Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	day_n	great_a	time_n	23,952	5	3.5867	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80550	The second part of the interest of England, in the matter of religion, unfolded in a deliberative discourse, proving that it is not agreeable to sound reason to prefer the contracted and dividing interest of one party, before the general interest of Protestantism, and of the whole kingdom of England, in which the Episcopal and Presbyterian parties may be happily united. /; Interest of England in the matter of religion. Part 2	Corbet, John, 1620-1680.	1660 (1660)	Wing C6264; Thomason E1857_2; ESTC R210384	40,874	132

which is here commended as so great a bond of loyalty and which Princes use to take for their best security The wisest way is not to reject and slight a party that are brought to hand and made for a Princes Interest upon a suspition that they may prove inconstant but to use the known means of preventing such inconstancy as is pretended and to manifest that regard to their encouragement and satisfaction as that they may rest assured that their own and the publick peace do run in the same channel From the Reasons aforegoing I conclude That the Presbyterians are sit and worthy to be imbodied with the whole number of the good People of England I proceed to perswade this Union by several Arguments England hath indured conflicts of almost twenty years by Wars Divisions Commotions and manifold changes it was abased enfeebled and brought very low all which do shew that some great distemper had taken hold of this Body Politique before these things could break forth There is at length by the late Revolution a providential offer of rest and peace After those sad conflicts and this happy offer of Providence shall the seeds of discord lodge perpetually in this Land I fear passions of bitterness are too ready to stir and provoke Take away this fewel of strife the urging of things to uphold distinctions of Parties Whilest things are at such a pass animosities will arise upon every occasion discontents and quarrels will be ready to break forth in every Town and Parish and almost in all mixed companies and occasional Meetings But let the propounded Accommodation be accepted and established and the former mutual injuries will pass into forgetfulness and persons formerly engaged against each other will be able to look one another in the face without provocation and new quarrels Where is our Charity and regard to publick tranquillity if we reject the sure and only means of Concord Uniformity in Religion is beautiful and amiable but we ought to consider not only what is desirable but what is attainable There have been are and always will be such points as the Apostle tearms doubtful disputations When the severity of Laws and Canons inforce external Uniformity in things of this nature it exerciseth a tyranny over mens judgments and holds them in a servile condition that they are not free but captivated to the Authority of men or suppressed from making a due search into matters of Religion yea this thraldom will inevitably reach to things of an higher nature even the vital parts of Christianity That servile Principle which hath the heart of Popery in it must be introduced to wit that the Laity should not search the Scriptures nor try the Doctrines delivered but acquiesce in what their Teachers say without the Exercise of their own reason or judgment of discretion Hereupon will follow gross ignorance and supine carelesness in the things of God and in those that any whit mind Religion which is the best of the matter a blind devotion And a people rude and servile in Religion will be rude and dissolute in Conversation as we see in Popish Countries and in all places where spiritual tyranny prevaileth This is so great an evil that it cannot be countervailed by all the imaginable benefit of Uniformity And the truth is all profitable Uniformity is mingled with sobriety and stands not in an indivisible point but admits a latitude and by a little variety in matters of lesser moment becomes more graceful because it is more unstrained and unaffected It is a chief point of knowledge in those whose work it is to mould and manage a Nation according to any order of things to understand what is the temper of the people what Principles possess and govern them or considerable Parties of them and to what pass things are already brought among them Those who duly observe and regard the disposition and present State of England and the principles and affections of the several considerable Parties will be able to give the best advice for a happy settlement For such a course as is wisely and succesfully taken in one Nation may in the like business prove unfortunate in another Nation or in the same at another time A State may probably root out such opinions as it conceives to be heterodox and inconvenient by using great severity in the beginning when the opinions are but newly sowed in mens minds and the people are of such a nature as to abhor dangers and aim to live securely and when the Nation in general is devoted to the ancient customs of their fore-fathers But the same course may not be taken when the opinions have been deeply rooted and far spread by long continuance in a Nation of a free spirit and zealous and the generality of those that in a Law-sence are called Cives do not detest them At this day England affords a multitude of Episcopal Zealots and a multitude of Presbyterian Zealots ballancing the former and between these two there lye a more indifferent sort of people whereof a great number care for none of these things but others are more intelligent and considerate and these seem to approve some things and again to disapprove some things on either side As far as I have observed the indifferent sort of men do accord with the Episcopal way in affecting the Common Prayer Book and those among them that are of any reckoning for worth or honesty do also according to the Presbyterian way affect the constant preaching of the Word and the residency of Ministers in their Parochial Charges and disaffect plurality of Benefices Knowledge hath so encreased that the people in general will more observe their Teachers Doctrine and conversation and the impertinencies of the one and the irregularities of the other shall not pass without noting The insufficient idle and scandalous will fall into contempt and be slighted by the common people The profanation of the Lords Day by open sports and pastimes is by the Civil part of the Nation accounted scandalous Furthermore the present Age being more discerning all sorts affect a greater liberty of Judgment and Discourse then hath been used in former times Whereupon the State of this Kingdom requires a temper or medium between two extreams to wit medium abnegationis in those unnecessary things wherein no accord can be expected between the Parties by abolishing or not injoyning them and medium participationis in things necessary to Order and Government wherein the moderate of both Parties do easily comply with each other When the State like a prudent Mother not led by the passions of her angry Children shal not ingage in their quarrels on this or that side but settle such a temperament for their common good love and peace may ensue between the Parties though difference of judgment still remains When the Nation shall not espouse to it self the interest of a party but intirely reserve it self for the good of the Universality those hot disputes and contests will