Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bishop_n	church_n	part_n	1,403	5	4.4637	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B10013	Advice to readers of the common prayer, and the people attending the same. With a preface concerning divine worship. Humbly offered to consideration, for promoting the greater decency and solemnity in performing the offices of God's publick worship, administered according to the order established by law amongst us / by a well-meaning (though unlearned) layick of the Church of England. T.S.	T. S. (Thomas Seymour)	1691 (1691)	Wing S2829; ESTC R183777	88,165	210

a devout posture and with a distinct and audible voice and this they can be taught very young and this will beget a desire in them to joyn in the rest a diligence in learning to read and a good pronunciation in all things and this their concern to make their Children devout would prevent another concern which in the Church seems very indecent and I mention it at the request of one who is much offended thereby which is a concern that their Childrens Hoods and Cloaths sit in the best manner and be kept clean which makes them more busie about these things even in the face of the Congregation than about their Prayers which I hope will seem to themselves so unfit when they consider it that a word will perswade them to reform it But to return to my purpose 7ly He that reads should not only observe to do it in such postures as the Church hath ordered as standing or kneeling in the parts of Worship proper to each but also with such natural actions as lifting up the Eyes or Hands c. which the Church hath not ordered and that because they are so obvious to the reason of all Mankind to be meet expressions of the inward Devotion of our minds even such as are due to God by the very Law of Nature that they need not be ordered and they are indeed so natural that it is scarce possible for a Man truly devout to forbear the use of them And it seems to me a thing wonderful how Satan hath so blinded the minds of Men professing the best Religion in the World that they do not more plainly perceive the Decency of such acts of Devotion nor more generally practise them 8ly He ought also to make such fit Pauses where the People are to change their posture from kneeling to standing that they may have time to rise up and compose themselves for the acts of Adoration especially before the repeating the words o● Glory wherewith we begin the Office o● Praise and Thanksgiving 9ly He ought also to give to each par● of the Service the proper accent or measure of Voice belonging to the same For it is not seemly that all should be read in one Tone but those parts that are for Instruction wherein he speaks to the People should have one manner of reading the Prayers wherein he alone speaks for them another and those Psalms and Prayers wherein they speak with him by turns another He that hath no understanding of this nor doth observe it as it ought to be can never read well 10ly It is also fit to give an Emphasis to some words in Reading for the better expression and excitation of the devout affections which they may be supposed to require But some Readers have accustomed themselves to a kind of devout Tone which puts an Emphasis on words where none is required which plainly shews an affectation of Devotion where none is Whereas nothing shews well in the Ministers of Religion but that which appears to be natural that is the true effect of a devout mind in themselves and directed by sober judgement to beget Devotion in others But this of all other is most indecent in the repetition of the Psalms and all Alternate Readings because the People can observe no Concord when they read thus as they may when it is read with an even Voice and without such long Pauses as such kind of Tones are usually accompanied withal 11ly And it is very convenient that in Reading those things that the People are least perfect in the Reader should take most care to speak distinctly and audibly which I have often observed they do not The reason seems to be because the care of reading right what they are least used unto takes off from the regard they should have to read so that they may all hear The things I mean are the Collects which are proper to several Days the Prayers to be used on several Occasions and the Chapters that are read out of the Apocrypha c. 12ly Though it be a great advantage to this devout manner of Reading to be so perfect that he need not have a continual eye on his Book yet until he be so the Reader is not to venture on his memory alone because mistakes are very indecent and discompose the Auditory 13ly He ought also to make careful provision that all things be ready look'd out before-hand that there be no cluttering of leaves in the midst of the Service And here I shall humbly offer to the consideration of the Governours of Choires in Cathedral Churches the Reformation of a great Disorder that I suppose proceeds from the neglect of something of this kind I have observed myself and heard many complain some out of Devotion others in Reproach of our Service that the Singing-boys are so rude and indecent in their Behaviour that it makes that Service seem more like a carnal Divertisement than the solemn Worship of Almighty GOD The occasion whereof seems to me to be the neglect of due care that all the Singing-men and Boys know before-hand what is to be sung and have it every one turned down ready in their Books for the chief occasion of their talking to the Singing-men and among themselves is about this matter and their being so used to talk in the midst of the Prayers begets a profane Spirit in them and is such an excuse for them that they are ready to talk and laugh together on other accounts in the very face of the Bishops and the Masters of the Church which hath given great Offence to many and I believe the suffering this hath been one great cause of the Contempt of that Service among the common People which makes the Reformation thereof the more needful I was lately told of an Order in some Lutheran Churches whose Service consists chiefly in Singing the Psalms of David to the praise and glory of God and Songs of Love and Honour to our blessed Saviour composed by excellent Persons among themselves for which Service they have Assemblies twice a day and it is this That all may know what is to be sung there is a Table hung up at the entrance of the Church where it is written down what Psalms and Songs are appointed for the day and the People coming early to Church go first to this place and take notice what they are to sing and look it out ready before the Service begins Such an Order in our Choires would prevent the Indecency fore-mentioned as also the Boys running up and down with Books to tell what Anthem is sung which is also very indecent Neither is the care of Cleanness and Neatness both of Body and Garments to be neglected The reason of the Judicial Laws for the Washings and curious Garments of the Priests which was for the beauty and glory of the Worship they were to perform seems to me to infer thus much at least That those who administer Holy Things should avoid all offensive

seem'd to me very unsuitable to 〈◊〉 nature of that Exercise wherein we 〈◊〉 to declare our Joy and Exultancy in Go● and therefore in speaking as well as sin●ing should lift up our Voices and pra●● him lustily and with a good courage as it 〈◊〉 Psal 81.1 And in many places t●● Scripture exhorts to a great chearfulness 〈◊〉 this Exercise and to do it with loud a●● exalted Voices And if we did so 〈◊〉 would make it shew like another thin● than it doth in the way I reprove an● would render it more laudatory and h●● nourable to Almighty God and more pleasant and comfortable to our selves an● it would also remove the offence tha● some take against it as Unedifying fo● that it is only on account of this I mention because they can understand bu● half the Psalm through the imperfect murmur of the people in repeating their par● For if every one spake as loud and plai● in repeating his Verse as the Minister dot●● in repeating his as they ought to do 〈◊〉 they would have it appear like Psalmod● or an Office of Praise there would be no cause for this Complaint And also those that cannot read who might be helped by the next by-stander to perform their part without it or at least may understand as much as if the Minister read all and so be more edified in that holy Joy which this manner of reading is apt to beget And I wish also that people had the art to speak in some kind of Concord with the Minister either that their Voites might be Unisons with his or a Fifth or an Eighth from it For there is a Speaking as well as Singing together that is very harsh by reason of a discordancy in the Voices of those that perform it And if men that have understanding in this matter and good strong Voices would set themselves to do their part it would soon bring the Congregation to a better performance And why should they not think themselves concerned so to do Is there any Exercise in the world of a higher nature or more immediately design'd to the Glory and Honour of Almighty God Besides it is done as in his sight and presence and therefore to be done with a manly courage and the best skill we are able And nothing can be more exhilerating to pious minds in that therein we have communion together 〈◊〉 celebrating the Divine Praises and in repeating the Histories of God's wonderf●● Works with one mouth as well as wi●● one mind nor more edifying in that 〈◊〉 is a provoking one another to worship fear and obey him speaking to our selve● and teaching and admonishing one another 〈◊〉 the Apostle exhorts in Psalms and Hymn● and Spiritual Songs singing with grace a●● making melody to the Lord in our hearts 〈◊〉 Eph. 5.19 Colos 3.16 For the gracious Harmony which we find in our Sou●● between our Reason and the truth of th● Divine Revelations between our Affection and the goodness and suitableness of th● objects therein proposed especially as the● powers are renewed by the Holy Ghos● must needs yield an unspeakable delight 〈◊〉 our selves and also we make melody in o●● hearts to the Lord when we exercise th● Graces of Faith and Love and Joy and Hop● therein which is our singing with grace so as to express them to the sense of other● By this solemn serious and joyful mann● of speaking we also teach and admonish o● another for such pleasant conversation i● repeating those excellent parts of Scripture sweetly insinuates holy Doctrine teaching one another to follow God and hi● Saints whose vertues and blessedness we celebrate and admonishing one another to take heed lest we have any fellowship with the Wicked whose vices we condemn and remember their woful downfals as ensamples to warn us to repent lest we also perish as they have done Now this being so pleasant and profitable an Exercise why should not all good Men endeavour to revive the credit thereof by the most excellent manner of performance Certainly it had never been in the power of Satan or his Instruments to have brought into contempt a thing that is so heavenly and angelical if Men had not remitted their care of doing it as they ought For our lauding and praising our most great and gracious God and communicating the delights of heaven-born Souls in this Way of responsory speaking is so accommodate to the capacity of all descending to the very meanest without abating the delights of the greatest that it is strange that any should not like it I have known some Families that for many Generations have been so defective in the way of artificial Singing that no one Person of them could ever sing the Tune of a Psalm in any tolerable manner yet these can praise God with the Congregation in thi● way of repeating the Psalms by turns and Children may be much earlier taught 〈◊〉 do so in this than in any other wa● And though this doth create delight to some that cannot sing yet it is no abatement of delight to others that are skilful in Musick For that way of Singing which is now most commended is but a melodious kind of Speaking and all Music● Graces that hinder the understanding o● Words are quite out of fashion So tha● here is a delight that offers itself most early to be the Felicity of Humane Nature● anticipating the base and bruitish delight of Sense that press upon us for entertainment on the account of their being pleasant and necessary and that before we ca● well discover the slightness of their pretences thereunto And 't is also such 〈◊〉 Pleasure as loseth not its relish in any Age● but still continueth its force and power t● counter-work the insinuations of such Delights in all parts of life as may be prejudicial to our spiritual Felicity and t● sweeten and sanctifie all the rest And I perswade myself that if Person● of Age and Honour and those that hav● some excellency of Art would but desig● and endeavour to make the best of thi● Way they would find great satisfaction to themselves thereby and would also beget an ambition in the younger sort to do worthily in performing their part in this heavenly Psalmody And Youth being so encouraged would soon conceive such a pleasure as I have before spoken of and this in conjunction with other appointed means would mightily facilitate the work of their Conversion from a carnal to a spiritual Life engaging them heartily in the Combat against the Enemies of their souls and in a serious prosecution of true Felicity as obliged by Baptism It is evident that Life without pleasure is an empty name and little more desirable than Death David lamenting in his own person the deplorable Miseries to which Man in his best state is now subject asks the question Wherefore God hath made all men for nought and yet the Apostle tells of some who li-lived in pleasure that they were dead while they lived hence we may conclude