Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	abide_v	servant_n	zion_n	32	3	8.4602	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91943	The fast friend: or A friend at mid-night. Set forth in an exposition on that parable Luke 11. 5.-11. Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at mid-night, &c. By Nehemiah Rogers, minister of the Gospel.	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1658 (1658)	Wing R1822; Thomason E953_1; ESTC R203374	432,120	516

as is added by our Translators suffer such rotten members must be cut off lest the sound ones be infected by their contagion If Ismael turne Scoffer out of dores with him though it be never so grievous to thee to do it Gen. 21.9.10.12 as it was to Abraham Let that Servant be as thy right eye or hand very usefull and serviceable yet if he endanger danger thy soul or the souls of thy Children by lewd swearing and open vitiousnesse spare him not Our Saviours speech is peremptorie Erue Abscinde pul out cut off cast away with indignation Math. 5.29.30 Math 5 29 30. rather want both eye and hand then suffer corruption in either As thou must discharge the office of a Pastor to thy Family in Feeding of it so of a Bishop in visiting and overseeing it Be dilligent to know the state of thy Flocks Pro. 27.23 and look well to thy herds saith Solomon Prov. 27.23 Consider the Condition of them look to the Number of them behold them with thine own eye This David professeth and promiseth to do Psal 32.8 he would keep a watchfull eye over them whom he was to guide govern Psal 32.8 lest they might be turned out of the way wherein they should walk such a vigilant eye had Jacob over his Family as appeares Gen. 35.2 the like had Job over his Gen. 35.2 Job 1.5 Job 1.5 The good Emperour Antoninus used every year to have his house thus visited he would strictly examine what disorders were in it who were vitious And what order the Visitors did set down for Reformation was presently put in execution This is to Bishop it aright 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one speaks And from this carefull visiting and overseeing is the name given Act. 20.20 The want of this Vigilancie in Governours is the Fountain original of most disorders in the best Families Some are careful that there be no iniquitie found in their hands Psal 7.3 but have little or no regard of the iniquitie of their heels Psal 7.3 Psal 49.5 Children and Servants may run where they list Psal 49.5 say what they list do what they list and little notice taken thereof especially on the Sabbath if they follow their businesse on the week dayes and keep close unto their work then let them go where they will or do what they will on the Lords day they passe not Were some of you who are present here this day asked Where are your Sonnes your Daughters men-Servants maid Servants You are here but where are they would it not be a posing question were you able to give a reasonable answer it to Let them be out of your work but an hour in a day there is examining Where were you what have you been doing then there is chiding brawling fighting c. But on this day let them make an Ale-house their Temple Act. 20.7 and the Pot their morning and evening Sacrifice and continue drinking as long as Paul did preaching till Mid-night against such there is no law no threat no reproose no punishment saith an excellent Divine I beseech you carry a more watchfull eye over your Families even in that respect then heretofore you have done God will certainly call you to an account for your not calling them unto it what though you your selves frequent Gods house returne thence home stirre not abroad c yet Their sinnes through your neglect run upon your scoare A Minister may be Pastorally Non-resident Albeit he be not Personally so If he be a stranger to his Pulpit though he be no stragler out of the bounds of his own Parish he resides not And indeed that is the worst Non-residencie of the two This may be thy case thou mayest keep at home but if thou behavest not thy self there wisely in a perfect way Psal 101.2 but neglectest thy dutie thou art guilty of the sin of Non-residencie and if any of thy flock miscarry through thy neglect by the scab fly or rott c. you must make it good to the great Shepherd of the sheep at the day of Reckoning Obj. 1 But youth will be youth you say do what we can In the best and most religious Families there are as many bad Servants as in the worst It is with our Families as with our visible Congregations Resp no Church on Earth is compleatly perfect there will be a mixture of good and bad especially in great Families as in a great Herd it is a venture if there be not some Rascall deere to be found in it Neither Noah nor Lot had all their Servants in obedience to God yet they might seem good and their Masters might think well of them because they could not discerne the heart but God found them otherwise as it is likely Good Elisha had a lying covetous sacrilegious Gehezi to serve him And in Christs own Family there was a Judas albeit he played his prize closely but none of these suffered open vitiousnesse to abide under their Roofs nor may we Do you your duty let your care be that God may be honoured and worshipped your Families well ordered Christian duties solemnly performed and then though the successe be not answerable to your endeavours that you cannot prevaile with your Children and Servants as were to be wished yet in doing your best endeavour to promote Religion in your Families you shall have comfort and deliver your own souls Ezek. 3.19 And albeit some and the greatest some too be rotten and unsound yet your houses shall be honoured with the name of a Church Prov. 12.7.14 11. Gen. 4.14 from the better part which alwaies gives the denomination as Adams house was called the Face of God albeit Cain a cast-away was therein born and brought up Gen. 4.14 And your Tabernacles shall stand long and flourish Obj. 2 If Governours and Masters be thus strict and look so narrowly to their Servants what Servants will abide by it work must be left undone or we must do it our selves Say some Bad Servants indeed will it may be rather leave thy service then be drawn to serve the Lord Resp but if they be unwilling to keep the Commandements of God their room is better then their companie and this be sure of that a few Servants fearing God will be better for you and bring a greater blessing upon their labours then a many of wicked and deboist Servants will or can for they but corrupt others and speak of wicked blasphemy vex the best and perhaps bring a curse upon the Family wherein they live Secondly the world is not so bad and barren but some good Servants may be found who will delight to dwell in Religious Families Abraham was very strict in seeing that his Servants served God and yet he had so great a Familie Gen. 14.14 that on a sudden he was able to arme 318. fighting men

as one Friend may give another yet a Friend will be at length overcome by his Friend if not for Friendship sake yet through the importunity of his Friend to arise and give him what he needeth How much more will God who is a true Friend indeed and calls upon us to call on him and hath promised to hear us when we do call be prevailed with by us if we hold on our suits and give not over Shall a denying friend be overcome by importunity and not a promising God That were strange We begin with the Assertion that though last in my Text is first in order He will rise and give From the Letter of the Parable we may gather some profitable Observations First we may take notice thence that Doct. There is no want to a willing mind You heard before that he said he could not I shewed you then that it was because he would not and here you find it true for when he found a will unto it then there was no let at all he hath as many loaves for him as his need required Hereunto tends that Parable of Solomon Prov. 15.19 Prov. 15.19 The way of the sloathful is an hedge of Thorns but the way of the Righteous is made plain or is like unto a paved Causie Every thing to a sloathful man seems difficult and dangerous he is as unwilling to go about his business as a Traveller is to walk in a Path that is over-grown with Thorns and Brambles But it is otherwise with the Righteous who have a willing mind they go about their work readily and contentedly and albeit they meet with some Lets and Rubs in the discharge of the Duties of their Callings yet they go on with as much chearfulness as if their way were plain or paved and all such obstacles taken away and removed This is true both in Spirituals and Morals In Spiritual matters Thus David speaking of the Countrey Israelites who tendered their appearance before the Tabernacle of the Lord in Sion according to the Statute Exod. 37.17 Deut. 16.16 Exod. 37.17 Deut. 16.16 Psal 84.6 describes them by their resolute undergoing and enduring all the difficulties of the way Psal 84.6 They were to pass through a dry and barren Desert the Valley of Baca or of Mulberries the Greek saith the Vale of Teares a Valley very dry and destitute of water unless what flowed from their eyes with much wea●iness and faintness of body they did overcome that journey yet having a will unto it and a desire to undertake it they made this Valley a Well of refreshing they made account of that dry place as though they had Wells of Water and their willing minds afforded them many sweet and pleasant showres so that as in a paved way they went on chearfully from strength to strength encountering with patience all sense of weariness So that they felt no weariness not feebleness at all No Let no Rub in the way could discourage them in their journey their Will sweetned their hard and tedious Travail Many Examples might be brought for the further confirmation of the Point delivered I shall onely trouble you with some few in matters civil You shall find this true in the different carriage betwixt the Spyes who went to view the Land of Canaan Some of them thought it altogether impossible to overcome that people they had no heart to go up Briars and Thorns were in their way the people say they be strong that dwell in the Land and the Cities are walled and very great and there are Giants in it the Children of Anak are there Numb Numb 13.28 13.28 Others as Caleb and Joshua encourage the people Let us go up at once and possess it for we are well able to overcome it The way to them was a paved way it was no more then to go and see and conquer Those mighty men that the other spake of could not dant their spirits They are but as bread for us Numb 14.9 say they Numb 14.9 Therefore fear them not as if they should say We should make but a Breakfast of them consume them with great ease and feed upon their rich Provisions And this different carriage proceeded from a different spirit that was in them Numb 14.24 Chap. 14.24 The one had a free and willing spirit the other not and that enkindled the spirit of the one which quenched the other A second Example we have in David going to fight Goliah Could a man have more discouragements then he had partly from his Brethren and then from Saul and then from the potency of his Adversary 1 Sam. 17.28 Vers 33 41 42 43. Mark 2.4 1 Sam. 17. Yet his will and desire put him upon the service and he would try it with him In the New Testament we read Mark 2.4 of a Palsie man that was brought to Jesus to be healed but the Text sayes that there was no coming to the door of the house where Jesus was by reason of the press of people What do they in this case Why they uncover the Roof of the House and let him down bed and all into the Room where Christ was that was a plain and paved way to them who had a willing mind to have this poor man healed The Will is wonderfully active in affecting that which it is minded to do Another instance I commend unto you Luke 19.2 3. Luke 19.2 3. Zacheus is very desirous to see Christ as he passed through Jericho the place of his abode but he could not saith the Text for the press of the people and because he was little of stature and so could not see the face of Christ over the shoulders of the Croud his Will is not wanting being seconded by his wit to find out a way to remedy both He runs before the multitude and so frees himself from the press of people and climbes up into a Fig-tree and thereby supplies the others want of stature what might he think the people would say of him Zacheus climb a Tree like a Boy to see novelties But let them say what they would his Will sets him a work to employ both hands and seet No want to a willing mind Reas And indeed the Will is as Queen-Regent in the Soul it governs and rules all When it saith with the good Centurion to one Go it goes to the other Do this and it doth it It is an active thing it will sharpen Wit and sets it on devising and contriving It quickens Sense both in Seeing and in Hearing and employs Tongue Hand Feet all in effecting what it undertakes Obj. But the Will follows the Understanding you will say depends upon it there is nothing in the Will Nehil in voluntate quod non prius fuerat in Intellectu which was not in the Vnderstanding first How then doth it govern Resp The power of the Understanding over the Will is onely a regulating and directing it is no constraining or

said Jacob he holds with his hands though his joynts were our of joynt Let God seem to take Esau's part smite him maim him he will not let go his hold What is thy name said the Angel never did I meet with so stout a man Well! kneel down Jacob rise up Israel thou art a Conquerour vers 28. Now Was this strife corporal onely No no hear what the Prophet speaks Hos 12.3 4. Nor was it perfunctory and formal prayer but earnest and importunate Hos 12.34 He cryed and made supplication and thus overcame Besides this Parable of a Friend coming to his Friend at Midnight Christ hath given us another that of the unjust Judge who heard the Widows Cause in regard of her Importunity and not otherwise Luke 18. and withall leaves us a History of his own of the Woman of Canaan who overcame him in the behalf of her Daughter by importunity with which History we have before acquainted you such have the Prayers of the godly been For the further clearing of the Point let me shew you what this Instancie and Importunacie in Prayer is and wherein it consists And so Importunate Prayer is a fervent and frequent desire of the Soul for some special mercy so as it will take no denial Or A fervent and frequent pouring forth our souls to God without giving over till he grant us our desires There are three things in Importunity First Fervency Secondly Frequency Thirdly Perseverance First Fervency This consists not in the loudness of the voyce albeit it be many times expressed by loud crying the Peacock hath a louder voyce then the Nightingale Nor in long praying for God doth not measure prayer by the length albeit long Prayers may be fervent Prayers but in the crying of the Heart The earnest intention and contention of the Soul and Spirit expressed in Scripture Joel 2.3 by renting of the heart and pouring out the Soul and crying of the whole heart Psal 119.145 146. This is added as a Proviso to effectual Prayer 1 Sam. 1.15 Psal 119.145.146 Jam. 5.16 Ver. 17 18. Jam. 5.16 where effectual and fervent are joyned together the more fervencie the more prevalencie in our Prayer Eliahs example is added ver 17 18. He prayed and prayed so it is in the Original We translate it He prayed earnestly and he was heard Thus our Saviour prayed in the days of his flesh Heb. 5.7 Heb. 5.7 We read of a Dutch Martyr in our own Monuments one Giles of Bruxels who was so ardent in his Prayer kneeling by himself in some secret place of the Prison where he was that he seemed to forget himself and being called to his meat he neither heard nor saw who stood by him till he was lifted up by the arms and then he would speak gently to them as one awaked out of a Trance Secondly there must be Frequency in it We give not over at the first denial no nor at the second if we be importunate Psal 27.4 One thing I have desired of the Lord and I will seek after it Psal 27.4 Psal 69.3 Isa 62.9 Ver. 6 7. that is I have sought it and will seek again and again So Psal 69.3 and Isa 62.1 For Sions sake I will not hold my tongue c. He would renew his Suit and follow it and the like he requires of all faithful Watch-men that they cry day and night and not keep silence till they had obtained their desire for Sion 2 Cor. 12. ver 6 7. Thus Paul prayed thrice and Latimer plyed the Throne of Grace with Once again Lord once again restore the Gospel to England as if he would have no nay Thirdly as our Suit is to be renewed Gen. 32.24 so we must persevere in it So Jacob did not onely wrastle but continued all night and morning too He gave not over till he had what he sought for this is injoyned Col. 4.2 1 Thes 5.27 And that Parable propounded for that very end that we should pray and not faint Col. 4.2 1 Thess 5.27 Luke 18.1 Luke 18.1 And thus you see what importunate Prayer is and wherein it stands These Particulars we shall hereafter in the verses following speak more fully unto let us now make some use of this Use 1 If importunate Prayer be prevailing Prayer never marvail that so many of us pray and yet prevail not The prayers of most are but lip-labour and lip labour is lost-labour Luke-warm prayers God respects no more then he doth luke-warm persons and such he hath threatned to spue out of his mouth Rev. 3.16 True Prayer is not the labour of the Lips Rev. 3.16 but the labour of the Heart and of the Soul Moses prayed earnestly to God and yet not a word that we hear him speak Exod. 14.15 Wherefore cryest thou unto me saith God that is with inward groanings Exod. 14.15 albeit there was no audible voyce and God heard that strait The like did Hannah 1 Sam. 1.13 and yet she spake not a loud 1 Sam. 1.13 she spake in her heart saith the Text and that fervently and God heard her and answered her Paul before his Conversion prayed often and long too for he was was a Pharisee and one of the strictest and devoutest of all the Sect as he testifies of himself and they were given to much praying as the Scripture testifies of them yet God took no notice of all his formal and hypocritical Prayers he gave no ear unto them before his Conversion but when he came to be humbled and poured forth his Soul earnestly and fervently God then said of him Behold he prayeth Act. 9.11 Before he prated prayers now he prayeth prayers that was prayer indeed Act. 9.11 which he now put up to God and that God heard How often do we pray and yet forget that we have prayed Can we think that God will hear us when we hear not our selves Or remember that Prayer which we have forgotten that we ever put up unto him Never think to be heard of God in mercy or to obtain any blessing at the hands of God by thy cold careless and customary prayer Psal 141.2 David compares his prayers to Incense and no Incense was offered without fire it was that that made the smoak of it to ascend Prayer that is cold makes but a smother and troubles the eyes of God Isa 1.15 as he shews Isa 1.15 but they are not a sweet Perfume in his Nostrils Vse 2 Oh! that we were more importunate in this Duty then we are that our Prayers were more fervent frequent constant for the poor distressed state of Christs Church and for our selves the Child hath escaped many a stripe by his loud crying Prayer is the Arrow of Deliverance if it be not drawn up to the Head is will hardly fly home unto the Mark. Our Saviour tells us of a King that going with Ten Thousand to make Warre with another that comes against him with