Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	david_n	king_n	saul_n	12,106	5	9.9774	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72913	Three godly and fruitfull sermons declaring first how we may be saved in the day of iudgement, and so come to life everlasting: secondly, how we ought to liue according to Gods will during our life: which are the two things that every one ought to be most carefull of as long as they liue. Preached and written by the reverend & godly learned M. Iohn More, late preacher in the citie of Norwitch. And now first published by M. Nicholas Bovvnd: whereunto he hath adioyned of his owne, A sermon of comfort for the afflicted: and, A short treatise of a contented mind.	More, John, d. 1592.; Bownd, Nicholas, d. 1613. aut	1594 (1594)	STC 18074.5; ESTC S125128	118,386	153

the more grieuously against vs. The chiefest cause of all this was their incredulitie Psal 78. 22. they did not beleeue that the Lord had a fatherly care of them sought in all things to do them good euen as he knew what was commodious for them which was so much the greater a sinne in them by how much the Lord had so many waies testified his great loue to them not onely by his word but by his workes v. 23. where he beginneth to reckon vp so many benefits of his bestowed vpon them Therefore that we might auoide all these sinnes we must labour first of all to beleeue the forgiuenes of our sinnes by Christ Iesus and that we are receiued into Gods fauour by the imputation of his righteousnes then we must be perswaded of his fatherly prouidence watching ouer vs for good and that he hauing giuen his sonne Christ Iesus vnto vs will with him giue vs all things needefull for vs and that there beeing a kingdome prouided for vs in heauen much more are wee heyres of this worlde which faith that wee might be confirmed and strengthened in we must not onely barely acquaint our selues with the promises of the worde wherein hee testified and shewed all these thinges vnto vs but also marke his fatherly dealing with vs from time to time wherein he hath confirmed the truth of these promises vnto vs. Moreouer concerning this matter this is an especiall meanes to bring vs to a contented minde if in worldly things we neuer propound too high an estate to our selues neither looke for great matters of this life but set a meane condition before our eyes as Iacob did Gen. chap. 28. 20. If God will be with me and keepe me in this iourney which I goe and will giue me bread to eate and clothes to put on so that I come againe to my fathers house in safetie c. with words proceeding from the trueth of his heart not purposing to dissemble with God did declare a maruelous contented minde if we consider who it was that spake it First of all the graundchilde of that mightie Abraham who was able to reske we his kinsman Lot with three hundred and eighteene souldiers borne and brought vp in his house Gen. chap. 14. vers 14. and who was so rich that the land in which he soiourned was not able to beare them cap. 13. 6. Then he was the onely heyre of that rich Isaak who dwelling in Gerar sowed and found by estimation an hundred fold and was exceeding rich cap. 26. 12 13. and was so blessed that the king of the land was afraid of him v. 28. Thirdly it was he who was so blessed in all earthly and heauenly things by his father in the chap. going before and was confirmed in the same againe in this very chap. v. 1. 3. and last of all was established in the faith of it by the Lord himselfe v. 17. After all so many and great things which might haue made him looke a loft what a minde had he that desireth 〈◊〉 meate and drinke and clothes especially in so long a time of absence from his friends for he knewe well the cause of his owne departure euen the cruel rage of his brother which could not be appeased but in a long time And this is so much the more worthie to be considered if we reade the text as some of the learned translatours doe namely when the Lorde shall haue bene with me shall haue kept me in this way by the which I am to goe and shall haue giuen me bread to eate and clothes to put on and to be short when the Lord shall haue bin my God then this heape of stones which I haue set up for a pillar shalbe Gods house c. wherein as hee doth not tie Gods favour to the aboundance of these outward things but confesseth that he may be mercifull unto him yea in a meane estate so this mercie of God he desiring aboue all is contented that the Lord should shew it unto him which way it pleaseth him if it be but in meate and drinke and clothes So our Sauiour Christ hath taught us to pray for our daily bread by which though he meane all things needefull for this life yet in naming bread he sheweth us what meane things we should looke for whereunto agreeth the prayer of the wise man Proverb 30. 9. Giue me not pouertie nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me and the exhortation of the Apostle 1. Timoth. 6. 8. When we haue foode and raiment let us be contented therewith which that we might so much the more earnestly labour to attaine unto let us consider how God hath alvvaies blessed them that haue looked for small matters and punished them that haue had aspiring mindes resisting the proud and giuing grace to the humble Dauid when hee was accused of treason against the king truly protesteth of himselfe Psalme 131. Lorde mine heart is not havvtie neither are mine eyes loftie neither haue I walked in great matters which are to high for me And when Saul in pollicie offered his daughter unto him to be his wife that by that meanes he might be destroyed of the Philistines he answered VVhat am I that I should be sonne in law to the king 1. Sam. 18. 18. and when it was further urged upon him he said Seemeth it a small thing unto you to be the kings son in law v. 23. yet afterwards God made him King But Adoniah Absolon both of them afterwards aspiring unto the kingdom by the punishments which God brought upon thē were made spectacles of so great ambition to the posteritie Mordecai in time of the captivitie having well deserued of the king Hest 2. 22. sought not ambitiously to preferre himselfe but serving still faithfully in his former estate was highly aduanced at the last cap. 6. Contrariwise Haman swelling with pride like a toade as it appeareth in many places of that story was at the last brought to that great shame confusion which deseruedly fell upon him And that we might in all persons consider the truth of this we shall find that if they haue no other punishment of God upō them yet they haue this which is no small one restles minds unquiet spirits For besides that the mind of man is insatiable there is no worldly thing so great but mans desire is greater therfore when he hath this that still he desires more is not satisfied we must remember that great things are very rare hard to be attained unto therfore we like to misse of them and so the mind must needs still be unquiet So the other if they haue no other blessing yet they shall haue this quiet spirits contented minds which is an especiall grace For besides that smal meane things are especially promised of God and are most common in the world therefore most like to be attained unto and so the desire soonest satisfied the

that which wee can not greatly conceiue of our selues and euery thing shall be unspeakeable For no doubt those men that we spake of before euen at those times when they could not tell what and hovv to pray as of them-selues yet the spirite helping them they did pray and there were at least vnspeakeable sighes and grones stirred up in them For it is said of Hezekiah that hee then turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lorde and wept sore 2. Kings 20. 2 3. and Dauid vvhen as in his owne feeling hee did but roare and sigh euen then he poured out that very plentifully his whole desire before the Lord Psal 38. and when he did but mourne and make a noise it was counted a prayer before the Lord Psal 55. 2. and when as he saith that his grouings were like the Pelicans the sparrows or the shriekings of an owle yet to shew that in them there was a worke of Gods spirite that made them acceptable to him he beginneth the Psalme thus O Lorde heare my prayers and let my cry come unto thee So it is saide of the whole Church of God in Egypt Exod 2. 23. 24. that vvhen for the extremitie of their bondage they could not pray unto God yet they cryed and sighed and mourned unto him This then is a most notable cōfort in all afflictions that beleeuing in Christ and pertaking of his spirit it shall helpe vs in all our infirmities so that when we can not tell what or how to pray as we ought it shall teach us so to doe it as wee may haue hope and comfort of being heard For this is that which he addeth that the Lord which searcheth the heart knoweth the meaning of his owne spirit for it maketh request to him for the Saintes according to his will for by knowing he doth not only meane that he understandeth it as he doth all other things but he accepteth and alloweth it and doeth most willingly graunt such requestes as though they were made in farre better liking to our selues and so is the word taken Psalm 1. 6. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous For he heard the crie of the Israelites when they did but sigh moane deliuered them from the bondage he heard Hezekiah chattering in his prayer raised him vp from death added 15. yeres more to his life he heard David roaring for the extremitie of his paine and forgaue the punishment of his sinne and he hath heard us many times in our greatest need when wee haue howled and cried rather then haue made any setled and well ordered prayer yea when we haue rather sighed then spoken For the Lord in this case regardeth not so much the multitude of wordes as hee looketh to the meaning of his spirite and graunteth that though we speake neuer a worde For euen as a father hauing a yong Infant sicke of some sore disease though the child can speak neuer a worde is ready to helpe it and if it can speake yet being full of paine can not call for things as it ought yet if the mother can but by any signes gesse at the meaning of it shee will accept as much of it as if it had spoken very plentifully yea though it should say one thing and meane another she would giue it according to the meaning of it So the Lord that is filled with the bowels of compassion towardes us in Christ farre aboue any father or mother though he delighteth to heare vs pray unto him yet when as by the extremitie of our miseries we are oppressed or distracted so that we can not in any orderly maner pray unto him as we ought he alloweth of the sighes and sobbes that wee offer vp unto him and graunteth not so much our words which are none or fewe as the meaning of his spirite which is plentifull in vs. Hereupon it commeth to passe that the Lord in his rich mercy imputeth not unto his servants the manifold rebellions of the flesh or great complaints in their prayers as not unto Iob or to David who vvere full of them because he hath respect vnto the meaning of his spirite in them euen as the father is not so much greeued or offended with the murmurings impatience and outcries of his poore sicke childe as he by the least token gesseth at the meaning of him and taketh that in good part What shall we then say to these things is it true indeed that the Lord wil vouchsafe to looke vpon the lowe degree of his servants and haue respect unto poore sinnefull creatures who when they are in their iust deserued miserie and euen then cannot pray vnto him one worde aright and when they beginne to speake and their tongue cleaueth unto the roofe of their mouth that he vvill then heare their sighes and their cries yea undoubtedly he that of his great mercie will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor breake in sunder the bruised reede will of the like mercie heare not only the well ordered prayers of his Church but euen the very cryings and roarings of his seruants though they be like the Pellicanes and the Owles yea their mournings though they be like unto the Doues yea when they say nothing neither indeede can their verie lobbes and sighes which come from the aboundance of a troubled Spirite and can not be expressed for he alloweth of the meaning of his spirit which worketh those things in them and if they could are willing thereby to perfourme better seruice unto him What can be more comfortable vnto vs then this In all our necessities let us then with great boldnesse goe vnto the Lord by Christ and though we cannot utter many wordes yet 〈◊〉 vs speake vnto him for surely the acceptation of our praiers consisteth not in the multitude or well placing of our wordes but in the request of our hearts and therefore if we can pray but two wordes and say with the Publicane Lorde be mercifull vnto me a sinner with the Apostles Lord increase my faith or with the blind man O sonne of David haue mercie upon me or with the Theefe on the crosse Lorde remember me this shorte thing proceeding from the spirite in vs and offered up in the mediation of Christ Iesus and in the vertue of his praiers shall be as well receiued of him when we can doe no otherwise as if we had spent an whole houre in praier and if we can not doe this yet if we lift up our mindes unto God as Hannah did who spake neuer a worde and as Nehemiah did yea if we doe but sigh after an unspeakeable manner the Lorde will not refuse that Vers 28. Also we know that all things worke together c. Wherein the Apostle proceeding to comfort us in afflictions ministreth this soueraigne medecine against the contagion thereof namely that all affliction come to the beleeuers not for their hurt but for their singular good seeing that they doe befall them not

whether it be simply vnlawfull for a man to desire any thing that hee wanteth and to wish that his estate were bettered or whether he must alwaies remaine in one estate I answer it is lawfull for vs to desire and pray for as many things as we want and God hath promised but in that maner that he hath promised them Therefore whereas he hath first of all promised vs the forgiuenes of our sinnes his fauour and euerlasting life and these be the greatest thinges in the worlde wee may nay wee ought to desire our owne saluation and all the meanes of it both first of all and with the greatest desire that may be and here we neede not to feare any excesse For we must hunger and thirst after the righteousnes of Christ Iesus Matt. 5. 6. and as newe borne babes desire the sincere milke of the worde euen so earnestly as they doe desire their mothers milke 1. Pet. 2. 2. Wee must desire the publike assemblies of Gods people euen as the hart desireth the water brookes in the heate of summer when he is chased Psal 42. 1. And we must long to be present at Gods seruice euen to our fainting which is the propertie of longing Psal 84. 2. And it were a sinne not to haue these great affections in vs vnto them But all outward thinges as they be promised vnto vs euen as they shall further vs in these things and make vs more fit to glorifie Gods holy name and in the second place so we must desire them but to these endes especially and all our affections vnto them must be in a second degree neither aboue nor equall with the former Therefore first of all we must desire them as it is the will of God to bestow vpon vs and as he in his wisedome doth better knowe then our selues what will make vs most fit to serue him which will of his is first reuealed vnto vs in his word in that the thinges be honest and lawfull in their owne nature in so much that we may neuer desire any vnlawfull thing for it is not his will to giue vs that Secondly in all outward things that be lawfull for we speake of them I shall know whether it be the will of God to bestowe this vpon me or no or whether as it is good in it owne nature so he seeth it to be good for me now by the ordinarie meanes he giueth me to bring it to passe and by blessing of the means for ordinarily he worketh by meanes in so much that if I desire a thing and he denie me all meanes to compasse it or maketh not the meanes to prosper with me then I am assured it is not the will and pleasure of almightie God to bestow it vpon me yet it is not the time this is not the place or meanes whereby he will bestow it vpon me here I must stay my desire but when I see the Lord both to offer and blesse the meanes whereby I conclude it his will that it should be so or whilst I see it and so am in no doubt of it I must take heede that my desire or my affection vnto it be not ouer great and that I be not like the people in consuming and pining away with the desire of it and as Ahab and Ammon were sicke of their vnlawfull desires we must take heede of these vnlawfull desires so much the more carefully because they alwaies bring with them the abuse of the things we desire For as the people did inordinately desire any foode saue Man so when they had it they glutted themselues therewith as Psal 78. 29. So they did eate were filled for he gaue thē their desire they were not turned from their lust but the meate was yet in their mouthes when the wrath of God came vpon them Where he noteth their behauiour that they did not onely eate but stuffed themselues till they were full and they satisfied their lust and like bruit beasts as their perswation of the things was vnreasonable so their affection to them was intemperate and the vse of them vnlawfull And this must needes follow it for besides that our owne affections if they be not ruled by Gods spirit are headie and strong and readie to blinde our vnderstāding it is the iust iudgement of God vpon vs in punishing our vnlawfull desires to suffer vs to fall into the abuse of the things Therefore as we must alwaies desire the things here belowe but in that measure that we should so we must pray vnto God that together with them he would teach vs the right vse of them we must not imagine that if we had them we should be happy and blessed but pray the Lord that we may haue thē with his fauour and blessing and that by abusing of them we neuer offend his maiestie This we finde to be true in all the commodities of this life by experience he that ambitiously seeketh honour is proud when he hath it and knoweth not howe to vse it the couetous man as he careth not how he comes by his riches so he cannot tell how to spend them the voluptuous man as his desire is vnsatiable so in his pleasure he obserueth no circumstances of time place person or end but onely satisfieth his lust Therefore though to haue these outward benefits be a singular blessing of God yet rightly to vse them is a speciall grace proper to his children that aske it of him And the abuse of things is so much the more carefully to be looked vnto because the Lord though he satisfied their vnsasaiable desire to the full Num. 11. 19 20. yet for all that and for the abuse that followed vpon it he sent a most grieuous plague among them v. 33. And in deede these two as they be most vsually ioyned together so the Lord doth many waies punish them for as concerning our inordinate desires euen that is the thing many times that hindreth vs from obtaining the desires for though in all heauenly things the more earnestly wee desire thē the sooner we haue thē yet in earthly things this only hindreth vs frō thē or at least wise causeth thē to be deferred that we haue thē not so soone as otherwise we might whereby the Lord correcteth our desires teacheth vs more earnestly to desire heauēly things or els if the Lord do giue vs the things that we thus desire together with it he sendeth some grieuous affliction as vpon this people here And afterwardes the same people when they would needes haue a King could not be dissuaded to the cōtrarie the Lord gaue them one in his wrath but it was a cruell Saul And there is great reason of this in all things for besides that the desire it selfe is worthie to be punished vnreasonable desires many times doe make vs to vse vnlawfull meanes to haue them satisfied both which when they be ioyned with the abuse of the thing must needes prouoke the Lord so much