Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	beseech_v	good_a	please_v	23,628	5	8.8360	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32847	A theological discourse of angels and their ministries wherein their existence, nature, number, order and offices are modestly treated of : with the character of those for whose benefit especially they are commissioned, and such practical inferences deduced as are most proper to the premises : also an appendix containing some reflections upon Mr. Webster's displaying supposed witchcraft / by Benjamin Camfield ...	Camfield, Benjamin, 1638-1693.; Webster, John, 1610-1682. Displaying of supposed witchcraft.	1678 (1678)	Wing C388; ESTC R18390	139,675	230

we may have the com●ort of this reflection among others in cases of the greatest trouble and adversity and the most perplexing difficulties that at any time befal us Now this we shall best effect if we make sure to our selves the character of those persons who have the promise from God of such a blessing that is If we are found in the number of them that truly fear God for The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Ps. 34. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge Prov. 14.26 If we set our chiefest love upon God put ou● trust in him know and own his name for of them that do so it is said Ps. 91. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways If we approve our selves sincere and faithful Christians honest and obedient Disciples of our blessed Lord and Saviour for as the Text tells us They are sent forth to Minister for them who shall inherit Salvation Thus in the general But then there are some more particular directions to be given worthy of our most careful observance namely such as these that follow First pray we to God from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift for this among other benefits They are all at his beck sent forth and imployed at his will and pleasure and therefore it is but fitting that we own him in the favour and make our humble requests to him for it The success of Prayer in this matter was observable in the instance I have before recommended out of Bodinus This was part of Iacob's Benediction upon Ioseph's Sons even his Prayer to God for them ' The Angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the Lads Gen. 48.15 16. For so I construe it as votum Deo and not invocatio Angeli And Iudas Maccab●us we read besought the Lord that he would send 'a good Angel to deliver Israel 2 Macc. 11.6 And again in another distress He said in his Prayer after this manner O Lord thou didst send thine Angel in the time of Hezekias King of Iudea and didst slay in the Host of Sennacherib an hundred fourscore and five thousand Wherefore now also O Lord of Heav'n send a good Angel before us for a fear and a dread unto them and through the might of thine Arm let those be stricken with terror that come against thy holy People to blaspheme Ch. 15.22 c. 'T is part of the Psamists Imprecation against his and the Churches Enemies Let them be as Chaffe before the Wind and let the Angel of the Lord chase or scatter them Let their way be dark and slippery and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them Ps. 35.5 6. And this is part of the Jews Form of Prayer still in their Euchology Command O Lord thine Angels who are placed over humane affairs that they be ready for my aid to help save and deliver me Secondly keep we our selves diligently within the Pale and Communion of the Christian Church the society of those who are the declared Heirs of Salvation The Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved Acts 2.47 For to such as hath been shewn they are parti●ularly sent as Guardians and Protectors Vbi non est D●i gratia ibi nee locum habet Angelorum custodia The custody of Angels saith Luther hath no place where the Grace of God is not and G●rhard to a like purpose Reconciliandus priùs es Deo per fidem si Angelum vis habere custod●m Thou must first be reconciled to God by Faith if thou wouldst have an Angel of his for thy Guardian The Form of Excommunication is call'd remarkably 'A delivering over unto Satan 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 The Devil claims a peculiar power over those who are rightfully cast out of the Church of Christ and so barr'd and deprived of the succour and assistance of good Angels This is notoriously apparent saith Doctor H. More in some of the forlorn and giddy-headed Sects of these times among whom I dare say a man may find out a greater number of true Demoniacks than Christ and his Apostles are said to cure For to what more rationally than to the possession of these deceiving Spirits can be attributed those wild extasies they are in c. We must be careful then by holding fast the form of sound words the Faith once deliver'd to the Saints and avoiding of all wicked Schism from and disobedience to the Church of Christ to secure our selves from being exposed to the Tyranny of evil Spirits Thirdly Let us continue honestly and industriously within the compass and bounds of our lawful Vocations respectively Angelis suis mandavit de te ambulante scilicet in tuâ vocatione timente Deum Brentius in Heb. 1.14 'T is an useful Rule delivered from S. Hierom Semper boni aliquid operis facito ut Diabolus te sempèr inveniat occupatum Be always doing some good work or other that the Devil may find thee still employed and not at leisure for his motions We are studiously to avoid those curious and unwarrantable Arts and Practices whereby we may tempt and invite evil Spirits to our company and having betaken our selves to innocent and lawful Callings to keep close unto them The Egyptians as I have before intimated assigned an Angel to every man in his respective Calling whom they stiled the Spirit of his Profession The good Angels to be sure are all for order and have no kindness for those that are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disorderly and unruly ones who will not keep their place and rank 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the words of M. Antoninus Deserters of the Station and work assigned them and fugitives from their particular charge and duty such as the evil Angels are on the contrary described Who forsook their first Estate and left their proper Habitation S. Iude v. 6. And ever since they are all for confusion and every evil work which follows upon that with those Children of Disobedience who are busie bodies in other mens matters but neglect their own Offices and Duties Undoubtedly whensoever any leave their proper Callings and Ministries they go out of those ways wherein the holy Angels have a special charge over them Fourthly we must with courage and vigilance resist the Devil and all his wicked instruments between whom and the good Angels there is Antipathy and a continual fight and contest 'T is said of our blessed Saviour upon his defeat of the Evil One and vanquishing of his Temptations S. Matth. 4.11 Then the Devil leaveth him and behold Angels came and ministred unto him Whereby is shewn as S. Hilary notes That the Ministeries of Angels and good Offices of the heavenly Powers will not be wanting to us if we overcome the Devil and trample upon him That we may secure their delightful abode with us

an unclean and impure spirit Saint Luke 11.24 and takes up his habitation upon choice among the Swine Saint Matth. 8.31 V. And lastly a fervent love and peace and concord as much as lieth in us one with and towards another For thus it is among the holy Angels And to this some refer that of Bildad qui facit concordiam in sublimibus Job 25.2 He maketh peace in his high places And again that of God unto Iob. ch 38.37 which the vulgar Latin reads conc●●tum coeli quis dormire faciet Who can lay asleep the harmony of Heav'n And nothing doubtless is more grateful to them than to see the like among us below Behold how good and how pl●asant a thing it is to them as well as our selves for brethren to dwell together in unity Ps. 133. This saith Saint Cyprian brings the greatest pleasure not only to faithful men and those that know vertue but unto the Coelestial Spirits also whom the Scripture represents as rejoycing over one Sinner that r●pent●th and so returns to the bond of unity which could not saith he be verified of the Angels that have their conversation in Heaven were they not some way united also unto us who rejoice in our union and on the contrary are troubled when they see us divided and at variance There is not any temper that gratifies and invites the envious and mischievous one the Devil more than malice and ill-will strife and contention By our undue heats and inordinate wrath we give place unto him He is known by his foaming rage and cloven-foot And on the other side there is nothing more acceptable as I said to the good Angels than brotherly love and unity peace and agreement whereby we conform our selves to their charity and participate in a degree their blissful and serene state of amity and friendship which is indeed a very Heav'n upon Earth The Conclusion If therefore we are followers of this angelical obedience devotion humility purity love and peace we need not doubt but they will delight in our converse as agreeable and look upon us as their kindred and familiars and consequently take pleasure in ministring unto us here upon earth until at last they bring us in safety and with triumph out of an uncertain and evil World into those blessed Regions of unmixed and durable joy and happiness where we shall be added to their Choire and sing perpetual Halelujah's with them in Notes far above our present reach unto the glory of God Almighty both their and our most Sovereign Lord and Gracious Benefactor Which he of his infinite mercy grant for Christ his sake To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be given by us for the hopes of this and all other Blessings all Honour Praise and Adoration now and for ever Amen O clementissime Deus qui per sanctos Angelos deducis nos per hujus vitae Eremum da ut per eosdem deducamur ad caeleste regnum Amen Collect for the Second Sunday after Trinity O Lord who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love to whom peculiarly thou hast promised the guard of thy holy Angels to encamp about them keep us we beseech thee under the protection of thy good providence and that we may be qualified for it make us to have a p●rpetual fear and love of thy holy Name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Collect for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany O God who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot keep our selves or always stand upright Grant us such strength and protection from the assistance of thy holy Spirit and the Ministry of thy holy Angels as may support us in all dangers and carry us safe through all temptations through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Collect for the sixth Sunday after Epiphany O God whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil and make us the Sons of God and Heirs of Eternal Life Grant us we beseech thee that having this hope we may purifie our selves even as he is pure that when he shall appear again with great power and glory attended with those holy Angels which now by thy appointment Minister unto us upon Earth we may be made like not only unto them but unto him in his eternal and glorious Kingdom where with thee O Father and thee O holy Ghost he liveth and reigneth ever one God world without end Amen Blessed God whose Throne is encircled with Myriads of glorious Spirits that vail their Faces with their Wings as not being able to behold the brightness of thy Majesty and delight in their attendance upon those Ministries whereunto thou hast appointed them we thy most unworthy Creatures in all humility prostrate our selves at thy Footstool desirous with that holy Choire of Angels and Arch-angels and all the Host of Heav'n to laud and magnifie thy great and glorious Name in and for all thy Works and beseeching thee to give us grace to do thy will on Earth as it is done in Heav'n and so to follow the exemplary obedience devotion condescension purity and charity of thy sacred Angels as to oblige their constant Ministry to our necessities here and be advanced hereafter to a more intimate and happy society with them in the life to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS AN APPENDIX CONTAINING SOME REFLECTIONS UPON Mr. WEBSTER'S Displaying of Supposed WITCH-CRAFT WHEREIN He handles the EXISTENCE and NATURE of ANGELS and SPIRITS LONDON Printed for Hen. Brome at the Gun at the West-end of S. Pauls Church 1678. Reflections on Mr. Webster's Discourses against the Incorporeity of Angels or Spirits WHile the fore-going Treatise of Angels was under the Press there came to my hands a learned and laborious Volume of Mr. Iohn Webster Practitioner in Physick call'd The Displaying of supposed Witchcraft wherein also he discourseth of the Existence and Nature of Angels and Spirits Upon the perusal of which I have noted some things which I conceive it pertinent for me to reflect here a little upon I shall not presume to censure any thing of the main design and scope of this industrious Author in the prosecution of which he hath indeed heaped together many rare and excellent Observations worthy to be considered of for the improving Knowledge and rendring all men cautious how they pronounce of such abstruse Subjects Much less shall I espouse any man's particular Hypothesis and Quarrel or attempt the Defence of those eminently worthy Persons whom he hath singled out for his Antagonists the Reverend and Learned Divines Dr. Casaubon Mr. Glanvil Dr. H. More who are better able and more concern'd to speak for themselves Onely I wish for his own sake that he had treated them with more respective terms than those of Scurrilous Impudent Witch-mongers which he so freely

Imprimatur Liber hic cui Titulus A Theological Discourse of Angels c Geo. Hooper R.D.D. Gilb. Arch. Cant. a sacris domesticis Sept. 30. 1677. A Theological Discourse OF ANGELS AND THEIR MINISTRIES WHEREIN Their EXISTENCE NATURE NUMBER ORDER and OFFICES are modestly treated of With the Character of those for whose benefit especially they are Commissioned and such Practical Inferences deduced as are most proper to the Premises Also an Appendix containing some Reflections upon Mr. Webster's Displaying supposed Witchcraft By Benjamin Camfield Rector of Aylston neer Leicester LONDON Printed by R. E. for Hen. Brome at the Gun in S. Pauls Church-yard 1678. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY Noble LORD and PATRON Iohn Earl of Rutland c. As also To the RIGHT HONOURABLE Iohn Lord Roos His Majesties Lord Lieutenant for the County of Leicester MAY it please your Honours to pardon the presumption only of this Address and I shall not offer at any Apology either for the publishing or the dedication of the ensuing Treatise remembring the just and smart reprehension which M. Cato gave upon occasion to A. Albinus for chusing rather to deprecate a fault than to be without it For who saith he compell'd you to commit that which you should ask forgiveness of before the doing it There is not any thing of surprizal force or necessity in a matter of so deliberate and premeditated a choice and therefore no excuse sufficient to palliate the transgre●sion The Subject here insisted on is neither trite in our Language nor unprofitable and but too suitable to that Atheistical and degenerate Age we live in wherein the general disbelief of Spirits Divine and Humane Angelical and Diabolical may well be thought the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ground and introduction of all that irreligion and profaneness which naturally enough follows upon it 'T is a design evidently comporting with the subtilty and malice of our grand Adversary to promote and countenance this Infidelity in all the parts and branches of it that he may pass hi●self unsuspected whilst he thus at once destroys the Object of our Worship and Adoration roots up the very Capacity of Vertue and Piety within us quashes all the hopes and fears of a World to come and takes away the Ministers which Providence hath order'd and commissioned for our present discipline security and com●ort Nor is the success of these his most pernicious endeavours small and inconsiderable Men immers'd in Body and depraved with vicious Customes and the debaucheries of sensual appetite and lust are easily tempted first to undervalue themselves and that excellent Being the breath of God which lodgeth in them and t●ence begin to doubt of or deny a Deity and laugh at the Tales of Immaterial Substances as the Romantic and vain supporters of a fond and groundless awe and superstition in the World So they will do 't is like enough at what is said in the following Pages of Angels in particular But then it may be worth the while to observe for the caution and safety of all at least whose vitals are not yet tainted with the infection not only how boldly they contradict the many plain and repeated declarations of sacred Scripture which Christians certainly should reverence but how unreasonably cross they appear to the strongest current of Traditionary Belief among the best of Men. Next for the Method and way of handling what I have undertaken It is not I confess curious and affected and yet not altogether careless but such as the Text prefixed most fairly suggests and may competently serve I hope both to the satisfaction and ease the edification and delight of unpr●judiced Readers and that the rather because I have endeavoured to represent every thing according to its proper evidence of certainty or probability only neither vainly dogmatizing in matters unrevealed nor sceptically slighting of any intimations giv'n us by divine Revelation And now for the Dedication I cannot say the Book it self needs any other Guardians than the Angels contained in it however the Author may and as there are none better qualified for his Protection than your Lordships so there is none to whom he could more chearfully apply for shelter But in this his design I am sure is honest and dis-interested being only to testifie his bounden Gratitude to your Honours under whose Patronage and good encouragement this Treatise was conceived and finished and he hath lived for fifteen years and then to satisfie an innocent Ambition of publickly subscribing himself Your Lordship's ever-obliged Chaplain and most humble Servant B. Camfield To the Reader Courteous Reader FOr such in course I presume thou art I had once thought to have pass'd thee by without this accustomed formality of a Salutation the whole Discourse being design'd intirely for thy use and pleasure and the matter wholly in thine own power whether thou wilt be at the little cost of purchasing and labour of perusing it And generally methinks the Epistle to the Reader somewhat resembles that Trumpet-Officer before a Show or Play-house whose part it is to Tole in Passengers by relating to them what wonderful Rarities are to be seen within Now I have not the vanity of commending mine own Wares nor yet the ambition of getting some popular Name in Verse or Prose to do it for me nor indeed any such conceit of the performance as to be much troubled if thou shalt think but meanly of it All that I aim at therefore in this short Preface to thee is to remove a prejudice from the Su●ject it self here treated of A generation of men there is who would have all the talk and enquiry about Angels and Spirits to pass for Old-wives stories or at best the waking-dreams of persons idly disposed and those who have been taught to believe otherwise in the main are yet apt enough to look upon them as a nice or barren speculation Now what pity and shame is it when the holy Scriptures have told us so much and plainly concerning this excellent sort of Creatures and the good turns we receive continually from their Attendance and Ministry and the admirable vertues we have to copy out in their Example and we Christians profess to expect the happiness of being made like unto them and bless'd hereafter in their Society we should yet continue so profane and sceptical and indifferent in our belief esteem thoughts and speeches about them I have said enough I hope in the following pages somewhat to abate or cure this distemper in those that are capable of it however to prevent the contagion from such who are yet sound and free And whether I may have gratified or displeased thee and others in the attempt I know not but shall have satisfaction sufficient from the conscience of honest endeavou●s in the case to content and to please my self And so I bid thee heartily farewel Only here at parting since it comes into my mind I leave thee at all adventures

said to have been giv'n the Jews by the disposition of Angels as I shew'd before the word spoken by Angels An Angel meets Balaam the Prophet though otherwise of no very good character in a perverse way and charges him to speak no more than God should reveal Numb 22. Daniel had his Visions from an Angel and the Angel Gabriel was sent forth to inform him and give him skill and understanding Dan. 8.16 9.22.23 ch 10. and 11. So throughout the Prophecy of Zechary we read that an Angel talk'd and commun'd with him and shew'd him this and that and said to him thus and thus Zech. 1.9 14 19. 2.3 4. c. And then in the New-Testament an Angel brings the welcome Message of a Son who should be the fore-runner of a Messias to Zacharias the Priest Saint Luke 1.13 and after that to the blessed Virgin of her conception of that Messias c. ver 30 31. and after that proclaims the good tidings of his Birth to the Shepherds in the Field Saint Luke 2. An Angel appears thrice to Ioseph as hath been said upon another occasion first to satisfie him about the taking to him Mary his espoused Wife afterwards to warn him to fly with the young Child and his Mother into Egypt and then to call him again into the Land of Israel Saint Matth. 1.20 21. 2.13 20 22. The Angels also as I have shewn preach Christ's Resurrection to those that sought him in his Sepulchre Saint Luke 24. and testifie from heav'n the verity of his Ascension thither and his second coming thence Acts 1. An Angel signifies the Revelations of Christ to Iohn the Divine Revel 1.1 22.16 c. This way of God's communicating his Mind and Will occasionally to Men by Angels seems pointed at in that of Elihu Iob 33.14 15 16 17. and was commonly acknowledged among the Jews whence that speech of theirs concerning Saint Paul We find no evil in this man but if a Spirit or Angel have spoken to him let us not fight against God But their doctrinal Ministry is not ordinarily now to be expected by us God hath thought good to substitute other Legats for the publishing of his Mind and Will to Men. Malachi hath it of the Legal Priesthood The Priests lips should keep knowledge and th●y should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the Messenger or Angel of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 And God saith our Apostle who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past to the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son viz. in our nature a person far transcendent to the Angels Hebr. 1.1 2. And this beloved Son of his God inc●rnate That great Prophet whom all are obliged to hearken unto Acts 3.22 23. hath sent his apostles after him enabling of them to continue and propagate a succession of Ministers after them too faithful men who shall teach others unto the end of the World He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the Faith and Knowledg of the Son of God Ephes. 4.11 12 13. 2 Tim. 2.2 These visible Ministers of Christ now we are to look upon and receive as Angels Saint Paul speaks it to the praise of the Galatians that they once so received him Gal. 4.14 and so the Bishops of the Asian Churches are call'd by Christ himself as hath been before suggested Revel 2 and 3 ch's To such as these it is that the holy Angels themselves direct men under the Gospel An Angel calls Philip towards the South to meet the Eunuch and preach Jesus to him Acts 8. An Angel certifies Cornelius that his Prayers and Alms were come up for a memorial before God but bids him send to Ioppa for Simon Peter there who should tell him what he ought to do and the Angel satisfies Peter too in a Vision as to his going to him Acts 10. An Angel also invites Saint Paul to preach the Gospel in Macedonia ch 16. So forward are these celestial Spirits in promoting the knowledg of those blessed Mysteries which themselves with admiration look down into and to testifie unto us that it belongs not to them to usurp the Ministerial Office in the Church of Christ but to preserve and countenance it in the hands of such as our Lord and Saviour hath appointed thereunto It is indeed an high honour which God imparts unto Men to confer this Angelical-Office and imployment on them but then it is also a gracious condescension to humane weakness that he is pleased so to treat with us and speak to us by these in our own Flesh. For we could not bear the glorious splendor of Divinity it self in this our mortal state nor the apparitions of Angels neither without much of terror and consternation When the Law was giv'n by their Ministry the people stood amazed and said unto Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die Exod. 20.19 And when an Angel came to the Wife of Sampson's Mother she saith to her Husband concerning him A man of God came unto me and his countenance was like the cou●tenance of an Angel of God very terrible Judg. 13.6 And of Daniel we read that upon such an appearance his strength failed him and he stood trembling Dan. 10.8 11. and the like of others In so much that the Angels do usually begin their Message with the removal of that fear which possesseth those to whom they speak So to Daniel Fear not Dani●l Ch. 10.2 So to Zacharias Fear not Zacharias Saint Luke 1.13 So to the blessed Virgin Fear not Mary Ver. 30. So to the Shepherds Fear not for behold I bring you good tydings Ch. 2.10 So to the good women at our Saviours Grave Fear n●t ye for I know that ye seek Iesus which was crucified Saint Matth. 28.5 It is therefore as I have insinuated a condescension to our state of infirmity that God hath chosen to send and speak to us ordinarily by Embassadors of our own make and kind mortal-men like our s●lves Men that die and are not suffered to continue by reason of death as the Apostle phraseth it Hebr. 7.8 23. Saint Paul yet gives another account of this dispensation We have this Treasure saith he in earthen-vessels that the exc●llency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 God declares and magnifies his Power in destroying the Devils Kingdom by the Ministry of weak and frail Men. To which may be added farther that hereby also he makes the greater proof of our Faith and Obedience whil'st we submit to them that watch for our Souls and pay them all due reverence as God's Ministers and Christ's Vicars observing them amidst their weakness and