Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	call_v	earth_n	sea_n	3,957	5	6.9260	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53717	A peace-offering in an apology and humble plea for indulgence and liberty of conscience by sundry Protestants differing in some things from the present establishment about the worship of God.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1667 (1667)	Wing O790; ESTC R21637	31,968	40

periclitantium numerum multi enim omnis aetatis omnis ordinis utriusque sexus etiam vocantur in periculum vocabuntur neque enim Civitates tantum sed vicos etiam atque agros superstitionis istius contagio pervagata est So then they termed Christian Religion for the multitude would still keep the name of Truth and Religion to themselves the oppressed the lesser number must bear the name or title which they consent or conspire to cast upon them But the thing it self as to the persons at present dissenting from the established form is not unduly exprest And as it will be an act of Royal Clemency and like to the work of God himself to free at once so great multitudes of all ages sexes and conditions from the fears and dangers of those evils which they are fully satisfied they do not deserve so any other way of quitting the Governours of this Nation from those uneasie thoughts which an apprehension of such an effect of their Rule upon multitudes of subjects must needs produce will be very difficult if not impossible Shall the course begun in severity against them be pursued what generous spirits imployed in the execution of it can but be weary at last with undoing and ruining families of those persons whom they find to live peaceably in subjection to the Government of the Nation and usefully amongst their Neighbours meerly because they dare not sin against God in transgressing against that perswasion concerning his Will and Worship which he hath given unto them for they cannot but at last consider that no man erreth willingly or believes any thing against his light or hath other thoughts of God and his Worship than what he apprehends to be from himself or that any duty is accepted of God which springs from compulsion How much more Noble and Honourable will they discern the work of relieving men sober and peaceable in distress to be than to have the complaints and tears and ruine of Innocent men and their families continually reflecting themselves on their minds Nor is there any probability of success in this procedure for as Time hath alwayes made for Rule and incouragements which are solely in the power of Rulers have effected great compliance even in things religious so force and violent prosecution in such cases have been alwayes fruitless For it is known how much they are disadvantaged as to success in that the righteousness and equity of their pretended causes are alwayes dubious to unconcerned persons which makes them think that the true reason of them is other than what is pretended When they see men whom they apprehend as innocent and guiltless as themselves as to all the concernments of mankind in this world pursued with penalties equal unto those that are notoriosly Criminal they are greatly inclined unto commiseration towards them especially if at the interposition of the name and worship of God in the cause they judge for ought appears to them they fear God and endeavour to please him at least as well as those by whom they are molested And when they further understand that those whom they see to suffer such things as they account grievous and are really ruinous to them and their families do it for their conscience sake it strongly induceth them to believe that it must needs be something good and honest that men choose so to suffer for them rather than to forego For all suffering for Religion they know to be in the power and will of them that suffer and not of those that inflict penalties upon them for their Religion is their choice which they may part withal if they esteem it not worth the hazard wherewith it is attended Thus the Roman Historian tells us in the first sufferings of the Christians at Rome Quanquam adversus sontes Novissima exempla meritos for so he thought Miseratio Oriebatur tanquam non utilitate publica sed in sevitiam aliquorum absumerentur Nor is it a probable way of dealing with the consciences of men especially of Multitudes who are able to give mutual testimony and encouragement to one another yea in such a state of things dangers of times delight men and they find a satisfaction if not an honour in their miseries as having sufficient assurance that it is a glorious and a blessed thing to suffer things hard and dreadful in the world when they are conscious to themselves of no guilt or evil And therefore as severity hath hitherto got no ground on the minds of men in this matter no more is it like to do for the future And if it be proceeded in it cannot be avoided but that it must be perpetuated from one generation to another and a sad experiment be made who will first be wearied those that inflict penalties or those that undergo them And what in the mean time will become of that composure of the spirits of men that mutual trust confidence and assurance between all sorts of persons which is the abiding foundation of publick peace and prosperity Also what advantages have been made by some neighbour Nations what at present they further hope for from that great anxiety which the minds of men are cast into meerly and solely on the account of what they feel or fear from their dissent unto the publick worship which to themselves is utterly unavoidable is known to all But we have done and what are we that we should complain of any whom God is pleased to stir up and use for our exercise and tryal We desire in patience and silence to bear his indignation against whom we have sinned and for what concerns those wayes and truths of his for whose profession we may yet suffer in this world to approve our consciences unto him and to leave the event of all unto him who will one day judge the world in righteousness We know that we are poor sinful worms of the earth in our selves meet for nothing but to be trodden down under the feet of men but his wayes and the purity of his Worship are dear unto him which he will preserve and vindicate from all opposition In the mean time as it is our duty to live peaceably with all men in a conscientious subjection unto that Authority which he hath set over us we shall endeavour so to behave our selves in the pursuit and observance of it as that whereas we may be evil spoken of as evil doers Men may be ashamed beholding our good Conversation in Christ and give Glory to God in the day of Visitation Whatever is ours whatever is in our Power whatever God hath intrusted us with the disposal of we willingly resign and give up to the Will and Commands of our Superiours but as to our Minds and Consciences in the things of his Worship and Service he hath reserved the Soveraignty of them unto himself to him must we give an account of them at the great Day nor can we forego the care of preserving them intire for him and loyal unto him without a renunciation of all hopes of acceptance with him and so render our selves of all men the most miserable May we be suffered herein to be faithfull unto him and the everlasting Concernments of our own Souls we shall alwayes labour to manifest that there is no way or means of Peace and Reconciliation among those who profesting Faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ yet differ in their Apprehensions about sundry things some way or other belonging thereunto that is appointed by him and may expect a Blessing from him but we will readily embrace and according as we are called improve to the utmost And if herein also our Endeavours meet with nothing but Contempt and Reproach yet none can hinder us but that we may pour out our Souls unto God for the accomplishment of his blessed and glorious Promises concerning that Truth Peace and Liberty which he will give unto his Church in his appointed time For we know That when He shall rise up to the Prey and devour the whole earth with the fire of his Jealousie He will turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one consent that the Earth being filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea his glory shall be revealed so that all flesh shall see it together and then shall all his people receive from him one heart and one way that they may fear him for ever for the good of them and their children after them by vertue of the everlasting Covenant And for our own parts whatever our Outward Condition be we know he will perfect that which concerns us and he will not forsake the work of his own hands because his mercy endureth for ever FINIS