Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	faith_n	gift_n	grace_n	6,936	5	5.6824	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76085	The second part of that book call'd Independency not Gods ordinance: or the post-script, discovering the uncharitable dealing of the Independents towards their Christian brethren, with the jugglings of many of their pastors and ministers, to the misleading of the poor people to the detriment of their own souls, and the hurt both of church and state, with the danger of novelties in religion; proving that Independency, is one of the most dangerous sects, that ever appeared in the world, since mortality inhabited the earth. In the which also there is a satisfactory answer given to the principall cavils of him that writ that railing pamphlet, stil'd The falshood of Mr Will. Prynnes Triumphing in the antiquity of popish princes and parliaments. With Doctor Bastvvicks just defence against some calumnies in way of preface. / By John Bastvvick, Dr in Physick.; Independency not Gods ordinance. Part 2	Bastwick, John, 1593-1654.	1645 (1645)	Wing B1069; Thomason E287_9; ESTC R200091	93,218	111

for righteousnesse sake saith he happie are ye and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled but sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and reverence And Saint Paul Phil. 1. vers 27 28 29 30. incouraging the Philippians in their persecution saith Let your conversation be as becommeth the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may heare of your affaires that ye stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake having the same conflict which ye saw in me and now here to be in me Here Paul animates the Christians in those times to suffer cheerfully telling them that it was a great honour to them and the gift of God to suffer for Christs sake That therefore which is one of the eminentest means of the increase of the graces of God and the degrees of faith and the gift of God that cannot hinder the growth of them but to suffer persecution for Christs sake is one of the eminentest means of the increase of the graces of God and of the degrees of faith and is the speciall gift of God Ergò persecution cannot hinder the growth of the graces of Gods Spirit in the Saints And for proof of this the testimony of S. Peter in chap. 5. vers 10. sufficeth The God of all grace saith he who hath called us into his eternall glory by Christ Jesus after ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen and settle you So that by Peters testimony persecution for conscience sake and for Christs cause doth perfect stablish strengthen and settle men it is a means to increase all the graces of Gods Spirit and therefore hindreth not their growth And in the Chapter going before vers 12 13 14. Beloved saith he think it not strange concerning the fiery triall as though some strange thing hapned unto you but rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings and if ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happie are ye for the Spirit of glorie and of God resteth upon you Here is a mighty increase of graces by reason of persecutions for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon sufferers by them And therefore in the conclusion of his second Epist speaking to his countrey men scattered here and there through persecution Grow saith he in grace and in the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ c. Now if this Gentlemans second assertion be true That it is impossible that such as know but in part should grow in knowledge or from one measure of degree of faith to another if men should be questioned for matters of conscience which are his expresse tearms Then the exhortation of Peter to those that were under persecution that they should be alwaies ready to give an answer of their hope and that they should grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ were to no purpose And all that he affirmeth in his Epistles concerning their growth in all the graces of the holy Spirit and all that Paul testifies in 2 Cor. chap. 1. touching the benefit of persecutions and the good that redounds not only to those by them that suffer but to all the Saints who were encouraged by their example more willingly to endure affliction and were thereby the more strengthned got the more increase of all graces by them and whatsoever S. Paul writ in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians chap. 1. concerning the Christians growth in patience and faith through the persecutions and tribulations they then endured for conscience sake and whatsoever he hath testified to the contrary in his Epistle to the Philippians and in all his other Epistles and whatsoever the whole Scripture hath evidenced in this behalfe concerning the growth and increase of all the graces of Gods Spirit by reason of their persecution for conscience sake and for Christs cause all these witnesses I say should be nothing yea untrue and meer falsehood if this Cavillers assertion be true yea all the Independents themselves should be notorious lyars if these Positions be veritable for they brag exceedingly what increase there is daily of the Independents and of all their graces and what abundance of New-lights do daily appear by reason of their persecution for so they please to style every opposition of their errors and glory in all companies where they come what multitudes have lately joyned with thē in their New wayes by reason of the opposition of it and for that some of their Leaders have been questioned before the Committee about matters of conscience and this that I now say can be proved by an Iliad of witnesses So that I refer it to all judicious men whether we ought to believe Christ and the holy Ghost speaking in all the Penmen of the Scriptures who assert that persecution for religion conscience increase the graces of God in Christian sufferers or this wretched and temerarious Novice who boldly and impudently dares give the Spirit of God the lye and contradict the whole Scripture and which is much oppose all the Fraternity of the Independents For this man affirmeth that it is impossible that men should grow in knowledge or from one measure and degree of faith to another if they be persecuted or questioned for matters of conscience And yet the Spirit of God saith the contrary and the experience of all the Saints confutes this assertion And if the Independents themselves may be believed they also refell this Position boasting daily not only of the increase of their graces by opposition and questioning but of the increase of the mighty multitudes of them by reason of that So that every one of but shallow capacity may see the vanity of this Juglers two first conclusions For the four other following they are answered in this that I have now said Yet a word or two more to shew the nothingnesse and wickedness of them will not be amisse For whereas he boldly affirmeth That it is impossible that in a rationall way there should be a firme secure peace through the World nay not in a Province City or Towne so long as men make a point of conscience to compell one another to their opinions This I assert is to confute Gods own Word in Deut. 13. who hath commanded there that whosoever should teach a contrary Doctrine to that that was taught by Moses should be questioned and suffer death for it and that by this means a firme peace would be setled amongst Gods people through their borders for

Reformation thus long Ye see saith he that a little handfull of Independent Ministers in the Synod have given three Kingdomes imployment these two yeares so that they can do nothing and boasted of this wicked act as a matter of vantation and triumph So that if men well consider the whole negotiation of the Independents in the Reverend Assembly it is to hinder the work of reformation then the which there cannot be a more diabolicall designe And then they spread it abroad among the people that they have not liberty to speak when it is most notorious that one of them speaks more than half a dozen of the other Ministers And they have published it also all over the Town that the Presbyterians durst not let their reasons be set out in Print to the view of the world for they knew very well that as they were unanswerable so that all the people would forthwith have been of their judgement and by this their babble it is incredible how they have strengthned their Faction and gained disciples for their followers beleeve all they say as Gospell And truely if there were nothing but these their under-hand dealings and malicious practises and rejoycing at evill it were enough to make all men abhor their wayes but the truth is they have no certainty in any thing they beleeve to day and by their practises they contradict all their doctrine and tenents And that all men may be yet a little better acquainted with the Independent Ministers juglings I thought good to insert here these sixteen Observations sent me by a learned and godly Gentleman who is very well verst in all their doctrines and manners They are these 1. THey hold themselves the principall Labourers and Pillers of faith when as they professe that their present judgements shall not binde themselves for the future but that they beleeve all things with a reserve to alter their thoughts faith and judgements upon new or better Light 2. They pleade for liberty of conscience yet will impose a Covenant upon every mans conscience they admit into their congregations else exclude him 3. They plead against toleration of any corrupt members c. in a Church and yet plead for a toleration of all Religions in a State under the notion of liberty of Conscience 4. They plead against the Magistrates Coarsive power in matters of Religion and yet banish men in New England and expell all out of their Congregations that are not of their way 5. They pleade against Synods and yet they professe themselves members of the present Synod 6. They speak against Parochiall Congregations as against the Kingdome and Law of Christ and yet some of them accept of such and yet will neither Baptize nor administer the Lords Supper to their Parishoners though they take their tithes 7. They write against Tithes as Jewish Popish c. yet some of them take them and sue for them as greedily as any others 8. They condemne all set formes of Prayer or Preaching and yet themselves plead for a set forme of Church-Government Jure Divino in all particular circumstances whatsoever 9. They condemn non-residency and pluralities yet many of them have divers Livings and Lectures of good value and yet are resident and keep hospitality at none of them 10. They call some Presbyterians Lord Bishops because they ride now then on horse-back by reason of age or infirmity to the Assembly yet many of them ride thither in Coaches and some of them can ride 6. or 7. miles on the Lords day in a Coach and 4. horses to Preach an afternoon Sermon which Christ and his Apostles never did and no Presbyterian practiseth 11. They condemn Presbyterians of harsh language and bitternesse in their writings against them yet none are so desperately Libellous Satyricall and scandalous in their writings as many of them against Presbyterians 12. They professe nothing but truth and yet many of their writings savour with malicious mis-informations scandals forgeries untruths invented by themselves to defame their innocent Christian brethren 13. They pretend themselves the onely propugners of the Parliament Priviledges and Jurisdiction yet none more oppugned them in the hight of opposition as they 14. They professe themselves more estranged from and mortified to the world yet none more covetous oppressive ambitious of honours preferments and hunting after all manner of gainfull Offices and imployments as they nor none more unfaithfull unconscionable in them then some of them 15. They pretend the Scripture to be the onely rule of their way and Discipline and yet can produce no one Text or Example of Scripture for any thing their Church warrants or they hold wherein they differ from the Presbyterians 16. They dare not undertake to binde themselves for the future by any thing they held or concluded touching Church government much losse any of their party therefore it is vaine to dispute with or receive any thing from them in matter of government or discipline who will neither be bound by their own mother-judgements or practice but hold and practise all things only duranti bene placito Out of all the which as out of my former discourse it is easie for any man to gather that of all the Seducers that have yet appeared in the world these are most to be taken heed of whatsoever seeming holinesse they may make shew of to the people But that I may now draw to a conclusion of this my Postscript leaving the narration of many other passages of theirs till their Answer comes out which their followers say is ready for the Presse let me say this to all such as desire the knowledge of the truth in sincerity and that love peace that all men may see how fair we offer the Independents and all such as are affected to their novelties whereas the Independent Ministers have perswaded the people that their Arguments by which they have laboured to prove That in the Church of Jerusalem there were no more Believers then could all meet in one congregation to partake in all acts of worship were unanswerable and have affirmed withall that if it could be made evident or proved unto them That there were more Christians in the Church of Jerusalem then could all meet in one Congregation that then they would relinquish their opinion of Independency I and Mr. William Prynne Esquire my Brother in affliction who the Independents have causelesly maligned and reproached not to take the work out of any learned and godly Ministers hands who we honour for their singular erudition and worth and far prefer before our selves for all sufficiency and accomplished learning shall with all humility undertake to maintaine and make good these ensuing Propositions The first That there were more particular Assemblies and Congregations of Believers in the Church of Jerusalem then one The second That all those severall Congregations made but one Church The third That those severall congregations were all under one Presbyterie The fourth That the government of the Church of Jerusalem is to be a patterne of government to all succeeding ages The fifth That the gathering of Churches after the Independent way together with their Church-covenant and all other their proceedings wherein they differ from the Presbyterians hath neither precept nor president in the whole Word of God All these positions we undertake to make good against all the Independents in the Kingdome not out of any contention for victory but truth and that in the spirit of love and not in our own strength but and in the Name and in the Power of the King eternall immortall the mighty Potentate the Lord of Hosts And if we shall not by the grace of God and his blessed assistance be able to make good what we undertake we shall not refuse to undergoe the greatest censure for this our temerity But if we make good our tenents and evince and prove their Independency and the manner of the gathering of their Churches to be but their own inventions and meer novelties all the persecution that we shall then wish may be exercised against our Brethren for the great distractions and breaches they have made among us is this that we shall desire all the godly people of the City to be humble petitioners with us unto the great Councell of the Kingdome that as they lately made a pious and a godly Ordinance for the silencing of all such as undertook the ministery without sufficiency of abilities and a lawfull call so they would now silence all these novelties and command the Independent Ministers hereafter to preach the Gospell purely and sincerely to the people without those mixtures of their own traditions annexed to it by which they shall bring a great deale of glory to God honour to themselves and procure if not peace to the whole Kingdome yet love amity and unanimity amongst the people which ought to be the prayer of all those that wish the peace of Zion and the salvation of their Brethren and the welfare of the Nation My request to the Independents in behalfe of the Expectants and Seekers LIghts Lights Gentlemen-INDEPENDENTS hang out your Lights your New-lights there hang out your Newborn-lights there That the poore Seekers may finde a Church amongst you Imprimatur Ja. Cranford FINIS