Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	bread_n	lord_n	show_v	6,300	5	5.7772	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75849	Satans stratagems, or The Devils cabinet-councel discovered whereby he endevors [sic] to hinder the knowledg of the truth ... wherein is laid open an easie way to end controversies in matters of conscience ... together with arguments to each book ... / by Jacobus Acontius ... ; as also the testimonies of some ancient divines, together with an epistle written by Mr John Goodwin ; and Mr. Duries letter touching the same.	Aconcio, Iacopo, d. 1566.; Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.; Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1648 (1648)	Wing A443A; ESTC R42404	127,449	159

baptism and the Supper were ordained by our Lord So was it commonly believed that all those other things termed Sacraments were in like maner by him instituted At length Bels began to be baptised which practise what else did it but occasion the simple peopl● to think that the baptisme of men was of the same importance with that baptisme they saw practised upon the Bels whereby the memory of the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ signified by the washing with water was abolished Now this makes much to hide the cousenage and deceit when there is a colourable pretence So as the innovators may seem not to bring in any new thing but to desire the preservation of doctrines received by some weak ceremony and observation Wherefore when the first Christians or rather those which succeeded the first growing very remiss in respect of their former heat of piety which is commonly seen when men cease to be exercised by afflictions and so growing less frequent in the exercise of breaking of bread some one peradventure there was who judged it a very good course that the Priest at least should frequently receive the bread and wine in the presence of the multitude and by so doing celebrate the memory of the Lords death for as much as it would be all one in a manner as if the by-standers had all of them communicated and participated thereof In which practise truly a man would not think there was any innovation but only a care shewed to preserve so wholesome an ordinance of our Lord from growing quite out of use which being grown into a custom forasmuch as it was done wholly to commemorate that sacrifice which our Lord offered for us upon the Cross and the term of Priest was not wanting it gave occasion to some to attribute the name of the thing signified to the thing signifying so as to call this performance now no longer the commemoration of a sacrifice but a sacrifice it self Afterward when it had obtained the name of sacrifice who will wonder that it began to be accounted a sacrifice And so whiles every day there was innovation made yet inasmuch as it was little which was changed and some very goodly pretext was ever in readiness the innovation could not be perceived so that at length the most plain and simple institution of our Lord concerning breaking of bread was by a wonderful metamorphosis changed into that most pompous and laborious business of the Mass And who so shall diligently consider will easily observe that the like hath happened touching all other points In those that are the Teachers in case they corrupt any point the main cause why such their corruption is not discerned is the great opinion which men have of their piety holiness and learning and their being thought to stand very much affected to the doctrine received Now such an opinion as this with the people a man attains either by giving some eminent proof of himself or by the testimony of such men as are of greatest repute or by right as it were of inheritance He gives a good proof of himself who does acutely and fluently discourse of matters divine and by often citing the Scriptures and to good purpose shews himself well versed in such studies but especially if he shew himself an eager opposer of such doctrines as the people abhor and a great honorer and reverencer of such persons as the people highly account of Now the testimonies of men approved beget a good opinion in the people because men are perswaded That in regard of their gravity and prudence they will witness nothing but that wherof they have a certain knowledg wheras notwithstanding it is very often seen that by simulation flattery and other arts the over-great facility of good men is so overcome and wrought upon as that they may be brought to commend such persons of whose piety and learning they have small knowledg In the mean time however their testimonies are drawn from them yet the simple common people do yeeld thereunto no less credit then if they were oracles Some men gain a good opinion of themselves as it were by right of inheritance when as they succeed in place such persons whose life and doctrine have been very much approved of For it seems a likely thing That none but good men should be put into the place of good men and so the reputation of honesty and learning is transfered from the one to the other even as inheritances pass from the Father to the children Nevertheless even as those who from a low and mean estate have by great labors and difficulties attained great wealth leave their children heirs of thei● goods indeed and all their possessions but not of their industry and wit forasmuch as being born in the midst of wealth they finde no need to exercise their wit even so those men who are at certain seasons stired up by the providence of God to purge the Church from errors since they cannot but be exercised with great and knotty difficulties they must be of necessity armed with very excellent vertues and so become famous whereas their successors matters being reduced into order and composed and Satan dealing now no longer by force but by craft and policy which they are not aware of they meet with no considerable occasions to exercise their piety and prudence Yet nevertheless though they be far inferior in vertue yet in outward appearance as they hold the place of their predecessors so do they retain their dignity and reputation and by how much the farther you descend from those first so much the more unlike shall you finde their successors and the more estranged from their vertues And forasmuch as the same or greater authority abides with very little piety prudence learning and hearty diligence who sees not how easily it may come to pass That they may daily through unskilfulness corrupt many points and no man discern the same by reason of their authority and reputation And to the end that such like Pastors may by little and little be brought into place by whose means Satan hopes to procure a greater and speedier corruption of doctrine it is a great furtherance if so be such things shall be annexed to Ecclesiastical Functions as shall make them much to be desired as for Pastors to be highly esteemed of to have all men rise unto them and give them place if they shall be well accommodated and live in abundance of wealth if they shall be accounted such as ought to censure all and themselves not to be questioned without impiety and wickedness For who is there that would not exceedingly desire to be in such a condition So that in case there be these allurements and the like as soon as any place shall be vacant take heed of thinking that some excellent person shall obtain the same he will soonest obtain it that does best know how to beat the bush that can sue for it with greatest art