Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	active_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	16	3	8.1110	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53702	An humble testimony unto the goodness and severity of God in his dealing with sinful churches and nations, or, The only way to deliver a sinful nation from utter ruine by impendent judgments, in a discourse on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / by John Owen.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1681 (1681)	Wing O762; ESTC R17781	63,319	169

he threatens Isai. 51. 8. Hosea 5. 12. Somewhat that shall eat up and devour the Strength and Sinews of the Counsels of a Nation as a Moth devoureth a Garment Whilst it lies still it seems it may be to be sound and firm hold it up to the Light and it appears full of holes and is easily torn with the Finger So is it with a Nation whatever outward Peace it seems to enjoy when it is decaied in the VVisdom and strength of its Counsels it is easily torn in pieces And in like manner he sends the Hornet unto the same end Exod. 23. 28 Deut. 7. 20. that is that which shall vex disquiet and torment them that they shall be ready every one to strike himself or the next that he meeteth withal as many of these Hornets are at present among us These are some of the VVays whereby God warneth a People Church or Nation of approaching Judgments It concerneth us now to enquire how it is how it hath been with us with reference hereunto And I say It is not necessary that God should use all these ways of Warning of a sinful People of approaching Desolations if not prevented by Repentance It is enough unto the Ends of this Dispensation of Divine VVisdom and Goodness if he make use of some of them or of any one of them in an eminent manner Wherefore if any of them have been wanting among us yet if we have had others of them it is sufficient to render us excusable if we repent not But 2 The Truth is we have upon the matter had them all and they have abounded amongst us VVe have had the previous Judgments of Plague Fire and War Some may say they were desolating Judgments themselves and so indeed they were But whereas Sin still aboundeth and no Reformation ensued upon them in any Places among any sort of Persons they were but Warnings of what is yet to come if not prevented And their Language is Except you repent you shall all likewise perish We have had a Multiplication of Signs in the Heaven above and in the Earth beneath such as all Mankind have ever esteemed Forerunners of publick Calamities and the more they are despised the lowder is their Voice to the same purpose God hath continued hitherto his Word amongst us wherein the ordinary Rule of his Providence in these things is openly declared And if those unto whom the Declaration of the Word of God in the Dispensation of it is committed have not faithfully warned the People of their Danger their Blood may be found at their Door Herein at present lies our greatest streight The Efficacy of all other Calls of God unto Repentance depends much on the Application of them unto the Souls and Consciences of Men in the Preaching of the Word But whilst by some this Work is despised at least counted unnecessary by some it is neglected utterly and others by reason of their private Capacities whereby they are disenabled to speak unto Magistrates Cities or the Community of the People Think not themselves concern'd therein it is almost wholly laid aside For what will some say doth this speaking unto a few in a Retirement signifie as unto a General Reformation of the People of the Land But whereas we have all sinned in one measure Churches and all sorts of more strict Professors of Religion it is every ones Duty to be pressing these Warnings of God within his own Bounds and Precincts And if each of us should prevail but with one to return effectually to God it will be accepted with him who in such a season seeks for a man to stand in the gap to turn away his wrath and will save a City for the sake for Ten if they be found therein Let us not pretend that the Repentance and Reformation called for respects the publick enormous Sins of the Nation in Atheism Prophaneness Sensuality Luxury Pride Oppression Hatred of the Truth Contempt of the Ministry of the Gospel and the like they do so indeed but not only they respect also the Decays in Faith Love Zeal with Love of the World Conformity unto it Lukewarmness that are found amongst the most eminent Professors of Religion This is our present wound here lies our weakness namely in the want of a quick active zealous Ministry to call and stir up Magistrates and People to effectual Repentance and turning to God Unless this be given unto us I fear we cannot be saved If it be otherwise if we have a Ministry that really do attend unto their Duty in this Matter I beg their pardon for other apprehensions but then I shall think it the most pregnant Sign of approaching Destruction seeing it is apparent unto all that their Endeavours have neither Fruit nor Success So far have we proceeded with our Proposition Namely That Sin abounds amongst us That Judgments are approaching That God hath given us manifold Warnings of their so doing 4. That which in the next Place we are to speak unto is the Equity of this Divine Constitution that in the ordinary way of Gods Rule and Dispensation of his Providence Repentance and Reformation shall turn away impendent Judgments and procure unto a People a blessed Deliverance and nothing else shall do it Except you repent you shall perish That upon Repentance they shall be saved and delivered is intended in the same Rule This is the unalterable Law of Divine Providence this shall do it and nothing else shall so do The VVisdom and Power of Men shall not do it Fasting and Prayer whilst we continue in our Sins shall not do it Repentance alone is made the Condition of Deliverance in this State of things Upon this Rule did God vindicate the Equity of his Ways against Repining Israel Ezek. 18. 29 30 31. Can any thing be more just and equal Ruine and utter Desolation are ready to fall upon the whole People This you have deserved by your Iniquities and multiplied provocations In strict Justice they ought immediately to come upon you But my ways are equal I will not deal with you in a way of strict Justice I will do it in Equity which is a meet Temperature of Justice and Mercy And this I make evident unto you herein in that whilst the Execution of Judgment is only threatned and suspended if you make unto your selves a new Heart and a new Spirit in sincere Repentance if you cast away all your Transgressions by a thorough Reformation of your lives Iniquity shall not be your Ruine What can be more Just righteous and equal Who can complain if after all this evil doth overtake you and you shall not escape The same he pleads again Chap. 33. 10 11. as in many other Places That this Divine Constitution namely That Repentance and Reformation shall save a Church People or Nation in the state before described and that nothing else shall do so however men may please and pride themselves in their own Imaginations is equal just and good