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	good_a	life_n	10,536	5	4.7272	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45720	The firebrand taken out of the fire, or, The wonderfull history, case, and cure of Mis Drake, sometimes the wife of Francis Drake of Esher in the county of Surrey, Esq., who was under the power and severe discipline of Satan for the space of ten yeares, and was redeemed from his tyranny in a wonderfull manner a little before her death,by the great mercy of God, and (instrumentally) by the extraordinary paines prayers, and fastings, of fource reverend divines, whose names are here subscribed, viz. B. Vsher, D. Preston, M. Hooker, M. Dod; Trodden down strength by the God of strength	Hart, John, D.D.	1654 (1654)	Wing H949; ESTC R15516	54,457	202

with abundance of love and thanks dismissed the Relator Thus having in some ample manner disposed of all the businesse shee seemed to have in this world The remainder of this afternoone shee lay in her former joyfull posture rejoycing to speak of the best things unto every one neare unto her yet without any rest or sleep or inclination that way When Mr Dod and Dr Preston came to visite her shee still entreating to give thanks no other discourse shee had as wanting nothing So continuing all this day untill the evening late that there was a great change as in part shall be shewed for least shee should bee lifted up through her former revelation joyes and rapture so short which endured not surpassing her strength shee had a weakning cooler to keep her down low Shee is surprised with a weakness For lo lo the Scene now changes againe the curtaine waves and tosses a little with an uncouth winde party coloured no firme impressions appeared She who lately was in a glorious triumph flying away forcibly from us all as it were with Eagles wings mounting upwards is now suddenly surprized with an extreame fainting and weaknesse of spirits being for ten dayes and nights over-wearied watched and toyled out so as now shee bewrayed some weaknesse in her expressions not being as formerly so lively and substantiall which continued the Thursday and Friday after never having any rest or sleep all the time which distemper made them send post to London for two Physitians hoping by their advice to have made her rest But all in vaine No physick could cure her but heavenly physick Therefore on the Saturday Mr Dod Dr Preston and Mr Hooker A Fast kept for her kept a private fast for her the issue whereof was in that forenoone she fell asleep rested soundly some five or six houres together and then waked in a very milde gentle temper Then shee cal'd unto her Cousin Herreis a good Gentlewoman alwayes exceeding carefull of her Sarah tell me did not I lately in some speeches forget my selfe Whereunto her Answer was Truly Cousin so you did but we imputed the same to your many dayes and night-watchings and over-wearying of your spirits unable so long to hold out So it was said she My spirits were spent and gone which caused that weaknesse Her death Then shee remembring all that had passed her strange Raptures but nothing which then shee had said in them retaining her former grounds comfort and cheerefulnesse as in so much weaknesse could bee expressed cald for Mr Dod Dr Preston with the rest of her friends causing them to give thanks with her and for her venting her selfe unto them thus That her time was now at hand prayd them not to leave her and being very weak spake then her minde unto her Father Mother and Husband in a sort taking leave of them sent for her Children and blessed them now magining to have done all her work And so from thence fell into a silent Rapture of joyfull singing of Hymnes and verses of Psalms not greatly caring to speak unto any body save now and then unto Mr Dod when hee moved an occasion And so shee lay this Saturday night and the next Sunday only when Mr Dod came desiring still to give thanks all which time shee grew weaker and weaker having by this time no audible but a hollow low voyce scarce to be understood The Munday after in the morning when shee fell asleep being come Mr Dod with the rest comming unto her shee when shee saw them all about her rejoyced and smiled taking them all by the hand with a cheerefull countenance beckned unto Master Dod to give thanks and bent her selfe what shee could with lifted up hands to joyne speaking softly unto her selfe in her Hymning way And so whilst they were at Prayer suddenly her hands falling and her lips going she sunck down in the bed and departed leaving all her friends mourning about her Thus have we seene the strange Story and scarce credible the like never heard of before I believe of this good Gentlewoman whom now wee will suffer to rest in peace freed from all the stormes and tempests wherein shee left her survivers Her buriall Who two dayes after was buried according to her desire at Ammersum in that Attire shee before her death bad dressed her selfe Dr Preston Preaching her funerall Sermon with the infinite teares of all her friends and poore of the Parish Shee was of an extraordinary sincere plaine true heart full and abounding in love mervellous secret in all her goodnesse very charitable to the poore of an unblameable conversation and life and the best Anti-hypocrite Christ excepted that ever lived for she alwayes wore her worst side out-most and wonderfully clok'd all the goood things shee ever did or said with all her skill endevouring to extenuate all shee this way did or said Of her jewels and other things her Husband lovingly gave her way to dispose of shee left Legacies and remembrances unto all her friends who had beene most helpfull unto her and forty shillings a piece unto some few good poor women whom she had secretly unknown unto any procured to pray constantly for her And now that we have brought this good Creature into Heaven good Reader give mee ●eave out of all which hath been said for memories sake to sum up briefly her grand Case least it should be mistaken The sum of this grand Case A good Creature in her naturall estate qualified with the best of meere natures endowments accidentally encountring with some grand difficulties which a little overcame her naturall parts By the way being surprized with admiration and wonder at the power of godlinesse in some eminent Professors her Neighbours the reflex whereof struck her with a strong conviction not no be yet the same ●s to bee saved shee must needs bee with her other concurring crosses wrought so upon her as shee became very melancholy yet with an enforced mirth to cloke the same which advantage Satan espying who still loves to work out his ends by that dolefull temper he assaults her with fearefull night-dreames seconded with divers wilde-fire temptations to have driven her unto finall dispaire which hee had well neare effected Meane while God intending to make her an everlasting monument of his mercy intending a great work unto others by her trouble and deliverance to convert by the way her Husband and Parents with divers others in both Families so stopping divers gaps with one bush and as hee alwayes doth and hath done to over-shoot Satan in his own Bow provides and sends one of a thousand to finde her out wrastle with all her temptations foyle Satan and convince her judgement so drawing her unto a conformity of the meanes though with much opposition But yet so as an habituall indisposition shee had acquired spiced with the dregges of remaining temptations kept her off from endeavour never all this time having had any comfort of feeling

so great and wonderfull mercies as daily and nightly we are freed from the least whereof when their contraries suprize us makes us cry out as most miserable witnesse this good Gentlewoman fore-mentioned Who being and living in continuall fears valued nothing at all this world took no comfort in any thing here below And yet it is strange how daily we slubber over our Thanks givings and freedom from miseries we enjoy as though they were not most great and wonderfull every morning renewed mercies or else we should have wonderfull and dolefull dayes But it is our misery and frailty that a prick of a pin in our flesh usually wee are more sensible of then of the health and harmonicall concord both of soul and body And therefore hereafter to chase survey and consider of our present mercies to bruise and tosse them as men doe Aromatick sweets that their fragiancies may the more abundantly spread forth themselves whilst the North and South winde of the spirit thus blowes upon them to shew forth and make us consider of their excellencies unto Admirations utmost wonder thus to ascend a higher pitch upon this ●ount of Thanksgiving and become more perfect upon earth of our endlesse work in Heaven Thirteenthly As we began with this good Creature who led forth the Van in a Tempest so now having been victorious let us so far honour her as to bring up the Reere and make the last Use which she her selfe made unto all succeeding Survivers howsoever afflicted especially by dissertion or hardnesse of Heart That they should upon experience of her CASE and Gods goodnesse unto her not be so discouraged in any estate whatsoever as to give over the use of meanes but to ply them still trust and wait and they would prevaile at length Therefore then from hence let all such learn to wait and depend upon God And since as it is Isa 30. hee waits in all their troubles for an opportunity to shew mercy unto them therefore to wait and depend upon him untill hee come For though they may wait long yet herein they may abundantly comfort themselves That God will comfort them according to all the dayes they have beene afflicted and the years wherein they have seene evill That hee who hath shewed us sore and great troubles will yet quicken us againe and bring us up from the depth of the earth encrease our greatnesses and comfort us on every side Psal 71.20.21 That though they have beene led through fire and water causing men ride over their heads yet that he will bring them forth unto a wealthy place Psal 66.12 That when they walk in the midst of trouble God will revive them and maintaine their cause Psal 140.12 That after deliverances from affliction their souls shall be as a watered Garden and shall not sorrow any more at all Ier. 31.12 And that in deliverance they shall have severall comforts answering their severall crosses Ier. 31.8 being built up againe as at the first Ier. 33.7 And therefore to persist and goe on trusting still and depending upon God because though they may for the present want sense and feeling of Gods love yet as Peter speaks because in the interim they are kept by the power of God unto salvation that they are all in Gods hand at the worst Deut. 33.3 from above having the eternall God for their refuge beneath being claspt in his everlasting armes Deut. 23.27 And so Because hee brings light from darknesse perfection from weaknesse by death bringing unto life and by the gates of Hell unto Heaven Seeing he makes all things work together for good unto us and ●ll his works how crosse so●e●er beautifull in time O let the ●ints after so rare a President of this good woman never hereafter hee out of Heart assuring themselves of deliverance whatsoever their Case be in using of the ●tanes For What is a hard heart 〈◊〉 ten thousand hard hearts un●● that great God who with a ●ord made Heaven and Earth 〈◊〉 whom nothing is too hard ●en 17.1 Who over-turneth the ●ountaines by the roots who ●akes the Earth Heaven drop●ing at his presence Psal 78.8 ●ho calleth all the Stars by their ●mes by the greatnesse of his ●ight spans the Heavens clothing them with blacknesse making Sack-cloth their covering commanding the Sun not to rise and sealing up the Starres c. Upon all these grounds therefore and many moe too tedious to relate let all stoope unto God Saint-like lie and sit down at his feet receiving of his words taking the experimentall counsell of this good woman to keep close unto God in the use of meanes and then they are safe Resolving that though they die yet to die as his feet and so to wait and trust still unto the last for he will come at last unto them as Habacus hath it The vision is for an appointed time though it tarry yet wait for it will come and not tarry as it did unto this good woman after ten years expectation whose abundant feeling and comforts in the end did manifoldly s●rmount all her sufferings and toubles in an unspeakable manner and measure leaving her selfe as the matchlesse monument of Gods unspeakeable mercy unto all stout stiffe and hard-hearted sinners for ever even though for a while they doe resist the meanes who for all this may be won by overcomming mercies as she was so tryumphing over all their spirituall enemies as to sing at length in a more ensulting and lofty way with Deborah Judg. 5.21 O my Soule thou hast trodden down strength FINIS Errata Pag. 12. l. 9. for know read known p. 138. l. 23. for strangely 1. suddenly p. 131. for Mr r. Mistrisse p. 162. l. 13. for sell sleep r. had slept

so long away for now shee rested assured her time on earth was but of small continuance About which time it fell out that Mr Hooker also having acted his part with her and done his best to comfort uphold and rectifie her spirit so fitting her for mercy as nothing remained to bee done but a full gaile of spirituall winde to blow upon her to bring sorth her fruit that be Gods Providence he was married unto her waiting-woman After which both of them having lived some time after with her and he cal'd to bee Lecturer at Chemsford in Essex they both left her Master Hooker leaves her her Husband having provided another for the Cure but not like unto the other who also came often to visite her being much there And there lived also two miles from thence a worthy good Minister one Mr Witherell of Waltham upon Thames whom shee went constantly to heare and was alwayes very helpfull unto her but especially when Mr Hooker had thus left her whom every Thursday shee heard hee being a painfull able good mercifull man did then much help her both in publike and also in private helps of conference and expounding of the Word which now shee much delighted in at all occasion especially shee found a little comfort in opening of that chapter Micah 7. one time when Mr Dod was with her three Moneths before her death though as shee said she durst not acknowledge nor confesse the same for feare it had not been so But ah should I now lance forth into the discourse of the losse of so good a friend The preparation unto her death but what say I of losse No she was not lost shee was now found with her face strongly bent home Heaven-wards Having therefore thus far proceeded in this said Trage-Comicall discourse I must now proceed to the Catastrophe thereof If therefore good Reader thou wilt have a little more patience to heare the rest thou shalt quickly see the Scene change with a joyfull Comicall conclusion For though all this while shee hath gone forth weeping carrying precious seed now thou shalt see her returne with sheaves of everlasting joy though weeping hath beene many an evening yet now thou shalt see Joy come in an everlasting morning Though Satan hath much toyled wearied out and vexed her spirit yet thou shalt see how the God of peace shall shortly tread downe Satan under her feet her reward infinitely surpassing all her momentany sufferings which now comes to hee the fourth and last thing propounded Her death and the preparation unto it Divers years since Mr Dod left her and some large time also after that Mr Hooker was removed unto Chemsford shee remained more chearfull in minde though tormented with her heart-burning and in manner perpetuall megrum which made her to lie much of the day upon her bed unfit for any other actions of endeavor in the use of meanes she would or should otherwise be employed in About this time a strong distaste was given her from a neare friend A new griefe is added to the former not necessary here to relate nor to our purpose Which yet fastened so upon her that it grew more and more and brought her into a posture of great discontent so as shee became in her thoughts a woman in some sort of another world who being resolute in her way unremoveable having resolved and alwayes purposing when shee found her selfe neare unto her last to die at her Fathers House and lie with her kindred and friends at Ammersum Shee suddenly told her Husband that shee found her selfe very ill and therefore that shee was purposed to goe suddenly unto her Fathers House Hee much wondering at the suddennesse of her resolution told her If her resolution were such to goe so quickly his businesse was such as hee could not yet goe with her unlesse she would stay until his businesse was dispatcht but if she were resolute to goe that hee would not stay her she might when she would So shee being resolute the next day with two of her men shee departed for her Fathers House where being arrived they wondering that shee came so without her Husband shee in plaine termes told them That shee alwayes had resolved to die at Sharolois and therefore shee not knowing how long her time should be finding her weaknesse great had now come without her husband to die there saying that her husband would shortly follow after They much wondering at this sudden newes from her and unexpected strange speeches yet at her comming smoothed her over telling her that this was but some unwarranted feare had surprized her and that she would finde herselfe herein as in many other surmised things deceived But shee still maintained the maine that her time was at hand and she very weak though shee carryed it faire after which her Husband in a week or ten dayes arrived But the posture of her carriage for all this was the same She being in a surpassing extraordinary strange hunor of talking of the best things perpetually night and day without intermission not having any jot of sleep almost night or day whereby her spirits were both much spent and tyred out The Relator who still had a watchfull eye upon all the passages of her occurrences Mr Dod is gone for to come unto her once more knowing of her late discontent and cause thereof and hearing that she was removed to Sharolois made no more adoe but with all haste went and brought Mr Dod thither fearing that this might prove his last journey unto her as indeed it proved when he came unto her two Sundayes before her death he by that time found her much weakned in body keeping her bed but with such vehement desires to discourse of and heare of the best things reading expounding and singing of Psalmes that all were struck with admiration and would not stay with her so long as shee would have had us nor read unto her because we would gladly have had her to rest which could not be done for shee continued still speaking both night and day to some one or other who watched with her yet all of the best things for her time being short she imagined as shee said shee could not too advantagiously emprove the same The first of the two Sundayes before her death Shee instructs and prepares her children to beare her death shee would not suffer her children to goe to Church that day but made them stay with her to instruct them and speak her minde unto them alledging that shee must take time whilst shee had time for she knew not whether or not shee should live untill the next Sunday when shee vented unto them in the best manner shee could at large all shee had to say unto them expounding divers Scriptures unto them formerly expounded unto her which shee had a large strong memory to retaine this day finishing all shee had to say unto them saving at last to give them her blessing Now

which shee so eagerly desiring without paines taking for it in the interim shee is well beaten God at leghth yeelding unto the importunity of prayers for her affords her such an immense measure of comfort and feeling for a small time as mortality was incapble to retaine After which her spirits thereby vanquished out-wearied with watching and incessant speaking for divers dayes and nights together for a small time shee bewrayes some weaknesse But upon a private Fast kept for her two dayes before her death shee revives againe maintaines her grounds former joyes and feeling from thence untill her death remaining in a silent Rapture of joyes wherein shee departed leaving her selfe the ever memorable mirror of Gods wonderfull mercies unto all the stiffe obdurate hard-hearted for ever And now good Reader tell mee Is it fit or possible that we should part with so grand strange rare and matchlesse a CASE without some briefe use thereof unto the Survivers for which cause it hath beene written and for ought wee know all her sufferings were O no courage then hold out a little and I will now dispatch briefly endeavouring in the Catastrophe of this our Tragi-Comedie to recompence thy patience with the fragrance of some sweet smelling close of some Divine rarities Vse First Then here wee may learne That not the great things of this world makes one happy but the favour of the great God Nothing being able to content the soule but that which is able to fill it which all this world cannot doe Shewing that there is nothing such in these earthly things as wee imagine in the evill day or times of tryall Witnesse this good Gentlewoman the subject of our discourse who might have swimmed in the fulnesse of all earthly pleasures all which were nothing unto her shee was dampt in the midst of all so as nothing could revive or joy her like unto David save the light of Gods countenance to be lifted up upon her And therefore not to deceive our selves but to settle in our judgements that wherein onely true solid lasting happinesse consists the favour of God and follow that with all our might Secondly Then see hence That of all the Burthens in this world sinne is the most insupportable especially when therewith in any measure is joyned a sense of the wrath of God For if God as it is in Amos complaine that hee is pressed down under the same as a Cart under the sheaves the sense thereof also making David to roare for griefe of heart having also bred so much terror amazement and trouble unto this good Gentlewoman for so many yeares together being free of grosse sinnes what may they think of themselves who goe on sinning without feare living and going on in grosser sins without repentance Thirdly Here we may see That in the best where there is sinne there must and will bee smarting punishments though it be forgiven as Davids was Yet we may soundly be beaten for the same he taking vengeance of our inventions as the Psalmist speaks for this good Gentlewoman though saved and forgiven yet was soundly beaten ere shee departed hence Therefore to bee afraid to sinne and to stand in awe of the anger of the great God for though hee may forgive yet if hee open Hell unto us keep us in perpetuall fear as upon the rack as he did this good Hentlewoman letting Satan loose to buffet her oh what comfort can we have in such a tormenting dying life having our happinesse hid form our eyes Fourthly Hence also we may learn That the more beloved usually the soundlier beaten sifted and tried Amos 3. You only have I known of all the Nations of the Earth therefore you shall not goe unpunished for all your iniquities wherefore corrections being a sign of love not of reprobation as the Devill perswades that the Saints should not be discouraged though storme-beaten in their journey homewards they may goe to Heaven for all this as this good Gentlewoman did Fifthly And so here also we may gather what need we have of patience to have its perfect work in us to fit us for the greatest and most smarting afflictions there being yet some light in this darke cloud the sorest and most smarting crosses ending usually in the greatest and most glorious deliverances Witnesse the none-such troubles of Iacob Ioseph Iob David the Churches forty years Pilgrimage in the Wildernesse of this good Gentlewoman all ending in peace and joy because the promise is that of necessity the patient abiding of the righteous must needs end in joy Sixthly Then also we see here that crosses and afflictions are only lesser and greater as it pleases the great God to set them on lesse or more as it pleases him to abstract the light of hs countenance from us turn loose Satan upon us enfatuate our judgements giving us some taste and sense of his encensed wrath Oh! who then can dwell with such everlasting burnings and if smaler sins discovered thus set on and torment yea some thoughts only as in this good Gentlewoman Oh! what may the greater doe if he should aggravate them discovering the wrath due unto them without a suitable sight of mercy Therefore to break off our sins betimes repent of them and to sow for our selves in righteousnesse that wee may have a sure reward and bee able at last to stand with boldnesse before the Son of Man Seventhly So seeing too eager desire of feeling cost this Gentlewoman so deare though shee had her desire therefore not to dote too much upon it being restlesse untill they have it as many good soules doe who like Rachel restlesse for children cryd out still comfort comfort feeling feeling or else wee die But let them be contented of what measure thereof God of his infinite wisedome thinks best for them For He who hath created them for eternity of glory surely knowes the best meanes and way to bring them thither Seeing feeling at the best is uncertaine short and quickly vanishing and too much doted upon and eagerly persued brings us onely to a habit of discontentment without it whilst wee cannot bee contented unlesse every day the Almighty feast us forgetting that wee walk by faith and not by sight and that the life we now live in the flesh is by the Faith of the Son of God vision and sense for to come Eighthly Then behold from this rare experience here this lesson Not to prescribe or appoint God a way which way to bring us unto glory Hee knew the fittest and shortest way to have brought the children of Israel unto the Land to Canaan without passing through a red sea But out of his infinite wisedome he made choyce of the wildernesse way unto them That as Moses shewes hee might prove them try them and doe them good at their latter end And yet how crooked soever his wayes seem unto our corrupted senses they bee alwayes straight how full soever of turnings and windings as the Psalmists That hee brought them