Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
religion_n reason_n true_a truth_n 3,323 5 5.5292 4 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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entertain_v as_o such_o upon_o their_o utmost_a peril_n but_o can_v we_o believe_v far_o than_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o believe_v no_o god_n do_v not_o expect_v it_o from_o we_o provide_v that_o with_o sincere_a and_o impartial_a mind_n we_o set_v ourselves_o to_o consider_v and_o weigh_v the_o evidence_n and_o with_o great_a humility_n beg_v the_o assistance_n of_o divine_a grace_n without_o which_o god_n may_v just_o leave_v we_o to_o our_o unbelief_n it_o will_v be_v too_o large_a a_o subject_a now_o to_o lay_v open_a the_o several_a argument_n to_o prove_v that_o it_o be_v as_o evident_a as_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n can_v be_v make_v to_o we_o that_o god_n do_v send_v his_o son_n that_o the_o world_n through_o he_o may_v be_v save_v therefore_o i_o shall_v only_o mention_v these_o two_o thing_n 1._o that_o if_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n be_v true_a concern_v the_o history_n of_o christ_n come_v as_o relate_v by_o the_o evangelist_n there_o can_v be_v no_o reason_n to_o doubt_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
in_o this_o world_n and_o another_o but_o our_o soul_n be_v of_o a_o immortal_a nature_n that_o will_v subsist_v in_o happiness_n or_o misery_n after_o this_o life_n otherwise_o the_o reward_n and_o punishment_n of_o another_o world_n signify_v nothing_o the_o question_n than_o be_v if_o it_o can_v be_v make_v a_o question_n whether_o it_o be_v more_o agreeable_a to_o the_o infinite_a goodness_n and_o wisdom_n of_o god_n to_o provide_v for_o the_o wellbeing_a of_o mankind_n in_o such_o a_o low_a and_o gloomy_a a_o region_n as_o this_o earth_n be_v or_o to_o advance_v they_o into_o a_o far_o better_a place_n and_o better_a company_n and_o more_o noble_a and_o divine_a delight_n and_o those_o not_o depend_v on_o a_o fade_a droop_a die_a life_n but_o on_o the_o perpetual_a enjoyment_n of_o a_o complete_a happiness_n both_o of_o soul_n and_o body_n no_o one_o that_o ever_o dare_v to_o think_v or_o consider_v of_o these_o thing_n can_v believe_v there_o be_v any_o comparison_n between_o they_o so_o that_o the_o salvation_n tender_v by_o the_o gospel_n be_v the_o most_o agreeable_a end_n which_o the_o wisdom_n and_o goodness_n of_o god_n can_v carry_v on_o for_o the_o benefit_n of_o mankind_n but_o why_o shall_v mankind_n flatter_v themselves_o with_o the_o hope_n or_o expectation_n of_o a_o happiness_n so_o far_o above_o what_o they_o can_v pretend_v to_o deserve_v there_o be_v some_o ground_n for_o such_o a_o objection_n as_o this_o if_o we_o suppose_v the_o reward_n of_o another_o life_n to_o come_v from_o any_o other_o fountain_n than_o the_o infinite_a goodness_n of_o god_n towards_o those_o who_o sincere_o love_v he_o and_o endeavour_n to_o please_v he_o although_o with_o many_o fail_n and_o imperfection_n but_o this_o be_v the_o only_a hypothesis_n which_o we_o maintain_v to_o be_v the_o christian_a doctrine_n and_o what_o be_v there_o in_o it_o which_o be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o wisdom_n and_o goodness_n of_o god_n what_o be_v it_o but_o infinite_a goodness_n which_o give_v a_o be_v to_o the_o world_n at_o first_o and_o have_v preserve_v it_o ever_o since_o and_o make_v it_o so_o useful_a and_o beneficial_a to_o mankind_n what_o be_v it_o but_o infinite_a goodness_n that_o suffer_v we_o to_o live_v and_o enjoy_v so_o many_o comfort_n of_o life_n after_o so_o many_o great_a and_o continual_a provocation_n if_o we_o be_v to_o argue_v from_o our_o desert_n it_o be_v impossible_a for_o we_o to_o justify_v the_o wonderful_a patience_n and_o long-suffering_a of_o god_n towards_o the_o sinful_a race_n of_o mankind_n for_o we_o be_v certain_a that_o they_o have_v long_o since_o deserve_v to_o be_v cut_v off_o from_o the_o face_n of_o the_o earth_n if_o we_o consider_v the_o justice_n and_o holiness_n of_o god_n whereby_o he_o be_v daily_o provoke_v to_o punish_v offender_n and_o the_o power_n he_o have_v to_o execute_v his_o justice_n in_o a_o moment_n without_o any_o opposite_a power_n to_o control_v or_o resist_v he_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o be_v astonish_v at_o the_o wonderful_a patience_n and_o forbearance_n of_o god_n of_o which_o we_o every_o day_n see_v so_o large_a experience_n but_o this_o be_v not_o all_o he_o do_v not_o only_o suffer_v they_o to_o live_v but_o often_o make_v their_o condition_n easy_a and_o prosperous_a as_o to_o this_o world_n have_v health_n riches_n and_o honour_n and_o the_o hope_n of_o their_o posterity_n enjoy_v the_o same_o thing_n after_o they_o now_o these_o to_o such_o who_o do_v not_o believe_v or_o value_v another_o life_n be_v the_o great_a thing_n god_n can_v do_v to_o their_o satisfaction_n but_o if_o they_o can_v allow_v so_o much_o goodness_n in_o god_n towards_o those_o who_o continual_o offend_v he_o why_o shall_v they_o question_v great_a instance_n of_o it_o towards_o those_o that_o endeavour_n to_o please_v he_o i_o do_v not_o mean_v as_o to_o this_o world_n but_o as_o to_o another_o which_o they_o value_v far_o before_o it_o for_o if_o they_o do_v not_o they_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o expect_v any_o happiness_n in_o it_o why_o then_o shall_v it_o be_v think_v more_o unreasonable_a for_o god_n to_o bestow_v the_o happiness_n of_o another_o life_n on_o those_o who_o esteem_n and_o choose_v it_o than_o to_o give_v the_o good_a thing_n of_o this_o life_n to_o those_o who_o love_n and_o admire_v it_o i_o do_v not_o say_v the_o wisdom_n be_v equal_a in_o the_o choice_n but_o the_o goodness_n of_o god_n be_v wonderful_a in_o both_o and_o there_o can_v be_v no_o imaginable_a ground_n to_o suspect_v that_o god_n shall_v be_v real_o less_o kind_a to_o those_o who_o love_v he_o best_o it_o be_v a_o vain_a thing_n to_o talk_v of_o those_o be_v save_v by_o christ_n come_v into_o the_o world_n who_o do_v not_o hearty_o love_v god_n and_o keep_v his_o commandment_n for_o the_o whole_a design_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v to_o persuade_v we_o to_o one_o in_o order_n to_o the_o other_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v not_o a_o wellgrounded_n hope_n but_o a_o fond_a imagination_n for_o any_o to_o expect_v salvation_n by_o christ_n on_o any_o other_o term_n if_o we_o then_o take_v in_o the_o whole_a hypothesis_n or_o true_a scheme_n of_o christianity_n together_o it_o be_v no_o other_o than_o that_o god_n send_v his_o son_n into_o the_o world_n that_o the_o world_n through_o he_o may_v be_v save_v not_o by_o continue_v in_o the_o sinful_a practice_n of_o this_o world_n 1.16_o which_o s._n john_n call_v the_o lust_n of_o the_o flesh_n and_o the_o lust_n of_o the_o eye_n and_o the_o pride_n of_o life_n but_o by_o subdue_a and_o mortify_v all_o disorderly_a passion_n do_v prepare_v themselves_o for_o a_o better_a state_n now_o if_o there_o be_v in_o our_o mind_n a_o firm_a persuasion_n of_o the_o infinite_a goodness_n of_o god_n of_o which_o we_o be_v convince_v by_o mere_a natural_a reason_n why_o shall_v it_o be_v think_v hard_a to_o believe_v that_o god_n shall_v take_v care_n of_o so_o great_a and_o good_a a_o end_n as_o the_o eternal_a salvation_n of_o those_o who_o true_o love_v and_o obey_v he_o ii_o the_o next_o principle_n agreeable_a to_o natural_a reason_n and_o religion_n be_v that_o no_o such_o thing_n as_o salvation_n or_o happiness_n in_o a_o future_a state_n can_v be_v expect_v without_o the_o particular_a favour_n of_o god_n for_o all_o who_o do_v own_o natural_a religion_n must_v agree_v that_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n be_v a_o immortal_a think_v be_v and_o therefore_o its_o happiness_n must_v consist_v in_o such_o a_o sort_n of_o think_v as_o carry_v the_o great_a pleasure_n and_o satisfaction_n along_o with_o it_o let_v we_o think_v with_o ourselves_o what_o a_o soul_n separate_v from_o the_o body_n can_v do_v to_o make_v itself_o happy_a here_o it_o be_v entangle_v corrupt_a and_o therefore_o apt_a to_o be_v deceive_v by_o the_o false_a appearance_n of_o thing_n which_o glide_v through_o the_o sense_n and_o leave_v too_o last_a impression_n on_o the_o mind_n and_o thereby_o it_o come_v to_o mistake_v show_v for_o substance_n and_o mere_a colour_n for_o reality_n but_o this_o be_v a_o mistake_v so_o common_a and_o so_o fatal_a to_o mankind_n that_o very_o few_o be_v thorough_o undeceive_v in_o this_o world_n for_o one_o way_n or_o other_o they_o be_v apt_a to_o flatter_v themselves_o with_o some_o please_a mistake_v and_o delightful_a error_n of_o life_n but_o assoon_o as_o the_o soul_n be_v dislodge_v from_o this_o cloudy_a mansion_n in_o the_o body_n all_o thing_n will_v then_o appear_v not_o as_o by_o a_o uncertain_a sky-light_n in_o a_o dark_a room_n but_o in_o a_o open_a and_o distinct_a view_n and_o then_o it_o will_v be_v impossible_a to_o be_v any_o long_o deceive_v by_o false_a representation_n of_o thing_n what_o then_o can_v be_v conceive_v sufficient_a to_o entertain_v and_o please_v the_o mind_n will_v it_o be_v the_o reflection_n on_o the_o past_a pleasure_n of_o the_o body_n no_o certain_o for_o those_o can_v bear_v a_o severe_a reflection_n onw_n and_o the_o very_a thought_n of_o they_o make_v man_n mind_n very_o uneasy_a for_o the_o most_o tempt_a pleasure_n of_o sin_n leave_v no_o grateful_a relish_n behind_o they_o how_o then_o shall_v the_o mind_n bear_v up_o itself_o in_o another_o state_n when_o its_o reflection_n must_v be_v far_o more_o constant_a and_o severe_a what_o then_o can_v the_o mind_n lay_v itself_o asleep_a and_o put_v itself_o into_o a_o state_n of_o unthinking_a that_o be_v all_o one_o as_o a_o kind_n of_o self-annihilation_a if_o it_o be_v of_o a_o think_v nature_n there_o be_v a_o state_n of_o unthinking_a in_o this_o world_n which_o be_v too_o common_a when_o the_o mind_n be_v as_o it_o be_v overlay_v and_o stifle_v with_o feather_n i_o mean_v be_v so_o take_v up_o with_o trifle_v and_o vain_a imagination_n as_o hardly_o give_v way_n to_o one_o serious_a thought_n