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	holy_a	john_n	6,642	5	6.1656	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32783	Via lactea, or, The saints onely way to true blessedness opened in a sermon from Matth. 5, 8 : also the danger of neglecting gospel-salvation, from Heb. 2, 3 / by Thomas Cheesman ... ; with his epistle to vindicate himself from those absurdities of method and language and little less then blasphemies, with which he was abused by a mercenary pen, in the former impression.	Cheesman, Thomas.	1663 (1663)	Wing C3776; ESTC R43092	18,787	38

is laid down in the Revelation and then judge whether Goats and Swine are fit to be admitted to be its Inhabitants A bare profession may give you admission into the Church Militant but it is nothing but Scriptural holiness and real purity that can give you admission into the Church Triumphant as for profane persons however they may flatter themselves with vain hopes yet while they continue in sin every leafe almost in the Bible stands as a flaming sword to keep them out of Paradise Fifthly We should labour after purity of heart because without this there can be no perseverance Those whose Religion stands only in a glistering shew of outward profession though they may seem stedfast and flourishing for a while yet they will certainly fall away in an hour of temptation What is the reason that so many have begun in the spirit and ended in the flesh so many with the Church of Ephesus have forsaken their first love It is because their hearts were rotten and corrupt from the beginning perhaps their heads were enriched with choice notions curious speculations and the like but still they were strangers to purity of heart they looked upon Religion as that which could only afford matter of discourse or did consist in disputing for opinions Sixthly We should labour for purity of heart that so we may plentifully tast the goodness of God in all conditions that is a very remarkable place in Psal 73.1 Truely God is good to Israel even to them that are of a clean heart Whatsoever Changes Vicissitudes and Revolutions there may be in the world yet the pure in heart shall experience the mercy and goodness of God In the last place We should labour to get purity of heart because the very life of Christianity doth consist in this In 1 Peter 3.21 Baptisme also now saveth not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God We must consider whether grace have enabled us to answer those solemn engagements which our baptismal Covenant laid upon us it is inward washing which doth principally denominate a Christian Thus much for the reasons and motives stirring up to labour after purity of heart But in the third place What must we do to get our hearts purified First Labour to be heavenly-minded you may observe the nearer things are to heaven the more pure they are Water is more pure than the earth as being higher in its situation Air is more pure then water and the Fire is more pure than the Air because it is nearest to the heavenly bodies If thy heart were turned and taken off from the world if it were more raised to converse with heaven and things of an heavenly nature this would mightily encrease the purity of it Secondly Attend upon the word John 15.3 Now you are clean saith Christ to his Disciples through the word that I have spoken unto you So Psal 119.9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to thy word And then get the spirit of grace to dwell in thy heart that is the most effectual way to have the heart purified the spirit is sometimes compared to water for its purifying nature John 3.5 Except a man be born again of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God by water here is not meant the Element of water made use of in baptisme none can conclude baptismal Regeneration from such a place of Scripture as this no but except a man be born of water and the spirit that is of the spirit that resembles water compared to water for its cleansing vertue and efficacy so likewise the Spirit is compared to fire Mat. 3.11 John speaking concerning Christ One cometh after me greater then I whose Shoe Latchets I am not worthy to unloose he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire that is with the Holy Ghost that doth resemble fire so called from its refining vertue In the fourth place I proceed to shew wherein this purity of heart doth discover it self It discovers it self chiefly in these four things an understanding free from error in purity of Works in purity of Words and in purity of Worship First An understanding free from error those that have a pure heart they will strive against Errors in Doctrine as well as Errors in Practice for if the head be once poysoned the venemous influences of it will quickly distend to the heart infecting the very vitals of Christianity corrupt opinions and corrupt practices commonly go together they that have purity of heart will be filled with a love to truth Secondly Purity of heart discovers it self in purity of works if there be a conformity to the Image of God in the heart there will also be a conformity to the Law of God in the outward conversation you may as well suppose the Sun to be without light the fire without heat and honey without sweetness as that saving grace should be rooted in the heart and not bring forth the fruits of holiness in the life Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven therefore those do miserably cheat their own souls which boast as if their hearts were good though they live in the dayly practice of gross and scandalous sins a pure fountain would never send forth muddy streams a good tree would never bring forth corrupt fruit if filthiness appear in the outward behaviour you may certainly conclude that there is much more impurity in the inward parts Thirdly Purity of heart sheweth it self in purity of words James 1.26 If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridle not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans Religion is vain How can the heart be chast when the words are loose and immodest how can the heart be humble when the speech is swelling and lofty how can the heart be heavenly when the discourse constantly runs out and spends it self upon the things of the World the words are still sutable to that treasure which is laid up in the heart Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Fourthly They that are endued with purity of heart labour for purity of worship they are Enemies to Will-worship they cannot endure to serve God in any way save that which he has appointed they would not have the gold of the Sanctuary mingled with the dross of humane invention t is the coruption and uncleanness of mens spirits which makes them so violently contend for and obstinately addicted to the observation of Idolatrous customes HEB. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation THe Apostle had told us in the foregoing verse that if the word which was spoken by the Angels that is the Law which was published upon Mount Sinai

greater than sin here committed upon the earth therefore the sin of the fallen Angels was the greater because committed in a place where God was pleased to make speciall and extraordinary discoveries of his presence the more of God there is in any thing the greater is their sin who abuse it there is more of God in the Gospel then there is in all the works of the Creation and providence Secondly We should have a care least we be found guilty of neglecting the Gospel because that is the conduit which God hath appointed to convey the choicest blessings to the hearts of his people Those that live under the faithful and powerful dispensations of the Gospel let them know that they enjoy the greatest priviledge which they are capable of receiving in this life Oh then what shall we think of those poor soules which have continued for many years and are grown gray-headed under the preaching of the Gospel and yet are never the better for it every Sermon hath been like a shower of water falling upon a rock making no impression at all Thirdly Therefore do not neglect the Gospel because it is very quick and lively in its working it will quickly bring men into a state of Salvation or else sinke them deeper into perdition Heb. 4.12 the word of God is quick and powerful saith the Apostle and sharper than a two-edged sword and pierceth even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit Math. 3.10 Now the Ax saith he is laid unto the root of the Tree and every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire The Ax is laid to the root of the Tree When was that Why when John the Baptist came preaching repentance because the kingdome of God was at hand the preaching of the Gospel was at hand though the tree was barren before yet it might stand still and not be cut down but now when the powerful ministration of the word cometh either close with the Gospel and be saved or else refuse the Gospel and perish So Mar. 16.15 16. Goe saith Christ and preach the Gospel to every creature He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved and he that beleeveth not shal be damned Fourthly therefore we should not neglect the Gospel because it is that by which we must be judged at the last day Heathens that never heard of Christ they shall not be punished for not beleiving in him for obligation unto duty doth necessarily presuppose the promulgation of a Law but as for those that have lived under the Gospel without controversie they shall be judged according to the Gospel what would many a person give to know how it shall speed with him in that great and notable day when the Heavens shall pass away with a mighty noise and the Elements melt with fervent heat when all the beauty and bravery of the World shall sink into a bed of ashes what would many a man give to know how he shall speed then why the Gospel tells you those which the Gospel doth condemn now they shall be condemned then and they that are acquitted by the Gospel now they shall be acquitted then Fifthly All that neglect the Gospel they are near to a curse c. There is a clear place for it in Heb. 6.7 8. The Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth for Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth a blessing from God but that which bringeth forth briars and thornes is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned the meaning of it is briefly thus the good soyl are those honest hearers which receive the word and bring forth fruit and receive a blessing from God but that which bears briars and thornes the bad ground is those hearers which receive the word hear as many Sermons as others yet they bring nothing forth but briars and thornes repining and murmuring against the purity and truth of Gospel-Ordinances these are rejected and are nigh unto cursing Then in the last place those that do neglect the Gospel it will deeply agravate their condemnation The Sodomites that were consumed with fire and brimstone from Heaven you will say they were great sinners and yet Christ tells us plainly it will be more tollerable for them at the day of judgement then for those that neglect the Gospel Secondly if it be so dreadfull to neglect the Gospel then endeavour to receive the Preaching of the Gospel as Christ hath appointed receive with meekness that ingrafted word which is able to save your souls I shall onely name these three 1. Receive it with reverence and attention as those which must give an account to the Lord of Glory for every Sermon which 〈…〉 2. Receive it with thankfulness we give 〈…〉 for the shining of the Sun and for the dropping of the clouds and for fruitful seasons 〈…〉 seldome do we break forth into 〈…〉 Christ for the unspeakable benefit of his Gospel 3. Receive it with an holy hunger and 〈◊〉 after it as new born Babes desire the 〈◊〉 Milk of the word that you may 〈◊〉 thereby FINIS