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A89274 Mercies for man. Prepared in, and by Christ, even for such as neither know them, nor him. Discovered, that they might know, and enjoy them. Or a discourse of the interest there is for all men in, and by Christ in the end, and usefulmesse of the beleevers peculiar priviledges and service. In which is also some information about that service to which the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, instructeth, and obligeth the beleever for the good of them all, according to capacity, and opportunity given him. Likewise some directions for, and concerning Christian magistrates. In the opening some instructions arising from the Apostles exhortation to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Delivered in November 1653. at the Munday meetings at Black-Friers: and because what then was spoken, met with some publick opposition, this is now published for further satisfaction. Written by Thomas Moor, Junior. Moore, Thomas, Junior. 1654 (1654) Wing M2605; Thomason E744_1; ESTC R207022 135,708 156

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properly to be read as a Declaration of Gods good will love and desire towards men and concerning them as considered in their faln lost and sinfull estate which was such as in which he would have them saved out of it and brought back again to him Such his great compassions slownesse to anger and riches in mercie That he had no pleasure in their destruction but that they should turn and live And therefore desired they should come to the knowledge of the truth of his love and goodnesse towards them that so they might be drawn into love of him and conformity to him that were so full of hatred and antipathy against him And then as a real demonstration of this his love desire for them and declaration of the way and means prepared that this might be for though God loved them and desired their good yet they could have enjoyed no streamings forth or manifestations of it or benefit by it If he had not devised means that his banished might not be expelled as 2 Sam. 14. 14. He further tells us That God is one and unchangeable in all his holy Attributes and therefore in love to man as his creature and the end of his other creation and while he was not yet become wholly one with and of Satan that had tempted and prevailed over him could not yet give him up And so in holinesse and truth and therefore could by no means in clearing clear the guilty or forgive sin without a fulfilling of his truth and satisfying of his Justice And so likewise in infinit wisdome and goodnesse in all and therefore knew how to finde out a way of recovery that mercy and truth might meet together for mans recovery and helpfulnesse in this lost condition as well as to make him of nothing a creature to such excellent glory and hath done it God is light and in him is no darknesse And that appears in this that follows There is one Mediator of God and man and so between God and man Christ Jesus A Mediator is not a Mediator of one But God is one Gal. 3. 20. A Mediator is of and between two parties at a distance and so is ours But whereas the usuall work of Mediators between man and man is to lay his hand on both and prevail with one to abate something and the other to pay or satisfie something so is not ours for God is one He was not turned enemy but loved us when we were enemies so as he sent the Mediator He is one and so infinit and perfect in holinesse and can abate nothing of what his Truth and Justice requires and therefore must have full and perfect satisfaction though we are so weak we can make none The work therefore of our Mediator is to make full satisfaction pay the full price come up to Gods terms and then to bring us up to and inable us to accept of those termes in him made and accepted for us And so in the whole and in each part of his work That with God and that with men It is to reconcile man to God The first in and by himselfe without them The second in their particular persons through him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. And for the accomplishing this He that is the one Mediator of God and man and that he might be a standing Mediator between them Gave himselfe a ransome for all men A Testimony or to be testified in due time That so through him they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved For understanding the large ground of praying for All men here set before us consider some of the particular instructions herein presented 1 That Jesus Christ by the will and appointment of the Father hath given himselfe and is accepted A Ransome for All. 2 That he is by vertue hereof become a standing and powerfull Mediator between God and men 3 That by vertue and by means of his Ransome accepted and his Mediation continually made for them he is of the Father to them A Testimony in due time That they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved And in all this God is light and in him is no darknesse at all For the first That Jesus Christ by the appointment of the Father hath given himself and is accepted a Ransome for All a price of Redemption so as he hath redeemed and bought them All as hath been shewed already as to the persons for whom now we shall apply our selves to the consideration of the worke herein done for them And so first he hath in and by himselfe redeemed them from the curse of the Law being made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. Secondly He hath by that his one offering for all perfected through suffering and now presented to the Father obtained and received into himself eternal redemption a full and perfect Recovery and Restoration of all that losse contracted by sinne as charged on them by the first Testament Heb. 9. 12. 15. First Jesus Christ hath in and by himself redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. where that he speaks not of that redeeming the heart and conscience from under the bondage and accusation of sin by the Law which is only wrought in the spirit of the beleever through the discovery of that done in Christ for all men but of that done namely of the redemption wrought in Christ for them before they knew it This is evident in that he saith the Redemption here spoke of was done and finished by his being made a curse for us whereas the other though done by vertue thereof yet is not effected but through the discoveries thereof and in the receit by faith as before yea it is still more evident in that he mentions this as perfectly done that means might be used for the doing the other namely the redeeming men in their particular persons and that that might be wrought or received through faith He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ Eph. 2. 14. 17. 3. 6. might come on the Gentiles that we namely whoever beleeveth might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith according to that Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son namely the Saviour of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. that whoever of the world so loved by him through this grace beleeveth in him whom he hath sent should not perish but have everlasting life and so that Gal 3. 13. is opened Gal 4. 4 5 where the query is fully answered who they are encluded under the word us Gal. 3. 13. that he hath redeemed from the curse of the Law God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law that we there the person is changed namely whoever beleeveth might receive the
passing by even unto blood as well as also neither despising nor fainting under his chastisements but suffering patience to have its perfect work in all tribulation which bringeth forth the quiet and peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 1 3 4 9. Recompence to no man evil for evil nor railing for railing but contrarywise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. Provide things honest in the sight of all men as much as is possible live peaceably with all men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath yea if thine Enemy hunger feed him c. Rom. 12. 17 18 19. Ye have heard saith our Saviour An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth but I say unto you that ye resist not evil that is with evil as Rom. 12. 17. Nay rather suffer wrong and suffer your selves to be defrauded then strive to avenge or right your selves yea love your Enemies bless them that curse you bless and curse not Mat. 5. 38 39 44 45. Luke 6. 27 28 29. 1 Cor. 6. 7 8. And to all this also That grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men instructeth and teacheth the believing receiver of it and therefore not onely in Rom. 12. it 's one of those things to which we are exhorted by the mercies of God vers 1. both as the motive and motion to the doing of it but in Tit. 3. compared with chap. 2. it 's added to that before mentioned as one of those things which that grace teacheth To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle to shew all meekness to all men for we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts living in envy and malice hateful and hating one another but after the kindeness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have wrought but according to his mercy he saved us c. 3. They are also in all godliness and honesty To follow peace espectally with all that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. To endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. That unity or oneness into which the Spirit of God bringing and opening the testimony of Jesus bringeth the believing receiver thereof in which There is one Body one Spirit even as they are called in one hope of their calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all c. But unto every one of them is given grace in the manifestation of the Spirit or gifts of grace to profit withall diversly according to the gift and good pleasure of Christ in the exercising of which by each and so in their several administrations as well as in their acknowledgement Faith and Fellowship in those things forementioned in which there is such absolute oneness The unity of the Spirit is to be endeavoured to be kept in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3 7. with 1 Cor. 12. Therefore the Apostle exhorting to be of one minde addes Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you to preserve you in that one minde heart and way and so through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed 2 Cor. 13. 11. See this exhortation explicated Phil. 2. 2 3 c. If any consolation in Christ any comfort of Love any fellowship of the Spirit c. Then fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde it follows as a direction to the shewing forth and walking in this as well as to the way in which they might be preserved and grow therein let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves alwaies fitter to be born with tendered and served So Rom. 12. 2. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Phil. 2. 3 5. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and there by many be defiled Heb. 12. 15 16. which roots of bitterness envies evil surmises and such-like may be occasioned divers wayes as sometimes by partiality or respect of persons among brethren generally or with reference to such instruments as by whom the word of the Lord hath been brought or opened to us as when one saith I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another I am of Cephas which occasions some to run out in another extream and they will not onely be of neither of these but they will be of Christ immediately and as not needing or loose from any of their brethren or such instruments Therefore the Apostle admonishing the Thessalonians To know them which are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sakes he addes And be at peace among your selves 1 Thess 5. 12 13. And how they may be so in observing the forementioned counsel he explicates 1 Tim. 5. 17 21. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine It follows I charge thee before God and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality namely in the things forementioned as well as also in those things mentioned vers 19. 20. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses them that sin especially of the Elders or such as should go before others in the word of the Lord and in things common and publick tending to publick scandal or harm and being so convict as aforesaid or it evidently appearing rebuke before all that others also may fear Likewise such roots of bitterness and breach of the peace among Christians may be occasioned through too harsh censuring or judging one another in the doing or not doing things that are in themselves so circumstantial and may be either done or let alone as that eating or not eating Rom. 14. or in the manner of the observance of some of Gods Ordinances Therefore the Apostle counsels us vers 17 18 19 20. whatever things they are in which the Kingdom consisteth not as righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost are the things in which it doth consist and in which he saith He that constantly and stedfastly serveth Christ is acceptable to God and profitable to men for any other thing he would not have us be stiff or earnest to bring men to our practice until grace set free thereto nor in judging them if they joyne not with us lest so we destroy the work of God but on the other hand to follow after those things that make for peace
of others which was so far beyond what men would have required as their reasonable service or judged to have been but their honesty that they would rather watch for advantages against them to blame them as if their zeal and forwardness in freely and abundantly administring such as they had for the good of others did hinder them from looking well to themselves or their own house or relations or made them uncapable of walking justly in all their dealings They could not they thought do so much and be so free in spending themselves in such services if they did not defraud or wrong some body But this blame or all just cause of it is avoided by us says the Apostle in providing things honest also in the sight of all men even in such cases as aforementioned the mercies of God as Rom. 12. 1. even that grace that brings salvation to all men teacheth and requireth of us as our reasonable service as that which on the account of that grace is due from us to all men as hath been shewed before even as we would not be unjust or injurious in withholding good from them to whom its due so to hold forth the faithful word in the midst of a crooked generation according to all that capacity and opportunity for the same he is pleased to furnish us with and whatever we may lose or suffer therein and to do this cordially and fervently for the good of others that they may be saved and therefore in simplicity and godly sincerity renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty in such our service nor cloaking covetousness over with it or desire of glory from men or the like such is the Apostles demonstration of their honesty or living honestly 2 Cor. 1. 12 13. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation c. which is thus shewed for we write none other things unto you then what you read c. we intend not to signifie in our writing any other thing then what we plainly express in our words So 2 Cor. 4. 1 2. Seeing we have this ministery as we have received mercy so in the former by the grace of God minded by us the instructions and operations thereof we have thus had our conversation according to that Rom. 12. 1. By these mercies give up your bodies c. As we have received mercy sayes he we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending declaring and committing our selves our minde or meaning and principles to every man in our words so as in the sight of God who otherwise would charge us with dishonesty though men could not if we did either for fear or shame hide any thing that he hath made known to us that may tend to the good of others and was made known to us to be made known to them or if in administring it we used fleshly wisdom or policy reserving much of that which might most expose us to sufferings though most material needful to be most plainly uttered or for other causes reserving the inside of our thoughts and meaning to our selves so handling the word of God deceitfully happily to such ends following cunningly-devised fables as 2 Pet. 1. 16. But this saies he we have renounced and thus they lived honestly among their neighbours and thus have they by the mercies of God charged and exhorted every one of us so to live amongst men according to what capacity and opportunity God gives us See 1 Thess 2. 3 11 12. When he hath told them their Exhortation was not of deceit nor of uncle anness nor in guile but as they were allowed of God so they spake not as pleasing men but God which tryeth the hearts and further addes and appeals to their consciences for testimony They had not used flattering words nor a cloke of covetousness nor had sought glory of men or been burthensome when and as they might as the Apostles of Christ and herein walked holily justly unblameably he then addes this As also you know how we exhorted every one of you even as a father his child c. like that Phil. 2. 13 15 16. and Rom. 12. 1 2. Yea this grace teaches that as our reasonable service to hold forth this faithful word in conversation that they that will not be won by the word and it may be not to hear it as holden forth by believers under reproach yet may be allured and overcome by the chaste and honest conversation coupled with fear When they see our good works they may glorifie our Father which is in Heaven Therefore to shew forth his vertues in all chastity or honesty as opposed to fornication and all uncleanness filthiness or foolish talking or jesting Eph. 5. 2 3. 1 Thess 4. 3. 4 5. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. and so as opposed to covetousness which is idolatry and the fruits thereof fraudulency or endeavouring to go beyond or circumvent any in buying selling or the like as in the forecited Scriptures and so in all sobriety and moderation in the use and enjoyment of any thing of this world as strangers and pilgrims or in lusting and pursuing after them fleeing from such things yea in all goodness righteonsness and truth which is and as it is the fruit of the Spirit bringing and opening the instructions and grace of the Gospel leading and moving thereto And this cordially also in simplicity and godly sincerity and for the profit of others that they may be saved All this is but out reasonable service by the mercies of God even towards all men though they will neither challenge the greatest part of this debt of us nor any of it upon such an account nor will they respect or look upon our service as such yet as that man that is betrusted with much treasure or the tidings discoveries and patterns of it that belongs and is to be shewed to others of purpose to let them know of it and where and how they may come to enjoy it though they to whom such treasures and the tidings or patterns of it belong and ought to be shewed by him being ignorant though happily wilfully so do not desire or expect any such thing from him nor happily will easily be perswaded to accept or regard the same though matter of greatest concernment to them yet seeing he knows of what concernment it is and to what end he is furnished with the knowledge experience and patterns of it as a Steward for them he is not an honest man or faithful Steward if he conceal the same but very injurious 'T is required of Stewards that a man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 2. Even so those that are called out of darkness into his marvellous light that they should shew forth the praises of him that hath called them and that amongst and for the