Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A39885
|
God's goodness to this Israel in all ages being the substance of some sermons on Psalm LXXIII, I/ by J.F., minister of the gospel.
|
J. F. (James Forbs), 1629?-1712.
|
1700
(1700)
|
Wing F1443; ESTC R32028
|
51,365
|
93
|
Number of all Nations and they shall stand before the Throne and before the Lamb. Tho' it was hardly visible whether there was a Church or no formerly yet now they shall openly shew themselves Cloathed with white Robes to shew that they have shaken off Popery with its Doctrine of Merits Indulgences Penances and Satisfactions and seek Justification only by Faith in Christ and his Righteousness having Palms in their Hands as a sign of Victory over the Beast over his Mark his Image and the Number of his Name and they cried with a loud Voice Salvation of our God which sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb and the Angels also fell on their Faces before the Throne and Worshipped God saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen The State of the Church shall now be a kind of Heaven upon Earth in comparison of what it was during Antichrists Reign and her Glory shall still encrease from one Degree to another till she be fully possessed of Heaven it self where their shall be a total exemption from all Evil and an abundant affluence of all good truly God is good to Israel Chapter Eighth This Eighth Chapter does under the First four Trumpets contain as I humbly conceive the Churches Sufferings for the next Three Hundred Years after Constantine where observe 1. Upon opening the Seventh Seal there was silence in Heaven for half an hour i. e. for some short time the Church had some respite from outward Commotions and Troubles and this is to be reckon'd among the Demonstrations of God's goodness to them or it signifies a holy attention in Heaven's Inhabitants the Christians to what God shall be pleas'd to speak to them by this Seal that brings forth Seven several Trumps and each of them a several Judgment it put them in a kind of amaze to consider That no sooner they were deliver'd from Paganish Persecutions which lasted for Three hundred Years but immediately there 's a new Cloud a gathering 2. To the Seven Angels which stood before God were given Seven Trumpets v. 2. to intimate God's goodness in this That he did solemnly denounce Wrath and Judgment against Carnal Christians that began to corrupt their Ways and thereby did call aloud upon them to Repent Trumpets are for an Alarm to War and they give a distinct sound that every one may know their Duty So good is God that he is not willing that any should Perish but all should come to the knowledge of the Truth Repent and be Saved 3. Even in those Days God had a Praying People whose Persons and Prayers found acceptance through the Intercession of Jesus Christ Verse 3 4. Another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden censer and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the throne and the smoak of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angel's hand 4. The very same Angel of the Covenant Christ himself takes some Fire from off the Altar and casts it into the Earth And then there were voices and thundrings and lightnings and earthquakes v. 5. It 's he that perfumes the Saints Prayers that plagues and punishes the world of Apostate Professors with spiritual Judgments All Judgment is committed of the Father to the Son and therefore the Sealed ones may be secure they need not be afraid of what shall fall out O the goodness of God in this thing And now come to the Trumpets themselves When the first Angel sounded there followed hail and fire mingled with blood and they were cast upon the earth and the third part of the trees were burnt up and all green grass was burnt up vers 7. This may be fitly applied to Arrianism the first spiritual Plague wherewith the Church was pestered even in Constantine's time It brought Hail with it which is a cold and nipping thing destructive especially to Trees and Grass Many Trees i. e. Eminent Ones became cold in matters of Worship and in their Love one to another And all Grass was burnt up i. e. The generality of common Professors throughout the World were much Baptized into Arrianism There was Fire mingled with Blood i. e. It produced a most bloody Persecution of all that were Asserters of the Divinity of Christ and his being Co equal Coessential and Co-eternal with the Father God's goodness under this Trumpet was in these two 1. There was but a third part of the Trees burnt up i. e. There were several Persons of great Note both Magistrates and Ministers who did even in those days faithfully witness to the Truth of Emperors Constantine Valentinian Gratian Theodosius of Ministers Alexander Hosius Foelix Secundus c. 2. Tho' Fundamental Truths were much struck at yet the Lord caused the Earth to help the Woman Rev. 12.16 i. e. Tho' their Synods and Councils did begin to grow very earthly carnal and corrupt yet God made use of them for the prefervation of Fundamental Controverted Truths in there Purity and Incorruption In the Council of Nice call'd by Constantine Anno 330. Arrianism was abundantly confuted in that of Constantinople Anno 380. under Gratian and Theodosius Macedonius and his Followers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they denyed the Personality of the Holy Ghost were confuted The Third great Council at Ephesus under Theodosius II. Anno 431. did condemn Nestorius's holding that Christ had two Persons The Fourth at Chalcedon under Martianus An. 451. condemned the Eutychians confounding the Natures of Christ Upon the sounding of the Second Trumpet There was as it were a mountain burning with fire cast into the Sea and the third part of the Sea became blood and the third part of the creatures which were in the Sea and had life died and the third part of the Ships were destroyed i.e. Now began hot contests between Church-men for Precedency and this did quickly corrupt the Ordinances themselves the Seas and Ships by which Christians as such do maintain a Spiritual Trade and Commerce with God and one with another Contentions among Church-men were a fair Foundation laid by the Dragon for the intended and designed Superstructure of Antichristianism and they were kindled 1. By their own Pride and Ambition 2. By reason of the great Benefices bestowed upon them by Constantine witness that Voice then heard Hodie venenum effusum est in ecclesiam this day Poison is poured out on the Church It might then be said Religio peperit divitias filia devoravit matrem 3. They had the favour of the Emperors and great Men. 4. Because their Ministry was in the Imperial Seat they claim'd more than ordinary Privileges 5. Some good Men being much wrong'd and injur'd by the unjust Sentences and Church-Censures issued forth against them in the Eastern Councils did