Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	city_n	great_a	king_n	11,168	5	3.7047	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49461	The good and faithful servant set forth in a sermon preached at Hatfield Broad-Oake in Essex, August 2. the day before the funeral of Mr. John Warren, sometime minister of the gospel there. Now published with some small additions, and a brief account of his life and character. By Henry Lukin.	Lukin, H. (Henry), 1628-1719.	1696 (1696)	Wing L3474A; ESTC R218826	22,563	42

administration of the Affairs of the Houshold should be made Steward of all his Masters Estate Mat. 24.47 In Luke it is Have thou Authority over ten Cities having respect as I said before rather to the meaning of Christ than to his words and therein it is likely he alludes to the Honour wherewith Princes or Conquerours use to recompence the signal and eminent service of those that have acquitted themselves well under them preferring them to the Govenment of some great Places or Cities and such an one should have Rule over many Cities still observe that these expressions have respect to the Protasis or former part of the similitude 4. As for those words Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord if they be referred to the Protasis they only signifie that he should enter upon or take possession of that honour or preferment which he should promote him to or delight to confer upon him as Ahasuerus would know what should be done unto the man to whom the King delighted to honour Est 6.6 I come now to the spiritual meaning of this Parable or that which is hereby signified Now it is agreed on by all that the scope of the Parable is to shew That Christ being gone to Heaven hath given variety of gifts to men which they are to improve for him in his service for his glory which he will require an account of when he comes to Judgment Men have from this Parable learned to call them Talents in their ordinary speech but in strictness they might as well have called them Pounds from the Parallel place in Luke yet I dislike not the use of the word in this case because it is not so common a word as pound nor used in so many cases and the use of this word may put men in mind of the end and use of those various gifts which they have received Now by these gifts we do not understand only those gifts which he gave unto men at his Ascension Eph. 4.8 The various kinds whereof the Apostle mentions Rom. 12.6 1 Cor. 12.4 c. but those manifold gifts of God or graces which are but gifts freely given as they are called 1 Pet. 4.10 whereby we are capable or qualified to do good to others or service to God The Philosophers use to distinguish them into the goods of the body of the mind and of fortune By the goods of the body they mean Health Strength outward Sense as Seeing Hearing and a good Temper or Constitution so as it may be most serviceable to the mind The Goods of the Mind are such as quickness of apprehension good Judgment a firm and faithful Memory Learning Knowledge by the Goods of Fortune they mean Riches Honour Authority Interest Now tho' we do not approve of their calling them the Goods of Fortune Austin was not pleased that he had so oft-used that word yet shews in what sense it may be used Retractat Lib. 1. Cap. 1. yet by what I have said we may see under what general Heads we may reduce those various gifts which are committed to our trust and I will now shew you First That we receive all these from God and these things may indifferently be said to be given by God the Father or by Jesus Christ as Mediatour For all power is Originally from the Father to whom it must be again resigned when Christ hath fulfilled his Mediatory Office 1 Cor. 15.24 c. But in the mean while all power in Heaven and Earth is committed to Christ Matth. 18.16 for the good of his Church Eph. 1.22 and in order to their Salvation John 17.2 Now it is God that giveth to all Life and Breath and all things Acts 17.25 It is he that did form and fashion us in the Womb and did not fail of making any one part of the body but did fashion us as perfectly as if he had a model or a receit in a Book to make us by Psa 139.16 And as the Painter mixes his Colours so as to give the right complexion to a picture God doth so temper the several humours of the body as they way be serviceable to the mind in such manner and measure as he pleases and hence proceeds the different temper of men whereby they are fitted for several businesses and employments and it is God that makes to differ even in our natural Temper and Constitution If there be in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or any good natural Inclination and in another such an ill Temper as Socrates acknowledged himself to have it is God that makes the difference and hence it is that one hath quickness of apprehension and presence of Mind another solidity of Judgment another a curious Fancy another a strong Memory and hereby they are fitted and qualified for Business and several Employments So those that they call the Goods of Fortune are from God who gives us all things richly to enjoy 1 Tim. 6.17 c. Both Riches and Honour come of him and in his hand it is to make great and to give strength to all 1 Chron. 29.12 It is God that gives us all things pertaining to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 So that we have nothing but what we have received 1 Cor. 4.7 Seondly We are but Stewards of these manifold gifts of God 1 Peter 4.10 Those words of the Apostle may have respect both to what goeth before and what followeth after We are not only to Minister of our Substance with those good women Luke 8.3 But of those spiritual gifts which we have received as we have occasion and opportunity he that is Steward to another if he have any thing of his own may imploy it as he sees good but those things which belong to him that he is a Steward for he must improve for his advantage or he that is Factor for another must Trade with what he hath sent to him for the best advantage of him that trusts him and must not let his money or stock lye dead and there will a time come that we must be called to a reckoning and have that Summons sent to us Luke 16.2 Come give an account of your Stewardship for you must be no longer Stewards Now therefore we should consider what we have committed to our trust they that have most have but little in comparison as it is said to him here that had the five Talents that he had been faithul in a few things As it is said of those extraordinary gifts which they had in the primitive times to one was given the word of Wisdom to another the word of Knowledge to another Faith to another the gifts of Healing to another working of miracles to another Prophecy 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. So now some have Health and Strength some abilities of Mind some Riches some Power and Authority some Interest in great Persons whereby they may obtain favours for others now we should as it is said The Liberal man devises Liberal things Isa 32.18 cast about what

of Workmanship to devisecunning works to work in Gold Silver and Brass Exod. Chap. 31.2 3. But the Women also that were wise hearted did Spin with their hands and brought that which they had Spun of blue purple scarlet and fine Linnen Exod. 35.25 Paul was as a wife Master-builder 1. Cor. 3.10 but Aquilla and Priscilla Tent makers were his helpers in Christ Jesus Rom. 16 3. and there were Women which laboured with him in the Gospel Phil. c. 4. v. 3 not by Preaching but by Teaching good things to younger persons Titus 2.3 to their Children which is a great help to Ministers and such as are more fit to hear the Word with profit as Petty Schools fit Children for Grammar Schools so they may relieve encourage protect such as are capable of doing other service 1 Tim. 5.10 Rom. 16.4 and hereby we may be fellow-helpers to the Truth 3 John v. 8. And Ministers could do little in City or Country in propagating the Gospel if they had not others to help with them As the liberal man devises liberal things Isa 32.8 so we should devise and cast about what we may do any way or in any capacity for the furtherance of the work of Christ We should not only honour the Lord with our substance Prov. 3.9 but we should say in truth to him what is ordinarily said in complement to others that all that we have is at his service as all things are of him so it is fit all things should be to him Rom. 11.36 As it is said Exod. 31.6 In the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded th●e What any have is from God and it is that they may imploy it in his service He that had but one Talent was punished because he did not improve it he did not spend it as the Prodigal did his Portion among Harlots or in riotous living but hid it in the Earth and returned it to him again Match 25. verse 25. It is not enough that we do not embezel our Lord's goods or that we do no hurt therewith as it is said Celata virtus paulo distat abinertiâ unknown or concealed Virtue differs little from ignorance or idleness and I do not account it much to a man's praise to have it said of him that he is a Man of unknown worth It is true sometimes as folly is set in great dignity so the Rich sit in low place Eccles 10.6 Where the opposition teaches us to understand it of those that are Rich in Virtue Wisdom Noble Endowments this is an evil under the Sun and an Errour that proceeds from Princes not to advance men according to their worth and in such a case men have not occasion or opportunity for putting forth themseles or shewing what is in them If some very Learned man were confined to some obscure Country Village he would not have much occasion to shew his Learning or if a man have Prudence Courage Conduct to qualifie him for serving his King and Country in Councel or Camp but by Law is made uncapable thereof he may be as a lighted Candle under a Bushel and sometimes again a mans modesty may over awe him that he doth not put forth himself which is better than boasting of a false gift Pro. 25.14 or through vain glory to take all occasions to make ostentation of our own worth or ability trading for our selves with our Lords gifts as Gehazi that would get something by the Cure which was wrought on Naaman 2 Kings 5.20 We must take heed of thinking the service lost that we do for God wherein we do not pocket up some applause or praise for our selves Remember the Leprosie that cleaved to Gehazi and the end of Herod that gave not glory to God Acts 12.23 Those that Minister must do it as of the Ability which God gives them that God in all things may be glorified 1 Pet. 4.11 We must not do as Israel that trusted in her beauty and plaid the Harlot because of her renown for that beauty which was perfect through that comliness which God had put upon her Ezek. 16.14 But on the other hand we must not through a sly and secret pride refuse to trade because we have but one Talent or to put forth our selves because we have no more to make shew of there is a good sense of that scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter what thou knowest is nothing unless others know that thou knowest it for we have not received it for our selves as the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and as the rust of silver and gold will be a witness against those that have treasured it up James 5.3 So the hiding of mens gifts that is not improving them will be charged upon them But what then will the end of those be that abuse their gifts in this Case he that is not with Christ is against him Mat. 12.30 because he hath received his gifts to imploy and improve in his service as he that is listed in a Princes service and receives his pay is against him if he stand neuter or does nothing much more if he fights against him If God give a man Riches and he make use of them to oppress the poor Jam. 2.6 or to make provision for the Flesh to fill the lusts thereof Rom 13.14 spending it on Pride or Voluptuousness If God have given men Power or Interest that is if they either be in Authority themselves or can make an Interest in such as are so and take advantage thereby to crush the Fatherless or the poor it is that which Job durst not do for destruction from God was a terrour to him and by reason of his highness he could not endure Job 31.23 If God give a man Learning and Knowledge and he set himself therewith to oppose the Truth and Cause of Christ and to maintain and support an evil Cause against Christ If be give a man quickness of wit and parts and he make use of it to ridicule Religion and expose those that are most strict and conscientious in the profession of it or to defraud and over-reach his Neighbour If he give a man strength and ability of body which he might have used to good purposes in the service of God or of his Country and he spend his strength in Luxury and debauchery Pro. 5.11 23 29. We may ask them as Cyprian doth those that used Painting and such Arts how they can look upon God when they are not as he made them but as their own lusts have deformed them This is like taking the Corn and Wine and Oyl and Silver and Gold which God had given to Israel and preparing it for Baal an abominable Idol Hosea 2.8 And if the unprofitable Servant that hid his Talent shall be cast into outer Darkness sure the wicked Servant that abuses his Talent to the

dis-service and dis-honour of God shall have Hell made as Nebuchadnezzar's fiery Furnace seven times more hot than it was wont to be Dan. 3.19 In this case there is not only lucrum cessans but damnum emergens not only a loss of what night have been gained by a good improvement of what men are trusted with but a further dan age accrewing by misimploying of their Talent As if a Person should leave a Steward to look to the affairs of his houshold and leave him money to buy and make an advantage for his Master and he should with his money Drink and Game and keep Company so as to neglect his Masters business and let that suffer for want of looking after Or as if a man should be at charge to bring up his Son in the study of the Law that he might get an Estate and be a support and ornament to his Family and when he hath attained some skill in the Law instead of getting an Estate thereby should use it only to winde himself into his Fathers Estate and cheat him of it Rules are made more plain by Examples therefore I shall to illustrate what I have spoken give an instance of a good and faithful Servant in him whose death hath given occasion of the foregoing discourse I do not intend to give an account of his Life but only to give a brief account of some things which may shew what Talents he was trusted with and what use he made of them God who presides over our forming in the womb as I have already shewed gave him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Temperamenti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ingenij a good Crasis or constitution of body and a good temper of mind both of which did much fit him for the work which he was called to He had somewhat a deep tincture of melancholy yet not such as to dull or cloud his mind but rather to poise it and so tempered as he had both a quick apprehension and solid judgement He had so much of it as to make him suspicious and cautious of obtruding any crude or indigested notions on others and it will be found as soon as any of his labours are made publique which an excess of modesty hath hitherto kept from the view of the world that they do Demorsos sapere ungues according to the advice of the Poet saepe stylum vertas iterum quae digna legi sint Scripturus well weighing and considering what ever proceeded from him He entered early indeed on the work of the Ministry but he was not more apt to teach than apt for teaching He was none of those that Beza speaks of which are Doctores but Aptiores ad stivam fitter for the Plow than for teaching While young he was not only a Titular but real Master of Arts when Mr. Vines a competent Judge of mens abilities heard him preach he said He looked like a Boy but spake like a Man He came to London in forty two and did design to go beyond Sea with some Merchants but meeting occasionally with Sir Thomas Barrington he was so pleased with his Converse that he prevailed with him to go to Hatfield in the begnning of forty three their Lecturer being newly dead whom he succeeded in that place when he was but in the two and twentieth year of his age being born on September 29th one thousand six hundred twenty one There he continued till he was forced away and though he had invitations to several more publique places where he might have had far greater worldly advantage I heard him say above fifty years ago that he would not leave Hatfield-Christians for any place in England There being then many Eminent Christians most of which are long since admitted into the General Assembly amongst he Spirits of just men made perfect whither he is now gone to them At his first coming thither he only preached the weekly Lecture which had continued there many years and on the Sabbath daies in the afternoon but after some time the Minister of the place having another Living in Norfolk was obliged to reside there and quit Hatfield and then the whole work did devolve upon Mr. Warten So that he preached constantly three times a week at home and took his turn in several other Lectures which were kept by a Combination of Ministers Yet his frequent Preaching did not make him slight therein his Lecture was frequented by many of the Neighbouring Ministers his Sermons were chiefly designed and accommodated to the use of serious experienced Christians of which there were many then his Sermons were not as some things which are Compositions indeed wherein several things are put together and the ingredients appear in gross lumps and they do not incorporate together and so the virtue of them is lost whereas when they are well mixed they do not so obviously appear but there is the virtue of them So learning doth little good in Sermons where it appears in long quotations School terms and distinctions exotick or foreign words but then it doth most good in Sermons when Ministers make use of it to insinuate or work things so into the affections of their hearers that they may e're they are aware be made as the Charets of Aminadab Cant. 6.12 or come upon them with that power and evidence of Truth that they may not be able to withstand the wisdom and spirit wherewith they speak Acts 6.10 But besides this ordinary work there were then monthly Fasts which he usually kept without the help of others wherein he did not huddle over the duties of the day in compliance with the weakness of those that say of such days as the Jews of their new Moons and Sabbaths when will they be gone Amos 8.5 And of the duties thereof what a weariness is it Mal. ch 1. ver 13. But he kept them with Solemnity as days of afflicting the soul and with such fervency and perseverance in prayer as the condition of the Nation did then require And besides these his assistants was frequently desired in days of Solemn prayer and humiliation on particular occasions he being an Israelite indeed not only as without guile but as one that had power with God in prayer and did oft prevail for which reason I have several times been desired by Christians to engage Mr. Warren to pray for them and have since his death received Letters from some lamenting the loss of such a praying Friend and he hath oft put me in mind of the words of Mr. Welsh concerning an eminent Christian in Scotland Happy is that City yea happy is that Nation that hath an Hugh Kennedy and adds what I may truly say concerning Mr. Warren I have my self certainly found the Answers of his prayers from the Lord in my behalf And besides all this there was a monthly Meeting of some Ministers which he was the first promoter of that continued many years wherein there were Disputations and Latine Sermons wherein I have oft heard Positions