Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	work_n	world_n	wrought_v	166	3	7.4784	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34679	An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent servant of the Lord, Mr. John Cotton ... ; taken from his mouth in short-writing, and some part of it corrected by himself soon after the preaching thereof ; and all of it since viewed over by a friend to him ... wherein some mistakes were amended, but nothing of the sense altered.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.; Allen, Thomas.	1656 (1656)	Wing C6432; ESTC R6199	216,496	285

all doe If the Lord be with us who can be against us He that delivered up his owne sonne to death for us how shall he not with him freely give us all things Rom. 8. 31 32. So that wee are freed from all annoyance from the curse of the Law the rigour of the law free from desertion and corruption and the Lord hath given us himselfe and his Son and his Spirit and his C●venant and Kingdome and his Church and people and Ordinance and all is yours 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. And how comes all to be ours By the blood of the Lamb that hath purchased all good things and the removall of all evill therefore how comfortable may the soules of Gods people be if they did attend to the blood of the Lamb. And therefore let not those that have any part and portion in the blood of Christ Jesus be discouraged let them in Gods feare meditate more of this blood and of the power and vertue of it As you desire your lives may be more comfortable and serviceable to God and man and your death more peaceable so be much in meditation of this blood And if you be doubtfull of your spirituall estate then more seriously meditate of it who hath suffered and what and for what end he layd downe his life and lay all together and see if all will not amount at length to the begetting of Faith where it is wanting and to the reviving of it where it is that we may live fruitfully and holily and dye comfortably Rev. 13. 8. latter part of the vers The Lamb slaine from the foundation of the world HERE is something yet to be handled in this Verse and that is the antiquity of the sufferings of Christ He doth not only say that Christ was a Lamb and slaughtered but his death is described by the antiquity of it From the beginning of the world Or as it is here translated and very fitly from the foundation of the world though I would not put any great weight in the very nick of the foundation for the foundation of the world was laid the first day of the creation when the Lord made the highest heavens and the lowest earth the highest heaven the kingdom of the blessed Saints and Angels of whom it is said Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world There was a kingdome in the foundation of the world and therefore the Angels were created the first day and it is true Christ was slaine even then also else those Angels had not been in that kingdome But whether you take it for the foundation in the creation or in the nick of the creation it is not greatly material for the death of Christ reached both to the fall of Adam and in some respect before it and the explication of that will shew the truth thereof and I would not be exquisite nor curious in opening of it The Note is this The slaughter of Christ was from the foundation of the world So it is said here The Lamb that is Christ The Lamb of God slaine from the foundation of the world the Lamb is Christ evident it is that in fulnesse of time he was slaughtered about 4000. years after the world was made but yet the holy Ghost saith He was slaine from the foundation of the world so that though it was actually accomplished and performed in fulnesse of time yet as time began the suffering of Christ began also slaine he was therefore from the foundation of the world First In respect of Gods eternall purpose who from the foundation of the world and before the foundation of the world appointed Christ to this slaughter We are redeemed saith Peter not with silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without spot who verily was fore-ordayned before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20. Before the foundation of the world and from the foundation of the world many times in Scripture are both one in meaning before the foundation of the world he was ordained to be slaughtered the Apostles words are expre●sly so as of a lamb slaine he was ordained and from the foundation of the world implyes long before the time he was slaughtered and then you know not where to put the period but some reference it hath to the foundation of the world Secondly He is truly said to be slaughtered from the foundation of the world in regard of the promise of God made to Adam since the world began the same day that Adam was created he fell or certainly soon after but most probable the same day the same day that he fell it is clear the Lord gave him a promise of the death of Christ in Gen. 3. 15. for that is the meaning of the promise He shall break thine head speaking to the Serpent he shall crush the head of the Serpent For the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head Thou shalt bruise his heel Hee l implyes the humanity of Christ which was to be tr●d●n upon and indeed it was all that the tempter could doe but that bruising the heel was the crushing of his humanity his soul and body was rent asunder that was promised from the foundation of the world Thirdly From the foundation of the world Christ was slaine in the foreruning types of him for it is said that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and that was a type of this Lamb Gen. 4. 4. the sacrifice of Abel was a type of Christ suffering now because offering that sacrifice was by faith Heb. 11. 4. And faith hath ground from the word of God though there was no written word yet there was from the mouth of God to Adam that taught Adam he and his sonnes to offer sacrifice in type of Christ that was to be slain who should break the head of the Serpent and therefore as a type of the bruising of the heel of the promised seed which God had set before them they were to offer sacrifice to shadow forth that great worke of Christ Abel beleived on Christ how far expresly or distinctly I do not know but had he not beleived he had not sacrificed by faith nor had not been accepted Fourthly He was slaine from the foundation of the world in regard of the virtue and efficacy of his death from thence the lively virtue and efficacy of the death of Christ did express it selfe from the very foundation of the world that Abel did offer a more acceptable sacrifice then Cain it was from his faith what was his faith fastened on by which his sacrifice was accepted for it is said the Lord had respect to him and to his offering it is Christ alone it implyes he looked not for acceptance by his sacrifice it is impossible that the blood of buls should take away sinne but

more know all his elect if he know them all by name hee then particularly observes them and prevents us with blessings of goodnesse and preserves us from prevailing evills but if it be recorded of God is it not in vain to exhort to make it sure Answ If it were in vain methinks the Apostle should not have used it 2 Pet. 1. 10. Then that is it that lyes upon all Christians some think it is not possible but then it were a vain exhortation Make your calling and election sure if you do a wide and open door of entrance shall be minished unto you well then though I cannot make sure my election in it selfe for it is sure in it selfe but the Question is whether it it is sure to me that is my duty for he knowes who 〈…〉 and knows them by name and keeps them in his name and hath given his Angels charge over us and they will all watch over us and therefore our Saviour in Luke 10. 20. saith to his Disciples Rejoyce not in this that the Devils are subject unto you but that your names are written in Heaven Our election is sure enough in heaven no stormes will alter it there But now in a word can we make our election sure the Apostle intimates when you make your calling sure you make your election sure your calling that is but the actuall execution of this eternall election but they are so neere that many the Lord puts them one for another he tells his Disciples you have not chosen me but I have chosen you John 15. 16. he means of his selection his calling them out of the world then he doth communicate his electing love to such it is wrought for us before in Christs death in Gods councell and in his effectuall redemption wrought for us on the Crosse but yet it is not manifest to our consciences till calling but make your calling sure and then election is sure When you are called according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. that is this book of life that is his purpose that we are in Gods purpose written to life look to that he hath saved us and called us Not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1. 8. that is the book of life and grace of free grace purposing us to life and you read in Rom. 8. 30. Whom he predestinated them he hath called and whom he called them he justified now if a man be effectually called to grace that doth search election let me briefly touch it that which makes sure calling 1. In our effectuall calling there is a declaration of Gods love to the soul in Christ Jesus by the spirit of grace in the doctrine of the Gospell for that is Gods call in our calling God calls for his part by his grace and spirit and we answere that spirit by that faith which by the call of God is wrought in our hearts I say God calls effectually to his grace by manifesting the rich grace of God in Christ electing freely calling freely from the obedience of sinne and Satan to the liberty of the sons of God as to those in Queen Maries time when they wandered up down like Lambs in a large place Bilney he fetches in that one word in his lost and forlorn condition He read this promise and the spirit of God applies it Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe This being applyed by the spirit it falls on him with power and he sees the goodnesse of God in Christ and the vanity of all things else and seeing so much glory in Christ and in particular to him also this lets him see the vanity of all other courses for this manifestation of Gods spirit doth effectually and manifestly open our eyes to see and hearts to believe what the Lord offers for faith is said to receive what the Lord gives of grace here is then that which makes calling sure for otherwise how can we know it but by the manifestation and declaration and revelation of the Spirit The things that eye never saw nor eare heard nor ever entred into the heart of man but he hath revealed them by his spirit 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. As no man knows the things of man but the spirit of man so no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God And we have not received the spirit of this world but the spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given us of God The spirit of God it is that searcheth all things even the deep things of God and reveals them to us and lets us see the treasures of grace and lets us see them thus applyed this is the ground of effectuall calling God calling by his spirit and we answering that call and from both these springs another fruit of our effectuall calling which is likewise a certaine pledge of it that being thus called Blessed be God saith the Apostle that hath called us to the fellowship of his sonne actually and effectually 2. Thence it comes to passe that wee choose the Lord for our God We have none in heaven but him nor none on earth that we desire in comparison of him Away then with those beautifull Strumpets and all works of iniquity and wayes of darknesse wayes of ambition these are all blasted now I desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. and now it is that he rejoyceth in nothing save in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 6. 14. Now this electing love in that we elect God we could never choose God had not he chosen us and in some measure discovered what his electing love was to us this brings the heart back again to choose him and none but him now that is another security of our election and therein it differs from all others a man may have a kinde of sanctification by common gifts which will leave him still to work for himselfe but this is to abuse the very gifts of God which the spirit hath wrought in us though they be not such as accompany salvation still we are not lift up above our selves but when we are called effectually to Christ now no motion swayes us but as we see the will of God in it we cannot beleive as the Church beleives but we beleive our brethren and the Church as we see the Church follows the foot-steps of the will of God If I now please men saith the Apostle I am not the servant of Christ 1 Thes 2. 4. Nor of men sought we glory when we might have been burden some as the Apostles of Christ If a man be left to fast for himselfe or pray for himselfe or worke for himselfe and all is for himselfe that he work● from a principal respect unto himselfe truly this will darken a mans effectuall calling and if it be his constant course doubtlesse

instruction to us that never any evill can befall us but there is a remedy prepared before it come upon us The Lamb was slaine from the beginning of the world Though we lived before Christs time and much more if after it there is no sinne that Adam nor his wife committed but there was a remedy prepared for it before the foundation of the world it was of infinite value it was provided from eternity and promised from the foundation of the world it was shadowed in types and exhibited in sundry representations and in the lively efficacy of it in the hearts and lives of his people since the world began All that we read of Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob of David and Solomon of Kings Priests and Prophets and Apostles what have they all been but lively representations and foot-steps of the power of the blood of the Lamb the Lord provided his slaughter of the Lamb for the redemption of all his people out of the world before the world began It is many a conceit that Christians have this and that might have fallen out better if such means had been taken in time such a mans life had been saved according as Martha said unto our blessed Saviour in John 11. 21. Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not dyed why so Christ had been able to heal him By what virtue shall he raise a man from death to life Is it not by the virtue of his death and resurrection If it be was not his death and resurrection before the world began For it is of infinite value and therefore though he came four dayes after Lazarus death was past yet he came timely enough for he brought virtue with him and so let no man say if I had known as much now as before I should not have done thus By what virtue should you have been preserved if there be any saving benefit it must be by the blood of the Lamb for it is from that that we look for all our redemption from all afflictions and temptations from his blood then there was remedy enough before but it was not applyed because God hath some other work more heavenly and spirituall and usefull to us then the accomplishment of our hearts desire then the repairing of our losses and crosses So then this is of speciall use to us that if his blood be shed from the founda●ion of the world then the remedy is never too late If we thinke if we had not known many things we might have saved a world of sorrow why did we not was it because there was no balm in Gilead or no vettue in the blood of the Lamb or that the vertue of it is dryed up No God forbid but the Lord hath some other exercise for us to make us conformable to Christ he would have us more weaned from the world and more Christ-like and more Lamb-like more spirituall and every way more conformable to Christ and for that his blood was sufficient for he came not to save us from crosses but from curses from any thing that might hurt our soules as might break our heads as might hurt our union with Christ and communion with his spirit for that it may be of value it was of value 4000. yeares before his coming in the flesh and do you think it is not of value 4000. yeares after it is not yet 2000. yeares since his coming but 1600. and some odde then be perswaded that the blood of Christ is still lively and fresh to remove all sinne and crosses and to leave a gracious Tincture on all crosses to do us more good then if we were without them This is the efficacy of this blood which is a stay to Christians that are troubled with the power of their corruptions and temptations they are not able to overcome and resist such temptations why not able If all the powers of hell come against you verily there was a remedy provided long ago and it was abundantly efficacious foure thousand yeares before and it is of more efficacy now though they had the Gospel before yet not in that clear manifestation and therefore if you read that Abraham sacrificed and he pleased God but I doubt my prayers and my prophecying● please not God why do they not Abraham knew of the meanes whereby he should please God 〈◊〉 walked with God but I shall never keep ●uch fellowship with him he was reconciled to God and there was no meanes of reconciliation but by the blood of the Lamb it is able to put strength 〈…〉 faith Abraham 〈…〉 Countrey and his Fathers he use onely because 〈…〉 blood of the Lamb and if he prevailed so far why not we ●f he was fully satisfied in the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 by believing him that had promised what 〈◊〉 it that his death i● not of infinite value 〈◊〉 as well as before If Joseph was able to withstand his wanton 〈◊〉 doubtless there is the like power now how shall I crucifie the Sonne of God and put him to open 〈◊〉 Thus poor Christians work upon this infinite vertue and lively power of the death of Christ it wonde●fully calmes and purifies the heart it mightily strengthens against all corruption and what ever riseth in the hearts of Gods people that prevailes against them it is because the blood of the Lamb is not applyed otherwise it could not be they should be dead-hearted and blind-spirited and many times at a losse in this and that practice and wrestling with this and that temptation it springs only from want of applying the efficacy of this blood which hath been of such infinite vertue from the beginning of the world Rev. 13. 9 10. If any man have an eare let him heare He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity Hee that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword here is the patience and the faith of the Saints IF any man have an eare let him heare What should he heare For when he doth often use this phrase in the second and third Chapter he tells you what they shall heare Heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Now he doth not put in that object of hearing but yet taking his meaning he meanes that which the Spirit hath sayd unto you in the former description of the Beast especially that which he said to them in the words before going to wit the universality of the worshippers of the Beast and the certain destruction of those that do worship him and the preservation of the elect children of God from that contagion It is meet to be heard that such a Beast would come into the world as the Roman visible Church and that he hath in him the resemblance of all the old Empires of the Lyon of Babell of the Beare of Persia of the Leopard of Greece and of other Beasts and of that other Beast the old Roman Pagan Empire And it is not unworthy to be heard the wound that should be given gim by