Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	appear_v	great_a	time_n	1,507	5	3.2676	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41604	The anatomie of infidelitie, or, An explanation of the nature, causes, aggravations and punishment of unbelief by Theophilus Gale.	Gale, Theophilus, 1628-1678.	1672 (1672)	Wing G133; ESTC R29918	143,754	276

manner that so thereby men might behold as by a magnifying Glasse the proper Dimensions and Merits of their sins Ay but what was Gods end in making Sin thus to abound why that follows But when sin abounded Grace did much more abound Here saith Paul lay Gods bottome-designe in permitting sin thus to abound that thereby Grace might superabound yea that at that very time when sin so much abounded Grace might superabound at that very time when we appeared to be so great enemies to Christ he might appear to be so great a friend to us Thus Mercie in God is more merciful than sin in us can be sinful And oh what a foundation and encouragement for faith is here But alas how doth Unbelief spurne at and despise at least limit these Richesse of Grace 5. Unbelief cals in question the Immutabilitie Certaintie and Fidelitie of the Covenat David gives us an excellent character of the Covenant and its Immutabilitie 2 Sam. 23. 5. Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in althings and sure For this is al my salvation and al my desire although he make it not to grow Notwithstanding al Davids care for the settlement of his familie on the Throne yet he foresaw by a spirit of prophesie how fragile and instable his Throne was only herein he solaceth himself that the Covenant wherein his faith and main hopes were bottomed was most stable and sure and oh how doth this amidst al his prophetic fears touching the instable and tottering state of his familie revive and chear up his spirits For this is al my salvation and al my desire Let althings else sink or swim it maters not so long as the Covenant is sure and inviolable Hence Covenant-Grace is stiled the sure mercies of David The blessed God has obliged himself by Covenant confirmed by Oath and Sacrifice which are the most essential ties and therefore he cannot but be true and faithful to his word otherwise he were not true to himself And yet lo how jelous how suspicious how captious is Unbelief touching the certaintie of the Covenant Men are ready to confide in those who are sufficient and faithful specially if they have their Bond But yet Unbelievers dare not trust the Faithful Alsufficient God albeit they have his Bond or Covenant and that confirmed by oath So much for the Grace of the Covenant 2. The Covenant of Grace is furnished with Promisses not only of Grace but also of Providence which Unbelief is very apt to cavil at The Covenant of Grace is the Believers Charter not only for Spirituals but also for Temporals it extends to the very hairs of their heads the most inconsiderable things Surely they can want nothing who have Alsufficience engaged for their supplie It s true Means sometimes fail Ay but cannot doth not their wise Father feed them without means when he sees it necessary And are not such supplies by so much the more pure and sweet by how much the more immediate they are The lesse there is of the creature is there not the more of God in al our provisions Doth not our omnipotent God oft bring the greatest Triumphs out of the greatest extremites It 's true He doth not alwaies keep his people from the crosse ay but doth he not always keep them under the crosse Have not the most black and seemingly confused Providences an admirable beautie and harmonious order in them Did ever Believer need any thing but what he could better need than have Are not those Needs blessed that secure us from sin and make way for greater mercies Are not al Gods Providences spirited by mysterious wisdome and paternal love Is it not then the Believers Wisdome and Interest to suffer his Father to be wise for him How comes it to passe then that Believers themselves should be so unbelieving as to Gods paternal providence towards them Oh! what a mysterie of iniquitie is there in Unbelief as to this particular This Christ much cautions his Disciples against and upbraids them with very oft and that with sharp Rebukes So Mat. 6. 30. Wherefore if God so clothe the grasse of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven shal he not much more clothe you O ye of little faith As if he had said Doth God clothe the grasse of the field which is so fading with so much beautie and glorie And wil he not much more clothe you O ye short-spirited ones That which we render O ye of little faith is expressed by the Hebrews in such termes as import the anxious cruciating vexatious cares of such● who though they have enough for the present are stil ful of inquietude and distrust about future supplies Whence he addes v. 31. Wherefore take no thought saying what shal we eat c. i. e be not anxiously solicitous or incredulously thoughtful about these viati●s or necessaries of life And why v. 32. For after al these things do the Gentiles seek As if he had said Is it not a shame that you who are my Disciples should be as unbelieving as anxiously inquisitive about these things as the poor Gentiles who know nothing of my Covenant Thence follows another Argument or branch of the former For your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of al these things i. e Alas Why do you concerne your selves so much about these poor things Have you not a Father in Heaven who is mindful of and provident for you Doth he not wel understand al your needs And is he not engaged by Covenant to supplie you with al necessaries And hath he not promissed in this very case Psal 111. 5. To give meat to them that fear him and to be ever mindful of his Covenant Why then wil you not believe We find the like character of Unbelief as to the Providence of God Luke 12. 22. Take no thought for your life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 give not way to anxious distracting distrustful thoughts about the necessaries of life And then our blessed Lord gives the reason of this his Admonition v. 24. Consider the Ravens c. Luke makes a special mention of the Ravens because God has a particular providence and care of the young Ravens as both Job and the Psalmist observe The Hebrews have many observations about Gods care of the young Ravens The Philosophers also note how the young Ravens are neglected by their parents Hence Christ argues a minori How much more are ye better than fouls i. e surely if he be so much concerned for fouls how much more wil he concerne himself for you his Children Then he addes another Argument against Unbelief v. 25 26. And which of you with taking thought can adde to his stature one cubit c. Other Arguments are urged v. 27 28. Then he concludes v. 29. and seek not what ye shal eat or what ye shal drink neither be