Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	affection_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	199	3	10.1149	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A25421	The right government of thoughts, or, A discovery of all vain, unprofitable, idle, and wicked thoughts with directions for the getting, keeping, and governing of good thoughts, digested into chapters for the ease of the reader : whereunto are added four sermons / by ... John Angel ...	Angel, John, d. 1655.; T. B.	1659 (1659)	Wing A3162A; ESTC R13149	89,280	271

that Centurion in the Gospel and say to one thought go and to another come parity if but in thought is next to mutiny orderly government amongst equals is a soloecisme in Politicks But where may we find such a Saint among the people such a thought among the cogitations as may overtop all the rest what if thou shalt set up the thought of Gods fear upon the throne of thy heart holding up the Scepter of Gods word and taking up the Regency of thy whole man as of the multitude of thy thoughts I conceive the fear of God taking it in the Scripture sense pro toto Dei cultu for the whole worship of God is most meet to be a Master a Prince over all our thoughts for what but religion should be the main scope of a Christians whole life and what rather then this should command all the company of our thoughts into order amongst themselves and into the obedience of Christ What is it which the Psalmist chiefly promiseth to teach his children but the fear of the Lord Come ye children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord psal 34. 11 many would be accounted wise and prudent but none are truly wise but they that set up the fear of God in their hearts Even a scorner seeketh wisdom but findes it not Prov. 14. 6. alas wisdom lyes not in the scorners way nor amongst their great men and wise men of the world whose wisdom is but foolishnesse with God 1 Cor. 3. 19. Where lyes it then but amongst them that are religious The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome Prov. 9. 10. Doubtlesse they have a good understanding that do thereafter the praise of it endureth for ever And set this further upon your hearts consider that they which despise that wisdome which the fear of the Lord teacheth are but fools for their labour The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise wisdom and instruction Prov. 1. 7. my advice is therefore that ye set this fear of the Lord as Regent over your thoughts If ye please to look amongst the men of this world ye shall see a Master thought higher then the rest in every unregenerate man at whose beck all the rest as underlings bow and give obedience not unsitly compared to the Master Bee in the Hive whose rising or settling carries with it the whole swarm Thus the thought of covetousnesse in Judas of fame in Magus of idolatry in Jezabel of adultery in Herod of honour in Nebuchadnezzar of revenge in Cain of nigardize in Nabal of self-preservation in the unjust steward were as the Pole-starre about which all the rest of their thoughts moved respectively In the thoughts of a wicked man the thoughts of some sin takes the throne in whose government he delights this thought drives out all good ones that stand in his way and oppose him and if any be received in 't is but with reservation of power to remove them again at pleasure And even evill thoughts themselves which are not of the same kind with the principal are so farre countenanced as serviceable to the Regents purpose so the thought of ambition brings in all other thoughts of revenge Covetousnesse Pride Envie c. to be her servants so that a man may say such Master such Servants such Mistresse such Maids and when they cease to be serviceable to their Masters main design he casts them off and takes in others If wicked men be thus wise in their generations let the children of light learn to be more wise then they and let them also enthrone the thought of Gods fear and delight in her government and then evil thoughts will vanish as the mists before the morning Sun this will take in all thoughts of such vertues and words and works as may be serviceable to the worship of God and make even those inferiour thoughts about things indifferent and the lawful businesses of our calling subservient and profitable to her main design of honouring God and when they cease to be so serviceable the fear of God enthroned among the thoughts will cast them off The second rule Let all thy thoughts be ordered according to Gods word for if the fear of God be Regent the word of God is her known Law by which she governs The testimonies of the Lord as they were the delight so they were the Counsellers of the holy Prophet Thy Testimonies are my delight and my Counsellers Psal 1 19. 24. they must be Counsellers to every soul that lives under the fear of God Religion hath no Law above Scripture nor equal with it and that man cannot have set up the fear of God in his heart who undersets the Scripture or speaks against it or behaves himself frowardly towards the rule thereof That man cannot have a good thought in his heart who hath an evil heart to the Scripture But as when Moses took the rod into his hand the waters stood on heaps and divided themselves above and beneath So when the heart which fears God takes into consideration the word of God the thoughts that come from above and the thoughts which come from below divide themselves and start asunder in which sense the word is called a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. Wherefore that evil thoughts may divide from thee and good thoughts may stay with thee let all thy thoughts come before the word of God Religion wil allow no thoughts under her government but such as wil be ruled by her Laws And this rule I have given the more willingly lest any thoughts arising out of zeal and affection to Religion and not according to the word of God should usurpe amongst you the name of Good thoughts In this kind I observe Gods children commit great errours packing many unwarrantable and unseasonable actions upon seeming good affections to the fear of God I love those persons whose good meanings and good affections make them zealous of Religion but I love and honour that soul more whose affections are zealous yet wil not allow that for Religion which is not according to Gods Word if any other opinion get the stampe of men upon it for religious it s more than I know that it hath Gods Image and Superscription upon it 3. That thou mayest govern thy thoughts aright Consider thine own standing and qualification in the Church of God for every several standing and state require several thoughts The Apostle marshals Christians into three ranks 1 John 2. 13. Children young Men and old Men. Like thoughts become not every age no more than like apparel doth Josephs party-coloured Coat became him while he was his father Jacobs wanton but when he was Pharaohs Counsellour he must put on his graver habits While the Apostle was a child he spake as a child he understood as a child he thought as a child but when he became a man be put away childish things It