Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	christian_n	great_a	king_n	2,405	5	3.6424	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85370	The discoverie of a publique spirit: presented in a sermon before the Honourable House of Commons at Margarets Westminster, at their publique fast, March 26. 1645. / By William Goode B.D. pastor of Denton in Norfolk, on of the Assembly of Divines.	Goode, William, b. 1599 or 1600.	1645 (1645)	Wing G1093; Thomason E279_4; ESTC R200027	24,847	37

one star in the firmament Those that are exalted starres in the firmament of earthly power if like that star in the East they lead to Christ thousands will be induced to follow by their example Assoon as Constantine the Emperour was converted and became a Christian all the Roman Empire became Christians also Assoon as the king of Nineveh repented all the city turned from their evil ways Jonah 3. 10. Secondly because Publike persons have opportunity to do most good their wisdom justice piety and zeal make thousands happy Magistrates and Ministers are the great wheel of a Kingdom and if they move in the Sphere of true Religion and the power of godlinesse all the lesser wheels must outwardly at least conform to their motion A good father may make a good family a good minister may make a congregation good but a good Magistracy and a good ministery may make a whole Kingdom good Thus I have shewed you why the godly serve their generation now I come to shew how this service must be performed And this I shall give you in two particulars First how the persons must be qualified and secondly in what manner they ought to act First how the persons must be qualified Those things that are requisite in good servants to their masters are requisite in such as rightly serve the publique First good servants are obedient to their masters just commands and none are fit servants for the publique but such as are obedient to Gods commands such as have a true interest in God through the Covenant of Grace in Iesus Christ All godly men are serviceable and none but godly men can be truly serviceable to their generation Without true Grace we can neither act throughly comfortably nor succesfully for God First Not throughly Many acts of this service are higher then we can be carried either by the hopes or helpes of Carnall reason Sometimes it will be necessary to employ all adventure all expend all we have and upon this very condition Christ gives admission into Gospel Service Luke 14. 33. but this a wicked man will never come up unto for God The world is his All which by his own Principles he cannot leave but be undone And therefore as the king of Navarre said to Beza That he would lanch no further into the Sea of Religion then he might be sure to return safe into the haven so these will accompany a good Cause as far as they can carry their worldly profits and contentments with them But Grace that doth elevate the heart above all the feares and flatteries of the World that might any way stop us in that service God calls us to Hence Saint Paul Phil. 4. 13. I can abound and I can suffer want I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Gods people feare not to make Beneficence their Patrimony because they have the best Assuring house in the World for their adventures the promises of God Their hopes of heaven make them willing to sacrifice all they have on earth in Christs cause Heb. 10. 34. They took ioyfully the spoyling of their goods knowing in themselves they have in heaven a better and more enduring substance Secondly wicked men they cannot act comfortably that is acceptably The prayers much more the cares of unregenerate men are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 28. 9. God may use unregenerate men to do good offices to his Church yet this will bring no true comfort to themselves because they seek not Gods glory in what they do God made use of Cyrus to deliver his people out of captivity and to repaire the decayed estate of the Church and Common-wealth of the Iewes Ezra 1. Of Balaam to blesse his people Of Nebuchadnezzar to command all Nations Countries and Languages to worship the God of Daniel Of Hiram to prepare timber for the building of his Temple Of Marcus Aurelius the Emperour to enjoyne the Senate of Rome to make an Edict that they should be burnt quick g that accused a Christian because of his Religion But all these were but like Noahs carpenters that built an Arke to save others while they were destroyed with the flood Thirdly wicked men cannot do publique service so succesfully as the faithfull they have no right to Gods promises which are onely made to those that are in Christ to those that are sanctified and in covenant with God They cannot call in Gods wisdom to direct them nor Gods goodnesse to assist them nor Gods power to strengthen them in great undertakings as the children of God may do A petition preferred to a Prince would not speed when of necessity the petitioner must subscribe himself a Traitour to his Majestie The countrey of Tyre and Sidon having need of Herods favour made suit to Blastus his chamberlain that was gracious with him And Themistocles being to make a great request to Philip king of Macedon took with him young Alexander Philips beloved son We can onely then speed with God when we can by faith take Iesus Christ with us to be our intercessour And hence it is that one Moses can doe more with God then a thousand Pharaohs one Eliah more then a thousand false prophets one Abraham more then a thousand Sodomites They that would do much with God must be men of much faith and holinesse in the sight of God Secondly good servants are such as know their masters busines that so they may leave nothing undone which their duty calls for So good publique servants must be such as acquaint themselves with the true state of those affairs they are trusted with that so they may be alwayes ready to perform those offices that publique necessity will impose upon them Nehemiah enquires exactly of the state of the Church and Common-wealth of Iudah by Hanani and others that came from thence Nehemiah 1. 2. And Ioseph examined his brethren very strictly concerning the affaires of his father Iacob and his family when they were sent to Egypt Gen. 45. There is no such way to get on the bowels of compassion and to oyle the hinges of all our abilities and to make us act to purpose for the Publique as to be well verst in the calamities of the times and to read often over the booke of Sions lamentations Wee must know the wounds of Church and State and be able to search them before wee have either skill or will to heale them Thirdly good servants love their Masters And that wee may rightly serve the Publique we must get a tender affection to the good of Church and Common-wealth in which we live There may be many tall Cedars in Church or State yet if they do not beare this fruit of the Spirit Love they more shadow then shield the plants that grow under them and doe but cumber the ground they stand on There is nothing will be at so much paines and cost and therefore nothing makes a man so serviceable as Love 1. Cor. 13. 4.

Love endureth all things is bountifull seekes not her owne nothing will adventure like Love Cant. 6. 8. Love is stronger then death The Ancients were wont to paint Love with many Crownes upon the head because this rules all our affections and commands all we have The good Centurion in the Gospel builded the Iewes a Synago gue a pious and a costly worke the reason is given in those words before He loved our Nation Luke 7. 5. David did many excellent and glorious services to the Church of God and the reason was his Love Psal. 16. 2. All his delight was in the Saints that were on the earth A greater work then the Creation of the world was mans Redemption and the cause of this was Love Iohn 3. 16. Love is that which will never be bribed to desert the Publique as Tully though but a Heathen could say I would not accept of immortalitie for a reward to bring any detriment to the Common-wealth Publique service many times meets with the most grating ingratitude of any other as a Heathen told his son that much desired to have a publique employment he took him and shewed him the antiquated plancks of a weather-beaten ship and said Thou must looke to be contemned like one of these If therefore you think to beare up your spirits in publique service you must get much love to the publique good Fourthly good servants are couragious to preserve and defend what their Masters commit unto their charge When David kept his fathers sheepe he fought with a Lion and a Beare 1 Sam. 17. 34. And so publique servants must be men of courageous spirits Courage is a grace of God whereby wee are enabled to performe such actions as are full of difficultie and danger and such for the most part are actions of publique concernment The Prophet Zachary compares them to the levelling and making plaine of mountaines Zach. 4. 7. in the 91. Psal. v. 13. they are compared to the treading on the Lion and the Adder And therefore when God set Iehoshaphat about the Reformation of the Church of Iudah it is said that his heart was lifted up or incouraged in the wayes of God 2 Chron. 17. 6. his heart was raised above the fear of any opposition When Ioshua was called to fight the battels of the Lord God gave him this Commandment over and over 1. Iosh. 6. Be strong and of a good courage and verse 7. Only be strong and very courageous That spirit onely is fitted for publique service that dares encounter with any difficulties or dangers in the world Musculus approved himselfe to be of a courageous spirit upon an accident that put him to the triall f A Nobleman one Reinard that much loved him knowing that hee was gone abroad to preach in a village disguised himselfe and taking many of his horsemen with him came rushing in at the Church dore and in a threatning manner bad him come out of the pulpit Musculus desired hee might have leave to finish his Sermon and then he would goe whither they would carry him hee then went on without any signe of feare exhorting the people to constancy in the Faith when the Sermon was ended the Nobleman embraced him and admired his courage which indeed was fit for his employment Eusebius Samosetanus was of the like spirit who when Constantius threatned to cut off his right hand because he would not subscribe to an unlawfull thing as he desired he held up both his hands to the messenger that was sent to him and told him he should take them both rather then he would doe it g Fiftly good servants are wise in ordering their masters affaires to the best advantage so publique servants must be men of wisdome When Moses was to direct the children of Israel in the choice of Governours he saith Deuteronomie 1. 13. Chuse ye wise men and knowne among your tribes And when our Saviour sent out his Apostles he bade them Be wise as Serpents Matth. 10. 16. This is required in all Magistrates Psal. 2. 10. Be wise O ye kings be instructed ye that are Iudges of the earth This wisedome is First to discerne betwixt good and evill It is a wofull thing in any to call evill good or good evill Isai. 5. 20. When this is but the peoples sinne you may see the fruit of it Ier. 4. 20. Destruction upon destruction the whole land is spoiled and why ver. 22. My people is foolish they have not knowne me they have no understanding they are wise to doe evill but to doe good they have no knowledge Now if ignorance of good and evill be so dangerous in any much more in Rulers and hence it is that Solomon saith Woe to thee O land Eccles. 10. 16. when thy King is a childe and Proverbs 28. 16. The Prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressour Rulers have the power of rewards and punishments which are the greatest outward meanes to draw a people either to misery or happines These have power to enact lawes to be other mens rules and if these set up iniquitie by a law how will this hasten the destruction of such as shall obey the laws by which Christ must be crucified and Barabbas released prognosticate a desolation and therefore God was exceedingly pleased with Solomons choice and Solomon happy in making that choice when being called unto the Kingdome of Israel and being bidden to aske what he would hee said Give thy servant an understanding heart to iudge thy people that I may discerne betwixt good and bad 1 Kings 3. 9. Secondly the wisdome requisite in publique persons is to act seasonably Matth. 24. 45. Hee is a faithfull and wise servant that giveth the houshold meat in due season Opportunitie is the winde and tide to carry on all affaires and makes that feazable which at other times is not possible to man When Daniel understood by Bookes Dan. 9. 2. That the seventy yeares of Jerusalems desolation were accomplished he presently set his face unto the Lord God to seek deliverance by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes A wise heart as Solomon saith Ecclesiastes 8. 5. discerneth both time and judgement Thirdly this wisdom is to act orderly that is to file businesses for dispatch according to their weight necessity or consequence to preferre the publique before the private to build Gods house before we build our own to secure the rootes of happines Religion and Lawes before the branches as peace and wealth and case and plenty and the like If the publique ship of common safety perish no man can ever save his own cabbin Thus you have the qualifications of the persons Now of the manner of their acting This in two things First We must serve the publique sincerely that is herein seeking primarily the glory of God and the advancement of the publique more then our private benefit which may be involved in the publique interest This is Gods rule

greatest Monarch in the earth yet when he heard of the desolations of his brethren in the land of Judah sat down wept and fasted prayed certain daies unto God for their deliverance This may speak much comfort unto those that mourned twenty yeers ago for the removall of Germanies calamities but they that never brought water to quench the flames of Christendom till the fire broke out in their own houses may question whether the common cause or their own private interest is the great wheel of their motion Terentius that was Captain of the Guard to Adrian the Emperour gave a remarkable testimony of a publique spirit who putting up a petition to the Emperour that the Orthodox Christians might have a Temple by themselves to worship God in apart from the Arrians the Emperour tore his petition and threw it down and bade him ask somthing for himself and it should be granted but he modestly gathered up the pieces of his petition again and told him If he could not be heard in Gods cause he would never make any request for himself Fourthly this is a signe of a publique spirit when in all our our undertakings we act by the rule of Gods word and that onely equally and fully First Onely when we labour the advancement of the Church or Common-wealth onely in wayes approved by God Peace to as many as walke according to this rule Gal. 6. 16. Thou shalt not doe evill that good may come thereof is a Rule that holds in all actions whatsoever ayming at a right end and using of lawfull meanes are never to be separated in any undertaking Gods glory can never be intended sincerely in that action which is carried on by sinfull meanes though it seem never so much to hold out the advancement or benefit of the Church or Common-wealth First because God is more dishonoured by the commission of one sin then the greatest sufferings of the creature Secondly because the use of sinfull meanes to effect Gods worke is plainly to deny Gods attributes his infinite power wisedome goodnes and faithfulnes as if he were not able in his own way to bring his own ends to passe It was a good worke which Asa did when he endeavoured the defence of his kingdom against the enemies thereof yet because hee called in unlawfull help God tells him he had done foolishy intimated that his heart was not perfect and said that from thenceforth he should have warres 2 Chro. 16. 9. Jeroboam made a more easie and a more cheap religion then God appointed to establish his new erected kingdom but it was because he sought his own honour and not Gods 1 Kings 12. 28. to 31. Secondly as publique spirits act only so likewise equally universally by Gods rule They make conscience of doing one thing as well as another even every thing within the compasse of their calling and abilities that tendeth to the advancement of the Publique Artaxerxes was convinced that Gods work must be throughly done when he gave that command to his Treasurers Ezra 7. 23. whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven for why should there bee wrath against the Realme of the King and his sons Sincere reformers of the Church will not leave the work untill every thing in religion is refined and established according to the patterne Every duty God commands hath the stamp of his glory upon it and he that doth one duty for Gods glory sake will do all that God cals him to If one part of the body sweat and the rest be cold it is a Symptome of unsoundnes as Physicians say To be zealous in one particular of Gods wayes and worship and not in all is a certain signe of an unsound heart The Prophet Ieremy saith of the Israelites Ier. 32. 23. They had done nothing of all that God commanded them to doe Now it is evident they did hear Gods word kept their Fasts offered Sacrifices and many other things but God valueth these as nothing because they did not all things he commanded their partialitie did manifest those things which they did to be done with hypocriticall spirits Iehu his heart was not right and this is given as the reason of it He was very zealous to destroy the posterity of Ahab and the worship of Baal yet he kept up the Calves at Dan and Bethel 2 Kings 10. 29. Saul his heart was not right because his execution of justice wanted its due Latitude when he spared Agag and the chiefe of the spoyle It is a signe of uprightnes in matters of justice when the direction of the Prophet Amos is perfectly observed Amos 5. 24. Let iudgement runne downe like waters and iustice as a mighty streame First let judgement be like water which is pure and cleansing lawes must be good such as may cleanse away all the oppressions of a land Secondly justice the execution of these lawes must be like a mighty streame which admits of no stop in the course of it it must extend to all and neither feare nor favour nor cousin nor brother nor bribe make any diversion of it Thirdly publique spirits act by Gods rule fully that is they come up to the rule in the height of their courage and self-deniall for God They undertake and go thorow with that they are called to notwithstanding any hazards or dangers in the way When S. Paul was called to be the Apostle of the Gentiles to preach Christ unto them he objected not the persecutions he might expect but presently went about his worke without any carnall reasonings against it saying I conferred not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. 16. This is the Character the holy Ghost sets upon Caleb Numb. 14. 24. And he followed God fully he was a man of another spirit that is a right publike spirit that obeyed every command of God and carried on his cause with any perill to himself the strong walls and the great Anakims in the land of Canaan could not deter him from making war against them when God called his people to this service Those that come up to Gods rule must be willing to sacrifice their dearest worldly comforts for Gods honour A publique spirit will teach us to set light by our ease our wealth our honour our friends our life to manifest our love to God in great undertakings for his glory When there was no other way of deliverance visible for Gods people but for Hester to lay her life at the stake yet she forthwith resolveth to make an adventure saying onely If I perish I perish Hest. 4. 16. Vriah would not own his family comforts or take his ease at home while Ioab and the Arke of God was in the field where he might doe better service though it was with the perill of his life By these examples wee may see what it is to come up to Gods rule fully in publique service I have now in some measure withdrawne