Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	great_a	holy_a	see_v	3,964	5	3.2444	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34709	Cottoni posthuma divers choice pieces of that renowned antiquary, Sir Robert Cotton, Knight and Baronet, preserved from the injury of time, and exposed to publick light, for the benefit of posterity / by J.H., Esq.; Selections. 1672	Cotton, Robert, Sir, 1571-1631.; Howell, James, 1594?-1666.	1672 (1672)	Wing C6486; ESTC R2628	147,712	358

be the voice of God is to be credited the poorer sort is skipt over as if they owed no souls to God nor duty to their Soveraign A poor Man saith one is to be pittied if he offend through necessity but if he do amiss voluntarily he is more severely to be chastised for so much as wanting friends and meanes to bear him out if sheweth that this fault proceeds from presumption X. Let us now pre-suppose that all the whole Regiment of Jesuits of Seminaries were lodged in safe custody may we then perswade our selves that Popery will vanish like a dumb shew I am clearly resolved that though it receive a great eclipse notwithstanding without other helps the Kingdome of Antichrist will onely be hidden as a weed that seems withered in the Winter and is ready to sprout out vvith the Spring Temporall armes are remedies serving for a time but the Spirituall sword is permanent in operation and by an invisible blow workes more than mortall man can imagine The word of God carrieth this two-edged weapon in his mouth which is to be used by faithfull Ministers of the Church whom pure zeal without respect to worldly promotion or persons ought to encourage Of Judges the Scripture saith Estote fortes and daily we see that sitting in their judiciall seats God inspireth them with greater courage than when as private persons they are to give their opinions no less is the power of the Holy Ghost in his servants that out of the Pulpit are to deliver his Ambassage let them therefore not be dismaid to speak out plainly and tell the truth without running a middle course between heat and cold unprofitable discanting upon the Scripture with an Old postile or for want of better matter waste the poor time shut up in an hour-glass with skirmishing against the worthy Pillars of our own profession Rumor which is ever ready to take hold of evill hath raised a secret though as I hope a causless suspicion that there should be some combination underhand by changing the state of questions to put us in our old dayes to learn a new Catechisme and when they have brought us out of conceipt with the Reverend Interpreters of the Word to use us then as the Wolves mentioned in Demosthenes Apology handled the Shepheards when they had delivered up their Dogs Most sacred was that Speech of our gracious King concerning Vorstius He that will speak of Canaan let him speak the language of Canaan How can we draw others to our Church if we cannot agree where and how to lay our foundation or how may we cleanse the Leprous disease of dissention which the Papists which are least assured to themselves and most doubtfull of their Salvation are not ashamed to ascribe unto many of us I would not have Ministers indiscreet like Dogs to barke against all whether they know or know them not I like better the opinion of Aristotle who adviseth those that stand in guard of a place to be curst onely to such as are about to endammage the City If Pursevants or other Civil Officers would learn to keep this rule they might go about their business with much credit The imagined fear of inviting the Romish Faction by force to deliver their Ghostly Fathers out of Prison moves me not a whit for I cannot believe that they esteeme them at so dear a price as they would runne the hazard by freeing others out of hold to put themselves into their places Some will say that a man of Straw is a head good enough for a discontented multitude That the Papists are very chollerique it appears sufficiently by their writings yet it hath pleased God to send those curst Cowes short hornes that when they should not finde a man of sufficiency to serve their turn they were faine to do homage to Garnetts straw forgetfull as they are that such stubble cannot endure the tryall of fire But unto us that ought to be Doers as well as Professors of the Gospell let this remain as a memorable Theorem Religion is the Mother of good order Good order is the cause of prosperous Fortune and happy Successe in all Counsells and enterprises Therefore in what estate soever there wanteth good order it is an evident Argument that Religion goes backward XI I have ever held it for a kinde of Injustice to omit the execution of mean Lawes made to prevent the effects of Idleness and then to apply main extremity of the sword when the proling habit gotten by that vice comes to light no less is the course uncharitable with pardon for this presumption be it spoken when we spare them that have no Religion at all and censure those that can give an accompt of somewhat tending to that purpose He that is in misery must be born withall if he speake miserably and when the child from his mothers brest hath sucked nothing but Popery a man had need to be angry with discretion if he hear him speake in the voice of a Papist God calleth some by miracle but the ordinary meanes is his Word if that meanes in any place of this Land be wanting of what Religion is it likeliest the people will be I suppose that few men will gainesay my assertion that outward sence will direct them to Popery which is fuller of Pageants than of spirituall doctrine and what is the cause that after so many yeares preaching of the Gospell the Common people still retaine a scent of the Roman perfume the Cause is for that the formall obedience of coming to Church hath been more expected than the instruction of private families publique Catechizing is of great use but the first Elements thereof are to be learnt at home and those things which we learn from our Parents sticke more surely in our mindes what was the cause why the Spartans continued their Government so many Revolutions of times without mutation Histories record that learning their Countrey Customes from their Infancy they could not be induced to alter them And in this our native soile we perceive that the Common Lawes which rely on antient Customes are better observed than late Statutes of what worth soever they be So doth it fare with the poore people which being once seasoned with the old dreggs of Papisme will hardly be drawn from it till the Learning of the true Faith be growne to a Custome I will prescribe no order nor Officers to effect this but I suppose that the antient laudable course by the Bishops confirmation will not be sufficient to fulfill so great a taske the Minister must and ought to be the Principall and immediate hand to give assistance to so gracious a worke and in case any be defective in their duty the Reverend BISHOPS may take notice thereof in their severall Visitations Perhaps it will be thought a hard task to constrain old people to learn the A. B. C. of their Christian beliefe but how hard soever it be