Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A40442
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A full enquiry into the power of faith, the nature of prophecy, the translation of Enoch and Elias, and the resurrection of Christ
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Freke, William, 1662-1744.
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1693
(1693)
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Wing F2164; ESTC R100
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66,199
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82
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destroy that he reduc'd unto Noah in the Flood and that he has raised up Antichrist to confound Indeed is not this that Kingdom that he has clouded and sealed up all along from the Wise of this World and to which as the Apostle observes not many wise not many mighty nor many noble are called 1 Cor. 1.26 And yet through which we have an assurance that he will pour out his Spirit in the latter days Surely therefore I may add if ever we intend to make any Progress in Christianity in this Kingdom it is that we must lay our Foundation and which as I may say perfectly harmonizes with the Revelations both of Moses and Christ I am not Superstitious however I shall add a Modern Prophecy also about it 't is said to be Withers's and 't is not unlikely for he not only wrote a Comment upon the Lord's Prayer to the same effect but really his Writings shew him a Man of so admirable a Sincerity and Piety that he seemed a proper Object for so great a Gift But be it whose you will the words are as follows That Kingdom which the Jew did long ago Mould out according to his erring Brain And whereof many Zealous Christians too Unwarrantable Fancies entertain That Kingdom whereof now in Types we hear Shall to the World essentially appear Now if GOD therefore has set us thus to be tryed on the Stage of this World according as we make our Attainments to this Glorious Kingdom had we not better then with an Holy Ambition let him Glory in us as Conquerors than become the despicable Captives of the Devil Not I mean that we should be lofty or proud with this Ambition neither for if ever we expect to Conquer it must be by an entire and Lamb-like Submission to the Will of GOD. To be short this is that Kingdom that we are told is within us and that comes not by Observation Luke 17.20 21. and for which we need not to go to the Wilderness of Teachers that cry lo here Christ and lo there for 't is in our Hearts and whence if we hold fast that which is good and quench not the Spirit but permit him to lead us through an entire resignation into all his Paths of Holy Suggestions we must needs attain it And whereas on the contrary in the Kingdom of Satan and where our Sins bear Rule St. James tells us Cap. 1.13 That our Lusts will bring forth Sin and that the Wages of Sin are Death But that I may the better proceed on this Subject I shall here suppose Of the Crisis of our Tryal in general that there are two distinct great Kingdoms to wit the first of GOD and the latter of Satan as also that they have their several and distinct Crisis's and measures of Judgment But first a little of this matter in general Alas who that 's either Christian Jew or Turk or that but believes the Old Testament can forbear lamenting to see the Devil's Tyranny through sin in Adam poor dying deformed and wretched Man a Creation groaning and longing to be delivered Rom. 8.22 What are our Riches Coaches and sine Cloaths but as Rags to our Innocence lost Will they avail us any thing either against Death or Sorrow or are they able to keep us from the Dreadful Day at last And yet for all this and though that if we Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand nay and though we have a Promise that if we first seek the Kingdom of GOD all other things shall be added unto it as if GOD had expresly reversed the Curse of the Earth and resolved rather than fail with the Israelites to feed us with Manna and Quails on our first step of retreat towards the Heavenly Paradise Mat. 6.33 Yet alas who seeks to GOD either for Eternal Life or Necessaries as they should do No we are all run astray some one way some another some are drowned in Infidelity and neither regard what either Scripture or Reason informs them others are perfectly stupidly negligent and regard no more what yet they cannot but believe than a fair Story that they have heard with delight And yet the Spirit of God warns us all and so leaves all inexcusable to their Condemnation And hence also it is that every Man whatever has his hour of Visitation and which will and must certainly continue to lead him right and that even to perfection if he follow and not resist it And hence every Man I see methinks shews me an Angel or a Devil in making some moving on to one degree of Perfection and others to another while others starting aside like a broken Bow and uneasie to follow the leading of GOD's Spirit proudly seek Devices of their own and so are lost in their own Contrivances So hence 't is that others making their application imperfectly to GOD are forced to be purged for it through Martyrdom or Death when could they learn with Enoch but to walk perfectly with GOD canst thou think Friend that he would let them dye No know GOD is no respecter of Persons the whole course of Scriptures besides general Texts witness it Ephes 6.9 Acts 10.35 1 Pet. 1.17 And yet beware how thou rashly attempt this for know these Glories are defended by a fiery Tryal and before thou attainest them thou wilt find a real Fight of Infidelity Pride and Inconstancy and a terrible one too thy little seekings of Curiosity and Passion will not avail for this Kingdom no 't is worthy of thy Constancy and therefore such Lusts thou mayst be sure will but obstruct thy proceedings Take care therefore and purifie thy Heart throughly for know as thy great Conflicts will be between GOD and thy self in private where no body sees and where you will be forced to fight your way through Principalities and Mights to the Kingdom of GOD and wrestle with the Powers of Darkness Ephes 6.12 So you must expect to be most exactly pure for that alone can support you and which if you are you need not fear any dangers nay rather thou mayest joy against Satan when he brings his Temptations to destroy thy Hopes for if thou thus trust in GOD they must advance them 2 Cor. 12.9 What shall I say then if Christ for these Reasons has assured us that the Kingdom of Heaven has through his Instructions and Example suffered Violence Exhortation and may be taken by force Nay if he himself has gone the way before us why should we longer obstruct so great a Grace by delighting to welter in our Iniquities Perverse Man that will not skill his Seasons of Grace Man more sottish than Birds or Beasts they know their Times and Seasons and follow the Instincts of their Nature but Man will not follow the leadings of the Holy Ghost We dare not trust the words of Christ our Saviour like Martha we will not neglect our Temporal Affairs though but a little to get the one and great thing