Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	according_a	great_a	judge_v	1,834	5	6.3536	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47643	A practical commentary upon the first epistle general of St. Peter. Vol. II containing the third, fourth and fifth chapters / by the most Reverend Robert Leighton ... ; published after his death at the request of his friends.	Leighton, Robert, 1611-1684.; Fall, James, 1646 or 7-1711.	1694 (1694)	Wing L1029; ESTC R36245	321,962	503

intention and is this a work to be done at random no 't is the most exact and curious of all works to have the Conscience right and keep it so as watches or other such neat pieces of Workmanship except they be dily wound up and skillfully handled they will quickly go wrong yea besides daily inspection it would as they at sometimes be taken to pieces and more accurately cleansed for the best kept will gather soyl and dust sometimes a Christian should set himself to a more solemn examination of his own heart beyond his daily search and all little enough to have so precious a good as this a good Conscience They that are most diligent and vigilant find nothing to abate as superfluous but still need of more The heart to be kept withall diligence or above all keeping corruption within ready to grow and gain upon it if it be never so little neglected and from without to invade it and get in we breath in a corrupt infected air and have need daily to antidote the heart against it You that are studying to be excellent in this art of a good Conscienee go on seek daily progress in it the study of Conscience is a more sweet profitable study than of all Science wherein is much vexation and the most little or no fruit read this book diligently and correct your Errata by that book the word of God labour to have it pure and right other books and works are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 curious and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by works they shall not appear but this is one of the books that shall be opened in that great day according to which we must be judged On this follows a good Conversation as inseparably connexed with a good Conscience Grace is of a lively active nature and doth act like it self holiness in the heart will be holiness in the life too not some good actions but a good Conversation an uniform even tract of life the whole revolution of it regular the inequality of some Christians ways doth breed much discredit to Religion and discomfort to themselves But observe here 1. The order of these two 2. The principle of both 1. The Cons●ience good and then the Conversation make the tree good and the fruit will be good says our Saviour so here a good Conscience the root of a good Conversation most Men begin at the wrong end of this work would reform the outward Man first that will do no good 't wil be but dead work Do not rest upon external reformations they will not hold there is no abiding nor no advantage in such a work you think when reprov'd Oh! I will mend and set about the redress of some outward things but this is as good as to do nothing the Mind and Conscience being defiled as the Apostle speaks doth defile all the rest 't is a mire in the spring although the pipes are cleansed they will grow quickly fowl again so Christians in their progress in grace would eye this most that the Conscience be growing purer the heart more spiritual the affections more regular and heavenly and their outward carriage will be holier whereas the outward work of performing duties and being much exercis'd in Religion may by the neglect of this be labour in vain and amend nothing foundly To set the outward Actions right though with an honest Intention and not so to regard and find out the inward disorder of the Heart whence that in the Actions flows is but to be still putting the Handle of a Clock right with your Finger while 't is foul or out of order within which is a continual business and does no good Oh! but a purified Conscience a Soul renew'd and refin'd in its temper and affections will make things go right without in all the duties and acts of our Callings 2. The Principle of Good in both is Christ. Your good Conversation in Christ. The Conversation not good unless in him so neither the Conscience 1. He the Person must be in him and then the Conscience and Conversation will be good in him the Conscience that is morally good having some kind of vertuous Habits yet being out of Christ is nothing but pollution in the fight of God it must be washt in his blood ere it can be clean all our pains will not cleanse it floods of tears will not do it 't is blood and that blood alone that hath the Vertue of purging the Conscience from dead Works Heb. 9. 2. In him the perfect pattern of Holiness the Heart and Life to be conformed to him and so made truely good 3. He the Spirit of Grace whence it is first derived and always fed and maintained and made active a Spirit goes forth from him that cleanseth our Spirits and so makes our Conversation clean and holy If thou wouldst have thy Conscience and Heart purify'd and pacify'd and have thy Life certify'd go to Christ for all make use of him as of his blood to wash of thy guiltiness so of his spirit to purifie and sanctifie thee if thou wouldst have thy Heart reserv'd for God pure as his Temple if thou wouldst have thy Lusts cast out that pollute thee and findest no power to do it go to him desire him to scourge out that filthy Rable that abuse his House and make it a Den of Thieves Seek this as the only Way to have thy Soul and ways righted to be in Christ and then walk in him Let thy Conversation be in Christ study him and follow him look on his Way on his Graces his Obedience and Humility and Meekness till by looking on them they make the very Idea of thee new as the Painter doth of a Face he would draw to the Life so behold his Glory that thou maist be transformed from glory to glory but as it is there added this must be by the Spirit of the Lord do not therefore look on him simply as an example without thee but as l●e within thee having received him walk not only like him but in him as the Apostle St. Paul speaks and as the word is here your Conversation not only according to Christ but in Christ draw from his full●ess Grace for Grace 2dly The other thing in the Words is the advantage of this good Conscience and Conversation 1 Even external towards the malicious ungodly World they shall be ashamed that falsly accuse you thus often it is ●ven most evident to men the victory of Innocency silent Innocency most strongly confuting all calumny making the ungodly false accusers hide their heads thus without stirring the Integrity of a Christian conquers as a Rock unremoved breaks the Waters that are dashing against it And thi● not only a lawful but laudible way of revenge shaming calumny out of it and punishing evil-speakers by well-doing shewing really how false their ac●users were this the powerfullest Apology and Refutation as his was of the Sophister that would prove there were no motion by rising up