Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	discipline_n	government_n	3,314	5	6.9877	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89499	Englands spirituall languishing; with the causes and cure: discovered in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, on their solemn day of fast, at Margarets Westminster, June 28. 1648. / By Thomas Manton, minister of Stoke-Newington.	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1648 (1648)	Wing M523; Thomason E450_4	33,495	42

Doctores Adam Contzen in Mat. c. 24.5 see the fruit of Protestantism and Gospel-preaching Many are of his spirit maligne and slaunder a Gospel-dispensation Alas we are not in the place of God to prevent misapprehensions it is our duty to keepe this truth fresh in the thoughts to offer it as a bundle of Myrrh to the Spouses bosome Humbling doctrines must be duly pressed John Baptist levelled mountaines and in his dayes much violence was offered to the Kingdome Mat. 11.12 and indeed still John must goe before Jesus like the day-star before the sun Moses led the people in the wildernesse before Joshua led them into the land of Canaan we must awaken first by a sense of wrath or else they will not care for a sight of mercy the people did not desire a Mediatour till they heard the thundring Exod. 20.18.19 and 't is Gods usuall method to suffer us to be dead to one law ere we are alive to another Gal. 2.19 first to make us understand the severe obligation that is upon us by the Covenant of workes ere wee are brought into a better hope by Jesus Christ God is never truly exalted in the soule till man be humbled Dagon must fall and be broken if the Arke bee set up The Lord diggeth deep when he meaneth to raise the building high and when hee will bring off the soule to Christ powerfully he bringeth them out of themselves by godly sorrow This is the drift and scope of the whole Scriptures and therefore I use the lesse of argument in this matter Among other parts of godlinesse it seemeth to be most necessary now to presse the duties of relations I say to presse Christians to carry themselves holily in their civill relations no way provideth for the discharge of the duties of relations so much as Christianity or Religion and none have failed in them so much as religious persons of late so that a great deale of dishonour hath come to God and a great deale of prejudice to Religion Dent exercium talem qualem doctrina Christi milites esse jussi tales Provinciales tales Parentes tales Dominos talet Filios tales Servos tales Reges tales Iudices tales denique debitorum redditores exactores ipsius fisci c. Aug. ad Marcelo ep 5. by our unworthy walking in our civill relations the Gospel or law of Christ requireth that these civil respects which we owe to men should be discharged as in and to the Lord and that we should turne duties of the second table into duties of the first that is performe civil respects upon a religious ground So that it hath been the glory and honour of Religion heretofore to yeild the best children the best subjects the best Kings the best husbands and wives in the world Therefore Augustine maketh a challenge to all the world Dent exercitum talem quatem doctrina Christi milites esse jussit Let all the world saith he yeild such Children such Subjects such Souldiers such Servants such an Army such Provincialls Judges Kings such faithfull ones when they have been intrusted with the publicke moneys but alas the case is quite otherwise of late none worse then they none more apt to dishonour God in relations to disturbe civill peace to resist Magistracy upon every dis-satisfaction and to make every discontent the ground of commotion and disobedience therefore to teach men to improve their relations for the glory of God and good of Religion must needs bee seasonable that if it be possible wee may repair that incomparable losse which Religion hath sustained this way Learn that holy art of compounding peace wieh purity that neither may lose its due respect that we may neither hazard Religion by silence nor eager contention Holinesse and peace are daughters of the same spirit and may bee reconciled you finde them often coupled in Scripture James 3.17 The wisdome that is from above is first pure and then peaceable purity must have the precedence in your endeavours but peaceablenesse must not altogether bee shut out so Mark. 9.30 Have salt in your selves and peace one with another Salt and peace bee savoury but not too tart and austere I will not direct my Brethren I doe onely suggest it One Word now to the Magistrate and I have done Oh consider this matter appertaineth to you to strengthen things that are ready to dye to repaire decayed godlinesse this challengeth a chief care yea the first place in your debates as in the Commandements Spirituall duties have the precedency of Morall In the name of Christ then let me beseech you To bee holy and godly in your own persons Oh how sad will it bee for your soules in the day of the Lord if you should be imployed in the Reformation of others and not bee reformed your selves that you should be like Noah's shipwrights that frame an Arke for others and perish in the waters your selves or like the Jews that directed the wise men to Bethlehem but went not themselves thither to worship Christ O consider you are the first sheets of the Kingdom others are printed after your copy if the first sheet be well set a thousand more are stamped with ease see then that the power of Religion prevaile over your own souls that after you have done good to others you may not be castawayes How can men think you are sincere in establishing of Religion if it hath made no impression on your own hearts Scandalous Ministers and wicked Magistrates doe but pull down with one hand what they set up with the other If you would repaire Religion and promote godlynesse give incouragement to a godly Ministry you see when Christ writeth to the Church to repaire godlinesse he directeth it to the Angell Oh let there bee an Angell in every Church Christs strength lyeth in his mouth Isa 49.2 That 's the Sword by which hee overcometh the World 't is the weapon hee useth against Antichrist the Spirit of his mouth as Gideon overcame the Israelites by lampes in pitchers 2 Thes 2 11● so doth Christ by lampes and pitchers and therefore the Apostle calleth it light or treasure in an earthen vessel Oh then maintaine the lampe that they may bee a meanes in the hand of God of maintaining godlynesse in the Kingdome let there bee as I said an Angell in every Church a light in every socket a starre in every orbe if you looke abroad you will find many continued through favor mediation of friends Brightman in L●c. Qui nihil babent in vita Angelicum aut in doctrina Evangelicum that have nothing Angelicall in their life or Evangelicall in their doctrine Heartily establish an holy Government in the Church order and discipline is the fence of Religion and a Church well governed is terrible as an Army with Banners Cant. 6.4 that is full of beauty and strength Armies ordered are comely and in a capacity to fight the present decayes are by confusion 't is said Psal 68.35 Thou art terrible out of thy holy places in the order and beauty of the Church God is most terrible when worship is pure and regular it impresseth a dread and a reverence upon men Countenance godly persons they are a Kingdomes best security Zech. 12.5 and the Governours of Judah shall say in their hearts The inhabitants of Ierusalem are my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God Mark you should call them your strength they ingage a blessing when Lot was in Sodome Sodome was in Lot this is one of your chief duties to see that godlinesse live peaceably wee are bound to pray for you upon this ground Pray for them that are in Authority that wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty 1 Tim. 2.4 Oh look to it then that religion may have a quiet abode or else you wil not Honour and sweeten Religion by some release of the peoples burdens Belly arguments doe worke much upon them Ier. 44.17 Wee will burn incense to the Queen of heaven for then wee had plenty of victualls and were well and saw no evill They measure Religion by their outward concernments and judge of wayes by their burdens and troubles The oppression of some Protestant princes in Germany was a scandall to the Reformation nothing stirreth up vulgar hatred and introduceth violent changes so much as this the people are like the read of Egypt if wee lean too hard they doe not support but pierce and oppression is like an iron in the fire 't will burn their fingers that hold it I confesse this is somewhat out of my way therefore I was the more loath to speak in it but it being for Religions sake I hope you will pardon an humble motion I shall but hint two Motives to set on all and conclude Is that in the 3. verse of this Chapter lest I come as a thief oh consider Christ may steale upon you when hee taketh off his restraint from a people and they break out into tumults 't is a shrewd signe you know what faction was ruined by tumults 't is an unhappy presage The next is taken from the 4. verse Thou hast a few names that have not defiled their Garments God taketh notice of those few names that are zealous for him in dead times that minde the advancement of piety whilst others debase it they shall walke with mee in white either God will provide an Arke of safety for you for the present or give you heaven which shall make amends for all FINIS

enough knowne to God and therefore 't is prefaced thus I know thy workes a phrase that is used to all the rest of the Churches but is most proper to Sardis whose crime objected is Hypocrisie and pretence Oh how should it startle Hypocrites to heare God say I know thy workes it implyeth Christs strict and severe observation of what is done among his people his eyes are every where but hee observeth the Church Cant. 6.11 Hee goeth downe into the Gardens to see the fruits of the vallies to see whether the Vines flourished and the Pomegranates budded phrases which imply a narrow inspection The state of the Church is described two wayes By its repute and renowne among other Churches they did judge and speak well of her Thou hast a name that thou livest i.e. thou art reputed to bee eminent for Faith Piety and the power of godlinesse and goest for an excellent Church in thine owne conceit and the opinion of others a Church is then said to live when it receiveth the grace of life and expresseth the life of grace and name is taken for repute and renown By the judgment of Jesus Christ But art dead thy condition is not correspondent to the report that goeth of thee the Churches that judge well of thee are deceived for though there be much profession yet very little of the power of truth and godlinesse is found in thee which is here expressed by death The next thing observable is the Counsell of Christ and direction to this languishing Church and that is in the verse read Be watchfull and strengthen the things that are ready to dye c. In which Counsell of Christ to his Church you may observe 1 An excitation Bee watchfull 2. A direction Strengthen the things which remain which are ready to dye 3. A conviction to set on both the former parts For I have not found thy workes perfect before God The maine duty is in the middle the first part being laid down by way of preparative to it and the third by way of reason and enforcement therefore though I shall explaine the whole verse yet I shall single out the middle clause for larger and more speciall discussion I begin with the excitation which as I said was laid down by way of preparation for the other duty Be watchfull i.e. looke to it see whereunto these things will grow such sad beginnings should make you consider and observe your sinnes and provide against your judgements holy-watchfulnesse and observation is the first step to amendment and when people begin to understand the approaches of wrath they are in a faire way to prevent them there cannot be such a gray haire or a sadder intimation of swift destruction then a secure and carelesse madvertency the first thing pressed is be watchfull You may looke upon the conviction which is brought as a reason why they should watch or recover their former height in godlinesse for I have not found thy workes perfect before God whatever men thinke of them they are not so holy and intire as to be able to indure my tryall things in a Scripture sense are said to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full and perfect when they are sincere and sound without hypocrisie and guile and therefore Calebs integrity is expressed by fulfilling after God or following of God fully Numb 14.24 he understandeth such a perfect and full growth as keepeth things from languishing or dying away The next thing now is the direction or main duty pressed Strengthen the thinges that remaine which are ready to die there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some sorry remaines of Religion and godlinesse to quicken or strengthen which he addeth a reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which shall die the same kind of Greek expression is used concerning the Centurions servant when he was at the point of death which is expressed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 7.2 they are even languishing and expiring unlesse you strengthen and repaire them they are utterly lost and gone the word that expresseth their duty is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 settle or establish them which implyeth not only a care to keep them from expiration but to recover them to their former height and radiancy and therefore a like matter is expressed by the Apostle Paul in another word for he biddeth Timothy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stirre or blow up the gift of God in him 2 Tim. 1.6 There is nothing of difficulty in the clause only it doth not so easily appear since they are not specified in the Text what are those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those remaines of Religion which he urgeth them to strengthen How shall we know what they are Answ It cannot be meant of persons as some would have it understanding it of the weak of the flock for 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things not persons and truly it must be something concerning the vitalls of Religion such which if revived would make them live and flourish again in the sight of God and of the Churches now Doctrinals it cannot be for the reason rendred in the latter part of the Text for I have not found thy works perfect before God it is some decay in practicalls thy workes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if they had decayed in Doctrinalls they could not have so much as a name that they lived And then meere discipline it cannot be for howsoever that be a great preservation to godlinesse and a considerable stake in Religions hedge yet the corruption or intermission of discipline cannot so properly be termed the death of the Church 't is I remember if (g) Brightman in Cant. some expound the place right called the sleep of the Church Cant. 6.2 I sleep but my heart waketh Brightman applyeth it to the Church about the third century which was watchfull over doctrine the heart waked but carelesly digested the corruption and degeneration of discipline and therefore she is said to sleep but it s no where called death or so it cannot be meer discipline though some regard may be had thereunto And therefore principally 't is meant (h) Restaurantes zelum ardorem que pietatis quae in vobis effrixit paene jam extincta est Iac. Rex in Apoc. of some few poor relickes of languishing godlinesse like sparkes under the ashes which needed blowing up the summe of all is I hope you will be stirred up by this admonition to prevent your death and utter languishing in Religion that decayed godlinesse may have its former power efficacy and glory I look upon the Text as a Counsell to a Church not to private Christians I confesse t is applyed to them by most because it yeeldeth conceptus praedicabi●es as they call them much preaching matter concerning the languishing and decay of grace in Christians I cannot say this is excluded because the part followeth the reason of the whole but I rather looke upon it and so shall handle it in a publick regard The Point

is Doct. That a speciall way to save a Church and people from imminent and speedy ruine is the repairing of decayed Godlynesse 'T is Christ counsell to Sardis lest hee should come upon them as a thief that is bring a suddaine and unthought of destruction give me leave to parallell it but with one place and then I shall proceed to the reasons 't is the counsell to Ephesus Revel 2.5 Doe thy first workes or else I will come to thee quikly and remove thy Candlestick c. recovering Religion to its former height is made a meanes of preventing Gods comming in judgement and 't is there expressed by first workes because Religion at the first comming is entertained with more genuine simplicity and zealous earnestnesse as stuffes in their first making are strongly wrought and is full of life and power therefore doe thy first Workes Reasons Reasons Because by this means you take away that which will be the cause of ruine God delighteth to make the outward estate to carry proportion with the inword as we decay in godlines so our outward happinesse languisheth and the hand of mercy is slackened How easily may a wise Christian read his guilt in his condition and from his outward decayes understand his inward and truly 't is so in Common-wealths too their fate followeth the state of Religion God meeteth to us in our owne measure instances want not Yee have forsaken mee and therefore I have left you 2 Chron. 12.5 Rulers rebell against God and their people rebell against them therefore is there a tumult among thy people Hos 14.10 Friends are alienated and estranged from them because their hearts are first estranged from God there are confusions in the Church and then what followeth destractions in the State (a) Metuendum erit ne qui Magistratu connivente res novas in Ecclesia moliri caeperint eodem etiam repugnante cum oceasio ferat idem quoque in republica mo liantur Theol. Mag. Brit. sub fine sent de 5. Art in Hist Syn. Dor. 'T was grave advice which the English Divines gave the Dutch Magistrate in the Synod of Dort that they should take heed lest by their connivence at Church disorders which they could help they did not draw on State-tumults and factions which when they would they could not help Truely this is Gods course to retaliate with the creature and as I said before to make their outward condition answer their inward Religion is as it were the Soule of the Common-wealth now the state of the body dependeth much upon the good temper of the soule it being lincked to it by the affections as so many pinnes and nayles a troubled soule discomposeth the body but a chearfull mind cureth it so Religion and godlinesse as it thriveth maketh us thrive God challengeth his people to avouch one instance when ever they lost by it Ier. 2.5 What iniquity have your fathers found in mee and Verse 13. O yee Generation have I been a Wildernesse or a land of darkenesse to you Did ever godlinesse doe you hurt If you can doe but produce one experience If you will believe Polycarp upon his own tryall and let mee tell you hee was an old Mnason and had much tryall of God hee 'le inform you (b) Euseb Eccles Hist lib 4. cap. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. For my part saith hee I can speak of 86. yeers I have been his servant so long and he never did mee harm And truely notwithstanding the prejudices that are abroad wee may come in with the like attestation Godlynesse never did us harm when it thrived and was vigorous wee thrived and sensibly felt the benefits of the power of it See how God appealeth to men in this matter Micab 2.7 Are these his doings doe not my words doe good to him that walketh uprightly see the meaning of that place a little are these his doings speaking of the troubles doe you think these are the fruits of Religion Or of your indeavours for the advancement of it No your own soules know that my words have done you good yeelded you much comfort and deliverance you were happy as long as you kept in that way And therefore now if you would take away the cause of ruine redresse the disorders of the Common-wealth repair the decayes of Religion doe what you can to restore that to its former power and efficacy Because by outward successe God will visibly declare his delight in such eminent workes as these are and therefore setteth his bea rt to blesse and prosper such a people who set their hearts to repaire decayed Religion and God doth it the rather partly because of the prejudice that is upon godlinesse as men cast most honour upon the parts most uncomely so doth God most blessing and comfort upon a despised grace men accuse it as the onely make-bate and in the worlds eye 't is the cause of want and sword and famine Ier. 44.18 and therefore God attesteth and witnesseth from heaven that 't is the onely pledge of a blessing the more wee are prejudiced the more free is God in honoring it and partly because of his owne delight in it 't is a grace that giveth all to God and therefore God doth all for it hee dealeth with it as Caleb with his deare daughter Acsah he giveth her the upper and the nether springs the blessings of this life and that to come Ioshua 15.19 1 Tim. 4.8 for as all the motions and tendencies of godlinesse are to exalt God so all Gods aimes and dispensations are to exalt godlinesse and therefore is it that wee doe so often hear of a blessing upon all indeavours especially such as are eminent and publicke that looke that way see Haggai 2.19 From this day forward will I blesse you that is from the day that they took care of the Temple God would have them observe if their hopes and happinesse did not thrive from that day forward So 2 Chron. 7.11 All that came into Solomons heart to make in his own house and the house of the Lord hee prosperously effected Those two cares thrive the better for one another the Lords house made him prosper the better in building his own for God is resolutely ingaged to let the World know what shall bee done to the grace which hee will honour so see Isa 4.4 Vpon the glory there shall be a defence Compare Exod 15 9. with Ehes 5.27 by the glory is meant the Church reformed or made more holy for that is the excellency and glory of it God and his people being both glorious in holinesse now upon this glory there will bee a covering or defensive shelter as there was of Badgers skins over the glory of the Tabernacle Because this is the straightest and most direct way to safety in al other policies there are a great many serpentine windings and intricacies whereby the event is not halfe so sure and easie in desperate cases 't is

Religion by the pride desire of greatnesse and contention that was between the Pastors and Professours of it insomuch that Dioclesian thought that Christianity was nothing else but a wretched device of wicked men e Euseb lib. 8.1 set a foot out of some private aimes thus also Ignatius speaketh of some that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not Christians so much as Christ-sellers f Ignat. Epist ad Trall like Judas that followed Christ only to make gaine of him I have brought these instances because they doe but give us the description of many in our age who make God to serve with their sinnes Isa 43.24 and godlinesse to be only the specious outside of every unclean intent and worldly designe thus poore Religion that delighteth to breath in the aire of self-deniall is made the usuall stale to selfe-seeking and godlinesse that checketh carnall projects by a vile submission is forced to serve them By the want of endeavours to propagate Religion and to diffuse it amongst others true godlinesse where it is powerfull is of a diffusive and spreading nature like leaven till it hath pierced the whole lumpe now what have wee done in this either Christians among their neighbours Magistrates in the Kingdome or Masters in their Families for private Christians they spend the heat and strength of their spirits in lesser matters and let the weightier goe through division and strife forget edification many renounce all care of them without and whereas they might have strengthened the hands of their brethren that have acted in a publicke Reformation what have they done have they joyned as far as their private principles would give leave endeavoured to bring the Kingdome onward to the way and will of Christ And then for Magistrates have they been so zealous as they should bee to propagate a religious Ministery throughout the Kingdome to inlighten darke corners there is not a better worke nor more for your safety (g) Aug. lib. nov de Civitate dei Austin observed that the Christians tasted the violence of the Gothes and Vandalls for that they were not careful to bring off the Heathens from their Idolatry Such endeavours would bee your defence and in the businesse of Religion nothing concerneth you more then this but my chief aime under this head is to speak of the neglect of Family duties which is the great reason why Religion is decayed abroad these are the springs and fountaines of the Country Churches were first in families where the master of the house was the Priest and the beauty and power of Religion is still preserved there and therefore next to Churches they require a chief care Oh how excellent is it when Churches are like to heaven the Assembly below like the great Congregation above and families like Churches for their Religion Heb. 12.29 order and comelinesse You read of a Church in Philemons house Phil. 1. verse (h) Melanet in prf at 5 Tom oper Lutheri Melancthon said of George Prince of Anhalt Cubiculum ejus templum Academia Curia that his chamber was an Vniversity a Court and a Church the latter because of the instructions Prayer and Worship that was there Religion first decayeth in Families before in Churches therefore when the order of houses is subverted duties neglected there how soon doth godlinesse decay abroad I doe not know any one thing that God expecteth more from a religious housholder I meane in that capacity and relation then the establishment of Religion in his Family Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord. Mark God reckoneth upon it as a duty that the godly will perform I know c. and remember disapointment is the worst vexation By opposition and snarling at piety and purity as the purity of Reformation men are afraid to bee too heavenly and reject Government because it would crosse their licentiousnesse and so the purity that shineth forth in the life 's of Gods servants (k) From Master Richard Vines of the Assembly you heard in the morning how apt an English Spirit is to hate godlynesse under some other name and how men that have but a Form are wont to snarle at the power and indeed the Apostle Paul observeth the same thing 2 Tim. 3.3 with verse 5. having a form of godlinesse despisers of those that are good these two descriptions are usually coupled Cain and Abell both sacrificed 1 Iohn 3 12. onely Abells offering was the better and therefore Cain maliced him men doe not love to bee upbraided by others righteousnesse they would faine have their lazinesse justified by the common defects 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Nazianzen speaketh l Nazian orat in med they would have none zealous and excelling therefore those that are contented with a form will hate those that have the power we can look for no other Gal. 4.27 Hee that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so 't is now Wee may also adde and so 't is now and so it will be carnall Christians will have some pretence or other to persecute those that are more godly one great designe is as you heard in the morning to cry up a name under which this hatred may bee carried on the more covertly and secretly usually it is taken from the party most discountenanced or which is most publickly odious or which hath most dishonored their profession thus when the Priscillianists were generally hated and indeed they deserved it other Christians shared in their miseries Sulpitius Severus speaketh of one Ithacius a Bishop whose hatred against the Priscillianists did so far transport him that if any were of good life studious of the Scriptures he would suspect and blast him as a Priscillianist I have read of one Sanpaulinus a French Martyr who when hee reproved one for swearing was presently suspected of Lutheranisme and Bonner if any did but mention the name of God with reverence tooke it for ground enough to call him Lollard and truely 't is even thus among us the world hath gotten some names and pretences under which they carry on their hatred against the power of godlinesse the more securely and with the lesse dread so that 't is to bee feared that if any be of godly Conversation it will be enough to make him a Sectary c. an enemie of the Kingdomes peace and quiet when the name is once gotten up mischiefe and malice as I said will make no distinction The late great increase of scandalous sinnes times of trouble are usually l●centious and when penall lawes are suspended by force wickednesse groweth impudent and truly it is even so among us to the confronting of authority whoring and swearing and drunkennesse and Sabbath prophanations abounding every where yea more then formerly We looked for purging the land and 't is more defiled when the pot boyleth the scum is discovered Baths bring