Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A40680
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Perfection and peace delivered in a sermon / by Tho. Fuller.
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Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661.
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1653
(1653)
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Wing F2453; ESTC R29917
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11,114
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34
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Original Though give me leave to say the youngest child is most like the father and the newest Translation herein most naturally expresseth the sense of the Hebrew Let none cavil that such laxity in the Hebrew words occasions uncertainty in the meaning of the Scripture For God on purpose uses such words importing several senses not to distract our heads but dilate our hearts and to make us Rechoboh Room for our practice in the full extent thereof Psal. 119. 92. Thy commandement is exceeding broad and is penned in words and phrases acceptive of several senses but all excellent for us to practice So that both Translations may be happily compounded in our endeavours Mark the perfect keep innocency and behold the upright and take heed to the thing that is right for the end of that man is peace and that shall bring a man peace at the last Begin we with the description of the dead Perfect and what is a good Comment thereon Vpright Object It is impossible this world should afford a perfect man What saith David Psal. 14. 2. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek after God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one But what saith Solomon Eccles. 2. 12. For what can the man do who commeth after the King even that which hath been done already But what shall he do that cometh after the King of Heaven can Subjects hope that their discoveries will be clearer then their Soveraigns shall man living on earth see more then God looking from heaven he could not meet with one good where then shall we mark a perfect man Answ. David in the place alledged describes the general corruption ad prae varicationem of all mankind by nature in the latitude whereof we confess the perfect man in my Text was involved As all Metals when they are first taken out of the earth have much dross and oar but by art and industrie may afterwards be refined so the man in my text was equally evil with all others by nature till defecated by grace and by Gods goodness refined to such a height of puritie as in some degree will endure the touch and become perfect In a four fold respect may a servant of God be pronounced Perfect in this life 1 Comparatively in reference to wicked men who have not the least degree or desire of goodness in them Measure a servant of God by such a dwarf and he will seem a proper person yea comparatively perfect 2 Intentionally The drift scope and purpose of such a mans life is to desire perfection which his desires are seconded with all the strength of his weak endeavours He draweth his bow with all his might and Perfection is the mark he aimeth at though too often his hand shakes his bow starts and his arrow misses 3 Inchoatively We have here the begining and the earnest as of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1. 22. So of all spiritual graces expecting the full not payment because a meer gift but receipt of the rest hereafter In this world we are a perfecting and in the next Heb. 12. 23. we shall come to the spirits of just men made perfect But blame me not Beloved if I be brief in these three kinds of Perfections rather touching then landing at them in our discourse seeing I am partly affraid partly ashamed to lay too much stress and weight on such slight and slender foundations I hasten with all convenient speed to the fourth which one is worth all the rest A servant of God in this life is perfect 4 Imputatively Christs perfections through Gods mercy being impuâ—ed unto him If I be worsted in my front and beaten in my main Battel I am sure I can safely retreat to this my invincible Reeâ— In the agonie of temptation we must quit comparative perfection Alass Relation is rather a shadow then a substance quit intentional perfection being conscious to our selves how oft our actions cross our intentions Quit inchoative perfection for whilest a servant of God compareth the little goodness he hath with that great proportion which by Gods law he ought to have he conceiveth thereof as the pious Jews did of the Foundation of the second Temple Haggai 2. 3. Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing But stick we may and must to imputative perfection which indeed is Gods act cloathing us with the Righteousness of Iesus Christ This is the reason the Saints are unwilling to own any other perfection for though God Iob 1. 1. is pleased to stile Iob a perfect man yet see what he saith of himself Iob 9. 20. If I say that I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse God might say it Iob durst not for fear of pride and presumption Indeed Noah is the first person who is pronounced perfect in Scripture Gen. 6. 9. But mark I pray what went in the verse before But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Not that his finding grace is to be confined to his particular preservation from the Deluge which was but one branch or sprig of Gods grace unto him But his whole person was by Gods goodness accepted of Noahs perfection more consisting in that acceptance then his own amiableness approved not so much because God found goodness in Noah but because Noah found grace in God Come we now in the description of the Dead to what he is The end of that man is peace Object Some will object that daily experience confutes the truth of this Doctrine what more usual then to see Gods servants tossed tumbled tortured tormented often ending their painful lives with shameful deaths Cushi being demanded by David to give an account of Absaloms condition 2 Sam. 18. 32. made this mannerly and politique return The enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt be as that young man is But some will say if this be a peaceable end to lead an afflicted life and have an ignominious death may the enemies of God and all goodness the infringers of our Laws and Liberties the haters of Learning and Religion the destroyers of Unity and order have their souls surfet of such a peaceable end Resp. In answer hereunto we must make use of our Saviours distinction the same for substance and effect though in words there be variation thereof Being taxed by Pilate for treason against Caesar he pleaded for himself Ioh. 18. 36. My kingdom is not of this world So say we to salve all objections our peace that is the peace in our Text and God make it ours not only to treat and hear but partake thereof is not of this world consisteth not in temporal or corporal prosperity but is of a more high and heavenly nature Indeed this peace is in this world but not of this world begun here in the calm of a