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	appear_v	moses_n	71	3	7.1691	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35166	The cynosura, or, A saving star that leads to eternity discovered amidst the celestial orbs of David's Psalms, by way of paraphrase upon the Miserere.	Cross, Nicholas, 1616-1698.	1670 (1670)	Wing C7252; ESTC R21599	203,002	466

of severity Wherefore where he saw reason sweetness and all the Wonders he had wrought could effect nothing with those obdurate and unbelieving spirits he was forced to a course adverse to his meekness and to the love he bare that chosen Nation designing the total subversion of their City and place of Sacrifice and their utter dispersion through the habitable World and this he foretold them all bathed in Tears to shew his resentment for what he needs must do there being no other expedient to draw them from that strange dotage on victimes and immolation of Beasts From these premises we may conclude that whilst the Law was in its vigour Sacrifices as to the universality of the people were the only rules set down for the reparation of their failings and till our Penitent had a particular Patent for his exemption none was ever more magnificent in his exhibitions in this kind Nay he made it the Theam of his exhortations to others that they should consecrate their Vowes and discharge by way of Sacrifice what they owe unto the Lord God But when God was pleased to reach unto him the fair draught of the mystery of the incarnation wherein he read the Lawes evacuation the darkness of its Figures to break forth into the splendour of a Crucifyed oblation from whence arises a perfume whose odour would lay open Heavens Gates that to this Law of terrour would succeed one of love and which like to its Priesthood was to be eternal his desires heightned by these prophetick notions were certainly inflamed to a great pitch of charity and strengthened with a vigorous and lively Faith pushed him on to vehement longings to become a Member of that Kingdom of Grace then to flourish in the Hearts of Men. In this manner prepared by internal acts of vertue of repentance for his misdeeds submission to his will patience under the weight of his Chastisements no wonder if the Eye of Heaven pleased to behold an Object so worthy of his special favour should take him out of the Common track of the Mosaick way and conduct him by the Beams of an Evangelical light So that supported with Grace by a firm hope in the merits of the Messias to come he might now void of any blame as to himself say thou art not delighted with Holocausts c. The Application This Clause seems but a confirmation of the precedent Verse wherein our Holy Penitent doth specify in the Example of a Holocaust how little valuable our actions are if they be not circumstanced with the approbation of Heaven For amongst all the Religious ordinations of the Jews there was none that expressed their entire submission and dependance upon God like to that of a Holocaust and yet our Holy Petitioner declares God is not delighted with it that is if performed in his person whom he had instructed in the oblations of a more perfect Sacrifice not so gross and carnal as that of Beasts but which hath a resemblance with what the Angels and blessed do incessantly offer up from their flaming Brests Let us then in imitation ascend from vertue to vertue and proportionably to the communication of his Graces aspire to a life more perfect remembring we are to improve our stock according to the Sum we have to negotiate God grant then we may give a just account Amen CHAP. XXXV Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus A Sacrifice to God is a troubled Spirit AFter our Penitents Declaration that God required not at his Hands the external right of Sacrifice he comes now to specify what homage he is to pay saying a Sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit Now if you look upon the principles of spiritual Masters this oblation seems very opposite to what they design for the main intent of all their prescriptions drive at this as to make us insensible of any Earthly Objects which might turmoil the Spirit and to hinder a quiet repose in the Soul without which no fruit can be reaped in contemplation Nay indeed its necessary in order to the meritorious performance of any good work this appears in Aaron who reprehended by Moses that upon the loss of his Beloved Daughter he forbare to eat of the Sacrifices made this answer how can I please God by eating or any other Ceremony whilest I possess a sad and troubled Mind But you must know there is a two-fold sorrow one that springs from God the other from the World this gives life that Death St. Hierom calls a Soul crushed with austerity and fasting a Sacrifice so that by this oblation of a troubled spirit our Penitent means the combat of a vertuous Man in subduing his passions and this St. Gregory terms a continual martyrdom in which is daily offered up a living victime Holy pure and acceptable to God by which a Man may be resembled to one that flying his Enemy kills himself In Leviticus 12. A command is laid upon the Jews that they should celebrate with great solemnity the Feast of expiation and the manner how it was to be done is set down that they should afflict their Souls Now this seems very incongruous to the nature of a Feast but since our felicity consists in suffering here we must be merry to see ourselves piously sad green wood cast on the Fire both weeps and burns our breast may be sad in one part and cheerful in the other The Prophet Baruc sayes the Soul that bewails her Sins gives Glory unto God for as there is nothing more sad than sin so doubtless nothing more delightful as worthily to deplore it Wherefore this troubled spirit imports not a tortured conscience but a Lancet in the Hand of a dexterous Artist who making a passage for corruption the sooner cures the wound so likewise groans tears wringings of Hands outcryes and such like Testimonies of a disturbed Mind are the several compositions of a Sacrifice pleasing to God A Sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit St. Austin sayes Man comes into the World wrapt up in such a Cloud of Ignorance in order to truth and replenished with such a swarm of desires that were he left to his own inclination there is no evil he would not commit This is evident in the Comportment of Men before Cities were built and pollicy of Laws established which restrain the impetuosity of their passions for it is storied they killed and devoured one another falsifying all equity and justice So that to deserve the name of Man we ought to bridle and check the insolency of our sensual appetites but to become a Sacrifice pleasing to God under the Character of a troubled spirit not only the Body must be macerated and brought under but the spirit likewise must be enslaved and captivated to the Faith of Christ In the composition of this Sacrifice I find spiritual directors are divided some think the most powerful ingredient is to chastise the Body waste it with abstinence and hair-cloths and spend it with labour by which harsh