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
A66816	Eremicus theologus, or, A sequestred divine his aphorisms, or, breviats of speculations, in two centuries / by Theophilus Wodenote ...	Wodenote, Theophilus, d. 1662.	1654 (1654)	Wing W3241; ESTC R39130	60,438	192

shewed any other than Christ himself think not when Saint Paul said that he was made all things to all men [l] 1 Cor. p. 22. that therefore he did at his pleasure that which God had directly forbidden to be done that therefore he did make himself a libertine or establish libertinism or purchase a protection for every man to do what seemeth good in his own eyes but that in matters free and indifferent and undetermined which were not iepugnant to the Word which were neither forbidden nor commanded by God such as may indifferently be either used or not used with a good conscience according as the rules of godly discretion circumstances duely considered shall direct he without hurting the faith or offending the righteous changed himself into all fashions and applyed himself to the conditions of all that by all means hee might save some 9. FRom particular privileges in Scripture appointed by Almighty God for some singular choice purposes as from the Israelites spoiling the AEgyptians of their Jewels [m] Exod. 12.36 or Samsons pulling down the house upon himself and others [n] Judg. 16.30 as from Elias his calling of fire from heaven [o] 2 Kings 1.10 or Elisha his cursing the children [p] 2 Kings 2.24 or the like collect not generall precepts or perpetuall directions for the Church extraordinary facts are no ordinary rules every example is not a Law to bind every man to equall practice thy argument taken from example is naught unless thy warrant be alike good 10. SUch allegories as thou findest expounded in the holy Scriptures imbrace as rules of Gods worship matters of faith and parts of religion necessary to salvation but such as mens severall devices frame out of them and commend to the world as hidden senses newly found out neither believe them nor desire to know them but leave them to such as love a hidden divinity and a secret religion devised in their own conceits which will not abide the triall of the light such pleasing various fancies without sacred evidence of Gods certaine approbation are but plausible allusions and no probative allegations can never work in the heart a full Theologicall perswasion Conceive not with some passionate Papists in the heat of their disputations that Gods Word is a potentiall onely no active rule that the Scriptures are not authenticall without the authority of the Church that the authority of the Scriptures dependeth upon the authority of the Church necessarily Not go for advice to the Church necessarily but to the Law and to the testimony saith the Prophet Isaiah [q] Isaiah 8.20 at that least examin and try the truth Not what saith the Church but what is written in the Law how readest thou saith our Saviour [r] Luke 10.26 Not the Church but the Scripture is the sole and supreme Judge of all questions and Controversies of religion The Church cannot give thee faith whereby thou believest in Christ and layest hold of eternall life It is the Scripture that worketh it by the inspiration of the holy Spirit Thou mayest set the diall by the Sun Thou canst not set the Sun by the diall Thou mayest appeal from the judgment of the Church to the Scriptures Not from the Scriptures to the Church 12. AS the wisemen stretched not their course beyond the direction of the star [Å¿] Matth. 2.9 10 11. so wander not thou in thy discourse beyond the direction of the word so much knowledge of divine mysteries as God hath revealed in his sacred volumes content thy self with and offer not thy self to prie any further into them Be sure thou make a resting place where God hath placed a full point resigne thy self up to his wisedom adore his Counsels and be not overcurious in any of his doings Neither suffer any within thy walk and power to make any superfluous questions about them If any do out of infidelity or too much curiosity Answer him briefly with that holy and judicious Father Saint Austin than whom few could better resolve doubts Do thou dispute it I will believe it Do thou reason it I will admire it [t] Tu disputa ego credam tu ratiocinare ago mirabar and rather seriously adore the worker than curiously inquire the manner 13. GIve free eares of body and full regard of mind to whatsoever God speaketh in a plain form and frame of words but give an excellent heedfulnes to the Lord where he useth a singular manner of speaking There conceive some speciall thing is to be marked there think thou art called to that speciall parenthesis of our Saviour who so readeth let him understand [u] Matth. 24.15 where the Lord speaketh strictly and artificially be sure to add to thy accustomed diligence a strict and artificiall diligence set thy attention where he setteth his words 14. WHatsoever scriptures thou readest or hearest attend them carefully and apply them usefully some way or other unto thy self for whatsoever was written afore time was written not at all adventures or as histories to heare or read for pleasure but for our learning that we thorough patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope [w] Rom. 15.4 What shall a salve do be it never so soveraigne if it be not layd to the sore or what can the medicine availe if it be not applyed to the disease We do not find it written of David in particular that he should do the will of God and yet in the volume of the book it is written of me saith he that I should do thy will O God I am content to do it [x] Psal 40.7 and yet he applies it in particular to himself as if it had been spoken to him by name 15. BE not like those bare-tonguy Christians in these dayes whose mouths are full of religion but their hearts altogether empty who shew their faith by words not by works who think to be perfectly trusted for their pure talking Ty not Gods Word to thy tongue but bind it to thy fingers not onely profess it with thy lips but express it also yea chiefly in thy life write it not in a scroul as the Romanists do Saint John's Gospell tying it about their necks for externall preservation or as the Pharisees did the Decalogue between their browes for externall signe of holiness but write it in the table of thine heart that thou mayest the better remember to put it in practise 16. TO Countenance sin allege not examples hope not to stand upon the fall of others conclude not thy self safe if thou canst produce some holy men that have gon before thee in the same sins we may not imitate the vices but the vertues of good men sanctity goes not by presidents but by precepts we are not to live by examples but by the Word whereby our actions must be guided as by a rule and by no example without it Examples in Scripture are not all written for our imitation that we may learne what

which he useth of his goodnes towards us to convey to our feebleness good things and to make us more secure of his love They are the King of Kings gracious pardon to confirm the weakness of our faith to make good the truth of his own promises to seal up unto us forgiveness of sins Being then by Gods institution very available frequent them with a feeling of thy wants with a reverence of his ordinances with hungring after his graces with calling upon his Name to fit thee and prepare thee for that heavenly work 90. DEceive not thy own heart with a Zodiack of false signes Rest not thy self in seeking after common gifts general knowledge and illumination diversity of tongues and interpretation of tongues all which are common to all sorts of men both good and bad but labour and covet to be partaker of such gifts as are peculiar and proper to the elect do always accompany salvation and eternal life but labour to feel a certain knowledge of thy reconciliation to God in Christ the gifts of regeneration a dying unto sin and rising up to newness of life the grace of hearty prayer meekness in bearing rebukes delight in those that excel in vertue comfort in distresses and such like which the elect of God find in some measure wrought in them If these be in thee and abound thou shalt have that peace of conscience through them that passeth all understanding but if these be not in thee whatsoever knowledge thou hast besides though thou hast tasted of the heavenly gift been inlightned by the Spirit been partaker of the holy Ghost tasted of the good word of God and received the Gospel with joy thou shalt find no more sound comfort in them than many most wicked men have had who were enlightned by God but shall never be saved who attained to great and high knowledge but never grew so high as faith 91. ACcording to the truth of the Word in mercy revealed unto thee grow in grace more and more and make every day some progress to the Kingdom of heaven still press and indeavour onwards to obtain it Thou shalt find many lets and hinderances in the way which to pass over may seem to be hard in the beginning especially if they be looked upon with an eye of flesh but a setled course and continuall practice of faith and repentance will within a while make all that was laborious lightsome the matter easy and evident and the way plain and comfortable A scorner seeketh wisedome and findeth it not but knowledge is easy to him that understandeth (w) Prov. 14.6 that understandeth to desire it and humbleth himself 92. THink not thy self discharged either by Gods soveraigne or by the Priests subordinat working but that thou must also put to thy help and work out not the price but the assurance of thy own salvation (x) Philip. 2.12 but that thou must also by using the appointed means by walking in all the Commandments of God without reproof and continuall increasing in sanctification which is a signe and seal of our justification procure to thy self an assurance of thy election (y) a Pet. 1.10 but that thou must also by fighting the good fight and keeping the faith put thy self into an expection of the Crown of righteousness (z) 2 Tim. 4.8 If thou wouldst be sure to have salvation follow then must holy and carefull serving of God go before 93. HAst thou but little abilities and few gifts either of nature art or grace bestowed upon thee beholdest thou a double portion in others and a poor pittance in thy self yet be not dismay'd be not out of heart but in an humble cōtentation devout thankfulness proceed according to thy power and thy labour shall not be in vain in the Lord God desireth not toreap where he hath not sown nor requireth he much but where he hath given much He looketh not for labouring beyond thy strength nor travailing further than thy gifts can reach When Ezechiah pray'd for the people that the Lord would pardon every one that prepared his heart to seek the Lord God of his Fathers though he were not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary the Lord heard him and harkened unto him and healed the people (a) 2 Chro. 30.18 19 20. 94. COntent not thy self with knowledge and understanding with utterance and discourse or with ability to dispute and determine many difficult points of Religion though these faculties be in thee very eminent and singular but consider what faith thou hast to believe and conscience to perform obedience but look what power Gods Spirit hath in thee to sanctification of life to amendment of errours and misdoings of the Spirit illuminating the fruits are often given to the wicked Balaam and Saul may Prophesie Caiphas may have some transient revelations but the fruits of the Spirit sanctifying are vouchsafed to none but onely to Gods Elect Not he that knoweth most but he that maketh best use of what he knoweth is the man whom God will know and prefer in the day of eternal retribution in the day of his glorious appearance when he shall destroy all the wicked and make happy his own for ever 95. THe free-hearted Jews stil brought either gold or silver or pretious stones or fine linnen or spices or silk or hair or one thing or other to the building of the material tabernacle and they left not building till they were prohibited by proclamation In building thy spiritual tabernacle to the Lord leave not praying reading hearing learning meditating applying practising till thou be stayed by death In thy spiritual progress repine not at thy pains past neither think much of that which is to come but keep on still Be not weary of good intents and gracious imployments 96. LEt the examples of thy neighbours dying round about thee daily thy own decaying in strength and health the many calamities in this dangerous world incite thee to apply whilst thou hast time both thy body and mind to do good stir thee up to prepare thy self both in profession and practise for thy departure so shall neither life nor death no not sudden death part thee from thy Saviour so shall death be unto thee nor death indeed but a bare name and no worse so shall death not be terrible unto thee but as welcome as quiet sleep to a wearied and over-wearied traveller 97. BE not so heartless as to fear death nor yet so senseless as to pray for death before the time appointed by the Lord thy Governour It is a sin to work thy death before men and it is a sin to wish thy death before God Indeed death which bringeth the dissolution of nature and is a passage to a better life is a welcom guest to them that are the Lords all the godly do make themselves ready to receive him to meet and intertain him Death to the wicked cometh with a sting but to the godly

Eremicus theologus OR A Sequestred Divine HIS APHORISMS OR BREVIATS of Speculations IN TWO CENTURIES By Theophilus Wodenote B. D. sometimes fellow of Kings College in Cambridge Cantic chap. 4. ver 16. Awake O Northwinde and come thou South blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out LONDON Printed by T. W. for Andrew Crook at the Green Dragon in S. Paul's Churchyard 1654. TO THE HIGHLY BORN HONORABLY MINDED AND WORTHY OF HONORABLE AND HIGH RESPECT MATTHEW HALSE of Efford in the County of Devon Esquire THEOPHILUS WODENOTE one of his obliged Oratours dedicates these his Aphorisms or Breviats of Speculations And daily beseecheth God for him that both he and all his issue so specious already by affinitie with so many Noble Progenies and still growing more and more eminent by their own sincere and abundant piety and charity may by divine mercy be preserved thorough faith unto salvation APHORISMS OR BREVIATS of Speculations The first Centurie 1. BEfore and after and in all businesses and at all times remember Prayer how canst thou hope to speed in any thing thou do'st if thou do'st it not in Gods fear and with his favour which is the very soule of thy soule and life of thy life so profitable so necessary that by it thy souls salvation and life it self liveth Let not thy unworthiness deterr thee though thou art subject to many passions and canst not pray as thou oughtest Elias was subject to the like and yet prayed and was heard (a) James 5.17 18. Upon a crie made the thief seeks to flie and neighbours come to help upon a prayer made the Devill shifts away and God comes to succour 2. IN petitioning Almighty God Ask and it shall be given you seek yee shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you (b) Matth. 7.17 Not alone ask and it shall be given you ther 's not a full point but seek and knock as well as ask our Saviour useth a threefold phrase and urgeth the duty from one degree to another with interposition of proportionable promises to signifie that we must pray often be earnest and zealous for cold suters proove cold speeders Cold and superficial requests can never pierce the clouds nor find any manner of access to the Throne of Grace The prayer of the righteous availeth much but with this condition if it be fervent (c) James 5.16 but put not ferventness in copiousness of syllables but of sense not in lip-labour but in heart-labour God esteemeth not the loudness or the length but the strength of prayer nor weighes he the ready words but the radicall devotion of him that praeth Thou mayest pray and cry and outcrie others even without crying out Moses prayer could not be heard on earth (d) Exod. 14.15 and yet the cry of it came up to heaven when the tongue cannot speak to God if with heart we can sigh to him he understandeth that language and we shall be sure of help A sigh sometimes will serve if truly from the soul 3. TRust not with the Papists to scale the high fort of Heaven by the broken and rotten ladder of the merits of Saints or thy own works or worthyness but place all thy hopes and moove all thy sutes in the Name of Jesus Christ without whom neither thou nor any of the Saints have any thing to do with God but pray God for thy right in Jesus Christ not to enter into judgment with thee but claime all thy right to blessedness by thy right in Jesus Christ without whom no man hath right in any thing saving in Gods indignation and his own destruction 4. PRay that thy faith may be scientious and unfeigned that thy lise may be conscientious and unspotted Mans life and religion are for the most part like A sound faith a sweet behaviour A false faith a debauched demeanour The fountaine being fowle and noysome can the water be faire and wholesome Can a bad tree bring forth good fruit Do men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles [e] Matth. 7.16 Neither can their outward conversation be pure whose inward perswasion is not perfect 5. WHat books soever other men admire and make their Jewels Let the Scriptures be dearer unto thee than all other books together Let them be a lampe to thy feet and a light unto thy paths [f] Psal 119.105 Set and settle thy continuall considerations upon them Wherein nothing is superfluous nor any thing wanting wherein whatsoever is taught is truth whatsoever is commanded is goodness whatsoever is promised is perfect happiness yea which not onely for pure and perfect matter but for high and heavenly expressions so farr excell that they are not to be mentioned with any other writings by way of comparison 6. HOw ragged are mens expressions How poor the pithiness of their discourses In sight of the sacred Scriptures their most accomplished Treatises are not so much as the light of a candle to the glorious brightness of the Sun in his chiefest splendour In Gods book every particle hath his poize every tittle is usefull every syllable is sententious every word is wonderfull He that once truly knows it cannot chuse but love it He that truly loves it cannot chuse but with all the veines of his heart commend it to others 7. TAke not upon thee to justify whatsoever any the most learned men without speciall inspiration hath published but whatsoever any pen-man of Scripture to whom the Holy Ghost did dictate hath set down defend to thy death and with thy death Men may erre not knowing the Scriptures [g] Matth. 22.29 not attaining to the perfect sense of them Apollo's a learned Doctour fervent in the Spirit and mighty in the Scriptures yet was he ignorant in divers things and received instruction from Aquila and Priscilla [h] Acts 18.26 We know in part and we prophesy in part said S. Paul [i] 1 Cor. 13.9 after long study and many wonderfull revelations after God had exalted him to the third heaven and there shewed him more than a man might conceive In sundry things as men we are many times much mistaken but not a word in all the sacred volumes that can be either false or faulty the Scriptures of God cannot erre 8. TAke not advantages but advertisements by Scripture read it not to feed a faction but to find a truth look both forward and backward and diligently ponder the circumstances that thou mayest the more clearely perceive the substance catch not at the words or phrases but consider what the will of the Lord is Think not when Christ saith that all that ever came before him were thieves robbers [k] John 10.8 that therefore Moses Elias Elisha Isaiah Jeremiah and the rest of the Prophets were no better than thieves and robbers because they went before Christ in time but that such only were thieves as professed themselves to be the door of the sheep or received or