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	receive_v	6,371	5	5.4895	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66029	A discourse concerning the gift of prayer shewing what it is, wherein it consists, and how far it is attainable by industry, with divers useful and proper directions to that purpose, both in respect of matter, method, and expression / by John Wilkins, D.D. ; whereunto may be added Ecclesiastes, or, A discourse concerning the gift of preaching by the same authour.	Wilkins, John, 1614-1672.	1653 (1653)	Wing W2180; ESTC R7133	129,988	242

themselves Lord have not we preached in thy name and cast out Devils c. they did all this in his Name that is they were by him both outwardly called and gifted for these services Such as have onely the second of these may sometimes exceed those that have the third whence it comes to passe that men of very ordinary parts in respect of any acquired abilities may be more ready and copious in this service then those who in respect of other knowledge are much beyond them But then only is this Gift compleat when there is a joynt concurrence of all these three ingredients when the heart is sanctified and the natural abilities improved by industry That is a very apposite text to this purpose and does treat particularly concerning this subject Prayer under the notion of a Gift Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered The cheif Scope of that place may be comprized in these three Propositions 1. That of our selves we are very ignorant and impotent in this businesse of Prayer having many infirmities not knowing what to pray for as we ought Not but that a meer natural man upon the sence of any present want or danger may apply himself unto this duty for remedy as the Mariners in Ionah this being a common instinct of nature But to performe it acceptably either for the matter what we should pray for or the manner as we ought this is a businesse of much greater difficulty because 't is required to be according to the will of God vers 27. And the natural man understands not the things of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned But is disobedient and unto every good work reprobate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 void of judgement being alienated from the life of God through the blindnesse that is in him There is naturaly in every man both an impotency of judgement an enmity and aversnesse of desire towards all holy duties in general and particularly to this of Prayer We cannot order ●ur speech to God by reason of darknesse saith Eli●u and therefore the Disciple upon their first conversion being sensible of their own disability in this kinde they made their addresses to our Saviour that he might teach them how to pray 2. The Spirit of God must be our guide and assistance in this duty He must help our infirmities and make intercession for us Not that the Holy Ghost is our Mediator of intercession that is properly the office of the Sonne who is therefore stiled our Advocate There is one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 'T is He onely that in respect of his merits and sufferings does make intercession for us Rom. 8.34 But now because the Spirit of God does excite our hearts to prayer and infuse into us holy desires stirring us up and instructing us in this duty therefore is he said to intercede for us So Gal. 4.6 there the Spirit is said to cry Abba Father God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father and yet vers 15. of that forecited place 't is said We have received the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father In which places being compared the Spirit is said to cry Abba Father because it makes us to do so So is he said to pray for us because he does informe and quicken us to pray for our selves 'T is one of his peculiar titles to be stiled the Spirit of Supplication because of that special influence which he hath in the bestowing of this gift He must open our lips before our mouths can shew forth his praise Not that the other persons of Trinity are excluded from a joynt concurrence in this work Opera Trinitatis ad ex●ra sunt indivisa All the actions of the blessed Trinity excepting onely those that are of intrinsecall ●elation being the undivided works of all the three But now because our grosse understandings are not able to conceive of this Trinity without some distinction of their offices and operations in reference to us therefore does the Scripture condescend so farre to our capacities as to speak of these common works by way of appropriation Thus Power and Creation is commonly ascribed to the Father Wisdome and Redemption to the Sonne Goodnesse and all habituall graces or gifts to the Holy Ghost These general operations of the Spirit are usually distinguished into two sorts Either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gift Or in the common expression of the Schooles there is 1. Gratia gratum faciens which referres to those gifts of Sanctification that do more especially concerne our own happinesse 2. There is gratia gratis data which concernes gifts of Edification whereby we are made usefull to others according to our severall stations Of the first kind are all those spiritual Graces Faith Repentance Humility c. infused into us in our regeneration Unto the other are reducible all kinde of secondary endowments or abilities whatsoever that belong to the reasonable soul excepting onely those first faculties that flow immediately à principiis speciei and are in all men alike I say all kinde of abilities or good habits are reducible under this head Whether or no they are by extraordinary and immediate infusion as were those gifts in the Primitive times of tongues miracles healing c. 1 Cor. 12. Or whether they are naturall abilities arising from mens severall tempers and dispositions as strength of judgement quicknesse of fancy warmnesse of affection readinesse of speech Or else whether they are intellectuall habits which are acquired and perfected by Education Industry Experience as when men become skilfull in any particular Art or profession That skill of Bezaliel and Aholiab for those curious artificiall works of the Tabernacle to work in gold and silver and brasse and cutting of stones and carving of wood was from the Spirit of God Exod. 35.31 The secular policy of Achitophel The natural wisdome of Solomon The skill of the Plowman both in sowing and threshing does proceed from the same Spirit from whom every good and perfect gift does come In breif when men become skilfull and expert in any faculty whether Disputing Oratory Preaching Praying c. each of these does proceed from the Spirit of God as the principall Author of them dividing to every man severally as he will All other helps whether from nature or industry being but secondary subordinate Aides which are by Him made effectual for the accomplishing of these ends That Question of the Apostle being fitly applyable unto all preheminences of this kinde Who made thee to differ from another And what hast thou that thou hast not received 1 Cor. 4.7 So then all kinde of good habits or abilities and particularly this gift

after he hath preached unto others he himself may not become a cast-away 2. For his Doctrine that he may study to approve himself unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth That he may preach the Word being instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine with meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth Feeding the flock of God not by constraint but willingly Not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde That he may speak as the Oracles of God That his doctrine may be in demonstration of the spirit and of power with uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity not as pleasing men but God who tryeth the hearts The People or hearers may be hereby directed to pray for a greater love and esteem of his Word as being the Ordinance of his infinite wisdome which he can make effectual for the Conversion and salvation of souls Considering that the fashion of this world passeth away Pleasures shall die and vanish Honours shall be laid in the dust gold and silver shall rust and canker but the word of God abideth for ever This alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to save our soules being that word by which we shall be judged at the last day That therefore we may value it above gold and silver finding a relish in it sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb That we may alwayes love the beauty of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth To publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and to tell of all his wondrous works This one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary That we may have a greater care to know and practise his will As new borne babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word to grow thereby That he would teach us so to prize and improve the present liberty and Sun-shine of the Gospel that we may be carefull in this our day to lay up for our selves a good foundation against the evil time That we may approach unto this Ordinance with such reverent and prepared affections as may become his more especial presence amongst us Considering our feet when we draw neer before him that he would over-awe our spirits with an holy fear and reverence in the apprehension of his presence and beholding of us who is a God of infinite holinesse and glorious Majesty that we may bow down our souls with a willing subjection unto every sacred truth That he would subdue the pride of our hearts Cast down every imagination that exalteth it selfe against him and bring into subjection every thought unto the obedience of Christ and because the Word of it selfe is but a dead letter and it is not in the power of any outward means the wisdome or preparation of weak sinful man to subdue the power of sin the Kingdome of Satan or to create men in Christ Jesus unto good works that therefore he would be pleased to accompany the outward means by the inward efficacy and operation of his Spirit Man can speak only unto the ear but he can speak unto the heart and 't is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us be so and he hath promised to meet such as desire to wait upon him and to remember him in his wayes That he would remove from our understandings the veile of ignorance and infidelity whereby we are made incapable of spiritual truths that he would take from our affections that natural pravity and malice whereby we are made enemies to spiritual notions that we may receive the truth not only in the light but in the love of it not with-holding any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would strengthen us against all temptations of Satan cares of the world hardnesse of our own hearts or what ever may hinder our profitable and saving hearing That he would take from us all irreverence distraction prejudice dulnesse in hearing of his Word and because it must redound either to the glory of his justice in our farther hardening and final condemnation or to the glory of his mercy in our conversion and salvation that he would therefore sanctifie it to our good that as the rain cometh down from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitful so the Word that goeth out of his mouth may not return unto him void but accomplish his good pleasure and prosper in that to which it is sent That it may be unto us sharp as a two-edged sword to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit the joynts and marrow discovering the very thoughts and intentions of the heart And because Paul may plant and Apollos may water but he only can give the increase That therefore he would be pleased to give a blessing and successe to his own Ordinance That his Word may be unto us a word of power converting the soul and making wise the simple that he would give unto us hearing ears and understanding hearts that we may believe and be saved That he would write his laws in our inward parts That he would open our eyes to behold the wondrous things of his law Incline our hearts to affect direct our steps that we may walke in the paths of his precepts Shew us thy wayes O Lord and teach us thy paths lead us in thy truth and guide us for thou art the God of our salvation Teach us thy wayes O Lord and we will walke in thy truth unite our hearts to fear thy name Shew us the way that we should walk in for we lift up our souls unto thee Teach us to do thy will for thou art our God Let thy good Spirit lead us into the land of uprightnesse That we may behave our selves with humility attention alacrity laying down all high thoughts fleshly reasonings stubborne resolutions being ready to receive with meeknesse the ingraffed word which is able to save our souls That we may enjoy communion with him in his Ordinances that he would fill us with all joy and peace in believing That he would sanctifie our judgements affections memories that we may apprehend and believe and affect and retain those sacred truths that shall be delivered That he would inlighten our mindes open our hearts soften our consciences compose our thoughts to attend unto his Word with meeknesse and faith receiving it into good and honest hearts with full purpose to walk answerably to it in our conversations That Christ may be formed in us that our hearts may be established in every good word

not persecute us with his tempests and make us afraid with his stormes nor sweep us away with a generall deluge as he did the old world 2. For visiting the earth and watering it and greatly enriching it with the river of God providing for the corn setling the furrows thereof and making it soft with showers and blessing the springing thereof so that the pastures are cloathed with flocks and the vallies are covered over with corn for that he hath sent us a plentiful rain whereby he hath confirmed and refreshed his inheritance when it was weary 3. For healthful seasons that he hath delivered us from the noysome Pestilence that walketh in darkness and from the destruction that walketh at noon-day so that no evil doth befall us nor any plague come nigh our dwellings but hath satisfied us with long life and shewed us his salvation That he hath not made the Land to spue out her inhabitants CHAP. XXVIII Of the kindes of spiritual mercies to be enumerated THese Temporal favours which we ought thus to enumerate though they are very excellent in themselves and far beyond our deserts yet are common with us to Hypocrites and such as shall hereafter be damned and therefore 't is requisite that we should after a more especial manner magnifie his glorious name for those spiritual mercies that concern our eternity Chiefly for the Lord Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith the fountain of all the other mercies which we enjoy For his Birth Incarnation Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession with all those unspeakable benefits that we receive by them for blessing us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. More particularly for those remarkable effects of his love and merits in our 1. Election For that God hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself accordng to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace whereby he hath made us accepted in the beloved and hath from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth He might have designed us for vessels of wrath as he did the fallen Angels and then we had been eternally undone without all possible remedy There was nothing to move him in us when we lay altogether in the general heap of mankind It was his own free grace and bounty that made him to take delight in us to chuse us out from the rest and to sever us from those many thousands in the world who shall perish everlastingly 2. Redemption For that incomprehensible miracle of his wisdome and mercy in the contrivance of our redemption by the death of Christ. For he hath redeemed us by the precious blood of his dear Son who is the Image of the invisible God the first-born of every creature who gave himself a ransome for all 3. Vocation That he hath called us by the Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ And that with an holy calling not according to our own works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 4. Justification For pardoning our sins the least of which would have been enough to have undone us to all eternity For that he hath forgiven our trespasses blotting out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to the crosse For the remission of our sins through the blood of Christ according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdome and prudence 5. Sanctification For renuing upon our souls in any measure the blessed Image of the Lord Jesus Christ the least glimpse whereof is infinitely more worth then the whole world For that he hath changed our vile natures and made us partakers of the divine nature Of strangers and forreigners raising us up to be fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Making us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light delivering us from the power of darknesse and translating us into the Kingdom of his dear Son And because our Sanctification is considerable both according to the Parts Means of it therefore it may be further amplified from each of these 1. For the Parts of it both in respect of our Judgements Affections Conversations 1. For our Judgements that he hath not given us over to blindnesse of minde a reprobate sense to wilde and desperate errors by which we see so many others deluded but hath in some measure revealed unto us those mysteries of godliness which are hid from many wise and great ones of the world and hath according to his divine power given us all things pertaining to life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2. For our Affections That he hath not given us over to hardnesse of heart slightnesse of spirit that he hath in any measure weaned our souls from looking after solid contentment in the creatures and raised them up to any love of holiness any desire of a neerer communion with himself 3. For our Conversations That he hath in any measure enabled us to do him service to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty to walk in some degree as becomes children of light Having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse not allowing our selves in any course which we know to be unlawful The Means of our Sanctification are principally these five 1. His Spirit to convince direct assist comfort us to prevēt follow us with his grace to support us in afflictions to strengthen us in tēptations to quicken us to duty to seal us up unto the day of redēption 2. His Word so powerful in discerning the thoughts intents of the heart able to make us wise unto salvation being profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good work for his holy and righteous Law for the many gracious invitations and promises in his Gospel 3. The Sacraments That he hath not left us as strangers without the Covenāt of promise but hath ordained visible signes and seals to represent that to our senses w ch we ought to apprehend by our faith 4. The Sabbaths and publike Ordinances that we have liberty to behold the face of God in his sanctuary and to enquire in his Temple that amidst some outward troubles the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet our Teachers are not removed into corners but our eyes may see them That vision does not fail in our days that we are not punished with a famine of the Word that the Sun does not go down upon our Prophets 5. The Communion of Saints