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	scripture_n	6,364	5	6.0991	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34574	Stafford's memoires, or, A brief and impartial account of the birth and quality, imprisonment, tryal, principles, declaration, comportment, devotion, last speech, and final end of William, late Lord Viscount Stafford, beheaded on Tower-hill Wednesday the 29. of Decemb. 1680 whereunto is annexed a short appendix concerning some passages in Stephen Colledges tryal / the whole now again set forth for a more ample illustration of that so wonderfully zealous pamphlet entituled The papists bloody aftergame, writ in answer to the said Memoirs, and published by Langley Curtis, 1682.	Corker, James Maurus, 1636-1715.; Curtis, Langley, fl. 1668-1725.	1682 (1682)	Wing C6306A; ESTC R40876	92,519	237

Damnation and this at a time when they might have saved both Bodies and Souls by meerly discharging a good Conscience in acknowledging the Truth and becoming honest men This I say is Inhumane and contradictory to all sense and reason to believe Now therefore I come to what you so often and so earnestly press me to viz. To satisfie the world and clear myself my Fellow Sufferers and my Religion from the imputation laid upon us on pretence of such Principles by a true and candid Explanation of my Belief and Judgment in the main points of Faith and Loyalty controverted between Catholicks and Protestants as they severally relate to God and the King PARAGRAPH I. Of the Catholick Faith and Church in General 1. THe Fruition of God and Remission of Sin is not attainable by man otherwise then in and by the Merits of Jesus Christ who gratis purchased it for us 2. These Merits of Christ are not applied to us otherwise that by a Right Faith in Christ 3. This Faith is but One entire and conformable to its Obiect being Divine Revelations to all which Faith gives an undoubted assent 4. These Revelations contain many Mysteries transcending the natural reach of Humane Wit and Industry Wherefore 5. It became the Divine Wisdom and Goodness to provide Man of some way or means whereby he might arrive to the knowledge of these Mysteries Means visible and apparent to all Means proportionable to the Capacities of all Means sure and certain to all 6. This way or means is not the reading of Scripture interpreted according to the private Reason or Spirit of every disjunctive Person or Nation in particular But 7 It is an Attention and Submission to the Doctrine of the Catholick or Vniversal Church established by Christ for the Instruction of all Spread for that end throughout all Nations and visibly continued in a Succession of Pastors and People throughout all Ages From which Ghurch Guided in Truth and secured from Error in Matters of Faith by the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost every one may and ought to Learn both the Right Sense of Scripture and all other Christian Mysteries and Duties respectively necessary to Salvation 8. This Church thus Spread thus Guided thus visibly Continued in One Vniform Faith and Subordination of Government is that self same which is termed the Roman Catholick Church The Qualifications abovementioned viz. Vnity Indeficiency Visibility Succession and Vniversality being applicable to no other Church or Assembly whatsoever 9. From the Testimony and Authority of This Church it is that We Receive and Believe the Scriptures to be God's Word And as She can assuredly tell Us This or That Book is God's Word so can she with the like Assurance tell us also the True Sense and Meaning of it in Controverted Points of Faith The same Spirit that Writ the Scripture Enlightning Her to Understand both It and all Matters Necessary to Salvation From These Grounds it Follows 10. All and only Divine Revelations deliver'd by God unto the Church and proposed by Her to be Believed as such are and ought to be esteem'd Articles of Faith and the contrary Opinions Heresie And 11. As an Obstinate Seperation from the Vnity of the Church in known declared Matters of Faith is formal Heresie So a wilful Separation from the Visible Vnity of the same Church in Matters of Subordination and Government is formal Schism 12. The Church proposeth unto Us matters of Faith First and chiefly By the Holy Scripture in Points plain and Intelligible in it Secondly By Definitions of General Councils in Points not sufficiently Explained in Scripture Thirdly By Apostolical Traditions deriv'd from Christ and his Apostles to all Succeeding ages Fourthly By her Practice Worship and Ceremonies Confirming her Doctrine PARAGRAPH II. Of Spiritual and Temporal Authority 1. GEneral Councils which are the Church of God Representative have no Commission from Christ to Frame new matters of Faith these being sole Divine Revelations but only to explain and ascertain unto us what antiently was and is received and retained as of Faith in the Church upon arising Debates and Controversies about them The Definitions of which General Councils in matters of Faith only and proposed as such oblige under pain of Heresie all the Faithful to a Submission of Judgment But 2. It is no Article of Faith to believe That General Councils cannot Err. either in matters of Fact or Discipline alterably by circumstances of time and place or in matters of Speculation or Civil Policy depending on meer humane Judgment or Testimony Neither of those being Divine Revelations deposited in the Catholick Church in regard to which alone she hath the promised Assistance of the Holy Ghost Hence it is deduced 3 If a General Council much less a Papal Consistory should undertake to depose a King and absolve his Subjects from their Allegiance no Catholick as Catholick is bound to submit to such a Decree Hence also it followeth 4. The Subjects of the King of England lawfully may without the least breach of any Catholick Principle Renounce even upon Oath the Teaching Mantaining or Practising the Doctrine of Deposing Kings Excommunicated for Heresie by any Authority whatsoever as Repugnant to the Fundamental Laws of the Nation Injurious to Soveraign Power Destructive to the Peace and Government and by consequence in His Majesties Subjects Impious and Damnable Yet not properly Heretical taking the Word Heretical in that connatural genuine sense it is usually understood in the Catholick Church on account of which and other Expressions no wise appertaining to Loyalty it is that Catholicks of tender Consciences refuse the Oath commonly called the Oath of Allegiance 5. Catholicks believe That the Bishop of Rome is the Successor of St. Peter Vicar of Jesus Christ upon Earth and Head of the whole Catholick Church which Church is therefore fitly stiled Roman Catholick being an universal Body united under one visible Head Nevertheless 6. It is no matter of Faith to be believe That the Pope is in himself Infallible seperate from a General Council even in Expounding the Faith By consequence Papal Definitions or Decrees though ex Cathedra as they term them taken exclusively from a General Council or Universal Acceptance of the Church oblige none under Pain of Heresie to an interior Assent 7. Nor do Catholicks as Catholicks believe that the Pope hath any direct or indirect Authority over the Temporal Power and Jurisdiction of Princes Hence If the Pope should pretend to Absolve or Dispence with His Majesties Subjects from their Allegiance upon account of Heresie or Schism such Dispensation would be Vain and Null and all Catholick Subjects notwithstanding such Dispensation or Absolution would be still bound

in sign they Accorded to what he said Others by distinct Acclamations answered We believe you my Lord God bless you my Lord Pray God forgive him his Sins c. In this conjuncture a Protestant Minister accosted him saying Have you received no Indulgences from the Romish-Church Have you received no Absolution To which my Lord answered What have you to do with my Religion However I do say the Roman Catholick Church allows of no Indulgences or Dispensations Authorizing Treason Murder Lying or Forswearing Nor have I received any Absolution for such ends Pray do not trouble your self nor me Then turning from the Parson he applyed himself to his Friends about him whom he lovingly embraced and with a pleasant Voice and Aspect Bid them adieu for this World Next he delivered his Watch two Rings off his Fingers his Staff and his Crucifix about his Neck as Legacies to several Friends He desired the Sheriffs that such Persons as he nominated might have leave without the Executioners Intermeddling to assist him and to take care of his Body which was accordingly done And his Gentleman Stripping him of his Coat and Peruke put on his head a Silk Cap and accommodated his Hair Shirt and Waistcoat for the Execution And he now being ready for Death both in Body and Mind he chearfully submitted himself to the Block before which first kneeling down and making the Sign of the Cross he recommended himself with raptures of Devotion to the Divine Mercy and Goodness After this he lay down as it were to try the Block And then who could imagine it with a Stupendious Courage embraced the fatal Wood as the dear Basis or Point from whence his Soul was now to take its flight to Immortal Glory The Heads-man put him in mind that his Shirt and Waistcoat came too high Whereupon he raised himself up upon his Knees and bid his Gentleman cut them lower Whilst this was p●rforming he was heard continually to breath forth several Acts of Prayer as Sweet Jesus receive my Soul Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit c. When his Gentleman had finished He again laid down his head upon the Block persevering still his Prayer and expecting the suddain and dismal arrest of Death with a courage say the Papists Divinely Elevated a constancy more then humane No change in his Countenance no Quaking or Trembling in any one Joynt of his Body could be discerned Thus he lay or rather quietly rested upon the very Brink between Time and Eternity a good space Till at length finding the Head's man delayed the Execution of his Office He once more raised himself up upon his Knees and with an aspect Grave but still serene and lively asked Why they staid It was answered For a Sign What Sign will you give Sir He replyed None at all Take your own time God●s will he done I am ready The Head's man said I hope you will forgive me He answered I do Then Blessing himself again with the Sign of the Cross he reposed his Head upon the Block never more to lift it up in this Mortal State The Head's man took the Ax in his hand and after a short pause Elevated it on high as it were to take aim and set it down again A second time he did so and Sighed The third time he gave the Fatal Blow which severed my Lords Head from his Body save only a small part of the Skin and Wind-pipe which was immediatly cut off with a Knife The Body after Seperation from the Head Trembled a little and Stirred no more The Head was received into a Black Silk Scarf by two of my Lord's Friends and retained by them till the Sheriff called for it and commanded the Executioner to hold it up to the view of the Multitude The which he did at the four Corners of the Scaffold Crying aloud This is the Head of a Traytor But however the People had been formerly possessed with prejudice both against my Lord's Practices and Principles Yet now they made no Acclamations at the sight of the Ploud-droping Head nor seemed much taken with the Jollity of the Spectacle Some went away with Confusion and Remorse for their past hard censure of him Others conceived strange apprehensions and fears of God's Judgements ensuing Perjury and Bloud-shed Some again said My Lord was Drunk with Brandy Others said Verily This was a just Man The Papists who best knew his Innocence And who looking upon themselves as in some measure Parties in his Sufferings beheld this whole Tragedy with most tender Resentments They regarded him as a Victim of Religion and Innocence They mutually accompanied him with their Prayers and Supplications to God in his behalf They seemed to receive new Comfort and Courage from his Christian Magnanimity They Wept They Smiled They Sympathized with him both in his Dolours and Joye● They Blessed and Praised Almighty God for his goodness to Him and to Them in Him They Glorified his Holy Name who often sheweth the strength of his Power in the weakest Subjects In fine many did and still do believe the peculiar grace and presence of Cod's Spirit had some Effect and Influence upon all in a manner that saw him And few there were of his Religion who did not wish themselves in his Place No sooner was Execution done but the Sun which before was obscured and secluded from our sight on a suddain dissipating the Clouds sent forth it 's Clear and Illustrious Beams Upon which accident different Parties have since made different Reflections My Lord's Adversaries say The Sun before frowned at Popish Guilt but seemed pleased when Justice was done The Papists say The Heavens Mourned and were ashamed and unwilling to be Spectators at the Shedding of Innocent Bloud but appeared in Joy and Splendour at the Reception of a New and Glorious Inhabitant into their Coelestial Mansions When the Head had been publickly exposed it was returned back into the Silk Scarf held by a Youth that had waited upon my Lord and so laid into the Coffin together with the Body vested For out of Modesty my Lord had desired he might not be stripped naked on the Scaffold In the interim divers Persons threw up their Handkerchiefs to have them dipt in my Lords Bloud wherein some were Gratified and others had their Handkerchiefs thrown with Derision over the Scaffold● After this the Coffin was taken down from off the Scaffold by several Bearers and by them carried to the Bounds of the Tower where a Velvet Herse-cloath being spread over it It was carried in order to its Interment into the Tower A place say the Papists as it hath been Enobled by his Sufferings so will it remain to future Ages a Triumphal Monument of his Fortitude and Victory Thus Lived thus Dyed this Famous Nobleman to whose Memory I shall only adde of my own That if his Cause was Innocent and his Religion wrongfully Traduced He is Happy and we unfortunate by his untimely Death 1 Ep. Cor.