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	love_v	word_n	3,306	5	4.1533	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65308	A plea for the Godly wherein is shown the excellency of a righteous person / by Thomas Watson ...	Watson, Thomas, d. 1686.	1672 (1672)	Wing W1138; ESTC R10636	40,142	126

them brighter Dan. 12. 10. 5. God calls them the apple of his eye Zach. 2. 8. The apple of the eye is the tenderest part of the eye to express Gods tenderness of them saith Salvian God cannot endure to have his eye-ball touched 6. God calls them his Portion Deut. 32. 9. as if his riches lay in them A man seals a bag of Money for his use so the Lord seals his people as his portion with a double seal the one of Election 2 Tim. 2. 19. the other of assurance Ephes. 1. 13. 7. God calls them his Plant of renown Ezek. 34. 19. he hedgeth in this noble plant with his protection waters it with the silver-drops of his Ordinances blesseth the springing of it adorns it with fruit transplants it into the heavenly Paradise where it grows continually in the sweet Sun-shine of his favour 8. God calls them joint-heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. Jesus Christ is a rich Heir Joh. 16. 15. He is Lord of all Gal. 4. 1. Heb. 1. 2. and the Saints are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they go sharers with Christ. 9. God calls them the Luminaries of the World They give light by their precepts and example Phil. 2. 15. Among whom ye shine as Lights in the world Lot was a bright Star in Sodom the world would be dark were it not for the children of light 10. God calls them a peculiar people 1 Pet 2. 9. he hath taken them out of the world as out of the wild forest and enclosed them to himself by a decree or as the Greek carries it they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a purchased people the righteous are the purchase of Christs blood he will not lose his purchase 11. God calls them a Kingdom of Priests Exod. 19. 6. 1. They are Kings they have their Throne Rev. 3. 21. and white Robes Rev. 6. 11. Robes signifie their Dignity and White their Sanctity 2. They are Priests The Priesthood under the Law was honourable the Kings daughter was Wife to Jehoiada the Priest 2 Chron. 22. 11. In ancient times the Egyptians chose their Kings out of their Priests the Saints are consecrated to be Priests to offer up to God the Eucharistical sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in Heaven 12. God calls them a crown of glory and diadem in his hand Isa. 62. 3. that is saith a learned Writer they are exceeding eminent and renowned above other people as the Crown is an Ensign of the highest state and honour nay the Lord calls them expresly his Glory Isa. 46. 13. Israel my glory as if Gods glory lay in his people All which shews what an high estimate God puts upon the righteous in giving them such illustrious Titles of honour They are Princes in all lands Isa. 45. 16. Kings do minister to them Isa. 60. 10. yea Angels Heb. 1. 14. the Lord will give whole Kingdoms to ransome them Isa. 43. 3. I gave Egypt for thy ransome That was when God destroy'd Egypt in the Red Sea for the saving of Israel nay God gave his own Son to die for their ransom 1 Pet. 1. 18. And if God esteem so highly of his people now on earth how much more will he value them when they are in heaven If when the righteous are afflicted they are so excellent how much more when they are crowned If when with the Emerald they have their Naevi their blemishes they are precious then how much more when all their imperfections shall be done away and they shall be presented to the Father without spot and wrinkle Ephes. 5. 27. If Gold be valuable in the wedg and the oar then how precious is it when it is fully refined If wheat be excellent when it is mingled with chaff then how much worth hath it when it is fanned and made pure If God reputes the righteous more excellent than others when conflicting with infirmities Oh how incomparably excellent and glorious will they appear in his eye when they shall be clarified from all lees of corruption and shall shine with knowledg as the air with light If a man makes any account of his friend when he sees him under distempers of body which cause frowardness how much more will he prize him when he sees him in perfect health and his spirit is calm and sedate If God esteem the righteous better than others in the present juncture of time when they have their untoward passions and fainting fits of unbelief what will he do when they shall be perfectly holy and as the Angels of God 4 Br. See the different esteem that God hath of the righteous and that men have of them The men of the world esteem lightly of the Saints they disdain them and scarce allow them half an eye they think of all things the people of God may be best spared they look upon them as the burden and reffuse of the earth 1 Cor. 4. 13. We are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day The Apostles who were the eyes of the World the breasts of the Church earthly Angels yet were counted by some like the Dung-cart that goes through the City into which every one throws his filth The Saints are loaded with invectives and are not judged worthy to live in the world Act. 22. 22. Away with such a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that ●…e should live But God puts another guiserate and value upon the righteous he thinks the world is not worthy of them Heb. 11. 38 Of whom the world was not worthy Hence it is he takes his children so fast away by death and placeth them among the Cherubims God looks upon the righteous as his curious Needle-work wrought with the finger of the Holy Ghost as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and glory of the Creation He would soon break up house in the World were it not for their sakes This excellent esteem God hath of them will be best seen when he shall separate between the Precious and the Vile and shall say to the wicked Go ye cursed and to the godly Come ye blessed 5 Br. See how dearly God loves the righteous and how near to his heart they lie They are more excellent the word excellent carries affection in it Things we prize we love The righteous are Gods Treasure Psal. 135. 4. and where his Treasure is there is his heart They are Gods delicious Garden where he plants the flower of his love Psal. 146. 8. They are the dearly beloved of his soul Jer. 12. 7. They are his Hephzi-bah or darling Isai. 62. 4. He engraves them upon the palmes of his hands that they may be never out of his eye Isa. 49. 16. He rejoyceth over them with joy and rests in his love Zeph. 3. 17. It is no ordinary affection that God bears to the righteous the Sun shining upon a burning glass sets on fire only

the object which is near the glass the beams of Gods love are more intensly enflamed towards them who are near him by grace these have the strength and spirits of his love distilled he loveth them as he loveth Christ Joh. 17. 26. Indeed in one sense Gods love to Christ and Believers is not alike for Christ is loved purely for his own sake but Believers are loved for Christs sake yet in another sense God the Father loves Believers as he loves Christ It is the same love for the quality the same for the unchangableness of it God will no more cease to love Believers then he will to love Christ. 6 Br. See from hence what a venerable opinion we should have of the righteous they are to be prized by us above others Psal. 15. 4. He honoureth them that fear the Lord. A Sa in rags is better than a sinner in scarlet We prize things that have an excellency in them why do we value Gold and Pearl but because they excell glass-bugles Oh then esteem the righteous as most worthy because of their intrinsick holiness whereby they out-shine their neighbours The righteous carry Christ about them Gal. 2. 20. Christ liveth in me Queen Cleopatra put a Jewel in her cup which contained the price of a Kingdom how rich are they who carry the pearl of Price about them Despise not the Saints for their worldly Poverty but honour them for their Vertue we esteem of a Ruby or Diamond though it be in the dust John Baptist was girt with a leathern-girdle yet he was more than a Prophet Mat. 11. 9. He was honoured to usher in the King of Glory into the World John was so eminent a person that doubtless Herod might have kept his oath though he had not beheaded him for he sware to the Damsel to give her what she asked unto half of the Kingdom Mar. 6. 23. But John Baptist was more worth than all his Kingdom A Saints facing may be mean but he hath a rich lining the out side of the Tabernacle was Goats hair but within it was embellished with Gold Psal. 45. 13. The Kings daughter is glorious within Jesus Christ himself was outwardly mean yet in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom Col. 2. 3. A Soul inspir'd by the Almighty and beautified with grace doth exceed others more than the light of the Sun doth exceed the light of a Taper 7 Br. If the righteous are more excellent than others then how severe will God be against those that wrong them the wicked are thorns in the sides of the godly Saint Paul was scourged by cruel hands 1 Cor. 11. 35. Thrice was I beaten with rods a●… if you should see a Skullion whip the Kings Son but shall not God avenge his Elect Surely he will Isa. 34. 6 8. The sword of the Lord is silled with blood for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompences for the controversie of Sion As if the Prophet had said The time appointed is now come sor Gods avenging Sion's wrongs Jer. 50. 10 11. Chaldea shall be a spoil saith the Lord because ●…e were glad because ye rejoiced O ye destroyers of mine heritage Jer. 30. 16. All that prey upon thee will I give for a prey The Saints are persons of Honour they are God's first-born Oh how enraged will the Lord be against such as offer injury to them they trample God's pearls in the dust they strike at the apple of his eye The righteous are Gods royal diadem Isa. 62. 3. Will a King endure to have his Robes spit upon and his Crown thrown in the dirt What is done to the righteous is done to God himself When the Kings favourite is struck at the King himself is struck at 2 King 19. 22. I know thy rage against me The rage of Sennacherib was against the person of Hezekiah but there being a league between God and his people the Lord took it as done to himself I know thy rage against me Certainly it shall not go unpunished Psal. 105. 14. He reproved Kings for their sakes What became of Julian Nero Dioclesian One of them had his deaths-wound from Heaven others of them had theit bowels come out and died raving Charles the ninth of France who had glutted himself with the blood of so many Christians in the Massacre at Paris was in such inward horror that he never durst be waked without Musick and at length blood issued out at so many parts of his body that he died bleeding These were set up as publick Monuments of God's vengeance 2 Use. Let us try whether we are in the number of these righteous ones then we are more excellent than others 1. A righteous man is an humble man he who is proud of his righteousness is unrighteous Luk 18. 1. God I thank thee that I am not as other men are I fast I give Tythes Here was a Triple crown of Pride the Pharisee wore Righteousness though it raiseth the name it depresseth the heart Job 15. 10. If I am righteous I will not lift up my head The Violet is a sweet flower yet hangs down the head such a flower was Job The righteous are like the Silk-worm while she weaves her curious works she hides her self in the silk The righteous man is more in judging himself than in playing the Critick upon another He shrinks into nothing in his own thoughts 2 Cor. 12. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though I be nothing David cries out I am a worm and no man Psal. 22. 6. Though a Saint though a King yet a worm St. Austin Lord I am not worthy of thy love Bishop Hooper Lord I am hell but thou art heaven One of the Martyrs subscribed his Letter The most hard-hearted-sinner John Bradford He who is righteous puts a greater value upon others than upon himself Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem other better than themselves The higher Grace is the lower the Heart is the more Gold you put in the Scale the lower it descends the richer the Ship is laden the lower it sails When the Soul looks black in its own eye it is most comely Isa. 57. 15. I dwell with him also that is of an humble spirit God hath two Heavens and the humble heart is one of them 2. A righteous man is devoted to holiness The Priests under the Law were not only wash'd in the great laver but adorned with glorious apparel Exod. 28. 2. the emblem of a righteous man who is not only washed from gross sin but adorn'd with inward sanctity he is what he seems he hath not only holiness painted on him but living in him 'T is said of Zachary and Elizabeth they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless Luk. 1. 6. A good Christian is Gods Temple his body is the outward Court of the Temple and his