Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	let_v	lord_n	redeem_v	2,282	5	9.7794	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78179	Gods lift-up hand for Lancashire, presented in a sermon preached before the honorable committee of the county at Lancashire. Upon the 18th of December 1645. Being a solemne day of thankesgiving to God for clearing of the country, in subduing the enemies thereof. / By Nehemiah Barnet, minister at Lancaster.	Barnett, Nehemiah, b. 1614 or 15.	1646 (1646)	Wing B874; Thomason E1165_2; ESTC R210100	19,384	61

you have begun with courage and constancy and be assured the LORD is with you while you are with him Your joyning the sword of your power to the word of your Minister is the high-way to a blessing your prudent perseverance in the worke so well begun will procure many praises to GOD many prayers for you and much joy in the hearts of all them who sincerely affect you Of which number you may reckon him who is Your most humble Servant for the good of your soules NEHE BARNET Gods lift up Hand for LANCASHIRE OR A Sermon Preached upon the day of Thanksgiving for the clearing of that County in subduing the Enemies thereof ISAIAH 26.11 Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed for their envie at the people the fire of thine enemies shall devoure them IF you please at your leasure to look back into this Prophesie you shall finde the promises that God hath made to his Church turned into the Churches Prayers and the prayers of the Church bring forth many passages of Gods providence and the passages of Gods providence to his Church and People winde up their hearts to the true tune of prayses The experience of Gods Providences hath ever provoked Primitive Christians to Gods praises When Israel had crossed the Red-seas with dry feet and the returning waters had drowned the pursuing enemies Moses and the people sang a Song of triumph and spake saying I will sing unto the Lord Exod. 15. V. 1. for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he throwne into the Sea V. 2. The Lord is my strength and song and he is become my salvation hee is my God and I will prepare him a habitation my fathers God and I will exalt him V. 3. The Lord is a man of war The Lord is his Name When Deborah had conquered Sisera Judges 5. with his 900 Chariots of Iron whereby the Land had rest forty yeares she sang this rejoycing Song to the Lord. Praise yee the Lord V. 2 for avenging of Israel when the people willingly offered themselves Heare oh yee Kings V. 2. give eare oh yee Princes I even I will sing unto the Lord I will sing praises to the Lord God of Israel When God restored Judah back againe out of Captivity this Chapter was their song of triumph wherein three things are observeable First the place where it was sung V. 1. In that day shall this Song be sung in the Land of Judah Secondly the persons rightly fitted and qualified for the singing of this joyfull Song set downe in this Chapter by foure Qualifications 1. They are a righteous Nation V. 2. which keep the truth v. 2. 2. They are such whose minde is staid on God because they trust in God V. 3. v. 3. 3. They are such who wait for God V. 8. and the desire of their souls is to his name v. 8. 4. They are such who seek God early V. 9. with soule and spirit v. 9. These are the persons rightly qualified for singing of this song Thirdly the provoking and inciting causes for singing of this Song are these amongst many 1. Because they had a strong City salvation had God appointed for Wals and Bulwarks for them v. 1. 2. Because in the Lord Jehovah they had everlasting strength v. 4. 3. Because hee bringeth them downe that dwell on high the lofty City he layeth it low even to the ground v. 5. 4. Because he will ordaine peace for his people hath wrought all their works on them v. 12. But I need not go beyond my Text to seek for reasons why Judah doth sing this Song For When Gods hand is lifted up in a way of mercy for a people and in a way of Justice upon their enemies and makes them ashamed that envies them and destroyes them with the fire of his enemies that riseth up against them then you cannot but grant that there is good ground for singing joyfull Songs of praises So that from the course that Gods people here took when they were delivered out of Captivity we might by the way draw this Doctrine Doct. That the experience of Gods mercies in delivering his people calls for their praises to God It 's Davids argument which he useth to stirre up himselfe and others to extoll and blesse and praise his God because the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his workes Psal 145.8 The Psalmist exhorteth the redeemed in praising God to observe his manifold providence Psal 107.1 2. O give thanks unto the Lord for hee is good for his mercy endureth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy Which is the onely argument why we should praise him because he hath redeemed us out of the hands of our enemies by two Demonstrations Reason 1 1. By disappointing their plots 2. By weakning their power First by disappointing their plots and purposes while the wicked set their wits to devise and their bodies to execute mischiefe with all the art and craft they can While the wicked are contriving iniquity on their beds and when the morning is light they purpose to practise it Behold while they travaile with this their iniquity Mich. 2.1 and have conceiv'd their mischiefe God blasts it and it proves abortive They bring forth nothing but a Lye Psal 7.14 A Lye in regard of expectation A Lye in regard of intention For the mischiefe they intended for others falls on their owne heads For God delights to catch them in the imagination of their owne hearts and pay them in their owne coine 1. God doth this that hee might not lose the glory of any of his Attributes hee will make them know that hee is a God onely wise and knowes how to disappoint the plots of the enemies 2. In regard of the enemies whose fiercenesse turnes to Gods praises in disappointing their plots he lets them know that there is a God that ruleth the earth Secondly his mercies are seen in breaking the power and strength of the enemies By the blast of God they perish Job 4.9 and by the breath of his Nostrils are they consumed therefore with confidence David saith for lo thy enemies Psal 92.9 ô Lord for lo thy enemies shall perish all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered When the Lord our God shall send the rod of his strength out of Sion Psa 111.2 and rule in the midst of our enemies then there is cause of loud praises to God for this his mercy When God expresseth his mercies to a people in suppressing the power and pride of their enemies this calls for loud praises Vse 1 To reprove these whose eyes are fill'd with envy at the prosperitie and proceedings of Gods goodnesse to his people such a spirit were Sanballat and Tobiah of who were exccedingly grieved because

had many roaring thundering terrifying Cannons we but one small Peece * Mr. Angeer one said well of them theirs did but play but did no worke whilst the lift-up hand of the God of the Seas was working with the Windes to bring a Dunkirke ship a man of War that came from Spaine furnished with one and twenty Peeces of Brasse and Iron Ordnance fit to supply our present wants and to carry them so * Twirefoot neare our strongest Castle which had no Cannon at all was not this Digitus Dei pointing at the place where they should bee placed 5. And shall wee not remember the hand of GOD in preserving the Castle of LANCASTER after the Cannons were hastily conveyed thither the envy of our Enemies was presently encreased and therefore with much fury and with all their Forces came against the Towne and Castle and were so hot that they quickly fired the Towne and thought thereby to have fired or frighted us out of the Castle and so have gained that which Gods hand had lately given unto us Yet unwilling to fight with our Forces that came to relieve us fearing thereby they should lose their Plunder wherewith they were loaden retreated and took the opportunity to prevaile against Preston which successes surprised the spirits and discouraged the hearts of the chief Commanders in the Castle that they thought the safest way for themselves was to march towards Manchester and quit the Castle And when souldiers were left discontented and without Commanders here yet did Gods hand appeare in moving their hearts to defend that place and those Canons which Gods providence had given unto them Might I speak out without offence or without the censure of arrogating any thing to my selfe I am confident I could cause every Christian present to confesse that at this time the Lords hand was mightily lifted up for us 6. Lastly look upon their persons as well as their actions who rose up against us who were weake and an unworthy people of any protection from God they were Lords Knights and Gentlemen of great personage whose personages were promoted to great places whose places were of great power but now where are the persons where are their places where is their power all vanished by this time they may bee ashamed for their envy at us for firing our habitations the fire of Gods enemies hath met with them and destroyed many of them For Lord when thy hand was lifted up they would not see but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy of the people yea the fire of thine enemies shall devoure them Thus much for the first Use being a Use of examination Secondly suffer a word of Exhortation Is Gods hand lifted up for us hath he extended the lift-up hand of mercy to us Vse 2 Then let us be lifted up in duties to our God shall God do all this for us and shall we doe nothing for our God Hath hee performed his promises to us and lift up the hand of his providence for us let us then labour to performe our duties to God I might herein urge lex talionis the Law of taliation which will require the discharging of our duties to God answerable to the measure of mercies received from God Thus in generall but that I might not speak confusedly and unprofitably I shall digest this Exhortation into these foure branches for your better remembrance The duties are these foure which I urge 1. Lift up your Confidence in God 2. Lift up your Courage for God 3. Lift up your Prayers to God 4. Lift up your Praises of God Duty 1 The first Duty I presse you to is Confidence in God we have experience of him let us put more confidence in him and trust in him and to him We have had plaine experience of his providence towards us his mercies to us his power for us Lift up the hand of Faith now God hath lift up the hand of favour to us what a shame is it for us Christians not to trust God further then wee see him most of us could not believe that God would lift up his hand for us till they saw what his hand had mightily brought to passe for us We will beleeve in and put trust to man and shall we not fix our faith on God wee will say of man he is my old friend and hee never deceiv'd me I dare trust to him he hath promised me and I am sure he will not deceive me and tell me what man can be found or ever was heard of that could say I have trusted in God and he deceived me hath God promised thee protection and shall hee not performe it hath he said it It is easier for heaven and earth to passe Luk 16.17 e then that one little of his Word should faile 1 Kings 8.56 And what the Lord said to his Servant Joshua he seems to speak to all his faithfull people Josh 1.5 I will be with thee I will not faile thee nor forsake thee It is a sad thing that though Gods promises have been made good in his providence to us he hath performed his word in his works yet our faith is so weak that it is not able to carry us from one County to another nay from one Towne to another from one miracle to another his hand is not weakned nor arme shortned but it may it can it will help another County as well as this Let Davids arguments move you to put your confidence in God Psalme 37.3 Trust in the Lord and doe good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thoushalt be fed and look the last Verse see how hee heapes up arguments in few words to urge and force us to trust in God for the Lord shall helpe them and deliver them V. 40. he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him I 'le say no more of this but with the same Prophet They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psalme 9.10 Since God hath not forsaken us but we must confesse hath lift up his hand for us let us make it appeare to the world that wee know him by putting confidence in him which is the first duty required of us Duty 2 Lift up your courage and resolutions for God for Gods hand is lifted up for us in our deliverance and preservation Shall our Spirits be downe when God is up for us It 's a shame that so great and mighty a cause which is prosperously carryed on by the high God should bee managed with such poore low spirited men as we are a good cause and a good courage should alwayes be companions 1. This is Gods precept 2. This is his peoples practice For the first see Josh 1.9 Have not I commanded thee be strong and of a good courage be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee

whithersoever thou goest Deut. 31.6 Consider Christians who are our enemies that wee should feare them since we see Gods hand is against them Why should one feare them that feare not God they have lifted up their hands against God therefore Gods hand is lifted up against their power plots policies and all their preparations 2. This is Gods people practice Neh. 6.11 When Sanballat and Tobiah both grand enemies to Reformation practised by craft by rumors by hired Prophesies to terrifie Nehemiah and hinder his good worke of Reformation yet lifts up his courage Shall such a man as I flee As if he had said shall such a man as I who have so many promises made to me by my God I that have so many experiences of Gods providences I that have seen so often times Gods hand lifted up for me shall I flee I will not When the children of Ammon and the Syrians came against Israel David puts on courage and encourageth the people Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good 2 Samuel 10.12 That Ironicall speech of the Prophet Isaiah is very pregnant to this place Isa 8.9 10. Associate your selves ô yee people V. 10. and yee shall bee broken in pieces and give eare all yee of far Countreyes Gird your selves and yee shall bee broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Is it not manifest God is with us by his hand lifted up for us Therefore let our courage be lifted up for God which is the second duty required of us Duty 3 Let us lift up our hands and hearts to God in Prayers for our God hath his hands lifted up for us in his Providences hee hath heard our Prayers and granted our requests let us bee encouraged to pray continually I am perswaded that prayers have done as much as weapons in subduing our enemies The Churches prayers have been as prevalent as our Souldiers Swords The praying people in the Land have done best service in the cause of God Worthy Commanders I confesse you have done couragiously and deserve much for your fidelity and magnanimity but assume nothing to your selves but ascribe all to the lift-up hand of God Valiant Souldiers I confesse you have plaid the men for your Country and the Cities of our God but take nothing to yourselves though you deserve much but give all to the lift-up hand of God and let all our hands and hearts bee lifted up to God in prayers who hath lifted up his hand for us in Providences Prayers are powerfull with God able to bring the promises of God into gracious performances Prayers have a power to undermine all the plots and break in pieces the power of our enemies Esth 4.16 Esther Mordecai and the Jewes prayed and they prayed Hamans Plot to confusion Esth 7.10 and his person to the Gallowes Let us therefore with a Jacob-like importunity wrastle with God in Prayer and resolve not to let him go till he blesse us with the perfecting of all our works in us and for us Let us keep no silence let the Lord have not an houres rest till hee have given rest to England and deliverance out of all her troubles What the Prophet spake to Gods Remembrancers Esa 62.6 his Messengers I speak to all my hearers Never hold your peace day nor night keep not silence give the Lord no rest till he establish and till he make our Jerusalem a praise in the earth This is the third Duty required of us Duty 4 Let us bee lifted up in praises to God for God is lifted up in providences to us Let us lift up the voyce of praises to God he hath done great things for us whereof our hearts this day are glad let us praise him for it with lift-up tongues with lift-up hands with lift-up hearts 1. The tongue is made to interpret the meaning of the heart the lips are the Trumpet but it is the heart that gives it breath to sound out Gods praises therefore David saith With a loud voice will I praise thee Psal 48. and with the voice of triumph let our tongues talke of Gods righteousnesse all the day long Psal 89. 2. The hands must play their parts in this dayes duty or else our prayses are spoiled praising God in words is little worth without we praise him in our works Therefore the Jewes when they dedicated dayes of thankesgiving to God Est 9.22 gave gifts to the poor 3. Let our hearts be chiefe in discharging this dayes duty make melody in your hearts to the Lord this day for if our hearts be not in tune we shall make no harmony in Gods eares this day it must be homo cordis the man of the heart that must make us thankful men when wee are about this duty let our resolutions be that of Davids I will praise thee with my whole heart Psal 138.1 Let us not only this day performe this duty but let our lives al the days of our life praise God which is the life of praises it is a poore praising of God with our lips when our lives dispraise our God Gods hand is lifted up in multiplying his mercies upon us God enable us to multiply our duties to God by trusting in him being couragious for him praying to him praysing of him I have dwelt long on this first Doctrine but shall therefore bee very briefe on the next Doct. 2 That when the Lords hand is lifted up there are some that will not see it They see by the eye of sence and reason but not as it is the hand of God they may see the worke but they know not it to be the worke of God The Lord labours by the Prophet Isaiah to convince the people Esa 48.6 7 8. of their foreknown obstinacie in these words Thou hast heard see all this and will not ye declare it I have shewed thee new things from this time even hidden things and thou didst not know them Yea thou heardest not V. 8. yea thou knewest not yea from that time that thine ear was not opened for I knew that thou wouldst deale very treacherously and was called a transgressor from the womb But we shall lay you downe briefly some grounds of this Doctrine Reas 1 Why some will not see the Lords Lift-up hand because they want a spirituall eye for the things of God are spiritually discerned A carnall man cannot discern Gods hand hee cannot perceive the passages of Gods providence 1 Cor. 2. v. 14. he is blind in things of God He may be quicke sighted in naturall things but as blinde as a beetle in spirituall things V. 15. for he that is spirituall discerneth all things Reas 2 This may bee in respect of