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	sin_n	wage_n	10,905	5	10.9508	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60091	A Short relation concerning the life and death of that man of God, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, William Simpson, who laid down his body in the island of Barbadoes the eight day of the twelfth month, M DC LXX	Fortescue, William.; Hooton, Oliver.; Fox, George, 1624-1691.; Hooton, Elizabeth, ca. 1600-1672.; Simpson, William, 1627?-1671. Going naked a signe.	1671 (1671)	Wing S3618; ESTC R10632	9,466	16

A SHORT RELATION Concerning the Life and Death OF That man of God and faithful Minister Of JESUS CHRIST WILLIAM SIMPSON Who laid down his Body in the Island of Barbadoes the eighth Day of the twelfth Month M DC LXX My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen th●●●of 2 Kings 2. 12. And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write Blessed are 〈◊〉 dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit they may rest from their labours and their works do follow th●● Rev. 14. 13. Printed in the Year 1671. A SHORT Relation c. MErciful hath the Lord been to us of this Island beyond expression in sending his faithful Servants amongst us time after time early yea and now of late preaching deliverance to us who were Captives and under the region and shadow of Death turning us from darkness to the light and from Satans power to the power of God being as lights set on a Hill publishing the acceptable year of the Lord to the penitent and the day of vengeance of our God on the rebellious both within and without which is now fulfilled and fulfilling in this day of his power wherin his people are a willing people let his will be what pleaseth him here on Earth as it is in Heaven though there be them that do murmur at it as in the dayes of old saying to the Lord DEpart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes still imagining that the Lord delays his coming according to his promise which is without sin unto Salvation and are still pleading for the Devils work which is sin although that is it which separateth from the Lord and hindereth the will of the Lord to be done on Earth or whilst they are in this world which is that they should be sanctified but let such know that after this Life his Will will be justly done on them whether they will or no though now they may resist the Holy Ghost as their Fathers did of old and they which are not obedient to his call and voice which his sheep do hear and follow whilst here denying him before men he also will deny them before his Father and the holy Angels I do not question but that it will be granted that the Call of the Lord is to depart from sin and not to joyn to that which separates from God Then if we hold sin the term of Life we shall find that its wages will be death We cannot serve two Masters If we serve Sin we are free from Righteousness neither is there fellowship between light and darkness or Christ and Belial for they are contrary and opposite in all things insomuch that the fruits of either are clearly descerned by the children of Light who are not of this world neither of darkness though they once were but are now of the Day and are Light in the Lord being turned thereto by his faithful Servants speaking by the same spirit that of old said Come ye Oh house of Israel and let us walk in the Light of the Lord. This as my Testimony I write to those that have been convinced of the Truth declared largely by that Man of God William Simpson who hath bestowed much labour on us that this may stand as a Witness against my self or any that have received the Truth declared by him if we depart from it which that we may not do let us all watch knowing assuredly that it is only they that continue to the end that shall be saved as this faithful Warrior yea and more than a Conqueror hath done who is entered into his rest having received an immortal Crown of an eternal weight of glory The Spirit of the Lord bears true witness in me to the truth of the same this moment And for the farther confirmation of the same I shall instance something concerning his End which was miraculous I being with him the time that he kept House in his sickness and to his Grave On the third day of this instant being the sixth day of the week he powerfully preached the Word of the Lord and made effectual supplication to him by Prayer at the House of Katherine Norton it being the fifth Meeting that he had been at that week and last publication of the Gospel of Peace except nigh the hour of his death which was so powerfully done that it is beyond my utterance especially considering the low estate of his outward man which confirmeth his last Declaration to be no less than a miraculous voice immediately from Heaven as indeed it was that we might then have said and now do That he being dead yet speaketh the wonderful things of God From which Meeting as aforesaid at K. N s. he with his yoke-fellow John Burneyat went to the house where Richard Clarke now lives who kindly received them and that night our dear Friend William Simpson was taken very ill with a Feaver so that the outward man grew weaker and fainter every day more than other and the inward man was renewed with might to our great rejoycing as appeared by his often making melody to the Lord with rich rejoycings so that though we sorrow for him yet we sorrow not as those which have no hope being Witnesses of the Glory of the Lord which did surround him to the last And his care was much over the Flock of which the Lord by the Holy Ghost had made him an Overseer as appeared by his words to his and our beloved John Burneyat that morning who signified to him That he had freedom to stay with him if he desired it but dear William answered him saying All will not be well except thou be there meaning mens meeting that day and the general meeting on the morrow with other words to that effect Now for the service of Truth these two faithful Stewards had separated themselves outwardly but having bemoaned each other like Turtle Doves that miss their Mates they resolved in the Will of the Lord to enjoy each others company so much as they could yet with Williams consent John went to Town that day And on the eighth day of this Month he grew very weak and faint in Body and with being removed according to his desire he fainted away not speaking nor knowing us as he afterward said And seeing us to be sad he asked If he had given us any words in the time of his fainting that might offend us but we satisfied him that he did not neither did he for indeed he was harmless in all things and was become as a little Child for not one froward or hasty word proceeded from him neither was he any thing less than a perfect man who feared God and eschewed evil yea he walked before the Lord and was perfect insomuch that the Lord hid not from him that which he hath accomplished on him for in the forenoon the Lord shewed him in a Vision that he would take him away and giving a start he gave

he hath sent his Servants time after time endued with the Powe● of his Spirit to convince its inhabitants of the evil of their wayes and many thereby are gathered into the way of Gods Covenant of Life and peace Everlastingly blessed be the Name of the Lord who hath remembred us in these remote parts of the Earth and amongst the many that he hath sent he hath sent two of his faithful Servants with the Ministry of his Everlasting Gospel whose Integrity and Innocency hath appeared in the likeness and Image of God Almighty to the convincing of many of the way of Gods Truth whereby the most High hath been pleased to enlarge the Assemblies of his People by drawing nearer unto himself those that were afar off for the gathering of whom the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath made the two aforesaid his fathful Servants viz. William Sympson and John Burneyat very instrumental in his hand to declare the light of the eternal Day in the demonstration of the Spirit of Love and tendrness who faithfully have dealt plainly with all People without respect of Persons as the Lord commanded them and they have not been as Idle-labourers in the Vineyard but they have been willing to spend and to be spent for the advancing and exalting of the Power and Truth of the most High God in the hearts of men Now that which caused me more particularly to write this unto you to whose hands soever it may come is somewhat to signifie something concerning that Renouned Servant of the Lord and Faithful Follower of the Lamb William Simpson who hath walked in faithfulness unto God and followed the Lamb through many Tribulations and washed his Robes and made them white in his blood and hath not loved his Life unto Death but hath fought the good fight and by Faith hath overcome and hath run the race that was set before him and hath finished his course and hath obtained a Crown of Life and Glory and is set down in the Kingdom of Heaven in the place of Everlasting Rest with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and with the Saints of the most High for ever And truly Friends I cannot but give Testimony that he was an Innocent Man as himself also said when he was near his last breath I have sometimes known him in our native Country and then did his Life sound forth his Innocency and having been here more than four Months the same state of Innocency was found in him even unto the day that it pleased the Lord to take him from amongst us to reign with him in Eternity And as the Lord alone had made him a Preacher of his Word in the way of Righteousness in the time of his Life as men of a right understanding can sufficiently evidence so likewise in the same hour of his Death he did wonde●fully declare of the great work of the Lord and of his compassion to all People and having concluded said That what he had said was laid upon him from the Lord. And he said unto those that were with him That he was an Innocent Man and desired them not to be troubled but to let him go And now he is entred into everlasting Rest in a Heavenly habitation having laid down his Head in Everlasting Peace in the glorious State of Eternity where he doth rest from his Labours and his Works do follow him beyond the reach of all the Tyrants of the Earth who can never come there except they repent But their day will assuredly have an end and they must come to Judgment before the Lord and then let the stout-hearted amongst them stand up in the might of his strength and gird up his Loyns like a Man and contend with the Almighty if he be able to answer him when he calls to an account for the deeds done in the Body And where is he that knows his latter-end or whether this may be his last day here or nay as the two aforesaid faithful Servants of the Lord have many times reminded all People here to remember their latter end and to strive to make their Calling and Election sure with the Lord and not to grieve the good Spirit of the Lord by following vanity and excess of Ryot or whatsoever would hinder their passage to the Kingdom of Heaven where Life and Salvation is attained where the Soul of our d●ar Brother aforesaid doth rest in Peace and Glory for ever as I do assuredly know by c●rtain and infallible Testimonies I was with him sometimes in the time of his being sick and weak and the night before his departure was with him all night when his Spirit rejoyced in the Lord and his Soul did behold the Salvation of God then could he not forbear to sing praises to his Maker as did evidently appear at sundry times and his faithful Companion and fellow-Labourer in the Ministry of the Gospel of Salvation viz. John Burneyat was also with him almost all the time of his being sick and although he could not but mourn with us at the parting with so dear and faithful a Friend and Companion yet we could not but also rejoyce with him to behold the Excellency of the Glory which he to wit the Soul of our dear Brother entered into when the Mortal was put off to enter with Immortality into the joyful place of Felicity and Heavenly Consolation with the Spirits of Just men and Angels in the Heavenly Jerusalem there to reign with the highest for ever Where now thy Soul doth rest in quiet peace Since that thy Labours here on Earth did cease By Faith in Christ thou hast obtaind a Crown Transcending glory of the Worlds renown For thee in Heaven is prepard a Throne To live for ever with our King alone In Life thou wast obedient unto him And hast obtaind a Royal Diadem The Cross thou didst embrace despise the shame And preach'st the the Gospel in his Holy Name When in thy Native Country wast a Sign To preach Red●mption unto Jacobs Line For all the proud and lofty Ones shall say That a true Prophet warned them that day And happy they if they in peace had known Gods Word through thee proclaimd from him alon For that in Life thou didst the Truth maintain Through Death a Crown of Life thou dost obtain Thou dearly love'st the way of Lifes infusion And lived'st therein unto thy last conclusion Th●n to the Throne of Life thou didst ascend Where Life Eternal never shall have end W●itten in Barbados the 16th of the 12th Month 1670 by Oliver Hooton This William Simpson who was a faithful Servant and Prophet of the Lord to the Nations in which he went through great Tribulations and Sufferings who went into many Steple-Houses and declared against their false Worships and was often Imprisoned for the Truth and under-went cruel and hard Sufferings by the Goalers He went three years Naked and in Sackcloth in the days of Oliver and his Parliament as a Sign to them and to the Priests shewing

how God would Strip them of their Power and that they should be as Naked as he was and should be stript of their Benifices All which came to pass after King Charles the Second came in And moreover he was made oftentimes to colour his face black and so black they should be and appear so to people for all their great profession and so it came to pass And then when it came to pass he was made to put on his clothes again who was made before many times to go through Markets to preists-houses and to great Mens-houses and Magistrates-houses and to Cambridge stark naked And the Mayor of Cambridge put his Gown about him being sensible there was somthing in the thing And he was made to go through London naked and this was all before the king came in And he was obedient unto the heavenly command and often ventured his Life and it was given up Who many times did receive many stripes upon his naked body with Thorn Bushes so that when his service was done Freinds were forst to pluck the Thorns out of his flesh But he was caried over all by the mighty power of God I say over all his Persecutors And the Lord brought the things upon them for which he went as a Sign who was moved by the Lord to go to Barbados where he finished his dayes He was bred and born in Lancashire and there first received the Truth G. F. And this is my Testimony for our dear B●oth●r William Simpson who went naked for a sign against the Professors and their unjust dealings before the King came in And many sore Blows he bore on his naked Back with Staves Wands and Hedg-bindings he bore a Testimony against their Profession and standing and through the most part of England he went and now hath he laid down his Body in Barbados where God made him serviceable in his Truth there to preach the everlasting Gospel so them that sate in darkness he brought to the Light and them that sate in Death he brought to Life This is my Testimony for him Elizabeth Hooton Going Naked A SIGNE OH Church of England This is unto thee who livest in oppression and cruelty pride and covetousness a day of misery is coming upon thee thy nakedness and shame is coming upon thee as an armed man from which no man can hide thee neither Hills nor Mountains shall be able to hide thee in this the Day of the Lord neither shall the Clefts of the Rocks preserve thee from the Day of the Lords Controversy with thee Thy nakedness and thy shame is near to come upon thee from it thou shalt not fly Oppression and cruelty hath been as a staff for thee but the Lord is arisen to break thy Staff of Oppression and thou shalt be left naked though thou hast seemed to be the glory of the Nations with thy deceitful covers but now thou shalt be left Naked and Nations shall be ashamed of thee Howl and weep ye Teachers for the Lord is gathering his people from you and ye shall devour his flock no more The Day is coming upon you that none shall buy your wares any more ye Marchants of Babylon All your Scarlet colour the Lord our God is coming to take off Then your Nakedness shall appear to many Nations and you shall sit as a Widdow and ther shall be none to comfort you Distress and anguish shall take hold upon you and pain as a woman in travell and is not able to bring forth so shall your misery come upon you The Decree of the Lord is gone out against all unrighteousness he will surely reward every one according to their works for as a troop of Robbers lye in wait for a Man so a company of Preists by consent lye in wait to murther the Innocent Lambs of God and for their sakes the Lord is risen in his mighty power to break the bonds of wickedness and to set the oppressed free for the Lord hath heard the groaning of his Seed and he is risen to deliver to bring it out of Captivity and from under the taskmasters where his Seed hath been long oppressed by unreasonable M●n But the Lord will spare no longer but he will reward the oppressors double into their bosoms and his seed he will deliver Oh howl and weep your day is far spent Night is coming upon you that you shall not have a Vision nothing shall be left to cover you As naked shall you be spiritually as my body hath been temporally naked in many places in England as a sign of the nakedness and shame that is coming upon the Church of England who liveth in oppression and cruelty and all who lift up a weapon for her shall fall in the shame with her which will assuredly come to pass So all sober people consider your ways and turn to the light which comes from Iesus that with it you may be gathered unto the Lord from the false Teachers to the teachings of the Lord from the false Worships to the worship of the Lord in spirit and in truth for a necessity was laid upon me from the Lord God of Life and Power to be a Sign But before I was given up to the thing it was as death to me and I had rather if it had been the Lords will have died than gone on in this service But when the Word of the Lord came unto me saying Go on and prosper It was sweet unto me as the honey and the honey Comb. And blessed saith Christ are they that are hearers of my Word and keep it William Simpson THE END