Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	heaven_n	new_a	old_a	10,407	5	6.7897	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93149	A friendly discourse concerning profane cursing and swearing, wherein is shewed the heinousness of those sins, and the necessity of private persons giving informations for the suppressing of them, pursuant to the late act of Parliament In a familiar conference between two plain persons. Made publick for the awakening of the consciences of common-swearers; and the vindication of our religious informers, who have been the instruments of the remarkable abatement of swearing; and for the encouragement of all good Christians, to joyn their endeavours with them for the entire suppressing it; and by giving informations to the magistrates against it, drunkenness, and prophanation of the Lord's Day.		1697 (1697)	Wing S33A; ESTC R230178	11,117	16

is so great a number of Swearers and most of them think it a little or no Sin S. Alas Mr. M. How can that Sin be little that is committed against an Infinite Majesty How can that affront be small that is levelled against Him who dazles the Eyes of Angels If it were not against the Law of God it could not be a Sin But when 't is so expressly forbidden How can you or they or any Person whatever conclude it to be little or no Sin But admit that the Guilt of single Oaths were no less venial than is pretended yet certainly when in most Swearers as well as in your self the frequency of Swearing is so great that in one day they are guilty of many scores of Oaths these Sins not growing single as Apples but like Grapes in clusters their Multitude cannot but render them considerable and you may consider since you are a Seaman that a Thousand holes may as well sink a Ship as some great Leaks besides these Common-Swearers are not only ruinous to themselves but have a destructive Influence upon the Nation that suffers them for what the Prophet relates of Judah I wish were not now fulfilled of England Because of Swearing the Land mourns Jeremiah 23.10 But farther consider The awfulness of the Divine Majesty who in order that a Fear of his Wrath and a Reverence of his Holiness Power and Justice might be kept always fresh upon us has commanded us never to use his Name in Vain i. e. never so much as to pronounce those Holy Words whereby God has been pleased to stile Himself and to communicate the Knowledge of Himself unto his Creatures idlely vainly and without the greatest Reverence Therefore they who prophane the Name of God as all Common Swearers in a most grievous manner do do not only break a Positive Law but testifie that they have no Fear no holy Dread and reverent Awe of God before their Eyes and therefore as I never knew so it 's utterly impossible that a Common Swearer should be a pious Man but on the contrary One that breaks forth into any other Sin whither Pride or Passion or Last or Profit or Humour calls him He that casts off the Reverence of God as every Prophane Swearer does can never conscientiously keep any of his Commandments Consider therefore 't is no single Sin but such an one as is produced by a Fearlessness of God and attended by any other Vice which the Corruption of the Offender is most inclin'd unto M. I do confess I believe there is something in what you have said and that 't is a greater Sin than I took it for before especially where Men Swear at every Word but I only Swear when I am angry or in a passion and I think no harm in it then S. How Man think no harm in it by reason you are angry or in a passion Surely the Sin is so much the greater if you consider the Apostle's Command Ephes 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not besides this is but to excuse one Fault with another to make a lesser Sin the Apology for the Commission of a greater But alas how strangely industrious are Men to deceive themselves But remember if we must answer for every idle Word as our Lord himself assures us we must then will passionate Words add to our Account but Swearing in Passion as if we would quarrel with our Creatour this will weigh down the Soul without a true Repentance to the burning Tophet to the Regions of Eternal Horror prepared for the Devil and his Angels M. How be not so censorious I hope I shall not be damn'd for an hasty Oath S. Sir Bear with me if I tell you and all common Swearers your Doom which will as assuredly as the Word of God is true be past upon you hereafter at the great and terrible Day without a sincere Repentance and Reformation prevent it you and all the Tribe of Common Cursers and Swearers who prophane the Name of our Great and Holy God will make up your account to all Eternity in the Lake that Burns with Fine and Brimstone for Heaven is a place too good for such who daily affront the Majesty of its King by impious rash careless and heedless Oaths and Curses M. Sir You startle me I hope my Case is not so had as you seem to make it S. Pray Neighbour consider 't is not I that make your Case either better or worse 't is the Word of God 't is the Holy Bible which you profess to believe And if you behold your self in that true Glass That will make you sensible that you are altogether as deform'd as I represent you And as to what you generally urge that your Provocations are such that you cannot avoid it The Excuse is utterly false and sinful for would you but give so much Money to the Poor for every Oath you Swear as the Law directs in that Act against Cursing and Swearing I do believe it would not belong before you 'd conquer it although at present you think you cannot avoid it M. But there are others that Swear as much as I and I seldom see them reprehended and yet you were sharp upon me for Swearing last night but twice or thrice S. How strangely you answer Am I therefore your Enemy because I tell you the Truth Your Excuse is just as if in an Hospital a desperate Patient should say to his Physician Why am I so much the subject of your Care when there are so many others who are as bad if not worse If you complain of being reprov'd you complain of being car'd for And remember by the way As one may be far from Health and yet not so Sick as gasping People so it is but a very sorry Goodness not to be as bad as the worst and I hope my Reproof will have a good Effect upon you for I am sure I designed it for your Good M. I wish it may be for my Good but after all I only Swear to the Truth I scorn to Swear Falsly and what I know to be True I think I may Swear to without any harm S. This seems to be the very Sin of the Jews whom our Saviour reproves in the Fifth of Matthew They thought they might Swear as I have been inform'd so they did but Swear to the Truth in their common Conversation and this was founded on that false gloss of the Elders Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old times Thou shalt not forswear thy self Yet however lest they should prophane the Name of GOD by Common Swearing they invented a sort of new and inferior Oaths such as by Heaven and by the Earth and by the City of Jerusalem the Metropolis of the Kingdom Much like to the idle and sinful Oaths of too many vain and ignorant Christians who will Swear by Heaven and by the Light and by our Lady by the Mass by their Faith and their Truth But now our

A FRIENDLY DISCOURSE Concerning Profane Cursing and Swearing Wherein is shewed The Heinousness of those Sins and the Necessity of private Persons giving Informations for the Suppressing of them pursuant to the late Act of PARLIAMENT In a Familiar Conference Between Two Plain Persons Made Publick for the awakening of the Consciences of Common-Swearers and the Vindication of our Religious Informers who have been the Instruments of the remarkable abatement of SWEARING and for the encouragement of all good Christians to joyn their endeavours with them for the entire suppressing it and by giving Informations to the Magistrates against it Drunkenness and Prophanation of the Lord's-Day Because of Swearing the Land Mourneth Jer. 23.10 Let the Righteous smite me it shall be a kindness Psal 141.5 LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by W. Downing in St. Bartholomew-Close near West-Smithfield 1697. An Abstract of the Late ACT for the more effectual Suppressing Prophane Cursing and Swearing made in the 6. 7. Gulielm III. THat if any Person after the 24 June 1695. Prophanely Swear or Curse in the Presence of any Iustice of the Peace or head Officer of the place where the Offence is committed or shall be thereof Convicted by the Oath of One Witness or by his own Confession before such Iustice or Officer he shall for every such Offence pay to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed if Servant Day-Labourer Common-Souldier or Common-Seaman One Shilling and every other Person Two Shillings and for a Second Offence after Conviction double and for a Third treble 2. That upon Neglect or Refusal to Pay any such Iustice or Officer shall send his Warrant to the Constable Tything-Man Church-Warden or Overseer of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed to Levy the Sum forfeited to the Vse of the Poor of the Parish and in case no Distress can be had to set the Offender if above the Age of Sixteen in the Stocks by the space of one hour for a single Offence and for more than one Offence at the same time two Hours but if under that Age unless he Pay forthwith to cause him to be Whip'd by the Constable or by the Parent Guardian or Master of the Offender in the Presence of the Constable 3. That if the Iustice or Officer wilfully or wittingly Omit the Performance of this Duty in the Execution of this Act he shall forfeit Five Pounds one Moiety to the Vse of the Informer 4. That if any Suit be brought against any Iustice Officer or Person for any thing done in pursuance of this Act the defendant may Plead the General Issue and give the special Matter in Evidence and shall have trebble Costs upon Verdict for him or the Plaintiffs Nonsuit or Discontinuance 5. Proviso that the Proof be within Ten days next after the Offence committed 6. That the Act be Read in all Churches and Publick Chappels immediately after Morning Prayer on Four Sundays viz. next after June 24. Septemb. 29. Decemb. 25. and March 25. under pain of 20. Shillings for every Omission 7. That the Iustice or Head Officer Register all Convictions at the time and Certifie the same at the next General Quarter Sessions to be kept upon Record to be seen without Fee A FRIENDLY DISCOURSE CONCERNING Profane Cursing and Swearing S. YOUR Servant Mr. M. I am glad to see you again this Evening although I was much surprised at your hold Answer last Night when I gave you that mild Reproof for Swearing that you should say You thought it little or no Sin which is one reason of my waiting on you this Evening in hopes to convince your Judgment of the contrary if not reform your Practice M. Sir I am glad to see you but for my part I am of the same mind I was last Night which is Tho I do not think what you call Swearing to be no Sin at all yet I don't apprehend it to be a Crime of that Heinousness which You and some others seem to make it S. Well I shall be glad that you will be so kind as to spend this Evening with me although you say you are still of the same mind however let us be plain and free since we have been so long acquainted and give me leave to ask you one or two Questions M. With all my heart S. Do you believe the Scriptures to be true to be the Word of God and the Rule which we ought All to walk by both in respect of our Deeds and Words and that which we shall at last be Judged by M. Yes surely God forbid I should believe otherwise S. Well then if you believe as you say it makes me stand amaz'd at you for How can you think that Swearing is but a very small or inconsiderable Sin when the Scripture is so plain in prohibiting and condemning of it for it flatly forbids our Swearing by God's Holy Name for in the Third Commandment The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain And our Saviour saith in the fifth of St. Matthew Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is God's Throne neither by the Earth for it is his Footstoo● And in the same chapter it is said But let your Communication be Yea yea Nay nay for whatsoever are more than these cometh of Evil And again St. James 5.12 Above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into Condemnation And in Jeremiah 23.10 Because of Swearing the Land mourneth And in Hosea 4.2 Swearing has the van of the most crying and provoking Sins And the Prophet David makes it a symptom of Hatred against God when in Psalm 139.20 he says Thine Enemies take thy Name in vain These Texts are plain to be understood and I might quote others of the same nature but I hope these being well and seriously considered will convince you that Swearing is a Sin of no low degree M. What I perceive you are of the Quakers Principle and conclude that 't is not lawful to Swear at all S. You utterly mistake me I do believe it 's not only lawful but a Christian's Duty to Swear that is to make an Appeal to God of the Truth of what he affirms and the Sincerity of what he promises when lawfully by the Magistrate call'd thereunto for the Scripture gives not only countenance but commandment to this Duty Levit. 19.12 and Deut. 6.13 and chap. 10. ver 20. and Heb. 6.16 But it is against the Sin of Common Swearing whereby the Name of GOD is greatly dishonoured and the Rules of the Scriptures impiously violated and our Holy Religion contemn'd and disgrac'd 't is against This that my Discourse is levell'd and 't is against This that I produce these Scriptures M. Well I do believe it is a Sin but I hope 't is no very great One by reason there