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	militant_a	triumphant_a	2,228	5	11.7299	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66106	Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse wherein Christs parable of the lost son found is opened and applied as it was delivered in sundry sermons / by Samuel Willard ...	Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707.	1684 (1684)	Wing W2285; ESTC R40698	180,681	400

any acquaintance with the affairs of this lower World they would certainly shout and sing for joy such is their love to their brethren now it is perfected but 4. It is certainly a joy to the Saints on earth to them that love God to such as are true Believers and thus our goodness in one respect extends to them Psal 16. 2. It cannot but affect their hearts with great joy when they see or hear of any that are brought home to God the family of Saints are much refreshed with it Reas 1. Because God is glorified by it and Satan defeated God hath one more subject and Satan loseth a vassal by it It adds to the enlargement of the Kingdom of Christ and his Name is so much the less dishonoured in the world Reas 2. Because they have now one more fellow citizen of the new Jerusalem the Church militant is augmented and the Church triumphant shall be encreased by it Believers are called Citizens Eph. 2. 19. Reas 3. Because it is that they have prayed for and in their places endeavoured All Christians pray for it when they say Thy Kingdom come and some have prayed for it in particular Their Godly Ministers have laboured earnestly about it with God and with them And these are the Servants that ministerially apply these things to them even all consolation and it is a joy to them to do it Their Godly Parents and Neighbours have long waited for this day and therefore it brings to them the glad tydings of great joy 5. And that I chiefly aim at It is a day of great joy to the Convert himself I do not say that he is alwayes immediatly under the clear apprehension of it though often great measures of comfort are for the present given him but now the foundation of all his joy is laid God now applys his great love to him for 1. The best robe is put upon him Gr. the first robe There is no other like it and that is the robe of Christ's Righteousness whereby his rages are removed and the shame of his nakedness covered The poor Prodigal had worn himself out was all in tatters he is not only clothed but royally apparelled Psal 45. 13 14. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a long garment that comes to the ankles covering the whole body This hides all his spiritual deformity covers all his imperfections 2. A ring is put on his hand Some understand it of Adoption A ring with his fathers seal acknowledging him to be of his family others to the same purpose take it to be a token of his enfranchisment Among the Romans none but free Citizens were to wear rings others for his ennoblement among the Oriental nations none but the Nobility had this priviledge others for the seal of the spirit The Wedding Ring was given as a ratification of Marriage so now the union between Christ and the soul is sealed and confirmed 3. Shoes are put upon his feet The feet are the affections shoes are both for Ornament and for saving the feet from harm These shoes are the preparation of the Gospel of peace Eph. 6. 15. The soul is adorned with sanctifying grace and the affections preserved from being gravelled and galled with the pebbles of carnal desires 4. The fatted Calf is killed Gr. the fatted Calf sacrifice it This intends Christ and may bear some respect to the Sacrament of the Supper the soul is now spiritually fit for it and to be invited to it In summe the best preparation is made the soul is feasted i. e. Divine love is shed abroad Rom. 5. 5. God gives him all his favours in titles and communicates of them to him according to that measure which is best for him and so much at least of Divine light is irradiated upon him as enables him to rely upon Christ alone for life and hope in his Grace This must needs be a joyful day for 1. It is the day of Jubile which was alwayes joyful Now the servant of sin goes out free he that had before bound himself to a stranger to Satan and his lusts is set at liberty 2. It is his Wedding day which is alwayes celebrated with symptomes of joy more especially when a Beggar is married to a Prince when a condemned prisoner of Justice is honourably espoused to the eternal Son of God 3. It is his Birth day the day wherein he was new born his Resurrection day in which he riseth out of his grave vers 24. He was dead and is now alive And that is a blessed day Rev. 20. 6. Blessed is he that hath part in the first Resurrection 4. It is the day of his Adoption the day wherein the King of Glory entitles him his son gives him a new Name and seals up to him an irreversible deed of conveyance wherein he confirms him in title to an inheritance worth many Worlds USE 1 For Information 1. Here we see how sincerely God speaketh when he saith As I live I delight not in the death of a sinner but had rather he should repent and live The satisfaction which he expresseth himself to take in a sinners conversion is an abundant confirmation of it If after God hath said and sworn it in his Word there should any make a doubt of it let him go to the converted sinner and he shall tell him such a story of God's abundant love and that precious entertainment that he gave him as shall make it evidently appear If God did not take great delight in our Conversion can we think that he would make such a royal feast to entertain us confer so many such unspeakable benefits and blessings upon us Do men use to kill and slay to make noble feasts for the entertainment of those whom they have no delight to see 2. Here we see a reason why the affections of the soul do often appear more ardent and overflowing towards God about or quickly after Conversion than afterwards and discover themselves both 1. In an extraordinary delight in spiritual duties The soul now can scarce find opportunity to do any thing else but read hear pray meditate confer with Christians c. Why is it their Wedding day it is a feast day with them and they cannot but be ravished with it It is a new world with a Prodigal when come from a famine to such plenty and delicacy 2. In a cotempt of the world and things of it in comparison of these things slighting and scarce regarding of any thing here below only taken with heavenly things and desirous to depart and be with Christ willing to have no more to do here if might be How can it almost be otherwise Who can but think it good seeing tasting enjoying the love of God and relishing the sweetness of the streams to long to be at the Well head of all this but when these treats are something over and he goe from his feast to his work and there meets with difficulties and many