Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	call_v	father_n	lord_n	7,082	5	3.7016	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08833	The benefite of Christs death, or the glorious riches of Gods free grace which euery true beleeuer receiues by Iesus Christ, and him crucified. First compiled and printed in the Italian tongue: and afterwards translated and printed in the French tongue: and out of French into English, by A.G.; Beneficio di Christo. English	Benedetto, da Mantova, fl. 1534-1541.; Flaminio, Marco Antonio, 1498-1550.; Golding, Arthur, 1536-1606, attributed name.; Paleario, Aonio, 1503-1570, attributed name.	1633 (1633)	STC 19117; ESTC S107303	48,174	106

me To answer to these doubts of thine I say my right deare brother that thou must assure thy selfe that all these are but temptations of the diuell who by all meanes seeketh to rob vs of that faith and confidence that springeth of faith and assureth vs of Gods good will towards vs. He laboureth to strip our soules out of this precious garment for he knoweth that none is a true Christian except he beleeue Gods Word which promiseth forgiuenesse of all sinnes and peace to all them which accept the grace of the Gospel Verily I say that he which vpon these promises of God perswadeth not himselfe assuredly that God is a mercifull and louing Father vnto him nor with stedfast confidence looketh to receiue the inheritance of the heauenly Kingdome at his hand is not faithfull in deed and maketh himselfe vtterly vnworthy of Gods Grace In respect whereof S. Paul saith that we be the Temple of God so far forth as we firmely maintaine the confidence and glory of our hope vnto the end And in another place he exhorteth that we should not giue ouer our trust which hath great reward of recompence And therefore my brethren let vs giue our whole endeauour to do the Will of God as it becommeth good children and beware that we sin not as neere as we can And although we fall oftentimes into sin through our owne frailty yet let vs not by and by surmize that we bee vessels of wrath or that we be vtterly forsaken of the holy Ghost for we haue our Aduocate Iesus Christ before Gud the Father and he is the atonement-maker for our sinnes Let vs bethinke vs of the opinion of S. Austin who saith that none of the Saints is righteous and without sinne and yet notwithstanding that he ceaseth not to be righteous and holy so farreforth as he retaines his holinesse with affection And therefore if we haue afflictions and tribulations let vs not thinke that God sends them because he is our enemy but because he is our most louing Father The Lord saith Salomon chastiseth him whom he loueth and scourgeth euery child of his whom he receiueth Wherefore if we haue receiued the Grace of the Gospell whereby man is receiued of God for his Child we must not doubt of Gods grace and good will towards vs. And when wee perceiue our selues to delight in Gods Word and to haue a desire to follow the life of Iesus Christ we must stedfastly beleeue that we be the children of God and the Temple of the holy Ghost for those things cannot be done by the power of mans wisedome but are the gifts of the holy Ghost who dwelleth in vs by faith and is as it were a seale of authority which sealeth vp Gods promises in our hearts the certainety whereof is printed aforehand in our minds and is giuen vs as a pledge to stablish and confirme the same As soone as you beleeue saith the Apostle S. Paul ye be sealed by the holy Spirit of promise who is the earnest peny of our inheritance Behold how he sheweth vs hereby that the hearts of the faithfull are marked with the holy Ghost as it were with a seale in respect whereof he calleth the holy Ghost The Spirit of promise forsomuch as he confirmeth the promise of the Gospell the which as I haue oftentimes told you is a happy tydings that promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life to all such as beleeue that all their misdoings are blotted out in Iesus Christ All we that beleeue in Iesus Christ saith Saint Paul are become the children of God and because we be his children he hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our heart which cryeth Father Father And to the Romanes Those saith hee that are guided by the Spirit of God are the children of God for yee haue not receiued againe the spirit of bondage in feare but the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Father Father For certainely the same Spirit beareth our spirit record that we be the children of God Now then if we be children we be also heires And we must marke well that in these two places the Apostle S. Paul speaketh plainely not of any speciall reuelation but of a certaine record which the holy Ghost doth commonly yeeld to all such as receiue the grace of the Gospell Then if the holy Ghost assure vs that we be Gods children and heires why should we doubt of our predestination The same man saith in the same Epistle Whom he hath predestinated them hath he also called and whom he hath called them hath he also made righteous and whom he hath made righteous them also hath he glorified What shall we then say to all these things If God be on our side who can be against vs And therefore if I plainely perceiue that God hath called me by giuing me faith and the fruits of faith that is to wit Peace of conscience mortification of the flesh and quickning of the spirit whether it be in whole or in part why should I doubt that I am not predestinated And moreouer we say with S. Paul that all true Christians that is to wit all such as beleeue the Gospell receiue not the spirit of this world but the Spirit that commeth from God by the inspiration whereof they discerne the things that God hath giuen them What maruell then is it if wee know that God hath certainly giuen vs euerlasting life But there are some which say that no man ought to presume so farre as to boast himselfe to haue the Spirit of God They speake in such wise as if the Christian should glory of the hauing of it for his owne deserts and not by the onely and meere mercy of God and as though it were a presumptuousnesse to professe himselfe a Christian or as though a man could bee a Christian without the hauing of Christs Spirit or as though we could without flat hypocrisie say that Iesus Christ is our Lord or call God our Father if the holy Ghost mooued not our hearts and tongues to vtter so sweet words And yet notwithstanding euen they that count vs presumptuous for saying that God hath giuen vs his holy Spirit with faith forbid vs not to say euery day Our Father but rather command vs. But I would haue them to tell mee how it is possible to separate faith and the holy Ghost asunder seeing that faith is the peculiar worke of the holy Ghost If it be presumption to beleeue that the holy Ghost is in vs why doth Saint Paul bid the Corinthians try themselues whether they haue faith or no affirming them to bee reprobates if they know not that Iesus Christ is in them But in very deed it is a great blindnesse to accuse the Christians of presumptuousnesse for taking vpon them to glory of the presence of the holy Ghost without which glorying there cannot bee any Christianity at all But Iesus Christ

man to deserue so great a gift and treasure as Iesus Christ is This treasure is giuen only through the grace fauour and mercifulnesse of God and onely faith is the thing that receiueth such a gift as to make vs inioy the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And therefore when S. Paul and other Doctors say that onely faith maketh men righteous without works they meane that it maketh vs to enioy the generall forgiuenesse of our sinnes and to receiue Iesus Christ who as saith S. Paul dwelleth in our hearts by faith and ouercomming and pacifying the troubles of our consciences satisfieth Gods iustice for our sinnes Furthermore it appeaseth Gods wrath iustly moued against vs quencheth the fire of hell whereinto our naturall corruption did throw vs headlong and cheerefully destroyeth and ouerthroweth the diuell together with all his power and tyranny Which things all the workes that all the men in the world can lay together are not able to deserue nor to bring to passe That glory and that prerogatiue is reserued all onely to the Sonne of God that is to wit to the blessed Iesus Christ who hath power aboue all the powers that are in Heauen in Earth and in Hell and giueth himselfe and his merits to all such as distrusting in themselues doe set their whole hope of being saued in him and in his merits And therefore let no man beguile himselfe when he heareth it said that onely faith iustifieth without workes and thinke as false Christians doe who draw all things to liue fleshly that the true faith consisteth in beleeuing the bare story of Iesus Christ after the same manner as men beleeue the story of Caesar or Alexander Such manner of beleefe is but an historicall beleefe grounded meerely vpon the report of men and vpon their writings and lightly imprinted in our conceit by a certaine custome and is like to the faith of the Turks who for the like reasons beleeue the fables of their Alcoran And such a faith is but an imagination of man which neuer renueth the heart of man nor warmeth it with the loue of God neither do any good workes insue or any change of life which faith should bring forth And therefore they falsly hold opinion against the holy Scripture and against the holy Doctors of the Church that onely faith maketh not men righteous but that they must also haue workes Vnto whom I answer That this historicall and fond beliefe and all the workes that insue thereof are not onely vnable to make a man righteous but also doe cast the parties headlong to the bottome of hell like vnto those that haue no oyle in their lamps that is to say no liuely faith in their hearts The faith that maketh men righteous is a worke of God in vs whereby our old man is crucified and we being transformed in Iesus Christ become new creatures and the deare beloued children of God This heauenly faith is it that graffeth vs into the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ and consequently mortifieth our flesh with the effects and lusts thereof For when we by the operation of faith doe know our selues to be dead with Iesus Christ wee are at a full point with our selues and with the world and are throughly resolued how it is meet that they which are dead with Iesus Christ should mortifie their earthly members that is to wit the sinfull affections of their minde and the lusts of the flesh and forasmuch as wee know wee bee raised againe with Christ we bend our selues to the leading of a spirituall and holy life like vnto that which we shall liue in heauen after the last resurrection This holy faith making vs to inioy the generall pardon that is published by the Gospell bringeth vs into the kingdome of our good God and pacifieth our consciences maintaining vs in continuall ioy and holy and spirituall sweetnesse This selfe-same faith knitteth vs vnto God and maketh him to dwell in our hearts and clotheth our soule with himselfe so as thenceforth the holy Ghost mooueth vs to doe the same things whereunto hee mooued Iesus Christ while he was in the world and was conuersant among men that is to wit vnto lowlinesse meekenesse obedientnesse vnto God louingnesse and other perfections where-through wee recouer the image of God For these selfe-same causes Iesus Christ did rightly attribute blessednesse vnto this inspired faith which blessednesse cannot bee without good workes and holinesse of life And how can it be that a Christian should not become holy seeing that Iesus Christ is become his holinesse through faith Therefore by faith we be iustified and saued and therefore S. Paul doth in a manner alwaies call those Saints whom we call now Christians who if they haue not Christs Spirit are none of Christs and consequently no Christians at all But if they haue the Spirit of Iesus Christ to rule and gouerne them we must not doubt but that although they know well that they bee made righteous through faith onely yet for all that they will become neuer the more slothfull to do good works For Christs Spirit is the Spirit of loue and loue cannot be idle nor cease from the doing of good works But if wee will say the truth a man can doe no good works except he first know himselfe to be become righteous by faith for before he knoweth that his doing of good works is rather to make himselfe righteous then for the loue and glory of God and so he defileth all his works with selfe-loue for the loue of himselfe and for his owne profit But hee that knoweth himselfe to be become righteous by the merits and righteousnesse of Christ which hee maketh his owne by faith laboureth happily and doth good works all only for the loue and glory of Christ and not for loue of himselfe nor to make himselfe righteous And thereupon it commeth that the true Christian that is to wit he that accounteth himselfe righteous by reason of Christs righteousnesse asketh not whether good works be commanded or not but being wholly moued and prouoked with a certaine violence of godly loue he offereth himselfe willingly to doe all the works that are holy and Christian-like and neuer ceaseth to doe well Hee therefore which feeleth not the marueilous effects by his faith which we haue heretofore declared that the inspired faith works in the heart of the Christian Let him assure himselfe that he hath not the Christian faith and let him pray earnestly vnto God to giue it him saying Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe And when he heareth it said that only faith maketh men righteous let him not deceiue himselfe and say What need I to weary my selfe in doing good works faith is inough to send mee to Paradise To such an one I answer that only faith sendeth vs to Paradise but yet let him take good heed for the diuels doe also beleeue and tremble as saith Saint Iames O miserable man wilt thou goe with them

Baptisme we put on Iesus Christ as the Apostle S. Paul affirmeth and consequently we be made partakers of his righteousnesse and of all his goods and vnder this precious robe the sinnes that our frailty committeth lye hidden and couered and are not imputed vnto vs. And so according as S. Paul saith the blessednesse which the Psalmist speaketh of appertaineth to vs namely Blessed are they whose misdoings are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne But it standeth a Christian in hand to take good heed that vpon these words he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none such as honour themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in their deeds But it concerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the flesh the world and the diuell doe notwithstanding fall daily and are constrained to say Lord forgiue vs our offences These are they to whom we speake to comfort them and to hold them vp that they fall not into despaire as though the bloud of Christ washed vs not from all sinne and that hee were not our aduocate and the atonement-maker for his members And therefore when we be prouoked to doubt of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne conscience beginneth to trouble vs then must we furnish our selues with true faith and out of hand haue recourse to the precious bloud of Iesus Christ shed for vs vpon the altar of the Crosse and distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most holy Sacrament which was ordained by Christ to the end that we should celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our atonement with God The blessed Iesus Christ made his last Will when he said This is my body which is giuen for you and This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many to the forgiuenesse of their sinnes We know that a Testament saith Saint Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuerthelesse if it be allowed no man despiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force till the Testator be dead but hath full power after the parties decease Then did Iesus Christ make his Testament wherein he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauour of himselfe and his Father together with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the said Testament should be of full force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul saith that Iesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament that by his dying for the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former Testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternall inheritance For wheresoeuer is a Testament there must also be the death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the party insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine and assured by the death of Iesus Christ that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our mis-deeds are pardoned and we made heires of eternall life And for a token and faithfull pledge hereof in stead of a Seale he hath left vs this diuine Sacrament which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen now quickned by that immortall flesh of his and in a certaine manner becommeth partaker of the immortality thereof and he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shall not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the said faith it turneth to a dangerous poyson because that like as when bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great annoyance euen so if this spirituall food light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and mis-beliefe it casteth it headlong into some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that to the vncleane and vnbeleeuer all things are vncleane notwithstanding that the things bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith Saint Paul hee that eateth of that bread and drinketh of that cup vnworthily is guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord and he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lords Body For he maketh no difference of the Lords Body which presumeth to the Lords Supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleeueth not that Body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christ a lyer and treadeth the Sonne of God vnder foot and esteemeth the bloud of the Testament whereby hee was sanctified but as a common or worldly thing and doth great wrong to the Spirit of grace and he shall be punished very sore at Gods hand for this his vnbeliefe and wicked hypocrisie For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustification in the passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Whereby he accuseth himselfe and is a witnesse of his owne iniquity and condemneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which God promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christian feeleth that his enemies are like to ouercome him that is to wit when he beginneth to doubt whether he haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesus Christ and that he shall not be able to withstand the diuell and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes to presse him so as he beginneth to feare lest hell fire should swallow him vp and death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of Gods Wrath I say when the good Christian feeleth himselfe in such agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good heart and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacrament which I receiue at that present assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoings and of mine atonement with God For if I haue an eye to my workes there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner and condemne mine owne selfe in such wise as my conscience should neuer bee quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned me for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth mee forgiuenesse of my sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ I

for righteous and layeth not thy sinne to thy charge because of Christs merits which are giuen vnto thee and become thine by faith Therefore following the counsell of Saint Bernard Beleeue thou not onely the forgiuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beliefe to thine owne particular person by beleeuing without any doubt that all thy mis-doings are pardoned thee through Iesus Christ And in so doing thou shalt giue the glory vnto God by confessing him to be mercifull and true and shalt become righteous and holy before God forsomuch as by the same confession the holinesse and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shall be communicated vnto thee But to returne to our purpose of Predestination I say that by the things aboue mentioned a man may euidently perceiue that the how it happeneth that when they bee diseased they say not also I will haue neither Physician nor physicke for looke what God had determined vpon mee cannot but come to passe why eate they why drinke they why till they the ground why plant they Vines and why be they so diligent in doing all things conuenient for to sustaine the body why say they not also that all these turmoilings policies and trauels of ours are superfluous forasmuch as it is not possible but that whatsoeuer God hath fore-seene and determined concerning our life and death must needs come to passe And therefore if Gods prouidence make them not negligent and idle in things pertaining to the body why should it make them more slouthfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christian perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler then the body But forasmuch as we see that neither Iesus Christ nor Saint Paul for any doubt of offending the reprobates haue forborne to preach the truth which is necessary to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting Sonne of God became man and was put to death vpon the Crosse wee also in like wise ought not to forbeare the preaching of Predestination to the true Christians forasmuch as we haue seene that it importeth great edification Now are wee come to the end of our purpose wherein our chiefe intent hath beene according to our small power to magnifie the wonderfull benefit which the Christian man hath receiued by Iesus Christ crucified and to shew that faith of her selfe alone iustifyeth that is to wit that God receiueth and holdeth them for righteous which beleeue stedfastly that Christ hath made full amends for their sinnes howbeit that as light can not be separated from fire which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth all things euen so good workes can not be separated from faith which alone by it selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth and abateth the pride of man hath and alwayes shall be reiected and fought against by such Christians as haue Iewish mindes But happy is hee who following the example of Saint Paul spoyleth himselfe of his owne righteousnesse and would haue none other righteousnesse then that which is of Iesus Christ wherewith if he be cloathed and apparelled hee may most assuredly appeare before God and shall receiue his blessing and the heritage of heauen and earth with his only Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord to whom be all honour praise and glory from this time forth for euermore Amen Christ is the end of the Law 1 Cor. 8. 6 The state of man before after that he had sinned Psal 114. Psal 14. Originall sinne A very good comparison Who is our neighbour The first office or duty of the Law Rom. 3. and 7. The second office of the Law The third office of the Law Deut. 27. 2 Cor. 3. The 4th office of the Law Rom. 4. The fifth office of the Law Exod. 20. Coloss 3. Acts 4. Matth. 11. Iohn 7. Iohn 8. Gal. 3. 1 Cor. 15. Psal 50. Rom. 5. The greatnes of sinne ought not to cause despaire 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 5. An excellent comparison of the vnability of our owne workes Hebr. 7. Iohn 12. Philip. 3. 1 Cor. 18. How man is deliuered and set free from the curse of the Law Gal. 3. Rom. 8. Col. 2. 1 Cor. 15. Gen. 8. How wee receiue the likenesse of God A very good similitude expressing the manner how our sins are taken away by Christ Matth. 28. Phil. 2. Ephes 5. Iohn 3. How the faithfull mans soule is assured of his being married vnto Christ Acts 5. Matth. 2. 2 Cor. 3. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Iohn 11. 1 Ioh. 12. 1 Iohn 4. Heb. 2. A very goodly similitude fit for the expressing of the free forgiuenesse of sinnes for Iesus Christs sake 1 Cor. 1. Heb. 4. Heb. 10. Heb. 8. Rom. 4. Gen. 15. Rom. 2. Gal. 3. Abac. 2. Gal. 3. Rom. 10. S. Augustine Origen * Mary Magdalen Luke 6. Faith is the mark of those that are iustified Esay 64. S. Basil S. Hilary S. Ambr. Rom. 4. Psal 31. S. Bernard Gen. 17. A very good cōparison how we be clothed with the righteousnes of Iesus Christ No man can boast of the performance of Gods Law Psal 143. Prou. 20. Iob 15. 1 Iohn 2. Matth. 6. Luke 17. Acts 15. How the workes of the faithful thogh they bee vnperfect please God Math. 25. In what manner faith iustifieth Ephes 3. Mat. 12. Rom. 6. Saint Paul calleth them Saints whom we call Christians He that beleeueth cannot bee without good works Marke 2. Iames 2. Apoc. 3. A liuely comparison What S. James meant concerning workes Iames 2. A heauenly comparison Ioh. 17. Rom. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 1 Pet. 2. Gal. 3. Heb. 2. Gal. 6. Luke 2. Rom. 8. Iesus Christ the true example of Christians 2 Pet. 2. Ephes 4. Rom. 15. Phil. 2. Luke 9. Iohn 15. Phil. 3. 2 Cor. 12. 2 Cor. 4. Gal. 6. Rom. 5. After what sort patience ingendreth triall Rom 8. 2 Cor. 2. Marke 9. Foure remedies against the temptations of distrust Prayer Matth. 9. 1 Thes 5. True Prayer Baptisme 2 Pet. 3. Mark 16. Gal. 3. Rom. 4. Psal 36. The Supper of the Lord. Luke 22. Mar. 16. Gal. 3. Heb 9. I renaeus lib. 1. Iohn 6. 1 Cor. 11. What is meant by not making a differēce of the Lords Body He that receiueth this Sacrament protesteth himselfe to trust in none other thing then the bloud of Christ Very cōfortable counsell Rom. 4. Rom. 8. Why the holy Sacramēt of thankesgiuing was ordained Christian peace and vnion are betokened by the bread and wine He that offendeth one of his Christian brethren offendeth Christ himselfe A preparation to the receuing of the holy Sacrament He that receiueth the Sacrament bindeth himselfe to all the duties of charitie The true end for which the holy Sacrament is ordained The 4th remedy against distrust Eph. 5. Luke 10. Psal 36. Rom. 8. He that receiueth the Gospell is sure that he is predestinated The effect proceeding of the knowledge of predestination Rom. 8. 1 Iohn 3. Eph. 1. Heb. 3. Heb. 10. Afflictions are no signes of reprobation Prou. 5. A true marke to know Gods children by Eph. 2. Wherefore the Apostle calleth the holy Ghost the Spirit of promise Gal. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. A truemarke of predestination 2 Cor. 2. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 12. He that gloryeth not that hee hath the holy Ghost is no true Christian Iohn 14. Eccless 6. 1 Cor. 4. A man may know that he is in Gods fauour By the chances of this life no man can iudge whether a man bee in Gods fauour or displeasure Rom. 3. 5. Phil. 3. 2 Tim. 4. Rom. 8. Phil. 1. The two sorts of feare childly slauish 2 Tim. 1. Rom. 14. Eph. 6. Phil. 4. 1 Pet. 1. The slauish feare threateneth the wicked and the childly feare encourageth the chosen The effects of childly feare Eph. 4. The Christian may warrant himselfe the forgiuenesse of his sins S. Hilary Iames 1. S. August S. Bernard Each one must beleeue particularly that his sinnes are released and forgiuen him freely