Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	adoption_n	cry_v	father_n	9,732	5	5.0154	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47400	A discovery of some troublesome thoughts Wherewith many godly precious souls are burthened, and extreamly pressed: that like a canker eats out all their comforts, and keeps their souls under continuall fears and distractions. Together with a compound of some Scripture and experimentall cordials, for the refreshing of those who are sick of such a disease; and through the blessing of God, may prove medicinall, to the cure of some, and the comforting of others. By Daniel King, preacher of the Word.	King, Daniel, preacher near Coventry.	1651 (1651)	Wing K489; ESTC R216092	52,316	69

right hand of my righteousness O but may some say I am a poor worm have nothing that is lovely nor desireable in me an unworthy wretch Why see vers 14. Fear not thou worm Jacob and yee men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel And saith Peter 2. Pet. 1.4 There is given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you should be partakers of the Divine Nature Now the Divine Nature is not subject to these vexations and troubles Therefore from the frequency of the promises and the end of them we may well conclude God would not have his people lie under discouragments 2. Because he hath given them of his Spirit to cry Abba Father Now if he give them the spirit of adoption it argues clearly he would not have them discouraged Joh. 14.16 I will pray the father saith Christ and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the spirit c. Rom. 8.16 The spirit witnesseth with our spirits that we are the sons of God Now if he give his spirit to this end to comfort the Saints and witness their adoption then it must needs follow he would not have them discouraged 3. Because he cals for and requires that the ministry of consolation be performed Isa 40.1.2 Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem tell her her iniquity is pardoned and her warfare is accomplished See what a strict charge here is to comfort the people of God Yea and God challengeth the false prophets for not performing this ministery but acting contrary to it Ezek. 13.22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad whom I not made sad therefore ye shall see no more vanity nor divine divination c. And Cap. 34 16.17.18 When the prophets neglected tending and tendring the sheep see what the Lord saith I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick but I will destroy the fat and the strong and I will feed them with judgement Now then if God take such care that they may be comforted and undertake for them then he would not have them discouraged 4. Because God the Father hath givtn Commission to Christ to take special care of them that they be not overborn And Christ hath undertaken it A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax will he not quench he will bring forth Judgement into victory Isa 42 3. This is the glory of Christs Kingdom that he shall support the weak and this Christ gives in charge to Peter if he love him to feed his Lambs John 21. And the Apostle gives speciall charge to the Churches to comfort one another 1 Thess 4.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words And 5.14 I beseech you brethren support the weak comfort the feeble-minded Therefore he would not have them lie under discouragements 2. Reasons why God would not have his people troubled The 2. sort of Reasons are why he would not c. 1. Because he is very pitifull and tender A good body would have no body hurt no not so much as a prick with a pin nor a fillip with the finger a quiet meek spirit is so tender So is God of his people Jam. 5.11 The Lord is very pitifull consider the end the Lord maketh that he is very pitifull he delighteth in mercy Mic. 7. And not in oppressing thy soul Lam. 3.33 He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men He took it ill that his people should father and fasten their discouragements upon him Isa 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid fro● the Lord and my judgement is passed over from my God Why dost say so Israel there is no cause at all he is so far from slighting thee that he giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength therefore he would not have them sink into Anxiety and sadness 2. It appears to be so From the excellency of holy rejoycing and the acceptableness of it to God God delighteth more in this then in all services whatsoever for all other works of the spirit flow into this And therefore he that was to bring his sacrifice Deut. 26.34 among other things which he professed this was one I have not eaten thereof in my mourning Mal. 2.12.13.14 And this have ye done again covering the Altar of the Lord with tears with weeping and with crying out insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more nor receiveth it with good will at your hands Psal 100.2 Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing and Psal 2.10 Rejoyce with trembling Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say rejoyce Rejoyce evermore c. Now if God be so well pleased with holy rejoycing then he would not have his people lie under sorrows wounding their hearts and breaking of them to pieces under terrors 3. Because discouragements drive from God and are contrary to Communion which God delights in therefore Christ knocketh at the door and calleth for opening Rev. 3. Cant. 5.2 Psal 14.8.9 and saith he would sup with the Soul And his father and he would make their abode there John 14. A man will never go to his judge and executioner one that will cut his throat till he be perswaded of favour Terrours drive Cain into the land of Nod from the presence of God Therefore saith the Lord I drew them with the cords of Love In Gods presence is fulness of Joy therefore the more oppressing sorrow the further from Gods presence Discouragement made Peter cry out Luke 5.3.9.10 Lord depart from me for I am a sinfull man for he was astonished and afraid as appears by Christs incouraging of him 4. Because this deadens the actings of all the works of the spirit in the heart God hath not the glory of his spirit in this way a sad sullen discouraged spirit deadens all 2 Cor. 7.10 The sorrow of the world worketh death It killeth the spirit not the body but death of duty it makes a man he cannot come off with any dexterity of duty death of care clearing of your selves indignation fear vehement desire zeal revenge it deadens these Nay it makes a man utterly unfit for some services of God as spirituall rejoycing This causeth crying not singing and rejoycing and singing is a piece of Gods service Isa 65.14 My servants shall sing for joy of heart Sorrow made Hemah unfit for the service of God 1 Sam. 1.7 And Solomon saith Prov. 12.25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop but a good word makes it glad The heart is down when it is heavy and not so fit for spirituall services 5. Because by this discouraged troubled frame of

and know that you are the Sons of God and heirs of God and Christ Which Spirit of testimony is gotten by faith in Christ by viewing eying and surveying Christ For because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts whereby you cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Whose office is to attest ye are Christs So that here the office of faith is to look upon Christ and eye Christ that so we may receive the seal For a man must be a beleever else he cannot be a son but being a beleever and so a Son then comes the Spirit and witnesseth the same Object But this witness you speak of now this immeditate testimony may deceive also It may be some false fire cast in by the Devil as well as the other Answ The witness of the Spirit of God as it is the Spirit of God will alwayes clear it self by this That in the witness it gives to a soul it alwayes advanceth God and Christ in the eye of the Soul and it alway ripens and nourisheth sanctifying graces in the soul and makes them go glib like oyl to the wheels It makes our Faith Love Patience Humility Hope Self-denyall Joy c. whereby we walk with God as green and flourishing as flowers in the spring or as corn fields after a sweet shower Note Bastard-illusions of the Devil do alwayes tend to bastardends and do alwayes bring forth bastard-effects such as lift up a man with pride or boulster them up to maintain errour either in Life or Doctrine But this knowledge of a mans self to be Gods reacheth forth to God and acteth his spirituall habits sweetly 2 Cor. 5.1 We know saith Paul that if this earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens we know it saith he And what effect had this upon their Spirits Why see vers 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him This is far from that opinion that a mans knowing himself to be Gods worketh security no this makes a mans heart obey God as a Son And be sure the Devill in his counterfeit workings and witnessings will never draw the soul to God to aim at him but still to center in himself or to turn aside to errour or sin And this is to fight against himself and overthrow his own Kingdom which he will never do A caveat But now take heed of thinking your selves to be Gods when you are not for there is the danger to conceit your selves to be Gods when you are not Now ye may go long in this by reason of some counterfeit workings by reason of some Convictions or joy or common receiving of Christ ye may take your selves to be Gods when you are not But here you may bewray your selves if you will but search For 1. you may perform duties meerly to maintain your signs for a man may keep a course in a form of godliness to maintain his reputation with himself to maintain his signs that the heart shall not easily tax them to be rotten When a man hath not his end to enjoy walk with God so to be Gods 2. He may bewray himself by his desires after the fruits of the Spirit they may be earnest and if these desires were not in him he could not maintain his signs To desire graces as they are beneficiall to me and not for the service of them that I may come neer to God and seek them for him rather then for my self this is deceitfull I fear the reason why God gives not assurance to many a man that seeks long and earnestly is because a man seeks for himself and not for God Like the Bee that goeth into the field to seek honey to eat but brings it not into the Masters hive A man may be Gods and not discern it Secondly A man may be Gods and not discern it for these are distinct Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise Mark after ye beleeved ye were sealed 1 John 5.13 These things have I written to you that beleeve on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may beleeve on the name of the Son of God Mark the speech here I have written unto you that do beleeve that ye may beleeve What 's this Why you that beleeve with a faith of Adherence that ye may come to assurance which yet ye want that ye may KNOW that ye have eternall life Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts whereby ye cry Abba Father First ye are Sons and afterwards cry Abba Father by the Spirit The being of a man in Christ goeth before his knowing he is so in order of nature for a thing must be before I can know it else I know a lie A Child must be the child of such a man before he knoweth he is so So it is in our spirituall relation Therefore ye cannot conclude ye are none of Gods because you want assurance for the present for ye may be Gods and know it not Object But some may say This is to preach liberty for every man may say so Answ I answer not so For this which is in such a child of God as doth not know it by clear evidence yet it is working and differeth him from all others in the world The seed of God hath a two-fold work in such a one 1. It maketh him an obedient man Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voyce of his servants that walketh in darkness and hath no light Mark A child of God though he be in the dark yet he fears the Lord and obeys That though he knows not himself to be Gods yet he would walk with God in every duty though he have chains and fetters oftentimes to hinder him yet in every duty there is a principle and tie of obedience yea and such as is mixt with Love For he seeth God lovely and that draws his affections to him and makes him willing to serve him though he be not sure of him 2. Though such a soul do not discern it self to be Gods yet it is acccompanied with earnest longings and earnest seekings of the manifestation of his face to him So that though he cannot yet make sure his Calling and Election yet he gives all diligence to make it sure as Peter speaks 2 Pet. 1. and that because he would be more usefull to God Herein a true Christian differs from all the idle and neuter professors in the world Why a man may be Gods and not know it Now a man may be Gods and not know it for these causes 1. Because he is in forming and fashioning for God for Gods Spirit that dwelleth in man makes ready the

though he do not know it 1. I say The best state or Condition is for a man to be Gods and know it that he is so Though not to know it doth not cut up the mil-post and overthrow all though it may indeed take off the sailes I mean though it may put a man to a stand or make him go heavily yet it doth not prove his condition to be desperate A man is Gods two wayes A man is Gods two wayes By Election and Calling 1. By Election 1. By Election So a man may be a sheep not gathered John 10.16 Other sheep I have which are not of this fold them MVST I bring So that they are not yet brought and yet sheep which Christ must bring Therefore ye cannot make this conclusion that ye are none of Gods by Election 2. By Calling 1. Cor. 1.1 But Secondly A man is Gods by Calling And so he is a Saint For we are Saints by Calling Now the purpose of Gods electing is the calling of a man and the Evidencing of his Calling And therefore our Calling is effectuall and powerfull because it is a calling accotding to Gods purpose Rom. 8.28 And the purpose of God in Election is evidenced to us by Calling the first dawning and evidence of this love of God to us is this calling us to Christ 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure So that the way of Evidence is from the second to the first Now it is best for a man to know himself Gods both wayes For though this assurance doth nor make a man to be a man in Christ yet it makes him to be a lively man in Christ for he is made a man in Christ simply by beleeving or taking Christ at the hands of God A double witness Now we are evidenced to be Gods both wayes by a double witness that gives evidence The evidence of our Spirit and the evidence of Gods Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the Sons of God Now this Calling is evidenced two wayes Regeneration 1. By regeneration or being born of God Secondly by Adoption whereby being strangers we are made Sons by our incorporation into Christ For both these see John 1.12.13 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to those that beleeve on his name Sons of God who are those Those that are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Now observe that the Sons of God by faith in Christ are Sons of God by the birth of the Spirit Therefore see whether your faith reach this or no They were born not of blood nor by the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God For prove one and prove the other Adoption Yet know that Regeneration and Adoption are two distinct things The one is the act of God towards us The other is the work of the Spirit in us But the Spirit of sanctification and the Spirit of Adoption are both one but they are two distinct acts The Spirit of Sanctification worketh in us a new life The Spirit of Adoption may rather be called the evidence So that prove one and prove the other Prove that a man breathes and by that you prove he liveth yet there may be a more proper proof as if he feel or see c. So that this is it that I would say That the witness of our spirit may properly be said to attest our Sanctification And the witness of Gods Spirit our Adoption And by both our spirit and Gods Spirit we are witnessed to be the Sons of God How our Spirits witness our new birth But observe that the witness of our spirits that witnesseth our new birth and Sanctification witnesseth it by Water and Blood 1. John 5.6.8 This is he that came by water and Blood even Jesus Christ not by water onely but by water and Blood And it is the Spirit that beareth witness because the spirit is truth And there are three that bear witness on earth the Spirit and water and blood and these three agree in one And it is by vertue of these two that our spirits do attest and witness that we are the Sons of God For blood and water all the Scripture over are said to purge and cleanse as in all the Legal Types yet God giveth to them an office of witnessing Properly they purge But they Witness by their work of purging This BLOOD the blood of Christ purgeth away the guilt of Sin as it bindeth a man over to hell and damnation This Water the Sanctifying Spirit of Christ purgeth away the love of Sin as it hath Dominion † Ezek. 36.25.26.27 Of both these the conscience of a regenerate man comes to be sensible in himself The sense of Blood purging by pacifying of his conscience that he cannot but look upon God with a conscience full of tranquility And the water purging by Sanctifyng him to make him walk with God out of the power of sin Now the witness of a mans spirit witnesseth that he is translated out of the guilt of sin and power of sin and then he is born again Objection But some may object and say This testimony may deceive Answer I answer If you consider the power of this blood and water in a man How wonderfully it removes a man from all inthralling lusts and how it compels him to walk in holiness yea the peace that riseth from blood-purging Sin which moves morally to holy walking and is full of infinite strength for the sence of the pardon of sin And that is an excellent adjunct unto and in Sanctification as can be the graces of Sanctification do determine the Soul to the wayes of God as a strong Byas sheweth which way the Bowl will go Consider that for one how the heart is moved in Gods way And that is by Faith and Love And then if you consider the respect or aim or end the new creature moves to That is In God for God and to God that he may be glorified Rom. 11. ult For of him and through him and to him are all things All things that are of him through him tend to him Consider all these together that they be in you the power of Moving how you are moved By Faith and Love And the end you aim at to glorifie God And it makes a good Testimony and witness that ye are the Sons of God The witness of Gods Spirit Now for the Testimony of Gods Spirit the Spirit of Adoption If we shall speak distinctly of it from our spirits for the spirit and water and blood are distinct though they agree in one 1 John 5.8 Now if you consider them distinct I conceive then the Spirit of God witnesseth by an immediate impression upon the Soul representing to the soul and conscience making you understand