Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	england_n	true_a	3,996	5	5.6510	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59597	Two clean birds, or, The cleaning of the leper as it was unfolded in a sermon preached before the right honourable Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax, Generall of the northern forces, and the most of his army, on the fifth day of February, 1642 (being the Lords day, and by his honor appointed to bee kept as a fast upon speciall occasion) at Selbie, in the West Riding of the county of Yorke / by Iohn Shaw, pastor to the church at Rotheram in the same county.	Shawe, John, 1608-1672.	1644 (1644)	Wing S3031; ESTC R29354	29,441	41

his sacred Majesties least hu●t c To bee friend to King is a old s●inde● Sar●bal Neb. ● 1 Jewes 〈◊〉 19.12 ye they but bour to be first in bring the K● back 2. S● 19.41 ● Oh God forbid 1 Sam. 24.5 26.9 I am verily perswaded that no man doth more desire his Majesties safety honour and happinesse then your selfe according to your Allegeance and late Protestation and that you would not have one haire of his head to perish else could you never have so many wrastling crying prayers as I think never any Generall or Army to this day ever had of those whose persons are pretious 2 Cor. 8 23. whose teares have lowd tongues Psal 6.8 whose Prayers are most pleasant to God Cant. 2.14 and have as I may say a wrastling Hos 12.4 prevailing Psal 50.15 nay a commanding power with God Isa 45.11 Wee have heard much fame of the Heathen Generals Achilles Hector Hanniball Scipin Seanderbag c. but what alas did these regard God his Church his Cause or God them But we are confident of other ends and principles in your Excellency and hope that God will use your Excellency as a blessed instrument for setling such a roall Peace and bringing in such happy times as our Kings Majesty all the Land yea the child yet unborne will see cause to blesse God for you and acknowledge Gods goodnesse and mercy to England by you Wee have had mercies hitherto a long time on free cost if we pay now a little dearer then formerly we hope for so much better dayes the fulfilling of the Prophesie Isa 30.26 the fall of Babylon the advancing of Gods Church clearing of his truth the engrafting of the broken branch into the true Olive how have the people of God been scorned and nicknamed a long time for Waldenses Hussites Lollards Lutherans Hugenots Precisians Puritans or all in one Round-heads As a Parliament man said well the word Puritan in the mouth of an Arminian signifies an Orthodox Divine in the mouth of a Drunkard signifies a sober man in the mouth of a Papist signifies a Protestant c. And true it is Gods Church may have Winter and Summer seed time and harvest Gen. 8.22 and we hope ere long to sing with the Spouse through Gods mercy to his Majesty the high Court of Parliament your Excellency and these Kingdomes The Winter is past the Raine is over and gone 〈◊〉 2.11 〈◊〉 the Flowers appeare on the earth the time of finging of Birds is come That those that sowed in teares shall reape in joy Psal 126.5 6. When God will restore his out-casts Jer. 30.16 17. and that as the high and Honourable Assembly spoke of that wonderfull successe at Leeds that God had heard prayers so still he will till his Temple bee finished his servants cleared who have long suffered My very Honourable Lord such have been your tryed valour fidelity to your Countrey your kind respect to Gods Ministers love to Gods Servants undaunted courage for Gods cause c. that were I not in awe of your Excellencies humility more then of your Army I might enlarge any one of hese beyond and Epistle but I well know that your Excellency he more you deserve the lesse you desire praise I will onely doe that which more suits with my desire and profession humbly trave pardon for this boldnesse and leave that these notes may passe under your Excellencies patronage and protection Job 32.22 and shall not cease to bend my knees to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for my Soveraigne his great Counsell your Excellencies prosperous successe in Gods way encrease of grace here and eternall felicity hereafter such are the uncessant requests of the poor * Text. earthen vessell who is My Lord Your Excellencies most humble servant and daily Remembrancer at Gods Throne JOHN SHAW March 4. 1642. To the Christian Reader ESPECIALLY To my most tenderly affected flocke at Rotheram in the West-riding of the county of YORK READER IF you that know me wonder as they of Saul 1 Sam. 10.11 to see mee now abroad in these heavie and quarrelling times wherein men turn Plow-shares into swords Joel 3.10 and when my poore Library and I are so far a sunder * Now quite plundered since this Sermin was Preached who have in fair Halcyon dayes and when I had much more leisure affected privacie take my answer from the Prophet Amos chap. 3. v. 8. The Lyon hath roared who will not fear the Lord hath spoken who can but prophesie the childe who had bin dumbe from his birth when he saw his father in danger of death cryed alond how can I do lesse when my Mother England lyes a gasping we have hitherto lived under our own Vines and Fig-trees which have bin neither barren nor unfruitfull and have too much waxed fat and kicked some conceive that after three yeeres of famine which God sent upon Canaan for Sauls slaying the Gibeonites 2 Sam 21.1 God sent them one yeer of peace and plenty which the Israelites being unthankfull for and abusing to riot that was the sin 2 Chron. 21. that provoked God to leave their King to himself and to Sathan for a sore punishment to the people 2 Sam. 24.1 and no wonder if the peoples abuse of mercies cause a King to be left to himselfe an ill stomacke may make a good head ake good eyes dimme for not onely they a●e 〈◊〉 body but the Kings error will prove the peoples punishment and misery Sam. 12.22 as in Davids errour 70000 of the people dyed So 〈◊〉 God layes on us the sorest of his Arrowes Ezek. 5.16 2 Sam. ●● 14 viz. War ill in it selfe Psal 87.63 ill in its attendants pestilence famine Deut. 28.56 and scandall especially civill or rather barbarous War twixt Fathers and Sonnes c. Jer. 13.12 13 14. its God red horse Revel 6.4 as the * The valley of ●ed H●rse valley was called where the late bloudy Battell was fought neere Edge-hill on the same day * Octob. 23. that the Rebellion of Ireland broke out and the bloudy Battell was fought neere Leipsick in Germany as some observe God keep us from being such Acheldima's such Golgotha's as Ireland as Germany and this to avenge the quarrell of his Covenant Lev. 26.25 to teach our Inhabitants righteousnesse Isa 26.10 and to seeke God early Hos 5.15 But in especiall let me say a word to thee beloved Rotherham heretofore poore and obscure but the Sunne of Gods mercy breaking in upon thee hath made thee famous Mr. Camhden saith that thou art well seared but the iniquity of the times hath swallowed up thy Benefactors bounty but the great Benefactor who to other places hath shewed mercies hath to thee miracles and I hope nor you nor I shall ever forget these magnalia Dei as the Israelites did Psal 78.42 untill our memories faile us as ill as Mess●la Corvinus●s who forgot his owne name many remporall mercies

But if God goe with them 2 Chron. 32.8 then 185000. men are lesse then so many Grashoppers three hnndred men with lamps and pitchers God being their Generall will destroy innumerable enemies Judges 7.12 16. And seeing there are two sorts of Souldiers spirituall and temporall let me say a word to both First all of us are or should bee spirituall Souldiers Clergie-men as some call us old aged men women c. are usually freed from wars some are poor can contribute no money the sinews of War yet all even Paul himself yea when aged yea women c. must be spirituall souldiers of Christ 1 Tim. 6.12 2 Tim. 2.3 4. and 4.7 fight under Christ against Devill flesh and world with those spirituall weapons Ephes 6. Among others let me intreat you 1. To use Jacobs way of prayers and tears Hos 12.4 It s said of Luther that he prayed five hours a day Easque studio aptissimos that the Boards where he used to pray were rotten with his tears hee said that hee kept out Pope Spaine and the Devill by prayer Mr. Bolton that Seraphick Divine used to pray fixe times every day twice with himself twice with his Wife twice with his Family That truly honourable and divinely noble Lord Harrington prayed constantly twice a day in secret twice with his servants in his Chamber and joyned at appointed times with the Family in prayer The wrath of the greatest Kings and rage of the fiercest Lyons could not keep Daniel from prayer thrice a day Dan. 6. So David Psal 55.17 and if David forgot not Jerusalem 〈◊〉 his mirth surely much lesse in his prayers Nehemiah and Daniel two of the greatest Courtiers to two of the highest Kings then under heaven when they wanted no outward favour for themselves yet how did they mourn and weep for the Churches miseries Nebem 1.4 Dan. 9.3 2. Use Esthers way prayer and fasting Esth 4.16 some Devils are not cast out but that way the Israelites miscarried twice and lost 40000 men till they went this way Judges 20. 3. Use Davids way enquire of God and seek out in the Land and thy heart what is the main sinne that God is angry fore Sam 21.1 Lam. 3.40 Jer. 8.6 4. Use Ninevehs way searching praying fasting and reforming Jonah 3.8 Reformation is the first second and third part of a Christian let Joshua do all else that he can till Reformation no peace no safety and these wayes of souldiers are 1. unquestioned wayes though some scruples and disputes about other warres this is unquestionable 2. universall old young rich poore J●sh 7 10-13 may all use these wayes 3. safe 4. cheape Secondly to souldiers temporall and because you would not have me long spare me a word or two 1. I beseech you seeke not your own ends gains c. adde not more length to our miseries to adde more weight to your owne purses Let your ends be the advancement and establishing of the Truth and purity of Religion against all Idolatry and Inuovations the maintenance of the good Lawes of the Land which are the power that none ought to resist Rom. 13.1 2. His sacred Maiesties honour and true good the peace and recovery of distressed Ireland and distracted England the subjects just Liberties c. according to Gods word our Lawes and your late Protestation 2. Rid thy heart of sinne by true repentance cary to the field a cleer conscience it was the usuall saying of the old Earle of Essex his Excellencies father that now is When I goe out to the field if any sinne or guilt lye on my Conscience it cowards and dampes my spirit whereas if I find peace within I dunst encounter an Army of men so said old Latimer Vprightnesse hath Boldnesse Thirdly take Christs advice to souldiers Luke 3.14 Doe violence to no man and be content with your wages away for ever away with this smoaking pillaging plundering for your own private gaine without either just and publique command and authority or publique good It was called stealing the last yeer and deserved hanging and damming what is it now It was truly said to and well taken by as valiant and pious a souldier as I think this age hath bred viz. to Generall * Sir Horatio Vere Knight Lord Vere of Tilbury Vere Souldiers that carry their lives in their hands bad need above others to carry grace in their hearts that so having made peace with God they my be fit to encounter with men and if holy at any time surely now when the Armies go out to battel Deut. 23.9 oh let not an Achans stollen wedge be found in your Campe Josh 7. l. st God blast you Deut. 23.14 if ye doe otherwise no wonder the child of Reformation stick in the birth or that things goe backward by reason of transgression Dan. 8.12 you say you display your Banners in the name of the Lord of Hosts and so you must do if would rightly prosper Psal 20.5 you say you serve under and for Christ your Generall oh but he is a holy God Isa 6.3 Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Rev. 17.14 would Christ your Generall swear be drunk whore ly c. follow your leader 2. Again you say you stand up for a holy Cause holy Doctrine Life and Lawes Do not you cry Ocoelum and point and looke at the earth Thirdly I beleeve you would prevaile oh but David as valiant a souldier as ever drew sword see which way hee meant to prevaile by holy crying unto God Psal 56.9 Fourthly you would be safe this is the way Zach. 2.5 and 10.3 5 Holinesse hath promise of protection 5. Consider there is somwhat to be done after dying then comes the strongest try all and greatest encounter you are not able to contend with God 1 Cor. 10.22 prize your soules above all earthly trash Caesar swimming through the waters was content to loose his rich Robe to save his Booke● which he held in his hand major fuit cura Caesari libellorum quam purpurae Your soules will quickly fly out to eternity I remember the saying of that famous Limmer Zeuxes diu pingo quia aeternitati pingo Let the greatnesse of this Generall CHRIST who can pardon sins cleanse the soule and is flowne away 〈◊〉 heaven to provide mansions for his there encourage you Ay● but let Holinesse and Piety also rule and direct but enough of this I promised brevity Use 7. And now while this last sand runs let me recall that Use which a good while a goe through posting hast I forgot t is this a glasse to shew us theuglinesse and poyson ousnesse of sin which nothing else could cleanse or take away but these cleane Birds this Cedar Skarlet and Hyssop the precious blood and death of Jesus Christ play not the fool to make a mock at sinne Prov. 14.9 rejoyce not thou in that as sweet Jer. 11.15 which caused the Saints as Mary Magdalene Luke 7.38 David Psal 34.4 the incestuous Corinthian 2

pleasures to serve and follow him Vse 4. Did Christ shed his blood to free us from sinne let us rather suffer our blood to be shed then wilfully provoke him by wallowing in our sinnes say not as that great but wicked noble man being asked whether hee liked better the pleasures of the wicked or the piety of the godly said cum illis mallem vivere cum istis mori I would rather live with the former rather dye with the latter Vse 5. Blesse God yea let all within us blesse God that hath provided so precious and costly a remedy to cleanse us from our Leprosie alas what would all the riches and glory in the world do us good while we were all full of Leprosie 2 Kings 5.1 what would Vzziah Naaman Miriam have given to bee cured of bodily Leprosie how much more should wee bee thankfull for curing Soules Leprosie especially First if you consider 1. the greatnesse of the gift God sent his Son his only Son his dearly beloved Son Cyprian tells a story of one having three Sonnes one must needs be banished the eldest was his first born and Heire he could not spare him the youngest was the mothers darling young and tender not could hee 〈◊〉 him well then the middlemost must goe but that was the 〈◊〉 expresse image and picture of the father and therefore her world rather dye then so part with any But God sent his Son into a sinfull naughty world though he was the very Image of his Father these two clean Birds to cleanse us the true mother though none of the best was loath to part with her child to be divided 1 King 3.26 but God for our sakes parted with his Son to be crucified Secondly the freenesse of the gift by us neither desired nor deserved Eph. 1.5 Rom. 5.8 10. He loued us because he loved us Deut. 7.7 8. none other eye pittyed us Ezek. 16.5 Thirdly the great cost it was to Christ the great good to us in Christ there was great vailing of his glory that the infinits God should become a poor Carpenters Son verbune infans Phil. 2. 6 7. 2. Vailing of his holinesse that he should be called a Wine-bibber Divell c. and be in the similitude of sinfull flesh 1 Pet. 1.19 3. Vailing of his happinesse hee deserved the first moment of his incarnation to have been in glory but behold from whence he came from his Father Heaven Glory 2. Whither hee came among wicked men or rather feinds 3. How used of all persons Jewes and Gentiles nay because the Jewes by their Law could not give above forty stripes therefore did they deliver him to the Gentiles who lashed him so long that it was more like plowing then whipping The Plowers plowed upon my backe c. Psal 129.3 againe in every part from head to feet in all his time from the cradle to the crosse c. Again consider what good this is to us 1. hereby our nature is dignified being in Christs person so highly advanced All the Jew● rejoyced because Ester one of their lineage was advanced as a silver Ring by having a precious pearle in it as a man may take possession of 1000 1. land a yeer by one clod of the same earth● so hath Christ taken possession of heaven for us in our nature a● when King James was made free of the Company of Cloth work●● Prince Henry of the Marchant Taylors they dignified the Companies So here 2. Sanctifies our nature as a cleere streame running through a filthy puddle And seeing I have begun to speak lend me so much liberty 〈◊〉 patience Right Honourable and beloved while I apply this destrine in a word or two to your selves Vse 6. Let this hearten and encourage all souldiers that stand up for the Truth of Religion the Law of the Land the true good of his Sacred Majesty and Kingdomes the flourishing of Christs Church to see what a Generall and Captain they fight under one that can from their sinnes cleanse them from pollution of spirit prosper them now and if a bullet or sword come enshrine their soules in Christs armes give them full pay knight and crown them in heaven every souldier hath a care when hee goes to battell to take his musket powder bullet his armes c. with him by no means will he leave these behind be sure you take this Generall Jesus Christ with you and Truth and Righteousnesse to be your Captains 2 Tim. 2.3 This was Joshua's main care Josh 5.13 1. The calling of a souldier is very ancient very honourable what was it that the four great Monarchies of the world most gloried in especially the Grecians and Romanes but in their valiant souldiers whence have most of our Titles of honour risen but from Military employments as Emperours Dukes Earles Knights Esquires c. 2. It is also a lawful calling in it self if rightly managed it s an Art that God teacheth Psal 18.34 and 144.1 who never taught any unlawfull one that God commanded Numb 31.2 commended c. Heb. 11.33 34. yea sometime war with men of the same Kingdome and that professe the same Religion may be lawfull thus twixt Israelites and Benjunites by Gods own advice Ezek. 5.16 17. 6.11 Judg. 20.28 and so 2 Sam. 2.13 and 18.17 and though it be a sore evill and as I have ‖ Grand Sacrifice elsewhere more largly proved especially civill warres yet sometimes a * Pa●em h● bere debet veluntas bell●● necessitas Aug. necessary evill onely remember wherein thy safety lyes in Christ alone Let men be for number for strength 2 Chron. 32.7 8. never so mighty yet if God be against them hee can give a Commission to Angels or Statres above Judg. 5. to waters or earth below to wind and weather to Frogs Lice Flyes c. and all the arme of flesh cannot withstand them Exod. 8.9 10. witnesse great Pharoah Herod Jesab●● P●p● 〈◊〉 King of Poland whose ordinary oath or curse was Anno 134● Rats 〈…〉 all his Kingdom could not save him from being devou●●d by ●aes Anno 940. so Hatto Arch-bishop of Mentz by Mice S●isillus Elkerka with Toads c. or God can put a pannick feare into men Josh 2.11 or scare them with a conceit a King 7.6 ruine them by their own fancie 2 King 3. 22 23 24. set one of them against another as 2 Chron. 20.23 Jndg. 7.22 The Land of Caanan as Cosmographers think was not by the fourth part so big as England they had but twelve Tribes and we in England and Wales have fifty two Shires and one with another its thought our shires were as big as their Tribes yet in two of these Tribes as they were usually reckoned there were in Jeboshaphats dayes almost 1200000. fighting men 2 Chron. 17.14 19. enough one would think to over-runne a whole world and yet Jehoshaphat cryes 2 Chron. 20.12 We have no strength neither know we what to doe onely our eyes are upon thee