Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	blood_n	body_n	flesh_n	8,072	5	6.9865	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60648	A new primmer, wherein is demonstrated the new and living way held forth by way of question and answer, as from a child's enquiry after truth, to be informed by the father. Here being divers particulars answer'd, and plainly opened, that may be profitable both in this present age, and ages to come. Published for the benefit of all sorts of people, and may be very serviceable for every family, and of great use for young children to learn in, so soon as they can understand their language, that they in the fear of God may be instructed, and remember their creator in the dayes of their youth. For which I travel, enduring affliction for the truths sake, William Smith.	Smith, William, d. 1673.	1665 (1665)	Wing S4322; ESTC R224034	28,937	98

right Service nor Accepted o● God C. I would know father how it 〈◊〉 concerning those things called Ord●nances as Baptism and Bread an● Wine which are much used in the● Worship F. Why child as to those thing they rose from the Pope's inventio● who hath had power in the Night o● Apostacy and hath set up his D●vices which are yet continued in England though he seemingly is denied and the whole practice of those things as they use them had their Institution by the Pope and were never so Ordained of Christ for he did not ordain Sprinkling water in a childs face or to make a sign of the Cross in its fore-head nor God-fathers and God-mothers to undertake for it neither did he ordain Bread and Wine to be so used and received And the wine is another of the Pope's inventions who knows not the cup of blessing in which is the communion of the Blood of Christ so hath invented a Silver Cup and pours wine into it and then the Priest gives it to the people and tells them That is the Blood of Christ which is shed for them when it is Wine and not Blood And gives them Bread and tells them That is the Body of Christ that is broken for them when people neither discern the Body nor the Blood of Christ and so Eat and Drink Damnation to themselves And true Baptism child is in the Spirit which Baptizeth into one Body And the true Meat and Drink is the Body and Blood of Christ which the worthy receiver feeds upon in his Heart So that these things be false and not to be regarded by the true Christians who are come to the Spirit and live in the Spirit which is the Substance C. But is not the place in which all these things are performed a true Church F. Nay the true Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Christ is the Head of it and hath the preheminence in it but the place in which such things are performed is also of the Pope's invention and he counts himself to be the head of it and he would have the preheminence and is a Place made by men and it is Wood and Stone which do decay and wax old and come to nought Then they make Levies and gather Mony to Repair it again and if they do not so it will fall and consume and turn into Mire and Dirt But the true Church of which Christ is the Head is a Living thing and doth not decay nor wax old but is ingrafted into him and there is neither spot nor blemish in it C. But are not these the true Christians that practise and perform such things F. They have got the Christan's Words and so count themselves Christians but they are not in the Christian's Life neither is their Way the Christian's Way so they are practising those things that God requires not at theis hands neither doth he accept them And who are true Christians child they come into Union with Christ by the effectual working of his Power in them through which they are translated and made new creatures and the new creature is in Christ and is a true Christian but the old is an Apostate C. There is also some other things that I would be informed in because I stand something doubtful concerning them F. What are they Child C. I observe that People make much to do one with another when they meet together or part one from another in putting off their Hats and Bowing and Cringing and going Backward and Scraping and I am doubtful whether this be the true Honour with which I am to honour all men F. This Doubt will be easily removed and thou mayest be assured that it is not the true Honour C. How may I be assured of it F. Why child they that seek Honour one of another they do not believe in Christ the power of God which is honourable in all men and is to be honoured where it appears in any and this seeks not the honour below or to have the Hat put off or the Body to bow and cringe or the feet to scrape it neither seeks such honour nor can give such honour for it is a beggarly honour when it is compared with that honour that comes from God alone and where it is sought and expected it is from below and that which answers the Expectation is the same and so men seek honour one of another and they give it one to another with their Hat and Kee And Your humble Servant Sir And such are not in the power of God but in the vain customs of the Heathen and so it is got in a Custom to put of the Hat and bow and cringe and scrape and Women to Curtisie and Droop And this is sought for and expected one from another and they receive it one of another And these are the Apostate Christians that are out of the Power of God that is Honourable and so seek honour one of another and are respecting one anothers Person and the Rich and the Proud they get the Honour and the Poor and the Needy they are not regarded C. But is there not such an Honour that belongs to Magistrates and Men in Authority F. Nay Child such Honour doth not belong to them neither are they Honoured when in is done so unto them for true Honour is from the Heart and not from the Hat And where any thing of God appears in Magistrates and Men in Authority that is Honoured with the Heart and it doth not expect the Hat And this is true Honour Child and it is given unto whom it is due C. But seeing such a thing is expected by Men in Authority is it not better for me to give it to them then to offend them F. Thou must be careful Child how thou Reason'st about it lest thou run'st into Transgession for if thou respect'st Persons thou committest sin and the Law of God will convince thee of Trangression Therefore mind the Lord and his Teachings and if men be offended because thou obey'st the Lord thou wilt not be guilty of the offence but the Wo shall be unto that in them which would be Honoured with thy Hat from whence the offence comes C. And doth not the Lord require any such thing to be done F. Nay The Lord requires it not but the pride of man's Heart seeks it for the Lord requires that thou shouldest Honour all men in him and that is to give Honour unto whom it is due but unto a proud heady high-minded Man there is no Honour due though he may be great in the World and be in Place to Rule but in the Power of God the Pooor is as Honourable as the Rich and the Beggar as he that Rules and the Honour is given as due unto the Power and not unto any man's Person C. I would be informed of another thing Father What Language I am to speak unto a single Person whether Thou or You be the true

thy self to God C. But I desire to enquire somewhat after this thing that I may receive Information concerning it seeing there are so many professions and all seem to differ and yet but one true Way that so I may chuse the true and deny the false F. Why child for thy satisfaction I shall a little open it unto thee whereby thou mayest see into the ground of all Professions and how they all come to differ for Peopl● wanting the Life and Power of Chri●● in themselves they are betrayed int● the words which from the Life an● Power were given forth and the● not understanding the Scriptures they are they put to their meaning● and when in their meanings the● cannot agree then arises the diffe●ence and one cryes Lo here an● another cryes Lo there according to their own meanings and conclusions and so being from the Spirit of God in themselves from which the Holy Men of God gave forth the Scriptures they do not understand the Scripture nor the Power of God And this is the reason child why there are so many Professions and shews of Religion C. Then is it not very dangerus to put Meanings to the Scriptures and from thence to draw conclusions concerning Religion when there is not a measure of the same Spirit felt from which the Scriptures were given forth F. It is very dangerous child and it is the way of the old Serpent and such a Profession never makes a Christian nor brings forth a pure Religion but forms up a shew of Godliness out of the Power C. But amongst these several Professions there is something seemingly good in their Practice for they profess a Worship to God and they have Praying and Preaching and Singing and they use those things called Ordinances as Baptism and Bread and Wine F. Child this observe That which seems to be and is not the thing it seems it deceives the beholder And there may be something seeming good in all the Professions and yet not be so as it seems and in the Darkness it is not to be discerned The Pharises had long Prayers and that was seemingly good yet Christ called them Hypocrites So to judge according to the Appearance is very dangerous for therein are many deceived taking ● thing to be that which it is not C. But is not the Worship of God good thing F. Yes the Worship of God is a good thing but if there be no more but a shew of Worship it is not the Worship of God nor is not so good as it seemes to be but is a Will-worship and not the Worship in the Spirit which is the true Worship of God C. Is not that a true Worship where there is Praying and Preaching and Singing with such like good things F. That is a true Worship where there is Praying and Preaching and Singing in the Spirit but there may be such things done and not in the Spirit but in mens own will and that Worship is vain C. Then inform me Father of the true Worship F. Why child I shall shew thee when the mind is joyned to the Spirit of God and is acted by it and subjected to it then is the Lord God truly worshipped and that is the worship in the Spirit C. And how is that Worship performed And what is the practice in it F. It is performed according to the good pleasure of the Spirit that blows where it listeth and the Practice is as the Spirit moves If the Spirit gives words to declare they are declared faithfully If it move unto Prayer it is performed in it And so the things practised in the true worship are performed in the Spirit 's power and according to its own pleasure C. Do not all people that Professe a Worship unto God perform their Service in the Spirit F. Nay child for they that are in the flesh cannot perform a spiritual service C. How do they then Preach and Pray with other things they practise in their Worship F. They do it in their own Wills and in the strength of the earthly wisdom and not in the Spirit C. And do those called Ministers perform their service in their own wills and Wisdom F. Yes child they do it in their own wills and wisdom and in their own time C. But how shall I know that they do so F. By their Limitation in binding up their Worship unto a Time Place and Person but the Spirit of God is not limited C. Why is not their Time and Place and Persons right seeing their Time is upon that Day called Sunday and their Place that which is called a Church and the Persons such as are counted Ministers of Christ F. Nay the Lord God of Power is not limitted to any of them And as for their Sunday the Heathen named it and the Pope named their Church and their Schools and Colledges made their Ministers C. But do they not preach sound Doctrine F. Nay their Doctrine is after the Tradition of men and not after Christ and they get their Doctrine by their Arts and Languages that they have learned at Schools and Colledges and then read it or speak it forth in their own wills that are corrupted and there is no soundness in it C. But if it be so there are many deceived for they are looked upon to be able Ministers F. Yea many are deceived who walk not in the light that discernes them but who walk in the Light sees them and their Wolfish nature under their Sheeps cloathing And now is the Lord making them manifest that they may not deceive any longer for they have kept People alwayes learning and are unprofitable Talkers Teaching for filthy Lucre and not of a ready mind C. But is not their praying a service that is accepted of God F. Nay for they pray not with the Spirit nor with the Understanding And some of them cannot pray at all but as they have prayers made by others and have them set in a book to read as in the book of Common-Prayer or else get words into their memory or comprehend them into the Notion and then speak them forth as in a way of prayer when the Spirit is not felt so that neither their Preaching nor Praying is accepted of God C. And is not their singing an acceptable service for they that can sing praises are in a good condition F. Who are come into that state where a Psalm is given in the Spirit they are in a good condition and can sing Praises and make Melody in their Hearts unto the Lord and they rightly understand what they sing and they sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding But none can sing after this manner but who are Redeemed from the Earth But they have David's words put into Meeter by Hopkins and Sternhold and given them forth as they were David's condition and the Drunkard and Swearer and Lya● sing together who know nothing of David's condition and so they sing Lyes in Hypocrisie which is no● a

up in the Blood-thirsty Spirit And for that called the Lord's Day or Sabbath Day People do no● understand what they say for the Sabbath is the Seventh-Day and the observing of that is ended in Christ and that called the Lord's Day is the first Day of the Week And the name Sunday is from the Heathens who celebrated that day unto the Sun and so called it Sunday But Child every Day is the Lord's Day and thou art to observe them all unto him and walk in his fear and in his dread every Day and Hour and who come to Christ and believe in Christ come over the observation of Dayes into the one Day of the Lord which is as a thousand years and so walk with the Lord in his Day and observe it to his Glory and Praise C. I now feel my understanding pretty well informed and opened but will the Light of Christ in my own Conscience let me see all these things and teach me to understand them in Truth F. Yes Child it will if thou enclinest to its Teachings and stand'st single to obey it will give thee a perfect understanding of God his Way and truth and will let thee see all the Customs and Fashions and Traditions of the World to be vain for condemnation And now my Child receive Instruction and be wise and let not the Counsel of thy Father depart from thee but treasure it up in thy Heart that thou mayest lay up for thy selfe a good foundation and know the hand of the Lord to build thee up And now I Exhort thee Child to mind the fear of the Lord that thou mayest know the beginning of Wisdom and therein be made wise unto Salvation and let not thy mind in any wise go after vanity keep thy eyes from beholding vanity and as thou mindest the Light of Christ thou wilt see it and be kept from it And now unto all Sorts and Sects of People a few Words I write Vnto the Aged THou that hast past over many years and hast spent thy time in vanity now wait to redeem it thou drawest nigh thy end and the time that is past thou canst not call again thou must lay down thy earthly body and how soon thou knowest not the World must pass away and thou must leave it if thou hast gathered great Riches thou must not abide with them What profit will there be in all these things when thou must go hence and be no more seen And what will all thy professed Religion do for thee in that day It will all forsake thee Therefore whilst thou hast yet a day turn and obey the Lord and his living Voice in thy conscience that thou maist be gathered unto God and know his salvation before the day pass over Vnto the Young Men. THou that art in the strength of thy Youth spend it not in vain nor satisfie thy hearts lusts which many times provoke thee to do evil thy dayes will end and an account thou must give unto God therefore in time consider before the evil day come upon thee for thou knowst not how soon the Lord may call for thee and require an account of thee Therefore stand in aw and sin not but walk in the fear of the Lord that it may go well with thee in the latter day Vnto little Children THou that art yet in thy young Years and art but like a plant springing up into strength thou knowest not the day of thy cutting down therefore whilst thy time is mind the Lord that made thee and gives life and breath unto thee and walk in fear before him so will he teach thee the way wherein thou art to walk and he will order thy conversation a right and shew thee his salvation and thou wilt be kept from the evil of the dayes that yet thou hast to pass through and wilt know the power of God to pluck up the root of evil whilst thou art yet tender and before it be too much grown in strength and thou wilt come to be grounded and rooted in the love of God and in that spring up like a pleasant plant so will thy dayes which yet thou hast to pass through in this world be joyful to thee and in the end everlasting peace will be thy portion Therefore Little Children keep out of vanity Lye not Swear not Envy not be sober be gentle be peaceable be tender love one another be not proud in any wise put not on costly Apparrel take no thought after that be not curious in your Meats and Drinks but having Food and Rayment be therewith content Let not your Apparrel be more than what is needful for your bodies nor your Food more then what is convenient for your refreshment so will the Lord adorn you with the beauty of holiness and feed you with that meat that doth not perish A few words concerning true Discerning and Judgment NOw is Salvation come from the most High and the God of Israel is over all he is confounding the Wise men in their Wisdom and destroying the strong men in their strength he is breaking the Idols of silver and the Idols of gold and every carved work he is throwing down and his eye beholds the way of every man and he sees their work of what sort it is he is the searcher of the heart and he passeth by and beholds the intents thereof hidden things he brings to light and by the gift of his own Spirit he shews to every man his thoughts this is his perfect gift to every man a manifestation thereof all men have that they thereby might profit and though a measure of this Spirit hath a being in All and makes its self manifest in all and is the true light that doth enlighten all that come into the World yet all do not receive it nor come to be guided by it so walk in the flesh and cannot please God neither can perceive the things of God and what is performed by such as a Service or Worship to God he doth not require it at their hands and though they make many prayers he will not hear for they have no Union with his Spirit and this tryes all people and their works in a true Discerning and gives true Judgment upon all according to their doings and who have not this Spirit of Christ they are none of his but all that receive it and have Union with it they walk not in the flesh but in the Spirit in which they see the Shapes and Forms of every Image and Likeness and the ground from whence they do arise and no false birth can have a hiding-place but from the least to the greatest they are discovered and the fairest covering that any have cloathed themselves withal is seen through and all the formed likenesses which appear this day amongst the sons of men in what they do profess of God they are all seen to be of the flesh and their Root and principle is of that part and nature that is

earthly from which no good thing can arise and it brings forth a birth in its own likeness and of its own nature which by the Spirit is truly discerned and every work of the flesh is manifest to the Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things truly judges all things for the Spirit is truth And though this may seem in many of your eyes to be rash judgment and you may call it so yet it will stand a witness against all that are satisfying the flesh For there is not any thing so hardly received as that testimony that strikes at the life of another and that which deals plainly and simply with all and desires the good of all that meets with the least entertainment in the hearts of people but that which flatters and cryes peace when the bonds of Iniquity stand that is a pleasing thing unto the minds of all who walk in the flesh and that which coms to rip them up and discover their nakedness to their shame that they kick against and will not own nor receive it for truth for there is not any people would come to shame for what they do and that which opens secrets and brings any thing to light by which shame may come upon them they turn against that and reject it though the thing be really true which is witnessed against and so there is no work of the flesh that would come under the spirits Judgment though it be truly discerned and judged as it is and the Discerning and Judgment stand in the truth but those concerned in it will not own it but cry out Who made you a Judge And why are you so rash to judge as if all were to be condemned but your selves How do you know the hearts of people And why may not others be as right as you for what you know So every Form and Likeness would save its own Life by putting off the Judgment as if none could Discern it and no false birth that would have its Nakedness to appear lest it should come to shame thereby And thus People harden themselves against the Spirit 's Testimony which in it self is the searcher and tryer of Hearts and Reins and none can hide their Councel from it Mark Is not this the Judge that stands at the door and knocks Doth not he discern when Evil rises in your Hearts And doth he not there Reprove you What is it that you can hide that he finds not out What can you do in your secret Chambers that he doth not know And what Thought can you think amongst all your Thoughts that he doth not discern And doth he not judge you in your own Consciences if you have Thought any Evil or uttered vain Words or done any thing wickedly Will you deny this to be a true Discerner and a Righteous Judge Be sober and there is a Witness which you may feel in your selves to answer to the truth declared and all that have received the Spirit and are born of the Spirit they have an Understanding given them by which they are able to Discern the flesh all the works of it and give true Judgment upon it without respect of Persons not judging according to the flesh but according to the Spirit and sees to the Root and principle from which all things spring up and grow and they do not judge according to the outward appearance but judge Righteous judgement for such as Discern no further than what outwardly appears and then judge according to that Others from the same ground may draw as true a Judgment against them And here people are not to Judge lest they be Judged which is a place much alleadged against true Judgment but whoso Judges one of another it is not in the Spirit of Truth which doth Discern through all Appearances but it is in the flesh which cannot perceive beyond what doth appear And so all the false Births give Judgement one against another and cannot bear the Judgement of one another then they are provoked and angry one with another and run into confusion and Distraction Warring and Fighting and Destroying one another about their formed Religion none being come to the Spirit that gives a Discerning through what appears and gives true Judgment in the ground but all born of the Spirit have true Union with it and the flesh and the deeds of it are subdued under it and they are no more in the flesh but in the Spirit and have received Christ Jesus the Lord and walk in him and are Spiritual and the Spiritual man judgeth all things and he himself is judged of no man And whether you can receive it or no you are all truly tryed and judged not in the flesh but in the Spirit and your ROOT and FOVNDATION is seen and Discerned and is not found to be that which was in the beginning but that which the Subtility generated since the beginning and so doth he rule over you and blind your minds that you cannot see nor discern further than what appears and the Mystery of the Kingdom is hid from your eyes and you run into the Words with your carnal Minds and earthly Wisdom and from what is Written draw something to your selves and form up a Likeness in your conceivings and bring that forth in the strength of your own Wills and this is your Foundation and the first principle of your Religion and so the HARLOT hath brought forth many children which in her Womb have all been conceived and yet are not formed one like another but all differ in their Shape and Likeness and then strive one with another and yet are all children of one House and all of one Kingdom but no Love nor Unity found amongst them but Envie Hatred and Malice and all one against another and divided into Heads and Parties which is an evident Testimony of the Ruine Fall of your House and Kingdom For A House divided against it self cannot stand Therefore come out of it lest it fall upon you and utterly destroy you and all come to that where Peace and Safety is for God hath prepared a sure Refuge and Resting place for all that will come And he hath gathered many into Unity and perfect Peace therein and they rest in his Love and are preserved in his Power and he alone is their Strength and sure Defence so hath the Lord made his power known in this his Day and hath gathered a Remnant to that which was in the beginning which was the Saints Life and from which the Scriptures were declared and of which they all testified that is now made manifest which the false Apostles ravened from and many Sons and Daughters are come to glory in it and this is the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth that cuts down Transgression and Reigns over the Head of the Transgressor and doth discover clearly all the deeds of Darkness which are come up since the Dayes of the Apostles and are practised by such as are