Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	knowledge_n	lord_n	temperance_n	1,588	5	11.7145	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30702	Cosmo-meros, the worldly portion, or, The best portion of the wicked, and their misery in the enjoyment of it, opened and applyed together with some directions and helps in order to a heavenly and better portion, enforced with many usef[ul] and divine considerations / by Seth Bushell ...	Bushell, Seth, 1621-1684.	1682 (1682)	Wing B6237; ESTC R40782	133,437	408

you find smoothly pressing for the yet saving of their lives Crying Master yet save us let us not thus soon perish yet a little breathing time Oh spare us yet for a little while torment us not before the time yet a little sleep a little slumber Prov. 5.22 a little folding of the hands and the like as the sluggard argues himself into a state of Invincible sloth and poverty so sin in its motions is still importunately pressing till it get further hold so as at last the sinner shall be holden with the cords of his sins Consider therefore when yo● hear the voice of these temptin● Syrens that their preservatio● will be your destruction kno● that it is for your life whic● they would now bring to th● stake Prov. 7.23 that they so earnestly move for a Reprieve Th● Counsell that the Lord gives Jeremiah for the securing himself against his subtill persecutors is good in this case Jer. 12.6 Believe them not though they spea● fair words unto thee Say you have a race to run and the sands in the glass are passing too and you cannot stand dallying with them any longer Say you know their design and what lurks in the bottom that as Nebuchadnezzar said to his wise men they would but gain the time Dan. 2.8 that you might lose your prize and therefore either be gone or they are dead before you Say you have a race to run which requires speed and hast and agility and you have not time now to reason the case any longer with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost ad pop Antioch hom 5. and to carry them any longer with you you find they are a Mass of deadly lumber upon your loyns Say it heartily repents you of your folly that you have dodg'd with them thus long and trifled away your precious time in hearkning to their tempting Pleas by which you have found your self through a sad experience thus far to have been but gull'd all along and therefore now you are utterly resolved to bid an everlasting adieu unto them and that your Heart rejoyces that now at length you shall part with such bad companions as they now appear indeed to be and you are much more assured that should you hold on to keep them company they would prove far worse in the latter end even bitter as Worm-wood sharp as a two edged Sword destructive to Soul and Body too depriving you of your Peace and promoving your Eternall woe Thus whatever may be an obstruction to you in your course towards the Crown resolvedly lay it by never to resume it So lay it by as to forget it too This was the Apostles practice in his Christian course and rule to us forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before he pressed towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.13 14. §. XIII Lastly Whatever may help forward or advance your Interest in and enjoyment of an Eternal Portion be sure you cleave to and hold it fast make use of that to such an end He that has a work to accomplish and his design on foot is great the means which is appropriate for the effecting such a work and the bringing about such design shall not be neglected by him but with all Industrious Diligence according to the value such Design bears in his thoughts you shall find him apply himself unto the means If a Souldier design the gaining of a Victory a Prize Glory or the pleasing of his Captain you shall have him act accordingly in such ways and means as probably may conduce to such an end arming himself with cou●age and resolution as well as weapons with a magnanimous and heroick Spirit as well as Shield and Buckler not overborn with the love of life or unman'd with the fear of death or entangling himself with the things and cares of this present world So we find the Apostles phrase 2 Tim. 2.4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a Souldier So a Christian that has a noble aim no less than at Eternity Life and Glory and who accordingly estimates the things aimed at will not surely be remiss in the diligent use and improvement of all good means suitable to and appointed for the effecting of his aim The end will put him upon the means and the more excellent the end is in his eye so much the more diligently will he intend the means Now an heavenly Portion an everlasting Inheritance the good things of Eternity the excellency of their Name points at their Worth so as no end can be more glorious and therefore this must needs spirit to an intention upon the means Who can think to attain the end of a Journey which he never entred upon nor in order to it set a foot i' th way or if he have entred into the way yet shall linger therein and make no riddance Or shall after some progress therein made turn again out of it Can this man hope to attain his journeys end surely no. The slighting of means in affairs natural or moral and yet a discoursing of the end argues the folly and vanity of such Pretenders and much more are such pretensions not only vain but dangerous when the Concerns are spiritual to which they are referred Do you look for a Portion an heavenly and therefore an high full and lasting then apply your selves to the means conducent to the obtaining of it Truly accept of the Lord Christ tendred in the Gospel give up your selves unto him live the life of Faith follow after Holiness learn and practice the great Lesson of Self-denial diligently attend God's Ordinances sanctifie God's Sabbaths manifest in your whole course a gracious change and wait constantly all your days for a glorious change Consider how the Apostle St. Paul draws on to a conclusion his Epistle to the Philippians in these words Phil. 4.8 Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Keep in mind these things to follow them and cleave unto them And add to your faith vertue saith St. Peter 2 Pet. 1.6 7 and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity for so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Psal 16.11 In whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for ever more And now Oh that these Sayings might sink down into your hearts and that you throughly considering the misery of those men that have their good things in this present life might never cease your endeavours in the pursuit of an Eternal Portion till you come to find and enjoy the true Pe●rl of price Mat. 13.45 even God your God and Christ your All. FINIS