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	lord_n	murmur_v	27	3	10.8966	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29529	Stand still: Or, A bridle for the times A discourse tending to still the murmuring, to settle the wavering, to stay the wandring, to strengthen the fainting. As it was delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, Anno 1643. By John Brinsley, Minister of the Word there, and now published as a proper antidote against the present epidemicall distempers of the times.	Brinsley, John, 1600-1665.	1647 (1647)	Wing B4729; ESTC R217245	80,497	119

Ruler of thy People Pray for them I though they should be persecutors That is the Rule Pray for them that persecute you This doe we and doe we it in the first place So the Apostle there presseth it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} First of all Oh that murmurers would but take out of this lesson to pray for Superiours first of all pray for them before they let flye at them or murmur against them certainly this would take off the Edge of their murmuring The more they prayed for them the lesse they would murmur against them Sure I am They which murmur most are such as pray least To prevent the one practise the other Pray for ●●r Superiours And that as the Apostle there directs First for the King whom we acknowledge by a divine and speciall Providence set over us as a Supreme Governour in these his Dominions Be we earnest with God for him that he may be made a Moses to us having Moses his spirit put upon him and if it might be doubled upon him as Elias his spirit was upon Elisha a wise and a large spirit proportionable to the charge committed unto him that he may be wise as an Angell of God as the woman of Tekoah said to King David able to discerne betwixt good and evill And with Moses his head beg we for him also Moses heart a heart faithfull to his God that like Moses he may be as a faithfull servant faithfull in all the house of his God A heart tender and affectionate towards his people Carrying them in his bosome lovingly tenderly carefully As a Nurse beareth her sucking child as the Lord requireth Moses to doe to his Israel So making him in truth what he is by office Patrem Patriae a Father a Nursing Father to his People Gods People Every wayes a Moses a Saviour a deliverer to the Israel of God Praying for him Pray we also for those which are in Authoritie over us under him And here in speciall for the Representative Body the great Synedrion our English Sanhedrim the supreme Court and Councell of this Kingdome now assembled together in the name of God to be unto their Prince as those seventie Elders were unto Moses a Councell of Assistance to beare the Burden of the People together with him For them beg we also that God would do for them what he there promiseth Moses to doe to his Counsellours and Assistants viz. take off the spirit which was upon Moses and put it upon them even a spirit suitable and proportionable to the Burden layed upon them Making them a Wise and faithfull Councell to their Prince and Wise and faithfull guides unto his people leading them on in such wayes as God himselfe hath layed out for them so as in due time they may conduct them through this Red-Sea this Sea of blood and this wildernesse of Confusion whereinto at the present we are cast unto a Canaan a Land of rest and peace where Righteousnesse and Peace may dwell together And remembring them forget we not the Sons of Aaron who are now called together to consult about the businesse of the Tabernacle For them also beg wee a spirit proportionable to the worke which they have in hand Even the same spirit that the Lord put upon Bezaleel and Aholiab when he called them to the worke of the Tabernacle The Spirit of wisedome and understanding and knowledge to know how to worke all manner of worke for the service of the Sanctuary according to all that the Lord hath commanded Such a Spirit beg we for them that so all things in this Tabernacle-Temple-worke may be done and performed according to the Patterne in the Mount according to the mind and will of God himselfe Begging direction and assistance for them withall beg we a blessing upon their endeavours that the Rod of Aaron may Bud and Blossome and bring forth fruit No such way to quiet the murmurings of the people as this It was the Lords owne way which he bad Moses take and make use of for this very purpose Numb. 17. The people being subject to murmuring upon all occasions and in particular about the Priesthood as you have heard for a Cure of that Disease the Lord directs Moses to take twelve Rods according to the number of the Tribes for every Tribe one laying them up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony And it shall come to passe saith the Lord That the mans Rod whom I shall choose shall blossome and I will make to cease the murmurings of the children of Israel c. This was the meanes propounded What the successe was the sequell of the Chapter will shew It came to passe that Moses went into the Tabernacle and behold Arons Rod which was for the house of Levi was budded and brought forth blossomes and yleeded Almonds whereupon the Lord ordereth Moses to take that Rod and lay it up in the Tabernacle before the Testimony there to be kept for a Token against the Rebells and saith the Lord Thou shall quite take away their murmurings I shall not need to tell you that the chiefe ground of our murmuring at this day is if not the same yet not unlike to theirs about the Priesthood O that the wonder-working God would be pleased to worke the like wonder in our dayes that we might see the Rod of Aaron which at the present through the Calamitie of the times seemes to lye secure and dead to Bud and Blossome and Bring forth Almonds yeelding us not onely Hopes but Fruits Hopes of a quiet and comfortable condition to the Church with the sweet and blessed fruits of a Glorious administration in it No doubt but this would have a strong influence upon the present and future distempers of unquiet spirits either to cure and stay their murmurings or else to be a witnesse against them to all succeeding ages This we know our God is able to doe and this we hope he will yet doe In the meanetime let us and all the Lords people Stand still waiting and quietly waiting upon our God for his salvation It is good for us so to do so faith the Church Lam. 3 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord I have done with the first Branch of this Direction which I confesse hath taken more of my thoughts and your patience then at the first in my intentions I allotted it Stand still not Wavering Passe we now to the second Stand still not Wavering This men naturally are very apt to doe being all by nature ever since the first man left his standing become very unstable but some more then others It is that which the Patriarch Iacob saith to and of his sonne Ruben Gen. 49. Vnstable as water Water it is an unstable Element seldome standing still specially if there be any wind stirring then we

flying to him Fourthly In the fourth and last place holding their Tongues and Hearts and Feet still he bids them also hold their Hands still not Murmuring not Wavering not Flying he tels them they should not need to fight neither So Master Calvin here construeth the phrase Verbo standi vult quietos manere Bidding them stand still saith he he wils them to rest themselves quiet as if he had said there shall be no need for any of you to stirre a hand to move a fingar in this service stand you still God will doe the worke for you and without you And this exposition the verse following seemeth to countenance where Moses tels them The Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your Peace ye shall be silent ceasing as from speaking so from doing any thing in this businesse so that phrase is sometimes used being applied to actions as well as words Keep not ●ilence O God saith the Psalmist Hold not thy Peace and be not still Psal. 83. I haue a long time holde● my Peace saith the Lord I haue been still and refrained my selfe Is. 42. refrained my selfe viz. from taking vengeance upon mine Enemies which when God doth forbearing to punish them then hee is said to hold his peace and sit still In a like sense not improperly may Moses be conceived there to speake unto the people yee shall hold your peace i.e. yee shall not strike a blow nor draw a sword nor lift up a hand let God alone with the worke stand yee still Put these foure together and you have as I conceive the full latitude of the word as here it is used Stand yee still saith Moses to the people not Murmuring not Wavering not Flying not Fighting Never a one of these but will afford us somewhat for our Instruction I shall touch upon them severally by way of Illustration Application Stand still not Murmuring First Stand still not Murmuring whether against God or me This corrupt nature is very prone and readie to doe to murmur against God and Superiours those whom God hath set over us and made his Ministers for our good To make good this charge we shall need no other evidence or instance but this of the Israelites whom if we follow in their march through the wildernesse wee shall take them murmuring no lesse then eight severall times besides that in the Text against God and his servant Moses Looking upon them stand not to wonder at their wawardnesse and forwardnesse but rather reflect upon our selves in this Glasse beholding our owne faces taking notice how prone our corrupt nature is to fall into this distemper upon all occasions This we are prone and ready to doe but this we may not doe Sand still saith Moses unto them willing them not to give way to any discontented Passions that might cause them to murmur A Lesson for all the Lords people the Israel of God teaching them what to doe or rather what not to doe in all their straits and difficulties viz. Stand still not Murmuring It is Pauls advice and charge to his Corinthians 1 Cor. 10. Neither murmur yee as some of them also murmured some of the Israelites in the wildernesse And how did they murmur Why upon all occasions they were discontented and displeased with Gods administrations and dealings with them and withall ready to vent their discontents expressing them both in words and deeds As for instance In case 1. They wanted something which they would haue 2. Liked not what they had 3. Met with some dangers difficulties discouragements 4. Saw others honoured and preferred before themselves In all and every of these cases we shall find their spirits like the Sea in this Winter season presently stirred and their Tongues ready to pumpe out the secret discontents of their hearts in quarrelling with and murmuring against God and his servant Moses Take a briefe view of particulars First In case they wanted somewhat that they would haue Thus we find them thrice murmuring for water viz. once in the wildernesse of Shur Exod. 15. A second time at Rephidim afterwards called Massa and Meriba from their strivings Exod. 17. A third time in the Desert of sinne Numb. 20. Twice for Food viz. once for Bread Exod. 16. once for Fl●sh Numb. 11. and every time ready to fall foule upon Moses Secondly In case they liked not what they had Thus being cloyed with their Mannah they nauseate and loath it and loathing it fall to murmur against God and his servant Moses for not making them better provision They speake against God and against Moses saying Wherefore have yee brought us out of Aegypt to dye in the wildernesse Here is neither Bread nor water and our soule loat●eth this Mannah this Light-Bread Numb. 21. 3. In case they met with any danger thus in the Text any difficulties or discouragement Thus at the returne of their Spies making a discouraging report to them of the good Land which they had taken a view of representing to them a great deale of difficultie in the conquest of it hereupon they fall soule upon Moses and Aaron and upon Caleb and Ioshuah ready to Cashire the one and to stone the other and so to create a new Generall that might conduct them back againe into Aegypt of all which you may read Numb. 14. Fourthly Seeing others honoured and preferred before themselves This was the ground of that grand Rebellion or Sedition raysed by Korah and his Confederates those two hundred and fiftie Captaines or Princes of the Assembly as they are called i.e. Chiefe Senators principall States-men Famous in the Congregation men of renowne of which you may read Numb. 16. These combine and make head against Moses Aaron whom they maligned and envied onely for their promotions and preferments that they should be in any thing preferred before themselves Hereupon they charge them to be too Pragmaticall too busie to usurpe and arrogate to themselves more then was their due Yee take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation is holy v. 3. And afterwards when God had made the chiefe Actors in that Conspiracy exemplary by causing the Earth to take vengeance upon some and the Fire to doe execution upon others of them the next day the people begin to take up the quarrell afresh making a fresh charge upon Moses and Aaron calling them to account for the disaster of the day past charging all that Blood upon their heads On the morrow all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying Ye haue killed the People of the Lord v. 41. Thus did some of them murmur But take wee heed that none of us thus murmur This is Pauls counsell to his Corinthians and this is mine to you at the present and I beseech you in the feare of God to hearken to it Thus let us not murmur A piece of counsell I think

out off keeping them out of the possession of the promised land for fortie years together besides the many difficulties and hardships which they met with for all which they might thanke their murmuring No such way to lay blockes in the way of mercie to keep off mercies at least to retard them as this Thirdly In the third place as it will keep off mercy so it is a ready way to pull downe Iudgement Iudgement and that both Temporall and Eternall Temporall not upon our owne heads onely but also upon the places where wee live Eternall upon our owne heads without repentance It is a branch of Enochs prophecie with Saint Iudes glosse upon it Jude ver. 15.16 Behold the Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute Iudgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly Convince them of what why as of their wicked workes so of their wicked words of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him And who are these that Enoch there speaketh of T●e Apostle in the next words points them out These are M●r●urers Complainers men that are so ready to quarrell even with God himself to complaine of his dispensations and proceedings with themselves and others O take we heed of this as we desire to have the mercies which we enjoyed continued sanctified blessed unto us As we desire to have the mercies which we want speeded and hastned As we desire to have judgements temporall removed and both temporall and eternall prevented stand wee now still Take heed of Murmuring against God Or yet in the second place against those which are appointed by him to go before us to be our Leaders and Governours Take we heed how we quarrell with them murmure against them or against their Counsels and Actions passing rash and uncharitable censures upon what it may be wee understand not A case verie common and ordinary It was the case of the Jewes our Saviours auditors when they heard him say that hee was the Bread which came downe from Heaven they were presently offended and began to murmure against him so you have it Io. 6.41 And so did many of the Disciples also when they heard it they murmured v. 61. And what was the ground of their murmuring Why their ignorance they understood not our Saviours meaning which had the Disciples done certainly they would never have murmured against their Master Thus happily did we but understand the counsells of our Superiours and were able to dive into the bottome of them wee would approve and allow of what through ignorance we murmur at Ignorance being the mother of mis-understanding oft-times brings forth murmuring This it is that maketh men so apt to murmur against God even Ignorance of his Counsells they cannot trace him in those deepe and hidden wayes which in themselves are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} untraceable past finding out and thence is it that they are so ready to quarrell with his Decrees and Administrations whereas if they could but dive into the bottome of his counsells they should then see so much wisedome and justice in all his proceedings as would quiet and silence all their Murmurings To this purpose is that of the Prophet Isaiah Isa. 29. last They that erred in spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learne doctrine Intimating that it is the want of understanding and instruction that maketh men to murmur against God the not understanding of his counsells of his wayes wherein if men were rightly and throughly instructed it would heale all their murmurings against him And surely this it is oft-times that maketh men so apt to murmur ahd complaine against Superiours They are none of their Counsell they are not privie to their aimes and intentions and consequently through ignorance thereof are apt to misconstrue their actions though in themselves never so just and equitable Thus did the by-standers misconstrue that pious and most religious act of Mary Magdalens in pouring out her Box of oyntment upon the head of her Saviour They seeing it were offended at it crying out of the waste Ad quid perditio haec To what purpose is this waste And what was the cause of their offence Why they understood not the meaning of what was done The waste they saw but the meaning of that waste they saw not They understood not that she bestowed that oyntment upon her Saviour {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as an Embalming in way of preparation to his Buriall Surely even thus fareth it with many of us at the present We see the great waste and spoyle that hath beene and yet is made in the Kingdome at this day waste of Treasure and waste of Blood and we are ready thereupon to cry out in our discontented passions Ad quid perditio haec To what purpose is all this waste But in the meane time as we doe not know what the purpose of God herein is so we are not so privie to the Counsells of Superiours as that we can passe an unerring verdict upon their Actions Wee know what the Wiseman faith of the Kings heart The Heavens for height and the Earth for depth and the Kings heart can no man search And the like may we say of his Great Councell Their counsells are for the most part mysterious and deep locked up from vulgaries not to be fadomed by common apprehensions specially by those who look upon them at a remote distance so cannot take the true height or just scantling of them Now seeing we cannot pry into them be we ware how we passe rash and uncharitable censures upon them least we fall into the number of those whom Saint Iude speaketh of ●who speake evill of Dignities speaking evill of things which they know not It will be a great deale more safe for us and more prositable both for us and them to turne our Censures our Murmurings into Prayers Our censures upon them and murmurings against them into prayers for them For this I am sure we have warrant sufficient It is that which the Apostle exhorts to and calls for 1 Tim. 2. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for all men all sorts of men For Kings and for all that are in Authoritie that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie This is an exercise fit and proper for Subjects to pray for Superiours And this doe wee Pray for them not Curse them Curse not the King no not in thy thought saith the Preacher And Curse not the Rich in thy Bed-chamber Eccles. 10. Pray for them not Revile them Had Paul beene aware who it was that he spake to he would not have given him such language as he did So much himselfe tells the people alledging his Rule for it It is written thou shalt not speake evill of the