Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	lord_n	people_n	zion_n	1,583	5	9.6197	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77703	Repentance and prayer or, the two fundamental pillars of the nation. Being the substance of four sermons preached at St. Peters Poor, London. By that famous and reverend divine Ralph Brownrigge, formerly vice-chancelour of Cambridge, and lately Lord Bishop of Exeter.	Brownrig, Ralph, 1592-1659.	1660 (1660)	Wing B5208; ESTC R229484	54,943	157

in it he would not have it polluted or defiled defile not the Land which ye shall inhabit wherein I dwell for I the Lord dwell amongst the Children of Israel Num. 35.34 2 Jerusalem it is called an holy City because it was the city of the great King God dwelt in her palaces therefore it was accounted a sacred and a holy City the Temple because his name dwelt there 2 Chron. 7.16 I have sanctified this house that my name may be there for ever All other Nations because God was estranged from them were an uncleane people every other Land a polluted Land here is one great excellency a Nation gaines by retaining of God amongst them they were more to God then all other Nations in the world a kingdome of Preists and an holy Nation thus we see God promises to dwell in the midst of Sion Zech. 2.10 And then he tells them in the 12th verse that he will inherit Judah his portion in in the holy Land for this cause the uncleane were to be put out of the Campe of Israel Num. 5.3 That they defile not their Campe in the midst whereof God did dwell while we retain his presence amongst us we are unholy people but if we cause him to depart we are as the uncircumcised and a prophane people 2. A second advantage of Gods presence is that it is the glory of a Nation it is the high dignity and renown and honour of a people that God abides with them as St Paul speaks Rom. 3.1 What advantage then hath the Jew what is this dignity in having God so near them much every way thus Moses sets out the dignity of the Jews from the near reference 'twixt God and them Deut. 26.18 God hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made in praise and in name and in honour this nearness of his presence he compares in the 13. of Jeremy the 11. verse to a girdle cleaving to his loins as a girdle cleaves to the loins of a man so have I caused thee to cleave unto me that they might be unto me for a people for a name and for a praise for a glory So likewise Isa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee when God reckons up the dignities of his people this is the main of Sion it shall be said that he was born in her thus Moses reminds the Israelites wherein their dignity consisted Deut. 10.21 He is thy praise and he is thy God many titles of honour amongst men but this is the truly honourable title that we have a God near to us Deut. 4.7 What Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is to us while he vouchsafed his presence to them how renowned were they when he withdrew himself and cast them off then were they a vile people the hatred and scorn and hissing of all Nations A third advantage that Gods presence brings it is the strength and safety of a Nation Psalm 46.5 God is in the midst of her therefore shall she not be moved Balaam could not fasten a curse upon Israel while God was amongst them and this incouraged the people of Israel against the Canaanites Numb 14.9 Their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not though Giants and Cities walled up to heaven yet fear them not So Moses incourages them Deut. 4.21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them for the Lord thy God is among you a mighty God and terrible And so on the contrary when the people would needs go up to fight against the Canaanites Numb 14.42 Moses disswaded them God had then withdrawn himself Go not up for the Lord is not among you Sampson wist not that God was departed from him Moses laments when God said he would not go with them so the Psalmist Thou goest not forth with our Armies his presence is our Palladium our shield and rock the shields of the earth belong unto God well then if such good comes from Gods presence amongst us it is worth the iniquity wherein doth this presence of God consist how is he said and known to dwell in a Nation Go● hath a manifold presence First his substantial presence so he 〈◊〉 present in all places he fills heaven an● earth Jer. 23.24 The heaven of he●●vens cannot contain him saith Solomon Stand in aw of him he is in all places Secondly he hath a glorious presenc● there where his glory and Majesty mos● appears that 's in the heavens I wil● dwell in the high and holy place Heaven i● his Throne Thirdly he hath a powerfull presence when he manifest● himself by any remarkable work thus the Israelites questioned his presence when they were in want is the Lord among us yea or no Jacobs vision made him say God was in this place Fourthly he hath a gratiou presence by which he dwells amongst us I that gratious and mercifull and beneficiall presence is that we speake of there where he dwells First God dwells in a Nation which he chuses to be his peculiar people th● people of his Covenant and Worship a● David said the Lord hath chosen Jacob to be his inheritance thus Hosea calls the Nation and Countrey of the Jews Hosea 9.3 the Lords Land and the world is his by dominion but by special purchase and possession so the Church is his that 's like the Lords Demeans Secondly the place of Gods delight that 's the residence of his presence delight fixes a man to his abode when we are such a people that God takes pleasure in us Here will I dwell for I have a delight in it Psalm 132.23 14. The Lord hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation here will I dwell Thirdly there we are to reckon of Gods presence where he settles his family that 's the usual place of presence and abode where we see God gathers to himself a Church is dayly collecting to himself a people to know him and worship him there we may conclude that God vouchsafes his presence Christ is thus described to walk amongst the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.13 where it may be said of a people or place as God said of Corinth Acts 18.10 I have much people in this City many names amongst you there resolve that God is present when they grow thinner and thinner God is removing Fourthly There we conclude is a place of presence and abode where a man bestows most cost a Lord will keep up all his possessions so doth God the world but his choicest care is for his Mansion-house do we see a people inriched with his choicest blessings his eyes are over them continually no favour too dear for them sure God dwells amongst such a people Fifthly a man is said to dwell where his abode is most constantly Sometimes God makes in his progress some

REPENTANCE AND PRAYER OR The two Fundamental Pillars of the NATION BEING The substance of Four Sermons preached at St. Peters Poor London By that Famous and Reverend Divine RALPH BROWNRIGGE Formerly Vice-Chancelour of Cambridge and lately Lord Bishop of Exeter Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them LONDON Printed for Thomas Riland and are to be sold at the Hand and Bible in Ducklane 1660. To the READER Christian READER BEing unwilling the Nation should be deprived of so great a benefit as the works of so eminently learned and pious a Divine as this our reverend Author I could not but in charity to thee and in duty to our Authors sacred memory offer to publick view these Four ensuing Sermons being preached at St. Peters Poore London when that famous Pillar of the Church Dr. Holsworth was Preacher there As for the Subject matter of them it 's principally concerning the Duties of Repentance and Prayer the two Fundamental Doctrines which every individual Christian and the whole Nation in general ought to put in practice which duties as they were then Seasonably preached so I hope they will be now as opportunely published this being an Age wherein there is so much want of both I shall not need to expatiate my self in giving thee a character of our worthy Author be being so generally known I question not but the benefit which thou shalt reap by reading them will answer the fervent desires of him who is Thine in the Lord J. K. The Texts of the four Sermons JOEL 2.14 WHo knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord our God PSALM 78. vers 34 35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and turned them early and enquired aster God and they remembred that God was their strength and that the high God was their Redeemer nevertheless they did but flatter him with their mouth and dissembled with him in their tongue for their heart was not whole with him neither continued they stedfast in his covenant LUKE 22. verse 31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have p●ayed for thee that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren LUKE 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Joel 2.14 In Jejunio Publico Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord our God THis prophesy of Joel 14. It was directed to the Kingdome of Judah in the reigne of Hezekiah and Manasses after the great over-throw which God brought upon the other ten Tribes by the King of Asyria and in it the Prophet foretells the Captivity of Babylon threatens a great Judgement and distruction upon the whole Land And this Judgement it is described under the representation of an army and that army of Locusts either thereby intimating a succession of two sorts of judgements First of Famine by a dreadfull swarm of noisome Locusts that should consume the fruit of the earth the Second is of war by the power of the Chaldaeans that should wast and destroy Judah and Jerusalem and carry them away Captive to Babylon These two the breakings of the staffe of bread or sending amongst them the Sword of the enemy which are Gods two puissant armies against a sinfull Nation or otherwise the Army of Locusts betoken but one Judgement either that of Locusts noysome vermine shall come upon their Land like a mighty Army he destroyed Egypt with such an Army and verse 25. God himselfe calls them his great Army or else it signifies the Army of the Chaldeans and they shall come upon the Land like a swarme of Locusts to wast and destroy Thus the Egyptians and Assyrians are compared to Bees and Flies Isa 7.18 God shall hisse for them and they shall come flying and light upon the Land of Judah take them either way the one is a fit resemblance and tipe of the other the Locust they are Gods Army they shall come in battle aray and make spoile of the Land or otherwise the Chaldeans they are as a swarme of Locusts their enemies shall breake in upon them like Caterpillers and Locusts and shall waste and consume as those creatures do without any resistance This judgement being denounced against them the Prophet calls the Jews to re●entance that being the onely possible means to divert this judgement Flesh and blood indeed when we heat of Armies of enemies cast about for o●her waies to defend them this seeking ●o God by repentance and casting our ●elves upon his help they have no list to 〈◊〉 when the Assirians assaulted Judah God offered King Ahaz this help no he ●ould not trouble God he would not ●empt the Lord forsooth he was so modest as not to be beholden to God for a● deliverance any other way would please him better as Dominicus Soto tells us of a ridiculous and superstitious practice i● Spain to drive away Locusts when those swarms anoyed the Country the country people would enter an action against the● in their Courts and Proctors and Advocates were assigned to plead for them and then the Judge he sentenced them and did excommunicate and accurs● them Sure all others meanes without this 〈◊〉 repentance are of no use meere charm● and mock-helps neither Caterpille● nor Chaldeans Armies of Locusts 〈◊〉 swarmes of enemies can be driven bac● but by repentance so then the pu●pose of the Prophet in this Chapter to call them to repentance and he pr●scribes repentance suitable to their co●dition First to the condition of their si● their sins were generall and nationa● they had all corrupted their wayes Secondly the judgement threate● that was generall an over-flowing sw●● as Isaiah calls it Isa 28.15 Sword goe through the Land Ezek. 14.17 An end is comming upon the four corners of the Land Ezek. 7.2 Now sure the Plaister must be as broad as the sore First So accordingly he invites to a generall and nationall humiliation it was to be proclaimed by the sound of the Trumpet vers 15. not by a knock at a private mans doore the trumpet was to call together the whole congregation Num. 10.2 And if ye look to the first ●erse of this 2 Chap. of Joel then the judgement comes with a trumpet it sounds an allarme it threatens all the inhabitans of the Land if God threatens with a trumpet we must call to repentance with a trumpet with as lowd and shrill a sound that the whole nation may be warned it must be Zephanies humi●iation Zeph. 2.1 2. Gather your selves together O Nation not to be

at the name of him Pharaoh said that which every wicked man thinks who is the Lord I know not the Lord Exod. 5.2 Ye that forget God 't is a wicked mans description all the nations that forget God it should beget some sad thoughts in us were there nothing else in sin no other mischievous consequences following it it should strike upon the heart of obstinate sinners what while I live in sin am I no better then an Atheist Is this the fruit of all my courses do they utterly estrainge me from God I lose him and the thoughts of him and the remembrance of him yes that thou dost thou mayest go for a Christian and be reckoned amongst the people of God and seem to a vow him and to be acquainted with him but while thou livest in thine impenitency thou art wholy estranged from him even the children of God in their failings and infitmities they finde these sad effects partially and in some degrees not a fault that they commit but it sets them off some degrees from God it weakens their hold of him they lose him in part it dumbs their thoughts of him it dulls their remembrance of him but a wicked man in an impenitent course hath all these mischiefs in extremity that 's the first meditation their supposition A second meditation is by direct inference and position that true Repentance will inforce upon us a seeking of God whom by sin we have lost a returning to God whom we have forsaken an inquiring after God whom we have neglected a remembring of God whom we have forgotten First it will put us to a seeking that 's the first act of estimation it values that it seeks if we count it as good lost as found no great matter whether we hit or misse there will be no seeking if we meet with it by chance well good but lightly valued is but lightly sought for it must be 〈◊〉 precious pearl that the Merchant seeks for Math. 13.45 When we come to this resolution if we misse of Gods favour we are undone if I find it again I am made for ever then we seek as we should because we value it as we should thy favour is better then life it self Psalm 63.3 See how David valued it be not silent to me least if thou be silent to me I become like them that go down into the pit Psalm 28.1 It is death to misse him better then life to find him Secondly it will put us to a seeking that 's an act of diligence search implies labour and anxiety and all possible indeavour such are the seekings of Repentance not a few flugish wishes but it will be active and industrious it lights up the candle and sweeps the house Luke 15.8 A penitent soul will give no rest to it self till it have recovered God and his favour that 's the seeking God will accept ye shall seek and find me when ye shall search with all your hearts Jer. 29.13 Not the lasie seeking of the spouse In my bed by night I sought him but I did not find him but when she gets up into the streets amongst the watch men then at last she finds him that 's the first Secondly it will put us to a returning it will make us tread over all our steps and strainings and wanderings from God with sorrow and undo what we have done before do the quite contrary it will make us resolve with the Church in Hosea 2.7 I will go and return to my first husband for then it was better for me then now so again Hosea 6.1 Come let us return unto the Lord it is called a conversion a full and pregnant word not a meer aversion from sin Repentance it is not a meer cessation and giving over what we did before and then rest a man that 's out of his way recovers not himself by a meer stop and stay no he must go back again Secondly 't is not a meer diversion give over this sinfull course and turn into another I will be no more prodigal but I will fall into some other carnall or sensuall practise But 't is Thirdly a full conversion that brings him to the first point from which he strayed thus Ieremiah 4.1 Directs If thou wilt return O Israel saith the Lord return unto me it brings a man round about makes him a quite other man Repentance it will put us to inquiring that 's a busie work inquiring and searching diligently Saint Peter in 1. Peter 1.10 Puts them together our Saviour calls it seeking and asking and knocking consulting with others that can direct us thus the penitents in the Acts of the Apostles Acts. 2.7 enquired of Peter and John Men and brethren what shall we do help and direct us so the penitent Jayler Acts 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved the Prophet Jeremiah shews them this duty stand in the paths and ask for the old paths where is the good way and Isaiah quickens them to this inquiry Isaiah 21.11.12 Bids them enquire of the watchman and what saith he if ye will inquire inquire that is do it and do it again do it to some purpose enquire of the guides that God hath set up Enquire of those that have strayed and wandered and lost him now have found him what course took they and it must be early take the wings of the morning early beginings may do much Isaiah gives us this Item the watchman saith the morning comes and also the night if yee will enquire enquire returne and come the dayes are short the morning spends the night hastens early seekers seldome misse but late begianings most commonly fall short Fourthly Repentance it will quicken our memories they remembred that God was their rock and the high God their Redeemer it will make us recall to mind all the goodnesse of God towards us thus the revolting Church of Israel when she bethinks her selfe of returning to God She recounts how well 't was with her when she kept her selfe to him So the returning prodigall Luke 15. He remembered the plenty of his fathers house this remembering of Gods gratious dealings with us hath great force in the work of repentance First It will upbraide us for our base unthankfulnesse Doe yee thus reward the Lord yee foolish Nation is not he thy Father that hath bought thee hath not he made thee and established thee Deut. 32.6 Secondly It melts our hearts into remorse and sorrow oh the love of Christ constraines us Thirdly It incourages and puts heart into our repentance I will remmber the years of the right hand we have seen the 4 acts in which their repentance consisted now follows the second thing observable that 's the failings and defects of their repentance that made it unacceptable and they were 4. First It was untimely Secondly It was extorted and inforced Thirdly It was false and hipocriticall Fourthly T was momentary and unconstant and fickle First T was untimely a delaid repentance they