Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	covenant_n	law_n	moral_a	3,209	5	10.1955	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27438	Of revelation and the Messias a sermon preached at the publick commencement at Cambridge, July 5th, 1696 / by Richard Bentley ...	Bentley, Richard, 1662-1742.	1696 (1696)	Wing B1942; ESTC R5633	15,739	38

fervour_n and_o temerity_n of_o youth_n the_o force_n and_o the_o frequency_n of_o temptation_n and_o the_o narrow_a dubious_a conconfine_n between_o virtue_n and_o vice_n and_o we_o may_v pronounce_v it_o impossible_a that_o any_o man_n shall_v so_o govern_v his_o step_n through_o all_o the_o lubricous_a path_n of_o life_n as_o never_o once_o to_o slip_v and_o fall_v from_o his_o duty_n agreeable_o to_o the_o testimony_n of_o scripture_n which_o have_v conclude_v all_o under_o sin_n gal._n 3._o 22._o and_o again_o if_o we_o say_v 8._o we_o have_v no_o sin_n we_o deceive_v ourselves_o and_o the_o truth_n be_v not_o in_o we_o and_o again_o 23._o both_o jew_n and_o gentile_n be_v all_o under_o sin_n all_o have_v sin_v and_o come_v short_a of_o the_o glory_n of_o god_n 19_o every_o mouth_n then_o be_v stop_v and_o all_o the_o world_n must_v plead_v guilty_a before_o the_o tribunal_n of_o god_n for_o by_o the_o deed_n of_o the_o law_n the_o law_n of_o nature_n as_o well_o as_o of_o moses_n no_o flesh_n can_v be_v justify_v in_o his_o sight_n it_o be_v evident_a then_o from_o the_o principle_n of_o pure_a reason_n beside_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n that_o upon_o the_o deist_n hypothesis_n upon_o the_o term_n of_o natural_a religion_n no_o salvation_n can_v be_v obtain_v no_o life_n and_o immortality_n can_v be_v expect_v for_o that_o be_v the_o free_a offer_n and_o favour_n of_o god_n he_o may_v just_o set_v what_o price_n he_o please_v upon_o it_o even_o the_o great_a that_o we_o can_v possible_o pay_v nothing_o less_o than_o entire_a obedience_n than_o unspotted_a innocence_n than_o consummate_a virtue_n thus_o far_o then_o even_a reason_n evince_v and_o hold_v the_o lamp_n to_o revelation_n some_o mean_n of_o reconciliation_n between_o god_n and_o man_n the_o judge_n and_o the_o offender_n must_v be_v contrive_v some_o vicarious_a satisfaction_n to_o justice_n and_o model_n of_o a_o new_a covenant_n or_o else_o the_o whole_a bulk_n of_o mankind_n be_v for_o ever_o unhappy_a and_o sure_o to_o prevent_v that_o to_o retrieve_v a_o perish_a world_n be_v a_o weighty_a concern_v even_o of_o great_a importance_n than_o the_o very_o create_v it_o and_o more_o worthy_a of_o the_o care_n and_o consult_v of_o heaven_n i_o say_v the_o care_n of_o heaven_n for_o alas_o here_o on_o earth_n what_o expedient_a can_v man_n find_v out_o how_o can_v dust_n and_o ash_n take_v upon_o he_o to_o speak_v unto_o the_o lord_n can_v any_o of_o the_o son_n of_o adam_n presume_v to_o be_v advocate_n for_o the_o rest_n himself_o one_o of_o the_o criminal_o himself_n in_o want_n of_o another_o advocate_n and_o what_o friend_n know_v we_o at_o the_o court_n of_o heaven_n of_o that_o high_a power_n and_o favour_n with_o god_n as_o to_o offer_v his_o intercession_n or_o so_o wonderful_o kind_a to_o we_o as_o to_o pay_v our_o satisfaction_n we_o must_v free_o own_v to_o the_o deist_n that_o here_o reason_n be_v at_o a_o stand_n even_o nature_n herself_o languish_v between_o hope_n and_o despair_n 22._o and_o in_o the_o stile_n of_o the_o apostle_n the_o whole_a creation_n groan_v and_o travel_v in_o pain_n together_o when_o behold_v what_o revelation_n have_v inform_v and_o assure_v we_o of_o the_o eternal_a son_n of_o the_o almighty_a 3._o the_o brightness_n of_o the_o paternal_a glory_n and_o the_o express_a image_n of_o his_o substance_n even_o he_o vouchsafe_v to_o be_v our_o patron_n and_o mediator_n to_o take_v our_o nature_n upon_o he_o and_o to_o dwell_v among_o man_n to_o fulfil_v that_o law_n of_o righteousness_n wherein_o we_o be_v deficient_a to_o bear_v our_o guilt_n and_o our_o burden_n upon_o himself_o and_o to_o offer_v his_o most_o precious_a blood_n as_o a_o expiation_n for_o our_o offence_n as_o the_o seal_n of_o a_o new_a covenant_n better_o than_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n a_o covenant_n of_o more_o gracious_a term_n term_n of_o repentance_n and_o remission_n of_o sin_n so_o that_o if_o we_o true_o believe_v in_o he_o and_o sincere_o endeavour_v to_o observe_v his_o command_n our_o imperfect_a righteousness_n through_o the_o merit_n of_o his_o suffering_n shall_v be_v impute_v accept_v and_o reward_v as_o if_o it_o be_v a_o entire_a obedience_n to_o the_o strict_a law_n of_o work_n and_o of_o natural_a perfection_n and_o now_o i_o dare_v presume_v to_o ask_v even_o our_o adversary_n themselves_o what_o flaw_n or_o fallacy_n they_o can_v show_v in_o all_o this_o if_o it_o be_v true_a then_o that_o reason_n itself_o discover_v such_o absolute_a necessity_n of_o some_o way_n of_o reconciliation_n between_o god_n and_o man_n and_o if_o it_o be_v necessary_a for_o man_n as_o be_v the_o party_n concern_v to_o know_v the_o particular_a way_n that_o god_n do_v approve_v and_o accept_v of_o and_o if_o mere_a reason_n can_v never_o find_v that_o out_o but_o revelation_n alone_o must_v and_o aught_o to_o inform_v we_o and_o last_o if_o such_o revelation_n be_v actual_o make_v attest_v and_o promulgate_v to_o the_o world_n what_o pretence_n be_v there_o leave_v why_o we_o shall_v not_o believe_v and_o acquiesce_v in_o it_o if_o upon_o examination_n it_o bear_v all_o the_o mark_n of_o true_a revelation_n if_o it_o contain_v nothing_o unworthy_a of_o itself_o and_o of_o the_o wisdom_n and_o goodness_n of_o its_o author_n and_o be_v not_o the_o oeconomy_n of_o man_n salvation_n as_o it_o be_v set_v forth_o in_o holy_a scripture_n every_o way_n agreeable_a to_o that_o divine_a character_n no_o if_o we_o ask_v our_o adversary_n it_o be_v a_o improper_a and_o unequal_a method_n it_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o the_o justice_n and_o impartiality_n of_o god_n rex_fw-la jupiter_n omnibus_fw-la idem_fw-la god_n say_v they_o if_o he_o have_v design_v such_o a_o universal_a benefit_n for_o mankind_n will_v have_v exhibit_v it_o equal_o and_o indifferent_o to_o every_o age_n and_o nation_n alike_o but_o the_o condition_n of_o salvation_n propose_v in_o the_o gospel_n be_v incompetent_a and_o much_o too_o narrow_a be_v restrain_v to_o those_o time_n and_o country_n alone_o that_o can_v hear_v of_o the_o fame_n of_o jesus_n and_o believe_v in_o his_o person_n and_o what_o become_v then_o of_o all_o the_o former_a age_n of_o man_n before_o he_o be_v bear_v what_o of_o those_o remote_a nation_n ever_o since_o that_o can_v have_v no_o intelligence_n of_o he_o nor_o hear_v the_o least_o tiding_n of_o judea_n and_o jerusalem_n must_v all_o those_o myriad_n of_o soul_n perish_v for_o invincible_a ignorance_n for_o want_v of_o impossible_a faith_n 14._o for_o how_o can_v they_o believe_v on_o he_o of_o who_o they_o have_v not_o hear_v and_o how_o can_v they_o hear_v without_o a_o preacher_n and_o why_o shall_v the_o god_n of_o the_o whole_a earth_n the_o god_n that_o be_v no_o respecter_n of_o person_n no_o nor_o of_o nation_n be_v so_o unaccountable_o kind_a so_o unjust_o fond_a and_o partial_a to_o any_o single_a country_n much_o less_o to_o a_o little_a obscure_a people_n the_o jew_n scarce_o hear_v of_o in_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o world_n till_o they_o be_v captive_n and_o slave_n in_o it_o and_o withdraw_v his_o paternal_a love_n from_o so_o many_o other_o nation_n much_o more_o considerable_a and_o more_o worthy_a of_o his_o providence_n be_v he_o god_n of_o the_o jew_n only_o 29._o be_v he_o not_o also_o of_o the_o gentile_a this_o way_n of_o discourse_n we_o may_v expect_v from_o the_o deist_n and_o i_o hope_v according_a to_o the_o advice_n of_o the_o text_n we_o be_v both_o able_a and_o ready_a to_o give_v a_o reply_n for_o first_o as_o to_o that_o imagine_a partiality_n of_o god_n in_o prefer_v any_o one_o country_n before_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o world_n to_o be_v the_o land_n of_o christ_n nativity_n what_o a_o poor_a and_o contemptible_a cavil_n for_o upon_o supposition_n that_o the_o messiah_n of_o god_n be_v to_o take_v human_a nature_n upon_o he_o and_o be_v bear_v of_o a_o woman_n must_v he_o not_o of_o necessity_n be_v bear_v in_o some_o one_o particular_a country_n exclusive_o to_o all_o the_o rest_n and_o be_v not_o that_o then_o a_o ridiculous_a objection_n against_o any_o single_a country_n that_o may_v equal_o be_v urge_v against_o all_o whatsoever_o neither_o be_v it_o mere_a fondness_n in_o the_o deity_n that_o he_o choose_v the_o obscure_a land_n of_o palestine_n for_o the_o birth_n place_n of_o his_o son_n rather_o than_o greece_n or_o italy_n or_o asia_n the_o theater_n of_o art_n and_o learning_n and_o the_o seat_n of_o empire_n for_o not_o to_o mention_v abraham_n and_o the_o patriarch_n who_o singular_a faith_n and_o piety_n just_o obtain_v of_o god_n that_o their_o posterity_n shall_v have_v the_o adoption_n and_o the_o glory_n 4._o and_o the_o covenant_n and_o the_o promise_n and_o the_o consanguinity_n of_o christ_n it_o appear_v also_o from_o event_n that_o the_o circumstance_n of_o

we_o even_o to_o the_o confine_n of_o heaven_n beyond_o the_o limit_n of_o reason_n but_o if_o the_o deist_n think_v to_o oblige_v we_o to_o give_v a_o natural_a account_n of_o those_o mystery_n without_o the_o authority_n of_o scripture_n for_o that_o we_o must_v beg_v their_o excuse_n we_o will_v argue_v from_o strict_a reason_n as_o much_o as_o they_o can_v pretend_v to_o but_o we_o must_v not_o submit_v that_o our_o adversary_n shall_v confine_v we_o to_o improper_a topic_n and_o impossible_a way_n of_o proof_n it_o appear_v therefore_o that_o though_o we_o shall_v decline_v and_o despair_v to_o give_v any_o account_n at_o all_o of_o the_o reason_n and_o method_n of_o god_n counsel_n in_o the_o mission_n of_o his_o son_n and_o only_o appeal_v to_o the_o sentence_n of_o scripture_n yet_o the_o deist_n ought_v to_o be_v satisfy_v with_o that_o proof_n since_o the_o doctrine_n be_v so_o express_o teach_v in_o the_o oracle_n of_o god_n but_o beside_o this_o what_o if_o even_o natural_a light_n shall_v discover_v to_o we_o some_o faint_a but_o yet_o certain_a view_n of_o that_o mysterious_a instance_n of_o divine_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n and_o exhibit_v to_o we_o a_o rational_a account_n why_o the_o son_n of_o god_n shall_v condescend_v to_o be_v our_o mediator_n and_o redeemer_n but_o before_o we_o engage_v in_o this_o attempt_n let_v it_o be_v lawful_a to_o implore_v the_o candour_n of_o our_o friend_n if_o while_o we_o endeavour_v to_o win_v over_o our_o enemy_n we_o may_v seem_v to_o some_o to_o do_v too_o little_a or_o perhaps_o to_o other_o to_o venture_v too_o far_o and_o to_o advance_v beyond_o our_o line_n to_o discern_v then_o some_o reason_n of_o this_o wonderful_a mystery_n we_o must_v take_v our_o prospect_n from_o the_o high_a mountain_n of_o nature_n from_o the_o first_o creation_n and_o origin_n of_o human_a race_n god_n who_o at_o the_o beginning_n view_v all_o the_o work_n of_o his_o hand_n 31._o and_o behold_v all_o thing_n be_v very_o good_a make_v man_n also_o upright_o and_o complete_a without_o any_o defect_n in_o his_o whole_a composition_n without_o any_o original_a perverseness_n of_o soul_n or_o false_a bias_n of_o will_n or_o judgement_n without_o any_o natural_a obliquity_n or_o enormity_n of_o inclination_n he_o make_v he_o a_o intelligent_a be_v to_o know_v god_n and_o himself_o to_o understand_v and_o feel_v present_a happiness_n and_o to_o secure_v it_o by_o consideration_n and_o contrivance_n for_o the_o future_a he_o endow_v he_o with_o liberty_n of_o mind_n that_o he_o may_v act_v not_o of_o necessity_n nor_o blind_a instinct_n like_o the_o brute_n but_o with_o consciousness_n and_o voluntary_a choice_n he_o implant_v in_o he_o diverse_a appetite_n and_o affection_n all_o useful_a instrument_n of_o his_o happiness_n if_o fit_o employ_v and_o none_o vicious_a and_o culpable_a radical_o and_o in_o their_o whole_a nature_n but_o then_o only_o when_o they_o be_v apply_v to_o wrong_a object_n or_o in_o right_a one_o be_v raise_v or_o sink_v beside_o their_o due_a temper_n and_o measure_n i_o say_v it_o again_o for_o the_o justification_n of_o our_o creator_n that_o not_o one_o of_o the_o simple_a affection_n of_o the_o soul_n no_o not_o concupiscence_n hatred_n anger_n revenge_n be_v in_o themselves_o criminal_a and_o sinful_a some_o of_o the_o affection_n it_o be_v true_a have_v very_o bad_a name_n but_o those_o be_v either_o mere_a excess_n of_o simple_a passion_n or_o else_o mix_v and_o compound_a one_o which_o have_v no_o proper_a real_a essence_n but_o be_v only_o notional_a term_n as_o envy_n for_o example_n a_o very_a bad_a thing_n indeed_o but_o it_o be_v a_o evil_a of_o our_o own_o product_n and_o not_o of_o god_n create_v for_o the_o real_a constituent_a part_n of_o it_o be_v hatred_n and_o grief_n very_o useful_a and_o lawful_a affection_n but_o the_o evil_a of_o it_o be_v our_o own_o when_o we_o entertain_v that_o hatred_n and_o grief_n at_o the_o good_a that_o befall_v other_o which_o be_v what_o we_o express_v by_o the_o complex_fw-la name_n of_o envy_n god_n therefore_o have_v so_o create_v man_n in_o every_o capacity_n pure_a and_o perfect_a may_v just_o require_v of_o he_o that_o he_o shall_v maintain_v and_o preserve_v this_o original_a rectitude_n that_o in_o all_o his_o desire_n design_n and_o action_n he_o shall_v constant_o adhere_v to_o the_o dictate_v of_o reason_n and_o nature_n so_o as_o the_o least_o deviation_n will_v make_v he_o obnoxious_a to_o god_n displeasure_n and_o nothing_o less_o than_o complete_a obedience_n recommend_v he_o to_o his_o favour_n according_a to_o the_o term_n propose_v to_o cain_n 7._o if_o thou_o do_v well_o shall_v thou_o not_o be_v accept_v and_o if_o thou_o do_v not_o well_o sin_n lie_v at_o the_o door_n god_n i_o say_v may_v expect_v and_o require_v of_o man_n such_o a_o perfect_a obedience_n to_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n because_o it_o be_v both_o reasonable_a and_o possible_a for_o man_n to_o perform_v it_o reasonable_a it_o be_v because_o every_o statute_n of_o that_o law_n promote_v the_o true_a interest_n and_o felicity_n of_o mankind_n even_o in_o the_o very_a performance_n it_o be_v true_a in_o the_o present_a posture_n of_o human_a affair_n a_o man_n duty_n be_v frequent_o inconsistent_a with_o his_o temporal_a interest_n but_o from_o the_o beginning_n it_o be_v not_o so_o neither_o will_v it_o be_v now_o if_o the_o whole_a world_n at_o once_o can_v be_v just_a and_o innocent_a for_o it_o be_v not_o my_o keep_v the_o law_n but_o another_o transgress_a it_o that_o involve_v i_o in_o any_o misery_n the_o scope_n and_o tendency_n of_o the_o law_n itself_o be_v always_o i_o and_o every_o man_n advantage_n for_o it_o be_v not_o a_o thing_n foreign_a and_o alien_n to_o our_o nature_n impose_v on_o we_o pure_o to_o try_v our_o obedience_n but_o it_o all_o result_v from_o our_o very_a frame_n and_o constitution_n the_o general_a preservation_n of_o man_n natural_a good_a be_v the_o sole_a root_n and_o fountain_n of_o the_o moral_a the_o universal_a profit_n and_o pleasure_n the_o public_a happiness_n of_o human_a life_n give_v be_v and_o denomination_n to_o every_o virtue_n and_o vice_n and_o the_o true_a rule_n and_o direction_n to_o preserve_v and_o secure_v that_o happiness_n make_v up_o the_o whole_a volume_n the_o code_n and_o pandect_a of_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n without_o doubt_n than_o it_o be_v reasonable_a to_o obey_v where_o nothing_o be_v command_v we_o but_o to_o pursue_v our_o own_o interest_n nothing_o forbid_v we_o but_o not_o to_o do_v ourselves_o harm_v and_o second_o it_o be_v possible_a for_o man_n to_o perform_v that_o entire_a obedience_n for_o since_o as_o we_o have_v prove_v before_o all_o his_o natural_a faculty_n be_v right_a and_o good_a and_o the_o law_n itself_o accommodate_v and_o proportion_v to_o those_o faculty_n there_o appear_v no_o necessary_a intrinsic_n impediment_n why_o he_o may_v not_o adequate_o observe_v it_o if_o every_o particular_a precept_n be_v possible_a to_o be_v do_v it_o be_v not_o absolute_o impossible_a to_o fulfil_v the_o universal_a and_o methinks_v they_o that_o on_o other_o account_n acknowledge_v that_o god_n require_v such_o perfect_a obedience_n upon_o the_o term_n of_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n shall_v be_v very_o averse_a from_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v a_o natural_a and_o fundamental_a insufficiency_n in_o man_n to_o perform_v it_o for_o certain_o the_o just_a god_n can_v be_v so_o importune_a and_o unreasonable_a a_o master_n as_o to_o enjoin_v we_o what_o be_v physical_o impossible_a to_o expect_v to_o reap_v where_o he_o have_v not_o sow_v to_o require_v brick_n without_o allowance_n of_o straw_n but_o then_o though_o there_o be_v no_o such_o original_a and_o natural_a disability_n in_o man_n yet_o there_o arise_v a_o moral_a and_o circumstantial_a one_o a_o accidental_a incapacity_n superven_a to_o his_o nature_n a_o impossibility_n from_o event_n that_o ever_o any_o person_n from_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o world_n to_o the_o last_o period_n of_o it_o always_o except_v the_o man_n christ_n jesus_n shall_v be_v whole_o pure_a and_o free_a from_o the_o contagion_n of_o sin_n for_o our_o first_o parent_n have_v fall_v from_o their_o native_a state_n of_o innocence_n the_o tincture_n of_o evil_n like_o a_o hereditary_a disease_n infect_v all_o their_o posterity_n and_o the_o leaven_n of_o sin_n have_v once_o corrupt_v the_o whole_a mass_n of_o mankind_n all_o the_o species_n ever_o after_o will_v be_v sour_v and_o taint_v with_o it_o the_o vicious_a ferment_n perpetual_o diffuse_v and_o propagate_a itself_o through_o all_o generation_n for_o let_v we_o but_o consider_v the_o state_n of_o human_a life_n first_o a_o perpetual_a conversation_n among_o evil_a example_n and_o the_o strong_a principle_n of_o our_o nature_n imitation_n and_o then_o the_o ignorance_n and_o prejudices_fw-la of_o childhood_n the_o