Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A13554
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The progresse of saints to full holinesse described in sundry apostolicall aphorismes, or short precepts tending to sanctification, with a sweete and divine prayer to attaine the practise of those holy precepts / by Thomas Taylor ...
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Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.
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1630
(1630)
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STC 23850; ESTC S1019
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235,792
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462
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they are so freely conferred upon us as David Psal. 116.12 Oh what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards mee 3. To binde us to the more care in dispensing them for the greater our receit is the greater is our Lords expectation 1 Pet. 4.10 Let every man as he hath received a gift minister the same to others as a good steward of the manifold graces of God 4. To enable us to make up our accounts according to the number and measure of our gifts Matth. 25.24 the master observes the number of talents and the servant that received tenne talents must bring in according to tenne Quest. How shall I know if the Spirit be quenched or no Answ. By the application of this observation thou shalt see whether thou art gone forward or backward whether thou hast quenched or cherished the Spirit This examination shall be reduced to five particular heads in respect of 1. Graces 2. Good motions 3. Good duties 4. Sinne and 5. the Spirits worke on thy affections First examine thy selfe in graces received both for number and measure 1. If the Spirit in respect of the number of graces be quenched try thus If a man make no conscience of some points of doctrine or practise which heretofore he hath made conscience of as swearing usurie lying gaming family-duties and the like now the Spirit is quenched hee is like a man who being in decay for matters of the world doth cast off some of his traine So also when a man is not able to feede his understanding and practise as one ignorant about what he may imploy his head and hands A tree being in decay withers first at toppe because it cannot send sappe so farre from home so is the life of grace knowne to be in decay if it feede not all the parts of the Christian course Or to use our owne Metaphor As an aged man appeares by his head his white haires shew a decay of naturall heate and moysture so a Christians falling from right understanding judgement and practise is as white haires and argues a decay of spirituall heate and vigour For preservatives in this case first consider that God expects the number of talents committed unto us Secondly why should wee be like the brute beast which wants the art of numbering why should wee be as the silly bird that layeth twenty egges yet take away all but two she is as well and as painfull for them as for all and all because she wants numbring How can a Christian be so simple as to please himselfe as much with few graces as with many 2. In regard of the measure of graces try thus If a man waver and stagger in that wherein hee hath beene constant still he hath some faith some zeale some patience diligence and other graces but he wants that measure which sometimes he had now though he have an under measure in all yet hath he quenched the spirit Even as an olde man is knowne to be decayed because though hee have his whole number of parts that ever he had yet he hath them not in that measure of vigour as formerly hee had them For preservatives against this decay first consider that the Church of Ephesus is blamed for falling from her first love that degree of carefulnes which once she had Rev. 2.4 Secondly consider that we are commanded in the Scripture to adde grace to grace as dayes are added to our lives 2 Pet. 1.5 6. yea in respect of the measure and strength of grace 2 Tim. 2.1 Thirdly this is remarkable that those whose hearts have once beene heated with the fire of Gods spirit and afterwards have abated doe grow more frozen in iniquity than any other as water once hot is afterward most colde and freezeth hardest Secondly examine thy selfe in regard of good motions If these be lessened the spirit is quenched As for example when thou hast beene moved to heare the word and hast neglected it for some vaine pleasure or some small profit or sometime thou hast a motion to leave thy swearing cursing lying usurie gaming c. Gods spirit did knocke at the doore of thy heart but thou didst shut the doore against him and keptst out that heate which hee would have put into thee this is to quench the spirit Take heede lest failing thus in so necessary duties thou faile of the meanes whereby thou shouldest rise Repent and doe the first workes or else I will come unto thee quickly saith the Lord and remove thy Candlesticke out of his place Rev. 2.5 And againe Matth. 21.43 I say unto you the Kingdome of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation that will bring forth the fruites thereof Thirdly examine thy selfe in regard of good duties after this manner 1. If in stead of fervency in prayer thou findest thy prayer colde dead remisse formall interrupted with idle and wandering thoughts now the spirit is quenched who makes us cry and stirres up groanes which are unutterable 2. If once comming to the word thou wast wont to finde it sweete and a word of life unto thee but now thou commest with an impenitent heart a slumbering and a sleepy conscience oh certainly the spirit is now quenched who is never so sweete and cheerefull as in the word for he thawes the benummed heart and makes it burne by opening the Scripture A man in a swone if rubbing and Aqua vitae fetch him not againe his soule is gone the same is thy case if the spirit of God do not revive and quicken thee 3. In keeping the Lords Sabboths if sometimes thou couldest account thē thy delight the most comfortable day of the week but now thou formally passest them over not altogether hardened but with colde and heavie motions in confessing sinne in petition in thanksgiving if thou be slow of heart to beleeve heare and meditate in the word by this know that the spirit is quenched in thee who worketh joy and sweetnesse in the heart while it is in the presence of God and societies of the Saints 4. If after the performing of good duties thou hast sometimes found cheerefulnesse strength and good assurance thy selfe refreshed by them and better disposed but now thou findest in thee loathing or discontentment no strength or small comfort know for a certaine that the spirit is quenched some sinne or other is as a cloud hindering the beames of his sweete grace and comfort from thee Psal. 77.2 3. I sought the Lord yet my sore ranne and ceased not my soule refused comfort I did thinke upon God and was troubled I prayed and my Spirit was full of anguish Verse 7. Will hee absent himselfe for ever and will he be favourable no more Consider here what a dead carkasse is without the soule and so is all our service without the spirit Fourthly examine thy selfe in respect of sinne thus 1. If some sinne which was of great burden and weight
in thy estimation doe now seeme lesse and lesse dangerous if sometimes thou couldest not be comforted in the sence of sinne and the same sinne now move thee nothing at all thou couldst not abide cursed speaking in others now thou fallest to it thy selfe thou couldst not away with idle and gracelesse companions now thou canst now hast thou quenched the spirit 2. If thou be apt to rush into sinne once conquered thy strength is abated 3. If thou be unwilling to heare any of thy sinnes reproved the spirit is quenced because he rebuketh sinne 4. If the word and rodde preserve thee not from sinne the spirit is not present in thee 5. If after sinne committed thou doest not more hate it and sorrow for it than before thou lovedst it and rejoycedst in it if thou hast not a more constant care to avoid sinne than before yea if thou hast not a greater zeale in doing good know for a certaine that some sinne in thee or other is as water cast upon the spirit Fifthly and lastly examine thy selfe concerning the worke of Gods Spirit on thy affections thus If thy love of heavenly things be abated or be more to earth than to heaven if thy joy be troubled if thy conscience be perplexed with accusations if there be in thee an excessive feare of death or the like certainly the spirit is now quenched looke well unto it Object Alas I have found my affections more fiery than now they be I have had a great measure of zeale for God much indignation against sinne fervent affection in Gods service joy in God comfort in my selfe and in good duties but now it is not so with me I could never attaine the like affections as at first what may I thinke of my selfe Answ. We must wisely distinguish of the diffusing of grace from the decaying of it In earthly marriage love will be more vehement at first because lesse diffused but afterward is rather more extended than languishing so it is in the heate of grace But how may I know it thus 1. If thou be displeased that thou canst not get thy heart to the highest pitch of delight in grace 2. If thou still hungrest after grace and a further measure as one that hath tasted hony desireth more so having tasted of the spirit doest earnestly desire a greater measure of it 3. Stickest thou to the meanes in publicke and in private and wilt not be driven off still lying at the Poole where the spirit mooveth then discourage not thy selfe but goe on comfortably this small affection toward the Lord and his grace be it but as a graine of mustard seed it shall outgrow all choke weedes and master and kill whatsoever affections would overtop it So much for the second use Thirdly seeing negative precepts include the affirmative every Christian must hence be stirred up to stirre up the gift of God that is in him and not suffer it to decay 2 Tim. 1.6 A fit lesson even for Timothy himselfe For first the Spirit is ever working something in Gods children worthy the stirring up he is no where idle but still beautifying perfecting his own dwelling 2. Every Christian hath some graces to stirre up else were there no difference betweene him and a naturall man who wants the Spirit 3. No Christian hath any grace so perfect but it needes stirring up where growth is there is no perfection 4. Without stirring the fire dies so the Spirit for which cause the Apostle useth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up Quest. What meanes may wee use to blow up the Spirit Answ. 1. The word of God in the publicke and private use of it First the preaching of the word as it begets so it nourisheth grace The Ministry is instituted and gifts given to men not onely to lay to foundation of our happinesse but to build us up till we meet together in a perfect body Ephes. 4.11 12 13. Naturall food strengthens the body by the daily use of it spiritual food strengthens the soule by the continuall use of it Those that say they know as much as they neede or as much as the Preacher can tell thē never truly saw their great weaknesse for let any good conscience say if it neede not the word continually David a man of singular grace yet lay fouly in his sinnes till Nathan came and stirred him saying Thou art the man Despise Prophecy and quench the Spirit where vision faileth grace perisheth Secondly the word must be privately read and conversed in for such is the excellency and power of it that it transformes the minde conversant in it unto it selfe and to be affected as the pen-men were holily and graciously Besides it begets and furthers found judgement whereas others erre not knowing the Scriptures and it stirres up good affections and gracious desires Againe the word must be meditated on in private without which hearing and reading are to little purpose Psal. 1.1 Blessed is the man that meditates in the law of the Lord continually And here is mutuall helpe for hearing and reading doe feede meditation and meditation doth fasten them Why else hath God given man a reasonable soule but to meditate upon his word and workes Or why else hath he set apart a whole day in seaven especially for meditation if it were not a notable meanes to excite grace Or why else did our Lord take all occasions from the workes of God to teach and instruct us but for our example that we should tread in his holy steppes We see the first meanes 2. The Sacraments were instituted to strengthen our faith which in it selfe is weake and to keepe in continuall memory the covenant betweene God and us with the meanes thereof yea the very preparation to them includeth a speciall meanes of stirring up our graces of repentance of renewing our faith of obedience thankfulnesse and all the meanes of growth in the covenant And much more strength doth a good heart finde in the celebration of them Therefore to forbeare them of contempt argues no member of Christ and of negligence to forbeare is to cast ones selfe into the judgement of God 3. Prayer sets all graces on worke as faith in Gods promises charity toward our brethren hope which lookes for the performance of that we pray for humility in confession of sinnes and sense of wants thankfulnesse for supplies and leave to pray and by exercise in prayer wee get the spirit of prayer Luke 11.13 Our Father will not deny his Spirit to them that aske him 4. Company or commerce with the godly doth exceedingly sharpen our graces One candle lights another and one sticke of fire kindles another A lesser sticke may kindle a billet so the strongest Christian may receive furtherance from the weakest Paul himselfe might be comforted by the Romanes chap. 1.12 And when Silas came Paul burned in the Spirit But how can one coale alone by it selfe keepe it selfe glowing Yea evill men