Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	world_n	worthy_a	write_v	340	4	4.9709	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52162	A discourse concerning the love of God	Masham, Damaris, Lady, 1658-1708.	1696 (1696)	Wing M905; ESTC R3455	44,516	134

a_o discourse_n concern_v the_o love_n of_o god._n london_n print_v for_o awnsham_n and_o john_n churchil_n at_o the_o black-swan_n in_o preface_n the_o prejudice_n that_o piety_n and_o religion_n receive_v by_o be_v remove_v from_o their_o true_a foundation_n be_v of_o so_o ill_a consequence_n in_o disturb_v or_o mislead_v the_o best_a meaning_n and_o most_o serious_a part_n of_o mankind_n that_o any_o design_n which_o tend_v to_o prevent_v mistake_v about_o they_o will_n i_o hope_v at_o least_o merit_n pardon_v the_o ensue_a discourse_n be_v publish_a with_o this_o view_n it_o be_v intend_v to_o show_v the_o unserviceableness_n of_o a_o hypothesis_n late_o recommend_v to_o the_o world_n for_o a_o ground_n of_o christianity_n and_o morality_n as_o likewise_o the_o far_a injuriousness_n of_o that_o hypothesis_n to_o true_a religion_n and_o piety_n which_o i_o think_v i_o may_v secure_o affirm_v neither_o ever_o have_v suffer_v or_o ever_o can_v suffer_v so_o much_o from_o the_o argument_n of_o any_o opposer_n as_o from_o they_o who_o induce_v by_o weakness_n vanity_n or_o any_o other_o motive_n have_v undertake_v or_o pretend_v to_o support_v they_o upon_o false_a ground_n and_o wrong_a reason_n i_o be_o indeed_o incline_v to_o believe_v as_o well_o as_o hope_v that_o the_o notion_n which_o this_o discourse_n be_v level_v against_o be_v in_o no_o great_a danger_n of_o be_v a_o very_a general_n or_o prevail_a opinion_n it_o be_v too_o visionary_a to_o be_v likely_a to_o be_v receive_v by_o many_o intelligent_a person_n and_o too_o abstruse_a to_o be_v easy_o entertain_v by_o those_o who_o be_v altogether_o unconversant_a with_o scholastic_a speculation_n yet_o there_o be_v so_o many_o to_o who_o novelty_n alone_o have_v sufficient_a charm_n to_o recommend_v any_o thing_n that_o i_o can_v but_o think_v if_o what_o i_o have_v write_v answer_v the_o intention_n it_o be_v write_v with_o the_o subject_a of_o the_o follow_a paper_n very_o well_o merit_v those_o few_o hour_n that_o be_v bestow_v upon_o '_o they_o and_o i_o be_o confirm_v in_o this_o opinion_n by_o that_o of_o one_o of_o the_o high_a order_n in_o our_o church_n who_o since_o the_o write_n of_o they_o i_o be_v glad_a to_o hear_v say_v that_o it_o will_v be_v well_o do_v of_o any_o one_o who_o have_v leisure_n for_o it_o to_o show_v the_o weakness_n and_o extravagance_n of_o such_o of_o mr._n n_n late_a practical_a discourse_n as_o be_v build_v upon_o the_o principle_n of_o pere_n malbranche_n this_o encouragement_n add_v to_o the_o like_a from_o some_o other_o person_n have_v occasion_v the_o print_n of_o a_o discourse_n which_o be_v not_o write_v with_o such_o a_o intention_n a_o discourse_n concern_v the_o love_n of_o god_n whatever_o reproach_n have_v be_v make_v by_o the_o romanist_n on_o the_o one_o hand_n of_o the_o want_n of_o book_n of_o devotion_n in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n or_o by_o the_o dissenter_n on_o the_o other_o of_o a_o dead_a and_o lifeless_a way_n of_o preach_v i_o think_v it_o may_v be_v affirm_v that_o there_o can_v any_o where_o be_v find_v so_o good_a a_o collection_n of_o discourse_n upon_o moral_a subject_n as_o may_v be_v make_v of_o english_a sermon_n and_o other_o treatise_n of_o that_o nature_n write_v by_o the_o divine_n of_o our_o church_n which_o book_n be_v certain_o in_o themselves_o of_o the_o great_a and_o most_o general_a use_n of_o any_o and_o do_v most_o conduce_v to_o that_o which_o be_v the_o chief_a aim_n of_o christianity_n a_o good_a life_n for_o whatsoever_o else_o its_o professor_n divide_v into_o party_n may_v contend_v about_o this_o they_o must_v all_o agree_v in_o that_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v a_o people_n zealous_a of_o good_a work_n yet_o though_o no_o body_n can_v deny_v this_o and_o all_o be_v force_v to_o allow_v that_o the_o duty_n of_o a_o good_a life_n ought_v to_o be_v practise_v it_o be_v certain_a that_o this_o which_o be_v so_o essential_a to_o religion_n be_v so_o far_o degrade_v by_o some_o as_o not_o to_o pass_v for_o a_o part_n of_o it_o they_o according_o distinguish_v a_o religious_a from_o a_o moral_a man_n and_o carry_v their_o zeal_n for_o the_o doctrinal_a part_n of_o religion_n so_o far_o that_o they_o seem_v to_o lay_v little_a stress_n on_o the_o performance_n of_o those_o virtue_n recommend_v by_o our_o saviour_n christ_n as_o the_o way_n to_o eternal_a life_n which_o virtue_n have_v be_v common_o enough_o term_v splendid_a vice_n in_o those_o they_o account_v not_o true_a believer_n and_o the_o book_n write_v by_o other_o to_o recommend_v the_o practice_n of_o they_o to_o the_o world_n be_v look_v upon_o by_o these_o man_n as_o little_o more_o worthy_a of_o a_o christian_n perusal_n as_o such_o than_o history_n or_o maxim_n of_o humane_a prudence_n but_o other_o there_o be_v who_o do_v not_o in_o this_o manner_n undervalue_v morality_n that_o yet_o perhaps_o be_v not_o less_o injurious_a to_o it_o whilst_o they_o strain_v the_o duty_n of_o it_o to_o a_o impracticable_a pitch_n or_o pretend_v to_o ascend_v by_o it_o to_o something_o beyond_o or_o above_o it_o which_o have_v be_v mighty_o the_o fault_n of_o those_o in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n who_o have_v a_o better_a relish_n of_o religion_n than_o to_o be_v satisfy_v with_o one_o consist_v of_o nothing_o but_o idle_a superstitious_a and_o pompous_a show_n have_v betake_v themselves_o to_o that_o which_o they_o call_v the_o inward_a way_n or_o life_n of_o contemplation_n of_o which_o there_o never_o have_v want_v great_a number_n in_o that_o church_n know_v in_o several_a time_n by_o several_a name_n which_o distinguish_v they_o more_o than_o their_o opinion_n for_o in_o those_o they_o all_o agree_v in_o one_o common_a difference_n from_o all_o the_o rest_n though_o various_o express_v and_o who_o whatever_o their_o error_n have_v be_v have_v yet_o seem_v the_o most_o in_o earnest_n in_o the_o business_n of_o religion_n of_o any_o that_o the_o roman_a church_n can_v boast_v of_o but_o however_o excusable_a these_o may_v be_v in_o regard_n of_o their_o own_o church_n which_o perhaps_o allow_v they_o no_o other_o way_n of_o be_v religious_a than_o that_o which_o lead_v they_o into_o these_o mistake_v they_o yet_o be_v certain_o very_o injurious_a to_o christianity_n in_o the_o representation_n they_o make_v of_o it_o by_o suppose_v as_o they_o do_v the_o perfection_n of_o a_o christian_a state_n to_o consist_v in_o contemplation_n and_o the_o duty_n of_o a_o social_a life_n for_o which_o it_o be_v plain_a mankind_n be_v intend_v to_o be_v low_a matter_n fit_a only_a to_o exercise_v the_o young_a christian_a not_o yet_o advance_v into_o the_o spiritual_a state_n to_o which_o when_o he_o arrive_v even_o but_o to_o the_o first_o degree_n for_o they_o talk_v of_o three_o degree_n at_o least_o of_o it_o by_o which_o perfection_n be_v to_o be_v ascend_v to_o he_o then_o look_v down_o upon_o all_o the_o duty_n of_o the_o second_o table_n as_o a_o inferior_a dispensation_n belong_v to_o those_o of_o a_o low_a class_n and_o when_o he_o be_v ascend_v to_o the_o high_a degree_n he_o be_v then_o get_v above_o reason_n itself_o be_v first_o melt_v and_o bring_v to_o nothing_o and_o then_o lose_v and_o swallow_v up_o in_o god_n and_o by_o these_o who_o suppose_v themselves_o thus_o far_o advance_v the_o use_n of_o reason_v and_o internal_a discourse_n tend_v to_o fix_v our_o affection_n upon_o god_n and_o express_v itself_o in_o sensible_a devotion_n and_o even_o outward_a act_n of_o obedience_n to_o god_n will_n be_v look_v upon_o as_o part_n of_o the_o active_a life_n and_o less_o perfect_a state_n of_o a_o christian_a as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o divers_a book_n which_o treat_v of_o this_o matter_n and_o particular_o in_o santa_n sophia_n treat_n one_a ch._n 1._o c._n 3._o which_o sufficient_o show_v of_o how_o dangerous_a consequence_n it_o be_v to_o talk_v after_o this_o fashion_n and_o to_o erect_v into_o a_o rule_n or_o dispensation_n of_o life_n what_o possible_o the_o experience_n of_o some_o who_o circumstance_n or_o extraordinary_a illumination_n for_o end_n unknown_a and_o which_o we_o have_v nothing_o to_o do_v with_o may_v have_v enable_v they_o to_o give_v a_o sober_a and_o intelligible_a sense_n of_o to_o themselves_o though_o to_o other_o it_o appear_v jargon_n enthusiasm_n or_o even_o irreligion_n if_o book_n of_o this_o kind_n which_o more_o or_o less_o those_o usual_o be_v the_o papist_n call_v their_o spiritual_a book_n be_v want_v in_o the_o church_n of_o england_n it_o be_v well_o that_o they_o be_v so_o since_o they_o will_v be_v likely_a to_o make_v many_o more_o enthusiast_n than_o good_a christian_n for_o as_o the_o bishop_n of_o worcester_n in_o his_o fanaticism_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n say_v very_o well_o if_o once_o a_o unintelligible_a way_n of_o practical_a religion_n

become_v the_o standard_n of_o devotion_n no_o man_n of_o sense_n and_o reason_n will_v ever_o set_v themselves_o about_o it_o but_o leave_v it_o to_o be_v understand_v by_o mad_a man_n and_o practise_v by_o fool_n which_o be_v a_o reflection_n that_o it_o be_v to_o be_v wish_v all_o will_v make_v who_o may_v be_v tempt_v by_o affectation_n of_o novelty_n fondness_n of_o a_o hypothesis_n or_o any_o other_o better_a reason_n to_o build_v their_o practical_a and_o devotional_a discourse_n upon_o principle_n which_o not_o only_o will_v not_o bear_v the_o test_n but_o which_o oblige_v they_o to_o lay_v down_o such_o assertion_n in_o morality_n as_o sober_a and_o well_o dispose_v christian_n can_v understand_v to_o be_v practicable_a than_o which_o i_o think_v there_o never_o be_v any_o more_o evident_o so_o than_o that_o mankind_n be_v oblige_v strict_o as_o their_o duty_n to_o love_v with_o desire_n nothing_o but_o god_n only_o every_o degree_n of_o desire_n of_o any_o creature_n whatsoever_o be_v sin_n this_o assertion_n though_o not_o altogether_o new_a yet_o have_v be_v but_o late_o bring_v into_o our_o pulpit_n and_o be_v pretend_v to_o be_v set_v on_o foot_n upon_o a_o philosophical_a or_o natural_a ground_n viz._n that_o god_n not_o the_o creature_n be_v the_o immediate_a efficient_a cause_n of_o our_o sensation_n for_o whatever_o give_v we_o pleasure_n say_v they_o who_o hold_v this_o hypothesis_n have_v a_o right_a to_o our_o love_n but_o god_n only_o give_v we_o pleasure_n therefore_o he_o only_o have_v a_o right_a to_o our_o love_n indeed_o in_o a_o sermon_n upon_o this_o subject_a matt._n xxij_o 37._o the_o author_n pretend_v to_o establish_v his_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n upon_o a_o double_a basis_n 1._o that_o god_n be_v the_o only_a cause_n of_o our_o love_n 2._o that_o he_o be_v also_o the_o only_a proper_a object_n of_o it_o but_o in_o reference_n to_o the_o first_o he_o do_v no_o more_o to_o this_o purpose_n but_o prove_v what_o plain_o express_v can_v be_v contest_v viz._n that_o we_o receive_v the_o power_n which_o we_o have_v of_o desire_v from_o god_n and_o then_o ask_v himself_o several_a question_n as_o can_v god_n act_v for_o a_o creature_n do_v not_o god_n make_v all_o thing_n for_o himself_o etc._n etc._n which_o amount_v only_o to_o thus_o much_o that_o they_o signify_v it_o be_v his_o opinion_n that_o god_n who_o doubtless_o make_v all_o thing_n for_o himself_o because_o his_o own_o glory_n be_v his_o primary_n end_v in_o create_v all_o thing_n have_v not_o therefore_o secondary_a and_o intermediate_v end_n for_o which_o he_o make_v the_o creature_n to_o operate_v one_o upon_o another_o which_o be_v but_o in_o a_o tacit_n way_n to_o beg_v the_o question_n but_o he_o confess_v right_o that_o the_o stress_n of_o this_o business_n lie_v in_o the_o proof_n of_o the_o second_o proposition_n upon_o this_o hinge_v say_v he_o the_o whole_a weight_n of_o the_o theory_n turn_v viz._n that_o god_n be_v the_o only_a proper_a object_n of_o our_o love_n as_o be_v the_o only_a cause_n of_o all_o our_o please_a sensation_n the_o creature_n have_v no_o efficiency_n at_o all_o to_o operate_v upon_o we_o they_o be_v only_o occasional_a cause_n of_o those_o sentiment_n which_o god_n produce_v in_o we_o and_o on_o this_o foundation_n it_o then_o be_v that_o he_o assert_n that_o every_o act_n that_o carry_v our_o desire_n towards_o the_o creature_n be_v sinful_a which_o opinion_n if_o receive_v and_o follow_v must_v necessary_o bring_v in_o the_o like_o unintelligible_a way_n of_o practical_a religion_n which_o the_o bishop_n of_o worcester_n have_v just_o censure_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n but_o however_o persuade_v either_o the_o author_n himself_o or_o this_o great_a assertor_n of_o this_o hypothesis_n be_v of_o its_o truth_n or_o reasonableness_n as_o there_o be_v no_o need_n at_o all_o of_o interess_a religion_n and_o morality_n in_o the_o matter_n so_o it_o be_v also_o very_o unserviceable_a to_o they_o since_o that_o which_o they_o will_v infer_v from_o it_o be_v manifest_o no_o just_a consequence_n any_o more_o than_o a_o useful_a or_o practicable_a doctrine_n and_o a_o man_n that_o have_v not_o be_v mighty_a fond_a of_o a_o hypothesis_n will_v never_o have_v attempt_v from_o the_o pulpit_n to_o fortify_v by_o scripture_n a_o opinion_n so_o opposite_a to_o the_o tenor_n of_o it_o as_o well_o as_o to_o that_o morality_n which_o have_v be_v so_o excellent_o preach_v to_o the_o world_n by_o the_o divine_n of_o his_o own_o church_n who_o discourse_n be_v general_o if_o not_o universal_o found_v upon_o this_o supposition_n or_o at_o least_o imply_v it_o that_o there_o may_v be_v a_o lawful_a love_n of_o the_o creature_n and_o be_v herein_o conform_v to_o right_a reason_n and_o consequent_o adapt_v to_o humane_a life_n they_o have_v help_v to_o make_v some_o opposition_n to_o that_o irreligion_n which_o by_o looseness_n of_o manner_n on_o the_o one_o hand_n and_o uncharitable_a zeal_n on_o the_o other_o have_v spread_v itself_o among_o we_o in_o this_o last_o age_n but_o must_v doubtless_o have_v prevail_v further_o have_v not_o more_o reasonable_a principle_n of_o morality_n be_v inculcate_v into_o man_n than_o can_v be_v ground_v upon_o see_v all_o thing_n in_o god_n etc._n etc._n for_o apparent_o if_o the_o practical_a duty_n of_o religion_n have_v not_o be_v better_o account_v for_o and_o enforce_v than_o by_o the_o so_o much_o boast_v of_o spiritual_a book_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n religion_n and_o virtue_n have_v before_o this_o time_n be_v dispute_v or_o ridicule_v out_o of_o our_o world_n and_o yet_o any_o of_o these_o book_n of_o mystical_a divinity_n will_v be_v find_v as_o well_o able_a to_o support_v they_o as_o some_o of_o the_o late_a practical_a discourse_n of_o mr._n n._n or_o as_o any_o man_n be_v else_o can_v be_v upon_o the_o principle_n of_o our_o be_v oblige_v to_o have_v no_o love_n of_o desire_n for_o any_o of_o the_o creature_n which_o be_v particular_o endeavour_v to_o be_v make_v good_a in_o the_o forementioned_a sermon_n upon_o the_o great_a commandment_n of_o the_o law_n matt._n xxij_o 37._o thou_o shall_v love_v the_o lord_n thy_o god_n with_o all_o thy_o heart_n with_o all_o thy_o soul_n and_o with_o all_o thy_o mind_n wherein_o the_o author_n pretend_v to_o show_v that_o all_o our_o love_n be_v to_o be_v so_o entire_o centre_v upon_o god_n that_o not_o any_o part_n of_o it_o be_v to_o be_v allow_v to_o the_o creature_n but_o least_o the_o enlarge_n this_o first_o commandment_n to_o such_o a_o magnitude_n shall_v make_v it_o seem_v to_o swallow_v up_o the_o second_o he_o prevent_v that_o objection_n by_o show_v that_o these_o two_o commandment_n clash_v not_o at_o all_o the_o love_n of_o god_n and_o of_o our_o neighbour_n as_o he_o say_v be_v different_a love_n for_o we_o love_v god_n with_o love_n of_o desire_n and_o love_v or_o shall_v love_v our_o neighbour_n only_o with_o love_n of_o benevolence_n which_o distinction_n in_o other_o discourse_n of_o he_o he_o be_v more_o large_a upon_o and_o seem_v to_o believe_v the_o latter_a part_n of_o it_o confirm_v by_o these_o word_n thou_o shall_v love_v thy_o neighbour_n as_o thyself_o moses_n in_o levit_fw-la xix_o repeat_v to_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n sundry_a law_n and_o among_o other_o several_a special_a duty_n towards_o their_o neighbour_n thus_o conclude_v the_o last_o ver_fw-la the_o 18_o thou_o shall_v love_v thy_o neighbour_n as_o thyself_o which_o conclusion_n be_v comprehensive_a of_o all_o that_o precede_v it_o or_o that_o have_v be_v omit_v and_o in_o a_o short_a rule_n better_a teach_v the_o extent_n of_o what_o we_o owe_v to_o our_o neighbour_n than_o it_o be_v possible_a any_o enumeration_n of_o particular_n can_v this_o duty_n be_v indeed_o so_o full_o express_v herein_o that_o we_o can_v conceive_v any_o addition_n can_v be_v make_v to_o the_o perfection_n of_o this_o precept_n by_o our_o bless_a saviour_n who_o come_v to_o teach_v we_o the_o whole_a will_n of_o the_o father_n and_o to_o give_v we_o the_o most_o perfect_a rule_n of_o life_n that_o have_v yet_o be_v deliver_v to_o mankind_n and_o according_o luke_n the_o four_o ch_n v._o 25._o be_v ask_v master_n what_o shall_v i_o do_v to_o inherit_v eternal_a life_n he_o say_v how_o read_v thou_o in_o the_o law_n it_o be_v answer_v thou_o shall_v love_v the_o lord_n thy_o god_n with_o all_o thy_o heart_n and_o with_o all_o thy_o soul_n with_o all_o thy_o mind_n and_o with_o all_o thy_o strength_n and_o thy_o neighbour_n as_o thyself_o he_o reply_v thou_o have_v answer_v right_o this_o do_v and_o thou_o shall_v live_v he_o have_v answer_v right_a in_o join_v together_o these_o two_o commandment_n in_o the_o law_n on_o which_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o law_n and_o prophet_n do_v depend_v matt._n xxij_o