Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abel_n	abraham_n	believer_n	18	3	6.9134	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87593	Hosannah to the Son of David: or A testimony to the Lord's Christ. Offering it self, indifferently, to all persons; though more especially intended for the people, who pass under the name of Quakers. Wherein not so much the detecting of their persons, as the reclaiming the tender-hearted among them from the error of their way, is modestly endevoured, by a sober and moderate discourse, touching the Light and law in every man; referring to what is held forth by them in their several books and papers, herein examined and discussed. By a lover of truth and peace	Jackson, John, fl. 1651-1657.	1657 (1657)	Wing J78; Thomason E927_5; ESTC R202615	156,564	177

transgressed and yet God be righteous seeing there was no term or condition in the Covenant which God made with him looking that way for transgressing and dying were the termes reciprocal but it was of meere grace that the promise was made and was indeed the opening of a dore of hope in a possibility of returning for man which was run away from God This laying the foundation of a better hope by which man might be recovered and encouraged to draw near to God was as far above the reach of the natural man to know or expect as the heavens are above the earth yea as the thoughts of God are above the thoughts of man this Law then is not natural but supernatural not springing up together with man as that of workes but is added through grace Psal 75.3 Ex abundanti and such as this Law is such is the light which accompanies it and the enlargement of the one 2is the enlargement of the other also as will evidently appear by what follows I say this Law of faith or word of promise being extended to all mankinde holding forth a possibility of mans return to God upon terms of faith and repentance implyed in the first promise and testified in the sacrifice of Abel the long suffering and patience of God contributing much this way his goodness and forbearance laying great obligation upon persons these visible things of God holding forth the invisible or secret purposes and Counsels of his heart towards returning sinners and calling and crying out to man upon that account to return to him by repentance from whom by transgression he was departed by which footsteps of God man might trace a possibility of Redemption through beleeving in the promised seed as by the former viz. The visible things of the Creation he might discern the Eternal power and God-head of him by whom he was made and created So that in this also as in the former God hath not left himself without witness even to the natural man but hath given him occasion and opportunity to feel after God as thus considered The print and impressions of mercy being stamp'd upon every out-coming of the Lord which upon the terms of the first Covenant was not discernable speaking nothing but wrath and terrour and trembling according to that of the Apostle Rom. 4.15 The Law worketh wrath c. And that justly upon every transgressour yea for every transgression for it is written Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things written in the Law do them Gal. 3.10 Deut. 27.26 So that God hath left man in great measure without excuse even in this respect also holding forth such discoveries as whereby he might discern a possibility of the recovery of his forfeited estate evidenced and manifested in the patience bounty long-suffering goodness and mercifulness of God toward him a sinner to whom it was at first said In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye or dying thou shalt dye instead of which severity Behold goodness and forbearance interposing and leading to repentance Rom. 2.4 And this in relation to man as a man while he is endued with no other light than that which is common to him as such that is the spirit of a man which is the Candle of the Lord by which he may not only see the things of God as his Creatour that is his eternal power and God-head and what hath dependence thereupon in relation to the first Covenant or Law of works But a crevice is opened into the discovery of the Redemption promised as the subject of the second Covenant upon the termes thereof in relation thereunto as to a law of faith evidenced by the promise to as many as the sound thereof ever came Yea all mankinde in the forbearance goodness and long-suffering of God though unto them but as unto natural men and this discovery shining forth through natural appearances Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Yet sufficient to leave himself a witness in man from these discoveries evidencing a reprieve from immediate destruction which the transgressour hath merited and opening a dore of hope for pardon and remission through the riches of the goodness and forbearance of God sufficient to engage the heart of a natural man to seek the Lord and to feel after him if possible he might finde him in this capacity as a Redeemer even as in the former capacity he might discover God as his Creator and Maker And though Mans greater impotency will be found in this than in the former yet is it his duty no less here than there and he no less excusable for not being found exercised in the endeavour after it God having left himself a witnesse in one case as well as in the other though not so the one as the other For in the former not only from without by things seen were the invisible things of God discovered but also by his Law written in the heart of the natural Man was this discovery made of God as his Creator and his subjection to him as such under the terms of that Covenant viz. Do and live But touching this latter Covenant or Law of faith the discovery thereof ariseth from what is without It had never been known nor ever thought of nor ever would it or could it rationally have come into the heart of Man to have conceived such a thing but from the declaration of God in his promise which faith made application of in the first beleevers and from the series of his patience and forbearance continued to the race of man-kinde darkely speaking forth the same thing with a silent yet constant voyce Psal 19.1 Rom. 10.18 sufficient to leave man without excuse and convincing of a possibility of being renewed again through the riches of that goodness which hereby call'd and led unto repentance Rom. 2.4 Nevertheless there was to be another Edition of this Law also as there was of the former of which there hath been mention made before That although God left not himself without witness in those first Beleevers Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Isaak Jacob Moses David Daniel and the rest of whom to tell time would fail who were all enlightned with a light suitable and proportionable to their object there was communicated to them a Spirit of faith whereby they were inabled to behold him who was the object of their faith So Abraham saw the day of Christ with joy John 8.56 and Moses saw him which was invisible Heb. 11.27 Faith saw Christ through sacrifices saw remission of sins in shedding of blood without which there is no remission Heb. 9.22 Yet notwithstanding God having provided some better thing for those which were to come after that they without us should not be made perfect hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son revealing the purpose and Counsel of his heart by him bringing Immortality and life to light by the Gospel which before was hid from ages and generations Eph. 3.5 and not so made

in healing miracles and tongues c. and the one might then be where the other was not as hath been proved already In like manner also such is the Dispensation of the holy Spirit at this day as the wind bloweth where it listeth forming the new-birth which is after and according to God by faith in Christ Jesus becoming a Spirit of regeneration and illumination Eph. 1.17 18. Tit. 3.5 opening the blind eyes not only to see Christ as he is held forth in the word but to be beleeved on accepted and received as the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 but also by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit purging the conscience from dead works Heb. 9.14 giving boldness and access to the throne of grace through the faith of him who is thus become a quickening spirit and principle of life a new and living way to all that receive him and manifest that faith by obedience true and unfained Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. This may be thus evidenced by divine testimony viz. 1. That as the wind bloweth where it listeth so is the birth of the Spirit in those which are regenerate is proved John 3.3 6 8. 2. That they which beleeve in the Lord Jesus are thus dignified and privileged with the estate of sonship as being born of God and from above is witnessed Joh. 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 3. That this is effected by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit that being justified by his grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life is likewise born witness unto by the Apostle Titus 3.4 5 6 7. 4. That this was not the work of the spirit in any one particular age only viz. in the Apostles dayes or primitive times as they are called and distinguished by some but as it is said of Christ he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 so is it said He is the Author and finisher of faith not only of theirs Heb. 12.2 though the word Ours being inserted in the English reading may seem to carry it that way but he was the Author and finisher of theirs also who are catalogued and Chronicled in the 11. of Heb. who began as low as Abel and so upwards and not of theirs only who thus beleeved receiving the word of promise or rather Christ in the promise from the first giving forth thereof in Gen. 3.15 mixing the Gospel with faith Heb. 4.2 nor of those who in the times of more clear manifestation thereof did know and beleeve Joh. 17.6 7 8. But of their faith also who from thence forth should beleeve on Christ through their word Joh. 17.20 and therefore in the place mentioned Heb. 12.2 Christ is not said to be the Author finisher that is the beginner and ender of our faith nor of your faith nor of their faith but of faith in relation to all times and persons according to the tenour and testimony of that word of truth Act. 13.38 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things c. not only the Jew but the Gentile also even all that are a farre off as many as the Lord our God shall call hence the Apostles testify that they had received the same spirit of faith with those who had gone before 2 Cor. 4.13 And as the faith of all true beleevers from Righteous Abel thoroughout the whole cloud of witnesses and thence forward owns it self to Christ as the Author and the Finisher thereof as was said before So likewise it is as necessarily applyed to the spirit whose gift it is and by whom it is wrought 1 Cor. 12.11 among which operations of the spirit Faith is one reckoned among yet diverse from that of miracles And it is called the fruit of the spirit among many other inward qualifications of the renewed and regenerate Man Gal. 5.22 5. To this agree those other testimonies of the holy Scripture wherein the holy spirit is promised not for this or that particular age much less this or that particular person or persons onely but to all the seed not reckoned according to the flesh but according to the faith of beleeving Abraham Rom. 9.8 2.28 29. Gal. 3.7 8 9 14. Gal. 4.27 28. But to speak more particularly The Scriptures bear witness to Christ Jesus that he is the true seed promised in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed according to that so often mentioned place Gen. 3.15 as also Gen. 22.28 expounded by the Apostle in Gal. 3.8 of Christ himself as the seed promised a Covenant to the people So is he also the seed to whom the promise is made as appears by the same Testimony Gal. 3.16 Not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ who was the seed which was to come to whom the promise was made vers 19. thus is Christ originally both Root and Offspring It is with Christ that the Covenant is made originally Isa 53.10 11. and in him with those that are his to whom he is given for a Covenant as appears Esay 42.1 6 7. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and wil hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant to the peoples for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. In this Covenant it is promised that he should have the spirit put upon him Isa 42.1 which also was fulfilled in Luk. 4.18 And as the spirit was by Covenant to be put upon him so was it also to be put upon them which were his as doth appear in the fifty ninth of Esay 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith Jehovah my spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith Jehovah from hence forth and for ever Where it is Evident that the gift of the spirit is a Covenant-promise as to Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen so to them which are Christs to him and to his seed and seeds seed according to Joh. 17.20 Not only they which did beleeve but those who through their word should beleeve were the subjects of Christs prayer in the Application and Mediation of the Covenant This is promised also in Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes c. which promise is not limited to Israel or to Abrahams seed according to the letter or Circumcision but to Abrahams seed according to faith If ye be Christs then are you Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3.8 9 29. and as is

up to God before the publication of the positive law wherein as well Cain as Abel offered sacrifice Gen. 4.4 I therefore call their offerings sacrifice because they are so called Heb. 11.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.18 Abels sacrifice was mingled with faith offered up upon the true Altar witnessed unto by Gods acceptation and by faith he obtained a good report among the Elders Heb. 11.4 with whom he had received the same spirit of faith But with Cain and his sacrifice it was not so nor accepted as such nevertheless it appears to me from hence that there was the power of a Law of faith as of works upon them both and they equally obliged thereby only the one offered a sacrifice as an obedience of faith the other in form without faith and as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9.32 Nevertheless in obedience to the same law of faith for as much as he offered sacrifice also though not in faith the one had faith in his heart and Christ in his eye as a redeemer and restorer the other was wanting at least in faith which should have seasoned his sacrifice They both had equal obligation from one and the same law of faith which looked at Christ as its object as the law of sacrifice did imply whether propitiatory Heb. 9.22 or gratulatory Levit. 7.12 15. Psal 107.22 Both yeelded obedience to the law of faith in what was outward in the Act only Abel had an eye open to him that was invisible as the object of his faith carrying him above the Act. So that the law of faith doubtless respected all the race and generation of mankinde by way of obligation from the giving of the promise but the children of the promise are counted for the seed like as it is said All are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9.6 though all the family of Abraham were greatly privileged Rom. 3.2 and 9.4 and obliged So likewise all the race of mankinde are greatly privileged by virtue of the promise or promised seed in whom all the nations are blessed yet not all Nations but the children of the promise are counted for the seed according to the tenour of that word 1 Tim. 4.10 Who is Saviour of all men especially of them which beleeve A common Salvation is extended to all Men by Jesus Christ Jude 3. and all men are bound to beleeve and repent that they may be saved Act. 17.30 John 3.16 But the special Salvation is to them only who have obtained like precious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 i.e. the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 the faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 these are they which are reckoned or counted for the seed Gal. 3.7 9 29. these are they to whom the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ is manifested unto all and upon all them that beleeve Rom 3.21 22. As the law in the first consideration i. e. of works was Gods first-born and man was fitted for the work thereof while his bow abode in strength God having made him upright Eccles 7.29 So the Law in the second consideration i. e. of faith whose foundation was laid in that blessed word of promise Gen. 3.15 lay in the same womb and bosome of eternity for they were twins And though that stept out first declaring the Majesty of him whose Image it bore yet this caught its Brother by the heel declaring the infiniteness of the Mercy and compassion of him whose Law it was proclaiming the Lord the Lord gracious long-suffering c. No sooner is the Transgression detected but the Redeemer is promised Oh the heighth and depth of the riches of mercy who kissed Justice and overcame it Psal 85. Mercy and Truth met together Righteousness and Peace kissed each other nor doth this latter destroy the former nay it establisheth it Rom. 3.30 31. Like as when the Law of the first Covenant was engraven on tables of stone it did not at all diminish or lesson the glory of that which was written upon the heart nay it did augment the luster thereof and made it more legible so neither doth the Law of faith destroy the Law of works nor make it void nay it doth establish it for as much as it no way dispenseth with its subjects service nor acquits them of their duty save only of the manner and end of the service As it was performed in the oldness of the letter now it must be performed in the newness of the Spirit Rom. 7.6 but it must be obedience still Loving the Lord our God with all the heart with all the minde with all the soul with all the strength and our neighbour as our selves this is not diminished or made void by the Law of faith it only requires Newness of Spirit in lieu of Oldness of letter These two considerations of the Law went hand in hand together all along thorough the old administration From righteous Abel to the end of the Catalogue of all the cloud of witnesses who were subjected to the first dispensation dying in faith saluting though not possessing the promises they seeing him who was invisible their faith did not at all lesson their obedience nay it winged their obedience It was the salt that salted every sacrifice Mark 9.49 For without faith its impossible to please God Heb. 11.4 6. This Law of faith however it ran along as the bloud in the veins and was that which led to God through every service and in every sacrifice was nevertheless veiled under great obscurity and under much darkness The Spirit thereof did testifie of the suffering of Christ and of the glory which was to be revealed but it testified of them as of things a great way off the promises whereof they saluted but possessed not the way into the most holy not being open or made manifest while the first Tabernacle was yet standing Heb. 9.8 This double kinde of sacrificing ran all along thorough out the whole dispensation in as many as retained the Law of sacrifice and cast not off utterly the Knowledge of God which the most part did as the Apostles argument Rom. 1.21 26 28. makes it evident For as much as all along there was a Remnant having an eye upon the promise obtained a good report and the Savour of them in Divine Testimony remains to this day as a Cloud of witnesses This Law of faith as it sprung not with mankind in Nature but was added by occasion of the Transgression for it succeeded that as a plaster doth the wound it was not written in the heart of the natural man as a thing just and equal For God to remake and to redeem faln man into whose heart it could not rationally have entred that there should ever have been a way found out in justice or equity or with a due saving of the truth of him that made the Covenant that man should be put into a capacity or come under a possibility of being preserved having

pretend to it can make it evident and give demonstration thereof as the Apostles and primitive Christians could as is to be demonstrated by many instances in the Scripture by signes and wonders and mighty deeds Answ The Dispensation of the Spirit may be considered in a twofold respect viz. In relation to its Inward Operation or Outward Manifestation Sometimes it is expressed under the similitude of wind or air invisible and unseen and so it is in the work of Regeneration and Renovation John 3.3 Tit. 3.5 And this was personally effected and personally evidenced Rom. 8.16 Rev. 2.17 Sometimes under the similitude of Cloven tongues and fire and visible demonstrations ratifying and confirming the word of Faith according to Mar. 16.20 By tongues prophecies miracles or by signes wonders and mighty deeds and these were Apostolical 2 Cor. 12.12 God bearing witness to the ministration of those first Messengers with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his owne will Heb. 2.4 thereby confirming their word Mar. 16.20 convincing the opposers and stopping the mouths of the gainsayers Act. 4.16 This variety of the Spirits operation as thus distinguished into the Internal and External dispensation thereof as it may be clearly evidenced from the Scriptures so may it be of great use to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees of such as are made weak and turned out of the way upon the account of this objection or the like The Scriptures do witness that many have been born of the Spirit i. e. have been true beleevers have had their eyes and hearts opened and have been turned to the Lord and yet many of these though they bear witness of the internal and invisible operation of the Spirit as being born from above Joh. 3.3 yet have been destitute of the demonstration of the Spirit in respect of its outward and visible manifestation in Signes and Miracles c. Those twelve Disciples at Ephesus mentioned Act. 19. were Beleevers and were so called vers 2. where the Apostle propounds this Question Have ye received the holy Spirit since ye beleeved Whereby it is evident that he spake of the outward manifestation of the Spirit which they had not so much as heard of and which they afterwards did receive vers 6. when upon the laying on of his hands they received the holy Spirit and spake with tongues and prophesied whence it appears evidently that they were Beleevers i. e. were born of the Spirit for faith is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 whereof Christ i. e. the Spirit is both the Author and Finisher Heb. 12.2 not onely in himself as the object but in the Beleever as the subject giving them to beleeve on him Phil. 1.29 And if the faith of these twelve Disciples be questioned what kind of faith it was it will be resolved by the Apostle in his Letter of Confirmation directed to them Ephes 1.13 where he saith In whom ye also trusted after ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye beleeved you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Whence it appears plainly that those Ephesians Act. 19. were reall and true Beleevers and did partake of the inward operation of the holy Spirit viz. faith though they had not as yet heard of the outward manifestation thereof in visible gifts A like instance there is of those Grecians of Antioch who upon the Evangelizing of the scattered Disciples a great number beleeving turned to the Lord Act. 11.21 who yet had no visible demonstration of the Spirit but an invisible operation onely So it was with them of Samaria who beleeved upon the Evangelizing of Philip while as yet they were destitute of the visible manifestation of the Spirit Act. 8.12 compared with vers 15 16. At Iconium multitudes both of Jews and Greeks beleeved Act. 14.1 at the speaking and preaching of Paul and Barnabas At Berea also upon the hearing of Paul and Silas together with searching the Scriptures daily many beleeved Act. 17.10 11 12. At Corinth likewise upon Paul's preaching many of the Corinthians hearing beleeved c. At Philippi the Lord opened the heart of Lydia attending to the things spoken by Paul Act. 16.14 These with many more examples there are testifying to and bearing witness of this truth that many persons have beleeved been converted and turned to the Lord i. e. have been born of God Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 5.1 regenerated or born again or from above or of the Spirit Joh. 3.3 5 6 8. who nevertheless have evidenced no other power or presence of the holy Spirit than what was invisible in and upon their owne hearts but gave no outward visible manifestation thereof by Signes and Miracles at least not until afterwards Whence it follows that notwithstanding the dispensations in the times of the Apostles and primitive Saints and Churches were very eminent for visible and outward manifestations of the Spirit in wonders signes and miracles with gifts of tongues and prophecies yet this was not universal in operation for many were turned to the Lord Act. 11.21 and unto them it was given to beleeve Phil. 1.29 and taken into a state of sonship Joh. 1.12 13. were also regenerated and born from above or of the Spirit Joh. 3.3 8. Some of them not knowing Act. 19.2 Others of them not yet receiving or witnessing any outward appearance or manifestation of the Spirit but onely that inward operation of the Spirit opening and enclining their hearts to embrace the word of faith and to receive the Lord Jesus as tendered therein according to Rom. 10.8 9 10 11. And as some who had the inward operation had not the outward manifestation so some to whom the outward or visible power of the Spirit was communicated were not intrusted with the inward and sanctifying operations thereof as appears Mat. 7.22 23. where it is witnessed that Christ shall say to the workers of miracles Depart c. I know you not and to Judas Iscariot was given power among the rest to cast out devils and work miracles Matth. 10.4 8. to shew the Spirit is not limited but as the wind blowing where it listeth distributing to several persons severally even as he pleaseth 1 Cor. 12.11 in diversity of gifts administrations and operations For as to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing to another working of miracles c. So it is said to another faith by the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12.9 Which operation of the Spirit is diverse from the former gifts enumerated both before it and after it for although there is required to the working of Miracles a faith suitable thereunto as appears by our Saviours testimony Matt. 17.20 Luk. 17.6 Matt. 21.21 and by the Apostles 1 Cor. 14.2 Yet this Faith is a distinct gift diverse from that whose manifestation was external

before proved The same is likewise confirmed Joh. 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the spirit of Truth but lest it should be said as in the Objection this promise was made to that Age of the Apostles only it is added that he may abide with you for ever Obj. But were the Apostles at that time without that spirit altogether Answ It is answered in the 17. verse But ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you the spirit shall be the same but the measures enlarged the same spirit of faith but not the same measure Object What shall the spirit do when it is given in that larger measure Answ It is resolved partly in the 26. verse He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you And partly Joh. 16.13 He will guide you into all truth and he will shew you all things to come Obj. This is that dispensation of the spirit which is mentioned in Joh. 7.38 39. and for which the Apostles were commanded to waite at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 and which the Apostles did receive Act. 2.4 according to the prophecy Joel 2.28 A. It is not to be denyed as before that one branch of the dispensation of the spirit is to open it self in such discoveries as those but the whole thereof and the all of that dispensation is not limited or confined to the external and outward and miraculous manifestation thereof only as in the Apostles dayes At which time not to every person individually was it so communicated as hath been proved before unto which you are referred and they which did receive the dispensation of the spirit at large both in its inward operation and outward manifestation yet did receive but the first fruits thereof Rom. 8.23 From the whole of what hath been spoken in answer to this main objection this briefly is the summe 1. That notwithstanding the dispensation of the spirit in the times called primitive viz. in the dayes of the Apostles and primitive Christians was with great evidence and outward manifestation accompanied with signs and wonders and mighty deeds yet it was so but in some persons not in all beleevers as by the instances before cited may appear for there were some beleevers that did not know of such a thing as the spirit Act. 19.2 2. That as some Beleevers were ignorant of outward manifestation thereof so there were others who having the outward were destitute of the inward Mat. 7.22 23. 10.4 8. 3. The gift of the spirit is a Covenant gift first promised to Christ and in him to them that are his that is Christs to him and to his seed throughout their generations seeds seed Isa 59.21 4. It was promised by Christ to his Apostles to be in them for ever Joh. 14.16 17. not so to remain in their individual persons for ever but in their successors and not in them only as such that is Apostles but also in all such as should thenceforth beleeve thorough their word Joh. 17.20 5. It was prophesied to be poured upon all flesh Joel 2.28 and applyed to all that were a farre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 2.39 6. The Apostle declareth of himself and the beleeving Romans who although they had received the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cryed Abba Father and he at least had also received the outward visible manifestation of the Spirit yet saith of himself and them They had received the first fruits of the spirit intimating that there was yet a further manifestation thereof reserved to them which were to come after according to the tenor of that Scripture Heb. 11.40 That they without us might not be made perfect Hence therefore it may be argued that though it hath pleased the Lord for the misuse or abuse of his holy spirit or for other most holy ends known unto himself to withdraw from the children of men for a season the manifestation thereof in that which is outward in gifts of tongues prophecies healings c. Suffering Arts so called by Man to prevail instead thereof till the faith of his people prevail through cryes and tears to bring back the Anointed and with him the Anointing For the prophesy of Joel is as yet but in part fulfilled and the direction of our Lord remains firm to this day Luk. 11. from the 5. verse to the 14. touching the incessant importunate prayer for the holy spirit concluding thus vers 14. If ye then which are evil know how to give good things to your children how much more shall the Heavenly Father give the holy spirit to them which ask him And surely were but the Lords people awakened to consider the necessity of the return of that spirit which hath been for so long a time withdrawn and to be importunate with the Lord and give him no rest but with all humble and holy boldness continue in prayer and not faint according to that in Luk. 18.1 who knowes how soon the most high might turn the Captivity of his people as the Rivers of the South as to this particular and meet his mourning praying Servants where David met the men of Judah who came to conduct him over Jordan even at Gilgal viz. the place of the rowling away of reproach Ioshuah 5.9 and make it a time as that was a place of rowling away of reproach from his people forever Nevertheless though in respect of its visible manifestation there be a great hiding and withdrawing yet according as was promised Joh. 14.18 Our Lord hath not left his children Comfortless nor Orphans But hath left them a Comforter as promised Continuing to them the invisible Operations of his holy spirit enabling them thereby to cry Abba Father who in that respect is called the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father becoming in them a sanctifying spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 a spirit of sanctification 2 Thes 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 witnessing to their spirits their estate of Sonship Rom. 8.16 Causing them to Read that new-Name written on the white stone which no Man knows but he which hath it So that all though they cannot assure another by infallible evidence so as to leave them without doubt touching their estate yet to themselves the spirit of God by which they are regenerated doth evidence its own operation according to that testimony 1 Joh. 5.10 He that beleeveth hath the witness in himself and by filling them with fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God leading them in paths of righteousness keeping their feet that they stumble not upon the dark mountains sanctifying them throughout as well in body as in soul and spirit enabling them to mortify the deeds of the flesh and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh