Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	french_a	queen_n	scotland_n	2,582	5	8.8342	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39752	The church wounded and rent by a spirit of division held forth in a short account of some sad differences hath been of late in the Church of Scotland, with the occasion, grounds, and too evident product therof whose wounds are bleeding to this day : togither with some vindication of the truth, and principles of our church in this present state of things from unjust revilings and reproach, and a few words in the close with respect to what are the greatest concerns of Christians exercise and duty in these times.	Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694.	1681 (1681)	Wing F1263; ESTC R20193	71,267	55

in this age I shall but offer some special reflexions now sutable to such a day and of so known publick and unquestionable evidence to the Church that when brought near to our thoughts may let us see how farre the advantage and measure of these confirmations of the truth given in to this generation does exceed that of former times and I should hop such an exercise might be of use and blessed through the Lords gracious concurrence for Christians furthest confirming thus but to reason with themself and have more deep reflectings thereon 1. What ever hight this present assault from popery may come to yet we know how solemne a triumph the Gospel hes had and that surly it is the same truth and cause of the reformed Church for which so great things hath the Lord wrought when that blest revolution once came after Antichristian darkness had overspread the face of the World for many ages so as the full stroak and down fall of that Kingdome seems not more marvelous and above all humane appearances when now at a distance then what we have already seen 2. That it is clear how extraordinare a power did attend this blest work of the Churches rising and that astonishing swift progress thereof as nations seemed to be borne at once and the earth to bring forth in one day Churches was then both planted and confirmed betwixt the Year 1521. and 70. like a new Christian World thus brought forth and setled yea how farre this was above visible means and how little interest instruments had therein as it may be still said let none fear or stager at the promise of God though difficulties in an ordinare way seem insuperable after we have now seen what the Lord hath don these last ages 3. That it is so evident how with the first shining forth of the truth and doctrine of Christ in the purity thereof the life and power of Christianity came also therewith to the world and how this blest light did lead in to greatest tenderness in the walk and practise of Christians which we might see yet as still present before us how extraordinare an effusion of the spirit of God this was which caused then so marvelous a change and lustre on the Church 4. Have we not seen to confirme us of the truth these prodigies of cruelty hath been acted by the popish party such as some immediat power and incitement of the Divell can only answer and hath so farre outgone the ordinare rate of humane cruelty as if Infernall spirits had then come and assumed human shape to act this way yea is evident that no such measures can be found under the heathenish persecution against the Christian Church and in that strange way and manner followed as the French and Irish massacre hath been 5. That such horrid practises also hath been consequentiall to their doctrine and principles so as this hath not only been dispensed with 〈◊〉 by that Church but accounted as highly meritorious that it may be now easy to judge where that spirit and way tends and what might be expected where this long 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fury should but once get a vent 6. Have we not seen also no possible m●●●… security from such whose greatest strength hath thus been to move still in the dark and by surprise to make their greatest assault yea whose very religion does so evidently subvert all truth and mutuall confidence amongst men 7. But have we not also seen amore excellent spirit and invicible power hath been to bear up against all this cruelty and rage and how great a seal thus hath been to the Protestant ●●…se and doctrine in these late times by innumerable witnesses who even in their extreamest sufferings did so convincingly evidence a joy unspeakable and undoubted sealing of the comforts of the Holy Ghost on their soul 8. That these likewise were rare examples of the truth and reality of holyness in their day and of humility and subduedness to the flesh yea of tenderness and bowels of compassion to their persecutors whom the Lord did thus call and prepare for such a sacrifice 9. That no precipitancy or stubbornness in the least was in their way but as with great assurance of minde so with a tender humble and deliberat acting their study then was by rationall conviction to deall with the conscience of adversaries in a willing rendering the reason of their faith and suffering with all meekness from the scripture with a reference thereto before the world to be tryed and searched out in what any could object 10. Have we not seen the power and wisdom of God most brightly shine forth in that day in the weakness of means and that no speciall peice of service was then called for but a most surprising and discernible call and excitement of instruments thereto who in the same spirit by which others were helped to suffer was remarkably then carried out to act in defence of the Gospel much above themselves and their ordinare reach 11. Have we not seen also that no great thing was by the Lord then brought forth for his Church but some remarkable hight of trouble went before and how every step of her rise and prevailling over Antichrist hath been still ushered in with some sore conflict and down casting lyke the Pangs and throwes of the birth before a delivery 12. Have we not clearly seen that no humane power since the breaking forth of this blest light of the gospel could yet ever reach its end against the reformed Church though no possible way and chainge of weapons have been left untried but how most visibly the work of their own hands hath ensnared them herein and tended more to the furtherance of the gospel 13. And might it not be confirming what hath been so clear to see the reformed Church of France get so sweet a clam yea fixt in a setled state with outward peace and legal security by the Catholick league there andby such a formidable conjunction as was therein of persons and interests for her utter ruine 14. To see four Kings of France successively taken away in 30 Years all upon the same designe and in a vigorous pursuite to destroy the Protestant interest there and in them that race of the house of Valois wholy extinct of whom two were by a violent death Henry the second and third and this last so remarkably from that very airt with whom he had most concurred and joyned in counsell as particularly with the Duke of Guise for the massacre but both falling and destroyed by other in a short time 15. To see the Netherlands fixt both in a setled state and Church by that bloody engine of the Spanish inquisition set up there and severe cruelty of Philip the II. as the very mean made most subservient thereto 16. To see the Protestant doctrine more effectually promot and rooted in England by the bloody dayes of Queen Mary then the peace full calme of King Eduard who had gone before 17. To see the violence and falshood of Queen Douager and inbringing of the French to Scotland to bear down and destroy the Protestant interest there such an effectual mean and advantage for its rise and further establishment 18. To see the blood and cruelty by Ferdinand the II. in Bohemia in so very short a time most visibly returned on himself to a making Germany almost desolate and for many years to sume in its own blood by the Swedes and their confederats 19. To see that horrid late Irish massacre in a few years after resolved in an utter rooting out almost of that cruel party who had moved therein with such a discernible sunshine of the liberty of the Gospel as did follow after in that land 20. I must here add which may be clear and confirming this day how so strange a falling in with popery hath been now these 20. Years past in Brittaine and what ground that interest hath gained there hath so visibly had its strength from that airt of atheisme ignorance and the getting up of a prophane Spirit which as a prodigie and deluge hath thus broke forth in these lands once blest both with the purity and power of the Gospel beyond most of the Churches and how such hath indeed found it easy to quite the truth who yet never knew it besides the influence and suting of such a baite as this way is to the temper of so licentious a time and for some private interest when that hath been under so favourable an aspect FINIS