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	word_n	zion_n	48	3	9.0044	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77608	Heaven on earth or a serious discourse touching a wel-grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessedness. Discovering the nature of assurance, the possibility of attaining it, the causes, springs, and degrees of it, with the resolution of several weighty questions. By Thomas Brooks, preacher of the Gospel at Margarets Fishstreet-Hill.	Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.	1654 (1654)	Wing B4943; Thomason E1446_1; ESTC R209539	332,772	663

certainty bless him and will bless his blessing to him and in multiplying he would multiply his seed as the stars of Heaven and as the sand which is upon the Sea shore Now the Angel of the Lord viz. the Lord Jesus as his own words shew Verse 12 15 16. calls unto Abraham out of Heaven not once but twice and now he shews his admirable love in countermanding of Abraham and in providing a Ram even to a miracle for a burnt-offering And thus you see that believing times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to reveal his love and make known his favor to his people and to look from Heaven upon them and to speak again and again in love and sweetness to them Fifthly Hearing and receiving Reas 5 times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to cause his face to shine upon his people when they are a hearing the Word of Life and a Psal 63. 3 4. breaking the Bread of Life then God comes in upon them and declares to them that love that is better then life Acts 10. 44. While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word As Peter was Also by the Holy Ghost is meant the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit Vers 45 46. Acts 11. 15. Therefore says the Apostle do not leave the substance for a shadow the Sun for a Candle and speaking the Holy Ghost that is the graces of the Holy Ghost viz. the joy the comfort the love the peace c. of the Holy Ghost fell upon them So in that Gal. 3. 2. This onely would I learn of you received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith By the Spirit here Calvin and Bullinger and other Expositors do understand the joy the peace the assurance that is wrought in the heart solid Meat for Milk which none would do except they were bewitched Gal. 3. 1. by the hearing of Faith that is by the Doctrine of the Gospel for in these words of the Apostle hearing is put for the thing heard and Faith for the Doctrine of the Gospel because the Gospel is the ordinary means of working Faith Faith comes by hearing saith the Apostle So in that 1 Thes 1. 5 6. By the Holy Ghost in this Text cannot be meant the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit and that first because they were no evidences of Election secondly because many vessels of wrath have been partakers of them thirdly many of Gods choice and chosen ones have been destitute of those extraordinary gifts For our Gospel came not unto you in word onely but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost In these words you have a Divine Power attending Pauls Ministry a power convincing enlightning humbling raising delighting reforming renouncing and transforming of them that heard him Also you have the sweet and blessed testimony of the Spirit attending his Ministry and assuring those of their Effectual Calling and Election upon whom the Word came in power and raising up their spirits to joy in the midst of sorrow Ah you precious Sons and Daughters of Sion that have sate waiting and trembling at Wisdoms door tell me tell me Hath not God rained down Manna upon your souls whilest you have been hearing the Word Yes Hath not God come in with power upon you and by his Spirit sealed up to you your Election the Remission of your sins the Justification of your persons and the Salvation of your souls Yes Without controversie many Saints have found Christs lips in this Ordinance to drop honey and sweetness marrow and fatness And as Christ in hearing times when his people are a hearing the Word of Life does lift up the light of his countenance upon them so when they are a receiving the Bread of Life he makes known his love to them and their interest in him in this feast of fat This Ordinance is a Cabine● of Jewels in it are abundance of Spiritual Springs and rich Mines heavenly Treasures things the Master of the Feast the Lord Jesus comes in the midst of his guests saying Peace be here Here the beams of his glory do so shine as that they cause the hearts of his Children to burn within them and as scatters all that thick darkness and clouds that are gathered about them When Saints are in this Wine Celler Christs Banner over them is Love When they are in this Canaan then he feeds them with Milk and Honey When they are in this Paradise then they shall taste of Angels Food When they are at this Gate of Heaven then they shall see Christ at the right hand of the Father When they are before this Mercy Seat then they shall see the Bowels of Mercy rowling towards them In this Ordinance they see that and taste that and feel that of Christ that they are not able to declare and manifest to others In this Ordinance Saints shall see the truth of their graces and feel the increase of their graces and rejoyce in the clearness of their evidences In this Ordinance Christ will seal up the Promises and seal up the Covenant and seal up his Love and seal up their pardon sensibly to their souls Many precious souls there be that have found Christ in this Ordinance when they could not finde him in other Ordinances though they have sought him sorrowingly Many a cold soul hath been warmed in this Ordinance and many a hungry soul hath been fed with Every gracious soul may say not onely credo vitam aeternam edo vitam aeternam I believe life eternal but I receive I eat life eternal Manna in this Ordinance and many a thirsty soul hath been refreshed with Wine upon the Lees in this Ordinance and many a dull soul hath been quickned in this Ordinance * Every wicked soul that takes the cup may say Calix vitae calix mortis the Cup of Life is made my death 1 Cor. 11. 27. I do not say That ever a dead soul hath been in livened in this Ordinance this being an Ordinance appointed by Christ not to beget Spiritual Life where there was none but to increase it where the Spirit hath formerly begun it In this Ordinance weak hands and feeble knees have been strengthned and fainting hearts have been comforted and questioning souls have been resolved and staggering souls have been setled and falling souls have been supported Ah Christians if you will but stand up and speak out you must say That in this Ordinance there hath been between Christ and you such mutual smiles such mutual kisses such mutual embraces such mutual opening and shutting of hands such mutual opening and closing of hearts as hath made such a Heaven in your hearts

should never make pleasant musick no more would the Spirit it he should be alwaies a doing one thing in the soule therefore he acts variously sometimes he will shew himselfe a quickning Spirit sometimes an enlightning Spirit sometimes an humbling Spirit sometimes a rejoycing Spirit sometimes a sealing Spirit and alwayes a surporting Spirit c. Fifthly The testimony and witness of the Spirit is a sure testimony a Titus 1. 2. John 14. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3 4 sure witness the Spirit is truth it self he is the great searcher of the deep things of God the Spirit of the Lord is the Discoverer the Confuter and Destroyer of all false spirits The Spirit is above all possibility of being deceived he is omnipotent he is omniscient he is omnipresent he is one of the Cabinet-Councel of Heaven he lies and lives in the bosome of the Father and can call them all by name upon whom the Father hath set his heart and therefore his testimony must needs be true It is a surer testimony then if a man should hear a voice from Heaven pronouncing him to be happy and blessed You may safely and securely lay the weight of your souls upon this testimony it never hath it never will deceive any that hath leaned upon it This testimony will be a rock that will bear up a soul When other false testimonies will be but a reed of Egypt that will deceive the soul that will undoe the soul As I am afraid many in this deluding age have found by sad experience Sixthly The testimony of Gods I do not say that the testimony of our spirits is always accompanied with the testimony of the Spirit No for a Beleever hath often the single testimony of his own spirit when he wants the testimony of the Spirit of Christ and the single testimony of his own conscience wil afford him much courage and comfort 2 Cor. 1. 12. Yea it wil make a paradise of delight in his soul c. Spirit is alwayes accompanied with the testimony of our own these may be distinguished but they can never be separated when the Spirit of God gives in witnesse for a man his own spirit doth not give in witnesse against him Look as face answers to face so doth the witness of a Beleevers spirit answer to the witness of the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit witnesseth together with our spirits that we be the Sons of God Now if our own Consciences do not testifie first that we are Sons and Heirs the Spirit doth not testifie for the Spirit beares witness together with our spirits St. John is very expresse in 1 Joh. 3. 21. But if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence toward God But if our hearts condemn us God is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things 1 Joh. 5. 8 9 10 11 12. And there are three that bear witness in Earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one The Spirit doth witness eminently and efficiently but Water and Blood materially and our spirits and Reason instrumentally By the Spirit we may understand the Holy Ghost by whose strength wee lay hold on Christ and all his benefits by Water we may understand our Regeneration our Sanctification and by Blood we may understand the blood and righteousness of Christ that is imputed and applyed by faith to us and these three agree in one that is they doe all three of one accord testifie the same thing Seventhly The witness of the Spirit is ever according to the Word there is a sweet harmony between the inward and outward testimony between the Spirit of God and the VVord of God The Scriptures were 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. all indicted by the Spirit and therefore the Spirit cannot contradict himselfe which he should do if he should give in any testimony contrary to the testimony of the word It is blasphemy to make the testimony of the ●pirit to contradict the testimony of the Word The Spirit hath revealed his whole mind in the Word and he will not give a contrary testimony to what he hath given in the Word The Word saith they that are born again that are new Creatures that beleeve and repent shall be saved But thou art born again thou art a new Creature thou beleevest and repentest therefore thou shalt be saved saith the Spirit The Spirit never looseth where the Word bindeth the Spirit never justifies where the Word condemnes the Spirit never approves where the Word disapproves the Spirit never blesses where the VVord curses In Deu. l 3. 1 2 3 4 the Old Testament all Revelations were to be examined by the VVord Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light or no morning in them So in that of John 16. We are not only blind but lame too therefore the Spirit shall lead us to the knowledge and practice of all necessary saving truths 13. The Spirit shall lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himselfe but what he shall hear that shall he speak Here the Holy Ghost is brought in as some Messenger or Ambassador who onely relates things faithfully according to that he hath in charge Such as look and lean upon the hissing of the old Serpent may have a testimony that they are happy against the testimony of the VVord But where ever the Spirit of Christ gives in his ●estimony it is stil according to the VVord Look as Indenture answers to Indenture or as the Counterpaine exactly answers to the principall Conveyance there is Article for Article Clause for Clause Covenant for Covenant word for word So doth the testimony of the Spirit exactly answer to the testimony of the VVord Eighthly It is a Holy witness a holy Nil nisi sanctū à sancto spiritu prodire potest Nothing can come from the Holy Spirit but that which is holy testimony it is formally holy it is originally holy it is effectually holy Nothing makes the heart more in the love study practise and growth of holines then the glorious testimony of the Holy Spirit and the more clear ful the testimony is the more holy and gracious it will make the Soule Nothing puts such golden Engagements upon the soul to holiness as the Spirit sealing a man up to the day of Redemption as the Spirits speaking and sealing Peace Love and pardon to the Soul Psal 85. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 31. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Nothing makes a man more careful to please Christ more fearful to offend Christ more studious to exalt Christ and more circumspect to walk with Christ then this testimony of the Spirit of Christ Verily that is not the blessed whispering of Christs Spirit but the hissing of the old Serpent that makes men bold with sin that makes men dally with sin that makes

name till you have got the assurance of your pardon in your bosoms I know not what will CHAP. V. Shewing the several Ways and Means of gaining a wel-grounded Assurance FIrst if ever you will attain Means 1. to Assurance then be much in the Exercise and Actings of Grace as the believing Ephesians were Ephes 1 13. A Christian that would have assurance must never leave blowing his little spark till he hath blowed it into a flame in the very Exercise and Actings of Grace the Spirit of the Lord sealed them up to the day of Redemption Assurance flows in upon the actings of Grace assurance is bred and fed it is raised and maintained in the soul by the actings of Grace Grace is most discernable when it is most in action and Grace is made more and more perfect by acting Neglect of your Graces is the ground of their decrease Wells are the sweeter for drawing you get nothing by dead and useless Habits Talents hid in a Napkin gather rust the noblest faculties are imbased when not improved Grace in the habit is no more discernable then fire under the ashes then gold in the Ore then a dead man in the grave but Grace in its lively actings and operations is as a Prince upon his throne sparkling and shining Ah Christians were your grace more active it would be more visible and were your grace more visible your assurance would be more clear and full As Saint Paul once spake to Timothy Stir up the gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. The words are an allusion to the fire in the Temple which was always to be kept burning Vide Calvin upon the Text. of God that is in thee So I say to you if ever you would have assurance stir up the grace of God that is in you blow up that heavenly fire raise up those noble spirits never cease believing nor repenting till it be clearly given into your bosome that you are sure that you do believe and that you do repent as you are sure that you live as you are sure that God rules in Jacob and dwells in Zion Remember Christians all the honor that God hath from you in this life is from the actings and the exercise of your grace and not from the habits of grace Remember Christians that all your consolations flow not from the habits but from the acts of grace Remember Christians that the want of the exercise of grace is the reason why you do not discern your grace and why you have no more assurance of your future happiness He that will be rich must still be turning the peny and he that will attain unto the riches of assurance Col. 2. 2. must still be acting his graces there are none but lively active Christians that knows and feels those joys comforts and contents that attends the exercise of grace If thou wouldst not be always a Babe in Grace and a stranger to Assurance then see that thy Lamp be always burning see that the Golden Wheels of Grace be always going Secondly If you would Christians Means 2. attain unto assurance then you must minde your work more then your wages you must be better at obeying then at disputing at doing at walking then at talking and wrangling Assurance is heavenly wages that Christ gives not to loyterers but to holy laborers though no man merits assurance by his obedience yet God usually crowns obedience with assurance John 14. 21 22 23. He that Non enim passibus ad Deum sed affectibas currimus Ambulas si amas Thou walkest if thou lovest to walk hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Vers 22. Judas saith unto him not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world Vers 23. Jesus answered and said unto him If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him In these words you see that doing Christians working Christians are the onely Christians that shall have most of the love of the Father and the Son and that shall have the choicest manifestations of grace and favor and that shall have most of their presence and company So in Psal 50. 23 Unto him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ordereth his conversation aright That disposeth his way as God ha●h prescribed will I declare the salvation of God That is I will declare my self to be his Saviour I will shew him Salvation and I will shew him his interest i● Salvation I will save him and I will make him see that I have saved him he shall see the worth of Salvation and taste the sweetness of Salvation So in Gal. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule that is the rule of the new Creature Peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God The Greek word that is here rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Bezam and Pareus on the Text. walk signifies not simply to walk but to walk by rule in order and measure without treading aside but making straight steps to our feet Now those choice souls that thus walks according to the Law of the new Creature shall have peace and mercy in them and peace and mercy with them and peace and mercy on them As many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be on them Assurance is a jewel of too high a price to be cast into any of their bosoms that walk contrary to the Laws of the new Creature such may talk of assurance and make a stir and a noise about assurance but it is the close walking Christian that shall be crowned with assurance Assurance is a choice part of a Believers Vis nunquam esse tristis bene vive Wouldst thou never be fact then live well says Bernard happiness and therefore God will never give it out of a way of holiness The Lord hath set apart for himself the man that is godly Psal 4. 3. None are favorites in Gods Court nor none are admitted to be of his Counsel but those who are all glorious within and whose rayment is of imbroidered gold That is such whose principles are full of spiritual glory and whose practises are amiable and answerable in purity and sanctity These are the persons that shall have the honor to have Gods ear and the happiness to know his heart The third Means to gain assurance Means 3. is To be kinde to the Spirit hear his voice follow his counsel live up to his Laws The Spirit is the great Revealer of the Fathers secrets he lies in the bosom of the Father he knows every name that is written in the Book of Life he is best acquainted with the inward workings of the heart of God towards poor sinners