Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
reason_n	day_n	lord_n	sanctify_v	2,918	5	10.6613	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67003	A short letter modestly intreating a friends judgement upon Mr. Edwards, his booke he calleth an Anti-apologie, with a large but modest answer thereunto framed, in desire, with such evennesse of hand, and uprightnesse of heart, as that no godly man might be effended at it : and with soule-desire also, that they, who are contrary-minded, might not be offended neither, but instructed.	Woodward, Ezekias, 1590-1675.; Hartlib, Samuel, d. 1662.	1644 (1644)	Wing W3502; ESTC R18279	37,876	40

before that the Lord will shew them the Pattern and Lawes of His House Till this shame be taken by them as publiquely in Gods House as they were a shame unto the House God will not be enquired of them concerning His way of worship there Their disputing about a Church way shall not profit them that live not in an Holy way They that do my will shall know my Doctrine d They may eagerly pursue that way and aske after it they shall not find it for they are not in a capacity of finding They may sit long and doe little They may aske knock seek and find nothing but their own findings never find the Lord or his way till they goe forth of their own way weeping and lamenting after the Lord and over their sinnes whereby they have gone astray from Him when Israel went astray after their idols Till this they doe nothing they can doe for Gods House in expectation of acceptance so the Lord hath said nothing shall be done till this be done till they have taken shame to themselves for all that they have done or suffered to be done when they might have hindred it And then take shame for all this before Israel and before the Sun for so open their revolt and going astray was I know they who set their hearts to seek a Church-way who desire with desire to have shewen unto them the whole house of GOD the fashion thereof and the goings-out thereof and the commings-in thereof and all the farmes Ordinances and Lawes thereof They that expect such a Revelation set their hearts to what the Lord God hath said He will never shew them the Pattern of His House who have done against the Ordinances Lawes and Statutes of His House yet have not been ashamed But are they ashamed for all the dis-services and dishonours they have done to Gods House Then it followes Son of man shew the House to the house of Israel They have cast shame upon their own faces for all their abominations there They shall see with open face the whole House of God open before them i. e. This is the Law of the House these the goings-out and commings-in and these the Formes Ordinances and Lawes thereof all shall be shewen to these humble people they shall look upon all with open face whereas before they had so done humbling themselves and bearing their iniquity they might sit as men hood winkt The Scripture pressing upon them all this is as cleare as any in the whole book of God I leave it in their * bosomes Now they have heard what God hath said to them they may consider what they have said to us That we must be humbled for the idolatries and bloudshed in our first Queen Maries dayes And all the Reason in the sacred word for this That we should be called forth to weeping and mourning now for doubtlesse the Lord is visiting now the sinnes committed an hundred yeares agon And yet we doe not answer their call We doe not come-forth with our hands upon our loines Why Surely because we doe not see them our Ministers some of them laying one hand upon their mouthes and the other upon their loynes breaking their owne hearts before us so testifying their exceeding sorrow for all that they have done in Gods House To turne us away from the right-serving the Lord there We professe in the eares of God Angels and men we never accounted a Table an Altar nor did we bend there till we saw our Pastour in name bow and cringe there first Nor did we idolize the sacred Name till we saw him put off his cap. Nor could we thinke it so much as a civill or decent manner To riot and dance upon the Lords day till our Rev. Minister so he would be esteemed though he did reverence neither God nor man in a true manner told us That it was the day which the heathen in honour to their god dedicated to the Sun and therefore we might by the same reason sanctifie the same day with a Taber and a Pipe or after a more heathenish manner Ah Lord surely we could not have beleeved this had not our Minister preached even so unto us and shewed us Statute-law for it Ah Lord should not they be ashamed for their Doings so miserably seducing a poore darke people as we are We humbly conceive That though we are in a great transgression yet not the first or the chiefest therein Therefore we expect that our Ministers who went away farre from God when Israel we●t astray which went astray away from Him after their own gods should beare their shame first and their iniquity before all the people And oh that the Masters of our Assemblies the chiefe there would presse-on this great work of Humiliation and be Examples unto others in this matter as Ezra and Nehemiah are Examples unto them even these could spy-out that whereof they were ashamed and site ●s●onied before their God Surely they that in seeking seek after Gods-way of Government in His Church for what hath the Church to doe with mans-way these goe forth weeping over their own wayes They that look to be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royall Diadem in the hand of their God these must be an humble people first They must lye-●●● before their God bearing their shame for all they have done against Him The 〈…〉 They that are indeed lovers of the Truth and seekers after Peace do know assuredly That they cannot have what they so dearly love nor find what they so earnestly seeke till there be a bitter lamentation taken up for all that hath been done even by the Children of the Kingdome against Gods Kingdome and Royalties thereof His Truth and Peace Surely this is the way In the feare of God so to doe then matters would slide on The secret of GOD would be with you Truth would be revealed Peace would be given for it is the Churches portion Their Lord Christ hath bequeathed it to His people But how doe His people thrust it from them how do they divide themselves one from another and set themselves one against another and presse one upon another as if they would devoure one another so doing as much and working more effectually their own ruine then the Adversary does or can doe Surely we should be ashamed for all this And for these divisions strong prayers should bee put-up That we may not throw down our selves with our own hands Nor thrust that further off which we seeme willing to put forward with all our hands O! if ever now sure it is a pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity Ecce quam se m●… diligunt never did you see a more pleasant prospect then when you see Christians bearing-up themselves like vine branches which beare-up one another all cleaving fast to that which beareth-up them Now that the enemy rages let not friends rage against themselves The

accasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme b You know what followeth it is pat to our purpose and you can make good use of it and enlarge your selfe upon it sweetly You can put-in a caveat also for your friends never to let any words passe from the tongue or scribble from the hand which may comfort the Devils heart or the heart of his servants I will contribute this hither now it is in my mind I went two yeares since to a neighbour-Church where I heard the S. Scripture was expounded then it is read indeed when the sensa is given the exposition being almost ended there came a note to the good Minister M. Cooke that one whom I need not name would with his leave fill his Pulpit that morning he had good leave upto the Pulpit he went took his Text stayed by it a while and allthat while spake very well to the purpose Then he fell upon his Service booke to justifie the formes there and then after his manner I mention this for this reason which is to my purpose When I went downe the middle part of the Church I observed some adversaries there to the power but close friends to formes of godlinesse And to tell you the truth I listned as I went by them to heare what they said and truly what they said was with full expressions touching the last part of his Sermon which was quite parted from his text Heterogenius cleane of another nature but because it was connarurall and complying with their sense oh how it pleased I concluded at that time What is pleasing to corrupt nature cannot be pleasing to God You must conceive the rest and so fill up the first consideration why the godly cannot approve of that booke Approve God forbid They must approve things that are excellent these things will be judged to be reprobate upon a second consideration 2. Because this booke and the like to this saddeth the hearts of those that should not be sadded O quàm ●ucundum how pleasant how aimeable a sight is it to observe brethren live like brethren in unity Ecce quam mutuò se diligunt said Tertullian touching Christians of old See how they love one the other what sweet agreement complying bearing and forbearing each of other O this is to the heart of the Righteous But the contrary as at this day saddeth their hearts see how they biteand devoure each other this saddeth the righteous who should not be sadded No good man is glad at this And now you have the reason also why the fewest cry it downe the fewest men are the best men in the world for they walke in the narrowest path and what the fewest cry downe you will not cry up And yet you will cry I understand the reason very well because you follow Truth and peace they that so doe must give cleare evidence that so they doe by mourning over all that which runneth not bias only but crosse and thwart to Truth and Peace as stand the two Poles North and South Well Sir for so it is or God will make it so You are not discouraged at all this nor can you faint in your mind You know whom you have trusted Him that never failed His people hitherto and never will Him Who brought light out of darknesse at the first doth so still Life out of death doth so still Glory from the Crosse doth so still Hath wrought the greatest things by the smallest instruments nay by crosse instruments doth the like still Did so at Yorke did He not He raised His friends there begirting the City throweth down their spirits their strong-holds too and confidences also gives all these into His adversaries hands their hopes thither and their hearts desire and the prey into their chaps nay they had swallowed it down Then the Lord arose it was his time snatcheth the prey out of the enemies teeth maketh him vomit-up all his hopes throweth him on his face there leaveth him to wallow in his own blood And away his servants march but the most crosse way that ever was heard of For God maketh His servants win a City by loosing it They are come to it again and have taken it but they counted it lost first Certainly Sir we have not read a stranger matter in our Chronicles But we shall read the like in Irelands Chronicle shortly for we heare of it already I give but a hint and away I goe onward And I pray you let us entreat our friends to follow-on and seek the LORD to set their hopes on Him For He is the same still He changeth not As He hath wrought He works still we see for he maketh crosse wils crosse lines and crosse wayes serve His will and come direct to His line and way in a most cleare and direct tendency to the Butt and White of his glorious I cannot tell what to call it but that it is what was before time was Oh Lord who would not trust Thee with all their crosse wils and crosse hearts that are in our world a world of them These are in God His hands where can they be better Crosse and crooked they are God will turne them right and strait thence to draw forth 1. His Glory whether they will or no 2. Yea and his servants Glory also 3 And the Glory of their Church-way the way of Christ His Apostles and Disciples I pray you let us looke over this againe weigh and ponder all this with all our hearts and all our soules 1. Crosse wils and lines and wayes must advance God His Glory Past all question it is so In all wherein the enemy doth proudly God is above him b The flouds have lifted up their waves and so forth that is The enemy threatneth every houre to swallow-up the Righteous But the LORD on high is mightier than many waters then the mighty waves of the Sea * mighty Adversaries are meant here And what of them These only dash against Jacobs Rock and break themselves and exalt the Name of Jah Jacobs God but they must serve His Providence first for these mighty flouds must serve to bring in flouds of Honey and Butter i. e. the strongest Consolations to His Church But I passe over this how the Lord doth serve Himselfe and His people by the men of violence as not so pat to our purpose now I take it this is for we are upon crosse wayes and crosse-lines and these drawn by the prosessed sons of the Church Erasmus hath a pretty expression Many that goe for the best Catholiques Romes sheep are but Cacolyck●s the worst wolves And those that goe for Evangelists good Messengers are but Dysangelists bad and harsh to Gods best Servants God knoweth But saith Erasmus Let GOD alone with them He will ●ould and frame their wolvishnesse and rage and their All to his Glory The Lord Christ raighneth and turneth about all things by secret wayes and counsels so ordereth and disposeth

Selah There is a river whose floods are butter and honey strong consolations the streames whereof shall make glad the City of God Selah The floods are listed up the floods have lifted up their voice when ye have these repetitions you have a great observation before your eye The floods lift-up their waves Be not afraid at all this remember the LORD Who is GREAT The LORD on high is mightier then the noise of many waters the mighty waves of the sea that is He is a Rock This Rock answers all Objections The Rock of Ages b in Him is everlasting strength A ground sure and stable whereon to build everlasting confidence Let us doe our duty fall close to our work keepe close to our Rock strong in Him through the power of His might Amen Thus Sir I have given Answer to your Letter with strong desire and endeavour all along to render it sutable to the good word of God to the rule and method of Charity there to the example and practise of Gods best servants there and every where and best agreeing with the sweetnesse of your spirit wholy spent in the persuance of Truth and Peace Now the God of Truth and Peace leade us into all Truth give us peace by all meanes Amen Sir I am Your most affectionate Friend and indeed obliged servant for your faithfull labour and unwearied paines in the worke and service of the Gospell HEZEKIAH WOODWARD From my house in Aldermanbury 12. Aug. 1644. To the Reader NOw thou mayest reade the Books thou hast haply heard much spoken against and mayest now give thy judgement thereupon If before thou hadst so done thou mightest now judge thy selfe for being too hasty in so doing The Booke had gone abroad a fortnight sooner had I not desired heartily and accordingly prepared to affix unto it some after-lines the issue and result of after-thoughts But these were not thought seasonable not now to t●● art and crosse 〈…〉 other setting judgement against judgement and standing single to many and those Divines at Sion which yet my conscience tels 〈◊〉 I could doe and yet maintaine the peace of Zion and the bands of the brotherhood whole and entire But the contrary war feared and thereupon judiciously I speaks from my heart concluded with strong reference to our LORDS practise in a different case least we should offend them who would Mat. 17. 〈◊〉 not be offended That the after-lines must perish as an untimely birth or lye at the place of the breaking-forth of such children the conceptions and issue of our thoughts formed and made legible to the world so a bar was put-in against them Be it so and best content I am it should bb so rather then any the least and just offence should be given to them who indeed should not be offended Only this I would take leave to say The searcher of all hearts knowes That what by His assistance I have done in the former or the after-work I have done all not to please or displease any man And therefore if men had been displeased that was the feare they are but men As I cannot be carelesse of it so I cannot be carefull about it for my testimony is with-in and my witnesse above That All I did was done to please God In strong references to His glory The beating-out the way of Christ The making His Government upon His shoulders glorious before our eyes The composing these sa●d differences amongst us in speciall th●se th●n have been occasioned by Mr Edwards his Books The rendring him more gracefull to his people his gifts and graces also more usefull to the Church in after-time And that if the Brethren have walked as men or as it is suggested then that they should be humbled for so walking give glory to God take diligent care to make their watch the stronger that they doe so no more And that they stand no longer at a distance as it is conceived they due with those who love them next to their own soules But rather to communicate to us whose debtors also they are their Scripture light whereby we may more cleerely discerne into their so questioned way of Church-Governement That so the Truths there being cleered The errors there beaten-out the one may be embraced th' other rejected As all these things before spoken were the very bent and true intention of my soule so helpe me God Amen I will close with the Apostles words because I would leave them fixed upon our hearts Stand ye fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospell And in nothing terrified by your adversaries a a Phil. 1. 27 28. No though they are high now yet be not terrified God is still above them and we are not so low but an Almighty hand can raise us up againe And if we are at the lowest now then now be not terrified encouraged rather now for now will the hand of the Lord be stretched-out to work a glorious deliverance even now now now so often repeated in one verse to assure us That God is then neerest to His people when they are at the lowest ebb of misery and farthest off from His adversaries when they are at the highest pinnacle of their seeming prosperity Now I will up saith the LORD A gracious promise we must looke unto it and 〈◊〉 upon it The word is never more comfortable then now now that the workes and providences of God stand crosse thereunto and Gods hand is rough and heavy upon the loynes of his servants Then the voice is sweetest when the hand is heaviest b b When the Church is up and the Adversaries are down then seise has matter to feed upon But when as now the Adversaries seem to be high and the Church low then there is aboundant matter ●i●h ●…ses for Faith to feed on A. Yea but now is the Adversaries day for mirth and laughter they are gladded to the heart now in the day of their King we can see them drunk with joy and with wine too * * This is the manner of the Malignants rejoy●ing on the 〈◊〉 of their King To take their fill of the creature so as to 〈◊〉 the reason to a drunkennesse in the day time As five roarers were found to be the last Lords day Sept. 9 and paid for their drunkennesse what the Law commanded them and their Hostis And one kissed the stocks to teach him more and then reaching forth their hands with scorners Hos. 〈◊〉 5. B. Let them laugh it is their day they think and they know not That their day is comming Give them leave to be merry but not to be drunk it is the houre of their joy and but for an houre He that laughs anon laughs too sayes the Proverb But we must laugh manners and render him more sober man now and be heartily merry after a godly sort now for now we see their day is comming a a Psal.