Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A65982
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A sermon preached before the King and Queen at White-hall, on Sunday, Jan. 8, 1692/3 by William Wigan ...
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Wigan, William, d. 1700.
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1693
(1693)
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Wing W2099; ESTC R39394
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11,810
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30
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they should live for ever although they see how little truly sufficeth and know not how soon far less may If therefore Christians were fully convinc'd That their Lives would not last for ever and if they believed That an endless state is to follow they would proportion their thoughts to their Interests a temporary concern should have a transitory Care and an Eternal concern should have their constant Care And therefore they would be mindful of the Present For though we are forbid to take thought for the Morrow we are not forbid to take thought for the immediate Day At first view this may seem too narrow a compass for the large and active Spirit of Man But if it be seriously considered it will appear That as the Evil so the Duty of the Day is sufficient for it For who is there that can say as in the presence of God that He hath during that short space ordered a-right his Thoughts his Words and his Deeds Who hath not offended in so few hours If an ancient Christian found it hard to practise one short lesson Socrat. l. 4. c. 23. that was read to him out of the Psal 39. 1. I said I will take heed to my ways that I offend not with my tongue If he was a long time before he could fulfil that Precept Surely then the guiding well the Lips and the Heart and its Imaginations that are set on Evil will not be an easie task to perform though but for so short a time Our Saviour reproach'd his Disciples that they could not watch with him one hour and even one hour well watch'd the Eleventh hour spent in God's Vineyard will not be without a reward The penitent Thief who employed well the last Moments of his Death rather than Life was that day with Christ in Paradise For God regards the sincerity of Conversion and Perseverance after it and not only the length of time wherein he is serv'd And therefore they are sure to be blessed who are faithful One Day if it be their Last A Heathen could cry out that One Day led according to the Precepts of Wisdom was to be prefer'd before a sinning Immortality How highly then ought Christians to value and employ well One the Present Day which shall be rewarded with a holy and happy Immortality And if after humble Adoration of God and praising Him who brings them to the beginning of another day which they could not promise themselves they seriously resolv'd by the assistance of His Grace religiously to serve Him that day in their Vocations and if in the Evening they examin'd themselves how they had past that day which may be their last and found they had walk'd before God in His fear and as looking to give an account to Him of their deeds with what comfort might they lay down their heads each night and wish they might wake in Eternity But when they review but one day's actions too many will find much cause of shame and grief many failings to be confest and much pardon to be ask'd And yet through God's blessing on this their inquiry as they would be more Strict in their Lives Faithful in their Callings Charitable in their Censures and Regular in their Devotions so they would find that they had little time to spare for unnecessary Thoughts of the Morrow Nay they would then be convinc'd That this World in which our stay is so doubtful and so full of disappointments whose joys are so false and so short and whose sorrows so true and so lasting is not worth their utmost seriousest concern for it and no way deserves their being mighty sollicitous for what shall befall them in it And therefore they would as Travellers look transiently on what past here having their hearts set chiefly on their Country which is above and on that blessed state of Glory that hereafter shall be revealed Since then we know that we dwell in Tabernacles of Clay carrying in our Bodies the Sentence of God and liable to all the Evils that any day hath brought on any distressed Person Family or Nation What is it that they who pretend so much to be concern'd for the future ought to mind but that Future which shall never end and to provide what will survive the great evil day All the good things of this Life however eagerly sought hardly obtain'd and carefully kept here must be left behind Onely our good Works Onely the Fruits of Faith in God and Conformity to the blessed Jesus Onely our Charity and participation of the Divine Nature will accompany us to and be of use at the Tribunal of Christ Hear we then our Lord teaching us while it is called to day to seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and to look on this Life only as a portion of Time assign'd us to work out in it our Eternal Salvation And if mindful of this happy end of a Christian Race we are sober and just humble and heavenly-minded if we constantly do each day the duty of the day as if at night we were to answer for it and live each day as not knowing that any more may be allow'd us but in it our Lord may come upon us We shall then with mighty assurance though the Earth be never so unquiet and the Powers of it tremble commit to God's guidance our Bodies Souls and Spirits our Country and His Church and shall find that God will govern all to His Glory and for our Everlasting Salvation To Him Father Son and Holy Ghost Three Persons and One God be Glory and Honour for ever Amen FINIS