Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A59598
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The pourtraiture of the primitive saints in their actings and sufferings according to Saint Paul's canon and catalogue, Heb. 11. By J.S. Presb. Angl.
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Shaw, John, 1614-1689.
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1652
(1652)
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Wing S3033; ESTC R214014
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120,960
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164
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of Faith nor consent to sinfull actions repugnant to the precepts of Faith And if upon this account I suffer I am a Martye caeteris paribus in both if noâ— equally onely I must be sure that my refusall or deniall bâ— upon good grounds strong convictions of Conscience from the writings of holy Scriptures and not upon meer probabiliâ—s or jealousies or far-fetched conjectures and fancies that is refusall be not an humor or designe a sullennesse or stiffnesse Spirit but the motion of a sanctified heart upon Scripture â—evelations 2. This Call of Abraham we have Registred Gen. 12.1 â—â—d it put his Faith to the triall and proofe for it runs in high â—â—rmes Get thee out of thy Courtrey c. A strange and unâ—â—uth order and injunction to relinpuish and desert his Inheâ—ance and Patrimony and to travaile and finde out a new â—yle and new acquaintance and to stand to the courtesie of â—angers It were needlesse to discourse of the fancy and conâ—nt a man takes to his Native Countrey nescio qua natale â—um c. of the affection and piety he owes to his Parents 〈◊〉 the delight and satisfaction he findes in his Inheritance and â—â—tient Family especially if he be a man of Honour and Quaâ—y for these concerments being the highest objects of naturall â—â—sires to leave these seemeth all one as to cast off Nature â—â—d Humanity it selfe But yet this is the condition of a â—â—hristian God many times puts them upon trials calls them to â—â—fferings to sorsake all indearements and adhere onely to â—â—m to love him for himselfe and above and before all others â—â—d to love others onely in and for him and so Christ proâ—â—ed not to his followers the fullnesse of the Creature abunâ—nce of wealth dignities and thrones outward successes and â—osperities carnall delights and pleasures confluence of all â—rthly enjoyments but harsh and unpleasant conditons such 〈◊〉 would make the most affectionate servant forsake his Master â—e most faithfull Subject leave his Prince and compound in me Persecution and Tribulation Poverty and Ignominy no â—â—ther Arguments of Invitation to submit to his di cipline did â—â—e or his Apostles use but such as were drawn from sufferings and the rewards thereof neither indeed could they properly have used any other For Christ was the Prince of sufferings a â—â—an of sorrows and the Apostles were banished imprisoned â—rmented not one of them but Saint John and he escaped â—eath by a Myracle when he was put into a Cauldron of â—alding Leade and Oyle died a naturall death and so not onely by Precept taught but by example 〈…〉 they who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecuâ—â— Saint Paul found it so no sooner was he Converted Ananias was sent to Baptise him with this Declaration will shew thee how great things thou must suffer Acts 9 â—â— and ever after he was a Commission-Officer under Chriâ—â— His Motto was Quotidiè Morior I dye dayly and the Câ—â—â— was both his delight and his study No sooner was Dâ—â—â—â— Anointed and Concecrated to the Kingly Office by the Propâ—â— Samuel but he was subjected to troubles and miseries when are once admitted into the Communion of the chosen Genâ—tion the Royall Priesthood the holy Nation we ever aâ—â— are obnoxious to temptations persecutions and afflictions 〈◊〉 the very Blessings which we injoy are with Persecutiâ— Mark 10.30 Of the eight beatitudes mentioned Matth. five of them them have either meannesse or misery for the subject Blessed are the Poore the Hungry and Thirsty â—â— that Mourne the Humble the Persecuted and as it fared wâ— Christ he was immediately assaulted by the tempter upon solemne designation and separation to the Office of Mediâ— by Baptisme Mat. 3.16.17 and Mat. 4.1 So it happens every follower of Christ as soon as they list themselves â—â—der his command subscribe to his service they are sure to mâ—â— with difficulties sadnesses and conflicts the Devill his Coâ—plices and Agents pursue them with implacable fury with 〈◊〉 wearied malice and rage the sentence is peremptory In 〈◊〉 World you shall have tribulation John 16.33 See but in wâ—â— harsh Language God declared his Will to Abraham the Woâ—â— and Expressions were able to torment the Bowels disorder tâ— affections disturbe the soule and distract the spirit of aâ—â— one not altogether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who had any sparke of good nature in him he faith not to him in a sweet or smooth stile Taâ—â—â— Journey out of Chaldee and travell thence into Canaan 〈◊〉 in severe and high Phrase Get thee out of thy Country and frâ—â— thy Kindred and from thy Fathers House God will not dissemble with his servants he tells them plainly the termes an condition of their servitude what they must expect and looâ— for neither would he have them to flatter or delude them selves with vaine hopes of I know not what imaginary feliciâ—â—es not to build Castles in the Ayre frame Ideas and pleaâ—â—nt fancies of Empires Crownes Riches and Honourable Atâ—â—ndance but wisely to consider with themselves afore-hand â—hether they like the termes will observe the conditions leave 〈◊〉 if that be required to follow him left forsaking their preâ—â—nded and acknowledged Master he take vengeance on them â—â—r their Apostacy and they become a taunt and scorn to others Luke 14.28.29.30 Look to it then O Christian what God â—â—quires of thee consider afore-hand what God hath called â—â—ee too its temerity and folly to take in hand so great an interprise unlesse thou intend to goe through with it it is sin â—â—d shame too to forsake it after thou hast undertaken it He â—â—at putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh c. Luke 9.62 â—â—e whom money or preferment can seduce or feare bafle out 〈◊〉 his undertaking to side or betray his trust to the adverse parâ—â— is too base and vulgar a spirit to be imployed in any honourable service Let none pretend to Christ who either doâ—â—gly loves and fancies the World or slavishly and cowardly â—â—ares it who drives at nothing but interest and is affected with nothing but losse or death or the pre-apprehensions of either 〈◊〉 whom faire promises can seduce or threats or hard usage â—â—gbeare and stave out of his Religion let him never take the â—â—me of Christian Remember Lots Wife who regretting â—â—e losse of her Countrey and some gawdy Vanities she had â—â—ere was turned into a Pillar of Salt Know then and consider O Christian that all those tryals and sufferings are thy porâ—â—on in this life that through many tribulations thou must enâ—â—r into the Kingdome of Heaven If Called thou must forâ—â—ke all and follow thy Master here in bearing thy Crosse â—ereafter in receiving a Crowne Per varios casus per tot disâ—imina rerum tendimus in Latinus God will have it so for â—any reasons best known to himselfe yet some we have reâ—ived from his fulnesse which his Word as a suppletory hath â—â—nished us withall As 1. These sufferings and
prevailing party Peter notwithstanding his doubting is in the account of Beleevers Why doubtest thou O thou of little Faith God will not quench the smoking flax nor bruise the broken reed Faith even to the pittance and proportion of a graine of mustard-seed shall be accepted with him whose property is to be easte entreated And hereupon he entitles himselfe The good Shepheard because he taketh the weake Sheep in his armes and the weake Beleever is received though not for his weakenesse yet even for that a Beleever Rom. 14.3 God hath received him he is Gods servant verse 4. Sarahs infirmities are covered her Faith commended her vertues extoled her defailings not mentioned Gods goodnesse and long-suffering coloured and concealed Jobs impatience and though â—e murmured yet it is said expressely He sinned not because of his sincerity and faithfulnesse Indeed the Law requires perfect unsinning obedience and approves no Act but what in â—â—â—bus numeris in every circumstance good without the least â—esect or imperfection bonum est ex integra causa but the Gospel offereth more grace accepts the weake if sincere enleavours of Beleâ—vers Psal 103.13.14 Mal. 3 17. O then happy we if we but faithfull servants if our workings be buâ—â—ordiall and upright no evill adhering circumstance shall be ever able to condemne us O that we would imitate this goodnesse of God it s the fashion of the world to extenuate or conâ—eale our neighbours vertues to proclaime their bad which â—roceeds from a spirit of Pride Se fe-love Envy Detraction or Malice The Character of our Heavenly Father is the Lord good and gracious long-suffering and of great goodnesse pardoning iniquities transgressions and sinnes not imputing covering them O that we were like him in Charity if we were then our Charity would cover a multitude of faults 4. Sarah and many Propheresses the Virgin Mother and many other holy Women recorded for followers of Christ have sufficiently honoured that Sex for their Piety and there hath been from Age to Age such of them as have remonstrated their magnanimity and sincerity Saint Basil relates That â—an Honourable Matronâ— immediately before her Death used this Exhortation to those of her Sex who were Spectators of her sufferings Remember saith she it was not onely the flesh of Man was taken to make in Women but his bone also so we being bone of his bone have received strength spirit and conrage with and from him which we also should imploy in the â—â—â—â—râ—ises of our holy Faith 5. Sarah received strength What is it that thou hast which thou hast not received It is God which raiseth Families anâ— gives Children Psal 127.3 and if God give them it is 〈◊〉 just and congruous we returne them to him consecrate theâ—â— to God traine them up in his discipline and if he remanâ— them and call for them as many times he doth freely 〈◊〉 surrender and resigne them 6. God afforded not this happinesse to Abraham and Sarah till their Old Age God many times communicates 〈◊〉 his Grace to us till our strength faile us not that we shâ—â—â— presume that God will doe so because he may and sometiâ—â— doth but that we should not at any time diffide his merâ—â— or driven into despaire Some he calleth at the eleveth hoâ—â— and one Theife upon the Crosse But we must beware 〈◊〉 there is danger in all delayes and no estate more dangeroâ—â— then to deferre Repentance till Old Age or the Death-Bed maâ—â— us unserviceable for the World and unable for the prosecuâ—â—â—â— of its lusts For though it be certain that true Repentanceâ— never too late yet it is also most true that late repentance â— seldome or never 〈◊〉 7. Sarahs Wombe receiving life and strength to Conceiâ—â— represents unto us the manner of our conversion to God Thâ— Soule naturally is dead in sinne till by Faith in Christ Jesus 〈◊〉 receives life and strength to bring forth fruits of Righteousness there is a plastick fermative vertue in the Immortall Seâ—â— 1 Peter 1.23 which begetteth in us the new Man which â—â—ter God is Created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse Anâ— as Isaac had not his being from his Parents by their naturaâ— generative faculty but by a supernaturall assistance and therefore he is said to be not the Sonne aftâ—â— the Flesh but after the Spirit and of Promise Gal 4.23 So it is not by Naturâ—â— but by a Power from Heaven that Christ is formed in 〈◊〉 and he dwelleth in our hearts by Faith Iohn 1.13 Who 〈◊〉 borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will Man but of God The third Part. The Prayer O Omnipotent Lord the God of all consolations and Father of all mercies who gavest new strength and abilities to the deâ—ayed bones and impayred members of Abraham even as dead evâ—ve our dead spirits give a spiritâ—all being to our natures â—ead in sinne Create cleane hearis and renew right spirits withâ—â— us that we may dye unto finne and live unto righteousnesse Thou who gavest power to Sarah to conceive and bring forth a â—â—ly Seed rayse us by thy mighty power from the corruption of â—ur natures to the renovation of our mind that through the â—â—mortall Seed planted and watered in our hearts by the blessed â—pirit we may receive strength and ability of spirit to conceivâ— and fâ—rmâ— Christ within us to resist sinue and adhere to godlinesse and notwithstanding the barrennesse and weakenesse of our â—â—ture to be inabled in the inner to performe all holy daties to â—hoâ—nd and be fruitfull in all good Workes We beseech thee most gracious God to extend thy goodnesse to thy whole Catheâ—â—ne Church deliver her from those oppressors that seeke to deâ—oure her comfort all her desolations make her Desert like Eden and her Wildernesse like the Garden of the Lord to bring â—orth holy Plants iâ— flonrish in the House of God and to Worship â—iuâ— in the beauty of holinesse let joy and gladnesse be found â—â—erein prayse and the voyâ—e of singing Rayse up unto her nuring Fathers and nursing Mothers and strengthen her to Conâ—â—eâ—ve and bring up as many as the Starres of the Skiâ— in mulâ—itude and as the Sand of the Sâ—aâ—shâ—re which is innumerâ—ble â—o offerâ—up unto thee the dayly sacrifice of prayse and thansgiving and after to sing uncessantly holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and which is to coâ—e Blessing â—â—onour and glory be unto him that fitteth on the Thrâ—â—e and to the Lambe and to the holy Spirit now and for ever Amen ABRAHAMS Offering Heb. 11.17.18.19 By Faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaâ—â— and be that had received the Promises offered up 〈◊〉 onely begotten Sonne c. THis is the tenth and last tryall of Faithfull Abraham Paraâ—â— hath Observed from the Hebrews but of others the most grievous dangerous and uncourteous the â—â—lusion and complement of them all and though each of thâ— was sufficiently sad and dismall and required great abilitieâ— Faith