Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	act_n	grace_n	habit_n	906	5	9.7429	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13014	A forme of wholsome words, or, An introduction to the body of divinity in three sermons on 2 Timothy, I.13 / preached by John Stoughton ...	Stoughton, John, 1593-1639.; Burgess, Anthony, d. 1664.	1640 (1640)	STC 23307.5; STC 23307A_PARTIAL; ESTC S100140	52,852	122

four generall heads or titles concerning 1 The mark and scope which we must eye and aim at namely the true 1 Happinesse 2 Religion 2 The line by which we must levell at that mark viz. the right knowledge of the 3 Church 4 Scripture 2 The fabrick or edifice it self presenting maters of 1 Faith to be known and beleeved 1 Generall concerning 1 God his 1 Internall nature as he is in himself in the 5 Unity of essence 6 Trinity of persons 2 Externall operations as he hath manifested himself by 7 Creation 8 Providence 2 Man in specie and the reasonable creature in genere vvhere some things 1 Fundamentally to be premised concerning 1 The subject capable of happines viz. the reasonable creature 9 Angels good evill 10 Man Immor sou consc 2 The ground and rule of all processe with him towards happines being only the wise-good-pleasure of God appointing 11 Covenant Seals 12 Law Sanctions 2 Formally to be considered Humane actions whereof the 1 Roots and principles from whence they arise and issue 13 Free-will acts habits 14 Grace 2 Branches and kindes dividing themselves and issuing from these roots 15 Sins vices 16 Good works vertues 2 Particular in respect of the divers 1 States of Man differing in the 1 Substance of the Covenant of Works or Grace the state of 17 Innocencie by Creatiō 18 Fall and corruption 2 The form of Administration only and dispensation of circumstances before and after Christ the state of the 19 Old Testament 20 New Testament 2 Acts of Gods perfecting our salvation by degrees and translating us from the state of 1 Sin to grace by steps and acts 1 Fundamentall preparing it for us by purpose and purchase 21 Predestinat Reprobat 22 Redempt Incarnatiō 2 Formal cōveying it to those who have interest in the former by 23 Vocation effectuall 24 Justification actuall 2 Grace to glory 1 Inchoate here in a sweet taste continuall and perpetuall by 25 Sāctificatiō Privileges 26 Gubernatiō Exercises 2 Cōsummat in the ful draught perfected in the life to come by 27 Resurrectiō Judgmēt 28 Glorificat Condemat 2 Life to be done and practised which may be reduced to 1 Duties to be performed by the strength of grace and vertue more 1 Generall and those either more 1 Primary and predominant directing in duty to God and Man 29 Theologicall 30 Philadelphicall 2 Secondary and concommitant under which I comprize the vertues 31 Cardinall 32 Circumstantiall 2 Speciall regulating our lives in respect of severall 1 Parts and conditions 1 Parts teaching how to govern aright both our 33 Hearts and affections 34 Words and actions 2 Conditions ordering and directing us according to our severall both 35 Sex and age 36 State and condition 2 States and relations whether more 1 Private in a single or sociable life alone or in company 37 Ethicall 38 Oeconomicall 2 Publick as vve are parts or members of a Church or Common-weal 39 Ecclesiasticall 40 Politicall 2 Helps to be used in regard of our 1 Universall conversation 1 Principall publick the use of 1 Means instituted by God for our continuall reparation and improvement 41 Word of God hearing 42 Sacraments receiving 2 Times constituted by God for our effectuall renovation and inforcement 43 Sabbath 44 Fasting 2 Additionall private exercises which are either more 1 Contemplative and looking more immediatly towards God and heaven 45 Reading Meditation 46 Prayer Thanksgiving 2 Active improving our converse with men in the world in our holy cariage in our 47 Cōmun of Sts Confer. 48 Particular vocation 2 Particular condition as we are either 1 Travellers itinerant if 1 Strangers yet aliens to bring us into God and force our 49 Ingress Examination Resolution 2 Domesticks and children to build us up in God and further our 50 Aggresse holy Life Death 2. Souldiers militant to 1 Strengthen our weaknesse in the 51 Congresse Spirituall warfare 2 Quicken our dulnesse in our daily 52 Progresse with proficience to perseverance The forme of wholsome Words OR An Introduction to the body of Divinity In Three Sermons 2. TIMOTHY 1 13 14. VER. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ JESUS That good thing which was committed to thee keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us I Have hitherto treated on severall Texts of Scripture in severall Arguments which I conceive will be usefull having dependance one upon another My purpose as I partly intimated formerly is hereafter to treat upon Arguments that shall hold a connexion together to deliver according to the words of the Text and to my own intention a form of sound words even the body of Divinity and I shall chuse out severall Texts of Scripture for the severall heads and have now made choice of this Text of Scripture to make entrance to the Discourse which contains an Injunction and Exhortation from Paul to Timothy to take care of that that he keep or hold fast a form of sound or wholsome words Before I enter into the particulars I shall a little acquaint you with the generall both what concerns 1. The whole Epistle and 2. This Chapter And so proceed to one main observation out of the words passing by many others which would offer themselves but different from the scope which I drive at 1. To say but a word concerning the Epistle in generall you may consider both 1. The materiall circumstances of it 2. The substantiall scope and drift of it 1. The materiall circumstances are such as concern both 1. The persons 2. The time 1. Concerning the persons in one word it is an Epistle written by Paul the Apostle to Timothy an Evangelist as most Divines conceive 2. For the materiall circumstances which concerne the time in one word also the time was 1. During the bands of Paul while he was a prisoner for the Gospels sake and in that respect to be had in precious account and so much the rather 2. Because it was not long before his desolution which he foretels in this Epistle which seemeth to be as it were the last words the last Dictates of a dying man yea a dying Martyr 2. The substantiall scope and drift of it was to quicken and strengthen Timothy in the faithfull discharge of his Evangelicall Ministery against all discouragements and hinderances that might any way abate his edge and take off his vigour in it as you may easily see in the whole course of the Epistle 2. But to passe by all other things and only to give a generall draught and delineation of this Chapter to make way to the words wheron I intend to stand There be two things which are mainly and principally contained in this Chapter 1. We have the first entrance into the Epistle 2. The continuation or some part of the prosecution of the drift and scope of it 1. In the entrance to omit the salutation vers. 1 2. which is ordinary in

vertues to rule the heart and affections Secondly vertues regulating a mans words and actions Wee must seeke how to governe these in a way of duty and vertue But then againe for our severall conditions I shall name two more which will comprehend all that I desire First vertues to regulate every age and sex the particulars are men and women young and old every sex and age Secondly vertues for the ordering of every state and condition rich or poore learned or unlearned and in proportion to order us in every severall state and condition in affliction and prosperitie And these are the second branch of the first of those specials that are recommended two speciall vertues required in respect of our severall conditions as there were two before in respect of our severall parts But now in regard of our severall states and relations in which men are there be foure more The first two of which are to order us in a more private way The second two to regulate us in a more publique way As wee are single persons living in a solitary life there are morall ethicall vertues which must order our conversation suitable to the rule of dutie And then as we are publique persons in a family these are oeconomicall vertues to order families in the particular relations thereof husband wife parents children masters servants guests and hoasts There be ethicall vertues and oeconomicall vertues for the ordering of a more private way And when we come more publique to bee parts of a greater community there must bee vertues for that Now there may bee a double community which we may live in and in which we should have vertues to carry our selves as we ought to doe in such places There is a community Ecclesiasticall a Church society and body And there is a community Politicall and Civill and there are suitable vertues required to carry our selves as members of these bodies either Ecclesiasticall or Politicall There remaines now only the second branch of things to be done and practised viz. the helpes We have gone through the duties generall and particular I shall in a word recommend in the last place those things that I comprehended under the name of helps to the performance of duty And they are either More generall and publique or More particular and private The more publique helpes are the due and conscientious use of the ordinances of God appointed as First hearing of the word And second receiving of the sacrament And the due observation of times instituted by God and constituted by him First the observation of the Lords day in its continuall course Secondly of Fasts in a Christian way These are the more publique helpes and yet there may be some relation to privatenesse in these But now more privately as a mans face is towards God or As a mans face is towards the world there are helpes for those duties As we must labour to converse with God or as we must converse with men which way soever we turne our faces there may be and are helps for the ordering of our life in both Now the helpe in private in regard of a mans converse with God are First diligent reading and meditation upon the Word of God and divine truths Secondly another part of our communion with God is the continuall exercise of prayer and thanksgiving Then as wee stand in relation towards the world and are conversant in the world there be two other helpes First the conscientious use and improvement of the communion of Saints Second our fidelity and conscientious cariage in our particular vocations where there will be many other things But in all those the maine will be how all these may be done that they may be most usefull in the advancing of a most christian course in the use of the Word and Sacrament and Sabbaths and fastings and reading and meditation and prayer and thanksgiving and the communion of Saints and the conscientiousnesse in a mans vocation I say how wee may doe all these so as they may be most usefull to further us in the way of duty These are the more generall helps There are some more particular according to the particular cases of men I will propound but foure maine cases to which I will reduce all the rest First some things to helpe a man in the ingresse into the way of Religion I am faine to make a word or two for memories sake Secondly in the aggresse Thirdly in the congresse Fourthly in the progresse You shall see more plainly what I meane by and by There be helpes to bring a man that is not yet in a way of godlinesse to come into it Wherein the principall thing will be the due examination of what is the right way and a mans owne estate whether he be in that way or no and that being made cleare we must consider the helps that will put a man on to resolve on the entry into that way and to use the helpes that may set him upon it to enter it which is the ingresse or entrance Secondly in the aggresse or setting upon a Christian course there will come in helpes and directions how to lead a holy life and dye a holy death how to order a mans time and mannage his dayes and houres in Christian and holy courses so that he may both in life and death carry himselfe as becomes a Christian and be in such a state as a Christian may be that is for the aggresse or setting upon the worke Then thirdly in the congresse wherein is to be treated of our spirituall warfare helps to direct us to carry our selves in time of distresse of conscience and in matter of Satans temptations which every Christian more or lesse will have and meet withall Lastly in the progresse helpe for perseverance how to hold out in daily proficiency and perpetuall perseverance to the end These are all the heads whereof There are foure in the porch and frontispice and foure times twelve in the pile and edifice the rest of the building Twelve generals concerning things to bee knowne and beleeved of God and man in generall And twelve concerning God and man in particular according to their particular states And twelve for matters of life duties to be performed And twelve helps that are to be used to help us in the performance of those duties And thus you have the whole building and according to the words of our text an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or a forme of sound and wholsome words FINIS SER. I. Doctrine The Object Generally propounded Words Sound and wholsome Words For the Substance of matter Soundnesse of Vse Soundnesse of manner A form of sound words The matter intirely collected Method aptly digested The speciall circumscription of the Object Divine truths Fundamentall truths The summe of them is Christ The parts are faith and love Summe of all is Christ Parts are Faith apprehensive Love active SERM. II. Act Have them The copy of them Written Printed The originall laid up in the Understanding Memory Affection Keepe them Patronize thē with Best abilities couragiously Authority cautiously Practise them sincerely fruitfully and constantly Propagate them seriously by planting watering Manner as A sacred Depositum A choice treasure The Persons Paul Timothy Every Christian Proofe By Scripture Examples Testimonies Reason Necessity Utility A Band of Verity Vnity Vnanimity Heresie To crontroversies A key of understanding A locke of memory A helpe of use to Profit by others To be profitable to others Application Generall Iustification of observers of this rule Persons whether Paul Timothy or the Church Manner whetherby Publik Creeds Confessions Private writings for Vnlearned in Catechismes Learned in a Body of Divinity Reprehension of Perfidiousnesse Negligence Folly Exhortation to The Church To take care For learners Children Youngmen Fathers Caution Let it be Choyce Close Charitable Changeable Ministers to Expound Expectation Dogmaticall Historicall truths Private Christians Force to duty Fear no difficulty SER. III Premise Generalls Nothing Perfect For matter Or Method But in away Prudentially Any forme is Tolerable though Indifferent this is Different Comprehensive Not pleasant Frontispice Happinesse True Religion True Church Scriptures Edifice Things to be knowne and beleeved Concerning God His nature Unity of essence Trinity of persons Works of God Kindes and species of them Creation Providence Objects of them Reasonable creature Angels Good Bad. Man Immortality of soule Conscience Things fundamentally premised Covenant Seales of them Law Sanctions Things formally considered Principles of human actions Grace of God· Our free will The fruits that grow from these Good workes Sins or evill workes Things particularly to be knowne concerning God and man In regard of the different states of men Substantially different State of innocency Of the fall Circumstantially different State of grace Under the old Testament Under the new Severall acts of God Perfecting our salvation From the state of sin to grace by acts Fundamentall by purpose Predestination Reprobation Redemption By purchase Formall Vocation effectuall Iustification actuall From grace to glory Incoate Sanctification priviledges Gubernation exercises Consummate Resurrection Iudgement Glorification Condemnation Life to be done and practised Duties to be performed by the strength of grace Generall Primary and predominant in duties to God and man Vertues Theologicall Philadelphicall Secondary and concomitant vertues Cardinall Circumstantiall Speciall Regulating our lives in the Parts Heart Affections Words Actions Conditions in respect of Sex Age Estate Condition States and relations More private In a single and solitary life Vertuess Ethicall More publique in a family Oeconomicall In a greater community Ecclesiasticall Politicall Helps to be used in Universall conversation Publique meanes Hearing the word Receiving the Sacrament Times Sabbath Fasting Private towards God Contemplative Reading Meditation Prayer Thanksgiving Towards man Active Communion of Saints Particular vocation Particular condition In the ingresse Examination Resolution Aggresse Holy life Death Congresse Spirituall warfare Progresse Perseverance

in the inquirie After the inquiry of the true happinesse wherein it lyeth of the true Religion that will lead us to that happinesse of the true Church wherein we shall finde that Religion we must inquire of that which must be the rule of all which is the Word of God the Scriptures that shall be the fourth These are such generall and such sensible inquiries that I did thinke good in a prudentiall way as I said to place them in the frontispice The two former shew the marke wee must ayme at viz. the true happinesse and the true religion The two latter shew the line by which we should levell viz. the Churches steps in some measure but absolutely the oracles of the Scripture the Word of God which must be the measure of all things which are to be done or knowne in the whole compasse of Divinity 2. To come now from the frontispice and porch to the building it selfe to the fabricke of the whole body of Divinity I shall only present it in the nature of a building because I have mentioned the metaphor yet I vvill not keepe close to it because I vvill not spend time to be curious in vvords The building I shall present consists of two stories and no more and in either of those two stories two roomes I vvill mention no more In the first story briefly I shall comprehend all the things that are to be knowne and beleeved in the course of Divinity In the second story all things that are to be done and practised For all things in Divinity are either matters of faith or matters of life This is the generall therefore of the two stories Matters of faith being as it vvere the lowest story and matters of life being the superstructure on it and either of these have two severall roomes There be generall things to be knowne and beleeved concerning God and Man And there be some things more particular in regard of some particular relations and so likewise there be in the other But first for the former things to be known and be learned by a Christian concerning God and man I propound them either More generall or More speciall according to some speciall relations In the generall first concerning God there be two things vvhich I shall propound and either of them vvill have a double title upon which I will make the second foure for foure were in the porch Concerning the nature of God and thereon two heads or titles 1. All those things that are to bee knowne concerning the unity of the essence that is the one God and his glorious attributes 2. And all those things that are to be known concerning the Trinity of the persons in that unspeakable mystery of the glorious Trinity 2. And in the second place besides the nature of God there are to bee considered the workes of God in which I shall propound both the kinds and the species of the operations of God and the speciall objects or effects of those operations The species or kindes of the workes of God that are to be knowne by a Christian for the comprehension of what is necessary to bee knowne in Divinity and taught by a Minister may be expressed thus There be two great vvorkes his workes of Creation and of Providence And there is the principall objects or effects of those operations take them which way you will There is in generall the reasonable creature vvhich is capable of happinesse and vvhich is to be guided by a rule to the attaining of happinesse And there is the animall And so there will be two titles concerning Angels both Good and Bad. And concerning Man wherein the principall thing will bee to speake some thing of those things that are of generall necessity in Divinity the most necessary of all others viz. the immortality of the soule and the Conscience of man which is as a judge and to which a man must give account of all he doth Having laid this concerning God his nature and his vvorkes of creation and providence and the speciall objects of those workes Angels and Men vve vvill come to follow all the rest concerning man for Divinity is the rule of guiding man to his happinesse and therefore we must goe along vvith it Concerning man there are two things that are fundamentally to be considered or premised And two things formally to be considered There be two things fundamentally to bee premised First which vvill bee the next head concerning the covenant betweene God and man and the seales of this covenant in a general way though there be a particular place for the particular for this vvill be the foundation of all that I can give towards happinesse for the attaining of it it depends upon the covenant made by God vvith man and so that vvill be the first fundamentall thing the covenant made betweene God and man The second vvill be the law that God imposeth on man to regulate him in his course with all the sanctions of promises and threatnings And then there bee two things formally to be considered this being fundamentally premised vvhich vvill make up foure heads more Formally there are to be considered the principles of humane actions vvhich actions are the vvay and steps to eternall life Now there be two principles very considerable The one vvithout us and from God viz. the grace of God and here vve shall see how far that is necessary and the nature of it but I vvill not enter into particulars but onely now point out things And then there is another principle of action and that is vvithin us viz. our owne free will and there vve shall see how much vve have of that and the nature of it and of all humane actions and habits in a generality These are the principles of action grace and free will the nature of vvhich and the truth of vvhich are to bee cleared in the application of these heads These are the principles and the roots But then the fruits that grow from these are On the one side on the better hand vvhen mens vvills are assisted by grace good workes vvhere vve vvill take a briefe consideration of vertues too which are the root of good works the habits and dispositions And secondly sinnes or evill workes vvith all the penalty and punishments that belong to them vvhere also concerning vices to vvhich vve are inclineable These are the things that are generally to be knowne and beleeved concerning God and man There bee some things in particular and I shall be very briefe in them The things that are particularly to bee knowne concerning GOD and Man are either 1. In regard first of all of the different states and conditions of men that they either are or have or shall be in 2. In regard secondly of the acts of God in perfecting mans