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	world_n	zion_n	16	3	8.8182	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92190	Jacobs ladder, or The protectorship of Sion, laid on the shoulders of the Almighty; in a description of the sufficiency of providence, suitable in these times of tentation. With Jacobs wrestling. / By Francis Raworth of Shoreditch.	Raworth, Francis, d. 1665.	1655 (1655)	Wing R373; Thomason E1507_2; ESTC R209489	136,597	367

Gospel Surfet And might not the Lord justly take us down and make us know the worth of the Gospel by the want of it Since we have plaid with the light of Truth might he not make us feel the fire Might not God lay down his Basket and take up his Ax and because we are not fit for fruit and building make us fit fuel for burning Have not the Ambassadors of the everlasting Gospel had as hard lot in England as they had in Sodom Who cannot but admire that when England is as chaffy as Sodom that we ave not the same flames as Sodom had Is not this salvation that when wee have been weary of God that yet God is not weary of us That when we have refused to be a holy Nation that yet we are a Nation That when our sins are the sins of Sodom that our sufferings are not the sufferings of Sodom God hath lighted up a flaming Candle of Justice in Sodom the Lord grant that luke-warm England may yet see to read her salvation by it Mercy always swims in Justice but with us Justice seems to be drowned in Mercy 2 From this Ladder admire that we are not made an Egypt God lately turned our waters into blood our Sea was then a red Sea indeed What a mercy is it that English darkness is not a proverb as well as Egyptian darkness England of old was called Albion from the white Rocks and Scotland as some Criticks fancy signifies a Land of darkness But how quickly can the Lord turn Albion into Scotia England into Scotland and Scotland into England we are their neighbors already We have much liberty to bless God Oh that there we not so much liberty to blaspheme God! We have more liberty than either we have deserved or been thankful for There was a time when the Saints in England had Conscience without liberty we have now much liberty of Conscience the Lord grant the time may never come that we should have liberty without Conscience Liberty and nothing else but Licentiousness and Atheism We had once hearts to bless God but wanted opportunity Oh that now we have opportunities we did not want hearts As when a doubting Christian complained that he had no interest in God he was such a stranger to God a Preacher of the Gospel replied But what will you take for that interest though as you think little you have in God not a thousand worlds said the doubting Christian Saints in England what will you take for that liberty you have Now your eyes see your Teachers what if they were all shut up in corners now the doors of the Congregations q.d. are open what if it were past Sermon-time and past Repentance-time what if the silver bell of the Gospel should no more sound in England Oh that we had as much conscience of liberty as we have liberty of conscience That of Omnium Deorum among the Romans of Omnium Sanctorum amongst the Papists of Omnium Sectarum here in England are monstrous Every variation from unity is a step to nullity If ever England should come from one Religion to all and we are in the high way we shall quickly go from all Religion to none 3 From this Ladder admire that we are not made a Germany Instead of the sword of War you have the Scepter of Peace instead of Garments rowled in blood and the noyse of Arms you have the blood of Christ sprinkled on your Garments Oh trample it not under feet Instead of the roaring Cannons you have the sweet sound of Gospel-Ordinances God hath but shaken his rod over us while he hath broken their backs while we have been let blood he hath even let them bleed to death God bid David chuse which of the three plagues of War Famine Pestilence he would have but God puts it to our choyce which of those three plagues we will not have inflicted on us Though God hath sheathed up his sword yet he holds it still in his hand therefore fear What salvation is this that parents are not drinking the blood of their ch ldren to quench their thirst and eat the flesh of their children to satisfie their hunger 4 From hence admire that we are not made a Babylon Pray pray that the Bibles may be opened in Spain and yet bless God that there are not Pad-locks hung on them in England Pray mightily that Antichrist may fall abroad and forget not to bless God that though there be much of Rome in England that yet England is not Rome that none can go to Market that none can buy or sel without the mark of the Beast Revel 13.17 either in their right hands or on their foreheads It is the opinion of some good men that the Protestant Profession shall be over-spread with Antichristianism again and that then the Lord will extraordinarily awaken them from their sleep and actively engage them against Babylon But I wish though we have looked on Babylon that we may not so lust after Babylon Spiritual longings in this kind are dangerous but I hope God will prevent Sions miscarriage in the birth of Reformation The Lord grant if we go to Rome it may not be to dote on her but to destroy her There is an old Prophecy that Antichrist shall never overcome Paris nor Venice nor London Let us not be secure for if his Soul have entertainment here his Body will not tarry long after But some may say What Salvation hath the Lord wrought for us what fruit is there of all the blood shed in England is not our condition as bad as ever nay in some sense worse the Saints were united are they not now divided how many Professors are turned Apostates nay Persecutors and Prophane This is sad indeed and to be lamented yet as the Disciples did not wish the blood in Christs veins again though they were distressed by his death So I dare not say though in our Distractions and among the Blasphemies of this age Man hath lost his way that God hath lost his end This is the support That as God hath laid the Foundation so he will carry on the Building that as the Great Turk makes a Bridge of the Bodies of his Souldiers to scale the wals of a Garrison So the Lord knows how to make his glory to rise by the fall of ours and to give life to his Cause by the death of his followers Secondly From this Ladder we may take many sweet Prospects forward on what God will do more apparently for Sion in the world There are eight famous Prospects The first Prospect from Jacobs Ladder is Gods Jacobs may foresee the abundance of knowledge yet to be poured out Isa 36 26. Isa 52.8 Isa 11. Knowledge shall abound as waters do upon the Sea Knowledge is now but at a low Ebb in comparison of that high Tide that shal flow hereafter Knowledge shall abound as the Sea intensively and extensively it shall more increase and be more clear As

visible Protectors and good Angels are invisible Protectors of Sion under God The King of Glory can never want forces for he hath a Militia of Angels thousands and ten thousands of Angels are his Chariots to ride in These heavenly Hosts are the horse-men and Chariots of Israel It is desperate to provoke a General marching in the head of a puissant and numerous Army The Angels observe their Rank and File they wait but for the word Nec boni Angeli nisi quantum Deus jubet nec mali Angeli injusta faciunt nisi quantum justè ipse permittit Aug. de Trinit l 3. c. 8. and they immediately take wing either for the comfort of Sion or confusion of her Enemies God sent one Brigade of Angels to help Elisha 2 King 6.17 another Brigade to aide Lot against the Sodomites one Squadron to help Jacob against Esau another to help Hezekiah against Zenacherib Gen. 32.24 Isa 37.36 Gods heavenly Forces quarter up and down about all the afflicted Churches in the World An Army of Angels Gen 32.2 was sent to convoy Jacob and therefore he called the place Mahanaim that is two Hosts or Camps either because the Angels appeared in two Bands and so made as it were a guard for Jacob to pass between them or because the great Angelical and Royal Army quartered and marched with Jacobs little Army and so two confederate Armies appeared in the field together so say Rivet and Caryl Our strongest Militia is either of Angels that are Spirits or of Angelical Spirits Psal 88.17 Angels Ezek 1. have the face of a Man to signifie their knowledge Wings to signifie their swiftness they cannot pass from one place to another in a moment because all motion is from one term to another term by a middle Angelus est nomen officii no● naturae ex eo quod est spiritus est ex eo quod agit Angelus est Idem in Psa 111 yet Psal 10.4 they are compared to a flame of fire The Cherubims have wings on their feet which is strange they cannot foot it fast enough and therefore must speed their Race with flight Thirdly They represent an Ox to signifie their obedience to God Hence we pray Let thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven that is freely as the Angels obey God without reluctancy And fourthly they are compared to a Lyon for their strength One Angel killed an hundred fourscore and five thousand in one night 2 King 19.35 One Angel wants neither hands nor weapons to rout and ruin an whole Army The good Angels stopped the Lyons mouths when Daniel was shut up in the Den restrained by Gods allowance the force of the fire when the three children were cast into the furnace The Angel of the Lord encamps about Sion Psal 34.7 That is the Angels for he speaks of an Host and the Criticks observe that in the Hebrew one is put for a multitude as the inhabitant for the inhabitants 2 Chron. 11.4 Quail for Quails Psa 105.33 40. When Christ is set forth by the name of an Angel it is in Scripture with some additions as the Angel of the Covenant and when you read of the Angel of the Lord it is meant of Christ unless there be some contradictions of that interpretation in the context as is apprehended Angels are Sions Centinels at home and File-leaders abroad As there are good men against evill so there are for Sion Angels against Angels Rev. 12.7 The Ethiopians supposed that Angels attended on Judicatories and therefore were accustomed to leave twelve Chairs empty in the Judgement place which they say were the Seats of Angels When Sion is in distress Faith and Prayer is able to press the Angels and to bring them into the batlet but they are Voluntiers not Mercenaries The Stars fought against Sisera that is say some the Angels in the Stars as in their War-Chariots as if the Angels according to the odd old proverb of Intelligences did inform the Stars but they are heavenly wide as one saith In the first of Zechary vers 8. the Mirtle trees in the bottom signifie the low estate of the Church or the Church in a low estate The divers coloured Horses were Angels appointed for divers Offices says Junius the red Horses for Judgement the white for Mercy the speckled for mixt actions being sent out at once to help Sion Non tribuere Angelis audeo quod forte non possunt nec debeo derogare quod possunt and oppose her Enemies An Angel smote bloody Herod two Angels defeated Zenacheribs Host and Angels by name if not by nature saith Mr. Caryl poure out the seven Vials of Gods wrath in the Revelation In Luke they are called the Host of Heaven These Armies are all of one mind no difference of Colours though possibly different Orders yet no difference in their Orders They on the Ladder ascend and descend they give place one to another there is no justling between them The Rabbies suppose on what ground I am careless of inquiring four Angels to be the Presidents of the four quarters of the World Michael of the East Raphael of the West Gabriel of the North and Uriel of the South The Barbarians had once taken Constantinople but that in the night season they were frighted by the appearance of armed Angels Socrat. l. 6. c. 6. Wherefore as Alexander the Great slept soundly though the enemy was at hand and being asked the reason of such security replied that Antipater his Captain was awake so may the Saints sleep in peace in these stormy times because they have Dan. 4. Guirin vigilantes the watchful ones about them Solomon Cant. 3.7 had sixty valiant men all with swords to defend him for fear of the night but the Saints are incompassed with Guards of Angels and as Elisha said 2 King 6. to his fearful Servant there are more with us than against us we need not regard the Malicia of Devils for we have the Militia of Angels This is spoken in subordination to Gods presence who useth them not as Princes that need their Guards but for the glory of his Majesty and for the support of our weakness but to testifie his great love to us in imploying such honorable creatures for our service and to maintain amity and correspondency between Saints and Angels untill they both walk arm in arm in Heaven 9 Angels attend on the Saints at their deaths Angels are the Protectors of Sion while they live and their Porters when they die They are as careful of the Saints as Nurses of their Babes God puts his children when they are born out to them to tender and tutor and at their death they bring them home to him again Lazarus Luk. 16. was carried by Angels into Abrahams bosom It is probable the Devils attend on dying men if possibly to tempt them to despair the less time they have to reign the more they rage and therefore good Angels attend too to

they Govern the Flesh draws one way the Spirit draws another here is no reconciliation of differences or taking up the quarrel by Arbitration the Flesh gives no quarter to the Spirit nor the Spirit to the Flesh the Quarrel is to last till Death puls down the Stage either kill or be killed No man can serve these two Masters the Flesh and the Spirit he that hath served the Flesh may list himself under and serve the Spirit but at the same time no man can war for the Flesh and for the Spirit these are two contrary Principles two contrary States and they can never match together though they always meet together in the regenerate Every age hath its peculiar temptation Fleshly lusts assail a man most in his Youth in his middle age Ambition and vain glory in his old age covetousness though the Soul kill one Souldier of the flesh yet another Souldier takes the field The Flesh like Hagar will dwel with Grace with Sarah till death beat it out of doors the flesh is an ill Inmate that will not out till the house fall on the head of it Vnum Duellum necessarium quod nobis semper gerendum est Deus ipse duos adversarios commisit inter se Vet. videl hominem novum carnem et spiritum hoc non unius horae aut mensis aut anni sed totius vitae est non coronabitur hic nisi qui legitimè certaverit Mart. Clas IV. Loc. com l. XIIX Fifthly We have the Effect of the Duel That ye cannot do what you would Sometimes we stand sometimes we fall sometimes we go forward sometimes backward sometimes we foil sometimes we are foiled even as it was between the two Houses of Saul and David so it is between these two Land-Lords the Flesh and the Spirit when the House of Saul grows stronger then the house of David grows weaker and when the house of David grows stronger the house of Saul and sin grows weaker as in a Well while one Bucket comes up the other Bucket goes down so in the Regenerate as the Flesh decays the Spirit gathers strength the full Bucket always ascends and the empty descends The Apostle was entred this Conflict Universa hominum vita palaestra est ut vivere non videatur qui se in virtutum palaestra non exercei Bas Rom. 7.15 What I do I allow not as if he had said I am proud but I would be humble I am carnal my love is carnal my joy is too much carnal but I would be spiritual I fall in my race to heaven but saith Paul I dare not stand in my falling I dare not justifie my falling And what I would that do I not ah says the Apostle I would never dishonor my God but I do dishonor him I would not grieve the Spirit but I do grieve it I would always have my heart where my treasure is I would always have my conversation and my carriage in Heaven but I am sometimes as worldly as others as sensual as others But it is not I but sin that is in me Here we have Paul against Saul nay Paul against Paul these are contradictions to Flesh and Blood The second Duel is between the Soul and the Devil And you have a famous example of this Warfare Ephes 6.11 12 13 14.15 c. where you have the Combatants ver 12. We the Spiritual man and the Powers of the Air and Principalities Secondly We have the Field and that is in the World or in Heavenly places in the Conscience as well as in the Air. Thirdly We have the Nature of the fight it is by wrestling we wrestle against negatively Not against flesh and blood positively But against spiritual wickednesses and the Rulers of darkness of this world as far as the Air extends so far doth Satans Kingdom extend the Devill hath the hill of us It is observable here that God gives his adversary the Devil his Titles they have their Dignities they are called not onely Powers but Principalities Fourthly We have the Weapons the Devil hath his weapons fiery Darts violent Temptations furious and filthy Suggestions temptations to sins on the right hand temptations to sins on the left temptations to Pride temptations to Prophaneness temptations to Presumption temptations to Despair Sometimes he appears as an Angel of darkness sometimes as an Angel of light but always a Devil and worse when as an Angel of light than when as an Angel of darkness Satan et si semel videatur verax millies est mendax semper fallax This enemy is numerous powerful a Lyon Politick a Fox Secondly on a Beleevers side there are weapons that are offensive The Sword of the Spirit Prayer and Supplication which is not mentioned as a peece of Armor but as that which assisteth and manageth all beleeve and pray wait and pray c. 2. Defensive Here is the Girdle of Truth for the Loyns Sincerity against Lust the Brest-plate of Righteousness Holiness to secure the Heart against Prophaneness the Shooes of Peace for the feet peace of Conscience against doubts the Shield of Faith against Despair the Helmet of Salvation the hope of Eternal life Thus the Apostle presents a Christian armed Cap-a-pe from the Crown of the head to the soal of the foot And it is observable here is Armor for the Breast Armor for the Head c. but no Armor for the Back surely to shew in this fight there is no place to fly if we run we are overcome Christians are wrestlers and Warriors or Souldiers now we know they wrestled naked and fought armed how can a man be naked and cloathed together the Apostle will answer we must not intangle our selves with the affairs of the world so we are naked we must take this Panoplia put on the whole Armor of God so we are cloathed The Devil methinks enters the Lists or Ring as a Challenger and throws q. d. over his glove his temptation and dares any to take him up he ranges and walks round and round who dares meet me in the field or look me in the face so the Apostle presents him as walking up and down like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devoure Like Goliah he views the Camp of Israel and sends a Challenge to the Champions of God come Diabolus circumeit non quarens quem mordeat sed quem devoret Alap says this Goliah who will incounter with me I le give his flesh to the Fowles of the Air come says this Rabsheka who will contend against me how many thousands have I slain by my might and my power Meet me says the Devil to David meet me said the Devil to Peter you beleeve you repent you obtain a pardon you might says the Devil have hoped for Salvation ten or twenty years ago your strength to serve God is now gone your heart is hardened your glass is run your door is shut now who shall be able to conquer this Adversary and repel