Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	die_v	life_n	time_n	18,635	5	3.9362	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65889	This is an epistle for the remnant of Friends, and chosen of God whom he hath yet preserved to bear their testimony in and about the city of London, to whom, this is a testimony of the dear love, and tender care which flowes forth, and is extended towards them, and all tender hearts who are concerned in the like sufferings, temptaons [sic], and tryals / from their faithful friend and servant in the Lord, G. Whithead.	Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.	1665 (1665)	Wing W1963; ESTC R20330	8,939	18

the final deliverance of many from the cruelties and rod of their Oppressors and so from the miseries and evils to come And also the faithfulness uprightness and innocency of divers of those that were taken away and their constancy of Spirit to the Lord and his living truth and their unfeigned love to the Brethren by the which 't was evident they had passed from death to life and what a living and faithful Testimony they bear for the Lord in their life time being well known and manifest amongst us their Memorial is truly precious to us and never to be forgotten and we are satisfied that they were found worthy for the Lord and the World was not worthy of them And besides some whom God hath restored and raised up again who yet remain alive with us who were under the same trial and sickness can testifie to Gods tender love to them and how freely they were therein by faith given up to the Lord under it in his love and favour which they partake of either to die or live as he should be pleased to dispose of them knowing that some that were very dear to the Lord even some of his choise Jewels and peculiar treasure were removed by it So that I must say what I have seen and felt that as to the state of faithful Friends in this case some by faith according to the will of God were given up and desirous rather to die then live and therein freely imbraced the outward affliction or calamity which was but for a moment in comparison knowing that to die would be a great advantage and gain to them and that thereby they should be freed from future sufferings burthens calamities and evils and their Spirits should acquiess and rest in everlasting peace joy and triumph And others by faith were simply and singly given up in the will of God to die if he should so dispose of them not in themselves expecting life or recovery and yet in so being given up have come to be restored again to continue longer bearing their Testimony amongst us having known and felt that in the patience to resign to the w●ll of God in self-denial abasement and humility in their affliction and trial was most consistant with their peace And again some others of us by faith according to the will of God have been kept over the distemper and hitherto preserved alive not for any respect that we may assume to our selves in the matter nor for any reason as I know that can be shewn for us more then for some innocent persons that were taken away but that the Lord had a respect to his own glory and further service for himself which he had for us to do and be imployed in and that he will preserve a Remnant as he hath determined to bear his Name and hold forth his Testimony amongst men in their innocent lives and holy Conversations so as the glory and praise we give to the Lord desiring all of us may faithfully serve him in Godly fear and true humility the days we have to sojourn here that we all may ever be to his praise in whose hand we are whether we live or die for he makes all things to work together for good to them that love him who are not offended in him in any of their tribulations or temptations when the hour of temptation is upon all flesh to try them that dwell upon the face of the earth he that has committed unto us the word of his patience who is Israel's Keeper is our preserver support and refuge thorough all these things and he has made us co-workers together in one and the same spirit of faith and life wherein he is obeyed and submitted to by his faithful people and servants in their several states trials and exercises and among whom the various effects and fruits of the same faith are seen and brought forth according to his will who gives life and preservation And now moreover if such as take advantage against us on this occasion aforesaid whether they be open or secret smiters or enemies did either rightly or seriously come to weigh their conditions and let Gods witness judge in the case they have no cause to boast glory or insult over us or against us for that they are not their own Keepers nor is their life continued by their own power and how soon their time may be expired and their judgment overtake them they know not nor how soon their days may be cut asunder to be sure their condemnation slumbers not who in the pride of their hearts and presumption of their spirits turn against the suffering seed of God under what profession and pretence soever though under pretence of the name of the Lord or profession of the truth it self and knowing also that many that were of their own spirit and principle have also been taken away under the same calamity for it has extended to all sorts both holy and prophane they have cause to dread and fear before the Lord and not to be high minded nor presumptuous for the mouth of the boaster and exalted must be stopt and all flesh and carnal reason is to be silent in this matter for Gods power is over it all and over that which has threatned or brought evil tidings against his Israel for we know the same spirit that turns against us and watches for occasions and prophecies our destruction would have it come to pass so to be reckoned a true Prophet and that is the murtherer that kills the poor the same that 's in our open enemies and the same that was in Cain against his Brother and he that is in this spirit or principle of enmity or prejudice hath no eternal life abiding in him O let this thing be publisht in the ears of Gods people and let Friends feel my innocent intention and end herein having writ the more of this nature for prevention of the enemy's subtlety and temptations of this kind that the tender and weak may not be ensnared thereby I knowing and having really seen how Satan besets such with temptations upon these deep trials to undermine their hope and to beget unbelief and despair in the minds to turn them from truth and how he makes use of his Instruments in the same way to effect his evil end against us but the Lord will rebuke him and bruise him under the feet of his own anointed seed and faithful people And now a common calamity or distemper as this which has brought such a great Mortality as it hath been appointed and permitted of the Lord has extended and opperated according to the spreading and contagious nature and property of it to the bodies of both old and young good and bad nocent and innocent yea to many that know not their right hand from the left but the iniquities and abominations of the wicked was the cause of Gods anger and displeasure herein and the Original cause of this Calamity the Creation

Remnant to bear his mark and name upon Earth and to hold forth a living Testimony for his glory and praise amongst the sons of Men for which many have not loved their lives unto death but have offered up their lives as divers manifestly did in that City the last Summer when such a sore Visi●ation and Calamity was upon that place wherein divers offered up life and all for the truth and their afflicted Brethren and Sisters for whose sakes my soul has often been greatly bowed down and afflicted and my bowels have earned for them and my Inwards were so moved with compassion and brokenness of spirit that neither life it self nor any outward privilege did seem too dear to me to resign or offer up for their sakes And though when the Sickness was so hot in that City and Prisons some of the Persecutors at that time appeared cruel wicked and abominable against the Innocent to destroy them in these Pestilential places of Confinement where both there and also on Shipboard wherein so many were confined for Banishment many innocent Lambs laid down their lives for the witness of a good Conscience And though the wicked may for a time in their wickedness and mischievous minds be lifted up against us to insult over us because of these our deep trials and the death of so many innocent persons either in the Prisons on Shipboard or out of Prisons yet their being so elevated and hardened against us who are the People of the Lord does but the more make for and further their own destruction ruine and misery as often I have said and been sensible and their Plague torment and calamity which slumbers not is greater and more sad then many's that have died under that common Calamity of the Pestilence by which many have been removed both of good and bad which thing those that are yet alive and remain in their sins without taking warning thereby it will prove the greatest Plague and Judgment against such who are the least considerate sensible of the hand of the Lord in it or of their states and conditions for as to this particular calamity or sickness 't is in it self not the worst of Judgments which God hath in store for a sinful provoking rebellious people or Nation and Gods controversie is not yet ended in this Nation nor the viols of his displeasure emptied upon his enemies and persecutors of his Seed And oh to consider what a sore heavy Judgment is it what misery does it presage to many in this Nation that so many innocent or Righteous persons in it should be taken away as those whom the world are not worthy of but such are taken away from the evil to come both from future calamities and set in safety for ever from them that have puffed at them and made a prey upon them in their life time And as for us that yet remain who fear the Lord and stick close to him always eyeing and seting him before us in the greatest of our perils and sufferings we know his goodness endures for ever though the mighty and exalted of the Earth boast and insult for a time over us and the more the suffering is the greater is the consolation and glory to them that continue faithful to the end And what ever conclusions are brought forth against us either by wicked men or any who in prejudice turn against us and take occasion from this Mortality which has come upon so many Friends in the time of this great Calamity as if it were in Gods wrath indignation or fury against the body of Friends or any of us who are come to the Communion of the body of Christ which we are Members of or if any that profess the name of the Lord be so clouded byassed and prejudiced in their minds as to conclude this a fulfilling of some such Prophecies of wrath and indignation against Friends such spirits and evil tidings are plainly seen and they to be presumptuous and no Prophets sent of the Lord and therefore cannot make us afraid who confide in the name of our God and in that living faith wherein our unity and victory stands our innocent life stands over them in true Judgment against all that which among some has crept in at unawares to create devisions enmity against the faithful servants or people of God where 't is received in any unstable or brickle spirits And therefore my soul saith the Lord rebuke thee oh Satan who enviest the heritage of God why doest thou subtlely present thy self amongst the sons of God to trouble the innocent endeavouring with thy fiery darts and temptations of this nature to turn them against their Maker and why doest thou subtlely make use of Instruments in this thy wicked work to effect thy treacherous designs The Lord will rebuke thee by his mighty power for we are sure that where Gods faithful Witness in the Conscience is owned which ought to be judge in the case and must deside the Controversie We know that does bear witness with us and for us and to the justification of all the Faithful amongst us who are really of Us and belong to the seed of Election and therefore will not go out from us who abide in the truth of God which changes not being of the seed of Jacob and off-spring of Israel after the Spirit which is beyond revolting Israel after the flesh for herein are we heirs of promise and then who shall condemn conclude or prophesie wrath where God justifies and not bring condemnation upon themselves for that Gods love was felt by many under that trial and Visitation which many died in about that City and many were sensible of Gods love and favour till the very last And the life peace satisfaction and comfort that many innocent Friends felt and that some express and signified on their Deathbeds I am a living Witness of for them Having at some times as the Lord hath drawn me in his Love been present with many of them when they were very low in the outward Man and with divers when upon their Deathbeds both in that destructive place of Newgate and some other places Yea when sorrow and sadness has seized upon my spirit and my heart and soul has been pierc'd and wounded when I have seen the sad sufferings of so many harmless Lambes when they were on their sick beds in these noysome holes and Prisons Yet at the same time having had a deep sence and knowledge of the Lords love and care to them in that condition and having truly felt his life and power stirring amongst them This on the other hand has refresht and revived my spirit knowing that Christ their Salvation and Redemption was manifest to and in them though in that suffering state as they have followed and obeyed him through sufferings and tribulations and so with such to live was Christ in that state and to die was gain it being through death that the Lord had appointed