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the_o best_a guide_n in_o the_o worst_a of_o time_n deliver_v in_o a_o sermon_n at_o the_o gvildhall_n chapel_n on_o march_n 27._o 1681._o before_o the_o honourable_a the_o alderman_n and_o several_a eminent_a citizen_n of_o the_o city_n of_o london_n by_o william_n orme_n vicar_n of_o s._n bartholomew_v the_o less_o london_n london_n print_v for_o samuel_n carr_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o king_n head_n near_o the_o west_n end_v of_o s._n paul_n 1681._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a sir_n patience_z ward_n kt_n lord_n mayor_n of_o the_o city_n of_o london_n and_o to_o the_o honourable_a court_n of_o alderman_n my_o lord_n the_o honour_n and_o obedience_n which_o be_v just_o due_a and_o aught_o to_o be_v give_v to_o magistratical_a authority_n do_v many_o time_n influence_n man_n to_o do_v that_o which_o the_o sense_n of_o their_o own_o vnworthiness_n and_o imperfection_n do_v reasonable_o dissuade_v they_o from_o upon_o which_o account_n this_o sermon_n be_v present_v to_o 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themselves_o as_o to_o put_v the_o rest_n in_o practice_n with_o diligence_n and_o perseverance_n to_o the_o zealous_a prosecute_n of_o which_o we_o of_o this_o city_n especial_o have_v a_o double_a encouragement_n and_o obligation_n the_o first_o be_v the_o direction_n of_o one_o that_o be_v a_o infallible_a apostle_n the_o other_o be_v the_o exemplary_a pattern_n of_o your_o lordship_n piety_n prudence_n and_o peaceable_a conduct_n to_o who_o fame_n and_o merit_n i_o offer_v this_o as_o my_o first-fruit_n with_o hearty_a prayer_n for_o your_o lordship_n perfect_a recovery_n and_o all_o possible_a assurance_n that_o i_o be_o your_o lordship_n and_o the_o honourable_a court_n of_o alderman_n most_o humble_a and_o obedient_a servant_n will._n orme_n st._n bartholomew_v the_o less_o april_n 18._o 1681._o a_o sermon_n preach_v at_o guild-hall_n chappel_n march_v 27._o 1681._o philippian_n i._o 27._o the_o former_a part_n of_o the_o verse_n only_o let_v your_o conversation_n be_v as_o it_o 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the_o people_n mind_n and_o affection_n from_o s._n paul_n and_o to_o crumble_v they_o into_o party_n of_o these_o you_o read_v verse_n 15_o 16_o some_o indeed_o preach_v christ_n even_o of_o envy_n and_o strife_n and_o some_o also_o of_o good_a will_n the_o one_o preach_v christ_n of_o contention_n the_o other_o of_o love_n second_o they_o lay_v under_o the_o fearful_a apprehension_n of_o be_v assault_v and_o persecute_v by_o a_o enemy_n from_o abroad_o for_o there_o be_v some_o at_o nero_n court_n who_o out_o of_o inveterate_a malice_n to_o christianity_n have_v represent_v to_o he_o the_o many_o mischief_n and_o danger_n that_o will_v attend_v his_o government_n if_o he_o suffer_v christian_n to_o increase_v and_o multiply_v upon_o which_o suggestion_n nero_n may_v possible_o give_v order_n to_o fall_v upon_o the_o philippian_n with_o sword_n and_o violence_n and_o of_o these_o sort_n of_o enemy_n s._n paul_n who_o be_v then_o a_o prisoner_n at_o rome_n and_o so_o may_v probable_o 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in_o the_o text_n to_o his_o philippian_n observance_n and_o therefore_o we_o may_v reasonable_o conclude_v that_o the_o follow_v of_o it_o be_v both_o seasonable_a and_o proper_a for_o all_o person_n when_o surround_v and_o oppress_v with_o trouble_n and_o distress_n what_o conversation_n of_o which_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v careful_a do_v mean_a i_o suppose_v every_o one_o understand_v it_o be_v the_o outward_a carriage_n and_o government_n of_o a_o man_n self_n in_o this_o world_n or_o the_o common_a and_o usual_a course_n and_o way_n of_o a_o man_n life_n and_o action_n in_o the_o order_n and_o manage_n of_o which_o we_o ought_v to_o use_v our_o utmost_a care_n and_o discretion_n and_o that_o upon_o these_o follow_a reason_n first_o because_o there_o be_v nothing_o of_o we_o fall_v so_o much_o under_o humane_a cognizance_n and_o observation_n as_o this_o for_o how_o we_o live_v and_o what_o we_o do_v be_v expose_v to_o every_o eye_n and_o we_o can_v demean_v ourselves_o or_o be_v concern_v in_o any_o worldly_a affair_n but_o many_o both_o friend_n and_o enemy_n will_v take_v notice_n of_o they_o and_o make_v remark_n upon_o they_o and_o therefore_o since_o we_o lie_v open_a and_o naked_a to_o the_o sight_n of_o as_o rational_a and_o intelligent_a person_n as_o ourselves_o and_o who_o will_v be_v as_o curious_a and_o critical_a to_o observe_v our_o way_n of_o live_v as_o we_o be_v of_o they_o certain_o it_o will_v become_v we_o to_o be_v very_o careful_a and_o circumspect_a how_o we_o walk_v and_o act_n in_o this_o present_a world_n second_o we_o ought_v to_o do_v it_o because_o that_o it_o be_v from_o this_o outward_a conversation_n and_o visible_a course_n of_o a_o man_n life_n that_o we_o all_o censure_n and_o judge_v one_o another_o we_o know_v that_o they_o be_v not_o a_o few_o who_o be_v puff_v up_o with_o the_o pride_n and_o ambition_n of_o sit_v in_o the_o chair_n and_o upon_o the_o bench_n of_o judgement_n nor_o be_v they_o less_o numerous_a who_o 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it_o be_v by_o this_o alone_a that_o we_o judge_v and_o censure_v one_o another_o and_o that_o upon_o this_o our_o worldly_a reputation_n stand_v or_o fall_v it_o will_v be_v our_o interest_n and_o prudence_n to_o be_v caution_n in_o what_o we_o speak_v and_o do_v and_o though_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o live_v so_o wary_o and_o without_o offence_n but_o that_o some_o ill_a nature_a and_o wicked_a mind_a man_n will_v malicious_o turn_v all_o we_o say_v to_o the_o worst_a sense_n and_o traduce_v the_o most_o honest_a and_o generous_a action_n yet_o if_o we_o can_v satisfy_v our_o conscience_n in_o the_o truth_n of_o what_o we_o speak_v and_o the_o righteousness_n and_o justice_n of_o what_o we_o do_v we_o need_v not_o dread_v the_o sting_n and_o poison_n of_o calumny_n and_o slander_n for_o it_o be_v find_v true_a upon_o trial_n that_o a_o good_a honest_a mind_n and_o a_o clean_a life_n be_v armour_n of_o proof_n against_o all_o the_o rail_n and_o revile_n of_o malicious_a tongue_n 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believe_v that_o they_o never_o do_v ill_a or_o amiss_o if_o they_o do_v no_o worse_o than_o what_o they_o see_v the_o great_a wealthy_a and_o learned_a daily_o do_v now_o if_o our_o conversation_n have_v such_o a_o influence_n and_o operation_n upon_o other_o we_o ought_v then_o to_o have_v a_o special_a care_n in_o the_o government_n of_o they_o because_o if_o they_o be_v good_a and_o virtuous_a we_o may_v in_o time_n possible_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o our_o gainsayer_n and_o convert_v our_o enemy_n from_o the_o error_n of_o their_o way_n but_o if_o they_o be_v loose_a and_o vicious_a we_o shall_v give_v our_o adversary_n just_a cause_n to_o blaspheme_v corrupt_v our_o brethren_n and_o friend_n and_o increase_v our_o own_o damnation_n by_o be_v the_o unhappy_a instrument_n of_o destroy_v many_o soul_n the_o second_o proposition_n that_o the_o most_o prudent_a course_n we_o can_v take_v with_o our_o conversation_n be_v to_o guide_v and_o govern_v they_o by_o the_o law_n and_o rule_n 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reference_n to_o they_o must_v intend_v no_o other_o but_o that_o part_n of_o it_o which_o be_v their_o guide_n and_o director_n and_o we_o all_o know_v that_o the_o standard_n and_o measure_n of_o man_n life_n and_o action_n be_v law_n and_o precept_n and_o it_o be_v this_o and_o this_o chief_o and_o only_o which_o we_o be_v to_o mind_n and_o take_v notice_n of_o in_o the_o order_n and_o govern_v ourselves_o and_o conversation_n it_o be_v very_o possible_a that_o many_o man_n do_v wish_v that_o there_o may_v be_v find_v out_o some_o other_o way_n for_o they_o to_o be_v christian_n and_o not_o to_o be_v thus_o strict_o bind_v up_o to_o guide_v their_o life_n and_o action_n by_o such_o strait_a and_o severe_a law_n which_o be_v contain_v in_o the_o gospel_n and_o it_o be_v as_o possible_a that_o there_o be_v other_o far_o worse_a than_o these_o who_o will_v presume_v to_o be_v their_o own_o priest_n and_o pope_n and_o take_v the_o liberty_n and_o power_n of_o dispense_n with_o the_o 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