Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	bless_a	jesus_n	lord_n	6,161	5	3.6174	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60612	Two sermons preached at two publick assizes for the county of Svffolk, in the sheriffalty of Will. Soame of Hawleigh, in Suffolk, Esq. by Will. Smyth, D.D., Pr. Nor. and vic. of Mendlesham in Suffolk.	Smith, William, b. 1615 or 16.	1674 (1674)	Wing S4283; ESTC R21663	29,870	126

own vertue any thing at Gods hand to whom in that sense when we have done all we can we are unprofitable servants But least of all as works of supererogation of which the Romanists account is that they are done as satisfactory not only for their own sins but abounding to the satisfaction of the sins of others Neither do I plead for them as universally necessary but as Christ advised once in a matter of like nature Matth. 19. he that can receive them let him receive them Or as St. Paul declared his sense in a particular case of this kind to be made use of for a general purpose He that doth them not may do well but he that doth them shall do better 1 Cor. 7. But I propound them as highly profitable and advantageous for these great purposes 1. Because such acts of heightned Zeal and eminent Piety will establish the souls of good men with fuller assurances of the love and favour of God and will deliver them from the discomfort of a doubtful medium and suspense between hope and fear which an ordinary performance of Religious duties do too often afflict the Spirits of good men living and dying 2. Because they are such acts as though for which God hath not made express command yet with which he will be well pleased and are secure of his gracious acceptation as the Jews Free-will-offerings were and as Davids design was when he had it in his heart to build him an house for which he gave him no commandment 1 King 8.17 And as Mary Magdalens act of love was when she anointed our Saviours feet with precious ointment for which she had no positive rule or precept And if as once against her chargeable expression of her zeal it shall be objected against some more noble and costly acts of Piety as in building or adorning Gods Houses and the like that they might have been spared and the money given to the Poor I shall only mind them to consider who it was that said so and I am superseded from the trouble of giving any further answer 3. Pious souls should be affectionately desirous to be exercised in such advanced acts of Charity and Piety from the assurance that God will reward them For if a Cup of cold Water shall not lose his reward much more will every act of greater import have its proportioned recompence for Jesus sake This was Placilla's encouragement when she was reproved by the siner Ladies of her Court for her fore-mentioned acts of Charity when she answered them pro regno hoc ago I do them in expectation of a better Crown and Kingdom then my own And indeed such chosen acts of more eminent goodness are the proper ingagements which God rewards if we will observe St. Pauls reasoning 1 Cor. 9. how he expected a greater reward for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his voluntary costless preaching the Gospel for the noble end of doing more good then for the necessary commanded duty of preaching it at all Fourthly and lastly From the great advantage which Christianity obtains from the amiable prospect of eminent strictness and such heightned degrees of Charity and Piety O what need have the remiss and Under-Professions of this Age to be intended and advanced by presidents of such heightned zeal for God and goodness It is necessary that some men should not only walk in the light of an ordinary Profession but shine as lights to warm and melt the hearts of others who are frozen and fixed against most acts of Charity and almost all of Precy and then be able not only to correct all such erroneous zeal that spends it self in unwarrantable practices of Mistaken Godliness but put a stop to the Worlds bold defiances against all that is good But if Church-men especially would assume it as their more proper care to live and act in those heighths that I have mentioned by which they principally in the purest Ages obtained the name of Spiritual Persons in opposition to Secular that is to men that were not ingaged in such advanced Professions of stricter holiness I say if they were more generally so ingaged though I am assured no Christian Nation in the World can parallel the number of such as are it would sooner confute the spight that is against them wear off the contempt that is upon them and would be found the most successful expedient to bring dissenters to sober opinions and peaceable conformities Thus have I endeavoured to represent to you the measures of Christs great Example in the six several steps we should walk in which if by the grace of God you shall faithfully endeavour to follow as you will be out of all danger of miscarriage in your present services for I think I need give no other directions so will you be best prepared to receive the Crown of Immortal Bliss when Christ shall come to render to every man according to his works at the general Assizes of the World the great and universal Resurrection And that Almighty God may afford you and us all his heavenly assistance so to do let us join in our prayers one for another in the words which the Church hath taught us in the Collect for the second Sunday after Easter ALmighty God who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an ensample of godly life give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also dayly endeavour our selves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen THE Second Sermon Preached at BURY St. EDMUND At the Publick Assizes Sept. 13. MDCLXXIII SERM. II. 1 Joh. 4.1 Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God THe same reasons that moved me before to decline all intermedling with your present affairs prevail with me still in this my second Adventure I would not seem to reproach these venerable persons My Lords the Judges with the least suspicion that they needed my aid to teach them either Skill or Vertue And as for the inferiour Instruments of Justice in your proceedings that chiefly need Priestly counsel whereby right may be done to them that here dearly seek it I think particular applications to be an expedient too weak and unsufficient to encounter the Ages universal falseness and aversation to all vertue and honesty These sholes are not to be fished for and caught to Goodness by such single hooks of particular directions they must have a Net spred over them of some more general concern in Religion which may powerfully influence them with the knowledge of and obligation to their respective duties The last time therefore I attempted them with one of the largest compass the whole Body of Christianity practically represented in the example of Christ. I shall now endeavour to encompass them with one of a lesser circle and yet as reasonably promising success and that is an ingagement to a more firm