Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	act_n	see_v	zion_n	19	3	8.8838	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94266	A vvarning-piece for the slumbring virgins. Or, An alarm to the friends of the bridegroom, in some awakening meditations upon Christ's own watch-word, Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c. / By Geo: Scortreth, preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln.	Scortreth, George, b. 1612 or 13.	1657 (1657)	Wing S937; Thomason E1638_3; ESTC R209055	57,932	207

beames in them How oft does the Spirit knock at their doores and they not within when he comes to deale with their hearts they are not to be found 'T was said of old Fooles will be medling that is with others not themselves Oh how many such fools are every where whose eyes are in the Corners of the Earth seldome in the Corners of their own hearts most busie where they have least to doe and least where most will not the Lord ere long search such as with Candles who put out their lights within that they may not see themselves will he not storme them home that scatter their wayes abroad will not the Judge think you be at their doores who are all for judging others but not themselves Well the Lord is about to find the heavie-headed and hearted Virgins work within their own doores and to set them upon heart-watching againe by some awakening dispensations Oh 't is one chief businesse in our spirituall watch to try our own Spirits and much communing with our selves will keep our hearts awake and indeed since the servants of Crist have idled it within and neglected this inward work of heart-searching they have left their first works and watchings 4. Circumspection In this spiritual watch as we should have our eyes in our hearts so in our heads as to looke within so without As the Dove casts his head about this way and that before she take her flight So should Christs Doves look above them and abou them yea every way before they move any way As the heart must be watched over above all watchings so there must be a watch over the mouth as over Davids over the eye as over Iobs yea over the whole man and the whole life As we should be ever upon our Watch-Tower to Watch at all times being a work alwayes in season so to Watch over all things and to take a view allwayes above and below at the right hand and the left that we be not surprized any where in any thing at any time As the vertuous Woman whose price is above Rubies Prov. 31.10.27 is said to look well into the ways of her houshold So must the gracious Watch-man do he must bee a seer an overseer to his own house And as the Children of Issachar are said to have understanding of the times 1 Chron. 12.32 and to know what Israel had to do So should the generation of spirituall Watchers have an eye upon generation-work an heart to it an hand in it serving their owne generation as David did till they fall asleepe Act. 13.36 The spirituall Watchman should have a discerning into all things not be Eagle-eyed only in some things and blind as Bats in other things but as the four beasts which were full of eyes within and full of eyes before and behind too Rev. 4.6 So should they that are upon the Lords Watch be full of eyes within and without Alas poore silly Creatures that we be we meet with a snare in every Creature temptations will be crouding upon us in every condition we are in danger on all hands to be defiled or deceived and therefore we had need watch at every turne and have our eyes turning every way as the flaming sword at the East of the Garden of Eden Psal 139. As the Lord who is all eye as it were Watches us all over over all our thoughts all our words all our wayes c So should we Watch over our selves even all over at all times our goings out and comings in our down-sitting and uprising we should beset our selves with a strict VVatch behind and before 5. Exercitation There is much worth in this VVatch it is a very busie imployment full of duty a duty in every duty we should watch at every work a slothfull Servant is not fit for this stirring service this is no work for lazy-bodies It 's not carryed on by sitting still or looking about us 'T is lively work and requires a living active quickened Spirit grace in the habit is not sufficient though in the highest and greatest measure to keep on foot this spirituall watch no not in the least and lowest work of it when grace is not at work ther 's no watch kept it lies sleeping in the soul and the soul 's asleep too when bodily exercise is laid aside and there 's a cessation from motion and action we find great propensitie to slumbring and heavinesse 'T is even so in spiritualls when the acts and exercises of grace are suspened we are easily overtaken with the Spirit of slumber Since professors have been idle and lived at ease in Zion what a strange Spirit of formal securitie and sluggish secure formalitie has stolen upon them and stolen away their hearts too 'T is sad very sad to see how the Virgins are fallen asleep since they have been all for easy work carelesse ones have let their watch fall they find themselves little to do in spirituals and sleepe much in spirit and as they give over working so they give over watching as they cease from duty they are seazed upon by securitie graces must be exercised and habits actuated by the help of the Spirit of grace that our spirituall watch may be mannaged and maintained Busie heads and hearts are most watchfull if we stirre up the grace of Christ in us it will stirre us up to watch with Christ and for him As appeares plainly in new-converts who are much wrought upon and work much they are full of spirituall struglings wrastlings searchings pantings groanings fighings c Oh how watchfull are these new creatures when new awakened Christs babes are not like other babes in this For they sleepe least when new-borne and others most How watchfull in prayer and watching unto prayer Psal 45. their eyes even failing with looking up watchfull in meditation their hearts are ever bubling up like a quick spring watchfull in hearing the good word of God to heare a good word from God how do they hang about Christs lips as it were with both eares for some drops of sweet smelling myrrhe how watchfull to enjoy communion with the Father amongst his Children how much upon thewing after the doves of Christ no company now like the companions of Christ that heare his voyce Now it is farre otherwise with many ancient Christians who having un-bent their Bow of holy purposes and practises which at first seemed to abide in strength like Josephs grow remisse in Gospel-dutys Gen. 49. take their hands off from Christs plow and look back grow loose in Spirit lose time let their talents lie rusting by them and their graces resting in them how suddenly and shamefully their watch falls as their work failes the longer they live the lesse life in their Spirits and service and all things are readie to die in them before they die how heavily they drive when they once give over oyling their wheeles with spirituall exercises 'T is an high

pray at all in Gods account But that a true Israelite who has had power with God in prayer should cease to pour out a prayer before him this is strange and yet no more strange then true amongst slumbring Christians who cannot chuse but give over praying when they give over watching the Spirit of prayer must needs be silent under a spirit of slumber 3. Is not thy Spiritual warfare maintained dost not thou wrastle against spiritual wickedness c Dost thou not feel the Law of the mind warring against the Law in thy members Art thou not at odds with thy own heart every day and quarrelling with it for heart-sins Why then the heart is asleep whilest thy lusts lie sleeping within thee thou dost not watch whilest thou dost not war How shamefully wilt thou be foiled by the lusts thou fightest not against Sin will get head and heart too whiles thy heart is asleep thy lusts like so many flies will swarm about thy sleepie soul Thou dost not reckon with thy self about thy dying to sin self c. Alas how dead is thy heart in the mean time thou hast given over thy complaining of the body of death and yet thy lusts are more lively and thou livelesse they strong and thou art weak sure they are awake and thou sleepest 4. Art not thou sensible of the subtile insinuations and secret suggestions of Satan in this busie day of his Dost thou meet with none of his buffettings now he layes so about him dost thou feel none of his fiery darts now Hell is broke loose Mayst thou not be very suspitious that a spirit of slumber is upon thee and the evill spirit rocks thee Art not thou pleasing thy self with smooth things lying quietly upon a pillow of carnal security and Satan pleasing of thee too and loath to disquiet thee Art thou at ease in Zion singing a Requiem to thy Soul why thou mayst sleep on for him and take thy rest 'T is not for his purpose to awaken us out of false dreams this cunning Fowler is most busie with awakened spirits that are struggling from him that would be ever upon the wing Christward but he stirs little when men lie asleep at his feet onely watches over them he makes least noyse there but does most hurt Oh the mystery of iniquitie works most and worst amongst idle souls that work not watch not 5. Dost not thou sympathize with the suffering servants of Jesus Christ Is not thy heart affected with the afflictions of Joseph Hast thou little or no fellow-feeling of thy brethrens calamities Canst not bleed in their wounds as thine own heart whose blood has been spilt like water upon the ground for the testimony of of Jesus Sure then thy spirit within thee is benummed under a spirit of security and almost past feeling Did not the sad cryes of the distressed Protestants in the Valleys of Piedmont and in Germany saying Have pity upon us O our Friends have pity upon us for the hand of the Lord hath touched us Did not I say their doleful complaints come to thine ears and did not this go to thine heart do not thy bowels sound within thee towards them who are sighing it out Our bowels our bowels dost thou not make lamentation over them crying Alas alas Is it nothing to thee there are so many mourners in Zion at this day hanging their harps upon the Willowes and dost thou put no tears i' th bottle for them And further how stands thy heart affected towards such as are afflicted in spirit Does not thy soul bleed within thee towards poor wounded souls who are even ready to bleed to death for want of the gracious presence of the Lord of life Canst thou not mourn in secret for such as walk mournfully without the Sun Time was when thine head was as water and thy eyes as fountains of tears that thou couldst not but weep with those that wept and mourn as the Doves of the valleys with them that mourned but now thy eyes are dry thy bowels strait and thy heart hard Oh what strong stupidity is upon thee if all the members should suffer when but one suffers how stupid and senselesse is that one that suffers not when so many suffer I cannot but pity such slumbring Christians who want yearning bowels of pitty when I consider what sharp medicines must be applyed to their insensible stupified spirits to cut them to the quick and fetch up their spiritual senses to sympathize with Christ in his members 6. Is not thy Soul vexed at the filthy conversation of the ungodly 2 Pet. 2.7 8. as Lots righteous Soul was Dost thou not bear the backslidings of Gods own people was a burthen upon thine heart before the Lord Dost thou not inwardly tremble at the dishonour put upon that Name which hath been proclaimed amongst us in so loud languages as glorious in holinesse c Are not the abominations of the Times the very abomination of thy soul Canst thou not mourn in secret for the open Pride prophanenesse profusenesse of so many thousands in our Israel at this day Why then believe it thy heart is asleep indeed when the crying sins of this adulterous generation do not awaken it Oh how many who have appeared as Children of the day have fellowship now with the unfruitfull works of darknesse who once seemed white as snow and are now black as a coal who some years since would not have touched the garment spotted with the flesh have now put on the Aethiopian skin again and the Leopards spots having once escaped the pollutions of the flesh and are again entangled therewith Hovv are the honourable things of the Law and Gospel too become contemptible in the eyes of many who seemed to prize them above thousands of gold and silver how are the precious pearls of Jesus Christ which are worth more then a world and of which the World is not worthy trampled under foot as if they were nothing worth Oh what loathing of Manna even amongst Israelites what turning of grace into wantonnesse Horrible things are done in our Israel and that in the sight of the Sun published in the streets of Ashkelon so that the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph And shall not the daughters of Zion sigh and mourn for these abominations which are more then enough to break ones sleep and heart too which break the Lords own heart And if thou lay them not to heart Ezek. 6.9 thy heart 's asleep Directions for Watchfulnesse 1. Even set before thee the All-seeing eye of Jehovah which is ever upon thee His eyes which are ten thousand times brighter then the Sun daily looked upon by an eye of Faith will be very awakening Think much upon those heart-stirring meditations Psa 139.1.2 3 4. of Gods glorious presence which were so much upon Davids heart as Gods encompassing thy path and thy bed besetting thee behind and before looking thee thorough in all places at all times watching

be closed with 1 Joh. 4.4 upon any terms For greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world And while we Watch and Pray our spirituall weapons will be mighty through God to bring down all the strong holds of the god of this world Luther was one of the most watchfull spirits in prayer we read of and he speaks of one of the highest experiences that we shall meet with That he was never tempted to Covetousnesse there was no fishing for his spirit with golden baits which was carried so high above the world in Faith and Prayer But alas Christians now adayes find the world a very great temptation a world of temptations in it How is the Moon got up to the heart in this our age that used to be under foot Rev. 12.2 to such as are clothed with the Sun Oh what hoarding up treasure on earth by such as seemed to be heires of Heaven as if their Heaven were upon earth and their hearts too How unbecoming is this to those that are born from above to live beneath themselves that ever so noble spirits of the blood-Royall should be so embased precious Sons and Daughters of Zion who were comparable to fine Gold should in this sense become as earthen pitchers How contrary is this to those heavenly principles of faith and love which should carry us as upon Eagles wings above the world towards heaven Oh where is the love of the Father where there is so much love of the World Have you ever tasted of the powers of the World to come who are thus brought under the power of the Creature What shall the Children of the Kingdom look no further live no higher then the Kingdoms of this World What called out of the World and at the Worlds call too These things could never be if watching and prayer had been kept up all this while with life and power 'T were not possible the World should steale upon the hearts of Gods people thus and steale them away too were they not asleep Now when prayer's down and the World up what a downfall will there bee They fall into temptation and asnare and into many hurtfull and foolish lusts which drown men in perdition Oh what a root of evil springs up where the World takes deep root how do they pierce themselves thorough with many sorrowes 1 Tim. 6 9 10. and choak the precious seeds of grace with these thornes and when the heart is overcharged with the inordinate love of this present World This soul-benumming Lethargie of carnal securitie will overspread it that we shall not feele this sin within us when it is even all over us what sense can we have of our living by Sense whiles Faith lies dead The love of the World will grow insensibly upon us if it can but lull us asleep in its Armes Secondly because we shall be indisposed to make any opposition in an hour of temptation if we do not Watch and Pray our temptations will grow stronger and we weaker in Spirit every day then other they will be as Gyants and we as Grashoppers to use the expression of the Spies And alas as we are so is our strength as Gideon said of Jether at the best but weaknesse and our spirituall enemies will gather up their strength to take the advantage of us when and where we are weakest How easily may they make a prey of us coming upon us vvhen vve are sore as Simeon and Levi did upon the Males Gen. 34.25 especially if vve consider 10. That the Strength of Israel has secretly vvithdravvn himself from his people vvhile their hearts have been asleep Num. 14 9. and novv their defence is departed from them and they are as bread to the devouring mouth of the hungry Lyon vvho never had a better stomack to them Sampson Judg. 16 19.20 vvho vvas so strong in the strength of God vvas as vveak as another man vvhen the Lord departed from him the Philistines may novv bind him as they please put out his eyes and make him grind it 'h Prison-house Ah since the Lord has turned his back upon a backsliding generation hovv are the strong become as bow and they that had the excellencie of dignitie and strength are as unstable as the water how miserably are they swallowed up of temptations on every side how easily lead captive by their corruptions at every turne And though they shake themselves somtimes as Sampson did and think to resist them as at other times alas they cannot do it for their strength is departed from them 2. That the Lord hath left them to themselves who have laid him aside and left off watching and prayer Now what can such naked men do in an hour of Temptation when they meet with the strong man armed must they not needs be spiritlesse like Saul in the day of distresse when he was left to his own Spirit 1 Sam. 28.20 and had no strength in him What a pittifull forlorn creature is that man whom God has given over and given up to himself even like a lamb in a large place Hos 4.16 as back-sliding Israel what more destitute and distressed where no Shepherd no flock how will it wander and lose it self The best of men in such a case are exposed to the worst of evills when David a man after Gods own heart was trusted but a while with his own heart how shamfully it deceived him and defiled him who would ever have thought that murthers and adulteries should have proceeded out of such a heart as his When Solomon Neh. 13 26. who was so beloved of his God was given up to himself how strangely was his heart changed within him and turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared to him twice even to strange gods 1 King 11.8 and strange wives The wisest of men when left to his own wisdom appears as one of the fools in Israel and whither does his shame go And good Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.31 when the Lord left him to try him to know all that was in his heart what pride of heart does he discover though he had been so lately and so deeply humbled And though the Lord had newly emptied all worldly glory before his eyes 2 King 20.13 Yet he could not keep his eyes and heart off of the house of his precious things c. but glories in shewing all the treasures were faund there when he should have glorified God and shewed forth his wonders in bringing the Sun of his life back Isa 38. and the shadow upon the dyal of Ahaz c. Yea blessed Peter an holy Apostle of Jesus Christ when he trusted to his own strength and boldly professed above the rate of the rest of the Disciples Mat. 26 33 35. saying Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended and though I should die with thee yet will I

hold on the Dragon and bind him Rev. 20.1 2 3. Ah what a world of mischief will he do if he be let loose awhile For now this Prince of darknesse transforms himself into an Angel of light to bring in the greatest darknesse and the Devil in white or the white Devil is most dangerous and deceitful now like the adulterer mentioned Job 24.15 he disguiseth himself or sets his face in secret so the Original that he may beguile and defile us and we never know it and be most and best at his wicked work when least in sight He has put on a vizard of profession and now playes the thief in grain stealing away the power and heart of pure Religion He has oyl in his mouth and truth in his tongue but warre and a lie in his heart And how many are betrayed with his flattering kisses killed with his false kindnesse and by swallowing down his sugred poysonous pills greedily How many are taken with the fine hair of the Locusts that ascend out of the bottomlesse pit Rev. 9.8 10 who sting them with their tailes as Scorpions Oh then if ever you pitied poor silly soules laden with sin and led Captive by Satan now pity and pray for them much more Oh cry out as the betrothed Damsel fearing ravishment to the Captain of your Salvation to lead Captivity Captive to rescue his darlings from the Lions and to shorten this hour of temptation 4. Oh Pray Pray for a glorious spiritual resurrection of the hearts and lives of the Saints after so great a death has past upon them that times of renewing and reviving may come from the presence of the Lord to the decaying and desponding Spirits of his people Oh what a blessed beautifull sight would such an heavenly Spring bee Can. 2.11.12 c. 7.12.13 after this heart-withering winter season Would the flowers of the spouses Garden flourish once the Pome-granats bud forth and the tender grape send forth a good smell then would the singing of birds and the voyce of the turtle be heard in our land and we might chearfully get up early to the Vineyards Oh be earnest with the Father of Spirits to send down a speciall anointing from on high for the new-spiriting of his people for the work of their generation A common Spirit will not carry them thorough special service no it must be that other Spirit that Caleb had or they 'l never follow the Lord fully The Sonnes and Daughters of Zion must be awaked to put on beautifull garments and shake themselves from the dust as they that are redeemed from the earth and from men as ever they would appeare in a good Gospel-posture to follow the Lamb witherfoever he goeth they must be putting on that new Man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse and be renewed in the Spirit of their minds or they 'l have no heart to think of the New Heaven and new Earth wherein righteousnesse shall dwell That work which the Lord is carrying on in the world is high and heavenly much above the world A low-spirited earthly-minded Generation can never reach it their poor flat spirits must needs shrink from it or sinck under it at one time or other Oh they had need of gracious excellent spirits changing from glory to glory by the Spirit of glory resting on them who looke to keep pace or hold any considerable comfortable correspondency and compliance with those glorious Works which the Lord will bring forth in the latter dayes who is Wonderfull in Counsell and excellent in Working Why then 5. let us look upon it as one main work of the day to set saith on work at the promises by prayer for Judges as at the first and Counsellours as at the beginning men of choise spirits answerable to Jethro's choyce able men Exo. 18.21 fearing God men of truth hating covetousnesse And while I am stirring you up to make supplications to the Lord our righteousnesse that he would graciously vouch-safe a peculiar unction and qualification to such as are in authoritie let me set before your eyes one of the first and fairest patterns deserving to be set in letters of Gold and engraven upon our hearts as with the point of a Diamond the purest Primitive mould of Mercy and Justice sweetly meeting together in the righteous breast of Job and striving as it were for super-eminency and victory As for righteousnesse he clothed himself with it Job 29.11.12 and judgment was to him as a diadem he brake the Jawes of the oppressors and pluckt the spoile out of his teeth and delivered the poor that cryed and the Fatherlesse and him that had none to help him As for mercy his condescention and compassion is very remarkable when he sate chief and dwelt as a King in the Army hee was as one that comforteth the mourners A Father to the Poor and Fatherlesse eyes to the blind and feet to the tame who caused the heart of the widdow to sing and the blessing of such as were readie to perish came upon him Oh that Jesus Christ that blessed and only potentate would make all our Governours and Magistrates willing in the day of his power to kisse the Son in humble subjection heartie affection to his righteous Scepter and to lay down both sword and Scepter at his feet as the Elders did with their Crownes Oh that there were in them such an heart as to say with the inhabitants of Judah in their hearts The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be our strength in the Lord of Hosts their God That they may be as nursing Fathers to the Saints the Children of the most high yea the least of Christs bretheren accounting it their greatest glory and praise to promote the glory of the King immortal and eternal the only wise God to be a praise to those that doe well and a terrour to evil doers putting sinners to shame oh that the Rock of Israel that spake it would make it good That they that rule over men must be just 2 Sam. 23.3.4 ruling in the feare of God And they shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after rain Why let us open our hearts and mouths wide by the help of the Spirit for such a blessing as thus waited for Job even as for the latter rain And spread those good old promises before the Lord which are as fresh upon his heart as ever to renew them in these latter daies That Saviours shall come upon mount-Mount-Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Obad. v. 21. That he will raise up Carpenters to break the horns that scatter Judah Zech. 1.20.21 so that no man can lift up his head That he will put that honour upon his Saints To execute the Judgment that is written Psal 149.6.9 with a two-edged sword in their hands and the high praises of God in their mouthes That the faithful chosen and true clothed in fine and white linnen shall give blood to drink Rev 18.6.14 to the woman which is drunken with the blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus and shall destroy that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth and shall overcome all his and their enemies in the blood of the Lamb for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Oh then let the prayers of all the Saints meet upon the golden Altar Rev. 8.3.4 that the smoke of the incense may ascend up before God day and night and let them cry with a loud voyce saying How long O Lord holy and true c Lastly Pray pray for the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ upon all pure Evangelicall administrations Rev. 1.13.16 That Jesus Christ would walk in the midst of the golden Candlesticks hold the stars in his right hand that the golden pipes may empty the golden oyl out of themselves from the Olive tree Zech. 4.11.12 and his servants be anointed with the oyl of gladnesse Jer. 3.15 who desire to keep the Commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus And that he would send Pastours according to his own heart that may feed the people with knowledge and understanding able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and send them forth in the power and spirit of Elijah to turn many to the Lord. Joh. 10.3 4 9. And that the good Shepherd would call his own sheep by name lead them out and go before them that they may know his voyce and follow him and go in and out and find pasture That his little flock receiving the Gospel not in word onely but also in power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess 1.5 and in much assurance may have that glorious Character of the Church of Philadelphia as a Crown of twelve Stars upon their heads that they have kept the Word of his patience and have not denyed his Name Rev. 3.8.10 who will keep them in this hour of Temptation FINIS