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
A76788	Endevors aiming at the glory of God, that peace & truth may meet together: wherein is contained the excellency, benefit, and necessity of good government and governors: a loving reply to Mr William Prynnes speech made to the House of Commons, and afterwards published. Some matters are propounded to the consideration of the ministry; and also to particular (and to all) opinions. The first, purest, best and most blessed form and manner of government, prescribed by God, (and recorded in Gods sacred word;) together with the way of entrance, or Gods calling of persons to places of chief government, the great consequence thereof. Wherein is shewed, that government by succession, from the father to the son, was none of Gods institution, in the first and purest times. And also the government by Judges is plainly proved to be the best form of government, being Gods immediate direction, most blessed and approved for Gods glory, and for a peoples greatest good, comfort, and safety. / By John Blackleach.	Blackleach, John.	1650 (1650)	Wing B3074; Thomason E590_5; ESTC R206330	147,760	171

forme of government which God did in his wisdom appoint to his beloved first borne Sonne in the first and purest times of government from Moses to Samuel was much better then that government of Kings which succeeded afterwards in more corrupted times when God was angry with the people and was such a government as the people invented in imitation of the Heathens Secondly this government of God was better and the Peoples worse because God blessed his owne Directions and Prescriptions It is to be noted that of all the Iudges that God appointed immediately or in which the people asked counsell of God those governours God blessed them with his good and holy Spirit all of them from Moses to Samuel there was not one of them an evill governour that I can find and they all proved blessings to the people But those governors that the people chose and invented themselves many or most of them God did not so blesse with his good and holy Spirit and they proved curses and crosses to the people and were great afflictions to the people as appeared in Abimeleck in Ieroboam in Ahab and others Next let us consider That this people the children of Israel had the best forme of government from Moses to Samuel which appeareth from the considerations of diverse Scriptures Exod. 5. God there saith yee shall be my chiefe treasure though all the people of the Earth be mine this place sheweth that God preferred this people at this time above all other people therefore it may plainly be gathered that God took more speciall regard to appoint them a better government then other Nations but other Nations had Kings at that time and God prescribed and appointed to them Iudges at that time Therefore government by Iudges in that first and purest times were better then government by Kings Read Exod. 33.16 So shall I and thy people have preheminence above all people that are on the Earth here again the same is repeated to shew that this people had preheminence above all other people and should they be preferred in smaller matters and not in this matter of government being a matter of the greatest concernment Read Levit. 9.23 and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the People from this place it appeared that in this most excellent mercy they were far preferred before other people for did any other People see the glory of the Lord as they did no verily Read Levit. 26.12 Deut. 4.5 Behold J have taught you Ordinances and Lawes as the Lord my God commanded mee that yee should do Ver. 6. keepe them therefore and do them for that is your wisdome and understanding Ver. 7. For what Nation is so great to whom the Gods came so neare unto them as the Lord our God is neare unto us in all c. Ver. 8. And what Nation is so great that hath Lawes so righteous as all this Law that I set before you this day Ver. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not these things and that they depart not out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Ver. 2. Yee shal put nothing to the Word which I command you neither shall you take ought there from that yee may keepe the Commandements of the Lord your God c. Deare Friends let us well weigh the very expresse and direct force of such a plain downright Rule of God God tells them that they had Lawes and Commandements such as no people on Earth had the like Consider what was meant by Lawes and Precepts and Ordinances This is meant by it the whole frame of their government For Rules and Lawes and Ordinances implyeth most plainly two things the governours and the governed for else to what purpose had God given the lawes if he had not appointed governors to see those lawes executed We see it to be of necessity and most principall concernment that in all combinations or societies wherein many act together there must be Order which is nothing else but government We see likewise that this government being regulated and ordered wisely justly mercifully c. This puts a beauty upon all matters to be acted by Societies This Order in Government it puts a shining luster upon all pieces of worke and upon all Societies Do but withdraw a wise and good government and let either a foole or a negligent person or a disordered Epicure or a Tyrant mannage actions and you shall presently find that Workes or Societies guided by such will either turn into a Chaos or into disorder or at the least in the best cases the lustre and beauties of such societies will be taken away That which I shall then gather from these Scriptures is that no Nation under Heaven had so good a government which is plainly expressed in that none had so righteous Lawes and Ordinances as this people of Jsrael had now in this time of the Judges now in these first and purest times now in this time when God shewed his glory so eminently now in this time when God came so neare unto this people as no Nation upon Earth had such a government such governors which is plainly implied and expressed under these words Lawes and Ordinances This being true then it followeth plainly That this government by Judges was better then the government by Kings for at that time they had Kings in their Heathen governments the Egyptians they had a King a Tyrant an unrighteous oppressor a ripe of the Devill but God saith that at that very time the Ordinances and Lawes the whole-frame of their governors and government was better then all other Nations did enjoy then certainly it was better then the government by Kings We can no way evade or avoid in a plain way of righteousnesse this truth it followeth plainly directly and strongly But further it appeareth clearly that this government was better then that government by Kings because God in his wisdom saw this government to be best for his Church and people God was the Author of this government by Iudges God did prescribe this government and blesse this government And God is not as man his works are not imperfect God seeth and knoweth at once what is best consider then That God is likewise unchangeable Concerning the Government by Kings God was not ignorant of it he saw that but it plainly appeared that he approved not of it because nevertheles God prescribed to the people this way of Government by Judges this was Gods own Ordinance and God saith This Government was the best no Nation had so good a Government take it in what respect you will or can take it Further let us consider That these Ordinances of God these Laws this Government prescribed and blessed by God himself do continue in force to this day they were never changed nor repealed to this very day Object But do we not find that there were some good Kings as

England might now be wise and learn by our own and other mens harms to cleave close to the most pure most immediate and first Institution of Government recorded in the sacred Scriptures so should we secure our selves and posterity and obtain a blessing and protection from the glorious God of our Salvation Oh dearly beloved consider I pray you now there is such an opportunity as I beleeve God never offered to any generation from the days of Samuel to this present time now I pray you seek Gods favour seriously put forth your best and utmost endeavors that we may obtain Judge as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning then shall we be called a City of Righteousness a faithful City Isa 1. by this means we shall become good examples to our neighbor Nations and the generations to come shall have cause to praise the Lord for us and the memory of our names recorded in Gods Records shall be eternally blessed Concerning this man Moses being the first president God set to be Governor to his Church and People because Gods Works are most perfect and of most singular use to posterity therefore I judg it necessary to note somewhat touching his qualifications he was a man painful and diligent in his charge he sate to judg the people from morning to night Exod. 18.13 and afterwards in all his life we may note how studious he was and diligent and active in observing Gods Commandments and in exhorting the people to the same matters he was not ambitious to seek great offices and preferments for his own children after his decease which may be noted when Israel the people had highly provoked the Lord so that God threatneth to destroy the people and promiseth Moses that he would so far prefer him that he would make of him that is of his posterity a mighty people Exod. 32.10 Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them for I will consume them but I will make of thee a mighty people Now Moses preferreth the Glory of God and the Peoples good before any by respects either to himself or to his posterity noted Vers 11.12 13. But Moses prayed unto the Lord his God and said O Lord why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hast brought out of the Land of Egypt c. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say He hath brought them out maliciously to slay them in the Mountains c. Turn from thy fierce wrath and change thy mind from this evil towards thy people and remember Abraham Isaac c. Vers 14. Then the Lord changed his mind from the evil which he threatned to do unto his people This is recorded for the learning of succeeding ages to shew of what concernment and what benefit the people get by living under such a Government and Governors as God sendeth such Governors stand in the gap to keep off Gods displeasure and to procure a blessing for the people Many respect not much under what Government they live this was Lots sin who deeply tasted of the cup of Gods displeasure by living under or amongst the ungodly in Sodom But secondly This example of Moses is of singular use an eminent pattern to all Governors succeeding namely this That he sought Gods glory and the Peoples good before his own or his childrens preferment It is to be noted the like of him when God told Moses he should be taken away or dye he doth not request of the Lord to continue the Government to his children but this he doth he loves the people he looketh at Gods glory and the peoples good therefore he remembers the peoples good and maketh earnest prayer recorded for our learning to God entreating God That he would appoint a Governor for the people where note the modesty and humility of his heart his spirit being not lift up above his brethren therefore he expresseth it thus That he may go in and out before the people that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd Where we may note That he stileth himself and successor but under these expressions Num. 27.16 Let the God of the spirits of all flesh appoint a man over the Congregation Vers 17. Who may go in and out before them and lead them out and in that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a shepherd Note his expressions A man over the Congregation not only a King or by the name of Commander but only a man and a shepherd he had true respect and understanding of the nature of his charge and office which was to order to provide for to feed love and defend the stock and not to persecute or to suffer Wolves to devour them not to feed upon them himself therefore note his expression Vers 17. that the Congregation of the Lord He remembred and modestly acknowledgeth the people to be Gods heritage He doth not stile them his Subjects or his Vassals and so seek to leave the people as inheritance of Goods Lands Beasts and Cattel to his Children but he esteems the people and so they were of more value then earthly inheritances Gods inheritance and so in express words he calleth them The Congregation of the Lord the Lords Inheritance the Lords People and therefore he doth not lay claim to them as the Inheritance for his Children he knew Gods minde better he speaks no such matter for succession in Government from the Father to the Son came in long many hundreds of years after in more corrupted Times God did not in these first and purest Times in the original order it to be so neither did Moses expect or desire it because he looked after those matters that were truly his own He truly sought Gods Glory and the Peoples good But thus much to shew his opinion and respect that he had of the people in those days Those first Governors owned the people to be their brethren and so they behaved themselves towards the people as brethren Is not the World much altered in these days when many great men will scarce acknowledg the poor people to be any of their kindred afar off much less as brethren Yea this Governor in these first and purest Times did not only use the People as brethren but as children he carryed them in his bosom neer his heart and tenderly too as sucking children and that also by Gods own direction as Moses himself witnesseth and willingly acknowledgeth But when Kings obtained the Government we may observe how soon the case was altered Abimelech he slayeth his brethren that he might obtain the preeminence and Saul he persecuted an innocent and vertuous man fearing lest he might hinder his son from reigning after him yea he pursueth this with such violence that he maketh little account of Gods Commandments if they stand in his way to hinder him to make sure the Government to his son Jonathan blood is not much valued in his sight witness

forme and in the persons for that Babylon that great City of corruptions is compacted in and by disorder corrupt governors government is the very root of all her abominations And note it well when Gods Church shall become a City of righteousnesse a faithfull City God nameth this as the principall ingredient and cause namely that they shall have Iudges as at the first and counsellors as at the beginning Observe well that frame of that Heavenly Ierusalem Rev. 21.2 The holy City the new Ierusalem Come downe from God out of Heaven as a bride trimmed for her husband Note well in what a beautifull and perfect order she is proportioned read the Chapter see there what blessings came to the People when good Order commeth Ver. 4. Then God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow Ver. 5. And hee that sate upon the Throne said c. write Ver. 6. It is done I am Alpha and Omega c. Ver 11. Having the glory of God and her shining was like unto a stone most precious c. Note I pray you what a direct opposition there is between the Babylon of confusion and this City ruled and proportioned by the Wisdome of God you know that Babells Tower brought confusion at the first building and from that day to this that great strumpet is corrupted and defiled by forsaking Gods blessed Rules recorded she slighted Gods Wisdome shee would not follow his Prescriptions but turned from God and followed her owne inventions Therefore shee not being trimmed as a Bride prepared for such a glorious God he being jealous of his glory doth give her a Bill of divorce for her adultery let this serve for to warn us to follow Gods Prescriptions his Rules and Presidents recorded in the Word of truth Note it well the maine end of the Creation of Heaven Earth Man and the rest of the Creatures was and is that man may learn to see the difference betweene Gods good government and evill governments betweene Gods Wisdome contained in the sacred Rules of Gods holy Word and between mans seeming better inventions contrived by mans own wisdom Is not this the lesson that God teacheth us from our cradle to ur deat Observe well God letteth us see the difference between his Government recorded and prescribed in his Word of Truth and between the Devils Government who is the Father of lyes Amongst the Nations of the World God suffers evil Governments and Governors It is not because he wanteth wisdom power opportunity or goodness to reform such but God teacheth man to see the benefit and excellency of good Governors and Government by letting them see evil and corrupt Governors We have a long and large experience from Samuel and from Moses to this day recorded for our instruction I pray God that we may now at length learn to profit and to set a high value and price upon good Government proceed exactly let no Governor enter into his place but purely through the door of Gods Word follow those Rules most purely and plainly prescribed by God himself Consider what is the main the very end of Gods actings and mans actings all our prosperity our sufferngs all our afflictions is not this the very moving cause and the highest end To teach us that it is safest and most for our comfort that we should follow those Rules prescribed by God without turning aside to any hand or upon any pretence and especially in this weighty matter of Governors and Government God looketh upon this with a wary and with a jealous eye he knowing of what neer concernment it is for his glory and mans good Therefore when the people went about but to alter the form of government by himself prescribed in what high contempt doth God take this He saith That the people had cast God away from governing and reigning over them in so doing Consider do but take away two things namely good Governors and Gods good Rules of direction contained in his sacred Word and this world the people in it would be turned into a confused Chaos a heap of rubbish of ruinous desolations much worse then that Chaos recorded Gen. 1. When in the beginning the Earth was voyd and without form and in darkness Witness divers Nations that at this day have not Gods Laws his blessed Word to govern them but have evil Governors in such places it is certain and true they do degenerate so much from goodness that the strongest captivateth and oppresseth the weaker and they do devour one another yea they sell mens flesh and womens and childrens flesh as we do buy and sell beef in the shambles Dearly beloved we are the very same by nature were it not that we submit to the Government of a good and blessed God and to his Laws and to his blessed Rules Therefore now I pray you to set a high price upon Government good Government for God loveth to bestow the richest and choycest mercies upon those that value them according to their true worth he will not prostitute such rich jewels such precious favors unto such a people as make light account of them for swine will trample upon pearls of the greatest value but God giveth Grace to the humble and to the thirsty by the hungry food is thankfully and gladly accepted but the full loatheth the hony comb Israel was wanton they slighted Gods form of Government and those good Governors that were the most immediately appointed by God himself therefore God maketh them to see the difference he maketh them servants to serve strangers in a strange Land in hunger and cold and nakedness and oppressed and in the want of all things the Lord reach us instruction Therefore now dearly beloved Fathers joyne all your hearts and endeavours together for Gods glory set aside cast behinde you all comberances all by-respects tread under your feete these sublunary matters in comparison of Gods glory the good of your Nation the good of your selves and of your and our posterity consider that Satan tempted our blessed Saviour with the seeming shew of these empty deceiptefull deadly lying Serpents namely making a shew of that to be found in worldly honors and preferments which is not to be found in them if Satan laboured with Christ much more with his Disciples to perswade that these earthly things are more worth then Gods favour for the shew of these which were not his to give laboured to draw Christ from God Therefore in comparison cast behinde you under your feet these venomous Cockatrices Egges of worldly honors let them not be preferred before Gods commands For these deceiptfull shewes of these momentany vanities do deceitfully worke too much upon our affections to leade us aside out of that good way that leadeth to true blessednesse into that broad path that many great and wordly rich men do walke in which leadeth to certain Destruction I believe amongst you that now govern this Common-wealth there