almost_o continual_o charge_v the_o modesty_n of_o it_o clothes_n we_o at_o a_o small_a rate_n and_o its_o temperance_n spread_v for_o we_o though_o a_o neat_a yet_o a_o frugal_a table_n the_o attendance_n it_o require_v on_o our_o business_n will_v not_o allow_v we_o to_o embezel_n our_o money_n in_o drink_v or_o game_n nor_o will_v that_o purity_n which_o be_v inseparable_a from_o it_o ever_o let_v we_o know_v what_o the_o vast_a and_o sink_a expense_n of_o lewdness_n and_o uncleanness_n be_v in_o a_o word_n it_o be_v vice_n only_o that_o be_v the_o chargeable_a thing_n it_o be_v only_a shame_n and_o repentance_n that_o man_n buy_v at_o such_o costly_a rate_n godliness_n be_v save_v and_o full_a of_o good_a husbandry_n nor_o have_v it_o any_o know_v or_o unknown_a way_n of_o spend_v except_o it_o be_v those_o of_o charity_n which_o indeed_o in_o proper_a speak_n be_v not_o so_o much_o expense_n as_o usury_n for_o money_n so_o lay_v out_o do_v always_o even_o in_o this_o life_n 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other_o account_n than_o this_o that_o no_o man_n that_o be_v but_o a_o mere_a pretender_n to_o honesty_n can_v long_o hope_v to_o keep_v his_o credit_n among_o man_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o act_v a_o part_n for_o any_o long_a time_n let_v he_o carry_v it_o never_o so_o cunning_o his_o vizor_n will_v some_o time_n or_o other_o be_v throw_v off_o and_o he_o will_v appear_v in_o his_o true_a colour_n and_o to_o what_o a_o world_n of_o mischief_n and_o inconvenience_n he_o will_v then_o be_v expose_v every_o one_o that_o know_v how_o hate_v how_o detest_v how_o abandon_v by_o every_o one_o a_o knave_n and_o a_o villain_n be_v may_v easy_o determine_v i_o hope_v i_o need_v say_v no_o more_o to_o convince_v you_o that_o religion_n be_v the_o best_a policy_n and_o that_o the_o more_o hearty_a and_o conscientious_a any_o man_n be_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o it_o the_o more_o likely_a he_o be_v to_o thrive_v and_o improve_v in_o the_o world_n so_o that_o i_o may_v now_o proceed_v to_o the_o second_o general_a point_n to_o be_v speak_v to_o which_o be_v the_o profitableness_n of_o religion_n for_o the_o attain_v a_o good_a name_n and_o reputation_n how_o very_o much_o it_o conduce_v to_o this_o purpose_n will_v appear_v from_o these_o two_o consideration_n first_o it_o lay_v the_o sure_a ground_n and_o foundation_n for_o a_o good_a name_n and_o reputation_n second_o man_n be_v general_o so_o just_a to_o it_o that_o it_o rare_o miss_v of_o a_o good_a name_n and_o reputation_n the_o first_o be_v a_o argument_n from_o reason_n the_o second_o from_o experience_n first_o of_o all_o godliness_n lay_v the_o true_a foundation_n for_o a_o fair_a reputation_n in_o the_o world_n there_o be_v but_o two_o thing_n that_o can_v give_v a_o man_n a_o title_n to_o the_o good_a opinion_n and_o respect_n of_o man_n the_o inward_a worth_n and_o dignity_n of_o his_o person_n and_o his_o usefulness_n and_o serviceableness_n to_o other_o the_o first_o of_o these_o challenge_v man_n esteem_n the_o other_o their_o love_n now_o both_o these_o quality_n religion_n and_o virtue_n do_v eminent_o possess_v we_o of_o for_o first_o the_o religious_a man_n be_v certain_o the_o most_o worthy_a and_o excellent_a person_n for_o he_o of_o all_o other_o life_n most_o up_o to_o the_o great_a end_n for_o which_o he_o be_v design_v which_o be_v the_o natural_a measure_n of_o the_o goodness_n and_o worth_n of_o thing_n what_o ever_o external_a advantage_n a_o man_n may_v have_v yet_o if_o he_o be_v not_o endow_v with_o virtuous_a quality_n he_o be_v far_o from_o have_v any_o true_a worth_n or_o excellence_n and_o consequent_o can_v be_v a_o fit_a object_n of_o our_o praise_n and_o esteem_n because_o he_o want_v that_o which_o shall_v make_v he_o perfect_a and_o good_a in_o his_o kind_a for_o it_o be_v not_o a_o comely_a personage_n or_o a_o long_a race_n of_o famous_a ancestor_n or_o a_o large_a revenue_n or_o a_o multitude_n of_o servant_n or_o many_o swell_a title_n or_o any_o other_o thing_n without_o a_o man_n that_o speak_v he_o a_o complete_a man_n or_o make_v he_o to_o be_v what_o he_o shall_v be_v but_o the_o right_a use_n of_o his_o reason_n the_o employ_v his_o liberty_n and_o choice_n to_o the_o best_a purpose_n the_o exercise_v his_o power_n and_o faculty_n about_o the_o fit_a object_n and_o in_o the_o most_o due_a measure_n these_o be_v the_o thing_n that_o make_v he_o excellent_a now_o none_o can_v be_v say_v to_o do_v this_o but_o only_o he_o that_o be_v virtuous_a second_o religion_n also_o be_v that_o which_o make_v a_o man_n most_o useful_a and_o profitable_a to_o other_o for_o it_o effectual_o secure_v his_o performance_n of_o all_o those_o duty_n whereby_o both_o the_o security_n and_o welfare_n of_o the_o public_a and_o also_o the_o good_a and_o advantage_n of_o particular_a person_n be_v most_o attain_v it_o make_v man_n lover_n of_o their_o country_n loyal_a to_o their_o prince_n obedient_a to_o law_n it_o be_v the_o sure_a bond_n and_o preservative_n of_o society_n in_o the_o world_n it_o oblige_v we_o to_o live_v peaceable_o and_o to_o submit_v ourselves_o to_o our_o ruler_n not_o only_o for_o wrath_n but_o also_o for_o conscience_n sake_n it_o render_v we_o modest_a and_o governable_a in_o prosperity_n and_o resolute_a and_o courageous_a to_o suffer_v brave_o in_o a_o good_a cause_n in_o the_o worst_a of_o time_n it_o teach_v we_o to_o endeavour_v as_o much_o as_o in_o we_o lie_v to_o promote_v the_o good_a of_o every_o particular_a member_n of_o the_o community_n to_o be_v inflexible_o upright_a to_o do_v hurt_v to_o none_o but_o good_a office_n to_o all_o to_o be_v charitable_a to_o the_o body_n and_o soul_n of_o man_n to_o do_v all_o manner_n of_o kindness_n that_o
sheldon_n mayor_n curia_fw-la specialis_fw-la tent_n '_o die_fw-la lunae_fw-la 31_o die_v januarii_n 1675._o annoque_fw-la regni_fw-la regis_fw-la caroli_n secundi_fw-la angliae_fw-la etc._n etc._n xxviii_o this_o court_n do_v desire_n mr._n sharp_a to_o print_v his_o sermon_n preach_v yesterday_o morning_n before_o the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o alderman_n at_o bow-church_n with_o what_o he_o have_v further_o prepare_v to_o deliver_v at_o that_o time_n wagstaffe_n imprimatur_fw-la geo._n hooper_n rev._n d_o o._n archiep._n cant._n à _fw-la sac._n dome_v feb._n 7._o 1675_o 6._o a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o right_n honourable_a the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o aldermen_z of_o london_n at_o bow-church_n by_o john_n sharp_a chaplain_n to_o the_o right_n honourable_a heneage_n lord_n finch_n lord_n high_a chancellor_n of_o england_n london_n print_v by_o andrew_n clark_n for_o walter_n kettilby_n at_o the_o bishop_n head_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1676._o 1_o tim_n four_o 8._o godliness_n be_v profitable_a unto_o all_o thing_n have_v a_o promise_n of_o the_o life_n that_o now_o be_v and_o of_o that_o which_o be_v to_o come_v these_o word_n be_v the_o enforcement_n of_o a_o exhortation_n which_o st._n paul_n have_v make_v to_o timothy_n in_o the_o verse_n before_o go_v which_o be_v that_o he_o shall_v avoid_v profane_a and_o old-wife_n fable_n mean_v those_o impious_a and_o superstitious_a doctrine_n and_o the_o carnal_a and_o unchristian_a observance_n that_o be_v ground_v upon_o they_o some_o of_o which_o he_o have_v mention_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o chapter_n which_o some_o at_o that_o time_n do_v endeavour_v to_o introduce_v into_o christianity_n and_o instead_o of_o apply_v his_o mind_n to_o these_o that_o he_o shall_v rather_o exercise_v himself_o unto_o true_a godliness_n this_o be_v the_o exhortation_n the_o argument_n wherewith_o he_o enforce_v it_o be_v two_o first_o the_o unprofitableness_n of_o these_o carnal_a and_o superstitious_a doctrine_n and_o practice_n bodily_a exercise_n say_v he_o profit_v little_a second_o the_o real_a usefulness_n of_o solid_a virtue_n and_o godliness_n to_o all_o the_o purpose_n of_o life_n godliness_n be_v profitable_a to_o all_o thing_n have_v a_o promise_n of_o this_o life_n as_o well_o as_o of_o that_o which_o be_v to_o come_v i_o shall_v not_o here_o meddle_v at_o all_o with_o the_o former_a part_n of_o the_o apostle_n exhortation_n or_o the_o argument_n that_o have_v relation_n to_o it_o but_o shall_v apply_v myself_o whole_o to_o the_o latter_a crave_v leave_n most_o plain_o and_o affectionate_o to_o press_v upon_o you_o the_o exercise_n of_o godliness_n upon_o those_o ground_n and_o consideration_n on_o which_o the_o apostle_n here_o recommend_v it_o indeed_o to_o a_o man_n that_o consider_v well_o it_o will_v appear_v the_o most_o unaccountable_a thing_n in_o the_o world_n that_o among_o all_o those_o several_a exercise_n that_o mankind_n busy_a themselves_o about_o this_o of_o godliness_n shall_v be_v in_o so_o great_a a_o measure_n neglect_v that_o man_n shall_v be_v so_o diligent_a so_o industrious_a so_o unwearied_a some_o in_o get_v estate_n other_o in_o purvey_v for_o pleasure_n other_o in_o learn_v art_n and_o trade_n all_o in_o something_o or_o other_o relate_v to_o this_o sensible_a world_n and_o so_o few_o shall_v study_v to_o acquaint_v themselves_o with_o god_n and_o the_o concernment_n of_o their_o soul_n to_o learn_v the_o art_n of_o virtue_n and_o religious_a conversation_n certain_a it_o be_v this_o piece_n of_o skill_n be_v not_o more_o above_o our_o reach_n than_o many_o of_o those_o other_o thing_n we_o so_o industrious_o pursue_v nay_o i_o be_o apt_a to_o think_v it_o be_v more_o within_o our_o power_n than_o most_o of_o they_o for_o in_o our_o other_o labour_n we_o can_v always_o promise_v to_o ourselves_o certain_a success_n a_o thousand_o thing_n may_v intervene_v which_o we_o know_v not_o of_o that_o may_v defeat_v all_o our_o 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we_o have_v in_o the_o world_n it_o be_v the_o very_a thing_n god_n send_v we_o into_o the_o world_n about_o it_o be_v the_o very_a thing_n that_o his_o son_n come_v down_o from_o heaven_n to_o instruct_v we_o in_o it_o be_v the_o very_a thing_n by_o which_o we_o shall_v be_v conclude_v everlasting_o happy_a or_o everlasting_o miserable_a after_o this_o life_n be_v end_v these_o thing_n well_o consider_v we_o may_v just_o i_o say_v stand_v amaze_v that_o man_n shall_v be_v so_o prodigious_o supine_n and_o negligent_a in_o a_o affair_n of_o this_o nature_n and_o importance_n as_o we_o see_v they_o general_o be_v if_o there_o can_v any_o account_n be_v give_v of_o this_o matter_n i_o suppose_v it_o must_v be_v some_o such_o as_o this_o that_o the_o thing_n of_o this_o world_n upon_o which_o we_o bestow_v our_o care_n our_o time_n our_o courtship_n be_v present_a to_o we_o we_o see_v they_o every_o day_n before_o our_o eye_n we_o taste_v we_o feel_v the_o sweetness_n of_o they_o we_o be_v sensible_a that_o their_o enjoyment_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o our_o present_a well-being_n but_o as_o for_o spiritual_a matter_n they_o lie_v under_o a_o great_a disadvantage_n they_o appear_v to_o we_o as_o at_o a_o great_a distance_n we_o do_v not_o apprehend_v any_o present_a need_n we_o have_v of_o they_o nor_o do_v we_o fancy_v any_o sweetness_n or_o relish_n in_o they_o nay_o on_o the_o contrary_a we_o form_v the_o most_o frightful_a and_o dismal_a image_n of_o they_o that_o can_v be_v we_o look_v upon_o they_o not_o only_o as_o flat_a and_o unsavoury_a but_o as_o thing_n which_o if_o we_o trouble_v our_o head_n too_o much_o about_o will_n certain_o ruin_v all_o our_o design_n in_o this_o world_n we_o think_v religion_n good_a for_o nothing_o but_o to_o spoil_v good_a company_n to_o make_v we_o melancholy_a and_o mopish_a to_o distract_v we_o in_o our_o business_n and_o employment_n and_o to_o put_v so_o many_o restraint_n upon_o we_o that_o we_o can_v neither_o with_o that_o freedom_n nor_o success_n pursue_v our_o temporal_a concernment_n which_o we_o think_v necessary_a to_o our_o happiness_n in_o this_o world_n but_o let_v we_o suppose_v thing_n to_o be_v thus_o with_o religion_n as_o we_o have_v fancy_v yet_o can_v this_o be_v any_o reasonable_a excuse_n for_o our_o carelessness_n about_o it_o what_o though_o there_o be_v no_o visible_a benefit_n by_o a_o religious_a life_n in_o this_o world_n what_o though_o the_o reward_n of_o our_o pain_n about_o it_o be_v only_o in_o reversion_n yet_o since_o a_o time_n will_v come_v when_o it_o will_v be_v our_o great_a interest_n to_o have_v be_v hearty_o religious_a be_v it_o not_o a_o madness_n now_o to_o neglect_v it_o what_o though_o religion_n be_v a_o course_n of_o life_n difficult_a and_o unpleasant_a a_o way_n strew_v with_o brier_n and_o thorn_n a_o way_n which_o if_o we_o follow_v we_o be_v certain_o lose_v as_o to_o our_o hope_n of_o any_o thing_n here_o yet_o since_o a_o time_n will_v certain_o 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lie_v within_o our_o power_n it_o take_v off_o the_o sowrness_n and_o moroseness_n of_o our_o spirit_n and_o make_v we_o affable_a and_o courteous_a gentle_a and_o oblige_a and_o willing_a to_o embrace_v with_o open_a arm_n and_o a_o hearty_a love_n all_o sort_n and_o condition_n of_o man_n in_o every_o relation_n wherein_o we_o can_v stand_v to_o one_o another_o it_o influence_v upon_o we_o in_o order_n to_o the_o make_v we_o more_o useful_a it_o make_v parent_n kind_a and_o indulgent_a and_o careful_a of_o the_o education_n of_o their_o child_n and_o child_n love_v and_o obedient_a to_o their_o parent_n it_o make_v servant_n diligent_a to_o please_v their_o master_n and_o to_o do_v their_o work_n in_o singleness_n of_o heart_n not_o with_o eye-service_n as_o men-pleasers_a but_o as_o unto_o god_n and_o it_o make_v master_n gentle_a and_o forbear_n and_o careful_a to_o make_v provision_n for_o their_o family_n as_o those_o that_o know_v they_o have_v a_o master_n in_o heaven_n that_o 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