Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	faith_n	grace_n	repentance_n	2,335	5	7.5639	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08552	The Christian conflict a treatise, shewing the difficulties and duties of this conflict, with the armour, and speciall graces to be exercised by Christian souldiers. Particularly applied to magistrates, ministers, husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants. The case of vsury and depopulation, and the errours of antinomists occasionally also discussed. Preached in the lecture of Kettering in the county of Northampton, and with some enlargement published by Ioseph Bentham, rector of the Church of Broughton in the same county.	Bentham, Joseph, 1594?-1671.	1635 (1635)	STC 1887; ESTC S113626	266,437	390

judgement knowledge or comfort life strength and health 2. The Lord will guide their wayes and direct their thoughts and counsels 3. The Lord will comfort them in all their afflictions tribulations and persecutions 2. The Lord is their shield or safety protection and preservation A shield he is not artificiall naturall or politicall but morall spirituall celestiall soveraigne sure and sufficient Shielding these fore-named by his mercy and favour Psal 5. 12. 61. 7. By his powerfull right hand Psal 18 35. By his omnipotent arme Psal 44. 3. By his faithfull truth Psal 91 4. And by his grace 2 Cor. 12 9. He is their shield to beare off the bitter blowes beat back the direfull darts breake the furious force of and to cover shadow and save from the empoysoned stings of the diabolicall assaults of their implacable and hellish adversaries The Lord is their shield preserving them from destruction delivering them from danger and distresse so that no weapons of the wicked nor darts of Satan can harme or hurt them this their Shield being sure sufficient present and perpetuall Great therefore is their happinesse in this regard for having God their shield they have 1. The most bright and glorious shield which doth not onely delight but also dazzle the eyes of those that do behold it 2. The most ready shield alwayes at hand to help succour and save them 3. The most durable and lasting shield which cannot be wasted or worne out 4. The strongest and surest shield which will never shrink 1. Earthly shields can save the body onely this both body and soule 2. Earthly shields save and shelter from bodily darts onely this from spirituall also 3. Earthly shields save and shelter from some kinds of bodily dangers this from all The Lord will give them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pitie Noah found grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 6. 8. that is grace or mercy Gen. 19. 19. Thy servant hath found grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace Take the word for the actions of assisting grace as namely preservation conservation and protection Take the word for faith and repentance which amongst saving graces are the most principall They being more often more earnestly and more universally urged and inforced than any other in the Prophets by Iohn Baptist our Saviour and his Apostles Take it for those greatest works of grace wrought together at one instant namely union with Christ adoption justification conversion Take it for those other principall graces of saving knowledge joyned with faith John 17. 3. Regeneration Iohn 3. 5. Spirituall regiment Rom. 8. 14. Repressing ill motions Gal. 5. 17. Stirring up good Isa 11. 2. Which are the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. Amongst the which these are in number of the best sc an utter dislike of sinne because it is sinne Rom. 7. An hungry desire to be at unity with God in Christ Psal 4. 6. And the gift of hearty prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 26. Sound and saving comfort in distresse as in outward calamities and trouble of conscience Rom. 5. 2 3. Inward spirituall sound and saving strength to do the waightiest duties of a mans calling as are these and such like following 1. At the sight of his sinnes to lift up the hand of faith to heaven and to catch hold of Gods mercy in Christ 2. In time of temptation to resist the same being as hard a matter as for drie wood to resist the fire 3. To forsake all for Christs sake 4. To acknowledge Gods providence to rejoyce in it to rely upon it in the want of ordinary meanes as hard a thing to do without Gods speciall assistance as to shake the whole earth Take it for inward or outward grace with God or men which the upright man so farre enjoyes That though he is not gracious with all yet he is with some Though he is not great in favour yet he is in some Though he is not alwayes yet sometime he is more or lesse sooner or later Though nor with men yet with God Take it for all or any of these it shewes that God will honour those that honour him by sincerity and uprightnesse 4. The Lord will crowne the upright man with unspeakable and immortall glory Though therefore they may be abject in vaine mens yet are they most glorious in Gods eyes Though they may be vile in the eyes of vile and wicked men yet are they not in the eyes of all Neither are they altogether base but in part honourable and glorious Nor alwayes contemptible but somtimes sooner or later glorious exalted and honoured yea they shal be made glorious hereafter and exalted above the heavens 5. Lastly the Lord will increase and multiply his blessings upon the righteous more and more so that whatsoever good things the godly want were not good for them to have the Lord with-holding no good thing from them totally finally without a supply if it be good for them 3. Have a continuall desire and a holy unquenchable thirsting after the Word to grow as in other so in this grace of sincerity or truth of heart 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new-borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1. New-borne babes desire the milkie nourishing breast 2. They desire it without mixture or adulteration 3. So insatiably and uncessantly that though you chaunt and sing to them as melodious lullabies the sweetest voices and most ravishing harmonious instruments can sound by art and nature though you give them golden garments pearles and precious stones crownes and kingdomes yet they regard them not a rush neither are they quieted or pacified without the breast by such golden and glittering promises or performances 4. Whereas the fruition and enjoyment of the same stils their lowdest out-cries and fils their hearts with abundant comforts and contentments which they plentifully testifie by their smiling countenance and other childish toyes expressions of their no little joy and gladnesse 5. By their constant and continuall sucking such sweet and savoury nutriment they grow in comelinesse and courage in strength and stature Thus do we 1. Thirst after the nourishing milk of Gods Word 2. Desire this pure Word without mingling or corrupting 3. Let no inchaunting syrenian songs of worldly delightfull pleasures nor golden offers or enjoyments of earthly contentments slake or asswage your earnest longings after this substantiall sound and savoury soule-feasting food 4. Let the possession and enjoyment of this comfort in the greatest distresses ravish your hearts and soules with unperishable and ineffable consolations Love it unconceiveably beyond expression Psal 119. 97. Preferre and prize it above thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. Rejoyce in it more than in great spoyles Vers 162. Relish it more savourly and sweetly than honey and the honey-combe Vers 103. 5. Desire it labour for it delight in it to get and increase as other graces so this of sincerity or

feet to be naturally so nice and tender that if we goe abroad barefoot stones will hurt them thornes will pricke them and perceiving the necessary use of shooes to cover and keepe our feet from such like incommodious inconveniences is carefull to have these members well fortified fenced and shod that he may goe on with boldnesse and courage whatsoever the way be And shall not every souldier of Christ being to passe through a very hard harsh and rough way full of disgracefull reproches troublesome taunts variety of vexations terrible temptations many times full of persecutions by tortures and torments losse of goods lives and liberties and all sorts of afflictions more harsh and grievous to a naked heart and soule then thorne● and thistles briars and brambles to bare and unguarded feet be as carefull to have his soule well armed and fenced with the preparation of the Gospell of peace without which there is no possibility of going on much lesse of holding out in that way that so he may not onely dare to adventure into but also endure to hold out in this way so hard and harsh passing with undaunted courage through all the tempestuous and terrible troubles of this malicious and maligning world Thus armed and shod the Lords valiant Worthies in all ages have passed through the piercing pike● of the most outragious opposing occurrences of their many and maligning enemies not daunted with nor dreading but couragiously enduring the bitter blasts and brunts of scornes and scourges of bonds and prisonments of fire and faggots and innumerable sundry kindes of crosses to which from time to time they have beene brought 2. As the want of shooes in such places where they are of necessary and important use and may be had is shamefull and unseemely And as cleane and decent shooes fit for our feet and thereto closely tyed are an ornament docking and adorning our bodies So as the Laodicean Church being poore blinde and naked was wretched and miserable Rev. 3. 17. it is a shamefull and sordid thing for us Christian souldiers who have so long and with such liberty enjoyed the Gospell not to be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Whereas these spirituall shooes dec●e beautifie and adorne our steps and goings making our waies and workes seemely and right Cant. 7. 1. That therefore we may be alwaies really and readily prepared and protected against all the sorts and severall kindes of troubles and temptations 1. So that they never finde us unfitted and unfurnished Io● 3. 25. 2. So that we be not dismayed with their dread nor overwhelmed with their weight 2 Cor. 4. 8 9. 3. So that we be not distracted nor discomfited in the midst and most of them but more then conquerors in all these things Rom. 8. ●7 4. So that our consolations may abound by Christ as the sufferings of Christ abound in us 2 Cor. 1. 5. 5. So that we may be strengthened and enabled to cheare up and consolate others groaning under like burdensome pressures 2 Cor. 1. 4 6. 6. So that wee may stand out to the end to fight a good fight to finish our course and obtaine the crowne of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4 7 8. Let us be carefull to have our f●et sh●d with the preparation of the Gospell of peace SECT 5. The Christians shield Their shield its excellency necessity and their duty concerning the same THe fourth piece of the armour of righteousnesse is the shield of faith A shield is a defensive instrument of war to award and keepe off the blowes of an enemy having a fourefold use namely 1. To receive and beare blowes and strokes 2. To beate backe darts arrowes stones and bullets c. 3 To breake the force of swords halberds c. ●4 To cover save and shadow the whole body Thus good Magistrates are shields Psal 47. 9. The shields of the earth belong unto God being instruments of safety and defence to the good Thus God is a shield Gen. 15. 1. I am thy buckler Psal 18 2. The Lord is my buckler to those which trust in him Psal 18. 30. Thus is faith a shield bearing off and beating back the fierce temptations of Sathan as carnall confidence presumptuous security distrustfull infidelity and other fierce darts of the world the flesh and the divell I having formerly spoken unto you of this most necessary profitable and comfortable of this first and mother grace of graces most of all setting forth Gods glory acknowledging his wisedome truth power holinesse justice and mercy in another discourse namely of the society of Saints much I will not yet some things I must needs speake of this capitall grace and head vertue First Although many prophane persons and popishly perswaded thinke and say that so much preaching and learning of faith is a let and hinderance to good workes making men carelesse of piety and charity Little considering the certainty of that irreprehensible divine truth Heb. 11. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God For 1. Vpon whom Gods wrath abideth they cannot please God But Gods wrath abi●es upon all mis-beleevers Ioh. 3. 36. 2 Without Christ it is impossible to please God But without faith no man can have Christ Ephes 3. 12. 17. 3. Without Gods spirit it is impossible to please God But without faith no man can have Gods spirit Gal. 3. 2. 4. Without the root there can be no fruit But faith is the root of all acceptable obedience Heb. 11. 4. 5. They who are in the state of reprobates cannot please God But all that have not faith are in that state 2 Cor. 13. 5. 6. They who are dead in trespasses and sins cannot please God But all who want faith are dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephes 2. 1 2. 7. Those whose consciences are defiled cannot please God But all who want faith even their consciences are defiled Tit. 1. 15. Secondly Although godlesse Atheists conceive faith to be some fained fiction or some unnecessary thing for discourse and disputation onely little considering That it is most precious and excellent 2 Pet. 1. 1. 1. In the account and estimate of the most wise un-erring and omniscient Lord Iehovah with whom faith finds favour Mat. 8 13. 15. 28. 2. In the estimation and judgement of the sanctified and illuminated people of God affirming and professing that faith is more pretious then gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. 3. In regard of the giver and doner God himselfe Phil. 1. 29. 4. In regard of the worker Gods sacred and holy Spirit 5. In regard of the instrumentall meanes whereby it is wrought the Word of God Rom. 10 14. this being a most precious and excellent thing 1. Containing in it most pure and precious promises Heb. 8. 6. 2. Being compared to things most excellent and eminent namely A rich treasure and pretious pearle Mat. 13. 44 45. An heritage and thousands of gold and silver Psal 1 9. 111. 72. 6. In regard of the object Christ Iesus

but might the more honour God the giver and highly value the benefits bestowed it is the good will and pleasure of our gracious God to have us waite when wee have prayed for his gracious performance 3. To exercise our graces faith patience hope and constancy are tried imployed and improved by Gods delaying and our expecting These make us cry louder and knocke harder at the gates of mercy and pray more unto our heavenly father Hee holds off to give that wee his fraile and feeble weake and stammering children by often petitioning may by exercise become more expert that his gifts and graces in us may bee more manifested to our selves and others Matth. 15. And because hee loves and likes desires and delights in the prayers of his people As therefore those who are delighted in and ravisht with harmonious melody pay not presently least they should bee gone but deferre to reward the musitians that they might delight them longer Even so the LORD of heaven and earth much delighting in the humble and hearty faithfull and fervent prayers of his people deferres to grant yet so that wee are no loosers by our waiting Hannah Elizabeth and Sarah prayed earnestly and waited long the first had a Samuel the second a Iohn Baptist and the third an Isaack for her staying Iacob wrestled all night and in the end hee got a blessing 4. To prove our faith whether wee will seeke unlawfull meanes by gadding to the witch at Endor or the Idoll of Ekron 5. To make us throughly privie to our owne infirmities that wee may the more heartily embrace his strength 6. To strengthen our devotion towards him for delay extendeth our desires Thirdly Or in regard of God himselfe namely to make knowne and manifest his 1. Wisedome as best knowing what is fittest for us 2. Iustice being offended and correcting us hereby for our transgressions 3. Love denying that wee demand that hee may give us better or when wee are better fitted for such favours 4. Liberty he not being bound but free to give what and when himselfe pleaseth Say not beloved brethren God is not ignorant therefore Object 3 wee need not tell him hee is not forgetfull wee need not therefore remember him of our wants Hee is not carelesse we need not call upon him For Though he is not ignorant yet he will have us tell him Answ that which hee knowes that wee may acknowledge his omniscience and give him that part of his glory Though hee is not forgetfull yet hee will have us put him in remembrance that so wee may acknowledge his mindfullnesse of us and stirre us up to remember his promises Though he is continually carefull of us yet hee will bee often and earnestly called upon and sollicited with our suits that so we may exercise our faith hope patience and other like gladsome graces Say not beloved brethren God hath determined what Object 4 to doe decreed what to give therefore prayer is bootlesse and unprofitable 1. For wee are to walke according to the revealed will Answ of God which enjoynes us often and earnestly to pray and not to peepe and prie into the hidden and inscrutable secrets of the Almighty 2. Though his decrees are not changeable yet wee see and sensibly know that his dealings are changeable in divers things as in turning of blessings into curses c. 3. Though his everlasting decree is unchangeable yet his temporary conditionall decree may be altered 4. Though wee cannot perhaps obtaine the benefit wee desire yet we shall get as good or a better and so be no loosers but gainers But reason and resolve thus or after the like manner 1. Is our GOD so good and gracious as to give good things to them that aske him Matth. 7. 11. Is hee so omnipotent and almighty that hee can doe what hee will Psalm● 115. 3. Doth his providence dispose and order all things even to the haires of our heads and the falling of Sparrowes Hath hee strictly enjoyned and straightly commanded us to pray Psalme 50. 15. Hath hee gratiously promised that those who aske shall have seeke shall finde Matth. 7. 7. Is hee so willing to grant that his eares are open to heare the cry of the righteous Psal 34. 15. And is he ready to grant before wee aske Isa 65. 24. 2. Is prayer acceptable with GOD in the courts of heaven 1 Timothy 2. 1 2. Is it availeable even so to admiration that it shields and succours and safe-guards us against the Divell Ephesians 6. That it obtained victories remooved Leprosies cured Plagues recovered health stayed the Sunne in the firmament c. That it sanctifieth every thing takes away the hurt of evill sweetneth all distresses is a sure refuge in time of danger and brings salvation First Then surely wee will not with the prophane praverlesse Atheist neglect this sweet and soveraigne sacrifice of profitable and prevailing prayer for in so doing wee should leave our selves without excuse we should demonstrate an absence of grace and GODS spirit in our hearts wee should loose all faculty of prayer and deprive our selves of innumerable comforts in troubles and of conquests over our corruptions and Sathans conflicts Secondly Then surely wee will not dare to perplexe and persecute GODS peculiar people whose prayers yea whose groanes and sighes are so forcible and effectuall with the LORD of heaven who is both able willing and ready prest to deliver and defend them from the depth of distresses and to execute vengeance upon their persecutours Thirdly Then surely wee will not dread nor bee dismayed with the terrible assaults furious attempts and dreadfull temptations of Satan nor with the frownes furious rage and irefull menaces of his instruments Since prayer is so powerfull finde wee a heart to pray God hath an eare to heare and a hand to helpe Hee heard rebellious and disobedient Israel asking a King Egiptian 1 Sam. 8. Hagar for her scoffing Ishmael Moses his servant intreating Gen. 21. 17. for rebellious slubborne and hard-hearted Pharoah The Prophet praying for cruell contradicting Exod. 7. 8. and contemning Ieroboam And will hee not heare mee 1 King 13. a Saint a Sonne and for my selfe Certainely hee will Fourthly Then surely wee will be carefull and circumspect that wee pray not amisse for otherwise wee may aske and not receive Iames 4. 3. What man except strangely foolish if not strongly frantique knowing that a petition rightly penned or pronounced to his dread Soveraigne was of force to frustrate all his enemies malicious machinations against him to procure and purchase more mercies then his tongue could crave or his heart wish to winde himselfe into and linke himselfe fast for ever in his Princes favour would not prepare to put up the same with premeditation and advisement least by his precipitate inconsideratenesse hee not onely loose all those transcendently excellent expected clemencies and kindnesses but also incense with insatiable rage and fury his displeased Soveraigne And shall we

and our victory Who with his owne hands at severall times slew 3000 Turkes by the negligence of his watch at one time lost 2000 horse and 3000 foot It hath beene ever therfore the constant and continuall care of Cities Common-wealths chiefe Captaines and Commanders to prevent the subtill and deceitfull circumventings of their enemies by daily and diligent constant and continuall watchfullnesse Witnesse not onely the practises of particular persons as of Scanderbeg who slept but two houres in the night untill he had delivered his countrey and of particular places as of the famous citty of Thebes which in each of its 100 strong and sumptuous gates had a watch of 200 horse But also of all both places and persons who in their citties and armies especially in times of warre keepe watch and ward ordinary and extraordinary to warne them of danger if any be Therefore we have need to watch much or of great watchfullnesse Chrys Hom. 3. in Gen. 1. Tom. 1. pag. 13. because we have alwaies warre and no truce saith Chrysostom The Scripture therefore doth strictly presse and enjoyne with soveraigne commandements sweetly perswade and induce with serious allurements all Christian combatants to watchfullnesse Matth. 24. 4● 43. Watch therefore for you know not c. 25. 13. Watch therefore c. 26 41. Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation Luke 12. 37. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when hee commeth shall find watching 21. 36. Wach ye therefore and pray alwaies c. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast c. 1 Thess 5. 6. Let us watch and be sober 2 Tim. 4. 5. Watch thou in all things 1 Pet. 4. 7. Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer 5. 8. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Divell as a roaring Lyon walketh c. In which Scriptures and divers more which use this military word Christ Iesus and his blessed Apostles like wise and warlike Captaines instruct us Christian souldiers to behave our selves like those who in warre are appointed continually to watch in some sconce watch-tower or other eminent place where they must rowse up themselves throughly that they sleepe not pryingly view up and downe Ezek. 3. 17. 2 Sam. 13. 34. 2 Reg. 9. 17. every where and descrie what may be helpfull or hurtfull to the army or citty The word in Hebrew signifying a watchman is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word signifying to see a farre to espie to consider diligently So that a watchman is an espiall a considerer a viewer an observer The Greeke words signifying watchmen and watchfullnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vigil●a a vigeo est enim vigere vali lum robuslum esse quasi v●m agere quare vigiles non segnes non torpentes quales sunt dormientes sed qui vigore suo sunt and to watch some of them signifie an abstaining from sleepe to awake out of sleepe Some a keeping guard seeing to an observing In the Latine tongue the word signifying watchfullnesse is derived by some of a verbe which signifieth to bee strong and lusty to have force and power wherefore watchmen ought not to bee slothfull faint and lazie as sleepers are but such who are in livelinesse strength and vigour By which particulars it is easie to be seene that watchfullnesse is a military word a daily duty for martiall men and therefore for us Christian souldiers and what it is namely An earnest care to live every day as one would live upon his dying day or upon his judgement day A diligent observing of all such things as may helpe or hinder us in our Christian warfare A wary diligence whereby we looke to our selves to those offices we take in hand and those things which appertaine unto them A carefull observing of our hearts and a diligent looking to our waies that they may be pleasing and acceptable to God A diligent observing of our dangers and our duties therein to be performed 1. This watchfullnesse is often and ordinarily frequently and Reasons forcibly enjoyned by our gracious saving Soveraigne and chiefe commander Christ Iesus Marke 13. 37. Watch 37. What I say to you I say to all Watch. 2. This is a duty of important and urgent necessity Both in regard of our enemies wi●h whom we must encounter who are for number innumerable for malice implacable for labour unwearied for condition and quality spirituall invisible mercilesse for diligence incessant leaving no stone unrolled no meanes unattempted to harme and destroy us As also in regard of sin against which we must combate and of which we must heedfully beware This being of so subtill deceitfull bewitching insinuating nature that where these finde entrance and can get admittance they doe not solitarily and without company surprise the secure seduced soule but with their over-flowing troupes furiously flocking together strive to surcharge the same Witnesse Cains unadvised anger Gen. 4. which produced inveterate wrath that barbarous and bloudy murder that desperation Witnesse Davids idlenesse which occasioned lust adultery murder 2 Sam. 11. And that it may the more easily ensnare and inveigle us with its bewitching guiles it fawnes and fleeres upon us with a painted face polishing over its pestiferous pollutions with plausible and pleasing pretences of piety of providence good husbandry good fellowship of decency devotion c. Watchfullnesse therefore is very needfull For the greater danger wee are in or subject unto the more watchfull and carefull wee must bee for our owne and other● safety 3. This is a speciall private helpe to the publique exercises of religion It is the first and principall private helpe by good and right reason this being as an eye to see them all well and rightly done and used Yea this must bee a continued conjoyned companion to all Christian performances Wee are to watch unto prayer Ephes 6. 18. namely to get ability to pray and that aright to the occasions and opportunity of prayer to the successe and event of prayer We are to watch unto prayer that we bee not seene of men like hypocrites that we use not vaine repetitions as the heathen Matth. 6. 5 7. We are to watch unto hearing Luk. 8. 18. namely that we heare with faith and confidence with submission willing assent and purpose to obey We are to watch in our workes of mercy that we doe them not to be seene of men that our left hand do not know what our right hand doth Matth. 6. 1 2 3. We are to watch unto fasting that in this we approve our selves to our father in secret that he may reward us openly Matth. 6. 18. 4. The best and bravest the most wise and worthy souldiers in this our warfare neglecting or securely sleighting their Christian watch have fearefully fallen shamefully beene foyled and supplanted and dangerously deceived through the suddaine sallies and surprisalls the vigilant underminings and violent encounters of our virulent