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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	separation_n	sin_n	4,071	5	4.9731	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28821	A mirrour of Christianity and a miracle of charity, or, A true and exact narrative of the life and death of the most virtuous Lady Alice, Dutchess Duddeley published after the sermon in the Church of St. Giles in the Fields / by R.B., D.D., rector of the said church, on Sunday the 14th of March, MDCLXIX.	R. B. (Robert Boreman), d. 1675.	1669 (1669)	Wing B3758; ESTC R11208	27,802	56

unawares trading in sin or living in any kind of lewdness This waiting vigilancy is our sheild to keep off the fiery darts of Satan his evil suggestions and a Canopy to keep our Virtues pure from being sullied or spotted by any Vice It does that indeed which the Heathens thought their Goddess Pellonia did it drives and Chases all evil from us He that watches for Death conceives that it is ever at hand and not afar off and therefore he makes a daily provision for it He is of the same temper of the same frame of spirit as the Watchman was of Isaiah 21.8 my Lord says he there to the Prophet I stand continually upon my watch-tower in the day time and I am set in my ward whole nights In this Watchman's posture we should ever be There is specula meditationis a watch-tower of meditation which transports the soul from earth to Heaven and thus the good Christian is ever watching by meditating on the benefits that redound or come by Death to us it being only a releasing us from a nasty Prison no more is the body to the soul and an advancing us to a stately Palace of pure Delights a freeing us from our toilsome fetters of sin and sickness with other woful miseries and a possessing us of the Glorious liberties of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 This Meditation sweetens Death and makes it's approach less terrible Familiarity takes away fear and the Meditation of Death makes it familiar to us The daily constant Meditation of Death is likewise a great help or means to Cool the heat of Lusts to kill Pride and suppress Covetousness when we shall consider and believe that the day or hour of Death is approaching when a winding Sheet and a Napkin about our heads will be all the goods we shall carry hence with us a Grave all the land a Coffin the only house which we shall possess when worms shall be our sole companions a noisome stench instead of perfumes and instead of Robes and rich attire raggs of Rottenness He that seriously thinks on these things and digests in his soul or conscience the bitter Pills of these sad truths that man will not be proud lustful nor covetous Secondly there is specula Praeparationis a watch-tower of preparation and on this the good-man or devout Christian is ever standing his care is to do that hourly and daily which Carthusianus advises all to do and that is so to provide for the coming of Death ut nihil in mente resideat quod conscientiam mordeat cum quo mori timeat that no sin reside or remain in our brest which may wound and trouble the Conscience and with which we being guilty cannot die in peace and safety When sin is separated from thy Soul by a true and timely Repentance thou shalt not need to fear a dissolution or separation of thy soul from thy body by death Make thy peace with God in time if he be thy friend death wil be the same to thee not thy foe not thy enemy No unclean Person shall inherit the Kingdom of God Ephes 5.5 When therefore thy soul is cleansed thy conscience purged and purified that the guilt of no crying or raigning sin lies upon it then art thou fitted for Death then mayst thou with a cheerful confidence give a Christian-like invitation to it and say Come Death and wellcome Lord Jesus An holy temperate sober life an happy Death and comfort at the great day of Judgment these are close linked together they never part asunder Non potest malè moriqui vixit bene His death cannot be ill who lived well Aug. that feared God and perform'd his will by keeping his holy Commandments Therefore let your conversation be in Heaven whilst you live here upon earth and be diligent as S. Peter exhorts 2 Epist 3.14 that you may be found of Christ in peace without spot and blameless 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the hour of your death Then may you be assur'd that at the last day he will be your friend you shall find him in effect what his Name Jesus imports a loving Saviour and not a severe Judge even so come Lord Jesus and when thou comest make good thy saving Name unto us Thus we pray to this end we Preach and this is every ones desire to be saved from Hells everlasting torments But let me tell you that though he be a common universal potential Saviour in respect of the Jews and Gentiles and in respect of all sorts and conditions of men yet to them only he will be effectually a Jesus who acknowledg him to be their Lord which Title is therefore prefix'd or set before that Name in the Text we look for the Lord Jesus to teach us that if we stoop to his Scepter and submit to his word if we obey his Commands and live according to his precepts wearing the Livery of His Holiness in our lives making that first Sermon of His Matt. 5. the rule of all our Actions and transcribing that fair Copy the rule of all perfection by our holy practice we may then look for him as Jesus and expect from him Salvation I look for the Lord my soul doth wait for him and in his word is my trust So said the Prophet David Psal 130.5 which words may be applied to Christ's coming in Judgment He look'd for the Lord whom he served to be his Saviour and his trust was in his word that word of Promise that he will not condemn a penitent humble sinner And whilst we look for the Lord let that promise be the comfort and stay of our souls 1 Cor. 11.31 If we judg our selves we shall not be judged by a judgment of condemnation That which the Apostle exhorts us to is that Judicium paenitentiale as Tertullian calls it the Penitential Judgment or the Judgment of Repentance when a man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Chrys exhorts us to do sets up in his Soul a Tribunal or Seat of Justice and makes his Conscience both Judg and Witness and examining himself daily wherein he hath offended God after this examination passes a sentence against himself as deserving for his sins eternal damnation then appeales from himself to God's mercy and Christ's merits humbly begging for Christ's sake a pardon of all his transgressions and seals or ratifies his pardon to his Conscience by his amendment The man that doth these things shall never fall from his hope of happiness Christ will not condemn him who thus condemns himself and his sins by putting them to death or by living no longer in them Judicium paenitentiale evacuat Paenale saith Tertullian The Penitential Judgment whereby we condemn our selves doth evacuate the penal we shall not be punished for our sins He that is thus dead whilst he lives shall live in his Death and may say upon his sickbed as that devout man Myconius said to Luther his friend that came to visit him thy sickness is not unto Death but unto life for Death shall only give a release to his soul from the Prison of his body to a full and perfect State of liberty and when Christ shall appear at the latter day he will raise his body out of the Dust and place it at his right hand to triumph and reign with him in endless joy and unspeakable happiness This honour shall be conferr'd on all God's faithful Saints and dutiful Servants whose conversation is now in Heaven from whence we look for the Lord Jesus And that our conversation may be such even Heavenly as it becometh those who wait for the coming of their Lord. Let us pray O God most holy who delightest in those Souls which resemble thee in purity let thy blessed Spirit take full possession of our Souls and Spirits and by the power of it drive out of them the foul Spirit of envy and malice of pride and uncleanness that being cleans'd from these Impurities they may be fill'd with thy Divine Graces and our lives shine with the heavenly rays of Charity and Chastity of Humility and Meekness of Sobriety and Temperance which are the badge the Cognisance of thy Elect and the Lives of thy Saints And Lord wean our hearts from the love of this World's vanities which can neither content our Souls nor continue with us and fix them upon thy self who art the Joy of the Holy Angels and our only Stay Hope and comfort in all our distresses that when we leave this sinful World and all forsake us when death shall arrest our Bodies our Souls may not be forsaken of thee but admitted into those Joys which shall never end because they stream from Thee who art Everlasting Those Graces and this Glory we most humbly beg through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

for or expected It is the Saviour which is Christ the Lord. First for the expectantes We i. e. nos fideles We Christ's faithful ones we as the Mother of Sisera Judg. 5.18 Look'd out at a window and cried when she expected his return with victory over the Israelites Why is his Chariot so long in coming So we look through the Casement of Hope for Christ's second coming to Judgment Now Hope is the expectation of some great good which we believe we shall receive because he is faithful that promised it For this cause Clem. Alexandrinus calls Hope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the blood or Life of Faith for that it keeps our Faith warm without the which it would languish and faint Faith without Hope may be in Hell as well as on Earth The Devils believe Jam. 2.19 That Christ will come to be our Judge but they are afraid and tremble as the wicked do when they think of it because their torments shall be encreased then as the joy of the good Angels and Saints augmented with a clearer or fuller Vision of Almighty God They only look for Christ with Hope expecting his second coming they only who believe in him as their Redeemer We look says the Apostle excluding all unbelievers we look for the Saviour So it is Expectatio fidem testificans such an expectation as testifies our faith in Christ and by this as an infallible Rule we may assure our Souls of the soundness and Truth of our Faith in Christ that our sins by him and through him are pardoned and our Persons justified if with Hope joyn'd with inward Joy and Comfort we wait for his second Advent For in the second place This expectation is Expectatio animam exhilarans it is such a looking or expectation which in the midst of all their sorrows refreshes and revives the Spirits of the Saints for they reason thus with themselves Here in this life our bodies are oft upon the rack of sickness pinch'd with pains and tortur'd with Aches but then at the Resurrection or last day of Judgment they shall rise as so many bright shining Suns out of the dark celles of their graves and in a moment be invested with those glorious qualities that adorn the body of our Lord Christ as is attested by the Apostle in the next verse to the Text. Again They believe that they shall find Christ then at his Appearance not their Judge to condemn but their Advocate to plead for them Why then say they should we be dismaid for fear of that Judgment wherein he is to be the Judge who at first suffer'd for us in his body on the Cross as a Surety or Redeemer that he might satisfie his Father's Justice for our sins and having paid our debts by his death hath ever since pray'd for us as an Intercessour and will at last be our gracious Rewarder Thus the Saints look for Christ with an expectation which rejoyces the heart They delight in the coming of their Saviour Thirdly This their Expectation or looking for Christ is Expectatio vitam purificans such an Expectation as is attended with purity of life and holiness in a strict conversation They ever have as S. Hierome professes that he had the voice of the Archangel Arise ye dead and the noise of the last trumpet sounding as it were in their ears When those that are Christ's that lived and died his faithful servants shall rise first out of their graves and meet their Lord in the air to receive an everlasting Crown the reward of their service Then the sinners and ungodly shall be raised their bodies being as black as the Infernal darkness and having received their sentence from the mouth of their Judge their bodies and souls shall be sent back to their dark Prisons in Hell where they shall be ever burning and never consumed in flames of fire and brimstone The consideration of these everlasting burnings as it makes the Saints to set an high price or value upon the Lord Jesus so it engages them to a strict performance of all holy Duties as continual prayer sobriety and watchfulness being assur'd that none at that great day shall escape the sentence of Condemnation with the wicked who are surpris'd by Death and snatch'd away in their sins of which they have not repented For most true is that saying of S. Aug. Epist 80. to Hesychius In quo quemque invenerit suus novissimus dies in hoc eum comprehendet mundi novissimus qualis in die illo quisque moritur talis in die altero judicabitur In what condition a man is found at the hour of Death in the same shall he be looked upon at the great day of Judgment If he be surprised by Death in the state of Impenitency he shall then be condemn'd as an Impenitent without mercy If death finds thee without sin it being severed from thy soul by an hearty Repentance thy Soul shall not be separated from God but shall with thy glorified body partake of everlasting blessedness To conclude He that shall come i. e. Christ who is designed by God to be our Judge will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 i. e. not fail to come on that very day which is appointed for him to summon all men to Judgment Of that day and hour knoweth no man Matth. 24-36 It is hid from the eyes of our understanding and knowledge but let not the thought of it be banished from our hearts let us expect our Lord's coming every day he comes first by Death before he comes to judgment Therefore let our expectation of him be in the last place Expectatio attentè vigilans an Expectation or looking for him attended with an attentive watchfulnes All our watching all our praying with other holy duties should drive at this end that when Death comes it may find us well doing or in an holy frame of living and we it our friend which is an enemy to the Impenitent and ungodly sinners Suppose thou seest Death marching towards thee with a cup of deadly poison in one hand and a Crown in the other and that if it take thee in the midst of thy sins that Poison will be thy potion but if it find thee watching and praying that Crown shall be thy lot or portion Oh! then put on Job's resolution Chap. 14.14 All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expectabo wait is but a Syllable but of a large and spreading signification and comprises the main if not the whole duty of man He that waits does watch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an awful care and circumspection with an holy Fear and Jealousie over himself ever suspecting his own weakness so that he is ever upon duty always busied either in the immediate Acts of Piety or in the ordinary works of his Calling that the Devil or his own imbred corruptions may not supplant or hurt him nor Death surprise his Person

is the Son of God will not murmure at any dispensation of his Providence should I lead your Meditations through all the Stages of her sufferings in the late bloody Rebellious times truly I might tire yours though they did not overcome Her Patience But she with a most Heroick Christianlike Courage and Spirit bore up against all the batteries and storms of plundering Persecutours of railing Shimei's and backbiting Rabshakes against whom her Innocency was no fence to keep of their approaches And as those lesser lights of Heaven shine brightest in the dark Winter nights and fire burns hottest in the cold frost so the Star of her profession shind most gloriously the fire of her Zeal to the Truth glowed with a greater heat under the rage of those who did persecute her with their hands robbing her of her goods because she would not be as they were bad rebels against the King and Church and blasting her reputation with their black Tongues not dreading to report she was a Papist or as one said before a Committee something like one and why Because she was loyal to her Soveraign a lover and Patroness of Orthodox Divines and abounded in good works If it were only Charity that did constitute a Papist I would not refuse or dislike to be so called but her soundness in her opinion and practice of the true Religion manifested to the World that she was a rare Christian a Christian indeed and not only in name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ign. One of a most exact conversation and fit to be proposed to this loose and sinful Age as a pattern of good living and as St. Augustine referr'd those that desired to profit in Virtue to the life and conversation of S. Paulinus Vade in Campaniam disce Paulinum Go to Campania and study Paulinus so would I say to any person that should desire to attain to some degree of perfection in Grace Goodness and Piety Vade ad Sancti Aegidii oppidum Disce Ducissam Dudleyam Have recourse to St. Giles's and enquire after the Life and manners of Dutchess Dudley conform your Life to Her Religious Conversation who hath left behind her there many Ladies much like unto her so may you prove a good proficient in Religion Her Patience likewise discovered it self highly all the time of her sickness which was long and tedious and in the midst of all her pains which were sharp and grievous her Soul was drowned in the Contemplation of that great Ocean of bliss in Heaven to which she was sailing through the narrow channel of this life She never complained with murmuring or bitter Lamentation as too many do in their sickness nor saying as Rebekah did Gen. 25.22 when the twins strugled in her womb If it be so why am I thus No she knew that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the gate is strait which leadeth into the City of bliss and that through many tribulations we must enter into heaven which she had learned out of Acts 13.22 and therefore embraced her Cross with cheerfulness and why should a living man complain a man for the punishment of his Sin Lam. 3.39 She in effect oft said what St. Hierome suggested to Paula concerning the death of Blaesilla Bonus est Dominus quodcunq ●ecerit bonus Deus non potest non esse bo●… The Lord is good and whatsoever a good God doth cannot be bad To conclude this particular She look'd upon her troubles as the Lot of God's Children the Physick of the Soul the Pledge of Divine Love the Badge of her profession as a Christian the Incentive of her Devotion and a mark of her Conformity with Christ her Head and the Captain of our Salvation and therefore following him she bore all with Patience To whom that she might by a closer Union be joyned Now that her Soul was drawing towards Heaven having spent all the time of her sickness in Prayer and Repentance and heavenly Conferences of which I could give a large account She as she had done oft-times before desired to receive her last Viaticum that heavenly food which might as it did strengthen her Spirit in it's last conflict with Death and in it's long journey to eternity or everlasting life I mean that which is a Sacrament as of a thankful Commemoration of Christ crucified so of a blessed Confirmation for that it confirms our Faith that Christ is and will be in all respects to our Souls I had rather say to our Persons what the Bread and Wine is to our Bodies Had you been then present and seen with what flaming devotion with what burning affection and lowly Reverence upon her Knees when she could hardly stand upon her feeble legs she received that heavenly Food that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ign. calls it which Physicks the Soul for Eternity the seal of her pardon and token of her Communion with Christ had you then beheld her devout deportment and heard the Divine expressions which immediatly fell from her gracious lips you would hence have concluded that she was a rare Saint Having thus got a firmer hold of Christ by Faith in the Merits of his Death and Passion and grasping her Saviour in the Arms of Her Love and Thankfulness She ever after chaunted out old Simeons Song Luke 2.29 Domine nunc dimittis c. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace She as St. Augstine says of Faith tore of Death's grim Vizard and beheld under it a comely smiling face so as whiles unto the enemies of God those that are not reconcil'd unto him by Faith in Christ and the amendment of their lives it is no other than a terrible executioner of Divine Vengeance it seemed to her an Herauld of Peace a messenger of Joy a plausible and sure Convoy unto Blessedness For this cause or upon these considerations she longed after her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her dissolution even as the weary Traveller after he hath measured many tedious miles as she had years and passed many dangers both by Sea and Land and felt the harsh entertainments of a stranger rejoyces to draw near in his return to a pleasant and Rich habitation Thus she desired earnestly to be released from Her Prison the body is such and no more to the Soul She often wished to be dissolved and to be admitted into a nearer familiarity or Communion with Christ a few days after the Lord in Mercy made her partaker of her holy wish and desire gave her an happy Release by Death and Grace to utter these last words of the Protomartyr Saint Stephen Act. 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my Spirit and when she had said this she after ninety years current spent in God's service fell asleep Death was no more to this Illustrious Dutchess then a sleep Her body after many vexatious Toils Troubles and Disquiets in this World shall sleep or rest for a while in it's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's Dormitory the Grave But her soul

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his striving to keep a good Conscience void of offence Act. 24.16 And when we have beheld the Apostles Soul deck't with the forenamed Graces and enrich'd with that inestimable Jewel of Heaven the Souls Paradise I mean a Conscience that is quietè honestè bona quietly and honestly good to the constitution whereof there must concur these three Ingredients Puritas Cordis veritas oris honestas actionis Purity of heart Truth in the mouth and honesty in our life or conversation From hence we may infer that Heaven had in a manner enter'd into him and that he was in Heaven whilst he breath'd upon earth not only in regard of his union with Christ by Faith as a learn'd Commentator notes upon the Text but also in respect of his conformity to Christ whom he loved and resembled in his life he being as Christ was Vir doloris laboris a man of sorrows and of great sufferings likewise of a wonderful patience as is evident by the eleventh of his second Epistle to the Corinthians When his feet were in the stocks Act. 16. His mind was in Heaven Crus in Cippo animus in Coelo Aug. When he was in that great storm at Sea Act. 27. When neither Sun nor Moon appear'd for many days in the midst of that danger his Soul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in a quiet Haven even in the bosom of God in that great darkness he had a light within the light of Joy and comfort because God was with and in him As there is all joy in Heaven so there is Heaven in the Souls inward Joy which springs from Patience in Tribulation and from the Peace of a good Conscience therefore Holy Patient Meek Humble S. Paul who was ever contented his Conscience not disquieted He might truly assert of himself and none but such as he was of the same mould of Spirit can say of themselves as he said Our conversation is in Heaven Having given you a brief Character of the Protestour S. Paul I shall now turn his Protestation into an exhortation or Precept as he intended for we must suppose that when he had said Be ye followers of me and mark such as walk so mark so as to imitate them for our Conversation is in Heaven he said thus in effect And let your conversation be in Heaven First By your Souls conversion unto God S. Hierome has a saying which is a vehement asseveration and Protestation concerning himself Testor Deum quando lachrymis madent oculi videor tunc Angelorum interesse Choris I protest and call God to witness when mine eyes are drown'd with tears springing from sorrow for my sins I seem to my self to be conversant with or in the Company of the Holy Angels Such is the nature and energy of true repentance which of all things in the world makes the greatest change it works a change in God it turns his frowns into smiles his angry displeasure into a gracious favour It transforms a carnal earthly-minded man into a Spiritual and Divine Nature from Sin to Grace from vicious customes to holy habits from drunkenness to sober practices It raises a sinner from death to life from his Prison to a Throne from Hell and the guilt of eternal Torments to Heaven and entitles him to endless happiness In a word It carries a man to God by confessing and forsaking his sins and brings God to man in pardon and forgiveness This brings peace to the Soul and in whom this Peace resides in him God resides and dwells by his Spirit which is the Spirit of Peace Now can Heaven in the Joys and comforts of it be wanting where God is When therefore S. Paul exhorts us to have our Conversation in Heaven he says in a manner thus Make your peace with God by an hearty sorrow for your sins and declare the truth or sincerity of your sorrow by an holy and heavenly life which is the Nurse of Peace and Mother of solid comfort He is as it were in Heaven who is a true and humble Convert so was that Mary Magdelen when she lay weeping at Christ's feet she loved Christ very much because much was forgiven her Stans in terris in Coelo es si Deum diligis Aug. If thou lovest God thou art in Heaven whilst thou art on earth A sinner that is assur'd of his pardon will love his Saviour and this love will transport or carry his Soul to Heaven to converse there often by Meditation and Prayer with his Redeemer Secondly Let your Conversation be in Heaven by a frequent Contemplation of it As for our Contemplation or Meditation of Heaven I must tell you in general that for want of it or because it is so neglected virtue decays in men and vice abounds the Graces of God's Spirit our Faith and Hope as also our Charity grow weak but our Passions as Grief and Fear with others get strength and encrease in us If our thoughts be in Heaven where true Honour Wealth and Pleasure are to be found our indeavours will be after it and all our Studies for it and then Si neglectis terrest●… 〈◊〉 Coelum toti aspiramus as Pelacherus glosses o●… 〈◊〉 Text when neglecting or despising earthly things 〈◊〉 wholy pant and gaspe after Heavenly no sad event 〈◊〉 casualty here on earth will trouble us We read in Gen. 24.62 That when Isaac went out to Meditate in the field at eventide he met Rebekah his beloved so that man shall meet with joy and content as S. Paul did in all his sufferings that oft takes a walk by contemplation in Heaven the Coelestial Paradise the Garden of pure delights Meditating on it's everlasting comforts and concluding which is an Act of Faith and Hope that they are provided for him that he shall inherit them because he is fitted and prepared for them being freed by the sanctifying grace of God's holy Spirit from the bondage of corruption from the filthiness power and command of sin which raigns not in him This work of Sanctification in him is the only evidence a man has for his assurance that he is design'd to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Fellow-Citizen with the Saints in Heaven And when his Meditation of it is joyn'd with this assurance as Discomforts will flie out of his Soul in the midst of troubles so neither will a temptation to any foul sin easily seize on it For he will thus argue with himself when he is tempted I am marching or walking upward to Heaven my City and proper Country which is above but this sin is the Broadway which leads downward to Hell I am bending or moving forward toward the possession of everlasting Joys but this may turn my course backward and hurry my Soul to endless torments therefore I will not commit it Thus not only a comfortable but also an holy life is the fruit of Divine Contemplation which is the Souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's prospective glass