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
A33930	A confession of faith, published on special occasion wherein is contained the substance of the most material principels of the Gospel and Christian faith, in contradistinction to the errors and heresies by some held and maintained, in opposition thereunto : whereunto is annexed a postscript, with brief animadversions on some things contained in a confession of faith, lately published in the name of the elders and brethren of many congregations in London and the countrey / written by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1678 (1678)	Wing C5275; ESTC R32494	30,415	69

1 Cor. 13. 1 2. Jam. 1. 27. and 2. 14. and the reason is because the Gospel is a Ministration wholly of Love and Mercy and the Love and Mercy of God in the Gospel is manifest especially in giving and forgiving and this he expects should be effected by the Power thereof in all his People And it 's to be feared that the great failing among Christians in this matter much arising from the Doctrine of Justification by Faith without Works will occasion many to part with Christ at the last day with Sorrow as the young Man did in the Gospel Mat. 19. 22. because there will then be Judgment without Mercy to them that have shewed no Mercy James 2. 12. Read and ponder Mat. 18. 32 to 35. and I do believe that whatever is stated in the Gospel as the terms on which Grace and Life is promised is absolutely necessary thereunto without which we cannot rightly claim the Promise as Mat. 5. 3 to 12. Rom. 2. 7 to 10. V. Of the Power and Will of Man I do believe that all Men have a power and liberty of Will with the means and helps that God affords especially under the Gospel to refuse the Evil and to chuse the Good so far as will render them inexcusable in the Judgment who refuse his Counsel and choose to follow their own Wills and Lusts Josh 24. 15 22. Luk. 10. 42. Phil. 2. 12 13 14 15. Mat. 11. 28 29. Rom. 1. 20. and 2. 1 2. The Reasons of this my Faith are 1. Because I do not find that God in his Word threatens to condemn any for weakness but for wilfulness not because they cannot but because they will not believe Joh. 5. 40. Luk. 3. 34. Mat. 22. 4 5 6. 2. Because he blames pities and bemoans those who refuse his Counsel and transgress his Laws Psal 81. 11. Luk. 13. 34. 3. Because he calls and invites Sinners to come in and accept his Grace which we may not imagine were it impossible for them so to do Isa 55. 6 7. Rev. 22. 17. 4. Because to suppose Men to be uncapable to believe and obey the Gospel with the helps afforded without a Miracle as some say is to suppose Men in this matter not to differ from Beasts who are capable by Miracle to do what God will have them God could and did make Balaam's Ass to speak with man's voice But Men shall one day know that God made them Men and not Beasts if they make not themselves so by beastly Principles and Practices 'T is true that in the Gospel many were converted to the Faith by the sight of Miracles done without them Act. 5. 14. and 13. 12. but the conversion of Sinners is no where called a Miracle that I know 5. Because for us to suppose that God should bring forth so gracious a dispensation of Love to the World in the gift of his Son and Christ to die for the World and in love send the Gospel of this Grace to be published to the World with gracious Invitations to accept it and to state an Interest therein on impossible terms to be obtained without a Miracle and do not effect this Miracle and yet will damn People for not obtaining is not only dishonourable to God to Christ to the Gospel and to the Publishers thereof but renders the whole glorious design of God therein to be null and void discouraging all Men from believing thereof it rendring them altogether uncapable and therefore is to be denied by all sober Christians VI. That Faith in the Lord Jesus is effected by the Power of God in the Gospel Yet 6. I do believe that whoever do obey the Lord in the Faith of the Gospel in Sincerity and Truth that it is by the Grace Spirit and Power of God in the Gospel Rom. 1. 16. 5. 5. and 10. 14. by which Grace and Power they are and shall be kept through Faith and a holy dependancy upon him unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Joh. 10. 27 28 29. and 15. 4 5 6 7 10. Psal 37. 39. and 125. 1. and that without this holy dependancy upon and cleaving to the Lord in the Faith Love Hope and obedience of the Gospel Believers may possibly yea very probably fail of and fall from the Grace of God and so miss of the Glory promised Heb. 3. 12. and 12. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 17. Although I do believe that some are so known of God and given to Christ as that they have been and shall be in time called and supplied with persevering Grace so as to obtain the end Joh. 6. 39. Rom. 8. 29 30. Yet these are only known of God 2 Tim. 2. 19. and leave no room for any to be high-minded but to fear an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 3. 12. nor doth it at all derogate from the general Grace of God to Men Joh. 6. 40. The Reasons of my believing the danger of Believers failing of and falling from the Grace of God without their careful watch and keeping close with him are 1. Because the Scripture so plentifully speaks and forewarns of the danger thereof but never of the impossibility of falling Besides those already mentioned among many see these Rom. 8. 13. and 11. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 12. Col. 1. 23. 2. Because the Scripture mentions some that were fallen 1 Tim. 1. 19. and others that were fallen or would fall 2 Pet. 2. 1. and the rest in danger of falling Chap. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 9. 27. 3. Because the Lord himself and his Apostles best knew the danger and what Doctrine was best for our safety and to prevent the danger to whom we ought to give heed and not to our own devices whoever taught the danger but never the impossibility of falling from Grace as before hath been proved Mat. 10. 22. Luk. 9. 62. 4. Because the Doctrine of impossibility of falling from Grace being contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles must needs be a graceless and dangerous Doctrine and that the Lord knew and therefore hath so plentifully stated the contrary in the Scripture If we would study a Doctrine tending to cause People to fail of and fall from the Grace of God we cannot study a more likely than to teach impossibility of falling Remove the danger and the careful and watchful fear will be over Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 12. 25 28 29 and the watchfulness and Prayer will quickly cease Luk. 21. 36. and it 's greatly to be feared that many insensible grow graceless whilst pleading impossibility of falling from Grace Object The Doctrine of possibility of falling from Grace is an uncomfortable Doctrine Answ That Doctrine which is most safe is most truly comfortable To know the danger and to keep on our watch being the way appointed for our safety In that way may we expect safety and so true and solid consolation Isa 64. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 5. with ver 12. Whatever comfort