Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	church_n	communion_n	separate_v	1,835	5	9.4254	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61112	The righteous ruler a sermon preached at St Maries in Cambridge, June 28, 1660 / by John Spencer, B.D., fellow of Corpus Christi Colledge in Cambridge.	Spencer, John, 1630-1693.	1660 (1660)	Wing S4952; ESTC R37586	37,324	64

continuance thereof so long in the world against all opposition made against it Great bandying there hath been against government at all times by the sons of Belial opposition against the eminency of Magistracy the spirit within us lusteth to envy against the restraint thereof Jude v. 8. Some despise dominion not onely Governours but Government it self is a burden to them Government is stiled the ordinance of God those that are above other ordinances are above this most of all There are three inward and three outward guards which God in mercy hath vouchsafed the world to keep sin out of it the three inward are the common principles of nature some remaining characters of that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} antiently written upon the tables of our hearts 2. the dictates of Gods holy Spirit and silent whispers of that 3. the checks of an enlightened conscience the three outward are the sacred Scripture the Ministry with the spiritual and Magistracy with the civil sword now men fight with all these guards smother the light of nature grieve the spirit harden their consciences reject the Scriptures despise prophesyings and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as the word is lay aside and null what they are able Magistrates and Dominions but now as we argue that the Scripture the light of nature the Ministry the checks of conscience are of Gods own appointing and owned by him in that all the malice of men and devils could never quite remove null and abolish them so we may conclude Magistracy sealed to by heaven in that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} men without law could never quit themselves thereof Many people have thrown off Governors but never any could throw off Government no sooner have they cut off one head but another comes up in the room thereof Government and Magistracy is a bush of thorns that pricks and tortures wicked men and it hath been often on fire and had long ere this been consumed but as we have reason to believe God is in it his mighty power is engaged in its defence This God owns Psal. 75. 3. The earth and all the inhabitants are dissolved but I bear up the pillars of it Seventhly God hath attested unto Sovereignty by suffering none of his servants in Scripture few or none in story to be guilty of wilfull opposing of lawfull authority or usurping the place of their lawfull Governour We finde many a wicked man guilty of this sin of opposing the Magistrate mentioned in the first particular many of deposing as Ieroboam in part Athaliah Zimri Herod and others but no good man in Scripture guilty of either And few or none shall we meet with in story guilty of this sin Tertullian apologizing for Christians among other things alledgeth this in their defence that among all the Assassins of Emperours nunquam inveniri potuerunt Christiani and Salmasius observes that not till much beneath the times of Austine occurs there any mention of any private Christian in all Ecclesiastick history qui Regi suo manus cruentas attulcrit vel qui armis contra Regem pugnarit and a late writer hath inlarged the observation telling us that in the succession of about six ages no man of any learning and reputation attempted any thing against the interest or honour of Princes excepting Lucifer Calaritanus who spake rude and unbeseeming words against Constantius the Arrian Emperour but to impeach the credit of his practise He is noted by S. Ambrose for a person that separated himself from the communion of the Church but as reverence to other divine commands wore off in time as the power that exalteth it self above all that is called God obtained in the world so to this among the rest of obedience to lawfull authority Gods olives and vines decline the Magistrates place whiles brambles scratch every one that would get above them None so easie to drive as Christs sheep they are the swine of the world that are hard to drive men of strong lusts and proud spirits which create Magistrates the greatest trouble They are filthy dreamers who despise dominion Jude v. 8. Eighthly God abets authority by that special blessing which he generally vouchsafeth upon the due execution of justice by men in power and Sovereignty It is seldome seen that private revenge though the matter of it might be just and deserved hath been happy and successfull whereas generally vindicta publica the punishment inflicted by a Magistrate in vindication of injured innocence hath succeeded happily Commonly private revenges take off one enemy and invite many but publick revenge executed by the rules of justice procures Gods especial blessing upon a person or nation Jer. 22. 3. Thus saith the Lord Execute judgement and righteousness and deliver the oppressed and I will bless you c. Prov. 21. 3. God in the first ages of the world did govern it and administer justice oftentimes immediately by his own hand and punished many a person as we reade with death for the violation of his laws whereas now God hath committed as all spiritual judgement to his son so all civil judgement to the Magistrate and therefore Gad hath a special blessing pronounced upon him for executing the justice of the Lord Deut. 33. 21. and in him every righteous magistrate These eight particulars laid together will evidence God to be a very great abettour and justifier of rule and Sovereignty in the world We learn hence two things 1. The unjustness of that charge so often drawn up against Religion as if an enemy to government a patron of State-disturbance When ever there have been state troubles atheists cry out Tantum relligio potuit c. religious persons have been alway thought the Iona's in the ship when there hath been a storm in the state Eliah esteemed a troubler of Israel 1 Kings 18. The apostles Acts 24. 5. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and Acts 17. 6. those which turnd the world up side down so Esth. 3. 8. Some conceive this was the reason why Cyrus gave command so punctually to build the Temple but threescore cubits broad and threescore cubits high even a politick jealousie of the strength thereof as occasion might serve The heathens used to reproach the Gospel upon this account as may be collected probably from 1 Pet. 2. 14 15. Submit your selves unto Governours as unto them who are sent of God c. For so is the will of God that in well-doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolishmen whose mouths upon neglect of this duty were like an open Sepulchre to bury the good name of Christianity and the professors of it So 1 Tim. 6. 1. And we read in history of a pillar set up with this inscription Nomini Christianorum deleto qui Rempublicam evertebant Polititians have been always jealous of pretenders to Religion lest it should be used like the holy Ephod to hide a Sword