Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	heart_n	life_n	sin_n	8,563	5	4.4434	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65259	Mary's choice declared in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Right Honourable Lady Mary Wharton, late wife of the Honourable Sir Thomas Wharton, Knight of the Bath, at Edlington in the county of York together with a narrative of the religious and holy life, and death of that excellent lady / by P.W., Rector of Edlington.	P. W. (Peter Watkinson), d. 1688.	1674 (1674)	Wing W1079; ESTC R38495	55,178	52

Lips which were to her like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe Cant. 5.13 How sweet were his words unto her tast yea sweeter than Honey to her mouth Psal 119.103 She sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to her tast Cant. 2.3 It is true Hearing is but the Means to attain some degrees of this good part But it being so considerable a part of Mary's Choice and her present employment and an evidence of her choice of the rest we shall consider how good it is One observes out of Seneca To. de Trugill in fest Assumpt as he tells us that all external things are propter corpus for the Body as Meat Cloaths c. And that the Body is propter sensus for the Senses that by corporal Organs we might perceive the wonderful works of God and that the Senses are propter mentem for the Mind being subservient to it and the Mind in which are the rational faculties of understanding and will is propter Deum that we may attain to heavenly knowledge and divine wisdom c. This alone were sufficient to commend Hearing the Word of God which tends to the perfecting of mans best part and the obtaining of his utmost End But to speak something more largely of it Consider that 1. It is the Means which God hath ordained Acts 26.18 Rom. 12.2 John 5.25 Ephes 2.1 Nemo adeò ferus est ut non mi●escere possit Si modo culturae patientem accommodet aurem Hor. Ep. 1. ● to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God It changeth men from Sinners to Saints from children of Wrath to children of God and Heirs of Heaven transforming them thus by the renewing of their mind whereby they come to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God It raiseth from Death to Life so were the Ephesians quickned who before were dead in trespasses and sins It will meeken and tame the fiercest nature as one said well of Learning forcing the most Tyger-like and Lion like hearts as they feigned of Orpheus's Harp to lay aside their bruitish and cruel nature and become tractable It is by the power of the Gospel thus received That the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid c. and a little Child shall lead them Isa 11.6 c. This is the Fire and Hammer wherewith God breaks the Rocks the stoniest hearts in pieces It makes the flintyest heart contrite and humble and to tremble at the Hearing of it whereby it becomes tractable and ductile ●om 6.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to receive divine impressions Hence the Apostle praiseth God who had so moulded the Romans that they were delivered into that form or type of Doctrine for so it is in the Greek they were cast into that mould or received that stamp Surely that which hath such an happy operation upon the heart must needs be good 2. It leads the way to every other Duty We hear that we may learn and learn that we may practise and do that which we have learned It is from hence that we are furnished with meet subjects for meditation and with direction in our Prayers to God By this we are instructed in our duty both to God and man For it is this Grace of God which bringeth salvation Tit. 2.11 12. that teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 3. It is therefore preferred before other duties and employments Martha's diligence in her careful and loving entertainment of Christ is here set behind Mary's devotion in hearing his Word To offer sacrifice was a necessary duty under the Law Exod. 23.15 None must appear before the Lord empty Yet when this is neglected sacrifice is not esteemed but rather abhorred For to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 Prov. 15.8 Jer. 6.19 20. Isa 1.11.66.3.4 Psalm 51.17 Isa 66 2. Eccles 5.1 Prov. 28.9 Acts 6 2. 1 Cor. 1.17 Praedicandi munus est prius potius difficilius magis necessarium Par. in 1 Cor. 1.17 But the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. When men do not hearken to his Word but reject it to what purpose is their bringing Incense from Sheba c. Their burnt-offerings are not acceptable nor their sacrifices sweet The most acceptable sacrifice is a broken spirit and an heart that trembles at Gods Word What ever men pretend in religious service if they be not ready to hear all they do is in Gods account no better than the sacrifice of Fools And he that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall he abomination Therefore the Apostle preferred the Preaching of the Word before Alms and administring the Sacraments which yet are necessery duties but this is more excellent difficult and necessary as being ordained for the salvation of all those that by true and lively Faith receive it Sam. 1.21 1 Tim. 4.16 and without which we know not how to perform the other Now Hearing is the nearest End of Preaching therefore the excellency that is ascribed to Preaching is for the sake of Hearing 4. It is the most excellent Antitode against the poison and the malignity of sin Now are ye clean saith our Saviour through the Word which I have spoken to you John 15.3.17.17 Psalm 119.9 Even young men in that wanton and unruly Age may cleanse their way by this means For it discovers the ugliness of Sin so that a mind well instructed cannot but loath that abominable thing which the Lord hates and himself also Jer. 44.4 Ezek 6.9 Jam. 1.23 Eph. 5.12 13. for the evils that he hath committed in all his abominations The Law of God is a mirrour or Glass whereby a man may discover his spiritual deformities it is the light which makes manifest the hidden things of darkness and sets them out in their proper colours and that shews us the way wherein we should walk and guides our feet into the way of Peace 5. It is indeed the Word of Eternal Life the Word of Salvation John 6.68 Acts 13.26.20.32 the Word of Gods Grace which is able to build us up and to give us an inheritance amongst the sanctified Therefore to make choice of this must needs be with Mary to choose that good part whereof indeed this is the least part as but leading to that which doth compleat it II. The second illustration of this Choice is that this good part is also durable It shall not be taken away This makes good the former it is therefore the better good because permanent Psalm 1.3 The fruit of this devout Hearing shall never fade Those that are thus planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God Psal 92.13 14. Boni