Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	excellent_a	find_v	great_a	421	4	2.1545	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81899	The life and death of that judicious divine, and accomplish'd preacher, Robert Harris, D.D. late president of Trinity Colledge in Oxon. Collected by a joynt-concurrence of some, who knew him well in his strength, visited him often in his sickness, attended him at his death, and still honour his memory. Published at the earnest request of many, for the satisfaction of some, for the silencing of others, and for the imitation of all. / By W.D. his dear friend and kinsman.	Durham, William, 1611-1684.	1660 (1660)	Wing D2831; Thomason E1794_1; ESTC R209698	30,977	127

would permit After hee was a while Batchelour of Arts hee had a minde to try what his fitness was for the Pulpit because else hee must to the Law and having prepared himself hee offers his pains at Chipping-Campden but such were those times that in the greater Town hee did not know where to procure a Bible for the reading of his Text At length hee was directed to the Vicar there the Bible could hardly bee found being not seen some months before at last found it was and the Preacher furnished who chose for his Text the words of St. Paul Rom. 10.1 The Sermon was heard with much applause onely the Preacher would often say that hee lost by the bargain First His heart grew bigg upon it next his carnal friends call upon him to give over University-studies and to come amongst them as being now learned enough His Father also having many children yet to provide for was willing to ease his charge and thereupon applied himself to some persons of quality in the State and of eminency in the Church in order to some preferment But his son declined publick imployment for the present and became humble suter to his Father that what hee was pleased to bestow upon him as a Patrimony hee would allow it to him in Oxon for the perfecting of his studies This with much ado was obtained and to Oxon hee returned a joyful man Long hee had not been in Oxon before a fearful Plague invaded that place the University was dissolved few left behinde In this case hee was at a stand again Home hee durst not go whither else hee knew not till by a providence the progress whereof is not known hee was invited to Mr. Doylys five miles distant from Oxon. This Mr. Doyly was an Antient Gentleman of a most Antient Family of the Doylyes in Oxon-shire a great friend to the Gospel and his wife a woman of an extraordinary knowledge and piety To them Mr. Harris goes for the present There hee found one Mr. Prior a prudent godly man of an excellent spirit but much weakned with the stone and gout This Mr. Prior was then over-burdened with preaching both on the Sabbaths and at extraordinary Fasts then enjoyned by occasion of the plague In meer pitty Mr. Harris holp him a turn or two but then was so set upon by the Gentleman the Incumbent with others that hee could not withstand their importunity There hee must sit down and there preach during the Fast at least Hee told them hee was not ordeined and durst not meddle with any thing but preaching neither and that but till hee could bee authorized This was accepted the work goes on large requitals hee received from the good Gentleman and his wife and much incouragement hee found from the people And thus it continued till God appeared in another call Now was there a fearful Eclipse upon the Church a constellation of Ministers were at once darkened Amongst the rest those three shining Stars Mr. Dod Mr. Cleaver and Mr. Lancaster Hereupon Sir Anthony Cope who had before placed and now lost Mr. Dod at Hanwell and Mr. Cleaver at Drayton became suter to his Brother Doylye so hee was by marriage for Mr. Harris The motion was unwelcome on all hands Mr. Doylye being unwilling to lose Mr. Harris yet after a long debate it was thought most conducible to the publick that it should bee so and so it was Mr. Harris with much grief and fear goes to Hanwell where hee found that Country in this posture Preach hee might and welcome but Pastors they would own none but their old The conclusion was that hee would preach to both Congregations united so long as Authority would permit and so long as there was any hope of recovering their former Pastors This gave some satisfaction but not sufficient for the quarrel was this You are not throughout of our Pastors minds It fell out that at the same time Mr. Whately entred the Pulpit at Banbury and bore a great part of the peoples displeasure For howsoever they could not except against his preaching hee being a man of singular parts yet upon the account of dissent from their Antient Teachers hee was also distasted and the truth is they both had a sad time of it a great while notwithstanding all the wisdome and moderation of Sir Anthony Cope and Mr. Dod to the contrary Well this world lasted not long Archbishop Bancroft finding no compliance in the silenced presents two Chaplains to the two fore-named Churches upon a pretence of a lapse Sir Anthony Cope thinks it now high time to stir and sitting then in Parliament hee takes one or two of the house with him and presents his Clerks to the Archbishop After a long contest the Archbishop was content that Sir Anthony Cope should present Howbeit because hee had spoken in Parliament against insufficient Ministers with some reflexion upon the Bishops the Archbishop could not but resent this and therefore refers both his Clerks to his ablest Chaplain to bee examined The Chaplain having it seems his lesson brings in the Clerk designed for Hanwell declined by Mr. Harris altogether insufficient being indeed a grave and discreet divine The other was returned Mediocritèr doctus The Bishop not pleased with this last account speaks to Bishop Barlow then present to undertake Mr. Harris The Bishop being a man active and witty and was glad of the office falls upon his work tries his Examinate a little in Divinity but most in other Learning and Greek where the Bishops strength lay but so long they both Greeked it till at last they were both scoted and to seek of words whereupon they both fell a laughing and so gave up The Bishop went in to the Archbishop and there as Mr. Harris expressed it set him as much too high as his Chaplain had set his fellow too low Upon this return the Archbishop was content to admit of Mr. Harris but upon condition that hee might have Hanwell This was easily granted for the Patron had before offered it and Mr. Dod was there present to desire it Onely the stick was That hee was fearful to succeed a Divine so famous which answer of his did not much please the Archbishop though at present hee courted Mr. Dod. Well now they have a new Pastor at Hanwell which begets a new tumult withall Drayton is also furnished with one Mr. Scudder a prudent man And now there were three united not onely in judgement and Christian affection but in affinity Mr. Harris marrying Mr. Whatelyes own Sister And Mr. Scudder his Wifes Sister These three met a while weekly and alternatim translated and analysed each his Chapter but their publick employments soon took them off this Shortly after there befel Mr. Harris his Wife upon her first childe a great and long affliction which was as Mr. Dod told him but to season and fit him for his work and himself would often say that hee had been quite spoiled had hee not been

in a book kept for that very purpose But these evidences were best read in the course of his life which was an exact walking with God in Piety Charity Humility Patience and Dependence on him Hee was none of those who sate in Moses Chair but did not the things which themselves taught Hee had well digested that Fathers Precept to Preachers Either preach not at all or live as you preach His life was the Commentary upon his Doctrine his practice the counterpart of his Sermons what was said of that precious Jewel In the life of B. Jewell was true of him That hee adorned an heavenly Doctrine with an heavenly Life In a word hee did vertere verba in opera hee lived Religion whilst many discourse onely Hee was much more than hee seemed to bee hee loved not to make a noise in the world accounting it much better to do than to speak His Charity to the poor was no less discreet than private When hee met with just objects of Charity his hand was more ready to give than his mouth to proclaim it Justice they say should bee blinde and know no difference of persons but Charity should have her eyes in her head and one eye especially on the houshold of Faith It is true hee was no friend to idle lazy persons who live on the sweat of others brows like Pharaohs lean kine devouring the fat yet no whit the fatter These hee looked upon as the Pests of the Common-wealth nor could hee think it Charity to relieve such to the prejudice of the publick and to their own destruction But Gods poor were his and lay neer his heart Hee that shall survey his large bills of weekly and quarterly allowances besides round summs to poor Ministers especially their Widows and Orphans who never knew the Donor and shall examine his Legacies in his Will to charitable uses cannot but acknowledge his charity whatever others think of him did exceed the proportion of his revenewes Though naturally hee were of a stout and masculine temper yet through grace hee had attained a very humble spirit Hee was low and mean in his own eyes and had more undervaluing thoughts of himself than all the world besides had of him very sensible hee was of that enemy which hee much complained of viz. Discouragement which hee called the childe of Pride and Unbeleef It must needs bee a great measure of humility that could keep a man low under such abilities attainments and such general applause Hee was wont to say That hee valued no man for his gifts but for his humility under them neither would hee expect much from any man were his parts never so great till broken with affliction and temptation It was his observation That the humblest Preachers converted most souls not the choicest Scholars whilst unbroken Sometime hee would use this speech which though it seemed to speak a contradiction yet hath it much truth in it It is better to bee an humble Devil than a proud Angel Hee never affected Popularity Pulpits Printing c. As one conscious to himself of I know not what unworthiness Neither ever came hee thus abroad in publick but when haled by importunity Secondly Consider him as a Man in his Morals first whether in the Government of his particular self or family or his greater trusts you shall alwaies finde him like himself excellent and almost without an equal Hee was exactly temperate confining himself to hours for diet sleep c. Hee would often say That hee had rather pour liquor into his boots than into his mouth between meals V. Serm. called Drunkards Cup. A strict observer of those Laws of sobriery which St. Paul had prest upon Ministers and which hee himself had publickly printed for others hee eat sparingly and seasonably which doubtless was one great means of preserving such a vigour of spirit to so great an age his onely play-time was Saturday in the afternoon then hee would unbend and disburden himself by some harmless recreation ad Ruborem onely Hee was a man of an excellent carriage and sweet behaviour whereby hee wonn much upon all grave without affectation pleasant without levity Indeed hee did never love to hear himself talk and was therefore by some thought too reserved but when hee knew with whom hee had to do hee was communicative enough No man more candid nor fuller of civility none more open and free to entertain or return discourses Hee was very cautious ere hee struck a league of intimate friendship with any man but when hee had once done it hee was cordial firm and constant his head his hand tongue pen feet purse all were now no longer his own but his feiends It is said of the French that whatever cloaths they wear whatsoever garb they accost you in becomes them so well as if nothing else did And our Doctor had this advantage as a great Critick in men Mr. R. M. as well as books observed of him That whatsoever hee did or spoke became him It was a very rare thing to see him angry If at any time others folly had discomposed him or their sin the greatest folly had provoked him yet could hee quickly command himself and convert his passion into wholesome instruction Though hee had great parts and acquirements yet hee would never sleight or undervalue much less contemn or discourage any whom he found right in the main In his censures hee was very sparing gentle to others severe onely to himself Hee had a special gift of forgetting injuries but would offer none his memory never served him better than for any civilities received to which hee would industriously make what proportionable returns hee could Hee was very fearful lest hee should give any occasion of suspition that hee forgot or neglected any because hee could not readily recollect mens names insomuch that hee would say If hee lived long bee should forget his own name with him in Valerius At meals hee was usually comical and facetious yet still would hee enquire of the publick or of particular Towns or Families whence hee would alwaies extract something for prayers or praises in his returns after meat In his Family hee had amongst the rest that comprehensive qualification of a good Bishop that hee ruled well his own house His method in the education of his children was this In general his care was to maintain his authority over them which is much pressed by a Reverend Divine yet even that authority was equally tempered with lenity and gravity Mr. Hilders on Psal 51. Lect. Hee could love them without fondness and rule them without rigour In particular as soon as his children could use their tongue they were taught to repeat the history of Scripture so soon as they could well feel their feet they were set to school when they could recollect any portion of a Chapter read or bring home any passage of a Sermon hee would instruct them in the fundamentals of Religion When childhood