Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	jesus_n	lord_n	saviour_n	5,163	5	6.4700	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50480	En oligo christianos, the almost Christian discovered, or, The false-professor tried and cast being the substance of seven sermons, first preached at Sepulchres, London, 1661, and now at the inportunity of friends made publick / by Matthew Meade.	Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.	1662 (1662)	Wing M1546; ESTC R9895	121,691	343

God in their hearts Col. 3.5 Most men judge of the reality of things by their visibility and proximity to sense and therefore the choice of that wretched Cardinal becomes their option who would not leave his part in Paris for his part in Paradise sure whatever his interest might be in the former he had little enough in the latter well may covetousness be called Idolatry when it thus chuses the World for its God Mar. 9 44 O consider eternity is no Dream Hell and the Worm that never dies is no melancholy conceit heaven is no feigned Elysium there is the greatest reality imaginable in these things though they are spiritual and out of the ken of sense yet they are real and within the view of faith look not therefore at the things which are seen but look at the things which are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal 2 Cor. 4.18 but the things which are not seen are eternal Isa 55.2 Heb. 12 16. Fourthly Set a high rate upon thy soul what we lightly prize we easily part with many men sell their souls at the rate of prophane Esau's birth right for a morsel of meat nay for that which in the sence of the Holy Ghost is not bread O consider thy soul is the most precious and invaluable jewel in the World it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most beautiful peice of Gods workmanship in the whole creation it is that which bears the Image of God and which was bought with the blood of the Son of God 1. Pet. 1.18 19. and shall we not set a value upon it and count it precious The Apostle Peter speaks of three very precious things A precious Christ 1 Pet. 2 7 2 Pet. 1.4 and 1.1 Precious promises And precious Faith 1 Cor. 6.13 Now the preciousnes of all these lies in their usefulness to the soul Christ is precious as being the Redeemer of precious souls the promises are precious as making over this precious Christ to precious souls Faith is precious as bringing a precious soul to close with a precious Christ as he is held forth in the precious promises Oh take heed that thou art not found overvaluing other things and undervaluing thy soul Shall thy flesh nay thy beast be loved and shall thy soul be slighted wilt thou cloath and pamper thy body and yet take no care of thy soul this is as if a man should feed his Dog and starve his Child Meats for the belly and the belly for Meats but God shall destroy both it and them Oh let not a tottering perishing carkass have all our time and care as if the life and Salvation of thy Soul were not worth the while Gal. 6.7 Lastly Meditate much of the strictness and suddainness of that judgement day which thou and I must pass through into an everlasting state wherein God the impartial judge will require an account at our hands of all our talents and betrustments we must then account for time how we have spent that for estate how we have imployed that for strength how we have laid laid out that for affections and mercies how they have been improved for the relations we stood in here how they have been discharged and for seasons and means of grace how they have been husbanded and look how we have sowed here so shall we reap hereafter Mat. 7.10 20. Reader these are things that of all other deserve most of and call loudest for our utmost care and indeavour though by the most least minded To consider what a spirit of Atheisme if we may judge the tree by the fruits and the principle by the practise the hearts of most men are filled with who live as if God were not to be served nor Christ to be sought nor lust to be mortified nor self to be denyed nor the Soripture to be beleived nor the judgement day to be minded nor hell to be feared nor heaven to be desired nor the soul to be valued but give up themselves to a worse then brutish sensuality Eph. 4.19 and 2 12. to work all uncleanness with greediness living without God in the World this is a meditation fit enough to break our hearts if at least we are of holy Davids temper Psal 119.158 who beheld the transgressours and was grieved and had rivers of waters running down his eyes vers 136. because men kept not Gods Laws The prevention and correction of this soul destroying distemper is not the least design of this Treatise now put into thy hand though the cheif vertue of this receit lies in its sover aign use to asswage and cure the swelling tympany of Hypocrisie yet it may serve also with Gods blessing as a plaister for the plague-sore of prophanness if timely applyed by serious meditation and carefully kept on by constant prayer Horat. Reader Expect nothing of curiosity or quaintness for then I shall deceive thee but if thou wouldst have a touchstone for the tryal of thy state possibly this may stead thee if thou art either a stranger to a profession or a Hypocrite under a profession then read and tremble for thou art the man here pointed at Mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur Mark 9.1 Luk. 17.21 But if the Kingdom of God be come with power into thy soul if Christ be formed in thee if thy heart be upright and sincere with God then read and rejoyce Isa 48.17 I fear I have transgressed the bounds of an Epistle The mighty God whose prerogative it is to teach to profit whether by the Tongue or the Pen by speaking or writing bless this tract that it may be to thee as a cloud of rain to the dry ground dropping fatness to thy soul that so thy fleece being watered with the dew of Heaven 2 Pet. 3.18 thou mayst grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In whom I am Thy friend and Servant London Octob. 29. 1661. Mat. Meade The Contents THe scope of the Chapter pag. 1 The coherence of the Text pag. 3 4 The sense and meaning of the words pag. 4 5 6 7 The Doctrine propounded viz. That there are very many in the world that are almost and yet but almost Christians pag. 9 Two things arise from hence of serious meditation pag. 10 Three things are premised before the Doctrine is handled First There is nothing in this Doctrine should be matter of stumbling or discouragement to weak Christians pag. 11 There is great use of such Doctrine as this is 1. To make them look to their standing pag. 12 2. It helps to raise their admiration of distinguishing love ibid. 3. It incites to that excellent duty of heart-searching 4. It ingages the soul to double diligence ib. Secondly It is premised though many go far in the way to heaven and yet fall short yet that soul that hath the least true grace shall never fall

Dom. Ser. 1● 2. They take their Lamps that is they made a profession of Christ 3. They had some kind of Oyl in their Lamps as appears v. 8. they had some convictions and some faith though not the faith of Gods elect to keep their profession alive to keep the Lamp burning 4. They went their profession was not an idle profession they did perform duties frequent ordinances and do many things commanded they made a progress they went v. 1. 5. They went forth they went and out went they left many behind them this speaks out their separation from the World 6. They went with the wise Virgins they joyned themselves to those who had joyned themselves to the Lord and were the Companions of them that were the Companions of Christ Cant. 1.7 7. They go forth to meet the Bridegroom this speaks out their owning and seeking after Christ 8. When they heard the cry of the bridegroom comming they arose v. 7. and trimmed their Lamps they profess Christ more highly hoping now to go in with the Bridegroom 9. They sought for true grace now don't we say the desires of grace are grace and so they are if true and timely if sound and seasonable Why lo here a desire of grace in these Virgins give us of your Oyl It was a desire of true grace but it was not a true desire of grace it was not true because not timely v. 8. unsound as being unseasonable it was too late Their folly was in not taking Oyl when they took their lamps their time of seeking grace was when they came to Christ it was too late to seek it when Christ came to them They should have sought for that when they took up their profession it was too late to seek it at the coming of the Bridegroom And therefore they were shut out v. 10. and though they cry for entrance Lord v. 11. Lord open to us yet the Lord Christ tells them v. 12. I know you not You see how far these Virgins go in a profession of Jesus Christ and how long they continue in it even till the Bridegroom came they go to the very doors of Heaven and there like the Sodomites perish with their hands upon the very thresholds of glory They were almost Christians and yet but almost Almost saved and yet perish You that are professors of the Gospel of Christ stand and tremble if they that have gone beyond us fall short of Heaven what shall become of us that fall short of them If they that are Virgins that profess Christ that have some faith in their profession such as it is that have some fruit in their faith that outstrip others that seek Christ that improve their profession and suit themselves to their profession nay that seek grace if such as these be but almost Christians Lord what then are we If these two witnesses be not sufficient to prove the truth and confirm the credit of the proposition Take a third and that shall be from the Old Testament Isa 58.2 see what God saith of that people he gives them a very high Character for a choice people one would think They seek me daily they delight to know my way as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice they take delight in approaching to God See how far these went if God had not said they were rotten and unsound we should have took them for the Hee Goats before the Flock Ier. 50.8 and ranked them among the worthies pray observe 1. They seek God Now this is the proper Character of a true Saint to seek God True Saints are called seekers of God Psal 24.6 This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Jacob or O God of Jacob. Lo here a generation of them that seek God and are not these the Saints of God Nay farther 2. They seek him dayly here 's diligence backed with continuance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day by day that is every day from day to day They did not seek him by fits and girds nor in a time of trouble and affliction onely as many do Ionah 7.5 Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26.16 Many when God visits them then they visit him but not till then when God poureth out his afflictions then they pour out their supplications This is Seamens devotion when the storms have brought them to their wits end then they cry to the Lord in their trouble Psal 107.27 28. many never cry to God till they are at their wits end they never come to God for help so long as they can help themselves But now these here whom God speaks of are more zealous in their devotion the others make a vertue of necessity but these seem to make conscience of duty for saith God they seek me dayly Sure this is one would think a note of sincerity Iob. 27.10 Job saith of the Hypocrite will he always call upon God surely no but now this people call upon God always they seek him dayly certainly these are no Hypocrites 3. Saith God They delight to know my ways sure this frees them from the suspicion of Hypocrisie for Job 21.14 they say unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy ways 4. They are as a Nation that did Righteousness not onely as a Nation that spake Righteousness or knew Righteousness or professed Righteousness but as a Nation that did Righteousness that practised nothing but what was just and right They appeared to the judgment of the World as good as the best 5. They forsook not the Ordinances of their God they seem true to their Principles constant to their profession better then many among us that cast off duties and forsake the Ordinances of God but these hold out in their profession they forsook not the Ordinances of God 6. They ask of me saith God the Ordinances of Justice they will not make their own wils the rule of right and wrong but the Law and will of God and therefore in all their dealings with men they desire to be guided and counselled by God They ask of me the Ordinances of justice Iob. 27.0 7. They take delight in approaching to God sure this can't be the guise of a Hypocrite will he delight himself in the Almighty saith Job no he will not Deliciae l●umanigeneris Though God is the cheif delight of man having everything in him to render him lovely as was said of Titus Vespasian yet the Hypocrite will not delight in God Hypocrita neque drum neque divina habet in del ciii Till the affections are made spiritual there is no affection to things that are spiritual God is a spiritual good and therefore Hypocrites can't delight in God But these are a people that delight in approaching to God

God to take away either light or sight either the ordinances from before his eyes Or else to blind his eyes under the Ordinances To have a hard heart is a dreadful judgement and there is no Hypocrite but he hath a hard heart My Brethren it is a dreadful thing for God to give a man up to spiritual judgments Now this being almost a Christian provokes God to give a man up to spiritual judgements surely therefore it is a very dangerous thing to be almost a Christian 8. Being almost and but almost Christians will exceedingly agravate our damnation the higher a man rises under the means the lower he falls if he miscarries he that falls but a little short of Heaven will fall deepest into Hell he that hath been nearest to conversion being not converted shall have the deepest damnation when he is judged Capernaums sentence shall exceed Sodoms for severity Mat. 11.23 24. because she exceeded Sodom in the injoyment of mercy she received more from God she knew more of God she professed more for God and yet was not right with God there fore she shall be punished more by God ●he higher the rise the greater the fall the higher the profession the lower the damnation he miscarrveth with a light in his hand he perisheth under many convictions and convictions never end but in a sound conversion as in all Saints or in a sad damnation as in all Hypocrites praying ground hearing ground professing ground and conviction ground is of all the worst ground to perish upon Now then to sum up all under this head If to be almost a Christian hinders the true work of conversion If it be easily mistaken for conversion If it be a degree of blasphemy If this be that which quiets conscience If this subjects a man to commit the unpardonable sin If it lays us lyable to apostacy If it provokes God to give us up to spiritual judgments And if it be that which exceedingly agravate's our damnation sure then it is a very dangerous thing to be almost and but almost a Christian A Vse of Exhort Oh labour to be altogether Christians to go farther then they who have gone farthest and yet fell short this is the great counsel of the holy Ghost So run that ye may obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Need you any motives to quicken you up to this important duty 1. This is that which is not onely commanded by God Consid 1 but that whereunto all the Commands of God tend a perfect conformity of heart and life to God is the sum and substance of all the Commands both of the Old and New Testament As the Harlot was for the dividing the child 1 Kings 3.16 26. so is Satan for dividing the heart he would have our love and affections shared between Christ and our lusts for he knows that Christ reckons we love him not at all unless we love him above all But God will have all or none My Son give me thy heart Prov. 23.26 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Lu. 10.27 with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy might Deut. 6.5 Look into the Scripture and see what that is upon which your onely stands and you shall find that God hath fixed it upon those great duties which alone tend to the perfection of your state as Christians God hath fixed your Onely upon beleiving Mar. 5.36 onely beleive God hath sixed your onely upon obedience Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Philip. 1.27 Onely let your conversation be as becommeth the Gospel of Christ So that your onely is fixed by God upon those two great duties of beleiving and obeying both which tend to the perfection of your state as Christians Now shall God command and shall not we obey can there be a higher motive to duty then the authority of the great God whose will is the eternal rule of righteousness O le ts fear God and keep his commandements for this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the totum hominis the whole duty of man so we read it 2. Consid 2 The Lord Christ is a Saviour throughout a perfect and compleat mediator he hath not shed his blood by halves nor satisfied the justice of God and redeemed sinners by halves No but he went through with his undertakings he bore all our sins and shed all his blood he dyed to the utmost satisfied the Justice of God to the utmost redeemed sinners to the utmost and now that he is in Heaven he intercedeth to the utmost and is able to save to the utmost Heb. 7.25 It is observed that our Lord Christ when he was upon earth in the days of his flesh he wrought no Semiplenam curationem no half cures but whomsoever they brought to him for healing he healed them throughout Mat. 14.35 36. they brought unto him all that were diseased and besought him that they might onely touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole Oh what an excellent Physician is here none like him he cureth Infallibly Suddenly Perfectly He cureth infallibly none ever came to him for healing that went without it he never practised upon any that miscarryed under his hand Mar 1.31 2.12 Luk. 8.44 He cureth suddainly no sooner is his garment touched but his patient is healed The Leper Mat. 8.3 is no sooner touched but immediately cured the two blind men Mat. 20. are no sooner touched but their eyes are immediately opened v. 34. Mat. 14.36 He cureth perfectly as many as were touched were made perfectly whole Now all this was to shew what a perfect and compleat Saviour Jesus Christ would be to all sinners that would but come to him They should find healing in his blood vertue in his righteousness and pardon for all their sins whatever they were look as Christ healed all the Diseases of all that came to him when he was on Earth so he pardons all the sins and healeth all the wounds of all those souls that come to him now he is in Heaven He is a Saviour throughout and shall not we be Saints throughout shall he be altogether a Redeemer and shall not we be altogether beleivers O what a shame is this 3. There is enough in Religion to engage us to be altogether Christians Consid 3 and that whether we respect profit or comfort for Grace brings both First Religion is a gainful thing and this is argumentum cogens a compelling motive that becomes effectual upon all gain is the God whom the World Worships what will not men do what will they not suffer for gain what journies do many take by Land what voyages by Sea through hot and cold through fair and foul through storme and shine through day and night and all for gain Now there is no calling so gainful as this of Religion it