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	know_v	love_v	12,241	5	6.1095	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68977	The prodigals teares. With a heavenly new yeeres gift sent to the soule; contayning many most zealous and comfortable prayers, with deuout meditations: both worthie the acceptance of all Christians, and their expence of time to peruse. By H. G. preacher of the most sacred Word of God	Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673.; Goodcole, Henry, 1568-1641.	1620 (1620)	STC 3580; ESTC S114442	53,955	283

I therefore wash my couch with teares and fall downe before thy foote-stoole For what am I that I should persist in my sinnes or whence came I that I should promise to my selfe continuance Esau compareth mans life to the Grasse that soone withereth Iob to a Post a Shuttle a Breath a Vapour Dauid lengthens his dayes but to a Spanne if then as Grasse it must of necessitie fade if a Post it must runne if a Shuttle it must passe if a Breath sonne blowne ouer if a Vapour soone vanished if a Spanne soone shortened O that my feet were as hinds feet that I might walke the way of thy statutes not looking backe like Lots wife nor behind the plow-stilt with the sluggard for cursed is he that doth the busines of God negligently Heerein Lord haue I grieuously offended repairing to thy Temple but without reuerence praying but with small seruencie trusting in thee but with a doubtfulnesse And how can these many obliquities be streightned but by the leuell of thy Word that can make all things streight It is true Lord it is true that the generall deprauednesse of all the World giues sinne vpon earth a Pasport But thou O Lord seest thou the sinnes of men and wilt be auenged Thou carriest thy Fanne in thine hand to sweepe the vngodly from off the face of the earth And where then shall be a place for all the Inhabitants of the earth Loe all shall then become saieth the Prophet Ieremie in the same place as a naked Tree in the wildernesse bereft of both flowers and fruit because like to the wilde Figge-tree it brought foorth no fruit when thou expectedst it should Lord I pray thee though mine haruest bee but yet in the blade accept my slender indeuours and so ripen them that they may bring a plentifull croppe to thee in propagating thy Glory the Churches Vnitie and the benefit of such as thou hast ioyned to mee in neighborhood affection or affiance Much adoe thou knowest Lord there was in the building of the materiall Temple and euery one was enioyned to bring in something towards the erection of it My portion O Lord is but small yet is my loue with the greatest Though I can not bring Gold from Ophyr nor the Cedar and Firre from Lebanon yet will I offer my prayers in thy Temple confessing thee before much people Marie reioyced that she had a little oyle to sprinckle vpon Christ the widdow of Zareptah was ioyfull that she had a little food for the Prophet I will likewise be glad and reioyce if I can reserue but one small moity for the Saints of God for workes of this nature neuer passe vnrewarded A cup of colde water is as acceptable as the silkes of Tyre or the Treasures of Aegypt happy then am I if rich in spirit though poore in state purchasing for a Cup of colde water the water of Life But there must euer be something done by man before the promise bee performed by God The battell must be fought ere the victory be atchieued the tree must bee planted ere it bring forth fruit and the seede must bee throwne into the ground before it multiply We must haue a perfect knowledge of God ere we can dedicate our members seruants to righteousnes offering them to GOD. But how should wee know God there is an harbinger which goes alwayes before the knowledge of God to prepare his house and that is Loue the bond of perfection Now how should we loue him whom wee haue not seene being at enmitie amongst our selues whom we daily see So good is our loue now a dayes as the Italian Prouerbe may be verified of it Tanto buon che val niente So good as it is good for nothing Yet how poore and fruitlesse soener God desires it let him then haue it for hee onely deserues it I will loue thee my Lord and will consecrate my vowes vnto thee where I meane thus to expresse them In the humblenes of my spirit without deiection and in the confidence of my heart without presumption will I humble my selfe before thee with reuerence and offer vp my vowes vnto thee with affiance I will come nearer thee in spirit because remoued from thee by the veile of my flesh the one shall caution mee of my shame the other put me in minde of my glory Hagar shal not get the vpperhand ouer her mistris my flesh shall bee taught to obey that if neede were she might safely gouerne As there is but one Sunne to giue light to the vniuersall World so there shall be but one Sonne to enlighten my little world and that is the Sunne of my Soule This Sonne shall obserue the same course which the naturall Sunne obserueth Her two Tropickes shall be reduced to two remembrances of my birth and of my death That as the Sunne by these two equall circles equally distant turneth either higher hauing bin at the lowest or lower hauing beene at the highest so my Soule transported too high with the remembrance of her dissolution to wit her liberty may be brought backe to the remembrance of her birth the very originall of her miserie I will not haue my flesh to intermeddle in these considerations for shee is like an harsh Instrument that soundeth nothing but discord when the Soule tels the flesh of a dissolution she trembles and feares her accounts like an Vsurer at the sight of deaths head or as Felix hearing Paul dispute of the last Iudgement Many obiects of delight there be which captiuate the flesh being conuersant only in outward thinges I will haue the flesh therfore be put to silence lest my soule conceiue a difficulty in departing when so harsh and disconsonant musicke sounds in her eare the sunne of my soule shall purifie the corruptions of my body which impure mettall must of necessitie be refined or it will blemish the excellencie and beauty of that is contained in it I know a mirtle is a mirtle though planted amongst nettles and at one time or other the soules beautie will shew it selfe enlightning the poore case which couers it I know also that the cause of my long straying hath proceeded from my indirect disposing preferring the bodies aduice before the iudgement of the soule But the Prouerbe shall be confirmed in my flesh Euill councell shall be worse for the Councellour I will chastise my flesh for her rash and indiscreete aduising and admire the resolution of my spirit that euer stoode in opposition against her Recollect your selues you wandring vnsetled thoghts of mine fixe your intention where there is no further extension the fruition of perfit content I knowe the time hath beene when vanity so betwitched you as like poore Vlysses companions you were forced too willing a force to heare the inchanted harmony of euery Syren But now you haue that Moli that hearbe of experience that will charme the inchantresse and teach you true resolution Shall a little taste or distaste

and comfort you withall eate a morsell thereof and draw out your Wine for his sake that sent it and doe not refuse or dislike both for the meanenesse of the Messenger that brings now presents his Lords affected loue expressed to you therein If you accept thereof thankefully and gladly I shall returne my Master intelligence and thinke my paines well bestowed rest well satisfied and account my selfe most bountifully by you to be rewarded if my suit be graunted namely your kind acceptance therof from my vnworthy hands Thine at all times to bring thee to my Lord and Master Iesus Christ his Courts H. G. THE PRODIGALS Teares The Prodigals testimony of his conuersion manifested in the detestation of his former follies HEare O heare you that walk after the lusts of your hearts you that spend your time in vanitie deferring the time of Repentance from Infancie to youth and from youth to Age not caring to turne from you the euill day which draweth neere nor applying your hearts to wisedome but how to satisfie the inordinate lusts affections of the flesh you draw on sinne after sinne multiplying trāsgressions you are become a stiff-necked people hardning your hearts against the sweete and comfortable motions of Gods Spirite ready to awake you from this sleepe of sinne and to renewe in you that image which was well-neere defaced in you by meanes of your transgressions Heare the teares and attende the complaint of a conuerted peruert one that hath wandred too login the field of vanitie And now after the taste of those bitter huskes of penurie returnes home with blubbered face contrite heart and humbled spirit crying Peccaui I haue sinned I haue sinned walking in the foolishnes of mine owne heart and like the wilde Asse shifting the wind so haue I shut mine eares to the words of discipline and correction And what did the Prodigall in the Gospell which I did not He receiued his portion and consumed it and haue not I receyued the portion of Gods loue in as ample manner as any euen the portion of my heauenly Father which hee no sooner bestowed on me then I in the height of my heart wasted Nor did the prodigall goe further from his Father then I from the Instructions of my heauenly Father Departing from Bethel the house of God to Bethauen the house of iniquitie Oh miserable Exile From the mansions of peace concord and tranquillitie to the receptacles of sinne horrour and impietie From the smooth running streames of Syloe to the waters of bitternes from the tower of my strength to the vale of desolation Vnhappie exchange to depriue my selfe of so glorious inheritance so exquisite blessings so incomparable bounties for the vaine flourish of a little worldly delight which in the ende conuerted to bitternesse for a momentanie pleasure to forfeite an eternall Treasure not subiect to the change or mutability of Time nor exposed to the violence of any perturbations nor engaged to popular respect but in it selfe of it selfe perfectly refined deriuing her best luster from none other subject then the originall of all Beauties the Idaea of all perfections the mirrour of all lustres God himself And this to loose for any Earthly respect how much were the eies of my vnderstanding eclipsed to conceyue no better of an infinite goodnes then of a floting pleasure producing none other Fruite then bitternes anguish and sorrow And what remedie Esau could not regaine his Byrth-right with many teares And can my vnfayned repentance though I should blinde mine Eyes with weeping and groane in the heauines of my heart repossesse me of all that I haue lost Can the sighes of a troubled spirite and the extreame heauinesse which I sustaine by reason of the burden of my sinnes preuayle with the Lord who poyseth the sinnes of men and hath sworne in his wrath to be euenged of the wicked Yes Lord yes as I haue found grace and fauour in thy sight suffer mee to speake a word vnto thee be not displeased with me The Prodigals comfortable and vndoubted assurance that God will accept his teares and contrition relying and trusting in the mercies and promises of God REmember not my sinnes passed let thy mercies preuent them I am weakened and cleane out-worne and go mourning euery day I shall remember all my yeares vnto thee with bitternesse of heart I know Lord that Peter wept and was pardoned and shal I that knocke at the gate of thy mercie bee excluded Marie Magdalene had in her manie legions of Diuells yet with teares of vnfained repentance she was assoyled and made a Temple of the Holie-Ghost Behold Lord my teares are vnfayned my anguish of heart aboundant and my griefes bee not hid from thee Thou hast promised to looke to him that is poore that is broken in spirit and that trembleth at thy wordes Beholde Oh Lord I am poore depriued of thy fauour broken in spirite to haue offended so benigne a Sauiour and I tremble at thy words as at iudgements of terror worthily deseruing to be eternally thrust from thy presence and to haue my beeing with the reprobate Yet Lord wilt thou bee good vnto Israel thou wilt wash mee from my filthynes and cure my infirmities thou wilt binde vp my wounds with that good Samaritane powring the oyle of thy Diuine comforts into them For this Lord will I thanke thee and for this badge of thy loue will I sing praise vnto thee I will make melodie in my heart to the Lorde For it is a good thing to bee thankefull These teares which I shed shall witnes my contrition the prayses which I sing to thee shall expresse my affection and the speedie renewing of my wayes shall shew my conuersion The prodigals confession of the manner of his vanities with a feeling of Gods great goodnesse FAther I haue fed too long vppon the huskes of Vanitie I haue strayed too farre from thy Temple and walked in vnknowne wayes where I was famished for want of Spirituall foode all athirst for want of Spirituall drinke For the well was deepe and I had not wherwithall to draw but now since my returne I am replenished with all things thou hast put on me a new Garment so as I haue layde away all my olde affections and betaken me to a new spirituall Schoole Thou hast put vpon my finger a Ring to intimate that I am married and affianced to thee thou hast feasted me with thy choicest dainties expressing the ioy thou conceyuest at my conuersion I will stay therefore no longer in the Tents of Kedar nor with the inhabitants of M●loch I am now for my Fathers houshold for my Father hath many seruants and in my Fathers house there bee manie mansions I haue fedde too long with the Hogge eating Akornes vnder the Tree but neuer looking vp from whence they came When thy greatest benefits O Lord were multiplyed vppon mee and thy Fatherly kindnes was shewne in aboundance I was as one that had

transitory delights and heauenly Hee cannot define of goodnes that neuer heard of it The Prodigall sheweth how that passions with there contraries are cured PAssions are best cured by their contraries therefore if my minde bee inclined to pride I will presently expostulate the cause with my selfe why I should be proud I will compare humility with pride their meanes and ends For the meanes or mediate course I see humility more honored lesse enuied more prosperous in her affaires and more absolute in her end I see pride oftentimes distastfull to herselfe for friends she looseth many getteth none And what desart or wildernesse greater then to bee without friends She is neuer obserued but either with laughter or hate and what is that obseruance worth which either purchaseth contempt or spite but where humility goes the eyes of men follow as if they had spied a mirror for themselues to imitate or some worthy Maiesty shrowded in an humble couer This vertue I haue euer obserued to descend lineally to the greatest and noblest borne which mooued the Philospher to call it an Heroicke Vertue We shall see an early mushrome that is nowe growne to a little honour bought perchance for seldome merited put on a strange counterfeit face of seeming honour smile hee dare not beyond a point for feare to vnstarch his looke He holds this opinion which is a flat heresie That pride is the best habilliment of Honour where true honour will shew it selfe without a foot-cloth thus will I compare these two seuerall subiects together where if pride scorne to be compared to so poore a creature as is humilitie I shall loue her the worse for comparisons to them that deserue least are euer most offensiue If I finde the disposition of my minde naturally free engaged to some miserable desire of hauing I will set against her Liberalitie how worthily esteemed the one is and how contemptible the other where if Precepts will not doe it I will confirme my Doctrine with Examples if I finde my minde hard to be weaned from miserable sparing I will first inforce a bounty so in time my minde enforced to do that shee would not will become willing and readie to doe that I would If Enuie raigne in mee I will oppose against her brotherly loue that mutuall loue which is required not onely in humane societie but in the perfection of Gods Law Loue one an other saith our Sauiour CHRIST The reason is confirmed by a blessed Father The loue of GOD saith hee ingendereth loue to our Neighbour the loue of our Neighbour increaseth our loue vnto G●d This was the Serpents sinne and is to this day hee enuyed the welfare of our first Parents in Paradise and continues his enuie to their race expulsed Paradise Farre bee it that my Soule hauing so louing a mirrour to follow as her CHRIST should harbor that vice which is most opposite to CHRIST The Iewes Crucified CHRIST through enuie and I should re-crucifie my deere Sauiour by lodging in my hart enuie My Soule which should be a temple for GOD shall not be made a Sinagogue for sathan The purer mettall is to be chosen Charitie is of all others a mettall most refined Enuy of all others most adulterate and corrupted Thus opposing vertue against vice Reason will direct me to preferre vertue before vice for where Sence becommeth obedient to Reason there the New-man is more set by then the Olde-man but where there is a conflict which whilest wee subsist in this Tabernacle of clay we must of necessitie endure and where the New-man seemes too weake for the encounter then the worst part becomming soueraigne all thinges seeme confounded and as in the first Chaos without order or disposition To strengthen me in this encounter I must incessantly call vpon God that he would assist me with his grace that inclining mine eare to his Commandements I may learne vnderstanding according to that of the Psalmist They which obserue them haue a good vnderstanding So by the light of my vnderstanding I shall be able to discomfite sinne distinguish betwixt sence reason re-ally my forces orderly fight valiantly and vanquish in the end I know Lord vnder whose banner I fight the assaultes therefore of the flesh shal not surprize me nor the world ensnare me nor the diuell though hee come from compassing the whole Earth make a prey on me If the death of the Saints be precious in the Lords sight much more the life of the Saints nor shall one haire fall from my head without thy permission Who would not be prest to the Lords battell hee is that Lyon of Iuda He it was that bruised the head of the Serpent he it was that discomfited death and became conqueror ouer hell and shall I feare to follow such a Captain if I be in darknesse and in the Desart hee will send forth a firie cloud to conduct mee if so I be way-faring as I am during this Earthly pilgrimage hee will send a Raphael to guyde mee To be short hauing him I haue more with mee then against mee The thought of him made the Philistines flye and say God is come into the Host Where hee fighteth all the Elements are vnited together in his assistance and ayde When he fought against the Aramites the Sunne tooke his part when hee fought against the Sodomites the fire tooke his part when hee fought against the Egyptians the water tooke his part when hee fought against the Murmurers the Earth tooke his part No as he is the Lord of the Forrest so the beasts of the Forrest assist him When he fought against the Idolaters the Lyons tooke his part when hee fought against the Mockers the Beares tooke his part Thus all things make with God for God made all things and who can distrust so puissant a Captaine so inuincible a Generall It was but a vaine and insolent brag when the King of Iuda proclamed warre against the King of Aram and sayd no man shall deliuer them out of my hands but where the Lord saith No man shall deliuer them out of his hands it is true For the Author to the Hebrewes saith It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of God Let vs fight therefore not with Philips siluer words in Greece not with Artaxerxes golden Archers in Persia but with Pythagoras weapons one minde one heart and one soule perpetuall weapons these be the triumphs whereof haue euerlasting Trophies Powers disnuited be weaker then those which are knit together and where the powers and organs of our soules bee not combined there the castle is soone ruined There be three things obserued serued in managements of warre a discreete commaund in the Generall an vnfained obedience in the Souldier and a conuenience in the seate of the Campe. These three should bee obserued in our spirituall warrefare where the Spirit is Generall the motions or affections of the Soule be the