Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	eternal_a	life_n	world_n	9,745	5	4.8408	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28857	Boteler's case being an impartial narrative of the tryal, & penitent behaviour of Master UUilliam Boteler, executed September 10th at Chelmsford, about the murder of Capt. Wade : with the substance of a sermon preached on that occasion, and his last speech faithfully taken.	Boteler, William, d. 1678.	1678 (1678)	Wing B3805; ESTC R43063	16,063	48

grounds who knows that his Redeemer liveth without this the Flower of Nature shrinks and droops at the sight of a chilly Grave For when others brave it their unconcernedness is the effect only of stupidity or a feaverish Passion let them but consider it in cool blood and they shall be ready with the Emperour Adrian in a fit of trembling and perplexity to cry out O Animula vagula blandula Hospes Comesque Corporis Quae nunc abibis in Loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis joces On the contrary here you might behold a staid and even Resolution equally void of womanish fear or Hectorly impudence that shew'd a due consideration of the weighty Errand he was going about that upon true measures he could bear with the difficulties of the way out of a sense and comfortable prospect of his Journeys end And now too might you see the most marble-hearted Spectators in all the numerous croud to melt at their Eyes and compassion to seize the most obdurate breasts Being arriv'd at the place where he was to suffer he mounted two or three rounds of the Ladder and thence with a modest look and chearful voice spake as follows The last Confession or Speech of Mr. Boteler at place of Execution Gentlemen I Have very great reason to believe that I shall die here with as little pity and as much malice as ever any did but I beg of you to hear the words of a dying man who within a few minutes must go out of this World In the first place as to the thing I suffer for I am very well satisfied and am content to die believing that I die justly and righitously by the Law of the Land but as touching the murder of Mr. Wade I am not guilty Parsons came to me and desired me to go to Mr. Wade to tell him that he was in such a place and would speak with him which I was loath for to do but upon his perswasions I went to him This Captain Wade I never had any malice or envy in my heart against in my life nor any provocation from him But as I said I went to him and told him that Parsons was resolved not to put up the affront he had given him I told him also that Parsons was in a Field in such a place I said Sir I am sorry that Parsons hath any thing against you that he is so enrag'd He desired me to go with him to the Field and shew him where Parsons was for he would go to him But I was unwilling to go with him and more than once desired him to let me be gone that I might not be concern'd one way or other desiring him likewise to forbear or at least defer meeting to see if a reconciliation might not be had and if afterwards Parsons would fight with Seconds I would serve him rather than Parsons But he would needs have me go forth of his House with him so I walk'd with him a little way and then I said Fare ye well Sir God bless you And he said God bless thee honest Will and so we parted I do declare that I never saw them near one another nor any Sword drawn If any thing lies upon my Conscience it is this and I have laid it before the Lord with humility and am satisfied that God hath pardon'd it through the Merits of Christ That I should be an occasion to bring him out of his house whereby he came to his end I do declare That Parsons told me both before and when he was come to London that he did believe the Captain was not dead But I have very justly deserved a greater death than this by my many sins that I have committed against God and I do desire that my fall may be to the saving of many a man here My wickedness was great I was come to meer Atheisme I did not beleive there was a God but liv'd in continuual practice of sin going to bed prophaning of his holy Name and rising again with curses in my mouth let all that hear me this day repent and not forget the Lord that made them I was educated like a Gentleman as many do know and very well brought up as to Religion but I had left all that and kept bad company and was drawn in only as you have heard but you see he that did the fact is escaped and I must dye Now I desire that every one that lives and sees me here may take example by me who am going out of this world within a few minutes there is never a one here but does provoke the Almighty every minute to cut him off were not his mercies infinite and I can freely lose this life confessing I have deserved an eternal death yet I believe through the merits of my dear Saviour that he will receive me immediately into glory Now there is another aspersion that is cast upon me that I was a High-way Robber and I do declare that I never had any such design never was of any gang to that purpose nor ever saw any man robb'd that I remember in all my life As touching the bloody coat that people judge I did the Act in I do declare that it was done by my being let blood and that six or seven weeks before the murder was committed as many Gentlemen can witness nor had I that coat on then Another thing I would clear that was cast upon me which is that I was a Roman Catholick But I do declare that I am not but am a Protestant and of the Church of England though one of the least and worst thereof Now I have done and leave it to you whether you will beleive the words of a dying man or no for how could I expect to be saved if I should go out of the world with a lye in my mouth I pray God of Heaven freely to forgive Parsons that hath brought me to this and to give him to consider what he hath done and grant him repentance for it and to have mercy on his soul But though I dye I am confident that he will clear my innocency but I find that I was so little believed that people thought I would say any thing to save my life And now I desire you all to joyn with me in Prayer to Almighty God to forgive me my sins to have mercy upon me and to save my soul So he kneeled down to Prayer and prayed very affectionately humbly and enlargedly with much brokenness of heart and such pathetical expressions that being not exactly taken it would be injurious to represent them with the least variation from his own words then a Minister went to Prayer with him and after he had prayed to God again in few words he then rise up and said The God of Heaven bless you all and when he was on the Ladder he said The Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me then the Hangman asking him to forgive him he answered

may judge how happy a frame of spirit he was under let him peruse the following Engagement or Covenant drawn up by Mr. Boteler himself soon after his condemnation and found in his own Hand-writing in his Book The Original remaining in the hands of a worthy Minister Chaplain to a Noble Lord whence this is faithfully copied Mr. Boteler's solemn Covenant with God private-lately drawn up by himself and found in his own Manuscript OH most dreadful God for the Passion of thy Son I beseech thee accept of thy poor Prodigal now prostrating himself at thy door I have fallen from thee by mine Iniquities and am by Nature the Son of Death and a thousand-fold more the Child of Hell by my wicked practises but of thine infinite Grace thou hast promised Mercy to me in Christ if I will turn to thee with all my Heart Therefore upon the Call of thy Gospel I am now come in and throwing down my Weapons submit my self to thy Mercy And because thou requirest as the conditions of my peace with Thee that I should put away my Idols and be at defiance with all thine Enemies whom I acknowledge I have wickedly sided with against thee I do here from the bottom of my heart renounce them all firmly covenanting with thee not to allow my self in any known sin but conscientiously to use all means that I know thou hast prescribed for the death and utter destruction of all my Corruptions And whereas I have formerly inordinately and Idolatrously let out all my Affections upon the World I do here resign my heart to thee that madest it humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty that this is the firm resolution of my heart and that I do unfeignedly desire Grace from thee That when thou shalt call me thereunto I may practise this my Resolution through thy Assistance to forsake all that is dear unto me in this World rather than to turn from thee to the ways of sin and that I may watch against all its Temptations whether of Prosperity or Adversity lest they should withdraw my heart from thee Beseeching thee also to help me against the Temptations of Satan to whose wicked suggestions I resolve by thy Grace never to yield my self a servant and because my own Righteousness is but as filthy rags I renounce all confidence therein and acknowledge that I am of my self a hopeless helpless undone Creature without righteousness or strength And for as much as Thou hast of thy bottomless Mercy offered most graciously to me wretched sinner to be again through Christ my God if I would accept of Thee I call Heaven and Earth to record this day That I do here solemnly avouch Thee for the Lord my God and with all possible veneration bowing the neck of my Soul under the feet of thy Sacred Majesty I do here take thee the Lord Jehovah Father Son and Holy Ghost for my Portion and chief Good and do give up my self Body and Soul for thy Servant promising and vowing to serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of my life and since thou hast the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto thee I do here upon the bended knees of my Soul accept of him as the only new and living way by which sinners may have access to thee and do here solemnly joyn my self in Marriage-covenant to him Oh! blessed Jesus I come to thee hungry and hard bested poor and wretched miserable blind and naked a most loathsome polluted wretch a guilty condemned Malefactor unworthy for ever to wash the feet of the Servants of my Lord much more to be married to the King of Glory but since such is thine unparallel'd love I do here with all my power accept thee and do take thee for my Lord and Husband for all times and conditions to love honour and obey thee before all others and this to death I embrace thee in all thy Offices I do renounce my own worthiness and do here own thee to be the Lord my Righteousness I renounce my own wisdom and do here take thee for my only Guide I renounce my own Will and take thy Will for my Law And since thou hast told me I must suffer if I will reign I do here covenant to take my Lot as it falls with thee and by thy Grace assisting to run all hazards with thee verily confiding That neither life nor death shall part between thee and me And because thou hast been pleased to give me thy holy Laws as Rules of my Life and the ways in which I should walk to thy Kingdom I do here willingly put my neck under thy Yoke and set my shoulder to thy Burthen and subscribing to all thy Laws as holy just and good I solemnly take them as the Rule of Words Thoughts and Actions promising that though my flesh contradict and Rebel yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy Directions and will not allow my self in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my duty Only because through the frailty of my flesh I am subject to many failings I am bold humbly to protest that unallowed miscarriages contrary to the settled bent and resolution of my heart shall not make void this Covenant for so thou hast said Now Almighty Searcher of all hearts thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this day without any known Guile or Reservation beseeching thee that if thou espyest any flaw or falshood therein thou wouldst discover it to me and help me to do it aright And now Glory be to thee O God the Father whom I shall be bold from this day forwards to look upon as my God and Father that ever thou shouldst find out such a way for the Recovery of undone Sinners Glory be to thee O God the Son who hast loved me and washed me from my Sinns with thine own blood and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer Glory be to thee O God the Holy Ghost who by the finger of thy Almighty Power hast turned about my heart from Sin to God O dreadful Jehovah the Lord Omnipotent Father Son and Holy-Ghost Thou art now become my Covenant-Friend Amen So be it And the Covenant which I have made on Earth let it be Ratified in Heaven Will. Boteler HAving thus by sincere Repentance a lively Faith and hearty Endeavors to work out his salvation with fear and trembling secured his Eternal interests his Affections were wholly set on things above so as to be little solicitous for or about his Temporal concerns for though several of his Friends did strenuously endeavour to obtain a Pardon or at least further Reprieve yet he appeared freely willing to pay the forfeiture of his Life often sighing out his Cupis dissolvi and expressing a Godly jealousy over his own Heart lest it should start back again to Vanity But at last the fatal day is prefixt for his Execution viz. Munday the 10 th of September the

news whereof he received from Mr. High-Sheriff to whom for his many civilities he gratefully exprest his Acknowledgments with an unmoved Christian-courage as tidings he had long expected serving only to waft him out of the rageing straights of a sinful world into an Ocean of Bearitude so that having the day before devoutly again received the Sacrament and care being taken to have his Funeral Sermon Preached before him alive on the morning of his Execution he was about 10 a Clock conveyed to the Church where a numerous Congregation being assembled the Minister before designed and for whom Mr. Boteler himself had chosen the 7 th of Micah and the 8 th verse for his Text on this occasion being disabled by unexpected indisposition another able Divine supply'd the place and after an excellent practical Discourse from a very suitable Scripture viz. Revel 2.16 the former part of the Verse Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly Towards the close applyed himself to the particular solemnity in these words following The latter part of the Sermon Preached at Mr. Boteler's Execution I Have now done with my Text and must intreat your Patience and attention whilst I apply my self to this most unfortunate person before you which is the sole Occasion of this most sad and sorrowful solemnity A person whom God hath thought fit to come upon and surprize by a most dreadful visitation a death whose very ignominious Pomp and base formalities are most terrible and affrighting to feeble unconstant and starting Nature and yet I have very great inducements to believe that his natural courage and Christian Fortitude will make him both willing and able to drink of this bitter cup which he acknowledges to be much sweetned by some circumstances in the mixture and preparation thereof I must confess according to the Common Law of England he hath had a very just sentence past upon him and he hath often with Tears in his eyes and groans in his expressions bewail'd all the unlucky circumstances of that fatal concern and hath also in sincerity I hope implor'd the Almighties pardon and forgiveness for associating himself with that most ungrateful Villain who so barberously Murthered his too kind and over-obliging Friend and notwithstanding his solemn and frequent protestations to the contrary suffers this miserable Gentleman to pay the price of that blood the guilt of which still blushes in the conceal'd murderers face as being the true Reflections of his accusing and convicted Conscience all which doth really demonstrate the over-whelming pressures of that heart which could not but conscionably burst forth into a vocal confession of its own Guilt However through goood Report and bad Report the Condemned is now hasting to his Execution and having received the Holy Sacrament as his strengthning and Spiritual Viaricum is now in hopes through the conduct and security of his Blessed Saviours merits to be brought through this Red Sea of Blood into the most Glorious and satisfying Land of Promise he knows indeed it is a bitter Passover and must be eaten with sowre herbs but still desires to remember it is the Lord 's Passover and therefore hopes he shall not think of the herbs nor be angry with the hands that gathered them but rather look up to him only in whose power it is to institute that and also to govern these being assur'd that all misfortunes upon Earth are permitted by him who is supream in Heaven and that all these little and inconsiderable motions in Nature are mov'd and guided by the great and irresistable wheel of Providence I cannot but acknowledge myself plac'd here as the faint Eccho of this Dying person and therefore t is but fit I repeat that which he desired might be part of his last words and the subject of my present discourse had I had a convenient time alotted for a matter of so great weight and importance Hear then I beseech you hear this Dying Penitent breaking forth into the Pathetical words of the Church spoken by the Prophet Mic. 7.8.9.10 Rejoyce not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a Light unto me my shameful fall will be my glorious rise this little darkness upon nature and shadow of death I am now about to pass through will be but an happy entrance and passage into everlasting Light and Brightness Now in full assurance of this give me Sir leave to exhort you who are now going to Suffer to persevere and continue stedfast to the end and to be constant to the last gaspe in your devout and pious resolutions that you would bear with patience the indignation of the Lord consider the rod and who hath appointed it Let me prevail with you heartily and sincerely to forgive that Enemy leaving that vindication of your self to that great God to whom vengeance belongeth you may resolve to Dy in that Christian Charity which must compleat your sincere and acceptable Repentance To conclude let me further Exhort you seriously to consider that you are passing from the Church to the last Scene of your fatal Tragedy and therefore in the midst of every preparative and Religious Exercise let the thoughts of Dying at the next instant heighten your zeal and vigor quicken your graces and vertues and highly inflame your Devotion Marriners who foresee a storm or tempest ready to encounter them begin then to use their utmost Art and Diligence to secure themselves and cry loud to their Gods for assistance as they did in the Ship that carried Jonas And thus whilst you with seriousness contemplate on your sudden and succeeding Execution whilst you are offering up your last Prayers you cannot but be earnest with God to save you from perishing you cannot but cry mightily and beg heartily that you may take hold on that secure plank your Saviour's Cross which may carry you to your desired Haven that you may be thrown upon Christ the Rock of your salvation so escape eternal Shipwrack that you may be hid in the clefts of his wounds till your Heavenly Father's wrath is gone passed over the very meditation of that ignominious Death which your God thought fit you should at this time suffer considering also what your Saviour hath suffered before you ought to enliven your Faith strengthen your Patience inflame your Love confirm your hope will then carry you out of a pleasing contemplation into a perfect enjoyment of the blessed vision into that impassible state of eternal joy felicity where there shall be no more doubts nor fears no more troubles nor distractions no more sorrow nor crying nor pain To which God of his infinite mercy c. From the Church the Prisoner walkt on foot to the usual place of Execution marching to meet the King of Terrors with the courage of a Roman shall I say nay rather the Fortitude of a Christian For indeed he only can look death in the face undauntedly upon solid