Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	demonstration_n	discern_v	great_a	28	3	2.0643	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85756	The grounds of soveraignty and greatness·		1675 (1675)	Wing G2141A; ESTC R228404	14,133	28

thereunto their Greatness should be attended by some exteriour Magnificence For Men are not spiritual enough to acknowledge and honour in them the Authority of God should they behold them in such an Equipage as is the ordinary object of their scorn and aversion Wherefore that Greatness may make the impression it ought on their minds there is a necessity that it be first made on their senses It is for this reason that Wealth becometh necessary to the Great in proportion to the degree wherein they are since that without it they would not be able to maintain the Decency required by their Condition and consequently be disrespected and rendred useless among Men. What therefore Tertullian teacheth De Idol Cap. 18. is a palpable mistake viz. That all outward marks of Dignity and Power and all Ornaments belonging to Great Offices are not allowed to Christians and that Christ reckoned all those things among the Pomps of the Devil by appearing so meanly himself and in a state far enough from all Splendour and Magnificence For Christian Religion is never contrary to right Reason And though Christ did not assume this outward Pomp it was not because he absolutely disapproved the same but because it was not proper for his Function and Ministry which was to show even in his exteriour Deportment what Disposition all his Disciples ought inwardly to have The Great ought then to learn from the Example of Christ not to love indeed this Pomp but must not cast it off unless God should inspire them absolutely to quit the World But we need not wonder at this mistake of Tertullian since he affirmeth in the same Book That Christians are forbidden to judge in Matters concerning the Lives or Honour of Men which is contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of the Church XXI In like manner the outward signs of Respect which Inferiours pay to the Gre at are most justly due unto them and the necessary attendants of their Condition and Degree For although perhaps originally they were nothing else but the Inventions of Humane Pride which delighteth to behold others abased through its Greatness yet must it be acknowledged that these Ceremonies Respects are in themselves Useful and Reasonable and therefore though Pride had not introduced them Reason would have done it Because it is convenient and just that the Great should be honoured by a sincere and true acknowledgment of God's Order and Appointment which hath raised them above the rest But Men have so great an Opposition to humble themselves and own the Superiority of others that to induce their Minds thereunto it is necessary first to exercise and accustome their Bodies whereof the Soul insensibly admitting the Bent and Posture will easily pass from Ceremony to Truth And for this reason it was fit that these outward demonstrations of Respect should be somewhat incommodious and uneasy otherwise they would not be so manifestly discerned to be Expressions of Honour towards the Great but might be looked on as things done meerly out of pleasure or convenience and by that means be indifferently shown to all which could not have had an efficacy towards the imprinting on the Mind any sentiments of Reverence for those that are Honoured in this manner XXII Some have said that there being two sorts of Greatness the one Natural and the other Established we ought to render to the Natural only those Natural Respects which consist in the esteem and inward Submission and give to the Greatness of Establishment those Honours only that are established viz. certain Ceremonies invented by Men for the honouring such Dignities as they themselves constitute But to render this Notion altogether solid it must be added that these exteriour Ceremonies ought to proceed from an inward Sentiment whereby a real Superiority is acknowledged in the Great For their Degree including as we have said a participation of the Authority of God it meriteth a true and interiour Respect Neither is there as much reason to say That the Great have right to exact none other from us but such kind of outward Ceremonies without any Correspondence thereunto in the Mind as there is that they have no right to require these Ceremonies but only in order to the stamping on the Mind a just sense and reverence for their State In so much as when they are well assured touching some Persons that they have such inward Dispositions towards them as they ought these outward Duties may be dispensed with being of no farther use XXIII It is true that the Respect due unto the Great ought not to corrupt our Judgment concerning them nor make us esteem in them what is not worthy thereof This Respect is compatible with the knowledge of their faults neither doth it forbid us interiourly to prefer those who have more real Goods and Natural Greatness But because Honour is their due and it is useful to mankind that it should be paid them but the Common People have not enough either of Discretion or Equity to condemn faults without despising those in whom they observe them Every one is obliged to take an extream care in speaking of the Great and all those to whom Honour is necessary That Sentence of Holy Scripture Speak not evil of the Prince of thy People being understood of all Superiours as well Secular as Ecclesiastick viz. Universally of all such as any wayes participate of the Power of God Wherefore the liberty which the Commons take of decrying the Conduct of their Governours is a thing most repugnant to Piety For besides that very often they speake rashly and without Truth for want of sufficient Information they can hardly ever do it without sin and injustice in regard that by such Discourses they produce in others a disposition contrary to that which God requireth from them towards those whom he employeth to govern them XXIV There are some who would at least that this Authority which is to be respected should alwayes be joyned to Merit accusing such Laws of injustice as have fastned the same to exteriour quality How triumphantly do they attack those Constitutions which make Greatness to depend on Birth In the choice of a Pilot say they it is not regarded who amongst the Pretenders is of the better Family Wherefore is the same done in the greater Governments of Kingdoms and Empires But this is because they know not the true extent of the weakness and corruption of our Nature Their reasoning would be good were Men Just and Reasonable but since they neither are nor will be so it is frivolous and inconclusive The Natural and indeleble Injustice of Man's heart rendreth the present choice not only Reasonable but the Master-piece of Reason For Whom shall we chuse The most Vertuous the most Wise the most Valiant Behold every one cryeth that He is this most Vertuous most Valiant and most Wise Let us therefore fix our Choice to something exteriour manifest and incontestable He is the Kings Eldest Son This is clear and without