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	soul_n	work_n	7,291	5	5.7496	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27259	Psychomachia, or, The soules conflict with the sins of vain glory, coldnesse in professing Christ, envie, photinianism (of the last resurrection), ingratitude, unpreparednes to meet the Lord, revenge, forgetfulness of God : pourtrayed in eight severall sermons, six whereof were delivered at St. Maries, and Christ-Church in Oxford, and two at Sherburn in Glocestershire / Henry Beesley ...	Beesley, Henry, 1605-1675.	1656 (1656)	Wing B1691; ESTC R13325	163,090	260

because that wickednesse perverts the judgement and makes it erroneous in that which concerneth practique dutyes the like saith Aquinas touching proud persons Aquin secundae secunde q 162 citans Gregro that they may attain to the understanding of deepest mysteries but can not perceive the sweetnesse of of them si noverunt quomodo sunt ignorunt quomodo sapiunt see they may but can not tast how good the Lord is By faith with the heart then is understood not onely light G. Paris de fide to shew wbat is to be beleeved but life and spirit to act and move us to do good workes and decline the contrary It no sooner enters into the Soule but by its lively heat and vigour all obstructions and impediments are removed from the mind depraved habits and corrupt desires like Sampsons cords are burst asunder A dead faith indeed may move the understanding to apprehend and discourse of an object laid before it but not with a vitall motion it is but as the trembling or panting of the body when the head is smitten off but no compleat and perfect motion such as that of walking is which is not found in a Carkcase Nay a walking there may be too or seem to be to the eyes of men and yet proceed from no principle of life but as the devil can borrow a body Delrio Magic disquisit whose Soule is newly departed from it and by the heat therein remaining make it seem to be alive and to performe all the offices of life So many there be of these walking Carkcases Pharisees Hypocrites as our Saviour joynes them Revel 3.1 2 Tim. 3.5 that have a name that they live and are dead having as the Apostle speakes a forme of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof But then as these Corpses are soon discribed to be what they are and within a little while Ficto citò adnaturam suam redeunt Nemo personā diù ferre potest 1 P●t 11.7 relapse into their state of corruption so here the inconstancie or imperseverance at length discovers the imposture and shewes what metal their faith is made of sure not of Gold that is tryed with fire although it glistres never so much in the eyes of men That ours is not of that allay we shall best assure our selves if we find 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as St 2. Thes 1.11 Paul termes it the work of faith in our souls whose worke it is as to implant us into Christ so to bring forth in us the fruits of his spirit his spirit can not be idle or barren but will still be doing somewhat toward the forming of Christ within us purifying the heart Gal. 4.19 Act. 15.9 Eph. 4.23 Heb. 6.14 Gal. 5.24 Rom. 8.19 juxta Crellium in cap. 5. ad Galat. renewing the spirit purging the conscience crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts This one for all If Christ be in us the body is dead as unto sin hath lost as it were the power of tempting us to fulfil the lusts thereof but the spirit is life as unto righteousnesse Our inward man is fresh and lively to do the will of our heavenly Father To conclude this point If Christ be rooted and dwell in our hearts by a lively faith Eph. 3.17 and do not onely hover in the brain by an aerie knowledge we make him the Centre of our affections fixing our love hope joy desire in him we live no longer to our selves but to him that died for us 2 Cor. 5.15 all our study is how to please him we set our selves to obey his commands though never so harsh to our nature or interest offering our service with the Apostle Lord What wilt thou have me to do and ready with him Acts. 9.6.21.13 not onely to be bound but also to die if there be cause for the Name of the Lord Jesus Such was the effect of St. Pauls knowing Jesus Christ and him crucified and there is hope it might produce somewhat at least like in us if we determined as he did to make it the principle marke of our knowledge O si Jesus crucifixus in cor nostrum veniret Tho. de kempis de imit Chr●l 1. citò quàm còito sufficienter docti essemus So resolved by one that excelled in the practical science of Christianity That if Christ were fixed in our hearts as he was to his Crosse we should become sufficiently learned in a short time This Booke of the Lamb that was slaine would supply the reading of many books Revel 5.9 and 13.8 and teach such vertues as we can not meet with in all the Doctors of moralitie Io. arnd de vero Ch●istianismo lib 2. cap. 19. 2. Tim. 3.7 Esai 55.2 Honesta col mus quantum vacat Seneca And for want of studying this it is no marvail if there be so very many non proficients Ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth spending their time strength and labour for that which can not satisfie the soule however it may please the phancie and mean while neglecting the one thing necessary or intending it but on the by when they can be at leasure from other employments How defective men are in this kind it is not more against our charitie to judge then beyond our power to know 't is a secret belongs to God alone If our hearts condemne us not he is greater then our hearts and knoweth all things 1. Ioh 3.20 1 Co. 4.5 The time commeth when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed such as we could not know our selves by reason of our hearts deceitfulnesse Ierem. 17.9 But if our faith be cordiall indeed or with the heart it will not be impris●ned there 2 C●nfession but come forth at the mouth there will be confession joyned with it the other duty that we mentioned which is then necessary unto salvation when the glory of God and our Neighbours edifying are concerned in it Aquin. secunda secunde ● 3. And for want thereof our Rulers are thought not to have had a lively faith which will not consist with the spirit of feare or gracelesse bashfulnesse Rom. 1.16 so as to be ashamed of the Gospell of Christ But if this be it that proves good Christians no fear on our part we have given our names to Christ in our Baptisme and are known to all the world by the name of Christians and if our faith be not spoken of too like that of the Romans through out the whole world Rom. 1.8 it is not for lack of our not professing it Mat 6.17 Onely here we should do well to take our Saviours direction along with us that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to discerne the tree Clem. Stromat lib. 3. not by the leaves and the blossoms but the fruit never indeed more leaves and blossoms to be seen we are all become Gnosticks men of knowledge that the Heathen

give way to the publishing of them that might otherw●se have slept secure in their obscurity and nev●r appeared to expose their Author to the censure of a captious and quarrelsom world Vnto which I answer that having revised them * Optimum emendandi genus si scripta in aliquod tempus reponantur ut ad ea tanquam nova aliena redeamus ne nobis tanquam recentes foetus blandiantur Quintil. lib. 10. after so long time that they pass●d from me when the indulgence that is usually born toward tender issues is wholly slaked finding nothing therein for doctrine incongruous to the faith of this Church and my present judgement I was more inclinable to the motion of a worthy and judicious friend to let them travail abroad in the world and partly induced thereunto by these following considerations 1. That having bestowed some pains in the penning of them I was willing to give account of my talent so employed that I might not seem to have laboured in vain by bestowing diverse moneths on that which was to vanish in the hearing fate that attends the best of Sermons being committed to a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.1 persiuere dicitur qui auditum sermonem non contin●t B●za leaking cares as water powred into a vessel ful of chinks 2. Considering the numberless swarms of abortive issues wherewith the Press hath traveld of late and glutted the world with spurious pamphlets I thought that mine might venture abroad among the rest and not despaire of the like entertainment 3. Beholding and grieving to see the mystery of preaching so vilely prophaned into the trick of prating ex tempore and the Spirit most pretended where is least premeditation I judg'd it not amiss by somewhat more elaborate according to the grace that is given me to vindicate this great work of the Lord from being done negligently But the chief that prevailed with me is the seasonableness of the subjects here propounded each of them having the luck to encounter some sin now raigning and in fashion as namely 1. The spirit of pride and vain glory which most aboundeth in worthless minds as empty vessels and shallow brooks are known to yeeld the loudest sound 2. The spirit of worldly fear that hath no courage in professing the faith of Christ but makes use of religion as a politick design to advance his secular interests 3. The spirit of base envie that lying fallow and untilled without improving his own talents maligneth those in another and having either no mind or ability to reach unto his brothers excellency strives by calumny to depress it and levell it to his own unworthinesse 4. The Epicurean spirit that abusing Christian liberty into Heathen licentiousness liveth as if there were no other life to come after this no Resurrection to be expected nay denieth this expresly with the Sadduces and employs his utmost reason the men that love their enemies Rom. 12.21 Non solum jussa non facimus sed contraid facimus quod jubemur Sal. ibid. or do good to those that hate them or overcome evill with good certainly not to be found among such as do the contrary In this case England is become U opia Lastly The spirit of a They professe that they know God but in works theey deny him Tit. 1.1.16 V. Arn. de vero Christianism l 1. c. 9. Psal 115.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 4 4. practick Atheism which forgetteth his Creator liveth as if there were no God or fancieth him to be such an one as the heathen idols that have eyes and see not ears and hear not An evill chargeable on every wilful desperate sinner but most incident unto youth which besides its native proneness to run into all excess of riot is furthered chiefly by a vicious education which how prevalent it is to dispose and frame the whole life thereafter if b Rivius de stult mortalium in procrast Richer obstet anim Charron of wisdom Causin c. many great Authors had not sad●y affirmed it no age hath clearer proof than ours to evince this wofull truth The effects whereof are felt already and will be deplored in succeeding generations These are some of those many spirits that are gone forth into the world 1 John 4 1. set on work by the God of this world the old Dragon 2 Co. 4. ● Re● 12.9 Verse 12. who may seem to be n w come down in person unto the Inhab ters of the earth having great wrath b cause he knoweth that he hath but a short time an● therefore the more bestirreth hims lf o gain m●re proselytes for the enlarg ng of his domini ns It is true indeed H●c maio●es n s● i … qu st ●unt h●c nos querimur h c p steri ●ue●e●to● e●e so● esse m●●es egra●e ne ● it●am c. ● 1. as the wise heathen said long sn●e This our Anc●stours complai ed of this we c mplain of this posterity will complain of that mens manners are depraved that iniquity beareth sway that human● affaires are collapsed into the extremity of wi●ked●esse But gra●ting this let all th ng be wei●●ed with their due circumstances It will be confess●d by any that a●e not ov r ly ssed with p●rt a ity * 〈…〉 th s ●●●ge s● O●●o● ●ield O● the Sanctity of the liv●s of ●hem that a●●●f ●h● true ●h●●ch l●b 3. ● 52. that co ruption in this last age is improved to that hei ht as nothing hardly can be added to fil●e● the measure When some that professe the name of Christians nay challenge a nearer interest in Christ than ordinary professors are implunged in those sins which the * Rom. 1.29 compared with 2 Tim 3. vers 1 2 3 4. Apostle reports of the Gent●les and not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them which is consummata nequitia * Imponit Paulus quasi colophonem addito eo scelere quo nullum est majus c. Beza ibid. Cum scelera non solum d●lectant sed etiam placent Sen. epist 39. even an heathen being the Iudge when wickedn●sse is entertained with complacency But take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it will very well bear the sense and as Beza fitly renders it patrocinantur and it will meet more nearely yet with the vicious principles of some in these days that strengthen the hands of the wicked with lies Ezech. 13.22 encourage them in their lewd practises maintaining with the very libertines as a Adv libertinos cap. 15. deinceps Calvin paints them in their own colour● b Reported and confuted by Mr. Gattaker in his Treatise of Gods eye upon his Isruel that albeit God in former ages did did see and take notice of sin in believers yet in these dayes he doth noth not he will not he cannot so do That a child of God need not nay ought not to ask pardon for sin and

that it is no less than blasphemy for him so to do That let believers sin as fast as they wîll there is a c Abusing that place of the Prophet Zech. 13.1 1 Cor. 15.33 fountain open for them to wash in No wonder if these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle termeth them evill Sermons or communications corrupt good maners not so intended perchance by those that thought they could not amplifie enough the exceeding riches of free grace Concionibus suis depravant ii n. qui de venta peccatorum propter Christum deque justitia in Christo multa praedicant de agenda verò ex Dei voluntate atque imitatione vita deque sanctificatione spiritus quo ad opera bona regeneramur aut nihil admodum aut perpauca Rivius in epist ante lib. de stult mortal unless they decryed the morall law But yet occaisoned by their doctrine which talking much of the pardon of sinne and of righteousness in Christ said little or nothing of ordering our life according to the will and pattern of God or of sanctification through the Spirit whereby we are regenerate and made new creatures to walk in good works Eph. 2.10 And wrought accordingly in their disciples who using liberty for an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 and turning the grace of God into wantonnesse Jude v. 4. See that excellent prefa●e in the F n●n translation of h de K. m● F●●m Mr. ●hepherds Sincere Con●ert make Christ thereby a cloak for their vices or with reverence be it r●peated no other then a dishclout to wipe them clea● from their impu i●ies For so it may be rightly judged by their f uit● when to borrow t●e ●h●r●e from Salvian a Non sufficiunt enim multis c●nsuetud●●a●●i ●eat●s n n s fficiunt ●●es ●apinae cal●mniae c. nisi blasphem â fu●iosa●●● mentium manus in●iciant etiam in De m 〈◊〉 de Gub. l. 4. Many not or●●ent with customary sins as st●ife rapine fraud a●u●tery c ar bold to strike at God himselfe setting their mouthes against the heavens P 94. ve●● 5 6 7. and sayi●g with their blasphem●us leaders suitab y to such horrid actions yet the Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Iacob regard it moreover b Hoc enim ad crimina nost●a addimus ut cum in omnibus ●ei simus etiam bon●s nos sanctos esse credamus ac sic in nobis cumulentur imquitates offensae etiam praesumptione justitiae lib 3. maxima siquidem a●●●satrix est hominum noxiorum usurpat●ix innocentiae arregantia lib. 4. adding this to to their crimes that being filled with all unrighteousnesse Rom. 1.29 yet they repute themselves for Saints and godly persons and so accumulate their offences with a presumption of sanctity which makes their c Criminosior enim culpa est homstior status-Nos qui Christiani Cath●lici dic mur si simile aliquid Barbarorum impuritatibus sacimus graviùs erramus Atro●iùs enim sub sancti nominis professione peccamus ubi sublimior est p●aerogativa major est culpa Ipsa enim errores nostros religio quam profitemur accusat c. Ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si post lavacrum niger effectus sum si eos qui nondum purgati sunt splendidiores cerno Naz. Orat. 2● guilt so much the greater that Ty●e and Sidon nay the Mahumetans that are m●re true to their fa●se Prophet d In nobis Christus patitur opprobrium in nobis patitur lex Christiana maledictū aestimari itaque de cultoribus suis potest ille quic litur Salv. l. 4. Et ideò hoc ipso deteriores sunt qui meliores esse deberent non enim probant quod fatentur impugnant professionem suam moribus suis magis en●m damnabilis est malitia quam titulus bonitatis accusat reatus impti est pium nomen lib. 4. than many Christians to their Saviour shall rise up in judgement against these Christians and shal condemn them that are so much worse than heathen by how much they shou●d be better as having known the way of righteousnesse and yet neverthelesse by their vitious lives stain the dignity of their profession cause the way of truth to be evill spoken of and the name of God to be blasphemed Against these floods of ungodliness these torrents of Belial fit for the tears of mourning Gildas it is more difficult now than ever to m●ke resistance when those that should help to withstand the mischief labour rather to promote it as to save a ship from the rage of a tempest when the Mariners are at difference among themselves and assist unto its perishing Nazian Orat. 32. Neither am I so much a stranger unto or a flatterer of my infirmities as to conceive any such possibility in these poor essayes of mine which though they have already passed the criticall eares of the Masters of Assemblies Eccles 12.11 acknowledge themselves far insuffic●ent for a business of this nature which all the tongues of men and Angels are not able to effect but onely the voice of that great God who commands the wind Mat. 8.27 28. and Sea and they obey him yet as sometimes e Non tantus ego sum ut vos alloquar veruntamen Gladiatores perfectissimos non tantum magistri sed etiam idiotae adhortantur de longinquo ut saepe de ipso populo dictata suggesto profuerint Tertul. ad Mart. skilfull fencers may be admonished from the ignorant standers by to award a danger so it may fall out by the grace of God whose strength is perfected in weakness that this my weak labour shall not be altogether in vain in the Lord though it be but to bring one bucket of water toward the quenching of this flame Or howe-ever f Sin autem id non provenerit hoc ipsum infructuosum saltem non erit quod prodesse tentavi c. Salvian praefat if that succeed not yet this will be some comfort to me that according to my small talent I endeavoured to do good The conscience whereof is recompence enough for the utmost ambition of Your poor Servant in the Lord Jesus H. B. The Titles and Texts of the severall SERMONS SErmon 1. St. Pauls glorying in his infirmities 2 COR. 11.30 If I must needs glory I w●ll glory of the things which concern m●ne infirmities Serm. 2. The Rulers faintness in confessing Christ JOHN 12.24 Neverthel●sse among the chief Rulers also many bel●eved on h●m but c. Serm. 3. The envious eye MAT. 20.15 Is th●ne eye ev●l because I am good Serm. 4. The last Resurrection 1 PHIL. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Serm. 5. Thankfulness for Gods benefits PSAL. 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Serm. 6. Preparation of Gods way JOHN 1.23 He said I

in the Schools of the Prophets for the edifying of Gods people This course so established by God in the Old Testament Christ re-established in the New by giving as for the first time Apostles Prophets and Evangelists so for the last Pastours Eph. 4.11 and Teachers to continue successively for the works of the ministery unto the worlds end Etiam hodie clamat Iohannes exemplo verbo vocis suo tonitruo deserta nostrorum concutit peccatorum Ambros The world hath ever will ever have need of those that bring the good tidings of peace not onely for such as come out of darknesse to be converted from the errour of their wayes but the children of light too otherwhiles have need to hear of their sins being remitted and themselves restored to the favour of God upon their repentance and for this purpose saith the Apostle God hath given to us the ministery of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 to be Embassadours for Christ and in his stead to beseech and pray men to be reconciled unto God An Embassage of so high concernment as could hardly be believed if it came onely from the mouth of man But that we have Christs warrant for it He that heareth you Luke 10. ●6 heareth me and whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them For what he said unto his Apostles in this kind Id ad totum liturgorum nationem refertur it belongeth to all the nation of Ministers If Tertullian had not said it we have no reason to doubt thereof but for those last words of the Commission M●t. 28. ult I am with you alway even unto the end of the world whereby not only those that were sent vivâ voce to teach all nations but all faithfull Ministers that ever should be in every age are promised to have the presence of Christ that is the assistance of his Spirit unto the enlarging of his Church Such honour hath God vouchsafed to men and many times to the meanest of them to make them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 6.1 workers together with himself to the work of salvation Posset quidem è coelo ipso loqui aut Angelos mittere sed in eo magis nostri rationem habuit quod per homines nostri similes compellat ut eorum voce magis familiariter nos ad se adjiciat Calvin in Isai Hyperius meth theol l. 3. c. 12. not but that he can do it of himself without Ministers as he can work without meanes either of word or of Sacrament This is confessed that thus he can do and doth many times how and when to him seemeth good and thus he can speak immediately by himself or can employ the tongues of Angels to make known his pleasure but that were not so expedient for us as may be seen by the Jewes who having once heard the voyce of God Ezod 20.19 Heb. 12.19 entreated to hear no more of that but that Moses the man of God might impart his commands unto them It is mercy in God then to condescend so far unto us as to make choice of men like our selves to be his messengers and to employ them as his own mouth to speak unto his people And it will be duty in us H b. 12.25 2 Cor. 4.7 not to refuse him that speaketh thus from heaven nor to esteem the treasure lesse that is presented in earthen vessels lest for our want of reverenee herein the heathen rise up in the day of iudgement and condemn us Even Eglon the Moabite Judg. 3.20 See this f●lly asserted by Mr. Heron in the Preachers plea in medio when he heares of a messenger from God riseth our of his throne and that is no other which is spoken in Gods name agreeable to Scripture the sound is Mans the substance and tenour thereof is Gods and the Embassage is not his that delivers it but the Kings or States in whose name it is spoken And so we to acknowledge the great King of heaven in his Vox clamantis and to receive it 1 Thes 2.13 not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God But a Caveat withall unto Gods Ministers that they speak in their Sermons 1 Pet. 4.11 as the Oracles of God that is the sound wisdom of Gods word not the fond conceits of their owne braines much lesse that which is repugnant to Scripture as schisme sacriledge resisting of Magistrates Certainly this is none of Gods voyce it is Vox Rugientis 1 Pet. 5.8 the voyce of the Roaring Lion rather or the hissing of the Serpent It was his practice from the beginning to be a Preacher of disobedience Our first parents found it so by wofull experience and we have felt the like sad effects from his Ministers now whereby there is heard nothing almost but Vox lugentis the voyce of many a one crying indeed in another sence many a Rachel weeping for her children Ierem. 31. Our Country is even become that Rachel 2 This Vox clamantis relates unto the person of him that cryeth Lucas Brugensis Hic enim spiritu virtute Eliae praeditus fortissimè impietatem insectatus est constantissimè Christi praeconem egit ut nemo esset qui se excusare posset quòd clamantem non audisset and so the Hebrew seems to favour it kol●koreh in the Prophet the crying voyce implying the boldnesse and liberty of Iohn that he shewed in his preaching That openly without fear of men or respect of persons he rebuked the people and proclaimed the Messiah In discharge whereof he so behaved himself that he took for his title Vox clamantis I am the voyce of one crying as if he were nothing else but a voyce exciting to repentance and amendment of life as indeed every thing almost about him may seem to have done somewhat that way Tertullian de pallis Ipse habitus sonat his apparel diet his place of abode were as so many Sermons of mortification even to look on him was to hear him preach though he opened not his mouth he taught by his actions the most effectuall way of preaching Again in regard of those unto whom he cryed his crying implyeth their spiritual deafnesse and hardnesse of heart that such they were as Stephen after called them Act. 7.51 stiffe-necked and uncircumcised in heart and eares The world was ever will ever be sick of this disease the voyce of a Cryer is no more then needs Against crying sins we may be allowed to be Boanerges Mark 3.17 to come with the thunder of the law when the soft voyce of the Gospel will not be heard It was the way that God himself took to procure audience unto his Sonne speaking in so loud a voyce that the Auditours said it thundered Ioh. 12.29 And Gods true * 1 King 21.27 Luke 3.20 servants have never forborne to thunder in effect against what is unlawfull

d lib. 9. cap. 8. relieved such as were their worst enemies in grievous famine and this they did so much the more cordially as they e Cypr. cont Demetrian Et sic Deo plus placemus c. Hoc nobis credimus expedire ut vos diligamus in vos qui odistis omnia conferamus Lact●nt lib. 5. cap 12. believed it was acceptable to God that they should bestow all good things on those that hated them In the Ages succeeding how much they declined from the Primitive simplicity and child-like innocence they encreased in malitiousnes every day more and more fulfilling that Prophecie of our blessed Saviour that because of iniquity abounding Mat. 24.12 the love of many should waxe cold we have seen the proof hereof Nusquam planè visum tantam hujusce pestis gravitatem nusquam tàm intolerandam nunquam tamen senescentem diuturnitatem extitisset c. J. Sau●oman ad princ Christi if ever in these last times when wars and dissensions are no where so frequent bloody and continued as among the professours of Christianity as if the God of peace and love had withdrawn his influence and suffered the devill the Authour of discord to sow his tares of division among us How have we hereby given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 2 Sam. 2.14 Jam. 2.7 to blaspheme I say that worthy name by the which we are called and when of themselves they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Nazianzen * Orat. 33. speaks in the like case apt to defame us with forged scandals how can we think they should now forbear us having filled their mouthes with just reproaches In stead of that we mentioned erewhile it may be their note of us us now to the contrary Vide ut se invicem oderint as if this were now become the cognizance of Christs disciples to hate one another Certainly this is so far from converting Turkes and Jewes unto out Religion that it may rather * Lud. Vives de verit fidei lib. 3. confirm and harden them in their infidelity That this cannot be the expected Messiah of whose peaceable kingdome the Prophets have spoken such glorious things When men are so far from beating swords into plow-shares that they turn bells into murthering † Jovis veluti fulminibus horrifico quopiam tormento oppetere Sauroman deerat adhuc vitiis nostris dignissima mundo Mach●●● c. Inv. Bellica Canons so far from not learning war any more that many have learned nothing else 't is become the onely thriving profession The wolf so far from dwelling with the lamb that the lamb is rather become a wolf a Domestica crudelitas non modo id habet in se mali quod tot Cives atrocissimè sustulit verum etiam hominibus lenissimis ademit misericordiam consuetudine incommodorum Cic. pro Rosc Orat. 2. our intestine cruelty having not only this mischief in it to bereave us of so many Natives but also to deprive the most gentle natures of all compassion by the continuance of our tumults The Leoopard the Lion and the Bear and what other Beasts of prey Isai 11.6.7 whereby the Scripture would set forth the salvages and wild conditions of men have each of them acted their parts of late in human shapes Nulli rabies acrior caeterae animantia in suo genere probè degunt congregari videmus stare contra dissimilia Leonum seritas inter se non dimicat c. at hercule homini plurima ex homine sunt mala Plin. hist nat 7. prooem v. Cal. Rhodig lib. 10. pag. 21. Scalig. Exercit. 33. 189. 5. and that with more cruelty then any of those creatures have expressed in their own nature none of them having been found so cruell each to other nor to have done so much hurt unto men as men have done unto themselves which may be some colour unto the scoffers in these last dayes 2 Pet. 3.3 to encourage them in their lewdnesse and to say where is the promise that God repeated by his Prophet Isa 11.9 25.5 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain when this alone hath been the scean where all the mischief hath been acted insomuch as the mountains of prey the deserts of Lybia Psal 76.4 Num. 35. and Arabia were Cities of refuge in comparison But we need not so much wonder at this perversenesse Nimirum videri non debet quod tam multi adhuc ferociant pauci enim sunt veri incolae montis Dei for as Calvin gives the reason There be few true Inhabitants of Gods mountain few he means so meetly qualified as David describeth a Citizen of Sion Psal 15. few entire and reall converts even among those that professe themselves Christians when the unregenerate part is yet so predominant in them it cannot be otherwise but jarres and conflicts must rage amongst them Jam. 4.1 St. James hath clearly so resolved it from whence come wars and fightings among you come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members Vitia quae in nobis regnant sunt quasi armati satellites ad pugnas concitandas Calvin in locum The sins that raign in us are as so many armed Troopers to embroyle us in contentions These must be subdued as ever we hope to see peace established in our borders Psal 147.14 It is not our presuming of the spirit within us that will do this work but our conconforming unto the spirit thereby to mortify the deeds of the flesh Rom 8.13 Now what our endeavours are in this kind if it may be judged by our works there is small appearance of any such matter intended by us when some whose office should engage them to be peace-makers Mat. 5.9 Rom. 10.15 as to preach the Gospel of peace Illi ipsi sunt acerrimi turbarum Incensores if we may have leave to complain with that devout French-man even they are the greatest Incendiaries of tumults Caroli Paschal Christianae preces 53. Iuctifici belli con●it●●es and the fomenters of a dismall war Mare etiam positis flatibus inquietum Minut. Felix sounding alarmes from the Pulpit and stirring up the giddy multitude as the winds do the Sea which of its own nature is unquiet though Eolus did spare his lungs Psal 55.21.64.3 Others having war in their hearts whet their tongues like a sword and bend their bowes to shoot their arrowes even bitter words who is there almost among us Ecclus. 19.16 Iam. 3.2 that offendeth not in this kind whose language is not well nigh cursing Cujus non sermo maledictio est c. votis malis pro armis utimur Salv. de Gub. lib. 3. The weapons of our anger are imprecations what we have not the power to act we supply with destructive bloody wishes Acts 9 1. breaking out nothing but threatning and slaughter