Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	divinity_n	good_a	great_a	82	3	2.1543	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66942	The dissenting casuist, or, The second part of a dialogue between prejudice, a dissenting country gentleman, and reason, a student in the university being I. a clear justification of the execution of the laws against dissenters, II. a comparison of the arguments on both sides concerning monarchy in general, III. concerning an elective kingdom, or whether a lawful successor or true heir upon any misdemeanours may be excluded.	Wood, Thomas, 1661-1722.	1682 (1682)	Wing W3409; ESTC R21026	23,696	40

THE Dissenting Casuist OR THE SECOND PART OF A DIALOGUE BETWEEN PREJVDICE a Dissenting Country Gentleman AND REASON a Student in the Vniversity BEING I. A clear Justification of the Execution of the Laws against Dissenters II. A Comparison of the Arguments on both sides concerning Monarchy in general III. Concerning an Elective Kingdom or whether a Lawful Successor or true Heir upon any Misdemeanours may be excluded Saepe etiam Stultus opportuna loquitur LONDON Printed for T. Sawbridge at the Three Flower de Luces in Little Britain 1682. TO THE READER THE first Part of this Dialogue being not above three Sheets was designed onely by way of Preface to this I being forced to dig upon Rubbish before I could come to their Mine of Gold but really if you are impartial you will conclude with me that this is mere Rubbish too If in the first Part they were represented as gross Fools they must thank themselves for it not me If people talk idlely I cannot help it I am sure if you will take the pains to keep them company you may hear the same every day But Ugliness does not care to have its Picture drawn I am no common Pamphlettier neither do I at all delight in it being very well satisfied in my Conscience that the Works of our Tribe will never be sent to Forein Courts or translated into another Language I believe it is with most of them as it is with the Poets they first get the Itch of writing in their Fingers being perhaps an Infection from the Pen they hold and then it presently spreads over their whole Bodies so that they can never be at quiet till they are scratching upon Paper My design is onely for the good of my Country but if I signifie but little toward it my Zele and Loyalty will be commended This Discourse is not levelled against any particular man but against all their Arguments that have been are at present or are to come and that is a bold word you will say but read and judge I have engaged with their Champions condescended to the little ones and resolving as much as in me lieth to clear the Country of all sorts of Vermin I have div'd into Stews Haylofts and Boghouses If I have not been very exact in my Quotations on the Margin I suppose every Author can find his own words out I am sure I have not abus'd or misinterpreted his Assertions Pardon pray the Printers Errata and I am Your very Humble Servant T. W. June 20. 1682. The Dissenting CASUIST OR The Second Part of a Dialogue between Prejudice a Dissenting Countrey Gentleman and Reason a Student in the University c. Prej. Come Sir I am desirous of entring into a second Discourse with you the Distraction of the Times makes me thoughtful so that I find I am forc'd by my Conscience and good Nature to raise up as many Arguments as is fit and convenient for a man in my mean capacity I keep several Persons in pay sending them out to Taverns Coffee-houses c. to see if there is any thing more to be glean'd and pic'kd up towards the maintenance of our Cause and the heartning on of the Righteous that they may not have reason to say they are weary of these * Sh Sh te Carryings on And truly I think my self as Loyal as he that keeps a Regiment of Souldiers at his own charge and is hourly at his Majesties Service Well then first I say you Crape Gown-men are rank Papists downright Devils though you hide your cloven Feet though for the present you are pleas'd to put on the Garments of the Angels of Light Your Pride Ambition Covetousness c. shew that you are possess'd The Restauration of the Abbey Lands and the pretended Riches of the Church Cardinals Caps c. the dear embraces of the gaudy painted Whore are the Objects of your furious and extravagant Loyalty Your Covetousness is so great and * A Scandalous Libel call'd Speculum Crape-Gownorum Part. 2. there is such a uumerous Fry of you that hunger and thirst after Maintenance and so few bones in the Nation that you snarl at all who do but pretend to share with you We may easily discern whether the Good Pious Nonconformist Ministers or the Priests of Baal are the truest Levites or the chosen of the Lord the Actions of the former being wholly and without the consideration of worldly Gain directed to the Spiritual edification and recovery of Souls to the preaching of the Lord Christ c. whereas the Zeal and Divinity of the latter must never mount or fly abroad unless it be upon Wings that are adorned with silver and golden Feathers unless for every Scripture Sentence so much Money is paid down as may recover the Preachers Spirits render him in good Plight that he may come up with the greater Assurance and Eagerness the next Week Reas I do not understand what you mean by all this Ribble Rabble unless that in your Judgment 't is a thing unbecoming and irreligious that our Ministers do not preach and perform their Spiritual Offices in any place without a Promised Maintenance and Salary or without Respect to things that are sordid and temporal I am very far different from this Opinion or do in no wise think it unbecoming or that a care for a competency of living deserves the Epithet of Sordid We know that Mens Minds are now grown more carnal and sensual than ever that really Christs Kingdom is not of this World nor in the Hearts of worldly men that Interest and Riches is the only God ador'd here that the Man that can shew a good Face and an Acquittance for so much Money shall gain more Respect and Honour than Virtue it self if she be naked Alas we have very few Philosophers amongst us that will admire Wisdom in her Rags A Knavish Mahomet if he sets in a Throne shall gain more Followers than a True Christ if he once lay in a Manger Men will scarce be convinc'd by the Doctrine of that Person who does owe him Money or who is beholding to him for his Bread 'T is very requisite yea and necessary that they should be endowed with the greatest Plenty both of Riches and Honour First because as I told you it gains them a greater Respect from their Auditors who on this Consideration will more easily yield up their Hearts and Attention Secondly because there will be greater Encouragements where they may not be liable to ill Fortune and the Crosses and many Accidents of the World or have their Studies interrupted or that glorious design of making men eternally happy swallowed up in Poverty We often see what Authority the Presence of a Bishop has over his vast Congregation whilst perhaps the Poor Curate is attended only by a few serving Maids and very drowzily hearken'd to though perhaps his Doctrine may be the same or every whit as good In my small reading I have found that