Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	commit_v	sin_n	sin_v	2,906	5	9.7075	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66076	Doctrine of contentment briefly explained, and practically applied in a treatise on 1 Tim. 6. 8. / by Henry Wilkinson ...	Wilkinson, Henry, 1616-1690.	1671 (1671)	Wing W2235; ESTC R415	95,837	200

brand out of the burning and how in a time of pestilence when thousands fell besides thee and ten thousands at thy right hand God hath given thee thy life for a prey and in an hard time when trading decayed supplies were deficient and not visibly to be had then in that pinching time God provided for thee and supplied thy wants make then a catalogue of the merciful providences of God vouchsafed towards thee keep them written especially in the table-book of thy own heart and then upon grounded experience thou wilt infer these conclusions 1. God hath delivered supplied and helped 2. God is one and the same merciful God as able and as willing to help as ever 3. Hence is to be inferred that I will cast my self upon the providence and be guided by the wisdom and wait quietly for the salvation of God 4. That Christian who is a diligent observer of providence will conclude experimentally with David Psal 73. 28. But it is good for me to draw nigh unto God An eighth Duty is to be much in prayer Duty 8. Be much in prayer and frequent address unto the throne of grace Samuel a child of prayer was a child much beloved and a mercy received in answer to prayer is a very wellcome and seasonable mercy The way then to procure this excellent grace of Contentment is to beg it of God and to be earnest solicitours for it unto the throne of grace And although I do not conceive that at all times one and the self same method of prayer is necessary yet it is of great use to pour out such a prayer as may consist of these three parts Confession Petition and Thanksgiving 1. For Confession Let us confess our 1. Let us confess our sins sins in particular with their several aggravations against the Law and against the Gospel partly by omitting what the law commandeth and committing what the law forbiddeth Let us reflect upon our multiplied provocations how frequently we have sinned against knowledge and conscience and against many Sacramental Covenants of better obedience And what deserve we at the hands of God and what can we expect for our deserts less then hell and damnation We deserve not the least crumb of bread which we eat neither deserve we to breathe in the common air The serious consideration of our ill deservings and unworthiness should prevail with us to calmness and quietness of spirit for notwithstanding we suffer very great and heavy afflictions yet we suffer farr less then we deserve That we are on this side the grave and on this side hell and that we have any thing left to keep us alive in the world considering our many and manifold provocations it is Gods great patience to bear with us and his great and wonderful mercy to let us enjoy even the least of what 2. Let us joyn Petition with Confession we have 2. Let us joyn Petition with Confession in our prayers and let one petition amongst others be that God would give us a contented and quiet spirit This contented spirit comes alone from God and he alone can perswade the heart of man to be contented and satisfied God can both supply our wants and when we are surrounded with variety of wants give us a cheerful frame of spirit amidst them all The Apostle was assured My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil 4. 19. in Christ Jesus In the best of those things which are under the Sun there is something lacking we must therefore go to God for supply What is wanting in any creature God is onely able to fill up All we are and have comes from God but that mercy which is given in answer to prayer is to be more valued for when we can say particularly and experimentally This mercy I sought of God in prayer and he hath vouchsafed unto me a gracious answer wherefore I will for ever trust God and stay upon his gracious promises then do we make a right and suitable improvement of mercies A contented mind is the gift of God it is worth asking for and worth having and keeping O Christian pray earnestly for this grace of Contentment and when thou hast got it part not with it but keep it with all care and delight 3. Let us with Confession and Petition 3. Thanksgiving joyn Thanksgiving to our prayer For there is not the least mercy that we enjoy but we have cause to be thankful for it As for our food and raiment and our daily preservation for our lives and livelyhoods even for all that we have we ought to be thankful There is not a bit of bread which we eat nor a sup of bear which we drink nor any clothes which we wear but for them all we ought to acknowledge Gods bounty to us with all thankfulness Gods providence watcheth over us and all our provisions supplies and comforts flow from his gracious hand of providence Now a thankful man both in his lips and heart is exuberant in extolling the name of God and celebrating his praises and speaking good of his name and telling of his loving kindnesses all the day long and such grateful language suppresseth all murmurings and repinings and settles the soul in a holy security and peace A ninth Duty is to exercise sobriety and Duty 9. Exercise sobriety and temperance temperance in the use of all those things which we enjoy as in eating drinking and sleeping and in the managing of all the duties of our calling we must be sober and temperate Sobriety and watchfulness are joyned together by the Apostle St Peter Be sober be vigilant because your adversary 1 Pet. 5. 8. the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour And in that golden chain which the Apostle mentions 2 Pet. 1. 6. Temperance is one of those golden links so that a ready way to learn contentment is to be temperate and moderate in the use of any worldly things Neither must we deny our selves in unlawful things onely for that we must do at all times but sometimes we ought to deny our selves in things lawful by not taking our utmost liberty in exacting with rigour our own rights and dues The charge of the Apostle is Let your moderation be Phil. 4. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. animus in convictu moderatus miuimè rigidus etiam sui juris exactor Beza in loc known unto all men The Lord is at hand If then we labour after sobriety temperance and moderation and have made some considerable progress in those studies we shall be well contented with Gods allowance in the present station wherein God hath been pleased to place us in this present world Whence comes discontents and vexations and tumultuous perturbations of spirit but from intemperance and want of moderation Could men with sobriety and moderation order all their affairs though they had lesser estates