Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	according_a	lord_n	way_n	3,348	5	4.6967	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70635	A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M. ...	Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30.; Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30. Offer of farther help to suffering saints.; Ward, Samuel, 1577-1640.	1665 (1665)	Wing M330; Wing M332; ESTC R232057	171,145	273

those things which are but vanity If God hath opened the eyes of thy mind saith the Mirrour it self and have given thee Spirit W●sdome through the knowledge of his Word See the glass to know thy self p. 13. 14 c. boast not thy self of it but rather fear and tremble for a chargeable Office is committed unto the● which if thou fulfil it is like to cost thee thy life at one time or other with much trouble and persecution but if thou fulfill it not then shall th● Office be thy Damnation For St. Paul saith W● is to me if I preach not And by the Prophet Ezeki● God saith If I say unto the wicked that he shall die t● death and thou shew him not of it the wicked shall 〈◊〉 in his iniquity but I shall require his blood at thy hand But peradventure our Divines would expound these Texts onely of them that are sent and have cure of souls Whereunto I answer That every man that hath the light of Gods Word revealed unto him is sent wheresoever he seeth necessity 〈◊〉 hath the cure of his Neighbours soul e. g. If God hath given me my sight and I perceive a blind man going in the way which is ready for lack of fight to fall into a pit wherein he would likely perish I am bound by Gods Command to guide him till he be past that jeopardy or else if he perish therein his blood shall be required at my hands Thus if I perceive my Neighbour like to perish for lack of Christs Doctrine then am I bound to instruct him with the knowledge God hath given me or else his blood shall be required at my hand Peradventure they will say that there is already one appointed to watch the Pit c. and therefore I am discharged and need take no thought Whereunto I answer I would be glad that so it were notwithstanding if I perceive that the Watchmen be asleep or run to the Alehouse c. and through his negligence espy my Neighbour in danger of the Pit then am I nevertheless bound to lead him from it I think that God hath sent me at that time to save that soul from perishing and the Law of God and Nature that bindeth me thereunto which chargeth me to love my Neighbour as my self Hag. 1. to do unto him as I would be done unto If God hath given thee riches c. thou art yet the very owner of them but God is the Owner who saith by the Prophet Gold is mine and silver is mine and he hath for a season made thee a Steward of them to see whether thou wilt be faithful in the distribution of them according to his Commands Our spiritual Possessionaries are double Thieves and Murtherers as concerning the body besides their murthering of the soul for lack of Gods Word which they will neither preach or suffer any other to do it purely but persecute them and put them unto most cruel death First they are Thieves and Murtherers because they distribute not what they have from charitable Forefathers to the intent it should have been ministred unto the Poor but upon Horses Coaches c. gorgeous apparel and delicate fare c. Thus they defraud the Poor of their bread and so are Thieves and because this bread is their life they are Murtherers also Besides they are Thieves and Murtherers for withdrawing their perfect Members from labour whereby they might minister unto their Neighbours necessities I speak of as many as are not occupied about preaching Gods Word Besides these and many other Treatises he wrote also several choice Letters whilest he was Prisoner in the Tower In his Letter to the faithful Followers of Christs Gospel See his Works pag. 81 82. he thus expresseth himself It cannot be express'd Dearly Beloved in the Lord what joy and comfort it is to my heart to perceive how the Word of God hath wrought and continually worketh among you so that I find no small number walking in the wayes of the Lord according as he gave us Commandment willing that we should love each other as he loved us Now have I experience of the saith which is in you and can testifie● that it is without simulation that ye love not i● word and tongue onely but in deed and truth What can be more trial of a faithful heart than t● adventure not onely to aid and succour by the means of other which without danger may not be admitted unto us but also personally to visit the Poor oppressed and see that nothing be lacking unto them but that they have both ghostly comfort and bodily sustenance notwithstanding the strait inhibition and terrible meancing of these worldly Rulers even ready to abide the extreamest jeopardies that Tyrants can imagine This is an evidence that you have prepared your selves to the Cross of Christ according to the Counsel of the Wise man which saith My Son when thou shalt enter into the way of the Lord prepare thy self unto tribulation This is an evidence that you have cast up your accounts and have wherewith to finish the Tower which ye have begun to build and I doubt not but he that hath begun this work in you shall for his Glory accomplish the same even unto the coming of the Lord which shall give unto every man according to his deeds And albeit God of his secret Judgements for a time keep the rod from some of them that ensue his steps yet let them surely reckon upon it for there is no doubt but all which will live devoutly in Christ must suffer persecution for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth and chasteneth every child that he receiveth If ye be not under correction of which we are all partakers then are ye bastards and not children Nevertheless we may not suppose that our most loving Father should do that because he rejoyceth in our blood or punishment but he doth it for our singular profit that we may be partakers of Holiness and that the remnants of sin which through the frailty of our Members rebel against the Spirit and Will causing our works to go unperfectly forward and may some deal be suppressed least they should subdue us and reign over us Of these things God had given me the speculation before and now it hath pleased him to put in ure and practise upon me I ever thought yea and do think that to walk after Gods Word would cost me my life at one time or another and although the Kings Grace should take me into his Favour and not suffer the bloody Edomites to have their pleasures upon me yet will I not think that I am escaped but that God hath onely deserred it for a season to the intent that I should work somewhat that he hath appointed me to do and so to use me to his Glory And I beseech all the faithful followers of the Lord to arm themselves with the same supposition marking themselves with the sign of the Cross not

God the day and hour of my birth was before ordained of thee and ever since thou hast preserved and kept me in great perils and dangers and hitherto delivered me out of all And if now the hour be come wherein I must pass out of this life into thy Kingdom thy will be done I cannot escape out of thine hands yea though I could yet Lord thou knowest I would not seeing all my felicity depends upon conforming my will to thine This World is not the place of our Rest No Heaven is our Home this is but the place of our Banishment Take into your consideration the honour the Lord doth you in giving you an Husband that is not onely called to be a Minister of Christs Gospel but also so highly advanced of God as to be accounted worthy to partake of the Crown of Martyrdom It is an honour which the Angels in Heaven are not capable of I am here taught to practise what I have preached to others yea let me not be ashamed to confess that when I heretofore preached I spake but as a Parrot in regard of that which I have now better learned by proof and experience Ward pag. 161. All my former discourses were as a blind mans of Colours in comparison of my present feeling Oh what a precious Comforter is a good Conscience I have profited more in the School-house of this Prison than ever I did in all my life before I would not change my condition with theirs that persecute me though I am lodged in the vilest Prison they have dark and obscure where I have no air to breath at but a little stinking Hole where they lay all their Rubbish and where the Drunkards commonly vent their Urine and though I be laden with Irons both on my hands and feet eating through the flesh even to the bare bones c. and that I may make no escape guarded with forty men before the Prison door When the Provost brought him tidings that he was to be burnt at Six Pag. 42. or there abouts that day He gave him thanks for the good News which he had brought him And going to the rest of the Prisoners he said Brethren I am this day to die for the Doctrine of the Gospel and now blessed be God I joy and rejoyce therein I had not thought that ever God would have done me this honour I feel my self replenished with joy more and more from minute to minute My God addeth new courage to me and my heart leapeth for joy within me Then exhorting them to be of good courage he told them it was no hard matter to dye adding by way of acclamation O how happy are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Beware you do nothing said he against a good Conscience c. For if you do you shall certainly feel such an Hell in your Consciences as will never cease to vex and trouble you O my Brethren how good a thing is it to nourish a good Conscience One of the Prisoners asking him Whether he had finished a certain work which he had begun He answered No for now I must cease to labour because I am passing along to the heavenly rest The time of my departing is at hand I go to reap that in Heaven which I have sown on Earth I have fought a good fight I am at the point of finishing my course from henceforth the Crown of Glory is laid up for me which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give unto me Methinks said he with a joyful and smiling countenance that my spirit hath obtained wings to fore alost into Heaven being invited to the marriage Supper of the Lamb. The Provost coming in with Bands Mr. Gay bid him welcome and gave him thanks again for his good news The Provost replying that it grieved him much that things should be carried so Mr. Gay joyfully answered I accept of you as my good Friend I love you with all my heart C. Caesar O Lord said Leonard Caesar do thou suffer with me Ward pa. 158. Lord support me and save me Caigneola Micha●la Caigneola Pa. 150 151. a noble Matron seeing her Judges look out of the Windows said to her fellow Martyrs These stay to suffer the torments of their Consciences and are reserved to judgment but we are going to glory and happiness When certain poor women wept and cried O Madam we shall never now have more Alms Yes hold said she yet once more and plucked off her Slippers and such other of her Apparel as she could with modesty spare from the fire Calberg I believe said Thomas Calberg to the Friers Pa. 153. willing him to repent at the last hour that I am one of those workmen in Christs vineyard and shall presently receive my penny Calocerius He seeing the great patience of Faustinus and Jolita Fox Vol. 1. pag. 53. Citizens of Briria in their very great torments cry●d out Vere magnus est Deus Christianarum Verily great is the God of Christians Which words being heard caused him forthwith to be apprehended and martyred with those two famous Christians Cane When a fool's cap was put on Alexander Cane's head Ward pag. 159. Can I have said he a greater honour done me than to be served as my Lord Christ before Herod Lord seeing my persecutors have no mercy have thou mercy on me and receive my soul Canesire There is one Passage in your Letter said Claude de la Canesire The Mirrour of Martyrs pag. 575. in a Letter to his Wife from Lions which doth not a little comfort me namely that albeit you are loath to leave me yet you had rather have no husband at all then to have one that should betray the cause of Christ Cardmaker Mr. John Cardmaker burnt in Smithfield 1555. Fox Vol. 3. pag. 250. in a Letter to a Friend writes thus You shall right well perceive that I am not gone back as some men do report me but as ready to give my life as any of my Brethren that are gone before me That day that I recant any point of Doctrine I shall suffer twenty kinds of death the Lord being my assistance as I doubt not but he will I have learned to rejoyce in poverty as well as riches for that I count now to be very riches I have conferred with some of my learned Adversaries and I find they are but Sophisters and shadows Careles John Careles of Coventry Weaver Fox Vol. 3. pag. 713. being wisht by Dr. Martin to play the wise man's part to save that which God hath bought I thank you Sir said he and I put you out of doubt that I am most sure and certain of my salvation by Jesus Christ so that my soul is safe already whatsoever pains my body suffers here for a little time Art thou so predestinated to life said the Doctour that thou canst not perish in whatsoever opinion

O ye generation of vipers who hath taught you to flie from the wrath to come But I will wound you no more with the words of the Prophets Pag. 64. or of this holy Saint of God John Baptist but with our Saviour Christs two most sweet parables of the two Sons and of the Tilmen to whom he set his vineyard I will labour to set before your eyes your rebellion hypocrisie and cruelty if so I can bring any of you to repentance He hath called you by his Word many a time to work in his vineyard I ask what you have answered Some of you have said plainly like rebellious children That ye would not do it that ye would not work in your Fathers vineyard Shall I apply this part to Scotland Scotland was indeed called most plainly and evidently through the mercies of God both by their own faithful Countreymen Pag. 65. and also by earnest travel of our English Nation to come into the Lords vineyard in the time of King Edward the Sixth but refused That time as ye know the vineyard in England by the children of God was not altogether neglected and then most earnestly were ye O Brethren of Scotland required to joyn hands with us in the Lords work but Satan alas would not suffer it His old fostred malice and Antichrist his Son could not abide that Christ should grow so strong by joyning that Isle together in perfect Religion c. Iest this one Island should become a safe Sanctuary as it began to be to all the persecuted in all places God hath also by the blood of his Saints shed amongst you by favour and friendship by war and the sword yea by famane and pestilence and also by all other means called you to labour in his vineyard but to this day alas we hear not of your humble obedience but still ye say with stubborn faces We will not labour we wil not be bound to such thraldome c. Yet think perchance I am too sharp and that I accuse you more than you deserve for amongst you many do know the will of your Father and many make profession of his Gospel but consider Brethren that it is not enough to know the Commandment and to profess the same in mouth b●t it is necessary that ye refuse your selves your own pleasures appetites and your own wisdome if ye shall be judged faithful labourers in the Lords vineyard and that ye bear the burthens together with your Brethren and suffer heat and sweat before ye taste the fruits with them God will not be content that ye look over the Hedge and behold the labours of your Brethren but he requireth that ye put your hands also to the labours that ye travel continually to pluck up all unprofitable weeds though in so doing the Thorns prick you to the bone that ye affist your Brethren in their labours though it be with the jeopardy of your lives the loss of your substance and displeasure of the whole earth I must needs leave thee Pag. 68. O Scotland after I have advertized thee of this that thou follow not the example of England but let thy reformation be full and plain according to Gods holy Will and Word without addition Let all the plaints which thy Heavenly Father hath not planted be rooted out at once Let not avarice blind thee nor worldly wisdom discourage thy heart let none bear the name of a Teacher that is known to be a Fosterer of Superstition or any kind of wickedness Thus must thou O Scotland repent thy former inobedience if that thou wilt be approved of the Lord. And now do I return to thee O England I do liken thee to the second Son in the Parable which answered his Father with flattering words saying I go Father but yet he went not at all For since the time I had any remembrance our Heavenly Father of his great mercies hath not ceased to call thee into his Vineyard and to these late dayes thou hast alwayes said That thou wouldest enter and be obedient In the time of King Henry the Eighth when by Tyndal Frith Bilney and other his faithful Servants God called England to dress his Vineyard many promised full fair but what fruit followed nothing but bitter grapes yea briars and brambles the wormwood of avarice the gall of cruelty the poyson of filthy fornication flowing from head to foot the contempt of God and open defence of the Cake-idol by open Proclamation to be read in the Churches instead of Gods Scriptures It grieveth me to write these evils of my Countrey Pag. 70. save onely that I must needs declare what fruit were found in the Vineyard after you promised to work therein to move you to Repentance and to justifie Gods Judgements how grievously soever he shall plague you hereafter Wherefore I desire you to call to remembrance your best state under King Edward when all men with general consent promised to work in the Vineyard ye shall have cause I doubt not to lament your wickedness that so contemned the voice of God for your own lusts for your cruelty for your covetousness that the name of God was by your vanities evil spoken of in other Nations God grant you all repentant hearts for no order or state did any part of his duty in those dayes But to speak of the best whereof you use to boast your Religion was but an English Mattins patch'd forth o● the Popes portess Many things were in your great Book superstitious and foolish all were driven to a present service like the Papists that they should think their duties discharged if the number were said of Psalms and Chapters Finally there could no Discipline be brought into the Church nor correction of manners Pag. 71. To what contempt was Gods Word and the admonition of his Prophets come in all estates before God did strike some men are not ignorant The Preachers themselves for the most part could find no fault in Religion but that the Church was poor and lacked living Sure many things should have been reformed before that the Kitchin had been better provided for our Prelates in England It was most evident that many of you under the cloak of Religion served your own bellies some were so busie to heap benefice upon benefice some to labour in Parliament for purchasing of Lands that the time was small which could be found for the Reformation of abuses and every little that was spent upon the feeding of your flocks In a word the Gospel was so lightly esteemed that the most part of men thought rather that God should bow stoop to their appetites than that they should be subject to his holy Commandments Even the Nobility and Council would suffer no rebukes of Gods Messengers though their offences were never so manifest let those that preached in the Court the Lent before King Edward deceased speak their conscience and accuse me if I lye yea let a writing of Northumberland's

behaved themselves boldly in Gods Cause as Stephen Peter Paul Daniel the three Children the Widows Sons in your dayes Anne Askew Lawrence Sanders John Bradford c. Be afraid in nothing saith Saint Paul of the adversaries of Christs Doctrine Phil. 1. the which is to them a sign of perdition but to you of everlaesting salvation Christ commandeth the same saying Fear them not Let us not follow the example of him who asked time first to take leave of his Friends If we do so we shall find few of them that will encourage us to go forward in our business please it God never so much We read not that James and John Andrew and Simon when they were called put off the time till they had known their Fathers and Friends pleasure but the Scripture saith They forsook all Mat. 13. and by and by followed Christ Christ likened the Kingdom of God to a precious Pearl the which whosoever findeth selleth all that he hath to buy it Yea whosoever hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the Kingdome of Heaven is will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it But the most part now adayes be like to Aesop's Cock which when he had found a precious stone wished rather to have found a barley corn so ignorant be they how precious a jewel the Word of God is that they choose rather the things of this world which being compared to it be less in valuê than a barley corn If I would have given place to worldly reasons these might have moved me the foregoing of you and my children the consideration of the state of my children being yet young apt and inclinable to vertue and learning and so having the more need of my assistance I was never called to be a Preacher or Min●ster and because of my fickness fear of death in Prison before I should come to my answer and so my death to be unprofitable But these and such like I thank my heavenly Father which of his infinite mercy inspired me with his Holy Ghost for his Sons sake my onely Saviour and Redeemer prevailed not in me But when I had by the wonderful permission of God fallen into their hands at the first sight of the Sheriffe nature a little abashed yet ere ever I came to the Prison by the working of God and through his goodness sear departed Little justice was shewed by Mr. Sheriffe but the less justice a man sindeth at their hands the more consolation in conscience shall he find from God for whosoever is of the world the world will love him After I came to Prison and had reposed my self there a while I wept for joy and gladness my belly full musing much of the great mercies of God as it were saying to my self after this sort O Lord who am I on whom thou shouldst bestow this thy great mercy to be numbred among the Saints that suffer for the Gospels sake And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection unableness sinsul misery and unworthiness and on the other side the greatness of Gods mercy to be called to so high promotion I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and gladness concluding thus O Lord thou shewest power in weakness wisdome in foolishness mercy in sinfulness Who shall let thee to choose where whom thou wilt As I have ever zealously loved the consession of thy Word Pa. 424. so ever thought I my self unworthy to be partaker of affl●ction for the same Some travelling with me to be dismissed upon bonds to them my answer was to my remembrance after this sort Forasmuch as the Masters have imprisoned me having nothing to burthen me withal if I should enter into bonds I should in so doing accuse my self ●e●ing they have no matter to lay to my charge they may as well let me pas● without bonds as with bonds Secondly if I shall enter into bonds covenant and promise to appear I shall do nothing but excuse colour and cloak their wickedness indanger my self nevertheless being bound by my promise to appear Afterward debating the matter with my self these considerations came into my head I have from time to time with good conscience God I take to record moved all such as I had conference with to be no dalliers in Gods matters but to shew themselves after so great a light knowledge hearty earnest constant and stable in so manifest a truth and not to give place one jot contrary to the same Now thought I if I shall withdraw my self and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the Coller I shall give great offence to my weak Brethren in Christ and advantage to the enemies to slander Gods Word It will be said he hath been a great emboldner of others to be earnest and fervent to fear no worldly perils and dangers but he himself will give no such example Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty both to God and man being as it were by the great goodness of God called and appointed hereunto to setaside all fear perils and dangers all worldly respects and considerations and like as I had before according to the measure of my small gift within the compass of my vocation and calling from the bottom of my heart unseignedly moved exhorted and perswaded all that profess Gods Word manfully to persist in the defence of the same not with sword and violence but with suffering and loss of life rather than to defile themselves again with the whorish abominaon of the Romish Antichrist So the hour being come with my fact example to ratifie confirm and protest the same to the hearts of all true Believers and to this end by the mighty assistance of Gods holy Spirit I resolved my self with much peace of conscience willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Antichrist should do against me When Mr. Warren the Chancellor willed the chief Jaylor to carry me to the Bishop I laid to his charge the cruel seeking of my death and when he would have excused himself I told him he could not wipe his hands so He was as guilty of my blood before God as though he had murthered me with his own hands He departed from me saying I needed not to fear if I would be of his belief God open his eyes and give him grace to believe this which he and all of his inclination shall find I fear too true for their parts that all they which cruelly maliciously and spitefully persecute molest and afflict the Members of Christ for their Conscience sake and for the true testimony of Christs Word Cause them to be most unjustly slain and murthered without speedy repentance shall dwell with the Devil his Angels in the fiery lake everlastingly where they shall wish and desire cry and call but in vain as their right companion Epulo to be refreshed of them whom in this world they contemned despised