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	soul_n	6,006	5	5.2775	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

excuse But now how shall the Lord judge the world in righteousness by that man Christ Jesus whom he hath ordained if the man Christ Jesus did not die for the world And therefore the Scripture saith that to this end Christ died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Rom. 14 9. which quick and dead he will judge at his appearing and his kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 And when he doth judge them he will judge them according to the Gospel but how can he judge them in righteousness according to the Gospel when there was never any Gospel for them or mercy offered to them Obj. But if Christ died for all and God was willing that all should be saved why then are not all saved Answ Because they believe not in the onely begotten Son of God who is their Saviour John 3.18 and God called and they refused he strerched out his hand and they regarded not he counselled them but they would none of his counsels he reproved them but they set at nought all his reproofs but followed after lying vanities and so forsook their own mercies and denied the Lord that bought them and brought upon themselves swift destruction and because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore if you would know wherefore God gave them up to strong delusions to believe lyes that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Sec Prov 1 24 25 26. 27 28 29 30 31 32. 2 Pet. 2 1 2.2 Thess 2. 10 11.12 And again Christ saith How oft would I have gathered yon together as a Hew gathereth her Chickins under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37 And this is the reason why some men are not saved for God never promiseth life and salvation to any man whether he will or no but threatneth death and everlasting destruction to them which believe not and obey not the Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 9. Obj. But then you hold freewil and that men may be saved if they will Answ I hold nothing but what the Scripture salth and that you shall give me leave to hold neither do I believe that any man hath or ever had any will or power of himself without God to do any thing that is good for in him we live move and have our being but in and through and by God and Christ we may do all things for the Lord is a Sun and a Sheild and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that will walk uprightly Psal 84.11 and he hath given Christ to death for all men as I have proved already at large and He that spared not his onely Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him give us all things Rom. 8.32 and his hand is streched out all the day long to a stift-necked gainsaying people What man is there that knoweth not that if he make use of all the will power and understanding that God hath given him the Lord will double his talent give him more And that the Lord have given all men enough to leave them without excuse I have already proved in the former part of the book and if any man would have more they must improve that which they have faithfully for he that is faithful in that which is least will be faithful also in much but he that is unjust in the least will also be unjust in much Luke 16.10 And what man is he that doth not know that he is not condemned for not doing that which he cannot possibly do but for leaving undone that which God hath given them power and ability to do let any man deny it if he can And now whereas it is a question whether all men may be saved if they will I answer What should hinder them if they be willing for first God is not willing that any should perish Secondly God is willing that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 〈…〉 m. 2.4 and Chust is willing for he came not to judge the world but to save the world and how did he weep over Jerusalem and how oft as a foresaid would he have gathered them together as a Hen doth her Chickins but they would not And now what hinders mens salvation but that same they would not Consider well and judge Obj. But it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9.16 Answ Very well then it seemeth by that Scripture that men have freewill to be saved and indeed I wonder what man alive desires not to be saved but it seems their willing c running in their own wayes will not attain it it was not Cains sacrifice nor the Scribes and Pharisees long prayers and fastings with disfigured faces nor yet their giving almes to the poor and Tythes of all they possessed that could give any of these a mansion in Heaven and why Because they sought it not by faith but by the works of the Law Rom. 9.30 31 32. and so it is to this day men would with Balaam gladly die the death of the righteous and O who would not be saved but then they should come at Christs call and turn at his reproof and wait for his counsels who is the wonderful Counsellor and live to him that died for them walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of Christ blameless hearing him in all things whatssoever he shall say to them and following him wheresoever he go and when they have done all this with a good conscience be contented to bear the reproches and shame that belong to the Cross of Christ and to have men yea wicked men and some devout and honorable men and women persecute and revile them and say all manner of evil sayings on them falsely for his name sake and indure all this patiently with such a spirit as can pray for the salvation even of their worst enemies as for their own soul as Christ who when he had fulfilled all righteousness was numbered amongst the transgressors and crucified between two theeves and at that time prayed for his enemies when we can thus follow Christ then happy are we for the Spirit of God And of glory doth rest upon us See 1 Pet. 4.12 13 14 15. and the greater is our reward in heaven for in like maner persecuted they the Prophets before us But I confess this way is so narrow and this gate is so straight that few can enter and walk therein except they learn of Christ who is humble and meek and then they will finde rest to their souls and by and through him who is the Door they will go in and out and finde pasture See Mat. 5.10 11 12. Thus we see that although it be not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth in his own wayes and after the imaginations of his own heart yet it is in him that will run in Gods wayes and follow Christ in his Commands and Ordinances wheresoever he go for it is in God that sheweth mercy who hath indeed shewed mercy unto sinners and the worst of sinners in sending his onely begotten Son to die for them to take away their sins to call them to repentance to give them the knowledge of Salvation by the remission of their sins through his mercy yea through the tender mercy of our God whereby the Day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Luke 1. who before did not know the way of peace Therefore now let all men take heed how they sin against such rich mercy freegrace as is offered to them even to the worst of sinners by the Lord in the Gospel of Truth which is the glad tidings of our Salvation lest mercy rise up in judgement against them in the great day and lest they sin against that true Light that is come into the world to enlighten every man which is Christ who by his word and spirit hath made known to the sons of men whatsoever he saw in the bosome of the Father yea even the whole counsel of God which is necessary to Salvation Therefore let all men take heed of shutting their eyes against the light of the glorious Gospel of of Jesus Christ For this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil Reader consider what is written for thy instruction in the Scriptures of truth and read them and consider them again and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Henry Haggar FINIS