Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A76282
|
Metamorphosis Christiana: or, The old man changed into the new. An occasional discourse.
|
Beare, Nicholas.
|
1679
(1679)
|
Wing B1563A; ESTC R172674
|
33,570
|
43
|
are every day's Examples whereupon he makes this Challenge Bring me the Man that is Angry Ill-natur'd Stubborn by a Lecture from Christianity I 'le make him as gentle as a Lamb. Bring me the Man that is pinching and Covetous I 'le make him truly Liberal distributing with both his Hands Bring the Man that is afraid of Pain and Death I 'le make him so truly Valiant that he shall not be moved at the Fire and Faggot he shall despise even the Bull of Phalaris Bring me the Man that is incontinent and gluttonous I 'le make him chast and sober Bring me the Man that is cruel and blood-thirsty I 'le make him merciful Bring me an Extortioner or any other sinner and in a short time I 'le make the same person just and innocent The Washing or Regeneration purifies from all Malice and the force of true Religion is such as that it puts to flight the Old Man Now if Christian Religion heretofore wrought in the manners of Men so heavenly a Change how much does it concern us who profess the same to give the World a Testimony by the like Demonstration that we are not Whited Sepulchres as founding Brass and tinkling Cymbals Christians not only in Show but in Truth This Argument I have handled more largely because I look on it as the most genuine and substantial of the Text. I pass for your Encouragement to others Arg. 4. The living in the practice of the aforesaid Duties shall bespeak us truly gentile I have always been of opinion that true Gentility carrieth in it somewhat more than ordinary A generous Stream of Vertuous and Heroick Qualities circle in noble Veins The Son of Hector betrays Courage in his Cradle by the Benefit whereof upon the Top of the Tower o're which he is to be thrown he can at once look his Enemies and Death in the Face Such as are nobly descended can like the Off-spring of the Eagle behold things splendid as their proper Object which would dazle the Eyes of the Dunghil-breed Whereupon 't is obvious to observe that even Afflictions cannot alter their Nature though oppressed they will not be o'recome though under straights they betray still a generous Soul they scorne Actions dirty and Sordid To prey upon Flies to pilfer and undoe them that are below them in their Carriage full of Courtesie Whereas those of the Mushrom Production betray low and ignoble Spirits and like that Creature in the Fable by a sordid Port plainly discover themselves under the Lion's Skin Julius Capitolinus tells that from the Vitious Dirty and Sordid Behaviour of Commodus In Vit. Ant. natum Com. gladiatorem in principem 't was generally concluded that he was not the Son of Antoninus but of some Ruffian Hector There was no Ranter no Hogherd no Villain like him He that lives not up to the principles of Generosity and Prowess does plainly argue himself to degenerate is the disgrace of his Family and gives a Blot to his Escutcheon Now will any affirm that this is gentile to be o'rewhelmed with Pride and Cruelty to take pleasure in the Ruine of our Fellow-Creatures Is it an Act of Fortitude like Saul among the Amalekites to crush those that are not able to resist us Is it an Argument of a large Soul like the Dog in the Manger to bite and bark and prohibite that to others which to our selves is both useless and cumbersome The King of Beasts spares the Prostrate will not exercise his Strength where he meets with no opposition To destroy a weak punie and beggarly Enemy is not a Victory but Disparagement We are not born for our selves alone our Country Kindred and Fellow-denisons claim a share This single Inducement made many of the Heathens to prefer the Publick Good before their Private Interests Believe it Sirs we shall appear highly gentile by Acts of Love Mercy and Meekness by giving as the Roman Emperors were wont upon great Solemnities largesses to others by relieving and maintaining the Poor by pleading the Cause of the Fatherless and Widdow by furthering the good of others and doing what Service we can in our own Generation Hither Nature does direct us if the great Philosopher were not mistaken every Being runs out of his way for the Preservation of the Universe And if we have recourse to the Sun Moon and Stars the Host of Heaven Lo they Dart their Rays and vouchsafe their Influencies to all without Exception to the lowest as well as highest to the worst equally with the best of Creatures If we look above the Heavens and consider the Actions of the Supreme he has no small care of the meanest Creatures he is full of Bowels Patience Long-suffering he prosecutes his Enemies with unparallel'd acts of Love and what higher Inducement can be desired In this chiefly we shall be like him bespeak our selves nobly descended and if not from some ancient Family and great House yet from the most glorious King and Empirean Palace and not only in the sense of Aratus but a more approved even that of our Saviour we shall declare our selves his Off-spring Mat. 5.44 That ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Vnjust Arg. 5. Such Acts as these as they bespeak us truly gentile so are they highly obliging The Sun by its warmth and gentle Rays gains from the Traveller that Coat which the blustering Wind fastened closer to him Much more is to be accomplished by Kindness than by all the methods of Severity 'T is confessed Tyrants may compell and make their Vassals pliant by extream rigour I may bring many to my beck but I cannot keep them there This is a Method to treat a Slave withal one who has shaken off all Humanity This may render thee terrible but at the same time thou shalt not be without daily Fears and Trepidations Like the brute beasts they will be serviceable no longer than they are under the Yoak being released they 'l rebell and upon the first occasion become thy greatest Enemies Whereupon we find the severest Tyrants to have lived most miserable lives their own fears at least equal if not greater than those of their Slaves they fancy Poyson mixed with their Meat and Drink they sleep not without Jealousies and as we read of Dionysius in Cicero they chuse rather to singe their Beards than trust a Barber Whereas the Cords of Love are easie pleasant and strong Men take delight to be caught in these and to be led where you please The best allowable and most lasting Philtre to command the Affections of Men is a sweet and vertuous Carriage be kind and obliging to those that are round about thee and their good Wishes Presents and Services are at thy Devotion 'T was by such Acts as these that Caesar arrived to that height he did he was always kind and liberal to his