Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	affection_n	child_n	love_v	4,289	5	6.4927	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15346	The summe of a sermon, preached at Sowthell the thirtith of March. 1596. By T.W.	T. W. (Thomas Wilcox), 1549?-1608.	1597 (1597)	STC 25630; ESTC S111705	37,554	76

yet we shall behold the same still The Apostle Paule was an elected vessell chosen to cary Christes name amongst the Gentiles and yet his state and condition this way is notably described in many places of his seconde Epistle to the Corinthians but specially in the fourth chapter where hee saith We are afflicted on euery side yet are 〈◊〉 not in d●stresse we are in doubt but yet wee despaire not we are persecuted but not forsaken cast down but we perish not And he maketh a particular recit all of many of them in the eleuenth chapter following But specially that of the twelfth serueth for this purpose where hee saith Least I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance or excellency for the Greek word doth signifie both the one and the other of reuelations there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh the messenger Sathan to buffet me for this thing I besought the Lorde thrise that it might depart from me but he said vnto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my power is made perfect thorowe weaknes And shall we thinke that God woulde lay any thing vpon these the only worthies of the world saue that which was good indeed If we imagine so we are much deceiued And thinke that that will neither agree with Gods nature in loue nor stand with the fauour affection that he beareth vnto his children For no doubt but as he loued them most dearlie so he bestowed vpon them the greatest and best blessings Again if in al affliction we may in our measure say as Dauid the Prophet said in some particulars of his owne It is good for me O Lord that I haue been troubled for before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue learned to keepe thy law Then much more in afflictions of this kind I meane sorrow and sicknes of soule for sin past God vsing it not only as a meane to draw vs to repentance for that which is past but to make vs in time hereafter to come more wary of and watchfull ouer that that in former time hath bitten vs and pinched vs by the heart and prouoking vs in the heauines of our spirites to spend time that way to prouide comfort for ourselues spirituall I meane that others are constrayned to imploy about bodily ease releefe and pleasure And surely thē these inward sorrowes griefs cannot choose but be good not onlie because they are occupied about a more excellent part the soule I meane which God no doubt doth especially regarde but also because they bring forth better at least sure I am more spirituall effectes as because they pinch more more earnest prayer for grace to beare with patience to vndergo with profit and to ouercome through strength and doe more conforme vs vnto the Image of our head in his sustringes who indured much more this way than any other way and therfore also better or more excellēt Where we must yet further note that that is not simply or only as in regarde of the afflictions themselues but because God accompanieth them with the power of his sanctifying spirit which maketh vs in some measure not only peatakers of the diuine nature whilest wee fly the corruptions that are in the world but like vnto God as in other respectes so in this that as he causeth the rage of men to turne vnto his praise and at the beginuing yea and euer since to commandeth light to shine out of darknes so we out of the folly of our own sins learne spirituall wisedom from their darknes which is more palpable and grosse than that of Egypt labour and learne to setch the spirituall light of a holy life And a further proof yet we haue of this point in that God himselfe is pleased well to like of highly to commende this estate and condition We know and beleeue that he alone is the best able to discerne of men and matters and we are throughly perswaded of this also that for his entire vprightnesse he cannot giue wrong sentence or iudgment For howsoeuer men thorow blindnes partialitie or other corrupted respects haue been and are fouly misled erred in matter of opinion and fact yet none of these thinges falling into God he can do no otherwise but determine according to right so absolute and perfect is all and euery thing that is in God But hee hath told vs that he liketh wel of will respect and regard indeed those that are this way exercised Of which if any man doubt let him but marke and imbrace that which we speak according vnto godlines and trueth and I doubt not but he shall be well perswaded In the 51. Psal Dauid as well experienced in these cases as any man saith thus The sacrifices of God that is to say such as the Lord now delighteth in and accepteth of are a broken spirit by which he meaneth a mind that is bruised and cast downe in it selfe with the priuity of his owne infirmity and vnworthinesse What can be more plain what can be more pregnant And yet as though this were not sufficient he addeth further A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Gods not despising is indeed esteeming and he vseth so meane a speech the better to expresse so excellent a matter for no doubt of it but he wil well accept thereof as his owne work in vs. And agreeable vnto this is that of the Prophet Isaiah in the 66. chap. I looke to him saith God that is poore and broken in spirit and that tremble that my word As if he should say others I regard not though they come with their hands full of sacrifices for that hypocrites may and do performe but this none can come vnto indeed but such as be sound hearted and assuredly belong vnto me and are indeed my holy temple and dwelling place And what shall wee say of that that Salomon speaketh euen from God himselfe in the 28. chap. of the Prouerbs Blessed is the man that feareth much continually Is it not a plaine proofe of this point And doth it not directlie crosse our corrupted iudgment Wee say they are in miserable and wretched estate But wee are ignorant and cannot discerne of those matters specially no more than a blind man is able to iudge of colours But God saith he or they be blessed If he be the only wise God why stay wee not our selues vpon his sentence To shut vp and that as if it were in a word or two the confirmation of this point wee say that whosoeuer either considereth God from whom these anguishes and distresses are sent to good ends doubtlesse as in regard of his people or regardeth the persons vpon whom they are laide to wit the dearest and the best of Gods people or respecteth the fruites and effectes that they bring forth in the seruants of God or beleeueth God so highly accouning of them hee cannot choose but giue glorie to God

of a thing that is not remembred For our owne parts let vs know that as Sathan laboureth to root out of our hearts generally all the seede of the worde that thereby keeping vs in blindnesse and ignorance hee maie make vs runne riot at his pleasure so especially he trauaileth either to hinder vs from receiuing or hauing receiued from making good vse of the sweet comfortable promises of the worde the verie matter if I may so saie and a speciall meane I am sure of our spirituall comforte For the redressing and repressing also of which enormities in vs a godly man that is in some sorte ignorant should laboure to abound in the knowledge of them as he that is forgetfull should refresh his memorie by often reading meditation and cōference in them and that not onely by and with his owne heart but euen by other men also and they that want feeling of them should looke vnto Iesus Christ in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen and should be much and often in the vse of all the meanes wherby Christ is become ours as the word sacraments praier sasting c. But aboue all they should regard and labour for the holie spirit to be shed abroad in their hearts both to make all these things before named powerfull in them and to pledge vp also the truth and certaintie of the promises themselues because it is the carnest pennie of our adoption and inheritance That so sith sathan there laboureth to assault vs most and shake our faith as in that behalfe wee might thither bring all our aides and defences as they doe that are in a besieged hold and so we better made able not onely to indure the assault but to driue our foes with their forces from our gates walles And hee or shee or they whosoeuer that can do this they maie wel assure their hearts that howsoeuer they maie now then or for a while be buffeted beaten yet they shal neuer be vanquished or ouercome because he that is in thē with them for thē by himself his blessed spirit and all other effectuall meanes of consolation and comfort is stronger greater than al. Secondly it is verie fit and meet for confutation of a conceit that riseth vp in mens minds yea is deliuered also by the mouthes of some specially our popish aduersaries who tell vs that this propounding of comfort in the promises of the Gospell acquainting the people therwith maketh mensecure carelesse But herein surely they shew themselues blinde blockish as who haue not yet learned to distinguish betweene a thing good in it selfe and mans corruption abusing that which is good They may by the selfe same reason abolish all the other parts of the word and disanull or euacuate the sacraments because infinite thousands in the world abuse them to the increase of sin and licentiousnesse in themselues yea if they will or can make frustrate Gods grace because manie turne it into wantonnes and say sith is this true that where sin hath abounded there grace hath superabounded therefore let vs continue in sinne that grace maie abound And if for or in outward things we should reason as they doe and haue it followed that so is deliuered we might easily bring all disorder and confusion into the world and ouerthrowe the whole course and rase of mankinde Some abuse drinke to drunkennes and other some meate to gluttonie and gourmandise therefore there must be no vse of meate and drinke what is this els but to starue the excellētest of Gods creatures man I meane Many abuse apparell to pride and puffing vp It were best therefore to haue men goe naked which what were it els but to become or bring in new Adamites Diuers turne magistracy authoritie into tyrannie and therefore with the Anabaptists away with all ciuill authoritie and gouerment which what were it els but to bring in Anarchie worse than tyrannie by much But to the point indeed The promises of themselues and in the seruants of GOD bring forth no such effect For as they are deliuered for the comfort and consolation of them that are afflicted and mourne in Sion as may appeare in euerie place where they are alledged namely in the two first verses of the 40. chapter of Isay and tend indeede to manifest Gods loue and mercy that so in the truth and performance of his word wee might bee well assured that nothing should put an eternall separatiō between him and vs that hath loued vs so tenderly and giuen vs such gracious promises of truth life So surely the doctrine euery where adioyned to those promises in the word doth plainely shew that God meaneth not to make men secure and carelesse thereby or would haue them to inferre anie such thing thereupon And therefore when in the latter end of the sixt chapter of the second epistle to the Corinth hee had alledged manie promises of peace goodnes he beginneth the seuenth Chapter thus Seeing thē wee haue these promises dearely beloued let vs cleanse our selues from all fi lt hines of the flesh the spirit and finish our sanctification in the feare of God And the like he doth in the second chapter of the second epistle to Timothy saying The strong foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale the Lord knoweth who are his but withall let euery one that calleth vpon the name of Christ depart frō iniquity And let this suffice for these wordes of the 28. vers with the rest I cannot proceed because we haue been somewhat long and as I am wearie in my selfe so am I loath to bee troublous or tedious vnto you God may be pleased hereafter to giue both occasion time and place to pursue these things and to finish the residue In the meane while it shall not bee amisse in a word or two to apply that hath been saide to our persent assemblie and causes thereof and so to shut vp this exercise The causes that haue moued vs thereto are great grieuous iniquities preuailing vpon al euery one of vs the heauie rod of penurie and scarsity that ouerfloweth the land warres and rumors of warres and the same intended and threatned against vs both outward and inward at home and abroad To diuert or turne away the punishments for our sinnes and the iudgements that wee confesse and acknowledge we haue iustly deserued therefore no outwarde thing will serue though it bee neuer so great glittering or seeme neuer so pleasant or painefull but soundnes of heart and humble walking with our God in all our waies and all the dayes of our liues To this we haue been exhorted and prouoked by manifolde good meanes and namely by propounding singular comforts and consolations which the Lord hath vouchsafed vnto vs the better to meet with our backwardnes from approching to him wee being sometimes discouraged from doing of that dutie by his almightie greatnes and excellencie and sometimes let from it by the consideration of our owne base and vnworthie estate But yet sith hee hath so louingly and fatherly called vs and for our better incouragement giuen vs gracious promises let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith our inward parts being pure from an euill conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water And so no doubt the punishments wee presently feele shal be remooued the feare of our foes at home and abroad shall be put farre away and wee shall not need to dread the curses of that Balaam of Rome not the vaunts and attempts of that proud and persecuting notion of Spaine nor of anie other our enemies bodily or ghostly because that our consciences being quieted with the comforta blefeeling of all Gods fauours and specially of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and the saluation of our soules wee may comfortably say as the saithfull that haue gone before vs haue done I will not bee afraid for ten thousand of the people that should beset me round about Nay though I should walke in the valley of the shadow of death I will yet feare none ill for thou art with mee thy rod and thy staffe they comforte mee Yea that wee are perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Now let vs pray that God would giue a rich and plentifull blessing in our seuerall hearts to al the good things that haue been deliuered vnto vs at this time and let vs humbly intreat him to make them profitable in vs not onely for this present but for all the daies of our liues to his glorie and our euerlasting comforte thorowe Christ FINIS