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
B03494	Great and precious promises; or, Some sermons concerning the promises, and the right application thereof whereunto are added some other concerning the usefulness of faith in advancing sanctification. As also, three more concerning the faith of assurance. / By Mr. Andrew Gray, late minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. All being revised since his death by some friends.	Gray, Andrew, 1633-1656.; Traill, Robert, 1642-1716.; Stirling, John, b. 1621?	1663 (1663)	Wing G1608A; ESTC R177624	115,304	218

from this point 〈◊〉 that if the seeking after assurance be so necessary a duty then let me beseech you to po●der with your selves what means are fit 〈◊〉 you to use that ye may attain it and if ye 〈◊〉 quire what these means are I shall only 〈◊〉 before you some few 1. That ye would be much in the exerc●● of Faith I mean the direct acts of Faith 〈◊〉 whereby the sinner from his sense and fe●●ing of his wants layeth hold on Jesus Chris● closing with him and leaning upon him 〈◊〉 a full supply out of his fulnesse for indeed there are two great faults amongst the Lord people some do seek assurance of Faith before ever they seek to have faith 2. Some 〈◊〉 much more taken up in debating their ●●dences whether they be real or not then they are instrengthening their evidences so that most of their time is spent in questioning O! is this a real evidence of assurance where as more actual believing in Christ and gripping to the promises and lesse disputing were the shorter and surer way that word is most clear Eph. 1.13 After ye believed ye were sealed with the spirit of promise that is ye got assurance but not before ye believed and ye know it is said Matth. 9.2 And when Jesus saw their faith he said son be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven thee so then it is clear that to be much in believing is the nearest way to assurance 2. Ye would be much in believing the general truths and promises of the Gospel and frequently meditating of them all assurance is by a practical sylogisme the first proposition whereof must needs be a Scripture truth And certainly the firm assent to that truth and the souls delightfull meditation on it is often blessed of the Lord as a special mean whereby the conscience is helped to make the assumption and also to bring forth the conclusion For instance we see with what strength of affection Paul acteth his faith on that word 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation Christ Jesus came to save sinners and presently we see what followeth on it of whom I am the chief then is his assurance for doubtlesse he meaneth that he was the chief of saved sinners yea certainly a sinner thus exercising himself will often finde so much sweetnesse in the general truths 〈◊〉 cannot but put to his own name 3. diligent in the exercise of all sp●●tual graces and Christian duties that th● among the best means of attaining to 〈◊〉 rance is manifest from 2 Pet. 1. Give all 〈◊〉 ●ance to make your calling and election sure 〈◊〉 ●ndeed it is very observable that the dilig●● there mentioned is not a diligence in disp●●ing and questioning about our election 〈◊〉 diligence in the practice of duties and gra●● as is clear from ver 5. Give all diligence 〈◊〉 the Apostle Whereto in adding to your 〈◊〉 vertue to your vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance c. and then vers 8. If 〈◊〉 do these things ye shall neither be barren 〈◊〉 unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesu● Christ he doth not say in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ simply but of our Lo●● Jesus importing that that the result of diligence in these graces shall be the knowledge of Christ as ours and of our intere●● in him and then he addeth upon the other hand he that laketh these things is blind 〈◊〉 cannot see afar off this is he cannot see far 〈◊〉 any spiritual matter and so not in the matt●● of his interest O therefore think not th● ye will get assurance by lying down with 〈◊〉 sleggard upon your bed or by your for●● prayers or your anxious debates but if ev●● ye come to assurance ye must be striving 〈◊〉 in an agony for so the word importeth whi●● is used to expresse our diligence in Christian duties 4. As ye would be diligent so if eve● would come to assurance ye would be tender and circumspect in your walking that is 〈◊〉 clear word Psal 50. last verse To him that ●●dereth his conversation aright will I shew ●he salvation of God and Isa 32. The effect of righteousnesse is peace and assurance for ever ●h the untender walk that many of us have it is no wonder to see us walk in darknesse ●uch stinking grosse vapors that ariseth off our conversation cannot but engender clouds ●hat hinder us from seeing God and certainly such pearls as Assurance is not given to dogs and swine lest they tread upon them SERMON VIII 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates THere are two great ballances into which men do weight themselves there are some that weight themselves in the ballance of deceit who ●hink that in all their labours there is no ini●ui●y to be found yet God who is the weigher ●f the spirit when he shall weigh them will ●●grave this upon their forehead Thou art ●eighed in the ballance and are found light 〈◊〉 but there are many who approve themselves whom Christ shall never appro● There are many that call God Father 〈◊〉 he will not call Children and many th●● Christ Husband whom he will not call 〈◊〉 2. There are some who weigh themselve in the ballance of the Sanctuary who 〈◊〉 so lide and most spiritual grounds do 〈◊〉 this conclusion I am my beloveds and 〈◊〉 desire is towards me who can with boldn●●● and confidence look Christ in the face 〈◊〉 say thou art mine and with much spiri●●● confidence take him in their arms and 〈◊〉 out he shall be eternally mine and 〈◊〉 there is not a more pleasant life than to 〈◊〉 taking him every day in our arms and to 〈◊〉 crying out am I not made up in him am I no● made up in him Before I come to the words there 〈◊〉 three great and most soul concerning errou● amongst the Christians of these dayes th●● we desire ye may consider 1. There 〈◊〉 many that are more desirous to know wh● they are then what they should do th●● are some are more taken up to know wh●ther they be justified and sanctified then 〈◊〉 be indeed justified and sanctified and the● are more desirous to know if they be 〈◊〉 Christ then indeed to be in him and therefore we finde many who do spend a gre●● deal more time disputing that question 〈◊〉 ther am I in Christ or not then they do 〈◊〉 using of these means by which real un●● and communion with him may be attain●● But oh will ye once study more to be in 〈◊〉 and that shall be the shortest way to 〈◊〉 to the knowledge of your being in him Th● second great errour is that some are more desirous to know what they should do the● they are desirous to do what they know 〈◊〉 Are there not many of us that have this question Wherewith shall