Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A92710
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Meanes to prevent perishing. Or, The usefulnesse of the saving knowledge of God. Discovered in these particulars; I. The blessed tendency the knowledg of God hath to bring men to salvation. II. The one-ness of the Father, Son, and Spirit. III. The excellency of Christs person. IV. The excellent nature of eternal life. By W.S. a servant of the Lord Jesus.
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W. S.
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1658
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Wing S198; Thomason E955_3; ESTC R207616
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60,676
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vanities of this world and the letting of the golden oppertunities slip in which you should make sure eternal life Beloved the most lawful and the most excellent injoyments that you can meet withall under the sun what are they but very husks and doggs-meat nay drosse and dung in comparison of that eternal inheritance which is surely kept for all them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Think of it I pray you and be not so wilfully foolish and mad as to lose this blessed and rich portion for any present pleasures or profits whatsoever although they may seem never so sweet if you should see a man in the time when his harvest is ripe run up and down to catch butterflies or go every day to the woods a nutting till his corn were loft would you not think this man to be worse then a fool beloved so foolish yea ten thousand times more foolish is that man that shall gain the whole world and all the glory of it with the losse of eternall life now therefore once more I beseech you as you love your own poor souls mind what I have said unto you Beloved your own happiness and comfort only is concerned in it as for the Lord you cannot hurt him neither will he lose any glory although you should be eternally condemned and parish and as for me althovgh I should be glad and exceedingly rejoice that you might reap the fruit and comfort of all my labours and that upon this account we might all rejoice together in the day of Christ yet if you do not but foolishly and wickedly forsake your own mercies I pray you take notice that I know the losse will be your own and I shall receive my reward according to my labour 1 Cor. 3.8 whether you profit by it or no and although Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord saith the Prophet Isaiah 49.5 Now therefore consider that your own eternal welfare meerly is concerned in it and if that which I have said will not prevail with you I cannot help it I shall to this text speak no more but commend you and what I have said unto you unto him that is able to blesse you and that also delighteth to pour down blessings FINIS Signes of a Dying Christian Signe I. WHen you are so indifferent to assemble that you can come or you cannot come Signe II. When in your purest worship you are quickly weary Signe III. When you care not to hear one matter often though sutable truth Signe IV. When few Sermons will please you either you like not matter or manner or man Signe V. When you think that you know enough you may think hat you know enough upon these deceivable accounts 1 When you measure what you know by your own oyes or light you think that you know enough not measuring what you know by the rule of Knowledge the word of God 2 When you measure what you know by what once you did know not considering that further light forceth further knowledg cals for proportionable practise 3 When you measure what you know by what you see others that profess to know do what they do 4 When you measure what you know by what you are disposed to practice or do picking or choosing such commands of God as like you 5 When you measure not what you know by what God in his word calls you to do Signs how you may know you are clothed with this spirit of Deceit 1. When you have a low value of that meanes that under God first brought you to know 2. When you are mighty prodigall of what you know thinking no matter well managed that you have not most voice in 3 When you please your selves with the thought that few or none outstrip you in knowledg having a secret scorn to compare your selves with any 4 When in all things material you are not careful to take counsel of God before you bring matters to action Signe VI. When a smal offence will keep you from Christs Table Signe VII When you have no great mind to prayer in which there is necessity and excellency lets helps Necessity 1. from Command 2 From the Example 3 The Provision 4 The importunity 5 The Danger 6 the Advantage It s Excellency First it engageth Gods strength 2 It holdeth with holy reverence Gods hands 3 It makes every condition savory or sweet 4 In no condition we can be barr'd from it Letts 1 Wandring thoughts 2 Presumption in an unreverent adventuring before the Lord 3 Bosom fin or pleasant delight in some secret Lust 4 VVant of reconciliation to Brethren 5 Despairing doubts of being answer'd Helps to Prayer for say some I would but I cannot Pray I want words when I go to my Knees all I can do is but to sigh 1 From the necessity and excellency of Prayer labour to get a feeling of the necessity and excellency so as that thy heart goeth under a grievous burden because thou canst not pray 2 Study much to be sensible of your great want of Gods daily help 3 Consider God hath provided no way for you to acqualnt him with your wants but Prayer and if you cannot pray how will you make your Complaints to God 4 Consider that all your mercies become blessings to you no other way but through Prayer 5 Consider what a miserable condition wil yours be if cast into the Lyons Den VVhales Belly or the Stocks 6 Intreat Jesus Christ to teach you to Pray Signe VIII VVhen you have no great delight in reading the Holy Scriptures ignorance whereof brings these six Calamities 1 It makes you in a wilderness when sickness and affliction comes because you will not know how and why they come 2 Ignorant that your uneven walking with God may bring upon your selves death before its time 3 Ignorant how to ask in Faith the things you want for soul or body 4 Ignorant wherein you may prevent the presence and comforts of Gods Holy Spirit 5 Ignorant that there is a Legion of evil Spirits waiting hourly to take advantage against you 6 Ignorant that you may hinder Gods holy Spirit from doing any effectual work upon your souls Signe IX VVhen you are mighty inquisitive after novelties rather than wholsome Doctrine Signe X. VVhen you can hear of foul miscarriages in others with little or no heart remorse Signe II. VVhen in your comings together your talk is not savory and Heavenly Signe XII VVhen you are so little prepared for the solemn Assemblies as that they come before you think of them or long for them Signe XIII When you come to the Assembly more for fear of Brethrens eye than Christs eye Signe XIV VVhen the decay in Christs house less troubles you than the decay in your own house Signe XV. VVhen you can see Christs Children stoop with trouble and you not sympathize with them Signe XVI VVhen you will rather betray the Name of Jesus and the credit of his Gospel by your silence than appear for it to your own suffering and disparagement Signe XVII VVhen at a smal offence you are so impatient that you commit great sin Signe XVIII VVhen you are more careful to get the words of Christs people than the Spirit of Christs people the form than the power Signe XIX VVhen you are not much troubled at your own miscarriages while they are kept from publick view Signe XX. VVhen you love least those Brethren that deal most faithfully with you Signe XXI VVhen under more than ordinary troubles you are not more than ordinary in Prayer Signe XXII VVhen you are mighty careless to enquire after the spiritual cause of affliction and mighty careful to enquire after the natural cure Signe XXIII VVhen you pray more for afflictions being removed than sanctified Signe XXIV VVhen under Gods calamity you can neither find necessity nor excellency to humble your selves by fasting Signe XXV VVhen Gods Rod worketh so little upon your hearts that you can neither tell wherefore it s come nor what good it hath done Signe XXVI VVhen you have an evil eye to your fellow Brethren because they outgrow you Signe XXVII When the thoughts of your dearest Lust or any sin is pleasing to you Signe XXVIII When you are mighty curious about the lesser matters of Gods Law but mighty careless about the weightier Signe XXIX When the Holy Spirits help to the great work of Mortification seems not of absolute need to you XXX When you are so ignorant of your spiritual standing that you know not whether you grow or decay FINIS