Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A19697
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The vvay to a blessed estate in this life. By Ezekel Culuervvel.
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Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.
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1623
(1623)
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STC 6118.4; ESTC S109140
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5,124
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21
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THE VVAY TO A BLESSED ESTATE IN THIS LIFE BY EZEKEL CVLVERVVELL LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for William Sheffard and are to be sold at his Shop at the entring in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard-streete 1623. THE VVAY TO A BLESSED ESTATE IN THIS LIFE THAT which our Lord Iesus from Heaven writ vnto the Church of Sardis Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a name that thou liuest but art dead may be truly spoken of the greater sort of not-counterfeit Professors of the Faith in our time for it is cleare by the Text that this is not spoken of hypocrites who are starke dead but of such who having some life remaining in them are in a dead sleepe Many drowsie professors for these of whom I speake take good paines to keepe vp a name of Christianitie both in the exercises of Religion and in their outward behauiour though in both there be much sayling but in very truth there is but a little life of faith and loue in all their Profession as may appeare in their cold and vncomfortable prayers in their wandering and drowsie hearing of the Word and vnfruitfull receiving of the Sacraments and much more in their abuse and neglect of the secret exercises of Prayer reading and meditation by themselues and conference with others seldome deepely bewayling their estate lesse reioycing in the assurance of their salvation by Christ as seldome delighting in God with a zeale to set forth his glory in every part of their life Though this be the state of the greater part of those that haue some truth of grace in them yet may we say againe A few worthy that there are with vs as in the Church of Sardus a few names that haue not defiled their garments that is doe liue vnrebukably and walke worthy their holy calling having a sweet feeling of Gods favour vnto them and so can boldly come vnto him in time of need with assurance that he doth graciously respect them their prayers and vnfeigned obedience who likewise doe more delight themselues in God then in all earthly things accounting it their greatest griefe to offend him and greatest ioy to please him possessing their soules with confidence and patience in their greatest trialls looking for the appearing of Christ This is that blessed estate to be inioyned in this life What a blessed life here may be attained which God hath prepared though in divers measures for the faithfull all which may well bee contained in this short sentence of the Psalmist Psal 37.4 Delight thy selfe in the Lord and he will giue thee thy hearts desire which I doubt not but all true Christians when they haue well considered it would be glad to attaine vnto Desired by many not attained But either through ignorance of the way how to attaine it or through negligence not putting in practise what they know they spend many yeares either securely or vncomfortably seldome attaining to that heauenly feasting which if they were wise might be their daily refreshing How this life is attained whose estate I much tendring doe endevour to shew them how this happie life may be attained which I conceiue to be onely by a more plentifull feeding vpon Christ by faith It is without question that all and every part of our spirituall life is in Christ of whose fulnesse we receiue grace for grace and this is as cleare Ioh. 1.26 that we receiue no grace first or last from Christ but by beleeving in which respect Christ is truly and principally said to be our spirituall food Ioh. 6.27.35 and beleeving to be the true feeding vpon him Which being so 34. it necessarily followes that feeding seldome or weakely we cannot haue much spirituall strength and otherwise feeding plentifully and soundly we shall be fat and flourishing in grace and so attaine vnto the blessed life spoken of How to feed oft in the day on Christ For the better vnderstanding and practising whereof this is specially to be considered How every true beleever may daily yea oft in the day by faith feed vpon Christ that so he may receiue from him all spirituall nourishment for his refreshing and strengthening to every good worke This is done by setting before vs those sweet promises which God hath made to vs for the strengthening of our faith in all our necessities and so particularly to apply them to our selues Whereby we may comfortably assure our selues that we shall enioy that which God hath promised Wherein we are first to get the true meaning of that which is promised Secondly To see we haue a good warrant that this is promised to vs that therevpon we may conclude we shall certainly enioy that which God hath promised seeing he is faithfull who hath promised But seeing this is not well conceived by many Example I will make it plaine by example 1 Cor. 1.30 it is said But of him are yee in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption In which is as much sayd as may be conceived or desired the meaning whereof is that every true beleever is by Gods spirit made a living member of Christ Iesus from and in whom he is made by God a true partaker of all things needfull to salvation that whereas he is by nature foolish guiltie filthy and in bondage now in Christ he is made perfectly wise righteous holy freed from all his enemies and so restored to full happinesse This promise of God being clearely vnderstood must now be applyed particularly by every beleever to himselfe thus Seeing God who is all-sufficient and faithfull that in his Word which is Truth it selfe promised these great benefits in which all are contained to every true beleever therefore I who doe truly though weakely beleeue in Christ may boldly assure my selfe that all these be mine and therefore I shall not want any thing needfull for my present comfort or eternall happinesse Which whosoever doth daily practise in this manner to maintaine and increase his faith by application of this and all other of Gods promises he shall daily more and more enioy in this life that blessed estate wee speake of Pray for faith But for as much as faith is the gift of God and we cannot further beleeue then wee be drawne by Gods spirit therefore wee must ioyne often and fervent prayer that God by this meanes would increase our faith This may seeme easie to be performed Not easie but vpon better triall it will not be found so easie to doe it effectually for besides our owne great vntowardnesse to beleeve I cannot thinke of any dutie wherein our common Adversary will vse more cunning and diligence to hinder vs then in this either by keeping vs from rhe worke or beguiling vs in it whereby it comes to passe that very few doe to any good purpose practise the same Two chiefe letts Amongst many lettes which hinder the faithfull practise hereof I