Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	beg_v	gracious_a	great_a	64	3	2.0994	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27390	Constantius the Apostate being a short account of his life and the sense of the primitive Christians about his succession and their behaviour toward him : wherein is shown the unlawfulness of excluding the next heir upon the account of religion, and the necessity of passive obedience, as well to the unlawfull oppressour, as the legal persecutour : being a full answer to a late pamphlet intituled Julian the Apostate, &c.	Bennet, John, d. 1686.	1683 (1683)	Wing B1884; ESTC R24199	39,779	97

prevail_v with_o they_o to_o attempt_v it_o it_o will_v be_v easy_a here_o to_o answer_v all_o the_o pretend_a argument_n and_o authority_n mr._n johnson_n bring_v to_o prove_v the_o contrary_a action_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n towards_o julian_n but_o i_o suppose_v the_o reader_n remember_v what_o have_v be_v already_o say_v of_o they_o particular_o in_o the_o preface_n so_o that_o i_o shall_v not_o need_v to_o trouble_v he_o or_o myself_o with_o a_o repetition_n but_o i_o shall_v hasten_v to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o their_o behaviour_n towards_o constantius_n and_o leave_v the_o world_n to_o judge_v whether_o it_o be_v not_o more_o agreeable_a to_o the_o gospel_n than_o that_o which_o mr._n johnson_n false_o scandalise_v the_o christian_n under_o julian_n with_o and_o consequent_o fit_a for_o our_o imitation_n chap._n iii_o their_o behaviour_n towards_o he_o in_o word_n it_o be_v a_o strange_a account_n mr._n johnson_n give_v we_o of_o the_o christian_n behaviour_n towards_o their_o emperor_n though_o a_o persecutor_n and_o a_o apostate_n for_o rail_v be_v certain_o so_o far_o from_o be_v evangelical_n that_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o principle_n of_o common_a breed_n but_o perhaps_o these_o be_v some_o of_o those_o unhappy_a people_n the_o emperor_n have_v interdict_v the_o benefit_n of_o go_v to_o school_n to_o and_o now_o he_o deserve_o find_v the_o effect_n of_o his_o cruelty_n but_o then_o he_o ought_v to_o have_v tell_v we_o so_o and_o not_o to_o have_v lay_v it_o down_o in_o such_o general_a term_n as_o if_o it_o be_v the_o approve_a practice_n of_o the_o whole_a church_n this_o be_v the_o strange_a injustice_n to_o that_o famous_a age_n imaginable_a and_o only_o expose_v those_o example_n one_o will_v think_v by_o the_o end_n of_o his_o book_n he_o design_v we_o shall_v imitate_v for_o from_o the_o scope_n of_o his_o book_n i_o can_v conclude_v nothing_o but_o this_o viz._n that_o he_o intend_v to_o give_v we_o a_o account_n how_o the_o christian_n in_o former_a age_n behave_v themselves_o towards_o a_o apostate_n to_o inform_v we_o what_o we_o may_v do_v on_o the_o like_a occasion_n i_o must_v confess_v he_o have_v do_v most_o of_o his_o own_o party_n a_o considerable_a kindness_n for_o they_o hitherto_o have_v rail_v without_o precedent_n as_o well_o as_o without_o cause_n and_o i_o suppose_v greek_a ever_o long_o will_v be_v much_o in_o fashion_n with_o they_o as_o a_o language_n that_o will_v extreme_o accomplish_v they_o for_o that_o christian_a liberty_n but_o as_o for_o we_o we_o shall_v rather_o fetch_v the_o method_n of_o our_o conduct_n from_o the_o grave_a write_n of_o the_o father_n of_o those_o time_n and_o not_o imitate_v he_o who_o like_o our_o late_a travel_a spark_n only_o observe_v and_o treasure_n up_o the_o vice_n and_o folly_n of_o the_o place_n he_o visit_v and_o expose_v they_o when_o he_o come_v home_o for_o rarity_n and_o accomplishment_n none_o certain_o but_o the_o scum_n and_o rabble_n of_o that_o age_n can_v be_v guilty_a of_o those_o indignity_n to_o their_o emperor_n but_o mr._n johnson_n tell_v we_o no_o less_o a_o man_n than_o theodoret_n commend_v they_o for_o their_o nickname_n and_o reproach_n and_o quote_v his_o 3_o d_o book_n and_o c._n 22._o for_o what_o he_o say_v i_o have_v look_v with_o both_o eye_n and_o can_v find_v any_o thing_n like_o it_o he_o commend_v indeed_o the_o antiochian_o for_o their_o zeal_n but_o not_o their_o rudeness_n as_o to_o the_o example_n of_o maris_n which_o he_o bring_v as_o the_o second_o and_o last_o argument_n to_o justify_v ill_a language_n give_v to_o a_o emperor_n if_o a_o apostate_n be_v of_o very_o little_a force_n for_o without_o all_o doubt_n it_o be_v a_o indiscreet_a action_n and_o nothing_o but_o his_o great_a zeal_n for_o religion_n can_v make_v any_o colourable_a excuse_n for_o it_o for_o who_o unless_o he_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o be_v a_o martyr_n will_v affront_v a_o emperor_n in_o the_o height_n of_o his_o devotion_n and_o upbraid_v his_o god_n when_o he_o be_v pay_v his_o adoration_n to_o they_o origen_n i_o be_o sure_a will_v have_v count_v such_o a_o action_n downright_a madness_n for_o he_o tell_v we_o when_o we_o do_v nothing_o contrary_a to_o the_o law_n and_o word_n of_o god_n we_o be_v not_o so_o mad_a or_o furious_a as_o to_o stir_v up_o against_o ourselves_o the_o wrath_n of_o the_o king_n or_o of_o the_o magistrate_n which_o will_v bring_v upon_o we_o blow_n cel._n torment_n and_o divers_a kind_n of_o death_n and_o i_o have_v some_o reason_n to_o assert_v this_o from_o the_o quite_o different_a conduct_n of_o all_o the_o father_n that_o live_v under_o constantius_n that_o be_v so_o far_o from_o do_v any_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n unprovoke_v that_o all_o the_o cruelty_n that_o apostate_n emperor_n can_v inflict_v do_v not_o extort_v the_o least_o mis-becoming_a expression_n from_o they_o athanasius_n tell_v the_o emperor_n in_o his_o apology_n i_o be_o not_o mad_a o_o king_n neither_o have_v i_o forget_v the_o voice_n of_o god_n that_o say_v const._n curse_v not_o the_o king_n ibid._n no_o not_o in_o thy_o heart_n and_o again_o i_o do_v not_o oppose_v the_o command_n of_o your_o majesty_n god_n forbid_v i_o be_o not_o such_o a_o man_n as_o will_v oppose_v the_o very_a treasurer_n of_o the_o city_n much_o less_o so_o great_a a_o emperor_n i_o be_v not_o so_o mad_a as_o to_o contradict_v such_o a_o command_n as_o you_o i_o neither_o do_v oppose_v the_o command_n of_o your_o majesty_n nor_o will_v now_o attempt_v to_o enter_v into_o alexandria_n until_o you_o of_o your_o goodness_n will_v please_v i_o shall_v and_o in_o another_o place_n of_o the_o same_o apology_n he_o tell_v constantius_n if_o i_o have_v be_v accuse_v before_o other_o i_o have_v appeal_v unto_o your_o majesty_n as_o the_o apostle_n appeal_v unto_o caesar_n but_o see_v they_o have_v take_v the_o boldness_n to_o calumniate_v i_o before_o thou_o to_o who_o shall_v i_o appeal_v from_o thou_o but_o to_o the_o father_n of_o he_o who_o say_v i_o be_o truth_n that_o he_o may_v incline_v thy_o heart_n to_o mercy_n st._n hilary_n tell_v he_o and_o in_o the_o time_n of_o persecution_n too_o your_o mild_a nature_n bless_a lord_n agree_v with_o your_o gracious_a disposition_n and_o because_o of_o your_o great_a mercy_n we_o do_v doubt_n of_o easy_o obtain_v what_o we_o desire_v of_o you_o we_o beg_v of_o you_o not_o only_o with_o word_n but_o tear_n that_o the_o catholic_n church_n be_v no_o long_o persecute_v by_o our_o brethren_n hilar._n ad_fw-la const._n l._n 2._o and_o 20_o bishop_n of_o the_o west_n in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o a_o letter_n from_o a_o synod_n at_o ariminum_n we_o beseech_v you_o that_o you_o cause_v we_o not_o to_o stay_v from_o our_o charge_n but_o that_o the_o bishop_n together_o with_o their_o own_o people_n may_v with_o peace_n employ_v themselves_o in_o prayer_n and_o the_o service_n of_o god_n make_v supplication_n for_o your_o kingdom_n safety_n and_o peace_n in_o which_o the_o divine_a majesty_n long_o preserve_v you_o atha_n epist._n de_fw-fr syn._n ari._n etc._n etc._n hosius_n likewise_o a_o man_n of_o a_o extraordinary_a zeal_n and_o courage_n though_o provoke_v by_o the_o severe_a persecution_n imaginable_a can_v think_v it_o lawful_a for_o he_o to_o speak_v so_o much_o as_o dis-respectful_o of_o the_o emperor_n but_o tell_v he_o since_o he_o have_v receive_v his_o imperial_a power_n from_o god_n whosoever_o do_v detract_v any_o thing_n from_o that_o shall_v be_v look_v upon_o as_o a_o opposer_n of_o the_o ordinance_n of_o god_n it_o will_v be_v easy_a to_o seem_v very_o learn_v upon_o this_o point_n that_o be_v to_o stuff_v my_o margin_n with_o quotation_n but_o that_o be_v a_o vanity_n i_o be_o not_o over-desirous_a to_o be_v think_v guilty_a of_o i_o hope_v the_o authority_n i_o have_v already_o cite_v will_v be_v sufficient_a to_o prove_v what_o i_o design_v viz._n that_o it_o be_v the_o judgement_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n that_o no_o ill_a usage_n from_o their_o emperor_n though_o a_o heathen_a or_o apostate_n can_v authorise_v they_o to_o affront_v he_o and_o that_o difference_n of_o religion_n do_v not_o by_o any_o mean_n cancel_v our_o obedience_n to_o he_o now_o that_o the_o face_n of_o thing_n shall_v be_v so_o soon_o change_v as_o that_o it_o shall_v be_v damnation_n to_o speak_v ill_o of_o the_o emperor_n under_o constantius_n and_o under_o julian_n his_o immediate_a successor_n not_o only_o permit_v but_o meritorious_a to_o curse_v he_o as_o mr._n johnson_n acquaint_v we_o be_v very_o strange_a i_o be_o confident_a if_o they_o do_v those_o action_n he_o lay_v to_o their_o charge_n they_o have_v no_o precedent_n for_o they_o in_o former_a age_n and_o the_o doctrine_n they_o govern_v themselves_o by_o be_v

perfect_o new_a and_o their_o own_o for_o it_o be_v well_o know_v all_o the_o first_o christian_n act_v quite_o contrary_a they_o continual_o night_n and_o day_n pray_v for_o the_o safety_n of_o the_o emperor_n cypr._n ad_fw-la demet_n it_o will_v be_v easy_a out_o of_o the_o martyrology_n of_o the_o first_o time_n to_o give_v instance_n of_o the_o christian_n submission_n as_o strange_a as_o the_o cruelty_n of_o their_o persecutor_n but_o this_o will_v be_v unnecessary_a since_o their_o suffering_n and_o patience_n be_v so_o well_o know_v that_o mr._n johnson_n himself_o be_v force_v to_o own_o it_o but_o tell_v we_o withal_o it_o be_v their_o duty_n to_o suffer_v patient_o because_o they_o be_v persecute_v according_a to_o law_n this_o answer_n be_v of_o very_o little_a force_n for_o there_o be_v no_o other_o law_n but_o the_o will_n of_o their_o emperor_n against_o they_o or_o their_o edict_n which_o be_v only_o their_o will_n manifest_v both_o which_o be_v as_o much_o law_n in_o iulian_n time_n as_o n●ro's_n therefore_o why_o the_o christian_n shall_v think_v it_o their_o duty_n patient_o to_o submit_v to_o all_o the_o inhuman_a cruelty_n of_o that_o first_o persecutor_n and_o those_o under_o julian_n rebel_n or_o at_o least_o murmur_n at_o those_o light_a pressure_n of_o their_o emperor_n i_o be_o not_o able_a to_o resolve_v i_o be_o incline_v to_o think_v that_o mr._n johnson_n christian_n be_v not_o so_o good_a as_o they_o shall_v be_v for_o those_o that_o will_v only_o submit_v quiet_o to_o persecution_n upon_o some_o condition_n for_o he_o tell_v u●_n though_o they_o resist_v julian_n they_o will_v patient_o have_v bear_v the_o cruelty_n of_o a_o heathen_a persecutor_n be_v govern_v rather_o by_o humour_n than_o religion_n for_o the_o gospel_n i_o be_o sure_a make_v no_o distinction_n and_o it_o be_v a_o receive_a maxim_n ubi_fw-la lex_fw-la non_fw-la distinguit_fw-la nemo_fw-la distinguere_fw-la debet_fw-la where_o the_o law_n make_v no_o distinction_n no_o man_n ought_v to_o do_v it_o but_o beside_o it_o have_v be_v sufficient_o prove_v that_o constantius_n proceed_n be_v altogether_o as_o illegal_a and_o arbitrary_a as_o those_o of_o julian_n can_v possible_o be_v they_o be_v both_o apostate_n and_o though_o indeed_o the_o latter_a be_v less_o to_o be_v excuse_v it_o be_v something_o a_o worse_a defection_n to_o paganism_n than_o arianism_n yet_o in_o respect_n of_o the_o quiet_a and_o security_n of_o the_o church_n they_o be_v both_o equal_o dangerous_a and_o yet_o we_o see_v from_o the_o example_n of_o so_o many_o bishop_n the_o prayer_n of_o all_o the_o people_n that_o they_o be_v so_o far_o from_o curse_v he_o or_o give_v he_o to_o the_o devil_n for_o his_o due_n that_o they_o seem_v to_o be_v fond_a of_o his_o life_n and_o make_v the_o establishment_n and_o welfare_n of_o the_o empire_n to_o be_v the_o first_o business_n of_o their_o prayer_n for_o hence_o it_o be_v that_o we_o give_v respect_n to_o a_o heathen_a if_o put_v in_o authority_n for_o though_o he_o be_v most_o unworthy_a of_o it_o himself_o who_o hold_v god_n place_n give_v the_o devil_n thank_v for_o it_o but_o the_o honour_n we_o give_v he_o his_o place_n challenge_v q._n 35._o exerc_n nou._n test._n tom_n 4._o open_a au._n chap._n iu._n ●h●ir_a action_n before_o i_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o christi●●_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d their_o action_n towards_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d ●●ll_v be_v necessary_a to_o make_v 〈◊〉_d remark_v upon_o those_o two_o action_n of_o a_o soldier_n and_o a_o bishop_n under_o julian_n which_o mr._n johnson_n say_v m●y_o manifest_a how_o the_o primitive_a christian_n despise_v he_o beside_o that_o it_o i●_n very_o foul_a pl●y_n to_o infer_v the_o general_a sense_n of_o the_o church_n from_o that_o of_o but_o two_o member_n of_o it_o i_o can_v grant_v that_o the_o primitive_a christian_n will_v by_o any_o mean_n allow_v of_o these_o action_n as_o to_o the_o first_o that_o of_o valentinian_n i_o must_v needs_o own_v it_o be_v far_o more_o excusable_a than_o what_o old_a gregory_n do_v for_o his_o character_n and_o the_o meanness_n of_o the_o person_n that_o suffer_v by_o he_o may_v plead_v something_o in_o his_o behalf_n strike_v in_o a_o soldier_n be_v more_o pardonable_a than_o in_o a_o bishop_n and_o bea●ing_v a_o priest_n more_o tolerable_a than_o kick_v a_o emperor_n but_o this_o will_v not_o justify_v the_o violence_n for_o it_o be_v undoubted_o a_o fault_n though_o the_o praise_n the_o historian_n give_v it_o will_v seem_v to_o prove_v the_o contrary_n for_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o the_o action_n deserve_v to_o be_v praise_v not_o for_o its_o own_o sake_n but_o because_o it_o show_v a_o extraordinary_a zeal_n for_o christianity_n it_o be_v the_o motive_n and_o not_o the_o fact_n that_o be_v to_o be_v commend_v and_o that_o this_o be_v not_o pure_o a_o 〈◊〉_d but_o the_o real_a truth_n of_o the_o matter_n we_o may_v infer_v from_o this_o plain_a instance_n in_o the_o primitive_a church_n many_o kill_v themselves_o when_o they_o can_v by_o no_o other_o mean_n avoid_v sacrifice_v to_o idol_n and_o they_o stand_v now_o upon_o record_n for_o martyr_n this_o action_n of_o they_o be_v certain_o self-murde_a and_o consequent_o criminal_a and_o dr._n hammond_n affirm_v that_o it_o be_v a_o fault_n in_o they_o too_o but_o the_o love_n of_o god_n and_o the_o fear_n they_o shall_v be_v pollute_v by_o idol_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o it_o and_o so_o though_o it_o may_v as_o a_o frailty_n be_v pardon_v by_o god_n mercy_n in_o christ_n yet_o sure_a this_o kill_a themselves_o be_v not_o that_o which_o make_v they_o martyr_n but_o that_o great_a love_n of_o god_n and_o resolve_v against_o idolatrous_a worship_n which_o testify_v itself_o in_o their_o kill_a themselves_o for_o that_o cause_n this_o it_o be_v that_o make_v they_o pass_v for_o martyr_n and_o that_o other_o incident_a fault_n of_o they_o be_v not_o in_o that_o case_n think_v so_o great_a as_o to_o divest_v they_o or_o rob_v they_o of_o that_o honour_n dr._n ham._n pr._n c●_n and_o 〈◊〉_d high_o probable_a that_o this_o be_v valentinian_n case_n it_o be_v not_o his_o strike_v the_o priest_n but_o his_o confession_n that_o give_v he_o a_o title_n to_o two_o kingdom_n that_o of_o the_o empire_n and_o heaven_n but_o i_o need_v not_o have_v say_v so_o much_o of_o this_o for_o mr._n johnson_n himself_o allow_v it_o to_o be_v a_o unaccountable_a action_n p._n 44._o as_o to_o the_o extravagant_a action_n of_o old_a gregory_n nazianzen_n for_o i_o can_v just_o give_v it_o a_o mild_a epithet_n certain_o nothing_o but_o the_o partiality_n of_o a_o son_n can_v excuse_v it_o and_o it_o be_v a_o fault_n even_o in_o he_o to_o commend_v it_o for_o who_o can_v stretch_v forth_o his_o hand_n against_o the_o lord_n anointed_n sure_o the_o foot_n be_v not_o except_v and_o be_v guiltless_a 1_o sam._n 26._o 9_o st._n chrysostom_n forbid_v the_o empress_n eudoxia_n to_o come_v within_o the_o church_n be_v not_o half_a so_o insolent_a as_o this_o act_n of_o gregory_n yet_o he_o severe_o repent_v of_o it_o and_o tell_v we_o in_o the_o cool_a hour_n of_o his_o life_n he_o do_v more_o than_o he_o can_v justify_v if_o i_o be_v to_o specify_v the_o particular_a action_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n under_o constantius_n in_o opposition_n to_o those_o under_o julian_n i_o shall_v be_v as_o prolix_a and_o tedious_a as_o mr._n johnson_n be_v in_o his_o comparison_n of_o popery_n and_o paganism_n i_o shall_v add_v in_o general_a term_n and_o i_o defy_v any_o one_o to_o disprove_v i_o out_o of_o the_o write_n of_o the_o father_n the_o history_n and_o the_o martyrology_n of_o that_o age_n that_o the_o soldier_n though_o of_o a_o contrary_a opinion_n fight_v for_o he_o the_o father_n though_o banish_v pray_v for_o he_o as_o likewise_o do_v the_o martyr_n under_o persecution_n till_o the_o executioner_n put_v a_o end_n at_o once_o both_o to_o their_o devotion_n and_o their_o life_n chap._n v._o of_o their_o devotion_n their_o psalm_n and_o prayer_n i_o do_v think_v there_o be_v so_o much_o difference_n between_o prayer_n and_o psalm_n as_o to_o treat_v of_o they_o several_o in_o two_o distinct_a chapter_n but_o shall_v speak_v of_o they_o here_o together_o i_o hope_v without_o any_o great_a absurdity_n i_o must_v confess_v there_o seem_v some_o weight_n in_o the_o instance_n mr._n johnson_n urge_v of_o the_o young_a martyr_n theodorus_n who_o curse_v the_o emperor_n out_o of_o the_o psalm_n and_o when_o he_o suffer_v for_o it_o by_o a_o extraordinary_a assistance_n from_o heaven_n not_o only_o survive_v but_o enjoy_v the_o torture_n but_o like_o all_o the_o rest_n he_o write_v it_o be_v only_a gloss_n and_o only_o fit_a to_o be_v swallow_v by_o those_o who_o use_n he_o design_n his_o book_n for_o the_o