Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
religion_n christian_a doctrine_n true_a 4,559 5 4.3197 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A61625 A sermon preached before the King & Queen at White-Hall on Christmas-Day, 1693 by the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward Lord Bishop of Worcester. Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1694 (1694) Wing S5665; ESTC R8161 16,121 37

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there_o have_v be_v mistake_v and_o dispute_v about_o some_o thing_n account_v good_a and_o evil_a be_v as_o absurd_a as_o to_o say_v there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o day_n and_o night_n because_o in_o the_o twilight_n it_o be_v hard_o to_o distinguish_v they_o but_o if_o there_o be_v such_o a_o real_a difference_n in_o the_o nature_n of_o human_a action_n and_o god_n be_v a_o strict_a observer_n of_o they_o he_o be_v a_o god_n of_o infinite_a holiness_n and_o justice_n can_v but_o be_v offend_v with_o mankind_n wilful_a omission_n of_o what_o they_o know_v to_o be_v good_a and_o commission_n of_o what_o they_o know_v to_o be_v evil._n but_o here_o we_o must_v distinguish_v between_o god_n displeasure_n against_o the_o action_n and_o against_o the_o person_n who_o commit_v they_o the_o former_a be_v a_o necessary_a consequent_a upon_o the_o evil_a of_o sin_n and_o can_v never_o be_v remove_v for_o god_n be_v irreconcilable_a to_o sin_n but_o those_o who_o commit_v sin_n be_v 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salvation_n of_o mankind_n be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n of_o god_n no_o one_o who_o believe_v a_o god_n can_v deny_v he_o to_o be_v of_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n for_o the_o very_a same_o reason_n which_o move_v man_n to_o believe_v a_o god_n do_v convince_v they_o that_o he_o must_v be_v of_o infinite_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n see_v the_o strong_a evidence_n to_o prove_v his_o be_v be_v from_o the_o instance_n of_o they_o in_o the_o world_n these_o be_v then_o suppose_v as_o essential_a and_o inseparable_a attribute_n of_o the_o divine_a nature_n we_o be_v to_o consider_v what_o end_n with_o respect_n to_o mankind_n be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o these_o to_o carry_v on_o and_o we_o must_v suppose_v mankind_n to_o be_v make_v up_o of_o soul_n and_o body_n which_o be_v capable_a of_o pleasure_n and_o satisfaction_n both_o
but_o this_o be_v impossible_a in_o another_o state_n and_o therefore_o nothing_o but_o what_o will_v bear_v a_o most_o strict_a and_o severe_a scrutiny_n can_v give_v any_o support_n or_o comfort_n to_o the_o mind_n then_o it_o must_v be_v true_a and_o real_a good_a to_o create_v any_o satisfaction_n it_o must_v be_v durable_a and_o lasting_a to_o keep_v it_o up_o it_o must_v be_v complete_a and_o perfect_a to_o answer_v all_o the_o just_a and_o reasonable_a desire_n of_o a_o immortal_a soul_n and_o what_o can_v this_o be_v less_o than_o god_n himself_o and_o therefore_o the_o christian_a religion_n speak_v most_o agreeable_o to_o natural_a reason_n when_o it_o still_o suppose_v the_o happiness_n of_o another_o world_n to_o consist_v in_o the_o presence_n and_o enjoyment_n of_o god_n for_o those_o must_v have_v all_o that_o be_v desirable_a who_o enjoy_v the_o favour_n of_o he_o who_o command_v all_o thing_n and_o know_v how_o to_o suit_v they_o to_o the_o great_a advantage_n to_o those_o to_o who_o he_o design_n to_o show_v his_o favour_n and_o this_o prospect_n of_o another_o state_n or_o of_o the_o salvation_n of_o mankind_n by_o christ_n come_v into_o the_o world_n be_v that_o which_o let_v we_o into_o another_o view_n of_o all_o that_o relate_v to_o the_o son_n of_o god_n come_v into_o the_o world_n for_o if_o our_o mind_n be_v possess_v with_o great_a apprehension_n of_o the_o power_n and_o greatness_n of_o the_o world_n all_o that_o the_o gospel_n represent_v as_o to_o the_o manner_n of_o god_n send_v his_o son_n into_o the_o world_n his_o be_v bear_v of_o a_o obscure_a virgin_n be_v lay_v in_o the_o common_a manger_n be_v breed_v up_o in_o a_o private_a place_n have_v so_o mean_v follower_n meeting_z with_o so_o cold_a a_o reception_n from_o his_o own_o people_n and_o at_o last_o be_v expose_v to_o a_o ignominious_a death_n by_o they_o look_v very_o reproachful_a and_o contemptible_a but_o on_o the_o other_o side_n if_o we_o can_v raise_v our_o mind_n to_o such_o idea_n of_o thing_n here_o as_o the_o glorious_a spirit_n above_o have_v and_o see_v how_o all_o thing_n be_v esteem_v by_o they_o according_a to_o the_o end_n and_o purpose_v they_o be_v design_v for_o we_o shall_v then_o perceive_v how_o admirable_o all_o these_o thing_n be_v fit_v for_o his_o great_a end_n which_o be_v to_o wean_v man_n heart_n from_o the_o pomp_n and_o vanity_n of_o this_o world_n and_o to_o prepare_v they_o for_o a_o better_a and_o we_o shall_v then_o have_v quite_o another_o opinion_n of_o these_o thing_n for_o as_o there_o be_v a_o certain_a greatness_n which_o be_v above_o all_o the_o formal_a show_n and_o affect_a appearance_n of_o it_o so_o when_o a_o great_a and_o noble_a design_n be_v to_o be_v carry_v on_o the_o true_a measure_n of_o decorum_n in_o that_o case_n be_v that_o which_o be_v most_o serviceable_a to_o the_o principal_a end_n if_o a_o great_a person_n have_v a_o design_n to_o rescue_v some_o near_a relation_n out_o of_o slavery_n he_o will_v never_o go_v with_o a_o splendid_a equipage_n and_o a_o long_a train_n of_o attendance_n which_o will_v but_o make_v his_o person_n more_o gaze_v at_o and_o his_o design_n less_o effectual_a if_o he_o have_v intend_v to_o have_v rescue_v they_o by_o force_n out_o of_o captivity_n it_o have_v be_v necessary_a to_o have_v have_v power_n and_o strength_n proportionable_a to_o his_o design_n but_o if_o it_o be_v only_o by_o persuasion_n than_o he_o must_v accommodate_v himself_o to_o such_o method_n as_o be_v most_o likely_a to_o prevail_v the_o great_a end_n of_o the_o come_n of_o christ_n be_v to_o deliver_v the_o soul_n of_o man_n from_o a_o much_o worse_a captivity_n viz._n of_o their_o own_o sinful_a passion_n and_o the_o devil_n tyranny_n by_o their_o mean_n but_o he_o do_v not_o come_v in_o a_o way_n of_o violence_n to_o break_v open_a the_o prison-door_n and_o in_o a_o instant_a to_o knock_v off_o their_o fetter_n and_o bid_v they_o be_v free_a but_o he_o make_v use_v of_o all_o the_o gentle_a and_o effectual_a method_n of_o persuasion_n not_o only_o by_o his_o word_n but_o by_o his_o own_o example_n that_o they_o may_v learn_v by_o he_o to_o despise_v this_o world_n who_o have_v so_o little_a in_o it_o and_o to_o prepare_v for_o that_o from_o whence_o he_o come_v where_o their_o happiness_n shall_v be_v unconceivable_a and_o without_o end_n iii_o the_o three_o principle_n be_v that_o no_o such_o particular_a favour_n of_o god_n be_v to_o be_v expect_v as_o long_o as_o his_o displeasure_n be_v so_o just_a against_o mankind_n for_o sin_n and_o no_o effectual_a mean_n use_v to_o remove_v it_o the_o truth_n be_v the_o whole_a scheme_n of_o the_o gospel_n turn_v upon_o this_o point_n whether_o god_n be_v real_o displease_v with_o mankind_n for_o their_o sin_n so_o as_o to_o need_v a_o reconciliation_n for_o if_o all_o that_o the_o scripture_n so_o often_o express_v concern_v the_o wrath_n and_o displeasure_n of_o god_n against_o mankind_n for_o sin_n be_v only_o figurative_a and_o hyperbolical_a expression_n than_o the_o whole_a design_n of_o the_o gospel_n must_v be_v give_v up_o as_o a_o mere_a scheme_n for_o if_o god_n be_v not_o real_o displease_v there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o reconciliation_n if_o no_o need_n of_o that_o than_o there_o can_v be_v no_o need_n of_o christ_n come_v to_o reconcile_v we_o to_o god_n and_o if_o he_o do_v not_o come_v for_o that_o end_n we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o believe_v the_o scripture_n which_o affirm_v it_o over_o and_o over_o and_o i_o do_v not_o think_v any_o strong_a argument_n can_v be_v bring_v to_o prove_v a_o thing_n than_o that_o the_o most_o emphatical_a expression_n be_v so_o often_o apply_v to_o that_o purpose_n by_o such_o person_n who_o use_v all_o sincerity_n and_o plainness_n so_o that_o this_o matter_n as_o to_o the_o scripture_n be_v clear_a if_o any_o thing_n can_v be_v make_v so_o and_o if_o nothing_o can_v i_o can_v see_v how_o it_o be_v possible_a to_o have_v a_o write_a rule_n of_o faith_n since_o all_o write_n be_v capable_a by_o ambiguity_n of_o word_n and_o phrase_n by_o the_o different_a use_n of_o particle_n and_o transposition_n of_o letter_n and_o syllable_n of_o very_o different_a interpretation_n but_o this_o be_v not_o my_o present_a business_n which_o be_v rather_o to_o consider_v the_o natural_a sense_n and_o reason_n of_o mankind_n as_o to_o this_o matter_n we_o can_v in_o reason_n suppose_v any_o such_o passion_n in_o a_o infinite_o perfect_a be_v as_o that_o which_o we_o call_v wrath_n and_o anger_n in_o men._n for_o that_o be_v a_o violent_a perturbation_n arise_v from_o surprise_n and_o indignation_n but_o there_o can_v be_v no_o disorder_n or_o surprise_n in_o a_o be_v of_o infinite_a wisdom_n therefore_o wrath_n in_o god_n must_v suppose_v two_o thing_n 1._o a_o just_a cause_n of_o displeasure_n give_v by_o we_o 2._o such_o a_o just_a displeasure_n follow_v upon_o it_o as_o will_v end_n in_o the_o severe_a punishment_n of_o offender_n if_o it_o be_v not_o remove_v now_o whether_o there_o be_v a_o just_a cause_n of_o displeasure_n or_o not_o must_v depend_v upon_o the_o natural_a difference_n of_o good_a and_o evil._n and_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o any_o one_o who_o exercise_v his_o reason_n can_v judge_v amiss_o in_o this_o matter_n not_o that_o all_o the_o difference_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a be_v equal_o clear_a for_o all_o proposition_n in_o mathematics_n be_v not_o so_o but_o it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o our_o purpose_n that_o the_o general_a principle_n be_v so_o and_o the_o great_a instance_n so_o that_o no_o man_n can_v think_v that_o he_o act_v as_o much_o according_a to_o reaso_n in_o one_o as_o the_o other_o and_o can_v any_o one_o of_o common_a sense_n imagine_v god_n to_o be_v as_o well_o please_v with_o he_o who_o blaspheme_v his_o name_n and_o despise_v his_o service_n and_o hate_v religion_n as_o with_o one_o that_o fear_n and_o honour_n he_o and_o endeavour_n to_o please_v he_o can_v he_o be_v as_o well_o please_v with_o he_o that_o assassin_n his_o parent_n as_o with_o he_o that_o obey_v they_o with_o he_o that_o rob_v and_o defraud_n his_o neighbour_n as_o with_o he_o that_o relieve_v he_o in_o his_o necessity_n with_o he_o who_o subdue_v his_o disorderly_a passion_n as_o with_o he_o that_o give_v way_n to_o they_o with_o he_o who_o be_v cruel_a inhuman_a and_o perfidious_a as_o with_o he_o that_o be_v faithful_a and_o just_a and_o compassionate_a these_o be_v but_o some_o of_o the_o instance_n of_o the_o difference_n of_o good_a and_o evil_a but_o they_o be_v so_o plain_a and_o notorious_a that_o a_o man_n must_v renounce_v the_o common_a principle_n of_o humanity_n who_o do_v not_o own_v they_o and_o to_o say_v there_o be_v no_o such_o difference_n because_o