Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	fortitude_n	justice_n	temperance_n	2,097	5	10.3230	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87092	Divinity in mortality, or The Gospels excellency and the preachers frailty, represented in a sermon preached at the funerals of Mr Richard Goddard late minister of the parish of St Gregories by Pauls; who died on Thursday the 12th of May 1653. and was buried on Moonday [sic] the 16th day of the same moneth. By Nath. Hardy Master of Arts, and preacher to the parish of St Dyonis Back-Church.	Hardy, Nathaniel, 1618-1670.	1653 (1653)	Wing H718; Thomason E708_1; ESTC R202533	26,963	35

a field as it is said to be hid for its mysteriousnesse so a Treasure for its preciousnesse That we may see the fitnesse of the Metaphor be pleased to take a view of the Analogie and that in two particulars to wit the Nature and the Efficacy of a Treasure what it is and what it doth First If you enquire into the Nature of a Treasure that definition may be a full answer Thesaurus dicitur multarum rerum pretiosarum cumulatio A Treasure is an accumulation of many precious things so that there are two things concur to a Treasure to wit pretium and copia value and plenty worth in the quality abundance in the quantity It is not an heap of straw or rubbish that maketh a Treasure since though there is plenty there is no value nor is it a single piece of silver or gold that maketh a Treasure since though there is value there is not plenty but many bags of gold and silver or things of like worth fill up a Treasure Both of these we finde and meet with in the Gospel no wonder it is set forth by this appellation 1. The Truths and Doctrines contained in it are choice and excellent as much worth as our Souls as Heaven as Salvation is nay shall I go higher look what worth there is in the riches of Gods grace the precious bloud of Christ that may secondarily be ascribed to the Gospel which discovereth and offereth both to us no wonder that the Greek Fathers compare the verities of the Gospel to precious stones and our Saviour to a Pearl of great price and the Minister in this respect is called a Merchant of invaluable Jewels If you please to take a view of those several things to which Gods word in general is compared and which may much more be applied to the Gospel in particular you shall finde its worth set forth by a very observable gradation The basest metal to which it is compared is silver and yet that is precious in comparison of lead or brasse or iron silver refined from its drosse is of farre more worth then as it is taken out of the Mine and it is resembled not onely to silver but silver purified in the fire seven times Gold is yet of more value by farre then the most purified silver many pieces of silver are not aequivalent to one of gold and yet all gold is not of a like worth but this is more desirable then gold yea then fine gold Rubies are of more account then gold and yet the wisdome of this word is more precious then rubies nay that whatsoever else is accounted precious as Pearls Diamonds and the like may not be left out there is annexed a comprehensive expression All the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her 2. There is no lesse variety then excellency in the Gospel {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the doctrines of it are manifold and of divers kindes yet all profitable whatsoever is to be known by us concerning God Christ our selves sin Righteousnesse Happinesse is here delivered here are wholsome Counsels of vertue righteous precepts of duty the precious promises of mercy and the sweet comforts of the Holy Ghost presented to us In respect of its Counsels and Precepts I may well call it to use Saint Basils phrase {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a plentifull promptuary of good documents What is it oh Christian to follow his expressions thou mayest not learn hence the measure of patience the manner of penitence perfection of prudence sweetnesse of temperance exactnesse of Justice and magnanimity of fortitude All moral vertues and all theological graces are both described and prescribed in the Gospel In respect of its comforts and promises I may well to use Isidor's comparison resemble it to a large and pleasant Garden replenished with variety of fragrant flowers yielding as it were an heavenly Nectar which will revive the soul in the saddest distresse Whatsoever Relations of life thou art placed in here are fit directions to guide thee Whatsoever condition of misery thou maist be cast into here are full consolations to support thee Well might St Chrysostome say {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the holy Scripture is an ever over-flowing fountain that cannot be drawn dry and an inexhausted Treasure that cannot be emptied To this purpose tend those resemblances of the Law made use of by David and no lesse justly applicable to the Gospel it is not only better then gold and silver which are things of value but thousands which implieth abundance and again comparing it to all riches and great spoil both which contain in them Multiplex genus all sorts of valuable Commodities Sheep Oxen Lands Houses Garments Goods Moneys and the like thus are all sorts of spiritual Riches yea abundance of each sort to be had as in the Law so in the Gospel Secondly As to the Efficacy of a Treasure what will it not do The Latine and our English Proverb both assert this Pecuniae omnia obediunt Money answers all things especially where there is plenty of it Food Raiment Lights Physick Armour are all to be purchased by a Treasure All this is most true of the Gospel The Spouse speaking of Christs lips saith They drop as the honey-comb In favomel cera latent quorum altero pascimur altera lumen accendimus sic in sacris literis suavissimus cibus animi lumen mentis insunt As in the honey-comb there is honey to yeeld nutriment and wax to give light So in the Scriptures chiefly the Evangelical the soul hath food and the minde light What an Aegyptian King caused to be writ on the door of a well-furnished Library {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is fully verified of the Gospel whence may be selected the best nay the onely Receipts to cure a sin-sick person Finally no such Wardrobe as this wherein are to be had the Robes of Christs Righteousnesse and the Ornaments of the Spirits Graces no Armoury like to this where all both offensive and defensive weapons against our spiritual enemies are to be found In a word what ever the wants of a Christian are he may by the Gospel finde a sutable supply very justly then doth this Metaphor of a Treasure belong to it But yet this is not all that concerneth the Gospels excellency as there is an Analogie so there is a Discrepancy as in these the Gospel and a Treasure do agree so there want not other things wherein the Gospel doth far exceed all Treasures to which end cast your eyes on the 2. Term discriminating Non simpliciter thesaurum sed hunc inquit thesaurum habemus he doth not barely say we have A but emphatically This Treasure to intimate that the Treasure of the Gospel is farre different from and transcendent above all other Treasures which that it may the better