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spirit_n good_a work_n work_v 6,969 5 7.2984 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A59548 The duty and happiness of doing good two sermons : the former, preached at the Yorkshire feast, in Bow-Church, Feb. 17, 1679 : the other, before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, at the Spittle, Apr. 14, 1680 / by John Sharpe ... Sharp, John, 1645-1714. 1680 (1680) Wing S2976; ESTC R6463 37,896 84

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there_o go_v more_o to_o a_o man_n be_v true_o grateful_a than_o the_o entertain_v the_o person_n that_o oblige_v he_o with_o fair_a speech_n and_o profession_n of_o his_o obligation_n and_o on_o the_o other_o side_n to_o think_v of_o requite_v god_n in_o a_o proper_a sense_n by_o return_v real_a kindness_n to_o he_o for_o those_o he_o have_v do_v to_o we_o be_v equal_o absurd_a for_o all_o the_o service_n we_o can_v pay_v to_o he_o can_v add_v any_o thing_n to_o his_o infinite_a blessedness_n how_o then_o must_v we_o express_v our_o thankfulness_n for_o the_o wealth_n that_o he_o have_v bestow_v upon_o we_o why_o he_o himself_o have_v prescribe_v the_o way_n to_o we_o he_o have_v devolve_v his_o right_n to_o our_o kindness_n upon_o our_o brethren_n he_o have_v depute_v they_o to_o receive_v the_o real_a testimony_n of_o our_o gratitude_n to_o he_o and_o whatsoever_o obligation_n we_o put_v upon_o they_o he_o take_v they_o as_o a_o expression_n of_o our_o love_n and_o thankfulness_n 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engross_v to_o itself_o the_o name_n of_o religious_a none_o among_o they_o be_v think_v worthy_a to_o be_v style_v religious_a person_n but_o those_o that_o cloister_n up_o themselves_o in_o a_o monastery_n but_o whatever_o excellence_n may_v be_v pretend_v in_o this_o course_n of_o life_n it_o certain_o fall_v much_o short_a of_o that_o which_o be_v lead_v in_o a_o public_a way_n he_o serve_v god_n best_o that_o be_v most_o serviceable_a to_o his_o generation_n and_o no_o prayer_n or_o fast_n or_o mortification_n be_v near_o so_o acceptable_a a_o sacrifice_n to_o our_o heavenly_a father_n as_o to_o do_v good_a in_o our_o life_n it_o be_v true_a to_o keep_v within_o door_n and_o to_o attend_v our_o devotion_n though_o those_o that_o be_v in_o appearance_n most_o abstract_v
from_o the_o world_n be_v not_o always_o the_o most_o devout_a person_n i_o say_v this_o kind_n of_o life_n be_v the_o most_o easy_a and_o the_o safe_a a_o man_n be_v not_o then_o expose_v so_o much_o to_o temptation_n he_o may_v with_o less_o difficulty_n preserve_v his_o innocence_n but_o where_o be_v the_o praise_n of_o such_o a_o virtue_n virtue_n be_v then_o most_o glorious_a and_o shall_v be_v most_o reward_v when_o it_o meet_v with_o most_o trial_n and_o opposition_n and_o as_o for_o the_o bravery_n of_o contemn_v the_o world_n and_o all_o the_o pomp_n of_o it_o which_o they_o so_o magnify_v in_o this_o kind_n of_o life_n alas_o it_o be_v rather_o a_o effect_n of_o pusillanimity_n and_o love_n of_o our_o ease_n and_o a_o desire_n to_o be_v free_a from_o care_n and_o burden_n than_o of_o any_o true_a nobleness_n of_o mind_n if_o we_o will_v live_v to_o excellent_a purpose_n indeed_o if_o we_o will_v show_v true_a bravery_n of_o spirit_n and_o true_a piety_n towards_o god_n let_v we_o live_v as_o our_o bless_a lord_n and_o his_o apostle_n do_v let_v we_o not_o fly_v temptation_n but_o overcome_v they_o let_v we_o not_o sit_v at_o home_n amuse_v ourselves_o with_o our_o please_a contemplation_n when_o we_o may_v be_v useful_a and_o beneficial_a abroad_o let_v we_o so_o order_v our_o devotion_n towards_o god_n that_o they_o may_v be_v a_o mean_n of_o promote_a our_o worldly_a business_n and_o affair_n and_o do_v good_a among_o man_n let_v we_o take_v our_o fit_a time_n of_o retirement_n and_o abstraction_n that_o we_o may_v the_o more_o free_o converse_v with_o god_n and_o pour_v out_o our_o soul_n before_o he_o but_o let_v this_o be_v only_o to_o the_o end_n that_o we_o may_v appear_v abroad_o again_o more_o brisk_a and_o lively_a in_o vanquish_a the_o temptation_n that_o come_v in_o our_o way_n and_o more_o prompt_a and_o ready_o dispose_v to_o every_o good_a work_n this_o be_v to_o imitate_v our_o lord_n jesus_n to_o walk_v as_o we_o have_v he_o for_o a_o example_n this_o be_v a_o life_n most_o suitable_a to_o the_o contrivance_n and_o the_o genius_n of_o his_o religion_n which_o be_v more_o accommodate_v to_o city_n and_o public_a society_n than_o to_o cloister_n and_o desert_n and_o last_o this_o be_v to_o walk_v in_o a_o conformity_n to_o his_o command_n who_o have_v bid_v we_o make_v our_o light_n so_o to_o shine_v before_o man_n that_o they_o may_v see_v our_o good_a work_n and_o glorify_v our_o father_n which_o be_v in_o heaven_n 5.16_o but_o four_o and_o last_o if_o it_o be_v a_o thing_n so_o necessary_a that_o every_o man_n shall_v do_v good_a in_o his_o life_n as_o have_v be_v represent_v then_o how_o much_o to_o be_v reprove_v be_v they_o that_o do_v no_o good_a till_o their_o death_n that_o live_v scrape_v and_o uncharitable_o and_o useless_o to_o the_o world_n all_o their_o life_n long_o and_o then_o when_o they_o come_v to_o die_v think_v to_o atone_v for_o their_o sin_n and_o neglect_v of_o this_o kind_n by_o show_v some_o extraordinary_a bounty_n to_o the_o poor_a or_o devote_v some_o part_n of_o their_o estate_n to_o public_a or_o pious_a use_n i_o must_v confess_v this_o kind_n of_o proceed_v do_v to_o i_o seem_v just_a like_o the_o business_n of_o put_v off_o a_o man_n repentance_n to_o his_o deathbed_n it_o be_v absolute_o necessary_a that_o a_o man_n shall_v repent_v though_o it_o be_v never_o so_o late_o and_o so_o it_o be_v that_o he_o shall_v do_v good_a if_o he_o have_v do_v little_a good_a in_o his_o life_n he_o be_v bind_v as_o he_o love_v his_o soul_n to_o show_v some_o extraordinary_a uncommon_a instance_n of_o charity_n and_o a_o public_a spirit_n when_o he_o come_v to_o die_v but_o than_o it_o be_v here_o as_o it_o be_v with_o the_o long_a delay_n of_o repentance_n the_o defer_v it_o so_o long_o have_v rob_v the_o man_n of_o the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o praise_n and_o the_o comfort_n he_o may_v have_v expect_v from_o it_o his_o reward_n in_o heaven_n will_v be_v much_o less_o though_o his_o good_a deed_n shall_v be_v accept_v but_o he_o be_v infinite_o uncertain_a whether_o they_o will_v or_o no._n it_o must_v be_v a_o very_a great_a act_n of_o generosity_n and_o charity_n that_o can_v obtain_v a_o pardon_n for_o a_o whole_a life_n of_o uncharitableness_n let_v we_o all_o therefore_o labour_n and_o study_v to_o do_v good_a in_o our_o life_n let_v we_o be_v daily_o give_v evidence_n to_o the_o world_n of_o our_o kind_n and_o charitable_a disposition_n and_o let_v not_o that_o be_v the_o first_o which_o be_v discover_v in_o our_o last_o will_n and_o testament_n if_o god_n have_v bless_v we_o with_o worldly_a good_n let_v we_o distribute_v they_o as_o we_o see_v occasion_n in_o our_o life_n time_n when_o every_o one_o may_v see_v we_o do_v it_o voluntary_o and_o not_o stay_v till_o we_o must_v be_v force_v to_o part_v with_o they_o whether_o we_o will_v or_o no_o for_o that_o will_v blast_v the_o credit_n of_o our_o good_a deed_n both_o with_o god_n and_o man_n i_o have_v say_v enough_o concern_v the_o first_o point_n recommend_v in_o the_o text_n viz._n do_v good_n i_o now_o come_v brief_o to_o treat_v of_o the_o other_o that_o be_v rejoice_v which_o be_v equal_o a_o part_n of_o the_o business_n of_o this_o day_n there_o be_v no_o good_a say_v solomon_n in_o any_o earthly_a thing_n or_o there_o be_v nothing_o better_a for_o any_o man_n than_o to_o rejoice_v and_o to_o do_v good_a the_o rejoice_v here_o recommend_v be_v capable_a of_o two_o sense_n the_o first_o more_o general_a and_o more_o concern_v we_o as_o christian_n the_o other_o more_o particular_a and_o which_o more_o immediate_o concern_v we_o as_o we_o be_v here_o meet_v upon_o this_o occasion_n in_o the_o first_o place_n by_o rejoice_v we_o may_v take_v to_o be_v mean_v a_o constant_a habit_n of_o joy_n and_o cheerfulness_n so_o that_o we_o be_v always_o content_v and_o well_o please_v always_o free_a from_o those_o anxiety_n and_o disquiet_n and_o uncomfortable_a reflection_n that_o make_v the_o life_n of_o mankind_n miserable_a this_o now_o be_v the_o perfection_n of_o rejoice_v and_o it_o be_v the_o utmost_a degree_n of_o happiness_n that_o we_o be_v here_o capable_a of_o it_o must_v be_v grant_v indeed_o that_o not_o many_o do_v arrive_v to_o this_o state_n but_o yet_o i_o doubt_v not_o but_o that_o it_o be_v a_o state_n that_o may_v be_v attain_v at_o least_o in_o a_o great_a measure_n in_o this_o world_n otherwise_o the_o holy_a man_n in_o scripture_n and_o particular_o the_o apostle_n of_o our_o lord_n will_v never_o have_v recommend_v it_o to_o we_o so_o often_o as_o they_o have_v do_v rejoice_v ever_o more_o 5.16_o say_v s._n paul_n to_o the_o thessalonian_n and_o to_o the_o philippian_n 4.4_o rejoice_v in_o the_o lord_n always_o and_o again_o i_o say_v rejoice_v the_o way_n to_o attain_v to_o this_o happy_a condition_n do_v consist_v chief_o in_o these_o three_o thing_n first_o a_o great_a innocence_n and_o virtue_n a_o behave_v ourselves_o so_o in_o the_o world_n that_o our_o conscience_n shall_v not_o reproach_v we_o this_o st._n paul_n lay_v as_o the_o foundation_n of_o rejoice_v this_o say_v he_o be_v our_o rejoice_v 1.12_o the_o testimony_n of_o our_o conscience_n that_o in_o simplicity_n and_o godly_a sincerity_n i_o have_v have_v my_o conversation_n in_o this_o world_n it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o think_v of_o any_o true_a solid_a joy_n or_o peace_n or_o contentment_n without_o a_o hearty_a practice_n of_o all_o the_o duty_n of_o our_o religion_n so_o that_o we_o can_v satisfy_v ourselves_o of_o our_o own_o sincerity_n before_o god_n and_o then_o second_o to_o make_v we_o capable_a of_o this_o constant_a rejoice_v beside_o the_o innocence_n of_o our_o life_n there_o must_v go_v a_o firm_a and_o hearty_a persuasion_n of_o god_n particular_a providence_n a_o belief_n that_o he_o not_o only_o dispense_v all_o event_n that_o come_v to_o pass_v in_o the_o world_n even_o the_o most_o inconsiderable_a but_o that_o the_o measure_n of_o the_o dispensation_n of_o his_o providence_n be_v infinite_a wisdom_n and_o goodness_n and_o nothing_o else_o so_o that_o nothing_o do_v or_o ever_o can_v happen_v to_o we_o in_o particular_a or_o to_o the_o world_n in_o general_n but_o what_o be_v for_o the_o best_a now_o when_o we_o firm_o believe_v this_o and_o frequent_o attend_v to_o it_o how_o can_v we_o be_v either_o solicitous_a for_o the_o future_a or_o discontent_a at_o the_o present_a event_n of_o thing_n let_v they_o fall_v out_o never_o so_o cross_a to_o our_o desire_n and_o expectation_n this_o be_v the_o best_a antidote_n in_o the_o world_n and_o a_o effectual_a one_o it_o be_v against_o all_o trouble_n and_o vexation_n and_o uneasiness_n that_o can_v happen_v to_o we_o upon_o