Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	cruel_a	glory_n	great_a	167	3	2.1257	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97215	Spiritual thrift. Or, Meditations wherein humble Christians (as in a mirrour) may view the verity of their saving graces, and may see how to make a spirituall improvement of all opportunities and advantages of a pious proficiencie (or a holy growth) in grace and goodnesse. And wherein is layd open many errours incident to these declining times, / by Elizabeth Warren, a lover of truth and peace. Imprimatur, James Cranford.	Warren, Elizabeth, of Woodbridge.	1647 (1647)	Wing W960; Thomason E373_7; ESTC R201328	87,311	89

and sword to bereave them of their lives by barbarous cruelties but also oppressing their innocent fame with slanderous figments and devised forgeries representing them to the world under the horrid notions of Hereticks Schismaticks Impostors and Seducers so contracting upon them by injurious aspersions a generall odium from all estates of men Yet hath the Lord still frustrated their devices and crafty machinations so closely contrived that the vizor of hypocrisie is puld off to their shame and their folly detected in persecuting truth the memoriall of those Martyrs and Confessors being blessed and highly esteemed as venerable and precious but the name of the adversaries putrid and rotten and never remembred but with lothed detestation The carefull collecting of such observations are very usefull for our present occasions our times abounding with malicious spirits that seeke to deprave the most pious persons and now when the Lord by our valiant Worthies hath done great things to the praise of his providence we either ingratefully contemne the benefits or deprave the actors to eclipse his glory not gathering for our comfort by a due observation how this Land hath been delivered from Hierarchicall tyranny that cruell bondage imposing upon us the insupportable burthen of superstitious ceremonies Nihil magis est iniqu●m quam beneficium in crimen trahi Cal. nor how the wicked were catcht in the snare of their subtile malicious and cruell contrivements falling in the pit which they dig'd for others and snared in the grin of their destructive designes Doe we but observe how the Lord hath insatuated the subtill projects of our cruell enemies Hic vide nus ut imp●orum consilii Deus quasi ex transve●so occurrat ut praemia honoram poenama lorum non periret by breaking the snare whereby we are escaped as birds out of the net of our aparent danger this would be matter of joy and thankfulnesse and the result a care to expresse true gratitude in humble sincere and dutifull obedience to our gracious God in our lives and actions Animi affectus cum irruperunt cūcta a missent superiora ad inferiora detrahunt But ah how malevolent and gainsaying spirits requite the Lord and his gracious instruments who by painfull industry have exposed themselves to daily danger to secure our liberties and yet when the worke is almost effected by Gods gracious blessing on their faithfull endeavours Apparet virtus arguiturque malis their indefatigable labours are slighted with contempt and secret murmurings of malignant whisperers now when we are ready to reap the harvest of our long desired and happie reformation Vides ignis absumit omnem objectam materiam affectus excandescens cortumpit quicquid fit obvium Philo. it were just with the Lord even to blast all our hopes by embroyling us in bitternesse though our unnaturall divisions for these are the sins have cryed loud in his eare being the sad effects of shaking hands with verity from which many part now Animus non capit veram voluptatem ni si liber metu ac caeteris affectibus Plut. by closing with errour and setting up Idols in their own evill hearts for only by pride doe men make contention to spin and lengthen out the thrid of our miseries and to turn and twist it into cords of calamity to fetter and hold us in a wofull condition Gather up c. Gubernatores se ventorum mutationibus accommodant Animi morbi cum saevium cōpesci non possunt Revel 12.3 4. Draco cauda sua ●rahit tertiam partem stellarum coeli Psal 104.20 This hath ever been the practice of those turbulent pragmaticks who infested the Church in the time of her travail when she either is under some great persecution or labouring to bring forth some eminent reformation then malicious Satan that old red Dragon appears and draws neer to devoure her fruit atracting with his taile even the stars from heaven and casting them to the earth to comply with his malice and as when the Sun goeth down and darknesse brings night then all the beasts of the forrest creepe forth so Hereticks and Schismaticks take troublesome seasons to disturb the Church in her greatest affliction for even now when much of the Christian world Omnes quidem videmus privatim publicè ad pravam aemulationem intentos in malum quasi mutua conspiratione absque voce invitant Calvin in Harm Ne terre at nos impiorum furor audacia nam haec consolatio non vulgaris est scimus Deum nobis addesse lies under the rage of Antichristian tyranny they boldly break forth like wolves of the evening to devoure and scatter Christs silly sheep The sad impression of these considerations reflecting on our soules by the view of such occurrents may truly cheere us in our innocent sufferings that we may with comfort hold fast our profession for if we be deterred by the tongues of the wicked and cannot abide the smart of that scourge how shall we be able to resist unto bloud in laying down our lives for the cause of the Gospel wherefore collecting by due observation what the godly have endured to keepe faith undefiled it may ever incite us with fortitude and patience to walke in the steps of their courage and constancie This collection is so conducible to the plenall consummation Praeclarares est aequabilitas in omni vita sive laeti siue tristes vid●●mur of that mentall tranquility which the godly should aym at that incessant labour is required herein from the birth day of conversion to our last concluding period for little doe we know what need we may have Nullum sine labor● est hominibus 〈◊〉 opus Phocyl in the many revolutions of our transitory state of the very fragments and crums of refreshment both spirituall and temporall which we now undervalue Iob 1.8 cap. 22.3 Nuncius nunc 〈◊〉 cotingit vincere ●●minem sith even holy Job whose heroick vertues could finde no parallel in times of prosperity was yet so dejected in his deepe affliction as his eminent graces were ecclipsed with passion Gather up c This appears in that he cursed the day of his birth bitterly expostulating in his sorrowfull complaint Iob 3.1 whose burthen was aggravated by those unskilfull Physicians Quis enim dicat pi●● in omnibus quae ab ipsis fiant esse imitabiles non igitur in omnibus quae faciunt sed sapienter cautè debent laudam ut sua D●o praerogativa servetur in cujusutique laudibus nemo potest esse nimius quantum que laudare conetur Neuburgensis and miserable comforters his own unkind friends for these should have applyed compassionate lenatives to have cured the disasters of his disconsolate spirits but instead of cordials to minister comfort they gave him gall to augment his anxiety taxing him with hypocrisie and many other evils which his innocent soule sincerely

with motives inducing to divine mercie entreateth the Lord to remember his promise wherein he caused him to put his trust professing it was his comfort in trouble even a quickning word to cheere and revive him yea the joy of his soule Psal 119.121 and the soule of his joy as he there declareth in patheticall expressions Great cause have the faithfull to rejoyce in the promises as the Magna Charta of all their priviledges 2 Cor. 1.20 because in Christ Jesus they are Yea and Amen to all that truly have an interest in him these trusting in the Lord have his Word to assure them Psal 125.1 Matth. 16.18 that they shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed The very gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church that is built on this Rock which implies not only a generall promise Secundum modum revelationis communicationis of such sacred immunities to the mysticall body but is also applyed by particular members infeoffed by the Spirit in this sacred Charter Gather up c. Ita per gradus promissionum sursum ascendunt ut tamen simplices maneant in sui dejectione Let us then gather up these most precious promises as our certain support in the saddest trials and let us not hang on that broken reed the arme of flesh which will surely deceive us for what ever our state or condition be we may finde sutable and seasonable promises to sustain our souls and supply our wants with consolatory refreshments in every calamity When the spirit is broken with sorrow for sin by an humble apprehension of our miserable condition no earthly excellencies can give it true comfort for it thirsts for those waters that flow from the Sanctuary Habet enim Christus omnes beatudinis aeternae vitae partes se inclusas quas nobis Evangelium offert then only Christ in the voyce of the Gospel speaks life and peace and consolation to it making it a cordiall of his mercifull promises which revives and cheers it in the deepest distresses Gather we up then in the sunshine of propsperity what may serve for soul shelter in stormes of desertion In extremitate maxima me juvat juvabit Iehovah O sons vitae vena aquarum viventium quando v●niam a ●aquas d●lce●i●is ru●● Aug in Sol. that when creature comforts shall fail us as a brooke we may in this fountain finde full consolation which will sweeten the cup of our bitterest calamities by dropping in a word of joy and refreshment even making our Baca a heaven upon earth and changing the taste of those waters of Marah When corruption prevails like a mighty Gyant leading us captive to the law of sin so that with the Apostle we cry out of our misery desiring to be delivered from this body of death Rom. 7 23 24. we have the Lord engaged by promise not only to pardon but subdue our iniquities Micah 7 18 19. yea to cast our sins into the depths of the sea for he retaineth not his anger but delighteth in mercie If Satan assault us with his fiery darts dipt in the poyson of his cruell malice to drive us to despair of divine succour Peccata defleantur quo defleta debeantur Doleat reus deleat Deus Psal 3.2 saying there is no help for us in our God we have the promise as a precious antidote against the venome of all such tentations the Lord averring for our certain solace I will not fail thee nor forsake thee this promise was made unto valiant Joshuah who led Gods people to their earthly Canaan Iosh 1.5 when he was to encounter with Gyantlike enemies that hee might not doubt but be sure of victory now the Apostle gathers up this word of comfort Heb. 13 6. as of speciall use in all our necessities inferring from it that to answer all tentations Rom. 16.20 Haec vera fidei probatio est quum Deus homines quasi in tenebris ambulare jubet Cal. in Ioh. cap 6. we may boldly say the Lord is my helper this only is he even the God of peace who shall shortly tread Satan down under our feet and cause us in confidence of his truth and faithfulnesse even to trample on the necks of our spirituall enemies Gather up c. If creature comforts shall deny their assistance or prove deficient in our necessary supply let us cast all our care and fixe all our confidence on him that is the maker and feeder of creatures saying with Habbakuk Though the figtree shall not blossome Hab. 3.17 18. Sed quia nos caro semper ad sua commoda sollicitat notandum est eorum sponte curam à C●risto suscepi quiscipsos negligunt and though there should be no fruit on the vines though the Olive should fail and the fields yeeld no meat and that there should be no herd in the stalls though the flocks be cut off from the fold by famine and nothing should remain for our bodily subsistance yet faith will finde out a satisfying object rejoycing in the Lord even the God of our salvation who is able and willing to support and sustainus with means or without as seems best to his wisdome Matth. 4 4. sith man doth not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of his moutb But some will say if divine contemplation Obiect Dicet aliquis non esse istud perpetuum quod saepe videamus pios dum prorsus regno Dei sunt addicti fame tamen confici propemodum tabescere Respondeo Christum etiamsi hoc modo fidem n●st am probare velit respicere tamen è coelo nostram inopiam de ea sublevanda quantum nobis expedit esse sollicitū Cal. could fill the hungry when food is wanting or spirituall graces those living waters quench the most violent thirst of the body then maximes of this nature might be sutable supports to keepe the creature from a perishing condition and the gathering up of promises might haply help us in those heavy exigents not evaded by nature but we see the devouring vulture famine seaseth promiscuously on the godly and the wicked making a prey of them both without difference by bringing them confusedly to the King of terrours We doe not aver that by gathering up the promises as our certain support in severall calamities we should plead an immunity from any tryall incident to man in his transitory pilgrimage for our life is a warfare wherein severall assailants cast piercing arrows of heart-wounding pressures the faithfull being the marke which their malice most ayms at whose innocence renders them obnoxious to such cruelty ●uid indignatis quare indignatio nil aliud quàm accessio mali sunt Acts 17.25 Esay 51.20 Nihil enim exasperat fervorem vulneris quam ferendi impatientia Yet men that are sharers of like afflictions may be distinguished by their differing postures which

are as dissonant in the same distresses as the suffering subjects are in opposite quality the one still praying and praising God like Paul and Silas in the the lothsome prison the other murmuring and belching out blasphemies behaving themselves like wilde Buls in a net by which we may see the vitility of collecting both precepts and promises for our various exigencies the very crums and fragments of spirituall refection being abundantly usefull in our bodily necessities Da nobis inter Scillam Charybdem ita tendere tenere medium ut utroque periculo evitato salva perveniamus ad portum Aug. Sol. The innumerable troubles of our care consuming life both in mentall anxieties and obvious calamities should put us upon an exact sedulity in collecting and reserving the precious promises for these are Panchrestick or universall medicines which serve for soul Physick in every disaster they are hidden Manna to sustain the godly who have meat to eat which the world cannot know of these promises invest us by divine application Ad te solamen unicum nostrum quem à longe quasi stellam matutinam Solem justitiae vix lachrymantibus oculis in littore coelestis patriae nos expectantē videmus with a robe of righteousnesse which covers our deficiencie and convey unto us a plenall consolation in the promised possession of our heavenly inheritance these are our evidence giving cleere demonstration what God hath decreed in his eternall purpose yea teaching us to read all the glorious characters written in the records of his revealed counsell Having shewed the profit of collecting precepts and also promises for our spirituall comfort it rests that we gather up some holy observations of the state of the godly in their various revolutions being somtimes oppressed by cruell enemies Id ut fiat disca●●●● non sapere sed in rebus confusis nihilominus sperare prosperum eventū quum Deum sequimur ducem qui suos nūquam frustratur Calvin prevailing over them by power and policie somtimes sorely lasht with the scourg of wicked tongues piercing like swords into parts most sensible somtime transported by gusts of tentation and suddain counterblasts of erring passion in prosperous events in perill of security and in adverse occurrents of deepe impatience Gather up c. Such observations are especially usefull when we apply appropriate them to particular occasions and by calling to remembrance Gods wonderfull works finde props to sustain us in our severall dejections for as the meanest morsels of refreshing food are grateful acceptable to the hungry captive Qui enim improvidus ab adversitate deprehenditur quasi ab hoste dormiens invenitur so the crums and fragments of such sacred observations may prove reviving cordials in heart qualming trials t is true our scattered notions while they lie dispersed are like severed coals which be presently extinct but being laid together blown up to be kindled we enjoy the benefit of their heat and light When the sacred Psalmist had sweetly warbled forth the glorious promises of Gods gracious providence extended in the many particular extremities of exile sicknesse captivity Psal 107. and shipwrack he collects this conclusion from what he had gathered in his true experience of those profitable passages who so is wise will observe these things and they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Psal 107.43 In gathering observations we may wisely obtain the knowledge of Gods faithfulness extended to his own whom he supporteth and sustaineth in all afflictions relieving and rescuing them in the needfull time of trouble they may indeed with Daniel be cast into the den Dan 6.16 22. Dan. 3.27 but God will shut up the mouthes of the lions they may with those worthies be thrown into the furnace and yet the fire have no power on their bodies they may with Jeremiah be plunged in the dungeon Ier. 38.5 6. Consilium tamen Spiritus Sancti certum est quicquid machinati fuerint impii nihil omnino sine Dei nutu providentia fuisse actum hic ergo optimum docemur quantūvis effraeni lib●●i●e Satan exaltet cum impus omnibus dominari tamen semper Dei manum ut invitos trahat quocunque valu●rit Calv in Act. and stick fast in the mire an uncomfortable posture till Ethiopian Ebed-melech compassionatly cōdoling prevails by petition to procure his enlargment wherein we may view what various occurrents God makes subservient to his sacred counsell the Prophet shall preach and proclaim the iudgements inevitably ensuing to those rebellious Apostates the Princes and people shall combine together in a cruell designe to put him to death and the King shall abuse his Regall power by complying with them in their bloudy stratagem whose mercilesse intentions were not by fire or sword to put a period to his painfull sufferings but by a ling●ing torment of famine cold and stench to macerate and torture his distressed body yet in the depth of this dungeon would the Lord be seen as once in the mount unto faithfull Abraham using a Black-more as his gracious instrument to deliver his servant from this deadly danger Acts 12.7 When imprisoned Peter was sleeping securely notwithstanding the rage of his cruel persecutours Quantò ille potentior est ad salvandum tanto ego sum securior Aug. man cap. 22. being ready like a lamb to be brought to the slaughter by the impetuous virulence of insulting Herod that juncture of time at the prayers of the Church God wrought his deliverance by the ministry of an Angel and by an Angel also destroyed that cursed Tyrant even then when he was Deified by flattering Parasites Act. 12.23 Acts 23.12 Hic videmus ut impiorum consilii Deus quasi ex transverso occurrat Multa quidem sinit eos machinare improbos etiā coelum conatus fluere sed tandem ipso articulo demonstrat se ex coelo ridere quicquid in terra sa●agunt homines Cal. in Act. When those cruell conspiratours who bound themselves by oath not to eat nor drinke till they had slain St. Paul had carryed on their plot with such close contrivance and Satanicall subtilty as they supposed him their own the Lord was pleased to infatuate their counsell as erst hee did the Dictates of crafty Achitophel detracting and defeating their cruell project by the preventing policie of the prudent Captain Act. 23.27 Gather up c. Thus we see it the portion of Gods dearest servants to be brought by the wicked into dangers and distresses being abused contemned and rejected by the World who want eyes to behold their internall excellencie 1 Cor 4 9. and therefore the Apostle propounds it as his judgement that the Saints are set forth in these later times as appoynted unto death yea to be made a spectacle 2 Cor. 6.5 to Angels and to men in their sorrowfull sufferings Operū Dei non semper exempla nobis apparent sed