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	righteousness_n	sin_n	20,387	5	5.1345	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60385	Ergon pseudous kai misthos alētheias, or, The wicked mans sad disappointment and the righteous mans sure recompence being a sermon preached the 17th day of October, 1661, at the solemn funerals of the Right Worshipful Sir Abraham Raynardson, Knight, late alderman of London / by George Smalwood.	Smalwood, George, 1604-1679.	1661 (1661)	Wing S4006; ESTC R10143	27,597	40

serve as a foil for the latter He whose Funeral hath ministred the occasion of this discourse was one blessed be God whose heart was made of a better Ex meliore luto sinxit praecordia mould therefore I shall handle the first part more briefly 1. And first let us consider the quality or nature of the person He is a wicked man A wicked man is one that liveth as he was born according to the principles of corrupt nature without any real change of his state and condition one that yet hath never received any true life of Grace from Jesus Christ the Fountain of life but lieth still in his natural unbelief and hardness of heart and is altogether dead in trespasses and sins that is 1. He is deprived of Spiritual life per peccatum by sin as the means or instrument sin in the first Adam wounded him to death 2. Propter peccatum for sin as the meritorious or impulsive cause for which God most justly depriveth him of life 3. He is dead in sin that is he is so devoted addicted and wholly given over to all ungodly unrighteous and sinful ways and practices that a dead man may as soon return to life as he can be diverted and turned away from his impiety and iniquity He lieth in sin like a dead man in a grave turning more and more daily to rottenness and putrefaction and so walketh according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2. 2. making provision for the fl●sh to fulfil the lusts thereof giving neither God nor man his due but behaving himself irreligiously and profanely towards God unjustly and uncharitably towards his neighbor unholily and impurely towards himself runing into all excess of riot He that liveth in the constant practice of any or all these evils is truly denominated a wicked man an ungodly unrighteous unclean liver 2. Consider his action he worketh wickedness is an operative principle and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Turbulentus seditiosus inquietus Turbulent in the Common-wealth unsetled in all things Leigh Crit Sacra turbulent seditious unquiet and restless as well as wicked For wicked men are of unquiet troublesome spirits like the troubled Sea that cannot rest whose waters cast forth mire and dirt they are without peace in themselves therefore they seek to molest and disturb others like fire they are still breaking out into one combustion or other Saint Jude calleth wicked men raging waves of the Sea foaming out their own shame Now nothing is more restless then the waves of the Sea they cannot forbear tumbling and tossi●g if there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jud. v 14. be any wind stirring He calleth them wandring Stars Planets not properly so called for no Starwander less then they do The Planets in themselves have certain stated motions and do keep the just points of their Compass The Sun knoweth his going down Psal 104. and the Moon is a faithful witness in Heaven keeping its constant course from one sign of the Zodiak to another and they have the name of Planets not from their own nature but from the judgement of sence because they are not carried about the whole circuit of the Heavens but in a shorter Orb and course But now improperly there are other wandring Stars which are not Stars indeed but onely dry exhalations inflamed which glare much and deceive the eye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristotle with appearance of light but soon vanish and are quenched These Aristotle calleth running and gliding Stars which are nothing else but fiery meteors glancing and shooting Such Stars are wicked men they have sometimes an appearance of light as if they were true Stars but they are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things which appear what they are not fiery meteors and as they are various and uncertain in their motions sometimes moving this way and sometimes that so they are restless in their motions till they are quite extinguished and put out For such is the nature of wicked men that they will be working though it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fruitless work to no purpose The corruption of their heart is a restless evil still breaking out upon every occasion making men commit sin with both hands greedily drinking in iniquity like water and drawing on sin with cords of vanity as the Prophets phrase is Not suffering men to sleep but causing them to devise in quity and work evil upon their beds and put it in practice when the morning is light because it is in the power of their hands to do it Mich. 2. 1. so Prov. 4. 16. it is said of wicked men They sleep not except they have done mischief and their sl●ep is taken away unless they cause Et si non aliqua nocuisses mortuus esses Virgil. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch some to fall nay it is a kinde of death to them not to do evil Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease to sin 2 Pet. 2. 14. the very sight of their eyes is turned as it were into adulterious glances as Plutarch wittily expresseth it this is the genius and natural disposition of wicked men like Satan the god of the world they are circumambulators they are going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it compassing Sea and Land to make one proselyte as Christ saith of the Pharisees and it is most true of the Jesuits those busie Factors of A●tichrist who are like Flies buzzing in every corner and seeking to bring in their erroneous opinions and superstitious practices Thus the wicked man is still working so the Hebrew word being a participle of the present Tense notes a continued act without any or not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with much interruption 3 Let us examine the vanity and folly of his work God knoweth he is doing to very little or no purpose as to his own good for it is a lying or deceitful work and that in divers respects 1 In respect of Satan the principal efficient cause of it who is the father of lyes the grand impostor that deceives the whole world that hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his sophistical reasonings and crafty devices his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wiles methods and stratagems his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 depths that are unsearchable whereby he gulls and deceiveth the poor souls of men that like silly birds are caught in his snares or like brute beasts are carried captive by him at his will 2 The wicked worketh a deceitful work in respect of the fountain from whence it floweth namely the heart of man which is deceitful above measure and desperately wicked a meer supplanter propounding evil under the appearance of good full of deceitful reasonings and carnal policies The Apostle calleth the lusts of the heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lusts of

the righteous is most sure for God hath willed it Christ hath purchased it God hath promised and sworn to bestow it and he hath given them the Seal of his Spirit to assure them of it therefore it cannot fail nor deceive them as there is truth in their righteousness so there is infallible truth and certainty in the reward of it To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward 3 Lastly let us a little consider the excellent nature of this reward what and how great it shall be It is no common or trivial thing no fruit and effect of Gods general love and bounty to mankinde but an especial choice token of his peculiarlove and favor which he sheweth to his Jedidiahs his beloved darlings his special Favorires whom he hath set aparr for himself to see his face and enjoy his glory It is that which is most transcendently blessed neither eye hath seen it nor ear heard it nelther hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive it I will give you some few glimmerings of it as they shine forth in the word 1 This reward is life without death for righteousness tendeth to life as it is in ver 19. of this chap. This life is not subject to the stroke of death but is immortal and cannot decay Our Savious saith This is the bread which cometh down from Heavem that a man may eat thereof and not die I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever As the course of Rivers is to return to the Sea from whence they have their original so righteousness coming from Christ the Ocean of life tendeth thither again and Christ saith to such Because I live ye shall live also John 14. 19. 2 It is light without darkness a Sun that shall never set and there are no Clouds to overshadow it a perpetual solstice of glory a day that knoweth no evening a uniform constant light Hell is the Region of darkness but Heaven is the Region of light yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a marvellous light where we shall see such wonders as we never saw or thought of before It is said of the Heavenly Jerusalem The City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it For the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it Revel 21. 23 24. 3 It is joy without the least mixture of sorrow there is no mourning no sorrow no complaining in those streets where the righteous shall dwell but joy unspeakable and full of glory David saith In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Saint John saith of the holy City the new Jerusalem and the Inhabitants thereof God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the firmer things are passed away Revel 21. 4. then that comfortable promise shall be certainly fulfilled Isa 51. 11. The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Sion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away 4 It is peace and tranquillity without the least trouble or disquiet a perpetual calm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet Harbour without fear of winds storms or Pirats The Prophet saith of the righteous He shall enter in●o p●ace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Isa 57. 2. What sweet repose shall the righteous man finde in Abrahams bosome he shall have perfect peace with the God of peace and Christ the Prince of peace and he shall dwell in a peaceable habitation where there are onely friends and no enemies 5 Lastly The reward of the righteous is in one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beatitudines Cumulus omnium bonorum aggregatione perfectus Blessedness Psal 119. 1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way that walk in the Law of the Lord. The word is Blessednesses a plurality of blessings an heap of all good things gathered together in perfection where no evil shall be present no good shall be wanting for there shall be God the chiefest good nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the good that can be named and all this shall dure to eternity For the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. This is a blessed reward indeed I might be very large in the application of these truths but then I should transgress the usual bounds of a Funeral Sermon therefore I shall speak but a few admonitions and so come from the Text to the occasion Use If the righteous shall have a sure reward and that full of so much excellency what fools are they that will not sow the seed of righteousness that they may reap such a reward as this who that is wise would make Glaucus his change viz. Gold for Brass Truly I cannot enough 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 admire at the folly of Worldlings that choose to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and have no eye at this recompence of reward prona in terram animalia that look always down to the earth and raise not their thoughts nor lift up their eyes to those Mansions of glory in Heaven where the righteous shall be rewarded that labour so much for the meat that perisheth and will take no pains for that which endureth to everlasting life that prefer dross before gold and gold before grace and glory Doubtless had they an eye of faith to see the excellency of this reward they would choose to sowe the seed of righteousness although they sowed it in tears because they shall be sure to reap in joy Therefore let me beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ to walk not as fools but as wise to make the best choice to choose eternal blessedness before temporal abundance Choose the righteous mans reward rather then the Worldlings portion Let it not be said of you that ye have your portion in this life that ye have your reward but choose God for your portion and inheritance and the enjoyment of God in the life to come And to that end if you desire comfort in death when all earthly comforts will fail you and the breasts of the Creatures which you delight to suck will be quite dried up be careful to sow this blessed seed of righteousness both to God and man take the Apostles counsel 2 Tim. 2. 22. Follow righteousness faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pursue it hunt after it as the hunter doth after his prey not resting satisfied till you have obtained it This will be a comfortable Cordial a sovereign Antidote

deceit or deceitful lusts by a familiar Hebraism Ephes 4. 22. 3 The work of the wicked is deceitful because at last it always meets with frustration and disappointment Psal 7. 14. Behold he travaileth with iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood There was never any wicked worker yet that did not befool and deceive himself in the conclusion and self deceit is the worst deceit 1 The wicked worker promiseth himself joy and comfort but God on a sodain turneth all his joy into mourning he feedeth him with wormwood and giveth him waters of gall to drink In the midst of his mirth there appeareth a hand-writing against him which strikes him with trembling and filleth him with horror and amazement as it did Belshazzar 2 He promiseth himself peace safety and security he saith in his heart I shall be a Lady for ever I am and none else besides me I shall not sit as a widow neither shall I know the loss of children this was the vain confidence of Babylon Isa 47. 8. And so it is of the carnal man he trusts in his own heart his own wisdom and policy and makes flesh his arm but departs from the living God and thinks his mountain stands so strong that it shall never be moved But God saith There is no peace to the wicked nay when he saith peace and safety then sodain destruction cometh upon him as pain upon a woman in travail and he shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3. In an hour when he thinks not the Lord cometh and bringeth upon him that which he least feared saying unto him as he did to Babylon These two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day the loss of children widowhood they shall come upon thee in their perfection Isa 47 9. Wicked men like Saul whilest they think by carnal means to make their peace plunge themselves deeper into misery and when they are in the very height of their prosperity they are sodainly cast down into an abyss of adversity never to rise again Psal 73. 19 20. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors As a dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their image 3 The wicked worker if perhaps at any time he think upon death dares promise himself comfort in that also and eternal happiness after death but he deceiveth himself he shall find death to him the king of terrors and shall meet with nothing after it but torment and misery the worm that never dyeth and the fire that is never quenched It is said of the hypocrite that his hope shall perish Whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spiders web Job 8. 13. 14. All that an hypocrite hopes for at his death shall come to nothing he shall find that all this while he hath been in a golden dream that he hath been as one that is hungry who dreams he is eating but when he awakes his soul is empty He shall find that all his lifetime he hath been weaving Spiders webs which is a work of curiosity but not fit for clothing or any other use Therefore as the Spider eviscerates her self and weaveth her web out of her own bowels and when she hath spent her pains her work is fit for no use but to catch Flies and when the house is cleansed it is sodainly swept away and perisheth So wicked men toil and labor and consume their very bowels for the enjoyment of these outward things and their hope and trust is in their own duties gifts strength and wealth but when death cometh all these are swept away from them yea they themselves are swept away with the besome of destruction like so many useless cobwebs and their hope proveth no better then a Spiders web Nay which is worse then death the sequel of death is unspeakable misery he is loth to dye but he cannot Mors prima pellit animam nolentem de corpore mors secunda detinet animam nol●●tem in corpore August escape it the first death driveth his soul whether it will or no out of the body and the second death will keep his soul whether it will or no in the body as Saint Augustine expresseth it for his body which hath been a companion with his soul in sin shall be a sharer with it in torment and so his hope perisheth for ever Use Thus the wicked worketh a deceitful work indeed Malicia maximam partem veneni sui bibit wickedness drinketh up the greatest part of its own poison and the wicked man is like the Wasp for with his sting he offends others but much more himself for he leaveth behinde him and that for ever both his sting and his strength and brings himself at last by his wicked works to the ruine of body and soul to eternity O take heed of adventuring upon any wicked work whatsoever with hope of security or impunity meddle not with that which will so grosly deceive you You have seen in these unhappy times what the end of wickedness hath been how much they deluded themselves how sodainly and sadly to themselves they were disappointed of their hopes God miraculously turned the wheel upon them and their mischief returned upon their own head and their violent dealing came down upon their own pate This hath been always Gods method He hath left us examples of his vindicative justice upon unrighteous men to be for our admonition What did Achitophels wicked policy who was esteemed as an oracle of God come to at last when he saw that his counsel was undervalued he went home in a discontent and hanged himself God suffered him to be his own executioner So Absoloms rebellion against holy David Hamans malicious devices against the people of God to destroy them and Judas his treason against his blessed Master the Lord Jesus Christ the insurrection of Corah and his Complices against Moses and Aaron all these met with nothing in the conclusion but violent and accursed deaths they were disappointed of their hope and cast themselves into the bottomless pit of remediless misery Saint Bernard saith of Judas he thirsted for gain and found Dum sitit lucrum tendit ad laqucum Bern. an halter to choak him Corah and his company went down alive into the pit the earth opening her mouth and swallowing them up Read this History and tremble to attempt the like lest God make you examples to others Lege historium ne sias historia of his severe vengeance O take heed of presuming to do any ungodly unjust or unlawful action shun it as you would do a savage wilde beast or the sword of an enraged R●pet in authorem scelus Sen. Trag. Raro antecedent●m scelestum deseruit pana pede claudo Horat. enemy for in the end it will bring nothing but disappointment and destruction and as Moses saith their sin will most certainly finde them