Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	gospel_n	light_n	shine_v	1,804	5	9.1365	5	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01724	Foure sermons vpon the seuen chiefe vertues or principall effectes of faith and the doctrine of election: wherein euerie man may learne, whother he be Gods childe or no. Preached at Malden in Essex by Master George Gifford, penned from his mouth, and corrected and giuen to the Countesse of Sussex, for a Newyeeres gift.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.; Josua, Richard.	1582 (1582)	STC 11858; ESTC S118830	40,121	112

excellent shoulde moue vs but dealeth with vs as with those which are lumpish and dul needing many spurres to bee pricked forwarde withall and all litle enough let vs bee careful therefore to take heede to that hee saieth If these things be with you abound they will make c. In this 8. verse hee beginneth to shew the commodities which shal redounde vnto vs if wee so giue our diligence that wee may bee richly decked with these graces they wil make you saith the Apostle that yee shal not bee idle nor vnfruiteful in the acknowledging of our Lorde Iesus Christe It is a shameful thing when GOD hath shewed himselfe vnto vs in his Sonne hath called vs into his seruice out of miserable bondage for vs to bee ydle and vnfruiteful If the Lorde haue planted vs if he haue dressed vs then as it is also said by our sauiour Christ Iohn 15. Herein is my father glorified that ye goe and bring foorth much fruite Then it is by this place very apparant that a man may draw out a sure an infallible argument against all those whiche are idle and slouthful in the profession of religion and as they say key colde or slack in the worship seruice of god or vnfruitful in good workes namely that they are graceles voide of faith those vertues which doe euer accompany the same for when Saint Peter saith if these things bee with you they wil make that ye shal not be idle nor vnfruitful it foloweth necessarily that such as bee idle which ariseth for want of zeale or bee vnfruitful continuing in their sinnes it is because they did neuer yet come to the true knowledge of Châ—ist they may wel bost theÌ„selues of their strong faith make a braue shewe of their skil sine wit so that men might think there were some deepe thing in them that they shold be able eueÌ„ to iudge giue aright verdit in al matters but a man reading but euen this place finding them ydle and vnfruitful yea euen a simple man shal easily sounde them to the bottome and say of them that they haue not as yet knowne or learned Christe because they want those former thinges Wee must note this also when hee saith If these thinges abounde in you this is that wee should not content our selues with a scant and bare measure of faith of vertue of knowledge and of the rest as he setteth them downe but we must labour to haue a dayly increase for that must bee gathered by this that he pricketh forwarde these ripe and grounded men A doctrine most necessary to be vrged because if men haue gone two or three steppes or haue once a litle begunne to labour about these thinges so that they can looke backe and see some come behinde them or can say I thanke God I knowe somewhat I hope that I am not without faith somewhat there is which I haue done that I would be loth to doe againe they by and by persuade themselues that they are sufficiently furnished so that they wil not sticke to say I trust I haue that which shall serue the turne Naye the Apostle telleth vs an other thing heere from the Lord that is that we must ouerflow in these and abounde and truth it is that these men which thinke they bee well fraught and so seeke for no further increase of store haue as yet nothing for if they had once founde the sweete of these thinges and seene withall that they are farre behind and in beggerly need they would neuer content themselues with so little for who is hee which feeleth increase in worldlye treasure that wil crie hoe and say I haue enough Is there lesse in the heauenly treasures to drawe men to like them than in the earthy Or is it because men doe not knowe them Wee must learne to take heede of such therefore as woulde beare men in hande that it is sufficient yea that it is the best of al for men to content theÌ„selues with some ciuil honestie and not to seeke and weerie their mindes to gaine knowledge But these were neuer as yet the men which might bee right called the schollers of Christe much lesse wee are to deeme them worthie masters or teachers of others when they goe flat contrary to the holy Apostle of Christe who willeth to seek for so great abundance when as they would conteÌ„t themselues and persuade others to bee contented with scant a shadowe of these thinges which shoulde bee so plentifully founde in them Notwithstanding some are so blinde that hauing no shadow or shewe at al of goodnesse yet thinke they bee gone farre enough In the next verse where hee saith Hee that hath not these thinges is blinde and seeth not a farre of and hath forgotten that he was purged from his olde sinnes hee setteth forth the discommodities which follow the want of these vertues And this hee doth because some man wil be litle mooued to heare that commoditie which hee spake of and wil say what care I though I bee idle What care I though I bee vnfruitful I will not goe about to be better theÌ„ other men what should I labour to excel those which are wiser then I If then they wil not regard this that these vertues wil make them excellent seruants of God yet let them consider what the Apostle maketh them without the same where hee affirmeth them first to bee blinde a very miserable thing in the bodily sight muche more in the spirituall which hee here meaneth when God hath so cleerely reuealed himself in the face of his sonne in the knowledge which bringeth saluation that the God of this worlde as Saint Paule speaketh 2. Cor. 4. should so blinde their minds that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christe which is the image of God shoulde not shine vnto them Secondly he saith they cannot see a farre of or that they be poreblinde for such as haue the beames of sight scattering or spreading a sunder so soone as they be out of the eye caÌ„ see wel enough iust by them but not a farre of to these S. Peter doth compare those men But it may be asked what he meaneth first to say they be starke blinde afterward to attribute some sight vnto them It may seeme by this worde that hee maketh their cause not so euil as before he had saide it was yes euen as euill for he saith as much in this worde as he did in the other for when he saith They cannot see a farre of hee taketh from them al sight of heauenly thinges which are remoued from vs seene only by faith hee doeth not denie them the sight of those things which are at hand because they haue a good and a sharpe sight in the thinges of this worlde for the most part better then they which can see a far of But what are these quicke wits the better wheÌ„ they are but for this world and their condition no

had forgotten himself to expresse certaine seueral kindes of vertues which he wil haue vs to ioyne to the former when as indeed the worde Vertue conteineth them al. We may not thinke but that hee is very wel aduised and that he knoweth with whom he hath to doe what babes and children wee are which must not haue meat set before vs in grosse to bee our owne Caruers but it must bee mynced too our handes wee must also bee fedde as it were by spoonfuls For this cause he did not content himselfe to exhort in general vnto vertue but also to name and pointe vs out certaine chiefe branches which wee must especially labour about for vnlesse God shoulde deale with vs in this wise so vaine are wee that we should wander and roue as it were in a wide fielde and neuer come nigh the mark or at least in looking after some one vertue or other forget and let goe the chiefe and principal For wee see many that can rowle in their mouth the name of vertue and godlinesse and nothing almost but vertue vertue as though they woulde persuade men that their garden did growe ful of such hearbes but when wee come to this particuler examination to looke for this vertue and that in steed of these sweete hearbes wee shall finde nothinge but stinking weedes Heere is a great parte of our diligence and wisedome therefore that when wee studie for vertue and godlinesse and when we cal vpon the Lord for gifts we search out euery part and branche least wee be ouerseene in some special pointe and leaste while wee seeke to increase one vertue another decay in vs for that shal come to passe if we cast not our eies diligently on euery side and so oftentimes wee rather loose then gaine rather go backwarde then forwarde Out of the negligence in this point of doctrine or for want of knowledge in it men grow into securitie a very litle contenteth them yea though it be but euen some shew of vertue and slouthfully they shuffle of the matter a thing greatly to be taken heed vnto Because out of al question it is that which hath caused diuers forwarde men in continuance of time as it were gathering rust to become slacke if wee haue desire therefore to continue let vs learne to put this lesson in practise But why doth he wil vs to ioyne temperance or continence with knowledge it should seeme that he had no regarde of anie affinitie in matching these thinges together for temperance is conuersant about pleasures and delightes Yes verily wee shal plainely see that there is great cause for which he ioyneth eue ry one of these vertues together And first to beginne with this ye are to note that coÌ„tinencie is not conuersant alone about the delights of the bodie but also of the mind so that in seeking knowledge which we must doe very eagerly we are to take heede of these extreemes which are contrary to a contineÌ„t mind eyther to bee so wauering that euery puffe do driue vs froÌ„ the manifest truth or els on the other side to be so stiffe so wilfully wedded to our owne iudgement that wee wil stande in defence of that which we haue once liked and not admit any reason to the contrarie both these are contrary to a continent mind and both of them enemies to true knowledge Therefore we are warned heere in our diligent searche for knowledge to take heede that when wee haue learned the truth wee continue stedfast and vnmoueable in it not to bee tossed to and fro as some vnstable mindes are who when they haue beene taught the truthe the least doubt that is raised against it causeth them by by to shake to feare whether they be in the righte way or no also wee must take heede of that stiffenesse which causeth some to speake when it were better for them too heare to be heard aloft when a lower voyce might serue them better far from the counsel of S. Iames who willeth vs to be swift to heare and slow to speake Let vs be sure our knowledge be wel grounded before we setle our selues to continewe in it least in steede of heaping vp golde wee fil our chests with nothing but drosse Also wee must beware that wee bend our studie for the knowledge of these pointes which serue to increase godlines and true edifying For many seeke for knowledge but their vayne braine doth carie them to seeke after curious questions and too let passe those thinges which shoulde doe them most good and this is a sore and grieuous sicknesse in men as the questions they commonly moue doe shewe Hee addeth To temperance ioyne patience This also may seeme to bee somewhat strange but if wee looke well vnto it we then shal perceiue the meaning more plainely patience is not only requisite in those which haue receiued the profession of the Gospel to beare and indure al persecutions afflictions which oftentimes are so raging that except wee haue our hartes wel staied and seasoned with patience wee shal be driuen to forsake and to forswere our knoweledge but also it is very requisite to be wel armed and fenced with it when we shal haue to do with those which are absurd and grosse and therefore it is as a dagger to a mans hearte to heare al their blockish reasons against the worde to see howe senselesse they are when the plaine truth is laide before them Likewise their spiteful raylinges and fleeting mockes which they will vse their bolde abusing of Gods worde their arrogant presumption which causeth them to prattle very fast euen they knowe not what or eles wee shall be hurled hither and thither vpon rockes and make shipwracke of our mildenesse and so marre and disgrace the good cause which wee haue in hande For wicked men will iudge al to proceed of rancour anger and ascribe all to choller and so by this meanes there is procured some dishonor to God who should greatly be honored if we could meekely as the Apostle willeth instruct those which are contrarie minded proouing if God at any time wil giue them repentance to come out of the snare of the Diuel of whome they be holden captiue to do his wil so to stop their mouthes that they cannot be able to answere The want of this vertue oftentimes bringeth greate inconuenience to the conference of brethren which should bring togither as it were into one heape whatsoeuer euery one hath gleaned by himself that so the one might supply the want of the other but the impatience of some is such that great inconuenience doth growe thereby To conclude this matter seing troubles are alotted vnto vs sufferings for the truth that we are subiect to so many reproches railings taunts mocks at the hands of absurd euil men who soeuer looketh to walke in the way of knowledge he must seeke to possesse his soule in patience It folowith with patience godlines

better then that of the poore beast yea muche worse when we respect the misery in the world to come Let not this therfore cause theÌ„ to set vp their bristles that they can see so wel and pearcingly at hande that is in earthly thinges when as they are as blinde as beetles in things a far of that is to say in heauenly things Heere wee must seeke to haue eyes giuen vs of god with which wee may bee able to see beyonde this worlde for before such time as the Lorde hath giuen vs some glimmering of heauenly things wee shal neuer couet to obteine them And this is the cause that these poreblinde men neuer passe greatly to know the Gospel of Christe Thirdly he saith they haue forgotteÌ„ that they were purged from their olde sinnes as hee said they were blind so nowe he saith they are forgetful and this forgetfulnesse is so much the more shameful as it is in a chiefe principal point of true religion But where shall wee find the man which if he be examined will confesse that he hath forgotten this point It seemeth none doe forget it because the very wicked will seeme to set al vpon this score that their sins are purged and that maketh them sinne so franckly But if we vnderstande the Apostle wel we shall finde very many whiche haue forgotten this point Now here we must first note that our sinnes are said to bee purged when there is satisfaction made for them by redemption in the blood of Christe Secondly that they are said to be purged by grace of sanctification when by the power of Gods spirite sinne or all sinfull affections are suppressed and killed in vs so then there is a purging in redemption and there is also a purging by sanctification Nowe if they haue not forgotten so much but that they can prattle of the purging of their sins by redemption yet they haue forgotten this that they were redeemed to the ende they shoulde no longer serue sinne but purge away the olde leauen But beeing without those former graces he sayeth they haue forgotten this not meaning thereby that they had euer learned it for if they had yet at the least they had not wel learned it wee may see by this howe many there bee which are starke blinde and haue forgotten that Christians are called to liue in righteousnesse and holinesse of life If we looke vpon the small number of those which haue a care to seeke after the Lord and howe small a parte of them doe come I will not saye to abounde but to haue a competent measure of those forenamed vertues Let vs come alwayes to this true measure and not bee deceiued neither in our selues nor in other Let vs bee ashamed if we be carnal to take vppon vs the name of the true professours let vs denie vnto them the honorable name of ChristiaÌ„s which are but filthie swine and prophane dogges as our Sauiour Christe calleth them to conclude this matter none are allowed to bee true receiuers of the Gospel but such as ioyne vertue with their faith with vertue knowledge and so temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindenes and loue and such as also doe seeke to abound in them the rest which care not for these or conteÌ„t themselues with the bare shewe of them although they would seeme to be worshippers of God and deuout persons yet they are by this doctrine of the Lord wholy shut foorth vntill they haue learned a newe lesson Remember that this is the doctrine of God and not of man Remember that we must stand and dwell vppon it not for a day or two while wee haue hearde it but all our life long to bring it to the practise it is plaine and cleere none can be excused if they know it not and so through simplicitie stand vppon the common faith thinking to shroude themselues wel vnder the shadow of the multitude but when God hath warned them who wil pitie them when they wil not be warned if this were not told vs and that by God him selfe wee might thinke as men doe commonly that a very little doth content the Lord that no great things are required at the handes of Christians and other such foolish and vaine opinions as to say they must hope wel when God telleth them there is no hope vnlesse they walke this way also that it is not good to bee ouer precise when as in goodnes a man cannot proceede too far nor offer too muche obedience to the Lorde To make an ende let none of al these thinges blinde vs because they blinde some which stande in reputation of their owne wisdome The fourth Sermon 10 Wherefore brethren giue rather diligence to make your calling election sure for if ye do these things yee shall neuer fall 11 For by this meanes an entring shall be ministred vnto you abundantly in to the euerlasting kingdom of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ JT hath beene tolde vnto you already vppon the verses which goe next before howe that Saint Peter regarding how dull wee are and backward in godlinesse contented not himselfe with his exhortation which he maketh but setteth downe what we shall gaine if we follow his aduise and also what hurt we shall sustaine by the contrary and this hath partly been handeled in the two other verses partly in these two which wee haue now in hand where indeed he doth propounde so great a commodity which we shal gaine if wee giue all diligence to pursue the former things as is almost incomparable euen this that we shal come to the assurance that wee are called chosen of God a thing so necessary for vs to knowe that without it there is no right faith no frank and willing obedience no sounde ioy For although without this men seeme to beleeue yet is it but a wauering fantasie to do many good things yet they proceed but from a seruile minde to laugh reioyce yet is it but in a desperate madnes which in very deed is greatly to be wondered at howe men shoulde bee able to sport themselues yet to speak in their coÌ„sciences after this maner there is hel and eternal flames of vengeance prepared for sinners and I am not sure whether I shal escape or not this desperate and brutish securitie shal be apparant to bee the more mad if wee compare it and set it foorth by an outward comparison Let it bee thus a man is taken in a robberie or murther imprisoned brought before the Iudge and comdemned by sute of friendes repriued vntil suche time as they maye sue for to get him a pardon in the meane time some of his acquaintance come to this murtherer and will him to be of good cheere merie he wil answere vnlesse he be some mad and desperate ruffian I am condemned to the Gallowes the Iudge hath pronounced the sentence of death vpon mee I know not how harde a thing it wil bee to obteine a pardon I

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