Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	know_v	teach_v	word_n	3,524	5	4.0716	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B11881	The signes of the wicked man Together with directions that shew how the seuerall gifts and graces of Gods spirit may be attained. Needfull for such as want those graces, and for such as desire to increase in them. By N. Bifield, preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1619 (1619)	STC 4235.5; ESTC S120630	24,700	134

are kindled yea and the flames of affection are much dulled in whom they are best excited Psal 119. 115. 6. Such as finde some 6. And of neglect of the increase hereof beginnings of desire after the Word and liking to it must take heed that they estrange not themselues from the exercises thereof For if they heare or reade but now then either the heart will neuer be throughly heated or if it bee it will easily waxe cold againe and yet herein Or excesse some are to be warned to take heed of disordered excesse for that will breed dulnesse as well as neglect As when they will reade daily for diuers houres or when they prouide vnto themselues a heape of Teachers as some that liue in great Cities thinke it Religion to heare all sorts of men and all the Sermons can bee come vnto As if the power of godlinesse lay onely in the vse of the meanes of godlinesse 7. Wee must practise 7. Practise what thou hearest what we heare and labour to shew forth the fruit of the doctrine Hee that would be in loue with husbandry must sow his seed in his ground and then the gaine of the Haruest will still allure him to like the Trade If we be fruitlesse hearers of the Word we cannot loue it or if we doe it will bee but for a flash or small time Thus of the loue to the Word Hee that would learne To attain the gift of prayer to pray must follow these directions 1. Hee must go to God 1. Pray God to teach thee in the name of Christ and beseech him to giue him words and by his Spirit to teach him to pray It is God onely can make a man speak a pure language for hee onely can instruct the heart of man and indue it with this heauenly gift Rom. 8. 26. Ephes 3. 9. 2. It will much helpe 2. Ioyne with such as can pray him to ioyne himselfe to such as call vpon the name of the Lord with a pure heart especially in the daies of their humiliation 2. Tim. 2. 22. 3. There are three distinct 3. How he may furnish himselfe in euery part of prayer things which a man may with singular profite propound vnto himselfe in his prayers Confession of sinnes Petition for grace and thankesgiuing for mercies receiued Now the weakest Christian may be through Gods blessing comfortably furnished for his own particular if hee take such a course as this To go aside and with all 3. Questions secresie and attention of heart before the Lord aske himselfe these three Questions 1. What sinnes haue I committed which either now do trouble me or if I were to die would make me afraide Let him set them downe in a paper or in his memory distinctly till hee can bethinke himselfe of no more It is no great matter for the order how he sets them down so hee bee sure hee haue the chiefe sinnes in which hee daily offends or hath offended 2. What would I haue the Lord do for mee if I might haue what I wish Let him set the particulars downe till he can remember no more As for example I would haue him forgiue me my sinnes and I would haue him giue me knowledge and I would haue him giue me strength against such and such sins I would haue him giue me faith and assurance and I would haue him giue me heauen when I die and so go on with all the things he feeles a desire in his heart to seek of God till he can remember no more and if at any other time hee remember some speciall thing which he would further haue which hee hath not in his Catalogue let him set it down as from time to time hee sees cause 3. What speciall fauours hath God shewed to me which I see I ought to take speciall notice of Let him set them downe distinctly whether they be deliuerances or such and such spirituall or outward mercies preseruing the memorie principally of the chiefest of them Now when hee hath thus furnished these three heads with things that in particular concerne himselfe they being all matters of weight hee must now carry these things or the chiefe of them in his minde and frame his heart to speake to God in the best words hee can get to signifie his detestation of those sinnes his humble requests for those graces and his vnfaigned thankefulnesse for those blessings Howsoeuer hee may bee rude or vnperfect in his language about these at the first yet exercise will bring him to a ripenesse and by this course he shall be sure to speak of things that concerne himselfe neerely and that God which hath taught parents to regard the vnperfect language of their little children when they begin to speake vnto them will himselfe much more delight to heare the desires of his seruants that are grieued that they cannot speake in a better sort vnto him The profite and comfort of this course will appeare by experience to bee exceeding great Besides it is an easie way when there is in any a true desire to bee at the paines to learne this language of speaking to God by prayer and Gods Spirit will helpe and teach the poore Christian and draw his Petitions for him and prompt him both with words and affections and the Christian must know this that when hee hath confessed his sinnes and shewed what hee would haue God doe for him with the best words hee could in the truth of his heart hee hath made a most effectuall prayer to God Thus of Prayer The awfull feare of God How the feare of God may be begotten in vs. and the reuerent dreading of God may be begotten and increased in vs if wee throughly remember and deeply ponder vpon 1. The surpassing glory and transcendent excellencie and perfection of his Nature his absolute Purity and exact Iustice and Holinesse 2. The wonderfull works of God especially those standing miracles shewed in the hanging of this mighty earth and those huge heapes of water in the clouds and the bounding of these mighty feas and such like 3. His fearefull threatnings of all sorts of woes against the transgressions of men 4. The terrour of the last Day and the dreadfulnesse of death and Iudgement 5. The fearefull and sudden iudgements which haue falne vpon wicked men either recorded in Scripture or reported in Histories or obserued in experience 6. Especially if wee thinke much and seriously of the great goodnesse of God to vs how hee hath striuen with vs to ouercome vs with his mercies Thus of the feare of God Wee should striue to stir vp in vs affection and loue to our very enemies by such considerations as these 1. Because Christ to whom wee are infinitely bound hath expresly charged vs to look to this that wee do loue our enemies and therefore for his sake we should deny our selues and our owne corrupt desires and affections and striue to shew the truth

occasions of mercy and wel-doing else affections will die in him The fruits of righteousnesse must bee sowed by practice 1. Ioh. 3. 18. If affection be onely in shew or in words or in the corruptions of the hart be not expressed and made fast by the engagements of practice it will much decay if not wholly bee lost 3. He must by all means take heed of discord with any of them striuing for a resolution to take things in the best part to beleeue all things and endure all things suffering long without enuy or reioycing in iniquity doing all things without reasonings or murmurings or censuring or complaining auoiding vaine ianglings and selfe-conceitednesse begging of God an abilitie to beare with the infirmities of others See further directions about this point in the Rules of life CHAP. IX Hitherto of the directions that concerne the attainement of the sacred gifts of the minde now it followeth to shew what thou must doe that in all thy waies thou mightst walke vprightly and attain vnto sound sinceritie of heart and life HEE that would walke vprightly or take a sound course to continue How soūd sincerity of conuersation may bee formed in thee in his vprightnesse must earnestly looke to these Rules 1. If thou haue bin guilty of any grosse sin know it is vnpossible thy heart should be vpright till thou haue with speciall repentance humbled thy selfe before God for that sinne and that also by conscionable practice thou keepe thy selfe from the great transgression Psal 19. 13. 2. Thou must in a speciall manner ●a●ch and striue against Hypocrisie and that in two things chiefely First that in thy setting out into Religion thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace 2. Secondly that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide distractions and so resist and check thy pronenesse of heart thereunto iudging thy selfe seuerely when thou so offendest till thou be able in some happy degree to serue God with thy spirit as wel as with thy body The habite of dissembling with GOD is extremely dangerous 3. In thy conuersation take heede of that fearefull carelesnesse of the most men shewed in the known and wilfull practice of sin vpon pretence that it is but a small offence or secret Take heed of the sinnes of deceit how gainefull soeuer they might be to thee thou maist together with vprightnesse lose the Kingdome of heauen for daring so wilfully to breake one of those little cōmandements Math. 5. 19. Take heed in generall of a stiffe and wilfull heart They are seldome vpright that are heady and peremptorie and hard to be perswaded Iam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Hab. 2. 4. 4. As much as may be accustome thy heart to the obseruing of Gods presence walk as before him Gen. 17. 2. 5 Yeeld thy selfe ouer to bee wholly guided by Gods Word Without knowledge the minde cannot bee good Prou. 19. 2. and he that walketh according to this rule shall haue peace in his heart and conscience Gal. 6. 16. Let Gods Law bee the light for thy feete and the lanthorne for thy pathes Psal 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulnesse of thy practice in the occasions of thy Calling either generall or particular where thou doubtest enquire so shalt thou walke in a sure way and delight thy selfe in much peace 6. Take heed of idlenesse and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life 7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sins to God doe it without hiding or extenuating iudging thy selfe for euery knowne sin and especially praying against and resisting the sin thou art most prone vnto 8. Be not well pleased with thy selfe till thou canst approue thy care to bee good at home as well as abroad looke to this Rule and take heed of frowardnesse and peruerse behauiour in thy Family Thou wilt hardly get any cōfortable euidence that thou art sound at heart if the vsuall Family sinnes raigne in thee 9. Thou mightst wonderfully aduance and establish vprightnesse of heart in thee if thou wouldst carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his VVord that whensoeuer thou didst feele thy conscience wounded or smitten for any particular offence by the VVord of God that then without delay thou wouldst in secret go to God and humble thy selfe by confession and from that time forward remember to striue against that sinne And so likewise when God with some speciall glory of his truth doth affect thee in the hearing of some needfull duty to bee done not to dare to delay but haste to the obedience of that good Word of God FINIS