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
A20547	A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes of Salomon	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut	1607 (1607)	STC 6957; ESTC S109740	155,503	198

their case the better Verse 30. The fruit of the righteous is as a tree of life and hee that winneth soules is wise THe meaning of these words is that a godly man is very plentifull in bringing forth fruit and his fruite exceeding profitable to them that receiue it Especially his instructions consolations prayers other spirituall meanes that he vseth to conuert or confirme the hearts of his brethren And he himself also is not without the fruit of his owne fruit which is intimated here by pronouncing him wise that winneth soules that is which with desire and indeuour faithfully and discreetly by Gods owne meanes according to his place and calling either doth draw men out of their sinnes and ignorance or else faileth of successe therein not by his negligence and want of loue but rather by their stubbornesse and want of will And herewith the Prophet doth satisfie himselfe whatsoeuer should bee the issue of his ministerie Now saith the Lord that formed me from the wombe to bee his seruant that I may bring Iacob againe to him though Israel be not gathered Isai 49. 4. yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength On the other side wee dare not take vpon vs to iustifie the hearts and states of all those which haue been occasions of any mans conuersion if it bee not their fruite nor to extenuate the efficacie of euery vnregenerate mans ministerie that his doctrine should winne none to saluation It is graunted without question or gainesaying that he may prepare before and build vp after and we remember not any such stint or restraint spoken of but that he may also cōuert especially before his life is stained with any sinfull behauiour that might bring his ministerie into contempt The power of preaching standeth in the ordinance of God by the worke of his spirit and not in the person of the messenger that doth publish it Doct. Of all people none doe so much good as the godly Looke how farre the tree of life which was the best in paradise excelled all the brambles and briers which are the worst on the wild wast so farre doe such as feare God surmount the godlesse in goodnes In the first Psalme religious men which giue themselues to the exercise of pietie are compared to trees that yeeld the most and best and ripest fruite and sinful men which giue themselues to the practise of vanity are likened to chaffe or rather the dust of chaffe Psal 1. 3. which is good for nothing In the second of the Canticles the godly are resembled to the most beautifull and pleasant lilies Cant. 2. 2. which yeeld delight to those that gather them and the wicked to thornes or thistles which doe annoy those that meddle with them In other places of scripture the seruants of God are called sheepe which for lambe and fleece and flesh and euery other way are commodious insomuch that they make the very ground the better which they fit vpon and the slaues of sinne are called by the names of Wolues and Foxes and such kinde of beasts which are very hurtfull and be readie to doe mischiefe wheresoeuer they come In what respect the fruite of the righteous is so profitable it will appeare by the proportion it hath with the tree of life whereunto it is compared Reasons 1 First in regard of the cause it is said that it groweth by the riuer of life whose waters feede the roote Reue. 22. 22. thereof and the roote sendeth vp the sap and the sap sendeth out the fruite And so the good which a good man doth ariseth not from his wit nor naturall disposition nor fleshly wisedome but springeth from the word and spirit of God in his heart Gal. 5. 22. Secondly as touching the manner thereof it is said that it is continually bearing without stay or failing not once a yeere but once in a moneth not in sommer only but in winter also and euery time new kinds of fruit and not of one sort alone as it falleth out commonly with other trees for in them the same branch neuer varieth the kind and that rotteth not nor droppeth downe Ezech. 47. 12. with ripenesse In like sort doth the spirit of grace make Gods children constant in well doing and that also in performance of many dueties according to the varietie of occasions and opportunities offered They ioyne vertue with their faith and with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance 1. Pet. 1. 5. 6. patience and with patience godlines and with godlines brotherlie kindnes and with brotherly kindnes loue If they see the members of Mat. 25. 35. 36 Christ hungrie they giue them meate if thirstie they giue them drinke if naked they clothe them if they bee strangers they lodge them if they be sicke they visite them if they be in prison they come vnto them c. Thirdly for the effect the tree of life was for meate and the leaues for medicine and both for life and no lesse vertue proceedeth from righteous persons their lippes doe feede many their tongues are whole some their instructions are as a welspring of life to Prou. 10. 21. turne away from the snares of death Pro. 13. 14. Vse 1 Admonition for euery one to search his wayes and to trie his state by this rule If thou be a fruitefull tree thou art a righteous man if thou be giuen to shew mercie thou canst not be vnfruitfull if thy labour bee to kill sinne and to helpe mens soules to euerlasting life then who can denie thee to bee truely mercifull In this case though the diuell come roaring with grieuous accusations though he would perswade thee that thou art an hypocrite and they would perswade others that thou art an arrogant proud person yet be not dismaied at the matter Satan saith that thou bearest a dissembling heart but god seeth that thou liuest a sincere life They impute thy speeches and other behauiour to pride and vaine glorie but thine owne soule knoweth that they proceede from loue and vnfained faithfulnesse And let this be spoken for thy comfort that shall neuer faile thee that those which are trees of life to men are trees of delight to God himselfe and he is nothing lesse pleased with them than his people are benefited by them And so the Apostle saith they please God in all things which are fruitfull in all good workes And so doth Col. 1. 10. Christ speake of his Church and the members thereof in Salomons songs My sister my spouse is as a garden inclosed Thy plants Cant. 4. 12. 13. 14. are as an orchard of Pomegranets with sweete fruits as Camphire Spikenard and Saffron Calamus and Cinamon with all trees of Incense Myrrhe and Aloes with all the chiefe spices But if thou bee fruitlesse thou art voide of righteousnes and so destitute of Gods fauour and thine owne safetie For vnfruitfull trees hath God