Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	godliness_n	love_n	temperance_n	1,608	5	11.3502	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75725	The heavenly trade, or the best merchandizing the only way to live well in impoverishing times. A discourse occasioned from the decay of earthly trades, and visible wastes of practical piety in the day we live in, offering arguments and counsels to all, towards a speedy revival of dying godliness and timely prevention of the dangerous issues thereof impending on us. By Bartholomew Ashwood Minister of the Gospel.	Ashwood, Bartholomew, 1622-1680.	1678 (1678)	Wing A3999A; ESTC R204336	280,447	512

pruinas grandines tempestates ferre necessarium est antequam maturescat fructum ferat ita hominem fidelem intus extrinsecus multa pati mala oportet Stell The seed must lye long it may may be under ground and when 't is come up be nipt up with frosts and covered with snow and hail and bear many a storm before it ripens and brings forth fruit and this calls for Patience yea many times long-suffering The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth and hath long Patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain James 5. 7. Patience is needful to suffer as well as do the Will of God Rev. 13. 10. Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints To endure captivity and cruell Death for the sake of Christ Patience to wait for the promise Rom. 8. 25. and Patience to receive it Heb. 10. 36. Patience saith Seneca is a salve for every sore that onely which alleviates our burdens without it we cannot be men or Christians saith another ' t is the grace that makes a compleat and well accomplish'd Christian Manton James 1. 4. When reason is at a stand and hope almost at an end and all refuge fails Patience steps in bears the burden and calms the soul Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking reckoned among the three Cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian's spirit and conversation 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth Faith and Hope and Charity Hope is the off-spring and refreshment of Faith 't is begotten by Faith and saies one As a good child relieves its father Faith in time of need Hope is an expectation Faith a perswasion Faith eyes the promise hope the thing promised as sure though future which comforts the soul under the present want of desired mercy and this is needful to cheer the soul under its exigencies and disappointments in the way of its Christian conversation Hope keeps in the fire and keeps up the house Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of our hope firm to the end Were it not for Hope the house would fall asunder Hope keeps it together till the Lord new build it in Heaven Hope anchors the soul in a storm and makes it steady under shaking tempests Heb. 6. 19. Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter while the seed is under clods and till the corn come to the barn 1 Cor. 9. 10. He that ploweth ploweth in Hope that is of a good harvest that will compensate all his labours Hope secures the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary forbearance Psal 34. 22. It helps it to rejoyce in tribulation Rom. 5. 2. and compasseth him about with mercy Psal 32. 10. Humility Self-denial Goodness Temperance Gentleness Love Zeal Holy Fear are all good goods that will off well and turn to the Trader's profit if well improved Get your souls well stor'd with these graces of the Spirit also if you ever think to drive a good Trade of godliness Get your minds filled with knowledge as well as your hearts with grace that 's part of the Christian's Treasure 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure that is of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ in earthen vessels In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom Col. 2. 3. Saving knowledge is a Treasure laid up in Christ for Believers and to be fetched out for their use and comfort The riches of the full assurance of understanding and acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2. 2. The Gospel is a mystery a secret hid from the natural eye and cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit To have an inward clear sensible experimental and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel opened and confirmed to the eye of Faith is a high attainment beyond what any reach to but those that have the anointings of the Spirit and to whom 't is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer and faithful attendance on his teachings in the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ This is called a rooting and establishment in the Faith Col. 2. 7. and growing in knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. alluding to trees that being well planted do take deeper root in the earth and in time come to greater settlement and strength against shakings And as children that gradually grow and encrease to higher statures so this spiritual knowledge is gradually encreased 't is not the priviledge of new-born babes of persons at their first conversion to have this deep fathoming of Gospel-mysteries But of stronger Christians who by constant attendances on the Means of Grace and in progress of time by Faith Humility Prayer and Attention to the Spirit do at length come to higher measures of this illumination and full assurance of truth As Gerson reports of a godly man he knew who at first was exercised with many doubts and fears and shakings of Faith but at last through humiliation of soul and a captivating of his understanding to Divine Truth together with the illumination of the Spirit came to a wonderful clearness in the matters of Faith and of his soul-estate with such a settlement of spirit and certainty about his salvation as to have no more doubts remaining in him Christians content not your selves with some notions of truth and shallow cold apprehensions of the great mysteries of salvation but labour to get in greater measures of spiritual understanding both objective as to the Truths to be known and subjective as to the discerning of them Alas we know as yet nothing as we ought there are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for Elephants as well as shallows for Lambs and there are greater beamings on the souls eye to be obtained and more certain understanding and familiar acquaintance to be had with the same Truths we know Your business Christians in the Heavenly Trade is to get more Divine Wisdom to be led farther into all Truth and to enter into the Mysteries of the Gospel wading farther and farther into Sanctuary-deeps to know more of God of the way to him and the things freely given of him and to know better what you know Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes There 's a secret in Gospel-truths which the wisest men in the world can never by their greatest Wisdom come to see without the special revelation of the Spirit As none can come to see the spirits salts and occult virtues in herbs and minerals till by Chymistry they are exstracted Others may discern and receive the things themselves in the gross and bulk of them and yet never see or taste those choice spirits hid in them So 't is with such as are strangers to a spiritual knowledge they apprehend Truths in the bulk and letter of them A A carnal man saith Hooker may hear the sound of the Word understand the

despised Christianity he thought upon most mature consideration to be worthy of his choice and pursuit What treasures more rich or precious said Agerius when a prisoner for Christ at Venice than everlasting life where be greater riches or dignities more honourable than in Heaven here droppeth the delectable dew here floweth the pleasant Nector here runneth the sweet milk here is plenty of all good things I have found a nest of honey in the entrals of a Lion in the deep dark Dungeon I have found a Paradise of pleasure where others do weep I do rejoyce when others do shake and tremble I do find plenty of strength and boldness in strait Bonds and cold Irons I have rest Fox Vol. 2. pag. 181. Come to sinners also when they lie under Conscience terrors and the armed troops of death and hell invade their guilty hearts and enquire their opinion concerning the goodness of their choice the advantage of that bargain they have made in parting with God for the World in rejecting Christ for the Flesh in turning their backs on holiness for the service of sin and their dejected countenances their gastly looks their unquiet jestures their cries and groans will soon tell you the sad resentment of their folly and bad Trade they have driven in the ways of sin and death Thirdly Nay Reason it self rightly exercised must needs grant that heavenly wares are the best wares upon a fourfold consideration 1 Of their Rarity 2 Their Price 3 Their worth 4 Their Duration First Heavenly things are rare and therefore excellent scarcity enhaunceth the price of things Diamonds and precious stones are dear because scarce and more rarely had plenty usually beats down the price of things when rarity makes them costly and such are Heavenly wares they are the greatest rarity in the world they are less known more hardly come by and seldomer enjoyed than any thing this earth affords there are few parts of the world where Wisdom's goods ever come How many Countries are there where the Gospel is not known or any sights of God or things eternal ever had but such as are discernable by the dini light of nature and of those coasts which this days spring hath visited to how few have the brightness of this light appeared few places have the mysteries of the Gospel opened or the deep things of God purely fully and powerfully preached It hath been the priviledge of this Nation above many to have a peculiar share of Gospel discoveries and truths more spiritually and practically disclosed and yet how few here or in other parts have any acquaintance with these glorious secrets or arrive to this excellency of the knowledge of Christ and Divine Mysteries what a veil is there on the minds of most under the purest administrations of the Gospel that seeing they see not understanding and yet not affected with the things they know the spiritual beauty and inward worth of them being hid from their eyes Most hearers like Balaam see heavenly goods with eyes half opened and hence it is they no more value and pursue them Could these poor beggarly dirty things of the world be so preferred in mens affections and embraces and so much time consumed upon them with neglect of God and things above if the worth of Wisdome's Treasures were truly known and believed no certainly we may without breach of charity complain Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa 53. 1. They are rare in that they seldome appear in their own worth and excellency to the view of men few know and believe the worth of heavenly things They are also goods that few trade on It 's a rare thing to see men much vers'd about heavenly things and to drive a trade of godliness There are divers possibly that barter for some of Wisdome's goods for knowledge peace comfort parts external duties c. but few that carry on a full trade of godliness An Enoch a Noah a Caleb a Joshua a Job a David a Paul a Barnabas here and there one in their several ages that are thorough with God and universal in the duties of godliness heart purity godly simplicity universal holiness converse with God meditation on things above tenderness of conscience self-denyal mortifiedness to the world heavenly-mindedness spiritual converses are commodities that few deal about this day A thorough-paced Christian is the Phoenix of the place he lives in and more seldom seen than a sparkling Diamond in the dark night we live in few seek these goods in earnest as they do the world and their own things and fewer obtain them Phil. 2. 21. Few I fear do live in the daily exercise of their graces the warm breathings of their souls after God and spiritual things few that find the white stone that live in the view of their pardons and sensible enjoyment of divine grace and therefore these heavenly goods are rare things seldome discovered seldome known seldome pursued seldome enjoyed and being rare are excellent and desirable Secondly Heavenly things are the best because the most costly this argument will not hold in all things men may buy their desired comforts too dear and give more for the world pleasures and their particular goods than they are worth but none can be deceived in Wisdomes wares the glory of God the salvation of souls the enjoyment of grace and spiritual blessings cannot be too dearly obtained their price bespeaks the greatness of their worth they being realities and things excellent in their nature and use and if they are valuable according to their price they must needs be transcendent for the purchase of them cost God dear he hath been at the expence of eternal counsels of manifold wisdom of unknown love of the gift and blood of his own Son to procure these great things for Believers and it hath cost him mighty power and patience to fit Believers for them and maintaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an honourable price 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aequale redemptionis pretium Gomar their enjoyment of them Ye are bought with a price not with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot He gave himself a ransome an equal price sufficient to purchase Believers to himself with grace and glory for them He so loved the world as to give his onely begotten Son to give him to death to the death of the Cross to unspeakable torments and all to procure these glorious and blessed treasures for Believers Joh. 3. 16. O costly wares O dear bought goods for which the pearl of price was sold and the treasures of Heaven emptied out And as these stand the purchaser dear so they are costly to the receiver also The preparation for an interest in these treasures is many times dear to Believers O the wounds and launcings the bleeding and heart-prickings the pangs throws

laying the foundation of Salvation-hopes upon creature-performances and improvements when they go from the Rule of Faith and Word of Truth to natural light and seducing spirits which have not their evidence and approbation from the Scriptures When persons at once disclaim dependency on the true foundation and disposal by the Rule of Righteousness 't is much to be feared whether such shall be restored Gal. 1. 6. ch 5. 4. Heb. 10. 26 39. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 4. 6. Thirdly When men make Merchandise of the Truth and sell their profession for worldly interest having loved the reward of iniquity and made a swap of their Religion for advantage-sake This is a mighty provocation to the Spirit when men can sell themselves to work wickedness and value the great things of God's Law of his Truth and Salvation at so low a rate to part with them for a mess of pottage and the dirty Cabals of this world 'T is seldom that such find repentance though they seek it with tears See Judas Simon Magus Balaam Demas Spira What remarks of furious indignation God makes such Apostates to be who can part with their Religion for worldly interests 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 King 21. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 3 15. Acts 1. 18. Fourthly Backsliders in heart shall surely perish and be filled with their own ways Prov. 14. 14. when falling back is upon choice and with delight like a deceitful Bow that is then at rest when its string is broken Psal 78. 57. When a man casts off Religion as one doth his burden and a beast his yoke Jer. 5. 5. and is glad he is rid of his troublesome work as one that is got out of prison Rom. 1. 32. This argues a spirit of Belial and a dangerous state Many have taken up a Lamp upon constraint for fashion or interest or for companies-sake as the foolish Virgins did Prov. 14. 14. Psal 78. 57. Jer. 5. 5. Mat. 25. 1. But when opportunity hath offered it self for a fair riddance they have soon appear'd what they were by their chearful returns to Egypt and the broad way of error and looseness falling in with other interests and finding pleasure in it Now the world reputation and pleasure take away the heart and they are well-pleased with other Lovers this is a bad sign of a desperate state of marish-ground that shall never be healed Ezek. 47. 11. Lastly When persons are prejudic'd against the means of recovery hate them that rebuke them in the gate Amos 5. 10. shun the light and cannot endure those that would reclaim them from the error of their way Joh. 3. 19. their hearts rise against any attempts to reduce them Amos 7. 10. cannot bear them that are good slight and hate the people of God they formerly loved avoiding their company jeer and reproach those Ministers people and ways they once took pleasure in this shews a dangerous state such a persons condition seems desperate and not far from the Chambers of death O you that are fallen back in Religion get your hearts affected with it do you begin to decay you know not where it will end are you gone back 't is questionable whether ever you may return and then what will your latter end be your last state will be worse than your first and if twice dead you will be pluck'd up by the roots if after showers and dressings you decay your end will be to be burned Advice 2. Secondly If you would recover out of your wasting decays in this heavenly Trade search out the causes and get them removed There must needs be something more than ordinary when men who have a good Trade which may be driven in the worst of times and will ensure advantage if followed do notwithstanding fall back and decay Such is Religion it will maintain and enrich its followers if they be not wanting to themselves there must needs be some great causes and miscarriages then that doth cast back the professors of Christianity and bring a consumption on their soul-prosperity some of which may be these First When they enter upon this heavenly Trade and have not a stock to set it up Religion is a great thing and cannot be carried on without a stock of saving-grace to maintain it Common grace is not a sutable stock for this spiritual Trade it may help men to transact the external part and common works of Religion but cannot do the inward secret and choicest services of godliness A stranger intermeddles not with its joy Prov. 14. 10. no nor its work They that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. 8. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. it lies not in outward duties but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which no hypocrite can reach to This spoils many they take up a form of godliness without the power of it and being strangers to the work within they cannot carry on the works of grace without which this state calls for and so fall back and come to nothing When persons get some knowledg parts frames and temporary graces they presently take up a Lamp of profession and get into the company of the wise climb up to the enjoyment of priviledges and then sit down contented and fall asleep and when they come to temptations and spiritual duties to the work of faith love patience self-denial mortification and the like having not grace to support them and a principle that suits such work they fall short of duty and into sin and so Trade and fall away Common grace is as a standing-pool which having not a spring to feed it dries up when supplies cease and scorchings come whereas true grace is as a well of water that springs up to life eternal Secondly Another thing that casts back Traders is this when they set upon an employment and have not skill to manage it Every Art hath its principles rules and mysteries by which it is carried on to deviate from these is to mar the excellency and miss the advantage of it Irregular actions seldom thrive so 't is with the heavenly Trade when persons set upon it and have not skill to order it to best advantage no wonder if they prosper not but fall back in godliness Solomon directing to this heavenly Trade advises to get wisdom as the principal thing in order to it Prov. 4. 7. And when the Apostle would further the Saints in holy walking as the necessary way to it he begs wisdom for them Col. 1. 9 10. That ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all well-pleasing being fruitful in every good work Two things made David thrive so much in his proper publick work Integrity of heart and Understanding Psal 78. 72. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands Some books read it in the plural