Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	lord_n	praise_n	sing_v	4,854	5	8.3023	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29667	The nature of truth, its union and unity with the soule which is one in its essence, faculties, acts, one with truth / discussed by the Right Honorable Robert Lord Brook, in a letter to a private friend ; by whom it is now published for the publick good.	Brooke, Robert Greville, Baron, 1607-1643.	1641 (1641)	Wing B4913; ESTC S103446	48,160	214

word and doctrine Of these two the Doctor is alwayes to have his sword alwayes girt about his thigh he must enter into the lists with every uncircumcised Goliah Hee must stand continuall sentinell that no herefies be forced upon the Church He must beat his braines in dissolving difficilia and clearing obscura He must sometimes faint away in watery cold fits by picking up and throwing out witlesse saplesse sophismes which though they cannot hurt the strong may seduce the weake In the meane time the Pastor leadeth the flock into the sweet and pleasant meadowes feeding them by the little brooks of seemingly shallow affections and yet this man shall not onely receive equall honour with the Doctor but be preferred before him as appeareth clearly in Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.26 As it was with the Israelites so it is here those who keepe the stuffe receive equall reward with the combatants I doe therefore conclude Hee who hath the largest affections hath most of God most of his image which is renewed in knowledge Thirdly sometimes it hapneth that those who have the largest knowledge have the most enlarged affections even to our eye and this is happinesse indeed I confesse it doth not so seeme to an eye that would read it running but if it be exactly looked on if it be presented to our view in the pourtrait of an example I thinke it will be very cleare David and Salomon compared with Paul will be as a thousand witnesses The two first doe seeme to out-strip all men in affection they are brim-full running over For David is stiled the sweet Singer of Israel in his Psalmes he is ever magnifying the rich mercies of God singing forth the praises of God chusing rather to be a doore-keeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tents of Mesech making his Word to be a light unto his feet and a lanthorn unto his paths placing all his delight in the Law of the Lord Salomon is the happy Pen-man of that Hymne which by the Spirit is stiled the Song of Songs Yet for all this even in this they are both exceeded by Saint Paul But some it may be will imagine those Worthies to be endowed with higher gifts of Nature and Art than S. Paul and then they will give all the glory to their understanding and not to their affections If it be so I confesse I have not fitly chosen my Opposites But the truth will then appeare in Them without comparison distinctly For if in affection they exceed all and in abilities are as Saul taller than their brethren by head and shoulders then is it manifest in them that eftsoone men of the most raised parts of highest abilities doe superabound in love But if in things which are not directly of Faith I could cease to be a Sceptique I should with that most Reverend Worthy Thomas Goodwin give Saint Paul for head and heart that Throne in heaven which is placed next to Jesus Christ But secret things belong to God let us onely compare their eminency here below I think it will be out of question that Saint Paul was the most excellent For though Salomon there I suppose will be the difficulty be said to be the wisest of men that ever were that ever should be yet that is to be applied onely to Government and if it may reach so farre to his excellent skill in naturall Philosophy View but Saint Paul and see whether he doth not excell in every thing He had gathered up vast learning at the feet of Gamaliel for his parts he was advanced to eminent power in Church and Common-wealth He saith of himselfe I profited in the Iewes religion above many my equalls in my owne nation being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers And after his conversion he was judged the only man fit to contend with the Philosophers at Athens For they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to him And therefore to him was committed the unravelling of all the difficult knots It is he that disputes about meates long haire divorces irregular partings of husband and wife It is he that openeth the nature of prophecie evinceth the resurrection from the dead maintaineth justification by faith And that he may be perfect in knowledge God is pleased whether in the flesh or spirit he knoweth not to take him into the third heavens and there he was so filled with Revelation that God was forced to put the Philomela-Thorne under his breast that hee might not fall into the sleep of sin and so give himselfe up as Sampson into the hands of Philistine enemies And yet this man exceeds all men in affections and in his affections surpasseth all his other excellencies It is hee that is often in journies in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils by his owne nation in perils amongst the Gentiles in perils in the city in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the sea in perils amongst false Brethren in wearinesse and painfulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold nakednesse And as he saith of himselfe Who was weak and I was not weak who was offended and I did not burne It is hee that fought with the beasts at Ephesus He is content not onely to bee bound but to die for Christ Good Saint Paul was so tender over his kinsmen according to the flesh that for their sakes he could willingly be content to be separated from the love of the Lord Jesus Christ And this is greater love than that which Christ mentioneth for no man had then shewed greater love than to die but this holy Saint will goe one step further he will suffer an eternall death for his friend Thus if suffering either for the head or members for the Church or Christ will discover affection I suppose hee will merit the Garland And as a complement and crowne of all if to live be most for Gods glory though death be his advantage he is resolved to submit making obedience to Christ in life and death his gaine and triumph I confesse when he travelleth through those briery disputes he cannot display such sparkling vivid affections But when hee hath gotten but a little above those lime-twigs how doth he mount on high and there upon even wings disdaine all things below triumphing in the imbraces of his Saviour who is to him more choice than the choicest of ten thousand If what I have attempted to prove be true as I hope it is then Consider Either those who are eminent in affection and otherwise know little or those who as they abound in one are also Masters in the other Distinguish appearances from truth Reading memory discourses effects of sense or complexion from that which entreth the soule becommeth reall there acteth floweth from thence as a spring And then will you conclude that all knowledglieth in the affection that all knowledge is but one differing