Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	father_n	sin_n	sinner_n	3,110	5	7.5131	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79459	The dead speaking, or, The living names of two deceased ministers of Christ (contemporary, and eminently usefull in the west of England) viz. Mr. Sam. Oliver, and Mr. Samuel Crook Containing the sermon at the funeralls of the one preached by John Chetwind, B.D. and two severall speeches delivered at the funeralls of them both by William Thomas, B.D. Joyned together at the desire, and for the use chiefly of those Christians who were often occasional partakers of their labours.	Chetwynd, John, 1623-1692.; Thomas, William, 1593-1667. aut	1654 (1654)	Wing C3795; Thomason E726_6; ESTC R206780	57,363	84

his dealings even in this sad dispensation of his providence whereby a deserving Pastor is removed from a desiring People and both the careful and indulgents Parents within the compass of one week from many tender and needing Orphans so ought we to indeavour the improving of it to our own spiritual good And therefore know that Funeral solemnities are not for the solace of the dead they are beyond our prayers or helps though not respects but for the comfort and instruction of the living who ought as those who came where Asahel lay dead to stand still and 2 Sam. 2. 23. consider what God expects they should learn from the works of his hand his deed having a voice to instruct us as well as his word To help you wherein I shall crave your attentions to those doctrinal truths which from the word read shall be commended and improved unto you In the managing of which as I vary from my usual way of discourse my Apology is this As in Feasts so in Sermons we respect the Company not our selves Paul at Athens alters his stile The words are part of Zechariahs Penitential Sermon comprised in the six first verses of this Prophesy in which according to the resolution of it by the Judicious Diodati we have 1. The call to Repentance v. 3. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turn unto me saith the Lord of Hosts 2. Arguments to enforce this exhortation and they are drawn from 1. The good of so doing v. 3. I will turn to you 2. The evil of not repenting 1. Represented in the History of their Fathers 1. Sin v. 4. They did not 2. Effects of sin 1. Gods wrath v. 2. The Lord hath been sore displeased c. 2. Their punishment v. 6. Did they not take hold c. 2. History applyed v. 4. Be not as your Fathers Now the words of my text Your Fathers where are they c. are inserted for the amplification and inforcement of the exhortation and by way of prevention to remove two forceable obstructions that might weaken the strength of those Motives The hindrances are what the Prophet foresaw their corruptions would prompt them to say 1. You tel us of our Fathers What is that to us They are dead 2. You tell us of the former Prophets What is that to us They are dead too to remove which these words are by way of Concession as if God should say I grant you what you do object your Fathers are dead and the Prophets are dead yet know you have great reason to regard the present exhortations to repentance that are now made to you by my Prophets Haggai and Zechariah and others that are now sent Because 1. The examples of my Justice on your Fathers do stil live Did it not take hold yes it did they have confessed it and they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us according to our ways and according to our doing so hath he dealt with us ver 6. 2. The word which I commanded my Prophets though the Prophets be dead yet their words stil live Did they not take hold v. 6. Thus have I given you that sense and dependance of the words which I conceive most genuine and proper and shall not spend time needlesly in relating others judgements That being a good rule for popular Preachers which at my first entrance upon the work of the Ministry I received from my sometimes Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Crook of famous memory late Pastor of Woragton now with God In vulgar auditories to pitch upon that sense of Scripture which is most genuine and not to distract hearers by mentioning various readings and judgements That course rather savouring of ostentation than tending to instruction The words are plain and without difficulty only take notice that the Prophet by that question Where are they Intends thus much they are dead according to that of Job Man giveth up the Ghost and where is he and by that phrase of Taken hold or overtake implies thus much that Gods Job 14. 10. denounced judgements are as a prosecuting enemy that follows the pursute and wil not cease til overtaking they lay hold on and hold fast his enemies Now in my passage to the main thing intended from the words read give me leave to mention and I shall but mention the doctrines of the Context or at least the most principal of them which are these five that follow Turning men to God is the Preachers main Doct. 1 employment The former Prophets Zechariahs St. Pauls whom God sent to open their eys and to Acts 26. 18 20. turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God This was This is Gods messengers imployment to perswade such that have left Gods ways to follow their own now to leave their own to follow Gods to walk with their faces toward the Sun that so they may have shining light and comfortable heat when as turning their backs to the Sun what see they but a shadow the privation of light and heat The bringing back of lost Sheep to their Shepherd of prodigal children to their Father the beseeching sinners to be reconciled and by repentance to break off their sins is the proper work of Christs Ministers Present enjoyments of signal mercies yea great Doct. 2 deliverances are no ground of future security without renewed and renewing repentance They were now but newly come forth of captivity and so had received a mighty deliverance yet should they again break Gods Commandements they know God would have been angry with them Ezra 9. 13 14. til he had consumed them so that there should be The doctrine of Repentance is always necessary Doct. 3 to be preached but especially then when mercies are enjoyed and we are in a prosperous estate In which the Heart is exceeding apt to forget God Latet anguis in Herba A deadly poyson is many times secretly conveyed under a pleasant relish for as when men are most hot they are then most subject to take dangerous colds so when Christians enjoy all things outwardly well as David when at peace then are they in greatest danger of spiritual miscarriages The doctrine then of Repentance is always needful it was the first doctrine preached by Christ The disciples John fit for every Auditory for all times Other discourses may be profitable but this is necessary An impenitent obstinacy against and under the Doct. 4 means of grace is an aggravated impiety Forefathers examples are no plea for impenitency Doct. 5 no privilege for impunity and yet as the Jewes we are exceeding apt to plead them when Jer. 44. 17 they are so far from countenancing that they aggravate offences Having thus mentioned the doctrines of the context I now come to Consider the truths of the words Read and they are two the first I shall but touch and the second Insist on as more suitable to the present occasion Your fathers are dead yet