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	scripture_n	word_n	9,880	5	4.5225	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49373	Persecution detected in all his new forms: or, A dialogue between Nimrod policy, and Nathanael innocency Wherein persecution is followed and detected in his chiefest tabernacles; being packing apace out of his old g[...]bs of presbytery into his swept and garnisht forms of independency and the water-way: wherein is shewed the originall, and name, and interest of policy, with many of his assistants; and also of innocency: with the epitome of a true Christian: also several considerable queres touching God, his word, his essence; and Christ, and his works in man; as touching heaven, and hell, and sin, and the sabbath &c. of Moses; touching the true rest and centre of a Christian. By John Lane, late quartermaster to Sir Hardresse Wallers regiment.	Lane, John, quartermaster.	1652 (1652)	Wing L338; ESTC R213607	17,333	26

as hate them But Christians do blesse them that curse them and do good to such as despightfully use them and speak all manner of evill of them besides a Christian is truly inlarged with bowells of meeknesse and compassion to all under oppression or wrath or darknesse is acted to the ful in that love Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 13. 4. to 7. he vaunteth not himself above his fellow creatures he envieth not any for any thing he thinketh no evill he rejoyceth not in iniquity or in the disparity or inequality that is in the world that some are mighty and others miserable that 's for sinners he believeth all things beareth all things hopeth all things endureth all things is far from persecuting any for Opinion or delivering them to the divell as they call it for it or into his prisons and dungeons He is one that useth the world as though he used it not and buyeth as if he possessed not and although he be married it is as if he were not he being a child of God and so a child of the Resurrection and one that is worthy to obtain that world that is in subjection to man they can die no more death hath no more dominion over them Luke 20. 3. 4. 35. 36. He wil not be found doing that which Christ saith he shal find the world doing viz. as they did in the daies of Noah when he should appear in power and spirit Luke 17. 24. 26 27 28. Mat. 24. 38. the children of this world only doing so Luke 20. 34. the Christian seeth that in Christ there is no distinction of Iew nor Greek neither bond nor free neither MALE NOR FEMALE for ye are all ONE in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 28. Col. 3. 11. Christ is all and in all But to conclude Mr. Policy because I will not weary your patience with this kind of discourse a true Christian hath for his further direction pure innocency as the Scripture saith as a Dove his eye being single his body being full of light Pol. Innocency though many of thy characters of a Christian be strange to me and may prove dangerous to worldly wisdome with all it's interests and relations and protectors yet J cannot but say there are very gallant truths in thy words J wish the world were able to beare them as J am but J must desire thee to draw towards a conclusion at the present and J shall gladly have more discourse with thee at some other time for now J am in hast having many publike matters in hand Jnno Mr. Policy that J shall and J must tell you J am very much ingaged to you that you have so patiently heard me all this while your moderation wil do you no hurt but I intreat you to take some Quaeres from me touching some particulars that J should be glad you were rightly satisfied in which J shall leave you to consider of against our next meeting Pol. Innocency that I shall willingly entertain but prethee be brief because I have much businesse what are thy Quaeces Jnno My first is touching the Father 1. Quaere whether the Almighty Iehovah be not omnipotent omnipresent uncircumscribed and omniscient 2. Whether all the severall kinds of things are not in all their varieties and multiplications the productions of the Unity 3. Whether there be any enterval emptinesse or vacuity between the Creator and creatures and if there be any thing between them then what it is for matter form substance or shape 4. Whether that which is called the Spirit of God in Scriptures be not truly of the essence of God 5. Whether that called the Spirit of God in men be not of his essence 6. Where the essence of God is circumscribed if it be so Secondly Touching Christ 7. Whether Christ as a manifestation of the Father according to number be not him that was is and is to come the yesterday to day and for ever the beginner and terminator of time the Alpha and Omega the principium finis the primus ultimus that is the beginning and end the first and last the all and in all the only Champion of the Father the doer of all his saving work and the reconciler of all things to God and also that which was manifest to destroy all diabolicallnesse darknesse sin hell death or whatever lets in his Kingdome of love joy peace c. that are the effects of mans own vain knowing imaginations Eccl. 7. 29. 8. Whether all Christs work were compleated in his humanity at Jerusalem 9. Whether Christ hath not destroyed ever since the serpent hath built or whether the evill hath been longer then Christ the Unction 10. Whether Christ had not enemies before he appeared in the humanity at Jerusalem 11. What appearance of Christ that was that Scriptures speak of to have been in the daies of Noah 1 Pet. 3. 19. and to be that rock the Is raelites followed that they eat and drank of 1 Cor. 10. 4. 12. What Christ that is that is said to be in men the hope of glory and to be formed in them and to be in them except they be Reprobates Col. 1. 27. Gel. 4. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Thirdly Touching the Word of God 13. Whether there be any thing in Scripture called the Word of God but God himself that made the world that is spirit and life and only quick and powerfull and able to divide between joynts and marrow or whether any thing be the essentiall Word but God 1 Joh. 1. 2. 14. Whether the Word God be not the only truth that needs no interpreter but himself that in himself is the only determiner of all controversies amongst men that in his time will shew who is the only King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to be that truth that shall make us free not like that called truth which is made the only bond 15. Whether the letter of Scriptures be of any advantage to men except the quicking word of power be like the day Star arisen in them where by they experiment those teachings of God in themselves that was in them that write the Scriptures 16. Whether the Scripture misunderstood hath not been made the instrument of the murther and oppression of many millions of poor harmleste creatures and the engine of all the tyranny in Europe c. Fourthly Touching the Divell and Hell 17 Whether the Devil God blesse us be a corporeall and elementary essence yea or no with great clawes and eys as many country people have believed 18 What and where the Hell and torments so much feared by sinners are whether it be in any locall place on the superficies of the terrestriall world or in the centre of it or in the consciences of sinners under wrath and darknesse Fifthly Touching Heaven c. 19 Whether there be not Heaven to be had in man that is quickened together with Christ and set together with him in heavenly places Eph. 2. 5 6. 20. What

hope some old skilfull Physitians wil cure purge and cut off if need be rotten members that have gangrene humors in them there be many that pray for life everlasting but very few for an everlasting P but Sir I do not desire to meddle in these things you should know more of them then I and I am perswaded if you are a souldier that you may say more then I dare I shall say this the whole needeth not the Physitian ut fi●t justitia rua● mundus Pol. Well Innocency I am willing to passe that question by at present believing that you can say more to it but that there are so many words about it a ready and I believe you do not affect so much verbosity besides you must not say all you can although it be never so true for all truth may not be spoken at all times time is the herald of truth truth is a vertue that scaleth heaven illuminateth earth maintaineth Justice governeth Common-weals kills hate nourisheth love and discovereth secrets and yet may not at all times be declared where there is Law against it Inno. Sir If you are so willing to passe that preceding question and to go to an other pray do for I believe if all truth should be spoken it would extremely torment the earth what is your next question Pol. My next question to thee is what interest thou art for in these distracted and divided times art thou a Protestant or a Presbyter or an Independent or one of the Water way or one of those called Seekers of which there be many sorts Inno. Sir I am for neither of those interests singly other then they serve to inlarge the Common-wealth of the Creation and so I am for all of them although differing one from an other in opinions but Sir it 's like you may make use of all of them to serve your ends on them although you be of neither of their opinions for so policy can do and will seldome do more then be for either of them as they are usefull to him or for all of them together if the spirit of people be that way Pol. Well Innocency if you are neither of them then I hope you will deale plainly with me in your thoughts of some or all of them if J shall desire it in our further discourse because I perceive you are unbiassed as to either of them I shall leave the old Protestants so called because we will be brief at present and begin with some Presbyters what think you of them are they likely to do the world that good they now generally expect viz. ease to their persons estates and minds Inno. Sir as to your desire of plain dealing from me touching those persons and interests hinted in the premises I shal so far as I may for you although I may die a begger for it but I shall but epitomize them and their designs c. a word may serve you you being wise besides I know you do not affect prolixity Pol. Well Innocency go on as briefly as thou wilt to thy opinion of them what thinkst thou of Presbyters Inno. Sir I think many of them are going down the wind nay almost all of them except some that have of late turn'd GIBEONITES for their spirit viz. persecution for opinion is going from them apace into another form which some of the wisest of them go along with and think to use them again in another garb then that of Presbytery for they think to sweep and garnish another dwelling for that unclean spirit which if they do for ought I know their latter end may be worse then their beginning for these are searching times But Sir in few words I shall tell you they of the Presbytery were so violently eaten up for the zeal of the Lords House and have so whin'd and pin'd and fasted c. that they have made that seeming pamper'd Palphray as poor as a Scotch Galloway taken at Worcester that so now very many of them have very small trading and have little to do except it be to receive Tithes and read the Directory and spend some of those estates they have gained if they have much left out of their late contributions to the CHARITABLE USES OF LOVE but Sir I tell you many of the Presbyters have great hopes of a Resurrection of their cause for they use all the skill and power they have to do it especially in the Committee of Divines where if they can helpe it none shall passe to preach that are friends to the Common-wealth but rather such as can speak pure Scotch and are railers against Sectaries of all sorts this with many other great influences they have elswhere doth make them hope and I think yet whine forth their many invectives in parobolicall sayings against the Common-wealth but Sir I shall leave them at present what is your next question Pol. I see you have known the spirit of Presbytery and although you say you will leave them were you in their power they would not so leave you I shall say little of them at present save that I well know them but go on to the next form viz. that of Independents so called and tell me thy thoughts of them Inno. Sir I shall tell you what I hear of many so called viz. some say there went but a pair of sheers between them and their elder Brethren the Presbyters the one going a little backwards and the other going a little forwards to make up the Brotherhood with LOVE besides some call many of these Norfolk Independents because say they such of them are for a toleration of the true Religion which is as they say that only which they believe and follow viz. the form of Congregationall Churches the Pope was alwaies for such a toleration viz his own way of worship besides Mr. Policy many think that Mr. Persecution doth intend to dwell a while in that swept and garnished form when he is wholly departed from Presbytery as if the Pithagorian Doctrine of Transmiguration were true he alwaies leaps from one form to an other and usually appeareth most in the form that is in most repute in the world although it be that which when he dwelt in Papacy and Episcopary he persecuted but have a care thou that hast said it was not good to persecute for difference in opinion doest thou persecute who art thou that judgest thy Brother dost thou not know that every one shall give an account of himself to God wilt thou not see how that arch-enemy to the Creations peace Persecution hath served his old Tabernacles of Episcopacy and Presbytery he may do as much for thee that art a persecuting Independent it 's good for thee to be moderate in this day of Gods strange workings although he make thy ears tingle at the Clouds he appeareth in do you not know that Gods way hath been to do his greatest works by the most contemptible and base means to stain the pride of all glory

and to bring into contempt the honorable of the earth that no flesh should glory Pol. But all Independents are not so for I am perswaded there are many of them very godly and would tolerate any opinion but blasphemy and sin Inno. Sir I do not say all Independents are such for they are no true Independents that are such persecuters besides I believe many of them are pretty moderate men c. especially if they be not drowned in Calvinisme but touching many things that some call blasphemy and sin c. do you think the Bishops did not say as much of some that now think they are in the highest form and did or do they think the Bishops c. were infallible in their censure of them Pol. Well Innocency J perceive thou knowest what is the spirit of many Independents prithee go on a littie further to give me thy o servations of those of the Baptized way as also of the Seekers and J shall promise thee that I will not injure thee for any words that have or shall passe between us Inno. Sir I do pretty well know much jugling amongst them and J do also very well know you and could say more of and unto you if J might but J hope to do that at some other time but I shall go on to give you some hints touching some of the Baptized way first and then of those called Seekers afterwards hoping w 〈…〉 hall that when J have done touching them you will give me liberty to propose something else to you either touching a true Christian or else some quaeries for you to answer at your leisure Pol. I shall willingly hear thee touching other things at some other time but go on to give me your thoughts of some of the baptized way Jnno Sir that J will J think many in that form are pretty conscientious well meaning people that would not be made a stalking horse to persecution if they were aware on 't but many others of them do think that way to be the only infallible distinguishing garb of Christians and none saved as they call it but such as are like Noah saved by water but that 's not all Mr. Policy for some of their leaders are as it were the quintessense of Presbytery and may prove the veriest persecutors for Opinion that ever the Church or world bred for some of them did not stick to say in publique that such as lived above Ordinances as they called them were worse then lepers and unfit for any Society the most rigid Presbyter Edwards never said more these be they that in the dregs of Episcopacy and the beginning of Presbytery did plead for universall toleration of opinion nay Sir some sober people say that if you Mr. Policy should in many places cloath your self in that form for the garb of your worship to God it might easily be made the greatest engine of persecution that ever you were clad with in your life some think those garbs of Papacy and Episcopacy and Presbytery were nothing to this of the water-way for there Mr. Persecution thinks himself sa●e being under WATER but the searching God may drive him from his liquid formality also when Christs fire-baptisme appeareth more to consume and burn up all the wood and hay and stubble of mans selfish maginary works that are the only snares and bonds that poor creatures groan under which all the water in the world will never wash away nor will it quench this fiery Princple of universal love joy and peace that Christ in men is bringing forth abundantly nay Sir some think this Water-way may prove tenfold worse then rigid Presbytery although I hope the contrary because if one did but say as they would and look like them superficially one might have lived amongst them but now say some except ye repent and be baptized with Water ye shall perish and not only for the future as they say but in the present world if many of them had power suitable to their waspish will and if they bark so already how would they bite if their teeth were swords Pol. I did not think any Anabaptists would ever have turn'd persecutors for Opinion they have pleaded so much against it in others but it may be they think themselves the Saints that shall judge the world bit prithee Innocency let me have some of thy thoughts touching a sort of people called Seekers because I have heard there are many wise men amongst them that may do me much service Inno. Sir that I shall also because you so much desire it although I believe you know them already very will but I hope we shall have some discourse touching a true Christian when I have done with them also but Sir if I shall fail in my Opinion of them you must pardon me for I fear I shall want words to expresse their worth compared with many in the times but Sir touching those that are called Seekers so far as I have found them they do appear to be very wise solid conscientious honest publike spirited persons that are not wedded to any formall Idol as knowing there is none they are such many of them that are of penetracious judgements and can see the insides of many jugling self-ended ones that under specious pretences do oppresse the poor and miserable they can foresee the effects of things from their causes and can dive into the bottom of most Politike designs and are such as well know the spirit of people and do know what would be most pleasing unto them they know what men-groan under externally and also mentally they know the temper of the people is generally for true liberty to their minds bodies and estates they are such as do not affect much verbosity and jangling about Opinions but they say they would have persons to be sober moderate and temperate to all and not have more the name of Christians then they practise viz. that sure Maxim in Christianity of doing as they would be done unto in all things conscience being judge they are such as well know the Lawyers and Preists and do not affect Tithes c. and I think many of them are for toleration of Opinion Pol. Well Innocency I thank thee for thy pains in what thou hast said touching many things relating to those severall interests we spake of in the Premises I shall offer a few words touching some of them I tell thee Innocency I do love many Independents and Anabaptists and Presbyters very well because many of them have been very active for me and therefore I must be civill to them I could wish they were not so rigid and so wedded to their forms as they are if they were not many of them would be very pretty men but people wil not beat many of their injunctions and censures but I 'le tel thee Innocency I most affect men like some Seekers that are weaned from Idols and are wise solid moderate well principled men whether they be of any Church