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A01739 Tvvo sermons vpon 1. Peter 5. vers .8. and 9 Wherein is shewed that the diuell is to be resisted only by a stedfast faith, how soeuer he commeth either against soule or body: and that whosoeuer hath once attained the true and liuelie faith, it can neuer be vtterly lost, but he is sure to get the victorie. By M. George Giffard, Preacher of the worde of God at Mauldon in Essex. Gifford, George, d. 1620. 1597 (1597) STC 11871; ESTC S112185 45,095 88

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indeed doe taste of the heauenly power but they are not led with the spirit of God they be not sanctified they walke not after the spirit Moreouer the spirit of adoption the sanctifying spirit which is in al that haue the true liuely and iustifying faith beareth withes with and to the spirit of the beleeuers that they be the children of God This is the liuely faith when a man beleeueth that the Lorde God is his father and that he is the sonne of God And this faith is not separated from the spirit of adoption for it is vpon his testimonie that they do beleeue and by him they crie Abba Father Is not this spirit a true spirit and is not his witnes most firme andtrue If it be as those men say that the reprobate are partakers of the spirit of adoption then is not his testimonie firme and true For then that spirit of adoption teacheth some man to call God Father and witnesseth to his spirit that he is the sonne of God when as he is the childe of the diuell for hauing that faith and that testimonie of the spirit in him to day to morrow he doth by their saying vtterly and sinally lose that faith and that spirit What an opinion is this to say that a man hath the true faith that is to say beleeueth by the testimony of the holy Ghost that God is his father and yet he is indeed the child of the diuell And moreouer doth not the Apostle say that after they beleeued they were scaled with the holie spirit of promise This is more then the bare testimonie of the spirit if I may so speake that hee sealeth Can this seale be disanulled or broken or made frustrate Is this seale vntrue If it bee euer set vpon the reprobate it is deceiueable If their opinion be true no man can then say thus God hath sealed me with his spirit therfore I doe belong to God For a reprobate hath that seale and it faileth him then who can say that it is a seale which is true and infallible Saint Iohn shewing vpon what testimonies faith in Christ is grounded saith There be three that bear record in heauen the Father the Word and the holie Spirit and these three are one And there bee three that bear record in earth the spirit water blood and these three agree in one If we receiue the testimony of men the testimonie of God is greater For this is the witnes which hee testifieth of his sonne Hee that beleeueth in the sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe 1. Ioh. 5. vers 7.8.9.10 Why are all these witnesses but to giue asrance of faith And if these witnesses doe testifie vnto a man that he is the childe of God and shall be saued for euery one that hath the true liuelie faith hath it vpon the testimony of all these witnesses and yet hee is a reprobate then is not the witnesse of God greater then the witnesse of men Then also to what end should be mention all these foresaid witnesses They giue an absolute testimonie that euery one that beleeueth hath life euerlasting By these places it is manifest that the reprobate cannot be partakers of the sanctifying faith they be not led at any time by the spirit of adoption they be not sealed vp with the holy spirit of promise they haue not the witnesse of God within them whosoeuer therefore hath these thinges let him be assured he shall neuer perish but if he be sanctified he is iustified hee shall bee glorified Rom. 8. ver 32. And this is it which the holie Scripture in many places proclameth that whosoeuer beieeueth in the sonne of God he shal neuer be confounded But what if the reprobate neuer haue the true faith nor the spirit of adoption yet doe not the elect so fall and sinne sometimes that there is no sparke of true faith left in them for the time This is the great cunning of the diuell to roote vp as it were the siablenesse and foundation of the truth But the word of God meeteth with it and teacheth that whosoeuer is regenerate and borne of God in the new spirituall birth as euery one is that hath the liuely faith seeing whosoeuer is in Christ he is a new creature the same man cannot so fall that this new birth should be extinguished in him For this wee haue the testimonie vttered by Saint Iohn in these words Whosoeuer is born of god sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sinne because hee is borne of God 1. Ioh. 3. ver 9. Also we know that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked one doth not touch him chap. 5. vers 18. In the former of these two sayings there be two members and vnto either of them there is annexed a reason to confirme the same As whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for his seede this is the reason remaineth in him And then the second member Neither can hee sinne the reason because hee is borne of God Now see if they doe not directlie gainsay the holie Ghost which holde that a man regenerate may loose the faith be vtterly voide of the spirit of sanctification For first whereas S. Iohn saith that whosoeuer is born of God he sinneth not They say a man hath his faith vtterhe quenched and is wholie depriued of the spirit of adoption What sin then is it that he sinneth not He that falleth in such sort as that he becommeth void of the true faith and of the sanctifying grace of God what is he other but as an infidell for the time and what sinne is it that he committeth not Shall it be said of such a man he sinneth not It may be this poore cauill will be vsed Hee that is borne of God sinneth not so long as he continueth in that estate so long as he continueth borne of God A vaine and most foolish speech for if a man that is vnregenerate and borne of GOD through a true and liuelie faith do so fal it is sinne that casteth him downe then he doth sinne while he is in that state For doth hee first cast away his faith and the grace of the sanctifying spirit and then commit sinne and not before What greater sinne then the falling from the faith and casting forth vtterlie the grace of sanctification But see how Saint Iohn meeteth with all cauilles in the reason which he annexeth to confirme that first member Why doth not any one that is borne of God sinne For saith hee his seede remaineth in him What is the seed of God which remaineth in all that are borne of God The word of God is called the incorruptible seed by which God doth beget his children 1 Pet. 1.23 That word is but an instrument the holie Ghost is the worker of the new birth and therfore our Sauiour teacheth except a man bee borne againe of water and
that the blind world is drowned in a carnall consolation they doe not soundly beleeue nor sensiblie consider what estate they be in They be but as drunken men who through exceeding drunkennesse passing towards horrible torments do not perceiue it nor regard it but are merie and laugh and sport themselues For they which are so merie and doe sport themselues so much in sinne and in carnall pleasures if they did knowe or aduisedly consider whither they be going and what remaineth for thē it would dampe all their mirth It is not the strong consolation which the holie Ghost speaketh of that they haue Theirs is but a drunken madnesse Such onlie as by a liuely faith doe feele the power of Christ in them mortifying and slaying sinne quickening them vnto righteousnesse and true holinesse euen to walke in the light and to bring forth the fruites and vertues of the spirite haue the strong consolation They bee assured that they be deliuered from hell and made heires of eternall glorie in as much as they know that God doth sanctifie none but those whome he doth glorifie But they doe alleage sundrie testimonies of the holie Scriptures by which they vndertake to prooue that the verie reprobate haue the true liuely and iustifying faith which they do vtterlie loose and likwise that the elect doe so fall that the same true and liuelie faith for a time is vtterlie quenched in them if it be so then all assurance is gone and with it there vanisheth away all strong consolation For if the true faith bee in the reprobate then cannot any man thus argue I haue the true liuely and sanctifying faith therefore I am chosen of God and sure to bee saued Neither can he say thus If I fall I shal rise againe for what is it that can assure him that he shall rise againe if some that haue the same true faith which he hath doe fal and neuer rise againe Let vs therfore consider what their proofes bee or testimonies vpon which they stande to prooue that the true faith may be vtterly lost In the olde Testament it is thus written But when the righteous doth turne away from his righteousnesse and commit iniquity and doth according to all the abominations which the wicked doth should he liue all his righteous deedes which he hath done shall not be remembred for his transgression in which hee transgresseth and for his sinne in which hee sinneth for these he shall die Ezech. 18.24 The Lord Iesus saith that there bee some which do beleeue for a time in time of temptation goe away Luk. 8 1● Thou standest saith S. Paul by faith be not high minded but feare Rom. 11. ver 20. Also the same Apostle speaketh of some that made shipwrack of the faith 1. Tim. 1. vers 19. Hee that thinketh hee standeth let him take heed least he fall 1. Cor. 10. ver 12. Christ saith to the Angell of the Church of Ephesus Thou hast left thy first loue Reue. 2. ver 4. Take heede least anie man fall away from the grace of God Heb. 12. vers 15. And S. Peter doth speake of such as are like the dog that returneth to his vomite 2. Pet. 2. There be other places of scripture which they doe also alleadge to prooue that men that haue the true liuely faith may wholy loose it I will not stand to answere euery one particularlie but in generall and thus that whatsoeuer the word of God speaketh of falling frō grace of turning from the way of righteousnes or loosing the faith it is not to bee vnderstood of the grace of sanctification or of the true liuely iustifying faith but of that other faith which the holie scriptures doe speake of which the wicked may haue and of those graces which they also are after a sort made partakers of For this is sufficient for me to shewe that whosoeuer is once partaker of the liuelie faith he can neuer loose that faith hee can neuer perish for that being prooued it must needs be confesled that all the scriptures which they alleadge are to bee vnderstood not of that liuely faith or of those that be sanctified I am saith Christ the true vine and my father is an husbandman Euery branch in me that beareth not fruite he taketh away and euery branch in me that beareth fruite he purgeth that it may beare more fruit Ioh. 15. vers 1.2 Christ is the vine they which professe his name be the brāches These branches be of two sortes the one sort beareth no fruit the other sort beareth fruit Now let it bee demanded what are they which beare fruit It must needs be answered they be such as haue the true and liuely faith they be ingrafted into Christ and doe receiue as it were the sap or iuice of life from him Their faith is that which Saint Paule saith worketh by charity and therfore euery one that hath that faith beareth fruite Then who bee those branches that beare not fruite They be Christians in name and in profession otherwise he would not say Euerie branch in me that beareth not fruit They be after a sort grafted also into Christ in as much as they haue been baptized and doe professe to beleeue in him but their faith is but a dead faith otherwise it could not be saide that they beare no fruite By this we see it is euident that there is a difference of faith there is a fruitlesse or a dead faith and there is a faith which is liuely and cannot but worke Then see how we are to argue out of this place Euery branch that beareth fruit that is euery one that hath the true and liuely faith shall be purged that it may beare more fruit therefore not any one of the reprobate haue the liuely faith This consequence is cleere if wee consider that he saith Euerie branch that beareth fruit he purgeth not to take it afterward away but that it may bear more fruit For will they be so bold as to say thus Some branches that beare fruite shall bee taken out of the vine as well as the branches that beare no fruite Or thus Some branches that beare fruite shall be purged that they may beare more fruite but yet in the end they shall also bee taken out of the vine were not that a strange speech What difference or what a vaine difference were that which Christ maketh of the branches touching perseuerance in the vine if the fruitfull branches or any of them could be separated from it as well as the vnfruitfull howe doe they make Christ to speak It may be they wil say that the holy scripture speaketh somtimes vnsuersally whē as yet exceptions in particulars are for to be admitted and so his saying doth stand true although some branches that haue born fruit be taken out of the vine and do perish I answere that this cauill is of no force heer because ourSauiour doth so speak vniuersallie that he also speaketh singularly He saith
not al the branches that in me bear fruit but euery branch in me that beareth fruit he purgeth that it may beare more fruit So that we may conclude that there are none of the reprobate that haue the true and liuely faith for if they had they shoulde bring forth fruit and so remain for euer in the vine Againe whosoeuer knoweth that hee bringeth foorth fruite hee may be assured that he shal continue in the vine for euer hee shall neuer perish Also Christ saith I am the breade of life hee that commeth to me shall not hunger in any wise and he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst This is the will of him that sent me that euery one that seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him may haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day I am that bread of life your fathers did eate Manna in the wildernesse and are dead This is that bread that came downe from heauen that if anie man eate thereof he should not die I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternall life This is that bread which came downe from heauen not as your fathers did eate Manna and are dead he that eateth of this bread shall liue for euer Ioh. 6. ver 35.40.48.49 50.51.54.58 From these Scriptures wee may drawe most firme conclusions that not any one of the reprobate euer haue or can haue the true and liuelie faith but that whosoeuer beleeueth he is assured of life eternall Christ teacheth that hee is the bread of life and that whosoeuer eateth of that bread he shall liue for euer It is not possible that any man should eat of that bread and yet not liue for euer Euery one that beleeueth in him I speak of that liuelie faith which as the hand apprehendeth Christ and by which we receiue him and his benefites doth eat his flesh and drinke his blood He that beleeueth in mee saith hee shall neuer thirst for let any mā shew a reason why some that beleeue in Christ doe eate his flesh and drinke his blood other some hauing the same liuely faith doe not What will they say that the reprobate damned so many of them as euer come to haue the true and liuely faith according as they imagine do indeede eat the flesh of Christ drinke his blood and so for a time be made liuely members of Christ euen flesh of his flesh and bones of his bones as the Apostle speaketh Ephes 5. ver 31 If they doe not eat his flesh drink his blood then haue they not the faith remooue that effect and the cause is remooued If they will not abhor so wicked a speech but affirm indeed that the reprobate doe eate the flesh of Christ so many of them as haue the liuely faith then let thē see how they ouerthrow also the whole force of the argumēt of Christ by which he proueth that the Manna was not the bread of life but that he himself is the bread of life Your fathers saith he did eat Māna in the wildernesse and are dead If any man eat of this bread he shal liue for euer How standeth his argument consider of it I pray you Your fathers did eat Manna in the wildernesse and yet are dead in their sinnes they are dead in the spirituall and eternall death for of that death hee speaketh seeing they also which eat the flesh of Christ doe die the naturall death therefore Manna was not the bread of life that commeth downe from heauen For that which some did eat of and yet did die eternallie is not by any meanes the bread of life And how doth hee prooue that hee himselfe is the bread of life I am the breade which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer Thus standeth his reason Whosoeuer eateth the flesh of Christ he shal liue for euer therefore the flesh of Christ is the bread of life If they shall now say some of the fathers in the wildernes did eate the Manna and yet died in their sinnes it cannot be denied and thereupon Christ doth affirme that Manna was not the bread of life that commeth downe from heauen and then adde their owne saying which is this some doe eate the flesh of Christ and yet do die in their sinnes what will then followe if this reason do stand in force Your fathers did eat Manna in the wildernes and are dead therefore Manna was not the bread of life Then shall not this also follow Many doe eat the flesh of Christ and yet are damned therefore the flesh of Christ is not the bread of life Thus it is euident that such as do affirme that any of the reprobate haue the liuelie faith doe gainsay Christ and ouerthrow the force of his argument To proceede what can be more firme to proue that the reprobate cannot haue the true liuely and iustifying faith then that which Saint Paul hath written Where this ground is first to bee laide that whosoeuer he is that hath the true iustifying faith he hath the spirite of sanctification the spirite of adoption for thus the Apostle conioyneth them wherein also after that yee beleeued yee were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vnto the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glorie Ephes 1. ver 13.14 Is there any so absurd as to hold that a man is a liuely member of Iesus Christ as euery one is that hath the liuelie iustifying faith and yet hath not that holy spirite of promise that spirite of adoption that scale and that pledge If they will say that the faith which the reprobate doe attaine vnto is without this spirite of adoption or without this seale or pledge then doe wee holde with them and then doth it follow that the faith of the reprobate is not the true iustifying and sanctifying saith which purgeth the heart Act. 15. But if they shall say that the reprobate are for a time partakers of the spirit of sanctification euen of that spirit of adoption then will there diuers right wicked consequences follow which are to be banished far frō christian religiō For first touching the spirit of adoption see what the Apostle saith As manie as are led by the spirit of god they are the sons of God For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bōdage again to fear but ye haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby we crie Abba Father That same spirite beareth witnesse vnto our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Rom. 8.14 15 16. If anie of the reprobate be led by the spirit of God or be at anie time sanctified then hath not S. Paule here said true that as manie as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God Some of the reprobate