Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	abound_v	knowledge_n	temperance_n	1,392	5	11.5925	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34992	A practical and polemical commentary or exposition on the whole fifteenth Psalm wherein the text is learnedly and fruitfully explained, some controversies discussed, sundry cases of conscience are cleared, more especially that of usurie : many common places succinctly handled ... / by Christopher Cartwright ... ; the life of the reverend and learned author is prefixed.	Cartwright, Christopher, 1602-1658.; Bolton, John, 1599-1679. Life of the author.	1658 (1658)	Wing C693; ESTC R18318	282,330	382

both that he would not give any way to the evil suggestion and instigation of his Mistriss And it came to pass as she spake to Joseph day by day that he hearkned not unto her to lie by her or to be with her Gen. 39.10 The wicked are compared to the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear at the voyce of the Charmer charm he never so wisely Psal 58 4 5. But in this the Godly must be wise as Serpents they must stop their ears at the charming of Satan the World and the Flesh they must take heed of being enchanted by them The first motions of sin are like sparks falling among Hay or Straw or the like if they be not presently quenched they will be likely to set all on fire How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Jer. 4.14 Evil thoughts will be creeping into us but we must not give them entertainment we must not suffer them to lodge within us We must expel them and drive them away as Abraham did the fowls that molested his sacrifice Gen. 15.11 Neither must we think any sin small so as to sleight it and make no reckoning of it as if there were no danger in adventuring upon it This is one of the wiles of the Devil one of his methodical devices and subtilties 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 6.11 Nemo repentè fuit turpissimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Transgressio trahit transsionem first to draw men to lesser sins and so by degrees to greater and greater In this the Devil shewes himself a Serpent if he can get in his head he will soon winde in the whole body If he can draw to one sin he will soon draw to another and so to another and another without end except God by his Grace prevent him Sin naturally drawes on sin and the less will draw on the greater David first falling into Adultery which was too bad afterward fell into murther which was far worse So Peter having first barely denyed Christ afterward added Oathes and Execrations 3. This watchfulness which is requisite unto perseverance consists in repenting speedily after that sin is committed Assoon as Davids heart smote him for numbring the people he presently repented of it saying I have sinned greatly in that which I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly 2 Sam. 24.10 If we do not thus watch against sin but suffer it not only to seize on us but also to settle in us we shall soon be hardned with the deceitfulness of it Heb. 3.13 6. That we may persevere in that which is good we must have a care not stand at a stay but to go on still Non progredi est regredi and to grow better and better Not to go forward is to go backward and not to grow better is to grow worse The Lord make you to encrease and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints 1 Thess 3.12 13. Giving all diligence add to your Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godliness And to Godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness Charity For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blinde and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your Calling and your Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1.5 10. Beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 18. See also 1 Thess 3.12 13. 7. To meditate of the heavenly reward this also is a great help to perseverance This will quicken and stir up unto diligence this will animate and encourage against all difficulties Be stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 Let us run with patience the race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God Heb. 12.1 2. This made Moses to chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11.25 26. See also Phil. 3.13 14. 8. Constant attendance upon Gods Word this is likewise necessary unto perseverance For the Word of God is not only to bring in but also to carry on and to build up unto perfection And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Act. 20.32 Christ ordained the ministery of the Word for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.11 12. 9. If we would persevere in Grace we must continue in prayer and supplication unto God for perseverance For as the beginning of Grace so also perseverance in Grace is from God He that hath begun a good work in you Ipse eos facit perseverare in bono qui facit bonos Aug. de Corr. Grat. c. 12. will also perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1 6. As of our selves we cannot rise Si ipse operatur ut accedumus ipse etiam operatur ne discedamus Idem de bono perseverantiae when we are down so neither can we stand when we are up God must still support us or else we fall he only is able to keep us from falling Non sum mihi sine te Aug. Confess Jude vers 24. Therefore we must continually pray unto God to preserve us and to make us persevere Unite my heart to fear thy Name Psal 86.11 Let me not wander from thy Commandments Psal 119.10 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Mat. 6.13 Thus praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God Jude vers 20. 21. Soli Deo gloria FINIS Courteous Reader these Books following are Printed for Nathaniel Brook and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornhil Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversies Sermons Devotions THe Catholique History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councils and Ancient