Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	holy_a	spirit_n	word_n	12,159	5	4.3929	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61178	A sermon preached before the Artillery Company of London at St. Mary Le Bow, April 20, 1682 by Thomas Sprat ...	Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.	1682 (1682)	Wing S5058; ESTC R16434	15,174	38

And that says the Heathen Orator is a Law not given to us but born with us to which we were not educated but made which we took not from reading or institution but from the very Principles of our beings that when ever our Lives are in danger from the treachery of Robbers or rage of Enemies then Omnis honesta esset ratio expediendae salutis then says he all ways of securing our selves are honest and even honourable for so the word honestum does usually signifie I must not go so far as Tully does I cannot say with him that all ways of defending our Lives from danger are honest much less are they honourable But this I will say that all Lawful ways in such cases are not only truly honourable but truly Christian and I will use no other proof of it than what he alledges That this is most agreeable to the true Law of Nature For let none be mistaken the Doctrine of Christ in its highest Dispensations of Grace in its severest Rules of Mortification did never design to abolish the original Dictates of Right Reason or of sincere Nature but rather to correct the irregularities of Reason misguided and to reform the Depravations of Nature corrupted Of Right Reason and Nature all the Light and Rules were written by the finger of God on the hearts of men of the Gospel all the Truths and Precepts were written by the Holy Spirit of God in his revealed Word The Hand indeed and the Character of the one is much clearer and more legible than the other But since the same God was the Author of both they cannot in the least contradict each other For its part so far is the Gospel from doing so so far from destroying the common Principles of Humanity towards our being or well-being in this world that it more strongly confirms and advances them all by the higher Commands of Christianity So far it is from extinguishing the harmless desire of self-preservation that of all Institutions in the world it proposes the best means to effect it Wherefore that is a thing rather to be taken for granted than proved That the use of the Sword for public or private defence is lawful among Christians A self-evident truth denied by none but by some wild Sects of Enthusiasts And indeed it were to be wished that all those who are of that opinion would in practice stick to it since it may be observed of them that they are never against the use of the Sword but when they are not Masters of it Thus far then your Duty is plain before you The profession of Arms is not in the least contradictory to the Christian Profession in general But still there is some difficulty behind how the forcible drawing of the Sword can be consistent with those severe and mortifying Graces to which above all other Religions indeed well-nigh contrary to all other Christianity alone obliges all its Disciples How Warlike Enterprizes can stand with Meekness How an undaunted heart with Self-denial How a daring spirit with Patience How Conquest with love of Enemies What shall we say in this Question Will it suffice to affirm That Christ our great Law-giver has divided the parts of his Discipline Has distributed to several men their several portions of it according to their distinct conditions in this world That only from such as you the governing and active part of mankind He requires Valour a high Mind and a brave Spirit And that only from such as us the lower and the obeying part he expects Mildness Gentleness Patience That cannot be For although to several Stations and Relations of men in this world our blessed Lord has assigned their peculiar duties yet to no particular Rank or Order of men did he ever confine any one of all his general Precepts Wherefore there must be some other way for all these Virtues that seem so extremely distant to meet and entirely agree in the same Breasts To this end you may be assured that our Lord did never so injoyn any one Christian Grace to all Christians as utterly to exclude any other He never obliged any of his Followers to be so meek as to be without all Courage nor so courageous as to be void of all Meekness But he has so wisely tempered and graciously proportioned all his heavenly gifts that the stoutest courage which he teaches is always found to be the meekest and the meekest heart which he makes so is in the likeliest way to be the most courageous Here then let us fix If this be true then instead of any jealousie that the strictest Laws of Christ will break a brave mind or debase a bold heart to Cowardize you ought rather hence to conclude That only by his Laws and the Hopes and Rewards which attend their performance you can be taught a perfect Valour And consider I pray how undeniable this will appear in the particular Instances It is true our holy Faith most solemnly injoyns Condescension Long-suffering Forbearance Mercy and requires the more of all these in men to one another since it shews us there is so infinitely much of them in God towards men But now will any of these Virtues be a hindrance to the true Fortitude Rather in the common experience of the best and most generous part of Mankind as well as of Christians is not the truest Fortitude always observed to be the most inoffensive most accessible hardest to be provoked easiest to be intreated It is confessed the Law of Christ requires the most fearless minds nevertheless to fear God to fear him so as to tremble at offending him so as to obey him and by such a fear helps us to enjoy him But now can can there be any surer means than such a fear to raise your minds above all unworthy fear of men or worldly dangers We know the Gospel commands us to fear men too for Gods sake obliges the stoutest minds as much as the gentlest to pay an equally-dutiful submission to their Lawful Superiours But does the strictest obedience suppress the true stoutness Do not you find that exactness of Discipline increases it Is it not brutish Ferity rather than manly Boldness which will not endure the easie yoke of Conscientious Obedience It is granted our Religion forbids all men to invade each others Rights That says the fierce or the ambitious man would put a stop to many a gallant and valorous action It would indeed to many a licentious and outragious But not to any worthy Enterprize For as in Peace nothing can be truly just so in War nothing can be truly brave where the sacred distinction between Right and Wrong is not kept inviolable My Brethren That slowness and backwardness of attempting upon others unjustly that fear of injuring others for such a Fear it is not your shame but your praise to own that willingness to right others as well as your selves which Christianity teaches all its Disciples will certainly make a Souldier innocent in