Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	good_a	grace_n	holy_a	9,790	5	4.5198	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67232	An assize-sermon preached in the cathedral-church of St. Peter in York, March the 8th, 1685/6, before the Right Honourable Sir Edward Nevill and Sir Henry Bedingfield ... by Christopher Wyvill ...	Wyvill, Christopher, 1651?-1711.	1686 (1686)	Wing W3783; ESTC R15591	17,063	36

fair Trial by his own Country-men in a due course of Law and by upright Judges It may indeed so happen that an innocent Man may suffer But that is not the fault of the Government but of the Witnesses that appear against him according to whose evident proof and positive Oaths the Law determines and proceeds to judgment But as far as humane Laws and Constitutions are capable of doing there may be in every well setled Government in This God be praised there is good provision taken for the security of every Man's Person and of whatsoever doth rightfully belong unto him There is no Man whatsoever though never so private and obscure though at never so great a distance from the Royal Court and Residence of his King but may feel the happy effects and comfortable influence of his reign for the Rays of Majesty like the beams of the Sun do reach unto every corner of the Realm and communicate warmth and life refreshment and health to the very meanest Subject and if a Man cannot make immediate application to the King himself he may to his subordinate Officers who act in his Name and by his Commission from whose Hands he may receive the administration of Justice and by them be secured in the full possession of what may truly and properly be called his own 2dly The benefits of Government may be considered in reference to the whole Community or complex Body of the People in general every Order and Society of Men being hugely advantaged thereby The Nobility may enjoy the Honours derived to them from their Ancestors or acquired by their own Merits or conserr'd on them by the favour of their Prince if not unenvied yet undisturbed and undegraded the just Revenues of their large Inheritance are secured from being levelled by those that would have all things common and they may expect to receive all that respect and deference which is by God's permission allowed to their Station The Gentry may according to their Quality be as happy as the Nobles and the Commons need not fear being oppressed or trampled under foot by either The Rich are in no danger of being over run by the Poor though they be far more numerous nor the Poor of being enslaved and depressed by the Rich though in Wealth they exceed them much Publick commerce and traffick is also promoted and a mutual correspondence amongst Men setled and maintained by Government which doth much advance the prosperity of a Nation and without which it cannot thrive and flourish and whilst there are rewards and punishments to be by Governours distributed according to the merits and deserts of Men good Men will thereby be encouraged to proceed in Vertue and those that are ill inclined will be deterred from doing the mischiefs they otherwise would It is not indeed in the power of Government to make Men good when they are not so for that can only be done by the Grace of God's Holy Spirit converting their Hearts changing their natures and perfectly renewing them in the spirit of their mind but it may terrifie them from breaking forth into outragious practices it may restrain them from doing much harm it may inflict just Penalties upon them for what they shall do amiss and by making them a publick example be a great means of hindring others from attempting the like for Rulers are a terrour to evil works and they bear not the Sword in vain for they are the Ministers of God for our good revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil And the due execution of the Laws upon such Offenders is a great excitement to Virtue and Piety which cannot well be more discouraged than when Vice goes unpunished Religion will then be most likely to take good footing in the Land when it is countenanced by those in Authority when the Professors of it are encouraged by them when those that oppugn it are put to shame and rebuke and the Church cannot but remain in a good condition when the Rites and Ceremonies of it are by the Government upheld when its priviledges are maintain'd when the enemies to it are put down and kept under And then as for the publick Peace of a Nation without which the condition both of Church and State would be desperately miserable where Government is preserved that is sufficiently taken care for For in case of Seditious Tumults or the open Rebellion of ill Subjects there are those who are authorised to oppose them enabled with power to suppress them directed how to proceed against them and to make them quiet and peaceable and though there may be some that are given to change that in their hearts wish for an alteration of affairs and would willingly be in action to the disturbance of common tranquillity yet through fear of being discovered and subdued and brought to condign punishment by the vigilance and care and justice of the Government they are prevented from endeavouring to commit what their Traiterous hearts do suggest to them The very Dread of Authority keeps them in awe and subjection and makes them contrary to their own inclinations appear as friends to That Government which had they power they would totally ruine and subvert And then in case of enemies from abroad a Nation need not be in much fear of them whilst the Government is kept entire at home under the protection of which the whole Body of the People may be safe it being a good guard and defence unto them sufficient care being by it taken to shelter them from suffering under a sudden Invasion or receiving much damage by any outward act of Hostility 3dly The benefits of Government may be considered in reference to the inconveniencies and miseries that will certainly follow upon the want of it God who made the World and gave unto Man a being in it did not only design that he should live but that he should live well and happily To which end he did ordain that there should be some to govern and some to be governed and gave a power to the chief Magistrates to guide correct and rule the People committed to their charge to punish Offenders according to Law to protect the innocent according to right to reward the good according as they shall deserve and to encourage virtue and deter Men from vice and to defend them all against the face of their enemies But if this Ordinance of God which he so wisely design'd for publick good be not upheld there can then be no quiet and good living Take away the good Government of a Place and then how can we look for tranquillity and peace what can we otherwise expect but that great disorder sad confusion and innumerable Calamities will thereupon inevitably ensue the weak will then become a prey to the strong and the good run down by the greater number of the wicked no cause will then be esteemed good but what shall have the most voices to vouch for it or can best be maintain'd