Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	believe_v	faith_n	overcome_v	3,934	5	9.3895	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01739	Tvvo sermons vpon 1. Peter 5. vers .8. and 9 Wherein is shewed that the diuell is to be resisted only by a stedfast faith, how soeuer he commeth either against soule or body: and that whosoeuer hath once attained the true and liuelie faith, it can neuer be vtterly lost, but he is sure to get the victorie. By M. George Giffard, Preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon in Essex.	Gifford, George, d. 1620.	1597 (1597)	STC 11871; ESTC S112185	45,095	88

fly vnto euē the inuincible power of almighty God which we stād armed withal throgh faith This is it which S. Paule teacheth where he speaketh of the battell which we haue with the diuel My brethren saith hee be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power Put on the whole armour of God that you may stand against the assaults of the Diuel For we wrastle not against bloud and flesh but against rulers against powers c. Therefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that yee may bee able to resist in the euill day hauing finished all things stand Ephes 6. vers 10.11.12.13 Now it is faith that putteth vpon vs the whole armour of God and maketh vs strong in his mighty power It is faith as he sheweth in the same place by which we shal quench all the fiery dartes of the diuell Likewise S. Iohn setteth foorth this matter saying Whosoeuer is borne of God ouercommeth the world this is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlde but he that beleeueth that Iesus is the son of God 1. Ioh. 5. ver 4.5.6 By the world he meaneth the whole corruption of sin or whatsoeuer is against the commandementes of God and so the Diuell the Prince of the world is included He that ouercommeth the world ouercommeth the prince of the world for all the power of Satans kingdome is in darknesse and in sin Then when Saint Iohn saith that faith is our victorie and that by it we ouercome the world he teacheth that it is saith by which wee are armed with the power of God in which we stand safe and ouercome the Diuell Heerby it is manifest what a woonderfull precious thing faith is There is no force that can ouercome it he that hath obtained it cannot be poore he cannot be vnhappy or wretched all the diuels in hel cannot preuail against him They that trust in the Lord are as mount the Sion which cannot be mooued but standeth fast for euer Psalm 125. vers 1 If it be then the most excellent thing that is to stand stedfast in the faith then are we aboue all other things to seeke after it For wisdome teacheth to seeke most for the best thinges Golde pearle and precious stones doe excell in price and therefore they be greatly sought after and men do much reioice when they finde them They bee more then drosse being compared with faith by which we put diuels to flight and obtaine eternall glory Shall wee not then seeke for faith Shall we not make account that if we find it we haue found all for what can a man haue more then God And if we misse of it we haue lost all seeing without it nothing can defende vs from the assaultes of the Diuell But when we are willed to resist the Diuel stedfast in the faith is it so that wee haue faith in our owne power or when wee will Can wee of our selues be stedfast in faith Or is it a matter so easie to obtaine a strong faith Saint Peter hath no such meaning For goodly thinges are hard to be attained vnto and faith is the most precious and excellent of all other most hard to be come by It is not in mans will or power to beleeue and to beleeue stedfastlie at his pleasure But Saint Peters meaning is to mooue all men to seeke it where it is to be found and by such meanes as be ordayned for to come vnto it by For there is no man almost but will acknowledge that a strong faith is a most rich iewell but when it commeth to the matter they depriue themselues for the most part either deeming that they haue it or can haue it in their owne power resting in a vaine shadowe not knowing at all the nature of the true liuely and powerfull faith or if they doe acknowledge it to be the gift of God yet they neuer seeke it by those meanes which he hath ordained to worke it in men and to nourish it vp in them When wee are therefore willed to resist the Diuell stedfast in the faith it is as much as to saye giue all diligence and vse all the wayes and meanes that may be to increase and strengthen your faith that you may ouercome the Diuell If you be diligent that way happie are you and if you take not that course then are you vtterly vndone for what way can you then escape the power and tyranny of the roaring Lyon But it will be said S. Peter doth not heere shewe how men shall come to this stedfast faith No for his whole doctrine tendeth to that point in al this Epistle and therefore hee needed not to put them in mind particularlie yet it shall not be amisse for me to note somewhat He that will attaine to the true liuelie and iustifying faith which armeth a man with the power of God must first of all know for certainty that he hath not so much as anie spark thereof of himselfe we are all of vs by nature shut vp vnder vnbeleefe and in miserable blindnesse which while many doe not know they rest and content themselues in a certaine dead image of faith and are vtterlie seduced for that faith hath no power He that knoweth this indeed beholding the depth of the calamities which hee is in will looke vp to God who is the giuer of faith Hee is desirous to know what the promises of God are which hee is to beleeue and what the way is in which hee must walke to performe the duties of a Christian life for the true faith worketh by charitie as Paule saith and cannot be without good workes He searcheth the Scriptures as Christ willeth Ioh. 5. hee doth with all diligence bende his eare to heare the holy Gospell of Iesus Christ preached feeling therein the power of God to worke faith He doth crie and cal vnto God day night for to teach him to lighten him to giue him vnderstanding to increase his faith He findeth the blessing of God in these meanes therfore applieth them But now on the contrary part hee that resteth in this God giueth faith and if it be his will I shall haue it and so despiseth all meanes not considering how God giueth faith is vtterlie awrie and out of the right way From hence it is that there be so manie commendations of the word of God and of the liuelie power that it hath to saue our soules From hence it is that wee are often called vpon to giue eare to the voice of God to hearken to his counsels Thus shall wee obtaine the holy faith And he that hath faith and feeleth the power of God in him if he will haue it increase is to consider the abundant kindnes of God who hath bestowed so great a gift vpon him he is from the bottom of his heart to giue all praise and thankes and honor vnto him for so great kindnesse and mercie shewed