Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	fruit_n	good_a	tree_n	12,773	5	9.6998	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14386	Romphaiopheros = the sword-bearer. Or, The Byshop of Chichester's armes emblazoned in a sermon preached at a synod by T.V. B. of D. sometimes fellow of Queenes Colledge in Oxford, and now pastor of the church at Cockfield in Southsex.	Vicars, Thomas, d. 1638.	1627 (1627)	STC 24705; ESTC S119120	20,427	32

that double effect it worketh upon the harts of men It hath two edges and it cuts with both But the one edge cuts so as that it lets out only the impostume and corrupt blood upon which there followes health and salvation the other edge cuts more deepely and giues a mortall blowe upon which there followes death and destruction For the better opening of this obserue that in the visible Church of Christ there are intermixed two sorts of people and will alwaies so remaine untill the day of separation at the last judgement Then they are called sheepe and goats now they are called elect and reprobate Both these living within the borders of the Church where God hath set up the ministerie do both of them heare the Preacher and receiue the word but with different successe for to the one it is the savour of life unto life and to the other it is the savour of death unto death 2. Cor. 2. 16. That position in philosophie is most true Idem quà idem semper facit idem that if the cause be the same in each respect then it bringeth forth alwayes the same effect but if it varie never so little either intrinsecally in it selfe or extrinsecally in respect of some circumstantiall adjacent it produceth not onely different but also most contrariant effects as we see in the fire The same heate that melteth waxe till it drop againe like water hardneth the clay till it be a very stone And we see the same in sweet oyntment as Gregor Nyssen hath observed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euen as the same oyntment which addeth life and strength to the doue taketh away both life and motion from the beetle so the word of Christ or Christ preached to the Iewes is a stumbling block and to the Grecians foolishnesse but to them that are called both of the Iewes and Greekes it is the wisdome of God and the power of God Rom. 1. 24. By this then we haue now delivered there is taken away a scruple of some Ministers who dare not in a manner preach some part of Gods word I meane the Law and the threatenings of the Law against Sinners because that by the preaching of these things many fall back into desperation and damnation But the man of God ought not to be offended at this for what saith the Apostle We are the sweet savour of Christ unto God both in them that are saved and in them that perish 2. Cor. 2. Let us be carefull to discharge our duties and let us leaue the successe to God And let this be our staffe of comfort to support us in the exercise of our ministrie that whether the word that we preach worke life and salvation in our auditors which we so much desire or it worke death and destruction in them which we so much feare yet still we are the sweet savour of Christ unto God both in them that are saved and in them that perish 2. Cor. 2. 15. Secondly hereby we haue an error corrected that runs among the people They cannot indure at no hand that the preacher should open the doctrine of the Law or denounce the curses contained in Gods word against sinners Why I say they this is the ready way to plung men into the pit of despaire and to send them to hell before they be dead But these people do not rightly understand themselues It is not for them to prescribe unto vs either the forme or matter of preaching We are tyed unto both to presse the law with all earnestnesse and to preach the Gospell with all meekenesse of spirit A necessity is laid upon us for both and wee must not keepe backe any part of Gods counsell from the people And let men content themselues and never storme at the matter Let them looke carefully about them and let them be assured of this that God will haue his glory upon them either in their conversion if they belong to the number of his chosen servants or in their confusion if they be rejectaneous and castawaies The Lord hath created all things for his owne sake euen the wicked men against the day of evill Prov. 16. 4. II. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We haue done with the first attribute a double edged sword there remaines now the other onely a sharpe sword and this seemes to giue life to that which went before If it were a sword and had never an edge it would be of no use if it were a sword which had two edges and they were dull and blunt ones it would be but of small use and therefore as it is a sword and a double edged sword so it is a sharpe two edged sword If men will walke on in sinfull and wicked courses they must not make account to go away smoothly and never be touched for it They shall meete at one time or another with a sharpe sword in their way which God hath set up in the ministrie of his Word and they shall not avoyd it For what Esay the Lords Prophet saith of himselfe every faithfull minister of Christ may apply to himselfe The Lord hath called me from the wombe and made mention of mee from my mothers belly and he hath made my mouth like a sharpe sword Esay 49. 2. Ministers must deale sharpely with notorious sinners If Herod will play the wanton and keepe his brother Philips wife against Gods law he shall be sure to heare of it as well by S. Ioh. Baptist. It is not lawfull for thee to haue her Math. 14. 4. If the Scribes and Pharisees will take part with their fathers and progenitours in their viperous qualities they shall be sure to heare of it aswell by the same S. Iohn O generation of vipers who hath forwarned you to flye from the Wrath to come Now also is the axe laid to the roote of the trees Every tree therefore that bringeth not foorth good fruit is cut downe and cast into the fire Math 3. 10. Indeed I confesse in the text there it is called an axe Now also is the axe layd to the roote but that axe there is all one with the sword here and so you haue them both expressed together in one verse Hos. 6. 5. I haue hewen them by my Prophets and I haue cut them with the words of my mouth An elegant metaphor to expresse Gods sharpe dealing with that sinfull and rebellious people that were growne tanquam nodosa ligna saith Zanchius such knottie peeces of wood that a plainer would not serue the turn to smooth them but they must haue an axe to hew them so knottie and hard withall that a knife would not serue to prune them but they must haue a sword to cut them asunder Dolavi eos I haue hewen them by my Prophets there 's the worke of the axe secui eos I haue cut them with the words of my mouth there 's the worke of the sword And because we haue