Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	diligence_n	faith_n	temperance_n	1,270	5	10.7290	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41840	Great precious promises, or, Some sermons concerning the promises and the right application thereof whereunto are added some other concerning the usefulnesse of faith in advancing sanctification, as also, three more concerning the faith of assurance / by Mr. Andrew Gray ... ; all being revised since his death by some friends, the last impression carefully corrected and amended.	Gray, Andrew, 1633-1656.	1669 (1669)	Wing G1609; ESTC R39446	117,294	219

They have taken away my gods and what have I more but when we speak of heaven we care not who deprive us of our portion there I will not limite the Lord nor determine what he may do but believe it it is one to a thousand if many Christians of this age have a pleasant night and comfortable closing of their eyes they are such undervalue 〈◊〉 of assurance I may fear that lamentation shall be heard upon the death beds of many 〈◊〉 O poor wretched wandring Soul where art thou going and it is no wonder it come to this when we are so long in beginning to ask the question And now I close with this one thing that I think beyond all question the souls that live contentedly under the want of assurance are the careless daughters that dwelleth at ease Christ and they are at a remarkable distance it must be a cold winter and a dark night at best as to their present fellowship with God A second consideration from this point is that if the seeking after assurance be so necessary a duty then let me beseech you to ponder with your selves what means are fit for you to use that ye may attain it and if ye enquire what these means are I shall onely lay before you some few 1. That ye would be much in the exercise of Faith I mean the direct acts of Faith whereby the sinner from his sense and feeling of his wants layeth hold on Jesus Christ closing with him and leaning upon him for a full supply out of his fulnesse for indeed there are two great faults amongst the Lord● people some do seek assurance of Faith before ever they seek to have Faith 2. Some are much more taken up in debating their evidences whether they be real or not then they are in strengthening their evidences so that most of their time is spent in questioning O! is this a real evidence of assurance whereas more actual believing in Christ and gripping to the promises and l●sse disputing were the shorter and surer way that word is most clear Eph. 1.13 After ye believed yee were sealed with the Spirit of promise that is ye got assurance but not before ye believed and ye know it is said Matth. 9 2. And when Iesus saw their Faith he said Son be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiven thee so then it is clear that to be much in believing is the nearest way to assurance 2. Ye would be much in believing the general truths and promises of the Gospel and frequently meditatnig of them all assurance is by a practical sylogisme the first proposition whereof must needs bee a Scripture ●ruth and certainly the firm assent to that truth and the souls delightful meditation on it is often blessed of the Lord as a special mean whereby the conscience is helped to make the assumption and also to bring forth the conclusion For instance wee see with what strength of affection Paul acteth his faith on that word 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation Christ Iesus came to save sinners and presently we see what followeth on it of whom I am the chief then is his assurance for doubtlesse he meaneth that he was the chief of saved sinners yea certainly a sinner thus exercising himself will often find so much sweetnesse in the general truths that he cannot but put to his own name 3. Be diligent in the exercise of all spiritual graces and Christian duties that this i● among the best means of attaining to assurance is manifest from 2 Pet. 1. Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure for indeed it is very observable that the diligence there mentioned is not a diligence in disputing and questioning about our election but a diligence in the practice of duties and graces as is clear from ver 5. Give all diligence saith the Apostle Whereto in adding to your faith vertue to your vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance c. and then vers 8. If ye do these things ye shall neither be barren no● unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ he doth not say in the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ simply but of our Lord Jesus importing that that the result of diligence in these graces shall be the knowledge of Christ as ours and of our interes● in him and then he addeth upon the othe● hand he that laketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off this is he cannot see far i● any spiritual matter and so not in the matte● of his interest O therefore think not tha● ye will get assurance by lying down with th●●●uggard upon your bed or by your formal● prayer or your anxious debates but if eve● ye come to assurance ye must be striving a● in an agony for so the word importeth which is used to expresse our diligence in Christia● duties 4. As ye would be diligent so if ever y● would come to assurance ye would be tender and circumspect in your walking that is a clear word Psal. 50. last verse To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God and Isa. 32. The effect of righteousnesse is peace and assurance for ever Ah the untender walk that many of us have it is no wonder to see us walk in darknesse such stinking grosse vapors that ariseth off our conversation cannot but engender clouds that hinder us from seeing God and certainly such pearls as Assurance is not given to dogs and swine lest they tread upon them SERMON VIII ● Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates THere are two great ballances into which men do weight themselves there are some that weight themselves in the ballance of deceit who ●●ink that in all their labours there is no ini●uity to be found yet God who is the weigher 〈◊〉 the spirit when he shall weigh them will ●●grave this upon their forehead Thou art ●eighed in the ballance and are found light but there are many who approve themselves whom Christ shall never approve There are many that call God Father whom he will not call Children and many that call Christ Husband whom he will not call Spouse 2. There are some who weigh themselves in the ballance of the Sanctuary who upon solide and most spiritual grounds do draw this conclusion I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me who can with boldness and confidence look Christ in the face and say thou art mine and with much spiritual confidence take him in their arms and cry out he shall bee eternally mine and sure there is not a more pleasant life than to be taking him every day in our arms and to be crying out Am I not made up in him am I not made up in him Before I come to the words there are three great and most soul-concerning errour●