Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	apostle_n	call_v	holy_a	5,378	5	4.9588	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45174	Cheirothesia, or, A confirmation of the apostolicall confirmation of children setting forth the divine ground, end, and use of that too much neglected institvtion, and now published as an excellent expedient to truth and peace / by Jos. Hall ...	Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.	1651 (1651)	Wing H372A; ESTC R40542	23,459	98

effect hath long ceased shall we therefore say that Faith is vain and forcelesse farre be it from us so to slaunder that Divine grace which still and ever exercises a more excellent power in the Believer in that it quickneth him to a new life according to that of the Prophet The just shall live by Faith Although then we presume not to affect the working of wonders by the imposing of our handsupon the heads of the baptized yet why should we not dare to hope that the solemn laying on of approved hands seconded by our fervent prayers shall help to work an increase of grace in the hearts of capable Receivers Now if any man shall think fit to match this imposition of hands upon the baptized with the anointing the sick with oyl mentioned by the Apostle which being both used and required in the Primitive times had doubtlesse a soveraign effect but now the power of healing being lost is no better then a purposelesse and vain ceremonie let him know there is a great difference to be put betwixt both these that oyl was professedly intended and used for a bodily cure onely receiving its vertue from a power above that of nature and therefore justly ranged amongst those primtive miracles which continued not Ages in the Church whereas the imposition of hands was directed to Spirituall ends and such as were of eternall use and benefit to which may be added that the doctrine of anointing with oyl had never the honour to be numbred amongst Christian principles which yet is yeilded to the imposition of hands by the great Herald of the Church Sect. 7. Had the Apostle onely by the way so let fall the mention of imposition of hands that no further noise had been afterwards made of it in the Church of Christ it might perhaps have been supposed some occasionall ceremony not intended for perpetuity but now when we find the continuation of both the precept and practice in the immediately-succeeding times deducing it self through all the ages of the Church though lateward not without some taint of superstitious interspersions which are easily wip'd away we have reason to think it was never distin'd to an abrogation Clemens the fellow-labourer to the Apostles in that Epistle which he writes to his Disciples Julius and Julianus makes an honourable commendation of it to all Christians charging them to hasten both their Baptisme and Confirmation by reason of the great uncertainty of the time of their dissolution attributing to it the conveyance of the seven-fold grace of the Holy Spirit to the receiver I may not conceal that the credit of this Epistle amongst the rest hath undergone question which indeed none of his letters have escaped as is confessed by Eusebius save onely that to the Corinthians now lately published but not to stand upon Turrianus his terms of Apologie I must needs say this one carries simplicity in the face of it passing under no other style then of Clemens Bishop of the city of Rome and that if the authority of it be suspected yet the age cannot so as if not authenticall yet it is not denyed to be exceeding ancient That story is famous which is reported by Eusebius from Clemens of Alexandria concerning the young man whom Saint Iohn the Apostle after his return from Pathmos delivered and doubly recommended to the carefull custody of a grave Bishop under a vehement adjuration the Bishop saith that ancient and unquestionable Author received the young man to his charge trained him up in his house and at last * christned him and after that proceeded yet to such height of diligent observance of him as that for a singular preservative he added moreover to him the obsignation with the seal of the Lord to wit his Confirmation who yet proving afterward miserably debauched was by the Apostle graciously reclaimed Not to take in our way the full testimonies of Dennis the Areopagite and Origen that of Tertullian is most clear the flesh is over-shadowed with the imposition of the hand that the soul may be illightned by the spirit And elsewhere Then is the hand laid on by that benediction calling in and inviting the Holy Ghost How frequent his Scholar the blessed Martyr Cyprian is in the report of this practice no man that hath turn'd over his Epistles can be ignorant And that no man may say these if hundreds more such are but single witnesses the Councell of Arles in the time of Constantine the great consisting as Binius numbers them of two hundred or as Ado in his Chronicle of six hundred Bishops ordaines That if any shall return to the Church from their former heresie they shall be examined concerning the Articles of their Creed and if it be found that they have been baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost hands shall be onely laid upon them that they may receive the Holy Ghost But to what purpose should I presse my Reader with throngs of witnesses when all those testimonies which are mis-alledged by Romish Authors whether of Councels or Fathers or Doctors to prove their Confirmation a Sacrament yet cannot be denyed thus much validity as to prove there hath ever been a confirmation If they have uniustly contended to impose a wrong title upon the imposition of hands yet it is no lesse clear that there was imposition then that there were hands to be imposed and if they have palpably corrupted that wholsom institution with the inter-mixtures of their own mis-becomming devises this can be no more prejudice to the true Originall purity of it then it can derogate from a beautifull face that it was once besmear'd with a foul liniment wipe off the filth and the face is still it self It is true that some of their additionall Ceremonies came in betimes but late enough to disprove their pedegree from any Apostolique authority others of them as clapping on the cheek the crosse of the thumb treading on the toe filleting the forehead for seven dayes and the like may justly seem to be no lesse vain then new and to serve onely to confirme us in the lightnesse and indiscretion of their founders Casting aside therefore all those fopperies wherewith time and weak Superstition have clogged this Holy Ordinance Let us look at it in that native and thereupon most comely simplicity wherein it passed from the hands of the blessed Apostles and in that plaine and holy dresse wherein they by the guidance of the good Spirit of God wherewith they were inspired left it to the entertainment of the ensuing world Sect. 8. That our Saviour laid his sacred hands on the Children that were brought unto him in way of benediction and that his Apostles laid their hands on Persons that had been Baptized for conferring on them the Holy Ghost it is most evident neither can it be doubted but that their Successours in the Pastoral Charge of the Church laid their hands