Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	faith_n	grace_n	8,077	5	5.8830	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09972	The lavv out lavved· Or, The charter of the Gospell shewing the priviledge and prerogative of the saints by vertue of the covenant Wherein these foure points of doctrine are properly observed, plainely proved, both by Scripture, and reason: and pithily applyed. Viz: doctrine 1 That he that is in the state of grace lyeth in no knowne sinne, no sinne hath dominion over him. 2 That sinne though it doth not raigne in the saints, yet it doth remaine and dwell in them. 3 That the way to overcome sinne, is to get assurance of the love, and grace, and favour of God, whereby it is forgiven them. 4 That whosoever is under the law, sinne hath dominion over him. By that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ. Iohn Preston. Doctor in divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.	1631 (1631)	STC 20229; ESTC S115105	8,306	12

to doe know you not that no unrighteous man shall inherit the Kingdome of God so if we abstaine from foule sinnes yet if not presently judge them to bee hypocrites Bee not many masters sayeth S. Iames. that is censure him not for hee standeth or falleth to his owne conscience 3. This should teach us to bee watchfull and not to thinke our labour is at an end when we are in the state of grace for sinne still dwelleth in us and though wee have the victorie over sinne one day it will fight against us the next daye as in a garden the weedes will grow because the rootes are not quite plucked up and taken away so sinne is in us and therefore we must thinke it will fight against us and vexe us and therefore I say let us renue our strength Now for this we must doe these two things First weaken sinne Secondly pray to God to make us watchfull And so I have also done with the second doctrine againe from the latter part of these words or reason of the promise made unto them in in the former part of this verse that sin shall not have dominion over them because they are not under the Law but under grace I gather this conclusion viz. That the way to overcome sinne is to get assurance of the love and grace of God and that it is forgiven them the reason why the Apostle promises them sin shall not have dominion over them is because they are not under the law but under grace that is they had assurance of Gods love and that it is forgiven them this is proved from that faith purifieth the heart and you repent and believe the gospell Now the reasons heereof are these foure especially Q. Because it is the meanes to get the spirit without which no sin is forgiven which commeth by faith for it is not receaved by the law for so saith the apostle receaved you the spirit by the works of the law or by the deeds of faith Secondly the way to make us believe the promises to make us believe that we are transformed into a heavenly nature for when we believe the promises are true that workes love in us and love transformeth us into the divine nature without which no sinne is overcome Thirdly because heereby we are able to resist the tentations which are either for the injoying of good or sleing of evill so that these promises propound more good then sin can harme sinne threatned the love of outward things but the promises propound eternall life which is better then all things else in the world Fourthly because we doe delight in God for when we doe believe in God that our sinnes are forgiven us in Christ then wee looke at God as on a mercyfull Father and then wee cease to delight in the world we begin to delight our selves in the Lord. 1. First for direction to teach us the way how to heale a sinne and that it is to get assurance that is pardoned forgiven for legal terrours doe not heale a sin but is faith that purifies the heart and purifying pacifies it as a Traytor will not come in when he heares a proclamation out for his death but when he heares he shall ●ive and be pardoned this makes him to come in so we when we only fixe our eyes upon the legal terrours we shall not heale our sins but when we belieue they are pardoned this heales them But sorrow and a broken heart are required for sinners to be assured of their forgivennes This sorrow is not so much commanded but it is that whereby God prepareth his servants hearts to make them see what need they have of pardon and so they may aske pardon but the sorrow commanded is that which followes beliefe for the more I believe the promises the more I shall grieve for displeasing him But what is the way to get assurance of the forgivennes of our sins may some say I answere that that bee done which is to be done on our part believed which God hath promised Q The things to be done on our part are these Confession plainely and truely wee must confesse them to God and to man when we our selves cannot overcome them Secondly contrition which is when a man is not stubborne and resisteth Gods will and will please himselfe to get his heart broken he saith as saint Paul saith Lord what wilt thou have me to doe and then we are subject to his will to him will I looke that is of a contrite heart Thirdly desertion or forsaking of sin for he that forsaketh not his sins shall not prosper which is when we having the like occasions yet wil not give way to him but follow our owne lusts Secondly That that bee believed which God hath promised and that is that as he hath said hee will forgive our sins upon such and such conditions so we believe it and to make us to doe this these motions may perswade us Q. Because hee is mercyfull in whose mercy there are three things give our sins that we may believe it But I have comitted the sinne oft Yet God will forgive thee though thou hast oft committed whooredome yet I will forgive thee if thou turne unto mee saith the Lord by the Prophet of the house of Israel Ier. 3. Hence then to make some use of it as our use is we may learne not to deceave our selves ●o think we are in the state of grace when wee are not for if we did truly believe our sinnes are forgiven us we wold be healed but if we have the same lusts and keep the same company which we did when we were not changed it is a meere delusion what soever we say or thinke And thus much for the third point too there yet remaines one more behind wherewith wee will conclude the whole text and that wee may draw from the contrary to what the Apostle heere saith and indeed it is implyed though not exprest for if sin have no dominion over them that are not under the law but under grace then on the other side must it needs be as true viz That whosoever is vnder the law sin hath dominion over him that is he that refraineth sin only for feare of the law and of judgemnets sin hath dominion over him this is the case of them that refraine sinning only for feare and for the salvation of their soules or for educations sake which have beene brought up in good families or such as repent upon some amazement like the bulrushes which hang downe their heads onely while the showre lasts and that First because all such as are not under grace but under the law have not receaved the spirit which commeth by hearing the gospel and no creature can change one creature into another as lead unto gold or a Wolfe unto a Lamb unles it be by Gods spirit Secondly to such Gods service is burthensome and violent motions last not long they are weary in clamtering up an Hill all naturall motions are swifter at the last then at the first but these are like the Israelites who after a tyme would have returned into AEGYPT againe Now then to end all with the tyme let us Q Bee exhorted not to abstaine from any sinne for feare of punishment but consider whether thou wouldest serve God for Gods sake although there were neither heaven nor hell it must be our meat and drinke which men would doe though there were no punishment for the omission of it Blessed is hee that hungereth and thirsteth after righteousnes 2. Hence we may learne not to deferre repentance till death sicknes crosses or age somes then it may be you would not sin though with Balaam you had your housefull of gold and silver for it s not the abstinence from sin that God loveth but the change of the heart Amaziahs heart was not right though he walked in all the wayes of David these are the men that have made a covenant with hell and death but God will dissanull that covenant or it wil be but equivocal many have sworne in their sicknes never to commit sin againe which afterward they have committed againe with greedines many have dyed in the same repentance 3. Labour to see your selves doing duties with as much love as you can and with as little feare because perfect love casteth out feare so beloved I have given you a briefe survey of the severall points contained in the portion of holy Scripture wherefore if you know these things happy are yee if ye doe them wherefore that yee may doe them let us call upon God for a blessing on what we have heard FINIS AMEN Doct. Reas. Reas Reas Reas Reas Vse Obs Ans Rom 1 last Luke 1● 1 Pet 4. 1 Cor 9 ●● Rom 14 4. Doct 3 Gal 3 2 Ans. Reas. Reas Vse 1 Vse 1 Obiect Ans Quest. Ans Hab 6 2 Pro 2 ● motiv● Ans Vse ●oct 4 Reas 〈◊〉 Vs●