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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	feed_v	flock_n	shepherd_n	3,009	5	10.4867	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95869	Christ and the Church: or Parallels, in three books. In the first ye have the harmony between Christ and the foregoing types, by which he was fore-shadowed in the Old Testament, both persons and things. In the second the agreement between Christ and other things, to which he is compared in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. In the third the agreement between the Church and the types, by which it was foreshadowed in the Old Testament; and other resemblances, by which it is set forth in the holy Scriptures. By Henry Vertue, M.A. rector of Alhallows Hony-lane.	Vertue, Henry, d. 1660.	1659 (1659)	Wing V274; Thomason E975_1; ESTC R203902	335,049	439

in the fiery Furnace Daniel in the Lions den Paul and Silas in the inner prison he knew the Israelites in Aegypt the Jewes in Babylon 2. The Shepherd is careful in feeding and pasturing his sheep he leads them not out to rotten grounds that may bane them but into good and wholesome pastures on which they may thrive Such care hath Christ for his people his sheep he feeds their bodies with material food Exod. 16.4 See how he fed Israel in the Wildernesse because they wanted means of Tillage he fed them with Manna from Heaven Exod. 17.6 and because it was a dry Wildernesse he gave them water out of the Rock See how he fed Eliah 1 King 17.6 when he was fain to fly from Ahab and Jezabel the Ravens bring food to him and the brook Cherith furnisheth him with drink Vers 9. and when the waters of the Brook failed he sends him to the widow of Sarepta Vers 16. the meal of whose barrel and the oyl in her cruse he lengthens out that it might suffice for the support of the Prophet the Widow and her Son till he sent rain on the earth 1 King 19.5 6. Afterwards he made the Angels his Purveyors to provide food for him And so still he provides food for us yea for all creatures These all wait upon thee Psal 145.15 saies the Psalmist and thou givest them their meat in due season Much more will Christ provide food for his people see the promise Psal 33.18 19 The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him to keep them alive in famine So he feeds their soules with spiritual food Word and Sacraments and his flesh and blood in both 3. The Shepherd knowing the straying nature of his sheep is the more careful and watchful over them to keep them together Hear what Jacob said of himself Thus I was in the day the drought consumed me Gen. 31.40 and the frost by night and my sleep departed from my eyes And so it is said of those Shepherds Luk. 2.8 that they watched their flocks by night Such is the care that Christ hath for his sheep his people to keep them from going astray hence it is that he gives such frequent warnings against those sins and errors by which they are in danger to miscarry such as that of the wise man My Son Prov. 1.10 Matth. 7.15 if sinners entise thee consent thou not and that of our Saviour Beware of false teachers which come to you in sheeps-cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves Matth. 23.2.3 And that what they the Scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses seat bid you observe that observe and do but do ye not after their works for they say and do not Matth. 24.4 And that Take heed that no man deceive you And that of Saint Paul Rom. 16.17 Mark them that cause divisions among you and avoid them And that Beware least any man spoil you through Philosophy Col 2.8 1 Thes 5.21 1 Joh. 4.1 and vain deceit c. And that Try all things and hold fast that which is good And that of Saint John Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or not All these warnings shew Christs care over his sheep to keep them from going astray 4. The shepherd is careful to defend his sheep against the incursions of Wolves and other enemies hear what David saies of himself to Saul Thy servant kept his fathers sheep 1 Sam. 19.34 35. and there came a Lion and a Bear and took a Lamb out of the flock And I went out after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth That of Saint Austin which he indeed turns to another purpose is apt to this purpose The Wolf comes to the sheepfold he seekes to seize on some sheep Venit lupus ad ovile ovium quaerit invadere jugulare devorare vigilant pastores latrant canes nil poterit non aufert non occidit To. 10. de Verb. Apost ser 19. to kill to devour it but the shepherds are watching and the dogs are barking and now the Wolf can do nothing he takes not away he kills not Such care hath Christ for his sheep for his people he watches over them to defend them against all enemies bodily and Ghostly Psal 121.3 1 He that keepeth thee will not slumber Behold he that keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep 5. The shepherd if any of his sheep be weak and tender how tenderly doth he care for them and so for the young Lambs so Christ for his people Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs with his arm saies the Prophet and carry them in his bosome and gently lead those that are with young The poor younglings he will tenderly relieve and support them So was it Prophesied of him Isa 42.3 The bruised reed he will not break nor quench the smoaking flax It s a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a diminutive speech much more is intended then is exprest He will not break he will not quench that is he will encourage weak beginnings he will foster and nourish them and carry them on to higher degrees till the bruised reed growes strong Matth. 12.20 till the smoaking flax breaks out into a flame And this is by the Evangelist applyed to our Saviour 6. The Shepherd if any of his sheep go astray takes course to bring them home again he uses his whistle he sends out his dog Such care hath Christ for his straying sheep He calls to them in the ministry of his word as to the Israelites Jer. 3.1 Vers 22. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return to me and Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal all your back-slidings And he makes use of afflictions as his dogs with which he hunts his straying sheep to the flock Thus when Israel said I will go after my lovers Hos 2.5 Vers 6 Vers 7. Hos 5.15 God threatens to hedge up her way with thornes c. till she should say I will return to my first husband And so he saies I will go and return to my place until they acknowledge their offences and seek my face in their afflictions they will seek me early And so it followed Come said they Hos 6.1 let us return to the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will binde us up And so David speaks in his own experience Psal 119 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word 7. If any one sheep be missing and lost how doth the Shepherd Luk. 15.4 5 6 leaving the flock seek after the lost sheep till he finds it and having found it how doth he bring it home on his shoulder rejoycing how doth he invite his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him So is Christ affected in this respect and this he

primum coelesti doctrina h. e. curent recte doceri Ecclesiam prohibeant id●lolatriam superstitiosos cultus extirpent errores in Ecclesia compescant blasphemos conferant opes ad conservationem Ministerii studiorum necessariorū Deinde curent etiam subditorum corpora prospiciant ipsis de victu dent operam ut in pace exercere operas parare victum possint Non deglubant oves h. e. non exhauriant eorum facultates injustis exactionibus non moveant bella non necessaria quibus Respublicae turbentur civium corpora facultates in discrimen adducantur ipsi vero suum corpus vitam pro salute populi in discrimen adducant pellant lupos h. e. tyrannos grassatores latrones injustos quaestores à suo grege denique omnia agant quae ad incolumitatem subditorum pertinent In Psalm 78.71 72. that is let them take care that the Church may be taught aright let them forbid Idolatry superstitious Worships let them root out Errors in the Church and bridle Blasphemers let them bestow their riches for the conservation of the Ministry and of necessary studies Further let them take care for the Bodies of their Subjects let them provide for their food let them endeavor that they may in peace follow their Callings and so provide for themselves Let them not flea their sheep that is let them not exhaust the Estates of their Subjects by unjust exactions let them not unnecessarily wage Wars by which the Commonwealth may be disturbed and the Bodies and Estates of their Subjects may be hazarded but let them rather venture their own Lives for the Safety of their Subjects Let them drive Wolves that is Tyrants Thieves Robbers and unjust Exactors from the Flock finally let them do all things that may conduce to the Safety of their Subjects 2. The Ministers and Preachers of the Word are also called Shepherds in the Old Testament Wo to the Pastors Jer. 23.1 says the Prophet And again Thus says the Lord against the Pastors that feed this people Verse 2 4. And again I will set up Shepherds that shall feed them And again Son of man Ezek. 34.2 prophesie against the Shepherds of Israel and say Thus says the Lord to the Shepherds Wo to the Shepherds of Israel c. In all which places it is manifest That the persons so stiled were the Prophets of Israel And so in the New Testament Eph. 4.11 Pastors and Teachers where it is manifest That Teachers are called Pastors or Shepherds the first word being Metaphorical the second word the plain English And since these are called Shepherds let them imitate the care of this great Shepherd 1. Labor to know your Flock and the state of it Prov. 27.23 Be thou diligent says the Wise man to know the state of thy flock Upon which place Cartwright observes That we are not too much to trust Servants Non nimium servis credendum esse nec omnia illorum fidei esse committenda siquidem oculus Domini saginat equum c. In loc nor to commit all to their trust for the Masters eye makes the Horse fat But then arguing from the less to the greater he infers If so great care is to be had of brute creatures that Quod si tanta brutorum cura habenda sit ut ad eorum conservationem tutum non sit in aliena cura acquiescere quanto magis cavendum est iis qui ovibus Christi praeficiuntur ne vicaria tantum in illis pascendis utantur opera Ibid. to the conservation of them it is not safe to rest in the care of others how much more must they that are set over the sheep of Christ be wary not onely to use the help of Substitutes in the feeding of them but to minde the business themselves But yet to the end that Preachers of the Word may know the estate of their flock the sheep of Christ that is Christians must contribute their care namely to submit to their publique Ministry and to admit private conversation with them for how else shall your Pastors know you 2. Be careful to feed the sheep of Christ committed to your care with sound Doctrine and wholesom Example 1 Pet. 5.2 Ezek. 34 2 Feed the flock of Christ says Saint Peter which is among you Should not the Shepherds feed the flocks says the Prophet And lest in stead of feeding ye poyson them follow the advice that Saint Paul gives to Timothy Take heed to thy self 1 Tim 4 16 and to thy Doctrine 3. Watch over them to keep them from going astray observe where they lie most open to danger of going astray and give your selves especially to take care for them to fence them against it admonish them especially of those sins and errors to which ye may observe them to be especially inclinable 4. Be tender over the weak and young ones See we how careful Saint John was as of them whom he calls Fathers and young men 1 Joh. 2.12 13 so even of them whom he calls little Children writing as to the one of them so to the other Hear we our Saviour giving charge to Saint Peter and so to all the Apostles and in them to all Pastors in the several Times of the Church as to feed the Sheep John 21.15 16 17 so in special to feed the Lambs Cast not off weak Christians because they are weak but tender them the more They are of themselves most prone to miscarry therefore be the more tenderly careful of them lest they should miscarry Satan and his under-agents are ready to take advantage of their weakness the more eagerly to assail them as having the more hope to prevail against them therefore be the more tenderly solicitous for them to keep them from becoming a prey to these Enemies 5. If any of them be gone astray seek to reduce and reclaim them If Satan by his under-agents have made a prey of any of them leave them not in their hands but by all means seek to get them out of their clutches 1 Sam 17.34 33 as David did for his Fathers sheep so do ye much more how else shall we answer it to God 6. Having been so far blessed of God in our endeavors in this kinde as that we have been made happy Instruments for the bringing back of any stray sheep let us rejoyce in the return of any of them and bless the Name of our good God by whose good hand upon us we have had such success V. Let us all answer Christs care for us let it not be in vain to us He feeds us especially our Souls by his Word and Sacraments let us make use of it use these Ordinances in the season of them He seeks to keep us from going astray let us take the benefit of his admonitions to take heed of those fins of the danger of which he puts us in minde Being gone astray he seeks to

shewes in the Parable of the Prodigal When he came to his Father how lovingly was he received Luk. 15.20 for when he was yet afarre off his Father saw him Vers 22. and had compassion on him and fell on his neck and kissed him he said also to his servant bring the best Robe and put it on him Vers 23. and a Ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted Calf and kill it what joy was there at his entertainment Vers 25. for there was musick and dancing And the Elder Brother at his coming from the field was offended at this we see how the Father justified this his rejoycing Vers 32. It was meet saies he that we should make merry and be glad for this thy brother was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found Most apt therefore is this resemblance of Christ to a Shepherd Hence we may learn divers things I. See here the safe and secure estate of all godly Christians having Christ to be their Shepherd who is so tender and watchful over them for now they cannot possibly miscarry as Saint Hierome speakes excellently Sape vexatur Ecclesia nunquam tamen potest sustinere naufragium To. 1. lib. de Solomone The Church saies he is oftentimes vexed and disquieted but it can never suffer shipwrack II. See here the folly and wickedness of all the Enemies of godly Christians In vain yea wicked are all their endeavors against them ye seek to hurt them whose protection God hath undertaken as the Shepherd of the Sheep and how can this be but vain how can it be but sinful It 's good admonition that Saint Chrysostom gives in this kinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. O homo dirimito bellum ne tuum ipsius dissolvas robur ne bellum inferas coelo Hominem si oppugnas utique aut viceris aut ipse vinceris Si Ecclesiam oppugnas scito te arte nulla victoriam de ea reportaturum Omnibus in immensum fortior est Deum To. 4. Serm. antequam iret in exilium O man says he do thou break off this War lest thou weaken thy self wage not War against Heaven If thou dost oppose a man either thou shalt overcome or thou thy self shalt be overcome But if thou dost oppose the Church know thou that thou shalt not by all thy skill obtain the Victory over it for God is infinitely stronger then all Remember that speech of Christ It 's hard for thee to kick against the pricks Acts 9.4 It 's most true that Saint Chrysostom says upon these words By kicking against the pricks thou dost not blunt the pricks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Serm. praed but drawest blood from thy own feet Take warning therefore to desist from such hostility who would labor in vain but this is also for hurt Evil counsel entered into is worst to the Counseller 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man can wrong the godly but he wrongs himself first They that hate the righteous shall be desolate says the Psalmist Psalm 34.21 And again The wicked hath drawn out his sword Psal 37.14 15 to slay such as are of upright Conversation but their sword shall enter into their own hearts III. Let the godly see what Comfort belongs to them in this respect 1. Against the fear of want why should we fear it having such a Shepherd He is able to provide for us Heb. 1.2 for He is made the Heir of all things and if the good Shepherd hath a care for the pasturing of his sheep Christ cannot be wanting herein to his sheep There is therefore nothing to hinder but that we may comfortably conclude with David Psalm 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 2. Against the fear of Enemies bodily or ghostly Fear them not see what a Shepherd ye have the Lord Jesus Christ your Enemies are strong yet their power is but finite but Christ is infinite in strength what can they do against you whose protection he hath undertaken Well may you comfort your selves against all visible Enemies as King Hezekiah comforted his Subjects 2 Chro. 32.7 8 There are more with us then with them with them is an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us As for your ghostly Enemies they are spirits whereas ye are but flesh and blood and therefore they are much more then your match but be of good chear He that is your Shepherd is God as well as Man even the creating Spirit whereas they are but created spirits and what shall the Creature be able to do against the Creator and we have assurance given us by the Apostle Rom. 16.20 That this our Shepherd the God of Peace shall trample Satan under our feet Our Enemies of all kindes are watchful against us seeking all opportunities to do us a mischief but Christ our great Shepherd Psalm 121 is infinitely more watchful He neither slumbereth nor sleepeth Our Enemies are great Politicians but is not our Shepherd great in Counsel and his Wisdom incomprehensible be not then afraid of any Enemies having such a Shepherd How justly may we conceive that we hear our Saviour speaking to us in those words Isai 51.12 13 I even I am he that comforts you who art thou that thou should be afraid of a man c. and of a Son of man c. yea of any creature and forgettest the Lord thy Maker and thy Shepherd 3. Against your weaknesses and infirmities Ye are subject to go astray but ye have a careful Shepherd who will not fail to seek you not giving over till he findes you and hath brought you home to the Fold Ye are weak and infirm but think not that this your Shepherd will in this respect remit his care for you nay he will the more tender you and strengthen that which is weak in you IV. Let all those to whom in Scripture the name of Shepherd is given learn to exercise care and providence towards and over them who as sheep are committed to their trust 1. Magistrates in the Commonwealth These are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Homer calls them Shepherds of the people Iliad α. and so when God set David to rule Israel Psalm 78.71 Verse 71 it is thus express'd He brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance And so it 's added So he fed them that is so he ruled them So that Magistrates set over people are as Shepherds set over a flock of sheep Let them therefore be exhorted to take care for the people put under their charge as the Shepherds for their sheep and that both their Souls and Bodies Mollerus doth well set it forth both in respect of their Souls and in respect of their Bodies Let Kings and Princes feed their Subjects first with Heavenly Doctrine Pascant Reges Principes suos subditos