Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	love_n	love_v	soul_n	15,334	5	5.6380	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89889	The true character tending to love. Or, A short treatise wherein is shewed how Christians ought to love their Christian brethren, in their affections, words and deeds. By a lover of charity, B.N. Very usefull and necessary for Christians that are willing to live in love, unity, and peace in these distracted times, wherein so many divisions abound. Viewed and approved by divers worthy men of the City of London.	B. N.	1647 (1647)	Wing N4; Thomason E378_26; ESTC R201392	9,358	18

THE TRUE CHARACTER tending to LOVE OR A short Treatise wherein is shewed how Christians ought to love their Christian Brethren in their affections words and deeds By a lover of charity B. N. Very usefull and necessary for Christians that are willing to live in love unity and peace in these distracted times wherein so many divisions abound Viewed and approved by divers worthy men of the City of LONDON HEB. 13. 1. Let brotherly love continue Printed for R. Wodenothe at the Star under Peters Church in Cornhill 1647. THE TRUE CHARACTER tending to LOVE COnsidering with my selfe of the benefit of love together with the difficulty of it which hath almost worne it out of use amongst Christians I thought fit to afford some help to lead carefull Christians up this mount of love Love is a communicated goodnesse without which man is no better then a beast praying for himselfe alone also it is a commandement which the Lords own finger hath written therefore in obedience to him we must love our neighbour in these five particulars 1 We must love them in their persons 2 In their Bodies 3 In their souls 4 In their goods 5 In their good names and in every thing that belongs unto them 1 In their persons these 3 wayes 1 In our affections 2 In our words 3 In our deeds even as in 1 John 3. 18. where he teaches us not only to love in word and in tongue but in deed and in trueth 1 In our affections we must expresse our love in ordering them after such a sort that we cannot rashly be angry with them but moderately reprove them in which consider these three things 1 That the cause be just and earnest even as Saint Matthew holds it forth in Mat 5. 22. 2 That our anger be not furious breaking forth in immoderate heat into cursing banning reviling and the like for Paul the Apostle advises us to this that we should put away with all malice all bitternesse wrath and anger c. in Ephes 4. 31. 3 That it hold not long for both should seek reconciliation as that example of the father that ran to meet the sonne and the sonne ran to meet his father so that this doth plainly reprove those that when they are once fallen out will never be reconciled again or straine courtesie who shall begin and this doth bewray their want of love Ephes 4. 16. Now true love suffereth long it will put up many injuries and passe by many wrongs for what saith Solomon Cant 8. 7. Many waters cannot quench love c. 2 There is a secondarie point of inward love that is not to envie any others good It should not be a grief to us to see others wiser wealthier or better thought of then our selves we should be as glad of their welfare as of our own and rejoyce as much to heare them praysed as we would doe if our selves were commended even as Paul advises us in Rom 12. 15. Rejoyce with them that rejoyce c. 3 We must not in no wise take that in evill part that may be well meant we must not be to jealous and too suspitious of our bretheren upon every conceit thinking hardly of them for what saith Saint Matthew Judg not lest ye be judged 4 We must not disdaine them nor set up our selves against them for though in some one gift they come behind us yet happily in some other they come before us and though they doe not yet happily they have not had such helps means so many sweet motions to bring them on as we have had Phil 2. 3. Where Saint Paul exhorteth us all to let nothing be done through strife or vaineglory but in lowlines of mind let each esteeme other better then himselfe c. Thus let our affections be toward our neighbours and let us shew our love to them in our words 1 Not speaking bitterly scoffingly nor crossely to them if we wronged yet we must deale coldly gently and mildly with them for Saint James saith speak not evill one of another c. James 4. 11. Also in Gen 21. 9 10. Also Solomon saith that a soft answer turneth away wrath and therefore let us be advised in no wise to speake evill one of an other But yet in Gods cause we may be some what sharpe in our speech rather then in our own but in neither unles we see gentle means will not work even as Physicians use strong medicines when they see that the weaker will not helpe 2 We must not speake evill of them behind their backs but by love conceale those infirmities that are in them unlesse Gods glory or their good require the opening of their faults for Saint Peter exhorteth us above all things to have fervent charity among our selves the reason is because saith he Charity shall cover a multitude of sins 1 Peter 4. 8. Also Saint Paul saith that the man is not without the woman nor the woman without man but we are all one in Christ Jesus 1 Cor 11. 11. 3 We must not brawle and wrangle contentiously about questions that arise amongst us even as Saint Peter exhorteth us in 1 Peter 3. 15 16. We must shew our love to our neighbours in our deeds in not withdrawing our selves from them in their needs but to our power and ability seeke to make their lives sweet and comfortable to them we must not be altogether our own men shut up within our own profit and pleasures and wholy taken up of them but by love we must goe out of our selves to the good and profit of our brethren for the Lord hath commanded by Moses that we should open our hands wide unto our brethren and to the poore and needy of the land in Dent. 15. from 7. to 13. From whence we may learne that they who are so far off from helping their needy brethren that they make even a spoyle and prey of them most unchirstianly increasing their miseries and by usury and hard bargaines putting of them further into debt and danger they have no drop of humanity much lest any sound ground of Christianity in them for thus to doe is absolutely forbidden in Levit. 25. 36. where it is written expresly that we should take no usury nor increase of our poor brethren but that we should feare God that our brother may live with us c. Furthermore we must doe no violence to their person wee must neither smite nor hurt them in life nor limb as appeareth Levit. 24. 19 20. where it is sayd that if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour for as he hath done so shall it be done to him again c. Objection But here some may say this love is of none effect now Answer Is that though the ceremony of the Law be now abrogated yet the equity of it stands still in strength So again we must declare our love to their persons by not procuring any hurt to their persons by any means so tenderly the Lord

would have us regard our brethren that we should not be any occasion whereby hurt or dammage may grow unto them for thus did David 1 Chron. 11. 19. from whence we may observe thus much that them that delay suits in Law or blow tales into ●uens heads and so give occasion of bloud or them that rashly venture mens lives for their profit or pleasure are highly guilty of the want of love Thus far of our love to their bodies declared in our affections words and deeds but yet we must not thinke our selves discharged towards our brethrens persons when we have performed this for the chiefest thing is yet behinde which is love to their souls which is the very life of Christian love even as Saint Paul expresses his desire for Israel through the love he did bear to their souls was that they might be saved Rom. 10. 1. 1 We must expresse our love to their souls in our mourning and sorrowing for their sins even as Christ wept over Jerusalem so must we weepe over the souls of our brethren even as the Prophet Jeremiah sayth with a heavie heart to the people If you will not beare it my soule shall weep in secret places c. Jer. 13. 17. 2 We must expresse our love to our brethren in praying for them that the Lord would forgive them and fill their hearts with the riches of his grace even as Saint James advises us to pray one for another Jam. 5. 16. But now it may be doubted whether one mans prayer can get pardon for another mans sin truly it may as plainly appears 1 John 5. 16. where it is sayd If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death hee shall aske and he shall give them life for them that sin not unto death c. From whence we may cleerly observe that they that see other men drowned in sin and yet are not oft upon their knees to intreat the Lord heartily and earnestly for them as highly guilty of the neglect of this duty of love towards them But yet not withstanding we shall not obtein a blessing without the saith of him whom we pray for for it is impossible to please God without faith Heb. 11. 6. 3 We must expresse our love to them in labouring to draw them to Christ even as one candle lights another so one man must bring another to God as Peter being converted must convert his brethren so we being turned must turn others to the faith even as Zach. 8. 21. Where it is written that the inhabitants of one City shall goe to another and say come let us goe speedily and pray before the Lord and seeke the Lord of Hosts c. 4 We must expresse our love to the souls of our bretheren in incouraging them and lead them forward in the wayes of God even as a man plyes a lampe with oyle so we must nourish and feed good things in them that they goe not out as in Heb. 10. 24 25. Where he saith let us consider to provoke unto love and to good workes not forsaking our course c. As some doe but exhorting one another c. This is further declared by a similitude for as in a great family where are many children the elder help to carry and tend the younger so in the family and household of God the ancienter and elder Christians must help support and bring forward those that are the weaker and come lately to the saith as Acts 18. 27. where it is said that hee helped them much which had beleeved through grace 5 And lastly we must expresse our love to their soules in admonishing them of their faults for he that rebuketh not his brother of his sinnes hateth him in his heart and therefore the Lord hath commanded saying thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart but he saith withall thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him and truely this not rebuking appeares to be a deadly hatred because we know the Lord will punish his sins and bring it to light and therefore if we dissemble and admonish him not to leave it what doe we else but desire the Lord to blaze him and to shame him for it Object But yet here one may object and say O but men will be angry with us if we tell them their faults Ans God will be angry if wee tell them not and therefore I say it is better to lose mens favour then Gods favour and to have our neighbours displeasure then Gods displeasure and yet often times that fals out that Solomon speaks of Prov. 23. 23. When he saith that he that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour then he that slatereth with the tongus These three things are to be regarded in reproving 1. That we doe it mildly and lovingly that we set not too eagerly and too hardly on them for Saint Paul moveth us to deale mildly with a brother that hath slipped in Gal. 6. 1. Where he saith Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye that are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse c. 2 That we doe it mildly and with power not only making them see their sin but even all the shame of it to bring them to a further hatred and lothing of it as the Prophet Micah declareth that he was full of power by the spirit of the Lord to shew unto Jacob his transgression and to Israel it is sinne Micah 3. 8. 3 That we doe it discreetly not casting of precious seed upon every ground but having some hope of the party that it shall doe good for what saith Solomon reprove not ascorner least he hate thee but rebuke a wiseman and he will love thee Prov. 9. 8. as also in Mat. 7. 6. where Christ for bids to cast holy things before dogs But again every profane man is not to be given over in his sin for we must have great care that we judge not men past physick till their disease be very desperate the 〈◊〉 for though a man have been a scorner before yet we known nor whether now he may leave it and though he have been very impatient of reproofe at other mens hands yet wek● 〈◊〉 not how he may take it at ours and therefore as long as there is any sparke of hope we must not cease mildly to admonish them of their faults as in that parable of the Vineyard that we let out to unthankfull husbandmen in Mar. 12 3 4 5 6. And thus 〈◊〉 of our leve to their persons the second point is to 〈◊〉 in their goods for love not only regards the person of our neighbour but also dealeth tenderly and lovingly with all those things that belong unto them so that if any thing of his 〈◊〉 all not finde honest and trusty dealing at our hands there shall be just cause to arrest and indict us of the want of love for the Lord requires that our love should

be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. We must shew our love to neighbours in doing these three things 1 In preserving them as much as we ran 2 In keeping nothing from them that is their due 3 In not taking anything from them by force or fraud From the first of these we may learn that their errour is great who when they see their neighbours house or cattell or corne indangered will not lend their helping hand to preserve them safe if our neighbours house be on fire every one should run with his bucket to quench it so if our neighbour be oppressed in law every man must help to defend his right if by sicknesse he be cast behind we must further him and help him the best we can as Exod. 23. 4. 5. where the Lord commands us that if we should see our enemies Oxe or his Alse going astray wee should surely bring it back to him again c. 1 They offend in this duty of love who suffer their cattell through negligence to breake into other mens grounds and when they have trespassed him are not willing and ready to recompence for their hurts even as the Lord hath ordered it by Moses to be Exod 22. 5. 2 They who hurt or lug their neighbours cattell excessively for what conscience is this or equity is this that a man for halfe a penny worth of grasse should doe his neighbours beast a shillings worth of charme also in Exod. 22. 5. 6. 3 They that turn their own dangers upon their neighbours necks as they that turn the overshot of their water upon their neighbours lands or by any means draw him into perill that themselves may scape for what sayth Saint Duke Luke 6. 31. As you would that 〈◊〉 should doe unto you doe you also to them 4 They that can give evidence in a matter and yet by their silence suffer their neighbour to be defeated of his sight for it is written that he sinneth that concealeth his knowledge as it appears Levit. 5. 1. 5 They that will run to Law for every injury and for every wrong for though a man have done us sorne harme yet that is no reason that we should waste them in the Law and so turn him out of all that he hath but we must seeke as neere as may be that his punishment may be answerable and equall to his offence for Saint Paul sayth There is a fault amongst you because you goe to law one with another sayth he why doe not you rather take wrong 1 Cor 6. 6. 7. 3 The second whereby we must shew love to our neighbours goods is that we withhold or keepe back any thing that is his but rest are with conscience and care whatsoever in any right or equity belongs unto them for Solomon exhorts us in no wise to withhold any good from them to whom it is due c. Prov. 3. 27. Yet truly there are many that fail in this which is in these foure particulars 1 They that keepe back the labourers hire not only they that defeat him of his wages but even they also that keepe it in their hands when it should doe them good for Moses sayth at his day thou shalt give him his hire neither shall the sin go down upon it for he is poore and setteth his heart upon it c. Deut. 24. 15. 2 They that are not carefull to discharge their own debts for David shewing the different estate of the godly and the wicked in Psal 37. speaks to this purpose in ver 21. where he sayth that the wicked borroweth and payeth not again so that we see that it a wickednesse to burrow and not to restore again 3 They that finde any thing that was lost and are not carefull to restore so the best way as I conceive to bring us to restore what we have found that it s not ours is to thinke that the Lord hath done thus but only is try our honestly which we will possesse with an evill conscient one penny worth of our neighbours goods or two 4. They that have hired or borrowed or taken any thing to keepe and are not carefull as much as lies in them to restore it as good as it came even as Moses sayth If a man borrow ought of his neighbour and the hurt or die the owner not being with it he shall surely make it good Exod. 22. 14. 3 The third thing whereby we must shew love to our neighbours goods is not to get away any thing by force or fraud that is his we must suffer him to rest in a peaceable possession of those things which the Lord in mercie for the comfort of his life hath cast upon him for the Apostle Paul exhorteth all to live holily and trustily forbidding us to defraud our brethren 1 Thes 4. 6. from whence we may learn in bargaining always to give a penny worth for a penny for covetousnesse and greedinesse of gain must not rate our commodity but we must look as neer as may be that the goodnesse of the commodity wee sell even in truth and good conscience be equall to that money the buyer payes for it as Moses fayth L●●it 25. 〈◊〉 c. where it is written whether ye buy or sell yee shall not opp●●sse ou● 〈◊〉 1. Now this condemneth all uttering of deceitfull and 〈…〉 ty wa 〈…〉 Amos 8. 6. 7. 2 It condemneth those that over sell their 〈◊〉 and labour to raise the price as high as they can in that 〈◊〉 3 It condemneth those that use false measures and fasse weights or cunningly make 〈…〉 come sh●●t of his due Deut. 25. 15. 16. 4 It condemneth those that 〈◊〉 i● the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon a 〈◊〉 that must 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 for 〈…〉 get them ●or brethren in bargaining i● this 〈◊〉 we are also charged with this 〈◊〉 That we take 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 ●●●g●bour for all ●sury themselves the print of the u 〈…〉 ●eeth to ●heir 〈…〉 Where the 〈◊〉 saith that we sould not 〈…〉 for use c. Quest Some may ask what usury is Ans It is a certaine gaine exacted by 〈…〉 the principall only in recompence of lending of it and it is 〈◊〉 condemned by the Lord De●● 23. 19. Object Againe some may say doth 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 law allow of it for eight in the hundred Ans No the Prin 〈…〉 Law res●●aineth and he would have you le●● to your bret 〈…〉 freely but 〈◊〉 your ●eart● are hardned he doth allow eight in the hundred lest you should take twenty in the hundred Object Againe some may thinke that it is lawfull because it is not forbiden in the new Testament Ans first because it is condemned sufficiently in the old and the morall Law standeth in strength and is never repealed and Christ came to fulfill the Law not to destroy it in Mat. 5. 17. Lastly we are charged with this duty that we neither filch nor pilfer the lest pinne or point from our neighbour for it is not the value but