Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A60348
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A funeral-sermon upon occasion of the death of Mrs. Lobb late wife of Mr. Stephen Lobb. Preached by Samuel Slater, minister of the Gospel
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Slater, Samuel, d. 1704.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing S3966; ESTC R221626
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33,124
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39
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which â—â—d had there prepared for them that love him He had a desire to â—â—art From whence by the way it will be worth our while to obâ—â—â—ve this That Paul's Desires were and so ours should be under the comâ—â—nd and conduct of Reason We should be rational in our affectiâ—â— and in our actions He was for that which was better the â—â—at and joint Cry of the many was Who will shew us any good 〈◊〉 4. So that if it be good let us have it though it be an infeâ—â—â—r good an unsatisfying good though it be a fading and transitoâ—â— good But a gracious Soul who hath been taught of God â—â—â—â—ghs considers and compares things and measures out his affeâ—â—â—ons to them according to that degree of Goodness which is in 〈◊〉 Upon less and lower goods he bestoweth a smaller love conâ—â—ding wisely That is enough for them as much as they deserve 〈◊〉 so his endeavour is to maintain and to carry toward them with 〈◊〉 indifferency of Spirit according to that Command 1 Cor. 7. â— 30. Let them that have wives be as though they had none and they 〈◊〉 weep as though they wept not and they that rejoice as though they â—â—â—iced not and they that buy as though they possessed not And then they bestow a greater Love upon a better Good and the deareâ—â— Love upon the best and highest Good It is good to have Communiâ—on with the Saints upon earth and I love that saith David Psal. 16 O Lord my goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints those excelleâ—â— ones in whom is all my delight He had a love of Benevolence foâ— others but a love of Complacency for these Upon others he bâ—â—stowed his Pity upon these only he placed his delight It is bettâ—â— to draw nigh to God and to have fellowship with him in Ordinaâ—â—ces And David was more pleased with that Psal. 27.4 One thiâ—â— have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in 〈◊〉 house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Loâ—â— and to enquire in his Temple He loved the Habitation of God's Housâ— and the place where his Honour dwelt but of all things it is best 〈◊〉 be in Heaven It is better to be with him there than to be with 〈◊〉 people here better to see him face to face there than to see him the glass of Ordinances here and therefore saith our Apostle have a desire to depart a strong ardent and impetuous desire Iâ— almost long to be gone were there not one thing in the way I coâ—â—â— be impatient of any continuance here in this dirty world Having a desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to depart the Original Woâ—â— hath divers significations and accordingly is diversly rendred 〈◊〉 it signifies to be dissolved or resolved which is done when thiâ— mixed or compounded are separated and divided into the seveâ— principles or parts of which it did consist Man is the compouâ—â— made up of a Spiritual and Terrene part the Soul and the Body 〈◊〉 Death these two are divided the Soul and Body are parted the 〈◊〉 from the other Again the Word doth signifie to depart so by our Learned Trâ—â—â—slators it is rendred in the Text. I have so long had mine abode hâ—â— and truly to me it seems full long enough I can very willingly move to another and better Countrey I am with all my heart reaâ—â— to take my leave of Persons and Things here I wait but for 〈◊〉 word of Command and so will draw up mine anchor and loâ—â— from hence I will hoise up and spread my Sails and with all possâ—â— speed make toward another Port that Haven of Peace and Râ—â—â— which lieth in the uppermost Region Once more This word signifieth to return and so as some the Learned conceive Paul doth here refer to that passage of Sâ—â—mon in Eccles. 12.7 The body returns to dust and the spirit to God 〈◊〉 gave it If you please we will conjoin all these and you may 〈◊〉 â—ake them together I know there will be a Dissolution my Soul and â—ody which like two loving Friends have lived so long together and â—â—ken part one with another in Weal and Wo in Joy and Sorrow â—ust one day be parted that knot which now most strictly holds â—â—em together must be untied and I am not in the least troubled at â—â—at Dissolution since I am fully assured That it will be followed â—â—th a closer Union and fuller Communion between Christ and me When once I have dropt this mantle of Flesh I shall be taken up to â—â—e Father of Spirits I know that I must go from hence this world 〈◊〉 not my last home nor the place of my constant abode I am but a â—â—lgrim and Stranger here as all my Fathers were and I am ready 〈◊〉 be gone so soon as the Messenger comes that shall be sent for me 〈◊〉 us pleas'd with the thoughts of my Journey because it is but a deâ—â—rture from Earth to Heaven from Friends to a God from poor â—â—â—â—nty and leaking Cisterns to the Fountain of Being the Springâ—ead of Comfort the Infinite Ocean of all Delights I must return was sent by my great Creator to act my part in the world and â—â—en that is done and my time is spent I must go to him to give 〈◊〉 account how my time hath been improved and how my part hath â—â—en acted I must go from whence at first I came and I am heartily 〈◊〉 of it for then it will be better with me than it is 〈◊〉 I care not how soon for the sooner the better for â—â—ough my body must be laid up in a dark and lonely Grave 〈◊〉 there putrifie and become meat for worms and be crumbled into 〈◊〉 and so continue for ought I know hundreds of years yet 〈◊〉 Spirit my precious and Immortal Soul shall return to God that â—â—de it by whom it shall be graciously received and welcom'd and â—â—th whom it is best to be This was that which he desired And here â—ould have you exercise your Thoughts and Meditations upon that â—â—pression of his I desire it and shall I offer you mine which may â—ord you some Light and Assistance Let us see whether there be 〈◊〉 something of Greatness in it whether it be not a lofty strain 〈◊〉 a pitch as every man cannot flye no not every Good man 〈◊〉 so take these Three Things with you 1. He doth not speak of a bare Submission in the case nor 2. Of being only contented to depart But 3. Of a Desire he had to it First He doth not say I submit to the will of God herein If he â—ease to call me away and will not allow me a longer continuance â—â—re I submit He shall dispose of me This indeed is unquestionably our duty as in all other things so particularly in this It is 〈◊〉 revealed will of God that all the living shall die only some 〈◊〉 excepted and those
Ease which through the Blessing of God it doth produce in the Patient that takes it Death hath but a bad look a grim countenance but yet it comes upon a good Errand it hath the hands of Esau which are very rough but its voice is the voice of Iacob speaking Peace and Comfort to a Child of God You see here in the Text that Paul desir'd it and he very well understood himself he knew there was sufficient yea abundant reason for his doing so It must be acknowledged That Death was at first threatned as a Curse and since the Fall it hath been inflicted as the Punishment of Sin But God for the great Love wherewith he loves his People and for the sake of his Son our dear Lord Jesus hath as to them turned that Curse into a Blessing That which was a part of the Curse is now the high-way to all Blessedness as matrers do now stand not to dye would be a loss a prejudice to the Saints Iob 7.16 I loath it I would not live alway if I might I would not i. e. here in this world It is a very great aggravation of the misery of the Damned in Hell that they cannot dye death flees from them tho they desire it and seek it and earnestly call after it yet it will not come nay it cannot The hopes of Annihiâ—ation would be grateful and pleasant to them fain they would not be but be they must whether they will or no. But Death will come to a Child of God would he not live always then â—hall not Only to him Death comes in the fittest season not till work be done and he be ripe for Glory he goeth to his Grave 〈◊〉 shock of Corn in its season If Spiritual Death be taken away â—â—ch separates between the Soul and God Natural Death can do hurt tho it doth for a time separate between the Soul and the â—â—ly Now from this Truth two things do necessarily follow â—irst That Death is not to be feared by a Believer There are other â—â—gs enough which are the proper Objects of our Fear and it would our â—olly not to fear them Of these things Sin is one Do not liâ— to its voice nor comply with its motions nor set your hand to work though it come with the most tempting smiles and alluring â—rms stand at a distance from it and bid defiance to it for its 〈◊〉 is more bitter than wormwood God is another Jer. 10.7 Who â—â—d not fear thee O King of Nations for to thee it doth appertain It â—art of that natural worship which is due to him fear him as â—â—ldren a Father rejoyce at the remembrance of his Holiness and 〈◊〉 the Lord and his Goodness fear to break his Commands and â—buse his mercies and thereby provoke him to withdraw from 〈◊〉 his assistances and comforts and to set upon you the marks of displeasure Your own hearts are another if he that trusts in his 〈◊〉 heart be a fool then to be afraid of our selves and of our own â—â—ts is a special piece of wisdom As the heart of man is knotty â—crabbed so it is treacherous deceitful above all things and deâ—ately wicked therefore let us watch our hearts and be jealous 〈◊〉 our selves with a godly jealousie But be not afraid to dye A â—â—â—istian ought to be at God's ordering Be willing to live as long as 〈◊〉 will have you though it be an afflictive and troublesome life â—â—gh it be a sickly and painful life though it be a mean and poor 〈◊〉 Iob could say upon his Dunghill in the midst of outward and â—â—â—ard anguish Iob 14.14 All the days of my appointed time I will 〈◊〉 till my change shall come Wait with patience live out of a prinâ—e of obedience to God and then be willing to die when God will 〈◊〉 you Death hath lost its sting and now you may play with it 〈◊〉 reconciled and therefore will not be unkind nor do you a misâ—f It is your Father's servant and therefore cannot go beyond his â—â—mission the Scripture tells you 1 Cor. 5.21 22. Death is yours â—ell as life It is a part of your interest You owe a great deal to â—â—th as it puts an end to all your sins and sorrows and as it is a pasâ—â— though a dark one to Heaven and Glory Secondly The Death of those who died in the Lord is not upon 〈◊〉 account to be bewailed by those their near and dear Relations that superâ— them Indeed as it is a loss to the Family and Friends and to 〈◊〉 Nation and to that part of the Church which is here a sense of 〈◊〉 and a sorrow for it is to be allowed them and commended 〈◊〉 them for it is no other than their duty It is a sign of a bad heaâ— and of approaching evil when the righteous perish and no man 〈◊〉 it to heart Isa. 57.1 Only that Sorrow is to be kept under coâ—â—mand and within those bounds that Religion and right Reason 〈◊〉 set it Tho over their Graves we may drop our Tears we must 〈◊〉 drown our selves But the more deeply sensible we are of our loss 〈◊〉 more careful and diligent we ought to be about the improving 〈◊〉 making it up Have we lost much of the Creature then let us labâ— to get so much the more of God and Iesus Christ There is not 〈◊〉 loss here below that we can meet with but if we will be founâ— the way of our duty it may yea for certain it shall be repaâ— and made up to us But the Death of Holy Gracious Persons is to be bewailed upon their account They stand in no need of anâ— our Sighs or Tears Their case doth not call for it Tho they diâ— their Strength and Prime in their Youth or in their consistent 〈◊〉 yet they did not dye too soon They liv'd as long as God would 〈◊〉 them and that was long enough They do not dye too soon who 〈◊〉 they dye go to Christ. Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that dyâ— the Lord. They are not miserable then but happy yea more haâ—â— than ever they were before When thou thinkest My Relation is dâ—â— follow that thought with this My Relation is blessed Now she 〈◊〉 indeed now she is happy indeed The life she had here 〈◊〉 not deserve the name of a life if compared with that life which now hath with Christ. Fifthly A truly yea an eminently Gracious Person may be in a 〈◊〉 about dying-work When David was almost consumed with the 〈◊〉 of God's hand He prayed O spare me that I may recover streâ—â— before I go hence and be seen no more Psal. 39.13 When Hezâ—â— was commanded by the Prophet from the Lord To set his housâ— order for he should dye and not live he turned his face to the wall 〈◊〉 prayed and wept sore Isa. 38.1 c. Paul here was in a strait 〈◊〉 that proceeded from a more noble Cause than that of many 〈◊〉 was brought into it