Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	let_v	lord_n	spirit_n	4,020	5	4.9859	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68162	Three sermons preached 1. In Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King Iames into blessednesse. 2. In Christs Church, at the trienniall visitation of the right Reuerend Father in God, the Lord Bishop of London. 3. In the chappell by Guildhall, at the solemne election of the Right Honourable the Lord Maior of London. / By Tho: Adams.	Adams, Thomas, fl. 1612-1653.	1625 (1625)	STC 130; ESTC S122193	12,946	28

THE HOLY CHOICE A SERMON PREACHED in the Chappell by GVILDHALL at the Solemnitie of the Election of the Right Honourable the Lord Maior of LONDON BY THO ADAMS LONDON Printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton 1625. THE HOLY CHOICE ACTES 1.24 And they prayed and said Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen THe businesse of the day is an Election an election into one of the most Noble Offices of the Kingdome the gouernment of this Honourable Citie which let not enuie heare it hath no paralell vnder the Sunne The businesse of my Text is an Election too an election into the highest office in the Church to be an Apostle and Witnesse of Iesus Christ If you please to spare the paterne in foure circumstances as 1. This office is spiritual yours temporall 2. This place was voyd by Apostasie or decession yours is supplied by succession 3. This election is by Lots yours is by Suffrages 4. This choice was but one of two it may be your number exceeds the rest will sure well enough and the same God that was in the one be also present in the other by the assistance of his holy spirit The argument of the Text is a prayer to God for his direction in their choice yea indeed that hee would chuse a man for them including a strong reason of such a request because he doth know the hearts of all men They begin with prayer this was the vsuall maner in the Church of God So Moses prayed for the choice of his Successor Num. 27.16 Let the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man ouer the Congregation Christ sent not his Apostles to that holy work Iohn 17.27 without a prayer Sanctifie them through thy truth Actes 6.6 In the chusing of those seuen Deacons they first prayed and then laid their hands vpon them Thus were Kings Inaugurated with Sacrifice and Prayer It is not fit he that is chosen for God should bee chosen without God But for this Samuel himselfe may be mistaken and chuse seuen wrong before hee hit vpon the right In this I cannot but commend your religious care that businesses of so great a consequence be alwayes sanctified with a blessing Those which in a due proportion must represent God to the world ought to be consecrated to that Maiestie which they resemble by publike deuotions Euery important action requires Prayer much more that which concernes a whole citie When Samuel came to Bethlehem to annoynt Dauid he calls the whole Citie to the Sacrifice Indeed the Family of Iesse was sanctified in a more speciall manner this businesse was most theirs and all Israels in them The feare of God should take full possession of all our hearts that are this day assembled but those with whom God hath more to doe then with the rest should bee more holy then the rest The choice of your Wardens and Masters in your seuerall Companies hath a solemne forme and it is the honour of your greatest Feasts that the first dish is a Sermon Charitie forbid that any should think you admit such a Custome rather for conuenience then deuotion as if Preaching were but a necessary complement to a Solemnitie as Wine and Musicke I am perswaded better things of you but if there should be any such peruerse spirits that like the Gouernor of a people called Aequi when the Romans came to him Iussit eos ad quercum dicere bade them speak to the Oake for he had other businesse but they replied Et haec sacrata quercus audiat foedus a vobis violatum let this Oake beare witnesse that you haue broke the league which you haue couenanted So when we come to preach to your soules if you should secretly bid vs speake to the walls loe euen the very walls will be witnesses against you at the last day Though Saul be King ouer Samuel yet Samuel must teach Saul how to bee King Wee may instruct though wee may not rule yea wee must instruct them that shall rule Therefore as wee obey your call in comming to speake so doe you obey Gods command in vouchsafing to heare Let vs apply our selues to him with deuotion and then hee will bee graciously present at our Election This Prayer respects two things Quem the person whom they intreat Quid the matter for which they intreat The Person is described by His Omnipotence Lord. Omniscience That knowest the hearts of men Omnipotence Lord. Wee acknowledge thy right thou art fit to bee thine owne chuser Lord there bee many on earth called Lords but those are Lords of earth and those Lords are earth those Lords must returne to earth This Lord is Almightie raising out of the dust to the honour of Princes and laying the honour of Princes in the dust Lord of what nay not qualified not Lord of such a Countie Barony Seigniorie nor Lord by vertue of Office and Deputation but in abstracte most absolute His Lordship is vniuersall Lord of heauen the owner of those glorious mansions Lord of earth disposer of all Kingdomes and Principalities Lord of hell to locke vp the old Dragon and his crew in the bottomlesse pit Lord of Death to vnlocke the graues hee keepes the Key that shall let all bodies out of their earthy prisons A potent Lord whither shall we goe to get out of his Dominion Psal 139.7 c To heauen there wee cannot misse him To hell there wee cannot bee without him In ayre earth or sea in light or darknesse wee are sure to finde him Whither then except to Purgatory That Terra incognita is not mentioned in his Lordship the Pope may keepe the key of that himselfe But for the rest hee is too sawcie exalting his vniuersal Lordship and hedging in the whole Christian world for his Diocesse Stretching his arme to heauen in rubricking what Saints he list to hell in freeing what prisoners hee list on earth in setting vp or pulling downe what Kings hee list but that some haue 〈◊〉 short his busie fingers To the Lord of all they commend the choyce of his owne seruants Euery mortall Lord hath this power in his owne Family how much more that Lord which makes Lords who is so fit to chuse as he that can chuse the fit Who so fit to chuse as hee that can make those fit whom he doth chuse It is He alone that can giue power and grace to the elected therefore not to be left out in the election How can the Apostle preach or the Magistrate gouerne without him when none of vs all can mooue but in him It is happy when wee doe remit all doubts to his decision and resigne our selues to his disposition Wee must not be our owne Caruers but let Gods choyce be ours When we know his pleasure let vs shew our obedience And for you vpon whom this Election falls remember how you are bound to honour that Lord of heauen