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
A73836	Seuen godlie and fruitfull sermons. The six first preached by Master Iohn Dod: the last by Master Robert Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a briefe discourse, touching, 1. Extinguishing of the spirit, 2. Murmuring in affliction	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625.; Winston, John, fl. 1614-1634.	1614 (1614)	STC 6944; ESTC S109731	185,148	341

had been driuen to confesse Psal 106. yet did they wish to returne to their former bondage rather then to be brought to such straits but notwithstanding the grieuousnesse of this their sin many now adaies come nothing behind them for their eyes are so vpon their wants that the want of one thing which they doe desire though it be but small doth more disquiet them then manifold blessings do comfort them to make them thankfull But this discontentment we must bee armed against which wee shall bee 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 misery can make vs miserable and if wee haue it not in greatest prosperity we are most miserable But the Israelites here dealt after a cleane contrary manner for the want of bread in the wildernes being but for their bodies did make them 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 forgoe many spirituall benefits then one corporall commodity 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 Now for as much as impatiencie proceedeth from infidelity Remedies against murmuring the remedie therof must be 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 mercy and fauourable dealing with vs being duly considered cannot but worke in vs patience foâ—seeing that the Lord forbeareth vs and that when for the ripenesse of our sinnes he might confound vs hee 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 he did with the Israelites that when ordinarie meanes failed had extraordinary prouision made for them the clouds giuing them bread and the rocke 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 remedy is to haue a liuely faith in the worke of our redemption to wit the remission of our sins the imputation of Christ his righteousnesse 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 Rom. 8. that with him 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 sinnes vpon Christ so he doth impute his righteousnes to vs how should we doubt of food or raiment c For by this meanes hee 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 be added the second part of our redemption namely the sanctification of the spirit which if we feele in our selues may be a great helpe vnto vs against impatiency for it is a greater thing to sanctifie a sinner then to worke wonders in nature Therfore if we can beleeue in our hearts that God is able to make of sinfull and wicked men iust 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 wee can giue credit vnto this why should wee euer doubt that hee 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 soule to enioy the same how can wee but bee assured that hee 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 ability to prouide for vs When God created light before the Sun Gen. 1.3 the Moone or the Stars and caused grasse to grow vpon the earth before there was either raine or dew to water it he did thereby teach vs first that we should not put too much trust in them whilest we haue them and againe that rather then wee 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 wee should not haue the Sunne wee would thinke that light were taken from vs and if wee 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 hee can easily helpe vs but for our weakenesse who otherwise could not easily be assured of his goodnesse Secondly we must beleeue that God preserueth all Matth. 10. so that a sparrow doth not fall to the ground without his prouidence and hee hath a great care of beasts and fowles Matth. 6. doth the Lord prouide for these and will he not prouide for man for whom these were made and are are preserued Hereunto we must ioyne the particular prouidence of God Hath he made our bodies and will he not cloathe vs hath he giuen vs life and will hee not minister vnto vs food for the sustaining thereof He could prouide for the Israelites in the barren wildernsse fortie yeeres together yea he 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 Psal 37. nor begged their bread and if wee could bee righteous as then many were wee should find 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 Properties of a patient mind Philip 4.11 to be contented with whatsoeuer the Lord sendeth alwaies acknowledging godlinesse to be great riches for we ought not to seeke great matters nor suffer our desires to bee carried after high things Ier. 45.4 for this did the Prophet Ieremie rebuke in

neither shall they haue grace by drops but whole flouds thereof shall be poured 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 benefit shall they find 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 poured thereupon A second meanes to obtaine the Spirit with a daily encrease of the gifts and graces thereof is to pray for it as euery one will that doth heartilie long for it and to beleeue that wee shall haue it and that wee may doe so our Sauiour maketh a notable argument for vs. Luke 11.12 Aske saith he and it shall be giuen you seeke and ye shall find c. Obiect Oh but I am vnworthie might some say both to aske and to receiue any thing at Gods hand Ans Why saith Christ If yee which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shal 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 presentlie 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 wil your heauenly father who is the God of all goodnes yea goodnes it selfe deale fauourably with his children hauing made a promise vnto them 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 liberallie 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 poure his Spirit vpon all flesh Ioel 2.28 and to bestow as excellent gifts and graces vpon ordinarie 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 Gal. 3.2 the Spirit is not bestowed for any goodnesse 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 1. Thes 5. for that is the best fire in the house and without it men must needs freeze in woe and sorrow and misery he saith 1. Cor. 14.3 despise not prophecying that is the ordinarie ministery of the word when it is truly expounded and faithfullie and wiselie applied as may be most for the edification of the hearers This is as it were the fuel 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 shal we find the warmth or rather heate of the Spirit to bee more aboundant and more constant in 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 ship wherein the Spirit is carried doth as it were make shipwracke for God resisteth the proud 1. Pet. 5.5 and 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 Isai 57.15 who will dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to giue life to them that are of a broken heart In the last place here is an vse of comfort for all such as are endued with the Spirit of grace Vse 5 sith that is the foutaine of all happinesse therefore are they blessed people and shall bee blessed what crosses soeuer they meete withall And what oppositions soeuer they finde either from Satan 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 necessitie prosper and flourish though the beate 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 wind from blowing whither it will Iohn 3. therefore shall they neuer be able to defeate Gods seruants of that blessed estate which in Christ Iesus hee hath promised vnto them and through his preicious blood-shedding purchased for them The Spirit of grace and of praiers From these latter words ariseth this second point that None can make any acceptable praier vnto the Lord Doct. 2 Faithfull prayers proceede from Gods Spirit vnlesse hee bee assisted and directed by the Spirit of grace Howsoeuer men imagine it to bee an easie matter to call vpon God yet the truth is that it is as hard for any of himselfe to make a faithful praier as it is to make a world Therefore it is said in the â—pistle to the Romans Rom. 8.15 Ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father So that none can confidently cal 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 kind of persons Iohn 8.44 he saith You are 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 will pray vnto their father they must pray vnto the Diuell Againe in that very place it is said that the Spirit helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8.26 for wee know not what to 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 minds 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 ful of inward sighes heauenly desires But what are they the better for them will some say if they cannot poure them foorth 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 harts knoweth the meaning of the spirit and he so knoweth it that he approueth of it and delighteth in it If there bee 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 al as many times it fals out when the hart is oppressed through extremity of griefe yet if there bee a multitude of holy desires in the soule stirred vp through the powerful working of the holy Spirit they are accepted of him and shal bee rewarded by him for as it is added in the place aboue named The Spirit eueÌ„ 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 Iohn 16.8 it is the proper worke of the Spirit to conuince the iudgement of sinne and to humble 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 Sabbath-breakers or any that liue in the continuall practise of such dangerous and damnable sins and presse them neuer so forcibly to cause them to forsake their leaud 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 Seeing then it is euident Reasons collected from the former places that Gods Spirit alone can perswade vs of the loue and fauor of our heauenly Father towards vs that so we may be in case to pray vnto him and withal 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 wee make the point now in hand may hence bee strongly concluded to wit that none can make a faithfull prayer without the speciall aide and direction of the holy Ghost which serueth First for the confutation of those senselesse people Vse 1 that will bee 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 praier since they were borne because they are and still haue been 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 cal 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 bee said as it was by our Sauiour vnto the sons of Zebedeus Ye know not what ye ask They may speake what they list of their often praying and how readily they can go 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 Pharisees who thinke that the Lord is beholding vnto them and indebted vnto them for such prayers whereas in truth he may iustly condemne them vnto hell for the same and wil do so if they be not humbled for them as well as for the rest of their iniquities And therfore 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 find 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 wheÌ„ 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 help and furtherance of his good Spirit Secondly let this be an instruction vnto vs that if wee would pray aright and speed accordingly wee labour as Iude exhorteth to pray in the holy Ghost Iude vers 20. For those be the petitions that pierce the heauens and bring peace and comfort vnto the conscience But how shall we know whether â—ur 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 wee doe not pray in the holy Ghost because we haue so many frailties when in truth we doe or that we pray as wee 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 tearmes and in a fluent manner of speech Therefore if wee would know what it is to pray in the holy Ghost it is this First Rules for prayer wee must haue a warrant for the things that wee aske and that from the word of God where the Lords will is reuealed 1. Iohn 5.14 according wherunto all our petitions must be framed In which regard we must acquaint our selues with

of faith setting their heart and hope on him and through him expect to bee heard and relieued whence obserue this doctrine that the Spirit of prayer doth alwaies leade men vnto Christ Iesus It causeth them wholly to go out of themselues Doct. 3 and to offer vp their supplications in The Spirit of prayer doth alwaies direct men vnto Christ Iesus and through their Sauiour and Redeemer This was figured in the sacrifices that were offered vnder the Leuiticall law at which time if any one were polluted by any occasion or otherwise clogged with sins that hee had committed he was to bring his offering vnto the Priest and was to be sprinckled with the bloud thereof which did signifie the bloud of Christ by which all Gods elect were to be cleansed and a reconciliation betwixt God and them was to be procured For this cause Daniel though hee were a man much beloued of God and endued with the Spirit of prayer in a wonderfull measure yet hee desireth the Lord to heare him not for his sake Daniel 9.17 or for his peoples sake but for the Lord Christ Iesus his sake Therfore doth our Sauiour tell his disciples Iohn 16.23 that whatsoeuer they should aske the Father in his name hee would giue it vnto them Now the reason why the Spirit of grace doth alwaies direct vs vnto Christ in our prayers Reason is because it maketh vs see our owne vilenesse and wretchednesse and so consequently that we stand in need of the mediation of Christ Iesus Therefore in the couenant of grace after Gods people haue receiued the holy Ghost Ezech. 36.31 it is said Then shall ye remember your owne wicked waies and your deedes that were not good and shall iudge your selues worthie to haue been destroyed for your iniquities and for your abominations This is the first worke of the Spirit euen to set them downe that they should haue nothing to say for themselues but plainely acknowledge that shame and confusion that destruction and eternall condemnation is due vnto them if the Lord should enter into iudgement with them Now when they are thus abased and humbled in themselues then will they seeke to haue a part in Christ his merits that so both they and their seruices may bee accepted of the Lord through his righteousnesse and through his intercession which hee doth continuallie make for them which serueth First for the confutation of the Papists Vse 1 and to shew that they are not led by the Spirit because in their prayers they rest not vpon the mediation and intercession of Iesus Christ but ioyne thereunto their owne merits and the merites of the Saints thinking by that meanes to preuaile in their suites and to obtaine their hearts desire Secondly it maketh also for the confutation of a number of ignorant men and women among vs that will bragge of their daily stint of prayers which they runne ouer and how they make no doubt but the Lord will accept of their requests and will grant the same and why because they liue honestlie among their neighbours and doe no bodie any harme and they hope withall that their good words and prayers doe deserue somewhat at Gods hands Alas poore simple people they little consider what it is to make a good praier for if they did they would goe quite out of themselues vnto Christ Iesus and labour for acceptance onely for his sake And as for these prayers which they so much stand vpon if euer it please the Lord to open their eyes and to waken their drowsie consciences they will be so far from thinking that they merite any thing thereby as that they will see great cause to be humbled therfore for that they haue dealt so hypocritically and carnally drawing neere vnto God with their lips when their hearts haue been remooued farre from him Thirdly here is another vse of consolation and of instruction both that if we will haue this testimony vnto our soules that wee pray in the Spirit then when wee haue the most feeling affections and purest desires let vs offer them vp in Christ Iesus let vs not play the Priests our selues as king Vzziah did lest we be smitten with a worse leprocie in our soules then he was in his body but let vs make Christ our high Priest to present our offerings before the Lord. So also when our prayers and thanksgiuings are most imperfect and weake let vs present them through him that so they may find acceptance with God being perfumed by the righteousnesse of his deare sonne Oh Obiect but I cannot striue nor wrestle with God in prayer as others do and as I my selfe haue sometimes done What of that Answ did not Christ Iesus offer vp strong cryes vnto his Father Heb. 5. And for whom shall those he effectuall but for such poore Christians as cannot so feruentlie call vpon God for themselues It is said Hebrewes 12. Heb. 12.14 That the blood of Christ speaketh better things then the blood of Abel Now we can easilie beleeue that Caine was in a dangerous case when the blood of Abel did call for vengeance against him and why should we not as throughly beleeue that they are in an happy case who haue the blood of the son of God to call for redemption and saluation and acceptation of al holy seruices in their behalfe as all true hearted Christians haue The want of this perswasion is the cause why we omit many excellent prayers and thanksgiuings which would bee very pleasing vnto the Lord being offered vp as sweet incense by our high Priest Christ Iesus and therfore let vs labour for an encrease of faith in this point that so God may not be depriued of seruice nor our selues of those comforts and blessings which are promised to all that call vpon him in truth And they shall looke vpon me whom they haue pierced and they shall lament for him c. In that this great lamentation is set downe as an effect of their beholding of Christ whom by their sinnes they had crucified this doctrine may hence bee gathered that The due consideration of the death of Christ Doct. 4 The consideration of Christ his sufferings is a forcible meanes to godly sorrow is a most forcible meanes to breake the hearts of Christians with godly sorrow There is no such motiue to make men weepe bitterly for their offences as to weigh with themselues in a serious maner that they by their sinnes haue slaine the Lord of life that his bitterest aduersaries were not the causes of that his shamefull and painefull death which hee endured vpon the tree but that they themselues brought him thither Iohn 10.11 and were the procurers of that his bitter passion Christ laid downe his life but for whom euen for his sheep He was cursed that they might be blessed he was was wounded Isaiah 53. that they might bee healed hee suffered disgrace that they might bee brought to glory and endured in

Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Text snippets containing the quad