Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	contrite_a	humble_a	revive_v	5,567	5	11.6295	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54583	A learned, pious, and practical commentary, upon the Gospel according to St. Mark wherein the sacred text is logically analyzed; the meaning of the holy Spirit clearly and soundly opened: doctrines naturally raised, strongly confirmed, vindicated from exceptions, and excellent inferences deduced from them: all seeming differences in the history between this and the other evangelists fairly reconciled: many important cases of conscience, judiciously, succinctly, and perspicuously solved. By that laborious and faithful servant of Christ, Mr. George Petter, late Minister of the Gospel at Bread in Sussex.	Petter, George.	1661 (1661)	Wing P1888; ESTC R220413	2,138,384	918

should rather have come more openly that others might have taken notice of the Miracle and have profited by it But I take it the principall cause of her fear was 1. The consideration of Christ's Divine power and Majesty shewed in this Miracle and this reason of her fear the Evangelist himself giveth in the next words when he saith she knew what was done in her That is she sensibly felt and perceived how great a Miracle Christ had wrought in curing her and this moved her to tremble before him 2. The consideration also of her own vileness and unworthiness both in regard of her sins as also of her outward condition having hitherto bin a diseased woman for many years and her disease such as by the Law was accompted unclean Observ Observ That when we are to come before God in any special manner as to pray or to give thanks to him or to perform any special service to him we are to come with all reverence and fear of his Divine Majesty See this point spoken of before ver 22. of this chap. It followeth Knowing what was done in her This shews that it was a true Miracle really and sensibly wrought and not in shew onely But of this see also before ver 29. I proceed to the next words She came and fell down before him By this outward lowly gesture she expressed the inward humility of the Heart that she was touched with an inward feeling of her own vileness and unworthiness Observ Observ By her example we must learn how to carry our selves when we come before God to perform any special service to him We are to come in humble and lowly manner our hearts must be humbled in the sight and feeling of our own vileness and unworthiness and this inward Humility must appear by our outward submission and lowly carriage of our selves in the presence of God Thus Jairus a Ruler of the Synagogue though a great man yet came before Christ in humble manner falling at his feet as we heard before ver 22. and the Leper kneeled to him chap. 1. 40. yea he fell flat on his face before him Luke 5. 12. By this outward humbling and abasing of themselves they testified the inward Humiliation of their Hearts in the sense of their own unworthiness And thus have the Faithfull used to come before God with Hearts humbled in the sight and feeling of their own vileness as Abraham Gen. 18. 27. acknowledgeth before God that he is but dust and ashes And Job 40. 4. Behold saith he I am vile c. And Daniel chap. 9. ver 7. O Lord Righteousness belongeth to thee but unto us confusion of Faces c. And thus ought we to come before God in humble manner especially with Hearts inwardly humbled in the sight of our own unworthynesse Reason Reas God doth best accept of such as are humble and lowly in his sight Esay 66. 2. To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit c. yea he delighteth in such Esay 57. 15. Thus saith the high and lofty one I dwell with him that is of an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble c. and Jam. 4. 6. He giveth Grace to the humble Use 1 Use 1. This reproveth such as come before God to do special services to him in the Pride and haughtiness of their Hearts puffed up with conceipts of their own goodness or worthiness Thus that proud Pharisee came before God Luke 18. He boasted of his good works Thus the Papists at this day come before God to Pray and perform other Services with an Opinion of their own merits and good works for which they hope to be the better accepted of God But God rejecteth such and their Services as he did the proud Pharisee Use 2 Use 2. When we are to come before God to do him speciall service see that we come in lowly and humble manner especially labour to have thy Heart touched and humbled with the feeling of thy unworthiness and vileness in regard of thy sins and let this thy inward Humility appear in thy outward lowly carriage in the sight and presence of God Imitate herein the poor humbled Publican Luke 18. 13. who by the lowliness of his Countenance and outward gesture expressed the inward Humility of his Heart The more humble and low and vile thou art in thy own eyes and the more thou art cast down in the sense of thy own sins and unworthiness the more acceptable thou and thy Services are to God and the more highly doth he esteem of thee So much of the manner of this womans comming before Christ Now it follows to speak of that which she did being come before him namely that she told him all the truth Luke 8. 47. She declared for what cause she touched him and how she was healed immediately Now by this she testified her thankfulness to Christ for the benefit of health restored to her so Miraculously Observ 1 Observ 1. Here then we learn by her example that in all mercies and blessings which we receive from God we ought to shew true thankfulness unto God It becommeth the upright to be thankfull Psal 33. 1. 1 Thess 5. 18. In all things give thanks Now our thankfulness must be both inward and outward 1. Inward in the Heart affected with unfeined desire of glorifying God Psal 103. 1. My Soul praise the Lord and all that is within me c. 2. Outwardly testified and expressed 1. By free acknowledgment of Gods mercies to us as this Woman did unto Christ 2. By yielding praise and Glory to God with our mouthes when we have occasion to mention Gods Mercies to us Thus have the Faithful used to do especially David in every Psalm almost 3. By shewing forth the fruits of true Repentance and Obedience to the will of God in the course of our lives without this all shew of thankfulness in word and tongue is Hypocrisy and Abomination before God To such he will say as he doth to the Hypocrite Psal 50. 16. What hast thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my words behind thee Use Use See then that we thus shew our true thankfulness to God for all his Mercies This is the onely Tribute which he requireth for all that we receive and enjoy from his bounty and goodness Let us therefore be carefull to render it him duely and conscionably as becommeth us Observ 2 Observ 2. In that this woman did not onely shew her thankfulness to Christ by acknowledging this great blessing of health bestowed on her but did also publish it openly before the people we may gather that it is fit for us in some cases to acquaint others with the great mercies and blessings which we have received from God See this observed before ver 19. of this chap. Mark 5. 34. And he said unto her Daughter c. Dec. 31. 1620. HEre is

to entertain Christ Hence we may gather the Excellency and Dignity of Christ's person that even in the state of his Humiliation He was a person of great Worth and Excellency this appeareth in that he came into the World after the same manner as Kings and Princes are wont to go or come to any place that is to say with Harbingers to prepare the way for them and to provide for their entertainment at the places whither they are to go So Christ Jesus coming into the World to work our Redemption had his Harbinger John Baptist to go before him and by his Preaching to prepare for his coming This shews that Christ was even then a person of great Dignity even the greatest that ever lived upon the Earth for he was not onely a Man but God and Man in one Person not onely a King but King of Kings and Lord of Lords 〈…〉 This Dignity and Excellency of Christ's Person was manifested in this that he had so excellent a Person and so great a Prophet as John Baptist to be his Servant to go before His presence and face to prepare for his coming and so to wait and attend upon his Person But of this excellency of the Person of Christ we shall have occasion to speak again when I come to the 7. Ver. of this Chap. Now then to proceed Obser 2 Again here we see one priviledge and preheminence of John Baptist above all other Ministers of the Gospel in that he went before the face and presence of Christ Whereas all other Ministers of the Gospel come after Christ in time This is John's prerogative alone that he onely was before Christ in Age and Birth in respect of Christ's Man-hood and that he began to Preach the Gospel before Christ himself preached it whereas all other Ministers of the Gospel as well the Apostles as their Successors are after Christ in Age and Birth and after him also in the exercise of this Office and Function of preaching the Gospel John went before Christ in Age and Time but came behind him in Excellency and Dignity of Person but the Apostles and all other Ministers of the Gospel come behind Christ both in Time and Dignity Vide Concion in Cap. 9. Ver. 12. It followeth Who shall prepare thy way c. The meaning of the words we heard before and how John is said to prepare the way of Christ viz. By the execution of his Ministry in preaching and baptizing especially in Preaching Now let us see the Matter of Instruction which these words afford us Obser In that it is said John Baptist should by his Ministery prepare the way before Christ we may gather what is the Office of all Ministers of the Word Namely by their Preaching and Ministry to prepare men to the receiving and embracing of Christ to fit men to entertain Christ Jesus in their hearts In this all Ministers should resemble John Baptist Act. 10. 43. All the Prophets gave Witnesse to Christ 2 Cor. 4. 5. We Preach not our Selves but Christ c. 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have prepared you for one Husband to present you as a pure Virgin unto Christ See Col. 1. 28. Gal. 4. 19. Quest How ought Ministers to prepare the People to entertain Christ in heart Answ Sundry wayes especially these 1. By shewing them what need they have of Christ which is done by Preaching the Law which discovereth Him to us and our naturall Misery by reason of it 2. By labouring to bring them to true Repentance for their Sins that their hearts may be broken with godly sorrow for their Sins and that they may begin truly to hate and forsake Sin for then and not before are we fit to entertain Christ in our hearts when our hearts are truly humbled for sin Isa 57. 15. I dwell with Him that is of a contrite and humble Spirit c. Thus did John Baptist prepare men for Christ by preaching Repentance 3. By preaching the Doctrine of Faith to them shewing them the nature of it and labouring to work it in them by the Ministry of the Word that so by Faith they might be fitted to receive Christ yea that by this grace of Faith Christ may come to dwell in their hearts Ephes 3. 17. And thus also John Baptist prepared his hearers for Christ by preaching the Doctrine of Faith to them as we heard before Use 1 See what all Ministers of the Word must chiefly labour in even to prepare men for Christ and this is the main thing to be aimed at in our preaching we are not to preach our Selves but Christ we are not to prepare our own way or the way of any other but the way of Christ in the hearts of our People To this end we are to speak so to the Consciences of our hearers that if it be possible we may by our Ministry work Faith and Repentance in them and so make way for Christ to enter into their hearts We are not to preach pleasing things to you or to sooth you up in your sins nor yet to make vain shew of humane Learning in eloquence of words c. For this were to make a way for our selves into your hearts and not for Christ Use 2 Hence also we may gather the excellency and necessity of the Word preached and particularly of the preaching of the Law for the Ministry and Preaching the Word serveth chiefly to prepare us unto Christ and to the embracing of him by Faith and this it doth by working faith and repentance in us and so bringing us unto Christ and making us partakers of him and all his benefits and graces As therefore thou wouldst be fitted to receive and entertain Christ in thy heart by faith so make conscience of attending on this ordinance of God the Preaching of the Word The main End and Use of the Ordinance of Preaching is to prepare the way of Christ in thy heart by working faith and repentance in thee this is that which we that are Ministers of the Word ought to labour and strive unto chiefly even to make way for Christ to enter into mens hearts and to dwell in them by faith This was John Baptist his Office and Duty and this is also the main matter which all faithful Ministers of the Word must shoot at in preaching that Christ may be formed in the hearts of their hearers Despise not then the Preaching of the Word there is no other way ordinarily to prepare thee unto Christ and so to bring him into thy heart Christ now standeth at the door and knocketh c. Use 3 Again Seeing it is the Duty of all Ministers by their preaching to do as John Baptist was appointed even to prepare mens hearts to embrace Christ By this we may examine our selves whether we have profited by the preaching of the Word or no for if our hearts be more and more humbled in the sense of sin and of our natural misery without Christ and if we begin more and

is shewed u●to such he taketh it as shewed unto himself Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my Name receiveth me And this is further amplified by a comparison from the lesse to the greater In that the love and respect which is shewed to humble persons is not only shewed to Christ but also to God the Father who sent him Whosoever shall receive me receiveth not me but him that sent me Whosoever shall receive That is perform any duty of love and good respect to such One duty of love viz. loving and respectful entertainment is put for all other duties of love and respect One of such children This is not to be understood properly of children in age although our Saviour would have them also to be lovingly and respectfully used as we have heard before and as he shewed by his own practise but of such persons as do resemble and are like unto little children in the grace of humility Verse 42. he saith on the contrary Whosoever shall offend oneof these little ones that believe in me c. Now little children cannot be said properly to believe in Christ by actual faith In my Name That is for my sake or for this cause and in this respect that he doth believe in me and is my disciple or doth belong to me as it is explained Verse 41. Receiveth me Sheweth the same love and respect unto me Observ 2 Observ 2. Christians ought not only to be truly humble in themselves but also to shew special love and respect unto such as do resemble young children in humility This our Saviour here teacheth us in that he did not only set a young child before his disciples as a pattern of humility to teach them to be as humble as children in themselves but also taketh occasion withall to perswade and move them to receive such humble Christians in his name that is to shew all love kindnesse and good respect to them for his sake affirming that in so doing they should shew love and respect to himself yea and to his heavenly Father that sent him This shews that he would have his Disciples and all other good Christians not only to be like unto children in them●elves by the grace of humility but also to love and esteem well of such as are like children in humility and to shew it by all fruits of love and good respect towards such Reas 1 Reason 1. God himself sheweth special love and respect to such as are truly humble Esay 66. 2. To him will I look that is of a poor and contrite spirit c. and Esay 57. 15. He professeth that he doth dwell not only in heaven but with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit Reas 2 Reas 2. Christ Jesus our Saviour was not only truly humble in himself but did also shew special love and respect unto such as were humble when he lived on earth as we heard upon the former Verse Therefore we ought herein to follow his practise Reas 3 Reas 3. Humble Christians do in special manner resemble Christ Matth. 11. 29. Learn of me c. Therefore we ought to shew special love to such Use 1 Use 1. See how contrary the practise of the world is unto that which God requireth of us in his Word For whereas the Lord requireth of us to shew special love honour and respect to humble Christians it is so for the most part that in the world none are more hated despised and set at naught then such as are most humble and most like unto children in thi● grace of humility and in practise of it None more contemned and vilified by the profane and common sort than these who carry themselves most humbly and lowly even as little children in their behaviour See how contrary the practise of the world and of the common sort of men in the world is to the rule of Gods Word which therefore must teach us to beware how we make the example of the world that is of the profane or common sort in the world the rule of our practise either in this or in any other matter Rom. 12. 2. Be not conformed to this world c. Use 2 Use 2. Let us not think it enough to be humble in our selves like little children but withall see that we do shew special love and respect unto all humble Christians who do truly resemble children in humility and the more humble they shew themselve the more let us shew our love and respect towards them by all fruits and tokens of it by receiving and entertaining them lovingly and respectfully both into our company and into our houses as occasion is offered and by our readiness to help relieve and comfort such in their troubles and by doing them all the good we can Seeing they are so belov●d and respected of God himself and of Christ Jesus let them be also loved and respected and honoured by us and that in special manner let us esteem them as the ●ittest objects of our love and respect Whom should we so much love and honour as those whom God himself and Christ Jesus doth love and honour Whom but such as are most like unto Christ himself And who are th●se but humble Christians who are most like unto little children in this grace The rather le 〈…〉 love and honour such because they have so much need of our love and respect being as they are for most part so apt to be despised and trampled under feet in the world yea the more they are con●emned in the world the more ought we to love and honour them for the Lords sake c. Observ 2 Observ 2. That whatsoever duties of love and good respect we do perform toward good Christians being believers in Christ and truly humble the same doth Christ Jesus accept as done unto himself Whosoever shall receive one of such children receiveht me c. So Matth. 10. 40. He that receiveth you receiveth me c. And Matth. 25. 34 c. Come ye blessed of my father c. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink c. Verse 40. Ver●ly I say ●nto you in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto Me. Reas 1 Reason 1. There is a most straight union between Christ and true believers They are one with him and he with them 1 Cor. 12. 12. As between husband and wife and as between the Vine and the Branches c. Joh. 15. 5. Reas 2 Reas 2. Christ going up into heaven did leave the Saints and faithful upon earth as Deputies or Substitutes in his room and place to the end that in them we might shew our love to him being absent Matth. 26. 11. Ye have the poor alwayes with you but me ye have not alwayes Understand it chiefly of the poor Saints and believers in Christ Use 1 Use 1. How should this perswade

Grace and for encrease of it in our hearts and to shew it forth in all our carriage that so we may hereby approve our Faith Col. 3. 12. As the Elect of God put on humblenesse of mind c. 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be Cloathed with Humility A most singular Ornament to the Soul of a Christian more beautifying it than the richest Garments do the Body c. Helps for the attaining of this Grace and for increase of it 1. Pray unto God to work and increase it in us Daily it is a Fruit of his sanctifying Spirit c. 2. Come duly to the Ministery of the Word which is powerfull to cast down imaginations and every high thing c. 2 Cor. 10. 4. 3. Labour more and more for true sense of our own Sins and Corruptions that this may beat down proud thoughts in us c. 4. Consider what excellent Promises are made to the Humble Psal 25. God will teach them and guide them in his wayes 1 Pet. 5. and Jam. 4. God giveth Grace to such Esay 57. 15. The Lord dwelleth with such Esay 66. 2. To him will I look that is poor and of a contrite Spirit c. Look at the example of Christ himself the most perfect pattern of all true Humility expressing it in all his Carriage Matth. 11. So much of the first part of her reply to Christ Now followeth the second in these words Yet the Doggs under the Table c. The sense and meaning of them is sufficiently cleared before I come therefore to such Instructions as may arise from them Observ 1 Observ 1. In that this Woman doth not give over her sute to Christ but is more importunate with Him though He refused at first to hear her and delayed to grant her Request yea made shew as if he would never grant it Hence learn What is to be done of us when God delayeth to hear our prayers that is to grant our sutes and supplications made unto Him in our Necessities or Distresses we must not thereupon give over or faint in prayer but be rather stirred up to perseverance and greater fervency in prayer earnestly solliciting the Lord still and giving Him no rest till He hear us As Jacob wrestling with the Lord Gen. 32. 26. would not let Him go till He blessed him So should not we let the Lord go as it were but keep fast hold on Him by Faith in prayer till he hear us and give us that we ask Herein we are to imitate that importunate widdow Luke 18. who never left solliciting the unjust Judge till he granted her sute Therefore Ver. 1. our Saviour taught that Parable to the end That we should not faint in prayer We are also herein to imitate that importunate Friend Luke 11. 8. who would take no denyall of his Friend in his necessity In like manner should we follow the Lord constantly and earnestly with our Prayers for supply of our necessities and for obtaining of all good things needfull and for removall of evils not fainting or growing weary of praying to him when he delayes to hear us but the more he seems to stop his ears against us and to shut out our prayers the lowder must we cry unto Him the more He seems to shut and barr up the Doors of mercy against us the harder should we knock that he may open to us the more he seems to flye from us the more should we follow him c. This is a holy kind of boldness very pleasing to God He loveth such importunate Suters he is not like unto some great Persons which will not endure to be urged with Sutes but he desireth and liketh best of such are most instant with him in prayer And this is one end as we have heard before why he doth not hear at first but often seemeth deaf to our prayers and delayeth long to grant our Sutes that he may by this delay stirr us up to be the more earnest and importunate with him Vse Vse To reprove the weakness of such as are ready to faint in prayer and to give over seeking to Him casting away all hope of obtaining their desires because he delayeth to hear them But this is for want of Faith to defend and wait on God c. Observ 2 Observ 2. In that the Faith of this Woman was exercised with many and great Tryalls and Afflictions at once which might have discouraged her if she had not been sound in Faith and yet we see she is not discouraged neither doth her Faith fail but holdeth out against all tryalls and discouragements Hence gather That true Faith though it may be greatly tryed and exercised with many and great temptations and afflictions yet it cannot be utterly vanquished and overcome of those temptations but will hold out in all tryalls and against all discouragements and labour to overcome them till at length it get the upper hand The Faith of true Believers may indeed be dangerously shaken by tryals and temptations but not utterly overturned or wholly vanquished that is the Power and Life of it cannot be abolished or extinguished in them by the greatest assaults and temptations that can be raised against them The sensible working of Faith may also be hindred in them for a time but not wholly and altogether Luke 22. 31. Simon Simon Satan hath desired you to sift you as Wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faithfail not Hebr. 11. 33. The Apostle mentioneth sundry whose Faith was greatly tryed and exercised with grievous afflictions and distresses yet could not be vanquished by those Afflictions but on the contrary by the power and strength of Faith they overcame all those grievous Tryalls Jacob's Faith was wonderfully Tryed and Assaulted when the Lord himself did wrestle with him yet it was not vanquished but by it at length he prevailed with God and obtained a Blessing from him Hos 12. 3. By his strength that is by strength of his Faith he had power with God c. So the Faith of Job David c. Reason Reason As true Faith is first wrought in the Heart of Believers by the Spirit of God so it is ever after preserved in them by the Almighty power of God strengthening them to persevere in it See 1 Pet. 1. 5. Use 1 Vse 1. See a difference between the true saving Faith of God's Elect and that counterfeit temporary Faith of Hypocrites This may be and is extinguished in time of Tryall and Temptation as appeareth Luke 8. 13. Not so the Faith of true Believers no Temptations no Afflictions can abolish or extinguish it or cause it to fail c. Vse 2 Vse 2. Singular comfort to true Believers against all Tryalls and Oppositions with which they and their Faith may or can be assaulted whether outward Troubles and Afflictions or inward Temptations of Satan or wrestling with God Himself None of all these shall ever be able to vanquish their Faith that is wholly to extinguish the Life of