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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	nature_n	person_n	union_n	5,028	5	9.9848	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64999	Words of advice to young men delivered in two sermons at two conventions of young men, the one Decemb. 25, 1666, the other Decemb. 25, 1667 / by Thomas Vincent ...	Vincent, Thomas, 1634-1678.	1668 (1668)	Wing V452; ESTC R11106	64,706	122

Written Word of God the Scriptures abide in you The Book of the Holy Scriptures is the most excellent Book that ever was written It is the Book of God If an Angel should write a book I believe you would get and study such a book were you capable of understanding it much more should you study the Scripture which is of Divine Inspiration This is Gods Book and his only written Book there are not many Books of God to burden your memory you may read it over many times in your Life it is translated into your Mother-tongue that you may read it and it is written for the most part in a plain easie style that you may understand it and it is full of most excellent matter The Matter of the Word is 1. Doctrinal 2. Historical 3. Prophetical 4. Preceptive 5. Promissory In all the Word of God is most excellent 1. The Doctrine of the Word of God is most excellent In the Word you have the highest Doctrines concerning God his one Nature in thr●…e Persons concerning Christ his two Natures in one Person concerning the Church the mystical union of Christ the head and all Believers his members concerning mans Redemption by Christs death concerning the way of mans salvation by the Covenant of Grace and the like Look into all the writings of Philosophers and the wisest Heath●…ns that ever wrote who have had the greatest learning and largest understanding of things and you shall finde no Doctrine they have taught to be in the least comparable with the Doctrine of the Scriptures What are all the Arts and Sciences in the World what are the most subtle speculations the most accurate and rational discourses concerning the secrets and mysteries of Nature in which the most knowing have been puzzled and fallen short of a full understanding in comparison with the Doctrine of the Word and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which are revealed in the Scriptures 2. The History of the Word is most excellent In the Word you have the History of the Creation the history of the Old World the history of the Flood the history of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrha with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders through the Red Sea and Wilderness into the Land of Promise the history of the Jewish Paedagogy and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came but especially you have the history of Christ his birth his life his works his death his resurrection his ascension his session and intercession at the right hand of God the history of the first plantation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles their preaching and success and the like Look into all the Historians which have written and where shall you finde such an history as is in the Scriptures Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity for certainty no history in which you have such concernment as in this history you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains which may yield some pleasure to your fancy but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago but you are concerned in the history of the Church in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth and death and resurrection and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you 3. The Prophesie of the Word is most excellent not to say any thing of Prophesies already fulfilled concerning the children of Israel in the Old Testament concerning the First appearance of Jesus Christ foretold long before In the Word you have Prophesie concerning the calling of the Jewes the destruction of Antichrist the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles which yet we are in expectation of Especially you have prophecy of the end of the World of the conclusion of Time and of what God will do with the children of men when Time and all the by-us-visible-place shall be no more You have prophecy of the second most glorious appearance of Jesus Christ to Judgement of the Punishment which shall be inflicted upon all the ungodly in Hell of the Reward which shall be given unto the righteous in Heaven This is a great and most sure and most excellent Prophecy Some men have taken upon them to foretell future things and have been foully mistaken and what they have foretold have been but of small moment in comparison This Prophecy of the Word is most sure because the Prophecy of God who knoweth all future things insomuch as he is omniscient and all things depend upon his decree And these things he hath foretold are of the greatest weight of any other things which he hath made known before-hand to us that we might prepare for that which is asar off 4. The Precepts of the Word are most excellent It would be too large to discourse of the Precepts in the Moral Law and the sweet commands of the Gospel where you have such admirable rules for the government of the thoughts heart affections speech behaviour and whole conversation as are not to be found in the Books of the most exact Moralist that ever wrote 5. The Promises of the Word are most excellent Promises of all temporal things needfull Promises of spiritual favours promises of eternal happiness promises suitable to all our wants promises precious of things of the greatest value Promises free without condition of merit Promises sure of a God who is most powerful and most faithful The matter then of this Word of God is most excellent therefore young ones be perswaded to study this Word let this Word of God abide in you 1. Labour to get this Word of God 2. Labour to keep this Word of God 1. Labour to get this Word of God 1. To get it into your minds 2. To get it into your hearts 1. Get the Word of God into your minds so as to understand it so as to believe it And that you may do so I would advise you to take a right method herein that you would begin with the Principles of Religion One that would have a good understanding in the Tongues must first learn the Grammar One that would attain knowledge in the Art and Sciences must begin first with the Principles the Rudiments and Elements of them And so one that would attain a good understanding in the Word of God must begin with the Principles of Religion which are collected together in the most easie way to understand in Catechisms where you have the great fundamental truths of Religion which are necessary to be known believed and practised in order unto salvation set down by way of question and answer And because some Catechisms are very deficient in giving clear light and some are very full I shall above all commend to you the

damnation of Hell But if you will turn your feet into the narrow path and walk in the way of Obedience which is the beginning of wisdom if you will seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness you have a promise that God will provide for you whatever is needfull for you of temporal things and in the end he will give you the Eternal Inheritance Let me press upon you dear young Men the advice of the Text to seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God seek the Kingdom of God as the end and seek the Righteousness of God as the way and means SECT IV. I. FIrst seek the Kingdom of God Here is a Kingdom proffered to you not an Earthly Kingdom but the Kingdom of Heaven here is a Crown set before you not a Crown of Gold but that which is infinitely more precious a Crown of Glory As mean as you are you may be all Princes Sons and Heirs of the King of Heaven if you will look and seek after it Some Youths have aspiring mindes like the Eagles they sore aloft and would set their nests among the starrs as Obad. 4. you cannot aspire to a greater dignity than to get a title to the Kingdom of God here you may mount as high as you will in your aim without sin and attain an eternal Habitation and Mansion above the Stars even in the Palace of Heaven Some young men have covetous desires after the World and they will spare no labour in seeking after earthly riches and an Inheritance here below Let me entreat you to covet earnestly the b●…st riches do not endeavour so much to hoard up riches as to lay up treas●…res I mean treasures in Heaven which neither mo●… nor rust can corrupt nor thieves break thorow and steal Mat. 6. 20. Get a title to the Inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and sadeth not away which Jesus Christ hath purchased and prepared Some young men addict themselves to the pleasures of the flesh they are very jovial and frolick in their youth walking in the wayes of their heart and in the sight of their eyes and very desirous of carnal delights and sensual satisfactions here are delights and pleasures before you of a higher and purer nature more reall and substantial more durable and lasting The way●…s of God are wayes of pleasantness But Oh what Joyes are there laid up in store what delights are there in Heaven in the immediate vision and full fruition of God the chief good O seek the Kingdom of God where there are full and everlasting pleasures And if you would get a title to this Kingdom of God and at length possession of it you must 1. Study the vanity and emptiness of all things here below hearken to Reason which will tell you so because these things are unsuitable unproportionable uncertain of a fading and perishing nature Believe the report of the Word concerning the World and all things therein Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher all is vanity Eccl. 1. 1. read that book throughout Take the experience of others who have tryed the world and after the fullest and most desireable enjoyment of these things have come off with dissatisfaction Think how dangerous it will be for you to try Let the Rocks which others have split themselves upon be a warning to you to steer your course another way Never look for never seek happiness in the World believe me it is not there to be found And therefore do not lay up your treasure on Earth 2. Look into the Word where life and immortality is brought to light where the glory and happiness of Heaven and the things which God hath there prepared for them that love him are in some measure revealed Look into the Gospel which like a Prospective-glass will give you some view of the glory which is above there you may perceive that Heaven is a place of rest of peace of light of joy of perfect and eternal happiness By the Word you may understand what happiness is prepared for the Body how gloriously that will shine even like the Sun and be made like Christs most beautifull and glorious body at the Resurrection There you may understand what glory will be put upon the Soul what shining garments of Holiness it will be cloathed withall and what Joyes of the Master it will be filled with 3. Compare Earth and Heaven together in the ballance and see which doth outweigh whether the exceeding and eternal weight of glory be not more ponderous than all the glory and happiness which the world can give which indeed is not so much as the dust of the ballance to compare with it And having made diligent enquiry and seriously considered and compared both these then make your choice the time of your Youth is the choosing time renoun●…e the World and make choice of this Kingdom of God for your portion and Inheritance and be ●…o tented to stay for your chief happiness till you come forth of the World take not that for your portion which will so soon be spent but choose that which will be both satisfying and everlasting though you stay some time before you come to the full possession of it 4. Apply the Promises of Eternal Life 1 Joh. 2. 24. This is the promise which he hath promised even eternal life Titus 1. 2. In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised Build upon these and the like Promises they are a firm footing and ground for Faith which will not fail 5. Apply your selves unto Jesus Christ in whom all the Promises are yea and amen who hath purchased this Kingdom and hath taken possession of it and alone can give you title and admission 6. Be earnest for this at the Throne of Grace that whatever God giv●…s he would not deny you his Kingdom that he would not put you off with the world for your portion that you may not have your good things only in this life urge the promises of eternal life thew him his hand-writing plead the merit and mediation of his Son resolve to take no denyal press in at the door strive to get in at the strait gate endeavour to take Heaven by violence of which more by and by 7. Get those qualifications which are needfull to fit you for this Kingdom which are included in this Word Righteousness And that is the second thing I would press you unto II. If you would seek Gods Kingdom so as to obtain you must also seek Gods Right●…ousness Seek imputed righteousness the guilt of sin must be removed before it is possible for any to have admission into the Kingdom of God You all are guilty of sin God is offended his Justice must be satisfied you are insufficient being finite Christ hath made it in your stead his righteousness is perfect there must be an imputation hereof unto you if you would obtain remission of sins and an inheritance among the people of God Your salvation doth