Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	band_n	church_n	great_a	16	3	2.1033	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A22193	The description of heaven. Or, A diuine and comfortable discourse of the nature of the eternall heaven the habitation of God, and all the Elect. Composed in Latine, by Cunradus Aslachus. And conuerted into English, by Raph Iennings.	Aslakssøn, Cort, 1564-1624.; Jennings, Ralph.	1623 (1623)	STC 860; ESTC S113648	21,359	92

imparteth his glory to the blessed Angels and men and demonstrateth himselfe to them face to face to be seene and enioyed of which thing wee spake more aboue in the third Chapter And after this manner the abode of the blessed is as largely patent as God himselfe But by his generall presence wherein hee is present to all creatures in heauen earth and doth gouerne and conserue them and after a peculiar manner wherein hee is alwayes present by his grace and spirit to his Church although militant in this world not onely in the heauen of the blessed doth he exist but without it yea euery where Peraduenture thou dislikest the distinction but it is produced out of the very Texts of the Scripture and not from mans braine for thus it speaketh God is in the Heauen of heauens and the Heauen of heauens are in the Lord. Heauen is my Th●one that is in the perfect ministration and manifestation of his glory But the Heauens of Heauens doe not containe thee that is after his generall presence wherein hee is present to all his creatures and peculiar wherein he is present to his Elect. This explication also the sequent sayings of Scripture doe confirme God dwelleth in the highest who neuerthelesse doth lowly behold the Heauens and the earth And in another place God hath established his Throne in the Heauens and yet his Kingdome is present to all Also the Lord is in the Heauens of ancient heauens whose excellency is ouer Israel and whose strength is in the higher clouds Thou are fear●full O God from thy Sanctua●●es The mightie God of Israel hee giueth strength and might to his people But why do we longer dispute of the nature of this eternall heauen Why doe we prosecute the absurd opinions of others concerning it let vs rather hasten to the illustrious felicitie of the blessed in this Heauen For as I actan de Institut diuin lib. 3. cap 37. saith What doth it profit a man to be so made that hee may looke with an vpright bo●v towards heauen and search heauenly things vnlesse he discerne God with an vpright mind and his meditation be conuersant in the hope of eternall life CHAP. VI. Of the happy condition and estate of the blessed in the Kingdom of heauen BVt to whom hath euer so great dexteritie of wit or copious perfection of tongue or Pen been imparted that was al●l● I will not say to decorate in words but to enuntiate that transcendent glory and felicitie of the blessed in the Celestiall Kingdome for easier it is to pronounce what is not then what is in that eternall life There is no death there is no mourning there is no wearinesse no infirmitie no hunger no thirst no heate no corruption no want no tribulation no sorrow Behold wee haue declared what is not there But wilt thou know what is there That which the eye hath not s●ene nor the care heard nor hath entred into mans heart what God hath prepared for those that loue him Yet the Scripture which alone chalketh the way to eternall life seemes to decipher the celestiall blessednesse in two things viz. in the priuation of euils wherewith in this mortall state wee are afflicted and in the plenary fruition of all good things by whose hand and steps being conducted wee will discusse a few things concerning them Alas what an Ocean of maladies doe ouerwhelme as well the Soule as the Body in this languishing life How great a fiercenesse of rigorous dolours doe with more then hostilit●● inuade her How great troups of fordid vices doe on euery side besiege her Who can resolue vs how great tyranny this miserable crazy infirme body of ours wheresoeuer it bee is alwayes obnoxious vnto To how many both by Sea and Land Battels Banishments destructions and dangers of deceyts is it exposed Lastly how sleeting and fallible is the miserable life of mortall men And as Seneca sayth Epist. 1● Some then begin to liue when they should giue ouer yea some desist to liue when they should begin And in what part of the earth are wee secured from the snares of death which is euery moment to be expected What this our life is replenished with so great euills that in comparison of it death it selfe may bee iudged a remedy and not a punishment for therefore hath God made it short that the tribulations which could not by prosperitie bee conquered nor taken away might bee mitigated by the breuitie of the time Alas this Life is an emulatour of cruell Death wherefore then wilt thou wish to thy selfe a happy Life Is not this madnesse No man will haue or endure a long euill Supper For tell mee what wilt thou haue an euill thing I thinke in all thy actions cogitations and desires thou wouldest haue nothing that is naught thou wilt not haue euill Land euill Corne no● an euill Garment and what madnesse is this that almost all men couet to enioy a long euill life But why doe I call it long If thou shouldest liue all that time from whence Adam was sent out of Paradise till this day surely thou shouldest see that thy life was not long Nay how long is the life of euery one man adde a few yeares lead long olde age What then Is not the houre earely Let vs therefore learne this one thing to contemne this life no man can well liue it vnlesse hee contemne it There can to no man happen a secure life who too much meditateth on the prolonging it When therefore when shall wee bee freed from those infinite molestations of this life Truely in this Pilgrimage of ours there is no freedome to bee expected but when wee shall bee reduced by CHRIST out of this exile into our naturall Countrey Then all seruitude wherewith wee are oppressed being taken away wee shall enioy Delight Libertie and Securitie neuer to be consummate But from whence is that God himselfe will wipe away euery teare from their eyes and Death shall no more appeare nor mourning nor lamentation because going before they are departed Apocalyp Chapter 21. verse 4. This life of men not onely by the alteration of age but also by the ruine of Soules for sinnes committed doeth enter by many Deathes So Life that is truely eternall is neyther the alteration of the bodie nor of the minde nor is there controuersie of cogitations nor diuersitie of opinion no perturbation hindering the stabilitie and tranquillitie of the mind Lastly it is the Kingdome of the liuing wherein there is no night no sleepe the Image of death no meate or drinke the sustenance of humane infirmitie no sicknesse no griefe no medicine or Suites or Marchandise no Artes no Money the beginning of euils the cause of dissentions the roote of hatred but the Kingdome of the liuing not of those that dye any more for sinne but the true life of those that liue in Christ Iesus our Lord. Oh true Life of all at all moments to bee wished Neyther shall wee there expect

onely a mitigation and deliuerance of those euils wherewith wee are here infested but wee shall bee infinitely replenished with abundant treasures of good things because the Sonne adorned with the three exquisite Properties perfect Complacencie absolute Wisedome imperious Dignitie shall excellently shine And what would shee haue beside that that perfect complacency shall spring from two Fountaines whereof the one floweth from God the other from the celestiall Congregation From God all solid delight as from the foundation and primary fountaine doeth proceed and that chiefly from the most delectable vision of the diuine glory Vnto this not a few Saints haue eleuated themselues in this frayle and transitory Life Whereupon the Apostle sayeth Wee are the deare sonnes of God but it is not manifest what wee shall bee for wee know it will bee that when it is manifest wee shall bee like vnto him because we see him as hee is and who so hath this hope purgeth himselfe as hee is pure Moreouer from the full sence of the diuine loue Thus Dauid comforteth himselfe I shall see thy face in Righteousnesse when I awake I shall bee satisfied with thy Countenance Pleasure is at thy right hand for euer These Banquets are delicious which the heauenly ghests sitting in the Kingdome of heauen with Abraham Isaac and Iacob shall eternally enioy Oh Banquets to bee defired The impious men delight themselues in the multitude of their Golde in the multitude of their Siluer in the multitude of their possessions in the multitude of their various wealth in the drunkennesse of their sumptuous and luxurious Feasts All tend to delight but they knowe not where they may attayne to that which is stable and enough the one out of luxury another from Ambition and the confluence of Clyents this from his louer the other from the vaine ostentation of Learning False and short delights deceiue all those as Drunkennes recompenseth the content of one howre with the heauinesse of a long time but let those reioyce in temporall things which haue not knowen to affect eternal goods But what shall bee thy delights O thou louer of God Thy Gold shall bee peace thy Siluer peace thy Inheritance peace thy Life peace Thy God shall bee all in all to thee thou shalt cate him that thou mayest not hunger thou shalt drinke him that thou mayest not thirst thou shalt bee illuminated by him that thou mayest not wax blinde thou shalt bee supported by him that thou mayest not faynt hee totall absolute shall possesse thee totally absolute thou shalt suffer no perplexities there with him with whom thou shalt inherit all Oh how the Saints shall exult in glory reioyce bee ioyfull and delight they shall enioy glory and bee delighted with eternall felicitie there they shall not only taste how sweet God is but shall bee filled and satiated with miraculous suauitie nothing shall bee wanting to them nothing shall hinder them Christ being present shall fulfull euery desire of theirs they shall not waxe olde languish nor corrupt any more Perpetuall health happy eternitie shall confirme the sufficiencie of their blessednesse there shall bee no Concupiscence in the members the rebellion of the flesh shall no more arise but the whole condition of man shall bee immaculate and quiet nature shall continue whole and sound without any blemish or wrinkle any more Lastly God shall bee all in all and his presence shall satiate all the appetites of soule and body Consider consider therefore O mortall men that to bee the true transcendent ioy which is not conceaued of the Creature but of the Creator which when thou shalt receiue no man shall take from thee when all mirth otherwise acquired is but mourning all delight dolour all sweet sowre all beautie deformitie and euery thing that doth glad is grieuous Next vnto God who is our supreame felicitie and chiefest delight the conuersation and familiaritie of Saints and Angels addeth no small complacencie there the assembly of holy Angels there the glorious company of the Apostles there the number of triumphant Prophets there the innumerable Congregation of faithfull Martyrs neither is there that thou shouldest feare any thing to be taken from thee by the multitude of the Inhabitants in the celestiall blessednesse I say the Inheritance is Christes by which wee are Coheyres By the store of possessours it is not diminished neither is it made straight by the abundance of Inhabitants but it is as great to many as to a few so to each one as to all Moreouer in profound knowledge and wisedome all the Saints shall here excell as Paul teacheth when hee saith Wee know in part we prophesie in part but when it shall come which is finished then that which is in part shall bee abolished Here we see through a glasse and obscurely but then wee shall see face to face now wee know in part then we shall know perfectly there is memory without obliuion reason without errour wi●● without all perturbation a body without corruption and with how great dignitie and maiestie the godly shall bee crowned in that future life the same Paul expresleth when he sayeth If wee suffer together wee shall raigne together And Saint Iohn Thou ha●t made vs Kings and Priests v●●o God and wee shall reigne on the ea●th And of the Seruants of God liuing in heauen amongst other things hee sayeth They shall raigne in the world without end O blessed Kingdome of Paradise O blessed Region of Delights after which we sigh from this valley of teares Oh how happy are they which inhabite there and praise GOD world without end Now thou hast vnderstood the condition of the Soule we will briefly declare what shall bee the Bodies state They also shall shine with so many Gemmes exquisitely glittering that is with perpetuall glory remarkeable splendor and datelesse immortalitie Oh oh how great is this complacencie that for this dyrt and drosse which wee carrie about in this body with a glorious countenaunce wee shall behold GOD in the Eternall life The Body is here sowen obnoxious to corruption it shall rise incorruptible it is sowen ignominious it shall rise in glory But from what Authour sayest thou is this so great glory Christ himselfe shall transforme this deiected body that it may bee made conformable to his glorious body Doest thou desire Splendor heere or requirest thou beautie Beholde wee shall shine as the light of the Firmament as the most resplendent starres For the righteous shall shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of Heauen Neither shall here bee any enuy for the vnequall brightnesse because the Vnitie of Charitie shall raigne in all Also most exquisite beautie is deciphered vnto vs in the description of that Heauenly Ierusalem Apocalyps Chapter 21. which appeareth by those precious things as Golde Siluer and Precious Stones What Citie I pray you is that but that Celestiall Church which like a Spouse is neatly and gayly adomed to bee alwayes at bande in her Spouses sight neither

neede wee feare that by the comming of death this glory shall bee made lesse continuall Set Eternitie before thine eyes which no circumscription of times can euer measure Consider now O man consider how wonderfull great this complacencie will bee to thee how acceptable thy future securitie will bee because thou shall neuer fall from it by any death whatsoeuer Neither can hee bee but ioyfull alwayes and well pleased who when hee was subiect to death is made secure of his Immortalitie Heere is no rest no securitie whiles yet burdened we groane in our selues expecting our Adoption the Redemption of our bodie But when this mortall body shall put on Immortalitie then there shall bee no more assault of Diabolicall fraud no opinion of hereticall wickednesse nor no impietie of vnfaithfull people but all things shall bee so pacified and ordered that in the Tabernacles of the vpright and iust the voyce of Tryumph and Health shall onely bee heard There the Saints shall praise God for euer and euer and in the light of his brightnesse they shall tryumph There whatsoeuer is to bee beloued is present nor can the thing bee desired which is not there at hand all which shall be there shall be good Wee shall there bee at leasure and see wee shall see and loue wee shall loue and giue laud that wee are which shall bee for euer and euer For what other end haue we but to come to that Kingdome which hath none end If thou louest Riches why doest thou not put them there where they cannot perish If thou louest Honour there it is to bee wished where no vnworthy one is honoured If health bee affected let it bee there desired where nothing is feared If life bee loued there it may bee acquired where it is neuer to bee ended by Death any more Oh! wee to foolish who so much wish and desire this life which compared to the Eternall may rather bee termed a death why doe wee not rather aspire to that eternall life What tongue is sufficient to expresse or vnderstanding to conceiue howe great the supernall Ioyes of that Citie are to bee in the assemblies of holy Angels to bee with the blessed Spirits of the Builder of glory to see the present countenance of God to behold the vncircumscribed light to bee diseased with no griefe of death to bee ioyed with the gift of perpetuall incorruption In this mortall life nothing is more pleasing to vs then to see our Countrey to behold our Parents and friends And why doe wee not hasten and runne that wee may see our heauenly Countrey and salute our parents and friends A great number of great ones doe expect vs there a frequent company of parents brothers sonnes doe desire vs now secure of their owne safetie as yet solicitous of our welfare to come to this sight and salutation how great ioy is common to vs and them Hasten O hasten thither I say wheresoeuerye liue for if ye so loue that miserable and brittle life where yee liue with so great labour and where yee scarse satisfie the necessaries of the body by running caring perswading sighing by so much the more ye ought to loue that eternall life where yee shall sustaine no labour where is alwayes the chiefest Securitie the chiefest Felicitie happy Libertie happy Blessednesse Oh when therefore when shall wee bee deliuered out of this filthie and vnsauorie paunch When shall wee bee made like vnto the Angels When shall wee shine like the Starres When shall wee see God face to face When will that day come when neglecting all care for to morrowe wee being most happy shall depend on GOD alone the Authour and Giuer of eternall life But it will bee some time doubt not when God shall wipe away euery teare from the eyes of all his And then lamentation nor labour shall no more appeare nor Death it selfe which shall be wholly discomfited in the victory which God giueth vs through IESVS CHRIST And fastening the inuincible Anchor of our Hope in this most delectable promise of God let vs corroborate the cause of this Celestiall Contemplation Si bene quid seci De● gratare datori Si male quid feci noueris esse meum FINIS B G. To his Friend the Translator AN laudem ingenij cultum vel nobile doctae Artis opus tibi quod scire Minerua dedit Nil mihi quod laudem restat charissime Iennings Namque operam celebrat mellea Suada tuam Macte tuâ virtute graui pulchrum que decorem Ingenij famam fac tueare tui Baptista Goodallius THy better part obscur'd by th'radiance Of Light celestiall detected is Proceed and be thou free the Criticke glance Of slothfull Ignorance there 's none can misse Translated is that man from Enuies sting Whose industry in morning yeares doth spring IAMES FOYLE FINIS