Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	see_v	sin_n	soul_n	9,644	5	5.1376	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90706	The fountain of life, or life in its derivation from Christ. In a sermon preached at the funeral of that honoured lady, the Lady Jane Reade, the relict of Sir John Reade, (sometimes whil'st he lived) of Sorangle in Lincolnshire, knight. By Edmund Pinchbeck, B.D.	[Pinchbeck, Edmund].	1652 (1652)	Wing P2244; Thomason E679_10; ESTC R206749	30,152	41

perfect liberty perfect charity would you have her to know God as we are known to see him face to face Quicquid desiberabitur ibi aderit quicquid aderit perfectum erit whatsoever our desires can extend unto shall be present and that in perfection Lastly an eternal and immutable abode in our happinesse In thy presence is the fulnesse of joy and pleasures for evermore there are many and comfortable blessings to be had in this world but then as Solomon speaks of riches they betake themselves to their wings and fly away as Eagles there is an uncertainty an instability attends them had you the strength of Sampson the time will come when the keepers of the house shall tremble and strong men bow themselves had you the wisdome of Solomon the time of dotage is before you a time when all your thoughts must perish had you the baeuty of Absolom the time will come when the painted dust of the complexion must be corrupted into the putrifactive dust of the grave but be interested in this happinesse and eternity goes along with you in will ab●de with you more millions of years then there are piles of grasse upon the face of the earth or drops of water in the ocean even whilest God is God And thus as Moses from the top of Nebo had some view of the temporal Canaan so from these and the like meditations you may apprehend some glimpse of this promised land the filicity of the saints in the land of the living But as Solomons Royalty and State was but in part related to the Queen of Sheha so the least punctillio of this glorious condition hath scarce been discovered O that in the thoughts of it we might ever after be enamoured on it ever after order our lives and conversations to the attainment of it Now as all this relates to Christ as the meritorious cause of the same we may hence learn with what love what delight what stirring affections we ought to devote our selves to the entertainment of our blessed Saviour If the rich glutton Luk. 16.19 from the extremity of his hellish torments was so desirous of a drop of water to coole the tip of his tongue what would he have given for a full and plenary delivery from that accursed place had he apprehended any possibility through the merits of him that hath the keyes of hell and of death in whom there is no condemnation that he might have been translated from that miserable condition into a state of blisse such a life as this would he think you have slighted such a redeemer or rather in full admiration of him having now by that fire and brimstone those unspeakable torments experimentally learn'd the worth of salvation in the absence of it would he not have endeavoured by all meanes possible to have gain'd some interest in him But alas there was no such redemption now to be expected for the outworking of his salvation he had an opportune fitting time allowed him whil'st he was on earth but now being in hell there is an invincible gulfe fixt between him and Heaven such a separation as shall divide and keep him off from all happinesse and that which is a confounding heart-breaking word for all eternity Now if the grace of Christ be of that concernment to the attainment wherof the time of this life is the sole and only allotted season why then consider and be wise for thy self whilest thou hast existence and being in this land of the living thine inhabitation in Sion whilst wisdomes gates are set open to thee her invitations so importunate with thee let it be thy greatest care to improve these faire opportunities to the good of thy soul to accept those proffers of grace and in due time to lay hold on him that is thine advocate thine hope thy peace thy sole and only Saviour otherwise it shall come to passe that thou shalt lament over thy forlorne soule as Christ did once over unhappy Jerusalem O that thou hadst known the things that belong unto thy peace Luk. 19.42 And here to remove such obstacles as the wisdome of the flesh that wisdome that is enmity against God Rom. 8.17 foolishnesse with God 1 Cor. 3.19 death Rom. 8.6 may cast in thy way to impede and hinder thee in thy way and progresse to Christ say wherein dost thou take exception at the name and profession of Christ Art thou not in the first place offended at the alteration and change he requires in his converts because they be all new creatures men of another fashion bidding adieu to their former vanities true it is as he is the King of saints holy and immaculate in himselfe so he expects holinesse in all his followers they that are his must crucifie the flesh with the corruptions and lusts of it And doth not this go hard with corrupt nature that takes no content but in the pleasures of sinne This it was that troubled St. Austin at the time of his conversion Dimittésne nos ab hoc momento non erimus tecum ultra in aeternum what wilt thou speaking under the name of his former sensual delights and pleasures wilt thou cashiere and abandon us for ever shall we even at this instant take our leaves of thee and be with thee no more for ever But how comes it to passe of at thou art so besotted so bewitched with the basenesse of sinne which is nought but filthinesse 2 Cor. 7.1 nought but abomination Prov. 15.9 so filthy so abominable that it makes us a derision to our neighbours Lam. 1.8 an abomination to the Saints Prov. 29 ult an abhorring to all flesh Esa 66.24 yea to God himselfe Psal 11.6 the locusts Rev. 9.8 had the faces of men and haire as the haire of women but the teeth of lions and tailes of scorpions herein see the picture and embleme of thy sinnes how lovely soever they seem in their appearance thou shalt finde to thine intolerable anguish they have lions teeth to torment thine offended polluted conscience and the scorpions tayles to wound and sting thee to death Had Amasa known that Joab had come to murther him he would have kept a further distance from him notwithstanding all his faire salutes and fawning complements why behold every sinne how insinuating soever is a murtherer and comes to slay thee and therefore instead of that fatall unhappy way of sinne learn to know the way of holinesse where no lion nor ravenous beast shall be found Isaiah 35.9 Or in the second place art thou troubled at the condition of his Kingdome because it is not of this world John 18.36 because the profession of his name exposes to every mans hatred Matth. 10.22 because a godly life such a life as he requires is liable to persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 Cyrus King of Persia to gain followers to his party made a proclamation as Plutarch tells us that whosoever would follow him to the warres if he were a footman he should be made a

a ●voice saying O King though thou build as high as the clouds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet the city will be easily taken the sin within will marre all I may apply it to all the Idolatrous sons of men that make flesh their arme and withdraw their hearts from the Lord tell me what forts what castles what strong holds dost thou erect and build unto thy selfe As Pharaoh had his chariots Asa his Physicians Jonah his ship for Tarshish Senacherib his army Israel his rest and dependance upon Egypt so every natural heart hath something either in her selfe or the creature to betake her selfe unto but how faire and promising those objects of our hopes be it matters not they as the Lord speakes by the strength of Pharaoh and shadow of Egypt Isaiah 30.3 shall be your shame and your confusion yea whilest iniquity takes up her habitation in thine heart thou shalt not prosper As Solomon speakes by riches that they avail not in the day of wrath so you may say of all those glorious idols of the sonnes of men they are all as Pharaohs chariot-wheeles that fell off when he had the most service for them or as the walls of Jericho that fell down when the enemy was nearest to enter or as the brooks that Job speakes of Job 6.19 that were then exhaust and dryed up when the troopes of Tema and the companies of Sheba were the most afflicted with thirst and stood in the greatest expectation of them And as this appears through the various passages of our liver so ever in the approach of death as death is the King of feares and of all terrible things the most formidable so that soul must needs be in an happy condition that is then throughly furnished with well-grounded comforts when it invades But alas the hope of the wicked it matters not what the wicked man was how great how glorious in the eyes of the world nor what his hope were how presumptuous all then fades and failes bequeathing the miserable soul to utter and endlesse desperation Prov. 11.7 And therefore disclaiming all other dependancies let us betake our selves to him that is the hope of our glory Col. 1.27 this hope will never make thee ashamed Rom. 5.5 no this hope will abide with thee in the evil day will call unto thee in the time of affliction like the angel to Hagar in the wildernesse and say Fear not In the time of trouble it will present thee with more fiery centinels for thy protection then Elisha's servant once saw about beleag uered Dothan yea it will gve thee songs in the night enlarge thine heart with joy and gladnesse though with Paul and Silas thou beest in a dungeon And thus we come to the second particular in my text the Prerogative derived from him and that is Life He that findeth me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invenit vitas not life but lives in the plural number to intimate peradventure that life in the whole current of it in all its qualifications and respects is derived from him and depends upon him as he is the original of life giving life to the world John 6.33 so he is the supporter of it too it is he that upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 All things were created for him and by him so in him all things consist Col. 1.17 and hence it is that in the 30. verse of this chapter he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nutritius nourisher a foster-father one that carefully and faithfully looks to the creature to preserve and maintain them in their being and therefore if we discern any excellency in life apprehend any comfort take any content in it let it with all thankfulnesse be ascribed to his praise yea as we live in him so in our souls and bodies and all the parts and faculties of them both let us live to him and to the glory of his name Now according to the latitude of it we may consider of life either as it is in via in this world or as it is in Patria in the world to come as it is in this world it runnes in a double channel Nature and Grace The life of nature since the fall of Adam strictly and precisely considered in it selfe is but a poor miserable life it 's incident to the unregenerate to them that be strangers from the life of God importing no further happinesse then that of the brute beast the vanity of it appeares First in the brevity of it what 's a vapour a shadow a flower a dream things of no stability no duration such is life had we as much happinesse in our lives as miseries yet was not that happinesse in respect of the brevity of our lives to be rested upon Secondly in respect of the difficulty of its support O what a deal of labour is it to live in this world what rising early going to bed late eating the bread of carefulnesse a heavy burthen in this respect is laid upon all the sonnes of men Thirdly in respect of the sinfulnesse of it who knowes how oft he offendeth no the height and multitude of our sinnes exceed imagination Now if every sin be an opposition of Gods will a violation of Gods law a dishonour to his name a scandal to his saints the hazard of our soules what comfort what content can we expect from such a stained polluted life Fourthly from the miseries of it Man that is born of a woman c. Job 14.1 Brevity of dayes and plenitude of misery go together and therefore let us not terminate our desires in such a life as this that consists only in the conjunction of soul and body but endeavour the attainment of that holy spiritual supernatural life the life of grace that consists in the union and communion of Christ and the soul of this life the Apostle speakes of Gal 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live c. Here was not only a living in the flesh but by faith a living with Christ and this is an happy and desircable life indeed it carries the blessing of God along with it and howsoever it mee s with much opposition many temptations in this world yet in conclusion it leades to an happy end according to that of the Psalmist Mark the upright man and behold the just c. for the discovery of this life let us observe it first in the several degrees and heights of it and then in its derivation from Christ For the first you may note in the first place the life of righteousnesse There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.10 no none in the state of nature But what are we when we have put on Christ the Apostle tells us in 2 Cor. 5. ult He that knew no sinne was made sinne for us c. the righteousnesse of God c. not righteous in the concrete but righteousnesse in the abstract to note the perfection of that righteousnesse we have in Christ

service Art thou base and contemptible in the eyes of the world it matters not thou mayest be a vessel of honour an h●ire of life as well as the greatest Emperour or Monarch in the world yea in seeking the Lord Jesus Christ this uncreated wisdome of God thou as well as any other mayest finde him and in him Life It 's intayled to none but left for all seekers in general Whoso findeth me findeth life And thus I have done with my text Courteous Reader TO satisfie the desires of some that requested the same I have not without some reluctant backwardnesse annexed this ensuing exhortation delivered at the enterrement of the deceased Lady whose death occasioned this Sermon The Hebrew word for a grave or sepulchre is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ask require or expect to intimate peradventure how the grave with its open inhiant mouth seems to invite passengers to its entertainment True it is we cannot long withstand its summons not long frustrate its expectation all of us how soon we know not must take up our lodgings there and make our beds in the dark and therefore in all holy foresight of the same it behooves us to fit and prepare our selves for such a change to this purpose if these short directions may any way availe thee howsoever I hazard my selfe upon thy censure I shall not repent the tender of them to thy view There is no estate nor condition of men or women whatsoever or howsoever qualified that can secure themselves from the power of death no be they what they will be sooner or later they must be going they must all to their long home This is a theame that the Prophet Isaiah must proclame yea because mortality 〈◊〉 ● dull of hearing he must crie it out as you see Isaiah 40.6 All flesh is grasse and the grace c. as if he should say Art thou strong and lusty as an Eagle Are thy breasts full of milk as Job speaks thy bones full of marrow let thy flesh be what it will it is but grasse and must wither Hast thou all the endowments of nature all the ornaments of education dexterity of wit solidity of judgement strength of memory readinesse of expression or the like together with the abundance of these outward blessings why all this is but a flower and must fade this we may demonstrate from all the generations that in the several ages of the world have been before us what is become of them all what ●s become of the Giants before the flood of Abraham Isaac Ja●ob and the blessed Patriarchs before the law of all those mul●itudes and many thousands that came out of Egypt of all those innumerable millions that have lived since their dayes as the Prophet Zachary propounds the quere Zaob 1.6 Your fathers where are they and do the Prophets live for ever No they do not no there is a statute law against us all Statutum est It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9.27 Let Solomon be wise Sampson strong Absolom beautifull all availes not An instance hereof to this purpose we have in this present spectacle of mortality what variety of blessings in a most plentifull and liberal measure did God bestow upon her here was Bona corporis a firme and healthful constitution of body Bona animae all intellectual abilities and endowments Bona fortunae estate and meanes answerable to her ranck and quality And together with all these how did God blesse her in such an husband that all honoured Sir John Read in such a kinred and aliance in such an off-spring such children and children children how did God exalt her in making her such a mother such a Grand mother to affoard her such branches from her selfe so lovely so faire and flourishing to have such an issue so accomplisht so demean'd so ordered both towar●s God and man what a comfort she felt in this particular verifying that of Solomon Prov. 10.1 she lately in her sicknesse acknowledged and that with all thankfulnesse To these I might adde the splendor of her vertues which with an humble reverent silence I chuse rather to leave to the ingenuous approbation of others judgments then by the scant and imperfect expressions of my weak Rhetorick to impaire What a sweet and gratefull influence these diffusive vertues had upon you according to you several occasions and wants I need not tell you what mean these sad looks these dejected countenances these overflowing eyes the crowded presse of this present auditory every one to speak in the phrase of Job having his harp turned into mourning and his Organ into the voice of them that weep In all these you shew how you prized her how precious she was unto you what an estimate you set upon her deserts but now in the approach of death all these sweet mercies all these faire and rich enjoyments all her acceptance and grace in the world could not purchase for her beyond her appointed time the least minute to her further abode True it is this is a common point a granted truth there is none so foolish as to deny it but as known and common as it is let me aske you who ponders it who considers it in his heart who fits and prepares himself accordingly It was said of Ephraim that he had gray haires here and there and knew not of them Hos 7.9 Is it not so with our selves let the signes and symptoms of mortality be apparent are we not utterly heedlesse and forgetful of them true it is whilest the sound of a passing bell is in our eares whilest the mourners are abroad in the streets whilest we are within the audience of a funeral sermon oh then we are touched with some passionate meditations and thoughts such as these oh the sting of death oh the severity of Gods tribunal the strictnesse of the accompt oh the depth of hell oh that I could make my peace with God that it might go well with me in my latter end But when these visible signes these sensible objects are no sooner removed but we are still the same we were before just like the doves and daws in the steeple in the beginning of a peale they seem in a kind of an affright to betake themselves to their wings and fly aloft but presently the bells are no sooner ceased but they return again to their holes and are as secure as ever they were before But oh that Gods people were wise that they would consider their latter end It is the saying of Augustine Vtinam in quovis loco de gehenna diceretur in gehenuam prohiberet incidisse I would men were ever talking of hell it would be a meanes to keep them from it so for death the more serious we are in the thoughts of it the more safe from the danger of it and therefore with Joseph of Arimathea let us make our sepulchres in our gardens be imployed in the meditations of death at all times even amongst our ch●efest delights And that we may prosper in the thoughts of it let me commend unto you these particulars First dispatch and hasten thy repentance Non bonum est in eo statu vivere in quo non est tutum mori Dost thou live in a state of sinne uncleannesse wantonnesse prophanenesse c why think with thy selfe wouldst thou dye in such a condition hath not the Lord denounced it that the unrighteous shall never enter the kingdome of heaven why then if thou wouldst fit thy selfe for death thou must purge thy conscience from dead works crucifie the flesh with the corruptions and lusts of it Secondly thou must set thy selfe about the performance of all holy daties thou must do that good which may be for good to thy soul for the future The time of my departure is at hand faies the Apostle what then doth not the Apostle tremble no the consideration of his life past supports him I have faught the good fight c. Thirdly thou must study to be built up in him who is The Lord our righteousnesse dost thou rest upon inferiour things thou shalt be as the heath in the wildernesse and shalt not see when good comes but if thou rest upon Christ as the maine foundation-stone thou shalt not be confounded Isaiah 28 16. Lastly go unto God in prayer that he would help thee and further thee in this thy preparation O teach us to number our dayes c. we cannot number them rightly except God help us and therefore in the title of that Psalme you have it stiled by the name of a prayer A prayer of Moses the man of God to shew how we should be affected in thoughts as likewise that it is God only that enables us in the the same And herein we must take heed to set upon these and the like preparations speedily and without delay Hoc momentum est unde pendet aeternitas the time of this life is but a moment but such a moment as hath all eternity depending upon it It is related of Caesar Borgia that he spoke it upon his death bed that he had studied to prevent all inconveniences that might betide him but death but as for that he did not think it had been so neer him let not his case be thine but rather let thy resolution conspire with Jobs to waite all the dayes of thine appointed time till thy change come I conclude all with that of St. John Revel 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power FINIS