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	call_v	gift_n	42	3	6.6692	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93702	Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht: containing a confutation of the three degrees of popery, viz. papacy, prelacy, and presbitery; answerable to the triple crowne of the three-headed Cerberus the Pope, with his three fold hierarchies aforesaid. With a dispelling of all other dispersed clouds of errour, which doth interpose the clear sun-shine of the Gospel in our horrizon. Wherein the chiefe arguments each of them have, for the vindication of their erronious tenents are incerted, and refuted; with a description of such whem [sic] the true Church of Christ doth consist of: as also how, and by whom, they may be gathered, and governed, according to the will, and appointment of Jesus Christ, and his apostles, in the primative purity thereof. / By Iohn Spittlehouse, assistant to the Marshall Generall of the Army, under the command of his Excellency, the Lord Generall Fairfax. Imprimated by Theod. Jennings, and entred in the Stationers Hall.	Spittlehouse, John.	1649 (1649)	Wing S5013; Thomason E586_2; ESTC R203633	304,213	396

of them had I not been so well acquainted with them and their expressions of this nature yea I perswade my selfe that they are so well knowne to every Professor of Christ as that they think I have not spoken more then they would performe in case the Apostles were extant amongst us yea it is cleerly apparent that they have done now doe and hereafter will doe as much as I have spoken Christ telleth his Disciples that he that dispised them dispised him and is it not their daily custome to deride the Professors of Christ with taunting language and in so doing they doe not only reproach the Brethren who practise according to the example of the Apostles but the Apostles themselves who left us the examples to follow and in villifying them it must consequently follow that they doe the like to our Saviour himselfe who saith of them and so consequently of his Professors He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10. 16. Now these being such a sort of people how is it possible they should be thought fit instruments to execute the Apostles office in the now gathering of the Church and people of God out of their Antichristian estate and condition being it selfe predominant over them as if a Devill would perswade a man to Christianity SECT 7. Obj. THey have the same calling that the rest of the Clergy of the Kingdome have and therefore why may they not be made use of as well as the other Ans All that are so called are under an Antichristian calling The Antichristian call to the Minist●y ought to be relinquished by all such as have taken it upon them whatever they be which ought to be relinquished for the calling you speake of viz. by Bishops may fitly be compared to a scarlet Coate lined with a course cotten the one shaming the other but there is a calling whose inside doth excell the outside viz. the calling by the Spirit by which he that hath it is inabled both to testifie himselfe and others and no man ought to take this calling upon him but he that is so called of God as was Aaron the other calling therefore is to be disclaimed of all that hath it whatsoever they be Obj. You formerly said that none are immediately called to that office in these times wherefore then speake you of the calling of the Spirit to that office Ans He must first have the Spirit of God or else he is utterly unfit for that office for he must have his calling from God as wel as from the Church or he can be no true Minister of Jesus Christ for the Church desiring his Spirituall gifts are thereby incouraged to accept of him as a Minister sent them by God The calling by the Bishops a delusion so that the other calling by the Bishops is a meere delusion because they judged only by the letter and not by the Spirit viz. by gifts in humane learning which is foolishnesse with God 1 Cor. 3. 19. it principally tending to ●dor●e the outward man touching their civill deportment to and for the State Obj. How are you able to distinguish who is called by the Spirit and who is not Ans By their fruites for otherwise our Saviour expresseth these words in vaine By their fruits you shall know them rendring also this reason for it Doe men gather grapes of thornes or figgs of brambles Mat. 7. 16. SECT 8. Obj. WHat are the simptoms or fruits whereby you know that Ministers are not called by the Spirit Ans There are many signes and markes to know them as I How such Priests may be known who have not the true calling viz. Such as preach out of envie or to cause contention have already instanced I will therefore only insist upon these foure particulars 1. They are such as preach Christ out of envie 1 Cor. 3. 3. or to cause contention amongst the people of God such as were the Pharisees which came from Judea to Antioch Act. 15. 1. 5. such were also the false Apostles of whom the Apostles of Christ much complained of for opposing their Doctrine as Himineus Alexander c. And such are the rayling Rabshakeys of this Kingdome whether Prelaticants or Presbiterians whose sole delight is to villifie such of the Members of Christ with their scurralous language as doe the nearest correspond with the Apostles both for paines in the Ministry as also in a contentednesse with what the people of God will freely bestow upon them for their paines in the labour of the Lord for their soules 2. They are such as desire to shew themselves rather Schollars Such as rather desire to shew themselves schollars them edificers then edificers such as will familiarly speake Greek and Latine to them that cannot read English that will dish up their Sermonds with such a garnish of Rethoricall elocution as the silly Auditors stand amazed at these be the boone Athenian-like blades who guild their Pulpit expressions with tearmes of Art these are the brave Aronicall Ruffians of these dayes which if their black Velvet and Satine were metamorphized into Chrimson which would farre better suit with their life and conversation there would be no greater Gallants in the Nation SECT 9. Such as esteem more of the fleece then of the flock 3. THey that esteeme more of the flesh then of the fleece that with the covitous Wooer inquireth rather what the woman these Preachers and casters out of Devils did was meerly for their owne advantage and selfe ends albeit they did it in pretence of doing Christ service instance in Judas Simon Magus VVhat the Priests of these times preach for and the Damsell which had the Spirit of Divination Act. 16. 16. and so it is with many of the Prelaticall and Presbiterian Priests who though they pretend that they preach to gaine Soules to Christ yet is it meerly for matter of maintenance by Tithes and the like Antichristian allowances which if once taken away it wil quickly be discerned how many of them wil preach for couscience sakes SECT 2. Obj. THese casters out of Devils did the parties good whom they released of the uncleane spirits although they perished themselves Ans I confesse that such sorts of people by Gods permission Carnall men cannot give spirituall comfort may doe many things which may tend to the corporall or temporall good of men as these casters out of Devils did to them who were possessed of them as also by them whom they terme Wise men or Wizzards who by their Art can helpe a man again to such things as are lost or stolne from him or the like albeit in the act they both indanger their Soules the one taking an unwarrantable course to gaine them and the other an unlawfull action to accomplish them but that such carnall people can produce spirituall good to the Soule I utterly deny Obj. The Apostle saith that he was glad that Christ

Scribes and Pharisees he therefore giveth the true sence of the Law given by Moses which allowed lawful warre to be made therefore Christs meaning cannot be that evell and injuries should no wayes be resisted It must also be considered that Christ spake there to private men not unto Magistrates that they were not to seeke revenge which belongeth to Rulers and Governours as also his intent was to restraine mens corrupt affections and grudges to seeke revenge and to exhort them to patience for according to the very letter our Saviour himselfe did not performe this precept for being smitten with a Rod did not turne the other cheeke but answered for himselfe Joh● 18 23. so did also the Apostle Paul when the High Priest commanded him to be smitten on the face Act. 23. Obj. The Apostle would not haue us goe to Law one with another 1 Cor. 6. 1. c. much lesse is it lawfull to make warre one against another Ans The Apostle doth not simply finde fault with their going to Law one with another but because they convented one another before Heathen Judges and for that they were impatient of wrongs and would put up nothing at one anothers hands as also in refusing to be tryed by the Saints and their own Church Obj. Our Saviour biddeth Peter to put up his Sword adding further that they which take the Sword shall perish with the Sword Mat. 26. 32. Ans It is plaine that our Saviour in that place speaketh of the private use of the Sword not of the publick in lawfull Battels when as the souldier doth not take the Sword in hand by private authority but it is committed unto him by the Commandement of the Magistrate SECT 8. Obj. OVr Saviour would have the Tares to grow w●●h the Wheat untill the time of harvest Ans The end and scope of that Parable is to be considered which is to set forth the state and condition of the Church of Christ in this world and that the wicked and Hypocrites are mixed amongst the faithfull and that it shall be so untill the second comming of Christ to purge his flowre and to take away the chaffe for otherwise if it were not lawfull to take away the evill there should be no place for Civill or Ecclesiasticall Discipline and so the Apostle Paul should have been contrary to his Master in willing the incestious young man to be excommunicated 1 Cor. 5. and so the tares to be weed out of the wheat for otherwise they being of such a growing and spreading nature they would over-run and spoyle the wheat Obj. The Apostle saith that the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but Spirituall 2 Cor. 10. 4. we must not then use carnall and outward weapons Ans The Apostle speaketh there only of such weapons as we are to use against Spirituall evills which indeed are Spirituall and not of those that are used against men likewise after the same manner the Apostle saith Christ sent me not to baptize but preach the Gospel 1 Corinth 2. 17. yet he baptized some 1 Cor. 1. 14. his meaning therefore is that he was not chiefly sent to baptize but to preach so the choycest armour of of Christians is Spirituall but they may use carnall or externall also Againe that it is lawfull for a Christian Magistrate to wage battell may thus appeare and that by the authority of the Word of God Deut. 1. 20. where there are divers Lawes prescribed to that purpose viz. As whom they shall make choyce of to goe to battell and how they should be exhorted by the Priests with divers other directions which had been super●●uous if it had been a thing simple unlawfull to enterprise Warre and in the New Testament when the Souldiers came to John Baptist to know of him what they should doe he biddeth them not to lay aside their Weapons or to forsake their Callings but not to doe wrong and be content with their wages Luk. 3. 14. we also read in the New Testament of two Centurions that beleeved in Christ and yet retained their office and calling still Further seeing that it is the office of a Magistrate that beareth not the Sword for nought to take vengeance on him that doeth evil Rom. 13. 4. and probably it may fall out that not only one or two may commit evil but a multitude may also doe evil and commit outrages as we have had woefull experience of for these many yeares who cannot be resisted or reduc d by the civil Officers as Constables Sheriffes or the like but by force of Armes the Magistrate then is to doe his duty to suppresse the evill and take vengeance of them which we may blesse God for them they have in a great measure done SECT 9. THere is no precept in the New Testament touching this matter but only in the Old Ans It is sufficient that we finde it there for whatsoever is prescribed in the Old Testament not repugnant to nor reversed in the New Christians are to receive and obey And the reason why no mention is made in the New Testament of waging of Battell or making of Warre is for that there was no Christian Magistrate by whose authority Warre must be taken in hand as also because there was no Civil power in the Church the Lord gave unto his Apostles an extraordinary power in punishing the wicked as Peter did strike Annanias and Saphira with suddaine death Act. 5. 5. so likewise they needed no Schooles then because they were furnished with extraordinary gifts of the Spirit but now they are needfull them extraordinary gifts being ceased And so it is necessary now that the materiall Sword be used that Spirituall sword of vengeance which the Apostles had being no more exercised And now that I am speaking of Warre it will not be impertinent in respect of the times many being dubitable to take up Armes for the reasons afore mentioned to shew you what things are required and doe concurre to make a just Warre wherein Christians may ingage and be also an honour to their profession for I doe admire that seeing the enemies of Christ and the Kingdome are so active for Anti-christ and Christians sit still and doe nothing not considering the curse which the Angel of the Lord pronounced against Mer●s for not comming out to help the Lord against the mighty may fall upon them for though the Lord can and wil doe it if they help not yet are they not thereby excused as in that example These three things are required and ought to concur to make a just War SECT 10. 1. BY whose Authority it is commanded 2. Upon what occasion Three things required to make a just warre and 3. In what manner Warre must be taken in hand 1. Warre must not be attempted without the authority of the Magistrate for he beareth the Sword Rom. 13. 4. if the example of Sampson and Abraham be objected this answer is made for the first he was moved by

religions Reason as was never yet in any age attained unto for the men of purest reason as the old Philosophers never attained further then the knowledge of some things infinite which they did not know a Religion of Morall righteousnesse and purity and some Sacrifices of attonement c. and there is not any Religion in the world Jewish or Turkish but they are made up of carnall principles and are founded upon reason and nature but this Gospel Religion hath opened a new way to salvation a way of worship crosse to all Methods and Heb. 4. 12 1 Pet. 1 19 w●yes of reason the word opening new wayes by a new Spirit purifying naturall reason into more divine and glorious notions then reason ever attained bringing in a way of beleeving and placing a Religion placed upon a spirituall perswasion called faith which is more proportionable to an infinite God and an infinite way and depth of Salvation then reason ever invented For the Soule to beleeve upon one even Jesus Christ in whom God hath laid up all love and fulnesse and so for man to come one with him who is God and Man And there cannot be a more rationall way for man to become one with God then by one that is both God and Man SECT 4. 10. THat the Scriptures or Gospel of the New Testament being a many hundred yeares old as from the Apostles even in that originall we have them no very materiall difference is to be found albeit the Copies have passed through the greatest Apostacy God restraining Antichrists power to corrupt them materially in the originall to advantage their Heresies and corruptions which very constant preservation of truth in the very midst of the enemies of truth is both a constant and standing Miracle of it selfe and so we need not stay for a Ministry with Miracle seeing we have a word with Miracle which in its matter subject power speaking of God of his Son God and Man of his Spirit the actor in man from both by way of outward ordinances of the depths windings and workings of reason c. and is of as much efficacy to perswade as any thing else we can have and though there be not such pouring out of Spirit and such gifts as beleevers may and shall have yet all beleevers ought to practice so farre of the outward ordinances as is cleerly revealed which conviction of his I suppose is sufficient to disswade any rationall man from thinking that either Miracles or new gifts of Tongues is now requisite for the gathering the Church of Christ out of Antichristianisme as there was in the Apostles time out of Judisme and Heathenisme Thus have I by Gods assistance confuted the tenents of the Atheists Anti-scripturians Papists Pellagians Armenians Antinomians Seekers Annabaptists saving that tenent from which they have their denomination which I shall hereafter discourse of in its more proper place and in the confutation of these former opinions is sufficiently confuted that other r●bble of Schisms and Heresies which are new coyned with the Presbiterian stampe unlesse it be the Quakers divorcers and Soul-sleepers which if there be any such as I hardly beleeve they may tell thee 1. That when they be hungry or thirsty they wil remember themselves and the second That to the pure all things are pure and aske the third which part of the St. Theife was with Christ in Paradice that day after his Passion Luk. 23. 24. CHAP. VIII The eighth Chapter treateth of Prelaci● SECT 1. IN the next place by the same assistance I A preface to the Prote●●ant intend to prosecute the discovery of all the Reliques of Popery which is yet harboured in any other opinions now extant amongst us in this Nation in hope that each ●pinionist will be as willing to imbrace the truth as it is willing to offer it selfe unto him and in regard the chiefe cause of the quarrell amongst us in matters of Religion consisteth in observing or not observing of Ceremonies which in respect of their long continuance is the greater cause that mens mindes are hardly perswaded from them as also in regard of the outward ●stentation or Aronicall glory which they retaine I will therefore take some paines to discover the ridiculousnesse of those needlesse Ceremonies which is yet fostered amongst many thousands in this Nation being verily perswaded that after they once see the vanity of them and how punctually they are against the precepts of Christ and his Apostles they will utterly renounce them albeit they have hitherto so much delighted themselves in them By which meanes their consciences being convinced they may use the Apostles word in the Apostles sence and say What pleasure had we then in those things whereof we are now ashamed And contrariwise if any whom I have or shall convince remaine refractory and obstinate it will be a meanes to leave them without excuse in regard they refuse to have their understandings eluminated loving darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill Joh. 3. 19. SECT 2. ANd in the first place I will incounter with such who call Ch●istians the most proper ●itle of the Disciples of C●●●st Act. 11. 26. themselves Protestants being ashamed of the name Christian which the Apostles and Disciples of the Primative Church tooke upon them as an ornament of their profession being derive● from their Masters name whom they professed to serve these Protestants or rather Prelatticants in regard of their deare affections to Bishops and their Popish Ceremonies and superiority being over-ruled by Satans pollicy which is to draw us to the outward imitation of Ceremonies that thereby we might leave the substance have under pretence of decencie and order and as it were to step out of the way to bring the Papists in to them maintained these their superstitions but by wofull experience they have found a contrary effect for instead of so doing the Papists have caught the most of them so that now they would rather be deprived of their Lives and Fortunes then part with such Toyes Now in regard I would shew them the vanity of each of their Their mistake in the Church errours I will first begin with their opinion touching the sanctity and inherent holinesse which they attribute to that place which they call the Church which indeed is not the Church but meerly a Meeting-place for the Church The true Church of Jesus Christ being a company of Men or Women or both acknowledging or worshipping the true God being gathered into A diffinition● of the Church of Christ a Body or Fellowship by the Word and Baptisme whom Christ doth regenerate and sanctifie here with his Spirit and purposeth afterward to glorifie in his heavenly Kingdome SECT 3. ANd as they are mistaken in the Church so are they also in Their mistake in the sanctity ●r inherent holinesse they attribute to their Steeple-houses the sanctity and holinesse which they attribute to that place which they so terme for