Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	bear_v	life_n	live_v	4,791	5	5.2156	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35044	The hard way to heaven explained and applyed in a sermon intended to be preached at Peters-Cornhill, but by reason of the disorderly concourse preached at St. Katherines Creed-Church London, the 27th of July 1662, being the third day after his release / by Z. Crofton.	Crofton, Zachary, 1625 or 6-1672.	1662 (1662)	Wing C6995; ESTC R29659	37,927	47

point Murther he determineth in a sc●rnful word in gesture Adultery in the cast of the eye Disobedience in the neglect of a parent prophaning Gods Na●e in a groundless and trivial Oath the whole matters of his Sermon are most strict Rules in the observation whereof he placeth perfection in similitude to God and in this very Text the strait is opposed to the wide Gate the narrow to the broad way the way of sin is an open Common the champian ground in which the mighty Hunters against the Lord doe sport themselves without any limits but the way of Sanctity is an Enclosure a passage perillous fickle difficult dangerous in which men cannot move without fear and care without pain and grief without crosses and losses without smart and suffering without pressing and striving and yet out of it they may not turn to right or left hand without certain ruine The way to Heaven is a red Sea passage in which there is no possibility of motion unto safety and life but by going forward for enemies are behind and walls of water doe on each fide enclose us if we give back the enemies will destroy us we cannot step aside but the Sea will drown us by going forward we may meet with a wilderness march and many encounters with the sons of Anack and the Kings of the Countries through which we travel but we are sure at last to arrive at the Land of life and promise for strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life I have done with the explication of this Proposition before I pass to application I shall note and but note unto you the Arguments which doe convincingly demonstrate that strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and I shall not wander to seek them they are suggested in the Text and are these Life is the end unto which this way doth lead and that you Arg. 1 heard before is an estate of excellency its obtainment and effecting must needs be by means of intricacy difficulty is inseparably attendant on dignity the passage into a Princes Pallace is not common or easie but by many strait gates and dark entries Pebbles lye common on the surface of the earth but Pearles are hidden in the bowels thereof and must be digged out with difficulty and danger Needs there be any more said to convince you that Grace and Holiness is a strait gate and narrow way then to tell you it leadeth unto glory this estate was not purchased without the Lord Jesus coming from Heaven being tempted by the Devil tormented by men forsaken by God and his passing through the straits of a shameful cursed death and can we think it should lie common and open without guard or enclosure for any that will when they will which way they will to enter into It is below its worth and should expose it unto contem●t This Gate and way is strait and narrow because singular 't is Arg. 2 one and 't is but one In this way we must go to Heaven and out of this way we cannot get to Heaven singularity is alway attended with difficulty be this way never so foul tiresom never so tedious and troublesom we have no other way in which we can walk to this end all confinement is cross to mans spirit How are ●en affrighted from and afflicted in the wayes of godliness because of reproach of singularity which should be rather their inducement and encouragement to perseverance with all diligence for the Heirs of Heaven are singulars not every one that cryeth Lord Lord the way to Heaven is singular but one enclosed ●rescribed way though our corrupt nature be disposed to run at liberty and prophaness will bear no restraint yet we must know we must keep close to Gods Commandements and walk in the one way the one Gate of his appointment unto life Nature hath made many wayes to death and but one way of difficulty and danger to passe into life and corrupt nature can and doth create many wayes to Hel but the guift of God is eternall life to be obtained in and by that one and only way which he hath determinated bounded and revealed This Gate and way to life is strait and narrow because few Arg. 3 there be that find it paucity of Travellors does make as well as proclaim difficulty in the way of motion for because few passe through it it is untract untrodden not easily to be discerned Christs flock is a litle flock the Elect are but a remnant there are but a few names who are found faithfull many may follow Christ but there are few will sell that they have and give to the poor some will deny themselves take up their crosse and follow him many will call him Lord Lord but few will do what he saith many may strive to enter in at the Strait Gate but few are able to effect it nor is there any more plain and clear demonstration of difficulty and danger then the paucity of those who passe through it a common Road is a beaten Road every man will travel the open way few will take pains to passe through straits to the poscessions of life and glory This gate ie a strait this way is narrow for there is in it no entrance no processe without diligence our Saviour did direct his curionists questions to strive to enter in at the strait gate but Arg. 4 this puts me upon the application The Application of this Doctrine might be large and various Application but time will not allow me to expatiate but doth constrain me to contract I will therefore passe by those many Inferences which flow from hence and confine my selfe to my Text and our Saviours method viz. an exhortation affectionately to embrace and earnestly to presse forward in the strait gate and narrow way My beloved be intreated seriously to reflect upon your thought s that strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and let difficulty persuade provoke your diligence consider the words and exhortation of our Saviour enter in at the strait gate and narrow way so our Evangelists doth report it but Luke reporteth it strive to enter in at the strait Gate The duty is the same in both these Evangelists though the different occasions on which it was perswaded caused some difference in expression but both the sentences are considerable and have their Empha as St. Ma. presents it to us it guideth our choice affections to embrace according to St. Luke it provoketh our industry in pursuit of our chosen object that we may not miss to attain the end enter in at the strait gate that is chuse and affectionately embrace the way of danger and difficulty in which you cannot move without eare and cost without courage and consideration without pressing and perplexity although your nature cannot but affect ease desire to walk at large reluct under the very thoughts of restraint

and regulation be wise be well advised by me saith our Saviour who have and know the issues of life and death to deny your selves and direct your feet into the soul way strait g●●e and nar●●w paths cast your selves under divine direction passe your lives in an exact observancy of divine prescription receive the yoak abide the bonds of the Lord Jesus Christ decline the way with and in which flesh and blood is so much so well pleased and resign up your mind will affections actions and passions to the restraints of Reason to the regulation of Religion answerable to this Exhortation is our Saviours Argument drawn from the end unto which this strait gate doth lead It leadeth unto life as if he should have said you see before you different paths you are to make your choice be by me advised to consider that broad way and wide gate leadeth to destruction but this start gate and narrow way leadeth unto life guide therefore your affections by the end you aim at and enter in at the strait Gate I this day set before you life and death chuse you which you will take I cannot but tell you if you embrace the broad way follow the multitude to do evil please your own lusts and live as you list without regard to or restraint by Gods holy Word you shall enjoy present case and future endless misery but if you decline this broad way and enter the strait Gate deny your selves enter the way of Gods Commandements and walk uprightly in them not turning aside to the right or left hand you must indeed undergo present hardship but shall hereby attain unto arrive at eternal happiness Let the end the last in your enjoyment be the first thing in your intention and you cannot stick in your thoughts what to chuse who will not labour for life rather then lie still and die Who will not pass some straits to possess such glory rather then live in pleasure and lose salvation for ever who at the day of judgement will not chuse the portion of Lazarus before that of Dives How sad a check is it to Dives comforts to hear the Lord say Thou hast now thy good things but shalt he hereafter tormented How reviving refreshing is it to poor Lazarus to know the Lord looketh on his low estate and resolveth that he in this life afflicted shall be in Abrahams bosome abundantly comforted cost what it can be it never so strait and narrow enter in at the strait gate it leadeth unto life According to St. Luke Strive to enter in at the strait gate enter into it for life is the end of it strive unto this entrance for you labour for life and that calleth for the utmost diligence and violence of endeavours strive not feebly and faintly but with force and vigor press forward in it with strength and vivacity with power unto perplexity strive unto and again until you sweat until you bleed again press into this narrow passage until you be immured and perish if need so require stretch your limb● until you be not able to stand walk with wait on God untill and after you are weary you cannot live with God unless you love God you cannot love God unless you embrace him pursue him with all your heart with all your might with all your soul with all your strength you seek salvation though it is not wages you must work for it work out your own salvation with fear and trembling with a fear of diligence not of diffidence and despondency a sight of Israels glory will make a cursing Balaam cry out Oh that I might die the death of the righteous and that my latter end might be like his but the laborious life of the righteous can only secure the happy death which passeth into eternal life Heaven is not had with a wet finger short winded wishes will never set any in the haven of everlasting happiness the slothful in Christianity can never inherit the promise the kingdome of Heaven suffers violence the violent take it by force fight so as to get victory so run as to obtain so wrestle as to prevail so strive as to be able to enter the strait gate for strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life Give me leave to inforce this general Exhortation unto an industrious pressing on in holiness and heavens way by some fe● motives which may perswade with you and make you see the necessity thereof Consider therefore Heavens way is an hard way it is a way of difficulty must be walked in with diligence it is a way of danger must be traversed with care 't is a way of dolour and distress must be moved in with deliberation and discretion Heavens way is an hard way because as you have heard it is terminated and bound●d out of which there is no starting on either side with the least of safety Besides that 't is thus hard in it self it is made more hard by these things which attend it or rather us in the entrance into this Strait Gate and narrow way for it is to every the Sons of men A way of obscurity hard to finde out hard to be travelled in Heavens way obscure it is a Mistery Great is the mistery of Godlinesse Misteries are not easily understood it is a peculiar priviledge a special favour● a guift from heaven from God 1 Tim. 3.16 to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven this is not obivious to every eye the natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are specially discerned this way obscure in it self is untrodden few there be who find it Mat. 13.11 1 Cor. 2.14 the tract is small and litle not easily discerned the footsteps found are to be followed but their impression is so litle that they are soon worn out Examples of exact obedience are very few one Noah serving providence in the means of his own appointment is the Preacher of Righteousness to the old world one Abraham is the patterne of perfect resignation to God a sufficient one Moses for meeknesse one Iob for patience one David for Int●g ity and so singular Saints have trodden the tracts of speciall Graces in the way to Heaven and their footsteps are to be found with most diligent search and accurate observation this obscure and trodden way to life is perplexed with many intricacies and doubts which do arise from the variety of Gods providence and variation of our condition how to carry in a single how in a married ho to carry in an adverse how in a a prosperous state how to carry in society and variety of Society how to carry in solitudes how to live by faith in all conditions how to live under Gods Ordinances under all dispensations how to do the duty of a Minister and of a common member to the Church How to pursue the purity and how to preserve the entity of the Church how to advance the power of