Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A55504
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The sovles life exercising it selfe in the sweet fields of divine meditations and prayers. Collected for the comfort of all those who willingly adventure their lives for the defence of the Gospel, in these blood-thirsty times of war.
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Portman, Richard.
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1645
(1645)
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Wing P3001B; ESTC R220485
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26,310
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146
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THE SOVLES LIFE Exercising it selfe in the sweet Fields of Divine Meditations and Prayers Collected for the comfort of all those who willingly adventure their lives for the defence of the Gospel in these blood-thirsty times of War LONDON Printed for R. Harper and are to be sold at his shop in Smithfield 1645. The Printer to the Reader VVHen this Booke came into my hands by means of a wel-wishing friend after I had perused it and the Title thereof I thought it very sitting as well in regard of the Subject being Divine Meditations as of the devotion and intent of the Religious Author to raise up the mindes of men from the troublesome thoughts of these tempestuous times that their Soules sole hope might take Anchor hold upon God The Subject of our Meditation is divers as also of our prayer and thanksgiving in regard whereof Hilary compareth the Psalmes of David to a bunch of keyes which as by severall doors give us accesse to God as some admiring him in his creatures and wonderfull works some of thanksgiving for his mercyes and wonderfull deliverance of his people the children of Israell others of exhortation to al Nations to know and rejoyce in him and the like Meditation it is true though it be most proper to the private and solitary Soule retired from worldly affairs and busines yet is it a duty most necessary for all the servants of God at all times and in all places wheresoever to exercise themselves in Isaac we read went out to meditate at the eventide Gen. 24. 63. When I remember thee upon my bed saith David Ps 63. 6 and meditate upon thee in the night watches So that Meditation being so generally necessary for every true servant of God a Subject of such excellent use worth I could not but publish this to the view of the world though the pious Authors modesty is such that he could be content to live sibi notus ignotus aliis Farewell The Soules Life MEDITATION I. Meditations and confessions of mans sinfull wayes O Blessed God when I consider with my self how I have spent my time nay rather mis spent it I tremble for when I should have served thee my God I served mine owne lusts and evill affections I walked too often in the vanity of mine owne wayes and hearkened not to thy will and Commandements which should have been as a lanthorn and light to guide mee in those darker pathes It hath been mine unhappy errour to minde more the things of the world then the things which concerne thee I confesse O Lord that I have offended thee in all my wayes both in thought word and deed and have served the creature more then the Creator But O Lord I humbly beg pardon of thee who art the God of mercy Pardon therfore my misdeeds I beseech thee and cast not away thy servant in displeasure O Lord I come unto thee upon the bended knees of my heart and cry with the Publican Lord be mercifull unto me a sinner for I know O Lord thou delightest not in the death of a sinner but that he should repent and be saved Save me therefore O Lord and make my wayes so direct for the time to come that I may keepe thy commandements and that I may doe nothing but that which is acceptable in thy sight make me humble for thou standest afarre off from the proud make both my soul and body as they ought to be a fit Temple for the Holy Ghost out of which do thou O Christ drive away all worldly thoughts and vaine imaginations chase buiers and sellers of my heavenly treasure and make me meditate on things above Clense me O Lord from all filthinesse of sinne and evill concupiscence and grant that for the time to come I may serve thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life that when death shall ceaze on my body my soule may without fear rejoyce long to be with thee my Saviour and Redeemer there to enjoy that happines and blisse which thou hast prepared for them that love thee MEDITAT II. Meditations of a penitent sinner hoping for pardon through the merits of Christ O Lord how are my daies wasted and come to an end even as a dreame that is told how doe my nights passe away and are not to be recall'd againe and how doe I forget what I have done against thee my God the sinnes alas that I have committed are as innumerable as the sand on the sea shore not to be numbred by any but thy justice and what account shall I make to thee O Lord when this tabernacle of mine shall bee dissolved and my soule appeare before thy Majesty at the last and dreadfull day of judgement where all that I have done shall be laid open and shall be as so many witnesses against me and I not able to answer one of a thousand what shall I doe Lord or whither shall I go for succour no place can hide me from thy presence for thou fillest all places and art not excluded from any place therefore I have no place to flie from thy justice O Lord I beseech thee to remember the pretious bloud of thy dear Son which was shed for me his bloud is a sufficient ransome for the whole world and for as many worlds as there are people therefore O Lord I will not despaire of a share in my Saviours sufferings he dyed as well for me as for others and I hope through his merits I shall be saved therefore I beseech thee O my Saviour answer for me and plead thou my cause for in thee alone shall I be reconciled to my God and shall have forgivenesse of all my sins be they never so many or grievous Therefore O my Soule be not dismaied but comfort thy selfe in thy Saviour for in stead of punishment thou shalt have a reward thy reward shall be a Crowne of everlasting glory thy reward shall bee the rewarder even God himselfe thou shalt see and enjoy him whom none can see and not be blessed thou shalt see and enjoy the fellowship of all the blessed Apostles the holy Angels and Saints of God and shalt sing Hallelujahs and prayses to the heavenly King for ever and ever MEDITAT III. Meditations of the wonderfull goodnesse and love of God to mankinde O God how wonderfull art thou in thy works in wisdome hast thou made them all the Earth is full of thy riches and so is the great and wide Sea also this was thy great care and providence to mankinde that before the creation of man thou createdst all things for his use before thou sentest him into the world to the end he might not perish but be relieved with all things necessary convenient and delightfull for him O God when I see the fields cloathed with corne it makes my heart rejoyce with an exceeding great joy and when I think thereupon I consider with my selfe it was thy providence that provided that for me