Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n
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A86336
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Strength made perfect in weakness In four sermons preached by William Hickocks M.A.
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[Hickocks, William, fl. 1674]
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1674
(1674)
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Wing H1918A; ESTC R230656
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47,395
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104
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who hath hardened himself against him and prospered He can bind mens hands and rule mens hearts and do what ever he will Ephes 3. ver 20. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think who is so great a God as our God we that fear him Psal 77.13 14. Thy way oh God is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as our God thou art the God that dost wonders thou hast declared thy strength among the people Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Here 's thy priviledge if thou have the work of grace wrought in thee here 's thy safety God is thy Father that God that never wants power to defend his people that is seen in the mount and will not many times help till we are in extreamity that his power may then be manifest safe they are that have God for their Father he is sufficient to protect them Consider secondly God is very wise a wise Father and that in regard of his knowledge and in regard of his prudence he knoweth what ever men do in the World Job 34.21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man and he seeth all his goings Ver. 22. Ther 's no darkness or shadow of death where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves Iob 12.22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness and bringeth out to light the shaddow of death He knoweth men better then they know themselves God needeth none to give him intelligence he knoweth what is done in the secret closet of every one of our hearts Nay secondly he is very prudent too he knoweth how to order his affairs he is wise in heart saith Job that man is wise indeed that knows how to out-wit the wisest of men God knoweth how to ensnare the wicked in the works of their own hands 1 Cor. 4.5 Isa 44.25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars and maketh the diviners mad that turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish Come on saith Pharaoh let us deal wisely but he was out-witted Exod. 14.28 God turns the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness God is never at a loss he knows what to do Consider thirdly He is a very tender Father too he is very pittiful very merciful a very tender Father that lays to heart the miseries of his people when they were in Egypt he pittied them Isa 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the angel ef his presence saved them c. speaking after the manner of men they that lay the troubles of others to heart as their own and he is not thus pittiful only to his Israel but to all his people Psal 103.13 Like as a Father pittieth his Children so doth the Lord pitty those that fear him Nay Consider fourthly He is a very careful Father he minds how it goes with his children 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care upon him saith the Apostle for he careth for you you are never out of his eye or thoughts when Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my God hath forgotten me Isa 49.14 15. saith God Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee c. The condition and troubles and miseries thou art in are always in my thoughts Psal 9.18 The needy shall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever That 's the second but Use III. Hence we may learn our Duty If God be the Saints Father and what 's that First duty To pray to him whom should they go to but to their Faither Be careful for nothing saith the Apostle but in every thing let your request be made known to him by prayer and supplication Phil. 4.6 and Mat. 7.24 Psal 145.18 ver The Lord is nigh unto all that cal upon him Second duty Trust in him whom should we trust if not our Father therefore trust in him Psal 146.3 Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man in whom there is none help ver 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God The Scripture denounceth a woful curse to him that trusteth in any thing but in God Jer. 17.5 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and ver 7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is God takes notice of those that trust in him Psal 33.17 An horse is a vain thing for safety neither shall he deliver any by his great strength So long as we trust to our selves at any time for any thing our case is sad but none that trusted in the Lord have any cause ever to be ashamed Thirdly Let us Honour him if a Father and that in three respects first in our thoughts have always good thoughts of God what ever his providences be towards us Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways c. what ever God doth is good he is just he is righteous in all those ways that are most cavil'd at by men Job 34.21 He will not lay upon man more then is right everyman may say in the bitterest cross in the World God hath not dealt with me after my sins it 's a mercy we are on this side Hell Secondly Honour God as in our thoughts so in our words speak well of God Psal 118.1 Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 146.1 2. ver Praise the Lord oh my soul while I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praises to God while I have a being Now praising God is honouring of him He that offers me praise glorifieth me Psal 50.23 Thirdly Honour him in all our ways 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God and Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory of God Be very obedient obey him willingly constantly universally in all his commands because he is our Father Lastly We that profess our selves to be Gods children be like him Be ye merciful as he is merciful holy as he is holy But to go on Who hath loved us Doct. God loves his People Psal 145.8 ver Psal 147.10 11. The Lord loves his Saints Love I here 's love indeed 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love is here that we should be called the Sons of God And if this be so Vse Then bless him for his love thank him for it Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name And that in this respect First God loves us undeserved and that
Maranatha Oh let it not for shame be said that we love not the Lord Jesus Christ Oh cursed is that man that loves not Jesus Christ who comes to bring blessedness to him we should love Jesus Christ because he is altogether lovely white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand Cant. 5.10 none can save us but he Then again the conexion of the words is very remarkable the Apostle doth not say our Lord Christ himself nor our Jesus himself but our Lord Jesus he joyns Lord and Jesus both together and what the Scripture joyns together we must not put asunder from whence we may raise this Doctrine Doct. They whose Jesus is he is their Lord or if you please thus They to whom Christ is a Jesus he is a Lord or Whom Christ saves them he rules To whom Christ is a Saviour to them he is a Governour Christ 〈…〉 be our Jesus he is our Lord if we mistake here we are undone for ever Act. 5.31 The Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ he faith thus Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour c. he hath exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel not only a Saviour but a Prince they go both together where Christ is a Saviour there he is a Prince where Christ gives remission of sins he giveth power over sin Rom. 6.14 saith the Apostle Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under grace you that are under the saving grace of the Gospel of Iesus Christ you are set free from sin not but that you may fall into sin but it doth not bear sway in your soul it cannot have it's full command you cannot be led captive to sin Vse Now this may be for a use of trial to try whether Christ be our Saviour yea or no examine your selves be faithful to your own souls would you know whether Christ be your Iesus or no ask your selves this question is he your Lord or no is he your Governour he is the King of Saints as well as the Saviour of his people if you follow your lusts and live in sin knowingly and willingly walk after the sinful desires of your own hearts Christ will profit you nothing you shall find what I say to be true one day I wish you find it not by sad experience if you will not be subject to the holy commands of Christ do not so much as expect mercy from Iesus Christ for Iesus Christ tells you himself if you will not be rulâ—d by him he will not save you if you will not obey his Gospel he will be a destroyer and not a Saviour to you remember what he hath said Luk. 19.27 if you refuse obedience to him look not for any favour from him As for those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me That man that would have his lusts reign and not me rule over him bring that soul before me I will throw him into Hell Many shall flatter themselves as in that 13. of Luk. 25. and come with confidence saying Lord Lord open unto us c. let us go into Heaven but he shall answer Lord why call you me Lord I know you not whence ye are but then they shall begin to make apology and say we have heard thou art a Jesus we have eaten and drunk in thy presence we have been at thy Ordinances at thy Word and Sacraments thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say ver 27. I tell you I know you not you are strangers to me I never remember you kept my commands I tell you I will not take notice of you depart from me all ye workers of iniquity if you will not take one answer there 's a second depart from me all ye workers of iniquity Oh how sad will it be then therefore now take the advise of our Saviour ver 24. Strive to enter in at the straight gate for many shall seek to enter but shall not be able Christ will save only those that obey him therefore I beseech you let me put this question to you for I would fain not have you go to Hell pray ask your own hearts alone in secret is there no known sin committed is there no known sin I delight in if thy heart make known to thee that there is if thou wilt not leave this sin it is a sign that Christ is none of thine Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin c. those that Christ saves he hath said Sin shall not have dominion over them Paul that great admirer of Iesus Christ he tells the people plainly that they may not flatter themselves Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ and least they should mistake he saith that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit c. who though they have their sins and their failings yet their desire is to walk not after the lusts of their Hearts but after the Spirit for for all Christ died for sinners yet if they live and dye in their sins Christ will not save them if we live after the flesh we shall dye Rom. 8.13 and though it be true and this be a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation That Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners yet know this on the other hand Jesus Christ did never intend to save those that remain impenitent hard-hearted and stubborn sinners that live and dye in wickedness they shall find no mercy Job professeth his Faith in the Redeemer yet if he were not his Lord and Governour woe to him the Prophet Isa 3.11 saith Woe to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands it shall be given him remember this We shall as surely go to Hell for all Christ dyed as if he had never dyed if we live and dye in sin therefore if thou wouldest have Christ a Saviour make conscience of obeying Christ Blessed are the undefiled in the way saith the Psalmist Psal 119.1 who walk in the Law of the Lord. ver 8. I will keep thy statutes oh forsake me not utterly If thou wil't keep Gods statutes thou mayest expect to be kept safe and vers 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee I then may we hope to do well ver 30. I have chosen the way of truth thy judgments have I laid before me ver 31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies Oh Lord put me not to shame and again ver 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word 102. I have not departed from thy judgments for thou hast taught me ver 162. I rejoyce in thy word as one that findeth great spoyles ver 163. I hate und abhor lying but thy law do I love ver