Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	brazen_a	look_v	serpent_n	839	5	9.9901	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02414	Pieties pillar: or, A sermon preached at the funerall of mistresse Elizabeth Gouge, late wife of Mr. William Gouge, of Black-friers, London With a true narration of her life and death. By Nicholas Guy, pastor of the church at Edge-ware in Middlesex.	Guy, Nicholas, b. 1587 or 8.	1626 (1626)	STC 12543; ESTC S103587	19,555	63

beleeue himself to be one of that number comprehended in whosoeuer liueth The Iew cannot challenge this priuiledge more then the Gentile for he is the Sauior of the Gentiles as wel as of the Iewes The Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth to the Iew first and also to the Grecian neither is there any respect or difference in Sex or degree male or female bond or free noble or ignoble wise or vnwise There is no difference but he that is Lord of all is rich vnto all that call vpon him so that here also we see a difference betweene the Law and the Gospell The Law was giuen to a certaine people confined to Ierusalem Iury and Israel Few other people of the world had any knowledge of it or meanes to know it In Iuda is God knowne his Name is great in Israel Hee dealt not so with any Nation neither had the Heathen knowledge of his Lawes But the Gospell was preached to all the sound of the Apostles went forth to all people euen to the vttermost end of the earth Hence in the Church Cathotique the company of beleeuers are of all people and kinds and kindreds that liued in the world so that the Law was like a Torch or Candle but the Gospell as the Sunne The Law said Dauid was a Lantherne to his feet but the Gospell is as the beames of the Sunne which commeth out of his chamber and goeth to the ends of the earth giuing light vnto all people Thus is the light of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse as the beames of the Sunne which shineth to all and if any one doe not partake of that light it is because they shut their eyes against it so seeing they doe not perceiue nor vnderstand least they should see beleeue and bee saued Thus much for the vniuersality of this Charter or priuiledge excluding none comprehending all whosoeuer liueth vpon condition that he beleeueth By faith he partakes of the priuiledge This is the onely limitation of Gods mercy and promise in Christ Faith is the Chanell by which it is drawne and dispersed ouer all the world and makes the earth to bee fruitfull as Eden the Garden of God The eternall fauour and goodnesse of God is as the Fountaine Christ is the Wel or Cesterne and Faith is the Bucket whereby we draw from Christ liuing waters He that beleeues in him shall neuer dye So that when wee say Faith is the condition of life and saluation you must note that it is not such a condition as we vsually make in Bonds and Obligations and bargaine and sale which runnes in this tenure Vpon consideration of something of equall value wee become bound for the performance of such Couenants as if the condition of faith should bee worth Heauen It is not for the worth of our faith put for the merit of Christ that the faithfull shall never dye eternally And therefore the Scripture phrase runnes thus By faith and through faith wee are iustified Not for faith but for Christ apprehended by faith So that it is not faith as an habite or worke in the soule as other graces loue and patience c. which is of equall worth and vertue to preserue vs that we perish not but it is Christ alone who yet hath no vertue or operation in our salvation and redemption without beleeving on our parts to apply him to vs no more then physicke can cure a deadly disease or cloth affoord any warmth to our bodies if they be not both applyed vnto vs so that the Charter runneth betweene God and man like as if a King should grant a great priuiledge to his subiects which they should not purchase at a hard price or with a great summe but onely vpon condition to acknowledge him their soueraign Lord from whom they had receiued such great immunities which is a point of great comfort to the Christian weake in faith because it is not for the worth or excellencie of our faith that we must thinke to stand Though a strong faith is an excellent grace which will make vs as a Rocke or as houses built vpon the sure Rocke Christ the stormes and sea and windes of temptation and affliction may beat but they shall not be able to ouerthrow vs because wee are built vpon a Rocke yet a little and feeble faith which with feare trembling layes hold vpon Christ shall neuer perish because it is not the dignitie of faith which conueyes the benefit vnto vs but the worth excellency sufficiencie of Christ which is apprehended by faith It was not for the vertue of the eye which looked vp to the brazen serpent that men were healed that had been stung with fierie Serpents the weakest eyes as well as the most sharpe sighted if they could but look vp to it were healed and the begger which receiues a gift may be fully possessed of it euen with a trembling and shaking hand as well as he that hath the most stedfast hand But though a weake faith beleeving in him may serue the turne yet faith there must bee or else no hope for this priviledge For without faith it is impossible to please God So that this is that which puts a difference betweene the sheepe and the goats the wise the foolish virgins the faithfull and vnbeleevers Some say that beleeving onely without other good works wil neuer bring vs to life the which though in some sence we deny not yet this is most certaine that all other vertues without faith to beleeue in Christ are nothing worth This is that vnum necessarium which the Gospell requires of vs to beleeue in Christ and for want of this how many Infidels Iewes and Turks perish euerlastingly euen all those morall vertues of the Heathen their chastity iustice temperance c. wherewith diuers of them did abound and exceed many Christians in them were all but splendida peccata because to the Infidell and vnbeleeuing all things are impure so that notwithstanding all these if they remaine without faith in Christ they shall dye For as there is but one name giuen vnder Heauen by which we must be saued which is the blessed and sweet name of Iesus so is there no way to attaine vnto saluation by that name but by beleeuing in him But as I haue shewed you that this faith to beleeue is necessary and a weake faith may be accepted with God before I leaue the point it will not be amisse something more fully to shew you the nature of true and sauing faith which consisteth not onely in beleeuing in Christ in the History for there is Credere de Christo credere Christo credere in Christum The first is to beleeue all is true which the Scriptures report concerning the Nature Offices and Merits of Christ this a man may do and finde no vertue or fruit of it in his owne soule The second is to beleeue Christ as