Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	good_a	life_n	time_n	10,018	5	3.6095	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66101	The high esteem which God hath of the death of his saints as it was delivered in a sermon preached October 7, 1683, occasioned by the death of the worshipful John Hull, Esq. who deceased October 1, 1683 / by Samuel Willard.	Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707.; Corlet, Elijah, d. 1687.	1683 (1683)	Wing W2280; ESTC R27592	13,583	24

of whom this is asserted 2. What is implied in their Death being precious in Gods sight 3. Whence it comes to pass that it is so 1. Who are those Saints whose death is thus precious A. I have already hinted the meaning of the Word and shall not need to make many Discourses upon the thing or enter a treatise about the quality and kind of Sanctity There is none on this side the Grave is so holy but to have in him some defilement none so clean but there may be some spots and blemishes found in him Eccles 7. 20. There is not a just Man upon Earth that doth good and sinneth not But a Saint in a Gospel sence may be described to be One who being powerfully wrought upon in effectual vocation and therein converted throughly unto God hath the Grace of Sanctification wrought in him and the Spirit of Holiness given to him to dwell in him and to purge his Heart and Conscience There are Saints in Heaven and they are just Men made perfect and there are Saints on the Earth too Psal 16. 3. To the Saints that are in the Earth and these though not at present perfected are yet perfecting They are such whom the Grace of God hath taught in part and is daily further teaching those Lessons Tit. 2. 11 12. To deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present world They do not ly wallowing in the mire of Sin nor delighting themselves in such courses as are provoking to God but are in heart soul and spirit devoted unto him and his service seeking his honour studying his glory contriving how they may best serve their Generation to his praise In a word every one that by the power of Gods Spirit is taken out of the World and made a true Believer is also a Saint in an Evangelical account Conversion and Sanctification go together inseparably Effectual vocation both designs and produceth Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 2. Called to be Saints and such as these are are therefore called the Saints of God 1. Because God hath chosen and separated them for himself and his own service Psal 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself He hath taken them out of the World and consecrated them to an higher and more noble Imployment than such as the rest of Man-kind are engaged in now whatsoever is devoted to any special service of God is therein said to be Sanctified for to sanctifie is to separate from common and dedicate to special divine use and services upon this account the Tabernacle and Temple the Altar the Vessels the Priests the Levites the People of Israel were accounted Holy and the more separated they were the more holy were they reputed to be 2. Because they stand nearly related to Christ's Holiness not only Christs Righteousness as it stands to answer the Law for them in way of Justification is imputed unto them but his Holiness also is imputed unto them for Sanctification there is a relative Sanctity upon every true Believer and hence Christ is said to be made unto them Sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. the precious Priests Robes of their elder Brother are put upon them In the Ceremonial Law the Water of Purification by being sprinkled upon the persons and instruments that were for the service of the Sanctuary Sanctified them thus the blood of Christ sprinkled upon a Child of God renders him pure in God's Holy Eyes 3. Because they have the inchoations of inherent Sanctity in them there is a real formal Holiness in every true Believer and though imperfect in degrees yet perfect in parts the Holy Spirit of God given to and dwelling in the People of God works them up to a Conformity to himself and renders them like unto the Holy God and hence it is that Believers are said to be partakers of the divine nature 1 Pet. 1. 4. the Lord Jesus Christ hath wrought them up unto Holiness Hence that 1 Thess 4. 3. For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification and that verse 7. For God hath not called us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness 4. Because they are growing up to and designed for perfection of Holiness Grace inherent is Holiness begun and founded in the Believer but they grow in it Psal 92. 12 13. The Righteous shall flourish c. and as the Lord Jesus Christ hath laid the foundation in them by effectual vocation so his intention is to fit them up for himself so as that they shall be every way like unto him and this is by making them to be without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5. 27. 2. What is implied in their Death being precious in the sight of God or wherein he makes it appear so to be A. 1. Negatively we are not to suppose that God takes delight in putting of his Servants to Death or that their Death as such contents him or is a pleasure to him Death in its own nature is an evil it is the fruit of the Curse brought in by sin and for God to will Death as so to his People were not an expression of his Love but Displeasure But 2. Positively and here Observe 1. Some read the Word here Heavy and take the meaning to be that God takes the Death of his Saints especially when it is procured by the means of their Enemies very grievously or heavily it is such a thing as he cannot tell how to bear and that David speaks this of own experience for when Saul when Absalom when Achitophel had contrived his Death and sought wayes how they might effect it God was very angry and would not suffer it yea manifestly discovered his deepest displeasure against them in that by signal judgements he destroyed each of them 2. Others read it Rare and Dear and understand it that because such things as are dear to us we are not wont to leave or commit to the dispose of others therefore David intends that God doth not easily or often grant Wicked Men their desires upon his Saints or suffer them to take away their lives and that David draws this general Conclusion to comfort others withal from the great Experience which he had had of manifold and strange Deliverances But 3. The most comprehensive meaning of this Expression may be this viz. That God takes as special and weighty care about the Death of his Saints as men are wont to do about those things that are of greatest worth and value in their esteem the Septuagint Translateth it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honourable intimating that God puts great honour upon his dying Saints And this esteem discovers it self 4. In his all-wise and careful timing of their Death He takes order that his People shall alwayes die in the best time for them it may be a bad time for the World to lose them in but it is a good time for them to leave it in Hence 1. Till the fit time is come He

secures their Lives for them and that oftentimes almost miraculously so that all the Malice Rage Spite and Power of their Enemies shall not be able to effect it and whiles they are thus laying their heads together plotting and contriving how to bring it about God laughs at them Psal 37. 12 13. The Wicked plots against the Just The Lord shall laugh at him How many consultations and endeavours were there against the Life of Athanasius of old and of Luther in later times and yet they could not obtain to cut short one of their dayes appointed 2. When their fit time is come and they are prepared for it God mercifully taketh order about their dying and makes their Death to be such as it shall be a full witness of his dearest respect unto them and hence we may observe a threefold circumstance of the time of the Saints dying one of which is alwayes accommodable thereunto God therefore takes them away either 1. When they are despised or undervalued in the World when Men grow weary of them and their company is a trouble to them now God will not suffer them to be troubled with them any longer but sends to fetch them away to a place where they are better thought of and shall meet with more worthy entertainment It is Recorded of those Worthies Heb. 11. 38. That the World was not worthy of them they were too good for them and they did not know their Excellency and therefore thought meanly of them and now God will not let them enjoy them any longer he calls them home 2. When there are evil and calamitous times hasteniug upon the place where they live they are taken away from the wrath to come Isai 57. 1. God now takes them off and this he doth not only to make a way for his wrath by taking them out of the Gap where they stood to prevent ruine but also to free them from those Sorrows and distressing Calamities which else they must needs undergo this was a mercy promised to tender-hearted Josiah 2 King 22. ult Thou shalt be gathered to thy Fathers in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place 3. When they have done the work of their Generation God hath in his holy Decree laid out what work every one of his Saints shall do for him in this World and a Saint would not desire to be here any longer than he hath some work to do for God Hence when they have finished their course he brings them to the Crown thus we read of David Act. 13. 36. When he had served his own Generation by the Will of God he fell asleep When a Believers work is done it s his priviledge to go to rest 2. In his special care about the manner of their Death For 1. He affords them his special presence to carry them through all the conflicts which they have with Death and with all their Enemies who in that hour assault them He makes all their Bed for them in their sickness he visits them with his Holy Spirit comforteth and refresheth them against all their fears bruiseth Satan for them under their feet sends his Angels to strengthen them against all their Temptations and support them under all their Agonies and is very careful that they shall in no wise be tempted above what they are able 2. He takes order thet they shall die in peace whatever Troubles they have been which they have met with in their lives yet they shall meet perfect peace in their Death Psal 37. 37. Take notice of the perfect man mark the upright for the latter end of that man is peace Death comes not armed with a sting against them but the sting is taken out and the poyson of it removed 1 Cor. 15. 55. Oh Death where is thy sting it comes not as an Officer of Justice to Arrest them but as a friendly Messenger to invite them into their Fathers presence to the Court of a reconciled God and tender-hearted Father and the kind embraces of a loving Redeemer 3. He orders them so to die as to leave a sweet remembrance behind them Wicked men possibly may endeavour by throwing dirt at them to blemish their Names and yet God often makes them speak well of his dead Saints and to build the Tombs of the Prophets whom they have killed But however in the hearts of the faithful they have an honourable esteem a worthy Monument Psal 12. 6. The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance Prov. 10. 7. The memory of of the just is blessed 3. In the care which he takes of them after their death those that were dear to us in their lives are not easily forgotten by us when they are dead nor are the Saints by God but effectually iaken care for For 1 Their dust is not reputed by him as common dust but they are laid up by his care kept under his eye and preserved by his powerful providence as precious Relicks till they be brought forth again in the day of Resurrection He lays them to rest in peace and safety Isai 57. 2. They shall rest in their Beds their Bodies which were made Temples of the Holy Ghost and Members of Jesus Christ are not now rejected as worthless things but are laid up in God's Cabinet and that with far more tender care then we do the most estimable jewel and Hence their Flesh resteth in hope Psal 16. 9. dying Believers can in Faith recommend their dead Bodies to the Grave in joyful expectation of an happy return and all the rage of Men and Devils shall never be able to prevent this 2. Their precious Souls dearly beloved of the Lord Jesus are safely guarded and surely transported to a place of eternal honour and rest The Saints die to go to and to be with Christ which is best of all they die that they may live for ever When a Saint of God dies there is a glorious Convoy of blessed Angels sent from Heaven to attend his departure the Angels carried Lazarus into Abraham's bosom Luk. 16 22. and this is done both for their honour and their safety they carry their Souls out of the reach of Men and Devils into the presence Chamber of the great God to him in whose presence is fulness of joys and at whose right hand are pleafures for evermore to receive an incorruptible and never sading Crown of Glory and though Legions of Devils enterpose and seek to stop up the way they shall never be able to obstruct their passage nor from that time for evermore do them any the least displeasure Thus precious in Gods account is the death of every one of his Saints 3. Whence it comes to pass that it is so A. It Flows not from any merit of theirs a Saint aspires not to chalenge any favour from God upon the score of his own deservings but when he hath done all acknowledgeth himself an unprofitable Servant and his best Righteousness to

Mother or Brethren or nearest or dearest Friends for this is that which makes their loss to be greater than any other Relation doth or can others are natural but these are pious Tears that are shed upon this account Another Man may be a private loss when he is gone his Family or his Neighbours or Consorts may miss him but a Saint though he be a private Christian is yet when he dies a publick loss and deserves the tears of Israel how much more than when he hath been a Saint providentially put into a capacity of being and by Grace helpt and enabled to be a publick benefit by the Orb he moved in when a Saint Dies there is manifold ground of Mourning there is then a Pillar pluckt out of the Building a Foundation Stone taken out of the Wall a Man removed out of the Gap and now it is to be greatly feared that God is departing and Calamities are coming and are not these things to be lamented 2. When the Saints die beware of irregular Mourning though we are to lament their Death yet we must beware that it be after the right manner a dying Saint may say to his weeping Friends that stand round about wringing their hands after the same Language that Christ did to those weeping Women Luk. 23. 27 28 29. Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but for your selves and your Children c. It is we and not they that are indangered and endamaged by it we may therefore weep for our selves and there is good reason for it but to mourn for them is superfluous Is their Death precious in Gods let it not be miserable in our esteem and tell me you whose hearts throb and eyes run over with sorrow is it not a precious thing to be asleep in Jesus to ly in the lap of his providence and rest from the labours and sorrows of a troublesome World to be laid out of the noise of the whistling Winds and feel none of the impetuosity of those Storms and Tempests that are blowing abroad to be out of the sight and hearing of the rolling and dashing waves of the roaring Sea to sleep out the rest of the tempestuous night of this World standing in the inner Chamber of Gods Providence in answer to that sweet invitation Isai 26. 22. Come my People enter into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee c. To ly in Christ's Bosom and be ravished with his dearest love and most intimate Embraces to see none of those sorrowful changes that are coming on the places which they once lived in nor any more to be within the reach of the calumny and rage of their spiteful Enemies surely these Notes do not suit with an Elegiack strain and yet this is the comfort which is given them to feed upon whose dead Relations and Friends were Saints upon the earth 3. Is the death of the Saints precious in Gods sight let it be so in ours too They are not to be accounted for contemptible things which God sets an high value upon and it is our wisdom to think and speak of persons and things as God doth we ought not to slight the death of the righteous and speak meanly of it as of a thing that is little momentous I am sure their arrival at Heaven is there taken notice of as a thing worthy of observation and shall not their departure be regarded they are welcomed into the Palace of delight with Panegyricks and shall then be hence dismissed with no more but a sorry saying there is now a good Man gone and he will be missed in the Family or the Church to which he once belonged we should embalm the memory of the Saints with the sweet smelling Spices that grew in their own Gardens and pick the chiefest Flowers out of those Beds to strew their Graves withal we should remember and make mention of them with honourable thoughts and words and though it be now grown a Nick-name of contempt among wicked and prophane Men yet count it the most orient Jewel in their Crown the most odoriferous and pleasant Flower in their Garland that we can say of them that they lived and died Saints all other Eschutcheons will either wear away or be taken down every other monument will become old and grow over with the Moss of time and their Titles though cut in Brass will be Canker-eaten and illegible this onely will endure and be fresh and Flourishing when Marble it self shall be turned into common dust Such an one it is whom we have now lost and Oh that we knew how great a loss we have sustained in him they are little things to be put into the account and weigh but light in the commendations we have to give him to say This Government hath lost a Magistrate this Town hath hath lost a good Benefactor this Church hath lost an honourable Member his Company hath lost a worthy Captain his Family hath lost a loving and kind Husband Father Master the Poor have lost a Liberal and Merciful Friend that nature had furnished him with a sweet and affable Disposition and even temper that Providence had given him a prosperous and Flourishing Portion of this Worlds Goods that the love and respect of the People had lifted him up to places of honour and preferment this this out-shines them all that he was a Saint upon Earth that he lived like a Saint here and died the precious Death of a Saint and now is gone to rest with the Saints in glory this hath raised those Relicks of his above common dust and made them precious dust When Conscience of duty stimulated me to perform my part of his Exequies and put me upon it to do him honour at his Death methoughts Justice required and envy it self would not nibble at this Character and if the Tree be to be known by its Fruits his works shall praise him in the Gates For his constant and close secret Communion with God which none but Hypocrites are wont to do with the sound of a Trumpet such as were most intimate with him have known and can testifie the care which he had to keep up constant Family Worship in reading of the Scriptures and praying in his Family from which no business publick or private could divert him was almost now unparalleld the honourable respect he bore to God's holy Ordinances by diligently attending upon them and esteeming highly of God's Servants for their work sake and care that he used to live the Truths which he heard from time to time was very singular the exemplariness of his Life and Converse among Men and the endeavours which he used to shew forth the Graces of the Spirit not being ashamed of Christ nor being willing to be a shame unto him let all that knew him bear witness of his meek boldness in reproving Sin and gentle faithfulness in endeavouring to win Sinners as he had opportunity is known to such as lay in his way His constancy in all