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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
spirit_n form_n prayer_n use_v 5,241 5 6.1492 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A69591 The spirit of Christianity Blount, Walter Kirkham, Sir, d. 1717. 1686 (1686) Wing B3352; ESTC R19098 56,878 144

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to_o his_o sovereign_a good_a if_o other_o possess_v they_o he_o unjust_o seize_v they_o he_o covet_v they_o criminal_o if_o he_o can_v get_v they_o and_o violate_v what_o be_v most_o sacred_a in_o society_n to_o enrich_v himself_o maugre_o his_o conscience_n against_o which_o he_o shut_v his_o ear_n but_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v observe_v that_o it_o be_v not_o so_o much_o the_o riches_n inspire_v this_o spirit_n of_o hardness_n and_o injustice_n as_o the_o fix_v too_o great_a a_o love_n on_o they_o for_o job_n be_v charitable_a in_o his_o abundance_n his_o wealth_n be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v a_o obstacle_n to_o his_o charity_n that_o it_o be_v a_o mean_n for_o his_o better_a practise_v it_o he_o be_v as_o himself_o say_v the_o father_n of_o the_o poor_a and_o protector_n of_o the_o afflict_a his_o door_n be_v always_o open_a to_o those_o in_o necessity_n and_o with_o the_o wool_n of_o his_o sheep_n he_o clad_v the_o naked_a he_o be_v the_o support_n of_o the_o widow_n and_o fatherless_a the_o traveller_n be_v welcome_a to_o his_o house_n and_o he_o refuse_v nothing_o to_o any_o in_o want_n that_o crave_v his_o help_n beside_o this_o good_a use_n that_o ought_v to_o be_v make_v of_o riches_n according_a to_o the_o example_n of_o job_n who_o life_n may_v serve_v as_o a_o pattern_n to_o a_o christian_a to_o dispose_v his_o heart_n to_o charity_n he_o must_v likewise_o to_o attain_v this_o virtue_n have_v frequent_a communication_n with_o god_n by_o prayer_n and_o meditation_n it_o be_v chief_o from_o prayer_n these_o light_n take_v birth_n in_o our_o heart_n which_o be_v the_o most_o pure_a spring_n of_o christian_a charity_n and_o love_n of_o our_o neighbour_n for_o the_o same_o sigh_n that_o form_n in_o our_o soul_n the_o spirit_n of_o prayer_n form_n there_o also_o the_o spirit_n of_o charity_n the_o inward_a voice_n of_o the_o heart_n that_o voice_n say_v st._n augustine_n which_o express_v itself_o by_o the_o sigh_n of_o prayer_n be_v that_o which_o enkindle_v in_o we_o the_o fervour_n of_o this_o virtue_n for_o charity_n become_v cold_a when_o the_o heart_n become_v silent_a say_v this_o great_a saint_n thus_o one_o can_v be_v charitable_a without_o be_v devout_a because_o devotion_n be_v the_o most_o common_a nourishment_n of_o the_o love_n of_o god_n and_o our_o neighbour_n this_o love_n grow_v cold_a by_o the_o distraction_n of_o business_n and_o be_v even_o extinguish_v by_o the_o disquiet_v of_o a_o too_o busy_a life_n in_o effect_n the_o true_a source_n of_o charity_n as_o tertullian_n assure_v we_o be_v renounce_v the_o love_n of_o the_o world_n and_o indifference_n for_o temporal_a good_n for_o transitory_a good_n weaken_v the_o heart_n by_o the_o confidence_n they_o give_v it_o in_o so_o frail_a a_o support_n as_o be_v that_o of_o riches_n likewise_o there_o be_v nothing_o more_o capable_a to_o inflame_v charity_n in_o the_o soul_n of_o a_o christian_a than_o a_o fervent_a and_o lively_a faith_n animate_v with_o a_o perfect_a confidence_n in_o god_n for_o the_o fire_n of_o charity_n kindle_v itself_o at_o the_o ardour_n of_o faith_n which_o make_v a_o christian_a act_n like_o a_o child_n of_o god_n and_o love_v the_o poor_a as_o his_o brother_n in_o fine_a the_o sure_a and_o infallible_a way_n to_o acquire_v this_o virtue_n be_v by_o little_a and_o little_a to_o accustom_v ourselves_o to_o practice_v work_n of_o it_o for_o by_o visit_v the_o prisoner_n comfort_v the_o afflict_a help_v the_o necessitous_a instruct_v the_o ignorant_a which_o be_v action_n may_v be_v do_v daily_o and_o even_o ought_v to_o be_v perform_v if_o one_o pretend_v to_o christianity_n he_o become_v insensible_o charitable_a and_o attain_v that_o heavenly_a wisdom_n which_o be_v the_o portion_n of_o the_o humble_a and_o which_o without_o study_n or_o reason_v pour_v into_o the_o heart_n that_o interior_a unction_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n which_o teach_v to_o love_v our_o neighbour_n but_o it_o be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o teach_v a_o christian_a the_o mean_n to_o become_v charitable_a he_o must_v also_o to_o encourage_v he_o to_o become_v so_o be_v show_v his_o obligation_n to_o it_o by_o the_o most_o press_a motive_n chap._n vii_o three_o very_o powerful_a motive_n to_o excite_v a_o christian_n to_o acquire_v the_o virtue_n of_o charity_n the_o first_o motive_n be_v that_o without_o be_v charitable_a one_o can_v be_v a_o christian_n for_o it_o be_v in_o charity_n alone_o consist_v the_o true_a spirit_n of_o christianity_n nature_n teach_v man_n to_o live_v with_o man_n but_o grace_n oblige_v to_o love_v he_o this_o be_v say_v s._n paul_n the_o plenitude_n of_o the_o law_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n all_o the_o morality_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o all_o the_o depth_n of_o the_o wisdom_n of_o the_o gospel_n point_v only_o at_o the_o practice_n of_o this_o virtue_n which_o alone_o be_v the_o sum_n and_o substance_n of_o christian_a perfection_n without_o charity_n say_v the_o apostle_n neither_o faith_n nor_o hope_n nor_o the_o gift_n of_o prophecy_n nor_o the_o gift_n of_o tongue_n nor_o martyrdom_n nor_o any_o other_o virtue_n can_v be_v considerable_a in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n it_o be_v charity_n perfect_v man_n rectify_v his_o reason_n and_o sanctify_v all_o his_o action_n this_o make_v humble_a and_o unmake_n proud_a because_o it_o nourish_v humility_n and_o choke_v pride_n all_o virtue_n become_v unprofitable_a and_o all_o good_a work_v fruitless_a to_o he_o that_o be_v not_o charitable_a it_o be_v charity_n that_o warm_v the_o faithful_a that_o animate_v his_o hope_n and_o that_o justify_v a_o sinner_n one_o may_v enter_v into_o the_o marriage-chamber_n of_o the_o lamb_n without_o virginity_n but_o not_o without_o charity_n the_o ordinary_a life_n of_o a_o christian_a in_o the_o exercise_n of_o a_o faithful_a and_o perseverant_a charity_n may_v sometime_o be_v as_o meritorious_a in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n as_o the_o most_o heroic_a conflict_n of_o the_o martyr_n because_o every_o action_n of_o charity_n by_o the_o nature_n of_o its_o motive_n be_v a_o secret_a sacrifice_n of_o his_o interest_n or_o of_o his_o pleasure_n and_o even_o of_o his_o honour_n for_o one_o can_v in_o effect_n love_v his_o neighbour_n like_o a_o christian_a without_o deprive_v himself_o of_o something_o either_o incommodious_o or_o against_o his_o inclination_n and_o all_o the_o best_a we_o do_v be_v ordinary_o good_a for_o nothing_o but_o by_o the_o influence_n of_o this_o virtue_n it_o be_v only_o through_o charity_n that_o the_o work_n of_o piety_n be_v christian_a this_o ennoble_v the_o mean_a action_n and_o the_o weak_a reason_v become_v strong_a when_o a_o little_a sustain_v by_o it_o and_o it_o be_v not_o the_o greatness_n of_o the_o thing_n do_v for_o god_n that_o render_v they_o considerable_a but_o the_o greatness_n of_o the_o charity_n wherewith_o they_o be_v do_v in_o brief_a this_o heavenly_a virtue_n which_o be_v the_o pure_a food_n of_o the_o soul_n sanctify_v even_o natural_a defect_n and_o the_o gross_a imperfection_n and_o cover_v that_o multitude_n of_o sin_n whereunto_o man_n be_v subject_a through_o the_o weakness_n of_o his_o condition_n as_o the_o apostle_n say_v let_v we_o then_o seek_v after_o no_o other_o practice_n of_o devotion_n since_o this_o alone_a contain_v all_o other_o practice_n as_o st._n john_n instruct_v we_o let_v we_o not_o strain_v our_o wit_n according_a to_o the_o spirit_n of_o this_o age_n with_o vain_a reason_n in_o quest_n of_o new_a way_n to_o arrive_v at_o perfection_n let_v we_o content_v ourselves_o with_o this_o the_o saviour_n of_o the_o world_n have_v mark_v out_o to_o we_o let_v we_o set_v our_o heart_n on_o this_o virtue_n he_o most_o recommend_v to_o we_o let_v we_o not_o stifle_v in_o ourselves_o this_o divine_a fire_n whereof_o faith_n kindle_v the_o first_o flame_n in_o our_o heart_n let_v we_o love_v our_o brethren_n sincere_o since_o we_o live_v on_o the_o same_o bread_n and_o have_v all_o the_o same_o hope_n if_o we_o can_v contribute_v our_o good_n towards_o succour_v the_o poor_a at_o least_o let_v we_o sigh_v to_o god_n for_o he_o and_o thereby_o in_o some_o manner_n comfort_v he_o what_o we_o can_v for_o the_o shame_n he_o undergo_v to_o sigh_v so_o often_o to_o man_n implore_v their_o assistance_n in_o fine_a let_v we_o not_o by_o our_o hardheartedness_n dishonour_v the_o holy_a name_n of_o christian_a a_o name_n of_o sweetness_n and_o bounty_n and_o since_o without_o be_v charitable_a one_o can_v be_v a_o christian_n let_v we_o be_v charitable_a in_o effect_n not_o to_o be_v only_a christian_n in_o idea_n the_o reciprocal_a need_n man_n have_v of_o one_o another_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o their_o society_n and_o the_o natural_a principle_n of_o their_o union_n and_o shall_v not_o charity_n be_v a_o bond_n strong_a enough_o to_o unite_v christian_n by_o the_o
disreguard_v his_o devotion_n be_v as_o regular_a as_o can_v be_v and_o he_o will_v pass_v for_o a_o saint_n if_o he_o be_v not_o so_o revengeful_a and_o so_o dextrous_a to_o satisfy_v his_o resentment_n where_o he_o have_v any_o contest_v none_o ever_o offend_v he_o without_o smart_v for_o it_o for_o he_o never_o forgive_v so_o that_o by_o this_o his_o affect_a moderation_n his_o life_n be_v a_o continual_a imposture_n there_o be_v a_o thousand_o other_o disguise_n of_o charity_n which_o may_v be_v reduce_v to_o this_o and_o which_o be_v so_o much_o the_o more_o odious_a in_o the_o sight_n of_o god_n as_o be_v do_v under_o the_o pretext_n of_o piety_n vice_n be_v always_o criminal_a but_o the_o most_o criminal_a of_o all_o be_v that_o which_o be_v do_v under_o the_o colour_n and_o veil_n of_o virtue_n for_o man_n less_o suffer_v themselves_o to_o be_v corrupt_v by_o a_o barefaced_a vice_n than_o a_o mask_a virtue_n after_o all_o it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o disguise_v on_o his_o self_n nothing_o can_v be_v hide_v from_o his_o sight_n that_o search_v heart_n and_o penetrate_v to_o the_o very_a bottom_n of_o they_o the_o eleven_o be_v a_o spirit_n of_o empire_n and_o dominion_n they_o be_v willing_a to_o be_v in_o at_o all_o good_a work_n provide_v they_o may_v rule_v direct_v and_o manage_v they_o make_v one_o in_o all_o design_n and_o erterprise_n of_o charity_n out_o of_o the_o sweetness_n they_o feel_v in_o govern_v thing_n with_o some_o authority_n and_o the_o pleasure_n there_o be_v to_o exercise_v that_o petty_a empire_n which_o express_v its_o self_n in_o the_o knowledge_n of_o their_o neighbour_n want_n and_o the_o distribution_n of_o assistance_n give_v they_o they_o meet_v punctual_o at_o assembly_n as_o so_o many_o favourable_a occasion_n of_o show_v themselves_o and_o give_v their_o wealth_n to_o new_a foundation_n to_o reign_v in_o they_o it_o be_v out_o of_o this_o same_o spirit_n that_o they_o thrust_v themselves_o with_o such_o zeal_n into_o all_o 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