Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	let_v	lord_n	praise_v	3,254	5	9.4067	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A74691	The arraignment of ignorance: or, ignorance. With the causes and kinds of it; the mischiefes and danger of it, together with the cure of ignorance: as also, the excellency, profit, and benefit of heavenly knowledge, largely set forth from Hos. 4. 6. / By W. G. Minister of the word at Lymington in the County of South-hampton.	Gearing, William.	1659 (1659)	Wing G429; Thomason E1760_1; ESTC R209751	109,901	231

be more wary of their wayes yea doubtlesse we may say when we see men run headlong into sin that either they see not what they do which is pitiful or else that they wilfully winke and will not see which is much more perilous 2. Sins may be called workes of darknesse because they be for the most part done in the darke and the doers of them still delight to be in the dark and are ashamed that their doings should be brought to light for what Job saith of one sinner Job 24.15 saying The eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying No eye shall see me and disguiseth his face Our Saviour affirmeth to be true of all sin and every sinner saying Joh. 3.20 that every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved or 3. Because they are evermore suggested to us either by Satan himself the Mint-master of all mischief the Prince of darknesse or by some of his wicked instruments that be Amici Curiae Prectours Factours and sollicitours of that black Prince in his Court of darknesse 4. Because they carry those that live and die in them into Hell the place of utter darknesse Let us then that are enlightned with the true light cast off the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that is have our conversation suitable to our profession The Gospel is the day Christ is the light Luther in Rom. Faith is the eye which apprehendeth this light therefore seeing the day is come and the light shineth let us walk as in the day and in the light the eye of faith and the foot of obedience which two concurring make an holy life are called armour of light they be called armour because thereby we may defend our selves from the fiery darts of the devil Eph. 6.16 and they be called armour of light for three causes 1. Because they proceed from the Father of lights James 1.17 2. Because they make them that wear this armour shine like lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Phil. 2.15 3. Because like true bred Eagles they abide the light and need neither care nor fear who looks upon them as our Saviour telleth us He that doth the truth Joh. 3.21 cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God viz. according to his will revealed in his Word 1. Get in a lightsome principle therefore into your hearts look that the light that is in you be not darknesse do not act by mens courses and by precedents from others but get a principle of light within to guide thee in all thy actions 2. Let all thy aimes also be full of light labour in all your actions to approve your selves to God and above all things aim at his glory To have low ignoble and base endes is not to act as a childe of light but to have high glorious and supernaturall endes and aimes to confide in his word to trust in his mercy to rest upon his grace to stay upon his power and faithfulnesse to adhere to his promises to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts to glorifie his Name to praise him for his goodnesse to be zealous for his glory to walke in the light of his countenance and to have communion with him in all holy ordinances these are the ends that become the children of light 3. See that thou walke by a lightsome rule let the Word of God be your rule let the Word be a lampe or candle to your feet Psal 119.105 and a light unto your paths all our deviations and aberrations from the light of this bright-shining candle are dark steps or steps into darknesse when men walke by a lightsome rule their actions are full of light Let us then walke decently as in the day abhorring all workes of darknesse you know discreet men in the night are carelesse of their attire not regarding what colour or stuff or fashion it be so it keep them warm because they know that the darknesse covereth both it and them but in the day time when they mean to go abroad or admit any body to see or speake with them they will be ashamed unlesse they be in some good fashion like men of their place and ranke and therefore will have their apparel beseeming men of their qualities and conditions So let knowing Christians walke as becometh Saints and avoid whatsoever is of evill report Let your light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may see your good workes and glorifie your heavently Father saith our blessed Saviour Vse 4 Let me adde a use of caution 1. Art thou a man enlightned with the knowledge of God take heed how thou sinnest against the light of knowledge which God hath set up in thee to direct thee Oh the great wickednesse that is in mens hearts in these dayes the light now shineth more gloriously than it did heretofore the word is more common more frequently and powerfully taught more and better helpes to the attainment of knowledge than were in former Ages may not we demand with the Apostle Have they not heard Rom. 10.18 19. Did not Israel know Men are not ignorant or may not be ignorant what duty they owe to Gods Sabbaths what reverence to his Name what respect to his word and yet men prophane the Lords day despise their teachers contemne the Word Quo major est revelatio eo magis est cognitio quo magis cognitio pecatum quo magis peccaum eo magis judicium Bernard and sinne against cleare light and act as if they were ignorant in the mystery of Christ and to seek in duties appertaining to God and their neighbour The sinne of such men shall be more heinous then many others whom God hath not given to know so much as he hath to them Make conscience thereof committing sinnes against conscience and of thwarting those holy rules which the Spirit of God by the preaching of his Word hath written in thy heart this makes the wayes of God to be evil spoken of and the seeking after knowledge to be condemned as the cause of all licentiousnesse when men bring scandal upon Religion by walking contrary to what they know 2. Art thou a knowing man take heed of being proud of thy knowledge Scientia inflat Knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.1 saith the Apostle men that know much are apt to know it too much and those that excell in knowledge are apt to swell with pride the best men are apt to be tainted with this infection Paul himself was subject to be exalted above measure through the abundance of Revelations 2 Cor. 12.7 take heed of pride of gifts learning wit knowledge for God hath not given us these things to the end that we should set them a Sun-shining or to make sale were of them but that we may use them to his glory the finest

Kings yet he prayeth to God for a wise and an understanding heart 1 Kings 3.9 that he might discern between good and bad David was no Novice in Christs School or mean Proficient in the study or practise of Piety he was surely a man of much knowledge and had many excellent natural parts which doubtlesse he augmented by art being added unto them and improved both by many years study and industry nay which was more he was doubtlesse endowed with a great measure of grace from above for he confesseth and thankfully acknowledgeth that he had more understanding than his teachers and out-stripped all the Ancients Psal 119.99 100. yet even he thus excellently qualified by nature and art yea even as it were perfected by grace still prayeth for direction and instruction in the wayes of God Psal 119.27 33 34 35 36 64 66 73. That we can attain to no perfection of knowledge here in this life many places might easily be produced plainly to prove it to us 1 Cor. 13.9 We know in part and prophesie in part and verse 12. Now we see through a glasse darkly as old men see through spectacles and Bernard saith that here we see per angusta foramina through narrow auger-holes non per aperta ostia and not through opened doors Peter tells us plainly 2 Pet 3.19 Theologia sive scientia intelligentia viatorum inchoata tantum modificata dicitur quoniam hominibus per modum mensuram datur Polan Synt. that his beloved brother Paul had written to the Jewes according to the wisdom given unto him Let us get as much knowledge as we can we may say as Job doth Lo these are parts of his wayes but how little a portion is heard of him and the thunder of his power who can understand Job 26.14 Therefore labour to be filled with the knowledge of God It is said of our Saviour Christ that he was filled with wisdom Luk. 2.40 and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit and was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was with him as he grew in age so he increased in understanding and the other gifts of the mind If any shall say he was wisdom it self Joh. 1.14 and Col. 3. and how then could he be said to increase in wisdom and knowledge I answer There was in him a double wisdom vid. his uncreated wisdom quatenus deus as God and his infused wisdom quatenus homo as man Now to the first there could be no addition or augmentation he being even perfect wisdom it self but in regard of the second he increased in sapientiâ naturali acquisitâ in natural and acquired wisdom in natural wisdom the organs of his body growing apt to exercise it and expresse it and in acquired wisdom getting daily by observation more experience of things and it is most certain as man he was in his infancy ignorant as other children are and grew in knowledge in the same manner they do though in an extraordinary measure the more therefore you encrease in knowledge the more you are like to Christ the store-house of wisdom and knowledg Dan. 22.4 It was prophesied by Daniel concerning the latter days that many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be encreased Direct 5 See that you communicate your knowledge unto others ' The ends of men that desire knowledge and use means to obtain it are divers saith one Some desire knowledge only that they may know which is curiosity some desire knowled that that they may be known which is pride and vanity Some only to make an advantage of their knowledg which is covetousnesse Some again to edifie themselves and to communicate their knowledg and to do good to others and this is true wisdom Bernard Luke 11.33 No man when he hath lighted a candle putteth it in a secret place neither under a bushel but on a candlestick that they which come in may see the light the maning is whomsoever God hath enlightened with knowledge he must not make a Monopoly of it by concealing and keeping it only to himself but impart it to the use and benefit of others 1 Cor. 12.7 thus Paul tells us that the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall The Sun and Moon and Starres as they are the greatest lights in themselves so they shine not for themselves but for the benefit of the whole world on whom doth not his light arise Job 25. many men do bear the generall knowledge of God lockt up in their breasts as sealed bags of treasures that be neither told nor opened of little or no use at all As a candle is luminis sui diffusivum communcativum omnibus in domo communicative of its light to all that are in the house so we ought to communicate our knowledge to all with whom we have to do some there are whom worldly profits do keep from this duty these do put this light under a bushell others are hindred by pleasure and vanity Matth. 25.18.24 and these put it under a bed and both are very dangerous Take heed of smoothering your gifts and burying your talents with the unprofitable servant Plato the Philosopher tells us that no man is born for himself and surely such as retire themselves to Monkish Eremetical and Anchorites lives altogether regarding only themselves are reproved of the bruit creatures for Beasts Birds and Bees labour not for themselves alone we find in Scripture this holy disposition in all true converts to teach and instruct others in the ways of godlinesse when Andrew had found Christ he was restless till he had called Simon neither could Philip forbear till he had brought in Nathanael when the woman of Samaria was instructed by Christ she runs into the City and calleth her neighbours when Christ had called Matthew he invited Christ to his house and made him a great Feast and there were saith the Text a great company of Publicans and others Luke 5 29. it is not to be imagined that they came into his house without his leave or that Matthew invited them with any other intent then that they might get that good by Christ which his soul had already reaped Some allegorize hereupon and say that it was a great Feast indeed because the Feast-maker himself was here served in and laboured to bring others unto Christ now with the very reversion of this Feast not only the needy on earth but the very Angels in heaven were made merry Luke 15.7 But I dare not strain it thus farre with Stella It was a great Feast saith Calvin not so much for the multitude of guests as for the variety of cheer which doubtlesse he being of ability would provide to manifest his love and duty by way of thankfulnesse to Christ that had entertained him into his service as the manner is of servants inviting their Masters to this Feast he inviteth many of his old companions labouring