Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	word_n	work_n	write_v	1,255	4	5.1353	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09055	The historie of tithes, or, Tithes vindicated to the presbyters of the Gospel begunne in a visitation sermon, whereunto are added the substance of divers other sermons and treatises, being thought fit by good authority to be published, and is necesary both for clergy and laity : in the which is expressed the true use of the Sabbath without controversie / by B.P.	Parsons, Bartholomew, 1574-1642.	1637 (1637)	STC 19347.5; ESTC S4405	26,409	40

in Psal 66. according to which Moses telleth Israel GOD will blesse thee and multiply thee hee will blesse the fruit of thy wombe c. Deut. 7.13 14. His substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so after our best translators quorum nomen sit in benedictione Irather turne the word with many learned Interpreters (d) Calvin Pagnine Martin Borrhaus Chald. paraphr c. finding for warrant hereof this word bearing the same sense Deut. 8.17 Beware lest you say my power and the strength of mine hand hath prepared me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this wealth And Job 20.15 Hee hath swallowed downe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 riches then with others his strength (e) Vulg. edit his army and multitude (f) Cajet Jun. for the words are well glossed by Martin Borrhaus as thou hast adorned the Levites with the Priesthood so for the maintenance of this prosper their riches which consist in First-fruits and Tithes (g) In loc ut sacerdotio ornasti Levitas ita etiam ad istud conservandum opes illorum qua Cernuntur in primitiis decimis fortunato and to accept or as Junius more fully grato animo suseipere with a favourable minde to receive and as the Greek phrase runneth Heb. 13.16 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bee well pleased with the worke of his hands so that howsoever hee shall many times spread out his hands unto a rebellious and gainsaying people Isa 65.2 goe unto a rebellious people that will not heare Ezek. 2.3 4. that altogether breake the yoake and burst the bands of the Lords ordinances in sunder Jer. 5.5 and so may seeme to labour in vaine and spend his strength in vaine and for nothing yet his judgement may be with the Lord and his worke with his God Isa 49.4 Before I come to the right dividing of these words 2 Tim. 2.15 and to shew how they are profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 the giving of satisfaction to two questions that lye in the way shall be as a word spoken in due season First why the man of GOD more specially poureth out a prayer for a blessing upon Levies substance than any other of the Tribes unlesse it be Josephs vers 13. c. upon whom the blessings also of his father prevailed above the blessings of his progenitours Gen. 49.26 Secondly why he prayeth not rather that the worke of Levies hands should be blessed by GOD than that it should bee accepted of him Of either a word For the first Is there not a cause nay a double cause why he should thus strive in prayer why with Jacob he should not let the LORD goe unlesse he gave a blessing Gen. 32.26 to Levie substance First for the consolation of Levi himselfe This prayer saith Calvin seemeth secretly to be opposed to that penury which would come upon the Levites unlesse GOD had provided them food by some other meanes than by the revenues of their fields They were deprived of all common inheritance and GOD himselfe was their possession Therefore that their estate might not be troublesome to them Moses ministreth a comfort and biddeth them expect from GOD all abundance for sufficient food and promiseth that his blessing shall be in stead of a large revenue (h) Videtur haec precatio tacite opponi penuriae qua Levitas manebat nisi aliunde illis cibum suppeditasset Deus quàm ex agrorumproventu Privati erant communi hereditate solus Deus erat illis pro latifundio Ergo ne illis molesta sit sua conditio solatium adhibet Moses iubet à Deo expectare copiam quae ad victum sufficiat acpromittit eius benedictionem uberrimi proventus loco fore Calv. in loc The other for the consternation of Levies enemies those Harpyes who as the Poet saith (i) Aeneid 3. Diripiuntque dapes contactuque omnia foedant Immundo Tristius haud illis monstrum nec savior ulla Pestis c. For the wisedome of the Spirit of GOD in whose eyes all things are naked and opened Heb. 3.13 and who declareth the last things from the beginning Isa 46.10 foresaw and foreshewed that the dayes would come that men would be so farre from bringing offerings with the Israelites to the building of the Tabernacle Exod. 36. that they would rather let it lye waste yea make it waste themselves that they might dwell in sieled houses Hagg. 1. So farre from asking with Saul What present shall we bring to the man of God 1 Sam. 9.7 that they will rather with Gehezi pursue them hard to pull somewhat from them 2 King 5.20 so farre from providing with the Shunamite a chamber furnished for the Prophet Elisha 2 King 4.10 that rather with prophane Tobiah they will chamber themselves in the courts of the house of GOD Nehem. 13.7 and with Oreb and Zeeb take to themselves the houses of GOD in possession Psal 83.12 So farre from paying Tithes of all with Abraham yea of the spoiles gotten in warre to the Priests of the high GOD Heb. 7.2 that they will rather spoile them yea GOD himselfe in Tithes and Offerings Mal. 3.8 To shew therefore that these mens wayes are as much abominable to JEHOVAH as they are different from his wayes he prayeth that where they would bring a curse he would give blessing where they would devoure hee would defend where they would diminish he would multiply where they would spoile he would protect and addeth this imprecation against such Smite through the loines of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not againe The other question is why he rather prayeth not for a blessing from God upon their labours then an acception of their labours by God Since Except the Lord build the house their labour is in vaine that build it Psal 125.1 Except he give increase Pauls planting Apollo's watering is nothing 1 Cor. 3.6 7. Except hee open the heart as he did Lydia's Act. 16.14 their speaking to the eare is but a beating of the aire for he hath his chaire in heaven (h) Cathedram in exlo habet qui corda docet Aug. who teacheth the hearts k The answer wherof may be that Moses prayeth rather here for an acceptation of Levies labour by GOD as being their proper peculiar good than for a blessing upon their labours which is their peoples good committed to them For although Levi the LORDS messenger must so unfainedly desire in his heart the salvation of Israel that in the fervency of his zeal he could be content with Moses to be razed out of GODS Book for them Exod. 32.32 With Paul be willing to be separated from Christ for them Rom. 9.3 Although their standing fast in the LORD must be the life and the joy of his heart 1 Thes 3.8 That hee may rejoyce in the day of the LORD that he hath not run in vaine Phil. ● 16

spiritualibus possit vacare Ministeriis quas leges Christianorum congeries longis temporibus custodivit intemeratas Vnde statuimus c. The Lawes of God providing for Priests and Ministers of the Churches for their hereditary portion have commanded all people to pay the Tithes of their fruits to the holy places that being no wayes hindred by unlawfull things they might attend their spirituall offices Which lawes the Christian Church hath a long time kept undefiled Whereupon we ordaine that all people shall pay their Ecclesiasticall Tithes And so I conclude with that of Junius that Tithes have beene holy to God by all right since the memory of man (b) Decimae iure 〈◊〉 post hominum memoriā Deo fuerunt sacrae And that it was sacrilege in the Pope at first to appropriate them to Monks and Friers from the labouring Oxen no better in secular persons at the dissolution of the Abbies to invade them in Patrons to set them to sale to detaine any glebe or Tithes consecrated to God In Parishioners either by secret practise or pretended customes to defraud the Minister of them And that God is much robbed in our Church partly by prescriptions and customes which snatch away somewhat from every Church in our Realme partly by impropriations which of nine thousand two hundred eighty and foure Parish Churches for that is the just number in England and Wales (c) Cambd. Brit. pag. 262. have devoured three thousand eight hundred ninety five almost the halfe in number but farre above the halfe in value and goodnesse God put it into the hearts of our Reverend Bishops Deanes and Chapiters and Colledges who hold many of them still in the right of the Church to provide so conscionably for those that labour in them that whilst they serve at the Altar they may not starve at it But to dreame of any restitution of them from the Lay possessors unlesse it bee here and there one like a berry or two in the top of a bough whose heart God hath touched were as the Poet saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a dreame of a shadow When we have said and reasoned all that we can they have against us one argument for themselves abutili which we shall never solve nor dissolve In this case let me say to you as Jeremy said to the Prophets that prophesied Behold the vessels of the Lords house shall now shortly be brought againe from Babylon If we be Prophets let us now make intercession to the LORD of Hosts that the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD goe not to Babylon Jer 27.15 16. For as the Israelites of old cryed so may we The sword of the LORD and of Gideon Judg. 7.20 It is the goodnesse of our God and the Piety of our gracious King that yet preserveth to us from those Evening wolves these Relliquias Danaum atque immitis Achillis (d) Virg. Aene. id 1. That I have so long dwelt upon this point and petition The blessing of the Levites substance I may say to these evil times whereinto wee have falne as Paul to the Corinthians in another case Ye have compelled me In the next petition which is another request for an acceptation of the worke of his hands I will briefly touch the first branch which is an intimation of a worke to be performed by him as being most pertinent to this time and persons here present Accept the worke of his hands There lay a necessity upon man even in his innocency to labour in an honest calling The LORD GOD tooke Adam after he had made him and put him into the garden of Eden to dresse it Gen. 2.15 But when man had sinned against his Maker and forfeited his state in that Paradise of pleasure When his labour should have been with pleasure without defatigation hee was turned out into the wide world into the earth cursed for his sake Gen. 3.17 in which with the sweat of his browes even with difficult labour paine and sorrow hee must eat his bread and get his living For now all his dayes are sorrow and his travell grief Eccles 2.23 And now labour lieth on him not only as a duty testifying his obedience wherein hee must imitate the holy Angels who are created of GOD to be ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 Yea his heavenly Father who laboured in the beginning of time in the creating of all things and at this time and to the end of times worketh in the preservation of all his creation John 5.17 but also as punishment of his disobedience Man is borne unto labour as the sparks flie upward Job 5.7 And this working with his hands is the discharging of the duties of that calling wherein GOD hath set him as the LORD hath called every man so let him worke 1 Cor. 7.17 Now this worke of Levies hand was that I may distinguish the things that differ either ceremoniall or morall The ceremoniall was to minister in the Priests office Ex. 28.1 to offer gifts and sacrifices Heb. 8.3 to be over the Tabernacle of the Testimonie over all the vessels thereof and all things that belong unto it Numb 1.50 The morall was to thanke and praise the GOD of Israel 1 Chro. 16.4 and 23.31 to blesse the children of Israel in GODS name Numb 6.23 Deut. 10.8 to read in the book of the Law distinctly give the sense and cause the people to understand the reading Neh. 8.8 to shew the people the sentence of judgement in hard matters Deut. 17.8 2 Chro. 19.8 Ezek 44.23 24. to exhort them in warre Deut. 20.23 to teach them at all times the Law of the LORD of Hosts and to walk before the Lord in uprightnesse that so they might turne many from then iniquities Mal. 2.6 7. Now the first of these the ceremoniall worke was to indure but till the time of reformation Heb. 9.10 the fastning of that hand writing of ordinances to the crosse of Christ Col. 4. that law being changed and abolished this work of the Priesthood is abolished also The other worke the morall is to continue though not in the tribe of Levi yet in those Prophets Pastors and teachers that Christ gave for the perfecting of the Saints the worke of the ministry and the edifying of his body Eph. 4.11 till the end of the world the appearing of JESUS CHRIST Mat. 28.20 1 Tim. 6.14 This worke in regard of the authority by which or master for whom it is don is called the Lords work 1 Cor. 16.10 in regard of the dignity of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good or godly worke 1 Tim. 3.1 and the workemen thereof laboures together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 in regard of the greatnes of it a worke hardly to be fitted with a workman who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2.16 it is on●● vel ipsis angelis formindandum (e) Bernard a burthen to be feared of the very Angels Ars est artium regimen animarum (f) Gregor in

past par 1. ca. 1. the government of Soules is the art of arts Now beloved Brethren of the Clergie the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof 2 King 2.14 Since the lines are falne to us in this pleasant place suffer I pray you a few words of exhortation As then wee have taken upon us the Ministeriall office and worke so that ministery which we have received from the LORD let us fulfill in the LORD Col. 4.17 even doe the worke of Evangelists 2 Tim 4.5 And since wee are Ambassadours for Christ let us in Christs stead pray our people to be reconciled to GOD 2 Cor. 5.20 shew all the counsels of Christ to the houshold of saith Act. 20.27 Since we are watchmen set over the house of GOD let us take heed unto our flocks watching night and day in season and out of season for the Soules committed to our charge Heb. 13.17 For if all ought to watch saith Bernard much more ought the shepheards (g) Siomnes vigilare debent multo magis pastores Bern. de vigil pastor If he so laboureth and watch who feedeth Labans sheepe saith S. Basil with what labour and what watchings ought he to bestirre himselfe who feedeth GODS sheepe (h) Si sic laborat vigilat qui pascit oves Laban quanto labort quantisque vigiliis debet intendere qui pascit oves Det Basil hom de paenit Since we are GODS stewards let us give to every one of his houshold their portion in due season Luk. 12.42 For if hee who provideth not for them of his owne house the bread that perisheth Joh. 6.27 hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidell 1 Tim. 5.8 Much more is hee to bee accounted so who provideth not for those of GODS house the bread that indureth to eternall life The rulers slacknesse is their charges wrong (i) Incuria prapositi est iniuria depositi Hieron Epist ad Furiā Since we are sowers let us go forth to sowe Mat. 13.3 not to reap only since planters 1 Cor. 3.6 let us ingraft in the minds of the faithfull that word which is able to save their soules Jam. 1.21 Since waterers let us water those tender plants that are planted in the courts of the LORD and let it not be our fault that the LORDS field should seeme to be cursed with the curse of the mountaines of Gilboa upon which neither dew nor raine fell 2 Sam. 1.21 Since builders in the house of GOD 〈◊〉 us so build up the houshold of faith upon Christ Jesus the corner stone that they may grow unto an holy temple in the Lord Eph. ● 21 Since men of GOD let us quit our selves like men 1 Cor. 16.13 preach the word bee instant reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine ● Tim. 4. ● 2. Since the salt of the earth let us have salt in our selves Mark 9.50 and let all our speech be so seasoned with salt that it may minister grace to our hearers Col. 4.6 Since Messengers of the LORD of Hosts let our lips preserve knowledge Mat. 2.7 let us bring glad tidings of good things to our auditors Rom. 10.15 And since wee are labourers in his vine-yard let us goe into it and that not only to feed there but also and much more to labour Mat. 20.4 Let us not be dumbe dogges such as cannot or will not barke and who have need that Christ should cast out of them that dumbe divell Luk 11.14 nor dead idols who have mouthes and speake not Psal 115.5 Nor Pastors derived by Antiphrasis a non pascendo from not feeding (k) Vt mons à non movendo or of pascor pasceris to be fed only For when they do not feed but are fed themselves they are not derived from pasco to feed but from pascor to be fed (l) Cum 〈◊〉 non pascant sed pascantur non à pasco derivantur sed à pascor pasceri 〈◊〉 poèma per Illiricum de corrupt statu Ecclesiae Let not those complaints light upon us which Saint Bernard darted out against the Clergy of his time saying that they were in habit Clergy men in following their gaine men of the world but in work neither that they laboured not as other men but whereas all states of men have some labour and some pleasure that they by a new cunning dividing betweene these have chosen that which is delightfull in every thing and rejected that which is displeasing (m) Eos esse habitu Clerico● quastu mundanos actu nontr●t in labore hominum non esse sed cumcuncts status hominum aliquid habeant labores aliquid voluptatis Clericos inter ha● novo quoda●●aris fieio-discernentes tetum quod delictat in queliber elegssse tetum quod mol●stat respuissed 3. de consideratione Let the Pope onely take this privilege to himselfe that though he draw millions of soules after him to hell yet no man may presume to say to him Sir why dost thou doe so (n) Distinct 40 in dercet But let us take heed unto our selves to reading or exhortation and doctrine that we may save our selves and them that hear us 1 Tim. 4.26 But above all things let mee put you in minde of one thing that wee bee not onely such as have the light of knowledge but such also as are indued with the fire of zeale that our sips may not only preserve knowledge but also that which the LORD requireth in the Tribe of Levi Mal. 2.6 7. that we may walke with GOD in peace and equity that we may weare upon our breast-plates not only the Vrim of light and knowledge but also the Thummin of integrity and good conversation Exod. 28.30 that we may alwaies enter into the sanctuary of the LORD with our golden bells the found of preaching and Pomegranates the fruit of good living as St. Gregory interpreteth it (o) Greg. lib. 1. epist 24. mingled together Exod. 28.33 34. that we who teach others may teach our selves Rom. 2.21 who preach to others may not our selves be cast-awayes 1 Cor 9.27 For it belongeth to GODS Priests not only to teach but also to do the law that they may not only teach their people and flocke committed to them with words but also with examples (p) Sacerdotum enim est propriè non solumdo cere sed facere legem us nequaquam verbis subjectos sibi populos creditum gregem sed exemplis d●ceant Hieron in Jerem 16. This is the best harmony of all when the Priests minde hand and tongue agree (q) Haec est pulcherrima harmonia quando Sacerdotis mens manus lingua concerdant Idē epist ad Nepot But on the other side it is nothing to preach the truth if the heart disagree from the tongue (r) Praedica●e veritatem nil est si corlingua d●ssentia● Aug. in Psal 57. Nay if we could speak with the tongue of men should be so skilfull in Oratory that we could at our pleasure lift up advance amplifie extenuate and as it were by an inchanting power of eloquence turne any thing into what shape and habite wee would and so subtile in disputing that we could worke any thing out of any thing if wee could speake with the tongue of Angels if there were any angels tongues (ſ) Si qua sint Angelorum lingua Hieron for the words are to be understood hyperbolically if we had prophecy the gift of interpreting the Scriptures and knew not some few but all mysteries even the whole mystery of godlinesse and had not some little knowledge but all even not only the wisedome of this world and the Princes thereof which come to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 So that with Solomon wee could speake of plants from the Cedar which is in Libanus to the Hyssope which groweth upon the wall and of beasts and birds and creeping things and fishes 1 King 4.33 but also the wisedome of GOD hid in a mysterie and had not charity not only these excellent gifts are to be accounted nothing but we our selves are nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 2. To such Pharisees who say and doe not that same song of St. Bernard not pleasant but profitable must be sung (t) Monstrosa res est gradus summus animusinfimus sedes prima vita ima lingua magnil●qua manus ●tiosa sermo muleus fructus nullus vultus gravis actus levis caput canum corvanum faciesrugosa lingua nugosa ingens autoritas nutant stabilit●s Lib. 2. deconsiderat It is a monstrous thing to have an high degree and a base minde the chiefe seat and a lewd life a tongue speaking great words and an idle hand much speech and no fruit a grave countenance and a light carriage a gray head and an idle heart a wrinkled face and a trifling tongue great authority and a tottering stability To grow to an end then let us so take heed to our selves that we may live well and to our doctrine 1 Tim. 4.16 that we may instruct our people committed to our charge Let us so shine as bright stars in the militant Church that is in Chrysostomes interpretation (u) Chrys hom 11. in Matt. Let us so teach that men may not only hear our words but also see our good works that at length wee may shine as bright startes in the triumphant Church for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 And let us so jointly doe and teach the least Mat. 5.19 the greatest all the commandements of GOD that wee may bee called great in the Kingdome of grace may be found heirs in the Kingdome of glory and sit with Christ in his Throne Rev. 3.21 To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons one GOD and King eternall immortall invisible and onely wise bee Honour and Glory for ever and ever AMEN FINIS