Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A61217
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A clear apology and just defence of Richard Stafford for himself with a rehearsal, and further explanation of what he hath done concerning national affairs.
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Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing S5110; ESTC R219673
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45,943
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40
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A Clear APOLOGY AND Just Defence OF Richard Stafford For Himself With a Rehearsal and further Explanation of what he hath done concerning National Affairs But truly I am full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment and of Might to declare unto Jacob his Transgression and to Israel his Sin Hear this I pray you ye Heads of the House of Jacob and Princes of the House of Israel that abhor Judgment and pervert all Equity They build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity The Heads thereof judge for Reward and the Priests thereof teach for Hire and the Prophets thereof divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us Micah 3. 8 9 10 11. But Judgment shall return unto Righteousness and all the Vpright in heart shall follow it Psal 94. 15. All the Words of my Mouth are in Righteousness there is nothing froward or perverse in them They are all plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find Knowledge Prov. 8. 8 9. Printed in the Year 1690. TO THE READER A Preface may seem unusual and impertinent before an Apology But it is necessary to advertise the Reader somewhat before lest when he comes to see such serious Truth applied so exceeding close and forceably He be frightened quite away that he cannot endure to see what here is Published And there will arise a secret Prejudice why I should not seek out smooth Things and Soft Words as do others but the Land is not able to bear all these Words Why then doth the Land act and commit such Things which are here spoken of with more Peace and Gentleness than they are done Indeed I am naturally averse from tormenting the Minds of Men and also I do understand what becomes Education Civility and Custom of the world as do others But it being my Duty and Business according to the Grace and Knowledge intrusted with me to endeavour to turn People from Iniquity unto Righteousness I ought or otherwise I am not faithful in my Office to use the most cogent Arguments and to press them with the utmost force and power which I can The Words of the Wise are like Nails fastened by the Master of Assemblies so whoever doth not drive the Nail of Exhortation home to the very head and fasten it as much as he can on every side He doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully It is gross Ignorance and foolish Imagination to be frightened at Words for they do express Things which have been or are now transacting and passing on or shall be hereafter and these not the bare Picture and visible Representation of them we should indeed fear and endeaevour to avoid VVe think it better and more safe to read of a pitcht Battel a bloody Sea-fight a consuming Fire Plague or such like than to be in the midst thereof yea We would willingly know thereof and be shewed the way how we may keep out escape and prevent such evil things So likewise every one doth desire to hear and know of Good Things and how themselves may obtain and partake thereof It is the same yea more Danger and Loss to be willingly Ignorant of what is contained in the Word of God For as sure as things were first made are now upheld have their beginning and end increase and decrease and every Thing is according to its Nature and Kind and moves and goes on as we now see with our bodily Eyes we look upon and our Hands handle and we conceive in our minds so the same Word will be to every tittle fulfilled as we are warned and foretold of But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 7. It is the worst sort of Vngodliness not to like to receive God into their knowledge It is Rebellion which is as the Sin of Witchcraft and Stubbornness which is as Iniquity and Idolatry to reject the Word of the Lord 1 Sam. 15. 23. as was said to Saul the King for even the Kings and Judges of the Earth do commit Rebellion against God We will here assert the Government of God over all Nations and Rulers come what will of it to my weak and frail Person as themselves must acknowledge cannot gain-say the same Nor yet do they well to be angry with one who is a Worm and no man a Reproach of men and despised of the People for as they are Reasonable Creatures Themselves would not have destruction come upon them at unawares and notwithstanding the secret excuse they have now every man in the deep of his Heart yet then they will think it hard but just to be condemned for what they knew not but might have known if they would If they will Still Despise and Wonder and Perish it is to themselves If they think such an one is mad only because he would prevent their own Misery then indeed their Eyes are darkened that they see not It happens here according to Christ's Method and Prediction that they which see not might see and they which see might be made Blind John 9. 39. Poor and Ignorant People do discern the Truth when it is hidden from the Wise and Prudent whom it most concerns In the latter dayes they shall consider it perfectly VVhen for Despising will be Anguish and sad Reflection for Stubbornness Pain and Misery VVhatever kind of reception these VVords shall meet with in the world The best Apology for them is their own Truth and Signification A Clear APOLOGY and Just Defence of Richard Stafford for himself c. THe Word Apology in common apprehension seems to presuppose fault or inferiority and doth often come by way of Excuse mitigation or begging Pardon Whereas the Compiler of these following Lines is not conscious to himself of any Crime or Offence he hath done to his own Nation And also as he stands in the rank of Creatures hâ— will not acknowledge so much of the other as the Pride of Man and Arrogancy of Tongues would imagine and speak forth But to get out from the Perplexity and Labyrinth of Words and Persons come we to Things and we would no otherwise consider the several Thoughts Words and Actions of mankind but with relation to them Indeed we cannot know as God knows for that we may take the more notice of it it is thrice asserted and repeated The Lord looketh from Heaven He beholdeth all the Sons of Men from the place of his Habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth their Hearts alike He considereth all their Works Psal 33. 13 14 15. whether Good or Evil to Reward or Punish And give to every Man according to his Ways whose Heart thou knowest for thou even thou only knowest the Hearts of all the Children of Men 1 Kings 8. 39. This
out one single Truth And then opposite to Truth and Reason are Falshood and Imagination We may evidently perceive that all things are Gods and that his Word is perfect and true for that speaks of every thing according to its Nature either in express Words or just Consequence though this is many times hidden and not discernable which belong to mankind from the greatest to the least except what may be known from our selves and the most common observation So all is but vain and deceitful Words which do not spring up nor may be gathered from this ground of Truth This is left as a standing Rule to try the Doctrines whether they be of men or no. And we may further know Truth by the Understanding which is given us for Truth if it be clearly apprehended hath a full conviction over the Heart and Conscience Notwithstanding the shifts and tricks the disputing and crafty eluding â—et there doth remain a firm perswasion in the mind which cannot be â—â—t off When the Spirit of the mind suggests to the man This is the verâ— Truth it is exceeding dangerous to resist or do despite to that to be â—â—â—bborn against or despise it to forget or be willingly Ignorant And hence we may learn to take a judgment and estimation of the Wisdom of man's Words fine Flourishes smooth Language or of notional unnecessary things which may delight a little but perish in the Reading there is nothing in them and it is all blown away as Chaff But more especially are we to take heed of the Leaven of the Pharisees which they mingle amongst and thereby corrupt the Bread of Life viz. their several kind of Glosses Distinctions and their own Inventions meer human Expositions and Traditions Many ignorant People give more regard to the Opinions and Sayings of such a Rabbi or Teacher than to what Christ the Prophets and Apostles speak or even what God himself speaketh by them Indeed there was at first appointed a Peculiar and distinct Office of Men to turn his People away from Iniquity Mal. 2. 6. and to turn them to Righteousness Dan. 12. 3. But instead thereof They strengthen the Hands of Evil-doers that None doth return from his Wickedness Jer. 23. 14. And either conceal or flatter them in Unrighteousness and sooth them up in the committing of those things of which God hath said The Soul that sinneth it shall dye Ezek. 18. 4. They are rather Men-pleasers and yet that is a sad way of pleasing men to lead them blindly on to eternal Misery then the Servants of Christ for as he taxed the Pharisees of old time so do these now reject the Commandment of God that they may keep in favour with the chief Princes of this Nation For Moses said Honour Mâ—rke 7. 10 11 12 13. thy Father and thy Mother and whosoever curseth Father or Mother let him dye the Death But ye will excuse and vindicate and justifie if the Children shall not only take away the Right and Inheritance of the Father but after they have taken Possession they proceed to Kill and Murder as carrying on unjust Wars is intentional Murder all along And this is that they may be profitted though the outward pretence is for the Protestant Religion against Popery Whereas if it were really so yet if ye had a right knowledge of the Glory and Work of the Lord The One is not to be advanced nor the other carried on by sinful means It is a wrong and contrary Method to build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity Micah 3. 10. But our Priests and Prophets do not exhort them to do Right and Equity to their Father Making the Word of God of none effect through your own Expositions which ye have delivered and many such like things doye God is my Witness whom I serve in â—he Gospel of his Son and as I hope for any Mercy at his Hand I do here declare That what I have already and do now hereâ—â— is also out of a greater Zeal and Emulation for the Truth and â—xcellency of the pure Reformed Religiâ—â— which at this day â—eâ— under much Scandal and Reproach by falsification of an Oath and manifest Unrighteousness This Zeal of mine is according to Knowledge and the certain direction of God's written Word both of the Old and New Testament For we are not to use Oppression nor exercise Robbery nor oppress the Stranger wrongfully Ezek. 22. 29. See the next Verse I will be a swift Witness against the Strangers and against those that Oppress the Fatherless and that turn aside the Stranger from his Right Mal. 3. 5. We ought to give no occasion that the Way of Truth be evil spoken of We are to have our Conversation honest amongst the Gentiles and to walk as the Children of God without rebuke Recompence to no man Evil for Evil Be not overcome of Evil but overcome Evil with Good Rom. 12. 17. 21. as such is the design of the Law and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles If our Ways and our Doings are contrary God sees it and it displeased him that there was no judgment Isa 59. 15. And some one or more should appear forth publickly to testifie against this National Sin and Corruption What I have done herein was to clear a great point which is to manifest the Most perfect Holiness and Vprightness of God who doth not allow to do Evil that Good may come As God is Righteous in all his Ways and Holy in all his Works so according to his certain promise Judgment shall return unto Righteousness and all the Vpright in Heart shall follow it Psal 94. 15. So that it is not a matter of Indifferency what any one thinks or speaks or doth herein but we are to side with the King Immortal Invisible and only Wise God against this Transitory World the Folly Falshood and Corruption which are seen therein We ought to search and enquire diligently what is written and to speak and do as We that shall be judged by the Law of God in Scripture Not giving so much heed to them whom the Word saith and Experience confirmeth But ye are dâ—parted out of the way ye have caused many to stumble at the Law ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi saith the Lords of Hosts Mal. 2. 8. whose assertion may soâ—â—er be believed than their own Vindication They may be more properly stiled followers of Mahomet than of Moses or Christ for these were faithful in all their House But they according to the Impostors Doctrine will call such a thing an especial Providence and Immediate Deliverance sent by God though the means by which it came to pass are against his express Word and written Revelation But what if some that handle the Law know not God shall this diminish from the Righteousness of God or take away from the Purity and Uprightness of his Law God forbid yea let God be true and every man a Lyar as it is written That thou