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	magistrate_n	21	3	7.1789	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85986	The libertine school'd, or A vindication of the magistrates power in religious matters. In ansvver to some fallacious quæries scattered about the city of Limrick, by a nameless author, about the 15th of December, 1656. And for detection of those mysterious designs so vigorously fomented, if not begun among us, by romish engineers, and Jesuitick emissaries, under notionall disguises ... (politicæ uti & ecclesiasticæ. axiom. Arabic.) Published, by Claudus Gilbert, B.D. and minister of the Gospel at Limrick in Ireland.	Gilbert, Claudius, d. 1696?	1657 (1657)	Wing G702; Thomason E923_4; ESTC R202210	61,982	75

THE Libertine School'd OR A VINDICATION OF THE Magistrates Power in Religious matters IN ANSWER TO SOME FALLACIOUS QUAERIES Scattered about the City of Limrick by a Nameless AUTHOR about the 15th of December 1656. And for Detection of those Mysterious Designs so vigorously fomented if not begun among us by Romish Engineers and Jesuitick Emissaries under Notionall Disguises Published By Claudius Gilbert B. D. and Minister of the Gospel at Limrick in IRELAND Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Let every soul be subject c. Zech. 13. 2 3 4 5 6. And I will cause the Prophets and unclean spirits to pass out of the Land c. Isa. 49. 23. And Kings shall be thy uursing Fathers c. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Magistratus in terra Coarctionis haeres quodvis improbum pudefaciens Judic. 18. 7. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Dei timor Principium Sapientiae Politicae uti Ecclesiasticae Axiom Arabic London Printed for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet 1657. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord HENRY CROMWELL Commander in Chief of the Forces in IRELAND And to the Right Honourable HIS Highnesses Councel FOR THE Affairs of IRELAND Right Honourable THe Glory of the latter daies consists very much in their godly Magistrates and the Glory of those Magistrates in their promoting of Christs Glory When the Lords Spirit would give an abstract of heaven on earth he promises Kings and Queens for nursing Fathers and Mothers to his Church Thus Portion and Protection are assured to his people on the most honourable and happy tearms The Lord himself is pleased to put his own Name upon those persons to whom he gives a providentiall Commission to act in his Name with civil Authority in the managing of his interest on earth He hath said Ye are Gods by a providentiall voice that ye might act like God and for God in subordination to his providence Such Shields of the earth belong unto him in a peculiar way which are made by him and must act for him in a peculiar manner He needs no instruments about any work yet is he pleased to honour instruments about his greatest work It s Your Honour to be employed by him he makes it Your Happiness to be faithfull to him That he will employ Ministers of his Word to instruct his Church it 's from his Grace that he doth intrust Magistrates with his Sword for the protection of his Church it 's for his Glory Both Jewell and Case mans Soul and Body were framed by him as God of Nature both Soul and Body were by his Sonne redeemed as the God of all Grace Both the internall and externall man do need his Spirit for the good of both Magistrates and Ministers are called to Office and blessed therein by the same Spirit Moses and Aaron were joined of old in ordering Christs Law Zerubabell and Joshua were not severed in the restoring thereof Though Primitive Churches wanted for a season the Magistrates help yet in due season were they made partakers of that Royall favour They wanted them first that Gods glory might not on mistake be given to man they had them again that the same Glory might not be still abused by man No sooner did Antichrist make incroachments on Christs Ministry but he usurped as fast on his Magistracy he swallowed up that as the two horned Beast Ecclesiastically and he subdued this as the ten horned Beast Politically Christ recovered both from Antichristian Yoke in his great Reformation as both had been usurped from him by Antichristian defection When he took care to purifie his Church in its Ministry he shewed no less care about the Magistracy As some of both sorts have witnessed for him in a sackcloth condition so some of both sorts shall witness of him in a seasonable ascension When he gives his people Pastors after his own heart he gives them Rulers to govern in his waies Thus he acts by men after the manner of men because he deals with men in the things of God The world is his great house that must be well taught but it 's through sinne a discomposed house that needs a good Rule Gods interest is such in faithfull Rulers that Satan will be still attempting all means to blast their faithfulness if he cannot keep them from doing Gods work he will use instruments to marre that very work Much of it appeared in former experiences and we see it too sadly in these latter daies Good men shall be seduced to betray Gods work yea and perswaded that it 's Satans work That which the Lord doth tender with most zeal Error will perswade to slight with most neglect If God put much stress on the first Table of his Law Error will take it off from the Magistrates care What many other parts have sadly bewailed we finde now much cause to bemoan afresh That spirit that once disturbed Germany is gotten too deeply into our bowels Christs Ministers were first struck at by that hand which reached the next blow to the Magistrates Those Foxes and Wolves that would worry Christs Flock cannot bear good will to faithfull Shepherds They would first debauch the spirits of men and then their bodies will be surely theirs The Ministers first shall be Antichristian and the Magistrates shall bear that title next Munster had once many fair warnings but the things of their peace were hid from their eyes If we gain wisdom by our neighbours harm it 's a mercy of the choicest kinde That good hand of heaven that brought Your Honours into this wilderness hath much to do here for you and by you Israels condition in their wilderness is a most lively parallell of this Land They had Christ present in his Ordinances but wanted a heart to improve the same Signall redemptions the Lord wrought for them but his wondrous works they had soon forgotten Magistrates and Ministers he provided them but they slighted and scorned the one and the others Holy profession God called them to they soon abused it to self-exalting Moses and Aaron were easily despised when Corah and his crue had once got their hearts When Divine Ordinances were counted humane humane presumptions were counted Divine Their Levelling spirits that would equalize all soon met with a check from their Superior They sank alive into the earths bowels that bid defiance to the God of heaven The Lords jealousie maintained his servants who had zealously maintained his Name They were soon consumed by fire from Gods house who made it their work to fire Gods house They regarded not his daily provisions and they paid dear for foolish desires When the Lords servants were doing them most good they were then plotting to do them most evil Thus are they our glass and our pourtraiture that we may the better learn to mend our faults Moses had to do with a

froward people Your Honours charge here looks too much like them The wisdom and zeal He received from God are stored up in Christ for all Your supplies That Christ who was all to Him and to them is ready to give all to You and to us His Substitutes You are who is our Sovereign that His work in Your hands may be prosperous is our ardent prayer The Magistrates Right is the scope of these Papers duly therefore presented to You to do their homage They speak Your Honour and Your Happiness in Your honouring and serving the Lord His Jewels on earth he trusts with You that his Worship and friends may be Your Jewels The Lord is with You whilst You be with Him if any forsake Him such will He forsake The glorious characters of His presence with You to this very day may much revive Your hearts and strengthen Your hands He hath been with You as the Lord of Hoasts He will be Yours still as the God of Peace That You may do much expect much from Him so shall Your Returns answer Your Receipts Those unclean spirits that are now raging shall soon be cast out by the Prince of Peace He doth overturn and shake all Nations that Christ the desire of the Nations may come That King of Nations shall regain his right which as King of Saints he will still improve Your Honours daily work is multiplicious and momentous still Aarons and Hurs hands must be subservient to uphold your own It 's our delight to serve You cordially that You may serve Christ most effectually I dare not presume any longer on You than to signifie my zealous ambition to be and appear in the work of Christ Your Lordships humbly devoted Servant Claudius Gilbert From my Study in Limrick Decem. 22. 1656. THE PREFACE Christian Reader THe Civil power of the Magistrate in matters of Religion is a weighty Point much controverted in these daies as it hath formerly been upon severall accounts The Champions of Truth have been put upon it in all ages to vindicate this part of Christs interest against the renewed assaults of numerous adversaries The sophisticall mistakes of its oppugners hath drawn them and their followers into dangerous absurdities and contradictions therein Very few of them if any have laboured to state the question aright that they might debate it methodically Many outcries we indeed meet with against compulsion of conscience but very little of sober discourse about the Magistrates Civil power in Religious matters where it crosses the pretence of conscience That no violent force should or can be put upon mens consciences being granted to them most of their Arguments fight with their own shadows Some would seem to oppose all kinde of Magistraticall power in any part of the first Table pleading for a licentious liberty of all sorts therein Others admit of limitations and severall distinctions therein and yet the strength of their reasons complies with the former when duly weighod Many worthy Pens have taken very commendable pains in stating and vindicating of that legall Right which the Lords Magistraticall substitute is entrusted with as Custos vindex utriusque Tabulae Specially Mr Thomas Cobbet in 1653. N. England hath found abundant cause to praise the Lord for the due exercise and vindication of that Power the neglect and opposition whereof was like to have proved their overthrow in Civils and Ecclesiasticals The same spirit of Error hath struggled there so hard for Libertinism hath gotten too much strength and favour in these Nations The like design hath been therefore vigorously drawn on to take off the Magistrate from that part of his work which is the most noble and most needfull in such a season Various interests have joined forces herein yea divers good men have been ensnured into it at unawares There is a fallacious plausibility in many things said therein which takes easily with the weak and credulous Christian as in all other doctrines of Error Some would promote it that they may promote and shelter at pleasure their Levelling Ranting and Quaking principles Others favour it for fear of being restrained in some things which the Magistrate cannot but see just cause to take cognizance of for regulation What rank our Querist is to be numbred in we cannot certainly say his Paper not being subscribed by any though his drift may be easily guessed at It grieves our hearts most to see any of Christs professed friends taking part in such a quarrell with the common enemy of his Word and Ordinances The sad consequent of sinfull separations from the Reformed Protestant Churches appears much in this as in other things When the unity of the Spirit that should keep the bond of peace in the unity of Christian Faith and Baptism within Gods house comes into disregard it cannot but prove fatally ominous to the ushering in of those many evils which have still been concomitants thereof The Primitive times afford us many wofull instances of it and Germany with other parts hath verified it by sad experience ever since the great Reformation begun Schismaticall rendings of the Church of Christ were very seldom free from hereticall Apostasi●s Had we no Record Divine or Humane Ancient or Modern to testifie this truth the posture of persons and things among us would demonstrate it too abundantly Yet would not we be mistaken in shewing the bitter fruits of sinfull separations as if we disowned all separations There is a good separation from evil required of God as there is an evil separation from good forbidden by him A separation from the man of sinne and from the sinne of man is a Christians duty Revel. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 18 19. Isa 52. 11. Jer. 51. 6. But separation from the Church and good Ordinances of God is an unchristian sinne Christ owned the Jewish Church in its publique Ministry and worship though distempered with many corruptions in every part thereof whilst they retained the fundamentals of Religion he still entertained communion with them As long as that first administration of the Lords gracious Covenant lasted both he and his Apostles maintained correspondency with that visible Church of his whilst they did most keenly rebuke the members thereof for their severall enormities yea and after their setting up of that Evangelicall worship which as the second administration of the Lords gracious Covenant was to make an end of the Ceremonials and continue to the worlds end Heb. 9. 10 11 12. Heb. 12. 26 27. Matth. 28. 21. Matth. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 26. yet were they so shie of rending the Garment of Christs body his Church that they did for a long time bear with the Jewish outrages labouring by all means to keep fair with them and broke not off as long as they could hold with them in the great foundation of Religion The like course was taken by God and his servants towards Israel and Judah before their

for the manner yet in effect he did shew what should be done in the like case by the Magistrate in his place as also by the Church in their place as in the case of Phinehas Numb. 14. of Elijah 1 King 18. 40. of Samuel 1 Sam. 15. 33 c. those malefactours were extraordinarily executed by the Lords servants for breach of the first and second Table because the Magistrates duty was neglected therein 2. That Law of Christ which authorizeth the Magistrate to act for him under him and like him in punishing the breaches of every command whether of the first or second Table doth also regulate him in that execution 1. Declaring his power to be Civil not Ecclesiasticall by civil orders proceedings and censures not by such means as he appoints to his Church Indeed the Magistrate may also be a Church-member but in this he acts not as such but as a civil Officer yet under Christ 2. His power reaches to things that concern the outward man whether verball or actuall not mentall and secret 3. In those externals he must have a clear rule of Gods Word either expresly or by sure consequence not his own conceit or any mans will 4. Therein he must proportion the punishment to the nature of the transgression whether lighter or heavier for matter or manner to avoid foolish pity and rigorous cruelty 5. His end must be a godly peace 1 Tim. 2. 2. that thereby all may be quickned to a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Thus the Magistrate is given as an Ordinance of God Rom. 13. 12. being a power ordained of God for a terrour to all evil works v. 3. yea the Ministry of God for mans good v. 4. and that for conscience sake v. 5. to be done and obeyed Thus acted pious Job ch. 29. declaring corruption of worship in covetous idolaters to be punishable by the Judge Job 31. 24 28 c. Thus Moses the Magistrate by Gods command punished the breaches of the Sabbath abuse of Gods Name Idolatry c. Thus Joshua that noble conquering Protector of Israel resolved himself and advised others Josh. 22. 23. 24. chap. Thus Abraham that faithfull Prince ordered his charge and was so favoured of God for it Gen. 18. 18 19. Thus victorious David wise Solomon valiant Asa zealous Jehoshaphat heroicall Josias noble Nehemiah acted Gods part in ordering the affairs of Gods house directing his people punishing the abuses of his worship c. which the Lord records for a monument and Crown of glory to them Thus for the New Testament God himself promiseth Isa. 49. 23. to give such nursing fathers and mothers of a Royall bloud and spirit who shall instrumentally build up Zion in mercy and pull down Babylon in justice Rev. 12. compared with Rev. 17. ch. 18. ch. 19. When Christ is Generall of the field his followers Jews and Gentiles the two Armies portraied out Cant. 6. 13. Zach. 12. 6 7 8. shall be more zealous for his house than for their own But our Querist pekes Qu. 2. Whether persecution for conscience doth not harden men in their way and make them cry out of oppression and tyranny Ans. Persecution of good is evil but persecution of evil is good 2. A good conscience must be preserved an evil conscience must be renewed 3. A godly conscience will abhorre every evil but a pretended conscience will plead for evil 4. A true conscience will thank the Physician that cures it though with smart a false conscience will cry out against the Physician and smart to retain its evil 5. A wise conscience will cry up the judicious care of Gods servants for good against evil but a foolish conscience will cry down both for evil against good 6. God gives not over his care of mens souls for causless out-cries neither will his servants neglect their duty for groundless calumnies Qu. 3. Whether to convert an heretick and to cast out unclean spirits be done any other way than by the finger of God by the mighty power of Gods Spirit in the Word Ans. 1. Heresie is described Tit. 3. 10. to be a self condemning errour perverting Gods truth and mens souls What course is to be taken by the Church with a member pertinaciously offending is there also declared It 's a work of the flesh and what course is to be taken with a member of the State by the Magistrate for such an evil work we reade also Hereticks in all ages have troubled the Church and very few were ever reclaimed For 300 years after Christ Satan employed many such Engineers to undermine Religion and disparage the profession of Christ Thus Simon and Cerinthus Menander and Ebion disturbed the Apostolicall daies Sabellius and Marcion Priscillian and Samosatenus Arrius and Macedonius Nestorius and Eutyches with many more succeeded them in opposing the Person and Office the Nature and Grace the Spirit and Truth the Sabbath and Ordinances of Christ The Roman Antichrist contracted the substance of all them and no sooner did Reformation dawn but all parts of Europe were infested anew with that poisonous vermine Mans dunghill heart yielded still matter and help to such a hellish brood What the Gnosticks did of old and the ranting crue of Germany in the last age we finde sadly revived among us now The conversion of such is very rare and difficult witness the Apostle such being given up to the raign and vigour of delusion Those spirituall judgements that give up mens consciences to that efficacious power of hell are the most dreadfull judgements bringing most of them to that sin unto death which puts them into an impossibility of repentance and salvation It 's indeed the finger of God by the mighty power of his Spirit in his Word that must do the work when ever it s done There is the more need therefore that all means should be used with diligence in subordination to that powerfull Spirit and Word of his Thereby some German and Brittish Jesuites have been converted and Indian * Pawawes reduced to Christian faith The Magistrates help hath often been found very effectuall thereto if not to convert the seducers yet to prevent their infection from spreading and plucked many as brands out of the fire Their mouth is to be stopped from biting and their hands to be kept from abuse whilst their phrensie rages and ranges like a gangrene A Bedlam may cure many such mad pranks or at least tame them The prudent zeal of one Magistrate doth often in such a case more good than the labours of many Ministers To be plucked out of the devils snares is a mercy that God affords by blessing the endeavours of his servants as by his Word Ecclesiastically so by his Sword Magistratically Such seducers being reclaimed by those censures sanctified to them will bless God and man for these healing wounds received in the house of friends 2. Unclean spirits denote in Scripture sometimes

that juncture of affairs required It will be the joy of all Gods friends to see more of the like among us Their success mentioned so remarkably in the context will not be far from us whilst we keep close to God in their way But how farre are our Querists friends from following that good example Do they labour still to disgrace and discourage faithfull Magistrates and Ministers from promoting it Is it not their business day and night every where to obstruct and disturb it what they can If they seem of late to be grown more mild and reserved we may thank the care of such Magistrates who have given them cause to fear the deserved lash Their poyson is but refined by this change and made more taking Ans. 3. He answers again The Kings of Israel had extraordinary Prophets to direct them infallibly Our Kings and Governours have none such to direct them Reply We reply Though many of them had such yet even then the Standard of all Doctrine and Worship was the Law and the Testimony thereby all spirits and pretended Prophets were to be tried The like have we now in Gospel-daies even a more sure word of Prophesie a word surer than the greatest Revelations mentioned in that context of Peter a word sufficient every way to compleat the man of God in the knowledge and doing of his will This is our Doctrinal foundation our infallible Judge whereby all spirits and Doctrines are to be tried If any teach otherwise though he should be an Angel from heaven he is accursed We need then no infallible Prophets or Apostles seeing we have that sure word of theirs which the Spirit of Truth spoke and writ by them confirmed by their miracles and hath infallibly made the perfect rule of our faith and life all differing interpretations thereof may and must be reconciled by the light of that unerring spirit which is inseparable from his Word Though fallible men mistake often yet the sense of Christs Spirit in his Word is clear and sure still Though blind eyes see not at all and sore eyes see but dimly though blood-shot eyes will see amiss the light of that Sun is alwaies clear and sure Though some expressions may seem obscure yet the rest duly compared will sufficiently clear them Though the self-conceited and proud will wrest and mistake it yet the humble will God teach Though a corrupt mind will extract poyson as a spider out of flowers errour out of truth by poysoning it yet Christs Spirit will lead his people thereby into all Truth needfull for them to know Though the carnal heart will still be ignorant yet the teachable heart by that anointing from above will be taught all things gradually proportionably and seasonably so that he shall not need to be taught by any Sect master or Pharisaical Teacher or infallible Pope as too many have been and are still Though this Gospel be hid to them that perish whose eyes are blinded by sin and Satan yet is it plain to him that understands and is tractable in the School of Christ Though it may prove a savour of death to reprobate consciences yet is it still the sweet savour of Christ to his Disciples Though worldly spirits will slight and abuse the simplicity thereof yet spiritual hearts will admire and improve still the Majesty of it Though the perverse minde will account it a self-contradicting word yet the rational Christian will find it still most harmonious in its whole composure Though a vain soul will finde it to be a killing letter yet the wise heart will finde it experimentally to have a most quickning Spirit Though the superficial Reader will finde its shell and bark to be hard and knotty yet the studious Christian will tast the sweetness and tenderness of its kernell and marrow Though deluded Impostors will pervert it still to the taking off the Magistrate from his duty about the first Table yet the Lords servants shall finde every part thereof to be an eminent motive to quicken direct and enable all Superiours to the faithfull preserving and vindicating of it Ans. 4. He answers fourthly The Kings and Rulers of Israel did not imprison Schismaticks Pharisees Herodians Reply 1. The Law of God directed his servants then to dispense all censures in a way proportionable to the nature of the offence and condition of the offender which faithfull Magistrates observed as hundred instances might demonstrate The King to that end was commanded to have a Copy of the Law by him to direct him still daily Reply 2. As there were divers sorts of Hereticks which the Lords Word bound over to just penalties so was there variety of Schismaticks raised up by Satan to rend the Church as the Hereticks work was to poyson it for a just execution on the spirits of such as had not received the Truth in the love thereof that they might be saved God gave them up to strong delusions to beleeve lies as he doth daily Because they voluntarily separated from God and his Truth to give up themselves to the service of sinne and Satan he justly gave them up to a perverse spirit to break them into fractions and factions both in Church and State even as he doth now by sad experience Because they would not be separated from the evil of men he permitted them to follow those seducers that drove on their own interest by separating from good men Doth he not so still Because they wilfully chose heaps of Teachers self-called to serve their fansies and lusts God also chose their delusions to give them up to the efficaciousness of deceit Is it not so still Because they refused and abused the lights of his own setting up was it not just with him to leave them in darkness to abuse themselves and others even as it 's now Thus Gods refusals are still the devils choice and they that forsake his waies cannot escape the devils crooked paths Whilst Authority kept all in their places close to the Word and Waies of God Jerusalem the Metropolis of Church and State was a glorious and harmonious City But as fast as they declined in their zeal of Gods house towards worldly Politicks they ushered in as fast all sorts of discords and discontents Civil and Ecclesiastical Josephus their Historian and many others compared with Scripture Records will fully demonstrate this to the judicious Reader As before their Babylonian Captivity so after it they gradually lost Purity then Peace inclining still towards Errour and Discord Thence the direfull separations of Pharez and Sadock the Ringleaders of so many Myriads into Pharisaism and Sadducism followed close by the Monkish Essens and the Politick Herodians those State separatists The like befell the Christian Churches in the very Apostles daies and successively more and more The sinfull separations of the Novatians Acesians Donatists c. with