Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	according_a	admirable_a	good_a	24	3	2.1572	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47283	Ichabod: or, Five groans of the church: Prudently foreseeing, and passionately bewailing her second fall: Threatened by these five dangerous, though undiscerned, miscarriages that caused her first: Viz. [bracket] 1. Undue ordination, 2. Loose prophaness, 3. Unconscionable symony, 4. Careless non-residence, 5. Encroaching pluralities. Humbly presented to her supreme head and governour, the kings most excellent majesty, and his great council, the Parliament of England.; Ichabod.	Ken, Thomas, 1637-1711.	1663 (1663)	Wing K264A; ESTC R22531	49,473	66

best sort of Commons ●allow only such Ceremonies as make religious Duties not more pious but more conspicuous not more sacred but more solemn not more spiritual and holy but more visible imitable and exemplary to quicken my children to allure others to instruct and edefie all 5. Are ye offended with my Canons and Injuctions Is it fit that a few men whom Order and Policy hath made inferiour to others as the Rulers and Representatives of the whole society should prefer their own private Opinions and Judgements before the well-advised Results the learned Counsels the pious Endeavours and solemn Sanctions of so many eminent for piety prudence integrity publick influence and just Authority 6. Are my solemne Fasts and Feasts your grievances those solemn remembrances of Gods mercy to men in Christ celebrated with prayer praises preaching and communicating to Gods glory and all sober Christians improvement according to the known president of the Jews and the general practise of the Christian Church What harme is there is some good men observing a day observe it to the tho Lord and others not observing a day observe it not to the Lord 7. Do you-resent my Endeavours for Unity and Uniformity Alas I desire onely that men sincerely worship one true God and pro●ess the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ that they may be partakers of the gifts and graces of the blessed Spirit and may have an holy communion with that adorable T●inity and with one another in love and charity as Christians enjoying the noblest life the sweetest society and most heavenly ●raternity imitating God emulating Angels Children and expectants of happinesse Partakers of grace and daily preparing for eternal Glory that all men who have been called baptized and instructed by lawful Ministers here in the mysteries and duties of the Gospel may make a joynt and publick profession of the Christian Faith and Reformed Religion in the name and as the sense of the whole Nation grounded upon the holy Scripture guided also and administred by that uniforme order due authority and holy Ministry for Worship and Government which according to the mind of Christ the pattern of the Apostles and the practise of all primitive Churches hath been lawfully established by the wisdome and consent of all Estates in this Kingdome for Gods honour the Churches safety the publick peace and the common good of souls 8. Doe I not allow you a just liberty to dot such things constantly and chearfully which are most proper and advantagious to the nature and excellency of men to think what is true to do what is fit and enjoy what is just in reference to God others and your selves I have taken from you no liberty but that of doing evil you are at liberty to enjoy all the comforts priviledges and Ordinances which Christ hath instituted in an holy order and regular way for private or publick good and to hope for that reward and crown which God the righteous Judge hath promised those that persevere in well doing My highest aim is that you may have liberty to exercise a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards man that they may willingly in all things live honestly 9. Are ye displeased with my Members Alas innocent men they pursue after the knowledge of and communion with God in order to a rational religious spiritual gracious perfect and unchangeable life enjoying themselves in the blessed enjoyment of God the enjoyment of whom satisfieth all their desires rewards all their duties requites all their sufferings compleats all their happiness crowns and perfects true Religion They endeavour that on earth which they hope for in heaven viz. a right knowledge and a willing performance which as reasonable they owe for ever to God their Maker Preserver and Redeemer in Christ. With this religious frame and temper of which themselves only are consciencious they prepare for a glorious and blessed immortality with a sincerity of heart and uprightness of conversation which hath no other Rule but Gods Word no other End but Gods Glory no other Comfort but the Constancy of this Disposition to their Lives end Innocent men they look for one common Salvation they use one common Sacrament they professe one Faith and Rule of Holinesse they have one Gracious Temper the same inward sense of Duty and Devotion they walk in the same order with the Catholick Church over the face of the earth 10. Doe you envy me my Patrimony and Maintenance what the Law of God allows me what the Gospel hath provided me what the piety of elder times hath bestowed upon me what good Kings Peers and people of their own endowed me with freely honouring the Lord with their substance that they that served the Altar might live by the Altar O why may not my children who attend the Gospel live by the Gospel since they attend a Ministry as venerable in its Mysteries as clear in its Doctrine as glorious in its chief Minister Iesus as painful to it's Ministers and as comfortable to pious and devout souls as the Ministry of the Law Why are you offended that they of my children that are taught should communicate to them of my children that teach in every good thing 11. Do you envy my just Power and Authority whereby with the wisdome gravity and integrity of such men as are invested with that power I may chekc all abuses and disorders in the Church and by a well ordered discipline I may recover my self to my former glory and renown for which I was spoken of throughout the world 12. Doe you except against the private infirmities the personal failings of my Bishops and Ministers as lesse strict and unblameable in their lives less painful in thir calling lesse prudent in their undertakings or lesse compassionate in their Government though all the world knoweth that within me Learning flourisheth Knowledge multiplyeth Grace aboundeth ●xcellent Preaching thriveth Sacraments are duelie administred the fruits of Gods spirit are mightihe diffused hospitable Kindness is exercised Christian charity is main●ained plain heartednesse and goods works are emi●●ent though I know the Christian world cannot shew men more eminent then some of my Clergy are for well-weighed knowledge for Christian Courage and Patience for sincere piety for indefatigable industry for Care and Vigilancie for exemplary Vertue for sound Doctrine useful Writing prudent Governing for a firm Co●stancy for fatherly I●●●ructions charitable Corrections and imitable Conversations who guide the people without any allowed ●centiousnesse in conversation any undecency in Devotion any irregularitie in Administration in all which according to the ●acred direction of Gods Word according to the heave●lie assistance of Gods spirit through Faith in Jesus Christ they ●each them to worship the only true God who is blessed for ever as the admirable instruments of Gods glory and the good of mens souls teaching them a fruitful and effectual Faith a sound and judicious Knowledge an hearty and sincere Love a discreet and prudent Zeal a

ICHABOD OR FIVE Groans of the CHURCH Prudently Foreseeing and passionately Bewailing Her Second Fall Threatned by these five dangerous though undiscerned miscarriages that caused her First Viz. 1. Undue ORDINATION 2. Loose PROPHANESS 3. Unconscionable SYMONY 4. Careless NON-RESIDENCE 5. Encroaching PLVRALITIES Humbly presented to her supreme Head and Governour The Kings most excellent MAIESTY and His great Council the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND The Church of England Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die Rev. 3. 2. Cambridge Printed for I. Greaves 1663. ICHABOD OR The Five Groans of the Church CHAP. 1. O All you that pass by me stand and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow if it hath been done to any Reformed or Protestant Church under Heaven as it is done unto me O now my wounds were ready to be closed my Ruines to be repaired my Desolations and Wastes to be finished when the Barbarous was checked the Licentious was restrained the usurpers were removed the professed Enemies of different Interests and Religion which persecuted me were subdued and I ready to settle upon the Eternal Foundations of sound Doctrine of Primitive Government of an holy and pure Worship of a decent and comely order to the amazement of the World to the honour of Religion to the glory of God to the peace of the whole Earth and for good will among men behold my children are discontent my Government is complained of my Ordinances are neglected my Ministers are despised my peace is disturbed and my safety endangered Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth What could I have done that I have not done Have I not taught the truth of God sincerely giving Milk to babes and stronger meat to them that were able to bear it and the Oracles of God to all in a Language they best understood Have I concealed any part of Gods sacred Counsell from you Have I not set forth with all plainness and freedome the blessed fulness and excellencies of my Lord Jesus Christ in such a manner and measure as I received from the Word and Spirit Have I not administ●ed all the Ordinances of God faithfully Have I not enjoyned and taught all vertue and all grace carefull reconmending to my Children whatsoever things are good whatsoever things are true ●hatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are l●vely whatsoever things are of good report every holy Du●y every necessary Rule and every immitable Example with all the Advantages of sound Knowledge powerfull ●reaching which at once was able to inform the weak to reclaim the most erroneous to reform the most debauched to satissie the most curious and to silence the most refractory Have I not prepared with much study and industry with many prayers and tears with long education and di●igent care Reverend Bishops Orderly Presbyters able Ministers workmen that need not be ashamed duly ordained and called after an uninterrupted and Catholick succession through all Ages agreeable to that original institution which was from Jesus Christ the great High Priest the true Prophet the soveraign King of the Church the chief preacher of righteousnesse and Bishop of our souls Have I not I say taken an holy care of a succession of Ministers about holy things who might divide the Word aright by solid preaching mi●ht wait upon God solemnly by a devout and discreet Praying might convince Gain-sayers by acute Disputing might instruct the world by exact Writing might maintain peace and order by wise Governing might reform the world by holy living Hath it not been my care and endeavour to keep up the soundness power and life of Christian Religion Have not I laboured that my good people might every where have what is necessary and wholesome for their souls good in devout Prayers in holy Sacraments in powerful Sermons whereby I desired God knoweth to preserve wholesome and saving truth to promote true holiness to set up an holy decency to maintaine the wholesome form and power of godliness in truth peace order and unity Have not I held forth an holy Light Rule and Life in the plain parts of Scripture every where read in the Articles every where acknowledged in the Creeds and Catichism every year explained in the Liturgy constantly used whereby poor souls had a plain easie and sure way to Heaven through an un●eigned Faith sincere Repentance a Catholick Charity a devout humility a good conscience and an holy obedience to God and man according to the will of God unto all well pleasing Doe not I take care to instruct the ignorant diligentl● to comfort the weak hearted tenderly to raise up them that fall compassionately to visit those that are sick charitably to relieve those that want mercifully to bury my dead that sleep in Jesus solemnly to punish those that doe amisse severely to restore them that have gone astray pitifully to instruct them that oppose themselves meekly to frame a way of Peace Order and Communion in which Brethren might happily dwell together in unity prudently rationally and discreetly O what failings of mine then have occasioned these impatient murmers which I hear What faults of mine have raised those bitter reproaches which I bear What enormities of mine have provoked those imminent dangers which I fear O why is it that ye who own my Saviour who have submitted to my Doctrine as your Rule who have par●aked of my Sacrament as your refreshment and comfort O why is it that ye hate and dispise me that ye strip and wound me that ye tear and mangle me that ye impoverish and debase me that ye make me a scorn an abomination an hissing and astonishment to all that see me a derision and a mocking to my enemies round about me Alas all men of weight and worth for parts and piety for judgement and ingenuity for conscience and integrity for grace learning and renown know my innocency thus far that as to the foundation of Faith and Rule of holiness I have only adheared to Gods blessed Word as for the Circumstances and Ce●emonies of Religion I use in them prudently and charitably that liberty and power which I suppose is allowed here for peace order and decency by that blessed God who is not the Author of Confusion but of peace as in all the Churches of the Saints If we may believe the integrity of those Reformers that setled this Church whose learning worth and piety hath been confirmed by the testimony of so many wise and religious Princes by the approbation of so many learned and reverend Convocations by the applauses of so many other reformed Churches if we may believe the preaching living and dying of so many hundred excellent Bishops and Ministers or the Prayers and proficiencies of so many thousand of godly Christians or if we may believe the wonderfull blessings and special graces of a mercifull God attesting the verity integrity and sanctity of my Christian

Noblenesse of St. Basil and those who come neer●st the Apostolical pattern and resemble the most of any Christians or Ministers the Grace and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I●en●eavour that my Bish●ps may be among Christians the most faithful among Men the most civil among Preachers the most painful among Orato● the most perswasive among Governours the most moderate among pious Men the most ●ervent among Professors the most forward among Severe Men the most exact among Sufferers the most p●tient among Perseverants the most constant the most compleat every way and perfect unto every good w●rk These I take care should be duely chosen should be esteemed with honour and reverenced with love My Rule to them is That they should over-rule with vigilance should rule with joynt counsel neither levelled with younger Preachers and Novices nor exalted too much above the Grave and Elder I allow these men an honourable competencie with eminencie wherewith they may exercise a large heart and liberal hand which may conciliare a general respect and deserve the common love My dir●ction to them is that their vertue and piety may preserve the Authority of their places and this in the order peace and digni●y of the Church that they may be the Tou●hst●ne of Truth the Loadstone of Love the Standard of Faith the Pattern of Holinesse the Pillars of Stability and the Centres of Vnity such as the Erroneous may hate the Factious envy good men may love and bad men may fear 2. Can ye blame my Doctrine approved by the Ref●rmed and agreeable with the Primitive Church a doctrine according to godliness teaching●a●l men that denying all ungodli●●ss and worldly ●ust they should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world 3. Doe you find fault with my Devotion in the Publick worship of God by Confession prayers praises Psalms and other holy Oblations of a Rational and Evangelical service offered up to our God by the joint piety of all my children the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Communi Oratio where nothing is expressed as my mind which I thought not agreeable with the mind of Gods spirit in the Scripture nor do I know any part of it to which a judicious Christian might not in Faith s●y Amen taking the expressions of it in that pious and benign sense which the Church intended and the words may well bear Indeed the whole composure of my Li●urgy is in my judgement so wholesome so holy so compleat so discreet so devout so useful so savoury so well-advised that I find nothing in the eighteen Li●urgies composed in the Eastern and Western Church that is excellent but is in this of mine and many things which are less clear or necessary in them are better expressed or wisely omitted here the whole being so ordered as might best inform all peoples understandings stir up their affections and quicken their devotions in a wholesome form of sound words such as Moses David the Prophets and the Lord Jesus left behind them solemnly recorded in the Scriptures So that according to the primitive care I first laid down Scripture grounds in the Creeds and Confessions and then I enlarged and fixed my Lyturgies and devotions as near as I could to the majesty 〈◊〉 and exactness unanimity and fulness of publick prayers upon all holy publick occasions so plainly that the devout soul knows well what it should desire of God and so affectionately that it earnestly desires in it what it knoweth God alloweth and so uniformly that it peaceably goeth along with the Congregation with one mind and one heart in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace 4. Is it the Rites and Ceremonies I impose that displease you Alas I find the God of Heaven which we worship in England enjoyning more Ceremonies on his own people and forbidding no holy custome to any Christians in order to advance the decency and order of his service or Christ●stians mutual edification and joint devotion under the Gospel Our blessed Saviour hath by his spirt guiding the pens and practises of the Apostles sufficiently manifested the power and liberty given the Church and the Governours of it for the choice and use of such decent customes Rites and Ceremonies not as divine institutions upon the consciences but as humane injunctions upon the practises as agree with godly manners and the truth of the Gospel and may best serve for order de●ency peace solemnity and mutual edification of Christians agreed upon by publick consents in which every ones vote is personally or vertually included It 's true as the Lyturgy so the Ceremonies have something of Rome in them for to deal plainly I did freely and justly assert to my own use and Gods glory whatever upon due tryal I found to have the stamp of Gods truth and grace or the Churches wisdome and charity upon it I would not refuse any good I found amongst them because i● was mixed with some evil but trying all things I held fast that which was good beingintent upon the great ends of p●ety devotion and charity It 's true I enjoyn my people an inward worship of soul in sp●ri● and in truth before God but withal I enjoyn outward worship of the body which is but a reasonable service to God 〈…〉 the body exemplary and significan● before men in such habits an● gestures as ma● 〈◊〉 co●●uce by the advice of the whole Church for the private spirit of the prophets in th●●● things ought to be subject to the p●blick spirit of the Pr●●hets to reverence devotion and e●i●i●ation in knowing ●umble meek and q●iet spirits righ●●y discerning the innocent nature of such things not prohibited and so indifferent and the Christian liberty allowed to them to use those things indifferent when commanded and to la● them a side when not commanded However let the many Obligations to unity by the true Faith you jointl● professe give you more satisfaction then the occasions of dividing the Ceremonies in which you differ give you offence so that you may not upon so small occasions in such small m●tters sacrifice to your private passion and perswasion the publick peace and prosperity of the Church esp●cially since I never heard of any sober Christian or truely godly Minister who being in other things prudent unblameable and sincere did ever suffer any check of conscience meerly upon the account of having been conformable to and keeping communion with me nor did they ever complaine of Ce●emoni● Lyturgy and Episcopacy as any damps to their real graces or to their holy communion with Gods blessed Spirit but admired them as the united influence the joynt consent the combined devotion of all good Christians in this Nation who publickly agreed with one mind and in one manner to serve the Lord in a way allowed by the most pious of Princes practised by the best Nobility owned by the wisest Gentry maintained by the most learned Clergy and embraced by the

de terra crying from the ground that by luxury or sloth by covetousnes or griping by insolence or pride by carelesness or loosenesse by disorder and irregularitie shall ju●tifie mens malice against me and by that means perswade credulous and easie people that is true that hath been said of me all is just that hath been inflicted upon me I know not what Wo is heavy enough for him O alas my Brother O it had been better for him he had never been born 5. My Doctrince I can maintaine my discipline I can assert my constitution I can vindicate ●ou you O my Sons I cannot justifie 〈…〉 I must hear your reproach and cannot gain saie it Five things there are that tend equallie to mine and your own ruine which I must charge you before the world Five things that will insensiblie undermine my famous Fabrick which hath been the care and labour of so many years when erected and the miracle of this last year when restored These five sad Particulars are 1. Vndue Ordination 2. An unconscionable Simony 3. Carelesse Non-residence 4. Loose Prophaneness 5. Encroaching Pluralities CHAP. II. The Church of England's resentment of Vndue Ordination ALthough I am well satisfied whatever the Romanists and others have of late suggested that my Ordination is Authentick ●●imitve and proper in the form o● it is valid in the Author being by men ordained in an uninterrupted succession by the Primitive Bishops as they were by the Apostles and the Apostles by Christ and Jesus Christ by God himself and is regular and legal in the circumstances of it being agreeable to the established Lawes of the Realm yet not without much regret must I confesse that solemn investiture of men to the great calling of Ministers fallen much below its native glory much shrunk in its Primitive sacrednesse and reverence and extreamly decayed in its first esteem and honour beca●se my Reverend Bishops in the great intricacies of late alterations are surprized to be●low the honour of that high calling 1. upon the Young 2. upon the Unlearned 3. upon the Debauched and 4. upon the Factious SECT I. Of Young Ministers whereof I have a Call of above 3000. WO is me when I have those that teach before they have learned that I have those that would instruct others and have need themselves be iustructed which are the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ. Instead of the ancient Fathers we have children who are made Priests in all Lands Former times honoured my excellent Clergy for their age and gravity reverenced them for their learning and austerity and esteemed them as the wonder of the world and said Ask the Father and he will shew thee thine ancients and they shall tell thee this age slights them for their youth and weakness for their ignorance and unexperience as persons that are but of yestardy and know nothing We have understanding saith the common people to the young men as well as you we are not inferiour to you yea who knoweth not such things as these As the Patriarchs separated their first-bo●n for the Priest-hood and Moses Aaron reserved them●elves many years for their Ministries and the Law prepared men thirty years for the fa●red service and the blessed Jesus the Preacher of righteousness entred not until the thirtieth year of his Age upon the great work of the Ministry so my Bishops knowing how to behave themselves in the work of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of truth took heed to themselves and the ●locks over which the holy Ghost had made them Overseers that they laid hands suddenly on no man neither were partakers of other mens sins but keep themselves pure taking care that men be first proved and then use the Office of a Deacon being found blamelesse and then when they had used the Office of a Deacon well and purchased to themselves a good degree of a Priest or Bishop then they took care t●at they should be blamelesse vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach not Novices left being lifted up with pride they fall into the condemnation of the Devil Moreover they took care they might have a good report of them that are without lest they fall to reproach and condemnation of the Devil But now since the loosenesse of these late times there are admitted to the Priesthood of the meanest of the people who are not the sons of Levi as in Ieroboam's days every one that will is made a Priest that he may have bread to eat Those Pulpits that were filled with ancient Fathers are now Desks for young children those solemne Assemblies that were rapt up into the third Hea●●● with pious Sermons and devout Prayers hear the late pe●antique Herangues and juvenile Orations with scorn and laughter those people that thronged to hear the wisdome of God delivered in the 〈◊〉 of the Spirit and with power are quite weary of that true foolishnesse of Preaching that consists onely in the childish wisdome of words and in the trifling enticing words of mans wisdome I had reverend men that shewed themselves a pattern of good works in Doctrine shewing uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned that they that were of The contrary party were ashamed having no evill to say of them when I ordained Elders in every City I had men blameless sober ju●t holy temperate whose judgements were setled whose passions were allayed whose aff●ctions were composed whose actions were advised and conversation exact and uniforme since every one did what was good in his own e●es My young Ministers have been unstable in all their wa●s unsetled in their minds rash in t●eir undertakings imprudent in their carriage weak in their discourses unexperienced in their behaviour not even orderly and stayed in their conversation to the grief of good men who esteem all Ministers very highly in love for their works sake to the joy of those evil men that have ill-will for Sion who cry Aha aha so would we have it O young men who requireth these things at your hands Why do you run before I am willing to send you O how dare you take this Office upon you until you are called with solemn preparation as was Aaron Are not you afraid now you have newly passed the elements of Philosophy and the first principles of Nature to look into those mysteries which the Angels desire to look into to search into that knowledge which passe●h knowledge Are not you afraid to ascend that Pulpit whither Luther said he never ascended though very aged without fear and trembling Are not you afraid to undertake that dreadful work from which the Prophets fled the Fathers avoided the Primitive Pastors trembled at Do you know what you do when you undertake to be Embassadors in Christs stead to bring back the world to God to be Co-workers with God in the salvation of souls to be Angels of the Church to be as Stars in Gods right