Selected quad for the lemma: glory_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
glory_n	affliction_n	eternal_a	moment_n	4,141	5	9.1958	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80798	Captivity improved to spiritual purposes. Or spiritual directions, given to prisoners of all sorts whether debtors or malefactors Principally designed for the use of those who are prisoners in those prisons which are under the jurisdiction of the city of London, as Newgate, Ludgate, the Counters, &c. Though also applyable to others under the like circumstances else where. To which are annexed directions to those who have their maintenance and education at the publick charge, as in Christ-Church hospital, or cure, as in St. Bartholomew's and St. Thomas's, or reducement to a more thrifty course of life, as in Bridewel, or have been happily restored to their former sense[ ] as in Bethleem, alias Bedlam.	Cressy, Edmund.	1675 (1675)	Wing C6889A; ESTC R230962	54,833	136

CAPTIVITY Improved to SPIRITUAL PURPOSES Or Spiritual Directions Given to PRISONERS Of all sorts whether Debtors or Malefactors Principally designed for the use of those who are Prisoners in those Prisons which are under the Jurisdiction of the City of London as Newgate Ludgate the Counters c. Though also applyable to others under the like circumstances else where To which are annexed Directions to those who have their Maintenance and Education at the publick charge as in Christ-Church Hospital or Cures as in St. Bartholomew's and St. Thomas's or reducement to a more Thrifty course of Life as in Bridewel or have been happily restored to their former sense as in Bethleem alias Bedlam London P 〈…〉 d by I. Redmayne 1675. THE PREFACE IT is an Act of Prudence in any man that designs any thing for publick View to consider First within himself whether what he is to offer be useful in it self not better handled by other Authors who have written upon the same Subject before and whether what he writes be suitable to the profession and employment of the Author And if these three circumstances ever concurred in any discourse that hath yet passed the Press I think I may safely say they do in this that I am now to treat upon for the subject cannot be denyed to be very useful the main end of it being to improve captivity to spiritual purposes and to teach Prisoners how to behave themselves under those afflictions which are but for a moment so as to make them instrumental towards the attainment of an eternal weight of glory They that have the enjoyment of their Liberty have not so great need of such directions as these men have Their Liberty which is a great advantage in it self carries with it also many advantages for their improvement in spiritual things they have the freedom of access to their spiritual Guides the choice of learned men with whom they may if they please discourse in the affairs and concerns of their souls and which is an advantage beyond all these the liberty of frequenting as often as they please the publick Congregations where they have the offices of Religion performed not only every Christian Sabbath but in divers places of this City every day but such conveniencies as these are wanting to Prisoners under their consinements for in many parts of this Nation there are no constant Ministers allotted to those places and though the care of this City have provided better here assigning to every Prison under their inspection a particular Preacher yet impossible it is that any one man should divide himself to attend to all the particular exigencies of every Prisoner and therefore it is very necessary that such men should be provided with such a Counseller whom they may advise with when they please such printed directions as they may read whensoever they will Now although this Subject may well be accounted very useful upon the grounds now mentioned yet I find none that have treated upon the whole matter here offered by me and few that have insisted upon any part of it and those few had been fewer but that lately the necessities of Prisoners were in some measure provided for by the pious pains of one Mr. Flower the Worthy Rector of St. Margaret Lothbury not long since offered to the Right Honourable the Court of Aldermen and received by them with a kind approbation but that discourse consisting either only or chiefly of Prayers and Ejaculations may well be thought to have left room for another Writer who pursueth the same general end the good of Prisoners by a different method the providing for them such directions as are suitable to guide them in those duties which are proper for their present conditions And if the doing of this be agreeing to the profession of any man living it is to mine who am at this time actually a Preacher licensed by the Reverend Father in God Lord Bishop of London and appointed by the Right Honourable the Court of Aldermen with the encouragement of a considerable Salary to one of those Prisons for the use of which this discourse is designed and though I have enlarged my Meditations something further then my particular charge obligeth me to do yet I hope that what is a commendation in ordinary charity will be accounted no fault in that which is spiritual that it is communicative In the pursuing these ends I have chosen a stile suitable to the Subject I am treating on not set off with Courtly expressions or Quaint Phrases but in plain words suitable to the Truths I am to deliver and to the poor people I am to instruct Nor have I only provided for the consolation of those with whom I have to do as knowing that men of ill lives as too many of them are may many times have more comfort administred to them then they are fit for or then is fit for them but I have sincerely endeavoured to instruct them not only in more pleasing duties but in those also that are more severe and have chosen rather to anger the sore than skin it over where I have thought corrosives to be more proper for my patients than applications of a milder nature This in general may suffice to have been said concerning the general design of this Treatise my particular method shall be this First to discourse concerning the duties of those that art Prisoners for Debt Secondly to proceed to those that are Malefactours in a lower rank whose penalty is some publick disgrace or corporal punishment or any infliction under that of Death Thirdly I shall endeavour to offer something suitable to the condition of those who are actually under the sentence of Death and are under the constant exspectation of the speedy Execution of it upon themselves And all which I shall say under these heads will be very proper to some one or other of those that are under my particular charge and inspection and as to some of the forementioned particulars not improper to the conditions of those that are Prisoners in Ludgate the Fleet the Counters or other Prisons But because divers Hospitals also are under the care of that City which I serve and by whose allowance my labours are encouraged I shall subjoyn divers things which are useful to them and give some directions suitable to those that are educated at the publick expence as in the Hospital of Christ-Church or are healed of their wounds and other infirmities as in St. Bartholomew's or are restored to their wits and senses so far forth as the use of Physick and humane means will contribute with the blessing of God upon them as in Bethleem commonly called Bedlam or are reduced from a lose and extravagant to a more diligent and thrifty life as in Bridewel And because what man can say will be unsuccessful unless the spirit of God set it home on mens hearts I shall to every one of those Chapters subjoyn such prayers as are proper to the

they shall give a very dreadful account for all those mercies that they have abused here and therefore very little reason have they that are righteous to murmur at those afflictions which shall so soon end or to envy to the wicked those mercies for which they must give so sad a reckoning Secondly When good men suffer under that Imprisonment which is the result rather of their misfortune then their 〈◊〉 they have little reason to complain as if they suffered more then they did deserve for how innocent soever we may be before men there is no man but is guilty before God He that punisheth a man of upright intentions and just purposes meerly because he cannot pay the Debt which he hath contracted and which he desires if he could to satisfie is cruel and unmerciful and as he hath shown Iudgment without mercy so there is a time coming wherein he shall want the mercy himself which he denied to others and as he hath shown no mercy to others so in his Case also mercy shall rejoyce against Iudgment St. Iam. 2. 13. But whatsoever may be said of the prosecutor God is not unjust to punish those that are sinners against him by the hands of those that are more sinful then themselves nay very frequent it is for God to correct the sins of those that belong to him by the hands of those that are more unrighteous than they Thus the sins of Israel are punished by the Caldeans of David by Saul of Ioseph by his wicked Brethren and in these cases they that afflict shall bear their sin because they have used severity to those that have not deserved it at their hands but those that are afflicted have no reason to repine at the Justice of God as if he were unrighteous to make use of wicked men as his Rod and his Scourge and the Instruments of his displeasure against them for their particular transgressions committed against him Thirdly Another consideration to allay the impatience of such mens spirits may be this that those very miseries which they groan under are sent by God with designs of love and mercy the afflictions of their Bodies are sent as Physick to their Souls and the sufferings of one as improvements of the other To this import are those many assertions in Scripture that all things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. That our light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. and while our outward man perisheth our inward man is renewed day by day ver 16. of the same Chapter And therefore it would be spiritual prudence to convert our murmurings into spiritual cautions and holy diligence how we may improve all our sufferings to so great and to so spiritual purposes which if we should do we shall have no reason to grieve that we have suffered so much but much reason to rejoyce that these our sufferings have proved unto us so happy an opportunity of enhancing our Crown of glory Thirdly A third duty which I shall direct such Prisoners to is to pray to God for an happy deliverance out of their troubles but with the reserve of a quiet submission unto his Will if he shall see the continuance under their afflictions more fit for them Both parts of this duty are recommended in the example of our Saviour before cited When he was to dye he prayed for the averting of that bitter Cup but when he perceived that God had determined otherwise concerning it he declares his desire to submit rather to the Will of God than choose his own Prayer is a proper remedy against all sorts of afflictions If any man be afflicted let him pray James 5. 13. and as God hath made it our duty to pray so he hath made it his particular style that he is a God learning prayer And if he be attentive to any prayers more than others he is so to the prayers of the afflicted This is more than once asserted in the 102. Psalm He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer ver 17. He hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary from Heaven did the Lord behold the Earth to hear the groanings of the Prisoners to loose those that are appointed to dye ver 19. 20. Our poverty is the time of our destitution from men and though the rich hath many friends the poor is forsaken of his Neighbours but that which discommends us to men most potently recommends us to God who in divers places of Scripture hath made it his most peculiar stile that he is a Father to the Fatherless a Husband to the Widow adjutor in opportunitatibus a ready help in time of trouble and therefore it is not only our duty that we should but our priviledge and advantage that we may cast our care upon him who careth for us 1 Pet. 5. 7. Among all these duties it is not only allowable but very commendable for those that are Prisoners to endeavour their liberty by all just and prudent methods such as are receiving such supplies as they can get from their more wealthy friends accepting of such contributions as they may have from the charity of merciful and well minded men the offering of such compositions as the meanness of their circumstances will enable them to make and such honest methods as these For our endeavours are very consistent with Gods Providence and our diligence with his blessing and so far is our dependence upon God from discouraging our industry that it is rather proper to promote it for God hears not the prayers of the Lazy but sends an answer to our Petitions in his blessing upon our Diligence But above all things we must be careful that our streights prove not our temptations that our trouble put us not upon any indirect courses to deliver us from it for he that thus endeavours to draw his foot out of the snare doth but by fluttering intangle himself the faster and change not his trouble but his Prosecutour and as man hath been his adversary hitherto so makes God to be so for the time to come and discharges himself from the first rank of men to whom I designed these directions and hath placed himself into the second that of ungodly Debtors And so men may be upon a double account either First with reference to the beginning of their troubles when they fall into these streights by their own profuseness or prodigality or Luxury or negligence or ill husbandry or secondly with reference to the means that they use to extricate themselves out of their troubles as fraudulent compositions or unrighteous arts or unjust concealment of that estate with which they might pay their Debts or any other such ungodly Methods as these The Directions suitable to such as these may be First That they would not appropriate to themselves any of those promises which the Scripture give

for him that he was afflicted St. Paul said that while his outward perished his inward man was renewed day by day and it is universally asserted that no affliction is at present joyous but grievous howbeit afterward it bringeth forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12 11. and that the Light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. It is a severe affliction to contend with weakness and infirmity of body but it is possible that God who kows us better then we know our selves sees that we would employ our strength in outrageous sins which require vigour and activity to the performance of them we want health but God sees we would wast it in excess and riot we groan perchance under smart under pain but it is probable God finds that we want such a Monitour to put us in mind that we are but men and if this be his gracious design in sending these corrections we ought not to repine at his severity but to be thankful for his goodness who hath made the sickness of our body contribute to the health of our Soul and ●he weakness of one to the strength of the other Besides this consideration these afflicted Lazars may also take notice that in these their sufferings there is no temptation hath happened to them but what is common to men and very often to good men as well as others Honest Mephibosheth is attended all his days with an incurable Lameness while his crafty Servant Zibah is brisk and active and by it gets an unhappy advantage against his Master Hezekiah is exercised for some time with a sore Plague whereas Ahaz for any thing that appears to the contrary passed all his days in health and strength and we read of a man that was born blind not for his own sin nor the sin of his Parent but that the works of God should be made manifest in him John 9. 3. and therefore those that are under cure here have no reason to complain against God as if he had given them hard measure when he lays diseases and infirmities upon them seeing he only gives them those chastisements which he hath often made to be the portion of the most innocent and best of men But very often it is that we may read the causes of our infirmities in our sins that have been the occasions of them and then we need not run to the Soverainty of God to check our murmurings but reflect upon our guilt and that ought to teach us to be patient under these sufferings which we have justly deserved Some complain of the ragings of the Gout but their Luxury and case hath fed it of redness in their eyes and shaking in their hands and Dropsies in their whole body but their Drunkenness hath brought these Diseases upon them of broken Limbs but occasioned by some rash squabble and of wounds but received perchance in some Duel or unlawful combate And if this be the case the Patient hath reason to be thankful to God that he hath discovered his sin in his chastisement and by a temporal punishment here given him early warning by a speedy repentance to prevent that everlasting punishment which shall be hereafter The Tortures of the Gout are grievous but not comparable to those torments that are in Hell The gashes and flashings of a wound are grievous but not comparable to those ictus Lanialus secret scourges of conscience which a sinner under conviction finds here and shall find in a more insupportable manner under actual reprobation hereafter hard it is to endure those feavors and burnings which the keenness of their pains often put the poor Patients into but more hard to dwell with everlasting burnings Hard to cut off a hand or a Legg or any other Limb but harder having all members perfect and entire to enter into those flames which are never quenched And if our sins have brought these our aylings upon us God hath whipped us with rods when he might with Scorpions punished us with pains which are but momentary when he might with torment that is everlasting But this is not the case of those that are received into ●hat charitable Foundation where few are taken in that have fed their Diseases by expensive sins for the poor only are admitted Few that have drawn their ailings upon themselves b● rash and unadvised engagements for they generally make their address to the Governours by Petition shewing in what way of industry they have lived heretofore by what ill accident their infirmities were occasioned and how unable they are to provide for their own cure And besides these such also are admitted who have suffered the loss or disability of any Limb or part of their Body in the Service of their King and Country and to such as these the very reflection upon the innocence of their Lives or the serviceableness of them may much contribute to their chearful and comfortable bearing of Gods chastisements Their inward peace may help to abate their outward grief and the tranquility of their Soul some way allay the pains of their Body The Spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity said the wise man Prov. 18. 14. and dayly observation may inform us that men of stout hearts and strong constitutions and brisk Spirits can bear their infirmities with less trouble then other men but a wounded Spirit who can bear and when inward guilt and outward pain both concur such anguish is insupportable But the Patients of these Houses I charitably hope have seldom these two meet together upon them and therefore they may the more boldly cast themselves upon God to be their comfort in all their troubles to make their bed in all their sickness and account their wounds which they have received for their King and Country not more the defacement of their bodies then they are the Glory and ornament or their names and reputations And because here they are under the means of cure therefore Secondly Let them thankfully acknowledge the mercy of God in those Provisions which they enjoy for that purpose God hath gratiously been pleased in all the parts of his creation and providence plentifully to provide not only for the life but health and cure of mankind The Land yields not only Herbs necessary for food but also Physick the bowels of the earth as they yield Gold and Silver for the conveniency of Traffick so they also afford many minerals improveable to the uses of Physick and Chirurgery and as God hath every where mixed the Sea and Rivers with the dry Land to supply drink for the use of man and Beast so also he hath commanded in diverse places to break forth many medicinal Springs for their health and cure as the Bath for infirm People and elsewhere Turnbridge and Epsam and Barnet and others very proper for preventing diverse Diseases and the removal of them

when upon us Of old he gave a miraculous Virtue to the Pool of Belhesdah for the healing of all that were halt or withered or troubled with any other infirmity and in these two Societies he hath by his good providence raised up those charitable Samaritans who have made St. Bartholomews and St. Thomas's a couple of English Bethesdahs where that is done by the blessing of God upon humane means which there was done by the miraculous moving of the waters by an Angel sent from Heaven In all these cures men are the Instruments in the hand of God God the chief and Principal Physician and therefore as they ought to be thankful to men as employed by God for their good so ought they to give the chiefest praise to God the giver of all health and cure And as it is their duty to be thankful to God for his good providence towards them in that he hath put them under not only the possibility but also probability of cure so ought they to depend upon him for the success and that brings me to the next duty which I think proper to recommend to the Patients of these Houses and that is Thirdly That they would cast themselves upon God by the Prayer of Faith and hope for his blessing upon the means used for their recovery For the endeavours of men though never so regular and Lawful are not succesful unless the blessing of God go along with them Except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that buil it except the Lord kept the City the Watchman waketh but in vain Psalm 127. 1. and unless the Lord promote the cure in vain doth the Nurse cherish the Patient or the Chyrurgeon apply his Plaisters or the Physician prescribe Medicines for the success of all this proceeds from God in whose hand are the issues of life and death of health and sickness Our Saviour when he was here on earth put Diseases to flight by the command of his mouth and gave sight to the blind hearing to the deaf Legs to the lame strength to the weak and health to those that are diseased and all this at the bare expence of a word attended with that power which was never wanting to the execution of his holy will and pleasure And now that he is in Heaven his hand is not shortned that he cannot save his power is not less that he cannot heal his compassions are not less propense that he should not pity but he is as ready now as he was then to hear the Prayer of the weak and infirm and to send them health if not in the very same way to as good purposes if not by a visible miracle yet by his effectual and efficacious blessing upon natural means And therefore the Scripture directs Patients to both sorts of cure the spiritual as well as the humane and more ordinary in a place so apposite to the condition of the Patients of these Hospitals as if it were penned on purpose for them St. James 5. 14 15. Is any sick among you Let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyl in the name of the Lord and the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him It was a fault in Asa though in the main a very good Prince that in his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physicians and the same fault is too common among Christians but would any walk according to the right Gospel Method in these cases Let them make use of humane means because God hath no where promised to heal us by miracle and in the use of the means send up an eye of Faith to God because without his blessing the means will prove ineffectual Fourthly When the poor Patients are cured of their infirmities let them obey that exhortation which our Saviour gave heretofore to the Cripple and the Worshipful Governours of St. Bartholomews have inserted into their Orders Pag. 24. Let them sin no more lest a worse thing come unto them For better is it to be a sickly Saint then a stout sinner an afflicted Christian then a healthy reprobate better to be weak in body then weak in grace more eligible far to be strengthened in the inner man with the aids of Gods Spirit then to be strong to commit wickedness Our days here are few and evil Our bodies brittle and frail subject to many Diseases liable to many frailties but after this life there is a happy state will take place where the righteous will be blessed with endless rest not disturbed by any pains a perpetual health not interrupted by any sickness and perfect strength not abated by any weakness this bliss let them seek in weldoing and for their blessed arrival at such a condition Let them not be wanting in their constant supplication to God the only giver of temporal and eternal life of health here and of everlasting Salvation hereafter And I have endeavoured to assist their Devotions by two Prayers the one to be used by them during the time that they are actually under their infirmities the other after that they are cured of them and the latter of these is transcribed word for word out of the Orders and Ordinances of the Worshipful Hospital of St. Bartholomews A Prayer O Holy Father we desire in all humility to acknowledge the Justice of thy correcting hand upon us in those pains and infirmities which we endure we are not worthy of life much less of health and strength and therefore teach us to submit to thy corrections with all Christian patience and resignation Let the weakness of our bodies prove the health of our Souls and while our outward man perisheth Let our inward man be renewed day by day and grant we beseech thee that these light afflictions which are but for a moment may work for us a far more exceeding weight of Glory Have mercy upon us thou Son of David and as here on earth thou didst give eyes to the blind and eares to the deaf and Legs to the lame strength to the weak and health to the sick so now that thou art in Heaven let us find thy power great to heal our Diseases and to relieve our infirmities and give thy blessing to the means used for our recovery However we beseech thee ô Gracious God prepare us for thy self by all thy mercies and by all our afflictions and at last bring us to that happy state where there is health and no sickness rest and no pain everlasting life with no death to follow it let this be our blessed Lot and let this be our happy Portion in eternal enjoyment of God and in our everlasting Communion with the Father and with the Spirit and with the Son who when he was on earth taught us to Pray saying Our Father c. A Thanksgiving unto Almighty God to be said by