Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	glory_n	vessel_n	wrath_n	3,740	5	9.3244	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43577	The general assembly: or, A discourse of the gathering of all saints to Christ Wherein it appears that all saints in all places and ages, shall be at last gathered together to Christ their head. Together with the time, manner, ends and reasons of this last great congregating of all saints, and what use may be made thereof. Being some meditations upon 2 Thess. II. 1. By O. H. minister of the Gospel.	Heywood, Oliver, 1629-1702.	1700 (1700)	Wing H1766; ESTC R221312	62,244	144

think the Faculties will be strangely inlarged so that the Saints will know all natural things and pierce into the Essence of the most intricate Beings the Nature and Efficacy of Creatures the Properties of Angels the Mysteries of Redemption the Councels of God Though they are not omniscient their Knowledge is limited yet I think they will know all the Antient Patriarchs Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph David Paul Peter though they had never seen them in this World Thus the rich Man though damned knew Father Abraham Luke 16.23 and Lazarus in his bosom Luther discoursed the Night before he died that Saints shall know one another hereafter from Adam's knowing who Eve was though he was asleep Gen. 2.23 the Disciples knowing Moses and Elias in Christ's transfiguration Mat. 17.3 and indeed his mutual knowledge will not be the least part of Saints heavenly delight 5. The Souls of Men live after they are separated from the Body For what is it which is gathered with the Saints It s not the Body for that is laid in the dust but it s the Soul for the Body and Soul meet not till the great Day of the Resurrection Nor doth the Soul sleep in the dust till then for our Lord said to the penitent Thief Luke 23.43 to day shalt thou be with me in Paradice And Paul desired to be loosed that he might be with Christ Psalm 1.23 nor doth the Soul cease to be it hath an existence in a separate State Men may kill the Body not the Soul Mat. 10.20 Atomists and Epicureans will not grant an annihilation of any one Atom in the Universe surely then not this excellent Creature the Soul of Man Yea the Soul of Man continues its inviduation i. e. it s distinct being and falls not into one common universal Soul of the World as some have imagined Spirits have a numerical Difference a distinct Being Nor are we to think that the Soul returns into the Essence of God because the Text saith The Spirit returns to God who gave it Eccl. 12.7 It doth return to God to receive its Sentence from him not into his Being for then we should make God Divisible and consisting of Parts which is contrary to his infinite Divine Nature thus Souls have a distinct Being yet depending on God the first Being and are individuals and must be accordingly judged 6. That the Soul being gathered with the Elect enters immediately into glory to know where Lazarus's Soul was while he was in the Grave requires more skill then I can pretend to Some think it hovered about the Grave by Christ's order as designing its re-entring the Body but Scripture assures us of the immediate Salvation of gracious Souls They enter into peace when the Body rests in its Bed Isa 57.2 They are pronounced blessed that die in the Lord Rev. 14.13 When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear with him in Glory Col. 3.4 Now they shall be glorious in their Souls At the Resurrection their Bodies will be Glorious Phi. 3.21 even like Christ's glorious Body This answers that Query whether the Saints shall have greater Glory at the Resurrection then they had immediately after their Death It is easy to determine that so far as there is an Addition of a glorified Body to the glorified Spirit so far is the Glory greater what further I know not Though Dr. Hammond thinks the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Flesh is not joined to it signifies that Life which the Soul enters upon immediately after Death called Resurrection i. e. Glorification Certainly the Soul hath some intuitive Knowledge in its separate State and Felicity also so far as it is capable 7. When these blessed Souls are thus gathered together they shall never part they shall live with God and each other for ever Here we part and meet again and meet and part again and part so as we shall never meet again in this World But in the other World we shall part no more through the Ages of Eternity After Millions of Years the Comforts are as fresh as at the first Moment never weary nor interrupted they are before the throne of God Rev. 7.15 chap. 20.6 chap. 22.5 and serve him day and night in his temple These Waters have a perpetual Spring this Day hath no Night They shall reign with Christ not a thousand Years definitively but for ever and ever O what a lasting and everlasting injoyment of God and Saints will that be What can part them God will not the Devil and wicked Men cannot themselves shall not for they have within them an incorruptible Seed even of that Word that liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 It is not with Saints in Heaven as with Boon-companions in playing drinking carousing Matches of sport and vanity that must part nor is it with Saints there as with God's Children here in the Worship of God that have their Intermission Cessations Interruptions are forced to break off But there the work continues praising God the place continues it hath Foundations the persons continue he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.17 CHAP. IV. For what End the Saints are gathered together 4. THE next Head is to open the End or Design of the Saints gathering together these are of Two Sorts 1. Principal 2. Secondary and Subordinate 1. The primary and principal End is the Glorifying of God the great God doth all things for this great End 2 Thes 1.10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe The glory of the Saints shall reflect glory to God God takes himself honoured in his Saints Honour as the Prince is magnified in the splendour of his Court If God be glorified in the bitterest Sufferings of his Saints 1 Pet. 4.14 how much more in their Exaltations Oh what a Luster will they cast when they are all crowned as Kings Dan. 12.3 Mat. 13.43 when they shall shine as the Firmament yea as Stars yea as the Sun in its Meridian glory O what a strange change is this to be raised out of the Durst and Dung-hill to sit upon Thrones How came this to pass surely the Author of this Glory will have the chief share therein all God's perfections will be conspicuous The Saints meeting together in the foresaid Manner will tend to the glory of 1. God's Soveraignty wherein he chose these that were Children of Wrath even as others to make them Vessels of Mercy and left others as good as they to perish and be banished from God to all Eternity then those eternal Councels will be displayed and that Scripture fully explained Rom. 9.15 18 22 23. 2. God's Wisdom shall be illustrious in contriving a way for Man's Redemption and Salvation This Wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 1 Cor. 2.7 Then the Secrets

Euke 16.28 not for love to them for there 's no such Charity in Hell but Self-love lest their presence should aggravate his Torments Hence is the gnashing of teeth also mentioned Mat. 13.50 for spleen and spight both against themselves and against each other as Communion advanceth the Saints Glory above so Company of old Sinners aggravates the Wicked's misery in Hell 4. It will greatly aggravate Wicked mens Torment to consider that this was their own doing Their destruction is of themselves Hos 13.9 they can challenge none but themselves though they had many Incentives and Temptations Neither the Devil nor Wicked men could ever pu●… them to Hell against their wills God saith He wills not the death of a Sinner Jesus Chri●… expressed his earnest desire of their Salvation by his Death the Spirit came with its lovin● motions and impulses Godly Ministers Christian Friends prayed for them took pains wit● them to save them so that our Lord himsel● saith Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under he● wings and ye would not There was God's gathering time of Mercy but that 's past now there 's a gathering time of Wrath When the Chaff must be burnt i● unquenchable fire Mat. 3.12 They migh● have been happy but would no● They observed lying vanities Jonah 2.8 an● forsook their own mercies now there 's no remedy They chose the thing wherein he delighted not and now he will chus● their delusions Isa 66.3 4. Alas poor Sinner chuse the Devil's Drudgery here and Go● gives them up into his hands to be tormente● for ever and as Christ will gather up his Saint whom he purchased so the Devil will gathe● up all his Slaves not one shall escape him the Wicked are gathered by Death to thei● Master and to their proper place as it 's said of Judas Acts 1.25 That he wen● to his own place that 's Hell Fo● the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all th● Nations that forget God Psal 9.17 O what a vast Assembly will that be Millions Millions of Souls descend down into that Place of Torments Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Mat. 7.13 O tremble lest you be found among this greater number of the Sons of men Remember all Mankind have their Faces Hell-wards when they are born The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking lyes Psal 58.3 There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.10 11 12. we are altogether become unprofitable without a saving turn we are all marching Hell-ward and must be gathered together and like Faggots piled up in that Infernal Lake but especially such as have improved the stock of Original Corruption in a course of Profane Swearing Rioting Drunkenness mocking of Religion ridiculing Preciseness condemning the Righteous justifying the Wicked How can such as these expect to be gathered with the Saints in the other World whom they cannot endure in this Surely the Godly and Wicked go contrary ways when they go off the Stage of this World into an Eternal state 2. As Wicked Graceless Persons state is sad and hopeless so continuing so also professed Christians yea real Saints are in some things too saulty and blame-worthy 1. Shall there be a gathering together at last then how unaccountable are those Distances Animosities and Heart-burnings among Christians There is utterly a fault among us How contrary is this to Christian Love so often recommended by Christ and his Apostles Yea our Lord hath made it the Characteristical Note of his Disciples to love one another John 13.35 It was wont to be said of the Primitive Christians by Heathens See how they love one another But alas Brotherly Love doth not continue It hath been declared to the scandal of our Noble Profession That there are Contentions among us 1 Cor. 1.11 Further it hath been said That where strictest Professors fall out they are most implacable Drunkards will sooner be Friends than these Puritans God forbid it should be true God forbid that there should be Debates 2 Cor. 12.20 envyings wraths strifes back bitings whisperings tumults swellings Alas that such unbecoming Fruits of the Flesh should be found among us There hath been too much of this Evil Spirit O let us take heed lest if we bite and devour one another we be not consumed one by another Gal. 5.15 These are the Devil's Artillery whereby he sights and too often prevails to do abundance of mischief and hinder much good For where envy and strife is there is confusion James 3.16 and every evil work How can you think of the Day of meeting one another in Heaven with such peevish Spirits Will you perpetuate your Quarrels into another World Are you Children of Peace that thus Quarrel For shame lay aside your Differences or lay aside your Profession of this Gospel of Peace 2. If the Saints be gathered at last why do they not keep close together in this World What unaccountable Separations do men make from each other upon small Occasions This is a Duty practiced by all the Saints in all Ages the Primitive Christians continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Acts 2.42 As soon as Paul was converted he assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples Acts 9.26 17.4 and others consorted with Paul and Barnabas Phil. 1.5 The Philippians were in the fellowship of the Gospel from the first day of their Conversion Like will to like It 's Natural for a Child of God to hold close Communion with his Father's Children How comes it to pass then that some that profess themselves Christians keep at a distance Alas have you the same Name Nature and Divine Image and do you not care for their Company How will you like to live with them for ever in Heaven that love not their Society on Earth How comes it to pass that you keep off It 's possible some do it out of modesty they are not worthy to associate with them these are but few Others out of Singularity Retiredness they can find none good enough to whom they think fit to vouchsafe intimate Familiarity Others have a pique against such and such Christians or against the whole Party and most hold off from supine Negligence Carelesness and Oscitancy most men are unconcerned about their Edification How unwilling are some Christians to be drawn to Communion of Saints If it be an Article in their Creed 't is no part of their Practice as though they had never subscribed to it yea there are some that were once forward for this Work of Christian Communion that are now fallen off like those Hebrews that believed of whom the Apostle saith Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Heb. 10.25 The Donatists of old and