Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	1,708	5	10.0860	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58850	The method and means to a true spiritual life consisting of three parts, agreeable to the auncient [sic] way / by the late Reverend Matthew Scrivener ... ; cleared from modern abuses, and render'd more easie and practicall.	Scrivener, Matthew.	1688 (1688)	Wing S2118; ESTC R32133	179,257	416

methodical_o yet_o can_v never_o be_v so_o real_o persuade_v but_o that_o holy_a man_n of_o old_a speak_n and_o write_v as_o they_o be_v move_v by_o the_o spirit_n contemn_v all_o order_n and_o method_n but_o what_o natural_o arise_v from_o the_o bowel_n of_o the_o subject_a they_o treat_v of_o and_o the_o occasion_n give_v they_o not_o contradict_v or_o deny_v liberty_n to_o man_n to_o form_v their_o matter_n by_o outward_a method_n as_o may_v agree_v best_a with_o the_o learning_n retain_v and_o digest_v what_o they_o find_v there_o deliver_v 2._o and_o answerable_a to_o this_o the_o more_o mental_a a_o man_n contemplation_n be_v the_o less_o methodical_a be_v they_o wont_a to_o be_v so_o that_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o may_v be_v call_v proper_o prayer_n supramentall_a as_o author_n speak_v it_o must_v be_v more_o strange_a to_o order_n and_o method_n than_o either_o of_o the_o two_o other_o degree_n of_o prayer_n and_o be_v of_o the_o nature_n of_o rapt_n and_o ecstasy_n of_o which_o we_o have_v speak_v for_o by_o such_o purity_n of_o intention_n and_o such_o vehemency_n of_o intention_n and_o ardour_n in_o direct_v a_o man_n mind_n and_o heart_n to_o god_n and_o as_o it_o be_v deliver_v up_o his_o spirit_n into_o his_o hand_n the_o intellectual_a faculty_n may_v cease_v which_o be_v that_o absorption_n speak_v of_o also_o and_o such_o that_o can_v be_v approve_v only_o from_o the_o goodness_n and_o divinenesse_n so_o pore_v on_o and_o with_o its_o lustre_n confound_v they_o carry_v away_o with_o it_o for_o it_o be_v apparent_a that_o evil_a spirit_n do_v in_o like_a manner_n oppress_v the_o mind_n of_o the_o person_n devote_v to_o they_o and_o therefore_o as_o i_o can_v condemn_v all_o such_o excess_n mental_a or_o supramentall_a rather_o so_o can_v i_o approve_v they_o no_o far_o than_o they_o be_v consonant_n to_o the_o law_n and_o the_o testimony_n and_o the_o spirit_n of_o the_o live_a prophet_n i_o mean_v the_o church_n true_o so_o call_v and_o the_o peace_n and_o charity_n of_o the_o same_o so_o that_o as_o i_o can_v but_o think_v favourable_o of_o those_o extravagant_a passage_n and_o rulelesse_a while_o the_o author_n of_o they_o keep_v the_o peace_n of_o the_o church_n and_o know_v principle_n of_o christianity_n innovate_a nothing_o in_o the_o faith_n but_o only_o in_o their_o own_o supramentall_a fact_n as_o we_o may_v term_v they_o so_o can_v i_o no_o way_n justify_v those_o presumptuous_a spirit_n who_o not_o have_v attain_v to_o the_o true_a mental_a prayer_n dare_v obtrude_v their_o vocal_a and_o sensible_a prayer_n upon_o the_o spirit_n of_o a_o whole_a congregation_n and_o that_o without_o any_o good_a authority_n so_o to_o do_v 3._o after_o the_o extraordinary_a gift_n of_o unprepared_a prayer_n cease_v in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n together_o with_o unprepared_a preach_v of_o the_o gospel_n it_o lay_v upon_o the_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n to_o supply_v that_o defect_n in_o the_o best_a manner_n they_o can_v by_o compose_v and_o prescribe_v form_n for_o public_a worship_n lest_o any_o scandal_n or_o indecencie_n shall_v disaffect_v sober_a and_o more_o prudent_a christian_n and_o when_o the_o bishop_n preside_v in_o the_o church_n commit_v any_o part_n of_o his_o wide_a charge_n to_o his_o presbyter_n we_o never_o find_v that_o he_o depart_v in_o the_o public_a worship_n from_o what_o be_v in_o use_n in_o the_o mother-church_n either_o as_o to_o matter_n or_o form_n nay_o the_o principal_a pastor_n of_o any_o diocese_n never_o be_v himself_o so_o imperious_a over_o his_o flock_n as_o vain_a man_n of_o late_a day_n to_o offer_v a_o new_a and_o unknown_a office_n to_o believer_n every_o day_n or_o to_o god_n as_o more_o spiritual_a or_o acceptable_a to_o he_o but_o aim_v at_o nothing_o more_o than_o a_o common_a plain_a well-known_a well-approved_n and_o constant_a form_n of_o sound_a word_n to_o which_o all_o intelligent_a christian_n may_v safe_o and_o cheerful_o give_v their_o concurrence_n and_o set_v to_o their_o seal_n of_o amen_o and_o to_o deny_v liberty_n to_o minister_n to_o offer_v the_o will-worship_n of_o their_o own_o invention_n in_o public_a be_v never_o look_v upon_o as_o they_o say_v as_o lycurgus-like_a to_o cut_v up_o all_o the_o vine_n in_o the_o country_n lest_o man_n shall_v be_v drink_v but_o rather_o cut_v down_o the_o wild_a vine_n who_o fruit_n be_v ungrateful_a to_o judicious_a palate_n and_o pernicious_a to_o the_o community_n of_o christian_n wherein_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n consist_v we_o have_v touch_v before_o but_o sure_o we_o be_v it_o consist_v not_o in_o the_o volubility_n of_o the_o tongue_n readiness_n of_o invention_n fluency_n of_o speech_n choice_n of_o divine_a phrase_n but_o in_o the_o grace_n of_o prayer_n which_o the_o same_o man_n unhappy_o will_v distinguish_v from_o the_o gift_n which_o be_v a_o certain_a pure_a intention_n and_o fervent_a intention_n of_o spirit_n lift_v up_o to_o god_n which_o may_v consist_v with_o a_o prayer_n use_v ten_o thousand_o time_n not_o but_o that_o it_o be_v very_o lawful_a useful_a and_o almost_o necessary_a in_o some_o case_n to_o utter_v the_o fullness_n of_o the_o mind_n by_o unprepared_a word_n in_o private_a address_n but_o to_o lay_v the_o weight_n and_o worth_n of_o a_o prayer_n upon_o the_o word_v of_o it_o be_v a_o foul_a absurdity_n when_o sudden_a surprise_v and_o extraordinary_a occasion_n be_v offer_v to_o blame_v be_v that_o man_n who_o will_v not_o strive_v to_o use_v proportionable_a address_n to_o god_n neither_o stay_n for_o a_o book_n nor_o the_o licence_n of_o his_o ordinary_n but_o ply_v his_o heart_n while_o it_o be_v hot_a and_o full_a the_o best_a manner_n he_o can_v for_o his_o ease_n and_o comfort_n 4._o and_o not_o only_o in_o such_o extraordinary_a case_n as_o may_v even_o extort_v a_o ejaculation_n suitable_a but_o out_o of_o that_o common_a habit_n of_o grace_n a_o man_n may_v have_v attain_v unto_o by_o christian_a diligence_n it_o be_v most_o reasonable_a and_o pious_a he_o shall_v lift_v up_o his_o mind_n frequent_o unto_o god_n in_o divine_a contemplation_n admiration_n of_o his_o power_n and_o wisdom_n thankfulness_n for_o deliverance_n and_o benefit_n bestow_v imploration_n of_o his_o mercy_n and_o pardon_n for_o daily_a trespass_n he_o be_v liable_a to_o and_o exercise_v that_o communion_n that_o every_o good_a christian_n shall_v have_v with_o god_n and_o all_o this_o not_o only_o in_o usual_a and_o constant_a phrase_n and_o form_n though_o that_o be_v commendable_a but_o as_o the_o spirit_n shall_v give_v he_o utterance_n all_o which_o notwithstanding_o aught_o to_o be_v regulate_v by_o the_o rule_n of_o christian_a modesty_n justice_n and_o charity_n so_o as_o not_o to_o indulge_v to_o private_a satisfaction_n herein_o to_o the_o prejudice_n of_o other_o nor_o to_o fancy_n such_o a_o edification_n to_o himself_o which_o shall_v tend_v to_o the_o dissipation_n of_o the_o church_n of_o god_n that_o rule_n of_o saint_n paul_n bind_v incessant_o such_o as_o otherwise_o will_v be_v boundless_a let_v no_o man_n seek_v his_o own_o but_o every_o man_n another_o wealth_n 1_o corinth_n 10._o 24._o meaning_n rather_o spiritual_a than_o temporal_a welfare_n and_o again_o the_o same_o apostle_n 1_o corinth_n 14._o 12._o advise_v for_o as_o much_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 edification_n of_o the_o church_n which_o whosoever_o violate_v by_o private_a affectation_n in_o religion_n may_v be_v say_v to_o indulge_v rather_o to_o his_o own_o carnal_a humour_n how_o divine_a soever_o it_o may_v appear_v to_o weak_a judgement_n than_o to_o the_o edification_n of_o himself_o or_o other_o for_o as_o he_o that_o sing_v with_o the_o congregation_n ought_v to_o lay_v aside_o his_o private_a tune_n though_o possible_o fare_v more_o excellent_a than_o that_o which_o be_v set_v for_o all_o to_o follow_v so_o must_v the_o singular_a devotion_n of_o a_o high_a strain_n than_o ordinary_a comply_v with_o the_o mean_a to_o avoid_v scandal_n and_o confusion_n as_o that_o which_o may_v better_o agree_v with_o the_o whole_a body_n than_o sublime_a strain_n or_o tune_n and_o this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o that_o plain_a and_o easy_a recitative_a way_n of_o use_v the_o psalm_n in_o our_o church_n which_o require_v a_o cheerful_a spirit_n without_o difficulty_n or_o tediousness_n of_o modulate_v the_o voice_n which_o for_o that_o reason_n may_v have_v be_v prefer_v before_o the_o more_o artificial_a and_o hard_a of_o private_a man_n invention_n have_v it_o not_o please_v man_n of_o design_n and_o unquiet_a spirit_n to_o bring_v it_o into_o disgrace_n for_o no_o other_o fault_n but_o which_o be_v find_v to_o be_v more_o notorious_a in_o that_o they_o have_v introduce_v in_o its_o stead_n from_o which_o frowardness_n of_o spirit_n and_o