Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	father_n	love_v	spirit_n	6,375	5	5.5823	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20438	Euerard Digbie his dissuasiue From taking away the lyuings and goods of the Church. Wherein all men may plainely behold the great blessings which the Lord hath powred on all those who liberally haue bestowed on his holy temple: and the strange punishments that haue befallen them vvhich haue done the contrarie. Hereunto is annexed Celsus of Verona, his dissuasiue translated into English.	Digby, Everard, Sir, 1578-1606.; Maffei, Celso, ca. 1425-1508. Dissuasoria. English.	1590 (1590)	STC 6842; ESTC S105340	139,529	251

deinceps parentum solatio delectari Omnia pro Christi amore contempsi coepiiam esse vt Melchisedech sine patre sine matre sine genealogia Solum Deum patrem agnosco matrem non habeo nisi Ecclesiam It is not conuenient that I should hereafter take comfort in anie naturall parentes I loath all other thinges in regarde of the loue of Christ and nowe I am become like vnto Melchisedech without father without mother without kindred I haue no father but God neither anie mother besides the holy Church In these words he signifieth thus much that who hath created vs first and loued vs most wee ought to seeke him first and most to loue him and therfore sith our heauenly father is a liuing spirit and our mother trulie spiritual sith there is no loue comparable to his which leauing all creatures in heauen in earth gaue his life for vs or to hers which though she were ten times persecuted euen vnto death for our sake yet she louingly embraced vs In louing our spiritual parents before all other things let vs render like for like Let vs willingly reiect the sensuall entisements of the flesh disarming our selues of riches goods lands honour office authoritie yea our owne father and mother according to the flesh that wee maye serue our spirituall father and mother in the vnitie of the spirite This is a cleare glasse in which a christian maye beholde the degrees by which wee must passe thorow this vale of miserie vnto the kingdome of heauen and the rule is like vnto it for the first rule or direction of a christian soule vnto heauen is aboue all thinges to meditate with himselfe whether he be in the true way of eternall life or no. And therewith to consider with himselfe what he hath done what hee hath not doone and what hee ought to doe which who so wiselie weigheth hee shall finde it true that before all care and prouision of our sinfull bodies we ought most painefully to prouide for the health of our soules knowing assuredly that we must passe this earthly pilgrimage with suche religious care of our spirituall father and mother that therewith wee must restraine our affections from the woonted wishes of the worlde and weane them so from fleshlie corruptions with the true discipline of our spiritual nurse that neyther riches nor goods nor dominion nor power nor freinds nor enemies nor life nor death can once separate vs from the true worship of his holie name and the daily maintenance of the same This is the way easie to bee found out of all those which heede the same The ground is euen the path is plaine the degrees not many the passage easie O that the foote could bee content to follow the direction of the eye that the handmayd would be obedient to her mistrisse or that the flesh would but cease a little to resist the good motions of the spirite If wee could but a little yea I saye but a little sequester our selues from this worldly securitie which with her manifold charming pleasures hath lulled vs so long in the cradle of the flesh that wee are almost all fallen into a daungerous deade sleepe If we could but once beholde the Lorde as hee is in himselfe truth and equitie or but once thinke of him aright of his woonderfull maiestie supported with eternall sanctimonie holines and righteousnesse If the Lorde of his great mercie would but once open our eyes and let vs see this heauenly obiect we should be so farre from offending his maiestie and decaying his church that for euer after wee would loath this earthly dungeon of our bodie ful of deadly destructions and pleasaunt miseries wee shoulde then more truely know God and Iesu Christ whom hee hath sent wee should bee able to discerne the honourable the blessed the singular prerogatiue which hee hath giuen to his spowse And therwith wee should striue to yeelde her the first fruits of our best and greatest endeuours wee shoulde looke about vs a●d see more clearly how farre the heathen haue gone before vs in their kinde concerning religion how farre we are fallen in these daies from the rules of nature and true philosophy from the examples of the holy fathers the olde patriarkes the true prophets the blessed apostles the christiā emperors the reuerend Bishops whilest we embrace this present worlde and make desolate his holie Church with the ministerie thereof Let vs knowe that wee are heere placed in a strife of obtaining double pleasure and double paine the pleasure of the sense worketh sinne and sinne is the parent of death but the minde flieth higher vnto the heauenly hilles euen to the top of that high Olimpus from whence commeth our health These two contrary desires bee the cause of mans disquietnes in this life shewing plainly that the flesh euermore striueth against the spirite with such perfect discord that whatsoeuer maintaineth the one destroieth the other that which delighteth the one displeaseth the other that which exalteth the one depresseth the other So that though the spirite bee willing yet the flesh is verie weake and vnable to walke this straite and narrow way of eternal life yea so weake that Saint Paule in the middest of this battell crieth out that which I would doe that I doe not and that which I would not that I do O wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of sinne euen the grace and mercie of God thorowe Iesu Christ our Lord. Let vs therefore cast of this coate of sinne with the workes of darkenes and put vpon vs the armour of light now in this most daungerous day wherein charitie is waxen so colde and iniquitie so hoat that we scarse count it any sinne to take away the maintenance of the Church of Iesu Christ. The naturall Philosopher teacheth trulie that euerie compound bodie consisteth of two parts of matter and forme affirming that the forme is the more excellent part of nature The Logitian considering with Plato that matter is a note of corruption affirmeth that the forme is worthie to rule The morall Philosopher writeth thus Animal autem primum constat ●x animo corpore quorum illud quidem imperat natura hoc quidem paret animus imper at corpori herili imperio mens antem appetitui ciuili regio a man consisteth cheefelie of minde of bodie the minde by nature dooth rule the bodie by nature dooth obaie concluding thus Imperet sapiens let the strong in bodie take paines but let learned wisedome rule In Aegipt the best Astrologers were had in greatest honour and as it appeareth by Hermes the first lawe giuer of the Aegiptians such were commonly chosen Kinges So likewise with the Chaldeans with the Assirianes with the Romanes and Indianes the heauenlie vertues and giftes of the minde were in highest honour so that as Plato writeth they counted that common wealth happie in which either Kinges were

handes with Pylate and not onely to saie as hee said I am free from this innocent bloud but both in woord and deede to keepe our prophane handes from the violating of holie thinges That holie father Saint Augustine hee affirmeth that God is a cleere eye and seeth euerie where much more hee beholdeth all the corners of his owne house and the footsteppes of those which spoyle his temple before his face Which who so rudelie rashly and irreligiously presumeth at any time to attempt let him consider that he doth it against the Lord openlie before his own face and therwith let him know that he is a ielous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of all which hate him sith he is God yesterday to day and for euer as also all thinges are which are once consecrated to his holie worship I vnderstand that by the course of lawe inheritaunce descendeth to the next of the bloud and for want of heirs in the second third or fourth generation of the eldest it commeth backe to the younger brothers issue and posterity of which if all fayle and at length by intailement or otherwise by lawe if it commeth into the possession of the King it neuer goeth backe If this bee the prerogatiue of goods giuen to earthly Princes which are here to daye and to morrowe lye rotting in the graue let vs not denie the same to the Lord of Lordes the King of Kinges the creatour of heauen and earth into whose house whatsoeuer is incorporated though conscience and religion dare not speake therein yet let the heathen Poet open his mouth and make the period 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which is once doone cannot bee vndoone againe If this constancie was alwaies kept betwixt man and man how much more betwixt God man betwixt his Church his Prests his spirituall Pastours and the men of this world whose parentes and instructurs they are according to that saying of Micha vnto the Leuit remaine with me and be my father and my Priest and the tribe of Dan also to the same Leuit houlde thy peace and come with vs for thou shalt be our father and our Priest Sithe then by the secreet instinct of nature and also by the expresse commaundement of God wee are commaunded to honour our father and mother to obey and cherishe them in all wee canne by the same lawe wee are vtterlie forbidden to to detract or take any thing away from them And if any hard harted christian vnder the colour of dissembled zeale seeme to open away herein to his sacrilegious couetous minde saying that these commaundements of our Lord are meant concerning our naturall father and mother let him and all men knowe that the holie fathers expounding this commaundement affirme first that it concerneth our honour to our spirituall father and the Church our spirituall mother secondly it commaundeth vs to nourish and obey al superiours magistrates and ministers amongest whom are contained our naturall parentes But suppose that were obscure and doubtfull which is as plaine and cleare as the noone daie yet canst thou doubt what the will of God and the rule of right is in this case wherein the Lord hath spoken plainely as it is shewed before in these wordes whatsoeuer is once dedicated to God shall neuer be sould or redeemed As is the fountaine so are all the little brookes running from the same This is the lawe of the Lord concerning thinges dedicated to his holy worshippe and the liues of the holy Patriaches the Prophets the Apostles the Ma●tirs the fathers doo cleerely expresse the same Ioseph the true figure of our Lord and sauiour Iesu Christ in that great famine of Aegipt when hee had bought almost the whole land and brought it into the Kings hand he would not once offer any money for the priestes landes but in that their great want gaue them nourishment of the Kings store according to that rule of the Lord the suburbes of the Priests shall not be sould for the possession of them is eternall without redemption God is our heauenly father he hath sowed the eternall seede of his exceeding looue in our hearts to the ende he might receiue from vs the same euen looue for looue because such as hee soweth such will he reape Can we say that we loue our spirituall father and therewith spoile his louing spouse our spirituall mother the holie Church castinge downe her walles banishing her eldest children possessing her landes goods and treasure which is an odious crime in the sight of God and man according to that saying of Saint Ambrose si quis in sua if any man presume to take the treasures of the Church to his priuate vse it is a great crime Wherin least he should seeme to abridge the spirituall pastours of the Church for whose sustenaunce they were first giuen hee expoundeth himselfe in these wordes Templum domini laicis tradi non debet the temple of the Lord ought not to be giuen into lay mens handes sign●fying that wee must giue vnto Caesar those thinges which bee Caesars and vnto God those thinges that bee Gods Amongest the heathen Philosophers it was coūted the first point of iustice to giue to euerie man his owne and least amongst christians anie in time should prooue so barbarous and vtterly voide of grace that hee should laie violent handes on the goods of poore innocents which cannot speake euen the temples of the Lord dedicated to the worshippe of his holie name besides the expresse commaundement of the Lord in holy scriptures the holy fathers and councels haue pronounced it a cursed thing as the cleare bage of him which hath renounced heauen and taken himselfe wholy to serue this wicked world and the vanities thereof The councell of Gangrene celebrated the yeere of our Lord 324. or there about according to the Cannons of the Apostles decreed in this manner If any man shall presume to take any thing once offered to God vnleast it bee the Bishop or his deputie appointed for the distributing of the Church goods to the poore let him be accursed In like manner also the third councell of Rome If any man couet or take away any reuenews belonging to the Church or if any of the Priestes consent there to let them be accursed The reason followeth in the fift councel alleadged in this manner for it is a great iniurie and an vntollerable sacriledge that what so euer any man bestoweth on the church of Christ should be altered or translated to any other vse especially by those men who of all other ought to maintaine the Church as be christian Kings Princes and Prelates Furthermore that it might be manifest to all those which dutifully embrace and reuerence the spouse of Iesu Christ howe wicked an enterprise it is and what manifest daunger to the soules of all them which shall presume heerein the same

to make any christian hart to melt when it is harde he suffered that cruell souldier to pierce his tender side with a speare wher with came out both bloud and water euen his most pretious heart bloud the eternall foode of our soules O what mercie is this and who is able to comprehend it shall I passe it with silence or shal my pen presume to touch the same shall my heart stande amazed at this wonder and my mouth keep silēce When I behold the heauens the angels the height of these creatures aboue mā And cōsider the depth of his mercie towards man shal I not beginne with the Prophet O what is man that thou art so mindfull of him or the son of man that thou visitest him And proceed with the voice of good Saint Barnard O hone Iesu. Quid tibi merito nos debuimus tu soluis nos peccauimus tu luis opus sine exemplo gratia sine merito Charitas sine modo O sweet Iesu howe belongeth this to thee or thy desert we are indebted and thou paiest it we haue sinned and thou art punished a worke aboue all cōparison mercie without all merite charitie aboue all measure O my soule open thine inward spirites and let my toong sound foorth his praise O praise the Lord in his holines praise him in the bountie of his great mercie and all that is within me praise his his holie name O ye princes open your gates and let the king of glorie enter in O bowe downe your princely eyes and beholde this great humilitie of the first and the last the king of kings the Lord of Lords the high souereigne king of heauen earth Take heede yee rulers of the earth that ye goe not farre from this fountaine of life least yee thirst and so perish by the way O come neere and taste howe sweete the Lorde our maker is and lette not the comfortable voice of his louing spowse whom hee hath made ouerseer of his will once depart out of your eares Take heede now your father is gone that you disquiet not your louing mother Doe not your selues that mortall disgrace or the Lorde of light that vnkindnes that you should forget his bloodie stripes wherewith yee were healed or his wounds which gaue you life or his exceeding loue which passeth all vnderstanding but render loue for loue to the vttermost of your power Sith hee hath loued vs first let vs loue him first of all Sith hee refused all creatures in heauen and in earth that hee might shew mercie vpon vs let vs refuse all other thinges and loue him alone not in word onely nor in shewe but in heart in worde in our outward life and conuersation Can wee taste of the cleare fountaine and not kneele downe or drinke of the liquor and not touch the cuppe with our lippes can we taste of the sweete drops of his most pretious bloud and not kisse the sonne of our saluation the spring of eternall life the glory of heauen and earth Then leauing heathnish glory the rule of flesh bloud christiā princes must come to the fountain of true christianity which is clear bright sheweth plainly that they must fall downe before the throne of the lamb that their regiment and commonwelth ought not to be disposed and for the establishing of their owne kingdome or for the aduauncement of their owne honour or for the safetie of their owne life but especiallie and aboue all thinges they must bend themselues to set forth the honour and glorie of God their high honours and offices must be appointed for the seruice kingdome of Christ their power their men their armour their goods their landes their dominions their nobles their court and courtiers are to be imploied in the seruice and obedience of the church of Iesu Christ. Thus proceeding in the waie of life let them not barely imagine that God is aboue all the rulers in the world but that he is carefullie and dutifullie to bee serued euerie daie and that the howre of his diuine seruice is not to bee appointed at our will but at his wil and when it shall bee thought most meet by them which are truelie religious Herein wee ought to be so resolutelie bent to serue the Lord our God with all our heart our mind and our soule so truelie and so hartilie that no embassadour no triumph no pleasure or worldlie affaires whatsoeuer should alter the hower of common praier which wee haue once giuen to the Lords seruice vnto the which if wee cannot resort sometime at the appointed howre which we haue once granted vnto the Lord yet let the rest of our life be so holie and reuerent before the Lord and his people that our Christian absence may shew most plainlie there is vrgent occasion why wee cannot come If they count it a more holie a more necessarie a more honourable thing to serue the Lord and to humble themselues on their knees before him in his holie temple then to feede their eies with worldly pleasures which in time and season are good and commendable if the count more of diuine seruice than of humane of the eternall ioy of heauen than of this perfect miserie of the euerlasting kingdome than of this earthlie tabernacle they will not onelie leaue all these and come to the temple of the Lord there falling downe before their good Lord and maker their maker and redeemer their redeemer and present helper their helper and comforter in al woe and distresse but in fact in truth in good earnest after the yeelding themselues their soules and bodies a holie and acceptable sacrifice before God which is their reasonable seruice don to him they wil open the bowels of their compassion vnto their holie mother the church and their poore bretheren they wil wiselie bestowe their best landes goods honors priuiledges counsels courtes auctorities euen the most perfect meditatiō of their vnderstanding harts vpon the spouse of Iesu Christ. O yee mightie men whose throne is exalted in the middest of flesh and bloud do you doubt of this Haue you not heard of olde how the gentils ruled which knew not God or what our Sauiour Christ said concerning them and what was it you shall not do so and how then The Apostle writeth that which the prophet said Credidi propterea loquutus sum I haue beleeued this truth and therefore I haue written neither is it bare beliefe sith plaine truth holdeth the sterne whilest my litle pen passeth ouer the high surges of this worldlie sea and that those worldlie mindes thus tossed and tumbled with the vncertaine flawes of worldie tempests might finde the true calme discried by the rule and compasse of Christian doctrine let them but looke vp a litle directing their eies vnto the climat where the sonne shineth cleare and bright and they shal see the land and hauen of quietnesse where they would faines● bee And