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	heart_n	7,913	5	5.2011	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45776	Levamen infirmi: or, cordial counsel to the sick and diseased Containing I. Advice concerning physick, and what a physician ought to be; with an account of the author's remedies, and how to take them. II. Concerning melancholy, frensie, and madness; in which, amongst other things, is shew'd, how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin, and likewise how they differ among themselves. III. A miscellany of pious discourses, concerning the attributes of God; with ejaculations and prayers, according to scripture rule. Likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation. To which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world. The whole being enrich'd with physical, pious, moral & historical observations, delightful to read, & necessary to know. By D. Irish, practitioner in physick and surgery, now dwelling at Stoke, near Guilford in Surry, where he is ready to serve any person, to the utmost of his skill.	Irish, David.	1700 (1700)	Wing I1036; ESTC R221621	80,143	149

known to all Men in all Nations But here I desire and earnestly admonish every good Christian that he slight not the plain and simpl● manner of Stile in many places found in the Bible ●ince they are Evidences of Truth and not Patterns of Rhetorick There is no doubt but what we find ●n the holy Scripture is true though sometimes it ap●ears in a mean dress which indeed is one of the Pri●iledges of Truth when Falsities covet the flowers ●f Eloquence to hide their Shame The Bible con●ains the Words Works Acts and Judgments of the ●ost High 't is a Book that makes Fools of the crafty ●nd wise of the World when yet it is understood by ●he plain and simple as our Saviour saith The ●criptures are most high and precious Relicks a ●ountain which can never be Exhausted in them ●hou findest the Swadling-Cloaths wherein Christ lyeth to which the Angels directed the poor and simple Shepheards Indeed they seem to be mean silly Clouts but dear and precious is the Treasure in them for we have in them many Promises and God is faithful in fulfilling them in Christ from whom we have forgiveness of Sins and are delivered from everlasting Death God's Word is a Light that Shines in Dark places so that those that are shadowed by the greatest Cloud of Sin and Ignorance cannot miss being found out by its penetrating Beams and by them directed to the paths of Glory We see in the Example of Adams eating the forbidden Fruit how easie it is to be drawn into Sin and to forget God's Word and how hard a work it is to get hearts of Repentance by the long and hard task our Saviour had to make a Reconciliation with God for our Offences and if we were to be sav'd by our own Deeds and not by the Works of Christ we ●hould never attain Salvation Therefore Christ makes our task more easie saying Whosoever relies on me and believes in my Word shall have everlasting Life Some may ask what is here meant by his Word I Answer It 's Christus est Spiritualiter in Sacramen●●● The same that he spake at his Administring his last Supper when he said The words which I spake are Spirit and Life the flesh profiteth nothing whosoever eats thereof shall live for ever He Seal'd it with his Blood therefore it must be Truth Some may say How can we Eat this his Word Answer By laying it up with Faith in our hearts and leading our Lives answerable thereto which done after this life is ended we shall neve● Hunger no● Thirst more but shall Live and Reign with him fo● Ever The same is to be understood in Baptism but the Administring of the Sacrament of the las● Supper doth shew forth his Death till he comes again at which time he will Judge the World then happy will those be who hear his Welcome With a well done true and faithful Servant enter into thy Masters Ioy And now let us cry out Come Lord Iesus come quickly The Holy Scripture makes mention of sundry things done at certain hours of the day not agreeing with the hours of our Account as in Iohn 't is said The Rulers Son being healed of his Sickness at the Seventh hour his Ague le●t him And the Labourers that came into the Vineyard came at the Eleventh hour And in the Passion of Christ 't is Recorded That at the Sixth hour there was darkness over all the whole Earth And about the Ninth hour he cried with a loud Voice and so gave up the Ghost In which is couch'd some think a Mystery for Adam was Created as 't is supposed on a Friday about the same hour of the day as our Saviour Suffer'd Now to understand what hours these were know that the Iews divided their Artifici●l days into four quarters allowing to every quarter 3 hours and so began the first hour of the first quarter at the rising of the Sun and as they followed in order they call each hour of each quarter the first second or third hour so that the third hour of the first quarter they ca●led the third hour and the third hour of the second quarter they called the sixth hour whi●h was Mid-day called by us Twelve a Clock and the third hour of the third quarter they called the Ninth hour and the second hour of the fourth quarter they called the Eleventh hour and they called the Twelfth and last hour Eventide So that the Rulers Son healed at the Seventh hour with us called One of the Clock in the Afternoon and the Sixth hou● when Darkness was over the whole Earth was Mid-day called by us Twelve a Clock and their Ninth hour when Christ yielded up the Ghost is called with us Three a Clock in the Afternoon The Labourers that came into the Vineyard came at the Elenth hour about five a Clock in the Afternoon or an hour before Sun-set Likewise they divided each Night into four quarters called by them the four Watches of the Night the first three hours was the ●irst Watch during which time all the Soldiers both Young and Old of any fortified Town or Garrison were us'd to Watch. The Second three hours t●ey call'd the second Watch which was about Mid●ight at which time the young Soldiers only Watched And the third quarter of the Night containing also three hours was called the third Watch in it the middle aged Soldiers kept Watch. And the last three hours called the fourth Watch was about break of day in which the old Soldiers only Watched The day is accounted with us for payment of Money between Sun and Sun but for Indictments of Murder the day is accounted from Midnight to Midnight and so are Fasting days and Festival days as Sundays c. I will now give you after this Digression some Examples which fully prove the Omnipotence the Wisdom and Mercy and some other Attributes of God The first shall be an Instance of three most famous Conjunctions which the Scripture relate and which are all worthily wonderfully wondred at the like shall never happen again all being occasioned by the second Person of the Blessed Trinity his assuming Humanity which is a mystery wonderfully singular and singularly wonderful even to that degree that the very Angels saw it with Amazement The first Conjunction is of God and Man in Christ The second of a Mother and a Virgin in the Blessed Virgin Mary The third of Faith and the heart of Ma● in every Christian who truly Believe that a Virgin brought forth and became a Mother and though ● Mother yet that she notwithstanding remain'd a Virgin Another instance is God's fourfold bringing forth of Man as Learned Anselmus a holy Bishop of Canterb●ry Notes First he brought forth Man without the help either of Man or Woman in Creating Adam Secondly a Woman out of Man without the help of a Woman in making Eve Thirdly By the help of Man and Woman seen in the natural Production of Man Fourthly and lastly

Creatures which if I may so speak people the Elements are the handy works of God Man tho' the chief yet perhaps to teach him Humility was made of the mould of the Earth and as some think Adam the first Man was made on a Friday about 3 of the Clock in the After●oon and out of him Eve his Wife who bare several Children and here I cannot but observe that the first War was about Religion for Cain slew his Brother Abel by reason of his more acceptable Sacrifice Thus we may see that in the Worlds Infancy as well as now Goodness the Mark that Envy aim'd at and Innocence Persecuted by the greatest Guilt and Religio● suffer by the hand of Hypocrisie and Cruelty from which Good Lord deliver Vs. Tho' as you have heard God at first made all thing● good yet besides the mighty defection among th● Angels there grew also great Iniquity amongst Men so that God resolving to wash away the abominations of the World by W●ter commanded Noah t● build an Ark into which according to God's appointment all living Creatures entred by Couple● to replenish the Earth anew but note ●ere that 〈◊〉 some sorts there entred more than two that No●● might not want proper Sacrifices to offer to the Lord And thus much of Noahs Flood The Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament plainly and copiously declare the uncommunicable Attributes of the Lord being the Heraulds of his Truth and the Witnesses of his Mercies the Instances they exhibit of his ample performing the Tenure of his comfortable Promises are as sufficie●● Testimonies of his Infallible Truth as the sending o● his only Son is of his Mercy who as his last Prophet Sealed up all the written Verities and Command●we are Bound to Believe and observe This is the Son of Righteousness whose refreshing Beams 〈◊〉 Mercy shine upon our Souls to eternal Happiness Here it will not be amiss to give an Idea or Notion of God as far as the weakness of our understanding 〈◊〉 able to perform for none can say what the Essence of God is or which is the same give a true and adequate Definition of this infinitely perfect Essen●e because he is in all his Perfections In●inite ● Spiritual Entity whose Exis●ence is Eternally of him●elf independent of all other Beings dwelling in Orbs 〈◊〉 inaccessable Light hence the Message which we have heard of God in the first Epistle of ●ohn Chap. 1. v. 5. tells us That he is of a most Pure Simple Holy Perfect and glorious Nature resembled by no Creature ●o much as by Exquisite Light in which there is nothing but clear and exact Brightness without any ●he least mixture of Darkness He is Incomprehensible therefore none but himself can give an Account what he is He had no Beginning nor can he ever have an End all times and things whether past or to come are ever present to him so that as I often inculcate it is impossible to speak him fully yet so far as it hath pleased his Divine Majesty out of his unspeakable Goodness to Reveal himself in his Word to us we may to the utmost of our capacity express as that he is a glorious Spirit full of Truth and must therefore be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Now there is no way but by consulting his Written Word to know in what particular manner we ought to Honour and Serve him Though as is said whatsoever we can say or conceive of God comes far short of his Excellency yet it is lawful as far as our weakness can reach to say or rather lisp what he is still regulating our discourse by the Line of his Word therefore I say he is an Independent Being existing of himself Ego sum qui sum Exod. I am that I am saith the Lord that is he is alone of himself for all other things are not but by him nay in him we live move and have our Being saith St. Paul He is most Perfect because he is the Fountain and Origin of all Perfection Be ye Perfect saith Christ even as your heavenly Father is Perfect He is One. See saith the Lord that I am alone nor is there any other besides me And again Thou shalt have no other Gods but me according to which we say in the Belief I Believe in one God He is simple ●or Ioh. 4.24 He is called a Spirit now a Spirit is a simple Being or a Being void of Material Composition therefore God who is in all that he is Superlative is consequently most Simple He is Eternal for saith the Lord Vivo ego in aeternum I live for ever Deut. 22. And the Kingly Prophet cries out Thou art the v●ry same and thy years have no end He is Immutable as he speaks in Malachy 3. I am God and not changed which is agreeable to Reason thus That is Immutable which neither can be augmented nor diminished but God cannot be augmented because most Perfect nor diminished because most Simple Therefore he is most Immutablé He is Immense as the Wise Man speaks Wisdom 1. The Spirit of the Lord hath filled all the World He is Infinite for that is Infinite which has no Bounds according to David The Lord is great and of his greatness there is no End besides he must needs be Infinite whose Perfections are all Vnlimited He is Omniscient as appears from that of the Psalmist Thou hast understood my Cogitations afar off and hast foreseen all my ways and knowest all things before they are done He is Iust according to that of David Iust is the Lord and he hath-loved Iustice. He is most Merciful for the Mercies of the Lord ar● above all his Works Psalm He is most Good because the Fountain of all Goodness He is most True because the first Truth He is Omnipotent because he can do all that is possible and from him is all Power both in Heaven and Earth by me Kings Reign Wisdom He is lastly most Blessed because he is the Felicity of himself and of all things whatsoever 'T is from the consideration of these Divine Attrites that multitudes of Reasons may be drawn to courage us in our Duties For Example The con●ering of God's Justice and Power will stir up-in us ●ear of offending a Being both Iust and Omnipotent 〈◊〉 this fear will prove the beginning of the best of ●isdom I mean of an indefatigable endeavour to 〈◊〉 his Written Laws and Commandments and ●●ese Attributes will make us know that from and in 〈◊〉 by him we enjoy Health Live Move and have 〈◊〉 Being and that all we Possess descends from the ●ther of Light see Iam. 1.17 Hence we ●ie under obligation of giving him hearty and frequent ●hanks for the daily benefits we receive from his ●●unty Begin therefore every work in God that ●●ereby it may by him be Perfected and for his Ho●●ur and Glory ended Rely on Jesus Christ as the 〈◊〉 Foundation that can be laid for us to Build upon testi●ieth both

Read 1 Tim. 2.1 where you will find that the chosen Vessel of God St. Paul doth exhort That first of all Deprecations Supplications Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty Again Phil. 4.6 he says Be careful for nothing but in all things let your Petitions be manifest unto God in Prayer and Supplications with giving of Thanks by which places of Scripture we are not only pricked forward to the holy Exercise of Prayer but taught also that there are four kinds thereof all necessary to be used every day First Deprecation whereby we beg at the hands of Almighty God either altogether to turn away his heavy displeasure conceiv'd against us through our Sins or at least to mittigate the Punishment due for our Offences Secondly Supplications are Prayers whereby we crave such things as are necessary either for the Sustentation of this present Life or for our everlasting Comfort in the World to come Thirdly Intercessions are Prayers made in the behalf of others And lastly Thanksgiving is when we Praise God and celebrate his holy Name for all the Benefits confer'd both upon our Souls and Bodies Some short Ejaculations and Prayers according to Scripture Rules I Give thee most hearty thanks O Eternal God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for that it hath pleased thee of thy unspeakable Mercy and Goodness in all Ages succesfully to send into the world Men wonderfully endow'd with thy Gifts and adorn'd with the knowledge of thy Will to be Revivers and Preachers of thy Word of Truth Mat. 23.34 Ephes. 4.2.1 2. I likewise render most hearty thanks unto thy most Sacred Majesty for sending thy only Son that great Shepherd of thy Church to make known thy Word to such as thou thinkest fit to teach thy People the Truth of thy Written Word for the gathering together thy Church out of all Mankind to the building up of the Body of Christ. I humbly beseech Thee most gracious God to continue always amongst us thy pure Word and through thy Ministers gather to thy self an infinite and everlasting Congregation and so instruct my heart with thy Spirit of Truth that I may unfeignedly assent to thy wholesome Word whereby I may prove a lively Member of thy Body and be incorporated into that Society which doth in this World sincerely confess thee and in the next World for ever enjoy thee evermore extolling the holiness of thy Name preserve in safety the Ministers and Teachers of thy Word and give them the certain knowledge of thy Blessed will that by thy Word they may from time to time open unto us thine intent concerning the repairing of Mankind to the Saving and Redeeming of our Souls thro' thy free Mercy and also teach us here to live in new obedience and to withstand the violence and allurements of our carnal desires which fight against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.12 Inspire the Preachers of thy Word with the Divine Breathings of thy holy Spirit that they may utter thy Will with the Purity they receive from thy Mouth retaining the form of wholesome Words and sounding none but the Doctrine manifested by thy Son out of thy Bosom 2 Tim. 1.13 Ioh. 1.18 for by departing from the order of the Faith and Rule of thy Word they will greatly obscure the light of thy Doctrine and obtrude upon us the Vanity of their own Inventions for thy holy Inspirations therefore let them speak thy Word not deceitfully but sincerely as from thee and in thy sight 2 Cor. 4.2 Grant also that by transforming thy Divine Ministry into Earthly Policy they Lord it not over thine Elect neither proudly contend about Superiority and Primacy in thy Church 1 Pet. 5 3. But only seek the Glory of thy Name and the Salvation of themselves and us committed by thy Providence to their Charge give them liberty of Speech boldly without fear to blame and rebuke all false Doctrine Blasphemous Superstitions and abuses in thy Church Ephes. 6.19 Open unto them the door of utterance that they may speak the Mysteries of Christ and manifest them as they ought to do so shall their doings be profitable to the Godly Colos. 4.3 Assist them also with thy especial Grace that they disgrace not the Doctrine which they Teach and Preach by impurity of Life 1 Tim. 3.2 4. but especially assist the Shepherd under thee whom I hear for the good of my Soul from whose Mouth I learn thy Blessed Will keep him O Lord I heartily Pray in Religion sincere and pure from enormous Offences in his outward Conversation endow him with a long and healthful Life if it be thy Will that he may live to Convert many by Preaching thy Word of wholesome Doctrine and then we shall be Converted because thou art our God and being Converted we will do Penance shew us our Offences that we may have a true sense and hearty sorrow for our Sins O Son of God who art the Lord and head Shepherd of all thy Flock work thou effectually by thy Preachers and speak thou also within us to our hearts the blessed Will of thy Eternal Father and confirm thy Doctrine in our Minds by thy holy Spirit and grant I beseech thee that we may truly know and discern the same from the howling of Wolves and from the Inchanting Songs of Hirelings Ioh. 10.12 and 17.15 and grant that we may know thee even as thou knowest thy Heavenly Father and walk Religiously and Righteously in thy Sight showing our selves to be that holy Seed which praiseth thy Name for evermore Come Holy Spirit open my Heart and Ears that I may conceive the profit of thy wholesome Doctrine and the sweet Comfort revealed in thy Holy Words by the Preaching of the Gospel I beseech thee pour into us Godly Cogitations that we may never imagine as the Wicked do that the Miseries and Afflictions of this Life fall upon u● 〈◊〉 Chance and against thy Will but that we may 〈◊〉 believe that thy Church is govern'd by thy P●●vidence and that without thy Permission no Evil 〈◊〉 Punishment cometh for thou Lord sendest the s●me Amos 3.6 Then grant I beseech thee that we may suffer all Injuries and Adversities with quiet Minds and never attempt that which is contrary to thy Commandments but by an humble acknowledgment and submission to thy Will bear all sorts of Calamities with calling for thy Assistance Psal. 50.15 Tit. 22. Most Gracious God keep I beseech thee the power of Mans immortal Enemy the Prince of Darkness under that he compel not Consciences loaded with the weight of Sins to fall into fatal Desperation either by heaping up and aggravating their Offences or by extenuating thy Mercy enhance too much their own guilt or lessen thy Power of forgiving but grant that all Sinners that are heavy laden may with a true and lively Faith come unto thee for Ease and

refreshment may they freely come unto thee by hearing thy Word to Repentance that the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce at their happy Conversion Luk. 15.7 Amen See Iames 5.16 Mat. 6.14 and Esa. 66.2 where you may Read what you ought to do if you would have God forgive you your Sins hear your Prayers and grant your Requests Prayer is a vehement desire of the heart to obtain something at the hand of God who look●● not upon the Face as man doth but beholdeth the 〈◊〉 neither doth he listen to the sound of the ●outh but ●o the fervency of the Mind Therefore Christians Praying have their affections bent towards God they ●lways hunger and thirst after Righteousness The ●rayer of him who humbleth himself is accepted as appear'd by the Publican Luk. 18.19 Psal. 50 1● Mark 13.3.3 Coloss. 4.2 Luk. 11.9 Ioh. 6.23 How excellent a thing it is for Man to converse with God! this joyns Man in Society with Angels thro' ascribing with them due Praise and Glory unto the Almighty Let nothing dismay a Christian from Praying unto God for the Prayer of the Righteous is the Key of Heaven the Prayer of the Godly doth ascend and the Mercy of God doth thereby come down therefore we will Sing Praise unto Thee O Lord for as thou hast been our Defence in the day of our trouble even so I beseech Thee to protect and save us everlastingly Amen Let us with St. Paul Heb. 4.16 come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy That is let us in confident assurance of God's readiness to help us make our Addresses boldly and chearfully to the Throne of his Grace upon all occasions suing to our bountiful God for the Relief of all our Necessities and let us consider when we are about to offer up our Petitions to God by Prayer what ou● necessities and wants are before we ask least throug● temerity we ask amiss His freeness to give ma● well make us bold to ask his power to supply us may give us hopes to obtain what is necessary for us and his greatness ought to make us temper our Addresses with Humility as for choice of Words and Elegant long Harangues let us not be too solicitous for God regards not Eloquence and long Harangues so much as the sincerity of those that invocate his Majesty Men chiefly mind the neatness of expression God the Truth and fervency of what is exprest We are commanded to Pray without ceasing which is best done according to Scripture Rules because no Method is comparable to that which God has laid down for us and Christ taught us When we groan under the weight of any Affliction we shall ever find help by calling upon God desiring the assistance of the Righteous to be joyned with us in Prayer For the Prayers of the Faithful availeth much their help we are admonish'd to desire by the Example of St. Paul who said to the Romans I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Iesus Christ's sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together wi●h me in your Endeavours and Prayers to God for me ●or the light of ●is Countenance and for assisting in every Duty Rom. 15.20 Some define Prayer thus An humble lifting up of the Heart or a pouring out of the Soul to God in the Name of Christ it is crying Abba Father As Scrip●ure is God's Letter wherein he openeth his Mind to Man so Prayer is Man's Letter wherein he expresses ●is Mind to God A thought can fly speedily to the utmost part of the Earth but Prayer in a Moment ascends to the highest Heavens 't is as it were a speaking Trumpet one end of which being fastened to Man's mouth it carryeth the Petitioning voice to God's Ear tho' spoken near so softly Prayer hath a twofold advantage of some other Duties in regard its Influence is Universal and to ●ts Exercise an opportunity is never wanting A Christian cannot always hear or read God's Word out he may Pray continually Every Saint is God's Temple and he that carries a Temple about him ●ay go to Prayer when he pleaseth A good Chri●tian need not be very nice in chusing a place for De●otion since to him every house is a house of Prayer ●nd every place he comes to an Altar whereon he ●ay offer up to God a Sacrifice of Prayer yet De●ency is not to be forgotten as far as circumstance ●ill allow since even by it we express a kind of Devotion to our God but many alass are so far from being curious in this point that they forget to pay at all this Duty tho' most necessary to the obtaining their Eternal Salvation If we are in doubts about our Spiritual Estate let us in Prayer go to God who is marvellous in Council are we in Affliction let us call upon him for help and he will not only hear us but also in his good time deliver us Do's any affliction seize our Bodies which endangers our lives or disturb our tranquility let us by Prayer call upon him at Midnight and he will make hast to help us tho' we are troubled exceedingly in a Moment he can give us quiet and rest nay tho' we should be encompassed with Enemies driven to the greatest of Necessities perplex'd with Doubts threatned with Dangers or like Peter falsly Imprisoned and watched narrowly Night and Day lest we should make an Escape yet Prayer as another Moses will go before us and so engage God on our side that he will vanquish our Enemies relieve ou● Necessities unfold our Doubts prevent our Dangers convert our Bondage into Liberty and guide us all the way thro' the Wilderness of this World 'till we arrive at the Spiritual Land of Canaan and be Enroled Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem where Christ is infinitely exceeding that Ierusalem where Christ was and whither the Devout Iews went once a year to Worship And here it will not be amiss nor I believe unacceptable to my Reader to give him some account of the Earthly Ierusalem and its many Revolutions so much spoken of in Scripture and other Histories This Ierusalem by some called the Holy City and Throne of God was antiently a Fort of the Iebusites upon Mount Sion not conquer'd by the valiant Ioshua but was fully subdu'd by the victorious Arm of David who Built thereon the City unto which was adjoyn'd Mount Moriah and therefore call'd the Daughter of Sion where Abraham would have offer'd his Son Isaac where David built his Altar and Solomon his Beauti●ul Temple of which great things are by all Histori●ns Recorded 'T is Scituate in the midst of Nations ●t was the place of Holy Worship from this Moun●ain which for many things is justly prefer'd before ●ll others did flow those Salutiferous Waters that gave Life where ever they ran from hence Christ ●ent his Apostles as so many Spiritual Fishermen to ●atch the Souls of Men. In this famous City stood ●he Throne of David