Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A18052
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A plaine and compendious exposition of Christs Sermon in the Mount contayned in the 5.6.7. chapters of Saint Matthew. Being the substance of sundry sermons. By Iohn Carter minister at Belstead neare Ipswych
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Carter, John, 1554-1635.
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1627
(1627)
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STC 4695; ESTC S116220
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101,087
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134
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indeed blessed euen such as naturall men iudge of all other to be most wretched and miserable whom he describeth together with their blessednesse Cap. 5. vers 3. to 13. First by their preparation to the kingdome of heauen and so to true blessednesse They are poore in spirit they mourne they hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Secondly by their inward disposition they are meeke mercifull pure in heart peace-makers Thirdly by their outward condition they are so farre from ciuill and worldly happinesse that they are forced to vndergoe many manifold crosses eue◠for their righteousnesse sake To take these things in order as they are layed before vs in the p Verse 3. text first hee pronounceth them blessed what frailties or calamities soeuer they labour vnder who are poore not so much in purse as in spirit being of a broken and contrite heart trembling at the word of God whose displeasure they feare not with seruile but reuerentiall feare aboue all dreadfull things and whose mercy through CHRIST IESVS they make their onely refuge disclaiming all affiance in themselues or any creature And being conscious of their owne wants and weaknesses they are much more vile in their owne eyes then they are or can be in other folkes as wee see plainely q Luke 18. 13. in the poore Publican The very heathen receiued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 know thy selfe as a diuine oracle and layed it downe as the foundation of true wisdome and happinesse as our Lord and Master here doth In the second place Verse 4. hee pronounceth them blessed not who are at ease in Zion and liue deliciously but that mourne not a thousandth part so much for their afflictions and miseries though they bee sensible of them and bewaile them also as very bitter fruits of that bitter root of sinne but as S. Iames teacheth r Iames 4. 9 10. they are afflicted sorrow and weepe they turne their carnall laughter into mourning and ioy into heauinesse casting downe themselues for their sinnes before the Lord In which respect they grieue at the heart that they can grieue no more This godly sorrow for sinne wheresoeuer it reigneth causeth repentance vnto saluation not to be repented of as was said before and therefore cannot but make him or her blessed in whom it is found what sorrow or anguish soeuer they meete withall in this present world for this word of Christ must stand for euer Blessed are they that mourne Onely let our study and care be rightly to discerne this godly sorrow from the counterfeit In godly sorrow the mourning is for sinne as it is sin and offence against the diuine Maiestie and not for by-respects as feare of punishment shame of the world losses and crosses Againe it is ioyned with hope of pardon and full purpose of an intire reformation It is also exercised not onely about our owne sinnes and euils but with ſ 2. Pet. 2. 7. 8. iust Lot and those holy mourners Ezech. 9. it maketh vs to be vexed in our soules by hearing and seeing the vnlawfull deedes of others And finally wheresoeuer it is there cannot but bee exceeding sorrow for the t Amos 6. 6. affliction of Ioseph that is of the people of God In the third place Verse 5. they are pronounced blessed not who are treafe and teachie◠irefull and snappish rendring euill for euill nor the rigorous exacters of their owne right but the meeke who haue learned in their greatest distresses and wrongs to submit themselues vnder the mightie hand of God as did patient u Job 1. 21. 22. and 2. 10. Iob in all the malicious most hostile incursions both of the deuill and vngodly men and x 2. Sam. 16. Dauid in Shimeis most bitter cursing and other villanous abuses of him so in all cases of the like nature to beare and quietly to passe by whatsoeuer iniuries of the aduersaries much more the frailties of their brethren and sisters in Christ giuing soft answers so much as may be making the best construction of euery thing and when need is forgoing their right Abram y Gen. 13. 9. like to buy peace good will Finally not to be ouercome of euill but to ouercome euill with their goodnesse This is to become followers of him who z Isai 53. was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter and as a sheepe before the shearer is dumbe so opened hee not his mouth who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed it to him who iudgeth righteously and in the meane season not only prayed but dyed for the transgressors This is indeed to a Rom. 8. 14. be led by the doue-like spirit of God and to approue our selues to bee the sonnes of God Verily the Lambe whereunto CHRIST IESVS is resembled and the Doue wherevnto the Holy Ghost is resembled beeing Emblemes of meeknesse as wee know are the Coate or Cognizance for euery true Christian to bee knowne by in his spirituall warfare In the fourth place they are pronounced blessed not who are Gold-thirstie or full with the wind of ciuillo Pharisaicall righteousnesse or with the swill of worldly pleasures and delights but which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse desiring most vehemently and eagerly for hunger will breake through stone-walls further knowledge apprehension and sence of their most happy restoring to the fauour and image of GOD by the bloud and spirit of CHRIST IESVS That they may be able with the holy Apostle out of their owne experience to glory and say b Gal. 2. 19 20. I by the Law meaning the morall Law especially being accused condemned and driuen to CHRIST IESVS am dead to the Law am vnder the malediction and condemnation of it no longer that I might liue vnto God through his Sonne CHRIST by whom I haue now receiued the attonement and his holy Spirit withall I am crucified with CHRIST by vertue of mine vnion with him by Faith which inestimable benefit was sealed vp in my Baptisme I partake the sweet fruit of his Death and Passion as verily as if I had satisfied for my sinnes in mine owne person Neuerthelesse I liue spiritually which before mine effectuall calling to the knowledge of the Gospell was spiritually dead yet not I as of or in my selfe but CHRIST liueth in me by his Spirit assuring my spirit of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and moreouer quickening me vnto all righteousnesse and the life which I now liue in the flesh while I am in this present World I liue by the faith of the Sonne of GOD whereby to mine vnspeakable comfort whatsoeuer Law of Rebellion I find in my members I rest perswaded that hee hath loued mee his poore creature being by nature now wholy depraued the child of wrath and by life without measure abominable Yea euen when I stood in this damnable and desperate estate hee c 2. Cor. 5. 21. gaue himselfe for me to become sinne and d