Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	life_n	lord_n	mercy_n	7,042	5	6.1853	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11164	A sermon preached at Greenwich before the Kings Maiestie vpon Tuesday in VVhitson weeke being the 14. of Iune. 1603. By the Reuerend Father in God Antonie Rudd, Doctor of Diuinitie, and Lord Bishop of Saint Dauids	Rudd, Anthony, 1549 or 50-1615.	1603 (1603)	STC 21433; ESTC S112125	11,126	40

thornes in their sides When Ioash the King of Israell came downe to visit Elisha lying sicke vpon his death bed he was willed by the prophet to take into his hand the arrow of the Lords deliuerance against Aram to smite the ground 2. Reg. 13.14 to the 20. wherupon he smote thrise and ceased But the man of God was angrie with him said thou shouldest haue smitten fiue or six times so thou shouldest haue smitten Aram till thou haddest consumed it where now thou shalt smite Aram but thrise The meaning is that Ioash deserued iust reproofe and great blame because he seemed content to haue victorie against the enemies of God for twise or thrise and had not a zeale to ouercome them continually and destroy them vtterly And surely Saul cannot spare Agag sauing to his owne hurt 1. Sam. 15.22.23 Neither can Ahab haue the life of Ben-Hadad but with his owne losse 1. Reg. 20.42 2. Chro. 15.16 Wherefore King Asa did not faile to depose his grandmother Maachah from her regencie because she had made an Idoll in a groue which Idoll he brake downe and stamped it and burnt it at the brooke Kidron Consider heere a little with me beloued the mishap that I say not miserie of diuers princes keeping me within the limits or bounds of the holy scripture in this case of shewing mercie and practising of iudgement For first of all it falleth out not seldome that those notorious malefactors deseruing death whom princes doe pardon in mercie if not vpon foolish pittie doe afterward most vnthankfully and treacherously seeke to take the Scepter out of the hand and to pull the Crowne from the head and to withdraw life from the bodie of their benefactors who had graciously forgiuen them their crimes and so consquently giuen to them their liues lands goods libertie and all This may be fitly exemplified in Absalon who after that he was pardoned for the murdering of his brother Amnon 2. Sam. 15 and restored to fauour in court rose vp early and stood hard by the entring in of the gate and reached forth his hand to euerie suiter of account and by slaunder flatterie and faire promises he stale away the harts of the people and at the length he brast forth into actuall rebellion against his naturall father 2. Sam. 3.27 Ioab likewise when he had escaped without punishment for stabbing of Abner he was thereby emboldened to proceede forward to the murdering of Amasa Ibid. 20.9.10 and this done without controlment he presumed to ayde aspyring Adonijah to the preiudice of Salomon 1. Reg. 1.7 who was to succeede in the kingdome by the appointment of his father Dauid yet liuing Secondly Princes haue been sometimes ouerawed by the peeres of the Realme or otherwise for feare of tumult in the state they durst not eyther shew kindnes and giue entertainment to good men whom they loued or to execute mightie malefactours as in dutie they should haue done Of the first sort we haue an example in Achish the king of Gath 1. Sam. 29.6.9.10 who confessed that Dauid pleased him as an Angel of God but therwithall he told him that he must be packing out of his companie because the princes of the Philistines did not fauour him Of the second sort we haue an example in Dauid who though he spake and did much in detestation of Ioabs murdering of Abner yet he durst not put him to death for it as it may be collected by these words of his I am this day weake and newly annointed King 2. Sam. 3.39 and these men the sonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me 2. Sam. 3.36 the Lord reward the doer of euill according to his wickednes 1. Reg. 2.5.6.8.9.31.44.45.46 But this falleth out well and rightly that whom Dauid spared in pollicie those Salomon executed in iudgement as rayling Shimei and bloodie Ioab Heere let me stand a little vpon Dauids promise to sing Mercie and iudgement and consider whether he performed the same alwaies or not I will put the case in the example of lame Mephibosheth the sonne of his olde and deare friend Ionathan 2. Sam. 9.1.3.7 to whom I confesse he did kindly shew mercie for his fathers sake by restoring vnto him all the fields of his Grandfather Saul and licensing him to eate bread at his own table continually but when he came to the point of iudgement I finde him defectiue For when Dauid fled before the face of Absalon Ziba the seruant of Mephiboseth meeteth him with a large present of his masters goods 2. Sam. 16.1.2.3.4 and presenting the same vnto him he frameth sycophantly a most false accusation of treason against his master as thogh he had said this day shall the house of Israell restore me the kingdome of my father Whereupon rashly without leauing the one eare for the defendant he gaue sentence condemning the innocent in fauour of the plantiffe being a calumniator saying to Ziba behold thine are all that pertained vnto Mephibosheth And when as Mephibosheth afterward met Dauid returning victoriously after the ouerthrow of Absalom and fully cleared himselfe of the haynous crime of treason wherewith he had beene falsely charged then Dauid giueth sentence in this wise 2. Sam. 19.29 thou and Ziba deuide the lands Herein Dauid did euill in taking his land from him before he knew the cause but much worse that knowing the truth he did not restore them And here we may obserue that in the case of iustice our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more vpright then our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our contemplation is sounder then our practise Or to speake to the capacitie of the meanest hearer a man may more easily penne the cause of Iustice in his priuate studie then rightly practise it in publike vpon the bench For in solitarie meditation a man may without difficultie abandon all rashnes and partiall affection but in Iudiciall place abroad respect of persons and other corruptions do easily enter into our mindes and hearts by the ministerie of our eyes and eares Now the way to preuent this mischiefe is to doe that sincerely which Dauid promiseth heere to doe namely to sing vnto the Lord that is to shew mercie and practise Iudgement to the glory of God wherunto all things ought to be referred according to Saint Pauls direction whether ye eate drinke 1. Cor. 10.31 or whatsoeuer ye doe do all to the glorie of God Insomuch as almes must be giuen in charitie without the sound of a trumpet Mat. 6.1 to the 7. and prayer must be made of deuotion without publike ostentation And to descend from the generall doctrine to the particular instruction which I haue in hand miserable was the case of that wretched Iudge who did right to the poore widow Luke 18.4.5 not for feare of God or reuerence to man but onely to auoid her clamor and importunity And no better was the case of the-Philistins in the booke of the Iudges who when as the Timnite gaue his daughter being Samsons wife Iudg. 15.1 to the 7. to an other man they regarded not to punish this vniust and adulterous act But when as Samson in reuenge of this wrong had with three hundred Foxes turned taile to tayle hauing firebands fastened thereto set on fire and burned vp the rickes and the standing corne with the vineyards and Oliues of the Philistins then they came vp in troupes and burnt the Timnite and his daughter with fire Thus the wicked punish not vice for loue of Iustice but to be reuenged in respect of former losse and for feare of future daunger which else might come vnto them Againe to thee O Lord will I sing that is howsoeuer by the chaunting of this dittie of mercie and iudgement I shall seeme to howle in the eares of the vngodly yet my song to thee O lord shal be thought very melodious Whereby we are taught this generall doctrine that in doing of our dutie in our seuerall vocations this ought to be our comfort that our words and works are pleasing vnto God howsoeuer they be displeasing to the world of wicked men So though Noe was scorned by the men of his time for preparing the Arke and vrging repentance to preuent the perill of the Deluge to come yet is he by the prouidence of God ad perpetuam rei memoriam chronicled for a preacher of righteousnes And though Dauid for dancing before the Arke being girded with a linnen Ephod 2. Pet. 2.5 2. Sam. 6.14.16.20.21.22 was by his wife Michal despised in her heart yet was he had in most high reputation by the maids of honour attending vpon Michal Yea Dauid will yet be more vile then thus and he will be low in his owne sight knowing that all shall be acceptable in heauen which is heere on earth done before the Lord that is for no worldly affection but onely for the zeale which we leaue to Gods glory Isa 8.18 Wisd 5.15 Isai and the children which God gaue vnto him were as signes and wonders in Israel yet their reward was with the Lord. If Iohn come neither eating nor drinking they say he hath a diuell Mat. 11.18.19 And if the sonne of man come eating and drinking they say behold a glutton and a drinker of wine Act. 26.24.25 a friend of publicanes and sinners but yet wisedome is iustified of her children If Festus be iudge of Pauls speaches 1. Cor. 4.9.13 then Paul is beside him selfe much learning doth make him madde Howbeit Paul is not madde O noble Festus Ibid. ver 3. but he speaketh the words of truth and sobernes The Apostles were made a gazing-stock vnvnto the world and to the Angels and to men they were counted as the filth of the world 2. Cor. 4.15.16 and the ofscowring of all things howbeit they passed verie little to be iudged of mans iudgement knowing that they were vnto God the sweet sauour of Christ in them that are saued in them which perish to the one the sauour of death vnto death and to the other the sauour of life vnto life Thus the sweet singer of Israel promiseth to sing the diuine dittie of mercie and iudgement 2. Sam. ●● ● to the Lord of Lords euen God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost to whom three persons and one euerliuing God be all honour and glorie both now and for euermore Amen

of mercie might become extreame crueltie And first to speake of Mercie happie is that Prince who hath the wisedome and the will to be mercifull to whom and when and where it is expedient Pro. 20.28 Psal 85.10 For such mercie and truth preserueth the King and his throne shall be established with mercie Moreouer happie is that countrie where mercie and truth meet together and so righteousnes and peace kisse one another And worldly happy are those subiects to whom the prince vouchsafeth to shew mercie and louing kindnes For the Kings wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon and as messengers of death Pro. 16.14.15 and 19.12 but in the light of his countenance is life and his fauour is as a cloud of the latter raine and like the dew vpon the grasse And Dauid well knowing how laudable and honourable it was to be mercifull with discretion being established in his kingdome 2. Sam. 9.1.3 he made enquirie if there remained yet aliue any of the house of Saul on whom he might shew the mercie of God that is such mercie as is acceptable to God for his old deare friend Ionathans sake And we find it to be a laudable custome of princes at their first entrance into their kingdomes to shew mercie at their pleasure in this wise that I may speake in the scripture phrase in the Psalmes by hearing the mourning of the prisoner Psal 102.20 and deliuering the children of death And in Isai Isa 58.7 by loosing the bands of of wickednes by taking of the heauie burdens by letting the oppressed goe free and by breaking euerie yoke former extortions exactions and other grieuous oppressions O how faire a thing is this mercie in the time of anguish trouble Eccles 35.19 it is like a cloud of raine that commeth in the time of drought Thus can Dauid shew Mercie when he thinketh it meet and Iudgement also when the matter so requireth it For he is not ignorant that the establishment of the Kings throne Prou. 16.12 Isa 32.17 is Iustice iudgement and the 〈◊〉 thereof is peace Yea manifold is the good effect which followeth the executing of Iustice vpon malefactors First of all it is profitable to the offenders themselues Pro. 22.15 for affliction giueth vnderstanding Foolishnes is bound in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall driue it away from him Pro. 29.15 The rod and correction giue wisdome Pro. 20.30 the blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euil and the stripes within the bowels of the bellie that is sharp punishment which pearceth euen the inward parts is profitable for the wicked to bring them to amendment But on the cōtrarie Pro. 13.24 he that spareth the rod spilleth the child witnes the exāple of Hely toward his sons Hophni Phinehas And of Dauid toward his son Adonijah whō he would not displease frō his childhod to say 1. Sam. 2.12.22.23.24 1. Reg. 1.6 why hast thou done so so in the end he proued a presumptuous traitor rank rebel Secondly this exemplarie iustice is commodious vnto others that are by-standers and beholders who may learne to beware by their neighbours harmes Deu. 13.11 17.13 21.22 according as Moses willeth punishment to be afflicted vpon transgressours of the law that Israel may heare and feare Whereupon Salomon groundeth this exposition of policie or iudiciall proceedings Prou. 19.25 Smite a scorner and the foolish will beware that is to say the simple and ignorant men learne their dutie when they see the wicked punished And for this cause did God by Moses commaund that the censers of Korah and his complices being 250 in number who had beene destroyed and consumed by a fire that came out from the Lord should be taken and beaten forth into broad plates for the couering of the Altar Numb 16.37.38 c. that they might be a signe to the children of Israel of Gods iudgements against all mutinous seditious rebellious persons Whereas on the other side If the incestuous person at Chorinth be not censured by excommunication behold 1. Cor. 5.6 Eccles 8.11 a little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe And by the iudgement of the preacher because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to doe euill that is by way of abridgement where Iustice is delayed there sinne raigneth Therefore the princely Psalmist promiseth in the last verse of this Psalme Psal 101.8 betimes to destroy all the wicked of the land that he might cut off all the workers of iniquitie from the Citie of the Lord. Thirdly the executing of hainous and notorious offenders withholdeth the wrath of God from the publike state of the Realme by taking euill out of Israel But the vnpunishing of Achan Deu. 17.12 22.22 Iosh 7.1.5 though his crime was vnknowen was so hurtfull to the host of Israel 2. Sam. 21.1.6.14 that the hearts of the people melted away like water Neither could the great dearth in Dauids time be remoued nor God fully pacified for Sauls crueltie long before committed against the Gibeonites till seauen of Sauls ofspring were hung vp to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul In briefe due execuitiō done vpon great and grieuous malefactors is a sacrifice acceptable vnto God and a preseruatiue of the state of the Church and Commonwealth Therfore a wise King scattereth the wicked Pro. 20.26 and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them But here must be inserted a caueat against all crueltie in execution of iustice Deut. 22.6 For by the law of Moses euen in seeking of birds nests it was not lawfull to take the damme with the yong Neyther might the bodie of the executed malefactor remaine all night vppon the tree Deut. 21.22 23. Beside this God would not turne to them of Damascus because they had treshed Gilead with threshing instruments of yron neither would he turne to the children of Ammon Amos. 1.3.13 because they had ript vp the women with child of Gilead that they might enlarge their owne border there is like to be iudgement mercilesse to Pilate who would shew no mercie Iam. 2.13 but mingled the blood of some that had offēded him Luke 13.1 Pro. 12.10 with their owne sacrifices Yet no maruaile it is that he did so for though the richteous man regardeth the life of his beast yet euen the mercies of the wicked and cruell Howbeit though crueltie is alwaies to be abhorred yet remissnes in dealing with the aduersaries of the truth the practisers and maintayners of a false worship is likewise to bee excluded because it is most perilous to the Church of God as appeareth by the history of the Canaanites who by the conniuency of the Israelites being permitted to conuerse with them Nom. 33.55 and to liue quietly among them became pricks in their eies and