Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A66943
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The Christian champion being the substance of a second discourse to the besieged soldiers in London-derry ... / by Col. W----.
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Walker, George, 1645?-1690.
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1689
(1689)
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Wing W341; ESTC R24592
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6,596
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14
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THE Christian Champion Being the Substance of A Second DISCOURSE To the Besieged Soldiers in LONDON-DERRY First To exhort them to put away every evil thing that God may be mercifull to them in this time of Trouble Secondly That they should be couragious in this Christian Undertaking not fearing the Fury or the Force of Rome Printed for P. Brâ—â—â—sby J. Deacon J. Blare J. Back 1689. Licensed according to Order July the 30th 1689. THE Christian Champion c. DEUTERONOMY XXIII Chap. IX Ver. When the Host goeth forth against thine Enemies then keep thee from every wickesd thing Ver. 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the Camp to deliver thee and to give up thine Enemies before thee therefore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee THIS is an Exhortation given from the Word of God and if we would be happy we must be Holy we trust not only to an Arm of Flesh but to the gracious dealing of a powerfull God whose All-seeing Eye is over all our Actions and put case we sin against him How can we then expect a Blessing from him who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation therefore let no Evil attend our Actions we are here Besieged with Enemies who studies the Overthrow of the People of God and would likewise Triumph over our Destruction but keep close to your Duty in the Service of the Living God then will he prove your Protectour Psalm 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly It is our Duty at all times to live Cireumspect in this present Life but especially at this time when we are exercised under this sharp Tryall of Affliction being closely besieged by a powerfull Enemy and when we shall make our Sally forth What Man is certain he shall return again therefore let our Actions be seasoned with Grace and Holiness that whether we live or dye we may be acceptable in the sight of God therefore when we go forth let us keep clear from every evil thing This War which we are engaged in is not designed by us for the destroying of Cities or the Destruction of Countries but for the maintaining of the Gospel-Truth against the common Enemy of Christianity those that count they merit Heaven by Massacring and Murthering the People of God and glory in the shedding of innocent Bloud therefore as God shall bless us in this Undertaking let us keep our selves free from Evil it is for the Glory of Heaven we venture our Lives and who falls in the Field his Reward will be greater than his Loss it being in the just Defence of True Religion and Piety let not our Foes affright us nor any Fears attend us for God will give the Victory to them that serve him and make their Enemies fly before them as Chaff before the Wind. How many signal Mercies have we been partakers off in our successfull Sallies against our Enemies And shall we now despair of God's Mercies no no he is able to Deliver us at the last moment when we seem to stand tottering on the brink of utter Ruine nothing is impossible with our great Creator nothing can seperate us from the Love of God but our Sins therefore let us make War against our corrupt Nature let us destroy those Sins which makes us Enemies to God for What is our Sighs our Tears and Prayers if we still continue to hug our Darling Sins for as the Psalmist saith If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me therefore let us be sincere in what we profess and not to go from Praying to our Pollutions or from hearing the Word of God to the breach of his Commandments he in his Holy Word hath afforded us many gracious Promises to support our Spirits in the greatest Troubles and Tryalls therefore be of good comfort and lay hold on the Promises of God by Faith. Joshua 23. 5. And the Lord your God he shall expell them from before you and drive them from out of your sight and ye shall possess their Land as the Lord your God hath promised unto you therefore be exhorted like Christian Champions to goe forth with Courage Deuteronomy 31. 6. Be strong and of a good Courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth goe with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee These most gracious Promises may be sufficient for us to rely upon they are the Sayings of a God that is not only willing but able no Forces nor Power is able to disappoint him in his purpose it is not the great and mighty but the humble and meek that he hath a regard to therefore put away every evil thing and it will go well with us Isaiah 1. 19. If ye be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the Land yet observe what is threatened to Persons on the contrary ver 20. But if ye refuse and rebell ye shall be devoured with the Sword for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Here you may see what is required by God and how gracious he will be upon the performance of your Duty therefore as in the Text When the Host goeth forth against thine Enemy then keep thee from every wicked thing Our War is holy and therefore we must be holy our Sword must not be accompanied with Sins which go forth in the fear of God and the just Defence of the pure Religion therefore while we pursue the Enemies of Righteousness our Actions will be Crown'd with Victory as the Prophet Isaiah hath it in 41 Chap. and the latter part of the 12. Ver. They that War against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought The Scriptures are full of these comfortable Sayings so that though our Enemy may come against us with a strong and powerfull armed Host and threaten this City with ruine and destruction yet if God be for us who can be against us Romans Chap. 8. and the latter part of the 31. Ver. for when Pharaoh and his Host pursued after the Children of Isâ—ael the Lord stretch'd forth his hand and show'd his Power in overthrowing him and his Chariots in the Red-Sea when at the same time his power preserved his chosen People What shall we say then Can we not put our Trust in him who is able to deliver his Servants at the greatest Time of Danger Here we read of wonderfull things which he hath performed for your Fathers of Old and he is the same God now as then let us be but faithfull Servants and then we may assure our selves he will be a Shield of Defence and a present Help in the Time of Trouble When David was pursued by Saul and hunted after like a Partridge upon the Mountains yet God being with him his