Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	devil_n	sin_n	soul_n	4,124	5	4.9357	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B05969	A golden chain of four links to draw poor souls to their desired habitation or, The four last things briefly discoursed of, viz. Death, which is most certain, judgment, which is most strict, hell, which is most dismal; heaven, which is most delightfull. To which is added wholsome instructions both to young and old, in order to prepare themselves for their latter end, and avoid all sinful allurements, which usually obstructs that great and necessary work of salvation. With some necessary directions to die well, in order to avoid hell, and obtain heaven. / By Mr. J. Stevens.	Stevens, Joseph, fl. 1700.	1700 (1700)	Wing S5497B; ESTC R184642	10,619	16

seize upon you therefore saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.11 Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men. This Day will be a Day of extream Sorrow and Anguish to the Wicked Prov 1.20 When your Fear shall come as desolation and your Destruction as a Whirlwind Zeph. 1.15 That Day is the Day of Wrath a Day of Trouble Distress a Day of Wastness Desolations Therefore whoever you are let your daily Practice be in piety doing good to those that stand in need of your Help as far as your Circumstances will let you being Charitable Compassionate ever striving against the Temptations of the Devil slighting the foolish pleasures of this World accounting them as they are nothing but vexation of Spirit but be always minding those that are Eternal for if you expect to be any of those Souls that dwell in those Mansions of Bliss and Happiness you must fear God and keep his Commandments for that is the whole Duty of Man III. The Torments of hell and dismal State of the Wicked THe third thing necessar is to meditate upon Hell which is most dismal terrible Oh a dreadful Place where the Devil is the Jaylor Hell the prison Damnation the punishment Eternity the Time Brimstone the Fire and Men and infenal Spirits the Fuel to endure this will be intollerable and to avoid it will be impossible Christians this present Day is the Day of God's Long-sufferings but that will be Mans eternally Oh what Hells there is in hell the loss of God the loss of Christ the loss of Saints the loss of Angels the loss of all Good and the gain of all endless caseless and remediless Torments The Smoke of their Torments doth ascend for ever Rev. 4.12 and 20.10 Oh that you would think of this endless and bottomless Lake Consider that if thou but once dropest into Hell thou wilt be as far from Coming out at the end of a Thousand Years as at thy first enterance So if that all Men that ever have or shall be created were Briarehus like hundred handed and should at once take Pens in their hundred-hands and do nothing else for Ten Hundred Thousand of Millions of Years but sum up in Figures as many hundred thousand Millions as they could yet could they never reduce to a total or confine within number this trisyllable Word Eternal or that Word of Four Syllables Everlasting Now let such as forget God but seriously consider this It will not be an Imprisonment during the Kings pleasure but during the King of King's pleasure It is not a Captivity of Seventy Years like that of the Children of Israel in Babylon for that had an end nor like a Captivity of Seventy Millions of Generations for that also in time would be expired But even for ever The wicked shall live as long in Hell as there shall be a Just God in Heaven Here we measure Time by Days months years but for Eternity there is no Arithmetician can number it no Geometrician can measure it For suppose the World were turned into a Mountain of Sand and that a little Wren should come every Thousand Years and carry away from that heap but one Grain of the Sand what an infinite number of Years would be spent and expired before the whole heap would be fetched away But admit a Man should stay in Torments so long and then have an end of his VVoe it were some comfort to think that an end would come But alas when he hath finished his task a thousand times over he shall be as far from an end of his anguish as ever he was the first hour he entered into it Now suppose thou shouldst ly but one Night grievously afflicted with a raging fit of the stone Stranguary Toothach Pangs of Travel or the like though thou hadst to help ease thee a soft bed to ly on friends about thee to comfort thee Physicians to cure thee all Cordial and Comfortable things to asswage the pain yet how tedious painful would that one Night seem unto thee How wouldst thou toss and tumble and turn from one side to another Counting the Clock esteeming every Minute a Month and thy present Misery unsupportable What then will it be to ly in Flames of Fire To which our Fire is but Air in comparison Fire Brimstone keept in the highest Flame by the unquenchable Wrath of God World without end where thou shalt have nothing about thee but Darkness and Horror Wailing and wringing of Hands desperate Yellings and gnashing of Teeth Thy Old Companions in Vanity and Sin to Ban and Curse thee the Devils insulting over thee with Cruelty and Sorrow the never-dying Worm of Conscience to feed upon thy Soul and Flesh for ever and ever O everlasting E ernity an ever-dying Life and an ever-living Death O then be think thy self of this Word Eternal and everlasting and ponder upon it yea do but indeed believe it and it will be enough to break thine Heart and make it to relent and repent and thereby prevent the Wrath to come it will put thee to demur what have I done What am I about Whither will this Course tend How will it end What will become of me if I go on in Chambering and Wantonness Sutfeiting and Drunkenness Strife and Envying Swearing Profaneness and the like O then break off thy Sins without delay and let there be an healing of thine Errors The Schools affirm that the best torture in Hell exceeds the greatest that can be devised for should we first burn off one Hand then another after that each Arm and so all the Parts of the Body it would be deemed intolerable and no Man would endure it for all the Profits and Pleasures this World can afford and yet is nothing to the burning of the Body and Soul in Hell Should we endure ten thousand years tormen●● in Hell it were grievous but nothing to Eternity Shou●● we suffer one Pain it were miserable enough but if ever w●●● come there out Paines shall be for number and kinds infinitely varions as our pleasures have been here Every sense and Member each power and faculty both of Soul and Body sha●● have their several Objects of wretchedness and that without intermission or end or ease or patience to endure it Lu●● 12.5 and 16.23 Mat. 3.12 and 5.22 and 22.23 O th●● Men would strip Sin of its disguises and wash off its flatteri●● Colours and look into its odious Nature and to the cons●quential Evils of it in the next World O that they would consider they hang by slender Strings a little Breath th● expires every Minute over the Bottomless pit and that with in a little while nothing will remain of the pleasures of Sin but the undying Worm and the ever-living Flames There is a way to keep a Man out of Hell but no way to get a Man out of Hell Though the wheat and the Cha● grow together they must not lie together so in Hell the●● shall not

A Golden Chain OF FOVR LINKS To draw poor Souls to their desired Habitation Or The Four last Things Briefly discoursed of viz. Death which is most Certain Judgement which is most Strict Hell which is most Dismal Heaven which is most Delightfull To which is added Wholsome Instructions both to Young and Old in order to prepare themselves for their Latter End and Avoid all sinful Allurements which usually obstructs that great and necessary Work of Salvation With some Necessary Directions to Die well in order to avoid Hell and obtain Heaven By Mr. Jos Stevens EDINBURGH Printed and Sold by James Watson in Craig's Closs on the North side of the Cross 1700. COnsidering that this Ungratful Age abounds with so much Infidelity Impiety Unbelief as to make some so obstinate as to affirm That the Spirit of Man vanisheth with his breath and that Death is only the end of this Life and not the beginning of another I thought it highly necessary as well as Proper and Convenient in order to awaken the hardened and drowsie Consciences of such to give some lively though brief touches upon the Four last things viz. Death which is most certain Judgment which is most strict Hell which is most dismal Heaven which is most delightfull All which I shall particularly and briefly instance I. Of Death Psalm 89.4 What Man is he that liveth and shall not see Death OUt of the Dust was Man formed and unto the Dust shall Man return It is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9.27 Death to the Wicked is the end of all Comfort and the beginning of all Misery but Death to the Godly is a happy discharge freedom from Sin Sorrow and the only inlet to Peace and Happiness the Saints Enjoyments shall be incomparable when the Sinners Torments shall be intolerable when a Sinner dies he carries his bad with him leaves his good behind him But when a Believer dies he leaves all his bad behind him carries his good with him The Sinner goes from Good to Evil the Believer from Evil to Good When a Saint leaves the World his Flesh turns to Dust his Spirit returns to rest When a Sinner leaves the World his Body goes to Worms to be consumed and his Soul to Flames to be tormented When you come into the World you do but live to die again when you go out of the World you do but die to live again He that lives well cannot die ill He that lives without fear shall certainly die wthout hope He that hath no grace in his Life can have no true peace in his Death This King of Terrors Death levelleth the highest Mountains with the lowest Valies the Robes of Princes the Rags of Beggars are both laid up alike in the wardrobe of the Grave which is a bed to rest in but not a Shop to trade in therefore go to your beds as you were going to your Graves and so close your Eyes in one World as you would open them in another remember that God can as easily turn you into Dust as he took you thence to Day is your living day tomorrow may be your dying one In short the Meditation of Death is the only Motive in order for a Preparation thereunto Therefore Christian Soul whosoever thou art consider the shortness of thy Life how uncertain Death is he may come this Hour before the next Thou art not sure when thou goest to bed at Night to take thy rest whether thou shalt ever awake again though never so well if so be thou awake in the Morning whether thou shalt live till Night for Death is the great Messenger of Mortality his coming is certain but when is uncertain There is no resisting of his mighty Power when he comes He sweeps all before him both Rich and poor Old and Young it 's all one to him for when their Glass is run they must stay no longer here but to change this Life for a better or worse according as thou hast spent thy time here whether in doing Good or doing Evil. Therefore dear Soul put not off thy Repentance until another Day for thou art not sure to see an end of this Provide therefore that thy Bed may rather find thee fitted for God than fit thee so order thy Estate and thy Soul in thy Health that when Death comes thou mayst have nothing to do but to die Let not thy Thoughts be how thou shalt live here but how thou shalt live hereafter mind not the vain pleasures of this World which is but momentary but rather pray to God for his Grace without which you can do nothing that you may endure all Hard ships and Crosses here with patience and Comfort and that you may do all the Good that in you lies to the Advancement of his Glory and your Eternal Welfare II Of Judgment MEditate upon Judgment which is most strict We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ they who have been graceless in their Days will be speechless in this Day they who would not come before his Mercy-Seat shall be forced to come before his Judgment-Seat those that would not believe his promises shall tremble at his Threatnings and indeed it must be very Amazing to see the Earth flaming the Heavens melting the Stars falling the Graves opening the Judgment hastening the Sun and Moon declining and Christ and his Angels coming He that comes to raise the Dead comes also to judge the Dead Oh! this great Day to great Sinners will be a terrible ghastly day when they shall behold Christ coming in the Clouds having the person of a Man but the power of God being crowned with Dignity and guarded with Angels enraged with Anger and enabled with power to bring forth both High and Low Rich and Poor to his Bar where he will judge them not by the whiteness of their Countenance but by the Blackness of their Consciences and though he was guarded to the Cross with a Band of Soldiers yet here he is guarded with a glorious Train of Angels You that make no account of his coming what account will you make at his coming therefore for the Lord's sake meditate upon Judgment for it is the only means to make you Judgment proof O Christian seriously consider this and repent of your Sins before it is too late and break those Bands assunder that leads to utter Destruction for there 's no Repentance after Death for after Death comes Judgment O ye Drunkards Swearers Lyars Whoremongers Covetous and Oppressors of the Poor you that do despite to the Spirit of Grace will not hearken to the many loving Calls invitations of Almighty God by his Spirit Ministry take notice that this Day of God's Wrath will be a Day of Terrors to you which will make your Hearts sink within you your Countenance to change your Joints to be loosed when the Terrors of the Almighty at this time shall

to the Will of God's commanding A gracious Heart should be never out of heart if God be not willing to give thee Riches O then be willing to want Riches If God be not willing to give thee Health O then be thou willing to want it O Christian submit thy will to Gods Will that Soul shall have his will of God who desires nothing but God's Will Do you but take care of that which belongs to God and God will take care of all that belongs to you Now let us consider a little what signifies these silly foolish Pleasures here to those that are in Heaven these pleasures which are but momentary to those that are Eternal What if we suffer a little sorrow here for thirty or fourty Years which is but a small while to enjoy an Eternity in Happiness hereafter is it not better than to partake of the pleasures of this World and to have our fill of our beastly delights and to be damned in Hell for it forever after Oh consider also how much of your precious time is wasted and spent and how little of your great Work is done hath nor your rest stolen away half your time and your lust the other your Work is great and your time is short you have a GOD to honour a Christ to Believe in a Soul to save a Race to run a Crown to win a Hell to escape and a Heaven to make sure of you have many Temptations to withstand and many Afflictious to bear many Mercies to improve and many Duties to perform therefore O Christans redeem the time because the days are evil Ephes● 5.15 O that every step your Souls take might be towards Heaven and that you would make sure of God to day because to 〈◊〉 you are not sure of your selves Therefore for the Lords sake improve your time and for your Souls sake redeem your time The Lawyer will not lose his Term the Waterman will not lose his Tide the Trades-man will not lose his Exchange time the Husband-man will not lose his Season and will you lose your Season If you lose your Season you lose your precious soul. There is but one Heaven and if you miss of that you will certainly take up your Lodging in Hell I must sum up all with these Exhortations Let me beseech you who are young Men young Women to remember your Creator in the days of your youth that is to serve God to love God to Honour God and to obey God in your youthfull Days for the Flower of Life is of Christ's setting therefore let it not be of the Devil 's plucking Oh young People if you be now sick of the will not in Old Age you will die perhaps of the cannot if God's to day will be too soon for thy Repentance thy tomorrow will be too late for his Exceptance Let nothing be done in this World which cannot be answered in another nor nothing undone which may be necessary in another He that departs this World in Faith shall be saved but he that departs from the Faith shall be damned Therefore I say unto you all both old and young with St. Paul 1 Cor. 15 58. Be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the Works of the Lord for as much as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. some Holy Directions to die well MY Brethren what doth the Lord require of you but to do Justice to love Mercy and walk humbly with God and to break off with your Sins and to take no more pleasure or delight in them but hate and abhore them for the future and uterly cast them behind your backs to press forewards to the Mark of the prize of the high Calling in Christ Jesus our Lord for time is hastening and coming on wherein it shall be said He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still c. The infinite Holy and heart searching God watcheth seeth and takes a strict Account of all your Actions and they will find you out and if not truly repented of and pardoned they willly down with you in the Grave and follow you in another World and meet you at God's dreadfull Bar and be open to the view of the whole World Sin is a bad Bedfellow and a worse Grave-fellow Therefore whatsoever it is now your duty to do both to God and Man now set about and do it with all your might Ecclesiasticus 9 10. Now before the Decree comes forth and the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you 1 Be very carefull and diligent in those means that are appointed for your Salvation 2 Pet 1.10 Make your Calling and Election sure c. It is our present work and business to make sure of Eternal Happiness and Blessedness for there is no landing at the Shore of Felicity without sailing in the Back of Fidelity till you make sure of Salvation you will never be free from Temptations Strive to enter in at the streight Gate Luke 13. 2. Therefore pray without ceasing 1 Thes 4 14. Pray continually though you be not always at Prayer our daily wants call for dayly Prayers every Morning put up your Prayers to the most high God Maker of Heaven and Earth let it be your first Work and your last Work You that would be Christians indeed and not in outward shew and Profession only lock up your hearts with prayer and give God the Key and he will preserve you and then you may sleep without any fear of danger O you will never want a praying time if you do not want a praying frame O the strength and vertue of divine Prayer it will fetch Fire from Heaven yea an Angel from Heaven to fetch a Peter out of Prison They that pray heartily and in Faith may be fully assured they shall ●peed happily Thirdly take all opportunities and embrace them for the hearing of the good Word of God for faith comes by hearing of the Word preached 4ly Live in Love and Charity towards all Men your greatest Enemies as well as your best Friends 1 Joh. 1.18 My Children let us not live in Word neither in Tongue but in Love and in Truth Let your Love be real and true and not selfish Gal. 5 14 Love thy Neighbour as thy self And he that is wanting in this great work doth no● rightly and truly love himself ●his Love is called an old commandment and a new Commandment it is as old as the Law of Moses and as new as the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ The Natural and Moral Man may love his Friend but the true Christian indeed loves his Enemies A Christian should wish the best to them that wish the worst to him 5ly eye humble Christians Matth. 11.29 A Believer is like a Vessel at Sea the more it fills the more it sinks none so humble on Earth as those that live highest in Heaven Where humility is in the Corner stone there Piety is the Top Stone th● Cloth of Humility should always be worn upon the Back o● Christianity If you were but to go to the graves of thos● that are gone before you you there would see their bone● scattered their Eye wasted their Flesh consumed their mouth corrupted that it is like were lofty ones Where be now their ruddy Lips their lovely Cheeks their fluent Tongues their sparkling Eyes Are they not all gone and come to nothing and so will you be e're long Therefore what cau●● have ye to be proud of these things 6thl If we have go●● into Gods favour let us be sure to labour to keep his favo●● whilst we live and then certainly we shall die in his favour Oh whoever you be that happen to read these few Line let me beg of you to make Religion your main Business hearing reading praying and believing Do nothing in this World but what you can answer in another For we shall all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5 10. To Die well is a long Art which thou hast bu● a short time to learn they that have long furnished themselves with all spiritual Means find work enough to vanquis● and overcome all their spiritual Enemies How then sha●● thou careless Soul if thou wilt not take hold of this Oppo●tunity be in hopes to effect it when the onset of the Enem● shall be most strong and prevalent and thou thro' pains in th● Body and perplexities and distractedness of mind very wea● and no ways able to resist when Impediments shall be mult●plied and helps diminished thy distraction great thy inclinatio● little and Leisure none for at the hour of Death there 〈◊〉 so many and great things will cause thee to die that tho●● shalt have neither mind nor time nor strength to die we●● Therefore as thou desirest the everlasting Welfare of th● precious and immortal Soul let what has been desired of th● in this small Piece be strictly observed and done without d●lay that so you may be everlastingly happy with God a●● his Holy Angels in the highest Heavens FINIS