Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abide_v	able_a	father_n	65	3	4.6904	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20540	Three godlie and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Maister Iohn Dod: the last by Maister Robert Cleauer. Whereunto are annexed, fiue propositions, or points of doctrine, comprehended in three other sermons, by the same author	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut	1610 (1610)	STC 6950; ESTC S117481	100,240	192

yet did they wish to returne to their former Psal 106. bondage rather then to bee brought to such straits but notwithstanding the grieuousnes of this their sinne many now adaies come nothing behinde them for their eyes are so vpon their wants that the want of one thing which they do desire though it be but small doth more disquiet them then manifold blessings doe comfort them to make them thankfull But this discontentment wee must be armed against which we shall be if wee can receiue the fauour of God for it selfe though it come alone yea though trouble doe come therewith for hauing it wee haue all things and wanting it wee haue nothing Againe if wee haue it no miserie can make vs miserable and if wee haue it not in greatest prosperitie we are most miserable But the Israelites here dealt after a cleane contrarie manner for the want of bread in the wildernesse being but for their bodies did make theÌ„ to despise their great and wonderfull deliuerance out of Egypt which was vnto them a signe of their spirituall deliuerance And this is the nature of all worldlings they had rather forgo many spirituall benefits then one corporall commoditie they grieue more at the losing and reioyce more at the hauing of wealth then of godlinesse But to returne to the point in hand sith murmuring is so great a sinne it shall be profitable to consider of some remedies against it Remedies against murmuring Now for as much as impatiencie proceedeth from infidelitie the remedie thereof must bee fetched from faith in Gods mercies in the merits of Christ in the hope of the resurrection and in Gods fatherly prouidence First I say Gods rich mercie and fauourable dealing with vs being duly considered cannot but worke in vs patience for seeing that the Lord forbeareth vs and that when for the ripenes of our sinnes he might confound vs he doth rather heape blessings vpon vs this cannot but bridle vs from murmuring though all things fall not out according to our hearts desire Especially seeing that the Lord will deale with vs still as hee did with the Israelites that when ordinarie meanes failed had extraordinary prouision made for theÌ„ the cloudes giuing them bread and the rock water to teach vs that man liueth not by bread only as Moses applieth it Deut. 8. but by the word of God A second remedie is to haue a liuely faith in the worke of our redemption to wit the remission of our sinnes the imputation of Christ his righteousnes and inherent sanctification First then if we can stedfastly beleeue that God for Christ his sake hath freely forgiuen vs all our sinnes and giuen his sonne that in him we might be blessed we cannot but be assured that with him Rom. 8. he will giue vs all things For seeing sin which is the cause of all miserie is taken from vs wee may bee sure that no crosse shall euer hurt vs. Againe if wee could beleeue that as God doth lay our sins vpon Christ so he doth impute his righteousnes to vs how should we doubt of food or raiment c For by this meanes he is made our mercifull and louing father who is for power able and for will readie to helpe vs in all extremities And thus doth he abide for euer and is neuer changed To these two former must bee added the second part of our redemption namely the sanctification of the spirit which if we feele in our selues may bee a great helpe vnto vs against impatiencie for it is a greater thing to sanctifie a sinner then to worke wonders in nature Therefore if we can beleeue in our hearts that God is able to make of sinfull and wicked men iust and righteous of whoremongers chast persons c. and that he is able and willing to deliuer vs from all our corruptions be they neuer so strong by nature or custome if I say we can giue credit vnto this why should we euer doubt that he will faile vs in outward things Further if we can beleeue that God hath prepared a kingdome for vs and that he will raise vs vp at the last day in body and soule to enioy the same how can we but be assured that he will giue vs lesser matters euen the things of this life Another thing to stay our hearts vpon when murmuring doth assaile vs is faith in Gods prouidence which is either generall or particular The generall prouidence of God must be considered first in the creation of all things secondly in the preseruation of them Doe wee then beleeue that the Lord made all things of nothing and shall we doubt of his abilitie to prouide for vs When God created light before the Sun the Moone or the Stars and caused grasse Gen. 1. 3. to grow vpon the earth before there was either raine or dew to water it hee did thereby teach vs first that we should not put too much trust in them whilest we haue them and againe that rather then we should suffer hurt by the want of light grasse or other such things the Lord both could and would prouide for vs without them Yet now if we should not haue the Sun wee would think that light were taken from vs and if we wanted raine wee would soone thinke wee should neither haue grasse nor corne but the Lord hath ordained these meanes to serue his prouidence not for himselfe for without them he can easily help vs but for our weaknes who otherwise could not easily bee assured of his goodnesse Secondly we must beleeue that God preserueth all so that a sparrow doth not fall to the ground Matth. 10. without his prouidence and he hath a great care of beasts and fowles doth the Lord prouide for these Matth. 6. and will hee not prouide for man for whom these were made and are preserued Hereunto we must ioyne the particular prouidence of God Hath he made our bodies and will he not clothe vs hath he giuen vs life and will he not minister vnto vs foode for the sustaining thereof Hee could prouide for the Israelites in the barren wildernesse fortie yeeres together yea hee could preserue Moses and Elias fortie daies without any meate at all which euidently proueth that Gods blessing is all in all whether there be meanes or no meanes Dauid obserued by experience that the righteous seed of the righteous was neuer forsaken nor begged Psal 37. their bread and if wee could bee righteous as then many were wee should finde the same true in our owne experience as he did These things well considered will worke in vs a patient minde the properties whereof are First to be contented with whatsoeuer the Lord Properties of a patieÌ„t mind Philip. 4. 11. sendeth alwaies acknowledging godlinesse to bee great riches for wee ought not to seeke great matters nor suffer our desires to be carried after high things for this did the Prophet Ieremie rebuke in Ieremy 45. 4. Baruck And Christ would haue vs to pray only for our daily bread which also was Iacobs prayer that Gen. 28. he might haue food and raiment wherewith the Apostle would haue vs to be content Let vs first seek the 1. Tim. 6. kingdome of heauen c. and then if the Lord giue plentie let vs be more thankfull and seruiceable if not his fauour is sufficient of it self and wee shall be Psalm 4. more comfortable with a little then others are in great abundance without that But if wee cannot rest in the fauour of God though wee want these outward things it is certain we do not truly esteem it neither haue wee at that time any comfortable assurance of the remission of our sinnes The second propertie of a patient minde is simply to giue vp it self vnto God and to commit it self into his hand waiting at all times for help froÌ„ him who only is the author of al goodnes yet neither prescribing the meanes nor appointing the time nor in any case indenting with him for the Lord will haue the disposition of his mercies free vnto himself to giue and bestow when and where and hoâ— it pleaseth him and as it may most make for his glorie and therefore wee must wholly resigne vp ouâ— selues vnto him Which if we can doe so mercifully doth God vse to deale that when wee least desire outward things then we shall haue them and wheÌ„ we freely giue them vp to him he will giue them to vs againe Abraham gaue vnto the Lord Isaac his son which when the Lord did behold hee quickly gaue him his sonne againe and so will he deale with vs still The readiest way to retaine life goods c. is to yeeld them vp wholly into Gods hands not with this condition that he should giue theÌ„ to vs againe for that were to mock the Lord but without all care to haue them we must giue them to him being heartily well content for his glorie to forgoe them and then if they be good for vs we shall receiue theÌ„ againe if not we shall receiue some spirituall grace which shall better supplie the want of them Yea the infinite wisedom and mercy of God doth wonderfully appeare herein that sometimes he keepeth vs long without these things because that if we had them he seeth that we would abuse them and preferre them before spirituall blessings And sometime the Lord seeing our small regard of spirituall things will by the want of these outward things bring vs to make greater account of them that wheÌ„ we can well want the one and highly esteeme the other we may haue both together FINIS

Rom. 8. 15. wherby we cry Abba father So that none can confidently call God father but by the helpe of his blessed Spirit If vnregenerate men will pray to their father Christ telleth them who he is when speaking to such kinde of persons he saith You are Ioh. 8. 44. of your father the Diuell And how proueth he that The lusts of your father yee will do As those that are willing to do the workes of God are assuredly the children of God euen so they that are ready to doe the workes of Satan are without doubt the children of Satan and if they wil pray vnto their father they must pray vnto the Diuell Againe in that very place it is sayd that the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to Rom. 8. 26 pray as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh requests for vs with sighes that cannot be expressed where it is euident that the best of Gods seruants without the helpe and assistance of the holy Ghost are ignorant both of the matter and manner of prayer but the Spirit doth informe their mindes what to aske and frame their affections how to aske in an holy and acceptable sort so that albeit sometimes they want words to expresse their meaning yet they are full of inward sighes and heauenly desires But what are they the better for them will some say if they cannot powre them forth before the Lord in an outward forme of prayer They are much the better because as it is in the 27. verse He that searcheth the hearts knoweth the meaning of the spirit and he so knoweth it that he approueth of it and delighteth in it If there be neuer so many good words and those vttered by the very Saints of God themselues yet if they proceede not from the Spirit but from the flesh as sometimes they may they are not pleasing vnto the Lord but abhorred of him And on the other side albeit there be no words at all as many times it fals out when the heart is oppressed through extremity of griefe yet if there bee a multitude of holy desires in the soule stirred vp through the powerfull working of the holy Spirit they are accepted of him and shall bee rewarded by him for as it is added in the place aboue named The Spirit euen at such times maketh requests for the Saints according to the will of God And therefore their suits according with his will he cannot but yeeld vnto the same Againe it is the proper worke of the Spirit to conuince the iudgement of sinne and to humble Iohn 16. 8. the heart therefore without which there can no faithfull prayer be made vnto the Lord. Bring neuer so strong reasons to adulterers or gamesters or Saboth-breakers or any that liue in the continuall practise of such dangerous and damnable sinnes and presse them neuer so forcibly to cause them to forsake their lewd and wretched courses and yet can they not see why they should leaue them but rather imagine that they may lawfully follow the same still And no maruell for till the God of heauen do set downe their carnall reason it can neuer be set downe and till he stop their mouthes they will neuer be silenced but still haue somewhat to say for their wretched and vile behauiour Reasons collected from the former places Seeing then it is euident that Gods Spirit alone can perswade vs of the loue and fauour of our heauenly Father towards vs that so we may be in case to pray vnto him and withall must furnish vs with the matter and helpe vs in the manner of our praiers and humble vs in the sight of our owne miserable wants that so we may bee more earnest and feruent in the requests that we make the point now in hand may hence be strongly concluded to wit that none can make a faithfull prayer without the speciall ayde and direction of the holy Ghost which serueth Vse 1 First for the confutation of those sencelesse people that will be talking and bragging how they pray day and night They that know what it is to lift vp a feruent prayer vnto the heauens doe easily discerne that they are but meere braggers and boasters and that indeede they neuer made one faithful prayer since they were borne because they are and still haue bene sensuall and carnall and vtterly void of any sanctifying grace of Gods spirit and therefore so farre are they from hauing any cause of reioycing in regard of their good prayers as they call them that they haue great cause to be humbled for them as being workes of the flesh and not of the Spirit such as doe rather prouoke the Lords displeasure against them then pacifie his anger or any way procure his fauour towards them Such are the prayers of all blind and ignorant Papists who pray in an vnknowne tong to whom it may be said as it was by our Sauiour vnto the sonnes of Zebedeus Ye know not what yee aske They may speake what they list of their often praying and how readily they can goe through with their stint and taske but they that vnderstand what it is to bring God and their owne soules together in earnest requests and feruent supplications cannot but iudge them to bee bragging Pharises who thinke that the Lord is beholding vnto them and indebted vnto them for such prayers whereas in truth he may iustly condemneth em vnto hell for the same and will do so if they be not humbled for them as well as for the rest of their iniquities And therefore they that haue indeed the Spirit of prayer are of another mind for when they haue vsed the best preparation that possibly they can they finde so many defects in their prayers that they are driuen to make a new prayer for the pardoning of those their wants and are stirred vp heartily to praise the Lord when they can in any poore measure powre out their soules before him as knowing that it is not from any strength that they haue in themselues but from the helpe and furtherance of his good Spirit Secondly let this be an instruction vnto vs that if we would pray aright and speede accordingly we labour as Iude exhorteth to pray in the Iude V. 20. holy Ghost For those be the petitions that pierce the heauens and bring peace comfort vnto the conscience But how shall we know whether our prayers proceed from Gods Spirit or not for our sinfull hearts are apt to deceiue vs on both sides viz. either to make vs thinke through Satans suggestion that we doe not pray in the holy Ghost because we haue so many frailties when in truth we doe or that we pray as we ought to doe because we haue matter and words at will when indeed there is no such thing but onely a naturall gift of vttering that which is in our mindes and memories in apt and fit tearms and in a fluent manner of speech Therefore if wee

their owne miserable and wretched estate and doe euen thirst for a supply of Gods graces as the dry and parched ground doth for the raine to fall vpon it which doth euen gape for it before it comes as if it would deuoure the clouds before they fall Concerning such the Lord saith that he will powre water vpon them neither shall they haue grace by drops but whole flouds thereof shall be powred vpon them for God can as easily ouerflow their soules therewith as the ground with waters when it stands in need thereof But what shall they be the better for this what benefite shall they finde thereby The Prophet telleth vs in that very place Vers 4. They shall grow as among the grasse and as willowes by the riuers of waters No raine can make the grasse so fresh and greene no riuer can cause the trees that are planted thereby so to flourish and prosper as the Spirit of God will euery thirsty soule when it is plentifully powred thereupon A second meanes to obtaine the Spirit with a daily increase of the gifts and graces thereof is to pray for it as euery one will that doth heartily long for it and to beleeue that we shall haue it and that wee may doe so our Sauiour maketh a notable argument for vs. Aske saith he and it Luk. 11. 13. shall be giuen you seeke and ye shal find c. Obiect Oh but I am vnworthy might some say both to aske and to receiue any thing at Gods hand Ans Why saith Christ If ye which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy Ghost to them that aske it As if he should haue said You haue no matter of desert in you and therefore you are discouraged from prayer but what merite is there in one of your little children which are full of frowardnesse of brawling and vnquietnesse yet if they aske any thing of you that you conceiue to bee good for them you will presently grant it vnto them Now if you that are sinfull can passe by the infirmities of your children and giue them such things as are needfull though you haue made them no promise and you cannot relieue them without cost and paines vnto your selues nay many times not without pinching your selues and sparing from your owne backs and bellies if you I say that are euill can deale thus louingly and kindly with your children how much more will your heauenly father who is the God of al goodnes yea goodnesse it selfe deale fauourably with his children hauing made a promise vnto them and it being no paines nor charges vnto him to bestow a plentifull measure of spirituall graces vpon them and especially seeing that the more liberall hee is that way vnto them the more glory shall thereby redound vnto his great name If then we desire the Spirit of grace in an aboundant measure let vs craue it at the hands of the Lord who giueth of the same liberally and casteth no man in the teeth and we may the more comfortably and confidently do thus because we liue in those happy times wherein the Lord hath promised to powre his Spirit vpon all flesh and to bestow Ioel 2. 28. as excellent gifts and graces vpon ordinary Christians as the most worthy men had in the time of the law A third meanes to get and increase the vertues of the holy Ghost is with reuerence and conscience to hearken vnto the word for as the Apostle saith the Spirit is not bestowed for any goodnesse Gal. 3. 2. in vs or through any workes wrought by vs but God of his free mercy giueth it and conueigheth it vnto his children by the preaching of the Gospell And againe the same Apostle perswading the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit for that is the best fire in the house and without it men must needes freeze in woe and sorrow and misery he saith despise not prophacying that is the ordinary ministery of the word when it is truly expounded 1. Cor. 14. 3. and faithfully and wisely applied as may be most for the edification of the hearers This is as it were the fuell whereby the fire of God is continued and increased in our soules and as we are more carefull in this duty of laying vp the word in our hearts so shall we finde the warmth or rather heate of the Spirit to be more aboundant and in more constant vs. Lastly if we would haue the holy Ghost continually working in vs with great efficacie let vs labour euermore to keepe an humble and broken heart and beware of pride and all vaine conceipt of our selues as the very rocke against which the shippe wherein the Spirit is caried doth as it were make shipwracke for God resisteth the proud and 1 Pet. 5. 5. giueth grace to the humble If one haue a hauty heart though there be no body else that seekes his ouerthrow the Lord will bring him downe but if any haue a meeke and lowly heart there is a palace for the Lord himselfe who will dwell with him that is of Isa 57. 15. a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a broken heart Vse 5 In the last place here is an vse of comfort for all such as are endued with the Spirit of grace sith that is the fountaine of all happinesse therefore are they blessed people and shall bee blessed what courses soeuer they meete withal And what oppositions soeuer they finde either from Sathan himselfe or from any of his limmes those that are once ingraffed into Christ and are become plants of the liuing God haue the streames of liuing waters running through their hearts and therefore must of necessity prosper and flourish though the heate of persecution or any manner of affliction beate neuer so violently vpon them Indeed if wicked enemies of the Church could withdraw and withhold Gods spirit from the hearts of his children then might they hinder their happinesse and make them truly miserable but seeing they can no more stay the operation thereof then they can stop the course of the winde from blowing whither it will therefore shall they neuer be able Iohn 3. to defeate Gods seruants of that blessed estate which in Christ Iesus he hath promised vnto them and through his precious bloud-shedding purchased for them The Spirit of grace and of praiers From these latter words ariseth this second poynt that Doct. 2 None can make any acceptable praier vnto the Faithfull prayers proceede froÌ„ Gods Spirit Lord vnlesse he be assisted and directed by the Spirit of grace Howsoeuer men imagine it to be an easie matter to call vpon God yet the truth is that it is as hard for any of himselfe to make a faithful prayer as it is to make a world Therefore is it said in the Epistle to the Romanes Ye haue receiued the Spirit of adoption

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