Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	heathen_a	let_v	publican_n	2,742	5	10.9981	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20736	Lectures on the XV. Psalme read in the cathedrall church of S. Paule, in London. Wherein besides many other very profitable and necessarie matters, the question of vsurie is plainely and fully decided. By George Dovvname, Doctor of Diuinitie. Whereunto are annexed two other treatises of the same authour, the one of fasting, the other of prayer.	Downame, George, d. 1634.	1604 (1604)	STC 7118; ESTC S110203	278,690	369

inficit animam interficit for whiles he infecteth his ear he destroyeth his soule casting thereinto the seeds of suspition hatred and contempt as 1. Sam. 22. which afterward bring forth most damnable fruits 3. Lastly to himselfe hee is a sword destroying his owne soule by committing that sinne which is most odious vnto God for he which slaundereth his neighbour behind his backe he committeth the same offence with him that raileth on the deafe and is like to him that smiteth his neighbour secretly which whosoeuer doth he is accursed And therefore no maruell though this be said to be that seuenth sinne which God doth abhorre for there is no sinne which maketh a man so like the diuell as this doth for from slaundering and backbiting he hath his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is a common name to him with all slaunderers But as the Lord doth greatly detest backbiting so doth he grieuously punish it and not only them but also the places that harbour them and not only in this life but in the life to come for if raylers shall not inherit the kingdome of God much lesse shall slaunderers And therefore it is euident that this vice I speake of the habit or custome of backbiting for in many things we sinne all and he is a very perfect man that neuer offendeth in his tongue is not incident vnto a citisen of heauen This note therefore agreeth to all them that shall inherit the kingdome of God It remaineth therefore that I should shew how it agreeth to them alone for backbiting is so common a vice that it is naturally in all men for vnto all doth the Apostle apply those testimonies They haue all gone out of the way there is none that doth good no not one their throat is an open sepulchre the poyson of aspes is vnder their lips And therefore none are freed from it but those which are regenerate neither is this vice seene alone in them that are prophane and openly wicked but also in them who would seeme to be religious For those which would seeme religious and yet be not so these for the most part place the top of their religion in inueighing against the faults of others that is to say in backbiting as though other mens want of religion would proue them to be religious But this custome argueth him that vseth it to be an hypocrit and a vile person For as Iames sayth If any man would seeme to be religious and doth not refraine his tongue but deceiueth his owne heart that mans religion is vaine And it is truly said of Hierome It is the propertie of vile persons to make others vile and those which cannot be commended by their own desert doe seeke to be commended in comparison of others Wherefore as we desire to be accounted heires of heauen so let vs learne to keepe our tongues form backbiting and in tender care of our brothers credit to couer his offences especially such as sauour of infirmity as Sem and Iaphet once did couer the nakednesse of their father For as hatred which often bursteth forth into slaundering and backbiting raiseth contention so charitie couereth the multitude of offences What then will you say are the offences of our neighbour so to be buried as that it is not lawfull for a man to mention them As touching the vices of others this is the duty of euery honest man First in presence If a brother be ouertaken with some lesse offence we are to admonish him in the spirit of meeknesse if he offend more grieuously we are to freely to reproue him and not to suffer sinne to rest vpon him Wherefore as Bernard saith If thou wilt rebuke an offender reproue him to his face and bite him not behind his backe For open rebuke is better than secret loue The wounds of a louer that is to say euen his sharpest reprofes are faithfull but the kisses of an enemie are to be prayed against And Dauid to the like purpose Let the righteous saith he smite me and I will esteeme it a benefit let him reproue me and it shall be a pretious oyle that shall not breake mine head Wherefore we are in this behalfe to follow the direction of our Sauiour Christ If thy brother offend against thee that is in thy sight for an offence committed before thee is a scandale vnto thee go and reproue him betweene thee and him alone If he shall harken vnto thee thou hast won thy brother But if he shall not harken vnto thee take vnto thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be established And if he will not vouchsafe to heare them tell it vnto the Church and if he refuse to heare the Church also let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and a publican And this is the course which we must take with him that is a brother But if he be a sonne of Beli●l or one that is openly profane such as the Scriptures calleth a scorner who maketh a scoffe of all religion with such when they offend before vs we are to take another course For although our hearts ought to be grieued and vexed at the wickednes of prophane persons as Lots was among the Sodomits though we ought to mourne for the sinnes of our neighbours and countrimen as those who were marked in the forehead that they might escape the common destruction though it ought to be an irkesome thing vnto vs as it was to Dauid to fee the transgressors which keepe not the word of God finally though with Dauid● we ought to weepe riuers of waters because men keepe not Gods law notwithstanding priuat admonition or brotherly reprofe is not to be vsed to wards desperat sinners or prophane ruffians For holy things as our Sauiour Christ aduiseth are not to be cast before dogges neither is precious pearle of brotherly admonition to be thrown before swine for they will not only trample it vnder their feet but also turne vpon thee to offer thee violence or disgrace And to the same purpose is the aduice of Salomon Prou. 9 He that reproueth a scorner purchaseth to himselfe shame and he that rebuketh the wicked getteth himselfe reproch Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee but rebuke a wise man and he will loue thee Giue admonition to the wise and he will be the wiser teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning And such ought to be our behauiour in presence of him that offendeth As for those which be absent we are not behind our neighbours backe to publish their shame For he that vttereth infamie is a foole The secret faults of our neighbours especially such as are committed of infirmitie we are to conceale and couer For loue couereth the multitude of sinnes Neither are we to vtter the rest vnlesse we be vrged