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	apostle_n	flesh_n	20	3	5.7492	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94069	The saints communion with God, and Gods communion with them in ordinances. As it was delivered in severall sermons / by that faithfull servant of Christ, Mr. William Strong, late minister at Westminster.	Strong, William, d. 1654.	1655 (1655)	Wing S6006; Thomason E1693_2; ESTC R209425	55,425	233

by whom 3. The same state of grace to which the Gospel brings us in that estate doth Christ keep us wherein we stand 4. That a Saint through the sight of his accesse to and his standing in this grace is made to rejoice in hope of the glory of God as is expressed in the words following for the clearing and confirmation of the substance of all those four particulars viz. that believers have accesse unto and are kept into that state of grace wherein they rejoyce and glory onely by Jesus Christ and his mediation there is a remarkable expression of the Apostle in Eph. 2.13 but now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Jesus for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition Those who are without Christ are afar off three manner of waies 1. In point of opinion and apprehension 2. In point of fellowship and Communion 3. In point of grace and conversion Now as Joseph said to his Brethren bring your Brother Benjamin with you or else see not my face any more So doth God say to sinners when they come nigh to enjoy communion with him bring Jesus Christ in your arms or else never look me in the face It 's the custom of some Countries and foraign Nations that when ever they speak any thing to the King they take up his Son in their armes sure I am 't is the custom of Heaven that who ever shall have Communion with God and enjoy fellowship with his spirit they must take his Son in their armes and carry Christ along with them Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need God hath set up a Throne and that Thone that he hath set up is a gratious Throne and 't is set up for poor sinners and for poor sinners to come freely and boldly too to take liberty in speaking to God it 's set up for these two ends for the obtaining of mercy and for the finding of grace that may help us in time of need that is for the finding of favour and fellowship with God And it is upon the alone account of the Lord Jesus Christ that we can come with boldnesse to it Look on the words foregoing verse 15 For we have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities c. Let us therefore come boldly c. John 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life there is no comming to the Father but by Jesus Christ and Heb. 10.19 Having therefore brethren boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus The sinfullest wretches in the world if they be brought into Jesus Christ may come boldly and have communion with God the Father Cant. 1.4 The King hath brought me into his Chambers There is no going into the chambers the places of communion with God the Father but by being led by the hand of the King of Saints the Lord Jesus Christ thither Ground 4 The fourth ground of our communion with God is the Spirit of Christ in us this is one of the main ends why believers receive the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Christ is not only received as a bond of union but as a means of communion the Spirit of Christ in believers hath these foure things in it 1 It 's a Spirit of Union 2 It 's a Spirit of Unction 3 It 's a Spirit of Action 4 It 's a Spirit of Fellowship As 1. It 's a spirit of Union It s that which is the everlasting tie of the God head in it selfe the spirit running forth through the Father and the Son or proceeding from the Father and the Son as it is expressed in the Gospell so 't is that which is the very tie and knot of the Saints and Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 Hee that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 2. It 's a Spirit of Union 1 John 2.27 but the anointing which ye have received abideth in you c. The oyntment that was powred upon the head of Aaron it ran downe to the skirts of all his Garment the spirit of God like to oyntment that was powred forth upon the head of Christ and it doth run downe to all his members 3. It 's a Spirit of Action saith the Apostle If ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh The spirit is the powerfullest weapon in our hands to put flesh to death in us it is not an idle but an active spirit 4. It 's a spirit of fellowship and Communion Eph. 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one spirit unto the father we both have accesse that is Jew and Gentile though they are two Nations that one spirit leades them both to the Father The Spirit of Christ is not onely a spirit of manifestation and of revelation but it is a spirit of Supplication and of Manuduction It leads us by the hand to the Father Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they the Sons of God Thus you see that intimacy is grounded upon your Union with Christ The ground of all Communion is Union now answerable to the Union such must the Communion be if the Union bee very neere truly then the Communion must bee very intimate Ephesians 5.3 Wee are of his flesh and of his bone it is so neere nay neerer hee that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit what 's the end why the Lord hath made so neere a Union truly it is that there may bee an intimate Communion answerable he is in us like leaven even as the leaven incorporates it selfe that there can bee no separation between it and the dough One end of the Hypostaticall Union was the mysticall Union Christ takes the two natures into one person that so you might become one with him Consider there is a morall union that is made by love for love is Affectus unionis an uniting affection such a union the Angells have and Adam had in the state of Innocency I but there is likewise an union that faith makes a mysticall union that is another kind of union then ever the Angells had or can have The Angells are never said to bee the brethren of Christ and the members of Christ Christ is said to be their head but they are never said to be his members there is some thing morein that mysticall union which is by faith between Christ and beleevers then there can be in that union which is between Christ and the Angells Now if the end of union be Communion why hath the Lord made so neere a union but for an intimate familiarity and communion Ground 5 The fift ground of Communion is our conformity and similitude to Jesus Christ conformity and similitude is the ground of all communion A Saint being made like unto God receives communion

place of rest and a place of love All the Saints being Abrahams children are of Abrahams Covenant and promise they are received into Abrahams bosome in glory with a great deale of love and are taken into his bosome as into the resting place Thus the Children of God stand in the same relation to Christ as a wife to the husband 3. There is yet a higher expression of Intimacy then this all these are but externall and fleshly but the vnion of the Spirit is much more strong 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit He that is joyned to the flesh is one flesh but hee that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 't is as if there were an union of two soules Cyprian when he would expresse this union saith 't is a union of wills and a confederacy of affections they grow into one spirit These relations do import thus much for the Lord Jesus Christ doth not give empty Titles It will further appeare if you consider those high Acts of Intimacy that the Scripture speakes of I will name foure 1. Christ and his people are said to walke together Christ walkes in them Revel 2.1 hee walks among them 2 Cor. 6.16 and wee reade of Galleries in which the King is held Cant. 7.5 what be those Galleries places of intimate converse where friends walke together and enjoy communion one with another now can two walke tegether except they be agreed Amos 3.3 walking implies intimacy and familiarity 2. They supp together now to eate and drinke together in Scripture is an expression of great familiarity and therefore saith the Apostle with such an one eate not that is withdraw familiarity not to eate with one is an Argument of withdrawing familiarity but to eat together is an argument of familiarity Revel 3.21 I will come to him and sup with him and he with me And for this cause when the Cōmunion of Saints is set forth it is set forth by eating and drinking together at the same table we being many are one bread and one body 1 Cor. 10.17 we are many in number as Erasmus hath it but by the consent of our spirits wee become one bread when the Lord would expresse the intimacy the Saints have with him then he is said to sup with them and they with him and marke how hee doth cheere them up Cant. 5.1 Eate O friends drinkeye drinke ye abundantly O ye beloved 3. They doe not onely sup together but they dwell together Christ dwells in your hearts by feith Ephes 3.17 It is the great command the Lord laies upon the husband hee must dwell with his wife now if Jesus Christ will undertake the Relation of a husband hee must dwell with his spouse In Iohn 14.23 he tells you he will fulfill his relation I will come to you and make my abode with you as if the Lord could never speake enough 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them and I will wake among them 4. They doe not only dwell together but they lie together Christ and his people lie in one bed Cant. 1.16 Our bed is green 't is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grarseni my bed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grarsenu our bed what is that truly they are those Ordinances of worship in which the Lord together with his people doth exercise those high Acts of intimacy and familiarity that will appeare if you compare it with 57. Isay 7.8 Thou settest thy bed upon a high mountaine and thither thou wentest up to offer sacrifices thou hast enlarged thy bed c. what is that Floreli●s upon the place faith it was Idolatrous worship wherin they did commit spirituall Adultery now the Lord calls that the bed Idolatrous Ordinances are the bed of Idols so on the other side the bed wherein the Lord Christ and his people enjoy intimacy and familiarity is the bed of Ordinances and for this cause the Church glories in this Cant. 1.13 he shall lie all night between my brests So much for the first thing I promised namely that the Scripture holds forth such such a state of Communion between God and his people I shal but name the other two and so passe on Posit 2 The second Position The Communion that the Saints have with God it is with all the persons they have not onely Communion with the Father but Communion with the Son and not onely communion with the Son but with the Spirit also with all persons in the Trinity the people of God have communitie 1 John 1.3 Truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ The Posit 3 Third Position that this communion in this life is chiefly in Ordinances for the Immediate communion is reserved for another world All the communion wee have in this world it is a mediate communion there are mediums betwixt us and God through which God conveyes grace unto us and drawes us up unto him Ordinances they are the Galleries there 's the wall of sinne and ther 's the windowes of Odinances he stands behind our wall of sin but hee lookes through the windowes of Ordinances For the opening of this I shall shew you what fellowship with God in Ordinances meanes And first I shall lay down some Scripturall proofs of this that the main ende of God in setting up Ordinances is that he may be glorified in communion with his people and then some Positions for the right understanding of this communion and after that I shall give you the grounds the properties the Acts and the ends of communion and then apply the whole Proof 1 1. Let me prove it from scripture expressions that end that Gods aimes at by setting up his Ordinances is that hee might have communion with the Saints and his Saints have communion with him See Revel 21.3 When God comes to reforme his ordinances and to purge his Church I heard a great v●yce saying behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them The Tabernacle and Temple were places of publique worship it was his dwelling and his walking with them dwelling notes constancie and walking notes familiarity he will be constant and he will be familiar with his people in Ordinances 48. Ezec last And the name of the Citty shall bee the LORD is there 'T is a prophesie that receives it's accomplishment when Jews and Gentiles shall bee brought to worship God now when these two shall be made one in the hand of the Lord then shall the name of the City be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah shaumah that is the Lord is there Proofe 2 2. Proofe This hath been the great ground of all the preparations that the Saints have made when they have approched to God in Ordinances that they might have communion with God in them 2 Chron. 30.18 The Lord pardon every one that prepares his heart to seeke God though not according to the purification of the Sanctuary As a Bride prepares her selfe for

So it is here the neearer the union the closer the communion A child is farther off in point of union then a spouse a servant farther off then a child the highest union hath alwaies the closest communion Jesus Christ and the Saints have the neerest union for they are made one spirit The bond of all union below is flesh but the bond of all union above is spirit Jesus Christ and a Saint is so one as the Father looke upon them all in him he never lookes on them as substracted but as united There is alwaies the closest communion where there is the choycest love but there is the choicest love betweene Christ and the Saints therefore the closest communion Love cannot live at the least distance from its beloved love lets nothing come between or interpose between it and its object it is like a falling mountaine that breakes downe all that is betwixt it and its rest love is never so neere but it would still be nearer when it hath got its object its eye it would then have it in his Armes IIII. Property of the communion that the Saints have with God it is a growing and increasing communion it every day creepes up to a greater height and to taller stature no communion is capable of such increase as our communion with God There are two things you may consider in relation to the soules of the Saints 1. They grow up by cōmunion with God 2. They grow up in communion with God the more a Soule converseth with God and the oftner it doth approach unto him it comes to see a greater beauty in God to tast a greater sweetnesse in God and to enjoy a greater presence of God Consider three particulars 1. Looke how a mans apprehension growes of God so his communion growes with God most mens apprehensions are below God but the best mens apprehensions are too low of God when men raise apprehensions of God and with thoughts of the glory and excellency of God upon them then are they raised in their communion with God As the Soules apprehensions of God are raised by degrees so his communion with God is raised by degrees also Jsa 6.3 The Angels they have glorious acts of communion with God they alwaies behola the face of God they are holy holy holy when men have low understanding slighting thoughts of the glorious Majesty of God and of the holynesse of God they can never enjoy excellent and glorious communion with God for such as a mans apprehensions are of God such is his communion with God There are 3 things that are according to our apprehensions of them 1. Such as our apprehensions are such will be our estimations as wee see things so we prize them 2. Such will be our applications if they be raised towards a thing we apply our selves to it that we may have the enjoyment of it 3. Such will bee our communions none shall ever take delight to draw neere to those things wherein we see judge no excellency 2. Consider as men grow up in conformity to God so will they grow up in communion with God for as conformity is a ground of communion so the more conformitie the greater the communion still As the life of holinesse growes up within us so communion with God flowes in upon us Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection c. The more conformable Paul was made to Christs death the more communion he enjoyed in Christs Resurrection 2 Cor. 3. last We beholding the same Image as in a glasse as the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory 3. The more a Saint growes in largeness of affection the more will he grow up in spiritualnesse of communion love drawes the heart strongly after God many waters cannot quench love neither can the flouds drown it At the first entrance upon our communion with God the soul is but weak and poor it hath but some tasts of God but it comes for more till at last it feed upon a full Table 1 Pet. 2 3 4. If you have tasted that the Lord is gracious What then to whom comming as unto a living stone dissallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and very precious Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house The more we tast of the graciousness of God the more still do we come into communion with God 'T is very observable in the Song of Solomon that the Spouse at first she had but some kises of the lips of Christ but afterward she is taken into his Chambers and at last she is brought into his Banqueting house into his house of Wine There are foure things that communion leaves in the soul after any precious acts that it hath enjoyed 1. Communion leaves in the soule a sweet remembrance in it Cant. 1.4 The King hath brought me into his chambers We will be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy love more then wine The Acts of the love of Christ shewed to a soule in communion with him is increased by it Psalm 42.4 When I remember these things I power out my soule in me These things what things when I went with the multitude that kept holy day that is when I went with thy Saints to worship thee where I enjoyed communion with thee 2. It leaves an impression of grace and holinesse of God upon the soule Cant. 5.5 I rose up to my beloved and my hands dropped with mirrh and my fingers with sweet smelling mirrh upon the handles of the lock Moses his communion left an impression of the glory of God upon him when he comes from the Mountain he comes with his face shining there are bright beams of Gods face to be seen upon Moses face 3. It leaves in a man a love to those Ordinances where he had this communion O how much is the soule in love with those Sermons in which communion with God is obtained and with those prayers in which he hath the enjoyment of God 4. It leaves in the soul an instinct after further fellowship and after further communion so that the whole desires of the foule are carried forth now after greater and larger enjoyments after higher and more glorious incomes and fresh influences of the divine presence You never knew what it was to enjoy communion with God if your hearts run not out after further and greater communion The V. Propertie of communion and fellowship that the Saints have with God in Ordinances it is spirituall and and supernaturall First it is not all theabilities of nature that can make up this commumunion it is not all the education of the world that can bring a soule into the presence of God or any parts and gifts that is able to raise the Soule into communion with God It is a spirituall communion it is the Spirit of God cōming down and taking the Spirits of the Saints up to its selfe Revel 1.10 I