Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	great_a	religion_n	1,317	5	5.4600	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28445	Religio laici written in a letter to John Dryden, Esq.	Blount, Charles, 1654-1693.; Dryden, John, 1631-1700. Religio laici.; Herbert of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, Baron, 1583-1648. De religione laici.	1683 (1683)	Wing B3314; ESTC R2743	24,729	118

live_v for_o as_o dr._n donne_n well_o observe_v though_o christianity_n be_v the_o fort_n or_o citadel_n yet_o virtue_n and_o moral_a honesty_n be_v its_o fence_n and_o outwork_n whereby_o alone_o it_o be_v teneable_a wherefore_o i_o design_v this_o treatise_n of_o i_o to_o be_v only_o a_o addition_n or_o rather_o the_o consequence_n of_o you_o encourage_v man_n to_o live_v up_o to_o the_o virtue_n of_o that_o doctrine_n you_o teach_v which_o with_o your_o pardon_n for_o the_o present_a and_o friendship_n for_o the_o future_a be_v the_o high_a ambition_n of_o sir_n your_o most_o faithful_a friend_n and_o servant_n c._n b._n religio_fw-la laici_fw-la the_o occasion_n of_o this_o treatise_n there_o be_v not_o any_o meditation_n have_v give_v i_o great_a trouble_n than_o when_o i_o think_v that_o a_o doctrine_n so_o necessary_a as_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n with_o the_o true_a way_n to_o serve_v and_o worship_v he_o together_o with_o the_o mean_n to_o attain_v everlasting_a salvation_n shall_v be_v so_o various_o deliver_v and_o teach_v in_o divers_a age_n and_o country_n as_o also_o urge_v in_o such_o perplex_a and_o difficult_a term_n which_o by_o the_o many_o volume_n of_o this_o argument_n in_o several_a language_n may_v appear_v and_o after_o all_o this_o yet_o to_o find_v it_o present_v to_o i_o under_o such_o terrible_a menace_n and_o execration_n as_o if_o among_o the_o many_o church_n in_o the_o world_n i_o do_v not_o adhere_v to_o the_o right_n which_o each_o claim_v to_o be_v they_o i_o can_v not_o just_o hope_v for_o salvation_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a expect_v eternal_a torture_n without_o any_o prospect_n of_o relief_n be_v therefore_o in_o this_o doubtful_a and_o dangerous_a condition_n i_o do_v at_o last_o conclude_v with_o myself_o that_o one_o of_o these_o two_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v do_v method_n of_o enquiry_n into_o religion_n first_o that_o notwithstanding_o the_o affront_v and_o threat_v wherewith_o with_o the_o priest_n on_o every_o side_n will_v deter_v we_o from_o all_o other_o religion_n as_o well_o as_o invitation_n promise_n and_o comfortable_a doctrine_n by_o which_o they_o will_v draw_v we_o to_o their_o own_o in_o any_o particular_a church_n i_o be_v bind_v either_o to_o study_v with_o a_o impartial_a mind_n not_o only_o all_o the_o several_a religion_n but_o likewise_o the_o controversy_n among_o they_o in_o divers_a age_n language_n and_o country_n and_o for_o this_o purpose_n not_o only_o to_o acquire_v the_o tongue_n use_v heretofore_o or_o at_o this_o present_a time_n throughout_o the_o universe_n but_o also_o to_o read_v the_o several_a author_n that_o have_v write_v upon_o these_o argument_n and_o together_o with_o they_o to_o confer_v those_o learned_a man_n who_o though_o they_o have_v not_o publish_v any_o thing_n in_o writing_n may_v yet_o be_v no_o less_o able_a to_o edify_v i_o than_o the_o former_a or_o second_o to_o fix_v upon_o some_o fundamental_a article_n agree_v upon_o by_o all_o that_o i_o can_v meet_v with_o and_o consider_v afterward_o how_o far_o they_o may_v conduce_v to_o my_o salvation_n the_o former_a of_o these_o two_o i_o soon_o perceive_v to_o be_v impossible_a for_o who_o private_a affair_n at_o home_n or_o public_a duty_n to_o his_o native_a country_n will_v permit_v he_o to_o take_v such_o journey_n to_o all_o the_o quarter_n of_o the_o world_n who_o estate_n or_o revenue_n will_v furnish_v he_o with_o money_n for_o so_o long_a and_o great_a a_o undertake_n or_o who_o constitution_n be_v of_o that_o strength_n and_o ability_n that_o be_v he_o to_o escape_v all_o the_o danger_n he_o must_v inevitable_o meet_v with_o can_v yet_o undergo_v so_o immense_a a_o travel_n and_o labour_n who_o memory_n can_v either_o contain_v all_o the_o work_n of_o the_o several_a language_n and_o religion_n or_o judgement_n decide_v the_o different_a opinion_n and_o faith_n pretend_v under_o the_o authority_n of_o so_o many_o great_a church_n which_o course_n yet_o unless_o he_o pursue_v to_o the_o end_n he_o can_v not_o with_o justice_n say_v he_o have_v perform_v his_o duty_n for_o since_o the_o determine_n final_o of_o any_o matter_n of_o importance_n where_o party_n be_v not_o hear_v on_o all_o side_n be_v not_o only_o against_o common_a reason_n but_o contrary_a even_o to_o the_o ordinary_a practice_n of_o justice_n in_o all_o other_o case_n he_o must_v think_v himself_o in_o that_o the_o most_o important_a and_o serious_a business_n that_o can_v befall_v mankind_n oblige_v to_o make_v as_o particular_a and_o exact_a a_o search_n and_o examination_n of_o religion_n as_o be_v possible_a but_o here_o we_o will_v suppose_v that_o after_o diligent_a enquiry_n one_o may_v learn_v what_o be_v teach_v in_o this_o or_o that_o country_n under_o some_o general_a notion_n though_o no_o where_o sufficient_o according_a to_o all_o the_o tenant_n rite_n and_o ceremony_n teach_v or_o practise_v among_o they_o yet_o how_o can_v the_o knowledge_n of_o any_o one_o religion_n alone_o give_v he_o satisfaction_n especial_o when_o he_o shall_v find_v it_o controvert_v in_o some_o other_o country_n and_o where_o as_o able_a man_n at_o least_o in_o all_o other_o point_n of_o learning_n may_v in_o great_a number_n be_v find_v shall_v he_o because_o his_o birth_n or_o affection_n incline_v he_o to_o one_o country_n or_o religion_n more_o than_o another_o so_o factious_o embrace_v it_o as_o to_o think_v no_o other_o to_o be_v good_a or_o acceptable_a to_o god_n where_o man_n do_v the_o best_a they_o can_v to_o serve_v he_o and_o live_v well_o must_v he_o prejudge_v all_o other_o religion_n as_o erroneous_a and_o false_a when_o as_o yet_o he_o have_v not_o hear_v what_o they_o can_v allege_v for_o the_o justify_n of_o their_o faith_n no_o but_o too_o too_o many_o be_v guilty_a of_o this_o partiality_n for_o that_o till_o we_o receive_v a_o spirit_n of_o judgement_n to_o discern_v the_o right_a way_n every_o way_n be_v think_v to_o be_v wrong_n but_o that_o which_o we_o be_v bring_v up_o in_o and_o pious_a education_n do_v the_o same_o in_o this_o latter_a age_n which_o miracle_n do_v former_o as_o the_o learned_a gregory_n well_o observe_v howbeit_o because_o something_o here_o must_v be_v attempt_v lest_o we_o shall_v seem_v whole_o to_o forsake_v ourselves_o i_o do_v in_o my_o particular_a conceive_v nothing_o so_o proper_a for_o my_o purpose_n as_o to_o look_v upon_o those_o country_n chief_o from_o whence_o all_o other_o learning_n and_o science_n do_v original_o flow_v which_o consideration_n as_o it_o bring_v i_o to_o those_o province_n wherein_o the_o greek_a tongue_n do_v ancient_o flourish_v as_o contain_v in_o itself_o alone_o almost_o all_o humane_a literature_n so_o when_o i_o find_v the_o inhabitant_n thereof_o in_o so_o miserable_a a_o estate_n that_o there_o be_v little_o more_o than_o ignorance_n captivity_n and_o barbarism_n among_o they_o i_o do_v not_o think_v fit_a to_o insist_v there_o since_o however_o their_o wit_n may_v be_v as_o excellent_a now_o as_o in_o former_a time_n they_o seem_v to_o want_v not_o only_o the_o mean_n which_o may_v enable_v they_o to_o find_v out_o any_o learned_a truth_n but_o even_o the_o heart_n to_o believe_v it_o neither_o do_v their_o ancient_n or_o almost_o universal_o teach_v religion_n be_v ethnic_a and_o pagan_a any_o way_n affect_v i_o there_o or_o in_o any_o country_n else_o since_o be_v now_o intermit_v and_o discontinue_v for_o many_o age_n i_o can_v not_o but_o think_v it_o build_v in_o great_a part_n upon_o weak_a and_o uncertain_a principle_n more_o especial_o in_o those_o point_n which_o be_v now_o whole_o antiquate_v and_o abolish_v from_o hence_o therefore_o i_o cast_v my_o eye_n upon_o italy_n as_o the_o country_n wherein_o not_o only_o all_o the_o ancient_a learning_n of_o the_o greek_n but_o also_o of_o the_o roman_n be_v careful_o preserve_v and_o teach_v but_o as_o here_o again_o i_o find_v almost_o all_o they_o produce_v in_o point_n of_o religion_n to_o be_v controvert_v among_o other_o nation_n in_o europe_n with_o much_o acrimonie_n and_o bitterness_n and_o that_o beside_o among_o the_o several_a opinion_n and_o sect_n the_o subequent_a time_n have_v bring_v forth_o the_o latter_a for_o the_o most_o part_n have_v dissent_v more_o from_o they_o than_o the_o former_a insomuch_o that_o the_o puritan_n have_v depart_v more_o from_o they_o than_o the_o protestant_n and_o the_o protestant_n than_o the_o lutheran_n i_o can_v not_o so_o safe_o rely_v upon_o they_o as_o not_o to_o inquire_v why_o the_o tenant_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n be_v so_o much_o desert_v but_o as_o here_o again_o i_o find_v myself_o entangle_v in_o controversy_n i_o think_v fit_a to_o make_v a_o pause_n before_o i_o engage_v myself_o too_o far_o in_o those_o tumultuous_a and_o uncharitable_a dispute_n and_o the_o rather_o because_o i_o find_v that_o even_o the_o knowledge_n of_o

their_o reward_n hereafter_o as_o well_o as_o that_o wicked_a man_n who_o be_v happy_a here_o shall_v have_v in_o the_o next_o world_n condign_a punishment_n which_o i_o say_v because_o there_o be_v no_o other_o universal_a rule_n whereby_o to_o guide_v our_o belief_n concern_v god_n justice_n hereafter_o but_o that_o his_o punishment_n be_v proportionable_a to_o the_o offence_n whilst_o reward_n pass_v all_o proportion_n be_v give_v to_o we_o not_o only_o according_a to_o his_o acceptation_n of_o our_o pious_a endeavour_n and_o action_n but_o also_o according_a to_o the_o extent_n and_o latitude_n of_o his_o infinite_a goodness_n and_o mercy_n in_o create_v redeem_v and_o preserve_v we_o now_o these_o five_o point_n may_v be_v matter_n of_o great_a joy_n to_o all_o man_n since_o hereby_o they_o may_v perceive_v that_o the_o universal_a providence_n of_o god_n have_v proceed_v thus_o far_o in_o give_v mean_n for_o salvation_n to_o all_o mankind_n and_o therein_o declare_v himself_o communis_fw-la pater_fw-la neither_o can_v i_o imagine_v so_o much_o as_o any_o one_o article_n more_o in_o common_a reason_n that_o can_v make_v man_n better_o or_o more_o pious_a when_o the_o aforesaid_a five_o article_n be_v right_o explicate_v and_o observe_v merit_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o other_o i_o do_v perceive_v indeed_o divers_a point_n add_v hereunto_o which_o give_v much_o ease_n and_o relaxation_n to_o man_n mind_n while_o they_o be_v teach_v to_o trust_v chief_o to_o the_o merit_n and_o satisfaction_n of_o other_o for_o the_o obtain_n of_o their_o everlasting_a happiness_n so_o that_o although_o the_o doctrine_n of_o good_a work_n and_o repentance_n be_v serious_o inculcate_v into_o man_n mind_n yet_o it_o may_v be_v find_v that_o they_o do_v not_o usual_o so_o much_o fix_v themselves_o there_o as_o on_o the_o aforesaid_a satisfaction_n while_o they_o say_v all_o their_o work_n be_v corrupt_a and_o abominable_a and_o that_o of_o themselves_o they_o can_v not_o so_o much_o as_o think_v a_o good_a thought_n and_o consequent_o pretend_v to_o heaven_n out_o of_o a_o implicit_a faith_n and_o belief_n that_o this_o business_n be_v do_v to_o their_o hand_n rather_o than_o out_o of_o those_o work_v they_o seem_v so_o much_o to_o disclaim_v like_o two_o apprentice_n both_o of_o equal_a part_n and_o bind_v to_o the_o same_o master_n and_o trade_n when_o nevertheless_o one_o of_o they_o for_o want_v of_o any_o other_o relief_n depend_v whole_o upon_o his_o trade_n follow_v it_o diligent_o and_o grow_v vast_o rich_a whereas_o the_o other_o his_o fellow-prentice_n have_v a_o expectation_n of_o some_o paternal_a estate_n of_o inheritance_n do_v so_o much_o depend_v thereon_o as_o make_v he_o not_o only_o neglect_v his_o trade_n but_o fall_v into_o those_o vicious_a course_n as_o make_v he_o outrun_v his_o estate_n before_o he_o have_v it_o and_o the_o contrary_n be_v rare_o see_v though_o not_o impossible_a predestination_n and_o election_n again_o i_o do_v find_v in_o other_o a_o doctrine_n of_o predestination_n so_o teach_v that_o man_n do_v chief_o trust_v to_o god_n eternal_a election_n of_o they_o before_o all_o world_n for_o as_o they_o say_v there_o be_v a_o certain_a mass_n from_o which_o god_n out_o of_o his_o good_a pleasure_n choose_v some_o and_o reprobate_v other_o and_o these_o man_n i_o note_v to_o be_v rather_o inquisitive_a through_o the_o help_n of_o their_o teacher_n whether_o they_o be_v of_o the_o number_n of_o the_o elect_n than_o studious_a to_o work_v out_o their_o salvation_n by_o the_o good_a degree_n above_o relate_v so_o that_o although_o their_o teacher_n do_v indeed_o exhort_v they_o to_o a_o good_a life_n and_o repentance_n no_o less_o than_o the_o former_a yet_o as_o man_n derive_v not_o the_o next_o cause_n of_o their_o salvation_n from_o their_o own_o good_a endeavour_n or_o action_n so_o much_o as_o from_o the_o secret_a counsel_n of_o god_n so_o they_o common_o intermit_v much_o of_o their_o proper_a duty_n as_o believe_v either_o they_o can_v not_o fall_v grievous_o or_o at_o least_o that_o such_o remedy_n be_v provide_v for_o they_o as_o they_o shall_v not_o final_o perish_v from_o whence_o one_o may_v observe_v that_o virtue_n have_v suffer_v no_o small_a detriment_n thereby_o merit_n by_o good_a work_n notwithstanding_o all_o which_o i_o will_v not_o have_v man_n conceive_v that_o they_o can_v by_o their_o good_a work_n merit_v any_o thing_n of_o god_n any_o more_o than_o a_o subject_a of_o england_n do_v of_o the_o king_n by_o his_o forbear_n to_o commit_v felony_n or_o treason_n but_o that_o i_o hope_v man_n may_v assure_v themselves_o that_o when_o real_o they_o do_v the_o best_a they_o can_v it_o be_v better_a to_o trust_v god_n infinite_a mercy_n for_o the_o acceptance_n of_o those_o good_a work_n join_v with_o faith_n in_o and_o love_n to_o god_n than_o to_o draw_v conclusion_n of_o the_o certainty_n of_o their_o salvation_n from_o those_o secret_a and_o hide_a counsel_n of_o the_o great_a god_n which_o no_o power_n of_o man_n can_v reach_v unto_o remission_n of_o sin_n moreover_o i_o find_v other_o who_o though_o they_o do_v not_o say_v they_o can_v tell_v who_o be_v predestinate_v but_o in_o stead_n thereof_o recommend_v good_a work_n as_o the_o most_o effectual_a mean_n on_o our_o part_n for_o the_o come_n to_o god_n do_v yet_o otherwise_o teach_v divers_a thing_n which_o be_v not_o right_o understand_v derogate_a not_o a_o little_a from_o the_o severity_n of_o virtue_n for_o as_o they_o say_v they_o have_v power_n to_o remit_v sin_n and_o this_o remission_n again_o be_v grant_v upon_o no_o very_a difficult_a term_n man_n do_v not_o fear_v to_o return_v to_o sin_n again_o when_o they_o find_v pardon_v so_o easy_a which_o abuse_n as_o also_o some_o of_o those_o abovementioned_a i_o conceive_v rather_o to_o proceed_v from_o the_o proneness_n of_o man_n to_o sin_n than_o from_o the_o doctrine_n of_o their_o priest_n and_o teacher_n i_o can_v enlarge_v myself_o much_o upon_o this_o argument_n but_o that_o i_o be_o unwilling_a to_o transgress_v my_o bound_n especial_o since_o i_o believe_v myself_o sufficient_o understand_v beside_o i_o find_v i_o can_v speak_v more_o of_o these_o several_a doctrine_n without_o enter_v into_o controversy_n and_o make_v use_n of_o those_o polemical_a weapon_n and_o engage_v into_o such_o a_o spiritual_a warfare_n which_o as_o a_o laic_a i_o mean_v never_o to_o trouble_v myself_o with_o however_o i_o hope_v i_o may_v so_o far_o express_v myself_o as_o to_o wish_v all_o those_o point_n that_o concern_v pardon_n and_o forgiveness_n of_o sin_n in_o any_o extraordinary_a way_n on_o what_o side_n soever_o may_v be_v wary_o teach_v and_o on_o such_o term_n that_o upon_o what_o promise_n or_o comfortable_a doctrine_n soever_o present_v to_o mankind_n nothing_o may_v be_v detract_v from_o that_o virtue_n and_o goodness_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v the_o perpetual_a exercise_n of_o our_o life_n lest_o occasion_n be_v give_v to_o make_v man_n more_o ready_a and_o bold_a to_o sin_v again_o since_o while_o man_n attend_v chief_o to_o those_o outward_a help_n or_o remedy_n they_o usual_o comply_v not_o so_o entire_o with_o their_o proper_a duty_n now_o these_o five_o article_n be_v thus_o declare_v which_o if_o man_n do_v embrace_v will_v alone_o assert_v a_o catholic_a church_n and_o it_o be_v likewise_o demonstrate_v how_o necessary_a it_o be_v for_o every_o man_n to_o begin_v there_o before_o he_o descend_v to_o the_o whole_a context_n or_o bulk_n of_o any_o one_o religion_n which_o he_o may_v find_v controvert_v in_o divers_a age_n and_o country_n i_o shall_v now_o deliver_v the_o reason_n for_o which_o i_o principal_o embrace_v they_o first_o because_o there_o be_v no_o other_o open_a and_o manifest_a way_n extant_a to_o mankind_n whereby_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o establish_v god_n universal_a providence_n which_o yet_o be_v his_o high_a attribute_n second_o that_o i_o find_v nothing_o can_v be_v add_v to_o they_o which_o will_v make_v a_o man_n real_o more_o virtuous_a and_o good_a than_o the_o aforesaid_a five_o article_n or_o point_n when_o they_o be_v sufficient_o inculcate_v in_o man_n heart_n three_o that_o however_o the_o doctrine_n add_v thereto_o be_v indeed_o comfortable_a and_o full_a of_o promise_n to_o those_o who_o believe_v they_o yet_o since_o i_o observe_v in_o general_a that_o man_n take_v occasion_n thereby_o to_o grow_v more_o bold_a in_o sin_v i_o begin_v to_o doubt_v whether_o they_o do_v not_o derogate_v from_o the_o severity_n of_o virtue_n and_o beside_o i_o find_v that_o those_o point_n be_v more_o controvert_v than_o that_o the_o age_n of_o any_o one_o man_n can_v untie_v and_o dissolve_v the_o intricacy_n in_o they_o four_o that_o i_o find_v all_o mystery_n sacrament_n and_o revelation_n tend_v chief_o to_o the_o establishment_n of_o these_o five_o article_n as_o be_v at_o least_o the_o