Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	body_n	call_v	see_v	4,903	5	3.5116	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87092	Divinity in mortality, or The Gospels excellency and the preachers frailty, represented in a sermon preached at the funerals of Mr Richard Goddard late minister of the parish of St Gregories by Pauls; who died on Thursday the 12th of May 1653. and was buried on Moonday [sic] the 16th day of the same moneth. By Nath. Hardy Master of Arts, and preacher to the parish of St Dyonis Back-Church.	Hardy, Nathaniel, 1618-1670.	1653 (1653)	Wing H718; Thomason E708_1; ESTC R202533	26,963	35

are troubled on every side yet not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not discouraged Though our persons be as earthen vessels in the worlds estimation and so used or rather abused yet let not our spirits like earthen vessels be broken by any affliction nay rather remember what Christ said to his Disciples in the like case Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven and so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you are come in their stead and therefore must expect their usage and it is a comfort you do but pledge them in that cup of which they have drank to you before you do but follow them in that way which they have tracked already so persecuted they the Prophets yea and the Apostles too in which regard they are here called Earthen vessels 3. Lastly This Epithete earthen is annexed to these vessels the Preachers of the Word in reference to their bodies as their mean condition base estimation so their bodily constitution proclaimeth them earthen this is that which is common to Ministers with the people since though in regard of their Calling they are prae aliis far before others yet in this respect they are sicut caeteri such as others 1. Thus their bodies are earthen because formed of the dust of the earth Testacea secundum originem so Tertullian Earthly in their Original upon which ground they are called houses of clay the inhabitant indeed is heavenly but the body earthy Vas fictile nil aliud quam lutum igne coctum as earthen vessels so are our bodies fashioned out of clay 2. Again as earthen vessels are subject to flaws and cracks yea to breaking in pieces so are our bodies liable to sicknesses diseases till at last by death they fall and are broken in pieces In this respect the Apostle Paul calling the body an earthen house addeth presently be dissolved To this purpose is Grotius his Paraphrase In corpore multis malis obnoxio quod facile frangitur we have this Treasure in bodies subject to many evils and at last to a dissolution This construction is that which both the Greek and Latine Fathers generally take it in Among the Greeks St Chrysostome speaketh very fully to this sense {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he useth this term of earthen to denote the mortality of our nature infirmity of our flesh which by diseases and a thousand other accidents is exposed to death and so dissolution Among the Latines St Ambrose speaketh to the same effect Fictilia vasa dicens infirmitatem naturae significat the weakness of our nature is signified by the earthen vessell and therefore St Jerome explaineth it by the term fragilis and Theophylact by the word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} they are frail mortall bodies we carry about with us and as earthen vessels are easily suddenly broken asunder one fall on the ground in a moment dasheth them in pieces so are the bodies of Gods Ministers subject to a speedy and sudden dissolution whereby they become unserviceable to the Church Indeed in one thi ng there is a difference earthen vessels when they break break irrecoverably so as the pieces cannot be reunited but the bodies of the Saints and faithfull Ministers of Christ though they moulder into dust shall at the last day be repaired refined and made gloriously beautifull They differ then in the consequent of the breaking but in the breaking it self they agree and therefore fitly are our bodies called earthen vessels The Greek word here used {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is derived from {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which properly signifieth the shell of a fish and in this sense as criticall Interpreters observe it agrees with the matter in hand it being ordinary to lay up those things we value in shels or boxes and cabinets made of such and withall those shels in regard of ther brittleness are apt resemblances of our bodies The Platonists who fancy two bodies one more spiritual which they call {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Chariot that carrieth the soul in it the other more grosse that which we see and feel call this latter {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} because it is in their opinion as a shell which hath a finer body within it This being but a fancy I leave it the true reason of this expression whether you render it shels or earthen vessels is because as these so the body is of a frail nature easily and quickly destroyed nor have the bodies of Ministers any greater priviledge then others We that preach eternal life are dying men yea whilest the word of life is in our mouths many times death is in our faces This Wolf will not only worry the sheep but the shepherd This enemy will not only set upon the souldiers but the Captain This Plunderer will seize upon the Crown and the Mitre the Scarlet and the Rochet and as at Chess when the game is done not only the pawns but the Bishops yea King and Queen are tumbled down and put into the bag so not only mean and vulgar persons but Princes and Priests fall down by death into the grave and as Judges though they be shields of the earth are but earthen shields so Ministers though vessels that carry this Treasure yet are but earthen vessels To winde up this in a word of Caution and Exhortation Do not think the worse of or value the Treasure the less because brought in an earthen vessell It is that folly yea wickedness of which too many are guilty who because they are men that speak to them think the message is not Gods measureing the worth of the treasure by the meanness of that which conveyeth it But tell me I beseech you will any man value gold the less because brought to him in a leathern purse or slight a pretious pearl because found on a dirty dunghill and why then should the Gospel be undervalued because they are mortall men that Preach it The truth is we have cause to admire and bless both the power and the goodness of God his power which by such weak means accomplisheth so great a work indeed as the Apostle here tels us for this reason the treasure is in such vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God his goodness which is pleased to lay it up in such vessels that it may be the easier come by to speak to us by men like our selves with whom we familiarly converse he could if he had pleased have put this treasure in heavenly vessels used the Ministry of Angels but we could not have received it so comfortably from them so that in reference to us God is pleased to make men the instruments of publishing the Gospels mysteries and as it is his mercifull condescention that he is pleased to deliver

appear take notice of the Antithesis in these several particulars 1. Other Treasures are from below this is from above those are dig'd out of the Bowels of the Earth this is sent from Heaven what are gold and silver but white and yellow earth the sands and the rocks are the habitation of pearls and jewels but the things of the Gospel are and therefore so fitly called by our Saviour heavenly things 2. Other Treasures are transient and perishing St Peters epithete is corruptible gold and silver Solomons observation is that riches take them wings and flee away and therefore as they are got with care and kept with fear so many times lost with grief but this Treasure is lasting and permanent the truth of it inalterable the goodnesse of it unchangeable hence it is called the good part which cannot be taken away the meat which perisheth not and the word of the Lord that endureth for ever 3. Other Treasures are only of corporal use for the profit comfort and support of the Body and therefore it is they cannot make the possessour either wise or holy or happy But this Treasure enricheth the soul with wisdom and knowledge grace and holinesse whereby it becometh a means of happinesse to him that enjoyeth it by this it is the minde is enlightened the will inclined the affections composed the conscience quieted and the inward man renewed 4. Other Treasures though virtually they procure severall comforts yet formally and in their own nature they are but a remedy against poverty Gold and silver in themselves have no feeding or cloathing or defending vertue nor do they certainly and constantly procure those necessaries Sometimes food is not to be had for money nor is silver alwaies a defence And yet further though it may get the things yet it cannot give an efficacy to them it may buy food but not a stomack Physick but not health Clothes but not warmth Armour but not safety Lights but not eyes Whereas this Treasure is in its own nature all these and assuredly bringeth strength wealth ease safety and all spiritual blessings to them that enjoy it it is such a Treasure as is withall an oracle in doubts a shield against assaults a Counsellor in prosperity a Comforter in adversity a light in darknesse and a refuge in danger 5. Other Treasures oft times become destructive to the possessors it was a sore evil Solomon saw under the Sun namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt indeed both temporall and spirituall hurt accrueth frequently to men by their treasure the golden Ring hath sometimes lost the finger and the bag of money exposed the traveller to danger yet more often do treasures become nurses of vice panders to lust incentives of wickedness and the mammon of unrighteousness whereby they ruin the soul and take away the life of the owners in this respect it is that Salvian saith excellently of covetous men perituris simul atque perdentibus student nundinis they eagerly busie themselves in those merchandizes which are not only perishing in their own nature but destroy the possessors whereas this Treasure is altogether beneficiall to them that enjoy it indeed accidentally it proveth pernicious becoming to some a savour of death but this is only to the rejecters and contemners not to the receivers and possessors of it If our Gospel be hid saith the Apostle in this Chapter it is hid to them that are lost and if any be lost to whom the Gospel cometh it s they from whom its hid by the devil and their own corruption blinding their eyes that they see not its worth and thereby perverting their wils that they refuse its embraces but to them that beleeve and do it it is a savour of life a wellspring of comfort a means of their eternall wellfare Finally Other Treasures may have the image of a King stamped upon them such that coyn which had Caesars superscription but this hath the image of God and Christ imprinted on it being therefore called the Gospel of God and the Word of Christ other Treasures are the blessings of Gods left hand so it is said of riches and honours but this is a blessing of Gods right hand so it is said of the fiery Law and much more is it true of the Gospel How much the right hand excelleth the left so much this surpasseth all riches In a word other Treasures make the poor rich but this {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} maketh of mortall immortall of men in some sense Gods And now upon all these considerations the surpassing worth of this Treasure cannot but appear So as we may truly say Not all the Silks of Persia Linnen of Egypt Spices of Arabia Silver of the West Gold of the East Pretious stones of both the Indies are severally nay joyntly able to equalize it Well may this note of difference be annexed This treasure What therefore remaineth but that every one of us labour to have the same esteem of the Gospel which St Paul had and which indeed it deserveth 1. Let us account it our Treasure and let that appear by doing in reference to the Gospel as men do by Treasure How vehement and active are covetous mens desires after Treasure they spare no pains to get nor have they ever enough of it in their longings they are unsatiable in their labours indefatigable Such let our desires be after the knowledge of and acquaintance with Evangelicall truths Let us not be satisfied without no nor yet with the Gospel but as we have it let us strive to have it more abundantly according to that Apostolicall precept Let the Word of Christ dwel in you richly in all knowledge and wisdom Besides what care have men to lay up their Treasure when they have got it The Greek word in its Etimology signifieth as much {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} quasi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and in the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} à {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} abscondit the nown for Treasure cometh from a verb that signifieth to hide there being nothing men more secretly and carefully lay up then their Treasures yea what content do they take in viewing and recounting their bags Populus me sibilat at mihi plaudo ipse domi said he in the Poet The covetous wretch whilest scorned abroad pleaseth himself at home in his heaps of wealth So let us lay up the Gospel in the Cabinet of our souls and take delight in meditating upon the divine Truths contained in it yea whilest we meet with reproach and persecution from the world let us solace our selves in the fruition of this Treasure Herein let Davids practice towards the Law of the Lord be our pattern in that excellent Psalm wherein he expresseth a singular regard to Gods testimonies The words of thy mouth are better to

calleth St Hierome I may well apply to him he was Vas virtutum admirabile a Vessell adorned with an admirable variety of naturall abilities morall virtues and spirituall graces every way fitted and furnished for that Divine imployment to which God had called him What St Basill said of Gregory Nazianzen I may say of him {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he was a deep Well an elect Vessell and as it were the mouth of Christ To say much in a few words For knowledge and wisdom he was a Vessell of gold for purity and innocency a Vessell of silver for uprightnesse and integrity a Vessell of transparent glasse for resolution and courage in suffering of which he had his share a Vessell of brasse for perseverance and constancy in the Orthodox Faith a Vessell of stone and which was the Crown of all for lowliness and humility an earthen Vessell since whilest he was glorious in the eyes of others he was contemptible in his own A Vessell he was full of all sorts of pretious liquor the wine of zealous devotion the oyle of pitifull compassion the honey of a sweet disposition the water of penitent contrition and the milk of spiritual consolation To come nearer to the Text and Him He was a Vessel to whom this Treasure of the Gospel and the dispensation of it was committed which how conscionably diligently faithfully frequently as farre as the weaknesse of his body would permit he discharged I doubt not but many here can and will attest He was a Vessel not closed but open not with a narrow but a large vent That worldly treasure of estate he had he was continually imparting to his distressed brethren in his life and at his death bequeathed a full fifth of his estate to them who can hardly obtain a fifth of their own And this heavenly treasure of the Gospel he did with no lesse alacrity distribute among his people how many of all degrees from all parts golden silver earthen vessels were filled at his Noble rich poor persons all inriched their souls with the treasure that was dispensed by his lips Methinks many of you are now calling to minde in what a clear method choice words and fit phrases with what pregnant similitudes plentifull illustrations pithy perswasions sweet insinuations powerfull inducements allegations of antiquity and variety of good literature so as both the Learned may receive satisfaction and the meanest reap benefit he did Preach the Word amongst you Finally That which compleateth his Character This Vessell retained the sent the vertue of that himself which he poured out to others The course of his life was consonant to the tenour of his Preaching {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Gregory Nazianzen saith of St Basill He spake what was to be done and did what he spake he did not only {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} scienter praedicare but innocentia agere order his Preaching but conversation aright That sickness which occasioned the breaking of this pretious Vessel was indeed sharp and short but as himself expressed to me at the beginning of it he did not fear because already prepared for death And though the violence of the disease oppressing his spirits suppressed the freedom of his speech yet blessed be God it did not bereave him of his senses nor wholly of his speech in so much that not many hours before his death he made to a loving friend of his there present a pious Confession of his faith and hope so that what St Ambrose said of himself Non sic vixi ut me pudeat vivere nec mori timeo quia bonum Dominum habemus I may truly affirm of him He so lived that he was neither ashamed nor afraid to die The Vessel of his body is now broken by the hand that formed it to which I desire we may all submit yea that service which he was made for is now finished else he had continued longer As for the Pearl that was in this casket his Soul I doubt not but it is safe in Abrahams bosome yea the Vessel of his body rests in hope of restoring and reinjoying that Pearl when it shall be for ever a Vessel of honour glory and immortality I have now only a double word to present 1. The one to the Reverend Clergie of this City here present those particularly who have yet the liberty of their Function that according to our several abilites we would endeavour as much as may be by our diligent Preaching exemplary living to make up the losse of this our Brother Methinks God speaketh to us this day as he did to Joshuah in another case Moses my servant is dead be strong and of a good courage ever remembring that such a pillar being taken away the greater burden lieth upon our shoulders 2. The other to his Religious Auditors and especially his well-affected Parishioners He that stood in this place like a Jacob to rowl away the stone from the well open the difficult places of Scripture to you is now removed from you he that stood like a carefull watchman to awake and warn you is now by death put to silence Finally he that like a sun shined with the beams of instruction and consolation among you in this horizon is now gone down and which is the more sad Your eyes shall see him no more till the last day the morning of the resurrection The bottle which filled you is now emptied the vessell which enriched you is now broken the gourd whose shadow refreshed you is now withered and I am confident so ardent was the love towards him so great the benefit you received by him that I need not bid you be sensible of the losse The more needfull counsell is to be content with and patient under it and so much the rather because it is no more then what you ought to expect and especially in regard of him who was not only an earthen vessell but one that had such a flaw I mean disease which would ere long have broken him And now Beloved though the vessell be broken yet let not the treasure be lost do you by him as Ireneus did by Polycarpus keep fresh in his memory his Sermons his Discourses his goings out and comings in This is the best way to remember him by remembring his counsels to mourn for him by mourning for your unfruitfulness under his labours to honour him by expressing the efficacy of his doctrine in your hearts and lives Nor let it be an unwelcome admonition to you with which I will close be carefull whom you choose to succeed this our Reverend Brother not one that shall pull down what he hath built but rear up what he hath laied pluck up what he hath planted but water what he hath sown not one that shall succeed him to use Gregory Nazianzen's expression as night after day a disease after health a frenzy after use