out That God will do marvellous things God is not limited within bounds he can do as great things now in these latter times as in the former times Thus in other places Thirdly I believe That with limitation and submission to Gods good will and pleasure we may safely present our humble prayers to God in the Name of his Son our blessed Saviour That he would be pleased to appoint our chief Governor for us The Lord was so far from rejecting the people Judg. 1.1 when they sought his gracious favour in this particular that he graciously granteth their request God doubtless will not be offended when people with the greatest care and diligence cleave closest to him the Apostle willeth us That in every thing our request should be made known unto