Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A72180
|
A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the thirtie day of May. 1591 By M. George Giffard, preacher of the worde of God at Maldon in Essex.
|
Gifford, George, d. 1620.
|
1591
(1591)
|
STC 11862.3; ESTC S124958
|
18,032
|
49
|
vnderstand how it is to be sought for let let it be that we both agree it is to bee sought and also doe séeke for it yet if we séeke not the right way we are neuer the better for seeking First then knowe this that there are two sortes of vnity and agreement the one is in God being in the truth in the spirite in true holines and sanctification The other is in error and sin and not in the Lord. Now indeede it is the holy vnitie in the Lord which is praised in this Psalme and which wee must seeke after vpon which the blessing of God shal come This may ye sée by that exhortation of S. Paul Ephesi 4. When hee saith studying to keepe the vnity of the spirite in the band of peace for he addeth as the reason there is one body and one spirit as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all c. For like as all the members of the naturall body are coupled together by one soule and make but one body so by one spirite of the Lord all the faithfull are vnited and become all one misticall body of Iesus Christ by one faith and by one baptisme they are all in one Lord and in one God The foūdation of this vnity is in the truth and by it men growe vp together in God and for this cause it is sayd in the first verse of the Psalme Brethren also to dwell in vnitie He sayth also because as there is a reconciliation wrought by Christ betweene God and man and so a mā is come into vnitie with God he must also growe into vnity with those which are together reconciled to the Lord with him seeke this vnity to be vnited with our brethrē vnto God otherwise all shall bee dissolued and scattered againe in confusion Touching that other concorde which is in errour and wickednes they which possesse it who are of diuers sortes doo commend it and much complaine of the disturbaunce and breach thereof As first of all the Papistes make a great exclamation against vs which professe the glorious Gospell and haue forsaken them that like wicked Scismatickes wee haue disturbed and broken this holy vnitye by rendinge our selues from the true Church and so from the faith and from Christs misticall body this is a gréeuous and a sore accusation if their vnity which they glory of were in the truth But séeing it is most euident that they haue forsaken the truth of God blaspheme and condemne it and set vp abhominable errours and cursed Idolatrye all their agreementes all their holy league as they terme it is no more but a most wicked and cursed conspiracie against God and his people What is their vnity more then that which is described by the Prophet Dauid Psalme 2. Why doe the Gentiles rage and the people meditate that which is vaine The Kings of the earth stand vp and the Princes take counsaile together against the Lord and against his Christ Here is a great vnity nay a conspiracy of wicked traitors against Christ This perplexitie is fulfilled by them And we haue the commaundement of God by the voyce of the Angel Come out frō among them my people and seperate your selues so that all their cry is nothing against vs we haue not dissolued this blessed vnity here commended but haue forsaken their cursed conspiracy which the néerer a man is ioyned vnto the further of he is from God Let no man therefore be troubled or disquieted by their great wordes but forsaking them imbrace the holy faith and be vnited thereby together with the Prophetes and Apostles and all holy men vnto Iesus Christ Yee shall here many other sortes of men complaine that there is not fellowship and vnitye kepte with them When indéede as they walk after their wicked and vncleane lustes in all abhominable sinnes as in contempte of Gods word in drunkennesse whoredome pride ambition couetousnes vsurie extortion bribery oppression enuy and many such like The holy ghost saith vnto vs haue no fellowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse but rather reprooue them Ephes 5. ver 11. We can not ioyne Christ and Belial we can not be vnited to the Lord and haue fellowship in wicked sins If we say we haue fellowship with him saith S. Iohn walkein darkenesse we lie c. 1. Iohn ver 6. Ephes 5.11 He that crieth out for peace and dooth walk in vngodly wayes straying from the truth and from sanctificatiō whatsoeuer he will séeme to be he is naught else but a disturber and breaker of all holy vnitye For who can take parte with him in those thinges but he shall seperate him selfe as I haue shewed from trueth and Godlines without which there can be no blessed vnity S. Peter calleth our Lord Iesus Christ a liuing stone vnto whom all the faithfull comming as liuing stones are built vp and become a spirituall house 1. Pet. 2. If stones be not squared and made smoothe to sitte and ioyne togeather howe shall they growe into one buylding If men bee not framed in fayth and godlines how shall they be vnited in the Lord In déede there bee imperfections both in doctrine and maners all the best hewen stones haue some ruggednes remaining and men must beare one with an other in much for charity must couer the multitude of sinnes 1. Pet. 4. while the Temple of God is in the world the stones are not perfectly set together but the work is still in hand this temple is still in buylding we must beware of the down fall on that side also Then séeing this blessed vnity must bee in God in the truth in the spirit to be built vp in Christ Iesus in true sanctification for he that is in Christ is a new creature and seeing all concorde without this foundation shall fall downe as a rotten building let the holy booke of God be our ground let it be brought foorth to cut downe all controuersies and let men if they looke for any part of the blessing here promised yéelde all honor and glorie vnto this sacred worde Yea let no man stand vpon his owne honour or reputation If he haue maintained any thing awrie but so soone as euer he esspieth the trueth in any matter yeelde thereunto let the truth of God goe before and lead vs the way For this is the onlie way to growe into this holy vnitie And let such as walke awrie forsake their euill wayes imbrace the heauenly trueth and followe the rules thereof if they will be accounted studious of peace and concorde Ioyning thus vnto the trueth both in faith and godlines of life we shall be ioyned together in the Lord and it shal be said beholde howe good and how comely a thing it is for brethren also to dwell at vnity It shal be like that precious ointment vpon the head of Aaron c. The heauenly graces and giftes of the holy ghost shall