Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	emperor_n	king_n	league_n	3,609	5	9.4892	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51901	The seventh volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.	Marana, Giovanni Paolo, 1642-1693.; Bradshaw, William, fl. 1700.; Midgley, Robert, 1655?-1723.	1694 (1694)	Wing M565DC; ESTC R35023	159,469	386

who every Moon us'd to Fast for Seven or Eight Days together So a famous German Maid was diligently observ'd and watch'd whilst she pass'd away full Seven Years Time without Meat Drink Sleep or Excrements France also boasts of another Virgin who fasted above Three Years together Such Abstinences as these are not to be put to the Account of Vertue in regard they were not the Effects of Humane Choice but the Decrees of Fate So wou'd our Abstinence be deprav'd if we shou'd only practise it as the old Gentiles did who forbore to kill or eat some certain Beasts because they held them consecrated to their Gods As the Dog to Diana the Tyger to Bacchus the Horse to Neptune the Woolf to Mars the Eagle to Jupiter the Peacock to Juno the Swan to Apollo the Dove to Venus the Owl to Minerva Nor need we abstain on the Account of the Soul's Transmigration for so we ought to forbear the Vegetable Products of the Earth as well as Animals since the Soul is Indifferent to all Bodies in its separate State But our Reason in this Point ought to take its Rise from the Fundamental Law of Nature the Original Justice of the World which teaches us Not to do that to another which we wou'd not have another do to us Now since 't is evident That no Man wou'd willingly become the Food of Beasts therefore by the same Rule he ought not to prey on them Next to this Foundation of our Abstinence we ought to build our Aims at the Perfection of our Nature which cannot be acquir'd but by Degrees We must endeavour to abate the Aliment of our Concupiscences by exhaling the superfluous and grosser Vapours of our Blood in Sacred Fasts and Oraisons Then we shou'd refresh our fainting Bodies with Food affording little Nourishment and Pleasure That so our vain Affections Appetites and Lusts may gradually die Whilst the pure Mind revives and being free from the gross Vapours arising from too much and too fatning Meats and Drinks the Films which darken'd her Sight fall off and she can better now discern the Naked Forms of Things by her own simple Intuition than before she cou'd through all the borrow'd Spectacles and other Opticks of Book-Philosophy Also she will more easily raise her self to the Contemplation and Science of Divine Eternal Things He therefore that in Earnest will apply himself to the Study of accomplish'd Sanctity must first by Fasting exhaust the Marrow from his Bones the Fatness from his Flesh the Wild and Rampant Spirits from his Nerves and then he must purge the Words and Actions of his Life from Vice When this is done the Soul becoming a pure Tabula Rasa is fit for the Impressions of Celestial Vertue Those who labour under acute Diseases run great Hazard of their Lives according to Hippocrates unless their Diet be accommodated with proportionate Regard to the Quality and Time of the Critical Fits or Paroxisms But those who are entangl'd with Vice do labour under far more dangerous Distempers than such as afflict the Body Wherefore the Prophet our Holy Law-giver like a Wise Physician appointed certain Seasons of the Year for Sacred Abstinences Fastings Pilgrimages Vigils and other Holy Exercises especially the Mighty Fast and Vigil of Ramezan wherein tho' it be not forbid to eat of Flesh after the Stars appear at Night yet none but loose and indevout Believers take that Liberty whereas the better Sort content themselves with an Ascetick Diet. The Hebrews fasted with Unleaven'd Bread and a little Salad the Christians also taste no Flesh on their prohibited Days And shall the Mussulmans be greater Libertines than these Infidels O Hebatolla how radiant is the Lustre of a Lamp when shining through a clean and fine defaecate Chrystal So does the Soul display the Rays of her Immortal Vertue round about when she inhabits in a well purifi'd chaste and almost pervious Body VVherefore it is absolutely necessary for him to attenuate his Body with perpetual Temperance and Abstinence who consecrates himself to Vertue and Devotion He will not be ensnar'd or catch'd by any Baits of Luxury or Voluptuousness not yet affrighted from his constant sober Course of Life by any Pain or thwarting Accident No Frowns or Menaces shall divert him from his Noble Purpose But he will so nourish his Body all his Life that it shall never be Surfeited or over-fill'd with Meats And such is the Magick of this Sacred Vertue That it can never be hurt much less subverted by all the Machinations of Evil Daemons or the Malicious Attempts of Men. But it proceeds from Strength to Strength and fights the Combat valiantly till having overcome at last it Triumphs for ever and receives the Palm the Crown and Chaplet of Divine Reward in Paradise Holy President pray that I may practise what I so admire and not be self-condemn'd for living contrary to my Knowledge For God neither loves a double Tongue or Heart neither delights he in Feet or Hands that are swift and nimble to do Mischief Paris 13th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1669. LETTER VIII To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire NOw the Christians are in a general Consternation for Candy The Pope has sent Letters to all the Princes that are in his Communion inviting and pressing them to succour that Distress'd Island Levies are making every where and the King of France who seeks all Occasions of Glory appears the most forward of any to assist the Republick in this Fatal Juncture The Duke of Beaufort and the Chevalier de Vendosm are appointed to lead the Forces design'd for that Service They are gone to Toulon in Order to embarque The Pope has sent the Duke of Beaufort a Breve declaring him General of the Troops Ecclesiastick that are to serve in Candy and for his greater Encouragement he has sent him the Pontifical Standard In the mean while there is a Triple League concluded between the Emperour the King of Spain the King of England the King of Swedeland and the States of Holland There is great Joy in Portugal for the Birth of the Infanta who is call'd Elizabetha-Maria-Louisa She was Born the 6th of the 1st Moon and on the 18th the Empress of Germany was also deliver'd of a Daughter These Western Queens are very pregnant Not a Year passes without the Birth or Baptism of some Royal Infant This is all the News at present but to oblige thee I will say something of Italy which is esteem'd the Garden of Europe Nay Constantine Paleologus Emperor of Greece was wont to say Vnless I had been assur'd by very Learned and Holy Men that Paradise was seated in Asia I shou'd have sworn that Italy had been the Place It is most certain Italy is a delectable Country abounding in Riches and Pleasures The Eye is not satisfi'd with seeing the infinite Variety of Beauties which grace this happy Region Such is the lovely Intermixture of Hills and Valleys Groves and