Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	love_n	patience_n	temperance_n	1,817	5	11.3534	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A12473	Essex doue, presenting the vvorld vvith a fevv of her oliue branches: or, A taste of the workes of that reuerend, faithfull, iudicious, learned, and holy minister of the Word, Mr. Iohn Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clauering in Essex Deliuered in three seuerall treatises, viz. 1 His grounds of religion. 2 An exposition on the Lords Prayer. 3 A treatise of repentance.	Smith, John, 1563-1616.; Hart, John, D.D.	1629 (1629)	STC 22798; ESTC S117569	350,088	544

offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. So that doe what wee can all sacrifices and seruices be onely acceptable to God through him Vse 3 Thirdly seeing all our Repentance is vnperfect so long as we liue in this world Therefore no man is to dismay himselfe and bee too much cast downe if hee doe not finde repentance to be perfect in him If hee doe not finde a perfect hatred of sinne loue of God indeuour to please God in that he requireth In this case one must not too much afflict himselfe because he cannot attaine to things impossible in this life considering that it is not perfection but truth of Repentance that God looks for in this life in which case S. Paul comforts the abiect saying 2. Cor. 8. 12. For if there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that a man hath not The second maine thing is That because euery mans Repentance is imperfect in this life Therefore there must bee an increase thereof in the life of a Christian As wee increase in other graces so increasing in the grace of Repentance Therefore Christians haue no cause to bee dismayed at this when God brings them off againe and againe to renew their Repentance A number of poore Christians cannot tell what to make of this when they haue repented their sinnes and beene comforted with the Promises of the Gospell and gone on a long-while in a cheerefull estate vpon a sudden all their old sinnes are cast vpon them againe to terrifie them worse then before and so by a heauy recourse of sorrow they become much perplexed and amazed But let such thinke that this is nothing else but Repentance As in a little childe when hee begins first to write hee frames his businesse somewhat vnhandsomely when he hath perfected a letter his Master sets him to make the same letter againe vntill he doe it better and better vntill at last it bee excellently well Euen so because there are not those firme and true intensions of our affections in our first Repentance the Lord is faine to goe ouer againe with vs and to set vs anew to repent of our old sinnes thus is the growth and frame of a Christians progresse in grace to goe it ouer againe still vntill it come to perfection I haue heretofore obserued that a tree alwayes growes vntill it come to his full pitch of state yet it growes not alwayes in one sort but sometimes it growes in the boughes sometimes in the branches sometimes in the root Euen so it is with a Christian hee hath his times of growth hee doth not alwayes grow in one and the same sort but sometimes in one Grace and sometimes in another sometimes in knowledge faith loue obedience c. and yet bee in a good estate though he be put still to renew his Repentance from time to time which if I may so speake becomes so much the purer like gold when it is often refined by ardent and often praying againe and again therfore distressed Christians in this case haue no iust cause to be so perplexed and cast downe as many times they are Wherefore seeing it is necessarie still to grow in Repentance and that it can neuer bee too pure nor perfect not too often gone ouer in this life wee must therefore labour and euery day indeuour to be more and more penitent for our sinnes bitterly to lament them and increase in the detestation and hatred of them so making vse both of the mercies and iudgements of God this way as to further vs in the growth of our repentance So we see Peter did by occasion of Christs mercie vnto him in the draught of fishes Luk. 5. 8. Hee fell downe on his knees and said depart from me I am but a sinfull man ô Lord So did the Lords people by occasion of the iudgement in the Thunder and lightning 1. Sam. 12. 19. say vnto Samuel Pray for thy seruants vnto the Lord that wee dye not for wee haue added vnto all our sinnes this euill to take a King thus must we grow in this as in other graces It is therefore a great corruption for any to desire to grow in other graces if this be neglected and to doe some things conscionably and to neglect those other maine duties in Religion For if one had a childe and the childe should grow in one part and not in another one hand and one leg should thriue but not the other but keepe still at a stand how bitterly would he complaine of this and yet so is it in the state of many a Christian one part of the graces of God growes well but the other doth not grow at all many increase in knowledge shew a great deale of zeale of deuotion haue sufficiencie of faith and are cheerefull in their obedience but they grow not a whit in Repentance they are not a whit more humbled for their sinnes more penitent and cast downe before the LORD and therefore can say what cause haue wee to bee deiected and afflicted so for it but let vs of better knowledge learne to bee better affected our care being to bee more and more humbled for our sinnes Wee see in Nature when a man is buried and layed in the ground the more earth and mould you cast vpon him the more hee consumes from day to day being so much the more vnfit to rise vp againe suppose aliue from vnder the weight and burden of the earth which presses him downe Euen so it is with the sinne of a Christian when a man hath buried sinne in himselfe the more hee increaseth his repentance and holy humiliation the more earth and mold hee casts vpon it in this kinde the lesse able will it be to rise and reuiue againe nay our sad and serious Repentance will make it that it shall not rise againe Now there be three wayes wherein a Christian must increase in the Grace of Repentance as well as in other Graces 1. In the Number of his Graces 2. In the Measure of his Graces 3. In the good vse of them First for the Number of Graces see what Peter saith 2. Pet. 1. 5. Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance Patience and to patience godlinesse c. And so 2. Cor. 8. 7. Therefore as yee abound in euery thing in faith and vtterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your loue to vs see that yee abound in this Grace also Therefore it should grieue a Christian to heare a man speake of any grace which hee hath not in himselfe Fine and daintie women we know who haue a delight in curious gardens if they heare of any goodly Plant or delicate Flower in another bodies garden they neuer rest till they haue got a slip of it into their owne yea here they beg a root and

be giuen to swearing let him looke St. Iames 5. 12. If a man bee giuen to lightnesse or the like let him looke Ephes. 5. 5. Where it is said no whoremonger neither any vncleane person hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God and so euery speciall sinne a speciall place Psal. 119. 11. Q What gather wee of this A. That they who either in hearing or reading the words slippe by those places which make most against them and strike deepest at their faults shall neuer attaine to true reformation of their hearts Q What is the second helpe to weaken sinne A. A man must marke what feedes his sinne where it getteth strength For as fire is nourished with fewell so there is euer somewhat that nourisheth our sinnes If a man can finde that and reforme it hee shall soone weaken the greatest corruption that is within him As if companiedraw thee to sinne away with that companie If feare of displeasure away with that feare If hope of commodities away with that hope Math. 5. 29. Q. What gather wee of this A. That they who say they would faine leaue sinne and yet leaue not such companie vse such pastimes such meanes as they know cannot but nourish and increase it in them doe but deceiue themselues As if a man would clap drie ●aggots vpon the fire and say he doth meane to quench it when indeed hee kindles it the more Q. What is the third helpe to weaken sinne A. A man must cry to heauen and begge the Lords ayde and his helping hand as a little childe if he haue a tough sticke which he cannot breake runnes to his father with it that hee may breake it for him So because we cannot master our sinnes therefore we must runne to God by prayer that hee may master them and kill them in vs Psal. 41. 4. Q. What gather wee of this A. That they who purpose and resolue to leaue their sinnes and yet are not often vpon their knees crauing strength from heauen and grace to leaue them shall neuer shake them off Q. What if these things worke not A. If these things worke not vpon vs wee must consider what is thereason why they doe not worke either wee doe not vse them so diligently and so carefully as wee should or else we haue vsed them but a little while A man cannot fell a great Oake with one stroke of an Axe it will aske him many a blowe So our sinnes being of so great a growth will not quickly down It is well if after many labours and much paines wee may feele them begin 2. Cor. 12. 8. or else the heart may not yet be loosened from some darling eorruption vntill which time all meanes are vneffectuall Psal. Q. What gather wee of this A. That they who vse these meanes for a spirt and practise them not continually and wholly shall neuer get any sound comfort or profite by them Q. What is the second thing a man must doe in the reforming of his heart A. When a man hath weeded out his sinnes hee must not then giue ouer but fall to worke a fresh and labour to plant somewhat in the garden of his soule as one vice goes out so he must labour to plant an other vertue in the roome Hos. 10. 12. Q. What gather wee of this Q. That a man must not thinke his conuersion to bee true vnlesse he bee carried with as great loue to godlinesse as euer hee was to wickednesse and be as carefull for good things as euer he was for euill And therefore they that are come from Poperie and stick there hauing got no iudgement nor knowledge in the Gospell doe but deceiue themselues As they also who will not openly breake the Sabboth and yet are not carefull to sanctifie it in the holy duties thereof Psal. 27. 27. Q What are the things wee must first plant in the heart A. A loue of God to delight in him as in the greatest portion we haue in this world to rest in him with ioy and contentment as in our chiefest good to set more price on him then we doe on all the world besides And therefore hauing such a Iewel and such a wonderfull treasure of the Lord wee account all our wants to be nothing so long as wee want not him All our losses nothing so long as we lose not him All displeasures light so long as God is not displeased with vs Math. 21. 38. Q. Why must we begin at the loue of God A. Because the loue of God is the fountaine of all true obedience and it sendeth forth the carefull Christian to good workes For louing God hee will seeke to doe that which God may like of and will willingly doe nothing that may displease him Euen as if a man haue a deere friend hee will not willingly doe any thing that may offend him but will seeke by all duties to make his loue and his good heart knowne vnto him Q. How may wee bring our hearts in loue with God A. By considering what God hath beene to vs and what we haue beene to him Wee the worst of all his creatures worse then Toades or Snakes for they sinne not against God but wee sinne against him Worse then the Iewes for they crucified Christ but once but wee buffet him and pierce him with our sinnes euery day worse then any of the damned Ghosts that lie damned in hell for they sinned in darknesse but wee sinne in the light they hauing but weake meanes wee hauing many great helpes to weaken sinne and yet mirrour of mercy none so spared as we are spared none so blessed as we are blessed none so loued as we are loued of the Lord. And therefore how can wee but euen burne in loue towards him againe and make more reckoning of him then of all the world besides Solomons song 2. 5. Q. What is the second thing A. The feare of God to bee more affraid to displease him then all the Princes and powers in the world To be more abashed and more ashamed when God sees vs sinne then if all the eyes in the world were gazing on vs Gen. 28. 17. Q What will this worke in vs A. The feare of God will be as a banke to keepe in the raging lusts of the heart that they breake not out Euen as the Sea banke beates backe the waues and breakes the force of them that they cannot ouerflow Ier. 32. 40. Q. How may wee settle the feare of God in our hearts A. First by considering the great power and the mighty arme of God that he is more able to doe vs more harme then all the powers in the world can doe And therefore if wee feare to displease a Prince who can kill but our bodies how much more should we feare to displease God who can damne our soules Isay 51. 12. 13. Secondly by perswading our selues that wee are alwayes in Gods presence that he euer lookes vpon vs with a bright

God is the installing of him in his Kingdome and in his Throne the aduancing and lifting of him vp to bee the head of the Church and that person by whom God will rule all things both in Heauen and in Earth Phil. 2. 9. Q. What learne we of this A. That Christ is now exalted in his kingdome and in his Priesthood So that now he administreth both his kingly his Priestly office with greater might and Maiestie then euer hee did before Q. What fruit haue wee by the lifting vp of Christ in his Priesthood A. Wee know thereby that Christs Intercession shall bee more profitable for vs. For if Christs prayer on Earth was alwayes heard wee may well thinke that being Sutour for vs in so great Maiestie and glory hee shall not bee denied Rom. 8. 34. Q. What fruit haue we by the lifting vp of Christ in his kingdome A. First wee know that now he is more able to blesse the Church and euery member of it And therefore if hee then healed the sicke fed his followers with small prousion made the ministry of the Word effectuall much more is hee able to doe it now 2. Cor. 9 8. Secondly wee know that Christ is more able to defend the Church and subdue all the enemies of it and stampe them vnder foote And therefore if hee then cast out deuill he is now much more able to cast out sinne and if then hee were able with one word to calme the Sea hee is now much more able to scatter all our troubles and to disperse them Rom. 26. 20. Q. What gather wee of this A. That they who doubt of Gods fauour or feare they shall not be able to liue this hard yeare or thinke they shall neuer get Religion or ouercome the lets howsoeuer they say they beleeue yet doe not indeed beleeue that Christ sits at the Right hand of God that is that hee more mightily administreth his Kingdome and Priesthood now then euer hee did before Q. What is the last degree of Christs Exaltation A. From thence hee shall come to iudge quick and dead Q. What is the meaning hereof A. That Christ in the end of the world when the sinnes of men be ripe shall descend in a Cloude and sit downe vpon his throne and all both great and small shall stand before him and the Bookes shall bee opened and they shall bee iudged according to the things that they haue done be they good or bee they euill Qu. What note wee hence A. 1. That there shall be a Iudgement 2. The generalitie of the Iudgement 3. The Person of the Iudge 4. The Time of it Qu. How know wee that there shall be a Iudgement A. First by the Scriptures Secondly by the light of Reason Q. What Scriptures proue it A. Iude 14. 15. 2. Cor. 5. 10. Act. 17. 31. Q. What is the Reason A. We know that God is a iust and righteous God and therefore hee cannot but make the state of the godly better then the state of the wicked But in this world it is not so For godly Lazarus lyes pyning at the doore while the wicked Glutton sits surfetting at the Board And therefore there must bee a Iudgement that the godly may bee blessed and the wicked punished Q. What fruit haue we by this A. Wee know that Christs comming is for the further glorifying of his Church and the punishing of the enemies of it And therefore howsoeuer we are here pressed and afflicted for a while and crowned with contempt as our Master was with thornes yet a day will come when all our infirmities and miseries shall haue an end and the faces of our enemies shall be filled with shame 2. Thess. 1. 6. 7. 8. Q. What are wee taught concerning the generality of the Iudgement A. That all shall be iudged both quicke and dead Q. Who are meant thereby A. By the quicke are meant they whom Christ shall finde aliue at his comming And by the dead they are meant that shall bee dead before So that all shall be iudged Rom. 14. 10. Q. What gather wee of this A. That a day will come when euery one of vs shall giue an account to God for his whole life for euery oath that he hath sworne for euery lie that he hath told for euery penny that he hath deceiued for euery Sabboth that he hath prophaned And therefore that wee must be carefull to flie these sinnes and the like as wee will answer to God for the contrarie at the Iudgement seate Q. Who shall be the Iudge A. Christ in his humane Nature Iohn 5. 22. 27. Q. What learne wee by this A. That Christs comming shall be comfortable to the godly and fearefull to the wicked Comfortable to the godly because he shall be their Iudge who is their Sauiour Luke 21. 28. Fearefull to the wicked because he shall be their Iudge whose blood they haue despised whose Ministers they haue disgraced whose name they haue blasphemed whose Sacraments they haue contemned whose Sabboths they haue prophaned Reu. 6. 15. 16. Q. When shall the Iudgement bee A. In the end of the world what yeare or what day or what houre knoweth no man no not the Angels but God alone Math. 24. 36. Q. Why would the Lord haue it secret A. That men might be alwayes vpon their watch and preparing for it For the count day will come suddenly and therfore we must euer keepe our reckonings streight lest it come like a thiefe in the night to steale away all our peace and prosperitie and pleasures for euer Mark 30. 35. Q. What is the third Person in whom wee must beleeue A. The Person of the Holy Ghost Q. What are wee to beleeue concerning the Holy Ghost A. Two things First that he is the effentiall Power of the Father and of the Sonne the same God in nature but distinct in Person That hee proceedeth from the Father the Scripture is plaine Iohn 15. 26. That hee proceedeth from the Sonne is as plaine Gal. 4. 6. That he is a distinct person from them both is cleare Iohn 14. 16. Secondly that he is the Sanctifier of Gods elect and therefore hee is called the Holy Ghost not onely because he is holy in himselfe but also because he makes vs holy sanctifying both our bodyes and our soules vnto God Q. What learne wee by this A. That by nature wee are more barren then the barrenest ground in the world hauing no sparke of grace or goodnesse in vs And therefore if there be any loue of vertue any hatred of sinne we may well know it is not of our selues but the Spirit of God which wrought it in our hearts Phil. 2. 13. Qu. What doth the Spirit of God worke in vs A. First knowledge of the will of God For whereas by nature a man hath no more true Religion then a very beast The Spirit of God opening and enlightening the eyes of his minde makes him able to conceiue the secret things