Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
fire_n wit_n wood_n world_n 15 3 3.7659 3 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A48358 Holy characters containing a miscelany of theolocicall [sic] discovrses that is theology, positiue, scholasticall, polemicall, and morall built upon the foundation of scriptures, traditions, councils, fathers, divided into two books / written by George Leybvrn ... Leyburn, George, 1593-1677. 1662 (1662) Wing L1938; ESTC R18553 388,184 688

There are 4 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

not the least sound that way teaching nothing that hath any relation to truth or antiquity In the pursuance of his ambition he makes proselytes of such as hauing their eares itching doe after their own lusts seek Masters of new notions * Scientia iuquit Apostolus Paulus inflat vbi charitas non aedificat quam sententiam frequēter vsurpat S. Aug. As science without charity begetteth pride and pride Teachers of Nouelties so want of science without sobernes bringeth forth curiosity which maketh itching cares in order to new Masters The (c) Vincen. Lyrinen 2. p. tom 5. Bid. vit S. Patr. addresseth himselfe to Priests and Teachers in order to auoiding of Nouelties thus O Priest ô Doctor if the aiuine povver hath furnish'd thee vvith vvitt and abilities fit for exercise out out faithfully the precious stones of diuine doctrine deck and set them forth vvisely adde splendour grace and comliness but so teach vvhat thou hast learn'd that vvhile thou speak'st after a nevv method thou deliuer nothing of nevv doctrine singularity of one Doctour planteth a sect and the curiosity of many encreaseth it In the compleating of his ambition he doth not only equall but exceed the ambition * Volaterranus l. 15. Anthrop Erostratus inquit Tēplum Diana Ephestae incendit nominis famae libidine of Erostratus that to perpetuate his name set on fire the Temple of Diana at Ephesus counted one of the seauen wonders of the world for the ambition of Erostratus destroyed one Temple only but the pride of a singular Teacher ruines * 2. Cor. 6. vos estis tēplum Dei 1. Cor. 3. Templū Dei estis Spiritus sāctus habitat in nobis as many temples as the Christians which by crafty dealings he seduceth and bringeth into errour euery Christian being a temple of the liuing God and the habitation of the holy Ghost and consequently as the God of Christians surpasseth in worthines Diana of the Ephesians and as a spirituall excēedeth a materiall temple so a destroyer of Christian soules goes beyond Erostratus in wickednes In like manner he exceedeth the Regicide * Ioan. Sarisburiensis polycratio Pausanias inquit cum Hermaclea percunctatus esset quò nam modò clarus euadere posset subito atquē hic respondisset si occidisset aliquem virum clarum continuo Philippam interemit Pausanias that made his way to an euerlasting memoriall of a wicked enterprise thorow the Royall blood of Philip of Macedo which ambitiously he spilt for a singular Teacher murthereth as many * Secundum Bedam l. 3 in cap. 10. lucae quos Lucas appellat Reges matthaeus vocat iustos ipsi sunt ait ille Reges magni qui tentationū suatum motibus non consentiēdo succumbere sed regendo praeesse nouern̄t kings as there are just men which he peruerteth and draweth from the truth Howeuer a singular Teacher will not profess openly the malice of his ambition as did Erostratus who affraid as it were to lose the renowning of his name himselfe diuulged his * Hier. l. con Heluidium cap. 8. mullo inquit prodente sacrilegium fertur ipse Erostratus in medium processisse clamitas sese incendium subiecisse sacrilegious crime for though a singular teacher is inwardly a rauenous wolfe yet outwardly for the most part he appeareth in sheep's clothing And indeed his ambition is a subtile inordinate desire of glory a secret poyson an occult plague author of crafty dealings and mother of hypocricy A singular Teacher neuer publisheth his wicked affection lest the effects therof might be therby obstructed he is like vnto a white tombe which appeares beautifull outward but within is full of filthines Howeuer that such teachers should rise euen of Christians Apostolicall prophecies giue euidence enough to beleiue so When S. Paul said 1. Cor. 11. There must be heresies euen among you he pointed at singularity of doctrine for the word heresy taken in the precise sense for a choosing and adhering vnto a peculiar opinion imports as much When the same Apostle said as is related Act. 20. I know of your own selues shall men rise speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them he foretolde the ambition of a singular Teacher When S. Mathew said Beware of salse Prophets which come vnto you in sheeps clothing he hinted at the hypocrisy of singular Teachers which disguise their malice with a visard of outward sanctity and thereby craftily circunuent and bring into errour such as through weaknes or wauering in faith or through itching eares are giuen to nouelties (d) Vincen. Lirinen writeth of Origine that he might haue been of great authority if an exemplar life had been sufficient enough to haue made him so for he was a person of singular integrity purity learning industry c. but that gallant person saith he in regard he insolently abused the grace of God confiding in his own abilities and despising the simplicity of Christian Religion presumed that he knew more then all other men and interpreted holy Scriptures after a new mode deseru'd that the Church of God should say of him Non audies verba prophetaeillius thou shalt not hearken to the words of that Prophet Baronius in his Ecclesiasticall History An. 449. after he had said much of Eutiches the Heretick in order to his outward sanctity aduiseth the reader to learn from him that other Hereticks so comport themselues as if they breathed forth purity of faith and sanctity of manners The same Baronius writeth in his Eccles Hist An. 428. that the Arch-Heretick Nestorius with his sordide clothing pale face and lean body wherby he was counted a person of great abstinence and mortification drew many followers after him Again An. 411. of his Eccles History he relateth that Paulinus in an Epistle to S. Austin extolleth Pelagius the Heretick for great sanctity of life who notwithstanding as Baronius attesteth was a rauenous wolfe cloth'd in a Monasticall habit a new Proteus that according to place time and persons with whom he conuersed chang'd his discourse Moreouer Wicleff the first English heretick through his sordide clothing and affected humility bewitched and infected nany with his pernicious nouelties Vnder a false shew and disguise of outward holines singular Teachers in all times of the Christian Church haue spread their pernicious Doctrins as do plainly euidence the Ecclesiasticall Annals of each age respectiuely and indeed Origines Nestorius Pelagius Eutiches to say nothing of sundry others while they wantonly presum●d of their own witts and insolently despised the ancient plainess and lownes of Christian religion together with the generall practice therof affected outward piety thinking therby to get authority and credence to their new notions wanting ordinary Mission to preach them The actiuity of their own witts caused wantonnes wantonnes pride and pride a preferring themselues before all other Teachers of those daies yet though the end of such teachers be euill the end for which the supream
(c) S. Austin l. de bono coningij cap. 6. names mortall sin deadly crime and Epis 89. and in sundry other places he calleth offences which are not deadly and therfore commonly nam'd veniall sinnes litle fault 's of which the Apostle S. Iames cap. 2. in many things vve sinne all And S. Mathew cap. 6. foregiue us our treipasses c. and of veniall sinnes the Mileuitan synode interpretes these scriptures so that the iustest man that liues is liable to veniall sinnes and veniall defects and therefore counted imperfect they continue depriued of blessedness till all imperfection be purged away As a Iudg doth not punish all offences with death and as one man after that he is reconciled to another that hath iniured him demandeth some satisfaction for the iniury done for Dauid though he pardoned Absolon his offence Yet he did not suffer him * Reg. 14. Dauid condonauit filio suo Absoloni peccatum sic tamen ci placatus addit reuertatur in domum suam faciem meam non videat to abide in his sight or in his house so God though he doth not punish all sinnes with eternall death some hauing nothin g of mortall malice and though he receiueth a grieuous sinner into grace that casteth away all his mortall transgressions and turneth vnto him with a new heart neuertheless he doth not admit him to his glorious presence till he hath made full satisfaction as to the reparation of he injury done him wherby it is clear that God neither in this life nor in the next * Prouerb 23. Tu virga percuties eum animam eius de inferno liberabis Item Tob. 13. Tu flagellas saluas deducis ad inferos reducis chasteneth sinners that haue turned away from their iniquity as his enemies to destroy them but as his children to make them fit and proper for the enjoyment of their heauenly inheritance This catholick truth all antiquity acknowledgeth Councils define the approued vniuersall practice of christian Churches teacheth and authority of scriptures warranteth The second booke of the Machabees prayseth the noble Iudas (d) Judas Machabae us piously conceiu'd all or at least many of his souldiers to haue dyed godly that is in the state of grace and though they might haue coueted and detain'd some part of the siluer and gold that was on the Idols contrary to the commandement of God Deut. 7. Neuertheless we ought not to infer from thence that the same souldiers did not repent of that sin before their death or that by doing so they committed a deadly sin being they might want sufficient instruction and recogni zance in order to that law Howeuer t' is certain that Iudas Machabaeus appointed a sacrifice to be offer'd for those only which dyed godly As to the books of the Machabies S. Austin l. 18. de ciuit cap. 3. attests that though they be not contained in the Iew 's Canon or Catalogue neuertheless the catholick Church counteth them for canonicall Besides the third Council of Carthage whereof S. Austin was a member placeth he Machabies in the number of diuine scriptures who iudged that it was a holy and good thought to pray for the dead that they might be deliuered from sin and therfore sent three thousand drachmes to Iesusalem for the offering of a sin-sacrifice in regard of his souldiers that were ssaine in the holy warr belieuing that there was great fauour laid vp for those that died godly that is in the state of grace and since this action of religious piety cannot be meant in order to blessed soul's these hauing ful enioyment of blessedness nor in order to damned souls these being sentenced to eternall fire it is plainly euident that the meaning thereof is in reference to good souls which are neither in Heauen nor in Hell but in a third place suffering vnto heauenly blessedness this doctrine the Apostle teacheth * Ex scriptura 1. Cor. 3. Patres Latini in Conlio Florent Purgatariū dari definiunt Et quod ibi Apostolus intelligat ignē Purgatoriū testantur Orig hom 25. in Exod. Jtem Aug. in Enchyrd c. 68. l. 21. de ciuit c. 2. 26. 1. Cor. 3. where he affirmeth that after this life some souls are saued by fire saying If any man's work 's burne be shall suffer preiudice but he shall be saued himselfe yet so as it were by fire In which scripture he distinguisheth two kind's of work 's that a catholick christian constituted in the state of grace exerciseth whereof some are meritorious and in as much as they containe nothing of vncleaness or imperfection the Apostle compareth them vnto gold siluer and precious stones which can receiue no detriment through fire therby signifying that such souls as build on the foundation that is Christ and his grace works of gold siluer and pretious stones which is to say pure and holy actions without mixture of vncleaness (e) According to holy scripture fire shall trye all works yet not so as that all works and all the workers shall haue their tryall in burning flam's but because fire that is ordain'd to purge out of our works the dregs of corruption is said to trye works which haue nothing of vncleanes because the fire does not touch them in regard of their purenes Which is s. Ambroses explication in Psal 118. and after the same manner wild beasts are said to haue tryed many martyrs though they touch'd not their sacred bodyes will suffer no preiudice by fire in the day of particular or vniuersall Iudgment but there be other workes built vpon Christ as the foundation which include small defects and imperfections to wit veniall sinnes only which the Apostle nameth Wood bay or stubble that do consume in the fire wherfore such soul 's as be charged with this kinde of vncleane works doe suffer detriment in the day of particular Iudgment remaining afflicted by fire till all vncleaness be purged away and this to be the true meaning of the Apostle his own words explicated aright do clearly euidence For first that by gold siluer and pretious stones be vnderstood good work 's pure without thout staine orthodox writers vnanimously grant Secondly that by wood hay or stuble are meant veniall sinnes it is manifest enough because the Apostle expresly doth assert that the works signified by those word 's are to be burnt by the fire and neuertheless such as haue exercised them are to be saued which cannot be vnderstood of mortall offences the guilt wherof vndoubtedly damneth euery one that dyeth charged with it neither can the said word 's carry the sense of works that haue nothing of vncleaness because fire cannot preiudice those they being as gold siluer and pretious stones vnc●mbustible wherefore of necessity wood hay or stuble doe signifie small faults which being once purged out by fire the soul that committed them is saued that is to say translated to eternall life and indeed since the Apostle
this Iesus in reuerence and reference not to the materiall elements or sound of the name it selfe but to the son of the Virgin Mary God and man which kind of Religious honour was neuer exhibited to the name of Iesus Naue or Iesus the son of Iosedech and the best antiquity counted the said Custom of bowing at the name of Iesus a distinctiue mark to the distinguishing of Christians from Iewes who hearing the name Iesus spoken did no more bow their stiffe neckes and proud heades then they did hearing the names Pharach or Satan * S. Hieron l. 3. Commentar ait suo tempore Christianos hac nota à Iudais cognitos fuisse quod hi nunquam genuflecterēt audito nomine Iesu Besides the ancient Christians were piously accustomed to weare about their necks the name of this Iesus formed in Agnus Deies and Crosses which they counted as Religious table books to preserue the memory (g) According to S. Austin there is no such soueraign medicin against sin as is a reflexion on the grieuous sufferings which Christ God and man endured for our sake and who is writeth S. Bernard so voluptuous as will not abstain so ambitious that will not repent or so full of wrath that will not grieue when he takes into his serious consideration the passion and death of Christ of their God crucifyed dead and buried knowing well that if they would not carry the name of the diuine son in tables of their hearts they should not find their own names put down in the table book of the diuine Father which is the book of life since none can come to the Father but by the son and the merits of his passion Wherby is plain that to a good Christian the name of Iesus the Son of the Virgin Mary * Bonauo●tura in vita● S. Francisci scribit eum solitum fuissa labia sua lambere diâ legerot nomē Iesu S. Bernardus ser 13. in Cant. Iesus inquit mel in ore in aure melos in corde Iubilū is hony in the mouth melody in the care and gladnes in the heart Further more the very name of Iesus (h) Lactantius l. 4 c. 24. affirmes that many men were deliuered from deuils through the name of Iesus and the sign of the crosse that represents his passion and death The same is asserted by S. Justin the Martyr in his dialogue with Tryphon this name Iesus saith he forceth deuils to flie Again the name of Iesus according to Origen heales wounds cures diseases deliuers from death and expells deuils hath produced marueillous effects ouercame temptations expelled deuils and cured all manner of infirmities in reference to him whose proper name it is to witt the son of the Virgin Mary who is also the son of God CHAR. VIJ. OF THE NAME OF CHRIST THE CONTENTS The exposition of the word Christ his Priest hood wherby he was constituted Chief Gouernour of souls vnto bringing them to the knowledge of truth and to healing the wounds also which sin had inflicted in the Cure wherof Christ performed the seuen works of mercy CHrist is a second name properly belonging to the son of the Virgin Mary so named because he was anointed by the holy Ghost in respect of (a) Psal 44. thy God hath anointed thee vvith the oile of gladness aboue thy fellovvs Christ was anointed in regard of his hypostaticall vnion in consequence of which he was both peculiarly and incomparably anointed and endued with abilities and graces aboue all other kings and Priests the hypostaticall union of his diuine and human nature in one diuine person so that at once and in a most eminent degree he was both king and Priest and endued with guifts and abilities effectually necessary for the performance of each charge (b) The Royall Prophet Psal 49. assertes Christs rule and dominion ouer the whole world As king his inheritance was the whole world and the plenitude of all things therin contained though while he liued on the earth he did not exercise Regall power As Priest he was chief Gouernour of soules being maried to the Church in mercy and compassion * Oseae 2. Spensabo te mihi in aeternum for euer and this spirituall gouernment he executed in two kindes of waies As to the first (c) S. Iohn the Euangelist cap. 1. attesteth Christ to be the true light that enlighteneth euery man that cometh into the world from whence S. Austin l. 1. de Gen. Con. Manich. c. 3. inters that euery man may keep the Commandements if he will himselfe because saith he that light Christ lightneth all men that come into the world and indeed as S. Anselm teaches no man wanteth the light of grace because God doth not giue it but because man will not accept it being as S. Austin often inculcates left to the free will of each one to consent vnto or dissent from diuine grace which beginneth euery good work and if not hindred through the resistance of our flexible nature effectually perfects the work it beginneth he was a generall light offering on his part to enlighten euery one in darknes of ignorance and sin insomuch that such as are not enlightened it is because they * Ioa. 3. lux venit in mundum dilexeruns homines magis tenebras qua lucem loue darknes more then light like vnto certaine Ethiopians who haue so great an abhorrence from the clear beames of the sun that at the rising therof they retire into woods or dens to eschew the brightnes of it such are * S. Ansel homo nō habet gratiam non quia hanc nō dat Deus sed quia hanc nō accipit homo sinners which through willfull blindnes of errour doe * Job 24. ipsi erāt lumini rebelles declinauerūt oculos suos ne viderent solem rebell against the light of diuine grace shutting the eyes of their vnderstanding that it may not shine vpon them And as wood wherin is much water doth hardly take fire the form of water mainly resisting the introducing of the form of fire so such loue not the light of grace as are delighted with darknes of sin darknes being an enemy to light When Christ the son of the Virgin Mary was born the generall light of the world he offered his enlightning grace as the rising sun its shining beams to all though the celestiall quiers of Angells did communicate the glad tydings of this light vnto the shepherdes of Bethlem the place of his birth and diuinely sung glory to God in the highest heauens for sending it yet they did not proclaime peace as to the reconciling earth and heauen together but only to men Bonae voluntatis * Luc. 2. in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis of good will plainly shewing therby that the reconciliation of man vnto God should depend of the free will of each one prepared by the said light of grace * Aug.
prouidence permitteth them is good for God suffereth them to be that the approu'd as gold in the fire tryed may be manifested and discouered from the holow hearted members of the Church The supream prouidence suffereth them to be that the carnall thereby may be stird vp to seek and the spirituall to clear the truth the supream prouidence tolerateth them to the end that many may be raised out of their sleep to see the day of God and be glad therof S. Aug. c. 8. de verae religione the supream prouidence suffereth them to be choosing rather to draw good out of euill then to permit no euill at all But woe to such as through their fault commit the euill that God suffereth to be CHAR. XV. OF CHRISTIAN HOPE THE CONTENTS Good works supported by diuine promises haue a good claim to the glory of Heauen which is the consistency of Christian hope God by promising maketh himselfe mans debter the assurance that man hath that God cannot faile of his promise doth not render him sure of the thing promised till he shall performe the condition of the promise made which is full perseuerance in the exercise of good works whereof no man can be certain the death of Christ brought forth Hope of life CHristian Hope is a certaine * S. August vocat Christianā spem certam exspectationem gloriae futurae expectation of future glory supported by diuine promises and perseuerance in good works the condition of the promises proceeding from diuine grace through the merits of Christ And as God cannot faile of his promise who is * 2. Thessal 3. fidelis autem Deus est faithfull in all he promiseth or falsify his word who is the eternall truth so works done a right cannot be frustrated of the reward promised being * Bona opera quae procedunt ex gratia sunt quasi pignora arahae regni caelestis pledges of full assurance which render God their (a) According to Tertull. l. depenit a good worke makes God mans debter likewise S. Austin ser 31. de verbis Domini Saith that God vnder his hand-writing hath giuen us an engagement of his promises debter not because God owes any thing that is not his own who is lord of all things and good works themselues are his (b) According to S. Austin in Enchir. c. 107. good works are the gifts of God and God by crowning our works crownes but his own gifts and indeed euery good worke conducing to heauenly blessednes proceedes from druine grace which is Gods free liberall gift gifts deriued from his grace that make them good but because the reward that his goodnes gratis and frankly promises justice performes * Hebrae 6. non enim iniustus Deus vt obliuiscatur operis vestri dilectionis quā ostendistis in nomine ipsius qui ministrastis sāctis ministratis for God is not vnjust to forget the worke and labour of loue shewn towards his name Holy Ioh hauing this full assurance of diuine promises shut vp in the cabinet of his heart was not a more illustrious king sitting in his Regall Throne then he was glorious lying on his dunghill where he rejoyced and gloried in the assurance of promised glory through Christ his Redeemer though he (c) Though I vvere saith holy Iob c. 9. perfect neuerthess my soul is ignorant therof and Salomon Prouerb 20. Who can say my heart is clean I am clean from sin and the Apostle 1. Cor. 4. durst nost pronounce him selfe iustifyed albeit his conscience was not guilty of euill Again S. Austin l. 1. de ciuit c. 12. teacheth that though we can be certain of the reward of perseuerance neuertheless we cannot besure of perseuerance it selfe since no man can know certainly without a speciall reuclatiō that he shall cōtinue in the exercise of good works till the end of his life was not sure of saluation nor yet or his own iustification Hence euidently appeares the eminency of diuine Hope aboue any human expectation for this is like dust that is blown away with the wind or like the smoake that is dispersed here and there with a tempest to the confusion of him that placeth his trust in the arme of flesh but diuine Hope doth not make ashamed it is the ancre of the soul and holds it firme and stedfast in the greatest storme of tribulation and affliction And as the ancre of a ship doth not fix in water but in the firm earth below (d) The Apostle Hebr. 6. assures us that Christian Hope entereth into those parts which are within the vail that is Sanctum Sanctorum which is an allegory taken from the ancient Tabernacle or Temple of the Iews the inward part whereof was called Sanctum Sanctorum which the interposition of a vail seperated from that part where the people assembled together This inward part was a type of the diuine Tabernacle and represented euerlasting blessednes wherasthe other part was a figure only of enjoyments proper to the present life so Christian Hope doth not stay at the porch or entry of the vaile of the Tabernacle which misteriously represents the floating waters of transitory and visible enjoyments but passeth into the inward parts therof which is Sanctum Sanctorum the holiest place mysteriously shewing the throne of the inuisible God whether is entred the fore-runner for all true beleiues IESUS-CHRIST the author of diuine Hope Christ came into the world as a great Phisician to heal the infirmities of man and he made of his own blood * Aug. sanguis medici factus est medicamentum phraenetici the phisick that healed him wherby he begot him vnto a full assurance of Hope so that it would be impossibile that he should hate him as to perdition for whom he hath shed his blood as to saluation Thus Christs death was made the Hope of life which his resurrection confirm'd Christ rising did perfect what dying he had merited and gloriously risen he entred into the inward parts of the vaile that is of his heauenly kingdom making way for all such (e) The Apostle Rom. 2. ascribes iustification to the doers not to the hearers of the law whereby is euident that not faith alone but the keeping of Gods commandements is of necessity required vnto obtaining heauenly blessednes as shall obserue his commandements to follow and to receiue the reward of eternall life that his death hath merited CHAR. XVJ. OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY TOWARD GOD THE CONTENTS God will not be lou'd for a reward that is not himselfe in the exhibition of loue God exacteth all the loue of God and the loue of the world are iuconsistent together whosoeuer loueth God a right keepeth his commandements where there is deadly transgression there is nothing of iustification as water extinguisbeth fire so each mortall sin driueth away charity out of the soul CHarity towards God is a supernaturall loue wherewith the soul being inuested loues God