Selected quad for the lemma: country_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	call_v	river_n	soil_n	1,442	5	10.3487	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66418	A sermon preached at the Northampton-shire feast, November 8, 1683 being the first general meeting of such citizens and inhabitants in London, as were born within that county / by John Williams ...	Williams, John, 1636?-1709.	1684 (1684)	Wing W2725; ESTC R7241	20,162	36

answer the honest and good end for which we are now assembled to make the place of our Birth the Subject of a Panegyrick And therefore I shall only select from the rest what the Psalm may put us in mind of and may serve to enforce our Duty upon us 1. We may consider the Situation of Northampton-Shire which is to the rest of England as Jerusalem was to Canaan and Canaan to the rest of the then known World placed in the middle and heart of it and to such an advantage that from one Hill in it there spring three Rivers viz. Cherwel Leam Avon that discharge themselves into three several Seas as the Historians do observe From which situation it hath the fittest opportunity of communication with the other parts of the Nation and fetching from thence what may be for its use and benefit But 2. However this is hath the less need of from the fertility of the Soyl and the plenty of all things necessary for Life that it is stored with So that as it is with the Rivers of it that arise all within its own Bowels in which also it resembles Canaan properly so called communicating their streams to many Countrys but receiving from none so it is with the Country itself that from its store doth send forth to others but hath no dependence upon any nor doth ordinarily stand in need to crave help from them 3. We may add to this the variety that is in it therein like to Canaan which doth not a little contribute to the delightsomness of it being partly for profit partly for pleasure and yet that variety so intermixed that the places made more especially for delight have their profit and those that yield the greatest profit are not without their delights also the consideration of all which will justify the Character given of it by a Modern Historian who else from his relation to it might be thought too favourable that Northampton-Shire is as an Apple without a Core to be cut or Rind to pare away 4. It s no little Commendation to it if we consider that it s not only very populous but the people generally are very industrious and whose employment being for the most part in Tillage and Pasturage bring them within the estimate of Aristotle who saith with respect to those two ways of living that they are the happiest people that have from their Labour as much as is sufficient for Life and yet they cannot be Idle But then there is not only in the first sence of the Phrase this and that Man for Multitude but also in the latter sence of it this and that Man for eminency in Quality and Condition If we view the Country within it abounds so in Gentry and Nobility that the great Geographer of our Nation doth give it this Character Nobilium villis Excultissima or as the Historian fore-recited doth express it No Country hath more Noblemen no Noblemen fairer Habitations Consider we it again abroad we shall find it not only to send forth its Colonies of which this Assembly is an instance but also there have been many amongst them as might easily be shewed that have proved eminent in their Station and Employment both in Church and State Let me lastly observe to you the Genius of the people in the numerous Foundations for Piety and Charity In the former of which there is no County in England that in my observation by Reading or otherwise doth exceed or so much as equal it and that in the circumference of One hundred and nineteen Miles which is the compass of the Shire can shew Three hundred twenty six Parish Churches or that at one stand can present Thirty to the Eye of the Spectator from the Villages planted round about as ours is observed to do From all which considerations that thus do transfer an Honour to the place of our Birth there is as far as such a Relation can do it an Honour transfer'd to those that are there Born and consequently there is an obligation upon such as in the process of this Discourse has been shewed to do somewhat that may tend to the honour of that and to forbear whatever may be to the disparagement of it and render them unworthy of that Character and of the Relation they have to it And that you of this Society may be the more encouraged to do what becomes you who by your appearance here upon this occasion do intend an Honour to your Country I shall add somewhat to what has been already said in General upon the Argument and that I may do so with the greater freedom and assurance shall take my rise from the Tickets sent abroad for our Invitation to this place and solemnity in which it was declared that this Society was revived for the promoting of Charity A design truly worthy and great and so much the more fit to be revived as there is so little of that excellent Ingredient in such meetings that however they may be called for the want of it can hardly deserve the name of Societies And that I may the more clearly and effectually enlarge upon this Subject I shall reduce what I have to say to Union among your selves Charity towards those that want and Sobriety in your Entertainments 1. That which ought in the first place to be considered by you is Union amongst your selves without which Societies must dissolve and the ends of them cannot be promoted or attained There is no sadder object to a Christian and peaceable mind to one that knows how much love and Good-will Meekness and Patience are the Duties and the Ornament the Priviledge and Blessing of our Religion than the divisions that are at present amongst us in this Nation not only Ephraim and Manasseth against Judah but Judah against Judah there being scarcely as it s said a County Town or Village but what is divided against its self and suffers under the Malignant influence of these Exasperatons A sad prognostick or fore-runner at present and if not timely prevented a necessary cause of Ruin and Destruction according to that observation of our Blessed Saviour Every Kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every City or House divided against its self shall not stand Matth. 12.25 There needs then no Enemy to combine against us no great Skill or force to destroy us for by mutual conspiracies against each other and endeavours to weaken and destroy our selves we shall like Cato prevent the Arms of our Adversaries and dye by our own And They may with more safety to themselves and with more advantage to their Cause observe our mutual animosities than interrupt them and take us off from the violent prosecution of them by displaying their own Banners and boldly challenging us to dispute it with themselves And yet though there is nothing that should be more industriously kept out of nor sooner banished from Societies because nothing is more the bane of them than this

one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you Ephes. 4.29.31 32. If this be done there is a good foundation laid for you to raise your Superstructure upon 2. Let me recommend to your consideration the Duty of Charity usually so called in the care of those the World frowns upon and God in his Providence hath bereft of those Comforts and Accomodations we do enjoy You cannot reflect upon the state of your Country and what your Predecessors have done in order to so good an end by the Foundations raised for the Service of God and relief of the Indigent without observing the Honour that thereby redounds to that and the President you have to follow according to your Ability This is a debt you owe to God that hath Blessed and prospered you in the World and which I perswade my self you are this day met with thankfulness to acknowledge and with a resolution to express it by not appearing before him Empty Ex. 23.15 When Vespasian came to be Emperour he used frequently to visit Cosa where from his Infancy he had been brought up under his Grandmother Tertulla and chose to have the Town continue as it then was that it might bring his former condition fresh to his remembrance as the Roman Historian relates And if we would make a right estimate of our condition and the obligations we are under to the Divine Goodness it would not be amiss to trace our lives back and to consider the several steps by which we have from our Childhood been brought to the present State in which we are How God hath made our ways prosperous and our latter end to increase beyond our beginning as Bildad said Job 8.7 This is a duty you owe to your Religion which as it makes it our Duty so the honour of it is concerned that we should convince the World that as much may be done in Charity where the opinion of merit is not as where it is made a property to provoke men to it This is a Duty in which the Protestants of the Church of England have outdone those of the Communion of the Church of Rome as has been proved by others allowing time for time the Citizens of London have outdone others And perhaps there may be a way found out in which you may exceed the rest of the City though not in the greatness yet in the prudent distribution of your Charity The Forreign Churches amongst us have no such publick provisions made for the Poor nor are enabled to compel their Members to contribute to their relief And yet through the prevalency of a good Custom and forward examples they are of themselves so Charitable and by the diligence prudence and faithfulness of those to whom the care of the publick stock is committed the Charity is so well bestowed that none are found to beg in the Streets nor to supplicate others for their benevolence except those whom the present storm of the persecution in France hath drove hither for Refuge though their Numbers are great and the Families dispersed from one end of the Town to the other And it is an answer we have always ready at hand if any such apply themselves to us that they are already provided for and that they either need it not or are not worthy of our Charity And this will be a worthy example for you to imitate and it would be an honour to you and your Country if there could be such a way found out for collecting receiving and disposing of your Charity that all that need and are able to work may be Employ'd or by being put out to Apprentiships may be fitted for it all that cannot work may be relieved and all that will not may be stigmatized and branded This will be a Charity indeed and perhaps may be of more use than to found and endow Hospitals and Alms Houses and in which you will be exemplary to others and benificial as well to posterity as the Age you live in This will be better than the name of Sons and of Daughters and when time and other reasons have worn out Families as its easie to shew it in the place of our Nativity this will embalm your memories and to make use of the Prophets phrase will give you an Everlasting name that shall not be cut off Isai. 56.5 This will secure your Estates entail a Blessing upon them and your posterities as we are assured Ps. 25.26 I have not seen the Righteous or Charitable forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread He is ever merciful and lendeth and his Seed is Blessed Nay if the Apostle be to be regarded such as do good are Rich in good works ready to distribute willing to Communicate do lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come and lay hold on Eternal life 1 Tim. 6.18 19. 3. Let me recomend to you Sobriety in your entertainments This I think my self the rather obliged to take notice of since if what has been of late the practice in some Societies should be transfer'd into all and that Intemperance should hold on the pace which for some years past it has been observed to take all Societies would be dissolved or which is as bad rendred useless and unserviceable and all the wise and good ends propounded in their first Foundation and Establishment be utterly defeated Then all good and sober men must exclude themselves thence and it would be as unfit for such a one to appear there as it was for a Vertuous Cato to be present at the Floral Games and the Bestial practices used in honour as they pretended of their gods and when either they will be Rude to him or he must be rude to them Ahasuerus was no less generous in the liberty he gave his Guests by a Law that none did Compel than in the plenty and abundance he entertained them with Esther 1.7 8. And I think he pays very dear for his Meat and Drink that is despoiled of or denied that Liberty and can purchase his admission into the Company at no less a price than the loss of his reason and innocence and to make himself ridiculous to men and hateful to God Therefore since Charity amongst your selves and Charity to others is what you propound to your selves and declare to others to be your Design in your Society let it be your Care so to manage it that this so excellent an end may not be frustrated and you lose the Company and that be deprived of the best members of it I mean such as are truly Sober and Vertuous and you in the conclusion break up that Society you have begun to Establish If these be the measures you observe and keep and the Society be thus regulated and carried on it will be truly glorious good and useful And that it may be prosperous and live as long as there is a County to supply the City and a City to receive members from the County will be the hearty prayer of all concerned in the welfare of both Then you will honour both and it will be the conclusion of all that God himself shall count when he writeth up the People that the man was Born there Selah FINIS Psal. 68.25 26. * Psal. 89.9 Isa. 51.9 V. Bochart Geogr. Sac. Part. 1. l. 4. c. 24. † V. Bochart ibid. c. 2. Ezek. 28.24 c. 25.15 c. 26.2 c. Zech. 8.23 V. Dr. Ham. in loc V. Castal in loc Isa. 2.22 2 Sam. 24.9 1. Kings 4.20 21. Cap. 10.21 Herod lib. 2. c. 21. Act. 7.21 Salust Bel. Cat. V. Max. l. c. 1. n. 9. Act. 22.27 Prov. 14.34 V. Bochart Geog. part 1. l. 4. c. 2. De civ dei l. 5. c. 12.15 c. 1 Sam. 2.30 Zech. 2.12 Deut. 7.6 c. Isai. 64.10 Psalm 147.14 Psalm 76.1 Psalm 50.2.3 Rom. 9.4 Ps. 144.5 1 Pet. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 6. n. 44. * Olearius Phil. 3.5 Acts 23. ●● 1 Cor. 15.10 Acts 24.16 Valer. Max. l. 5. Tit. 1.12 Ezek. 20.16 Lev. 18.28 Nahum 3.8 Isa 27.11 Cumbden Brit. Bale cent 5. num 65. Fuller's Worthies Politic. Nauclerus generat 24 Platina vit Bonif. 9. Spondani supplem Baron An. 1342.1