Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	believe_v	church_n	faith_n	7,365	5	5.7654	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B08096	The great assize, or, Day of iubilee. Deliuered in foure sermons, vpon the 20. chapter of the Reuel. ver. 12.13.14.15. : Whereunto are annexed two sermons vpon the I. chapter of the Canticles, verse 6.7. / [By] Samuel Smith, minister of the work of God at Prittlewell in Essex..	Smith, Samuel, 1588-1665.	1617 (1617)	STC 22847.7; ESTC S95246	88,613	364

their owne traditions and constitutions Vse How should this stir vp euery christian man and woman to study the word of God so that knowing the truth beleeuing the doctrine of God we may be able to discerne betweene light and darkenesse truth and falsehood idolatry and the seruice and worship of God Secondly to intreate the Lord in all humilitie to open our eyes to discerne the truth to giue vs his holie Spirit to leade vs into all truth to giue vnto vs the Spirit of Discerning to trie the spirit and the doctrine whether it be of God or not for otherwise we may be ledde awry and take light for darkenesse and darkenesse for light Let vs then confesse our ignorance and blindenesse and bewayle it Let vs striue against our carelesnesse Let vs prooue the Doctrine by the touch-stone of the Word if they be according to the law and the Prophets else abhorre them Acts 17. Let vs doe as the men of Berea did intreate the Lord to giue vs the Spirit of Discerning that we may trie all things and hold the truth And if euer wee had neede to pray for the Spirit of Discerning now is the time we see how bold the Diuell is how diligent to deceiue vs and the Papists they be impudent and shamelesse euen to thrust vpon vs their cursed Idolatrie and tell vs it is the true worship of God their abominable Masse their Merites Purgatorie prayer for the dead worshipping of Images calling vpon Saints vnwritten Verities their vile Traditions and filthy abhominations their Constitutions and vile Decrees as if they were the written word of God Now vnlesse we haue knowledge and bee able by Gods Spirit to discerne the spirits alas wee shall drinke in poyson idolatry and superstition O then let vs labour to know the Word of God beleeue it obey it bee reformed by it confesse our ignorance and with all humilitie pray vnto God to open our eyes to giue vs the spirit of discerning to know true Religion from false which if wee do certainely the Lord will reueale his Truth vnto vs. And thus much shall serue for Christs gentle reproofe of his Church 3 Christs answere vnto his church The third and last point is the direct answere of Christ to the request of the Church shee desired to know of Christ where he fed his flocke and comforted them in the time of persecution that so shee might ioyne with them and be defended by him from false worship and the idolatrous Church Heere Christ doth answere her to the full If thou know not Oh thou fairest among women get thee foorth by the steppes of the Sheep and feede thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepheards His counsell standeth in two parts to shew her where he feedeth q. d. Wouldest thou know where I feede my Sheep and where I cause them to lie downe at Noone that thou mightest feed with them and be in my Fold to be defended and protected by mee then I counsell thee First to walke in the steppes of the Sheepe that is thou must walke in the steppes of the faithfull seruants of God Abrabam Isaac and Iacob thou must embrace that faith religion worship of GOD which they beleeued and embraced that is meant by the steppes of the sheep Secondly thou must feede thy Kids that is thou must receiue and embrace that Doctrine which the ancient Shepheards Pastors Prophets and Apostles haue taught and deliuered And if thou shalt thus treade in the steps of the sheepe Abraham Isaac and Iacob and embrace and obey the doctrines taught by the Prophets and Apostles in the old and new Testament thou shalt then know where I feed my sheepe that thou maist feed with them and take mee for thy true Shepheard Doctr. 8 From this answere of Christ we learne a cleere direction A directiō to know which is the true Church to know true Religion and the true worship of God from false religion and false worshippe If men doe desire to know where Christ feedeth his sheepe and where GOD is truely worshipped where is true religion we must then treade in the steppes of the Sheep That is we must worship God as Abraham Isaac and Iacob did as Moses and the Prophets did treade in their steppes and follow their godly examples beleeue repent and walke with GOD as they did whom by the iudgement of Faith wee may conclude of that they were the Sheepe of Christ for of them doth Christ speake heere and not of a company of Popes Cardinalls Iesuites and the like of that rabble of whom to thinke that they should belong to this Folde I know not whence I should fetch my charity Againe wee must embrace and beleeue the doctrine taught by Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles who were the true Shepheards and faithfull Pastors of the Church of GOD To the Law Esay 8.20 and to the Testimony if they speake not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Iere. 6.16 And againe Thus saith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the olde way which is the good way and walke therein and you shall finde peace and rest for your soules So then if we desire to know true Religion and the true worship and seruice of God this is the way which I heere teach and deliuer from the Lord IESVS CHRIST against the doctrine of all the Shauelings of Rome namely this and none but this To inquire of the faith Religion and maner of the worshipping of God performed by Abraham Isaac and Iacob Patriarkes and Prophets Preached and published by Christ and his Apostles beleeue that imbrace that and rest our soules on that This may serue to decide a great question and long controuersie betweene vs and the Papists They affirme that they are the true Church and we are Heretickes wee beleeue and hold that we are the true church of God and that they bee not but Babylon and the Synagogue of Sathan This then is the maine Question whether they or wee bee the true Church Who shall iudge euen Christ Iesus himselfe in his owne word wee rest vpon him and flie vnto him which if the Papists would do likewise they would neuer haue runne into a labyrinth of controuersies as they haue euen at this day For Christ would quickly haue put an end vnto all For he saith that they be the true Church which Treade in the steps of the Sheep and feede by the Tents of the Shepheards That is that people that beleeue and worship God as Abraham Isaac and Iacob did and also that old Religion which they beleeued and embraced as the true Religion for that was taught by the holy seruants of God who were the faithfull Shepheards and Pastors sent of God to his Church Now let triall be made whether the Papists or Protestants the Church of Rome or the Church of England do thus For the Papists although they call their Religion the old Religion yet alas it is newly deuised the gteatest parts of it within these foure or fiue hundred yeares It is such as was neuer knowne to Abraham Isaac Iacob Moses or the Prophets it was neuer knowne to Christ or his Apostles they haue lost the Steps of the Sheepe and the Tents of the Shepheards that Doctrine manner of Religion the worship and seruice of God which was vsed by the Patriarkes Abraham Isaac and Iacob taught by Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles and they haue got a new Religion of their owne deuising They walke not in the steps of the Flocke but in the steps of their proud Popes couetous Cardinals filthy Friers mangy Munkes They haue deuised a thousand things in the seruice and worship of God against his Word and against the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Where shall we euer finde that Abraham Isaac Iacob and the Prophets did euer pray to Angells or Saints worshipped Images prayed for the dead looked to bee saued by their owne workes or merites If they can shew me any foule-mouth'd Iesuite of them all but any one example in the whole booke of God of any of all Gods children that haue performed them I will then lay my hand vpon my mouth In the meane time giue me leaue O ye Papists to tell you that you are none of Christs Church you are none of Christs Sheepe for you haue left the Steppes of the sheepe and the Tents of the shepheards the Doctrine taught by the Prophets of God Christ and his Apostls and are no better then the whoore of Babylon the Synagogue of Sathan But as for the Church of England wee doe beleeue and embrace that olde and true Religion that same Faith which Abraham Isaac and Iacob did vse we holde that Doctrine taught by the ancient Prophets and holie Apostles of CHRIST IESVS without either adding or detracting And if wee should dare to deuise a new kinde of Faith Religion and worship of God not vsed nor knowne to the ancient Prophets Patriarkes and Apostles as the Church of Rome doth it were to leaue the Steps of the Sheepe and to ioyne with the Flockes of the Companions euen to shake hands with Idolaters Vse 2 Well let vs then euer stand out against the Antichrist of Rome Reu. 18.4 and as Christ saith Come out of her ioyne not with her in her false Religion and Idolatrous seruice of God lest you partake of her plagues but let vs hold fast still the true Religion of God Treade in the steps of the Sheep Feed by the Tents of the Shepheards Let vs liue and die in the true Church of God for euer hold fast the true ancient holy religion which we haue receiued frō the holy Patriarks Abraham Isaac Iacob Moses the Prophets and the holy Apostles of Iesus Christ then we shall be safe and sure yea blessed and happy for euermore FINIS

Dauid behaued himself in all his extremities flying vnto God as a sure refuge Psa 91.2.3 I will say to the Lord O my hope my fortresse He is my God in him will I trust Hee will deliuer mee from the snare of the Hunter and from the noysome pestilence His eares are alwaies open to the cries of his children hee putteth their teares into his bottle So long therefore as we haue a voyce to call vpon GOD or a heart to sigh and groane vnto him wee haue comfort and assurance to be deliuered and that hee will not leaue vs nor forsake vs in danger Vse 2 Heere is matter of endlesse comfort vnto the Church and children of God that we know that the Lord Iesus Christ promiseth that hee will prouide a Lair for vs a place of comfort and refreshing a shadow euen at Noone day in the heate of bloudy persecutions Many indeed are our infirmities feares cares sorrowes and troubles yet in middest of them all the childe of God may say with the Prophet Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me O waite on God for I wil yet giue him thanks He is my present help and my God Psal 42.5 O then let vs be constant let vs comfort our selues in Christ Iesus let vs not for feare or danger deny CHRIST and his Gospell for CHRIST will be a shelter vnto vs to refresh vs and deliuer vs. This sheweth the most wofull Vse 3 and desperate estate of all wicked and vngodly men who being out of Gods fauour not beleeuing in Christ nor repenting of their sinnes in time of persecution when the Sunne waxeth hote Alas they shall not know where to hide their heads for they shall finde no shelter nor comfort nor no place of refuge For Christ is a shelter onely to them that beleeue in him and obey him And therefore thou which art a wicked man an impenitent sinner a prophane person Alas what wilt thou doe and which way wilt thou turne thee in the time of trouble and calamitie when the Sunne waxeth hote in the heate of persecution and scorching triall Whither then wilt thou runne for shelter Alas thou shalt then be as a mad beast which in the heate of the day runnes vp and downe and findeth no couert So shall all wicked and impenitent sinners haue no place of succour but lie open to all GODS iudgements be scorched Ezec. 9.4 yea euen consumed with the fire of Gods displeasure when the righteous those which are in Christ Iesus shall finde shelter Now followeth the Reason which shee vseth to moue the Lord Iesus Christ to graunt her request The churches reason of her request taken from the great perill and danger shee was like to fall into Namely lest being left without his direction and comfort shee be constrayned to Turne aside to the Flocks of the companions that is to say to leaue the true church and worship of God and ioine with the false church to commit idolatrie called heere the Flockes of the companions Not for that they are eyther Christ his companions or the companions of his church and people but because they account themselues so yea they thinke and call themselues CHRISTS companions And if this thing should come to passe through want of Christs assistance to direct her and to comfort her in persecution then it shall not bee for his honour not her good This is the summe and substance of her Reason Doctr. 5 Hence we are taught that it is altogether impossible for men and women It is altogether impossible for men to hold out in time of triall that are not assisted by God euer to stand out in the brunt of persecution vnlesse they be taught of God and comforted by his Spirite And hence it is that the Prophet Dauid a man after Gods owne Heart and indued with a singular portion of GODS Spirit doth earnestly begge and craue at Gods hand the enlightning of Gods Spirit and desireth to be taught of him Open mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Psal 119.8 And againe 27.34.73 Teach me thy Statutes And againe Make mee to vnderstand the way of thy Precepts c. Yea CHRIST tells the Iewes which murmured against him because he said that no man could come to him vnlesse his Father drew him that all the Elect are taught of God Ioh. 6.45 And this made Paul to pray for the Ephesians ch 1.17 that God would giue them the Spirit of Wisedome and to enlighten their mindes that they might know what is the hope of their calling and what the riches are of his glorious inheritance A notable direction vnto all sorts of men how to behaue themselues when they shall come into the house of God namely not to rest on any naturall gift whatsoeuer it be wisedome learning wit memory c. For the wisedome of the flesh is enmitie with God Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 1.21 But to goe out of our selues and to seek the Lord in humility and denial of them selues and then the Lord will giue vs a discerning spirit that we shall not be deceiued If any man saith Christ will doe my Fathers will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of GOD Iohn 7.17 And againe Christ promiseth his Disciples being now to leaue them and to go to his Father that the Spirit of Trueth should leade them into all truth Reasons And the reasons are First wee are all blinde and by nature can hardly see into the truth vnlesse Christ direct vs by his Spirit for so saith Salomon Prou. 14.12 The waies that seeme right vnto vs the issues thereof are the wayes of death It is a part of our misery that we are turned euery one vnto his own way Esay 53.6 Secondly when we know it Alas wee are of our selues so weake and flesh and bloud will bee so vnwilling to suffer for Christ his sake that vnlesse the Lord do assist vs we shal not be able to vndergo the least temptation that shal be laid vpon vs. And lastly the enemies of Gods truth are in their generation so wise and so subtile coming vnto vs in Sheeps clothing to deceiue vs that of our selues we shall easily be drawne away to beleeue lies In all these respects we may safely conclude the former Doctrine that it is impossible for vs to holde out in the day of triall vnlesse wee be assisted by the LORDS holie spirit Vse 1 This sheweth that if tryall do come and persecution shall arise for CHRISTS sake and the Gospells sake Alas most men would yeeld to any Religion to Popery Idolatry Superstition to the flockes of the companions to the church of Rome to flatte Idolatry For alas they know not the trueth They are not taught of GOD They bee blinde and ignorant and will easily beleeue and embrace any Religion Vse 2 This must stirre vp euery true christian man and woman to

pray to CHRIST as the church doth heere That hee would teach vs by his Spirit that hee would open our eyes that wee might see the truth and that he would giue vs hearts to beleeue it to loue it and to liue and die in it That hee would giue vs the Spirit of Discerning 1. Iohn 4.1 To try the Spirits whether they be of God that so wee may discerne the truth from falshoode Yea wee must so labour to bee fast grounded in the Truth Matt. 7.26 that no winde nor weather may remoue vs That wee be sure to lay a good foundation that we do digge deepe into our owne hearts builde on the Rocke To hate Poperie and all Idolatrie to loathe it as the Doctrine of Diuells Though they say they be the true Church and the companion of Christ yet be they the Synagogue of Sathan The maine points of their Religion being cleane contrarie vnto the word of God as are their Doctrine of Merites Inuocation of Saints worshipping of Images praying for the dead Sacrifice of the Masse that so wee may for euer stand out against that cursed and damnable doctrine of the Church of Rome Yea let vs intreate the Lord that hee would neuer suffer it to get head againe in this Land notwithstanding wee haue deserued as great a iudgement but especially that hee keep vs that wee neuer ioyne with them in that bloudy Religion Vse 3 It condemnes all those who are ready either for feare of persecution or by blindnesse and ignorance to embrace any Religion or ioyne with any Church who to keepe their Liuings hold their Lands to enioy their honours and pleasures would turne as doth the winde and embrace any Religion ioyne with Papist Iew Turke yea the deuill himselfe for liuing sake Oh! the true Church of Christ feare themselues and their weakenesse that they should bee drawne away and seduced to embrace false religion And therefore they doubting the worst and fearing the corruption that is in their owne hearts pray vnto Christ that they may not bee left vnto themselues but that they may finde strength from him to withstand them The end of the first Sermon A Folde for Christs SHEEPE THE SECOND SERMON CANT 1.7 7 If thou know not O thou fairest amongst women get thee forth by the steps of the Flocke and feede thy Kiddes by the Tents of the Shepheards WEE haue heard before of the earnest request of the Church vnto Christ That he would in mercy shew her where hee feedes his Flocke and where he prouideth comfort for them in time of trouble Heere is the most kind louing and gracious answer of Christ Iesus vnto the Request of his Church Parts of the Text. in the which note three things 1 His exceeding loue and kindnesse in that he calls her the fairest among women 2 His gentle reproofe of her If thou know not q.d. This is very strange that thou which art the true Church shouldest not know where Christ feeds his sheep 3 His direct Answer to her request wherein hee doth answer her to the full If thou wouldst know where I feede my sheep that so thou maist feede with them and finde consolation vnto thy Soule then thou must go in the steppes of the Flocke That is thou must embrace the Faith Religion the worship and seruice of God the which my ancient church from the beginning haue imbraced The Faith Religion the Worship and Seruice of GOD which my ancient Seruants Abraham Isaac and Iacob haue done and tread in their steps Secondly thou must place thy Tent where the shepheards haue done the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles of CHRIST their doctrine taught before This is the summe and substance of Christs answere vnto his Church First obserue heere how Christ describes his true Church and Spouse Hee giueth her a most kind and louing name expressing his kinde and singular loue vnto her O thou the fairest among women Quest Obiect But this may seeme strange for the Church confessed before that shee was blacke and Sun-burnt deformed c. How then can Christ call her the fairest amongst women Ans The Church Resp and euery true Beleeuer are black and deformed in themselues vile and vncleane and they can see no beautie in themselues but are blemished yea and stained with sins originall and actuall But as they be sanctified by his Spirit washed in his Bloud and clothed in his Righteousnesse they be faire and beautifull in the sight of Almighty God because Christ hath washed them from all their sinnes in his Bloud and couerd them with the pure roabes of his owne Righteousnes decked and adorned them with the holy and heauenly graces of his Spirit knowledge faith repentance zeale patience c. According to that speech that the Lord himselfe vseth Ezech. 16. thou art faire through that beauty of mine which I haue put into thee Doctr. 6 Here marke the endlesse loue of Christ Iesus vnto his poore church and people Christ esteemes of his church as if they had no sin that esteems so highly of them as if they had no spot of sin or vncleanenesse though they in themselues bee blacke deformed and polluted yet all those who doe truely repent embrace Iesus Christ and beleeue in him that are washed from their sinnes sanctified by his Spirit and obey his will all these are faire yea most beutifull in his eyes Hee will not looke vpon their sinnes and blemishes but wincke at them so long as they endeuour and desire to doe his will This is confessed by wicked Balaam when he saw that no policie or deuice could take any place against the Church of God He seeth no iniquitie in Iacob he beholdeth no transgression in Israel Nu. 23.21 Againe how goodly are thy tents O Iacob and thy tabernacles O Israel as the vallies that are stretched out c. Num. 24.5 So that the nature and condition of the true Church farre exceeds all other societies of men whatsoeuer and is pretious and deere vnto Christ Hereunto cometh the titles and commendations giuen vnto the Church so often in this most excellent booke of the Canticles Cant. 2.2 She is as the Roe of the field the Lillie of the Valley the Fairest amongest Women an Orchard of Pomegranats a Fountaine of Gardens and 4 13. and 5.9 a well of springing waters the Spouse and Sister of Christ the Beauty of the Earth the Glorie of the world a Lillie among Thornes c. And againe Thou art all faire my Loue and there is no spotte in thee These and the like examples whereof the Scripture is full all serue to confirme the euerlasting trueth of this Doctrine vnto vs how deare and precious the Church is in Christs sight that of al Societies and Assemblies of men in the world none are more excellent and worthy none more amiable and louely none more beutifull and precious then the Church of God the Spouse of Christ Reason 1 And the Reason of