Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A69542
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Two sheets for poor families ... by Richard Baxter.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing B1441; Wing B1403; ESTC R6530
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11,669
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17
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The Second SHEET FOR Poor Families INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HOLY LIFE By Richard Baxter LONDON Printed by Robert White for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleet-street and for Nevill Simmons Book-seller in Kederminster 1665. The Second Sheet for Poor Familes INSTRUCTIONS FOR A Holy Life ALL is not done when men have begun a Religious life All Trees that blossome prove not fruitfull Colos 1.23 Hebrews 4.1 2 Pet. 2.20 1 Cor. 3. Gal. 3. 4. Matthew 13.41 18.7 and all fruit comes not to perfection Many fall off who seemed to have good beginnings And many dishonour the Name of Christ by their scandals and infirmities Many do grieve their Teachers hearts and lamentably disturb the Church of Christ by their ignorance errors self-conceitedness unruliness headiness contentiousness sidings and divisions In so much that the scandals and the fewds of Christians are the great impediment of the Conversion of the Iâ—fidel and Heathea world Phil. 3.21 Acts 20.30 by exposing Christianity to their contempt and scorn as if it were but the error of men as unholy and worldly and proud as others that can never agree among themselves And many by their passions and selfishness are a trouble to the Families and Neighbours where they live And more by their weaknesses and great distempers are snares vexations and burdens to themselves Whereas Christianity in its true constitution is a life of such Holy Light and Love Matth. 5.16 1 Pet. 3 1. 1 Pet. 2.15 1.8 2 Cor. 1.12 such Purity and Peace such fruitfulness and Heavenlyness as if it were accordingly shewed forth in the lives of Christians would command admiration and reverence from the world and do more to their conversion than swords or words alone can do And it would make Christians usefull and amiable to each other and their lâ—ves a feast and pleasure to themselves I hope it may prove some help to these excellent ends and to the securing mens salvation if in a few sound experienced Directions I open to you the Duties of a Christian life I. Keep still the true form of Christian Doctrine Desire and Duty orderly printed on your mâ—nds 2 Tim. 1.13 3.7 Heb. 5.12 Phil. 1.9 Rom. 15.14 that is Understand it clearly and distinctly and remember it I mean the great points of Religâ—on contained in Catechismes you may still gâ—ow in the clearer understanding of your Catechâ—smes if you live an hâ—ndred years Let not the words only but the matter be as familiar in your minds as the rooms of your house are Such â—olid knowledge will establish you against seduction and unbelief Eph. 4.13 14. Colosâ— 1.9 2.3 3.10 1 Tim. 6.4 and will be still within you a ready help for every Graâ—e and every duty as the skill of an Artificer is for his work And for want of this when you come among Infidels or Hereticks their reasonings may seem unanswerable to you and shake if not overthâ—ow your saâ—th And you will easily erre in â—esser poâ—â—â— and trouble the Church with your dreams and wranglings This is the calamity of many Professors that while they will be most censorious Judges in every controversie about Church-matters they know not well the Doctrine of the Catechâ—sm II. Live day'y by faith on Jesus Christ as the Mediator between God and you Iohn 17.3 Ephes 3.17 18. Matth. 28.19 Eph. 1.22 23. 4.6.16 Romans 5. 2 Cor. 12.9 Iohn 16.33 1 Iohn 5.4 Heb. 4 14.16 Col. 3 3 4. Acts 7.59 Being well grounded in the Belief of the Gospel and understanding Châ—ists Office make use of him still in all your wants Think on the Fatherly Love of God as coming to you through him alone and of the Spirit as given by Him your Head and of the Covenant of Grace as enacted and sealed by him and of the Ministery as sent by him and of all time and helps and hope as procured and given by him When you think of sin and infirmity and temptations think also of his sufficient pardoning justifying and victorious grace When you think of the world the flesh and the Devil think how he overcometh them Let his doctrine and the pattern of his most perfect life be alwayes before you as your Rule In all your doubts and fears and wants go to Him in the Spirit and to the Father by Him and Him alone Take him as the root of your life and mercies and Live as upon him and by his life And when you die resign your souls to Him that they may be with Him where he is and see his Glory To live on Christ and use Him in every want and address to God is more then a General consufed believing in him III. So Believe in the Holy Ghost as to Live and work by Him as the Body doth by the soul You are not Baptised into his name in Vain Gal. 5.16.25 Matth. 28.19 Iohn 16.13 Heb. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 8.9.13 Iohn 3.5 6. But too few understand the sense and reason of it The Spirit is sent by Christ for two great works 1. To the Apostles and Prophets to inspire them infallibly to preach the Gospel and confirm it by miracles and leave it on record for following ages in the Holy Scriptures 2. To all his members to illuminate and sanctifie them to believe and obey this Sacred Doctrine beside his common guift to many to understand and preach it The Spirit having first indited the Gospel doth by it first Regenerate and after Govern all true Believers He is not now given us for the revealing of new doctrines but to understand and obey the doctrine revealed and sealed by him long ago 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Iude 19 20. Ezech. 36.27 Isa 44.3 Rom. 8.1.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Zech. 14.20 As the Sun doth by its sweet and secret influence both give and cherish the natural life of things Sensitive and Vegetative so doth Christ by hâ—s Spirit our spiritual life As you do no work but by your natural life you should do none but by your spiritual life you must not only Believe and Love and pray by it but manage all your Callings by it For Holiness to the Lord must be written upon all All things are sanctified to you because you being sanctified to God devote all to Him and use all for Him and therefore must do all in the strength and conduct of the Spirit IV. Live wholly upon GOD as All in All As the first Efficient principal Dirigent Rom. 11.36 1 Cor. 10.31 2 Cor. 5 7 8. â— Iohn 3.1 Rom. 5.1 2 3. Matth. 22.37 Ephes 1.6 2 Cor. 5.19 Gal. 4.4 5 6. and Final Cause of all things Let Faith Hope and Love be daily feeding on Him Let Our Father which art in Heaven be first inscribed on your hearts that he may seem most amiable to you and you may boldly Trust him and filial Love may be the spring of duty Make use of the Son and Spirit to lead you