Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	let_v	people_n	praise_v	12,276	5	11.8079	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54418	A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at St. Margarets Westminster, Nov. 7 being the fast-day appointed for the plague of pestilence / by Richard Perrinchief.	Perrinchief, Richard, 1623?-1673.	1666 (1666)	Wing P1606; ESTC R18375	21,998	62

was a City where there now is a pitchie Lake And when the Marriners and Ship-Masters shall saile by our Shores and say How is the Joyous City become a desolation They will soon subjoyn How was the faithful City become an harlot and unrighteousness lodged in her Therefore God hath already punished us to an Example and there remains only now that he should punish us to Excision and Vengeance which himself only knows how soon may come upon us and by what waies his wisdom will proceed to execution we our selves may guess by our sins and terrours that it is not far off I tremble to think that he may make our proud and cruel Enemies to land upon our Coasts who shall sport with our bloud and make our labours the ministeries to their lusts who may drive us to seek the mercy of less barbarous Indians and leave the Land of our Fathers to their satisfaction Or he may cut off us and this good Land together withdraw the Foundation of this as Histories tells us he hath done of other Island and let it sink from the arms to the bottom of the Sea Or he may by some unheard-of way turn this whole Nation into Hell that have so long forgotten God These are the horrours of that Consequence which we deserve should seize on us and which certainly will unless we labour to prevent them But how can that be Can it be by a continuance and encrease of sin If so let us go on then and let us encrease our confidence Let the Sons of Impiety invent some new sin that may surprize the fore-sight of Eternity let them find out some bold and brave transgression that will secure men from Omnipotencie and terrifie God himself from his own wrath But alas how can the potsheards of the earth strive with their Maker How can the small dust of the ballance contend with him that sitteth on the Circle of the heavens Who ever hardened himself against the Lord and prospered If then it cannot be done this way can we do it by breaking off our sins by repentance and humbling our selves before the Smiter Yes this will do it For the amendment of our lives is able to rescue us from our present miseries and preserve us from the evil that is yet to come Such a change in man works another in God turns all his frowns into smiles makes his Fury against to become Zeal for us alters the thunder of his threatnings to the sounding of his bowels and his compassions and repentings will be kindled in him instead of kindling the fire of his Jealousie so that this will prevent that Ruine which we see gathering about us But then the difficulty returns How shall this repentance be wrought if the Judgments of God will not do it For though we may believe many private persons mourn in secret for the sins and miseries of the Nation yet this is not enough because publick sins must have a publick repentance besides God may take away these merciful men from the evil to come and then by whom must we look for a common deliverance When there are so many Atheists and Hypocrites so many fools and half-witted Scepticks so many factious and voluptuous persons as make up the greater bulk of this Nation who all think there is no need of repentance or are resolved not to do it themselves what hopes can we have of a publick amendment There remains nothing visible for our comforts but this The Example and Industry of those in Power to take away all publick abominations this under God is our only ground for hope and this by his assistance will perform it unless our Iniquities come to the full ere they apply themselves to the work For Government is the soul of Society and Magistrates in Church and State are as the upper soul and Intellectual faculties to guide the whole to safety and honour if these therefore be once set right in a way that is good I cannot say They shall have all but am sure they shall have many followers and the tears of repentance will bedew the publick face of the Nation This I humbly conceive to be in some measure the duty of the Honourable part of this Assembly who have their share in Government It lies upon you within the just limits of your power to do that Right to God to this your Country and to your own Honour which are justly expected from you For if the Publick be guilty You cannot be thought innocent if we be miserable You cannot be happy Let it not be said in following Generations if there shall be any after this That You sate in Council and the whole Nation committed folly Let not Posterity say and future Historians write These men were concerned in the Publick Justice and yet Impiety was so high that God brought such and such dismal Plagues upon the Kingdom Publick miseries are taken as reproaches of those who are in power to prevent publick Sins You have exceeded all examples in your provisions for the Honour of your King and our safety from a Forrain Enemy Let that move you now to exceed Your selves do something also for the honour of God and the advancement of Righteousness You have comforted the hearts of the People by your Zeal against the Old Adversaries of our Faith let the same be exerted against all Give some Reverence to Religion that if wicked men will not love it yet they may not dare to despise it that if their hearts will not renounce their lusts yet let it not be safe to act them in the face of the Sun Give some power and force to Holiness make some brave Attempts in spight of the Corruptions of our Age to restore somewhat of the Discipline of Christianity that Wickedness may be cloathed with shame and be the astonishment of a City and Nation Consult the Honour of your own Assembly and let your Lives and Examples be as Sacred as your Laws that men may praise them and not dare to violate these If God shall be pleased by your means to bring this great yet miserable People to repentance and to save them from the depth of misery on whose brink both You and We do all now stand How will all Generations call you blessed your Memories will out-last Monuments of Brass and Marble God will make you rejoyce with his Inheritance and your Seed shall possess the Land in the fruition of all those comforts wherewith he satitates righteous Hearts crowns wise Heads For which may his infinite mercie fit you and us through the merits of Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Eternal Spirit be given all obedience and ascribed all Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Amen FINIS