Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	call_v	choose_v	confound_v	2,156	5	10.1042	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02259	Deaths deliverance, and Eliahes fiery charet, or The holy mans triumph after death Delivered in two sermons preached at Plymouth, the one the 16. the other the 19. of August: the former at the funerall of Thomas Sherwill, an eminent and pious magistrate of that place. 1631. By Alexander Grosse now pastor of Bridford.	Grosse, Alexander, 1596?-1654.	1640 (1640)	STC 12394; ESTC S117896	44,988	121

this behalfe as Pharaoh of c Gen. 40.38 39 Ioseph Can we finde such a man as this was a man in whom the spirit of God was surely there are few so discreet and wise as he was 3. He was diligent and laborious in his calling a good Steward ever breaking the bread of life amongst you a loving Nurse alwayes drawing forth his breast unto you he was not a cloud without raine a Well without water he did not hide his talent in a napkin hee did not put his light under a bushell but as the Sun doth often visit the earth so did hee this place as Paul said of the Macedonians in regard of their contribution to the Saints to d 2 Cor. 8.3 their power and beyond their power they were willing so this man in his calling was willing to his power and as some conjecture beyond his power in regard of his bodily infirmities 4. He was not onely diligent in his calling but also profitable in his teaching it was not e Ier. 23.28 chaffe but good wheat which hee sowed amongst you not the sand of humane devices but the firme and sure Rocke of Gods Word did he lay as a foundation for you thereon to build hee sought not with humane eloquence vaine flashes idle quirks phantasticall conceits and f 1 Cor. 8.3 inticing words of mans wisedome to please men but his labour was to speake and preach in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith might not stand in the wisdome of men but in the power of God and this indeed is not the least part both of the wisdome and fidelity required of Gods messengers to stoop to the capacitie of the people to present the counsell of God plainely to their understanding Bonorum ingeniorum est insignis indoles saith Augustine in verbis verum amare non verba quid enim prodest clavis aurea si aperire quod volumus non potest aut quid obest-lignea si hoc potest quando nihil aliud quaerimus nisi ut pateat quod clausum est This is a singular property of wisedome in words to love the truth and not the words what doth a golden key profit if it cannot open what we would have unshut what doth a wooden key hurt or hinder if it can open when as wee desire no more but that which is shut may be opened that which is hidden may be unfolded he is surely in Gods schoole the best scholler in Gods Church the most eminent and worthy teacher that doth with most clearenesse plainenesse power fulnesse and evidence of the spirit open and apply Gods counsels to the consciences of the hearers 5. He was also in his discourse very holy and profitable a seeds-man alwaies sowing a light alwaies shining very constant in doing good by his communication 6. Hee was in the order of his conversation very sincere and upright so farre as ever I observed and I am perswaded it was the joy and g 2 Cor. 1.12 rejoycing of his heart that he had his conversation in sincerity and uprightnesse and not in fleshly wisedome 7. Hee was very friendly to Gods people with them hee delighted to converse Gods image true goodnesse in them was a load-stone very powerfull to move and draw his affection 8. He was open-handed to such as needed ready out of his fulnesse to powre plentifully into such vessels as hee found empty 9. By his conversation he gave a good example hee did not build with one hand and pull downe with the other but his doctrine and his conversation were at a sweet agreement like Ruth and Naomi they went hand in hand together 10. He was not one in publike another in private but every where the same as they said of Valerins Court so may wee say of his house it was a Church of God in regarded of the holy orders orderly there observed and religious duties there performed Now therefore walke ye in that light which hee hath caused to shine unto you bring forth the fruit of that seede which he hath sown among you and build up that sacred and saving truth which hee hath proposed and set before you And now lastly If the death departure losse of Gods faithfull Ministers bee so deeply to be bewailed if our estate without them be so wretched so uncomfortable then you must shew your selves very carefull in repairing the losse which you have now sustained doe not ye say as Galienus the Emperor when hee had lost Aegypt cannot wee bee without the hempe and flaxe of Aegypt and when he had also lost France two great and mighty Countries cannot the Lord said he stand sine sagis trabeatis without these souldiers cassockes which France doth send us Beloved I beseech you do not so say of the departure of Gods Ministers doe not slight the losse of them as if it were but the losse of a little flaxe hempe or a few souldiers coates but looke upon it I intreate you and consider it and be affected with it as with one of the greatest losses could ever be sustained and accordingly declare and shew your wisedome circumspection care diligence faithfulnesse and conscionablenesse for an able supply And for your better direction in this behalfe let it be your care 1. To goe to God and by prayer fasting seeke his counsell and assistance as the people in the dayes of Ezra by h Ezra 8.21 prayer and fasting sought of God a way for them and their little ones so doe you now by prayer and fasting seeke of God an able and faithfull Minister to guide both you and your little ones in the way that leadeth to peace and everlasting happinesse As the people after the death of i Jud. 1.1 Ioshua went to God and asked him who should goe up for them to fight against the Canaanites so must you now after the death of your spirituall Leader goe to God and aske of him who shall goe up for you to fight for you in this warre against sinne and Satan this is not more holinesse then is requisite for thus the Disciples sought to God by k Act 1.24 prayer and fasting to direct them in the choice of a successour in the roome of him that fell 2. Seeke not too much to please your selves be not too indulgent to your owne affections but let your speciall ayme be at the glory of God and the generall and saving good of the people of this place let that man which in all probability and upon good evidence will be most zealous for Gods glory and doe best service to the people of this place be without any by or sinister respect the man of your choice This doe or else for any thing I know God may require the bloud of this people at your hands 3. Bee carefull that the man whom you choose be a man after Gods owne h heart a holy man a man able to feed you with knowlege and understanding a man experienced in the worke of Gods word upon his owne soule for as Christ was made like unto us in allm things sin excepted that he might have compassion on us in all our estates and conditions so it is requisite the Minister of God should be made like the people in all things I meane in being sensible of the burthen of sinne of the trouble of an afflicted conscience of the buffetings of Satan of the worke of Gods word and spirit upon his owne heart and then shall he be fit to compassionate comfort teach the people and know how to minister a word in due season 4. Remember that of the Lord to Samuell n 1 Sa. 16.7 judge not after the outward appearance and take this for a sure rule that God doth not alwayes doe the greatest works by men of greatest earth-abilities the Lord over-turned the Midianitish hoast by a o Jud. 7.23 barley cake by p Judg. 6.15 Gedion whose family was poore in Manasseh and that was the liast in his fathers house the Lord caused the q Exod. 17 6 waters to come forth out of the rocke by no other no worthier instrument then the stroke of a rod. It was not in Sauls armour but with a r 1 Sa. 17.54 sling and a stone that God enabled David to overthrow Goliah and delever Israel They were Trumpets neither of gold nor silver but ſ Ios 6.20 rams hornes contemptible things in the eyes of men which God caused the Priest to sound and at whose sounding the walles of Iericho fell And the Psalmist telleth us that God hath ordained strength out of the 〈◊〉 8.2 mouthes of babes and sucklings and the Apostle layeth it downe as a generall and constant rule the u 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. foolishnesse of God is vviser then men and the weakenesse of God is stronger then men for yee see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble men are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wife and God hath chosen the weake things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things which are and he rendreth the reason of the Lords so doing that no flesh should glory in his presence Thinke on these things and be not wise in your owne eyes this have I spoken not as vnder-valuing abilities humane but as advising that you fasten not your eyes too much upon them least they prove a sandy foundation And as for him that shall succeed your now deceased Pastor my prayer is that as the spirit of Eliah was doubled upon Elisha so the spirit of this man may be doubled on him that shall in this place succeed him that hee may prove to you as a bright and a shining starre to leade you as the starre led the wise men to Christ Iesus and as the fiery pillar conducted Israel form Egypt to Canaan so may he lead you from the Egypt of sinne and bondage of Satan to the heavenly Canaan that place of glory rest peace and all fulnesse which God hath provided for his children in the holy and higest heavens Laus Deo soli FINIS