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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	great_a	time_n	4,486	5	3.5288	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87086	The difficvlty of sions deliverance and reformation: together with the activitie which her friends should manifest during the time that her cause is in agitation. Delivered in a sermon at Margarets Westminster, before the honourable House of Commons on Wednesday morning, the twenty-sixt day of Iune. 1644. / By Humphrey Hardwick, Minister of the Word at Hadam Magna in the County of Hertfard, and one of the Assembly of Divines.	Hardwick, Humphrey, b. 1601 or 2.	1644 (1644)	Wing H704; Thomason E2_9; ESTC R2445	22,618	46

it first justifie all those good Zerubbabels of our time who have put themselves forth in our cause beene much and active in faithfull endeavours for the preservation and reformation of this Church and Kingdome It likewise also justifieth all our humiliations publike and private all our dayes of thankfull memoriall Laws Ordinances and Injunctions truly intended to procure the full deliverance and establishment of our religion and just liberties If all the friends of Sion ought in such cases to do as you have heard then our Worthies have done no more then did become them no more then was their dutie to doe Search through the holy Book and tell me whether any men are so precious in the eyes of heaven and the account of God himself as those that have beene zealous for the reformation of his Church the carrying on of his Cause the helpe of his people against the wicked and profane opposers of them How highly were Caleb and Ioshua esteemed of God for being couragious when others flagg'd in the businesse and shrunk at evill tydings Had not Phinih●m the sonne of Eleazar a Covenant of peace made to him and his posteritie for being zealous in Gods Cause among the people Why should I tell you of Gideon and Barak and Samson and the rest In a word men of this spirit are the onely men in Gods Books But one thing which is recorded of a zealous woman I cannot omit Blessed above women shall Jael the wise of Heber the Kenitebe blessed shall she be above women in her tent she put her hand to the nail and her right hand to the work mans hammer she smote Si●era she smote off his head Judg. 5.24 26. Lo my brethren what an high transcendent applause is given to this woman by the mouth of the Spirit of God The like phrase is but in one place more ro be found in Holy Writ and there it 's given to the blessed Virgine here it is iterated of this woman by which with the former instances we may clearly see how much true zeale in such kinde of actions doth please the God of glory And all this I mention not to flatter or proud up any heart but by way of just vindication and approbation of all that have beene forward for God in our just cause for their future encouragement and have not I good reason so to do in these times when men of zeal meet with so many disheartenings and discouragements Truly it 's some unhappinesse to be good amongst us especially to be zealous in it for besides the trouble and many inconveniences which accompanie such undertakings the persons of men truly zealous for Gods Cause among the people are obvious to soule censure oft doe they gaine reproach and finde unthankfull dealing from many of our owne side How apt are we to bedew our best friends and to requite ill to those who strive most for the publike good Did not consciousnesse of dutie to God and the true worth and excellency of the imployment bear up Christian hearts and publike spirits many good instruments in this Cause had long ago been sutors to God and man to have quit them of their imployments I have cause therefore lighting on this subject to speak thus much in season for their justification and incouragement Hereby also our pious actions fore mentioned are to be approved for why there are a generation who mussicate against them whisper and say By what authoritie doe wee these things some are ready to say as Indas of the Alabaster Box of Oyntment Whereto is this waste Now I could quickly say enough to these men but blessed be God experience hath sufficiently taught us that these pious endeavours have not been in wast for in no age I think were fastings prayers and the duties of this kinde so often so visibly answered And this will or may stop such mouthes with shame Moreover the doctrin which I have proved sheweth divine authoritie the Lord requiring expecting and in effect calling for the frequent exercise of these duties in such times being a chiefe part of the precious seed which should be sown Yea more by this we may conclude that it were much sinne and wickednesse to refuse or neglect see how irreconcileably angry the Lord is with his people for neglecting such duties in such times Esa. 22. consult that place and I shall need say no more to justifie our sowing in teares A second Vse of this point doth minister matter of just and sharp reprofe First to neuters a sort of men wise in their own conceit secretly condemning all others and justly to be condemned of all I may truly say that neither God nor man loves them it is onely the devill and themselves that they please And were not these a kinde of unteachable creatures I should speak much to their reproof but I referre them to two places of Scripture one in the old Testament Indg. 5.23 the other Rev. 3.15 16. This truth may discover to us how little those men deserve of the Church and kingdome who stand in their places like ciphers to supply a room and multiply the number but neither act nor in good earnest desire to act any thing to purpose I confesse if men were to make themselves their own end they took a course seemingly wise For publique grievances though easily seen and complained on yet are very hard to be dealt with To search into the true causes of them to finde out the right method of euring them is a work so full of toyle and so beset with difficulties as that selfish and wary men may well judge it better to sit quiet and enjoy their own case then to entangle and trouble themselves to seek the common good Now of this temper I fear me there are many too many who do blesse and applaud themselves in not acting and judging others for their forwardnes But I beseech you to consider earnestly that our Parliament our Kingdome our Cause hath no need of men of Gallio's temper which care for none of these things and what anignoble propertie it is for men called of God and entrusted with so weightie imployment to spend their time in doing nothing or nothing to the purpose and leave Gods Businesse to God himself and others to care for I am not ignorant that men of this make have many excuses to plead but alas they are fig-leaves which will not cover their nakednesse and though the World and themselves were so deluded as not to see their guiltines yet such men will dearely answer it before God for doing nothing or as good as nothing in the Cause of God and the kingdome It remains now onely that I call upon every one that would not be counted an enemy but a friend of Sion to be up and doing to be much and active in pious and precious endeavour for the perfecting our Sions deliverance and the establishing of our Jerusalem in peace and truth Now is time for Nobles and Senatours and

every one in his place and station to few precious seed What considering man then would suffer sloth or negligence ease or self respects to hinder him from being an instrument of so great good as may come to the Church and State Many of you are all of you may be under God the cause of much good to many generations Be therefore of S. Pauls minde suffer nothing to deprive you of the glory of such rejoycing and the testimony of a good conscience And now in speciall manner I desire to commend foure things as part of the pious endeavours which should chiefly be laid down as precious seed to bring on the happie work in hand The first of these is an holy conscionable sincere observance of these dayes of humiliation By Moses law the man who did not humble and afflict his soul in such a day was to be cut off from Israel Levit. 25.29 to be onely customary and formall in these which should be our most pure devotions is a sinne of more grievous consequence then we are aware of to dissemble with our God in Fasting and Prayer is a kinde of horrible impietie for Gods sake therefore be you carefull and conscionable in preparing your souls to meet the Lord in the dayes of atonement be ye holy heavenly faithfull sincere and entire with God in these extraordinary services Let it be your worke on these dayes to strive to mortifies your sins and sanctifie your souls to bewaile the iniquities of the land for the divisions of Reuben let there be great thoughts of heart These my Brethren are the highest services that we can do for God our selves or the kingdome and you being our Worthies should go before and exceed others in them if therefore you will not do so but refuse and sleight or be superficiall in the performance of them behold ye have sinned against the Lord and be ye sure your sinne shall finde you out The next thing I commend is the speedy impartiall execution of justice You know that by standing up quickly and executing justice Phin●ha● Presem by said the plague when asas the slowing and neglecting of it continued the plague hereafter here in Davids time It was doubtlesse neglect and corruption of justice next to pollutions of Gods worship irreligiousnesse and profanenesse that hath brought our kingdome to its misery the speedy therefore and impartiall ministration of it is a proper medicine for our maladie And it is somewhat a sad thing to note little justice hath been done on bloudy traiterous deliequent enemies of God and man more then what 's the Lord himself hath done by the hand of warre it may be that feareful way of execution hath and will continue till the more desirable swords of justice be drawn to purpose in the cutting off when 〈◊〉 of our combustions the sonnes of Be lial who in God hath put into your hand to punish The third thing I desire may be specially cared for is the 〈◊〉 pre●●●grand prosecution of the national convenant a 〈◊〉 plensing to God profitable to the kingdomes by which 〈◊〉 is and through God's blessing may be the 〈…〉 blow given to the whore of Babylon and 〈…〉 impes that ever yet was Now to have this 〈…〉 ●●ngst us or laid aside whilst malignants and 〈◊〉 live in our bosome blessing and in feered applauding themselves that they have neither taken this nor any of your for 〈◊〉 prove 〈◊〉 many moneths have passed over and no account made nor any questionned or dealt with for refusing This is our case and I appeal to wiser judgements whether this may not be the way to lessen the honour and authoritie of the High Court of Parliament and their Ordinances May not this likewise cause the common sort to deem themselves little bound in conscience to keepe the Covenant when they see others not bound to take it Will not this render all zealous advocates for the Covenant as temporizers and give the refusers occasion to triumph over us as men of large consciences to do any thing that shall be required like Bishops creatures and the superstitious and conformists of late These are but a few of many a glimpse a hint of the inconveniences which may happen pardon me then in being bold to point out the pressing and prosecution of the Covenant as one kinde of precious seed to be sowen amongst others in Sions be●●f The last thing which I shall commend to your s●●ous consideration whom it doth concern is special care to seek and preserve the mutuall love honour and esteem each of other Oh! that Saint Pauls Lesson might be learned of our worthy Nobles and Senatours one to esteem of another ●●lter then himself Oh! that were a delight in bre●●● and follow-instruments and specially in those who excell in vertue zeal and faith 〈…〉 ●ring for the publique good Sure it is 〈…〉 honourable for any to minde solely 〈…〉 ●own same and esteem and not care how to the rep●●te of others lye Frō hence I fear come things that arennseemly and by which the publique proceeding may suffer obstruction My earnest desire therefore and praye●● that the God of peace and consolation would make you like minded one towards another and each willing to deny himself to seek the esteem of others in love and above all to forward and advance the Nationall and common Cause Lo these are the four things which out of dutie to God true zeal to Sion and due reverence to the Worthies to whom I speak I humbly desire may be thought upon and practised to the glory of our God and emolument of his Church And the better to prevail in this my suit I shall apply the third vertue or force which lyeth in the words of my Text as speciall arguments of inducement to perswade there unto Consider then first I beseech you that those endeavours with that activity I speak of are by the Spirit of God in my Text signified to be as fruitfull precious seed which dies not in the earth but lives to yeeld increase And this me thinks is aboundantly sufficient to incite every man to act his uttermost If I could assure any husbandman that every graine of such kinde of seed should live and not one corne perish I need say no more to move him to industry how plentifull would be the in sowing a how free in cost and pains-taking But now past all peradventure I may assure the seeds-man of Sions Cause that his endeavours are such pre●●ous seed as that no one grain shall be lost but 〈…〉 again to yeeld him encrease It is like a ca 〈…〉 down for joy which shall certainly be paid You may ve act therefore hence much incouraged Secondly I note that hardnes and difficulty in sowing is no way comparable to the sweetnesse and comfort in reaping There 's no compare me thinks between the tears and the joy in the Text these farre surmount and exceed them as the metaphor and words of expression seem to import Rationall and considering men therefore should be justly provoked with this consideration Did not Moses make the best choise upon this ground Doth not Saint 〈◊〉 encourage to sufferings upon like reason Ram 〈◊〉 And certainly this well weighed may prevail with us Thirdly mind we the undoubted certainty of our harvest verified by divers absolute positive ass●ver●●tion in the Text he shall reap he shall come again he shall bring his sheaves with him here 's no Item of continge neylor possibilitie but all absolute ●●●●tions anto 〈◊〉 know he 〈◊〉 to die arti● shall 〈◊〉 away but a lot of Gods Word shall not fail 〈◊〉 shall prevent the harvest of a labourer in Sions 〈…〉 ●●●●tly Consider 〈◊〉 multiplicitie of the 〈…〉 shall be reaped by such endeavour 〈…〉 not be a reddition of grain for grains or moni●●● 〈◊〉 not yet of care for grains but of sheaven for 〈◊〉 This shall be full measure 〈…〉 over 〈…〉 blessings be on the head of eve●●● where is 〈◊〉 and faithfull in carrying 〈◊〉 of Sions cause And may not 〈◊〉 take any fou● 〈…〉 with every sprit to set it selfe 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 it selfing all hopefull ende 〈◊〉 to the glory of 〈◊〉 the good of the Church and Kingdome and the great Joy and blessing of the undertakers 〈…〉 God will and let us now 〈…〉 all pray God it 〈◊〉 FINIS Doct.