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book_n call_v church_n holy_a 2,804 5 4.7314 4 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A38031 Sermons on special occasions and subjects ... by John Edwards ... Edwards, John, 1637-1716. 1698 (1698) Wing E211; ESTC R39657 221,769 511

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culpable_a those_o that_o blame_v my_o intemperance_n in_o write_v if_o i_o be_v in_o a_o public_a station_n of_o the_o ministry_n will_v find_v fault_n with_o my_o preach_v too_o much_o and_o last_o i_o desire_v to_o regulate_v myself_o and_o my_o undertake_n by_o that_o rule_n of_o the_o royal_a preacher_n eccles._n 9_o 10._o what_o thy_o hand_n find_v to_o do_v do_v it_o with_o thy_o may_v the_o reason_n of_o which_o follow_v for_o there_o be_v no_o work_n nor_o device_n nor_o knowledge_n nor_o wisdom_n in_o the_o grave_n whither_o thou_o go_v this_o present_a world_n be_v the_o place_n of_o action_n and_o duty_n and_o these_o be_v to_o be_v perform_v according_a to_o the_o particular_a capacity_n and_o ability_n bestow_v upon_o we_o by_o our_o great_a benefactor_n the_o proper_a concern_v and_o business_n of_o our_o life_n which_o we_o design_v to_o discharge_v we_o must_v dispatch_v now_o and_o that_o with_o our_o might_n and_o vigour_n according_o i_o have_v take_v up_o a_o resolution_n by_o the_o divine_a aid_n to_o do_v what_o good_a i_o can_v with_o my_o pen_n whilst_o i_o can_v hold_v it_o and_o make_v use_n of_o it_o and_o sure_o this_o will_v not_o this_o can_v be_v offensive_a to_o any_o good_a and_o virtuous_a man_n and_o to_o such_o i_o desire_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o my_o action_n and_o not_o to_o other_o wherefore_o i_o shall_v not_o be_v divert_v by_o the_o little_a suggestion_n and_o seem_o prudential_a exception_n of_o the_o foresay_a objection_n from_o a_o sedulous_a and_o continue_a apply_v myself_o to_o the_o forementioned_a way_n of_o communicate_v my_o thought_n to_o the_o world_n which_o i_o hope_v will_n through_o the_o blessing_n of_o the_o high_a prove_v someways_o serviceable_a towards_o the_o advance_n of_o truth_n and_o piety_n in_o the_o mind_n and_o practice_n of_o man_n though_o i_o be_o sufficient_o apprehensive_a how_o mean_a and_o unworthy_a my_o labour_n be_v and_o how_o much_o inferior_a to_o those_o of_o my_o reverend_a brethren_n and_o other_o excellent_a writer_n of_o this_o age._n and_o because_o i_o will_v be_v free_a and_o open_a with_o the_o reader_n i_o will_v give_v he_o his_o bill_n of_o fare_n for_o the_o time_n to_o come_v i_o design_n god_n willing_a to_o entertain_v he_o next_o with_o a_o large_a discourse_n concern_v the_o different_a dispensation_n of_o religion_n since_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o world_n to_o the_o consummation_n of_o all_o thing_n it_o be_v a_o work_n that_o i_o have_v be_v design_v for_o the_o public_a a_o considerable_a time_n but_o have_v not_o yet_o have_v a_o opportunity_n to_o send_v it_o abroad_o by_o reason_n of_o some_o other_o treatise_n which_o be_v call_v for_o it_o be_v a_o work_n if_o i_o mistake_v not_o that_o be_v exceed_o necessary_a for_o the_o right_a understanding_n the_o book_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n for_o apprehend_v the_o true_a scope_n and_o design_n of_o they_o for_o the_o discover_n of_o the_o ground_n and_o reason_n of_o god_n various_a administration_n to_o the_o world_n and_o for_o the_o full_o evince_v of_o his_o peculiar_a care_n of_o his_o church_n in_o all_o age_n i_o have_v also_o venture_v to_o make_v a_o modest_a enquiry_n into_o the_o future_a state_n and_o circumstance_n of_o the_o church_n here_o on_o earth_n but_o i_o have_v all_o along_o build_v my_o assertion_n on_o the_o discovery_n which_o the_o sacred_a write_n have_v furnish_v i_o with_o for_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o the_o great_a and_o wonderful_a thing_n which_o be_v yet_o to_o come_v and_o which_o be_v more_o glorious_a than_o ever_o yet_o appear_v on_o the_o stage_n be_v predict_v in_o the_o inspire_a volume_n though_o the_o text_n which_o speak_v of_o they_o have_v through_o prejudice_n and_o prepossession_n be_v unhappy_o misinterpret_v this_o and_o some_o other_o treatise_n as_o a_o impartial_a enquiry_n after_o truth_n and_o the_o right_a method_n of_o find_v it_o etc._n etc._n i_o intend_v as_o preliminary_n to_o a_o body_n of_o divinity_n for_o that_o be_v the_o undertake_n i_o have_v be_v accomplish_v some_o year_n and_o i_o have_v make_v some_o progress_n in_o it_o i_o purpose_v that_o the_o several_a part_n of_o which_o it_o be_v compose_v shall_v contain_v particular_a and_o distinct_a discourse_n on_o all_o the_o article_n of_o the_o apostle_n creed_n on_o every_o one_o of_o the_o ten_o commandment_n on_o the_o seve●eral_a petition_n of_o the_o lord_n prayer_n and_o on_o all_o the_o virtue_n grace_n and_o office_n of_o christianity_n with_o all_o the_o benefit_n and_o privilege_n of_o it_o i_o intend_v a_o large_a supplement_n concern_v the_o five_o point_n as_o they_o be_v common_o call_v controvert_v between_o the_o remonstrant_n and_o calvinist_n as_o likewise_o concern_v all_o those_o opinion_n and_o doctrine_n which_o be_v debate_v between_o the_o romanist_n and_o the_o reform_a church_n this_o be_v the_o provision_n which_o i_o have_v be_v make_v and_o which_o i_o hope_v to_o finish_v unless_o it_o shall_v seem_v good_a to_o the_o alwise_a disposer_n in_o who_o hand_n my_o time_n be_v otherwise_o to_o determine_v concern_v it_o and_o i_o however_o i_o can_v reasonable_o expect_v the_o continuance_n of_o health_n and_o the_o prolong_v of_o my_o day_n till_o i_o have_v entire_o publish_v what_o i_o have_v thus_o prepare_v but_o so_o far_o as_o i_o be_o able_a i_o be_o willing_a to_o make_v my_o own_o hand_n my_o executor_n in_o part_n and_o not_o to_o imitate_v those_o close-fisted_n person_n who_o whilst_o they_o be_v live_v distribute_v nothing_o of_o what_o god_n have_v give_v they_o but_o thrust_v all_o their_o good_a deed_n to_o the_o other_o side_n of_o their_o grave_n or_o if_o the_o benign_a deity_n shall_v vouchsafe_v to_o add_v a_o great_a number_n of_o day_n to_o my_o life_n yet_o we_o know_v not_o what_o evil_n shall_v be_v upon_o the_o earth_n for_o true_o when_o i_o place_n before_o i_o that_o atheism_n debauchery_n and_o profaneness_n which_o be_v observable_a in_o the_o live_v of_o the_o worst_a and_o the_o strange_a indifferency_n and_o lukewarmness_n that_o reign_n in_o the_o best_a i_o be_o incline_v to_o think_v that_o though_o there_o be_v a_o period_n at_o present_a to_o the_o late_a hostility_n yet_o we_o be_v in_o a_o very_a dangerous_a condition_n which_o be_v one_o principal_a reason_n of_o my_o make_v that_o haste_n which_o some_o i_o perceive_v censure_v i_o for_o it_o may_v be_v partly_o out_o of_o good_a will_n and_o pity_n towards_o i_o fear_v lest_o i_o shall_v exhaust_v myself_o and_o turn_v bankrupt_a in_o a_o short_a time_n but_o i_o believe_v i_o have_v say_v enough_o to_o ease_v their_o fear_n as_o to_o that_o matter_n and_o as_o for_o other_o who_o censure_n proceed_v from_o a_o worse_a principle_n i_o let_v they_o know_v once_o for_o all_o that_o i_o have_v devote_v the_o residue_n of_o my_o life_n to_o the_o public_a defence_n and_o advancement_n of_o christianity_n with_o all_o its_o weighty_a truth_n and_o doctrine_n and_o all_o the_o holy_a duty_n and_o practice_n that_o appertain_v to_o it_o and_o i_o revere_a and_o adore_v the_o divine_a bounty_n that_o have_v vouchsafe_v to_o entrust_v i_o with_o a_o small_a stock_n such_o as_o be_v suitable_a to_o my_o poor_a ability_n to_o carry_v on_o so_o laudable_a a_o design_n i_o intend_v it_o shall_v not_o lie_v dead_a but_o be_v employ_v to_o the_o glory_n of_o the_o great_a eternal_a donour_n the_o content_n serm._n i._n a_o answer_n to_o pilat_n question_n what_o be_v truth_n a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o king_n charles_n the_o second_o at_o newmarket_n john_n xviii_o 38._o pilate_n say_v unto_o he_o what_o be_v truth_n pag._n 1._o serm._n ii_o why_o ruler_n and_o judge_n be_v call_v go_n a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o judge_n at_o the_o assize_n hold_v at_o cambridge_n psal._n lxxxii_o 6_o 7._o i_o have_v say_v you_o be_v god_n and_o all_o of_o you_o be_v the_o child_n of_o the_o most_o high_a but_o you_o shall_v die_v like_o man_n and_o fall_v like_o one_o of_o the_o prince_n pag._n 29●_n serm._n iii_o the_o reason_n why_o magistrate_n ought_v to_o be_v exemplary_a in_o their_o life_n a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o the_o election_n of_o a_o chief_a magistrate_n in_o a_o corporation_n exod._n xviii_o 25._o and_o moses_n choose_v able_a man_n out_o of_o all_o israel_n and_o make_v they_o head_n over_o the_o people_n p._n 62._o serm._n iu._n how_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v to_o excel_v a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o clergy_n at_o the_o archdeacon_n of_o ely_n visitation_n 1_o cor._n fourteen_o 12._o forasmuch_o as_o you_o be_v zealous_a of_o spiritual_a gift_n seek_v that_o you_o may_v excel_v to_o the_o edify_v of_o the_o church_n p._n 92._o serm._n v._o that_o decay_n of_o trade_n and_o commerce_n and_o consequent_o
20._o bishop_n treat_v of_o the_o office_n of_o a_o clergyman_n concern_v basil_n and_o gregory_n nazianzen_n we_o be_v tell_v by_o 9_o rufinus_n that_o for_o thirteen_o year_n together_o they_o lay_v aside_o all_o book_n that_o treat_v of_o secular_a matter_n and_o apply_v themselves_o whole_o to_o the_o read_n of_o the_o volume_n of_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n this_o most_o true_o may_v be_v say_v that_o though_o we_o be_v not_o to_o neglect_v other_o write_n yet_o these_o be_v indispensable_o necessary_a and_o we_o must_v lay_v aside_o all_o other_o book_n rather_o than_o not_o find_v time_n to_o read_v these_o and_o the_o reason_n be_v plain_a because_o no_o man_n can_v pretend_v to_o theological_a study_n who_o have_v not_o acquaint_v himself_o with_o the_o sacred_a text._n for_o see_v how_o it_o be_v in_o other_o art_n and_o faculty_n there_o be_v book_n proper_a and_o peculiar_a to_o they_o and_o without_o which_o there_o be_v a_o utter_a despair_n of_o attain_v any_o skill_n 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a_o curious_a and_o close_a enquiry_n but_o this_o be_v most_o true_a that_o modesty_n be_v the_o most_o commendable_a virtue_n here_o the●doret_n say_v well_o genes_n i_o think_v it_o boldness_n to_o pronounce_v peremptory_o concern_v those_o thing_n of_o which_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n deliver_v nothing_o plain_o god_n be_v not_o please_v to_o deliver_v all_o thing_n with_o equal_a evidence_n and_o why_o then_o shall_v we_o undertake_v to_o make_v every_o thing_n plain_a and_o demonstrable_a or_o why_o be_v we_o angry_a if_o other_o think_v some_o thing_n be_v not_o so_o those_o word_n which_o i_o meet_v with_o in_o one_o of_o st._n ierom_n epistle_n be_v admirable_a and_o be_v worth_a the_o observation_n of_o those_o especial_o who_o be_v student_n of_o divinity_n perscrutamur_fw-la when_o we_o search_v say_v he_o with_o too_o much_o nicety_n and_o curiosity_n into_o those_o thing_n which_o god_n will_v not_o have_v we_o know_v but_o have_v purposely_o conceal_v from_o we_o we_o 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to_o defame_v libel_n and_o blaspheme_v christianity_n and_o all_o the_o mystery_n of_o it_o and_o they_o make_v use_v of_o their_o reason_n to_o make_v void_a their_o faith_n but_o now_o all_o this_o may_v be_v prevent_v and_o hinder_v by_o a_o humble_a and_o christian_n submission_n to_o the_o sacred_a oracle_n by_o a_o free_a resign_v ourselves_o to_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o by_o give_v credit_n to_o it_o article_n because_o they_o be_v deliver_v and_o attest_v by_o god_n himself_o in_o the_o infallible_a write_n which_o even_a reason_n itself_o dictate_v to_o be_v the_o best_a method_n we_o can_v take_v to_o establish_v and_o confirm_v we_o in_o our_o religion_n and_o to_o assure_v we_o of_o the_o truth_n of_o all_o its_o doctrine_n be_v they_o never_o so_o perplex_v and_o mysterious_a nor_o do_v this_o introduce_v a_o blind_a credulity_n and_o such_o a_o implicit_a faith_n as_o some_o of_o the_o romanist_n defend_v for_o when_o we_o resign_v up_o our_o judgement_n 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christianity_n and_o it_o have_v with_o invincible_a force_n in_o all_o age_n of_o the_o church_n bear_v down_o all_o opposition_n that_o have_v be_v make_v against_o it_o and_o i_o question_v not_o but_o those_o violent_a effort_n and_o insult_v which_o have_v be_v and_o be_v make_v against_o it_o in_o this_o present_a age_n will_v prove_v vain_a and_o successless_a though_o we_o have_v see_v the_o rain_n descend_v and_o the_o flood_n come_v and_o the_o wind_n blow_v and_o beat_v upon_o it_o yet_o it_o shall_v never_o fall_v because_o it_o be_v found_v upon_o a_o rock_n the_o same_o rock_n on_o which_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v build_v viz._n the_o confession_n and_o testimony_n of_o the_o inspire_a apostle_n the_o truth_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n the_o veracity_n of_o god_n and_o the_o certainty_n of_o divine_a revelation_n and_o all_o the_o other_o sacred_a mystery_n of_o our_o religion_n have_v the_o very_a same_o stable_a foundation_n and_o therefore_o be_v 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