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
A87384	The active and publick spirit, handled in a sermon, preached at Pauls, October 26th. 1656. By Thomas Jacomb, minister at Martins-Ludgate, London.	Jacombe, Thomas, 1622-1687.	1657 (1657)	Wing J112; Thomason E904_3; ESTC R202625	34,125	55

several Companies yet the Corporation is but one or as it is with the body which consists of many parts and members yet t is but one body Thus it is in the Church it consists of many Christians is made up of various Professors but still the Church is but one and all the people of God where ever they live they are all united in this own body for there are many members 1 Cor. 12.20 Eph. 4.4 Eph. 3.6 but one body There is one body and one spirit c. Jew and Gentile all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but one body Now upon this union it should be in the body Mysticall as it is in the body Naturall all the members in the body conspire for the good of the whole The Eye sees not for it self the hand takes not for it self the Stomach digests not for it selfe but all their Organical acts tend to the benefit of the whole body Thus I say it should be in the body Mystical or politique the members wherof must not keep their Graces their Comforts their Abilities singly and seperately to themselves No but all must be layd out in a blessed subserviency to the publick and common good Paul having made a large discourse in setting forth the Church by allusions to the naturall body shuts up all thus 1 Cor. 12.25 That there should be no schisme in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another Let me onely say this further under this head The self-seeker the Gallio that cares not what becomes of the body Acts 18.17 this man is but like a Glassie Eye or a wooden Leg he is no living member in this body he is a prodigious Monster rather then a genuine Member Nothing more unsuitable to our common union then a private spirit Fourthly This publick spirit discovers much of that excellent grace of love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Rhetor. l. 20. c. 40. Faith and Love are the two great graces of the Gospel Faith is a getting grace Love is a spending grace Faith layes up Love layes out Faith layes out from Christ Love layes out for Christ Faith receives all Love returns all Now I say this serviceable active spirit for generation good discovers much of love for love is a diffusive communicative grace t is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable and publick grace Love is noble and generous it keeps open house wil not eat its Morsels alone if it hath good if it can do good Job 31.17 others shal be the better for it 1 Cor. 13.5 Love seeketh not her own its designs are vaster then so N●rrowness of heart argues much scantness of love I may set this reason higher A publick spirit discovers the truth of grace t is an inseperable adjunct from saving grace David was a man after Gods own heart and he serves his Generation The true Israelite cannot but pro modulo lay out himself for the good of others if any be weak he must strengthen him if any be sad Luke 22.32 he must comfort him if any walk disorderly he must reprove him T is the voice of a Caine to say Am I my brothers keeper What have I to do with my brother Gen. 4.9 I 'le mind my self The Children of God say with the Lepers We do not wel this day is a day of good tydings 2 Kings 7.9 and we hold our peace We have received many mercies shal we bury them We have many opportunities shal we not improve them This is the language of grace Do not mistake me here I do not say that every publick spirit is a gracious spirit but this I say every gracious spirit is a publick spirit Fifthly This publick spirit is our due conformity to God to Jesus Christ to the choicest and most excellent Saints First This is our due conformity to God He is Summum bonum summe bonus the cheifest good and cheifly good infinitely good and therefore infinitely communicative He is a Fountaine full and overflowing and all the creatures in Heaven and in earth do all participate of his goodnesse so far is he from ingrossing all to himselfe The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his workes Psal 145.9 Psal 33.5 The earth is full of the go●dnesse of the Lord. There is not the meanest creature but it receives something from this inexhaustible treasury nay there is not the vilest man the most wicked man but God doth good to him Hee causes his sun to arise upon the bad as well as the good Matth. 5.45 Nieremberg Vt nemo sine illius gustu vixerit And as for his owne people his goodnesse there is written in the beames of the Sun there we must say Truly God is good to Israel even to them that are of a cleane heart Psal 73.1 And why doth God thus open his hand and his heart unto us why such bounty why such bowels the reason is cleare He is good and therefore he doth good He might injoy himselfe in his owne fulnesse Matth. 5. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Anton and keep to himself the sea of his owne blessednesse but he will not no his poor empty creatures also shall receive from him for he looks upon his goodnesse as his glory What then makes a man more like to God then a publick Spirit To be good to do good this is to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect Do you see a man that aimes at nothing but himselfe that never lets the Cock run but when it is for his own advantage that envys every drop that is not for his owne use that limits and confines all to himselfe and none shall be the better for him how contrary is this man to God and how little of God appears in him Here 's Walking indeed as man but here is no walking as God 1 Cor 3.3 But on the other hand do you see a man that makes it his businesse and designe to do good to communicate to others t is not well with him if others be not the better for him this man is a lively image and representation of God himself Secondly This is our conformity unto Jesus Christ who as he is a publick Head so he is of a publick spirit Acts 10.38 He went about doing good Why did he come downe from Heaven into the World To save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Why did he set himself apart to the work of his Mediatorship For the good of others John 17.19 For their sake also sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified by the truth Why did he lay downe his life Not to merit any thing for himself but for his sheep I lay downe my life for the sheep Why did Christ arise againe John 10.15 Rom. 4. ult For our justification For whom doth he intercede at the right hand of his Father

member unnaturally fall upon member would not the body be destroyed Can saint and saint be at variance and the publick be safe Let us pray for this publick spirit A selfish spirit hath kindled the flames a publick spirit must quench them The ninth and last Character is very comprehensive 9. Car. the publick spirited man in all things prefers the common before his own private interest Let the ballance goe down on my side if it may rise there let me be laid low if it may but goe well with Church and State 't is very well I say when the private sheaf bowes to the publick her 's a man of a publick Spirit I am willing to dye said that famous Bishop if the Church may do well when I am dead and gone Peream ego modo ille imperet Moriar ego mod● me moriente vigeat Ecclesia said Agrippina of her son Nero so here let me be laid as low as may be if Christ may but reign if the Gospel may be but advanced if peace may be continued I have enough Nehemiah prefers the publick before himself when the King bids him make his request doth he aske something for himself Nehe. 2.4.5 no his eye is upon generations good He asks that he may goe and build the Sepulchre of his Fathers Like that famous Terentius who petitioning to Adrian that the Orthodox Christians might have liberty of worship by themselves the Emperour in great indignation tore his petition in pieces but bade him aske something for himselfe and it should be granted the good man gathers up the pieces of his petition again and tells the Emperour If he could not be heard in the cause of God and of his people he would never make request of any thing for himselfe And thus I have described unto you this publick Spirit and where now shall we finde it T is cafie to say what it is but 't is hard to say where it is Take your candle and lanthorne and make the most diligent search you can you will hardly find a man of this temper Narrow private spirits abound but David's Nehemiah's Mordecai's their number is very small Blessed be God we have some in this Nation in this City but would to God we had more Use 3 The third Vse shall be for Exhortation and here let me stirr you up to the practice of that which is the duty and the glory of a man Oh serve your generation write after Davids copie in this be publick blessings in the places where God hath set you be not slothful and selfish but of an active and publick Spirit Selfe is a carnal mans god his Vnity in Trinity as one expresse it Honour Pleasure Profit are the Trinity selfe is the Unity Let it not be so to you crucifie it and keep it down as an enemy doe not obey it and advance it as a God T is the greatest conquest in the world for a man to overcome himself and his own Interest Doe you devote what ever you are what ever you have what ever you can doe to the good of your generation I will press this upon 3 sorts First You that are private Christians do you lay out your selves for the publike good Alas you 'le say what can we do we that are so mean and inconsiderable in our stations wherein can we be serviceable to our generation Let me tell you there 's not the meanest Christian that hears me this day but some way or other he may be instrumental to the publick There is not the least starre but it hath its light Exod. 35.6 there is not the meanest member in the body but it hath its use They that brought but hair to the building of the Temple were serviceable I will reason the case a little with you many of you though but private men yet you have great estates Why do you not honour the Lord with your substance Prov. 3.9 Why do you not serve your generation by being charitable Are there not many naked backs why do you not clothe them Are there not many hungry bellies why do you not feed them Go to the University go to the Hospitals see if there be not there to be found opportunities and objects for your service In your civil capacity you may serve your generation You have friends acquaintance relations children servants you may serve your generation there bring them in to Christ advance the power of godlinesse amongst them instruct them in the mysteries of the Gospel Nurture them up in the fear of God Eph. 6.4 In your relative capacity you may serve your generation Again you have grace why do you not trade it for God By your holy conversation you may either convince or convert many 1 Pet. 3.1.16 Is not this good service You have a spirit of prayer Isa 43.26 You are the Lords remembrancers like so many Jacobs to wrastle with God and prevail with him By your prayers you may save a Nation and turn away the judgements that are threatned Is not this generation-service Moses stands in the breach Psal 106.23 and saves the people of Israel from destruction Even private Christians are the props and pillars of a place the stay and the staff thereof how Isa 3.1 by their prayers and wrastlings with God We reade of a German who was wont as oft as he heard of rumours of wat to say I fear it not so long as Luther lives Luthers prayers would prevent Nationall miseries You say you cannot serve your generation Go and pray for the peace of Jerusalem Again Psa 122.6 you can mourn for publick sins you can reprove them that go astray you can encourage the Ministers of the Gospel you can contend for the truths of God These and many such things you may do and thus in your spiritual capacity you may serve your generation Do but do what you can and you will do enough It is not want of power but want of will that makes many private Christians so unserviceable Secondly Let me speak to my self and to my brethren in the Ministry let us serve our generation Shall we call upon others and not stir our selves Like the Bell that cals others to Church but moves not it self Of all men we Ministers if we be sluggish and selfish are the basest men An idle self-seeking Minister is a flat contradiction to his office Paul sayes of Timothy Phil. 2.20 he did naturally care for the state of the Church and Paul himself sought not his peoples good for his advantage but his peoples good for their own advantage I sought not yours but you This is the spirit that becomes us Is there work to be done 2 Cor. 12.14 We are to spend and to be spent in the doing of it Chrysostome tels his hearers He lived only for their profit 2 Cor. 12.15 and he would refuse no labour if he might be serviceable to them What though