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_v	holy_a	zion_n	43	3	10.1811	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91898	Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed: being a treatise of the Christians armour, clearly opening every part thereof, both pressing to the putting of it on, and instructing us so to use it, as we may not be soyled in time of temptation. / Delivered by that late reverend, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London, to his congregation there, in several lectures: and now published for the further benefit of the Church of God.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1710; Thomason E1586_2; ESTC R208953	180,905	372

the Devil a triumphant Saint And all that glorious Company in Heaven who are described with Palms in their hands and Robes upon their backs and Crowns upon their heads Rev. 7. 9. are at this present singing the song of Victory unto God and unto the Lamb. Reproof to two sorts of persons Vse 1. 1. Such as instead of withstanding Satan the evil Spirit withstand and oppose the Spirit of Christ quenching and grieving and resisting his blessed Motions Steven sayes this to the charge of those obstinate Jews Act. 7. 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and eares ye have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye There are many in this way of opposition resisting the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word and in the immediate motions and suggestions put into their hearts When the Spirit moves them to pray they oppose him When the Spirit bids them hear they stop their eares and when the Spirit bids them Seek ye my face they answer Thy face will we not seek I would have such men to consider a few things seriously These two things 1. There 's no man knows whether the Spirit will move once more in his heart or no That which Solomon saith in another case we may as truly say in this case Eccles 8. 8. There is no man hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit The Spirit of God is a free Agent He workes when and where and as long as he pleaseth he bloweth where he listeth c. Many a man would now be glad to feel those movings upon his soul which he hath stifled formerly by his own sinful opposings but cannot redeem them 2. How unable you will be to act in any good when the Holy Spirit of God is silenced 'T is the Spirit of God which workes in you both to will and to do Phil. 2. 23. And if this Wheel do not turn there will never be any good motion in the Soul The Soul without the Holy Spirit is but as a dead Corps with a living soul not able to act at all If there be neither Wind nor Tide the Ship cannot sayl The Spirit of God is both the Wind and Tide of all Motions in the soul and if this stir not there is no action It is with man in regard of spiritual operations as it was with the Wheeles in Ezekiels Vision and the living Creatures Ezek. 1. 19 20. 21. When the living Creatures went the Wheeles went by them and when the living Creatures stood the Wheeles stood and when the living Creatures were lifted up the Wheeles were lifted up c. The Soul of Man is a Wheel which is fit for motion but it cannot move when the Spirit of God doth not move If the Spirit stand still the Wheeles stand still and if the Spirit be lifted up the Wheeles are lifted up otherwise no motion 2. Such as instead of withstanding the Assaults of Satan do indeed carry on the assaults of Satan use all meanes they can that they may both fashion and animate and give breath to all Satans Conceptions in their own and others hearts They hatch the Cockatrice eggs and weave the Spiders web Isa 59. 5. They are ready to put Tooles and Instruments into the hand of the Devil and to do his work for him The Apostle speakes of some that make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. ult So many make provision for the Devil that they may accomplish his temptations They use all means to edge his temptations that they may pierce to the bottome they put feathers upon his arrows that they may fly swiftly Jonadab was guilty of this sinne towards Ammon He sets on the temptation of the Devil and promotes sinne and becomes a Pander to his lust 2 Sam. 13. 4 5. Jezabel she promotes Satans temptation against her husband I wil saith she give thee the vineyard of Naboth 1 Reg. 21. 7. She became a very Devil to her Husband so do many persons to themselves go up and down seeking occasions and opportunities to further Satans temptation If Satan tempt them to drunkenness they go presently abroad to seek Companions and if he perswade them to uncleanness they use all helpes and incentives to that sinne c. It is a very cursed thing and a sacrilegious sin to help the Devil against Christ either in your selves or others The Serpent was cursed for being an Instrument to the Adversary in his assaulting of our first Parents Gen. 3. 14. And Jezabel bears this infamous brand She made Ahab to sin Jezabel his wife stirred up c. Such as blow up Satans sparks of temptation in their own hearts are Felones de se Self-Murtherers which of all Murtherers are the most bloody and confiscate all they have Exhortation to perswade all Christians to Vse 2. this resolution Play the men and stand out against the Devil and all his Instruments Keep your footing and yield not in any case though he come upon you as Goliah did upon David with open mouth yet keep your ground and flinch not at any hand And for your encouragement consider 1. That Satan is but a Creature though he be strong and cruel yet his strength is but a created strength he is potent but not omnipotent Omnipotency is incompatible to a Creature He is the strong man armed but Jesus Christ is stronger then he and though you cannot yet he can disarm him and take away that wherein he trusteth Luke 11. 22. 2. That he is a Creature under a Curse This may take off much from that dreadfulness which many look upon him with vid. Gen. 3. 14. Cursed shalt thou be above all the Beasts of the field c. There is nothing which may more encourage a Child of God in his spiritual Encounters then this That all he dispures against are under a Divine Execration Gods Curse is a weakning thing 3 He is a wounded and conquered Creature Gen. 3. 15. He shall break thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel Our Saviour I remember encourageth his Disciples against troubles from the World by this very Argument I have overcome the World Joh. 16. 33. He hath overcome the Devil as well as the World for he triumphed over Principalities and Powers on the Cross Col. 2. 15. Christ put Satan to flight in his assaults Matth. 4. 11. and that as our Head Satan overcame all Mankind in the first Adam but in the second Adam he is overcome by all the Elect in Christs Victories Ephes 2. 6. So in this 4 He is a chained Creature also Rev. 20. 1 2. God keeps him fast in Irons he was put into Fetters ever since his 2 Pet. 2. 4. first Rebellion and he cannot shake them off Jude 6. And this chain doth so confine him that he cannot stir until God slack his Chain Let me touch his flesh and bone and he will curse thee to thy face Job 2. 5. And ye know

hoofs for hardness Thirdly Satan tempts us frequently he is every moment spreading his Net and laying his Snare to intrap the Soul he takes every opportunity to assault us ergo we should take every opportunity to defend our selves against his Assaults 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your Adversary goeth about continually seeking whom to devour Himself saith Job 1. 7. That he is continually circuiting and going up and down to destroy T is not one Arrow that will secure us against such frequent and reiterated Temptations He made three Assaults upon our Saviour in a little space of time Mat. 4. init and when he left him it was but for a season Luke 4. 13. 2. He that would overcome must use all kind of prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is diversly distinguished In regard of the manner of performing it it is either 1. Mental or Vocal Mental prayer is when the heart onely prayeth without the voyce such was that of Moses Exod. 14. 15. Such was that of Hanna 1 Sam. 1. 13. These are mutae preces tamen clamantes Vocal Prayer is when the desires of the heart are drawn out into verbal expressions such was that of David Psal 5. 3. Psal 64. 1. 2. Either with others or else solitary with our selves alone Prayer with others is either more publike as in the Congregation or more private as in the Family Solitary prayer is when the Christian enters into his Closet retires himself from all company and then powres out his desires to God such is that our Saviour enjoyns Matth. 6. 6. Such was that of our Saviour Luke 5. 16. In regard of the matter Prayer is either for the obtaining of good things this is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text or else it is for the diverting of evill which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now all kind of prayer must be used by him that would overcome Temptations He must pray privately and publikely mentally and vocally c. Every kind of prayer hath in it something which is more peculiarly excellent which is not so excellent in any other kind of prayer Publike prayer excels in one kind private prayer is more excellent in other respects Nehem. 2. 4. Mental prayer in some respects excels vocall in others In publike prayer there is more strength vis unita fortior In private and secret prayer there is less distraction There is in the publike more Communion with Saints There is in the private often more Communion with God less interruption incumbrance c. Satan useth all kind of Temptations and therefore we should use all kind of prayer The whole vertue of prayer lies not in any one kind but in all kinds 3. A Conquering Prayer must be in the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This hath four things in it 1. It must be in the Spirit and not onely in the outward man So the Scholiast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must not be a work of the head or hands or eyes onely but chiefly a work of the heart Prayer is called the powring out of the soul 1 Sam. 1. 15. The powring out of the heart Psal 62. 8. The lifting up or stretching out of the soul Psal 25. 1. We read indeed of the lifting up of the hands Psal 28. 2. Of the lifting up of the eyes Psal 123. 1. Of the bowing of the knee Ephes 3. 14. These are fit and convenient postures to manifest the inward affections of the heart but the main work of prayer is in the inward man Quod cor non facit non fit Satan is a Spiritual Enemy Satans Temptations are Spiritual Temptations and therefore prayer will do no good against him which is not Spiritual God will never honour a prayer with victory over Satan which is onely a bodily service yea prayer without the heart drives God away and brings temptations into the soul It will never be a Satan-conquering but a self-weakning prayer 2. Prayer in the Spirit i. e. Zealous and fervent not cold and faint So 't is used in the Scripture Rom. 12. 11. A cold faint prayer will never prove a Conquering-prayer 'T is fervent prayer that is the effectuall prayer Jam. 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such have been the prayers of the victorious servants of God Such was Jacobs prayer Gen. 32. 31. compared with Hos 12. 4. Such was the prayer of Elias Jam. 5. 16. compared with 1 King 18. 42. We read of striving in prayer Rom. 15. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrastling in prayer Gen. 32. 24. Labouring fervently Col. 4. 12. Praying exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 3. 10. Powring out a prayer Psal 102. tit Lifting up a prayer Esa 64. 7. Stirring up our selves in prayer Esa 64. 7. All which expressions note ardency Satan is not cold but servent not faint but zealous in his Assaults he fights against us in his Spirit that is with all his might and if we do not pray in the Spirit we shall rather encourage him then get the Victory 3. In the Spirit that is in sincerity Spirit is used in Scripture in opposition to hypocrisie Joh. 4. 24. Ambrose expounds this of purity of heart and integrity Hoc est in Spiritu semper ●rare mundâ conscientiâ fide integrâ precem ad Deum dirigere In carne enim orat qui pollutâ mente orat A prayer proceeding from an impure heart is like rotten Arrows against an Enemy which will neither wound him nor kill him Hypocritical prayers shall not be heard of God Psal 66. 18. Nor shall they be fear'd of Satan Satan is not hypocritical and in appearance but real and in good earnest in his temptations and so must a Christian be in his prayer that means to overcome 4. In the Spirit i. e. By the help of the Holy Spirit The Saints have this happiness that the Holy Ghost makes intercession in them with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Now he prayes in the Spirit that prayes by the help and assistance of the Spirit he that acteth the Graces of the Spirit in Prayer Faith Hope Heavenliness c. Some deride Prayer in and by the Spirit Satan is a Spirit and no prayer will put him to flight but that which is framed in the heart by the Holy Spirit of prayer It is not the gift of Prayer but the grace of Prayer which gets the day 4. A Conquering Prayer must be a watchfull Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is required as a necessary Qualification of Prayer Mat. 26. 41. There is a two-fold watchfulness in reference unto prayer 1. A watchfulness unto prayer Of this we read 1 Pet. 4. 7. Be ye sober and watch unto prayer A watchfulness in prayer Of which we read Col. 4. 2. Watch in prayer with thanksgiving He that would overcome Satan by prayer must do both these He must watch unto prayer that is 1. He must have the thoughts of

shalt thou serve v. 10. Though our Saviour was patiently contented to be buffetted by men yet he would not endure the buffettings of Satan When the Jews smote him with the palms of their hands and with reeds upon the head he made no resistance but when Satan smites him with temptations then he opposed And when he assaulted him by an Instrument we finde he made the same Opposition In Mat. 16. 22 23. Our Saviour had there discoursed with his Disciples about his passion verse 21. The Son of man must go up to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the Elders and chief Priests and Scribes and be killed and the third day be raised again The Devill knowing well that the Death of Christ would be the ruine of his kingdom for he remembred what was threatned in Paradise Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head Therefore he instills this motion into Peter if it were possible to divert him from the work of Redemption Our Saviour seeing from whence this suggestion came makes a violent resistance Get thee behinde me Satan thou art an offence unto me The very same words he uttered to Satan immediately tempting him Matth. 4. 10. he now useth to Peter the Deputy of Satan in this action 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as our Saviour so those who were acted by his spirit Job when his Wise was made the Devills hand to convey poyson into his soul in the evill day of his affliction he doth resolutely oppose the Temptation Curse God saith she and die Job 2. 9. Rid thy self of this intolerable burthen which is heavier then death it selfe Thou speakest saith he as one of the foolish women speake What shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not receive evill also vers 10. He would not drink of Satans Cup though his own Wife was made the Cup-bearer but puts it away from him with indignation and just rebuke 3. We are commanded to pray that God would not suffer us to be led into temptation so as that we should consent and yield to it Matth. 6. 13. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evill In which Petition we pray that if God do suffer Satan to break loose upon us and to shoot his Arrows at us yet that he would not give us up into his power but enable us by his grace that we may never yield with willing consent to comply with any of his Temptations Now it s a sure Rule That what good we beg by prayer from the hand of God we use all lawfull means to accomplish And whatsoever evill we pray against that we diligently use our own endeavour by all good means to avoid and eschew the same otherwise our prayers will be but idle unbelieving Prayers meer taking of the name of God in vain we must Work out our salvation as well as Pray that we may be saved yea our very praying for salvation layes this obligation upon us to work out our salvation Our very praying for our daily bread bindes us to use holy labour and diligence that we may have bread to eat and our very praying for remission of sins engageth us to joyn Repentance and Faith in Christ that our sins may be forgiven so doth our praying that we may not be overcome by temptation engage us to make resistance against assayling temptation When the Children of Israel were endangered by the Egyptians behind and the red Sea before Moses cryed unto God by prayer And when he had done stood still saith God to him Exod. 14. 14. Wherefore cryest thou unto me Speak unto the Children of Israel that they go forward but lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thy hand over the Sea and divide it As if God should have said if you pray to be delivered you must work to be delivered you must watch as well as pray If you would have me to save you you must use all lawfull means for your own preservation And we have the like reasoning with Joshuah When there was such a defeat received before the City of Ai in the Land of Canaan Joshuah and the Elders of Israel fell down before the Lord and cast dust upon their heads and make a very patheticall and fervent prayer Cap. 7. 6. 7 8. Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amonites to destroy us c The Canaanites and all the Inhabitants of the Land shall hear of it and shall environ us round about and cut off our name from the earth c. Saith God v. 10 11 12 13. wherefore lyest thou thus upon thy face Israel hath sinned and transgressed my Covenant c. Up sanctifie the people c. As if God should have said If you do expect to have this breach repayred you must removere prohibens take away that which hath brought upon your selves and which will continue this ill success if it be not removed Thus for the Quod sit That it is so 2. For the Cur sit Why it is so There is very great reason for this Opposition 1. From the worth and preciousness of that which lieth at stake in this controversie Satans name is in Hebrew Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon and in English A Destroyer Rev. 9. 11. And the end of his design in all his Assaults is answerable to his Name he comes to rob kill and destroy and that not the body and outward man onely but that which is of more value then all the world besides the Immortall Soul Satan saith as the King of Sodom to Abraham Gen. 14. 21. Give me the Souls and take the goods to thy selfe He matters not who carry away all other spoyl so that he may have the soul for his Dividend He fights against them by his Temptations that he may deprive them of that eternall and exceeding weight of glory Hold fast that which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Rev. 3. 11. Satan doth not contend for Counters but for Crowns and those not temporall and corruptible but eternall and incorruptible 1 Cor. 9. 25. Non controvertitur de limitibus sed de ipsâ haereditate You read of an Inheritance incorruptible immortall undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you 1 Pet. 1. 4. The end of all Satans Assaults is to wipe you of this Inheritance He assaults you that he may bring you into bondage to his Common-wealth and Tyranny the worst of all Tyrannies Contentions and oppositions for triviall and trifling matters are not worth taking up and if they be taken up every prudent man will soon lay them asleep but when great things are at stake Cowards will be valiant Such is the matter of a Christians opposition Ergo. 2. From the justness and lawfulness of the Warre There are two things which make a Warre lawfull and just 1. The Call of a just Authority 2. A just

condition onely it is so in the apprehension of the elect and that reconciliation is begun when they apprehend it But certain it is that there is not onely an apprehension of Gods wrath but they are really under Gods wrath God hath really put them under the creatures and under the curse of the Law Jesus Christ was not onely in apprehension but really under the wrath of God he was really made a curse Gal. 3. 13. God put him under the Law to be dealt withal as those that are under the Law Now by reconciliation this wrath is done away Yet doth not this imply any change in God for God is to be considered two wayes 1. As he is in himself And so he hath not several things in him Those inward acts of God are his Being and there are not several Attributes in him c. 2. As he is pleased to manifest himself in his several wayes and workings towards his Creatures in this respect according as the Creature is in himself so is Gods reflection upon the Creature as the Sun through the glass shines according to the colour of the glass Now it implies no mutation in Gods Being to express himself diversly in his working towards the Creatures according to their different condition 2. God takes away the enmity that is naturally in the hearts of men and so makes them willing to accept of Reconciliation and to be at peace with him 3. There is a solemn league and covenant made wherein God and man joyn together which the Scripture cals a Covenant of Grace Hosea 2. 19 02. 4. There is mutual friendship and delight between God and the Creature whereby God communicates his good unto the Creature and the Creature communicates his good of love fear service and obedience unto God God saith to the Creature I will be thy God the Creature saith to God behold I am thy servant thy subject to honour obey serve thee for ever Now this Peace is wrought in and by Jesus Christ by way of transaction with the Father and that after this manner 1. He is willing to be charged with our debt 2. He is willing to satisfie the fullest demands of Divine wrath and justice for our debt Isa 53. 10. 3. He undertakes also to bring poor Creatures to submit to God to love him to fear him to give up themselves to be ruled and governed by him of which the Apostle speaks plainly Colos 1. 20 21 22. And having made peace through the bloud of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself by him I say whether things in heaven or things in earth And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight Iesus Christ did as well undertake to make the elect unblameable as to free them from condemnation Now though the Gospell be called a Gospell of peace in respect of all these yet this last is principally to be understood in this place the two former are but effects and consequences of this The Gospel is a Gospel of Reconciliation so the Apostle cals it 2 Cor. 5. 19. 3. In what respects is the Gospel a Gospel of peace 1. In regard of Discovery and manifestation The Gospel is that which makes known this peace unto the sons of men As the Apostle speaks Rom. 1. 27. Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith As life and immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Timothy 1. 10. so is peace and reconciliation The Gospel is that silver Trumpet by which this Jubile of peace is proclaimed to the world Acts 10. 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ It is the Gospel which preacheth this peace to men The world was never acquainted with this peace till the Gospel of God came to their eares The Nations that want the Gospel are meer strangers to this peace Luke 1. 79. It is the light of the Gospel that guides mens feet into the way of this peace 2. In regard of Conveyance and Communication The Gospel doth not onely barely publish but doth actually work this peace It is by the Spirit of God through the preaching of the Gospel that the hearts of men are inclined to accept of this peace Psal 110. 2. 3. The Lord shall send the rod of his strength out of Zion i. e. the Gospel and then it followeth Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power when the rod of Gods strength comes effectually to work upon the soul then is the unwilling soul made willing 3. Inregard of Conservation The Gospel is the Ark wherein are kept all the Articles and Agreements between God and man All the transactions between God and Christ for the making of this peace are preserved and kept safe in the Gospel This is the golden pot wherein this Manna is preserved for all the generations of the Church 4. In regard of Recovery When the soul that is reconciled to God hath lost the sense and apprehension of its peace with God it doth by the studying and hearing of the Gospel require and recover the assurance of its former Peace 5. In regard of Confirmation The Gospel seals and confirms this peace 4 I shall now answer one Objection viz. that of our Saviour Math. 10. 34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I am come to set a man at variance against his father c. and we see by experience that where the Gospel comes divisions contentions and quarrellings do presently arise c. Luke 12. 49. I am come to send fire on the earth and what would I if it be already kindled Hence some have prophanely wished the Bible burnt as the great Incendiary of the world Sol. These Contentions are not the naturall effects of the Gospel for it doth naturally work peace and amity The Wisdom which is from above is first pure and then peaceable c. Jam. 3. 17. but they arise accidentally from the Gospel The Gospel meets with the lusts and corruptions of mens hearts and these being awakened breed contentions The Devil he is inraged against the Gospel and therefore he stirs up mens corruptions to make head against it The Gospel cals upon men to be strict holy to deny themselves c. the natural heart abhors this and so becomes not onely disobedient but contentious Rom. 2. 8. The Gospel is the cause of Contentions as meat is the cause of ill humours The naturall property of it is to nourish c. but because it meets with a diseased stomack it accidentally weakens Or as a good physick is the cause of sicknesses c. 1. Vse Information We may from hence draw many conclusions Viz. 1. This shews the pretiousness and glory of the Gospel