Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	know_v	sin_n	sin_v	3,589	5	9.2751	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A18050	The wise King, and the learned iudge in a sermon, out of the 10. verse of the 2. psalme: lamenting the death, and proposing the example, of Sir Edvvard Levvenor, a religious gentleman. Preached vpon a lecture-day at Canham in Suffolke. By Bezalell Carter.	Carter, Bezaleel, d. 1629.	1618 (1618)	STC 4693; ESTC S118631	28,180	76

besides these there are some amongst vs idoll-shepheards slowbellies dumb dogs loyterers nay murtherers that open not a pulpet dore once in an whole yeare except vpon some high and festiual day and what are these but murtherers and conscious of murther in the highest degree for what cruelty is like to soulecruelty and if Abells blood nay euery drop of Abells blood as the originall will beare it thy brothers bloods cryeth Gen. 5. 10. vnto me from the ground yea euery droppe of thy brothers blood if I say euery droppe of Abells blood cryed for vengeance against Cain what a fearefull crie shal the blood of many soules make before the throane of God asking vengeance against their pastors which haue starued their soules to death by detayning and holding from them the bread of life 3. Lastly to conclude with Parents Masters of families and masters of priuate families whose negligence in teaching and instructing their children and seruants is an other cause of our ouer-spreading ignorance for the Preachers of the word may labour and be instant in season and out of season 1. Tim. 4. 1. and all to little purpose if masters of families neglect their duties neither doe I wonder to see so many men and women so intollerably and incredibly ignorant since to speake truth a man had as good be some mans beast as either their sonne or seruant For what doe their masters or parents regard them more then their bruite beasts they feed their seruants and so they doe their cattell they worke their seruants and so they doe their beasts if any of their seruants be sicke and diseased they will seeke out for remedie and so they will for their beasts Againe their care to instruct and teach their families and bruit beasts is much one they teach their children and seruants nothing but how to plow sowe ditch c. and as much as this they teach their cattell their oxen to drawe their horses to pace c. and therefore no wonder though their children and seruants be as ignorant as the horse and mule that haue none vnderstanding O that masters of families would learne to spend some of that precious time which they mis-spend in twatling and idle talking in backbiting slandering c. in teaching and instructing their families whose blood shall otherwise bee required at their hands if they perish The next conclusion gathered out of this second exhortation was this viz. Doctr. 3 That wee must adde practise to our knowledge Not the hearers of the lawe are righteous before God but the doers of the law shal be iustified Rom. 2. 13. For the further proofe of this point you may at your leasure reade these places Ioh. 15. 14. Ioh. 10. 27. Matth. 7. 24. Luk. 8. 20. Matt. 12. 50. and if these may not suffice thee then I say First that all knowledge without practise is vneffectuall and of no force to free from condemnation Though I knewe all knowledge saith Paul yet were I nothing if I wanted loue 1. Cor. 13. yea if a bare naked knowledge would saue then the deuills themselues should be saued for they know enough Iesus I know and Paul I knowe said the euill spirit Act. 19. 15. And if you reade Matth. 4. 6. there you shall see that the diuel is a cunning Scripturian It is written saith he that he will giue his angels charge ouer thee c. v. 6. Suppose then that thou hast neuer so much knowledge suppose thou hast read as much as Iosephus of whom it is said that he turned ouer all the whole librarie of the Greeks yet if thou know much and practise iust nothing why should not the deuils which know more be saued as well as thou Secondly all knowledge without practise is not onely vaine but perilous He that knowes his Masters will and doth Luk. 12. 27. it not shall be beaten with many stripes and Iam. 4. 17. He that knoweth how to do well and doth it not to him it is sinne and as one saith well vpon these words not sinne simply but sinne with a witnes or sinne with aduantage If I had not come and spoken to them they had had no sinne but nowe they haue no cloake for their sinnes Ioh. 15. 22. And how doth our Sauiour Christ vpbraid those cities where they had so much meanes and doubtlesse a great deale of knowledge Woe to thee Corazin wee to thee Bethsaida for if the great works that were done in you had beene done in Tyrus and Sidon they had repented long agoe in sackecloath and ashes Matth. 11. 20. By Gods word saith Augustine August man sinneth so much the more how much the more by the word he knoweth that to be sinne which he committeth Vse All which being granted let vs learn to take S. Peters counsell to adde to our knowledge temperance to our temperance patience and to our patience godlinesse 2. Pet. 1. 5. for otherwise as Chrysostome wrote to the people of Antioch that were desirous to gaine knowledge and yet were ready to sweare and vpon euery occasion to rappe out oaths The more saith he that you know and the oftuer you heare c. the more you sinne against God and the more you encrease your punishment because you liue in the practise of those courses which you know to be sinnefull And would to God that our hollow-hearted professors which know Gods will yea and carie before them the lampe of profession and yet lead their liues after such a manner that if the deuil himselfe were in a bodily shape he could liue no worser vsurers extortioners cheaters raylers c. would to God I say they would consider it that their knowledge and gifts shall but helpe them on the more roundly to hell fire without obedience I speake not against profession neither against knowledge I knowe there can be no saluation without professiō nor no obedience without knowledge but this I say moreouer that obedience is the end of our knowledge And if we know the Law and yet sinne against it then shall that be verefied against vs Rom. 2. 12. As many as sinne in the Lawe shall be iudged by the Lawe And thus I come to the circumstanstances First circumstance of the time expressed in this text And first of the time Bee wise now O yee Kings Vaugnattah euen presently while the Lords scepter is in his hand readie to smite and before he smites you euen out of hand furnish your selues with true wisedome and learning least you bee broken and bruised in peices And here note two things First that repentance must not bee deferred Secondly that the consideration of Gods iudgements ought to mooue vs repentance Doctr. 4 First that repentance must not be delaid I will referre you to those Scriptures Isa 55. 6. Heb. 3. 7. Luk. 1. 57. Act. 17. 30. 2. Cor. 6. 2. and onely insist vpon two or three reasons of this point least time preuent me First then it stands

ignorance is the mother of errour the cause of iudgements since we ought to be fulfilled with knowledge Col. 3. 16. and the word must dwell plentiously in vs and we must search the Scriptures Ioh. 5. 39. here then are our Romanists confuted that haue painted ouer the face of ignorance and style her the mother of deuotion and vnder this pretence haue as one saith set locke and key vpon the Scriptures forbidding the common people the searching of the Scriptures abusing that diuine precept of our blessed Sauiour cast not holy things to dogges Matth. 7. 6. as if all Gods people were dogges and swine but what saith Paul 1. Thess 5. 27. I charge you in the Lord that this Epistle be read to all the brethren the Saints And againe Rom. 1. 3. the Apostle writes his Epistle generally to al the Saints at Rome And wherefore then doe the Papists barre the people from the vse of Pauls Epistles which the Apostle would haue common and not from the vse of Pauls Epistles alone but from the whole vse of Scripture Vse 2 Secondly since God calls vpon vs to be learned in his word this reprooues the blockish ignorance in these times for now are the daies come that we may crie out with Dauid there is none that vnderstands Psal 14. 1. We liue vnder a glorious sunshine but this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men loue darkenesse more then light Ioh. 3. 19. God hath been maruailously rich in mercy in vouchsafing vnto vs means of knowledge The messengers of God crie vnto vs saying this is the way walke in it Isa 30. 21. the golden bels of Aaron rings in euery place indeed we want neither bookes for God hath written vnto vs the great things of his lawe Ose 8. nor tutors to open vnto vs Gods counsell Act. 20. 20. nor nothing sit for Christs schollers to encrease our knowledge and yet notwithstanding our tutering teaching preaching planting sowing watering yet how many are there that knowe not wherefore they were sent into the world Question a drunkard about wine and strong drink a couetous man about building and pulling down of digging ditching plowing sowing and therein you shall finde them very sensible and intelligible quicke either to conceiue or discourse but talke to them concerning those admirable mysteries of our redemption iustification c. and they vnderstād no more then if a man should read them a peece of Aristotle or Plato or any other author in a strange tongue O that such treuants as these would thinke vpon that saying Ioh. 14. 22. If I had not come and spoken to them they had had no sinne but now they haue no cloak for their sinne Vse 3 Thirdly since God calleth vpon vs to be learned in Gods lawes hence it followes further that we must not content our selues with a little measure and modicum of knowledge but wee must striue to be learned that is to be full of knowledge For he is not a learned man that knowes two or three grammar rules but he that is skild in the tongues in the arts and sciences so he is not a learned Christian that vnderstands two or three easie principles but hee that hath the spirit of wisedome and reuelation through the knowledge of Christ that haue their vnderstanding lightned and know what is the hope of their calling Ephes 1. 17. Well then since the Spirit calls vpon vs to be learned therefore say I that as good students are insatiably thirsty after learning like Aristotle that was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeffatigable in paines and vnweariable in his labours for the encrease of his knowledge such also is the eager affection of all such as are Christs Disciples and right learned indeed that their thirst after knowledge cannot be quenched Obiect But some man may happily replie against mee that euery man cannot be so great a scholler as you speake of God hath not giuen his gifts alike vnto all men Answ And to this I answer againe that though God giues 10. talents to one and but 5. to another yet would there not be a dunce in a countrey if men would but obserue these rules following First to pray for knowledge If any 1 Prayer man want wisedome let him aske it of God Iam. 1. 5. The way to haue the eyes of our vnderstanding opened is to pray to God with blinde Bartimeus O sonne of Dauid haue mercy on vs Lord that we may receiue our sight Mat. 10. 51. Luther that was so mighty in the Scriptures was wont to protest that he had more reuealed to him by praier then by study and reading But though this be a notable meanes of illumination yet at this time I intend to follow the phrase of my text And this is all I say that if a student will be a good proficient indeed First he must plie his priuate study Secondly he must frequent learned exercises Thirdly he must be much in conference Fourthly he must be much in contemplation First he must studie hard Learning 2 Reading is not gotten without studie Socrates would read and meditate 20. houres together and Cato got not his learning with beeing idle Heluo erat librorum libros legebat nec eorum lectione satiari potuit Whosoeuer will be a good proficient in Christs schoole must take the Apostles aduice to search the Scripturs yea and spend time in reading of godly bookes but I name the Scriptures especially because all the rest of the sheafes must doe reuerence to this sheafe Let not the word of this law depart from thee saith God Ios 1. 8. And what saith he to the King Deut. 17. 19. He shall reade the words of this Lawe all the dayes of his life that hee may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe the words of this Law c. And here brethren is the reason why there are so many vnlearned ones amongst vs euen because the Lord hath written vnto vs the great things of his Law and wee doe not regard them Hos 8. 13. here is the reason because we are like to many idle schollers that haue their studies full of good bookes which lie moulding vpon their shelues and are couered ouer with dust whilst they lauish away their time at chesse or tables or worse recreations no maruel then if they increase not in knowledge and learning and thus it is with many in the schoole of Christ come into their houses and you shall see their shelues adorned with good bookes the bible and other godly treatises but alasse they hunt after riches and friends c. and are such strangers to Gods word that they read not a chapter in a whole moneth together and no meruaile then if they be vnlearned Secondly to increase knowledge 3 Hearing we must frequent the assemblies of the Saints The house of God is the Lords schoolehouse the ministers of the word are the Lords teachers Eph. 4. 11. 1. Tim. 2.

7. The preaching of the word may be compared to the reading of a Lecture and how I pray you can a man hope to gaine learning that hates his tutor shames all godly exercises and will not once set his foote within the schoole doores O that I had not iust cause to crie out with the Prophet Oh earth earth earth heare the word of the Lord Ier. 22. 19. when men would not heare hee calls vpon the dead earth to hearken And since the times are nowe come vpon vs that wisedome cryeth in the high places and is despised amongst vs Prou. 1. 21. since God hath raised vp so many faithfull teachers and tutors almost to euerie schoole a teacher since we haue Lecture vpon Lecture Sermon vpon Sermon and so few resort to the school-house since the word is accounted the very burthen of the Lord Heare O heauens and I will speake and let the earth heare the words of my mouth Deut. 32. 1. O heauens beare ye witnes of the horrible vnthankefulnesse of this people let the dead earth testifie of their contempt of Gods word or if there be any that haue eares to heare let them heare Reu. 3. 22. If there be any that desire to come out of their blindnesse and ignorance let them thirst after the word as the dry ground after the sweet dewes and showers of raine let them desire the sincere milke of the word 1. Pet. 2. 2. and hearken to the voice of Christ speaking to vs by his Ministers 2. Cor. 5. 28. To speake plainely let them resort diligently to the school-house and so shall they be enlightened and learne what is the good will and pleasure of God A third meanes to encrease in learning 4 Conference is conference with those which are learned the way to be learned is to learne of euery man Sapientior omnibus ●ris si ab omnibus discere volueris qui ab omnibus accipiunt omnibus ditiores sunt saith one thou shalt be wiser then any man if thou wouldest learne of euery man The Ethyopian gained more by conference with Philip then he gained with much reading Act. 8. 39. And I remember what Paul saith Rom. 1. 12. I long to see you saith he that I might bestow some spirituall gift amongst you and that I might be comforted together with you through our mutuall faith both yours and mine The Apostle was a man full of knowledge and the poore Saints in Rome were many thousand degrees inferiour to him and yet for the futher encrease of his knowledge and for his further confirmation establishment he desires to take a iourney to them and doubts not but to gaine somewhat by conuersing with the most simpliest Christian And the truth is that a man shall sometimes learne from the weakest that which he could neuer learne by conuersing with the most wise and literate Quod tu non nosti fortassis nouit assellus And here is another especiall cause of our intollerable ignorance because there is so much strangenesse amongst vs and one Christian will not conuerse with another and conferre of good things but either they shunne all society or if they meet all the time is wasted and deuoured in gibing and ieasting idle talke frothy speeches if not in swearing blasphemie c. Here is another cause of ignorance the remedy is godly conference Fourthly the last meanes to attaine 5 Meditation to learning is contemplation Though a student read much resort to lectures conferre yet all will profit him little without meditation I know that reading hearing c. are notable meanes to encrease knowledg and yet all these will auaile little without meditation The word may aptly be compared to meate meditation to disgestion what good doth meat if a man shall vomit it vp againe as soone as euer he hath receiued it into his stomacke and what will it profit a man to heare conferre c. if we shall as it were instantly vomit vp all againe meditation is the very life of our deuotion And for this cause after Paul had exhorted Timothie to sundry duties hee addes this also hac meditare 1. Tim. 4. 15. Oh how I loue thy law it is my continuall meditation saith Dauid Psal 110. 97. I will not stand to speake of Isaacks contemplation Gen. 24. 64. nor Ezekiahs Isa 38. 14. nor of the virgin Maries Luk. 2. 10. I will to quicken you vp to meditation conclude with that place Ier. 82. 11. The whole land is fallen to desolation because there is none that considers And thus hauing deliuered rules for the encrease of knowledge I come yet to a fourth vse viz. Vse 4 Fourthly to pitty the ignorance of others and to labour to draw them out of their ignorance And here spare me a little till I haue directed my speech to three sorts of men First to Patrons If Magistrates in Patrons corporation-townes where free schooles are erected shall choose vnskilfull and negligent Teachers must not the schollers bee vnlearned when their masters are vnlearned If one blind man leade another they fall both into the ditch Matth. 15. 14. I must not feare the faces of men and I will be bold to tell many gentlemen that they are causes of the ouer-spreading sinne of ignorance and that their couetousnesse is the cause why whole parishes generally are so ignorant For why many gentlemen are growne to that passe that they will doe any thing for lucre I doe not accuse all nay I can acquit many out of mine own knowledge but there are a great many also that cast lots vpon Christs coate such as sell the portion of the Lord for mony and prouided that they may fill their bags with gold and siluer would present they care not whome to their benefice I could willingly spend some more time in reproofe of such a mercilesse generation that care not whose soule fries in hell so they may haue two or three yeares profit before hand or a yeerely reseruation to themselues of the tithes and tenths But I shall haue occasion to returne againe to this point Secondly a word or two to ministers 2 Ministers for as I said if Tutors be naught the pupills must needs be naught The ministers of the word are the salt of the earth Matth. 5. 13. the light of Christs mysticall body and therefore if they be vnlearned or carelesse needs must they bring blindnesse to the whole body Alasse that we haue cause to complaine with the Prophet Their watchmen are blinde they haue no knowledge they are dumbe dogges and cannot barke they sleepe and delight in sleeping Esa 56. 10. God forbid that I should cast stones at the head of innocencie I know that there are many faithfull labourers such as deuide the word aright 2. Tim. 2. 15. such as labour in the word and doctrine 1. Tim. 2. 15. such as may say of themselues as Paul of himselfe In wearinesse often in watchings often 2. Cor. 11. 27. and yet