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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	death_n	know_v	life_n	2,879	5	4.5653	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93110	Of the foure last and greatest things: death, iudgement, heaven and hell. The description of the happinesse of heaven, and misery of hell, by way of antithesis. With the way or means to passe through death, and judgement, into heaven, and to avoid hell. / By VVilliam Shepheard, Esquire.	Sheppard, William, d. 1675?	1649 (1649)	Wing S3196; Thomason E551_7; ESTC R205687	96,747	120

work And this is the condition of all these persons following 1. Such as in whom there is no change at all wrought but they are still in their pure naturals as they were born so they live and they mean to dye 2. Such in whom is there no desire after nor delight in the means of grace 2. Such as have neither will nor skill to any of Gods works as Prayer or the like 4. Such as have no holy motions for these are like the breath and beating of the Pulse that shew the naturall life and where they are not it is a signe the body is dead And to where those are not it is a signe the soul is dead and that there is no spirituall life begun in it 3. Impenetency in Sin it is not mans sin so much as his not repenting of his sin that damns and undoes him Manasseth and Paul sinned much but they repented and were saved Ezech. 18. ●1 Cast away all your transgressions c. For why will you die ô hous of Israel And this is then most pernitious when God cals Upon men to repent when men are exhorted and perswaded to 〈◊〉 and will not hear Matt. 11. 20 2● 12. 41 Acts 17. 30. 2 Chron. 36. 11 12. 14 15 16. And they do continue in their impenitent estate 1. That do not see a filthines in sin but think it a beautifull thing 2. That are not burthened with sin though they have never so much upon them 3. They whose hearts are like a Vessel without a hole where into the word cannot Peirce 4. They who live in sin still and leave no sin 5. They that cry not out of their sin and bewaile it 6. That are untractable to Gods will Hebr. 3 13. Rom. 2. 5. 7. That will not endure a plain and sincere Ministery they will not be awaked out of sin as a man disturbed is angry doth shew he is willing to sleep on and not to be awaked so it shews these men are not willing to come out of their sin Better to endure the pain of Repentance here then everlasting pain hereafter for one of them must be endured Luke 13. 3. 5. Christs own words Except yee repent yee shall all likewise perish 4. An effectuall or outward calling when men are moved by the Word or afflictions to repent but do not such men as are still under the power of darknes such are they that hear the word but do not repent of sin nor believe the Gospel such are like to a man in a dead sleep when he is called who hears not and therefore lies snorting stil in his sin These answer not Gods call but put them off with delayes and excuses Luke 14. 16 17. Math. 20. 16. Prov. 1. 24. Because I have called and yee refused I have stretched out my hand and none would regard those that were called to the Supper one saith I have bought a farm another I have married a wise a third I have bought oxen 2. These continue still in their unregenerate state and are not changed at all 5. Infidelity the privation and utter want of Faith when Gods promises are wholly distrusted for such men as believe not are damned already that is as sure to go to hell as if they were there already Jo. 3. verse 36. Hee that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life And he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Rom. 1. verse 20. Heb 3. verse 2● They could not enter in because of unbeliefe Marke 16. verse 16. He that believeth not shall be damned And this unbelief may be discerned by the effects thereof also which are 1. by a mans weaknes to withstand temptation that he is carried and hurried hither and thither with every temptation 2. That a man takes so little care and pains to be reconciled to God 3. That a man doth so little care to please God 4. That a man doth so little desire after grace 5. That a man hath no spirituall joy in him 6. That the heart is so foule and unclean still And 7. that they have so little love to God and his People 1 Iohn 3. 14 15. 6. In a mans own guiltines when a mans sins remain upon his soul being unpardoned because they are not repented of and he hath nothing to do with Christs righteousnes but must stand upon his own bottome the plague of wicked men Psal ●9 27. Lay iniquity upon iniquity and let them not come into thy righteousnes Matth. 22. 11 12. Man how camest thou in hither not having on thy wedding garment that knoweth not what a troubled Conscience for sin and quieted by Christs blood doth mean and therefore take no care use no pains to keep the Conscience quiet and good 7 If we continue still as we are by nature the base born of Satan by similitudinary resemblance we are said to be the Devils children such as bare his image and resemble him in malice and subtilty called children of wrath of the flesh of perdition of Death of Hell Iohn 8. 41. 44. You are of your father the Devil and his works will yee doe And thus it is when we have none of the divine nature in us nor any good affection towards God at all we are more like unto Satan than unto God and when Satan and not Gods Spirit hath filled our hearts and we are led by the Devill and not by the Spirit of God 8. In the warn of love ot or hatred of God the case of all wilful disobedient sinners for every man that is wicked as every man is in his estate of nature doth hate God Rom. 1. 30. which doth appear by his desire to have God depart from him Iob 20. by this that he doth not regard him nor care to please him that he careth not for Gods glory nor doth he regard his ordinances 9. In the hatred of Gods people when men have a settled malice against them without cause that they neither wish them well nor endeavour their good 1 Jo. 2. 11. He that hateth his brother is in death Vers 15. is a man slayer and yee know that no manslayer hath eternall life 1 Jo. 3. 13. 15. Psal 34 21. They that hate the righteous shall perish which may be thus discerned 1. That they love not one of them but for some respect 2. That they hate them for their goodnes sake 1 Jo. 3. 12. Because his own works were evill and his brothers good 3. That they rejoyce nover them and that they ●o not pitty them nor yeeld them any help in their misery Math. 25. I was hungry and yee fed me not sick and in prison and yee visited me not naked and yee cloathed me not c. Judgment mercilesse shall be to him that sheweth no mercy Jam. 2. 13. 10. In Presumption or the want of Gods feare either they fear him not at all or if they do it is as an angry Judge and with a

so great gain certainly every man will think him so Should not a man rather sell all that he hath to gain this Matth. 13. And account all but durg in comparison of this Phil. 3 Jerome What saith the father fire gallowes c. All the torments of hell so I may enjoy the pleasures of heaven Who doth not then marvell at the wisdom of the men of this world rightly tearmed folly that embrace straw and contemn gold set their hearts upon that which is not and so greedily follow after shadowes and neglect that which is and let go enduring substances what folly and madnesse is this 2. Exhorta To divers duties 1 Let us labour to see know and beleeve this But you will say of this as of death is there any man alie that makes a question of this whether he shall die or whether there be a hell or a heaven or no Yes certainly it is more then manifest that most men doe not know nor beleeve this truth for if they did it is not possible they should live as they doe To know is to know by causes and for our selves and to apply to our selves and our own private profit what we know which is the knowledge we are pressed to in this place To beleeve because the God of truth hath said it in his word that there is a heaven to reward the righteous and a hell to punish the wicked that we must all die and after death come to judgement and to live so as those that expect such things 2 P●t 3. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse Let us consider it well spend many thoughts upon it enter into deep meditations of the inestimable glorie of it and view that heavenly Canaan well And to help us herein let us pray with the Apostle Ephes 1. 18. That we may be enlightened to see what is the riches and glory of this inheritance These things beleevingly thought upon will bring us much profit 1 They will expell other thoughts 2 They will keep us from sin we shall say then shall I sin and for a few base lusts loose such a place as heaven is 3 They will provoke us to good works and make them more easie to us 4 They will make us bear the crosse the more patiently as they did the Martyr who said well Though I have a sower breakfast I shall have a sweet sup●●● 5 They will more inflame us with the love 〈◊〉 this felicity and consequently make us more to strive to attain it 2 In the second place this may exhort us to use the means and take the course to attain to this happy estate 2 To get assurance that we belong to this estate and shall come at the last to it For the first of these we are to see that we labour and strive to get into this golden citie where streets gates walls and all are gold and pearl Nay where pearl and all is but as mire and dirt and nothing worth 2 Pet. 3. 13. 14. And now and now onely is the time to do this And to move us hereunto we are to consider th●se things 1 It is a thing to be done heaven may be had if we seek after it Matth. 7. 7. 2 It is an excellent condition as we have shwed 3 It is an everlasting happy condition 4 Else we perish everlastingly If now you shall ask how you may attain or which way you may come to it we must answer you We must goe the way And herein there are 2 things 1 That we know the path that leadeth to this blessednesse 2 that we tread this path untill we do attain it As he that would goe to any place heere must first know and then go the way thither and not another way If you desire to be shewed this way we must first of all shew you that is the way that Gods word prescribeth that a man that will come to heaven must walk this is the King of kings high way Iames 2. 8. That leads to true blessednesse he then that means to come thither must be acquainted with the word of God both Law and Gospel And for that purpose he must be a diligent hearer reader and meditatour of it Psalm 1. Psalm 119. Iohn 〈◊〉 39. Acts 20. 32 And this is that that sheweth us the way it sheweth us Christ who is the way it gives us grace and makes us sit for glory this is as the starre that brought the wisemen to Christ See Matth. 7. 24. Rom. 10. 14. Ephe 4. 11 1 13. 2 Cor. 5 19. Heb. 1. 1. If you desire yet to be farther instructed in this point you must observe with us 3 things 1 some lets or hinderances that do keep men from heaven and the way which must be removed 2 Some helps and furtherances as provision for the journey that do help onwards in the way to heaven that must be used 3 the steps of this way it self The hinderances and impediments are many But to give you some 1 All sin in generall is a hinderance to mens attainment of true blessednesse for every sin is a step in the contrary way and leadeth towards hell But there are some speciall things that l●t as 1 Inf●delitie the J●ws could not ente● into the earthly Canaan because of their unbeleef Heb. 3. 19. And the Christian will be kept out of the heavenly Canaan by his unbeleef Iob. 3. 18. 2 Pride James 4 6. God ref●●teth ●e pr●●d When m●n are puffed up and 〈◊〉 so big with the conceit of their own externall o● internall worth they cannot get into heaven Matth. 19. 24. It is easier for a Ca●●ll to goe through the eye of an●●dle c. 3. Trusting to a mans self and his own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 Gal. 2. 17. 4 A r●misse and carelesse seeking of it men will not give enough for it he that would have heaven must go beyond all men Luke 13. 24. 5. Presumtuous security whereby a man is content in his present condition presuming all is well when it is not so Matth. 25. 43. 44. and v. in the parable of the ●ive ●●●lish virgins The helps and furtherances that must be used are 1 Resolution as a man that prepares for a journey doth gird up the loyns c 2 All the means and ordinances of grace And the spiritual traveler can no more go to heaven without the constant and conscionable use of th●se then a trava●ler here can go a great journey without a guide food and other provision for his journey These means are the Word and Sacraments prayer and the rest i● the Sanctification of the Sabbath all which being the means to beget increase and che●●● grace which is he way and means to attain to glorie must be carefully and constantly used of all those th●t look to ●●me to glory Io●n● 6. 24. Act● 20. 32. Iohn 5. 29. Rom. 10.

hath respect to two times First to all the time of amans life Secondly to the time a little before his death First all the time of a mans life Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still and 〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good day● work whilst he doth live for he that lives well cannot do ami●s and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for First peace with God in Christ and peace in our own Consciences Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet 3. 14. Secondly the saving knowledge of God in Christ Io● 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit and word Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall and it is begun here the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life is the beginning of eternall life Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things First let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord i. in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive i. As by Adam sin and death came over all so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers 2 Pet. 3. 14. ●uke 2. 28 29. Now let thy ●ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation i. I doe willingly and chearfully leave this present life Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the ●●tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a be●●r dwelling 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. c. Secondly let us pray continually that God will fit us for death say with Moses Psal 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes so as to apply my heart to wisedome Thirdly let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily for here in lyeth the strength of death 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it be humbled for it cry to God for p●rdon of and power against it and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of the grave and receive us Psal 19. 15. Fourthly let us enure our selves to die by little and little that is not only live every houre as if we were dying but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death 1 Cor. 15. 3● I die daily i. I am not only in danger of death daily but I doe thereby enure and prepare myself to die daily By undergoing a lesser we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Fifthly let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular by our death that is shaking of security as we would shake of sleep let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan and looking always for death be in a dying posture and live every houre as if it were our last houre Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come Luk. 2. 25. Motives 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch 2. It will be very dangerous for us to neglect it See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into Seventhly let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it for by how much the more we love by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things First to God-w●●d Secondly to man-ward To God-ward ● If sicknesse goe before death we are the● 〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer so David Psa 32. Psal 38. Psal 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others when we be sick we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people who are able to help us herein Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health 2 King 20. 7. Luk 1● 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order i. to make our will if it be not made before and give direction what we will have done after our death 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5 6. 4. We are as much as we may to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neighbours with whom we are at difference Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of against the fear of death 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self or being about to die we are to give up our souls to God i. to his care and keeping being his by redemption Psal 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. ●6 59. died in the embracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. ●0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉 in faith 2. Charitably so Stephen Acts. 7. 20. Lord ●ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉 forgive them 3. Patiently 2 King 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt Phil. 〈◊〉 defecta 〈◊〉 c. 2 8. Rom.

they are passing out of the world into death and the grave and from thence to judgment Of which we are to speak in the next place Of JUDGEMENT DOCTRINE There is without question a great and terrible Assist or day of generall Judgement set and to come wherein every one must be brought to account and be judged for all his thoughts words and works IN this point we shall say something for Explication something for Confirmation and somthing for Application For Explication 1. It shall be a great day and so it is called ●ude v. 6. Mal. 4. 5. It is so called 1 for the great assembly and meeting that then shall be If all the Juries and people of the Kingdom were to meet at one grand Assise before the King himself for the tryall of all the Delinquents in the Kingdom this would be a great day how great then will that day be wherein all the Men Women and Children that ever were are or shall be must appear before the Lord Jesus to be judged 2. It is called a great day because there are great things to be done on that day It is also called a terrible day because there are terrible things on that day to be seen and done Io●● 3. 2. Rev. 20. 12 13 14. 13. 16. Ioel 2. 31. Mal. 4. 5. It is also called the day or that day by a specialty Luke 21. verse 34 Rev. 6. 17. This day we call the day of the generall Judgement to distinguish it from the perticular Judgement which every man receiveth at his death for every mans deaths day is his dooms-day Hebr. 9. 27. Eccles 12. 7. This is to be a day of Judgement For in it there shall be a formall and ●udiciall proceeding Judgment containeth three things 1 Examination of the cause wherein it is requisite there be two things 1. an equity in all things and persons 2. a laying open of this equity 2. a giving of Judgement upon the cause 3. the doing of execution according to the Judgement all this shall be then done For the Judge shall sit parties shall be cited evidence given in a tryall had and passed and judgment given men shall be formally and orderly examined condemned and punished Rev. 10. 11 12. Matt. 25. verse 40. c. This day is decreed and set Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein to ●●dge the world And it is not past but yet to come nor shall it come till the end of all other things be first come 2 Thess 2. 1 2 3. nor is the very certain houre or day to be known by man Matt. 24. 42. 25. 1● All flesh young and old rich and p●ore male and female must then appear none shall be so great to avoid it none so little as to be forgotten And they must must you say is for the King so saith the King of Kings they must appear and that in person they may not appear by proxie nor may they be excused for their default or make delay or have a day over but they must then and there appear to give anaccount Revel 20. 12. I saw the dead great and small stand before God 2 Cor. 5. ●0 We must all appear before the judg●●●● seat of Christ Eccles 11. 9. God will bring thee i. the young man to judgment though thou be unwilling to come God will bring t●●● by force Hebr. 6. 27. Rom. 14. 10. That all thi● is out of all question will appear by the Confirmation which follows in the next place 1. That it is so 2. That it must be so That it is so 1. many Scriptures of the old and new Testament do foreshew it Da● 12. 1 ●ard 7. 26. 22. Eccles 11. 9. Mal. 4. 5. Ioel 2. 31. Iude verse 14 15. Acts 17. 31. Rom. 14. 10. Acts 10. 42 43. to him give all the Prophets witnesse that he is ordained of God to be judge both of quick and dead Rev. 1. 7. Behold he commeth i. It is as certain as if he were come 2. The Devils and wicked men at one time or another believe it and tremble to think of it M●t. 8 ●9 Art thou come to torment us before the time Iames 2. 19. The Devils believe and tremble their hearts ake and quake within them 3. All the Godly expect it 2 Pet. 3. 12. 4 Many signes there have been and are foreshewing it 5. The prayers of good and sins of bad men will bring it about Rev. 22. 17 20. chapt 14 15 16 17 18. 2. That it must be so reason doth evince it 1. For it will not stand with the justice mercy and goodnes of God that it should be otherwise then well with the good and ill with the bad at last since it falleth out often that the condition of the best men is worst and of the worst men is best in this life How can it stand with the justice of God that wicked persecutors should go unpunished and not receive a reward of their works and that the godly who have suffered so much injury from wicked men should not be righted and recompenced There is nothing in all the world doth more certainly prove the day of judgment then the injustice of the wicked world for thus we may reason will the Lord certainly punish the wicked and reward the just this being not alwayes in this life it must be certainly at the day of judgment Beli●es what mistakes and mi●construction do the justice of God and inocency of godly men lye under in this life and how much do the names of God and godly men su●●er hereby and when or how will they or can they be delivered but at and by this day of judgement For the clearing thereof therefore and manifestation of Gods justice and godly m●●s integrity the●● must be of necessity such a day to come Hence it is called the day of the Rev●lation of the righteous judgement of God 2 Thess 6. We glory in your patience in your sufferings which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God The Saints sufferings here are as one saith an ocular demonstration of a future judgement where all their wrongs shall be righted and all their labours of love recompenced Iames 5. 8. Rom. 2. 5. That therefore there is such a judgement to come we do rightly professe in one of the Articles of our Creed That Iesus Christ shall come from Heaven to judge the quick and dead 2. Gods decree hath set it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to man once to die but after this the judgment 3. His word hath spoken it and his truth must perform it We have done with the Confirmation but we must answer two or three objections ●re we can make our Application Object Answer It may be said God judgeth men now he judgeth men everyday To this we answer This judgment is begun here on good and bad God judgeth men by his word by their own Consciences and by his administration and the disposall of