Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	affection_n	love_n	zion_n	26	3	8.9918	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88695	The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ. Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...	Langley, William, b. 1609 or 10.	1656 (1656)	Wing L408; Thomason E860_4; ESTC R202682	143,990	208

the Sacraments in general ch 11. or by their own virtue for the works sake or for the onely outward action that is for the bare participation receiving and use thereof cannot give grace nor a justifying or a quickning faith to any which before was not inwardly quickned by the Holy Ghost and hath no good motion within himself CHAP. IX The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a speciall part of the Ministeriall Office that it ought not to be neglected or laid aside Severall Reasons shewing that the long Omission of it is unwarrantable THe cloth of gold with which the Church is apparelled is the righteousness of Christ imputed The hand that putteth on this goodly Garment is faith and the Sacraments confirming our faith in Christ are the buttons as it were clasping the cloake close to the soul We have already clearely proved that it is the office of the Minister of the Gospell and to him it properly belongeth to preach the word and Administer the Sacraments Having spoken of Baptisme I shall now presume to offer something concerning the Lords Supper God in all ages hath given his Church outward representations and visible signes of inward spirituall and heavenly things such were the tree of Life and the tree of Knowledge of good and evil The ratifying his Covenant to the Jewes by Circumcision and the Passeover and to us by Baptism and the Lords Supper which as visible Sermons preach unto us the love of God and give assurance of his promises his Word is the Evidence his Sacra●●●ts the Seals and what is promised by the one is sealed by the other God did not think his outward word sufficient but also added this Sacrament of his last Supper for our further assurance and confirmation a testimony of his faithfulnesse a pledge of his promises a token of unmeasurable love and remedy against all carnall doubting and distrust having not only his hand writing but seale from whence the faithful soul draws an argument of much comfort and spiritual consolation here are not onely promises but the writing of God the oath of God and the seale of God for confirmation The Sacrament of the Lords Supper doth more clearly and fully considering the manner of working represent and paint out before us the love of God in Christ than the word doth for we doe not only hear of Christ but as it were see handle touch and taste him Now the Lord hath ordained Officers Keepers of his great Seal whom he hath deputed and set apart to this very end to seale his promises and Covenant-graces to every believing subject And therefore if any so deputed shall through pride envy or any sinister respects groundless excuses no waies warrantable refuse to put to this Seal for that use and purpose God intended it is guilty of no small crime and deserveth justly to bear Office no longer At my coming to this place I did upon the importunity of some godly Christians considering the long omission of this Sacrament administer the Lords Supper yet not without many praevious Sermons made for the instruction and preparation of my Congregation at which some more precise than wise took offence and whereas it was intended as a bond for further communion it was made use of to a finall separation and my practise extremely condemned and my person exposed to much calumny being the beginning of a sad persecution I must crave some time to vindicate my practise resolving by Gods assistance that truth shall never suffer by my negligence or cowardize as I long since satisfied my self so I hope I shall satisfie others in this particular What I did in giving the Sacrament to all indifferently must be considered in a time when there was no government or discipline in the Church I shall humbly propose First whether the practise of such Ministers as for a long time omit the giving of the Lords Supper where there are subjects capable of receiving it viz both knowing and godly Christians be warrantable or not Secondly I shall lay before you such Reasons as are alledged for the omission of it Concerning the first I resolve upon the holding the Question negatively That the practise of such as for a long time omit the giving of the Lords Supper where there are subjects capable is not warrantable and that upon these ensuing grounds First the long omission puts a barre to a Christians thankfulnesse for one end of the Lords Supper is to shew forth with thanksgiving the death crosse and sufferings of Christ when we read or hear of Christs passion we are greatly affected but much more when he is set before our eyes and visibly crucified in our sight this extremely moves devout affections and leaves behinde deep impressions No action more than this sets out before us the great love and goodnesse of Christ our Saviour in which every believing soule must needs acknowledge the depth of Gods mercy and love who through Christ was reconciled to us miserable sinners enters into a League and Covenant to be our God and seales his grace and unspeakable benefits by this Sacrament he loves us living and dying and leaves a perpetuall commemoration of his love to mankinde being in this exhibited not onely to the eare but eye and caste which affords exquisite fruition and delight This Sacrament is not a naked but exhibitive signe an objective exciting the minde as the word doth in a morall way representing Christ and him crucified besides it hath a consideration of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tantum it is a seal and not a teaching and representing signe onely I leave it to any rational mans consideration whether the long omission of so great a pledge of love or seldome administration of this necessary Ordinance of Christ doth not put a barre to a Christians thankfulnesse The Lords Supper is called an Eucharist Luke 2.14 because it is a thanksgiving to God for giving his Son to die for us and therefore that Hymne is so fitly sung by Men on Earth at the commemoration of his death as it was by the Quire of Heaven at the celebration of his birth It was first used in the Communion as it is thought by Thelesphorus a good man Walfrid lib. de ●●b E●●l cap. 22. Ian. lib. 3. cap 3. and a glorious Martyr Anno 254 Jan. 5. That which followeth in our Communion book We praise thee We blesse thee Baron annot tom 2 fol. 120. Cassand liturgi cap. 21. was added by that famous Bishop Hilary singing it first in his own Church Anno 340. and after brought into other Churches by Pope Symmachus An. 510. The Churches of Scotland use the like form of thanks at their Communion Secondly that the long omission is a barre to a Christians assurance for this Sacrament is added to this very end to assure us of the love of God in Christ as the word is a speaking Sacrament so the Sacrament is a visible word

God he that is an avenger of Fornication and Covetousnesse is God he that calleth unto this holinesse is God he therefore that despiseth our admonition in this case despiseth not man but God God the Father who created us in holinesse God the Son who renued us unto holinesse and God the Holy Ghost who keepeth us in true holinesse But how doth the Apostle prove this Proposition He that despiseth c because saith he God hath sent his holy Spirit among you There are two Readings of these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we translate with Marl and Beza God hath given us his holy Spirit then Pauls argument is thus framed he that despiseth us despiseth not man but God for we write not out of our own authority but as inspird by the blessed Spirit which is God If according to the best Copies God hath sent his holy Spirit among you then the Apostle thus argueth God hath sent his Spirit to this end that you may discern sanctification to be his will His Spirit is our keeper Rom. 8. Our Comforter John 14. Our Teacher 1 John 2. and therefore quench not the Spirit in endeavouring to quench the gifts of the Spirit He that stoppeth his ears and hardneth his heart in the Preachers Exhortation by the Lord Jesus little regardeth the will and word of God despiseth not man but God Despise him not at your perill you despise God himself and you shall not go Scot-free on your souls be it that hear me this day whose Table-talke is furnished with jests and invectives against Ministers and whose study is how to vex afflict and torment them Themistocles was ever banished in peace but sent for home in warre We are passed over in the daies of pride as uselesse creatures but when the wrath of God falls on their naked conscience then the Minister is thought on when your pulse beats sickly and you lie on your groaning beds then are they intreated for counsell and advise What a madnesse is it to contemn those living whom if God own you in mercy you will love dying I am sick and like to die is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physitian there tell some tydings from heaven some comfortable things of Sion I beseech you you are the Ambassadours of Christ and bring the glad tydings of peace and is there no comfort no peace for me thus they that in fair weather beat us in foule run for shelter to us We shall be thought to be good Ministers untill unpleasing things drop from us and then farewell good conceit as Tertullian spake merrily of the Heathen Unlesse God please man he shall be God no longer But alas say some what are you and what is your calling why doe ye lift up your selves the Congregation is holy c. First you are but men it is true yet men of God called and deputed his Officers and Ambassadours intrusted with high and holy mysteries 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man c. Secondly you are weak men its true subject to the like passions with others yet our word is powerful and the proudest of you if God intend you good is turned by our Ministery and if the word be not the savour of life it is the savour of death We have this treasure saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.7 Thirdly you die like men its true but our words live and it is the immortal Word of God that lives and abides for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born anew c. Fourthly all you say is but talk words are but winde Well if you call the preaching of Gods Word talking for ought I know you may talk of mercy and have none it is such talking as will tend either to thy conversion or confusion for whom we loose on earth are loosed in heaven and whom we binde on earth are bound in heaven Lay aside therefore contempt and disdain of those whom God hath chosen to bring thee the glad tydings of salvation The Idolaters and Heathens doubtlesse shall rise up in judgment against the men of this generation How were Baals Priests esteemed by Jezebel the Priests of the Grave by Ahab the Aegyptian Priests by Pharaoh Masse-Priests by Papists and the Mufti by the Turks And yet the true Preachers of the Word that hold forth the saving doctrine of salvation are amongst Christians as spectacles unto the world as laughing and gazing-stocks 1 Cor. 4.9 I am afraid it will befall many as it did Saul who sought Samuel when he was dead whose counsell he did not regard whilest he was alive It is observed that the contempt of the Ministery leadeth to the greatest and foulest sinnes for it is not possible that any should honour the Message of God and despise him that God hath chosen to bring it and this very sinne opens a gap to all wickedness and ushereth in monstrous impieties Sathans kingdome as is observed standeth on four props especially all which I finde in the 8th of S. John 1. Railing verse 48 Say we not well that thou art a Samaritane and hast a Devil The Pharisees in their wickedest actions the persecuting of Gods Prophets thought they did God service and in their foulest words railing against Christ the Son of God they think they doe well Say we not well It is said of the Lyndians that they worshipt Hercules the best when they railed the fastest So many in railing and reviling think it an ornament a grace a badge of zeal and that there is nothing amisse Say we not well No no such saying derogates from God the honour of Christianity and most unbecoming the Gospel of Christ But who railed thus No Rabshakeh no Shimei no sons of Belial but such as called themselves holy verse 33. We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man Oh the great delusion of the Devil to blinde men and women so that they think they say well when they sin foulest in those words of Christ who condemns the Pharisees glosse who judged that murder which consisted onely in the actual depriving a man of his life you shall finde three degrees of sin and three degrees of punishment Mat 5.22 The degrees of sinne are angry thoughts scornfull gestures and opprobrious words to the first is opposed Judgment to the second a Councel to the third Hell fire It is the saying of S. Hierome to strip men of passion is to make them no men Est hominem de homine tollere S. Paul bids Be angry and sinne not Ephes 4 26. He alloweth that which is natural and condemneth that which is culpable so Gerson Ira non est peccatum quoad esse naturae sed quoad esse moris That our anger should not prove faulty Christ sets down two Rules for our direction 1. Concerning the matter with a brother 2. The manner unadvisedly the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is left out in many both old and new Translations but some Greek Copies as Erasmus