Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	world_n	worth_a	worth_n	22	3	8.8135	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46661	Invisibles, realities, demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway, Fellow of King's Collegde in Cambridge. By James Janeway, Minister of the Gospel	Janeway, James, 1636?-1674.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.; Borset, Samuel.	1674 (1674)	Wing J471; ESTC R217020	74,067	160

another because they were of different judgments and perswasions There where he saw most holiness humility and love there he let out most of his affections And he was of that holy mans mind that it were pity that the very name of division were not buried and that the time would come that we might all dearly pay for our unbrotherly nay unchristian Animosities CHAP. XVI An account of the latter part of his Life FOR the latter part of his Life he lived liked a man that was quite weary of the world and that looked upon himself as a stranger here and that lived in the constant sight of a better world He plainly declared himself but a Pilgrim that looked for a better Country a City that had foundations whose builder and maker was God His habit his language his deportment all spoke him one of another world His meditations were so intense long and frequent that they ripened him apace for Heaven but somewhat weakned his body Few Christians attain to such a holy contempt of the world and to such clear believing joyful constant apprehensions of the transcendent glories of the unseen world He made it his whole business to keep up sensible communion with God and to grow into a humble familiarity with God and to maintain it And if by reason of company or any necessary diversions this was in any measure interrupted he would complain like one out of his element till his spirit was recovered into a delightful more unmixed free intercourse with God He was never so well satisfied as when he was more immediately ingaged in what brought him nearer to God and by this he injoyed those comforts frequently which other Christians rarely meet with His graces and experiences toward his end grew to astonishment His faith got up to a full assurance his desires into a kind of injoyment and delight He was oft brought into the banqueting house and there Christs Banner over him was love and he sate down under his shadow with great delight and his Fruit was pleasant unto his tast His Eyes beheld the King in his Beauty and while he sate at his Table his spicknard did spend forth its pleasant smell he had frequent visions of Glory and this John lay in the bosom of his Master and was sure a very beloved Disciple and highly favored His Lord oft called him up to the Mount to him and let him see his excellent Glory O the sweet foretasts that he had of those pleasures that are at the right Hand of God How oft was he feasted with the feast of fat things those wines on the lees well refined and sometimes he was like a Giant refresht with new wine rejoycing to run the race that was set before him whether of doing or of suffering He was even sick of love and he could say to the poor unexperienced World O tast and see and to Christians come and I well tell you what God hath done for my Soul O what do Christians mean that they do no more labour to get their sences spiritually exercised O why do they not make Religion the very business of their lives O why is the Soul Christ and Glory thus dispised Is there nothing in communion with God Are all those comforts of Christians that follow hard after him worth nothing Is it not worth the while to make ones calling and Election sure O why do men and women jest and dally in the great matters of Eternity Little do people think what they slight when they are seldom and formal in secret duties and when they neglect that great duty of Meditation which I have through rich mercy found so sweet and refreshing O what do Christians mean that they keep at such a distance from Christ Did they but know the thousandth part of that sweetness that is in him they could not choose but follow him hard they would run and not be weary and walk and not be faint He could sensibly and experimentally commend the ways of God to the poor unexperienced world and say His ways are pleasantness and justifie wisdom and say her paths were peace He could take off those aspersions which the Devil and the atheistical frantick sots do cast upon Godliness in the power of it Here is one that could challenge all the Atheists in the world to dispute here is one could bring sensible demonstrations to prove a deity the reality and excellency of invisibles which these ignorant fools and mad men make the subject of their scorn Here is one that would not change delights with the greatest epicures living and vie pleasure with all the sensual rich gallants of the world Which of them all could in the midst of their jollity say This is the pleasure that shall last for ever Which of them can say among their Cups and Whores I can now look Death in the Face and this very Moment I can be content yea glad to leave these delights as knowing I shall injoy better And this he could do when he fared deliciously in spiritual banquets every day He could upon better reason than he did say Soul thou hast goods laid up for many years He knew full well that what he did here injoy was but a little to what he should have shortly In his presence there is fulness of joy at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore Where is the Belshazzar that would not quake in the midst of his Cups whilst he is quaffing and carouzing in bowls of the richest Wine if he should see a hand upon the Wall writing bitter things against him telling him that his joys are at an end and that this night his soul must be required of him that now he must come away and give an account of all his ungodly pleasures before the mighty God Where is the sinner that could be contented to hear the Lord roaring out of Zion whilest he is roaring in the Tavern Which of them would be glad to hear the trumpet sound and to hear that voice Arise you dead and come to judgment Which of them would rejoyce to see the Mountains quaking the Elements melting with fervent heat and the Earth consumed with flames the Lord Christ whom they despised coming in the clouds with Millions of his Saints and Angels to be avenged upon those that knew not God and obeyed not his Gospel Is not that a blessed state when a man can lift up his head with joy when others tremble with fear and sink with sorrow And this was the condition of this holy young man In the midst of all worldly comforts he longed for death the thought of the day of Judgment made all his injoyments sweeter O how did he long for the coming of Christ Whilst some have been discoursing by him of that great and terrible day of the Lord he would smile and humbly express his delight in the forethought of that approaching hour I remember once there was a great talk that one had

Mr. Janeway now begins to cast about how he might best improve what he did already know and turn all his studies into the right chanel grace did not take him off from but made him more diligent and spiritual in his study And now Christ was at the end and bottom of every thing how did he plot and contrive how he might most express his love and thankfulness to him who had brought him out of darkness into his marvellous light to this end he sent up and down packets of divine letters in which he did discourse so substantially and experimentally of the great things of God that it would not at all have unbecome some gray head to have owned what he did write He was not in a little like young Elihu whose words he used to excuse his freedom with persons of years whose souls he did dearly pity He said days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom but there is a spirit in a man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding I am full of matter the spirit within me constraineth me behold my belly is as wine which hath no vent it is ready to burst like new bottles I will speak that I may be refreshed c. O then how sweet was the favour of his graces He could not but speak the things which he had seen and heard and even invite all the world to taste and see how good the Lord was He began first with his Relations begging and wooing of them to think of their precious and immortal souls and to lay in speedy provisions for a death-bed and eternity O with what compassion did he plead the cause of Christ with their souls what Pathetical expressions did he use what vehement expostulations how frequent how particular in his applications to them O with what gravity and majesty would he speak of the mysteries of the Gospel Read what his language was when he was between eighteen and nineteen years old in a Letter to an antient Minister that he stood related to who at that time walked very heavily His Letter Reverend Sir THere are two things the want of which I have had xperience of in your Family though not in every degree yet in that intenseness of degree wherein they ought to be which are the real power of Godliness and Religion and then that which is the fruit of the former that chearfulness delight spiritual joy and serenety of mind which is to be had in Religion and no where else and that not in Religion in its weakest degrees but in a real vigor power and life and in a more close constant walking with God from a tender sense of the worth of souls especially those of your family and knowing the duty which my relation to it doth lay upon me and having confidence of their will acceptance of it I have undertaken to open my thoughts unto them In most Families in England I fear there is neither the form nor the power of Godliness where there is no fear of God no regard of him no acting under him or in reference to him These are in my opinion twice dead nay not so much as having the dead carcase of Religion objects of pity they are and O how few are there that spend one passionate thought upon them Others there are who some way or other it may be from tradition from good Parents it may be from knowing the fashion of those in their rank it may be from the frequent inculcating of good instructions from Christian Friends or Godly Ministers or some strugling eruptions of Conscience have gotten the outward husk or shell of Religion without any kernel or solidity at all and this generation doth usually trust to this their Religion that it will bring them to a place like a sleeping place in Heaven or keep them out of Hell though they live without God in the World These are poor creatures too making haste to their own destruction and know it not yea thinking that they are in a fair way for Heaven O that there were never a Family to which we are related which gave too sad cause of fear that it were in such a case or neer such a case as this is A third sort of people there are and but few of these neither which have the reality of Religion but yet in much weakness coldness faintnefs dimness and intermission like Nilus's brood above half mud still beginning to have some life in their head a little in their heart but the feet of their affections and actions have little or no motion And where shall we find a Christian that is got any higher than this yea that doth in good earnest strive to get any higher Now there are higher attainments to be reached after there is a having our conversation in Heaven while we are upon Earth neither doth this consist in some weak disconrses about God Heaven and the things of Religion it consists not in the meer praying twice a day and in keeping the Sabbath in an usual manner in its order it consists not in a few thoughts of Religious objects comeing into the mind in a common way and as easily got as lost But true Religion raiseth the soul to longings hungrings and thirstings not without some enjoyments Religion in power is to act for God with strength vigor earnestness intenseness delight cheerfulness serenety and calmness of mind The fruits of the spirit are joy in the Holy Ghost and Peace fear disquiet and terrors are usually the introduction to a better state but they are not of the essentials of Religion yea the contrary frame of spirit is to be striven for To speak yet more plainly and to tell you Honoured Sir what fears and jealousies are with reverence to your self and tender affection to all your family I fear that you your self are subject to too many desponding melancholy thoughts The causes whereof give me leave with submission to guess at The first I think may be your reflecting on your entring upon the ministry without that reverence care holy zeal for God love to Christ and compassion to souls which is required of every one that undertakes that holy office it may be there was rather a respect to your own living in the world than of living to God in the world be it thus be it not as bad or be it worse the remedy is the same These have a wondring power in them which will be felt to be grievous when felt as they are in themselves but continual sorrow and sad thoughts do keep this wound open too long and are not available to the having of it cured Wounds indeed must be first opened that they may be cleansed they must be opened that their filth may be discovered in reference to a purging and healing but no longer than the balm of Gilead is to be applyed that they may be healed And when Christ is made use of aright he leaveth joy and comfort yet a constant

carry on the work that he had some hopes was well begun he laboured to build sure and build up that he might be rooted and grounded in the faith stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord. Wherefore he followed him not only with private warnings and frequent patheticall counsels and directions but with letters one of which spoke in this language Another of his Letters of Private warning and Pathetical Counsel YOU live in a place where strict and close walking with God hath few or no examples and most are apt to be 〈◊〉 their company and Gods own children are too apt to forget their first love our hearts are apt to be careless and to neglect our watch we are ready to grow formal in duty or less spiritual and then it may be less frequent and Conscience is put off with some poor excuse and thus Religion withers and one that seemed once a zealot may come to be Laodicean and some that looked once as if they were eminent saints may fall to just nothing It 's too common to have a name to be alive and yet to be dead Read this and tremble lest it should be your case When we are lazy and asleep our adversary is awake when we are sloathful and negligent then he is diligent I consider your age I know where you dwell I am not unacquainted with your temptations Wherefore I cannot but be afraid of you lest by both inward and outward fire the bush be singed Though if God be in it it cannot be burnt up Give me leave to be in some measure fearful of you and jealous over you and to mind you of what you know already Principles of civility will be but as broken reeds to stay our souls upon without those higher principles which are planted in the soul by the working of the spirit of God O remember what meltings sometimes you have had remember how solicitously you did inquire after Christ how earnestly you seemed to ask the way to Zion with your face thitherward Oh take heed of losing those impressions you once had take not up with a sleight work True conversion is a great thing and another kind of business than most of the world take it to be O therefore be not satisfied with some convictions taking them for conversion much less with resting in a formal lifeless profession There is such a thing as being almost a Christian nay as drawing back unto perdition and some that are not far from the kingdom of Heaven may never come there Beware lest you lose the reward the promise is made to him that holdeth fast and holdeth out unto the end and overcometh Labour to forget what is behind and to press forward towards things that are before He that is contented with just grace enough to get to Heaven and escape Hell and desires no more may be sure he hath none at all is far from being made partaker of the divine nature Labour to know what it is To converse with God strive to do every thing as in His presence design Him in all act as one that stands within sight of the Grave and Eternity I say again do what you do as if you were sure God stood by and looked upon you and exactly observed and recorded every thought word and action and you may very well suppose that which cannot be otherwise Let 's awake and fall to our work in good earnest Heaven or Hell are before us and death behind us What do we mean to sleep dulness in Gods service is very uncomfortable and at the best will cost us dear and to be contented with such a frame is a certain symptom of a hypocrite O How will such tremble when God shall call them to give an account of their stewardship and tell them They may no longer be stewards Should they fall sick and the Devil and Conscience fall upon them what inconceivable perplexity would they then be in O live more upon invisibles and let the thoughts of their excellency put life into your performances You must be contented to be laughed at for preciseness and singularity A Christians walking is not with men but with God and he hath great cause to suspect his love to God who doth not delight more in conversing with God and being conformed to Him than in conversing with the world and being conformed to it How can the love of God dwell in that man who liveth without God in the world without both continual vvalking vvith him in his whole conversation and those more peculiar visits of him in prayer meditation spiritual ejaculations and other duties of Religion and the workings of faith love holy desires delight joy and spiritual sorrow in them Think not that our vvalking vvith God cannot consist vvith vvorldly business yes but Religion makes us spiritual in common actions and there is not any action in a mans life in vvhich a man is not to labour to make it a religious act by a looking to the Rule in it and eying of Gods glory and thus he may be said to vvalk vvith God To this vve must indeavour to rise and never be content till vve reach to it and if this seem tedious as to degenerate nature it vvill vve must know that vve have so much of enmity against God still remaining and are under depravation and darkness know not our true happiness Such a soul is sick and it hath lost its taste vvhich doth not perceive an incomparable sweetness in vvalking vvith God without whom all things else under Heaven are gall and bitterness and to be little valued by very true Christian But We are all apt even at the worst to say that we prefer God above all things But we must know that we have very deceitful hearts And those who being inlightned know for vvhat high ends they should act and vvhat a fearful condition even a hazard in our case is these I say will not believe their own hearts without diligent search and good grounds Rest not in any condition in which your security is not founded upon that sure bottom the Lord Jesus Christ Labour to attain to this to love God for himself and to have your heart naturalized suited to spiritual things O for a heart to rejoyce and work righteousness O that we could do the will of God with more activity delight and constancy If we did know more of God we should love him more and then God would still reveal more of Himself to us and then we should see more and more cause to love him and wonder that we love him no more O this this is our happiness To have a fuller sight of God to be wrapped up and filled with the love of Christ O let my soul for ever be thus imployed Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none in earth that I can desire in comparison of Thee You hear what kind of language he spake and you may easily