Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	bring_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	12	3	8.7362	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20168	An exposition vpon the first chapter of the second Epistle of Peter with, the principall doctrines naturally arising from euery verse of the same chapter. By Stephen Denison minister of Kree-Church London.	Denison, Stephen, d. 1649 or 50.	1622 (1622)	STC 6603; ESTC S109588	124,709	220

we liue first such as are negligent commers to the Church Secondly such as come to the Church but attend not as they ought to the word but suffer their mindes and senses to be carried after other matters Thirdly such as come and hearken to the word but go their way againe without any purpose to practise any iot of that which they heare All these are negligent hearers they attend not to the word of God or they take not heed vnto it The second doctrine propounded is that Doctrine It is a commendable thing to take heede to the word To the which taking heed ye do well c. For what did our Sauiour so highly commend Mary in Luke 10.42 but because she had chosen the good part that is attended vpon the hearing of the word for the attaining of saluation And for what were the Beroeans so highly commended Acts 17.11 but because they searched the Scriptures c. Reason And to heare and take heed to the word must needes be commendable first because it is an honest practise Secondly because it is a godly practise Thirdly because it is and hath beene the practise of all Saints from generation to generation Vse This serues iustly to condemne the practise of them which rayle against going to sermons against reading Gods word and other holy duties These rayling Rabshachees should consider that it were their duty rather to commend these practises Secondly this may serue to teach vs neuer to be ashamed of this practise of taking heede to the word of God though all the world should cast contempt vpon it yet the thing in it selfe is truly commendable Thirdly this may serue to encourage all such as giue diligent heede to the word of God alwaies prouided that they be carefull to follow two callings viz. both their generall calling and also their particular A true Christian must so heare as that he still haue time to earne his owne bread and he must so labour for things necessary for this life as that still he haue his religious houres euery day to attend vnto Gods word either read or preached Ye doe well Whence obserue in the third place that Doctrine It is the dutie of Ministers to encourage the people in their hearing of Gods word by due commendation giuen vnto them for the same Thus doth Peter in this Text when he perceiued that his auditory did giue diligent heede to the things that were spoken he animateth them with this commendation Vnto the which giuing heede ye doe well The like practise we obserue in Paul in 1. Cor. 11.2 Now I commend you brethren that you remember me in all things and keepe the ordinances as I deliuered them vnto you And in 1. Thess 1.6 Ye became followers of vs and of the Lord hauing receiued the word in much affliction with ioy in the holy Ghost So that ye were ensamples to all that beleeue in Macedonia and Achaia The like practise we see in Christ Luke 8.21 My mother and my brethren are these which heare the word of God and doe it he so farre commendeth the diligent hearers of Gods word that he seemeth to preferre them before his mother which brought him into the world The like we see in the same our blessed Sauiour in Reu. 3.8 where he commendeth the Church of Philadelphia for keeping his word Reason And there is good ground for it that a Minister may and ought to commend the people for their diligent heede giuen vnto the word As first because it may be a meanes to encourage them in their zeale yea to make them more zealous Secondly because it may be a meanes to stirre vp others which are as yet negligent of the word to become zealous hearers of the same Thirdly because a Minister shall hereby discharge a Ministeriall good dutie to God though no successe should follow vpon the same 1. Obiection But some possibly may obiect That it is not safe to commend Gods children for their well doing lest they should be puffed vp by our commendation Answ I answere We must not be too iealous of our brethren we must hope the best let vs doe that which God requireth as a duty of vs and leaue the successe to God 2. Obiection Others may likewise obiect that it is not safe for a Minister of all other to commend people for taking heede to the word of God because this were the way to come to be suspected of vaine-glorie or of going about to draw disciples after him so if a Minister shall giue almes he shall finde some that will taxe him for hypocrisie or if he preach earnestly against sinne some possibly will say he is too busie or contentious But a Minister in this case must passe very little to be iudged of mans iudgement there is one which iudgeth him which is the Lord. Let a Minister doe that which is pleasing to God though all the world should censure him for it Vse This may serue iustly to reproue too many Ministers which reproue people for taking heede to the word thinking them to be too forward if they be zealous to heare But let such know it were their dutie rather to commend such people and to blesse God for them and to turne the edge of their reproach vpon profane neglecters of the ordinance of God Secondly this should teach Gods people to giue such heede vnto the word and to be so diligent in hearing and attending and to carry themselues so reuerently in the house of God as that Ministers may haue iust cause to commend them and to reioyce of them Euery one could be content to be praised but how few be there which labour to deserue prayse Thirdly this should teach vs to be thankefull to our gracious God in that he is not only content to accept of our zeale and forwardnesse but also is willing that we should be commended for the same As vnto a light Whence note this point viz. that Doctrine the word is a light And for proofe hereof I referre you to that in Psal 119.105 Thy word is a Lampe vnto my feete and a light vnto my path and 1. Iohn 2.9 The darkenesse is past and the true light now shineth and Iohn 5.35 Ye could haue reioyced in his light for a season and Iohn 3.14 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loued darkenesse rather then light Reason And indeede the word of God may well be compared to light First because as light is an incorruptible thing though it shine vpon a stinking dunghill yet it is not corrupted Euen so the word is vncorruptible seede as Peter termeth it 1. Pet. 1.23 And though it be preached to neuer so base persons yet it receiueth no tainture or infection Secondly because as light discouereth the soulnesse of the roome or place where it shineth euen so doth the word discouer the iniquitie of such places where it is