Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	draw_v	iron_n	loadstone_n	1,525	5	13.0457	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16857	The vvarnings of Germany By wonderfull signes, and strange prodigies seene in divers parts of that countrey of Germany, betweene the yeare 1618. and 1638. Together with a briefe relation of the miserable events which ensued. All faithfully collected out of credible High Dutch chronicles, and other histories by L. Brinckmair Captaine. As also a learned and godly sermon preached before the lords the States at Norrimberg. Anno 1638.	Brinckmair, L.	1638 (1638)	STC 3758; ESTC S121731	42,464	105

hanging of Mahomets iron tombe in the Ayre if it bee as it is reported is no miracle because it may be drawne up by vertue of some Loadstone above it But every thing is a wonder whose cause we know not or at least which wise men know not Admiration alwaies rises out of some degree of Ignorance There is therefore a difference betwixt a miracle and a marvell d under the tearme of wonder 3 Severall things be comprehended 1 Speciall rarities in the course of nature and in the actions and affaires of men e Secondly miracles properly so called Thirdly whatsoever it is which makes the wiser or greater part of men to admire as wel as fooles however it be called Alwhich are here included under the name of prodigies § 5 Having briefly notified the meaning both of the name and thing in hand the next thing most necessary is to consider of the author who gives being to things prodigious and appoints their use That must needs bee God who is the onely Alpha and Omega The center from which all lines are drawne and the circumference wherein they are terminated All predictions whether they bee naturall or supernaturall must needs originally issue from him that decrees things from eternity and causes them to exist in time in all circumstances according to his appointment This hath alwaies been out of controversie not onely among Christians but also among the Philosophers yea even amvng the very Vulgar heathen But though all have reference to God yet not all alike Some things hee either doth immediately or at least wise seemes to doe for both God and nature are often clouded Many things are effected by the Ministery of the Angells Some proceed from me and the course of nature yet not without God Those things which are most common in the course of nature are to bee counted Gods workes and therefore much more those which are strange God puts these Questions to Iob. Hath the raine a Father or who hath begotten the drops of dew Out of whose wombe came the yce and the hoary frost of heaven who hath gendred it The answer to bee made is this God giveth being to al these things according to his pleasure what then shall be thought of raining bloud Fire and such like No otherwise then according to that The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah fire and Brimstone from the Lord out of Heaven He threatens such aforehand and he alone hath power to effect them Therefore when we see or heare of any such thing we can doe no lesse then acknowledge in the Psalmists words This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes Psal 118. 23. § 6 But how is it that signes and wonders are said to be wrought by false Prophets for so Moses intimates And our Saviour sayes expresly There shall arise false Prophets and false Christs and shall shew great signes and wonders And to like effect Paul speakes of Antichrist 2. Thess 2. 9. We read also that many signes done before Pharaoh by Moses were also done before him by the Magitians of Aegypt No doubt but Satan and his Instruments are permitted to doe great things for the triall of Gods Church and children but in all they doe they are no more but instruments Therefore that Fire wherewith Jobs sheepe and servants were consumed is fuly called the Fire of God though the Prince of the Ayre was in that the Incendiary and the bellowes and added oyle to the flame But Gods wonders and Satans differs very much Oftentimes in the thing it selfe Satan seemes to worke miracles but God workes miracles indsed Satan also makes a shew of doing many things which indeed hee doth not deluding the outward senses and the the Phantasie He alwayes lies against God or nature Therefore well saith Moses Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods who is like unto thee glorious in holinesse fearefull in praise doing wonders But in the ground and end there is alwayes a vast and manifest difference betwixt the one and the other All that Satan does is out of hatred envy and malice to God and man But all that God doth is in mercyor Iustice The plot which the Devill prosecutes in every particular is to rob God of his glory to make his word of none effect and to frustrate the salvation intended for the Elect. Gods immutable purpose is to glorifie himselfe to fulfill his word in all the promises and threatnings and to save those whom he hath chosen in Christ The one intends nothing but fraud and mischiefe the other to approve his goodnesse even to them that wilfully perish Satan labours to bring men into Heresie superstition and Idolatry to blind their eyes harden their hearts and wholly to corrupt them in all their wayes God would have all men come to the knowledge of the truth that they might be saved a if any desire to know how it may be knowne which wonders be wrought by God especially and which by Satan let them consider This is needlesse for us curiously to inquire after and fruitlesse to bee knowne Our duty is to looke upon all good and evill as coming from God as Iob did saying The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken c. Shall wee receive good from the hand of the Lord and not evill And though some Prodigies be but rarities in nature yet are wee to ascribe all to God in as much as nature is his handmaid and even of naturall things there is more to be made then a naturall use § 7 As for the matter wherof Prodigies consist that is worthy to be considered of but warily to be determined A confused Notion that some things are prodigious without knowledge of the particulars and whether it be good or evill that is portended hath bred and nourished much curiositie and superstition needlesse feares in some fond hopes in others there have anciently beene a sort of men who have made it their study and profession to teach what is ominous and of what such were the Soothsayers Astrologians Chaldeans and the like But the light of the Gospell hath made all these see ming starres to vanish And yet still pride curiositie infidelity like bitter rootes growing in the heart of mankinde naturally leade them much what in the same way Hence it is that almost every accident is by some counted a signe of good or evill lucke according to our common phrase To reckon up particulars in this kinde would be both tedious and ridiculous But it must be granted that some things are Prodigious true And that some things are so in reference to particular persons and families Some to Countries Nations and whole States This also cannot be denied Whatis then the rule to know them by No vulgar conceit no nor every pretended reason Nor yet all manner of experience so far as wee are to regard Prodigies The Scripture is a sufficient rule Therein we