Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	esteem_v	excellent_a	great_a	158	3	2.0851	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33544	The dignity and duty of a married state in a sermon preach'd at the celebration of a marriage in the English Episcopal Church at Amsterdam / by John Cockburn.	Cockburn, John, 1652-1729.	1697 (1697)	Wing C4806; ESTC R29616	11,220	20

THE Dignity and Duty of a Married State IN A SERMON Preach'd at the CELEBRATION OF A MARRIAGE IN THE English Episcopal Church at Amsterdam HBBR xiii iv Marriage is honourable in all By JOHN COCKBURN D. D. The Second Edition LONDON Printed and Sold by H. Hills in Black-Friars near the Water-side For the Benefit of the Poor THE PREFACE IT is not usual to send single Sermons abroad without the Recommendation of a publick Command nor is it customary to preach at a Marriage which was the Occasion of the following Sermon But as ther● is no Law nor Reason to hinder the one so it would seem that th● other 〈◊〉 been formerly done and still our Liturgy supposes that it may and will be done For the Exhortation after Marriage is appointed to be used only in case there should be no Sermon on the Subject Having obtain'd from the most Venerable Burgomasters of Amsterdam amongst other Privileges that of Marrying according to the Manner prescribed by our Church I judged my self obliged to preach on the first occasion of doing so Here is the Discourse I then had and I yield to the desire of publishing it for the same Reasons I first preach'd it that I may give my small help towards retrieving the Honour of Marriage which has been so often burlesqu'd and run down by the Licenciousness of the Stage The Impious Railleries and profane Witticisms which have been uttered about this matter are regarded as Maxims of undoubted Truth those are laughed at who make Marriage their Choice as they are pity'd who are under any necessity of engaging into it This Mockery and Contempt of Marriage as it is most prejudicial to the Civil State so it has contributed very much to the growth of Atheism for it has encouraged those unlawful Liberties which are taken both in and without Wedlock which cannot be defended otherwise than by denying a God or the Authority of Sacred Scripture When Men are byasi'd weak Arguments prevail and any thing is readily received which flatters their Lusts and vicious Inclinations Debauchees think it their Interest that there be no God that Religion be discarded and so are easily drawn to deny and disown them And for this cause it is necessary as to maintain the Foundation of Religion so to vindicate its holy Institutions from the blasphemous Aspersions cast upon them which beget a Prejudice both against them and all Religion in general I have not that Opinion of my-self or of my performances as to think that they alone can stop the Mouths of Gainsayers I only desire to shew my Good-will and offer my Endeavours It is not absolutely necessary that all of an Army be Heroes a Victory may be and is often forwarded by many who cannot pretend to that Character I have not said all that might but what is said is certain and evident Yet I should not be surpris'd if the Truth of it be not admitted nay if many entertain our Attempt with Scorn The Corruption of this Age is too deeply rooted to be plucked up at the very first But Whether they will hear or whether they forbear they should know that there have have been Prophets among them HEBREWS xiii 4. Marriage is Honourable in all MARRIAGE being Common and Ordinary a Discourse about it may be thought needless and to some unpleasing but I do judge it neither needless nor improper For it fares with Marriage as with most things common and ordinary that tho' in themselves very valuable yet they are but little regarded so that the Generality are not sensible of the Good of them nor yet suitably thankful for the Benefit of them Wherefore I shall lay hold on the present Occasion to discourse of this Subject which however common and ordinary I believe not well understood the Dignity and Importance of which are set forth in the words of St. Paul I have now read In the Original it is only Marriage honourable in with or among all so that something must be supply'd to make the Sense clear and perfect wherefore some render it by way of an Affirmative Proposition as in our Translation whereby the Dignity of Marriage is asserted others turn it into a Precept requiring all to hold Matrimony honourable as if it should be Let Marriage be honourable It is not material whether it be taken the one or the other way for if it be a Duty to hold Marriage honourable then it is so because it is in it self honourable and if marriage be by Nature or by Virtue of its Ends and Uses honourable then it is the Duty of all to honour it and to have it in great Esteem So whether the Text be an Affirmative Proposition or a Precept it establisheth the Dignity and Importance of Marriage for whatever is or should be esteem'd honourable must be suppos'd excellent in its Nature and important in its Effects and Consequences In handling this matter I shall do Two Things First I shall give some Reasons why Marriage should be had in great Honour and Esteem Secondly I shall shew what is incumbent on those who enter into this state of Life that they may reap the Good Benefit and Comfort of it 1. First Of the Reasons why Marriage should be had in great Honour and Esteem To mention all and to enlarge upon them would take up too much time therefore I shall only name some And first Marriage should be held honourable because it is an ancient and universal Custom Antiquity is venerable and it is both just and usual to regard with Veneration those Things that are of long standing Indeed Time doth not change the Nature of Things nor can it make that which is evil ever to be good but both good and innocent Things are deservedly more respected as they are the older Now marriage is as ancient as any thing can be 'T was from the beginning and commenc'd with Mankind it self If the Calculation of some may be believ'd Man was married on the very day he was made and when he was but some few hours old And what was so early begun has ever since continued Whithersoever Men Transported themselves they carried the Custom so that there never was any Nation or People which did not observe it The most Barbarous do not live like Beasts promiscuously and even where unlawful Liberties were common and allowed yet Marriage was preferr'd and accounted honourable Where-ever Knowledge Policy and good Government took place and were cultivated Marriage was distinguish'd with particular marks of Honour Among the Romans married Persons had divers Privileges above others until the days of Constantine who abolish'd those Laws to gratifie some who betook themselves to a Celibate State from a mistaken Notion which then prevail'd that it was more proper for the Exercise of Religion which was the Beginning of that Corruption and Apostacy foretold by the Apostle 1 Tim. iv 1. The Lacedemonians held marriage so proper and necessary and them who despis'd it so