Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	death_n	life_n	world_n	2,645	5	4.7733	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10084	A verie godlie and learned sermon treating of mans mortalitie, and of the estate both of his bodie and soule after death. Preached at Denham in Suffolke. At the celebration of the solemne and mournfull funerals of the right orshipfull Sir Edward Lewkenor Knight, and of the vertuous Ladie Susan, his wife, both at once. By M. Robert Pricke their beloued and faithfull minister: now also since that time (to the encrease of our sorow for the losse of so excellent a light) departed this life.	Pricke, Robert, d. ca. 1608.; Allen, Robert, fl. 1596-1612.	1608 (1608)	STC 20338; ESTC S112476	28,846	49

the greatest dullard and rude person may vnderstand For to what ende serue so many Funeralls of all sorts All sorts of mē die euery day olde young rich poore noble and base To what ende so many Graues and Sepulchers in the places of buriall so many drie bones cast out of the Graues but to set forth visiblie before our eyes the mortall estate of mankinde Whereby is discouered and laide open the extreame blindnes and dulnesse of the most part For although they be conuinced both by the testimony of God and nature that all men must die yet reape they little or no benefite by it The greater more grosse is the sinne of all that profit not by the cōsideration of death in the care of a godly life For some lye rocked so fast a sleepe in securitie and in the pleasures of this worlde that they thinke no more of death then the bruite beast that is without vnderstanding Other can discourse finely of death to make shew of their eloquence and learning and yet will not by serious meditation applie the remembrance of death to their hearts Finally verie many doe quake and tremble at death who yet for all that vse no meanes that they may die well I will not at this time recite the causes and reasons hereof which are diuers and manifold only I may conclude that all these sorts are in a miserable case The duties of all Christians in respect of their mortalitie For auoyding whereof we must take a cleane contrary course which standeth herein that we do seriously meditate of death and as it were continually set it before our eyes and that not for discourse or speculation but for more weigntie profitable endes 1. We are to vvithdravv our hearts from all inordinat loue of this vvorld and the transitory thinges thereof And first of all to the end we may withdraw and weane our hearts from too much delight in this naturall life and in the things that belong therevnto And there is great reason thereof For seeing that both life and the things of this world are fraile transitorie and vncertaine true felicitie cannot consist in them How much better then were it for men by the consideration hereof to set their affections not on things belowe but vpon things that are aboue and to laie vp their treasure in heauen where neither rust nor moath can consume nor theeues breake through and steale 2. We are to humble our selues vnder the mightie hand of God and his fearefull sentence of death against sinne The second ende is to beate downe the pride and insolencie of men whereby they are puffed vp as though they were Gods immortall heere vpon earth From which conceipt as from a cursed sinke doe flowe blasphemies against God outrages doe flowe blasphemies against God outrages iniuries and violences against men yea a thousand mischiefes and abhominations whereat the Sunne in heauen doth as it were stand amazed For which cause the hand of the Lord doth strike the world with infinite calamities and iudgements 3. We are to lead our liues in godlines vse all good meanes there of that we may die with comfort The last and speciall ende is that men may be induced to apply their hearts vnto wisedome that is that by diligent and carefull vsing the holie and good meanes which God hath set vp in the church as the ministery of the word and Sacraments c. they may thereby attaine such a measure of faith repentance and holines that they may not tremble at the terrible face of death but knowing and beeing perswaded that his sting is pulled out and his weapons broken by the vertue of the death of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ they may entertaine him as a friende and yeeld to him as to a Porter or Harbinger appointed by GOD to make a waye for all the faithfull vnto the place of euerlasting happinesse Againe that they may not die in trouble or vexation of conscience but in such a sweete tranquillitie of minde that they may with Simeon say Lorde now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luc. 2.29 Finallie that they may not see the mouth of hell gaping to deuoure and swallow them vp but by the eies of faith behold with Stephen the heauens open and the Lord Iesus Christ standing at the right hand of God his Father readie to receiue their soules It is a speciall grace of God which teacheth men to make the former good vses frō the consideration of our mortalitie We see here the singular fruits that growe from the seriours meditation of death and the due preparation for it Which yet is not a worke of nature but proceedeth from God and his holie spirit without whose vertue and operation nothing be it neuer so cleare neuer so great and forcible can work effectuallie in the hearts so great and forcible can work effectuallie in the hearts of men Which thing was so well knowne to Moses that in the 90. Psal he crieth out And therefore wee ought to praye earnestly to God for so speciall a grace Psal 90.12 Teach vs O Lorde so to nomber our dayes that we may applie our hearts vnto wisedome Which example euery one of vs are to follow not onely because it is recorded in Scripture but because that sodaine and vnprouided for death doth bring so manie euills with it to wit such feare and trembling such horror anguish despaire that manie wish at the first assault thereof that they had neuer beene borne nor seene the light of the sunne as we haue had too manie examples in these our dayes Well therefore did these two worshipfull persons who long before their death and dissolution The godlie couple late departed were notable examples right worthie our imitation herein had not onely the name of death and of the ende of this life often in their mouthes but by all good meanes fitted themselues for the comming of the Lord. Which manie neglecting death commeth sodenlie vppon them before they can prepare oyle for their lamps and so are they shut out of the Tabernacles of eternall life happines and cast down into an estate most miserable and to be trembed at of all Christians And thus much of death with the certaintie and vniuersalitie thereof The second part of the Text. Now let vs come to the second pointe of the Text namely of the estate of the generall and principall parts of man after death The parts are two The estate of man after death both in bodie and soule The Soule and The Bodie Of which the holie Ghost speaketh seuerallie and distinctlie But because the bodie is more visible and best knowne The estate of the bodie The originall of the bodie is from the earth And this consideration tēdeth very aptlie to the illustration folowing after both in and by death Gen. 2.7 hee beginneth first with that which he describeth two wayes First in

their studies Let the Noble and worshipfull race of Gentry Magistrates lay to heart the losse of two such familiars as were most faithfull and dutifull to them Poore of Den. ham and in the townes adioyning But O yee poore and miserable of these partes howle yee and cry out seeing they are taken from you whose hands in times past were alwaies open to relieue your necessities The Minister himselfe then a chief mourner for them on earth but now achiefe reioicer with them in heauen And would to God mine eies would gushe out teares yea riuers of teares seeing the place and seats open now empty and without them whose presence in times past was comfortable to my heart where vnto they alwaies bent themselues as did appeare by their readinesse and willingnesse to repaire to this place Finally there is cause that all should mourne for the death of such persons according to the laudable custome and manner of the Church The causes of comfort are resumed more fully amplified because they are greater and therfore ought to receiue the deeper more durable impression chiefly in the heartes of those that are most subiect to passe boundes in mourning in all times Yet least we should passe measure and runne into the excesse of mourning wee want not iust cause to moderate and temper our mourning and sorrowe and that not only for that we are not without hope as were the heathē but for far better more agreable causes And first of all although they be gōe yet haue they left behind them many persons equall to thē in degre dignity who are not ōly indued with excellent gifts but ready prest to performe the same duties which they in their life time performed As namely to professe and maintaine the Gospell The 1. cause of comfort sincerely to worship serue the Lord and to go before other in a holy christian example of life A 2. cause of comfort Againe it ought not a little to mitigate our sorrowe in regard of their departure because as they honoured God in their life so God hath now honored thē in their death as appeareth this day not ōly by the solemnities of their buriall but also in the great concurse of all sorts who are come together euery one according to his place to testifie what honorable and louing affections they bare toward them A 3. Cause of comfort both in life and in death The last full cause shuttinge vp perfecting all our cōfort against all our mourning Lastly that we may at lēgth conclud the greatest matter of comfort is that although they haue left vs for a time yet ere it bee longe wee shall meete with them in the Kingdome of God For which purpose because wee know not howe sodenly the Lord will come either by death And thus a sweete conclusion of a verie sweete godlie learned and fruitfull Sermon To God be all the praise honour glory to vs much benefit spirituall edificatiō through his most gratious blessing or at the last iudgement as we haue good cause to bethinke vs thereof by the present occasion let vs not driue off as the slouthfull seruant in the Gospell or as the foolish virgins but let vs fit our selues before hand for his glorious comming that is let vs get oyle in our lamps with the wise virgins and euerie one of vs behaue our selues faithfully in our place and calling by imploying such gifts as we haue receiued of our Soueraigne Lord and Maister to the glory of God and the benefit of our brethren And then no doubt as the second death shall not hurt vs so shall wee enter into our Maisters ioy where we shal with the soules of the righteous crie continuallie Lord Iesus come quicklie Reu. 22.21 as the soules of these two persons doe And in the end we shal doubtles heare those sweet words of heauenly entertainement which Christ our Lord Sauiour from his glorious throne shall pronoūce to the vnspeakeable comfort of all the elect saying Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you Math. 25.34 from the foundation of the world Which the Lord of his infinite mercie hasten speedily put an an end to the miseries of this world vnder which we doe continually sigh and groane 2. Cor. 5.4 And that euen for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Redeemer and Sauiour to whom with the Father the holie Ghost be rendred and giuen for euer and euer both in heauen and earth all possible praise honour glory immortalitie Amen And thus an ende Let vs pray

The vertues of the right christiā knight to manifest confirme the truth of his sanctification but thou surmountest them all Fauor is deceitfull and beautie is vanitie but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised Giue her of the fruite of her hands and let her owne workes praise her in the gates The outward conuersation likewise of her worthy Husband was very Christian vnblameable and without iust note of reprehension An example worthy to bee followed of all men specially of persons in special dignitie authority aboue the rest For first of all whereas all men know hee was indued with excellent ornamēts of nature and learning yet knew he how to make himselfe equall to thē of the lower sort And whereas hee could haue made many affraid as it is said of Iob yet was hee continuallie fearefull to offend the meanest An excellent vertue the true valour of great mighty mē In which respect if he had at any time ouerseene himselfe his soule was neuer at rest till hee had remoued the offence and satisfied the party Hee bare a feruent loue zeale toward the truth which hee was ready at all times to defend against Papists Atheists Hereticks c. as diuers do well knowe who haue felt the force and weight of his argumēts in disputation He was bountifull and liberall according to the measure of that portion and reuenewes that GOD had bestowed vpon him as the poore round about him can and wil testifie whose sides were warmed with the fleece of his sheepe and their empty and hungry stomackes relieued satisfied of his owne prouision How he carried him selfe in his publick calling concerning the administration of Iustice the worshipfull magistrates both here and els where in this country can both know and iudge Yet thus much I know and dare affirm that he was carefull to do his duty A conclusion not forced but very wel applied And that which is more and a very special grace of God in a magistrate hee hated and auoided priuy bribes and rewards 1. Sam. 13. least his eies should bee blinded therewith and his heart corrupted God graunt vs many such good Maiestrates euen for the Lord Iesus sake and blesse these excellent examples to helpe forward so gratious a worke of his so necessarie for his church Amen and so turned aside from iustice and equity So that he might if hee were aliue make his iust Apologie for himselfe as Samuel did 1. Samuel 13 in these words Behold here I am bare record of mee before the Lord before his annointed whose Oxe haue I takē or whose Asse haue I taken or whom haue I done wrong to or whome haue I hurt or of whose hand haue I receiued a bribe to blinde mine eies there with I will restore it you All this and the rest I speake God knoweth not in the way of flattery to gratifie the eares of anie as it is the manner of too many in assemblies vpō such occasions as this is The common abuse of funerall Sermons iustly taxed to make their tongus saleable in decking them with ornaments of commendation which are most vnworthy of any great commendation I haue abhorred flattery since I knewe the Gospell and rather runne into the contrarie Neither need I in this case to vse flatterie seeing I may appeale to the consciences of al them that knew them Yet did they not want their blemishes and infirmities all which I doubt not are couered and washed away in the precious blood and death of our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore seing that they both drew in one yoke of obediēce The vses of the former sonotable an exēplification not only walked hand in hād in the waies of righteoussnes while they liued but also were not much diuided in the act instant of their death 1. For christiā consolation comfort what enuy of man what rage of Sathan what power of hell can let but that both of their soules are now in heauē amongst the Angels soules of the righteous triūphing against the deuill the world the flesh all their spirituall enemies singing praise to God with the whole Church for their creation preseruatiō herevpon earth specially for their redemptiō saluation by the blood of the Lambe wishing the accomplishmēt of the number of Gods elect that the miseries of the faithfull might haue an end standinge at the fountaine of liuing waters wearing longe white roabes washed in the blood of Iesus Christ fedd and nourished continuallie with the fruit of the tree of life beholding the glorious face of their sweet Lord and Sauiour whose presence in their life time they wished and longed for with teares and earnest praiers Finally they liue remaine in such fulnes of ioy and happines as to the perfection thereof nothing cā be added or desired So that they neede no outward solemnities of Buriall although it bee agreeable to their estate and serueth very well for the auoyding of Anabaptisticall confusion For why in their life time they reared vp to themselues a Tombe in heauen not perishing or corruptible but euer during and eternall not polished by the art and cunning of man but grauen and commended by the hand of Gods spirit And therefore so glorious as it is not only pleasant and acceptable to God and his Angells but also maketh cōtinualie for the encrease of their owne comfort 2. For christiā sorrow and mourning yet with godly moderation All which notwithstanding this their great happines yet is there cause why their death and departure should bee lamented and bewailed It is the duty of al sores moderatelie to mourne at the death buriall of their friends specially of such as were of best imploiment vse not only generally but also by particular persons Generally the Church militant hath great cause to lament that two such excellent and profitable members are rent from it Particularly their chlidren haue cause to mourn and sorrow for that they want two such excellent Parents who did so tender and loue them as their own souls Children and therefore sought both by exāple al good meanes to procure their comfort and good estate in this life and in the life to come Seruants for that they haue lost the gouernmēt and direction of such a Master Lady Seruantes as continually expressed no lesse loue and care ouer them then if so be they had ben their naturall children so that by their death they are bereft of many sweete comforts and helps which many a yeare some of them inioyed Let the ministery of this congregation mourn sorrow Ministers for that it is disappointed and left destitute of such worthy Patrons Let students and fauorers of Learning Students ioine with the fotmer in mourning seeing they shall all see thē no more in this world by whome before times the receiued cōfort incoragemēt in