Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A32726
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A treatise of divine providence I. In general, II. In particular, as relating to the church of God in the world / by ... Mr. Steph. Charnocke ...
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Charnock, Stephen, 1628-1680.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing C3712; ESTC R13224
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166,401
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418
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When God is angry with his people and gives them into the hands of men to execute his Justice upon them and punish them he will even punish those enemies for their Cruelty and going beyond their Commission in satisfying their own immoderate Passions upon them Upon this account God threatens Babylon Isa 47.6 I was wroth with my People I have polluted mine Inheritance and given them into thy hand thou didst shew them no Mercy whereupon God threatens them afterwards c. so Zach. 1.15 God was sore displeased with the Heathen for when he was but a little displeased with his people they helped forward the affliction Use 2. Is for Comfort If all the Providence of God be for the good of the Church If his eyes run to and fro to shew himself strong for them it affords matter of great comfort His Providence is continual for them * Zech. 4.2 he hath seven pipes to convey kindness to them as well as seven Lamps whereby to discern their streights His Providence is as vast as his omniscience The number of Pipes belonging to the Candlestick of the Church is exact according to the number of Lamps The Churches misery cannot be hid from Gods eye let it be in what part of the Earth soever for his eyes run to and fro throughout the whole Earth and his sight excites his strength Upon the sight of their distressed condition he watches only for the fittest opportunity to shew himself strong for them And when that opportunity comes he is speedy in the Deliverance of them Psal 18.10 He rode upon a Cherub and did flye yea he did flye upon the wings of the Wind. He doth not only ride upon a Cherub but flye His wings are nothing but wind which hath the quickest and the strongest motion which moves the greatest bodies and turns down all before it What is for the good of the whole hath an influence upon every Member of the Body 1. 'T is comfort in Duties and special Services Nothing shall be wanting for encouragement to Duty and success in it when God calls any to it since all his Providence is for the good of the Church Let there be but sincerity on our parts in our attempts of service upon Gods call and we need not fear a want of Providence on Gods part God never calls any to serve his Church in any station but he doth both Spirit and encourage them God hath in his common Providence suited the nature of every Creature to that place in which he hath set it in the World and will he not much more in his special Providence suit every one to that place he calls them to for the service of his Church He did not forsake Christ in redeeming his Church neither will he forsake any in assisting his Church When Joseph of Arimathea would boldly demand the body of our Saviour Providence made the way plain before him he meets with no check neither from Pilate nor the Priests * Mat. 27.58 Mark 15.43 2. In meanness and lowness 'T is one and the same God that rules the affairs of the whole Woâ—ld of the Church and of every particular Member of it As it is the same Soul that informs the whole Body the meanest Member as well as that which is most excellent Not the meanest sincere Christian but is under Gods eye for good The Spirit acts and animates every Member in the Church the weakest as well as the most towring Christian Baruch was but the Prophet Jeremy's Amanuensis or Scribe and Servant to Jeremy who was no great man in the World himsef yet God takes notice so of his Service that he would particularly provide for him and commands Jeremy in a way of Prophecy to tell him as much Jer. 45.5 I will bring Evil upon all flesh but thy life will I give unto thee for a Prey whithersoever thou goest 3. In the greatest Judgments upon others In an Epidemical Judgment upon the whole Nation of the Jews God would have a special care of Baruch If he should cast his people far off among the Heathen and scatter them among the Countries yet even there he would be a little Sanctuary unto them His own presence should supply the want of a Temple so he is pleased to express himself * Ezek. 11 16. But how is it possible the great God can be but a little Sanctuary His eye is upon them to see their danger and his hand upon them to secure them for it His Promise shall shield them and his Wings shall cover them * Psal 91.4 While he hath indignation he hath a secret Chamber for their security * Isa 26.20 An Almighty shadow under which they may abide * Psal 91.1 In times of the most devouring danger he hath a Seal to set upon their foreheads as a mark of his special Protection We never have so much experience of Gods care and strength as in times of Trouble Psal 37.39 He is their strength in time of Trouble He is a friend who is as able as willing and as willing as able to help them whose watchfulness over them is as much above their apprehension as it is above their merits 4. In the greatest extremities wherein his people may be there are promises of comfort * Isa 43.2 Both in overflowing waters and scorching fires he will be with them His Providence shall attend his Promise and his truth shall be their Shield and Buckler Psal 91.4 That surely is a sufficient support Christ thought it so when he only said to his Disciples 't is I be not afraid * Joh. 6.17 18. What though there be a Storm a darkness and trouble 't is I am he The darkness of the night troubles not the Pilot whilst he hath his Compass to steer by If all his Providences be for the good of them that fear him he can never want means to bring them out of trouble because he is always actually exercised in governing that which is for their good and till he sees it fit to deliver them he will be with them Great Mercies succeed the sharpest Afflictions * Jer. 30.5 6 7. c. When there should be a voice of trembling and men with their hands upon their Loins as women in Travel and paleness in their faces from the excess of their fears In that day God would break the Yoak from them and they should serve the Lord their God and David their King Though the night be never so dark yet it is certain the Sun will rise and disperse its light next morning and one time or other shew its self in its brightness We have no reason to dispond in great extremities since he can think us into safety Psal 40.17 Lord think on me much more look us into it his thoughts and his eyes move together 5. In fear of wants The power of the Governor of the World cannot be doubted His love as little as it seems since
request of his Friends taken from him in the Pulpit in which what mistakes do often happen every one knows and we have found by experience in the case of this very Author more then once This was thought fit to be said to secure the Reputation of the Dead and prevent the abuse of the Living These Sermons might have come out with the solemn ceremony of large recommendations the Authors worth being so well known to and his Preaching so highly esteemed by the most eminent Ministers about this City but it was judged needless his own Works being sufficient to Praise him One thing more is to be added That such as he is here such he is in his other pieces so that thou hast here Reader a specimen of the strain and Spirit of this holy Man this being his familiar and ordinary way of Preaching and these Sermons coming out first not as if they were the non-such of what he left behind him but because they could soonest be dispatched and to obviate the injuries might else be done by spurious Treatises both to him and thee and likewise by this little rast to gratifie the Appetites of such who having been his Auditors did long even with greediness to Feast themselves again upon those excellent Truths which in the delivery were so sweet to them Perhaps too it may quicken their appetites who never heard him it may be never yet heard of him If thou like this Cluster Fear not but the Vintage will be answerable If this little earnest be good Mettal the whole sum will be no less currant That a Blessing from Heaven may be upon this work and upon thee in Reading and Studying the Nature and Beauty and Ends of Divine Providence and that the Lord of the Harvest especially when so many are dayly called home would send forth more and more such labourers into the Harvest is the hearty Prayer of Thine in the Lord Richard Adams Edward Veal Of Providence 2 Chron. 16.9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him IN the beginning of the Chapter you find Baasha King of Israel raising walls about and Fortifying Ramah a place about twelve miles from Jerusalem the Metropolis of Judah intending by that means to block Asa up because Ramah lay just upon the Road between Jerusalem and Samaria the Seats of the two Kings ver 1. Baasha was probably afraid of the Revolt of Israel to Judah upon that Reformation of Religion wrought by Asa and therefore would Fortifie that place to be a hinderance and to intercept any that should pass upon that accompt And to this purpose makes great preparation as appears ver 6. for with the provision Baasha had made for the Fortification of Ramah Asa after the seizing of these materials builds two Towns Gaba and Mizpah Asa seeing Baasha so busie about this Design and fearing the consequence of it hath recourse to carnal policy rather than to God And therefore enters into league with Benhadad a neighbour though an Idolatrous Prince and purchaseth his assistance with the Sacrilegious price of the Treasure of the Temple ver 2 3. And hereby engageth him to invade the King of Israels Territories that he might thereby find work for Baasha in another part and so divert him from that Design upon which he was so bent ver 3. Go break thy League with Baasha that he may depart from me Benhadad is easily perswaded by the quantity of Gold c. to break his League and make an Inroad and proves victorious and takes many Cities where the Magazines and Stores were laid up ver 4. Baasha now to save his Countrey and make head against his Enemies is forced to leave Ramah whereupon Asa who watched his opportunity seizeth the materials he had left for the fortifying of Ramah and puts them to another use v. 5 6. Hanani the Seer is presently sent by God with a threatning of War because he applies himself to a Heathen Prince rather than to the Lord of Hosts v. 7. his sin is aggravated by Gods former kindness to him and experience he had given him of his miraculous Providence in his success against that vast Army of the Ethiopians and Lubims or Lybians and that upon his recourse to or relyance on God And that he should afterwards have recourse to the arm of Flesh was a disparagement to Gods providential kindness v. 8. He further aggravates his sin by the consideration of Gods general providential care of his Creatures and the particular end of it and of all his providences viz. the good of his Church and people v. 9. For the eyes of the Lord c. Eyes of the Lord in Scripture signify 1. His knowledge Job 34.21 For his eyes are upon all the waies of man and he sees all his goings Heb. 4.13 all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat spinam dorsi in mactatis animalibus per spinam omnia apparent interiora ita ut nihil latere potest Glassius Vol. 3â—1 106. 2. His Providence 1. For good So it notes his Grace and good Will so his Eyes and his Heart are joyned together 1 Kings 9.3 mine Eyes and my Heart shall be there perpetually viz. in his Temple the place which he had hallowed to put his Name there for ever Psal 32.8 I will guide him with mine eye that is I will counsel him and direct him in a gracious and a favourable way Therefore to be cut off from the eye of the Lord is to be deprived of his favour Psal 31.22 for none can be cut off from a simple knowledge of God So Zach. 3.9 seven eyes upon one stone that is the Providence of God was in an especial manner with Christ in the midst of his passion 2. For evil So it notes His anger and vindictive justice Esa 3.8 their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his Glory Kindness and anger appear first in the Eye one by its pleasantness the other by its redness Run that notes diligence and care an industrious inspection into all things Psal 119.32 I will run the ways of thy Commandments noting speed and diligence In the Verse we have I. A Description of Gods Providence II. The end of it I. The description of Gods Providence 1. The immediateness of it his eyes his own eyes not anothers Not like Princes who see by their Servants eyes more than by their own what is done in their Kingdoms his care is immediate Though Angels are the Ministers of his Providence the Guardians and Watchers of the World yet God is their Captain and is alwaies himself upon the Watch. 2. Quickness and speed of Providence run His eyes do not only walk but run the round they are not slumbring eyes nor drowzy-eye-lidds their motion is quick and nimble 3. Extent