Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	apostle_n	ghost_n	holy_a	1,615	5	4.9281	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61182	A sermon preach'd to the natives of the county of Dorset, residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, at St. Mary Le Bowe, on Dec. 8, 1692, being the day of their anniversary feast by the Lord Bishop of Rochester.	Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.	1693 (1693)	Wing S5062; ESTC R13442	15,232	42

A SERMON PREACH'D to the NATIVES OF The County of Dorset Residing in and about the Cities of London and Westminster At St. Mary Le Bowe on Dec. 8. 1692. Being the Day of their Anniversary FEAST By the Lord Bishop of Rochester In the Savoy Printed by Edward Jones and sold by him and Randal Taylor near Stationers-Hall 1693. Imprimatur Dec. 30. 1692. H. LONDON Acts IV. Vers. 32. And the Multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and one Soul Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own but they had all things common IN the second Chapter of this Book of the Acts there is represented to us as much as by Words a Thing so Wonderful can be express'd the Glorious Manner of the first Miraculous Descending of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles and Primitive Disciples A Miracle that gave a perfect Confirmation to all that had been done before from the Creation to that Day towards the Establishing of the True Religion and also gave Authority to all that has been added since that Day for the same End on the same Foundation It clearly manifested to the World the Truth of the Christian Faith and most visibly declared its Power Fill'd the first Christians Mouths with new unknown unstudyed Tongues and to all those Tongues gave Utterance at once to sound forth the Works and Praises of GOD Whilst the Standers-by of all Nations all marvelled and when every one heard his own Language they were all confounded as well they might to find all Mankind now going to be united into one Church by the same extraordinary Way by which they were at first scatter'd into many Nations by a Multiplicity of Languages and Variety of Speech After that first most astonishing Gift of Fiery and Cloven Tongues we have next in the latter part of the second and in the third and this fourth Chapter an Account of St. Peter's first Sermons to the People who being come together out of all Countries to keep their Pentecost at Jerusalem and there meeting with so unexpected an Event were amazed to think what it should mean St. Peter tells them This is that which GOD had foretold should come to pass in the last Days that is according to their understanding of those Words in the Age of the Messias And from thence he goes on to prove to them out of their Scriptures that this JESUS whom they had now Crucified was the Messias both Lord and Christ. An Argument which seem'd to require a long search into the whole Design of their Ceremonial Law and a deep skill in all the Writings of their Prophets that consisting all of dark Types these being full of Mysteries An Argument therefore that might be thought fitter for their Scribes and Pharisees and most Learned Doctors and the High Priest himself than for an Unlearned Galilean and ignorant Fisherman to undertake Yet this very Fisherman so manag'd this Weighty and Mysterious Subject with such Convincing Plainess such Strength of Reason as neither was nor could be taught by Art with such undoubted Evidence of Scripture and Antiquity such visible Demonstration and Power that the Meaness of his Person and Trade of Life soon ceas'd to be an Objection and against him was so far from less'ning his Authority that it became an unanswerable Proof of the Divinity of his Doctrine and the Reality of his Inspiration Wherefore these first Sermons of St. Peter had a present and surprizing Effect Fear came upon the Soul of every Hearer Three Thousand Persons were at once added to the Church the Multitude strove who should first declare their Conversion and Belief and Desire to be Baptiz'd And as fast as they came in the New Converts were inspired with the same Gift of Tongues by which they had been Converted Just before they had been obstinate Unbelievers perhaps Mockers of that Doctrine whereof just then in a Moment they were compleatly furnish'd with Abilities to become Interpreters and Teachers to all Mankind In my Text we have one remarkable Instance of the Blessed Spirit 's coming down upon one of these first Assemblies of Christians in such a marvellous Manner and Measure In the Verse before 't is said That when they had prayed the Place where they were met was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost And then strait follow three most signal Effects of this Wondrous Dispensation First That they spake the Word of GOD with boldness without any farther doubt in their own Minds without any dread of Opposition from others though the whole World was against them with such an inspir'd Boldness as became the Supernatural Commission they had then receiv'd to speak the Word of GOD and a Boldness that was justified by the Supernatural Works which thenceforth accompanied their Speaking Secondly That all the New Converts were of United Judgments and Affections Not only the Apostles but the Multitude of them that believ'd were of one Heart and one Soul Thirdly That this inward Unity of Heart and Soul was outwardly demonstrated by a free and mutual Communication of their Temporal Goods and Possessions None of them said That ought of the things he possest was his own but they had all things common Now of these three immediate Consequences of this admirable Revelation the first which was their Speaking the Word of GOD with Boldness I shall pass by at this time and by GOD's Assistance and your Patience rather apply my self to the two last as being more proper for the Occasion and suitable to the End of this your Friendly and Religious Meeting For the great Intention My Beloved Countrymen of your Assembling thus together in Publick Devotions and Amicable Society being as you all profess and as I am verily perswaded for the increase of Brotherly Love and Good-Will among your selves here present and to promote Charity towards those of our Country who may be absent through Poverty I for my part know not how I can better perform the Task your Kindness has laid upon me in this Solemnity than by Recommending to your Devout Meditations and in some sort also to your Pious Imitation this great and most Christian Example of the first Christians First Their Unanimity and Concord They were all of one Heart and one Soul Secondly Their Liberal and Generous Distribution of their Goods to their Brethren that wanted None of them esteem'd any thing he had to be his own but they had all things common I begin with the first They were all of one Heart and one Soul This is the first here in Order and was indeed the Cause of the other For how can there be a greater or more powerful Motive to the outward Charity of Works than internal Unity of Mind Where the Goods of the Soul are entirely Communicated it is almost impossible that there should be an absolute engrossing of the Goods of Fortune so Men are wont to call them though they are in truth the Gifts