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	grace_n	lord_n	6,870	5	3.6136	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59662	The Day-breaking, if not the sun-rising of the Gospell with the Indians in New-England	Wilson, John, 1588-1667.; Shepard, Thomas, 1605-1649.; Eliot, John, 1604-1690.	1647 (1647)	Wing S3110; ESTC R21203	20,924	28

that art of coyning Christians or putting Christs name and Image upon copper mettle Although I thinke we have much cause to bee humbled that wee have not endeavoured more then wee have done their conversion and peace with God who enjoy the mercy and peace of God in their land Three things have made us thinke as they once did of building the Temple it is not yet time for God to worke 1. Because till the Jewes come in there is a seale set upon the hearts of those people as they thinke from some Apocalypticall places 2. That as in nature there is no progresses ab● 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 nisi per media so in religion such as are so extreamly degenerate must bee brought to some civility before religion can prosper or the word take place 3. Because wee want miraculous and extraordinary gifts without which no conversion can bee expected amongst these But me thinkes now that it is with the Indians as it was with our New English ground when we first came over there was scarce any man that could beleeve that English graine would grow or that the Plow could doe any good in this woody and rocky soile And thus they continued in this supine unbeliefe for some yeares till experience taught them otherwise and now all see it to bee scarce inferiour to Old English tillage but beares very good burdens so wee have thought of our Indian people and therefore have beene discouraged to put plow to such dry and rocky ground but God having begun thus with some few it may bee they are better soile for the Gospel then wee can thinke I confesse I thinke no great good will bee done till they bee more civilized but why may not God begin with some few to awaken others by degrees nor doe I expect any great good will bee wrought by the English leaving secrets to God although the English shall surely begin and lay the first stones of Christs Kingdome and Temple amongst them because God is wont ordinarily to convert Nations and peoples by some of their owne country men who are nearest to them and can best speake and most of all pity their brethren and countrimen but yet if the least beginnings be made by the conversion of two or three its worth all our time and travailes and cause of much thankfulnesse for such seedes although no great harvests should immediately appeare surely this is evident first that they never heard heart-breaking prayer and preaching before now in their owne tongue that we know of secondly that there were never such hopes of a dawning of mercy toward them as now certainely those aboundant teares which wee saw shed from their eies argue a mighty and blessed presence of the spirit of Heaven in their hearts which when once it comes into such kinde of spirits will not easily out againe The chiefe use that I can make of these hopefull beginnings besides rejoycing for such shinings is from Esay 2. 5. Oh house of Israel let us walke in the light of the Lord Considering that these blinde Natives beginne to looke towards Gods mountaine now The observations I have gathered by conversing with them are such as these That none of them slept Sermon or derided Gods messenger Woe unto those English that are growne bold to doe that which Indians will not Heathens dare not That there is need of learning in Ministers who preach to Indians much more to English men and gracious Christians for these had sundry philosophicall questions which some knowledge of the arts must helpe to give answer to and without which these would not have beene satisfied worse then Indian ignorance hath blinded their eies that renounce learning as an enemy to Gospell Ministeries That there is no necessity of extraordinary gifts nor miraculous signes alway to convert Heathens who being manifest and professed unbeleevers may expect them as soone as any signes being given for them that beleeve not 1 Cor. 14. 22. much lesse is there any need of such gifts for gathering Churches amongst professing Christians signes not being given for them which beleeve for wee see the Spirit of God working mightily upon the hearts of these Natives in an ordinary way and I hope will they being but a remnant the Lord using to shew mercy to the remnant for there be but few that are left alive from the Plague and Pox which God sent into those parts and if one or two can understand they usually talke of it as wee doe of newes it flies suddainely farre and neare and truth scattered will rise in time for ought we know If English men begin to despise the preaching of faith and repentance and humiliation for sinne yet the poore Heathens will bee glad of it and it shall doe good to them for so they are and so it begins to doe the Lord grant that the foundation of our English woe be not laid in the ruine and contempt of those fundamentall doctrines of faith repentance humiliation for sin c. but rather relishing the novelties and dreames of such men as are surfe●●ed with the ordinary food of the Gospell of Christ Indians shall weepe to heare faith and repentance preached when English-men shall mourne too late that are weary of such truths That the deepest estrangements of man from God is no hin●●●nce to his grace nor to the Spirit of grace for what Nation or people ever so deeply degenerated since Adams fall as these Indians and yet the Spirit of God is working upon them That it is very likely if ever the Lord convert any of these Natives that they will mourne for sin exceedingly and consequently love Christ dearely for if by a little measure of light such heartbreaking● have appeared what may wee thinke will bee when more is let in they are some of them very wicked some very ingenious these latter are very apt and quick of understanding and naturally sad and melancholly a good servant to repentance and therefore there is the greater hope of great heart-breakings if everGod brings them effectually home for which we should affectionately pray A third meeting with the Indians NOvember 26. I could not goe my selfe but heard from those who went of a third meeting the Indians having built more Wigwams in the wonted place of meeting to attend upon the Word the more readily The preacher understanding how many of the Indians discouraged their fellowes in this worke and threatning death to some if they heard any more spake therefore unto them about temptations of the Devill how hee tempted to all manner of sinne and how the evill heart closed with them and how a good heart abhorred them the Indians were this day more serious then ever before and propounded divers questions againe as 〈◊〉 Because some Indians say that we must pray to the Devill for all good and some to God they would know whether they might pray to the Devill or no 2. They said they heard the word humiliation oft