Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	father_n	miserable_a	sinner_n	2,729	5	9.7659	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B05977	The map of the little world, illuminated with religion being a practical treatise, directing man to a religious scope, and right measure, in all the periods of his life; with devotion suitable. To which is added an appendix, containing a gospel ministers legacie, in some sermons, upon 2 Pet. 1. 12, &c. / By Patrick Strachan minister of the gospel at St. Vigeans.	Strachan, Patrick, fl. 1693.	1693 (1693)	Wing S5775A; ESTC R184656	117,746	314

learn to know our frailty and not look upon our selves as Impregnable Forts O Then labour now to be solidly serious to do thy duty and encounter the defficulties of this Period of thy life And for your help I shall take up this remanent part of it in some following stages STAGE First The Contents Of a serious recollecttion of thy self after a● impartial tryal of thy former life● And. 2ly what now is to be done the excrcise and duty of man particularly suitable to this Period from 50 to 70 and from that to the end of his life 1. EVery man should know himself and every Good man is intent upon this study he should now be so solid as to recollect himself and to draw his life as in a little Map and that so impartially that the Blemishes as well as any vertue may appear Thou has an impartial and penetrating Eye to see thee a perfect Rule to direct thee which if thou follow thou hast a well informed conscience 〈◊〉 admonish thee and the Wisdom of GOD to make thee Cast a Right account of thy life for which thou art with a pious curiosity to enquire into these particulars following 1. If thou hast unfeignedly repented of all thy former Sins 2ly If there be yet any Residive humour of folly in thee 3ly If thou findest any thing of true grace and Divine Nature in thee 4ly If thy heart do not condemn thee As St Paul sayes 1. Cor. 3. 4. I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified 5ly How thou art resolved to encounter the Tryals of this Stage 6ly If thou has defeated all delayes and finds thy thy self now intent upon the one thing necessary 7ly What 's the product of thy particular and General calling First If thou hast unfeignedly repented of all thy former fins § 2. There is a Repentance to be repented of which comes by fits like Pharaob's when Judgements are upon the patient but when the paroxisme is over he falls into a Relapse and so as some Divines have observed The life of such a one is but the riding of a round to sin and repent and repent and sin and thus run into a Circle and ruine But true Repentance fixeth such a remorse and sence of the evil of sin in the heart as to make the Pe●tent cry wo unto me that I have sinned 〈◊〉 beholds it to be a bitter and evil th●● to offend GOD It is wrought by Go● Sorrow and carried on with reven●●gainst sin to abhore that which he lo● altho he were stated in the same cir●● stances It humbleth the Soul and ●●eth it cry with Jeremiah Oh that 〈◊〉 head were a well of Water and my 〈◊〉 fountains of Tears which if they be ●●ing makes the penitent express his 〈◊〉 with Groans unutterable It reforms th●ner and makes him Cauti●us there●● and labour with the greatest sincerity act the opposite Vertues 1 Cor. 1. 7. Secondly If there remain an● Resid●● Humour of folly in thee § 3 The Serpent is not soon slain 〈◊〉 the body of sin easily mortified the 〈◊〉 of bitterness is hard to be eradicated 〈◊〉 rooting out the sin of thy nature 〈◊〉 son inclinations requires the 〈◊〉 ask●●ful Surgeon or to cut off thy 〈◊〉 Hand or pluck out thy right Eye if 〈◊〉 offend thee And if thou be since●● Christ will learn thee the holy A● Mortification Thou must not com●with flesh and blood nor relish any carnal guit For To be carnally minded is death and if thou live after the flesh thou shall die but if through the Spirit thou mortifie the deeds of the body thou shall live Rom. 8. 13 Thou must cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor 7. 1. And wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Jer 4. 14. Thirdly If thou partake of the Divine Nature § 4. That this is a property of the Godly is asserted by St. Peter 2 Pet 1. 4. For altho no man can partake of the infinite Essence of GOD which cannot be divided nor communicated to any Creature Yet do Believers partake of Heavenly Qualities which makes them in some measure like their Heavenly Father And frees them from the Disposition Fashion and Estate wherein unregenerate men live and perish And the free and absolute promises of GOD such as That we shall be Sons and Daughters to him and GOD will take away the Stony heart and give a Heart of Flesh have a great influence upon the Renewing of our Nature and the Sanctifying and Glorifying of our ritrit and making it GOD-Like in its measure and Capacity And to resemble him in Heaven ly Wisdom Holiness and Uprightness especially in Humility and Charity towards miserable Sinners with a Zeal for the LORDS Honour and such eminent Perfections as were transcend● antly and without measure in the Man● Christ Thus the Life of GOD is begun in the Heart of Man by Regeneration and advanced by the Operation of Grace and Vertue And the impure lump is Illuminated and made Perfect and Holy as our Heavenly FATHER is Holy and Perfect And the Love of GOD shade abroad in the Heart doth wonderfully chear and warm that new Life and makes it grow and come to Perfection So that we deserve not the name of Religion nor have we warrant to expect to see GOD and to be with Him for ever in Glory if we do not be like GOD in the Operation of His Grace and Goodness in the Land● of the Living Heaven certainly must be begun in us ere we be possessed Citizens thereof Phil 3. 20. Our Conversation must be above till we come to a more intimate Communion with GOD for ever Fourthly If thy Heart do not condemn thee § 5. If our Heart Condemn us GOD is greater than the heart and knoweth all things John 3. 20. By the Heart here is meant the sound and solid reflections of the Spirit upon our Life and Way by the exercise of Conscience which the Apostle calls Heart to distinguish it from humour Misperswasion and melancholy apprehensions when the Conscience is once awakened And still there is a difference betwixt Gravamen spiritus dietamen Conscientiae But it is the Heart and well informed Mind of a Christian that makes him either Conscious or Cordial according to the Frame of his Life If thou wouldst then be approved at the Barr of this Deputy of GOD you must act according to his Word and after serious search correct what is amiss till you attain unto serenity and clearness of mind Yet I would not have you to seek satisfaction so much in your self a● in the Goodness of GOD and the Merit of Christ acquies●e in his Salvation by a humble beleiving and penitent● Heart and lean not to your own Understanding If thou be not satisfyed as yet consult a knowing Guide whose Office it is a●● thy full information to give thee Ease 〈◊〉 clearness For The Priest's lips should prese●● Knowledge Mal 2.

to my P●● in His strengh I count all things loss 〈◊〉 Him Who is my LORD My Love a● my Choice I believe LORD help 〈◊〉 Unbelief I renunce all affection to S●● and the Life which I now live is by Fa●● in the Son of GOD I choice the way 〈◊〉 Righteousness which produceth peace an● Assurance for ever This builds our hou● upon the Rock when we can say with St. Paul I know in Whom I have trusted that he 〈◊〉 able to keep that I have committed to His trust A diligent and constant endurance is faire●● for the full assurance GOD is sure CHRIST is fixed the Covenant is steddy and duty the plain way to serenity and peace labour then to ensure unto your selves this inneffable Joy which is calcu●ed to the highest aspiration of our im●●rtal Souls The Prayer O Exalted King who dwelleth in the Emperial Heaven I long to be happie with thee ●ake my Soul humble sia●ere and contrite to a spiritual Throne to the High and exalted ●e Purifie and clarifie my Heart and Nature ●at I may be fitted to feed on these pleasures at ●hy Right Hand for ever set up Heaven in me ●at I may be ripe for Heaven give me to feel the ●wer of the other World and to be an overjoyed ●itizen of Zion and be the LORDs free Man ●or ever Amen STAGE Third Treateth of such things as the serious Consideration of Eternity should suggest ss 1. The best way to conceive Eternity is to read the WORD that endureth for ever and to improve our short time and well digest in our mind What will be for ever more it is impossible in this mortal state to have full conceptions of Eternity for we Roll in a course of time O● thoughts are measured by dayes a● years We should not therefore too mu●● by speculation pore upon this Vast E●pansion least instead of clear conceptio● we turn confused Rest therefore 〈◊〉 mind in these modest considerations I. th● Eternity is the O●b of the Eternal GO● as by searching we cannot find out th● Almighty for no man can see GOD a●● live so we cannot conceive of Eterni●● It is only Faith that gets satisfaction 〈◊〉 this matter while Curiosity lyes in th● dark Eternity is much hidden from M●● tals therefore we should not enquire 〈◊〉 it since it is hidden Look well then 〈◊〉 thy duty in order to Eternity and lea●● the uptaking till thou be more capacita●● by the Beatifick vision delay till tho● come to Eternity and then thou shall be satisfied be very busie here because tho●● wo●ks for Eternity ss 2. 2ly After this life we shal be like th● Angels of nimble conception but no● such knowledge is too high for us it 〈◊〉 supra nos in the instant of our life and the●● fore as to speculation Non ad nos in th●● ●nterim of time We can scarcely con●●eive of time much less of Eternity our ●●ith promp●s us to Prepare for Eternal life ●●t not to stand and pore in the Sun ●●ast we dazel our Eyes and fall in the ●●itch It is our Wisdom then to number ●●wr dayes in time because we cannot number the Ages of Eternity these two words Never and Ever have great emphasis O sad To be never happy and ever miserable O Bles●ed thing to be ever happ● and never miserable Sow then the good seed for Eternity and fix thy house so in time as to bring thee through all the storms of life to have a house with GOD Eternal in the Heavens lay up treasure ●o● your self in heaven which may mantain you World without end work with intense projects for Eternity every seed we sow in our finite life tends to infinity and let a sinner be still stated in his formercirum● stances he would sin in infinitum and never cease to be evil And this is the reason that some of the School men give for the Eternal punishment of sin For a sinner as a sinner would live in a perp●tual emnit● against GOD but the seed sown by the Godly has a great vertue to spring in time and last to Eternity where Grace is crowned with Glor● We should therefore like Noah build a● Ark to carry us through the storms of Lif● and make us ar●ive on a mountain mu●● more fixed than Ararat there to dwell 〈◊〉 Eternal Splendors for Mount ●ion 〈◊〉 not be removed Ex●rcise then your Gra● aright that your Faith may end in se● ing your hope in Fruition and your labour in Rest The Prayer LORD GOD of Eternal Perfection 〈◊〉 Glory before the World was shined and ●●dures to Eternity fix my wavering mind to center and rep●se in thee and l●t never th● Transitorie Pleasures of this Life hinder me fro● a vigorous pursuit of these pleasures at 〈◊〉 Right Hand which are for evermore Gi●● me to be a person of a large Heart and high desig●s above the World that I may work for Eternitie and through Thy Grace be so happie as to enjo● Thee O Eternal GOD World without End Amen STAGE Last The Contents A Lamentation for the sad decay of Religion and Apologie for the Devotion used in this Treatise with a Vale to the World And all sweetened with suitable Devotion ss 1. I Should thus concluded were not that I cannot well ommit to vent my Lamentation for the great neglect and decay of practical Religion and speak something concerning the Devotion used in this Treatise ss 2. And First Of that Pathetick threne and regrate for the great Declension of Christian piety and practice which has been well handled by an unknown Author and others some years ago But alas time hath still produced great Causes of Regrate For such is the Impietie Irreligion and immoralit● of the most part of men under the Christian Name that the first Propogators of this excellent Religion so perfective of humane Nature would now misken the Christian Chutch and see nothing but a Rudera and Confusion in stead of the well compact beauty of Zion For even they that pretend to be the true Church and would inhance the whole Prerogatives thereof to their own Romis● Sect What errors of Doctrine What corruption of Worship What Iameness of Morals is among them I leave it to any such serious men as travels into these places What darkness and ignorance What prophanity What leaudness and abomination is there is but too Visible to all the World Moreover that Church that carries that Glorious Name of Protestant and Reformed is much deformed and degenerate in manners from the practice of the purest primitive times And GODS Laws are violated by a p●ophane age Christs Gospel Offices in stitutious and Ministers are all vilified contemned dissowened and almost utterly rejected by our licentious Age and wicked Generation O What boldness of Men affrontedly in the f●ce of the Sun to incroatch invade all things Sacred what swearing for swearing what profanity what pe●jur● does the great part of the Chris● tian World

'le still advance and mend my pase in every Period 6 A monument I was and am of Grace and still remain I 'le Bless and Laud and never cease with Praise to say Amen A VALE to the WORLD § 1. FArewel to all the flattering hopes of Happiness upon Earth All that have been in pursuit of this Shad●w have been frustrated For all is Vanit● and Vexation of Spirit there is no satisfaction in the World separated from GOD And what portion we have of it from Him we must use it as the Means but not as the End Give me LORD the V●ctory over the World by Faith that I use it well and never abuse it Let me never over value it least it undoe me and make me a miserable wretch of no Value ss 2. Away with all the follies of Childhood and all the prejudices of that imperf●ct age against what is Solide and Serious Away with all the indigested notions that flow from the simple Brain of such as have not yet well formed Reason and Religion § 3. Away with all the promising Notions which our Ruder Phantasies ●●rm in this State with all the follies tha●●●ow in this Age with all Glorying in Strength Beauty Feature and Fawning Fortune with all ostentive Boasting of Gifts and Parts and even of Grace as it were ou● own since we have nothing but what we have received together with all Garnal phansie Fondness Folly and amorous conceits since Wisdom is the principal Thing it being only Solid and Permanent § 4 Away with all eggar desire after the World and all Covetous Court-ship of that Idol-god let it fall like Dagon before the ARK with all petted and fretting humour the Unruliness of Passion and all the Distempers of Youthfull Age and all discontents and disorders and anxious fears for our Provision with all carking Care anent the World let us study Honesty for falshood hath no feet and he that walketh Uprightly walketh surely § 5. Away with all Immaturities of Growing Age let us labour well get Good Seed and wait the Season of the Grace of GOD beware of the deceitfull World which is not faithfull in its Promises it is but a Cheat we should not believe it when it speaketh favourably for all that is in the World is but the lust of the fl●sh of the eye and pride of Life and is Enmit● against GOD we should not love GODs enemy tho it pretend friendship § 6. Away with all impertinencies of our former Life for alas we have been foolish and dissobedient and too much taken up with vain customs of the World Ah how many acts the fool upon this Stage and do pass their time in a Comedy til their end be tra●ical § 7. Away with all that discomposeth our reason that we may well conduct our Mind and Life and not to expose our selves to the floating billows of the Storms of this Life Learn rather to be Catholick and Uniform in thy Course and pray GOD to bring in our st●aying hearts and unite them to fear His Name § 8 Away with all debates and contradictions among Relations and let us be Careful to keep our Soul and house in order to guide our Spirit and Passion with moderation and patience even Under Provocations and not to trouble our selves much with the extravagancies of others learn to quench incident heats in converse and families let us submit one to another and comport with i●firmities and co 〈…〉 mit our cause to GOD least such fre 〈…〉 ing and discontents imbitter our ne 〈…〉 est Relations listen not to an● lust th 〈…〉 may feed the flame still keep Religio● and reason on your side Put awa● therefor● all Clamour ill speaking and Bitterness Kindly loving one another forgiving one another as GOD for CHRISTS sake hath forgiven 〈◊〉 § 9. Away with all ●●i●kie policie to Circumvee● our Neighbou●s with all hastiness to be Rich and to compass the World for it is very uncertain and takes Wings and flees away and let ou● pursuits of it be with the conduct of Religion within the lines of equity and honesty otherwayes we ma● find all it's Product to turn as a M●shr●m or Jonah's Gourd let us be Anxiously ●areful for nothing and seek first the Kingdome of GOD and his Righteousness Matt. 6 33. And other things that are good for us will be added Let us never Glory but in GOD and be humble in our best Circumstances Let not the World go above it's Sphere least it take fire and Consume it self and us Study the Art of contentment How can any men complain that have GOD for their Portion and if we secure our intrest 〈◊〉 Christ then all is ours Solace thy self 〈◊〉 GOD delight in him and he will Give thee the desire of thine heart Psal 37. 4. and if thy Crosses be bitter and heavy they are the liker Christs if your troubles pinch you and put you in a manner to your wits end come out of your self and stay upon the name of God for he can give strength to bear the Temptation and a Gracious out gate and say with Jehosaphat I wet not what to do but my Eyes are towards thee § 11. Away with all murmurs under the burdens and infirmities of declining Age as pains of Body dimness of Sight dullness of Hearing Rehums and Rehumatisms difficulties of Breathing weakness of Stomach Obstructons Gravel Gut Feebleness and other incident Infirmities Let the GOD of Hope and Patience be your Hope and Strength and learn to exercise thy patience § 12. Away with all too Carnal Love to any thing of the World and if we have known any after the flesh Henceforth know we them no more § 13. Away with all doubts of GODS Mercy and fears of death providing we be unitted to CHRIST Rom 8 to the end When we cannot act much let u● take up our selves with Contemplation● and by Faith take a View of that Glory which is to be revealed that unspeakable Glory that is Yonder above in our Fathers House Let us draw Water out of the Well of Salvation in the Conduit● which GOD hath made to entertain a Communion betwixt HEAVEN and Earth Doubt not of any difficulty about the Intrigs of Providence for tho some of the Godly have been shaken with the prosperity of the wicked as David Psal 73. and Jeremiah chap 12. Yet settle your self that GOD can bring Light out of darkness and can make all things work together for the Good of them that love Him and that there is a day of Retribution and Restitution of all things when the Soveraign Judge will destribute Rewards according to these two Attributes of Justice and Mercy § 14. Away with all debates Divisions and contests in the Christian Church for now we pass to the Land o● peace to be joyned in the Harmony of love and concord where we hope the East and west Church in the beginning of Christianity it contests anent the feast of Easter is now

Scoff●rs at Religion So I come to the Text in th●se vereses which contain a● Application of the preceeding Doctri●e conecting the Privilidges Properties of a Christian in the particle Six Wherefore Quamobrem upon which account c. 2ly The Apostles care to inculcat the Truth upon the people to whom he writes 3ly The Sence the Apostle hath of improving the Opportunitie in doing so as long as he is in this Tabernacle 4ly The practical Knowledge of Death and Resolution with it 5ly His provident and frugal care to store his people with the Knowledge of the Gospel which they may improve after his decease so the Spiritual Pa●●●tlayes up for his Children against the time to com● When he is gone 6ly The ba●e and sure Foundation of Gospel Truth Verse 16. The First Clearly discovereth to us this Truth that the Christian who Doct preten●● to the highest Priviledges of his holy Religion must be accomplished with the true ppoperties thereof 'T is a special Art to advance practical Religion twist together the Christian priviledges and properties Our Crown and Our Claim Profession and Practice Promise and Precept Justification and Sanctification Glory and Duty The Race and the Prize and Labour and Rest The Gospel Net must be well knit and we must follow the line and threed of Duty Ou● Salvation is linked in a Chain there is a Corner Stone that knits the Building from the Foundation to the Top Rom 8 26. There must be the Prima Media Vltima We must begin proceed and perfect our Work for non progredi est Regredi To stand in our Religion hinders our Race We must add to our Faith Vertue for Faith without Works is Dead This is not only the Doctrine of St. Peter here and formerly Chap. 1. 5. 6. 7. But of St. James Chap. 2. And they both writing to the Jews had need to press this for that People spleeted upon the Rock of their Priviledges to whom St. Paul gives a Check Rom. 2 1. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly but he is a Jew that is one inwardly For a great part of the visible Church tests much here and are ready to say LORD LORD when they do not the works that he Commands them And so become partial in their Religion and leave the half of it unpractised they can take Christ for a Saviour but not a Sancti●er And follow Him for L●avs but n●t for duty and labour they can cry The Temple of the LORD Jer. 7. 4. But study not the new Creature They may keep the ordinances but not observe their designe and can be hired to help to build an A●k but not to enter it 2ly All desi●e to be happy but all take not the R●ght way to happiness they leap after the ●nd but stand in the way and neglect the means that promove the end whereas true blessedness comes only to the Vndefilea in the way Psal 119. 1. And the Psalmist J●●ns justification and Sanctification together in order to Blessedness Psal 32. 1. Sin cannot enter Heaven no more a sinner but we must ascend the Mount and carry nothing with us that is defiled We must be meet for the inheritance for without holiness none shall see GOD Elijah's Chario● could not carry a wicked Ahab to Glory And the best must be with Elijah Purged by fire ere they enter the splendors of Glory GOD hath a Furnace to purge us a plummat to square us we must be pure and Refined ere we can dwell with everlasting burnings and tho we be not Justified by works Rom. 4. 6 4. Ye● must we be Judged according to our works For tho GOD justifieth the ung●dly Yet he only saves the Right 〈…〉 3ly Wherefore let us observe the scope of this Dying Apostle and learn App to make our Holy Religion practical fo● by so doing we shall not only make ou● Calling and Election sure But hereby an entrance shall be made unto us unto the Kingdome of our ●ORD JE●US Christ And that we may be Glad to make this improvement the more Chearfully let us consider that this tends most 1. To the Glory of GOD. 2ly The Reputation of Religion 3ly To our own Good and the benefite of others 4ly It assureth our interest in Glory much more than all the instincts Enthusiasms and Raptures men can be affected with 1. This tends most to the Glory of GOD Our good works should be ●o solid and visible that they may show forth the Glory of GOD the light of Grace shines more and more unto the perfect day till it be more Radi●nt in Glory GOD's Glory i● the great end of our Religion and a Right conversation Glorifies him and tends to our salvation Psal 50. 23. Holiness p●oclaims the Honour of the thrise Holy Holy Holy GOD And GOD delights more in it than in Hecatombs of sacrifices We need not say with Moses LORD show me thy Glory for Holiness i● the very Ray and Beam of the Glory of GOD and the Divine Emana●ion of that Light and life that is in GOD The Holy Person is the only Fruit bearing Tree and a holy Life giv●s GOD the Glory discovers Heaven and perfects the Beleiver For without Holiness no ●●●an can see GOD. 2ly As Nothing disparageth Our Religion more than Hypocrisie so nothing advanceth its Reputation more than a well Qualified Christian for if once Practicall Religion did exert its Native Power and Qualitie it would commend it self as th● product of GOD it would appear a Wonder it would make the so●s of Men say with Pharaoh's Magicians This is the finger of GOD it would give us a more noble Spirit than the World I● would make us the fi●st born of GOD and pattake of the Divine Nature it would make the Men of the World as St. Paul sayes in another case fall upon their face and say GOD is in it of a Truth it would appear no phantasm or contrivance to ammuse the World And would make the Truly Godly Religion as their bage and Cognizance and make Men say that this is the Work of GOD it would make us like CHRIST to be pure as He is pure it would appear to be no Superstition flowing from fear but it would appear a Lively Amiable and lovely Thing and attract Mens hearts it would make the Hypocrisie cast off his Mask the pr●fane put off shame and the Formalist seck after substance and the Power of Godliness it would make Men Saints and turn Angels and be so excellent as to delight others Psal 16 2 And in fine make them elect and precious as their faith is 3ly This will also afford ●olid meat and the Kernal of Religion to refresh us it will be to us a Tree of Life and hidden Manna and more refreshing than the Nectaer and Ambrosia of the heathen Gods and when Christ is formed in us then have we Light Life and Comfort Then shall we eat the Kernal of Religion when the shell is