Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	sin_n	sin_v	wage_n	4,962	5	11.1880	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91855	A broken spirit, God's sacrifices. Or, The gratefulnesse of a broken spirit unto God. Represented in a sermon, before the right Honourable House of Peeres, in K. Henry the Seventh's chappell in the Abbey Westminster, upon Wednesday Decemb. 9. 1646. Being a day of publike humiliation for removing of the great judgment of rain and waters then upon the kingdome, &c. / By Fran. Roberts M. A. Minister of Christ, at Austins, London.	Roberts, Francis, 1609-1675.	1646 (1646)	Wing R1580; Thomason E365_14; ESTC R201252	39,320	48

do evill that they cannot lay it aside no more then the black Moore his skin or the Leopard his spots Jer. 13. 23. This habituall hardnesse creeps and steales upon mens spirits through sins subtilty which leaves behind it not only reatum guilt but also maculum a stain or spot lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin Heb. 3. 13. This hardnesse growes on by steps and degrees as Divines observe viz. 1. Ther 's Suggestion of sin 2. Acceptation of the Suggestion 3. Acting the sin accepted 4. Delighting in sin acted 5. Habit and Custome in sin delighted in 6. Necessity in sin accustomed 7. Finally death the result of all See Jam. 1. 14. 15. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Wherein observe these degrees 1. Lust within which is the nursery of sin and a Tinder to catch at all Temptations 2. Drawing-away by it viz. from God 3. Entising viz. unto evill 4. Lusts corruption viz. a delightfull accepting of the entisement and consent of the will and heart thereto c. 5. Bringing forth of sin viz. into act and execution 6. Finishing of sin acted i. e. Going on in a course and custome of sinning it being a further step t as Calvin notes 7. Death the due wages of all The degrees of hardening in sin are thus reckoned up by u Bernard if he was author of that Book de Conscientia viz. 1. He that hath been accustomed to welldoing falling to sin grievously Sin seems to him a burden so intolerable as if in sinning he were going down to hell alive 2. Of insupportable in short time it becomes but heavy 3. Of heavy light 4. Of lightsome delightsome 5. Of delightsome desireable 6. Of desireable customary 7. Of Customary excusable 8. Of excusable defensible 9. Of defensible matter of boasting To this height can nothing be added Nothing so much exasperateth the Majesty of that dreadfull Judge as to sin and securely to sin and to boast of vices as though they were virtues 4. Judicially mens hearts are hardened in sin when they are forsaken of God and given up to their own obduration and the dominion of the Devill that seeing they will be hard they shall be hard with a witnesse Thus we read often of Gods hardening of Pharaoh's heart Exod 4. 22. and 7. 3. c. and that God hardeneth whom he will Rom. 9. 18. Pharoah had many judgements upon him but his hard heart was the most dreadfull of all his judgements This was the Plague of his plagues This the Plague of his Soule This a Plague that would stick upon him to all eternity But when God is said in his just judgement to harden mens hearts we must understand it wisely cautiously w God hardens no mans heart by infusing any new wickednesse thereinto as the Manichees wickedly imagined See Jam. 1. 13. For then God should be the Author of sin which were blasphemous once to think But God hardens the heart 1. By x withdrawing or denying to the heart his softning grace which he is not bound to give whereby the heart might be restrained from sin which grace being denyed the sinner hardens his own heart by his own inward pravity as when an owner denies to prop up or repaire a ruinous reeling house the house falls by its own ponderousnesse Thus Divines make God Causam removentem prohibens a cause removing the impediment of such sins as men rush upon when their hold-back is removed 2. By Delivering men up to the swinge of their own lusts and the dominion of Sathan Compare these places Psal. 81. 11 12. Rom. 1. 26 27 28 c. 1 King 22. 22 23. Joh. 13. 26 27. in such case God saith he that is filthy let him be filthy still he that is hard-hearted let him be hard-hearted c. 3. By giving men means of restraint which falling upon hearts thus forsaken of God exasperate and enlarge them the more in all wickednesse with violence and greedinesse as the stopping or damming up of a violent torrent makes the streams thereof the more impetuous not that these restraints provoke to sin properly and formally in their own Nature but occasionally and accidentally only through hard-hearted mens abuse Thus the Law irritates sin works in them all manner of co●…piscence Rom. 7. 8. Thus the Prophets and Ministers of the word harden some men accidentally Isai. 6. 9 10. with Act. 28. 26 27. which soften others as the same Sunne which softens wax hardens elay the same heavenly heat which makes a garden of flowers smell more fragrantly makes sinks or dunghills sent more loathsomely 4. By denying unto hard-hearted men even those means of restraint after those means have been thus miserably abused but wholly leaving them to the Calamity of their own waies See Hos. 4. 14. Thus much in briefe of the nature of Hardnesse of Heart Now in the next place consider how odious an hard heart is to God and consequently how odious and burdensome it should be to all Gods people The hatefulnesse and odiousnesse of an hard Heart to God appears plainly in divers respects viz. In that he 1. Forbids it 2. Grieves at it 3. Brands it 4. Threatens it and 5. Plagues it Take a taste of all these out of the word 1. God forbids it in his word cryes harden not your hearts See Psal. 95. 8. Heb. 3. 8. 15. and 4. 7. What God forbids is displeasing and hatefull to him 2. God much layes to heart the hardnesse of mens hearts Jesus Christ looked round about upon the Pharisies with Anger being grieved for the hardnesse of their hearts Mark 3. 5. And after his Resurrection he upbraided his own Disciples for the hardnesse of their hearts in that they believed not them that had seen Christ after he was risen Mar. 16. 14. yea God professeth he was grieved with hard-hearted Israel for 40. yeares together Heb. 3. 8 9 10. 3. God brands hardnesse of heart with such notes of infamy and disgrace as discover his great detestation thereof Among many other passages hardnesse of heart is accounted of God a fruit and proper effect of sin Lest your hearts be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin Heb. 3. 13. such as is the cause such is the proper effect both abominable to God Hardnesse of heart is accounted a great sin it self whereby God is much tempted and provoked Heb. 3. 8 9 10. The depth of a mans naturall misery under sin is laid down under the Notion of having a stony heart Ezek. 11. 19. 20. and 36. 26 27. The height of Pharoahs sin is comprized under his hardnesse of heart Exod. 14. 4. Yea hardnesse of heart is a cause of sin y of any the foulest abominations what Temptation of the Devill will not an hard heart swallow down what horrid impieties

sins of others are bitter but its owne sins are very c wormwood and the gall of bitterness The eyes of such like the Cherubims faces 2 Chron. 3. 13. are inward and most intent upon themselves They know that in themselves that is in their flesh dwells no good Rom. 7. 18. but by nature a meere Randezvouz sink Sodome and Hell of all sinne Originall sin being seminally potentially and dispositively all sins consequently all imaginations thoughts words works in that state only evill continually Gen. 6. 5. and if brought into a state of grace still seeing another law in their members warring c. Rom. 7. 23 a body of death Rom. 7. 24. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that casily-encompassing sin Heb. 12. 1. whence not onely innumerable swarms of errours infirmities c. and that in the best and most spirituall duties do surround them but too often grosse lapses overturne them These things sadly pondered deeply wound and perplex broken spirits so that they are pricked in their hearts Act. 2. 36. they mourne and are in bitterness Zech. 12. 10 11. Their very bones are as it were broken Psal. 51. and they dolefully groane out with the Apostle oh wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. For these things what sighs sobs tears and sorrowes do they powre out before the Lord c Softness of heart making them most sensible of their own corruptions which while their hearts were hardened they little regarded as blots run abroad and seem biggest in wet paper when the cockatrice egge is crushed it breaketh out into a viper Isai. 59. 5. the viper formerly hid and undiscovered then appeares Thus when the carnall heart is crushed and bruised then the toads snakes vipers and vermin of sin are evidenced which till then were not imagined to bee there Philosophers have a maxime grave non gravitat proprio loco An heavy thing is not felt heavy in its owne place as water in the sea but a little of that water out of its proper place is more heavy then can be borne whilst the heart is in its hard sinfull state it s in its element in its owne naturall place sin is no burden but when the heart becomes spiritually broken for sin and is taken out of its naturall condition then the insupportable load of sin is felt with a witnesse Consider is all sin bitter thine owne sin most bitter dost thou cast first stone at thy selfe c. 3. A broken spirit is most perplexed at sin as it is against God as it is against Jesus Christ To sin against so good a God so sweet a Saviour oh how this kills a broken spirit this stab'd David to the heart above all other consideratious that hee had sinned against his God Against thee thee only have I sinned Psal. 51. 4. Against thee that hast made me maintained me loved me delivered me crowned me redeemed me c. oh against thee thee only what had not David sinned against Vriiah's life by murdering him against Bathsheba's chastity by uncleannesse against his owne body the Temple of the holy Ghost by defiling it 1 Cor. 6. 18. 19. and against the honour of Religion scandalizing Gods people and giving great occasion to the enemies of God to blaspeame 2 Sam. 12. 14. All this is true nor intended David to deny it but to shew where the pinch of his griefe principally lay it went most of all to his heart that he had fin'd against such a God And when the Jewes shall be re-implanted into their own stock This shall most deeply pierce them that they did so cruelly and causelesly pierce Christ This shall bring them to mourn as for an only son to be in bitternesse as for a first born to a great mourning as in Hadadrimmon c. for Josiah that best of Kings to a particular private and serious mourning every family apart and their wives apart Zech. 12. 10. 11 12. Hard hearts are chiefly troubled at feare shame or punishment for sin but nothing more melts a broken spirit then that it hath sinned against such matchless● love spurned against melting bowels and offended against such precious blood of such a Saviour oh how it s pricked with Christs crown of thornes how it bleeds over Christs bleeding wounds and for its tearing open Christs side and heart how it could teare its self in pieces 4. A broken spirit trembleth at Gods word and at Gods Rod when God speakes and when God strikes At Gods Word the broken spirit trembleth But to this man will I look even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Isai 66. 2. He trembleth at the promises lest he should distrust them at the d Threats least he should despise them and involve himself in them at the Commands lest he should disobey and violate them c. oh ther 's enough in the word of divine Majesty power and authority to make a Gyants heart to quake Felix the Governour trembled before Paul preaching of judgment c. and Paul at that time but a poore Prisoner in chaines Act. 24 25. Did Felix tremble slavishly how much more do the contrire spirits tremble f●lially They that despise scorne oppose blaspheme the word of God how farre are they from true penitentiall Contrition At Gods Rod also the contrite spirit quakes How did the repenting people of God in Ezra's daies Tremble because of the great Raine Ezr. 10. 9. and this is the judgment of God that hath of late been most extraordinarily inflicted upon this Land for which we are here trembling before the Lord this day sure we have great cause to tremble not onely at the plague of waters it self and the sad consequences of scarcity and dearth which may follow but much more at the wrath of God that appears therein and the sins of England the procuring cause thereof Yea a tender heart trembles at the very shaking of Gods Rod how did good Josiah's heart melt when Gods displeasure against his people did but hang in the threats 2 Chron. 34. 27. 5. Finally A broken spirit humbled and wounded truly for sin sets speedily and seriously upon a reall Reformation Upon reformation both private and publike as his place requires and as opportunity is afforded Privately A broken spirit is studious to reforme it selfe to embrace a new course of life which as e Luther observes is the best Repentance The Prodigall humbled reformes goes to his father bewailes and forsakes his former lewdenesse Luk. 15. Saul humbled by the mighty hand of Christ at his Conversion presently reformes gives over persecuting of the Saints and straightway preached Christ in the Synagogues that he is the sonne of God Act. 9. 20. After Peters heart was broken and he had wept bitterly for his shamefull deniall of his Master Mat. 26. 75. Luk. 22. 62. he so reformed himselfe in this particular that

's his sole prerogative both to take away the heart of stone and to give an heart of flesh Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 26. 1. God can enlighten and convince the heart of its own hardnesse 2. God can subdue and remove the hearts stoninesse 3. God can infuse an habituall supernaturall tendernesse and 4. God can draw forth that habit into actuall relentings upon all good occasions this is his method God alone can do all in this matter rely only on him for it as the sole author of it 2. By a dutifull attendance upon Gods word in the powerfull Ministry of it This is most quick and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit Heb. 4. 12. Are our hearts iron the word is as fire to ●o●●en and melt the iron are our hearts stone the word is as an hammer to break the rock in pieces Jer. 23. 29. This instrumentally made King Josiah's heart tender 2 Chron. 34. 19. 27. This made the returned exiles to weep Neh. 8. 9. This pricked Peters hearers in their hearts Act. 2. ●6 oh waite upon this word of God with a lively heart-searching Ministry oh tremble at this mighty working word of God that can through God make an hard heart soft and keep a soft heart tender 3. By a frequent and serious consideration of our own and others sias Others sins may break our hearts as it is cleare in the case of Josiah 2 Chron. 34. 19 c. of David Psal. 119 53. 158. 136. of Ezra Ezr. 9. 1 2 3 4 5. and of those Mourners Ezek. 9. 4. But our own sins may even grinde our hearts to powder as appears here in David Psal. 51. 3 4. 8. my sin is ever before me against thee thee only have I sinned that the bones which thou hast broken as in the Prodigall Luk. 15. 18. 19. as in those Jewes Zech. 12. 10 11 12 c. mans sin makes the whole Creation groan as under a load ready to break its back Rom. 8. 22. and shall not mans own spirit groan and his own heart break under the pressure of his own iniquities In what words shall I a little represent the sins of England and the sins of your own soules unto you for the actuall mollifying of your hearts Think what sin is it is the transgression of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. the death of the Soule Eph. 〈◊〉 1. the fruites of the flesh Gal. 5. 19. the workes of the Devill 1 Joh. 2. 8. and utter abomination to God Pro. 26. 25. Sin is so foule and filthy that the filth under the nailes and arm-holes f Jam. 1. 21. the vomit of a dog the myre of a swine 2 Pet. 2. 22. the poyson of serpents Rom. 3. 13. the spots of Leopards and the skin of black Moores Jer. 13. 23. the putrifaction and deadly stink of opened sepulchers Rom. 3. 13. and basest g excrements themselves Jam. 1 2● are the similitudes wherein the holy Ghost sets it out to us Sin is the inlet of death and all misery Rom. 5. 12. worse then the Devill for sin made him a Devil and the very Hel of Hell Think against whom sin is committed Against God blessed for ever infinitely pure and cannot look upon it Heb. 1. 13. just and will not clear the guilty Ex. 34. 7. Omniscient knows all sin fully omnipotent can crush all sinners eternally He fashioned thee curiously he hath provided for thee plentifully hath given Christ his own Son to redeem and save thee to the uttermost hath loved thee freely hath alwaies been doing thee good never did thee harme and against him thou hast oftended oh how this wounded David Psal. 51. Against Christ also thou sinnest who became man yea a man of sorrowes yea a worme rather then a man for thee who was tempted betrayed scorned abused bruised wounded for thee who prayed sighed sorrowed sweat drops of blood and powred out his soule to death for thee who loved thee and washed thee from thy sins in his own blood Rev. 1. 5. how should this make thee mourne Zech. 12. 10 11 12. yea against the Spirit that convinceth illuminateth adopteth Sanctifieth s●aleth cōforteth dwelleth in thee Is this thy kindnesse to thy God d●est thou thus requite the Lord oh foolish person and unwise Think by whom sin is acted by them that are to God but as wormes mothes grashoppers as the dust of the ballance as nothing as chaffe before the wind as stubble before the consuming fire your sins hurt not God but your selves If you be holy what do you to him if sinfull what doe you against him Job 35. 6. Think how your sins Englands sins are aggravated being beyond sins of Sodom Samaria Jerusalem because against greater light mercies meanes ordinances then ever they enjoyed against promises and threats kindnesses and judgments the patience of God wonderfull deliverances and a glorious gospell How should such considerations as these even break the soule in pieces 4. By a prudent laying to heart of Gods judgements inflicted This may be a meanes of softening a stony heart when perhaps the word will not penetrate Manasses that would not hearken to Gods word yet melted in his chaines humbled himselfe greatly 2 Chron. 33. 12. How did the people tremble at the great raine Ezr. 10. 9. God implyes that his judgements will make the uncircumcised hearts be humbled and accept the punishment Levit. 26. 41. and bring people to know the plague in their own heart 1 King 8. 38. Consider now how God hath plagued England with his judgements and let your hearts be broken for England and your selves therein Think what variety of judgements are upon the Land The Pestilence hath slain thousands the sword ten thousands The immoderate rain for these divers moneths hindering seed-time with some or washing seed sowne out of the ground with others and so threatning a famine The murrain among horses and cattell in some places as is credibly reported and which is heavier then all the spirit of errour and heresie that spreads and frets among us as a Gangrene so many being given up to strong delusion to believe a lye 2 Thes. 2. 11. how are these judgements concatenated together and pursue one another as Jobs messengers and the billowes of the Sea and Gods hand is stretched out still Think of the impartiality of Gods judgments upon us No degree sex or age hath been spared King and subject Nobles and ignoble Magistrates Ministers high and low rich and poor all have tasted of Gods severity Think of Gods wrath and displeasure that discovers it self in all his frown more heavy then the frownes of all the world if he looke but upon the earth it trembleth if he touch the hills they smoak Psal. 104. 32. shall not we tremble when he is angry Think of Englands sins deserving all these and worse these shafts that fall upon our heads we first shot