Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A69991
|
Some thoughts on the character of Solomon's vertuous woman preach'd in a sermon at the parish-church of Croydon, on the ocacasion of Q. Mary's death, January the 6th, 1694-5 / printed at the request of those that heard it by John Evans.
|
Evans, John, 17th cent.
|
1695
(1695)
|
Wing E3451; ESTC R28617
|
23,463
|
42
|
has been prov'd above These are made up only of Words and Notions which are but aireal and intelluctual and therefore often prove flat and fruitless whereas That is a substantial demonstrative Guide that convinces Mankind that Vertue is both practicable and truly delightsome These are but artificial Descriptions of it resembling the dark Shade and languid Colours of the Picture But That is the very Picture or Image of God animated and most advantageously expos'd to Publick view or the Original breathing in the Life of Man and walking upon the Stage in its lovely Charms and Attractions To assist us then in our Christian Race we would do well to set always before us the best and most excellent Examples which are thus useful and advantageous Among all the Modern Examples what can be propos'd so adequate to the Christian Life so attractive and cogent to us as the Life of this most Christian Queen which seems to be entirely compos'd of those Celestial Vertues that are the proper Graces and Ornaments of a Godlike Soul Surely we can't resist its force and the mighty sway of its Authority or undervalue and forget it without the greatest difficulty and prodigy of Ingratitude especically if we reflect on all that Good which was in her and all that Good which we have received by her means Unless we are resolv'd to prove forgetful and ungrateful we can't but acknowledge it with profound Respect of Praise and Esteem Now the best Respect of Praise and Esteem and the highest Veneration we can possibly express to her sacred Worth is this to transcribe the fair Copy she has left with us and by That rule our Lives It 's left with us yea it is recommended to us by all the Endearments imaginable Our Imitation of it is both safe and warrantable from Scripture The Author to the Hebrews tells us That we should be followers of them who thro' faith and patience inherit the promise And again we must remember them which have the Rule over us and their Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation i. e. when they are dead and gone we are still to remember them their Works and Conversations so as to endeavour the Imitation of them to follow their Christian Profession their Sanctity and Goodness If we chance to discern any little Blemishes in them for who is free from Faults and Imperfections in this imperfect state them we must pass by Charity obliges us to cover and forget them We are to be followers of all good Men only so far as they were of Christ that perfect and compleat Pattern of Holiness Justice and Temperance who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth To shut up all Let us as many of us as love Religion our Souls and this late Patroness of Vertue follow her singular Piety and unaffected Goodness Let 's follow her constant and regular Devotions towards God Let 's follow her exact and uniform Self-government according to all the Rules of Temperance and Sobriety Let 's follow her innocent and candid her free and ingenuous Conversation amongst Men which was neither vain nor morose neither haughty nor sordid but equally pois'd between all extremes Let 's imitate her impartial Distribution of Justice Let 's imitate her humble and meek Temper which abhor'd Affectation and Vain-glory. Let 's imitate her charitable and compassionate Disposition which was without Noise and Respect of Persons Lastly and to crown all our imitations let us endeavour to imitate the admirable Patience of this calm and serene Soul under all the Terrours and Agonies of Death which a Conscience void of Offence will obtain This will lead us thro' the Ways of Pleasantness and all the Paths of Peace and at last waft us over to a more delightsome Country Where we shall again see and enjoy the sweet Society of all Holy Men and Women that are departed this Life in the true Faith and Fear of God's Holy Name and gone before us into the Mansions of Eternal Bliss we shall enjoy them without the apprehension or danger of ever parting and we shall be unspeakably happy in each other's Embraces Where we shall behold our Blessed Saviour the Founder of our Faith and the Author of our Eternal Redemption we shall not only behold him in all his Glory but enjoy the utmost Effects of his infinite Love and live with him for ever in his heavenly Habitation where dwells an undisturbed Peace and overflowing Plenty where neither Diseases approach the Body nor Vices have access to the Mind nor Guilt does stain the Soul where shall be Life without fear of Death and Joys without mixture of Sorrow without Allay and without End To which happy Mansion God of his Infinite Mercy and Goodness bring us all in his good Time thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. FINIS Mat. 10.29 Dan. 4.17 Jam. 4.14 1 Pet. 3.4 Gal. 4.19 Luk. 2.37 Matt. 6.6 Matt. 5.16 Isocrates Oratio ad Nicocl Psal. 81.6 2 Coloss. 3.10 Vers. 13. 15. 17. 19. 21. 22. Rom. 13.10 Vers. 20. Opus de temporibus mundi in vitâ Ant. Pii Vers. 11 12. Isai. 57.1 Rom. 5 7. 2 Sam. 1. Heb. 6.12 Ch. 13.7 1 Pet. 2.22