Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	world_n	year_n	zeal_n	33	3	7.0048	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69991	Some thoughts on the character of Solomon's vertuous woman preach'd in a sermon at the parish-church of Croydon, on the ocacasion of Q. Mary's death, January the 6th, 1694-5 / printed at the request of those that heard it by John Evans.	Evans, John, 17th cent.	1695 (1695)	Wing E3451; ESTC R28617	23,463	42

only the empty flourishes of a well-worded Eloquence or the effects of the Man 's natural Passion But for that Objection here was no room the most inveterate Adversaries could never yet charge this Royal Reformatrix with any of those Vices which she has been labouring to rectifie in the Nation nay they could not but be satisfied in the sincerity of her good Intention when they saw her Life to be nothing else but the Transcript of our Saviour's Doctrine this prevented their prejudice this stopp'd the mouths of Gainsayers Hence it plainly appears that no Impediment in her Practice could obstruct the accomplishing of this intended Reformation Had we corrected and fram'd our Lives by hers we might have been the most religious and happiest People in the World that ever liv'd since the planting of the Gospel in this Island which has not these many hundred years if ever seen such a bright Example of Piety and Goodness sitting upon the Throne Which put Religion into the possibility of attracting others when they perceiv'd it so illustriously visible in such a Noble Person whose Example had the highest Authority and Majesty on its side That 's another qualification necessary to render any Example more prevalent 2. To reform Mankind or to produce any remarkable change in their Manners the utmost endeavours of private Men nay the most vigorous attempts of subordinate Officers are too weak and ineffective their Actions being as inconsiderable as their Persons are regardless can have no power on their Superiours it being against the grain and the establish'd course of Nature whereby the higher Bodies are suppos'd to influence those below the inferiour Orbs are whirl'd round by the motion of the Primum mobile and not vice versâ there is no re-action in this case And therefore all Attempts and Endeavours for Reformation are but like beating the Air vain and fruitless so long as wickedness reigns in High places is countenanced by the Pattern of the Higher Powers as it was some years since when Idolatry was bearing down before it all bounds of true Piety and Vertue and ready to establish its Empire by a Statute-Law for the accomplishing which there was nothing wanting but the Concurrence and Votes of the two honourable Houses at Westminster But that Point being now weather'd and past Religion has once again lifted up its Head above the Waters And Piety that rare but necessary qualification of Princes being return'd to Court has from thence lookt down Vice with a Majestick Countenance and by the advantage of the Supreme Authority on its side was and I hope still is in a very fair way of recovering its pristin Reputation and Esteem together with its former Ground For when Religion comes commission'd and arm'd with the mighty Power of the Prince's Example who is so disloyal or strong enough to resist its force When nothing is herein impos'd on every Subject but what is frankly perform'd by the Magistrate himself what should hinder but that Vertue must become fashionable and that natural Ambition which most Men have of being in the fashion and like their Governours make them Religious too 'T is a general Observation that Wealth and Honour have these two advantageous Appendages as they render any Person more considerable and his actions no less noted so they create in others an honest Emulation an aptness to embrace his Dictates and transcribe his Copies If those therefore whose Superiority above others have vast Authority over them whose Sphere is large and Influence great who have many Dependents or Subjects who court their Favour and whose interest it is to observe and please them if those I say would faithfully discharge that great Obligation which lies upon them of giving good Example what plentiful Harvest of Souls might Heaven reap by them For the Multitude like the lesser Lines in the Circle generally tend to the same Center either of Vertue or Vice by a kind of a natural Instinct act more upon the Principle of Imitation than upon those of Reason and Religion Upon this it was that Isocrates grounds his Advice to Nicocles the Advice indeed was worthy of so great an Orator to give and not below the Dignity of the Magistrate to observe in the Administration of the Government 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. But set your self a Pattern of Temperance and Moderation or Religion and Vertue to others as knowing that 's the usual Mode of the People to conform to and write after the Copy set them by their Magistrates 3. Another Requisite in a Person that would Reform others is Zeal Zeal is the very Soul and Life of Christianity an Affection of all others the most active and vigilant and which is wont to inspire Men with the most passionate care and concernment for Religion without which all our pretences to it are but formal and superficial And this Zeal seems to have had a deep Foundation in the Natural Forwardness of their Majesties Tempers which as we have sufficiently experienc'd put them upon the most dangerous Undertakings for the Rescue and necessary Defence of the best Religion and Constitution in the World When an over-spreading Degeneracy had seized the Vitals of this Nation when the whole Body was well nigh sick and over-run by strange Loosness of Manners and Profaneness of Spirit and had for many years labour'd and groan'd under the inevitable pressures of these Epidemical Distempers to undertake the difficult Cure thereof no competent Physician was to be found no not in our Israel till Divine Providence in compassionate regard of our languishing Condition was pleas'd to enflame and stir up the Zeal of their Majesties to step in to our Help and Assistance Since their Arrival and being happily set over us towards the purging and removing away these Maladies how diligent how active and how zealous have they been not only by their own excellent Examples but also by injoyning all their subordinate Magistrates to put the Laws in execution against the Contagious Evils of the Age and so with all their might and by all prudent ways and means endeavouring to recover Men out of the Snares of the Devil whereby too many were taken captive and to vindicate and secure the Honour and the Worship of the most High God against the daring Insolence of bold Impiety and Atheism How dutifully some of the Magistracy obey'd their Injunction or how far this Reformation has been advanced is a Reflection beside my present Intention However had the Queen liv'd to give the finishing stroke to her pious Design and Resolution in joynt Concurrence with our gracious King on whom alone next under Heaven our Hope is now devolved and united for the vigorous Prosecution of so glorious a Cause we might have seen the persecuted Woman in the Apolypse victoriously triumphing over the old Dragon But that Victory is yet incompleated although this Royal Conqueress has already fought her good Fight kept the Faith and obtain'd the Crown of Righteousness