Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	body_n	receive_v	soul_n	8,262	5	5.4143	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40818	A sermon preached at St. Hilary's in the Isle of Jersey before the garrison, April 10th, 1692 by Philip Falle ...	Falle, Philip, 1656-1742.	1692 (1692)	Wing F341; ESTC R9313	21,860	36

add that None did more Honour to the Religion of our Lord than those Ancient Christian Soldiers who never thought the Military Character was to have a peculiar Latitude and that Allowances and Abatements from Christian Piety and Morality were to be made for Men of that Profession They were not only the best of Soldiers but the best of Men. And the Roman Empire while it stood owed not more its frequent Successes o'er the Barbarous Nations in its latter Age to their extraordinary Valour and Gallantry than to their admirable Sanctity and Devotion to God To which God hath often been pleased to have so just a Regard as to give Victory to Pagan Armies for the sake of those Christian Soldiers that were in them Doing even great and Stupendous Miracles in their Favour as when at the Prayers of a Christian Legion in Marcus Antoninus his Army he sent Thunder and Lightning which destroyed their Enemies for which that Legion was ever after called the Thundering Legion and the Emperor who had commenced a Persecution against the Church caused it to cease immediately upon it owning the Preservation of himself and of his Army to those Christian Soldiers whom he confessed to be in a peculiar manner favoured and beloved of God Their Camps were not only Schools where were taught all the Arts and Disciplines of War but they were also Schools and Nurseries of Vertue In a word there is no order of Men that hath produced in those first and better Times a greater number of Blessed Saints and Glorious Martyrs who have often gone to Death for their Religion by whole Legions and Troops as the Thebean Legion mentioned before Those 40 Soldiers that suffered in one day at Sebastia in Armenia in the time of Licinius and innumerable Others the Names of many of whom have been Enroll'd and are preserved with Honour in the Annals and Histories of the Church Having taught the World by their Example that to be at the same time Soldiers and good Men are not things incompatible and that if all be not so the fault is not in the Profession but in the Men who if they be bad would hardly have been better although they had betaken themselves to any other kind of Life Nay the Military Profession is so far from obstructing a Good Life that it hath the most powerful Motives and Inducements to it And if there be any sort of Men in the World that should live more Strictly and Regularly than others it should be Christian Soldiers We all of us live in continual Apprehensions of Death but those that Fight in the Field of War have a nearer prospect of it This should make them live in a Daily Preparation for it and that dreadful Eternity that follows after it If it be said that such Melancholy Thoughts as these would Damp their Spirits and by making them good Men would make them the worse Soldiers this is so far from being True how common soever the Mistake may be that on the contrary none can be truly good Soldiers but those that are also at the same time good Men. For to say nothing of the Divine Blessing which may with more reason be expected to attend the Arms of those that have a Sense of God and of the Duty they owe him whereas the most excellent Cause doth often perish in the Hands of Evil Instruments whereof I wish we of this Nation may not become a Woful Instance and that the Looseness and Viciousness of our Armies may not Impede those Victories for which we so often Pray to God and of which in those very Prayers we confess him to be the Only Giver I say not to mention this it is Religion alone that Endows Men with true Fortitude and Magnanimity of Spirit and generally with all other Qualifications and Ingredients requisite to make up a Brave and an Accomplish'd Soldier It is Religion that makes one of that Profession tender of the Cause that he Engages in but firm and constant to it when he is once satisfied of the Justice of it which distinguishes him from a Vile Mercenary who Fights for Bread and cares not what Side he takes nor what Design he serves so he be Paid It is Religion that makes one of that Profession discharge with Inviolable Fidelity the Trust reposed in him as the keeping of some Important Post or GARRISON While one that has shaken off all Ties of Conscience and Vertue cares not what Prejudice the Publick sustains by his Cowardice or Treachery so himself be safe and his own Ends secur'd It is Religion that makes one of that Profession in all Enterprizes consult still above all things the Glory of God the Service of his King and the Good of the Country Whereas one that is Acted by no Principles but those of Passion or Interest and has taken up the Sword only that he may with greater Liberty Indulge his Avarice or his Lusts postpones all other Considerations to these and provided these be Expleted cares not how much God be dishonoured the King ill serv'd and the Country oppressed It is Religion that makes one of that Profession Peaceable and Obedient to those that have Command over him whereas Irreligion takes off from Men all Sense of Duty and has a Natural Tendency to make them Mutinous and Querulous Or if he be called to Act in a higher Capacity and has himself a Command over others Religion will teach him to use them gently and kindly not exposing them to evident Peril without evident Necessity pitying their Wounds and resenting their Wants whereas Irreligion is the Mother of Tyranny and Cruelty and he that has lost all Sentiments of Piety and true Goodness will be the first to Rob and Prey upon his own Men. It is Religion that makes one of that Profession bear up with Invincible Patience and Constancy under all the Toils and Difficulties of War by Training him up in the Practice and Exercise of Sobriety Temperance and other Severe and Manly Vertues whereas Luxury and Voluptuousness Soften and Emasculate both the Body and the Mind and a Man dissolv'd in Ease and Pleasure will never undergo Fatigues and Wants like him who has inured himself to Hardships by Voluntary Austerities and Mortifications It is Religion that makes one of that Profession venture on the most hazardous Undertaking and rush into a Battle with an undaunted Courage and Resolution because that being Arm'd with his own Innocence and secure of the Love and Favour of God he knows that if he falls while his Body is laid in the Bed of Honour his Immortal Spirit will be receiv'd among the Souls of all those Ancient Heroes and Worthies who in their several Ages have sought the Battels of God and are now with him in the Mansions of Peace Whereas the least appearance of Danger must needs strike Terror and Amazement into a Wretch who having a deep load of Guilt to account for to God