Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	able_a	effect_n	great_a	191	3	2.1571	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85418	Theomachia; or The grand imprudence of men running the hazard of fighting against God, in suppressing any way, doctrine, or practice, concerning which they know not certainly whether it be from God or no. Being the substance of two sermons, preached in Colemanstreet, upon occasion of the late disaster sustain'd in the west. With some necessary enlargements thereunto. / By John Goodvvin, pastor of the Church of God there.	Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1644 (1644)	Wing G1206; Thomason E12_1; ESTC R5086	47,494	57

religiously affected and best conscienced people in the Land for trading in Apes and Peacocks for holding some erroneous opinions perhaps erroneously so called as if it self were the Lord of infallibility and had a non posse errare settled by God as an inheritance upon it I professe ingenuously that when I put my self into a posture of the greatest indulgency I am able to consider of the reformation so much spoken of and even conflict with my spirit to forme and cast the possible effects and fruits of it to the greatest advantage I am not able to apprehend any thing desireable likely to come of it either in respect of a civill or religious accommodarion unto the Nation above what might be expected and that upon terms of a far more promising hope from the other Way which indureth so much contradiction from men But I apparently foresee many inconveniences and those not of a light or contemptible importance likely to attend it for which no place would be found in the other Way Particularly it is to mee instead of all arguments and demonstrations that no Reformation is according to the mind of God and of Jesus Christ which is destructive to the edification of the Saints and directly impeding their growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ And whether such a Reformation if yet it be lawfull so to call it which injoynes the Saints to sit under and hold themselves to such Pastors with whom their hearts cannot close in that relation with any tolerable satisfaction nor yet are capable of his Ministery or any edification by it be not under that condemnation I leave to men that have not sold themselves under partiality to judge and determine If it be said but men shall have liberty to choose what Pastor they please and to sit under what Ministery they desire if they will but choose their dwellings accordingly I answer 1. There may be and I believe are many of a rich anoynting from God for the work of the Ministery and much desired by a considerable number of godly persons in Pastorall relation who must say their consciences nay to accept of a Parochiall charge In this case the change of a mans house will do nothing towards the blessing of his soul if such a Reformation as most mens thoughts run upon should be established 2. All the dwellings within the Parochiall line relating to the Pastor that is desired may be fill'd with Inhabitants already and so there is no place or possibility at least for the present for him whose soul longeth after that Pastor to injoy him and when or whether ever whilest he liveth the door now shut against him will be open no man knoweth 3. Many times the situation and conveniency of a mans present dwelling for trade imployment c. is such that he cannot remove but at the perill of his estate and ruining himself and his whole family And how they who shall compell men either to sacrifice their peace comfort and subsistenc 〈…〉 this present world or else run the hazard of losing a subsistence in that which is to come will answer it either before the righteous God or reasonable men is above my apprehension 4. This liberty of choosing Pastors only by choosing houses is so conditioned that it smiles only upon the rich and that but somewhat faintly neither but frowns upon the poor and so is partiall and therefore not Christian He that hath enough of that which as Solomon saith answers all things may probably be able to accommodate himself within the precincts of what parish he pleaseth in point of dwelling as either by buying out some Inhabitant or by purchasing ground and building upon it or the like but the case of the poor man is many times such that he cannot tell where to finde another hole in all the world to hide his head in besides that wherein it is hid already So that this liberty of choosing a Pastor being nothing else if plainly interpreted but only a liberty of choosing such or such a Parish determinately to dwell in is little better then a meer collusion in respect of those that are poor and indeed rather an upbraiding of them with their poverty then any gratification of them with a liberty 5. And lastly such a liberty as this we now speak of were it more valueable then it is is no gratuity benefit or blessing of that Reformation so importunely demanded and pressed for by many being nothing else but what was every mans permission and enjoyment under the iron rod of Episcopall tyranny I am more beholding to every man that comes neer me for not taking away my life then I am to any Reformation whatsoever for giving me liberty to choose my Pastor upon such terms This for answer in full to that undue charge against the Congregationall Way wherein it was attainded of inconsistency with and enmity against Reformation A second objection levied against it and all sufferance of it by those that are adversaries to it is that if it be permitted quietly to walk up and down amongst us and not be suppressed it will soon make the Land unquiet fill the Land with troubles t●mults divisions distractions dissentions discontents confusions in City in Countrey in relations in families and where not To this also I answer 1. That perempt 〈…〉 ness and height of confidence in an accuser is no signe at all of reality or truth in the accusation Wee know say the Jews concerning Christ that this man is a sinner Joh. 9. 24. And again Joh. 8. 48. Say wee not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devill And yet for all their knowledge and confidence of well-speaking the Lord Christ was never the more either a Sinner or a Samaritan or had a Devill The Way we speak of is never the neerer the guilt of those things that are charged upon it because her accusers bewray so little tendernesse or ●esitancy in drawing up their charge 2. Nor is the tragicall dresse or pointed stile of an accusation any demonstrative proof of a guilt commensurable thereunto no nor yet of any proportion or degree of guilt at all Want of crime and delinquency either in things or persons which are accused many times makes a greater noyse in the accusation then a reality or fulnesse of guilt would do Innocency ●ath beg●tten the rankest and fiercest accusations that ever were managed by the tongues or pens of men Thou lovest all devouring words said David O tho● deceitfull or false tongue They that accuse either upon knowledge or fear of little or no guilt in the accused still labour to lay on accusation enough lest nothing otherwise should be believed by the Judge That mount of accusation which is raised so high against the Way we now maintain doth not at all prove that there is any thing in it that deserves battery 3. There is no substantiall reason at all can be given why