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	power_n	soul_n	8,115	5	4.8720	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59934	[Evangelion aionion eis t aionch] doxotaton, or, A glimpse of gospel glory. The first part together with a short but pithie treatise of Mr. E.D. shewing that Peter was never at Rome : to which is subjoyned as an appendix some pregnant collections by ... H. Nelson ... to a like purpose.	Sherwin, William, 1607-1687?; E. D., Mr.; Nelson, H., 17th cent.	1661 (1661)	Wing S3404; ESTC R25256	86,334	226

from the heavens send forth her tender sprouts and pleasant fruits for the use of creatures inhabiting upon it Doe not the Valleys standing thick vvith Corne laugh and sing as the Psalmist speaketh Psal 65. 13. And doe not all living creatures under the materiall heavens when God opens his hand and fills them with his goodnesse sing and rejoyce and all of them materially praise the Lord as shewing forth unto man such ample matter of his praise and glory in all such respects continually due unto his divine Majestie from Men and Angells which either doe or ought to learne that great lesson from them But then above all when that inward secret divine grace and spirituall glory hidden from the eyes of all creatures which none else attaine to know but those to whom such inward spirituall discovery is made and none know their own but they that have it from whence there is gladnesse put into the hearts of such as have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prerogative to become the children of God Joh 1. 12. To be borne from above Joh 3. 3. yea to be borne of God ver 8. Being effectually changed into the same image as in the Text by the Lord the Spirit not only above that when mens corne and wine and oyle inoreaseth as Psal 4. 7. But as the Apostle speaketh with joy unspeak able and full of glory and indeed when the glory of God hath once filled their souls it is no wonder if they triumph in the God of all glory O how should this true sight of the spirituall heavenly Canaan upon the top of Mount Nebo at some distance make them with Moses to be willing to leave a Wildernesse-worldly condition and gladly to goe unto that God whose glittering beames of glory have not only shined upon their countenance as visibly once on Moses but into their soules so seasoning sanctifying sweetning supporting comforting them answerably to all that his most soveraigne divine all-guiding and ordering providence shall dispence unto them That neither life nor death Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate them from his love which is in Christ Jesus their Lord Rom 8. 38 39. or it from them Yea upon this advantage God Christ spirituall and eternall joy is really and truly here and perpetually and perfectly hereafter shall most infallibly be conveyed into and for ever be continued unto their souls and their whole man to all eternitie O then know thy worth O sanctified soule that thou mayst here in some measure suitably praise thy God which as such thou canst not but desire freely to doe now and shalt most certainly and most happily performe hereafter incessantly unweariedly and most delightfully Let thy name whereby thou mayest remarkably be knowne in the world be Barachiah blesse or praise the Lord let his praise be ever in thy mouth ever in thy heart ever endeavoured after and aimed at in thy life so will thy name be truly glorious so will thy end be truly blessed but thy portion perfect beatitude everlasting felicitie Fifthly and lastly Let none content themselves with an outward profession of Christs Religion unlesse with the regenerate and truly sanctified souls they in some good measure likewise so behold the glory of the Lord as to be therewithall changed into the same image without which men may long enough beare the name of Christ and yet never be owned by Christ they may eate and drinke often in his presence and have him preached often in their streets and yet notwithstanding heare him say unto them Depart from me ye cursed I never knew you I never approved of you nor your seeming service yea some also may preach Christ unto others and that in many respects well too and yet they themselves be meer cast-awayes if they do not aright behold this glory of the Lord. Were such truths well considered owned believed applyed Christians would be lesse in seeming more in substance lesse in formalitie more in realitie lesse in shews and more in truth Satan could delude lesse grace would prevaile more the Devil should have fewer slaves Christ would have more servants sin would have fewer Subjects grace would have more favourites hell would have fewer everlastingly condemned prisoners heaven would have more eternally enfranchized Citizens to possesse or inhabite them Now for the better promoting of this great worke let me offer unto thee these ensuing Considerations amongst many others which might be added First Consider that the obtaining of this Burgesship or being so free-borne unto it is the first thing that ought humbly faithfully and constantly to be sought for by every Wise Virgin and none but the foolish neglect it It is to be sought for first in order by the direction of our best Teacher by the injunction of the best and infinitely greatest King First seeke the Kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof Math 6. 33. First in intention with the converted Jaylour What must I doe to be saved First in value and worth incomparable What will it profit a man saith our Saviour and he knowes best that it profits nothing for a man to gaine the whole world were it possible as it is not and to loose his own soule Mark 8. 36. First in necessitie For except saith Christ a man be borne againe or borne from above he cannot see the kingdome of God he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Joh 3. 3 5. First In dignity or excellency for it is incomparably more to be borne of God as all his Saints are then to be borne of bloods or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man Jo. 1. 13. First In truly comfortable fruition without which the soule is like the needle in the marriners compasse till it be this way pointed at God for its rest will alwayes be in disturbed motion It was not only more truly honorable for David that he was the truly faithful servant of the Lord and the sweet singer of Israel the man after Gods own heart then that he was the King of Israel the renowned Conqueror of Gods and his own enemies but it was more true comfort sound satisfaction unspeakeable and glorious joy over and above all the rest that he was or did or possessed in the world Secondly Consider that this is only the really true and the only heaven upon earth whereas all others supposed heavens without this are but Phantastical conceits vanishing delusions sweet poysons putative pleasures but intoxicating and killing rejoycings Thirdly Consider what a great advancement it is in the world yea above the world and that in respect both of her frownes and her favours First Saith the Apostle yea are come unto the Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Hierusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in

sawest there was none to deliver that there was no Intercessour therefore thine own arme brought salvation and thy righteousnesse it sustained thee Isa 59. 16. Here here was an object fit only for the wisdome power and goodnesse of an infinite God to shew it selfe and in a way and means suitable to the otherwise helplesse condition of such a wretched creature who shall therefore have a wonderfull deliverer but yet his misery at present shall not altogether be taken away but he shall yet continue in that world wherein he first had sinned that shall be to him the place of his prison where he committed his first his late most hainous offence and that the more remarkably in that his former happy Palace is now by his sin become a stinking Dungeon to him his Paradise of pleasure formerly is now become a very Bridewell for his correction his painlesse exercise before is now exchanged for painfull toyle manifest by the sweat of his browes instead of his successfull labour without wearinesse he shall be vexed with much lost labour and wearinesse therewith Aethiopem lavabit magno conatu magnas nugas aget he shall often endeavour to no purpose and greatly endeavour to no purpose and greatly endeavour to small purpose but yet worse than this in his prison he shall have a Jaylour too but the worst of creatures by defection and his own worst enemy his hatefull and first murtherer at least in his hopes and purposes had not God then in such a case speedily graciously and unexpectedly stept in for his rescue or reprieve But before such deliverance particularly can come home by reason this cursed Jaylour having man in some sort in his custody endeavours to make him his perpetual vassal and when in this he finds he doth prevaile sometime such shall have the priviledge of his prison-house but only for this most wretched end to make them the more sworne slaves to himselfe to others he will not vouchsafe the like libertie of their prison but holds them fast in hard bondage and because he would the more harden them for hell-torments hereafter he begins to plague them with an hell upon earth but not as men sometimes put in Bedlam by their friends to regaine their wits but to make them spiritually the more mad and eternally the more miserable any way to engage them the most temporally to his vassallage and eternally to his torments and the rather because that enviously and spitefully he yet surely knowes there is a yeare of Jubile proclaimed from the most Soveraigne and Almightie King and that there is a Deliverer Come by whose appointment Heralds at Armes or rather Embassadours of peace are sent abroad to publish the same with the conditions thereof upon abundant testimony under his hand and seales with sufficient authoritie and most certain evidence for mans securitie therein but yet I say upon his own tearmes alone But how doth the Devil their Jaylour now play his pranks to disappoint the purpose of such published grace and to keep his prisoners either from hearing if possible the sound of this good newes by stopping it from their eares or if he cannot doe that to stop their eares against it by many diversions of hopes or ease or pleasure or profit or else by prejudice or danger or reproach or feare or persecution or any thing or all if it may be to hinder the same that they may not come neare to hearken to those commissionated Heralds at Armes or Embassadours of peace but if they must needs be within the hearing of them he will disparage their termes as too hard impossible not sure not warrantable or too damnifying or the like he will tell them false tales of golden apples and sweet and pleasant grapes which are growing for them in his Garden when they are indeed but apples of Sodome and grapes of Gomorrha ashie apples and bitter grapes he will tell them much of great treasures and pleasures with him to be had when they are but as men say of Witches feasts in the caves of the earth only phantasticall but nothing reall he will tell them of golden mountaines they shall have by his service when there is nothing but fire and flames of brimstone in the bowells thereof belching forth continually before-hand their noysome stench with flames and smoake and ashes of Gods wrathfull displeasure against them Yet all the Devills prisoners will hearken more to his lyes than unto Gods Embassadours or his truth all the while they are in his bondage and knowing nothing better than what they at present conceive they find they will not be perswaded that there is any thing better than what they think they know Neither will they believe that they shall finde any thing worse hereafter than what they at present feele and so what with his charmes and baits on the one hand and what with his gyves manacles and chaines on the other hand their eares are either stopped like the deafe Adders that refuse to heare or else bored through at his doore like voluntary slaves readily agreeing with him for their own perpetuall bondage But here the wonder-working God againe appeares who having sealed some to the day of Redemption and having given those unto the Redeemer whom likewise the Redeemer hath particularly and fully ransomed even those he will rescue out of that bondage yea out of that death of sin and Satan unto them are his Embassadours specially sent but they likewise will not heare and therefore while he sends many times and often for a long continuance it may be and importunately by them in his own name beseecheth them to be reconciled to him for their own good though happily they may be roused a little sometimes yet they are not raised from that sleep and death till God the Father and God the Redeemer by the Allmightie power of the Lord the Spirit speaks home to their souls what outwardly and only outwardly they had heard before with their eares many times perhaps only but not regarded to retaine till he himselfe comes in and sets on the impression of his grace-revealing truth upon their hearts with a secret quickening spirituall life Upon discovery or feare whereof in any of Satans prisoners their former Jaylour attempts with speed to hinder if he can if not to consent yet to divert or re●ard but if he cannot doe that he will still endeavour to make them drive on as heavily as may be that if at all they will receive the offers of peace yet they may doe it as late as may be that they may have the lesse comfort others the lesse benefit and their spirituall blessed Lord and Soveraigne the lesse honour or advantage thereby But if they will when once marked for Christs sheep be departing from his Wolves and Goats range and walk he will help them to as much bread and water of affliction if he can while they are passing on in their journey to their new Master as may last them

fall by death into utter darknesse than to come to this light of life so that such as put this light from themselves or such as hinder and cloud it or hide it from others they must needs fall into a sad condemnation was there not only invincible ignorance but obstinacy prevalent upon the souls of men did they not willingly upon their own hearts and consciences Callum inducere draw such a brawnish hardnesse even to stand against the batteries which God many wayes makes against the strong holds of Satan therein so that they are not only Gospel-proofe but Law-proofe too so that neither the Boanerges or Barnabae the sons of thunder or the sons of consolation that are sent unto them can either pierce them or melt them bow them or break them but they will doe as they have done if they have made cakes for the Queene of heaven they will doe so still if they have served God out of custome more than conscience they will doe so still if they have added drunkennesse to thirst they will doe so still if they sacrificed upon the mountaines they will doe so still if they have hated such as beare the image of God upon them they will doe so still yea though the greatest and forciblest of Gods Ordinances play upon the Forts of their Hell-hardened Consciences they remaine impenetrable What cleare light hath shined long in this Nation above all her neighbours how hath God poured his Spirit remarkably upon many persons eminent amongst us for Divine endowments being greatly inlarged with the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit and as willing as able to improve their talents to their Masters advantage and the salvation of the soules of all sorts of people But if they come neere the soares of their soules how doe men kick and spurne against them then they are their enemies because they tell them the truth if they would take away the vaile of ignorance from before their eyes they will answer with the Pharisees those blind leaders of the blind that they see already and therefore as our Saviour told them so such likewise might be told therefore your sin remaineth if they would make them sencible of their lost estate they have good hearts and meanings and make many prayers and it may be if they were tryed through the whole Law of God as Christ tryed the young man in the Gospel they would be ready to plead for themselves not guiltie all these have we kept from our youth when their plea is as false as mistaken by them If Gospel grace be never so much discovered to them if the termes thereof be never so often and urgently pressed upon them they heare them not they receive them not they observe them not if Satan or men will offer any thing else vaine or foolish sencelesse or frivolous a little countenance from men a little ingagement in the world will prevaile for their seducement when Divine truth hath been little regarded for a long time in reference to their conversion as our Saviour told the Jewes when they would not regard his heavenly counsel If any shall come to them in his owne name him they would heare Joh 5. 43. And hath not Satan varieties of designes and agents to Eclypse or cloud or hide or even to guish if possible Gospel-glory now for many yeares brightly shining amongst us holding out varieties of strong and strange delusions sometimes really grosse and despicable to ordinary capacities sometimes more refined and seemingly more spirituall and appearing more neere to perfection and yet still wandering from the way of truth yea sometime to set up iniquirie by Law and to obstruct the most efficacious wayes and meanes to promote the advancement of Gospel glory Have there not been sad experiments of these things in our former and later Popish persecutions And let all reall and sound Christians earnestly pray there may not be any the like againe amongst us for shall we Question it That whilst with Capernaum we are lifted up unto heaven in Christs speciall approaches and intercourses amongst us so much neglected and opposed too by the generalities almost of men and women that we shall not be equally with her cast downe into Hell Let not any persons deceive themselves God is not mocked but as each man sowes so let him look to reape at his hands Mat 6. 7. If men weave the Spiders webs and hatch the Cockatrice eggs may they not justly expect that their webs should faile to become garments and that their eggs break forth into Vipers to sting or destroy themselves or others Isa 59. 5 6. Thirdly To admonish all good Christians as they desire to have much glory in heaven to labour much to behold the Gospel glory of the Lord in his Church upon earth and so to behold it as to be still more and more transformed into the same image yea in being so exercised heaven will more come down unto them and enter into their soules there will be such a glory as will make their souls truly delightfull comfortable happie such as they would not exchange or part with for the whole world let them be much taken up with the contemplation and admiration of such Gospel grace and glory and let their hearts and mouthes be filled with the high praises of God for it in all respects of the shining glory of it oh to what an height of divine excellency will it raise their spirits what large possession will it give the Lord the Spirit of their soules what earnest longings will it cause after more of the same grace what rejoycings and triumphings will it cause in the Lord of glory what resistance will it afford against worldly discouragements intanglements ingagements and all obstructions and oppositions whatsoever against it how will it sweeten troubles season every condition and administer unto them the oyle of joy even with the garments of heavinesse oh who would not drinke well of the wine of such sweet consolation to make them in ● good measure to forget their sorrow when by faith in the depth of sorrow they shall so see Christ a Saviour for them sitting gloriously and triumphantly at the right hand of God as Stephen did wonderfully while he was in stoning to death Acts 7. Fourthly Let this incite and stirre up all such as have any true spirituall discoveries of Gospel glory made unto their soules hence to learne spiritually to exult and triumph in the name of the Lord and in the power of his might and in the evidence of his divine grace for as our Saviour said unto his Disciples in another case the like may be said unto such Flesh and blood bath not revealed this unto their soules but the Lord the Spirit who is from heaven Doe not the Starres standing in the cleare aspect of the Sunne send forth their cleare and bright shining rayes in the view of the world Doth not the earth when it receives its seasonable and sweet showers and influences