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A44678 A funeral sermon for Mrs. Esther Sampson the late wife of Henry Sampson, Dr. of Physick, who died Nov. 24. 1689 / by John Howe ... Howe, John, 1630-1705. 1690 (1690) Wing H3026; ESTC R19694 24,476 33

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knowing he designs to touch mortally and if he touch to kill If it proceed so far as a solemn league how tragical consequences doth story abound with That of Count Matiscon pluckt away by the Devil from among divers persons of quality whom he was entertaining and at noon-day whirl'd in the air three times about the City in open view of the people to whom he in vain cried for help reported by some Historians and that of an infamous Magician of Saltzburg and divers others are instances both very extraordinary and very monitory But as to a future ruine which he finally aims to involve men in with himself he hath not faster hold of any than those that have learnt to ridicule every thing of this kind and who have put so much Sadducism into their Creed consisting of so many negatives or things they believe not that they scarce leave enough positive to admit that name as to think there is no such creature perhaps as being conscious there can be no worse than themselves But how near is he to them that think him out of the Universe 3. Since it is possible the Devil may bind even those that belong to God with some kind of bodily affliction or other it is the more to be apprehended how much worse bonds they are in which he binds those that do not belong to him Oh! that you would be serious here How many such sad cases are there amongst even them as may be feared that are called Christians concerning which it may be said here is a soul that Satan hath bound not eighteen but it may be thirty forty fifty years Oh! when shall this soul be releast that Satan hath so long bound 4. As from the Devils malice to the bodies of men we may collect his greater malice to their Souls So we may judg proportionably of Christs compassions that as they incline him to give them all sutable relief in their bodily afflictions as far as can consist with those measures which infinite wisdom hath pitcht upon for the government of this present world and as shall fall in with the design of his office of a Redeemer and Saviour to us So they much more incline him to relieve embondag'd souls for this doth most directly fall in with his design and is the proper business of his office the other may be only collateral to it and as it were to be done on the by He came not into this world to procure that men might not be sick or pained or be presently restored to health and ease But he came and died that souls might live to procure for them pardon reconciliation with God all needful assisting influences of grace and eternal life Of these therefore they may be most assured if they duly apply themselves And some encouragement to expect so much they may draw even from this instance This infirm woman in order to bodily cure did apply her self to him She came after him as others did for this purpose and did in a sort put herself in the way of his healing influence Now if any of you find your souls are yet held by the Devil in worse bonds apply your selves to the merciful compassionate Jesus there is hope in the case Oh! will you not say so much to him for a soul in bondage Lord loose this poor soul of mine that Satan hath bound for so many sad years Do but labour to know you are bound to feel your bonds Whatsoever there is of prevailing sin in you it is a bond by which the Devil holds your souls The wicked are held in the cords of their own iniquities Prov. 5. 22. And sins are said to be the works of Satan from which it is the design of the Redeemer to loose us The Son of God was for this purpose manifested that he might destroy we read it is that he might dissolve the works of the Devil q. d. that he might release and unbind souls that the Devil as yet holds in fast bonds And you may find you are so bound when upon self-reflexion you take notice you are ordinarily restrained from what you should do against the light and conviction of your own minds and judgments i. e. you find if you reflect a conviction hath taken place in your consciences you ought to love God but there is with you no such motion of soul no inclination towards him you ought in a stated course to pray and pour out your soul to him but you are bound you cannot offer at it you have no liberty for it your terrene inclination or love to vanity plucks you back you ought to walk in the ways of God but you are fetterred you cannot move a foot you ought to do the works of God but you are manacled you cannot stir and an hand Are you so bound and will you not know it What! never feel your bonds When once they are felt you will soon begin to cry and supplicate And if once you shall be brought seriously and incessantly to supplicate it may be hop't the release will follow Was our Lord so compassionate towards infirm bodies in the days of his flesh in this world and do we think he above is less compassionate to souls Can it be thought heaven hath altered him to your disadvantage Is he less kind benign and less apt to do good now he is inthroned in glory Why should you not believe he will give release unto your captiv'd embondaged souls if you implore his help and mercy with seriousness and insist upon it and do not give him over Say to him Jesus thou Son of God have mercy on me for do you not know it is his office The Spirit of the Lord was upon him to proclaim liberty to the captives and opening of Prisons to them that are bound Isa. 61. 1. What! will you be bound all your days and never lift up a cry to the great Redeemer and Saviour of Souls to give you release How deservedly should these bonds end with you in the chains wherein the Devils themselves shall for ever be bound with you 5. We may collect there is an awful regard due to the sabbath-Sabbath-day When our Lord justifies the cure now wrought on their Sabbath only on this account that it was an act of mercy towards a daughter of Abraham by the exception of such a case he strengthens the general rule and intimates so holy a day should not upon light occasions be otherwise imploy'd than for the proper end of it's appointment Tho' our day be not the same the business of it in great part is by the reason given in the fourth Commandment which being plac't among the rest of those ten words so many ways remarkably distinguisht from the other laws given the Jews and signifying that these were intended not to them alone but to mankind and given upon a reason common to man the words also not necessarily signifying more than there should be a seventh day kept as sacred to