Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	work_n	work_v	zeal_n	11	3	7.3291	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77155	Zeale for Gods house quickned: or, A sermon preached before the assembly of Lords, Commons, and Divines, at their solemn fast Iuly 7. 1643. In the Abbey Church at Westminster. Expressing the eminencie of zeale requisite in church reformers: / by Oliver Bowles, Pator of Sutton in Bedfordshire. Published by order of both Houses of Parliament.	Bowles, Oliver, ca. 1577-1646?	1643 (1643)	Wing B3884; Thomason E63_6; ESTC R9592	34,766	57

writers and fruitfull in all manner of wickednesse wherein the Pope got up on horseback What saith a good writer of the Clergy of that time What do we Ministers who are so much the more inferior to others in holinesse of life as we are more eloquent in words who stirring up others fall asleep our selves Ansb. in Apoc. lib. 5. c. 11. holding out light to others are so much the more darkned in our selves So when did Antichristianisme and Mahometisme grow to their full maturity An. Dom. 1300. Hug. in Ps 104 was it not then when the Prelates became I doll shepherds when the Pastors became Wolves and the Angels of the Churches Devills Was not the wickednesse of the Priests a principall in-let of the Saxons to expell the Brittains out of this land Brittany Vide Gild. a p. 58. ad finem saith a good Author hath priests but foolish ones they understand not Pastors as they are called but indeed Wolves ready to slay the soules of the people not seeking the good of the people but the fulnesse of their owne bellies c. So for matter of Doctrine when the Saxons invaded this land Beda lib. 1. c. 7. the Pelagian heresie had with a filthy contagion defiled the Brittaines faith Should not zeale bestirre it selfe when such evils as these overspread a State The second Head to be considered is what influence zeale ought to have into Reformers First Zeale will and must doe her work throughly It is Gods work men must not halve it there is danger least corruptions grow againe unlesse pull'd up by the roots Experience hath taught what sad persecutions a partiall reformation hath made way for What hope doth such an imperfect proceeding give to the enemies that wee will come on to them againe Secondly Zeal must and will summon all the powers of soul and body and all that we can prevaile withall to further the work God delights in men of activity he cares not for the dull Asse to be offered in Sacrifice the neck of it was to be broken It was earnest Baruch that had the prayse above the rest The twelve Tribes did serve God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neh 3.20 Act. 26. What should wee be earnest for if not for God and his cause Wilt thou be earnest for thy friend thy profit thy pleasures and cold for thy God Thirdly Zeale after she is convinced of the justice of the cause over-looks all dangers though never so great So Caleb when hee heard of the difficulties resolves Let us goe up at once So Esther If I perish I perish So Saint Paul What doe you weeping and breaking my heart It also treads under foot all allurements all hope of great things God doth now as good as say That which I have planted Ier. 45.4 5. I will pluck up and seekest thou great things for thy selfe 2 King p. 26. Is it now a time to receive money and to receive garments and Oliveyards and Vineyards and sheep and oxen Fourthly Zeale helps a Reformer against the tentation of being alone This prevailes much especially where the devill and our carnall friends carch us at an advantage and amplifie the discouragement How have the mighty been here overthrown Zeal takes notice for the support of her selfe of Ioshua his resolution Chuse yee whom yee will but I and my house will serve the Lord So of Elias his complaint that he was left alone 2 Tim. 4. Vnitos est fundamentum numeri So of Paul At my first answering no man assisted me Zeale takes notice that numbers begin in one and had there not beene one first there had never been two Fiftly Zeale commands perseverance and holding out in the work Many begin in the spirit but end in the flesh how many brave worthies that blossom'd faire come on as promising great things yet have split them upon the rock of an unfound heart withered away if not in the end proved false to God and their Countrey worthy Patriots for a time but their hearts failing them they prove 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as relinquish their station In Christianis non initia sed fines laudantur He only receives the Crown that overcomes That heat in a Reformer that is from heaven will hold out not that which is meerely adventitious set on work from outward causes The third Head how zeale must bee qualified 1 It must bee founded in knowledge the understanding is the eye of the soule As mettall is dangerous in a blind horse so zeale when not directed by a judgment well informed zeale as fire must have light as as well as heat It is Hell where there is heat and no light but utter darknesse The minde and so zeale cannot bee good without knowledge The Jewes zeale defective in that not according to knowledge This zeale must not be conjecturall Rom. 10.1 probably seeming such only as wee have received from others without examination Nothing more ordinary then plentifull allegations of Scripture to carry a cause it matters not how specious and frequent quotations of Scripture there bee as what they prove upon found tryall You whom God hath betrusted with this work take not all for gold that glisters 2 It must bee ordered with wisdome zeale must bee wary as well as warme Fire is good but in a wise mans hands that will not put it into the thatch fire is good in the Chimney but if it catch the rafters of the house it sets all on fire Sapientis est videre non quid debeas solùm sed quid possis In the encounter with vice to bee Reformed wisedome will not have a Reformer to set upon the Reforming Quando necesse id ut sit impar vitio that will but enrage vice more Many mischiefes men that meane well are subject to even their good endeavours Eccl. 10. but wisdome is profitable to direct Beware here of that overwary discretion that destroyes reale 3 It must bee tempered with love zeale is apt to bee harsh but love lines the yoak and makes it easie to bee borne fit zelus said my Author but non immoderate saeviens August in 6. Galat. c. Love takes us off from all bitternesse to mens persons Dilige dic quod voles love and say what you will Love allowes us to be warme sharp home in our reproofes but not scalding hot The stomack admits not that which burnes the lips nor the eare that reproofe that is contumelious Love calls upon us as to bee zealous for the truth so to make it our work to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Ephes 4.3 What should rend and divide us one from another whom the Lord hath united with so many bonds as to meet in one God one Christ one Spirit one Faith one Baptisme one Heaven Farre be it from us on whom the Apostle hath laid so many charges if any consolation in Christ Phil. 2.1 if

have made bold to make a supply of that which at the time of the delivery I could not inlarge Further this being a fixed rule to me Inter concionandam emineat ver●un Dei. That Gods Word should in preaching have the preeminence wonder not that I alledge Authors in such cases wherein the al●egation of them does not prejudice Scripture As first when an Historicall truth is to be made good for though the Scriptures do only determine Quid verum quid falsum What is true and what false yet for the information of our selves Quid novum quid antiquum we must have recourse to the writings of men Secondly if God himselfe when hee would shame men for their evils sends them to learne from the creatures 2 Ierem. 10.6 Prov. 6. 1 Cor. 1● 14 why may not wee send men living in the dayes of light to learn of darker times Thirdly when being to reprove the evils of the time for removing of prejudice wee deliver our reproofes rather in the words of Antiquity than in our own Facilè patimur reprehensores qui remotiori feculo vixêre So the Papists did embrace many things in the writings of the fathers as Catholike which they condemned in Luther as Hereticall And now what remaines but that wee all humbly pray the God of all truth and peace who alone is able to facilitate all difficulties to direct and guide you Honourable Senatours to poure upon you that spirit of wisedome and courage that you may goe with a settled resolution never to give over till you have established truth and peace in our borders and the same God magnifie his power in our weaknesse and multiply the gifts of his Spirit upon us whom you have been pleased to call together to advise with in the great affaires of the Church that we may so discharge our duties that God may have glory and his people the good that they expect and pray for and your and all our enemies may have their faces covered with shame So prayes Your servant in the Lord Oliver Bowles A SERMON Preached before The Assembly of LORDS COMMONS AND DIVINES Vpon their Fast Iuly 7. 1643. JOHN 2.17 And his Disciples remembred that it was written The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up THe Prophet Malachi prophecying concerning the Lord Christ that he should in due time come to visit his Church sets him out as a Refiner as a Purifier of silver tells us that he should purifie in speciall the Sonnes of Levi purge them as gold and silver Malach. 3.3 that they might offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesse And as an accomplishment of this prophecy the same Lord Christ gives a Specimen in the story immediately preceding my Text by that heroicall fact of his in whipping the buyers and sellers out of the Temple an evill which the Priests for their gaine had somented I call it an heroicall fact for that it was done by a speciall spirit in its kinde not imitable by us The which act of the Lord Jesus being carried on with an eminent and remarkable zeale and magnanimity gave the Disciples an occasion of calling this to minde The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up Of which his zeale we have a remarkable discovery in these particulars 1. In the weaknesse of the meanes whereby he did both attempt and effect the work in that the persons but few in comparison and those despicable in the eyes of the world Christ and his Disciples not armed with any weapons that might carry dread and terrour with them at most but with a whip made of a few small cords which probably were scattered by the Drovers which came thither to sell their cattell and to some of them with his voice only Verse 16. he said to the money changers Take these things hence and it was done 2. In the strength that the opposite power did hold out which makes the encounter so much the more dangerous 〈◊〉 in ●oc●m As first a garrison of Souldiers in Arce Antonia ready at hand to appease as it is probable occasionall Tumults Secondly the temper of the mens spirits with whom the businesse was they were men set upon gaine the worlds god Thirdly the great confluence of the people it being the most solemne Mart of the Passeover Behold then the greatnesse of Christs zeale when neither the weaknesse of the meanes on the one side to effect it nor the greatnesse of the power on the other side to hinder it did at all dismay him or cause him to desist from this attempt of reforming that so apparent an abuse of the Temple the house of God Learne we hence that Observ It matters not how weak the meanes of Church-reformation is not how strong the opposite power is if we can but draw Christ into the businesse Heb. 5.2 Esay 30.21 Iohn 16.13 Ier. 15.20 Esa 26.12 if we can procure him to fit as President in the Assembly If he be there he will heale our ignorances hee will cleare up all our doubts he will guide us by the spirit of truth he will be as a wall of Brasse against all our adversaries he will work all our works for us I do ingenuously confesse that when we do consider and view the difficulty of the work of Church reformation and our weaknesse who are summoned to be advisers in the work it may amaze us but when we look upon the Lord Almighty the great Jehovah the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to whom nothing is too hard who hath broken through gates of Iron and Barres of Brasse which we could never have dreamed that they had been perviable this againe may raise up our spirits and give us hope that if we seek the Lord in his way he will certainly be found of us Zach. 4.6 It is all one to him whether by an Army and by power or by quickening the spirits of his raising them above themselves Verse 10. whether by a day of small things or by doing terrible things that wee looked not for Isai 64.3 hee bring about his Churches cause Zach. 4.7 It is nothing to him to make Mountaines plaine Who art thou O great Mountaine The Lord by the Prophet speaks in a holy scorne of all the enemies the Jewes had in rebuilding the Temple and City Wee accordingly by a grant from the Right Honourable the two Houses of Parliament with so many of them as have beene pleased to embody themselves with us are assembled this day to afflict our soules in Fasting and Prayer before the Lord that we may seek of him a right way in these great and important affaires to be treated on that he would give us such a frame of spirit such an assistance from on high such a cleare light as may raise us above our selves fit us for that work whereunto we have no sufficiency as from our selves ●●ya 8.21 Thus did Ezra and the Jewes out of a conscience of their owne

Ecclesiast●cis Quid est qued c. Ezek. 22.26 Lib. de Eccles defect Quid est quod Gladius Ecclesiae scilicet Excommunicatio extrahitur pro re nihili ut pro re nummariâ This once established will direct us to put a difference betwixt the holy and the prophane the cleane and the uncleane for want whereof the Lord challenges the Priests Hath not this been and is it not yet in a great part remaining upon us as one of our land destroying sinnes the promiscuous thrusting in of scandalous and ignorant persons upon the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to the horrible prophaning of the same and no power that would hitherto bee allowed as legall no not for making stay of such Misunderstand me not I meane not that men should be cut short of that latitude which the Lawes of Christ allow only let that hedge and mound of Discipline be erected whereby holy things may not be indifferently administred as well to men egregiously prophane and that after conviction as to the Lord his holy ones Thus of things now of persons These bee as all Church Officers whereof a ground in Scripture so more specially the Ministers of the Word the Dispensers of holy things These if good are the best of men as who are one of a thousand Ioh. 33 2● 2 Cor. 5.19 when others at the utmost but one of foure or five hundred to these God hath committed the Ministry of Reconciliation even of God with men these the Lord hath betrusted with the power of opening and shutting Heaven when the like Commission is not given to the Angels themselves for to which of the Angels did God ever say Whatsoever yee binde on Earth is bound in Heaven c. These worthily stiled Saviours Iohn 20.23 Obad. 1.21 and of such as these Reformers hold out a hope all their endeavours are and ought to be that the Churches those who have sate in darknesse and in the shaddow of death may bee furnished with bright shining lights Now as these who attend at the Altar if good the best so if evill the worst for as it is among the Marriners who see the wonders of the Lord in the deep they either are the best or worst of men the best if what they see works for the best or the worst if not bettered so we Ministers whom God acquaints with the depths of Scripture come off from that priviledge either as most prophane or most holy If Salt hath lost its favour what is it good for but to be cast to the dunghill What hope of salvation for such where remedies are turned into loathing poison as a Qualis spes salutis esse poterit ubi quae suerint remedia convertuntur in nauseam venenum Gerson tract de vita Cler. Gerson And hence is that of b Chrys hom 40. in Math. Qui● unquam vidit Clericum cito respiscentem Chrysostome Who ever saw a Clergy man easily brought to Repentance And does not that work which will thus reserve all honour to Gods ordinances keep them from the prophane ones furnish the Church with faithfull watchmen and ridde us of such burdens as are of all other most insufferable require our utmost zeale Reason 2 The second particular evincing the necessity of zeal is the difficulty of the work in respect of the mountianous oppositions Reformers shall and must encounter with as first not onely a large-spread but also an unanimous combination of the Churches enemies Gebal Ammon and Amaleck the Philistims and them that dwell at Tyre and they have consulted together with one consent c. Pope Spanyard French and the whole generation of the English-Jesuites Papists and Prelaticall Faction and Libertines all looking upon the work of Reformation not only as hindring their design their good work in hand as they call it but undermining their Kingdome How industriously vigilant are they in laying out themselves their heads hands and purses They leave no stone unremoved that may hinder our work or promote their own Doth not all this challenge our utmost zeale Secondly in respect of the prevailing nature the close adhering of Church-mens as they are called sinnes with whom Reformers must contest These are sensuality ambition and idlinesse It was the Monks bellies and the Cardinalls Caps which as Erasmus observed did create Luther his greatest trouble Sensuality is a sinne where ever it seizes maximae adherentiae of the greatest adherence as the Schoole speaks a Prov. 23. last v I will though smitten saith the drunkard seek it yet againe and of sensuall sinnes it is said b Prov 2.19 They return not againe The Philosopher could say c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The intemperate man is seldome a penitent man The guise of such Church-men an old Writer deciphers as those which did turn their d Petr. Blessensis Ep. 7. scribere into bibere and their codices into calices Such the Prophet describes e Isai 55.12 Come say they and we will fill our selves with wine and to morrow shal be as to day f Fran. Duarerus de Beneficiis Another describes them as patinis magis quam paginis incumbentes Such belly-gods as these g Bernard Serm. 30. in ●ant another sayes of them no dainties suffice them as if to bee judged rather by their complexion then their profession Against such evill beasts and slow-bellies not only the Ancient h Concil Laodic can 24. Concil Carthag tertium Synod Turonensis Councels and Synods but even Iulian himself shall rise up in judgment He perceiving that the Christian Faith did grow and encrease by the sobriety and abstemiousnesse of their Ministers gave command to his Arch-Flamine Arsatius that his Priests should not drink in a i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tavern if any should doe so he should bee removed from his Priests Dignity and for that horse-leach humour of ambition which hath so eaten up the vitals of our Clergy-Masters May wee not see a picture of them in Balaam who that he might have been capable of Balack's great perferments how doth hee wind and turn himselfe every way that he might curse Gods people Num. 22. 23. How lively doth Bernard decipher them Curritur in Ecclesiastica c. learned and unlearned runne ad curas Ecclesiasticas ac si sine cura victuri cum jam ad curam pervenerint as if men were to live without all care when they came to a charge The same authour tartly derides them when hee speaks on this manner k Festina mu●t●plicare praeb●ndas inde evola ad Archidiaconatum d●in as●ira ad Episco●atum nec ●bi requ●e●● habiturus quia sic ●t●r ad astra Q●o progrederis m●ser Bern. i● Serm. Ec●e reliquimus ●●nia Hasten to multiply Prebends from thence flie to an Archdeaconry at length climb up to a Bishoprick not satisfied with that because this is the way to Heaven Whether dost thou post ô miserable man So a

any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill my joy that ye be of one accord and one mind Doe not our Adversaries studdy to make rents among us shall we gratifie them weaken our selves Doe not they cry out that if they can but devide us they shall conquer us It is memorable what is reported of Iulian Amian Marcell de Julian lib. 22. that hee did nourish dissentions among Christians ut non timeret postea unanimem plebem Vse 1 If zeale bee so requisite a grace in him that God calls to bee a Reformer then we must give diligence that our zeale may be of the right stamp As every grace so zeale may and often hath its counterfeit as First If it want a true light There be false lights that mislead men over bogges and dangerous places we are exceeding apt to be misled when prejudiced by mens persons their learning or holinesse antiquity or novelty as if we were necessarily to receive a thing because ancient or to reject it because new a Inter iuvenile Iudicium s●nile praejudicium perit veritas by a hasty engaging of our judgments before we be able to judge and an unwillingnesse to retract when we have judged by an b Non tam an licet quam ut liceat undue enquiry when we rather seek that things may be lawfull then whether they bee lawfull or not when transported by selfe conceitednesse of our owne opinion it is onely the eye-salve of the spirit by the Word must guide us To the Law and to the Testimony Esay 8.20 Secondly If it suffer not it selfe to be ordered by wisedom This takes in right meanes as conducing to a right end there is a precipitaney in zeale whereby hee that hasteth in his matters sinneth There is a spirit of deliberation and counsell consider consult then give sentence Eccl. 10.25 then practise A good cause often miscarries by indiscreet bandling The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because he knoweth not how to goe to the City Ignorance of the right meanes tires out men in their endeavours to no purpose Thirdly If it easily fall into wrangling and quarrels Love that is and ought to bee the orderer of zeale suffereth long 2 Cor. 13. beareth all things endureth all things love knowes that a little breach will quickly bee a great one It prevents them or speedily makes them up It gives the water no passage no not a little zeale for God is tenderly respectfull of mens persons It is wild-fire and not zeale Dan 5.15 Acts 26.24 that casts fire-brands and arrowes and deadly words and sayes I meane no harme Prov. 26.18 19. Fourthly If zeale bee right she will not bate ought of what lies under the command of God no not a hoofe its false zeale that cryes neither mine nor thine but let it hee devided that makes nothing of small matters True zeale drives on the work of Reformation so as it leaves not the least remnants of Baal removes all high places as considering that great persecutions have been raised upon small matters and that conscience is a tender thing as the eye the least moat troubles it Fifthly If our zeale bee only flashy like those unnaturall heats that come and goe by flushings it is not right wee have many that begin well are hot and eager while in such a company while they have such props while carried on by such hopes while not assaulted with such-tentations while they thought the cause would goe thus they were hot and eager in the work of Reformation but as things alter from without they alter from within even to the totall remitting of their zeale Sixthly If true zeale as that which hath the cause of God in the eye then tract of time multitude of discouragements falsenesse of men deserting the cause strength of oppositions will not tire out a mans spirit zeale makes men resolute difficulties are but whetstones to their fortitude it steeles mens spirits with an undaunted magnanimity Vse 2 If zeale be so necessary in a Reformer then wee are all first to blesse God for that fire of zeale the Lord hath kindled in many of your hearts right Honourable and beloved whereby you have been willing to spend and to be spent for the common cause We may read your zeale in your unwearied paines in your deniall of your selves in matter of profit and pleasure in the many hazards you have runne even of all you are have or may expect in the railings and speakings against of men Have not we cause to be thankfull for that zeale of yours whereby you have taken off unsufferable burthens from our backs for the many snares from which you have for the discovery of and delivery of us from most dangerous ruining plots for the many precious Ordinances of Parliament that have issued out for the common good Have not many unworthy scandalous and soule-starving Ministers been displaced and good ones placed in their roome Hath not the Lords day been restored to its pristine sanctification and by burning the book of Sports with other Commands for the better sanctifying of the day been vindicated from all those former unsufferable profanations How have superstitious monuments been defaced secret Idolatries suppressed Seducers of the people been banished the Land For all these and many more everlasting honour shall be upon the head of you our Reformers Goe on and prosper You Noble Parliament Worthies doe worthily in our Ephrata and be famous in our Bethlehem so shall the Lord make your names as a savotry ointment crowne you with his best blessings make your Families flourish when you are dead and gone remember you according to all the good you have done for Gods cause But above all that you have found out a way in these distracted times wherein Religion it selfe groanes under the wantonnesse of our people loathing the Manna and hunting after Novelties under the uncouth and irreligious opinions crept in among us under the bitter divisions that overspread City and Countrey to call an Assembly of able and Worthy Divines with whom you might advise for the settling of Doctrine Worship and Discipline Oh that this work had been sooner in hand Not only have you found such a way but you have embodied many worthies from among your selves with us Have not we a double benefit hereby first you by this your association put honour upon us who should without you in the eyes of many carnall men have been very despicable secondly by this happy conjunction you both help to order us who are ignorant of the nature of such meetings and withall by a seasonable interposall may stay divisions among us Only wee have a double suit to you 1 That you would not suffer the work to be either spun out beyond what is meet or yet hastily slubber'd over Not the first for that the enemy is sowing tares and much harme may be done