Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	fire_n	set_v	tongue_n	3,652	5	9.4006	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64966	Odos gath operbochēns the more excellent way to edifie the Church of Christ, or, A discourse concerning love : the design of which is to revive that grace (now under such decays) among Protestants of all perswasions / by Nathanael Vincent ...	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.	1684 (1684)	Wing V415; ESTC R1364	76,586	160

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE More Excellent Way TO Edifie the Church of CHRIST OR A DISCOURSE CONCERNING LOVE The Design of which is to Revive that Grace now under such decays among Protestants of ALL perswasions By NATHANAEL VINCENT M. A. Minister of the Gospel 1 Pet. 4. 8. And above all things have fervent Charity among your selves Phil. 4. 5. Let your Moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand Gal. 5. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in 1 Cor. London Printed by J. A. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1684. TO THE READER READER ALthough my Name be in the mouths of many and Tongues have scourg'd it most severely and most false Reports have been spread concerning me both in City and Countrey yet I could more patiently have born the killing of my Reputation if the Honour of God had not been at all concerned A regard to his Name and his Gospel's Credit prevails with me to break silence and Love to others makes me fear their being scandalized to their prejudice There is a design driven on by Hell and Rome to introduce Atheism in order unto Propery to make men really of no Religion that they may not stick to profess themselves of the Romish when they shall apprehend 't is for their Secular Interest Now because some mens lives by the Grace of God have been unblameable and tended to convince the World that there is a reality and power in Godliness these upon this account are singled out and loaded with Calumnies and Reproaches that being represented as Hypocrites all Religion may the more easily be suspected as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 16. cunningly devised Fable Let not those who have stupified their own Consciences think that I have acted of late against Mine Though I think I ought not to keep at such a distance from the Church of England as I did yet I have no preferment in it neither can I submit to the terms of such preferment Nay I have exceedingly hindred my own secular advantage by my Moderation which is not the way to thrive in such a Violent Age as this A moderate man is like one that parts two which are fighting instead of being thank'd he is lik'd by neither he has blowes from both for wishing them no worse a thing than Peace From prophane tongues I expect lies and slanders That Master whom I serve met with no better usage He was called a Wine-bibber a Friend to Publicans and Sinners nay said to have a Devil But though the Slander be never so gross it shall not hinder me from praying for the Slanderer and I hope I shall be enabled to live so still as that no body shall believe him If Professors who are Non-conformists speak against me and censure me as a Temporizer My Answer is That with me 't is a small thing to be judged of them or of mans judgment My own Conscience speaks other kind of language and in that one I have Mille testes a thousand Witnesses of my Integrity God is convincing me of the vanity of popular Applause and how soon that kind of wind may turn and change And if a Conviction of this makes me more humble and low in my own eyes Dishonour will do me a far greater kindness than Praise I will say to Humility O praesidium dulce decus meum my safety and sweet Ornament and next unto Heaven expect the greatest rest to my Soul in the exercise of this lovely Vertue The fury of those who have been most enraged against me has but heightned my love to them I have poured out more prayers and tears for them than they are aware of and they will know what a true Friend I have been to them when they come into another World Those whose Heads are hotter than their Love shall not move my anger but my pity and sorrow And let them call me what they please I shall own what is good in them and requite their Censures with Supplications that their Light and Faith their Humility and Love may be encreased and that they may do nothing unbecoming the Children of the God of love and peace nothing prejudicial to the Church or to themselves I have preached heretofore to multitudes while I was permitted For all the Churches in London not being able to hold the tenth part of all the Inhabitants I thought they had better hear a Doctrine agreeable to the Articles of the Church of England from my mouth than not hear at all But it never was my practice to preach up a party and it troubles me to see how much of Religion is placed in smaller things as appears by mens eagerness about them As if some thought a Church others thought a Conventicle like the Ark of Noah out of which 't is impossible to escape drowning in Perdition My design all along was to bring men to God by Faith in Jesus and that their hearts might be purified and to perswade them to be holy in all manner of Conversation I confess I am somewhat altered from what I was but 't is in the extensiveness of my love But I am perswaded that this is an alteration for the better and makes me more to resemble Christ Who can justly blame me for imitating the blessed Jesus who loves all sincere Protestants of all perswasions and has Communion with them all I add no more but that of the Apostle Rom. 15. 7. Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God EPH. IV. 16. latter part Maketh Increase of the Body unto the Edifying of it self in Love IF I had a voice as loud as Thunder I would cry Fire Fire with a wish that all England might hear A Flame is kindled much worse than that which burnt down London which threatens both Church and State with ruine and that is the Flame of fierce Contention Mens Hearts are as hot as Hell their Tongues do set on fire the course of Nature such wrath such bitterness such animosities every where appear as plainly shew the body Politick and Body Mystical are in a dangerous fermentation and Feaver which I wish may not issue in dissolution and destruction That Prediction of our Lord is fulfilled Iniquity shall abound and love shall wax cold Lust indeed breaks out into a flame mens Passions are hot unto the highest degree and fury makes them abound in transgression but a deadly damp has seiz'd on Love No wonder that the Churches pulse does beat disorderly no wonder that she is languishing and ready to dye for Love is the cause of her increase and Edification Is there no Balm in Gilead is there not a Physitian there are the spots and symptoms such as shew the disease is mortal and that