Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	knowledge_n	understanding_n	wisdom_n	6,916	5	6.5948	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07288	Saint Peters chaine consisting of eight golden linckes, most fit to adorne the neckes of the greatest states, nobles, and ladies in this land, as the chiefest iewell of true nobilitie: and not vnfit for the meaner sort. Digested into eight chapters, and published by R.M. minister. With a praier annexed to the end of euerie chapter.	Mavericke, Radford, b. 1560 or 61.	1596 (1596)	STC 17683; ESTC S112697	95,593	198

very godly and zealous will aboue many other appeare in their liues and conuersation to be most dissolute wicked and vngodly Some of them will bee beastly adulterers some cruell extortioners some byting vsurers some false periurers some deceitfull coseners some mercilesse and without all compassion to the poore and needy and yet I say their talke shall bee sometimes and in some companie of Gods worde and religion It is therefore very wel It is better seeme ignorant then to boast of knowledge without practise Psal 50.16 noted of one who saith that it is better to seeme ignorant then to boast of knowledge without practise But what saith the eternal God vnto those talkers why takest thou my worde in thy mouth and hatest to be reformed The kingdome of God saith S. Paule is not in worde 1 Cor. 4.20 but in vertue and power they regarde not ● Pet. 1 5. this exhortation of Sainte Peter who bids them to ioine vnto their knowledge vertue temperaunce godlines and so forth they thinke not that the grace of God hath appeared to teach them to deny all vngodlines Tit. 2.11 and worldly lusts and to liue soberly righteously and godly in this present worlde they beleeue not that this is the will of God euen our sanctification that we should abstayne from fornication That euery 1 Thess 4.3 one shoulde possesse his vessell in honour and holinesse and not in the lustes of concupiscence as do the Gentiles which know not God that no man oppresse or defraude his brother in bargaining because the Lord is an auenger of all these thinges They feare not that saying of Saint Iames There shall bee iudgment mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercie and that mercy reioyceth Iam. 2.13 against iudgement In one worde they wilfully deceaue themselues and knowing they will not Ephes 5.5 knowe That no whoremonger nor vncleane person nor couetouse person which is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God And is not then the state of those to bee lamented aboue them that are ignorant for they shall bee beaten with many stripes because they Ignorance ioyned with obstinacy knowe their maisters will and doe it not whereas they that are ignorant if there bee not ioyned with it wilful obstinacie resistance Ignorance shall excuse none therefore not the mother of deuotion but of confusion of the truth shal be beate with fewer stripes but beaten they shall bee and not excused therefore let none pleade ignorance for ignorance is now knowen not to be the mother of deuotion but of errour and confusion Let vs aboue all thinges learne to Speculatiue knowledge naught worth with out practatiue knowe and that wee knowe let vs indeuour to put in practise Let vs no longer content our selues with speculatiue knowledge for it is practatiue knowledge that Saint Peter exhorteth vs vnto when hee saith Ioyne with your vertue knowledge euen the true knowledge of God in his Son Christ This is that knowledge which S. Paule Ephes 1.16.17.18.19 prayeth God to giue vnto the Ephesians when hee sayth I make mention of you in in my prayers that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the father of glorie might giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome reuelation through the knowledge of him that the eyes of your vnderstanding may bee lightned that ye may knowe what the hope is of his calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is with the Saintes and what is the exceeding greatnes of his power towardes vs which beleeue according to the working of his mighty power And a little after he saith That ye may be able to comprehend 12.18 19 with all saints what is the bredth and length and depth and height and to know the loue of God which passeth knowledge that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of God This is that true knowledge whereunto S. Peter exborteth vs. The same thing againe meaneth S. Paule when he saith Brethren be not children in vnderstanding but as concerning malitiousnes be children but in vnderstanding knowledge bee of a ripe 1 Cor. 14 20. age We must therefore vse all meanes possible to increase our knowledge as reading and hearing of Gods worde read and preached vnto vs prayer vnto God for the Reading preaching meditating conferrence with the learned be speciall meanes to increase knowledge Prouer. 2 12. increase therof with often meditation theron conference with them that haue knoweledge and so forth yea we must know that this holy knowledge of Gods word and the misteries thereof is that treasure which wee must day lie seeke euen as Salomon exhorteth vs saying My son if thou wilt receiue my wordes and hide my commandementes within thee and cause thine eare to hearken vnto wisedome and incline thine heart vnto vnderstanding for if thou callest after 3. knowledge and criest for vnderstanding 4. if thou seekest her as siluer searchest for her as for treasures then thou shalt vnderstande the feare of the Lorde and find the knowledge of God For the Lorde giueth wisdome out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding Whereby also wee may note that this knowledge commeth not naturally but it is the Lorde that giueth this wisedome and knowledge Therefore Salomon bids vs to aske and seeke it at Gods hande and after he saith It is God that giueth wisedome and knowledge Knowledge must be craued of God by prayer Mat. 7.7 Trust in the Lord and leane not vnto thine owne wisedome as if he should say thinke not to vnderstand this knowledge by thine owne wisedome but by prayer from God and by vsing such meanes as hee hath appointed for the obtayning of the same Aske and ye shall haue saith Christ seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you Againe Christ saith Search the Ioh. 5.39 scriptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life and they are they that testifie of mee The feare of the Lorde saith Salomon is the beginning of this knowledge The feare of the Lord the beginning of knowledge Prov. 1.7 who so findeth it doubtlesse findeth great treasure Therefore hee faith in his thirde chapter Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome and the man that getteth vnderstanding for 3.13 the marchandice thereof is better then the marchandise of Siluer and the gaine 14. thereof is better then Golde It is more precious then pearles and all thinges that 15 thou canst desire are not to bee compared vnto her length of daies is in her right hand 16. and in her left hande riches and glorie Her waies are waies of pleasure and al her pathes 17 prosperitie she is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her and blessed is hee that 18. receiueth her See see howe the holy Ghost doth compare vnderstanding wisedome and knowledge to a tree of life to golde

and peace to the Iewe first and also to the Gentile for 11 there is no respecte of persons with God Wherefore let vs hearken vnto Saynt Peter who biddeth vs to ioyne godlines with patience and the other vertues yea God no accepter of persons Leuit. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 11 let vs hearken vnto God himselfe who biddeth vs bee holy as hee is holie let vs eschewe euill and doe good let vs seeke peace and follow after it Let vs not bee dismaied with the multitudes of the vngodly for there are some Reuelat. 22 11. which are vniust and wil bee vniust still some filthy and will be filthy stil but let him that is righteous bee righteous still and let him that is holye bee holy still for beholde I come shortly saith Christ and my rewarde is with mee to giue to euerye 12 man as his worke shall be Blessed are they that doe his commaundements 14. mentes that their right may bee in the tree of life and that they may enter in through 15. the gates into the Cittie for without shall bee dogges and inchaunters and whoremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lyes A Prayer for godlines O Good and gracious God most louing merciful Father seeing thou hast not onely created mee after thine owne image but also redeemed mee being lost that I might bee thy child by adoption grace I most humbly beseech thee so to assist me with thy holy sanctifying spirite that I may lead my life in a holy christian godly conuersation as behoueth me professing thy name that I may be holy as thou O Father art holy that I may bee partaker of thy Godly nature in fleeing the corruption which is in the worlde through lust that I may dayly offer vp vnto thee my soule body as a holy and acceptable seruice that I may cast of the old man the whole body of sinne bee renewed in the spirit of my mind put on the new man which after thy likenes is created in righteousnes and true holmes that seeing Christ Iesus is made vnto me wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption I may by vertue of his resurrection die dayly vnto sinne and liue vnto thee in godlines newnes of life during mine abode here in this world that in the world to come I may haue life euerlasting through the same Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Amen Of Brotherly kindnesse Chap. 7. THe Apostle Saint Peter hauing furnished sixe linkes of his Chaine the vertue vse whereof doe especially profite and appertaine to ech particular person that is indued with them as euery particular man and woman must be saued by his owne faith euery one must haue vertue to addorne and beautifie his faith euery one must haue true knowledge to leade him the way vnto vertue euery one must labour by temperaunce and sobrietie to keepe his owne bodie in subiection to his spirite according as his knowledge out of Gods worde doth teach him euery one hath need of patience to endure the sundry trials and temptations of this life and of godlinesse which is the maintayner and supporter of christian patience Thus I say euery one of these vertues do in a special peculiar mānerprofite themselues that are endued with them But because man is not borne alone for himselfe as heathen men also haue taught and therefore must not onely haue vertues to benefite himselfe but also such as wherewith hee may doo good to others Therefore Saint Peter biddeth vs to ioyne with the other forenamed vertues first brotherly kindnes which is a most feruent 2. Pet 1. 7. What brotherly kindnes is loue and kinde affection that all the children of God do beare one vnto the other and therefore rightlye called of the Apostle brotherly kindnes as wee are brethren in Christe by grace of redemption then bids vs last of al to ioyne with our brotherly kindnes loue or charity which extendeth it selfe farther then brotherly kindnes doth not onely to the saints and children of God but vnto all men in generall euen vnto our verie mortall and deadly enemies For this cause then is it that Saint Peter doth not bring loue and brotherly kindnes together within the compasse of one linke but speaketh of them seuerally distinctly yet lincketh them one in the other because there can bee no brotherlie kindnes where there is no loue nor any true loue where there is not brotherlie kindnesse Whereupon it must needs follow that none but the children of God can haue either loue or brotherly kindnes Obiection First then to intreat of brotherly kindnes which is not so generall as loue is seeing that none but the faithfull are endued with it a question maye heere bee mooued what kind of loue affection that is which is shewed by one man to another euen of them that are not christians but heathen people and infidels yea and also many of them which beare the names of christians shewe great kindnes one to the other not because they are christians of the household of faith for that is the least thing they account of but for some other cause and in some other respecte Answere I answere that this kind of loue and affection may also in a sort bee called brotherly kindnes to wit as we are brothers by creation But to make a distinction between the one the other seeing the holy ghost doth call that kindnes of affection which christians beare one to the other brotherly kindnes let vs call this other kindnesse and affection naturall kindnesse for so indeede it is a naturall vertue giuen vnto mankinde in his first creation but sithens greatlye corrupted and defaced by sinne as all other giftes of nature are Now for as much as naturall kindenes was before brotherly kindnes and because brotherly kindnes wherevnto Saint Peter exhorteth vs doth not take a way naturall kindnes but rather seeketh to repaire nature thorough grace therefore I thinke it not amisse in this chapter to speake first of naturall kindnes and how wee do degenerate heerein contrary to our kinde and nature and then to come to this christian brotherlie kindnes that Saint Peter speaketh of which doth excell and exceede the other by many degrees shewing withall the want of this brotherlie kindnes which doth too much bewray it selfe euen among those countryes and nations which are professed christians First then concerning naturall kindenes wee maye consider the greate and wonderful wisedome of almightie GOD as in all thinges so especiallye in this one thing forming in numerable sortes of creatures wherwith the whole world is replenished Gen 1 24 Nature hath taught all beasts to loue theyr kind infused into eache creature this secrete force of nature that euerie one shoulde loue and liue together with such as were best like the one vnto the other The birdes of the aire by themselues the beastes of the fielde by themselues

maketh plainly the difference that is betweene man and them for so much differeth man from the dull and brutish beast as he sheweth himselfe by knowledge to bee clearely vnspotted of ignoraunce Ignoraunce is the Ignoraunce can neuer speake well of learning defamer of learning and knowledge Therfore Saint Iude saith The wicked speake euill of the things they know not Idlenesse ingendereth ignoraunce and ignoraunce increaseth error if therefore wee will auoide the errors of this life let vs applie our selues vnto learning and knowledge Thus much I haue thought good to speake of learning and knowledge in generall which I call artificiall knowledge because as it is before said it is a good meanes being not abused to come vnto the true knowledge of God whereof now wee must intreate Howbeit because GOD sometimes in this pointe worketh by meanes and sometimes without meanes let vs take Two extreemes to auoided heede of these two extremities that we doe neuer despise these externall helpes of learning because some haue had the true knowledge of GOD without them neither despaire of obtaining the true knowledge of God because wee are not learned in other artes and sciences For true it is that Moyses was learned in all the wisedome of the Egyptians and they were no hinderances but rather furtherances vnto him to serue Acts. 7.22 Humane sciences a helpe to Moyses in his calling So likewise to Paule Apollos GOD in his calling after he had reuealed his word and knowledge vnto him Learning the knowledge of tongues and other liberall sciences were great helpes vnto Paule and Apollos in the worke of their ministerie therefore where God giueth these gifts let them be accounted of and vsed to his glorie But yet let none thinke the true knowledge of God to bee tyed to these outward Gods grace not tied to outward meanes meanes for Christ doth giue thanks to God his father because he reuealed the secresies of his Gospel to babes and sucklings that is to such as had no more knowledge in liberall Mat. 11.25 sciences then babes and sucklings haue And S. Paul saith where is the wise Where is the Scribe Where is the disputer of this world Hath not God made the wisedome 1. Cor. 1.20 of this world foolishnes Meaning that no man be he neuer so learned and wise could by his owne natural reach of wit and vnderstanding attaine vnto the true knowledge of God and of Christ againe this saying of the Apostle must stand The naturall man cannot perceiue the things that are of God Wherefore when Saint Peter biddeth vs to 1. Cor. 2.14 ioyne knowledge vnto vertue hee meaneth neither that knowledge which wee haue by nature neither that which is holpen and amended by art and learning but this other Both naturall and artificiall knowledge must attend as handmaidens vpon supernaturall knowledge kind of knowledge which is supernaturall vpon whom both nature art shuld attend as hand maides namely the true knowledge of God in his sonne Christ whereunto wee can neuer atteine of our selues except we be illuminated inlightned by the holy spirit of God This is life eternal to know God the father Ioh. 17.3 and Iesus Christ whom he hath sent to be the Sauior of the world Vnto this knowledge doth S. Peter exhort vs when he saith Ioyne with your vertue knowledge meaning that we can by no meanes begin to leade a godly and vertuous life before we be taught True know ledge onely learned out of Gods word and instructed in this knowledge the which is no where to be learned but in the Schole of Christ out of the booke of God which onely teacheth perfect wisedome and perfect knowledge But some will say did not the sage wise Phylosophers which were onely learned in humane knowledge and sciences excell in The Phylosophers that liued before Christ knewe more then manye Christians doe now sundrye vertues many of vs which liue in this plentiful time of knowledge True it is and the greater condemnation hangeth ouer our heads that cannot see to walke at noone day as wel as they which walked only by the twylight or rather at midnight for they only being lead by the light of nature came surely very neare vnto vertue their steps did trace oftentimes the shadow of vertue they thoght the same to be true vertu for why They had not the light of Gods word wherby they might know the shadow from the substance Euen as the blind man in the Luk. 8.24.25 Gospell as soone as Christ beganne to open his eyes saide hee sawe men walking as if they were trees but when our Sauiour Christ gaue him perfect sight then hee confessed that they were men indeede and no trees so if it had pleased God to giue these Phylosophers the knowledge of his worde then doubtlesse they would haue left the shaddow of vertue and haue runne vnto the substance then they woulde haue ioyned vnto their knowledge true vertue indeede But out alas vpon the dulnesse darknesse the ignoraunce and blindnesse of the people of this age O the dimnes of our sight which haue not onely the same light of nature which they had and withall the whole law the Prophets vnto the which if wee would giue heede as Saint Peter exhorteth 2. Pet. 1 19. vs it would shine vnto vs as a light out of a darke place but also wee haue had and blessed bee God yet haue the bright morning starre and the sunne of righteousnes it selfe shining vnto vs in the Gospel ten thousand times more clearer and brighter Christians cannot see to walke in the path of vertue then the sunne in all his strength and yet we can not see to walke in the path of vertue nay we cannot so much as treade vppon the shadow of vertue but walke on still in darknesse and the shawdow of death as though we did dwel yet in the darknes of Egypt Ignorance or want of knowledge surely in many Want of knowledge the cause of sinne is the cause that they cannot see to walk in the steps of vertue But yet I doe not so much lament to see the ignorance of some though it be lamentable to see so many cōtinue stil in ignorance the word of God so plentifully preached The ignorant that liue in some ciuility a great deal better then they that boast of knowledge but are voyd of common honesty as it is as I do bewaile the state and condition of other that make shew to the world of great knowledge and vnderstanding of the Scriptures yea and will seeme to talke reason dispute of it oftentimes as though there were nothing in them but religion holinesse but when their wordes are past their talke ended if for their great words we looke for some deedes and for long talking expect honest walking then we shal see the case very much altered they which seemed to bee