Selected quad for the lemma: world_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A67782
|
The whole duty of a Christian, or, The character of a true beleever, that walks in some measure answerable to the Gospel, his Christian profession, and the millions of mercies he hath received ... by R.Y. of Roxwell in Essex.
|
Younge, Richard.
|
1653
(1653)
|
Wing Y195; ESTC R6055
|
69,319
|
64
|
told Paul that his Sect was every where spoken against Acts 28. 22. yea all both small and great rich and poor free and â—â—nd receive the mark of the Beast in their fore-heads Rev. 13. 16. so that number is but an ill signe of a good cause or rather it is the best note of the worst way 2. Secondly nor will any wise man think his actions ever the moâ—e warrantable for that he does as the greatest richest and noblest of the Land do for Not many noble are called but as Paul speaks God hath chosen the base things of the world and things that are despised to confound the mighty 1 Cor. 1. 26 27. And hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith James 2. 5. yea be â—illeth the hungry with good things whereas he sendeth away the rich empty Luke 1. 52 53. Neither is this the manner of his donation onely but of his acceptation also for God esteems more of vertue clad in rags then of vice in velvit he tespects a man not for his greatnesse but for his goodnesse not for his birth but for his New Birth not for his honour but for hiâ— holinesse not for his wealth buâ— for his wisdome The righeâ—ous â—aith Solomon is more worthy then his neighbour Prov. 12. 26. and Better is the poor that walketh uprightly then he thas perverteth his wayes though he be rich Prov. 28. 6. and thus the Bereans are reputed by the Holy Ghost More noble men then they of Thessalonica because they received the word with all readinesse and searched the Scriptures whether those things were so which Paul preached Act. 17. 11. Whence it is that David thought it not so happy for him to be a King in his own house as a Door-keeper in Gods house that godly Constantine rejoyced more in being the servant of Christ then in being Emperour of the whole world that Theodosius the Emperour preferred the title of Membrum Ecclesiae before that of Caput Imperii professing that he had rather be a Saint and no King then a King and no Saint yea Ignatius said he had rather be a Martyr then a Monarch Besides experience proves greatnesse nobility and riches to be a most deceitfull rule to walk by for the Kings of the earth â—and themselves and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord and against his Christ Psal. 2. 2. And in 1 King 20. 16. we read of no lesse then two and thirty Kings in a cluster that were every one drunk and elsewhere that a thousand of the chief Princes of Israel committed fornication and were all destroyed for their labour in one day Numb. 25. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 8. yea of twenty Kings of Iudah which the Scripture mentions we read of but six that were godly and of eighteen Kings of Israel all but two are branded by the Holy Ghost for wicked and yet this Nation was Gods peculiar and chosen people out of all the world and lastly when the Rulers sate in counsell against Christ none spake for him but Nicodemus Joh. 7. 50 51. All which shews that it is neither a good nor a safe way to imitate other mens examples be they never so rich never so great or if we sinne together we shall be sure to perish together as when those three and twenty thousand Israelites committed fornication after the example of the chief Princes they were every one destroyed both leaders and followers Numb. 25. 9. 1 Cor 10. 8. and as when those other Cities followed Sodoms Just they were all consumed with Sodoms fire Iude 7. 3. But thirdly admit thou couldest alledge for thine excuse that thou dost but as most of the wife learned and greatest Scholars in the Land do yet all were one this could not excuse thee for first Not many wise men after the flesh are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to câ—nfound the wise 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 29. yea the preaching of Christ crucified was foolishnesse to the wise Sages of the world 1 Cor. 1. 23. It pleaseth God for the most part to hide the mysteries of salvation from the wise and learned and to reveal them unto babes Matth. 11. 25. Luke 10. 2â— yea the saving knowledge of Christ is hid to all that are lost 2 Cor. 4. 3. but if once men abuse their knowledge and learning to Gods dishonour and comply with Satan and the world against the Church as how many Scholars in all ages of the world have resembled Trajan who was indued with great knowledge and other singular vertues but defaced them all by hating Christianity and opposing the power of godlinesse in this case he taketh that knowledge which once they had from them as he took heat from the fire when it would burn his children Dan. 3. 27. I will destroy the tokens of the Sooth-sayers saith God and make them that conjecture fooles I will turn the wise men backward and make their knowledge foolishnesse Isa. 44. 25. And again He taketh the wise in their own craftinesse and the counsell of the wicked is made foolish Job 5. 13. And justly are they forsaken of their reason who have abandoned God yea most just it is that they who want grace should want wit too for which read 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Thus I might go on and shew that we may not imitate the actions nor follow the examples of the best and holiest men in every thing they do though we have some plausible reasons for our doing so and also good and holy intentions in our so doing or if we do that we may go to Hell notwithstanding CHAP. 28. 1. But you will say if neither custome of the greatest number nor of the greatest men nor of the greatest Scholars nor of the best and holiest men though we have reason for our doing it and good intentions in the doing of it is a sufficient warrant for our actions but that all these are crooked and deceitfull guides then what may be a safe guide and an infallible rule in all cases to steer by and square all out actions I answer As a Rule directeth the Artificer in his work and keepeth him from erring so doth Gods â—ord direct the religious in their lives and keep them from erring The right way is the signified Will of God and whatsoever swerves from or is repugnant to the right is wrong and crooked Law and Precept is a straight line to shew us whether we do mis-believe or mislive 2 Pet. 1. 19. Ephes. 2. 20. Gal. 6. 16. Iohn 5. 39. And it hath ever been the care of Christians to stick close to the written Word having always and in all cases an eye thereunto and without this written Word a man in the world is as a Ship on the Sea without a guide yea he that lives without making this his rule he who sets not the Diall or Clock of his life by this Sunne he who directeth not his course in walking by