Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	age_n	life_n	old_a	5,148	5	5.6715	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67153	A practical commentary or exposition upon the Pentateuch viz. These five books of Moses Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Wherein the text of every chapter is practically expounded, according to the doctrine of the Catholick Church, in a way not usually trod by commentators; and wholly applyed to the life and salvation of Christians. By Ab. Wright; sometime fellow of St. John's Colledge in Oxford.	Wright, Abraham, 1611-1690.	1662 (1662)	Wing W3688; ESTC R221054	292,675	224

which Names he had given him of striving and strugling All Gods Israel are Wrestlers by Calling and as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ must suffer hardship Nothing is to be seen in the Shulamite but as the appearance of two Armies maintaining civil broils within her the Spinit warreth against the Flesh and the Flesh against the Spirit Wherefore we have more than need to take unto us the whole Armour of God and to strengthen our selves with every piece of it At no place must we lie open for our enemy is a Serpent if he can but bite the heel he will transfuse his venome to the heart and head Verse 19. We see here how Iacob is tryed with a new cross deprived of his Crown his Stay his Comfort his Wife Which is writ for our instruction to teach us that Gods Children must not look to live at ease in this life They must not Prophecy of Peace to themselves That there shall be no leading into Captivity and no complaining in our streets They must not dream that they shall be alwayes carried on Eagles wings but their dreams must be of Willow-trees by the Waters of Babel of afflictions and crosses a Christian must be a daily cross-bearer which made this Patriarch in another place say Few and evil have the dayes of my Pilgrimage been The Child of God a Son of Iacob must not think to walk in plain and easie paths to heaven but must climb hard it is all up-hill the way lieth inter Epauleum Magdalum as the Septuagint read the text Exod. 14. 2. that is by turreting and towering turning and winding as Origen Expounds it Never any went to Heaven with dry eyes Iacob's life was a continual warfare First Rachel the comfort of his life dieth and when but in her travel and in his travel to his Father Then his Children the staff of his age wound his Soul to the death Reuben proves incestuous Iudah adulterous Dinah ravished Simeon and Levi murtherous Er and Onan stricken dead Ioseph lost Simeon imprisoned Benjamin the death of his Mother the Fathers right hand endangered himself driven by Famine in his old age to die amongst the Egyptians a people that held it an abomination to eat with him Thus many are the troubles wherewith the Lord tryeth his Children And if that God with whom he strove and who therefore strove for him had not delivered his soul out of all adversity he had been supplanted with evils and had been so far from gaining the name of Israel that he had lost the name of Iacob Now what Son of Israel can hope for good dayes when he hears his Fathers were so evil It is enough for us if when we are dead we can rest with him in the Land of Promise If the Angel of the Covenant once bless us no pain no sorrows can make us miserable CHAP. XXXVI Verse 1. DEmosthenes that great popular Orator was wont to hugg himself as he went in the streets to hear the Common People say as he passed by This is Demosthenes There goes the great Orator but it can be no Joy nor Credit for any man to be pointed at and stigmatized by the People for an infamous person This is Edom is no Commendation though Registred in the Book of God no happiness for Esau to find his Name in Scripture in the Book of God unless he could find it also in the Book of Life It had been happier for Ieroboam and Iudas if their Names might have been forgotten than to be remembred under those ignominious Characters of Iudas the Traitor and Ieroboam that made Israel to sin The wicked though they think to get them a Name and to that end lay Plots to keep it up and protect both it and themselves yet their Names shall either rot and perish or if they be remembred it shall be only as his was that burnt the Temple of Diana as a Curse in the Nation wherein they live as the publick fire-brands and incendiaries the common plague ruine and desolation of their Country Verse 6. Esau no doubt was as strong if not stronger than Iacob yet fled before his face surely there was something in it more than the power of Iacob that daunted Esau and something more than ordinary appeared in Iacobs face from which Esau fled there was a divine Majesty seated there and with this Esau was not acquainted and therefore it struck a terror into him and made him fly and all this not without a special Providence of God to make room for the right Heir Canaan was the promised Land but not for Esau he had sold his Birth-right and with that the Promise which was annexed to it the Land flowing with milk and honey was too good for him that valued a mess of Pottage above the Blessing of the first-born A Iacob only one blessed of God was to inherit that Country which should afterwards be blessed by the Son of God the Holy Land was no inheritance for an Esau a prophane person Verse 20. Esau was by Marriage allied to this Seir for he took Aholibamah the Daughter of Anah to Wife vers 2. and yet the Posterity of Esau were so unnatural as to drive their own Kinsmen out of their Country Deut. 2. 12. No tyes either of Bloud or Friendship or Nature or Religion are able to hold wicked men when Ambition or Covetousness drives them on the Sons of Esau value not their nearest Relations an Estate to them is of far greater esteem then Kindred or Friends then either their Brother their Father or their God himself Verse 31. As Esau was the first-born so he was the first King likewise and good reason the Elder Brother should wear the Crown before the younger especially since Iacobs Portion was not so much a temporal Crown as an eternal For though Iacob by Gods Decree was to have the blessing yet not the inheritance of the first-born temporal Estates or Dominions are not entailed to Grace neither can the Children of God as such challenge to themselves the power and authority of other men as their King so their Kingdom is not of this World And therefore let Esau Reign and Edom have Kings while Iacob is a Slave an Israel under and Egyptian Captivity yet Iacob shall Reign at last and that for ever and Israel have a King whose soveraignty shall spread over the whole World and endure longer than it the Scepter shall not depart from Iudah until Shilo come no nor then neither for his Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations Psal. 145. 13. Verse 43. When Edom in the 31 verse of this Chapter was a King then was Israel a Slave but here when Edom was a Duke Israel was a King which instructs us not to look at the beginning of Gods Providence but the end and design of it Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is Peace saith the Psalm 38. 37. And

time as by nature a Woman may have a child God will return to us in the grave acording to the time of life that is in such time as he by his gracious decree hath fixed for the Resurrection And in the mean time no more than the God-head departed from the dead body of our Saviour in the grave doth his power and his presence depart from our dead bodies in that darkness Verse 6. Iacob being not willing to be a burthen unto Pharaoh more then needs must brings down all his Estate into Egypt Though the Famine forced the Patriarch to be beholding to Pharaoh for bread yet he would not be Engaged to him for meat And therefore tooke his Cattle along with him and although he could not bring down his house into Goshen yet he carried his goods It is an happiness so to live with others as not to be beholding but rather helpful than burthensome When the Prophet desired a cake of the widdow in the dayes of famine he rewarded her with a barrel of meal which outlasted that famine and rather then he will be a burthen to the poor Woman a miracle shall releive her Verse 27. Well may the Rabbins say that these seventy souls were as much as the seventy Nations of the world when Moses tels us Deut. 10. 22. that whereas their fathers went down into Egypt with seventy souls now Iehovah had made them as the Stars of heaven for multitude and this too by miraculous wayes and means As for instance when this Israel of God was shackel'd perchance for their forefathers selling Ioseph to be a slave with the Irons of Egypt where their burthens were turned into bondage and their bondage into bloud their souls also being ever on the rack of continuall fear and suspence lest their bodies might be thrown into the same brickhils they had built and become the fire to harden their own handiwork Yet here how did God tie up Pharaohs hands with plagues turning their poisons into cordials and their enemies malice to their greatest improvement in that he made them grow under their burthen and propagate through that inhumane distruction of the Male fruit of their body So able is God to raise his Church from a small number to an infinite from seventy persons to the Stars of heaven or the sand on the Sea-shore for multitude Verse 29. The height of all earthly contentment appear'd in the meeting of these two whom their mutual losse had more endear'd to each other The intermission of comforts hath this advantage that it sweetens our delight more in the return then was abated in the forbearance God doth oft-times hide away our Ioseph for a time that we may be more joyous and thankfull in his recovery This was the sincerest pleasure that ever Iacob had which therefore God reserved for his age And if the meeting of earthly friends be so unspekably comfortable how happy shall we be in sight of the glorious face of God our heavenly Father of that our blessed Redeemer whom we sold to death by our sins and which now after that noble triumph hath all power given him in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XLVII Verse 3. IT is fit that every one that lives in a Common-wealth should labour in that Common-wealth and bring some benefit some honey to the common hive unlesse he will be cast out as a drone Pharaoh would hardly have suffered even Iosephs own Brethren to have lived idly under his jurisdiction and therefore his first question here was What is your Occupation At Athens every man gave an yearly account to the Magistrate by what Trade or course of life he maintained himself which if he could not doe he was banished Take ye the evil and unprofitable servant said our Saviour and cast him into utter darkness away with such a fellow from off the earth which he hath burthened for he is no more missed when gone then the parings of ones nailes Those therefore that have a talent a trade to live on must improve that talent must follow that trade whereby the world may be the better and not think to come hither meerly as Rats and Mice only to devour victuals and to run squeaking up and down These are Ciphers or rather Excrements in humane Society In the sweat of thy brows thou shalt eat thy bread was the old Sanction Even Paradise that was Mans Store-house was also his working house They bury themselves alive that as body-lice live on other mens sweat and labours and it is a sin to relieve them Verse 4. These plain dealing men did not desire to live at Court though their Brother was the chief Favourite but in Goshen which as it was next to the Land of Canaan so was it most fit for their Cattle These honest religious Patriarks chose rather a poor Shepheards life in Gods service then to ruffle it as Courtiers out of the Church So did Moses afterwards and David Psal. 84. 10. and the poor Prophet that died so deep in debt and good Micaiah and those that wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins Heb. 11. who happily might have ruffled in silks and velvets if they would have strain'd their Consciences Origen was contented to be a poor Catechist at Alexandria every day in fear of death when he might have been with his fellow Pupil Photinus in great authority and favour if not a Christian. God takes it kindly when men will goe after him in the Wildernefs in a Land not sown Ier. 2. 2. that is chuse him and his wayes in affliction and with self-denial Verse 6. Those that are ingenious and industrious in their calling shall be preferred and had in esteem by great men How much more then doth it concern Christians to improve their Talent that they may be accepted and preferr'd by God That Servant in Saint Luke that had improved his pound to ten pounds was made Lord over ten Cities and he that had encreased it but to five pounds had authority but over five Cities As every one had traded so he was rewarded and had a different degree both of Grace and Glory Let all men therefore according to their several abilities improve what they have to Gods Glory and the good of others and then they may be sure they shall improve it for themselves and their own both good and glory Verse 9. Mans life is but a sojourning it is but a Pilgrimage said Iacob here and but the dayes of his pilgrimage neither every one of them quickly at an end and all of them quickly reckoned Thus also did the rest of the Patriarchs count themselves but as Strangers and Pilgrims in the earth and thereby declared that they sought a Country Heb. 12. 14. Here we have no continuing City first no City no such large Being and then no continuing at all it is but a sojourning Here we are but viatores Passengers Wayfaring men this life is but the high-way and thou canst not build thy hopes here nay to be

of the Ministery that it should not be defrauded of the least thing allotted to it And therefore harden not your heart against God against Law against Right and Truth accustome not your hearts to cover your Neighbours due your hands to purloin it by fraud or take it by strength it is theft spiritual theft sacriledge your house receiveth stoln Goods and the Wrath of God may happily shake the foundation of it for such a sin and you in yours or you and yours be punished Verse 13. Here Leaven is admitted of which before was forbid Leaven therefore is taken in a good sense as well as in an ill Thus the Apostles are resembled to a little Leaven that leaveneth the whole lump they being sent out of God into the unleavened World by preaching to leaven it clean through And there is a Leaven of the new Nature accepted as there is a Leaven of the old Nature rejected For look how the Leaven maketh the Bread savory and strong and wholsome look also how it makes it rise and heave up which otherwise would be sad and heavy So doth Gods regenerate Spirit change us make us savory and all our Duties pleasing to God and we rise up our Hearts and Souls are heaved up in all love in thankfulness to him that in Mercy hath so look'd upon us Verse 15. A Ceremony us'd to signifie that publick Feasts should not be superfluously continued and kept long under the colour of Religion For God loveth not idle banquetting and prodigal spending although he allow graciously what is fit for the occasion Secondly this was done in wisdome by God least if the flesh should have smelt by longer keeping Religion might so have been vile in the eyes of fickle persons Verse 18. We may learn by this that the taking hold of Christ is not to be deferr'd and put off but speedily and quickly to be done whilst time serves and opportunity is offer'd For behold sayes Christ to day and to morrow I cast out Devils and the third day Luke 13. that is a short time I have yet to go on with my Ministery and then I shall be slain More particularly every Man and Woman may be said to have three dayes The first of Youth till Age come the second of Age till Death come and in these two dayes there is Mercy offered but the third day is after Death and then there is no help as here on the third day no Offering was accepted but the sin remained unpardoned and not forgiven Verse 30. The bringing of the Sacrifice with his own hands and not sending it by others taught Humility and Duty to God taught that every one must live by his own Faith and not by anothers Verse 34. The shaking of it to and fro four wayes East West North and South shadowed the spreading of that lifting up of Christ that is of Christs Death and Passion throughou● all the World by the preaching of the Gospel CHAP. VIII Verse 2. THe Lord precisely appointed Priests and would not leave it to every man to perform this Office to signifie that not any man butthe-man Christ Jesus could appease Gods Wrath satisfie his Justice and take away the sins of the World This could not be figured out better than by secluding all the Host of Israel from this Office and chusing but Aaron and his Sons as Types of Christ that so by such an Ordinance the Majesty Authority and Property of Christs Office might be resembled and shadowed Verse 5. Nothing but Gods Commandement doth Moses offer unto them For he well knew Gods Will only in his own House must be the Rule Our own heads were never the best heads to follow and for God he knoweth our mould too well to give that swinge unto us Verse 13. Aarons Sons were a figure of the Church which by Faith eateth also of the Sacrifice of Christ being made partakers of his Merits as well as the Priests Their Garments figured out the Graces and Gifts wherewith the Believers in Christ are adorned and beautified casting away the Works of Darkness and putting on daily more and more the Deeds of Light Rom. 13. 12. Verse 30. Upon Aarons Sons Moses did but sprinkle the annointing Oil which was said to be poured upon Aaron verse 12. So plainly shewing that in Christ the Spirit should be without measure and upon his Servants in measure we all receiving of his fulness according to his good Pleasure some more some lesse Verse 35. By this is signified that watch which all our life time is noted by the seven dayes we keep in avoiding sin and working righteousness as the Lord shall enable which indeed may be call'd the watch of the Lord being a holy Christian and happy watch The seventh day we shall be free fully sanctified and delivered from this vail of misery to keep an eternal Sabbath in Heaven to our endless comfort CHAP. IX Verse 7. IN that Aaron was here commanded to offer as well for himself as the People he was herein a figure of Christ not that Christ had any sins of his own but that ours were so laid upon him and he so made satisfaction to God for them as they had been his own Surely sayes the Prophet Isai. 53. 4. he hath born our infirmities c. that is we judg'd him evil as though he were punish'd for his own sins and not for ours Verse 22. Thus doth God blesse us in Christ in whom all the Nations of the World are blessed First with the Blessing of Reconciliation to himself reputing us now just for his Son Christ. Secondly with the Blessing of his Spirit whereby we walk in his Calling being guided thereby in the same Thirdly with the Blessing of Acceptance of all our Works though full of imperfection and weakness And last of all with this great Blessing that all adversity becometh a help to us to draw us to Heaven and Eternal Rest. Verse 24. That God which shew'd himself to Men in fire when he delivered his Law would have men present their Sacrifices to him in fire and this fire he would have his own that there might be a just circulation in this Creature as the Water sends up those vapours which it receives down again in Rain Hereupon it was that fire came down from God to the Altar that as the charge of the Sacrifice was delivered in fire so God might signifie the acceptation of it in the like fashion wherein it was commanded The Baalites might lay ready their Bullock upon the Wood but they might sooner fetch the blood out of their Bodies and destroy themselves than one flash out of Heaven to consume the Sacrifice CHAP. X. Verse 2. NAdab and Abibu were two of Aarons Eldest Sons which after their Father should have succeeded him in his place yet there is no Mercy with God to stay his Judgement when they will not be Ruled by his Word No Prerogative therefore shall save any Man from Wrath if he offend but