Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	great_a	jesus_n	lord_n	7,032	5	3.4417	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92171	Proposals in behalfe of the poore of this nation. With some briefe considerations propounded to the Honourable Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, now sitting at Westminster.	J. R.	1653 (1653)	Wing R29; Thomason E708_12; ESTC R207157	5,922	8

sometimes These are but the gleanings of the abuses of the skirts of these Cities which are like the common-shoare it is hoped to be better in the Country one poor man to oppresse another is like a sweeping raine Jer. 5.4 The sin of the poor and foolish is a crying sin as well as the rich These have grieved many a righteous soule whose eyes have seen it and ears have heard it But to come to the oppression of those that bear the burthen of the Nation by their industry and labour the blessing of the Almighty being with them the laborious Husbandman the Handicrafts-man and all kind of honest Tradesmen who would be glad to live quietly but many times disturbed by unquiet Neighbors and proling Officers The corrupt Courtier with his Purveyor and Harbinger the Prelates with their Courts and Parators their perjured Articlers the Star-Chamber with the like Court of Request Marshal Court with their Crew Yorke and Ludlow with their perjured informers and all the rabble all these are by the mercy of God spewed out of the Land it were well some of the old Brood were not remaining still to bring sacks to Mill to the Chequer and Sessions and other Courts dangerous to be named these are the taile of the Beast and sting the poor labouring man the name of K. is down but the Game remains stil An Excise-man is added to a Customer but their honesty is not to be questioned their fat and wel-liking clears them all if well considered by that time every Officer hath his share it is doubted little comes to the Treasury There is another secret worme like the Ivy windes about the body of the Oake and feeds with the Viper upon the Bowels of the body politique secretly many times consumes a man his name not known to the party consumed if he be the Statute beares him out no remedy to be had though unjustly undone the upper part of the body he dares not meddle with they are too great the lower part have nothing to feed upon Will you know their names they are called amongst some of their friends such as bring work to many Officers but by the common people Promoters nay Knaves what not Some will say a Commonwealth cannot be without them Must evill men be tollerated nay rewarded by a Statute to take oaths right or wrong his oath must stand By the mouth of two or three witnesses all things ought to be confirmed but reward them and give them halfe the Fine imposed upon any man by a corrupt Statute made in the times of Tyranny and Popery Compare the time they were made in and the present then consider the equity of them with the Masse Book much at one and so intermingled one with another it requires a Councel at Law to finde which are repealed which not It is hoped they that sit at the Stern will blush for time to come to get any Treasure by such waies either to the Chequer or any other Office but these Informers have a way to cousen them and the people both so long as the Statute stands unrepealed compound with people borrow money of them quarterly no man almost deals in any thing but comes under some Statute a Husband-man if he breed not so many Calves many waies more Handicrafts men Market people Shop-keepers one old worm-eaten Statute will take hold of them revived by Jack and his Mate they goe by twoes the Informer and his Pettifogger all are kind to them as to the Parators formerly as they so these awe a whole Country the worst people comply with them Now and then an Ignoramus or a man out of honesty will not feed them then sub-penae him into some Office if fined then halfe is the Informers this is to hire men to goe to hell to do evill that good may come of it Wherefore are the Clerks of Markets Officers in every Corporation to looke to disorders Must there needs be an unclean spirit to vex all the rest and to bring treasure to the coffers It were happy if those that have power would consider the customary taking of Oaths in this Nation that they may not be so frequently urged upon persons uncapable by their ignorance or prophannes can it be supposed he makes scruple of kissing a book who takes the name of God in vain ordinarily and swears to get mony Doe these men ever punish Swearers Drunkards or any others where there is to them no reward these are to ungodly men snares experience tels Ahab and Jezabell hire sons of Beliall to take Naboths Vineyard the Jews did the like out of malice to Christ An oath is a serious thing to call God to witnesse and to call a curse upon himselfe it ought to be in truth in righteousnesse and judgement Jer. 4.2 A gift blindeth the wise much more the foolish and ungodly when given by a Law Consider what they are for the most part idle fellows that go up and down eate and drink of other mens cost who feed them for fear not for love would be glad they were rid of them It were well the givers of oathes and takers would consider the flying Role in Zechariah against Swearers and Stealers Zech. 5.3 There is another oppression of poor Handicrafts men English and strangers since the late Parliaments dissolving hotly followed by Informers set on by some Monopolizing Companies who to keep all Trade in their owne hand cannot be contented with their Priviledge of the City but in former time got Patents by friends and mony extending some miles from the City to bring all men of the same Craft under their jurisdiction and pay to their Hals though they dwell out of their Liberties some Companies suffer no man to be a Master though a better Workman then themselves but whom they please under pretence of seeing no bad Ware made but never look after any thing but for their Quarteridge to feast themselves withall It were considerable to cause their severall Pattents to be brought to the view that they might not tyrannise over their Brethren by their unknown laws They are very hot in persecuting of many Alien friends who have lived many years married Englishwomen Children borne here paid all taxes all the time of the late War here Protestants in times of trouble in Germany necessitated to travell Now most unnaturally they must be gone or be their Servants what shall their wives and children doe Ingenious men no exception but an old Statute it is considerable what is said in the 7th part of Cooks Reports in Calvins case of Aliens leaf 4. and 7. and what is said in holy Writ touching oppressing Strangers Exod. 23.9 Levit. 19.23 Deut. 24 17. and 28. Matth. 7. Do as ye would be done unto It is supposed the Laws of this Nation are not like the Decrees of the Medes and Persians unalterable Neither so perfect as that perfect law of liberty James speakes of But oppressing of strangers is a crying sin ranked with Fatherlesse Children and Widowes shedding of innocent blood and Idolatry Jer. 7.6 would they that are so envious would consider what they doe charity saith they do it ignorantly not knowing what they doe The result of all here is propounded a double object of pitty to the bodies and to the soules of the ungodly poor a company of poor creatures hastning to destruction none say why dost thou so Corrupt men and Officers incouraged in their wicked waies by corrupt laws if compared with present time all these together Idle and ungodly poor with sons of Belial by Trade perishing except the Lord Christ by his grace take pitty upon them When he was upon earth hee wept to see a company of poore creatures without a guide Ieremiah wished his head a fountaine of tears to weep for the sins of the people Isaiah bewailed himselfe David wept because the laws of God were broke his example of governing is a good pattern for Rulers now Psal 101.8 I will early destroy the wicked of the Land He resolved to sing a song of mercy and judgement and to behave himselfe wisely at his enterance If any bowels of compassion with Christ to poor soules endeavour that of Iude to pluck some poore soules out of the fire if by any means Imitate God Gen. 18.21 goe down see whether these things be so it is meant condiscend to men of low estate be not high minded Rom. 12.16 These petty businesses accounted by some may bring judgement as formerly they have Better is hoped Secondly an object of protection to rescue the honest laborious man from the tyranny of unreasonable men and unseasonable lawes Pardon the plainnesse of language to those in high places Amos a man of low breeding was plaine with the Rulers of Damascus and Edom with the Rulers of Moab and Israel no doubt his message was acceptable to the godly as the former Prophets who were more elegant and no doubt as testimonial against the wicked Rulers It is true the poor Author is no Clerk but reading so much of the language of Canaan in a Declaration of late hath presumed to bring a little Goats haire to the building of this tottering Commonwealth And shall pray that this great worke in hand may prosper too great for men except the great reconciler of all things in heaven and earth come in and make peace betwixt brethren by his spirit The Lord give to those it concerns the courage of Ioshua the Justice of Samuel the uprightnesse of David the wisdom of Salomon the zeal and tender-heartednes of Iosias and some measure of the love of the Lord Jesus who laid down his life for his flock the work is great the people full of muttering as in Moses time the Lord Christ supply by his spirit to heap coals of fire on their head by overcoming them with good J. R. From my Chamber in London this first of August 1653. FINIS