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	doctrine_n	worship_n	3,910	5	7.2192	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77155	Zeale for Gods house quickned: or, A sermon preached before the assembly of Lords, Commons, and Divines, at their solemn fast Iuly 7. 1643. In the Abbey Church at Westminster. Expressing the eminencie of zeale requisite in church reformers: / by Oliver Bowles, Pator of Sutton in Bedfordshire. Published by order of both Houses of Parliament.	Bowles, Oliver, ca. 1577-1646?	1643 (1643)	Wing B3884; Thomason E63_6; ESTC R9592	34,766	57

ZEALE FOR GODS HOUSE QVICKNED OR A SERMON Preached before the Assembly of Lords Commons and Divines at their solemn Fast Iuly 7. 1643. In the Abbey Church at Westminster EXPRESSING The Eminencie of Zeale requisite in Church Reformers BY OLIVER BOWLES Pastor of Sutton in Bedfordshire It is good to be zealously affected alwayes in a good thing Gal. 4.18 Published by Order of both Houses of Parliament LONDON Printed by Richard Bishop for Samuel Gellibrand at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1643. Die Iovis 27. Iulij 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament That Mr. Bowles hath hereby thanks given him for the great paines he took in the Sermon he made at the Fast for the Assembly of Divines in the Abbey Church Westminster on Friday the seventh of this instant Iuly And is hereby desired to cause his said Sermon to be forthwith Printed and published Io. Brown Cler. Parliamentor To the Right Honourable the House of LORDS AND The Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT AND To the Learned and Religious DIVINES called by them and now assembled to consult about matters of RELIGION Right honourable and most worthy OVt of your vigilant care for the common good you have found out a way amidst your many distractions to convene an Assembly of grave and learned Divines with whom you might advise concerning the settling of Doctrine Worship and Church Government You saw cause which might move you so to doe in respect first of those licentious spirits who took occasion as to vent their own fancies so to attempt any thing in matter of Doctrine and Worship secondly in that for want of an established Church-government we were and still are in danger to fall from a Tyranny to an Anarchy thirdly In that evill minded men seeing no effectuall meanes provided to suppresse such variety of Sects as did start up were ready to censure you as the fautors of such opinions What you have done hath been done with much prudence in that you have given way for the admittance of Divines of different Iudgements to be chosen to whom a liberty is not denied to plead every one for his own party And not only so but you have further embodied divers of your worthy Ones of both Houses as Members of our Assembly by which priviledge we have many and singular advantages When this Assembly for the greater part was by your summons gathered together you were pleased out of a due consideration of the weighty affaires to be transacted to appoint a solemne Fast to be kept chiefly by the Members of the Assembly And when you had so done your pleasure was to lay your command upon my selfe though the unworthiest of many to bee employed in the service of that day Surely it was not but that you had your choyce of many other most able and worthy Divines only it was your pleasure that dayes and multitudes of years should speak ●●b The Grace I chose as most meet to treat of was that of Zeale as conversant about Gods House first for that it doth directly oppose Lukewarmnesse the most dangerous and yet the Epidemicall disease of our time secondly for that no one grace doth more promote the work of Reformation as will appeare in the subsequent discourse thirdly for that among all other ornaments there is none that doth more beautifie a Reformer in the eyes of God and man Prov. There are many creatures said the wise man that are comely in there going but none so comely as a Zealous Reformer Accordingly then you Parliamentary Worthies goe on and prosper cease not to carry on your Work which is Gods work with Zeale and Courage It is Perseverance alone that will both crowne you and perfect your endeavours What encouragement have you had in that the Lord amidst your greatest dangers hath beene mightily seene in the protection of your persons No weapons of warre that have beene formed against you have prospered the tongues of men that have risen up in judgement against you hath he condemned Hath not the same God assisted you to doe many glorious works whereby his name hath beene honoured his people unspeakably benefitted How hath the Lord kept you together untill this day notwithstanding the endeavours of all the Devills in hell and wicked men on earth to scatter you to divide you What a foundation hath the Lord laid of your continuance together till your work be done Surely it is for that hee hath yet some great things for you to doe If you which God forbid shall faint and out of by respects withdraw your selves from the service bee sure God without you will accomplish his work but tremble to think what will become of you and yours How would it bee a thing much to be bewailed that you Noble and brave spirited Patriots who have hitherto borne the heat of the day the brunt of the businesse so farre denied your selves as to runne the hazard of all that you are have or might expect should now by failing in your last act loose your crown forfeit your reward from God and man And now for you my Reverend and much Honoured Brethren in the common work of the Ministry Who can but blesse the Lord for that degree of his spirit no doubt it is the effect as of your own prayers in the day of your solemn humiliation so of many of the prayers of his people which hee hath showred down upon you Not only do your learned debates your exact and judicious Scripture-discussions your Scholasticall disputes the discovery many of you have made of your exact knowledge in Antiquity shew that God is among you as he that hath fitted you for the work but further your sweet amicable converse your following of the truth in love your differences in judgement carried on without alienation of affection doe not they all say that God is with you God forbid that either the Devill or wicked men should break asunder that sweet bond of Amity wherewith God hath lincked you in one Bee incouraged then dearely beloved in the Lord from one whom God was pleased though the unworthiest among you yet to make his mouth to you to goe on as carried along with a Spirit of indefatigable zeale in the pursuance of the work you are called unto Behold it is soule-work and that of neerest concernment that God hath put into your hands to bee transacted Is not your work a Counter-work to that great and long plotted designe whereby Popery should have been re-advanced Gods saving truth been suppressed his worship substantially corrupted and utterly destroyed Is it not a work of the largest extent as that which concernes all other Reformed Churches whose happinesse or misery will bee involved in ours Yea ages to come will either blesse or curse you as you shall follow or neglect the opportunity And now for my self be pleased to take notice that my strength and voice failing me by reason of my weaknesse I