Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	dwell_v	holy_a	temple_n	6,250	5	8.1563	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56109	A testimony of truth given forth by a servant of the Lord, on the behalf of the despised servants, and professors of truth, who are made partakers of the heavenly power, which shakes the earth, and makes the inhabitants of the land to tremble, who are by the scorners of this generation called Quakers against the many lyes and slanders which the devil is the chief author of, arising forth of the bottomlesse pit, and vented forth by one James Livesey a professed minister of Christ in the county of Chester, but by his fruits is plainly manifested a minister of sin, and so of his Father who begat him, and sent him forth to oppose the living truth of God : but his folly is here manifested and declared to open view, that the simple and honest hearted may turn from him and all such deceitful workers, and may learn of Christ the light of the world, that their souls may live.	Parker, Alexander, 1628-1689.	1659 (1659)	Wing P386; ESTC R5756	31,699	39

can ever come to the true knowledge of sin much lesse to the knowledge of truth in its purity until they own the light which Jesus Christ the light of the world hath enlightened them withal thou canst never see thy ugly shape and thy foul and filthy garments which the devil hath put upon thee until thou viewest thy self in this light therefore beware of hating and despising the light within which is of Christ for whosoever hates that light which checks and reproves for sin they hate Christ and the light is the condemnation for as Christ hath said this is the condemnation of the world that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds be evil for every one that doth truth he loveth the light and brings his deeds to the light that they may be proved and tryed whether or no they be wrought in God but every one that doth evil hateth the light and will not bring his deeds to the light least they should be reproved Joh. 3. Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that every man may be saved if he will c. Ans This is likewise false and no truth in it for we do not say that the power of salvation is in mans will but in God who by his power subdues and subjects mans will for it is not in him that willeth or runneth but in God that shewes mercy and this is the mercy and loving kindness of God who hath sent his Son into the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life and so salvation is of God but destruction is of a mans self for the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us c. So he that will be a Disciple of Christ must deny himself and take up his Crosse and follow Christ and the Crosse of Christ crucifies the carnal mind and subjects mans will and God worketh in the creature both to will and to do yet obedience is required of the creature that as God by his light doth shew his will and mind it is the duty of men women to do his will which is our Sanctification Pr. There is an opinion among them that there is in man no light of reason no light of nature Answ All men that be out of the true light of life notwithstanding all that which they may call light of reason on light of nature are darkness according to that Scripture Ephes 5.8 once were you darkness c. and yet in that state there is a spark orsome glimering of the true light which shines in darkness but the darkness cannot comprehend it Joh. 1. and this light is the ground of right reason and men that despise and reject the counsel of the light become brutish and unreasonable and so the understanding comes to be darkened and the sence of it is lost Pr. There is an opinion that conscience in man is nothing else but faith Ans That is not so for conscience in man may erre and may be seared but faith is pure it is the gift of God and cannot erre and the mystery of it is held in a pure conscience Pr. There is an opinion among them that the light within them is sufficient that there is no need of other teachers c. Answ That light that is of Christ in it self is sufficient but there be some that are but Babes and sucklings and the Lord takes care for them and for this end was the true Ministry given having received perfect gifts which were for the perfecting of the body of Christ until all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man even to the measure and stature and fulness of Christ and this doth not overthrow all Scripture but establish the Scriptures for this is the very end for which the Scriptures were given forth to wit that people may be brought to God and worship God in spirit and in truth and know the holy unction within them and John did not overthrow the Scriptures nor the true Ministry when he said the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you c. and the Prophet Isaiah did not lay waste the Scriptures nor frustarte the work of the Ministry when he saith cease from man whose breath is in his nosirils for wherein is he to be accounted of and as then the work of the true Prophets and Apostles was to bring to God so now for all the children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord Isai 54.13 Pr. Their opinion is that God is not to be worshipped in places made with mens hands Ans We say God is a spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and in Truth in his own holy Temple not made with mens hands for God who made the world and all things therein seeing he is Lord of heaven and Earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is he worshiped with mens hands and this is truth and whereas he the said opposer doth bring some scriptures as Act. 20.7 8 9. how Paul preached in an upper chamber and continued his speech till midnight this proves nothing for but against him for we bear witnesse with the Apostle against the Temples made with hands that God is not worshipped there and so as the Apostles did meet together apart from the Temple worshippers so do we now and worship God in spirit and whereas he brings some other Scriptures as Luke 4.15 where Christ taught in the Synagogue and Io. 18 19 20. which we deny not but this was a time befroe he was sacrificied up and he came to fulfill all righteousnesse for he is the end of the Law for Righteousnesse sake to them that do believe and whereas he adds a scripture in Psa 132.13 14. For the Lord hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation this is my rest for ever this he brings to prove that God is worshipped and dwels in a mans made house if any be so blind and ignorant to believe him for my part I believe him not but I believe what the Scripture saith Heaven is my Throne and earth is my footstool what house will you build unto me saith the Lord or where is the place of my rest not in a man made house The heaven of heavens is not able to contain him whom we worship Pr. There is an opinion among them that the place where the people of God convene to worship is not the Church nor to be called a Church Ans We say no For the Church is the body of Christ built up of living stones elect and precious and the Apostle doth not any where call a man-made house a Church and it is error and blasphemie to call a house made with mens hands of wood and dead stones a Church and therefore a

A TESTIMONY OF TRUTH Given forth by a Servant of the Lord on the behalf of the despised servants and professors of truth who are made partakers of the heavenly Power which shakes the earth and makes the Inhabitants of the Land to tremble who are by the scorners of this Generation called Quakers against the many lyes and slanders which the Devil is the chief author of arising forth of the bottomlesse pit and vented forth by one James Livesey a professed Minister of Christ in the County of Chester but by his fruits is plainly manifested a Minister of sin and so of his Father who begat him and sent him forth to oppose the living truth of God but his folly is here manifested and declared to open view that the simple and honest hearted may turn from him and all such deceitful workers and may learn of Christ the light of the World that their souls may live Blessed are yee when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Mat. 5.11 12. For as concerning this Sect we know that every where it is spoken against Acts 18.22 But this I confesse that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers Acts 24.14 Truth was formerly called a Sect and the way of God heresie by formal professors Therefore let none be deceived with vain words and flying reports But prove all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 A. Parker LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. THe Almighty wise God hath according to his promise declared by his holy Prophets and Apostles appeared in these last dayes and hath caused his light to shine forth which hath not onely discovered and manifested the deceits of the serpent and all the deceitful workers in all their deceivablenesse and cunning craftinesse whereby they have long lain in wait to deceive and many have been deceived and led away from the light which should have given unto them the true knowledge of the Mysteries of God and of those things that doth pertain unto life and peace I say the Lord our God hath not onely revealed the Mystery of iniquity but hath also to the glory and praise of his great Name revealed and in a great measure discovered the mystery of truth which is glorious and precious even that same Truth which in ages and generations past hath been the stay and comfort of Gods people and was their joy and refreshment and did uphold them in the time of their tryals and troubles which from the beginning of times ever since the fall of man hath been gain-said and opposed by the seed of evil doers and those who have from time to time born a true testimony for the truth who lived in the truth they have been reviled and reproached and suffered many and great afflictions in the world chiefly from those who have had a name and an outward profession of God but lived out of the life of God such have been the enemies of God and of his Truth and also of his Messengers and servants who have been true witnesses of Truth as the scriptures of Truth do largely testifie all along to which I refer thee that may read this to search and try and as it was then in the dayes of old even so it is now he that is born after the flesh doth persecute him that is born after the spirit and it cannot be otherwise for there can be no agreement between light and darknesse between Christ and Antichrist but enmity and discord waring and fighting one against the other and so as we are made partakers according to our several measures of that life of Righteousnesse which the Saints the people of God were made partakers of so we are made sharers and partakers with them of the like sufferings and this we do account to be our joy and great riches and do rejoyce in Christ that we are of that number who suffer for Righteousnesse sake well knowing that according as it is written all that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution Now it being so that the most high God in his dear love in Christ Jesus having visited this Nation with mercy from on high even in a time when many were wallowing in their blood and even past hope of recovery the Nation being over-run with wickedness even then did God appear and rent the thick vail which had long been over many and caused his light to shine out of obscurity and uttered forth his voyce in great power and raised up many from the grave and restored them to life again who had been dead in trespasses and sins reviving them by his quickning power and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel and revealed the great mysteries of his Kingdom which hath been hid from the worldly wise even from the beginning of time which is Christ in us the hope of glory who was revealed and manifested in the true Christians in the primitive times This was their Priviledge they were made partakers of life eternal and translated out of the kingdom of darknes into the Kingdom of the Dear Son of God they had the true light in them the word of life was in them by which they were sanctified and made holy and their bodies were Temples of God and God and Christ dwelt in them and spake in them and wrought all their works for them and in them and so by the cords of pure love they were drawn neer unto God who sometimes were afar off and their unity was in the spirit for they were written in one anothers hearts with the spirit of the living God but since those dayes there hath been a great darkness over the Nations and that Christian beauty of love meeknesse patience humility c. hath been marred and stained by the deformed spots of envy wrath rashnesse impatiency pride covetousnesse and the like and though many have retained and kept the name of Christianity yet the life and nature hath been wanting as the true light hath made it manifest for after these many years of profession and these glorious and fair pretences God is coming to view the fields and to see what fruits may be reaped in this Nation and Nations and behold a great crop of corruption may be reaped but no fruits from the good ground is brought forth which hath grieved the good spirit of God and now is he arisen as a man of War in dread and fury and will pour forth the Vialls of his wrath upon the man of Sin and will bring deliverance and hath brought deliverance unto his people and this we testifie that God is light and is appearing in the power of light to manifest and destroy sin and bring in everlasting

vain wicked and sottish assertion of this blind Priest so to call it Pr. There is an opinion among them that God is not to be worshiped in places where idolatrous worship hath been performed Ans As for the daies of old what was done then we let passe but as for your steeple-houses which a few yeares since were the Popes Masse-houses God doth not dwell neither is he rightly worshipped there and therefore we do denie them and all your dead performances in them Pr. There is an opinon among them that God is not worshipped with the body Ans God is worshipped in spirit and served with the bodie according to that Scripture quoted by this opposer Rom. 12. 1. I boseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service mark he calls it a service Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that the law is made hy the beast and it is not lawfull to use the law Ans The law which is perfect was made by God and is good just and holy and is for the lawlesse to be as a curb and limit to them which law we own and all just lawes made by men which are according to the law of God we own and therefore do I testifie against Priest Livesey as a liar and false accuser of the Innocent as for all lawes that are unjust and contrary to the law of God such are made by the power of the beast and such lawes we cannot obey but testifie against them Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that there is no mediate call to the Ministry Ans The true Ministers of Christ their call was immediate by the power and spirit of the living God that which is mediate is carnal and Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever and his call to the ministrie is immediate by his power and spirit and all such as denie an immediate call now I denie them they are not Ministers of Christ but of Antichrist Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that Christ is the original language of truth not Greek not Hebrew Ans As this is laid down Iown it not but this I say that Christ is the fountain and fulnesse and the original of all Truth and the wisest linguist in all the world Grecian or Hebrewcian cannot by all their skill open the door nor suck any sweetnesse from this fountain for it is locked and sealed up and only they that drink at the stream the true light do tast of the sweetnesse and such receive satisfaction and refreshment and are led to the fountain there to drink deep and full draughts to their comfort and consolation● Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that the conscience of one man is the light of Christ in an other man Ans This is altogether false and a lying invention of his own and therefore I need not speak to any thing in this charge for the foundation being taken away the building will quickly fall down to the ground Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that baptism of Infants is of the Popes institution Ans Hath this opposer so long been trained up in the Popes way and order and so long continued in the Popes Masse-house and hath he not yet learned all his institutions let him go to school again and he may find it among some of the old rotten trash But saith this opposor this opinion is contrarie to Mat. 28 19 20. Go and disciple all nations baptising them were there no infants in all the world nor in all the nations saith he I answer This command of Christ doth not at all give power to sprinkle infants for they are not capable of discipling or teaching mark that go and disciple all nations baptising them here is discipling before baptising but children are not capable of being discipled so not of being baptized with water and so in this he contradicts himselfe besides it is a thing never commanded nor practised by Christ nor anie that he sent forth and so to Rome he must go and seek the institution of it for the scriptures mentions no such thing as sprinkling of Infants Christ said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God he took them in his Armes and blessed them but he did not sprinkle water on their faces as the Priests of England do he sets them as a figure and saith whosoever shall not receive the kingdome of God as a little child shall not enter there in Pr. There is an opinion among them that they cannot sin Ans Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaines in him and he cannot sin because he is borne of God 1 Iohn 3.9 But he that is born of the flesh doth sin altogether and so if any man say he hath no sin before the birth immortal be born in him he doth deceive himselfe and the truth is not in him but whosoever doth own the light of Christ that doth make manifest sin and confesse and forsake sin they shall find meroy and walkingin the light the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and said Iohn hese things I write unto you that you sin not Iohn doth make clear distinction between the two births the one from beneath the other from above whosoever abides in Christ doth not sin whosoever sinneth hath not seen him nor known him c. And whereas he mentions an other Scripture Eccl. 7.20 that with many other Scriptures are spoken to the seed of the first Adam and not to the regenerate seed for as it is written he that is born of God sinneth not Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that men are not now outwardly to expresse their thankefulnesse in a vocal solemn forme of blessing for what creature comforts they receive from the hand of God exempli gratia not to crave a blessing upon their meat Ans This is false and a lie proceeding from the old root for we do own and practise prayer by speaking of words as the Lord by his spirit doth move and owneth the saying of the Apostle where he saith I will that men pray every where lifting holy hands without wrath and doubting such their prayers are acceptable unto God but all lying covetous greedy men who harbour wrath and malice in them the Lord abhors and loathes their services furthermore I say that whosoever doth see with a single eye doth see every creature of God to be good and are sanctisied by the word and so to the pure all things are pure and if never a word were spoken to the hearing of the eare yet the blessing and vertue is felt in the creatures and praises arises and is given to God for his mircies who is over all blessed for ever Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that salutations are unlawfull Ans This is false and untrue as others before

c. Quakers allow womens preaching as spiritual Ans God hath spoken by his holy prophet saying it shall come to passe in the latter daies that I will pour forth of my spirit upon my Sons and daughters upon my servants and handmaids and where the spirit of God is there is liberty it is not to be quenched neither in Son nor daughter where the seed is witnessed either in male or female to wit Christ who is one in the female as well as in the male and where he rules and reignes he may and ought to speak and this is according to Scriptures but let the woman be silent as saith the Scripture Pr. Papists look upon miracles as signes of the true Church so Quakers Ans This is but the mans imagination because he would have ●o●ething to say as for miracles I do not look for them but if any by the power and spirit of God do work miracles as some have done among us we do own it and give God the honour whose work and power it is and not any work of the creature Pr. Papists put a high esteem on visions and Revelations equalling them with or preferring them above the written Word so Quakers Ans True visions and true Revelations seen and revealed by the true spirit I must needs own if a Turk or infidel should professe the truth it s no worse for their professing of it And so I say that which is revealed by the same spirit which was within them that gave forth the Scripture is one and the same with the Scriptreu for the Truth is the same yesterday to day and for ever Pr. The Jesuites say a man may be saved if he will if he will follow the light c. and the Quakers Ans I have formerly answered to this point yet this further I say the saving power is not in mans will but in Christ the light and whosoever believes in and followes the light shall be saved and he that believes not but followes his own will shall be damned Pr. The Papists extenuate imputed Righteousnesse in setting up their own Inherent Righteeusnesse so Quakers Ans All our own Righteousnesse is as filthy rags and we do not set it up but deny it together with all unrighteousnesse but we exalt and set up Christ who of God is made unto us Righteousnesse Justification Redemption and all other things who dwels in us and is our life and we in him and have our peace Pr. Papists say they can keep all Gods commandements perfectly fulfill the law in their own persons so Bell and the Quakers Ans Through the strength and power of Christ that dwels in us we can do all things and his commandements are not grievous but joyous to us and Christ doth fulfill the Righteousnesse of the Law in us who walk● not after the flesh but after the spirit and whosoever saith he knowes God and keeps not his commandents is a lyar and the truth is not in him Pr. The Church Papists hold that their Church is infallible which at last is the Pope so Quakers Ans We do not hold the Pope to be the Church neither do we believe the Pope to be infallible any more then the Priests and Church of England Pr. Jesuits say there is no foundation for Insants Baptism in the written word Pr. The Jesuites say baptism is of mans institution so Quakers Ans We are bold to affirme it and say there is no command nor example nor practice in the Scripture for Infants baptism it is an invention of man and I lay it upon all the Priests of England and Papists and all who practice it to bring me a proof of it from the Scriptures or else confesse their sin in doing that which was never commanded nor by any of the Ministers of Christ practised Pr. Jesuites make their Pope a God c. Quakers make themselves Gods curse men damn them to Hell Ans It seemes this Priest is wholly given up to the Devil in venting forth so many and grosse wicked lyes we do not make our selves Gods but denie our selves and take up the Crosse and and follow Christ But we do witnesse that God dwels in us and we never curse men nor damn them to Hell but we testifie against sin which if not forsaken and repented of will lead men to Hell for the wages of sin is death Pr. Jesuites call us heriticks dogs c. and the Quakers calls us the brood of Cain Baals Priests false prophets Seducers c Ans They that are envious and wrathful are of Cains generation and off spring and if we find any of the priests of England in that nature we must tell them the truth it is no other language then what the spirit of the Lord hath given to deceivers and false prophets in times past and the priests of England being found in the same steps and covetous practices we do them no wrong to give them their right names Pr. Papists place most in external observations seeming authority so Quakers Ans The lyar will arive at Hell at last when he hath filled up his measure once more I testifie that we do not place most in outward things but in Christ is our strength who works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure Pr. Papists prefer Jeromes version of the Bible before the Hebrew and the Greek so Fox and others deny Greek and Hebrew to be the original preferring the English Ans Where did ever this opposer hear Fox and others speak of preferring the English before the Greek and Hebrew the English we own in its place and so Hebrew and Greek but not any of these Languages can open the mysteries of God therefore let all flesh be silent before the Lord and let God alone be exalted Pr. The Jesuits cast off prayer to God and pray to Saints c. Quakers have cast off prayer to God when do they pray in their families meetings c. Ans H●re is a Charge and a question laid down the charge is that Quakers have left off praying to God Now if the Quakers have not left off prayer to God then Ia. Livesey is a lyar but they have not left off prayer to God as thousands in this Nation can testifie but pray often both in their meetings and in their families as the spirit of God doth move and guide them therefore is Livesey a lyar Pr. The Jesuites say that the Empire of learning is within the heritage of the Jesuits so Quakers say we are in darknesse all our eyes are out theirs onely open A. Every tree is known by his fruits so we say of the Priests of England after all their talking and profession and having received so much mony see what may be reaped in their fields even a great Crop of corruption pride and covetousnesse reigning in themselves and what can be expected to be brought forth in people but like Priest like people wandring astray like sheep without a