Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	passive_a	righteousness_n	vail_n	60	3	17.0215	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90861	Innocencie appearing, through the dark mists of pretended guilt. Or, A full and true narration of the unjust and illegal proceedings of the commissioners of Berks, (for ejecting scandalous and insufficient ministers) against John Pordage of Bradfield in the same county. In which he is justly vindicated from the unjust and horrid aspersions of blasphemy, divelism or necromancie, scandal in his life, and all things else falsly objected against him by his enemies. Published for the clearing of truth, and the detecting of malice and subtilty, and for the prevention of all mispprehensions that may be caused by any scandalous pamphlets, and false relations of the proceedings in his case. As likewise for the information of all sober-minded Christians touching his judgement in many things of high concernment, and particularly concerning chastity, virginity, apparitions of spirits, visions, communion with the holy angels, the invisible worlds, magistracy, &c. / Written by the said John Pordage.	Pordage, John, 1607-1681.	1655 (1655)	Wing P2967; Thomason E1068_7; ESTC R210422	152,492	125

righteousness Ans I thus deliver the truth As I was paraphrasing on that portion of Scripture mentioned in the 9 of Dan. 24. of everlasting righteousness I did say words to this effect That the imputative righteousness of another was a sapless righteousness to all those that had no right or interest in it I shall desire a little to explain my self on this Proposition that the imputative righteousness of Christ in this sense will prove a sapless righteousness For he that hath not the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his heart by faith notwithstanding all this application of Christ and his merits yet to him it is but a sapless righteousness so saith the scripture He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his notwithstanding his application of the imputative righteousness of Christ to himself but here I do not deny the imputative righteousness of Christ nor his active and passive obedience to be the material cause of his justification yea I own and acknowledg Christs righteousness to be the souls righteousness in point of justification when it is applyed upon a true ground according to the true sense of the Spirit in the Scriptures 3. Article That they should look to the fiery nature of Christs Deity in the centre of their souls burning up the dross and chaff of their lusts and corruptions Ans For the explanation of this Article we must consider these are Scripture-Metaphors and Christ is often clothed with a garment of fire according to that of Paul Heb. 12. 29. Our God is a consuming fire and in another place Christ shall come in flaming fire None or few understand these Scriptures or the like of elemental material fire but either of the fire of his divine love to burn up our lusts and corruptions or the fire of his divine justice or wrath in destroying sin and sinners 4. Article That the fiery Deity of Christ mingles and mixeth it self with our flesh Ans I was then speaking of the mystical union betwixt Christ and his Church And in the illustration of this union I applyed that expression out of the 5 of the Canticles He mingleth his Wine and his milk together so in this union Christs divine nature mingleth it self with our humanity his spirit with our flesh This expression Mr. Tickle was pleased to charge with blasphemy asking me what I meant by flesh I answered in conference By flesh I understand not the sinfull and fleshly part of the soul that lusteth against the spirit for with this there can be no union 2. By flesh I mean not the outward elementary flesh of the body but by flesh I understand our pure humanity the pure regenerated part of the soul the converted part of our spirit and thus the spirit of Christ and regenerated part are really in union one with the other according to the Apostles phrase We are made partakers of the divine nature And against this answer he had nothing to reply 5. Article That Christ was a Type and but a Type This was in conference He asked me whether Christ was a Type or no I answered Christ was a Type so expressed 1 Tim. 2. 21. How was Christ a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered His life and conversation was a Type that is a pattern and example for us Christians to square our lives and conversations by Who denies this said he Why I affirm no more said I then that Christ is a Type Is he but a Type replyed Mr. Pendarius I answered Why lie you thus on the catch I say Christ is a Type but I will not affirm Christ is but a Type And this they both confess in their Answers 6. Article That the gifts and graces of the Spirit are but flesh I confess I said the common gifts and graces of the Spirit were but flesh but this I opened after this manner That they were but fleflly weak and carnal in point of justification in point of trust and confidence in regard of salvation and life eternal and no otherwise as their own Witnesses on examination confessed before the honourable Committee of Berks. To conclude As for these Articles especially all the latter I look not upon them as under the cognizance of the Act yet for your satisfaction I have transcribed my former Answers and doe here present them again to your consideration by which you may clearly see my innocency in reference to the horrid opinions for which I am accused John Pordage This being read by the Clerk we were all commanded to withdraw About an hour or two after I was called in again and they told me if I would I should have an Order to fetch in my Witnesses to prove what they could on my behalf in reference to that Charge I replyed That I hoped my Discharge and Answer were sufficient and that they would not put me to the trouble and charge of traversing this business viva voce by my Witnesses again in that besides my Discharge I had brought all their Depositions delivered by Oath to the Committee of Plundered Ministers which I desired might be then read before them because the Witnesses could but say viva voce what was there wrote down Hereupon I delivered them to be read and so being handed to the Clerk the Commissioners asked me how they should know them to be true I replyed The Clerk delivered them as a true Copy and I would affirm on my Oath that they had not been altered since I had them But notwithstanding this they rejected them alleadging that they would not take notice of any written Depositions taken out of another Court but that I must again bring in the former Witnesses to testifie what they could by word of mouth so that all the reasons and arguments I could use could not prevail with them to free me from the charge and trouble of From the first to the last I could not have the least civil just request granted me which might either advantage my cause or free me from trouble and expence bringing in my Witnesses again for which the Clerk was then commanded to draw me up an Order BERKS By the Commissioners for ejecting of Scandalous Ministers October 19. 1654. At the Bear in Speenhamland Dr. Pordage of Bradfield hath this day again attended and hath exhibited an Answer in writing to the Articles exhibited against him Ordered that the said Dr. do attend again before us on this day fortnight at this place at which time he is to give answer to the additional Articles now exhibited against him and to produce his Witnesses if he have any for proof of his defence and Summons are to issue out for that purpose if he desire the same Then they told me they had a new Charge of Articles against me which were these that follow then openly read by the Clerk Articles against Doctor Pordage Parson of Bradfield to prove his ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry 1. IMprimis One Mistriss Lewin being with child and near

to scorn yet before him his accursed Kingdome must fall Consid 3. In regard its birth and beginning in the soul is at the first a very little grain of mustard seed yet in due time it will destroy the Kingdom of sin and set up the Kingdom of holiness in us Having thus drawn away the vail from this Article I hope it appears with a more tolerable and innocent face Art 8. Concerning Goodwife Pococks singing Hymns and Spiritual Songs Ans She acknowledgeth it as her gift bestowed by God being according to the gifts of Christians in the primitive time But this doth not directly concern me Art 9. Concerning the same persons coming to Col. Evelings and saying she had a word from God viz. Have nothing to do with that just man Ans She owneth these words and looks upon me as a just man and a true Christian and believeth that Colonel Eveling will one day know she gave good councel upon good grounds Art 10. Concerning Mr. Snelling and his wife coming to my house c. Ans This Article hath as little of truth as sence or force to prejudice me and I believe none will be found to swear it however I think it not worthy of a larger Answer Art 11 12. Concerning the sending of my man Bolt in an uncivil manner for Mr. Forster with his speaking of strange things there to be seen and of my telling Mr. Forster he should see very wonderfull things c. 1. Part. Ans These Articles were heard and I acquitted four years since by the Committee of Plundered Ministers and are of so little consequence that they might well have been omitted but that my accuser thinks he hath never enough against me 2. Part. Ans I believe Mr. Forster dares not swear to these particulars some of which are very untrue 3. Part. Ans The forementioned Robert Bolt asserted on Oath that I sent him not with any message but that it was his Mistriss that sent him to desire Mr. Forster and his wife to come to my house Art 13. Concerning Goodwife Pocoks coming to Mr. Forsters and saying the Dr. had fought with and overcome an evil Spirit and that the Family had been strangely acted the power taking some of them in one part some in another and that they spake glorious things 1. Part. Ans This was another of the Articles heard discussed and I acquitted by the fore-mentioned Committee because nothing material could be made of it 2. Part. Ans The said Mary Pocock attested on Oath she saw no apparitions in my house being cross-examined concerning that particular and though she did say God gave extraordinary power to sustain both our spirits and bodies in an extraordinary tryal What hurt was there in that why should it be brought as an Article against me Art 14. That Mrs. Flavel was in a Trance and in it saw the Philosophers stone which she knew to be the Divinity in the Humanity Ans Not to speak any thing concerning the Mystical writings of the deep Hermetick Philosophers or what the judgement of some of them is concerning this secret I my self being not here accused to have seen it or to have affirmed it was the Divinity in the Humanity all that I shall answer is this I wonder that this is brought in as an Article against me to prove me Scandalous Ignorant or Insufficient it not directly proving any thing against me being affirmed of another and being one of those Articles I was discharged of by the Committee for Plundered Ministers Art 15. Touching Sawoods Depositions of the birth of a child and one being in travel Ans 1. This was one of the Articles of which I was acquitted by the fore-mentioned Committee Ans 2. Mrs. Elizabeth Pordage and Mary Pocock asserted on Oath That there was no woman in travel nor any child born nor any other cry heard but of those at prayer which was also witnessed on Oath by Mr. Francis Pordage Art 16. That in my house the new Jerusalem hath been seen to come down from heaven and that in it was a Globe in which Globe was Eternity and in that Eternity all the Saints Ans As to the substance of this Article If God have favoured any with such a vision surely they would be no more ashamed to own it when called to it then John was when to write Rev. 21. 1. That he saw the Holy City new Jerusalem come down from God out of heaven where he also describes it by all the most pretious stones in the Creation but in reference to my Family I believe none dare attest they heard this spoken by any of them which I believe will prove but some groundless imagination Art 17. That in my house God hath been seen face to face c. Ans As this Article is stated I shall give no other answer but this That I shall wait to see who dare swear to it or what proof can be brought of it Now I am come to the Articles exhibited against me by some of Bradfield Parish And as to those which concern Mrs. Flavel I shall answer 1. Somewhat in general touching their import and nature 2. By way of negation 3. By way of acknowledgment or affirmation Ans Gen. This Charge of Articles hath no legal reference of charge at all to me but is meerly scandalous importing but a Libel nothing of fact really criminous being laid to my charge which will more clearly appear when the erroneous circumstances of it are detected by which also the subtilty and envy of my adversaries will be discovered who positively alleadg nothing against me that may bear any action of damage at the Common Law by which they might suffer for their injurious dealing yet by plausible prevaricating circumstances would seem to make me highly criminous and guilty Now I shall answer negatively to many erroneous prejudicing circumstances which are by designe heaped together to put a plausible face upon an envious Libel or illegal Charge 1. Circ It s said it was some eight years since I brought one Mrs. Flavel to Goodman Laughtons c. Ans neg Which is an error though one of the smallest brought in to prejudice the more for it was some nine years since 2. Circ It s further said this was carrying her to London Ans neg which I deny for it was coming from London where she had for some time been 3. Circ That I asked whether my friend behind me being sick might have entertainment c. Ans neg This I also deny she was not then sick neither did I use any such expressions 4. Circ That I never mentioned she was with child Ans neg Though I did not it not concerning me to do it yet she her self did not deny it 5 Circ That in a short time she fell in travel Ans neg A short time may seem to imply some few daies or weeks being brought in as an aggravating circumstance whereas it was some four or five months after 6 Circ

now this was not the way to cover a work of darkness 3. She sometimes went to London to the Lawyers whilst she was there some belonging to that Family accompanying her who found that as she had related she was in great troubles at Law and were convinced that she returned on that account Now in reference to most of these particulars in which I have contradicted and denyed the alleaged circumstances and further vindicated my self they are exactly agreeing with what I have in writing confessed and acknowledged by Laughton himself from whom this charge is pretended to be received and by the Nurse of the child subscribed by them both before witnesses which acknowledgement I shall produce when I see occasion And by this I hope it may appear to moderate sober and judicious men that this Libelling charge drawn up so falsly enviously and yet so subtilly calling from the dead a business past some nine or ten years since which though it were criminous as it is not were invalid legally to prejudice by the Act of Oblivion or General Pardon as all other things pretended to be spoken or acted by me before 1651. according to the judgement of judicious men which I leave to the Commissioners to consider of I say that this is but the effect of the evil and wicked policy of my Accuser brought forth to prejudice and overcloud that pure and innocent principle which I profess and faithfully live to and the better to cover that evil design they have against my person and livelyhood And now I appeal unto you the Commissioners and to all that are pious and sober minded whether my enemies do not deal very unreasonably enviously and unbeseeming Christians from this business so long since past in which nothing criminous is positively objected against me to draw such horrid conclusions as commonly to report that I now live in base Lust and wantonness notwithstanding my commending of and owning the Virgin-Life I say whether this be not exceeding hard measure and ungodly dealing let all judge But I see the design of the Devil in it which my enemies may be ignorant of which is to overcloud and darken by monstrous lyes and scandals which are the smoak of the bottomless pit that Life of Purity Chastity Mortification Self-denyal and heavenly injoyments which God hath favoured me to live in and so to affright all from my acquaintance which otherwise might very much prejudice and overthrow his Kingdom For the old Serpent knows very well as also my neer friends and acquaintance that for these four years even since the time of my great tryals by the extraordinary Temptations and Representations of the devil that I have been abstracted more then ordinary from all outward things giving my self up wholly to Prayer Watchfulness Mortification and constant self-denial in dying to all earthly pleasures even to things permitted and accounted lawful as finding many things which ordinarily are embraced to be great hinderances of the souls progress to God and great burthens to a spirit which hath tasted much of that tree of Life which groweth in the midst of the Paradise of God and great clogs to a soul that sees through the vail of the sensitive Nature into the Spiritual Glory of Eternity but what I have enjoyed and experimented in this time of my extraordinary mortification and self-denyal in the death of the Animal man and rising of Christs Image in me is not seasonable now to declare yet for the glory of my God and the undeceiving of those who strangely mistake me this much in all humility I must say that did my accuser and my enemies know what I have enjoyed in this way of the cross of the secret hidden treasures of Eternity and of the out-goings of divine goodness were they but acquainted with these discoveries of celestial Glory instillations of the heavenly dew and secret touches of the Holy Ghost did they but know those bright irradiations of Eternal Light those strong motions of divine Life and pleasant streams of eternal Love together with those deep sufferings in bearing Christs Cross which I and many in my Family have in this time experienced they durst not thus condemn me and judge me as an evil doer and one that lives in the Lusts of the flesh But my God hath taught me to Bless whilst they Curse to pray for them whilst they design to ruine me and to love them whilst they hate me and to say with Christ Father forgive them for they know not what they do This I thought fit in all humility to annex to that Libelling charge concerning Mrs Flavel from which I have undeservedly suffered so much by the malice of the devil and now I shall proceed to answer the remaining Articles one of which is intermixed with the former seven that concern Mrs Flavel which is this Art That we have changed our Names Answ 'T is well known that we own and subscribe our Names in our civil converse with the world as this and my former Answers testifie I shall therefore wait to see whether any one dare swear to this Article and though we did in our own private family call one another by Scripture names yet I conceive it did not concern the civil Magistrate to take Cognizance of such a thing it being not practised to make any disturbance or confusion in the State Artic. 8. That I am extreamly covetous taking five shillings at a time to marry one Answ I wonder my accuser should let this Article pass whose Consequence is so much against Reason as to argue me extreamly covetous for one such poor inconsiderable act done six or seven years since and I appeal to the inhabitants of Reading and Mr Fowlers own Conscience whether he hath not taken ten shillings oftener then five for marrying Art 9. That my preaching doth not tend to Edification Answ I can bring those that are knowing spiritual and sober Christians who will assert that my preaching doth tend to Edification and to the building up of souls in the true knowledge and Love of Christ and I believe these my accusers will be found to be like those of Chorazin and Bethsaida of whom Christ said that if the mighty works which were done amongst them had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah they had repented long since in dust and ashes and was Christs Ministery ineffectual because they did not believe but remained in the hardness and impenitency of their hearts neither doth it follow that my preaching doth not tend to Edification because those that bring this Article through their unbelief are not edified by it For there are many that come from places round about that are edified strengthned and refreshed by it and there are many that have been enlightned convicted and converted by it who still receive quickning growth and comfort under it confessing that God is in it of a truth as finding it instrumentally effectual to the pulling down of the Kingdom of sin and satan and to

tincture besides that quickning vertue which by them was communicated and insinuated into the spirits of our outward bodies which like a Cordial had been able to have renewed the strength of our languishing nature 4. Our sense or faculty of tasting was very pleasantly entertained with those invisible dews which were sweeter then hony or the hony-comb and therefore deserve to be called the Dews of Heaven with which instead of food we were many times wonderfully refreshed 5. In relation to the sense of spiritual contaction that was also delighted with its heavenly objects for none can utter that pleasing impression which the burning tincture of this Light World afforded us coming like a hot cordial into the center of our spirits being sensibly felt in the inward parts so as to cause much joy and heavenly pleasure which penetrated thorow our souls giving us occasion to bless praise and magnifie the Lord. Thus for the space of three weeks or a month were we exercised inwardly and outwardly thorow that great conflict which was betwixt those two worlds and their inhabitants the dark world sometimes afflicting us with dreadful shapes abominable smells loathsom tastes with other operations of the evil Angels The light world at other times opening and relieving us with odoriferous perfumes most sweet dews glorious visions and Angelical harmony which the Lord favoured us with to shevv his extraordinary love in thus succouring us in extraordinary exercises and tryals Thus much for those tvvo internal vvorlds spread throughout the visible vvorld in vvhich the evil and good Angels are more immediately then in this visible air to vvhich they cannot be commensurate by reason of their spiritual natures each of them abiding in their distinct principle the one sort being in joy the other being in torment the one in light the other in darkness according to the Scripture But besides these tvvo vvorlds vve had an opening of the eternal vvorld called in Scripture the k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb 2. 5. vvorld to come from the futurity of its full and clear manifestation and a precursory entrance l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10. 19. into the most holy place by a divine transportation into the glory of the Majesty agreeable to that of John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me c. Here vvere seen heard and selt the unutterable misteries of that kingdom which are not yet to be m 2 Cor. 12. 4. Where it s said that in Paradise Paul heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things or words not to be worded or uttered which it is not lawful for a man to speak divulged in regard of the pride ignorance prejudice and envy of many in the world being reserved for those humble gracious spirits which are waiting in silence for the second coming of the Son of Man Part. 3. But now it is time to come to the third particular which was the effects and impressions left upon our spirits by these wonderful exercises and manifestations After this we began more cleerly to see that straight and narrow way which leads to Life Eternal which we call the Virgin life or the life of purity and righteousness in its perfection being the life of fixed love In any thing short of which The perfection of the Virgin life cannot consist So that meerly to abstain from the concupiscible lustings of Venus under the spirit of this great world is but the life of outward Chastity and but a particular branch of the other For the Virgin life is not attained till the Will of the soul is brought through death to be so passive as to will desire and act nothing but what the Essential essence of love wills moves and acts thorow it for till then the soul cannot be a pure Virgin nor live without all desire lust and imagination which must all cease before the pure life of God can come to be all in all 2. This life of Virginity was placed fore-right as to the inward eye of the minde being that mark of persecution at which we were to aym in our pressing toward the Resurrection of the dead To this Wisdom that eternal virgin Prov. 8. 20. 23. as a leading star invited us calling to follow her in the way of Circumcision Resignation and the Cross in the way of total self-denyal and forsaking of all for her sake in the way of annihilation and conformity to Christs death By which we saw undoubtedly we should come to Christs Resurrection Ascension Glorification and Fixation in the love of the Holy Ghost the third and last dispensation Here we cleerly saw the danger of looking back to the external world and of putting out our imaginations into the inward world or the kingdom of the Dragon or of resting in the openings and delights of the inward light world For by turning back into the delights of the senses we saw the soul would become beastial by turning to the left hand and imagining into the kingdom of the Dragon in awakening the fire of wrath and subtilty divelish and dangerously wicked by turning to the right hand in imagining into and taking too much complacency in the visions illuminations tinctures and Enthusiasms of the light world we saw the soul might become elevated into self-conceit and tinctured with pride and be in danger of neglecting that death of the Cross which is the onely safe path into eternal rest and Fixation Here then we were shewed that the way which lead up to the virginessence The new Jerusalem was strait and narrow as upon the breadth of an hair so that we were to turn no way either on the right or left hand but stand without lust with our eys fixed upon the Being of love pressing forward after fixation in the external house of God there to become immoveable pillars no more to go out but there always to bear the name of God and the name of the City of God which is the new Jerusalem And now for the space of this four years ever since the time of these great manifestations we by the Grace of God have enjoyed the exercise of our spiritual senses which never since have been shut neither ever will be except thorow voluntary transgression and disobedience we apostatise and run back into the earthly nature or turn aside to center in something short of the pure life of virginity which calls us from the external thorow the internal into the Eternal world which is that kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world 3. But thirdly after the extraordinary time of Grace and Mercy to us we enjoyed not onely a clear leading convicting light upon our understandings but likewise received from the Lord a stamp and strong impression of power moving our Wills to follow this light through the death of all things to come up into the perfect life and image of