Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	darkness_n	heart_n	shine_v	3,010	5	9.0570	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77901	Poimēnopurgos. Pastorum propugnaculum. Or, The pulpits patronage against the force of un-ordained usurpation, and invasion. By Thomas Ball, sometimes Fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now minister of the Gospel in Northampton, at the request, and by the advice, of very many of his neighbour-ministers.	Ball, Thomas, 1589 or 90-1659.	1656 (1656)	Wing B584; Thomason E863_10; ESTC R206670	204,465	356

and creating of the new man the Minister may be imployed to fashion and prepare the soul for such a glorious guest as grace which only God can put in and infuse and so it seems he doth (l) 2 Cor. 4. 6. for God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ For the dulnesse and bluntnesse of the tool or Engine doth illustrate and advance the skill and power of the architect and principal efficient as Eliahs throwing water upon the wood and sacrifice did much illustrate and inflame the fire that fell at last upon it and consumed it (m) 1 King 18. 38 39. it is indeed a very vigorous and precious liquor that is able to recover men that are dead in trespasses and sins that can open their eyes and turn them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan unto God but we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us (n) 2 Cor. 4. 7 we are made use of in the work but it is God alone that adds the ultimate and last perfection and completion (o) 1 Cor. 3. 5. who then is Paul or who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed as God gave to every man When we have acted as fellow Creatures with them and wound them up as far as reason and morall Arguments and motives will allow us God poure● that living principle into ●h●ir souls that never was in our possession and Dominion for neither is he ●hat planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase (p) 1 Cor. 3. 7 3. Do we do any thing herein without a call do we obtrude and thrust our selves upon him in the work come we to counsel before we be called God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their sins unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (q) 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. we are therefore Officers and not obtruders in the work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we bring this Embassy or offer to the world from Christ as though God did beseech you by us who hath made us able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life (r) 2 Cor. 3. 6. When God resolved for to convert the Eunuch he sendeth Philip on the Embassage to him (s) Act. 8. 26. c. so likewise Ananias unto Paul and Peter to Cornelius and we believe that we are likewise put into Commission and Authority by proper delegates and act by his direction and appointment that is supreme and principal as we have shewed before therefore may do expect allowance and concurrence from him in the work Were we mechanick persons not allowed ingaged and versed in some other course of life we might well doubt our own Authority and fear we were more bold then welcome but being called we are and may be confident 4. As for that prohibition of the Prophet we say it is comparative not positive namely that in the Gospel-times the truths of Christ and knowledge of the Son of God should be so evident that men might get more of themselves without a teacher then with one in the legal administrations as the Apostle plainly shews (t) 1 Cor. 3. for had the prohibition been expresse and positive Christ had done ill to be so sedulous in teaching and instructing us as he was (u) Luk. 21. 37 38. and the Apostle to press the same with so much eagerness and importunity upon his willing and obedient Timothy (w) 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. nay why do our Brethren that object preach so much as they do turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum when the Arrow falls upon the head of him that shot it we poor men think we are obliged and woe is to us if we preach not as the Apostle speaks (x) 1 Cor. 9. 16. but they believe they are at liberty and all they do is but a free-will-offering we have been trained up to this imployment from our youth and have nothing else to do but they may say as he doth in the Prophet (y) Zach. 13. ●5 I am no Prophet I am an Husband-man for man taught me to keep Cattle from my youth We think we cannot leave unlesse we be restrained and forbidden by Authority and not to do it would be to us a sin against our present judgement perswasion as the Apostle shews (z) Rom. 14. 23. they do not think so and so may better obey the prohibition of the Prophet CHAP. XXIV Containing the second Objection and Answer IT s true God useth Instruments but is not limited Obj. 2 and tied up to any one kind of them imployes an Angel on his errand when he pleaseth (a) Judg. 2. 1 2 3 4. and when he pleaseth men (b) 1 Sam. 2. 27. but any man will serve for if he findes not fit men he can make them (c) Mat. 4. 19. follow me and I will make you fishers of men if God sets any man on work to do good to call upon his friends and Neighbours and exhort them to leave their evil wayes and turn unto the Lord why should we doubt but he may do it for conversion of a sinner unto God is a service that with Gods assistance any man may do that hath Gods Spirit in him and is himself converted as Christ sayes unto Peter (d) Luk. 12. 3● when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren and so we finde they did for Joh● the Baptist begets Andrew and he begets Peter Jesus begets Philip and Philip begets Nathaniel and so they begat one another unto the end of the Chapter (e) Joh. 1. 36 37. c. and therefore the Commission and Command is universal (f) 1 Pet. 4. 10. as any man hath received the gift so let him minister the same unto another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God for if the work of turning men to God were tied and confined to some kind of men and without an Officer and such a kind of man could not be done how many precious opportunities of doing good would be unfruitful therefore the Apostle makes it the businesse of any one to turn another from his error and save his soul (g) Jam. 5. 19 ●0 and accordingly they have not only allowance and authority to do it but are commanded and enjoyned (h) 1 Thes 5. 1. wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another as you do and again (i) Heb. 3. 13. exhort one another daily whilst it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin for it were a sad thing if a man durst not tell his Neighbour of his fault