Selected quad for the lemma: sense_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	wonder_n	word_n	work_n	105	3	5.0285	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35166	The cynosura, or, A saving star that leads to eternity discovered amidst the celestial orbs of David's Psalms, by way of paraphrase upon the Miserere.	Cross, Nicholas, 1616-1698.	1670 (1670)	Wing C7252; ESTC R21599	203,002	466

deplorable that most of its Enemies are hatched and trained up within its own Breast who like the Viper tears asunder the womb that bare them Besides they are all armed compleatly against it whilest this defendant to preserve it self against so many Harpyes and ravenous VVolves hath nothing but a poor will and this weakned extreamly enfeebled by original sin so that many times it is so overpowred what by the charms of objects presented to her what by their importunity and near approach that unable to make any offensive nay or so much as defensive play all she can do is to disown and disavow any compliance protesting against the violence of all her mutinous passions In these distresses our Penitent knew well it was necessary to have a clean heart that is a heart st●…d in that perfection as might dimini●… the effects of ●…iginal sin for a Soul arrived once at perfection performs acts of vertues with such facility as if he seemed not to have forfeited 〈◊〉 ●usti●es and though usually this happiness is not purchased but by a long tract of unwearied practise yet God can supply all this by a superabundant Collation of his Grace and with these hopes he confidently and incessantly tunes forth create in me O God a clean heart The Application Here we are taught that in all our actions we must attend to the sincerity of our intentions for it is not the material thing we do that gives a value to them but the source from whence they spring and if that be qualifyed with a pure designment to aim only at God's glory then it is evident they proceed from a heart fashioned by the hand of God and directed by his all-moving Spirit St. Austin sayes we shall be rewarded or punished according to the will by which we have acted Abraham lost not his Son nor likewise did he lose his merit because it is the same moral goodness which resides in the inferiour and exteriour act and if the one be obstructed this takes not off the esteem due to the other just as the Sun is still luminous though a Cloud sometimes hinders the effect of his beams Let us bless therefore our good God who contents himself with the heart and let us dispose that alwayes ready for his service Amen CHAP. XXII Et Spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis And renew in my Bowels a right spirit OUr Holy Penitent in this clause keeps the method of a wise Petitioner having an Eye not only to his present succour but also how to settle a constant supply For to have implored a dean heart would avail him little without a sentinel and guard to protect this fountain from impure hands He was not ignorant that the will is a blind faculty that must be directed wherefore he petitions here in behalf of his understanding that it may receive those lights which are necessary for his conduct in all the occurrences of this life Renew in my Bowels a right spirit This spiritual rectitude consists in two heads to wit faith and morality The first teaches what we owe to God the other what is due to our Neighbour and our selves the first discovers unto us the perfections and attributes of God and of these gives us a most certain knowledge not lyable to any errour because it is grounded on the Testimony of God which is more infallible than our reason senses or apparitions of the dead Now that this certitude in matter of Faith ought to be of all things most unquestionable is evident For Man is obliged to prefer God before all created things to set a value upon the works of his service beyond any proper interest of riches honour nay of life which is frankly to be exposed in defiance of all the cruelties that can be inflicted rather than to fail in the least tittle of what Faith prescribes as due to our Creatour It were then very severe we should be tyed to forfeit what is most precious to us in this World and to sustain that which we most abhor and all this for a thing that is dubious uncertain and lyable to errour Wherefore in all reason the knowledge we have by Faith ought to be the most depurated from dross of doubt or vacillation Now what can be more secure and satisfactory than to be taught by God himself instructed by his word and revelation who is a supream verity and cannot reveal a falshood and which is conveyed unto us by the Church who is the immediate receptacle of Divine truths so that it is inconceivable how any expedient could be found more efficacious to quiet the minds of Men in religious duties than this of Revelation In other vertues God seems to treat with us familiarly and as equalls laying down reason to move us to embrace them but in matter of Faith he playes the Sovereign he commands forbids threatens promises and delivers things which surpass all imagination and this without any evidence or reason of their existence now though at the first glance this proceeding seems harsh yet seriously weighed it will be found a stroke of his goodness for whilst we believe amidst these Clouds and obscurity it speaks more loud an act of our free will which is the spring of merit presupposing the existence of grace For if where we most contradict our selves there is a Subject of greater merit certainly in nothing Man doth more devest himself of his inclinations than in acts of Faith for he renounces his natural way of knowledge by reason and sense he Sacrifices his understanding to God's simple word and believes all the greatnesses and wonders of the Divine Being and mysterious works meerly because he hath said it Our Holy Penitent desirous to be irradiated with these unerring notions petitions that a right Spirit may be resetled in him for supposing Man's End or Beatitude which is to know serve love and glorify God in all Eternity we must in order to this end raise our understanding and affections to objects which outstrip the power of sense and exceed the reach of our natural reason the acts of Religion by which we pay our duty to God being supernatural and justly proportioned to Beatitude to which they tend now Man of himself without some light from above cannot frame any supernatural act of himself he knowes not what homage and service is due to his Sovereign Monarch nor with what Sacrifices he ought to appease his anger and pay the tribute of thanks and adoration wherefore he begs that he himself would teach him and be his Master that he may not like the Gentiles follow the vain dictamens of sense but serve him as he would be served and in that manner as might be most agreeable to his divine will which he shall infallibly perform if he daign to fill him with his right Spirit and renew in my bowels a right Spirit But whilst he sues that this Spirit all guiding of Truth may be infused into his bowels that is diffused