Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	charity_n	faith_n	justification_n	4,801	5	9.5998	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85763	Loves entercours between the Lamb & his bride, Christ and his Church. Or, A clear explication and application of the Song of Solomon. By William Guild, D.D. and preacher of God's Word.	Guild, William, 1586-1657.	1657 (1657)	Wing G2206; Thomason E1583_3	233,317	296

to another for their mutuall help strength or establishment most willingly and readily they ought to performe 5. Whereas she sayes What shall we do we see that it is not enough onely to wish good to the faithfull or as James sayes to show our charity onely by words Jam. 2. 16. but as the Psalmist sayes to the Lord Do good unto Sion Psal 51. 18. even so we should do good to the faithfull and both our faith and charity should be seene by works for as the body sayes the Apostle without the spirit is dead even so is faith which is without works 6. She sayes What shall we do for her in the day that she shal be wooed or spoken for whereby we see what the preaching of the Gospell is to wit even like Abrahams message by the steward of his house concerning a wife to his sonne Isaac even a wooing of a spouse and preparing her for Christ And therefore 1. When ever we heare Gods word we should consider what is intended therein and accordingly attend thereto and count it our greatest happiness if it produce this effect upon us as to woe and winne us to Christ And. 2. This should be the scope of all faithfull pastors not to woe people or wed them to themselves by gaining their applause or seeking their own estimation but to woe and wed them to Christ as was the Apostles practice and of all true pastors 2 Cor. 11. 2. Qui non quae sua sed quae Christi quaerebant aliis que planctum non sibi plausum movebant 7. It is said in like manner In the day that she shal be spoken for to show us thereby that there is a day that the Lord has appointed for the conversion of such as belong to him as we see in the parable of those who were called to the vineyard at severall houres Matth. 20. And in the conversion of the thief upon the crosse and of Paul when he was a persecutor wherefore we should neither despair of the conversion of any though a most wicked Manasseth or an Idolatrous heathen see Ezek. 16. as all the Gentiles were yea Abraham himself before his calling out of Vr of the Chaldeans for we know not the day when they may be woed and wonne unto Christ Neither should we our selves let such a precious and happy day passe when it comes unmade use of the same lest if we do so as we see Pro. 1. 28. and in the example of the foolish virgins a day of distresse and destruction come upon us wherein though we call and knock he heare us not nor make us no answer 8. Last of all seeing the Church of the Jewes had this care and love to her little sister the Church of the Gentiles and that by the Ministry of the holy Apostles who were Jewes by nation the Gospell of grace was convoyed to her It is our part now to be as loving and carefull for our elder sister and as earnest with the Lord in her behalf for her conversion and inbringing who was the naturall olive and cut off by her unbelief onely for our behoof as she was for us when vve vvere vvithout and aliens to the Common-wealth of Israel Vers 9. If she be a wall we will build upon her a palace of silver and if she be a dore we will inclose her with boords of Cedar Followes here Christs answer and resolution to the former question saying If she be a wall that is vvell grounded on that foundation mentioned Ephes 2. 20. of the prophets and Apostles and described also Rev. 21. 14. And be built up or edified in the truth of salvation as we see Eph. 4. 12. we that is Christ inwardly and effectually by his grace and her sister Church of the Jewes outwardly and Ministerially by the vvord will build upon her a palace of silver that is we vvill further and promove in knowledge and grace and in the grouth thereof that so she may be a fit and glorious habitation to God through the spirit as we find mentioned Ephes 2. 22. Silver noting here the excellency purlty and durableness of this palace not being of combustible matter and richly decked and adorned with the graces of Gods spirit And if she be a dore or gate that as is said Psal 24. 7. the king of Glory may come in thereat or cast open for calling and admitting others as is said Isay 60. 11. Therefore thy gates shal be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring to thee the forces of the nations and that their kings may be brought And againe Isay 26. 2. Open yee the gates that the righteous nation that keeps the truth may enter in then sayes he vve vvill inclose her about vvith boords of Cedar vvhich vvas a sort of wood that vvas used in the fabrick both of the ark as the most precious and durable wood as also in the building of the Temple of Solomon and therefore fitly here applyed to the Christian Church she being the habitation of the Lord by his spirit and the Temple of the true Solomon and of the Holy Ghost to denotate thereby the precious and durable endowments of the gifts of Gods spirit vvhereby he was to adorne and fortifie her and vvhich by the Ministry of his servants he was to bestow upon her Observations 1. We see that the Church of Christ and every true member thereof should be like a wall not wavering but stable in the truth and therefore should not be carried about with every wind of doctrine but be rooted in the faith as they are exhorted Coloss 2. 7. that so like the house by the wiseman built upon the rock Matth. 7. 25. they may stand against all assaults and as is said Colos 1. 11. they may be strengthned with all might and for that cause they should labour for the love of the truth vvhich because some received not sayes the Apostle that they might be saved for this cause God sent them strong delusion to believe a lie 2 Thess 2. 10. 2. We see the straightness of the communion of the Saints amongst themselves that as the Psalmist calleth Jerusalem a City that is compact together Psal 122. 3. so here they are compared to lively stones compacted or as the Apostle sayes fitly framed Eph. 2. 21. And firmly builded into one wall by the unity of one faith and the cementing of the bond of love and of one spirit vvhich they should keep fast vvithout schism or rupture that peace may be within the Church her vvalls and prosperity within her palaces Psal 122. 7. Which how good and pleasant a thing it is the Psalmist declares Psal 133. 1. 3. We see as in the parable of the gainers by their talents that to them who have solid and true grace more shall be given and therefore sayes our Saviour here If she be a wall already vve will build a silver palace upon her Wherefore this should teach

daughters of Sion who have received the eye-salve of the spirit to discern spirituall things and are like Ezekiels wheels full of eyes Ezek. 1. 18. They are called upon only to behold this spirituall sight and to these only the promise is made for Blessed are the pure in heart sayes our saviour for they shall see God 3. The daughters of Sion are called forth to behold Christ the true Solomon as a king crowned with the Crown wherewith his mother crowned him where we have first to consider who is meant here by his Mother and 2. What is this crown and how he is crowned so by her First then we must understand that Christ has a naturall Mother to wit the Virgin Mary who was his mother according to the flesh as also he has a mysticall mother which is his Church who in a divers respect is his sister as he calles her Cant. 5. 2. His spouse and his Mother here 1. In estimation and affection because he so esteems and loves his Church and those who do the will of his Father as his very Mother as he showes and calles such Matth. 12. 50. And 2. Because by the Doctrine of faith the pastors of his Church as by an Immortall seed they conceive and bring forth Christ in a manner in the hearts of his elect Gal. 4. 19. As the Apostle testifies saying My little Children of whom I travell in birth againe untill Christ be formed in you for which cause also the Church who is described by that woman in the Revelation who was great with child is said travelling in birth to have brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a Rod of iron who was caught up to God and to his throne which is competent onely to Christ This mother then is said to set a crown on Christs head which is a signe of dominion and victory as we see Rev. 19. 11. When her true and faithfull members acknowledge his sole and only Soveragnity over them and submitts themselves to be ruled and governed by him alone and no other but their king and Lord Jesus to lord over them or have place in their hearts whereas on the contrary those who give place to Satan sinne or their own corruption their servants and subjects they are whom they obey these take the crown as it were from off Christs head and say he shall not raigne over us Psal 2. and puts it upon Satans head and puts only in Christ's hand by way of derision as it were with the Roman souldiers an empty reed for a scepter and crown him with a crown of thorns and while they say in word Let thy kingdome come they show in deed that they desire that it depart from them and therefore they shall hear a sentence of a dreadfull departure from him when they who crown him here as the true members and subjects of his kingdome of grace shal be crowned hereafter with the crown of glory And indeed great reason is it that his Church and all godly soules should thus crown Christ Jesus as their king and only Lord here for 1. In our creation as is shown Heb. 2. 6 He crowned man whom he made little inferior to Angels with glory and honour and set him over the works of his hands 2. In the work of our Redemption he crowned our nature by assumption thereof to his divine nature advancing the same highly above angells in that Hypostaticall Union on earth and now much more in glory and at the right hand of the Father in the heavens 3. As he showes by his Prophet and Psalmist Psal 103. 4. in the work of justification and remission of sinne and delivery from destruction he crownes us with loving kindness and tender mercies 4. In the work of Sanctification as he speaks by Ezekiel of his church Ezek. 16. 12. He put a beautifull crown upon her head even that beauty of holiness whereof he speaks Psal 110. 3. 5 For our use and comfort of this naturall life on earth as David sayes he crownes the yeer with his goodness and his paths drop fatness Psal 65. 11. And 6 In the work of glorification he hath laid up for all his own elect a crown of Righteousness glory and life everlasting 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 Pet. 5. 4. Rev 2. 10. 4. The time when he is said to be crowned is the day of his espousal's and of the gladness of his heart so that when a faithfull soul acknowledges Christs sole and supreame soveraignity over the same and wholly submits it self to his ruleing and government then and thereby is it espoused as a chast Virgin unto Christ Jesus as the Apostle shewes 2 Cor. 11. 2. And so at one time as it were it crownes Christ and is espoused to him and as this is the joy of the Angels so is it the joy and gladness of his heart who is Lord both of men and Angels proceeding from that love that he has to mans salvation and whom nothing at any time did so contristate when he was on earth as the stubborness of wicked sinners who would not be reclaimed as he shewd when he wept over Jerusalem and so grievously complained Observations 1. We see that the daughters of Sion are called upon to go forth to behold king Solomon and his glory The cause then that so few see Christ the true Solomon in his spirituall glory beauty and Majesty and be inamoured with him to seek after him and delight in him is this they have never learned to go forth out of themselves renouncing their own righteousness will and corruption 2. The eye whereby Christ in his spirituall glory is only seene seeing it is faith and if we look upon him in his ordinances with a carnall eye we will as Herod did set him at nought Therefore if we would see him either here to our comfort or hereafter in glory let us seek after faith and the eye-salve of the spirit by servent prayer and frequent use of the meanes whereby it is obtained 3. Seing Christ is a king and our king ruling and protecting us let us do the duties of loyall and obedient subjects to him and seeing we should crown him here by acknowledging his soveragnity over us and submitting our selves to his rule and government let us not defraud him of his crown-right here as we would not justly be defrauded of that crown of glory which he has at the Fathers right hand Heb. ●…9 and is to give to all those who love and obey him hereafter 4. Seeing faith and obedience make such a spirituall sibness to Christ that his church and her true members are counted his Mother and Spouse therefore hereby being so highly honoured let us all strive to have faith in a good conscience as Manna was laid up in a golden pot that so we may attain to this high advancement and all these comforts that results there-from 5. As the submission of the soul and espousals by