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	know_v	6,721	5	4.2859	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20782	The iaylors conuersion Wherein is liuely represented, the true image of a soule rightlye touched, and conuerted by the spirit of God. The waightie circumstances of which supernaturall worke, for the sweete amplifications, and fit applications to the present time, are now set downe for the comfort of the strong, and confirmation of the weake. By Hugh Dowriche Batch. of Diuinitie.	Dowriche, Hugh, b. 1552 or 3.	1596 (1596)	STC 7160; ESTC S111947	34,879	82

estate Therfore the Lord sent them the voice of a more terible preacher which shooke both bodies and houses all at once assaying by this meanes to bring their impenitent harts to some shaking feeling and feare of conscience for their sinnes But as Which was felt about the yeare 1580. that Earthquake shewed them so our last Earthquake and other tokens sithens shew vs plainely now the estate wherin we stand which is that we yet continue in our sinnes That we despise the voice of the Gospel neede a more sharp preacher it openeth our securitie it threatneth Gods iustice in seueritie it promiseth our punishment shews vs that it is very neere the last time of warning Happie wee see are they which come when the Lord calleth them for many bee called but few are chosen few come What callings should we looke for more then wee haue had Wee haue had our daughter diseased our sonne sicke our seruant like to die wee haue seene fearefull signes ouer Ierusalem we haue heard of the gatherings of the confederacies and conspiracies of many nations against vs we haue found little faith in our friends little loyaltie in our owne naturall children great falsehoode in friendly face great diuisions quarrels and hartburnings amongst our selues many Malcontent dayly rising and a thousand other such callings besides the consideration of the silly threede of our happie estate depending vpon one and in earthly respects but one onely the vncertaintie of all things when God shall visite vs the turmoyles and hurliburlies that we may long before plainely see if God of his mercy helpe not These thinges are considered of few of many not accounted of and feared of none What will the ende of these things bee Let all the inhabitants of England crie Lord saue our Noble Queene Elizabeth from treason at home and from forraine enemies abroade Lord forgiue her her sinnes and vs our wickednes and graunt if it be thy will that she may yet long and long time in peace and in saftie preserue this her Noble Realme of England Amen Lastly we learne the great mercies of our God For he chideth before he stricke hee warneth before he destroyeth he punisheth not till he haue vsed all meanes to haue vs returne Hee giueth sinners both grace and space to repent and to seeke which waye they may be saued with this sinfull Iaylor The fift and last circumstance The time when he fell to haue this care what hee might doe to be saued He neuer fell to this consideration till the Lord drew him vnto it by his spirit For in the nature of mā ther is no good thought motion or power to returne from euill to consider and see our sinnes or to lament and be sorrie for them and at the word to seeke for remedy against them but rather a desire will and affection still to remaine in them Therefore Christ said No man can come vnto me except my father draw him This man Iohn 6. 37. 44. 3. 27 had his part of two motions The one outward by the miracle the other inward by the holy Ghost Application Doctrine Where first we see that all our labour trauaile is lost in preaching and opening the Scripture outwardly to the eare except the spirit also preach inwardly to the heart For men are of themselues deafe and dull till God doe open their harts and giue them a new vnderstanding as he gaue to Lidia to this Iaylor and many other Againe we see how naked weake miserable we be of our selues and that if wee were not gouerned and nourished by better power then our owne how quickely miserably wee should perish Therefore this consideration may serue to conquer the spirit of pride in our freewill men when they shall know that in their flesh and humaine nature ther is no goodnes at all that they can performe nothing that is good without him that said Without me ye can do nothing 1. Cor. 4. 7. Act. 20. 35. What hast thou saith Paule which thou hast not receiued We learne that faith is not in the power nature of mā to beleue or not to beleue whē Ep. 1. 18. 19 1. Cor. 12 ● 9 11. it pleseth him but that it is the free gift of God for Christs sake vnto those that are his chosē For if it were in the nature of man then all Phil. 1. 29. 2. Thes 3 2. men shuld beleue But Al men haue not faith therefore it is in vs a worke supernaturall wrought by the spirite of God onely The want of the presence and working of which spirit in the harts of men makes them that they haue no desire to heare the word and when they doe heare it they take no profit by it for it is saide But the word which they heard profited them not because it was not mixted Heb. 4. 20 with faith in them that heard it Where wee see a notable relation betweene fayth the word The one can neuer be effectual without the other They goe both together Therefore as soone as there was a fayth kindle in the hart of this Iaylor by the holy Ghost he seekes presently for the word as the body for the soule For as the body is a dead thing without the soule so the word also hath no life effect or motion without faith Now wee see why many Gentlemen Countriemen and others are yet either Atheists ●esters in Religion or despisers of the word because as yet with this Iaylor they haue not receiued the gift of faith c. Here we vnderstand that all shall not be saued against the error of Origen for without faith none can be saued but none haue faith but they onely whome God the father gaue vnto his sonne Christ But hee saith I pray not for the world but for them which thou Ioh. 17. 9. hast giuen me Therefore the elect which are separated from the world that is the reprobate by the free election and donation of God and are garded by the continuall prayer of Christ are they onely that shall bee saued Of which number wee see now this Iaylor by his calling and faith to bee one For Gods election oftentimes lyeth hid vnder a wicked life till the time of their conuersion come which the Lord hath appointed All are not wee see drawne to Christ in one manner for there bee many which professe Religion and talke much of Christ whome God the father by his spirite neuer drew but either their bellie hope of honor vaine glorie c. No maruaile though they belieue not rightly and though they continue not long in a good course Such are many of our earnest Iesuites Papists and libertine professors of the Gospell of Christ Lastly when it is saide that this Iaylor was drawne to this Religion to this godly care and in like manner all the elect wee learne what vnwillingnes what slacknesse what negligence wee vse in our comming to Christ and that wee of our owne nature haue no list affection or good will to come longer then God by his spirite moueth vs and compelleth vs. Therefore if Christ should looke for vs till wee should come of our selues wee should surely neuer see him nor haue any part in him Let vs therefore desire the Lord that as he by his holy spirit drew this Iaylor from the miserable thraldome of ignorance error and iniquitie and planted a desire in him to seeke the truth and by the same gaue him both comfort saluation So in like manner that he will by the same spirite moue our hard hearts to lament our sinne open our blinde eyes to see our imperfection and draw our proude stomakes to humble our affections to the obedience of the word and kindle in vs a loue to like and seeke the same that wee also in our most extremities may by Christ receiue light helpe and euerlasting comfort which the Lord God graunt vnto vs for his deare Sonne Iesus Christs sake to whome with the holy Ghost three persons and one eternall God be al honor power praise glorie and dominion both now and euer Let all praise and glorie be giuen to God alone FINIS

say that the Scripture is not sufficient for their saluation but they must seeke other traditions which say that to belieue in Christ is not sufficient except he keepe the whole law which impudently and wickedly affirme that Christ by his death hath not sufficiently purged their sins but that there is an other Purgatorie appointed to clense and make cleane the faithfull Col. 2. 8. thorough which euery one must passe that shall enter into heauen Contrarie to the preaching of the true Apostles and the sacred word for wee are bid to take heede of Tit. 1. 14 mens traditions that wee bee not deceiued by them Againe that wee follow not commaundements of men which turne from the truth And in the very next verse to my text Act. 16. 31. Paule tolde this Iaylor that it was sufficient both for him and his housholde to be saued Ioh 3. 18. 5. 24. if he did onely belieue Christ hath said He that belieueth shall be saued Hee that belieueth in the sonne shall not come into iudgement Hee Wisd 3. 1. that heareth my word and belieueth in him that sent me hath life euerlasting hee shall not bee iudged but hath passed from death vnto life The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them Heb. 1. 3. Christ by himselfe hath purged our sinne therefore we neede no other Purgatories we defie such as haue inuented them to the derogation of Christs power and honour Litle comfort may a wounded conscience Torrensis lib ● ca. 4. lib. 8. cap. 4. Consilium Tridenti●um sess 6. ●an 12. ●3 can ●5 16. find at their hand who teach That men must alwaies doubt and neuer assure themselues of their election in Christ what motions so euer they feele and that they must alwaies carrie an vncertaine opinion whether they shall perseuere vnto the end or not But let them come to the pure foūtaine of the word of God and then they shall heare the spirite Iam. 1. 7. tell them that except they belieue the Forgiuenes of sinnes without doubting or if they wauer vncertainely in doubtfull dumpes they shall neuer obtaine anye thing of the Mat. 9. 2. Lord they shall heare Christ say Son stand not in doubt but comfort thy selfe assure thy selfe Thy sins are forgiuen thee They shall heare that Abraham after the promise was made vnto him neuer doubted of the Rom. 4. 18. 19 performance of it not considering himselfe and the weakenesse of his owne body but the promise and the abilitie of the Lorde that had promised They shall heare the spirite of God tell the Corinthians and vnder them vs that we being sometime disobedient hauing now receiued and belieued the word Are sanctified are iustified in the name 1. Cor. 6. 11 of the Lord Iesus Christ and by the spirite of our God They shall heare Paule in the full assuraunce of his election to reioyce without doubting I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that that I now liue in the flesh I Gala. 2. 20. 〈◊〉 by the faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me They shal heare the spirite exhorting them to go boldly Heb. 4. 16. 10. 19. to the throne of grace and not to doubt but rather that by the bloud of Christ they may be bolde trust perfectly not doubtingly 1. Pet. 1. 13. on the grace that is brought vnto them c. Aske of the Papists which teach this doubting doctrine what is ment by that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fulnesse of faith whereof the Scripture makes so much mention calling it the full Assurance of vnderstanding and the effectuall Col. 2. 2. faith they must needs if they answere truely say that it is A peculiar application whereby euerie perfect beleeuer that feeleth the earnest pennie of his election doth applye vnto 1. Thes 1. 3. himselfe the promise of eternall life in Christ Iesus Now for perseuerance vnto the end of which the Papists would haue vs to doubt Let them consider whether they saye not daily in their beliefe I belieue euerlasting life If they doe let them consider what they be that Christ saith shall be saued They that indure to the end Such as be not werie in weldoing Mat. 24. 13. 2. The. 3 13 Then if they belieue that any shal be saued they must needes also belieue that they shal endure to the end So that they must needes confesse that the faithfull shall indure vnto the end such I meane as are appointed to eternall life And if this argument suffice not let vs see what speeches the full assurance of this perseuerāce vnto the end hath brought forth in the elect and godly Dauid sayth Doubtlesse goodnes and mercie shall follow me Psal 23. 9. all the daies of my life c. Paule saith I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. shall seperate vs frō the loue of God which is in Christ Rom. 8. 38. Iesus our Lord. Againe the same Paule saith vnto such as afterwarde had receiued the word and belieued in this Cittie of Phillippie where our Iaylor was I am perswaded Phil. 1. 6. that he which hath begun this good work in you will performe it vntill the day of our Lord Iesus Christ Thus we see that wee are to comfort our selues in this that if wee pertaine vnto Christ we may not doubt of our election or perseuerance which both we must be assured of not by reason of any perfection strength or goodnesse in our selues but onely relying on the might and mercie of Iesus Christ which by his bloude hath redeemed our dayly and fleshly imperfections and fals that our continuaunce in him and by him may neuer be finally broken off Thus we see to whome we must goe with this Iaylor for comfort in our extremitie whome we must auoide We see further that GOD hath at all times confirmed his trueth spoken by his seruants with manifest signes and tokens whereby they that were not quite forsaken might bee called to the knowledge of the same What good our signes and tokens haue done to vs I can not see but onely that manye by them are made the more hard harted and carelesse no doubt to their farder condemnation This Iaylor no sooner saw the power of God making manifest and giuing testimonie vnto the truth which the Apostles had preached but he presently yeelded vnto it imbraced it sought his remedie by it forsooke his olde customes and masters was content and willing to learne He no sooner saw the iudgements of God but straight he remembred his sinne he repented hee bad farwell to his former delightes pleasures pastimes wantonnesse and wickednesse and of an enemie became a friend of a persecutor a professor of a proude master an humble seruant and of a sinfull Iaylor a penitent beleeuer Therefore as

Christ said that Tyrus and Sidon and the Queene of the South should rise in iudgement against the hard-harted vnbelieuers of Ierusalē so no doubt this Iaylor as he condemned the proud Pharisies then so he shal be a heauie condemnation to our blinde Papistes and our carnall and licentious professors of the Gospel now which hauing the truth haue loued error more then the truth hauing the light haue desired darkenesse more then the light and hauing saluation offered by Christ haue chosen rather damnation in following their owne deuises and wilfully continuing the course of their sweete olde sinnes For our Papists notwithstanding all the preaching of Christ will be still Moses Disciples they wil not forsake the customes of their fathers and the ignorance of that time wherin they were Christened they will neuer suspecte that there can bee hypocrisie error and deceite vnder the graue habites and demure countenances of their old Doctors Priests Scribes and Pharisies They would be loth to depart from the vnitie as they call it the consent of so many ages counsels and learned fathers to belieue the new doctrine of Paule and Silas strangers wanderers but lately heard of but euen now come to the towne These and many other stops were laide in the laylors way to haue kept him from obedience to the truth but when the arme of the Lord was reuealed vnto him and when by the spirite of God his hart was Act. 16. 14. opened he cast of these fantastical shadows and obeyed the effectuall calling He might haue aleaged against the Apostles euerye way as much as any Papist in the world can say against the Gospell and the Lords instruments which in this last age hee commaunded and appointed to vnrake the truth from the dull ashes and misties shadowes in which it lay long time for sinne inclosed the worlde being not worthie of it Now the Papistes must condemne this Iaylor to be a foole for consenting so quickly to strange doctrine for giuing credit to a fewe against many to strangers against men that were knowne and for reuolting so easilye from the faith wherein hee was baptised or if they will not condemne him whome the word doth commend they must needs condemne themselues for not belieuing the same worde and obeying the like callings Especially seeing they haue many and diuers other examples that vrge and teach the same as Elisha who ranne after Elias vpon a 1. King 19 20. small calling to our iudgement The Disciples also vpon smal acquaintance were content to forsake shippes nets occupation Mat. 4. 18. gaine friendes and father to follow Christ assone as hee called them Mathew being a Publican was content at one word to arise to leaue his Office his profit his glorie his masters and former teachers to follow an other Mat. 9. 9. master that had now called him What should I recken Paule Cornelius Lidia with infinite others which obeyed the same calling that our Iaylor did Surely if the like should happen now if any should fall away from Poperie from superstition to follow Christ or belieue the doctrine of the Apostles if Elisha if the Disciples if Paule if Cornelius now liued they should bee condemned by the Pope to be rash foolish and rancke heretiques It is time for vs which haue beene so long and many waies called at length to bid farwell vnto your pleasures delightes deceite hypocrisie c. This Iaylor will rise in iudgement against vs. The Popish chaine of vniuersalitie was now not yet coyned or of this man little esteemed which at this time is one of the great Ankers which holdes the Popedome that it sinckes not and keepes so many simple fooles in bondage vppon great bragges and vaine ostentation of a Monster in the ayre which neuer was That all the worlde forsoth is of their Religion or was not long sithens If this be true where was then I say not the popish vniuersalitie for that hath alwaies beene an vniuersalitie of error but where was any vniuersalitie of the truth at all when first the linage of Seth then of Abraham and his kindred in all the world Israel among all nations onely Iuda among all the tribes onely Iohn Baptist in al Iudea Christ only and his Apostles in all the earth Paul Silas only in all Macedonia Luther and a few others in all Germanie gaue testimonie of the truth Had it not beene a foolish thing for this Iaylor to haue iested at the truth because there were but a few that professed it Euen so grosse an absurditie it is now in our Papists to say that we haue not the truth because it is not vniuersally credited and belieued of all men and in al places receiued when as it is certaine that the truth hath neuer beene vniuersally receiued nor euer will but rather it hath alwaies beene by the wicked and most part of the world vniuersally persecuted and kept vnder and so will continue till the daye of Christ We see that if the opinion of wisedome grauitie and learning if gray haires strange formes of apparell with braue and gorgeous shewes if the riches pompe pride and glorie of the world in the dumbe Scribes and Pharisies could haue pacified the troubled conscience of this poore man hee needed not to haue come to the Apostles But wee learne that though error and the illusions of Sathan bare a gallant face and delightfull countenance outwardly to the world to blind and deceiue the sences of the simple yet there is nothing can pacifie with true peace the conscience wounded for sinne but onely the word of God For I pray you what is he in all the time of Poperie that can say that he was either comforted in conscience or conuerted from sinne by any of the masking shewes in apparel by the melodie sencing perfuming images painting guilting crossing shriuing or any other such Apish toyes vsed for a pompe without preaching or expounding the word Saint Paule alowes not any thing to be vsed neither by the minister nor in the Church Rom. 15. 2. 1. Tim. 1. 4. 1. Cor. 14. 26. 40. but such things onely as concerne a godly decencie and are knowne to edifie Lastly here is a glasse which neuer failes to shew vs the true proportion of such as be A true glasse for al estats rightly touched at the touch-stone of Gods spirit We see this man after he was touched how little ashamed hee was to confesse his blindnesse to condemne himselfe to desire helpe how little afraide hee was to venter credit office liuings life and all to obtaine that saluation which he desired of which he now felt the want This was a sure token in him and so it is in all to know them that are rightly called from the hypocritical professors For it is as possible that they which be rightly touched should continue in their olde couetousnesse whordome drunkennes blasphemie malice negligence and iniurie as it is for the spirite

of God to continue in the heart of a wicked man which can neuer be Now we see what we are to thinke of those lyars which say with their mouthes Wis 1. 3. 4. 5 Titus 1. 16. they know God and haue felt his motions and yet in their deedes denie him and of those fruitelesse and cursed Figtrees which in the spring bud faire and promise greate hope and yet at haruest yeelde nothing but Mat. 21. 19. leaues c. The third circumstance What question it was that the Iaylor demaunded The question is What must I doe to be saued Hee inquires not now after the fashion of worldlings what must I doe to come to promotion to honour and dignitie What must I doe to become rich and to obtaine an easie quiet life What must I do to be reuenged of my enemies to deceiue my neighbours and to satisfie my lust c. No he was not troubled about any such matter but the spirite of God had now made him carefull onely for one thing and the best thing which was what he might doe to bee saued and to haue his sinne forgiuen And it seemeth that the iudgements of God had touched him home that so presently a man so carnall so fleshly so worldly and sensual should so willingly take his leaue of the loue of the world of the vanities and pleasures of the same the loue of his house wife childrē liuing life and all and onely craue to know that which few did desire which many did despise that is what he might do to be saued Pointing as it were with his finger vnto the onely marke end vpon which euerie man should haue his whole care fixed planted In this question wee are to consider the manner of his comming vnto them and his salutation He fel down before thē he trembled he brought them out hee called then in Greeke my Lordes by a reuerend title What could hee haue done more to Noble men Nay what could he haue done more to the greatest princes in the world But a man may aske how could Paul Silas abide to be honoured not reprehend him Surely they knew that he honored thē not superstitiously which Paul could not abide in other Act. 14. 14. 15. places men but rather that he vsed this gesture forced vnto it by the manifest feeleing Act. 10. 26. of the iudgmēts of God in the late Earthquake and therefore suffered him to doe it Application and Doctrine We see first how the Lord when it pleaseth him forceth euen his enemies in their conscience to giue that truth an honourable testimonie which they persecuted and to honour it with great reuerence Wee learne of this Iaylor to honour the Lords gifts especially the worde of truth wheresoeuer we find it whether it be in the prison or at libertie whether it bee contemned or honored whether it be in men simple and despised or in men of credite and dignitie For the Lorde chuseth manye times the weake to confound the mightie the humble to shame the proude c. We see againe that the ministerie of the word is a calling and Office ordained and blessed by the Lord and therefore hee will haue it honored of all men Because the ministers thereof are not the Embassadours of worldly Princes which is also a calling of greate honour for they represent the Maiestie of the Kinge and are as it were the verie mouth of the Prince himselfe but they are the messengers of the Prince of all Princes the eternall Lorde of heauen and earth they represent the maiestie of the Lord in his word and when we heare them speaking if they preach nothing but according to the verie word wee must assure our selues that we heare the Lord speaking vnto vs in them Therefore we find that in many places the word it selfe giues them honorable titles for S. Paule saith they are worthie of double honour This Iaylor heere 1. Tim. 5. 17 cals them by the worthiest name of preheminence that he could deuise not in respect of their persons which seemed to bee but simple but for the loue and honour which he bare to the word which they professed Another thing we are here to consider which may not be forgotten That the Iaylor in demaunding this question What must I doe to bee saued flatly and plainely ouerthrowes and condemneth all the Religion of the Scribes and Pharisies to bee nothing else but a fardle of ceremonies toyes and superstitions ioyned with a worldly pompe and beautie onely hauing nothing in it to comfort the hart oppressed with Woe or assure the conscience of the mercie of God in Iesus Christ which is the onely Sauiour and saluation of the elect by faith For if hee had beene perswaded that the doctrine which the Pharisies taught concerning the fulfilling of the lawe had beene sufficient for his saluation to haue brought him the right way to the mercie of God and the forgiuenesse of his sinne he would neuer haue come vnto the Apostles to haue learned another way which had beene superfluous But wee see plainly that he did now not only doubt but boldly renounce and abandon and forsake in the plaine fielde the Pharisies superstition the rites and Religion wherein hee was borne brought vp and had for a long time continued Because hee saw that now when he most needed he could find no comfort nor saluation in it at all As if he should say Sirs I was borne vnder the Religion The Oration of the Iaylor vnto the Apostles which the Pharisies professe I haue beene zealous in it as many others at this day are I haue had an honorable opinion of it and haue hated them that haue gain-saide it I haue beene of long time now led with their outward pompe of dumbe shewes I could neuer by anye meanes bee perswaded that these great graue auncient learned wise men could euer haue bene deceiued or haue beene conuinced of any error or so blinded that they could not haue sene the truth Yet now I plainely see that they all the verye best of thē are but hypocrits blind guides folish ignorant of the true knowledge wicked Ma 23. 13 the generation of Vipers which shut vp the kingdome of heauen and wil neither enter themselues nor suffer others that would which deuour the widdowes houses with colour of long praier which compasse sea land to make one of their profession which make cleane the outerside of the cup and platter but within are full of briberie and excesse which I see are nothing else but whited Tombes full of dead mens bones all filthynes c. I can not find now in their Religion anye comfort at all for a wounded conscience or any hope to haue my sins forgiuen Now therefore sith it hath pleased the Lord with one motion to moue both body and heart and that he hath made me see my sinne my ignorance my blindnes I doe here