Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	apostle_n	church_n	holy_a	2,252	5	4.8314	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44242	The Holy time of Christmas defended against non-conformists and all others its prophaners and opposers, or, A discourse shewing that a religious observation of Christmas is apostolical and worthy every good Christian		1676 (1676)	Wing H2529; ESTC R28109	8,613	14

away_o the_o whole_a new_a testament_n for_o how_o can_v he_o tell_v st._n matthew_n write_v this_o book_n st._n luke_n that_o and_o so_o of_o the_o rest_n but_o by_o the_o universal_a immemorial_n testimony_n of_o several_a christian_a country_n if_o almighty_a god_n will_v oblige_v i_o to_o keep_v such_o day_n holy_a as_o be_v so_o appoint_v and_o reverence_v such_o book_n as_o divine_a as_o be_v by_o divine_a inspiration_n write_v sixteen_o hundred_o year_n before_o i_o be_v bear_v he_o can_v reasonable_o expect_v i_o shall_v know_v and_o distinguish_v either_o the_o one_o or_o the_o other_o but_o by_o the_o immemorial_n testimony_n of_o my_o ancestor_n in_o several_a country_n but_o how_o at_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n i_o shall_v answer_v the_o refusal_n of_o such_o a_o book_n or_o the_o nonobservance_n of_o such_o a_o day_n so_o immemorial_o recommend_v by_o my_o ancestor_n i_o can_v tell_v it_o belong_v to_o the_o providence_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n to_o take_v care_n that_o no_o age_n shall_v be_v so_o devilish_o malicious_a universal_o to_o tell_v their_o child_n a_o book_n of_o their_o own_o forge_n the_o like_a may_v be_v say_v of_o a_o holiday_n or_o other_o ritual_a observance_n be_v write_v by_o a_o holy_a apostle_n of_o jesus_n christ_n some_o hundred_o of_o year_n before_o one_o man_n may_v be_v presume_v to_o be_v so_o malicious_a whole_a nation_n never_o do_v nor_o ever_o can_v do_v any_o such_o thing_n nor_o do_v the_o church_n of_o england_n in_o this_o differ_v from_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n as_o if_o she_o think_v what_o the_o apostle_n write_v be_v of_o great_a authority_n than_o what_o they_o teach_v or_o ordain_v she_o willing_o admit_v all_o tradition_n of_o which_o she_o can_v have_v good_a proof_n that_o they_o come_v from_o the_o apostle_n such_o be_v the_o observation_n of_o christmas_n lent_n easter_n etc._n etc._n but_o if_o christmas_n day_n be_v teach_v the_o world_n by_o the_o apostle_n how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v we_o have_v no_o mention_n of_o it_o in_o all_o the_o new_a testament_n what_o day_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v by_o the_o jew_n be_v make_v mention_n of_o over_o and_o over_o in_o the_o old_a testament_n how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v if_o christmas_n day_n or_o other_o day_n be_v to_o be_v observe_v by_o christian_n we_o find_v no_o mention_n of_o they_o in_o any_o of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a scripture_n reflect_v upon_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o two_o testament_n and_o the_o reason_n be_v manifest_a for_o if_o you_o consider_v the_o old_a testament_n you_o will_v find_v not_o only_o historical_a book_n such_o be_v the_o book_n of_o judge_n the_o king_n etc._n etc._n and_o moral_a book_n which_o treat_v of_o good_a life_n etc._n etc._n such_o be_v the_o proverb_n ecclesiaste_n &_o other_o but_o beside_o these_o there_o be_v ritual_a book_n which_o by_o the_o very_a subject_n of_o they_o every_o one_o see_v their_o design_n be_v to_o describe_v the_o external_a moysaicall_a worship_n as_o to_o observation_n of_o day_n priestly_a garment_n sacrifice_n etc._n etc._n such_o be_v the_o book_n of_o exodus_fw-la leviticus_n and_o deuteronomy_n and_o therefore_o no_o wonder_n if_o you_o find_v exact_o set_v down_o what_o day_n that_o people_n be_v to_o keep_v holy_a how_o their_o priest_n be_v to_o be_v consecrate_a and_o how_o vest_v in_o time_n of_o divine_a service_n etc._n etc._n but_o now_o cast_v your_o eye_n upon_o all_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new-testament_n and_o you_o will_v not_o find_v one_o that_o you_o can_v reasonable_o presume_v the_o author_n of_o it_o have_v a_o design_n in_o it_o to_o describe_v the_o external_n worship_n of_o the_o gospel_n what_o day_n for_o example_n we_o christian_n be_v to_o observe_v in_o memory_n of_o christian_a mercy_n and_o mystery_n what_o garment_n our_o priest_n be_v to_o use_v in_o divine_a service_n etc._n etc._n and_o yet_o the_o light_n of_o god_n within_o we_o tell_v we_o such_o institution_n be_v very_o useful_a to_o increase_v piety_n when_o religious_o observe_v and_o all_o history_n tell_v we_o that_o immemorial_o in_o all_o nation_n there_o have_v be_v certain_a external_a christian_a rite_n not_o mention_v in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n ever_o since_o the_o first_o plant_n of_o christianity_n among_o they_o the_o four_o gospel_n be_v a_o history_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n life_n and_o death_n who_o live_v as_o to_o the_o external_a rite_n of_o religion_n according_a to_o the_o jewish_a law_n and_o so_o we_o can_v reasonable_o in_o any_o of_o they_o expect_v what_o day_n we_o christian_n be_v to_o observe_v in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o gospel_n indeed_o have_v the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v intend_v as_o a_o exact_a narration_n how_o the_o apostle_n live_v as_o to_o the_o whole_a course_n of_o their_o life_n what_o day_n they_o keep_v holy_a and_o what_o day_n they_o fast_v etc._n etc._n we_o may_v reasonable_o have_v expect_v some_o mention_n there_o of_o christmas_n day_n and_o lent_n but_o that_o holy_a book_n make_v mention_n only_o of_o some_o few_o particular_a passage_n of_o two_o or_o three_o of_o the_o apostle_n life_n the_o apostle_n may_v well_o keep_v christmas_n day_n and_o lent_n too_o and_o teach_v they_o also_o to_o their_o first_o convert_v and_o yet_o there_o be_v a_o profound_a silence_n of_o such_o observation_n in_o the_o book_n of_o their_o acts._n as_o for_o st._n john_n prophetical_a book_n it_o be_v no_o way_n proper_a in_o it_o to_o treat_v either_o of_o christmas_n day_n or_o lent_n though_o i_o must_v tell_v you_o for_o ought_v you_o or_o i_o know_v when_o st._n john_n say_v he_o be_v in_o the_o spirit_n on_o the_o lord_n day_n he_o may_v mean_v the_o day_n of_o our_o lord_n birth_n or_o the_o yearly_a easter_n day_n of_o his_o resurrection_n as_o well_o as_o our_o weekly_a sunday_n the_o rest_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v certain_a epistle_n or_o letter_n of_o spiritual_a counsel_n write_v by_o st._n paul_n or_o some_o other_o apostle_n to_o particular_a person_n or_o whole_a city_n already_o instruct_v in_o the_o christian_a way_n of_o worship_n but_o why_o they_o shall_v needs_o make_v mention_n therein_o of_o christmas_n day_n i_o understand_v not_o unless_o perchance_o the_o person_n they_o write_v unto_o have_v be_v deficient_a in_o keep_v it_o holy_a but_o do_v not_o st._n paul_n express_o deery_a the_o keep_n of_o christmass-day_n in_o one_o of_o his_o epistle_n and_o tell_v the_o christian_n he_o write_v to_o he_o be_v afraid_a he_o have_v labour_v in_o vain_a among_o they_o by_o reason_n of_o their_o superstitious_a observation_n of_o day_n gal._n 4.9_o 10._o how_o be_v you_o convert_v again_o to_o weak_a and_o beggarly_a element_n which_o you_o will_v serve_v again_o you_o observe_v day_n and_o month_n and_o time_n and_o year_n i_o be_o afraid_a of_o you_o lest_o i_o shall_v have_v labour_v among_o you_o in_o vain_a be_v then_o the_o holy_a apostle_n afraid_a lest_o the_o 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neglect_v a_o day_n which_o you_o have_v all_o reason_n to_o think_v god_n have_v command_v you_o to_o keep_v holy_a if_o you_o reflect_v well_o upon_o what_o i_o have_v say_v above_o see_v you_o be_v command_v to_o keep_v holy_a christmass-day_n by_o do_v only_o such_o action_n as_o you_o acknowledge_v to_o be_v christianly_o and_o good_a what_o danger_n can_v there_o be_v of_o superstition_n especial_o when_o you_o be_v not_o teach_v neither_o that_o such_o action_n be_v then_o more_o acceptable_a to_o god_n almighty_a than_o at_o another_o time_n only_o you_o be_v command_v at_o that_o set-time_n to_o do_v they_o lest_z otherwise_o you_o shall_v whole_o omit_v them_o my_o dear_a relation_n who_o i_o pity_v with_o my_o soul_n take_v heed_n whilst_o under_o pretence_n of_o oppose_v antichrist_n you_o be_v not_o one_o day_n

of_o his_o nativity_n which_o they_o may_v easy_o learn_v from_o his_o holy_a mother_n in_o prayer_n reading_n hear_v and_o meditate_v that_o mystery_n with_o all_o its_o circumstance_n and_o the_o end_n for_o which_o it_o be_v so_o wrought_v will_v not_o such_o a_o observation_n as_o this_o in_o every_o christian_a parish_n in_o the_o world_n have_v strange_o conduce_v to_o a_o pious_a profitable_a grateful_a memory_n of_o that_o miracle_n of_o love_n of_o god_n become_v a_o little_a infant_n for_o the_o salvation_n of_o the_o world_n and_o this_o methinks_v shall_v be_v sufficient_a to_o satisfy_v any_o reasonable_a man_n that_o the_o keep_v holy_a by_o a_o yearly_a observation_n of_o the_o sacred_a time_n of_o our_o dear_a lord_n nativity_n be_v not_o only_o worthy_a the_o holy_a apostle_n institution_n but_o also_o that_o it_o can_v be_v well_o understand_v how_o they_o can_v be_v faithful_a in_o their_o office_n without_o the_o make_n of_o such_o a_o ordination_n or_o at_o least_o 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that_o horrid_a plot_n have_v be_v by_o this_o time_n quite_o lose_v in_o the_o memory_n of_o the_o vulgar_a people_n but_o all_o that_o i_o have_v hitherto_o be_v say_v only_o show_v that_o the_o appointment_n of_o a_o particular_a time_n to_o remember_v our_o lord_n nativity_n be_v worthy_a of_o the_o holy_a apostle_n but_o what_o evidence_n have_v we_o that_o the_o holy_a apostle_n have_v actual_o make_v any_o such_o ordination_n why_o what_o evidence_n will_v you_o have_v indeed_o they_o have_v write_v no_o book_n to_o recommend_v the_o observation_n of_o any_o particular_a day_n to_o posterity_n but_o if_o they_o have_v teach_v such_o a_o observation_n by_o word_n of_o mouth_n to_o all_o the_o country_n in_o the_o world_n where_o they_o preach_v the_o gospel_n be_v not_o this_o sufficient_a let_v we_o then_o in_o our_o thought_n travel_v into_o the_o several_a christian_a country_n of_o the_o world_n and_o see_v what_o they_o observe_v and_o first_o let_v we_o take_v a_o view_n of_o our_o own_o native_a country_n and_o inquire_v when_o we_o begin_v upon_o the_o 25_o of_o december_n every_o year_n particular_o to_o lay_v aside_o all_o our_o worldly_a affair_n and_o with_o prayer_n and_o other_o holy_a exercise_n to_o remember_v our_o dear_a lord_n birth_n the_o old_a man_n alive_a can_v tell_v we_o no_o beginning_n of_o this_o our_o practice_n no_o chronicle_n no_o annal_n give_v we_o any_o account_n of_o its_o beginning_n neither_o they_o tell_v we_o indeed_o that_o st._n joseph_n of_o arimathea_n not_o long_o after_o our_o bless_a saviour_n departure_n into_o heaven_n bring_v christianity_n into_o our_o country_n but_o they_o do_v not_o tell_v we_o of_o any_o one_o since_o that_o time_n who_o enjoin_v we_o to_o keep_v christmas-day_n holy_a the_o same_o annal_n tell_v we_o that_o about_o the_o year_n six_o hundred_o one_o austin_n with_o certain_a companion_n come_v from_o rome_n to_o convert_v our_o nation_n the_o overrun_v by_o the_o infidel_n saxon_n 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upon_o such_o a_o observance_n by_o chance_n but_o either_o we_o be_v all_o teach_v so_o by_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o christanity_n in_o our_o nation_n or_o enjoin_v so_o to_o do_v by_o some_o supreme_a authority_n since_o but_o our_o annal_n make_v no_o mention_n of_o any_o such_o ordination_n it_o be_v right_o conclude_v we_o be_v so_o teach_v by_o our_o first_o christian_a master_n but_o if_o you_o give_v a_o little_a more_o scope_n to_o your_o thought_n and_o consider_v that_o not_o only_a england_n but_o holland_n germany_n france_n spain_n italy_n and_o other_o christian_a country_n have_v immemorial_o from_o their_o first_o conversion_n to_o christianity_n keep_v holy_a the_o day_n of_o our_o lord_n nativity_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o mention_n of_o any_o general_a council_n or_o other_o universal_a authority_n impose_v any_o such_o observation_n upon_o they_o this_o reflection_n will_v compel_v you_o to_o acknowledge_v this_o practice_n must_v needs_o have_v be_v teach_v the_o several_a nation_n of_o christendom_n by_o the_o first_o preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o holy_a apostle_n and_o remarkable_a to_o my_o present_a purpose_n be_v the_o rule_n of_o the_o great_a st._n augustin_n whatsoever_o we_o find_v universal_o practise_v over_o all_o the_o christian_a world_n we_o safe_o conclude_v either_o to_o have_v be_v ordain_v by_o the_o apostle_n or_o some_o general_n council_n for_o that_o it_o can_v be_v presume_v that_o whole_a nation_n can_v by_o chance_n fall_v upon_o the_o religious_a observation_n of_o the_o same_o day_n or_o other_o ceremonial_a right_n and_o he_o who_o such_o a_o discourse_n as_o this_o do_v not_o satisfy_v but_o he_o still_o doubt_n &_o dispute_n how_o can_v he_o be_v sure_a the_o apostle_n ever_o teach_v any_o such_o observation_n such_o a_o one_o i_o say_v let_v he_o take_v heed_n for_o he_o be_v dangerous_o dispose_v to_o throw_v