Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	constitution_n	effect_n	great_a	16	3	2.1033	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81228	A discourse concerning Christ his incarnation, and exinanition. As also, concerning the principles of Christianity: by way of introduction. / By Meric Casaubon. D.D.	Casaubon, Meric, 1599-1671.	1646 (1646)	Wing C803; Thomason E354_1; ESTC R201090	58,852	100

like Among other things to this purpose he hath these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. For it behoveth the true Cynick the same whom in that very Chapter he also calleth the Messenger the Watchman the Preacher or Herald the Minister yea and the Apostle of God to have such measure of patience Epictet Arriani l. 3. c. 21. as to be accounted by most men a very stock or stone Himself indeed that is his soul to be above the stroak or contumely of men but as for his body to yeeld that readily to whomsoever to be used at his pleasure And again in another Chapter of the same Book For these things God sends me hither and thither He makes me a spectacle unto men of poverty of contempt of crazinesse of body here banished there a prisoner not out of any hatred to me God forbid how should he hate the best of his servants nor out of neglect for even the least things are cared for by him but to exercise me and to use me as his witnesse unto others Fit then and expedient in point of humane reason at least it was that he that came to teach us the way to Heaven by contempt of the world should himselfe lead us the way by his example This end of Christ his Exinanition and this his example is pressed in divers places of Scripture Let this minde be in you saith S. Paul to the Philippians Phil. 2.5 6 c. as we saw before which was also in Christ Jesus Who being in the form of God c. And Saint Peter 1 Pet. 2.21 to the same purpose For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps To this head also may be referred such places where Christ is set out unto us as if for his own sake and interest he had undergone what he did and submitted himself to this kind of Exinanition So Heb. 12.2 Looking upon Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God And in the same Epistle Ch. 5.7 8. Who in the days of his flesh c. Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of eternall salvation unto all them that obey him Though he were a Son that is as I take it that although Christ was in an extraordinary manner the Son of God born without any stain of originall sin c. yet having undertaken such a charge and such an office as he had it was convenient he should under goe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 troubles and adversities in this life not onely that by divers degrees of sufferings in the course of his life he might the better be prepared as some here doe paraphrase for his great and last suffering the principal end of his Incarnation nor as bearing that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or likeness of sinfull flesh Rom. 8.3 but also by his example the more effectually to teach and satisfie us that even they that are dearest unto God among the sons of men must by trials and crosses in this world be fitted for God another world And indeed as the example apprehended with a right and lively faith was incomparable so did there ensue effects answerable that is admirable beyond all example Of Alexander the Great not to instance in others by Historians that have written his life or of him it is noted that by his example especially he did atchieve most of his greatest exploits in the Conquest of the world When ever he was much put to it as either hardly beset himself and his Army as he was often with inextricable difficulties or would put his soldiers upon some desperate action beyond the compasse of ordinary humane strength and courage his example was his ordinary refuge constant stratagem which seldome or never failed him Among other things which he did in this kind this seems to me as memorable as any His Army which was wont to be light expedit laden with the spoils of many rich Countries marched but heavily Neither could their heads be free when their hands were so full Being thus what vvith care what with loadage much encumbred Alexander apprehending the consequence of this alteration and knowing well enough that with words for sooner would they have parted with their lives then with that for which they had all hazarded and many of them lost their lives say the Historians he should doe but little good he commanded all his own Carriages not sparing any and all theirs to be brought into one place Then he commanded fire to be set not to theirs but to his but the fire spreading soon consumed all that was there as well of theirs as his own And how could they mourn or murmure for their mites in comparison that saw their King so freely to devote his own rich treasures It were strange that Alexander his example should have more influence upon his souldiers then the example of Christ upon those that are called by his name the disproportion both of the persons and of the obligations on both sides being considered Christ indeed was not himself always present in person and when present in the days of his flesh as the Apostle speaketh yet not visible to bodily eyes in his Majesty as Alexander was But where the eyes of faith have been opened effects of Christ's example have ensued beyond all comparison In the time of the Primitive Church when the memory of Christ his conversation upon earth and of his miracles was yet fresh Christians were generally known by nothing more then for their contempt of the world and of death particularly It was objected unto them by Heathens who were not acquainted with the mysteries of their faith as a phrensie or desperate obstinacy Antoninus the Roman Emperour in his Meditations and Epictetus the same of whom we have spoken before in his Discourses set out by Arrianus take notice of it with some admiration Tertullian in his Apologetick in his Treatise De spectaculis treats of it largely Sulpitius Severus speaking of those times saith that tunc Martyria c. suffering of martyrdom was then sought after with as much earnestnes as Bishopricks were he lived about 400. yeers after Christ in his days That he spake it not hyperbolically may appear were there no other proofs by those many laws and constitutions of the Church against wilfull martyrdome or such as offered themselves to death for their faith which by men women and even children of all ranks and qualities was frequently done in those times And by this contempt of death and of the world as much and more then by miracles or any thing else did Christians conquer the world and in despite of all opposition as great as can be imagined subdued it

to the Christian faith Such was the faith of those times If the same effects of Christ his example have not appeared in all ages it is not because the example it self hath less efficacy then it had then but because Christ is not apprehended with the same faith as he was then Christ himself did foretell of the little faith of the latter times It is not all to be called a Christian The Apostle denyed them we know to be true Jews all which were Jews outwardly or to be the children of Abraham all that were of the seed of Abraham but had not his faith What the violence of some present sufferings be they sufferings of the body or sufferings of the mind or the violent apprehension of future in either kind may do for a while how far it may prevail upon some sound and solid otherwise especially if the temper of a naturally soft or passionate disposition doth concur I shall not here enquire Though grace and nature goe not always by the same principles yet there may be where true grace is so much of nature remaining somtimes as to verifie that of Aristotles that incomparable Naturalist that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. those that are in any passion can not judge of the truth But if any professed Christian in his more sober retired and free thoughts can settle himself to such an opinion as either to wonder at the miseries and calamities of others good and godly men or to bemoan himself in the same case as miserable indeed and hardly dealt with that man by such an opinion doth renounce the faith he professeth and what shew soever he make to the world yet cannot but be conscious to himself of his own infidelity All Christians are not Pauls I grant though his zeal to God and his charity to men Act. 26.29 did once prompt him to such a wish God forbid heaven should be opened to none but such As of glory so of faith of zeal though true and syncere and perfect in its kind there may be many degrees We are allowed if we may be free rather to be free if rich and honourable in the world by good and lawfull means rather to be so then poor and contemptible That common soldier is not commended who to shew his valour runs into dangers wilfully or sets upon the enemy without a command In this our Christian warfare some are Captains and Generals that must leade and command the greatest part are common soldiers who if they readily follow execute when called it is as much as needs S. Paul himself could say I know how to be abased and I know how to abound Phil. 4.12 If there be a firm resolution and answerable due preparation if God shall call us to it to say with S. Paul I account all things but dung c. such a resolution and such a preparation may in the eyes of God who as he onely can see so most observes the heart stand for the deed it self And so may those generall expressions as Whosoever doth not bear his crosse c. and Whosoever will live godlily c. and that through many tribulations c. and the like be qualified and understood of the resolution preparation if true and reall as well as of the deed and event it self And certainly some religious men who actually and personally never tasted either not at all if such may be found or very little of the troubles and miseries of this life by this kind of preparation as also by their fellow-feeling as in hearty compassion so in readinesse to assist and relieve to their power in the sufferings of others might be as great sufferers before God as some others who suffer much more but happily not so patiently nor with so much reflexion upon others as they should But where neither actuall patient enduring nor this hearty preparation is found there we may certainly from this doctrine of Christ his Exinanition conclude that there is no reall communion with Christ nor true sense of Christianity FINIS