Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	bitterness_n	christian_n	great_a	32	3	2.1343	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35823	Devout reflections on time, and eternity with various considerations and counsells, to assist our victory over this present world, and help us to prepare for an everlasting state. An introduction is prefixt concerning the first day of the year: how it was observ'd by the Jews; and in what manner à [sic] serious Christian may employ it to the best advantage. Most of the following meditations are suited to that purpose.		1687 (1687)	Wing D1245A; ESTC R216345	99,201	364

devout_a reflection_n on_o time_n and_o eternity_n with_o various_a consideration_n and_o counsel_n to_o assist_v our_o victory_n over_o this_o present_a world_n and_o help_v we_o to_o prepare_v for_o a_o everlasting_a state._n a_o introduction_n be_v prefix_v concern_v the_o first_o day_n of_o the_o year_n how_o it_o be_v observe_v by_o the_o jew_n and_o in_o what_o manner_n a_o serious_n christian_n may_v employ_v it_o to_o the_o best_a advantage_n most_o of_o the_o follow_a meditation_n be_v suit_v to_o that_o purpose_n amsterdam_n print_a for_o jacob_n vande_n velde_n bookseller_n in_o the_o year_n 1687._o to_o the_o reader_n the_o visible_a decay_n of_o piety_n and_o evangelical_n holiness_n be_v a_o common_a subject_n of_o complaint_n and_o hardly_o ever_o be_v it_o more_o just_o so_o then_o now_o with_o respect_n to_o the_o generality_n of_o church_n and_o particular_a christian_n all_o serious_a use_v consider_v person_n must_v needs_o reckon_v themselves_o oblige_v on_o that_o account_n both_o to_o mourn_v and_o fear_v the_o cause_n 〈◊〉_d serious_a mourn_a be_v too_o many_o and_o too_o notorious_a to_o be_v unobserved_a by_o those_o who_o have_v any_o knowledge_n of_o the_o pre●●●t_a state_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n in_o europe_n even_o among_o the_o most_o reform_a the_o general_a unacquaintedness_n with_o the_o mystery_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o reproach_n of_o the_o solemn_a assembly_n by_o the_o corruption_n of_o its_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n and_o the_o dishonour_n cast_v upon_o its_o most_o sacred_a institution_n the_o late_a terrible_a desolation_n of_o the_o temple_n and_o sanctuary_n and_o grievous_a suffering_n of_o our_o brethren_n in_o several_a part_n of_o the_o world_n the_o shameful_a apostasy_n of_o so_o many_o thousand_o from_o the_o doctrine_n and_o worship_n of_o the_o gospel_n to_o popish_a idololatry_n and_o other_o consideration_n of_o this_o kind_n which_o may_v be_v name_v do_v carry_v with_o they_o a_o loud_o call_v to_o humiliation_n and_o mourning_n but_o the_o practical_a degeneracy_n of_o profess_v christian_n unto_o worldliness_n profaneness_n and_o sensuality_n do_v not_o only_o afford_v matter_n of_o lamentation_n for_o the_o present_a but_o too_o much_o ground_n to_o fear_n that_o the_o bitterness_n of_o death_n be_v not_o past_a god_n anger_n be_v not_o turn_v away_o or_o his_o controversy_n end_v with_o the_o protestant_a church_n and_o after_o we_o have_v know_v so_o many_o thousand_o to_o renounce_v and_o abjure_v their_o religion_n in_o a_o hour_n of_o temptation_n and_o see_v so_o many_o more_o yea_o the_o far_o great_a part_n in_o a_o preparedness_n to_o revolt_n on_o the_o like_a or_o lesser_a trial_n by_o reason_n of_o their_o vicious_a life_n and_o estrangedness_n from_o the_o power_n of_o religion_n because_o they_o receive_v not_o the_o truth_n in_o the_o love_n of_o it_o what_o can_v we_o reasonable_o expect_v but_o far_a token_n of_o divine_a displeasure_n and_o how_o little_a of_o any_o encourage_v prospect_n be_v there_o by_o the_o serious_a reformation_n of_o person_n family_n and_o church_n to_o turn_v away_o his_o wrath_n where_o be_v there_o any_o symptom_n of_o the_o recovery_n of_o the_o power_n of_o godliness_n from_o whence_o in_o our_o age_n there_o be_v so_o undeniable_a a_o declension_n and_o acknowledge_v by_o all_o party_n that_o there_o be_v so_o how_o little_a be_v to_o be_v see_v of_o any_o such_o thing_n among_o those_o who_o be_v most_o forward_o and_o zealous_a in_o espouse_v the_o reform_a interest_n even_o such_o as_o will_v be_v think_v of_o all_o other_o to_o be_v most_o concern_v for_o its_o preservation_n and_o have_v suffer_v not_o a_o little_a for_o it_o the_o distress_a case_n of_o our_o brethren_n especial_o in_o france_n can_v but_o move_v our_o bowel_n of_o compassion_n when_o we_o read_v or_o hear_v from_o time_n to_o time_n the_o relation_n of_o the_o barbarous_a proceed_n of_o their_o persecutor_n but_o the_o sensual_a wicked_a life_n of_o profess_o reform_a christian_n be_v certain_o a_o more_o dreadful_a object_n to_o be_v consider_v and_o ought_v so_o to_o be_v regard_v by_o we_o as_o the_o consequence_n of_o it_o be_v much_o more_o to_o be_v fear_v then_o of_o the_o feirce_v persecution_n by_o open_a and_o avow_v enemy_n for_o the_o curch_n of_o christ_n never_o lose_v either_o truth_n or_o holiness_n that_o way_n it_o have_v rather_o be_v a_o considerable_a outward_a mean_n for_o the_o preservation_n and_o increase_n of_o both_o though_o this_o can_v be_v say_v but_o the_o direct_a contrary_a concern_v protestant_n persecute_v one_o another_o for_o lesser_a difference_n and_o what_o ever_o expectation_n we_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o have_v from_o the_o unfulfilled_a prophecy_n of_o god_n rebuilding_n zion_n in_o the_o latter_a day_n &_o destroy_v her_o enemy_n which_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o question_v but_o he_o will_v most_o glorious_o effect_v and_o ought_v daily_o to_o pray_v that_o he_o will_v hasten_v it_o for_o his_o name_n sake_n yet_o can_v we_o never_o hope_v to_o see_v any_o thing_n considerable_a of_o that_o kind_n in_o our_o time_n without_o a_o great_a repentance_n and_o reformation_n and_o the_o more_o plentiful_a pour_v out_o of_o the_o h._n spirit_n for_o the_o heal_a os_fw-la the_o nation_n i_o therefore_o wish_v that_o the_o confident_a expectation_n of_o a_o speedy_a deliverance_n of_o the_o church_n may_v not_o divert_v we_o from_o the_o present_a duty_n we_o be_v call_v to_o as_o the_o proper_a appoint_a mean_n to_o which_o god_n have_v direct_v we_o for_o that_o end_n and_o be_v there_o any_o hopeful_a beginning_n of_o such_o a_o thing_n within_o view_n be_v there_o any_o thing_n on_o foot_n to_o be_v observe_v like_o such_o a_o retrieve_v of_o gospel_n holiness_n in_o the_o heart_n and_o life_n of_o man_n do_v not_o the_o name_n and_o thing_n grow_v more_o and_o more_o into_o contempt_n every_o day_n and_o who_o can_v tell_v how_o far_o it_o may_v proceed_v to_o procure_v judgement_n upon_o any_o particular_a place_n or_o country_n that_o be_v guilty_a of_o so_o general_a and_o provoke_v a_o defection_n it_o concern_v we_o therefore_o every_o one_o to_o look_v to_o himself_o to_o repent_v and_o do_v our_o first_o work_n and_o make_v our_o peace_n with_o god_n that_o we_o may_v be_v find_v within_o the_o small_a number_n of_o those_o who_o shall_v be_v think_v worthy_a to_o escape_v the_o almost_o epidemical_a infection_n and_o to_o stand_v before_o the_o son_n of_o man._n on_o which_o account_n any_o thing_n that_o be_v likely_a to_o awaken_v man_n to_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o great_a acknowledge_a principle_n of_o religion_n can_v be_v unseasonable_a yea_o in_o such_o a_o case_n the_o mean_a and_o weak_a endeavour_n may_v be_v of_o some_o use_n the_o subject_n of_o the_o follow_a reflection_n be_v most_o of_o they_o of_o that_o kind_n necessary_a to_o be_v attend_v to_o by_o all_o sort_n of_o person_n and_o so_o can_v be_v too_o often_o press_v though_o in_o different_a manner_n the_o usefullness_n of_o the_o subject_a matter_n and_o the_o smallness_n of_o the_o bulk_n be_v two_o thing_n which_o be_v wont_a to_o recommend_v a_o book_n to_o most_o reader_n for_o which_o reason_n i_o may_v hope_v this_o will_v be_v read_v by_o several_a who_o suffer_v much_o better_a because_o big_a book_n to_o lie_v by_o they_o neglect_v some_o may_v possible_o give_v it_o the_o read_n as_o a_o new-year_n gift_n and_o who_o even_o shall_v be_v so_o far_o persuade_v by_o it_o as_o to_o set_v a_o part_n some_o time_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o year_n for_o self-examination_n confession_n of_o sin_n repentance_n thanksgiving_n and_o solemn_a renewall_n of_o his_o covenant_n with_o god_n which_o several_a of_o these_o reflection_n may_v not_o only_o excite_v to_o but_o be_v intend_v to_o direct_v and_o assist_v he_o in_o i_o be_o persuade_v he_o will_v thank_v i_o for_o put_v he_o in_o mind_n at_o least_o of_o so_o seasonable_a a_o exercise_n the_o great_a part_n of_o these_o meditation_n be_v begin_v on_o a_o new-year_n day_n though_o some_o other_o be_v think_v fit_a to_o be_v insert_v as_o tendign_a to_o promote_v the_o same_o design_n but_o know_v how_o much_o easy_o it_o be_v to_o stir_v up_o other_o man_n devotion_n then_o to_o command_v and_o keep_v alive_a my_o own_o it_o be_v desire_v that_o some_o of_o the_o most_o devout_a thought_n contain_v in_o these_o paper_n may_v be_v look_v upon_o as_o what_o the_o author_n aim_v at_o and_o will_v persuade_v too_o rather_o than_o what_o he_o have_v already_o attain_v as_o what_o he_o know_v he_o ought_v to_o be_v and_o do_v and_o do_v serious_o endeavour_v rather_o than_o what_o he_o be_v and_o have_v be_v hearty_o lament_v wherein_o he_o have_v be_v faulty_a or_o defective_a in_o such_o duty_n as_o these_o and_o the_o like_a reflection_n