Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	beget_v	love_v	sarah_n	51	3	15.9601	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97360	The works of the judicious and learned divine Dr. Thomas Taylor, part 1. sometimes preacher of Aldermanbury, London. Published by himself in his life time, in several smaller volumes, now collected together into three volumes in fol. two of which are here bound together. The first volume containing, I. An exposition on the 32. Psalm ... The second volume containing, I. An exposition of the parable of the sower and seed, on Luk. 8. ... The third volume is in the press, and will containe in it, I. The progress of sts, to full holinesse ...	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.	1659 (1659)	Wing T560A	683,147	498

death better than the day wherein they were born 2 As the Saints in Heaven being delivered out of the prison of the body have all the bolts and chains of their corruption struck off so the godly who have their parts in the first resurrection have after a sort changed their lives and put on a Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 they have bid farewell to the follies of their former times yea renounce and as farre as frailty will permit loathe their sins saying unto them as Ephraim to his rejected Idols get you hence what have I to doe with you they that were of the Synagogue of Satan are now in the Temple with true beleevers Thus is it said of the hundred forty four thousand that were bought from the earth that were not defiled with women but were virgins that is sanctified in part and washed from their filthiness and will have no more fellowship in the unfruitful works of darkness wherein sometimes they were chief actors 3 The Saints in heaven never joyn with the wicked of the world any more that being verified which Moses spake to the Israelites concerning the Egyptians The enemies whom your eyes have seen this day you shall never see more even to the faithful hate the company of the wicked with whom they can neither do good nor take any whereas before their calling they were mixt with them and ran with them to the same excess of riot Now their fellowship is dissolved they are no more Companions with them the light of the one admitteth no communion with the others darkness and that they are often forced to dwell in Mesech with them it is the woe and grief of their hearts Another part of this agreement What the Saints are called unto in five things standeth in the things to which the Saints are called which are sundry As 1 Look as their chief happiness standeth in the beholding of the face of God and seeing him as he is together with their rejoycing in his blessed communion and that most sweet fellowship they have one with another even so the chief blessednesse of the Saints in earth is their fellowship with God and Christ though it bee not so immediate as the former They see his back parts indeed rather than his face and rejoyce after a sort in his face but afar off and as in a glass of the Word and Sacraments not face to face nor in that brightness wherein they shall behold him when they are at home with him at his right hand but yet what they want in the thing they want not in desire to be where hee is that they may see his glory so as they may be satisfied with the fulnesse of it that they may so see him as they may bee like him that they may drink not of the streams but of the well of life and see light in his light And because loving him that begat they cannot but love him that is begotten the next happiness to the former do the godly justly esteem the communion of Saints placing under God their chief delight in such as excel in vertue Secondly as the heavenly life of the Saints is spent in the perfect praise of God wherein they imploy their eternity keeping in the presence of the Throne of God a perpetual Sabbath and serving him day and night Rev. 11.17 7.15 even so beleevers indeavour in their measure that the same mind bee in them which was in Jesus Christ who thought it as his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father they bring free-will-offerings they esteem one day better in his Courts than a thousand besides and account these persons blessed that may dwell in his house because they ever praise him Not that much rebellion and corruption of nature doth not often dead and dul even the most sanctified but yet something they get forward and delight in the progress they make to the chearful praise and worship of God And this they do not by fits and starts but imitate that heavenly life in the continual indeavour to make the pleasing of God their principal delight and the chief thing that most soliciteth them Thirdly as the Saints in Heaven live according to the Law of perfect righteousness which is the Law and charter of Heaven and have obtained perfect sanctification so Beleevers on earth set the same Law before them to rule and direct every particular action by and begin the self same obedience they begin to weigh all they give out or take in by the weights of the sanctuary which God hath sealed as just they follow the Lamb whither-soever he goeth before them whether by voice or example Fourthly as the Saints in heaven enjoy God for the means of all their lives Rev. 22.3 5. for hee is their Temple their light their Tree of Life their Crystal river c. evenso the Saints in the World though they live by means and must not look to reap without sowing as once it was 2 Kin. 19.29 yet injoy they God above all means and acknowledge that hee is their life and the length of their daies that they live not by bread alone but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God that it is hee that giveth them power to get substance and blesseth their children with increase that hee which cloatheth the Lillies and feedeth the Sparrows will cloathe and feed them yea and more that before they shall want that which is good for them it all means should fail hee would sustain them without means by Miracle that his Promise cannot fail them when the Indian Mines shall come to nought that his word is means enough which commandeth the Rock and it giveth water and the Winds and they blow Quails before his Host shall perish Fiftly as the Saints in Heaven would not for all the world forgo their Happiness for one day and yet are they not now so fully happy but that they still wait and long for further perfection of their glory saying Lord how long Holy and Just Rev. 6.10 so the godly would not for all the world be separated from their estate in Christ A cloud of Martyrs in all ages manifes●ed that all the World the sweet of it nor the sour the flattery of it nor the tyranny could draw the godly from the fruition of their priviledges in Christ And yet dwell they not in these first fruits but wait still for the perfecting of this their redemption Hence the Apostle describeth them by their inseparable property 2 Cor. 5.2 Rom. 8.23 which is to love the appearing of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 These notes laid together Examination of a mans self by the former notes will give witness with or against a man whether his conversation bee heavenly and consequently whether hee partake of all the former benefits of Christs resurrection Examine thy self by them Whether art thou called out of the World in thy affection whether art thou actually separated from the corruptions

it for this being as Queen among the vertues goeth not alone but with all the train of vertues as hand-maids attending upon her The chief of them are these four 1 A true knowledge of the Word of God acknowledging it in part and in wh●le to bee the truth of God and that himself is straightly bound to believe and embrace the same and that hee hath a special part in the promise of grace and life by Christ in which grace he resteth himself daily growing up in the certainty and assurance of his salvation 2 A sound ●oy of the heart which the Apostle Peter calleth unspeakable and glorious breaking out into thankful praises in that the Lord hath begun 〈◊〉 ●iness by making Christ his Wisdome Righteousness Sanctification and 〈◊〉 ●tion The Poor Blind and Lame persons of whom wee read in the 〈◊〉 never leaped more joyfully when they had met with Christ and had 〈◊〉 ●s opened and their limbs restored by him than hee that hath met with him and received him into his heart to enlighten him to quicken him and to heal him of all his infirmities How gladly did Zacheus receive Christ with what joy of heart findeth any man the hidden pearl Mat. 13.44 how did the Eunuch converted go away rejoycing Act. 8. And all this is because they can value such a commodity as this is which they see God hath made their own for if they either knew it not or not to bee theirs they could not thus joy in it 3 Christian Hope is another hand-maid of Faith for so the Apostle teacheth Rom 5.2 Being justified by Faith wee have peace c. wee rejoyce under the hope of the glory of God For this is the special work of hope to wait for and rejoyce in the expectation of the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesu And hence is it that whereas unbeleevers are glewed to the earth and cannot think of Heaven but either with sorrow of a formal and false joy and what marveil is it that those who have no better should set their hearts upon the worse beleevers have preserved in them a willingness to leave this World and to bee with Christ which is best of all yea so sweet is their present tast of Christ through Faith and Hope that they are unquiet till they bee filled with the fruition of his fulness being often in his absence sick of love and pine away till they bee with him whom their soul loveth 4 An assured trust relying upon God beleeving hi● word of promise to raise and feed the heart of threatning to shake it and cast it down and submitting it se●f to the counsel and good pleasure of God because his faith hath let him see the truth the wisdome the equity and righteousnesse of all these Such a mans heart setteth nothing above God in prosperity it distrusteth not but hath God for his God in adversity it indeavoureth in all things to walk with God it is a sweet usher and disposer of the whole life so as it is most obedient to the word and most full of comfort and sweetness to it self The fourth mark or note or true Faith is taken from the infallible fruits IV. The infallible fruits of it four and effects of it which are many I will onely note four of the principal First it frameth and fitteth the own habitation it purifieth the heart Act. 15. it suffereth not unclean thoughts unlawful lusts or wandring motions to harbour there it guideth the affections of Love Hatred Joy Sorrow and the rest that a man love nothing more or so much as God and his Image hee hateth not mens persons but their sins and no mans sin so much as his own hee rejoyceth in nothing so much as in doing the will of God this is as his meat and drink hee sorroweth for nothing in the world so much as for offending so good and patient a God This pure heart also guideth the words with wisdome and maketh it his chief study how to preserve with faith good conscience in every thing Act. 24.16 Secondly Faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 bo●h towards God and towards man towards him that begat and him that is begotten yea and him that is ye● not begotten This love of God expresseth it self 1 In much thankfulness unto him who hath loved us first Our love of God express●d in three things who hath given so much even his Son and all things with him pertaining to life and godliness who hath forgiven us so much and to whom many sins are forgiven they must love much who hath done so great things for us by becomming our portion our treasure and our chief good 2 In shame for our unkindness unto him both before and even since we knew this his love in Christ and have been acquainted with his waies taking up with shame in our faces sorrow into our hearts for the sins of our youth and of our age against the law the rule of righteousness but especially against the glorious Gospel which of all other are least of served 3 In desire of that blessed fellowship of his when and where wee may never sin against him any more accounting one day within his holy of holies better than a thousand besides and much more to bee ever with the Lord and to injoy the p●easures at his right hand for evermore to bee at home with him and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea with Jesus Christ himself should make us groan in our souls and say with David Oh when shall I appear in this thy presence The Spirit saith Come and the Spouse saith Come Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly The love of men by which Faith worketh discovereth it self not onely in just dealing with them as wee would bee dealt by which many civil men indued onely with civil righteousnesse have excelled in nor onely in merciful distribution of outward comforts for the releeving of the bodies of our brethren yea and of our enemies which hardlier goeth down with the unconverted than the former but also in shewing most love unto their souls in helping forward their conversion and salvation For so soon as any man is converted hee will strengthen the brethren Faith wheresoever it liveth it loveth and love being an hand giving out moveth men converted to counsel exhort rebuke admonish comfort pray and wait when God will give unto others the grace of Repentance As soon as Andrew was called hee bringeth his brother Simon to Christ No sooner had Christ found Philip but Philip finding Nathaniel hee bringeth him to ●hrist The woman at the well no sooner heareth that Christ was the Messiah but shee bringeth all the City In finding this treasure the Christian cannot hide his joy neither can any mans joy bee so full unlesse hee with others rejoyce together For it is not here as in earthly things which the more they are communicated the more are they diminished and every mans share is the less but heavenly

bread by using some unlawful means Abraham to save his life may lye and entreat Sarah so to do David thou art in danger flye to Achish play the fool and dissemble thou seest no way else left devise a way of safety beyond Gods Peter thou art now in the midst of thy Masters enemies if thou turnest not stones into bread and help thy self by lying swearing cursing and denying thy Master look for no other than to dye with him Thou that art a poor man seest hard times as if thou wert in a Wilderness and here is nothing but stones no way but to turn them into bread thou canst not live if thou doest not lye or steal or swear or be unjust poverty and danger shall come armed upon thee 2 If wee cannot thus help our selves but the evil continues then Satan soliciteth us to repine and murmur within our selves Psalm 116.11 I said in my distresse that all men are lyars and 31.22 I said in my hast I am cast off and this to bring us to disclaime confidence and waiting upon God any longer as Jehoram said 2 King 6.33 This evil is from the Lord and shall I attend any longer upon him Thus hee daily shews us our crosses as so many stones to move us to impatiency and gain from us our affiance in God that hereby he may both pull and draw us from our strength and help and glory from God Both these are apparent in this dart against Christ II. In the purchasing of some apparent good Numbers have learned this trade of the devil to make stones bread hee knows the haste of our unbeleeving hearts as well as in the former and how easily wee are brought to turn stones into bread In the matter of the world what a number of men are there of this trade which we may fitly call the Devils Alchymistry Some by extortion usury and oppression make stones bread as many Land-Lords just of the Devils last that by racking their rents would have their Tenants get bread out of stones nay not so merciful as hee for no doubt if Christ had made bread of stones he would have let him eat it but so will not these but eat up bread and sweat and all This is called bread of violence and oppression Prov. 4.17 and because being made of stones it is hard of digestion it needeth a cup of Wine which is at hand too for they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence Others by deceit and subtlety turn stones into bread and glory when they can go beyond their brethren by trickes of wit or cunning and this seems to go a step beyond the Devil who would have Christ turn stones into bread that is something into something but these would turn nothing into bread but only live by their wits Solomon calls all bread thus cunningly changed stoln bread and bread of deceit which seems sweet in the mouth but that yee may know whence it comes hee tells you that for all that it returns to his former poverty Prov. 20.17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man but afterward his mouth is filled with gravel Both these the Apostle condemneth 1 Thess 4.6 Let no man defraud or oppresse his brother in any matter for the Lord is the avenger of all such In procuring health in sicknesse or helping our selves to recover our losses hee easily perswades us to Witches Sorcerers and to try many unwarrantable conclusions and enforceth them strongly perswading us else that we shall miscarry and perish by our own negligence Satan never commeth without one stone of other Vse 1. This shews us that Satan never comes without stones that is objects of his temptations at least hee hath one stone which if hee offer hee seemeth reasonable Hee hath not onely a Bathsheba for David but every man hath his several Bathsheba some dear lust or other which Satan will still bee feeding his eyes and senses upon Nay as Mar. 5.5 in the parties possessed hee armed them with stones against themselves and made them beat themselves with stones so out of our own scrip hee fetcheth stones against us hee knoweth the inclination of our wills the stream of our affections the constitution of our humours the predominant desires of our hearts and accordingly assaulteth us Nay not onely in evil things but in the best of all hee wants not one stone or other against us Even the tree of life it self a Sacrament of Gods Covenant of life will serve his turn and hee wisheth not Eve to eat all the apples on it but seems very reasonable whiles hee offers but one In comming to the Word and Sacraments and Prayer hee is content if a man bring but one stone in his heart one sin either hardness of heart that the seed may fall in stony ground or unbeleef for how know you that this is the word of God or covetousness which is as thornes to choak all or malice and envy for then God will put none of his pretious liquor into such a fusty vessel or wandring thoughts or dislike of the Preacher or any other lust though but one hee cares for no more Wee should therefore never go without our fence in our own houses or in Gods houses that wee may escape the danger of this battry Yea let us watch Satan in base and despised things as an apple or a stone in idle words or unfruitful speeches in the matter of a pin or any small trifling matter for even in these things he can get much advantage and sow discord between the nearest of all even the husband and wife Satan lesseneth men rather than to want bread to get it out of stones Vse 2. This teacheth us That the scope of all Satans proffers is to make men earthly-minded hee cares not how much men be addicted to seek bread yea he would have them so eager of bread as rather than want it to get it out of stones for 1 Hee would fill the heart with these base desires that there might bee no room for better 2 Hee knows that if hee can make a man a servant to the world hee cannot serve God hee cannot serve two Masters commanding such contrary things 3 Hee knows this runs with nature and in the channel of our corruption since the fall to which wee are easily perswaded and very hardly if ever recovered back again God in his word deals clean contrary and every where reigneth us in where Satan spurs us forward that calls us out of the World forbids us to seek that is immoderately the bread that perisheth calleth us to heavenly mindednesse to converse and traffick in heaven and send our affections above to seek after Christ the bread of life to give all diligence to make our election sure to seek the Kingdome of God From whence when wee find our selves strongly set upon this World with neglect of better things to scrape and gather bread and things for the body wee

bring us into an estate wherein all means fail us God remains as powerful and able as merciful and willing to help as ever he was and rather than his children shall miscarry he will save them by miracle 2 Our callings and means are not to bee neglected because 1 Christ denies not but that man lives by means but not only by them 2 They are a part of that every word of God whereby man lives and if ordinary means be offered we may not trust to extraordinary without some special promise or revelation 3 It is a tempting of God to pull poverty on our selves or cast our selves into danger and is a breach of his ordinance who injoyns every man to get his living in the sweat of his blows But one thing is a Christian care another a carking care for the things of this world one thing is the care of the world in Mary who especially minds the one thing necessary another in Martha who distracts her self with many businesses neglecting the good part which should never bee taken from her one thing to possess the world another to bee possessed by it one thing to use means another to trust in them More care must be had of Gods blessing than of means Vse 4. If man live not by means alone bee more careful for Gods blessing than for the means bee more thankful for that than for these else hee that made bread and gave it thee can break the staff of it else he can make thee great and rich but lay a sensible curse on thy person and estate either in thine own time or in thy heirs And as for thanksgiving Christ never used any means but by prayer and thanksgiving and taught us to pray for daily bread The comfort of the creatures a greater mercy than the creatures them selves i.e. for a blessing upon bread It is a greater mercy of God to give us comfort of the creatures than the creatures themselves Yet a number as if they lived by bread only come to their tables as the hog to his trough or the horse to his provender without either prayer or thankes A wonder that every crum choaks them not for without Gods blessing it might But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God On ● the word yet every word of God prefer●eth the life of man Doct. This affirmative part of the testimony alledged by Christ teacheth us That It is only the word of God and every word of God that preserveth the life of man But first wee must distinguish of mans life which is either supernatural or natural and also of the word which is put forth either for the life natural or supernatural The former is a word of Gods power and providence creating and governing all things according to their natural courses called in the Text a word that goeth out of the mouth of God for no word of the creature can produce the being or well-being of any other The latter is the word of Truth whereby hee doth quicken the soul and repair it to his own likenesse and this word proceedeth not onely out of the mouth of God but of his Prophets Apostles and Pastors and this word begetteth and preserveth a supernatural life in man as the other doth a natural Jer. 15.19 Now our Saviour meaneth here the natural life of the body and the word of Gods power and providence generally sustaining the being and life of all creatures How the soul liveth by the word of God and not that a man can live by the written word without meat and drink It is true that the soul of man liveth by Gods Word of Truth for 1 Hee is begotten a Christian by it and born of this immortal seed Jam. 1.18 2 Hee is nourished by it as by sincere Milk 1 Pet. 2.2 3 As bread increaseth the body in all dimensions so the Word strengtheneth the soul in faith patience comfort hope love as children grow by Milk 4 Bread strengthens the heart and all the strength of a Christian is in the word it preserves the natural heat and the word makes his heart burn within him and keeps it in a readiness to every good word and work But yet this is not the proper meaning of this place neither can it agree with the meaning of Moses who plainly speaks of the bodily hunger of the Israelites and the feeding of them with Mannah that they may know that man liveth not by bread onely nor yet with the mind of our Saviour Christ nor with his present condition nor with the drift of Satans temptation nor with the sound repelling of his dart which was that Christ for the appeasing of his bodily hunger after his forty daies fast would turn stones into bread How man lives by every word of God And now wee knowing what is meant by the Word of God even the powerful word of Gods providence in creating and governing all things wee are further to consider that our Saviour addeth an universal particle every word the reason is because this word is twofold ordinary and extraordinary Ordinary when God changeth not his ordinary course but by means proportioned unto the ends which are a part of his ordinary word preserveth and maintaineth the life hee hath given as daily bread sleep and the like Extraordinary when by his word and decree he pleaseth to preserve man either above or without or against all means I. Above the means sundry waies 1 Above all that man can expect The word sustaineth 1 Above all means three waies thus God gave the Israelites Mannah in the wilderness and water out of a Rock thus hee tyed a Ram to bee sacrificed in stead of Isaac thus he brake the cheek-tooth that was in the jaw and water came thereout for Sampson Judg. 15.19 and by his word provided a gourd to come over Jonas his head to shadow him and deliver him from his grief chap. 4.6 thus hee fed Elias by Ravens 2 When hee makes a little means go beyond themselves as Christ made seven loaves and two fishes to serve seven thousand persons and much left thus hee made a few clothes serve Israel forty years so as their shooes did not wear out Thus the Word of God made a little meal and oyle serve the Prophet and a widow a long time 1 King 17.14 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel the meal in the barrel shall not bee wasted nor the oyle in the cruse diminished till the time that the Lord send rain and so it was though they are nothing else all the while 2 King 4.42 Elisha had twenty loaves sent him and some ears of Corn hee commanded his servant to set them before the people Oh saith he what are these to an hundred men but the Prophet said The Lord hath said they shall eat and yet there shall remain and it came to pass according to the word of the Lord. 3 When the means are not so small in