Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	accuser_n	false_a	good_a	58	3	2.1572	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95679	Gainsayer convinced: or, An answer to a certain scandalous paper, subscribed and sent by certain seduced and seditious people to a minister in the countrey: in which the calling of the ministry of the Church of England, the nature of a visible church, the power of the magistrate under the gospel, the right of tithes, with many other points now in controversie, are briefly, fully and plainly cleared, to the satisfaction of those that are wavering; also much of the spirit and many of the errours of the Anabaptists of these daies (who call themselves saints) discovered and confuted. / By T.T. Preacher of the word at Kemble in Wiltshire.	Thache, Thomas, b. 1616 or 17.	1649 (1649)	Wing T827; Thomason E568_1; ESTC R206240	79,821	83

me in the next branch that true Ministers should be no false accusers May the people be such The same spirit tels us that every righteous man will hatelying Prov. 13. 5. The Lord in mercie give you grace to repent if that be not too legall a grace to be wisht to such high flown Christians but however let me tell you that except you repent the Scripture saith that A false wi●n●sse shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape Prov. 19. 5. Paper In the fifth place you say you cannot but wonder at that abominable assertion and false aspersion hinted in our expressions as if the Army would down with truth with Government faithfull Ministers and set up false Apostles c. and how false this is the world sees Ans 1. I cannot but wonder at your abominable ignorance and impudence to call that a false assertion and aspersion and so cruelly to condemne it as abominable and a false accusation which yet in the same place you say was but hinted at in some expressions blush and be ashamed if you be not past it 2ly For what the Army puls down or intends to set up it is not for you nor me to meddle with now therefore no more of that let it suffice that the world sees as you say Paper 3ly That only which I chiefly would answer in this fift place is this you say you conceive that none are true Ministers in our account but such as come by State approbation and have their call from the Bishops and they from the Pope and such is ours if you mistake not Ans To these things I will answer particularly First whereas you say that you conceive that none are true Ministers in our account but such as come by State approbation 1. I answer I shall herein give you a certain account of my judgement and opinion herein which I hope I shall be able to make good against you and all other gainsayers To proceed plainly and by degrees First then I say that our Lord Jesus Christ as he doth invisibly teach and govern his Church by his holy Spirit so in gathering preserving instructing building and saving thereof he uses Ministers as his instruments and hath appointed an order of some to teach and others to learn in the Church and that some should be the flock and others the Pastors Again besides the first founders of the Church of Christ extraordinarily sent and furnished with the gift of miracles whereby they might confirm the doct●ine of the Gospel he appointed also ordinary Pastors and Teachers for the executing of the Ministery even untill his coming again unto judgement See Ephes 4 11 12 13. 2ly I say that it is not lawfull for any man how fit soever and how much soever inriched with gifts to undertake this Office of the Ministery in the Administration either of the word or Sacraments by the will of private persons or others who have not power and right to call much lesse is it lawfull for any by their owne judgement or arbitrement to assume arrogate the same to themselves But before it be lawfull to undergo that sacred Ministry in Churches constituted a speciall calling yea beside a lawfull Election which alone is not sufficient a mission or sending or as commonly it is termed ordination is necessarily required I say necessarily required not only to avoid confusion and to shut out Imposters but by reason of divine institution delivered to us in the holy Scriptures See these places Rom. 10. 15. How shall they preach except they be sent 1. Tim. 3. 10. where the Apostle shewing how Bishops and Deacons should be qualified saith Let these first be proved and then let them use the Office Againe 1. Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by Prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Againe 1. Titus 5. For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldest ordaine Elders in every City as I had appointed thee Again Acts 13. 2. 3. c. where you find that the Holy Ghost commanded the Prophets and Teachers in the Church at Antioch to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto he had called them and the Text saith that when they had prayed and fasted and layd their hands on them they sent them away Can any thing be more cleare Barnabas and Saul were questionles gifted men they had a Call from the Holy Ghost the text saith so plainly but yet this was not sufficient till the Prophets and Teachers there had fasted and prayed and layed their hands on them Once more see the 5. Heb. the first 4 verses Every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer c. And in the 4 th verse And no Man taketh this Honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as Aarou was Now you must know that there is a double calling necessary to a dispencer of the myderies of Salvation viz. inward and outward the inward inableth them the outward authorizeth them to discharge their sacred Function Where there are gifts if God incline the heart of the heart of the Party to enter into the Ministry there is an inward calling yet this alone as I have shewed sufficeth not without an outward calling either ordinary or extraordinary extraordinary callings seeing miracles are ceased we are not now to expect and if any as many now do pretend to such we are not easily to believe and give way thereunto to the ordinary calling by fasting and prayer and the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery as before mentioned 1 Tim. 4. 14. and by the way you may take notice that though the word Presbytery be in these dayes so distastfull yet 't is Scripture proof From hence now my account which you said before you did conceive is this that all that take upon them to execute the office of a Minister of the Gospel ought to have a Calling not only inward but outward thereunto I say not by the Approbation of the State but the probation and approbation of the Presbytery the imposition of their hands And they who presume to undertake to be your Ministers without these whatever their gifts be which many Lay-men Artizans Mechanicks and broken Tradsmen in these dayes pretend to they are no Ministers of the Gospel but deceivers and Intruders And thus I have shewed you whom we account Gospel Ministers In the next place I shall indeavour to remove the great block at which you stumble so often that Crum which troubles you so much even to your choaking almost and that is the Ordination of some of our Ministers by the Bishops Paper You say we have our call from the Bishops and they from the Pope and such is our Call if you mistake not Ans T is well you put in an if here if you mistake not T is no news for you to

according to the Institution of Jesus Christ and his Apostles this I shall do when I hear what you have to say against it and if you have any shame left in you which you professe to have I hope the Lord will then help you to be ashamed of and confounded for all the abominable slanders you have cast upon it and to be ashamed and confounded in your selves for that you have so causlesly and sinfully separated from it and have fallen from the Ordinances and Institutions of Christ to the practise of those new ones that never had ground or being other then in the vain and foolish speculations of some newly inspired men Paper As for your tenth branch which is nothing but sinfull raylings and revilings I shall not look upon that as worth times and words to answer You call us men of blinde zeal you say we are desperate and damnable in opinions and practises That most of our own cloth and calling are Malignants Prelaticall drunkards swearers lyars hypocrites that we are most against those that are most conscientious and greatest friends to prophanenesse and prophane ones c. a roll of Shemei's and Rabshekah's language the Lord help you to see your wickednesse in it and to repent that your iniquity may be pardoned and forgiven by the Lord for my part I forgive you freely Ans I shall onely ask you how you would take it to have your Argument turned upon you Thus Some new Lights Separatists and Independents are raylers revilers slanderers swearers drunkards lyars follow all abominations if one should say such are some of you therefore you are all such and to be condemned for such how would you like the conclusion Now remember Christs rule Whatsoever you would that men should do unto you even so do you unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets Onely I shall speak one word to that which you call to witnesse some of us to be lyars openly in Pulpits because that will turn the lye upon your selves That is Dry Baptisme that was once publickly mentioned in a Pulpit to be amongst you Now pray tell me if you may not give it that name what name do you give to this ordinance practised amongst you instead of baptizing an Infant to pray over it onely and to give it a name without the use of any water either by dipping or sprinkling tell me I say I shall be glad to be informed by you what do you call this ordinance where is your ground for it your primitive institution which you professe to stick to Is this orderly or disorderly walking I dare be so bold to say that this hath no ground in Scripture either from rule or practice precept or president from Christ or his Apostles nor in any of the Churches of Christ till these late times which every day like Africa bring forth some new Monster yet that this hath been lately practised amongst you will be made good to your faces by those who were eye and ear witnesses and therefore you need not to take so much snuff at this Paper In your 11 th place you say you cannot but dislike our disowning of the Saints meeting to communicate to each other of the things of God being as clear a command of Christs under the Gospel as any other but you say we discountenance the practice that we may keep men in ignorance c. Ans Here 's another grosse slander when will this mouth of lyes be stopped did you ever hear any of us dislike or disown the meeting of Saints to communicate to each other the things of God when or where did we ever discountenance such a practice who * See I am 4 11 12. are you that you dare judge other men thus as to say it is our endeavour and practice to keep men in ignorance and blindnesse can you answer this to God The Lord will one day judge you for this judging and you will have the same measure meted to you are you the men that call your meetings the meetings of Saints look upon every branch of your rayling Paper and deal truly with your own souls judge your selves that ye may not be condemned doth any part of it savour of a Saints spirit or of the things of God if this be Saintship the Devil is a Saint he is a lyar a rayler a false accuser the accuser of the brethren and whether there be not much of these things in your invective I leave it to God and to the world to judge ye make it appear to the world in it what spirit ye are of and what Saints ye are Again for the meeting of Saints for those ends you speak of I here tell you again that we do own it countenance it exhort to it commend it practise it but what we dislike and must disown and discourage our people from that I likewise tell you viz The following after those who having a form of godlinesse creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins and led away with divers lusts 2 Tim. 3. 5 6. Again we call to them to mark those which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which they have learned and to avoid them For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus but their own bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 17 18. Again we call to them to remember Christs words and to take his counsell If any man shall come unto you and say Lo here is Christ or there beleeve it not For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desart go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers beleeve it not Matth. 24. 23 24. 26. We call to our people to remember the Apostle Peters words who tels us that as there were false Prophets amongst the Jews there shall be false teachers amongst us which shall bring in damnable heresies that many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of And through covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you These he describes to be such as despise government Prosumptu us are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evill of dignities 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3 and 10. verses Again we desire them to remember the counsell and direction of St. Jude who exhorts the Saints to contend earnestly for the faith that was once de●ivered to the Saints For he saith there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation He likewise does describe them to be men that despise dominion and speak evill of dignities that they are wanding starres that they are mockers and these are they saith he that separate themselves sensuall having not the

of wilde-fire c. Remember what St. James saith of an evill tongue Jam. 3. 6 c. The tongue is a fire a world of iniquity and is set on fire of hell the tongue that dares cast iniquity upon God or his Word is surely set on fire of hell Pap. 4ly In that you charge us as seeing-blind Pharisees and say that 't is our condition to sin with our eyes open because you cannot but remember our carriage and zeal for those whom we now condemne Oh what pains say you was spent in their behalf what prayers put up for them c. is all this buried in the grave of oblivion and what is the reason have these Worthies say you fallen from their faithfulnes No no. I answer In this case you nor I must not judge at least say whether they have or no onely all that we desire is that the Lord may judge betwixt us and them I shall say no more of this in this place because I have spoken something to it already in my Answer to your first dislike of our praying for and against Paper I shall speak but one word more to your second head and that is this you speak of the honorable service of some in bringing Delinquents to justice and punishment and that from this that the Scripture saith That Righteousnesse exa●ts a Nation Ans For answer let me onely tell you here that that justice which exalts a Nation must be both for the matter and merit as also for the manner and form of doing it unquestionable and clear and must not be executed without an orderly Authority derived either immediately from God Dr. Gaud. Rel Prot. or mediately from those Politick Laws and settled Magistracies which are Gods ordinances amongst men But where the execution of Justice is unjustly usurped and carried on without any warrant from Gods Word or mans Laws either as precept and rule or example such an execution of justice is a turning of judgement into wormwood and doth depresse and bring a Nation lowe under the judgements of God rather then exalt it I speak not this in reference to any persons or actions onely to inform your judgement a little Paper In the next place you charge me with praying that the Lord would bring the King out of the hands of those that had restrained him and what was this say you but a stroaking Malignants on the breast and a making the Army odious in the eyes of the simple deluded ones Ans To this I answer First that this accusation is from the father of lyes too if ten more of you had subscribed it This you take upon trust too from those who it seems have already given so much libertie to their consciences as to make no conscience of a lye having forgotten it seems or counting those places Apocrypha where the Spirit of God tels us that a lying tongue is one of those seven things which is an abomination to the Lord and which he hates Prov. 6. 17. And if this be an old Testament text that of the Apostle Ephes 4. 25. Putting away lying speak every man truth to his neighbour and if you had as much truth and honesty as you seem to lay claim to no disparagement to your honesty I could bring twenty and ten as honest men as your selves to testifie the contrary What I said I trust I am able to make good as being nothing but what was and yet is justifiable before God and men and that was this I prayed that God would deliver the King out of the hands of those that sought his destruction and this was no more then what I was bound in conscience to do while he was living being one of his Subjects and having many Oaths Protestations and Covenants sacred and civill tyes and bonds lying upon me obliging and ingaging me to obedience and loyaltie and to indeavour in my place the preservation of his person and the promoting of his honour and safetie And certainly you have not lived so long nor undergone so many Offices in the Common-wealth as some of you have but some of the same Oaths and Covenants have been more then once taken by your selves Now I must plainly confesse to you that what new Religion soever you have lately met with to absolve your consciences from so many oaths and obligations in all which you have call'd the Almighty and all seeing God of heaven to be both a witnesse to you and an avenger upon you I for my part am as yet ignorant of any power under heaven that can absolve me from such oaths taken before God to my lawfull Soveraign I know but one power that pretends to it and undertakes to do it and that is the Pope But for God I doubt not but you who pretend so much to walk by the rule of the Word do know what a swift witnesse the Lord is against such as swear falsly by his name and what a revenger he is to such sins Read Zach. 5. 4 first verses there 's a flying roll of curses that shall enter into the house of him that swears falsly it shall remain in the midst of his house and shall consume it with the timber thereof and stones thereof Now I say though you may perchance have found liberty of conscience yet for my part I cannot yet find liberty to swallow down such a camell as this is without choaking Pap. 2ly Whereas you say that in this we stroaked the Malignants and had this end in it to make the Army odious that these prayers savour more of flesh then spirit more of zeal then knowledge that they proceeded from self ends c. Ans I answer I blesse God I have learnt to bear with patience these and more such reproaches as these are the Lord forgive you what my prayers were and from what spirit they proceeded and what I aymed at in them as my end the Lord knows that 's my comfort and you shall know too one day when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest Again whereas you charge us with not laying down our Call from the Bishops I shall more fully speak to that hereafter you give me occasion in the following part of your Paper to clear that and therefore I shall not meddle with it here Paper In the fourth part you say I prayed that the Lord would take the Sword out of those hands in which now it was c. Ans Ten of you have subscribed this too Pray how many of you dare say that you heard me speak the words This you take upon hear-say too And let me tell you that if you give credit long to the informations of those who have thus learnt to stretch their mouthes you 'l forfeit your own credit quickly I say in this to you again if the number were trebled I am able to make it good by as good and far greater testimony hat this too is false for there was not such a word spoken you tell