Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	aaron_n	anoint_v	member_n	68	3	7.1459	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78206	The only refuge of a troubled soul in time of trouble & affliction, or, The sweet and soul-ravishing mystery of the apple-tree; explained and laid open, in two discourses fron Cant. 2. 3, for the comfort and encouragement of the true believer, in the midst of the worst and sorest afflictions which can (possibly) befal him in this world, and the awakening the most secure sinner, who is yet a stranger to the said mystery. ; Publish'd at the earnest and importunate request of several godly persons, who heard the same preached By J. Barry, an unworthy Minist. of the Gospel.	Barry, James.	1700 (1700)	Wing B970; ESTC R223490	61,710	175

because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings to the meek c. This was excellently held forth in the Person of Aaron the High Priest under the dark Dispensation of the ceremonial Administration an Eminent and Glorious Type and Shadow of Christ the Elects High Priest Psal 133.2 It is like the Precious Ointment upon the Head that ran down upon the Beard even Aarons Beard that went down to the Skirts of his Garment The material Oyl wherewith Aaron Christs Type was anointed did prefigure and type out the Effusion of the Spirits Gifts and Graces on the Human Nature of Christ to fit and qualifie him for the Work the Father hath sent him about this anointing was poured out on Christ without measure as witnesseth the Scripture Jo. 3 34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the Words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him This is further backt and confirm'd by Colos 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell And Colos 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Besides the personal Anointing of Christs Human Nature wherewith the Father anointed him above his fellows Psal 45.7 there was a Soul enriching Stock of Grace put into his Hands as Mediator in time to be communicated to all the Elect who are to be the Members of his Mystical Body Hence it is that Believers are said to receive of Christ's Fulness Jo. 1.16 And of his Fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace Ephes 4.7 But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Christ as God is the Source and Fountain of all the Graces of Believers as God-man he is the Meriter and Purchaser of all Grace for them and Christ as Mediator he hath the dispencing Power committed to him by the Father to communicate to and bestow upon every Member of his Body what measure of Grace he pleaseth Secondly Christ far excels all Adam's Children on the account of the Work to which the Father design'd him in Eternity and whereto he in time call'd him This great Work is to reconcile God and elect Sinners together by the Interposition of his Mediatorial Righteousness to make up that Breach which the Sin and Apostacy of Adam had effected between God and the Elect and to keep and continue them in an everlasting Covenant of Love and Peace so as that there should never be any Possibility of their being at Enmity any more for ever 2 Cor. 5.19 to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses to them By World in this as in other places is intended the elect World for whom Christ was made Sin and a Curse and between whom and God his offended Father he stept in as a Mediator to make Peace by offering up himself in Sacrifice to God's Justice 1 Tim. 2.5 6. for there is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time Compare with this Jo. 10.15 and Jo. 17.9 and it will plainly appear that Christ became a Mediator of Redemption and Intercession for God's Elect and none else If what hath been said concerning what Christ is in himself and the great Work to which the Father hath design'd and call'd him be rightly considered it will appear beyond all Contradiction that he infinitely excels and transcends all the Children of Adam None of Adam's Posterity were ever qualified like him neither were any of them ever call'd to so great and glorious a Work as he was this in the general But more particularly to come to the Allegory or Metaphor by which his transcendent Excellency is allegorically set forth there are three things in the Apple-Tree which bespeaks the Lord Jesus a None-such to the Elect. First The Lowness and Comliness of the Apple-Tree above other Trees It grows lower and nearer the Ground than other Trees usually do The matchless Lowliness and Humility of Christ is hereby set forth none could ever compare with him herein Mat. 11.29 Take my Yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly This is anciently Predicted of him as appears Zach. 9.9 Rejoyce greatly O Daughter of Zion shout O Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass Mat. 21.4 5. Six things wherein this will appear First His condescending to become his Father's Inferior first as a Son a Relation which imports Superiority and Inferiority Psal 2.7 I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee c. Jo. 3.16 For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. Jo. 14.28 For my Father is greater than I. Secondly As a Servant to do his Work Psal 89.20 I have found David my Servant with my Holy Oil have I anointed him Esa 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth * This Inferiority of Christ to God is to be understood in respect of the Office he voluntarily took on him for the Elects sake not in respect of Nature or Essence as appears Zach. 13.7 Awake O Sword against my Shepherd and against the Man that is my Fellow Jo. 10.30 I and my Father are one Heb. 1.3 Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person c. Secondly His condescending to assume the Humane Nature Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch as the Children did partake of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same Vers 16. For verily he took not upon him the Nature of Angels but he took upon him the Seed of Abraham There are two things which if considered will put a bright Lustre on this Act of Christ's Condescention First The Baseness of the Matter of that Body he assumed viz. A Clod of Earth and that the worst of Earth viz. Red Earth so the word Adam in Hebrew signifies Secondly The abject State and wretched Condition into which it fell by the Apostacy and Rebellion of Adam to which he knew he must become subject Hence it is he is stiled a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief Esa 53.3 4. Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh c. Thirdly In his being Born of mean Parents Christ as God did single out and choose the Womb in which his Humanity was to be Conceived which was not an Empress a Queen or some Lady of Rich and Noble Extraction according to the Flesh but a mean and despicable Maid of a mean and poor Family so poor that she was not able to compass a Lamb but must be trusting to a pair of Turtle Doves for a Sacrifice

not hinder thy Comfort in feeding on this best and sweetest of Fruits For thy Faith though it be never so weak proves it self to be a Divine Faith by its Operation in thee First In that it empties thy Heart of all conceited Rigteousness of thine own whereby Satan and corrupt Nature would have thee to look for Life and Salvation Secondly In that it carries thee out to rest under the shadow of Christ's Mediatorial Satisfaction hoping and expecting Life and Salvation by his Merits alone Though all Mens Stomachs be not equally sharp at Table yet he that hath the least Stomach might eat to as great Satisfaction and Content as he that eats most Let thy Faith be never so weak thou wilt find by Experience that the oftener thou doest taste of this Fruit of Christ's Death and Resurrection with Application thereof to thy self crying out Believingly My dear Lord Jesus Christ who died to discharge the Debt of my sins and who rose again for my Justification the sweeter and the more delightful will it be and not only so but thy poor weak Faith will by this means gather strength day by day Thirdly And as touching those fearful Doubtings and Questionings whether thou in particular be one of those Elect for whom Christ dyed and rose again I need say no more than to assure thee that this hath been the Case of the most eminent Saints now Triumphing in Glory when in a Militant State as thou now art that Soul that was never troubled with Doubtings and Questionings about his State was never yet blest with a right saving Faith Not that these Doubtings are of the Essence of true Faith or as if thou wer 't not bound to be humbled for them before God and oblig'd to strive against them But an Argument they are that thou art acted by a twofold Principle and that the Devil is now discover'd to be thine Enemy Both which effectually proves thee to be one of those Elect for whom Christ both died and rose again Secondly The Resurrection of Christ is sweet to a a true Believer As the same is a sure and certain Pledge of his own and all other Believers being raised not only from a State of Mortality but also from a State of Imperfect Grace The Resurrection of Christ the Believers Surety is the Ground and Foundation of a Believers both rising more and more to Newness of Life And of his being raised again out of the Dust of Death to partake in the Glory of the last Resurrection Rom. 6.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 15.49.54 Phil. 3.21 Jo. 6.40 Thirdly The Resurrection of Christ is sweet to the Believer as it is an invincible Argument to prove that Christ his Surety having once dy'd and by his Glorious Resurrection overcome Death he is never more to dye so witnesseth the Holy Ghost Rom. 6.9 Knowing that Christ being raised up from the Dead dyeth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore c. The Ground hereof is the infinite Satisfaction given to his Fathers Justice for the sins of the Elect by that one Death which he underwent If it were possible for Christ to dye a thousand times over and over his dying so many Deaths could not be more Satisfactory to the Justice of God for the sins of the Elect than was that one most shameful bitter and cursed Death of the Cross which he suffer'd and underwent once for all Rom. 6.10 For in that he dyed he dyed unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God God the Father hath now no more sin to charge on him than what he stood charg'd with on the Cross when he said on his giving up the Ghost it is finished Jo. 19.30 Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified It is not in this Case as it hath been with but too many of Adam's Children and is in this very day who have been forced to pay over and over the self same Debt Such is the Baseness and Knavery of the Oppressours of the Age we live in God the Father of Christ is not such a Creditor he is a Just and a Righteous God And being so there is no Ground to fear that ever he will Twit in the Teeth either Christ his Son the Elects Surety or any poor Believer with those Sins which Christ once satisfied for This Fruit is passing sweet to that Soul who frequently feeds on it Fifthly The Glorious Ascension of Christ from Earth to Heaven is most sweet to the true Believer and it is so on a twofold Account First As it proves the compleat Conquest and Victory of Christ the Believers Head and Surety over all the Enemies of God's Elect of whom it was spoken by way of Prediction Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity captive c. Psal 68.18 These things are Prophetically spoken of Christ by way of Allusion or Comparison and which are by the Apostle Paul apply'd to Christ's Glorious Ascension Ephes 4.8 The Metaphor is taken from earthly Kings and mighty Potentates who when they had got the Victory over their Enemies us'd to bind to their Chariot Wheels the Chief of the Enemies dragging them along in Triumph Thus did the Lord Jesus the Surety of Gods Elect when he Ascended to Heaven he led Devil Sin Curse of the Law World Death Grave and Hell Captives so that they can never more slave or insult over any of God's Elect this is intended by Christ in Jo. 16.33 In me ye shall have Peace in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the World And the same is intended by Paul in Colos 2.15 And having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly Triumphing over them in it This also is intended in Rev. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I live for evermore and have the Keys of hell and of death The term Keys denotes the universal Power which Christ by dying Atchieved over all the Enemies of his Redeemed ones Christ's Ascension from Earth to Heaven is every true Believers Triumph over all the Powers of Darkness of this World so witnesseth the Spirit of God Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us Rom. 8.37 Secondly Christ's Ascension to Heaven is sweet to the true Believer on the Account of the personal Appearance he makes there for all the Members of his Mystical Body That Christ is enter'd Heaven as the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Fore-runner of his Members is expresly set down and affirm'd for the Comfort and Encouragement of all true Believers Whether the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedech Heb. 6.20 For Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with hands which are the figures of the true

is not that Creature in this Providential Kingdom which is not subjected to the Power of Christ The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103.19 All Power is given me in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.18 Thou ●ast put all things in Subjection under his Feet Heb. 2.8 I am he that liveth ●nd was dead and behold I am alive ●or evermore Amen and have the Keys ●f Hell and of Death Rev. 1.18 Thirdly Not only the Creatures but ●ven all their natural Influences and Motions are subjected to the Power of Christ yea the Craft and Subtilty of all the Churches Enemies are subjected to him No Fire can burn no Water can drown no Thieves ca● rob no Persecutor can hurt without Christ It is a sure and an infallible Rule i● Divinity that as no second Cause ca● of it self do good to a Man 〈◊〉 neither can it do him harm We● this one Rule but rightly understood and practically improv'd i● would free the Minds and Spirits 〈◊〉 true Believers from many foolish a● panick Fears which frequently i●vade them to not only a lessening but also to a keeping out that Co●fort to which as Believers the● have Right and which they may o●dinarily enjoy were it not for the● wretched Neglectiveness herein Whe● at any time or in any Case 〈◊〉 meet with a Disappointment and Abuse a Loss or a Cross from a● Creature whatever I cease to complain or murmur in God's Presen● that which strikes me into a profou● Silence is the Consideration and B●lief that such and and such Accidents ●ould not fall out without the Providence of God the Hand of God 〈◊〉 think I is in this rebuking Providence My Soul lay thine Hand upon thy Mouth and cease quarrelling with second Causes lest by going too far that way thou rob the Almighty of the Attribute of his Sovereignty and give it to second Causes as if they could do any thing without him On the other hand when my Meat Comforts and Relieves fainting Nature when the Bed and Sleep Re●resh the weary Body Oh! think I ●ow good is God Without whom ●ny Meat my Bed my Sleep c. would do me no good When at any time I am in great Streights as often God knows I am when this or that Instrument steps in to my Succour my Faith though weak is as busie as a Bee calling on me to take notice of the Hand of Providence in the present Mercy Thus if I and other Believers did do more and oftner than we do it would be better with us in point of Comfort than it is But we live more by Sense tha● we do by Faith and that 's the Reason why we are such Strangers to solid Comfort in our own Spirits Fourthly There is not the most contingent Accident which falls ou● in the World but the Providence of the Lord Jesus orders the same whether it be for chastening or comforting poor Mortals Who is he that saith and it cometh t● pass when the Lord commandeth it not Lam. 3.37 Shall there be Evi● in the City and the Lord hath not don● it Amos 3.6 What but the Cosideration and Belief of this struck Holy David dumb before God when under the Afflicting Rod of God I was dumb I opened not my Mouth because tho● didst it Psal 39.9 As hath been already observ'd there is neither Good nor Evil that can fall out without Christ Neither doth it from hence follow that those Creatures which are Active in the Business of Sin are therefore Excuseable and that because they Act from an ill Principle and to an end vastly differing from what Christ designs in permitting it Or that the Praise and Thanks which is due to God's Instruments in serving us should not be given them in due time and place Neither will it hence follow that a Believer is to stand stock still like a Sheep to be robb'd or murdered if he sees himself any way capable of making a lawful Defence The Reason is because self Defence is a Natural Principle and that Man or Nation that would not stand up to resist an Enemy who seeks their utter Ruin would not only herein fall short of the very Bruits but they would be Accessary to their own Murder which is the worst sort of Murder In this Case the true Believer is to look on the the Doctrin of Non-Resistance as a Doctrin which smells rank of Rome and which was ●ontriv'd and brought into these Kingdoms by the Romish Emissaries on purpose to manacle English Men that by that means under colour and pretence of Religious Obedience to Authority England might become uncapable of preserving it self from the Ruin design'd against it by Rome and France The Protestants in England and in all the other Nations about us have cause to Adore and Praise the Providence of Christ for the Entrance which it gave to the Jesuites into Magdalen Colledge and its permitting the Bishops being sent to the Tower For had not these two things Providentially fallen out when and as they did P●ssive Obedience and Non-Resistance had ruin'd the Kingdom before this time But Glory to God on high who hath pitcht on one to Rule and and Govern his Providential Kingdom here on Earth whose All-seeing Eye penetrates into all the Dark and secret Counsels of his Peoples Enemies And who knows Exactissimè most exactly when to time his Peoples Deliverance May this wonderful Work of Providence never be forgotten in England How much of the Jesuites Infernal Craft and Pollicy there is in the Principles of the People call'd Quakers to forward Englands Overthrow would be worth while for all true Protestants and true English Men who love their Country and the Protestant Religion to consider Fifthly That the most dismal Dispensations which fall out in the World shall be all managed by the Providence of Christ for the Good and Advantage of true Believers yea even Sin it self with the most sharp and bitter Afflictions which spring from that bitter Root shall most certainly work for the Good and Advantage of Christ's true Members according to that in Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God c. This Assertion that Sin it self works for Good to Believers hath not only startled but stirr'd up some to make a great Noise in the Kingdom and that in pretence of opposing and beating down Antinomianism to withstand and decry this as a dangerous Doctrin and that which Encourageth Men to commit and continue in the Practice of Sin Those who are of this Spirit and Principle will find sooner or later how wide they are off the Truth and how injurious they are not only to the Doctrin which is according to Godliness but to the Peace and Comfort of Christ's Members who are able both from the Word of God and their sanctified Experience to contradict this their contradicting God's Truth Concerning which I will only say