Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	bondage_n	deliver_v	fear_n	4,056	5	6.5580	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17647	A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine vppon the Epistle to the Philippians wherein is set out the necessitie and profite of affliction vnto the faithfull, the benefite of God his word, the fruits, of vnitie and humilitie, free iustification by faith in Iesus Christ without our owne merites, the assurance, ioy, and contented mindes of the godlie, and their perseueraunce in godlinesse vnto the end. With many other comfortable and profitable pointes of religion. Translated out of Latine by W.B.; Commentarii in quatuor Pauli epistolas. English. Selections	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Becket, William, fl. 1584.	1584 (1584)	STC 4402; ESTC S107378	72,730	102

followeth that he is cast downe by our fault and extenuated as much as is in vs when we faint thorough feare Are not they therefore ashamed who thinke it a light fault to be afraide in the confession of the truth but howe shoulde they be ashamed when they are so impudent that they dare also excuse the deniall of Christ He addeth As alwayes that by the experiments of the grace of God already past they might confirme their faith So in the Rom. 5.4 Triall bringeth hope 21 For in life Hitherto in my iudgement the Interpreters haue ill translated and expounded this place for thus they distinguish that Christ was vnto Paule life and death was to him aduantage But I make Christ the subiect in both the members of the sentence that as well in life as in death he is sayde to be aduantage for it is common with the Grecians to vnderstand this preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie to But beside that this sence is not strained it agréeth also better with the next sentence and containeth more plentifull doctrine He affirmeth that he is indifferent whether he liue or dye because that hauing Christ he accompteth gaine in both and truely it is onely Christ that in death and life maketh vs blessed otherwise if the death be miserable the life is no whit the happier So that it is harde to define whether it be better for a man to lyue or to dye without Christ Agayne let Christ be present and he will blesse both our lyfe and our death that both of them shall bée happye and good for vs. 22 But if to liue in the flesh were more profitable for me euen what to choose I knowe not 23 For I am distressed betweene both desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ which is farre better 34 But to abide in the flesh is more needefull for you 25 And this am I sure of that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and ioy of your faith 26 That your reioycing may be abundant in Christ Iesus for me by my comming vnto you agayne 22 But if to liue Euen as desperate men are in a perplexitie whether they should still prolong their life in miserie or finish their sorrowes by death so contrarywise Paule with an equall mind saith that he is prepared as well for death as for life because the estate of both is blessed vnto the faithfull so that he is doubtfull whether to choose If it be profitable that is to saie if I knowe that the profite of my life is greater than the profite of my death I sée not whether I shoulde rather desire He putteth To liue in the fleshe by a contempt in comparison of a better life 23 For I am distressed Paule did not desire to lyue for anie other rewarde then to serue to the glorie of Christe and to profite hys brethren Therefore hée estéemeth no other profite in thys lyfe than the saluation of hys brethren but for hymselfe priuately hée acknowledgeth that it is better to dye quicklie because hée shoulde bée wyth Christ In hys desire hée sheweth with how great loue hée is enflamed Hée doth not speake héere of earthlie commodities but of the spirituall good which especiallie of the godlie is carefullie to be wished for Notwithstanding Paule as it were forgetting hymselfe doth not onely contayne himselfe in the middest least he should more decline to his owne benefite than the benefite of the Philippians but at length concludeth that he weigheth theyr estate in his heart And this is truely to liue and dye vnto Christ when neglecting our selues we are carried whether Christ calleth vs. Desiring to be losed and to be with Christ These two things are iointly to be read together for death of it selfe will neuer be wished for because the desire thereof fighteth with the sence of nature but it is desired for some cause or for some other ende Desperate men flie vnto it thorough wearines of their life but the faithfull hasten vnto it willingly because it deliuereth them from the bondage of sinne and is a passage vnto the kingdome of heauen This is it that Paule now sayth I desire to dye because by this meanes I shall come to be ioyned with Christ yet the faithfull cease not to be afraide of death but when they turne their eyes vnto that life that followeth after death by this consolation they easily ouercome that feare Truely whosoeuer beléeueth in Christ should be so couragious that at the mention of death he should lift vp his head being ioyfull for the tidings of his redemption whereby it appeareth how many are Christians onely in name when the greater part hearing the mention of death as if they neuer had heard any word of Christ they doe not onely waxe fearefull but become almost deade O a good conscience how much dost thou excell and how much doest thou preuaile but faith is the foundation of a good conscience yea 〈…〉 of the conscience To be dissolued This manner of speaking is to 〈…〉 men call death the destruction of man as though the whole man perished Paule here warneth vs that death is dissolution of the soule from the bodie and this straight after he expresseth better shewing what the estate of the faithfull is after death namely that they abide and dwell with Christ We are also with Christ in this life so farre as his kingdome is within vs and Christ dwelleth in vs by faith and he hath promised that he will be with vs euen vnto the ende of the world but that presence we onely perceiue by hope therefore according to our féeling we are sayd to be strangers from him 2. Cor. 5.6 This place is of force to refute the dotage of them who dreame that the soules diuided from the bodies are asléepe for Paule witnesseth openly that we enioy the presence of Christ when we are dissolued 25 And this am I sure of Some because it séemed absurd that the Apostle should confesse him selfe to be frustrate of his expectation thinke that he was afterward deliuered out of bands and that he passed thorough many regions of the world but in vaine doe they feare that For the Saincts are woont to moderate their hope by the worde of God that in their mindes they presume no more than the Lorde hath promised So where they haue a sure testimonie of God his will there they stay them selues with a certaine persuasion which admitteth no doubt Such is the persuasion of the continuall remission of sinnes of the helpe of the Spirite vnto the grace of finall perseuerance as they call it of the resurrection of the fleshe Such also was the certaintie of the Prophets touching their prophesies in other things they hope nothing but with a condition and therefore they submit all the successe vnto the prouidence of God to whom they graunt to haue a sharper sight in things than them selues To abide signifie here for a litle while To

before he testified that he rather desired death And what is better for vs than being deliuered out of so many miseries of the world to passe into the kingdome of god especially being deliuered from the bondage of sinne in the which he cryeth out Rom. 7.24 that he was miserable to enioy more fully the liberty of the spirit whereby we may cleaue fast vnto the son of God It were a long thing to recken vp all things which cause that death is better thā life vnto the faithfull and more to be wished for Therefore what mercy is that of god when it doth nothing but prolong our miseries I answere that al things make not but these that this life estéemed in it self is an excellent benefit of God especially they that liue vnto Christ are here happily exercised vnto the hope of heauenly glorye and therefore we sawe a little before that life was to them aduantage Furthermore there is another thing to be considered that GOD vouchsafeth vs no smal thing when he glorifieth him selfe in vs for we must not so muche respect our life as the ende wherefore we doe liue And of me also that I shoulde not haue sorrowe vpon sorrowe Paule confesseth that the death of Epaphroditus would haue bene bitter vnto him and herein he acknowledgeth that God spared him in that he was againe restored vnto his health Therfore he bosteth not of the senselessenes of the Stoickes as though he were made of iron and frée from the affection of men What therefore some will say where is the vnconquered courage of his minde where is hys vnwearyed constancie I answere that Christian patience doe dyffer farre from the peruersenes of Philosophers muche more from that crooked and cruell hardenes of the Stoickes for what vertue were it patiently to beare the crosse if there were no féeling of griefe and of bitternes in it but whilest the comfort of God doth ouercome this féeling that we resist not but rather willingly giue our backes to be beaten then wée offer a sacrifice of our obedience acceptable vnto GOD. So Paule confesseth that he did feele some sorrowe and griefe in his bandes notwythstandyng he dyd ioyfullye suffer those bands for Christ He confesseth that he should grieuously haue taken the death of Epaphroditus yet at lengthe he would haue framed his affectiō vnto the wil of god although al the hardenes of the matter is not yet wholly answered for then we proue our obedience when we bridle our naughtye affections and giue not place to the infirmitie of the fleshe Two things therfore are to be considered first that the affectiōs which god at the beginning put into our nature are not euil of themselues because they procéed not from the viciousnes of our corrupted nature but flow from god who is the author of them of which sort is sorrow which is taken for the death of our friends Againe there were many other causes why Paule should lament the death of Epaphroditus those not only blamelesse but altogither necessary This first of al is a continuall thing with the faithfull that in the death of any they are admonished of the wrath of God againste sinne but Paule was more moued with the losse of the church which he sawe shoulde be destitute of an excellent pastor in so great a scarsitie of good men They that would haue such affections altogither taken away and extinguished doe not only feigne men as sencelesse as stones but cruell and hardharted But in this corruption of nature all things are so peruerse in vs that whatsoeuer our minds be moued to they alwaies excéed measure Hereof it commeth that nothing of it selfe is so pure and right which draweth not vnto it some contagion Moreouer that Paule as he was a man suffered somwhat in his grief beséeming the nature of man I deny not for both he labored vnder his infirmitie and also it was necessary that he should be tempted that by striuing and resisting he might haue matter to ouercome 28. I haue sent him more diligently The presence of Epaphroditus was no small comfort vnto him yet he so much preferred the saluation of the Philippians before his owne commodity that he saith he reioiceth for his departure because he was sorrowfull by his owne occasion to bée drawne from the flocke committed vnto him and from the duties of him though pleasāt which he inioyed with the losse of them Therefore he sayth that he shal be more glad for the ioy of the Philippians 29. Receiue him with all ioy He taketh all ioy for sincere and surpassing ioy And againe he commendeth him to the Philippians he laboreth altogether in this point that they should be much estéemed that prooue themselues good and faithful pastors Neither doth he speake only of one but he commaundeth all such to be had in estimation for they are precious stones taken out of the treasure of God and the rarer they are the more worthier they are of greater value And it is without doubt that God oftentimes doth punish our ingratitude and our disdainefull lothing of his word by depriuing vs of good pastors whilest he seeth all good men for the most part which he giueth vs to be despised He therefore that desireth to haue the Church defended against the lying in waite and the assaults of wolues let him by the example of Paule haue care that the authority of good pastors may be established as contrarywise the instrumēts of the diuell labour in nothing more than to ouerthrowe it by all meanes possible Because for the worke of Christ I refer it vnto that infirmitie which he had gotten by his continuall diligence therefore he reckoneth the disease of Epaphroditus among his vertues as truely it was an euident signe of his feruent zeale It is no vertue to be sicke but this is a vertue that thou serue Christ not to spare thy selfe Epaphroditus did perceiue that it would be dangerous for his health if beyond measure he were instant vpon him yet he had rather neglect his health than to be behind in his dutie And that he might the more commend this déede vnto the Philippians he sayth it was a supplying of their wants because they béeing farre asunder could not bestowe their trauell vppon Paule béeing at Rome Therefore Epaphroditus being sent for this purpose did fulfill their dutie He calleth the obedience vnto himselfe the worke of the Lorde as truely there is nothing wherein we can better bestowe our trauell vpon God than whilest we succour his seruaunts béeing distressed for the truth of the Gospell Chapter 3. MOreouer my brethren reioyce in the Lord. It greeueth me not to write the same things vnto you and for you it is a sure thing 2 Beware of dogs beware of euill laborers beware of concision 3 For we are the circumcision which worship God in spirit and reioyce in Christ Iesus and haue no confidence in the flesh 4 Although I also haue confidence in the flesh if any other

Let your pacient minde be knowne to all men The Lorde is at hand 6 Bee carefull for nothing but in all thinges let your requestes bee knowne vnto God in praier supplication with giuing of thankes 7 And the peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding shall keepe your harts minds in Christ Iesus 8 Furthermore Brethren whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are graue whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things are amiable whatsoeuer things are honest if there be any vertue if there bee any praise thinke on these things 9 Which yee haue both learned and receyued and hearde seene in me doe those things and the God of peace shall bee with you 4 Reioyce in the Lord. This is an exhortation applied to the time For because the state of the godly was much troubled euery where dangers imminent it might so fall out that they being ouercome with sorrowe impatience might faint Therfore he biddeth them howsoeuer their estate were hated and troubled neuerthelesse to reioyce in the Lorde for then especially the spirituall consolations wherwith the Lord doo recreate and chéere vs muste shewe forth their strength when the whole world doo prouoke vs to desperation but we must consider by the circumstance of the time howe forcible this voice would haue béene from Paules mouth who might be the especial cause of their heauines For if they be afraide of persecutions of bonds of banishment or of death here the Apostle commeth forth who amidest his bonds in the midst of hoate persecutions and in feare of death is not only ioyful but also chéereth vp others The sum therefore is this whatsoeuer shall happen yet the faithfull who haue God on theyr side haue sufficient matter to reioyce The repetition serueth to the amplification as if he should say let this be a strong stedfast ground vnto you to reioice in the Lord and that not for a momēt but that your ioy may be continued in him For truly in this it differeth from the ioy of the world because we haue experience that that is deceitful momentanie and soone vanisheth away and Christ also doth pronounce it accursed Luke 6.25 Therfore that is ioy fixed in God which is neuer taken from vs. 5. Let your patient mind This may 2 waies bée expounded either that he biddeth thē rather to lose their right than that any shoulde complaine of their cruelty rigor As if he had saide let all men with whome you deale perceceiue your equity and curtesie that their knowledge may signifie their experience Or else that he exhorteth them to beare all things paciently which latter sense doth rather please me for the Grecians also call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the moderation of the minde when as we are not easily moued with iniuries whē we are not easily troubled with aduersitie but we kéepe stil an equal condition to which purpose Cicero hath said my mind is quiet which taketh all things wel and equally Such an equity which is as it were the mother of of patience Paule here requireth of the Philippians and which might appeare vnto al men by shewing forth hir effects as occasion requireth It séemeth not to agrée with the name of modesty because Paule in this place doth not forbid them to waxe insolent but quietly to behaue themselues in all their affaires and to temperate themselues in susteinyng either iniuries or discommodities The Lord is at hand Here is a Prolepsis whereby he preuenteth an obiection for the sense of the flesh reclaimeth agaynst the former sentence for since that by our gentlenes the desire of the wicked waxe more insolent and the more readye they sée vs to beare the more bold they are to offer iniuries wée are hardly brought in this patience to possesse our soules thervpon came these prouerbs We must howle among wolues that we shall soone be deuoured of wolues which haue behaued themselues like shéepe Therefore we conclude that the fiercenes of the wicked is with like violence to be beaten backe least that safely they triumph ouer vs. Againste these cogitations Paule here opposeth the truste in God his prouidence He answereth I say that the Lord is at hand whose vertue shal ouercome their boldnes and whose goodnes shal vanquish their malice him he promiseth to be present with vs if we obey his commandement And who had not rather be protected only by the hand of God than to haue all the aid of the worlde in a readines An excellent sentence wherby first we learne that the cause of all impatience is the ignorance of the prouidence of God hereof it come that we rage so quickly for so light a cause often also we dispaire because we know not that the Lorde hath care of vs. Contrariwise this is an only remedie to pacifie our mindes if knowing that we are neither subiect to the rashnes of fortune nor to the lust of the wicked but that we are gouerned by the fatherly care of god we rest altogither vpon his prouidence To conclude whosoeuer holdeth this that god is present with him he hath wherin to reioyce without feare Moreouer the Lord is saide to bée at hand two maner of waies either because his iudgement is at hand or else because he is ready to succour his seruants in the which signification it is taken in this place as also in the Psal 145.18 The Lord is néere vnto al them that cal vpō him the sense therefore is the condition of the godly should be most miserable if the Lorde were farre off but because the Lord hath receiued them into his tuition and by his power which is present euery where doth defend them let them stay themselues vpon this cogitation that they be not dismaied at the rage of the wicked It is knowne and common that carefulnes is here taken for impiety which springeth from the distrust of gods power or of his help 6. But in all things Paule vseth the singuler number but the neuter gender therefore in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is as much as in al your busines because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are of the feminine gender In these wordes he exhorteth the Philippians as Dauid doth al the godly Psal 55.23 Peter 1. epistle 5.7 that they should cast al their care vpō the Lord for we are not made of iron but we may be shakē with temptations but this is the comfort Here is our ease to lay downe or to speake more properly to empty out into gods bosome whatsoeuer gréeueth vs. Confidence bringeth quietnes vnto our minds but so that we be exercised by praiers Therefore so oft as we are assalted with any tēptatiō let vs fly straight vnto praier as vnto an holy sāctuary He taketh praiers here for desires or vowes He woulde haue them opened vnto god through praier as if the faithful should poure out their harts before the Lord when they cōmend themselues al

blind yea a furious beast therefore it is no maruell if false brethren doe take occasion cut of the Gospell to disquiet the good and faithfull Pastors And truly Paule hath sayd nothing here which my selfe haue not tried for as yet there liue some at this day who haue preached the Gospell with none other intent than that by persecuting godly Pastors they might yéeld to the furie of the wicked Touching Paule his enimies it is not amisse to marke if they were Iewes how mad their hatred was that euen they forgat for what cause they hated him for whilest they were carried away by hatred to destroy him they laboured in promoting the Gospell for whose cause they were angry with him but they thought verily that the cause of Christ should either stand or fall in the life of one man But if they that were so seduced by ambition were emulous among them selues we must acknowledge the maruellous goodnes of God who notwithstanding gaue such successe to their peruerse endeuors 17 That I am set for the defence They that loued Christ truly thought it a shame for them selues if they did not ioyne with Paule as companions pleading his cause and so we must doe we must succor the seruants of Christ being in distresse as much as we may Marke againe this manner of speach of the defence of the Gospell for since Christ vouchsafeth vs such honor what excuse can we haue if we be faint harted in his cause or what must we looke for if we betray it by our silence but that in like manner he should forsake our cause who alone is our Aduocate and Patrone with God his father 18 What then yet all maner of waies whether vnder pretence or truly Christ is preached and in this I reioyce and will reioyce 19 For I know that this shall turne to my saluation thorough your praier and by the helpe of the spirite of Iesus Christ 20 According to my expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all confidence as alwaies so now Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or death 21 For Christ is to me both in life and in death aduantages 18 Yet all maner of waies Because the wicked minde of them of whome he spake might slaunder the grace of the doctrine he saith that this is greatly to be estéemed because that they promoted the Gospell notwithstanding whatsoeuer their intent was for God by euill and wicked instruments sometime bringeth to passe an excellent worke Therefore he saith he reioyceth for such successe because he was contented with this only to sée the kingdome of Christ encrease As when we did heare that the vncleane dogge Charles at Auenion and in other places did sowe the séedes of pure doctrine in manie mens hearts we gaue thankes vnto God who vsed this naughtie and desperate varlet vnto his owne glorie And at this day we reioice that the course of the Gospell is promoted by manie who haue a far other purpose But although Paule did reioice for the encrease of the Gospell yet would he neuer haue ordained such ministers if it had béene in hys power We must therfore reioice if by the vngodly God worketh any good yet we must neither place such in the ministerie nor accompt them for the lawfull ministers of Christ 19 For I knowe Because some did publish the Gospell to procure enuie vnto Paule that they might the more incense the crueltie of hys enemies against him he answereth by a Praeocupation that their wicked purposes shall not hurt him because God will turne them to a contrary end as if he should say Although they imagine my destruction yet I trust that all their practises shall doo nothing else but that Christ in me may bée glorified which turneth vnto my saluation For that hée speaketh not of the safetie of his bodie it is euident by that which follow But from whence had Paule this confidence truely from that which he teacheth Rom. 8 28. Vnto the true worshippers of God all things helpe to their good although the whole world with their Prince the Diuell conspire their destruction By your prayer That he might the more earnestly prouoke them to pray he affirmeth that hée trusteth the Lord will graunt it by their praiers Neyther doth he dissemble for he that reposeth succour in the prayers of the Sainctes stayeth vpon the promise of God and yet nothing is derogated from the free goodnes of God wherby our prayers and supplications are made And by the helpe of the Spirite Lest we shoulde thinke that because he ioyneth these two thinges in the text therefore they are equal the sentence must therefore thus be resolued I knowe that all this shall turne to my saluation by the furtherance of the spirite you helping by your prayers so that the furtherance of the spirite is the efficient cause and prayer an inferior helper The propertie also of the Gréeke worde is to be noted for it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when that is supplyed which is wanting according to which signification the spirite of God powreth vpon vs all thinges whereof we are destitute He nameth The spirite of Iesus Christ to signifie that he is common vnto vs all if we be Christians because the spirite was powred vpon him in all fulnes that he might distribute to euery one of his members according to the measure of his grace so much as is expedient 20 According to my expectation If anie shoulde obiect whence haue you this knowledge he aunswereth from hope for since it is certaine that God will not suffer our hope to be frustrate our hope must in no case be doubtfull Therfore let the godly reader marke diligently this aduerb According that he may so certainly be resolued with him selfe that it can not be but the Lorde must aunswere our expectation which is grounded in his worde for he promiseth that he will neuer forsake vs no not in the middest of all torments if at anye tyme we be called to the confession of his name therefore let all the godly hope by the example of Paule and they shall not be ashamed With all confidence We sée that by hoping he doth not yéeld to the desires of the fleshe but submitteth his hope to the promise of God Christ he sayth shall be magnified in my bodye whether it be by life or death Although expressing his bodye namely he signifieth that among the combates of this present life he is not doubtfull of the successe for of this thing God hath assured vs therefore if we be framed to the will of God and haue the same purpose in our life that Paule had we hope for an happie ende howsoeuer we néede no more to feare lest anye euill should happen vnto vs for if we liue and dye to him in life and death we are his Rom. 14.8 He sheweth a manner howe to magnifie Christ namely in a perfect confidence whereof it