Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	exhort_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	39	3	10.1422	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51412	The spirit of man, or, Some meditations (by way of essay) on the sense of that scripture, 1 Thes. 1:23 ... by Charles Morton ...	Morton, Charles, 1627-1698.; Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.	1692 (1692)	Wing M2825; ESTC R31044	42,571	116

they were against God yet against their Enemies they were very Cowards or God in Justice made them so for their Stubborness against him The Children of Ephraim being Armed and carrying Bows turned back in the day of Battel But If Sanctified 't is an Excellent Spirit and of great use This was that other Spirit of Caleb Numb 14. 24. The Spirit of the other Spies was Base and Cowardly and caused the heart of the People to melt Iosh. 18. 8. at which God was greatly displeased but Calebs courage was approved and accepted of God tho' it had not its desired effect upon men and was Rewarded with admission into the Land of Promise when others were excluded This Spirit Sanctified is a Spirit Bound Bent and Resolved in the service of God what-ever be the Hazards And now bohold says Paul I go bound in the Spirit to Ierusalem not knowing the particular things that shall befal me there Act 20. 22. saving Bonds and Afflictions in general which I expect v. 23. But none of these things move me v. 24. Now this Bound Spirit I take to be the Apostles Brave Spirit Bound that is strongly inclined by the Spirit of God to this special and particular Service notwithstanding all these foreseen difficulties to break thorow which he was Gallantly Resolved And this his Courage is I think the same that he prays might be given to the Ephesiaus chap. 3. 16. That he would grant you according to the Riches of his Glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the Inner Man This referrs to v. 13 I desire that ye faint not at my Tribulations for you Some men are so Weak Spi●ited as to faint when they see another Bleed or have a grievous Wound dressed or the like But I would not have you to be so Feeble-Minded I would have you more Couragious and for that end make this prayer on your behalf I should rather shrink that feel the trouble then you that only behold it with your eyes Such another Brave Spirit was in Nehemiah when God had raised it up See a taste of it Neh. 6 11. Should such a Man as I Fly And who is there being as I am would go into the Temple to save his Life I will not go in This Gallantry was of the Lord for whatever his Naturl Spirit was His Captive circumstances had rendred him but weak as we may Guess by his Timorousness to speak to the King tho' he was in good place about him He continually fetch'd his strength from God He was fain by Ejaculation to pray between a Question and an Answer chap. 2. 4. What is thy Request So I Prayed And I said c. He had not Courage to give the King an answer till he had his Spi●its Revived by the God of Heaven 4. This Hotter Spirit is an Angry Spiri● is Ardent and Fervent in it sel● Eage● and Vigorous in motion with a vehemence in Inclinations all which may be better Referred to this head then that of Activity before mentioned Its chief ingredient is Chollerick Constitution tho' it may be also Habitually encreased and Morally Fixt in men by frequent occasions and provocations as also by much converse with peevish and fretful persons this is intimated in that Prov. 22. 24. 25 Make no friendship with an angry man with a furious man thou shalt not go Lest thou Learn his ways and get a snare to thy Soul His anger will by degrees heat thy Spirit into a Disorder or at least bring it into another frame then to what thou art naturally inclined This Spirit Acts and shews it self in ZEAL and IEALOUSY 1. Zeal is a Fervour of Spirit whereby a man does Act Valide Valde All that comes to his hand he presently does it with his Might Here Anger is Cos Fortitudinis the Whetstone of Valour And tho' Courage hath it● Strength in it self yet it commonly ha● the beginning and more often the continuance of its motion from this Zeal This is as the Touch-Powder that catches the first Fire and as soon inflames that which has all the force in it T is a Natural Passion and therefore in it self neither Good nor Bad. But if 1. Unsanctifyed 't is a Hellish Flame that burns unmercifully and does abundance of Hurt to ones self and others 'T is KAKOZELIA a mischievous vehemence that spoyles the comfort of Humane Society and if it be any way concern'd in Religion it m●kes Havock of the Church as is seen in the Bigots of a false Religi●n An eminent example of which was Paul while he was Saul before his Conversion to the true Faith They shall kill you and think they do God good Service Iohn 16 2 In a word it renders men like the Chaldeans Bitter Hasty Habbac 1. 6. 2. But if Sanctified then the Warm-Spi●ited Paul is another Man He now re●lects on his former course as a Mad Hare Brain●d Wicked Business See the Account of it Acts 26. 9 10 11. I verily thought His Hot Head mistook his way and so ran on furiously in a Perni●ious Error That I ought Divilism is now taken for Duty to do many things contrary c. Many not a few were s●itable to his Hot and Active Spi●its many places Ierusa●em every Synagogue even to s●range Cities many Persons Many of the Saints Many Ways did I shut up in Prison put to Death and compelled them to Blaspheme yea when he was but a St●ipling when he could not hu●ll Mortifying S●●nes he gave his voice against them Held the Garments of those that Stoned Stephen and was consenting to his Death All this he acknowledges to be meer madness being exceeding mad against them But being now Converted Does his Grace quite extinguish his Fi●ry Nature Spirit Not at all only directs exerts it to better purposes Paul is the same Zealot but in other matters His Active Spirit Labours more abundantly then they all 1 Cor. 15. 10. Zeal he commends exhorts and practises He commends Zeal in his Epistles if it be rightly placed 'T is always good to be Zealous in a good thing Gal. 4. 18. To be Zealous of Spiritual Gists 1 Cor. 14. 12. of Good Works Titus 2. 14. He also exhorts men to be Fervent in Spirit Serving the Lord. Romans 12. 11. And he Allowed and Practised it in himself of which we have Divers Instances Take a view of his Hot and Earnest Spirit in some particulars At Athens his Spirit was stirred in him when he saw the City wholly given to Idolatry Acts 17. 16 't was full of Gods without the True God and he was angry and vext to see it So in Corinth at the Jews Infidelity He was pressed in Spirit and Testi●ied that Jesus was the Christ. chap. 18. 5. Now when was this 'T was when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia He had a good mind to it before even when he was a poor Labouring Sojourner v. 3. Even then he Reasoned and perswaded every

always able to manage a 〈◊〉 Spirit nor can always Distinguish b●●twixt Fire from Heaven in the strong Motions of Gods Holy Spirit which 〈◊〉 ought to be Cherished and th● Fire which arises from Hell in the vehmence of Temptation Enkindling 〈◊〉 Reakings and Fumes of their Corrupte● Nature of which the Devil never fa● to take his Advantage Young Elihu before mentioned 〈◊〉 a zealous warm Spirited man And 〈◊〉 without great Piety as the Tenour of 〈◊〉 Discourse does manifest Yet when 〈◊〉 Spirit constrained him and his Belly was 〈◊〉 Wine which hath no vent and ready to Bu●● like New Bottles Job 32. 18 19. i e. When his Passion was stirred within 〈◊〉 He Breaks out not only to Irreverence 〈◊〉 his Elder Brethren v. 9. Great men are not always wise neither do the Aged Understand Iudgment But he also Charges Iob I think very falsely ch 33. 8 9. I have heard the voice of thy words saying I am clean without Transgression I am Innocent neither is there Iniquity in me Where I wonder does Iob so speak Surely if he had God would not have Justified him as he does ch 42. 7. Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is Right as my Servant Iob hath So much do Hot Spiririted Men tho' Good Men yet often overshoot themselves The Rightest Temper of a Sanctified Zeal was that of Stephens a mixture of Meekness Wisdome and Courage Acts 6. 10 They were not ahle to 〈◊〉 the Wisdom and the Spirit with which he spake He spake with a Spirit which I take to be Zeal and Earnestness and yet with Wisdome so as no Exception could be justly taken and with Meekness too which after all their horrid Injuries is Testified by his Last and Dying Words ch 7. 6. Lord Lay not this Sin to their Charge And thus much of Zeal near of kin to which is 2. Iealousie a passion to which some mens Spirits are more than others prone And whereby men are Inclined to Suspicion fierce Anger Hatred and Bitterness 'T is called a Spirit of Iealousie coming upon a man Numb 5. 14. whether his Wife be Defiled or not This Spirit in Unsanctifyed persons and practises is an Odious and Bitter Evil. 'T is Declared Hateful to God and horridly Injurious to man Hateful to God Mal. 2. 16. I hate putting away saith the Lord. ● Therefore Take Heed to your Spirit namely This Iealous Spirit that you Entertain it not And Injurious to man as appears in the precedent words v. 15. Take Heed to your Spirit Let none deal Treacherously or Unfaithfully marg Against the Wife of his Youth 'T is a Treacherous Unfaithfulness to Entertain groundless Jealousies Love is Covenanted in Marriage and this is quite contrary thereunto Love thinketh no Ill Iealousie thinking nothng else Love covereth Faults Groundless Iealousie searcheth to Discover faults where there are none And then the Repetition of the words Therefore take Heed to your Spirit v. 15. and again v. 16 is well to be Noted for 't is a Rule Repeated words in Scripture call for special observation And as in Marriage so in other Relations it Destroys Friendship spoyls Humane Society and mutual Confidence and sometimes stirs up the most bitter Enmity for Ieal●usie is the ●age of a man That takes no Ransome for Life Prov. 6. 34. This is the Spirit that Dwelleth in us i. e. our Corrupted Nature Lusting to Envy James 4. 5 And yet ●or All this 〈◊〉 said of it nor can enough ●e said Abs●ract but a Iealous and Suspicious 〈◊〉 from In-bred Corruptions Take it as a pure Natural Temper 'T is a Basis of Great Prudence Wisdom and Wariness Not to allow of that Rotten principle Suspect every man to be Knave with whom you have to do But to take care in avoiding that Cha●acter of a Fool Noted in Prov. 14. 15. The Simple believeth every word But the prudent man Looketh well to his going Not Uncharitably to Suspect but prudently to be Circumspect is becoming a wise and hon●st man This pure Natural Cautious Spirit may be the Subject of Sanctif●cation and may become God like and a Godly Iealousie God like when a man so utte●●y Disapproves Sin and 〈◊〉 That he Dislikes the very Appearance thereof and Tendency thereunto Thou shalt not Bow down for I the Lord thy God am a Iealous God Exo. 20. 5. And by Sins however palliated is provokt to Iealousie Deu● 32. 16. 21. Every Likenese of Sin may Deserve that name Ezek. 8. 3 The Image of Iealousie which provoketh to Iealousie And as God-like so 't is Godly The Holy Prophet owned and professed it 1 King 19. 10. 14. I have been very Iealous for the Lord God of Hosts And so did the Holy Apostle 2 Cor. 11 2. I am Iealous over you with Godly Iealousie for I have Espoused you to one Husband c. 'T is Godly when the ●ent of Jealousie is only to promote Holiness when the Suspicion notes but care and watchfulness and the Bitterness ascribed to this Spirit is but a Hatred of Sin it may so be of very Excellent Use especially in those who by Gods Order have the Oversight of others And thus much of the Hotter Spirit which is Chearful Active Couragious Angry in zeal and Iealousie We shall now take a view of its Opposite and so better Illustrate both by comparing them together 2. The Colder Spirits which are in some men under the Temperaments of Phlegm or Melancholly The more if Radicated by Habits or excited and promoted by Ill Objects or Outward Circumstances These are in every point of the contrary Character to those Hotter Spirits before-mentioned As I. Is that Chearful and Brisk This is sorrowful and pensive full of Grief and Mourning as if made up of Sighs and Tears And whether it be from Natural Temper or from that concurrence mentioned of sad and troublesome Circumstances Mens Spirits are hereby Formed and Disposed to Lamentations Such was weeping Ieremiah such was our Blessed Saviour in his Humiliation A man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief as was Prophesied of him Isa. 53. 3. Now if this be Unsanctified it Disposes to many Evils especially where the Dogged Melancholly is prevalent therein 'T is an Evil Spirit in it self and of Evil Consequences I. In it self probably this was the Evil Spirit from the Lord upon Saul A Melancholly Spirit and perhaps sometimes even unto Fits of Distraction I take it so to be for that it was Alleviated by Davids Musick 1 Sam. 16. 23. Surely Davids Harp could not Conjure down Devils Nor does give any Countenance to Popish Bell Baptism for the same purpose No rather it was a Natural Evil an Evil Natural Spirit sent of God in Judgment and Helped by Natural Means thro' his Blessing David played with his hand so Saul was Refreshed and was well and the Evil Spirit Departed from him So by a Natural Means prescribed by his Doctors v. 16. Mus●ca Mentis Medicina Maestae was well It seems before

also Learn who can Reform and being Reformed preserve the Spirit of man even he and only he that Formed it That Stretcheth out the Heavens and Layeth the Foundation of the Eart● and F●rmeth the Spirit of man within hi● Zech. 12. 1. This may indeed be u●derstood of the Soul as one of the En●●nent Works of God and so is here Rec●●oned among them The like may 〈◊〉 said of that Father of Spirits Heb. 1● 9. And that in Isa. 57. 16. The Spi●●● should fail before me and the Souls which● have made Spirit and Souls may be take● as put Exeg●tically yet if you conside● what follow in that Zach. 12. 2. I 〈◊〉 make Ierusalem a Cup of Trembling to 〈◊〉 the People round about when they shall be 〈◊〉 the Fire v. 3. A Burthensome Stone 〈◊〉 all the people gathered together against 〈◊〉 And v. 4. Smite every Horse with Ast●nishment and his Rider with madness 〈◊〉 I say considered seems more to favo●●our Sense As it the Prophet had sai●● The Malignant Spirit of Wicked Men 〈◊〉 set against Gods People But the For●●er of Spirits can quickly confound the● can dash and break them be they as 〈◊〉 as the Horse Rushing into the Battle 〈◊〉 can soon fill them with Astonishme●● and promises so to do Now if he can thus Over-rule the Sp●●rits of the Wicked He can as well Reg●●late the Spirits of his Elect Casting 〈◊〉 Imaginations and every high thing that Exalteth it self against the Knowledg of God and bringing into Cap●ivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10 5. Thus the High Spirits who are like Hills are pulled down And the mean Low Spirits like to Valleys are lifted up yea the Crooked and Rough Spirits shall become as a straight and plain place to prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight Isa. 40. 4. This Sense is agreeable to the Covena●● made with Christ for his People Isa. 42 5 where Gods Titles are much like those in Zechary Who Created the Heavens and Spread forth the Earth H● that giveth Breath unto the People upon it There 's their Natural Life And Spirit to them that walk therein This I take to be their Moral Life or Conversation among men to which the Spirit we now speak of does very much conduce He gives the Spirit Temper or Inclination not only as a Gift of Nature but as an Eminent Gift of Sanctifying Grace whereby they walk Uprightly in the Earth INFERENCE 4. Hence also will naturally follow 〈◊〉 Exhortation of the Apostle Eph. 4. 23. Be ye Renewed in the Spirit of your min●s This means not that you should hav● New Powers or Faculties Natural wh●ther Superiour or Inferiour But new Inclinations new Dispositions The Spirit of the mind cannot be here new Intellec●s or new Wills which some would ha●● to be the Spirit of Man But new Lig●● in the Understanding new Bent in th● Will This is to have new Spirits of the mind by Sanctification In the Old man they were Corru●● according to Lusts v. 22 But in th● New Man v. 24. after or according to God they are Created anew 〈◊〉 Righteousness and True Holiness This ●●ho●tation Be ye Renewed Does no● Suppose in man a power of Self-Renov●tion or Require of man that which must be done by God if ever done But it Requires that man should do what in him Lyes to Regulate and O●der his Spirit or Inclination It Require● our Endeavour to the best of our A●●lities or Means to Reform our Spirits where they are apt to be Exuberant and bring our Reasons to Act in Subordaination to God in the Renovation of them And after all because our Endeavours in themselves in this matter of Governing our peculiar Spirits we see by daily sad Experience they Do and will miserably fall short of Effect Therefore to Invocate Divine Assistance and Influence That the work may be Accomplished as we shall again touch in the End Of these Endeavours in Subordaination to Gods Working a Chief one is 1. To Discover and Know our own Spirits GNOTHI SEAUSON Know thy Self was I think in This Respect meant by the Ancient Morallist In This Respect also as to the General was that Caution of the Prophet Mal. 2. 16. Take heed to your Spirit Tho' it was there Applied to a particular Case And our Saviours Rebuke to his Disciples Ye know not what manner of Spirit you are of Luk. 9. 55. Referrs to the same matter namely That men should be well acquainted with their own Spirits and Inclinations so will they be better Enabled To Resist Sin and Address to Duty in which two consist● That Renovation of their Spirits to whic● they are Exhorted 1. To Resist Sin That you may kee● your s●lves like David from your Ini●quity Psal. 18. 23. Know and Beway● your Infirmity That particular Breach i● your Spirit Prov. 15. 4. wher● th● Devil can most easily make his Assaults and Entrance In the Spiritual Warfare of the So●l Corruption in General is a Treacherou● Party within the Garrison But the mos● Active and Dangero●s Traytors of that Party are as it were by Name Particularly Discovered and brought forth by a due study of our Own Spirits The Blameless in the Text Notes where the Blameable is usually to be found 2. To Address to Duty That we may be more Eminently Serviceable to God and Men in our Generation Then are men most Servic●able when their Spirits are suited to their business and therefore a fit Choice of Callings in General may much Depend on the Knowledge of our Spirits When Other men make a Choice for an Affayr if they act prudently they view 〈◊〉 Spirits of their Candidates So the Apostle ordered the Primitive Christians 〈◊〉 ●o Acts 6. 3. Look you out among 〈◊〉 seven men of honest Report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom whom we may Appoint over this Business Every Believer was not qualified for the Service Every Godly Minister was not so fit to be sent to the Phillippians as Timotheus 〈◊〉 whom 't is said I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your 〈◊〉 Phil. 2. 20. Now as the Electors do Regularly ●ind mens Spirits so much more should 〈◊〉 Elected in their Acceptance of Employments to which they are Chosen The 〈◊〉 of this Care makes many to vent●●● on Depths beyond their Stature Burdens beyond their Strength Like the Ridiculous Aspiring of the Bramble in ●●thams Parable Iudg. 9. 15. to be King of the whole Forrest Come says the silly Shrub and put your Trust in my Shaddow Some are Imposed upon by Others Hypocritical Flattery And they again Impose upon themselves by their carel●●s Self-conceit Some are over-valued by th● Esteem that the partial Love of their Friends do put upon them Passions are violent and commonly Over-lash Love thinks all Excellent and Hate thinks nothing good A mans Own Prudence should rather guide him than Others Mistaking Affections And truly in those things wherein others may be greatly Deceived A man who is well Acquainted with his Own Spirit may rightly and easily Inform himself This is not said that men should only Contemplate their Own Infirmities for then no Humble Honest Man would ever be Employed All such would be ready to Answer with Moses upon a Great and Illustrious Call I am not Eloquent I am slow of Speech I pray thee send by the hand of him whom thou wilt or marg shouldst send Exod. 4. 10 Or with Holy Humble Ieremiah ch 1. 6. Ah Lord I cannot speak for I am a Child But the meaning is every man prudently allowing graynes for Humane Infirmity Does or may by the Study of his Own Spirit know what in some ●●asure he is good for and should ac●●●dingly apply himself to business As 〈◊〉 is true on the one hand what is con●●●●ed in that old Proverbial Rithm ●emo adeo est Tusus quinullos Serviat Usus 〈◊〉 is so good for nothing but may be us'd in something And 't is as true on the other hand 〈◊〉 omnia possum●s omnes We are not all 〈◊〉 for every thing Invita Minerva a 〈◊〉 Genius will never do Noble●● ploits And thus much of Knowing our Spirits ● But when we know them and 〈◊〉 Labour●d to Govern them according 〈◊〉 our best Discretion and Ability 〈◊〉 then finding an Insufficiency in 〈◊〉 selves well to manage those Head●●●ong and Impetuous things we shall 〈◊〉 cause besides our own Endeavours 〈◊〉 our own Spirits Humbly Earnest 〈◊〉 and continually to crave Assistance 〈◊〉 on High That God by his ●●●ctifying Grace would do that for 〈◊〉 which our Natural Powe● will never be able to Compass for our selves Not to Expell our Natures but to Order and Govern our Natural Dispositions and Inclinations as may be most for His Glory and Service and so for our own Comfort and Advantage We should Incessantly Pray for our selves the same which the Apostle here does for the Thessalonians That we may be wholly Sanctified and that our whole Spirit both Soul and Body may be preserve● Blameless to the Coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. I have done and shall conclude this Discourse with that frequent Benediction of the same Apostle As to Timothy 2 Epist. 4. 22. The Lord Iesus Christ be with your Spirit Which is the same in Sense with that to the Galatians ch 6. 18. and Philemon v. 25. Th● Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your Spirit Amen FINIS Advertisement 〈◊〉 little Treatises formerly Published by this Author ● THe Little Peace-maker Discovering Foolish Pride the Make-bate from 〈◊〉 13. 10. Only by Pride cometh Con●●●ion but with the well-advised is Wis●●● ● The Way of Good Men for Wise 〈◊〉 to walk in from Prov. 2. 20. That 〈◊〉 mayst walk in the way of good men 〈◊〉 keep the paths of the Righteous ● Debts Discharge being some Consi●●●ations on Romans 13. 8. Owe nothing 〈◊〉 man but to Love one another ● The Gaming Humour Considered and ●●proved or The Passion-Pleasure Ex●●sing Mony to Hazard by Play Lot 〈◊〉 Wager Exami●ed There are also two little things in English Meeter The one Meditations on the History Recorded in the First Fourteen Chapters of Exodus The other The Ark its Loss and Recovery being like Meditations on th● beginning of 1 Sam