Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	heaven_n	lord_n	word_n	16,216	5	4.2023	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84893	Light vanquishing darknesse. Or a vindication of some truths formerly declared, from those aspersions which have been (by reason of some misapprehensions) cast upon them; now published for the satisfaction and benefit of others. With a preambular epistle to all sorts of men. As also a parcell of good counsell, if you can take it. / By Captain Francis Freeman, a late member of the army.	Freeman, Francis.; Fairfax, Thomas Fairfax, Baron, 1612-1671.	1650 (1650)	Wing F2129; Thomason E615_7; ESTC R206543	58,771	68

dispensations who are my accusers only this difference what ever their pretences are what Paul did was out of pure zeal touching the Law wherein it is said he thought be walked blamelesse but these men are altogether for their own ends and unlesse they should come to be where Paul was viz. rapt up into the third heaven they will go on still in their persecution For 't is impossible to see what Paul did see unlesse they could be where Paul was And now truly friends as I have wrote this Epistle to all sorts of men which is by way of vindication so I shall desire you to read this ensuing treatise with out any prejudicate opinions where you shall in like manner find some other accusations against me thought unjustly which will also discover abundance of folly and weakenesse of those my accusers And you may also find a parcel of good councel if you can take it communicated to all sorts of men both high and low rich and poor And although I know it will be accounted a sawcy part for me to give councell or advice to Rulers and such as are in authority over us great potentates and mighty men of the World yet I could not but doe it and the rather because I wish a happy peace to this poor bleeding Nation and that the sore-sick maladies thereof might be cured And not only to this Nation but to all the Nations of the earth I knovv it is God alone that can heal the Nations and bring all earthly povvers in subjection to his will Good Councel may be offered though not received and if it be not received 't is because they cannot take it And this I know too that the Lord sometimes stirres up poor vveak and despised instruments to give councel and advise to Princes and great vvise men of the World both Magisterial and Military to confound the wisdome of the wise yea and things that are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence And as my Epistle is directed to all sorts of men so is my councel and my desire is to be instrumental if the Lord so please to work upon your spirits for the healing of the Nations which is the principal aim and end of him who is Thine and the Nations Servant Francis Freeman GOd who at sundry times past and in divers manners speak unto the sons of men in parables and dark saying and now in these latter times he hath more manifestly declared himself by his Sonne and by the holy Ghost the comforter who wil both lead and guide us into the way of all truth and although the Lord hath bin pleased to unveile himself and to make glorious discoveries of himself unto some in shewing forth the glorious beauty and brightnesse of his raies in the light and dispensation of the Gospel by his providence yet notwithstanding we find by experience that there are many precious excellent and most glorious truths obscured clouded and overspread with Antichristian darknesse by reason of an Antichristian power of darknesse raigning amongst us who labouring to divert that current or stream issuing or flowing from that most sweet and precious fountain of truth the Lord Iesus out of its proper channel into a filthy loathsome durty muddy channell of humane inventions and traditions crying down glorious truths to be errors heresies and blasphemies as if there were no truths declared but such as they apprehend to be so when as there is an incapacity of apprehending it be carnal wisdome Therefore it must needs passe under that notion especially by such who are accounted Ministers of the Gospel and are no lesse then deceivers and being deceived having a form of Godlynesse but denying the power thereof yet notwithstanding they are upheld by the power of earthly Magistrates who carry on their work in persecuting the Saints and Servants of God as much as in them lies But how soever there is a restraining power and that is Gods power which over-tops all earthly powers when as their Mountaines shall be layed low and without a manifestation of Gods mercy towards them they shall be brought to shame and confusion of faces for this and the like cruelties when they shall cry out and there shall be none to help for as the mercies of the wicked are cruelty and oppression so there are none that live godly in Christ Iesus but shall suffer persecusion either by false accusation imprisonment or both which I my self being one of the least and meanest of Gods servants have my share not long since at the Town of Taunton in the County of Summerset being talsly accused by one Cox of no lesse then blasphemy imprisoned by the Magistrates bound over with two surities to answer it at the assizes and there indicted for blasphemy and the indictment prosecuted with as much violence as envy and malice it self could imagine rendring me so odious as not fit to live upon the earth as if they themselves were men of such infallible judgement that there could be no truths held forth by me being a poor weak dispised instrument but what shall come within the compasse of their apprehesions when as the Gospel is a hidden Mistery I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes c. The Lord who is the searcher of all hearts can plead my innocency towards man and mine integrity to the truth as it is in Iesus who gave into me that word of truth by his spirit which is the spirit of truth in the manifestation thereof and sweetly carried me on in the discovery of that truth to the glory of his grace be it spoken with that spirit of boldnesse and undauntednesse of spirit that my Adversary durst not look truth in the face to dispute those points with me before the Magistrates neither indeed would they admit of any dispute but told me that Mr. Cox had taken his oath possitively that I had spoken blasphemy and his oath was for the King they having an implicit faith hand-over-head with out due examination took his accusation for truth though false and scandalous yet would not take my own recognizance notwithstanding I was member of the Army at that time but committed me to prison where I praise God my conscience can plead my innocency and guiltlessenesse for what I was accused insomuch that my imprisonment and sufferings was sweet comfortable and joyous unto me knowing that such sufferings are a part of my portion hear in this life Now for the clearing of my self from those aspersions cast upon me and for the vindication of those truths then held forth by me for which I was accused and now stand Indicted I shall by the assistance of the Almighty labour to undeceive the people that they my come to a clear understanding of those my sufferings that the truth may be the more manifested Christ Jesus exalted

all must be burnt up for it is said accept your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdome of Heaven And truly for my part I cannot see that any of your righteousnesse doth exceed theirs for if we look upon the purest of you we shall see aboundance of pride and ambition aboundance of self-righteousnesse self-purity self-holinesse self-zel c. mixt with aboundance of coveteousnesse and averice aboundance of hatred and malice especially towards such as are contrary to you in judgment Object But are all the Clergie a like with you do you make no difference of ministers are there not abundance of Godly faithfull religious Preachers faithfully dispencing the word of God and with abundance of zeal I answer yea they are all alike with me although some are more religious more zealous more holy then other and although the Scripture faith that the righteous is more excellent then his neighbour yet I make no difference of the persons of men for if God be no respector of persons I know not why I should but for my part I love them all very well but not one better then another and although some of them are accounted more glorious lights then others yet they shal fall as the stars of heaven fell unto the earth Rev. 6. even as a figtree casteth her untimely figs c. That is not those figs which naturally are brought forth alone by virtue of its pure sap Jesus Christ but I conceive by untimely figs is ment all the righteousnesse of man which he with out or before Christs time of his rising up in the branches hath brought forth of himself which is untimely and therefore must fall to the ground and become dung as Paul said of all his for there is no righteousness at that day can stand to endure or passe through that refiners fire but alone the righteousnesse and purity of himself nor no garmant made by man though it appear never so glorious now that will endure the scouring with that fullers sope but will presently be discovered to be but earthly and so consumed and brought to nothing friends in a word at that day which truly for my part I believe is neer at hand there is no glory or excellency of man but will be extinguished and put out such will be the glory of the coming of the Son of man even as the moon and stars flie at the appearing of the Sun And whereas I had some thoughts to speak largely concerning the pride of Women in their fantastical apparel and their foolish orn aments and dressings in their atyre their chaines and their bracelets and their Mufflers their Changable suits of apparel and the Mantles and the wimples and the crisping pins c. but because of their weaknesse I shall trouble my self no more at this time with a company of foolish women but I shall refer them to that Scripture Isa 3.24 Where they may read what will become of them But I know I shall be apt to ly under the sensure of many why I should undertake to medle with such things as to give Counsel c. What though there is abundance of injustice what though there is aboundance of pride and self-loftines what though there is abundance of selfishnesse and setting up self-interest what though you make Idols of Silver Idols of Gold and worship the works of your own hands what though you make your selves strong with engagements what though you strengthen your selves with a bond of Iron and brasse Dan. 4. but yet I must tell ye all this will stand you but in little stead when once the day of the Lord shall come upon you Then there shall be nothing but pure justice and no pride nor self-loftinesse at all For the lofty looks of men shall be humbled and the haughtinesse of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day-for the day of the Lord of bests shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall he brought low In that day a man shall cast his Idols of silver and his Idols of gold which they made each one for himself to worship to the moles and to the bats To go into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terrible the earth Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of FINIS