Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	england_n	reform_a	4,212	5	9.5265	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67047	A word in season. Or Three great duties of Christians in the worst of times viz. abiding in Christ, thirsting after his institutions, and submission to his providences. The first opened, from 1 John 2.28. The second from Psal. 42.1,2. The third from Jer. 14.19. By a servant of Christs in the work of his Gospel. To which is added, by way of appendix, the advice of some ministers to their people for the reviving the power and practice of godliness in their families.	Servant of Christ in the work of his Gospel.	1668 (1668)	Wing W3548A; ESTC R204145	100,163	272

the propagation of it in the power thereof is and having observed some decays thereof in present Professors from the life zeal and power thereof in our fore-fathers and withall how many temptations are daily offered to the corruption which yet remaineth in the best to divert them from the streight and narrow way which leadeth to the Kingdom of God That through our negligence the study and powerful practice of godliness wherein England hath been famous above any other sort of Christian people may not abate and Religion evaporate into a meer formality and the souls of you our Brethren might not be hindred of that joy and peace which usually attendeth a strict and close walking with God have thought fit to propose our serious thoughts unto you for the revival and preservation of Religion wherein we shall rather give you a copy of the conversation of our fathers who walked with God in their generation than propound any new thing unto you There are three things in Religion observed as the glory of England wherein our Church hath exceeded other Reformed Churches 1. The diligent practice of Family-Worship 2. The strict sanctification of the Christian Sabbath 3. The severe personal strictness in the Conversation of Professors And as these things have been the the beauty of England so we doubt not but they have been the strength of it We therefore as Ministers of Christ do beseech you and so much the rather by how much our condition in respect of publick communion is more sad than in former times that you would joyn with us in your particular places so much as in you lies to recover unto God an England that antient Revenue of his glory which he hath formerly had from our fathers in these things 1. The first thing which we commend unto you is the promoving of Family Religion and that both in reference to the week-day and to the Lords day Families are the lowest Societies and such wherein we have further advantages to propagate Religion than in any others and that not only in respect of our daily converse in them but of the authority with which God hath there cloathed superiours They are the Societies in which alone every private person who is the Head of the family is a King Priest and Prophet And he that cannot rule his own house well is by the Apostle determined unfit to rule the Church of God In order to which we propound 1. That every one who is Head of a family would by a constant deportment to his or her children or servants vindicate the honour which God in the Fifth Commandment hath reserved for him neither by too much familiarity divesting himself of his authority nor by too much severity estranging the hearts of his Relations from him but by a wise gravity so deporting himself that while his relations fear him as being in the stead of God unto them they may also love him for his tenderness to them both in their temporal and eternal concernments In order to which we desire Christians to consider That he or she is rarely dishonoured by his child or servant who have not by too low and unhandsome carriage dishonoured themselves before them God ordinarily vindicating the honour of superiours till themselves have unduly prostituted it that they may read their sin in their punishment 2. That being cloathed with this authority from God you would make it your business to vindicate his glory not enduring any in your families who after due admonition and the use of other means to reclaim him or her shall live in the practice of any moral vice or what shall have an evident appearance of it If any therefore in your families shall be given to drinking swearing lying prophaning the holy Name of God reviling of his people any species of uncleanness or any other scandalous sin if they be such as you can turn away if they will not be reclaimed remember the resolution of David Psal 101.6 7. If they be such as either by natural obligation or moral contract you are obliged to keep let it be your business to endeavour all possible ways by instruction admonition correction begging the help of others to reclaim them that their sins may not be laid to your charge Consider with what face he can blame the Magistrate for not punishing these offences who neglecteth it in his own family where the body to be ruled is less and his authority as to some kind of punishment far greater than the Civil Magistrates is And as a means in order to this we desire That giving your children and servants all due liberty of recreation especially with such company as you shall commend to them you would restrain them as much as may be from Plays Fairs Meetings for Dances and others Revels and from Recreation at undue hours 3. That seeing an ability to read the Scriptures and other good Books is the foundation of all knowledge you would not only see to the bringing up your children to this capacity but if the providence of God casts any under your roof that cannot read you would exhort encourage and by all means help them till they attain this faculty What knoweth the Master but he may thus be a means to save the soul of his servant by bringing him to the knowledge of God We urge this rather because we observe divers well disposed persons grown up miserably disadvantaged for the want of this 2. The family being thus ordered and disposed is prepared for a joint communion with God And surely if there were no Scriptures evincing Worship a family-duty such as that of Joshua resolving with his house to serve the Lord. Cornelius fearing God with his whole house and praying there about the ninth hour of the day Davids walking in his house in a perfect way Abrahams instructing his houshold The Prophet Jeremy's imprecation upon the families which call not on the name of the Lord. The mutual prayers of husband and wife 1 Pet. 3.7 which the Apostle hinteth that he would not have hindred Daniels praying in his house thrice a day which we cannot tell how it should have been proved against him had he done it alone We say that were there none of these evidences from holy Writ yet every Christians reason can tell him that the providence of God hath cast us into family societies not meerly for natural and civil ends but for to be joynt blessings each to other in those things which he hath commanded us first to seek Now if any desire to be more particularly instructed concerning those duties which God expecteth from families we answer We know no act of divine Worship but may be performed in so small a society as that of a family if a lawfully ordained Minister be the Head of it or assumed into it for that time But we shall only speak to those duties which God expecteth of every family without any respect to a Minister in it c. Those we conceive are

And to love their enemies to do good to them that hate them c. So more especially to be careful of it in these times That whereas men speak evil of them 1 Pet. 3.16 as evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse their good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 2.12 yea they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 3. That above all even to the worst men They render their dues fear to whom fear honour to whom honour owing no man any thing but to love one another and remembring that Love worketh no ill to his neighbour according to that of the Apostle Rom. 13.7 8. 4. That they do not give holy things to Dogs nor cast pearls before Swine but wisely watch all advantages where they may meekly and acceptably and seasonably apply any word to their neighbour to convince him of any sin or duty forbearing it where they see any in any madness of passion or the like 5. That if God calleth them to suffer any thing in the doing of his will they remember to do it with meekness and patience and also with Christian courage and boldness committing themselves to him that created them and who will judge righteously 6. That they Remember their Brethren who are in bonds as if they were bound with them considering that themselves also are in the body Heb. 13.3 Hebrews 10.34 Coloss 4.18 Phil. 1.7 7. That if they discern any of their Brethren overtaken in a fault they would endeavour to restore such a one in the Spirit of meekness considering themselves also lest they be tempted according to that Gal. 6.1 and if need be they further acquaint some godly Ministers with it 8. That especially at such a time as this is they cover and conceal the weaknesses of each others and avoid all manner of exceptions one against another or reproaches of each other for any particular differences of perswasion in the things of Religion as to such who are agreed in the two main things 1. The Doctrine of faith 2. A joint study to promove practical Godliness 9. That they take especial heed that no particular provocations from any of their brethren upon civil accounts be a temptation to them to turn Persecutors of them i.e. to seek a revenge upon them for matters concerning their God it being certain that none can deserve a persecution from his Neighbour These things our dearly beloved Brethren are all which at present we shall commend to you The nature and reasonableness of them is such as we are assured they have an evidence to all your consciences either as necessary or highly useful only as we are prone to make excuses in any duty and especially where the revival of it may seem to condemn our former neglect so we are afraid least as to that part which relates to the order and worship of families we should hear some excusing themselves Either 1. From want of time or 2. From want of fit matter in their families or 3. From want of parts and abilities or 4. From the want in the world of servants that will be brought under such discipline 1. As to the first we know there is a great difference of men as to leisure and therefore as we said before we believe more of this nature is required from a Daniel or a David than from a private person but 1. This cannot be pleaded as to Sabbath Dayes Service 2. It cannot be pleaded as to Morning duties there the time may and ought if need be be redeemed from sleep 3. So that all the dispute is about one half hour at night and we leave it to every Christian that is serious and conscientious to think whether this plea will not argue a greater want of a good heart Besides if this duty be necessary we hope that our brethren who let their trade and business be what it will will find a time to dine and sup because they are naturally necessary will also find a time for these duties which are spiritually necessary 2. As to those who complain that their families neither do nor can consist of fit matter for these duties It only reacheth to Catechism and that too only as to servants for surely Parents can command their children As to them we say Servants are either Apprentices or hired by the year or by the day for the latter sort they are not properly members of our families For the former doubtless Masters have a great power over them and though if they be stubborn they cannot directly force them to this yet they may keep them to such a strictness in labour that they will be glad to purchase some relaxation there by a complying in this with the desires and endeavours of Governours for the good of their souls For yearly servants it is true they are but transient members of our family but for their hired time Governours have the same power over them as over Apprentices and there is no question but better may be provided if they will not comply Besides Servants that shall thus refuse must be 1. Either such as have some particular different Perswasion in religion who it may be understand much of the Principles of Religion or 2. Such stubborn refractory pers●ns as will be kept under no better Civil Government than Religious and so unfit to be continued in our houses But we are verily perswaded that they are very few who by fair and gentle treating with them might not be brought to this order however as to children the duties may proceed 3. For those who complain for want of parts to discharge this work The plea only holds as to prayer and set discourses on Scripture We should therefore commend to Christians 1. That no heads of families be patient till they have learned to read the want of this being a most inexcusable sin in these dayes wherein are so many means for it 2. That as many as possible would learn to write and practice writing and as many as can would learn to write Characters writing by Characters being of infinite use in this work 3. Though we cannot commend Christians tying themselves to forms of prayers made by others Yet rather than not pray at all that Christians would read a Prayer Morning and Evening to their families out of some good Book such as the Practice of Piety c. at least at first setting up such a Reformation 4. That no Christian would rest here but being assured that the gift of prayer is attainable by any Christian that will take pains that they would use all means to attain unto it and to that end we shall not only be ready our selves to give such as come to us Directions but we earnestly commend unto them the reading and study of Dr. Wilkin's Book concerning the gift of prayer 5. As to opening the Scriptures and from them speaking to people Though we could wish that as many as have time and leisure would apply themselves to get such knowledge as might enable themselves by study to find out the sense of a Text. Yet in regard that all cannot do that we have before commended to our Brethren some such English Books as may in this be helpful to them And in regard every one hath not an ability to purchase such Books we shall only offer it to our Brethren whether four or five might not joyn together in buying such an English Library as they shall be advised to each sharing in it that so the whole number may be amongst them all and ready to be mutually Aent and if they please they may so agree as when any one dyeth the others may purchase his share at a certain rate The most of these things Brethren especially which concern the Worship of God in their families and the private Sanctification of the Sabbath though we believe them to be in a great measure the practice of many of you and from your Parents you have been instructed in the practice of them yet considering the great moment the reviving of Religion in families is of at such a time as this and the great neglect in many families occasioned possibly for that some had not such good examples in the families of their education we have thought good to use the Apostle Peters expression 2 Pet. 3.1 To stir up your minds by way of remembrance Thus we conceive God may be glorified our own souls and the souls of all under our charges highly advantaged Religion would be revived preserved and propagated and much of the glory of the Professors of England recovered and the Adversaries of Religion and Godliness would gnash their teeth to see every family become a Church and the Nursery of that Religion and lively practice of Godliness which by so much profane scoffing they endeavour to discourage and by so much activity they labour wholly to extirpate FINIS

which it brought forth leaves and was green and flourishing being thus withered Husbandmen use to appoint their Servants to gather them up and burn them 1. He that hath made a profession to Religion a purer way of worshipping God and a stricter conversation before him if he maketh a defection from it he is cast forth Cast forth by the Church if that be in a calm and Pacate State and not in such a crowd of disturbances from the world that it cannot draw out its spiritual Sword and ●et me tell you Christians that is a dreadful thing to be orderly excommunicated by a Gospel Church The Apostle calls it a delivering up to Satan ●he separation of the Israelites from the Tents of Corah Dathan and Abiram was 〈◊〉 forerunner of Gods dreadful Venge●nce on them the Churches separation from an apostatized Professor for his Apostacy is not to be flighted Pro●ided this be done by a true Church ●nd for a just cause it is formidable enough for other Bruta fulmina they signifie little according to that of Job How forcible are right words but your ●rguings what do they reprove But this ●s not alwayes I told you the Church ●s not alwayes in a condition to execute this Vengeance upon Traitors However they are cast out by the Providence of God A notorious sinner may be cast out in the sight of God when h● is not so in foro Eccles●ae in the view 〈◊〉 men and there is no branch not abiding in Christ but in this sense is cast forth God casts him forth he never had any true union with Christ he shall no● now have any appearing relation God will not own him his Saints shall not● he shall be none of them that God will care for with that special care which God extendeth to all those that are visible members of his visible Church h● hath made a defection from the City of God and hath removed himself into the suburbs of Hell he shall no● now have the priviledges of common Citizens Thus men use to do Tu●● saith it was never known that those who made defection and proved false to the City of Rome jura civium tenuerunt enjoyed the priviledges of Citizens God will let it be seen that those who are false to his City shall not retain the priviledges of the City of God Secondly As the branch casts out with thereth So it ordinarily is with professors they lose their beauty and glory whether it lay in their quick and excellent parts these oft times abate their gifts dwindle and come to nothing or whether it lay in the repute and credit they had in the Church of God they are lookt upon as Fugitives and Renegadoes by the sincerer professors of Religion Nay for the most part this is not all they lose also their hopes for repute and credit with the world Who regard them as little as the Pharisee did Judas when he had betrayed his Master The wise God so ordereth it that the world shall not trust those that his Church cannot trust A fugitive from his Profession sheweth too little of a Christian to be valued by the Church and too little of a man to be much valued by the world who ordinarily love the Treason but hate the Traytor they like it well enough to see one professing to Christ spitting in his face to hear him jear and mock at the wayes of God in which he once walked but in the mean time they hate the traytor abhorring the levity and inconstancy of this weather-cock in Religion that turns in obsequiousness to every wind Thus he withers every way That which he hath is taken from him his gifts and parts his credit and reputation he becomes a man of no value to every one But there is worse yet that follows Thirdly Saith our Saviour Men gather them and they are cast into the fire and burned Thus men deal with the withered branches of Vines once separated from the Vine Thus will God do with Professors that abide not in him They shall be gathered up it the great day of Judgement Our Saviour tells us who shall gather them the Angels Mat. 13. They shall be burned with unquenchable fire The Apostle saith There remaineth nothing for them Heb. 12. but a certain dreadful looking for of fiery indignation Now our abiding in Christ in the truths of Christ which we have formerly owned in the wayes of Christ to which we have formerly professed and in which we have formerly walked is by our Saviour himself prescribed as the only means to avoid this unspeakable evil otherwise hanging over our heads Thirdly Our abode with Christ is the excellent means to keep his presence with us Joh. 15 4. Abide in me saith our Saour and I in you So John 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him What is this for Christ to abide with the soul I answer as it is one thing for a soul to be in Christ another thing for a soul to abide in Christ So it is one thing for Christ to be in the soul another thing for him to abide in the soul The abiding of Christ with a soul I think implieth 1. His manifestation of himself to the soul John 14.21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and be that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self unto him The Lord may be in the soul and yet be hid so as the soul may go about trying Where is my God become The soul may walk in the dark and see no sight Christ is then said to abide in the soul when he appeareth to it and that in some constancy that he is not to use the Prophets expression Jer. 14.8 as a wayfaring man who tarrieth but for a night And 2. Gods sensible manifestations to a soul may be in the influences of comforting quickning or strengthening Grace Take a soul under the greatest desertion and cloud of Divine light there is yet as an Vnion so some communion betwixt God and it as the soul doth in some degree communicate it self unto God under the greatest apostacy it can be guilty of if it truly belongs to him its backsliding is but gradual so God doth in some degrees communicate himself to the soul under the greatest desertion the Union abiding some communion is necessary But now the Lords abiding with the soul argueth more than this it argues thus much that the soul who thus abides in Christ shall be under some sensible influences of Divine Love and that not only for its consolation chearing and refreshing it under dark issues of Providence but for its strength and liveliness in the way of God it shall grow stronger and stronger every day more fresh and lively and active in the wayes of God Without this how heavily doth a soul

professors who are turned out the right ways of God The cla●●● of an ill-tongu'd world are so lov● that I am so charitable as to many 〈◊〉 to believe that in the midst of the● rage they are thus far justifiable 〈◊〉 lieving that they ought to do many this against those whom they hear so ●●ported of These are nearer pardon great deal than the Apostate is He h●● known the way of righteousness he ha● walked in it his conscience tells h●● that those whom he thus deserte● and possibly persecuteth are more ri●●teous than he that they are such as desire nothing but herein to exercise himself to keep a good conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men That there is nothing to be found against them but in the matters of God That their ways are more ●oly more righteous than the ways of ●thers and that nothing but the lust 〈◊〉 his own heart hath enticed him out of them or can intice any from them who hath any thing of the reason of a man or Religion of a Christian yet he ●bideth not in them but embraceth a present world in defiance of his known duty What shall the end of this man be 3. Consider how tenacious others are of their sinful and vain courses Jer. 2.10 11. Pass you over saith God by the Prophet the Isles of Chittim and send unto Kedar and consider diligently and see if there be such a thing Hath a nation changed their gods which yet are no gods but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Give me leave to allude to it Pass ye over to the Mahumetans whose Idol is a sordid person whose course and so●● of Religion is a bundle of nonsense an● blasphemy yet will not they forsa●● their profession Send to the blind ●●pists who have nothing to say for they superstitions but They believe as 〈◊〉 Church believeth yet how rarely is o●● of them proselyted Look up among the blinder sort of Proteltants w● have got some forms of Religion 〈◊〉 they can neither give themselves 〈◊〉 others a rational account of what they believe or practise yet how true is the generality of them to their blind devotion Shall the knowing Protestant only be the reed which every wi●● will shake Did not the very foundation of your Religion allow you 〈◊〉 judgment of discretion a liberty to prov● all things requiring you only to ho●● fast that which was good Were you like others forced into your practice or did you upon deliberation and weighing of principles and practices chuse the way wherein you chose to walk as that which was most conformable to the will of God Have you a better evidence for the contrary now Bring forth your strong arguments Have you one but what is drawn from your impatience of suffering your ambition our covetousness of filthy lucrè c See amongst the Heathen there be such thing to be found Oh let it not be 〈◊〉 that those who worship they know 〈◊〉 what are yet more sure to their ●osession than you who know what 〈◊〉 do and that salvation is in that ●●y wherein you have walked Fourthly Consider what it is that you 〈◊〉 done The Prophet tells you 〈◊〉 2.13 You forsake the fountain of ●ing waters and dig up to your selves ●ken cisterns that will hold no water ●od is the Fountain of living waters the creatures are cisterns that will ●●d no water The pure Ordinances God are fountains of living water ●●d is the Spring Ordinances are the ●●ntains which this Spring filleth ●he waters are the Graces of Gods ●irit communicated to the souls of ●s people in and by his Ordinances ●he Ordinances are the wells of sal●●tion out of which our souls draw ●●e water of life If these wells be kept pure the souls of Gods people are treshed by them and grow fat in 〈◊〉 use of them Going on from strength strength till they appear before God Sion If they be corrupted according the tincture they have received the are more or less dangerous There is fountain you know that is kept clear how pleasant how wholsome are streams of it There are fountains 〈◊〉 which men have thrown mire and 〈◊〉 how unwholesome are their water how unpleasant are they to the 〈◊〉 how unsavoury to the taste Have you forsaken God to embrace the wo●● in the credit honours profits of 〈◊〉 You have forsaken the fountain of ●●●ing waters He must needs be so 〈◊〉 the fountain of all good he in whom live move and have our being have digged up to your selves cisterns ●●ken cisterns that will hold no water You will find it so when ever the providence of God brings you to be a third if ever your conscience akes if ever you have a thought rise up in arms again●● you if eyer you come to be within view of the grave and that you 〈◊〉 do one day if ever you come to have a prospect of hell you will find all the treature but a cistern a broken cistern that will hold no water I have heard of an Emperour brought to that digress that he cried out A Kingdom for ●● cup of water O take heed that you ●e not another day heard crying out will give all my credit all my honours all my places of trust and profit 〈◊〉 an hours peace of conscience for ●ne smile from my angry God for one ●rop of water to cool my tongue You ●aye forsaken the pure Ordinances of ●●od for the inventions of men you have forsaken the fountain of living wa●●s you have digged up cisterns that ●ill hold no water Here 's the name ●● the means of grace but where 's the ●ung What presence of God do you ●●d in them What strength do you trive from them What sweetness do ●●a taste in them Where 's your for●er spiritual joy peace satisfaction 〈◊〉 it not an Image in your bed in●●ad of an Husband a dream in your ●●uls from which when you rise up ●ou are still an hungry in stead of a feast fat things Fifthly O that you would consider 〈◊〉 it hath been with your souls since you 〈◊〉 your defection To this God calleth 〈◊〉 back-sliding people Jer. 2.14 〈◊〉 16 17. Is Israel a servant Is he 〈◊〉 home-born stave Why is he spoiled 〈◊〉 young Lions roared upon him and yelled they laid his land waste his cities 〈◊〉 burnth without an inhabitant Also 〈◊〉 children of Noph and Tahapanes 〈◊〉 broken thy head Hast thou not proc●●● this unto thy self in that thou hast 〈◊〉 saken the Lord thy God when he led the by thee way It may be worth the 〈◊〉 flection for you to consider how G●● hath dealt with you as to what you have most proposed to your self mean the getting of the world whether in the profits or honours or 〈◊〉 dit and reputation of it If the ba●slider gets not this he gets nothing and let me tell you it is not ordinary 〈◊〉 the providence of God to