Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	father_n	jesus_n	son_n	9,570	5	5.0764	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56307	A serious exhortation to an holy life, or conversation With a clear discovery of the nature of it, what it is. The means of attaining it. The trials of it, how it may be known. The motives, or inducements to it. Or, a profitable companion for conversion. Confirmation. Illumination. Consolation. By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1663 (1663)	Wing P4240; ESTC R222001	22,777	109

many promises in whom his heart delighted If he had been to part with him by a naturall death in an ordinary way the tryal had not been so great but he was to part with him as a Sacrifice wherein he was to be cut in pieces c. But yet had some other man been the Executioner of his Childe it had been something but Abraham himself must do this thing Now consider how can we be the Children of Abraham except we walk in his steps he trusted upon God although he had but his bare word for it and gave God his own time to make good his own promise and he was ready to part with the dearest thing for God at the first word and he believed in Hope against hope O! that thou and I could do the same One would think that the Love of Christ the Promises of Christ the Presence of Christ the Example of Christ and the Recompence of Reward held forth by Christ should make us hold on and hold out but if great Love great Mercy great Forbearance great Entreaties great Wages will not prevail with us to forsake our Sins and lead an Holy Life Oh! Lord what will become of us for without holiness no man shall ever see the Lord c. The second place of Scripture is Psal 63. 1 2. Oh God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Here you have desire upon desire you have the very flower and vigour of his Spirit the strength and sinews of his Soul the prime and top of his inflamed affections all strongly working after a fuller enjoyment of God and a greater measure of conformity to him in a Holy Life and Conversation Now Obedience Sanctification or an Holy Conversation is necessary 1. In respect of God 2. In respect of our selves 3. In respect of others 1. It is necessary in respect of God To manifest our Loyalty and Subjection to our Dread Sovereign and Sacred Majesty the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Rom. 6. 16. His servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto life see John 8. 34. compared with 2 Pet. 2. 19. It is necessary to glorifie his name Matth. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven see 1 Pet. 2. 12. compared with 1 Thes 2. 12. To testifie our thankfulness to God in appointing his Son our Lord Jesus Christ to descend as low as Hell to fetch us from thence and to ascend up as high as Heaven to carry us thither In a word whatsoever we have we have received from him whatsoever we are or have we owe to him so that we may say as Paul Rom. 11. 36. Of him and through him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Good works or an holy conversation is necessary to beautifie the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. Let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Christ so 2 Cor. 9. 13. So much for the first of these good works are necessary in respect of God to shew our obedience to glorifie his Name to testifie our thankfulness and to beautifie his Gospel c. 2. Good Works are necessary in respect of our selves As they are pipes of conveyance of both the apprehension and application of mercy Psalm 50. 23. To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God see Psalm 107. 43. compared with 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. An holy Conversation is a sweet demonstration of our sincerity and reality our Saviour saith a Tree is known by its fruits so we may know where Faith is by its works and where Love is by its effects 1 John 1. 6. If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth They are necessary as to our being and well-being Psalm 37. 3. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Mat. 16. 27. He will reward every man according to his works This is the way to make our calling and our election sure 2 Pet. 1. 5. to the 11. verse for if you do these things you shall never fall for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 3. Good works or an holy Conversation is necessary in respect of others Tit. 3. 8. They that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works for these things are good and profitable to men and that in this four-fold respect To stop the mouths of wicked men 1 Pet. 2. 17. For this is the will of God that with well-doing they may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men This made wicked Saul say to David 1 Sam. 24. 17. Thou art more righteous then I for thou hast rewarded good for evil To encrease the joy of the Lords people we read in the second Epistle of John v. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth It is a great encouragement to one Christian to see the forwardness of another in the wayes of well-doing see Col. 2. 5. To win others to the embracing of the Gospel and to an Holy Life and Conversation 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. That they may be won whilst they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear c. most sure it is that a a man doth teach by his Conversation as well as by his Doctrine It is good to others for an example of holiness John 13. 15. I have done this good work to leave you an example said our Lord Christ see 1 Thes 1. 7. So that ye were examples to all that believe Many have been convinced by example to lead an holy Life that would not by precept By all which we may see that an holy Life is necessary in respect of God our selves and others Oh! that thou that readest these Lines and I that write them might in good earnest set about this work that it might go well with us and our Children Deut. 5. 29. for this is the way to have the Lords blessing upon us in all that we set our hands unto Psalm 1. 3. In this the Children of God are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Ch●ist gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Therefore Be ye holy saith the ●ext as I am holy for without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12. 14. We shall come now having gone thus far to give you the summe of all with some farther addition and confirmations to the point in hand and enquire into these

A Serious EXHORTATION To an HOLY LIFE OR Conversation With a clear Discovery Of The Nature of it what it is The Means of attaining it The Trials of it how it may be known The Motives or Inducements to it OR A profitable Companion For Conversion Illumination Confirmation Consolation By Robert Purnell LONDON Printed for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Brittain 1663. An Epistle To the READER Reader COnsider there are many wayes to Damnation and but one way to Salvation and that is strait and the gate narrow so that although the runners are many the obtainers are few Now that we may so run that we may obtain is my desire and endeavour in this little Piece for there is a way if we could light on it which I have pointed at how to possesse what we want how to live long in a little time and to have one Foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the Earth This small piece is the Birth of many Prayers and the sum and substance of many sweet Converses and Meditations and the Judgement of most precious Christians so that this Book is of great Worth though but of small Price The best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withal in compiling the ensuing Treatise are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament so that here is no loose corns to blow off nor mis-spent words that I know of I did lately meet with a small piece about this bigness having the same Title Page upon the matter with this written by one Mr. Thomas Wadsworth sometimes Preacher at Newington near London in which Piece there are many choice things but I finding it lame or short as to the beginning carrying on and finishing the work of a Holy Conversation and finding the necessity of such a Piece in these loose Times wherein the Lords Day is profan'd his Ordinances slighted or adulterated his People despised c. I have made bold to put Pen to Paper and so to compose the ensuing Work which is neither deficient in necessaries nor abundant in superfluities Thou shalt finde it for Order Methodical for Matter Spiritual for Brevity Compendious for Use Precious c. Consider the Truth is the same in all Ages only it shines more and more clear from Age to Age until that which is perfect is come the Truth held forth is the same though with more of God and less of Man such addition is no innovation but illustration not a new light but new sight A man may not be said to make a new World when he makes a new discovery of the old My Friends labour to keep close to God in this loose Age spend not your precious time in complaining on others as most do but rather endeavour in the use of all means to reform your selves lay the Foundation of Mortification deep reserve no lust from the stroak of Jesus Christ let your Speech be seasoned with Grace take heed of neglecting or slighting any of the Ordinances of God in order hereunto read seriously this small Piece being a serious Exhortation to an Holy Life and Conversation and if thou wilt read so as to profit much by it consider observe these three things 1. Consider that Sanctification or an holy Life is the Eccho of Election and Holiness the Blossom of Happiness and Piety the inlet of Felicity whereas an unholy Life brings external internal and eternal misery upon Persons and Nations 2. Have no hand in any Plot but against Hells Policy have no design but against Sin learn how to act to thy God Fidelity to thy Prince Loyalty to thy self Humility so shalt thou be kept from future Falls and guarded from present Fears for God hath either the Castle of a Providence or the Ark of a Promise or the All-sufficiency of his own Grace for a retirement of his People in the greatest Storms and Tempests 3. Make a most strong Determination from the bottom of thy heart to embrace and observe whatsoever thou shalt finde to be the will of God though all the world should be against thee for it so shall all thy Duties and Services be regulated by Precept and winged by Promises Farewell A Serious EXHORTATION To An Holy Life And CONVERSATION THe Lord of Glory who is the great Master-piece of Speech when he speaks from Heaven he makes use of three several Texts of Scripture in one breath Mat. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him First This is my beloved Son that Scripture you have in Psal 2. 7. In whom I am wel pleased this we have in Isa 42. 1. Hear him this we have in Deut. 18. 15. This high and mighty one hath gather'd up all practicall Divinity into ten Precepts Exod. 20. and Moses reduceth them to four Heads Deut. 10. 12. And the Prophet Micah to three Micah 6. 8. and our Saviour Christ to two Mark 12. 29 31. and all that we can pray for or against into six heads or petitions Matth. 6. 9. to the 14. verse And the Apostle Paul reduceth all into one Rom. 13. 9. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Now that I may manifest my love to my neighbour I do here present him with this little piece which I have for my own and his sake taken great care and pains in I shall reduce the body of this Book to these two great Doctrines of Grace and Works and so shall begin With the great Doctrine of Gods free Grace and End with the Doctrine of Works which is the ready way to get the apprehension and application of mercy to our selves The Papists say if we are freely justified by Grace we need not to do any good works and if we cannot fall from Grace we need not fear to commit sin but every true Christian will say that Faith and Works must go together in our conversation First To begin with the Doctrine of Grace if we minde and understand the Covenant of Grace justification by Grace the Doctrine of Grace we shall finde that the Apostles all along were very careful to keep this Covenant and Doctrine of Grace distinct from all other things they all along do oppose the Law and Grace Works and Faith our Righteousness and Christs Righteousness teaching us thereby how needful it is that they be kept each in his place asunder and that we do not as most do jumble them both together This Doctrine of Grace hath been and still is a bone of contention Why so because learning cannot reach it natural wisdom is confounded at it evil Angels do not know it most men do turn their backs upon it being bereaved of the knowledge of it or else corrupted from the simplicity of it Let the Reader consider these Scriptures all speaking to the same thing Rom.

Heb. 12. 22. The Court of God and of Christ wherein are an innumerable company of Saints and Angels Heb. 12. 23 24. It is better sure to creep towards Heaven though through the valley of tears then to gallop towards hell upon the mountains of pleasure The sad condition of all that want it Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. As he that hath called us is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy as I am holy Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into heaven any thing that defileth nor those that work abomination or make a lye c. Well the holy nature of God will not permit the unclean man or woman to come into his presence no Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell 2 Thess 1. 8. The Lord will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on all them that obey not the Gospel c. In the mean time whilest they remain here they are accursed in their going out and in their coming in in the basket and in the store and in every thing that they put their hand unto Deut. 28. Again consider what names all those who want this holy life and conversation are known by in the Scriptures of truth viz. Sometimes they are called filthy dreamers defiling the flesh Ep. Jude ver 8. raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame ver 13. Natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed that shall utterly perish in their own corruption 2 Pet. 2. 12. Wells without water clouds that are carried with a tempest to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever ver 17. A generation of vipers Matth. 3. 7. Ye serpents how can ye escape the damnation of hell Mat. 23. 33. In a word the Scriptures call them Lions for their fiercenes Bears for their cruelty and Dragons for their hideousnesse Dogs for their filthinesse Wolves and Foxes for their subtlety if this be not enough the Scriptures of truth stiles them Scorpions vipers thorns briars thistles brambles stubble dirt dust chaffe dross smoak scum unclean birds Rev. 18. 2. The Devil is said to be their master Rom 6. 16. The Devil is said to be their father John 8. 44. The Devil is said to be their Prince John 12. 31. The Devil is said to be their god 2 Cor. 4. 4. Now lay all these things together and consider if the joyes of heaven on the one hand and the torments of hell on the other hand will not prevail with us to witness a holy life and conversation in our practice I do not know what will certainly the sad condition of all that want this holy life will farther appear by these particulars His or her sad condition at the hour of death Their sad condition at the day of Judgement The torments they are like to suffer in Hell The duration of that hellish state Of the hour of Death Death in Scripture is called the King of Terrours it hath something to say to every one and would fain be heard but most of the sons and daughters of men are not at leasure to hear what he hath to say they put that off to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and when that is come to the last week of that moneth and when that is come to the last day of that week and when that is come to the last hour of that day and when that is come to the last minute of that hour not considering that death meets us every where and enters in at every door viz. by a full meal or an empty stomach by much wine or want of wine by heat or cold by violent motion or sitting still by every thing in providence by every thing in nature by every thing in chance well in comes death and looks you grim and black in the face then you fall into a cold sweat over all your body and a trembling in all your joynts the Head aketh the Face waxeth pale the Nose black the Eye-strings break the Tongue faltereth the Throat ratleth then come thy friends and trouble thee as fast to have thee put thy goods in order some crying some craving some pittying some comforting of the sick party If he look up he seeth Gods judgements ready to fall upon him if he look down he seeth Hell mouth open ready to receive him if he look about him loe a company of evill spirits ready to snatch his soul from him live he cannot to dye he is afraid and what to do he cannot tell whereas had he lived an holy Life and Conversation he at the hour of death would now comfort himself and say as good Hezekiah doth Isa 38. 2 3. Hezekiah prayed and said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight so the Lord added to his dayes fifteen years Oh! that we were wise that we understood this that we would consider our latter end Deut. 32. 29. and great cause have we so to do for our body is but a cottage of clay and that so frail and crasie that were it not once or twice a day daubed over it would fall about our ears What are our bodies but a Magazine and Hospitall of all Diseases and these are fore-runners of Death when Diseases are in the House Death is at the Threshold when Sickness is in the Chamber Death is at the Window Oh! that the Lord would teach us so to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Let us consider his sad condition at the day of Judgement that wants this holy Conversation viz. there is brought in a Bill of Endictment never such a Bill put up against the greatest offender in any Court of men The Bill of Endictment it self runs thus viz. Thou art here accused for a multitude of sins of omission neglecting to do thy duty to God to Superiors Inferiors and all Relations For sinning both secretly and openly to the dishonour of God the grief of his people and opening the mouth of enemies For sinning against Gods holy Ordinances in neglecting or abusing them For sinning against all Gods Mercies to thee in abusing health wealth liberty parts and gifts For abusing both the Mercies and Judgements of God therefore now he will deprive thee of the one and consume thee by the other For sinning against the checks of thine own Conscience if Conscience be not a bridle it will be a whip if it be not a curb it will be a scourge if you will not hear the warnings you shall feel the lashes of it if it doth not restrain from sin by admonition it will put you to pay for sin by contrition c. For sinning against the motions of Gods Spirit in resisting and grieving