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

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54049	The root of popery struck at, and the true ancient apostolick foundation discovered, in some propositions to the papists concerning fallibility and infallibility, which cut down the uncertain, and manifest the certain way of receiving and growing up into the truth : also, some considerations concerning the true and false church and ministry, with the state of each since the dayes of the apostles : held forth in true love and pity to the souls of the papists, that they may hear and consider, and not mistake and stumble at the rock of ages, whereupon the prophets, apostles, and whole flock of God throughout all generations have been built : there is likewise somewhat added concerning the ground of error, and the way to truth and unity, for the sake of such as are more spiritual, and have been more inwardly exercised in searching after truth / by Isaac Penington, the younger.	Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.	1660 (1660)	Wing P1185; ESTC R18235	18,931	26

them what they should believe which the Apostles never did but said expresly they had not dominion over the Faith of others but were helpers of their joy 2 Cor. 1.24 They could not command any to believe their Doctrine but spake in the demonstration of the Spirit waiting till God opened the heart 2 Cor 4.2 and would not have men profess believe or practice from their Words but by a feeling of the Power 1 Cor. 2.5 And when men did believe some things and came into the unity fellowship of the Faith they did not require them to believe all the that Church taught or held forth as true but waited till God pleased to reveal further Phil. 3.15 Indeed they could command obedience to the Faith What Truths the Spirit of the Lord revealed and taught any man they could charge him in the Name of the Lord to be faithful to Rom. 1.5 but they knew it was God alone who could ingraft the Truth into the heart and conscience and also give the encrease of it And so from him alone they expected it waiting in patience on the stubborn and perverse till God should please to work upon them 2 Tim. 2.24 25. and likewise on those that were convinced and had subjected themselves to the Faith for his encrease of it 1 Cor. 3.6 7. 2dly Their abridging mens liberty in things wherein God hath left them free and pressing an uniformity in things which they themselves confess to be indifferent Now the Apostle who had the care of all the Churches 2 Cor. 11 28 though he knew certainly how to determine about meats and dayes as himself confesseth Rom. 14.14 yet he telleth the Church at Rome expresly that Christ was the Lord and Master of every Disciple to whom he must stand or fall herein ver. 4. and that every man ought to do is he is fully perswaded in his own mind ver. 5. Nay he is so far from pressing a necessity of uniformity in such Cases that he presseth a necessity of bearing on each hand ver. 3. So that in the Apostles judgement the Church hath not Power to lay commands on the Conscience but must receive the weakest in the Faith ver. 1. leaving him to the liberty of his Conscience and to his subjection to his own Lord and Master to whom every Believer must give an account of what he receives and of what he obeys and performs ver. 10. and 12. 3dly Their setting up a Church-building Government and Discipline by the Magistrates Power This the Apostles no where taught nor practiced They converted men by the Power of the Spirit they cut down Errors Heresies Seducers and Hereticks by the same Word and they found the Weapons of their Warfare sufficient 2 Cor. 10.4 they had no need of running to the Magistrate But that Church those Doctrines that Government and Discipline which is set up by the Magistrates Sword without and against the Spirit that hath need of a carnal Sword to defend it against the Spirit and to cut down God's Witnesses whom he raiseth up to testifie against it for Schismaticks and Hereticks or its nakedness wil soon be made manifest it's ruin approach Now when the Lord hath judged all the Daughters of Babylon for these things then will he at length begin to plead with their Mother Babylon the great who hath gone a whoring from the Spirit and built up a gawdy Church without the Spirit which she hath defended by violence and blood drinking the Blood of the Saints who have been inspired by the Spirit to testifie against her Rev. 11.7 8. and hath taught all her Daughters to do the same to wit to drink the blood of the Witnesses against them even as she hath drunk the blood of the Witnesses that have testified against her And though because she hath had an half day more given her after her time seemed to be even expiring and after Judgement and Desolation was beginning to enter upon her though because of this she thinks the bitterness of death is past and she shall now sit as a Queen a Lady a glorious Church for ever Rev. 18.7 yet for all this is she come again into God's remembrance Rev. 16.19 and she shall see Widowhood and be cast into a Bed of Torment and all her Children into great Tribulation with her and she shall be desolate and naked and drink of the Cup and not repent that she might escape it Rev. 16.11 and 9.20 21. This is her portion from the hand of the Lord Oh happy is he whose eyes the Lord shall open to flee out of her for his life For the Lamb is arisen to make War and his Spouse is making her self ready for his pure Bed of Life his anger is kindled against all the Kings Powers of the Earth that stand in his way and though they fight never so resolutely against him and his meek ones they shall not prevail but the Lamb will overcome all for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they that are with him in this Battle of his Spirit are called and chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 And though this Woman the false Church in her various dresses is so strong every where getting the Earthly Powers and Authorities on her side that now it may be said concerning this Beast in the several appearances of it as was concerning the former Who is able to make war with her Yet there is an invisible Power stronger than she who will call her to judgement Rev. 18.8 and make her give an account of all the Saints blood which she hath drunk her self and which she hath taught her Daughters to drink And Salvation Glory Honor and Power shall be ascribed to the Lord for his righteous and powerful judging of her Rev. 19.1 2. And he that hath any glimmering of this in the eternal Light of the Lords pure ever-living Spirit let him even now say Alleluja to him who is arisen out of his holy habitation and hath already begun this Work who will not fail to perfect it Amen Somewhat concerning the GROUND of ERROR and the way to Truth and Unity for the sake of such as are more spiritual c. THere is no way to become an Heir of the Kingdom of God but by being begotten and born of his Spirit which blows upon the spirit of a man breaths life into him and forms him in the Eternal Image John 3.8 Gal. 4.19 There is no way of having this Work of God preserved but by turning to the Spirit which begets standing and keeping upright in that which is begotten and taking heed of the fleshly wisdom which stands near to corrupt and destroy the work of God tempting and leading aside from the Truth it self into some Image and Resemblance of it And if this prevail there is suddenly a departing from the living God and a running a whoring after the inventions of the fleshly Wisdom which appears in the likeness of the true Wisdom that it might the

THE ROOT OF POPERY Struck at And the True Ancient Apostolick Foundation DISCOVERED IN SOME Propositions to the PAPISTS Concerning FALLIBILITY and INFALLIBILITY which cut down the uncertain and manifest the certain way of receiving and growing up into the Truth Also Some CONSIDERATIONS concerning the true and false Church and Ministry with the state of each since the dayes of the Apostles Held forth in true love and pity to the Souls of the PAPISTS that they may hear and consider and not mistake and stumble at the ROCK of AGES whereupon the Prophets Apostles and whole Flock of God throughout all Generations have been built There is likewise somewhat added concerning the Ground of Error and the way to Truth and Unity for the sake of such as are more spiritual and have been more inwardly exercised in searching after Truth By ISAAC PENINGTON the younger In vain do they wo●ship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men Matt. 15 9. LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins L'Grand 1660. PREFACE THE Mystery of Iniquity which overspread the Earth under a shape and appearance of holy Church and holy Worship did begin to work in the Apostles dayes 2 Thes. 2.7 And this was the way whereby the god of this world did deceive he Endeavoured to blind mens minds to put out their right Eye 2 Cor. 4.4 to draw from the Spirit from the Annointing 1 Joh. 2.26 to rob of the Eye-Salve wherewith the Eye must be annointed to see the things of God Rev. 3.18 And now when he hath done this how easily may his false Ware pass for true his Synagogue built in the likeness of the true Church Rev. 3.9 for the true Church Antichrist his Son sitting in the Temple like Christ 2 Thes. 2 4. for the true Christ his Doctrines for the true Teaching Matth. 15.9 his feigned formal dead earthly Traditions for the true Everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 his Gentiles or Heathens who are so in nature and Christians onely in Name for the true Christians Rev. 11.2 The Light of the Body is the Eye saith Christ by way of Parable Mat. 6.22 23. Now if the Eye be dark if the Light which is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness How shalt thou see the Gospel the Church the Spirit the things of God But if that Eye be clear who shall be able to blind thee The Devil may come with his Deceits his false Church his false Gospel his false Power c. Yea though his Spirit creep into the very true form of godliness thou wilt be able to discern him there But if thou see with anothers Eye thou mayest easily see amiss mistake Christ mistake the Church and so believe as the false Church believes and fare as the false Church fares Oh who shall redeem the deceived Nations back to the Spirit Who shall preach to all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People the everlasting Gospel Who shall open the Eye in them which hath been so long blinded Who shall take the Golden Cup of Fornication from their lips and loosen their hearts from the Sorceries Flatteries and Enchantments of the false Woman The everlasting Bowels of the Lord rowl toward his poor captivated Seed and towards the poor deceived Nations and he is now preparing to build the Ruins of many Generations he is bringing forth that Power of Truth that Demonstration of his Spirit in the spirits of his People as no Paint shall be able to stand before He will rend the Vail of the Covering from off all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall be seen by the eye which he opens and annoints that which hath deceived and destroyed and led from the Truth building up a Mystery of Unrighteousness in the stead of it even the Beast and false Prophet which wrought Miracles with which he deceived them that had the mark of the Beast them that worshipped his Image shall be taken cast alive into the Lake Rev. 19.20 Then Captivity shall be led Captive and those which have been led captive shall creep out of their dens and out of their holes into the Light of the Living and worship the true and everlasting King when this King Abaddon is destroyed Rev. 15.2 3 4. O who shall be accounted worthy to be taught by the Lord where to wait for this To whom will the Lord discover the place of Wisdom the place where Wisdom is learned her Voice heard and her Instructions to life received which is hid from the eyes of all living Job 28.21 Whom shall he teach knowledge And whom shall he make to understand Doctrine They are them that are weaned from the Milk and drawn from the Breasts of the false Woman Isa. 28.9 chap. 52.15 They that are turned from man from the fleshly wisdom in themselves towards the spring of Life they may hear the Voice of this Wisdom which begins in the living Fear and Power which effectually turns the heart from death and darkness towards the living God to worship him in spirit and truth according to the pure living teachings thereof and not after the Inventions Imaginations and Traditions of men And he that is once come hither as he is true and faithful to the Light of Life doing the will as it is made manifest to him shall know more and more of the Doctrine Joh. 7.17 and have his feet infallibly guided into and preserved in the way of Peace The Root of Popery struck at And the true Ancient Apostolick Foundation discovered in some PROPOSITIONS to the PAPISTS concerning Fallibility and Infallibility c. Propos. 1. THat Councils may erre if I should add And have erred it might not be impossible to prove First In that they are men not perfected in the knowledge faith and obedience of the truth it necessarily implies a capacity of error both in relation to the knowledge to the faith and to the obedience 2dly Their doubtful disputation of things and long canvasing implies an uncertainty and possibility or erring 3dly Their way of determining things at last which is by a Vote of the major part is an uncertain way of determination for it is not impossible but the major part may be overswayed by by-ends relation to their own advantage interests against the righteousness and equity of the reason of the lesser part so that the way of determining things by a Council is not a certain way in it self but because men know not well how to find out a better and more probable way of deciding Controversies they judge it necessary to acquiesce therein But the Votes and Determinations of men concerning a thing do not conclude a thing to be true or false in it self they onely signifie their Opinion Judgement and Testimony concerning the thing the validity whereof depends upon their knowledge of the thing which if it be not clear full and certain their

Testimony Opinion or Judgment is of little value Truth remains the same in it self though all the wise men in the world should testifie against it calling it Error or Heresie and Falshood can never become Truth though never so many wise men should testifie for it putting the fairest habit and appearance of Truth upon it that they can Prop. 2. That the Pope himself may erre The Pope hath not greater freedom from fallibility in judgement or doctrine then Peter himself had Now Peter had not only a capacity of error in him but he did erre in that doctrine which he taught the Gentiles of living after the manner of the Jews for he did not only do the thing himself Gal. 2.12 but he compelled the Gentiles to do the same thing holding it forth as a practice which ought to be observed by the Gentiles ver. 14. for which carriage of his Paul withstood him to the face and said he was to be blamed v. 11. And the Council of Constance deposing Pope John advancing the Authority of Councils above the Pope did plainly imply that the Pope might erre which might further be confirmed by what the Council of Basil determined concerning Pope Eugenius Prop. 3. That every man may erre in his interpretation of Scriptures further then he hath a certain and infallible opening of them to his spirit by that Spirit which gave them forth The Spirit knoweth his own minde in every word which he hath spoken but no man knoweth his mind nor the meaning of his words but as he reveals them 1 Cor. 2.11 So that God is true in all his sayings in the Scriptures but man is a lyar in all the meanings he gives of his sayings according to his own guessings reasonings and imaginings without the Spirits infallible opening of his own words to him So that the Spirit it self is the ground and foundation of all true Light and knowledge of the things of God Prop. 4. That if there be any Light to be found anywhere shining immediately from God that Light cannot erre For God is pure and that which comes immediately from him cannot but be pure All the knowledge which man gathers or can gather into his Vessel he may pollute but what issueth from the Spring is pure and of a perfect nature James 1.17 Prop. 5. That there must necessarily be such a Light communicated to all men since the fall that they may believe thereby come to the knowledg of the truth and be saved Which I prove thus 1. From the Will of God The Apostle saith expresly that God would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2.4 Why then there must necessarily be somewhat dispenced from God to all men sufficient to bring them to the knowledge of the Truth that they may be saved 2. From what is found in man There is found in man a Light shining in his darkness Joh. 1.5 a Light discovering the darkness and drawing from it somewhat which checks and reproves the sinner but never consented to the evil of his heart and ways This is of God this is from God this is pure this is spiritual not of the fleshly not of the natural for then it might be drawn some time or other to consent to some of the corrupt desires of the natural but though the conscience be never so much defiled yet the Light in it can never be defiled Indeed a man may set up that for Light in his conscience which may be darkness but Gods Light Gods witness there can never be bribed but wil speak truly when God at any time awakeneth or raiseth it up witnessing for him both against the evil of the man against the ●earedness hardness unfaithfulness of his conscience towards God Prop. 6. That this Light being let in believed in and obeyed shineth more and more unto the perfect day even until it hath wholly brought out of the Error into the Truth Every way of it is infallible and every step of the creature after it is infallible Indeed the Creatures reasonings and consultations about it may be fallible but the Light is infallible in it self And so far as there is a pure simple naked thing begotten by it for it is of a begetting nature Jam. 1.17 18. so far there is an acknowledgement of its certainty in the creature There are some things that all the men of the earth certainly know to be evil by means of its shining some things also that they certainly know to be good and at some times there is a Will begotten in them towards the good against the evil Now if they did honestly wait in the singleness of this Will breathing to the God of Power to have it brought to victory in them the Light would shine more and more from his presence and in the Light the Power and saving Arm would arise which would effectually lead out of the Death and Captivity into the fellowship and freedom of the Life Prop. 7. That nothing less can lead to eternal life than an eternal Light in man's spirit where the darkness is which is to be discovered there subdued there and to be led from This was the Apostle's Message who received and came with the Message of the Gospel That God is Light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Joh. 1.5 And this they preached to bring men into fellowship with this Light ver. 3. that they might walk with God in it there be cleansed by the blood of Jesus through it ver. 7 which that they might obtain they must first be turned from darkness to it Act. 26.18 and from the Power and Kingdom of Satan to the Seed of the Kingdom of God Mat. 13.31 which Christ told the Pharisees was within them Luk. 17.21 And the Apostle Paul told the Hebrews that the Laws of the Covenant whereof Christ was the Minister and Mediator were by the tenor of the New-Covenant to be written in the Heart and Mind by the Spirit not to be written outwardly as that Covenant was which God made with the Jews by Moses Heb. 8.6 c. which was not the eternal Covenant it self but a shadow of it which made nothing perfect but only made way for the hope of a better Covenant by which believers draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Yea Moses himself tells the Jews that the Commandment of life the Word Eternal according to faith wherein and obedience whereto they were to Live or Dye eternally was within them Deut. 30.14 15. And Paul tells the Church at Rome that this was the Word of Faith which they preached that it was also the covenant of Life and Death under the Gospel Rom 10.8 Christ is the Light of the World Joh. 8.12 or the eternal Word Joh. 1.1 which Light or Word speaks within in every man's conscience he that believes in it brings his deeds to it and obeys it is justified by it but he that hates its

had built up for them the man of sin could not be revealed but the pure Power of Life would soon discover him Therefore at length when the full time and season of his discovery came God removed that into the Wildernesse which stood in the way and then he and his Spouse the false Church make a fair shew in the World 2 Thes. 2.7 5thly That the Lord might make the Name of his Son with the glory of his Truth and Power to shine by overcoming the Dragon and this false Church after so long a time of thick darkness and after such an universal prevalency of the powers and deceits thereof Was it not a great glory and honor to the Lord to overcome the Heathenish world and Jewish Church Worship by the Power of his Truth shining through a poor despicable company of Fishermen and Mechanicks And will it not be as great if not a greater glory to him to overcome the Antichristian world after it hath taken so long and so deep root and is become so strongly founded by as poor contemptible instruments as they were Quest But how was it possible that so great a deceit should get up in the world so near the Apostles dayes or rather in the very dayes of the Apostles as this seemeth to be Answ. The false Apostles and Ministers came with all deceivavableness of unrighteousness and with all power and signs and lying wonders 2 Thes. 2.9 10. And the power of Miracles in the true Apostles might well cease For the end of Miracles was but to testifie to the world to be a sign to the unbelievers 1 Cor. 14.22 But now their work towards the world was well nigh finished Judgement was to come upon them for neglecting and despising the day of their Visitation So that the power of deceit was let up in the false Apostles the power of truth did draw inwards in the true Apostles which made it very easie for deceit to prevail Besides the false Apostles appeared in an higher appearance than the true Apostles did with more glorious discoveries so that they could hold forth all that the Apostles did as to the Form outward Doctrine more too could shew wonders to confirm what they held forth further And now how could they chuse but prevail over all that kept not close to the Annointing which distinguisheth discerneth not by any outward manifestation or appearance but by the savour of the Ointment Yea so great was the power of Deceit in them that they drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven from their place into this earthly Building so that they fell from the true Ministry and the true Church unto this false Church and Ministry Rev. 12.4 How many then of the inferior and common sort were then drawn aside Quest Hath there then been no visible true Church-state in the world since that time Answ. It is impossible for any to build a true Church for God but his own Spirit And if God removed the Church which he built into the Wildernesse it is impossible for all the men of the Earth to build up another true one all that season that God appoints his Church to abide in the Wildernesse Several sorts of men may attempt it and each may build up their different Images of the thing but none can recover the thing it self till the Lord by his Spirit who first built and then pulled down pitty the dust of Sion and raise up the Tabernacle of David again Psal. 102.13 Isa. 2.2 Rev. 21.2 3. Qu. What is the Wilderness tell us that the simple hearted who long after the truth may know where to look for how to find the true Church Answ. It is not an outward place into which the Bodies of persons might flee but a parable to express somewhat inwardly And it is under the feet of all the false Worshippers who are worshipping in their several Buildings in the outward Court That which they trample upon keep down and despise is the Holy City Rev. 11.2 And the place where the true Church all this while hath been and yet in a great part is is there Quest But if God's Church hath not been in a built state but lain desolate in the Wilderness ever since Antichrist and the false Church got up what hath the estate of his people been ever since Answ. A state of witnesses Rev. 11.3 In every Age God hath hath had two witnesses which was a sufficient number to confirm his truth by to witness to the power of his truth against the emptiness and corruptions of the forms which Antichrist had brought in instead of the living power Which witnesses were clothed with Sack-cloth giving forth their testimony with tears while they of the Antichristian party were rejoicing in the Glory Riches and Beauty of their false Church as they could slay suppress and keep down the VVitnesses Rev. 11.10 and chap. 18.7 9. Quest What did the Dragon do after this Victory after he had got his Building up in the outward Court for after he had prevailed to corrupt it the Lord gave it to his worshippers the Gentiles Rev. 11.2 those that made a profession of his truth but were not true Jews Rev. 3.9 not of the inward circumcision Phil. 3.3 and had got the holy City under the feet of his worshippers Answ. He pursued his Victory against the Woman and the remnant of her Seed As for the woman he cast a flood of Infamy of Reproach after her that she might never be able to lift up her head again in the power of truth but what she causeth to spring up might still be reviled for falshood and Heresie that nothing might henceforth go for Truth but what this false woman should determine to be so And as touching the remnant of her Seed which stil remained true to God keeping his Commandments and having the Testimony of Jesus he applies himself now to wage the war against them Rev. 12.15.17 Quest How doth he wage the War against them Answ. He raiseth up a Beast out of this Sea of Cofnusion and VVickedness which ensued upon this great Battel and Victory on his side to whom he gave his Power his Seat and great Authority Rev. 13.2 He had hitherto kept his Seat in his Synagogue where he had been slaying the faithful Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 2.13 and had put to death such as loved not their lives unto death Rev. 12.11 Now he finds it more for his advantage to raise up this Beast and to give his Power Seat and Authority to him This was the Roman Power which till it was thus depraved and enslaved by Satan was not a Beast but more noble and just in Government than the corrupted Jews were but now it becomes a Beast And this Beast he stirs up against the very Name and Form of Godliness that he might root out the very appearance of Israel from off the Earth For he got but into the Form to eat