Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	earth_n	heaven_n	holy_a	7,009	5	4.7805	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A67484	A still and soft voice from the scripture vvitnessing them to be the vvord of God.	Walwyn, William, 1600-1681.	1647 (1647)	Wing W692; ESTC R38023	8,703	18

necessary and usefull nor doe I know that I have ever purposely set my self to debate any serious matter slightly or carelessely though cheerefully And my manner is what ever is in debate to search it thorowly being of an opinion that what is really true stands the firmer for being shaken like a house that is built upon a rock I have been much troubled to observe men earnestly engage to maintaine the strongest maximes and principle by weak arguments the weaknesse whereof I have endevoured to manifest that I might discover the weaknesse of such practises and to make it evident that fundamentall truthes support all things and need no supporters Thou bearest not the root but the root thee But this my free dealing with uncharitable or superstitious people hath found this evill returne they have reported me to deny that there is a God when I have only denyed the validity of a weak argument produced to prove that there is a God it being too too common to insist upon meere notionall indigested arguments so also have I been most uncharitably slandered to deny the Scriptures to bee the word of God because I have opposed insufficient arguments produced to prove them such and because at the same time I have refused to shew the grounds inducing me to beleeve them Now it hath been my lot to be drawne into discourses of this nature for the most part by timerous scrupulous people in whom I have discouvered so much impatience and discerned content at the shaking of their arguments that I have not discerned any reason to open my selfe ac that time yet I never parted with any of them but I alwayes prosessed that I did believe both that there is a God that the Scriptures are the Word of God though I judged their grounds not good and withall that if they would be so ingenious as to acknowledge the weaknesse of their arguments I would then shew them my ground of faith or it at any time they stood in need I would not be wanting to the uttermost of my power to supply them but I have seldome found any who in the heat of contest and prosecudon of dispute have been qualified to receive what I had to say touching this matter their apprehension and mine being at too great a distance therein But I blesse God it is not so ill with me as some bad minded men desire nor as some weak and scrupulous men imagin And there are some ingenious men with whom I have daily converst that know I doe acknowledge and beleeve there is a God and that the Scriptures are the Word of God Yet the testimony of men in this case to mee is little my owne conscience being as a thousand witnesses That there is a God I did never beleeve through any convincing power I have ever discerned by my utmost consideration of any natural argument or reason I ever heard or read But it is an unexpressible power that in a forcible manner constraines my understanding to acknowledge and beleeve that there is a God and so to beleeve that I am fully perswaded there is no consider at man in the world but doth believe there is a God And That the. Scriptures are the Word of God I shall clearly make the same profession That I have not beleeved them so to be by force of any argument I have ever heard or read I rather find by experience most if not all arguments produced in prejudice thereof Art argument and compulsive power in this case holding resemblance with the mighty strong wind the Earth quake and fire distracting terrifying and scorching the minds of men but I beleeve them through an irresistible perswafive power that from within them like unto the soft still voyce wherein God was hath pierced my judgment and affection in such sort that with aboundance of joy and gladnesse I beleeve and in beleeving have that Peace which passeth all utterance or expression and which hath appeared unto me after so many sad conflicts of adistracted conscience and wounded spirit that it is to me a heaven upon earth It being now long since I blesse God that I can truly say My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise In other respects I conceive the most holy upon earth if they give impartiall eare to this voyce will finde no cause to boast or to finde fault with others but as Eliah to cover their faces with a mantle And truly were it not that too too many pretenders to Religion are over apt to receive false reports which is a most uncharitable disposition and over-prone to make the worst construction which is altogether unchristian it had beene impossible for any to have abused me in these or any other respects But it will be neefull for all such seriously to lay to heart that they ought to do as they would he done unto in all things that he who seemeth to bee religious and bridles not his tongue that mans religion is vaine That he who boasteth to beleeve a God and the Scriptures to be the Word of God and glorieth in his ability of exposition thereof yet applieth it to the discovery of a mote in his brothers eye rather then a became in his own he whose expressions and actions do demonstrate him to say within himselfe Lord I thank thee I am not as other men extortioners unjust adulterers nor as this Publican This man whoever he be is not yet got through the lesson of the Pharistes that were wise in their owne eyes and despised others But it would be much more profitable to society and good neighbourhood that there were a more exact accompt taken by every man of his owne wayes it is verily thought most men neede not goe abroad for want of work if either pride covetousnesle backbiting unreasonable jealosy vanity of minde dotage upon superfluities with hard heartednesse to the poore were thought worthy of Reformation To be zealous in lipp service or to expresse our devotion in censuring of others yeelds neither honour to God nor good to man Who were more blinde then those who said are wee blind also the Angell of the Church of Laodicea boasted that he was rich and increased with goods and had neede of nothing and knew not that he was wretched and misserable and poor and blind and naked Wee have many now a dayes who are doubly unjust and thinke not of it they are partiall and favourable in examining and corecting of themselves and severe towards others when as they ought to be severe towards themselves and favourable towards others And it is a fault not easily mended it requires agreater power of true religion to doe it then the most have as yet attained if one may judge by the Fruites and therefore it will be good for every one to neglect that which is behinde and to presse forward to the marke for the price of the high Calling of God which is in Jesus Christ either renounce