Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	good_a	see_v	world_n	1,751	5	4.3715	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61608	A sermon preach'd before the King, Feb. 24, 1674/5 by Ed. Stillingfleet ...	Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.	1675 (1675)	Wing S5647; ESTC R5021	22,002	48

sin_n lest_o any_o of_o you_o etc._n etc._n 1._o the_o danger_n man_n be_v in_o of_o be_v harden_v through_o the_o deceitfulness_n of_o sin_n though_o they_o have_v the_o most_o powerful_a motive_n and_o engagement_n against_o it_o for_o never_o any_o person_n have_v great_a argument_n against_o return_v to_o the_o practice_n of_o sin_n than_o these_o to_o who_o this_o epistle_n be_v write_v they_o have_v embrace_v among_o the_o first_o principle_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n 2._o the_o foundation_n of_o repentance_n from_o dead_a work_n and_o of_o faith_n towards_o god_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o baptism_n and_o of_o lay_v on_o of_o hand_n for_o the_o miraculous_a gift_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o of_o the_o resurrection_n of_o the_o dead_a and_o of_o eternal_a judgement_n and_o what_o can_v we_o suppose_v to_o have_v great_a force_n and_o efficacy_n to_o restrain_v man_n from_o sin_n than_o what_o be_v contain_v in_o these_o fundamental_o of_o christianity_n but_o we_o shall_v find_v that_o no_o motive_n have_v ever_o be_v great_a enough_o to_o restrain_v those_o from_o sin_n who_o have_v secret_o love_v it_o and_o only_o seek_v pretence_n for_o the_o practice_n of_o it_o such_o be_v the_o frame_n and_o condition_n of_o humane_a nature_n consider_v in_o itself_o so_o great_a be_v the_o advantage_n of_o reason_n and_o consideration_n for_o the_o government_n of_o our_o action_n so_o much_o strong_a be_v the_o natural_a motive_n to_o virtue_n that_o to_o vice_n that_o they_o who_o look_v no_o far_o will_v expect_v to_o find_v the_o world_n much_o better_a than_o it_o be_v for_o why_o shall_v we_o suppose_v the_o generality_n of_o mankind_n to_o betray_v so_o much_o folly_n as_o to_o act_v unreasonable_o and_o against_o the_o common_a interest_n of_o their_o own_o kind_n as_o all_o those_o do_v that_o yield_v to_o the_o temptation_n of_o sin_n for_o if_o we_o set_v aside_o the_o consideration_n of_o a_o divine_a law_n to_o sin_n be_v nothing_o else_o but_o to_o act_v foolish_o and_o inconsiderate_o but_o on_o the_o other_o side_n if_o man_n first_o look_v into_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o world_n and_o there_o observe_v the_o strange_a prevalency_n of_o vice_n and_o how_o willing_a man_n be_v to_o defend_v as_o well_o as_o to_o commit_v it_o they_o will_v be_v apt_a to_o imagine_v that_o either_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o reason_n among_o man_n or_o that_o it_o have_v very_o little_a influence_n upon_o their_o action_n and_o that_o the_o talk_n of_o virtue_n be_v first_o find_v out_o by_o some_o great_a enemy_n to_o the_o felicity_n of_o mankind_n such_o different_a apprehension_n will_v man_n have_v from_o the_o different_a way_n of_o behold_v the_o picture_n of_o humane_a nature_n either_o as_o it_o be_v in_o its_o own_o frame_n or_o as_o it_o be_v to_o be_v see_v in_o the_o world_n they_o who_o have_v with_o the_o great_a judgement_n and_o care_n search_v into_o the_o nature_n and_o first_o principle_n of_o humane_a society_n have_v all_o agree_v that_o the_o chief_a end_n and_o design_n of_o man_n in_o join_v together_o be_v for_o the_o mutual_a benefit_n and_o advantage_n of_o each_o other_o and_o that_o in_o order_n to_o this_o certain_a law_n of_o justice_n equity_n mercy_n truth_n gratitude_n temperance_n as_o well_o as_o of_o subjection_n to_o government_n aught_o to_o be_v inviolable_o observe_v by_o man_n and_o since_o these_o thing_n have_v the_o universal_a consent_n of_o mankind_n to_o be_v for_o their_o general_a good_a how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o man_n be_v join_v in_o these_o society_n for_o such_o end_n make_v so_o little_a conscience_n of_o the_o practice_n of_o they_o how_o come_v so_o many_o to_o live_v as_o it_o be_v in_o open_a defiance_n to_o these_o fundamental_a law_n of_o nature_n how_o come_v other_o only_o to_o make_v use_n of_o the_o pretence_n of_o virtue_n to_o deceive_v and_o of_o honesty_n and_o integrity_n to_o cover_v the_o deep_a dissimulation_n if_o they_o be_v not_o good_a why_o be_v they_o pretend_v if_o they_o be_v good_a why_o be_v they_o not_o practise_v so_o that_o whether_o we_o consider_v mankind_n in_o itself_o or_o in_o society_n we_o find_v the_o motive_n to_o virtue_n to_o be_v much_o more_o weighty_a and_o considerable_a than_o those_o to_o sin_n and_o yet_o that_o the_o practice_n of_o man_n be_v direct_o contrary_a but_o it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o all_o this_o may_v happen_v in_o the_o world_n for_o want_v of_o wit_n and_o education_n to_o polish_v and_o improve_v the_o natural_a faculty_n of_o man_n mind_n and_o to_o direct_v and_o encourage_v the_o practice_n of_o virtue_n i_o wish_v the_o world_n have_v not_o so_o many_o instance_n that_o man_n of_o the_o great_a wit_n have_v not_o be_v man_n of_o the_o best_a moral_n but_o if_o wit_n and_o education_n and_o philosophy_n have_v be_v the_o most_o effectual_a mean_n to_o reclaim_v man_n from_o sin_n where_o shall_v we_o have_v look_v more_o for_o the_o flourish_a of_o virtue_n than_o in_o greece_n and_o rome_n and_o yet_o in_o those_o time_n when_o all_o the_o accomplishment_n of_o wit_n be_v at_o the_o high_a in_o those_o place_n the_o manner_n of_o man_n be_v sink_v into_o the_o great_a filth_n of_o debauchery_n it_o will_v make_v one_o astonish_v to_o read_v the_o admirable_a discourse_n of_o their_o philosopher_n and_o to_o consider_v the_o strange_a height_n that_o eloquence_n and_o wit_n be_v arrive_v to_o among_o their_o orator_n and_o poet_n and_o then_o to_o compare_v the_o account_n give_v of_o the_o manner_n of_o the_o gentile_a world_n not_o only_o by_o their_o own_o satirist_n but_o by_o the_o apostle_n in_o their_o several_a epistle_n what_o a_o monstrous_a catalogue_n of_o sin_n do_v we_o meet_v with_o in_o the_o first_o chapter_n to_o the_o roman_n 32._o of_o sin_n of_o so_o deep_a a_o dye_n and_o of_o so_o horrid_a a_o nature_n and_o such_o a_o inventory_n of_o all_o sort_n of_o wickedness_n that_o one_o may_v imagine_v the_o apostle_n have_v be_v rather_o describe_v some_o vision_n of_o hell_n than_o the_o seat_n of_o the_o roman_a empire_n to_o the_o same_o purpose_n he_o speak_v of_o the_o corinthian_n and_o ephesian_n 18._o who_o think_v themselves_o behind_o none_o of_o the_o greek_n of_o that_o age_n in_o the_o breed_n then_o most_o in_o vogue_n but_o we_o need_v not_o instance_n in_o particular_n when_o s._n peter_n call_v it_o in_o general_a the_o will_n of_o the_o gentile_n 19_o to_o live_v in_o lasciviousness_n lust_n excess_n of_o wine_n revel_n and_o banquet_n as_o well_o as_o abominable_a idolatry_n and_o s._n john_n in_o short_a say_v the_o whole_a world_n lie_v in_o wickedness_n it_o may_v be_v worth_a our_o while_n to_o consider_v how_o so_o universal_a a_o degeneracy_n of_o manner_n shall_v happen_v in_o those_o age_n when_o man_n pretend_v more_o to_o wit_n and_o learning_n than_o they_o have_v do_v in_o any_o time_n before_o and_o for_o this_o it_o be_v very_o unreasonable_a to_o assign_v any_o cause_n that_o be_v equal_o common_a to_o all_o other_o age_n such_o as_o the_o corruption_n of_o human_a nature_n which_o how_o great_a soever_o it_o be_v be_v the_o same_o at_o all_o time_n neither_o do_v i_o think_v it_o reasonable_a to_o lay_v it_o whole_o on_o the_o bad_a example_n of_o the_o teacher_n of_o virtue_n know_v how_o malicious_a the_o worst_a of_o man_n be_v in_o endeavour_v to_o make_v those_o who_o seem_v to_o be_v better_o to_o be_v as_o bad_a as_o themselves_o but_o there_o be_v some_o peculiar_a reason_n for_o it_o and_o i_o wish_v they_o have_v be_v only_o proper_a to_o those_o time_n as_o 1._o separate_v religion_n and_o morality_n from_o each_o other_o when_o their_o religion_n be_v place_v in_o some_o solemn_a rite_n and_o pompous_a ceremony_n and_o costly_a sacrifice_n but_o all_o the_o matter_n of_o morality_n be_v confine_v to_o their_o school_n there_o to_o be_v inquire_v after_o by_o those_o that_o have_v leisure_n and_o curiosity_n for_o they_o as_o though_o god_n be_v more_o concern_v for_o the_o colour_n and_o age_n and_o pomp_n of_o their_o sacrifice_n for_o the_o gesture_n and_o show_n of_o their_o devotion_n than_o for_o the_o purity_n of_o their_o heart_n the_o sincerity_n of_o their_o mind_n or_o the_o holiness_n of_o their_o life_n when_o once_o the_o people_n have_v swallow_v that_o pernicious_a principle_n that_o morality_n be_v no_o part_n of_o their_o religion_n they_o have_v no_o great_a regard_n to_o the_o good_a or_o evil_n of_o their_o action_n as_o long_o as_o a_o little_a charge_n and_o four_o look_n and_o go_v to_o their_o temple_n at_o certain_a time_n be_v think_v sufficient_a to_o expiate_v their_o sin_n and_o they_o be_v much_o more_o encourage_v in_o wickedness_n when_o the_o god_n they_o worship_v be_v represent_v on_o

the_o stage_n as_o act_v all_o manner_n of_o villainy_n and_o no_o doubt_n they_o think_v it_o a_o great_a comfort_n to_o they_o in_o their_o debauchery_n that_o their_o god_n be_v as_o good_a fellow_n as_o themselves_o and_o what_o can_v all_o the_o precept_n of_o philosopher_n or_o say_n of_o wise_a man_n signify_v to_o those_o who_o be_v so_o far_o from_o look_v on_o virtue_n as_o any_o necessary_a part_n of_o their_o religion_n that_o they_o think_v those_o fit_n to_o be_v worship_v for_o god_n who_o they_o never_o believe_v to_o have_v be_v good_a man_n 2._o when_o they_o have_v thus_o render_v virtue_n unnecessary_a by_o make_v it_o no_o part_n of_o their_o religion_n the_o next_o thing_n be_v to_o make_v it_o appear_v ridiculous_a which_o be_v a_o certain_a way_n to_o make_v fool_n out_o of_o love_n with_o it_o who_o do_v not_o consider_v what_o be_v fit_a to_o be_v laugh_v at_o but_o what_o be_v so_o when_o socrates_n at_o athens_n undertake_v with_o many_o sharp_a and_o cut_a irony_n to_o reprove_v the_o vice_n of_o his_o age_n and_o with_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o wit_n and_o reason_n to_o persuade_v man_n to_o the_o sober_a practice_n of_o virtue_n the_o licentious_a people_n know_v not_o what_o to_o do_v with_o he_o for_o they_o be_v not_o able_a to_o withstand_v the_o force_n of_o his_o argument_n at_o last_o aristophanes_n have_v a_o comical_a wit_n whereby_o he_o be_v able_a to_o make_v any_o thing_n seem_v ridiculous_a although_o he_o know_v very_o well_o the_o wisdom_n and_o learning_n of_o socrates_n yet_o to_o please_v and_o humour_n the_o people_n he_o bring_v he_o upon_o the_o stage_n and_o represent_v his_o grave_a instruction_n after_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o turn_v all_o into_o a_o matter_n of_o laughter_n to_o the_o people_n of_o athens_n which_o do_v more_o mischief_n to_o the_o reputation_n of_o virtue_n among_o they_o than_o the_o take_n away_o his_o life_n do_v for_o his_o die_a convince_v the_o people_n he_o be_v in_o good_a earnest_n and_o bring_v a_o great_a veneration_n to_o his_o memory_n whereas_o the_o other_o expose_v he_o only_o to_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n and_o the_o people_n be_v make_v judge_n whether_o it_o be_v with_o cause_n or_o no_o who_o beside_o their_o ignorance_n and_o want_n of_o judgement_n be_v too_o much_o party_n to_o be_v judge_n this_o be_v the_o method_n which_o man_n take_v when_o they_o set_v their_o wit_n against_o virtue_n and_o goodness_n they_o know_v it_o be_v impossible_a to_o argue_v man_n out_o of_o it_o but_o it_o be_v very_o easy_a by_o ridiculous_a posture_n and_o mimical_a gesture_n and_o profane_a similitude_n to_o put_v so_o grave_a and_o modest_a a_o thing_n as_o virtue_n be_v out_o of_o countenance_n among_o those_o who_o be_v sure_a to_o laugh_v on_o the_o other_o side_n i_o do_v not_o think_v such_o thing_n can_v signify_v any_o thing_n to_o wise_a man_n but_o when_o be_v the_o world_n make_v up_o of_o such_o and_o therefore_o it_o signify_v very_o much_o to_o the_o mischief_n of_o those_o who_o have_v not_o the_o courage_n to_o love_v despise_v virtue_n nor_o to_o defend_v a_o cause_n that_o be_v laugh_v down_o and_o to_o these_o i_o may_v now_o add_v 3._o the_o bad_a example_n of_o other_o especial_o of_o those_o to_o who_o it_o belong_v to_o teach_v and_o encourage_v virtue_n above_o other_o no_o man_n will_v pretend_v that_o it_o be_v ground_n enough_o for_o he_o to_o do_v a_o thing_n mere_o because_o he_o see_v another_o do_v it_o yet_o in_o all_o age_n man_n have_v see_v and_o complain_v that_o the_o power_n of_o example_n have_v outdo_v that_o of_o law_n some_o that_o think_v themselves_o more_o subtle_a than_o other_o question_v whether_o those_o mean_v what_o they_o say_v who_o speak_v one_o thing_n and_o do_v another_o and_o therefore_o they_o will_v do_v what_o they_o think_v the_o other_o mean_v which_o be_v a_o good_a plea_n if_o their_o action_n be_v better_a than_o their_o word_n other_o think_v that_o all_o discourse_n of_o virtue_n and_o honesty_n and_o true_a honour_n be_v mere_a matter_n of_o talk_n for_o man_n to_o entertain_v some_o idle_a hour_n with_o and_o that_o man_n be_v universal_o agree_v in_o nothing_o but_o in_o speak_v well_o and_o do_v ill_o these_o look_n on_o virtue_n as_o a_o kind_n of_o phoenix_n a_o thing_n often_o talk_v of_o and_o believe_v by_o some_o but_o never_o see_v by_o any_o but_o such_o find_v all_o thing_n so_o very_o bad_a at_o home_n that_o out_o of_o charity_n to_o themselves_o they_o believe_v the_o whole_a world_n to_o be_v like_o they_o other_o have_v so_o much_o natural_a modesty_n and_o sense_n of_o shame_n that_o they_o have_v not_o the_o courage_n to_o commit_v a_o great_a wickedness_n unless_o they_o be_v harden_v to_o it_o by_o the_o example_n of_o great_a sinner_n before_o they_o but_o the_o most_o common_a reason_n of_o the_o prevalency_n of_o example_n be_v that_o man_n find_v in_o themselves_o a_o strong_a propensity_n and_o inclination_n to_o do_v evil_a and_o be_v willing_a to_o meet_v with_o such_o a_o pretence_n for_o commit_v it_o that_o they_o do_v but_o as_o other_o do_v and_o therefore_o i_o can_v think_v that_o bare_a example_n be_v enough_o to_o corrupt_v the_o world_n if_o there_o be_v not_o some_o antecedent_n inclination_n in_o humane_a nature_n to_o the_o practice_n of_o evil_n for_o since_o there_o be_v less_o reason_n to_o follow_v bad_a example_n than_o good_a why_o shall_v one_o prevail_v more_o than_o the_o other_o in_o the_o world_n if_o there_o be_v nothing_o but_o the_o bare_a example_n to_o move_v but_o that_o inclination_n be_v consider_v we_o may_v easy_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o ill_a consequence_n which_o the_o bad_a example_n of_o those_o who_o be_v to_o direct_v and_o encourage_v other_o in_o virtue_n must_v needs_o be_v of_o to_o the_o rest_n of_o mankind_n aesch._n xenophon_n be_v not_o without_o reason_n so_o much_o displease_v when_o he_o see_v some_o of_o the_o best_a of_o socrates_n his_o disciple_n make_v their_o court_n to_o dionysius_n in_o sicily_n know_v how_o inconsistent_a the_o reputation_n of_o virtue_n be_v with_o the_o very_a suspicion_n of_o flattery_n and_o that_o nothing_o make_v great_a man_n more_o suspicious_a of_o virtue_n than_o when_o they_o see_v philosopher_n become_v flatterer_n and_o carry_v on_o the_o restless_a design_n of_o ambition_n under_o the_o pretence_n of_o teach_v the_o art_n of_o contentment_n to_o other_o it_o be_v this_o which_o make_v the_o very_a name_n of_o they_o become_v so_o odious_a at_o rome_n that_o even_o virtue_n itself_o be_v hate_v for_o their_o sake_n so_o that_o the_o very_a teacher_n of_o virtue_n contribute_v to_o the_o increase_n of_o vice_n especial_o when_o by_o their_o endless_a dispute_n &_o wrangling_n about_o word_n &_o term_n of_o art_n they_o make_v the_o people_n suspect_v they_o do_v but_o play_v prize_n before_o they_o and_o only_o pretend_v to_o quarrel_n but_o be_v well_o enough_o agree_v to_o cheat_v and_o deceive_v they_o upon_o such_o ground_n as_o these_o all_o the_o motive_n to_o virtue_n contain_v in_o the_o write_n and_o instruction_n of_o philosopher_n lose_v their_o due_a force_n and_o efficacy_n on_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o people_n who_o be_v rather_o more_o harden_v in_o their_o sin_n by_o these_o disadvantage_n which_o attend_v the_o mean_n that_o be_v use_v to_o reclaim_v they_o from_o the_o practice_n of_o they_o but_o when_o all_o other_o motive_n prove_v ineffectual_a by_o these_o disadvantage_n what_o can_v be_v more_o reasonable_o expect_v than_o that_o the_o motive_n of_o the_o gospel_n shall_v prevail_v with_o man_n be_v of_o so_o great_a weight_n in_o themselves_o and_o recommend_v with_o so_o much_o advantage_n to_o the_o world_n by_o the_o example_n of_o those_o who_o deliver_v they_o the_o great_a argument_n of_o christianity_n against_o the_o practice_n of_o sin_n be_v not_o draw_v from_o any_o uncertain_a topic_n or_o nice_a and_o curious_a speculation_n but_o from_o the_o influence_n man_n good_a or_o evil_a action_n in_o this_o world_n will_v have_v upon_o their_o happiness_n or_o misery_n in_o another_o and_o what_o concern_v another_o state_n be_v reveal_v with_o much_o more_o clearness_n and_o confirm_v by_o strong_a evidence_n and_o enforce_v by_o more_o move_a consideration_n than_o ever_o it_o be_v before_o among_o the_o best_a and_o wise_a of_o the_o gentile_n the_o doctrine_n of_o christianity_n be_v plain_a and_o peremptory_a in_o this_o matter_n 18._o that_o god_n will_v render_v to_o every_o man_n according_a to_o his_o work_n and_o that_o the_o wrath_n of_o god_n be_v reveal_v from_o heaven_n against_o all_o ungodliness_n and_o unrighteousness_n of_o man_n and_o however_o prone_a man_n be_v to_o be_v deceive_v with_o vain_a word_n yet_o let_v they_o look_v to_o