Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	godliness_n	grace_n	temperance_n	1,735	5	11.8003	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51033	The way to true honour and happiness A friendly address to all parents, masters of families, and landlords, the persons most capable to honour ... , and to gain honour to themselves, by beginning and carrying on a rational reformation. To which is added, [A] memorandum for mothers. By John Mitchell, M.A.	Mitchell, John, fl. 1697.	1697 (1697)	Wing M2287B; ESTC R221889	23,817	48

him above all things If thou receivest and acceptest of Him upon the Terms of the Covenant of Grace as he is offered in the Gospel for thy Prophet and Teacher for thy Priest and Peace-maker for thy King and Ruler for thy Lord and Law-giver as well as thy Saviour and Redeemer if thou submittest 〈◊〉 committest thy self unto him and art as 〈…〉 ing to give obedience to him as to receive 〈…〉 ation from him to be sanctified by his Spi●●s well as to be saved by his Merits and 〈…〉 ly resolvest to continue stedfast in this hap 〈…〉 〈…〉 emper of Mind to the end of thy life then 〈…〉 Sin is pardoned thy Soul regenerated thy 〈…〉 re sanctified and thy Salvation infallible 〈…〉 8. 1. Io. 6. 35 37. Io. 5. 24. Io. 3. 18 36. 〈◊〉 after thou hast laid the firm Foundation of 〈◊〉 Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ thou dili●●ly addest to thy Faith Vertue Knowledge 〈…〉 perance Patience Godliness Brotherly 〈…〉 dness Charity and the rest of those heaven●● Graces and holy Vertues which are Fruits 〈◊〉 Effects of Faith and dost abound in all 〈…〉 se acting all Graces practising all Ver●ues 〈◊〉 performing all Duties and yet 〈…〉 ting in 〈…〉 ce of them but only in Jesus Christ for Sal●●ion Then art thou as sure to be eternally 〈◊〉 as thou art sure that thy Repentance is 〈◊〉 thy Faith true and thy Obedience sincere 〈◊〉 5. 4. Act. 3. 19. Mark 16. 16. Act. 16. 〈…〉 Heb. 5. 9. 2 Pet. 1. 5 10 11. Be carefull still to use humble and hearty 〈…〉 yers as the Mean to procure all this Mat. 〈…〉 And still apply unto and depend upon 〈◊〉 Holy Spirit as the effectual worker of all 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 26. Io. 15. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Now my Friends This is the way walk ye 〈◊〉 If ye know these things happy are ye if 〈…〉 o and teach them Be not content to go to Heaven alone but take compassion upon other● and help them forward in this good way Per●swade your selves that Christ's command ob●liges you Luke 22. 32. When you are Converted strengthen you Brethren especially your Children Servant and all within your gates and under you● Charge God's Command is your Duty and bin● you to obedience in this particular Mat. 22. 39● Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Quest. What Method shall we use in Reform●ing our Families Answ. Having brought your Mind to a ser●●ous Frame and being perswaded of the nece●sity and excellency of Holiness and havin● learned the Duties of Humility and Self-D●●nyal Then follow this Method 1. Presently set ●p and zealously keep up th● Worship of God in your Families use Prayer● Praises and reading of the Scriptures twice ●●very day at least in presence of all the Family ●let nothing be an ordinary hindrance of thes● daily Sacrifices each day and on the Lord Day let these Duties be doubled as the ol● Sacrifices were Numb 28. 9 10. 2. Spend one hour at least in instructin● and examining your Children and Servants i● explaining Difficulties and opening the mean●ing of the Scriptures to them At first you ma● set them Tasks in some fit Books of Question● and Answers till their capacity be enlarged 〈…〉 ecially be careful to teach them to know 〈…〉 selves what they are in their natural and 〈…〉 State and what the effects consequents 〈…〉 wages of sin are and this will make your 〈…〉 er-work more easy For if you can tho●ly convince them that they are sinners 〈…〉 that the wages of every sin is death and 〈…〉 ation and that there is no safety but in 〈…〉 Christ and that in him is perfect Righ 〈…〉 sness and plenteous Redemption to all that 〈…〉 receive him as he is offered Then it will 〈…〉 asy to perswade them to learn to know 〈…〉 st and the Method of Salvation by him 〈…〉 ey will be glad to be directed to the City 〈…〉 Refuge when they see themselves pursued 〈…〉 the Justice of the Sin-revenging God and 〈…〉 ble to all the Curses of his Law Whereas without the knowledge of them●●es and their own State they will not desire 〈…〉 knowledge of Christ nor submit to Chri 〈…〉 Duties What are all the Physitians in 〈…〉 wn to a Man in Health and Vigour or all 〈…〉 places of Refuge to a Man that thinks 〈…〉 self honest and innocent 3. Allow them time and exhort them to 〈…〉 prove it in secret Prayer reading the Scrip●●es Meditation and examining their own 〈…〉 rts and give them directions how to do 〈…〉 se things to good purpose 4. Let your holy Example be their constant 〈…〉 ern and your watchful Eye their constant 〈…〉 itor and your frequent and familiar Conferences with them be their constant Encouragement Occasional Advices and pious Directions insinuated and dropt into them a● VVork or at Meals will wonderfully advanc● and set forward your solemn Teachings 5. Neglect not to use Meekness and Patience Love and Kindness in all your Dealing with them in matters of Religion that the● may be convinced that you chiefly intend th● good of their Souls 6. Let no stubborn Despisers of Piety remain within your Doors lest they poison th● rest and render your Labours fruitless 7. Encourage the tractable and diligent a● first with little Rewards till they come t● feel the sweetness of Holiness the power o● Grace and the habits of Vertue till they b● acquainted with the teachings of the holy Spirit and then your work will be pleasant and delightful your Scholars will then become Teachers If you doubt of your Duty and think that this is more than is required of you then consider these Arguments to prove your Obligation 1. It is the express command and positive● Law of the great King of Heaven the loving and gracious God that you should teach and instruct your Families and therefore it is your indispensible Duty And you cannot neglect it without Rebellion against your Creator your Father and Soveraign Take your Bible read 〈◊〉 consider these Texts Deut. 6. 4. Deut. 〈…〉 .19 Deut. 4. 10 Eph. 6. 4. 〈…〉 God 's faithful Children and Servants 〈…〉 carefully performed this Duty Christ 〈…〉 ed with and instructed his Family Luke 〈…〉 Mark 4. 10 14. Cornelius feared God 〈…〉 all his House Act. 10. 2. Abraham's pur 〈…〉 s approved of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. And 〈…〉 Lord tells you Io. 8. 39. If ye were Abra 〈…〉 Children ye would do the Works of Abra 〈…〉 that is if ye had Faith ye would imi 〈…〉 his Example 〈…〉 holy David's Practice be your daily 〈…〉 ern Psal. 101. 2 Sam. 6. 20. 〈…〉 The Law of Nature obligeth you to this 〈◊〉 your Children are pieces of your selves your Servants stand in a near relation to 〈◊〉 You feed and cloath their Bodies and 〈…〉 it your Duty to do so it is unnatural 〈…〉 ty to neglect and starve the Soul and suf 〈…〉 to perish for want of knowledge and good 〈…〉 ation They cannot serve you

their Ears with hearing any wicked vain or idle words till they be able to tes●i●ie against them and r●buke the Tongue that speaks them For Children are capable to think as soon as to see and to form Idea's as soon as to hearken They are capable to remember before they can judge or determine Therefore let them hear none speak who have not learned the Language of Canaan and let them converse with none but those who are acquainted with the Lord Jesus and can help to make them so Let the Streets and Publick Places be an abomination unto them until Holiness to the Lord be written on the Foreheads of all who walk there 4. Seasonably and gently bow their IronSinew before it become too strong that is make their Will plyable Teach them to be denyed and to deny themselves Let them not know that you give them their Will in any thing Humour them not in any thing they cry for And let them have what is fit at another time rather than when they call for it If you let them have their own Will they will soon torment you and ruine themselves An unbridled Will makes an ungovernable Person But when you have effectually and prudently brought the Will into good subjection and order more than the half of your work is done 5. Throw water on their Wild Fire that is let not Passions prevail Let Frowns Rebukes and Rods curb restrain and suppress their immoderate Passions and irregular Desires Let Discipline chastise and keep in order these Wild Beasts till Reason be able to tame them Let them know by your Countenance and Behaviour that Patience Meekness and Sobriety are lovely and commendable Vertues Beware of giving bad Example here 6. Regulate their Diet nourish their Bodies but do not pamper them Let them know that Temperance is a Vertue and that Fasting is Physick Let their Food be course and plain for Strength and Nourishment not for pleasing the sensual Appetite And as soon as possible let them gain their Bread by the Sweat of their Brow according the Command Gen. 3. 19. 2 Thes. 3. 10. 7. Moderate their Apparel and do not feed their ●ide Adorn their Minds before you deck their Bodies ●●ch them the use of ●loaching and let Gaudiness be 〈◊〉 Abomination to them Suffer them not to be proud 〈◊〉 that which covers their Shame 8. Moderate their Recreations let them never be ●e and let every thing they do be useful and instructive ●●pen their Reason and inform their Judgment 9. When they are capable of being instructed then ●ch them first by the Ear before you make a Book ●ir Burden Let them have a good Treasure of sound 〈◊〉 useful Truths in their Memory and be able to answer ●any Questions before you ●ix their Eyes upon a let● 〈◊〉 And that ye may build them high in Faith and Ho●●ss be careful to lay a sure and solid Foundation 〈◊〉 therefore let Humility be the first Vertue that you ●●t in them And for this end make them acquaint●●ith themselves Let them know That they are 〈◊〉 degenerate Off-spring o● sinful Adam shew them the ●●ption of their Nature in all the parts of it what 〈◊〉 ought to have been and what they are in their cor●ed State Make known to them the Purity and Ho●●ss of God's Nature and Law and that every sin is an ●ence against God and a Transgression of his Law 〈◊〉 them the Evil of Sin and the dreadful consequents 〈◊〉 that every Sin deserves Death and Damnation and 〈◊〉 this is due to them because they are Sinners guilty 〈◊〉 unclean Creatures Enemies to God by nature and ●●els against his just and holy Laws Let them know ●t whatever good they receive and enjoy is purely 〈◊〉 God's Free Grace and Bounty and not of their own ●●●ving and that it is of God's great Mercy Patience 〈◊〉 Long-suffering that they are not thrown into Hell ●ady 10. When you have thus awakened their Minds con●●ed their Judgments humbled their Hearts and sof●● their Spirits then ●ou may make known to them 〈◊〉 Lord Jesus Christ the only Saviour his Person his ●●ures Mediation and Offices and what way he is given for Mankind offered unto them and must be received by them in order to their Reconciliation with God Shew them the Doctrine of the Covenant of Grace and the Method and Terms of Salvation and what is the nature and extent of that Holiness which is absolutely necessary to fit them for Glory and Happiness Heb. 12. 14. Teach them to understand the Person the Offices the Dictates Motions and Operations of the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier and Comforter Teach them to understand the nature and manner of the Temptations of their spiritual Enemies and how to resist and overcome them Make them acquainted with the Doctrine and Duty of Prayer and oblige them to pray by themselves not by a formal repeating of Words but expressing the humble and hearty desires of their Souls from a sense of their own wants of God's Goodness and gracious Promises of Christ's Merits and Mediation and of the Holy Spirit 's Assistance and Intercession and teach them to trust in God and wait for a return of their Prayers and in every thing to be thankful to him Particularly teach them to believe in to prize esteem and love the Lord Jesus Christ as the Fountain and Foundation of all the Blessings and Benefits which they enjoy and expect Io. 14. 6. and that they are bound in Covenant with him by their Baptism 11. Being thus instructed and prepared it will be easy for you to teach them to Read and to understand the Word Preached for their further Edification and to inform their Judgment and excite their Practice in all the Parts of Publick Worship And when they are examined and approved by the Governours of the Church they may be admitted to renew their Covenant with God publickly and solemnly at the Lord's Table 12. When they are thus prepared fenced and fortified by the pious care and faithful diligence of Parents and especially of you MOTHERS then may they go abroad and be sent to School to learn Languages Arts and Sciences and such Accomplishments as are requisite and useful for them which they will easily attain to 〈◊〉 the Mind is so enlightned in the Knowledge of 〈◊〉 ● there I shall leave them to the Conduct of faith●●chers But do not you leave them while life lasts 〈◊〉 However you may be pleased with your Childrens ●●●●dings yet never flatter them never commend 〈◊〉 till they really deserve it Never call them good 〈◊〉 be effectually so tell them that Perfection is 〈◊〉 Duty and that yet they are far from it but must ●●rance to higher degrees of Grace and Holiness Now MOTHERS these are some hints of that 〈◊〉 you ought to do for the Sanctification and Salva● of your Children This is no matter of indifferency 〈◊〉 your indispensable Duty Prov. 1. 8. and 6. 20. ●●●ore neglect it not it cannot be done in a short time 〈◊〉 little pains therefore delay it not but begin 〈◊〉 and proceed diligently and endeavour to obtain 〈◊〉 Honour of being the happy Instruments of a glori●●● Reformation in England and may all your endea●●●● be crowned with happy Success 〈◊〉 It is not good to burthen Children and break 〈◊〉 Spirits with too much Religion it raises Prejudi●●● in them and gives them false Notions and apprehen●● of God and Religion 〈◊〉 Surely this Language proceeds from the Devil this greatest Instruments because it is so directly con●y to the Dictates of God's holy Spirit Prov. 22. 6. 〈◊〉 a Child in the way he should go and when he is old 〈◊〉 depart from it Eccl. 12. 1. Remember thy Grea●● the days of thy Youth c. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Timothy i●●●mended for knowing the Holy Scriptures from a 〈◊〉 whereby he was made wise unto Salvation 〈◊〉 We have not leisure to take all this care and 〈◊〉 upon our Children 〈◊〉 You find leisure to beger nurse feed and cloath 〈◊〉 to take care of the Body and will you neglect 〈◊〉 Soul He who gives you time and all that you en 〈…〉 appoints you this Work and will reward you ac●●ing to your management of it Therefore let nothing be a hindrance now which cannot excuse you at that ● of Account Yea let compassion to the Fruit of your ● dies be a forcible motive to excite your diligent ● zealous endeavour for its Sanctification and Salvat ● And when you have done your utmost still acknowle●●● your selves unprofitabls Servants and that all you'● done is to no purpose without the sanctifying Grac● 〈◊〉 the HolySpirit Therefore continue your earnest Sup●cations to the good and gracious God the giver of ev● good Gift that he would give his Holy Spirit to m● your Labours successful and effectual and the Rig●ousness of his beloved Son to make your Endeavour● 〈◊〉 ceptable with him Therefore tho' you ought and 〈◊〉 obliged to use every Mean of his Appointment yet 〈◊〉 to no Mean rely upon none of your Performances 〈◊〉 all your dependance be upon the Lord Jesus Christ beg the Spirit of Christ for your Assistance and the 〈◊〉 rits of Christ for your Acceptance And in every th● give Thanks and Praise to God the Father Son 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost FINIS