Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	wise_a	world_n	worthy_a	31	3	5.7469	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68609	Certaine sermons preached by Iohn Prideaux, rector of Exeter Colledge, his Maiestie's professor in divinity in Oxford, and chaplaine in ordinary; Sermons. Selected sermons	Prideaux, John, 1578-1650.	1636 (1636)	STC 20345; ESTC S115233	325,201	634

followes wherein we must take heed and the Text tells vs 4. That yee despise not one of these little ones Contempt most commonly is the root of scandals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For those whom we set little by wee reckon not how we vse Two words are here in my text which would aske some explication for the clearing of that which is to follow First what is meant by despising and next by little ones The word despising in the originall is expressed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Syriack renders by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies not only to disgrace to debase or to vilifie but to set light by neglect not to respect as we ought and is to be vnderstood as well of precepts as persons Amongst divers others Foure things are registred in the new Testament especially not to bee despised First Gods goodnesse in forbearing and long suffering Rom. 2. Next the Churches Ordinances and decent demeanour therein 1. Cor. 11. Thirdly the government of our superiours which God hath set over vs 2. Pet. 2. And this place makes vp the fourth for freeing our equals or never so much our inferiours from contempt In al which passages the same word is vsed Some will finde a difference betweene contemning and despising that contempt should goe no farther then neglect but despising proceed to disgrace But such Criticismes are more subtile thē vsefull especially being stood vpon too much where there is no cause Amongst the Schoolemen Appreciare rem minus iustò old Altisiodorensis defines contempt to bee nothing else but the prizing of any thing below it's worth Aquinas judgeth it to be a Refusall of the will Voluntas renuit subiici legi vel regulae 2.2 q. 186 art 9. to conforme it selfe to law and good order Howsoeuer they may otherwise differ this is agreed vpon that either truely or interpretatiuely euery offence includes in some measure a contempt both of the law Verè vel interpretativè and Law-giuer which convinceth that no sinne is in its owne nature veniall as these men would haue it Sent. d. 5. q. 2.5.7 Where notwithstanding we may stinguish with Brulifer and Gerson between De vita spiritual l. 5. facere aliquid ex contemptu cum contemptu to doe somewhat out of contempt or with contempt In the first contempt appeares to be the cause and therefore severity in punishment ought to be answerable In the second it only accompanieth either ignorance or weaknesse or carelesnesse or some predominant passion which may sooner be brought to acknowledgement and with lesse adoe rectified And this farre the doctrine of the Schooles concerning contempt is not to be contemned Howsoever it comes not full home to our Saviours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 despise not in this place for a man ought to bee so farre from contemning or neglecting his inferiour brother that he is tied in charity in some sort to honour him I meane as S. Paul exhorteth Timothy to honour widowes that are widowes indeed 1. Tim. 5. that is to haue a care of them provide for them let them duely and truely haue that which in any respect may belong vnto them In which sense the Elders that rule well are worthy of double honour that is respect in their places recompence for their paines The woman must be honoured as the weaker vessell that is borne with provided for 1. Pet. 3. And whosoeuer so honours his poore brother honours him that made him Prov. 14.31 5. I haue stood perchance too long vpon the declaring of what this despising meanes in my Text lesse may serue for the signification of little ones For such may be termed to bee so in fiue respects in state in stature in age in knowledge last of all in the esteeme of the world All which significations the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here vsed in my text may well beare In the same sense wee haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Chalday and Syriack and the Arabique springs from the same root Gedion complaines he was the least of his fathers house that is of esteeme Iud. 6. Bethlem is reckoned but a smal Citty among the thousands of Iudah Michah 5. Now they are not little one onely in age or stature very children indeed which our Saviour here lookes after but such as beleiue in him vers 6. babes and sucklings out of hose mouthes God hath ordained strength Ps 8. whom the world counted drosse and of the most contemptible condition And we see how high they are in our Saviours esteeme Mat. 11. That which is hid from the wise and prudent shall be revealed to such Babes That all the world may take notice how God respects not worth in those whom he casts his favours vpon but by casting his favours vpon them makes them worthy According to his own good pleasure he hat mercy on those only on whom he will haue mercy Rom. 9 Some are so bold to Particularize that this child whom our Saviour here sets in the midst was Martiall afterward Bishop of Limoges in France Others say 't was Ignatius the Martyr so famous in Ecclesiasticall story But these are but forged traditions of those who will averre any thing It is not to the purpose who it was but what manner of little ones these were of whose despising our Saviour would haue such heed to be taken The Apostles had some reason to stand vpon their priviledges yet they must be the men to whom this caveat must be directed especially least others should transgresse by disesteeming their Inferiours and despising not a company onely gathered together in Christs name but any one single of such little ones that cannot withstand iniuries or helpe himselfe In which regard S. Gregory hath an excellent conclusion in the fifteenth of his Morals Timendum it aque saith he cavendum ne nobis cadentibus surgat qui nobis stantibus irridetur It stands vs therefore vpon to be carefull and fearefull least hee rise when we fall who was scorned of vs while wee stood 6. This doctrine should not seeme vnseasonable to those that are in high places For as their honour is great and a badge of Gods especiall favour if thankfulnesse and devotion be the supporters of their Armes so can it not chuse but be liable to manifold blemishes if greatnesse once grow heedlesse in despising Gods little ones The Bryer on a time as we finde it in the Arabian Mythologist bespake the Gardiner Locman O that some one would haue a care of me and plant me in the midst of the garden and let me but haue sufficient soyle and watring and I would vndertake to bring forth such blossomes and fruits that Kings should bee taken with the desire of it All this in pitty the gardiner did and expected in plaine honesty that