Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	good_a	great_a	life_n	6,057	5	4.3029	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41500	Prelatique preachers none of Christ's teachers, or, A Disswasive unto the people of God from attending the ministry (so called) of those, who preach by verture of an (Apocryphal) ordination, received from an order of men, commonly stiled Lord Bishops wherein arguments are tendered to their serious considerations, by way of motive against that practice ... .	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1663 (1663)	Wing G1192; ESTC R33795	80,325	88

theirs was by whom Paul supposeth he was preached in pretence in respect of the Glory that may hereby redound unto God and the benefit that may accrue unto men is just matter of rejoycing unto a sober and considerate Christian yea though it should be revealed unto him by God as it was unto Paul in the case before us that such a man's aims or ends in preaching are not honourable or Christian But this maketh nothing for the countenancing of their preaching him who openly consent unto and are consederate with those who devest him of his Glory yea and are publickly known to divide the spoyl with them Argument III. Yea but some of those Ministers whom you would make it unlawful for us to hear are holy and good men of exemplary lives and conversations sober temperate just full of good works given to hospitality charitable to the poor c. It seems an hard saying unto us that it should not be lawful for us to hear such men as these at least if in their preaching of the Gospel they turn neither to the right hand nor to the left but keep close all along to the counsel and mind of God therein Answer 1. I verily believe and this upon terms better pleasing unto those with whom we are in contest than of meer Christian Charity that there have been more than a few of those who have accepted their Office of Ministry from the irregular hand of Prelacy of that Christian and worthy Character specified in the Argument viz. holy and good of exemplary lives c. Yea I am not without hope but that there may be amongst us at this day a remnant of the same Generation who are sound at the heart and love Jesus Christ in sincerity who setting aside their compliance with Prelatical Usurpations and Superstitions the great evil whereof may not as yet be arrived at their judgments are Christianly Orthodox both in their Lives and Doctrines Nay I doubt not but that the Prelatical Order it self hath by it's enchantments tempted many of the true friends and faithful Servants of God into the embracements of it But 2. Our English Proverb which remindeth us that All is not Gold that glistereth may a little quallifie our credulity without making any breach upon our Charity in the case in hand considering that the great Apostle himself in reference hereunto speaketh as much if not much more where he informeth us as of a Secret that it is no great thing that is no wonderful or rare thing as the word great often signifieth in the Scriptures if the Ministers of Satan be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness himself being transformed into an Angel of Light Yea he had spoken immediately before of certain false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 13 14 15. So that men may be false Apostles Ministers of Satan and deceitful workers that is may in the course of their Ministry slily and subtilly drive on some Un Christian and Satanical design dangerous to the Souls of those that hear them and yet both in their lives and in the ordinary and general current of their Preaching outwardly appear so like unto Ministers of Righteousness and of Christ for they must artifically resemble them in both to compleat their transformation that it will be a very hard matter till after some considerable space of time and without much narrow observation to detect and discover them And it is much to be feared that many of those few amongst us whom we have ground both from their lives and ordinary teachings to judge persons of Christian worth and integrity in that way will sooner or later bewray themselves not to be the men in heart which for a time they were in face For some who are wont to quit themselves like Angels of Light in thier usual and more frequent Preachings being persons also sober and grave in all that is visible in their Conversations yet upon some occasions and for the most part in their Sermons on dayes of Publick Humiliations or Thanksgivings and sometimes in their Funeral Discourses are prevented by thier proper and true Genius so that the cloven foot now appears 3. Amongst the Authorized Teachers of the Romish Faith and Religion Priests and Jesuits there are some and haply a larger proportion no wayes behind if not before the best approved of our Prelatical Ministers for any thing singular either in their Lives or ordinary Teachings Therefore if we judge it not safe or well-pleasing unto God constantly or ordinarily to seek our edification in things appertaining unto God and to our eternal Salvation at the lips of these men in their ordinary or setled course of Teaching why should we not be as conscientious and tender to seek it upon such terms at the mouths of those amongst us whom our Prelatical Lords are pleased to send forth and appoint for the same great ends and services unto us For doubtless as well the latter as the former are in the great condemnation of supporting an Antichristian Interest and Power and this even by that which is commendable and pleasing unto men either good or bad both in their Lives and in their Doctrine and consequently go hand in hand in promoting such a design which counter-works the holy project and design of Jesus Christ which is that his Saints may serve him without fear as well of sufferings from men as from God in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their lives Luke 1. 74 75. And it hath been seldome or never known that any great community body or party of men in the World have long subsisted at least upon any competent terms of credit peace or safety but by means of some few of their Members respectively who by their wisdom worth above their fellows have been as pillars to bear up their several Polities or Parties and keep them from sinking as Paul speaking of James Cephas and John saith they seemed or were counted as our former translation had it pillars meaning to support the Christian Interest in the world As though there be some thousands of Laths and many slight pieces for partitions and otherwise in a building yet those few Substantial and main pieces of sound Tymber unto which the Architect coupleth and fastneth the rest of his work are they which give strength unto the house and make it able to endure and stand all winds and weather So that when God whether out of his wisdom for the tryal of those who profess his Name or out of Judgment to punish their unworthiness or upon what other account soever whether known or unknown unto us pleaseth to give way unto Satan by his subtile and plausible insinuations and suggestions so far to tamper with the hearts and spirits of some Professors of the Gospel as between them to raise up and set on foot and for any considerable Tract of time to maintain and keep on foot a corrupt

used in these dayes and the sacrifice of the wicked being an abomination unto the Lord as the Prayer of the upright is his delight Prov. 15. 8. we have but a quick-sand for a foundation of any hope that Ministers Prelaticall ordained are sent forth unto the great work of the Gospel with a blessing and not rather under a curse Besides suppose we for argument sake that our Lord Bishops and their Chaplains who are the great if not the only doers in the Solemnities of their Ordination were lovers of God indeed and no wayes disaffected against persons truly holy and conscientious yet the Ministers ordained by them not being to serve or minister unto them in the most important affairs of their souls it is not like that their prayers for them or for the blessing of God upon their labours in preaching would be in any degree so effectually fervent as the prayers wherewith the Ministers who are by the particular Churches of the Saints chosen to serve them in the high concernments of their eternal salvation are by them solemnly assembled with prayer and fasting for the purpose presented unto God in the day of their Ordination That Charity is rate which keepeth not her self warmer at home than abroad CONSIDERATION XI Many who at first intended nothing more in hearing the Ministers we speak of but their own Christian Edification and Comfort and nothing lesse than to become Proselytes to their dead forms of imposed worship or to comport with them in their detestable things Ezek. 7. 20. I mean their Fanatick Ceremonies or to approve of their Hierarchical Mission into the Vineyard of Christ c. yet by a frequent and familiar converse with them in their Ministry have in time and some in a very short time been so transformed in their Judgements Consciences as to swallow all these Camels without straining and to make one spirit with them in all their Antichristian Principles and Practices The heat of that pleasure and contentment which we sometimes take in the commendable and worthy sayings or doings of men proves a snare unto us to fall in with them in sayings and doings of a contrary import and which are of a very dangerous if not destructive consequence unto us so that in this sense it is not only true that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evil homilies or discourses as the Apostle expresses himself with the heathen Poet 1 Cor. 15. 33. but even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good and worthy communications many times occasionally and from some kind of men corrupt good manners The unsound and rootten Doctrines of the Pharisees as of the Sadduces also were it seems of a leavening nature apt to Spread and to insinuate themselves into the minds and judgements and affections of men Our Saviour himself declareth this unto us partly by comparing them unto leaven but more plainly by admonishing the people yea his Disciples themselves over and over to look to themselves that they were not ensnared with them Then Jesus said unto them TAKE HEED and BEWARE of the leaven of the Pharisees c. Mat. 16. 6. See also Mark 8. 15. Now one main reason why their evil and unsound Doctrines were so catching and likely by little and little to gain in the approbations and consents of their Hearers was in all probability their frequent teachings and zealous pressings of many wholesome and savory Doctrines and Truths according to the tenour and true intent of Moses's Law for as many an Horse that is unserviceable and worth little by reason of some grand defect that is not easily discerned is yet bought and sold at a considerable rate Quod pulchri clunes breve quod caput ardua cervix by reason of some features that are curiously commendable in them In like manner many a mans Ministry may be approved swallowed root and branch head and tail by the brokery and mediation of some choice Sermons or points of Doctrine managed and handled effectually or however to the high contentment of the Hearer although this Ministry taken in the whole body or course of it be not so well and safely calculated for the saving of the Soul I have heard of and in in part known some to whom when they first became hearers of the Prelatical Clergy their imposed Common-Prayer their lumber of Ceremonies their Hierarchy with all their implements and trinkets c. were Hey Stabble and Wood yea or rather Dung and Filthiness who notwithstanding by the droppings of the tongues of these men into their ears became after no long time neither so bewitched in their Judgments and Consciences that all these were conceited by them as Silver Gold and precious Stones Good words are oft-times too hard for good meanings and lead men honestly disposed into a snare nor is there any Method more commodious or promising unto men whose design it is to work sober and good men out of a love and liking of some part of those Truths which at present they believe then by giving them their fill of satisfaction and contentment in some others of them CONSIDERATION XII Although we be in some strait yet to combine with any corrupt Interest or Correspondency for accommodation or help or to fall in with men who have not God amongst them however they may be otherwise of a very promising aspect unto us hath often if not alwayes been of dangerous consequence unto those that have attempted and expected the bettering of their condition in such a way When Amaziah King of Judah judging himself unable to wage war against the Children of Mount Seir with his own strength had hired an hundred thousand MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR out of Israel for an hundred Talents of Silver there was sent unto him a Man of God with this message O King let not the Army of Israel go with thee for the Lord is not with Israel c. 2 Chron. 25. 6 7. So the People of God seeking for help first of the Assyrians and afterwards of the Egyptians even when they were in an afflicted and hard condition got nothing by these applications but sorrow and shame God threatned them by his Prophet Jeremy Thou shalt also be ashamed of Egypt as thou wast ashamed of Assyria Jer. 2. 36. The Scripture is pregnant with this Truth See Isa 8. 6 7. That the Prelatical Interest is Eccentrical to the Glory of God to the Cause and Kingdom of Jesus Christ runs in a Channel by it self a-part from and in opposition to these and consequently is carnal and corrupt and obnoxious to the displeasure of God needeth no anxious demonstration unto those the eyes of whose minds are not bewitched and blinded with it however somewhat hath been argued to the point already in these papers and somewhat more may be added before we conclude and the question if yet a question it must be hath been largely discussed and learnedly decided by others As for the late reviving of this Interest amongst us after it had lain

sick and languishing ready to have given up the Ghost for many years together it cannot be looked upon with a spiritually-discerning eye but what is frequently observed in long and wasting sicknesses a lightning before death and as the setting up of Dagon the second time in his place after he had once fallen upon his face to the Earth before the Ark of God occasioned his second downfall by which he lost his head 1 Sam. 5. 3 4. so according to the course of divine Providence the lifting up of our Bishops from the gates of death is like to prepare the way to their second death or fall from whence there will be no redemption Now the Ministers of whom we speak all this while being of the Prelatical descent are members or appurtenances of this I mean the Prelatical Order and have a great venture in the same bottom with their Ghostly-Fathers So that suppose we should be somewhat scanted for Soul-accomodations or much straitned for want of spiritual provisions otherwise yet to have recourse unto these men yea be it unto the best of them in their Ministry for supplies in this kind with an expectation that they should bless us or befriend us in our need is to comport with the unhallowed Interest we speak of and to seek help of such a Generation or Association of men whom God as the Scripture saith beholdeth a far off taking no pleasure to be amongst them and consequently such an application of our selves for aid and relief is like to turn to no better an account unto us than a disappointment if not a far worse inconvenience CONSIDERATION XIII As far the greater number of the good People of God in this Nation stand now perswaded in their Judgments and Consciences touching the hearing of Ministers ordained by a power ill-affected to Jesus Christ and his Interest on Earth it is just matter of scandal and offence to the weaker sort of this people and of sorrow and sadness of heart to many of them that are more spiritual and knowing to understand or hear that any of their Christian Brethren formerly united unto them in the same mind and judgment against all the Superstitious and Antichristian doings amongst us are frequently present in those Assemblies unto whom men sent unto them by the Prelates onely presume notwithstanding to speak in the name of God bearing themselves as the Embassadors of Christ lawfully commissioned by him for the Service they perform Now the Scripture oft speaks of scandalizing in one kind or other those that are weak in the Faith as of a very sinful and Un Christian misdemeanor in those who are called Christians and of a provoking resentment with Christ himself But if thy Brother be grieved with thy meat when as thy life and health may be preserved with such meats otherwise which will not offend or grieve him now walkest thou not charitably Destroy not him with thy meat that is eat no such meat the eating whereof by thee may very possibly through the scandal given thereby prove his destruction for whom Christ dyed Rom. 14. 15. For meat destroy not the work of God All things indeed are pure but it is evil for that man that eateth with offence It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor any thing whereby thy Brother stumbleth or is offended or made weak Hast thou faith Have it to thy self before God Happy is he that condemneth not himself namely by scandalizing a weak Brother in that thing which he alloweth as lawful for him to do Rom. 14. 20 21 22. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the Idols Temple shall not the Conscience of him that is weak be emboldned to eat those things that are offered to Idols and through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish for whom Christ dyed But when ye sin so against the Brethren and wound their weak Conscience ye sin against Christ grieving and indangering those who believe in him and therefore are dear unto him 1 Cor. 8. 10 11 12. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me it is better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the Sea Mark 9. 42. See also Matth. 18. 6. Luke 17. 1 2. The clear result of these and other-like sayings of the Holy Ghost is that to scandalize offend or grieve any weak Believer yea though it be but by an undue exercise of our lawful liberty lawful I mean otherwise is very unworthy the profession of the Gospel and an indignity offered unto Jesus Christ sorely threatning him that shall offer it without repentance It is true where there is any obligation upon men by way of precept or duty to do that at which a weak Christian is offended here is no scandal or offence given but onely taken and if any man be offended in this case he must bear the burthen of his ignorance himself God is to be obeyed though the whole world should be offended at it But that it should be incumbent or necessary by any precept or command from God to hear at least ordinarily and from day to day Ministers of a Lordly creation or Prelatical tincture never yet I suppose came within the Verge of any mans thoughts unlesse haply of some Episcopally addicted above their fellows nay the practise hath not found that I can find or hear of any competent Defender of so much as the lawfulness of it to this day Therefore if it should be given by way of Charity unto those that have made bold to take the liberty of hearing the Ministers we wot of that this their practice simply and in it self considered is lawful yet in the case of so much scandal and offence as it gives to many thousands of their weak Brethren in the Nation it becomes in them Un Christian and Unlawful yea and it is the more Un Christian and unworthy in as much as it further causeth much sadness and grief of heart even unto those that are of more understanding because besides the scandal given by it unto the weak they judge it a practice altogether and in it self unwarrantable as being derogatory unto the Royalities of Jesus Christ as Sole King and Law-giver unto his Church of which as somewhat formerly so a little more may be said hereafter CONSIDERATION XIV The practice lately mentioned and hitherto disswaded as it is offensive to all good Christians who either suspect or conclude the unlawfulness of it and in this respect is a breach of the Law of that tender Love which we owe unto them so is it of no good consistence no not with that Love which we stand bound to shew even to those persons themselves whom we hear in such a way although they be men who without any order from Christ receive Ordinations and Commissions to preach from his Adversaries his Adversaries at least in their claim and exercise of a