Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n
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A61217
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A clear apology and just defence of Richard Stafford for himself with a rehearsal, and further explanation of what he hath done concerning national affairs.
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Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing S5110; ESTC R219673
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45,943
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40
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likewise he will stir up the Hearts of more for one may be an hundred and to ten may succeed a thousand who will in like manner fully accomplish what is here imperfectly begun for I do only speak out the thoughts of thousands and what the Conscience of all even mine Enemies being Judges doth assent unto And though others by reason of Unbelief and Distrust fear and the distates of fleshly wisdom are Isa 56. 10. quiet and still so that as in the dayes of Elias I do appear alone Rom. 11. 3. and they account me a Fool or a Mad man because I know whom I have believed I can stay on my God as to the present and discern his Promises as to the suture I will go in the Strength of the Lord God I will make mention of thy Righteousness even of thine only Psal 71. 16. And I do here affirm that if I were not hindred by the Devil and his visible Instruments who have already twice cast me into Prison that I might be tryed Rev. 2. 10. God knows only what may be done yet further as to mine own Person but I trust as he sits above and is the Almighty God King of all Kings and Governour of all things whose Power no Creature is able to resist So he will over-rule all and manifest that he is stronger and will prevail And then if his Word hath free Utterance and Passage it will do yet more then Armies and Fleets national Laws and meer humane constitutions For it will Rebuke the Company of Spear-men and scatter the People that delight in War and break their cords and snap their bands asunder And the same Spirit may be again revived who through Faith subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained Promises stopped the Mouths of Lyons Heb. 11. 33. It is observoble how the Holy Ghost expresseth it here and also Psal 15. 2. Isa 32. 17. Asts. 10. 34. by the phrase of working Righteousness for that implies Labour difficulty and succession of time It must be worked out and way made as we use to say in common speaking And though the Enemy who lets may here again surmise that this is a troublesome spirit which must be taken off in the beginning and utterly extinguished before it speads too far for at this rate we shall never have any Peace or Quiet Yet let them know that here the Heathen do rage and the People imagine a vain thing as quite to suppress it and they think falsly that it will put things out of order He still and know that there is a God above who will continue to send out his Light and his Truth till it over-spreads and prevails over the Face of the whole Earth And whoever in the mean while shall endeavour to quench and stifle it this is direct walking contrary Lev. 26. 21. and striving with their Maker And it â—hall be at length upon them as a consuming Fire to devour its Adversaries and they shall find it is hard to kick against the Pricks The more they oppose Truth it will strike deeper and wound and lay them in a greater condemnation All the World must be subject unto God If People do not provoke him to Anger he will do you no hurt Jer. 25. 6. He is not a terrour to single Persons Families or Nations unless they do that which is evil and transgress his Laws and then by further Restlesness and Provocation they draw a much greater severity of his threatnings and punishment on themselves Wilt thou not be afraid of the Government of God over the World as he doth exercise the same by the still Voice of his Word and Spirit Do that which is good Righteous then thou shalt have the approbation of our God at the present time to which succeeds an eternal reward All People High and Low Rich and Poor or whoever they be had better be Obedient and Submissive under this Almighty Power who sitteth King for ever Psal 29. 10. For they might live as contentedly under him as Subjects under the most Lawful Excellent Prince Children under the most loving just wise Father Servants under the best of Masters Whereas it people be never so impatient and toss to fro it is to no purpose but to gaul themselves yet more Only have a good mind towards God and shew your selves accordingly to his Embassadors who come with the Word of his Truth for no other intent and purpose but that there might be Glory to God in the highest on Earth Peace Good-will towards men Luk. 2. 14. Then Judgment shall dwell in the Wilderness and Righteousness remain in the fruitful Field And the work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness quietness and assurence forever And my People shall dwell in a peaceable Habitation and in sure Dwellings and in quiet Resting Places Isa 32. 16 17 18. POSTSCRIPT LEt no Man either in the Transcribing or Reprinting add unto nor diminish nor alter any thing in this Testimony of Truth without my Knowledge or Assent R. S. FINIS
A Clear APOLOGY AND Just Defence OF Richard Stafford For Himself With a Rehearsal and further Explanation of what he hath done concerning National Affairs But truly I am full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment and of Might to declare unto Jacob his Transgression and to Israel his Sin Hear this I pray you ye Heads of the House of Jacob and Princes of the House of Israel that abhor Judgment and pervert all Equity They build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity The Heads thereof judge for Reward and the Priests thereof teach for Hire and the Prophets thereof divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us Micah 3. 8 9 10 11. But Judgment shall return unto Righteousness and all the Vpright in heart shall follow it Psal 94. 15. All the Words of my Mouth are in Righteousness there is nothing froward or perverse in them They are all plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find Knowledge Prov. 8. 8 9. Printed in the Year 1690. TO THE READER A Preface may seem unusual and impertinent before an Apology But it is necessary to advertise the Reader somewhat before lest when he comes to see such serious Truth applied so exceeding close and forceably He be frightened quite away that he cannot endure to see what here is Published And there will arise a secret Prejudice why I should not seek out smooth Things and Soft Words as do others but the Land is not able to bear all these Words Why then doth the Land act and commit such Things which are here spoken of with more Peace and Gentleness than they are done Indeed I am naturally averse from tormenting the Minds of Men and also I do understand what becomes Education Civility and Custom of the world as do others But it being my Duty and Business according to the Grace and Knowledge intrusted with me to endeavour to turn People from Iniquity unto Righteousness I ought or otherwise I am not faithful in my Office to use the most cogent Arguments and to press them with the utmost force and power which I can The Words of the Wise are like Nails fastened by the Master of Assemblies so whoever doth not drive the Nail of Exhortation home to the very head and fasten it as much as he can on every side He doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully It is gross Ignorance and foolish Imagination to be frightened at Words for they do express Things which have been or are now transacting and passing on or shall be hereafter and these not the bare Picture and visible Representation of them we should indeed fear and endeaevour to avoid VVe think it better and more safe to read of a pitcht Battel a bloody Sea-fight a consuming Fire Plague or such like than to be in the midst thereof yea We would willingly know thereof and be shewed the way how we may keep out escape and prevent such evil things So likewise every one doth desire to hear and know of Good Things and how themselves may obtain and partake thereof It is the same yea more Danger and Loss to be willingly Ignorant of what is contained in the Word of God For as sure as things were first made are now upheld have their beginning and end increase and decrease and every Thing is according to its Nature and Kind and moves and goes on as we now see with our bodily Eyes we look upon and our Hands handle and we conceive in our minds so the same Word will be to every tittle fulfilled as we are warned and foretold of But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 7. It is the worst sort of Vngodliness not to like to receive God into their knowledge It is Rebellion which is as the Sin of Witchcraft and Stubbornness which is as Iniquity and Idolatry to reject the Word of the Lord 1 Sam. 15. 23. as was said to Saul the King for even the Kings and Judges of the Earth do commit Rebellion against God We will here assert the Government of God over all Nations and Rulers come what will of it to my weak and frail Person as themselves must acknowledge cannot gain-say the same Nor yet do they well to be angry with one who is a Worm and no man a Reproach of men and despised of the People for as they are Reasonable Creatures Themselves would not have destruction come upon them at unawares and notwithstanding the secret excuse they have now every man in the deep of his Heart yet then they will think it hard but just to be condemned for what they knew not but might have known if they would If they will Still Despise and Wonder and Perish it is to themselves If they think such an one is mad only because he would prevent their own Misery then indeed their Eyes are darkened that they see not It happens here according to Christ's Method and Prediction that they which see not might see and they which see might be made Blind John 9. 39. Poor and Ignorant People do discern the Truth when it is hidden from the Wise and Prudent whom it most concerns In the latter dayes they shall consider it perfectly VVhen for Despising will be Anguish and sad Reflection for Stubbornness Pain and Misery VVhatever kind of reception these VVords shall meet with in the world The best Apology for them is their own Truth and Signification A Clear APOLOGY and Just Defence of Richard Stafford for himself c. THe Word Apology in common apprehension seems to presuppose fault or inferiority and doth often come by way of Excuse mitigation or begging Pardon Whereas the Compiler of these following Lines is not conscious to himself of any Crime or Offence he hath done to his own Nation And also as he stands in the rank of Creatures hâ— will not acknowledge so much of the other as the Pride of Man and Arrogancy of Tongues would imagine and speak forth But to get out from the Perplexity and Labyrinth of Words and Persons come we to Things and we would no otherwise consider the several Thoughts Words and Actions of mankind but with relation to them Indeed we cannot know as God knows for that we may take the more notice of it it is thrice asserted and repeated The Lord looketh from Heaven He beholdeth all the Sons of Men from the place of his Habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth their Hearts alike He considereth all their Works Psal 33. 13 14 15. whether Good or Evil to Reward or Punish And give to every Man according to his Ways whose Heart thou knowest for thou even thou only knowest the Hearts of all the Children of Men 1 Kings 8. 39. This