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
A86329	The order of causes. Of [brace] Gods fore-knowledge, election, and predestination. And of mans salvation or damnation. Laid down so clearly, and proved so plainly by the scriptures, that even the meanest capacity amongst rational men may understand it, to their great satisfaction. As also, whether Christ died for all, or not for all: with the causes and effects that may follow or not follow, seriously considered, meekly controverted, and plainly proved by the scriptures of truth; to the great satisfaction of all rational people fearing God. By Henry Haggar, a servant of Christ, and of the congregations of his saints.	Haggar, Henry.	1654 (1654)	Wing H188; Thomason E735_20; ESTC R206976	22,700	32

Christ was called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World and yet not slain nor touched till the day of his death so also although God callech men Elect from the foundation of the world yet they are not Elect nor chosen until the very day of their conversion and turning from sin to God for God calleth things that are not as though they were from whence it is evident they were not Elect although so called Again if we consider Election according to the foreknowledge of God it is plain from that text in 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience From whence I reason thus If the Elect are Chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit then they were not chosen before they had the Spirit and were sanctified by the Spirit But they had not that sanctifying Spirit before they had a being either in the World or else in their Mothers Womb at leastwise Therefore not chosen from the foundation of the World but onely as aforesaid Again 2 Thess 2.13 We are bound to give thanks alway to God for yon Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth whereunto you were called by our Gospel From whence I argue thus If the Saints are chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and believing of the truth and were called to believe that truth by the hearing of the Gospel then they were not chosen before they had believed the truth and before they did hear the Gospel by which they were called to believe But they were chosen through believing the truth and called to believe it by the Gospel as aforesaid and Faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.17 Therefore not chosen before they had a being no more then Christ was slain before he had a being For according to the Scripture they were chosen through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth and if through is then not without it observe that but it is through it therefore not without it Moreover they were called to this-this-faith by the Gospel which they never heard before they had a being Therefore it is clear their Election was not before their Conversion though God saw it before neither indeed can it be because the Elect are all chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 but I can prove that those very Elect Ephesians where once our of Christ chap. 2.11 12. Remember saith the Apostle that at that time ye were without Christ without hope without God in the world from whence I argue thus If at that time they were without God and without Christ then at that time they were not in him for they could not be without him and within him both at one time and if not in Christ then not chosen in him as all rational men will grant From all which I conclude That men were elected in Christ according to the Scripture yet never in him before they believed in him and they never believed in him before they heard the Gospel and they never heard the Gospel before they were born Therefore not Elected though so called by God who justifieith the ungodly and calleth things that are not as though they were Again how plain is it Eph. 1. 11 12. where Paul saith that they whom God did predestinate according to the counsel of his own will to be to the praise of his glory were such as did first trust in Christ and in ver 13. he saith that they trusted in Christ after they heard the word of truth the Gospel of their salvation not before the which they never heard before they were born all men will grant that have but reason Again how clear is that text 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God whence it is plain if God knew them before he Elected them then he knew them as men in the flesh and not as they were nothings and if he knew them as they were men they must needs be born first for of nothing nothing can be known before time nor chosen in time Therefore I conclude that the real and absolute act of Election comes to pass in time though known of God before time who according to his foreknowledge calleth things that are not as though they were and so calleth men that are not Elected as though they were Elected And thus is the great Objection about Gods Election answered and the stumbling-block taken away to the end that men might work out their salvation with fear and trembling and make their Calling and Election sure The same may also be considered of Gods predestination or fore-appointing all obedient believers to Life and Salvation not without but according to his foreknowledge of all their words and actions from the foundation of the World And so likewise he predestinateth or fore-appointeth all disobedient unbelievers and apostates to death and damnation not without but according to his foreknowledge of all their words and actions from the foundation of the world Thus I do believe that God foresaw all men and things past present and to come at once at once I do believe that God foresaw Adams fall long before he was a creature in being for nothing is hid from his eyes but all things are naked and bare before him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 But it may be some will say If God did foreknow Adam would fall when he had created him why then did he make him To which I answer two things first what have we to do to reply against our Maker shall the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus Shall Adam say to his Maker Why hast thou made me thus subject to fall What is that to Adam seeing God hath given him and his posterity means to rise again to as good or a better condition and the neglect of tha● means is that which will rise up in judgement against all slothful disobedient ones that will not make use of their talents of power wisdom and understanding which God hath given them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling while they may This well considered will give light into Rom. 9.10 11 20 21 22. and if men will needs understand that God loved Jacob and hated Esan before they were born they should consider that God knew them both before they were born and after they were born alike according to his foreknowledge as aforesaid But I know that this is brought to prove that Gods Election is not because of works foreseen To which I answer but what works It is true God doth not chuse us because of any works of righteousness that we have done or can do out of Christ for out of him no works are accepted therefore it is said Not of works lest any man should boast therefore no works are required of unbelievers but the very prayers of the

wicked are an abomination to the Lord but it is because of works of righteousness that Christ himself hath wrought for us in his own person and doth work by us and in us by his Spirit when we are believers And though boasting in the works of the Law and boasting of works before believing be reproved yet Paul saith As the truth of Christ is in me no man shall stop me of that boasting 2 Cor. 11.10 and although be cryed down works before faith in so many places yet he preacheth up works after believing loud enough in these words Tit. 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou constantly affirm That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works for they are good and profitable c. and Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear trembling for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Thus we may see that although it be not for our workings without Christ that we are chosen or predestinated to life and glory yet it is by our workings with Christ when he by his Spirit dwelleth in our hearts by believing and is in us the hope of glory for then he worketh in us and our works are acceptable because he works them by us and we work them in him Therefore Paul saith We therefore as workers together with him beseech you c. Therefore if men would but open their eyes they might easily see what works the Apostle speaks of when he saith Election is not of works But of this more plainly anon Secondly I answer Although God saw Adam would fall yet he saw him a creature first or else he could not have foreseen he would fall when he was a creature therefore God is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14.33 and fore-seeth all things orderly and not confusedly So then I conclude that first he saw Adam created Secondly He saw him fallen and all his postery in his loynes Thirdly He saw Christ crucified for them Fourthly He foresaw the Gospel preached to all men in their generations Fifthly He foresaw all mens receiving or refusing believing or not believing obeying or disobeying his Gospel in their several generations as it was is or shall be communicated to the end of all ages in order at once And seeing as well then what men would do in their ages and generations to come as they do know themselves when their lives and actions are finished God could thereupon make up his Election and Reprobation chusing or electing obedient believers according to his foreknowledge to Life and Salvation and refusing and reprobating disobedient unbelievers to eternal death and damnation And thus is Election and Reprobation to be considered according to the sorekowledge of God in Christ or out of Christ from the foundation of the World according to the Scriptures Which if well considered it would put an end to all the confused and distracted thoughts in men about these things But it may be that some will yet object that I hold faith and obedience in us to be the cause of Gods electing or chusing us to life and glory Answ That faith in Christ and obedience to Christ is a cause without which God chuseth none to Life and Salvation I affirm because we never read that God chose any disobedient unbeliever to life and glory which lived and dyed so but that it is the cause for which he doth chuse any I shall utterly deny and shew the contrary in the Order of Causes thus Suppose I should affirm my obedience to be the cause of my Election to Salvation then what is the cause of my obedience Answ My love to Christ But what is the cause of my love to Christ Answ The preaching of the Gospel of Christ viz. that he died for my sins and rose again for my justification without which there could be no believers for take away Christ and take away faith and then believe who can But what is the cause of the preaching of the Gospel to us Answ Christs dying for us But what is the cause of Christs dying for us Answ Even Gods great love of pity wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.4 at that time he commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christs died for us Rom. 5.8 Thus all men may see that I do not hold that God chose any to Life and Salvation for any good in them before he put it in them as I shall now make appear more at large by the Scriptures considering the causes in order descending from God to us or ascending from us to God 1 Cause Gods love to the sons of men as they were sinners against him and enemies to him was the cause of his sending his Son to die for sinners for his enemies for the ungodly for the unjust as appeareth by these following Scriptures John 3.16 Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Pet. 3.18 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly And God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life For Christ also hath suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 2 Cause Christs dying for our sins and rising again from the dead is the cause of the Gospels being preached to sinners as appeareth by these Scriptures Mat. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. 1 Cor. 15.13 14. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is mine both in Heaven and in Earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations c. And again he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature c. But if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins c. 3 Cause The Gospels being preached to sinners is the cause of their believing as appeareth by these Scriptures Rom. 10.14 15 17. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent As it is written So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 4 Cause Mens believing is the cause of their justification from sin as appeareth by these Scriptures Act. 13.38 39. Rom. 3.26 28. chap. 4.3 23 24 25. Be it known unto you therefore that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins c. By him all that believe are