Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	eternal_a	life_n	11,601	5	4.9057	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49447	Meditations upon retirement from the world Occasioned by a discourse with a gentleman, who begun to see the vanity of worldly enjoyments, whereof he had had a very great share, and thought it necessary by despising of them, to secure the interest of his soul, while there was any time left.	Ludolf, Heinrich Wilhelm, 1655-1710.	1691 (1691)	Wing L3464; ESTC R216641	10,010	11

it worth their while by a real hearty Contempt of the World to offer at a little more familiar acquaintance with Gods goodness My Meditations do not belong to those that had rather live like Beasts than Men but those that pay some respects to Reason and Christianity will be backward to condemn me too rashly for an Enthusiast especially if they do not measure other peoples Corn with their own Bushel but have humility enough to suppose that by others they may be exceeded in Vertue as well as in Vice and that consequently they must not think themselves in possession of the greatest share of those Blessings which are promised to Vertue and Piety in this Life as well as in the next MEDITATION VI. THis new Life which it is no paradox to call the beginning of the Eternal one is so unspeakable a happiness that no body ought to grudge forsaking the Old one which St. Paul had so contemptible an opinion of that he did not think it worth the name of Life when he desired to be delivered of the body of this death I can give so far an experimental description of it that it puts a period to those unfortunate jarrings between the Passions Reason and Faith which so desperately disturb a man in the Old life and all our Faculties within us do in the new Life their parts with such a sweet harmony that Reason commands our Appetite and Passions with such an absolute and yet very indulgent sway that both Appetite and Passions afford nothing but Pleasure and such a Pleasure which leaves no sting behind but increases with the injoyment Reason on the other hand acts with that humble regard to the Divine Majesty from whence it had its spring that it willingly by Faith submits to those unsearchable Mysteries which must of necessity be far above an understanding darkened by the general corruption of Mankind But the more we endeavour by the grace of God to free our selves from that corruption the more that veil of the eyes of our understandings will fall off and by degrees God Almighty enables us to see that Faith is no intollerable Mistress to Reason but that the perfection of Reason consists in being convinced of and in understanding the Truth and Reality of Divine Mysteries It is true it would be great presumption in any man by his own forces to recover that perfection which was forfeited by his Primogenitors ingratitude But since Gods infinite mercy hath provided the mean of our Mediator for our Restauration it is the greatest wonder to me that there can be such wretches as to neglect and mock that for which no humane tongue or understanding can find proportionate thanks I must confess the generality of Christians is so little behind hand with the Jews in despising of our Saviour that they boggle as much as the Jews at the truth of our Saviours asseveration That no body ever should see death that kept his Sayings But how can any body be inabled to keep those Sayings or Commandments if he will not take his refuge to him whose Merit and Intercession must procure us the necessary help for it Since then Eternal Life or the beginning thereof a New Life here upon earth can be attained to only by keeping of Christs Saying or by following of his Example it is absolutely necessary sincerely to desire and earnestly to attempt the practice of those Vertues which Christ reckoned our blessedness and made them the Subject of all his discourses though he knew the World such a stranger to them that he thought it necessary to bespeak their attention by Similitudes and Parables I will not waste Time and Paper in summing up and describing the Loveliness and Usefulness of those Vertues the Practice whereof is that Keeping of Christs Commandments which he takes as a sign of our belief in and love of him for which he hath promised so unimaginable a Reward that God will love us come to us and make his abode with us Joh. 14. Those that think our Saviour too plain in recommending of those Vertues may read the Whole Duty of Man where they are treated of more methodically and in a stile more sutable to the fashion of these times But I am afraid there is such a proud stubborn Generation which would hardly hear one appointed to speak of GODS WILL though he should comply with all the fashions of the World that are not directly opposite to the will of God For I believe they would think him as far from being a Prophet because he appeared among the wicked as the old Prophets were contemned for flying from the wickedness of the World But God will confound the vain conceit of the World by not confining his Providence to the notions of humane Wisdome MEDITATION VII THE damned Pride of humane Wisedom is indeed come to that pass that People will hardly allow the Almighties Prorogative by his uncontroulable Providence to manage this World We have a daily experience of Gods disappointing the subtlety of Mens designs and of embroiling that success of the crafty which Gods unsearchable counsel permits sometimes And yet we are generally so far from reflecting more upon God than upon our own brains that we fancy we are able to baffle the disposals of Infinite Power which I am afraid hath connived long enough to convince us of his extraordinary Mercy and to keep us from thinking those judgements too severe which it seems begin to come upon Earth and which will very heavily light upon those heads that have hitherto laughed at the threatnings of Gods Word It is not my task by these Meditations to explain the first part of the Lords Prayer and to determine what way and how soon here upon Earth as well as in Heaven Gods Name is to be hallowed Gods Kingdom to come and Gods will to be done Those that mind our Saviours Exhortations will not neglect to endeavour the being in a readiness for it at all times Gods mercy hath nevertheless extended so far as to raise of late persons understanding those dark Passages both of the Old and New Testament which speak of the Triumph of goodness over wickedness I have seen onely some writings of Mrs. Bourignon and Mr. Poiret but I know there is more persons acquainted with the nearness of that time But I perceive there is scarce any more heed taken of what they say or Write than of Noah before the Deluge It is an unaccountable thing that even those which own the Bible to come from God should less reflect upon what is contained in it about an universal Reign of Justice Peace and Joy than upon the tricks of the Devil to turn that Reign into ridicule by some Millenarians some Quakers and some Family of Love Men. We are questionless too presumptuous of ourselves if we suppose there was no need of our Saviour for warning us against the fierceness and cheats of the Devil in the latter times But our Saviours Doctrine is grown so despicable with the far greater part that it is thought below a Wit either to hold that our Saviour is God or to believe that there is a Devil But Great God have thou in thy infinite Mercy a tender compassion of thy poor people in this last and most furious assault of the Adversary hear the sighs of those that groan under his Tyranny and prepare those that fear thee for thy appearence which thou wilt shortly make to avenge the Scorn of thy Onely Son strengthen the Faith of those thou thinkest fit to bring to the fiery Trial and do not defer long mercifully to fullfil thy decrees about me for my Redeemers sake FINIS