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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n great_a know_v think_v 3,397 5 3.7699 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A62626 Sermons preach'd upon several occasions by his Grace John Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury ; the first volume.; Sermons. Selections Tillotson, John, 1630-1694. 1694 (1694) Wing T1260; ESTC R18444 149,531 355

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of_o confirmation_n shall_v be_v by_o endeavour_v to_o vindicate_v religion_n from_o those_o common_a imputation_n which_o seem_v to_o charge_v it_o with_o ignorance_n or_o imprudence_n and_o they_o be_v chief_o these_o three_o 1._o credulity_n 2._o singularity_n 3._o make_v a_o foolish_a bargain_n first_o credulity_n say_v they_o the_o foundation_n of_o religion_n be_v the_o belief_n of_o those_o thing_n for_o which_o we_o have_v no_o sufficient_a reason_n and_o consequent_o of_o which_o we_o can_v have_v no_o good_a assurance_n as_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o god_n and_o of_o a_o future_a state_n after_o this_o life_n thing_n which_o we_o never_o see_v nor_o do_v experience_n nor_o ever_o speak_v with_o any_o body_n that_o do_v now_o it_o seem_v to_o argue_v too_o great_a a_o forwardness_n and_o easiness_n of_o belief_n to_o assent_v to_o any_o thing_n upon_o insufficient_a ground_n to_o this_o i_o answer_v 1._o that_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o be_v as_o a_o god_n and_o such_o a_o 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this_o word_n be_v so_o to_o be_v take_v in_o the_o text_n may_v appear_v far_o from_o the_o opposition_n of_o it_o to_o sin_n or_o vice_n in_o general_a righteousness_n exalt_v a_o nation_n but_o sin_n be_v the_o reproach_n of_o any_o people_n you_o see_v then_o what_o will_v be_v the_o subject_n of_o my_o present_a discourse_n namely_o that_o religion_n and_o virtue_n be_v the_o great_a cause_n of_o public_a happiness_n and_o prosperity_n and_o though_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o have_v be_v universal_o acknowledge_v and_o long_o enough_o experience_v in_o the_o world_n yet_o because_o the_o fashion_n of_o the_o age_n be_v to_o call_v every_o thing_n into_o question_n it_o will_v be_v requisite_a to_o satisfy_v man_n reason_n about_o it_o to_o which_o end_n i_o shall_v do_v these_o two_o thing_n 1._o endeavour_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o this_o truth_n 2._o to_o vindicate_v it_o from_o the_o pretence_n and_o insinuation_n of_o atheistical_a person_n i._o shall_v give_v you_o this_o twofold_a account_n of_o it_o 1._o from_o the_o justice_n of_o the_o divine_a providence_n 2._o from_o the_o natural_a tendency_n of_o the_o thing_n 1._o from_o the_o justice_n of_o the_o divine_a providence_n indeed_o as_o to_o particular_a person_n the_o providence_n of_o god_n be_v many_o time_n promiscuous_o administer_v in_o this_o world_n so_o that_o no_o man_n can_v certain_o conclude_v god_n love_n or_o hatred_n to_o any_o person_n by_o any_o thing_n that_o befall_v he_o in_o this_o life_n but_o god_n do_v not_o deal_v thus_o with_o nation_n because_o public_a body_n and_o community_n of_o man_n as_o such_o can_v only_o be_v reward_v and_o punish_v in_o this_o world_n for_o in_o the_o next_o all_o those_o public_a society_n and_o combination_n wherein_o man_n be_v now_o link_v together_o under_o several_a government_n shall_v be_v dissolve_v god_n will_v not_o then_o reward_n or_o punish_v nation_n as_o nation_n but_o every_o man_n shall_v then_o give_v a_o account_n 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world_n because_o he_o know_v that_o his_o justice_n will_v have_v another_o and_o better_a opportunity_n to_o meet_v and_o reckon_v with_o they_o but_o the_o general_a and_o cry_a sin_n of_o a_o nation_n can_v hope_v to_o escape_v public_a judgement_n unless_o they_o be_v prevent_v by_o a_o general_a repentance_n god_n may_v defer_v his_o judgement_n for_o a_o time_n and_o give_v a_o people_n a_o long_a space_n of_o repentance_n he_o may_v stay_v till_o the_o iniquity_n of_o a_o nation_n be_v full_a but_o soon_o or_o late_a they_o have_v reason_n to_o expect_v his_o vengeance_n and_o usual_o the_o long_a punishment_n be_v delay_v it_o be_v the_o heavy_a when_o it_o come_v now_o all_o this_o be_v very_o reasonable_a because_n this_o world_n be_v the_o only_a season_n for_o national_a punishment_n and_o indeed_o they_o be_v in_o a_o great_a degree_n necessary_a for_o the_o present_a vindication_n of_o the_o honour_n and_o majesty_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n and_o to_o give_v some_o 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of_o the_o great_a part_n of_o christian_n how_o gross_o and_o open_o do_v many_o of_o we_o contradict_v the_o plain_a precept_n of_o the_o gospel_n by_o our_o ungodliness_n and_o worldly_a lust_n by_o live_v intemperate_o or_o unjust_o or_o profane_o in_o this_o present_a world_n as_o if_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n which_o bring_v salvation_n have_v never_o appear_v to_o we_o as_o if_o we_o have_v never_o hear_v of_o heaven_n or_o hell_n or_o believe_v not_o one_o word_n that_o the_o scripture_n say_v concern_v they_o as_o if_o we_o be_v in_o no_o expectation_n of_o the_o bless_a hope_n and_o the_o glorious_a appearance_n of_o the_o great_a god_n and_o our_o saviour_n jesus_n christ_n who_o god_n have_v appoint_v to_o judge_v the_o world_n in_o righteousness_n and_o who_o will_v bestow_v mighty_a reward_n upon_o those_o who_o faithful_o serve_v he_o but_o will_v come_v in_o flame_a sire_n to_o take_v vengeance_n on_o they_o that_o know_v not_o god_n and_o that_o obey_v not_o the_o 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and_o christ_n and_o do_v thou_o for_o all_o that_o continue_v to_o practice_v these_o vice_n what_o can_v thou_o say_v man_n why_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v to_o thou_o according_a to_o thy_o faith_n if_o it_o so_o fall_v out_o that_o thou_o be_v miserable_a and_o undo_v for_o ever_o thou_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o be_v surprise_v as_o if_o some_o unexpected_a thing_n have_v happen_v to_o thou_o it_o be_v but_o with_o thou_o just_a as_o thou_o believ'd_v it_o will_v be_v when_o thou_o do_v these_o thing_n for_o how_o can_v thou_o expect_v that_o god_n shall_v accept_v of_o thy_o good_a belief_n when_o thou_o do_v so_o notorious_o contradict_v it_o by_o a_o bad_a life_n how_o can_v thou_o look_v for_o other_o but_o that_o god_n shall_v condemn_v thou_o for_o the_o do_v of_o those_o thing_n for_o which_o thy_o own_o conscience_n do_v condemn_v thou_o all_o the_o while_o thou_o be_v do_v of_o they_o when_o we_o come_v into_o the_o other_o world_n there_o be_v no_o consideration_n that_o 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unwilling_a to_o own_v it_o may_v yet_o be_v ashamed_a to_o deny_v it_o and_o methinks_v i_o have_v this_o peculiar_a advantage_n in_o the_o argument_n i_o have_v now_o undertake_v that_o every_o reasonable_a man_n can_v choose_v but_o wish_v i_o success_n in_o this_o attempt_n because_o i_o undertake_v the_o proof_n of_o that_o which_o it_o be_v every_o man_n interest_n that_o it_o shall_v be_v true_a and_o if_o i_o can_v make_v it_o out_o this_o pretence_n against_o religion_n will_v not_o only_o be_v baffle_v but_o we_o shall_v gain_v a_o new_a and_o forcible_a argument_n to_o persuade_v man_n over_o to_o it_o now_o the_o easiness_n or_o difficulty_n of_o the_o observation_n of_o any_o law_n or_o command_n depend_v chief_o upon_o these_o three_o thing_n first_o upon_o the_o nature_n of_o
present_a in_o order_n to_o our_o future_a disquiet_n but_o if_o we_o resist_v and_o conquer_v they_o we_o lay_v the_o foundation_n of_o perpetual_a peace_n and_o tranquillity_n in_o our_o mind_n if_o we_o govern_v ourselves_o in_o the_o use_n of_o sensual_a delight_n by_o the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o reason_n we_o shall_v find_v ourselves_o more_o at_o ease_n than_o if_o we_o shall_v let_v loose_a the_o reins_o to_o our_o appetite_n and_o lust_n for_o the_o more_o we_o gratify_v our_o lust_n the_o more_o crave_v they_o will_v be_v and_o the_o more_o impatient_a of_o denial_n crescit_fw-la indulgens_fw-la sibi_fw-la dirus_fw-la hydrops_fw-la every_o lust_n be_v a_o kind_n of_o hydropic_a distemper_n and_o the_o more_o we_o drink_v the_o more_o we_o shall_v thirst_v so_o that_o by_o retrench_v our_o inordinate_a desire_n we_o do_v not_o rob_v ourselves_o of_o any_o true_a pleasure_n but_o only_o prevent_v the_o pain_n and_o trouble_v of_o far_a dissatisfaction_n humility_n though_o it_o may_v seem_v to_o expose_v a_o man_n to_o some_o contempt_n yet_o it_o be_v true_o the_o ready_a way_n to_o honour_n as_o on_o the_o contrary_a pride_n be_v a_o most_o improper_a and_o absurd_a mean_n for_o the_o accomplish_n of_o the_o end_n it_o aim_v at_o all_o other_o vice_n do_v in_o some_o measure_n attain_v their_o end_n covetousness_n do_v usual_o raise_v a_o estate_n and_o ambitious_a endeavour_n do_v often_o advance_v man_n to_o high_a place_n but_o pride_n and_o insolence_n and_o contempt_n of_o other_o do_v infallible_o defeat_v their_o own_o design_n they_o aim_v at_o respect_n and_o esteem_v but_o never_o attain_v it_o for_o all_o mankind_n do_v natural_o hate_v and_o slight_v a_o proud_a man_n what_o more_o reasonable_a than_o patience_n and_o contentedness_n and_o that_o we_o shall_v in_o all_o thing_n resign_v up_o ourselves_o to_o the_o will_n of_o god_n who_o love_v we_o as_o well_o as_o we_o do_v ourselves_o and_o know_v what_o be_v good_a for_o we_o better_o than_o 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potent_a enemy_n who_o make_v it_o their_o business_n to_o tempt_v and_o to_o deter_v we_o from_o our_o duty_n yet_o our_o case_n be_v not_o hard_o so_o long_o as_o we_o have_v a_o great_a strength_n on_o our_o side_n and_o this_o the_o apostle_n tell_v we_o be_v the_o case_n of_o every_o christian_a great_a be_v he_o that_o be_v in_o you_o than_o he_o that_o be_v in_o the_o world_n be_v there_o legion_n of_o devil_n who_o be_v continual_o design_v and_o work_v our_o ruin_n there_o be_v also_o miriads_o of_o good_a angel_n who_o be_v more_o cheerful_a and_o officious_a to_o do_v we_o good_a for_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o as_o those_o who_o be_v bend_v to_o do_v wicked_o will_v never_o want_v tempter_n to_o urge_v they_o on_o and_o to_o push_v they_o forward_o in_o a_o evil_a course_n so_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n those_o who_o apply_v themselves_o serious_o to_o the_o business_n of_o religion_n and_o yield_v themselves_o tractable_a to_o good_a motion_n will_v find_v the_o good_a spirit_n of_o god_n more_o ready_a and_o active_a to_o encourage_v they_o than_o the_o devil_n can_v be_v to_o pull_v they_o back_o unless_o we_o think_v that_o god_n have_v give_v a_o great_a power_n and_o a_o large_a commission_n to_o the_o devil_n to_o do_v man_n mischief_n than_o to_o his_o holy_a spirit_n and_o his_o holy_a angel_n for_o our_o assistance_n and_o encouragement_n but_o then_o we_o be_v to_o understand_v that_o this_o assistance_n be_v only_o offer_v to_o man_n and_o not_o force_v upon_o they_o whether_o they_o will_v or_o no._n for_o if_o we_o beg_v god_n grace_n but_o neglect_n to_o make_v use_n of_o it_o if_o we_o implore_v his_o assistance_n for_o the_o mortify_n of_o our_o lust_n but_o will_v not_o contribute_v our_o own_o endeavour_n god_n will_v withdraw_v his_o grace_n and_o take_v away_o his_o holy_a spirit_n from_o we_o nay_o if_o after_o we_o have_v begin_v well_o we_o do_v notorious_o slacken_v our_o endeavour_n we_o forfeit_v the_o divine_a assistance_n if_o when_o by_o god_n grace_n we_o have_v in_o a_o good_a measure_n conquer_v the_o first_o difficulty_n of_o religion_n and_o gain_v some_o habitual_a strength_n against_o sin_n if_o after_o this_o we_o grow_v careless_a and_o remiss_a and_o neglect_v our_o guard_n and_o lay_v ourselves_o open_a to_o temptation_n god_n spirit_n will_v not_o always_o strive_v with_o we_o notwithstanding_o all_o the_o promise_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o the_o mighty_a assistance_n there_o offer_v to_o we_o if_o we_o love_v any_o lust_n and_o will_v with_o samson_n lay_v our_o head_n in_o dalilah_n lap_n we_o shall_v be_v insensible_o rob_v of_o our_o strength_n and_o become_v like_o other_o man_n iii_o we_o have_v the_o great_a encouragement_n to_o the_o observance_n of_o god_n command_n two_o thing_n make_v any_o course_n of_o life_n easy_a present_a pleasure_n and_o the_o assurance_n of_o a_o future_a reward_n religion_n give_v part_n of_o its_o reward_n in_o hand_n the_o present_a comfort_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o have_v do_v our_o duty_n and_o for_o the_o rest_n it_o offer_v we_o the_o best_a security_n that_o heaven_n can_v give_v now_o these_o two_o must_v needs_o make_v our_o duty_n very_o easy_a a_o considerable_a reward_n in_o hand_n and_o not_o only_o the_o hope_n but_o the_o assurance_n of_o a_o far_o great_a recompense_n hereafter_o 1._o present_a peace_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o mind_n and_o unexpressible_a joy_n and_o pleasure_n flow_v from_o the_o testimony_n of_o a_o good_a conscience_n this_o be_v present_a payment_n beside_o that_o it_o be_v the_o earnest_n of_o a_o future_a and_o great_a happiness_n and_o this_o do_v natural_o spring_v up_o in_o the_o mind_n of_o a_o good_a man_n great_a peace_n have_v they_o that_o love_v thy_o law_n and_o nothing_o shall_v offend_v they_o all_o act_n of_o piety_n and_o virtue_n be_v not_o only_o delightful_a for_o the_o