Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	call_v	church_n	word_n	4,868	5	4.3217	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90064	Jerusalems vvatch-men, the Lords remembrancers: a sermon preached at the Abbie at VVestminster, before both Houses of Parliament, and the Assembly of Divines, upon their solemn fast, Iuly 7. 1643. / By Matth: Nevvcomen M.A. and Minister of the Gospell at Dedham in Essex. Published by order of both Houses of Parliament.	Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.	1643 (1643)	Wing N911; Thomason E63_7; ESTC R8797	23,198	43

JERVSALEMS VVATCH-MEN THE LORDS REMEMBRANCERS A SERMON PREACHED at the Abbie at VVESTMINSTER before both Houses of Parliament AND The Assembly of DIVINES upon their Solemn Fast Iuly 7. 1643. BY MATTH NEVV COMEN M. A. and Minister of the Gospell at Dedham in Essex As for me I have not hastned from being a Pastour to follow thee neither have I desired the wofull day thou knowest that which came out of my lips was right before thee Be not a Terrour to me thou art my hope in the day of evill Jer. 17.16 17. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them and to turn away thy wrath from them Jerem. 18.20 Yee that have escaped the sword goe away stand not still Remember the Lord afar off and let Jerusalem come into your minds Jer. 51.50 Published by Order of both Houses of Parliament LONDON Printed by M. F. for CHRISTOPHER MEREDITH at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1643. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE LORDS The worthy Members of the HONOURABLE House of COMMONS AND The Learned and Religious DIVINES now assembled to consult about matters of RELIGION THis Sermon might have been entertained from the Pulpit and now from the Presse as Pharez was from the womb Gen. 38.29 with a Quàm erupisti how hast thou broken forth were it not knowne to this Assembly that the Parliament had designed another both in yeares and all Intellectuall and spirituall abilities far more fit for the solemn work of so solemne a day in so solemne and Reverend an a Consisting of both Houses of Parliament the Divines all joyning in humiliation and prayer Assembly But bodily infirmities compelling him with Zarah to draw back his hand the work was I know not by what providence devolved on me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was to that quire of Mourners and Intercessours but as the grashopper was to b Hujus meminit Strabol 6. Clem. Al. in Protreptico al gentes Phot. in Ep. ad Joen Patricium Eunomius his harp quae Citharae jugo insidens ruptae chordae sonum expleret The same Authority which I am resolved to obey usque ad Aras that commanded mee to preach then commands me now to make publique to the eyes of all what then was committed to the ears of not many when the same Authority shall command other things that have since been spoken and transacted in your Assembly to see the Light I doubt not but all sober-minded men that have not been made drunk with the cup of Romes fornication will acknowledge you have with a single eye sought Truth with peace and union with Reformation It is Men Brethren and Fathers a great work that God hath called you to set your heads and hearts and hands unto to rescue truth from the jaws of those monstrous errours that had almost devoured it to disburthen the worship of God of those corruptions that have so long clogged and defiled it to advise of and propound such a Government in the Church as may be most agreeable to Gods word most conformed to the pattern in the Mount and to the practises of the best Reformed Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Had our God cast you upon this work in the most pacate times and among a People the most prepared for Reformation that ever any were yet in it selfe considered such is the infinite weight of your employment as might even swallow up all your thoughts But then to consider how unprepared the hearts of people are for that which is the work of this age and this Assembly Reformation which hath been represented to Prince and People under the odious notion of Brownisme Anabaptisme Church Anarchy Confusion in so much that with many endeavours and assays of Reformation will find no better entertainment then Hezekiahs messengers of Reformation did 2 Chron. 30.10 when the people laughed them to scorn and mocked them Nay with some worse for so enragedly doe some burn after their Idolatrous wayes and so mad are they upon their own inventions Jer. 50.38 that deny them these and it is to be feared you shall finde them in the temper the Abezrites were scarce any thing will pacify them but the bloud of those that have cast down the altar of Baal and cut down the grove that was by it Iudg. 6.30 Doe not Multitudes cry already upon the disuse of some Ceremonies and the displacing of some Superstitious Priests do they not cry with Micah Judg. 18.24 Yee have taken away our Gods and our Priests and what have we more This makes the times so calamitous as we may say of them with the Learned Rivet In multis certè infoelicissima sunt nostra Tempora in quibus in pessum omnia ruunt quasi transversum ire videntur Concutiuntur Regna Respublicae tumultibus omnia perstrepunt seditionibus caedibus terra polluitur quod malum omnium malorum fons est clamant peccata et coelum provocant profligatis ferè moribus honestis vitiis latè quasi apertâ portâ erumpentibus Pruriunt ingenia multorum in rebus Divinis ita se gerunt adeò licenter ut quod olim in populo Ebraeo quibus temporibus non erat Rex in Israele quisque quod rectum videbatur in oculis suis faciebant Iud. 17.6 Sic multi sunt qui nullis repagulis continentur fidem in dies mutans quam dum multiplicant amittunt Alios vetustâ socordiâ detentos dum nullam mutationem admittunt in bonum ita dementat superstitio ut in monitores insurgant ne dum ut eos patienter audiant All this proclaims the work of Reformation the more necessary but withall the more difficult Against these difficulties what have you to encourage you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were yee encompassed as sometimes Elisha was with an hoast of armed men yet might yee say as he did there They that be with us are more then they that be against us For first Revel 19 14. with you are all the Armies in heaven All the Saints and Churches of Christ are with you striving with you by their prayers not only in reference to your persons but to your employments for protection guidance blessing The appearing of Christ in the beauty of Reformation among us may be said to be the desire of all Christian Nations Secondly not only so but yee have the prayers of those that have been before us For verily many Prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see Favour me the use of this expression by way of allusion have not seen them viz. a Parliament resolved upon a more thorough Reformation an Assembly called to debate advise about the establishing of Doctrine and worship and the Government of the Church in a more pure regular manner with how many tears and prayers did our Forefathers seek this at the hands of God The first fruits of which prayers we who are entred upon

literally signifies the people of Ierusalem the Nation of the Jews whom God hath in his righteous indignation scattered over the face of the earth as chaffe before the wind these we may pray for I meane the remnant according to the election of Grace that God would gather them againe according to his promise And so all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11.26 But yet this is not that Ierusalem here meant neither The Ierusalem meant in this place is the Mystical Ierusalem that Ierusalem whereof this was but a type the new * Revel 21.2 which text seemes to referre to this of Isaiah speak the same language for as here ver 4.5 God saith The Lan I shall be married And God will rejoyce over Jerusalem as a bridegroome rejoyceth over his bride so here John sees this Ierusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Ierusalem comming downe from God out of Heaven And so it implyes two things First the Church of God in the utmost latitude of it the whole Catholique Church dispersed over the world the generall assembly and Church of the first borne is unto us Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 23. for which we are to pray that God would establish and make it a praise in the earth And secondly by Ierusalem Mysticall we are to understand that particular Church in which we live of which we are to which we stand in the same relation that the Iews did to Ierusalem for this we are to pray that God would establish and make it a praise in the earth And so I come to the second thing to be explained Secondly for what we must pray the subjectum quod or what it is we are to pray for Two things we find mentioned in the text first that God would establish secondly that God would make his Church a praise in the earth First that God would establish his Church First that God would establish his Church for though the Church hath a strong foundation and walles and bulwarkes strong yet it is in it selfe but a weake building Mat. 16.18 earthly tabernacles planted on a rock Isaiah 26 1. 2 Cor. 5. That which God speakes of the earth may be applyed to the Church Psal 75.3 The earth and all the inhabitants of it are dissolved I beare up the Pillars of it All the commissures and contignations of this great fabrick of the Universe would be loosned and disjoynted if God did not put under his everlasting armes and beare up and establish the Pillars of it So would it be in the Church of God therefore we must pray that God would establish his Church In two things and that in two things first in Truth secondly in Peace First in truth against all errors Secondly in Peace against enemies Fi●●… in Truth First we must pray that God would establish his Church in truth The Church is said 1 Tim. 3.15 to be the pillar and ground of truth not as the Papists affirme as if truth were grounded upon the judgement and determination of the Church the Church is indeed the Pillar of truth not because it holds up the truth but because it holds forth the truth the metaphor is taken not from Pillars that are supporters of houses but from such Pillars as anciently were wont to be fixed in market places and other places of publique meeting upon which they hung their lawes as the leges 12. Tabularum at Rome that they might be publique to the view and notice of all men as amongst us Proclamations for the same end are pasted upon posts such a Pillar of truth we grant the Church is and ought to be a Pillar to hold forth the truth to the view of all men a Pillar to which all men resorting may read and know the truth it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pillar and ground of truth the word in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the first and native signification is a seat the Pillar and seat of truth the place of truths abode and residence its proper ubi where truth is always to be found this the Church of God is or ought to be Now though the Church of God should be thus yet we know there is no Church but it is subject unto error The Apostle tells us there must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our Saviour tells us that there shall arise some such subtill masters of heresie that they shall seduce if it were possible the very elect of God Mark 13.22 Therefore we must pray that God would establish his Church in truth against all errors Ephes 6.14 Truth it is the Churches girdle A Church quae hanc Zo nā perdidit aut soluta est as the Latine proverb is a Church that hath lost this girdle of truth or hath this girdle loosed is an Adulterous beggerly Church therefore yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish his Church in truth Secondly in Peace And as in truth so secondly in Peace Peace is one of the richest blessings of heaven a comprehensive blessing a circle of blessings I will not rhetoricate in the praises of it the want of peace hath made us know what peace is worth in the enjoyment of this rich desirable blessing we must intreat the Lord to establish Ierusalem his Church yee that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish Ierusalem in peace And this peace is threefold Civill with the Nations Ecclesiasticall with its own members and spirituall or celestiall with its head and God First 1. Civill we must pray that God would establish his Church in peace among the Nations the Church of God is among the Nations Cant. 2.2 as the lilly among the Thorns the lot of Israel was among the uncircumcised Heathens so is the Churches yet hath her God promised peace in the middest of enemies Mic. 4.3 He shall judge among many people and rebuke strong Nations afar off and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a sword against Nation neither shall they learn war any more but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his figtree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of Hoasts hath spoken it You that are the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish his Church in this peace Secondly there is peace Ecclesiasticall peace of the Church with its own members Secondly Ecclesiasticall peace in the bowels and bosome of the Church wee must pray that God would establish his Church in that that the Church may not languish and die of Antiochus his disease a torment in her bowels that there may be no incomposable divisions no irreconciliable rents no

them upon his heart for a memoriall before the Lord continually they were to be the Priests Remembrancers that he should be the Lords Remembrancer to put the Priest in mind of putting God in mind of Israel by praying for them this type is properly applyable to Christ who is the only high Priest of his Church yet so farre as the Ministers of the Gospel are Christs substitutes upon earth so farre this may at least by way of allusion be applyed unto them for so farre there ought to be in them the same disposition towards Ierusalem that was in Christ Iesus that as Christ wept over Ierusalem so should they as he remembred Ierusalem so should they as he prayed for Ierusalem so should they he by way of meritorious intercession they by way of Ministeriall intercession 1 Tim. 2.1 to bear Ierusalem upon their shoulders and upon their hearts continually when ever they addresse themselves into Gods presence Ierusalem is engraven upon the hand of God and therefore should be ingrav●n upon the hearts of his Ministers and is if God hath layed his hand upon their hearts Yee know the story of that heathen Priest that being to offer sacrifice before a battle writ Victoria or some such like word in the palme of his hand and in unbowelling the sacrifice laid his hand upon the heart of the beast and left the characters of the same word there that what had been written upon the hand of the Priest was read upon the heart of the sacrifice Behold I have graven thee saith God to Ierusalem upon the palmes of my hands Isaiah 49.16 and look how many hearts there are of Nobles or Gentry or Ministers or others upon whom God hath layed his hand I doubt not but there is the same configuration upon them that is ingraven upon the hand of God that as God himselfe cannot forget Ierusalem as he sheweth there because it is engraven upon the palms of his hands so they cannot but remember Ierusalem because it is engraven upon their hearts that as Queen Mary said of Callice when I am dead rip me and you shall finde Callice at my heart so there is a many a godly man and many a godly Minister especially who might say when I am dead rip me and you shall finde Ierusalem at my heart That sacred name is deeply graven there If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning All you that are the Lords Remembrancers you that have Ierusalem written in your hearts keep no silence give him no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth If ever Men were called to this work Ministers are And if ever Ministers were called to this work thē more especially are you whom it hath pleased God by the Authority of the honourable Houses of Parliament to call together to debate and advise of such things as may be necessary or conducing to the establishment of Truth and Peace and Beauty in the Churches of Christ Jesus and doth it not then especiall lye upon you to keep no silence give the Lord no rest till he establish c. I say till he establish for except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord reform the Church it is to no purpose to goe about to reform it except the Lord set up the Pillars of Peace and Truth in his Church and put the crown of Glory upon his Church it is labour lost to endevour it You that are called to this great work you of all men ought to keep no silence give the Lord no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth I need not tell you how many eies and expectations there are upon this Assembly I speak it not as a matter of boasting but as a matter of trembling and lying low before the Lord this day from all the parts of the Kingdome from all the parts of the Christian world the eies of all the people of God are upon you forrain Churches have their eies towards you waiting what you will advise for the more utter ●●…tinction of Papery effecting of a more neer and f●●●●●…ion between us the rest of the Reformed Churches all the parts of the kingdome have their faces voyces towards you me thinks I hear a voyce from all the corners of the Land comming up to this Assembly to be by you reported to the honourable Houses of Parliament a voyce like that of the poore woman to the King upon the wall help help for the Lords sake help help us to better Ministers help us to better Ordinances help us to purer worship help us to better Discipline help us to remove those things that deterre us from the Lords table help our tender Consciences to more liberty c. I know it Brethren Gods people most of them look for help by this Assembly through your faithfull advice given to the Honourable Houses of Parliament And may not you answer as he did there except the Lord help thee whence should I help thee there is such an Augeae Stabulum of corruption confusion in Doctrine Discipline worship in all that verily unlesse that God who is able to remove the iniquity of the land in one day Zach. 3.9 and to cause the Prophet unclean spirit to passe out of the land Zach. 13.2 unlesse that great God set his hand to this great work it will never prosper and yet if it should not prosper the sin would be laid at your door and you would bear the reproach of it to all memory therefore great need to importune God to come down and own his work ô that thou wouldest rent the heavens and come down that the Mountains might flow at thy presence Yee among all the rest of the Lords Remembrancers keep no silence give him no rest till he establish and 〈◊〉 make Ierusalem a praise in the earth And ohe thing more what I know you have all taught others your selves now put in practice pursue your prayers with your indeavours what yee pray for contend for as yee pray that God would establish his Church in truth so with united indeavours labour to raise up and establish the decayed truth among us vindicating the truths of the Protestant Religion from all Popish Arminian Socinian Anabaptisticall Antinomian and all other errors whatsoever And as yee pray that God would establish his Church in peace so labour to work out the Churches peace 1 With God by endeavouring a removall of what ever pollutions or prophanenesses have turned God into an enemy to us And then 2 labour the Churches peace with its own members which certainly yee shall establish if denying your selves and laying by all pre-ingagements to your own opinions desires ways ye shall willingly and unanimously consent to that which upon just and pious debate shall be found to be the way and truth of God which I doubt not but through his grace ye shall all doe Beleeve it Brethren in your Union will be laid a happy foundation of Union through the whole Kingdome if yee agree in this Assembly I durst me thinks promise my self and you a happy agreement amongst all that fear God in the Nation And then we need take no thought for the third thing peace with our enemies God will either subdue them under us or make them be at peace with us only let neither the desire of peace with them nor of peace amongst our selves bribe us to tolerate any thing in the Church of God that might make him to be at war with us And lastly as yee pray that God would make the Church a praise so endeavour that also endeavouring that the Church of Christ may enjoy all those Liberties and Ordinances that are purchased for her by the bloud and bequeathed to her in the testament of her Lord Iesus that all her wayes may be ordered according to the rule of Gods word that the Gospell may runne and be glorifyed that those two great illuminating ordinances of Preaching and Catechizing which are as the greater lesser lights of heaven may have such liberty encouragement maintenance that all the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Rom. 15.5.6 This doe and prosper and that you may thus doe the God of Patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Iesus that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Amen FINIS