Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	death_n	eternal_a	wage_n	6,951	5	11.2154	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35074	A sermon preached at Holy-Rood House, January 30. 1681/2. before Her Highness the Lady Anne. Tho. Cartwright ...	Cartwright, Thomas, 1634-1689.	1682 (1682)	Wing C704; Wing C704A; ESTC R170908	23,302	36

to his Apostles in the work of the Ministry a Person every way qualified with Zeal and Piety for the service of the Church whose Crown of Glory is platted in his name I am sure I shall not be to seek for a Parallel His case was this his enraged Enemies not only sought his blood but with an impatient and misguided Zeal they shed it and yet he not only pardon'd them himself but with bended knees and ane loud voyce arguing the intention of his Spirit he prays to God to pardon them which speaks him full of Faith and the Holy Ghost Our Saviour did the same before him our Soveraign of blessed Memory since him And he kneel'd down and cryed with a loud voyce Lord lay not this sin to their charge and when he had said this he fell asleep I have a large Field to lead you over and that an Aceldama a Field of blood a Tragical Theme to discourse of in which I shall make no longer stay then only to shew you these following particulars reducible to 3 general heads the Preface the Prayer and the Date of it 1. In the Preface there are 3 things observable 1. The Petitioner to whom the Pronoun He refers us St. Stephen whose honour I have not now leisure to blazon nor yet to make that just report which another time might challenge me to do of him who first pass'd through the red Sea of Martyrdome and suffered for our Saviour 3 years after him the most glorious performance of which a creature is capable and the most advantagious too For if he who gives a Cup of cold Water shall not lose his reward no doubt but he shall find it who gives a draught of warm blood and that his heart-blood too and therefore the Primitive Martyrs counted it as their highest preferment 2. The Humility of his posture Vs 59. when he pray'd for himself he stood but as if his Enemies Souls were dearer to him than his own our humble supplicant falls on his knees for them and he kneeld down 3. The fervency of his Spirit argued from his hearty and zealous outcry His voyce was not so low before for himself but that 't is now as high for them he had need cry aloud indeed who intercedes for the Pardon of such a crying sin as theirs for he who bottles up his Servants tears will undoubtedly make an account of their blood the Tongue whereof is always hoarse Abels cryes still so I fear does the Kings nor will St. Stephens easily be silenced at his greatest instance And therefore when he kneel'd and pray'd for his murderers it was said in the Text with a loud voyce 2. In the Prayer we must also observe 3 things 1. Subjectum cui the party to whom it is directed to him who had so lately suffered for and before him to his and our Lord the Lord Jesus 2. Subjectum de quo the persons for whom he intercedes when he could scarce gain time to think of his friends he is praying for his Enemies Lyramus saith that in some copies 't is added for they know not what they do but for the most part they were mov'd like the Kings Enemies more by passion than ignorance and even that ignorance of many was pravae dispositionis caused by a preceding malice For they were cutt to the heart they gnash'd on him with their teeth and they stop'd their ears and so they also did to the gracious Messages of the martyr'd King and ran upon him with one accord and ston'd him and yet he knew not how to be angry with them for taking away his Temporal because they hastned his Eternal happiness Eternal Life was the Crown of such a suffering but Eternal death the wages of such a sin which that it might not be the portion of their cup to drink he prayes 11 Psal 6. nor was his prayer lost For Saul who was a principal person in it had not this sin layd to his charge as himself witnesseth 1 Tim. 1. 13. but was gaind to the Church by St. Stephen's prayer says St. Augustin Si Stephanus non sic orasset Ecclesia Paulum non haberet Aug. Serm. 1. de S. Steph. So many no doubt were to their Loyalty by those of our Martyr'd Soveraign 3. Subjectum circa quod the subject matter of his request or that which he craves in their behalf is Pardon Lay not this sin to their charge He does not pray to God not to repute it a sin it were impossible for the just Judge to justifie such an unjust action but that he would not impute it to them God is not like men apt to forget sins as soon as they are committed he beholdeth mischief and wrong and he writes bitter things against them 10 Psal 14. 13 Job 20. nor will he quickly blot them out of the Book of his remembrance And though he do not always let loose his Thunder to strike those men of blood to whom his severest Vengeance is due yet we know not upon what Strapado their souls are sometimes tost in what a continual Allarum that fury keeps their Consciences and what an Hell they have within them nor will God who now walks upon the face of the waters that his footsteps are not seen suffer this his forbearance to pass for a payment for when he makes inquisition for blood 9 Psal 12. he will remember it St. Stephen knew that whilst his Enemies continued in their wickedness without repentance it would be in vain to dream of any device to tye the hand of an Almighty Vengeance from seizing on them Christ hath not born the sins of the impenitent they themselves must he therefore prays for their faith and repentance that so they may be restored to Gods favour who were under his wrath that the hand-writing which was issued out against them might be canceld and that God in Christ would in mercy reconcile them to himself this in Heaven is call'd a not imputing of sin and in the Souls of sinful men 't is a reconciliation of their rebellious natures to truth and goodness 3. Lastly we are to observe the Date and timing of his Petition 't was in the extremity of his Passion for when he had said this he fell asleep Obdormivit in Domino hominem exuit he willingly puts off the Flesh as a weary man does his Cloaths and composes himself to rest The hard Stones are a soft Pillow to his innocent Head Death is but the bodies Bed-Chamber in which it sleeps till the Soul return to awaken it at the Resurrection These and more incidental Circumstances are full of such variety with which I might pardonably entertain you at any time but this to wear out any part whereof in such unnecessary diversions as might call me off from this melancholly solemnity would I am sure be too gross an abuse of your patience and of this solemn day of Humiliation in which if I shall chance to