Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A26203
|
Englands common-wealth shewing the liberties of the people, the priviledges of Parliament, and the rights of souldiery : with epistles to the persons mentioned ... / written by John Audley ...
|
Audley, John, Preacher of the Gospel.
|
1652
(1652)
|
Wing A4202; ESTC R1402
|
34,551
|
48
|
The love of God knowes no relations where men love not God that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ Religion rebukes all manner of transgressions in all sorts of men A mans neighbour is as himself and he loves his neighbour as himselfe Diligit in proximo quod in se ipso diligit diligit proximum candem ob causam propter quam diligit scipsum He properly loves his neighbour as himself who in his neighbour loveth God and Christ whom he loveth in himselfe and who loveth his neighbour for Christs sake for whose cause he loveth himselfe God and Christ in himselfe and in his neighbour is the rule of his love to both Where the image of Christ shines more in his neighbour he loveth him more then himselfe but Christ he loveth most And seeing the image of Christ defaced in his neighbour or by him he loveth him lesse for the greater love that he bears to God Like Levi's son who said to his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor know his own children for they have observed thy word and kept thy Covenant Deut. 33. 8 9. For that respect they bare to God and Christ above themselves They mortified all inordinate Affections they had to their own kindred hating their own life to follow Christ Luk. 14. 26. And thus David did who loved perfectly hated Gods enemies with perfect hatred Psal. 139. 22. and punished those who hated God whom they ought to have loved A Slanderer an high-looker a proud hearted man I will not suffer he that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight Psal. 101. 5 6 7. The Properties of Freedome The first sort of these Freedomes is Naturall and in perfect Nature it was perfect Freedome Then man loved God for that man saw in the perfect nature of God and had man persevered in that perfect state man had been perfectly free to this day The second sort of Freedome is Con-naturall For though men be free-borne yet are they borne under the Lawes of their Nation and the lawes of our Nation do not annihilate but only determine our naturall freedome The third sort of Freedome is ad-naturall because Religion addeth some thing to Nature to regulate and to order mans Freedome The Law of God gives directions to perfect the freedome of Nature and of the Nation and sometimes gives reproofes to correct the imperfectnesse of them both As men failed touching the law of Nature so they fell under the Law of Nations and as men failed of the law of their Nation so they fell under the law of God and as their sin was greater so they fell under the sorer rebuke and punishment and greater offenders the rather stood in need of the blood of Christ ad redemptionem to make a Purgation Of the spirit of Christ ad resipiscentiam to make them know their sin and to repent of it Of the Rod In correctionem for a reproofe among men for their scandalous offences against themselves against the people and against God And when the sword of the spirit did not cut men off from their transgressions but they brake all bands then Nature took the help of Lawes and men appealed for justice to them that bare the sword to defend their naturall Liberties and for recovering their Nationall Freedome did with the sword of the Magistrate punish offenders against God and the People and the rather when transgressors continued impenitent implacable and irreconcileable The consequences of Freedome The Lawes of Nature Nation and of God are subordinate one to another God is above the people and the people above a mans selfe Personall and private interest must give place to the Publike Interest of the People and of the Commonwealth And in the Cause of God Who is above all thy interest and the Peoples interest also must give way to the glory of God Wherefore in the punishment of evill doers private-pitty must give way to publike-safety of the people fearing God Pereat unus potiùs quà m unitas It is expedient for us that one man should die for the People that the whole Nation perish not John 11. 15. What here Caiaphas said in his policy Christian Magistrates must doe in piety For thus God himself took part with Nature punishing Caine for shedding Abels blood Gen. 4. Burning Sodom and Gomorrah for injury don to righteous Lot by that wicked people Gen. 19. Bringing in the stood upon the world of the ungodly and saving Noah A Preacher of righteousnesse 2 Pet. 2. 5. Helps of Freedome First God himselfe hath prescribed to all people Lawes to keep up Nature in Freedome and to rebuke the unnaturall Gen. 9. 6. who so sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed not by force and violence but by course of Law It is a Law of God that respects not the persons of man his blood must be shed for the blood shed by him who ever he be Numb. 35. 30. No satisfaction may bee taken for him After this Nature began to helpe it selfe among the people as in case of Adultery it is said It is an iniquity to be punished by the Judges Job 31. 9. 11. Then men made Covenants with one another and bound them each to other with Oaths and Protestations As between Laban and Jacob Gen. 31. 48. and between Abraham and the families of Escol Aner and Mamre Gen. 14. 13. and this in order to preserve the peace of their families and to recover their rights from that people that should infringe them Hereupon when Lot was taken captive by Chederlaomer Abraham and his confederates made warre upon and recovered Lot out of their hands vers. 12 14 16. Also Jonathan made a Covenant with David because he loved him as his owne soule 1 Sam. 18. 3. and secured him against Saul his father chap. 20. 4. entred a Covenant of the Lord that whatsoever Davids soule desired he would doe it for him vers. 12 13 16 17. David sware him v. 23. The Lord is between me and thee for ever 41. Afterwards it became a matter of Religion in all sorts of Men and Nations to keep their Covenants Leagues and Oathes between them made and in case of breach they did right themselves by punishing the offenders even as Israel did justice on his brother Benjamin and the men of Gibeah for the rapine and murder committed upon the Levites wife against that brother-hood that was between them Judges 20. or else if they could not right themselves and recover their liberties they did appeale to God to doe them justice as Jer. 15. 15. Oh Lord thou knowest remember me visit me and revenge me of my persecutors And David to Saul The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord avenge me of thee 1 Sam. 24. 12. Thus Jephtah when he and the children of Israel stood for their
ENGLANDS COMMON-WEALTH Shewing The Liberties of the People The Priviledges of Parliament and The Rights of the Souldiery WITH Epistles to the Persons mentioned concluding the severall parts hereof Written by John Audley a Preacher of the Gospel and a well wisher to them that imbrace it Prov. 29. 2. When the righteous are in authority the people rejoyce but when the wicked are advanced the people mourn Hebr. 13. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves that they may doe it with joy and not with griefe Illud belli genus quod pro salute publicâ religionis incolumitate suscipitur ita Christo acceptum esse ut etiam presenti ipsius numine Administretur Christi religio exercitationem militarem non impedit sed eam mirandum in modum confirmat Cum omnem formidinem firmissima spe immortalitatis cripiat ad veram gloriam incredibiliter inflammat Soli qui ad Christum adspirant verum finem respiciunt fortes magnanimi sunt existimandi Osorius de Nobilitate Christianâ libâ—ter LONDON Printed by R. I. and are to be sold by Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1652. Eve's sin man's snare man's help 's the woman's seed No man lost by her Christ did help at need Good out of evil came scape out of snare Love hath found out the way to man most rare All men may now see how that the wise God New wayes doth take to comfort with a rod Did mans first healing by Christs bruises come So peace by war becommeth Englands Doome Come people see what wonders God hath wrought Out of death life he well to light hath brought Mind well his workes who curse to blisse did turn Man of all creatures hath no cause to mourn Own God with us yee Nations o're the world No God like ours in mercy so extol'd Well may the Kingdoms fear and stand in awe Eaters give meat from strong we sweetness draw All laud to God who hath our tunes thus turn'd Lord who can tell how long thy people mourn'd Till thou didst change their sighs into a song High in thy praise this Commonwealth among J. A. To his Excellency the Lord Generall CROMWELL My Lord YOur just dealing with your Adversaries is matter of reall Honour to your Person your enemies themselves being Judges your instructing the ignorant your rebuking the obstinate your remitting the Penitent your protecting the Innocent your keeping Covenant and conditions of Articles with all men have manifested your proceedings both of Warre and Peace to be truly Honourable to them but especially to us who have heard how Judah-like you have ruled with God and have been faithfull with the Saints Hos. 11. last Your silence before the Lord when a cloud was upon the Campe had great confidence when the Lord went before you like a Pillar of Fire by night shining upon your wayes and telling you that you should be to your enemies as Threshing instruments with teeth Isa. 41. 15. and this your confidence in God what boldnesse wrought it before the Battle and what humblenesse of minde after the Victory refusing honour of men when God had put glory upon you in sight of all the world It hath been said Before honour goeth humility Prov. 15. 22. That may be an humblenesse as of necessity but that humblenesse which followeth honour is ever matter of lasting praise for Honour upholdeth the humble in spirit Prov. 29. 23. and victory over a mans selfe is the greatest conquest Fortior est qui se quà m qui fortissima vincit Maenia Yea this your confidence uttered did put life into your Counsels courage into your Resolutions made your Forces more forcible and active so as they did the work of the Lord effectivè both against the Presbyterian interest at Dunbar and the Royall interest at Worcester For there fell downe many slaine because the war was of God 1 Chro. 5. 22. God is the judge himselfe to whom both parties at Dunbar made their appeales God hath pleaded the cause of his people and since these appeales hath given sentence for you now twice By this I know thou favourest me because mine enemies doe not triumph over me Psa. 41. 11. The issue must no longer passe under the vaine titles of meer events and chances of war The Kingdom is the Lords and he is the governour among the people all the ends of the earth shall come and declare righteousnesse unto a people that shall be borne that he hath done this All men shall heare and feare and declare the worke of God for they shall wisely consider that it is his doing The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in him and all the upright in heart shall glory Psal. 64. 9 10. It hath been the wonder of all lands to hear of England how the meek of the earth here have formerly borne all manner of yoaks and oppressions under Royal and Episcopal Rulers and how they have lately risen like Gyants and men of might for recovering their liberties to defend their just rights and to bring wrong doers to condigne punishment As if the judgement against Moab written had been sealed upon their hearts Cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and cursed is he that with-holdeth his sword from blood Jer. 48. 10. Neither regarding Nature nor Nations that they might execute Gods judgements against an Idolatrous people And 't is observable God had said distresse not Moab Deut. 2. 9. til Moab had thus sinned But after Moab had committed Idolatry a sin against the Nation of Israel he shall beare his curse that spares Moab any former command of God to the contrary notwithstanding Sinfull mens changes justifie God and good men in these great changes of times Now England is delivered from her enemies and the people dwell safely through the mercy of God under your hand I humbly desire this that after all publicke expeditions against open enemies you may now keep your selves from foes of your own houshold from friends of your owne Councell for Christ himselfe was betrayed with a kisse wounded in the house of his friend Gallant Judas was treacherously slaine by Demetrius And good Jonathan captivated by Triphon pretending kindnesse to him Maccab 9. 18. and chap. 12 13. Cura teipsum cautus esto nè fidas Set the Lord God alwayes before you waite for his counsell let impartiall justice be your greatest designe and go on in this thy might be not perverted by envy or flattery of men So run that you may obtaine in due time you shall reape if you faint not You now chuse affliction with the people of God and hereafter you shall with them partake in the recompence of reward when the dead in Christ shall rest from their labours and their works follow them For my selfe that which made me write was that others might not be burdened and I eased for Nullum genus crudelitatis majus