Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	holy_a	read_v	scripture_n	8,342	5	5.9261	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65533	Be ye also ready a method and order of practice to be always prepared for death and judgment, through the several stages of life / by the author of The method of private devotion.	Wettenhall, Edward, 1636-1713.	1694 (1694)	Wing W1488; ESTC R23957	81,107	235

thou hast And so God prosper thy Work and my Work to us both CHAP. II. The First Duty Advised to Religion in good earnest § 1. The first Rank of People to be prepared for Death and Judgment such who are perfectly to begin § 2. Provision for removing the Scruples of some § 3. What Death and Judgment are § 4. What generally makes Men afraid unwilling and unfit to die § 5. Such Practices as will answer the three Intentions proposed will be all the Preparation necessary for Persons within this Period § 6. The first Duty to be practised Giving the mind to Religion in good earnest § 7. This much wanting in the Generality § 8. What is the meaning of giving a Man's Mind to Religion § 9. Vsing ones self to think a proper Means to make the Mind serious in Religion § 10. A particular Train of Thoughts to this purpose § 11. The whole Evidence summed up and this Head concluded § 1. TO enter then upon our first Stage namely An Account of such Particulars in order to being prepared for Death which concern those who are quite to begin this Work Of these we may reckon two sorts First Licentious loose ungodly People be they young or old who if they have thought at any time of Death Judgment or another World it has been in a sort against their wills at least they have generally thrust such thoughts out of their Minds and put far from them the evil day so that Repentance Turning to God and all good Conscience are strangers to them These People sometimes Judgment overtakes in this Life and they are likely to be carried off by Accidents by violent means or perhaps by the Hand of Justice and then in a great deal of confusion of Mind they think of preparing for Death A second sort there are more orderly persons who live at the common rate of People amongst us professing their Country Religion but in good earnest minding little of any Religion to the purpose They perhaps sometimes at Sermons or by hearing or reading Holy Scriptures or good Books have been prick'd in Conscience and thought of repenting and in such moods have prayed to God to forgive their Sins and resolved to lead new Lives but presently the Cares of this world and the Deceitfulness of Riches and the Lusts of other things Mark 4. 19. entring and seizing their hearts have dash'd those beginnings and blasted any farther success of Grace and although there may be some knowledge and sense of Duty remaining in them to work upon yet they are persectly to begin all through Repentance and so all Preparation for Death Now even these as well as the former though haply they may not as the others come under the Lash of the Law to die by publick Justice yet are with them and all men obnoxious to Epidemical or Acute Diseases Plague Fevers Fluxes c. to VVars and such overflowing Scourges which sometimes sweep away the greatest part of a Nation to private Accidents such as Falls Bruises breaking of Bones Wounds loss of Blood and a hundred like Occurrences by which they may suddenly be brought to the Gates or into the Chambers of Death and in these and like Cases it will be necessary for them to begin and make up what present preparation they can for Death and that as speedily as may be If they survive their danger they may mend or ripen their Preparations if they do not the Question is What can be done on a sudden or in a sew Months or Weeks to put such People in a likelihood of Salvation that is in a state any ways tolerably prepared sor Death and Judgment I said in a few Months or VVeeks for as to a preparation to be made in a few Days God knows some poor People think of a few Hours I do not pretend to any Methods or Directions touching such a Preparation the thing is if not impossible yet not ordinarily to be effected Now these Persons perhaps many of them according to course of Nature may be at a long distance from the Grave yet sith they know not how soon they may drop or be hurried thither it is the Interest and Duty of them and of all to make up the best preparation for Death they can even for the present lest they should be surprized and taken totally unprepared Nor will this part be only usefull to such for though all may not be perfectly to begin yet the Counsels to be given to Beginners may supply some Defects in riper years of common Rank The certainty of Death once and the uncertainty of the time when how soon or by what means makes as instant sudden and perfect preparation for Death as may be necessary even to all whatsoever Never will any wise man think he can begin his Preparations too soon and make them too perfect nor is there any thing more common than mens bitter lamenting and alas finding themselves to have all cause to lament that they begun too late or have been too slighty and superficial in them But when did we ever see or hear any repent or who can be presumed ever to have had cause to repent that they were too early or too mature and careful herein Now that our way may be clear I think fit to remove one stumbling Block § 2. It is not impossible but that to some Beginners who may be grave Persons exercised in Science and Business more considerative thoughtful and of more comprehensive heads and so seeing further than others it is not impossible I say but to such this work at first may seem so long and to consist of so great variety of Parts so many things necessary to being duly prepared sor Death and the Tribunal of an all-seeing God as that they may think none can be certain he knows or any that he teaches all points necessary in this case Especially it having been above confessed that the Prescriptions or Directions proper hereto are no where in Scripture put all together but are diversly scattered almost through the Holy Canon This Suspicion I have found in some Now for delivering our selves from under this Scruple and for satisfying our Minds touching the sufficiency of the Advices which shall hereafter be given let us in the beginning enquire what Death is and what Judgment And then what should make us any more unwilling or loath to die than we are at night when weary after the Business of the day to go to rest or than a Day-Labourer would be in the Evening to receive his Wages and be dismiss'd Which things when we have seen we shall soon discern what we have to deliver our selves from and what to provide and consequently all that can be necessary or profitable for us according to our condition to do in order to an happy end § 3. First then let us endeavour as intimately as we can to see what Death is and at a distance narrowly look this Gorgon or to use a