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	good_a	work_n	13,920	5	6.2525	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86000	A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianisme, independencie, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.; CXI propositions concerning the ministerie and government of the Church.	Gillespie, George, 1613-1648.	1647 (1647)	Wing G749; Thomason E418_3; ESTC R202292	30,071	51

Amphilochius Can. 4. Ambros. lib. 2. De officiis Chap. 27. Augustine in his book against the Donatists after the conference Chap. 4. Chrysostom Homil. 83. in Matth. Gregor. the great Epist. lib. 2. Chap 65. and 66. Walafridus Strabo of Ecclesiasticall matters Chap. 17. 13. That first and lesser censure by Christs ordinance is to be inflicted on such as have received Baptisme and pretend to be true Members of the church yet are found unfit and unworthy to communicate in the signes of the grace of Christ with the church whether for their grosse ignorance of divine things the Law namely and Gospell or by reason of scandall either of false Doctrine or wicked life For these causes therefore or for some one of them they are to be kept back from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper a lawfull judiciall tryall going before according to the interdiction of Christ forbidding that that which is Holy be given to dogs or Pearles bee cast before swine Matth 7. 6. and this censure of suspension is to continue till the offenders bring forth fruits worthy of repentance 14. For the asserting and defending of this suspension there is no small accession of strength from the nature of the Sacrament it self and the institution and end thereof The Word of God indeed is to be Preached as well to the ungodly and impenitent that they may be converted as to the Godly and repenting that they may be confirmed But the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is by God instituted not for beginning the Work of Grace but for nourishing and increasing Grace and therefore none is to be admitted to the Lords Supper who by his life testifieth that he is impenitent and not as yet converted 15. Indeed if the Lord had instituted this Sacrament that not onely it should nourish and cherish faith and seal the promises of the Gospell but also should begin the work of Grace in sinners and give regeneration it self as the instrumentall cause thereof verily even the most wicked most uncleane and most unworthy were to be admitted But the Reformed Churches do otherwise judge of the nature of this Sacrament which shall be abundantly manifest by the gleaning of these following Testimonies 16. The Scottosh Confession Art 23. But we confesse that the Lords Supper belongs onely to those of the houshold of faith who can try and examine themselves as well in faith as in the duties of faith towards their neighbours Whoso abide without faith and in variance with their brethren doe at that holy Table eate and drinke unworthily Hence it is that the Pastors in our Church doe enter on a publike and particular examination both of the knowledge conversation and life of those who are to be admitted to the Lords Table The Belgick Confession Art 35. We beleevs also and confesse that our Lord Jesus Christ hath ordained the holy Sacrament of his Supper that in it he may nourish and uphold them whom he hath already regenerated 17. The Saxon Confession Art 15. of the Lords Supper The Lord willeth that every receiver be particularly confirmed by this testimony so that he may be certified that the benefits of the Gospel doe appertaine to himself seeing the Preaching is common and by this testimony by this receiving he sheweth that thou art one of his members and washed with his blood And by and by Thus therefore we instruct the Church that it behooveth them that come to the supper to bring with them repentance or conversion and faith being now kindled in the meditation of the death and resurrection and the benefits of the Son of God to seek here the confirmation of this faith The very same things are set downe and that in the very same words in the consent of the Churches of Pole-land in the Sendominian Synode Anno 1570. Art of the Lords Supper 18. The Bohemian Confession Art 11. Next our Divines teach that the Sacraments of themselves or as some say ex opere operato doe not confer Grace to those who are not first endued with good motions and inwardly quickened by the Holy Spirit neither doe they bestow justifying faith which maketh the soule of man in all things obsequious trusting and obedient to God for faith must goe before wee speake of them of ripe yeares which quickeneth a man by the work of the Holy Spirit and putting good motions into the heart And after But if any come unworthily to the Sacraments he is not made by them worthy or cleane but doth only bring greater sinne and damnation on himself 19. Seeing then in the holy Supper that is in the receiving the Sacramentall Elements which is here distinguished from the Prayers and Exhortations accompanying that action the benefits of the Gospell are not first received but for them being received are thanks given neither by partaking thereof doth God bestow the very spirituall life but doth preserve cherish and perfect that life and seeing the Word of God is accounted in the manner of letters patents but Sacraments like seals as rightly the Helvetian Confession faith Chap. 19 it plainely followeth that those are to be kept back from the Lords Supper which by their fruits and manners doe prove themselves to be ungodly orimpenitent and strangers or alients from all communion with Christ Nor are the promises of Grace sealed to any other then to those to whom these promises doe belong for otherwise the seal annexed should contradict and gainsay the letters patents and by the visible Word those should be loosed anst remitted which by the audible Word are bound and condemned But this is such an absurdity as that if any would yet hee cannot smooth or heal it with any plaister 20. But as known impious and unregenerate persons have no right to the holy Table So also ungodly persons by reason of grievous scandall are justly for a time deprived of it for it is not lawfull or allowable that the comforts and promises which belong onely to such as beleeve and repent should be sealed unto known unclean persons and those who walk inordinatly whether such as are not yet regenerate or such as are regenerate but fallen and not yet restored or risen from their fall The same Discipline was plainly shaddowed forth under the Old Testament for none of Gods People during their legall pollution was permitted to enter into the Tabernable or to have accesse to the solomne Sacrifices and society of the Church and much more were wicked and notorious offenders debarred from the Temple ever untill by an offering for sinne together with a solemne confession thereof being cleansed they were reconciled unto God Num. 5 6 7 8. Lev. 5. to the 7. vers Lev. 6. to vers. 8. 21. Yea that those who were polluted with sins and crimes were reckoned among the unclean in the Law Maimonides in more Nevo●him Part. 3 Chap 47. proveth out of Lev. 20. 3. Lev. 18 24. Num. 35. 33. 34. Therefore seeing the shedding of mans blood was rightly esteemed the greatest