Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	day_n	night_n	utter_v	1,344	5	10.6230	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59934	[Evangelion aionion eis t aionch] doxotaton, or, A glimpse of gospel glory. The first part together with a short but pithie treatise of Mr. E.D. shewing that Peter was never at Rome : to which is subjoyned as an appendix some pregnant collections by ... H. Nelson ... to a like purpose.	Sherwin, William, 1607-1687?; E. D., Mr.; Nelson, H., 17th cent.	1661 (1661)	Wing S3404; ESTC R25256	86,334	226

to glorifie himself c. So let us now consider that he hath been is and will be more glorious in the eyes of all his people by this Gospel grace then by any other or all other his glorious works besides whereby he hath any wayes discovered his glory in the world Now that we may at least represent some glimpse of this spiritual glory in some measure sutable to what it is unto mens Souls we shall by the gracious assistance of God indeavour to tender it in this ensuing method First to offer some considerations of the glorious works of God in Creation Sustentation and Gubernation of all things in the world Secondly to tender some representations of the more glorious works of his Gospel grace displayed in his Church in the world Thirdly to shew some respective considerations wherein this work is more glorious then any yea then all the other First God hath by all the three former great and glorious works preached unto lost mankind how great and how good and how powerfull he is as Ps 19. 1 2 3. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto day uttereth speech night unto night sheweth knowledge There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard And though that his preaching to them hath been very clear loud and constant yet usually they have lent either a deaf or a negligent ear thereunto they would either not heare or not regard it Concerning the first of Creation the Apostle Paul gives us a clear evidence Ro. 1. 20. The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead so that they viz. the Gentiles are without excuse That his power was infinite the nature of the work doth shew since only an infinite power can create that is make something any thing all things out of nothing that he could make them without pains labour or trouble and that he could with the same facility make multitudes of worlds if he pleased as well as one That his Wisdom was wonderful therein was manifest in the manner order and quality of the work so to command creatures to be so successively in their order to supply in their uses the wants of each other so to dispose of their nature qualities properties uses as in Storehouses to Treasure up all their several vertues and benefits and yet so as to have them communicable for all their several due intendments and purposes and yet this work so vast so various yea not only in the want of order in things before but in want of being of things to be ordered doth abundantly publish the wisdome of the maker and disposer of them His goodness in that work is as largely evident for they were not only good as God first made them and his word witnessed of them but even he filled as the Psalmist saith with his goodness every living thing and to make them in their several courses as so many conduit pipes of goodness to all sorts of creatures in the world and by all these wayes and in what ever respect else the world was capable to have discovered his wonderful glory unto it in a work of Creation Now Secondly for the work of Sustentation whereof the Apostle Heb. 1. 3. declares he upholds all things by the word of his power that is in him no less great no less wonderful and glorious then the other All Creatures had no more power to preserve themselves of others in the State God hath made them or preserved them then they had to make themselves at first or one another did not he as well communicate a support to them in their Being comforte operations continually as well as at their first subsistance Creatures may by his order adde an accidental form to Gods matter but God by his glorious work of Sustentation by the same efficatiousness wherewith at first he made all Creatures in their kinds keeps all both their matter and essential forms together to which purpose the Apostle in that excellent discourse of his Acts. 17. 24. of all these temporal works of God brings in this forcible reason ver 28. in some sort acknowledged by very heathens in him we live and move and have our being If God should but withhold his powerful sustentation from any or all Creatures in the world they would suddenly be resolved into their first nothing For what is the order or course or strength of nature in all sorts of Creatures but what God first assigned to them and ever since at his pleasure preserveth in them but altereth when he pleaseth the Soul must needs guide and act the body as God appointeth it while it stayes therein because a natural agent but God as a free and voluntary agent can withdraw his support and actings from the Creatures or stop them as he pleaseth But now to consider that in an ordinary way of support God hath held up the whole Creation for now allmost 6000. years in the whole and all the main substantial parts of it and that in so strangly different manners and wayes The great Ball of the Earth to our understanding hangs upon nothing poysed with its own weight the Psalmist tells us that God hath founded it upon the floods Ps 24. 2. Yea but the waters and the earth are two heavy bodies that now make up one Globe and there is nothing contiguous to them but the thin adflitting penetrable ayre wherewith they are incompassed round about and yet this Globe stands so firmly that it cannot be moved Psal 93. 1. 96. 10. In both which places the Holy Spirit would have men know from this that God raigneth yet the principles moveable the parts moveable all things in it and upon it continual changeable and moveable and have been for so many thousand years and yet the foundation remains immoveable not of its own nature but at the pleasure of him that upholds it and that after all the transactings concussions successions intercourses and changings upon the earth since the first Creation of it yet those foundations are never the more shaking never the more tottering worne or decayed yet all this time the upper part of this world the material heavens are upheld in a contrary course in a strange unconceiveable seemingly violent circumvolution and turning about wonderfully continued even for the preservation use and benefit of all sorts of Creatures in the inferior Orbe which I can now only hint at being not my direct business in hand yet those heavens are as much unworn with their motion though so quick so constant so fracil as much unwearied or unweakned with their work and influence so great so efficarious so long continued as much undecayed in their beauty in their glory in their as primarie excellencie though they have been as long invected with it So that by this little touch of this matter we may see

and then put together the words to know the sence of what they from time to time may reade in any or all the books of God in this world set forth for their learning wherin God sets before all sorts of men new lessons of all kinds if they would not be such dullards and trewants that they will not take them out look then upon the letters of Gods great folioes in the world the Creation the upholding the disposeing and ordering of it and all things in it Look first to the motions illuminations and influences of the heavens look upon the successions of times dayes and nights winter and summer seed time and harvest but thou wilt say how shall I put these together and make sillables and sentences of them look unto the 19 Psalme and there the word of God shall be thy schoole-master herein it tells thee the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmaments sheweth his handy-work and day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth language that is they hold out matter for thy understanding knowledge or experience to work upon such works of God to his praise and glory so again Gen. 8. 22. Gods word instructs us that seed time and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease which is another syllable to spell the truth of God by in such things how that he hath ever since the destruction of the old world fulfilled that his promise in times of plenty the Psalmist shewes how he crowns the earth with his goodness Ps 65. 11 when all sorts of Creatures are full of rejoycing and comfort the Scriptures informs us to spell out thereby Ps 145. 16. That God openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing and so to come to thy own particular case and condition in outward things thou mayest spell out words and sentences by the help of many instructers which God allows thee as thy Reason if rightly regulated thy own and others experience observations examples of others Gods judgements providences mercies and all sorts of outward Dispensations of God whereby thy capacity may be raised up toward the attainment of higher learning by degrees upon thy well using thy first rudiments of Divine knowledge for they should all discover God unto thee and so thou mayest by degrees come to attain a good measure of skill in the truly liberal sciences in the schoole of spiritual and heavenly grace or glory if the use of the former bring thee not neerer to God they will make thee go further from him as it was with the Gentiles Ro. 1. 21. Because when they knew God by his outward works they glorified him not as God neither were thankful therefore he gave them up if such works of God discover him not more unto thee they will cause him the more to hide his face from thee as is observed of some skilful experienced Physitians they know and see so much of the secret operations of Nature that by that means they become more Atheistical forgetting and neglecting the God of Nature they pore so much upon the excellencies of the Creatures which they think they know and make use of by their own skill industry for their temporall advantage that they therefore forget and neglect the Creator and the glory therefore due unto him and doth not this Atheisme grow upon men for the want of spelling the words and sentences of Gods ordinary Books in the world by the teaching of his Word whilest men would chuse rather to be thought great Naturalists and Politicians in the world by others when without that teaching they become meere naturalls fooles and Ideots rather than soundly judicious persons in that which mainly ought to be knowne observed and acknowledged by them to the glory of the all-working God Secondly Let this direct such men as have learned to spell out Gods names in his outward works by the help of his Word then to set themselves better to reade him in his word of grace let them know the principles of his Religion and know the maine foundations of his divine truth especially let them take notice of these two maine principles of such excellent knowledge First That all glory is to be rendred unto God as the only true Originall of all good And Secondly That all emptinesse is ever to be ascribed to the creature in it selfe further than God makes it any way capable of goodnesse and puts such goodnesse into it or makes it communicative of that goodnesse unto others or of further enlargement or longer injoyment of goodnesse from himselfe even as he pleaseth unto whom the praise thereof is ever therefore to be ascribed and if thou wilt but then take up that teaching word and use those meanes which God thereby directs thee to improve them and continue therein he will then more and more discover himselfe unto thee yea when once thou art set in such a serious seeking of him this way it is evident thou wert sought of him before and he hath begun already to make himselfe knowne unto thee and so thou dost and wilt seek him still and shalt finde him more and more in that way wherein thou shalt behold his glorious grace which is the sure way for thee to become acceptable unto him and shalt be truly blessed by him Thirdly But for others who have these glorious discoveries in any good measure already made unto them Let them hence learne with the most inlarged apprehensions that may be to behold them and with the most earnest bent of their affections to entertaine them and with the highest and fullest expressions of joy in their inward and with their outward man to mainfest and declare them to the everlasting praise of the Author of them let them improve them to his glory and the good of others let them more be transformed into the image of them that they may have the greater measure of true comfort and glory by them Againe Let men wisely hence observe the divine excellency of a truly gracious spirit when once a transfiguration is made in it what an excellent yea heavenly frame is put uponit what glorious discoveries are made unto it what celestiall Joyes are put into it what everlasting happinesle is prepared for it O that these things were setled upon mens souls and that they could with such divine meditations and spirituall Soliloquies by the assistance of the Lord the Spirit so rivet them into their own hearts and keep them there that they might still soar higher and higher in such heavenly contemplations till they attaine to the top of most glorious eternitie to receive in fullnesse what here in their measure only they can but taste of Againe Let them hence learne to be thankfull above all things in this world for such gracious discoveries in any measure or degree by their good God vouchsafed unto them Let them be humbled in the sence of their unworthinesse thereof as great as manifold

discouragements againe theirs was more suitable to an Infant state ours more agreeing to a more growne estate their 's much in type ours more in substance theirs denoted good things to come ours good things that are present their 's much in bodily exercises ours mainly in spirituall theirs ordinarily lesse efficacious ours usually more efficacious their 's for the most part restrained within the narrow bounds of that Jewish Church ours largely extended to the utmost bounds of the true Christian Catholique Church Oh! did but Christians duly weigh these things and in some good measure were but suitably affected with them according to the greatnesse and excellency of the glorious Gospel grace in all such respects vouchsafed by the free and aboundant goodnesse of so glorious a God unto themselves above what he was pleased to grant unto his ancient people the Jewes how should it raise up their souls to large apprehensions of his goodnesse and fill their hearts with strong affections and earnest desires and endeavours both of thankfulnesse and obedience to his divine Majesty and how should it set all the parts and powers of the inward and outward man on work to act both diligently and faithfully therein how would this as a strong cord binde our souls unto the right observance of the new Law of love given by him that hath purchased this libertie and therefore shed it abroad into the hearts of his people Rom 5. 5. that none of his Commandements might be grievous unto them Joh 3. 5. But secondly let this be as an impulsive motive to us to be answerable in our dutifull and faithfull obedience unto our gracious God and heavenly father in reference to all that rich mercy that in this kinde particularly we receive at his hand above many of those that lived in those darke dayes before us now that his service is more spirituall let ours be more so too as his is more cleare shaddowed and typicall service being ceased let ours be suitable to Gospel light and therein let us walk as children of that light whereas the other was more agreeing to a childish state let us seek after that which is more suitable to a manly state in Christ Let us as the Apostle exhorteth Heb 10. 22. draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodyes washed with pure water It must be with the heart else all seeming devotion is grosse dotage it must be from an heart fraught with all kinde of truth a true heart it must be in full assurance of faith we must be sufficiently warranted and satisfied in all that concerns it in all our performance of it having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience the guilt and power of sin being taken from us by the improvement of our faith specially when we performe religious worship unto God and our bodies washed with pure water let not there be a purifying of the soul only but let our outward conversation also be agreeing to the Gospel in the sight of God and men Thirdly Hence likewise may appeare what great matter of deep humiliation and bitter mourning there is in our dayes that when such bright beames of Gospel glory shines before men there is so little enters into many of all sorts and conditions which may appeare by the raritie of such as shew they behold it by their right knowledge of it high prizing of it walk in the light and comfort of it improving the grace and excellency of it and by the multitude of such as understand it not regard it not owne it not improve it not yea would it might not be truly said despise it resist it oppose it and would substitute any thing in the roome of it rather then what the Spirit of God in the manifold evidences of Gospel grace clearly directs unto but I must hasten therefore Fourthly To warne all sorts of men that live under such glorious discoveries of Gospel grace to beware that because the burthen of Christ therein is light that therefore they should thinke lightly and slightly both of it and him That they should either preferre transitory things before it or conceive they can be happie enough in them without any true interest in it or are not affected with this choice mercy afforded to us above what the Church in the Old Testament attained unto and consequently make not suitable improvement of it it is such a talent as no man may think to wrap in a Napkin and not to be called to an account for it goodnesse will not beare neglect with equals friends familiars much lesse with superiours and by how much the goodnesse is greater or the superiory the more eminent so much the more is the neglect thereof offensive and provoking then how much more will the infinite free rich incompatable yea incomprehensible goodnesse of the eternall Almightie and most glorious God being despi●ed and neglected turne into fury against all such vaine and sinfull wretches that ungratefully shut their eyes against such excellence and clearness of Gospel grace much more if they seek to Eclipse and cloud it or any wayes to obstruct and hinder the efficaciousnesse thereof unto the weak brethren by casting stumbling blockes in the way Let them but lay to heart that terrour of the Lord the Saviour of such contemned despised little ones by the men of this present world in that most dreadfull denunciation of his and woe annexed upon that account Math 18. 6 7. Who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea And v 7. Woe unto the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come But woe to that man by whom the offence cometh Lastly Hence take notice of the wilinesse of Satan that shews himselfe Gods Ape in this by seeking to promote an outward or seeming inward glory in any false way of Religion as God doth in the true Thus if God would worke wonders by Moses the Egyptian sorcerers shall do so too if God reveals secrets to Saul by his Prophet Samuel the Witch of Endor must doe so too if Judah have a costly Tabernacle and Temple Israel shall have Golden Calves to worship yea sometimes outward and inward too as in the Antichristian Church of Rome since that golden Priests and wooden Chalices were changed into wooden Priests and golden Chalices with all other outward splendor in the whorish Idolatry and superstitions accompanied with an inward seeming humble devotion and reverence with multitudes of prayers offerings frequent and macerating penances and pilgrimages metorious works of charitie and pietie And is not Satan his crafts-master like wise when in Gospel times too he will lay aside an outward appearance of glory to seek to delude by an appearing glory in inward strong delusions of spirituall Enthusiasmes Raptures