Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	son_n	speak_v	11,770	5	5.4768	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50547	A sermon preached at the assises for the county of Surrey, held in the burrough of Southwark, March 23, 1681/2 by Richard Meggott ...	Meggott, Richard, d. 1692.	1682 (1682)	Wing M1626; ESTC R16983	11,501	40

in our Fancies as Tully saith Clodius did in his Summer-house not as a Virgin but a Strumpet prostitute to all Extravagancies Degrade themselves into the manners of Beasts remove the Land-marks of the Law of Nature do those things and glory in them that a good natur'd Heathen would be ashamed and blush at This the Debochee calleth the Liberty of the Creature Be Sons of Belial to all Authority despise Dominions in speaking evil of Dignities change Times and Laws in Tumults This the Seditious calleth the Liberty of the Subject Sow Soul and State disturbing Opinions erect Publick Houses for seducing the unstable separate from the National Church but joyn in Communion with none at all This the Schismatick calls Liberty of Conscience Amuse the People with things out of their Sphere Be-libel Superiors to the jealous Rabble blow upon the Reputation of all that stand in the way of their Faction This the Turbulent calleth Liberty of the Press Such using of Liberty as an occasion to the Flesh it is confessed this Law doth not allow of but how causelesly doth that Child complain of his Fathers Harshness who hath nothing else to say of him but that he will not let him fly in his Face or fall into the Fire or beat his Brother Abstain but from these from dishonoring of God from wronging our Neighbours from ruining our selves and there is nothing else we are debarred from The Bedlam hath as much reason to resent his Keeper as we the Severity of the Divine Commands What do they require of us but what is rational decorous and perfective of our Being Nothing but what a wise ingenious Man in his deliberate Thoughts would chose if there were neither Heaven nor Hell Our Chains are Bracelets and our Fetters Ornaments our Obligations Priviledges and we free in the midst of all these precepts as the Head of a Prince within the Circle of his Crown Such a Liberty as the Spirits of just men made perfect have such a Liberty as the Angels before the Throne have yea such a Liberty as the Eternal God himself hath none of these have a Liberty to do evil such a Liberty is allowed us That is one thing that speaketh this Law a Law of Liberty it is so in the precepts of it Besides this 2. A Law of Liberty it is in the mildness of it It is tender and very favourable even to them that offend and come short of it It is not like the Laws of Draco written in Letters of Blood but Gold The Law of the Gospel as it is a Rule is as hath been said stricter than the Law of Moses but then consider it as it is a Covenant and so it is not so strict for though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be not performed yet there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that shall be accepted That which I may call the Statute Law of it indeed is so pure that it casteth us for every infirmity but that there is a Chancery so kind it will relieve us if there be sincerity If thou wilt be extream to mark what is done amiss O Lord who may abide it what would be the condition of the best of men if cursed were every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of this Law to do them but it hath compassion on our frailties and remembreth whereof we are made and that so as not only to make allowances for our weakness when we imperfectly keep it but to accept of our repentance when we have wilfully broke it And is this after the manner of men do they provide such Cities of refuge for their offenders to fly to will a nolle factum a moral revocation be it never so hearty serve the turn there No though it may in some Cases be favourably considered as to the execution of the Sentence it cannot in any be legally pleaded in arrest of Judgment But here it humbly may insomuch that when we are so qualified the Apostle speaking of it 1 John 1.9 doth not say God is gracious and mercifull though that he is infinitely in it too but he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And is it possible for a Law to be more indulgent than this Would you not blush to desire more Liberty than so He that delivered it hath procured by the price of his own Blood that none but the obstinate and impenitent shall suffer under it Not only when we do well it rewardeth us but even when we have done ill it spareth us as a father spareth his own son that serveth him That is another thing that speaketh it a Law of Liberty it is so in the Mildness of it And 3. A Law of Liberty it is in the Effects of it I mean not now those powerful effects which by the operation of the spirit that goeth along with it it hath within upon the hearts of men but those happy effects which by the wisdom of its injunctions it hath without upon the affairs of men It procureth Liberty where it is obeyed and all the World would be at ease and free were it but submitted to They that would insinuate as if Religion were nothing else but a device of Statesmen to keep the World in quiet grant thus much however in their base Suggestion that it is excellently useful for such a purpose Every one must be convinced of this that but observeth how carefully it circulateth through the Civil body as the blood doth through the natural quickning every several member in its office prescribing and establishing to Princes and their people Judges and their Clients Husbands and Wifes Parents and their Children Masters and their Servants all of all degrees that which is mutually best for all The Rules of it are so framed for general and publick good that they who would be free from them themselves think it necessary they should be observed by every body else and were they conscientiously practised by all there could be no complaining in our Streets The Justice and Equity which it doth require would prevent all Oppression Robberys and safer Cousenage It s Meekness and forgiving of injuries restrain all Cruelties Duels and unnecessary Law Suits It s Truth and Sincerity banish all Lying Falshood and Judicial Perjuries It s Self-denyal and Contentment extirpate all Covetousness Pride and dangerous Ambition It s Charity and Vnity cure all Sects Animosities and increasing Divisions It s Industry and diligence in our Callings take away all Idleness Beggery and Capricious Prodigality It s Sobriety and Chastity hinder all Adulterys Bastardys and so fashionable Fornication It s Loyalty and Obedience to Superiors secure against all Treasons Rebellion and most plausible Sedition In short all things that render men injurious or dangerous burthensome or offensive to one another it provideth against so effectually that nothing could be wished more but the careful keeping of it to make all the Sons of