Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	comfort_n	life_n	live_v	4,359	5	5.5637	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A23649	The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.	Allen, Thomas, 1608-1673.; Finch, Martin, 1628?-1698.	1676 (1676)	Wing A1047; ESTC R23572	153,393	274

it did before as possibly through some dread or terror anguish or fear possibly the Soul hath been amazed through some eminent danger which he hath been in possibly he hath been sick to death nigh to the grave and hath seen the door of Eternity to stand open to receive him he hath been amazed and now if the Lord please he may have his life he will turn a new man and forsake those evil ways and courses he formerly lived in or if he be in some sudden danger or accident that he is amazed and affrighted O now he will never do as he hath done but now when the danger is over and the fear is vanished he is the same man he was before I could give you a sad story of this but that I would not take up time that way now you know how it was with Balaam when Balak sent to him to curse Israel Balaam met with a message from God to the contrary Do not go with him saith he for it will cost you your life when the Messenger came saith Balaam If Balak would give me his house full of gold and silver I cannot go beyond the Commandment of my God yet Balaam had an eye to the wages of unrighteousness and he would try to go and at last ventures to go he might be restrained a while but he was not really convinced of Sin and on he would go he would venture at last Just as it is with two Lovers two young people fall in love and their Parents are against their proceedings and their Parents threaten them and charge them to come no more at one another but so long as their affections hold they will find some way or other to come together and though they may for a time be restrained yet they will take some occasion or other to come together again Thus it is with a sinner so long as his affections are not taken off from sin and till a Soul be convinced of sin his affections remain to it and though it may be affrighted and restrained for a time yet it will return again Just as it is with a Bowl it will run on so long as the force of the hand remains but it will return again to its natural Bias so it is with a sinner possibly he may be under some restraint through some fright and amazement by some eminent danger it is in but when that fear or fright is over as long as the affections hold and were never disingaged and broken off from sin the sinner will return and be as eager and as violent upon his sins as before but when a Soul comes to be really convinced of his sin and hath it set home upon him as suppose it be the prophanation of the Sabbath or suppose it be disobedience to Parents or suppose this or that sin if a Soul come to be really convinced of it its affections towards it are broken off and then it will be ready to say with Ephraim Hos 4. ult What have I to do any more with Idols he had been convinced of it and now What have I to do any more with Idols This is the fourth Argument whereby it doth appear that this work of Convincing of sin is necessary in order to Conversion and Salvation 5. Convincing of Sin is necessary in order to Salvation Because unless a Soul be really convinced of sin that Soul can never love Jesus Christ never prize Jesus Christ Vnto them that believe saith the Apostle he is precious 1 Pet. 2.7 That is to you who have been convinced of Sin and brought off from Sin by the power of the Spirit convinced of Sin and drawn to Christ by faith and be ieving through the Spirit now to you Jesus Christ is precious O when a Soul comes to be sensible what a lost creature it is how undone it is in it self it will think how much it is engaged and beholden to Christ O this is he that I am bound to love for ever this is he that hath done so much for me if it had not been for Christ I had perished for ever The Soul when it hath been convinced of Sin and brought off from the love of Sin and brought to lean upon Christ by Faith now Jesus Christ is lovely and precious to him and hence you may see what is the reason that many Professors that have made a great shew in the world and a great noise in the Churches and yet they have little love to Christ and Jesus Christ is not very precious to them And possibly many complain of it O that I could love Jesus Christ more and it is a good complaint I confess O that he were more precious to me and what is the reason that Jesus Christ is more precious to our Souls and that the Soul can love the Lord Jesus Christ no more O! here is one great reason possibly the Soul was never really and truly convinced of Sin the more really the Soul hath been convinced of Sin the more dear and precious will Jesus Christ be to that Soul 6. And lastly The last Ground and Respect for which it is so necess●ry that a Soul should be convinc●d of sin in order to Salvation Because else if a Soul be n t really convinced of sin that Soul notwithstanding all his Profession will be very unstable in its Faith and Comforts It will be tottering and wavering that Soul will never be rooted and grounded but its Comforts will be up and down it will be like a house that is built upon a sandy foundation a light foundation that hath no depth and you see the danger of that house that is built upon the Sands that hath a shallow slight foundation it is in danger to tumble especially when storms come and great Winds blow as Christ speaks Mat. 7. to our present purpose saith he He that heareth my Words and doth them not I will liken him to a Builder that built his house upon the Sands And saith he When the Wind blew and the Rain beat upon the house it fell because it wanted a good Foundation Truly so a Soul that hath no sure Foundation that is that was never really convinced of sin of his need of Christ that Soul will be like a house without a Foundation it will meet with temptations storms and tempests to try what ground it stands on and hence it is that it comes to be so often tottering and shaking I remember a speech of a holy eminent Servant of Christ to set out the necessity of Conviction of sin saith he The less Fine a man pays for his house when he enters the more Rent he must pay afterward He meant thus the less Conviction a man hath of sin at first that is the Fine the less his Fine is the more Rent he must pay afterward his meaning was this the more he will be subject to Troubles and Doubts and Scruples afterwards A Soul that hath not a real conviction of sin upon

leaves spreading till it hath spread all over and the grain of mustard seed it grows and springs up further and further till it become a tree for the fowls in the air to lodge in so our inward man is renewed day by day as it will spring up increase and grow more and more though yet he that hath drunk of the Spirit hath not the full perfection of it at once but may desire more yet notwithstanding he hath so much as he shall never be dry again that is wholly destitute but shall grow up and increase and spring And let me add only a third thing Answer 3. You will say The Saints have not a full draught and full supply because they complain I answer that though here they be in a state of imperfection and stand in need of a daily supply being sensible of their own defects and weaknesses Yet every believing soul hath drunk so much of the water of life as now he hath right and title unto the Inheritance of Glory where there is such fulness of joy as he shall be satisfied and shall not be able to desire any more Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore They shall have joy as much as they can hold every vessel shall be filled with glory so full as it can hold no more they shall enjoy as much as ever they are able to hold or containe every vessel shall be full of glory The beginnings of eternal life are here and though possibly they may be made to drink tears here in abundance yet notwithstanding they have the beginnings of eternal life and glory and when they come once to enjoy the consummation of it they shall not be able to desire one draught one jot more so He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water springing up unto eternal life So much for that Objection Now for the Application of the Point Vse 1. You see what Christ saith in the Text That man that comes unto me shall drink My drift in this Application shall be to press this Invitation of Jesus Christ Be it known unto you Men and Women young men and old and children that are capable of knowledge Know it that Jesus Christ doth invite every one of you that stands before him in this Ordinance to come unto him and draw water out of this Well of salvation It is a strong invitation that whosoever comes to him shall drink of this water of life Let me say unto you as Moses said unto the Children of Israel Deut. 32.46 And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the Words that I testify among you this day Set your hearts to this Invitation of Jesus Christ to the Word that is now sounding in your ears for it is your life Jesus Christ doth bring eternal life to your doors to your hearts do not look upon them as if they were words of course and wind as if there were no truth or reality in them Brethren I suppose now if a friend should invite you to a Dinner or a Supper you would believe that he were real and you are ready to accept of his invitation because you think he means as he saith Why so now be it known unto you that Jesus Christ doth make an invitation to all here every one in the Congregation this day to come unto him and you shall have a supply of this water of life Suppose now that Jesus Christ were here present speaking these words as he did with his own mouth in the hearing of thousands and suppose now that if Jesus Christ were here in his bodily presence do you not think you should believe and give entertainment to what he spake behold Jesus Christ now speaks in his Word to all that are here present as he spake to all that were present then and makes proclamation saying Is any man athirst is there any that do desire this water of life that do desire to have their sins pardoned and forgiven them that do desire to be freed from condemnation that do desire to be adopted Sons and Daughters of God to have peace with God to have comfort and consolation in life and death and to have everlasting eternal glory when life shall be no more Know Jesus Christ holds forth all this whatsoever is requisite to eternal life Jesus Christ doth invite you to this and holds forth and promiseth to give a full draught of it to all that ever will come to him Therefore let no poor soul lay impediments and blocks in its own way to hinder him from coming unto Jesus Christ Objection But may one say I am afraid that I should presume if I should come unto Christ and therefore I dare not venture Answer O! let not any soul think so nor say so to hinder any of your souls from coming Know it that if Jesus Christ had made no invitation to you to come then you might very well say it 's presumption indeed for me to come but Jesus Christ invites thee himself in his Word and Promises that if you do come you shall have of this water of life and that freely Suppose a great rich man should invite a poor man to his Table and he comes being invited will ye say this is presumption when he spake to him himself and if he should not come 't is rather a slighting and despising his favour and love Why Jesus Christ holds forth a free invitation tenders it and promises it to any one soul that will come unto him upon his invitation and therefore let nothing stave thee off seeing he hath made a full and free invitation unto every one to come indeed Objection But alas I do not know that I am invited Christ invites me what me I am altogether unworthy to be invited to partake of this water of life alas so poor a creature so ignorant and so blind and so without strength as I am unable to perform any duty no strength and nothing at all to commend me unto the Lord or why the Lord should give me the least drop of the water of life and therefore certainly it is not to me Jesus Christ doth not invite me Answer I say Let not this Impediment ly in thy way because we have no strength or ability to do or to please or to serve him in any way why alas do you think now that Jesus Christ calls for any price invites people and then they must bring money in their hands No Brethren you are much mistaken Jesus Christ doth invite to come without money or without any price Whoever you be though you be never so weak and unable to perform any duty or service and never did any thing for the Lord yet you should come And Brethren the more unfit we are in our selves and the less we have of our selves and the more sensible we are of our own

There is no bands in their Death their Strength is firm they are not in trouble as other men They have their Strength and Health and Liberty and their Bones are full of Marrow and their Eyes stand out with fatness and they have more than heart can wish But saith he As for me I have infirmities upon me I am chastised every Morning as duly as the Sun rises every day and all the day long I am afflicted Brethren the Lord sees that it is expedient sometimes that his Servants should be deprived of their Health and Strength 5. To give another Instance To instance in near Relations as to enjoy the comfort of Yoke-fellows to enjoy the comforts of Children Christian-friends and acquaintance these are great Comforts and great Blessings As I remember the Psalmist speaks Psal 128.3 4. He is speaking what a mercy and blessing it is to enjoy Children Thy Children shall be like Olive Plants round about thy Table and thus shall the Man be blessed that feareth the Lord. And saith Solomon Eccles 9.9 Live joyfully with the Wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity These things are great Comforts But yet it is expedient sometimes for the Servants of Christ to be deprived of these Comforts for Children to be deprived of Parents and for Parents to be deprived of Children which are accounted by Parents somtimes their dearest Comforts in this World yet God sees it expedient for them sometimes to be deprived of them by Death Son of Man saith God to Ezech. 24.16 Behold I will take away the desire of thine Eyes with a stroke that is his Wife and she died in the evening Sometimes some are taken away by some suddain accident as all Jobs Children were sometimes they are deprived of them by Persecution they are made to forsake Father and Mother Wife and Children and all for Christ's sake We have forsaken all saith Peter to Christ Mat. 19. latter end And sometimes they are deprived of the Comforts of them by having their Affections from them as Job complains of the Wife of his bosom that she was a stranger to him And the Psalmist Psal 88.8 Said Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me Brethren it is expedient for us sometimes to be deprived of these Comforts and Relations and verily if our Relations that are taken away from us if they could speak when they are dead Children would say to Parents Father and Mother It is expedient for you that we go away Though it be a dear Babe yet It is expedient for you that I go away Though it be an only Child yet It is expedient for you that I go away And so for other Relations still remember this that it is expedient for the Servants of Christ sometimes to be deprived of their nearest and dearest Relations Christ was as near and dear to the Disciples as any Relation in the World can be near and dear to us yet saith Christ It is expedient for you that I go away 6. To instance in another thing The Ordinances and Institutions of the Lord. They are dear and pretious to the hearts of the Saints and Servants of God they are pretious things and should be dear to every one of us Saith Job Chap. 12.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food He had rather lose his meat and drink than miss of the Word of God And saith David Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto me Come let us go up to the House of the Lord. The Ordinances of the Lord they are and ought to be dear unto all the Saints and Servants of God yet for all that I may say it is expedient sometimes for the Servants of Christ to be deprived of the Ordinances of Christ David found this by experience he was deprived of the Ordinances Psal 42.4 saith he When I remember these things I pour out my soul in me for I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the House of God with the voice of joy and praise but now saith he My soul is cast down And so Psal 63.1 saith he I dwell in a dry and thirsty Land where no water is He meant where there are no Ordinances He could not wait upon God in his Ordinances It was expedient for David to be deprived of the Ordinances I remember a passage of the Church Cant. 3. saith she By night on my Bed I sought him whom my soul loveth I sought him but I found him not She could not find Christ she could not enjoy the Ordinances of Christ nor Christ in the Ordinances and truly this hath been and may be the case of the dear Servants of Christ to be deprived of the Ordinances that are near and dear to them Heb. 11.37 38. You see there how those of whom the world was not worthy that they were glad to shift for their lives to run up and down in Mountains and Caves and Dens of the Earth to hide themselves and so were deprived of Ordinances and Communion with Saints and it was expedient for them 7. To instance in another thing yet higher 'T is expedient sometimes for the Saints and Servants of Christ to be deprived of Communion with Christ in holy Duties and Ordinances I may say in this case because possibly it is not easy to be believed as Christ said to the Disciples in the Text Nevertheless I tell you the truth 't is sometimes expedient for the Saints and Servants of Christ to be deprived of Communion with Christ in his Ordidances though this is most dear and precious to them Exod. 20.24 saith God In all places where my Name shall be recorded thither will I come and meet with my People and bless them that is in his Ordinances where his Name is recorded and I say sometimes it is expedient even for the very Saints and Servants of Christ to be deprived of the presence of Christ in his Ordinances of Communion with Christ in his Ordinances sometimes not to see Christ nor to meet with Christ in holy Duties and Ordinances Cant. 3.1 2 3. By night on my Bed saith the Spouse I sought him whom my soul loveth I sought him but I found him not By night on my Bed I sought him I sought him in the Ordinances that is the Bed where Christ hath Communion with his Saints and Servants yet saith the Spouse I sought him on my Bed but found him not And I remember Job hath an expression Chap. 23.8 9. Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him Saith Job I went forward and I went backward I went from Ordinance to Ordinance but I found him not The Lord may see this expedient for his dear Servants and Children even to be deprived of Communion with himself in his own Institutions