Selected quad for the lemma: end_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
end_n	esq_n	john_n	sir_n	1,346	5	9.1199	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64963	A heaven or hell upon earth, or, A discourse concerning conscience by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.	1676 (1676)	Wing V409; ESTC R27575	204,858	337

A HEAVEN or HELL UPON EARTH OR A DISCOURSE CONCERNING Conscience By Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the GOSPEL Acts 24. 16. Herein do I Exercise my self to have a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man Multi quaerunt Scientiam pauci Conscientiam si vero tanto studio sollicitudine quaereretur Conscientia quanto quaeritur secularis vana scientia citiùs apprehenderetur utiliùs retineretur Bernard de Interior dom cap. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hierocl in Pythag. aur Carm. pag. mihi 213. 214. London Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Three Bibles and Crown at the Lower end of Cheap-side 1676. TO THE Much Honoured Sir Nathanael Herne Henry Ashurst Sen. Esq Mr. Abr. D'olins Merchant John Gould Esq Mr. Kiffin Merchant Grace Mercy and Peace be Multiplyed Honoured Sirs IF a Wish might be Granted to hear the Apostle Paul in the Pulpit one would be ready to Wish again that Christ or Conscience might be the Subject of his Sermon Were He to Preach how would he set forth Christ who is the Beloved Son of God! the brightness of his Fathers Glory who is Adored by all the Angels and deserves to be the Desire of all Nations How plainly and impartially would he deal with Conscience examining searching and reproving it and thereby commend himself to it in the sight of God One (a) Vnicuique Liber est sùa Conscientia ad hunc Librum discutiendum emendandum omnes alii inventi sunt Bernard De Interior Dom. Cap. 28. of the Fathers calls Conscience a Book and Affirms that other Books were invented that the Errata in this might be Corrected The Scriptures themselves were given by Inspiration of God to this End that the Evils of Conscience might be Discovered and the Man of God made Perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works 'T is therefore a bad World because Conscience seems to be Exiled and Banished out of it Conscience has in these Days lost its Power and does not Exercise that Authority which by right it should as Gods Vicegerent here below But Mens Wills and Lusts have got the head so that neither God is feared nor Man regarded And for their own Souls they are least of all concerned If it be a sad Sight to see Beggars on Horse-back and Princes Walking as Servants upon the Earth much more is it to be Lamented that Mens Corruptions which ought to be held in perpetual Restraint should sway and Command all and Conscience the mean while be slighted stifled stupified and kept under which as a Prince should be Obeyed in every thing and from God give Laws to the whole Man What One said of a good Magistrate may be applyed unto a good Conscience that (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is a Benefactor and Friend to Mankind 'T will never be well with us till this have a Resurrection This is the way to obtain a Blessing from God the way to have Prosperity Trade Reputation and which is more than any than all these the Honour and Credit of the Christian Religion revived which has sunk in the esteem of many because so little of Conscience has appeared in those who have Professed it That thus it may be is the end both of this Book and of its Author And I have Dedicated it unto you Honoured Sirs who are of different Perswasions to shew that great Respect I unfeignedly bear unto you All and because Persons of all Perswasions have need to study the Subject here Treated of How many bad Consciences are there of every Opinion And if all of every Opinion would but look well to their Consciences and be so self-denying as to lay aside their Passions and their Interests This would be one of the most probable means to bring all to a better Agreement They are the Carnal and Hypocritical of every Party who endeavour to make breaches wider that are the Quarrellers and Disputers The truly Conscientious abhor Contention the sincere are very inclinable unto Peace I shall add no more but Conclude this my Address to you with an earnest Wish that All of every Perswasion may imitate You All in regard of Conscientiousness Moderation and Wisdom And 't is not a Complement to tell you that in thus Wishing I Wish well to the whole Nation and to the Churches of Christ in it Your most Humble Servant for Jesus sake Nathanael Vincent An ADDRESSE TO THE Conscience of the READER Conscience MY Expectation is greater from Thee than from any thing in the Reader besides I make no question but what I have written being opposite unto the sinfull and corrupt Inclinations of men will also be displeasing to their Humour but I have hope that Thou wilt side with me 'T is easie to convince Thee that Sin is to the prejudice of the whole Man that a Redeemer is to be prized by Sinners who are under the worst kind of Bondage and that Holiness is for men's Honour and Interest and Safety 'T is easie to convince Thee that those Pleasures and Advantages which are offer'd in Temptation are inconsiderable and that 't is the heighth of Folly to yield unto the Tempter to forsake an All-sufficient God to hazard an immortal Soul and venture the enduring of Eternal Misery for the sake of those Profits and Delights which are so mixed and unsatisfactory while enjoyed and which can continue at longest but a very short season And since it is most certainly thus O Conscience keep not silence produce the Word of God and there shew how the Lord has given thee a Negative Voice and allows nothing to be done that may defile or wound thee Protest loudly and peremptorily against all Sin call Heaven and Earth to witness and God himself unto thine assistance Vigorously oppose the Enemy of Mankind who hath his Name Apollyon because he endeavours to destroy all Bestirre thy self and joyn with Me in endeavouring to hinder the everlasting Ruine of every Reader who shall take this Book into his hand My design is not to turn People to a Party but to turn them unto God that which I preach up is Faith in our Lord Jesus and Purity in Heart and Conversation And surely such a design Thou canst not but approve such a Doctrine Thou must needs grant is faithful sound and consequently worthy of all Acceptation O Conscience I am pleading for God! that He who is so Great and Good may be obeyed and that the Sons of Men would submit their Wills to His And this is a thing but very equal since their Wills are corrupt and foolish and strongly inclin'd unto what is mischievous to themselves but His is wise and gracious and never commands any thing but what is really for the Profit of him that is to yield Obedience I am likewise O Conscience pleading for Thee that Thou mayst be allowed the free Exercise of thy Authority and Power and mayest be hearkened to whenever thou dost declaim against Sin and