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januarii_n 1676._o annoque_fw-la regni_fw-la regis_fw-la caroli_n secundi_fw-la anglie_o etc._n etc._n xxviij_o this_o court_n do_v desire_n mr._n hicks_n to_o print_v his_o sermon_n late_o preach_v at_o the_o guild-hall_n chappel_n before_o the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o alderman_n of_o this_o city_n wagstaffe_n imprimatur_fw-la guil._n jane_n r._n p._n d._n hen._n episc_n lond._n à _fw-la sacris_fw-la dom_n feb._n 16._o 1676_o 7._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a sir_n thomas_n davies_n lord_n mayor_n of_o london_n and_o the_o court_n of_o alderman_n my_o lord_n i_o have_v a_o singular_a veneration_n for_o your_o lordship_n and_o the_o court_n which_o make_v i_o submit_v my_o judgement_n to_o you_o and_o publish_v this_o discourse_n to_o comply_v with_o your_o joint_a request_n which_o i_o think_v as_o oblige_v as_o any_o command_n your_o authority_n more_o than_o all_o the_o interest_n i_o have_v in_o it_o will_v recommend_v it_o to_o the_o world_n and_o if_o it_o be_v but_o read_v 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will_v not_o suffer_v you_o to_o be_v tempt_v above_o that_o you_o be_v able_a but_o will_v with_o the_o temptation_n also_o make_v a_o way_n to_o escape_v that_o you_o may_v be_v able_a to_o bear_v it_o although_o the_o substance_n of_o that_o baptismal_a oath_n of_o allegiance_n which_o every_o christian_a take_v at_o his_o entrance_n into_o covenant_n with_o god_n be_v to_o renounce_v the_o world_n the_o flesh_n and_o the_o devil_n and_o although_o this_o solemn_a obligation_n be_v lay_v by_o god_n and_o the_o church_n upon_o the_o conscience_n of_o every_o christian_a to_o make_v he_o more_o vigilant_a and_o resolute_a in_o resist_v the_o temptation_n which_o the_o world_n without_o the_o flesh_n within_o or_o the_o devil_n both_o way_n can_v present_v unto_o he_o yet_o to_o the_o scandal_n both_o of_o our_o nature_n and_o religion_n there_o have_v often_o be_v and_o now_o be_v in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n a_o sort_n of_o licentious_a perjure_a christian_n who_o take_v a_o pride_n to_o aggravate_v the_o weakness_n of_o humane_a nature_n and_o undervalue_v the_o power_n of_o god_n assist_v grace_n represent_v it_o as_o impossible_a for_o sinful_a flesh_n and_o blood_n to_o overcome_v the_o pleasure_n of_o some_o and_o the_o terror_n of_o other_o temptation_n and_o so_o make_v religion_n itself_o which_o be_v nothing_o but_o the_o practice_n of_o resist_a pain_n and_o pleasure_n out_o of_o love_n to_o god_n a_o idle_a romantic_a notion_n and_o in_o effect_n renounce_v their_o baptismal_a vow_n but_o to_o the_o lewd_a pretension_n and_o authority_n of_o these_o most_o insolent_a man_n my_o text_n be_v a_o apparent_a contradiction_n and_o reproof_n wherein_o the_o apostle_n assure_v the_o suffering_n corinthian_n that_o as_o among_o all_o the_o sharp_a trial_n and_o persecution_n they_o have_v undergo_v for_o religion_n none_o have_v happen_v to_o they_o but_o such_o as_o be_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d
endure_v the_o most_o painful_a sort_n of_o death_n rather_o than_o worship_n a_o cake_n of_o bread_n invoke_v their_o fellow-creature_n admit_v any_o advocate_n in_o heaven_n but_o jesus_n or_o make_v the_o gospel_n depend_v upon_o the_o dictate_v of_o the_o pope_n how_o illiterate_a and_o wicked_a soever_o he_o may_v be_v but_o be_v there_o no_o other_o history_n extant_a but_o the_o bible_n the_o number_n of_o the_o saint_n record_v there_o that_o have_v embrace_v the_o most_o bitter_a ignominious_a death_n and_o despise_v the_o torment_n and_o shame_n thereof_o be_v more_o than_o enough_o to_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v no_o temptation_n so_o dreadful_a but_o what_o may_v be_v bear_v by_o man_n and_o that_o it_o be_v neither_o impossible_a nor_o so_o exceed_o difficult_a for_o christian_n to_o conquer_v the_o fear_n of_o death_n as_o the_o profane_a and_o sensual_a part_n of_o the_o world_n to_o the_o dishonour_n of_o our_o religion_n pretend_v it_o to_o be_v the_o second_o 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half_a as_o deep_a as_o it_o be_v upon_o he_o that_o grace_n alone_o will_v be_v sufficient_a to_o check_v his_o sinful_a propension_n and_o make_v he_o cry_v out_o as_o he_o do_v in_o the_o critical_a moment_n of_o trial_n how_o shall_v i_o do_v this_o damnable_a act_n and_o sin_n against_o my_o god_n but_o lest_o you_o shall_v object_v that_o joseph_n be_v a_o extraordinary_a person_n and_o have_v more_o than_o common_a assistance_n from_o god_n let_v we_o suppose_v the_o most_o ordinary_a unexperienced_a christian_a surround_v with_o the_o strong_a temptation_n imaginable_a to_o commit_v this_o natural_a and_o therefore_o conclude_v unconquerable_a sin_n let_v we_o suppose_v he_o to_o have_v the_o most_o charm_a beauty_n to_o entice_v he_o together_o with_o opportunity_n and_o all_o other_o circumstance_n to_o heighten_v the_o temptation_n and_o make_v it_o as_o outrageous_a as_o it_o can_v be_v imagine_v to_o be_v yet_o for_o all_o this_o if_o this_o man_n shall_v say_v that_o he_o be_v not_o able_a to_o rosi_v this_o violent_a temptation_n he_o will_v lie_v against_o his_o conscience_n and_o contradict_v the_o universal_a experience_n of_o the_o world_n for_o if_o at_o that_o instant_a god_n shall_v say_v unto_o he_o as_o unto_o the_o rich_a man_n in_o the_o gospel_n thou_o fool_n this_o night_n thy_o soul_n shall_v be_v require_v of_o thou_o that_o dreadful_a summons_n to_o appear_v so_o soon_o in_o the_o next_o world_n will_v make_v this_o mighty_a temptation_n become_v none_o at_o all_o and_o present_o drive_v out_o that_o unclean_a spirit_n of_o lust_n which_o possess_v his_o soul_n before_o but_o much_o more_o if_o at_o the_o same_o time_n shall_v come_v forth_o the_o finger_n of_o a_o man_n hand_n and_o write_v upon_o the_o wall_n mene_n mene_n tekel_n upharzin_n do_v this_o and_o thou_o shall_v be_v immediate_o damn_v i_o desire_v any_o one_o of_o you_o to_o answer_v in_o his_o heart_n for_o this_o man_n what_o you_o think_v he_o will_v do_v you_o can_v but_o confess_v that_o his_o amorous_a intention_n and_o countenance_n will_v be_v change_v his_o jovial_a thought_n trouble_v his_o joint_n lose_v and_o his_o knee_n like_o king_n belshazzar_n knock_v one_o against_o another_o or_o last_o let_v we_o suppose_v at_o the_o same_o instant_n that_o a_o unexpected_a message_n shall_v come_v from_o his_o prince_n threaten_v the_o gibbet_n or_o the_o axe_n if_o he_o proceed_v to_o gratify_v his_o sinful_a desire_n such_o a_o terrible_a message_n will_v undoubted_o be_v sufficient_a to_o extinguish_v his_o present_a flame_n and_o restrain_v he_o from_o the_o sin_n he_o intend_v to_o commit_v or_o not_o to_o take_v the_o advantage_n of_o such_o frightful_a enemy_n to_o his_o pleasure_n as_o damnation_n or_o death_n let_v we_o rather_o suppose_v that_o a_o little_a child_n much_o more_o a_o grave_a and_o reverend_a person_n shall_v unexpected_o come_v into_o the_o room_n before_o he_o proceed_v to_o execute_v his_o filthy_a lust_n certain_o instead_o of_o find_v it_o impossible_a to_o resist_v the_o damnable_a sin_n he_o will_v find_v it_o impossible_a for_o he_o to_o commit_v it_o in_o their_o prefence_n unless_o he_o have_v make_v a_o utter_a shipwreck_n both_o of_o his_o conscience_n and_o honour_n and_o be_v become_v as_o shameless_a as_o a_o beast_n or_o let_v we_o suppose_v that_o a_o mighty_a reward_n imagine_v a_o kingdom_n or_o some_o vast_a sum_n of_o money_n be_v offer_v he_o upon_o condition_n he_o will_v resist_v this_o pretend_a irresistible_a temptation_n what_o do_v you_o think_v will_v find_v strength_n and_o resolution_n enough_o to_o overcome_v the_o unconquerable_a temptation_n upon_o these_o term_n and_o be_v glad_a to_o be_v hire_v by_o such_o a_o reward_n to_o abstain_v from_o his_o damnable_a lust_n and_o therefore_o if_o all_o this_o be_v true_a why_o shall_v not_o the_o remembrance_n of_o our_o own_o mortality_n as_o effectual_o mortify_v our_o lust_n and_o keep_v we_o from_o dare_v to_o commit_v a_o presumptuous_a sin_n as_o if_o god_n himself_o shall_v tell_v we_o we_o shall_v short_o die_v why_o shall_v not_o the_o consideration_n of_o eternal_a torment_n threaten_v in_o the_o gospel_n be_v as_o persuasive_a against_o sin_n as_o the_o consideration_n of_o they_o write_v by_o a_o spirit_n upon_o a_o wall_n or_o why_o shall_v not_o the_o message_n of_o eternal_a death_n which_o we_o deliver_v from_o god_n prevail_v as_o much_o upon_o man_n as_o the_o message_n of_o temporal_a death_n from_o a_o king_n last_o why_o shall_v not_o the_o presence_n of_o the_o omnipresent_v god_n over-awe_n man_n more_o than_o the_o presence_n of_o a_o man_n or_o why_o shall_v not_o the_o infallible_a promise_n of_o heaven_n and_o infinite_a happiness_n be_v a_o more_o powerful_a motive_n to_o self-denial_n than_o the_o promise_n of_o a_o kingdom_n or_o treasure_n here_o below_o the_o shameful_a inconsideration_n stupidity_n and_o carnality_n of_o man_n heart_n be_v the_o cause_n why_o temporal_a expectation_n and_o proposal_n have_v more_o force_n upon_o their_o soul_n than_o the_o hope_n of_o eternal_a glory_n and_o that_o present_a or_o approach_a sensible_a pain_n or_o loss_n fill_v their_o earthy_a mind_n with_o more_o dreadful_a apprehension_n than_o the_o prospect_n of_o infinite_a misery_n to_o come_v but_o to_o conclude_v this_o instance_n with_o a_o more_o familiar_a argument_n if_o the_o temptation_n to_o this_o sin_n be_v so_o very_o difficult_a to_o be_v resist_v as_o debauch_a man_n pretend_v it_o be_v how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o careful_a and_o religious_a parent_n suffer_v their_o child_n to_o sojorn_n in_o mesech_n and_o dwell_v in_o the_o tent_n of_o kedar_n i_o mean_v to_o go_v abroad_o and_o converse_v in_o this_o wicked_a world_n how_o dare_v they_o expose_v their_o soul_n which_o they_o tender_v next_o to_o their_o own_o to_o such_o certain_a danger_n in_o a_o adulterous_a generation_n if_o to_o deny_v one_o self_n and_o resist_v the_o 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much_o to_o be_v condemn_v by_o the_o verdict_n of_o right_a reason_n as_o he_o that_o give_v a_o affront_n and_o therefore_o since_o it_o be_v plain_a by_o these_o example_n that_o bare_a reason_n and_o moral_a gallantry_n of_o spirit_n have_v sometime_o enable_v heathen_n and_o mahumet_n ans_fw-fr to_o resist_v those_o pain_n and_o pleasure_n and_o interest_n which_o as_o all_o man_n grant_v be_v the_o strong_a temptation_n to_o sin_n be_v it_o not_o shameful_a nonsense_n and_o horrid_a impiety_n for_o christian_n who_o god_n without_o a_o just_a provocation_n never_o fail_v to_o support_v and_o assist_v with_o his_o grace_n to_o magnify_v the_o weakness_n of_o humane_a nature_n and_o the_o strength_n of_o these_o and_o the_o like_a temptation_n with_o a_o malicious_a design_n nor_o only_o to_o justify_v themselves_o and_o excuse_v other_o but_o to_o debauch_v mankind_n to_o the_o utmost_a of_o their_o power_n and_o render_v the_o christian_a the_o most_o grievous_a intolerable_a religion_n that_o ever_o be_v in_o the_o world_n from_o whence_o i_o proceed_v to_o prove_v by_o reason_n that_o no_o trial_n or_o temptation_n can_v happen_v to_o man_n but_o such_o as_o be_v suitable_a to_o humane_a nature_n aid_v with_o grace_n and_o such_o as_o any_o christian_n that_o be_v true_a to_o his_o own_o endeavour_n and_o faithful_o use_v the_o restrain_v and_o assist_v help_n of_o god_n my_o not_o easy_o conquer_v and_o subdue_v my_o first_o reason_n shall_v be_v take_v from_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o virtue_n and_o grace_n which_o be_v nothing_o but_o a_o habitual_a power_n and_o ability_n in_o the_o rational_a soul_n of_o man_n to_o bear_v all_o sensible_a pain_n and_o loss_n and_o forbear_v all_o sensible_a pleasure_n and_o profit_n out_o of_o love_n to_o reason_n and_o the_o righteous_a law_n of_o god_n this_o excellent_a spiritual_a power_n and_o ability_n of_o the_o soul_n as_o far_o as_o it_o be_v natural_a or_o acquire_v by_o our_o own_o act_n and_o endeavour_n be_v of_o moral_a consideration_n but_o as_o it_o be_v supernatural_o wrought_v in_o the_o soul_n or_o infuse_v into_o it_o by_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n so_o far_o it_o be_v of_o theological_a consideration_n and_o belong_v not_o to_o moralist_n but_o divine_n but_o because_o grace_n as_o all_o man_n grant_v be_v the_o perfection_n of_o nature_n and_o acquire_v virtue_n be_v consistent_a with_o infuse_v i_o have_v put_v they_o both_o together_o in_o one_o definition_n in_o which_o divine_v and_o philosopher_n both_o agree_v but_o be_v it_o impossible_a or_o so_o exceed_v difficult_a as_o some_o man_n make_v it_o to_o resist_v temptation_n this_o definition_n of_o grace_n or_o virtue_n will_v be_v but_o a_o useless_a fictitious_a notion_n and_o divine_n and_o philosopher_n from_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o world_n will_v have_v be_v either_o knave_n or_o fool_n all_o the_o excellent_a sermon_n the_o former_a have_v make_v with_o so_o much_o eloquence_n and_o authority_n concern_v mortification_n self-denial_n and_o perseverance_n and_o all_o the_o brave_a discourse_n the_o latter_a have_v pen_v with_o such_o admirable_a reason_n and_o rhetoric_n concern_v fortitude_n temperance_n and_o patience_n be_v idle_a unprofitable_a harangue_n and_o as_o insignificant_a to_o the_o impotent_a race_n and_o nature_n of_o man_n as_o the_o practical_a rule_n of_o dance_a to_o a_o cripple_n or_o a_o lecture_n in_o geometry_n to_o a_o natural_a fool._n in_o particular_a st._n paul_n who_o magnify_v the_o grace_n of_o god_n so_o much_o in_o his_o epistle_n and_o protest_v he_o take_v pleasure_n in_o bear_v reproach_n persecution_n and_o distress_n for_o christ_n sake_n this_o great_a doctor_n and_o saint_n who_o declare_v upon_o his_o own_o experience_n that_o he_o be_v always_o most_o strong_a when_o he_o be_v most_o weak_a and_o that_o he_o can_v do_v and_o suffer_v all_o thing_n through_o the_o strength_n he_o receive_v from_o christ_n must_v pass_v for_o a_o cheat_n or_o enthusiast_n if_o man_n by_o the_o promise_a support_n and_o assistance_n of_o god_n grace_n be_v not_o able_a to_o resist_v temptation_n unto_o sin_n there_o be_v never_o yet_o in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n a_o more_o apt_a example_n to_o confirm_v this_o doctrine_n i_o now_o maintain_v than_o this_o apostle_n be_v for_o when_o the_o jew_n and_o gnostic_n persecute_v his_o righteous_a soul_n with_o so_o much_o rage_n and_o violence_n as_o to_o make_v he_o call_v they_o the_o messenger_n of_o satan_n and_o compare_v the_o sharpness_n of_o the_o persecution_n which_o they_o raise_v against_o he_o to_o a_o thorn_n in_o the_o flesh_n like_o a_o true_a soldier_n of_o christ_n he_o still_o resist_v and_o hold_v out_o but_o yet_o suspect_v his_o own_o perseverance_n and_o fear_v lest_o his_o faith_n and_o patience_n may_v at_o last_o fail_v he_o pray_v god_n thrice_o to_o remove_v the_o sharp_a trial_n from_o he_o but_o god_n who_o know_v whereof_o he_o be_v make_v better_o than_o he_o himself_o still_o continue_v they_o assure_v the_o suffer_a apostle_n that_o his_o concurrent_a grace_n be_v sufficient_a for_o he_o and_o that_o his_o strength_n be_v make_v perfect_a in_o his_o weakness_n this_o relation_n the_o apostle_n make_v of_o himself_o be_v either_o true_a or_o false_a if_o false_a than_o he_o be_v either_o a_o impostor_n or_o a_o madman_n if_o he_o be_v mad_a as_o the_o festuse_n of_o this_o age_n represent_v he_o to_o be_v how_o come_v he_o to_o speak_v the_o word_n of_o truth_n and_o soberness_n hw_o come_v he_o to_o write_v such_o learned_a and_o profound_a epistle_n and_o make_v such_o admirable_a defence_n for_o himself_o and_o the_o christian_a religion_n before_o so_o many_o procurator_n and_o the_o emperor_n himself_o at_o rome_n how_o come_v he_o to_o be_v so_o very_o wise_a upon_o occasion_n as_o to_o plead_v the_o privilege_n of_o a_o roman_a citizen_n and_o divide_v the_o sadducee_n against_o the_o pharisee_n when_o they_o 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