Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	angel_n	face_n	see_v	3,670	5	4.2043	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28821	A mirrour of Christianity and a miracle of charity, or, A true and exact narrative of the life and death of the most virtuous Lady Alice, Dutchess Duddeley published after the sermon in the Church of St. Giles in the Fields / by R.B., D.D., rector of the said church, on Sunday the 14th of March, MDCLXIX.	R. B. (Robert Boreman), d. 1675.	1669 (1669)	Wing B3758; ESTC R11208	27,802	56

of Sir Thomas Leigh of Stoneley in Warwick-shire Knight and Baronet so Her Mother was Katharina a most Virtuous Lady Daughter to Sir John Spencer of Worme Leighton Knight and great Grandfather to the Right Honourable now Earl of Sunderland c. The foresaid Sir Thomas had by His Lady Katharina Issue John Leigh Knight who was the Father of the Lord Leigh Baron of Stoneley now living in the County of Warwick Philip. 3.20 Our Conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ THERE is in Love so strange a piece of of Magick as to transform a man into the object of it and to translate the Soul into a place far remote from the body of the affectionate Lover S. Paul whose Soul was fired with a burning flame of Seraphick love was of this Divine and Holy Temper after his vision when he was rap'd up into the third Heaven where he heard and saw 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 words and things which were inexpressible and doubtless beheld the glorious face of our Lord Christ Jesus the beauty of Heaven and the mirrour of Angels ever after he was yet with submission to God's will whether for life or death weary of the world which he look'd upon as a Shop of vanities a Sink of uncleanness and a Dungeon of miseries and by an holy transmigration of Spirit converst daily hourly with his God in Heaven and knowing that the only way or means to arrive at that place of Bliss that Mansion of pure delights and sublimate Joys is to follow Christ to imitate H m whose life is the most perfect Idea of all virtues the most exact rule of Holy Living he therefore in his Epistle to the Ephes 5.1 Exhorts them and with them us in these words Be ye followers of God as dear Children again 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ S. Paul who press'd this duty to the Ephesians and Corinthians did know full well the nature of man whom an Apish and Fond imitation turns into the nature of beasts so it may be said of some men as it is Psal 49. the last verse They being in honour i. e. endu'd with reason wherewith they are honour'd by God above other Creatures for want of a right use of it to a discreet ordering of their lives may be compared to the beasts that perish When men do follow the bad examples of others and walk in crooked and by-paths which tend to destruction they may be compared to the silly sheep who will follow their leaders even into deep waters and down steep Praecipicies Non quà eundum sed quà itur Senec. Not minding where they should but where the others go There have been and are those who did and do count a defect or deformity a piece of graceful honour if by it they may be like their Superior Thus a wry neck in Nero's court was the Mode and esteem'd a piece of Gallantry as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to lisp in Julians and to limp in anothers because these defects were beheld in those Emperors But we Christians ought to be wise and prudent in our Imitations and by setting before our eyes the choicest patterns of goodness we should endeavour to heighten and advance our Souls to an evenness in Grace and virtue with the best Presidents amongst God's Saints To this end i. e. to raise their Souls to an high degree of Perfection S. Paul vers 17. of this Chap. exhorts the Philippians to propose him for a pattern to walk by Brethren be ye followers of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example To which exhortation he subjoyns a reason in the words of my Text. For our conversation is in Heaven c. The first word Conversation is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the which admitting of divers Interpretations has caused a Variety of Constructions amongst Expositors They who with Tertullian and S. Hierome translate the same by Municipium which is the State or Condition of those who dwelling out of a City in some remote place or Country have yet the Priviledges of the same they being enfranchised belonging to them upon this account or for this reason they take this to be the meaning of the Words That although we be strangers and sojourners here on Earth however we are Municipes Freemen or Free-denyzens of Heaven and have the priviledge to be call'd and own'd by God as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Fellow-citizens of the Saints Ephes 2.17 With whom we shall at the great day of the world's Assizes Raign for ever in Heaven and partake of their Happiness But the word being of a larger acception or signication for that by it is understood many times in the Greek Fathers as Chrysostome Basil and others vitae ratio institutum a trade or manner of living which is agreeable Likewise to the Syriack Translation we may with Beza read the words thus Nos ut coelorum cives nosmet gerimus we behave our selves as Citizens of Heaven And this Paraphrastical gloss suits with that of Grotius who says that this clause Our conversation c. must borrow light for it's sense or meaning from the preceding words v. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who mind earthly things to which is oppos'd that which follows in my Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But our Conversation is in Heaven c. The words thus explain'd In them and those that follow are wrapt up these two General parts First Here is the Apostles protestation of his holiness in these words Our conversation is in Heaven c. Secondly His and all good Christians joyful hope or expectation From whence we expect the Lord Jesus Christ First For the Protestor S. Paul and his Protestation I remember that S. Chrysostome making mention of him says that he had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a large Soul a Soul as large as Heaven for that it was not shut up nor Imprison'd as the worldly mans is in his body nor chain'd in fetters of Earthly cares but dilated as ours should be in his love of Souls and spread in its ardent desires of Heaven or future happiness after which he panted as appears by his Cupio dissolvi Philip. 1.23 I desire to be dissolv'd and to be with Christ Thus his conversation or rather heart was in Heaven And this his Protestation in the Text of his Heavenly-mindedness did not proceed from Pride or a vain-glorious Ostentantion but only from an holy and earnest desire to draw our Souls upward by his Example to God that made them whilst we follow him in our practice by a Godly Imitation of his Virtues In the second Epistle to Tim. 3.10 The Apostle thus bespeaks him Thou hast fully known my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience to which we may add his Sobriety and Temperance of which we have a record 1 Cor. 9.27 As also his

the Mother of five gracious Daughters Alice Douglasse Frances wife of Sir Gilbert Kniueton Knight Anne wife of Sir Robert Holburne Late of Lincolnes Inne all these Deceased And Katherine the onely surviving Picture in Piety and goodness of her Lady Mother and Widow of Sir Richard Leveson Knight of the Bath The Town of Stonely in which our Illustrious Dutchess was born has more reason to glory in that She breath'd her first breath in it than the seven Cities had in Homer the Prince of Poets who by all of them was challenged all laying a claim or Title to his birth in them But as her Ladiships being born in the foresaid Stoneley will not add any inward virtue though it may an outward luster to it so Her being descended from and related to an Ancient Noble Family is the slenderest part or piece of her Character and Glory That she was born of God by Spiritual Regeneration and so His Daughter by Adoption and a Sister of Christ by love and likeness of Him this is her Chiefest glory the highest degree of her commendation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So said S. Chrysostome in a Panegyrical Oration The principal thing to be look'd at and commended in recounting a Genealogy is the Virtue of a man or woman If we consider the whole Series or course of her life we shall have a just occasion to say that in her person and by her actions she gave a stop or check in a way of answer to that doubtful Question of Solomon Prov. 31.10 Who can find a Virtuous Woman who can without God's special blessing obtained by Prayer unto Him and without God's Divine appointment and Ordination This sure was the wisemans meaning But to return to my purpose from this short digression The precious balme of Grace that was powred by God's blessed Spirit into the Soul of our Renowned Dutchess at her Baptism or in her Infancy being strengthned with the addition of a godly Education brake forth in such a sweet perfume even from her Childhood to Her riper years that she was look'd upon as an Earthly Saint an Angel clothed in Flesh a lawful Image of Her Maker and Redeemer a model of Heaven made up in Clay the living Temple of the Holy Ghost This was evidenced by these ensuing Graces First By Her Extraordinary Piety or Religion Her behaviour towards God was rare and admirable for being instructed in and perswaded of the truth of that Religion which we profess as distinct from that false one of the Church of Rome and being firmly grounded in those Fundamentals and saving Truths which our Religion teaches us viz. That God alone is to be prayed unto and worshipped not Saints nor Angels That by Christ only we can be saved by his merits and Gods mercy not by our own works she accordingly upon these grounds served God night and day as that good old Prophetess Anna did Luke 2.37 with fastings and prayers especially during the time of her Virgin-widowhood she was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 5.5 a widow indeed such as was that famous Paula and Marcella by S. Hierome in his Epistles so highly magnified She well knew that though second marriage is no sin yet as one says Iteratò nubere est signum Incontinentiae c. She therefore to preserve in her fame the honour and in her soul and body the joy and sweet content of Continency refused to marry declaring thereby that though many great persons wanted her or rather as the fashion of the world is her money yet she had no need of any to be joyn'd with her in a conjugal society An enlargement of her Estate she never designed nor desir'd by the addition of a Joynture but moving in the Sphear of her own fortune and contenting her self with the portion God had given her she clave close to God and was joyn'd to Him by Faith and Affiance and so she was espoused to God and the Lord of Heaven married to her being her Husband as he professes himself to have been to Israel Jer. 31.32 in regard of his Love Care and Providence to her Religious Person who spent as much time or more in reading of God's word and other godly books the extracts of it as others do in their Glasses by which they correct the defaults in their dresses and blemishes in their faces not regarding in the mean while the blots and spots the defilements and stains of sin that disfigure the native beauty of their Souls which are usually left naked and for want of prayer to God divested of Grace but clothed with the black mantle of Lascivious and Unclean thoughts Our pious Dutchess took into her prime care her righteous soul the spouse of God by Prayer and Meditation with which a soul is winged she sent it up in a flight to Heaven every morning and thus conversing with God in the mount of Devotion it return'd again into her bosome as Moses did from the Mount with it's face shining and lightsome with joy and inward Consolation The more familiar conference we have with God in prayer the more do we partake of him He that passes by the fire may have some gleams of heat but he that stands by it will have his Colour changed It is not possible a man should have any long conference with God in Prayer and Meditation but that his heart shine with inward illumination and being enflamed with the love of God partake of some Divine Inspiration And thus she acquainting her self daily and conversing with God in her Closet or Private and more publike family devotions which she never omitted was wonderfully beautified and strengthned in her soul by Grace which had taken up it's lodging in her and displayed it self outwardly in five special Saint-like Qualities which made her conversation amiable pleasant and Venerable to all her Equals and Inferiors The first was a winning and obliging way or disposition that sweetly scatters favours by this being a desire of doing good to all even to our very enemies we attract friendships and make friends even of those that hate us Thus did that good Dutchess The second is Affability this was eminently in her joyn'd with a becoming Grace and sweet behaviour and hath in it a power to charm Souls that are in any the least way or degree inclined to Honesty and Civility She was Courteous to all even the meanest person who might find her ear open to any just Request or Modest Petition When she bestowed any favour or gave an Alms She gave it cheerfully without grudging or any the least repining so the loaf which she gave was not Panis Lapidosus as Seneca speaks but pure and fine Manchet without any mixture of Gravel An Alms given with hard Language reproach or an harsh exprobration is gravel-bread and at once loses both it's thanks and commendation The third Prudence a gracious Quality of the Soul which is ever joyn'd with Wisdom as it 's inseparable Companion as appears by

Eph. 1.8 According to the riches of his Grace wherein he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence So Prov. 8.12 I Wisdom dwell with Prudence Here too they are mated they cannot be severed The property of Wisdom is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to propound to it self a right or good end as it is the Office of Prudence which derives it's name from Providence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to advise of and devise proper and fit means suitable to that end To be happy hereafter in Heaven and to live honourably with repute here on Earth should be our main end Faith in Christ attended with good works is the way to attain the former Justice and Honesty to man is the means to acquire the other This virtue this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was most eminent in our Renowned Dutchess she made it her whole business her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to get a place in Heaven where she now sits and raigns and by well-doing to leave a good name behind her being dead that the transplendent light of her beneficence shining amongst men and they beholding her good works might glorifie her Father which is in Heaven Matt. 5.16 Her Prudence likewise was seen in this that she had a great command over her Tongue and Passions she knew that as Th. de Kempis says well lib. 1. c. 20. It was an easier thing to be silent then not to offend in speech or multitude of words she therefore seldom spake but to the benefit of the Hearer Grieve she did at the miscarriages of men whereby God was dishonoured and for publike calamities when the Church was afflicted but this sorrow was allayed with Religion it never exceeded Thus also her Anger was tempered with Meekness so that if at any time her blood boiled up in her tender heart out of a dislike of any thing that did offend her it never ran over the brim of Reason or bounds of Moderation Her ears were ever open to the complaints of the poor but shut against all calumny and Detraction Her Eyes ever open too looking up to Heaven as the eyes of Servants look unto the hands of their masters Psal 123.2 but shut against Objects dress'd up with vanity through these casements they could not enter into her capacious Soul the receptacle onely of chaste thoughts decked with Purity of good Intentions Her mouth had a watch set upon it which then opened when she was to give rules of Instruction and Orders for direction to her well-ordered Religious Family or when she fell into discourse of Religion and of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things above heavenly things which she ever used to do whensoever I was admitted into her blessed Private Society In a word which is another high degree of Prudence and that which the Philosopher terms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perspicacitas she could quickly and warily discern the dispositions capacities manners humours affections and aims of those with whom she did converse and accordingly did suit her carriage to every mans temper without flattery which was far from and beneath her She was a magazen of experience the fruit or benefit of Old Age and the proxime cause of Prudence Her vast Memory which was strong and vigorous to admiration was the Storehouse and Treasury of Observations and Knowledge of Occurrences for many scores of years so that I often have said what I truly found by her rare discourses that she was a Living Chronicle bound up with the thread of a long-spund Age the which being cut asunder by the hand of Death we are thereby deprived of a great Jewel and comfortable benefit In divers accidents and things relating to our Parish I oft appeal'd to her stupendious Memory as an ancient Record and as that was admirable so what the Son of Sirach says of Judas Maccabeus Eccl. 93.7 Her memorial is and shall be blessed for ever Who in the fourth and fifth place was admired and highly honoured for her Humility and Patience The former of these is a Vertue which is the Cognisance of a Saint and the true Badge of a Christian it is the first Lesson which is to be Learn'd in the School of Christ who is Magister humilitatis so styled oft by S. Aug. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly c. Matt. 11.29 The Doctrinal saying of this great Master of Humilty It is grounded upon an high apprehension of the Majesty and Greatness of Almighty God together with a low estimation a man hath of himself in regard of his many weaknesses and sinful Infirmities These being ever proposed to the eye of Her Conscience and looking upon all the good things She had her Gifts and Graces as God's Donatives who can and will if we be proud of them to a contempt of others take them from us She therefore ever payed to God the Tribute of thankfulness for them bowing Her Soul to God by an humble submission to His Will and to the just commands of her Superiours being likewise assured of this that if she had more riches others might have more Grace and if she exceeded them in one or more gifts they might excel in others Hence did spring and arise Her meekness and Humility a Grace which renders a man amiable in the sight of God who dwels as the Prophet Isaiah speaks chap. 57.11 in an humble heart it being the Chief Mansion or Manour-House of the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys There is nothing more acceptable and pleasing to God than for a man to degrade himself in his humble thoughts and to rank himself among the lowest even then when he is in a place of Dignity or Eminence Such a one is God's delight his special Favorite So was the good Dutch●ss who reflecting in her Religious thoughts upon her frail composition as being what Abraham stiled himself Gen. 18. and what the greatest are but Dust in regard of her beginning and Ashes in respect of her end and knowing that as the forenamed de Kempis says of man in General that she was 〈…〉 Culpable in many things prone by nature to evil and unable of her self to stand and persist in that which is good This knowledge of her self beat down Pride and set up a throne for Humility in her heart which displayed it self by her delighting to be concealed by her private retirement yet shining in goodness though unseen like those stars called Sporades in the Galaxie or milk-way in the firmament It likewise discover'd it self First By taking no content or delight in the praise of men when it was offered Secondly By her contentation in every estate and condition every mutation or change of fortune conceiving that what good she enjoyed was more and what evil she sustain'd was less than she deserved This Grace of Humility in Her was the parent of Pa●ience a cheerful bearing of affliction without murmuring or repining at God's dispensations or providence 〈…〉 He that thinks or believes he