Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	age_n	church_n	time_n	2,142	5	3.6322	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43579	Israel's lamentation after the Lord, or, A discourse, wherein every well-wisher to Zion is excited, and directed how to lament after the Lord with prayers and tears, to maintain the ordinances of God, or God's presence with his ordinances amongst us being some meditations upon 1 Sam. 7.2.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1683 (1683)	Wing H1768; ESTC R22352	67,400	163

and preaching 2. God thinks good sometimes to abscond and hide these tokens of his presence from a professing people 3. This with drawing may be continued a long time 2 Chron. 13.3 so in Babylon Zoch 1.13 in latter days Hos 3.4 4. God takes particular notice of the duration of his Churches affliction in Egypt 400. years so Rev. 11.11 5. Peoples Priviledges may be long removed before they be kindly sensible of their loss long before they recover themselves 6. When Gods Ordinances are but privately dispensed it 's a great loss to the body of a People such as need them most have then least of them 7. Continuance in sin prolongs deliverance and absence of the Ark or Ordinances is an occasion of continuing in sin Men do withdraw their hearts from God that 's sinful God withdraws helps from them that 's poenal men repent not ordinarily without helps God denies helps and is just therein 8. Attendance on Ordinances raiseth the envy of wicked men this hath been the quarrel from the daies of Cain and Abel successively to this day Gen. 4.5 Exod. 9.1 Ezra 4.12 13. Gal. 4.29 Esther 3.8 Dan. 3.12 6.13 9. One stirring active Instrument for God may by God's blessing promote Repentance and Reformation amongst a people Oh what hurt may one sinner do So what good may one useful man do when God stirs up their hearts Samuel sets things a working so Ezra 5.1 2. Hag. 5.12 10. When God designs a Reformation and Restitution of his Ordinances he orders an harmonious concurrence of providences for that end The accomplishment of God's threats affright awaken Samuel comes in the nick of time speaks words upon the wheel God moves things go on apace 2 Chron. 29.36 31.21 These I pass briefly and pass on to the main Point from the last clause of the verse And all the House of Israel lamented after the Lord. They did not lament so much under their pressing burdens grievous oppressions by the Philistins but after the Lord i. e. for the Ark of the Lord and the Lord of the Ark for the recovery of God's gracious presence and the visible tokens thereof lachrymis deplorarunt summam miseriam Religionis Reipublicae they bitterly lamented the calamities of Church and State Religion and Polity This say Interpreters is an admirable place by reason of the general Conversion and Repentance of the whole People we have scarce the like in all the Scripture except Acts 2. From the words then results this Doctrine That when God's Ark is long obscured or Ordinances obstructed it becomes God's Israel or professing People to lament after the Lord. Serious lamenting after God is well becoming those whom God afflicts in the loss of Priviledges The Text presents to us 1. The Persons lamenting God's peculiar People these only love and mind God's presence when the Lords and Cities of the Philistins are weary of him and send him away yea and the Bethshemites though a city of the Levites belonging to the Church of God through their ill management of matters send to get a release yet Gods Israel will look after their God 2. Here 's the object they lament after not peace plenty victory over enemies but after the Lord Jehovah is the object of their affections 't is him they love and long for communion with Psal 63.1 2. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary 3. Here 's the Universality of these all Israel the whole house of Israel come they that had wofully degenerated and were gone after their Idols what a wonderful act of Gods power and soveraignty was this upon their spirits by this he manifests that he is the true God and that Samuel was his Servant the like see in Elijahs prayer preaching Sacrifice and success of all 1. Kin. 18.21 37 39. 4. Here 's the manner and nature of the Peoples repentance they lamented after the Lord which is a very comprehensive word and I shall open it anon In prosecuting this point I shall proceed in this method 1. Shew how ordinances are obstructed obscured 2. What 's implyed in lamenting after the Lord. 3. How and why Gods Israel thus lament 4. Answer an objection So make application 1. What is it for ordinances to be either 1. Obstructed or 2. obscured both which may be a great affliction to Gods People and oft occasion a lamentation 1. For Ordinances to be obstructed is a prevention of the liberty of dispensation of them and suppression of its dispensers by imprisonment banishment inhibition or suspension as in Ahab's daies Jezabel cut off the prophets of the Lord the rest werehid by fifty in a Cave and fed with bread and water 1 Kin. 18.4 yea such scarcity was there at that day that Elijah thought he was left alone 1 Kin. 19.10 Such as were left were latent and had indeed their lives not liberties to proclaim the Word or to celebrate God's Ordinances openly It 's true Truth seeks not corners yet publishers of Truth may be driven into corners God's Candles may be put under a Bushel the Church's pleasant things may be taken away Sabbaths and solemn Assemblies may be forgotten in Zion and the waies of Zion mourn Lam. 1.4 7. The Church complains Psal 74.9 We see not our signs there is no more any Prophet The Church may flee into a wilderness of obscurity and persecution her witnesses may be slain by a natural or civil death some time or other these prophecies have an accomplishment Jeremah and Ezekiel may both have their mouths stopped by their brethren and God himself may be a little Sanctuary to such as want the open Sanctuary-priviledges Ezek. 11.15 16. Gospel-course may be stopped obstructed so that Paul is putting believers on to pray for him that the word of the Lord may have free course 2 Thes 3.1 intimating that it had met with a stop by what by mens rage or the Devils subtilty or both 1 Thes 2.16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles and v. 18. Satan hindred us Some times the Devil stirs up men to obstruct the course of the Gospel The histories of the Church in all ages will offer their Service to bear witness to this truth that liberty of Ordinances is sometimes infringed and so the Ark is retired into private for where God hath a people they must and will worship God and attend his Institutions if they cannot do it openly they act more privately as Christs Disciples frequently met in houses in the night the doors being shut and that for fear of the Jews Joh. 20.19 And it may be that word in Isa 8.16 refers to such a day Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples 2. The Ark Ordinances may somtimes be obscured as well as obstructed this refers to the Purity as the former to the liberty of God's Appointments The light may

be dimned as well as diminished Painted Glass obscures the Light So Humane Inventions corrupt God's pure Worship Jeroboam's Golden Calves hindered the purity of Ordinances so that Religious People and Priests fled to God's sincere Worship at Jerusalem 2 Chron. 11.13 16. This defilement of Ordinances makes God's poor Children cry out Death is in the Pot. Our Saviour saith of the Scribes and Pharisees Thus have you made the Commandments of God of none effect by your Traditions and therefore in vain did they worship God Mat. 15.6 9. God's Institutions are ours but men may mar and spoil them with their fond Additions or Alterations Ezek. 7.20 As for the beauty of his Ornament he set it in Majesty but they made the Images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein though they call and account them delectable things therefore have I set it far from them Men may be guilty of crimen laesae Majestatis treasonable practices by adulterating the King's Coin or setting their own stamp thereon or by Clipping it There 's a sad woe both in the beginning middle and end of the Bible against those that add to or diminish from God's Word or Institutions It 's a dangerous thing to think to mend what God hath thought good to enjoyn Antichrist hath so corrupted God's Worship as well as Truths that they that love their Souls or Safety are called upon to come out of her Rev. 18.4 God is a jealous God and will not hold such guiltless i. e. will deal with them as guilty malefactors as take his Name in vain Nay God bids men rather go serve their Idols than pollute his holy Name Ezek. 20.39 Yea some Shepherds also are said to tread down with their feet the residue of the Pastures and soul the Waters with their feet so that God's Flock is in danger of pining Ezek. 34.18 God's Children know how to avoid a sinful Separation on one hand and a Communion that necessitates them to sin on the other hand there 's danger of both extreams Poor scrupulous tender Consciences are too apt to run into the former and adventurous Spirits are too apt to run into the latter for by and base ends Sometimes the latter falls out as well as the former that godly Ministers and Christians must either sin or suffer and to a conscientious Soul the case is soon determined and hence it comes to pass that their Persons and Ordinances with them have been forced into retirements The Witnesses will rather chuse to prophesie in Sackcloth with purity according to God's Will than live in the greatest pomp and splendour in betraying the Truths and Appointments of God by Superstition or Idolatry to gratifie the flesh or comply with the humours of men They judge it safer to be banished from the Altar than bring strange fire to it they think it safer to venture on mens displeasure though the Furnace be heated seven times hotter than cast themselves into the dreadful vengeance of the great God by sinning against him and provoking the Eyes of his glory They resolve to stick to the Ark though in Abinadab's house and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth rather than be dragg'd down to sin and Hell with the Dragon's Tail Though Persecution attend the former as in the Marian daies and Preferment wait on the latter 2. General Head to be explained in the Text and Doctrine is what is this lamenting after the Lord The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quiescere the same word with Noach which signifies rest They rested after the Lord it 's in Niph which encreaseth its signification and notes these seven things 1. They inclined after the Lord they had wandred away from the Lord and never thought after him they had turned aside after vain things but now they begun to hearken after Samuel's preaching and begun to look about them consider what they were doing had a months mind as we say after God and his ways and worship and a heart to inquire after the Lord is a good step as it 's said of the men of Shechem their hearts inclined after Abimelech or to follow him Judg. 9.3 It 's well so for when people stand still pose themselves what have we been doing have we done well or ill what course is best to be taken and begin to have some inclinations after God more than formerly this is the first step 2. They were setled established after the Lord they staggered formerly were but in suspence wavering like the Apostle James's double-minded man not knowing which way to take like those in 1 King 18.21 Why halt ye between two Opinions one while leaning to Baal another while to God reeling like drunkards halting like lame men whose Leggs are not equal fluctuating to and fro with divers thoughts But now this people is firm well resolved with purpose of heart determined to cleave to the Lord Acts 11.23 The trembling Needle fixeth towards its center the Tree is rooted the Will is bowed the Affections setled the Conscience resolved nothing shall obstruct their course they have set down the Staff and say as Ruth to her Mother-in-law Ruth 1.16 17. Intreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee for whither thou goest I will go c. So these though they had been haesitating and doubtful what to do yet jam in Dei obsequio gradum figunt stabilem certum they get a sure footing in their motion God-wards 3. They were congregated and assembled after the Lord so some read it they now begin to flock like Doves to their windows they troop after him collecti sunt post Dominum Jer. 3.17 All Nations shall be gathered to it to the Name of the Lord God yea Judah shall go with Israel v. 18. See also Jer. 50.45 They had been broken now they are united Some went after some mens commands and examples some after others but now the great God makes an Act of Uniformity and Unanimity Zech. 14.9 In that day there shall be one Lord and his Name one One Soveraign Commander one Way one Worship That great God doth not only injoyn one thing but doth joyn them in one bond and mind Oh happy day when the Grace of God heals the breaches that are in mens spirits and divisions in the Church 4. They groaned complained bemoaned themselves in their following the Lord as a Child followeth his departing Father and as Phaltiel followed his Wife Michal weeping behind her to Bahurim 2 Sam. 3.15 16. or as Micah followed the Danites that took away his Idols crying after them they said What aileth thee he said Ye have taken away my Gods and what have I more and what is this that ye say unto me What aileth thee Judg. 18.23 24. q. d. You could not have done me a worse turn lay your hands on your hearts ask your selves whether any loss can parallel this of losing ones God! You need

have not your Souls grown lean and ready to famish in other wayes Have you not in all this time discerned some difference betwixt the pure and wholsom waters of the Sanctuary and the impure puddle-water of mens Traditions Yea have you not to your cost discerned some difference by your dear-bought experience betwixt the powerful Ordinances and the very same or like thereto formally heartlesly lifelesly carryed on Tell me deal ingenuously and candidly in the case Have not your Souls been ready to pine for want of provision Yea have you not been tempted to loath some dishes handed to you by blind or Slovenly Cooks Have you not been in danger to be rockt asleep by such Truths as should have awakt you and would if faithfully mannaged Have you not been forced to eat that which some have trodden under their feet and to drink that which some men have fouled with their feet Alas Sirs Whatever others have have not you some reason to lament with holy David Oh God thou art my God early will I seek thee My Soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Oh my Lord time hath been that my Soul hath been satisfyed as with marrow and fatness and my doubts resolved graces quickened lusts discovered weakened in thine Ordinances so that I could truely say in my own experience God was in them of a truth But alas for this long time matters have been otherwise I have attended as I judged in obedience to thy command and have sometimes met with aiery notions or sapless stuff or mixture of errours or such complementing with God in a dry formality that methinks my soul is dryed with this light food I have reason to lay the blame upon my self and charge my own unprofitable heart as the proper cause but Oh my Lord I long for an heart-Searching state-distinguishing sinrebuking word Oh when shall my Soul injoy heart-melting Ordinances Thou that adaptest means to the end and dost use to work conversion consolation confirmation by most proper probable instruments give suitable means of grace and grace by the means Oh Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known in wrath remember mercy Let all thy Children say Amen 3. You that are young of the rising Generation that are coming up and coming on in the rooms of your Ancestors it becomes you to lament after the Lord and his Ark be it known to you that your Predecessors Piety will not be your Sanctuary or Security You may please your selves with being the Children of the Church but think not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father for God is not bound to you you may be Children of the Devil and may be cast into Hell under that title No no you must have a Faith of your own a personal as well as a foederal relation to God It 's disputed at what Age Children are to stand on their own leggs for personal Faith at five or seven or ten or twelve to be sure at years of discretion when they can discern betwixt good and evil they are to chuse for themselves and are not to stand upon heir Parents bottom any longer however they may improve their Parents Covenant But oh you young persons begin betimes to cry after your Father God loves to be followed as with the Hosanna's once so with the small voice and to be held with the little hands of young Children Try what you can do with him say not you need him not you cannot set up without him you cannot live safely without him and I am sure you are undone if you die without relation to him and you may die young Oh then make sure of God you are cast upon him from the womb say to him Thou art my God from my Mothers belly so shall you be a seed to serve him and shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation What an advantage will it be when your Father and Mother forsake you by unkindness or death if you have a God to take you up If God hath been your trust from your youth he will not cast you off in old Age But if you run away from God all your younger daies with what confidence can you lament after him in old Age May he not say Go to the gods and lusts which you have served gratified you come but to me for a reserve with self-ends and because you can follow your sensual pleasures no longer I should never have had your company if you had been capable still to have made as good a bargain of the World as you are wont You followed your lusts with a young and swift foot but me you can but follow with a slow Snails-pace a little of this lamenting more early had been more acceptable It 's an hard venture if you now go laughing in the Devil's ways whether you 'l be cordial in lamenting after God in Old Age and so whether the Lord will entertain you And as you would enjoy God lament after the Ordinances of God Thy Testimonies saith David have I taken as an heritage for ever O blessed Heritage Oh precious Patrimony beg it plead it be not content without it Whatever other Inheritance you have say Lord mine Ears have heard our Fathers have told us what work thou didst in their daies in the times of Old What Providences were produced to settle Ordinances What excellent powerful heart-warming Preaching they had how God wrought wonders on Consciences by his Word and Spirit what pure Worship they had Communion of Saints wholsom Discipline and what sweet intercourse with thy self in all now Lord thou hast threatned in part executed this Spiritual Plague of the Famine of thy Word obstructing and obscuring Ordinances and thy hand is still upon us thy end is not attained Papists threaten to darken our Heaven and totally to put out our Lights and thy self seems to menace the removing of the Candlestick stop O Lord execute not thy whole displeasure Alas shall we be that cursed Generation that must again be involved in worse than Aegyptian darkness Alas who shall live when God doth this God forbid that we should out-live this bright Sun-shine of the Gospel that we should not be Heirs of our Fathers spiritual Priviledges as well as earthly Patrimonies Oh! when these are lost we must sadly sigh and say What have our Forefathers been doing that they have deprived us of the Means of our Souls good Must they and we meet in Hell they for non-improvement we for non-enjoyment Woe is us cursed Children of cursed Parents Lord if we have not peace or plenty let us have the Gospel of Peace and true Piety the Gospel of Grace and Grace by the Gospel and then we shall say The Lines are fallen to us