Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	day_n	people_n	word_n	11,847	5	3.9748	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90268	God's presence with a people, the spring of their prosperity; with their speciall interest in abiding with Him. A sermon, preached to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, at Westminster, Octob. 30. 1656. A day of solemn humiliation. / By John Owen, D.D. a servant of Jesus Christ, in the work of the Gospel. Printed by Order of Parliament.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1656 (1656)	Wing O757; Thomason E891_4; ESTC R206508	24,955	44

to them And that this is principally here intended is evident from that use that Asa made of this Information and Exhortation of the Prophet He did not onely look to his personall walking thereupon but also immediately set upon the work of ordering the whole affairs of the Kingdom so as God might be glorified thereby how this may be effected shall at large afterward be declared what hath already been spoken may suffice for a foundation of that proposition which I shall this day insist upon and it is this The presence of God with a people in special providential dispensations for their good depends on their obediential presence with him in national administrations to his Glory The Lord is with you whilst you are with him For the Explication of this proposition some few things are to be premised First the presence of God with his people as to special grace in the Covenant and his presence with them as to special assistance in providence proceed on very different accounts First they have a very different Rise the foundation and principal Law of special grace dispensed in the Covenant is this that some sinned and another was punished So it is laid down expresly Isa. 53. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath made to meet on him the iniquity of us all 2 Cor. 5. 21. He was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him Gal. 3. 13. 14. a Curse for us that the blessing of faithful Abraham might come on them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 24. This is the great and soveraign principle of the Covenant of Grace that a Commutation should be made of persons as to punishments and rewards that sinners should be provided of a substitute one that should undergoe the punishment due to them that they might goe free and procure a reward for them who could procure none for themselves Now the Supreme and soveraign Law of providential dispensations is utterly divers and alien from this of the Covenant of grace This you have asserted Ezek. 18. 20. The soul that sinneth it shall die one shall not bear the iniquity of another the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him Take this for a Law of Universal Right and indispensable extend it to the Covenant of Grace and it is absolutely Exclusive of the Substitution and satisfaction of Christ But it is the Ground Rule and Law of providential dispensations that God is there treating about and vindicating his dealing with any people as to his presence with them and acting towards them therein which is divers as you see from the foundation of the Covenant before mentioned Secondly As the foundations are divers so is the Rule of their Continuance What is the Rule and measure of Gods continuance with his people in the Covenant of Grace plainly this that he will never forsake them and on that account will take care that they shall never forsake him but abide with him for ever It is not whilst they do so and so he will abide with them and when they Cease so to doe he will forsake them as to his foederal and Covenant presence there is not such a sandie foundation left us of our abiding with God in Christ See the tenor of the Covenant Jer. 31. 33. Chap. 32. 38 39 40. The sum is that God will be with them and take care that they alwayes abide with him and therefore hath he provided for all interveniences imaginable that nothing shall violate this Union God lays his unchangableness as the foundation of the Covenant Mal. 3. 6. and he therein makes us unchangable not absolutely so for we change every moment but with respect to the termes and bounds of the Covenant He hath undertaken that we shall never leave him The Law of Gods presence in respect of providential dispensations and all special priviledges attending it is quite of another importance it is purely conditional as you may see in my Text The tenor of it is expressed to the height 1 Sam. 2. 30. I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy Father should walk before me for ever but now the Lord saith that be farr from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Here is no alteration of Counsel or purpose in God but meerly an explanation of the Rule Law and Tenor of providential dispensations no interpretation of the Covenant of Grace Eli held not the priesthood by that Covenant but an explication of the tenor of a priviledge given in especial providence Psal. 89. 32 33. Hence is that variety of Gods dealings with men mentioned in the Scripture which yet are alwayes righteous according to one or other of these Rules and Laws Isa. 43. 23. 24. says God of his people Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel Thou hast not brought me the small cattel of thy burnt-offerings neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities What then shall be done with this people depart from them destroy them let them dye No verse 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins So also Chap. 57. ver. 17. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart Surely now God will utterly consume them root and branch as persons incorrigible and irrecoverable No the Case is quite otherwise verses 18 19. I have seen his way and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comfort to him I will pity him pardon him save sanctify him and fill him with Consolation Goe now to Ezekiel Chap. 33. 18. When the righteous turns from his righteousness what then God will heal him and restore comforts unto him as it was in the places before mentioned Noe Noe He shall die he shall be cut off what is the reason of this diversity Why in the first place God speaks of his dealings unto their souls as to his Covenant of Grace and all the mercies of it in this last as to his dealing with their persons and their outward concernments in the dispensations of his providence And the not heeding hereof hath made some pronounce inconsiderately the Covenant of Grace to be meerely conditional because they finde many mercies and priviledges spoken of under such a Notion not considering that all those proposals belong to the Law of outward providence and not to the nature of the Covenant of promise established in the bloud of Christ And

in Gods special presence He is with us to give us direction in all our undertakings to take away darkness perplexities difficulties from our Councels or to cause us to rest and cease from what-ever may come into our hearts that is not according to his minde The Lord give us evermore of this his presence I cannot stay to shew you the several wayes whereby God now communicates direction to a people how he inclines their hearts insensibly yet powerfully fixes the bent of their spirits effectually their hearts being in his hand as the rivers of water which he turns as he pleaseth supplys them with reasonings and consultations beyond the verge of their own wisdome proposes occasions invitations provocations gives them Spirit and courage beyond their natural frames and tempers enlarges them in prayer or shuts them up makes walls on the one hand and open pathes on the other with innumerable such wayes and means as in his infinite wisdome he is pleased to make effectual for their guidance It suffices that in the use of means through patience and waiting upon him they shall be directed to that which is pleasing to him so is he with them The second use of this pillar was to give them protection and defence in all their way So Exod. 14. 19 20. 24. This protected them from the Egyptians and from thence God troubled their Enemies out of the pillar that is from his especial presence This use of it is insisted on Isa. 4. 5. 6. The cloud that was as smoke by day and as fire by night was also a shadow a place of refuge and a covert in one word a protection or a defence And this is a second thing which is in Gods special presence He will protect or defend them with whom he is so present He is their dwelling place Psal. 90. then when in this world they had none their refuge in the time of trouble So Isa. 25. 4. 26. 1. 31. 4. promises and instances to make this good abound they are known to all The time would fail me to insist upon them I might go over all the Causes means and wayes of the fears dangers ruines of such a people and shew you how a defence is provided against them all Are their fears from themselves because of their folly weaknesse and division or from pretended friends because of their envy and desertion or from open enemies because of their Power Cruelty Malice and Revenge a defence is provided on every account heat raine tempests stormes adversitie prosperitie all are provided against where God is present Isa. 32. 1 2. And if any people in the world have experience of this truth we have it this day Had not the Lord been with us who had not destroyed us Enemies friends abroad at home our own follyes all any of them had done the worke had not the Lord himself been with us Onely observe that the presence of God as to these effects may sometimes in some perticulars be eclipsed and the Effects themselves for some season be intangled though there be not an utter breach between him and his People How often did the Israelites attempt things without his direction how often did he breake in upon them to their woe and sorrow yet for the maine he forsooke them not untill the great work intended by them was accomplished Nehem. 9. 19. It is not every intanglement every disappointment every defeat that argues Gods departure as to his speciall presence It may be good for us sometimes to be in such a Condition and then that desertion that carries into it is from the presence of God We are now grown to that that if every thing immediately surmount not our imagination say some God is gone from them not because it is so but because they would have it so but he is Mercifull with whom we have to doe and will not cast off his People for ever Secondly The People with whom God was had the Glory of Jehovah as a pledge of his presence with them this appeared only at extraordinary seasons so it did at the giving of the Law Exod. 24. 16. so also at the setting up of the Tabernacle It differed from the cloud for when the cloud was upon the Tabernacle the glory of the Lord filled it It appeared again to all the People Levit. 9. 23. I shall not now enquire what was this visible representation of the Majestie of God it sufficeth as to the purpose in hand that when God gives his presence to a People at extraordinary seasons he affords them extraordinary manifestations of his Glory So in Ezekiels Vision of those dreadfull wheeles of Providence the glory of the Lord is said to appeare in the Temple and as his Especiall presence departed from the Temple and the Citie so the glory by severall degrees departed also Chap. 2. 10. 18 19. Chap. 11. 23. Eminent and glorious appearances with and for a People in extraordinary seasons is then another thing that accompanies Gods speciall providentiall presence with them when they are at an utter loss in their Counsels at a stand in their Motions disappointed in their undertakings deserted in their enterprises pressed on every side above measure or called to some extraordinary worke so that their Ordinary direction and protection will not carry them on nor beare them up then will God relieve them by some especiall appearance of his Glory In the Mount will the Lord be seen This will give a reliefe when all is at a losse And in this lies the most discriminating evidence of speciall Providence Glorious appearances in great streights are eminent testimonies of Gods regard Could I now insist on some of the instances that might be given of this kind of dealing with us in England in the pursuit of the Cause we have in hand it would make us ashamed of all our unworthinesse carnall fears and unbeliefe This is the second Evidence of Gods presence He is with a People to direct them to protect to manifest his glory amongst them His glory in ballancing the Issues of Providence one in respect of another so that all shall acknowledge that of a truth the Lord is amongst them Blessed is the People that is in such a Case yea blessed is the People whose God is the Lord What would you have more here is ease of all cares a remedy for all sores securitie in the midst of troubles Rest and Peace and assured dwelling places though the Assyrian should bee in the Land Thus you see what is this great Concernment of any People Let us now consider the tenure of this Blessedness on what account it is to be obteined or enjoyed now this is our abiding with God This then is nextly to be considered what it is for a People what it is for you and us so to abide with God as that wee may in all our affaires enjoy his presence in the wayes before described Now something is hereunto previously required something it consists

GOD'S Presence with a People THE Spring of their Prosperity With Their speciall Interest in abiding with Him A SERMON Preached to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Octob. 30. 1656. A Day of Solemn Humiliation By JOHN OWEN D. D. a servant of JESUS CHRIST in the work of the Gospel Printed by Order of Parliament LONDON Printed by R. N. for Philemon Stephens at the gilded Lion in Pauls Church yard 1656. Friday the 31. of Octob. 1656. ORdered by the Parliament That the thanks of this House be given unto Dr. OWEN Dean of Christ-Church and Vicechancellor of the University of Oxon for his great paines taken in his Sermon preached before this House yesterday in Magarets Church Westminster being a day set apart for Solemne Fasting and Humiliation and that he be desired to print his Sermon And that he have the like priviledge in Printing thereof as hath been formerly allowed to others in like Cases And Major Generall Kelsey is desired to give him the thanks of this House accordingly Hen. Scobell Clerk of the Parliament To the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions thereunto belonging Sirs MY hope that some Impression may possibly remain upon your hearts and spirits of and from the things delivered unto you in the ensuing Sermon make me willing unto the obedience of presenting it unto you upon your command in this manner Were I not perswaded that your peace interest and concernment is expressed therein and knew not with what simplicity of heart you were minded thereof I should have chosen on many accounts to have waved this duty But having now performed what is incumbent on me to render this service useful recommending it yet further to the Grace of God I humbly beg that it may not in this return unto you be looked on as a thing of course and so laid aside but be reviewed with that intension of spirit which is necessary in duties of this importance whereby you may manifest that your command unto this service was grounded on a sense of some advantage to be made by that performance of it Sundry things I confess that were spoken unto you are gone beyond my recovery having had their rise from the present assistance which God was pleased to afford in the management of the worke it self The sum of what was provided before hand and no otherwise without the least addition is here presented unto you with hearty desires that the vision of the truth herein considered may be to them that love you and the accomplishment thereof be found in the middest of you So prayes Your humblest Servant in our dear Lord Jesus John Owen Novemb 17. A Sermon Preached to the PARLIAMENT of England at their Publick Fast held the 30. of Octob. 1656. 2 CHRON. 15. 2. And he went out to meet Asa and said unto him Heare ye mee Asa and all Judah and Benjamin the Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you But if ye forsake him he will forsake you IT will not I am sure seem strange to any that I have taken a Text to Preach on in a Day of Humiliation out of a Thanksgiving Sermon such as this discourse of Azariah seems to be if they shall but consider the suitablenesse of the Instruction given therein to any great and solemn occasion whether of Humiliation or rejoycing The words indeed are the summe of all directions that in such Cases can be given the standard of all Rules and Exhortations wherein any Nation or people in any Condition are or may be Concerned so plainly measuring out our fate and lot the Event and Issue of our Affairs with all the great undertaking of the people of God in this Nation that of themselves I hope they will make some passage to the hearts of them to whom the Inferences from them shall this day be applyed In the foregoing Chapter we haue an account of a great victory that Asa and the people of Judah fighting in faith and with prayer obtained against the huge host of the Aethiopians with the abundant spoyles which they took and carried away thereupon In their Triumphant return to Hierusalem the spirit of God stirs up a Prophet to goe out and meet them to give them an account of the rise and cause of their success and direction for their future deportment under the injoyment of such mercies and deliverances The Lord knows how apt even the best of men are to forget the spring of their mercies how negligent in making suitable returns by a due improvement of the advantages put into their hands unto the Lord of all mercies Therefore are they in all seasons to be minded of their proper interest and duty This is done in my Text to Asa and Judah by Oded and I desire in my Sermon that it may with the same spirit and the same success be done by me unto you The words I intend principally to insist on having the same thing for substance three times repeated in them the opening of the first clause with the general tendency of the whole will suffice as to their Exposition and the grounding of that general proposition which I shall improve Two things are then principally to be inquired into First what it is for God to be with any people Secondly what it is for a people to be or abide with God and according to the Analogie of these two the following Assertions of seeking the Lord and forsaking him will be easily understood For though the words differ in expression yet they are all of the same way of Assertion They are 3 hypothetical propositions or promissory assertions on supposition If you abide with the Lord he will be with you if you seek the Lord he will be found of you if you forsake the Lord he will forsake you The same matter is trebled for the fuller and surer confirmation of the thing Asserted Only whereas the last proposition supposeth a thing possible namely that they might forsake the Lord the first supposes a thing present and therefore it is so expressed whilst you are with him because they had abode with God in their late war and triall Before I enter upon the opening of the words themselves I cannot pass by the Earnest Preface of the Prophet Hear ye me O Asa he saw the people upon their success taken up with many thoughts thinking of many businesses full of many contrivances one imagening one thing another another all of them it may be how they should use and improve their peace and success to their Advantage Interest Profit or Security Or the Princes and Rulers as it is probable and usual in such cases might be considering how to carry on their victory how to make the best advantage of it in their dealing with Neighbour Princes and Nations in making peace or warr In the midst of these thoughts the Prophet meets