Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	add_v	diligence_n	temperance_n	889	5	10.6694	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85704	A treatise touching falling from grace. Or Thirteen arguments tending to prove that believers cannot fall from grace, as they were laid down at a conference at Yalding in Kent, examined and answered, with many absurdities of that doctrine shewed. Whereunto is added thirteen reasons to prove that believers may fall totally and finally from grace, and many profitable uses flowing from that doctrine. By John Griffith.	Griffith, John, 1622?-1700.	1653 (1653)	Wing G2006; Thomason E690_17; ESTC R202323	40,736	75

people giving all dilligence to add to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity thus doing ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see a far off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins But let the servants of the Lord do so and they shall never fall viz. give diligence to make their calling and election sure by giving dilligence to add these to their faith c. It teacheth them to esteem highly of the ministry Vse 5 of Christ and so consequently of his ministers who are set over them as their feeders knowing that without they are fed they may pine and and so die this is a duty that the Lord doth enjoin his people to do and we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and esteem them very highly in love for their works sake c. this it teaches Saints to do and joyfully to receive from them that food that is appointed for their spiritual nourishment and growth and not to slight their profitable admonitions which tend to the taking away any infection that may arise in them which if not prevented in time may grow to a consumption and so instead of thriving under the ministry they pine and wast and so at last die not for want of food but because of an infection that may hinder the concoction and so the food become unprofitable unto them which may be occasioned by their slighting them that are over them in the Lord viz. by slighting their labour and admonitions and therefore the Hebrew Saints were put upon this duty remember them which have the rule over you who have spoke unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation and again obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you c. Vse 6 It teacheth the servants of the Lord to set a high estimation on the word of God they knowing that to be sincere milk by which they must be fed and grow the good servant of the Lord the Prophet David did highly esteem of the word of the Lord saith he princes have persecuted me without cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil again mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word so likewise the Prophet Jeremiah thy words were found and I did eat them and thy words were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart c. to this duty the Apostle of our Lord doth presse believers wherefore laie apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receive with meeknesse the ingraffed word which is able to save your souls how sweet are thy words unto my tast saith David thus to do doth this truth teach us because whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that feareth the commandements shall be rawarded and again wherefore thus saith the holy one of Israel because ye have dispised this word and trust in oppression and perversenesse and stay thereon therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high wall whose breaking commeth suddenly at an instant for all those things hath mine hand made and all those things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even to him that is pure and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word the Lord is pleased to make gracious promises to such as highly esteem of his word but if we despise it we shall be destroyed oh how precious is the word of the Lord how should it then be disgested and received into our very hearts as our food our councel our light our lanthorn lest it be despised so we pine starve dy and be destroyed It teacheth the servants of Christ to esteem Vse 7 highly of Gospel ordinances of the precious institutions of their precious lord because they know that they are the conveyances in which God is pleased to convey himself unto them and because without their obedience unto and faithfull walking in them they are in unspeakable danger of falling to destruction therefore saith the Apostle John whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the father and the son again Christ saith if ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my love c. he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me he that keepeth my sayings c. the servants of Christ then must highly esteem of Christs sayings doctrines commandements c. for so did they of old the proud have forged a ly against me but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart their heart is as fat as grease but I delight in thy law the law of thy mouth is better to me then thousonds of gold and silver and again O how thy commandements have made me wiser then al my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditations I understand more then the antients because I keep thy precepts here may we see how this servant of the lord did esteem of the precepts of the lord and likewise what profit he received by his so doing what a sad estate and condition are they in that set light by ordinances that cast them behind them and break the commandements of the Lord and teach men so to do the lord Christ will make as little account of them one day for he saith why call you me lord lord and do not the things that I say as if Christ should say you call me lord but why do you so how am I your lord and you keep not my sayings If I were your lord you would keep my words my commandements you would set an high esteem of my ordinances and the like how many is there at this day that call Christ lord and yet have no love to his testimonies how many that have owned Christ in his institutions and yet have transgressed and abide not in his doctrine but slight his ordinances saying they are low things as if they were too high to submit to them or having submitted to them were grown too high to continue in them and yet they call him Lord the Apostle Paul prais'd the Corinthians for keeping the ordinances as he had delivered them unto them let this use be made therefore of this truth seeing if we transgresse and abide not

was accomplished Again Christ prayed for the world that they might know him Now if Christs prayer had been absolute without respect to this or that then they must know him and believe in him which to doe is life eternall vers. 3. Christ therefore in his prayer had respect to the meanes by which they should come to know him which if the means were used by them the end might be effected in them for the meanes was of this tendance and every way correspondent as to the bringing them even all the world to the knowledg of Christ in which Christ was heard for such meanes God hath afforded the world that would accomplish the end did they not put it from them Thirdly Christ prayed that the Jewes who crucified him should be forgiven Now It Christ here had been absolute and positive viz. it must be so without respect to this or that then it should have been so viz. they should be forgiven and then they could not have been cut off for not receiving Christ because their sinne was forgiven Christ therefore in this prayer must be understood to have respect to the way in which forgiveness was promised unto them viz. repentance faith and baptisme in doing of which they to wit so many as did repent of their sheding the innocent blood and were accordingly baptized did receive forgiveness as Christ had prayed they should but as for the rest all the blood that was shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias shall be upon them yea and the innocent blood of Christ also which they desired might be on them and their Children Now to come close to the argument Christ prayeth for his Disciples that they should be kept from the evill of the world in which he is heard I grant considering his prayer as before to have respect to their abiding in him by keeping his commandements for he saith If ye love me keep my Commandements and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that shall abide with you forever Christ in this prayer therefore is not absolute that is to say they are my Disciples thou hast given them me and now I pray thee to keep them although they doe not keep my Commandements but this prayer is with respect to their abiding in him which if they doe as some have not done that were in him they have the benefit of his prayer but if otherwise they have no benefit thereof no more then they that doe never believe in him have the benefit of his intercession but are cut off as unfruitfull branches from the Vine therefore notwitstanding Christ doth pray for them it doth not follow but that believers may fall totally and finally If neither sinne nor suffering can seperate us from the Lord then nothing can seperate us for sin Rom. 8.39 for suffering 35 36. ve and concluds the 38 39. that nothing can seperate us Therefore nothing can Only First we grant that the Saints of God may fall away from the degrees of Grace from the strength of faith to a weake faith to some measure of hardnesse of heart Secondly we grant they may fall from the com● of the Spirit as in Psal. 51.2.8.12 Thirdly From common gifts of the Spirit as a Spirit of government as Saul did c. This Argument hath a large latitude and must in part be denyd viz. sin unrepented of may seperate unfruitfulnesse and such like hath a cutting off following it Therefore upon examination we shall find that this will not prove the Assertion First I suppose that it will not be owned that Paul doth intend here denying Christ or any sinne unrepented of for that may seperate a If we suffer we shall also reign with him if we deny him he will also deny us yea we I Paul and thou Timothy if we deny him he will also deny us for so he himself said b But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven Again the Apostle doth not say that sin shall not seperate and therefore the argument is stretched beyond what the Text will prove I rather think the 33. ver. had been more pertinent to the business where the Apostle makes this holy challenge Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect c. Now to know who are the Elect of God will be the solution of this matter for which I refer you to my answer to the first argument those that are called according to Gods purpose ver. 28. who they are see my answer to the third Argument they that make their Calling and Election sure by adding to their faith virtue c. who shall lay any thing to their charge it is God that justifies c. Again Who shall seperate them that so do no thing nor no man can b) no nor none of these things viz. tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or perill or sword nay in all these things they are more then Conquerours through him that loved them but this doth not prove but that persons in Christ may fal and be seperated from Christ by denying Christ although none of these can if they be not overcome by them to forsake and deny him c. Now the question is whether persons in Christ may hot be overcome by these I Answer the Scripture saith they may for if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse then the beginning d) Therefore Paul exhorteth the Galathians to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free and not to be intangled again in the Yoak of bondage e) Christ saith he that overcometh and keeps my words to the end to him will I give power over the Nations he that overcometh the same shall be cloathed in white rayment to him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne g he that overcometh shall inherit all things I will be his God and he shall be my Sonne God will not disown us because of persecution c. but will reward us for our sufferings if we are not overcome by them be thou faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life so much for this Argument now to the next The seventh Argument from Joh. 10.28 my sheep heare my voyce c. none are able to pluck the sheep of Christ out of the hands of Christ therefore they cannot fall totally nor finally This Argument being the same or of the like import with the sixth I shall say little to it for if nothing can seperate them then none can pluck them cut of his hands Only this My sheep saith Christ heare my voyce and I know them and they follow

knowing that without it no man shall ever see the Lord holyness becomming the house of the Lord for ever to this end was their Redemption wrought that they should serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of their life even so now yield your members servants unto righteousnesse unto holinesse but now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life for God hath not called us unto uncleannesse but unto holinesse without holinesse there is no sight of God how then should the servants of Christ labour after holiness otherwise they are unlike God he is holy holy holy holy is the Lord therefore they must be holy as he is holy and he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure therefore having these promises let us clense our selves from all filthynesse both of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God blessed are they that do his commandment that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the City he that saith he is in him ought to walk even as he walked now Christ was holy for such an high Priest became us who is holy harmlesse undefiled seperate from sinners and made higher then the heavens we must be holy harmlesse undefiled seperate from sinners as he was for we must walk as he walked therefore we are commanded to come out from amongst them and be seperate and touch no unclean thing and have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them to follow holinesse will bring peace to the conscience glory to God adorn truth keep Satan at a distance strengthen the the things that remain keep us in the love of God make us appear to be trees of righteousnesse of the Lords planting that he might be glorified but if we be not followers after holinesse we shall never see the Lord in peace but rather be of that number that desire the rocks to fall on them to hide them from the face of the lamb let the servants of the most high God look about them it will be worth their while to make their calling and election sure and to stand upon their watch tower they have many enemies who Lion-like go about seeking whom they may devour what need have they to take to them the whole armour of God that they may be able to stand and having done all to stand how should they esteem of them that are set over them in the Lord and their faith follow considering the end of their conversion how should they esteem of the word which is their milk their light their Lanthorn their sword with which they must fight and contend against all oppositions both of the devil and the flesh the world pleasures profits and preferments thereof how should they make the word their councel in all their actions and not dare to presume in any thing above what is written least they be overtaken with the error of the wicked and so fall from their own stedfastnesse how should they beware and take heed of men false Christs false prophets and false teachers how should they try the spirits whether they be of God or no seeing many false Christs and prophets are already risen which deceive and beguile the hearts of the simple how should they meditate in the law of the Lord stand fast in the faith without wavering remember God in his way esteem of Christs institutions or Gospel ordinances they are Gods conveyances in which he doth convey himself unto them how ought they to walk humbly with their God and to indure affliction patiently to deny themselves take up their cross and follow Christ otherwise they cannot be his disciples how should they be fervent in prayer without ceasing least they enter into temptation to conclude how should they follow after fruitfulnesse holinesse faith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlynesse brotherly kindnesse charity for if these things be in them and abound they will make them that they shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afarr off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ FINIS POST-SCRIPT ALbeit it is most undeniably evident that we are now fallen into those last and most perillous times wherein it was foreseen and accordingly foreshewn expressely by the spirit that some should depart from the faith 1 Tim. 4 1. and we see it verified also by dayly experience men sometimes eminent in religion becoming lovers of themselves and lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God and strangely mannered in every respect according as t was foretold they should in the latter ages by Paul 2 Tim. 2.1 2. c. yet I know this doctrine will not be received for truth by many neverthelesse I have discharged my conscience as in the presence of God that believers therby might be put in mind to hold fast that they have the successe of which I leave to the Lord Rev. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.5 Chap. 1 4. Rom. 8.17 Luke 12.32 Rom. 3.11 1 Cor. 9.25 Jer. 2.5 Zack 13.1 Obj. Ans. 2 Pet. 2.17 c Gen. 6.3 d Jer. 12.13 2 Chr. 15.2 Jer. 2.17 Es. 1.28 Arg. 5. Answ Joh. 17.21 23. Luke 23.24 Act. 2.39 Mat. 23.35 Mat. 27.25 Joh. 14.15.16 Arg. 6. Answ a 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 10.33 b Luke 12.8 chap. 9 26. Mar. 8.38 Rom. 8.39 b) Joh. 10.28 2 Pet. 2 20. d) Gal. 5.1 e) Rev. 17.26 chap 3.5.12.21 Chap. 21.7 Chap. 2.10 7. Arg. Answ h) 1 Thess. 5 15. i Rev. 14.4 Arg. 8. Answ Heb. 41. Vers 11. 1 Cor. 10.11 12. 1 Pet. 5.8.9 Jam. 5.7 ch. 1.2 3 4. Arg. 9. Phil. 4.4 Rom. 11.20 21. 1 Kin. 20.11 2 Pet. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.8 9. Rom. 3.11 Rom. 2.7 10. Argu. Answer Col. 1.22.23 Jer. 17. Esay 1.28 Arg 11. Ans. Esay 50.2.56.1 1 Pet. 1.5 Esay 51.2.2 3 4. Jer. 17.23 Zach. 7.11.12 Arg. 12. Answ 2 Pet. 1.9 Psal. 1.2.3 Jos. 1.8 Psal. 119 1.2.3-2.12 Jer. 17.8 Arg. 13. Answ Rom. 11.25 26 27 28 29. Obj. Answ Joh. 6 66. 1 Tim. 1 20 ch. 5.15 2 Tim. 1.15 ch. 2.18 Obj. Answ 2 Tim. 2.18 2 Pet. 3.17 Joh. 8.32 2 Joh. 8.9 1 Pet. 5.2 Act. 20.28.30 1 Pet. 2.2 Heb. 10.25 Mal. 3.14 see Mat. 24.4 5. Act. 20.28 Heb. 3.17 Col. 2.8.17 c. Rom. 11.21 Gen. 3 4 5. 1 Tim. 6.17 Rom. 11.12 Phil. 2.12 Cor. 16.13 Heb. 10.36 Luk. 21.26 1 Pet. 5.8 Heb 3.12 Col. 2.8 Mat. 7.15 Cant. 2.15 Act. 20.29 Mat. 24.4 5. Mark 13.33 Lu. 21.34 Mat. 5.13 Luk. 14.33 34 35. Heb. 3 12 23. Act. 20. Heb. 12.15 16. Mat. 24.5 Act. 10.29.30 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3 -1.1-3.17 Col. 2 8.18 Rev. 3.11 2 Tim. 2.15 17.18 1 Tim. 5.15 Jer. 2.5 com 11.12.13 27 13 -18 14 15 16 17. Ro. 11.20.21 Heb. 4.11 1 Tim. 4.1.2 2 Thes. 2.3 Re. 2 10.17 Rev. 2.26.27 28.3.5 Heb. 3.12 13 14. Col. 1.22 23. Ro. 11.22 Heb 10.26 27 -6.4 5 6. 2 Pet. 2.20.21 Jer. 2 5.11.12.13.-17.13 Rom. 3.4 Ephes. 2.1.2 Jude 12. Se 2 Pet. 2.17 Jude 12 2 Pet. 2.17 Heb. 6.7.8 John 15 2.9.10 2 Pet. 1.1.10 Eph. 1.4 6.11.12.13 Cor. 16.13 Rev. 22.18 Exo. 32.32 Heb. ●0 26 Rev. 3.5 Rev. 2.10 2 Tim. 4.8 Mat. 25.13 Mar. 13 33. Mat. 26 41. Eph 6.8 Col. 4.2 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Thes. 5.6 2 Tim. 4.5 Hab. 2. 1. Psalm 130.6 Re. 16.15 1. Pet 5.8 Mat. 4 9. * The devill oft times perswades men notwithstanding they forsake the truth they shall go to heaven but beware of him for he is a lyar Joh 15.19 Pro. 14.20 Heb. 2.1 Eph. 6.11.16.18 1 Cor. 15.33 Jam. 2.26 Psa. 144.3 Jam. 1.15 Ps. 133.133 Marr 14.57 Heb. 12.1 Jam. 1.4 He. 6.11.12 2 Tim. 3.12 Mat. 24.13 Gal. 6.9 Heb. 12.2 2 Tim. 2.12 Heb. 12.3 Jam. 5 10. Rev. 2.10 Heb. 10 36. Luk. 12.45.46 Jam. 5.8 1 Pet. 5.6 Jam. 4.6 Prov. 3.34 Rom. 11.20 Mat. 11.29 Col. 3.12 1 Pet. 5.5 1 Cor. 9.27 Eph. 2.3 Isa. 57.15 Mich. 6.8 verse 4. 2 Pet 2.10 Phil. 2.12 Joh. 15.2 Isa. 64.5 2 Pet. 1.5.6 7.8 1 Thess. 5.12.13 Heb. 13.7 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 2.2 Psalm 119 161.162 ver. 148. Jer. 15.16 Jam. 1.21 119.103 Prov. 13.13 Isa. 30.12 Isa. 66.2.5 1 Sam. 3.1 2 Joh. 9. Joh. 15 10.-14.21.24 Psal. 119.70.72.77.78.79 Luke 6.46 1 Cor. 11.2 2 Joh. 6.9 Rom. 12.12 Jam. 5 16. Mat. 16 41. Mat. 6.13 Mar. 13 33. Mat. 24 42. 1 The 5.17 Jam. 5.13 Col. 4.2 Luke 18.1 Ephes. 6.18 Psal. 65.2 Dan. 9.21 Joh. 15.7 Prov 8.32 33 34. Prov. 1.5 Eccles. 5.1 Esa. 55.3 Jam. 1.19 Jam. 1.22 Rom. 2.12 Mat. 7.24 Luke 6.47 Amos. 8.11 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 2.10 2 Cor. 4 17 Luk. 12.13 1 Co. 9.25 Mat. 16.26 Rev. 3.11 2.17.26.27 28 -3.5.2.21 21.7 Ephes. 4.27 Col. 3.5 Rom. 8.13 1 Cor. 9.27 1 Pet. 2.11 Heb. 12.14 Psal. 93.5 Luke 1.73 Ro. 6.19.22 1 Thes. 4.7 Isay 6.3 1 Joh. 3.3 2 Cor. 7.1 Rev. 22.14 Joh. 2.6 Heb. 7.26 2 Cor. 6.17 Rev. 18.4 Ephes. 5.11 Rev. 3.2 Jude 0.21 Isay 61.3 Rev. 6.16 Heb. 12.14 2 Pet. 1.10 Heb. 2.1 2. 1 Pet. 5.8 Ephes. 6.13 He. 13.7.17 1 Pet. 2.2 Psal. 1.9.105 Eph. 6.17 2 Pet. 2.17 Mat. 24 4.5 2 Pet. 2.1 1 Joh. 4 1.-2.18 Psa. 119.78 1 Co. 16.13 Isa. 64.5 Mich. 6 8. Jam. 1.12 Mat. 10 38. 1 The 5.17 Luk. 21.36 Mat. 26.41 2 Pet. 1.5.6.7 8.9 10.11

such like temptations doth Satan assault Christs servants as he did him what need then have they to stand upon their watch and to set themselves upon their watch tower least they be catched by these baits and so be overcome by him therefore saith the Apostle put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and again above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked What need have they then to pray alwaies watching thereunto with all perseverance seeing they have to deal with so potent an adversary which otherwise may overcome them what need have the servants of Christ to watch over their words and consider what they speak seeing evill communication corrupts good manners and seeing likewise that he that bridleth not his tongue his Religion is vain therfore David desired the Lord to set a watch before his mouth and to keep the door of his lips Again what need have the servants of Christ to set a watch over their thoughts also seeing lust when it is conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death therfore saith David I hate vain thoughts but I love thy law suffer not thy thoughts then to runne after vanity thou seest there is danger in it but make this good use thou knowing there is danger of this truth let it teach thee to stand upon thy watch as our Lord saith what I say unto you I say unto all men watch Vse 2 It teacheth us to run with patience the race that is set before us because it is not for a time that we must run or part of the way but it must be the whole race to the end till death and the like therefore the Apostle saith let patience have her perfect work we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurence of hope unto the end that ye be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise the many reproaches temptations afflictions sufferings persecutions imprisonments yea and death it self which they that will live godly in Christ Jesus are liable to suffer and to passe through here for the testimony of Christ must be endued with patience thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ these things must be indured if we will have the Crown and that to the end too for he that endureth to the end shall be saved if we faint in our minds and cast of our confidence and so cast of Christ because of the crosse we shall not reap let us not be weary of well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not if we suffer for Christ with patience and indure the Cross and despise the shame as he did we shall be glorifyed with him but if in our sufferings we are overcome and do deny him he also will deny us therfore let us consider him that suffered such contradictions of sinners least we be wearied and faint in our minds and take as the Apostle of our Lord saith my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience if we do not add patience to our faith we may faint under our burden let this truth therfore teach the Servants of the Lord to suffer afflictions with patience knowing that we shall not reap if we faint it is not sufficient that we be faithful for a year nor years it must be unto death if we will receive the Crown of life we have therefore need of patience that after we have done the will of God we may receive the promise but if we shall say in our hearts the Lord delaies his comming and shall begin to beat the man servants and maydens and to eat and drink and to be drunken the Lord will come in a day we look not for him and at an hour when we are not aware and will cut us a sunder and appoint us our portion with unbelievers therefore let us be patient stablished in our hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh It teaches the servants of the Lord to walk Vse 3 humbly with their God fearing and not high minded they knowing that God resisteth the proud but he gives grace to the humble God will as it were set himself against the proud man whosoever he be surely he scorneth the scorner but he giveth grace to the lowly we must not be high minded but fear for this cause for he spared not the natural branches therefore take heed lest he spare not thee we must learn of Christ to be of a meek and lowly spirit put on humblenesse of mind meekness long suffering be clothed with humility as with a garment therefore Paul that faithful servant of the Lord humbled himself I saith he keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast away This servant of the Lord knew full well if he did not keep himself low and humble but give way to the flesh and the justs thereof he might miscarry be a cast away wherefore he stirred up the servants of the Lord to cloth themselves with this comly ornament which becomes believing men let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowlinesse of mind let each esteem others better then themselves and this he strives to fasten upon them from the graciousnesse and never to be forgotten example of our dear Lord who though he was equall with God yet he left that glory and humbled himself for our sakes and became obedient to death that we might live and therefore we must be humble else God will not exalt us God will not dwel with a proud person but he will dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit he hath shewed thee oh man what is good and what the Lord requires of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God It teaches the servants of the Lord to give diligence Vse 4 to make their calling and election sure and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling because otherwise they may become unfruitful and barren and so be taken away from the vine they must therefore give diligence to make their caling and election sure for if they so do they shall never fall they must work the Lord doth require it and work out their salvation too with fear trembling for to such the Lord hath promised his presence thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousnesse those that remember thee in thy wayes God doth expect that his people should be a willing people a people fruitful a