Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	abraham_n	faith_n	perfect_a	4,924	5	9.0614	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10578	A necessary instruction of christian faith and hope for Christians to holde fast, and to be bolde vp on the promise of God, & not to doubt of their saluation in Christ. Translated out of D. Vrbanus Regius, into English and newly recognized by Iohn F.; Instruccyon of christen fayth	Rhegius, Urbanus, 1489-1541.; Foxe, John, 1516-1587.	1579 (1579)	STC 20848; ESTC S106076	25,574	62

doth call euerlasting lyfe the gâ—ft of god And likewyse to the Galathians dooth put a cleare difference betwixt them and sheweth playnlye hys minde of the law and of the promise how they concurre to our iustification Let vs weigh well his words for all y weight foundation of our iustification dooth lye vpon theÌ„ His wordes be these If our inheritance stand of the lawe then it standeth not of promise But God did geeue it to Abraham If the lawe had bene geuen vnto vs which mighte haue iustified vs then our iustification might be of the lawe But the scripture hath wrapped al thinges vnder sinne that the promise might come by the fayth of Iesus Christ to all that beleeue And agayne in the second to the Gal. If our iustification sayth he coulde come by the lawe then Christ dyed in vayne Therefore I saye where as men thus by the lawe were brought to the knowledge of their sinnes and so stroken with great sorowe and heauinesse of conscience for their sinfull and vicious nature thaÌ„ was the gospell put and set before them that is to saye grace promised in Christ. And than did they beginne to beleeue ernestly and to reioyse in their hearts truly for this grace promised in Christe that God had geeuen them for Christes sake forgiuenes of their sinnes Thus s. Paule in the place afore recited dooth comfort with true consolation wretched and desperate sinners for he leadeth theÌ„ only to the promise of GOD and beateth that into them for thereby only our consciences be cleane and quieted And doth teach the law Gods coÌ„mandements also exhorting vs diligentlye to the study of good workes and is not only content with that but also doth shewe where and how to come by the corage iust to doe these good works Thus first they taught the lawe for repentance but streighte after they ioyned with all the promise of God to bring meÌ„ to the knowledge of the moste rich grace of God giuen and promised vs in Christ teaching withall where wee shoulde get the strength to fulfill the commandemeÌ„ts where our sinfull nature was not able to fulfil it In consideration whereof the Apostles euerye where declared and settefoorth the exceeding and passing riches and treasures of Gods mightye grace which he hath giuen and promised vs in Christ if we beleeue vpon him and so â—orth did leade wretched sinners from y lawe to christ This great grace of god so offered they receiue then and imbraced greatlye and thus beleeuing were pacified in their consciences The law doth threaten and affraye but than shee is not able to heale or comforte them being greeued or to deliuer them from their agonye wherefore wee must needes flee to the promise And ther shall we find righteousnes peace life health ynough Here vpon S. Paule to the Galathians saith The lawe was as it were our schoolemayster vnto Christ that wee should be iustified by Christ for the lawe doth force vs doth straine vs doth call vpon vs doth manace vs and lyeth vpon our necks requiring of vs all manner of good workes perfecte iustice perfect innocencie of heart perfecte feare and loue of God and also of our neighbour But we of our owne strengthe bee not able to accomplish that which it requireth and thus it driueth vs to Christe and is our schoolemaister vnto christ He than receiueth vs comming to him helping vs and giuing vs all suche thinges that the lawe requireth of vs so that the law shal not be able to damme vs. For this cause S. Paule dooth call Christ the ende of the lawe Or as Saint Augustine doth expound it the fulfilling of the lawe He that hath Christ is iuste he that beleueth in Christ hath al things which the lawe requireth Christe hath reconciled for vs God his Father hee is our mediatour and euerlasting priest hee hath obteyned for vs grace the holye ghost wyth all his giftes remission of sinnes and all manner of goodnesse with life euerlasting he as Ieremye writeth doth giue vs a newe hearte and a softe heart and the holy ghoste to moue vs to doe well And where as yet we be partly fleshly nor can not be al mortified in this body nor thorowly fulfill the commaundements of God there is hee made oure wysedome our iustice and redemption so that his innocencie and all that euer hee hath is made ours by fayth for after that we put on Christ vppon vs and after we beleeue in him there is no ieoperdye can hurt vs thoughe we be neuer so weake and frayle so that we do not walk purposely after our appetite of the fleshe and runne still headlong in sinne without repentance for oftymes it happeneth that good and most godly men doe fall as well as other but yet they lye not still but get vp againe and be stil delited with the lawe of God inwardly in theyr heartes euer calling for remission of sinnes by Christe and obteyne also the same which we desire All these things we may see very well expressed in Abraham for Abraham saith Paule is the father of all the faithful beleuers in Christe therefore wee haue in Abraham a clear figure and an example howe that a sinner may be iustified and what is the nature of a christian fayth what is the power the propertye and working of the same and also howe that our consciences may be quieted whither by faith or by workes Therefore he that is the true child of Abraham that is a good man in deeede or that woulde bee a true member of Christ let him loke vpon Abraham his father and there he shal se how God doth with vs how he tendereth vs and how we oughte to doe againe for him as Paul also teacheth vs Firste of all Abraham hearde the greate and riâ—he promise of God saying vnto hym Doe not feare Abraham I am thy deâ—eÌ„der and great is thy rewarde with mee And afterward In thy seede all nationes shall be blessed that is shall be deliuered from sinne death and malediction and shall haue euerlasting life This was gladde tydinges to Abraham And stil did Abraham belâ—eue this promise notwithstanding yet much greued with troubles and sorrowes And so therefore was iustified by this faith and truste that hee had to the promise of god Nowe thys was iiii â— and thirtye yeeres before the lawe was giuen and therefore was hee saued not by the workes of the lawe but by his faith in God in the blessed seede which was promised him And no otherwise also must we all bee saued for there is no other waye nor meanes to come to health but only the promise of God must iustifie vs if we beleeue and not the law nether works Secondarilye the faithe of Abraham y he hadde vpon Christ made him a newe man and cleane did alter his olde affections and put in him newe cogitations otherwise then this nature of ours hatâ— for

he reioysed onely in the Lorde and in him taketh a maruailous boldnes he knoweth well that God is his father which in al his affaires afflictions troubles will helpe him and thus trusting vnto Goddes promise receiueth and reposeth him selfe in the handes of God with a bold heart a strong confidence doubtting nothing that God will be mercifull vnto him euen as any father will be to his owne naturall child whom hee loueth most tenderlye so then Abraham hauing this faith weÌ„t vp to the hill at the commaundement of God to shew his obedience and offered his sonne For true faith can neuer be with out good works but euer will be occupyed in the obedience of god In the meane season Abrahams heart and conscience was nothing vnquieted for all that but still quiet by reason of his fayth â—he had in Christe for he was euer sure of the fauour and loue of God toward him Wherfore s. Paule full well describeth his whole thoughte and cogitation where as he sayth that Abraham did neuer shrinke in his fayth nor doubted in the promise of God but euer stroÌ„g in his fayth did giue glory to God knowing well this that â—ee whiche promised him was able to performe it And therefore he sayth that it was imputed to him for righteousnes that is for his iustification for this AbrahaÌ„ thought and perswaded himselfe that God was almighty and true of his promise which would not defeate nor deceiue his people And if he had so thought in himselfe as nowe our papists doe teache I can not tell surelye whither God loue mee or no peraduenture he is not freendly vnto me nor careth for me nor regardeth me c. If Abraham I say had thoughte on thys maner or had shrinked so in his faith I thinke hee would neuer haue intended to offer vp his onely sonne nor would haue bene persuaded to goe from his Fathers house out into a strange land but rather would haue thought thus It is good to be sure of that a man hath already this I haue and am sure of the other is vnsure what should I kil my onely and wel beloued son who will giue me another What shall I goe out of mine owne house into a strange land I can not tell howe farre what folishnes were it I will not so I will tary still herâ— wher I am in my Fathers house neither will I be so cruell to my sonne for to slaye hym Thus I say he had thoughte if hee had not beleeued constantlye but when hee went out so boldly and mearily out of his Fathers house into a farre and a strange countrey and with so lustye cheere went vppe to the hyll with his Sonne to offer him vp to God which no naâ—ure of man can doe for what naturall man can finde in his heart to offer vp his sonne Than be like he did onely hang of the hands of God onely did trust vppon God vppon his grace vpon his helpe nohing doubting in his conscience but that God was able to performe all that hee had promysed for why no doubting heart can be so willing to doe as Abraham did nor yet once thinke to doe it So quiet was Abrahams conscience by faythe in Gods promise that Paule in his Epistle to the Romaines dooth giue him an excellent prayse therefore that we all should mark it and wel bear it away Abraham saith he neuer did shrinke in his faith but alwayes strong in his beleeuing trusted surely Why did he trust surely because God promised for this he did knowe and was fully perswaded that God was true of his word and promise what soeuer he promiseth hee performeth of his grace and is well able to performe it for hee is almightye nor dooth not promise for our deseruinges but of his grace onelye that nowe wee may be bold to trust vnto it For if he shoulde promise after our deseruinges any thing hee coulde neuer performe it for our merites be none and nothing worth And yet notwithstanding hee dooth promise vs infinite goodnes in Christ without our merites onely of his owne pure grace and mercy And therefore writeth Paule y God promised Abraham the blessing cccc xxx yeeres before the law of Moses was giuen because no man should think so this blessing to stand by the works of the law or that he could not enioye this free promise and blessing of God before he did fulfill all the lawes of Moses Wherfore for the loue of God let al good men here marke that Abraham neuer fayled nor did shrinke in fayth nor euer doubted at the promise of God nor of the loue and grace of God toward him For so y holy ghost doth say that he had a sure perswasion marke â—his well Yf it were a firme perswasion he had then it was no opinion or doubting but fully did he trust and beleue he went not whether incredulitye and doubting did bydde him to goe which doubting papistes haue taughte vs neither thought be thus be it true or not true I will doe it but his conscience was fullye perswaded that it was true which God had promised and that God woulde be good and mercifull vnto him had forgeuen his sinnes had iustified him and would neuer forsake him nor abiecte him and after this life also woulde giue him euerlasting life for the â—ede sake that was promised him which was Christe If God hadde sayde thus to Abraham Heare Abraham I wil be merciful vnto thee I will forgiue thee thy sinnes and alwayes be present with thee and helpe thee so on this condition that thou keepe and fulfill all my commandements thus I saye if God had geuen hym hys promyse vnder thys condition of fulfillyng his commaunâ—ementes then Abrahams conscience hadde neuer bene merye nor quiet but alwayes doubtting of y grace of God and forâ—iuenes of his sinnes nor should euer haue bene certaine of his saluation For thus hee mighte haue thoughte I haue done all that I can with al diligeÌ„ce to fulfill Gods precepts yet I coulde neuer fulfill them so perfectly as I ought nothing like Wherefore this promise of God is vncertaine to mee neither can I test whither I shall take it or no because I haue not performed all was inioyned and commaunded mee and God did giue me his promise no otherwise but of this condition if I kept his commandemeâ—ts and I am not able so to do Wherefore I am not sure whether he wil giue me these things y hee promised I can do nothing on my parte and therefore howe can hee keepe his promise with me wherefore what hope can I haue nowe of health It is but lost labour all that I go about Thus I saye if God had promised hys blessing vnder this contition to Abraham then hee might well haue despeared but nowe hee addid no suche condition and all because wee should not doubt but that his promise remaineth alwayes sure and stable And this it is that

god requireth onely of vs that wee should neuer doubt nor question of his free grace but to be bold and trust vpon it that hee is a louing father vnto vs and that we be his children But wee could neuer be so bolde of thys grace of God if any such condition of ful filling the lawe were giuen with al as if thou kepe my commandements wel then shalt thou haue thy sinnes forgiuen Therefore it is necessary that y promise of thys blessing stand without al conditions and without all respect of workes or merites but onely in the free grace of God or els we could neuer be sure of it nor certain but alwayes in doubt mistrust For if remission of our sins should stand in the fulfilling of the lawe then our fleshe being so weake and fraile and not able to fulfil the lawe howe shoulde wee be sure that god is good to vs or that wee were in the fauour of God but rather shoulde thinke that he were angry with vs because wee neuer fulfil his commandementes as we should doe And thus the free promise of God shold stand voyd in no effect For why no man were able to obtaine it But thanks and prayse be to the faithful Lorde the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ ours the father of mercye the god of all comforth who hauing mercye vppon vs and tendering our weakenes hath not bilded our health and saluation vpon any such brickle weak foundatioÌ„ as vpon our works and our fulfilling of the law for so we cold neuer be saued But the foundation that we be grounded vpon preuaile against the gates of hell is the great grace and mercy of God in his son christ For in him God hath promised vs all remission of our sinnes and euerlasting life This promise is onely and alone all our comforte which boldlye wee doe and may trust vpon So thus you see howe God promiseth vs remission of our sinnes and life euerlasting not vnder any condition of working and fulfilling the lawe but he giueth it frely of his fre grace I say only alon thorow Christ and not for any workes of ours And therefore he geeueth it freelye without any condition of our workes because the promise might stand firme and stable that is that we may be sure of the fauour of God and of remission of oure sinnes doubting nothing therin notwithstanding wee â—ee neuer so much sinfull in our nature vnworthy wretches that euery beleeuing Christian man may saye with Paule This I knowe and is vndoubted that neither death nor life neyther angels neither princes nor potestates neither things present nor things to come neither height nor depenes nor no other creature is able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Here may we playnly see that Paul had a bolde and a confident trust of the forgiuenes of sinnes and of his health to come plentuouslye perswaded of the grace of God towarde him or els how could he so feruently reioyse and tryumphe in spirite against all creatures bothe in heauen and in the worlde so mightelye defying them all being right sure and certaine that nothing neyther aboue nor beneath coulde anoy him And why because he beleued in Christe and was sure of the mercye of God towarde him thorowe fayth and therefore was his conscience so quiet and triumphant And euen so may euery Christian man likewise take the same courage the same mind in himselfe Howbeit no man can doe this vnlesse he put away all respecte of his own merites and workes and onely trust vnto the free mercy and grace of God which grace is giuen vs only thorowe Christ and not through our selues NotwithstaÌ„ding yet that good works of ours consequently do folowe and springe out of this faith and promise of god So that where as the same doe not folowe and may folow ther is no true nor liuely fayth but a deede and barraine opinion of fayth but where this true and liuely faithe is there is workes and miracles and thynges farre passing the possibility of naturall working For as saynt Paule sayth wee receiue the holy ghost not by our working but by hearing of the Gospell thys holye Ghoste wyll not suffer vs to doubte after the papists fashion or as they woulde haue vs not to feare as their seruyle spirite dooth but wyth a bolde truste cryeth in our hearts to GOD Abb A Father and witnesseth wyth our spirite that wee bee the chyldren and the heyres of GOD and felowe heyres wyth Câ—riste that wee may be glorified togeather wyth hym And as Paule to the Ephesians sayth they that beleeue in Christe bee sealed vp with the holy spirit of promise the with spirite we have as a pledge or an ernest penye of our inheritaunce and possession which we haue got and be redemed vnto Therfore with al faith trust we must euer looke vpon the promise of God and vppon Iesus Christ onely And so in thys promise of God our conscience may finde comforte and peace plentye but in our workes we shall finde none And therefore marke well this text of Paule and keepe it well in your remembraunce where hee sayth Abraham had thys promyse geauen to hym and to hys sede that he should be the heyre of the world not for hys working after the lawe but for his beleeuing in fayth for if they that belonge to the lawe bee the heyres then is fayth voyde and the promyse of none effecte for why the law worketh anger by reason that if there were no law ther were no traunsgression therefore the inheritaÌ„ce is giuen by faythe as by grace freely because the promise muste stande firme and stable to all y seede of Abraham Dayly experience and practise in troubles and distresses declareth that no maÌ„ bee hee neuer so holy can quiet hys coÌ„science by his workes Our sinnes and death be more greeuous ennemies vnto vs then that wee bee able to ouer come by our owne deedes and deseruings we must haue an other manner of meanes to that which is our faythe receiuing and holâ—eing the promyse of GOD in christ And so that shall be able to conquer the mighty feircenes of sin death This faith retaineth and apprehendeth those infalible and eternall things that is to say it receiueth not the feeble workes of ours but the greate grace of GOD Christ himselfe his works and his deseruings and the promises in Christ which things be much greater higher more stable and magnificall then our capacities be able to comprehend Therefore when anye tentacion assaulteth wee muste not looke to the lawe and our works but setting all them aside wee muste runne and creepe to the crosse of Christe wee muste seeke for helpe and grace by Christ and humbly must knowledge our faults And though our sins be neuer so gret or gâ—eeuous though the feare and tentation of

Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Text snippets containing the quad