Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	jesus_n	light_n	shine_v	5,880	5	9.7269	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87092	Divinity in mortality, or The Gospels excellency and the preachers frailty, represented in a sermon preached at the funerals of Mr Richard Goddard late minister of the parish of St Gregories by Pauls; who died on Thursday the 12th of May 1653. and was buried on Moonday [sic] the 16th day of the same moneth. By Nath. Hardy Master of Arts, and preacher to the parish of St Dyonis Back-Church.	Hardy, Nathaniel, 1618-1670.	1653 (1653)	Wing H718; Thomason E708_1; ESTC R202533	26,963	35

about a more excellent Ministration any greater priviledge as to exemption from death then those of the old Apostles as well as Prophets are under deaths tyranny So much St Paul here intimateth when he saith But we have this Treasure c. The first word of this Text is But a But which the Apostle puts upon himself and fellow-Apostles yea and all the Ministers of the Gospel In the fore-going verses we finde him extolling his Ministery and vindicating his fidelity in the discharge of it here he interposeth a But not a But of scandalous impiety this could not be charged upon him by any Oh that all Ministers lives were so ordered as no But of this nature might be deservedly cast upon them The But here intended is only a But of natural frailty humane imbecillity and the worlds unjust ignominy These were the things the Apostle well knew the false teachers would upbraid him and his brethren with and therefore he prevents them by a voluntary Concession that so it was yea fit it was that so it should be for the advancing of Gods glory that whilst their message was honourable themselves should be contemptible But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels In which words we have a brief yet exact Delineation both of the Gospel and the Preachers of it and both by a double Character The Gospel is characterized by A Metaphor commending in the Noun Treasure A Term discriminating in the Pronoun This The Preachers of the Gospel are represented by A word of description in the Substantive Vessels A word of diminution in the Adjective Earthen These are as four Keys by which I shall endeavour to unlock the Treasure of this Text as four Vents by which the Vessel of this Scripture emptieth its divine liquor In the opening of which I shall strive that my Discourse may keep even pace with the time I hope your Attention will keep even pace with my Discourse and then I doubt not but that through Gods grace we shall be richer by this Treasure and these earthen Vessels will help us somewhat nearer to Heaven And so I begin with the Delineation of the Gospel and therein the Metaphor commending Treasure To finde out the Kernel enclosed in the shell of this Metaphor we must consider a three-fold reference that may be made of this word to the preceding Some referre it to the end of the former verse and understand by this treasure The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ This is that which there he compareth to Light and here to Treasure two Metaphors though different yet consonant Light being a most precious Treasure and as Treasures are kept so Lights were wont to be carried in earthen Vessels And well may the knowledge of God in Christ be compared to both for its resplendency a Light for its opulency a Treasure such a Treasure as must be a Light not lockt up in our own brests but shining forth to others such a Light as is a Treasure of invaluable and incomparable worth Our Apostle elswhere expresseth so high an estimation of this knowledge of Christ that he accounts all other things whether worldly fruitions or Jewish observances to be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not only uselesse but hurtfull so far as they kept him from Christ and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as offals which we throw to our dogs or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} quasi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} those base excrements which Physicians force out of the body by their purging things not to be valued but despised and loathed in comparison of this And no lesse is that value which our blessed Saviour himself puts upon it where he saith This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Life is the best Treasure in Nature Eternal is the best of lives how great a Treasure must the knowledge of Christ be which is Life eternal Secondly Others take the reference of Treasure here as remote as that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ministery mentioned in the first verse Indeed the Ministry and Dispensation of the Gospel is a choice and precious Treasure upon which account the Apostle elsewhere cals it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a worthy work A work it is to which is required both Authority and Ability and therefore in respect of the former it is an Honour of the later a Treasure The old verse tels us Dat Galenus opes dat Justinianus honores The Law brings Honour and Physick Wealth but in a divine sense the Ministery hath both A Burden it is indeed but withall an Honour A Labour it is but withall a Treasure for the edifying and enriching of the Church This Treasure Christ keeps under Lock and Key only intrusting those with it whom he cals to and furnisheth for it As it was the priviledge of the Jews above other Nations that to them were the Oracles of God committed so it is the Prerogative of the Ministers above all other persons that to them is committed the Dispensation of these Oracles By which it appears that they are no better then thieves nay sacrilegious robbers who without immediate or mediate warrant from Christ assume this trust and break open this treasure Thirdly I conceive we shall best understand the prime intent and full extent of this Metaphor by referring it not so neer as the sixth nor so farre as the first but to {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Gospel mentioned in the third verse Indeed both the other Interpretations are fully included and may be fitly reduced to this since on the one hand that Ministery is principally in respect of the Gospel Hence it is that we are called the Ministers of the New Testament and our Commission is to preach the Gospel and the English Tran●lators have not unfitly at once rendered and unfolded that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} St Paul speaketh of to be the dispensation of the Go●pel for though since Christ came not to destroy but to fulfill we must not suppresse but publish the Law yet our chief errand is to promulge the glad tidings of Salvation in the Gospel And on the other hand it is the Gospel onely that revealeth the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} To them that search into the Mine of holy Writ is opened the treasure of the knowledge of God And whereas the Creatures leade us to the knowledge of God the Creator and the Law declares him as a Judge onely the Gospel manifesteth him as a Redeemer to wit God in Christ The Gospel then is that which St Paul here primarily cals a Treasure It is that Metaphor by which Christ himself represents it when he compareth the Kingdom of Heaven to a Treasure hid in