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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	work_n	zealous_a	48	3	8.4198	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40772	The faithfull pastor his sad lamentation over, heart-rending challenge and dreadfull thunders against, sharp reproof of, and seasonnable warning to his apostat-flock. In a letter written by a French minister to those over whom the Holy Ghost had made him an overseer upon their wofull defection, renouncing the faith, and joyning in idolatrous worship. Now carefully translated. Together with a word to mourners in Zion who by grace have kept the faith, to sleepers under the storm, and to the almost Christian; Sad lamentation over, heart-rending challenge and dreadfull thunders against, sharp reproof of, and seasonnable warning to his apostat-flock.		1687 (1687)	Wing F279; ESTC R216409	68,644	59

Master at his return the Child saith he is religion which is like to perish by our debates and devisions hence 16. Let us mourn for our sinfull foolish Church destroying and self destroying divisions which have been both the meritorious and Instrumental cause of so much ruin by these we have provoked God to wrath against us reproacht the truth we profess and made our selves a reproach have played the Adversaries Game have encouraged and strengthned their hands in their attempts against us weakened our own hands and have not pondered what our Lord Warned us of tho so clear in it self Mark. 3. v. 24 25. nor the saying not more common then manifest Divide impera O then Mark them that cause Divisions and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. v. 17 18. and if there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellow ship of the spirit if any bowells and Mercies let nothing be don through strife or vain Glory having the same Love and being of one accord Philip. 2. v. 1 2 3. O how are we engaged to love these Ministers and esteem them highly who are for peace unity moderation charity and love among the faithfull Such Ministers being a blessing to the Church while they live and their Memory precious to posterity the ornament of a meek humble and quiet spirit being in the sight of God and man of a high price and may be called the truly zealous sincere Christian his Crown the character of a Gospel like frame the comfort of the Bretheren and a noble attractive to allure and draw in those who are without 1 Pet. 3. v. 4. Coloss 3. v. 12 13 14 15. O then have no hand in renting and dividing the Church is it not Christs body Ah while the enemy is seeking to destroy it wilt thou cut it in pieces How much so ever of zeal may be pretended for such a work yet we are persuaded from the word of truth that only by pride cometh contention Prov. 13. v. 10. the zealous M. Firmin speaking of the wofull divisions and many sects then abounding in England and the abominable blasphemies vented by these who once seemed to have been most zealous and eminent professors think it not strange saith be to see it so for I knew the most famous and who seemed the most zealous among them and saw the bones of pride shamfully stick out in them all Litle good can be expected from a prond zelot O then while ye are asserting standing in defence of and suffering for the faith study to keep the unity of the spirit the unity of the faith the † Eph. 4. v. 3. unity of the Church in the bond of peace If any would but reflect on Christs legacy and last words to his disciples his farewell Sermon and solemn prayer Joh. 14 v. 27. Joh. 15 v. 12 17. Joh. 17. v. 11 21 23. Or if any would seriously ponder the Apostles most pathetick exhortations and the Arguments whereby he presseth these 1 Cor. 1. v. 10. Eph. 4. v. 33 c. Philip. 2. v. 1 c. Phil. 3. v. 15 16. Rom. 12. v 9 10. 1 Thess 4. v. 9. with many more to that purpose and if any will call to mind the sharp rebukes and checks given to and the dismall characters of separatists and Church dividers with the sad regrate and Lamantations over them 1 Cor. 1. v. 11 c. 1. Cor. 3. v. 31. 1 Cor. 11. v. 18. Gal. 5. v. 20 Jud. v. 19. who I say considering these things could imagine that the tares of division and discord among Bretheren could be sown by any but the envious one and his factors Yet for the further conviction of Schismaticks let us add somewhat more begining with that Gospel like prophecy of Christs Kingdom that under it those who are by nature wild like wolves Lions and boares shall ly down together sweetly feed Isa 11. v. 6 c. did not Zacharias Prophesy of Christ that he should guide our feet in the way of peace Luc. 1. v. 79. 2 is it not a special promise in the Covenant of grace that the Lord will give us one heart and one way Jer. 32. v. 39. Ezek. 11. v. 19. and O what a stumbling block is it to the Jewes that they see not these prophesies and promises fullfilled in those who are called Christians 3 is not Christ the prince of peace Isa 9. v. 6. is not his gospel the Gospel of peace Rom. 10. v. 15. is not peace included in our Christian calling 1 Cor. 7. v. 15. did not Christ die with peace in his lips Joh. 14. v. 27. Joh. 17. v. 21. and after he arose from the dead did he not salute his disciples with the blessing of peace Ioh. 20. v. 19. and did not the Angles at his birth proclaim peace as to so among the saints on earth Luk. 2. v. 4. 4 has he not made love and concord the badge whereby his Genuine followers may beknown and appointed it to be worn as his Levery Joh. 13. v. 35. and hath he not made it a gagge for stoping the mouth of adversaries who are ready blasphemously to say he was not sent of God Joh. 17. v. 21 23. 5 is not the Communion of saints an article of our creed and engraven upon and sealed by the Lords supper which therfor beareth the name of COMMVNION as with Christ our head 1 Cor. 10. v. 16. so among our selves v. 17. 6 how pithily doth the Apostle as at one breath hold forth so many and such strong bonds of peace and for keeping the saints in unity that it might be supposed the Divell the world the pride of mans heart could not be able to burst these asunder Eph. 4. v. 4 5 6. O precious and noble unity and Love which makes us Look like Christs disciples and Christians indeed which is so beautifull and amiable in it self and so sweet and comfortable to those who follow it which is such a noble attractive and loadston to draw in those who are without the strength and ornament of the Church and a terrour to enemies such a noble guard against heresies and errour and as for preventing much mischief from men so many sad judgments and stroaks from God and what shall I say more It is the bend of perfectness above all things to be put on Coloss 3. v. 14. 1 Cor. 13. v. 13 O then wouldst thou see God 7amp wouldst thou have God to bliss thee follow peace and holyness Heb. 12. v. 14. Rom. 12. v. 18. Psa 133. v. 1 3. Psa 34. v. 12 14 and as the Lord from time to time hath visibly blessed his people when they walked together in unity and love so when divisions and contention once entred the Church it proved a forerunner of judgements Gods wrath to break out against his people of sad persecution from adversaries the judgements on tragical ends of

allyance you have made with errour or retire from those places where the temptation is stronger then you can resist How willingly would I then set forth the Comforts which the word of God bestowes on those who have a broken heart What pleasure would I then take to draw refreshment from the fountain of living waters to communicate them to your thirsty souls What contentment would I take to display unto you the promises of grace and speak of the praises of your courage How boldly would I speak of the assistance which he gives to these that fight for his cause How would I triumph in describing the prize of your labour and the delights of eternall rest where your light afflictions should happily bring you I would be transported with a holy joy in representing God unto you Comforting your hearts curing your wounds wiping away your tears satiating you with his presence and crowning you with his glory Give then O People who may yet be if you will the people of God give unto those who have watch'd for your souls the comfort of beholding with joy and glory your Conversion in stead of the shame and sorrow that we are pierced with by your sin I would willingly thus finish all that I have to say to you which is much more pleasant to me then reproaches and threatnings but my duty and the fear of favouring your security by flattering words oblige me to speak to you in other terms Think therefor seriously on your condition Your sleep will be mortall unless you speedily awake the care that is taken to invite you to Repentance will serve only to render you inexcusable They are many witnesses that God can bring together for your conviction and stop your mouth when you shall stand before him in judgment His word so often preached among you will witnesse against the hardness of your hearts which it could not overcome Your Churches twice demolished will witnes against you that you deserved not to enjoy them seing you have kept so ill the pledge of the truth that was there taught you so many Confessors who have forsaken all for Christs sake will accuse you of being unworthie of the name and Livery of Christ for whom you could not have the heart to forsake your goods All the means and occasions you have had of saving your selves from a perverse generation which you have let slip will rise in judgment against you and convince you of preferring the base interests of the world to that of your salvation I who now labour to bring you back must one day be obliged to declare against you that you would not hear my voice and that I had no fruit of my care and Counsells I shall then with regrate at the footstool of the Throne of God discharge the function of an accuser and witness and from a Herald of his grace I shall become a sollicitor of your deserved Condemnation Fear therefore these dreadfull effects of your hardness of heart and tremble at the terrours of God Think how terrible it is to fall into his hands think on the shame of being disown'd by Jesus Christ before his Father and before his Angels not to be Christs not to be known by him to be deprived for ever of his glory Can any thing be more amazing and frightfull Represent to yourselves how he will seperate the sheep from the Goats and think on the sentence which he will pronounce against those who are placed on the left hand of his throne Your business will not be then with a Regiment of Dragoons and Cuirassiers who can only hurt the body for a short time but with immortall executioners who will torment body and soul eternally The Action will not be then about some perishing goods but concerning the inestimable riches of the Kingdom of God the loss whereof can never be repaired Be astonished and tremble at the thought of this judgment and call carnestly to Jesus Christ who can deliver you from this body of sin and habituall corruption and pardon your late grievous transgressions You can neither do nor suffer too much to escape the terrible vengeance of God and the wrath of the Lamb. In fine it is infinitely better to be partakers for a few moments of the reproaches of Christ that you may afterwards partake eternally of the joy of your Lord than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and afterwards to fall for ever into the horrors of the second death I pray that God would reach unto you the arm of his grace to draw you out of the mortall Condition you are in and would establish you in the way of Salvation that you may yet persevere with Jesus Christ in his Temptations and in the end may be partakers with him in his Kingdom and Glory AMEN Nam petest qui pati timet ejus esse qui passus est Tertul. de fuga in persecut Non admittit status fidei allegationem necessitatis delinquendi quibus una est necessitas non delinquendi Tertul. de Cor. militis Nostri ut de viris Taceam pueri mulierculae tortores suos Taciti vincuns expromere tllis gemitum nec ignis potest Lactant. Div. Instit lib. 5. c. 13. Ego non habeo alind Contra Papae regnum robustius argumentuns quam quod sine cruce regnat sed tandem cadet Babylon magna Rev. 18. vers 2. Luth. Tom. 2. Pag. 323. A WORD To MOURNERS IN ZION To SLEEPERS UNDER THE STORM And to the almost CHRISTIAN With directions to one and other IS it nothing to yow all ye that passe by behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow in this day of the Lords fierce anger against and heavy hand upon me may the Church now say with captive mourning Zion Lam. 1. v. 12. But whatever those do who have no Interest in Zion if her sons and daughters have no bowells of sympathy they must be spurious and but titular Children yea wo to him who ever he be who is not touched and grieved for the affliction of Joseph Am. 6. v. 1 seqq the evil day he puts far away is coming like an armed man to fall upon him and what will he do in that day to whom will he flee for help Isa 10 v. 13 Rev. 6. v. 15 c. Such shall mourn and mourn eternally when the Mourners in Zion shal be comforted yet among those who would be accounted Mourners there is so great a difference that many O if not the most part deserve not that name and honor Ah how many mourners are there in Zion who mourn not for Zion their reputation place estate ease liberty being in such hazard if they not already abridged or robbed of these they may with them Hos 7 v. 14. mourn cry and howl for such things yet not cry unto the Lord with their heart and for Zion yea they may add fasting to their mourning and crying yea set and monthly fasting the Pharisee

that Idol mistaken miscalled Satan serving God dishonouring self destroying SELF keeping still such Court in the heart tho in part renewed and having such power and credit with us while in this state may readily be Intertained and insinuat it self where it is least suspected in our professions religious perfirmances humiliations sufferings for and labours in the Gospel yea and with our Zeale unless we be very humble watchfull circumspect and that dead flie in the apotchecaries oyntment will make it stink what we do for self will not be reckoned as service done to Christ Matt. 16. v. 24. Gal. 6. v. 7 8. hence 9. Be much at home and at the work of self examination be not strangers where ye ought to converse most and with what ye should be best acquainted O Be diligent students in the book of your own hearts and Consciences search after and diligently examine What have been and are your works and way and whatever Business you may slight or neglect forget not seriously to try and examine whether ye be in the faith or not to Commune much with your own hearts bringing your hopes and expectations your profession and persuasion your works walk and way to the touchston of the sancturay the word of God. Psa 4. v. 4. Psal 77. v. 6. 2 Cor. 13. v. 5. 10. Be Nathaniels Christians Indeed abhorring Hypocrisie as the bane of the Cristian profession seek not a name but to get the new name Rev. 2. v. 17. and to have the name of God engraven on thy holy Conversation Rev. 3. v. 12. do not perform religious duties with sound of trumpet Mat. 6. v. 5 17 c. Say not pulchrum est digito monstrari ac dicier hic est Put not on more sail then ye have ballast and set not up a sign at the door for what is not within let not the wind of applause fill the sails if your Course be heaven ward the less dinne and noise ye make your profession will be judged the more fincere and since so many are ready to mock at Religion because of the Hypocrisy of some empty professors with what care should we abstain from all appearance therof that none have occasion to laugh at us for a piping voice affected tone a sullen and austere countenance Artificiall sighs and groans Oh that in such a day so many should desire rather to appear then be and rather to shine then have light O let your sincerity appeare as in your zeal for Gods worship and truth so in your upright and righteous dealing with men and in your civil courteous Kind carriage to wards them I would * Farevvell Serm. p. 157. saith Mr. Watson try a morall man by the duties of the first table and I would try a Professor by the duties of the second table O study to answer your relation and conscientiously to discharge your Relative duties these being the touchston of our sincerity who will account him an honest Christian who is not a good husband parent Child servant neighbour who is not upright in his dealing faithfull in his promises and sincere in his Professions O let none have occasion to say he met with a cheat while he had to do with one who had a name in the Church Joh. 1. v. 47. Rom. 2. v. 21 28 29. 1 Cor. 8. v. 5. hence 11. Beware of a haughty heart and supercilious carriage and doe not exercise thy self in great matters and in things too high for thee above thy reach and without thy Sphere Psa 131. v. 1 2. stretch not your self beyond your line and leap not over the hedge lest a serpent bite you zeale is precious it is a heavenly spark but fire not kept within the chimney may consume the house when we medle with things without our reach and play the Bishops as the word 1 Pet. 4. v. 15. importeth in another mans Diocess as we act without Gods warrant so without his blessing and may fear his hand Ah from whence doth all mischief and confusion Come but from mens pride driving them beyond their line and to act without their Sphere and O what a quiet world should we have † Christ arm part 2. Chap. 2. saith Mr. Gurnal if every thing and person knew and kept its own place and O if they and how many such are there who are guilty herein would ponder what he further writeth concerning such turbulent medlers what thou doest without a call cannot sayeth he be don in faith 2. when thou thus actest thou putest thy self out under Gods protection 3. thou canst have no comfort in suffering for what thou doest without thy Masters call and warrant 4. such as dare go without their Sphere know not by what spirit they are led it must be an erratique spirit that carrieth us out of our place 5. men would consider from what principle their irregular and eccentricall motions must flow viz. 1 Pride 2 discontent with their condition 3. unbelief supposing that God did stand in need of their sinfull and unruly motions to carry on his work 4. blind and misinformed zeale Ah if the eccentricall motions of the time were rightly analized I fear it might be found that much of that which is fathered upon faith and trusting in God and zeal for his glory would be resolved in unbelief impatience carnall policy and self ends 12. Prize and esteem persons and things according to their relation to Christ 1 Cor 2. v. 2. Coloss 3. v. 11. 1. as to persons love for Christ and with BVCER all in whom ye see any thing of Christ tho they be not of your persuasion as to matters controverted among the faithfull 1 Cor. 13 v. 2. and make conscience of these duties towards the Bretheren to which this love doth engage thee v. 4.5 art thou persecuted take heed thou doe not persecute and wound by thy tongue these who are persecuted for Christ Wo to them who add affliction to them who are afflicted for his name by their Censorious and uncharitable speeches and by a tongue set on fire of hell tho under a pretence of zeal for heaven 2. as to things prize his word and prize and own his truth while so many now are ashamed of him and it Buy his truth but sell it not ye know not its worth Prov. 23. v. 23. if ye sell ye will loose on the bargain and repent of your folly chuse suffering rather then sin and to endure hard things rather then to part with this precious pearle but tho ye should prize every truth and make Conscience of every duty on which ye see Christs signet yet Lay out your zeal mainly for what is of most concernment tho ye must not disown or deny any truth yet ye should mainly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints Jud. v. 3. and tho we must not abandon any duty yet we must not with Hypocriticall Pharisees prefer duties of less concernment Matt. 23. v. 23. Be not

Iren. advers Haeres lib. 4. c. 62. Irenaeus Whatever good be pretended to Come by SCHISM it cannot counterballance the evil of SCHISM which saith (f) Apud Gratian. caus 24. quest 3. c. Inter. Jerome cannot long continue without Heresy and (a) Optat. de Schis Donatist lib. 1. Optatus Milevitanus is not affraid to say that Schism is the chief of evils and judicious (b) Ames de Conscient cas lib. 5. c. 12. D. Ames durst call it Peccatum Gravissimum a most grievous sin but Optatus goes on telling us that it is a greater sin then Homicid or Idolatry and (c) August de Baptis contra donat lib. 1. c. 8. Austin comes not short of him while he saith having his eye as I suppose on what our Lord saith to Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23. v. 15. if any be converted by Schismaticks from Idolatry and infidelity they are not gained but desperatly hurt by the wound of Schism and Denis of Alexandria in his Epistle to the famous Church divider NOVATVS (d) Apud Euseb hist Eccl. lib. 5. cap. ult speaketh to the same purpose thou shouldst saith he rather have suffered any thing then suffered the Church to be divided it is a glorious nay I count it a more glorious Martyrdom that the Church may not be divided then to be kept from sacrificing to an Idol not as if these judicious fathers would compare Schism with Idolatry and infidelity as to the immediat object or ultimat end as if the glory of God were as directly and immediatly concerned in Schism as in Idolatry but they considered the consequents and good of the Church because as Denis tells us a multitude is concerned in the michief from Schism they lookt upon it as so pernicious an evil and thus (e) 2. 2 Quest 39. Art. 2. Aquinas doubted not to affirm that no sin against the second table was so great as Schism and that in some respect it was greater then the sin of infidells and if we would (f) Ibid. quaest 37. art 2. quaest 37. art 2. consult that Author we will find its geneologie and parentage as also its daughters and ofspring to be very dishonourable As for the properties of Schismaticks and separatists the Apostle tells us that 1. they are carnall and walk as men not as saints 1 Cor. 3. v. 3. 2. that they are deceitfull creeping in to houses and by good words and fair speeches seek to deceive the hearts of the simple 2 Tim. 3. v 6. 3 that they have a form of godliness but deny the power of it and are such as should be avoided and marked ibid. v. 5. and Rom. 26 v. 17 18. 4. that whatever they pretend yet they are sensuall not having the spirit and cannot in that mischievous work serve the Lord Jesus tho saith (g) Par. in Rom. 16. v. 17. D. Pareus divisions may be in the Church yet they are the Divels work We may not stay to discover those divisive principles ye must disclaim these divisive passions and affections ye must abandon and those divisive practises ye ought to guard against and beware of but for a discovery of these with their proper remedies let me remit you to M. Burroughs his golden IRENICVM but O if Schismaticks would but consider that the Lord accounteth the injury don to his Church as offered to himself that they who touch it touch the apple of his ey now if the touch be so smarting as thus to cut rend and divide how must he be concerned we have not saith the Apostle Heb. 4. v. 15. an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our sores and infirmities how neerly then must he be touched with such a wound as thus teareth and divideth his body is not the Church his body Eph. 1. v. 23. and are not we Members thereof and of his flesh and bones Eph. 5. v. 30. will he not then reckon Schismaticks amongst the piercers of his body and esteem the violence thus offered to the Church as if to himself and Ah must he not have the heart of a tiger who in a day of such distress dare thus wound the afflicted and can he call himself a friend who while enemies are seeking to destroy it dare divide rent and cut it in pieces Schism being as * Par. in 1 Cor. 11. v. 18. D. Pareus speaketh as great a destruction to the Church as the cutting of the hands or feet or the dividing of the head in two is to the body Now let us shut up this direction with the words of great Austin to whom † Aug. de Baptis contra donat lib. 2. c. 5. saith he will God reveale his truth but to those who walk in the way of peace O remember we are men and to mistake and erre is a tentation common to men but to love our own judgment so as to break the unity of the Church in pressing it is devilish presumption to erre in nothing is the Angels perfection and wanting the perfection of Angels let us not run upon the presumption of Devils hence 17. Let us not be easily provoked nor think evil of our Bretheren because they differ from us in some points far removed from the foundation having no direct influence on holyness and perhaps not so clearly revealed which may be are among the more sober and judicious amicably debated according to the analogy of faith for while we know but in part and see but through a glass Darkly it is not supposable but there will be different apprehensions and judgments concerning such matters and questions in order to which the exhortation hath place and when will we be so wise and selfdenied as to hearken to it hast thou faith have to thy self befor God. Rom. 14. v. 22. and is not the rule clear Philip. 3. v. 15 16. Wherto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule and if in other things there be diversity of sentiments let us forbear one another till God reveale his mind to us Concerning these Ah there being a sweet harmony and unity in the faith will we not come or continue under the bond of peace and with all lowliness and meekness forbear one another in love Eph. 4. v 2 3. Oh who reflecting on the seven divine cords and bonds of love and unity held forth in the 4 5 6. following verses could imagine that a saint indeed could cast these of hence 18. Let me obtest you not to mistake nor put a wrong gloss on the Commands to seperat Come out from among to have no fellowship with yea not to eat or drink with such and such sinfull persons 2 Cor. 6. v. 15 17. 1 Thess 3. v. 14. 1 Gor. 5. v. 11 c. else you may cast your selves into a Labyrinth of intolerable miscarriages errours and inconveniences and be tempted to cast of these bonds the light of nature morality and reason have laid on and may