Selected quad for the lemma: power_n
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A40685
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A sermon of contentment by T.F.
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Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing F2460; ESTC R28032
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7,789
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52
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this while Perchance it follows We will try another verse In journying often in perils of waters in perils of Robbers in perils by mine own Country-men in perils by the Heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Wildernes in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false brethren Where is the gain all this while you will say these were but the Apostles adventures his rich return slow but sure will come at last Once more we will try In wearinesse and painfulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse The further we go the lesse gain we find Cushai said unto David May all the Enemies of my Lord the King be as the young man Absalom is But if this be gain May all the enemies of God and goodnes have plenty thereof It will never sink into a worldlings head that godlinesse is gain whilest the grandees of piety are found so poore Eliah begging food of a Widdow Peter without gold or silver Our Saviour himself not having where to lay his head It is confest that the doctrine in the text can in no wise be made good according to the principles of flesh and blood Our Saviour said unto Pilate My kingdome is not of this world So the sense and interpretation of my text is not of this world is not carnall but spiritual not temporal but eternal This will plainly appear if these two particulars be well weighed 1 What the world counts gain is losse 2 What the world counts losse is gaine What the world counts gain is losse For what will it profit a man if he win the whole world and loose his own soule Most poore is the condition of those who have plenty of worldly wealth and are not rich towards God Country people having a peice of light gold use to fill the Indentures thereof with dirt so to make it the heavier But wisemen wil not take dirt for gold in payment It seems in like manner that wicked men being sensible that they want waight in the scales of the sanctuary Tekel thou art waighed in the ballance and found too light of set purpose load themselves with thick clay But all will not make them currant in Gods sight for riches availe not in the day of wrath They are long in getting with much pains hard in keeping with much care quick in loosing with more sorrow Wherefore as the Apostle mensions Science falsly so called so this is gain falsly so called by men 13 Secondly They nicke-name that losse which is gain in very deed such were all those sanctified afflictions which Saint Paul suffered It is confest that thornes and thistles had never grown in the world had Adam stood in his integrity yet some of them since mans fall cannot well be wanted Holy thistle we know hath a Soveraign vertue and sweet bryer hath a pleasant scent All tribulations are thorns to flesh and blood the word imports as much yet as Sanctified to Gods children in Christ they become of excellent use increasing their grace here and glory hereafter Lynnen new washt though it may dry more by day time is observed to whiten more in a fair night Adversity sanctified to a Christian soule doth more improve the same in purity and piety then the constant enjoying of a prosperous condition 14 But we need goe no further for the proof of the great profit gotten by Gods service then to the words of the Apostle Godlinesse hath the promise of the life which now is and of that which is to come It is reported of Alexander that having conquered the World he wept because there was no more left for his valour to overcome But least Gods children should have any cause of discontentment that their joy may have room enough to dilate it self in see a life and a life a vvorld and a vvorld one here and another hereafter one in possession another in reversion alotted unto them 15 Come we now to the present payment is Even at this present instant God hath done great things for us already whereof we rejoyce Excellent is the expression of the Apostle Or things present or things to come All are yours Here some carping curious Criticks may challenge St. Paul of impropriety of language yea finde both fals Grammar and Logick in his words false Tense to say future things are fals Logick for how can things to come be ours which be not But know St. Paul spake with languages more then them all and had no need to learn the congruity of construction from any other It is good in law to say This reversion is mine because the reversioner is in present possession of the right to it though not of the profit by it yea heaven on earth is actually ours already the possession of a clear conscience and the spirit of adoption signs and seals unto us the favour of God then which no greater gain 16 And now as the Eunuch said to Philip See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized so say I Behold here is a Bride Godlines ready provided A bride maid Contentment ready prepared The great portion presently to be paid What hinders now but the marriage may instantly proceed that so we may be wedded and bedded together But what answered Philip to the Eunuch If thou believest with all thine heart thou maiest be baptised So say I. If thou lovest this Bride with all thy Soule counting nothing too dear to obtain her the marriages solemnities may instantly goe on Oh that I had perswasive eloquence effectually to advance this match the best is what is vvanting in mee the spokesman is plentifully supplyed in her the bride 17. But two things we must beware of Take heed you mistake not the shaddow for the substance the picture for the person Saint Paul tels us of some who have the forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof The Poets tels us of many who at first were suiters to Penelope the Mistresse but at last were married to the Maids which attended her It is to be feared that many who pretend to love godlinesse it self fall at last a courting and woeing of the forme the meer outside and garb of Religion and content themselves with the same wherein an hypocrite may equally yea exceed the sincerest Saint and servant of God Lastly Beware least thy coveteous heart rather love the Portion then the Person have more minde to the gaine then the godlines We finde how the next kinsman was very ready to redeem the parcel of Naomies land which was his brother Elimelechs But as soon as withall he heard hee must take Ruth to wife he fell back from his promise and purpose Many there be which are very forward to wed the gain but are utterly unwilling to have the godlines with it Such a suiter was Balaam himselfe O that I might aye the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his who was carelesse to live the life of the righteous But let us labour to have the substance and sincerity of Piety in our hearts knowing that we are to deale with such a God who prefers a dramme of integrity before a pound of profession And if wee acquit our selves upright in his presence godlinesse with contentment is great gain unto us I say godlinesse in generall not restrictively Engrossed to some particular party but extended according to the dimension of charity to all persons agreeing in the essentials to salvation In my fathers house there be many Mansions as if God had provided severall repositaries of happinesse for such as differ in smaller opinions vvhilest all agreeing in generall godlinesse may meet in one grand Heaven and place of eternall Felicity Amen I. II. Eccles. 12. 10. III. Acts 4. â—9 IV. Luk. 12. 32. James 1.27 John 17. 3. Act. 10. 34. Eccles. 7. 15. 2 Sam. 23 1 Kin. 19 4. Jonah 4.1 Luke 17.10 1 Sam. 18 25. Hebr. 11.26 Gen. 34.11 12 Object 2 Cor. 11 23. Vers. 26. 〈◊〉 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Answ. John 18.36 Luk. 12.21 Dan. 5.27 Hab. 2.6 Prov. 11.4 2 Tim. 6.20 1 Tim. 4.8 1 Cor. 3. 22. 1 Cor. 14 18. Act. 8.36 Acts 8. 37. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Ruth 4. 6. Num. 23.10 Joh. 14.2