Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A08769
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The shepheard, or A sermon, preached at a synode in Durisme Minster, vpon Tuesday, being the fifth of April. 1608. By Thomas Oxley, Master of Artes, and preacher of Gods word
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Oxley, Thomas.
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1609
(1609)
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STC 19053; ESTC S105795
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16,556
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32
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and they feede not the Sheepe The weake they strengthen not the sicke they heale not the broken they binde not vp they bring not againe what was driuen away they seeke not what is lost but with cruelty and rigor doe they rule Ezech. 34.4 And I would there were no such false Prophets amongst vs who loue themselues and the world so much as they can impart no part of it to others Loue seeketh not her owne things saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 13.5 And it was his pleasure to please all men in all things not seeking his owne profit but the profit of others that they might be saued 1. Cor. 10.33 But it is our pleasure to take paines onely to pleasure our selues and to bee so industrious in this kind as forgetting the dignitie whereunto we are called though vnworthy to betake our selues wholly to the plow the spade the rake and the flaile play the merchant sollicite causes supply the places of stewards and such like base offices so common in our cold Countrie that vnlesse a man be thus egregiously qualified hee can haue no place in the affections of our frozen patrons Are such Shepheards take away the Metaphor make them as indeed they are carnall shepheards and I will bring no other but the very sheepe themselues to speake to them yet in their owne tongue least they vnderstand not S. Bernards language Bernard Epist 42. And let the speech be thus If you that are our Shepheards goe crooked like vs who are your sheepe carrying your countenance downeward still looking to the earth and to pamper the belly euer seeke for foode In quo distinguimur wherein doe we differ will you see how the silly beast makes simple beasts on them Si venerit lupus Quis praeuidebit occurret If the Wolfe shall come who shall foresee him and preuent him Such sheepe are in a bad case yet if they bee slaine God hath vowed to require their blood at such Shepheards hands Ezech. 3.20 The third and last cause of this neglect is want of Prudence Defect pruden This may come through too much knowledge for Scientia inflat saith the Apostle knowledge puffeth vp 1. Cor. 8.1 And of this euen the greatest schollers many times doe labour who vpon a priuate conceit of their owne worth doe oft abuse good things to the hurt of others Those that are so wise are no company for honest Athenians Though this want of Prudence be monstrum yet it is mirum though it be a monster in a minister yet it is a maruaile in many of ours for the greatest Clarkes they say are not alwayes the wisest men Our Clarkes may be wise then for I am sure they are none of the greatest But why should I stand seeking these in euery minister Cum ex quouis stipite non fit mercurius Since euery person will not make a Priest The want of these three you see then is the reason why the flocke doe want some want learning therefore they cannot Preach Some want Loue therefore they cannot Pray And some want Prudence and therefore they cannot Edifie by their good example Thus some would and cannot some can and will not and many neither can nor would nor doe What remaines now for me but to draw to a conclusion Vsus 1. ad Episc If first you my honorable Lord will giue me leaue to leaue one vse with you Attendito tibi vniuerso gregi in quo spiritus sanctus te posuit episcopum Take heede to your selfe and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseer See then both to the Sheepe and Shepheards and those euils which you could not stop in the beginning yet stay them in their proceeding See that Shepheards feed the flocks and not altogether feede on the flockes But there is an other thing which craues your honors care take heed that the flocks feed not on the Shepheards This was a thing our Prophet neuer dreamed of Such vnnaturall dealing neuer came within the compasse of his conceit and yet such Wolues there are within your fields in sheepes clothing who kill their Shepheards wounding some in their good name opprobriously some in their bodies dangerously some in their estate iniuriously renting both the persons and their personages in peeces Are such sheepe they are better in the Shambles then in the field Are there such Shepheards and in your flock Yes They are sicke heale them they are weake strengthen them they are broken bind them vp that when you shall come to giue vp your accompt you may be able to say as the good Shepheard sayd Those that thou gauest me haue I kept and none of them is lost Ioh. 17 1â— You that are Shepheards beloued feede your flockes which depend vpon you caring for them not by constraint but willingly not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind And when the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of glory 1. Pet. 5.4 You that are sheepe loue your Shepheards and giue to them that rule well double honour especially to such as labour in the word and doctrine And as you sow so shall you reape Now he that hath an office let him looke to his office I must conclude Brethren farewell be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall be with you Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit and soule and body may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one euerliuing God we ascribe As due all honour and glory praise power dignitie and dominion now and for euer Amen FINIS