Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A91527
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The Bishop of Ely's letter to his clergy
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Patrick, Simon, 1626-1707.
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1692
(1692)
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Wing P821A; ESTC R42660
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5,032
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16
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Scriptures And for this self same cause how you ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies We have good hope that you have well weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time and that you have clearly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this Office whereunto it hath pleased God to call you So that as much as lieth in you you will apply your selves wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies this way and that you will continually pray to God the Father by the mediation of our only Saviour Iesus Christ for the Heavenly assistance of the holy Ghost that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavour your selves from time to time to sanctify the Lives of you and yours and to fashion them after the Rule and Doctrine of Christ that ye may be wholsom and godly examples and patterns for the People to follow And now that this present Congregation of Christ here assembled may also understand your minds and wills in these things and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duties ye shall answer plainly to these things which we in the Name of God and of his Church shall demand of you touching the same Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the Will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood Answer I think it The Bishop Are you perswaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrines required of necessity to Eternal Salvation through faith in Iesus Christ and are you determined out of the said Scriptures to instruct the People committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of necessity to Eternal Salvation but that which you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture Answer I am so perswaded and have so determined by Gods grace The Bishop Will you then give your faithfull diligence alwayes so to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments and the Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and as this Church and Realm hath received the same according to the Commandments of God so that you may teach the People committed to your cure and charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same Answer I will so do by the help of the Lord. The Bishop Will you be ready with all faithfull diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange Doctrines contrary to Gods Word and to use both publick and private monitions and exhortations as well to the sick as to the whole within your Cures as need shall require and occasion shall be given Answer I will the Lord being my helper The Bishop Will you be diligent in Prayers and in reading of the holy Scriptures and in such studies as help to the knowledg of the same laying aside the study of the world and the flesh Answer I will endeavour my self so to do the Lord being my helper The Bishop Will you be diligent to frame and fashion your own selves and your families according to the Doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lyeth wholsom examples and patterns to the Flock of Christ Answer I will apply my self thereto the Lord being my helper The Bishop Will you maintain and set forward as much as lieth in you quietness peace and love among all Christian People and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your Charge Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Bishop Will you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers unto whom is committed the charge and Government over you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions and submitting your selves to their godly judgements Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper These are the sacred Bonds in which you tyed your selves to Christ when you entred into his Service and were made his Ministers That is had the highest Honour conferred on you but withall the greatest Trust which if it be not duly discharged will bring you under the heaviest guilt You have need therefore to quicken your selves to be faithfull in your Office by reflecting very often on these holy Resolutions or Vows rather which you made when you undertook it And pray to God also constantly to be your Heâ—â—er as the Bishop did after those Demands in these words Almighty God who hath given you this will to do all these things Grant also unto you Strength and Power to perform the same that he may accomplish his work which he hath begun in you through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen It would conduce very much to the accomplishing of his work in you if you would reflect often and seriously upon the very first step you made towards it when you declared at your admission to the Order of Deacons that you trusted you were inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon you this Office and Ministration i. e. Not by mere Worldly ends and considerations that you might get a livelyhood but by Spirituall and Heavenly motives out of a desire as it follows there in that first Question to serve God for the promoting of his Glory and the edifying of his People This Question you may observe was not renewed afterward when you came to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood because it was supposed that the same Motions continued in you which you felt at first or rather that they were grown stronger pressing you forward to desire to be made compleat Ministers of Jesus Christ for the advancement of his Kingdom in the World Now if what you affirmed at your entrance into his Service was true that you were inwardly moved to it by thâ— holy Ghost out of Love to our Lord Jesus Christ and to those Souls which cost him no less than his pretious Blood no Question that blessed Spirit of Grace which began a good work in you hath never ceased since that time unless you have quenched the Spirit which God forbid to move you to mind your duty and pursue the end of your Ministration That is to have this constantly in your thoughts to apply your selves wholly to this one thing how you may win Souls to the Knowledge and Love and Obedience of our Saviour For this is your Office which you undertook by the motion of the holy Ghost and therefore this ought to be your constant design your business your study and daily care how you may bring those Souls that are committed to your charge unto their Blessed Redeemer in Heaven by instructing both Young and Old in the Truth as â—t is in Christ by pressing it upon their hearts both in Catechizing and Preaching by perswading them to the practice of every part of their Christian duty by stirring them up when they are negligent taking all opportunities not onâ—y in Publick but according to your â—romise in Private also to admonish â—nd exhort them both in Health and 〈◊〉 Sickness that they may sensibly â—erceive the great worth of their Immorâ—â—l Souls even by your unwearied Diâ—â—gence Labour Pains and Care to save â—â—em Amen July 6. 1692. Sy. Eliens