Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	distinction_n	mortal_a	venial_a	4,934	5	12.1153	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46726	Popery, a great mystery of iniquity proved in a sermon preached in the parish church of Newland, in the county of Glocester, on Wednesday the 22d. of December, 1680, being the fast-day appointed by the Kings proclamation ... / by Thomas Jekyll ...	Jekyll, Thomas, 1646-1698.	1681 (1681)	Wing J534; ESTC R34478	25,313	42

the mixtures of Heathen Idolatry with Christian Services which the Apostle cautions the Corinthians against 1 Cor. 10.14 and following verses all which with greater Advantage are Improv'd and Practis'd in the Church of Rome to this day well therefore might the Apostle call it a Mystery because of its secret Work 2 Pet. 2.1 creeping in as it were unawares and so far it remains a Mystery still in that it works with all possible Art and subtlety notwithstanding the great Power and Strength it now has and how long it will be suffer'd to do so God only knows 3. How doth this Mystery of Iniquity work now and indeed this is a thing fit for us to enquire into that so we may prevent if possible our being ensnar'd by it and we have the more Reason to do so because it 's now grown more strong and confident more plain and open and yet no less cunning and subtle and by consequence far more dangerous several ways therefore we shall find it work but more particularly these five 1. By Corrupt Principles 2. By Subornations Lies and Perjuries 3. By Cruelty and bloody Practises 4. by Incredulity and 5. By good Natur'd if not treacherous Connivances 1. It works by Corrupt Principles so indeed it did then and this way chiefly because it had neither Strength nor Opportunity to do otherwise but yet those Principles then were neither so many nor so bad as they are now they were then only such as misled men into Error from some points of Faith and only at a distance and that secretly too giving Liberty and Encouragement to sinful Practises but these now are such as Corrupt and Debauch mens Minds that do directly undermine and overthro ' all Gospel-Rules and Precepts of Holy Living they are such as tend to the Indulging of the Flesh to the Inflaming of our Lusts to the Humouring of our Corrupt Inclinations and to the Encouraging of all manner of Evil in the World and that I do them no wrong give me leave but to mention some few of them and you will plainly see the undoubted Truth of what I say The first is that of the Popes Power of granting Pardons Dispensations and Indulgences in and by which the most Sacred Laws of God are Cancell'd and made of no Force and Vertue Incest and Adultery are dispens'd with Lies and Perjuries are made Duties and Commendable Things Murder Treason and Rebellion lose all their Odium and Horror and become presently the highest Accomplishments of a Christian and the best Qualifications of a Saint there being no evil at all in them but when they are discover'd and prevented but this I can the easier forgive them because it gave the happy Occasion of the Reformation so seasonably begun and so vigorously and succesfully Prosecuted in Germany by Luther only I cannot but take notice what a pretty Faculty it has of picking mens Purses whilst they themselves look on and are willing to be cheated of their Mony as long as they may be let alone nay encourag'd in their Sins and indeed what can do it better than such a Device for who need fear to commit any Sin when a Purse-Pennance will expiate it Of the same Indulgent Nature with this is that Principle of Auricular Confession in which if I do but Acknowledge and whisper my sins into the Ears of the Priest I shall be absolv'd without any other Repentance than a little Pennance enjoyn'd me by him whom too the Bounty of my Purse shall make as Indulgent to me and my sins as can be It is already concluded amongst their Casuists that Attrition without Contrition is enough to deserve an Absolution i. e. if a man be but sorry for Sin because it will bring him to Hell it shall be sufficient without any other Ingredient in his Repentance The distinction they have made between Mortal and Venial is another that tends not a little to loosness and sensuality especially too when there 's no sin so Mortal but a liberal hand shall make it Venial too and therefore no wonder if this Mystery of Iniquity prevail so easily upon sensual and carnal Men. 2. This Mystery of Iniquity works now by Subornation Lies and Perjuries These are used to prevent the discovery of their wicked Practises and thereby to bring Credit to their Cause for they have still so much Modesty and Ingenuity left in spite of all those Arts that have been used to root out both as to stand up stifly in their own Defence and make shew of the greatest Abhorrence of any of those vile Practices which the more sober part of Mankind do exclaim against none pretending a greater regard to their Credit and Reputation than they do which when the discovery of their evil Practises is like to blast they can then with Oaths and Imprecations not only deny all but even stand it out too to the very death as our late Traytors have done and still do and tho' their Guilt be never so plain and palpable they are so far from taking Joshua's Counsel and giving Glory to God by making Confession Jos 7.19 that they will rather rob him of as much as possibly they can by an impudent Denyal Lying for the Catholick Cause as it 's call'd is so far a venial Sin that it carries its own Absolution along with it and therefore it is that they have so often had Recourse thereto How often have they reported that several sober and well minded Protestants died mad and could have no rest or quiet till they were Reconcil'd to their Church amongst which Beza himself shall servefor an Example of whom it was publickly divulg'd abroad that he did so but it pleas'd Almighty God so far to restore him to his Health again as to enable him to live to Confute that Calumny sufficiently They tell us that Faith is not indeed to be kept with Hereticks and they have so far made it good still as never to do it any longer than it was for their Advantage but then methinks they should not belye these Hereticks and make them worse than they are yes rather than want a specious pretence for their Falshood and Cruelty towards them they will find out one way or other to make them seem to deserve it Cranmer Ridly Latimer and the rest of our Protestant Martyrs must be call'd Rebels against the Queen and their Murders justified as if they were burnt for Rebellion and not for Religion when there was no such thing laid to their Charge nor any pretence for it for if there had we should certainly have heard of it often and long enough agoe Nay what pains have they lately taken to make this appear in those endeavours that have been used to thro' their own devillish Plot upon the Protestants The Presbyterians were to bear the blame then and I question not but they kno ' well enough where to lay it yet if the Cursed Design of Murdering the King should take Effect which God