Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	call_v	king_n	kingdom_n	2,557	5	5.7928	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29529	Stand still: Or, A bridle for the times A discourse tending to still the murmuring, to settle the wavering, to stay the wandring, to strengthen the fainting. As it was delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, Anno 1643. By John Brinsley, Minister of the Word there, and now published as a proper antidote against the present epidemicall distempers of the times.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1647 (1647)	Wing B4729; ESTC R217245	80,497	119

out off keeping them out of the possession of the promised land for fortie years together besides the many difficulties and hardships which they met with for all which they might thanke their murmuring No such way to lay blockes in the way of mercie to keep off mercies at least to retard them as this Thirdly In the third place as it will keep off mercy so it is a ready way to pull downe Iudgement Iudgement and that both Temporall and Eternall Temporall not upon our owne heads onely but also upon the places where wee live Eternall upon our owne heads without repentance It is a branch of Enochs prophecie with Saint Iudes glosse upon it Jude ver. 15.16 Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Iudgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly Convince them of what why as of their wicked workes so of their wicked words of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him And who are these that Enoch there speaketh of T●e Apostle in the next words points them out These are M●r●urers Complainers men that are so ready to quarrell even with God himself to complaine of his dispensations and proceedings with themselves and others O take we heed of this as we desire to have the mercies which we enjoyed continued sanctified blessed unto us As we desire to have the mercies which we want speeded and hastned As we desire to have judgements temporall removed and both temporall and eternall prevented stand wee now still Take heed of Murmuring against God Or yet in the second place against those which are appointed by him to go before us to be our Leaders and Governours Take we heed how we quarrell with them murmure against them or against their Counsels and Actions passing rash and uncharitable censures upon what it may be wee understand not A case verie common and ordinary It was the case of the Jewes our Saviours auditors when they heard him say that hee was the Bread which came downe from Heaven they were presently offended and began to murmure against him so you have it Io. 6.41 And so did many of the Disciples also when they heard it they murmured v. 61. And what was the ground of their murmuring Why their ignorance they understood not our Saviours meaning which had the Disciples done certainly they would never have murmured against their Master Thus happily did we but understand the counsells of our Superiours and were able to dive into the bottome of them wee would approve and allow of what through ignorance we murmur at Ignorance being the mother of mis-understanding oft-times brings forth murmuring This it is that maketh men so apt to murmur against God even Ignorance of his Counsells they cannot trace him in those deepe and hidden wayes which in themselves are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} untraceable past finding out and thence is it that they are so ready to quarrell with his Decrees and Administrations whereas if they could but dive into the bottome of his counsells they should then see so much wisedome and justice in all his proceedings as would quiet and silence all their Murmurings To this purpose is that of the Prophet Isaiah Isa. 29. last They that erred in spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learne doctrine Intimating that it is the want of understanding and instruction that maketh men to murmur against God the not understanding of his counsells of his wayes wherein if men were rightly and throughly instructed it would heale all their murmurings against him And surely this it is oft-times that maketh men so apt to murmur ahd complaine against Superiours They are none of their Counsell they are not privie to their aimes and intentions and consequently through ignorance thereof are apt to misconstrue their actions though in themselves never so just and equitable Thus did the by-standers misconstrue that pious and most religious act of Mary Magdalens in pouring out her Box of oyntment upon the head of her Saviour They seeing it were offended at it crying out of the waste Ad quid perditio haec To what purpose is this waste And what was the cause of their offence Why they understood not the meaning of what was done The waste they saw but the meaning of that waste they saw not They understood not that she bestowed that oyntment upon her Saviour {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as an Embalming in way of preparation to his Buriall Surely even thus fareth it with many of us at the present We see the great waste and spoyle that hath beene and yet is made in the Kingdome at this day waste of Treasure and waste of Blood and we are ready thereupon to cry out in our discontented passions Ad quid perditio haec To what purpose is all this waste But in the meane time as we doe not know what the purpose of God herein is so we are not so privie to the Counsells of Superiours as that we can passe an unerring verdict upon their Actions Wee know what the Wiseman faith of the Kings heart The Heavens for height and the Earth for depth and the Kings heart can no man search And the like may we say of his Great Councell Their counsells are for the most part mysterious and deep locked up from vulgaries not to be fadomed by common apprehensions specially by those who look upon them at a remote distance so cannot take the true height or just scantling of them Now seeing we cannot pry into them be we ware how we passe rash and uncharitable censures upon them least we fall into the number of those whom Saint Iude speaketh of ●who speake evill of Dignities speaking evill of things which they know not It will be a great deale more safe for us and more prositable both for us and them to turne our Censures our Murmurings into Prayers Our censures upon them and murmurings against them into prayers for them For this I am sure we have warrant sufficient It is that which the Apostle exhorts to and calls for 1 Tim. 2. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for all men all sorts of men For Kings and for all that are in Authoritie that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie This is an exercise fit and proper for Subjects to pray for Superiours And this doe wee Pray for them not Curse them Curse not the King no not in thy thought saith the Preacher And Curse not the Rich in thy Bed-chamber Eccles. 10. Pray for them not Revile them Had Paul beene aware who it was that he spake to he would not have given him such language as he did So much himselfe tells the people alledging his Rule for it It is written thou shalt not speake evill of the

Ruler of thy People Pray for them I though they should be persecutors That is the Rule Pray for them that persecute you This doe we and doe we it in the first place So the Apostle there presseth it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} First of all Oh that murmurers would but take out of this lesson to pray for Superiours first of all pray for them before they let flye at them or murmur against them certainly this would take off the Edge of their murmuring The more they prayed for them the lesse they would murmur against them Sure I am They which murmur most are such as pray least To prevent the one practise the other Pray for ●●r Superiours And that as the Apostle there directs First for the King whom we acknowledge by a divine and speciall Providence set over us as a Supreme Governour in these his Dominions Be we earnest with God for him that he may be made a Moses to us having Moses his spirit put upon him and if it might be doubled upon him as Elias his spirit was upon Elisha a wise and a large spirit proportionable to the charge committed unto him that he may be wise as an Angell of God as the woman of Tekoah said to King David able to discerne betwixt good and evill And with Moses his head beg we for him also Moses heart a heart faithfull to his God that like Moses he may be as a faithfull servant faithfull in all the house of his God A heart tender and affectionate towards his people Carrying them in his bosome lovingly tenderly carefully As a Nurse beareth her sucking child as the Lord requireth Moses to doe to his Israel So making him in truth what he is by office Patrem Patriae a Father a Nursing Father to his People Gods People Every wayes a Moses a Saviour a deliverer to the Israel of God Praying for him Pray we also for those which are in Authoritie over us under him And here in speciall for the Representative Body the great Synedrion our English Sanhedrim the supreme Court and Councell of this Kingdome now assembled together in the name of God to be unto their Prince as those seventie Elders were unto Moses a Councell of Assistance to beare the Burden of the People together with him For them beg we also that God would do for them what he there promiseth Moses to doe to his Counsellours and Assistants viz. take off the spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon them even a spirit suitable and proportionable to the Burden layed upon them Making them a Wise and faithfull Councell to their Prince and Wise and faithfull guides unto his people leading them on in such wayes as God himselfe hath layed out for them so as in due time they may conduct them through this Red-Sea this Sea of blood and this wildernesse of Confusion whereinto at the present we are cast unto a Canaan a Land of rest and peace where Righteousnesse and Peace may dwell together And remembring them forget we not the Sons of Aaron who are now called together to consult about the businesse of the Tabernacle For them also beg wee a spirit proportionable to the worke which they have in hand Even the same spirit that the Lord put upon Bezaleel and Aholiab when he called them to the worke of the Tabernacle The Spirit of wisedome and understanding and knowledge to know how to worke all manner of worke for the service of the Sanctuary according to all that the Lord hath commanded Such a Spirit beg we for them that so all things in this Tabernacle-Temple-worke may be done and performed according to the Patterne in the Mount according to the mind and will of God himselfe Begging direction and assistance for them withall beg we a blessing upon their endeavours that the Rod of Aaron may Bud and Blossome and bring forth fruit No such way to quiet the murmurings of the people as this It was the Lords owne way which he bad Moses take and make use of for this very purpose Numb. 17. The people being subject to murmuring upon all occasions and in particular about the Priesthood as you have heard for a Cure of that Disease the Lord directs Moses to take twelve Rods according to the number of the Tribes for every Tribe one laying them up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony And it shall come to passe saith the Lord That the mans Rod whom I shall choose shall blossome and I will make to cease the murmurings of the children of Israel c. This was the meanes propounded What the successe was the sequell of the Chapter will shew It came to passe that Moses went into the Tabernacle and behold Arons Rod which was for the house of Levi was budded and brought forth blossomes and yleeded Almonds whereupon the Lord ordereth Moses to take that Rod and lay it up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony there to be kept for a Token against the Rebells and saith the Lord Thou shall quite take away their murmurings I shall not need to tell you that the chiefe ground of our murmuring at this day is if not the same yet not unlike to theirs about the Priesthood O that the wonder-working God would be pleased to worke the like wonder in our dayes that we might see the Rod of Aaron which at the present through the Calamitie of the times seemes to lye secure and dead to Bud and Blossome and Bring forth Almonds yeelding us not onely Hopes but Fruits Hopes of a quiet and comfortable condition to the Church with the sweet and blessed fruits of a Glorious administration in it No doubt but this would have a strong influence upon the present and future distempers of unquiet spirits either to cure and stay their murmurings or else to be a witnesse against them to all succeeding ages This we know our God is able to doe and this we hope he will yet doe In the meanetime let us and all the Lords people Stand still waiting and quietly waiting upon our God for his salvation It is good for us so to do so faith the Church Lam. 3 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord I have done with the first Branch of this Direction which I confesse hath taken more of my thoughts and your patience then at the first in my intentions I allotted it Stand still not Wavering Passe we now to the second Stand still not Wavering This men naturally are very apt to doe being all by nature ever since the first man left his standing become very unstable but some more then others It is that which the Patriarch Iacob saith to and of his sonne Ruben Gen. 49. Vnstable as water Water it is an unstable Element seldome standing still specially if there be any wind stirring then we

and out of Egypt what must wee now stan●●●●ill Are we not to advance and march on Canaan-wards Are we not to goe forwards seeking after further degrees of puritie and perfection A. True we are so to doe but Tarry till God lay out our way for us It was Israells case here in the Text being come out of Egypt to the Red Sea they were not to make a stand and fit downe there but to advance and march on I but being brought into a strait they must stay till God lay out their way for them And the very same is our case at the present God having brought us out of Egypt it is both our dutie and desire to advance forgetting what is behind as Paul speakes of himselfe to presse forwards towards further puritie of ordinances and perfection of administrations But being in a strait as at this day we are we must tarry Gods time till hee have layed our way till he hath divided the waters for us This wee trust he is about to doe and in his time will doe and that by the like meanes as here he divided the Red Sea for the Israelites By what meanes he divided the waters for them the Story will tell you viz. by his owne Rodin the hand of his Servant Moses His owne Rod so Moses calleth it Exod. 17. I will stand with the Rod of God in mine hand The Rod of God in the hand of his Servant Moses this was the Instrument to lay out the way for this people in this strait of theirs as you shall find it in the 16. vers. of this 14. chap. Life up thy Rod saith the Lord to Moses and stretch out thine hand over the Sea and divid● it Now what was hereby signified Why the Rod of God it signified the Word of God so our Aynsworth most fitly interprets it which is sometimes called the Rod of his mouth Isa. 11. and the Rod of his Power or strength Psal. 110. This Rod in the hand of Moses what is it but the Word of God in the hand of lawfull Authoritie And by this Rod wee trust God ●ill in his time divide the waters and lay out a way fo●●is people to walke in Which till he doe it is our dutie to doe what Moses here requires from the people of Israel to Stand still not running every one his way Had the Israelites done so here in the Text what doe we thinke would have become of the Body of the Armies And shall we take the advantage of the times every one to runne his way What doe wee thinke will become of the Body of the Church And therefore for the present stand we still onely doing that in Faith which some of the Israelites here did out of Feare Cry unto the Lord that he would shew us the way wherein he would have us to walk to that end blessing all endeavours for the finding and laying out of that way Why but what needs that Obj. 3. when as the way is layed out already and that so plainly as those which have eyes may see it To such who so think and speak I shall only commend that of the Wise man Prov. 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart but leane not to thine owne understanding thine owne judgement Surely this it is which hath deceived many a one and may deceive any one even leaning to the private judgement whether of a mans selfe or others It is Elihues speech in Iob Job 32. I said Dayes should speake and multitude of yeares should teach wisedome If one would rest upon the private judgement of any in reason it should be upon the Antient those who have greater experience then others yet even they may bee deceived So Elihu there found it True it is as hee there goeth on There is a spirit in man and the Inspiration of the Almightie giveth understanding Now were a man sure of the immediate assistance of this spirit were hee Divinely inspired as the Prophets and Apostles were this Iudgement of Inspiration he might safely leane upon but not upon his owne judgement For as Elihu there proceeds Great men are not alwayes wise neither doe the aged understand judgement The Spirit of God onely is an infallible Spirit that can neither deceive nor be deceived Not so with the spirit of man no not of the Wisest no not of the Learnedest no not of the Holiest man And therefore bee not over-confident of our selves resting too much upon our owne opinion our judgement is no more so Elihu there goeth on Hearken unto me I also will shew mine opinion Specially in points litigious and controversall betwixt men both Learned and Godly such as the present controversies of the times are In this case it will be good for us to be rather jealous of our selves suspecting and suspending our owne judgements and so to wait for the decisions and determinations of others particularly of those whom by vertue of their office God hath made the proper Iudges in differences of that nature Under the Law the manner was when the Priests were gone in to the Tabernacle or Temple there to officiate before the Lord to offer Incense unto him and so to receive answers from him the people stood without waiting and praying as you may see it in the first of Luke Here see what we are to doe at this day and doe it Divine Providence hath singled forth some to enter in to his Tabernacle to draw neer to himselfe to consult with his Oracle his Word and to enquire his will for his people Now whilst they are within let us be waiting and praying without importuning the Throne of Grace for a blessing upon their consultations that when they come forth they may bring with them an answer from Heaven such an answer as may evidence it selfe to every mans conscience in the sight of God Which receiving so farre as wee shall finde it agreeable to the Rule of the Word let us readily imbrace and submit unto it Taking this course now our advance will be not confused but orderly Such were the Israelites march through the Red Sea and through the wildernesse an orderly march wherein their Leaders went before and the people followed after So the Psalmist describes it Psal. 77. vers. last Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron God led his people but it was by the hand of Moses and Aaron Moses their Prince and Aaron their Priest And by them he led them as a flock as a flock of sheepe so the word in the Originall properly signifieth Now antiently sheepe were wont not to goe before their shepheards as at this day they doe I mean it literally but if any shal take it metaphorically they shall find but too much truth in it but to follow after To which custome our Saviour alluding in that tenth of Iohn he tells us that his sheepe