Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	deed_n	flesh_n	mortify_v	5,880	5	10.8136	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42920	The holy arbor, containing a body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion collected from many orthodox laborers in the Lords vineyard, for the benefit and delight of such as thirst after righteousness / ... by John Godolphin ... vvherein also are fully resolved the questions of whatsoever points of moment have been, or are, now controverted in divinity : together with a large and full alphabetical table of such matters as are therein contained ...	Godolphin, John, 1617-1678.	1651 (1651)	Wing G943; ESTC R9148	471,915	454

adversity because it cometh unto us by the will of God 5. That God would turn the hearts of all men from sin and bring them every where to the obedience of his will 6. That Events such as are not contrary to Gods will that is that such things may come to pass which so please him 7. That God would bless and prosper our actions and counsels that no other Events may follow them but such as himself knoweth may most serve for his glory and our salvation 8. That God would hasten that time and state unto us wherein we shall perfectly do the will of God that is our state of glory Rules of obeying Gods will 1. Obey Gods will absolutely and for himself obey man onely in God and for God 2. Obey God in the maner as well as in the matter which he commandeth 3. In doing the works of piety let them give place if unfaigned necessity require and calleth to a work of Charity 4. Let the works of thy private Calling give place to works of the publike calling and general as if thou be laboring on the six days the Lord calling to his House by his worship there thou must attend it Lev. 23. 5. The works of a general common calling must give place to the works of a special undoubted calling being contrary if a man at any time hath such That all our obedience to Gods will may be the better accepted of him it must have these three properties 1. Chearfulness and readiness God loveth the chearful giver 2. Sincerity which is heartily and from the Spirit approving our selves to God and not affecting the applause and praise of men 3. Universality which is in all and every particular thing thus Job is approved obediently professing his subjection to God though he should aggravate his misery and kill him The way how to become chearful doers of the will of God or the duties required by this petition to be practised by us that Gods will may be done 1. We must prove what is the good and acceptable will of God Rom. 12.2 that is we must by often tryal of our actions by the Word of God become expert in Gods will and esteem highly of it be it never so contrary to carnal Reason Thus Abraham did Gen. 22.3 2. We must lay aside our own wills and be possessed with a base conceit thereof not leaning thereon 3. We must labor for a true perswasion of Gods mercy in the pardon of our sins and for the salvation of our souls whereby we may shew our selves thankful to God for so great a mercy 4. We must consider that we are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which is a wonderful dignity to sinful men and in regard hereof we must stir up our selves so to live that we make not sad the Spirit of God which dwelleth in us 5. We must consider the blessings of God bestowed on us both in soul and body one by one and this will move us to love God which love we shall shew in doing his will 1 Joh. 5.3 6. Let us consider the threatnings of God against sin and his Judgements upon them that live in sin and these will help to restrain our corruptions that they break not forth into action 7. We must be strict in the matter of sin making conscience of every evil way yea even of the first motions unto sin that never come to consent for this Petition for obedience respects not onely our words and deeds but also our secret thoughts for even they must be brought to obedience unto God 2 Cor. 10.5 8. We must seek to cut off all things that hinder us from doing Gods will we must use Spiritual means and pray for the Spirit to mortifie and crucifie the lusts of the flesh Rom. 8.13 which makes us rebels against God in transgressing his will Now the ground of this work is the death of our Saviour Christ applyed by true Faith to our corrupt hearts 9. We must not live inordinately but in that sort which God hath enjoyned Christians in his word every one godly in the general calling of a Christian and faithfully and conscionably in his particular calling whether of Church State or Family 10. We must endeavor to subject our selves patiently to the will of God in all afflictions whatsoever for it is the will of God that through manifold afflictions we should enter into his Kingdom This Petition teacheth us to bewail 1. Our natural disposition whereby we are prone to rebel against the will of God 2. Our natural hypocrisie even that which remaineth in us after grace received 3. Though we have never so much grace yet to lament and bewail our want of obedience in all good duties because the best of us all fail in the maner of doing them 4. Our impatience that when God layeth any crosses upon us we cannot as we ought endure them patiently and thankfully 5. Our slack and imperfect obedience yea privy pride proud presumption deadness of Spirit secret hypocrisie and other weaknesses incident to us even in our best services 6. The sins of others whereby they disobey the will of God and so rebel against him whereby he is dishonored and therefore must we be passionately grieved for the sins of others and labor to reclaim them In the supplication of this petition we pray 1. For grace to deny our own wills and ways 2. For understanding of the will of God which without it we cannot perform 3. For faith whereby to believe that the will of God revealed unto us is the will of God 4. For power to obey the holy whole will of God which is both active in doing and passive in suffering In the deprecation of this Petition we pray against 1. Rebellion or an obstinate offending against the known will of God 2. Prophaneness which is an undervaluing estimation of holy duties 3. Hypocrisie which is a drawing near to God with the lips but estranging the heart from him 4. Natural Corruption which draweth away to disobedience enticing to evil 5. Wea riness in well-doing a refusing to go forward and a turning back again 6. Impatience murmuring at crosses and discontent at Gods Providence The thanksgiving of this Petition is 1. For disobedience and sin in any measure mortified 2. For the knowledge of Gods will for faith and desires in truth to obey the will of God in all things all the days of our life In this Petition we are taught to frame our lives to an holy imitation of the blessed Angels which will not stand with their humor who account zeal in Religion affected preciseness But such as call God Father in sincerity must set before them the obedience of the holy Angels as a patern for their imitation to a like resemblance although not to a like equality of perfection Now in them we may observe these things for us to follow 1. They desired before Christs Incarnation to look into the mystery of our Redemption wrought by Christ 1

Gospel being preached and men thereby feeling their corruptions like rottenness in their souls may by the blessing of the Spirit be thereby seasoned with Graces and so reconciled unto God and made savory in his sight 3. Salt preserveth meats from putrifaction by drawing out of them superfluous moistness so the Law and the Gospel being continually dispensed sin and corruption may be daily mortified and consumed both in heart and life and expelled thence like superfluous humors In this calling of the Ministery there be especially four kindes of unsavory Salt 1. The blinde watchmen that have no knowledge and dumb dogs that cannot bark Isa 56.10 that is such as either cannot or will not dispense Gods word for the salvation of mens souls 2. Heretical teachers who preach false and damnable doctrine such as doth not season but poyson and destroy the soul Deut. 30.1 2. 2 Tim. 2.17 18. 3. Such as teach indeed true doctrine but misapply the same sowing pillows under the elbows of the wicked having smooth tongues in respect of sin yet are full of close invectives against the better and godlier sort 4. Such who though they teach the truth and generally apply it well do yet lead scandalous lives whereby their unsavory conversation hindreth the seasoning vertue of the word There are six conditions required to the Calling of a Minister 1. That he feel within himself an inward Calling 2. That he be of a good Conversation 3. That he be of sound Doctrine 4. That he be apt to teach 5. That he be lawfully chosen of the Church 6. That he perform his Office diligently toward the flock committed to his charge The properties of godly Pastors 1. They must be diligent to know the state of their flocks and to take heed to their herds Prov. 27.23 24. 2. They must not be discouraged by the ungodly speeches and venomous tongues of wicked men thereby to grow negligent in their functions 3. They must not be afraid of the faces and frowns of men Ezek. 3.8 9. Jer. 1.17 4. They must wisely apply the word to the necessity capacity and understanding of all and giving to every one his portion of Spiritual nourishment in due season In like maner the duties and functions of Ministers are 1. Faithfully to propound and deliver the true and sound Doctrine of God that the Church may know and understand it 2. Rightly to administer the Sacraments 3. To go before and shine unto the Church by the example of Christian life and conversation 4. To give diligent attendance unto their flock 5. To yield their service in such judgements as are expressed by the Church 6. To take care that regard and respect be had of the Poor Ministers must have these three things in some measure at least 1. A care to win the people a desire to convert them and an earnest hunger and thirst after their salvation 2. They must labor earnestly to work their conversion and not cease or hold their peace when they see them untoward but hold on in a constant course 3. They must testifie their sorrow for their people mourn for the hardness of their hearts be heartily grieved to see their unprofitableness Why all Ministers must be proved tryed before they be admitted to this sacred function 1. Because they have the price of the blood of Christ committed unto them Acts 20.28 2. Because there are many subtile deceivers that transform themselves into Angels of light 2 Cor. 11.13 14. 3. The office of Deacons was a function of less duty in the Church yet they were not to be admitted without due tryal and examination Acts 6.3 4. It makes them the more regarded and better accepted ever as the Ministers of Jesus Christ and it will procure more authority to their person 5. It will shut the door of this sacred function against all insufficient and unworthy presumers that run before they are sent The Titles given to Ministers in the holy Scripture whence appears the excellency and the weighty charge of their Function The Salt of the earth The Builders of Christs body The co-workers of God The embassadors of Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 The stewards of the house Tit. 1.7 The fathers of the Church 1 Cor. 4.15 Fishers of men Mat. 4.19 The Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 The Builders of the Temple The Shepherds of the sheep Eph. 4.11 The Planters and waterers of the Garden 1 Cor. 3.6 7. The Watchmen of the City Ezek. 33.7 Heb. 13.17 The Trumpeters of the Host and Stars of the firmament Rev. 1.20 Dan. 12.3 The Ministers of the Word must be men of sobriety constancy piety humility patience stayedness wisdom judgement diligence courage gravity and moderation of all their affections 1. Because it appears they have many Titles given them in Scripture every one whereof carrieth some instruction and admonition with it to the Conscience 2. Because the Ministery is a high Calling of great importance and worthiness standing up not onely in the place of the people to offer up their prayers to God but in the room of God to declare his will to them 3. Lest their Calling be blemished and their Ministery reprehended if in their profession they adorn not the Gospel by their unblameable walking 4. Because they are to utter the word of wisdom whereby both themselves and their hearers shall be made wise unto salvation They ought principally and in the first place to look to themselves and that for these Reasons 1. Because unless they be doers as well as speakers they utter words with their own tongues that shall condemn themselves not unlike Vriah who carried about him a Letter to further and procure his own death 2. They cannot with comfort and conscience preach to others unless in their own persons they be practisers of those things they teach they may save others themselves they cannot 3. Such as are teachers and not doers do seduce the people pulling down by the left hand of evil life faster then they build up by the right hand of wholesom Doctrine They ought not to withhold the delivery of the word they must not give over though they see no fruit at all to proceed of their labors 1. Because they know not when God may be pleased to bless their labors and hear their prayers and save the souls of those that are rebellious against him 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. 2. They have the example of God he is patient and beareth long with the vessels of wrath as Christ saith of Jerusalem Mat. 23.37 3. Because they shall have no less recompence if they be fonnd faithful in their Calling then if they had gained many thousand souls unto God 2 Cor. 2.15 4. He that holdeth not out unto the end makes all his former pains prove but lost labor and fails in the discharge of his Calling for the word may be the savor of life unto him though the savor of death unto others that carelesly neglect or obstinately resist the

Oath which he swore to your fathers Deut. 7.7 8. And in Mat. 7.23 Christ saith of some I never knew you yet speaking of others he saith I know my sheep Joh. 10.14 And again I know whom I have chosen Joh. 13.18 and Paul saith The Lord knoweth who are his From which places we may safely gather That the Lord puts a difference betwixt man and man Angel and Angel acknowledging some to be his own and denying the same of others If God himself had not avouched this in his Word no man might have taught it but being here plainly propounded it is with all reverence to be acknowledged and received whereof no other Reason can be given but Gods good pleasure alone Mat. 11.25 26. For Jacob hath he loved and Esau hath he hated neither did this difference come from their works either good or evil for this difference God put between them before either of them had done good or evil but it is wholly ascribed to the Will of God who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Rom. 9. Neither must this seem strange unto us for we permit unto men to use their own discretion in their own Affairs and can we think it unreasonable in the Creator to use his touching his Creature Thus our whole Salvation is of Gods Free-grace which in Christ is the Fountain from whence it floweth yea it is the Beginning Continuance and Ending of our Salvation So that as for any foreseen Faith and Good-works they are not causes of our Election but fruits and effects thereof for what Faith or Good-works could be foreseen in the Sons of Wrath born dead in Sins God chose us not because he knew we would believe hereafter but to the end we should believe that is that he might bestow upon us Faith and so save us in his Son Eph. 1.4 Tit. 1.1 Acts 13.48 and Faith is the gift of God to us and the work of God in us Joh. 6.29 44. And if Faith foreseen were the cause of Election then Infidelity foreseen were the cause of Reprobation which is false because then all Mankinde should be reprobated and rejected forasmuch as the whole Mass of Mankinde sinned and God could foresee nothing in it as of it self but Incredulity and Unbelief Neither is our Election of Merit which is a work undue to which we are not bound making the Reward and Recompence that was not due to be due but all we can do is due unto God for our Spiritual life is called a Debt unto him both in respect of Creation Redemption and Glorification therefore neither is our Salvation of Merit but of Gods own Free-grace Neither is our Election of any Free-will in us to good for there is not any cooperation as the bold Papists affirm of mans Free-will with Gods Free-grace in the first act of our Conversion but God does all and we nothing in good things save as Instruments for God worketh both the will and the deed he preventeth us with his Grace prepareth us by his Word enclineth us by his Spirit and worketh both the beginning and ending of our Salvation For Election Vocation Faith Adoption Justification Sanctification and Eternal Glorification are never separated in the Salvation of any man but like inseparable Companions go hand in hand Now the Elect regenerated and once come unto the Church of the Saints may sometimes fall from it but they can never forsake it wholly because they never so fall as to become the Enemies of God and the Church nor finally because they persist not in this Apostacy but at length return to Repentance Thus was it with David and Peter Lastly the Notes of Election are Vocation Justification Sanctification and all they who are elected unto Salvation if they come unto the years of discretion are called outwardly by Gods Word and inwardly by his Spirit Of this Election Christ Jesus is the Foundation 1 Thess 5.9 The Decree thereof is that Book of Life wherein are written the Names of the Elect Rev. 20.12 2 Tim. 2.19 And the execution of this Decree is an Action by which God even as he purposed with himself worketh all those things effectually which he decreed for the Salvation of the Elect For they whom God elected to this end that they should inherit Eternal Life were also elected to those subordinate means whereby as by steps they might attain this end and without which it were impossible to obtain it Rom. 8.29 30. Election is twofold 1. Eternal whereby God out of the Lump and Mass of Mankinde hath before all Worlds chosen out some to life Eternal 2. Temporal 1. To some certain Office Joh. 6.70 chosen to the Apostleship All such are not Redeemed by Christ 2. Out of the World into the Church Joh. 15.19 Such are Redeemed by Christ Of Eternal Election 1. The Efficient Cause is the everlasting Purpose of God Rom. 9.11 2. The Material Cause is the Blood of Christ 1 Tim. 1.18 19 20. 3. The Final Cause or End why both God the Father hath loved and Christ for his Elect hath suffered is the Glory of God and Salvation of man Eph. 1.5 6. Rom. 8.29 The chief effects of Election are 1. Justification by Faith in this life and Glorification in the life to come 2. A Conformity to the Image of Christ in suffering here and enjoying glory hereafter Indeed the Effect of our Election is the whole Work of our Salvation and all the Degrees of our Redemption viz. 1. The Creation and Gathering of the Church 2. The sending and giving of Christ the Mediator and his Sacrifice 3. The effectual Calling of Men to his Knowledge 4. Faith Justification Regeneration and Good-works 5. Raising unto Glory Glorification and Eternal Life The means whereby to come to the Assurance of our Election as it is set down in the 2 Pet. 1. viz. 1. Faith to put our sole trust and confidence in God onely 2. Vertue an upright doing of the Works of the Moral Law 3. Knowledge whereby to carry our selves warily before men 4. Temperance in natural Appetite in Meat Drink Apparel c. 5. Patience a moderation of sorrow in enduring Affliction 6. Godliness whereby we Worship God in the Duties of the First Table 7. Brotherly Kindeness to embrace Gods Church and the Members thereof 8. Love whereby we are well-affected to all men even to our Enemies The three principal grounds of Assurance of Salvation in the First of John 1. He that hath communion of fellowship with God in Christ may be undoubtedly assured of his Salvation 1 Joh 5.11 2. He that is the Adopted Son of God shall be saved 1 Joh. 3.2 3. They that are assured of the love of God to them in particular may also be certainly assured of their Salvation 1 Joh. 4.9 From the Doctrine of Election follow two weighty Points to be known and believed viz. 1. That the Promise of Remission of Sins and Everlasting Life in the Messias is