Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	heart_n	let_v	lord_n	11,278	5	4.0773	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85314	Separation examined: or, a treatise vvherein the grounds for separation from the ministry and churches of England are weighed, and found too light. The practise proved to be not onely unwarrantable, but likewise so hurtful to the churches, that church-reformation cannot with any comfort go forward, so long as such separation is tolerated. Also an humble request presented to the congregational divines, that since the differences between them and the classical-divines are very small they would please to strike in with the classical-divines in carrying on the worke of reformation, before the inundation of these corrupt opinions, have destroyed both ordinances and religion. / By Gi. Firmin minister to the church in Shalford in essex.	Firmin, Giles, 1614-1697.	1652 (1652)	Wing F964; Thomason E656_12; ESTC R206624	107,263	123

of Corinth There are other points besides which I mention not but certainly the controversie is not so clear as the controversie against Papists Socinians c. therefore I should thinke that we had need close the more with these men A third consideration is this unto me it is something I know not how it takes with others the strange things that God in his Providence hath suffered to fall out in Congregationall Churches I meane for Divisions especially and errours that charge cannot bee denied of many Congregationall Members what errours they have drunke in and for Divisions they are not secret things but such as the whole Nation knows insomuch that I have heard a serious Congregationall Minister and an able man say when he hath heard what crackes and rendings there have been in Congregationall Churches he thought seriously whether it were the way of God or no how many Congregationall Churches may be reckoned where these have been and if Ministers doe not let their Members take their owne course even what they will and drinke in what errours they will it is hard to keep a Church from rending Ius Divi. p. 114 that learned Book England gives strong proofe of this It is a very unhappy Story that Mr. Edwards relates of the Church at Arnheim if it be true I finde it quoted by the London Ministers where that Act was done in New England that Mr. Cawdrey mentions in his Epistle to the dissenting Brethren I cannot imagine but that is also strange if true I suppose he relates as it was related to him I know indeed where there is a sad example of this kinde there also This use I make of these things that we had need take another review of Congregationall principles in respect of that power which is given to the Fraternity and in the meane time to be very tender towards the Classicall Brethren and study agreement with them The fourth The Classicall men are opposed in reforming their Churches as well as the Congregationall men now for these to be opposed not only by the prophane part whom they keep off from the Lords Snpper but to be opposed also by the Congregationall men that they prove a griefe to them this is a hard chapter certainly we had need more close with them and help to comfort them rather then grieve them in their worke they are scorned by the profane party let not us scorne them 5 These Nurseries of errours I meane the Separatists who cast off Orthodox Officers are as bad enemies to the Congregationall Churches as they are to the Classicall nay worser your Members will quickly drinke in their poyson yea and goe away from you to them Pag. 119. as experience hath testified therefore it concernes you to joyne with the Classicall men against them but by one passage I meet with in the London Vindication it seems some Congregationall men doe not thinke so for they in their complaint to you thus speake Are there not some of you that chuse rather to joyne with Anabaptists and Episcopall men then with us and that will give letters dimissory to your Members to depart from you to the Churches of the Anabaptists and at the same time deny them to such as desire them for to joyne with Churches of our Communion we charge not these things upon you all but upon some whose names we forbeare to mention this is very strange but this confirmes what I said before that the cause of our dis-union is not altogether in the Classicall men 6 I pray consider what a fine Game the Devill hath played by this opposition between us hath he not turned our Reformation into a deformation Hath he not caused the building of the Temple to cease Doe not all things that concerne the Reformation of the Church stand at a stay What doe we now indeed those who are for Congregationall Government have the opportunity to gather Churches as they call it but what becomes of the whole It was told me when I was in Spaine which was the winter before Naseby Fight that divers that were in religious Orders that lived there were got into England Certainly Jesuits or Devils have been here to hold the Congregationall and Classicall Brethren at such a distance that while they have been contending about Government we are in danger of loosing Ordinances Truths Government and be swallowed up with a deluge of Errors Schismes and Heresies Divide impera that hath been Satans project 7 I beseech you consider whether we lye not open to Gods stroke is there not matter of provocation given him by reason of these Divisions that his worke stands at a stay Errours Schismes Heresies and decay of godlinesse that follows upon these that he should take away the Liberties he hath given us and make us feele a heavie yoke againe Surely these things will not be long borne Mr. Caryll hath a sad speech Expos on Job c. 5. ver 9. God hath begun to doe so many marvells amongst us that I verily beleeve the worke he is about will end in a marvell too and we in the close shall be made either a wonder of Mercy or a wonder of Judgement to all the Nations round about We are made indeed a wonder in regard of the strange Opinions Heresies Divisions they wonder at us in New England but till God sets up his Kingdome in our hearts Rom. 14.17 consisting in righteousnesse peace and joyes of the Holy Ghost and sets up his Kingdome in the Nation riding in triumph in his Ordinances converting of soules and battering down the prophanenesse of our hearts scattering our Errors and Schismes we shall not be a wonder of mercy to other Nations but if God shall be pleased to let our hearts feele his inward Kingdome and our eyes see his externall visible Kingdome after that manner exalted then Lord some of us care not how soone we fall asleep FINIS