Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
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A63270
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The saints declining state under gospel administrations, or, The case of desertion briefly stated in a few considerations by William Troughton ...
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Troughton, William, 1614?-1677?
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1652
(1652)
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Wing T2318; ESTC R6248
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32,617
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114
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THe Saints are cloathed with the Sun yet often under a Cloud Their path is like the morning light shining more and more unto the perfect day yet they often decline Cloudings are their affliction and Declinings are their sinne To prevent or remedy either is a great worke Both are aimed at in this little Treatise wherein the case of a Spirituall declension is distinctly stated and the symptomes of it clearly represented So that the Christian Reader comparing his heart and life with this discourse may either praise God for his growth or pray away his decayes in grace Soul-declinings are too visible among the Saints in England And therefore I judge it seasonable to make this or any faithfull Discovery and cure of them legible June 9. 1648. Joseph Caril THE SAINTS Declining state UNDER Gospel Administrations OR The case of Desertion briefly stated in a few Considerations with several Symptomes of the Saints Decreasing and Declining in Spirituals Very useful in these times wherein there is much of Notion and little of the Power of Godliness manifested By William Troughten Minister of the Gospel at Wanlep in Leicestershire LONDON Printed by J. M. for Livewell Chapman at the Crowne in Popes-head Alley MDCLII To his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Generall of the Parliaments forces Noble S ir THE God of Armies hath done great things by you as an instrument for the peace and security of his people in this bleeding Kingdome I may speak it without flattery that you are the glory of England and so you will be ever esteemed by all true English-men your place is honourable your birth is noble but much more your spirit which God hath raised and fitted for great and honorable acheivements When Saul was made King of Israel the Lord gave him a royall spirit fit for Kingly government and surely when your EXCELLENCY was appointed Generall of the Parliaments Army a fourefold portion of the spirit of wisdome courage and meeknes was poured out upon you that you might be as bold as a lyon and yet as meek as a lambe which two excellent vertues have shined forth in your conversation The Lord hath given large testimony to your faithfulnesse by many unparelled successes so that the Army under your EXCELLENCIES command since they were first modelt'd have not been frustrated in any warlike attempt and however some discontented spirits that are engaged to a faction censure your proceedings yet I am confident there is no man that hath a drop of true English blood runing in his veines or that hath a right understanding of the privileges of the subjects of England but will blesse God for you and make an honorable mention of the very name of the Lord Farfax and the army under his command You are yet on the stage and many eyes are upon you he that hath hitherto enabled you to play your part wisely for the preservation of three bleeding Kingdoms will I doubt not in his own good time bring you off honourably and all those under your command that are acted by the same principles of publique interest T is true deare Sir there are divers members of your Army as there will be in such a numerous body that are slight-spirited and hold many heterodox and unsound opinions which no sober Christian can approve of yet this I can speake uppon mine owne certaine knowledge That there is a pretious publique spirited people in your army a people that mourn for the divisions of the times a people that seeke the glory of Christ and not their owne honour a people that walke much with God and have a close communion with bin and who recount continually with much thankfulnesse the sweete providences and dispensations of God towards them and the whole Kingdome by them As for your Excellency It hath pleased the Lord to try you severall waies not only by the malitious slaunders of open adversaries and by your 〈…〉 weaknesses but also the unChristian and ungratful censurings of pretended friends and of these their are two sorts i those that are riged in their opinions and practice touching Church goverment and 2 another sort who are or were lately members of your army that pretend to be above formes and to have an extraordinary knowledge of divine misteries but to speake the truth they are low and carnall and disobedient to lawfull authority both civill and martiall and indeed the power of our good God hath wonderfully appeared in carying you through these great temptations and difficulties with much settlenesse and chearfullnesse of spirit If the Lord had not been on your side may you say you bad been swallowed up ere this and the prosperity and happinesse of three Kingdomes in you Let the Lord have the glory of this as hee hath had of his other mercies from your Excellency Sir I am bold to tender this little treatise to your Excellency if I did not look on you as humble and spirituall I should not present it to you for it is not sutable to the wisdome and greatnesse of the world but to the experience of humble Saints with whose hidden priviledges and comforts I doubt not you are well acquainted Now the Lord stablish you in the truth and blesse you and yours with all spirituall and heavenly blessings in Christ Your EXCELL humbl and faithfull servant W. T. To the Reader Christian Reader I Have observed of late that the Saints generally through out this Kingdome have loft much of the power and vitalls of Religion since they entred on needlesse disputes and while some pretend to live above Ordinances and Formes they live below God and Christ in and upon the world and although they offer liberty to others yet they themselves as the Apostle speakes are the bond-slaves of corruption being lull'd asleep by Satans delufions so made insensible of the want of those reall injoyments of God which they have had in his Ordinances * See the Epistle of 12. Ministers to the Reader before the Book intituled The cleare Sun-shine of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indions in new England lately set forth by T.S. I have therefore thought it my christian dutie to publish this small Treatise as that which may be usefull for such Professors if God give a spirit of humility self-denyall which though it be dressed in a simple and homely phrase without the varnish of humane elocution yet it discovers some spirituall experience of the work of Gods spirit which infinitely surpasseth all humane and acquired abilities The poore Indians in New England may shame the Professors in Old Enland Others have treated on this Subject in printed bookes but as I humbly conceive with due regard to their elaborate discourses they speak not fully to the present condition of the Saints and to these times of confusion wherein the mystery of iniquity works in a high measure under guilded and specious pretences and Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light What shall we say of this