Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A42084
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Charity and integrity of life the pure essentials of Christian religion: or meditations on James I. 27. By T.G. M.A
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Gregory, Thomas, 1668 or 9-1706.
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1696
(1696)
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Wing G1931; ESTC R215986
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12,284
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31
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CHARITY AND Integrity of Life THE Pure ESSENTIALS OF Christian Religion OR MEDITATIONS On James 1.27 By T. G. M. A. But to do Good and Communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Heb 13.16 LONDON Printed by J. Bradford for the Author 1696. To the Most Reverend Father in God THOMAS by Divine Providence Archbishop of CANTERBVRY REligion being of that great Excellency as to teach us the Love of God and our Neighbour how to Reverence him and how to be tender-hearted to our Brethren so as we may best enjoy our selves and benefit others I hope you will be pleased not to refuse this ensuing Discourse a just title to your Patronage 'T is true they who go back from these Duties of Exemplary Piety and Charity neither regard what Rules they have prescribed nor what Practice they have directed nor do they regard any thing that carries the face of Love and true Munificence and are only valiant in breaking those Laws which Heaven hath made Eternal such a sort of Men have commonly great Judgments denounced against them They are depriv'd of the Divine Protection here while they live and after their Death no Man lamenteth But on the contrary many Blessings and Rewards are Entail'd upon Pious and Liberal the Favour of God in pardoning our Sins a promised Security from Incumbent Evils a bountiful Support under Afflictions and at length a certain Reception into Eternal Glory Cornelius was heard for his Devout Life and Alms-giving But that I may not be too prolix if you discern any Imperfections in the Copy let not these Celestial Graces for my sake fall under any Imputation that need no such Advocate as I am or such a common Pen but one from an Angel's Wing to advance their Esteem There 's a Beauty in Holiness beyond that of State and a Glory in Humility above the proud Inscription of Monarchs both these wait upon Charity and Integrity of Life and are the only Ornaments of our Christian Profession But here that Disrespect you have to the Disregarders of these Duties puts a stop to my Pen forbidding me to be too curious in the description of these Graces which are so eminently visible in your Life and Conversation So that hoping your Candour and Good Temper will give a favourable Reception to what I have Offered I humbly take my leave to Subscribe my self Your GRACE's Most Obedient and Faithful Servant T. GREGORY JAMES 1.27 Pure and Vndefiled Religion before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and the Widow in their Afflictions and to keep himself Vnspotted from the World WHoever he be that looks into his Bible with a sincere design of receiving any benefit unto himself by so doing ought in all reason to avoid all foolish and unprofitable Disputations things that gender Strife and in good earnest apply himself to the Practice of his Duty to obey when God calls for his Obedience for the Scripture was not written to beget Pride and Disputes but Charity and Humility in the Minds of Men. The Gospel was design'd not only to Exercise the Understanding but also to influence the Will and entirely to engage the Affections in Heavenly Matters in a practical System wherein we are told that our very Thoughts are to be subject to the Obedience of its Author And if we heartily believe and consider that nothing else but Unfeigned Purity can recommend us unto God if we take it for granted that without Holiness no man shall see him We have little reason to admire our Saviour calls his People little Flock and that but few enter in at the streight Gate for if so be Religion is to Overcome the World to be Heavenly minded or in few words to be like God what will become of the greater part of Mankind who are so much unlike him What man is instructed for the Kingdom of God Who then can be saved Shall we rise again to the Resurrection of the Just Lord thou knowest If so be Religion be pure and undefiled and admits not of the least vicious Immorallity 't is to be feared that many men continue very wicked while they go under the sacred Names of Christians For How is the faithful City become an Harlot it was full of Judgment Righteousness lodged in it but now Murder Thy Silver is become dross and thy Wine mixt with Water Thy Princes are Rebellious and Companions of Thieves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards judge not the Fatherless neither doth the cause of the Widow come before them Isa 1.21 22. What then shall we say shall we condemn the Religion of the blessed Jesus because Iniquity does so much abound God forbid his Religion is like himself without spot or wrinkle 't is holy just and good but men corrupt it to their own destruction If you cast an Eye back upon the 13th Verse of this Chapter St James will tell you that no man must say that he is tempted of God that is let no man charge God with his Sins if men engage in any wickedness be it to themselves for God cannot be tempted neither tempteth he any one but every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own Lust and enticed We may therefore spare our selves the trouble of searching out the Causes of our Miseries the Plague is in our own Heart The lust of our mind when it hath conceived bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death This Text is very full and comprehensive denoting the whole of the Christian Doctrine in very few words and also of admirable weight to fortifie the Christians against the Errors and Heresies of those times particularly to oppose the prevailing Sect of the Gnostick Heresie which our Apostle here refers to and which for Sensuality and open Wickedness was the greatest Deformities that ever clouded the beauty of the Church For this Sect were a People that did allow their Converts a greater liberty in their Lifes than Christians did admit The Apostles preacht up a good Life as necessary to Salvation but these on the contraty did assert that a man might be a Christian and at the same time use the utmost freedom with the greatest Epicure Upon this score they gain'd ground in those early times they found the People very tractable and easie to be wheedl'd to such a licentious Creed when they did affirm that a man may love the World more then God it was no hard matter in those times to gain Proselites such pallatable pleasing Drines were swallowed without much Consideration But the Apostles of our Lord who had conversed with their Master and had the greatest reason to know his Sense of things are clearly of another mind which all have with St James in Opposition to these Libertines acquainted us that Religion which must render every man acceptable to God is pure and undefiled and consists in visiting the Fatherless and Widow in their Afflictions and to keep