Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	join_v	knowledge_n	temperance_n	1,127	5	11.5049	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17389	An exposition vpon the Epistle to the Colossians Wherein, not onely the text is methodically analysed, and the sence of the words, by the help of vvriters, both ancient and moderne is explayned: but also, by doctrine and vse, the intent of the holy Ghost is in euery place more fully vnfolded and vrged. ... Being, the substance of neare seauen yeeres vveeke-dayes sermons, of N. Byfield, late one of the preachers for the citie of Chester.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1615 (1615)	STC 4216; ESTC S120678	703,664	509

sanctified them by the spirit The doctrine of Election hath both consolation and instruction in it it is full of comfort if we consider the priuiledges of Gods chosen euen those great fauours he shewes them when he beginnes once to discouer his euerlasting choise of them the Lord doth euer after auouch them for his peculiar people to make them high in praise and in honor The men of their strife shall surely p●rish and come to nothing The Lord will helpe them and comfort them in all strife he wil be a wall of fire round about them and the glorie in the middest of them the Lord will owne them as his portion that he hath taken to himselfe out of the whole earth He will vse them as his friends hee will heare their praiers and communicate his secrets vnto them But who can count their priuiledges no tongue of men or Angels are able to doe it which since it is so we should take vnto vs continually the words of the Psalmist and say euery one of vs Remember me ô Lord with the fauour of thy people and visit me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce in the Ioy of thy people and glory with thine inheritance Especially wee should labour to make our calling and election sure for then we shall be safe in as much as thereby an entrance is ministred vnto vs into the kingdome of Iesus Christ. Now if any shall aske who they are that may be sure of their election I answere First with the Apostle Paul They that receiue the Gospell in power and much assurance with ioy in the holy Ghost though it should be with much affliction And with the Apostle Peter such as to whom God hath giuen precious promises and such as flie the corruptions of the world through lust that ioyne vertue with their faith and knowledge and temperance and patience and godlinesse and brotherly kindnesse and loue Lastly if wee be comforted in our election we should then labour to inflame our hearts out of the sence of this euerlasting goodnesse of God euen to set vp the Lord and to feare him and walke in his waies and particularly by the Apostles direction to be very carefull of these holy graces that follow Thus of the first motiue Holie They are holy diuers waies For they are holy first in the head 2. In their lawes 3. In their Sacraments in respect of which they are sacramentally holy 4. By imputation 5. By hope of that consummate are holines in heauen 6. In their calling so they are Saints by calling 7. As they are Temples of the holy Ghost But the holinesse of sanctification is heere meant and so they are holy by inchoation Holinesse is essentiall to a childe of God Gods elect are holy this is euery where proued in Scripture I will not stand vpon it only for instruction let vs from hence obserue That if euer we would haue comfort of our election we must labour to be holy and that both in bodie and in spirit we see they are here ioyned and we must not separate them But may some one say seeing no man is without his thousands of sinnes and infirmities what must wee doe that wee may haue comfort that we are holy in Gods account being so many waies faultie in our natures and actions For answere hereunto wee must know that there be foure things which if a man do attaine vnto though he hath otherwise many infirmities yet he is holy in Gods account yea in the holinesse of sanctification The first is this if a man can so farre forth subdue his corruptions that sinne raignes not in him so long as it is in him but as a rebell it doth not frustrate his comfort in his sanctification 2. If a mans praiers desires and indeuors be to respect all Gods commandements as well as one Iustice as well as Piety holy times as well as holy things inward obedience as well as outward secret obedience as well as open auoyding lesser sinnes as well as greater 3. If a man bee sincere in the vse of the meanes that make a man holy preparing his heart to seeke God in them esteeme them as his appointed food mourning for want of successe desired endeauouring to profit by euery ordinance of God and that at all times as well as sometimes at home as well as at Church Lastly if a man can finde comfort in the pardon of his sinnes hee needs not doubt of his acceptation to be holy Beloued In this word is lodged the third Motiue which is taken for Gods loue as if the Apostle would affirme that if Christians did seriously consider what it is to be loued of God they would find full incouragement to all grace and duty now this may be better opened if wee consider but the properties of Gods loue wherein it wonderfully excells As first if God loue them it is with a free loue he stands not vpon thy desert or worthinesse Againe he loues first p he loues before he be loued he loued vs when wee hated him he chose vs when we did not choose him 3. Gods loue is wonderfull tender which will appeare if we consider that he is not onely gratious but mercifull slow to anger of much kindnesse and repenteth him of the euill 4. Gods loue is naturall not forced and therfore he is said to quiet himselfe in his loue and himselfe loueth mercy Lastly his loue is an euerlasting loue where hee loueth he loueth to the end And therefore we should labour to know the loue of God to our selues euen to be particularly assured that we are Gods beloued or else this could not be a motiue to holinesse as heere it is And besides the meditation of Gods loue to vs should incourage vs against all crosses for God will giue his beloued rest They shall bee blessed and it shall be well with them They shall be deliuered for he will helpe with his right hand But especially it should harten vs against the scornes of the world and the hate of wicked men if God loue vs it mattereth not greatly who hate vs And in speciall the meditation of this loue of God should teach vs to tyre our selues with these worthy graces as so many ornaments for thus should the beloued of God bee decked And doth the Lord loue vs and shall not wee striue to shew our loue to him againe Euen by louing his word glory children presence and commandements Lastly we may heere learne how to loue for God loues First those that are holy Secondly those whom he had chosen so it should be with vs first we should choose for holinesse and then loue for our choice This may teach the people how to loue their Magistrates and Ministers and so wiues and seruants And contrariwise Thus of the motiues the

places Thus of the subiect also The degrees of grace in the third estate are 1. vocation 2. faith 3. remission of sinnes 4. sanctification of vocation chap. 3.15 of faith chap. 1.4.23 2.12 of remission of sinnes chap. 1.14 2.13 of sanctification in both parts both mortification chap. 3 5.8 and viuification chap. 2.13 3.10 Thus of the estate of grace The fourth and last estate of man is the estate of glorie which stands of three degrees 1. resurrection 2. the last iudgement and 3. life eternall of resurrection chap. 1.18 of the last iudgement and eternall glorie chap. 3.4 And thus of the first part of the patterne of wholesome words and that is faith now followeth the second and that is loue Loue comprehends all the dutie we owe to God or men as being the bond of perfection which ties together all holy seruices Loue must be considered both in the adiuncts and in the sorts of it The adiuncts are constancie wisdome zeale care to auoide offences and the like of loue in generall chap. 1.4 2.2 3.14 of constancie ch 2.6 of zeale chap. 4.13 of wisdom and care to auoide offences ch 4.5 thus of the adiuncts The sorts of works comprehended vnder loue are two chiefly 1. works of worship 2. works of virtue The workes of worship are either internall onely or externall and internall also The internall are the acknowledging of God the loue of God the feare of God the trust or hope in God and which floweth from thence patience of the acknowledgment of God chap. 1.9 10. of the loue of God chap. 1.8 of the feare of God chap. 3.22 of the hope in God chap. 1.5 of patience chap. 1.11 The workes of worship that are both externall and internall are prayer and thanksgiuing of prayer chap. 4.2 3. of thanksgiuing chap. 3.17 Thus of works of worship Workes of virtue either concerne our selues or others the works that concerne our selues are chiefly two the studie of heauenly things and temperance Temperance concernes chastitie and sobrietie in the vse of all sorts of earthly things of the studie of heauenly things chap. 3.1 2. of chastitie ch 3 5. of sobrietie ch 3.2 Thus of vertue that concernes our selues Works of virtue towards others are chiefly nine Mercie curtesie humilitie meeknesse long-suffering clemencie peaceablenes thankfulnes and iustice of the first eight of these chap. 3.12 to 16. Now Iustice is either publike or priuate publike Iustice is in Magistrates of which chap. 2.5 priuate Iustice is either commutatiue in bargaining or distributiue in giuing that which is right to euery one according to his degree and so distributiue Iustice is either ciuill or oeconomicall Priuate Iustice in ciuill conuersation with men abroad is either to Magistrates of which chap. 2.5 or to all men and so consists of truth and faithfulnes with sinceritie and obseruance oeconomicall Iustice is that which concernes the houshold and so containes the dutie of husbands and wiues children and parents seruants and masters of which chap. 3.18 to the end with the first verse of chap. 4. And thus also of Loue. Thus I haue shewed the excellent compleatnes of this worthy scripture it remaines that I declare some of the reasons that haue emboldned me to make choise of your Honors names for the dedication of my exposition vpon this scripture Three things swaying godly men in like case haue compelled me protection obseruance and thankefulnesse the preaching of this doctrine as by the mercie of God it wrought abundant consolation and comfortable reformation in many hearers so did it seldom rest from the assaults and calumnies which one while prophanenesse another while enuie powred out vpon it great cause there is therefore that it comming out now to a more publike view should seeke shelter and of whom should I seeke it or hope for it sooner then of your Honors who are pleased by your daily countenance to assure me a iust patronage For the second to omit the high reputation which the religious eminencie of both your ancestors hath set your Honors in and the praises of many singular endowments and gifts in which you doe worthily excell there are two things wherein your Honors daily winne a great increase of obseruance the one is pietie towards God the other mercie towards the poore the loynes of the poore daily blesse your Honors and their mouthes daily pray for you your pietie is many wayes exprest to omit my vndoubted proofes of it your Lordship hath much confirmed the perswasion of your religious disposition by your daily and affectionate respect of the word of God and prayer in priuate since the Lord hath made you lesse able to resort more frequently to the publike assemblies And Madam what thanks can we euer sufficiently giue vnto God for that rare and worthy example with which your Ladyship doth comfort and incourage the hearts of many in your care of Gods sabaoths and in your neuer-failing attendance vpon the ordinances of God with the congregation morning and euening not only in your owne person but with your whole familie For the third I doe ingenuouslie professe before God and men that I hold my obligation vnto your Honors in the iust debt of seruice and gratitude to be so great as the labour here imployed is no way answerable to a meete discharge no though it had been taken onely for your Honors vse for to omit the debt which I am in for a great part of my maintenance and that singular incouragement I reape daily in your Honors respect of my ministerie what thanks can euer be sufficient or what seruice can euer be enough for that incomparable benefit which I haue and shall euer esteeme the greatest outward blessing did euer befall me and which Madam by your Honors singular care and furtherance after an admirable manner I obteined I meane the clearing of my reputation from the vniust aspersions of my aduersaries and that by the mouth and pen of the Lords Annointed my most dread Soueraigne whom the God of heauen with all abundance of royall and diuine blessings recompence in all earthly felicitie and eternall glory And the same God of Peace and Father of mercies sanctifie your Honors wholy that your whole spirits and soules and bodies may be preserued blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ faithfull is he that hath called you who also will doe it And I doubt not but God that hath inriched your Honors with the true grace that is in Iesus Christ will daily winne vnto you increase of honor from your perseuerance in well-doing so as thanksgiuing for your sakes shall bee abundantly giuen vnto God by many Thus in most humble manner crauing your Honors acceptance and patronage of this worke I end and shall reioyce to remaine Your Honors Chaplaine to be commanded in all seruice NI BYFIELD THE ARGVMENT OF this Epistle to the COLOSSIANS THere are foure principall Parts of this Epistle 1. the Proaeme 2. Doctrine of