Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	king_n	people_n	power_n	15,452	5	5.2145	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33953	A word in season to a distracted and troubled people, or, Some grounds tending to unity and a settling of the minds (in peace) of all those who are the sons of peace faithfully and tenderly presented in this our day of peace, though a day of trouble in many hearts, for the preventing (if possible it may be) the breakings forth of another war, or that if any such thing should be, yet that those who profess to follow the Lord may not be the causers of it / written by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1655 (1655)	Wing C5302; ESTC R24774	6,172	16

your want of wisdom but your weakness if not your wickedness to the whole world and it is the very high way to lose all 4. The Lords people should not be men of blood I am sure Religion doth not teach it but rather to seek the good of all to pray for all but to destroy none It cannot be imagined that the endeavouring to turn things upside down can be without the shedding of much blood therefore it s much better to rest thankful to God for what we have than to adventure such hazardous and bloody designs and it may be with loss of all the blood-thirsty and deceitfull man shall not live out half his daies Oh therefore manifest your selves all ye that fear the Lord to be men of Peace and not of War men willing to save but not to destroy manifest your selves to be what you would be esteemed by your self-denyal for the Lord will one day make inquisition for blood then blessed are they that are guiltless 5. It is appointment of the Lord and portion of his people rather to be suffering with Christ and for him thereby shewing themselves to be the children of a heavenly Father than to be ploting and conspiring how to make themselvs Lords of the world by endeavouring the undermining of others under what pretence soever in this particular wherein we are most like our Lord we endeavour to be at the farthest distance it is altogether unbecoming and I had almost said inconsistent with the State of a Christian to lay the foundation of his Liberty in the blood of others but rather to suffer with patience as a Christian unless called unto it by a lawful authority God hath given no rule as a form of Government to any people in the world but what he once did to Israel which is no binding rule to other Nations there is no man can from a direct rule in the Scriptures chalk out either Governours or a Government or the basis upon it should be infallibly founded that we may command say thou hast erred and transgressed such a rule but the Foundation of Government is in God and he pulleth down one and setteth up another as he pleaseth he will sometimes chastise a people by the insolencies of their Princes and he will sometimes chastise the Pride of Princes by their people so both of these 1 King 12.13 14 16. and all this is of the Lord. Hence it is that the Saints are exhorted to submit to magistrates because they are ordained of the Lord and the powers that be are ordained or ordered of God Rom. 13. and whosoever resisteth resisteth the Ordinance of God and if there be no Magisterial power but is ordained of God then the Magisterial Power and Authority of England is ordained of God be the form and method of it what it will yet while it is in being we ought to submit unto it Here have been several governments in this Commonwealth of late and all had their honour in their place and if more should arise those subjected under it ought to obey and not to seek deliverances by plottings and underminings but if it should be evil to wait on the Lord till he please to change it Ob. Then it had been the duty of all to have sate still in the beginning of the wars and not to have opposed the authority that then was Ans There was a visible face of authority viz. the Parliament calling for assistance and all the proceedings since have either had a visible face of a Magisterial authority countenancing it or of an overpowring presence of God subjecting all unto it but if any should arise to oppose the authority that now is or else there is none in England and of God too or else it should not be and I trust that it will answer Gods ends too in some measure but they that desire to begin new troubles have neither the face of authority to call them to it or countenance them in it nor any visible power of God manifest with them that any might suppose God calling them to such a work 7. The Lords people do yet enjoy more liberty under this Government than I do know any where promised in the Scriptures before the coming of Christ This I am sure that the Lord hath promised that in the world for his Sake we shall have tribulation but I do not know any promise of that liberty we now enjoy neither have I faith enough to believe that it will long continue unless the day of Christs glorious appearing be nearer at hand than some would have it Oh therefore be not so earnest after that which it may be thou canst not attain but be thankful Discontentedness is an evident discovery of unthankfulness it s that which doth altogether unfit men for thankfulness and indeed me thinks the mercies we enjoy at this day calls aloud for thanfulness and not so soon to forget his wonderous works the thoughts of what we now enjoy would have been in our distress a refreshing unto us O foolish people and unwise will ye thus requite the Lord for all his goodness to you as to involve our Land in blood again if you can Oh study thankfulness rather and how to improve the mercy you enjoy to the honour of God 8. Thankfulness to God for mercies received is the ready way to obtain more Oh therefore that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works done amongst us if any thing done by us may be a means by which God may continue our Liberty and increase our mercies it is our suitable and thankful walking in the enjoyment of mercy and if any thing as a means in us deprive us of what we now enjoy it t will be our unworthy and unthankful walking in the enjoyment of mercy for this sin God gives up men to vile affections Rom. 1.21 24. Oh set not your selves at a distance from mercy by trampling under foot the mercy you do or may enjoy 9. The cause of God in respect of civil liberty and also of religion is not so lost as some pretend as for Religion I need say no more than before as for civil Liberties propriety is maintained and if God see it good what is amiss in his time shall be set in order do not endeavour to force it but rather pray for it and wait with patience 10. Know that righteousness will never be set up in the World so fully as some desire it before the reign of the Righteous King viz. the personal appearing and reign of Christ those who do imagine a reign of Saints over the world before that day do deceive themselves therefore be less in looking after the Governors and Governments of this world and more in the expectation of him that shall rule the world in righteousness and shall break in pieces the Oppressors he that is the desire of his Saints and will answer all their wants 11. That as Christs Kingdom is not of this world no more should the Saints be if the Lord by his providence give power and authority into any of their hands they should use it to his praise but not impatiently hunt after it undermine others to attain it nor imbrue their hands in blood for the attaining of a Civil liberty especially being without authority to endeavour the doing of it in the undermining of the Authority established seek not too much after the Kingdoms of the world before the time as Christ is content without it in the manifestation so be ye also 12. If you suppose a wrong or an evil done by those in present power your duty is not to seek revenge but to leave it to the Lord who will judge every man according to his Works therefore avenge not your selves 13. It is the duty and should be the care of the Saints not to suffer as evil doers and busie bodies in other mens matters if they do so God will have no honor by it nor themselves comfort in it but if they suffer for wel-doing happy are they 1 Pet 4.14 15. 14. There is no promise of a blessing upon such a practise such an acting as seems to be in the minds of some have neither precept or president for it or promise unto and with what peace of conscience or expectation of a blessing they should under take it I know not therefore let such know they must repent and it may be when it is to late 15. Saints should so act and so walk as that they may be found of Christ in peace when be comes and not to be smiting one another or raising or making combustions in the world but rather to be doing the will of the Lord that Christ may say unto them when he comes well done good and faithful Servant and not so walk as to be accounted evil servants and unprofitable Servants their account will be sad 16. Suppose the Lord hath purposed to exalt this man who is now Lord Protector over these nations truly then all that will oppose must be broken in pieces and the actions of God speak very much this way whom God will exalt who can disthrone when God would make Nabuchadnezzar King over the World the Nations that would not submit unto him must be broken Jer. 27. Consider what I say and fear to oppose lest you fight against God 17. Let all honest men who fear the Lord rather submit unto the Government and join in with it and pray for it that so in its peaceable rule they may have peace and what they see amiss seek a reformation in a way of Love and not in a way of wrath cast away all bitterness and frowardness and evil-speaking from you as God hath given you a Governor though against your will who is willing to rule for your good and to protect you in your Liberties Oh make his heart and his hands strong for that work by your prayers for him and your cleaving to him so will God have the glory and you the Consolation 18. But if any will be perverse and persist in a way of contesting and adventure the beginning of new stirs I say no more but first that I have discharged my duty and conscience and secondly my soul come not thou into their secrets neither have fellowship with them in their waies for it tends to confusion and destruction will be the end thereof FINIS