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
A54659	Light in darkness, or, A consideration of a comfortable and instructive resignation of the Church of God by an eminent and faithful watchman upon his departure : occasioned by the sad loss of ... Thomas Moor, Junior / by C.D.	Phelpes, Charles.	1669 (1669)	Wing P1980; ESTC R34380	157,055	186

though those that speak perverse things pretend word as from the Apostles for what they say yet let us not for trial of them and preservation from them wave the Gospel or seek help any where else but still hold fast the things delivered which we have been taught by the Apostles by word or Epistle as the Apostle instructs the Thessalonians when he beseeches them not to be moved or troubled neither by Spirit Word or Letter as from them 2 Thes 2. 2 15. Let us not leave the Scripture because they perve●t it in their glosses but still hold that fast as our Saviour hath set us an example Mat. 4. 6 7. and in the light and instruction thereof that we may not be carried about with divers strange doctrines let us consider the end of their conversation that speak unto us in their word or by writing or personal conference if that be Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day for ever though weaknesses be found acknowledge them that are such and so walk Heb. 13. 7 9. And be we all followers together of the Apostles and of those that have spoken to us the Word of the Lord Phil. 3. 17 looking diligently unto our selves and one to another that none fail of the grace of God that no root of bitterness no evil spirit or doctrine springing up trouble us and thereby many be defiled c. Heb. 12. 15 16. and thereto warning one another in all wisdom according to capacity and let us observe that counsel and instruction given by the Apostle Jude ver 20. 21. Ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Having thus spoken largely to the former part viz. the Apostles commendation of them to God and the word of his grace at this time of his departure we shall briefly add somewhat to the second thing at first proposed which is contained in the words in which we have 2. A ●urther Declaration of the excellency of the person and thing to which he commends them laid down by way of motive to ingage them to commit themselves to God and the word of his ●●ce Which God and Word of his grace is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sa●ctified In which we have these two branches 1. This God and Word is able to build you up 2. And to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 1. This God and Word is able to build you up In which we shall speak to these two things 1. Shew what is meant by building up 2. What is imported in this branch of the motive 1. Then by building up is meant a making ●hem to increase or causing them to grow up and ●ise higher This expression of building refers to two things in Scrip●ure sometimes to a place of habitation 2 Chron. 2. 1 12. and sometimes to a family or houshold Ruth 4. 11. and according to this double acceptation these two things are meant 1. An increasing of them who were already g●thered to Christ and making them as to themselves and the society to prosper and ascend higher and higher into J●●us Christ and those things that are excellent both with respect to themselves particularly and as with respect to the Church or society of which these to whom the speaks directly were members and overseers a growing up into Christ in all things which is the Head namely into the knowledge of him who is the Son of God in our nature accepted to all the ends of his undertaking and unity with him which is called edifying the Church Eph. 4. 12 13 15. a growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. and so it is an abounding in the knowledge of his will in all wisdom even in the whole of Christ and in all spiritual understanding namely such a discerning as is given by the Spirit in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth Col. 1. 9. and growing more into union with Christ and conformity to him a more hearty imbracement of him and the word of his grace And so a being united more one to another in love and growing up together in the vertues of Christ adding to their 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 2 Pet. 1. 5 7. setting their affections more on things above having their conversation in heaven and expectation from heaven and in all a going on to perfection and being more firmed setled and established by walking in Christ as they have received him Col. 2. 6 7. 2. An increasing of them as to number and so multiplying of them by an addition of others to them gathering others to Christ and the Church besides those that are gathered as Isa 56. 8. which is the issue of the former for while they are edified in knowledge faith and all vertues of Christ they come to be multiplyed according to that Act. 9. 31. then had the Churches rest and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplyed So the whole body growing up into Christ in all things is said to make an increase of the body to the edisying of it sell in love Eph. 4. 15 16. An adding to the Lord and to the Church continually till we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Act. 2. 41 46. 11. 24. Eph. 4. 12 13. even as an house or family is said to be built by the birth and addition of children to it Gen. 16. ● Deut 25. 9 2. Now then in that it is said which is able to build you up herein is imported and signified to us 1. That those to whom he speaks were in some measure come unto and built upon the foundation of God and so born of the incorruptible seed of the Word So much is signified in that he saith which is able to build you up that they were come to and built upon Jesus Christ according to that To him coming as unto a living stone Ye also as lively stones are built up c. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Eph. 2. 20 21. and indeed the foundation on which they were built and seed of which they were begotten it was the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever and which by the Gospel is preached to us 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. namely Jesus Christ who was delivered to death for our offences and raised again for our justification And other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. he as witnessed of by the Prophets and manifested

is said of those that died in the faith that these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promises God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect Phil. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 39 40. Though believers are compl●at in Christ who by the one offering of his personal body once for all hath perfected for ever in himself and that provision he hath made and Covenant he hath sealed them that are sanctified so as there needs no more offering for sin yet in themselves they are not compleat nor compleatly in him and are therefore instructed to walk in Christ as they have received him rooted and built up in him and to have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water Col. 2 10. with ver 2 7. Heb. 10. 14 22 their being built up is by degrees they go from strength to strength Psal 84 7. and are changed from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. And hence they are said to grow like a Cedar Psal 92. 12. to grow up Eph. 4. 15. to increase 1 Thes 4. 10. Col. 2. 19. to abound more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. to press toward the mark Phil. 3. 14. to run the race Heb. 12. 1. All which expressions signifie that the believers while here in mortal bodies have not yet attained to compleatness in themselves or to a compleat i●joyment of what is to be possessed and which while here they seek and wait for Here though he that is perfect in knowledge is with them abiding in Christ yet they are not perfect in knowledge but are instructed to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and sav●our Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. And the Ap●stle prayes for these Ephesians who were sealed with the holy spirit of promise that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation c. The eyes of their understandings being inlightn●d that they might further know what is the hope of his calling c. Eph. 1. 13 20. and that they might know the love of Christ Chap. 3. 14 19. And hence that holy man so oftentimes prayes that God would open his eyes make him understand teach him the way of his statutes give him understanding teach him knowledge c. Psal 119. 18 19 27 33 34 64 66. yea the Apostle Paul who as a wise Master-builder laid the foundation and preached the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery affirms of himself and other believers that now they knew in part and not perfectly 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. And so they are not perfect in their faith in their hearty perswasion and imbracement of what God hath testified of his Son and dependance on him according thereto so as to live the life they now live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us and to walk by faith but many weaknesses and mixtures are found with them and much shortness according to what the Apostle signifies concerning the Thessal●nians where he saith night and day praying exceedingly that we might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 〈◊〉 ●●● 3. 10. and thanks God because th●●●●i●●●i● grow c. 2. Thes 1. 3. and tells the Corinthians tha● he had hope that when th●ir ●aith was increased they should be i●arged ●y them 2 Cor. 10. 15. and surely this appears when God is ordering ●●pt●●ions and tryals of the faith to them by their weak●ess and readiness to faint ●●d be w●a●y that they ba●e n●t yet attained unto a most ●ull assurance of ●●i●h what dou●●ings and aptness to be calling into question God's love and ●aithfulness what jealousies and ●ears concerning him as if he would leave and forsake them what readiness to be looking or vain h●lp and turning the eyes this way and that way is found with such the Scriptures testifie and the experiences of such confirm Psal 31. 22. 77. 7 10. 116. 11. How oft our Saviour reprehends his Disciples on this account may be seen mat 6. 30. 8. 26. 14. 31. 16. 8. Mark 4. 4● Luk. 8. 25. yea when they said We believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe Behold the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every one to his own c. Joh. 16. 30 32. That hour that came upon him made discovery of them that there was yet somewhat lacking in their faith how confident soever they were of themselves yea it may seem there was sometime some shortness found with Abraham the father of the faithful though not imputed of whom it was said he staggered not at the promise through unbelief but was strong in faith for when God promised that Sarah should be a Mother of Nations c. Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said unto God O that Ishmael may live before thee Gen. 17. 17 19. and surely believers have need to pray Lord help our unbelief as he Mark 9. 24. or however as the Disciples Lord increase our faith Lu● 17. 7. Nor are they yet perfectly conformed to Christ and filled with the fruits of righteousness there is yet sin dwelling in them and in many ●●i●gs they offend all and need therefore to be still sanctified and washed with the washing of water by the word to which end Christ gives himself to them for them Eph. 5. 25 26. 1 Thes 5. 23. their love to Christ and God in him may yet abound in all knowledge and judgment and though they love one another and all men yet they may increase and abound therein Hence they are instructed to add to their faith vertue c. Phil. 1. 9 11. 1 Thes 3. 12 13. 4. 1 9 10. 2 Pet. 1. 4 8. And as this instruction is useful to preserve us from the error of those wicked and Antichristian spirits who boast that they are sinless and perfect and injoy the fulness of all blessing and that they have need of nothing while yet they are poor and miserable and blind who though they are pure in their own eyes yet are not washed from their filthiness Wo unto them for they have received their consolation And also from their swelling words of vanity who being puf● up with their fleshly mind and not holding the head boast of their merits and works of super●rrogation c. seeing it shews our shortness and incompleatness in our selves while here that pride may be hidden from us and no flesh may glory in his presence but that even unfeigned believers may confess that when they have done all that is commanded them they are unprofitable servants So also it is proper as viewed in the glorious Gospel to move us continually to come unto Jesus Christ and to give more earnest heed to the things we have heard that with open face