Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	bear_v	enter_v	kingdom_n	5,396	5	6.1932	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51252	A treatise shewing the liberty and bondage of the will of man, or, A treatise shewing the bondage of the will of man by nature, and the liberty thereof by grace	Moore, Thomas, Senior.	1652 (1652)	Wing M2594A; ESTC R41715	32,714	48

it would also free from the conceits of harshness and contradictions in the sayings of the Gospel and from murmuring against God all which the contrary opinion lead to But I have yet heard some say that this opinion of Gods extending such grace to natural men that they might believe it doth magnifie some men as better than others that is such as by such light and means are brought in to believe when others by the same were not and to this I answer that some are brought in by such means as others are not and that it is the fault of them which are not and by that fault they become worse is true else how shall that be righteous judgement when one shall be produced against another in judgement Matth. 10.15 and 11.22 and 12.41 42. And that he that believes is better than he that did not is true but that any betterness in himself made him a believer is false but by grace he is better in believing this may be illustrated by a comparision though all are too scant for spiritual things suppose two men by their own folly become blinde deaf dumb and so dead here is both their sin and their misery If one carry good things to them to see hear c. They are both alike unworthy and unable but if one be helpt with sight hearing c. and the other not and then both called if he that hath his sight c. behold not it is his sin but the other it is not his sin but his misery if both have sight hearing c. given here is grace alike to alike unworthy if both be called and they heed not to see hear c. both are faulty alike but now if the call be continued and greater discovery of good things made and by the excellencie of the grace and riches disovered one be drawn to behold and minde that he seeth and heareth and so come to receive those free offers and the other willingly close his eyes and stop his ears and so refuse and be punished here is free grace to the one that deserved no more than the other yea grace more obliging him still and here is equal and just punishment to the other who is willingly now become worse so that man is no way exalted in this and indeed when and whosoever God hardens blindes and reprobates he doth it equally in righteousness judicially and justly when and after he hath given eyes and ears to see and hear and touched the heart and then called and they closed their eyes and ears and hardened their hearts till God left them as is shewn in opening the particulars of the truth affirmed in all which it appears to tend to the abasing of man by nature and the glorifying Gods grace But yet to clear the business I shall endeavour to answer some scruples and objections that some think the Scripture occasions to be made against it 1 Cor. 2.9 14. Eye hath not seen c. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God c. Neither can he know them Ans This is wholly and verily true and there is nothing in the affirmation that doth so much as seem to unsay any part or word of these verses for here is not exprest those things that God hath done for the sons of men in creating of them righteous in giving his Son to dye for them when fallen in promiseing remission of sins to such as repent and believe in his Son in calling and using means that men might repent and believe in stretching out his hand by his Spirit working in them that they might believe and promising great happiness to them belie●ing these are the things to be set before all men and God gives them eyes that they might see in discoverie they do see though they will not see that is use their sight Matth. 13.14 15. And it is not the will of God though the Gospel and grace of God and house of God be shewn them if they be not by that sight and grace seen humbled and converted that they should see within the excellencies of the house and kingdom of God Ezek. 43.10 11. the Prophet must first shew the house to the children of Israel that they may be ashamed and repent c. and if by that sight they be ashamed then shew them the excellencies c. And so our Saviour saith Except a man be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into and so not see the the kingdom of God in the excellencies thereof and it is no where affirmed that the natural man hath given him while he remains natural either discerning or freedom of will to chuse such supernatural and spiritual things as these yea the believers discerning of these is but in a little measure in respect of what is in them they being such things as are not yet fully given to them by way of possession but prepared and laid up for so to be waited for by those that love and wait for Jesus as 1 John 3.1 2. T it 2.13 All which agreeth with and confirmeth what I have affirmed Joh. 15.4 5. without me ye can do nothing Ans This is also very true and there is nothing in what I have affirmed cross to this for all that which is given into the minde or will of a natural man to fit him to attend and yield to those means Christ useth to him for good is affirmed to be the work of his own grace and so this saying is a caveat to humble them and that they may not think to help themselves by the mountain he hath made them but knowing their imbecility use rightly what they have to abide still looking to him and waiting on him to perfect all that concerns them and so receiving and yielding up still to his instructions and motions that so his word may abide in them and they in this grace of his suitable to that is said Rom. 10 8 9 10. with 1 John 3.5 Though they here spoken to were more than meer natural men to whom yet even this caveat and instruction was needfull so that this agreeth with that I have affirmed instructeth and presseth to the right use thereof Rom. 9.16 It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Ans A heavenly truth and blessed instruction and nothing in it crossing any thing in the affirmation I have made and set down the people of whom Moses spake and for whom he interceded God had shewed mercie to already saved them out of Egypt and through the sea and set his promises before them of bringing them into Canaan and they had heard his voice seen his miracles c. And God had done as much for them as I have affirmed done to and in natural men and because they continued not believing his word and setting their hearts to his wonders shewn as they ought and might therefore God gave them not that which