Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	father_n	person_n	trinity_n	1,795	5	9.6706	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35563	The question to whom it belonged anciently to preach and whether all priests might or did discussed out of antiquity : as also, what preaching is, properly / by Meric Casaubon ...	Casaubon, Meric, 1599-1671.	1663 (1663)	Wing C810; ESTC R5468	22,827	42

THE QUESTION TO Whom it belonged Anciently TO PREACH AND Whether all PRIESTS might or did Discussed out of ANTIQUITY As also what Preaching is properly By MERIC CASAUBON D. D. and one of the Prebends of Ch. Ch. CANTERBURY LONDON Printed for Timothy Garthwait at the Kings Head in St. Pauls Church-yard 1663 OF PREACHING AS Anciently used SInce the late Directions to Ministers sent by his Grace of Canterbury to all Parishes a Question was put to me by a Friend a Pious Orthodox Minister and well affected to the Government what ground there was for those words in the said Directions That Preaching was not anciently the work of every Priest but was restrained to the choicest persons for gravity prudence and learning Not that he so much doubted as I suppose the truth of what was alledged or scrupled at the obedience and submission but that his obedience and submission for to that purpose he expressed himself upon fuller information and evidence might be more rational or rationally justifiable before God and men if there should be occasion I cannot say I use his very words but to this effect I am sure as I apprehended him His Question came to me by a Letter and by a Letter Answer was made In my Answer I was forced to contract my self as much as I could being then wholly taken up by some other more pressing duties of my place But afterwards when I was more at leisure consulting with my Adversaria and finding that as many known to me as had treated of that Argument had not only done it very slightly as I thought but also committed divers mistakes in setting down the practice of Antiquity and that it might be the case of more then this one who had addressed himself to me for further satisfaction I thought it would not be unseasonable service if I published what by diligent reading was come to my observation upon this Argument I shall not keep my self so precisely to the words of the Question but take the liberty of any thing that offers it self by the way having some reference to it and may be useful and fit to be known of its self And first of all that there may be no mistake about the word wherein some men of no small account for want of a right understanding have been misled in their judgements and opinions it will be very requisite that we consider and agree what Preaching is in general and what is that Preaching particularly and by what names known unto the Ancients which is the subject of this discourse I will not insist upon the Latitude of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek or of concio or sermo and such others whether in Greek or Latin Though Optatus Bishop of Milevis in Africa was once put to it when he wrote Episcopalis tractatus probatur ab omnibus sanctitate vestitus salutatione scilicet geminata yet I think there is no man so ignorant in these dayes but can distinguish between a set Speech or Oration in general of any common subject ordinary or extraordinary publick or private but publickly delivered or fitted at least for publick audience besides the difference either of places or persons and that which we usually call a Sermon though both go often under one title in ancient Books But whether any set Speech publickly delivered setting aside the consideration of the Speaker at present tending to reformation of life as a serious exhortation to vertue and contempt of the world disswasion from vice and all sensuality and the like may be called Preaching may be some question and the resolution of it of some consequence It is very certain that long before and since Christ both among the Romans and Graecians not to speak of other Nations less known in those dayes such a practice was answerable in many respects to what we now call Preaching Certainly if the visible fruits of what we call mortification and renouncing of the world if outward abstinence and sobriety in life and conversation if liberal distributing to the necessities of others if strictest bonds of mutual love and amity be the proper effects and evidences of powerful Preaching it cannot be denied but such have been the effects often of that kind of Preaching which hath been in use among Heathens for which we have not the authority of the Heathens only but of Christians also Fathers and others who bear witness and tell us of particular examples And though it is not improbable that many such things might be done for ostentation only or some other worldly end as among Christians but too often yet there is more ground to believe that more frequently Speakers dealt with all simplicity aiming at the edification as we now speak of their hearers as may appear by that excellent passage of Musonius the Philosopher who lived under Nero the Roman Emperour recorded by Aulus Gellius l. V̄ c. 1. and by sundry Epistles of Seneca as particularly the 52. and 108. well worth the reading Whence it is that the Greek Fathers use the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially St. Chrysostome so frequently for piety and godliness And this may be some reason too which made some of the Greek Fathers as understood by many at least to extend the power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in general so far as to maintain that even before the true and essential 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Word the second Person of the Trinity was fully revealed unto the world the natural 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reason or speech though natural yet the gift of God that too well managed and improved with care and industry was able to save of which assertion for it and against it much hath been written by some late writers But though for the matter of their moral discourses and exhortations they might have much affinity those that were made by Heathens with those that were made by Christians called Sermons yea and excell too for the most part in pregnancy of wit and ornaments of speech yet one main difference is this that their grounds and motives related unto this life only as having no knowledge much less assurance of another life after this which will much aggravate the case of Christians at the day of Judgement who having so much more to ground upon as promises of Eternity and being partakers of the Divine Nature have therefore the more to answer for if exhortations do not work more potently upon them then they did upon Heathens among whom nevertheless they did produce such wonderful effects Now if we look into the property of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usually translated into Latin praedicare from whence our English to preach is derived it doth import a solemn proclaiming or announcing of somewhat of publick concernment which was not known before so doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too both which words have particular relation unto Christ his blessed Incarnation for the Redemption of the