Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A09646
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The cure of hurtfull cares and fears. By master Thomas Pierson late rector of Brompton-Brian, in the county of Hereford
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Pierson, Thomas, ca. 1570-1633.
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1636
(1636)
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STC 19910; ESTC S111955
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18,628
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96
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is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The conclusion of the whole By these and such like considerations will the spirits of the godly sustaine their infirmities Thus will true beleevers with godly David encourage themselves in the Lord their God even when violent death approcheth towards them 1 Sam. 30.6 In the multitude of their owne perplexing thoughts within them will the Lords comforts delight their soules Psal 94.19 Take notice therefore of this duty to strive against distracting worldly cares Consider the grounds or reasons wherby it is pressed as that thine heavenly father careth for thee these worldly cares discredit and disgrace thine holy profession they are a great and needlesse nay a very hurtfull burthen to thy poore soule for the avoyding wherof thou must set faith a worke in every difficulty small or great according to the direction before prescribed So though thou bee weake in thy selfe yet shalt thou be strong in the Lord and in whatsoever state thou art thou shalt bee therewith content Thou shalt know how to be abased and how to abound both to bee full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need yea to doe all things through Christ which strengtheneth thee Phil. 4.11 12 13. FINIS A REQVEST By the Executors of Mr. Pierson occasioned by the concealing and detaining of some of his writings and papers by such as borrowed them in the life time of Master PIERSON WHeras in the former epistle intimation is given of some other writings of this reverend Author fit to be published I thinke it not amisse to let the Reader understand that the thing chiefely intended therein is an excellent Exposition of the first Epistle of Saint Iohn a work as is conceived both of extraordinary worth and use and which should have first bin offered to the publike view but that upon perusall there was found a great breach in it by reason that the whole third Chapter and a few verses in the beginning of the fourth were wanting that part being as others had been imparted to some private friend who hitherto hath neither made restitution nor given any notice of it Wherupon it is thought fit by those that are interested in the whole that this opportunity should be taken to give notice of the defect in that part being fully perswaded that none will either be so envious at others or deale so unfaithfully with him whose life and labours were wholly devoted to the publike good as privately to detaine the papers themselves or any knowledge that they have of them or their probable conjecture to whom they have heard any of his writings have bin lent when as by giving notice of that part they shal not only deale justly with those whose right it is but wisely likewise for themselves who by that meanes in stead of a broken part may come to have the whole in such sort as will be fitter both for their own and others use and withall prevent that imputation which wil lye upon them if it be discovered otherwise which they may easily conceive is neither impossible nor improbable For charity bids me hope that the concealement of it hitherto hath only beene out of ignorance in what hand the rest did lye unto which it ought to be restored and that since it is thus publikely now called for it wil be no longer detained I will not say from them that are particularly interested only but from the Church of God in generall and all good Christians that might reap benefit and comfort by it
his good pleasure whatsoever the case be Thus doing we shall neither tempt God by neglect of meanes nor yet perplex our selves about the successe What ground we must lay that wee may do so through distrust in his mercy And that wee may so doe wee must lay this good foundation Make sure we stand rightly in covenant with GOD through faith in CHRIST IESUS for hee that commeth unto God must beleeve Hebrewes 11.6 and then we have good title to all Gods promises whereat true faith doth ever looke and to them that have obtained that pretious grace are given exceeding great and pretious promises 2 Peter 1.1 4. All the promises of God are in him yea and in him Amen that is in Christ Iesus most sure and certaine to true beleevers 2 Cor. 1.20 This estate once had we must in every thing that may perplex us stir up this pretious grace of faith and set it a working which seemes to be the Lords meaning in that golden sentence oft repeated The just shall live by faith That faith may have its perfect worke three things to be considered Hab. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Hebr. 10.38 And that this grace may have its perfect worke to free our hearts from distrustfull and perplexing worldly cares wee must rightly informe our selves in three things First in Gods soveraigne right to inflict upon his dearest servants when where and how hee pleaseth either death it selfe or any evill that is a forerunner thereof for their sinnes originall and actuall Secondly in the different nature of Gods promises and in his divine royalty for time measure and manner of performance Thirdly in Gods good pleasure to exercise his Children and servants many times under sore afflictions all of which he will cause to worke for their good out of his tender love in Christ which remaineth constant unto them under their greatest miseries 1. Gods right and soveraignty For the first that God hath right and soveraignty to inflict upon his dearest servants either death it selfe or any evill that is a forerunner thereof as famine sicknesse sword of the enemy and the like when and where he will for their sinnes originall and actuall is most plaine Romans 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin and death went over all in as much as all have sinned Hebr. 9.27 It is appointed unto man once to dye Death then being our debt to God who shall deny him liberty to call for his due And for his right to inflict upon them hunger thirst sicknesse sorrow and the like none can deny it that considers the afflictions of the godly as of Iob in losse of goods and of all his Children by sudden death Iob 1.15.16 19. in grievous boyles upon his body from the sole of his foot unto his crowne Chapter 2. ver 7. and of David who complaines that hee had no soundnesse in his flesh Psal 38.3 his wounds stanke and were corrupt verse 5. his loynes were filled with a loathsome disease verse 7. he was feeble and sore broken yea hee roared for the very disquietnesse of his heart verse 8. 2 〈◊〉 different nature of Gods promises For the second Gods promises are of two sorts some concerne the life that now is others that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 And among these latter which be heavenly and spirituall there is a difference Some are of blessings absolutely necessary to salvation as justification adoption regeneration and the like others are very comfortable but yet not simply necessary to salvation as the sensible feeling of Gods love and inward joy therupon strength of faith and great increase in other graces farre above that measure which is simply needfull to the being and truth of grace Now GODS promises of blessings simply needful to salvation be absolutly made in Christ to true beleevers without exception as Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt bee saved But other spirituall graces lesse necessary and all temporall blessings must bee understood to be promised with the exception of the Crosse to wit that true beleevers shall have them upon their sober and sanctified use of lawfull meanes unlesse it seeme good to GOD by the want of such blessings to correct them for their sins as he did David 2 Sam. 12.10 11. The sword shall never depart from thy house because thou hast despised me Psalme 118.18 The Lord hath chastened me sore but hee hath not given mee over unto death Or else to make tryall of their faith and patience as hee dealt with Iob in his afflictions Iob 2.3 Thou movest mee against him to destroy him without cause and Chapter 23.10 He knoweth the way that I take when hee hath tryed mee I shall come forth as gold Also Gods royalty for time manner Gods royalty and measure of performing his promises is very remarkeable In these circumstances he retayneth and exerciseth divine liberty and looketh that his Children should wait for the evidence of his good pleasure and rest contented therewith when he doth manifest the same though it doe not answer their desires And he blameth those that will limit or confine him in any of these as his people did in the wildernesse when they would as it were point out their own provision For time Psalme 78.20 41. In particular for the time when GOD will do this or that thing which hee hath promised indefinitely he shewes his royalty to his Disciples Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times which God hath put in his owne power In this circumstance he requireth the patience of faith saying Manner Hee that beleeveth shall not make hast Isa 28.15 And for manner of performance sometime he giveth the particular blessing asked As upon Elias prayer he sent first drought and then after rayne Iames 5.17 18. Other while instead of the blessing asked hee giveth some other thing answerable thereunto making more for his owne glory and the good of his servants as when Paul besought the Lord thrice that the thorne in the flesh the messenger of Satan might depart from him God said my grace is sufficient 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. GOD did not free him from the assault but gave him ability of grace to resist Yea our blessed Saviour in his bitter agony in the Garden offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Hebr. 5.7 Not by a totall freedome from the Cuppe of his bitter passion though he had said Father if it be possible let this Cuppe passe from me Matthew 26.39 but by making him willing and able to beare it and in suffering to overcome For after this prayer he said to Peter The Cuppe which my Father hath given mee shall I not drink it Iohn 18.11 and in suffering bee overcame And measure of performing his promises Rev. 3.21 Likewise in the measure of his gifts and