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	peter_n	temperance_n	1,450	5	11.4189	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55881	Antient Christianity revived being a description of the doctrine, discipline, and practice of the little city of Bethania : collected out of her great charter, the Holy Scriptures, and confirmed by the same for the satisfaction and benefit of the house of the poor / by one of her inhabitants who desireth to worship God after the way which some men call heresie.	Pardoe, William, d. 1692.	1688 (1688)	Wing P348; ESTC R27527	83,441	196

Earthly Things the fearful issue of all which is Destruction in the end But Bethania's liketh not this way though seemingly pleasant therefore taketh her leave of Babel who on the other hand despiseth the way of Bethania Prov. 29.27 Zeph. 1.12 and so these two Cities turn back to back and leave the Earthly Jerusalem on her lees each one hastening in his proper Motion and never see one anothers Faces any more therefore we shall endeavour and desire to prosecute the way of Bethania and declare those things as the Lord shall enable us wherein she is said To be a Follower of the Blessed Lamb who is our Saviour Rev. 14.3 and the Prince of Peace and Life CHAP. III. THere is a right precious and most Holy Faith belonging to Christians as proper to the Elect of God of which we have spoken somewhat before 2 Pet. 1.1 Rom. 10.17 and it is a certain Divine Principle begotten in the Soul by the Word of God from whence springs that Vertue in which the Saints do walk the which Vertue is seven-fold as is noted in 2 Pet. 1.15 And it shineth forth in the Souls of Christians by the influence of that Grace which streameth unto them from the Seven Spirits of God which are before the Throne Rev. 1.4 2 Pet. 1.8 And where these things are and also abound that Soul is neither Barren nor Unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ But Entrance is administred abundantly into his Everlasting Kingdom These are the seven Pillars as it seemeth upon which Wisdom hath builded her House the Foundation of which House is laid in the Foundation-Stone of Sion Prov. 9. Isa 28.16 and by these Pillars it is exposed to open View and when any of these Pillars are wanting or out of Order there is a Breach and when they all disappear it is a total Ruine Now these Seven Spirits of God which are before the Throne are also the seven Pillars upon one Stone Rev. 1.4 Rev. 5.6 Zach. 3.9 the which seven Spirits are sent forth into all the Earth noted also to be seven Eyes and seven Horns possessed by that Lamb which was slain Rev. 1.18 but is now alive for evermore So that seven being a Number of Perfection it is proper to Christ who received the Spirit not by measure John 3.34 for in him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily and it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell By these seven Spirits are also seven Eyes Gal. 2.4 Rev. 15.6 and seven Horns signifying Power It pleaseth the Glorious God through Christ to look upon and finally to dispose of the whole Creation according to his own Will Now these seven Spirits are First Isa 11.3 The Spirit of Wisdom by which the Lord did first contrive the Creation which he made Secondly The Spirit of Power 2 Tim. 1.7 by which he formed and supporteth the same Thirdly The Spirit of Judgment Rom. 1.3 by which he ordereth and disposeth thereof Fourthly The Spirit of Holiness by which he gloriously shineth before and among his Creatures Fifthly The Spirit of Humility by which he vouchsafeth to behold the Creation as the Works of his own Hands 1 Cor. 4.21 Sixthly The Spirit of Meekness by which he is tender and pitiful to all so careful too of the Creation which cannot subsist without him Seventhly The Spirit of Love 2 Tim. 1.7 by which he delighteth in the things that he hath made These are the seven Spirits of Jehovah the which as seven Glorious Lamps of Fire do burn continually before his Throne Rev. 4.5 Rev. 3.1 by which seven Spirits the Glorious Lamb being also seven Eyes as we have said before looked into the state of the seven Churches and knew the lifeless state of the Church of Sardis and the self-conceited yet Luke-warm Condition of the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 Rev. 1.20 and by his Spirit of Judgment will render unto them and to every one else according as their Works shall be From these seven Spirits John saluted the seven Churches whose Operation upon the Souls of Christian Men form therein those seven Glorious Excellencies which are Essential to pure Christianity before mentioned in the 2d Epistle of Peter chap. 1.5 6 7 Verses by which it may evidently appear that they are walking in the Spirit And First From the Spirit of Wisdom that is in Christ is formed true Knowledge in the Souls of men Secondly From the Spirit of Power that is in him is produced that Vertue that is in them And Thirdly From his Spirit of Judgment proceedeth the Temperance in which their Souls do live Fourthly From his Spirit of Holiness springeth forth that Godliness in which their Souls do live Fifthly From his Spirit of Meekness is begotten that Patience which is famous in Christianity Sixthly From his Spirit of Humility it sheweth forth the Brotherly Kindness that becometh Gospel-Professors And Seventhly From his Spirit of Love naturally ariseth that Charity in which all Bethania's things are done These are the seven Pillars that Wisdom hath hewn out and by Vertue of which 1 Cor. 16.4 Prov. 9.1 Christianity is made to appear in which also the Saints do walk in their Ascent towards their Everlasting Inheritance and by which they do shine as Glorious Lights in the World of which we shall speak particularly And first of Vertue CHAP. IIII. VERTUE is the inward Essence and Life of every living Form and is that by which those Forms become profitable and delightful unto those by whom they are used Vertue is of two kinds The first is Natural the second Divine and Spiritual Natural Vertue is that by which the Flowers in the Fields yeild forth unto men a Pleasant Savour and also a Medicinal Profit By Natural Vertue The Fruits of the Fields and Trees do nourish and feed the Bodies of Men and Beasts And besides by Natural Vertue the Needle in the Compass being touched with the Loadstone turneth always towards the North in which the Rocks of Loadstones lye even so also the Vertue of Fire penetrateth into whatsoever things cometh near to it and changeth the Properties thereof into a Similitude with its own Nature it causeth cold Water to become hot so that the Flesh that is boyled therein 1 Cor. 6.17 John 8.12 is made savoury Cold Iron is changed into a burning State and therein is capable of being wrought into divers Forms it is not the Form nor Colour of Salt for Snow hath both these but the Vertue thereof which maketh it to be so useful to the Sons of men Water hath the same liquid Form as Wine but not the same powerful Operation Therefore the Bodies of men are in that Estate in the Excess of Wine unto which the same Measure of Water will in no wise reduce them So every living Form subsisteth and worketh by Vertue of that Spirit which is proper to its own Nature

pure Image So then the World which lyeth in Wickedness 1 John 5.19 1 Cor. 1.12 by all its Wisdom knoweth not good For the Workers of Iniquity have no Knowledge and when the Sons of Ely became the Sons of Belial then they knew not the Lord Yea the Priests said not Psal 14.4 1 Sam. 2.11 Jer. 2.8 1 John 2.5 James 2.19 Where is the Lord And such as handled the Law knew him not Therefore he that saith He knoweth him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him so that to know God by a Speculative Knowledge signifieth little The Devil may be more Excellent herein then men But the saving Knowledge of God Job 42.5 which in Bethania is added to Vertue and it is an Experimental Knowledge by which he is known to be the only good Psal 73.26 Luke 10.42 2 Kings 4.9 John 14.21 Psal 73.24 Psal 121.8 and therefore is chosen to be the only Portion His Counsels are embraced as infallible his Way is chosen and greatly approved his Image is loved wherever it appears and Conformed unto with all possible Exactness Unto such as these he will manifest himself in his Wisdom to guide them in his Power to defend them in his Love to comfort them Cant. 1.2 Heb. 11.6 2 Pet. 3.18 Col. 4.5 Luke 12.5 2 John 1.2 in his Mercy to relieve them and in his Bounty to reward them so that as Persons grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus in this Experimental Knowledge it will enable them to walk in Wisdom with him to fear none but God to love nothing but for his sake Acts 20.24 Dan. 6.10 Lam. 1.16 Mat. 3.26 Acts 8.3 Psal 17.15 Cant. 3.4 to leave his Service for no Peril for they see him to be their only good and all things to be but empty without him Therefore Bethania entreth into the inside of Scriptures and looketh through all Ordinances and searcheth into the depth of whole Nature that she may know him who is her only good with whom her Soul is greatly satisfied and in whose Communion as her Soul is walking with him she enjoys unspeakable solace In this Street standeth the Schools of Learning and the Perfection of the Knowledge that is there attained to is for man to know himself and God. CHAP. VI. A Third Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Temperance and it is a famous street in Bethania it cometh from the Word which signifieth Strength Therefore when it dwelleth in the Soul every thing therein is subjected to Reason and Divinity Gal. 5.22 23. It is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit and a State wherein Heaven-born Souls walk with God it is meet to be observed in the Management of the Christian War he that striveth for Masteries is temperate in all things it is a Qualification that must be found in a Bishop and with great Diligence is to be added to Knowledge Sound Doctrine teacheth that Aged Men be sober grave temperate 1 Cor. 9.25 Tit. 1.8 2 Pet. 1.5 Tit. 2.2 Acts 24.25 sound in the Faith in Charity in Patience when Paul reasoned with Felix of Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come that Doctrine made him tremble For Temperance is a great Enemy to Voluptuousness Where Temperance stands firm in the Soul as a stable Pillar Lust and Self-will are conquered for Temperance is to overcome our selves Tit. 1.7 and so all the Affections to Creatures as Creatures are Crucified in true Temperance and the Soul is kept in a quier Calm Gal. 6.14 Lam. 3.26 1 Thess 4.13 and is not discomposed either by Love or Fear Where Temperance is a ruling Principle joy and sorrow appear in a great Modesty When Temperance guides the Stern and stears the Course there is no Natural Object so delightful nor Cross so distasteful Gen. 22.16 Heb. 11.35 but it can freely leave the one and quietly bear the other Where Temperance is a constant Walk of the Soul Anger and Passion are meer strangers for Temperance is very Meek but Anger i● very Outragious Therefore saith Seneea Prov. 27. Chap. 25.2 Anger and Frenzy are but tu● several Ways of a mans losing 〈◊〉 Wit but the temperate man that ruleth his own Spirit hath that Evi● Passion in Subjection Prov. 16.2 1 Tim. 6.8 and so is better than he that taketh a City Temperance is contented with Food and Rayment though both but mean and maketh no Provision for the Flesh at all but only to supply the Necessities of Nature Rom. 13.14 but Lust and Envy are never satisfied who having obtain and one thing straitway desireth anoter and like the Horse-leach cry Give Give Prov. 30.1.5 Temperance manageth strife both with Men and Devils in great Sobrieties and to the one it saith The Lord forgive thee Luke 25.34 Isa 59.11 and to the other The Lord Rebuke thee But Railing and Immodesty spring from Lust and are never found in Temperance Temperance beareth an Ecclipse from God with great Submission and only mourneth like a Dove not roareth like a Bear so Jesus our Saviour in his great Agony ruied his Spirit with much Modesty saying If it be thy Will Luke 22.42 let this Cup pass from me Therefore Temperance is a pleasant Walk in Bethania and most of the discourse of her Spirit there is not my Will but thine be done and so the whole state of the Soul Act. 26.14 and all the Affections of the sensitive Life are ordered and composed by Temperance John 2.10 and in this Estate she walketh with God and findeth no Occasion of stumbling Isa 28.17 Thus Judgment being laid to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet a Narrow Path is marked out by these to be a constant Walk of Bethania CHAP. VII THE Fourth Pillar in the House of Wisdom is Patience the which is also divided into three Parts The first of which Luke 21. Numb 12.3 Isa 28.16 is that by which we quietly endure Adversity The second is that by which we bear with great Provocations and Reproaches But the Third is accounted waiting for the Accomplishment of all Promises till their proper Season this is a long Street in Bethania and she hath many a walk with God therein whose mind being firmly fixed there her State is always comfortable and her Soul is kept in perfect Peace Isa 26.3 But as a curious piece of Work is formed out of Iron by Fire and Blows even so also Patience is wrought out by Suffering Rom. 5.3 as it is said Tribulation worketh Patience He that will turn a Withered Tree into shining Glass must first burn it to Ashes and as a Silver or Golden Vessel is made by melting in the Fire so Patience in the first Degree thereof springeth out of Afflictions and therefore he who will have it firmly Rooted in his Soul must dig deep therein for Patience will grow no where but there and