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	sin_n	5,626	5	4.4988	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30560	A vindication of the people of God, called Quakers ... being an ansvver to a book, dedicated to them, by one George Pressick of Dublin : in which book many lyes and calumnies are presented against the innocent people of God ... / by E.B.	Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1660 (1660)	Wing B6053; ESTC R2304	18,015	26

God that gave forth the Scriptures and it is not Latine Greek or Hebrew that teacheth to understand the Scriptures but it is the Spirit of God and to whomsoever that Spirit is given and God gives it to whom he pleaseth they only are fit to declare the things of God unto others and to expound Scriptures and none else but them who have experience of the operation of the Spirit in their own hearts and this we hold and believe 6. Concerning ordinary Calling and speaking as he is inspired I say the Scriptures no where speak of ordinary calling and if by ordinary Calling it be meant calling to any Office in the Church without the Spirit of God I say there was no such Calling for the Ministry of Christ in the Apostles dayes was called by the holy Spirit and the Ministry of the true Church is made ordained and called according to the gift of Gods holy Spirit which he giveth And as every one saith Peter hath received the gift of the Spirit so let him administer the same one to another So that it is manifest by the Scriptures that the Call to the Ministry in the Apostles dayes was not of man nor by man saith Paul but according to the gift of the holy Anoiming the Spirit of God And also every one in the true Church might speak as it was revealed to them for saith Paul If any thing be revealed to another that stands by let the first hold his peace for ye may all speak one by one that all may be edified So that it is no errour to hold that every one in the true Church may speak as the Spirit of God gives them utterance and to whom the things of God are revealed by the Spirit 7. That there are Popish Agents among us and that such are our Ring-leaders this is a false slander and you ought to put the Accuser to prove it it is your duty so to do and that such Popish Agents be named and where they are And I challenge the Accuser to name One among us or else let him stop his mouth for a Lyar who hath abused your Names with dedicating Untruths to you for your approof Again He accuseth us for saying The Spirit bloweth where it listeth and he saith we judge none have the Spirit but our selves Answ. 1. Christ himself said The wind bloweth where it listeth and so is every one that is born of the Spirit And we do judge God hath given of his Spirit to many that are yet ungodly and many are convinced of sin by the Spirit of God in their Consciences that are wicked and ungodly who are not of us but yet we say as the Saints in Ages past said We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in wickedness and they that are of God hear us and are one with us and we do inform all People to the measure of the Spirit of God in their Consciences that they may come to the knowledge of God and to be one with us Again He accuseth us to be acted by the same deluding spirit as John of Leyden was acted by Answ. 1. What spirit Iohn of Leyden was acted by we now dispute not neither doth this Accuser well know but what he hath from the Reports of others which may be false as like as true in some particulars but the Spirit that we follow is the Spirit of God by which we are acted in the wayes of Truth and Righteousness and are not deluded nor followers of a deluding spirit for we are willing to be ●ied in our Doctrines and Practices according to the Scriptures and though we stand accused of these and the like things yet we challenge him to prove it before you and that we may be admitted to make our defeace and we shall the rather easily prove that our Accuser is acted by the spirit of the Devil who is an Accuser of the Brethren like the Devil and that is a deluding spirit that teacheth men to backbite lye and slander as this man hath done so he is proved fully guilty of that whereof he hath accused others and must own the shame and condemnation to himself which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us that we would neither have King Magistrates nor Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Governours we would have even such as are just men and men of Truch and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Iustice in the Earth we do know peace and happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only Blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just and according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are Iust Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Iustice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rules in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of Gods wrath following for hardness of heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the world to teach and preach Truth and Righteousnesse this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God and we have testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Errour nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples hearts for that is the portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things as against us nor used our names in reproach in this matter And lastly Whereas he saith some of the

if it were necessary or would edifie or were a matter of pertinency I could say somewhat more concerning that Peoples appearing in Germany but being a matter not suiting my occasion I do forbear it 2. As for them called Anabaptists of this our Age and Country I shall not plead their cause at this time though I cannot believe that they are of that spirit of Murder and Tyranny c. as is reputed by your Informer though their Judgment in every Case neither about Civil or Spiritual things I dare not justifie nor may I lawfully clear all of them from a large measure of the spirit of Ambition and Covetousness Vain-glory and Self-seeking for which the Lord hath justly brought them under a just reproof and by this time I believe some of them may see some errour in their own way andmore I may not say of them but that I believe the present Accusation against them by your present Informer is more out of bitter and perverse enmity and devouring malice that he bears towards them than out of any other end and I doubt not but they are sufficient to answer for themselves and to clear their Innocency in things wherein they are not guilty and if they are guilty let them fall in their tryal I leave them to speak for themselves thus omitting any further Answer on their behalf 3. As for us whom in scorn the Accuser calleth Quakers and whom he hath accused as guilty in all things with the Anabaptists so called in Germany and in this Nation I say there is great difference both in Iudgement and Practice in things Civil so accounted and things Spiritual between us and them as is well known and were they fully guilty of all what is said of them which I dare not believe yet how can we be charged guilty of their Crimes being they and we are different in Iudgment and Practice as I have said Surely your Informer hath neither shewed good Conscience nor yet pure Reason in his proceeding who hath laid things to our charge which we never knew and hath accused us guilty of that which never entred into our hearts to practise and hath as it were charged other mens crimes upon us being wholly innocent as will appear in the prosecution of this matter and I hope to make it plain that he hath wronged us and abused you by dedicating Falshoods for your approof and sent Slanders abroad as it were under your Name or Patronage 4. As concerning the Charge it self included in these words saith your Informer And considering how instrumental your Honours have been to suppress their Insolent Tyrannical Usurped Authority which they exercised over Gods People in this Nation to enslave us c. In these words there are very deep Accusations Slanders and unjust Reproaches vented against us and with what face except Impudent we can be thus charged is almost wonderful especially considering that we have been our selves a suffering people by every Authority since the time the Lord raised us up and never had any outward Authority in this Nation but all were cast out of all place and power both Civil and Military when as they have become one with us in our way and this hath been the manner of dealing with us by all that ever have ruled and yet we are charged most unjustly with exercising insolent tyrannical usurped Authority in this Nation c. for it 's said Their insolent and They exercised to wit the Quakers when as it is manifest as I have shewed that we never exercised any outward Authority at all but have been a suffering People by all Authorities unto this day therefore I do appeal to the Witness of God in your own Consciences how great is this Slander and how false this Accusation and how wicked is our Adversary in thus accusing us before you in the things which you so well know are utterly and detestably false and the Accuser and his Accusations are to be condemned together 5. But and if it had been so or should be so in time to come that we had any or all outward Authority in our hands I may suppose impossible things to manifest the truth of our Principle our Principle is not to be in insolent tyrannical nor to be Usurpers over Gods People to enslave them but far the contrary even that Iustice Mercy and Truth may sit in the Throne and that Peace and Freedom may be held forth unto all that no Usurpers nor Tyrants but Iust men and men that fear God and hate Covetousness and every evil way that such alone may sit in Judgment whom God calleth to that place who will rule in Righteousness and Justice and regard the Cause of the Poor and Needy we would that such only ruled who were ruled by the Lord who would be a blessing in the world and to all people not desiring more liberty to our selves than what we would give unto all others in all just wayes This is our Principle as to matters of outward Authority among men and not as this false Accuser hath suggested out of his evil heart 6. As to the matter of your suppressing us which your Applauder saith you have been instrumental to do This is as false as the rest for we are no more suppressed than before you exercised your present Authority but are every way in as much liberty of persons and otherwise as in their dayes before yours and are no way suppressed nor fearful of it So the Author of such Lyes hath but flattered you and fawned upon you in telling you ye have suppressed us when as it 's nothing so but and if it had been in your hearts or be at this day to suppress us and to hinder us of our liberties and to persecute us the Lord shall plead our Cause against you and give no success unto your work but it shall be turned to our Renown and to your Overthrow and the secret hand of God shall confound you and break your purposes and deliver his People out of your mouths Thus it shall come to passe if that your hands should be stretched forth to hurt us who are Gods Heritage and the Sheep of his Fold And thus much in answer to his Epistle Now I come to a second Accusation of his stated in his first Page in these words We may see from whence Anabaptists Quakers Ranters and Levellers all had their Original namely from the Papists c. Answ. 1. As for the Anabaptists Ranters and Levellers I leave them to plead their own Cause and though we are accused with such yet there is much difference in Iudgment and Practice between us and them though I believe they are all further from Popery both in judgment and practice than is this Accuser of them but yet they shall answer for themselves and I shall only mind the matter I have in hand which is to clear the People of God called Quakers from the Accusations charged falsly against them whom I know