Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	body_n	holy_a	soul_n	16,669	5	5.2335	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00935	The diamond of deuotion cut and squared into sixe seuerall points: namelie, 1 The footpath to felicitie. 1 2 A guide to godlines. 81 3 The schoole of skill. 181 4 A swarme of bees. 209 5 A plant of pleasure. 245 6 A groue of graces. 283 Full of manie fruitfull lessons, auaileable to the leading of a godlie and reformed life: by Abraham Fleming.	Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607. Footepath of faith, leading the highwaie to heaven. Selections.	1581 (1581)	STC 11041; ESTC S102282	82,454	300

this life or of the life to come both those which we either haue or yet hope to enioie from the greatest to the smallest from the kingdome of heauen to one onelie drop of water that we are worthie of all the plagues which either haue heretofore seazed or bene yet possessed of vs. Yea if thou shouldest ransacke all the hid and secret treasures of thy fearefull iudgements which in thy lawe thou threatenest against the breakers thereof not onlie to the rasing and swéeping of vs from the face of the earth but also to the throwing of vs headlong into the bottomles pit of hell yet would we therin also acknowledge thy righteous iudgements For to vs belongeth shame and confusion of faces but vnto thée glorie and righteousnes The third Blossome conteining 1 An appeale to Gods promises in Christ for the remission of our sinnes 2 The bloud of the Lambe washeth vs wooll white 3 A praier in the behalfe of the dispersed Church against Papists and Heretikes and for godlie vnitie 4 Gods blessing maketh our land fruitefull and that we are the Lords sheepe our vnworthinesse notwithstanding 5 A request for the continuance of his loue and mercie 6 To what end it is to be desired 1 ALl this both guilt of sinne and desert of punishment notwithstanding O father of mercies and God of all comfort we trusting vnto the promises which thou hast made vs in Iesus Christ are bold through him humblie to call for the performance of them And first we humblie desire thee to forgiue vs all our sins Thou hast said that if we confesse our sinnes thou art faithfull to forgiue vs them We acknowledge the debt cancell therefore the obligation let not the multitude of them preuaile against vs but where our sinne hath abounded let thy grace more abound and as we haue multiplied our sinnes so we praie thée to multiplie thy mercies 2 And although we haue by continuance in them so soked ourselues that thereby we are not onlie lightlie stained but also haue gotten as it were the scarlet and purple die of them yet let them all we praie thée being washed in the bloud of thy swéete Lambe be made as white as the snowe in Salmon and as the wooll of the shéepe which come from washing And to conclude as our sinnes haue magnified themselues in an infinite length breadth deapth and height so let thy mercies which passe all vnderstanding of all sides and assaies outreach them 3 Therefore also we most humblie desire thée O Lord that the sinne being pardoned thy wrath which is alreadie declared may be appeased towards all the Churches of our profession and especiallie towards vs that the manifolde breaches of the Churches and Commonwealthes maie be made vp that those being receiued into the bosome of the Church which belong to thine election the rest of the Papists and Heretikes may be vtterlie rooted out and that our enimies in religion béeing slaine we may to the vttermost thinke all one thing in the honest and peaceable gouernement of the Commonwealth 4 Upon which vniting of vs in all truth and honestie the curses of the plague and barrennesse being remoued a waie may be made to thy blessings which as the hills do the vallies may make our land holesomelie fruitefull And that not onlie the wrath which is alreadie kindled may be quenched but that which hath bene latelie threatened may be caused to retire For the graunt whereof vnto vs we beséech thée to remember that how vnworthie soeuer yet are we thy people and the shéepe of thy pasture whome thou hast redéemed with thy most pretious bloud watched ouer with a carefull eie defended with a mightie hand despise not therefore O Lord the workes of thy hands 5 And séeing thou hast loued vs when we hated thée visited vs when we desired thée not then acknowledged vs when we knewe thée not now that there be a number of vs which loue thée desire thine abode and acknowledge thée hold on thy loue still depart not from vs denie vs not O thou God of truth which art the God that sinne by the assistance of Gods spirit 6 For the due examination of our thoughts and an vpright hart 7 For conuersation fit and agreeable to our calling 8 For constancie in our profession against all temptations and impediments 1 O Mercifull and heauenlie Father we thy seruants do humblie prostrate our selues before thy diuine Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sight our hainous offences committed against thine omnipotencie séeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them We féele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereof euen the verie least being but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake 2 Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnes against vs. of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie and senslesse blindnes running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eies The thoughts of our hearts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy Maiestie condemneth vs the wickednes of our déedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and déedes with the inward corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and loade of sinne lie heauie vpon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to Hell 3 We do dailie grone vnder the burthen of them inwardlie lamenting our owne follie so gréedilie running into them In heauen earth or hell we sée none able to susteine the weight of them but euen thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ who in mercie intinite and compassion endlesse hath susteined and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therefore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thée being fullie assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that full recompense which he thy deare son hath made for vs as a iust ransome for all the sinnes of all those who with a true faith take hold on him In him therefore we sée thine anger towards vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paied 4 Increase in vs good Lord we beséech thée this liuelie and féeling faith for we féele it oftentimes in vs verie weake and troubled with manie doubts increase it in vs O Lord that we maie through thy holie spirit be assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fullie in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele this ●ame in our soules and consciences that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that we are graffed into his bodie and made one with him and therefore fellow heires with him of eucriasting life Let vs not onelie haue these words in our mouthes good Lord but through thy holie spirit let vs feéle the comfort of them in our hearts fullie sealed and setled in vs

esteemed otherwise we shall seeme to preferre the shell before the kernell the barke before the pith the shadowe before the substance yea most absurdlie we shall refuse wheate for chaffe pure gold for drosse cleere wine for dregs and in conclusion repent our want of grace It were behoofull therefore for vs first and principallie to see to our mind which is chiefest part of our essence and being that the same after some serious studie and contemplation desiring to be refreshed be not fed with fond fansies fables dotages imaginations dreames I cannot tell what idle and vnfruitefull discourses which kindle the affections and set the flesh a gogge but rather with holie exercises and godlie meditations such as are and may be prouided for the purpose to reuiue the spirit and quicken the new man if the partie be gratiouslie affected Thou hast heere therefore presented vnto thine hand good Reader a plant of pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall flowers called by the name of holie Hymnes and spirituall Songs to reade at thy leasure for thy recreation and not so much for thy recreation as for thy profit which I haue put partlie in rythme and partlie in prose for the satisfaction of sundrie Readers desires some beeing addicted to this and some delighted in that kind of writing I would to God it were in me to frame my wit to the will of the well disposed in all points I haue done what I could the Lord knoweth what I would his name be praised for all whose glorie to seeke and set foorth I beseech him giue vs all grace so shall the faithfull reioice and clap their hands but shame shall fall vpon the reprobat force them to hang downe their heads Abraham Fleming A Plant of Pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall Flowres ¶ The first Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition vnto God for the remission of sinnes 2 A description of Gods greatnesse 3 Of his habitation and that he seeth all things A. 1 AS the Sunne is the soule and life of the world so is thy word O God the comfort of my heart Be gratious fauourable vnto me thy seruant that I may be freé from the malice of mine enimies Reward me not according to my deseruings O Lord for I am full of sinne and in me there is no righteousnesse According to thy louing kindnesse therefore O mercifull father blot mine offences out of thy register and pardon me Haue mercie on me O founteine of all mercie cleanse me from the corruption of sinne and wash me with the water of thy word Am not I a reasonable creature indued with knowledge and vnderstanding O Lord to whom should I then come but to theé 2 Men beasts fishes and foules they are the works of thine hands by the vertue of thy word they were created and made From the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same I will continue in the contemplation and view of thy greatnes Lighten the eies of my hart O Lord that they may seé the mightines of thy maiestie in thy creatures Endlesse is thy glorie and thy power is incomprehensible wonderfull art thou in thy iudgments Maruellous things are wrought by thine omnipotent hand day by day the eies of all people are witnesses of thy power 3 In heauen is thy dwelling place from whence thou beholdest the commings in and the goings out of all men Nothing is hidden from thine eies O Lord the brightnesse of thy maiestie can not be absent Giue me grace O God to leade my life in the loue of thy lawe so shall I not miscarrie The second Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A commemoration or remembrance of the benefites of Christes death and passion 2 A petition for thankefulnesse 3 A confession of Gods greatnesse and almightinesse B. 1 AL people praise the Lord with faithfull heart and voice Be bold to magnifie his name and therein to reioice Remember well the worke which he for vs hath wrought And laud his name accordinglie in word in deed and thought Hell gates he hath shut vp in spite of Sathans power And saued the soules of sinfull men from torments sharpe and sower Most mightie is his arme his greatnesse hath none end From force of foes that vs assault all his he doth defend 2 Lord lighten thou our hearts that we may praise thy power Eternallie which flourisheth and worketh euerie hower 3 Most mightie is thy word thy maiestie surmounts In glorie none so excellent as scriptures cast accounts No Prince nor Potentate may once with thee compare Giue vs thy grace no lesse to learne O Lord with Christian care The third Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A request for assistance against our aduersaries 2 A confession of our vilenesse by reason of sinne 3 A petition for true mortification and regeneration 4 Of the pretiousnesse of mans soule R. 1 ACcording to thine vnmeasurable mercies O God heare my praier and let thine eares be open to the crie of my complaint Be my sauiour and deliuerer from danger and distresse bridle thou the desperatenesse of mine aduersarie that he do me no mischefe Rebuke them O Lord that go about to raise reproches against me chastise them that they may seé wherein they haue offended As for me I will withstand them in their maliciousnesse for I hope thou wilt arme me with the spirit of fortitude and patience Holie one of Israell heare the supplication of me thy seruant and in the time of necessitie assist me 2 A worme and no man I confesse my selfe to be yea more vile and contemptible than anie vnreasonable creature for sinne hath s●oong my soule My heart is defiled with a thousand corrupt cogitations yea the thoughts which are hidden in my heart are not so infinite as they are wicked From mine infancie and cradle I haue bene blemished with sinne and as for righteousnes or iustice there is none in mine entrailes Lord I am so ouerwhelmed in sinne and iniquitie that I stand in continuall feare of thy punishment Oh giue me grace to repent Euening and morning I call my sinnes to memorie and they are more in number than the haires of my head yet O Lord be mercifull 3 Make me a new creature by the inspiration of thy sanctifieng spirit and let mine inward man be circumcised with the razour of mortification Increase in me godlie desires and let all carnall concupiscences be quite quenched in me that I may long after nothing but the loue of thy lawe 4 Nothing is more pretious in thy sight O Lord than the soule of man O let not sinne preuaile against it Grant me thy grace euen to the last houre of my life that I may haue in heauen mine inheritance purchased by Christ his death and passion Amen The fourth Flowre called a Spirituall Song conteining 1 A glorifieng of God 2 An exhortation to praise him 3 A repetition of certaine properties in him 4 A protestation or vow of Christian

kingdome of heauen 6 To be short and to speake summarilie in this pit is the portion of all such as haue cast the commandements of God contemptuouslie behind them couetous persons robbers adulterers swearers rebels blasphemers bloud-suckers extortioners vsurers idle liuers wantons enimies to Gods truth Antichristians liers false disciples teachers of diuelish doctrines prophaners of holie things superstitious persons sowers of sects and schismes in the Church Atheists Nullifidians Apostataes mainteiners of erronious opinions Papists and to conclude all that liue after the flesh blundering like Bitelles in blindnes hating the light like Bats and Owles whose lot is to drinke the dregs of Gods wrath and vengeance out of a full cup to their comfortlesse condemnation The second Chapter 1 Of the waie of the righteous 2 Nothing can hurt them whom the Lord defendeth 3 Of the power of God and his grace also who are fortunate and who miserable 4 The same opened and prooued by one speciall example instead of manie 5 What we must do if we will walke in the waie of the Lord. 6 Of the waie of righteousnes and who walke in the same 7 Wholsome counsels and admonitions THen since it is apparent by this recitall of offenders who they be that walke in the wide waie that leadeth to destruction it is soone to be gathered who they be that abhorre and auoide who they be that detest and defie it woorse than a Scorpion which stingeth vnto death 1 The waies of the righteous are in the hands of God and he disposeth the footesteps of the iust he is at the elbowe of the faithfull to staie them from falling and by his spirit he maketh their treadings stedfast How then is it possible for the godlie man to miscarrie hauing the Lord God his gratious gouernour 2 What afflictions can alter his happines that hath the King of glorie to be his helper What weapon can wound his soule that is armed at all points with the spirit of fortitude and strength What temptations can ouercome him whose right hand holdeth fast the sword of Gods word which cutteth in sunder whatsoeuer it smiteth and pearseth betwéene the marrowe and the bones 3 With whome Gods power is present nothing can turne to his annoiance Before whome the grace of God breaketh the yse his passage cannot be perillous and therefore that man is most happie and fortunate whome God vouchethsafe to gouerne as he contrariwise is most miserable and accursed whom the spirit of the Almightie hath forsaken 4 Examples hereof are in the holie Scriptures most plentifullie to be gathered For let vs but looke vnto the two first sonnes of Adam Caine and Abell who being brethren and both comming of the loines of the same parents were notwithstanding contrarie in all respects the one a murtherer the other a Martyr the one bloudthirstie and violent the other mercifull and innocent the first a persecuter the second a sufferer the elder refused the yonger receiued Caine accursed Abell blessed Héere we sée the effects of Gods grace and his iudgements in one example for manie 5 But to returne vnto the footepath of felicitie which is nothing else but the waie wherein the Lord hath commanded vs to walke it is necessarie that we heare the counsel of the holie scripture namelie that if we will be perfect we must walke before the Lord as Noah did who for so doing was called the iust and vpright man of his time Salomons aduice ought not onelie to be receiued but also folowed who teacheth vs a néere and readie waie to the footepath of felicitie exhorting vs in all our waies to thinke vpon God and he will direct our steps 6 There is a beginning of this good waie which the wicked haue not the grace to attaine vnto but it pleaseth the Lord to reueale it to the iust This beginning is expresselie noted by the holie Ghost to be righteousnes which is the greatest riches that anie Christian hart can wish This waie of righteousnes is the Lords waie it is the holie waie wherein the Iewes in Esaies time and in them we and our posterities after vs are commanded to walke without shrinking aside either to the right hand or to the left 7 In this waie being the waie of perfection it is not possible for vs vnlesse we put off our imperfections to walke for it is a sanctified and holie waie and therefore nothing that is common or vncleane can treade in the same Let the counsell of Tobie teach vs what to do in this case namelie to beséech the Lord that he would guide our paths and direct vs in our waies Let vs harken to the counsell of Dauid and praie as he praied Staie my steps in thy paths O Lord that my féete do not slide For the saieng of Salomon is most agréeable vnto truth That the heart of man purposeth his waie but the Lord doth direct his steps Let vs therefore go vp to the Lords hill and to the house of the God of Iacob and he shall teach vs his waies that we may treade in his pathes The third Chapter 1 The maner how we ought to examine our selues whether we walke in the waie of the Lord or no and first of our Christian beliefe 2 Of the keeping of the commandements and how we haue discharged our duties therein 3 Of the violating of the sabboth daie and how it is prophaned 4 The sundrie waies whereby concupiscence is kindled 5 A testimonie and token of ae cleere and vnguiltie conscience HOW shall a man persuade himselfe that he walketh in the waie of the Lord and is guided and conducted by his grace Let him enter into his own conscience and call to examination his continual trade of life conuersation thus communing with his owne heart 1 Hast thou perfourmed the solemne vowe which thou madest with God in thy baptisme Hast thou renounced and detested the diuell and all his workes Hast thou beléeued in God the father in God the sonne and in God the holie Ghost Hast thou bene a mainteiner of the ancient and apostolicall faith which acknowledgeth the incarnation of Iesus Christ his passion his descension his resurrection his ascension and his glorification 2 Hast thou bene an vnfeigned worshipper of God and not mingled his diuine and sincere seruice with mens imaginations vaine ceremonies irreligious rites superstitious traditions and hereticall constitutions Hast thou not bene derogatorie in thought word nor déede to the honour of God whereby he hath bene depriued of some part of his glorie Hast thou not bene a worshipper of images a fauourer of idolatrie a popish canonist an anoiled sacramentarie a Franciscane a Dominicane a Trinitarie a popish Sectarie a Iesuite a seede of Antichrists seminarie a bringer in of nouelties into the Church to the sowing of sectes schismes and heresies Hast thou not bene a swearer a forswearer a blasphemer a lier a dissembler an hypocrite and false-hearted whereby thou hast taken the name of God in vaine and abused

of the ample and wide world but thou most gratious God of thine infinite loue and incomprehensible prouidence hast preordeined and appointed from originall of all beginnings to turne to the profite commoditie vse benefite of mortall and miserable man Beasts both wild and tame thou hast made subiect to his power some seruing for sustenance and nourishment othersome being made appliable and fit for his ease and assistance in bodilie labour as partakers of his paines and fellowe labourers with him in his bodilie businesse 3 These creatures O Lord being thus ordeined and ordered by and through thine euerlasting and vnchangeable appointment thou hast giuen and bestowed vpon vs men most vnthankfull and of all other the vnworthiest of such singular benefites thou hast inriched vs with their continuall and incessant increase and thou doest dailie more and more with new accesse of graces and good gifts inlarge thy bountifull liberalitie towards vs in such wise that if we had anie féeling of Christianitie nay if we were not altogether sold to sinne and made bondslaues to our owne sensualitie and corrupt concupiscence we could not but with zeale of spirit burning heate of hart crie out with the Prophet Dauid O Lord how wonderfull are thy workes thorough all the world Great is God and most worthie to be praised and his greatnes can not be searched out One generation shall praise thy workes vnto another and they shall declare thy mightie power I will set foorth in words the glorious Maiestie of thine excellentnes and thy wonderfull workes c. In consideration therefore O Lord of the benefites which thou hast and at this present doest powre vpon vs which are so manie that they can not be numbred and so great that they can not be measured we beséech thée to plant in our harts the good propertie vertue of thankefulnes least we prouing a barren and vnfruitefull soile be so farre from yéelding good and hoalesome hearbes that we séeme altogether choaked with noisome wéedes wherewith being ouergrowne we become vile despised contemptible and nothing worth 4 There be most liuelie representations and such testimonies of thy tender loue towards vs as more plaine and manifest can not be by anie meanes neither for the outward eie of the bodie to behold nor yet for the inward eie of the mind to contemplate and marke namelie creatures both heauenlie and also earthlie heauenlie as the Sunne wherein the brightnes of thine omnipatent and vnspeakable maiestie is testified to the world which with his glorious beames and most comfortable heate being the lampe of light and life to all things which thou by thy word in the beginning didst create ministreth not onlie to man but also to beast foule fish yea to the créeping worme occasion of inward delight and ioie For as when it declineth and draweth downe auoiding the scope and compasse of our eies it carrieth awaie with it in like maner the brightnes and glorie of the daie whereby the darke and vnpleasant night approcheth and créepeth vpon vs euen so when it appeareth clad with roabes of maiestie and commeth like a Bridegrome foorth of his chamber the fogges and mistes of the wearisome night are chased and driuen awaie and thereby followeth ouer the face of the whole earth most comfortable appearances of thine eternall prouidence and infallible arguments and tokens of thine endlesse loue to the safetie and health of vs vile wretches and cursed caitifes notablic continued Without the louelie light of this bright shining lampe which this our transitorie life can by no meanes lacke it is not possible to accomplish anie thing Thou most mercifull father hast assigned and appointed the same to be the directer of all our doings for the want of so necessarie a benefite procureth palpable darkenes and most vncomfortable blindnes 5 For the former excellent benefite therfore most gratious God as also for all other namelie thy creatures framed and made for the succour of man for cloath and apparell to couer his bodie that it may not be annoied with the force of sharpe and nipping stormes nor féele the smart of anie tempestuous season for giuing him foules of the aire fish of the salt sea and fresh riuers and beasts of the field and forest to be his sustenance against the assaultes of hunger and to breake the force of famishment to mainteine nature prolong life strengthen the bodie cherish the heart and to quicken and reuiue the spirits of the whole man for prouiding to his vse whoalsome hearbes and plants of speciall vertue to expell manie contagious and hurtfull diseases and flowers of most fragrant sauour and pleasant smell to delight the senses for making the earth bring foorth and yéeld trées of wonderfull force stones of maruellous indurance and other metals of strange and singular qualitie to make him commodious dwelling places wherein to inhabite and harbour that neither the rage of frostie winter neither yet the heate of smothering summer nor anie sudden tempest and storme except it please thée to worke contrarie to the common course of nature and expectation can worke his inconuenience for bestowing vpon him the riches and treasures which lie hid in the secret celles and bosome of the ground and the pretious pearles of the vnmeasurable and bottomlesse deapth of the Sea finallie for making all things as well wanting as indued with life subiect to his rule readie at his commandement and appliable to his seruice we giue thée most hartie thankes and praise thée for thy goodnes 6 Besides these externall gifts of thine wherwith of thine vnspeakable and frée liberalitie thou hast plentifullie stored furnished man thou hast most gratiouslie reuealed and euidentlie giuen triall of thy singular care and tender affection wherewith thou louest him thou hast illuminated and lightened him with the lampe of vnderstanding reason and iudgement whereby he being conducted and guided hath knowledge to make choice of that which is good and that which is euill of that which is whoalsome and that which is noisome of that which is commodious and that which is iniurious of that which is hurtfull and that which is fruitefull and so consequentlie of that which with his nature is agréeable and that which is repugnant and contrarie to his being 7 As these thy gifts are great good God and most louing father as indéede they are excéeding great and wonderfull so we beséech thée to powre into our hearts the liquor of true perceiuerance and knowledge that we somewhat according as the deprauation and corrupt state of our nature will permit may discearne the force and fruite of thy fatherlie fauour and that this vile and filthie vessell of our bodie which is polluted and as it were waxen mooldie with the dregges and léeze of sinne and wickednesse being sanctified and clensed with the cléere watersprinkle of thy purifieng spirit may become a fit and well seasoned vessell to receiue the swéete and comfortable water of the fountaine of life 8 And because