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A16596 A double summons the one, to vnfained repentance. The other, to the worthie receiuing of the Lords Supper. Deliuered in two notable sermons: made, by that worthy martyr of Christ, Iohn Bradford: who suffered in Smith-field An[n]o. Domini. 1555.; Two notable sermons Bradford, John, 1510?-1555.; Sampson, Thomas, 1517?-1589. 1617 (1617) STC 3503; ESTC S116484 55,784 167

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ouer the vice stil sticking in him which as a spring continually sendeth out poison enogh to drowne and defile him if the sweet water of CHRISTS passion in Gods sight did not wash it and his bloud satisfie the rigor of Gods iustice due for the same This bloud of Christ shed for our sinnes is so deare in the sight of him that beleeueth that he will abhorre in his heart to stamp it and tread it vnder his feet He knoweth now by his beliefe that it is too much that hitherto he hath set too little by it and is ashamed thereof Therefore for the residue of his life he purposeth to take better heed to himselfe then before he did Because he seeth by his faith the grieuousnes of Gods anger the foulnesse of sinne the greatnesse of Gods mercy and of Christs loue towards him hee will now bee heedy to pray vnto God to giue him his grace accordingly that as with his eyes and tongue hands feet c. hee hath displeased God doing his own wil euen so now with the same eyes tong c. he may displease his owne selfe and doe Gods will Willingly will hee not doe that which might renew the death of the Son of God He knoweth he hath too much sinne vnwillingly in him so that thereto he will not adde willing offences This willing witting offending and sinning whosoeuer doth flatter himselfe therein doth euidently demonstrate and shew that he neuer yet indeed tasted of Christ truly He was neuer truely perswaded or beleeued how foul a thing sin is how grieuous a thing Gods anger is how ioyfull and precious a thing Gods mercie in Christ is how exceeding broad wide high and deep Christs loue is Perchance he can talk and preach of faith but yet truly in part he neuer felt it For if he did once feel this rauishing Consolation indeed then would he be so far from continuing in sin willingly and wittingly that wholly heartily hee would giue ouer himselfe to that which is contrary I meane to a new life renewing his youth euen as the Eagle doth For as we being in the seruitude of sin demonstrate our seruice by giuing ouer our members to the obeying of sin from iniquity to iniquity euen so we being made free from sin by faith in Iesus Christ and endued with Gods Spirit a Spirit of liberty must needes demonstrate this freedome and libertie by giuing ouer our members to the obedience of the Spirit by the which we are lead and guided from vertue to vertue and all kind of holinesse As the vnbeleeuers declare their vnbelief by the working of the euill spirit in them outwardly the fruits of the flesh euen so the beleeuers declare their faith by the working of Gods Spirit in thē outwardly the fruits of the spirit For as the Diuell is not dead in those which are his but worketh still to their damnation so is not God dead in them which be his but worketh still to their saluation The which working is not the cause of the one or the other being in any but onely a demonstration a signe a fruit of the same As the Apple is not the cause of the Apple tree out a fruit of it Thus then you see briefly that newnesse of life is not in deed a part of penance but a fruit of it a demonstration of the iustifying faith a signe of Gods good Spirit possessing the heart of the penitent as the old life is a fruit of impenitency a demonstration of a lip-faith or vnbeliefe a signe of Sathans spirit possessing the heart of the impenitent which al those be that be not penitent For meane I know none He that is not penitent the same is impenitent he that is not gouerned by Gods Spirit the same is gouerned by Sathans spirit For all that be Christians are gouerned with the Spirit of Christ which spirit hath his fruites All other that be not Christs are the Diuels He that gathereth not with Christ scattereth abroad Therefore my dearely beloued I beseech you to consider this and deceiue not your selues If you bee not Christs then pertain you to the diuel of which things the fruits of the flesh doth assure you as whoredome adultery vncleannesse wantonnesse Idolatry witchcraft enuy strife contention wrath sedition murther drunkennesse gluttony blasphemy slothfulnesse idlenesse vaine talking slandering c. If such like fruite as these grow out of the trees of your hearts surely surely the Diuell is at Inne with you you are his birds whom when he hath well fed he will broach you and eat you chaw you and champ you world without end in eternall woe and misery But I am otherwise perswaded of you all I trust you bee all CHRIST IESVS his people and his children yea and his brethren by faith As ye see your sins in Gods Law and tremble and sigh sorrow and sob for the same euen so you see his great mercies in his Gospell and free promises therfore are glad merry and ioyfull for that you are accepted into Gods fauour haue your sins pardoned and are endued with the good spirit of God euen the Seale and signe MANVEL of your election in Christ Iesus euen before the beginning of the World The which Spirit for that hee is the Spirit of life giuen to you to worke in you with you and by you here in this life satisfaction and holinesse whereunto you are called that yee might bee holy euen as your heauenly Father is holy I beseech you al by admonition and warning of you that you would stirre vp the giftes of God giuen to you generally particularly to the edifying of his Church that is I pray you that you would not molest the good Spirit of God by rebelling against it when it prouoketh and calleth you to goe on forwards that the which is holy might yet be more holy he which is righteous might be more righteous as the euill spirit moueth and stirreth vp the filthy to be yet more filthy the couetous to be more couetous the wicked to be more wicked Declare you now your repentance by workes of repentance Bring forth fruits and worthy fruits Let your sorrowing for your euils demonstrate it selfe departing from the euils you haue vsed Let your certaintie of pardon of your sinnes through Christ and your ioy in him be demonstrated by persuing of the good things which Gods word teacheth you You are now in Christ Iesus Gods workmanship to doe good works which God hath prepared for you to walke in For the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs to redeeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse and to purge vs a peculiar people vnto himself feruently giuen vnto good works
Fatherly care for his Commons Nurcely solicitude for Religion c. Nay so many things are to be spoken in commendation of Gods exceeding graces in this Child that as Salust writeth of Carthage I had rather speake nothing then too little in that too much is too little This gift God gaue vnto vs English men before all nations vnder the Sunne and that of his exceeding loue towards vs. But alas alas for our vnthankfulnes sake for our sins sake for our carnality and prophane liuing Gods anger hath touched not only the body b●● also the mind of our King by a long sicknesse and at length hath taken him away by death death cruell death fearefull death O if Gods iudgement be begun on him which as he was the chiefest so I thinke the holiest and godlyest in the Realme of England alas what will it be on vs whose sinnes haue ouergrowen so our heads that they are climed vp to heauen I pray you my good brethren know that Gods anger towards vs for our sins cannot but be great yea too fell in that we sée it was so great that our good King could not beare it What befell Iewry after the death of Iosias Lord saue England and giue vs repentance my heart will not suffer me to tarry longer herein I hope this will cause some repentance If therefore the prayer for Gods feare the looking in Gods glasse and the tag thereto will not burst open the blockish heart yet hope I that the repetition of these examples especially of our late King and this troublesom time will moue some teares out of thine heart if thou wilt pray for Gods Spirit accordingly For who art thou thinke alwaies with thy selfe that God should spare thée more then them whose examples thou hast heard What friends hast thou Were not of these Kings Prophets Apostles learned and come of holy Stockes I deceiue my selfe thinke thou with thy selfe if I beléeue that God being the same God that he was will spare me whose wickednesse is no lesse but much more then some of theirs Hee hateth sinne now as much as euer hee did The longer he spareth the greater vengeance will fall the deeper he draweth his Bow the sorer will his shaft pierce But if yet thy heart be so hardened that all this will not moue thee then surely art thou in a very euill estate and remedy now I know none What sayd I none Know I none Yes there is one which is suresby as they say to serue if any thing will serue You looke to know what this is Forsooth the Passion and Death of IESVS CHRIST You know the cause why CHRIST became man and suffered as hee suffered was the sinnes of his people that hee might saue them from the same Consider the greatnesse of the sore I meane sin by the greatnesse of the Chyrurgion and the salue Who was the Chyrurgion no Angel no Saint no Archangel no power no creature in heauen nor in earth but onely he by whom all things were made all things are ruled also euen Gods own Deareling and only beloued Son becomming man Oh what a great thing is this that could not be done by the Angels Archangels Potentates Powers or all the creatures of God without his owne Sonne who of necessity must come downe from heauen to take our nature become man Here haue ye the Shyrurgion great was the cure that this mighty Lord tooke in hand Now what was the salue Certainly of an inestimable valew and of many compositions I cannot recite al but rather must leaue it to your hearty consiberations Thirty-three yeares was he curing our sore Hee sought it earnestly by fasting watching praying c. The same night that he was betrayed I read how busie he was about a plaister in the Garden when he lying flat on the ground praying with teares and that of bloud not a few but so many as did flow downe on the ground againe crying on this sort Father sayth he if it bee possible let this Cup depart from me That is If it be possible that else the sinnes of mankind can be taken away grant that it may be so Thou heardest Moses crying for the Idolaters Thou heardest Lot for the Zoarites Samuel Dauid and many other for the Israelites And deere Father I onely am thine owne Sonne as thou hast sayd in whom thou art well pleased wilt thou not heare me I haue by the space of thirty-three yeares done alwaies thy Will I haue so humbled my selfe that I would become an abiect amongst men to obey thee Therfore deere Father if it be possible grant my request saue mankind now without any further labour salues or plasters But yet sayth he not as I will but as thou wilt But Syr what heard he Though he sweat bloud and water in making his plaister for our sore of sinne yet it framed not Twice he cryed without comfort yea though to comfort him God sent an Angell wee know that yet this plaister was not allowed for sufficient vntill hereunto Christ Iesus was betrayed forsaken of all his Disciples forsworne of his dearely beloued bound like a Thiefe belyed on buffeted whipped scourged crowned with thorns crucified racked nailed hanged vp betweene two theeues cursed and railed vpon mocked in misery and had giuen vp the gho●t then bowed downe the head of Christ that is God the Father which is the head of Christ then allowed he the plaister to bee sufficient and good for the healing of our sore which is sinne Now would God abide our breath because the stinke that is damnation or guiltinesse was taken away by the sweet sauor of the breath of this LAMBE thus offered once for all So that here dearely beloued we as in a glasse may see to the brusing of our blockish hard hearts Gods great iudgement and anger against sin Gen. 6. Gen. 19. The Lord of lords the King of kings the brightnesse of Gods glory the Son of God the Deareling of his Father in whom he is well pleased hangeth between two theeues crying for thes me and for vs all My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Oh hard hearts that we haue who delight in sin Look on this see the very hart of Christ pierced with a speare wherein thou maist see reade Gods anger for sin Woe to thy hard heart that pierced it And thus much for the first part of Repentance I meane for the meanes of working contrition First vse prayer then looke on Gods Lawe thirdly Gen. 19. see his curse fourthly set examples of his anger before thee and last of all set before thee the precious death of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ From this and prayer cease not til thou feele some hearty sorrow for thy sinne The which when thou feelest then labour for the other part that is faith on this sort As first in Contrition I willed thee not to trust to thy free will for the attaining of it so doe I will thee
bread The fift reason Fiftly that the substance of bread remaineth in the Sacrament as the reasons before brought forth do proue so doth the infinition of a Sacrament For the Fathers do affirme it to consist of an earthly thing Ireneus Augustinus Chrysostomus and of an heauenly thing of the word and of the element of sensible things and of things which be perceiued by the minde But Transubstantiation taketh clean away that earthly thing the keement the sensible thing and so maketh it no Sacrament And therefore the definition of a Sacrament ful wel teacheth that bread which is the earthly thing the sensible thing and the element remaineth still as saint Augustine saith the word commeth to the element he saith not taketh away the element and so it is made a Sacrament The sixt reason against Transsubstantiation Sixtly the nature and property of a Sacrament teacheth this also which I haue affirmed for as Cyprian wrieth that Sacraments beare the names of the things which they signifie so doeth Saint Augustine teach Cyprian in Sermone de Chrismat Augustinus ad Bonifacium that if Sacraments haue not some signification with the things whereof they be Sacraments then are they no Sacraments Now in the Lords Supper this similitude is first in nourishing that as bread nourisheth the body so Christs body broken féedeth the soule Secondly in bringing together many into one that as in the Sacrament many graines of Corn are made one bread many Grapes are made one lyquour and Wine so the multitude which worthily receiue the Sacrament are made one body with Christ and his Church Last of all in one vnlikely likelinesse or similitude that as bread eaten turneth into our nature so we rightly eating the Sacrament by faith turne into the nature of Christ So that it is plaine to them that wil sée that to take the substance of bread away is cleane against the nature and propertie of a Sacrament I will speake nothing how that this their doctrine of Transubstantiation beside the manifold absurdities it hath in it which to rehearse I omit it vtterly ouerthroweth the vse of the Sacrament and is cleane cōtrary to the end wherefore it was instituted so is no longer a Sacrament but an Idol and is the cause of much Idolatry conuerting the peoples harts from an heauenly conuersatiō to an earthly and turning the Communion into priuate action and a matter of gazing and piping of adoring worshipping the worke of mens hands for the liuing God which dwelleth not in Tempels made with mens hands much lesse lyeth he in Pixes and Chests whose true worshippe is in spirit and verity which God grant vs all to render vnto him continually Amen The seuenth reason against transubstantiation The Sacrament of Baptisme doth also teach vs that as the substanae of the water remaineth there so in the Lords Supper remaineth the substance of bread after consecration For as by Baptisme we are engrafted into CHRIST so by the Supper we are fedde with Christ These two Sacraments the Apostle gladly coupleth together 1. Cor. 10. and 1. Cor 12. We are baptized into one body saith he and haue drunke all of one spirit meaning it by the Cup as Chrysostome and other great learned men doe well interpret it As therefore in Baptisme is giuen vnto vs the holy Ghost and pardone of our sinnes which yet lie not lurking in the water so in the Lords Supper is giuen vnto vs the Communion of Christs body and bloud that is grace forgiuenesse of sins innocencie life immortality without any Transubstantiation or including of the same in the bread By Baptisme Gal. 3. the old man is put off and the new man put on yea Christ is put on but without Transubstantiating the water And euen so it is in the Lords Supper We by faith spiritually in our soules do féed on Christs body broken do eate his flesh and drinke his blood doe dwell in him and he in vs but without Transubstantiation An answer to the Papists cauill for the foresayd reason As for the cauill they make that wee are baptized into one bodie meaning thereby the mysticall body and not the naturall body of Christ whereby they would enforce that we are fed with the naturall body of Christ but we are not ingrafted into it but into the mysticall body and so put away the reason aforesaid As for this cauill I say we may soone auoyde it if so be that we will consider how that Christ which is the head of the mysticall body is not seperate from the body and therefore to be ingrafted to the mysticall body is to be ingrafted into the naturall body of Christ to be amember of his flesh and bones of his bones as Pope Leo full well doeth witnesse in saying that Corpus regenerati fit caro crucifixi The body saith he of the regenerate is made the flesh of Christ crucified And hereto I could adde some reasons for the excellency of Baptisme I thinke it be more to be gotten then to be nourished As for the excellent miracle of the patefaction of the Trinity and the descending of the holy Ghost in Baptisme in a visible forme the like whereto was no seene in the Lords Supper I will omit to speake of further then that I would you should know how it were no mastery to set forth the excellency of this Sacrament as well as of the Supper The eight reason It is a plaine signe of Antichrist to deny the substance of bread and wine to bee in the Lords Supper after consecration for in so dooing and granting Transubstantiation the propertie of the humane nature of Christ is denied For it is not of the humane nature but of the diuine nature to bee in many places at once As Dydimus De spiritu sancto doeth proue thereby the diuinity of the holy Ghost Now grant Transsubstantiation and then Christs naturall body must néeds be in many places which is nothing els but to confound the two natures in Christ or to deny Christs humane nature which is the selfe same that S. Iohn saith to deny Christ to be come in the flesh And this who so doeth by the testimony of S Iohn is an Antichrist in his so doing whatsoeuer otherwise he do prate Reade S. Augustine in his Epistle to Dardanus his 50. and 30. Treatise vpon Saint Iohn and easily you shall see how that Christs body must needes be in one place Oportet in vno loco esse But his Trueth is in all places The ninth reason If there be no substance of bread in the Sacrament but Transsubstantiation then Christs body is receiued of the vngodly and eaten with their téeth which is not onely against S. Augustine calling this spéech Except you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man c. A figuratiue speech but also against the plaine Scriptures which affirme them to dwell in Christ and Christ in them and they
reformed and holpen in vs the Lord hath instituted this Sacrament I meane that we might haue in memorie the principall benefite of all benefits that is Christs death and that we might be on all parts assured of Communinon with Christ of al kindenes the greatest that euer God did giue vnto man The former to be the end wherfore Christ did institute this Sacrament he himselfe doeth teach vs saying Doe ye this in remembrance of me The latter the Apostle doeth no lesse set forth in saying The bread which we breake is it not the partaking or Communion of the body of Christ Is not the Cuppe of blessiing which we blesse the partaking or Communion of the bloud of Christ So that it appeareth the end wherefore this Sacrament was instituted was and is for the reformation and helpe of our obliuion of that which we should neuer forget and of our dubitation of that whereof we ought to be most certaine Concerning the former namely of the memorie of Christs death what commoditie it bringeth with it I will purposely for times sake omit Onely a little will I speake of the commodities comming vnto vs by the partakeing Communiō we haue with Christ First it teacheth vs that no man can communicate with Christ but the same must néeds communicate with Gods grace and fauor where-through sinnes are forgiuen Therefore this commodity commeth here-through namely that we should be certaine of the remission and pardon of our sinnes The which thing wee may also perceiue by the Cup in that it is called the Cuppe of the new Testament to which Testament is properly attributed on Gods behalfe obliuion or remission of our sinnes First I say therefore the Supper is instituted to this end that hee which worthily receiueth should bee certaine of the remission and pardon of his sinnes and iniquities how many and great soeuer they be How great a benefit this is only they know which haue felt the burthen of sinne which of all heauy things is the most heauy Againe no man can communicate with Christs body and bloud but the same must communicate with his spirit for Christs body is no dead carkasse Now he that communicateth with Christs Spirit cōmunicateth as with holines righteousnes innocency and immortality and with all the merits of Christs body so doth hee with God and all his glory and with the Church and all the good that euer it or any member of it had hath or shall haue Note though I apply this thus yet I would not that any man should think that Communionem sanctorum in the Creed is not set forth there for the better explication of that which preceedeth it namely what the holy Catholique Church is This is The communion of Saints which we beleeue in our Creede which hath wayting on it Remission of sinnes Resurrection of the flesh and life euerlasting To the end that we should be most assured certain of al these Christ our Sauiour did institute this his Supper and therefore would haue vs to vse it So that there is no man I thinke which seeeth not great cause of giuing thanks to God for this holy Sacrament of the Lord whereby if we worthily receiue it wee ought to bee certaine that all our sinnes whatsoeuer they bee are pardoned cleerely that we are regenerate and borne againe into a liuely hope into an inheritance immortall vndefiled and which can neuer wither away that wee are in the fellowship of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost that we are Gods Temples at one with God and GOD at one with vs that wee are members of CHRISTS Church and fellowes with the Saints in all felicitie that wee are certaine of immortalitie in soule and body and so of eternall life then which thing what can bee more demanded CHRIST is ours and wee are Christs hee dwelleth in vs and we in him Oh happy eyes that see these thinges And most happy hearts that féele them My deare brethren let vs pray vnto the Lord to open our eyes to see these wonderfull things to giue vs faith to feele them Surely wee ought no lesse to be assured of them now in the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament then wee are assured of the exteriour symboles and Sacraments If an Angel from Heauen should come and tel you these things then would you reioyce and be glad And my deare hearts in the Lord I euen now though most vnworthy am sent of the Lord to tel you no lesse but that you worthily receiuing this Sacrament shall receiue remission of all your sinnes or rather certaintie that they are remitted and that you are euen now Gods Dearlings Temples and fellow inheritors of all the good that euer hee hath Wherefore sée that you giue thankes vnto the Lord for this his great goodnesse and prayse his Name for euer An obiection of vnworthy receiuing Oh saith one I could be glad in very deed and giue thanks from my very heart if that I did worthily receiue this Sacrament But alas I am a very grieuous sinner and I féele in my selfe very little repentance and faith and therefore I am afeard that I am vnworthy The answere To the answering of this obiection I think it necessary to speak something of the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament in as great breuitie and plainenesse as I can The Apostle willeth all men to proue and examine themselues before they eate of the Bread and drinke of the Cup for they that eate and drinke vnworthily eate and drinke their owne damnation Therefore this probation and examination is necessary If men will try their Gold and Siluer whether they bee Copper or no is it not more necessary that men should trie their consciences Now how this should bée the Papists teach amisse in sending vs to their auricular Confession which is impossible The true probation and tryall of a Christ an conscience consisteth altogether in Faith and Repentance Faith hath respect to the Doctrine and Articles of our Beliefe Repentance hath respect to manners and conuersation Concerning the former I meane of Faith wee may see the Apostle teacheth vs 2. Corinthians 11. Concerning the latter for our conuersation those sinnes which are commonly called mortal or deadly are to be remoued These sins are discerned from other sins by the Apostle Rom. 6. in saying Let not sinne raigne and beare sway in your mortall bodies For truely the● we sinne deadly when wee giue ouer to sinne and let it haue the bridle of his libertie when wee striue not against it but allow it and consent to it Howbeit if wee striue against it if it displease vs then truly thogh sinne be in vs for wee ought to obey God without all resistance or vnwillingnesse yet our sins be not of those sinnes which separate vs from God but for Christs sake shall not be imputed vnto vs beléeuing Therefore my dearely beloued if that your sinnes doe now displease you if you purpose vnfainedly to bee enemies to sinne in your selues and in others as you may during your whole life if you hope in Christ for pardon if you beleeue according to the holy Scriptures and Articles of the Christian Faith set forth in your Creede if I say you now trust in Gods merey through Christs merits if you repent and earnestly purpose before God to amend your life and to giue ouer your selues to serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of your life although before this present you haue most grieuously sinned I publish vnto you that you are worthy ghests for this Table you shall be welcome to Christ your sinnes shall be pardoned you shall be endued with his Spirit and so with Communion with him and the Father the whole Church of God Christ will dwell in you and you shall dwell in him for euermore Wherefore behaue your selues accordingly with ioyfulnes thanksgiuing Doe you now appeare before the Lord make cleane your houses and open the doores of your hearts by repentance and faith that the Lord of Hostes the King of glory may enter in and for euer hereafter beware of all such things as might displease the eyes of his Maiestie Flie from sinne as from a Loade come away from Popery and all Antichristian Religion be diligent in your vocations be diligent earnest in Prayer hearken to the voyce of God in his Word with reuerence liue worthy your profession Let your light in your life so shine that men may sée your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen As you haue beene darkenesse and followed the works of darknesse so now henceforth bee light in the Lord and haue societie with the works of light Now hath God renewed his couenant with you in Gods sight now are you as cleane and healed from all your sores of sinnes Goe your waies sinne no more lest a worse thing happen vnto you Sée that your houses béeing new swept bée furnished with godlinesse and vertue and beware of idlenesse lest the Deuill come with seuen spirits worse then himselfe and to take his lodging and then your latter end will be worse then the first God our Father for the tender mercie and merits of his Sonne bée mercifull vnto vs forgiue vs all our sinnes and giue vs his holy Spirit to purge cleanse and sanctifie vs that wee may bée holy in his sight through CHRIST and that we now may bee made ready and worthy to receiue this holy Sacrament with the fruits of the same to the full reioycing and strength 〈◊〉 of our hearts in the LORD 〈…〉 to whom bée all honour and glory world without end Amen To GOD be all Pra●●● FINIS