Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	heart_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	15	3	8.5766	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62099	Foure sermons vvherein is made a foure-fold discovery viz. of ecclesiasticall selfe-seeking, a wisemans carriage in evill times, the benefit of Christian patience, the right nature and temper of the spirit of the Gospel / by Edvvard Symons ...; Sermons. Selections	Symmons, Edward.	1642 (1642)	Wing S6343; ESTC R23479	123,513	204

them afterward for as Saint Paul tels them If you had harkened to me you had not gained this harme and losse and so the Prophets Esay and Jeremy were never beleeved when they spent their judgements of those matters and even so still for the most part peace peace is best musicke to the carnall eare and they that sing that even when dangers are at the dore shall be applauded by many a one so were Ahabs Prophets but if a man play Micaiah and speake the truth and tell the danger that is close by then cast him into the prison-house lay him by the heeles feed him with the bread and water of affliction But how ever men take the thing yet God likes it well for we may observe though he often in his word finds fault with the Prophets for preaching smooth things for crying peace yet never for preaching his lawes and judgements never for foretelling dangers And yet here too though the godly are able to distinguish of evill times I doe not say all that talke of evill times must needs be godly for many are alwayes complaining of the badnesse of the times wherein themselves live and never any saw such bad times as they though indeed they will not be known that themselves and such as they be doe make them so bad as they are they whisper and backbite and slander and persecute with all bitternesse in their way with their tongues and so move and provoke others to crosse their minds another way with their power they will speake evill of dignities of men in place and authority And authority cannot abide to come under the lash of inferiour tongues nor is it fit it should if it doth it will make them smart another way and complaine for somewhat as the Master will the servant and the Father the child that speakes against him Authority supposes and well may if men murmure against it that they dislike of it that they would not it should rule over them and therefore it accounts such as enemies unto it and deales with them often as with such you know the saying in the Gospel Those mine enemies that would not I should raigne over them bring them and slay them before me and so then comes evill times but of mens owne occasioning Authority cannot abide to be forced if things be amisse it cannot indure to be as it were compelled by the exclamations of any to amend them it loves to be free and to shew its owne goodnesse which it will rather doe through an humble seeking of redresse th●n by a malepert finding of fault that things are not redressed Authority is suspitious that men goe about to get to themselves those things which belongs to it namely the hearts and affections of people and an opinion of singular prudence yea of more zeale and piety and care for the safety of Church and Common-wealth th●n Authority her selfe which sits at the sterne of both thus I say Authority suspects and well may from those bitter complaints and loud out-cries which many make of the evilnesse of the present times Now I say Brethren all that thus complaine are not the wisest men in so doing how ever they thinke themselves nor perhaps the most truly zealous for true zeale is joyned with prudence and it is not bitter and were the times as bad as they pretend why the prudent would be silent in them and not talkative which is the third thing noted from the text to which we now come It is the property of wise and godly men and their custome in evill times to keepe silence to say little to bind their tongues to their good behaviour But before we prove the point we must distinguish of wise and godly men some are publike persons and some are private the publike are Magistrates and Ministers I say not that it is their custome being godly and wise to keep silence in evill times especially when they are in the discarge of their office for the Magistrate if he be right will speake then in speciall and doe too for the removing of evill and the Minister being a Watchman set as it were on a hill to give warning will so doe both of the evill present and of the danger comming if he be of the true stamp he neither will nor must spare to speak though not his owne words yet the words of God out of Gods booke in a discreet way with due respect to those above him that no disaffection by his meanes be wrought in mens hearts towards them their persons or places this I say he will doe if wise and godly when he is in place I meane in the discharge of his office though at other times and seasons he be as a private man and like such a one at such times demeanes himselfe for indeed of such I suppose the Prophet here speakes of private men underlings as I may so call them such as are liable to be afflicted by the mighty and turned from their right for if you marke the former verse he there speakes of such so abused the just afflicted bribes taken against them and the poore turned from their right in the gate then he addes this verse of the text and brings it in with an illative therefore which notes a dependance therefore shall the prudent keepe silence in that time for it is an evill time id est those just ones so afflicted those poore ones so oppressed that have prudence in them shall keepe silence in that time that evill time they shall pocket up the wrong they shall goe their way and say nothing binding their tongues to their good behaviour So you see the words are chiefely meant of private men such as you here be of which ranke and order no doubt but there be some that be godly and wise as well as of others I say it is their custome nay it is the condition Brethren if you be wise and godly in evill times to keep silence That silence is a token of wisdome Solomon affirmes in many places take one or two for many Prov. 17. 27 28. He that hath knowledge is sparing in his words Et frigidus spiritu vir est intelligentiae and a man of understanding is of a coole spirit in the midst of provocations he can temper himselfe nay silence is such a token of wisdome that even a foole when he holds his peace is counted wise and he that shuts his lips is a man of understanding vers the next so Prov. 11. 12. He that is voyd of wisdome despiseth his neighbour that is when he sees any thing in him that dislikes him he is ful of his despightfull words against him but a man of understanding holds his peace a wise man is not clamorous that is the meaning and so Prov. 12. 16. A fooles wrath is presently knowne if he sees any thing that he mislikes either in Church or Common-wealth or among his neighbours every body shall know it presently and his dislike