Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	dead_a	life_n	quicken_v	5,491	5	10.4511	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79993	The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general.	Cob, Christopher.; Reeve, Hampden.	1651 (1651)	Wing C4769; Thomason E1251_1; ESTC R209173	234,596	386

foregoing Verse According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledg of Him that hath called us to glory and vertue Where four things are layd down in which these precious Promises are fulfilled Life Godliness Glory Vertue These are the exceeding great things promised to be though not yet attained For it is one thing to have a Promise given and another to see the accomplishment of it as Christ saith to his Disciples I will send you the promise of my Father the Holy Ghost was promised before but yet to be sent by Christ 1. The first thing promised to which you are called is Life as the promise was to Sarah That according to the time of Life God would surely visit her and she should conceive c. The Spirit of Life is promised to you though yet the Thing is to be accomplished For how do we lie at present in our graves like Dead men long out of minde how dry and desolate and waste because the Spirit of Life that should quicken and enliven is not come The time of Life is not accomplished but the promise is gone forth that at the set time He will surely visit Sarah and the dry womb shall conceive though Abrahams body be dead and Sarahs womb dead and all seem to work to the contrary For great is the desolation now upon us We are sealed in our graves under death but yet this is the promise That the Dead shal hear the Voyce of the Son of God and live And This is an exceeding large and precious Promise 1. Life implies in it a freedom from death a recovery and deliverance out of its power Alas to Live is another manner of thing then we have conceived it We have gone about and acted and spoke like living men but have we Lived in all this have we been yet ever acquitted and freed from fears of death The Terrors of Death made me afraid saith David Are you not yet kept all your life time under this fear of Death You can never have rest nor quiet because the Jaylor is ever at your heels you are not yet freed from him Death reigned it is said from Adam to Moses now Adam was made a Living Soul He had a life to see and know good and evil but yet he could not come at it could not reach the Tree of life a sword was set to keep him off there But the second Adam is a quickening Spirit He hath life in Himself He was raised up by the power of God never to dye more and this is life indeed Now how many in the World are there that never yet came to be Living Souls to have understanding and light to know good and evil but when brought to that yet there is no freedom from Death Death reigns from Adam to Moses to that farther light which comes in by the Law opened and read to the Soul When the Commandment came saith Paul sin revived and I dyed Death yet reigned And now to be freed from this cruel Tyrant from eternal Death and to be made partakers of Life is an exceeding great and precious mercy Who can value it 2. The Man that is alive is capable of instruction and teaching He can hear and learn from others but the Dead know nothing at all saith Solomon while we lie dead in darkness fears unbelief faintings of spirit so long we know nothing hear nothing we are capable of nothing of the minde of God All is confused and without order in this land of Death What is the reason think you there is such a stupid senceless careless Heart upon you not an ecchoing back as was in Davids Heart When Thou saidst Seek my face My Heart answered Thy face Lord will I seek Why is not this minde and quickness and breathings of Truth in you Why you are dead Death reigns sin hath dominion you are not yet freed from that body of Death For were you but alive it were impossible but you should hear the voyce of the Son of God Truth would touch you and that is the first thing to be done to give you life and then sense and hearing will follow But you are now as unsensible at times as a post in the house and therefore you come and go and come and go and nothing is done why because you are under death It is not yet the time of Life and He will make us know we cannot quicken our own souls Adam would have been reaching to the Tree of Life when his Eyes were opened to know Good and Evil I but a flaming sword is set turning every way to keep the Tree of Life and if ever Adam live again it must be upon other terms He must be raised by another power and that freely of gift For he is now a dead man and cannot quicken his own Soul unless that quickening spirit of Life be put within and here lies the great strait to lie at the mercy of another whether He will ever again give life or not and if he will yet it must be in his own time too and not ours and therefore the Church is at a strait and complains There was none could tell her how long How long we must lie in the dust in our graves before Life shall be given we know not we cannot get it out of his hand Truth would never be good and sweet if we could attain it by our reachings Many may press in to take the Kingdom by violence and stealth but the Examiner will come Friend how came you in hither But of a certain this Promise of Life is given to some of us Hear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken The word is gone forth that you shall surely be visited at the Time of Life and till this be accomplished you cannot be capable of instruction Your reason and thoughts cannot reach it but are to sit silent in your graves till Christ shall call Lazarus come forth and so life be given and put within and this will be an eternal Life never to dye any more Death is no more to have dominion but yet it reigns This is your hour saith Christ and the power of darkness and whilest this government is up and those noises of Hell are within we cannot hear the voyce of Truth till the Soul is freed from the stormy wind and tempest and a calm be made We many times go about to quicken our selves and get life at our own hands and so reach up hopes and conclusions and promises to bear up a while but alass all must down again we must to our center to our graves till the spirit of Life be put in We are asking what we should do and what is our way as if then we could easily turn and do it but alass there is a mistake in the bottom Life must first be given us and we must rest in our graves till then and sit in silence in our darkness and

from this compleat soundness We complain because we cannot have our evil wills but when David was delivered O let me never taste of their dainties saith he Thus did the Father receive the Prodigal safe and sound But He received him so Which intimates That no unclean thing shall enter The Child shall be in the wilderness till he know how to refuse the evil and choose the good but we put it off and would never learn saying When God comes indeed we shall be so But we must be brought to choose the thing our wills must buckle to be of his minde not his Will to ours all this curious work was wrought in the dark I was curiously fashioned saith David in the lower-most parts of the Earth c. When the Prodigal came to himself when he first returned the Father received him safe and sound so sure was he fenced about with the Name of the Lord a strong fence indeed The Father findes him in this Name and in this he receives him as Christ saith of Mary She loved much therefore much was forgiven her So safe and sound does the Father receive him Safe in that he is free from all evil nothing can touch him and then safe in that he cannot get away and sound not having an evil tincture of an old rotten heart in him Now he has no mind to return to Sodom I remember in that day I look'd for all my fears that had plagued me and could not finde them the minde was set on fire for God alone Well may the Father be merry now to receive a son that was once forlorn that had neither clothes to his back nor meat for his belly that had no fellowship but Rogues fit for every base Harlots house taking all opportunities of destruction yet he is saved out of all and comes home safe and now for a King to entertain him thus it was a token he was a son indeed for who else could have the face to own such a Father such a case as he was now in but he ventures and calls him Father and the Father own● him and is glad to receive him in how miserable a case soever he findes him Thus have you seen the progress of all the Prodigal's way Did you see him in his pride and bravery wiser then seven men that can give a reason full of wealth and store having got his portion into his hands and have you seen what he does with it The rich mans wealth saith Solomon is a high wall in his own conceit 't is but in his own conceit But before destruction saith he a mans heart is haughty Prov. 18.11 12. And if you see him a while after where is it all become The time comes he is glad of an husk if he could but feed with the swine but he may not And now he is put to his last shift either to dye with hunger or to return home to his Father at a peradventure whether he will receive him or no he proposes to himself if he might but be received as a servant it was far better to be so then as he was for they had no want but he starved with hunger And because he comes home thus buckled owning his shame confessing he had so sinned and was not worthy any more of the name of a son now his commanding and claiming spirit is layd down but while he comes thus he is largely entertained with abundance of mercies as hath been shewed you Now from all this you may consider these Vses 1. In the first place here might be an Use of Information or forewarning to all those that are sons or daughters of this Father That if possible you might take warning and not gain this loss to your selves by wandering If a man be a Drunkard or Swearer c. yet he will many times counsel his child that he should not follow his way And as Paul said so I say to you 〈◊〉 would you were all as I am except my bonds I would you might never have a minde to wander as the Prodigal did you see what it brought him to And all the Examples you hear of they are all written for your admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come And as you have seen the end of the World so you would see an end of Truth too were it in your power The Prodigal did not spend the Worlds but his own portion you have made an evil use of all the Creatures and will you make an evil use of Truth too O that you might learn instruction and be wise That the days past might suffice in which you have walked perversly that hence-forward you might be warned to keep out of the snare 2. It may be of Use for Instruction to let us know of a certain That where ever Pride goes before Destruction will follow after The Prodigal for his riotous living was rewarded with famine It were well if you would never venture but if you do know of a certain the Famine will overtake you Therefore as Paul saith Forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is who are thereby hardened Where presumption goes before hardness of heart will follow Therefore it 's no marvel to see us lean and barren it is because that proud spirit has gone before which has brought it on us that promis'd you you should not be poor but sit as a Lady for ever c. We have promised our selves we would be diligent and watchful not envy nor despise any but when the heart is once out it 's hard to come in again When Davids heart had got out to look upon the woman he presently sends for her Husband then makes him drunk then sends him with a Letter to the Army to take his life away and all that he might enjoy his Wife So when the heart is once out how does it heap one lye and mischief upon another O therefore consider how you get out for if you are once gone it 's not such an easie thing to come in again The beginning of strife saith Solomon is like the breaking out of water The gap is made bigger and bigger till at last it cannot be stopt 3. And lastly This may be for Encouragement to all those Wanderers that are gone a long journey and would never think of returning that count God such an hard Master Do but consider his works of old as David did he was encouraged by it and had hope Our father 's hoped in thee saith he and were not ashamed Remember the Prodigal though a poor forlorn wretch yet he return'd to his Father as he was and see what entertainment he found Therefore now enquire with what Principle thou couldst come in Art thou dead and thy fear is thou shalt not be revived again or is thy fear because of a dissembling unsound spirit thou hast which twists about thee do what thou canst Yet see Is thy strait for a single and upright heart Doth

walked and been seen and found by them and the remembrance of this enforceth tears being now deprived being now in a strange Land out of this enjoyment Alass if we belong not to this City this Habitation of God if not a stone in this building it had been good for us we had never been born for without are Dogs Then again this House is to condemn the world let men be never so wise and strict and religious yet if they live alone keep all close and live to themselves the world will never be judged and convinced by this but a spirit of love and union to serve another and deny my own will as 't is said of Christ He pleased not himself and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God and Paul though he was free from all yet made himself a servant to all he made himself a servant he chose the service it was his joy to serve others And no man saith Christ takes my life from me but I lay down my life for my sheep And if we shall ever be brought to this to forsake and willingly give up all our enjoyments and liberties and enlargements and choose afflictions choose to bear anothers burthen though I am free when we shall be glad to be counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Christ when we might have ease liberty and honor and pleasures yet to say Farewel all Friends life and liberty farewel all you are nothing to me neither count I my life dear in compare of my God my Truth my Brethren that I may serve in this work and help to build this house This I say wil condemn the world their consciences accuse them that this mind is not in them they live not this life of love and union There are many that cry for corn and wine and oyl enlargements and flourishings in the Truth but all is for themselves to feed their own bellies but all this is too short this is but fruit that may be shaken a mans Soul may be lost for all this and the House of God lie waste But next III. Consider WHAT WILL GOD HAVE THIS HOUSE BUILT OF WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS OF IT All that come are not the Materials No though they make a fair shew though wise and honorable and great in the eyes of men yet this is not enough this House must be built 2. Of living stones stones that wil abide and endure not soon rot and putrifie Better is a living Dog then a dead Lion Not every one that makes a great shew and comes to hear and seems forward No no onely such which have this spirit of life in them to keep them from stinking and corruption to make them lasting stones they are the materials for this house all others will fall off in a day of tryal There were many followed Christ into Jerusalem when in his triumph and Hosanna was sung before him but very few that went out of Jerusalem with him that follow him to Golgotha to his Cross No none but a few pickt and chosen stones that have a spirit of life to make them last and endure no others are for this building but such as the Lord shall choose to it whom he takes out of many David was chose out of all his Brethren he was a fit stone for the use a man after Gods own heart he loves Truth in the inward parts and this mind he sees in David and him he pitcheth on such a company of choyce stones will he have for this house a chosen generation of lasting stones that may make a Tabernacle never to be pulled down more never to be lost The gifts and calling of God are without repentance such ●s God chooseth for materials of this building are such as are never to be lost and thrown away No man can pluck them out of my Fathers hand saith Christ not such a dead stone as Saul proved when the spirit of life was taken from him he mouldred away and came to nothing but living stones a stable enduring and fixed spirited people he looks for that are not ever hanging and waving and reeling to and fro in their minds but such as are tryed stones and will endure the storms not like Ephraim who being armed and carrying Bows yet turned their back in the day of Battel Then 2. Consider In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and sizes some to hold less and some more some to receive much and to give out and supply and fill up others He will have vessels for every service and every use none are to be barren but all useful and helpful to one another and therefore the thing is weighty and need we should consider it and lay it to heart for he will not build his House of any rubbage but onely of living and tryed stones And then all are to be of use all the vessels of his House are for his own service they are not to be looked on and baubled with and made to serve our wills and lusts Remember what befell the King Belshazzar for venturing to call for the Lords vessels to make up his mirth and jollity the hand-writing appears on the wall and makes him tremble 'T is dangerous trifling in weighty matters God will not be mocked But next consider IV. WHY DO THEY PLEAD IT IS NOT TIME TO BUILD THE LORDS HOUSE What Reasons have they These three 1. Their Ignorance hinders Thence their pleadings come It is not time to build c They knew not that the blastings and Mildews and curse that followed them in all their wayes was because this house lay waste they were ignorant whence all this evill befell them they enquired not into it Lord what is the meaning of the hand against me Why go all things thus contrary Why prosper I not in any thing I take in hand They knew not this was the cause of all Ye looked for much and it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it why saith the Lord of Hosts because of mine House that lies wast and ye run every man to his own house Vers 9. and so on And this is a great block in our way our ignorance we enquire not why am I so barren and desolate and perplexed in all my wayes Why goes all so cross to me I meet with nothing but troubles and fears and tormenting thoughts Alas it is because we live Scattered alone and follow our own Counsells our own wills are our own guides and rulers and come not to build the House of the Lord to be counselled and ordered and appointed there Hence is all our misery 2. Love of their ease hindered it was a great deal an easier way to sit at home in their own ceiled houses then to go up to the Mountain and cut wood down and bring and hew and square it to build the Lords House and who would indeed choose to venture to leave all to give up all ease and

and ransacked I but Christ when he comes he takes away his armour all that in which he trusted and hoped and said Now I am safe I shall sit as a Queen for ever I shall never see sorrow I but all his armour and fence is taken from him and this is a downfal indeed when he is thus found out and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer his coat of Male is taken from him and then Truth can easily enter then nothing appears but the mans nakedness and guilt and shame then the man cries out with Paul I am the chief of sinners then the Word takes place and enters and every arrow sticks Thine arrows stick fast in me saith David Then the man falls under as a poor naked helpless hopeless thing then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him and gold tried in the fire and fine linen for he is found wholly naked and blinde and miserable We had thought Christ had ruled in us and we had been for God and the Truth we had thought our zeal and forwardness and speaking for God should have passed currant but take away this armour of the devil and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people a lye and deceit appears to be running in all and that there is nothing single for God and Truth without base selfish ends of our own And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls to spoil this strong man of his armour else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize 2. After Christ hath taken away his armour he then seizes on his goods and DIVIDES THE SPOYL the spoyl Why what use can Christ make of his spoyl what can he do with all the devils goods You may see the thing illustrated Jer. 15. where God speaks thus Let that which is for death go to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for the famine to the famine and that which is for captivity to captivity 1. That which is for death to death some of these goods are presently to go to death to be utterly destroyed The enemies which you have seen to day saith Moses you shall never see them more The malignant disposition that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth that evil eye that which lay in the way that one step Godward could not be taken that must be utterly destroyed and cut off for ever that abomination must live no more that ill favour that gave a taint and poison to all our ways and thoughts and words that man to Death Christ will say to that unclean spirit Come out of the man and enter into him again no more That enmity of spirit and hatred and ill will to all good the end of that is to be destroyed for ever That Cain-like love that hates its brother and would not suffer the least breathing nor prospering nor looking up of the Truth for according to that evil disposition in you if you minde it the heart rises against all good where-ever it appear though in a childe in a brother in a husband or wife yet the enmity works and hates to see your offering accepted and mine laid by as nothing But before Christ can ever come to reign this must certainly die and a whole turn of soul be wrought and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth 2. Something must go to the sword That which is for the sword to the sword The Word of God that sword of the Spirit that shall still go on after that great enmity is slain to search and judge and quicken and stir up the man and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God and as it hath born the image of the earthly so to bear the image of the heavenly as we have given our members servants to sin so to give them up to be servants of righteousness to be as free and voluntary and earnest in the service of the Lord as ever we have been to serve our selves to spend and be spent for the truth this the sword must do cut out a way thorow all rubbish for this minde to arise It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness that sluggish and carnal minde that sits still at home and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed and use his sword this must all be cut away and the soul pruned 3. Something must go to the famine That ill taint and setled indisposition that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties all this must to the famine and be worn out by degrees and pined by little and little till it come to die Where-ever the heart is taken and hangs on the creatures on eating or wearing or trading or whatever enjoyments by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease 4. Something must go to Captivity and that is the last enemy to be destroyed the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing and not be utterly routed so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God I but now Christ shall designe him to captivity he shall be under a hewer of wood and drawer of water a servant to Christ he shall lord it no more He shall be bound for a thousand yeers and that will be the souls greatest happiness to keep him but in his prison that he may not break forth do his mischievous pranks but lie in his dungeon and be an underling to Truth though he still live for some Canaanites will ever live in the land to be the souls trial c. And thus I have opened to you this Day the great block that lieth in our way the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast It is Satans day 't is his hour and the power of darkness the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most if not all of you the man is not suffered so to bear sway and go at liberty and soar aloft in his minde but there are secret checkings and mindings of a shortness and the black feet appearing make the feathers fall And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day you are left without much stirring either from God or from the enemy The land is void of both her kings But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us is The reign of the enemy and then wo to the inhabitants of the world Wo to that Land indeed where the Wicked are in Authority I opened to you the several Woes in it And now to make some Use 1. Examine How is it with you Every soul look home do you feel this strong enemy Do you