Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A65748
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A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first book of Moses called Genesis by John White.
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White, John, 1575-1648.
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1656
(1656)
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Wing W1775; ESTC R23600
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464,130
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520
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Established and upheld Psal 51.12 and by the power whereof we must mortifie the deeds of the flesh Rom. 8.13 And where the power of that Spirit is wanting there the Word is a dead letter the Sacraments dead Elements and we dead Creatures It is the Spirit that giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 and quickens Joh. 6.63 2. Let us ascribe all unto the Spirit that we receive from God whether it be in the works of Nature or Grace whatsoever be the means or instruments the shape of our bodies the abilities of our minds much more all spiritual graces as Knowledge Faith Holinesse and the like which are all the effects of the Spirit which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.8 9 11. Grieve not then that Spirit Ephes 4.30 Resist it not Act. 7.51 but walk in it Gal. 5.16 The darknesse then which was upon the face of the deep did not hide this rude masse from the eyes of God the Spirit notwithstanding that darknesse came down upon it or hovered over it and so was present there notwithstanding the very darknesse it self Whence 6. Observe The Spirit of God is present every where yea even in the middest of the greatest darknesse Observ 6 UNto God the darknesse is as the noon-day Psal 139.11 12. The Land of darknesse that is the state of the dead Job 10.21 and Hell the Kingdom of darknesse these are naked before him and have no covering nay the very conscience of a man in lightened by the Spirit is a light in the most secret closet of the he rt searching and discovering the very hidden parts of the belly saith Solomon Prov. 20.27 Reason 1. God himself is light 1 Joh. 1.5 and consequently there can be no darkness to him as there is none in him 2. And it must be so that the Judge of all the World may do right judging the very secrets of men Rom. 2.16 Let all men then tremble and fear before him even in their secret places nay in the very secret thoughts of their hearts which he knowes afar off Psal 139.20 whose eyes run to and fro through the whole earth 2 Chro. 16.9 and searching the very reins Jer. 11.20 much more observing the wayes of men and their works though done in the most secret corners which he shall one day bring to light even the most hidden things of darknesse and make manifest even the very counsels of mens hearts 1 Cor. 4.5 The manner of this work of the Spirit followes in the next place It is said to move or hover upon the face of the deep Thus the Holy Ghost is pleased to stoop to mens weak capacity to speak to men in the phrase and expressions of men rather shadowing out unto us than opening the manner of that Wonderfull and secret work which when all is done can neither be Expressed nor Comprehended by us as it is Only we must suppose that by the expressing of it in such an obscure form there is implyed both a secret and yet withall an effectual working of the Spirit upon that unformed and rude mass to bring it into those various shapes and forms of severall kinds of Creatures which we do now behold Whence 7. Observe The Way of Gods Working is secret and undiscernable though the effect when it is wrought be manifest Observ 7 THe Apostle tells us that Gods wayes are past finding out Rom. 11.33 The word in the Original hath very great force and signifies that God leaves no print of his steps behind him by which men might trace him out in his goings Job tells us that one cannot behold him though he work fast by us upon the right or left hand Job 23.9 As we cannot behold the Workman so we cannot the manner how he works neither without us we know not how the corn growes though we can sâ—e that it is grown Mark 4.27 nor how the wind blowes John 3.8 although we hear the sound of it nor how the clouds are balanced and the like Job 37.16 Nor in our own bodies the Mother knowes not how the child is fashioned in her womb Eccles 11.5 nor any man how his meat nourisheth and quickens him nor so much as how his cloathes keep him warm when the South wind blowes Job 37.7 Reason 1. That we might admire God the more in all his waies and be the more abased in our selves by the consideration of our own ignorance 2. The work it self is sufficient to discover unto us God himself and to direct us in our duties though we know not how it is wrought Let it silence our carnal reason in enquiring curiously into that which God hath purposely hidden from our eyes that we might be sensible of our own weaknesse that cannot understand the wayes of God in those works that we behold with our eyes It is true indeed that the works of God Are and Ought to be sought out of those that fear him Psal 111.2 but that which they search out in them is the manifestation of his power Wisdom Psal 104.24 Loving kindnesse Psal 107.43 Righteousnesse and Holinesse Psal 145.17 that we might honour fear and trust in him As for the manner of his working we are at present unable to comprehend it nor could profit by it if we knew it We cannot but take notice of the degrees by which the Creatures were brought on to perfection First they were nothing at all next they are a rude lump Lastly the Spirit moves upon them and by degrees gives them their several shapes and natures which now they have Whence 8. Observe All Creatures are perfect by degrees AS they were in their first Creation so are they much more in their successive generation Man himself hath his body fashioned in time Psal 139.16 And experience shewes us that Corn growes up first into a blade then to an ear and at last comes to be ripe corn Mark 4.28 Reason 1. That we might the more easily take notice of Gods workmanship upon and in them For we are not able to observe those things that are done in an Instant 2. Because if all things were made perfect at the first Perfection might be conceived to be natural to them if they received that together with their being Let it quiet all our hearts in observing the work of grace which is wrought in them Let us take notice of our present infirmities with the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.9 yea be sensible of them and groan under them Rom. 7.24 striving earnestly to a farther degree of perfection Phil. 3.12 Heb. 6.1 but without murmuring at our present condition or despairing of attaining to farther perfection having Gods promise to perfect that which is begun in us Phil. 1.6 Eph. 5.27 Although at present he think fit to leave us in much weaknesse and wants many wayes and that 1. To humble our hearts and keep them low 2. To quicken us both to fervent prayers and constant endeavours to attain what we want 3. To manifest our Faith and dependance on Gods Povver
and perfected successively and in which themselves or the kinds of them do continue and remain unto this day Thus the Holy Ghost in the first place layes before us this mishapen and confused Masse which was the Matter out of which all these various and beautifull creatures some whereof we do and that deservedly behold not without admiration were taken that looking upon them and considering them in their first Original we may be the more sensible both of our own and their vilenesse a meditation hinted by the order in which things are expressed in this Narration which we may therefore think to be intended by the Holy Ghost And may 1. Observe The best way to judge of things aright is to look back and consider them in their first Original Observ 1 THus God leads Adam back to the dust out of which he was first formed Gen. 3.19 The Children of Israel to the rock whence they were hewen Isa 51.1 to a Syrian their Father ready to perish Deut. 26.5 and their Mother an Hittite and to the blood in which they were born Ezek. 16.3 4. To the same end also we are often minded of that naturall Corrupt condition in which we were as we were born 1 Cor. 6.11 Ephes 2.1 Let every man that desires to judge unpartially of himself exercise himself seriously and often in that meditation Our Bodies in their Original base and vile every way in their substance place of Conception manner of birth Our Soules which is our more excellent part though not in themselves yet by the corruption that cleaves unto them more base then our bodies a masse of sin which hath overspread all the parts of them in which there was nothing to be discerned but the hatefull and deformed Image of the Devil A Meditation of singular use unto us 1. To bring down our Pride 2. To quicken our Endeavours 3. To fill our mouthes with praises to him that hath made us what we now are considering what we were at first and by our own deserts might have continued to be still without his free and infinite mercy But if we consider this description of the Original of the World and all things contained therein as we find it positively laid down unto us by Moses in this place we may 2. Observe All Creatures how Glorious and Beautifull soever they appear at present were Base and deformed in their Original Observ 2 FIrst Nothing Next a rude confused masse without shape or form And such are they in their continued propagation even Kings and Princes the most eminent amongst the sons of men at first a substance that one would loath to look on shapen in a den of darknesse at first a lump without parts without shape without life and born in as base a manner as the meanest beggars Let it bring down every high look and take away all Vaunting from the sons of men who can challenge nothing as their own but basenesse and deformity whatsoever they have more then that is but borrowed and is the beauty that God hath put upon them And let it take off our hearts from admiring any Creatures as unworthy of honour and estimation in themselves if we consider whence they came The Earth as the Holy Ghost tells us was not only without any form but Empty too that is unfurnished of that variety of Creatures wherewith every part was afterward and is now stored which the Psalmist calls the fulnesse of the Earth Psal 24.1 Whence 3. Observe The Earth was Empty till God furnished and stored it Observ 3 IT is true it was not made to be empty Isa 45.18 but was ordained and fitted by God to be the habitation of men and other Creatures but was Empty of it self till he himself furnished both it and the Seas out of his store so that both the one and the other are full of his riches Psal 104.24 25. so that he justly claimes both beasts and fowles and all to be his own Psal 50.10 11. Let all men admire Gods All-sufficiency who so easily speedily and richly furnished the Heaven Earth and Seas with such infinite variety of Creatures which we cannot behold but with admiration considering with what labour and difficulty we furnish a poor Cottage that we have built or stock a small Farm that we have purchased and that too with such things as we do but borrow out of Gods Store Darknesse saith Moses was indeed upon the face of the deep but not made by God as the Heaven and Earth and other Creatures were as being only a meer privation and want of light and could not be the effect of any positive cause as we have shewed Whence 4. Observe Imperfections and Wants are no part of Gods Work Observ 4 NOt Sinne for God made man righteous Eccles 7.29 but sin entred in by man Rom. 5.12 allured by Satan and not by God As for other wants they came not in by any act or work of God the effect whereof is sufficiency and perfection but by his ceasing and forbearing to work any longer Let us if there be any thing wanting to us not lay the blame upon God whether it be in Outward things either within us as strength or usefulnesse of the parts of the body or without us as want of necessaries for the sustaining of our lives or in Inward defects of the mind wants of Knowledge Faith Holinesse or the like but blame our sins that hinder good things from us Rather acknowledge his mercy and bounty if we have any thing in bestowing what we have which is more than either we had of our selves or can any way deserve or do use as we ought Moses having set before us the condition of the Earth what it was at the first and beginning now to shew us how it became to be that which it now is points out unto us first the Agent by whom it was brought to this perfection the Spirit and the manner how it wrought it moved or hovered upon the waters So then all the Creatures which are afterwards described to be formed into their several kinds and natures must necessarily be the effect or work of that Spirit Whence 5. Observe The formes and natures of all sorts of Creatures are the work and effects of Gods Spirit Observ 5 ANd that not only in their first Creation but in their successive Generation too Elihu acknowledged that he was made by Gods Spirit and that the Breath of the Almighty gave him life Job 33.4 Yea the Spirit sent forth from God creates all things to this day and renewes the face of the Earth Psal 104.30 How much more then must mans Renovation and the life of Grace wrought in him thereby be the effect of the same Spirit 1. Pray earnestly for the power of that Spirit to fashion our hearts anew with the Prophet David Psal 51.10 Even the Spirit of Sanctification as it is termed from that effect 1 Pet. 1.2 by which we must be born anew John 3.5 and