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	work_v	7,291	5	7.3947	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50256	Irenicum, or, An essay for union wherein are humbly tender'd some proposals in order to some nearer union amongst the godly of different judgments / by Mr. Samuel Mather ...	Mather, Samuel, 1626-1671.	1680 (1680)	Wing M1282; ESTC R7678	14,413	24

Those names of men and not of God's appointing Rev. 11.13 Plants which our Heavenly Father never Planted in his Church Mat. 15.13 And which therefore in times and places of Reformation have been pluckt up and cast forth to the rejoycing of the upright in heart Thus much for the Agreements amongst the Reforming Parties The Differences Now for the matters in Difference we mean still amongst those that seem to have their faces Sion ward and to be studious of Reformation Truely to consider what they are may even make us ashamed of our divisions that ever so great offences and distances in affection should arise from so small differences in opinion And First between the Ptesbyterians and Independents There be some Controversies sprung up between them of such a nature as we do not judge it necessary to the present purpose and scope of this paper largely to insist thereon Whereof we may instance in three sorts or kinds of Questions 1. Those which seem to be rather Speculative and in Logical terms than practical which unless Satan and Corruption have the managing of them are not likely much to obstruct or stand in the way of this so much desired Union As for instance that acute Question concerning the Universal Visible Church which though the right notion of it gives a light and influence into the whole business of Church Discipline and there is some discrepancy in the notions and apprehensions of Godly Learned Men about it yet while the denying of the Universal Visible Church is not improved to the denying of Communion of Churches nor yet the asserting of it improved to the denying of particular Churches so as to make Godly People lye among the pots and live at a loose end as Lambs in a large place under no particular Pastoral charge under no special oversight and inspection for their souls whil'st both sides do acknowledge both in their judgment and practice not only the Universal invisible Church about which there is no Controversie but also particular Churches and Communion of Churches not only spiritual and mystical Communion by the same Spirit of Faith and Love dwelling and working in them all but also Visible Communion in the ordinances and outward dispensations of his Grace all this may well suffice unto brotherly Love and Union There is also some further dispute about this word Church about the Application of it to a whole Nation Where Christianity hath obtained a Civil sanction and establishment in the Laws of the Land as in those we call Christian States or Kingdoms but if such a Kingdom be called a National Church the matter is not great if withal it be remembred and acknowledged that Christ hath not tyed his Ordinances under the New Testament to any one place as of old to the Temple but hath appointed them to be dispensed in the several Congregations and Assemblies of his people These and other such like Questions though they may and ought to be enquired and searched into for every Apex of truth is precious the least Jota thereof is not to be despised as the very filings and dust of Gold is precious yet being rather in terms and notions and not so directly Practical and Theological as there is no just reason so we hope in the Lord there is no great danger they should discompose and disunite the Spirits of Godly learned and sober men who are acted and influenced by the Spirit and grace of Christ in their debates and disquisitions 2. Those things also are not of present Consideration which are the Judgement rather of particular Persons than of the whole Party As to give some few instances of many Ordination of Pastors at large and before Election ad Ministerium vagum or sine titulo which our Brethren of Scotland as well as of New-England doe not approve though nevertheless they that do if in all other things without exception must be owned and numbred amongst the Lord's faithful Ministers because they Minister to him and to his People in the Gospel of his Son Moreover it is granted by all that it is no way fit men should send themselves and run upon their own heads into the Ministery but that they go forth unto that work by the judgment and encouragement of Godly Faithful Ministers of more ability and experience than themselves For the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets who if they solemnly seek the Lord in prayer with them and for them there can be no hurt in that And if withal they lay their hands upon them this cannot be matter of much offence to any So that in the Issue all the difference remaining as to this point is not about their passing through ministerial Tryal and approbation but only about impowring them to Baptize and Administer the Sacraments in an unfixed way without any special relation to a particular flock or charge for to Preach the Gospel if they do attend upon that work as their particular Calling is generally granted to be lawful and is ordinarily practised without offence and to the good of Souls by those we call Lecturers Hither also not impertinently as not being the unanimous Judgment of any whole party may be referred the reasonings which have made so great a noise about Parish Precincts which though some perhaps do religiously observe and bind up themselves unto yet there be others under every form who make no scruple to transgress them For not only the Independents and the Presbyterians but the very Papists and Prelate-Protestants have thought it lawful in the late times to receive those of their way from all the Parishes round about who likewise have made no scruple to attend upon their ministry and Communicate in the ordinances with them in their own way when most of the publick places were in other hands Whereby it may seem that no sort or sect of Christians at this day in these Nations do judge themselves necessarily involved in Church-Communion by their habitation However a Church according to the Scripture being a Spiritual Body or Society and the limits being part of the Essence or Constitution of such a Body that therefore they must be Spiritual and of the same nature and not meerly humane as is the division of Parishes is a notion which hath so great an appearance of Spiritual reason that there must needs be a great measure of brotherly kindness and indulgence due to such as act upon it if in all other things they walk without offence Hither also lastly may be referred and so let them be dismissed and forgotten whatever unbrotherly reproaches and changes of Schisme or Antichristianisme c. may have been used by some particular men of harsh and violent Spirits but not approved by others of the same judgment being men of wiser and cooler Spirits 3. A Third sort of Questions not to be now insisted on is the unhappy differences that have fallen out about State-matters the effects whereof we feel at this day which are and