Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	faith_n	scripture_n	6,364	5	6.0991	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30128	Christian behaviour, or, The fruits of true Christianity shewing the ground from whence they flow in their godlike order in the duty of relations, as husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants &c. : with a word of direction to all backsliders / by John Bunyan.	Bunyan, John, 1628-1688.	1663 (1663)	Wing B5492; ESTC R14817	52,342	160

Christian Behaviour OR THE Fruits of true Christianity Shewing the Ground from whence they flow in their Godlike order in the Duty of Relations as Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants c. With a Word of Direction to all Backsliders By John Bunyan a Prisoner of Hope The Earth that drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth Briers and Thorns is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6. 7 8. London Printed for F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader HAving formerly writ some small matter touching the Doctrine of Faith as Justification by Grace through the Faith of Christs Blood c. I do here as the second to that Doctrine present thee with a few lines touching Good Works that I might as at first I shewed thee the Good and Glory of the one so now shew thee the Beauty and Excellency of the other For though we are justified Rom. 3. 24 c. freely by Grace through Christ before God yet we are justified before Men Jam. 2. 18. by our Works Nay a life of Holiness flowing from Faith in us that are saved by Grace it doth justifie that Grace before the World that justifies us before God 2 Cor. 6. 1 3. 2 Cor. 9. 12 13 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. I have not here only in general treated of this Doctrine of Good Works but particularly after some discourse about Works flowing from Faith and what makes it truly and gospelly Good I discourse of them as we stand under our several relations in this World among men As first The Duty of the Master of a Family Of the Husband to his Wife and of hers to him Of the Duty of Parents to their Children and of Children to their Parents Of Masters also to their Servants and of the Servant again to his Master with a brief touch upon Good Neighbourhood and a discovery of Covetousness Pride and Uncleanness which are great Obstructions to a truly Gospel-Conversation I know there are many that have treated of Good Works in large and learned Discourses but I doubt all have not so Gospelized their discourses as become them and as the Doctrine of the Grace of God calleth for However I thoughtit my duty to add this discourse to all that are past and that for these Reasons First to take away those Aspersions that the Adversaries cast upon our Doctrine Rom. 3. 8. as also in the dayes of Paul that because we preach Justification without the Works of the Law therefore they pretend we plead for loosness of life whose damnatiâ—s just Secondly Because though there be much discourse about Works in general yet a particular Discourse of them as afore is touched is too much neglected and by this means every one too much left at uncertainties as from them of their several works under their particular Relations which I think is one reason of that disorder in Families and Places where God's People live to their shame and the dishonour of their God Thirdly Because these few Books that do particularly treat thus of Good Works are I think now so scarce or so big that but few have them and few buy them if they may be had especially our new Converts for whose sakes principally this short Discourse is intended and indeed this is one reason of my brevity that the price might neither be burdensome nor the reading long and tedious Multitude of words drown the Memory and an Exhortation in few words may yet be so full that the Reader may find that in the side of a sheet which some are forced to hunt for in a whole Quire c. The Lord teach us this Wisdom Fourthly I have written this Book to shew that I bear a fellow-Testimony and Witness with all that know God of the Operation that Grace hath and will have in the heart that hath savingly received it Lastly I have thus written because it is amiable and pleasant to God when Christians keep their Rank Relation and Station doing all as become their Quality Calling When Christians stand every one in their places and do the work of their Relations then they are like the flowers in the Garden that stand and grow where the Gardner hath planted them and then they shall both honour the Garden in which they are planted and the Gardner that hath so disposed of them From the Hysop on the Wall to the Cedar in Lebanon their Fruit is their glory And seeing the stock into which we are planted is the fruitfullest stock the sap conveyed thereout the fruitfullest sap and the dresser of our souls the wisest Husbandman John 15. 1. How contrary to nature to example and expectation should we be if we should not be rich in Good Works Wherefore take heed of being painted fire wherein is no warmth and painted flowers which retain no smell and of being painted trees whereon iâ— no fruit Whoso boasteth himself oâ— a false gift is like Clouds and Wind without Rain Prov. 25. 14. Farewel The Lord be with thy Spirit thaâ— thou mayest profit for time to come J. BUNYAN Christian Behaviour OR The Fruits of true Christianity Tit. 3. 7 8. That being justified by his Grace we should be made Heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life This is a faithful Saying and these things I will that you affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works These things are good and profitable unto men I Shall not at this time discourse of every Particular at large included in these words but shall briefly fall upon those things that I judge most necessary for the People of God Neither shall I need to make any great preamble to the words for their Explication they themselves being plain and without thaâ— ambiguity that calleth for such a thing the general scop being this That the which have believed in God should be careâ—ful to maintain Good Works But yet to prosecute what I intenâ— with what clearness I may I shall in ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ word or two make way for what is to be the main of this Book This is a Faithful Saying This Which Why that which goeth before namely That being justified by Grace wâ— should be made Heirs according to the hopâ— of Eternal Life This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm conâ—stantly Why so Why that they which have believed iâ— God might be careful to maintain Gooâ— Works The meaning is That the way to provoke others to Good Works is constantâ—ly in the evidence and demonstratioâ— of the Spirit to shew them the certainty of their being by Grace made Heirs of Eternal Life From this Scripture therefore I do gather these things observable First That Good Works do flow from Faith Yea Secondly That every one that believeth should be careful that their

believeth should be careful that their Works be Good This followeth from what went just before to wit That the heart of a Christian is a heart subject to bring forth weeds There is Flesh as â— well as Spirit in the best of Saints and as the Spirit of Grace will be alwayes putting forth something that is good so the Flesh will be putting forth continually that which is evil For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit as the Spirit against the Flesh Gal. 5. 17. Now this considered is the cause why you find so often in the Scriptures so many items cautions to the Christians to look to their lives and conversations As Keep thy heart with all diligence Prov 4. 23. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatever a man soweth that shall he reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 7 8. All works are not good that seem to be so It is one thing for a mans wayes to be right in his own eye and another for them to be right in God's Often that which is in high estimation with men is abomination in the sight of God Prov. 30. 12. Luke 16. 15. Seeing Corruption is not yet out oâ— our natures there is a proneness in us tâ— build upon the right foundation Wood Hay and Stubble instead of Gold and Silver and precious Stones 1 Cor. 3. 11 13 14 15. How was both David the King Nathan the Prophet and Vzza the Priest deceived touching Good Works 1 Chron. 17. 1 2 3 4. 1 Chron. 13. 9 10 11. Peter also in both his defending his Master in the Garden and in diswading of him from his sufferings though both out of love and affection to his Master was deceived touching Good Works Mat. 16. 22 23. John 18. 9 10. Many have miscarried both as to Doctrine Worship and the prosecution of each 1. For Doctrine Christ tells the Jews That they taught for the Doctrines of God the doctrines and traditions of men Mat. 15. Mark 7. As also saith the Apostle They teach things they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 1. 11. 2. Also touching Worship we find how frequently men have mistaken both for time place and matter with which they worshipped 1. For time It hath been that which man hath devised not which God hath commanded 1 Kings 12. 32. They change the Ordinances saith Isaiah Isa. 24. 5. They change God's Judgments into wickedness saith Ezekiel Ezek. 5. 6. 2. For place When they should have worshipped at Jerusalem they worshipped at Bethel at Gilgal and Dan in Gardens under Poplers and Elms 1 Kings 12. 26 27 28 29. Hos. 4. 13 14 15. Isa. 65. 2 3 4 5. 3. For the matter with which they worshipped Instead of bringing according to the Commandment they brought the lame the torn and the sick they would sanctifie themselves in Gardens with Swines-flesh and Mice when they should have done it at Jerusalem with Bullucks and Lambs Isa. 66. 17. Again Touching mens prosecuting their Zeal for their Worship c. that they do think right How hot hath it been though with no reason at all Nebuchadnezzar will have his Fiery-Furnace and Darius his Lyons-Den for Nonconformists Dan. 3. 6. 6. 7 c. Again they have persecuted men even to strange Cities have laid traps and snares in every corner to intrap and to intangle their Words and if they could at any time but kill the Persons that dissented from them they would think they did God good service Acts 26. 11. Luke 11. 53 54. John 16. 1 2. But what need we look so far from home were it not that I would seal my Sayings with Truth we need look no further to affirm this position than to the Papists and their Companions How many have they in all ages hanged burned starved drowned wracked dismembred and murdered both openly and in secret and all under a pretence of God his Worship and Good Works Thus you see how both Wise men and Fools Saints and Sinners Christians and Heathens have erred in the business of Good Works Wherefore every one should be careful to see that their works be good Now then to prevent if God will miscarriage in this matter I shall propound unto you what it is for a Work to be rightly Good First A Good Work must have The Word for its authority Secondly It must as afore was said flow from Faith Thirdly It must be both rightly timed and rightly placed Fourthly It must be done Willingly chearfully c. 1. It must have the Word for its authority Zeal without knowledge is like a metled Horse without eyes or like a sword in a mad-man's hand and there is no knowledge where there is not the Word For if they reject the Word of the Lord and act not by that What Wisdom is in them saith the Prophet Jer. 8. 9. Isa. 8. 20. Wherefore see thou have the Word for what thou dost 2. As there must be the Word for the authorizing of what thou dost so there must be Faith from which it must flow as I shewed you before For whatever is not of faith is sin and without faith it is impossible to please God Now I say without the Word there is no Faith Rom. 10. 17. As without Faith there is no good let mens pretences be what they will 3. As it must have these two afore-named so also it must have first right Time and secondly right Place 1. It must be rightly timed Every work is not to be done at the same time every time not being convenient for such a work There is a time for all things and every thing is beautiful in its time Eccles 31. 11. There is a time to pray a time to hear a time to read a time to confer a time to meditate a time to do and a time to suffer Now to be hearing when we should be preaching and doing that is yeelding active obedience to that under which we ought to suffer is not good Christ was very wary that both his doings and sufferings were rightly timed John 2. 3 4. 13. 1 2. and herein we ought to follow his steps To be at plow in the field when I should be hearing the Word is not good and to be talking abroad when I should be instructing my family at home is as bad Who so keepeth the Commandment shall feel no evil thing and a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgement Eccles. 8. 5. Good things mis-timed are fruitless unprofitable and vain 2. As things must have their right time so they must be rightly placed for the misplacing of any work is as bad as the mis-timing of it When I say things if good must be rightly placed I mean we should not give to any work more than the Word

off â—rom what he was and constrained to â—end and yeeld to what before it neither would nor could 1 Cor. 2. 14. Rom. 8. â— And hence it is that Gospel-obedience is called the Obedience of Faith as well as obedience to the Faith Rom. 16. 26. For it must be by the Faith of Christ in my heart that I submit to the Word of Faith in the Bible otherwise â—ll is to no profit as saith the Apostle The Word preached did not profit them it not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. For Faith alone can see the reality of what the Gospel saith and so I say argue over the heart to the imbracing of it 4. Faith is such a Grace as wil represent to the soul all things in their proper colours it doth not as doth unbelief and ignorance shew us all things out of order puting darkness for light and bitter for sweet but will set every thing in his proper place before our eyes God and Christ shall be with it the chiefest good the most lovely and amiable a Heavenly Life shall be of greater esteeâ— and more desirable than all the treâ—â—sures of Egypt Righteousness Sanctâ—â—fication will be the thing after which ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ will most vehemently press because ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ seeth not only Death and Damnation ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ the fruits of sin but sin also in it selâ— distinct from the punishment belonginâ— to it a detestible horrible and odiouâ— thing Heb. 11. 25 26 27. Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10 11 12. Rom. 12. 9. By Faith we see this World hath nâ— abiding in it for us nor no satisfactioâ— if it were otherwise Prov. 33. 5. Heb 11. 15 16. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31 And hence it is that the People of God have groaned to be gone from hence intâ— a state that is both sinless and temptationless And hence it is again that they have run through so many Tryals Afflictions and Adversities even because of that Love to holiness of life that Faith being in their hearts did prompt them to by shewing them the worth and durableness of that which was good and the irksomeness and evil of all things else â—Cor 5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Heb. 11. 33 â—4 35 36 37 38 39. 5. Faith layeth hold of that which is â—ble to help the soul to bring forth Good Works It layeth hold of and ingageth â—e Strength of Christ and by that over-â—ometh that which oppresseth I can do â—ll things through Christ that strengthenâ—th me Phil. 4. 13. In a word A Life of Holiness and Godliness in this world doth so insepaâ—ably follow a Principle of Faith that ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ is both monstrous and ridiculous to â—uppose the contrary What shall not â—e that hath life have motion Gal. 2. â—0 He that hath by Faith received the â—pirit of Holiness shall not he be Hoâ—y Gal. 3. 2. And he that is called to Glory and Vertue Shall not he add to â—is Faith Vertue 2 Pet. 1. 4 5. We are â—y Faith made good Trees and shall not â—e bring forth good Fruit Luke 6. 43. They that believe are created in Christ â—esus unto Good â—orks and God hath â—efore the world was ordained that we â—hould walk in them and shall both our second Creation and God's fore-ordinâ—â—tion be made frustrate Ephes. 1. 4. ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 10. Besides the Children of Faith ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ the Children of Light and of the ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 1 Tim. 5. 5. Lights upon a Hill Caâ—â—dles on a Candle-stick and shall not the shine They are the Salt of the Earth shall not they be seasoning Mat. 5. 1â— 14. The Believer is the alone Man ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ whom God sheweth to the World thâ— Power of his Grace the operation of hâ— Peoples Faith c. The unbelieverâ— reade indeed of the Power of Grace ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ the Faith Hope Love Joy Peace anâ— Sanctification of the Heart of the Chriâ—stian but they feel nothing of that sin killing operation that is in these things these are to them as a story out of Româ— or Spain Wherefore to shew them iâ— others what they find not in themselves God worketh Faith Hope Love c. iâ— a Generation that shall serve him anâ— by them they shall see what they cannoâ— find in themselves and by this meanâ— they shall be convinced that though sinâ— â—nd the pleasures of this life be sweet to â—hem yet there is a People otherwise-â—â—inded even such a People that do inâ—eed see the Glory of that which others â—eade of and from that fight take pleaâ—ure in those things which they are most â—â—verse unto To this I say are Christiâ—ns called herein is God glorified Hereby are sinners convinced and by â—his is the World condemned 1 Thes. 4. â— 1 Pet. 2. 12. 3. 1. Heb. 11. 7. Object But if Faith doth so naturally â—ause Good Works what then is the reaâ—on that God's People find it so hard a matâ—er to be Faithful in Good Works I answer First God's People are â—ruitful in Good Works according to the proâ—ortion of their Faith if they be slender â—n Good Works it is because they are weak â—n Faith Little faith is like small canâ—les or a weak fire which though they shine and have heat yet but dim shining and but small heat when compared with bigger Candles greater Fire The reason why Sardis had some in it whose works were not perfect before God ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ was because they did not hold fast bâ— Faith the Word that they had former ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ heard and received Rev. 3. 1 2 3. Secondly There may be a great mistakâ— in our judging of our own fruitfulnessâ— the soul that indeed is candid and righâ— at heart is taught by Grace to judge ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ self though fruitful yet barren upoâ— two accounts 1. When it compareth it life to the Mercy bestowed upon it Foâ— when a Soul doth indeed consider thâ— greatness and riches of the Mercy beâ—stowed upon it then it must needs crâ— out O wretched man that I am Rom 7. 24. for it seeth it self wonderfully tâ— fall short of a Conversation becominâ— one who hath received so great a benefit 2. It may also judge it self barren becausâ— it falleth so far short of that it woulâ— attain unto it cannot do the thing thaâ— it would Gal. 5. 17. 3. The heart oâ— a Christian is naturally very barren upâ—on which though the Seed of Graâ— that is the fruitfullest of all Seeds bâ—â—sowen yet the heart is naturally subjecâ— to bring forth weeds Mat. 15. 19. Now to have a good Crop from such ground doth argue the fruitfulness of the Seed wherefore I conclude upon these three things First That the Seed of Faith is a very fruitful Seed in that it will be fruitful in so barren a soil Secondly That Faith is not beholding to the heart but the heart to it for all its fruitfulness Thirdly That therefore the way to be a more fruitful Christian it is to be stronger in believing Now for the second thing to wit That every one that

Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Text snippets containing the quad