Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A81101
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The Christian laver. Or, a discourse opening the nature of participation with, and demonstrating the necessity of purification by Christ By T. Cruso.
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Cruso, Timothy, 1656?-1697.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing C7434; ESTC R225717
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25,680
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95
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that there is any cleansing force or power in the meer Letter of the Scriptures or in the sound of Preaching but as it is a proper means to deal with reasonable Creatures by therefore chosen by Christ's Infinite Wisdom and as it is accompanied with the mighty workings of the Eternal Spirit 2. Our washing is perform'd Instrumentally by his Providences especially by Afflictive ones For indeed Prosperity does oftner sully and pollute than help to make us clean It is the Mercy and Goodness of Christ to order our troubles so that they shall not overwhelm and yet that they shall purge us Psal 32.6 Surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto us but so much as will nappily tend to wash away our filth shall not be kept back from us Dan. 11.35 Some of them of understanding says the Prophet shall fall v. 33. viz. by the sword and flame and captivity and spoil as we may gather from what goes before to try them and to purge and to make them white Sufferings will have no such success upon Reprobates indeed the wicked will do wickedly still c. 12.10 and not understand they will continue sinning and perhaps sin more 2 Chro. 28.22 like Ahaz in the time of their distress Swine if plung'd never so oft into the water will retain their filthy Nature and return again after all to wallow in the mire But Afflictions to all the Elect of God are sanctified means for the removal of Sin and increase of Grace though they are not the chastisements of our peace yet they have a tendency to make us partakers of Gods Holiness They do not purchase our Reconciliation but they promote our Sanctification The Third thing is to prove the Necessity of this washing in order to our being Partakers with Christ Now though that washing by Christ which referrs to Justification be absolutely necessary to our Participation with him for every one to whom the satisfaction of Christ is not applied must needs be in an unpardoned state and every one in such a state must needs be separated from Christ both here and for ever He glorifies none Rom. 8.30 but whom he justifies before-hand Yet 't is the washing of Sanctification which I shall chiefly speak to because the Lusts of men too frequently tempt them to believe that they may be in an unholy polluted state and notwithstanding have fellowship with Christ The Scripture sayes as much one would think as can be said for the rooting out of this pernicious mistake if men would but cease hearkening to Satan more than unto God Our Lord deals very Plainly and positively with Nicodemus in this case Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God The New birth here is opposed to the Natural as we are born into the World of Earthly Parents Ezek. 16.6 we are in our blood when we are born again through the power of the Spirit we are born of Water to signifie our cleansing from our former filth and this must be or else the Kingdom of God where Christ is will be shut against us So the Apostle Rom. 8.9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his By the same price that Christ purchas'd Heaven for us hereafter he purchas'd the Spirit for us here that by being made like to him now we might be fitted to enjoy him at last As Christ is our way to the Father so the work of the Spirit must warrant and Evidence our Title to Christ we have manifestly no Interest in him till the Spirit hath wrought Holiness in us Once more the same Apostle says Cor. 5.17 If a man be in Christ he is a new Creature We must be the workmanship to God in Christ or 't is impossible that we should have any Right or Relation to him If the Old man be still alive in us whereby Heart and Life are both corrupted we have nothing to do with the second Adam Union to the person of the Redeemer does necessarily suppose the work of a New Creation We can never have any inheritance with Christ as brethren unless our Fathers Image be restor'd upon us Many other Testimonies might be produced to the same purpose But the particular Reasons of the Indispensible necessity of such washing by Christ in order to partaking with him are these which follow First As Jesus Christ is a spotless Head he cannot be link't with any other than Holy Members That Body of which he is the Head must be conformable to him An Head of such fine Gold will not be joyn'd as the Head in Nebuchadnezzar's Image was to miry feet of Clay 1 Cor. 6.15 The Members of an Harlot cannot be the Members of Christ Dead and fruitless Branches which are in Christ by visible profession are taken away Joh. 15.2 because Christ is a living and fruitful Vine To say that we have fellowship with him 1 Joh. 1.6 7. when we walk in darkness must needs be a lye because he is in the light Our blessed Lord will never consent to be matcht with any that are unsuitable to himself though he must with those that are inferiour or else with none If the ' Bridegroom be fairer than the children of men the Spouse is to be beautified through his comliness also Incongruous mixtures and un-natural conjunctions were forbidden under the Law Deut. 22.9 10 11. Thou shalt not sow thy Vineyard with divers seeds c. Nor plow with an Oxe and an Ass together Nor wear a garment of divers sorts c. The things forbidden here were not evil in themselves and therefore the meaning and design of God in giving such Laws to the People of the Jews was to shew how hateful the mingling of those things in Religion would be which had no similitude or agreement in their nature Believers also in the New Testament are charg'd though it be not so carefully attended to as it ought that they should not unequally yoke themselves with unbelievers 2 Cor. 6.14 Do we think then that Christ will be yoked with Belial v. 15. If the sons of God should not unite themselves with the Daughters of Men can we suppose that Jesus Christ the Righteous will incorporate with those which are unsanctified Secondly As Christ is an holy Lord and Lawgiver he must maintain and keep up the honour of an holy Government He must not lose the Glory of being a Prince Act. 5.31 while we enjoy the benefit of his being a Saviour He is appointed to rule every one whom he redeems and to exercise his Governing power at the same time with his saving mercy He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it perfectly himself and to see it sincerely fulfill'd by us He must disinherit the rejecters of hsi commands from receiving of the Promises and if he invests us with