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truth_n church_n lord_n word_n 4,134 5 3.9920 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A23635 New-Englands choicest blessing and the mercy most to be desired by all that wish well to this people cleared in a sermon preached before the court of election at Boston on May 28, 1679 / by James Allen ... Allen, James, 1632-1710. 1679 (1679) Wing A1028; ESTC W13883 18,844 19

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established And as was well hinted by a worthy person in his Election Sermon less will undoe us here this is but a little Boat then in greater Kingdomes I do not think errors of the mind can be compelled but by light and Reason or that any can be forced to be of another mind they must be drawn not driven that heartily close with Christ and embrace Religion But if any under pretense of Religion will endeavour the subversion of that is true and so esteemed by those in Authority such endeavours ought to be prevented by them and powerfully obviated I am perswaded that all the people of God are agreed in the end that injury at least ruine should be hindred Authoritatively the greatest doubt is about the means what is the best way to overthrow the designs of those that are Enemies and fundamentally so to the welfare of this People and it is high wisdome the choise of the fittest means to the end it is very hard to say what that is they can best judge of it that hear all the Circumstances of a Case That I would humbly commend is when you cannot all agree upon the way use condescendency to each other that you may agree vis unita fortior That which is done with greatest Concurrence you may expect most of Gods presence with and will be most effectual though in it self it may seem most contemptible 2. Let them have your countenance and encouragement that is by your Example and Authority maintain and uphold the true worship of God 2 Chron. 17.6 7 8. Jehoshaphat was commended for his care that all places might have a faithful teaching Minister see ver 9. how the Lord was with them Neb. 13.11 Nehemiah he took care that the house of God it might not be forsaken by withdrawing necessary supports for those that attend the service of God oyle there must be to maintain the Lights They are duties of necessity not liberty of Justice not Charity so fall under your Cognizance 2. The matters of men are also your care and therein you are with God when there is due execution of Justice if it be speedy Impartial as our Fathers were such have been in these places that could not by friendship or flattery or bribery be turned out of the way of right Judgement but have judged for the Lord Jer. 22.15 19. as Josiah was commended for it and it was well with him and his People ver 3 4. Jer. 5.1 and Righteousness exalts a Nation Prov. 14.34 the contrary evil is its Reproach Justice saith the Philosopher is all virtue A word to the Reverend Elders much may be done by you Fathers and Brethren that the gracious presence of God may be continued with this People If we be so with God as those that went before us he will be with us as he was with them One Jehojadah of how much use was his Faithfulness to God in the matters of his worship 2 King 12.2 1. Endeavour the like agreement and union in promoving the Truths of the gospel It was promised to gospel times Isai 52.7 8. That those who brought the glad Tydings of the gospel should lift up their voice together and sing together this the Apostle Rom. 10.15 applyes to the Ministers of the Gospel and I believe it had as eminent a fulfilling in those faithful and pretious Elders that were first planters of the Churhes here as ever since the primitive times in exalting together the reign and government of Christ in his Church and though in some Circumstances they differed for in those things is the greatest difference among the godly yet they agreed in the substance and manifested it in that Platform of Discipline which was published as the Judgement of the Ministers of New-England asserting the Authoritative Rule of the Elders with the liberty of the Brethren Though the Judgement of the best should not be looked upon as Scripture Canons nor bind any further then it is found agreeing with the Word of God by which it ought to be tryed yet I think I may safely say that is a clearer Judgement of the mind of God in the Scripture in that matter then can be expected in this next generation I should rather suspect my own Judgement in the Scriptures then theirs about that Case 1. Considering how singularly they were qualified for that discovery Ezek. 43.11 though it is true in improvements of natural light that may be encreased by industry and those that stand upon others shoulders may see further then they did upon whose shoulders they stand but it is not so in spiritual things the further knowledge of which depends upon Revelation Eph. 1.17 and the humble the Lord teacheth Psal 25.9 Rev. 4.1 2 3. In that glorious discovery is Gods glorious inthroning himself in the midst of his Church affording gracious supplyes and protection to them is manifested to John when prepared by an heavenly Extasie which was the Theater in which he did behold it When we find a Company of men more holy humble and diligent then those were something more may be expected 2. They were free from outward Temptations to please men having a people ready to receive what should be made known to them upon their serious searching out the mind of God in his word besides the Conflicts and agitations from abroad to put them upon their fuller examination of it by the word of God and to weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuary 3. We shall not find in Scripture or other Histories of the Church that the next Age after any considerable progress in Reformation did go beyond the first but the contrary Judg. 2.10 there have been gradual declinings till that light hath almost been extinguished then the Lord hath raised a new spirit of Reformation to whom he hath given revealed more of his will further knowledge of his truth Nay we may read of some of the Lords faithfull servants that their first wayes have been the best 2. Chron. 17.3 So with Solomon our Lord Jesus blames the Ephesian Church for forsaking their first love and where love decayes light doth not increase in practical Truths Rev. 2.5 This was New-Englands glory and design they came not hither to assert the prophetical or Priestly office of Christ so much that were so fully owned in Old England but his kingly to bear witness to those truths concerning his visible Kingdome the maintaining of these lyes much with you I am perswaded that the truth concerning the Kingdome of Christ is that word of Christs patience that the Phyladelphian Church is commended for Rev. 3.10 and hath that gracious presence of Christ promised to it that they shall be kept from the hour of temptation coming upon the whole world 1. It is that Christ suffered for John 18.37 This cause was written upon his Cross Chap. 19.19 2. His Kingdome is as yet a Kingdome of Patience therefore the word concerning it must be a word of patience Rev.