Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	call_v	king_n	son_n	6,364	5	5.0892	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27517	A sermon upon the Epiphany preach't at Christ-Church in the city of Dublin, 1672 by Richard Berry ...	Berry, Richard.	1672 (1672)	Wing B2046; ESTC R14245	13,293	36

Nature and Qualities of this Star If we consult Astronomers some of them will tell us That it was one of the real prime Stars for Lustre in the Firmament which though common to the view of All yet as to its Prognosticks and Effects understood onely by these Persian Sophi Others say That it was a sydereal Constellation or a Concourse of several of the most resplendent Stars or biggest Planets Saturn Jupiter and the rest in the superior Orbs. Others there are who will not rank it amongst the Celestial but Elementary fiery Meteors or Impressions termed second or false Stars St. Chrysostom and Theophylact upon the place hold it to be that Angel which appeared unto the Shepherds near Bethlehem telling them the tydings of our Saviours Nativity And they have some colour for it for it was an usual way with the Angels under the Old Law to appear in the Radiations of Light or the Vibrations of Fire And besides under this quality they are describ'd Psal 104. 4. He maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire In such a similitude then it is not altogether improbable that an Angel might appear to these Magi viz. in the shape of a flaming Star Lastly Some are of this Opinion That it was the Holy Ghost who now might as well transform himself into an indulgent Star to direct the Wise men in their way to the New-born Jesus as afterwards he was pleased to descend upon him in the form of an innocent Dove at the time of his Baptism as also long after that at Pentecost he descended again on his Apostles and the Brethren assembled together in the likeness of Cloven fiery Tongues But waving all these Conjectures and Probabilities we may confidently affirm That it was not only a new and real but a miraculous and onely Star in opposition to all other forementioned Opinions An Angel it could not be because of the express word of the Evangelist who calls it a Star And that it could not be one of the Comets or falling Stars 't is as clearly evident because both of their different motions and significations from what this had Those being generally portentous of the death of Kings and mighty men the change or downfall of States and Kingdoms and of those dire Calamities that befall Mankind for their Outrages and Enormities But This big with nothing but Peace Happiness and eternal Salvation to the sons of Men. That it could not be of the number of the first Stars or wandring Planets is as evident as the former for then certainly after such a long Tract of Time and Revolution of the Heavens from the fourth dayes Creation unto that of its appearance it must needs have been seen But all the Astronomers and Historians in the World from the beginning unto this day are altogether silent about it as to its appearance save onely at that time Neither indeed could it in reason be one of the natural Stars of the first Creation because of their periodical courses and limited progressions from East to West from which they can never erre Nor consequently a Comet can it be which according to Natural Philosophy does generally obey the motion of that Star which inflam'd it But this salutiferous Star deriving not its designs from Nature passeth from Jerusalem towards Bethlehem i. e. quite contrary from North to Southwards according to the intention of it's Maker which was That it should make him manifest unto these hopeful Princely Pilgrims to their great joy at their Arrival See see how constant and concern'd this new made Luminary is in accommodating it self to these earnest Travellers It neither hastens nor slackens its pace neither does it in the least decline the direct way turning either to the right hand or to the left but with all the circumstances of obsequiousness accompanies them in their progress upon the Road. This heavenly Candle like the Soul of Man which Solomon terms the Candle of the Lord as if possest with such a Soul gives light all along to these noble Souls conducts them to that very spot of ground where the sweet Babe lay the very centre of their aims and desires Besides all this for further proof we may consider its scituation that it was not in any of the Celestial Orbs but in the Air and that in the lower Region of it too by which near distance which cannot be supposed of the created Stars in the beginning because of their vast remoteness from the earth commodiously leading them on their way by Night and failing not in the diffusion of its beams by Day also probably that they might see how to take a shorter cut unto their journies end until it made a stand over the very House where they were to congratulate their New born King And after all this when it had perform'd the Office design'd by the All-wise Creator of it it ceased at once to illuminate and exist being dissolv'd at last by the same hand that made it into that primitive matter out of which he produc't it But how should this speechless Star may some say be able to teach these Wise men so great a mystery hidden from the Ages as this of the Nativity of the worlds Saviour Was there nothing more in the matter think ye that should occasion them to take so tedious so difficult a journey as this must needs be and to prosecute with so much eagerness of mind a thing which on the Jews part at least if not from others must needs create unto them a great deal of Envy and Detraction Yes doubtless This saving knowledge of God Incarnate was taught them inwardly by the Illuminations of the Holy Spirit as well as outwardly by the light of a star That supernatural light within them taught them all things of him who was to be afterwards a light to lighten the Gentiles as he was then the glory of his people Israel Who knows but that they might have had the view and perusal of the five Books of Moses as probably as Plato Plutarch and several of the Roman Poets Gentiles as well as they of which last the Learned do affirm that they had Supposing which or supposing it not they might nevertheless by the gracious Dictates of the Holy Ghost be told of a certain Prophesie of one of their own Countreymen Balaam by name fam'd over all the East for a great Diviner as you find it Recorded Numb 24. 17. There shall come a star out of Jacob Which Prophesie does so exactly agree with the Wise mens question and reason Where is he that is born King of the Jewes for we have seen his star that these two Stars these two Texts do seem wholly and directly to face and enlighten each other There goes a Story therefore to this purpose which I shall leave to your grave Judgments to think of it as you please as to its Credibility That the Persian Magi elected out of their own number Twelve which year by year were