Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abide_v	able_a	light_n	27	3	5.6353	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B06752	Man's terrene-refuge sleighted: and the excellency of celestiall concernments briefly asserted, / by Ric. Warde Gent. and directed to his worthy friend in a letter.	Ward, Richard, 1601 or 2-1684.	1651 (1651)	Wing W803; ESTC R186250	53,007	162

Grievances and perplexities that are apt to distract us in our lives and also taken notice how fraile and fading all sublunary things are And likewise having endeavoured to raise some matter for satisfaction in our deepest exigences from the consideration of those nobler things that are of a more durable and heavenly concernment I shall next survey that condition which of all other seemes most terrible and is therefore termed the KING of Fear and that is Death it self whose very name is attended with trembling in respect of which all the afflictive incidences of mans life carry little or no proportion And so it is indeed more formidable then I can expresse to those that have not some assurance of a better life that are not furnished with spiritual Armour for this last encounter But I shall make it appear it 's much otherwise to those that have an interest in CHRIST who consider the unavoidable necessity of it grounded upon that unalterable Eternal Decree of Heaven And that * Heb. 9.27 all men are appointed once to dy They are so farre from desiring an exemption from that condition that they are said in Scripture to wait and long for it There are two especial daies for which the Children of GOD are said to wait The first is the day of death wherein they go to the LORD The second is the day of appearing wherein the LORD shall come to them They sojourne in the body more weary of it then David was of his dwelling in the Tents of KEDAR they waite with patient * Job 14.14 Job till the day of their change come and desire with the Apostle to be * Phil. 1.23 dissolved and be with CHRIST yea they pray for it so often as they mention that petition * Mat. 6.10 Lu. 11.3 Let thy Kingdome come They labour after death so far as it may be a meanes to abolish sin that CHRIST their KING may alone reign in and over them It is neverthelesse true that wicked and irreligious persons put the remembrance of death far from them yet for all that it comes upon them suddenly as * 2 Kings 23.24 Jehu furiously came upon Jehoram though they run to their Chariots that is their Refuges of vanity Death's dart surely overtakes them But the good Israelites of GOD desire to be ever prepared with their * Exod. 12.11 loines girded and their staves in their hands ready to take their journey from EGYPT to CANAAN whensoever the Majesty of the Most High GOD shall command them As fowles desirous to fly stretch forth their wings so do these extend their affections towards HEAVEN * Gen. 18.1 Abraham sate in the dore of his Tabernacle when the Angell appeared to him * 1 Kings 19.9 Elias came out to the mouth of his Cave when the LORD appeared to him so should we rejoice and be glad to come o●● of the Cave and Tabernacle of th●● wretched body that we may me●● with the LORD of Glory This Messenger DEATH cures all our Maladies and rescues us from all our fears and dangers This is that Cherub that stands Centinell at the Gate of Paradise There 's no entrance but under his hand There● no passage to those glories above but through the Gates of Death here below But that which renders death yet more desirous to the Godly is the second day which they are said to wait for And that 's CHRISTS second coming The Apostle gives this as a Token of the rich Grace of GOD bestowed on the Gorinthians * 1 Cor. 1.7 that they waited for the appearance of CHRIST yea he gives it out as a mark of all those that shall be glorifyed when he saies * 2 Tim. 4.8 There is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse and not for me only but all those that love Christs second appearing And again * Heb. 9.28 CHRIST was offered to take away the sins of Many and unto them that look for HIM shall HE appear without sin unto salvation Amongst the Jewes as the day of * Lev. 25.10 Jubilee drew nigh so the joy of those that were in prison encreased for that it brought them an assurance of relief Much more cause have we to rejoice the neerer the day of our Eternall Jubilee approaches when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes and sorrow and mourning shall fly away for ever But to encounter a little further with this great Combatant first I say that Death which the righteous suffer is not total for it can never strike the whole man but onely the weakest part his body the more excellent part the soul is partaker of Eternal Life Nor secondly is it perpetual for our soules shall not abide under the Bonds of Death the spirit of Christ that dwells in us shall raise us up and cloath us with Immortality There is begun in the Children 〈◊〉 Light a life which no death is eve● able to exstinguish though it ma● invade the vital natural powers 〈◊〉 the body and suppress them one after another and at last break in upon this lodging of clay and demolish it to the ground yet that man 〈◊〉 GOD which dwells in the Body shall escape with his life Though the Tabernacle is cast down which is the worst our enemy can do ye● he that dwelt in it is removed to better As the Bird escapes out o● the snare of the Fowler so the soul i● death flies away with joy to her Maker The dissolving of the body to the Children of GOD is but the unfolding of the net and breaking open the Prison wherein they have been detained that so they may be delivered from that Captivity Here 's comfort in abundance for all those whose consciences can give evidence of their well-led lives And for those also whose peace is made with GOD through CHRIST by meanes of those two powerful Mediatours steadfast faith and unfained repentance The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romanes gives us this assurance * Ro. 5.1 That being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The efficacy of whose death effectually applyed to our souls will sufficiently season and sanctify death unto us For how can we possibly fear that enemy whom our Redeemer hath already conquered As in the battel betwixt our * Gen. 3. Saviour and Satan Satan's head was bruised and he did no more then tread on the heele of our Saviour so shall it be in the conflict of all his members By the power of the Lord Jesus we shall be more then Conquerours The * Ro. 16.20 God of our peace shall tread downe Satan under our feet There is a seed of immortal life in our soules which no power of the Enemy is ever able to overcome So soon as we lanch forth of this life we arrive at the blessed Haven of everlasting happynesse where there is a Glory for all those that are heires of

to blesse God in this Condition And though the malice of our enemies pursue us with terrible persecutions● (i) Phi. i. 29. To you it is given saith Paul not 〈◊〉 to believe but to suffer whatsoever 〈◊〉 given of God deserves our thank●●● It is a great priviledge to be kept pur● and the people of God are never 〈◊〉 pure then under persecution That truth to which we bear testimony an● for which we suffer encreaseth an● spreads it self the more through ou● sufferings Therefore let 's be advised by the Apostle Peter (k) 1 Pet. 4.16 That if 〈◊〉 man suffer as a Christian let him not 〈◊〉 ashamed but let him glorify God in th●● behalf And although the sun-shi●● of Gods beautiful aspect seem so eclipsed that our spiritual condition is ove● clouded yet it may be day when th● beames of the Sun do not appear an● though it be dark without there m●● be light within And this for o●● future comfort is certain that thoug●● God may for a moment withdra● His comforting presence from 〈◊〉 children yet never his supporting presence They still find that they ha●● that interest in him and that depe●●ance on him that they would no● relinquish for all the world and though they seem lowe even lost and forsaken for all this a gracious heart will not renounce the waies of his Saviour so that here 's plentiful matter for our praise and thanksgiving And then further it is an infinite mercy and well worth our thanks that in all our temptations though never so terrible and impetuous we have a secure refuge to fly to where we shall undoubtedly be relieved (l) He. 2.18 He was in all things tempted saith the Author to the Hebrewes that he might succour those that are tempted (m) Joh 16.33 Christ bids be of comfort for he hath overcome the world he hath subdued Satan and bound him up in chains that he cannot stir a foot without permission from above as is evident by that expression in St. Luke's Gospel (n) Lu. 23. Simon Simon saith our Saviour Satan hath desired thee that he may winnowe thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not If he had had power of his own he would never have asked leave Jesus Christ praies for us at the very instant of our temptation and is that brasen serpent that cures us when we are stung And though he suffer us sometimes to be tempted it is that we may not be (o) 2 Co. 12.7 exalted above measure to keep us humble and preserve us from being split upon spiritual Pride a rock that would soon dash us in pieces Temptation as one well observed is the souls rape it may offer violence and deflour our souls but if we do not yield to it it can never deprive us of our innocency And how eminent a mercy it is to be kept chaste unto Christ let every Christian judge If then there be such just cause to praise God in these extremities Certainly we shall meet with much more in the daily blessings and favours that are dispensed to us by the hands of our bountiful Father But above all that can be thought on was that eternal mer-of God in giving his dearly beloved Son to suffer death for our transgressions and that in the shamefullest and severest manner that ever story made mention of for no other end but that we which were dead in trespasses and sins might be made alive that we which were bondslaves to Satan might be released from that hellish thraldome that we which were vagabonds and aliens might be made heirs of that incorruptible and Celestial inheritance that never was nor ever will be capable of diminution or decay All our daies are too few to spend in praise for such a glorious endearment as this is and yet we have many more of a very transcendent nature to draw forth our hearts in thankfulnesse As that precious Gospel and written word of God that together with the Holy Spirit conveys the glad tidings of salvation to our souls that serves as a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our pathes that searches the dark corners of our hearts and makes discovery of our grosse corruptions and so slaies them that they may not rise up in rebellion against us to terrify us at that great and generall day of Judgment whereto there will be an universal Summons nor any ways be able to contribute to our condemnation It is likewise a great mercy and worth our thanks that our eyes behold our Teachers that the dores of Gods Tabernacle are not shut 〈◊〉 That we have faithful Pastors whole endeavours are daily imployed to gather us into that sheepfold wherof Jesus Christ is shepherd and to break that bre●● of life wrapt up in the word ordinance● and dispence it to our souls for our spiritual nourishment whereby we are further enabled to grow in Grace and holynesse from one degree to another till by that Celestial repast we attain in an higher improvement and perfection In may also call for our thankful acknowledgements that we are preserved from peril and bodily danger to which we are lyable every moment Should we be dea●● with according to our deserts in respe●● of our sins every morsel we eat might be mixt with poison every shower that fall● from heaven instead of rain might he sulphur and every flash of lightning fire to reduce us to ashes The very earth wheron 〈◊〉 tread might open her bowels and swallo● us quick for our rebellions as it did (p) Numb 1631. Core Dathan and Abiram If we cast our eyes into Holy Writ and observe what fearful judgements God hath inflicted on sinners and made them sudden example● of his justice as (q) Gen. 19.26 Lots wife for her looking back was turned into a pillar of salt (r) Gen. 19.24 Sodome for her pride was destroyed with fire and brimstone (s) 1 Kings 13.4 Jeroboam for his burning incense had his hand withered (t) 1 Sam. 4.18 Ely for suffering his children to abuse the Priests office had his neck broke The (u) 2 Kin. 2.23 24. children for mocking Elisha were devoured with bears (w) 2 Ki. 9. Jesabel for oppressing Naboth was eaten with dogs (x) Lev. 10.1 2. Nadab and Abibu for using prophane fire upon the Altar were consum'd with fire (y) 1 Sam. 15.28 Saul for disobeying Samuel lost his Kingdome (z) Lu. 1.20 Zachary for his unbelief was strucken with dumbnesse (a) Act. 13.11 Elymas for hindering the course of the Gospel with blindnesse (b) 2 Ki. 5.27 Gehazi for taking bribes with leprosy (c) Dan. 5.30 Balshazzar for prophaning the holy vessels and (d) Act. 5.10 Ananias and Saphira for telling a ly were struk with death Yea and (e) Deu. 32.48 49 50 51. Moses for trespassing at the waters of Meriba was shut out of the Land of Canaan And that we which are