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	moses_n	speak_v	10,234	5	5.6402	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75711	Religious covenanting directed, and covenant-keeping perswaded: presented, in a sermon preached before the Right Honourable Thomas Adams Lord Major, and the right worshipfull the sheriffs, and aldermen his brethren, and the rest of the Common-Councel of the famous City of London, January 14. 1645. Upon which day the solemne League and Covenant was renewed by them and their officers, with prayer and fasting, at Michael Basing-shaw, London. / By Simeon Ash minister of the Gospel.	Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662.	1646 (1646)	Wing A3965; Thomason E327_5; ESTC R200647	18,380	27

state by delayes your own guilt will be multiplied and greatened your hopes of reformation will be enfeebled and the whole Kingdom endangered Businesses of necessity call for quick dispatch and is there any worke of greater concernment then the worke of your God in endeavouring your own reformation and the reformation of his Church according to his word which is the matter of your Covenant I remember the words of Moses to Aaron Go quickly to the Congregation for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the plague is begun Num. 16. 46. And it is said that Aaron did run Blame me not but bear with me I beseech you if I appear warme in perswading your speed in acting according to your Covenant for I speak for the safety of a sinking Kingdom Are we not all on a flame which way can you cast your eyes but you shall see the sparkes of unbrotherly contentions rising as out of a furnace Alas alas we shall burne into ashes and from confusions fall into a ruinous heape if through Gods blessing upon Covenant-keeping-endeavours our misery be not prevented Pay your vows boldly with so much opennesse that the witnesse of your bonds may be witnesses likewise of your faithfullnesse Rule 3. in discharging them The resolution of David is herein imitable which he expresseth once and again in the same Psalme I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the presence of all his people in the presence of all his people yea in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Psal 116. 14 18 19. Is it any shame for a man to be honest and to pay his debts Wherefore then should men be loth to appear in the pursuance of their Covenants Act so publikely so couragiously for a full reformation according to the word of God and against Malignancy Sedition Heresie together with all other things destructive to the welfare of the three Kingdoms that both City and Countrey may understand your undaunted resolutions to keep Covenant with your God And if in this way of zeal and faithfullnesse you should meet with checks and affronts make ye that answer unto your opposers which brave-spirited David made unto mocking Michal If this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. Keep Covenant with the Lord conscientiously Have respect unto God in paying as in making vows My text holds forth this Rule 4. openly as many other parallel Scriptures which I have formerly made use of Whatsoever we do which is materially comprehended in our Covenant we should do it because of the oath of God Eccles 8. 2. Do not only intend man-pleasing or selfe-seeking in the pursuance of your Covenant be not popular and vain-glorious but sincere and single-hearted in this service As in other acts of obedience so in this of Covenant-keeping have an eye unto your heavenly father who sees in secreet and he will reward you openly God forbid God forbid that any one of you should act against your brethren with an envious or malicious spirit under pretence of making good your Covenant O take heed unto your selves that you disgrace not this holy ordinance nor open the mouths of them who maligne our Covenant and would upon such like observations reproachfully asperse both you and it I will conclude this rule with the caution given by worthy Nehemiah Ought ye not to walke in the fear of our God because of the reproach of our enemies Neh. 5. 9. Be vigorous in the payment of your vows The command of Rule 5. God given unto Moses for the guiding of this businesse is here very considerable Le● 22. 21. Whosoever offereth a sacrifice to accomplish his vow it shall be perfect to be accepted there shall be no blemish in it When you pay your debts to God bring your best coyn put not off your light gold to God imploy and improve your very best for your God give him the flower of your wisedom strength authority and interests sit down and consider where your chiefest ability lyes and resolve with that to pay your vows Say thus unto your own souls seriously in secret I will beat mine own brains by study I will stir up my best friends by importunity and I will industriously take all courses within the compasse of my generall and particular calling that my selfe and my family that this Church and Common-wealth may be reformed and that unity betwixt England and Scotland may be preserved according to the solemne League and Covenant to quicken your care in this kinde remember those smart words Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver who hath a male in his flock and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of hosts and my Name is dreadfull among the heathen Look to it therefore I beseech you thinke not to put God off with supine superficiall sleightnesse in Covenant-keeping If you have male-consolations male-affections male-endeavours male-adventures for other things God will not accept your female your cold faint feeble actings for him in the payment of your vows Therefore if you have any talent better then ordinary trade that for your God in the pursuance of your Covenant Keep Covenant with the Lord constantly I will sing praises Rule 6. to thy Name for ever saith David that I may daily performe my vows Psal 61. 8. you must not be like those Tenants who bring in their rents readily and misse not a day for the first year but grow carelesse afterward in making paiment according to their compacts and agreements The same heat which is in your hearts to day this day of your Covenant-renewing for reformation according to Gods word and against the hindrances and hinderers thereof must be kept burning in your bosomes so long as you shall live It is to be bewailed with tears of blood that the tract of time takes off the fervency of mens spirits for God in the worke of vowed-reformation How have we lost our first love How is our zeal for good and against evil of late abated The time was when our Covenant was much in our thoughts much in our mouthes when we moved others and provoked our selves to make conscience to keep it but now I am ashamed to speake it our Covenant is forgotten our Covenant is laid aside yea O that I had not occasion to add many repent their taking of the Covenant and some are not afraid to plead against it I heartily wish that the true causes of this great change were well enquired after My beloved Is Church-reformation according to Scripture grown lesse desireable Are pure ordinances lesse lovely in our eyes Is there now lesse danger of our undoing by malignancy popery divisions and heresie then heretofore Remember I pray you from whence you are fallen and do your first works in reference to your Covenant the obligation whereof continues upon your consciences Our God keeps Covenant to a thousand generations Deut. 7. 9. Let his example in

multitude of all rankes qualities callings in this Kingdom in Scotland Parliament-men Souldiers Citizens Divines c. who are herein mutually engaged with us I might also minde you of the often reiterations and renewings of your vows and Covenants Doubtlesse these things will not be sleighted by them who are ingenuous but I may not insist upon them having divers other heads of arguments to speak unto The second sort of arguments to perswade Covenant-keeping shall be taken from our God the only true and blessed God unto whom our vows oblige us And under this head these particulars are considerable 1. His Majesty takes exact notice of all such engagements together with all the circumstances of time place companies occasions c. which belong thereto O God thou hast heard my vows saith David Psal 61. 5. 2. His Highnesse well remembers these obligations The Lord rounds Jacob in the ear with this Memento I am the God of Bethel where thou anointest the pillar and where thou vowest a vow unto me Gen. 31. 13. 3. He calls for paiment he will not be taken off from demanding his debt in this kinde When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not be slack to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee Deut. 23. 21. 4. He is the most High possessour and commander of Heaven and earth The Psalmist layes strength upon this consideration Psal 50. 14. Pay thy vows unto the most High And this thought was prevailing upon the hearts of Jephihah and his daughter in a case very difficult in a course very crosse to the stream and strength of naturall affection you all know his vow therefore I shall not need to name it but marke I pray you the expressions both of the father and of his childe Judg. 11. 35 36. I have opened my mouth saith Jephthah unto Jehovah and I cannot go back And she said to him My father if thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth 5. He is a most faithfull Covenant-keeping God He is God the faithfull God which keepeth Covenant and mercy Deut. 7. 9. Although meer mercy move his Majesty to make Covenant yet will he make it good How much more should we keep our holy Covenants which both duty and necessity call us to renew 6. Although our well-doing doth not cannot reach the Lord with advantage yet his Highnesse will account himself honoured by our faithfullnesse in Covenant Hence it is that these two duties are conjoyned in the Scripture Offer to God thankesgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Psal 50. 14. And Psal 65. 1. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion and unto thee shall the vow be performed Consider I pray you Do we not owe God praise Do we not pray Hallowed be thy Name Will it not be our Honours to set the Crown on his head Therefore let us all resolve to performe our vows unto the Lord our God The third head of arguments follows to be considered and it is drawn from the various precious benefits to be received by conscientious Motive 3. Covenant-keeping with the Lord our God 1. Care in this kinde will evidence our effectuall conversion to God The Prophet Isaiah foretelling the calling of the Gentiles speaketh thus The Lord shall be known to Egypt and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day and shall do sacrifice and oblation yea they shall vow a vow unto the Lord and performe it Isa 19. 21. 2. Good Covenant-keepers lye very near unto the Lords warme heart he loves them dearly If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people Exod. 19. 5. Covenant-keepers are Gods jewels and all other persons are accounted as the lumber of the world in comparison of them Men will adventure much to ingratiate themselves with great ones and shall not we pay our vows that we may enjoy the favour the estimation of God whose loving kindnes is better then life 3. Hence issueth hope to prevaile with the Lord by our prayers The Psalmist having said Psal 65. 1. Vnto thee O God shall the vow be performed he adds immediatly O thou that hearest prayers And so soon as this counsell was given Psal 50. 14. Pay thy vows unto the most High in the next verse this follows by way of connexion And call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me As you desire the audience of your prayers make you conscience to pay your vows 4. The sanctification of all our concernments is a rich priviledge appertaining unto honest Covenant-keepers All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto them who keep his Covenant Psal 25. 10. Gods sweet mercy in the performance of his promises runs throug the veins of all his providences for the good of them who in reference to Covenant keep touch with him And who knows fully the worth of this one prerogative therefore as you desire a share herein make conscience to pay your vows unto the Lord your God 5. What need I descend unto any more particulars seeing all the precious promises of the Covenant of Gospel-grace are assured upon them who are faithfull in Covenant with God The Psalmist having moved this question Psal 24. 3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place part of his answer is this He that hath not sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his salvation Therefore be prevailed with through holy selfe-love and desires of blessednesse to pay your vows unto the Lord your God 6. And yet once more give me leave to presse this argument ab utili upon the hearts of you who are affectionate parents I know your bowels earn towards your children and you desire their good as your own comfort now be you well assured that you can take no course which will be more probable to entaile Gods blessing upon your posterity then this of conscientious Covenant-keeping with God How admirable and desirable is that promise in Psal 103. 17 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children to such as keep his covenant These benefits of Covenant-keeping I leave in your bosomes desiring that through the blessing of God they may do you good I might here mention a further motive to perswade the paiment Motive 4. of vows from the sad consequences of falsenesse and unfaithfullnesse in this kinde 1. The Psalmist gives in this as a character of a wicked man Psal 55. 20. He hath broken or profaned his Covenant 2. All the sins of men are greatly aggravated by this circumstance that they are not only transgressions of Gods Law but violations of their own vows Thus

Solomon brands the adulterous woman Prov. 2. 17 She forgetteth the Covenant of her God 3. Breach of Covenant brings Gods burning displeasure upon people This thought did awe Israel in reference to their rash League made with the Gibeonites Josh 9. 20. We will let them live lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them 4. Gods anger in this kinde kindled may bring a consumption upon our hopes and comforts That Item which the Wise man gives in this case should be seriously minded Eccl. 5. 5 6. Better it is that thou shouldest not vow then that thou shouldest vow and not pay wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the worke of thine hands Never were greater works under hand for Church and Common-wealth in our dayes or the dayes of our fore-fathers then are in agitation amongst us at this day therefore let us take heed lest our unfaithfullnesse in our Covenant provoke the Lord to dash all our endeavours into pieces with the disappointment of all our golden hopes Gods curse is annexed unto his Covenant to enforce the keeping of it It is said Neh. 10. 29. They entered into a curse and into an oath to walke in the Law of God And the sword of cruell war is drawn by the hand of Divine justice to avenge the quarrel of the Covenant Lev. 26. 25. This sword of Civil war is eating mans flesh and drinking mans blood in this Kingdom at this day and how can we expect that the Almighty should command it to returne into its scabbard and to be quiet if we continue carelesse in keeping Covenant I professe beloved that I have often trembled to thinke upon that discovery of Gods severity in punishing Israel with three yeers famine in Davids time because Saul had broken the rash vow 2 Sam. 2 1. which the Elders of Israel had made long before with the Gibeonites For thus I reason If the violation of an unadvised oath with subtill sinfull men by the posterity of them who made it did bring a sore nationall judgement what then may we expect from the hand of God for contradicting both by words and deeds both by opinions and practices the solemn sacred League and Covenant which our selves have upon deliberation both made and renewed with man and God These are weighty considerations and worthy your often and serious thoughts unto which many more might be added but I forbear the enlarging of this subject because you have so fully been acquainted with this matter by my Reverend brother M. Calamy who hath largely to satisfaction set forth the exceeding great danger of truce-breaking from 2 Tim. 3. 1. Covenant-breaking makes the times perillous unfaithfullnesse in Covenant is a Land-destroying a Kingdom-devouring sin Now my beloved to summe up all my arguments If there be in your hearts 1. Either respect unto the sacred obligation of a solemn vow 2. Or unto the most High possessour of Heaven and earth 3. If you either prize the promises of his grace and desire to be partakers thereof through Christ 4. Or dread the discoveries of the wrath of the Almighty and would preserve your selves and your posterity your selves and the Kingdom from breaking blows of vengeance pay your vows unto the Lord your God These arguments I hope will not be sleighted by you God forbid that matters of so great so publike concernment should be disregarded by them who professe so much zeal and respect to God and to his cause unto the prosperity of this famous City and the wellfare both of Church and Common-wealth as you worthy Citizens have done and persevere to do Therefore I proceed in this service to set down some Scripture-rules to guide you in the Faithfull payment of your vows unto the Lord your God Pay your good vows universally Pay thy vows saith the Psalmist Rule 1. Psal 50. 14. All thy vows none excepted whatsoever you have vowed according to his word you must make good according to his command Thus much is open in the text vow and pay unto the Lord your God Take good King Josiah for a president for your paterne in this particular of whom it is thus said upon his covenanting with God 2 Chron. 34. 33. And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries which pertained to the children of Israel and made all that were present in Israel to swear even to serve the Lord their God You see that he spares nothing no where within the reach of his authority which might be displeasing unto his God or destructive to his people I pray you peruse the particulars to be opposed by vertue of your Covenant Popery Prelacy Profanenesse Schisme Heresie and do not dare to indulge any abomination which you have vowed to oppose Take heed that no sinfull biasse of near relations or any self-advantages take you off from your faithfullnesse in this kinde The Holy Ghost makes this a character of an heir of Heaven Psal 15. 4. He sweares and keeps it though to his own hinderance Therefore let not fear of losing a customer a friend an office a good bargain or any other outward advantage hinder you in keeping your Covenant I will not further enlarge this head which I leave to your thoughts but will conclude the rule with reading the practice of King Asa in the pursuance of his Covenant 2 Chron. 15. 16. And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the King he removed her from being Queen because she had made an Idol in a grove And Asa cut down her Idol and stamped it and burnt it at the brook Kidron There are Idols of mens heads and of mens hands there are Idol-opinions and Idol-practices to be opposed by vertue of our Covenant and you must beware lest through respect of persons you prove partiall and unfaithfull When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not be slack to pay it Deut. 23. 21. And thou shalt not defer to Rule 2. pay it Eccles 5. 4. I might here speak much to perswade the speedy paiment of our vows hereby your comfort will be increased and the publike worke of reformation quickned and expedited your acts will be exemplary and of common influence both thorow the City and the whole Kingdom How many thousands enquire what is done in London against Popery Profanenesse Schisme and Heresie in the pursuance of their solemn League and Covenant The seasonablenesse of an action betters it doubles it Bis dat qui citò dat and I may truly say in the case under hand Bis facit qui citò facit ply the work of reformation now it is upon the wheels and you may do much worke in a little time principium est dimidium totius gain-say growing evils tread upon the Cockatrice in the shell oppose those opinions and practices in the bud in the birth which if suffered to grow to live longer will threaten the peace both of Church and