Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	bless_a	lord_n	soul_n	6,252	5	5.0695	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45776	Levamen infirmi: or, cordial counsel to the sick and diseased Containing I. Advice concerning physick, and what a physician ought to be; with an account of the author's remedies, and how to take them. II. Concerning melancholy, frensie, and madness; in which, amongst other things, is shew'd, how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin, and likewise how they differ among themselves. III. A miscellany of pious discourses, concerning the attributes of God; with ejaculations and prayers, according to scripture rule. Likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation. To which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world. The whole being enrich'd with physical, pious, moral & historical observations, delightful to read, & necessary to know. By D. Irish, practitioner in physick and surgery, now dwelling at Stoke, near Guilford in Surry, where he is ready to serve any person, to the utmost of his skill.	Irish, David.	1700 (1700)	Wing I1036; ESTC R221621	80,143	149

tells us That the last Tru●pet is the Seventh Trumpet that is a m●●●●rious Number in which as by many instances ●●●ht be proved God seems peculiarly to delight S● that the Sixth Trumpet as it is expressed in the Revelations soundeth before this shewing that the ●a●t end of all will not ●e till the last Trumpet but yet there will be a vast tract of Time within the time of the last Trumpet many things being to be performed within its Compass so that at the first beginning of the last Trumpet the Enemies of God so fall that the Kingdoms of this World becomes the King●oms of the Lord and of his Christ c. Revel 11. vers 15.16 17 18. which is a Summary Preface or a Prefationary Sum to the Catastrophe or upshot of the Revelations to follow unto the End And in ●evel 20. and the first seven Verses is expressed how l●ng this visible Kingdom of Christ on Earth shall continue and consequently so long is the last Trumpet viz. As the Learned conclude a Thousand years but the last end of all and ultìmate Period shall not be till the last end of the last Trumpet Rev. 20.12 c. and thus 't is probable the Resurrection will continue the Thousand Years of Christ's Reign upon Earth touching this see Isa. 16.19 cap. 19.20 and cap. 25 vers 6 7 8. and Daniel 12. vers 5. where it is said Go thy way unto the End and rest and awake in thy lot in the End of Days for the Lord hath spoken it The Lord will then remove the Vail of Ignorance which is now cast over the faces of all people so as they shall clearly see the great and wo●derful Mistery of Man's Salvation Now touching the place where Christ shall sit in Judgment the Scriptur●s make it out that it shall be in the Air over the Valley of Iehosaph●t by Mount Olivet near unto Ierusalem then w●ll Chris● set for●h magnificently his holy Spou●e the Church Tri●●phant First all things will be made New sitting for the Merits of so Beautiful a Bride Secondly there will appear the Glory and Excellency of ●he Lambs Wife Thirdly the earnest desire of the Elect who will say Come Lord Iesus to whom the Fountain of Mercy will answer Behold I come quickly see Revel 3.11 This will be a glorious Spectacle repleat with Rareties far beyond what our weak fancies can imagine it will not be like our transit●ry Pageantry for a day but such as will for ever fully employ the most pier●ing eyes of o●r Souls with ravishing satisfaction Her● have we first the Precursor a Iohn Baptist going before and giving Warning Ecce Behold he is coming who hath been oft foretold and long the darling expectation of all Nations even Christ the only begotten Son of the Father Venio I come Thirdly the manner of his Coming will be Wonderful he will not come leasurely as he Rode to Ierusalem upon a slow Beast but Riding upon the Wings of the swiftest Wind born up as it were by a bright Cloud of Angels Venio cito I come saith the Lord quickly Now the many comings of Christ which are dispersedly related in the Holy Bible I will set down in the order following His first Coming was Virtual from the beginning of th● World full of the Vigour and Power of Red●●ption as he was a Lamb slain from the begining of the World and thus Abraham saw him as com● 〈◊〉 his day as present His other comings were Actual namely in Carne when he came to Man by assuming his Nature when he came ad suos to the Iews and they received him ●ot this Coming was in Humility and Debasement 〈◊〉 ●orma Servi in the form of a Servant to make us 〈◊〉 by his Sufferings and Bondage His Coming to Ier●salem was Local being both a Preparative to his c●●el Passion and a Prefiguration of his glorious Exaltation venit ●ex was the Proclamation which was f●llowed by the Royal Acclamations Hosanna being Sung to him With a Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. He also has a spiritual and invisible Coming into ●he secret recesses of our Souls by Grace and ●he power of his Holy Spirit which doth raise us from the Grave of Sin and Spiritual Death This Co●ing is in Misericordia in Mercy But his last Coming is in Justice in Majesty and in Glory to Judge the Quick and the Dead and to render to every one according to his Works whether they be Good or Evil and to Transform the Church Militant into the Church Triumphant And this C●ming is called by St. Paul the Glorious Appearance of our great God and only Saviour Jesus Christ and himself has foretold that he the Son of Man shall come Cloathed with a Triple Glory that is in his own Glory in his Fathers and in that of the Holy Angels Now of the several Comings I have hitherto spoken some are past some to come and others are daily coming and ever present as his coming ●o his Chosen by moving and changing their Hearts by renewing their Spirits by comforting and instru●●ing their Souls present also in his coming to th● Wicked and Reprobate in such mann●r as he cam● to Pharaoh But the last and most Universal Com●ng is that which is not yet come and is promised in th●se words Behold I come Rev. 5.6 and this is usually call'd his Second Coming which will be visible and proper wherein it is suit●ble to his coming by In●arnation and yet it much differs from that first in manner that being in the Depth of Hum●●iation this in the Height of Exaltation that in Re●roach and Infirmity thi● in Glory and p●●fection o● Health then he came to Die and bear a Crown of Tho●●s now to wear a Crown of Life in that he came to b● dispised and spit on by his Enemies in this to bruise his Adversaries like a Potters Vessel and to make his Foes his Footstool Secondly in Time that being in the fulness of Time yet i● Time when the Vail of Mosaical Tipes and Ceremonies was to be pull'd off and yield to the Substance Gal. 4.4 This Future in the very End of Time when the whole frame of the Earth is to be broke in sunder the Curtains of the Heavens to be w●thdrawn and all things sublimated and purified by Fi●e then shall Men see the Lord Christ coming in the Clouds with omnipotent Power and infinite Glory with Millions of Angels and all Souls whom he knows to be his by Faith and good Works each of which will than move in an Orb of Glory far surpassing the brightness of the Suns Meridian Be●●●s and yet the Glory of Christs Body will infinitely exceed them all then will the joyful Elect say The ●ime is come of Singing Eternal Halalujahs and the Voice of Christ and his Holy Angels will be ●eard over the whole World in a Diapason of most Revishing Notes which will awaken and raise up all that are in

Read 1 Tim. 2.1 where you will find that the chosen Vessel of God St. Paul doth exhort That first of all Deprecations Supplications Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty Again Phil. 4.6 he says Be careful for nothing but in all things let your Petitions be manifest unto God in Prayer and Supplications with giving of Thanks by which places of Scripture we are not only pricked forward to the holy Exercise of Prayer but taught also that there are four kinds thereof all necessary to be used every day First Deprecation whereby we beg at the hands of Almighty God either altogether to turn away his heavy displeasure conceiv'd against us through our Sins or at least to mittigate the Punishment due for our Offences Secondly Supplications are Prayers whereby we crave such things as are necessary either for the Sustentation of this present Life or for our everlasting Comfort in the World to come Thirdly Intercessions are Prayers made in the behalf of others And lastly Thanksgiving is when we Praise God and celebrate his holy Name for all the Benefits confer'd both upon our Souls and Bodies Some short Ejaculations and Prayers according to Scripture Rules I Give thee most hearty thanks O Eternal God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for that it hath pleased thee of thy unspeakable Mercy and Goodness in all Ages succesfully to send into the world Men wonderfully endow'd with thy Gifts and adorn'd with the knowledge of thy Will to be Revivers and Preachers of thy Word of Truth Mat. 23.34 Ephes. 4.2.1 2. I likewise render most hearty thanks unto thy most Sacred Majesty for sending thy only Son that great Shepherd of thy Church to make known thy Word to such as thou thinkest fit to teach thy People the Truth of thy Written Word for the gathering together thy Church out of all Mankind to the building up of the Body of Christ. I humbly beseech Thee most gracious God to continue always amongst us thy pure Word and through thy Ministers gather to thy self an infinite and everlasting Congregation and so instruct my heart with thy Spirit of Truth that I may unfeignedly assent to thy wholesome Word whereby I may prove a lively Member of thy Body and be incorporated into that Society which doth in this World sincerely confess thee and in the next World for ever enjoy thee evermore extolling the holiness of thy Name preserve in safety the Ministers and Teachers of thy Word and give them the certain knowledge of thy Blessed will that by thy Word they may from time to time open unto us thine intent concerning the repairing of Mankind to the Saving and Redeeming of our Souls thro' thy free Mercy and also teach us here to live in new obedience and to withstand the violence and allurements of our carnal desires which fight against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.12 Inspire the Preachers of thy Word with the Divine Breathings of thy holy Spirit that they may utter thy Will with the Purity they receive from thy Mouth retaining the form of wholesome Words and sounding none but the Doctrine manifested by thy Son out of thy Bosom 2 Tim. 1.13 Ioh. 1.18 for by departing from the order of the Faith and Rule of thy Word they will greatly obscure the light of thy Doctrine and obtrude upon us the Vanity of their own Inventions for thy holy Inspirations therefore let them speak thy Word not deceitfully but sincerely as from thee and in thy sight 2 Cor. 4.2 Grant also that by transforming thy Divine Ministry into Earthly Policy they Lord it not over thine Elect neither proudly contend about Superiority and Primacy in thy Church 1 Pet. 5 3. But only seek the Glory of thy Name and the Salvation of themselves and us committed by thy Providence to their Charge give them liberty of Speech boldly without fear to blame and rebuke all false Doctrine Blasphemous Superstitions and abuses in thy Church Ephes. 6.19 Open unto them the door of utterance that they may speak the Mysteries of Christ and manifest them as they ought to do so shall their doings be profitable to the Godly Colos. 4.3 Assist them also with thy especial Grace that they disgrace not the Doctrine which they Teach and Preach by impurity of Life 1 Tim. 3.2 4. but especially assist the Shepherd under thee whom I hear for the good of my Soul from whose Mouth I learn thy Blessed Will keep him O Lord I heartily Pray in Religion sincere and pure from enormous Offences in his outward Conversation endow him with a long and healthful Life if it be thy Will that he may live to Convert many by Preaching thy Word of wholesome Doctrine and then we shall be Converted because thou art our God and being Converted we will do Penance shew us our Offences that we may have a true sense and hearty sorrow for our Sins O Son of God who art the Lord and head Shepherd of all thy Flock work thou effectually by thy Preachers and speak thou also within us to our hearts the blessed Will of thy Eternal Father and confirm thy Doctrine in our Minds by thy holy Spirit and grant I beseech thee that we may truly know and discern the same from the howling of Wolves and from the Inchanting Songs of Hirelings Ioh. 10.12 and 17.15 and grant that we may know thee even as thou knowest thy Heavenly Father and walk Religiously and Righteously in thy Sight showing our selves to be that holy Seed which praiseth thy Name for evermore Come Holy Spirit open my Heart and Ears that I may conceive the profit of thy wholesome Doctrine and the sweet Comfort revealed in thy Holy Words by the Preaching of the Gospel I beseech thee pour into us Godly Cogitations that we may never imagine as the Wicked do that the Miseries and Afflictions of this Life fall upon u● 〈◊〉 Chance and against thy Will but that we may 〈◊〉 believe that thy Church is govern'd by thy P●●vidence and that without thy Permission no Evil 〈◊〉 Punishment cometh for thou Lord sendest the s●me Amos 3.6 Then grant I beseech thee that we may suffer all Injuries and Adversities with quiet Minds and never attempt that which is contrary to thy Commandments but by an humble acknowledgment and submission to thy Will bear all sorts of Calamities with calling for thy Assistance Psal. 50.15 Tit. 22. Most Gracious God keep I beseech thee the power of Mans immortal Enemy the Prince of Darkness under that he compel not Consciences loaded with the weight of Sins to fall into fatal Desperation either by heaping up and aggravating their Offences or by extenuating thy Mercy enhance too much their own guilt or lessen thy Power of forgiving but grant that all Sinners that are heavy laden may with a true and lively Faith come unto thee for Ease and

his bringing forth of Man with the help of Woman and withou● the help of Man observ'd in the Blessed Virgin Mary bearing our Redeemer Christ Jesus who neve● laugh●d but as we read in the Scripture three times W●pt First when Lazarus was Dead Secondly over Ierusalem And Thirdly upon the Cross where he delivered up his Spirit to his Heavenly Father and these things all prove the said Attributes of God There are four Duties incumbent upon Man which above others he ought diligently to perform that is to say To God Fear To his Country Love To his Parents Honour and to his Neighbours favour If we duly consider these Duties we shall look towards Heaven despise the World and prepare a Mansion for our selves in Heaven There are three especially Miserable First he that knows and teacheth not Secondly he that teacheth and doth not Thirdly he that is ignorant and yet l●arneth not Among the several Commands our Saviour hath laid upon us that seems not to be the least where he warns us Not to Iudge lest we be Iudged for 't is said With what measure you meet the same shall be measured to you again Besides nothing i● more unreasonable than to impute the fault of one Man to another but let us proceed in all cases with Clemency and Mildness remembring that we all sprang from our Grandfather Adam and cons●quently are all a Kin to one another which the Minister confirms in his Office for the Burial of the Dead though to the meanest Person in these words Forasmuch as it hat● p●●●sed Almighty God of his grea● M●rcy to take unto ●imself the Soul of our dear Brother here departed c. So that it plainly appears that we are related to ●ach other Now some of these Kindred live in the fear of God and by honest and industrious means procure a Livelihood for their Families others take ill Courses and become Reprobates hated both of God and M●n and in this Case why should any thin● ill of another for his Brothers misdeeds though he be so nearly Allied I think he ought rather to be pittied by ●very good Christian for that he hath so wicked a Relation And since every one must answer for his own Offences and not those committed by Father Brother or Friend let us abstain from rash Censures and fly from Evil and do the things that are good tha● we may live for ev●r Psal. 37.27 Again remember th● last day when only the Just shall be Saved then on thy Right hand shall thy crying Sins be accusing thee and on thy Left hand infinite numbers of Devils expecting thee and under thee the Sulphurous Furnace of Hell burning and above thee an angry Judge giving Sentance within thee thy Conscience tormenting without thee the World flaming when●e to fly is Impossible and to continue Intollerable This will be the sad condition of every one that while Living do not refrain from Sin or having Sin'd do not truly Repent of their Iniquities therefor● it is said Agree with thy Adversary while thou art ●n ●he way and while time is prevent that which oth●rwise in time will be For as one saith If it be no● pr●vented it will be Repented It is thought by some that there was no Writing to instruct the ●eople before the Flood Baptised the Earth to wash away the Curse which God laid upon it for the disobedience of our first Parents yet others subscribe not to this Opinion of the want of Writing but more wisely adhere to St. Iude and to the Learned Iosephus who writ that Enoch E●ected two Pillers the one of Brick and the other of Stone wherein he wrote of the Two-fold destruction of the World the one by Water and the other by Fire Some Notion of this was by Tradition as some Writers relate preserv'd even to the days of the Apostles Iude 14. The next thing I shall speak to is the final end of the World which will be effected by the fiery destruction abovementioned We read in Mat. 24. That the Apostles asked our Lord Christ about this matter the Event was that as for the day and hour he would not have them to be curiously Inquisitive because it is a Secret not disclosed to the very Angels in H●aven but reserv'd in the hidden Councel of God yet Christ gave them some intimation of the condition and circumstances of the time wherein it should be viz. That as it was in the days of Noah before the Universal Deluge swept away Mankind so shall it be in that time wherein Christ shall come to Judge the World in Fire see Ioh. 1.3 and Rev. 1. vers 3.7 But as to the time when it will happe● we are altogether in the dark and have nothing to say but the conjectures of the Learned who suppose it may continue 6000 years from the Creation which if true yet would not the time of the World's end or last Conf●agration be known because we have nothing but uncertainties touching the time of the Worlds beginning The World was at first a formless Chaos till God out of the abundance of his Goodness sent forth his holy Spirit which Dove-like with mighty out-spread Wings sate Brooding on the vast Abyss and made it pregnant of the World then Darkness gave place to Light and all the fulgent Lamps of Heaven appear'd as they truly are Glorious all Creatures receiv'd their Being and every Plant Tree Herb and Flower sprung from the verdant Earth which was raised above the Waters every thing of use had Seed in it self or other means to preserve its kind that a second Creation should never be requisite but as yet Man the Lordly Creature whose Province was to Rule and Govern the other Creatures was wanting He was framed with more Solemnity than all his inferior Creatures being as it were the Product of mature Council and deliberation stamp'd after the Divine Similitude inspir'd with the Breath of Life and Honour'd with many advantages beyond what any other Animal can pretend to the contemplating of which long since made the Royal Prophet break out into this Rapture What is Man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him Thou madest him lower than the Angels to Crown him with Glory and Worship Thou madest him to have Dominion over the works of thy hands and thou hast put all things in Subjection under his Feet Psal. 8.4 Moses sets forth plainly that this glorious Universe bespangled with sparkling Fires every where adorn'd with wonderful objects Proclaming the Wisdom and Omnipotence of its great Workman or Creator was in Six days made out of an Eternal Privation of Matter by the Omnipotent Fiat of God Hence because that in Six days the World and all that therein is was Created and because God rested the Seventh day it is probably Collected that in Six Thousand years which are but as Six days in God's Account the World shall ●gain be Dissolved When as is said God had Created

refreshment may they freely come unto thee by hearing thy Word to Repentance that the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce at their happy Conversion Luk. 15.7 Amen See Iames 5.16 Mat. 6.14 and Esa. 66.2 where you may Read what you ought to do if you would have God forgive you your Sins hear your Prayers and grant your Requests Prayer is a vehement desire of the heart to obtain something at the hand of God who look●● not upon the Face as man doth but beholdeth the 〈◊〉 neither doth he listen to the sound of the ●outh but ●o the fervency of the Mind Therefore Christians Praying have their affections bent towards God they ●lways hunger and thirst after Righteousness The ●rayer of him who humbleth himself is accepted as appear'd by the Publican Luk. 18.19 Psal. 50 1● Mark 13.3.3 Coloss. 4.2 Luk. 11.9 Ioh. 6.23 How excellent a thing it is for Man to converse with God! this joyns Man in Society with Angels thro' ascribing with them due Praise and Glory unto the Almighty Let nothing dismay a Christian from Praying unto God for the Prayer of the Righteous is the Key of Heaven the Prayer of the Godly doth ascend and the Mercy of God doth thereby come down therefore we will Sing Praise unto Thee O Lord for as thou hast been our Defence in the day of our trouble even so I beseech Thee to protect and save us everlastingly Amen Let us with St. Paul Heb. 4.16 come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy That is let us in confident assurance of God's readiness to help us make our Addresses boldly and chearfully to the Throne of his Grace upon all occasions suing to our bountiful God for the Relief of all our Necessities and let us consider when we are about to offer up our Petitions to God by Prayer what ou● necessities and wants are before we ask least throug● temerity we ask amiss His freeness to give ma● well make us bold to ask his power to supply us may give us hopes to obtain what is necessary for us and his greatness ought to make us temper our Addresses with Humility as for choice of Words and Elegant long Harangues let us not be too solicitous for God regards not Eloquence and long Harangues so much as the sincerity of those that invocate his Majesty Men chiefly mind the neatness of expression God the Truth and fervency of what is exprest We are commanded to Pray without ceasing which is best done according to Scripture Rules because no Method is comparable to that which God has laid down for us and Christ taught us When we groan under the weight of any Affliction we shall ever find help by calling upon God desiring the assistance of the Righteous to be joyned with us in Prayer For the Prayers of the Faithful availeth much their help we are admonish'd to desire by the Example of St. Paul who said to the Romans I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Iesus Christ's sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together wi●h me in your Endeavours and Prayers to God for me ●or the light of ●is Countenance and for assisting in every Duty Rom. 15.20 Some define Prayer thus An humble lifting up of the Heart or a pouring out of the Soul to God in the Name of Christ it is crying Abba Father As Scrip●ure is God's Letter wherein he openeth his Mind to Man so Prayer is Man's Letter wherein he expresses ●is Mind to God A thought can fly speedily to the utmost part of the Earth but Prayer in a Moment ascends to the highest Heavens 't is as it were a speaking Trumpet one end of which being fastened to Man's mouth it carryeth the Petitioning voice to God's Ear tho' spoken near so softly Prayer hath a twofold advantage of some other Duties in regard its Influence is Universal and to ●ts Exercise an opportunity is never wanting A Christian cannot always hear or read God's Word out he may Pray continually Every Saint is God's Temple and he that carries a Temple about him ●ay go to Prayer when he pleaseth A good Chri●tian need not be very nice in chusing a place for De●otion since to him every house is a house of Prayer ●nd every place he comes to an Altar whereon he ●ay offer up to God a Sacrifice of Prayer yet De●ency is not to be forgotten as far as circumstance ●ill allow since even by it we express a kind of Devotion to our God but many alass are so far from being curious in this point that they forget to pay at all this Duty tho' most necessary to the obtaining their Eternal Salvation If we are in doubts about our Spiritual Estate let us in Prayer go to God who is marvellous in Council are we in Affliction let us call upon him for help and he will not only hear us but also in his good time deliver us Do's any affliction seize our Bodies which endangers our lives or disturb our tranquility let us by Prayer call upon him at Midnight and he will make hast to help us tho' we are troubled exceedingly in a Moment he can give us quiet and rest nay tho' we should be encompassed with Enemies driven to the greatest of Necessities perplex'd with Doubts threatned with Dangers or like Peter falsly Imprisoned and watched narrowly Night and Day lest we should make an Escape yet Prayer as another Moses will go before us and so engage God on our side that he will vanquish our Enemies relieve ou● Necessities unfold our Doubts prevent our Dangers convert our Bondage into Liberty and guide us all the way thro' the Wilderness of this World 'till we arrive at the Spiritual Land of Canaan and be Enroled Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem where Christ is infinitely exceeding that Ierusalem where Christ was and whither the Devout Iews went once a year to Worship And here it will not be amiss nor I believe unacceptable to my Reader to give him some account of the Earthly Ierusalem and its many Revolutions so much spoken of in Scripture and other Histories This Ierusalem by some called the Holy City and Throne of God was antiently a Fort of the Iebusites upon Mount Sion not conquer'd by the valiant Ioshua but was fully subdu'd by the victorious Arm of David who Built thereon the City unto which was adjoyn'd Mount Moriah and therefore call'd the Daughter of Sion where Abraham would have offer'd his Son Isaac where David built his Altar and Solomon his Beauti●ul Temple of which great things are by all Histori●ns Recorded 'T is Scituate in the midst of Nations ●t was the place of Holy Worship from this Moun●ain which for many things is justly prefer'd before ●ll others did flow those Salutiferous Waters that gave Life where ever they ran from hence Christ ●ent his Apostles as so many Spiritual Fishermen to ●atch the Souls of Men. In this famous City stood ●he Throne of David

establish'd here by the Royal ●uccession of One and Twenty Kings descended from ●he Loins of this Royal Prophet Sin whose proper wages is Death brought many Calamities strange Revolutions and in the End a ●●nal Destruction to Ierusalem The Convulsions and ●roubles of this City were many and violent before 〈◊〉 was utterly Ruin'd as namely by this Hake King ●f Egypt in Rehoboams days at which time the Con●ueror carry'd away much Treasure By Ioas King ●f Israel who in the time of Amazias brake down ●00 Cubits of the Wall it was besieg'd by Resin and ●ekek King of Aram and Israel whom God put back 〈◊〉 the Reign of wicked Ahaz By Zenecher King of ●ssur whose Host in Hezekiahs days the Angel of God ●estroyed By the Assyrians who took Manasia Cap●●ve By Pharaoh Necho who carried Iehoazar Pri●oner into Egypt And lastly it was Besieged by ●he Caldeans who both Burnt the Temple and defa●ed the City see Kings 23.25 It was after the Captivity Rebuilt by the returned ●ews yet so that in the days of Christ it rather seemed a place of Slaughter and a Den of Thieves than the Royal Seat of a King or the place of Holy Worship for having Slain their Prophets and Persecuted the Saints they lastly filled the measure o● their Iniquity by shedding the Blood of that grea● One even Jesus the Lord of Life who by sufferin● Death in Ierusalem sealed the Redemption of th● World fulfilled the Law changed their Sabbath and in a word put an end to the glory of the Place Soon after by the Sedition of the Citizens and th● Caesars cruelties it became so desolate that one Ston● was not left standing upon another but as in th● Destruction of Sodom so was it all Destroy'd 〈◊〉 Walls removed Mount Sion excluded and Calva●● taken the Name Ierusalem was changed for that o● Aelia an unclean Swine set over the chief Gate and the Iews forbid on pain of Death to look back upon the City In this state the Romans held it till the year o● Christ 615 from whose Empire the Persians ●ore i● and kept it the space of Twenty Two Years Th● Sarazens were the next that Conquer'd it in the yea● 637 and possest it 372 years till in the year 100● the Turks took it and immediately lost it to the Sultan of Egypt who enjoy'd it the space of 90 year● at which time being in the year 1099 the Christian● under their General Godfrey Bulloigne Conquer'd 〈◊〉 and under the Government of several Christia● Princes one of which was Richard the first King o● England who was King of Ierusalem it continued 〈◊〉 years that is till the year 1187 at which time it wa● Surpriz'd by Soladine King of Persia and by the Persians held 330 years when in 1517 it was invad●● and won by the Victorious Solimo the Turkish Emperor and in it to this day the abomination of Mahom●● is set up Thus is Sion become a plunged Field and Ierusalem a heap of Stones the Holy Land laid wast under the feet of the Heathen and the place of Divine Prayer made a Den of Dragons so that as it was foretold Neither in the Mountain of Samaria nor in Jerusalem is the place of holy Worship see Isa. 66.1 2. But every Spiritual heart retaining the Ark or Testament of God's Covenant in Christ is the Ierusalem and Temple wherein the Lord will dwell and where ●his Spi●it with ours as the two Cherubins on the Mercy Seat looking each towards the other will witness our Reconciliation by Christ our High Priest who is entred before us into the Holy of Holies even the highest Heavens into which Divine Mansion may he whom my Soul loveth say come In the mean while let us consider what the Angel said ●o the Women when he sent them away from looking into the Sepulcre with He is Risen he is not here did he not thereby dehort them and us from Burying ou● affections in Christ's Grave and admonish us rather to seek him where he is to be found At this day a gracious heart maketh every place a Ierusalem where God may as well and as acceptably 〈◊〉 Worshipped as upon Mount Olivet or Christ's Mount so Named because it was his Pulpit as the whole Land was his Text when he made that famous Sermon on the Mount This Son of Righteousness had all Palestine for his Zodiack and the Twelve Tribes for his Signs St. Hierom observeth as the Two Tribes which were first carried into Captivity so Redemption was first Preached in their Countries Likewise in former Ages there were the greatest Examples of God's Justice shown upon disobedient Sinners for Example Lots Wife for one farewell glance at Sodom was turned into a Pillar of Salt which may teach us to measure a Sin by the in●ini●eness of God who forbiddeth it 'T is observed the Land of Iudea became Barrenou● af●er ou● Saviours Passion of bringing ●orth their principle Commodities as Balm c. Whether because the Tipe was to cease when the Truth was come or because that Land was unworthy to have so Soveraign Bodily Physick grow in her where the Phisitian of the So●l was put to Death Another wonderful remarkable thing shown ●pon all the outward formal Jewish Worshippers soon after our Saviours Ascention as he had foretold was the destruction of that City and Land by which we are made sensible that there was never sorrow like the sorrow of that Land who made the Messiah a Man of sorrow If we consider the Siege of Jerusalem began at the time of the Passover when in a manner all Judea was inclosed in Jerusalem all private Synagogues doing their Duties to the Mother Temple so that the City then had more guests than Inhabitants Thus the Passover which was at first Instituted by God in Mercy to save the Israelites from Death was then used by him in Justice to hasten their Destruction and to gather the Nations into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his Anger as our Saviour had foretold them besides those who had bought our Saviour for Thirty Pence were themselves sold Thirty for a Penny whilst this Storm fell among the Unbelieving Jews it was calm among the Believing Jews that is those that were become Christians who forewarn'd by Christs Predicti●●● fled betimes out of the City to Pella a private place beyond Jordan which serv'd them instead of a little Zore to save them from the eminent Destruction of Sodom And now the chief Head of the scattered unbelieving Jews keep the meaner sort as well as themselves ●rom the use of the New Testament nay they will ●oone Curse it than look into it the which thing is the hindrance of their Conversion and Salvation And thus we leave them in a state most lamentable and much to be pitied Lastly It may justly seem admirable how senseless religions should gain so much ground on Christianity such having neither substance in their Doctrine nor winning Behaviour in their Ceremonies

believe the same We should also truly call upon God successively to send Christian good and godly Governours that they earnestly may stand for the Christian Ch●●ch and true Religion which God hath caused to be taught among us that the same may continue manfully to resist erroneous and false Doctrine and now in our time God hath raised up certain high and mighty Heads and Princes which have been Nurses and Protectors of the Church God preserve them mercifully for the same and send continually Men able and willing so to do who shine with the Beauty of acquired and natural Parts and ar● free to impart the●r Knowledge by explaining the true Sence and Meaning of God's Word to all Rational People so as thereby they may come to the true Knowledge of God and his only Son our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ so as all Nations may be led by the Word of t●at one Shepherd who gave his Life for a Ransom ●or all those that believe his Word which is the true ●ight that enlightens every Man in the way to Eter●al Life So God grant that his Gospel may for ●ver flourish amongst all Nations to the End of the World Let me in the next place exhort all Men to remember to crave a Blessing of God and be thankful to him for whatsoever they eat or drink since it all ●omes from his Bounty which affords us what his Wisdom thinks fit and necessary For such gratis and gracious Gifts as ●e daily confers upon us let us if we would avoid the just Imputation of the greatest Ingratitude give his Divine Majesty thanks How thankful was our Blessed Saviour for two Loaves and a few Fis●es when he blessed God his Heavenly Father for them the Issue was a miracu●o●s Encrease to show us that if we were thankful to God for a little he would give us much yet we daily see how wonderfully forgetful Thousands are when they sit down to plentiful Tables and mind not before nor after they eat to return the Giver Thanks for their nourishing Varieties I fear it will go bad with such one Day through their neglecting ●he Du●y of Thankfulness for what they daily receive from Heaven's Liberality 'T is God that gives or at least ●ends us all we have can we then do less than thank him for the same which undoubtedly he expects even from our Hearts as well as in formal verbal 〈◊〉 which are but signs of our inward Gratitude What are such I pray better than Heathens wh● knowing their Duties herein rise from Meat u●san●tified We ought not only to be than●ful but also ●o bestow some part of what we have on the Poo● according to the Directions found ●n Sacred Writ Such as fail herein must expect God's I●dignation and Rebuke when he ●alls them to an account for their Stewardship Repentance then will be too late for our now Forgetfulness Now is the acceptable Time to seek the Lord whilst he may be found for in this Life whenever we call upon him he will hear and grant our request Let the Words of my Mouth and the Meditations of all Mens Hearts be now and ever acceptable in thy Sight O Lord God our Redeemer Most Great and Glorious Lord our God thou art and there is no other God besides Thee in Heaven nor in Earth for the Heavens are thy Throne and the Earth is thy Footstool and the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain Thee the whole Earth is full of the Glory of thy Majesty O what miserable Creatures are we Dust and Ashes not worthy of the least of thy Mercies How dare we then present our selves before Thee who art so pure and holy a God yet still through thy Mercy we have here our Being whereas thou mightest have placed us in the Abyss of Hell for ever where there is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth where the Fire burns and never goes out and where the Worm namely the lost Soul never dies Let us all then with Humility jointly say We have sinned against Heaven and against Thee Let us honou● our Callings with the Practice of good Works and f●llow P●ac● with all Men. Help us O Lord now to press forward to make our Election sure and ●h●t we may live every Day as piously as if it were o●r last since we know not how soon thou may'st summon us to appear before the Tribunal Seat of Jesus Christ to give an account of all our Works d●ne here in the Flesh. Purge us with Hyssop and w● shall be clean Wash us in the Blood of the L●mb and then we shall be whiter than Snow Take all our Sins and cast them in a Cloud behin● thy Back where they may be remembred no more Cr●ate in us new Hearts and new Spirits so as we may walk in Newness of Life according to thy Holy Will and Commandments And if it be thy Blessed Will pity all those that sit in Darkness and under the Shadow of Death that they may come at thy appointed time to the miraculous Light of thy Gospel dispenced to all true Christians by thy true and only Son our Blessed Saviour who sitteth at thy right hand making Intercession for all those that put their trust in thee Grant if it be thy Blessed Will that we may all be taught by that Head Shepherd of thy Church who said When you pray say Our Father c. Such as would know more concerning their Duties in Prayer Publick or Private by the way of Form or would attain to pray by the Spirit according to their present Necessities or Wants let such read the incomparable little piece set out by Robert Russell 1700. 't is the Third Edition in it are Seven Sermons Price Bound 1 s. 6 d. In a word I earnestly exhort all my Readers to be piously mindful of their Duties to God and Man if you fail not in this Christian Reader God will remember you and after this Life in Eternal Bliss you will live with him at Rest. Take but a serious prospect by a powerful Imagination of all the several conditions observabl● amongst worldly Men and you will find that not one of them sits easie upon its Possessor for the natural Man is ever a Repining and a perpetual succession of Doubts and Fears compleat the measure of his Inquietudes sometimes he c●mplains of the Ac●●ons of his Superiors and Governors and if they i● the end should prove ●greeable to his Fancy he will yet keep up th● height of his Misfortunes by grieving at the unob●●ging deportment of his Inferiors nor will it ever be otherwise with those that se●k Cont●nt below hence those that are circled with the greate●t Splendo● find not their Perturbations at all lessened by it but think they might be muc● more happy and therefore strain themselves afresh in the eag●r pu●suit of other Worldly advantages which if obtain'd bring ●ot the desired Content and the reason is because they look for it in the things of