Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	eat_v	idol_n	weak_a	1,436	5	9.6548	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47294	A discourse explaining the nature of edification both of particular persons in private graces, and of the church in unity and peace, and shewing that we must not break unity and publick peace, for supposed means of better edifying in private virtues : in a visitation sermon at Coventry, May 7, 1684 / by John Kettlewell ...	Kettlewell, John, 1653-1695.	1684 (1684)	Wing K365; ESTC R13841	32,265	39

and pretty Allegories may be used in setting off a thing and yet there shall not be much knowledge in them They amuse the mind with pleasing Ideas and strike the fancy with lucky hints whilst they are recited but they give us no just Apprehension of the thing and upon examination a man shall find himself little the wiser or more able to explain it unto others after he has heard them 3. A Third Instance of Particular mens Edification is when their Affections for Religious matters are made more Fervent or their holy Purposes are more unalterably fix'd and established This exercise and increase of Religious Affection and Godly Resolution is another way of edifying And so St. Paul says of him that speaks in the Church in an unknown Tongue that he edifies himself i.e. in Devout Prayers and Affections for such Enthusiasms were ordinarily express'd in Prayer and Praise he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men but unto God v. 2. 1 Cor. 14. 4. And profitable communication which ministers Grace i.e. a Gracious bent of Heart and Good Affection to the Hearers he sayes is good to the use of edifying Eph. 4. 29. And their comforting or exhorting themselves together to be Firm and Resolute in the Faith of Christ amidst all the Dangers and Persecutions which then environed it he tells the Thessalonians is the way to edifie one another 1 Thes. 5. 11. Good Resolution is the very Strength and Vigor of the Soul which prepares it for Tryals putting it upon all the Pains and enabling it to conquer all the Difficulties in Religion So that then we are mightily confirm'd in any Graces when we are more resolute and bent upon them Especially if this Resolution be not a rash Act made hastily in some Religious heat but the Effect of serious and due Consideration as it is when we foresee the Pains and Self-denials we are to undergo in any Duties but yet being fully convinced of the perfect Reasonableness the absolute Necessity and the incomparable Advantage of them we absolutely resolve upon them notwithstanding And Fervor of Desire and Devout Affection will enable us more chearfully and strongly to resolve upon any Good thing It will make us careful and intent to please God and ready to deny our selves for his sake and give us not only Ease but Pleasure and Delight in well-doing it being natural for Men to be inwardly satisfied when they have what is desired and take delight in things when once they have an affection for them So that then also we are furthered and edified in any Graces when we are stirr'd up to a greater quickness in devout Affections and find in our selves more ardent Desires and a higher Passion for them Especially if these Affections were kindled in us not only by pleasing Similitudes and pretty Sayings or solemn Looks or melting Tones or the Preacher's Passion and Vehemence but by the Weight and awakening Force of the Reasons and Things themselves which touch'd our Hearts either when they came from him or afterwards when we reflect and dwell upon them in our own Meditations If we are put into a Religious Heat and good Affection only by Voice and Vehemence and the Shew and Solemnities of Action that indeed is something if a Wise Man have the government of it who will apply it to the embettering of his Life and fix and fortifie his holy Resolution whilst that Religious Heat is upon him Tho I confess if he stops in the Affection and doth not take advantage thereby to be thus resolv'd he is much more pleas'd than profited with it and gains not much of Edification But when the Conviction of our Understandings goes along with this Agitation of our Fancies in the affecting of our Hearts and we are struck by considering the Greatness of the Motives and the Weight of the Things then we have such an holy Affection as is much more strong and lasting and more apt to edifie us When only Voice and Vehemence begot the Affection in us a very small time will wear it off as they wear out of our Fancies which they will quickly do of themselves or thro our Fancy's being diverted and taken up with other things But when the Weight of Things and Arguments affected us those are embodied into our Minds and Judgments and so are like to stay with us and also mightily startle and convince our Consciences and so are like to have great power over us These Convictions are both Potent and Durable things which greatly affect us for the present and stick by us to affect us equally when we reflect upon them at any time afterwards 4. A Fourth Instance of Particular Mens Edification is when their Consciences are more freed from Doubts and Scruples and are fuller of Comfort and Joy in God than they were before And thus the weak Brother's being confirm'd in Conscience tho that was in a wrong case and emboldned St. Paul calls his being edified If any see thee who hast knowledge fit at meat in the Idols Temple shall not the Conscience of him that is weak i. e. scruples it be embolned the word is edified i. e. made to lay aside his Doubts and Fears by the Authority of thy Example and eat also 1 Cor. 8. 10. Vexatious Scruples and distrustful Fears are the Pain and Sickness the Swoonings and Faintings of a Religious Soul They are a heavy Burden to it putting it into great Uneasiness Horrour and Disquietude and also a great hindrance for by disheartning they beget a Feebleness and break its Strength they keep its Thoughts and Intention employ'd mainly upon themselves which are things that do not profit and detain them from making a progress in those which are truly good And since Doubts and Despondencies are so truly a Disease and Unhappiness to our Spirits and so great a Discouragement and Stop to all Religious Service and Improvements it must needs be an high part of Edification to be clearly resolved about Practical Cases and to have Peace of Mind upon safe Grounds and well-satisfied Consciences So that then our Souls are much edified when our Doubts are clear'd and our Consciences truly resolv'd and comforted And thus it is when they are loaded with a just sense of necessary things and freed from the vexation of needless Scruples when they are better satisfied either about their Duty being resolved whether some Doubtful Cases are either allowed of forbid by some Laws or about the Safety of their State being satisfied upon good Grounds of God's Favour and Acceptance which will give them Peace and Joy in God and comfortable Expectations And thus we see wherein lies the Edification of Particular Men and Private Christians viz. in any Confirmation or Improvement either of Faith or Manners So that then a Private Person may know himself to be edified when he gathers strength and improves in the practice of any or of all Virtues when he thrives in plain and clear Understanding and