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	receive_v	7,604	5	5.6899	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19216	The humble and vnfained confessio[n] of the belefe of certain poore banished men grounded vpon the holy scriptures of God, and vpo[n] the articles of that vndefiled and onlye vndoubted true Christian faith, which the holy Catholicke (that is to say vniuersal) Churche of Christ professeth. Specially concerning, not only the worde of God, and the ministerye of the same: but also the church and sacramentes therof. Which we send moost humbly vnto the Lordes of Engla[n]d, and al the commons of the same. ... Lorde increase our faith.; Humble and unfained confession of the belefe of certain poore banished men.	Ponet, John, 1516?-1556, attributed name.	1554 (1554)	STC 5630; ESTC S111154	26,257	72

me And so it came to passe Neuertheles after he wa●ed strong and ouer came that infirmitie and knewe y t to fal we haue of our selues to stād we haue onely of God So is tribulation profitable to the strōg and mightie for it bringeth them to the crown of glory it profiteth the weake for it openeth their minde and maketh thē to seke to the Phisition and curer of our soules and to cry with Dauid O Lord heale my soule for I haue sinned against the. Let vs therfore labour to ouercome our weakenes to accomplishe that the Lorde commaundeth Be faithful vnto the death and I wil geue the a crowne of life You se the Lorde requireth faithfulnesse both in the stewardes that preach his worde and in the seru●intes that heare it Death is the ende of al fleshe as well of Kinges and Quenes Dukes and bishops as of poore men For al flesh is grasse and al the glory of fleshe as the flower of grasse Whē the winde of the Lorde goeth ouer it it falleth fadeth but the Lordes word abydeth for euer and those that doth the wyll of the Lorde abide also for euer Happye are those to whom the Lorde geueth that crowne of lyfe and to loose it is a greater losse then either Emperour King or Quene or an Angel from heauen can either restore or recompence Stand therfore faithfullye to gods word beleue his promis He that hath eares to heare let him hear what the holy Gost saith to the churches He that ouercōmeth shal not be hurt by the seconde death The fyrste death is of the body as the Lord sayd to sinful Adam Earthe thou art and into earth thou shalt returne agayne But the secōd death is it that Christ admonished vs to flie saying I sai to you my frendes be not afraid of thē which withe body and after that thei haue nothing more that they can do I wil shew you whom you ought to feare Feare hym that after he hathe slaine the body hath power to cast into hel fyre Trulye I say to you feare him Let not the feare of man so ouercome v● but that the fear of god may alway be ruler in our hartes so shall we attaine the croune of life prepared for those that loue the Lorde and hys word vnfeinedly I haue not written this as to those that are ignoraunt of theyr dutye or vnable to strēgthen both them selues and others but as to my moste deare brethren in the Lord trusting y ● Gods spirit that is among you doth dayly moue your harts now to the highest perfeccion of godlines euen to denie your liues for Christes sake to take vp your crosse and to folow him Yf any haue in times past bene negligēt in the wai of godlynes I prai besech and exhort the same in the Lord Iesu to turn vnto the Lord with his whole hart and not by his euyl and wicked liuing prouoke the Lordes wrath any longer nor to bring plages vpon the whole congregacion for his wickednes Brethren fal to praier dayly euery man for him selfe and for his Christian brethren Fal to weeping wyth Nehemias Ieremye to see the wall of Ierusalem broken the city destroied with sweard and fire and the temple burned Fal to fasting for now y e daies are come that our swete deare Bridegrome Christ is taken from vs. I certeinli beleue that our to to much negligence in praier and our sloutheful and seldome cōmyng to the holye Supper of the Lorde are twoo of the great causes why the Lord hath thus plaged vs. Let vs therfore earnestlye turne vnto the Lord that he mai turn to vs cal that he may hear aske that he may giue seke that we may finde knocke that the Lord may open vnto vs. If euer we shewed our selues true Christiās let vs now shew it in godlines of conuersacion and lyuinge in quietnes in patiēt suffering in meeke bearing of wronges doing of none to other in forgeueing our enemyes and praying for them in feedyng the poore and needy Saintes of God in pitying al men and in praying for all men And dearelye beloued praye for vs that God of his mercy strengthen and cōforte vs in these troubles that he nowe layeth vpon vs and that the Lorde leaue vs not to our selu●s but ●uer hold his handouer vs and kepe vs vnto the ende For truly I know without his grace and mercyful help no man is able to withs●and Sathās vyolence therefore for Christes loue pray for vs as we shal not faile dayly to do for you Here haue I gētle Reader setforth the Confession and Faith of certaine learned men that as they haue writtē it in theyr exile for thy cōfort so maiest thou giue god the praise and helpe to stop the mouthes of suche blasphemers as haue nothing in theyr mouthes but Heretickes Heretickes But I dout not that when thou hast read it with iudgement and cōferd it with theyr doctrine that they now preach to thee thou shalt se which sort ar the Heretickes Thou mayest see that all theyr struglynge is to brynge thee to theyr stynckyng Romyshe puddels agayne Thus I commende you all dearelye beloued in the tender mercies of Iesu Christ vnto the tuitiō of the liuing god which is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ beseching him to send his holy Gost among you to bestow his ritch grace and blessing vpon you that you al may be cōstant and perfect in Gods wayes and vnmoueable in Christes faith constantlye per●euering vnto the end Amen Grace be with you peace frō God our Father and from our Lord Iesus Christe who tread down Sathan vnder our fete shortly Amen ❧ To all suche as loue to feare God to serue and worshippe him in spirit and truth and to lyue in charitie and vertue amōg their neighbours within the Realme of England Grace mercye and peace be multipled with you from God the father through Iesus Christ his only sōne our Lord and only Sauiour BEcause we are assured that the Deuil not onely as an anucient murtherer proceadeth stil in cruel tirannye and extremities but also as the olde liar from the beginning and father of falsholde in misreporting slaundring and beliynge the moost sacred veritie of Goddes holy worde and vs poore men that haue bene minis●ers of the same specially now that we are absent and gone far from our natiue coūtry of England Therfor partly to certifie such of you as knowe vs that we shute styl at the olde marke of Gods worde neither recanting nor reuokyng that whiche we haue learned in the ●chole of Go● and taught amongst you and partly to signifi to as many of you as know vs not and yet do hear howe our aduersaries raile vpon vs behynde oure backes callyng vs Heretyckes S●●smatickes c. that we are not as they reporte but better framed bothe in thought word and deede

we trust to the glory of God and your edifying For these and such cōsideracions we haue therfore set forth this humble vnfained confession of our belefe that is to say how we in conscience ar perswaded by the infallible testimony of the scriptures concerning the word of God written and the ministery of the same his Church also and sacramēts therof For as these are the principall pointes of the fayth and true Religiō which is builded only vpon Christ so if our mindes by the witnes of the holy Gost in his word be fully resolued herein then by the grace of the same most holy spirite neyther our vnderstandynge nor good wylles neyther yet oure bodyes shall be stopte nor hindred from praier ●r fastynge frō pacience or obedyence from peace or Christian quietnes from doynge our duties to God and man or from e●ercisyng of those good works that are comprehended in his holy preceptes and cōmaundementes And thus most hertely prayng you to kepe you stil in the Arke with Noah his housholde We assure you in the word of the Lorde that so dooinge the fludde shal not drowne you nether shal the wrath to come ouer take you Amen FIrst because we mind not to build vppon a weke foundation we are stedfastly perswaded and do reuerētly beleue al the Articles of the christē fayth comprehended in thre Eredes commonly called Simbolum Apos●olicum Simbolum Nicenum and simbolum Athanasii Item We do stedfastli beleue end reuerence euen from the botome of our hartes al the holy Scriptures of Gods b●oke which is the sacred ●yble con●teinyng the Olde and Newe-testament being fullye perswaded 〈◊〉 our conscience accordyng to the testimony of the holy gost that the same holy Scripture is able to make men learned vnto saluation throughe the faith which is in Christ Iesu And that like as the sayd holy Scripture was geuen by inspiration of God whose gracious blessed spirit was the worker therof and is profitable to teach to improue to refourme and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be perfect and prepared vnto al good works euen so is it the ●ure word of prophecie very lighte that shineth in a darke place so that who so taketh hede therūto doth wel vntil the day dawne and til the daye starre arise in his heart Item We beleue that whosoeuer transgresseth or ouer passeth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God so that if any mā com vnto vs ▪ and bring not this learny●● of Gods holy word we ought not to receiue him into our house nether to welcome him but rather to beware of such false prophetes as beynge inwardlye rauenynge wolffes woulde spoile vs through philosophy and de●eifull vanitie after the tradicions of men and after the ordinaunces of the world and not a●ter Christ. Item Our stedfast beliefe is that like as if an Angel from heauē or the Apostles them selues should preache vnto vs any other Gospel or doctrin concerning Religion contrary to that thei haue taught alredy we ought to holde them accursed Euen so we are bound to beware least any man with vayn traditions or coloured holines cause vs to shote at a wronge marke or leade vs out of the ryght way Item We beleue verely that whosoeuer doth wilfully follow or teach such doctrin as is contrary to the holy scriptures of God The same for y t he agreeth not vnto the holsome wordes of oure sauior Iesus Christ is a proud ignoraunt person and a verye wast brain And that vnto those which wil not receiue the loue of the said deuine truth and holye scriptures to their saluation ▪ Almyghtie God doth most iustli send strōg delusiō suffring thē to beleue lies to y e damnatiō of al such as disdainīg to geue credēce vnto y e truth haue plesure in vnrightousnes Item Our beleif is that for al our liplabour and outwarde apperaunce or shewe of Religion ▪ Yet so longe as we ●epe vs not to the rule of the holy scripture but wilfully folowe the corrupt tradicions doctrines preceptes and lawes of men we worship Go● in vain and serue him not in such vpryght sort as we ought to do Item Our conscience is fully perswaded that because men are so stubbourne and disobedient so hard herted froward that thei thinke scorne to herkē vnto the voyce of God and wilfully refuse to be ordred by the teaching of his holye worde and scriptures God therfore geuing them vp to their owne heartes lust and sufferyng them to folowe their owne imaginations doth most iustly take part against them powrynge vpon theim such great and horrible pla●es as the prophet Moses speaketh of Item Our stedfast beleife is that whatsoeuer the almightie and euerliuyng God commaūdeth vs by his word which he hath appointed to be the Lanterne vnto our feete lyghte vnto our pathes like as we ought to haue the same in such reuerence that we bowe not aside therfrom neither to the ryght hand nor to the left and that we do not suche thinges as seme good in our own eies but only that which is right in the sight of the Lord adding nothinge vnto his wordes least he reproue and plage vs least we be found liars Euen so we should not take away or minish ought from his words least he take awaye from vs our porcion out of the boke of life Item Like as our beleife is that y e sayd holy word and scripture of God alone sheweth mē y e right path to cōe to god to se him to know him to loue hym to serue hym so to serue hym as he most desireth so ar we fulli perswaded according to s. Austines coūsail y t it is our boūden dutie aswel to yelde and consent to the authoritie of holy scripture which neither can disceiue nor be desceiued As also in the vnderstanding therof diligētly to obserue the circumstaūces of the places times and persons ▪ and to take good hede not oneli what but also of whō any thing therin contained is spokē And here with this humble confesion of our fayth in Christ we do euē from the botome o● our hartes right sore lament and bewaile the present miserable decay of Christes true Religion the manyfold inconueniences the great harme and horrible abuses that are entred in among the generations of men of al sortes and degrees through addyng vnto the sayd holye Scripture throughe minishing of it and for not duely consideryng the circumstances therof That is to say for not regarding for not obeiyng and for not folowyng the infallible truth of the same moost reuerende word of God The curssed and vnhappy contempt wherof vndoubtedli hath brought into this worlde al wickednes aswel of false doctrine as of vngodly and sinful liuyng To the subuerting of al good ordre not oneli in matters of Religion but also in thynges concernyng our

the loynes of our forefather Adam to whom he was promised immediatly after his offence but opened vnto the worlde whan he became incarnate So that this felowship was entred with vs in that parte whyche was properli ours In respect wherof the father of heauen through fayth operation of his holy spirit vouchsafe to make vs partakers of that whiche was properly his namely the breade that came downe from heauen which is lyfe it self optained by Christes death whereby his merites are become ours So that then was this felloweship fully ioyned whan the heauenly mariage betwene our nature and his was made in the vnitie of persone in him not by cōfusiū of substance no more thē ether his deuine or humayn nature is confounded thoughe he be both very God and very man Thus thorow faith wherunto this heauenly matter is offered and by the workyng of the holy gost we haue our felowship with euerlastynge life in his body and bloud which he tooke of vs and which now sitteth in glory wher also our soule is present through faith so that we be one with him The fruitful knowledge and vnderstandyng of this heauenly mistery is euidently setfurth to the eyes of faith ▪ not onely by the fyrst institution and practise of y e Lordes holy Supper but also by his most comfortable wordes afore in the Gospel where he sayth it is God the father that doth graūt vs his true bread namely his owne sōne which came downe from heauen and geueth life vnto the world For he only deserued that the father should geue vs agayne this lyfe that was loste And like as the sonne sayth that the father should geue vs the breade that came from heauen that is to saye his owne sonne whō he also calleth lyfe because he is the life it selfe Euen so the sōne saith that the bread which he wold geue shuld be his flesh which he would geue and offre to the father for the lyfe of the worlde Namely that the worlde by his death myght haue that lyfe whyche he sayde the father woulde geue and that is euen the very true breade that came downe from heauen So y t in the Gospel the sōne touchynge his deuinitie which came from heauen is called bread And like wyse his vmanitie whiche he offered vp vpon the crosse he calleth bread Thus through faythe we haue the perfourmaunce of that whiche was promised namely of y e deuine nature which is life after a more aboundaūt sort then it was lost in Adam So that this is and may wel be called a verye felowship and so in dede both Saynt Iohn and S. Paule termeth it The worthy Sacrament of the body and bloude of the Lorde was instituted only by himselfe in the Parler wher thei did eate the Easter lambe the same night wherin he was betraied And as cōcernyng the maner how the Lord and thei that receiued it with him did vse it Howe he also himselfe willed others his deputies and ministers of his congregation and church to do the same for whom like wyse for what intent and purpose he did institute ordayne it it is sufficientlye mencioned by the thre Euangelistes and by the Apostle Paule Touching the which we must consider that forasmuch as Christ did institute this to be a Sacramente and taughte by his most worthy worde and practife a ce●taine ordre in the ministration therof Therfore as the thynges therein contained ought Sacramentally to be vnderstand without anye absurditie or interruptynge either of the action or mistery So if the ordre and fourme by him prescribed and commaunded to be vsed by suche as are appoynted for the ministratiō therof be omitted Then is that no Sacrament of his For Sacramentes are as substancial couenauntes agremētes whose nature is to declare vnto vs some righte title priuiledge or gifte that we haue or shal receiue thereby whether thei be grounded vpon a commen custome or commaūded to be obserued by such as haue authoritie to make a lawe or ordinaunce for the same For whi should the ordre prescribed in this holy Sacramēt be worse kept or lesse obserued then was the rule that God appoynted in the Sacramentes of the olde lawe Their sacramentes had orders which wer kept and whi should not the rules of our Sacramentes be obserued likewyse Circumcision had a prescribed day what persons should be Circumcised and what part of the fleshe shoulde be cutte away c. The Lorde callinge it both his couenaunt and the token of his couenaunt The celebration of Easter had like wise of the Lorde a time appointed in the which euery houshold hauynge a lambe or a kydde of one year olde being a Male without blemishe should slaye him And not onely take strike the bloude of him vpon the two syde postes and on the vpper doorepost of the house but also eate the lambe or kydde the same nyght with vnleauened bread and with sower herbes nether rawe nor sodden in water but rosted at the fyre the head the feete and purtenaunce together with theyr loynes gyrded shooes on theyr feete sta●es in theyr handes and to eate it in haist nothing remainyng ouer vntyll the mornyng The scripture callynge it the Passouer and the sacrifice of the Lordes Passoeuer And diligently is this to be noted Namely that lyke as y e fathers in olde time did faythfully obserue and kepe the sayde rules nether omyttyng any of them nor minishyng theim nether addyng ought vnto thē that the Lord himself had not appoynted Euen so albeit that the cuttynge awaye of the fores●ynne of the fleshe in Circumcision had the name of the Lordes couenaunt and though the other sacramēt was called the passeouer of the Lorde Yet were they neuer the lesse without any strife brawlyng or contention about the names obediently and thākfulli in godli quietnes vsed obserued The Sacrament of Baptisme also hath his ceremonies and rule appointed of the Lorde as to putte water vpō the childe or to dy●p● him in water to pronoūce him baptised in the name of ●he father the sonne and the holye gost c. The scripture namynge it the newe byrth the baptisme of remission of sinnes the fountayne of the newe byrth c. Where as is likewise to be noted that thei do horribly abuse the Sacrament of baptisme that ether mynishe from it anye of the rules prescribed by the Lord himselfe or adde ther vnto their owne rites and supersticions whether it be salt spittle creme oyle or any such thinges as may deface the worthines of Christ. Yet hath there no suche mischaunce happened vnto this holy sacrament as ether to teach or beleue that ther is any transsubstanciatiō of the water in baptism or that it looseth the nature of water though it be appointed and turned to a very holy vse Nowe to returne agayn to our purpose The worthy Sacrament of the ●ordes body and bloud hath his

prescribed order rule And so that thys holy sacrament be accordynge to the practise of his blessed institution both ministred and receiued to gether The election and appoyntmēt of the time thereof is referred and left to y e godly discression of Christes Church For y e Apostle saith Quotiescumque c. As oft as ye eate this breade and drynke of this cu●pe ye shal shew the Lordes death vntil he come Neuerthelesse omitted it may not be nor left vndone but vsed in due time accordingly and in suche sorte as is appointed by the word of God who saith ☞ Take ye eate ye drincke ye al of it Do this in the remembraunce of me And by his Apostle he hath geuen this ordre that we whiche mynde to be partakers of this holy Communion shall haue no contencion nor strife amōg our selues but refourme our abuses commynge here vnto not onely together but also after a better sort rather then after such euil wyse as we happlye heretofore haue done One to tarye for another without disdayne and afore we eate of this bread and drinke of thys cuppe to proue try and examine our selues our myndes and consciences our wordes and dedes callynge oure whole lyfe and conuersation earnestly to remembraunce lamentyng and confessyng our sinnes vnto God callyng vpon him for mercy conuerting vs whollye vnto him knittynge our selues together in the vnitie of fayth and godly loue and so to come to the holy Sacrament Where first the minister takyng the bread geuyng thankes breaking it ought by the Lords ensample to deliuer it vnto other willynge theim also to take and eate it in remembraunce of the Lorde whose wordes also he ought to repete accordingly And likewise takyng the cup to geue thanckes and to deliuer it to the communicantes willyng them al to drinke therof in remembraunce of the Lorde This is nowe the ordre appointed to be obserued at the ministration of this holy sacrament which the scripture calleth ☞ the Supper of the ●ord the Communion or felowship of the body and bloud of Christ. Cōcerning the which if the Lorde had authoritie to make a lawe or to set an ordre for the due ministration and vse thereof Then we also that be his subiectes ar boūd to obserue the same and nether to ad ought therto cōtrary vnto it nether to minish or take away frō it ani thinge that he hath wylled vs to vse Or els we playnly disapoynt our selues of the ryghte title and possession of such comfortable commodities as we by vertue of this heauenlye couenaunt and bargayne shoulde elece be sure of For as this is a special gift appointed by the last wyl and testamēt of our Sauior Christ who in the true ministration of this his holye sacrament by the operacion of this blessed spirite hath promised to make iust deliueraunce of the thing promysed So is it by him condicioned afore hand that we shal duly receiue and vse the same and not to eate of the breade or drincke of the cup of the Lord vnworthely to our owne damnation In Ciuile causes the like order taketh place Where a leace is made it must not only be signed sealed deliuered but also receiued and the partie put in possession Not deliuered I say by euery man but only by hym or his deputie that hath authority to make or geue the leace neither maye euery man receiue and ēnioye it saue only he to whom it is made or geuē or that hath ryght thereto Agayne a leace cōmonly is not made wythout condicions whych if they be broken doth not y e farmer thē forfeit his leace And what meane we els by thys but euen to shew that it is an horrible thing farre out of order that whyle the Lord in this hys holy Sacramēt offreth vs so large a couenaūt of mercy we shal thincke scorne to kepe the condicions therof and the rules that he hath prescribed vnto vs No man doubtles no not in Ciuile matters would be so serued wher like as it is no bargaine til both parties be agreed so cōmeth it to no perfect effecte neither can it stand vnlesse the duties cōdicions promises be kept Neuertheles this thing shal appeare muche more euident if we compare the practise of these present miserable dayes ▪ to the order of the ●ord and his Apostles in the primitiue church lay the one agaynst the other As for the perfourmaūce of the condicions on hys party ther is no doubt For wher as he couenanteth with vs in thys holy Sacrament so to feede nourish cōfort our consciences that he wyl euen seale vs vnto him selfe set hys marke vpō vs and take vs for hys own He certif●eth vs assuredly that vpon such condicions as we also vpon our allegiaunce are boūd to kepe whych we must either do or els become vnworthy Receauers to our damnatiō we haue felowship with him and are partakers of the same eternall lyfe that he hym selfe hath purchased for vs in hys body and bloud But how now How kepe we our touche with him By his order there should be no ●cisme nor discencion among vs about this matter And yet Lord what a busines is ther about the defence of a new found transubstancia●ion to proue y t bread is not bread and that after the recityng of a fewe wordes of the Lord ther remayneth the substaunce neither of breade nor wyne And what a doo is ther about the maner of Christes presence in the Sacrament Lord what tossing turnyng what detorting and wrestinge of the Scriptures is there to proue the carnal natural presence of Christes flesh and bloude yea that in the fourme of bread ther is contained the only natural substāce of Christ God and man flesh bloud bone to the vtter confounding of the two natures in Christ though both the circūstāce of Christes action the propertyes of hys humaniti the nature of a Sacramēt the Articles of y e Christian faith the euident testimonies aswell of the scripture as of those that are estemed the best and moost worthye auncient wryters declare the contrary Men should refourme al abuses about thys mater and come to it in a better sorte then they haue done And do they not wilfully kepe maintai● theyr abuses styl Yea are they not eueri dai in their doings wors wors ▪ Men shoulde come to the Sacrament together and the wole godly assemble to cōmunicate as brothers sisters in y e Lord. But Alas thei make a massing matter of it where on man alone taketh vpon hym to receyue y e thinge that the whole congregacion ought to be partakers of where one shoulde rather tarye for another then that any disorder shuld be committed about so worthy a Sacrament Men ought fyrst to proue and eramen wel theyr consciences to cal thēselues theyr thoughtes woordes and deede● iustly to accompt earnestly to repent them of theyr sinnes to lamēt