Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	death_n	great_a	son_n	3,271	5	4.9791	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45333	An exposition by way of supplement, on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the prophecy of Amos where you have the text fully explained ... : together with a confutation of Dr. Holmes, and Sir Henry Vane, in the end of the commentary / by Tho. Hall ...	Hall, Thomas, 1610-1665.; Homes, Nathanael, 1599-1678.	1661 (1661)	Wing H431; ESTC R18972	450,796	560

11. Sacrificing to the Calves and not to God therefore the Lord threatens to turn even those religious feasts and songs for of these the Prophet seems more especially to speak into mourning and lamentation q. d. Hitherto you have lived secure and careless feasting and singing without any fear of God or thoughts of his judgements but now saith the Lord I will turn your feasting into fasting and your songs into lamentation 2. Here is the greatness of their sorrow set forth by two Ceremonial Rites which were used in those Eastern Countries viz. Sackcloth and Baldness 1. Sackcloth was a course mourning garment made of black Goats hair bound with a girdle about their loyns 'T was a sign and symbole of misery and mourning as appears Gen. 37.34 2 King 6.30 Psal. 30.11 Isa. 3.24 25.3 22.12 Ier. 4.8 48.37 Lam. 2.10 Ezek. 7.18 Ioel. 1.8 At Abners funeral David commanded them to put on Sackcloth and weep 2 Sam. 3.31 And Ahab hearing of Gods judgements coming on him he humbled himself in Sackcloth 1 King 21.27 The two witnesses were cloathed in Sackcloth mourning to see so many fall away to Popery Rev. 11.3 The Lord threatens to make them put off their ornaments and gorgeous attire Exod. 33.4 5. and put on sackcloth and mourning weeds as most suitable to such mournful times They would not humble themselves nor mourn in their prosperity now they should be humbled and made to mourn in their adversity 2. Baldness also was a sign of the greatest mourning among the Jews and therefore the Lord threatens here that he would bring baldness upon every head that is their miseries should be so great that they should pluck off the very hair of their heads for anguish and sorrow for the Jews when they were in deep distress did testifie their sorrow as by sackcloth and renting their garments so by Baldness also either pulling the hair off their heads for very anguish and indignation as Ezra did Ezra 9.3 or else shaving their heads and beards as Iob did when he heard that his children were dead this he did not out of impatience but according to the custome of those times and Countries to express the greatness of his sorrow Iob 1.20 So Isa. 3.24 15.2 Ier. 7.29 16.6 47.5 and 48.37 Ezek. 7.18 and 27.31 Micah 1.16 The hair of the head and beard is counted an Ornament and the cutting it off was a debasement and therefore it was used onely in cases of very great sorrow Though they might not conform themselves to the Heathen who shaved their heads and then dedicated their locks to Idols Levit. 19.27 28. Deut. 14.1 yet in sorrow for sin and deep distress it was commanded Isa. 22.12 Micah 1.16 3. Here is the universality of this calamity it shall seize upon all loyns and every head none shall escape but as all had sinned so all should now suffer for sin 4. Here is a further Amplification of their sorrow drawn from the Example of one that mourns for the death of an onely Son which is wont to be very bitter and great The Prophet seems to be at a stand as here whence to borrow comparisons to set forth the greatness of their sorrow A Father which hath many children disperseth his love among them all but he that hath but one onely Son his love is united and is more vehemently set upon him hence Unice amare est vehementer amare and the Philosopher saith the strongest love is between two not twenty for if it be divided amongst many 't is lessened and weakened as a River that is cut into many channels When Parents lose one of many it troubles them but yet they comfort themselves that they have others left still but if they have but one only Son and he dye to bury all their hopes in one onely hopeful childe is very bitter and causeth great lamentation Hence great sorrow in Scripture is thrice compared to the sorrowing for an onely Son 1. In the Text then Ier. 6.26 where the Prophet calling upon the people to make most bitter lamentation for the great calamities which were coming on them hee calls on them to mourn as for an onely Son So Zach. 12.10 When the Jews shall be converted and called 't is said They shall look upon him whom they have pierced by an eye of Faith and thou shall mourn for him as for an only Son that is in an high degree and measure 'T is a kinde of Proverbial speech used by the Heathen Hence that of Tully I mourn said he for the misery of the Common-wealth as a Mother doth for her only Son 4 Here is the duration of this misery it shall endure to the end of the Kingdome of Israel and extend itself to their posterity The end thereof viz. of the Land which is put for the inhabitants of the Land by a frequent Me●onymy shall be as a bitter day that is as a funeral mournful day because they shall be destitute of all true comfort from the VVord of God which alone can keep us from perishing in our troubles Psalm 119.92 The Prophet seems to prevent an evasion and stop a gap at which impenitent sinners are wont to creep out oh say they though these troubles be sharp yet they will be but short they are clouds that will soon vanish but deceive not your selves saith the Prophet for the VVrath of God shall abide upon you and upon your Posterity even to the end and when one wave is over another shall come till it have swept you all out of your owne Land OBSERVATIONS 1 Plain preaching is the best teaching The Prophet in this Verse expounds his Metaphors and allusions and makes them plaine for the meanest capacity But of this elsewhere 2 What is dark in one place the Scripture makes plaine in another What was spoken mystically vers 9. is explained ver 10. But of this elsewhere 3 Carnal joy ends in sorrow As they that sow in godly sorrow shall reap in joy so they that sow in carnal joy shall reap in sorrow When men abuse their feasts and lawful liberties God will turn them into fasts and mourning Hos. 2.11 Amos 5.16 17. 6.5 6 7. 8.3 How sad then is our condition for if the Lord turn the feasts of his owne appointment into lamentation to a back-sliding people what may we expect who are mad upon the Saturnalia Bacchanalia Floralia of the Heathen Festivals which God never once instituted or ordained wherein men drink dance dally and give themselves up to all manner of debauchery and prophanenesse and that in dayes of such glorious light as the Nation never enjoyed the like since it was a Nation shall not the Lord visit for these things he will suddenly and certainly send some Assyrian or other to avenge the dishonours done to his name If the Lord will turn holy Feasts and Songs into lamentation what will he doe to those that use prophane

yee would have others should doe to you so doe you to them for with what measure you mete to others it shall be meted to you again 6 All Profession Duties Gifts and Graces without this are but counterfeit Hence St. Iames placeth all religion as it were in this duty of Mercy Iam. 1. ult not that this is the life or form of other Graces as Papists vainly but it is a sign and evidence of the truth of other graces even as breathing and acting is a sign of living He that saith he hath all Gifts and yet hath not Love is but as sounding Brass or a tinckling Cymbal a meer noyse and nothing else 1 Cor. 13.1 hence Christ commands us rather to sell what we have and give to the poor than be wanting to our selves or others in this duty Luk. 12.33 so did Barnabas that Son of consolation when the Church wanted he sold his Land to succour it Acts 4.36 37. not that we are bound alwayes to sell our Land for pious uses but if the Church of God should come to that distress that either we must succour it or else it will sink then is a time to part with all As Lot would have parted with his Daughters to save his Guests so should wee part with our estate to save Gods people from perishing and if Drunkards to satisfie their lust will sell their Lands in the Devils service much more should we to glorifie God part with our Land and estate to glorifie God the giver of them 7 It shall be fully rewarded God hath a Book of remembrance wherein he registers all we doe for him and his Acts 10 5. Heb. 6.10 even to a cup of cold water all shall bee rewarded Matth. 10. ult Hee cannot bee a loser who hath made God his Debtor Hee that giveth to the poor lends to the Lord and that which he hath given he will pay him again Prov. 19.17 Hee is the best Pay-master none more able none more willing to recompence any service that is done for him or his 1 He shall have Temporal rewards Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and is more increased and he that watereth others shall be watered himself This is the best means to preserve our estate Isa. 32.8 The liberal man deviseth liberal things and by it he is establisht He that honours the Lord with his riches shall have his Barns filled with plenty Prov. 3.9 10. Mercy and Truth shall be to them Prov. 14.22 God will bless his Trade and Calling Deut. 15.10 and make his little increase unto a thousand Charity is the best Policy for by helping others we benefit our selves Iob 29.13 As the Poor had Iobs Almes so he had the benefit of their Prayers and fared the better for them That which is well laid out is best laid up a diligent hand and a distributive heart make a man truly rich such giving is getting such bounty is the way to plenty and a godly liberality is a prevention of poverty he that gives to the Poor hath Gods promise which is sure pay that he shall not want Prov. 28.27 Give and it shall be given to you again good measure pressed down shaken together running over Luke 6.38 see what a heap of expressions the Holy Ghost here useth to assure us of a full reward of all our labour of love He saith not barely Give and it shall be given you but 1. You shall have good measure i. e. just measure according to your gift given to you again 2. You shall have it pressed down light things wee use to press down to make good measure 3. Yet more shaken together as Corn that goes closer together by shaking 4. This is not all for as if all that he had spoken had not been sufficient he adds you shall have it running over Now a measure will run over as long as you poor there is no stint no bounds to that gift which shall be given running over A Vessel will run over continually pour as long as you will 5. Yet more all this shall be given you into your bosome that is you shall be made sensible of the sweetness and experimentally find the goodness and greatness of your reward This work is wages and like Sampsons Lion it carries Hony in the belly of it it is no spending but lending no laying out but a laying up of treasure in Heaven above the reach of Theeves and Pyrats Math. 6.19 Men are all for gain why this is the best gain by parting with Temporals to get Eternals Luke 16.9 Hence the Apostle calls the Macedonians Almes by the name of Fruit Rom. 15.28 Phil. 4.17 I desire not a gift but I desire fruit that may further your account Wee pleasure not the poor so much by our giving as we profit our selves by their receiving Hence in Italy their ordinary form of Begging is Fate ben pro voi Doe good for your own sakes Christ that fed five thousand could also have fed himself and his followers without any help but hee would be releeved by others that so their faith and love might be made more apparent and resplendent to the world Luke 8.2 3. Ioh. 4.7 2 Thou shalt be blest in thy Body with health or if sickness doe surprize thee as all things come alike to all yet God will make thy bed in thy sickness and comfort thee upon thy bed of languishing Psal. 42.2 3. 3 In thy Name Hezekiah and his kindnesses are commended to posterity 2 Chron. 32.32 Phebe and Onesiphorus are commended on this account such are an ornament to their Profession and amiable in the eyes of all Rom. 5.7 for a righteous man one would scarcely dye but for a good man one would even dare to dye A Man of a severe innocency is hated rather than loved but a good and bountiful man wins so upon the hearts of men that they would even dye for him scarcely will a man dye for a righteous man who is only fair and just in his dealings but for a good man that hath been mercifull and pittiful to others and hath done much good in his life some may venture their lives for him 4 In thy Posterity such as have shewed mercy to others God will raise up some that shall be mercifull to theirs Hence Cyprian was wont to say The more children the more charity should be used for as Wells by drawing spring more freely so our substance increaseth by bounty and is blest to our posterity 5 Blest in Soul we shall have light in darkness peace in trouble audience in Prayer c. Isa. 58.7 8.10 11. if thou deal thy bread to the hungry c. then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thee and though we be sick and silent yet works of mercy cry aloud in Gods eares for us they have a vertual and vital though not a vocal call Iob 31.20 The very loyns of the poor shall bless us even when we are