Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	conscience_n	heart_n	sin_n	5,798	5	4.5217	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66730	The true interest of nations impartially stated in a sermon preached at the Lent assizes at Chelmesford in Essex, March 2d. 1690/1 : proving that the promoting universal righteousness, piety, justice, and honesty, is the sure means to exalt a nation ... / by Anthony Walker ...	Walker, Anthony, d. 1692.	1691 (1691)	Wing W311; ESTC R5492	23,518	42

THE TRUE INTEREST OF NATIONS Impartially Stated IN A SERMON PREACHED At the Lent Assizes at Chelmesford in Essex March 2d 1690 1. PROVING That the Promoting universal Righteousness Piety Justice and Honesty is the sure Means to exalt a Nation its Inhabitants and Government in Honour Safety and Prosperity By ANTHONY WALKER D.D. Ezech. 3 19. If thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his Wickedness nor from his wicked Way he shall die in his Iniquity but thou hast delivered thy Soul Verse 2. If thou warn the Righteous that the Righteous sin not and he doth not sin he shall surely live because he is warned Also thou hast delivered thy Soul London Printed for Nathanael Ranew at the King 's Arms in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. TO THE Right Honourable Sir Henry Pollixfen Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Sir Nicholas Letchmere one of the Barons of the Exchequer Judges of Assize for the home-Circuit And the Honourable Collonel J. Cook of Chissel High Sheriff for the County of Essex Much and most deservedly Honoured HOW stale and suspected soever the Pretence be of extorting Importunity to inforce it as an Excuse of appearing in Print yet no Man of Sense nay Prejudice it self than which nothing is more senseless can judge me so far lost to all Sentiments of Truth Modesty and common Prudence as to appeal to such unexceptionable Witnesses in a Case that would not bear it The Truth is I was with so much Reluctancy brought to let this Sermon see more Light which unavoidable late going to Church forc'd me to deliver in the Dark that I rather need to beg Pardon for it But when I had almost to Rudeness withstood Requests a Person of Quality turned intreating into arguing and inforc'd some Passages in the Sermon with which he judged my Denials not well to consist then as the Eagle pierced with an Arrow feathered from its own Wing my obstinacy was vanquished by my own Weapons and with unwilling Willingness I yielded to run the Risk of its losing by the Eye what it had beyond expectation gain'd by the Ear. I heartily bless God that I have liv'd to see Judges in England who cannot only bear but approve such honest plain preaching and desire it may be made publick with hope that it will do some Service to the Nation And if I may touch so small a thing for I cannot own it needs Apology my citing so many Scriptures I suspect will be styled Nimiam Diligentiam and but a solemn trifling Be it so yet I did not run into this right-hand Error blindfold Had my business been only with Men's Ears and Fancies I should have used other Tools But having to do with their Hearts and Consciences and to cut down Sin and build up Righteousness I knew nothing so fit for my Purpose as the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which is quick and powerful and the only Weapon fit to pull down the strong Holds of Sin and Satan God will be God whether Sinners will or no and his Word will retain an Awe upon Men's Minds how unmodish soever it seem to urge so much of it and will be a golden Sceptre to convince and rule or else a Rod of Iron to condemn and to break in pieces And here I present it to your Honours and the unprejudiced honest Readers and if it may prove useful to the Publick and acceptable to Men of such a Character it shall suffice for a Plea for Righteousness cannot be over-welcome to unrighteous Men till it convince them to forsake it and though it should fall more short of Acceptance from the Press than it exceeded my Hopes from the Pulpit I shall rest satisfy'd in this Act of Obedience to my Betters and Kindness to my Equals and shall study to approve my self more readily Your Honours most Humble and most Obedient Servant A. Walker March 16. 1691. A SERMON PREACHED At the Assizes held at Chelmsford March the 2d 1691. ON Proverbs 14.34 Righteousness exalteth a Nation But Sin is a Reproach to any People THough these Words have no Dependence on the Context nor Coherence with it yet they have a secret Aspect on and a tacit Regard to a supposed Truth which is the Basis on which they are built and the hidden Source and Spring from whence they flow and issue to wit That Noble Principle which Nature hath imprinted on Mankind with Characters as legible as indelible viz. That every man should and every wise and good man will desire and endeavour to promote the Honour Safety and Welfare of his Native Countrey the Nation of which he is a Member For As the first and greatest Law of Nature is to love our selves to preserve our Being and to advance our own Well-being the Second is like unto it to love our Countrey and promote its Happiness and for our Brethren and Companions sake to seek its good Psal 122.8 9. And this being supposed as a Sulstratum the Text directs the Method and the Means in and by which that End may be attained viz. by following after Righteousness and avoiding preventing and suppressing Sin to the utmost of our power both in our selves and others for Righteousness exalts a Nation but Sin is a Reproach to any People Which Divine Aphorism contains an excellent and infallible Receipt and Direction for the Health of the Body Politick prescribed by the ablest and the wisest State-Physician who acceptably begg'd and successfully obtain'd his Skill from God himself 1 Kings 3.9 10 11. And to render it as intelligible and practicable and my Discourse upon it as suitable and seasonable as I can to the present Occasion I will First Set the Parts of the Text in their due Order Secondly Explain them briefly in that Order Thirdly Set before you a Proposition resulting from that Explication comprehending the Scope and Meaning of them In the Text are evidently Three Parts I. A Subject about which somewhat is affirmed A Nation Any People II. Two very different Causes affecting and influencing that Subject Righteousness Sin III. The Effects produced by these Causes Exaltation Repreach Which are as contrary to each other as were the Causes from which they do proceed so that there is an evident Antithesis or Opposition between the two entire Sentences and every Word in either of them And as Contraries set by one another set off and illustrate one the other the Text carries its own Commentary with it and might help to explain it self But I will wave and deny my self that advantage and to husband Time confine my self to the former Branch Righteousness exalts a Nation Every Word of which without Wresting or offering the least Violence to them may bear a Threefold Signification First The Subject Nation may signifie 1. The Countrey or Place inhabited As Take away our Place and Nation John 11.48 2. The People inhabiting in such a Place O People Nations Languages Dan. 3.4 Acts 2.5 But this is so common it

't is in proportion like to be with People as with Persons Say to the Righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat the Fruit of their Doings Say to the Wicked it shall be ill with them for the Reward of his Hands shall be given him Isa 3.10 The Words of Micah are so apposite and so very awakening that I cannot forbear transcribing them hoping you will consider from so great a Prophet what you would not mind from so mean a Speaker I am full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment and of Might to declare unto Jacob his Transgressions and to Israel his Sin Micah 3.8 Hear this I pray you ye Heads of the House of Jacob and Princes of the House of Israel that abhor Judgment and pervert all Equity v. 9. They build up Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity v. 10. The Heads thereof judge for Reward and the Priests thereof teach for Hire and the Prophets thereof divine for Money Yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us None Evil can come among us v. 11. Now comes their Doom Therefore shall Zion for your sakes be plowed as a Field and Jerusalem shall become Heaps and the Mountain of the House as the high Places of the Forest v. 12. Such Vengeance will a righteous God sooner or later cause to overtake unrighteous Nations 4. See what an infinite Advantage it is to have Righteousness flourish and righteous Men advanced into Authority who may by their Example bring it into Reputation and by their Power encourage and protect it And è contra When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice But when the Wicked beareth Rule the People mourn And good reason they have to do so if they love their Countrey and my Text be Scripture Secondly For Exhortation 1. In general to all 2. In particular to those concern'd on this solemn Occasion In general I beseech you all in the Bowels of Christ who shed his Bloud to redeem us from iniquity and to purchase to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Which he hath appointed us to walk in Yea I require and charge you in the Name of the Great the Righteous and the Dreadful Judge of Quick and Dead to whom we must all shortly give an Account yea I adjure you by all that 's dear to you and may be moving with you as Men as Parents as English-men as Christians as Reformed Christians as you love and desire the Prosperity of your Souls your Families your Native Country the Government under which you enjoy so many Comforts your Church your Holy Religion which is our Glory By all these and by whatever else may be named or thought on that you love practise and promote with your utmost Industry and Zeal in your Persons Families Neighbourhood and Nation universal unreserved Righteousness Piety Equity Honesty every one in your Places and Capacities This is Totum Hominis the Summ of your Duty Business Happiness Abstain from all Evil Name and Thing Act and Appearance Let not Impiety Iniquity Dishonesty be so much as once named among you as becometh Saints Eph. 5.3 unless with detestation and abhorrences Ver. 11. And have no Fellowship with any unfruitful Works of Darkness but reprove them rather And follow after Peace with all Men and Holiness without which none shall see God Heb. 12.14 Cease to do evil learn to do well awake to Righteousness and sin not Isa 1. Yea Die to Sin and live to Righteousness 1 Cor. 15. Deny all Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and walk righteously soberly and godly in this present World Tit. 2.11 Giving to God thy Neighbour and thy Self what 's due to every of them with a Conscience void of offence to all And this is the Way the only sure Way to save thy Soul from the Wrath to come and your Selves and dear Posterity your dearer Countrey your Church and Religion which should be dearest of them all from the threatning Dangers and impending Storm which our mighty Sins have gathered into so dark a Cloud so ready to break and to discharge it self upon our guilty Heads Without this all will succeed ill were our Armies as numerous as those of Xerxes or Senacherib and all as valiant and daring as their Royal Leader our Fleet as gallant as that which conquered at Lepanto our Sinews of War a Fund as inexhaustible as the Ocean and the Arm of Flesh as strong as Hercules or Samson or you can wish or fansie all will dwindle and melt and vanish into nothing if God blow upon us or hide his Face And the Prophet Isaiah hath told you Isa 59.2 That your Iniquities persisted in and Sins unrepented of will make him do it But some will say What would you have us do The Flouds of ungodly Men make us affraid Psal 18.4 He that departeth from Evil makes himself a Prey Isa 59.15 Our very Remedy is turned into our Disease Religion which should help us is turn'd against it self and the Form of it combats against the Power almost as dangerously as an open Enemy Omnia cùm liceant non licet impunè esse pium If the Foundations be removed what can the Righteous do Psal 11.3 I 'll tell you as plainly as I can First Take heed of Hypocrisie and overweening Affectation of Singularity Pharisaical Censuring and Despising others Luke 18.9 and saying Stand by thy self I am holier than thou Isa 65.5 Make not things worse than they are nor brand every one thou fansiest not to be thy Friend as an Enemy of God nor the sincere Devotions of others to be meer Formalities because they would be so in thy self if thou shouldst use them with thy present Principles and Prejudices Secondly Be not discouraged to do thy Duty because others neglect theirs not scar'd from promoting Righteousness by the reproach of Singularity 'T is better to be righteous alone than wicked with the greatest company or in company of the greatest Consider what our Lord's Interrogatory implies What do ye more than others Mat. 5.47 Remember there is a Praise-worthy as well as a Blame-worthy affected Singularity If others will not do their Duty to save a Nation let not that hinder thee from doing thine Let them return to thee but return not thou to them Jer. 15.19 There is nothing of which the Scripture gives more signal Instances than the best Men standing single and alone in their Places and Generaaions Noah Job Abraham and Moses stood in the Gap to turn away Wrath from Israel Joseph Elijah I am left alone Micaiah Daniel Few find the narrow Way Mat. 7.14 St. Paul Athanasius c. 2. Be exhorted therefore to mourn at least for all the Abominations in the midst of us as those good Souls did Ezek. 9.4 and God will set his Mark upon thee and if thou canst not deliver a Nation no nor Son nor Daughter thou shalt however deliver thy own Soul