Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
reason_n	answer_n	answer_v	objection_n	2,644	5	9.4165	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77219	The afflicted and retired mans meditations, concerning the excellency of the spirit With a discovery of the twofold-mind; the danger of the one, the comfort and safety of the other. First, here is observed, what it is for to be carnally minded. Secondly, means to suppress a carnal frame of spirit. Thirdly, the dreadful state of a carnal minded man. Fourthly, how the spirit is a Christians help. Fifthly, means to obtain the spirit. Sixthly, the characters of a spiritualized Christian. Seventhly, the glorious priviledges of a spiritual minded man. And a few meditations by way of observation: with a dialogue between Christ and a sinner; Christ and a Christian; Christ and the afflicted person: as also, a word to the remnant of the womans seed: with a loud call to all saints, to love one another upon the account of son-ship, and not onely upon the account of fellowship. Written by Samuel Bradley, who hath love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, who prayes for Zions unity.	Bradley, Samuel.	1663 (1663)	Wing B4125B; ESTC R230878	75,596	102

it sayes when it doth direct its speech unto us Jer. 10.23 our God doth well know the unfitness that is in us to do him service therefore in rich love he sends his spirit abroad for our help and assistance This we may conclude upon if we have the help of the Spirit 1 Sam. 2.30 we shall then walk to the Honour of God such that Honour him shall be Honoured by him Oh! it is our living in and walking by the spirit that makes our Lives Honourable and also Comfortable for the Spirit will not admit of any work but that which tends to the promoting of the Honour of God if we walk according unto the spirit we must walk according to Rule John 14 6. and observe what direction the spirit gives the spirit may be tearmed Gods Overseer or the Fore-man of the work for nothing must be done without its Direction Consent or Approbation and if we do not observe the spirits Direction we shall soon be turned out of our Imployment but in case it be observed then will our walking tend unto the Honour of God and without doubt for our everlasting good Lastly It is the Spirit of God that helps a Christian to a choice and sweet communion with Christ Such indeed as injoy the spirit 1 John 1.3 have fellowship with the Father and the Son It is the work of the spirit to acquaint the soul with the Father and the Son and the more we live under the conduct of the spirit the more we shall in joy Communion with the Father and the Son for as a Father takes delight in his children so doth the Lord delight in them that fear him As the Lord doth take delight in us so likewise the spirit will inable us for to delight in him and his Ordinances by which means our Communion with Christ is inlarged Mark what the Apostle layes down The Cup of Blessing which we bless 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ By which we may see that Gospel Ordinances doth present Christ to us and sweetness doth redound from them to us also by the help of the spirit which doth plainly demonstrate unto us that we are not onely related to God 2 Cor. 6 16 but God is also related unto us as we have God to be our God so we are his People and Temple in whom his Honour dwells Oh! that Communion must of necessity appear to be choice where God himself hath the management of it Have we fellowship with God Eph. 5.11 This may teach us then For to have no fellowshlp with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them So I have done with this Particular also Thirdly How or by what means doth a Christian come for to attain the Spirit of God First A Christian comes unto the injoyment of the Spirit as a free Gift that is bestowed upon him by God The spirit is Gods own gift which he sends forth freely to all such who are of the Blood Royal that have been made partakers of the Divine Nature the Royal Nation that are of the Royal Priesthood 2 Pet. 1 4. 1 Pet. 2.9 a people of a peculiar stamp as God gave his Son for us so he gives his spirit to us that is very freely so that the spirit is our due Oh! it is the Fathers Legacy that he hath left behind him to put us in mind of him till he and we meet by this gift we may come to see what right and propriety we can claim in Christ Gal. 4.6 Because we are Sons he hath sent the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts whereby we are able to cry Abba Father The knowledge of the in-dwelling presence of the spirit of Christ in our Hearts helps us to a sight of our Relation to him 1 John 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Mark that word without controversie then the spirit is Gods gift Oh! it is a pretious gift indeed for it doth not onely discover Christ to us but to be in us Mark farther If the spirit were to be gained by our good works or what ever it is in the power of our hand to do it would not come to us as a free gift but as our due so we should claim a Right to the spirit for our work which is not to be for God will give it freely and leave no room for our boasting James 4 16. for were it to be obtained by works we have whereof to boast so then we may conclude upon it the spirit comes in as Gods gift a pretious gift indeed for it doth not onely discover our dwelling with God but Gods dwelling with us and in us also John 3.33 And that Soul that hath received this testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Such as live in the spirit can tell you that it was given them by the Father as a Token of his special Love and Favour and they can set to their Seal the truth of it Query But if the soul should query Must I do nothing at all fot it that I may injoy it Answer To this I answer Nothing doth God require of thee but ask and you shall have it seek and you shall find it for it must come as his free gift Luk. 11 13. Observe what Christ saith to this case If you who are evil know how for to give good things unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that seek it That you may see it is but ask and have let but God know your wants he will send down supplies from himself his spirit shall come as his gift Objection I have saith the soul sought the Lord but I have no answer neither can I obtain the thing I desire and sure it is but in vain for to wait any longer Answer To this I answer It may be soul the reason is why you seek and cannot obtain because you do not seek in the right way nor in the right spirit it may be you ask James 4 3. but you ask amiss to spend it upon your lusts such ends God will not answer therefore when thou seekst for the spirit inquire into thy own heart whether thy end be to Honour God with it or whether thou wouldst have it to get thy self a name or applause by it It is true Simon Magus did make after the spirit Acts 8.18 but could not obtain unto it because his ends was unsound and instead of having of it must hear his own Doom read unto him ver 19. ver 20. ver 21. ver 22. ver 23. that is the man was in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity Oh! when thou comest to God consider with thy self what doth

to the end he may the better carry on his design for to deceive but the Spirit is an excellent help unto us for to find out the cunning deceit of Satan and where ever it comes Psal 51 7. it will never leave the Soul till it hath made it out of love with sin Come let us examine our selves Is that sin which was before our love and delight become now our great burthen Is that sin which was as a right eye Mat. 5.29 or as a right hand to us that was so near and dear once that it must be dandled in the lap of our Affections and lie in our Bosome Is it now turned out and discovered as the great disturber of the Family and by no means must have aboad therein Oh! then it is plainly known and understood who hath the full possession of the House namely the Spirit who brings Joy and Peace along with it for the Messenger of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 is an Embassador that makes Peace Oh! hast thou a sight of Christ and art thou not made thereby in love with Christ for a true sight of Christ doth oftentimes beget a true love to Christ Soul hast thou heard his Voice and seen his Face Cant. 2.14 tell me what is thy approbation concerning him then Is he not excellent in Beauty and Virtue Is not he become your Lord as well as your Love to rule you as well as to comfort you Examine is it not your joy when you can but hear from him and much more your joy when you can get a sight of him O! is not his company your delight is not his absenting the cause of your lamenting Oh! is dear Jesus so much become your joy and delight that you can say None but his presence will content you Phil. 3.7 that if you have the injoyment of all things and have not Christ it will not content you In truth can we say he is so much loved by us that upon no terms would we do the thing that may displease him Cant. 3.5 Eph. 4.1 Eph. 5.15 Col. 1.10 Col. 2.6 Col. 4.5 Gen. 5.22 Prov. 3.13 Cant. 3.4 or grieve him Oh! do we make our study so to walk that we may be an Honour unto Christ a credit unto the Gospel and a comfort to our souls can we say That path where Christ is not I find no content to walk therein Doth our walking conduce unto the promoting of Christ's Honour and Glory Oh! then let sin or Satan rap at our door for entertainment they shall find none Nay though Satan should be very solicitous to have a lodging in the room of our Hearts yea but for one night the Soul will sharply give him his answer with a flat denyal the Reason is saith the Soul My Lord is at home as for sin and Satan they must be gone here is no entertainment can be had no not for a night for our dear Lord hath took full possession and where Christ hath took full possession in a Soul sin nor Satan cannot have a Habitation Soul hast thou Communion with Christ Oh! happy art thou then prize thy Communion what ever thou dost let not Christ and thee part but labour to set thy heart upon that which will conduce to the enlargement of thy Communion Oh! the more acquaintance thou getest with the Spirit of God the higher thou shalt be in Communion with Christ Eph. 4.30 Art thou very tender of the Spirit for it is a tender thing soon grieved and soon gone and if once the Spirit takes its leave of thee then farewel Christ and Communion too for it is the Spirit of Christ that maintains our Peace and Communion with God this doth much concern us for to secure the Spirit and keep it in our possession Rom. 8.9 or else all is like to run to ruine then Satan will make a prey of us is the Spirit active and at work within examine Soul danger is near when the Spirit hath lost its Motion it is not like to go well with that Soul in whom the Spirit is clouded by sin therefore if we intend to take our fill of Christ let us take our fill of the Spirit Ephes 5 18. and drink deep draughts thereof yea then shall we be fit and free to serve the Lord and witness choice eminent sweet and constant Communion with Christ Oh! let us set an high and Honourable esteem on the Spirit therefore for it will prove ou● friend in the time of need Rom. 8.26 and be a help to us when all other helps shall fail us The third Use of Exhortation Oh! doth God give forth his choice Spirit as his gift by virtue of his Promise in the way of the New Covenant Then here is blessed encouragement for poor sinners for to make out after Christ Isa 55.6 for it is his delight for to do them good in order for their good he gives down his Spirit for their further encouragement Soul remember it comes as a free gift it is not what you have Isa 55.1 2. or can have shall buy it for our dear Lord is resolved for to give it freely God requires no more but ask and you shall have it Oh! let but Christ know thy mind and he will supply thy wants he will bestow upon thee such a Spirit as shall Administer help and Spiritual relief to thy poor distressed Conscience in all straits be they never so bad if thou art blind he will annoint thy Eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see Rev. 3.18 if thou art cast down under the sight and sence of sin by which thou art ready to cry out Thou art undone The Spirit will bring a Promise of the pardon of sin for thy comfort Isa 43.25 26. John 6.63 Rom. 8.11 Eze. 11 19. Rom. 6.14 if thou complainest of deadness in Holy Duties or Spiritual Gospel Ordinances the Spirit of God serves for the quickening of thy heart therein Soul if thou lyest under the bitter complaints of a hard Heart the Spirit of God will soften it for thee and make it new in a moment and humble thy Heart for thee and if thou findest sin too hard for thee and thy iniquities too many for thee to incounter with the Spirit will conquer thy sins for thee Soul if thy complaint be Graces are dead and thou art undone the Spirit will renew Grace in thee and keep it alive in thy Soul and make thee live a comfortable life indeed Remember Soul when ever thou goest to God in the true sence of the want of the Spirit to put God in mind of his own promise for he hath ingaged by promise Joel 2.28 for to give down the Spirit a Christians Excellent Help and forget not to put God in mind how he hath bound himself by covenant by the confirmation of an Oath to give down the spirit All which doth much conduce to our encouragement to wait at the