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	father_n	receive_v	8,589	5	5.7408	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78566	A brief apology in behalf of the people in derision call'd Quakers. Written for the information of our sober and well-inclined neighbors in and about the town of Warminster in the county of Wilts. by Will. Chandler, Alex. Pyott, Jo. Hodges, and some others.	Chandler, William.; Pyott, Alex. (Alexander); Hodges, Joseph.	1693 (1693)	Wing C1934; ESTC R229320	34,744	78

under the power of him that hath enthrald us and leads Captive at his will Mar. 3. 27 those who lives in the vanity of their minds to know him bind this strong man to spoil his goods and dispossess Mal. 3. 2. 3 and cast him out to know Christ to sit in the soul as a refiner to burn Luk. 3. 16 17. Ro. 15. 16. Joh. 13. 8. 1 Thes 5. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 2 Joh. 14. 23 Heb. 13. 21 up consume and destroy to purify and throughly to purge out whatsoever is contrary to him to wash us and make us clean that we may have rightto a part in him that being cleansed and sanctified he may take up his abode with us exercising his Kingly power and working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure The mind being thus disentangled and having cast off its former yoke the old things being done away all things now become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. Ezek. 36. 26. a new tender heart of flesh according to the promise new thoughts desires inclinations affections words actions this new inside producing a new outside also even throughout a new Creature Mat. 23. 26. now in Christ indeed and really entitled to those benefits that accrue to men through him that living faith that pleaseth God and gives victory Jam. 2. 18 to the end Heb. 12. 2 and is ever fruitful to him in good works being begotten and this work of Redempton and Regeneration thus wrought in the soul by Jesus Christ together with that most precious sacrifice he offer'd up when his Precious Blood Shed upon the Cross for us we believe compleats the salvation of every soul that is thus awakened and made alive and set free by the power Ro. 6. 11. 13. Joh. 8. 36 and spirit of him that is the way the truth and the life of every soul that truly lives to God to walk in that holy way of life truth and peace that was prepared of old for the ransomed Isa 35. 8 9. and redeemed to walk in And we believe that he graciously waits with exceeding great kindness and long suffering that men may repent knocking at the door of every Rev. 3. 20 mans heart freely offering but not imposing his assistance to this most Mat. 23. 37. concerning work and change in the minds of men so that in the day wherein God will judge the world by Jesus Christ and every secret thing will be made manifest God will be justified and clear of the Blood of all Men and every mouth will be stopped and every Man's Condemnation will be of himself for having rejected the day of his visitation wherein God calls to Man and offers to be reconciled to him for resisting the strivings and slighting the reproofs of his spirit Neh. 9. 20. which in matchless mercy he hath given man to instruct him and shew and lead him in the way of life and peace We believe that though the pravity of mans nature in the fall is such that the Natural or Carnal Man that is enmity against God in the state of meer nature minds only the things of the Ro. 8. 5. 7. 8. flesh and naturally brings forth the works thereof and cannot please God nor keep and observe his Laws but is prone to evil yet that those who embrace the visitation of God and are 1 Pet. 1. 23. really regenerated and born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God Heb. 4. 12. that lives and abides forever that ingrafted Jam. 1. 21 word that is quick and powerful and able to save and sanctify the Joh. 17. 17. 19. soul are born into a new life and invested with another and higher power and becomes spiritually minded and by the spirit are set at liberty to walk after Joh. 3. 6. the spirit and bring forth it's fruits and receives ability from the spirit to serve God acceptably being now led Ro. 8. 14. 15. by the spirit of God and become his Children taught of him and through the spirit of adoption receiv'd into their hearts have right to call God Father 1 Cor. ●2 3. Ro. 8. 13. 6. 6. Eph. 4. 22 23. 24. Gal. 5. 24 Col. 3. 9. 10. and Jesus Lord for having through the spirit mortified the Old Man or first Nature with his corrupt and depraved inclinations and evil deeds and put him off having crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof they put on the New and Heavenly Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and being renewed in the spirit of their minds they now walk in Ro. 6. 4. 7. 6. Newness of Life and are really in Christ and therefore are changed and become new Creatures and now thinks and acts under the conduct of a principal Superiour to that which formerly governed them having their minds raised to a Region above that of fallen Nature so that now the stream of their thoughts desires and actions runs in another current and the bent of their affections are after those things that are above where Christ is that eye being Col. 3. 1. 2. now open'd that sees a more transcendent beauty and desireableness in the invisible and durable treasures of him than all the transcient felicities of this world can afford And we believe that whosoever expects the blessed imputation of Christ's Ro. 13. 14. righteousness ought thus to put on the Lord Jesus and to be thus cloathed upon and covered with his righteousness and in measure have his Holy Life brought forth in and through them and and know him to enliven and influence their minds and to work in and for Isa 26. i2 Phil. 2. i3 Phil. 4. 13. Joh. i5 5. them and that without him they can do nothing but thro' him that strengthens them they can do whatsoever he commands them that as they abide living branches in him through that sap and vertue they dayly receive from him Joh. 15. 5 8. they are made able to bring forth fruits well-pleasing to God whereby he is glorified For though God the Father accepts us in Christ and for his sake yet is the New-Birth the indispensible Qualification and true distinguishing Mark of those that are really in him He 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 6. i5 1 Joh. 2. 6. 30. 7. 8 9. that is in Christ is a new Creature Old things are past away behold all things are become New John says He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked We ascribe nothing to Man as having any power or ability in or of himself to please God but attribute all power to do that which Joh. 15. 4 5. is good to Christ alone in whom only the Father is well-pleased 'T is through him that men so love and fear God as to eschew evil and work that Righteousness Acts 10. 34 35. which is acceptable to him

of men but expects they should improve those talents distributed to them in not only sending forth the Son of his love to dye for their sins that they should not longer live therein but also in sending Joh. 14. i6 i7 26. i6 i3 Tit. 2. ii 12. forth his Light and Spirit of Truth into their hearts to lead and guide them into all Truth and causing his Grace that brings salvation to appear to all men to instruct and teach them to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps Vanities of this wicked World to rescue and save them from living in the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and help and strengthen them to return to their Obedience and live a sober righteous and godly Life to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of their Lives Which gift from God to man the Holy Scriptures plentifully testify to under various denominations as Spirit Light Word Grace Seed Leaven Anointing c. By all which we understand that Spirit or Heavenly Talent with which Mat. 25. 14 15. God hath endowed Mankind in some degree or other that he may profit with it in the improvement whereof by a diligent Co-working therewith to the answering those holy ends for which we receive it we doubt not but to be happy in rendring a good account of our Stewardship and entring finally into the Joy of our Lord. Our opposers themselves also pretend to the spirit and grace of God or else what means their praying for its assistance and those plausible fine-spun discourses of it wherewith they sometimes entertain their Auditory We Charitably hope 't is more real than only to beautify and recommend them to the hearers as what they cannot well avoid for that the Scriptures are so full of that Language and if indeed it be real why is that a fault and error in us which is so sound and ornamental in them And we think it very strange that they should apprehend any incongruity in granting this Divine Principle to be a Divine Light to the mind since its proper Office is to teach and Instruct to manifest and point to us our duty as well as to dispose and enable us to perform it and ought to be our leader and governour If the Tit. 2. 11 12. Joh. 14. 17 24. 16. 7 8 13 14. 1 Joh. 2. 27. godly admonitions and exemplary lives of good men were rightly called lights to the world surely much more properly may this whose fountain is light and does more nearly illuminate and inform the understanding and renders those effectual justly challenge that necessary and acceptable appellation If then the Grace and Spirit of God be in the hearts of men surely 't is not wholly unactive there but will be making some attempts towards accomplishing the end for which 't is placed there 't will be at times attacking the enemies and endeavouring to supplant its contrary which being holy and pure in its nature is never reconcileable to sin and evil but ever strives against it and may as men regard it be infallibly known by the nature of its efforts And we dare appeal even to all mankind whether they find not something placed in their minds and Consciences which though perhaps not regent there yet never mingles with nor Consents to their evil deeds but always remains undefiled and testifies against them and convicts reproves and Joh. 3. 20 21. Ephes 5. 13. condemns them for it and also oft-times in the cooler temper of their spirits manifests their states to them and as 't were reasons with them discovering the evil of their ways secretly calling to them to come out of it begetting desires and inclinations sometimes to seek after God and to make their peace with him Now since man in his meer natural State is Totally dead and fallen from God that he cannot as of himself think a good thought and that God only is essentially good and as that which is truly so must needs proceed from him this principle in us that ever convicts us Joh. 16. 8 13. for vice and evil whether in thought word or deed and disposeth us to consider of our latter end and oft makes Prov. 14. 13. men sigh in the midst of laughter reminding them that for those things they must give an account that draws us heaven-ward and inclines us to vertue and goodness to do to all men as we would be done unto to be just sober merciful temperate c. Must needs be something that is not of us but is pure and immaculate and of a divine nature ever aspiring and raising the mind towards its Original Whence it cannot be a Natural Light or meer light of Nature as very many would have it who yet talk of the spirit of God being in Man for 't is an undoubted truth that no agent can act beyond its own sphere and raise its object to a state more noble than it self nor produce effects of a nature more sublime Job 21. 17. Psal 18. 28. than its own Original Besides 't is very clear and evident from Scripture that the mind of man is oft lighted by a light Superiour to that of meer reason and that man by the utmost power and extent of human reason speculation though he may arrive to implicit knowledg that there is a God yet can never attain to a true spiritual and saving knowledge of God without the Concurrence of a Divine Ro. 1. 19. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Prov. 20. 27. Luk. 24. 45. Joh. 1. 9. Ephes 5. 13 14 17. and supernatural Agent For though the mind of man as a rational Being be that Capacity or Candle that is to be Lighted yet 't is Christ that must so enlighten it as to give us a true discerning of those things that appertain to him and his Kingdom and by adhering and yielding obedience to its discoveries we shall know an Accession of more Light Psal 369 Prov. 4. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 10. to the end And the Apostle speaking of what God by his spirit had revealed to them saith expresly that the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and that as none knows the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him so the things of God knows no man but the spirit of God That the natural man neither knoweth nor receiveth the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned and to that end they had received the spirit which is of God The Light of Nature is occupied about natural Objects those things that are within its own Region acting within its own proper Orb but reaches not to that knowledg of God which is life eternal except our natural powers or human capacity be illuminated by the rays of divine light 1 Cor. 1. 20. for the world by humane wisdom knows not God And Christ saith very

Knowledge 2 Pet. 3. 18. of our Lord Jesus Christ and a greater Acquaintance with that true inward Spiritual Communion and Fellowship Rev. 3. 20. with him wherein he sups with his Saints and they with him and receives Life by him who dwells in them Eph. 5. 30. and they in him as the Members are joyned to the Head and partakes of its Life and liveth by it or the Branches to the Vine which receives Joh. 15. 5. Life Vertue and Nourishment from him whereby Fruit is brought forth to the glory of God and well-pleasing to him 'T is not sufficient that we participate hereof once a Month or Quarter but as the Jews had their Manna Exod. 16. 21. fresh every Morning so ought we to receive a daily supply and renewing of strength in our inward Man by eating that Heavenly Bread that nourisheth up to Eternal Life and drinking plentifully of that Well of Living-Weter Joh. 4. 14. which in the Saints springs up to Life Eternal for as in God we live move and have our very being so is Christ the true and proper Life of the inward Man by which it truly lives to God nor can it live but by him Those that are begotten to God by the Word of Life and are born again of the Spirit are priviledged thus to feed on Christ and enjoy him which none can do that are not first quickened and made alive by him none can receive Life Sap and Vertue from him as Head and Vine that are not first joyned to him as Members and Branches of him nor is it sufficient to make People Members of Christ and give them admittance to feed on him in that they were sprinkled when Infants c. as we have already express'd though they should eat Bread and drink Wine all their days Since then we no less enjoy the Substance without the Sign why may we not omit it as either being but temporary or not of absolute necessity as well as our Opposers do that which was instituted to use their own term at the same time and with as great solemnity and greater formality and was no less positively commanded under the same pretence Why may not the same Authority absolve us from the use of this and excuse us from being chargeable with the breach of a Command of Christ as release them from washing one anothers Feet and secure Joh. 13. 4 5 8 14 15. them from the like censure As also that of the Apostles cencerning things strangled and Blood and that of James Acts 15. 20 29. Jam. 5. 14 15. anointing the Sick with Oil Why should they be thus partial Have we not good reason to conclude that if these had not been long since laid down they would have cleav'd as close to them and that had those of Baptism and Bread and Wine been then discontinued also they would be now as easie under its omission For Tradition Custom and Education makes greater impressions on Mens minds than perhaps every one may be sensible of nor is it an easie task at first to move them from those things to which they have been fastned by it Would but People wholly relinquish these Prejudices and consider it impartially 't is probable there may appear no such real difference as justly to omit the one and yet with equal reason to continue the other since 't is not that Bread that gives life to the Soul nor doth necessarily include it but that Christ may be and is received and sed on without it Nor that those can be thought to forget his Death and Sacrifice who sensibly partake of the Benefits thereof Tit. 2. 14. and pursue its Ends who are taught and assisted by him to live a godly Gal. 1. 4. righteous Life and bears about in them the Marks of the Dying of our Mat. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 15. Lord Jesus who died for all that those who live should no longer live to themselves fulfilling the desires of their minds but to him that died for them that through the power of his Resurrection Phil. 3. 10. they may mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh and have Fellowship with his Sufferings in whom his Life is made manifest neither can those who acknowledge his Death and Sacrifice and partake from time to time of this Bread and Wine in memory of it and yet are not by him redeemed from a vain Conversation and made conformable to his Death and so feed on him as to participate of that Life that comes by him in anywise escape Damnation let their Pretensions be what they will Since then God hath replenisht our Hearts with his Grace and hath not with held his heavenly Manna from us but daily owns us by his comfortable Presence to our great satisfaction under the Omission of these things supplying our Wants and Necessities as we have recourse unto him in that which ever hath access unto him having our continual Dependancy on him who enables and strengthens those of us * For we intend not to Apologize for those who tho' they may be call'd by our Name yet live loosly and walk disorderly and are Blemishes and a Grief to us which yet ought to be imputed to their Insincerity or Unwatchfulness and not to the In-sufficiency of the Prin-ci-ple they pretend to that retain our Primitive Sincerity and Integrity to lead a Sober Pious Christian Life as becomes the Gospel of Christ which is the certain Product of Spiritual Grace and forasmuch as our Opposers acknowledge it to be but an outward visible Sign and dare not say that the inward Spiritual Grace is tied to it nor that 't is of absolute necessity to Salvation with what Reason do they Unchristian us and so load us with Calumnies and Accusations on this Account using it as an Instance to blacken us and condemn in gross our whole Christian Profession principally from hence as though 't were the chief thing that constitutes a Christian and entitles him to the Benefits that come by Christ What shall we think then of perhaps more than two parts in three of their own Assembly who no more practice this than do we and yet are many of them as sober People and if we may know as Christ directs us by their Fruits are doubtless as near the Kingdom and no less in a State of Grace than are those who so exult in and value themselves upon this Performance which however it may bound and distinguish particular Societies and Communions 't is certain no Observations nor Performances short of being ruled and governed by the Spirit of Christ as Head can entitle us to a Membership in him we may make a specious Shew and carry a System of Divinity in our Heads but if he rules not our Hearts we are none of his 'T were well they were as thoughtful to fulfil all Righteousness in every respect and as zealously careful and concern'd to observe and punctually perform all the Commands