Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	day_n	die_v	eat_v	5,786	5	6.8715	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28171	The common principiles of Christian religion clearly proved and singularly improved, or, A practical catechism wherein some of the most concerning-foundations of our faith are solidely laid down, and that doctrine, which is according to godliness, sweetly, yet pungently pressed home and most satisfyingly handled / by that worthy and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Hew Binning ...	Binning, Hugh, 1627-1653.; Gillespie, Patrick, 1617-1675.	1667 (1667)	Wing B2927; ESTC R33213	197,041	290

and glory to his ever glorious Name for whom are all things There is none but they will allow God some government in the world Some would have him as a King commanding and doing all by Deputies and Substitutes Some would have his influence generall like the Suns upon sublunary things but how shallow are all mens thoughts in regard of that which is God has prepared indeed his Throne in heaven that is true that his glory doth manifest it self in some strange and majestick manner above but he whole tenour of Scripture shews that he is not shut up in heaven but that he immediatly cares for governs disposes all things in the world for his kingdome is over all It is the weaknesse of Kings not their glory that they have need of Deputies it is his glory not basenesse to look to the meanest of their creatures it is a poor resemblance empty shadow that Kings have of him He rules in the Kingdomes of men to him belongs the dominion the glory he deserves the name of a King whose beck Heaven earth obeyes Can a King command that the Sea flow not Can a Parliament act and ordain that the Sun rise not or will these obey them Yet at his decree and command the Sun is dark the Sea stands still the Mountains tremble at thy rebuke the Seafled Alas What do we mean that we look upon creatures act our selves as if we were independent in our being and moving How many things fall out you call them casuall attribute them to Fortune How many things do the World gaze upon think upon and discourse upon and yet not one thought one word of God all the time What more contingent than the falling of a sparrow on the grōnd And yet even that is not unexpected to him but it flows from his will counsel What lesse taken notice of or know than the hairs of your head yet these are particularly numbred by him and so no power in the World can add to them or diminish from them without his counsell O what would the belief of this do to raise our hearts to sutable thoghts of God above the creatures to encrease the fear faith and love of God and to abate from our fear of men our vain and unprofitable cares and perplexities How would you look upon the affairs of men the counsels contrivances endeavours successes of men when they are turning upside down and plotting the ruine of his people establishing themselves alone in the earth What would you think of all these revolutions at this time Many souls are astonished at them and stand gazing at what is done and to be done and this is the very language of your spirits and wayes The Lord hath forsaken the earth the Lord seeth not this is the language of our Parliaments and people they do imagine that they are doing their own businesse and making all sure for themselves But O what would a soul think that could escape above them all and arise up to the first wheele of present motions A soul that did stand upon the exaled Tower of the Word of God and looked off it by the prospect of faith would presently discover the circle in which all these wandrings and changes are confined and see Men States Armies Nations and all of them doing nothing but turning about in a round as horse in a Mill from Gods eternall purpose by his Almighty Power to his unspeakeable glory you might behold all these extravagant motions of the creatures inclosed within those limits that they must begin here and end here though themselves are so beastly that they neither know of whom nor for whom their counsels and actions are Certainly Satan cannot break without this compasse to serve his own humour principalities and powers cannot do it if they will not glorifie him he shal glorifie himself by them and upon them Gen. 2. 17. In that day thou eatest thou snalt die the death Gen. 1. 26. Let us make man according to our image THe state wherein man was created at first you heard was exceeding good all things very good and he best of all the choisest externall visible peece of Gods workmanship made according to the most excellent pattern after our Image though it be a double misery to be once happy yet seeing the knowledge of our misery is by the grace of God made the entry to a new happinesse it is most necessary to take a view of what man once was that we may be more sensible of what he now is You may take up this Image and likenesse in three branches First there was a sweet conformity of the soul in its understanding will and affections unto Gods holinesse light A beautifull light in the mind dirived from that fountain-light by which Adam did exactly know both divine and naturall things What a great difference doth yet appear between a learned man and an ignorant rude person though it be but in relation to naturall things the one is but like a beast in comparison of the other O how much more was there between Adams knowledge and that of the most learned The highest advancement of Art and Industry in this life reaches no further then to a learned ignorance of the mysteries in the works of God and yet there is a wonderfull satisfaction to the mind in it But how much sweet complacency hath Adam had whose heart was so enlarged as to know both thing higher and lower their natures properties vertues and severall operations No doubt could trouble him no difficulty vex him no controversie or question perplex him but above all The knowledge of that glorious eternall Being that gave him a being and iniused such a spirit into him the beholding of such infinite treasures of wisdome and goodness power in him what an amiable and refreshfull sight would it be when there was no cloud of sin and ignorance to interpose and eclipse the full enjoyment of that increated light When the Aspect of the Sun makes the Moon so glorious beautifull What may you conceive of Adams soul framed with a capacity to receive light immediatly from Gods countenance How fair and beautifull would that soul be until the dark cloud of sin did interpose it self Then consider what a beautifull rectitude and uprightnesse what a comely order and subordination would ensue upon this light and make his will and affections wonderfull good Eccl. 7. 29. God made man upright There was no throw or crack in all all the powers of the sou bending upright towards that fountain of all gooness now the soul is crooked bends downward towards those base earthly things that is the abasement of the soul then it looked upright towards God had no appetite no delight but in him and his fulnesse and had the Moon or changeable World under its feet there was a beauty of holynesse and righteousnesse which were the colours that did perfect

will not satisfie that promise therefore thou must be turned over from the promise of life to the curse and there thou shalt find thy name written Therefore it is absolutely necessary that Jesus Christ be made under the Law and give obedience in all things even to the death of the Crosse and so be made a curse for us and sin for us even he who knew no sin and thus in him you find the law fulfilled Justice satisfied and God pleased in him you find the promise of life indeed established in a better surer way than was first propounded you find life by his death you find life in his dying for you And again consider the Ceremonial Law What were all those Sacrifices and Ceremonies Did God delight in them Could he savour their incense and sweet smels and eat the fat of Lambs and be pacified No he detastes and abhorres such imaginations because that people did stay in the Letter and went no further then the Ceremony he declares that it was as great abomination to him as the offering up of a Dog while they were separated from Jesus Christ in whom his soul rested and was pacified they were not expiatious but provocatious they were not propitiations for sin but abominations in themselves But take these as the shadows of such a living substance take them as remembrances of him who was to come and behold Jesus Christ lying in these swadling cloaths of Ceremonies untill the fulnesse of time should come that he might be manifested in the flesh and so you shal find eternall life in those dead beasts in those dumb Ceremonies If you consider this Lamb of God slain in all these Sacrifices from the beginning of the world then you present a sweet smelling savour to God then you offer the true propitiation for the sins of the world then he will delight more in that sacrifice than all other personall obedience But what if I should say that the Gospel it self is a killing Letter ministration of death being severed from Christ I should say nothing amisse but what Paul speaketh that his Gospel was a savour of death to many take the most powerfull Preaching the most sweet discourse the most plain Writings of the free grace salvation in the Gospel take all the preachings of Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles you shal not find life in them unlesse ye be led by the Spirit of Christ unto himself who is the resurrection and the life It will no more save you than the Covenant of works unlesse that word abide and dwell in your hearts to make you believe in him and imbrace him with your souls whom God hath sent suppose you heard all and heard it gladly and learned it and could discourse well upon it and teach others yet if you be not driven out of your selves out of your own righteousnesse as well as sin and persued to this City of refuge Jesus Christ you have not eternal life Your knowledge of the truth of the Gospel and your obedience to Gods Law will certainly kill you and as certainly as your ignorance and disobedience unlesse you have imbraced in your soul that good thing Jesus Christ contained in these truths who is the Diamond of that Golden Ring of the Scriptures and unlesse your souls imbrace these promises as soul-saving as containing the chief good and worthy of all acceptation as well as your mind receive these as true and faithfull sayings 1 Tim. 1. 15. Thus ye see Christ Jesus is either the subject of all in the Scriptures or the end of it all he is the very proper subject of the Gospel Paul knew nothing but Christ crucified in his preaching and he is the very proper end and scope of the law for righteousness Rom. 10. 3. All the preaching of a covenant of works all the curses and threatnings of the Bible all the rigidexactions of obedience all come to this one great design not that we may set about such a walking to please God or do something to pacifie him but that we being concluded under sin and wrath on the one hand and an impossibility to save our selves on the other hand Gal. 3. 22. Rom 5. 20 21. may be pursued into Jesus Christ for righteousness life who is both able to save us and ready to welcome us Therefore the Gospel opens the door of salvation in Christ the Law is behind us with fire and sword and destruction pursuing us and all for this end that sinners may come to him and have life Thus the Law is made a Pedagogue of the soul to lead to Christ Christ is behind us cursing condemning threatning us and he is before us with stretched-out arms ready to receive us blesse us and save us inviting promising exhorting to come and have life Christ is on mount Sinai delivering the Law with thunders Act. 7. 38. and he is on mount Sion in the calm voice he is both upon the mountain of cursings and blessings and on both doing the part of a Mediator Gal. 3. 19 20. It is love that is in his heart which made him first cover his Countenance with frowns and threats and it is love that again displayes it self in his smilling countenance Thus souls are inclosed with love pursuing and love receiving And thus the Law which seems most contrary to the Gospel testifies of Christ it gives him this testimony that except salvation be in him it is no where else The Law sayes it is not in me seek it not in obedience I can do nothing but destroy you if you abide under my jurisdiction The Ceremonies and Sacrifices say if you can behold the end of this Ministery if a Vail be not on your hearts as it was on Moses face 2 Cor. 3 13 14 you may see where it is it s not in your obedience but in the death sufferings of the Son of God whom we represent Then the Gospel takes all these Coverings and Vails away and gives a plain and open testimony of him There is no Name under heaven to be saved but by Christ's The Old Testament speak by figures and signs as dumb men do but the New speaks in plain words and with open face Now I say for all this that there is no salvation but in him yet many souls not only those who live in their grosse sins and have no form of godlinesse but even the better sort of people that have some knowledge and civility and a kind of zeal for God yet they do not come to him that they may have life Rom. 10. 1 2 3. they do not submit to the righteousness of God Here is the march that divides the wayes of Heaven and Hell coming to Jesus Christ and forsaking our selves the confidence of these souls is chiefly or only in that little knowledge or zeal or profession they have they do not as really abhore themselves for their own righteousnesse as for their unrighteousnesse they make that the covering of

other thing but this could have summed up And then suppose a product to be made of all the severall summes of years it would be vast unspeakable but yet your imagination could reach further and multiply that great summe as often into it self as there are unites into it Now when you have done all this you are never a whit nearer the dayes of the ancient of dayes Suppose then this should be the only exercise of men and Angels throughout all eternity all this marvellous Arithmetick would not amount unto the least shadow of the countenance of him who is from everlasting All that huge product of all the multiplications of men and Angels hath no proportion unto that never beginning and never ending duration The greatest summe that is imaginable hath a certain proportion to the least number that it containeth it so oft and no oftner so that the least number being multiplied will amount unto the greatest that you can conceive But O where shal a soul find it self here It is inclosed between infinitnesse before infinitnesse behind between two everlastings which way soever it turns there is no out going which way soever it looks it must lose it self in an infinitness round about it it can find no beginning and no end when it hath wearied it self in searching which if it find not it knows not what it is and cannot tell what it is Now what are we then O what are we who so magnifie our selves We are but of yesterday and know nothing Job 8. 9. Suppose that we had endured the space of 1000. years yet saith Moses Psal. 90. 4. A thousand years are but as yesterday in thy sight Time hath no succession to thee thou beholdest at once what is not at once but in severall times all that hath not the proportion of one day to thy dayes we change in our dayes and are not that to day we were yesterday but he is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. Every day we are dying some part of our life is taken away we leave still one day more behind us and what is behind us is gone and cannot be recovered Though we vainly please our selves in the number of our years and the extent of our life and the vicissitudes of time yet the truth is we are but stil losing so much of our being time as passeth First we lose our child-hood then we lose our man-hood and then we leave our old age behind us also there is no more before us even the very present day we decide it with death But when he moves all things he remains immoveable though dayes and years be in a continual flux and motion about him they carry us down with their force yet he abides the same for ever even the earth that is establisht so sure the Heavens that are supposed to be incorruptible yet they wax old as doth a garment but He is the same and his years have no end Psal. 102. 26 27. Sine principio principium absque finc finis cui praeteritum non abit haud adit futurum ante omnia post omnia totus unus ipse He is the beginning without any beginning the end without an end there is nothing bypast to him and nothing to come sed uno mentis c●…rnit in ictu quae sunt quae erunt quae fuerantque He is one that is all before all after all in all He beholds out of the exalted and supereminent Tower of Eternity all the successions and changes of the creatures and there is no succession no mutation in his knowledge as in ours Known to him are all his works from the beginning He can declare the end before the beginning for he knows the end of all things before he gives them beginning Therefore he is never driven to any consultation upon any emergent or incident as the wisest of men are who could not foresee all accidents and events but He is in one mind saith Iob and that one mind and one purpose is one for all one concerning all he had it from everlasting who can turn him For He will accomplish what his soul desires Now canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou a poor mortal creature ascend up unto the height of Heaven or descend down unto the depths of Hell Canst thou travel abroad and compasse all the Sea dry Land by its longitude and latitude Would any martal creature undertake such a voyage to compasse the Universe Nay not only so but to search into every corner of it above and below on the right hand and on the left No certainly unlesse we suppose a man whose head reaches unto the heighth of Heaven and whose feet is down unto the depths of hell and whose armes streached out can fathome the length of the Earth and breadth of the Sea unlesse I say we suppose such a creature then it is in vain to imagine that either the heighth of the one or the depth of the other the length of the one and the breadth of the other can be found out and measured Now if mortal creatures connot attain the measure of that which is finite O then what can a creature do what can a creature know of him that is infinite the maker of all these things you cannot compasse the Sea and Land how then can a soul comprehend him who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure the mountains he weighs in scales and the hill in a ballance Isa. 40. 10. Thou cannot measure the circomference of the heaven how then canst thou find out him who metteth out the heaven with his span streacheth them out as a curtain Isa. 40. 12. 22. You cannot number the Nations or perceive the magnitude of the Earth and the huge extent of the Heavens What then canst thou know of him who sitteth on the circle of the earth and the inhabitants are but as Grasse-hoppers before him he spreadeth out the Heaven as a Tent to dwel into He made all the pins and stakes of this Tabernacle and he fastned them below but upon nothing and stretches this curtain about them and above them it was not so much difficulty to him as to you to draw the curtain about your Bed for he spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast Canst thou by searching him out And yet thou must search him not so much out of curiosity to know what he is for he dwels in inaccessible light which no man hath seen nor no man can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. Not so much to find him as to be found of him or to find what we can not know when we have found Hic est qui nunquam quaeri frustra potest cum tamen inveniri non potest you may seek him but though you never find him yet ye shal not seek him in vain for ye shall