Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	great_a	king_n	people_n	9,166	5	4.4099	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B03556	The mischiefes and danger of the sin of ignorance, or, Ignorance arraigned, with the causes, kinds, and cure thereof. As also, the excellency, profit, and benefit of heavenly knowledge. / By W. Geering, minister of the word at Lymington, in the county of Southampton.	Gearing, William.	1659 (1659)	Wing G436A; ESTC R177550	110,322	239

search them we answer if Christ only had then spoken to the learned his exception had been just but Christ then preached to the whole people of the Jewes and if to all the Jewes then the same exhortation doth concern all Christians and both Jewes and Gentiles by the Scriptures must have the knowledge of Christ and of Eternal life therefore all must search the Scriptures Acts 17.11 When we urge that the Bereans searched the Scriptures whether those things were so Bellarmine answereth that was because they doubted whether he was an Apostle or no. But I answer the matter is not why they searched the Scriptures but that they did search them and are commended for it by the Holy Ghost that they compared his doctrine with the doctrine of the Prophets 1 John 4.1 Then ought all Christians thus to do to try the spirits for now more doubt may be made then at that time and no search can be but by the Scriptures and the knowledge of them thus do the Papists keep the people from the knowledg of God John 7.49 and so bring the curse of God upon them this people who know not the law are accursed therefore they must partake in the woe denounced by Christ against the Lawyers Luke 11.52 Wo be to you Lawyers for ye have taken away the key of knowledge Mat. 22.13 ye entered not in your selves and them that were entring in you hindered Matthew saith You shut the gates of heaven to those that were entring in Object It may be said that as Christ is the dore John 10. so he only hath the key of David Revel Isai 22.22 3.7 he hath the key of knowledge Resp Christ indeed hath it originally and by his own power and authority Luke 24.45 and he is said to open the Scriptures and to open the understandings of the disciples and his Ministers have the key of knowledge by deputation Mat. 16.19 as a Noble-man commended his treasury to his Steward 1 Cor. 4.1 now this key they hid away 1. Privatively by hiding their talent in a napkin and and not opening and expounding the Scriptures and teaching men the way of salvation as their duty was Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should keep knowledge and the people should seek the Law of God at his mouth but 2. Which was worse they hindred others from entring as Joh. 9.22 they agreed that if any man did confesse Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue and thus do the Papists their true successours who regard more their earthly preferments then look after an inheritance in heaven and they keep out those that would enter in by vexing all those that will not with themselves receive the mark of the beast upon them The Lord complaineth that the leaders of his people do cause them to erre Isa 9.16 and they that are led of them are destroyed i.e. they are ●ed into errour and vanity and destroyed for lack of knowledge This may serve to reprove all such as are ignorant 2. Repr and care not for true knowledge such as hate the light and love darknesse it is the property of fooles to hate knowledge and love simplicity Prov. 1.22 Quest But who are they that do thus despise and reject knowledge Resp In generall all they that do despise Gods Ordinances do despise knowledge but more particularly 1. All those that reject the word of knowledge they that reject the reading and searching of the Scriptures do reject knowledge or if they read them sometime will not meditate upon them Col. 3.16 that will not let the word of God dwell in their hearts richly and in all wisdome as Owles and Bats fly not in the day time but come abroad onely in the night because all the Birds of the ayre will come about them and chatter at them by reason of their deformed shape so because wicked men know that if they should frequently look into the glasse of the word they should see the ugly deformity of thei● own shapes and be brought to abhorr themselves as the most stupendious monsters i● the world therefore it is that they kee● themselves in the dark dungeon of ignorance and hate the light but this their way i● their folly they have rejected the word of th● Lord and what wisdom is in them saith th● Prophet Jeremy Jerem. 8.9 2. All those that do reject despise the faithful Ministery of the word these do reject knowledge when men like the deaf adder stop their ears against the voyce of the charmer forfear lest they should be charmed by the power of that voyce out of their works of darknesse the Priests lips should keep knowledge and they i. e. the people should seek the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts he must so keep knowledge as like the wise and faithfull Steward in the Gospel Mal. 2.7 Nomine legis continetur omnium ad benè vivendum necessariorum cognitio Cyril he may give to his fellow servants every one their portion in due season Now the people are bound to seek the law at his mouth In the name of the Law saith one of the Ancients is contained the knowledge of all things necessary to well living the reason followeth because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts Therefore all those that live under a powerfull ministery and resort not to the publick congregations or judge it unnecessary to frequent those places where the word is to be had from the mouthes of Gods faithfull Ministers they are despisers of knowledge because they despise the messengers of the Lord of Hosts whose lips must preserve knowledge and our Saviour saith he that heareth you speaking to those whom he sent out to preach the Gospell heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me therefore Christ denounced a woe against Chorazin and Bethsaida verse 13. They were Cities near the lake of Genesareth or Tiberias where Christ had preacht many Sermons Mat. 4. done many miracles whence he had chosen certain of his Apostles saying if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sydon which have been done in you they had long agoe repented c. and that it should be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon in the day of judgemevt then for them he denounceth a woe likewise against Capernaum and thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven shalt be thrust down to hell and then he addeth he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me whereby it seemeth that those places were notorious for despising Christ and his messengers sent unto them Capernaum was a City of Galilee lying at the mouth of Jordan a commodious Haven and Harbour of ships a place where our Saviour had often preacht by reason of the great concourse of people that resorted thither yea its thought that he dwelt there and so one of the Auncients saith that he graced Bethlem

eye is clear and quick-sighted the body is well guided so where the understanding and reason and judgement is rightly informed there the soule is well ordered otherwise there is nothing but disorder and confusion True knowledg will direct thy choyce to forsake the bad and follow the good to leave earthly things Eccles 9.15 Eccles 10.6 and cleave to heavenly Wisdome is profitable to direct saith Solomon even as light directeth him in his way the knowledge of God in a saving way will make thee not to place happinesse in pleasing thy humour with the ancient Philosophers but it will make thee content with Paul to give over all to gain Christ Prov. 19.22 true knowledge guideth the tongue understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it the heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips that is as if he had said whereas a fooles heart is upon the tip of his tongue to vent and utter whatever he knoweth at all adventures a wise mans tongue is ordered and guided by his heart to keep and observe a decorum both in speech and silence And concerning actions Solomon bringeth in wisdom speaking thus in her own person saying Prov. 8.19 20. My fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and my revenue then choyce Silver and then addeth a reason saying I lead in the way of righteousnesse and in the midst of the paths of judgement Now on the other side if thine eye be evill thy whole body is full of darknesse as a man that hath an ill sight a pearl in his eye or is pur-blind is oftentimes nay evermore deceived in his choyce and misseth his mark So he that hath his understanding darkned and dazzeled wanteth a right judgement to guide him in the worship and service of God the corruption of his own heart and proud flesh the sleights and suggestions of Satan and the evill examples of others with whom he liveth being as Gregory Nazianzen saith interposed between the eye of his mind and the light of the Gospel as a thick cloud or the shadow of the body of the earth between our eyes and the light of the Sun Now where this evill eye is there is nothing but darknesse and the fruits of it amazednesse horrour and confusion where understanding is wanting the whole life must be nothing but disorder knowledge in the soule is as a King in his Realm the head to the body the eye in the head a Pilot in a ship yea in a word as the Sun to the world now what truer mirrour of misery then a Realme without a King or Governour or whose King is a child not so much in years as in discretion as Rehoboam was and what can that body do that hath an head blind without eyes or that is still distempered fit for nothing but sleep what can be expected to become of a ship whose Pilot and guide is still stark drunk neither knowing nor caring how to guide her at Sea nor bring her to shore and what greater darknesse is there in the greater world then when the Sun the eye thereof hath run his race and is gone to rest untill his rising again as great disorder discomfort and confusion is there in a man without knowledge and spitituall understanding nay farre greater unlesse Jesus Christ the Sonne of Righteousnesse arise in it and shine upon it by the beames of his grace and favour 2. Knowledge is usefull to strengthen a man a knowing man is a strong man Eccles 7.19 a fool is a weak man wisdome strengthneth the wise more then ten mighty men that are in the City saith Solomon it will more support and strengthen a man then many great friends in Court or City it will strengthen a man in great straits Friends may faile a man and oftentimes do faile him but true wisdome doth not faile a man in the greatest straits it leadeth a man through the greatest difficulties and supports him under them to this purpose the Apostle prayeth that the Colossians might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will Colos 1.9 10 11. in all wisdome and spirituall understanding and increase in the knowledge of God that they might be strengthned with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Wisdome strengthens us rightly to use our spiritual armour both defensive and offensive as it is best for us and appointed to us When a great King besieged a little City and built great bulwarks against it there was found in it a poore wise man and he by his wisdome delivered the City then said I wisdom is better then strength Eccles 9.14 15 16. and verse 18. he addeth Wisdome is better then weapons of warre the Devill is like this great King that cometh against and besiegeth the little City of the soule buildeth great bulwarks against it but a poor Christian by wisdom delivereth his soule a man that knoweth his own weaknesse and wants that knoweth the necessity of grace that knoweth Jesus Christ to be the Fountain of wisdome and strength he goeth out of himselfe to Jesus Christ making use of the vertue of his death and resurrection to overcome all temptations unto sin 3. Knowledge doth exceedingly encourage a man and hearten him against all discouragements when a man knoweth God knoweth his service and knoweth what God requireth at his hands this doth exceedingly encourage a man upon the performance of his duty Paul saith 2 Tim. 1.12 I am not ashamed of my sufferings for the preaching of the Gospel and giveth this reason for I know whom I have believed and he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day When a man knoweth the will of God and walketh according to the light he hath received when a man knoweth the promises and his own interest in them this doth mightily encourage a man under sufferings when once we have gotten understanding of Christ and the Promises and Priviledges by him the heart is full of courage he knoweth then let God cast him into what state or condition he will that it shall go well with him this will make a man couragious in death it self What though I die yet saith he with Job Job 19.25 I know that my Redeemer liveth and in that he liveth he liveth for my good he is my life Col. 3.4 who is the life My life is bound up in him who is the Fountain of Life Joh. 14.19 and because he liveth I shall live also 4. Knowledge is sweet and comfortable Eccles 11.7 light is sweet and it is a comfortable thing for a man with his eyes to behold the light of the Sun So when an ignorant soul is enlightened with the true knowledge of God and his wayes this is very comfortable What a comfort is it to come out of the dark dungeon of ignorance into Gods marvelous light the light of knowledge

by his birth Nazareth by his education and Capernaum by his habitation and so it is called his own City Matth. 9.1 By the phrase of lifting up to heaven he meaneth that it was much in request in the eyes of the world not only by reason of her great wealth and riches but also because she had the means of knowledge and of salvation having Christ daily conversing with them and preaching to them and by her casting down to hell he meaneth that she should be abased and have her pride pluckt down in regard of her temporal estate which came to passe not long after when it was ruined by the Romans and all such her inhabitants as did reject the preaching of Christ and his messengers sent unto them were condemned and went to Hell eternally Many there are that dream of Anabaptistical revelations and I know not what kind of strange and immediate inspirings despising the publick teaching and ministry of man I know God can teach otherwise but I have no ground to think that he will he that desireth to Iodge among the wise Prov. 5.31 let him prepare his eare to hearken to the instruction of life saith Solomon thou maist never expect a blessing from him who is a teacher of the heart if thou despisest him whom God hath appointed to be a teacher of the Eare as the holy Scripture is the book of wisdome out of which God giveth subtilty to the simple so teaching by his Ministers is the Pipe by which this heavenly wisdom is conveyed to us from the Fountain and no man is assured by the word of God to attain this knowledge but by this course 3. All those that reject prayer which is a seeking of God for a blessing upon the means whereby knowledge might be acquired The Psalmist saith that the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God Psal 14.3 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voyce for understanding Prov. 2 3. c. there are many that pray not for knowledge nor for a blessing on the means of knowledg and those are such as despise knowledge Paul speaks of such as despise the Word the Ministery Prayer and the means of knowledge as if their case were desperate and saith 1 Cor. 14.38 if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant as if he should say if any man will despise the means of knowledge and chuse to be still ignorant let him be ignorant to his own perill be it he will run through inner darknesse to utter darknesse I fear brethren that the commonnesse of the word and of preaching hath bred the contempt thereof I read that when Elephants were first brought into Asia and two of them brought and presented to King Antiochus he made great account of them and held them in high esteem calling the one Ajax and the other Achilles but in processe of time growing common in the countrey by reason of their traffick into those places whence they came notwithstanding they were of no lesse use then they were before Nay in all likelihood of more because they were better acquainted with the use of them and knew better how to mannage them yet because they were common they contemned them and called them Lucanian oxen So doubtlesse the word of God in the dayes of our fore-fathers in this nation when the light of Gods truth first brake out of that grosse darknesse of Popery it was highly esteemed and the godly Ministery and Preachers of the word were valued as precious jewels but now it is just an hundred years that we have had the Gospel among us this very year 1658. therefore it is as odious and loathsome as it is common but did men know the worth of it they would not despise the means of knowledge Repr 3 This may reprove such as go about to hinder and discourage others from getting knowledge such as will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven themselves nor suffer others how many sottish and wicked Parents will discourage their children from reading the Scriptures and frequenting Sermons they will not get knowledge themselves nor suffer their children how many Masters will not allow their servants one hour in a week to hear a Lecture but cry to them as Pharaoh to the Israelites when they spake of going out to serve the Lord ye are idle ye are idle and so encrease their tasks many ignorant Masters are well contented with ignorant servants with an ignorant family like themselves wicked wretches that are wholly led by the Prince of darknesse do labour to hinder others from attaining the light of saving knowledge Thus when Sergius Paulus a prudent man called for Paul and Barnabas defiring to be instructed by them in the knowledge of Christ Elymas the sorcerer withstood them seeking to turn away the Deputy from the faith Acts 13.8 and for this the hand of God was upon him the Lord smote him with corporal who laboured to keep others in spiritual blindnesse verse 11. and after the stubborn Jews had rejected the word the Apostles turne from them to the Gentiles yet then the Jews stirred up devout and honourable women and the chief men of the City and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts verse 50. and for this very cause the Apostle saith 1 Thess 2.16 they filled up their sins and the wrath of God comes upon them to the uttermost Vse 3 If ignorance be the chief cause of a peoples destruction then suffer the word of exbortation Let us all labour after knowledge that we may be men of knowledge Prov. 10 14. wise men will lay up knowledge saith Solomon or store it up as the covetous man layes or storeth up his bags of silver and gold Wisdom is the principal thing Prov. 4.7 therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding many men spend so much of their time about getting of the world that they can find little or no time to get wisdom and knowledge they see the want of riches as they think but they see not the want of spiritual knowledge Diogenes had a pretty answer to some that askt him why Philosophers rather followed rich men then rich men Philosophers why that is no marvaile at all said he for Philosophers know that they want rich mens wealth but rich men will not acknowledge that they want Philosophers wisdome Job 11 11 Most men hate the imputation of ignorance vain man would be wise so pleasing a thing is knowledge to reasonable creatures not too much degenerated and though men run a course tending to ignorance and errour yet they hate the imputation of ignorance as a thing very reproachfull and yet some such monsters there are that care not to acquire any more knowledge then is necessary to the keeping up of a poor sottish and halfe-brutish kind of life and for God