Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	feed_v	peter_n	sheep_n	4,057	5	9.4959	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89499	Englands spirituall languishing; with the causes and cure: discovered in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, on their solemn day of fast, at Margarets Westminster, June 28. 1648. / By Thomas Manton, minister of Stoke-Newington.	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1648 (1648)	Wing M523; Thomason E450_4	33,495	42

will beget but painted grace when we come in the demonstration of the Spirit we come in power 1 Cor. 2.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with plain and solid conviction this is the sinne this the curse and misery When the thread of the Gospel is so fine spun 't will not cloath a naked soule notion eateth out all saving knowledge the Apostle speaks of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6.20 oppositions of science falsly so called by which they thought to better the Gospel but did indeed debase it such niceties enervate godlinesse make it weak and less in power we must take heed then of debasing this Ordinance to an effeminate delicacy it should still be masculine and generous full of Spirit and power from on high I would not bee mistaken as if I did plead for a lazy carelesnesse in managing the Word I know that God concurreth with mans diligence and if wee would not have the people loath the Word wee should painfully provide it for them every Scribe that is instructed for the Kingdome of God that is that would doe service in the Church of God must bring forth out of his treasuries things both new and old Matth. 13.52 that is although not new truths yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 old Truths in a new way otherwise represented to the imagination or fancy to take of that taedium or naturall satiety that is in us that wee may not loath them as Coleworts twice sod but that truths may still have a fresh look upon the conscience and affections This may be done but wee must take heed of ungrounded niceties subtle notions that beget onely speculation and doe not stirre up to practice An undue preaching of the Gospel poyson conveyed in so sweet a wine maketh the cup the more deadly by this means Religion it selfe is made to bee of sins side and the grace of God plyable to carnall conclusions and indeed when the truths of God that should convince of sinne are debauched to so vile a purpose as to countenance sinne men can the better overcome remorse of conscience and doe sinne with the lesse regret out of a presumption that the Gospel is of their side Jude Vers 3. They turne the grace of our God into wantonnesse they debauch the grace of God that is the Doctrine of grace make that yeeld countenance to their lusts and so men father their Bastards upon the Spirit and sinne cum privilegin by a licence from heaven When those that should have been Prophets cryed peace peace see what Jeremy saith Jer. 4.10 Ah Lord God surely thou hast greatly deceived this people in saying they shall have peace 'T was done in Gods name by the false Prophets and they were as secure as if God himselfe had said so Wee would willingly have the Gospel over Gospeld and hear in the eare of liberty therefore I am perswaded there is no one thing hath hindered the power of godlinesse care of duty humbling of soules so much as this undue preaching of the Gospel Publicke liberty and connivence that maketh sin more common and so lesse odious outward restraints keep men that are evill from discovering of it and though it bee the priviledge of divine precepts to convert the soule Psal 19.7 yet the commands and authority of men may much hinder the diffusion and dissemination of sin and errour 't is good to observe the severall guards that God hath put upon a man to keep him from sinne so prone are wee to it there are inward guards Spirit Word and Conscience there are outward guards the Ministery the Church and the Magistrate all which are as in his stead to bee an awe to sinners more especially it is said of the Magistrate that hee is the Minister of God to bee a terrour to evill doers Rom. 13.3 4. Now when their sword is sheathed up and nothing is setled wicked men lose all awe and restraint and doe what is right in their own eyes Judges 21.25 as 't is said there they did when there was no King in Israel that is no exercise of Government to restrain publicke disorders for as yet their Government was not Monarchicall then all goeth to wrack iniquity groweth impudent and Religion is borne downe Solomon saith Prov. 20.8 A King that sitteth upon the throne of judgment scattereth away all evill with his eyes that is when Magistrates imploy and draw out their power they scatter evill as the Sun scattereth mists Another cause may bee want of Catechising by which means truths would be more revived and kept fresh and savory in the thoughts and so have the more awe upon us Martyrology and Catechising were two of the most successefull engines against Popery Truths worke most when we discerne that Cognation and kin by which they touch and respect one another indistinct knowledge doth but dispose to error or loosenesse Sermon hints an hint here and an hint there doth not so much good for men of weaker conceits cannot so easily discerne how one truth is inferred from another and what analogy and proportion there is between them and so are easily overcome by more subtile and stronger wits or else not discerning that faire complyance that is between practical and comfortable truths grow loose certainly Religion would be more propagated if this exercise were revived We are debtors to wise and unwise Rom. 1.14 and Christ that bade Peter feed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his sheep bade him also feed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his lambes John 21.15 16. For want of this pattern of sound words and these condescensions to weake ones by this exercise many mischiefs have abounded amongst us to the great dammage of Religion and godlinesse These are part of the causes others might bee mentioned but I shall forbeare you will say then What remedy therefore I shall proceed to the next thing which is to shew you What we should doe to strengthen the things that are ready to die or to repaire decayed godlinesse give mee leave to speake a word To all in generall as we are Christians severall things are necessary let me point at a few Oh that we would all joyn together quasi manu factá 't is Tertullians word in an holy conspiracy to befiege heaven by prayers untill more Spirit and life be powred out and in greater abundance God hath said Acts 2.15 that he will powre out his Spirit upon all flesh oh beg it for England goe to him that hath the seven Spirits to look upon another dead Sardis God must offer violence to us ere we can offer violence to the Kingdom 't is the mighty quickning Spirit that must revive us in our languishings that which carrieth the soule to God must come from God waters can arise no higher then their spring Religion is like the pure Vestall flame which if it went out was to be kindled only by a sun-beam oh then let us goe and wait before God for those seven Spirits those mighty and quickning operaions