Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	glory_n	let_v	6,078	5	4.5887	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66341	The advancement of Christs interests the governing end of a Christians life a second sermon preached before the Right Honourable Sir John Shorter, Knight, Lord Mayor of the city of London at Grocers-Hall, January the 9th, 1687/8 / by Daniel Williams.	Williams, Daniel, 1643?-1716.	1688 (1688)	Wing W2644; ESTC R13642	27,450	42

of Jesus was the Design of this plain Discourse and is the Prayer of Your Lordships most humble Servant Daniel Williams A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir JOHN SHORTER Kt. c. PHILIPPIANS Chap. I. ver 21. For to me to live is Christ. THE Apostle was in a happy Strait from his Fitness to live and Readiness to dye He knew not well how to fix his Choice because both Life and Death had a desireable Tendency There was Service to Christ by his Life and great Happiness to himself by Death Affection to Christ swayed his Inclinations both ways he loved Christ and therefore must desire death that he might fully enjoy him he loved Christ and so might incline to a longer life that he might more advance his Interest Rational Self-love would move to the Former yet Regard to Jesus and his Members overswayes him to the Latter He is content to expect the Crown rather than quit his Work And tho Heaven was the better State in it self and happier for him he prefers his stay on Earth as better for the Church which could not bear his Absence A wonderful Instance of a Publick Spirit how enlarged is this Soul that was assured of Glory in Heaven and of very sore Tryals on Earth and would yet tug longer at the Oar for Publick Good rather than be at Rest The great Purposes he resolved to live to are manifest from his Contentment with the Delays of Glory Had sensual Enjoyments and trivial Employs been the Advantage proposed by a longer Life how impatiently must he have endured a Moments Absence from Heaven He that knew Death could not lay his Soul asleep but that it immediately passed into a State of the highest Activity and Receptiveness yea and would be admitted to a near Converse with Christ and other glorious Objects which must fully employ these active Powers of the Soul and fill it with Good to the utmost of its Capacity to receive Could he I say desire an Abode on Earth to relish carnal or animal Delights which with him is a being dead while one liveth By no means But my Text represents to us the Design and Tendency of the Apostle Paul's Life To me to live is Christ. I know there are many things to be inferred from the Words besides what I think is their principal Scope As 1. Christ is a Believers Happiness while he liveth q. d. Life were worse than Death were not Christ known and enjoyed by me in this Life 2. A Christian's Life is a meer dependance on and a manifest discovery of the Power and Grace of Christ. Emanations of his Power supports it and his Grace is displayed in our Lives when useful to any valuable purposes or employed in any momentous Actions But I pass by these to the Chief Design of the Text which may be expressed under two Heads 1. An entire dedication of Paul's Life to Christ exclusively of any Carnal Designs of his own As if he should have said I devote my Life to the Glory of Christ I propose the Advancement of his Interests my Design is to be Instrumental in his Work and the propagation of his Concernments There is no base selfish Turn of my own intended nor shall my life waste in idle Uselesness I will be active and that for him to the last Moment and the utmost of my Abilities This my Judgment dictates as my Duty to this I am devoted and on this only I am intent II. A perswasion that Christ had been and still would be advanced by his Life and Labours This he expresseth in v. 20. As my expectation and hope that Christ shall be magnified in my Body whether by Life or by Death q. d. I have by his Grace promoted his Interest I fear not but the same Aids and Blessing will still concur to the like serviceableness and so the Issue of my living will be his Gain This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in v. 22. It 's no secular Interest of my own is like to be advanced The building of my House or erecting Trophies to my Name I expect not Nay I am sure Poverty Contempt and Hardships in those respects will attend me but Christ in his Gospel-Interests will be contributed to and he will over-rule my Sufferings and Labours to his own Advancement The Text may also include an Hint at the Reason of this Confidence as to this decribed Success it being introduced under such a respect For to me to live is Christ. Sincere devotedness to Christ is ordinarily successful and upright Designs duly managed prove not Abortive When the best Endowments of a man indisposed to the service of Christ produce not equal Fruits to the lower Gifts of a Soul engaged for his concerns The first of these will be the Subject of my Discourse viz. The Dedication of the Life to Christ. This was no Duty peculiar to the Apostolical Office and tho it 's predicated of St. Paul in his own Person yet he affords us an Example which binds our Imitation Yea it is the fundamental Duty resulting from our Baptismal Vow included in all our Christian Profession and supposed in all acceptable Service So that the Obligation is universal it 's the Duty of all here even of such who least regard it yea live in greatest repugnancy to it By living to Christ must be meant living to the promoting and defence of the Interests of Christ in this World. This his designed Endeavour had a respect to and to this he devoteth his Life That is all the opportunities for acting which Life includes all the Abilities which Life imports and all the good things he possessed which are comprehended in the word Life as being less valuable than life is Even all these he designed to lay out for the Interests of the Blessed Jesus He valued living for no meaner uses and determined to live to no lower purpose When the advancement of Christ's Interests governeth our Time and Abilities then to live is Christ. For herein is our living to him within our reach by this it is expressed and the evidencing thereof in this instance is what he hath appointed and still expecteth from all his Members and Servants I need say no more to introduce the Doctrine I purpose to insist on which is this Doct. It is the duty of all Christians to dedicate and employ their lives to the advancement of the Interests of Christ in the World. It 's not sufficient to be religious in Contemplation or mental Acts our Lord expecteth and real Piety enclineth to a vigorous activity in our holy Profession He will be served by his Members as they expect to be saved by him They must imitate him in his Communicative Goodness and express their resentments of his Grace to them by these powerful acknowledgments They must not grudg his Service tho he redeem them freely they shall sacrifice all to him and while he is managing our Interest in Heaven as Intercessor he

to the uttermost by forbidding the Ministers of Christ to preach his Gospel How must you wail when he shall at his Appearance convince you that you have pierced him in your evil Treatment of those Men and Things which he will then own to be his Interests In pity to your Souls consider Is this you have done suitable to your Baptismal Vow Doth your Profession of Christianity oblige you to do nothing for Christ and his Cause except venting your Scoff and Rage against things wherein his Interest seemeth most concerned The Lord fasten these things on your Hearts and force you to a Repentance as notorious as your Scandal I speak not these things as if Repentance were confined to you we have all need of it And if God intend good for us he will encline all sorts to it according to our respective Guilt But yours is most notorious and God seems by his present Dealings to point more directly at it Having said what I think my self engaged to suggest to profane and persecuting Ones I must solemnly warn you against all censorious Thoughts and evil Speeches against any godly Ministers or People of the Church of England their Differences with us will not justify uncharitable Surmises nor reproachful Language against them All good Men aim at one thing even to serve Christ tho they do not agree always in the Means God serves himself by the different Sentiments of his People and hath his own Methods to convince and cement them greater Union is reserved for that new Jerusalem that will descend out of Heaven from God that beareth the Form of a Cube i'ts of one measure and there carnal Interests will not divide 2. Exh. Let all real Christians live more entirely to the Service of Christ and his Interests You may be humbled that you have done no more for him and that your unusefulness to his Concerns is imputable to your remiss Temper more than want of Talents How many of your Gifts were never employed to advance Truth His Members have been in straits and his Gospel languishing when your Riches were hoarded up Many neglected opportunities of Se●vice must reproach you when the Frame of your Hearts bespeak them tender Many have been your industrious Contrivances wherein Christ hath had the least if any share Oh! Be awakened this Day to strong Resolves that hereafter to you to live shall be Christ yea only Christ and all other Interests subordinated to his Let all you have be laid anew on his Altar Get your Hearts lifted up in the ways of the Lord and be wholly for him whatever Choice shall be made by others Satans Instruments are industrious unwearied and prodigal in his Service Christ hath but few engaged in his behalf and shall the declinings of his Interests lye at your door I shall annex some Directions and Motives Dir. 1. Exercise your selves in the advancement of the Interests of Christ in your own Souls If Christ Reign wholly in us he will Reign greatly by us Grow up into Christ in all things till you are filled with all the fulness of God and your capacity and readiness for his advancement will be enlarged Be more acquainted with him and you will judge him worth your Service and highly value all that 's his Flaming Grace will contrive much What can I serve Christ in and freely consecrate all to him Whereas our backwardness is an infallible sign that his Life is feeble in us In a word He that neglects Christ in himself will be little fit for or concerned in the advancement of Christ in the World nor indeed be blessed with much Success in his Attempts for it 2. Dir. See that your Aims be sincere in all which you seem to serve Christ by Low or bad Purposes spoil good Works God trieth the Heart in our best Services and loveth Uprightness Good Sermons were spoiled by Envy and charitable Deeds by Ostentation It 's unhappy when our Hearts have not higher Aims for Christ than our Hands at best can accomplish but it 's wicked when what we seem to offer to Christ is a Sacrifice to our Idols 3. Dir. Chearfully dedicate all you have to the Concernments of Christ. It 's a cursed Wedg which is reserved from this Dedication whether it be Estate Relation Gifts or Life What Ananias spared spoiled the acceptance of the Part he offered tho it be not always necessary all should be parted with yet it is necessary that nothing be unemployed when Fidelity to Christ calls for it and it ceaseth to be yours when it cannot be kept without treachery to his Interests As all must be dedicated so it must be chearfully laid out as what is fit and best None but free-will Offerings and a chearful Giver are lovely in Gods account It 's left on Record as the Praise of some They took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods Indeed the hardest thought in our greatest Toils and Expence for Christ should be blessed be God that I have any thing to express my Love and Zeal for Christ by 4. Dir. Be always solicitous to know what the Interests of Christ be which you should at present serve especially if there be Doubts concerning them The Gospel is an infallible Rule in general Providence and the Series of Prophesies may contribute to your direction under the guidance of that higher Rule Undoubted Duties must always be done in their season undoubted Truths must never be denied yea must always be professed if some damage to the Interests of Christ do not attend it beyond what our Profession of that Truth at that time will countervail doubtful Sins must never be committed undoubted Sins must be discouraged in our place Present Good which is less may not be bought by the certain loss of a greater Good at some distance nor at the expence of a greater Evil in sure Prospect The more material Interests of Christ must not be sacrificed to them less considerable nor undoubted to doubtful I can but glance at these You ought to be assured in every thing you engage in as for Christ that it be his Concern and your Work yea your present Duty which a greater is not excluded by Assurance in this will command your Engaging for it and encourage under all Difficulties in it Mistakes herein cause great Disorders kindle a fiery Zeal which is oft fatal to the Concerns of Christ And whatever we do to advance these mistaken Interests are Offerings to a Lust and unprofitable to our selves It would amaze one to see the heat of some in supporting Errors opposing Truth destroying Peace and propagating a weak Notion to the hazard of the most considerable Interests of Christ. But yet our indifferency is Carnal when Christ seemeth by his Providence by Satans violent Assault or by the great Influence of a Truth at that time to call us to engage strongly in it tho it appears at other times less momentous To say no more search well

what will be most for Christs Glory 5. Dir. Mortify those Lusts which most hinder and improve in those Graces which most forward your living entirely to Christ. Mens Lusts are their greatest obstacles to Service and it 's impossible to advance Christ considerably if improved Graces afford not willingness and strength Therefore trample on your Pride which will disdain low Service and fret at any Contempt which attends your Labours But be more Humble and you 'll agree to be any thing so Christ may be all Be more free from Covetousness which grudgeth all expence and loss for Christ selleth Truth to get or save a little Dross But get more heavenly Mindedness which disdains Earth so it may but get more Treasure in Heaven Cast away that slavish Fear which betrays Conscience to a mortals Threatning But be more endued with holy Courage which will dare to be zealous for Christ in the very Face of Danger Silence Unbelief that still suggests Difficulties but hides from you both supplies of Strength and the promised Rewards Whereas more Faith will still enlarge your Service in the view of sufficient Aids and an eternal Crown Above all trample on Selfishness which most devoureth our Talents Whereas a publick Spirit and superlative Love to Christ would constrain your Consecration of all to him as one well deserving of it 6. Dir. I might add that you ought to manage all your designed Service as may be most conducive to the advancement of these Interests of Christ. Great Prudence is necessary to give an advantage to all our Undertakings that the Success we aim at be not prevented But I have no more time than to conclude all with a few Motives to this Duty 1. Mot. It 's the Interest of Christ I am persuading you to dedicate your Lives to It 's that Christ who hath so amazingly denied himself for you to whom you owe so much from whom you have received and still expect such great things Can you behold any thing as his Concernment and not be enflamed with Zeal Oh! What Honour is it to serve him Being his Interests they must needs deserve our Regard and command our Industry This glorious One would not stake his Glory and set his Heart on Trifles And who but the unbelieving and ungrateful can grudge him any thing Methinks a Reflection on any thing as his Concern would inspire with all that can envigorate our Attempts 2. Mot. It 's but our Lives at most which are to be dedicated to him They are short and so it 's but a little while and the Hardship is over They are but poor and mean things to be an Offering so acceptable to him Alas How inconsiderable is all we can do or suffer that they should reflect any Glory on him who fills the Heavens and is now by us raising a Monument which will be admired for ever Who would not strive to contribute most to his blessed Designs How can our little Matters be laid out to so great Purposes 3. Met. In serving the Interests of Christ we do in the best manner serve our own What we do for him he doth not need but if we refuse it we are undone We must shortly reckon for all Talents And how uncomfortable will the Account be when little can be reckoned as placed to Christs Account But there is Gain by the most costly Service and Profit by the worst of Hardships The Advantage is more than an hundred fold if you live to him you shall ever live with him a share in his Glory will be yours if you partake in his Concerns If any Man serve me him will my Father honour How wisely is our All laid out when it will yield such great Returns Look upward and see what Mansions Christ is preparing for you whiles you are labouring and laying out your selves for him And he is like to receive the most illustrious Crown who yields the greatest Service Surely you are injurious to your selves in sparing any Seed now when you have Christs word for so vast an Increase He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly but he that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully Oh! into what a State will you soon pass from an useful Life To die will be Gain if to you to live be Christ. In Eternity you will find all your Endeavors carefully Recorded and abundantly Rewarded Must not you say from this moment Whatever I can do and all that I Possess shall be devoted to Him and his Interests Engage then in his Service you have Angels and all Saints sharers with you in the undertaking and Christ at the Head of this Royal Company They are Interests will stand tho you refuse to assist they do still advance tho invisibly to us If you dedicate not your Lives to the Concernments of Christ you must lay them out for the Devil one of them is served at all times and by all Persons Faithful Service will give a great Testimony to the Lord Jesus and yield wonderful advantage to such under your Influence whose Good you are enclined to endeavour You will prejudice no Interest by this but the Interests of the Devil which commenced and grow still on the manifest Ruins of Mankind And ought you not to oppose him to whose Usurpation are owing all the Disorders and Calamities in the World which Evils are redressed to the Degree of the Advancement of the Interests of Christ and no further Can you after all this refuse to bemoan the World where so many opposite Interests are set up against Christ and pity Sinnes who so blindly resist and impatiently bear the merciful and just Attempts of the Lord Jesus Must not every Soul Eccho to the Apostle in my Text Now to me to live is Christ The whole Discourse is so applicable to your Lordship and Brethren that I need no more than intreat yea charge you to Act in your Places as Men to whom to live is Christ. Let not any opportunity for Service to him bring your Souls under the Guilt of Negligence nor yield Christ matter to upbraid you with A Trust is in your Hands see that the Ends of God be faithfully answered Consider that place Thou hast given a Banner to them that fear thee that it may be displayed because of the Truth Resolve then in your Station that if Christ gain not by our Power our Consciences shall not reproach us with refusing to dedicate all our Abilities to him whose Glory we chiefly aimed at and to whose Interest we are fully devoted FINIS p. 18. p. 22. p. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 6. Gal. 2. 20. Eccl. 7. 29. Gen 1. 27. Eph. 2. 2. 1 Thess. 2. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Mar. 8. 33. 2 Cor. 11. 14. Rev. 12. 3 15. 2 Pet. 1. 12. Rev. 13. 3 11 12 13 14. 2 Cor. 4. 4. 2 Thess. 2. 8 11. 1 Cor. 1. 23. Acts 3. 50. Acts 24. 5. Amos 7. 10. Phil. 3. 3. Col. 3. 23. 24. Luk. 21. 2. Mal. 3. 16. 1. Sam. 3. 13. Mal. 1. 8 14. Hag. 2. 4. Zech. 8. 13. 1 Cor. 3. 7. Is. 49. 4. Rom. 6. 23. Luke 17. 10. 1 John 3. 8. Rom. 14. 9. John 10. 15. Eph. 4. 13. Is 62. 2. Rom. 12. 1. Acts 20. 24. Rom. 12. 11. Phil 1. 27. Heb. 11. 25 26. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Jer. 22. 28. 1 Thes. 2. 19. 1 Chron. 29. 14. Rev. 21. 26. Reason 1. Mar. 23. 37. Deut. 10. 20. Psal. 16. 2. Mat. 25. 40 45. R. 2. Eccl. 6. 2. Luk. 16. 2. Pro. 16. 4. Heb. 1. 14. Act. 27. 2. 1 Chron. 29. 14 16. Mat. 25. 27. Job 13. 7. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Ex. 13. 15. ch 13. 15. v. 19. Rev. 14. 4. Joh. 12. 26. Col. 4. 23. 1 Cor. 9. 21. Mat. 28. 19. Ez. 20. 37. Luke 9. 23. Ps. 80. 17. Gen. 18. 19. Phil. 1. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Isa. 43. 21. Heb. 10. 23 25. Joh. 16. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 7. 8. Luke 13. 3. Act. 9. 4. Jud. v. 15. 1 Thess. 2. 16. Rev. 21. 10. 16. 2 Cron. 17. 6. Eph. 4. 15. ch 3. 19. 1 Cron. 29. 17. Phil. 1. 15. Mat. 6. 2. Act. 5. 3. 2 Cor. 9. 7. Heb. 10. 34. Rom. 10. 2. Dan. 3. 13. 2 Tim. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 18. 3 Cor. 5. 13. 14. Mat. 19. 29. Joha 12. 25. 26. 2 Cor. 9. 6. E● 4. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 25. 28. Ps. 60. 4.