Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A61649
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Consolation in life and death wherein is shewed that interest in Christ is a ground of comfort ... begun in a funeral sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Ellen Asty, and since much enlarged : together with the life of the said Mrs. Ellen Asty / by Owen Stockton ...
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Stockton, Owen, 1630-1680.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing S5697; ESTC R34617
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76,502
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170
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he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 4. By Christ overcoming the world the world is become ours the troubles of the world which would of themselves hinder our Salvation shall be made through the Conquest of Christ to further our Salvation Phil. 1.19 I know that this shall turn to my Salvation The Apostle speaks of his Bonds and of the afflictions some evil minded men thought to add to his Bonds ver 13.16 And he knew that his afflictions should be so far from hindring that it should be a furtherance of his Salvation See also 2 Cor. 1.6 VVhether we be afflicted it is for your Consolation and Salvation which is effectual in enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer The Salvation of the Corinthians was effectual that is powerfully promoted effectually carried by enduring the same sufferings which the Apostle endured Hence the World through Christ is said to be ours as well as all other things 1 Cor. 1.21 22 23. Because even the troubles of the World are through Christ made to work for our advantage § The intercession of Christ a ground of comfort against the troubles of the World II. The intercession of Christ is a ground of comfort against the troubles of the World Joh 17.9 13. I pray for them whom thou hast given me And these things I speak in the VVorld that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves He acquainted them with his praying for them on purpose that their hearts might be filled with joy It is a comfort to such as are in affliction to hear that good men are always mindful of them in their Prayers to God 1 Thes 3.6 7. You have a good remembrance of us alwayes Therefore Brethren we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your Faith If it were good tidings to the Apostle to hear that the Thessalonians had good remembrance of him always and that which did comfort him in all his affliction and distress How much more may it comfort us in all our affliction and distress to hear that Jesus Christ hath good remembrance of us alwayes and ever liveth to make intercession for us For 1. Though Christ be in Heaven and we are upon the Earth he beareth us upon his heart continually This was typified by the high Priest under the Law Aaron bore the names and the judgment of the Children of Israel upon his heart continually when he went into the holy place Exod. 28.29 30. And Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel upon the Breast plate of judgment upon his heart when he goeth in unto the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually And shall bear the judgment of the Children of Israel before the Lord continually Aaron the high Priest was a Type of Christ who is our great high Priest Heb. 4.14 Aarons going in unto the holy place was a Type of Christs ascending into Heaven Heb. 9.24 What Aaron did Typically when he entred into the holy place that Christ doth really for us now he is in Heaven And what was it that Aaron did when he went into the holy place 1. He bore the names and he bore the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart The judgment of the Children of Israel may signifie all their causes their affairs their condition this teacheth us Christ our high Priest knoweth his by name and that both their persons and conditions are born upon his heart 2 Aaron bore the names and judgments of the Children of Israel upon his heart at all times when he went into the holy place twice it is mentioned that he bore them continually which teacheth us that neither our persons or conditions are at any time forgotten of Christ but they are upon his heart continually now that he is in Heaven Psal 73.23 I am continually with thee That is continually upon thy heart under thy care And as David was so are we continually with Christ 3. Aaron bore both the names and judgment of the Children of Israel for a memorial before the Lord continually So Christ our high Priest as he carrieth our persons and conditions upon his own heart so he continually presenteth our case and condition before his Father The Apostle said 2 Cor. 7.3 You are in our hearts to die and live with you The like may be said of Christ concerning all that are his They are so much in the heart of Christ that he dyed for them and now that he is raised from the dead they are so much on his heart that he will live with them for evermore The Church of Christ is more upon the heart of Christ than the Church of Corinth was upon Pauls heart Now if the Saints had such a Room in Pauls heart that it was in his heart to live and dye with them then how much are all the Saints upon the heart of Christ What the Lord saith of Solomons Temple 2 Chron. 7.16 Mine Eyes and mine Heart shall be there perpetually The same is true of all Christians that are the Temple of God 2 Cor. 6.16 Ye are the Temple of the Living God The eyes of the Lord and the heart of the Lord shall be upon them perpetually Christs bearing us upon his heart is set forth by his carrying his Lambs in his Bosom Isa 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom It is not said he shall put them but he shall carry them in his Bosom intimating that not only strong Christians but the weakest and most feeble and shiftless are always born upon his heart And in doing this he fulfills his Peoples Prayers for they desire to be set as a Seal upon the heart of Christ Cant. 8.8 Set me as a Seal upon thine heart as a Seal upon thine Arm. The Seal makes and leaves an impression upon the Wax and all the cuts and engravings on the Seal are imprinted on the Wax 't is as if the Spouse should have said carry me upon thy heart as men use to carry Seals which they are very chary of and that there be deep and abiding impressions of all my troubles graven upon thy heart set me as a Seal upon thine Arm that is manifest the love of thine heart by thy actings towards me and for me put forth thy power to help me in all my troubles The Apostle had great confidence that God would give preserving grace to the Philippians because they were much in his heart to pray for them every time he went to the Throne of Grace Phil. 1.4 6 7. Always in every Prayer of mine for you all making request with joy Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it untill the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart If the
of trouble the Lord hath promised his presence to such as belong to Christ Ps 91.15 He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble Isa 43.1 2. Fear not For I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Now the presence of God going along with us will comfort us living and dying it will be our refreshment under all manner of troubles Exod. 33.14 My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest Moses was forty years in the Wilderness with the Israelites who were a froward people and both the difficulties of the place in which he walked and the difficulties of the people among whom he walked created him much vexation and trouble but under his troubles he found ease and comfort from the presence of God going with him A man that hath the Almighty All-sufficient God with him need not fear any thing Isa 4.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be thou not dismayed for I am thy God He need not fear any kind of Death or any kind of troubles he need not fear Men or Devils for God can do more for us then all Creatures can do against us This was Davids consolation against the fear of Death that he had God with him and did so raise his courage that he feared no evil when he was passing through the Valley of the shadow of Death Ps 23.4 Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Obs It is true may some say If God were with us this would raise our Faith dispel our fears put joy and gladness into our hearts under all our troubles living and dying but we can't find God is with us Yea many that have an interest in Christ find God standing afar off and hideing himself in time of trouble as we see Ps 10.2 Isa 49.14 A. The Lord is alway's ready and truly though not always sensibly present with them Ps 125.2 As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever The Lord is for ever with and round about his people although sometimes their eyes are held and they perceive it not And then their Faith is weak so that judging by Sence rather than by Faith they think God hath forsaken them when as he is graciously with them and they know it not What Jacob said of the place where he lodged Gen. 28.16 Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not The same may be said of some persons Surely the Lord is with them and they know it not Now the Lord is alwayes with his people these two wayes even when they are ready to say that he hath forsaken them 1. He is present with them in respect of his love and favour Isa 54.10 My kindness shall not depart from thee Ps 89.33 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take away from him Joh. 13.1 Jesus having loved his own loved them to the end 2. The Lord is alwayes present with his people by inward supports and secret upholdings of them Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Ps 73.23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Though David was ready to say in his hast that he was cast out of Gods sight yet he found upon recollecting himself that he was continually with God and upheld by him 6. Interest in Christ is a ground of strong consolation under all sorts of troubles and also against the terrours of Death because they that are Christs are in covenant with God and are heirs of all the promises They are in Covenant with God Ezek. 16.8 I sware unto thee and entred into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine They are Heirs of all the promises Gal. 3.29 And if you be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen to the glory of God by us If all the promises of God be upon and Amen in Christ then when Christ is ours all the promises of God are ours And this is a ground of strong consolation under all manner of troubles to be in covenant with God and to have an interest in all the promises of God For the Scripture is full of great and precious promises promises of all good things pertaining to this life and the life which is to come and to have an interest in all these promises is a matter of unspeakable joy By acquaintance with the covenant and promise of God our Souls may dwell at ease whatever troubles come upon our outward man Ps 25.13 14. His Soul shall dwell at ease and he will shew them his Covenant The Psalmist speaking of a man that feareth God saith his Soul shall dwell at ease and then sheweth how this is brought to pass and that is by acquaintance with the Covenant He will shew them his Covenant The dwelling of the Soul at ease implyeth the abundance and continuance of inward and Spiritual comforts which are enjoyed by our acquaintance with the Covenant The promises are sweet Cordials which refresh the Soul in times of greatest distress Ps 60.6 God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce In the three first verses there are sad complaints of grievous afflictions O God thou hast cast us off thou hast scattered us thou hast been displeased Thou hast made the Earth tremble thou hast broken it Thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment Now what will comfort a man at such a time as this What will make a man rejoyce under such amazing providences when God seems to cast off and be displeased when God scatters his people shewes them hard things makes them drink the Wine of astonishment when the very Earth trembles at Gods judgments The promises of God will comfort in such a dark day as this is God hath spoken in his holiness I will rejoyce When David was in a persecuted condition and they that persecuted him were no mean men but great Persons Princes Saul and his Courtiers he had exceeding great joy in the Promises of God Psal 119.161 162. Princes have persecuted me without a cause I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil When David was in a dying condition he found strong consolation from his interest in Gods covenant 2 Sam. 23.1 5. Now these be the last words of David Although