Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A86226
|
Herberts beleefe and confession of faith made in CLX articles. For th'instruction of his wife & children.
|
Herbert, William, fl. 1634-1662.
|
1646
(1646)
|
Wing H1537; Thomason E1207_1; ESTC R208783
|
30,491
|
60
|
HERBERTS Beleefe and Confession OF FAITH MADE In CLX Articles FOR Th' Instruction of His Wife Children LONDON Printed by JO DEVER ROBERT IBBITSON MDCXLVI Premonition THe Proverbe is true common That which is meat for one may be poison for another for without doubt all things are not fit for all men therefore it concernes them much to know their particular inclination follow it if just orderlie in their attire diet exercices worldlie Vocations But in matters of salvation in respect of that knowledge faith love works which are requir'd of a Christian in years of discretion then certainly what is meat for one must be meat for all fith the same things are necessarie to all men by which one must be sav'd Let then everie man looke on this Confession as on a thing as fit for him as for my Wife two Children If this hath a faire publick regard my Catechisme other books shall by Gods helpe shortly follow This as the lest nimblest goes out first to see whether the way be cleere smooth I Have perused this Beleefe Confession of Faith writen by a private Christian which I judge according to truth and that he may be a Pattern to others to lay aside the study of vain janglings by which they are perverted to Fables and attend with greater diligence to fundamentalls I approve it to be Printed Ja. Cranford Aug. 24 1646. To my most Deare AND New-Borne Babe Benjamin Herbert Sweet Child THou hast by the Lords Grace this day receiv'd the first visible Signe and Seale of his Covenant with us thou hast e'en now beene Baptiz'd with Water and as I may comfortably conceive with the Spirit of God who if thou canst attaine the yeares of discretion will I hope and pray assist thee with his effectuall grace to cast off the old man Adam with his sinfull affections and actions and put on the new Christ Jesus with his whole Righteousnes renewing thy heart by degrees and sanctifying thy person thus begetting thee to himselfe by the outward seed of his Word and his inward lights and motives This is my hope and pray'r for thee But because this converting Word is not often preacht so fully diligently as I wish our old men being commonly in manie places of this Land babes in knowledge and Children in Christian wisdome lest thou should'st want that necessarie food for thy soules everlasting life here is my Love here is a help to know that God to whom this day thou hast vow'd Faith and Obedience Here is a Confession made for thee in the Wombe and now presented thee for thy future instruction consolation and salvation Receive it courteously Deare Babe cast on it thy mild lookes take it with thy litle fingers kisse it with thy soft sweet sucking lips and hereafter esteeme it above all riches keep it as thy life 'T is thine made for thee although I say it is likewise made for others thy vertuous and beauteous Mother thy wittie and prettie Sister Thou maist hereafter understand Knowledge is like the Sunne which casts his beames abroad and yet looses no light Or like a Torch at which millions may be lighted without prejudice to anie or to it selfe for light and heat are common unto all bodies and given all to all In giving Instructions that which I give remaines with me and although all the world divide my gift yet each man may receive it whole Thinke not therefore this Booke lesse thine because composed for others but rather indeavour to make it truly thine by diligently learning it and heartily beleeving boldly professing faithfully practising that sound Faith and those pious Works I have taught thee in it and in my Catechisme dedicated to thy faire and loving Sister which I give thee likewise And when thus thou hast made them thine hide not thy light my Deare burie not thy talent but as a Sunne impart thy light and heat to thy friends nighbours yea all men with whom thou shalt converse Let it be thy daily studie holie ambition to doe well to all men so behaving thy selfe that by thy vertuous examples Christian instructions and friendlie admonitions no man goe from thee without gaine Convert sinners from their ill wayes comfort the penitent and afflicted in their sorrow griefes releeve the poore in their hunger nakednes miseries instruct the ignorant in honestie and religion and as Peter confirme thy brethren the faithfull in Christian verities and religious duties Doe this my sweet Infant doe this diligently having no other intention then to please serve obey that God who shall I hope give thee both the will the deed both the desire and pow'r to doe such noble things And as that gracious God hath made me a good helpe for thy greater and speedier abilitie to advance his glorie studie my Love studie by thy dutifull observance to answer if I live the great affection care and paines of me Thy then happie Father W. HERBERT Pointington 2. of March and the 13. day of thy Life 1644. The Preface SIth the Just shall live by his Faith I hope no man can justly condemne me for the present Declaration of mine He may rather greatly praise me who knowes that the just man must wisely examine his Heart to see what Faith he hath what he Beleeves to Righteousnes and then boldly open his Mouth to Confesse it to Salvation if it be such as may worke both a true livelie strong Faith by which he wholly relies on Gods free mercie through the onelie merits of Christ for his Justification and Glorification Fearing therefore no condemnation of the wise yet not challenging their commendation my pen hath writ in this paper what Gods finger hath graven in my Heart and shall I hope bring thence into my Mouth when his glorie shall require it to the losse of my goods reputation libertie life How soone this may be I know not but I see this is a fit time to trie each mans Faith and courage for now Divisions reigne mongst us yea over us and are so strong sharpe hot that they like mightie Rocks suppresse all rights like two-edg'd Swords cut asunder those bonds God and nature have made to unite men and like a raging Fire burne and consume this once rich and glorious Countrie Least then by the furie of these unhappie Divisions and most incivill civill Warres that Faith be chang'd that Religion exil'd which by the Lords grace I Professe I have thought expedient to leave my Beleefe in writing for helpe to my Posteritie that so my Wife and Children may find here what a Kingdom may loose and is worth more then all the World If it be said that there are other Confessions to direct my Children in the right pathes of Faith I will answer that such indeed leade into pathes of Faith but that these pathes being in my conceit too strait I have made them here a hie