Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A66930
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Sheperdy spiritualiz'd or, The improvement of a shepherd's life to soul-advantage. By James Woode, an unworthy follower of the great shepherd of souls
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Wood, James, 1608-1664.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing W3396; ESTC R233357
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138,882
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225
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Truth it self hath said Jo. 15. 13. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his Life for his Friends viz. to suffer a temporal death for them but if it be granted that Moses offered himself to Eternal destruction that he might obtain Salvation or safety to the Jews it would follow that there were found in him love greater than the greatest which is absurd I close this particular with that note of Mr. Ainsworth on the place Herein Moses dealt as a Mediator betwixt God and men and was a figure of our Mediator Christ who laid down his life for the Sheep Jo. 10. 15. and redeemed us from the Curse of the Law when he was made a Curse for us Gal. 3. 13 c. As to the other instance of Paul it appearâ— that he kept himself within the bounds of temporal punishment and intended only to be an Anathema to be excommunicated rather than the people of Israel should perish for Eternity Thus Hieron comparing the desires of Moses and Paul together saies the good Shepherd laies down his life for the Sheep Paul would perish not for ever but for the present the Apostle would perish in the Flesh that others might be saved in the Spirit pour out his own blood that the Souls of many might be saved And that Anathema saith he sometimes signifies cutting off by death might be proved by many Testimonies of the Old Testament Waving those I will only subjoyn one of our own deservedly famous for his skill in critical Learning viz. Dr. Hammond on Rom. 9. who after that he had interpreted accursed from Christ to be excommunicated from the body of the Church as the Church is called Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. Gal. 3. 27. according to the custome among the Jews as among us to call the Wives after the Husbands name Isa 4. 1. and having asserted that in the beginnings of the Christian Churches a delivery over to Satan was an attendant upon excommunication which the destruction of the Flesh did accompany i. 〈◊〉 grievous torments of the body confirms this exposition of this place of Paul by comparing it with a saying of Ignatius the Martyr in his Epist ad Rom. which in English sounds thus m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let the punishment of the Devil come upon me so that I may only enjoy Christ where saith the Dr. the punishment of the Devil cannot be understood of Hell punishments as which are not at all ordinable to the enjoyment of Christ but whatsoever temporal punishments might be inflicted even by the Devil himself though unto death However these things are yet out of the Lambs book of Life there is no blotting I conclude this long digression with that of Augustine on Psal 69. 28. n Fratres non sic concipere debemus quâ—d quemquam Deus scribat in libro vitae deleat eum si homo dixit quod scripsi scripsi Deus quenquam scribit delet Aug. in P al. 68. We are not so to understaand it Brethren as if God did write down any man in his book of Life and blot him out again If a man could say what I have written I have written doth God write down any and blot him out Thirdly Christ watcheth his he sets a guard on them and hath his Eyes over them continually Jacob's care by day and night over Laban's Flock Gen. 31. 39 40. is nothing if compared with Christ's over his Christ neither sleeps nor slumbers Psal 121. 3 4. And if King Philip could say he could sleep securely because his Friend Antipater watched by him may not Christ's Sheep be much more confident who have Christ to keep them His seven eyes Zech. 3. 9. are ever open yea ever run to and fro through the whole Earth Chap. 4. 10. which by Mr. Mede are said to be Seven created Spirits even Arch-Angels the Ministers of God in caring for his who are hence called Watchers Dan. 4. 13 17 23. not only because of their spiritual nature and life they needed not as meat or drink so neither sleep but also from their office being the Ministers of the Divine Providence and watchfulness over his always attending to do his pleasure for the preservation of his Sheep and destruction of Wolves Fourthly Christ folds his brings them together into his holy Mountains viz. into Gospel-Churches where they are preserved and kept in the midst of dangers with which many straglers are taken away The preservation and abundant feeding of Gospel-Churches is the proper intendment of that promise Isa 65. 10. o Si autâ—m arment a servorum Dei bene habebunt quantoÌ„ magis ipsi Calv. so of that Mic. 2. 12. as sheep for fear of the Wolf gather themselves together and get up together in the Fold So Christians by errours heresies and hereticks are driven together in Churches over which Christ watches according to the promise Isa 4. 5. p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Super totum ipsum montem a radice ad verticem For. every dwelling place of Mount Sion i. e. the Church in general upon her assemblies i. e. particular Churches or congregations shall be a defence q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word here render'd defence is elsewhere found only Psal 19. 5. and Joel 2. 16. in both which places we translate it the bride-Chamber the Jews understand by it that vail cast over the Bridegroom and his Bride whilst the Marriage is consummating This place was secret and safe and fitted for pleasure fitly therefore representing both the defence and comfort which God affords his People married to the Lord and to one another by the will of God Glad experience in these latter daies hath attested how the Lord hath preserved his People in their keeping close to him and to one another whereas they that have lived scattered and have withdrawn from the Assemblies of his People have become a prey to Wolves and Foxes Reflections Alas of what advantage is it that I prosper in the World whilst I am For the Worldling none of the Sheep of Christ What though I prize and value my self and others do esteem me for my worldly greatness whilst the Lord Jesus sets no value nor price upon me May I not fear lest that word be accomplished in me Luk 16. 15. That which is highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God Whatever I may please and pride my self in what will it profit me whilst I am not in value with the Lord Is it my wealth that I boast my self of This is that indeed which too many rate themselves by and think themselves by so much the more simply happy and valuable by how much their riches increase more than others they strut themselves on their Dunghills because a little higher than their Neighbours 'T is not for nothing that the Scriptures have warned against this Psal 62. 10. If Riches increase set not your heart upon them if they grow