Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	threaten_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	23	3	9.4486	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12524	The Ethiopian eunuchs conuersion. Or, The summe of thirtie sermons vpon part of the eight chapter of the Acts. By Samuel Smith, minister of the word	Smith, Samuel, 1588-1665.	1632 (1632)	STC 22847; ESTC S119101	159,079	581

the time of the Law before the comming of Christ very costly So likewise his paines in trauell was very great it being farre distant from that place to serusalem yet not withstanding it is not the cost nor it is not the paines in trauell that can keepe him back or any whit discourage him but vp will he goe to Ierusalem there to worship God and herein will teach vs That the duties of Religion must earnestly bee pursued and followed after Doct. The duties of religion must be earnestly pursued and followed after not coldly negligently and carelesly but earnestly zelously carefully and constantly Men must not stick for labor for cost for their paines but the Lord must bee serued intentiuely and constantly In euery seruice wee doe vnto God he calleth for this zeale and godly resolution to go thorough with the same And surely this was the great commendations of the Prophet Dauid that he had a zeale as hot as fire Ps●l 96.10 The zeale of thy house hath eaten me vp This forwardnesse and zeale wee may see to haue beene in the people of God in building of the Temple wherein they spared no cost as also in their diligent repairing to the same wherein they spared no labour and to this are we exhorted Seek for wisdome as for siluer and search for it as for hid treasures Now they that worke in Mines of the earth dig deepe and are not beaten off with much labour such resolution becometh it Gods people to haue in seeking the true treasure The Lord cannot abide that men should go about his seruice negligently coldly and carelesly Cursed are they that do the work of the Lord negligently Ier. 48.10 and How long halt yee betweene two opinions 1 Re. 18.21 c. And it was that our Sauiour was so highly offended with the Church of Laodicea Ren. 3.15 that shee was neither cold nor not and therefore the Lord threatneth to spew her out of his mouth It was the commendations of those in the days of our Sauiour that they flocked after him and pressed vpon him And in diuers places we reade that multitudes followed Christ to heare his heauenly doctrine Yea our Sauiour ●●●onisheth vs to labour but for what Not for the meat that perisheth Ioh. 6 but for the meat that endureth to eternall life Zo●●● 〈◊〉 qu●●ed 〈◊〉 ●u●●● pa●● o●●●o●● wo●●s●●● And this zeale and diligence I ●●ig●●t haue ●hewed how God requires the same in euery part of his worship and seruice As First in the preaching of the word Wee are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 〈…〉 to improue rebuke and exhort with long-suffering and doctrine Secondly in hearing of the word we are commanded to bee swift to heare I●●a 2.19 Thirdly in prayer we are com manded to be feruent in prayer 3 R●●● ●● 12 And in all the duties of sanctification wee are commanded to redeeme the time and to worke out our saluation And great reason First in regard that such as do the worke of the Lord negligently Reas 1 slothfully and carelesly lye vnder an heauie and a fearefull curse Cursed is euery one that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Ier. 4● ●0 But such are all those that come negligently vnto Gods seruice and therefore lie vnder this curse Secondly to doe any dutie to God negligently and carelesly Reas 2 it neuer hath any promise of any acceptation with him There is no duty that we can assure our hearts shall finde acceptation with the Almighty further then the same is zealously performed in faith repentance and obedience to Gods Commandement Thirdly such as performe any duty formally Reas 3 customarily and but for fashion sake are in great danger to fall away euen from that they make shew of as our Sauiour saith That shall bee taken away which they seemed to haue This was the curse of the Church of Ephesus a drowsie and dead-hearted people Reu 2 5. Thou hast lost thy first loue Such drowsie Christians are alwayes vnder a spirituall consumption for it fares with such a one as with him that hath a Consumption of the body for there the naturall heate decayeth daily more and more and threatneth death Euen so such as haue a spirituall consumption of the soule the spirituall heat doth diminish and threaten destruction Fourthly Reas 4 earnestnesse and zeale in the publicke duties of Gods worship is an excellent meanes to prouoke others to be more diligent in Gods seruice And this the Apostle affirmes to the great commendations of the Church of Corinth Your zeale hath prouoked many 2. Cor. 9.2 And last of all Reas 5 without this diligence and zeale we haue no promise to meet with God in his ordinances Pro. 23.4 If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest vp thy voice for vnderstanding if thou seeke her as siluer and search for her as for hidde treasure What then Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Feruency and zeale in good duties addeth wings vnto them and makes them sore aloft and pierce the heauens euen into Gods presence Whereas duties formally performed and but with lip labour onely bring no fruit at all but hasten Gods sudgements vpon him that doth them Seeing then that the duties of Religion are so earnestly to bee pursued and followed after Vse 1 This serues then for the iust reprehension of those that are so farre from being zealous themselues to trauell with the Eunuch here vnto Ierusalem to worship God as that they mocke and scoffe at others that doe their duties herein Certainly if this Nobleman liued amongst vs it were not his greatnesse that would free him from the imputation of Puritanisme and his zeale should not escape the disgraces of wicked men Is not this common in the world See wee not that if there be any one in a Parish as many God knoweth there be not that is more forward then others to sanctifie the Sabbath and to spend that day as set apart wholly for Gods seruice in the publicke duties belonging thereto how are these singled out aboue all others and derided and scoffed at for the same when drunkards swearers and prophane persons are neuer wondred at This hard measure Dauid met withall from Micol his owne wife 2. Sam. 6 20. who dancing before the Arke therein expressing the inward ioy of his heart she mockes him How glorious was the King this day To whom Dauid made answer It was before the Lord who chose mee before thy fathers house and I will yet be more vile Let it euer be the commendations of all Gods people so to be vpbraided and scoffed at for their godly zeale As for wicked men they are neuer so zealous as in the cause of sinne And this indeed is the misery of this age and time wherein wee liue that that which indeed is the greatest ornament to a christian man

must perish When I say to a wicked man thou shalt surely dye Ezech. 33.8 if thou doe not speake to warne that wicked man he shall dye in his iniquitie c. Seeing then that the Ministers of GOD must conscionably discharge their duties Vse 1 whatsoeuer trouble or danger they meet withall This may serue to reproue diuers in the ministery as vnfaithfull in Gods house 1 Ignorant Teachers that are not able to acquaint the people with the counsell of God such haue no calling from God and were neuer sent by him for whom God sendeth and imployeth in this honourable seruice he furnisheth with gifts in some measure for the discharge of the same 2 False Teachers and such as by false and erronious Doctrine seeke to poyson mens soules and these are no lesse dangerous then the former for whereas the one destroyes mens soules for want of food the other poysons them with corrupt food 3 Idle teachers which feede of the flock but feed not the flocke fearefull is the account that such men one day are to giue vnto God 4 Flattering Teachers these are also vnfaithfull in Gods house these are they of whom the Prophet speaketh of that sow cushions vnder mens elbowes dare not or will not with Nathan say thou art the man Vse 2 Secondly if troubles and apparant dangers are not to hinder the Ministers of GOD from doing their duty How farre then are such from approuing themselues faithfull in their calling who when there is no danger in the way no Caiphas to call them to account nor Saul to trouble or molest or to make hauocke of the Church as at this time Neither their liues sought for as Elias was yet are negligent and sloathfull in feeding the flock of Christ Then the A●gell said to Philip. This being at that time when there was such great persecution at Ierusalem when Saul made hauocke of the Church and when Stephen is pu● to death We may further obserue Doct. 2 Faithfull Ministers most subiect to persecutions That it is the lot and portion of Gods Ministers aboue all others to meete with persecutions When troubles arise in the Church they are the first ordinarily that come into danger This was the condition of the Prophets themselues as our Sauiour testifieth vnto the Iewes Mat. 23. Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted Moses was often resisted by Iannes and Iambres 2 Tim. 3.8 There were seuen thousand men in Israel that neuer bowed their knee to Baal 1 Reg. 19.10 But yet the Prophets were slaine and put to the sword And Elias being left his life was sought for aboue all others At the time of Christs passion there were many faithfull Christians in all places yet Christ and his Apostles were the obiect of the Iewes malice and they were singled out by the Scribes and Pharisies as men vnworthy to liue So that Gods faithfull Ministers may say with Ieremy This is my portion and I will beare it Ier. 13. Now the reasons are First Reas 1 that contrarietie that is betwixt a godly and a wicked man There is nothing in the world wherein there is the like contrarietie this was prophecied of of old I will put enmity Gen. 3. c. This enmity is maintained in the world at this day These are the Spirits of deuils that goe about in the world that prouoke men to warre against Christ and his Church Reu 16.14 And this battell betwixt Michael and his Angell and the Dragon and his Angels shall not cease till time be no more Reu. 12. Reas 2 Secondly the nature of their Ministery cannot but produce this effect in wicked and vngodly men that liue vnder the same for their doctrine is like vnto good salt which doth cause smart and paine when it is applyed vnto a sore so doth their doctrine when it is applied to a festered conscience Reas 3 Thirdly in them many times the Lord doth punish the people I will strike the Shepheard Zach. 13.7 and the sheepe shall be scattered If the Pastor be good it is many times the sins of the people that hee is impeded of his Ministery if he be euill they are his owne sinnes that draw his miseries vpon him Reas 4 Fourthly thorough the Ministers side Sathan many times doth wound the truth and by bringing disgrace vpon the person of such a one aliens the hearts of his people from that due respect vnto his doctrine For Sathan knowes that the credit and honour of the person of such a one giues no small aduantage to his ministery and therefore by his Ministers is hee still raising vp of persecutions reproches against such This teacheth Gods Ministers to resolue to fight that good fight and to suffer affliction as the good souldiers of Iesus Christ 2 Tim. 2.4 They are the Lords Captaines to leade vs his people in the face of the enemy Their liues must not be deare vnto them so that they may fulfill their ministery with ioy Acts 21. Nothing can more beautifie the calling of a Minister then a godly resolution to suffer for Christ Secondly let neither Minister nor people then thinke it strange if this betide vs of the Ministery at this day If this were the condition of Gods seruants in some one age and not in another it were to be wondred at But there is no age of the Church wherein they haue not met with persecutions yea the more zealous the doctrine of Gods Ministers is and the more it strikes at Sathans kingdome the more resistance and opposition will it merit withall from wicked men and such as are enemies to godlinesse Thirdly this should moue pitty in our people and those that are our hearers If any one Souldier in a field were hardly beset and ouer matched by many euery one would pitty such a one and step in to his succour but if a Captaine in a field were singled out from the rest and in danger what Souldier would nor aduenture his life for him and hasten to his succour Ministers they are the Lords Captaines and many times are hard put to is it meete then that you stand still and looke on Euery good hearer then must set to his hand to helpe his Teacher I doe not meane so much by any outward strength or power as by earnest and hearty prayer So Paul Brethren pray for vs 2 Thes 3 1. that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified and that we may bee deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men Thus did the Church for Peter Acts 12.5 and thus ought wee to doe for all the faithfull Ministers of Christ And the Angell of the Lord spake vnto Philip. The word Angell in the Originall signifieth a Messenger or an Ambassadour And so indeede they are the Lord of Hoasts according to that Heb. 1.7 Hee maketh his Angels spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire and againe Heb. 1.14 They are