Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	drink_v	flesh_n	meat_n	7,615	5	9.1083	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36233	The preachers precept of consideration, or, Englands chief lesson and duty in this sad time of visitation wherein is contained, 1. A catalogue and collection of all the particular capital sins mentioned in Scriptures ... 2. The author's opinion and judgment, for which and why it is, that this unparallel'd visitation is now laid upon us / delivered in the parish church of St. Katherine Coleman, London, upon the monthly fast-days set apart for humiliation, by His Majesties special command.	Dobson, Jeremiah.	1665 (1665)	Wing D1799; ESTC R32815	35,607	45

aforetime were written for our learning and that these things are our examples to the end that we should not tempt and provoke God as others have done by the commission of these gross sins to infflict this most dreadful Judgment upon us But yet forasmuch as Gods anger hath been of late and still is stretched out against us this way in an extraordinary severe manner We may therefore be sure that it is for some or other of the aforesaid iniquities which we of this sinful Nation in general and this populous City in particular epidemically my meaning is for the major part stand guilty of that this unpa●●llel'd and sore Visitation is laid upon us To expiate which Oh that there were such truly ingenuous tender and honest hearts in every one of us that in our Confessions and Deprecations we might deal as faithfully and impartially betwixt God and our own Souls as the sacred Penmen of Scriture have done in declaring the sins and provocations of Gods people and His severe punishments and Judgments upon them for the same For r 1 Cor. 10.11 all those things happened unto the● for examples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come The Authors opinion why this sore judgement is now laid upon us If any of you expect and desire that I should here now declare my Opinion for which of the forementioned sins I conceive it is that this sore Judgment is laid upon us though I know such desires are commonly made out of design that people may know how to affect and fancy the Preacher yet I shall not scruple very briefly and plainly to give you my judgment viz. That I do not think that it is for ends or that one Sin in particular but rather for them all As it 's true with St. James That s Jam. 3.2 in many things we offend all so here it may also as truly be said that in all these things I mean the forenamed Capital Crimes we offend too too many For which of the six can we instance in of which there are not many amongst us that must needs confess themselves guilty Give me leave to make some short reflections upon them severally and then I shall leave you all to judge Now in this disquisition I shall observe a retrograde Motion beginning with that which I ended with when I named them before that so the first may be last and the last may be first 1. In the first place then for the foul Sin of Fornication and uncleanness may not Almighty God bring the same charge against many very many of this City and Nation that He sometimes brought against the inhabitants of Jerusalem and many of the Jews t Jer. 5 7 8 ● When I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses they were as fed Horses in the morning every one neighed after his Neighbours wife And what then follows Now how shall I pardon thee for this Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this And then 2. Secondly for that provoking and unpardonable Sin of Idolatry You must know it is twofold either visible and external in reference to the Body or else spiritual and internal in reference to the Soul Now though I hope and believe that there are few or none amongst us so notoriously wicked as to be guilty of the former I mean to contrive and make to themselves graven Images and then fall down and worship them as Gods unless it be some of the most wretched and grossest sort of Papists yet I doubt there are too too many amongst us guilty of the latter spiritual and internal Idolatry For you must note 1. That that is every mans God or Idol which his heart is most of all set upon Now if it be not the only true God but wrong objects he is ipso facto guilty of Idolatry Thus the sottish Winebibber and gluttonous Epicure may be justly called Idolaters because they * Phil. 3.19 make their belly their God but † Isai 5.12 they regard not the works of the Lord neither consider the operations of his hands Thus also the wretched Worldling and covetous Mammonist who x Job 31.24 maketh gold his hope and trusteth in the multitude of his riches is a plain Idolater as the Apostle y Col. 3.5 calls him because he makes an Idol of his wealth And thus lastly He that trusteth in man more than in God is a meer Idolater and accursed before God because he z Jer. 17.5 maketh flesh his arm and his heart departeth from the Lord. And then 2. To think amiss and otherwise of God than He is represented unto us in his holy Word this again is Idolatry * Quia sculptile constatile reor dogmata esse perversa quae ab his quibus facta sunt adorantur Hier. Because a perverse and wicked opinion of God is no less then a graven Image says St. Jerome And therefore both he and St. Augustine agree that Usque hodie in Templo Dei c. i. e. even to this very day there are many amongst us that set up Idols in the Church of God when men in their hearts minds conceive and feign and new erroneous and unworthy opinions especially concerning the Persons of the blessed Trinity Now whether many amongst us may not be thought guilty of this kind of Idolatry is easie to imagine And then let such know that they cannot clear nor acquit themselves from having a hand in pulling down this present heavy Judgement upon us 3. Thirdly For slighting and contemning the Ordinances of Christ and particularly the Neglect or at least profanation of and abusing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Never was Generation of men professing Christianity in any Age or part of the world more guilty of this than those that still are and of late years have been the greatest Pretenders to extraordinary Zeal and Devotion strictness and Reformation amongst us And hence it is that when Times and Dayes are solemnly appointed for the celebration of that Sacrament though serious warnings and earnest Exhortations are used by us the Ministers of Jesus Christ to perswade and prepare people for a worthy a comfortable and a frequent participation of the sacred Elements there exhibited viz. the blessed Body and Blood of Christ yet you shall finde few or none of that Faction and party affording their presence As if they had never read nor heard of or at least were resolved not to believe nor regard those words of our Saviour b Joh. 6 53 54 55. Verily verily I say unto you except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day

For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed Which words and whole Chapter I wonder how they can read without horrour and astonishment when they consider and call to minde how irregularly they walk and directly contrary both to the express Precept of Christ and also the apparent constant Practice of the Apostles themselves and the Saints and Martyrs of the Church in all Ages And if such as these who have gotten the name and reputation of Religious and strict walk●rs be thus obstinate and so exceeding faulty in this point then what can be looked for from many others vicious loose and prophane in their lives but that as we find they should either plead the others example for their absence from and neglect of this Sacrament or else as we fear presumptuously approach the Lords Table with unprepared and unsanctified hearts and hands to the great dishonour and profanation of Gods holy Ordinance and the damnation of their own souls 1 Cor. 11.29 Again 4. For that pertinacious Resistance of those regular and faithful Ministers those spiritual Labourers in Christs Vin●yard which by Gods Providence are sent forth for Peoples slighting reviling despising and reproaching of these and on the contrary running after false Prophets as I said before that too too many are guilty of this may easily be seen every Lords-day every Fast and Festival-day when if it be known I am ashamed and even tremble to speak it that there is like to be nothing at Church but only that which is purely divine viz. Gods holy Word distinctly read and our most excellent publick Prayers and pithy Ejaculations devoutly poured out at the throne of Gods grace for our selves for our Sovereign and his Kingdoms for Grace Mercy and Pardon of sin with Peace and Prosperity Or if it be known that the Minister hath a Set-form of Prayer and makes use of his Notes in his preaching then you shall scarcely have more of one Party whose Prejudice and Fancy is above their Reason Religion and Conscience than Stone-pillars to make their apperance for that time But let informat●on and notice be given that some Stentorean fam'd Non-Conformist some popular and newly cryed-up Preacher that seems to pray without premeditat●on and preacheth without book never looking upon Notes nor Bible One that will neither use himself nor trouble them with the Prayers of the Church but entertain them only with a Psalm a Prayer of his own extemporary Effusion and a pleasing plausible discourse concerning a strict and close walking with God the illuminations and inward operations of the Spirit of Grace an Interest in Christ and the New Covenant c. And withall in his Application will declaim with a great deal of zeal affection and vehemency against those sins which our Superiours in Church and State or others in general that are not of the same strain and opinion with himself are usually censured and supposed to be most guilty of which is an effectual fine subtile way to beget disaffection and sow the seeds of sedition in peoples hearts towards their Governours as also to beget inward heart-burnings in them with censoriousness divisions and uncharitableness towards their brethren Let it I say be but noysed nay whispered abroad that such a one is to teach in this or that place either Morning or Afternoon and then though the Church were as large as St. Pauls yet it will scarcely find room enough to receive and contain the disorderly Rabble of his sequacious eager followers You all I believe know and observe this to be true and many perhaps think it no crime but rather commendable in regard it is so customary and ordinary yea the principal Thing that is now in fashion as to Religion as being the chief and only means this slighting of Prayers and running after Sermons to gain one the Name and Reputation of a Religious godly Person But had I time to discover unto you the mischievous and unhappy Effects and Consequences of it and that as well in respect of the Publick as of mens own Souls and Consciences in regard it is this that begets heart-burnings and animosities amongst Christian Neighbours as I hinted before with divisions censurings and uncharitableness each unto others it's this that breeds and feeds and foments that causeless discontent and disaffection in peoples Hearts towards their Superiours it's this that kindles the first sparks of sedition disobedience and Rebellion against lawfull Magistrates which are ready to break out into a flame when opportunity offers it self it 's apparently this that makes people so unsetled in judgement and c Jam. 1.8 unstable in all their wayes d 2 Tim. 3.7 ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth in a word it is this that makes many * Ibid. v. 2 3 4 5. in these last perillous times according to the Apostles prediction to be self-lovers proud boasters disobedient to Parents without natural affection false accusers fierce despisers of those that are good traitours heady high-minded having indeed a form of godliness but denying the power thereof had I but time to demonstrate these things as it were easie both by Scripture plain Reason Ecclesiastical History and our own certain Experience of the like Events from the same Causes in the late times of Liberty and Confusion I should clearly make it appear unto you That this irregular itching humour of Curiosity and affecting of novelties is though not so scandalous in the sight of men yet as hainous in the sight of God and mischievous to Peoples Souls as any Crime that they can lightly be guilty of For it 's by this as the f Math. 15.6 grand Tradition of the late Scribes and Elders amongst us that the Pharisaical Men of this Generation have made the Commandments and Precepts of Christ and his Apostles concerning good Order Discipline and Decency in the Church concerning Subjection and Obedience to Civil Magistrates concerning Affection and due Reverence towards Christs Ministers concerning brotherly Love and Union amongst Christian Neighbours of none effect I speak nothing but what is notoriously known to be Truth by all uninteressed judicious sober and solid Christians And therefore no wonder that Gods anger is waxed thus hot and his jealousie burn like fire against such a refractory obstinately erroneous and indeed antichristian a generation as this Which may very well in the g Math. 11.16 17. words of our Saviour be likened unto Children sitting in the Market-place and calling unto their fellows and saying We have piped unto you and ye have not danced We have mourned unto you and ye have not lamented For even so in this age we find one party still opposing countermining and walking contrary to another So that let Christ send what Labourers soever He please into his harvest though never so innocent honest able and faithfull though never so carefull to follow His and His blessed Apostles example and that in respect both of

doth not not Consider Yea hence it is that though life and death good and evil as (d) Deut. 30.15 Moses speaks are set before us and put to our choice yet the generality of people in the world live as persons not at all concerned whether there be a God or no an Heaven or an Hell eternal Joyes or everlasting Torments So that a serious consideration is very good and necessary for us even at all times but the most proper season for it as Solomon tells us is the time of affliction In the time of Adversity Consider Whence the point of Doctrin that offers it self to our Consideration is this Doct. That when Gods Judgements are in the Earth and the sad tokens of his displeasure appear against a Person or a Nation then it 's a proper season for them seriously to lay things to heart and wisely to consider The guise and custom of all Atheistical Epicures and graceless Worldlings is quite contrary who when any crosses disasters or losses are in judgement inflicted upon them do not retire into their Closets and there enter into a serious meditation of the matter communing with their own hearts and considering who it is that smites them and for what but either with Cursing Oaths and Execrations they break forth into repining and murmuring against Gods dispensations towards them which many times end in Despair or else they run to the Tavern or Alehouse that so in the jovial company of good fellows they may drown the sense of all sorrow and care and thwart and non-plus if it be possible the end and design of God in punishing them His good end certainly was to humble them and reclaim them from their iniquities but they listen not to the voyce of his Rod but in laetitiam luxum prosiliunt resolve to take their full swinge in voluptuousness saying (e) Wisd 1.6 7 8 9. Let us eat and drink and enjoy the good things of this life let us Crown our selves with Rose-buds and leave tokens of our mirth and jollity in every place This is the common deportment and practice of the ungodly in time of adversity And this they are either betrayed into by their own deceitful vile carnal hearts or else they are byassed by the great and general custom of the world or else they are prompted to it by Satan who knows full well that a due and serious Consideration would take them from him and make them quickly renounce and abhor all wicked wayes And therefore it is that he doth still with all his might and subtilty strive to divert and disswade them from it as a most childish sad and dumpish melancholy course which probably may endanger their health but can otherwise do them no good Whereby it appears that the more necessary any Duty is the more opposite Satan and our false carnal hearts are thereunto For there is not a more advantagious usefull and profitable nor a more excellent heavenly and acceptable Duty as I shall shew more fully hereafter for a good Christian to be exercised in at all times and upon all occasions in all estates and conditions especially in the day of adversity than this of a serious Consideration And therefore it is that Almighty God commends it unto us so much in Scripture as a singular means to help and direct us how to steer our courses aright as Deut. 32.29 Oh that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end Psal 4.4 Stand in awe and sin not commune with your own hearts and be still Prov. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established and Hag. 1.5 7. Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts Consider your wayes In which remarkable place the Adverb Now and Conjunction Therefore plainly point out the Time and Occasion when and wherefore God required them to practise this duty of Consideration The Children of Israel being brought home to Jerusalem again out of their long Captivity in Babylon were exceeding backward and negligent in their carrying on the work and building of the House of the Lord. Forward enough it seems they were to erect and prepare sumptuous buildings and neat habitations for themselves the Prophet calls them cieled Houses v. 4. but the house of the Lord they let that lye waste pretending forsooth v. 2. that it was not a fit time yet to doe it This was their Crime Now the Judgment which God inflicted upon them for it was that of Famine as v. 6 9 10 11. Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it and why saith the Lord of Hosts because of mine House that is waste and ye run every man to his own house Therefore the Heaven over you is stayed from dew and the Earth is stayed from her fruit And I called for a drought upon the Land and upon the Mountains and upon the Corn and upon the new Wine and upon the Oyl and upon that which the ground bringeth forth and upon Men and upon Cattel and upon all the labour of the hands Surely a deplorable sad and most miserable state and condition And what is now the duty that God the great Physician of Souls puts them upon here by the Prophet and that both in order to a speedy and thorow Reformation of themselves as well as for the happy procuring of his loving kindness and gracious reconciliation towards them Why it is nothing but this Consider your wayes A duty which the Prophet Haggai seems to look back upon as an Instar omnium and therefore it is observable that he presseth no other duty upon them in the whole Prophecy Neither doth he content himself to deliver his Message authoritativè with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. thus saith the Lord of Hosts as here in this Chapter but again afterwards to inforce the same he earnestly prayes and intreats them to fall upon the speedy performance of it as Chap. 2. v. 15. to 20. Which frequent inculcation of the Precept serves to teach us two things by the way 1. The strange stupidity of the People in that they were no more affected with those manifest marks and tokens of Gods indignation no though he had snatched their very Meat out of their mouths And then 2. The great necessity of the Duty in times of distress So that when Gods Judgments are in the Earth and the sad tokens of his displeasure appear against a Person or Nation then its a proper season for them seriously to lay things to heart and wisely to consider In the prosecution of this Point I do intend to proceed in this method Method 1. By way of Explication to acquaint you with the Nature of the Duty in general as also the Subject matter thereof touching withall a little upon the two great Circumstances of most convenient Time and Place 2. By way of Confirmation to subjoyn some Reasons for the