Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A62907
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The faith of the saints as to a future house and happiness in the other world set forth in a sermon preached at the funeral of that worthy servant of Christ, Mr. Walter Marshal / by S. Tomlyns.
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Tomlyns, Samuel, 1632 or 3-1700.
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1680
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Wing T1859; ESTC R23761
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22,228
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33
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all yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 2. Christians come to know this by inspection into themselves and spiritual Experience of a saving work wrought on themselves Heb. 10.34 they knew within themselves that they had in Heaven a more induring Substance By looking into themselves they might espy such a Divine Nature such a supernatural Life sprung up in them as did evidence they were intituled to and designed for the Heavenly Inheritance As Mark 29.33 the Poor Woman healed by Christ felt it in her Body and verse 33. She knew what was done in her viz. that she was healed of that Plague So Christs spiritual Patients may know within themselves what excellent cures this Heavenly Physician hath wrought in and on them and thereby fitted them to Converse in the True land of the Living The very senses that an infant hath do shew that it was designed for an higher life and larger Place than still to be imprisoned and penned up in the Womb its Eyes Ears Smelling and Tasting were to be exercised on Objects in this large World so the Spiritual Senses of the Souls of Saints do speak them to be designed for the invisible and Eternal World They can see things invisible they can taste spiritual dainties they can smell the Odours that come from the Mountain of Myrrh and the Hill of Frankincense they can scent the spices of the Heavenly Canaan Moses his Parents did observe his rare and admirable Beauty and seem from thence to conclude that surely he was chosen and designed by God for some extraordinary service Heb. 11.23 And is not the Church of Believers the fairest among Women Cant. 1.8 and doth not this wonderful and rare beauty evince that Christ hath set his love on her and that she is called to the Marriage Feast and designed for the Bride-chamber of the Son of God Ignatius one of the most Ancient Fathers in his Epistle to the Romans saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The living water that did spring up in him did say to him within Come home to thy Father Christ hath written a living Epistle in their Minds and Wills The Life and Law of God as a byass on their Hearts inclines them to another Country and World They have the first Fruits of their Inheritance the earnest of the bargain the beginnings of Everlasting Life abiding in them already Job 14.23 1 Cor. 3.16 that glorious Company that they shall converse with for ever are now come down to sojourn in their hearts here below The Father and Son dwelled in them by the spirit and surely such Royal guests will in due time remove the Souls that entertain them to their own glorious Habitation 3. There is the Mysterious Testimony of the Holy Spirit Rom. 8.16 17. The Spirit himself beareth witness with or to our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs c. Surely some very high Evidence and Assurance is intended by these words whether mediate or immediate I shall not now determine The spirit himself beareth witness this phrase imports that the Spirit himself excellently appears in this Testimony and will it Testifie and can it not make Souls to understand its voice to perceive its meaning to embrace its Testimony and acquiesce in its Evidence Shall any question or doubt whether men may know themselves to be the Sons of God when it is one Office and great work of the Holy Spirit to make them understand it and to assure their Souls of it Is the Testimony of the Spirit Dark Intricate and Ambiguous doth it leave Souls in hovering suspence and wavering uncertainty when it comes to give its evidence can it not decide and determine the Controversie and make an end of strife in an unbelieving Heart And if the Spirit doth clear up our Sonship may we not know we are Heirs All Gods Children are Heirs every Son hath the Rights Priviledges and Inheritance of a first born Vse 1. Oh be Exhorted Stirred up and Quickned to seek and obtain the sweet and comfortable knowledge of what is provided for you in Heaven Strive to assure to your selves that you have a house built a City prepared for you above Oh how uncomfortable is it to be at uncertainties whither we shall go how we shall be disposed of and where we shall be fixed for Ever We know we must remove from hence but how will this damp our spirits when we know not whither we shall remove We know what we must part with but how will it Chill and Deject us when we know not what we shall possess in another World Our love cannot be so Fervent our Joy so Strong our Praises so Hearty and Affectionate if we know not that God is our Father that he will divide a Rich Portion to us and settle a glorious Inheritance on us The knowledge of what is reserved for us in Heaven will have great influence on our Holy Calling and will both Quicken us in doing and support us in Suffering the Will of God Use therefore all diligence to attain the full assurance of Understanding of Faith and of Hope all which are mentioned in these following Scriptures Col. 2.2 Heb. 10.22 Heb. 6.11 These three do make an excellent and comfortable Syllogism the full Assurance of Understanding as to the Terms and Tenders of the Gospel maketh the Major the full Assurance of Faith believing and applying this Doctrine to our selves makes the Minor and the full assurance of Hope is the sweet Conclusion that results from these excellent Promises O Christians why are you contented to live at so low a Rate why are you so held in doubts and suspence about your Everlasting state why are you so lost in an intricate Wilderness and entangled in such uncomfortable Labyrinths why is there yet so dark a Vail on your minds that hinders you from looking with Joy and Comfort into another World Doth not the Gospel dispensation under which you live afford grounds for high Faith and strong Consolation Are we not told that God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their Trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.19 that Christ hath made an end of sin destroyed Satan overcome the World abolished death and brought Life and Immortality to Light Dan. 9.24 Heb. 2.15 Joh. 16. last 2 Tim. 1.10 Is not Heaven purchased and Possessed for and bequeathed in Christs Testament to the Heirs of Promise Are not all that fly for Refuge to take hold of the hope set before them accepted and allowed to be Heirs of this glorious inheritance Heb. 6.18 Is not this sentence not exceeding full and comprehensive God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life Joh. 3.16 and is not this Testimony clear and express that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Eternal Life is in his Son and he that hath the Son hath Life 1 Joh. 5.11 12. This Life
And a Kingdom that cannot be moved Heb. 12.28 The strongest Kingdoms the greatest Cities the most stately Houses in the world have been Subverted Razed and utterly Demolished but this is an Eternal House City and Kingdom 3. This house is commended from the Place and Situation of it it is a house Eternal in the Heavens But you may say Doth this house differ from heaven it self because the Apostle calls it an Eternal house in the Heavens I Answer The house of every particular Saint is a part of heaven and of the blessedness of the invisible World and it is much such a form of speech as if I should say My house is in the City yet it is also a part of it and Oh what an honor is it to possess and inhabit such an house in such a Place Heaven in Scripture is called the Highest and the Holiest place Luke 19.38 Heb. 10.19 Oh what an unspeakable Dignity and Felicity is this for Vile Wretched Abject Creatures to be entertained in the highest and holiest Place David in the 1 Sam. 27.5 speaks as if it were too great an honour for such a Mean servant as he was to dwell in the Royal City with the King Oh how much then are we advanced by being admitted to dwell with an infinite Majesty in his Royal City 4. We may observe the certainty that the Apostle and other Believers had of their Title to Interest and Propriety in this blessed place and glorious state We know saith he that we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens This was not his or their guess or conjecture 't was not a meer probable opinion a loose and uncertain hope but we know it we are fully perswaded and assured of it and that on good grounds as Saints may know that they are begotten and born of God 1 Joh. 5.19 We know that we are of God So they may know that God will Treat and Portion them as his Children as here We know we have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens According to these four Parts of the Words I shall raise and deliver to you these four Doctrines Doctrine 1. The bodies of Saints even as other mens are but an Earthly house of a Tabernacle Doctrine 2. The Earthly house of this Tabernacle must be dissolved Doctrine 3. When the house of this Tabernacle is dissolved yet Saints have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Doctrine 4. Saints do or may know that when their Earthly Tabernacle shall be dislolved they have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Of each of these I shall speak with as much brevity as I can Doctrine 1. That the Natural Body of Saints is but an earthly house of a Tabernacle 1. It is an Earthly house Prov. 8.26 God is said to make the highest Part of the Dust of the World Rabbi Kimchi by Gods making the highest Part of the Dust of the World understands the Creation of the first Adam and the interpretation is exceeding probable It is a very humbling expression of Proud Man to call him but the higher part of the dust of the World Mans body was but one remove from dust it was but well colour'd warm'd and animated Dust 2. The Natural body is a Tabernacle as it comes from the first Adam it is exceeding weak and frail and but of a short and Temporary use to the Soul and is not yet fitted to be the everlasting abode and habitation of it This word Tabernacle is Metaphorical and the Metaphor is borrowed from Travellers and Soldiers 1. Travellers had their Tents especially in Countries where there were not such conveniences as Inns Gen. 31.25 Travelling Jacob pitches his Tents in a Mountain Saints are in their bodies as Travellers through this Wilderness to the heavenly Canaan they are strangers in this World and as Pilgrims journeying on towards the invisible and future World as Jacob they are passing on towards their Fathers house We have here no abiding City but we seek one to come Heb. 13.14 2. Saints are in their bodies as Soldiers in a Military Tent. Judah and Israel fighting against the Ammonites incamped in their Tents 2 Sam. 11.11 So Saints are in a Warfare the beloved City is also called the Camp of the Saints Rev. 20.9 They are fighting against Sin the World and the Devil Paul saith 1 Cor. 9.26 So fight I not as one that beats the Air. I am not in jest as Fencers but in good earnest as Soldiers I am subduing iniquity mortifying Members on Earth killing of fleshly Lusts Vse 1. Here is matter of Humiliation to us all our bodies are but an Earthly house a weak and frail Tabernacle why should any swell with conceits of their Wealth or be puffed up with Honour or Profperity or glory in their Birth or Breeding They dwell in houses of Clay they are clothed and clogged with vile bodies all their glory and grandeur is but as Tapistry hangings or cloth of gold put on or cast over a base mouldering Mud-wall These bodies that many are so proud of must shortly be breathless colourless Carcasses feeding the Worms and soiling the grass Vse 2. We may draw from hence matter of Caution and Counsel 1. Are our bodies Earthly houses Oh take heed that your hearts be not Earthly too and your Spirits Carnalized also 'T is Comfortable when there is a heavenly Tenant in this Earthly house but how sad is it when body and soul too are counted but Flesh by God Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not always strive with man for that he also is flesh How debasing to man is this expression though the Soul in its own Nature be a Spirit yet it is so debaucht and degenerate it is so sunk immersed into and swallowed up in the concerns of the body that by reason of its disposition and inclination it may well be called Flesh Take heed that your Souls be not thus drenched and soaked in bodily Pleasures and sensual delights that you do not invassal and inslave your Spirits to be Stewards and Caterers to your Flesh that Reason be not hired out to the service of a sensual Appetite Unregenerate Persons are called Men of this Earth Ps 10.18 Ps 17.14 and Men of this World their minds fix and dwell on this Earth their Affections cleave and are glued to it They are as Plants flourishing in their Native soil and as Free Denizens and Citizens of this present World Ps 37.35 Oh therefore seek that you may be recovered from this Degeneracy and be rescued from this Bondage by the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 Joh. 3.6 1 Cor. 15.48 49. As that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit The heavenly Adam begets a heavenly Seed and Posterity if your Souls do now become Spiritual and