Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	bless_a	jesus_n	lord_n	4,865	5	3.3913	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70775	A sermon preacht at St. George's Church at Windsor Septemb. 27. 1685. By Edward Pelling, chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. Printed by order.	Pelling, Edward, d. 1718.	1685 (1685)	Wing P1099A; ESTC R23220	13,734	30

Now if we too take this Christian this Prudent and effectual course who is he that will go about to annoy us Little Troubles indeed we must never expect to be free from as long as the VVorld standeth For the Church of Christ hath ever been vexed with some Briers or other some Thorns have ever been in its sides nor hath Our Church been without them we have had some Brambles of our own growth that have made our Church not only smart but bleed too Nay we have had such of late as like that Bramble in the parable Jud. 9. would in all haste have been Reigning over us and would have devoured all the great Trees in Lebanon Perhaps we may never be free from those scratching but contemptible Shrubs as long as the old Curse continues upon the Earth some or other may still be springing up among us But the Church can never dye of a Thorn nor can such paultry things do us any considerable injury especially when they are over dropt by the Tall Cedars while we shall be protected under their shaddow if we do but know and adorn our Station and grow in Grace and be manifestly and plainly mindful of that which is good What hard Usages did yet Primitive Christians undergo who were taught not with Briers and Thorns only as the Expression is Jude 8. but with Harrows and and Axes too And yet you see what advice was given them here in the Text and because experience and matter of Fact is such a strong argument I have particularly shew'd you how successful that advice was and even in those most discouraging times when Tyranny was the Government and Paganism was the Religion of the VVorld Blessed for ever blessed be God this is infinitely far from being any part of our Case Nay but that some love to be ungrateful both to God and Man methinks we should all look upon our selves as obliged I am sure we are highly bound to tender Heaven our most hearty Thanks that notwithstanding all our High and Monstrous Provocations that which is proper for us always to consider and think of God is still so propitious to us as that we have a very fair prospect touching the security not of our Persons and Fortunes only but of that too which is and ought to be far dearer to us than our very Lives I mean our Establisht and incomparable Religion Having therefore such encouragements and those grounded upon such Foundations let us in the Name of God once more observe the directions in the Text and shew our selves still hearty followers of that which is good We may be sure no valuable injury can be done us if we our selves be but careful to do Our part that which is both our Duty and interest to do Therefore instead of leaping over our Line to trouble our selves and the VVorld with inordinate Fears let us seriously apply our minds to our Business our proper and necessary business not doubting but that which served so to carry out the Old Christians will serve much more to secure us not from Calamity only but even from danger of it Two things especially were unjustly laid to their Charge viz. that their Religion was New and that they themselves were wicked When once these two points were fully cleared Sovereign Princes became not their Friends only but their fellovv Christians too Novv as to the first of these an accusation vvhich hath been unjustly laid to Our charge too vve have made it abundantly evident to all sober and teachable though prejudiced persons that our Faith is that vvhich vvas once for all delivered unto the Saints This vve vvill for ever abide by this vve vvill be bound to make evident still But if men vvill not see our Evidence vve confess it is not in our povver to vvork such a Miracle as to put eyes into the blind and force them to see vvhether they vvill or no and yet I cannot tell but time and Constancy may do even that too as it did in the former Ages of Christianity As Our Faith is manifestly Pure Catholick and Apostolical so let us do it that Honour and Right novv especially as to make it plain and Evident to the World that our manners are suitable thereunto This vvas the Great Evidence that in ancient times did by degrees so affectually convince the Enemies of our Religion for by observing the Excellent Lives of Christians they vvere Naturally led first to a search then to an Admiration and in the end to the profession of our Doctrines and by these means our Religion came not only to a quiet but to a Regnant condition in the World For your imitation and Encouragement in this Case shall I now at the close of this Discourse tell you what those good things were which were then so taking and amiable in their Eyes Why in short it was this an entire sincere and Universal Practice of the precepts of Christianity St. Paul hath drawn up all into a short Summary in Philip. 4. A place where he advised the Philippians to be careful for nothing meaning the things of this World which the generality of men are apt to be most careful for Be careful for nothing ver 6. and then he adds ver 8. Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are Honest whatsoever things are Just whatsoever things are Pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of Good Report if there be any Vertue if there be any Praise think on these things These things the Primitive Christians had learned and received and heard and seen in the Holy Apostles as it follows there and as they did and practiced these things so the God of Peace was still with them till he made their very Enemies to be at Peace with them also Yet by the History of those times I observe that there were some special and particular Vertues which the Pagans took great notice of and were induced to be very favourable and kind to the Christians for As Severus the Emperour was exceedingly pleased with that Command of our Blessed Saviours so that he had it engraved upon his Plates Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do you unto them In like manner other Princes were pleas'd and taken with some singular Remarks in the Lives of Christs followers which they observed perhaps above other things because they did most conduce to the Honour and interest and peace of their Government And these were the things The Primitive Christians were very diligent and honest in their several Callings they minded their own business not medling with matters that were out of their Sphear especially with the business of their Governours They studied to be quiet and as much as in them lay lived peaceably with all men They were just in their dealings with all men and very Candid and charitable in their censures of their Rulers They abhorred that Villanous Practice of suspecting and reviling Magistrates They were afraid for Conscience sake to raise and disperse lies to render Princes odious but did ever put the kindest Constructions upon their Counsels and proceedings that they were capable of They would not by any means affront them or contumeliously use them or speak evil of them or pray backward for them I mean pray for their i●l fortune or ruine as some pestilent Men would now adays make us believe no they behaved themselves towards them though mortal Enemies to their Faith with modesty and reverence and all due respect They paid them their Tribute Mony honestly they served them in their Wars with all Fidelity and Courage If any thing was required of them which was inconsistent with a good Conscience and the Laws of Christ they would decline it indeed even unto Death but still with tenderness and a Religious regard to the Honour and Authority of the Emperor They lookt upon him as Gods immediate Minister next to God and subject only unto him and therefore unaccountable to any in this world and accordingly they feared and honoured nay loved him because he was Gods Deputy here below and in the Earth Supreme They never went to their Devotion but the Emperor had a great share of it and even when times were ominous and threatning then too they would pray for his Health and long life for Victory in his Arms and for his wellfare and good success in all his just Undertakings As for resistance they detested and disclaimed the very thoughts of it so that they would suffer themselves to be cut in pieces rather than they would rebel though several Laws were on their side and they had the Sword in their Hands and had strength and Forces enough to to make the whole Empire tremble In all lawful instances none more ready to obey none more faithful in their obedience but in other Cases none so willing to dye at their Princes Feet as the Christians were These are some of those things which are honest and just and pure and lovely and of good report and by following these good things the World was at last satisfied that they were good men and so the Church by degrees wrought it self out of those difficulties and hardships which it felt and lay under when our Religion first entred into the World Happy shall we be now if like the Old Christians we be thus followers of that which is Good so that all men may see and be convinced that we are so This is that which will be a security to our Church an Honour to our Religion a Comfort and satisfaction as well as a security to our selves 'T is that which will not only bring Peace to us in this Life but will bring us all to those unspeakable Joys and Comforts in another where infinity of pleasure is laid up in store as the endless portion of all those Blessed Souls that Love the Lord Jesus in sincerity FINIS