Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A01027
|
A fruitfull sermon made by the reverend and learned Mr. Iohn Forbes. Pastour of the English company of merchants adventures at Delft. Published by some of his flock out of sincere affection for common good
|
Forbes, John, 1568?-1634.
|
1626
(1626)
|
STC 11130; ESTC S116489
|
28,013
|
106
|
recreation of the flesh and had rather loose the opportunity of gayning Christ in a sermon then fayle to accomplish the least desire of their sinfull hearts in fulfilling the lusts of the flesh whose judgment must needs bee heavy and greivous before God seing willingly they choose death with the contempt of life And thus much for the points of tryall now followes the fourth point which is the argument it self whereby the Apostle enforceth them to acknowledge that Christ in his ministry was not weake towards theÌ„ but mighty in them which may be fully gathered after this manner in 2 several arguments the first whereof is containd in the preceding words in this forme If ye by tryall find yourselves to be in the faith and Christ in you theÌ„ must ye acknowledg that Christ is not weake but mighty in my ministry towards you but by tryall ye shall find that you are in the faith and Christ in you therefore yee must acknowledge Christ to bee mighty in my ministry toward you The 2. Argument is the coÌ„firmation of the 2 part of this that is that by tryall they shall find themselves in the faith and Christ in them after this maÌ„ner eyther ye must find your selvs in the faith Christ in you or theÌ„ ye must bee reprobate ChristiaÌ„s but wee confidently trust yee shall find yee are not reprobate ChristiaÌ„s therefore ye must find yourselvs to bee in the faith and Christ in you Al the 3 parts of this argument may be easily gathered out of the Apo. words for the proposition is plaine in the 5 verse the assumtion or 2 part is set downe in termes equivalent in the 6 verse the conclusion is implyed in the Apostles urged interrogation what c. in the 5 verse of which conclusion we haue spoken already touching the assumption or 2 part we are not to speake so it rests that we only entreat of the proposition or first part which seemes at the first to be a difficile and hard saying but yet is most certaine true for if that senteÌ„ce of the Apo. be marked which is set downe in the 13 of the Acts to wit that all they who were ordeyned to eternall life beleeved we shall finde that the Apo. reasons according to the truth of the Gospell that it followes necessarily that whosoeuer by the true ministry of the Gospell are not made to believ to embrace Christ must bee of the noÌ„ber of those whom God never ordeynd to eternall life this is cleare by 2 places of scripture besides many other the 1. is in the Epistle to Tytus Cap. 1. verse 1. where the Apostle calls faith the faith of Gods elect which is as much as to tell us not onely that the Gospell begets faith in none but such only as are elected but also that it doth beget faith in every one that is elected The 2 is in the Gospell of Ioh. 10 26 27 viz. But ye beleeue not because ye are not of my sheepe as I said unto you for my sheepe heare my voyce I know them and they follow mee this is coÌ„firmed by the words of Christ in the 6 of Iohn verse 35 36 37. he that beleeveth in mee shall never thirst but I sayd unto you that ye also haue seene mee and beleeue not all that the father giveth me shall come unto me where he playnely affirmeth the cause why they did not beleeue to be because the father had not given theÌ„ unto him or which is equivalent because they were not of his sheepe both which phrases import asmuch as that they wer none of Gods elect so that wee may conclude in the very words of the Apo. answering this demand hath God cast away his people what then saith the Apostle Israell hath not abtayned that he sought but the election hath obtayned it the rest haue bene hardned Out of all which wee are plainely taught by God that in whom the Gospell truely preached worketh no faith in whom by faith it planteth not Christ they must be reprobats hereby we learn that tho Gospell preached is the fan of Christ by which in this life he maketh a division of the chaffe from the corn severeth those whom the father hath given him from the wicked and such as are forsaken of God what then have they to boast of who vilipending the Gospell ministry thereof as foolishnes do therby testify against themselves that they are reprobats but wisdom is justified of her owne children for whomsoever the Gospell begetteth they do acknowledg it to be both the wisdom power of God unto salvation to them the feete of those that publish it are beautifull To conclude this point we may justly dispise those dispysers al their contempt of our ministry seing it doth no hurt to us nor our blessed ministry but doth discover them to us although not to theÌ„selvs that they are rejected of God for if the Apo. conclude aright in the first Epist 1 Chap. to the Thes that he knew that they were elected of God because his Gospell was unto them not in word onely but also in power doth not also this conclusion stand on the contrary that they are not elect of God to whoÌ„ the Gospell is onely in word not in power the words of Peter do demonstrate the truth of this matter plainly when he setteth downe this different judgmeÌ„t of men touching Christ Iesus our faviour saying unto you therefore which beleeve it is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of corner a stone to stumble at Rocke of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient unto the which thing they were even ordayned We need no clearer evideÌ„ce therefore to make knowne unto us who are elect who are reprobate forsaken of God but this even the judgmeÌ„t estimation of every man concerning the Gospell ministry thereof What shall we say then of this miserable age wherein we do live in which there be so few that make any accompt at all of the blessed word of God messengers of Christ who of all men are couÌ„ted the basest their calling the most contemptible O Germany Germany this is the cheiffest cause of thy preseÌ„t misery that thou above all natioÌ„s art coÌ„tinually troad upoÌ„ because of all nations thou didst most basely esteem of Christs servaÌ„ts use them in most slavish manner Lord upon the eies of these Provinces wher we dwell that seing theÌ„selvs guilty of the same offence they may in tyme preveÌ„t the lyke judgment upon the like sin by unfained amendemeÌ„t surely we may say that there is no hope of delivery for the one nor of farther blessing to the other from God untill this iniquity be redressed oh that they wold give us occasioÌ„ with coÌ„fideÌ„ce to pray to God for his mercie to them boldly to say to him thou wilt aryse have mercy upon Zion for the tyme to have mercy theroÌ„ for the appoynted time is coÌ„e for thy servaÌ„ts delight in the stones thereof have pity on the dust therof certainly that promise of the Lord in his prophet I say is coÌ„stantely true viz. that in the day whâ—â— the bud of the Lord shal be beautifull glorious the 〈…〉 shal be excellent 〈…〉 that day the Lord 〈…〉 every place of mouÌ„t Zion 〈…〉 assemblies thereof a cloud smoke by day the shyning of a flameing fyre by night for upon all the glory shal be a defence a covering shal be for a shadow in the day for the heate a place of refuge a covert for the storm and for the raine And now beloved I end with this warning from that same prophet to you to them and al the churches of God if thou turn away thy foote froÌ„ the sabbath from doing thy will on myne holy day call the sabbath a delight to coÌ„secrate it â—s glorious to the Lord and shalt honour him not doing thyn owne wayes not seeking thyn own will nor speaking a vain word then shalt thou delight in the Lord and I will 〈…〉 to mount upon the high places of the earth feed thee with the 〈…〉 vid thy father 〈…〉 Lord hath 〈…〉 AMEN 2. Cor. 2. 14. 2. Cor. 12. 13. 2. Cor. 12. 11. 2. Cor. 10 Cap 1 10. vers 2. Cor. 13 9. 2. Cor. 12. 11. Deut. 19. vers 15. Cor. 2. cap. 4. vers 7. 2. Cor 2. cap. 10. vers 4. 1 Cor. 1. cap. 3. vers 5 1 Cor. 1 24 Ibidem 18. 1. Iohn 4 1. Psal 34 8. 1 Pet. 2 2 â— Psal 19. 10. Rom. 10 15 Esai 52 7. Galat. 4 13 14 15. 1 Cor. 14. 32. 1. Io. 4 1. 1. Cor. 10. 4 5. Rom. 1 19. Ibidem 11 21. 1. Pet. 1 3 4 Rom. 5. 5. Habr 4. 12. Rom. 14 4. Mat. 7 12. 1 Cor. 4 3. Ibidem 11 30 38. 2 Thes 3 14 15. 2 Tim. 2 19 1. Cor 2 14 15. Heb. 11. 1. 1. Cor. 1 18 Cap. 53 1. Eâ—an Iohn 16 27. Iohn 17 6. 7 8. 1. Rom. 16. Mat. 6 20. Acts. 8 Mat. 13 47. Mat. 20 16 Rom. 14. 23 1. Cor. 1 30. 2. Tim. 1. 4. 5. Col. 1. 23. Ibidem 2 6 7. 2. Cor. 3. 5. Iohn 15. 5. Phil. 4. 13. Rom. 12. 3. Gen. 4 9. 1 Iohn 2 27 Iohn 1. 5. 9. 10. Dent. 19. 5. Iohn 14 20. 1. Pet. 2 7. 8. Isa â— 14. Isa ◠〈…〉 13.
examination The 2 is the subject or persons whom he willeth them to try Concerning the action it is not onely a commeÌ„dable but also a most necessary duety to be observed of every man before he pronounce sentence or passe his iudgment upoÌ„ anie thing but speciallie upon the things of God his worship in his ordinances eyther in rejecting or admitting condemming or approoving for hereby wee are preserved not onely from that great sinne of sinistrous and rash judgement but also from that great follie that falleth in many of forsaking that which is for our good and embracing that which is for our hurt and so consequently are kept from doeing wrong both to our selves and others The truth hereof wee may evidently see in these Corinthians who dispised and contemned the blessed ministry of Paul who was the faithfull Apostle of Christ and did reverence and highlie esteeme the deceitfull ministers of Sathan onely because they neglected this examination and tryall and hereof also it coÌ„meth dayly to passe that many fall in that heavie sinne wherewith Christ upbraided the Iewes saying I am come in my fathers name and yee receave me not if another shall come in his owne name him ye will receave Happie therefore are they who follow the direction of the Aposile Io. In not beleeving every spirit but trying the spirits whether they bee of God or not For manie false prophets haue in former ages doe at this preseÌ„t shal hereafter goe out into this world The necessity of this action may yet farther be perceaued by the Apostles doubling of his exhortation saying Prooue yourselvs examine yourselvs whereby he inforceth them to this as a thing of great moment and most necessarie and therefore not to be neglected for it is the custome of the Apostles in things of this nature to use repetition that we may take them more deeply to hart and seriously practise them and surely there is not any one practise more necessarie in a christian then this of tryall and examination the neglecte whereof maketh many not onely to despise God his Gospell his ministers and his salvation all which they could not but highly esteeme of and desire aboue all things if once they would truly try and tast how good they are but also causeth manie in the ignorance of their owne estate either securely and proudly to boast of themselvs as children of grace when there is no grace in them or then in the miserable weaknesse of their owne hearts to deplore their lamentable estate as forlorne and forsaken of God whenas notwithstanding they injoy the solid testimonies of Gods favour towards them for this cause when the Psalmist would perswade men to seek after God and draw neare unto him he exhorteth them to tast and behold how gracious the Lord is whose goodnesse Peter also maketh to be the argument or condition either to perswade or to be required to moove men to desire the sincere milk of the word for questionlesse they that haue tasted and truly felte what is the goodnesse of God manifested by his word cannot but confesse with David that the Word of God is more to be desired than much fine gold sweeter also than the hony and the hony-comb For the very feete of those who publish peace and Preach good things are beautifull to all who haue felt the consolation of theire ministrye the truth whereof may be seene in the Galatians who as saith the Ap. himselfe did not despise the tryall of him which was in his flesh nether abhorred hiÌ„ whenas first he preached the Gospell unto theÌ„ through the infirmity of the flesh but upoÌ„ the falicity which they found in his miniâ—â—ry receaved him as an Angel of â—od yea as Christ Iesus so that if it â—â—d beene possible they would haue â—â—ucked out their eies and haue giâ—en them unto him For which â—ause the same Apostle when â—e willeth the Thessalonians â—ot to dispise prophesying immediatelie addes this exhortation to try all things keepe that â—hich is good as a meane to â—â—ing them to the loue desire â—nd estymatioÌ„ of prophesying â—or he knew that tryall and â—roofe would make dispisers â—o change their mind and â—ighlie to esteeme that which â—hey dispised before and this â—s the 1. Vse of the doubling of â—his exhortatioÌ„ The 2 use is to â—ew the Apostles assured confidence touching the certainty of that which he had affirmed of the mighty power of Christ in his ministry towards then when so earnestlie and instantly he urgeth them to the tryaâ— thereof in themselves referring the examination of the truâ— thereof to the same persons whâ— did seeke it in him For aâ—â— though the spirit of the propheâ— bee subject to the prophets yet noâ— withstanding the tryall whethâ—â— the spirits bee of God and whethâ—â— they speake in the evidency â— the spirit and power of God â— not is pertinent and belongeâ— in speciall maÌ„ner to the heareâ—â— whose feeling experience is thâ— most certaine testimony anâ— most infallible proofe of Chriâ—â— speaking in those ministeâ—â— whom they heare And therefore a Pastor may then moâ—â— justly boast of the power oâ— Christan his ministry when hâ— dare make his hearers his judges and refer himself to their tryall â—hich teacheth us also another â—â—sson to condemn that vaine â—rogancy foolish pride which â—ossesseth the harts of manie in â—â—ghly esteeming and vainely â—orying of their owne miniâ—â—â—y whenas the vertue valew â—ereof hath no testimony â—â—om the sence and experience â—f the hearers but from the â—ind conceyt of the teachers themselves For the Lord Iesus â—oth arme his messengers with â—e power and vertue of his â—â—irit from aboue not so much â—or their owne sake as for their â—earers in whom God will haue their ministry mighty powerâ—â—ll to cast down all strong houlds â—nd every high thing that is exalâ—â—d in their imaginations against â—he knowledge of God and to â—ubdue all their thoughts intents of their minds to the obedience Christ wee conclude therefoâ—â— this use with this warning to a preachers that seeing as theâ— are ministers the honour anâ— credit of their ministry coÌ„sisteâ— most in the power of God in â— towards others they doe nâ—â— glory nor boast of themselves iâ— respect of their ministry but according as the evidence of thâ— power thereof may be truelâ— testified by the conscience oâ— their hearers esteeming nothing eyther of their eloquence oâ— gifts of preaching how greaâ— soeuer they be in themselves wheÌ„ as they are without eyther force or power towards otherâ— seeing as sayth the Apostle Thâ— kingdome of God is not in woâ—â— but in power and therefore â—â— threatneth those false teacheâ— puft up at Corinth that when hâ— should come to try them he would take notice not of their words but of their power And this shall appeare more evidently by that 2 point which in this tryall is to bee observed who are the persons whom he willeth