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	love_n	temperance_n	1,495	5	11.3666	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01725	Foure sermons vpon seuerall partes of scripture, preached by George Gyffard, preacher of the worde, at Maudlin in Essex	Gifford, George, d. 1620.	1598 (1598)	STC 11859; ESTC S117695	68,936	149

of the holy spirite for when the Apostle saith the spirite himselfe witnesseth with our spirit that we be the sonnes of God doth he witnesse that we are and doth he not witnesse that we shall be so euen to the end Can a man to day bee the childe of God and to morrow not Moreouer there is no godly man which saith he is sure he shall not sinne for all men sinne dayly But the regenerate doe know that through the grace of God they shall not so sinne as to fall quite away from Christ or to haue the life of GOD whereof they are made partakers in the newe birth vtterly extinguished in them Touching this pointe S. Iohn in Chapter 3. of his Epistle verse 9. saith Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth 〈◊〉 for his seede remaineth in him and he can not s●●● because he is borne of God What can all the Papistes in the world say vnto this S. Iohn saith not that some of those which are borne of God doe stand to the end but he saith Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not Then is it certaine that he which doth know hee is borne of God and le● by his spirite doth also know that hee shall not fall vnto destruction And for this hee rendreth a reason namely that the seede of God remaineth in him The regenerating grace is neuer lost if the seede of God remaine still in him that is borne of God yea euen when hee doth by infirmitie as Dauid did fall into some grieuous sinnes Also he saith that such a one can not sinne this seemeth an heard saying Is there any man beyond whose power it is for to sinne Is it so heard a matter for a man to doe wickedly if he will endeuour Wee must not take it that he which is borne of God will euer endeuour for to commit sinne No the grace of God doth still so guide him that he doth endeuour to please God and though by ignorance and frailtie hee doe after goe awrie and transgresse yet can he not fall from God hee can not vtterly loose his new birth The reason which S. Iohn rendreth is because he is borne of God God is immortall the seed of God by which his children are regenerate is immor●●● as it is written 1. Pet. 1. The life of God begin in them is immortall how then can it be extinguished or how can he that is borne of God fall away vnto perdition Let all men then knowe that where there is the witnes of the spirite of the water and the bloud there is the certainty of saluation according as S. Iohn sayth These thinges haue I written vnto you that beleeue in the name of the sonne of God that ye may know that ye haue eternall life and that yee may beleeue in the name of the sonne of God There are yet another sort of men I cannot tell what I should tearme them that are confuted by this place they hold that a man for the triall of his faith whether it be liuely or a dead faith is not to looke vppon the fruites thereof It is enough say they that a man doe beleeue in Iesus Christ what shoulde hee or what can hee examine further Faith is Faith Beleeue and thou shalt bee saued These men doe quite abolish and that most wickedly and profanely the testimony of the three witnesses in earth They bring in Epicurisme and all carnall liberty Let not the wise harken vnto them but looke for the testimony of the spirite of the water of the bloud within them if they will be assured that their faith is the true faith that they shal come to life eternall And nowe let vs come to the last poynt which is that the faithfull are by degrees to increase this certainty of their saluatiō To make an entrance into this matter it is good for vs to consider that the spirituall birth is compared and likened to the naturall birth for as in the naturall birth there is first brought forth a little weake babe which hath life and doth in tyme by degrees euen by little little grow vp vnto mans estate so in the spirituall birth such as be borne againe in Christ they be first as little babes they haue indeede the life of GOD in them but they be maruelous weake Reade touching this what S. Peter writeth in his first Epistle in the beginning of the second Chap. how he doth will these new borne babes to couet the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby And likewise what S. Paul saith to the Cor. 1. Epist Chap. 4. Then as in the naturall thinges as a man groweth vp in yeeres so he groweth to a riper knowledge and vnderstanding in matters of this worlde so they that grow vp in Christ come to more and more assurance that they be led by the Sprite of God and that they shall be saued Most true it is also a● no man can deny that in the naturall things men do grow vp from babes to mans estate by food and sustenance they grow also in knowledge vnderstanding by practise meanes The same is to be saide of the babes in Christ they cannot growe vp without the Spirituall food they cannot come to more assured knowledge of their saluatiō but by the means which God hath ordained and that is it which S. Iohn here leadeth vnto when he saith These thinges haue I written vnto you c. that ye may know that ye haue eternall life Well then seeing wee must grow vp vnto this happy assurance by meanes let vs in some fewe particulars consider howe first seeing the word of GOD is the sincere milke by which we are to be nourished and to grow vp it is our part as the same Apostle willeth to couet the same 1. Pet. 2.2 Wee doe all know this that when a childe is borne if it be aliue and in health howe much it doth couet the mothers breast and how sweete the milke is vnto it in like manner when a man is borne of God in the new and heauenly birth he hath a vehement desire and longing after Gods word it is maruellous sweete and delectable vnto him And questionles all such as care not nor labor not to know the heauēly oracles are void of the spiritual life they be like vnto those children which are borne dead which care not for the mothers breast We must labour therefore by reading and by hearing the word preached by meditation earnest prayer to come to the true vnderstanding and right vse of the sacred word of God Marke further what S. Peter then teacheth how men shall attaine to assurance of saluation He willeth to giue all diligence to minister in our faith vertue in vertue knowledge in knowledge temperance in tēperance patience in patience godlines in godlines brotherly kindnes in brotherly kindnes loue for if these things be in you and abound they shall make you that yee neyther shall be idle nor

FOVRE SERMONS VPON SEVErall partes of Scripture Preached by GEORGE GYFFARD Preacher of the worde at Mauldin in Essex AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Iudson for Tobie Cooke and Robert Walker 1598. The Textes of the foure Sermons THE FIRST SERMON 1. Tim. 6. Chap. ver 17.18.19 Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God which giueth vs abundantly all thinges to inioye c. THE SECOND SERMON 1. Ioh. chap. 5. ver 7.8.9.10.11.12.13 For there are three which beare record in heauen the Father the worde and the holy ghost and these three are one c. THE THIRD SERMON Hebrewes 12. ver 16.17 Let there be no fornicator or prophane person as Esawe which for one portion of meate solde his birthright c. THE FOVRTH SERMON Rom. 6. ver 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 12.13.14 What shall we saye then shall we continue still in sin that grace may abound God forbid c. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Master Edward Lewkenor esquire one of her Maiesties Iustices of the peace in the countie of Suff. and to the right vertuous and christian Gentlewoman Mistris Susan Lewken or his wife grace with all aboundant blessings of this life and the life to come THe complaint of many both learned and verie godlie persons that the Church is burthened and incōbred with too great a multitude of bookes is not made without cause being grounded vpon the most holy worde of God as also confirmed by experiēce in that good houres are vnprofitablie spent pietie with true holynes not a little hindred and impaired Howbeit it seemeth rather to be directed against vaine friuolous and trifling pamphlets wherein lewde and ignorante persons haue onely taste and delight but especially against mōstrous inuentions vncleane and impure writings which doe infect and defile both doctrine manors thereby deseruing as a most contagious and pestilent ayre to be consumed and dissolued with fire from amongst the people of God and not against the wise and learned trauailes of godly men whose whole purpose and indeuour is to profite the Church and to further the knowledge and religion of the Lorde For varietie of good and profitable bookes seemeth to be necessarie and therefore would not be wanting both for the increase of knowledge and learning because one man or a fewe see not all thinges as also for that euery man writeth not in one forme and maner and therefore cannot answere the capasitie of euerie one for some fitte themselues sor smale and meane capacities and some for learned and great vnderstanding Besides one hath neede of one speciall instruction and one of another this man delighteth in one comforte and remedie against his temptation and an other in that which best aunswereth his infirmitie Furthermore Sathan hath daylie newe deuises to assaile the faith of Gods elect and to drawe thē into sinne neuer heard of before which the Lorde by his spirite doth not onely reueale to some of his seruants aboue others but prouideth remedies accordinglie which because they cannot be ministred alwayes by worde of mouth they are to be made knowne by writing to them that stand in neede And surely the bountie riches of Gods mercie are so large and his care of mans saluation and happines so great that euen as he hath prouided variety of creatures for euery mans tast and vse so hath he prouided varietie of spiritual graces for euery mans benefite delight to the end that euery man might profit with cōfort pleasure or else be left without all excuse The consideration of which reasons and some others Right worshipfull caused me after I had obtained at the handes of that worthie Minister of Iesus Christ Master Gyffard these fewe Sermons whereof he is the Author to publish them in print to the view of the world Not therein respecting so much mine owne gaine and commoditie as the good and benefite of the Church of God Whereof J conceiue no little hope both by reason of the fruite and benifite which haue redoūded to the comfort of many by his former workes as also for the excellēcie of the doctrine conteined herein the which I rather commit to the iudgemēt of the learned and wise Christian reader then to commend them my selfe least in praysing them for want of iudgement wisedome J should in stead of beautie bring disgrace vpon them Whatsoeuer they be J thought it meete to Dedicate them to your worshippes moued thereto with many respectes And first of all that J might publikely testifie my dutie and thankefull heart for your great kindenes and manifold courtesies bestowed not only vpon me but vpon them that are as neerly linked vnto me as my selfe Of the which if I should be vnmindfull J were worthie of the reward which the Lacedemonians appointed for vnthankefull persons But especiallie the great accompt and honour that you haue obtained in the hearts of many of the best and wisest Christiās for your singular godlines rare Christian vertues do turne mine eyes frō many others vpon you as comfortahle lightes shining in the midst of this crooked generatiō as liuely examples to your brethren and worthie ornamēts to the profession of the Gospel And J haue ioyned you together in this dedicatiō not only for the neer band wherewith you are so nighly ioyned together in mariage but also for that you do not only striue together in one course to obteine the high price of your calling and that euerlasting crowne of glory reserued for you in the heauens but also for that you are mutual helpers one to another to the performāce of all Christiā duties but speciallie in the wel gouerning and trayning vp of your housholde which thereby as a fruite of your rare and holy labours the Lord hath so blessed as that the heauenly estate behauiour thereof may be a presidēt to many families if it would please the Lorde to giue them heartes to confirme themselues thereunto But I cease to say so much as I knowe least in speaking the truth might procure enuie and seeme to flatter you whoe of all other haue least delight in that veine The onlie thing which I ought in dutie may safely do is first to pray vnto God that he would saue preserue you yours from the manifolde subtilties of Sathan and the dangerous baites alluremēts of this world and to finish the good work that he hath begunne in you vnto the day of Iesus Christ Secōdly most hūbly to request you that you would take in good parte this simple gifte that J offer vnto you interpreting all thinges both in regarde of it and my selfe in the best parte and with that affection J offer it to you And thus once againe beseeching almightie God to blesse and co●tinue you many happie yeeres 〈◊〉 your owne comfort and the goo● of the Church as also to be fauourable vnto the holy Ministrie which hath many yeeres continued