Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	darkness_n	light_n	shadow_n	7,372	5	9.4624	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54907	The captive (that hath long been in captivity) visited with the day-spring from on high. Or the prisoner (that hath fitten in the prison-house of woful darkness) freed into the everlasting light and covenant of God, in which perfect peace and satisfaction is Written by way of conference, and sent out into the world for the sake of those who have long groped upon the tops of the dark mountains, where the barrennesse and emptinesse is, without the knowledge of the true light to be their guide, that they (as in a glass) may see themselves, and read what hath been the cause why they have so long sought, and not found that they have sought for. Given forth especially for the sake of the scattered people in America, by one who labors for and waits to see the elect gathered from the four quarters of the earth, known by the name of Richard Pinder.	Pinder, Richard, d. 1695.	1660 (1660)	Wing P2262; ESTC R219448	16,995	45

The Captive that hath long been in Captivity VISITED with the Day-spring from on high Or the Prisoner that hath sitten in the Prison-house of woful darkness freed into the everlasting light and Covenant of God in which perfect peace and satisfaction is Written by way of Conference and sent out into the World for the sake of those who have long groped upon the tops of the dark mountains where the barrennesse and emptinesse is without the knowledge of the true light to be their guide that they as in a glass may see themselves and read what hath been the cause why they have so long sought and not found that they have sought for Given forth especially for the sake of the scattered people in America by one who labors for and waits to see the Elect gathered from the four Quarters of the earth known by the name of Richard Pinder Isay 9.2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light they that dwell in the Land of the shadow of Death upon them hath the Light shined London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1660. TO THE READER WHat here is written is for the sake of those that long hath been deceived and kept in Captivity by expecting to receive Light and power in those things which are weak and beggarly and so have been tossed too and fro in the night of wofull darkness where the Captivity and bondage is out of which none but the Lord alone can deliver Therefore this is written that such as hath long layne in it expecting freedom through those things which they have been drawn to observe by the cunning devices and slights of men that they may turn their minds and expectations from Gadding abroad to feel and know the appearance of the true Light in themselves which Christ hath enlightened them withall and that by it they may search themselves and see what hath kept them in Captivity that with the Light they may be led from it for to that end doth the true light appear as thou that reads and understands this following discourse will plainly see and that there is no other way whereby thou or any can come out of Captivity but through believing in the Light which shews unto you your sin and darkness Which light is the free gift of God and comes not through any outward means but is freely placed in all to shew them sin and transgression which they are fallen into and to lead out of it all them who believes in it and follows it but is the Condemnation of all who hates it Written in the Island Bermuda the 9th day of the 3d. Mouth 1660. R. P. THE CAPTIVE VISITED c. Captive I That have long sitten in darkness and under the shaddow of death have heard a great Rumor of a light that is broken forth of which I would gladly be informed Informer Unto thee that hath long sitten in darkness and under the shaddow of death is Light now sprung forth and the day from on high visiting of thee to give thee the knowledge of salvation by the remitting of thy sins under which thou long hast been oppressed and groaned to be delivered from and the light of which thou hast heard such a Rumor is the way which thy God hath prepared for thy deliverance Cap. But seeing I am yet in darkness and that death doth yet over-shaddow me where must I come to the knowledge of this Light of which I have heard such a Rumor which thou saith my God hath prepared for my deliverance Inform. Seeing thou seemest to make such diligent enquiry concerning the Light a Rumor of which thou saiest thou hast heard and which I told thee thy God hath prepared for thy deliverance it therefore appeareth plainly unto me thou hast some desires to come out of the darkness in which thou long hast sitten and been over-shaddowed by Therefore hearken and give ear for the words of my mouth shall be words of truth and easie to be understood as thou enclines unto the fear of the Lord. The Light which thou enquires after and of which thou hast heard a Rumor and which I told thee thy God had prepared for thy deliverance to give thee the knowledge of salvation through the remiting of thy sins under which thou hast long been oppressed that is it which shines into thy own Conscience and lets thee see how darkness hath prevailed over thee and how thou by it hast been subjected unto vanity and how sin by the Power of it hath been brought forth which hath brought forth death which doth yet over-shaddow thee that if ever thou can come to the knowledge of the Light so as to lead thee out of darkness which hath been the cause of all thy misery thou must own it in its appearance which is in giving thee to see sin and in reproving thee for it to the end that thy heart might be broken off from it and by the Light joyned unto God who hath immortallity and dwelleth in the Light with whom thy Souls peace is Captive But what nearer am I for this seeing that I am in darkness and that death still over-shaddoweth me and that my sins still prevaile over me though indeed as thou saist I find some small desires to be freed from this my darkness but that which should enable me and give me Power over it that I find not And also thou saiest that that is the Light which shines into my own Conscience which shews me my own sin and darkness which the Lord hath prepared for my deliverance which thing as yet I am not fully satisfied in for the Light which shewed me my own sin and reproved me for it that I have neglected and not regarded because those whom I follow for teaching told me that it was but the Light of nature or a Created Light or natural conscience and told me it was not sufficient to lead out of sin and to give Power over it but told me of a greater Light and power that should come by hearing them preach and using them things which they call Ordinances and that that light and power which should come that way should free me from the condemning power of sin though not from that power by which it is brought forth That as for this Light in my own Conscience which thou tells me of I have not at all regarded but have altogether rejected it and dis-esteemed of it because those whom I looked upon to be Christs Ministers told me that is was but natural and not sufficient to guid me unto God neither withall could I comprehend it my self with all my wisdom that I have looked upon it to be no more then the Light of nature though indeed I found it present at all times namely the light in my own Conscience checking and reproving me for many sins that were commited in secret which no mortal eye saw me commit that if thou or

any who have believed in it and obeyed it would declare unto me in truth what the operation of it hath been and what it hath wrought for ye and what it hath led you into and what it hath led ye from I should lend a diligent eare for indeed I have vsed all the waies and means which the aforesaid Teachers whom I looked upon to be Christs Ministers told me was the worship of God and his Ordinances which they told me I must wait for the appearance of the King of Peace in whose Salvation my Soul hath longed after but tossed from Mountain to Hill I have been and must needs confess by wofull experience that as yet the resting place I have not found neither am I any more satisfied within my self which is the way to it then I was at first I did adhere to those Teachers that told me the way to it was by hearing them give their meanings upon the Scriptures which they told me was preaching of the word and that by hearing them faith should be wrought which thing I have been very diligent in but alas no victory over my sin I find that gladly would I be further informed concerning this Light within of which I have heard such a Rumor and which by so many both Teachers and people is spoken against as a thing not sufficient to Salvation Inform. Well thy querie or rather complaint is something long but perceiving thou hast made it from the honesty of thy heart and from a true sence of thy present state and condition and doth in plainness desire to be informed therefore the Lord hath the more opened my heart to declare unto thee those things which hath been hidden from thine eyes that I shall endeavour by the assistance of the light which comprehends all darkness to inform thee therein I perceive this is thy meaning in the beginning of thy last querie that thou art no nearer for seeing thy sin and darkness seeing that still thou art overcome by it and that it prevails against thee It s true so long as thou doth not believe in the light marke that which shews thee thy sin and darkness but hates it so long thou art made no nearer to God by it for it remains in thee judging reproving and condemning thee in whatsoever thou takes in hand in that the cursed nature is head in thee in which is an unreconcible enmity against God who hath enlightned thee with his holy gift that through it thou mightest be redeemed out of the enmity and made alive unto him who hath enlightned thee and for this end the Lord by his light which he hath placed in thee shews thee the darkness the enmity which is in thy own mind by which thou hast been led aside and captivated willing thee to turn from it by reproving thee for every work word and thought that is brought forth by the power of it which is the power of darkness that so long as thou takes not heed unto that which shews thee darkness thou takes part and yields thy strength to the man of sin who by his power doth suppress those smal desires which thou saith thou sometimes hath to be freed from the darkness and so that which should enable thee and give thee power to the bringing forth those desires hath been trampled upon namely the light which reproved thee for thy sin and not regarded according to thy own confession that thou was not like to receive power to over-come thy sin for it was they that received Christ the true light that received power to become the Sons of God even those that did believe in his Name so in that thou hast not believed in his light which he hath enlightened thee withall thy sin hath remained and hath prevailed against thee which hath brought forth death under the shaddow of which thou yet sitteth as thou confesseth and thou saith thou art not as yet satisfied that that is the light which God hath prepared for thy deliverance which shines in thy own conscience and sheweth thee thy sin and darkness O yes that 's the true and eternal light which shines in thy own conscience and comes from Christ who is the Way and the Truth and the Life and thou having stumbled at this light which hath shewed thee thy sin and reproved thee for it thou hast stumbled at the way the truth and the life and so hath remained in the broad way in error and death that satisfaction thou wast not like to receive being in the darkness and unbeliefe where thou hast called good evil and evil good and hast put light for darkness and darkness for light and hath hearkened to such Teachers as thou speaks of that told thee the light that convinced thee of sin was naturall and Created and thou having lent thy ear unto such thou hast been deceived and led aside from the path of life and hast spent thy money for that which is not bread and thy labour for that which hath not satisfied but hast fed upon the husk and sought the living among the dead that thy Soul hath not delighted it self in fatness but thou hast thought to have life in those things which are empty and unfruitfull and hath followed the lying vanities of such as hath told thee the light which shewed thee thy sin and darkness is natural and the more thou listened unto such the further into darkness thou wast led and thou being in darkness was not like to comprehend the light by all thy wisdom for thy wisdom is reprobated from God and in that it stands in that nature that is contrary to the light which is incomprehensible though it shine in darkness yet the darkness cannot comprehend it which maketh all them in whom the power of darkness beareth rule so reproch it and oppose it withal their might and strength for by the light the bounds of it is set that it cannot pass but it is seen and comprehended So the light is that which is given to thee and all to lead out of darkness therefore let thy eare be open to Instruction and according to thy promise listen with diligence and apply thy heart to know that wisdome which the fear of the Lord is the beginning of for I shall open my mouth and my tongue shal utter things wch hath been hid from the wise prudent which God is now revealing unto Babes that are begotten by him and born of the word of life by which he hath opened my heart to declare unto thee and to all that are weary of the invented waies which man hath sought out in the time of darkness which thou saith thou hast a desire to come out of and to be freed into the light of life but thou hast not known him that hath prevailed to open the Seale wherewith the Fountain of light life power and glory is Sealed and hath not been known open in this night of thick darkness which thou saith in thy first querie

unto me thou hast long sitten in so encline and bow thine eare for the word of the Lord is towards thee that out of this night of wofull darkness thou might be brought in which thou hast long travelled and groped without the knowledge of the true and everlasting light to be thy guide of which now I shall open my mouth to declare of its appearance and operation which hath been effectuall in me and many others who through it hath obtained mercy of the Lord and am counted worthy to bear testimony of the same among the Nations which hath been overspread with Clouds of darkness and the Lords witnesses we are that he is now risen undoubtedly to destroy the covering of darkness which hath been cast over the face of all Nations and this is the message that we have received of him and which we are sent to declare that he is light and that in him is no darkness at all and this Testimony we give of him unto all people to the end they may be brought unto his light which he hath enlightened them withall that in his Name they may believe and receive life everlasting that their sins may be remitted and blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Captive But before thou begin to open thy mouth to declare of the appearance and operation of this light I would gladly know if thou mean the light which is so much spoken of that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World that I may know whether I have a measure of it or no. Inform The light of the appearance and operation of which I am ready to open my mouth is the light which Christ who is the Covenant given of the Father hath enlightened every one withal the appearance of which in every one is pure living and eternal and is a swift witness in all against all unrighteousness of what kind or sort soever and the least measure of it is purity it self life it self righteousness it self for it comes from him who is the Fountain of all good who was before all things and is eternal everlasting and endures for ever who is the beginning and the end of all things yet not known by any but as they through his light which he hath enlightened them withal comes to have their hearts and mindes redeemed out of all fading and perishing things which the hearts and minds of the Children of men are enclined unto in the fall and transgression in which the Lord of life and glory is not known but he obeyed and sits as Lord and King that hath subverted the hearts of all man-kind from their Maker and keeps them in subjection unto himself bringing forth fruits of unrighteousness by which the Lord is provoked unto wrath and displeasure he that Created man for his own glory but behold man is become alive and a Servant unto him that did not abide in the truth and is become an alien and a stranger unto him who is the God of all truth from whence every good and perfect gift proceeds who sent forth of his own life into the World a perfect gift to enlighten it the word of life by which all things was made and the life which had been slain from the Foundation of the world did he manifest again in the world to reconcile those again unto himself that did believe that they might receive his knowledg again which through transgression they had lost that man became without sense or feeling of the love life glory and power which God at first placed him in that he became bruitish in his knowledge and drinketh in iniquity as the Oxe the water that all flesh hath corrupted its way that none doth good no not one Hear is the estate of all mankind in the fall seperated from God by that enmity which is unreconcilable namely the carnal mind which is not subject to Gods Law neither indeed can be So the appearance of God again unto man and in man is by his own gift with which he hath enlightened him in reproving of him for his transgression and in shewing him how he is a servant of sin and how that death and the curse hath passed over him and how they have swallowed him up and how Hell and the powers of darkness hath prevailed against him and that which gives man to see this is the gift of God with which he is enlightened and they that comes to be redeemed again unto God will first see how these things hath ruled over them and also they will see there is no other way whereby any can be redeemed from under the power of death and Hell but by believing in the gift which comes from God nor that they can attain unto life strength and Salvation any other way but by receiving and walking in the gift with which they are enlightened the appearance of which is pure as I said unto thee who did enquire what the light led into and what it led from now thou that hath stopped thy ears at its cry thou mayest see darkness hath prevailed and death hath taken hold that under the power of them thou yet fitteth and this is the state and condition of all that stops the eare at the cry of the light in the conscience which cryes for purity and righteousness that I may answer thee in short purity and righteousness is that which the light unto which I inform thee leads into and impurity and unrighteousness is that it leads from for impureness is contrary to its nature and that is it which the light condemns for as thou may well remember how often it hath reproved thee and broken thy peace when thou followed thy own hearts lusts in committing those things which thy heart lusted after and also thou mayest remember that at some times when thou gave heed to it and by it was restrained from the evil that it raised up some good desires in thy heart to walk in the way of God and to come out of the vanitie which thy mind was captivated by wch desires I hope thou art not yet wholly without though thou hast followed such guides and teachers long that hath laboured to perswade thee that the light of which I now speak is naturall to wit the light which shews thee thy sin and darkness which if thou would hearken to would let thee see that thy following such guides and teachers hath been a great cause of thy so long travel in this great darkness which thou art sensible thou art yet in and out of it none but the Lord alone can deliver thee therefore his light he hath placed in thee freely to shew thee the darkness in which thy mind is ensnared and thy soul captivated and his light is freely given unto thee to lead thee out of it and doth not come by hearing man interpret and give his meanings upon the Scripture but is freely given of God which make those which says light and

faith comes by hearing them speak their imaginations of the Scriptures so reproach it and call it natural to wit the light which convinces of sin which is the free gift of God and cannot be bought and sold for money as those that calls this light natural do their meanings which they give of the Scriptures which were spoken forth freely from the gift of God and are of no private interpretation ne ther came by the will of man but are to be read and fulfilled in the same spirit by which they were spoken forth though such as deny the light which Christ hath enlightned every one withall sell their meanings and interpretations which they give of them and calls so doing preaching of the word and tells people light and faith must come by hearing of them but the Lord is discovering of their whoredom and redeeming his flock out of their mouths and the Scriptures also that they shall deceive the simple no longer by their false interpreting of them and by their false meanings which they have given of them for the Lord is bringing his out of Captivity and freeing them into his own Covenant of light where they shall be taught of him and shall not need to say every man to his neighbour and to his Brother know the Lord for they shall all know him from the greatest to the least So thou that hast adhered to such teachers as told thee that the light which convinced thee of sin and shewed thee thy own darkness was not sufficient to lead unto Salvation but told thee of a greater light which must come by hearing them which must free thee from the condemning power of sin though not from that power by which it is brought forth I say unto thee by such thou hast been kept in captivity that thy sin hath still ruled and had power over thee and thou still by the light in thy Conscience art condemned for it that the King of peace thou wast not like to know nor his Salvation which thou saiest thy Soul longed for in that thou hast rejected his light which appeared in thee to convert thy heart unto himself but thou not believing in it but adhering unto such as told thee it was but natural thou still hast remained a stranger unto him though thou wast diligent in observing those things which the Kingdome of God comes not by for it comes not by observation neither stands in Words but in Power of which thou daily wilt partake as the light which thou so long has rejected comes to be thy guide in which thou wilt feel life glory and vertue spring forth and then thou wilt clearly see they that told thee the light which shewed thee thy own sin was naturall are enemies unto thy Soules rest and peace Captive According to my promise and thy desirent I have lent a diligent ear and taken good notice of thy words that I do plainly see the cause of this my so much darkness and long travell and running from Mountain to Hill hath been because I have not been informed to this light of the appearance and of the operation of which thou hast spoken that gladly I would be further informed concerning it how I may discern the appearance of it in my self seeing thou saith that I and all men have a measure of it given unto us Inform Seeing thou art sensible that the cause of thy great darkness and wandring astray hath been because thou hath not been informed to this light of the appearance operation of which I have spoken therefore I shall endeavour to inform thee how thou maiest know the appearance of it in thy self by its nature and quality for its contrary to all uncleanness either of flesh or spirit and stands a witness in thee for the Lord bearing Testimony in thy own Conscience that he is against all unrighteousness impurity and unholiness that when thou goes into these things he by his light reproves thee and shews thee thou ought not to give thy strength nor yeild thy members servants to such things but that thou ought to give thy strength and yield thy members Servants unto him who by his light calls for purity Righteousnesse Equity and Justice in all things and this is that which thy God requires of thee to love mercy and to do justly and to walk humbly with him Cap. Thou say'st I may discern the appearance of this light to which thou dost inform me by its nature and quality in that its contrary to all unrighteousnesse and reproves me when I go into it which thing I do plainly see and am very sensible of that it doth condemn me and trouble me when I act any unrighteousness but the thing I desire to know whether if I take heed unto it it will keep me out of the unrighteousness which it is so ready to reprove and condemn me for Inform. Thou being sensible as thou saith thou art that the light to which I inform thee to wit that in thy own conscience that it is very ready to reprove and trouble thee when thou acts any unrighteousness well according to thy Querie I shall answer thee The light to which I inform thee is that which shews thee when thou hast an evil intent or purpose in thy heart to wrong any or to do any injustice in what sort soever now if thou take heed unto that wch shews thee how these things would conceive in thy heart then thou wilt learn true judgment within thy self whereby the evil and self that would joyn with it will be judged that when the evil before mentioned would appear to operate it by the true light wil be condemned and so thou having thy mind exercised in the Principle of light thou wilt feel the sufficencie and ability that is in it to destroy the evil in its appearance and as thou comes to feel this indeed and in truth then thou wilt know the light which was so ready to condemn and trouble thee when unrighteousness was committed as ready to give peace and preserve thee out of all the snares and temptations of the wicked one who hath long led thee Captive at his will in that thy mind hath not been informed directed nor guided by the true eternal light Cap. Truly I see and am very sensible of this also the cause why my sin hath so prevailed over me is because I have not taken heed unto this light which shewed me when temptations did arise in my own heart but that I have given way unto them that sin hath been brought forth and it hath brought forth death under the shaddow of which as I told thee at first I yet sit but me thinks I am some-what encouraged for the time to come to take heed unto this light thou informs me unto in that thou saith sufficency and ability is in it to overcome the evil in its appearance and in that also thou saith as by it am kept out of the evil it will be as ready