Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	earth_n	people_n	praise_v	6,597	5	10.8382	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20529	Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast, enioyned by authoritie, by occasion of the pestilence then dangerously dispearsed. Likewise two other sermons on the twelfth Psalme. VVhereunto is annexed a briefe tract of zeale. / By I. Dod. R. Cleauer.	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625.; Winston, John, fl. 1614-1634.; Greenham, Richard.	1611 (1611)	STC 6938; ESTC S114261	70,793	120

extremitie of sorrow that he is faine to restraine himselfe why art thou cast downe my soule saith he and why art thou disquieted within me c yet godly men were not quite abolished at this time but Dauid onely taken from them and he knew that he should come againe vnto them at length and that they should be his flocke if then he were so farre cast downe for that he might not be with them what griefe would he haue conceiued if they had vtterly beene cut off and ceased to be any longer Now the reasons why the decay of Gods people is and should be such an heart-breaking vnto the rest of the Saints are these First because the glory of God is precious vnto them which is much hindered and obserued when his seruants are diminished for then there is lesse seruice done vnto him in publike and priuate there are fewer praiers and praises offered vp vnto him fewer religious exercises in vse amongst men and fewer workes of mercy performed vnto the needie and distressed And if the decay of good souldiers and of loyall subiects in any kingdome must needs be a matter of griefe to those that loue and seeke the honour of their King then can it not but goe neere the hearts of the godly when they perceiue the souldiers and subiects of Christ to goe to wracke Secondly in regard of themselues they are mooued heere at as being fellow members with them for when the godly perish they are as it were a maimed body They haue fewer friends and fellow-helpers fewer to pray with them and for them fewer to reprooue exhort and comfort them and in a word fewer to whom they may doe good and from whom they may receiue good Thirdly in respect of the publike losse they mourne for the decay of the righteous for when multitudes of all nations and of all sorts of people doe know the waies of God and praise the name of God then as the Prophet saith the earth shall bring foorth her increase and God euen our God shall blesse vs. If there be but ten righteous men and women in a Citie or some few in a whole Country all the rest shall speed the better for their sakes how much more then if there be multitudes of them What a griefe therefore must it needs be to the wise and godly when these props and pillars of the Church and Common-wealth are taken away Which serueth First for the iust reproofe of those that doe carrie a deadly enmitie against the multitude of Christians that now are and doe much grieue that there should be so many that resort vnto the word in publike that read it in priuate that haue praier and singing of Psalmes in their families c. they grudge and murmur at it as if some conspiracie or mutinie against the State were towards and as if the good of mens soules and the peace of the common-wealth could not stand together These are of another spirit then Dauid was who lamented that there were so few such and these are indeed vtter enemies vnto God who esteemes his people to be his chiefe treasure vnder heauen and therefore they shall beare their iudgement whosoeuer they be that doe thus malice the seruants of God and endeuour to peruert them or to diminish the number of them Secondly heere is matter of cōfort for thē that are of the same disposition that Dauid was that cry night and day Helpe Lord for the godly perish c. that labour with God by fasting and weeping praying that he would vphold the state of his Church If the praier of Dauid being but one man were effectuall for the continuing of Gods people how much more forcible shall the requests of many thousands be who doe vncessantly intreate the Lord with great earnestnesse to be fauourable vnto Sion and to build vp the walles of Ierusalem to saue his chosen and defend his owne heritage against the malicious plots and practises of all their enemies They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour Heere he sheweth what manner of enemies were against him not such as would professe themselues open aduersaries for though he had many such yet heere he dealeth not against them but such as would make shew of good will whereas indeed there was in them nothing lesse Now in that his chiefe complaint is against them the doctrine is that Deceitfull friends are worse then open and apparant foes Dauid had diuers professed enemies as Saul and such as were neere him yet none of their practises went so neere his heart as these mens that would pretend to be friendly vnto him To this purpose it is said by Salomon that The wounds of a louer are faithfull and the kisses of an enemie are to be praied against for so the words must be read When a faithfull friend doth rebuke vs and seeke to wound our hearts for sinne that is exceeding profitable for vs but when an enemie vnder pretence of loue whereof by kissing they then made shew doth come against vs and seeke to vndermine vs that is exceeding dangerous and the hurt there of much to be praied against The waters that runne smoothly and mildly are commonly most deepe and dangerous whereas that which roares is more shallow and safe The reasons of this doctrine are First that such craftie foxes doe more easily come within a man and sooner deceiue him An open enemie commeth as it were before ones face and so his blowes may be better warded off but a false friend commeth behind ones backe and fasteneth a deadly blow ere a man be aware and therefore Ioab when he would speed Abner and Amasa did not bid open defiance vnto them but being therein more crafty and subtill then either godly or manly gaue them kind salutations and vnder pretence of loue most cruelly murdered them both And as it is for the outward man so is it also for the soule The most dangerous temptations are those that proceed from fained friends vnder the colour of loue and desire of our good If Sathan had come vnto Eue and told her I charge you eat of the tree in the midst of the garden whatsoeuer the danger be stand not vpon that for I will haue your husband and you to be damned she would neuer haue hearkened vnto him but when he perswaded her that he was her friend and meant her good namely that by eating thereof she might be made like vnto God himselfe knowing both good and euill then was she ouertaken by him and so being ouercome her selfe she became the instrument of the diuell to deceiue her husband in like sort And so it is with many that haue held out well against raging and violent temptations and yet haue beene foulely drawne aside and shamefully foiled by milder temptations vnto profit or pleasure or credit Secondly the false dealing of such counterfeit friends doth much more afflict the heart of a man then