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	holy_a	soul_n	6,894	5	4.8401	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62209	The sauciness of a seducer rebuked, or, The pride and folly of an ignorant scribbler made manifest in some remarks upon a scurrilous libel written by Joseph Nott ... against a book of the Reverend Mr. George Tross in vindication of the Lord's Day : together with a confutation of some errors of the Quakers, in a book call'd ... Gospel-truths scripturally asserted, written by John Gannacliff and Joseph Nott.	Trosse, George, 1631-1713.	1693 (1693)	Wing S729; ESTC R7884	41,236	31

thereof This is a Metaphorical Rule so called from the Analogy and Resemblance it hath in its use and end to a material Rule 'T is in this sense we call the Written Word a Rule of Faith and Lif● For as a Mason in raising a Wall a Joiner in squaring a Piece of Timber by applying the Level to the Building the Square to the Timber come to judge of the uprightness straitness and exactness of their Work So a Christian tries and examines his thoughts words and actions by the Holy Scriptures The Sacred Writings are his Square his Line and Level by which he measures and judges of Opinions and Practices Hereby he comes to know what is right and what is wrong what is duty and what is sin what is truth and what is errour All Doctrines which are to be believed all Duties which are to be performed in order to our acceptable serving of God on Earth or eternal enjoying of God in Heaven are to be measured by and conformed unto this Rule There are Three Rules which are eagerly contended for 1. The Pagans Rule The Light of Nature This Rule is good in its kind and place it discovers the Being Power Wisdom and Goodness of God so as to leave them without excuse who do not walk according to it (a) Rom. 2.14.15 1.19 20 21 32. But it cannot discover Christ by whom alone Sinners may be saved (b) 1 Cor. 1.21 2.13.14 2. The Papists Rule Vnwritten Traditions This is a Corrupt Fallible and False Rule Contradictory to the Scriptures and therefore no good Rule 3. The Quakers Rule the Light within which J. N. blasphemously calls Christ within and the Spirit of God in the Heart This is a very bad Rule to try or determine matters of Faith or Practice by God hath taught us in his Written Word to try the Spirits by the Scripture The Quakers teach their Proselytes to try the Scriptures by the Light within (c) 1 Joh. 4.1 6. which they also call the Spirit Whatever Spirit leads any against or besides the Rule of Scripture is not the Spirit of God but a lying Spirit God saith and Protestants hold that those who Speak not according to the Word have no Light in them Isa 8.20 Their pretended Light who contradict Scripture is Darkness Matth. 6.23 But Quakers impudently prefer their Dreams above the Written Word and so declare that their Light proceeds from the Father of Lies That Spirit who transformeth himself into an Angel of Light the God of this World whose Kingdom is full of Darkness blinds the Eyes of these Men of Light so that they speak against the pure Light of Scripture and prefer their Ignes Fatui before it And while they profess themselves to be wise they become Fools For lo●● they have rejected the Word of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them Jer. 8.9 Seeing therefore that the Pagans Rule Natural Reason and Conscience is insufficient seeing the Popish and Quaking Rules are false and uncertain it remains that the Holy Scriptures are the only Supreme Sufficient Perfect Standing Rule to try and judge all Opinions and Practices by For the Proof of this consult these following Texts 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. In this Scripture we are inform'd that the Holy Scriptures believed and obey'd are able to make wise unto Salvation That all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof c. That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works What plainer Proof can we desire to evince that the Scripture doth contain all Doctrines necessary to be believed and command all Duties necessary to be performed in order to Salvation And if so 't is a sufficient compleat and perfect Rule of Faith Worship and Life Hence 't is that we are commanded to Search the Scriptures John 5.39 To hear Moses and the Prophets Luke 16.29 To take heed to this sure Word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1.19 To go to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.19 Hence 't is we are told The Law of the Lord is perfect Psalm 19.7 'T is for this cause the Bereans are commended for Searching the Scriptures daily Acts 17.11 Believers are said to be built upon the Foundations of the Prophets and Apostles Eph. 2.20 Ignorance of the Scriptures is the cause of Errour Matth. 22.29 Many more Places might be cited but these are sufficient to any but a Papist or a Quaker to prove that the Scriptures are the Supreme and only sufficient Rule of Faith and Life which God hath given us They are a sure and standing Rule a compleat and Perfect Rule adequate and commensurate to the things to be regulated or measured thereby From which nothing can be taken away to which nothing can be added but upon the Peril of all the Plagues and Curses in the Book of God Rev. 22.18 19. Thus a Rule is described by Phavorinus 'T is an infallible measure which admits of no addition or diminution * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that if the Scriptures were not a Perfect Rule to measure and try all Opinions and Practices by they were no Rule at all The wrangling Quakers think to evade the force of all these Texts by telling us Gospel Truths c. p. 6. line 31. That Jesus Christ is the only Rule of Faith Worship and Manners And l. 38. they bid us Turn in our Minds unto the gift of Gods Spirit in our Hearts And p. 7. l. 20. It is the Holy Ghost that teaches People good manners Quaere What Spirit teaches the Quakers who want them And by the Light within Thoughts Words and Actions are tryed And this Light of Jesus is a higher and superiour Rule Rare edifying Discourse Christ is the only Rule The gift of God's Spirit in our own Hearts is the Rule The Holy Ghost is the Rule The Light within is the Rule And the Light of Jesus is the Rule And all these are one and the same Rule which is in every Man There is no difference if you believe these acute and subtle Doctors between Christ and the Spirit and the Light within Christ and the Spirit are one and are in every mans heart and yet they pretend to own the Doctrine of the Trinity and tho' they say that Christ and the Spirit of Christ are in every Man and 't is most evident that Christ is God and Man yet contrary to their avowed Principle they break poor Priscian's Head and say thou instead of you to every man who hath Christ and the Spirit in him I grant that Christ hath given us a Rule and the Holy Spirit enables all the People of God to walk according to it but the Scripture or the Written Word is the Rule according to which we are to walk that so Peace and Mercy may be upon us The Spirit is so far from being our Rule that God hath given us the Written Word to try whether we have the

an Embassdor of Christ as a Babel-Builder No wonder that the Devil will rather play at small Game than fit out and when he can't have Men of Learning imploys Blacksmiths Shoemakers and Weavers to broach Errors and sow Seditions J. N. I desire the 1 Reader to consider what thou reads 2 And if any one publish any Doctrine contrary to the Holy Scriptures believe them 3 not More Non-sense 1 The for Thee 2. Reads for Readest 3. Them for Him To School Truant learn thy Primmer and Con the Eight Parts of Speech before thou write any more Replies Thy want of Learning makes thee bold there is no danger that too much of it should make thee mad J. N. For Christ bids us beware of false Prophets which come in Sheeps Cloathing who saith Ye shall know them by their Fruits Mat. 7.15 16. And the Apostle Paul adviseth us to turn away from such as have a f●rm of Godliness but denies a. the Power 2 Tim. 3.5 For indeed another Foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Rare sense again a denies for deny Scarce a Period without false Concord But that is a small Matter compar'd with the Gall and Venom in these words Joseph Nott and his Friends are utter Enemies to Carnal Weapons as Swords and Guns and other Dead-doing Tools But no Animals have sharper Tusks or longer Claws and none more ready to fasten their Rabid Teeth in their Neighbour's good Name Backbiting doth not hinder 'em from attaining perfection but with their She-friend Prov. 30.20 they wipe their mouth and say I have done no wickedness Just now this bold Calumniator rank'd Mr. Tross among Babel's-builders Now to let us see how he improves his Talent of Railing he basely perverts Scripture to insinuate that he is a false Prophet and a Hypocrite Yet this he who pretends to be guided by the Spirit of God But Reader What Spirit is it thinkest thou that moves this foul Mouth'd Fellow thus to reproach and bespatter such a Minister of the Gospel as Mr. Tross A man whose exemplary Piety Humility and Self-denial diffusive Charity and Moderation and unwearied diligence in his Master's Work by Studying Preaching and Visiting have procur'd him a good Report of all sober and serious Christians of all Perswasions in the City where he lives Had not Joseph Nott been Master of a bold Face and a hard Forehead and had not his Conversation with Boat-Men and Oyster-Women Coblers and Tinke●s improv'd his natural Confidence to a great stock of Impudence he would never have attempted to fix the odious Brands of false Prophet and Hypocrite upon so good a Man so faithful a Minister who lays out his Time his Strength his Estate his All for the Glory of God and good of Souls I am persuaded few Persons in Exon even of the Quakers themselves are so far forsaken of their Understandings as to believe this Charge upon a Brain-sick Enthusiast's say-so If any should we may well conclude that they are given up to strong Delusions to believe Lies as a Judgment for rejecting sound Doctrine and giving heed to old Wives Fables (a) 1 Tim. 4.7 or prophane and vain Babling (b) 2 Tim. 2.16 J. N. And therefore I desire the 1 Reader to keep thy Mind near to the Light of Jesus Christ in thy own Heart and Conscience that so thou mayest understand what thou readest After a small Blunder the 1 for thee out comes the rare Catholicon with which these Quacks do greater wonders than ever did Puntaeus with his Balsam or Ointment and that is the Light within Reader if thou canst but get Joseph Nott to spare thee a few Ounces of this choice Medicine call'd Light within prize it above Aurum potabile or the Philosopher's Stone But if he will not part with any of it follow my Directions and thou mayest obtain it thy self Strip thy self of Lace Ribbons and all other Babylonish Garments bid adieu to good Manners Thee and Thou thy Betters give a supercilious Nod but don't stir thy Hat from its Block shake Hands with good Sense forswear true English decry Scripture revile Magistrates reproach Ministers cast off Ordinances gratify the Desires of thy Carnal Heart follow the Dictates of thy muddy Brains whenever thy giddy Head turns round pretend to Visions and Revelations and when thou art thus accounted read the Quaker's Books and keep close to their silent Meetings and thou art in a very fair way to get this rare Secret And if thou hast a Wind-Mill Head a Brazen-Face and Leathern Lungs get upon the Stage which the Brethren have erected for John Gannaclist and Joseph Nott and thou mayest quickly get as much Custom and do as fine Feats as they If I have not hit upon our Author 's Meaning when he talks of the Light in the Heart and Conscience desire him to explain himself and tell plainly what he means by it And that this Hocus-Pocus may not gull thee by his Leger-demain or sob thee off with such a Banbury-Tale as he did Mr. Hallet in Answer to his first Query (a) Gospel-Truths Scripturally asserted Pag. 4. where his Description of this Light leaves us in the dark get him if thou canst without Quibbling or Canting to return a plain and direct Answer to these few Questions Q. 1. Is this Light of Jesus Christ in the Heart and Conscience God or Creature Finite or Infinite Q. 2. Is it Christ himself who was Crucified without the Walls of Jerusalem or something distinct from Christ If he say 't is Christ himself inquire of him Whether this Light in every Man's Heart and Conscience was born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate died upon the Cross ascended into Heaven after its Resurrection and sitteth at the right Hand of God All these things we know are true of Christ Q. 3. If he say it is something distinct from Christ Ask him Whether it be a Body or a Spirit If he say it is a Body as Bar●lay Apol. Pag. 94. 'T is vehiculum Dei The Spiritual Body of Christ the Flesh and Blood of Christ which came down from Heaven Desire him to deal freely with thee as a Friend and inform thee How this Flesh and Blood can be in so many 1000 Hearts and Consciences at once as there are Men and Women upon the face of the Earth How a Body can reach from Pensylvania to Exon Whether it be Omnipresent Whether the Quaking-Priest have learnt of their Elder Brethren the Papists the knack of Transubstantiation How a Body tho' purer than Spirit of VVine rectified could come by Knowledge and Understanding And how it can communicate it to a Spirit Quest 4. If he say 't is a Spirit know of him whether it be a created and finite or an Uncreated and Infinite Spirit If it be a created Spirit inquire of what Species whether a good Angel a malicious Devil or a rational Soul If he say 't

is neither of these but a superiour sort of Spirit Ask him when it was created How he came to know the time And what Scripture he can bring to prove that there is any other Spirit than God Angels Devils and rational Souls except it be the Spirit of a Beast * Eccl. ● 21 that he means If it be not a Creature as Geo. Whitehead saith Christian Quaker Part 2. p. 28. Desire him to reconcile Barclay who says 't is a creature yea a Body with Whitehead who says 't is no creature Put home these Questions to him and if he doth not boggle and equivocate 't is ten to one but he will betray gross Ignorance or utter downright Blasphemy J. N. For the great Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations is Christ within the hope of Glory Col. 1.26 27. In these Verses which Joseph Nott for reasons best known to himself hath alter'd and curtail'd putting Christ within instead of Christ in you or among you as 't is in the Margin and leaving out a great part of them the Apostle informs the Colossians that the Gospel which was a Mystery lock'd up in Gods own Breast from Eternity and hid from a great part of the World in former Ages and Generations being wrap'd up in dark Prophecies and cover'd under a Vail of Legal Ceremonies was now by Christ and his Apostles made manifest to the Saints The Wall of Partition was broken down the Vail taken away and the Colossians who were in times past Idolatrous Gentiles alienated from God and enemies to God v. 21. had this Gospel which displays the Riches of Divine Grace made known to them The next clause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being as St. Peter saith of some things in St. Paul's Epistles † 2 Pet. 3.16 hard to be understood this Prefacer being unlearned and unstable hath wrested it as he doth also other Scriptures to uphold his Error Being Ignorant of the Original he thinks which refers to Mystery whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being of the Masculine Gender hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for his Antecedent So Zanchy Qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est Christus And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not will in but either inter vos among you as 't is in the Margin or in vobis in you If we follow the Ma●ginal Reading this is the meaning Christ preached among you is the Riches of the glorious Mystery of Godliness Christ is the Sum and Substance the Pearl and Treasure of the Gospel If we read Christ in you then this is the sense Those Saving Graces Faith Love c. by which Christ dwells in your hearts Eph. 3.17 are the Evidences of your Title to and the grounds of your Hope of Eternal Glory Your hopes of Glory are founded not only upon what you have heard of the riches of Divine Grace thro' Christ in the Gospel but upon what Christ hath wrought in your hearts by the Gospel 'T is the Image of Christ the Graces of Christ which he hath wrought in you by his Word and Spirit that confirm your hopes of Heaven What Christ hath done and suffer'd for you and what he hath wrought in you His satisfaction for you and your union with him cause you to hope Thus Christ was in these Colossians thus he is in every true Believer But what is this to the Quakers light of Christ in every mans Heart and Conscience J. N. Therefore to the Spirit of God in thine own heart I do recommend thee as unto that which will give a true discerning and right understanding of the things of God as it is hearkened unto and obeyed J. N. But I advise thee Joseph and as many of thy Friends as shall read these Lines to Search the Scriptures and not to Trust your own hearts untill you have examin'd them by the Light of God's Word Lean n●t to your own Vnderstandings Beware least the Light within be darkness Believe not every Spirit nor every false Prophet who pretends to the Spirit of God For there are unclean lying seducing Spirits Spirits of Devils To the Law and to the Testimony Take heed to that sure Word of Prophecy as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place That Word if hearkened unto and obeyed will discover to you what the Spirit is which you are under the conduct and influence of Try the Spirit in your own hearts hereby If it shun this Light if it speak not according to this Rule 't is because 't is a black Spirit and there is no Light in it Many grieve and quench the Holy Spirit and provoke him to withdraw and then an evil Spirit enters into them blinds their eyes hardens their hearts and scars their Consciences and when such set up for Teachers of others The Blind lead the Blind and so both fall into the Ditch Thus I have at length wrought my way through the Preface And by these Notes upon the Obscure places of it he that can see beyond the top of his Nose may discern what are the chief Accomplishments of this Doughty Champion of the Quakers in the West viz. Gross Ignorance not only of the sense of Holy Scripture and its Original Languages but even plain English the only Tongue he hath a smatterring in Intolerable Pride in troubling the World with his Non-sense and Impertinence ●●●id Vncharitableness in railing at reviling and misrepresenting a Reverend Divine who gave him no provocation And to name but one more for by these we may take a scantling of his other good qualities Abominable Profaneness in vilifying maiming and wresting Scripture Some People blame Mr. Hallet because he did not expose the Ignorance and Error of this Joseph Nott and John Gannacliff another of the Gang in a Pamphlet of theirs written in Answer to his 27 Queries Perhaps he thought it needless seeing that Book is so horribly scurrilous and silly that it carries its confutation in its Forehead Or else he concluded it would be lost labour seeing that Tho' thou shouldest bray a Fool in a Mortar among Wheat with a Pestel yet will not his Foolishness depart from him Prov. 27.22 And were it not for that the Party are Cock-a-Hoop upon their new Authors and vaunt themselves of their Jannes and Jambres as Men of such Courage that none durst enter the Lists against them I should not have commented upon their nauseous idle Stuff I know 't is no credit to have to do with such Fellows And all the return I expect from that sort of Cattle is roaring and bellowing throwing dirt and calling all the odious Names which the Spirit who acts them shall put into their Mouths SECT III. Joseph Nott's Scurvy Commendation of Holy Scripture He and John Gannacliff elsewhere prefer the Light within before it The Scriptures prov'd to be the only supream and sufficient Rule The danger of setting the Light within every Man above God's Written Word J. N's first