Selected quad for the lemma: word_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	faith_n	hear_v	preach_n	3,029	5	10.8817	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04859	The straight gate to heauen A sermon preached before the poore distressed prisoners in the Kings Bench common gaole, to their heauenly comfort. By William King preacher of the word of God.; Straight gate to heaven.	King, William, preacher of the word of God.	1617 (1617)	STC 14997.7; ESTC S106997	20,884	50

despaire with Caine Iudas we may be stricken with sudden death with Annanias and Saphira his wife we may be eaten of wormes with Herod we may be smitten that we cannot heare Gods word with Foelix wee may voyd our guts at the stoole with Arrius we may cry at our death that we are damned with Latomus wee may be left vnto our selues to mock blaspheme and renownce Christ with Iulian the Apostata we may suffer many more fearfull iudgements whereof the Lord hath great store tend to the confounding of them that wil not be humbled vnder his hand Contrariwise the true Christian is so far out of the reach of Gods iudgements that they cannot hurt him Christ is a couering and a cloud vnto thee against the heat tempest of Gods iudgement when a mans heart is sprinckled with the blood of this immaculate lambe all the plagues of God passe ouer him In the destruction of Ierusalem the righteous beare a marke in their forehead are saued Therfore let him that regards his owne safety become a Christian. Now because you see that there be many strong barres and stops out of heauen a very wide passage into hel the best counsel therefore I can giue you if it were for my life is to be much exercised in the word of God both in the hearing reading meditation thereof and also to purchase vnto your selues the sincere ministry of the Gospell to make conscience to liue vnder it estéeming your selues happy if you haue it though you want all other things vnhappy if you haue it not though you haue all other things For it is a péerelesse pearle an incomparable Iewell for the purchasing whereof we are aduised by our Lord Iesus to sell all that wee haue rather then to goe without it Againe our Sauiour Christ giueth the same counsell to the Church of Laodicea in these words I counsell thée to buy of me gold tryed by the fire that thou maist be ritch and white rayment that thou maist be clothed and that thy filthy nakednesse doe not appeare anoynt thine eyes with eye-salue that thou maist sée where you see the word of God is compared to most pretious gold whereby wee are made spiritually ritch and to glittering attire wherewith our naked soules are cloathed and to an eye-salue wherewith our spirituall blindnes is cured Wée are aduertised also by Iesus Christ whose counsell is euer the best that wee should buy these thinges whatsoeuer they cost vs. The same counsel also giueth wise Solomon saying buy the truth but sell it not So thē we sée the counsell which héerein I giue thée is not mine owne but the counsell of Iesus Christ himselfe and Salomon the wise Ego fidenter dico I speake boldly and who can or who dare speake against their counsell Now as I haue aduised you to be much exercised in the hearing reading meditation of the word of God which is indéed good profitable necessary yet you must of necessity frequent preaching of the word the sound preaching of the Gospell which is the cheefest and most principall meanes which God hath ordained and sanctified and for the sauing of mens soules as it is plainly set down When the world by wisedome knew not God in the wisedome of God it pleased God by the foolishnes of preaching to saue them that beleeue For the word preached is the ordinary meanes to work faith which indeed is confirmed by hearinng reading meditation in the word prayer c. As it is written How shall they call on him on whom they haue not beléeued and how shall they beleeue in him whom they haue not heard how shall they heare without a Preacher For that Niniuie repented at the preaching of Ionas It was therefore the word of the Lord preached by the ministry of Nathan that was the instrumentall cause of King Dauids hearty repentance as Samuel recorded it he confesseth it in the 51. Psal. Héere then you sée that the chiefest and most principall meanes which God hath ordained sanctified for the sauing of soules is the word of God preached faith is therby increased and wrought in the hearts of the hearers As Saint Paul saith Faith is wrought by the word of God preached Faith doth not onely heare the word receiue the word vnderstād the word reioyce in the word for thus far many hipocrites haue gone in the profession of faith as appeareth by the seede sowne in the stony grownd he heareth the word incontinently with ioy receiueth it yet hath he no root in himselfe dureth but for a season for as soone as tribulation or persecution cōmeth because of the word by by hee is offended But faith also openeth the most secret part of the hart therin hideth the word of God as a most precious Iewell in a treasure house for the good vses which God hath appointed And of this kéeping of the word in the secret of the hart these places do testifie Pro 4.20 My sonne hearken vnto my words incline thine eare vnto my sayings let them not depart from thine eyes but keep them in the midst of thine heart Psal. 119.11 I haue hid thy promises in mine heart that I might not sin against thee Psal. 51. Behold thou louest truth in the inward affections therfore hast thou taught mee wisedome in the secret of my heart Luke 2.19 But Mary kept all these sayings and pondered them in her heart Againe verse 51. His mother kept all these sayings in hir heart For if the word of God be not wel wrapped in the heart it shal be soone vncouered discryed deuoured of some aduersary or some euill wéed will growe therewithall choake it as appeareth in the euill hearers who are compared to the séede which was sowed among thornes He heareth the word but the care of this world the deceiptfulnes of riches choake the word he is made vnfrutefull But the immortal euerlasting séed which was sowed in the good grownd was so déepely rooted in the heart of S. Ieremie that he cryed out against such euill hearers saying His word was in my heart as a burning fier shut vp in my bones and I was weary with forbearing I could not stay for I had heard the rayling of many and feare on euery side Cap. 23.9 Mine heart breaketh within me because of the Prophets all my bones shake I am like a drunken man like a man whom wine hath ouercome for the presence of the Lord and for his holy words ver 29. Is not my word like fier saith the Lord like a hammer that breaketh the heard stone Now dearly beloued this doctrine which I teach you is not mine owne it is the doctrine of Iesus Christ which conuerteth the soule which teacheth the word of God truely guideth the hearts of euery true Christian the plaine mans pathway in at the strait gate leading to euerlasting saluation A wake thou therefore that sléepest in the bed of sinne make thy flinty heart to bléed and shed riuers of teares betimes in beewailng of thy sinnes be heartily sory for them and stand vp from the dead Christ shall giue thee light open thine heart without any further delay to receiue Christ and then he will come bind the strong man sathan cast him out dwell in thee himselfe Then the gates of hel shal neuer preuaile against thée then shalt thou enter with Christ in at the straight gate and narrow way which leadeth vnto eternall life and there dwell with him for euer Open therefore vnto vs O Lord the gates of righteousnes that we may goe into them and praise thy holy name This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it and praise him for euermore The God of peace which brought again from the dead the Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the shéepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make vs perfect in all good workes cut of all lets and hinderances both within vs without vs sanctifie vs throughout amend all our imperfections kéepe vs blamelesse vntill the day of his most glorious appearing that we may enter with him into his heauenly kingdome to whome with the Father and holy Spirit one God in Trinity trinity in vnity be all blessing glory world with out end Soli Deo gloria Via lata et spaciosa Luk 3.23 Via arcta quae ducit ad vitam Ier. 1.17 Tit. 1.7 1 Cor. 4.1 Ma. 16.19 20. Apo. 3.7 24. 2. Cor. 8.23 Act. 7. Mat. 10. Mat. 13. Mat 4. Luk. 8. Ioh. 6. Fox in the Booke of Mart. Luk. 4. Ciprian cont Dem. Tract 1. pag. Luk. 13.23 1. Cap. Luk. 18.8 Genesis 1. Kin. 17. Esa. 53.1 Luk. 13.24 Mat. 14. Bernard sermone 7 de aduent domini 1. Pet. 5.8.6 12. 1. Ioh. 5.16 1. Ioh. 2.16 Gal. 5. 1. Pet. 2 11 The waies and means of striuing Luk. 4. 2. Tim. 4. Gal. 6.14 He. 13.14 2. Tim. 4 2. Tim. 2 Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 13. Lactant. Acephali c. 11 Gaudetius Merula de merorabilibus l 20.9 Lactant de error ca. 10. Ro. 8.19 Gal. 5.22 Gal. 5.20.21 Iohn 16.33 2. Cap. Esa. 30.20.21 penis arcta breuis Psal. 84.11 Heb. 4. Ier. 13.23 Prou. 27. Eccl. 8.11 Luk. 12.19 Iob. ●1 24. Esa. 2.3 Mich 4 2. Al●uding to mount Sion wher the visible Church then was Oseas vlt. Cap. vlt ver Psal. 118. Orig Ex Hom 9. Fulgent in sermo de confessoribus Chrisost. in 2. Thess. Hom. 3. Greg. in Epist ad Leandrum Psal. 24. Eleuatae porta aeternales Tertiū cap. Esay 1.9 Es. 10.22 Ro. 9.28 Am. 5.14 Vers. 44. Luk. 9.42 9. thinges required 1. Pet. 1.16 1. Tim. 2.5 1. Pet. 18.19 Iohn 17.3 Ioh. 14 15 Ioh. 14. Rom. 13.15 psa 32 25 psal 57. Io Rom. 8.16 Rom. 8.11 Gal. 5.22 pro. 25.15 ps 51.12 Mat. 3.8 Iam· 1 15· Tit. 2.10 Rom. 8.10 Ephe. 5.2 Eph. 2.3 Deut. 34. Esay 4. E● 12.22 Zach. 9.4 Mat. 13.44 Apo. 3.18 pro. 23.23 1. Cor. 1.21 Ro. 10.14 2 Sam. 12 Rom. 10.14 Ma. 13.20 21. Ma. 13.22 Ier. 20.9.10 psal 19.7 psal 118.19.20

aduersary the Diuell is a roaring Lyon rangeth about séeking whom he may deuour and inuenteth a thousand waies to entrap vs bring vs to euerlasting shame and destruction For S. Paul saith wee wrestle not against flesh and blood but against rule against powers against worldly gouernours of the darkenesse of this world against spirituall wickednesse in all spirituall places Our second enemy is the world the whole world is altogether set on wickednesse there is nothing in the world but the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life The third our flesh our flesh which rebelleth and lusteth contrary to the spirit fleshly lusts fight against the soule Here you sée what enemies they bee to our saluation How then shall wee striue to enter in at the strait gate and narrow way leading to euerlasting life First resist the Diuell and hee will fly from you Resist him in faith in Prayer and in the word Secondly be crucified to the world euen as strangers which are not of the World For we haue no abiding Citty héere but we séeke one to come saith the Apostle Lastly chastice thy body with watchings with labour with fastings it is a great victory to ouer come the Diuell a greater to ouer-come the world and the greatest of all to ouercome thy flesh fleshly vnruly affections To him that ouercommeth shall begiuen a crowne But he that is ouercome shall be the continuall bondman of Sathan our vild and cruell enemy Let vs so striue that we may ouercome hee onely that striueth lawfully shall be crowned Let euery man therefore keepe his stand or station in all obedience and readinesse Stoutly must we fight vnder Christs victorious Banner They are not trifles for which wee striue therefore let vs not shrinke nor cowardly runne away but with an inuincible courage in an assured hope of victory abide all warlike miseries sustayned with the comfort of that reward which no man shall receiue except hee striue lawfully No man that putteth his hand to the plow and looketh backwards is worthy of the kingdome of heauen but he that endureth to the end shall be saued Now wée striue for Christ and not for Antichrist for the truth and not against it I can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth saith Saint Paul for the Gospell and not for the doctrine of men for true religion not for superstition must we striue But our striuing for the most part is all awry and wicked we striue who may be the proudest pretending equality we striue indéed for superiority neither equall nor superior can we abide we striue how to supplant and ouerthrow one another enuy hath made men impudent striuing to vndermine and cast downe the walles of innocency striuing how to place and displace how to disgrace and how to bring into fauour how to set vp and how to throw downe And in so doing wée striue against our selues and for the aduantage of our deadly foes This warre is not Christian this is not to striue lawfully this is not to fight a good fight this Uictory shall not bee crowned Behold in a word I speake vnto you all how many are there amongst you a shame to speake it that séeke to striue against your selues and follow the example of the multitude namely in swearing blasphemy cursed speaking rayling backbiting slandering chiding quarrelling contention iesting mocking flattering lying dissembling c. These things doe ouerflow in all places so as men which feare God had better bee any where then in company with such men Lactantius Firmianus speaking of the end of the world saith Si erunt boni praede ac ludibrio habebuntur If there remaine any good men at that time they shall be cou●ted a pray a booty a mocking stocke Canst thou not flatter Canst thou not lye Canst thou not play the Hyppocrite Canst thou not follow the fashion and serue the stage No then thou art no méete man to liue in this world choose a few companions But I say vnto you as Nestor did vnto his children pray for vnlesse God helpe vs wee all perish Now I beséech you bretheren and fellow Prisoners euen for ●esus Christs sake doe not as the multitude doth which we see daily before our eyes to wallow in wickednes but keepe your selues from the broad way and wide gate leading vnto euerlasting damnation Striue earnestly The Almighty God of his ineffable goodnes when hee saw the weaknesse of our flesh by nature prone to euill and therefore vnable to withstand the Diuell who is called a Dragon with seauen heads for his subtilty ten hornes for his cruelty euen then most louingly shewed an excellent remedy wherby we migh preserue our selues from iniury and that is prayer It behoueth vs to take it for our weapon that we may kéep our selues from the inuasion of Sathan For as the Lyon at the sight of a Cocke is discomforted and at his crowing betaketh himselfe to his heels So doth Sathan both stand in feare of a godly man and flye at his prayer And Lactantius noteth Diuells do hurt but the faint hearted such as the great and mighty hand of God doth not protect which are prophane from the sacrament of truth but the 〈◊〉 that is the true worshippers of God doe the Diuells feare Let vs valiantly take this weapon in hand and manfully fight with Sathan and sin let vs try our combate in the field of the holy Scriptures let vs begin to trauerse the way of Gods commandements and breake into these wordes The afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. Let vs striue to enter in at the straight Gate and narrow way leading vnto eternall saluation to wit charity which is the root and mother of all good works ioy in seruing of God peace or tranquility of mind in the stormes of this world patience in aduersity longanimity in expecting our reward bonity in hurting no man benignity in swéet behauiour gentlenes in occasion giuen of anger faithfulnes in performance of our promises modesty without arrogancy continence from all kinde of wickednes chastity in conseruing a pure minde in a cleane and vnspotted body Against these saith Saint Paul there is no law contrarily let vs shun and auoid the broad way and wide gate leading vnto euerlasting destruction namely fornication vncleannes wantonnes letchery idolatry poysonings enmities contentions emulations wrath strife dissention sects enuy murder drunkennes gluttony such like of which I foretell you as I haue told you before that those men which do such things shal neuer obtain the kingdome of heauen Héere then you sée how hard a thing it is to striue to enter into the kingdome of heauen and how few shall enter therfore some because it is difficult to striue striue not at all But Chist bids vs striue earnestly promiseth euerlasting peace