Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	evil_a	good_a	indifferent_a	2,973	5	9.5052	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13560	Two treatises: the pearle of the Gospell, and the pilgrims profession to which is added a glasse for gentlewomen to dresse themselues by. By Thomas Taylor preacher of Gods Word to the towne of Reding.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pilgrims profession. aut; Gunter, H.	1625 (1625)	STC 23855; ESTC S105335	69,884	472

their attire and ornament because they want direction which might lead their consciences in stead o● the common errour o● riotous times And because it is requisite that all that professe the Name of God should be more carefull of adorning their profession than their persons I haue here set downe a few briefe directions in generall for their helpe that are willing to bee ruled by God and his Word and are more desirous to approue themselues vnto him than to please themselues or others with his high displeasure I. First then such must know that the practise of godlinesse depriueth no person of the good creatures of God neither for the necessary nor delightfull fruition of them for it onely giueth right and libertie in them but it ordereth the vse of them and the vsers of them and setteth them in the due place of their goodnesse wherein only they are beautifull and lawfull Rebecca a woman fearing God Gen. 24.30 and 41.42 wore ornaments So Ioseph and Mordecay Ester 8.2 and Daniel 5.29 II. Know that wee are not at our owne hand in the vse of outward ornaments but vnder rule and appointment GOD prescribes women how to dresse their heads 1 Pet. 3.3 and taketh order for the habit of the body and findeth fault with the dressings of the daughters of Sion Isa 3. And threatning the Princes and Kings children cloathed with strange apparell Zeph. 1.8 speaketh to our Gallants that build towers vpon their heads or erect them as with large hornes or any way take vp an vnlimited libertie in their dresses with some speciall vanitie and offence For such dressing of the haire the Lord threatneth the daintie women with baldnesse and shame Isa 3. III. Such must know that as the kingdome of God standeth not in any of these outward things 1 Cor. 8.8 so they must not be suffered to hinder the kingdome of God in our selues or others And though they being things so indifferent in themselues as they commend vs not to God yet in the vse of them all wee must exercise certaine vertues in which we must bee acceptable to God and auoid such vices in the abusing of them as will else discommend vs before him For suppose they be things in their nature neither good nor euill neither commanded nor forbidden as Whether I should weare cloth or lether whether a plaine band or a ruffe whether single or double whether white or yellow yet in the vse of any of these outward and indifferent things my action is either good or euill according to my exercise of vertue or vice in it Neither can any thing be so indifferent in it selfe How indifferent things become euill to vs. but it may become euill and sinne in me many wayes as 1. By my election and choise of it without assurance of my libertie in Christ or with doubting whether I doe well in vsing it or no. 2. By my intention which may be corrupt and vicious in my selfe and preiudiciall to others 3. By many accidentary euents as if others be by my vse of lawfull and outward liberties occasioned to sinne or thrust forward in carnall licentiousnesse All which I rather propound to be wisely considered for the remouing of that common obiection conceit That the things are not great and God cares not so much for the dressing of the body so I keepe my heart to him and giue him content in my soule As if these persons conceiued that the body is not the Lords as well as the soule or that that soule can bee Gods when the deuill hath the dressing of the bodie IV. We must know that although the word of God afford not particular directions for euery particular habit and attire yet we may not thinke it a defectiue rule or short and wanting to guide vs euen in the least or lowest action of our liues because it supplieth vs with many generall rules to all which we must reduce euery particular action of common life for the allowance or refusall of it And therefore for the helpe of such as are teachable I thought it might bee profitable to apply vnto those generals and bring to their triall this particular of habits and attires vnto which while they are squared none haue so much right to vse them as women fearing God but if they depart from those rules they are not so vnseemely in any as in them The generall Rules are these reduced to foure heads 1. Some concerne God 2. Some our selues 3. Some our brethren 4. Some the ornament it selfe For vnto all these we must haue respect euen in our attires and ornaments I. In respect of God we must attend three rules 1. The first concerneth our warrant and is this No ornament must be vsed but by warrant and leaue from God Our warrant is from the word our leaue is by praier the rule for both is expresse 1 Tim. 4.5 Euery creature of God is good sanctified by the word of God and praier Whence it followeth that whatsoeuer ornament attire or fashion is not warranted to the heart by some part of the word the ground of faith or for which it cannot send vp a praier of faith for Gods blessing vpon it that cannot be warrantable to a godly heart Which of our Gallants in their strange fashions ponder that of the Apostle Col●ss 3.17 Whatsoeuer ye doe in word or deed doe all in the name of Christ that is 1. By the warrant of his word 2. With inuocation of God in the name of Christ 2. The second rule concerning God must looke to the right end namely No ornament or attire of any fashion or colour may be vsed till the heart be assured that this be the proper end that in adorning the body it honour God 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether yee eat or drinke or whatsoeuer yee doe doe all to the glory of God The word whatsoeuer being a word of vniuersalitie fetcheth in the smallest action of life in which we are bound chiefly and principally to intend and set vp the glory of God for which end hee created not our selues onely but all his works first for himselfe and then for vs. Whence it followeth that whatsoeuer fashion attire or ornament doth spot or staine the glory of God the Gospell of God or our holy profession that is vnwarrantable and vnlawfull 3. The third rule concerning God is That No ornament may bee vsed to correct Gods workmanship which euen a skilfull Artificer would take ill at any mans hands It is true a woman may nourish her haire for it is her glory and may seemely adorne her selfe with her own Cant. 4 3. for so was the Church in Christs eyes yea and in want of their owne if for seemelinesse they borrow of others it may be excused so modestie be not exceeded but of very wantonnesse or pride to dislike their owne or to affect such ornament of strange haire as their naturall and proper haire will not reach vnto argueth vanitie