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
A17385	A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St. Peter VVherin are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very usefull application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabeticall table, not formerly published.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Gouge, William, 1578-1653.; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Commentary: or, sermons upon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle of S. Peter. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Sermons upon the first chapter of the first Epistle generall of Peter. aut	1637 (1637)	STC 4212; ESTC S107139	978,571	754

for no threatnings nor makes any great reckoning of any truth of God But all this is but within 10. The tenth degree is outward Apostacy and this is when a man at length growing audacious in sinning gives over even outwardly all care of honesty or religion openly shewing himselfe to be fallen away from all care of the profession of the truth or respect of godlinesse further than the lawes of men or other carnall respects may lead him 11. The eleventh degree is tradition to Sathan which is done either secretly the Lord giving the sinner up to Sathan or openly where the sinner is delivered to Sathan by the censure of the Church It is true that sometimes Sathan hath possession at consent before practice For then he entred into the heart of Iudas It is true also that the censures of the Church fall upon many after practice before Apostacy But if men doe tarry out all these degrees in this place they will be given up if they prevent not death or death prevent not them c. 12. The twelfth degree is a reprobate sense when a man having been under the power of the devill and not escaping out of his snare by repentance i● most fearfully forsaken of God and with unspeakable spirituall wic●ed●esse besotted by Sathan so as all sense and remorse is wholy extinguished i● him so as neither the light o● Nature nor the light of Scripture can worke upon him 13. The last degree is death even death eternall Thus we see the staires that descend downe to hell and the severall step● 〈…〉 staires Saint Iames makes but 6. degrees For the first motions hee suppresseth Then the first degree is drawing away now that containes the 2 3 and 4. degree as it is here in our reckoning viz. liking delight and security The 〈…〉 ●irth that is practice the fift the finishing of sin which hath in i●●●stome in●●r● 〈◊〉 outward Apo●●acie tradition and a rebrobate minde the 〈◊〉 i● death Thus of the second point 〈…〉 the third wee must understand that the tentations of concupiscence 〈◊〉 the ●entations of Sathan differ thus 1. First the tentatations of Sathan are usually to things against nature or against the God of nature and so the temptations of Blasphemy as they are te●med are from Satan or they are against the constitution of nature a● the 〈…〉 which a man is moved to kill himselfe or destroy or betray his C●untry or Prince or to commit ●●●●mitry Bu●●●r● or 〈◊〉 2. Secondly the tentations of Sathan are usually sudden and fierce and violent like lightning that leaves not a man time for deliberation Thus he 〈◊〉 CHRIST with the glory of the world but it is in a moment lest ou● Saviour by deliberation should finde our reasons of exceptions against earthly glory and so when the devill would perswade to sinne that is grosse and m●nstrous hee labours to confound a man with the suddaine fiercenesse and flame of the tentations whereas concupiscence is more lingring and flower 3. Thirdly those evils that are instantly disliked and in no measure consented to or approved are from Sathan and not from concupiscence For concupiscence works by the naturall pronenesse to the evill which cannot be without all desire or liking and these tentations may be none of our sins The first motions are not alwaies to be counted our sinnes For Christ was tempted not onely for the matter but for the manner in all things like unto us yet without sin he had monstrous things cast into his mind by the devill yet he sinned not so likewise it is not our sinne simply that tentations are there For a man doth not sinne in the tentation till hee be in some degree drawne away by it Now for the fourth thing there are many comforts against tentations diversly to be raised out of the Scripture First from example and that both of Christ and Christians Of Christ for he was tempted so the Apostle useth this argument as a comfort Heb. 2.16 and 4. ●5 now there is a threefold comfort from Christs example 1 First that he was tempted as well as wee 2. Secondly that wee see by his example one may be tempted yet without sinne 3. That he was tempted that he might succour us when we are tempted And as we have the example of Christ so we have the example of Christians For as the Apostle Peter saith The same afflictions are accomplished on your brethren that are in the world 1 Pet. 5.12 Secondly from the meditation of the helps in tentations 1. First Gods Spirit is within us to lust against the flesh even to assist with grace and strength against the workings of Sathan 2. Secondly the good Angels invisibly and insensibly are as ready to help and succour as the evill Angels are to tempt and devoure 3. Thirdly Christ is a present cure for the stings of this serpent as the brasen Serpent was to cure the stings of the bodily serpents Now Christ cures us when we looke upon him by faith partly by his intercession and partly by a vertue flowing out of him to us For it is certaine he prayes for us as well as he did for Peter Luk. 21.31 Ioh. 3.14 4. Fourthly Gods care is for us so as no temptation shall befall us but by his sufferance and besides he will have respect to our strength and thirdly hee will give issue with the temptation as is excellently shewed 1 Cor 10.13 Thirdly ●rom the consideration of the effect of tentation For though Sathan would faine carry us away with the whirlewinds of his suggestions yet indeed it is but to winnow us And although it seemes to be against all reason that tentations should purge us yet it is certain Gods children are made more cleare and pure by the very experience in the conflict with inward evils It doth winnow them and drive away a great deale of chaffe even of lightnesse and vanity out of their mindes Againe temptations are but to hide their pride and to keepe them that they be not exalted over-much Lastly we may greatly comfort our selves if we consider the promises the Lord hath made to us in tentations Hee hath promised that hee will tread downe Sathan and that speedily under our feet Hee hath in the Apostle Paul answered and assured us that his grace shall be sufficient for us and his power shall be made knowne in our weaknesse yea and Christ hath promised when we enter into the combat that he will pitch his Tabernacle by us Besides it is an old and ancient promise made long since that if the Devill for terror shew himselfe like the great Leviathan or for fraud like a crooked and piercing serpent or for violence and fury like the dragon in the sea yet the Lord will smite him with his great and sore and mighty sword Thus much of the comforts against temptations The fift and last thing I propounded to be observed was the rules to be