Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	according_a	holy_a	word_n	2,175	5	3.9389	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08277	The imitation of Dauid his godly and constant resolution in bearing all his trialls, troubles and afflictions being a king whose example of faith, patience, hope, obedience and deliueries, thankfulnesse and prayer, is left euen for princes, potentates, and all true Christians to imitate. Collected by way of meditations and prayers out of the 27. Psalme. By I.N.	Norden, John, 1548-1625?	1624 (1624)	STC 18610; ESTC S113324	90,720	456

colour and therefore as long as none but wicked men scandalize vs and condemne vs we néed not be ashamed no though they raile reuile and curse vs wee néed not feare it for in stead of their curses God will blesse vs yet let vs pray Teach me O Lord thy way and leade me in thy path aright because of mine enemies None but enuious and wicked men are malicous enemies vnto such as feare God and they indéed cannot sléepe vntill they haue contriued some mischiefe against the innocent whom they would disgrace taking all occasions and aduantages to worke them any violence though they be already afflicted they will afflict them more if they bee already fallen they will euen tread vpon them to kéepe them downe that they may not rise It is their glory if they can adde more sorrow to the sorrowfull and more griefe to the grieued they are continually trauelling with wickednes conceiuing mischiefe but they commonly bring forth a lie for the mischiefe y t they intend to others fals in the end vpon their owne heads and their cruelty vpon their owne pates they are snared euen with the works of their owne hands for God hath euer he doth and euer will preserue his owne from these wicked men though he suffer them somtimes bodily to perish vnder their tyranny it is but to aggrauate the sins of their persecutors and the sooner to bring his vnto their finall glory Therefore behoueth the most godly to bée wary of their waies for how much the more godly religious and zealous they are in walking with God so much the more malicious is Satan to raise vp troubles slanders and reproaches against them by such as he can stir vp against vs who howsoeuer inwardly enuious they are yet haue they learned of their master to speake plausibly though deceitfully flattering with their lips hauing a venomous heart within whereby they oftentimes allure the innocent without suspicion to bewray vnto them their secret thoughts and intentions and in simplicity by their inchanted subtilties discouer that which these wicked serpentine wretches worke vpon and wrest to bring not only their names reputation and credit but their estates and liues in question By their wicked counsell they compasse our steps they set their enuious eyes vpon our waies If they finde wée walke vnblameable they wil plot to haue some blockes to be laid in our waies that if it be possible we might stumble though they could not make vs fall altogether If we erre on the other side neuer so little they will insult ouer vs they will blow the trumpet of our defamation and cry There there so would we haut it But these deuices of theirs God séeth and what they practise against such as feare him therfore let vs only say Teach vs O Lord thy way and leade vs in the right path because of our enemies As long as wee walke in the way of God truly and be lead that path that is right let vs not feare Heare what Dauid said vnto Salomon his sonne whom he exhorted to walke in the waies of the Lord to keepe his Statutes and his Commandementes his Iudgements and his Testimonies We must endeuour to haue Gods lawes euer before our eies and neuer depart from his precepts This is the way walke in it Though it bee a strict way and vnpleasant to a carnall minde it is a most swéet and comfortable way a way that leadeth here to happinesse and after to Heauen There is another way a common high way much beaten by diuers passengers all carnall men traffike this way a very pleasant way wherein yet many haue walked for a time but they haue found that as a man that eateth too much hony may surfet through the swéetnesse of it so they were euen glutted with the vanities that are strewed in the way It is a way full of carnall content indeed but it is but short men are at their waies end many times when they think themselues not halfe way there and are grieued their iourney is so soone done But when they come to the end of the race they suddenly finde a most fearefull gulph which they cannot auoid turne backe againe they cannot as ordinary trauellers often doe when they haue mistaken their way and take another but they that walke this high and pleasant way must bée enforced to stay and to take vp their hideous Inne not for a night as waifaring men doe but remaine there for euer with the Deuill and his Angels A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing father in Iesus Christ vouchsafe to looke in mercy vpon me teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies Giue mee grace that I may walke aright and pray aright and beleeue aright and in all mine actiōs be guided by thee aright Reframe me from the way of the wicked and guide me in the paths of righteousnesse make thy way plaine before my face for of my selfe I am blinde I cannot see the right way direct and guide me that I stumble not to cause mine enemies to laugh and reioyce at my fall Send out thy light and thy truth let them leade me and bring mee to thine holy mountaine where I shall be safe from mine enemies order and direct my goings O Lord aright according to thy word reclaime me from euery euill way and direct my feet in the way of truth in that way that leadeth to life preuent mee of that forbidden way which is pleasant yet perillous seeming plaine and delectable but the end thereof is death Lord let my walkings bee vpright because of mine enemies who watch euen the course of my life they pry into all mine actions they obserue my conuersation and if they see mee but slide or slip neuer so little awry they sound the trumpets of my disgrace If they see mee to fall into any sinne through my frailty they cry out and say That there is no feare of thee before mine eies O my God consider this and in mercy remember I am but dust by nature subiect to great infirmities which I doe acknowledge O Lord reclaime mee from my euill inclination by thy grace set me in the way of truth and obedience and leade me therein for euer and learne mee to liue after thy Commandements and yeeld mee thy feare and thy direction that I may walk in them for mine owne waies are as my will is by nature euill euermore but thy waies are mercy and truth and such as truly feare thy name thou teachest the waies of perfect obedience and reducest euen sinners to walke aright reclaiming them by thy grace from their euill waies Guide me that I may know thee and thy waies and leade me aright in them let me neuer goe astray from them lest mine enemies take occasion by my transgressions to say that I haue

Wildernesse of Ziph in the holds of Engedy in Maan and Gath vncoth and solitary places hee found the Lord his God euen in his holy Temple for where God is present there is his Temple In the Lions den Daniel found him in the Furnace the three children in the Dungeon Ieremy in the Prison Peter vnder the stones Stephen in Sodom Lot in the floud Noah God is euery where where hée is called vpon faithfully Euery faithfull childe of God is alwaies in Gods house where Dauid desired so earnestly to dwell yet though he found God euery where where he called vpon him he had an earnest desire to bée conuersant euen in that materiall temple where the children of God did assemble to celebrate the praises of God and to heare his Word and though he were their King thought it no disparagement but the greatest part of his duty to accompany his subiects according to conueniencie in the holy exercises of Religion whereof being preuented by meanes of his enemies hée complaineth that hée was as a Pelican in the Wildernesse and as an Owle in the Desert And déemed the Sparrow more happy than he because that silly Bird could at all times resort vnto that holy place to which he could not come Lord saith Dauid who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle and who shall rest in thy holy Mountaine that is who shall worthily enter into thy holy Temple and behold thy beauty he answereth Hee that worketh righteousnesse c. for God is holy and requireth holinesse of life walking vprightly in a liuely faith And therefore though it be the duty of all men to frequent the materiall Temple of God to accompany the congregation in prayer praising of God and hearing his Word yet all come not with that holy desire that Dauid did nor qualified as Dauid was yet hée that is vnprepared to day may bée fit to morrow for the Word of God is as a Net and often times catcheth men ere they bee aware therefore ought all men to desire as Dauid did to visit Gods Temple where this Net of the Word is spread for being once taken hee will then with Dauid require that one thing namely to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of his life and often to visit his Temple Dauid did not onely make a bare request vnto God but did euen presse him hée required him as if he had béen familiar with him as the faithfull may vse a holy familiarity with God in their prayers praying God to afford him that blessing of blessings as to admit him into his holy presence wherein is the fulnesse of ioy and at his right hand are pleasures for euermore not for a day a moneth or a yéere as worldlings haue and then perish but begun here and shall neuer haue end To dwell in the house of Iehouah is to dwell abide in his fauour to be partaker of his sanctifying grace to haue the true knowledge of his diuine will and to practice it by faith obedience zeale prayer and to beare about vs the markes of the Lord Jesus in patient vndergoing the burthen of the Crosse and in continuall exercise of holinesse and righteousnesse whosoeuer is in this case is safe in the holy Temple of God as in a safe Sanctuary and is a true member of the mysticall body of our conquering Christ the head of that Church which is the true Temple neither made with hands and which hands cannot pull downe Out of which are barred all such as trust in lying miracles and workes that cannot profit such as steale commit idolatry adultery such as sweare falsly and such as fall downe and worship false gods or the true God after a false and idolatrous manner Though these stand in the materiall Temple or seclude themselues in Cloisters in séeming deuotion to sequester themselues from the world to God and yet commit many barbarous sinnes and grosse impieties thinking themselues safe and to be reconciled to God by a confessory penance God will not onely not heare them but reiect them their prayers for they seeme religious and are not obedient to God and are not faithfull and are not but are méere Hypocrites who resorting to the Temple of God commit rather sacrilege than offer sacrifice acceptable to God These visit not the Temple but rather defile if with their counterfeit holinesse who would séeme in shew Saints but in heart enemies to Christ and Christians yet cry they the Church the Church and yet farre from being members of it So many séeming-good Christians cry out Preach Preach and séeme neuer satisfied with Sermons this desire is good if their hearts desire it to profit and practise the word but if it be but to séeme religious and inwardly retaine their corrupt desires if they amend not their waies and their workes séeme they neuer so holy they are but Hypocrites for this is to bée in the Temple of God by his Word preached to learne to execute iudgement not to oppresse the poore nor the stranger the fatherlesse nor the Widow not to deceiue nor to walke after other gods after riches and pleasures If this fruit of hearing appeare in them they are no doubt of the family and house of God and shall dwell in his Tabernacle and rest securely vpon his holy Mountaine for they are of the generation of the iust but there is a generation saith Salomon that are pure in their owne conceits and yet are not washed from their filthinesse they follow the deuices of their owne hearts And assume vnto themselues a peculiar manner of seruing of God not according to the sincere truth but as God abhorreth all sacrifices of vncleane things so doth hee all counterfeit showes of sincerity God admitteth not sinners namely such as make no conscience of sinne to come into his holy presence much lesse to dwell in his holy Temple though they may séeme to honour him with their lips He detesteth their forged sacrifices and their very praiers are abhominable though they pertake of the holy Sacraments and performe outwardly other diuine duties Hee is not pleased with them neither behold they the beauty of the Lord but his seuere and fierce countenance is bent against them But such as desire with the like affection as Dauid did to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visit his Temple are such as the Lord enuiteth and willeth to come and louingly embraceth them They come not for a spirt and away but desire to make their continuall abode where they may still behold his beautie and his glory his louing kindnesse and mercies towards them shewed in his word as in a glasse which appeareth more swéet and amiable to the cies of their sanctified soules than the most beautifull feature of Angels This most heauenly beauty Dauid desired to sée saw it as Paul teacheth saying That God cōmanded the light to shine out of darknesse euen in our harts that the light of the knowledge of the

Pauls hope and patience aimed to heauenly not to earthly accomplishments not looking for the euent of his hope in this life How then may his hope of heauenly glory and Dauids hope to be defended and reléeued here in the land of the liuing concurre They may well stand together Euen as Christ by healing of corporall diseases made men heauenly minded and cleane by forgiuing their sinnes so Dauid praied not so simply for corporall deliuerie but he praied also for the light of the truth that he might dwell in the Temple of God for mercy and the like And although Paul séemed by his words to hope onely for heauenly glory necessaries for this life were necessarily included He that duly and truly praies for heauenly cannot be frustrate of earthly and he that praies faithfully for earthly cannot but therewith ioyne heauenly blessings for true and sincere hope includes both He therefore that through faith in Christ doth hope in the Lord and becommeth strong in him Hee will comfort his heart with the supply both of heauenly and earthly blessings As it is lawfull for vs to pray vnto God for corporall necessaries so are wée bound to hope and wait for them Without hope of victory Dauid would neuer haue entred the combat with Goliah Wée must therefore hope in the Lord and bee strong trusting in God and our hearts shall bee comforted We may not looke backe or about vs for helpe our helpe commeth from heauen therefore must we not hope and hope a hope partly from aboue and partly from beneath but our hope must bée in God alone yet not to contemne or despise the inferior meanes that God vseth here below as his Instruments for our good in whom wée may haue a kinde of hope as Dauid had in Ionathan that he would deale faithfully with him in the matter of Saul his father so may wée hope in man but our confidence must be in God alone What God hath promised in his Word he will assuredly performe to them that truly beléeue And that did Dauid finde euen when the Crowne was like to bée taken from his head Hee fainted not but held fast by the accustomed loue and help of God and became strong in faith euen when his enemies were in their fiercest fury against him He waited still vsing little or no other resistance against his enemies than feruent praier to God and his counsell and his expectation in patience was not in vaine for the Lord subdued his enemies without the great force of Dauid and thereupon he tooke courage he hoped in the Lord he was strong in faith and the Lord did comfort his heart He sought not as the wicked doe sinister and forbidden meanes to be deliuered For when Saul his mortall enemy pursued him with deadly malice to take away his life yet when Saul fell into his hands and had him twice in his power and might haue ended the quarrell and fréed himselfe of danger he would not doe it no though he might haue made present way for himselfe to the kingdome whose it was after Saul yet neither his owne perill wherein hée daily stood through the malice and fury of Saul nor his owne future right to the Crowne could moue him to touch the Lords anointed contrary to the minds of many ambitious men both of former and latter ages who are loth to let slip any opportunitie offered be it neuer so vniust to aduance their greatnesse But Dauid staid himselfe vpon hope that God who had so often deliuered him would still doe it without any vnlawfull meanes of his owne and in his time appointed would aduance him as he had promised and therefore waited the time with patience comforting his heart in the middest of his dangers And long it was not before he came lawfully to that which before he might and would not because hée hoped in God whom he knew he should haue offended if he had taken the counsel of some that aduised him There is no hope to that hope whereunto Dauid encourageth himselfe others no strength to that strength and no mans heart can bée truly comforted but by the comfort wherewith he affirmeth his heart was comforted therefore chéereth he vp his owne soule with this holy resolution to hope in the Lord with this heauenly strength to be strong in the Lord and with that comfort wherewith he was comforted of the Lord. There is a hope that is vaine a strength that is weake and a comfort that is but counterfeit Let vs then take hold of that hope that strength and that comfort that is of God and trust in him So shall we not néed to be afraid of enemies to faint in afflictions but shall be sure to finde comfort in all our troubles Salomon saith that hope that is deferred is the fainting of the heart but that is but to the faint-hearted For if we wait not it is no hope but if we abide with patience Gods appointed time we shall enioy what we hope for And when the desire commeth it is a tree of life And Dauid hauing often gathered the fruit of this trée and fed thereon when he fainted he giues here of the same fruit to others Hope saith he in the Lord bee strong be not faint-hearted though hope be deferred for comming the thing we hope for will tarry no longer than a conuenient time and then it will comfort the heart Hope groweth strong by the effects of Gods goodnesse formerly hoped for and had which Saint Paul affirmeth encouraging the Corinthians as Dauid did himselfe and others To hope to be strong to trust in the Lord and to lay hold vpon the hope that is set before vs which hope we haue as an anker of the soule sure and stedfast And this is the comfort of the heart that Dauid meaneth euen our faith in God whereby wée take hold of the assured performance of his promises not onely of temporall and corporall but of spirituall and celestiall blessings And the patient waiting for them is our Hope How then can it bee that God who hath promised vnto the faithfull the life to come that with patience in hope wait for it vnder the crosse should not consider regard their dangers troubles afflictions euen in this life For if he haue giuen his Sonne to die for our sinnes how should he not with him giue vs all things to enioy Though wée must wait his time he is not slacke as some men count slacknesse but is alwaies ready and at hand he that hath promised hee is faithfull and true Though the vnfaithfull will not take his word not his hand not his oath the faithfull know and are assured that he will neuer faile them nor forsake them Therefore hope in the Lord be strong and he will comfort thine heart And trust in the Lord. A Prayer for strength patience and hope in troubles O Father possessor of Heauen and Earth and the disposer and preseruer of them and of all things