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	scripture_n	word_n	6,515	5	4.2341	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86433	The growth and spreading of hæresie. Set forth in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons, on the 10th. day of March, being the day of their publike fast and humiliation for the growth of hæresie. / By Thomas Hodges, Minister of Gods Word, at Kensington. Published by order of the House of Commons.	Hodges, Thomas, 1599 or 1600-1672.	1647 (1647)	Wing H2315; Thomason E379_1; ESTC R201396	42,374	73

means left to them to evade a most desperate and utter ruine Thus they having the repute of faire and conscientious Dealers could not want Customers who with too greedy a mind would receive and take upon trust their Errors But to close this There are many likewise who have not only ventured but suffered for Religion whereby they have growne in estimation with well-meaning pious people I might give many instances in the Primitive times hereof but I omit them take only an example of latter dayes Hist David George David George at first a citizen of Delph was cast into prison bored through the tongue for speaking against and withstanding Popish idolatry by which he came to be in high esteem with the godly yet afterward became one of the worst and most blasphemous Haereticks in any age of the Church I have read of asserting the Scriptures yea those of the Apostles were lame childish and ineffectuall for the understanding of the things of God that he was greater then Christ in the flesh c. But by reason of his sufferings for truth in former times he was in so great repute that he easily seduced many unstable souls to become of his Opinions Reas 2 2. There is much to be attributed to the way and manner of dispencing of these pernicious Errors (z) Eph. 4.14 They want not their guiles and arts to insnare poor souls They study the persons and wait their opportunity to deceive (a) Rom. 16.18 They use fair speeches to beguile the hearts of the simple professions of love and charity To be eyes to the blind feet to the lame guides to the erring Brother say they (b) Mat. 7.4 let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye The wolf layes the sheep when he seizeth on him upon his back gently as if he meant but only to ease him whereas indeed his purpose is to take his opportunity that he may devoure him So for all the sheeps cloathing yet are seducers inwardly but (c) Mat. 7.15 ravening wolves And because they conceive to lay open and rebuke the faults of others is no small means to conceal their own and render themselves unsuspected to those they deale with Therefore how do they curiously pry into the faults of others and like flesh flies passing over what 's sound and right light only on what 's sore and putrid in them (d) Flavian epist ad Leon. Pap. Eutyches confutes Nestorius that he might gain repute to himself and false opinion Neither want they vehemency and ejulation confidence boldnesse and resolution being men of a (e) 1 Tim. 4.1 seared conscience and brazen forehead that cannot blush To set their Errors home and to commend them the better to those they intend to make their disciples they practise the old trick of one of the prime persons of their order I mean Simon Magus who to gain the greater repute of himself and credit to his blasphemies perswaded the poor Samaritans (f) Act. 8.9 10. that he was somebody no lesse then the mighty power of God which testimony of his being too easily believed by those poor creatures gaind the attention respect of smal and great in that place to him After him (g) Jactabat sacram Scripturam se solum primum intelligece Vinc. Lyr. c. 42 Nestorius trod in his steps of pride boasting That he alone knew the meaning of the Scriptures and was the first that rightly understood them And this hath been from time to time the strain of these Seducers to cast out (h) 2 Pet. 1.18 Jude 26. swelling words of vanity whereby they gained on weak mindes sufficiently who use to judge of doctrines rather by the conceit they have of the person that vents them then by their conformity to the Word of truth So Eunomius likewise boasted That he knew God with the same knowledge wherewithall God knew himself They pretend to high (i) Col. 2.18 mysteries and depths being vainly puft up in their carnal minds intruding themselvs into things they understand not have answerably their canting language which may rather amaze their auditors and lead them into mists of darknesse and giddinesse then into the least true notion of heavenly truth They leave not here but that their Authority may be beyond all questioning (k) Euseb hist eccl l. 5. c. 25. They boast of the prescriptions of Apostles and the prime Pillars of Christianity So did the Haereticks of old and the Papists still to this day with great impudencie but scarce so much as any colour of truth except it be fetcht out of spurious writings and legends falsly attributed to those holy men and nothing agreeing with their genuine writings But because Divine testimony is of highest authority and most infallible therefore they will rather father blasphemously their Errors on the Spirit of truth then not gain belief (l) 2 Pet. 3.16 either wracking or wresting his Word to their purpose abusing the Scriptures or else they will boast if no warrant so much as seemingly probable can be found in His book for their unworthy assertions and practises that they have their direction from immediate Revelation and Inspiration as the Montanists of old and not long since John of Leyden and his followers at Munster for their abominable doctrine and lothsome courses 3. The matter they broach is no small cause and reason of their so much prevailing with multitudes For perhaps it is something New such with which they have not had the least acquaintance before now naturally men have (m) 2 Tim. 4.5 itching eares are true (n) Act. 17.21 Athenians greedy of new things They are quickly weary of old Truths because they never saw their beauty nor tasted their sweetnesse by an intuitive knowledge for if they had they would have found such pleasure and profit in them as not to have been at all weary of them Truths beauty alwayes lasting as fresh as at her first appearance to us and alway springing gloriously in greenesse and pleasant fruits not capable of being slighted by the soul that knows her But what if as it fals out too often these new Truths prove but old Errors new varnisht over As in these giddy times wherein we live who would not almost give credit to that old Pythagorean fable of mens souls passing when they die into other bodies There are some do so much resemble Arrius Donatus the Gnosticks and other ancient Haereticks that were we not assured the same Power of darknesse that acted the former still living is vigorous in these also to the same ends and purposes or else we might suppose the souls of the former haereticks had taken up the bodies of the latter for their dwellings And many times I must needs confesse it is not so much new matter as a new dresse in new-found language and unintelligible words when they most boast of new Lights Doctrines which Paul * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

that neither this (o) 1 Cor. 5.6 7. leaven for want of casting out may soure the lump nor (p) Heb 12.15 this root of bitternesse so spread by being amongst the professors of verity as that many should be perverted thereby nor they be partakers of Seducers sins by an unrighteous silence of unjust with-holding that Ordinance of GOD which possibly may tend to the making even the seducer sensible of his crime by Gods blessing and concurrence but however it is like to put a stand to their madnesse make others (q) 1 Tim. 5.20 fear and be very cautious how either they receive their doctrine whom the Church of Christ declares deceivers or run their course which may bring them into the same condemnation with these their seducing guides But however the Ministers of Christ have discharged their duty and may have much peace and comfort therein whatever the event and issue thereof prove to be There is another servant whom Christ hath intrusted in this great businesse and that is the Magistrate Although there be (r) Stapleton in Relect. controv 2. quest 5. art 1. p. 253. Bellarm. l. 1. de R. P. cap. 7. Tannerus Becanus cum multis aliis some that would limit and restrain his power to secular affairs yet is this doctrine so little answerable either to the practise of most pious (s) 1 Chron. 23. 1 Chr. 31. 2 King 23. Vos estis episcopi in ecclesia ego extra ecclesiam seu templure episcopus à Deo sum constitutus Euseb Governours to the opinion of (t) Aug. epist 50. ad Bonif. ep 48 ad Vincent l. 3. cont Cresc gram c. 51. Leo epist 9. ad Theodos c. Antiquity or to (u) Deut. 17.18 cū 2 King 11.12 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Rom. 13.1 c. Esa 49.23 Scripture verity that were not these men abundantly ignorant or exceedingly impudent they would never maintain an opinion so plainly opposite to truth as this is But alas here is the sad root of this misery That either the Ministers are (x) Isa 56.10 ignorant and unable to maintain the truth confute and stop the mouths of gainsayers or they are wicked and scandalous like (y) 1 Sam. 2.13 c. Elies so●● whose prophane and ungodly courses lose all repute to the Truth making the things of God by those who measure truth by the lives and carriages of them that maintain it to be abandoned and abhorred If neither of these yet perhaps they are (z) Rev. 2.20 carelesse negligent inadvertent nothing heeding how Truth thrives or how Error spreads as if to them it were of very small or no concernment In point of benefit they are greedy dogs zealous enough for their profit (a) Isa 56.11 looking after that from every quarter but in point of duty they want heat (b) Rev. 3.15 the fire of zeal for Gods glory is not in them therefore they love their ease to sleep slumber and take their rest whereby they give not only an opportunity to the Evil one to sow his tares but to those tares to take root and prosper Or lastly They are magisteriall and proud testy and froward whereas they ought to be (c) Gal. 6.1 lowly and meek (d) 2 Tim. 2● 24 25. gentle towards all apt to teach waiting with patience but this their course and carriage is no small means to alienate poor seduced souls from the truth making them believe that truth hath but small strength of reason and wisdome to support it and therefore stands in need of the weak and loathsome props of Pride and passion Thus verity is disgraced But many times the Minister may do his duty and yet by reason of the Magistrates miscarriage these Haeresies may flourish because perhaps they have conquered himself Now (e) Psal 11.3 if the foundations be removed what then can the righteous do O how sad was the Churches condition when Emperours Kings and Governours were infected with the Arrian haeresie when Arrianisme (e) Vincent Lyr. cont haeres like a hellish fury laid hold on the Throne it self the People imitating and conforming to their Princes judgement and manners were quickly and easily infected with it Or suppose they be not tainted themselves yet if they be irreligious and profane who make as slight of differences in Religion as * Act. 25.19 20. Festus did in the businesse of Paul Or timorous to displease of a low and inferior spirit slothfull to erract or execute according to the demerit of the Error or the Haeretick how can it from such be expected either that Truth should be righted or a stop put to the madnesse of people by them 5. This is too often occasioned through the various differences in Judgement about things not much material that are amongst different Ministers and Professors of Piety and Religion whereby they are so divided in affection and exasperated against each other that their bitter words and carriages too often discover that fire of hell which burns within though at the same time they agree in fundamentals and things that are absolutely necessary to eternall happinesse There are no few examples of this might be given in Primitive times * Euseb hist eccl l. 5 c. 21 c as about the time of Easter maintained with no small heat and such like petty differences breaking forth by degrees into horrid flames The like hath too much happened in the Church of Christ in latter times The Ministers and Professors of Religion not long since in this Island were like a goodly Mirrour all of one peece glorious in truth and piety by reason of the bright beams of the Sunne of Righteousnesse that Fountain of true light and holinesse shining on them But oh how are they broken all to shivers and who can expresse the sad consequents of their dissentions The Profane are detetred from looking towards Religion because they conceive it to be a thing of so great uncertainty that it will be impossible for them to attain to any assurance of what is truth seeing such persons of parts and piety cannot agree about it The weak contrary to the Apostles (f) Rom. 14.1 canon being received to doubtfull disputations or hearing so much of differences amongst those that are reckoned more then ordinary in Religion lie down in despondencie of spirit and are subjected to sad temptations of misbelief and error That which (g) Heb. 12.13 halts in stead of being healed is clean turn'd out of the way of truth The strong are grieved and the Devil laughs to see his work go forward his kingdom increase his tares so readily entertained by the means of those whom he lookt upon as his most mortall enemies 6. All the former causes of the growth of haeresie would not be effectually operative were it not that Peoples hearts are like a prepared soile ready to entertain these damnable errors Look into their minds they are filled with darknesse how then

destroying Errors with Truths (d) Act 19 27 c. 35. ornaments attributing to them as Numa and other deceivers to their Lawes the title of Divine oracles (e) Euseb eccl hist l. 4. c. 6. Depths of wisdome Rules of piety Saving truths High and mystical excellencies Thus did Saturninus and divers others He that would satisfie himself farther concerning these particulars may take a view of Porphyrie's railing books against the Christians or later horrid Pamphlets exceeding his in blasphemy as that De tribus Impostoribus mundi Popish railing libels Haeretical writings as that of Paul Best The Mad-mans Divinity and such like stuffe And thus briefly you see the truth of this second particular viz. The course usage Religion meets with at the hands of some in the world It is evil-spoken of or blasphemed But how comes this to pass Indeed it is mens basenesse and prophanesse so to do but yet there is seeming cause for it which the Text holds forth in those words By reason of whom i.e. of such as are seduced Which is the third and last Particular of this second generall Part. A main cause and root of wicked mens blaspheming or speaking evil of Religion is the following of Seducers by multitudes who pretend to Truth yet imbrace their pernicious wayes and errors Thus was in the Primitive times the people who bare the name of Christians yet being seduced profest such doctrine as could no way agree with the Christian verity and walked in an answerable practise to their erroneous tenets raised (f) Euseb l. 4. hist. eccl c. 7. no smal persecutions against the Church For when the profane atheistical spirits of the world took notice in those people either of their monstrous and absurd opinions as that of (g) Epophan haeres 37. Aug. de haeres the Ophites who worshipped the Serpent that seduced Eve believing it was Christ and the (h) Epiph. haer 38. Aug. de haer Cainites who honoured Cain as their father (i) Euseb hist eccl l. 3. c. 26. Epiph. haeres 21 25. highly esteeming Esau Chore Dathan Abiran and Judas c. Their beastly tenets as that of the Nicholaitans concerning community of wives or of the Simonians concerning liberty to all licentiousnesse Which when they take notice how contrary and opposite to Justice Order Modesty such assertions are this makes them taxe Religion as the Devils product carrying souls headlong to eternall ruine Or else they look upon their inconstancy levity frequently shifting opinions and changing Sects (k) Mat. 11.7 like reeds shaken to and fro or empty (l) Jude 12. clouds carried hither and thither by every wind As (m) Socr. schol hist eccl l. 3 c. 11. Eccebolius the Sophist who in Constantines time was a Christian in Julians a Pagan after his death a Professor of Christianity again and hath this blurre left on him That he was constant in his unconstancie to his death How many such weather-cocks are there in the world who turn with every wind conforming themselves to the time not truth Well hereby worldly men charge Truth with fallibility and uncertainty Or else they take notice of their egregious Pride and Censoriousnesse (n) Hermogenes erat natura turbulentus c. Tertul. Jam. 3.17 morosity and selfishnesse stiling their own Conventicles the Elect of God the Spouse of Christ the only pure and undefiled one rejecting all others as polluted creatures Reprobates fuel for hell and the like as the (o) Euseb hist eccl l. 6. c. 42. Novatians of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who stiled themselves the Pure ones and divers other Haereticks both in former and later times I might instance in This makes them tax Religion with pride unmannerlinesse with self-seeking and uncharitablenesse c. And lastly Their divisions and differences that were amongst them which made Pagans take notice that (p) Amb. in 2 Tim. 2.20 there were many Sects and Factions amongst the Christians and hence conclude against the Religion it self as a thing breeding and nourishing divisions and distempers But give me leave to tell you their mistake may be taken notice of to arise from these two things Either first their not distinguishing between Truth and Haeresie as if they were one and the same seed producing the same fruit in all whom they possest Thus they speak evil of the things they (q) 2 Pet. 2.12 understand not as the Apostle speaks Or secondly Their not putting a difference between the Orthodox and Heterodox professors of Religion Which error in the (r) Euseb hist eccl l. 4. c 7. Primitive time was no smal occasion of slanders cast upon the Christians and of sad persecutions raised against them And hence it was that those Primitive fathers were so much put upon it to pen Pemonstrances Confessions of faith Apologies and Confutations of Haeretical tenets that they might vindicate Religion and cleer the Church of Christ from those calumnies and false aspersions that were occasioned by their words and courses who were seduced by heterodox opinions Vse And is not here new cause of mourning to hear Truth blasphemed This is that which sads the spirits of good men It is a day of trouble to them because a day of (s) Esa● 37 3. blasphemy And that too frequently procured by them who pretend to more light piety and religion then others do So that Christ may well take up those words in the (t) Zach. 13.6 Prophet I am wounded in the house of my friend for such they are in pretence though in reality enemies What pious spirit can chuse but grieve to see the Daughter of heaven reproached the Jewel betrusted with the Saints abused the generall and onely true Medicine of soules contemned the Mirrour of Heaven spet upon the Image of Gods mind most despitefully used To hear Innocency charged with guilt Simplicity with deceit Sincerity with falshood Antiquity with novelty Light called darknesse Divine called humane nay diabolical Who can abstain from tears What have we I beseech you to leave Posterity so precious as this Way of Truth If that be gone the (u) 1 Sam. 3. glory is departed from Israel and farewell all Have we received it from our ancestors in lustre and purity and is it not grievous to us that in our time it should be so mangled and defaced that our children after us except it be timely prevented will scarce be able to distinguish 'twixt it and Error Why did the valiant Martyrs shed their precious blood but to maintain this way of truth shall we lose and let it go at so cheap a rate and not mourne for it (w) Esa 36 22 37 1. The Jewes of old when they heard blasphemy used to rend their cloaths to testifie the inward rending of their hearts Can ours be whole when the foolish people so much defame Gods truth and blaspheme his (x) Psal 74.18 name Well this I am sure of That by

this morris-dance of Haereticks Gods truth is rendred in the opinion of carnal men as a thing of so much uncertainty vanity and deformity that those who otherwise would imbrace it are kept back like that Indian King from baptisme by beholding the Spaniards ungodly oppressing courses The weak are scandalized and laid open to temptations (y) Mat. 18.6 Mark 9.42 Luk. 17.2 but woe to them that offend those little ones that believe in Christ it were better for them that a milstone were hang'd about their necks and they were cast into the bottom of the sea The strong (z) 2 Sam. 2.23 like the army stand at a gaze as when Hasael lay dead before them and are retarded in stead of making progres to cleanse these (a) Pausan l. 5. Augean stables purge out this leven which else would leven the lump their righteous soules are vexed to see Religion made a coat for the Moon or a Shipmans hose to serve all turns and purposes The prophane are heartned against this way of truth and their mouths wide-opened in scorns scoms and reproches of it These things moved the blessed Apostle to that severe desire (b) Gal. 5.12 I would saith he they were cut off that trouble you And lastly God himself is provoked to wrath and indignation For if (c) Cedr●● p. 168. Theodosius the Emperor was so much offended with the people of Antioch for abusing the Statue of his Empresse Placilla that he devoted the place to ruine and themselves to slavery what think you will become of those that abuse Religion then which there is not a more excellent Image of Himselfe in heaven or earth And is not here cause to mourn Vse 2 Are not you a people whom God hath hedged in from the large Common of the world for a part of his own Peculiar You are famous in your pious Progenitors who by their pleadings writings sufferings have stood like mighty bulwarks against Truths enemies Are you not renowned in your Atchievements glorious for Deliverances envied for Mercies And what shall all this set in a dark night of Error and render you infamous to Posterity Shall famous England become an Amsterdam of Mixtures an Island of Monsters Hath God done so much for you and will you so ill requite him in exposing his Truth to scorn Do you not know the charge of Papists against the Protestant truth because of Divisions and Errors we formerly have been able to retort this by bidding them look at home and must we now be silent Beloved were it some new and not an ordinary tryal that where (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar hom 17. Truth is the devil seeks to extinguish or at least ecclipse its glory by setting up Error to cloud it or at least to conflict with it and disturb Truths quiet possession were this I say some strange and uncouth thing it were the more tolerable to be ensnared by it But when 't is a thing so ordinary that lesse or more the Devils malice in every age of the Church hath been sufficiently discovered against the Truth nay God hath permitted such blasts and storms to arise for to put his people upon a stricter enquiry after truths confines and that the light chaffe and weighty wheat the chaste soule and unchaste fickle spirit may be (e) Deut. 13.3 distinguished discovered and difference put between them And now when it is a thing so common to be conquered by it what will it argue at the best but great inadvertencie and heedlesnes of spirit in you and render you unexcusable before Gods tribunal Therefore I beseech you (f) Eph. 6.10 be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (g) 1 Cor. 16.13 Quit your selves like men (h) Jude 3. Contend earnestly for the faith alwayes remembring that speech of (i) Fraus malitia haereticorum vel dolenda est tanquam hominū vel cavenda est quam haereticarum vel irridenda tanquā imperitorum superborum Aug. cont Adric. Augustine The fraud and malice of haereticks is either to be bewailed because they are men or taken heed of and avoided because they are Haereticks or to be laught at because they are either unskilfull and foolish or else proud lofty but alwayes to be shunned and avoided as the means way of everlasting ruine Q. What may some say should we do that we may escape their Seducements A. 1. Get your minds furnished with saving wholsome fundamental principles of Religion out of Truths record the Word of God for unballased ships are soon oreset empty clouds whist to and fro by every blast chaffe carried hither and thither with every breath of wind and unfurnished unprincipled souls with heavenly truth are easily like children for want of knowledge seduced and plunged in error (k) Humana caecitas ad deum non dirigit viam nisi ipse lucernam legis ostendat c. Cyp. ser 5. de laps Col. 3.16 Therefore let the Word of Christ dwell plentifully in you in all knowledge and spirituall understanding What is a Goldsmith without his Touchstone or a Carpenter without his Rule or a Christian without the Word 2. Rest not in a bare literal knowledge without the sealing light of Gods spirit affecting your souls with a proportionable love and liking to what is discovered in his Word unto you for what we find not pleasure profit or some reall worth and benefit in we are easily inticed and prevailed with to let it go but if once heavenly truths unload their treasures of glory into our souls so that we find and feel their vertue and influence in our spirits beams of light enlightning (l) Psal 15.7 delighting and making glorious our minds (m) 1 Cor. 10.5 Subduing power throwing down Satans forts in our hearts (n) 2 Cor. 3. ult transforming grace changing the whole man into the Lords image Conscience comforted rectified sanctified in a word the soul (o) Eph. 3.19 filled with Gods fulnesse It begets so great an assurance in the spirit of Religious verity and so great an affection towards it because of its goodnesse that Seducers lose their labour and are fruitlesse in their endeavours to rob such souls of Truth because they know its reall worth and that there is nothing so good to them in exchange for which they should barter and let it go Only take care to grow and increase in this sweet (p) Col. 1.2.2 Experimentall knowledge and most inward acquaintance with the way of truth for (q) Nemo putet bonos posse de ecclesia discedere Triticum non rapit ventus nec arborem solida radice fundatam procella subvertit Inanes paleae tempestate jactantur invalidae arbores turbinis incursione evertuntur Cyp. tract 3. de simpl praelat thereby you shall find your selves established and strongly rooted in the same so that when others shall discover their levity and in time of temptation shall