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	resurrection_n	soul_n	16,270	5	5.8130	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55642	A sermon preached at Rolesbye in Norfolk, on Wednesday the 12th of January 1680/81, at the funeral of Madam Anna Gleane, the late wife of Thomas Gleane, Esq., the only son of Sir Peter Gleane of Hardwick in Norfolk, Baronet by Robert Prattant ...	Prattant, Robert, 1654 or 5-1683.	1682 (1682)	Wing P3185A; ESTC R8944	9,315	17

early acquaintance with that he was taught to expect Death with Patience and Resolution and to welcome its approach not only with Courage but with Delight and Satisfaction of mind And alas How hopeless how far short of this true Wisdom and Philosophy comes all the sublimest discourses of the most refined Heathens Christ being raised from the dead d●eth no more and becomes the first fruits of them that slept gives us a clearer Evidence and account of the Resurrection and Future State of the Soul then ever any the most Labour'd Discourse of the most searching Philosopher was able to do They were so far from giving a satisfactory Account of the Future State of the Soul such as others might rely on and found their belief upon and be encourag'd to undergo the the worst of Evils and Disapointments here and with Content and Patience to sustain the unwelcome addresses of Death they were so far I say from satisfying others herein that they could not maintain themselves upon such aiery food or be induc'd to quit the Enjoyments of this Life for the hopes of a better Their utmost Essayes this way amounted no farther then to a bare or possibility seeming probability of the Resurrection of the Body and Immortality of the Soul And here too they were entangled and overcome with great Perplexities Sometimes they Contradicted themselves and at other times deliver'd themselves very suspenslly and doubting about it and that too even immediately before their deaths To instance in one or two of the most eminent of them Socrates the fam'd Introducer of Morality who was worthily follow'd and admir'd be the better part of the Gentile World and whose Case herein is very notorious had strange Misgivings as to what should be his State in another World and whether his Soul should Survive or no he durst not determine only tells those that were about him just as he was about to suffer Death that he should shortly experience the Certainty of it but was not if it did so kind that we read of to return back to inform them And Tully though in his Cato Major in his somnio Scipionis and in other places he speaks powerfully and well of the Immortality of the Soul and expresses a wounderful joyful Resentment of the day of Death feelingly Crying out O praeclarum diem cum ad illud Divinorum animorum Concilium Coetumque proficiscar c. Rejoycing above all that thereby he should be admitted into the Society and presence of his beloved and admir'd Cato besides those other excellent personages that he had before mention'd who had some time since expir'd yet after all I remember that in some other places of his Writings he propounds Annihilation with a great deal of Indifferency and seems to be Content to allow that as well as the post-existence of the Soul and leaves it in equal doubt and debate And we read in his Life that when the fatal Executioner came to apprehend him and that he found that he was discover'd that he presented himself as it were already half-ghosted with fear and by the last Circumstances we may guess that he tamely yielded himself more out of design and an hasty desire to get free of the troubles of this Life then out of any Confidence he had of entering into a better State hereafter And Cyrus in his famous Speech or Oration made immediately before his Death to his Sons and Persian Nobles if that were really his which we find at large in Zenophon and some part of it as to what Concerns the Immortality and Future State of the Soul translated by Cicero in the latter part of his Cato Major forequoted though there he largely and freely discourses the Future Subsistence of the Soul and the reasons he had to incline him to the belief of it and that after the most manly rate Yet I take notice that in the latter part of that his dying Speech he takes his leave of the by-Standers in expressions equally granting the Existence or Future Reduction and Annihilation of the Soul For these are his Words As Zenophon there makes him to speak Whether I shall be with the Divine Nature with the Pure and Eternal Essenses or vapour into Air and be reduc'd to nothing Yet upon either of those Accounts let those that accompany me to the Sepulcher congratulate my Excit and happy deliverance from the Body being not Capable any longer of suffering any Grief or Evil. Now all this that I have instanced in is only to show is how unable the Learnedst and Wisest of the Heathen Philosophers were only by the light of Nature without any higher revelation to demonstrate and make good the reasonableness of the post-existence of the Soul of Man and to make appear from what an higher discovery it was that the inspir'd Author of these Words was not only induc'd to wish for Death and that in some sudden Fit or Passion but likewise taught to expect it with the most strictness and resolution All the days of my c. He went upon far higher Principles than ever any the most Celebrated Pagan essay'd to do and it was not only from a Contempt of this World and the slighting Afflictions of it but also from the grounded Revelation he had of entering into an immortal State after this Life was ended and that to be attended with the most constant and uninterrupted Joy And this latter Consideration it was that put him upon his Constant Watch and Guard resolving not to omit for the least moment or interval of time All the days of my c. But we may very well suppose that it was the shortness of this Life that had a powerful influence over Job and dispos'd him to this Lesson of diligent Attendance and patiently to expect that happy Change that blessed moment that should give him his Quiet from all the Afflicting Discontents and from the throng of Sorrows of this Life and gain him an happy freedom into those Regions where no Storms can ruffle or disturb the Soul of Man And indeed my Brethren the sorrowful si Conderations of the dividing Cares and Troubles that are inseparable attendments even of the most happy and prosperous here in this World together with the undoubted Certainty and Experience of the shortness of Mans Life should be sufficient for every one of us to be upon our Guard that we may not through a drowzy and careless neglect be excluded from the mansions of Happiness hereafter Alas what is more Obvious and Evident to us than that the Tyrant Death dogs us and overtakes us every where in variety of Accidents and Circumstances We can flee no where from his diligent persuit He Commits daily rapes upon some or other of the Mortal off-spring and calls us oft-times home to be eye-witnesses of his Conquests gain'd over some or other of our near Accquaintance and Relations As at this time we are of his Conquest over this Lady who lays the silent Trophy of his

did she provoke and to be her Enemies though to their shame be it spoke She met with too many As the Sweetest and Mildest Tempers are oft-times Observed to be requited in this barbarous and ill natur'd World with the greatest Spire and Contradiction She was every way Modest and reserv'd and yet Easy and Familiar But above all her reservedness as to her speech was singular and fit to be propounded for Imitation in this Uncharitable and Censorious Age wherein the Liberty of the Tongue has not only blasted private Persons but has been Instrumentall almost to the undoing of a Nation the Second time She was very slow to Conceive or utter any ill of others I scarce remember that I ever heard her speak detracting of any Body though to my Knowledg she had oft had sufficient provocations so to do having met with harsh and uncivil treatment from the malicious and unruly Tongues of others One would have thought that so much goodness mix'd with so Innocent and Harmless a Countenance should have guarded her from the rudeness and ill nature of the World But alas Innocency is a While that Malice Shoots all its darts at and Vertue is of so different a Complexion from Vice that no wonder that 't is singled out and Persecuted by the Conspiring World too fond of its Extream Her Shape and the Air of her Face were beautiful and attracting and seem'd to have a near Resemblance and to be exactly fitted to the bright Soul that dwelt within Her Countenance was so innocent and inoffensive that it might have bespoke Kindness and Compassion even amongst the Salvages If there be any here out of Curiosity expect to be inform'd as to the Circumstances of this Person in her late Sickness before the immediate approach of Death I shall only acquaint them that I had not the Opportunity of attending her or Ministring to her in that last Tryal when the Sorrowful Agonies of Death beset lier And if She discover'd any disorder and tumult as the brightest Soul may sometimes be overcast and especially in that season when the Faculties are weak and impaired the Understanding benighted and unable to rally up sufficient forces against the power of Temptations yet as I have ben Gredibly Informed by that Worthy and Reverend Relation of Hers who was her chiest and best Confessor in time of her sickness the storm went off and there was nought else discernablea fter but Calm and Sun-shine a setled and peacable composed Conscience A happy presage of her being now arrived at the Peaceable and Blessed Haven where both I and you have reason to believe She is Besides to give you my sense hereof if it were necessary to declare positively I would sooner conceive well of the happiness of this Person in another State whose foregoing Life had been so Innocent and not stained with any considerable Vices than trust to the late Vows and resolutions of a Death-bed tho accompanied with the most formal and Ceremonious notes of Sorrow and Repentance And now leaving Her to slumber in the Dust Death being compared to sleep not only in profane Authors but in the Divine Books of Scripture Let me address my self to you whom I espy the principall Mourners here and personate the chiefest parts of this sorowfull and Melancholy Scene and from me do you bespeak those other near Relations whom I suppose extream Grief has kept from appearing here Let me advise both you and them not to sorrow as them without hope For tho I allow not a Stoical Apathy and think it not Commensurate to Humanity nor yet serviceable to Religion yet immoderate grief equally offends against both and argues the Weakness if not the Nullity of out Faiths Weep not for the Deceased but weep for your selves Knowing that she entred into that happy State where Job expresses it C. 3. v. 17.18 The wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Where the Prisoners rest together and hear not the Voyce of the Oppressour She is gone but a little before we are all moving apace and it will not be long before we be enclosed behind the same Scene of Mourning the solitary apartment of a Grave Her Grave will prove but her better Tiring Room from whence She shall one day come viz. in the Morning of the Resurrection deck'd with the brightest Attire when this Mortal Body of hers shall have put on Immortality To shew forth inordinate Sorrow would blemish her Funerals as far as lay in you and seem to argue that you envy her peaceable and blessed Repose and are against the priviledg of this her far more advantagious Birth And so the Death of the Martyrs were by the Primitive Writers Styled their Birth-dayes inasmuch as then they began in the most eminent manner to live Therefore let me bespeak you on her behalf and in her stead as the great Cyrus in the begining of his admired speech cited before giving command to his Sons and those about him who should Survive him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to Think Speak and Act all things to Behave your selves with that Unconcernedness as may argue that you are not in the least doubtfull or sollicitous but that She is in an happy condition and that She has met with a Glorious and Blessed Change And may we have all Grace so to apply this occasion that we may all the Dayes of our appointed time wait till our Change Come So that it may prove no other to us Now to the Invisible God and to our most Mercifull Saviour who have brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospell together with the Eternal Spirit be ascribed all Might Majesty Dignity Dominion and Thansgiving from this time forth and for Evermore Amen amen

Victory But yet she speaks to us from the bed of Dust shortly to expect the same Change that she has so lately undergone and to provide for it And sure it is but reasonable that we should be warn'd from such a Memento when a Person not yet arriv'd to the prime of her years of still blooming youth of the greatest Innocency and Modesty and of the most universal Kindness and Obligingness amongst all she Convers'd has sometime since had her fatal summons and is at present withdrawn to the Chambers of Death Besides we ought to think our selves the more nearly Concern'd in this accident and that if it had happened to any Body as of late it has done to a Considerable and Known number here amongst us Death being usually the more apprehended and regarded by us when we observe him to be advanced into the neighbourhood and that we know not how soon he may Call at our own houses and visit our particular beds And from this Consideration let me briefly recommend to you all that at present I design'd from this Subject and from this Occasion that you live in a Constant and fixed preparation of mind of welcoming Death when or wheresoever he Comes to you that you put not off your Conversion and Repentance while a more Convenient season Knowing that it will be too late for that when we once Come into the State into which the Person now before us is entered when that the faint Tapers are lighted and that Blacks and Cyprus adorn our Funerals Let us duely wait for our Change all the days of c before the night approaches wherein no Man can Work before we be invelop'd with darkness and a sable Cloud and overtaken with the Shadow of Death and we find our selves possess'd of the Land where all are things forgotten I have now finished what I intended to the living but I have some reason to fear that I shall not be just to the memory of the dead If I premise not some particulars touching this Excellent and Vertuous Personage And here I shall not detain this Audience by tracing up things and viewing her innocent Behaviour and Carriage from her Infancy and Cradle which I had not the power or opportunity of knowing and therefore am not fit to declare them to others nor shall I mix any thing that is in the least to me doubtful or uncertain but shall only present you with a just and impartial Account of some of the most Considerable particulars which I took notice of during the time I liv'd in the family of which She was one of the nearest Relations And which upon being an Eye-witnest and upon my own Observation I know and therefore dare publish to be true As for her Birth and Extraction which was more than ordinary for her grateful Comeliness and Behaviour as She her self did not desire they should be taken notice of whilst living nor valu'd her self upon the score of them so neither shall I now She is dead Call them over to your Remembrance Knowing that we are beholden to others for those and such like Advantages and therefore do not deserve to reap any unjust Commendations from them they having never been in our power I shall therefore Consider her in the Capacity of a Christian and as to her natural disposition which doubtless She had much improv'd from the Rules of her Holy Religion She was very Constant as to the Exercises and Offices of Religion very exemplary as to her Piety and Devotion and would not willingly omit any Opportunity of attending at Gods Sanctuary She would oft utter her dislike of the Dissenting Parties from the Church of England and had all such been of her happy Temper of so great Humility and Self-denyal of such Condescension and Dove-like Simplicity the Jars and Struglings that are amongst us had long since Ceased and we had remained an happy People United in Charity and Discipline as well as in Faith Nor did her Religion set loosely by her like that of too many who shew it self only in outward forms in external Pomp and Gaudiness but it was Solid and Real and if any of late have been endow'd with the Ornaments of a meek and humble Spirit She was One. Nor was her Devotion only to be taken notice of when in the public Temple and in the view of a great Number but it was remarkable at home and my self have taken notice Ministring the Office of Prayer in the Family that if at any time She had escap'd the Opportunity of joyning in that Holy Duty which was very rarely and then too through a mistake of the time or some other Occasion that was not her fault She would put on the greatest seeming anger and displeasure that I have observ'd in her at any time which discover'd how that She looked upon it to be a more grievous Disapointment to be absent from their Company at that time when they were about that Solemn and Religious Exercise than at any other Nor were her more retired and Closet Devotions less Constant and Frequent and I have sometimes taken notice that she hath privately withdrawn when their company have been that otherwise She approv'd of which could be for no other Reason then that in solitude She might enjoy far better Company by fervent Prayer and Meditation maintaining an humble Familiarity and Converse with Heaven which I ever look'd upon to be a rare Instance in one of her years and fortune Nor was her Duty only towards God remarkable but likewise as the effects of that towards her natural Parents which I have heard them oft-times express with the most Joyful and Concern'd Resentments Nor do I Remember that ever I heard her taxt for Disobedience by them in any particular but always applauded for her Constant Affection and Duty which was as Early as She was Capable of Understanding what Obligations She lay under to them and sometime before that And though She did not experience that Reward promis'd to Obedience under the Old Law of having her days lengthned out here on Earth yet we need not question but that will be made good to her by vast Immortality in a far better State What shall I say more for neither the Time nor yet my Temper or Capacity will allow me at present to enter into the Common places of Rhetorick or to Expatiate on her just praises She was the most Obsequious and Respective Wise her Love to her Husband was wonderful surpassing the Love of most Women And his to her's equal so that I dare here declare the Lovingest Couple I knew are here parted And as a farther Argument of her Love to him the Care and Indulgence to her Children as many as Providence was pleased to let live with her was extraordinary and giving place to none To sum up all in this short Character of her She was of the most Bountiful Liberal and Courteous Temper of a Generous Obliging Nature She never willingly Disobliged any nor