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	soul_n	think_v	5,441	5	4.8272	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07535	Concerning imposition of hands A sermon a the Lord Archbishop his visitation metropolitical, held, at Saint Marie Cray in Kent, by the Bishop of Rochester his Graces commissioner, the 7 of September last, preached by Richard Milborne Doctor of Diuinitie, and parson of Seuenoke in Kent.	Milbourne, Richard, d. 1624.	1607 (1607)	STC 17917; ESTC S100306	14,523	52

is somewhat more in a naturall fathers blessing then in another mans either for that God more respecteth the dignitie of his place or the zeale of his affection toward the party for whom he prayeth euen so it is as probable that a spirituall Fathers prayer is most powerful to procure blessings vnto the childrē of the Church who in dignitie of place commeth nearer vnto God and for zealous deuotion is supposed far to exceede any naturall father yea although he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Iames speaketh of Elias subiect to passions like other men Iam. 5.17 yet his feruent prayer auayleth much A second reason why confirmation hath euer ordinarily beene ministred by Bishops I take to bee this that as the holy Ghost hath placed a prelacie in the Church according to S. Paules assertion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bee Presidents and preseruers of vnitie and peace among Gods people for otherwise there would be Tot schismata quot Sacerdotes Acts 20.28 Ierom. so by the wisedome of the same spirit some duties whereupon the peace of the Church doth chiefly depend are reserued to that order of which sort are these First dedication of Churches because all Schismatiques doe affect priuate conuenticles for exercises of Religion it hath beene concluded that no place should be licenced for the publique seruice of God but such as the Bishop of the Diocesse should allowe Secondly in regard that diuersitie of Teachers often causeth distraction among professors as 1. Cor. 12. I am Pauls I am Apollos I am Cephas for auoiding hereof none are to vndertake any worke of the Ministrie but such as are ordained or licenced by the Ordinarie of the place where they liue Thirdly forsomuch as varietie of baptizers occasioneth faction and singularitie of conceyte among beleeuers 1. Cor. 1.14 which mooued Saint Paul to thanke God that hee had baptized so few of the Corinthians for preuenting of discord in this respect the wisedome of Gods Church hath iudged it necessarie that all her children after baptisme receiued in sundry places by diuers inferior persons should in conuenient time be presented vnto the chiefe Pastor and peseruer of Peace in Gods family who might equally ratifie their ingrafting into the mysticall bodie of Christ acknowledge them indifferently to bee the children of the Church and pray respectiuely for increase of faith and other sauing graces in them all And thus much for the vse of this ceremonie in religious affaires Next we are to consider why it was chosen for such purposes Delectus Now for the better vnderstanding hereof we are to know that as in nature the soul frameth a body fit for his imployment and operation so dooth the spirit of God make choice of such Elements and Ceremonies as doe most liuely represent the benefites to bee conueyed by them as of water for baptisme and bread and wine for the Lords Supper The like is to bee thought of this Ceremonie which hath continued immutable in the manifold abrogations shipwracks of many other rites that there is in it such a proportion with the spirituall blessing deriued by it as is most fit to instruct and affect the faithfull in all ages which may bee thus conceiued In the Psalme 77.30 it is saide that God did lead his people like sheepe by the hand of Moses and Aaron So that the Magistrates hand whether it bee ciuill or ecclesiasticall is accounted the hand of God whose Vicegerents they bee First then when any spiritual grace is receiued or any place is bestowed in the Church or Common-wealth by laying on of hands it plainely test●fieth whence men receiue such fauours It was the hand of God that gaue them this or that grace that set them in such and such place Secondly because the protection of the Church is ascribed to Gods hand so long as men continue faithfull in their callings Psal 44 3 and thankfull for the graces obtained they may be secured of Gods defence assistance against all difficulties dangers that shall encounter them in their vocation Thirdly as the hand of God is mightie to maintaine the good so is it potēt to punish the bad whether they bee strangers from the couenant as the hand of God was heauy vpon the Philistims of Ashdod 1. Sam. 5 6. for prophaning the Arke or the children of the Church as the Prophet complaineth Psal 32.4 Thy hand is heauie vpon me day and night for abusing that high place and great grace which hee had receyued The consideration wherof ought to curbe all mens consciences in these cases And this is the sense and as it were the life of this Ceremonie Abuses The abuse here prohibited commeth thirdly to be examined which the Apostle noteth vsually to fall out by the suddaine exercise of it Indeed suddain resolutions are seldom sound Eccle. 3.11 The wise man affirmeth that God made euerie thing beautifull in his time Now this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argueth a defect of due time and consequently a deformitie in this action Haste in some religious duties doth well and is very comēndable as in repentance Psal 119.60 I made haste and delaied not to keepe thy commandements In heating Gods worde Iam. 1.19 Let euerie man be swift to heare In performing vowes Eccle. 5.3 When thou hast vowed to God deferre not to pay And others of that nature in which as Cyprian said whē he was halled to his martyrdome In rebus sacris nulla est deliberatio But there bee other sacred acti● is of a doubtfull sequell wherein ha●●e is verie hurtfull and reproueable as the Apostle testifieth admonishing to be slow to speake and slow to anger Iam. ● 19 In these and some other of like conditiō wherof imposition of hands is one we may say with Salomon Prou. 19 2. Qui festinat uon pedibus sed manibus peccat And that 1. against him who imposeth hands Non decit for it neither beseemeth his wisdome being the high steward in Gods house Luk. 12.42 to giue them their allowance out of season nor the grauity of his calling for as he commeth near to the highest in place so ought he to bee most deliberate in his proceedings like the highest Planets that bee of the slowest and most regular motion nor the reuerent regard hee ought to haue of this sacred ordinance for there is no fruitfull laying on of handes without a lifting vp of handes in solemne prayer which necessa●●y requireth a pause Eccle. 5.1 ●it not thy mouth be rash nor thy heart ●astie to vtter a thing before God Nō expedit Secondly suddē imposition of hands is not expedient for such as they are laid on Virtus agentis est ex natura recipiētis saith the Philosopher and experience teacheth it to bee true in the contrary effects of the Suns heate in wax and clay wherefore if the party on whom hands are laid bee not capable of the grace thereby offered it