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england_n abandon_v church_n show_v 18 3 4.2444 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A60955 Twelve sermons preached upon several occasions. The second volume by Robert South. South, Robert, 1634-1716. 1694 (1694) Wing S4746; ESTC R39098 202,579 660

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any_o great_a or_o sturdy_a multitude_n of_o man_n have_v no_o mind_n to_o submit_v to_o that_o be_v in_o other_o word_n let_v law_n be_v make_v to_o obey_v and_o not_o to_o be_v obey_v and_o upon_o these_o term_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o you_o will_v find_v that_o kingdom_n or_o rather_o that_o commonwealth_n fine_o govern_v in_o a_o short_a time_n and_o thus_o i_o have_v show_v the_o absurdity_n folly_n and_o impertinence_n of_o allege_v the_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n where_o there_o be_v no_o law_n or_o command_n of_o god_n mediate_v or_o immediate_a to_o found_v that_o obligation_n upon_o and_o yet_o as_o bad_a as_o this_o be_v it_o be_v well_o if_o the_o bare_a absurdity_n of_o these_o pretence_n be_v the_o worst_a thing_n which_o we_o have_v to_o charge_v they_o with_o but_o it_o be_v not_o so_o for_o our_o second_o
fellow-artist_n act_v 19_o 25._o it_o be_v by_o this_o craft_n that_o they_o get_v their_o wealth_n so_o long_a experience_n have_v find_v it_o true_a of_o the_o unthinking_a mobile_n that_o the_o close_o they_o shut_v their_o eye_n the_o wide_a they_o open_v their_o hand_n but_o this_o base_a trade_n the_o church_n of_o england_n always_o abhor_v and_o for_o that_o cause_n as_o to_o its_o temporal_a advantage_n have_v fare_v according_o and_o by_o this_o time_n may_v be_v think_v fit_a for_o another_o reformation_n and_o thus_o i_o have_v show_v three_o notable_a way_n by_o which_o the_o philosopher_n and_o learned_a man_n among_o the_o gentile_n hold_v the_o truth_n in_o unrighteousness_n as_o first_o that_o they_o do_v not_o practise_v up_o to_o it_o 2_o that_o they_o do_v not_o improve_v it_o and_o 3_o and_o last_o that_o they_o conceal_v and_o dissemble_v it_o and_o this_o be_v that_o which_o prepare_v and_o dispose_v they_o to_o great_a enormity_n for_o change_v the_o truth_n of_o god_n into_o a_o lie_n they_o become_v like_o those_o who_o by_o often_o repeat_v a_o lie_n to_o other_o come_v at_o length_n to_o believe_v it_o themselves_o they_o own_v the_o idolatrous_a worship_n of_o god_n so_o long_o till_o by_o degree_n even_o in_o spite_n of_o reason_n and_o nature_n they_o think_v that_o he_o ought_v so_o to_o be_v worship_v but_o this_o stop_v not_o here_o for_o as_o one_o wickedness_n be_v natural_o a_o step_n and_o introduction_n to_o another_o so_o from_o absurd_a and_o senseless_a devotion_n they_o pass_v into_o vile_a affection_n practise_v vice_n against_o nature_n and_o that_o in_o such_o strange_a and_o abominable_a instance_n of_o sin_n that_o nothing_o can_v equal_v the_o corruption_n of_o their_o manner_n but_o the_o delusion_n of_o their_o judgement_n both_o of_o they_o the_o true_a and_o proper_a cause_n of_o one_o another_o the_o consideration_n of_o which_o one_o will_v think_v shall_v make_v man_n cautious_a and_o fearful_a how_o they_o suppress_v or_o debauch_v that_o spark_n of_o natural_a light_n which_o god_n have_v set_v up_o in_o their_o soul_n when_o nature_n be_v in_o the_o dark_a it_o will_v venture_v to_o do_v any_o thing_n and_o god_n know_v how_o far_o the_o spirit_n of_o infatuation_n may_v prevail_v upon_o the_o heart_n when_o it_o come_v once_o to_o court_n and_o love_v a_o delusion_n some_o man_n hug_v a_o error_n because_o it_o gratify_v they_o in_o a_o free_a enjoyment_n of_o their_o sensuality_n and_o for_o that_o reason_n god_n in_o judgement_n suffer_v they_o to_o be_v plunge_v into_o foul_a and_o grosser_n error_n such_o as_o even_o unman_v and_o strip_v they_o of_o the_o very_a principle_n of_o reason_n and_o sober_a discourse_n for_o sure_o it_o can_v be_v no_o ordinary_a declension_n of_o nature_n that_o can_v bring_v some_o man_n after_o a_o ingenuous_a education_n in_o art_n and_o philosophy_n to_o place_v their_o summum_fw-la bonum_fw-la upon_o their_o trencher_n and_o their_o utmost_a felicity_n in_o wine_n and_o woman_n and_o those_o lust_n and_o pleasure_n which_o a_o swine_n or_o a_o goat_n have_v as_o full_a and_o quick_a a_o sense_n of_o as_o the_o great_a statesman_n or_o the_o best_a philosopher_n in_o the_o world_n yet_o this_o be_v the_o custom_n this_o the_o know_a voice_n of_o most_o of_o the_o gentile_n dum_fw-la vivimus_fw-la vivamus_fw-la let_v we_o eat_v and_o drink_v to_o day_n for_o to_o morrow_n we_o must_v die_v that_o soul_n which_o god_n have_v give_v they_o comprehensive_a of_o both_o world_n and_o capable_a of_o look_v into_o the_o great_a mystery_n of_o nature_n of_o dive_v into_o the_o depth_n beneath_o and_o of_o understand_v the_o motion_n and_o influence_n of_o the_o star_n above_o even_o this_o glorious_a active_a thing_n do_v they_o confine_v within_o the_o pitiful_a compass_n of_o the_o present_a fruition_n forbid_v it_o to_o take_v a_o prospect_n so_o far_o as_o into_o the_o morrow_n as_o if_o to_o think_v to_o contemplate_v or_o be_v serious_a have_v be_v high_a treason_n against_o the_o empire_n and_o prerogative_n of_o sense_n usurp_v the_o throne_n of_o their_o baffle_a and_o depose_v reason_n and_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o even_o nowadays_o there_o be_v often_o see_v such_o a_o vast_a difference_n between_o the_o former_a and_o the_o latter_a part_n of_o some_o man_n life_n that_o those_o who_o first_o step_v forth_o into_o the_o world_n with_o high_a and_o promise_a ability_n vigorous_a intellectual_n and_o clear_a moral_n come_v at_o length_n to_o grow_v sot_n and_o epicure_n mean_v in_o their_o discourse_n and_o dirty_a in_o their_o practice_n but_o that_o as_o by_o degree_n they_o remit_v of_o their_o industry_n loathe_v their_o business_n and_o give_v way_n to_o their_o pleasure_n they_o let_v fall_v those_o generous_a principle_n which_o in_o their_o youthful_a day_n have_v bear_v they_o upon_o the_o wing_n and_o raise_v they_o to_o worthy_a and_o great_a thought_n which_o thought_n and_o principle_n not_o be_v keep_v up_o and_o cherish_v but_o smother_v in_o sensual_a delight_n god_n for_o that_o cause_n suffer_v they_o to_o flag_n and_o sink_v into_o low_a and_o inglorious_a satisfaction_n and_o to_o enjoy_v themselves_o more_o in_o a_o revel_n or_o a_o merry-meeting_n a_o strumpet_n or_o a_o tavern_n than_o in_o be_v useful_a to_o a_o church_n or_o a_o nation_n in_o be_v a_o public_a good_a to_o society_n and_o a_o benefit_n to_o mankind_n the_o part_n that_o god_n give_v they_o they_o hold_v in_o unrighteousness_n sloth_n and_o sensuality_n and_o this_o make_v god_n to_o desert_n and_o abandon_v they_o to_o themselves_o so_o that_o they_o have_v have_v a_o dote_a and_o a_o decrepit_a reason_n long_o before_o age_n have_v give_v they_o such_o a_o body_n and_o therefore_o i_o can_v hearty_o wish_v that_o such_o young_a person_n as_o hear_v i_o now_o will_v lodge_v this_o one_o observation_n deep_a in_o their_o mind_n viz._n that_o god_n and_o nature_n have_v join_v wisdom_n and_o virtue_n by_o such_o a_o near_a cognation_n or_o rather_o such_o a_o inseparable_a connexion_n that_o a_o wise_a a_o prudent_a and_o a_o honourable_a old_a age_n be_v seldom_o or_o never_o find_v but_o as_o the_o reward_n and_o effect_v of_o a_o sober_a a_o virtuous_a and_o a_o well-spent_a youth_n 4._o i_o descend_v now_o to_o the_o four_o and_o last_o thing_n propose_v namely_o the_o judgement_n or_o rather_o the_o state_n and_o condition_n penal_o consequent_a upon_o the_o person_n here_o charge_v by_o the_o apostle_n with_o idolatry_n which_o be_v that_o they_o be_v without_o excuse_n after_o the_o commission_n of_o sin_n it_o be_v natural_a for_o the_o sinner_n to_o apprehend_v himself_o in_o danger_n and_o upon_o such_o apprehension_n to_o provide_v for_o his_o safety_n and_o defence_n and_o that_o must_v be_v one_o of_o these_o two_o way_n viz._n either_o by_o plead_v his_o innocence_n or_o by_o use_v his_o power_n but_o since_o it_o will_v be_v infinite_o in_o vain_a for_o a_o finite_a power_n to_o contend_v with_o a_o infinite_a innocence_n if_o any_o thing_n must_v be_v his_o plea_n and_o that_o must_v be_v either_o by_o a_o absolute_a denial_n or_o at_o least_o by_o a_o extenuation_n or_o diminution_n of_o his_o sin_n though_o indeed_o this_o course_n will_v be_v find_v altogether_o as_o absurd_a as_o the_o other_o can_v be_v it_o be_v everywhit_n as_o irrational_a for_o a_o sinner_n to_o plead_v his_o innocence_n before_o omniscience_n as_o it_o will_v be_v to_o oppose_v his_o power_n to_o omnipotence_n however_o the_o last_o refuge_n of_o a_o guilty_a person_n be_v to_o take_v shelter_n under_o a_o excuse_n and_o so_o to_o mitigate_v if_o he_o can_v divert_v the_o blow_n it_o be_v the_o method_n of_o the_o great_a pattern_n and_o parent_n of_o all_o sinner_n adam_n first_o to_o hide_v and_o then_o to_o excuse_v himself_o to_o wrap_v the_o apple_n in_o the_o leaf_n and_o to_o give_v his_o case_n a_o gloss_n at_o least_o though_o not_o a_o defence_n but_o now_o when_o the_o sinner_n shall_v be_v strip_v of_o this_o also_o have_v all_o his_o excuse_n blow_v away_o be_v stab_v with_o his_o own_o argument_n and_o as_o it_o be_v sacrifice_v upon_o that_o very_a altar_n which_o he_o flee_v to_o for_o succour_v this_o sure_o be_v the_o height_n and_o crisis_n of_o a_o forlorn_a condition_n yet_o this_o be_v the_o case_n of_o the_o malefactor_n who_o stand_v here_o arraign_v in_o the_o text_n this_o be_v the_o consummation_n of_o their_o doom_n that_o they_o be_v person_n not_o only_o unfit_a for_o a_o pardon_n but_o even_o for_o a_o plea_n now_o a_o excuse_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o it_o import_v these_o two_o thing_n 1._o the_o supposition_n of_o a_o sin_n 2._o the_o extenuation_n of_o its_o gild_n as_o for_o the_o sin_n itself_o we_o have_v already_o hear_v what_o that_o be_v