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	beard_n	head_n	203	3	6.3158	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47130	A Christian catechisme, for the instruction of youth, and others to whom it may be useful in the grounds of Christian religion, and practice of Christian piety wherein the twelve articles of the Christian creed, and the Godhead and manhood natures of Christ and his prophetical, priestly, and kingly office are briefly explained : and the true Christian doctrin, concerning Christ his being a sufficient saviour, as he is both God and man : and with respect to both the absolute necessity, and excellent consistencie of his outward coming in the flesh, and his inward coming, and spiritual appearance in our hearts, through faith in him, and love and obedience to him, in order to our eternal salvation, declared and demonstrated by testimonies of Holy Scripture : and the divine excellency of the light within, in distinction from humane reason, asserted and vindicated : and the question concerning its sufficiency to salvation, truly stated and resolved : where also many other Gospel doctrins, and practical Christian truths and duties are held forth / by George Keith.	Keith, George, 1639?-1716.	1698 (1698)	Wing K150; ESTC R19823	60,929	128

as he is both God and Man our Elect High Priest Prophet and King Head and Mediator without us in Heaven and as our Faith is exercised on him thus as its Object flowing into us and imparting unto us both the Holy Spirit and his saving Gifts and Graces and the daily encrease of them A. Yea. Q. By what Figure or Type was this signified under the Law A. By the Oyl that was poured on Aaron's Head and did run down from his Head and Beard to the lower Skirts of his Garments Q. What Testimonies of Holy Scripture have we for this A. Many both in the Old and New Testament as Isa 32 ● 2. Isa 59 21. John 1. 14 16. John 7. 38 39 John 4. 14. John 15. 26. Acts 2. 33. Eph. 4. 7 8 15. Q. Can it then be supposed that they have the Holy Spirit or the saving Gifts and Graces thereof who have not Faith in Christ as he is both God and Man without them in Heaven seeing the Promises are only to them that believe in him as such A. Nay Q. Do not such who think they have all within them needful to Happiness and eternal Salvation make themselves equal with Christ and as near to God in way of Union and Communion as Christ And are not such guilty of great Idolatry and Blasphemy A. Yea. Q. Is Christ God-man without us the Head of all gracious Influences not only as the procurer and purchaser of them by the dignity and merits of his most holy Obedience unto Death but also as the real dispenser of them out of the fulness of all Grace and Truth that is in himself so as that he is the great Store-house of Grace out of whom God the Father who dwells in him in all Fulness supplyeth the Church and every true Member thereof A. Yea Eph. 4. 7. 8. 15. 16. Coloss 2. 19. Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. 2. 3. 9. Q. What are these divine Influences Gifts and Graces which the Faithful receive of God out of Christ and which come down from above from the Father of Lights and descend as the Rain upon the mown Grass A. It is far better to know and enjoy them by spiritual gust taste and feeling than by any nice and dry Speculation of them They are like the Manna from Heaven which though the Children of Israel fed on yet they knew not what it was Exod. 16. 15. Rev. 2. 17. Let it suffice us to know them by the Names which the Scripture calls them Streams of Life living Waters Rain and Dew from Heaven divine Powers Lights and Virtues like the Virtue that went out of Christ that healed the Woman of her Issue of Blood Gifts and Graces Milk Hony Bread Wine and Oyl a Feast of Fat things all which though borrowed and metaphorical Names yet signifie more excellent and precious things than all worldly Treasure for they are the true and incorruptible Substance and Riches which never fade away nor never take Wings to fly from them that love them and him of whom and by whom they have them Isa 12. 3. 55. 1. 25. 6. Psal 68. 9. Hos 14. 5. Psalm 81. 16. Prov. 8. 21. SECT X. Q. WHat are the Laws that God doth write in the Hearts of his People Jerem. 31. 33. Are they not the same that are writ in the holy Scriptures excepting the Ceremonial part that is abolished and some other Laws peculiar to the Jews A. Yea. Q. How doth he write them in their Hearts Is it without all use of outward means A. Nay Q. Then are not the Laws writ in the Hearts of the Faithful by the Spirit in the use of outward means as a Transcript or Copy from the holy Scriptures themselves A. Yea. Q What is the difference betwixt the Law writ in the Hearts of the Faithful and the Law writ in the Hearts of the Unfaithful A. There is a great difference the one hath the Law writ in Stony Hearts the other hath it in Hearts of Flesh that are made by the Lord soft and tender Q Of what service are the Promises contained in the Scripture to the Faithful A. Of exceeding great use and service for by them through the Operation of the Spirit we are made partakers of the divine Nature Q. What is the difference betwixt the manner of God and Christ their being in the Saints and true Believers and the manner of their being in Unbelievers and Unconverted Persons A. As to the essential Presence of God and the essential Word and Spirit that is the same every where and in all things but in respect of Manifestations and Operations the difference is great for the Faithful have peculiar and special Manifestations and Operations of God and Christ in them which none others have Again God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are in the Faithful by Union and Communion and Inhabitation or In-dwelling by Faith and Love but not so in unbelievers and unsanctified Persons Hence it is that unbelievers are said to be without God and Christ in the World without Hope Strangers and Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Q. How is Christ in the Saints their Hope of Glory Coloss 1. 27. A. It is not so to be understood as if Christ were only their Hope or the Object and Author of it only as within them and not as without them as he is God-man the great High Priest Mediator and Advocate and as their Head for he is the Saints Hope both ways considered for Paul gave thanks to God for the Hope laid up for the believing Colossians in Heaven 1 Coloss 3. 4. 5. And surely that was more or something else than what they enjoyed of Christ within them unless Men will say as some have said that there is no Heaven at all without Men but only within them nor any Hell but within them which is abominable Ranterism but we cannot have the saving knowledge of him nor that sweet and comfortable experience and enjoyment of him and of his Love and Life and spiritual Blessings but as the Mystery of him is inwardly revealed in us and his Love and Life inwardly felt by us for as Christ within the Saints and without them is but one Christ so it is but one great Mystery which yet may be distinguished into two parts the greater part being God manifest in the Flesh to wit in the Flesh of Christ as he outwardly suffered justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory which Paul said was without Controversie the great Mystery of Godliness and without all doubt is the greater part of the Mystery for the best of the Saints have not the Fulness in them it is only the glorified Man Christ Jesus without them who has that Fulness but every one of the Saints have a measure of the Gift of Grace out of that Fulness as the Water in the Cistern is but a sinall part of that which is in the River

and also in commemoration of the six days work of Creation and the 7th day of Rest the first day of the Week being one day in seven A. Yea. Q. What Reasons are to be given for the Observation of the first day A. The example of the Faithful in the Apostles days whereof we have divers Testimonies in Scripture and the constant practice of the Church in 〈…〉 ever since As also that the Lord's day mentioned by John in the Revelation whereon he had his Revelation was esteemed by the Ancient Christians that lived near to the Apostles days to be the first day of the Week as Justin Martyr plainly testifieth and that on that day the Faithful met for the solemn Worship of God and it was called the Lord's day not simply because our Lord arose on that day but because he commanded it to be kept in commemoration of his Resurrection as the Supper is called the Lord's Supper because he commanded it in commemoration of his Passion and Christ honoured the first day above others with his appearing several times to his Disciples after his Resurrection before he Ascended on that day and on that day gave the Holy Ghost being the fiftieth day from his Resurrection which did fall on the first day and still so falleth Matth. 28. 1. John 20. 1. 19. Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 36. 2. Rev. 1. 10. Q. Are not also solemn times of thanksgiving to be observed by the Faithful where not only in Private but in Publick Assemblies they ought to give thanks to God for solemn and more than ordinary Mercies Deliverances and Preservations A. Yea Exod. 5. 1. c. Jerem. 30. 18. 19. Dan. 4. 35. 36. 37. Rev. 5. 9. Rev. 15. 3. 4. Rev. 19. 1. 2. 5. Nehem. 12. 27. John 10. 22. compare Mar. 1. 4. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. SECT XII Q. WHat is the Catholick Church A. It is the whole Multitude of the Faithful where-ever to be found having one Faith one Lord one Baptism who are one Body though many Members having one Spirit and Hope of their Calling and one God and Father over All through All and in them All Eph. 4. 45. 6. Q. What are the best marks of the true Church A. Purity of Doctrin a due and right observation and practice of all the Institutions and Ordinances of Christ under the Gospel and Holiness of Life and Conversation Matth. 7. 24. Eph. 2. 20. 21. 22. Q. Are Hypocrites and bare formal Professors who have nothing of the inward Life and Power of Religion Members of the Church A. Nay as the Tares are not Corn yet as the Tares are mixed oft with Corn and until the Harvest hardly discernible from the Corn Matth. 13. 38. so there may be and are Hypocrites mingled among the Faithful under the same visible Profession with them like the foolish Virgins among the wise Matth. 25. 2. And such until they discover themselves either by Words or Deeds that are scandalous neither can nor ought to be rejected or disowned upon whatever pretence of a Spirit of discerning but the Rule that Christ has given is to be kept to to judge the Tree by its Fruit Matth. 7. 16. And whatever inward sense or discerning Men have or think they have they ought to have it to themselves as Paul said in a certain Case of Faith Rom. 14. 22. and accuse none but such whom they can prove guilty by their Words or Deeds and that by credible Witnesses Q. Is every error in Judgment or fault in Practice sufficient ground of disowning or rejecting a Person from being a Member of the Church of Christ A. Nay but such Error or Errors as oppose some Fundamental Doctrin of the Christian Faith and such evil Practice as is scandalous Philip. 3. 15. 16. Q. Ought we not therefore to receive one another as Christian Brethren and have mutual Charity and in that Charity Worship God together tho' differing in judgment in lesser matters endeavouring to become all things to all Men so far as the Truth and a good Conscience doth permit us A. Yea 1 Cor. 19. 20. 21. 22. Q. Is it not therefore a great Sin to be so uncharitable as to revile others by base and reproachful Names calling them the World Children of the Devil Idolaters false Worshipers who may be and are as good and possibly better Christians than our selves and can demonstrate that they are so by their Words and Works A. Yea 1 Tim. 6. 4. Rom. 14. 10. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Q. Ought any Men to be received or owned to be Members of the Church of Christ who do not give some proof of their Christian Faith by the confession of their Mouth and good conversation before they be received and owned A. Nay 1 Tim. 6. 12. 13. Heb. 3. 1. Heb. 4. 14. 10. 23. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Q. Wherein doth the Communion of the Faithful consist A. Partly in Internals and partly in Externals Q. How doth it consist in Internals and in what A. In the Communion of the Gifts and Graces of God Philemon 5. 6. 7. whereby they are mutually edified refreshed and strengthned by and with one another through their partaking of one and the same Holy Spirit by their union with Christ their one Head and one with another from which Head the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying it self in Love Eph. 4. 16. And from which all the Body by Joynts and Bands having nourishment ministred and knit together Increaseth with the Increase of God Col. 2. 19. Q. Which are these Joynts and Bands A. Every one of the Faithful but most especially the most Eminent for Knowledge and Piety and ministerial Gifts such as the holy Prophets and Apostles were and such as their true Successors are who succeed them in the same Doctrin Spirit and holy Life Q. How doth it consist in Externals and in what A. In the profession of the same Faith and visibly joyning together in Christian Assemblies to hear the Doctrin of the Gospel Preached Worshiping God together with Prayer and Thanksgiving and in the due Practice and Observation of Christ's Institutions and Ordinances under the Gospel also in mutual acts of Piety and Charity Q. Is Fasting any necessary duty to be performed by the Faithful under the Gospel A. Not simply by or for it self but as it is a help to prepare and dispose them for more solemn Prayer Humiliation and Confession of Sin either in Private or Publick when some more than ordinary Occasion or Providence requires it or some more than ordinary Service is proposed for the good of the Church in general or some Member or Members in particular Matth. 6. 17. 18. Acts 13. 2. 3. Jonah 3. 5. SECT XIII Q. WHat other publick and visible Institutions and Ordinances hath Christ appointed to be practised by the Faithful beside the preaching

Objection is oft made by some against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered in the Flesh that Paul said He knew Christ no more after the Flesh how is this Objection to be answered 2 Cor. 5. 16. A. The words after the Flesh do not refer to Christ's Flesh as if Paul had renounced and quite buried in oblivion all Knowledge Faith and Remembrance of Christ's Death and Sufferings in the Flesh and Resurrection the contrary of which is evident from many places throughout his Epistles and particularly from his words a little before in that same Chapter v. 14 15. but his carnal knowledge of Christ such as he had when a Pharisee which was but a knowledge of Christ after the Flesh he did justly reject Q But have not some felt an inward spiritual Fire and had experience of the good Effects of it who are so far from having had Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered Death in the Flesh that they are prejudiced against it and have openly before many Witnesses opposed it as unnecessary and unprofitable yea hurtful as drawing from the Gift of God within A. As the Law at Mount Sinai Exod. 19 1. 16. 12. 2. 6. was given in Fire on the 50th day after the Children of Israel came out of Egypt so the Holy Ghost was given in Fire on the 50th day from Christ's Resurrection Acts 2. 1. 2. 3. And as these two outward Fires differed so there are two inward Ministrations of Fire as it were two Fires the first Legal the second Evangelical and whatever good Effects the Legal Fire produceth it maketh none the Children of the New Covenant or bringeth to that Perfection and Purification and true and real Sanctification that the Gospel ministration bringeth unto the Effects of the last and first as much differing as Gold and Silver differs from Brass and Iron Q. What is the Everlasting Life A. It is the full enjoyment of God and Christ together with the holy Spirit by Vision Love and Delight together with the complete Glorification of the Souls and Bodies of all the Faithful eternally and without all end in the Kingdom of Heaven and where they shall enjoy the blessed Society of all the holy Angels and glorified Saints Matth. 5. 8. 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Rev. 22. 4. Philip 3. 21. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 12. 22. Q. Is there an Earnest or first Fruits of Eternal Life that the Faithful do enjoy here on Earth in the mortal Body A. Yea John 6. 47. 58. Rom. 8. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 14. Q. What is that Faith in Christ Jesus whereby the Faithful eat his Flesh and drink his Blood that they may have Eternal Life A. It is not only the assent of the understanding to the truth of Christ as he came in the Flesh and gave his Body of Flesh to be broken and his Blood to be sued for us but is a most chearful ready and free consent of the Heart and Will whereby every true Believer with great desire receiveth accepteth and relyeth upon Christ trusteth and consideth in him and in God the Father through him for remission of Sin Justification and Eternal Life and Salvation and all the Spiritual blessings promised in the Gospel and by which free act of the Will the Faithful chuse God to be their God and Father and Christ to be their Redeemer and Saviour Head and Husband King and Lord as well as Priest and Propitiation for Sin The Believer having thus acted Faith on him is as truly refreshed comforted strengthened fed and satisfied with him as a hungry Man is with Meat therefore by a Metaphor believing in Christ is called an eating of him both which assent of the Understanding and consent and choice of the Heart and Will is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of Christ by means of the Word and Doctrin delivered in the holy Scriptures and by the like Metaphor it is called a looking to him a coming to him a resting and abiding in him a being joyned to him as the Members are joyned to the Head a being grafted in him Rom. 11. 17. Joh. 15. 4. and built upon him as on a sure Foundation also a being married to him by which Faith as they abide and dwell in him so he abideth and dwelleth in them Heb. 12. 2. Isa 45. 21. 22. Matth. 11. 28. Isa 11. 10. John 15. 7. Eph. 2. 6. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 4. Yea not only his Spirit and Life dwelleth in them but he himself the Man Christ Jesus who dyed and rose again by Faith dwelleth in them not by his bodily Presence but by their having him in their constant thoughts and remembrance and in their love and affections as the loving Wife hath her loving Husband in her thoughts and affections when he is bodily absent and as Paul said to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7. 3. You are in our hearts to dye and to live with you Q. But it is objected by some that they find a difficulty if not an impossibility in it to believe in the Man Christ without them whom they have never at any time heard or seen they cannot frame a conception of him in the mind as the Wife can of the Husband whom she hath both heard and seen and immediately conversed with A. The account that the holy Scriptures give us of him and of his most holy Life and Virtues and wonderful Excellencies doth better help us to frame a Conception of him in our minds as the holy Spirit that we receive from him gives life to that Conception by his powerful Operation in us than if we had only seen him and heard him outwardly as the true and accurate description of a Man's Life and Virtues gives us a better account of him than the bodily sight and hearing of him therefore it was that our Lord said to Thomas Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed Joh. 20. 29. There is no Man who hath receiv'd some extraordinary favour from a Person that he hath not seen but by the favour which he hath receiv'd from him he will be helped to frame a very lovely Conception of him in his Heart and Soul And the faithful who had not seen Christ with their bodily Eyes more than we to whom Peter writ unto did both believe in Christ and love him whom they had not seen and rejoyced in him with great joy even joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 6. With what dearness of love and affection do we love the Saints whose holy Lives and Virtues are so lively set forth to us in the Scriptures and the holy Martyrs in Church History though we believe not in them But we could not love them unless we had some true Conception or Idea of them for love doth as much require a lively Conception of the Object beloved as Faith requireth a lively Conception of the Object believed Therefore if

in all Men and more specially in the Faithful it being generally acknowledg'd not only by Christians but by Heathen Poets Orators and Philosophers that God and his Word and Spirit is in all the Creatures and as it is said in the Book called Wisdom Gods incorruptible Spirit is in all things Wisdom 12. 1 So that there is no Goodness or Virtue or Excellency that is in either Stone Metal Vegetable or Animal but God is the Author and first Cause of it and that not as at a distance or without things only but as near yea so near that as God is in all things so all things are in him and in him we live and move and have our Being and therefore as God is Light essentially in and to himself so by an easie Metonymie God and Christ may be said to be a Light to and in all Men as the Cause and Author of all the Light that Men have universally and more especially he is in and to the Faithful their Light as David said The Lord is my Light and my Salvation Psal 27. 1. enlightning them with greater and more high and noble Illuminations and Lights than he doth other Men and so is a true Cause of their Salvation as their Light in them but not the only Cause as within them but also as in Christ God-man without them and together with him their great High Priest Mediator Advocate Head of divine Influence and spiritual Nourishment c. Q. But if God and Christ be a Light in Men then what need is there of any thing else without Men What need of Christ God-man without them to enlighten them seeing they have God and Christ in them A. The Presence and In-being of one Cause takes not away the Influence Virtue and Operation of another Cause as it were a false Argument to say God is in a Field of Earth as the great Cause of its fruitfulness and therefore that Field will produce Corn without Seed and without Dew and Rain from Heaven and without the Influence of the Sun all which are external second Causes even as false it is to argue God and Christ considered as the Word is in every Man and in the Saints and Operates in them therefore they need not Christ considered as God-man the Word made Flesh their High Priest Mediator Advocate and Propitiation in Heaven without them or any influence of heavenly Dow Rain or Warmth from him that Sun of Righteousness in whom the Fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily who is full of Grace and Truth and of whose Fulness as said John we all receive and Grace for Grace Q. I● it not therefore a great Error in them who blame that assertion that the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens is not sufficient to Salvation without something else that something else being understood to be the Man Christ who is both God and Man and the Sacrifice of himself by his Death on the Cross his Resurrection Ascension and Intercession for us in Heaven all which are something else than the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens A. Yea and 't is a downright setting Deism and Hethenism in opposition to Christianity and a subversion of it Q. But did not Christ say to Paul 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee and was not that Grace in Paul and if sufficient what need any thing else A. The Grace of Christ was in Paul but in measure and in Christ in all fulness and tho' the present measure of Grace that was in Paul was sufficient for that present time yet not without Christ as a Man's Hand is sufficient to handle a Pen and Write or do other Work but not without the Man himself nor was that measure sufficient for all time to come but Paul needed a daily supply of more Grace out of Christ's fulness as the Bread we received last Work and the Drink we then drank will not satisfie us now without a new supply of daily Bread and Drink so nor will the measure of Grace given the last Week or Day suffice to Day but we need daily to pray in respect of our spiritual Bread from Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread or as some think it better translated Give us this day the Bread of our Sustinence or Sustentation Q. Hath the Grace of God and of Christ then as it signifieth an inward Principle that he giveth to Men its several measures A. Yea it hath as Paul said to every of us ●s Grace given according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. Q. Hath the Spirit of God any measures or parts A. Properly speaking nay For the Spirit of God is one and the same Infinite Being with God and God has no Measures Parts nor Passions Q. Is then the Grace of God a distinct thing from the Spirit of God A. Yea though not divided or separated there-from Q. How then are we to understand that manner of Speech used by some that one hath a greater or lesser measure of the Spirit than another A. Not as with respect to himself but with respect to the Gifts and Graces thereof also when the Spirit is said to be quenched that cannot be understood of the Spirit himself but of his Operations Q. How is the Scripture to be understood that saith the Holy Ghost was sent down by Christ upon the Apostles for seeing the Holy Ghost is that Infinite Spirit and is every where present he is not capable of any local motion of Descent or Ascent A. That Descent is also to be understood not with respect to himself but his Gifts and Graces Q. What are the saving Graces and Gifts of Christ and of the Holy Spirit Are they not an inward Seed and Principle of a spiritual and holy Life the same that John calls the Seed of God 1 John 3. 9. and Peter the Incorruptible Seed of which the Children of God are Born 1 Pet. 1. 23. containing all the Virtues Graces and Fruits of the Spirit in it Seminally as Faith Hope Love Temperance Patience Humility Meekness c. Even as the several Parts and Fruits of a Tree are contained in the S●●d o● it which Seed is by Christ Jesus infused into the Souls of the Faithful to be in them a Principle of spiritual Life and of holy Living and Acting A. Yea. Q. But is not the Word and Doctrin of the Gospel outwardly Preached called the Seed by Christ himself Matth. 13. 19. A. It is so called partly Metaphorically and partly by a Metonymie where the Thing containing receives the Name of the thing contained the External Word and Doctrin being as it were the Conduit whereby the Seed of God's Grace is conveyed into the Soul and whereby that Seed doth Operate in the Souls of Men for their Regeneration who receive it with Faith and Love Q. How and whence have the Faithful the Holy Spirit given unto them of God Is it not by and through Christ considered