Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A49880
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England's happiness in a discourse occasionally written on the glorious solemnity of the coronation of King VVilliam and Queen Mary, the 11th of this instant April : being an incitement to loyalty and obedience, and a Christian acknowledgement to God almighty for his mercies and favours towards these kingdoms ... / by B.L.
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B. L.
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1689
(1689)
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Wing L7A; ESTC R43330
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7,025
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25
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Purity of the Gospel shines bright as the Morning-Star amongst us Plenty flows in our Land and the Oppressours are removed from our Gates let us then conclude our selves a People in a happy Condition yea rather let us conclude our selves so because our God is the Lord who with a mighty and out-stretched Arm has raised up Salvation to us and heard us out of his Holy Hill in the time of trouble and has bound himself by a holy promise if we provoke him not by our sins he will never leave nor forsake us O! that Men would therefore Praise the Lord. But secondly O let us Kiss the Son least after all these Mercies he be angry and his anger burn against us for making no better use of so great a Mercy A Wise Man is as stedfast as the Foundation of the Earth says the Philosopher and in Holy Scripture finds he builds a House upon a Rock and that Rock is Jesus Christ the Son of God and therefore his House is never shaken down though the Storms or Tempests be never so rough and raging He that trusteth in the Lord shall stand as Mount Sion This made Holy David bold when he said Psal 23. Though I should walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me thy Red and thy Staff they shall comfort me and again Psal 27. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear When Ezekiah heard the proud Message of a Scribe sent to him and his People by Rabshaketh the King stood not much to consult the Arm of Flesh but went unto the House of the Lord and prayed unto the Lord to save him and his people out of the hands of their Enemies that all the Kingdoms of the Earth might know he is alone God and accordingly the Assyrian Host fell before them without any loss to the Israelites This Miraculous Deliverence may in somemeasure be applyed to our Case God sent his Angel to put fear into the Hearts of those who a little before thought of nothing but our Ruine blasting and withering all their Courage and enfeebling them that they were not able to carry on their Devices to any kind of perfection that had cost them extraordinary Treasure Labour and Industry This we must own to be the Lord 's doing for it is most plainly demonstrated as it was revealed to the great Babilonian Monarch that the most High God rules in the Kingdoms of Men and gives them to whom he pleases 'T is he that rules the Hearts of Kings and Princes disposing of them as it seemeth best to his Godly Wisdom all Crowns and Scepters are before him and in his Hands are the Ballances of the Earth his looks dry up the Deep and the Winds are in the hollow of his hand Power and Might are ever before him to do what seems best to his infinite Wisdom for whatever he wills that he has Power to perform These things considered What Persons ought we to be in all Holiness and Conversation that he may continue his Love and Favour towards us that he continue his Protection and Favour towards us for although his Mercy is and has been very great yet if we triffle with such transcendent Goodness What can we expect but that he should change his Smiles into Frowns as hath happened to many who have turned his Grace into wantonness O let us not like Gesserun wax Fat and kick against our Maker but rather seriously consider what he has done for this Land and People with all the thoughts of Humility and Gratitude that we enjoy the Royal Blessings on whose Heads the Crowns flourish in Righteousness and may their Thrones be established that every one sits under his Vine in peace not constrained or compelled to violate his Conscience or to undergoe hard-ships upon the Score of Conscience or Religion And the better to mind us of it let us look back a little into the times of Persecution wherein the Saints of God suffered all manner of ignominy and torment being hated of all Men for the Name of Christ despised as the Filth of the World and Dung of the Earth yet they continued faithfull and constant arming their Hearts with the comforts of God's Promises in his Gospel and were so far from repining that they suffered joyfully and many run violently to flames and torments not accepting Deliverance singing Triumphs even in the Arms of Death and when they were called before Kings and Princes and others of Authority and commanded to forsake the Truth of the everlasting Gospel they notwithstanding continued faithfull unto Death to gain a Crown of Life and glorious Immortality These Tryalls I say are not before us we live at Peace under a Pious and Vertuous King and Queen who make Religion the brightest Jewels in their Crowns and the highest concernment of Regal Glory We live under such Laws as guard and secure our Religion Lives Liberties and Properties to us This might raise us to the Rapture of the Kingly Prophet when he says Thou Lord shalt have both Man and Beast how excellent are thy Mercies O God! and the Children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy Wings they shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy House and thou shalt give them to drink at thy pleasure as out of a River for with thee is the Well of Lafe and in thee we shall see Light Psal 36.7 8 9. and certainly no Eye can perceive nor Heart conceive the high and sudden pleasures which God has in store for those that with thankfull Hearts and Minds obey and serve him be earnest then in running the Race that is set before you contend for the Prize of an inestimable value that may Crown you with Imortality and Eternal Life and be carefull to consider what the Apostle says Gal. 6. Look what a man soweth that shall he reap he who soweth in the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth in the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting Life for God says Holy David Rewardeth every man according to his work Psal 16.12 Let us take heed to our selves therefore that we mistake not our way and wander upon the dark mountains for as the wise Man says Eccl. 21.10 The way of sinners is paved with stones but at the end thereof is Hell and Darkness and Pains but let us with fear and reverence approach the Throne of that Tremendious Majesty who makes Darkness his secret place and Clouds and thick Mists are round about him yet dwells in unapproachable Brightness in whose presence is fullness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Great we must confess it is to dwell in glittering Courts and gilded Palace to enjoy the Smiles and Favours of a Prince to have Attendance and Trains of Pomp and Grandeur followed with State and even the Ensigns of Majesty cringed too served with a kind of an Adoration this