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	suffer_v	zion_n	23	3	8.7946	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26199	The suffering condition of the servants of the Lord at this day vindicated and some reasons given why the people called Quakers do own the doctrine of Christ, to continue in it, and to meet together in the name and fear of the Lord, to wait upon him, and worship him in spirit and truth, not withstanding they meet with sufferings in this present time for so doing : Bristol, the 6th month, 1662 / John Audland.	Audland, John, 1630-1664.	1662 (1662)	Wing A4198; ESTC R22605	21,740	31

that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudible service Now then if it come onely by the gift of God that the faithful do true service unto God then they that would force people from serving God according to his gift given them would force them from the true and laudable service of God and to make them act contrary to the gift of God and unavoidably lead and force people from the true Worship of God into hypocrisie and a false feigned lifeless and heartless Worships in which the Lord takes no pleasure And so this being truly considered we can put it to the Consciences of all that fear the Lord to judge whether we can with a safe Conscience leave our Religion which God hath led us into and the exercise of it according to the gift of God by which onely true service is done to God in which also we find acceptance with God through Jesus Christ and go to a Religion in the will of man contrary to the gift of God by force and compulsion where we could not act affectionately with our hearts nor yet find the blessing and presence of God with us acting contrary to the gift of God Truly it is in our hearts and consciences as the truth of the Lord that we may not ●affly do it But if any should object and say Your Religion is but new or of a late standing ours is a hundred years old or thereabouts since Popery was brought from having the upper hand in this Nation for they forced but they were out of the way but ours is a reformed Church 'T is answered That though the name or denomination by which we are distinguished from other people be but of late years which was cast upon us by some that mocked us because of the Power of the Lord which caused many to quake and tremble yet the Life in which we live and the truth which we profess is ancient and the practice in which we are exercised in the worship of God is according to the truth and practise of the Saints of old And so it might be said of the Saints and of Paul when he was converted and turned from the Jews Worship that it was a new Religion but it was the mighty Power of God that changed them though many in that day opposed them And so we say Force now with Prisons and carnal Weapons is of the same nature as it was formerly in the Papists and others for they said they had a Law and they were the true Church and they forced about Religion and killed many and now here is but the same Argument The Law saith so and so Therefore we see the same Nature forcing now as formerly as it 's said He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now And for being of a hundred years standing this adds no strength to it at all for the Jews Religion was far more ancient and yet being in the persecuting nature and resisting the Holy One and the Just though they professed God with their mouth yet that would not cover them nor will it cover people now to profess God with their mouth while they are found in the Nature steps and practise of them who persecuted the Saints and Servants of God in ages past And for that which is said That we are but of late years We say Men are not true Christians by Generation neither by an outward Profession but by an inward change in the heart wrought by the Power of God in the Regeneration And so if it be but a few years in comparison since we or any of us were changed and turned to the Lord yet it was in the time when the Lord was pleased and saw good to visit us and we can truly say it was an acceptable day and time when we were turned from darkness to the true Light and from the Power of Satan to God And we are glad of it and can say Blessed be the Lord for it if it had been but yesterday that any of us were renewed in the Spirit of our minds to God for it is matter of joy to us that the Lord hath gathered us in our day and time from off the barren Mountains into his Fold to wait upon him and to receive teaching and satisfaction from him This is far more to us to know the Lord changing us in our day and bringing us to know the things that pertaineth to our everlasting peace than to have a large Profession of the Saints words and yet to be out of the Saints Life and out of the way where true peace and rest is found to the soul and so the Lord having manifested his Truth to us and brought us into the Religion in which he manifests his presence to us we are content to wait in the Will of the Lord and may not forsake our Religion nor the assembling of our selves together because man saith to the contrary but walk according to the gift of God by which onely it is that true and faithful service is performed unto him 4. Again we meet together to wait upon the Lord that our Consciences may be kept clear towards him that we may have the answer of a good Conscience towards God which if we should walk contrary to that which the Lord hath made manifest here would be shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience for so it was formerly if any forsook the Lord and his Truth after they had tasted of his good Word if they fell away from that which they had once known and professed of the Truth and Gospel of Jesus they made shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience and then they could not have the answer of a good Conscience neither had they peace with God and what remained if they continued so but a certain fearful looking for of Judgement and fiery indignation which will devour And therefore we knowing the preciousness of the answer of a good Conscience towards God do prize it and esteem it as a Jewel of great worth and we may not forsake the way of the Lord wherein we have the answer of a good Conscience because of outward force go into that in which we should suffer anguish have a certain fearful looking for of judgment and a sting in our own consciences therefore we can put it to all who fear the Lord to judg of if it be not safe for us to abide in the way of the Lord and to be faithful to him though we may meet with sufferings in this world 5. Again we meet together in the fear of the Lord and own the doctrine of Christ to live in it because we are perswaded in the fear and power of the Lord God of life who is our strength that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord the love of God is so comfortable and his favour is so refreshing to

us and the testimonie of his spirit is so satisfactorie in our hearts that we are perswaded nothing will be able to separte us our strength is in the Lord and he is all-sufficient to keep us through all by his mighty power unto the end waiting upon him and abiding in his power he is able to save to the uttermost and this were the Saints formerly perswaded off that nothing should be able to separate them from the love of God they met with many hardships were oftentimes cruelly intreated shamefully handled as the Scriptures declare yet through all the Lord was with his people and comforted their hearts in their following of him and the love of God abounded to them and in them and they were Conquerors through him that loved them Now if any at that time denyed the truth for fear of man or any other thing they came to suffer in there hearts and to feel sorrow in their inward man for when iniquity enters into the heart it darkens the understanding and also the creature loseth the sence of the love of God and if there be not repentance and a returning unto the Lord Iniquity grows more strong and love grows cold in such and the heart grows worse and worse and is hardned by degrees against the Lord and his people and then there is a separation from the love of God the feeling and earnest of sorrow and tribulation upon every one that doth evill therefore we are perswaded that it is safe for us to wait upon the Lord in the way which he hath made manifest unto us that so we may receive the power to renew our strength that we may walk on in the path of life and nothing separate us from the love of God which we have in Christ Jesus Shall tribulation or affliction or principalities or powers separate us from the love of God Shall force by carnal weapons or Prisons cause us to deny that which God hath made manifest unto us Is there Powers against us Thrones against us well this is safe for us to abide in the counsel of God that we may always feel his love in our hearts and if we suffer let us suffer here because of our faithfulness to the Lord If we must go to Prison let us stand in the power of God that his love and life blessing and heavenly presence may be with us Better to suffer outwardly in prisons and holes have the love and presence of the Lord with us then to disobey the Lord and walk contrary to his gift and so suffer inward anguish and sorrow of heart and something separate us from the love of God and then who can speak peace to us if the Lord speak trouble but if the Lord speak peace it 's no matter though man may speak trouble though the wrath of man may rise high yet he that doth whatsoever he will in heaven and in earth he on make it to turn to his praise and the rest of it he will restrain and blessed are they that have the Lord with them on their side he speaks peace to them in the midst of all his love refresheth our hearts and so to put all out of doubt we are perswaded in the power of the Lord that nothing will be able to separate us from the love which we have in our Saviour and here it is good to a bide and not to give one foot back to give any ground unto the enemy but to continue where the love of God is with us and his blessed presence with us comforting our hearts which people doth not find with them in disobedience walking and acting contrary to what the Lord hath made manifest to them and so we can put it to the Consciences of all people who have any sence of the love of God in their hearts Whether it can be safe for us to forsake the Way of peace and rest which God hath made manifest unto us and in which we have the Love of God with us and to go into a Way by force into which the Spirit of the Lord doth not lead us where we shall find anguish and sorrow and something separating us from the Love of God and where God would not speak peace to us but trouble surely we are perswaded to abide in that which the Lord hath made manifest to us and our faith is in the power of God that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God 6. Again we are perswaded to continue in the Way of Truth meeting together in the fear of the Lord to serve him because we find the Lord requireth of us to bear a faithful Testimony and witness to his Name and Truth which he hath made known to us at this day and though man require the contrary and would force us to yeild yet we may not deny the Lord and his Truth but must bear witness to his Name in obedience to his Will for we are not our own but the Lords neither must vve serve our selves nor do our ovvn Will nor the Wills of others vvhose Will is not according to the Will of God but we must serve the Lord and be faithful to him and vve see vve cannot serve tvvo Masters nor cannot be partakers of the love of God if vve be in the love of the World and follovv after the lusts of it and if vve love any thing more than Christ vve should not be true Disciples and followers of him And if it be objected Why cannot you do as men would have you What God knows your hearts and you may keep your hearts to your selves and conform outwardly for all that It 's ansvvered Nay vve cannot because God requireth it of us to bear vvitness to his Name and Truth and vve may not deal doubly or deceitfully in shevving that before men vvhich vve are not in our hearts to God for the people that God hath formed to himself must shevv forth his praise And though it be true that God knows the heart of every one yet he looks for fruit also to be brought forth that hee may be glorified It is recorded in the Scriptures that there vvere many occasions sought against Daniel but they could find none against him except it vvere concerning the Lavv of his God and they that hated him consulted to get a Decree that none should ask any Petition of God or man for thirty dayes save of the King if he did he vvas to be cast into the Den of Lyons and the Decree vvas sealed according to the Lavv of the Meades and Persians Novv it cannot be denied but Daniel might have prayed to God in his heart and his evil-vvishers have knovvn little of it but he vvas taught by the Lord to pray openly and to confess unto him that he vvas great mighty and povverful And so though the Decree vvas sealed he as if he regarded it not went and prayed to his God three times a day upon his knees vvith

your selves in their condition they are as strongly it may be more perswaded in their Consciences by the Spirit of God that their Way is right than you are of yours Well then weighing these things would you be forced Would you have others to deal so with you if you vvere in their condition and they in yours Let God's Witness answer in all Consciences and see if these vvays of forcing in matters of Conscience to God-wards be not quite contrary to the practice of the Saints and to the Royal Law of Christ Obj. Besides though it be said But we judge we are in the right and our way is the true way Ans It 's answered You may be mistaken many hath that have had thoughts their way was right and while you have not the infallible Witness of God's Spirit with you to testifie to your Way peradventure you may err as the former Forcers have done and then you cause people to sin if you could force them to blaspheme and to deny as Saul did for if he that turneth a sinner from the error of his vvay who hath erred from the Truth doth save a soul and hide a multitude of sins then they that force people from the Way of God and cause them to err doth bring souls into death and so bring innocent blood upon themselves yea the blood of souls which will be a great weight in the day of God's account Obj But if it be further said How then how must we do there is so many wayes that people might be brought to one way to serve God Ans Do what God requireth of you and no more and then we shall never suffer by you nor under you Do justly love mercy and walk humbly with your God this is better than the fat of Rams 't is better than all the outward sounds and ceremonies and bodily exercise while the heart is far from the Lord. And if you judge you are in the right and your way is right come forth then with spiritual Weapons mighty ones in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and let us see you shine forth in his Image let this be your covering your white Robes even the Righteousness of Christ which is the righteousness of the Saints and le ts see your meekness patience gentleness and good example your readiness by word and deed to convince gain-sayers in the power and gospel of Christ your love to Enemies your self-denial your subjection to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Oh this would reach our hearts then God's Witness would answer to you and this would answer the good part in all and this is the way to bring people to be of one mind in the truth this is God's way this is the way the Saints walked in this is the way we love and desire and this also would be of good report amongst all good people but the contrary force and compulsion with a hasty froward proud envious spirit with Staff and Club and carnal Weapons and Stocks and prisoning of people against whom there is no occasion but concerning the Law of their God and matters which are really of Conscience to God-wards We say this will never be justified by the Lord nor effect the end neither nor be of good report amongst sober people nor answer the good part in people And moreover the Lord God of Life will turn his hand and power against them that so turn their hand and power against his people for obeying him and exercising their Consciences towards him in waiting upon him and worshipping him according to that which he hath made manifest to them and such will be more inexcusable for persecuting now than the Jews were in former dayes for then the Saints met together and professed the Name of Jesus which the Jews did not say they believed in Besides it was in appearance such a new way and so different to the Law and manner of Worship which the Jews had that they had some seeming colour in their way but now for they that professe the Name of Christ and the Scriptures of the New-Testament and the Saints practise and Christ's commands to be obeyed for these all things considered to persecute people for owning the commands of Christ and for practising the same things which they cannot but read the Saints practised and to hall people and commit them to Prison for meeting in the Name of Jesus to worship God and to wait upon him yea and to be so far from cherishing such as to act the very parts of them that made havock of the Church and halled out both men and women and was exceedingly mad and caused some to blaspheme and committed to Prison for the same things it doth appear to be great evil and to be even sin against knowledge against their own Profession as Christians and cannot be parallel'd with any of the Saints but with the Persecutors who hated and evilly entreated the servants of the Lord in former ages who never could accomplish their end though they caused many to suffer and now to put all out of doubt and to give all who opposeth the people of God in the way of God an absolute answer that they shall not be able to accomplish their end and therefore it vvould be far better to be quiet and to mind the Royal Law of Christ lest they by acting contrary do bring innocent suffering and blood upon their own heads and incur God's heavystroke of displeasure against them yea and a fire be kindled in their own bowels and a worm which shall not dye and a dart strike through the heart and liver and so the end be as bitter as Wormwood and as sharp as a two-edged Sword these are Instruments of War which the Lord hath in his Quiver which is reserved for the day of Battle when God pleads with all flesh by fire and by his sword when the slain of the Lord shall be many when he will rain snares upon the wicked fire and brimstone and grievous tempests this is the portion of their Cup But indeed we do desire the conversion and salvation even of our persecutors and therefore to put all out of doubt as is before said that there is no prevailing against the Lord nor against the Sion of the Holy One in whom the Lord is We say the living God of Heaven and Earth hath made manifest unto us the Way to Life and called us to walk in it and united our hearts together as many as lives in his Power to serve him and to wait upon him and to meet together to worship him in spirit and truth and we are perswaded to obey the Lord and believe in the Lord that he will strengthen us in his Way and Will unto the end For our strength is in the Lord and not of our selves who hath called us to follow him through good report and bad report and not to deny his Way because of sufferings but to endure in patience and let the Lord