Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	glory_n	lord_n	shake_v	1,255	5	9.9347	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39768	The true settlement of a Christians faith,bafter shaking assaults, by its own evidence; and by the internal sealing work of the spirit; pointed at, in some special inquiries thereon in a letter to a friend. With some serious reflections on the present times we are in, and those great vicissitudes of providence, wihch have been in the publick state of Britain in this last age, in a II. letter. By a minister of the Ghospel [sic].	Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694.	1692 (1692)	Wing F1277A; ESTC R215628	111,123	216

who would withstand the same for which end may it be clearly understood what such ane appearance did mean in so strange ane administration of providence by the Sword to these Nations in this age what such unusual shakings and overturnings there yea by such restless oppositions to any civil settlements since the Lord begun to shake Britain to make knowen this solemn period of time was come and the days of the 7t Trumpet when our Lord Jesus should take to himself his great Power and Reign which had been so long darkned by the usurpations and enmity of men thereto yea that he was surely gone forth who hath that name writen on his vesture and thigh King of Kings and Lord of Lords to make good the same and will have this name engraven on all the ways and actings of Providence who must reign until he hath putt all his Enemies under his feet 1 Corinth 15 25. and the Nation and Kingdome that will not serve him shall perish and these Nations shall utterly be layed waste Isay 60 11. for thus hath the Lord spoken and is settled sealed by the decree of him that chaingeth not It is true he hath been walking in the dark as to most in these times past and even from his choisest people there hath been oft a hiding of his work and keeping it out of their sight amidst these strange changes as hath put the most discerning to a stand it might be easie to see mens intent in their actings and under what influences they hake moved yea what bitter risings of heart an● quarrellings hath been upon the miscarrying o● their ends but this is an other sight and of a higher concern to see and discern wisely the Work of the Lord and how amidst all the realings of these strange times his way and course of providence hath been ever steady and sixt 3. It may be thus clearly seen if our spirits were more deeply lett forth on such a study that the strength of our day yea the standing and security of the publick state of these Nations does assuredly ly in a resolute concurrence with this great design of the Lord so as otherwise there can be no standing in the breach before him to turn away his wrath But since this Subject of the Catholick Right and Kingdom of Jesus Christ over the Kingdoms of this Earth is so strange a mystery to many in these times and such different thoughts and conceptions are hereof as I have desired to know the way of truth on these sure principles and grounds that I might have full rest and settlement to my own spirit herein so I may say that in the clearness of this light I have found a special strengthning in the Christian Faith when with the furthest evidence it may be seen 1. How that which is spoken of the donative and universal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus which was given him of the Father as incarnate and after his Ascension is not to be understood of that which is his essential and natural Kingdom which did belong to his person as he is the brightness of the Fathers Glory and God equal with him but is such as was promised and by special donation given to him that the ends and uttermost Coasts of the Earth sould be his inheritance Ps 2 8. and his Dominion to be from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the earth Psalm 72 8. yea is the same which was given to him Dan. 7 v 14. when he was invested with Dominion Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him c. 2. As there can be no suspence or darknes in this so is it no less clear his entring on the administration of his Mediatory Kingdom was reserved only to the times of the N. Testament to which the fall of the 4 greatest Monarchies which ever was in the earth was direct and subordinate to make way for the same and loe here may we see the first period of the visible Glory of Christs Reign and his entrance on the same when after such strong opposi●ions the Pagan World was at last made to bow down and fall before his truth and submit to him 3. But herein it cannot be understood by this special bequeathment of the Kingdoms of the World to be the Lords in that sense only of inbringing the Elect out of the same or of his internal Reign on the hearts of men but that it lyes in a visible surrender and subjecting of the collective body of Nations to the Scepter of his Government when the Princes and Kings of the earth should subject their Regal Authority to his Rule and Empire as holding their Dominion from him to whom all power and judgment is committed and can bear that stile only of being the Catholick King and Lord of all for this is a truth that shines with so clear a light from the whole Scripture as it may be strange how possibly it should be questioned nothing can be more comforting to Christian Magistrates then to have so highly desirable a holding of their power as they may have the Son of God thus interessed in their security and interest as a part of that inheritance which belongs to his Mediatory Kingdom Nor does it evacuate the Magistracy of Heathens for the interest of humane society tho they have none in the Church as it can never make void also his Catholick Right and Dominion over them by whom Kings reign Prov. 8 15. although it restrains the exercise thereof 4. But there is yet a further growing light on this great subject which now meet us to be clearly seen how the more eminent appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Glory and State of his Mediatory Kingdom in the Earth was alone reserved to the dayes of the seventh and last Trumpet for which as nothing can be more evident then the contemporating of the same with that period of time in which was the first rise and restoring of the Church from Antichristian darkness when the Lord did himself go forth in the glory of his power to plant and settle the Reformed Churches and thus to make way for his Kingdom did with the first blast of that Trumpet sound a retreat to his people out of Babylon so I have herein been made to admire with joy the exactness of that correspondence betwixt the events of this Trumpet that hath already taken place with what is so punctually foretold hereof Rev. 11 15. for as it is surely there promised that then should be an opening of the Temple of God in Heaven and the Ark of his Testimony be seen there which had been formerly shut up loe how expresly hath the God of Truth made good his Word herein and keept the time which he had set for the same in the bright shining forth of his truth and the way of Salvation when for so many ages keept hid from the World to which are the

discoveries of the works of God the depths of providence about his Church these was reserved to that period when the Mystery of God hereon should be more fully perfited and in this respect it 's to be said blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to such a solemn time and to have his lot fall therein as is spoken Dan. 12 12. III. But for a further clearing of this Subject since the Glory of the Kingdom of Christ is so nearly concern'd in the discovery and entertainment of his Works in the day thereof and now when a more eminent appearance thereof is near that Kingdoms and Nations in their Complex Body shall in a more solemn way be the Lords It should be expected that the return and oblation of praise upon the great Acts of his Providence shall be more remarkable as a publick deed of Nations and Churches then hath yet hitherto been yea that when the Lord does in any singular way appear for their security and standing by Providences of a publick and national extent that a gratulatory retribution on their part must be of the same extent under a publick care and regard It is true there is a settled frame of subordinat means by which the Providence of God does work in the great designs thereof that we are called to regard wherein I doubt not but the Ministry of the Angels hath the greatest interest as one of the great Ordinances he hath setled in behalf of his Church tho as to their special offices and d●legate service to particular Churche● and Christians is something that 's more dark but it may be hoped wil ere long be with a clearer evidence known in these great transactions of Providence which are yet to take place when a nearer Communion may be then attained betwixt these blessed Spirits and the Saints here on the earth then is yet known but tho there is no time wherein the Lord will not put honor on instituted means and on that established order of his working yet whilst most have such ordinare thoughts of God herein and are so ready to fix their eyes wholly on men his honor is concern'd to let the World know he is God by more extraordinar demonstrations yea such are most of the great events of his Word which are yet to be brought forth as cannot possibly in an other way be expected But on this Subject I would humbly offer some few reflections which should be matter of a serious regard 1. That as it s highly becoming on some eminent piece of the Work of God or publick deliverances for a Nation or State to have solemn and publick returns of thankfulnes to him thereon yet is it strange how so little regard should thus be to have the greatnes of any such mercy sought out and the same publick care extended for keeping up a venerable remembrance thereof so that such a service of Gratitude be not bounded with the transient work of a day since otherways it is a most essential want and with holding a proper and important part of that Tribute which is due into God herein for there can be no suitable regard to serve the end of such Providences and what was so straitly injoined of the Lord under the Old Testament which was the Churches continued practice there yea of the same moral and perpetual use in all after times if it should not be still a publick trust under the furthest humane care to promote the same tho divine Record and History for this intent does now cease 2. But as this hath ane unquestionable tye on Churches and a Christian State to design the most honourable respect and entertainment of the great Acts of God in their day and is made their proper talent to answer to so does a just exoneration herein call for the most exact scrutiny and search on the truth and evidence thereof on which the weight and credit of this service does so far depend to cause a more full assent by these who come after to such a testimony that these rare Providences wherein the Lord did thus make himself known were not only in the present time sought out and enquired unto under their proper círcumstances but by such of greatest weight and advantage for a work of this nature whose sincerity and judiciousness might be convincing and the integrity of such ane Intent cleared from any partial respect or end but allennerly for exalting the Majesty of God and strengthning men in the Faith by so great a seal to his Truth and for the interest of the Posterity yea wherein these who in some lesser differences did not fully meet in the same Judgment yet might intirely unite in such a service and testimony as this 3. Where the Lord makes himself known in more illustrious acts of his power as may be called Magnalia Dei to some particular Nation and Church beside others who herein are in a more then ordinare way interessed it might seem equal and answer to the highest reason they sould be of that value as to be entred on a National Record and have that concurrence of humane authority to make the evidence hereof as authentick as the publick deeds or rights which belong to such a state It is true there is no want of Histories and the Church hath been blessed with that singular mercy of Martyrologies by faithful and impartial hands to attest the power of divine grace and supports of the spirit given to sufferers for the truth and of late it was of great use the concurrence of Civil Authority to that Work of the History of the Church of England that 's now extant by an excellent Writer but for this intent ●● is something distinct by its self with respect only to these Monuments of Providence relating to a particular Ch●rch that are of publique clear and uncontrolled evidence to have the remembrance thereof with the highest honor kept up and secured from the prejudices and cavills of men thereat yea to such Passadges in that day whereon the Signature and Impress of the more immediate appearance of God hath had most full and bright evidence these great changes of a publique interest which hath then occurred wherein some extraordinar Conjunction in the course of Providence might be seen above natural causes and the ordinare way of Gods Working such interpositions of his wonderful power by which he hath designed to put some eminent honor on acts of trust and relyances on his truth as might be exemplary to after times and serve for that end that they who come after might sett their hope on God and not forget his Works Psal 78 7. yea extraordinar Acts also of divine Judgment whereby he hath appeared in some unusual manner to vindicate the honor of his Laws against publick and notorious violations of the same which may be clearly seen were not designed for that age only but as a publick concern for after times 4. Can it be questioned that since that

whole Reformed Churches this day a standing witness yea have we not seen his appearance also in so unusual manner in the greatness of his power with garments dyed in blood to make way for the visible Glory of his Reign as we can see it was there foretold how the Nations were angry and by their oppositions to him made way for his wrath in such tremendous effects thereof as it hath had these days past to shew the time was at last come to let the World know that the Lord Jesus Christ is no titular King he to whom all power is given in Heaven and Earth nor will bear that Name and Stile in vain or admit a complemental Profession of the same but that it is sure his Dominion Kingdom hath a setled interest and revenue belonging thereto which none may alienate from him and the greatest of humane powers must be accountable for his claim thereto 5. But now as our day and lot does thus meet in so extraordinar a period of time which hath been so long expected and prayed for in ages past it may be a time of great thoughts and expectation of what is yet to come as to the visible Reign of the Lord Jesus our blessed Head in the Glory and Majesty of his Kingdom without his personal Reign or bodily appearance unto men which with full assurance of faith we sould now wait for when the voice of this Trumpet shall bring with it such a resurrection from the dead of these dry bones of the Jewish Nation with so immediate an appearance of God alone herein as shall dazle with astonishment all the Nations about yea when its sound and voice also shall call the whole Church that 's on the earth to that highest gratulatory song of Moses and the Lamb as once was at the Red Sea for the final stroke judgment on the Kingdom of Antichrist wherein the visible glory of his Reign will then be seen with that evidence and brightness as if he were personally on the earth and here is that true Millennium which is now in some measure begun and we are surely called to expect in a gradual increase to such a hight that in the value and splendor of this blessed Reign the light of one day shall be as seven days in one and the measure of one age then answer yea exceed a thousand Years before and is so before him with whom one day is as a thousand years This seems to many in such a time as a thing remote from their sense whose thoughts are bounded with present appearances whilst our blessed Head is now gone unto a far Country to receive a Kingdom for himself and is invisible to men in these preparations he is making for this higher glory of his Reign upon the Earth so that he is no object of humane sight nor can we come bodily to him to receave his verbal commands from his mouth as from an earthly Monarch and for these inward and great demonstrations of his Reign they ly deep and hid betwixt him and the souls of his People but if our comfort and hope stand by the Christian Faith this day and on that assurance dare venture our soul upon an Eternal State we should then with as full certainty of mind as of any visible things give faith to this that the Son of God will not lose the Work he hath begun and so eminently appeared in that the interest of his Kingdom on the earth is the alone highest object of the divine care and providence and though his Kingdom is not of the World but is purely spiritual yet does the World stand thereby so as it may be justly said sine praecibus pietate non staret mundus nor is it questionable but that his Work will be answerable this day to his revealed will intent or can it be in the dark to us what he is now doing in the World when he hath made such publick intimation hereof by the voice of the last Trumpet as should render this the most desirable part that men can act to fall in with this great and rising interest of his Kingdom in the season and opportunity hereof it will surely be found in this time that where the downfal of the Kingdom of Antichrist is made remarkable in a Nation where the terror of its rise and grouth had so lately gone before and the Kingdom of Christ is not set up in its room nor with a higher regard subjected to that it must then quickly ripen and make way for some great outbreaking of wrath and judgment in such a place for the time is come that nations which have imbraced the Profession of Christ must stand or fall according to their concurrence with that interest on which the Lord is now gone forth whose work carries not for men nor is dependent on humane Counsels yea it 's sure these great Ministers of providence the Angels tho not seen to us are eminently join'd in on this service who are the stated Servants of Christ as Mediator Head of the Church and have accordingly their delegate charge and commission to particular Churches and Kingdoms as that great design of Providence for the advance of his Kingdom in the World does require and if the giving forth of the Law was so glorious upon that solemne entry which the Churches Head then made on his Regal Office over Israël by so extraordinar a ministration of the Angels what a higher Glory must be on his entring on the greatest discovery and administration of his visible Reign within time blessed are they amongst men who may have ane interest in this service tho with most it comes not under their thoughts and apprehension but as it was said of Dux de Alva upon ane Eclips of the Sun which was then when he was in a hot persuit of the Wars that he had so much to do upon the earth as gave him no leasure to look up to Heaven fo is the great noise and business of this day how things may stand sure with us upon the earth It is become the proverb of these times we are in that interest will not lye because according to this men will always appear and discover themselves and when ever that word interest is made use of it 's judg'd to bear no other sense then of some temporal concern only because the scent that most of this Generation seemes to be wholly on is how to seek their own things but not the things of Jesus Christ which is truly the same for men to reckon that their soul is a forreine thing to themselves and that they have no reall interest in the great things of Religion or a hope bejond time but it 's well that there is yet such a party this day on the earth who 's way can give that proverb the lie and are of another spirit so as to lay their greatest temporal interest down that they may intensly persue the

Party and it s a threatning case when the security and interest of a Nation stands more by a permissive Providence and singular longsuffering of God then by promise The discovery of hid Plots and Contrivances against the Government hath been of late in a special manner remarkable but oh there is one Plot which is of ane other nature to be above all fear'd that 's caried on not in the dark but in the publick light to betray these Nations to the Common Adversary it is such a Plot as was betwixt Balak and Balaäm to divide Israël from God that their strength might depart from them when once there is a sad departure from him and it 's sure these who ever are interessed herein hath the most active concurrence to weaken and bring low the Politick Body of Britain to hasten on a dismal night and advance the interest and strength of visible Adversaries But if there be no suitable appearance in this day to counteract so dismal a Plot and the growing strength of such a Conspiracy herein there may be then too just cause for these of the most serious spirit to long to have their part acted and be gone off the stage ere they see the dreadful Effects hereof and what ever advantage be of external means it might be too easy then to judge of future things where an inordinate respect to men and a low regard to keep in with God is one of the publick signs of the time we are in I know it 's no easy thing to improve the Providences of times past that are at any distance from us or to bring them home by a just application to the present day and to compare what we now see of the Way and Workings of God with what hath already past in these late Years but if this were more improven and understood there might be another view and discerning of the times we are in and what of the night now it is we have seen in some singular way the rising and falling of humane interests so contrare to humane reason and expectations as might tend fully to clear from what hand they came and to what Issue they were directed we have seen such Revolutions which the Churches of Britain hath gone thorough and hath past over the same as seem yet little understood and it must be a perverse and false Judgment if it be supposed that we have no more to do herewith but a naked remembrance of such things in the matter of Fact and what was mens way and part therein But that I may come more near on this Subject there are some things that need to be further understood thereon 1. That it 's sure when such a Gape this day is lying open betwixt us and divine Wrath there can be no standing herein without a serious interceeding Work with God by immediate addresses when its unexpressible what a mighty efficacy this hath on the World and the great changes thereof and how far he hath subjected the Interest of Nations to the Prayers of the Saints It is a hopeful sign when Rulers and Magistrates do call and excite a Nation to publick fasting and prayer but in the ordinare way it 's followed this day upon so extraordinare an application to the Majesty of God it may be just matter of fear if such essential requisites be not concurrent therewith 1. That the same Authority and Power be interposed for a serious and impartial Inquiry as to National Sins which are most prevalent in the time where the current of the multitude runs and hath the loudest cry to Heaven since otherwise a solemn address of this kind might bear a sad evidence of Atheism and Impiety to suit National Deliverances and Protection and that the Holy God would be with us and propitious to us for the publick State of the Nation whilst we are not with him yea that he would not forsake us whilst our forsaking him is so visible which is in effect to plead that the most settled unalterable establishments of his truth be made void and rescinded for our sake yea can another return be expected in such a case then what is Ezech. 14 4. 2. That something then upon so extraordinare an address to Heaven might be designed by publick Authority in a promissary way to be made practicable as sould tend to a more visible resolute withstanding the growing strength of such National evils and may thus bear a publick testimony and appearance against them from such who stand under so high a trust unto God for this end 2. Where this great service is taken to heart for standing in the gape this day before God there needs also some clear discerning of the end and design of Providence in these astonishing su●cessive changes which hath of late gone over this Generation it 's true there may be many ends at once reached in any signal piece of the Work of G●d about his Church yet is there surely still some higher great end which he hath therein that should be most deeply enquired into and tho I can attain little this way in respect of others yet may with humble confidence say that under a serious pressure of spirit I have sought to understand the same and how to trace the Lines of Providence in the strange Revolutions of this age to the Center of that great Design of the Lord therein to which all these oppositions which hath been made to the same hath so remarkably brought on their own fall and breaking in that way but this I must further in sist on tho there needs specially a turning our eyes first back to times past for discerning the Work of God in our day and to see in what a circuit divine Judgment did go from on part of the Reformed Churches to another with the very first date and entry upon this remarkable age and when that Sword which was bathed in Heaven and had it's commission to Germany and Bohem in that sore and long intestine War there had once done it's work then did it in a successive course enter on the Churches of Britain and Ireland and a c●p of trembling from the Lord put into there hand and then did begin that great Scene of Providence which hath been since acted there wherein as in all the most remarkable Steps and Periods hereof hath the voice of the Lord been expresly pointing at this great end and design in the same for bringing his counsel more clearly to light if we had eyes to perceive and hearts to understand what is his work and declared intent herein which is that the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ who shall reign for ever and ever Revelat. 11 15 and that his Interest in these Nations as a part of that inheritance which was in a peculiar way given him of the Father Psalm 2 8. be more fully asserted in the Glory of his Regal Power against all such