Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	ark_n	house_n	zion_n	22	3	9.1058	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15398	Ecclesia triumphans: that is, The ioy of the English church for the happie coronation of the most vertuous and pious prince, Iames by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defendour of the faith, &c. and for the ioyfull continuance of religion and peace by the same. With a briefe exposition of the 122. Psalme, and fit application to the time: wherein are declared the manifold benefits like to grow by these good beginnings to the church and common-wealth of England. Dedicated to the most gratious ladie and vertuous princess, Ioland Anne, by the grace of God, Queene of England, Scotland, France, &c.	Willet, Andrew, 1562-1621.	1603 (1603)	STC 25676; ESTC S114434	63,703	152

because of your bodies as your soules are holy because of the spirit that dwelleth in you your bodies holy because of your soules so this house is holy because of your bodies Secondly all profanation of Gods house is forbidden or turning of it to any secular vses Our Sauiour would not suffer them to carrie a vessell through the Temple nor to buie and sell but ouerthrew the tables of the money changers Math. 11. 15 16. Hereof it is that diuerse abuses of places consecrate to religious vses haue beene by diuers wholesome Canons restrained that law-daies should not be kept in Churches Concil Aretalens sub Carol. c. 22. that feasts be not made there Trullan c. 74. that no man bring in beasts or cattell ibid. c. 88. that no dancing there be vsed songs or enterludes Bracarens 3. c. 2. All which and such like corrupt vsages are great profanations of Gods house which is appointed for praier and other holy exercises Thirdly if the Church be Gods house it ought euen in respect of outward comelines and decencie to be reuerently kept Men should not be curious in adorning their owne houses and dissolute in maintaining the house of God This was the reproofe of the Israelites in Haggai his time because they themselues dwelled in sieled houses and suffered the temple to lie wast Hagg. 1. 4. And verily where people are slouthfull in this busines to beautifie and repaire the publike places of religion it sheweth that they much regard not the exercises of that holy habitation Lastly as it is Gods house so we should come reuerently to it as into Gods presence as Iacob resolueth himselfe How f●arefull is this place this is none other but Gods house Gen. 28. 17. Gods palace is much vnlike Ahashuerosh court Mordecai could not enter there because he was cloathed with sackcloath a mourning garment Esth. 4. 2. but he is soonest admitted into Gods court that commeth with true sorrow and contrition Men vse to come trembling vnto the princes Maiestie and with reuerence enter into the court Gods house in like manner is his pallace and therfore in time past we shall finde that the Church was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a basilike or princes house It is the mansion of the great King and therefore we should not come with secure hearts and profane affections as the manner of some is but with reuerence and feare as into the presence of the highest Maiestie And herein we haue the exāple of our princely Ecclesiastes that both in practise and precept goeth before vs in this dutie of reuerence toward God thus moouing aduising his princely sonne But in your praier to God speake with all reuerence for if a subiect will not speake but reuerently to a king much lesse should any flesh presume to talke with God as a companion Howe much are we bound vnto God that in his mercy hath sent vs a king truely touched with the deuout sense of religion who what he prescribeth to others doeth first practise in his royall person and as the Prophet saith is as an he-goate before the flocke Iere. 50. 8. that is most forward of the rest To conclude this place Bernard well saith Terribilis plane locus quem fideles viri inhabitant quem angeli sancti frequentant quem sua quoque praesentia dominus ipse dignatur worthie of all reuerence which faithfull men inhabite angels frequent where God himselfe is present The presence of Christs Church requireth reuerence but of angels more of God himselfe most of all The 7. meditation v. 2. Our feete shall stand in thy gates That is whereas the Arke before was flitting from one place to another not onely in the wildernes vnder Moses where the Arke was remooued as the campe pitched their tents but afterwarde also it often changed place from Shiloh to Ebenezer from Ebenezer to Ashdod from thence to Gath from Gath to Ekron frō thence to the house of Obed●Edom and so to Ierusalem now the Church of God reioyceth that the Arke was setled and brought to his resting place This then is the ioy of the Church when religion is setled and established and brought to perfection when the people are resolued in their conscience of the truth and stand confidently with their feete in Gods house 1. Thus the Lord promised concerning Sion The Lord hath chosen Sion and loued to dwell in it this is my rest for euer here will I dwell for I haue a delight therein Psal. 132. 13. Now in Dauids time and not before the place was elected and appointed where the solemne exercise of religion should be practised 2. Thus Salomon builded God an house whereas he dwelt in tents before that the Arke should be no more transported out of his place and herein Salomon was a figure of Christ in whome the promises of God are Yea and Amen 2. Cor. 1. 20. Who hath giuen vs an euerlasting testament a kingdome which cannot be shaken Hebr. 12. 28. who is the true Messiah neither are we to looke for any other Math. 11. 3. 3. Like as then when Samuel went to annoint Dauid first Eliab then Abinadab then Shammah and the rest of the brethren came in order before Samuel but none of them was chosen at the last Dauid was sent for and he was the man 1. Sam. 16. So after many prophets and many professions in the world at the length commeth Christ and he is annointed king for euer And as when Elias was in the caue a mightie winde was sent of God then an earthquake then a fire but God was in none of them but at the last he spake in a soft and still voice So Christ came not though many signes and wonders went before till he himselfe spake with a soft and still voice in the forme and shape of a man 4. For the Apostle saith Iesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for euer Heb. 13. 8. therefore as Christ is alwaies the same so the faith and religion of Christ is constant and immutable And as the Apostle inferreth hereupon in the same place Be not carried about with diuers and strange doctrines v. 9. so should we be resolued and setled in religion 5. Wherefore euery man may consider how much bound we are to praise God which hath in his mercie raised vs vp a Dauid after Samuel to bring home the arke of God and to establish and settle religion which was feared of many and wished of some to be flitting at the next change The Pope and his adherents would draw the English people as Ieroboam called the Israelites to Dan and Bethel to the Romane religion but I trust our feete shall stand still at home in the gates of Ierusalem Let men therefore be constant in faith not be carried away with euery wind of doctrine as the Apostle saith Eph. 4. 14. nor halt betweene two opinions as some like Ianus bifrons looking both

in his mercie graunt The Lord make your grace vnto his Maiestie 〈◊〉 D●borah to Baruch as Huldah to Ios●●● as Esther to 〈◊〉 A●ashuer●sh Christ Iesus graunt you the pietie of Rebecca that consulted with God the zeale of M●riam that praised God the knowledge of the Teko●●● that perswaded Dauid the wisdome of the matron● of Abel that deliuered the citie the charitie of the Shunamite that prouided for the Prophet that the Church of God● beholding your zeale toward God your 〈◊〉 to his Chur●● desire to the truth obedience 〈◊〉 his word humilitie in your high estate mercie and pietie toward the po●re members of the Church constancie in vertue and all goodnes may blesse you with the saying of the wise man of the godly matrone many daughters haue done vertuously but your surmount them all and that you may be eternally blessed in heauen that in that day it may be pronounced to your comfort Giue her of the fruit of her hands c. Your Highnes readie to be commanded in the Lord Andrew Willet Minister of the Gospel of Christ. The Preface to the Reader THe Iewes returning from captiuitie did so wonder at their strange deliuerance that they seemed to be as men that dreame Psal. 126 1. As strange a worke hath God wrought for the Church of Englād for though we are not come from thraldome to libertie or from captiuitie to our owne countrie hauing many yeares vnder our late Soueraigne enioyed both true religion and therewith as the handmaid waiting vpon her mistresse all flourishing peace yet in respect of our deliuerance from that danger to the state which many feared the change of religiō in the church which some doubted others desired we can no lesse wonder at the Lords strange worke and say with the Church of God The Lord hath done great things for vs whereof we reioyce Psal. 126. 3. In this common ioy who shall forbidde any to reioyce and where Gods mercies are so manifest and euident to all the world who can hold his peace But as benefits are not acknowledged where first they are not well considered nor due thankes performed where the grace receiued is not worthely esteemed for this cause haue I addressed this short treatise that Gods goodnesse to Israel might be proclaimed and that no man be ignorant what God hath done for vs that we again be not negligent to doe to him that which becommeth vs to giue vnto him thankes and praise Samuel to disswade the people from al their wanton desires to haue a king wheras God was yet their king telleth them what the properties of their king shall be and how hardly he should vse them and how little pleasing vnto them his gouernment was like to be 1. Sam. 8. As he would disswade from their vnthankefulnesse to God in that headstrong request by propounding vnto them the hard conditions of their king so mine intent is to perswade to thankefulnesse to God by setting forth the princely and Christian endowements of our gratious Soueraigne and the manifold benefits which both Church and cōmon wealth are sure by Gods grace to enioy vnder his Maiesties godly vpright regiment For this cause haue I sorted out this 122. Psalme as seruing most fitly for this present occasion which I haue deuided into 20. seuerall meditations shewing so many blessings vpon this Church and common-wealth answerable to those which Israel enioyed vnder Dauid 1. As Dauid appeased the strife betweene him and the house of Saul and brought all Israel to one gouernment which was before deuided so these two kingdomes of England and Scotland hauing beene long at variance and exercised in time past with long and bloodie battels are now vnited in one His Maiestie is the corner stone that hath conioyned these two walles togither 2. Vnder Dauid true religion was cōtinued and by our Soueraigne the faith of the gospell by his Maiestie truely professed and in his princely bookes protested shall still be maintained 3. Dauid was a learned prince an inditer of heauenly songs and sonnets And God hath giuen vnto vs a wise and iudiciall king whose princely writings do giue him the preheminence before all his predecessors another Salomon a king and yet an Ecclesiastes a learned writer such an one as Gratian the Emperour was of whome Ambrose saith Scripsisti tua totam epistolam manu vt ipsi apices fidem tuam pi●●atemque loquerentur You haue written not an epistle onely but whole bookes with your hand that the very points and letters doe vtter your faith and pietie 4. In Dauids time there was free accesse to Gods house I reioyced when they said let vs goe vp c And nowe the doores of Protestants Churches shall be as wide set open as euer 5. Then the faithfull one exhorted an other saying Let vs goe vp to the house of the Lord And now may Christians goe hand in hand conferring freely and edifying one another 6. Dauid in bringing home the Arke went before himselfe and was an example of godly zeale to his people So it is our Dauids godly precept to his princely sonne Teach your people by your example p. 24. And such is the practise in his owne royall person giuing light by his Christian life to all his subiects 7. Before Dauids time religion was vnsetled the Arke was flitting from place to place but he brought it to Hierusalem where it staied and therefore he saith Our feete shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem and nowe whereas many feared an alteration of religion at the next change we verely hope that the Gospell hath set sure footing in the Church of England which both by his Maiestie while he liueth whose happie raigne God in his mercie many yeares prolong and by his roiall posteritie walking in his steppes we trust shall be continued to the end of the world wherein his highnesse also hath deliuered his sound iudgement and constant resolutiō That in the last estate when the church is deliuered from the thraldome of Antichrist without any more generall mutations the world shall remaine to the consummation and end of the same 8. Vnder Dauid the cittie flourished beeing enlarged with goodly and beautifull buildings Ierusalem was a cittie well compact and built togither And nowe also we hope by Gods mercie that men shall plant vineyards and eate the fruit thereof build houses and dwell in them 9. Dauid was brought vp to Ierusalem with the ioynt consent of all Israel who said we are thy bones and thy flesh 2. Sam. 5. 1. And it is admirable to consider the generall resolution of all English people and the coniunction of their hearts affections both of high and lowe in receiuing their Soueraigne 10. Then the tribes of Israel were not onely vnited in one kingdome but were reconciled among themselues vnited also in one religion thither the tribes went vp c. So not

Scots slaine in one battell Sometime the Scottes had the vpper hand as in the 7. yeare of Edward the second in a battell fought at Retraueling in Scotland there were put to the sword and taken 10 thousand or after the Scottish historie 50. thousand English I will not make mention of Flodden and Musleborough fields other fierce battels between these nations By this ye may consider what a great blessing is like to ensue vpon this ioyfull coniunction of these kingdomes Dauid againe brought home the arke that a long time had soiourned abroad this is our greatest comfort that contrarie to the desire and expectation of the Papists God hath sent vs a Princely shepheard that shall still lead his people to the greene pastures and refresh them stil with the waters of the word of life Dauid also expelled the Iebusites out of Ierusalem and there are yet some Cananites in the land Iesuites they are called but more truely Iudasites and other of Baals priests with whome I trust such order shall be taken that they be no more as thornes in our eies and prickes in our sides Thus you see how iust cause we haue to celebrate a song of thanksgiuing with the Prophet Dauid for Gods great mercies which shall be a meanes when the Lord seeth our thankfull acceptance of these good beginnings that the proceedings shall be answerable for God by our thanksgiuing is not profited but we are altogether thereby benefited as it is said in Iob If thou be righteous what giuest thou vnto him thy righteousnesse may profit the sonne of man Augustine teacheth this point well Non laudibus nostris ille crescit sed nos deus nec melior fit si lauda●eris nec deterior si vituperaueris c. God increaseth not by our praise but we he is not the better for our praise nor worse for our dispraise but we are the better if we praise him and worse if we praise him not The 2. meditation A song of Dauid That Church and common-wealth is happie to whome god giueth a Prince such as Dauid was whose heart is set aright to seeke God In that Dauid was occupied in godly meditations and did exercise himselfe to endite holy songs and sonnets to the praise of God and comfort of his church Princes are taught to be deuoted to the worship of God and subiects doe learne to pray to God to send them Kings and gouernours such as Dauid was after Gods owne heart 1. Thus the prophet Esay speaking of the last times saith that kings shall be nourcing fathers and Queenes nourcing mothers of his Church Isay 49. 23. 2. Such was Salomon that praied himselfe in the audience of the people with his hands stretched out vnto God at the dedication of the temple 1. King 8. The same wise and vertuous Prince did write those heauenly bookes of the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes the Canticles giueth himselfe the name of a preacher Eccles. 1. 1. Such an one was Iosias that himselfe read in the eares of the people the bookes of gods couenant 2. King 23. 2. 3. For praiers should be as the he goates before the flocke Ierem. 5. 8. to goe before the rest by their good example whose godly lawes and wholesome precepts are as the raine that commeth vpon the mowen grasse Psal. 72. 6. So they make religion and vertue to increase and flourish 4. Hereunto Princes should be mooued considering whose place and office they beare in earth that as they are called Gods Psal. 82. 1. so they should seeke to set forth gods glorie for they are called gods as our Sauiour expoundeth it because to them the word of God is giuen Iohn 10. 35. The cheife charge and care of preseruing the worde of God is committed to them Philip an heathen king could say that a Prince must remember that he had obtained a diuine power that he should command diuine things Beside great is the reward of godly and vertuous Princes who by their good example drawe others vnto God They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer Dan. 12. 3. 5. Wherefore as this consideration should stirre vs vp to giue great thankes vnto God that hath in his mercie sent vs a Prince not onely wise and learned but sound in religion and deuout in affection as appeareth by his Maiesties books such as we found not the like written by any king of this nation before So let vs not be slacke to commend his Maiestie in our continuall praiers vnto God that the lord would direct him by his spirit and guide him in his feare and strengthen him to holde out to the end that godly course which he is entred into And further the people of God are taught that where the Lord hath vouchsafed so great a blessing then the which in this world there can be no greater to send his Church a Nursing father and the Cōmonwealth a prudent and vertuous gouernour they should endeauour for their parts in pietie to God and obedience to their prince and in all Christian duties to be answerable It is a monstrous thing that there should be a good prince and a bad people a sound head and a diseased bodie The subiect should not by his vntowardnes grieue the heart of a good prince but shew himselfe so conformable to all acts of pietie that the vertuous gouernour may reioyce in the obedience and deuotion of his people that in the ende he may yeeld vp himselfe and his people with comfort vnto God and say with the prophet Behold here am I and the children which thou hast giuen me Isa. 8. 18. For as Ambrose saith of good children so it is true of good subiects Stipendia militiae suae sunt vernet in dei laudem terra quia colitur mundus quia agnoscitur ecclesia quia devotae plebis numerus a●getur They are as the hire or reward of the princes warfare let the earth sprout forth to Gods praise because it is tilled the world because it is inhabited the Church because it is with deuout children filled and replenished The 3. meditation Of degrees There are thus intituled 15. psalmes that are here set together which are next this so called as though the Leuits were appointed to sing them vpon the degrees and staires of the temple for as yet in Dauids time the temple was not built nor the plot thereof drawne or the forme and patterne set forth neither is it to be referred to the rising of the tune wherewith those psalmes were sung in the temple for other psalmes beside these were tuned sometime with the falling sometime with the rising of the voice some in an high tune were sounded forth which was called Atamoth 1. Chron. 15. 20. some in the eight or base tune as psal 6. and 12. which was called Sheminith 1. Chron. 15. 21. This title then if it depended of the tune could not be proper to these