Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	flesh_n	son_n	7,126	5	5.5139	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84229	The examiner defended, in a fair and sober answer to the two and twenty questions which lately examined the author of Zeal examined, in this answer are (not unseasonably) touched, Christ's interest in this and all nations. Christ's interest, and the Commonweals, as to the present affairs. The true nature of all civil states. The nature of all civil magistracie, and of the civil sword. The title of Christian magistrate. National churches and covenants. The world of religions ... The permission due to conscience ... Idolatry, and the kindes of it. The spiritual and civil sword, ... The forms of worship. The causes of destruction in nations. The violence to the souls of men; ... The dangerous consequence of such violences, ... Christ Jesus himself, ... The crying guilt of soul-rapes ... The light of nature in spirituals. The acts of Asa, Artaxerxes, &c. The fast of Nineveh. The conscientious differences ... The justice and prudence of state-provision against all uncivilities both of popish and protestant ranters.		1652 (1652)	Wing E3732; Thomason E675_2; ESTC R206745	60,783	103

of this Deity and of Cursedness in Disunion from it But now let 's descend to Cultus Institutus and Cultus Naturalis an Instituted and a natural Worship Come to the light of nature worshipping this Deity Come to the seven precepts of Noah which some both Jewes and other ancients talk of and then I ask if it be not a downright Doctrine of Free-will in depraved nature No spirituat object seen with a natural eye If it be not to run point-blank against all the Histories of the Nations and all present Experience of mankind in all known parts of the World to attribute so much light to any of the Eldest and Gallantest sons of Nature as to attain a spiritual and saving knowledge of God to attain a love unto God in all their knowledge to attain the mystery of the Father and of the Son God manifested in Flesh by whom Creation and Redemption are wrought to the matter of true worship or to any thing but Splendidum Peccatum without the Revelation of the Word and Spirit of God out of his absolute free and peculiar Grace and Mercy in Christ Jesus Hence I ask The monstrous opinions of the Nations as to Dieties and their worships If from this Corruption of Nature it have not sprung that the wisest Nations Councels Parliaments have run into such monstrous opinions about the Gods and the number of them and so many monstrous and horrible and some ridiculous kindes and waies of worship Thus did the Chaldeans the Egyptians the Persians the Greeks the Romans and all the Generations and Nations of men unto this day It is true It is charged upon the wisest of the Sons of men Rom. 1. They glorified not God as God that they were not thankful that they gave the glory of the Creator to the Creature and that therefore God delivered them up to those moral filthinesses and defilements It is true Two deep dungeons of moral wickedness into which the conscience of some in worshipping have tumbled That because men received not the Truth in the Love of it God delivered them up to strong Delusions to believe lyes And also these Spiritual Judgements have proceeded so far that the poor deluded Generations of men have tumbled down millions of millions one upon the neck of another into these two deep and doleful Dungeons The first Whoredom and Murder Of practising uncleanness and Whoredome practised by some Nations even upon the very account of Religion and Conscience The second Of Cruelty and Murder as of Baals Priests cutting and launcing themselves and of many Priests and Sects afflicting themselves in some Nations with many Torments and above all that of the abominable and most inhumane Sacrificing mankind In which horrid Worship not onely the Mexicans did abound The Sacrificing of mankind out of conscience in their Sacrificing yearly many thousands Infants to their bloody Dieties before the coming of Pizarro amongst them but also Gods owne people of Israel and none of the very Kings of Iudah before repentance fell into this bloody pit of offering up their Children through the fire to Molech I readily acknowledge that in these cases mentioned The Civil Sword must cut off all Incivilities though under Religions pretences masked and covered and in all other cases wherein Civility is wronged in the Bodies or goods of any the Civil Sword is Gods Sword as well as mans for the suppressing of such Practices and Appearances yea and the very Principles of them and for the Incouragement and applause of the contrary Chastity Humanity c. Hence I honour that noble act of the Emperour of Rome who censured that famous Ovid for that wanton Book of his De Arte amandi as a sparke to immodesty and uncleanness and doubtless it is the the duty of the civil sword to cut off the Incivilities of our times as the monstrous haire of women up-the heads of some men c. But yet I ask Whether Paul speak ought in the first of the Romans of any humane Iudge or Iudgement upon the Nations of the World for their meer Idolatries thus most dreadfully plagued already by the most righteous Iudge of the whole World in those strong Delusions and Lyes and deliveries up to so many Lusts and Sins which also run upon the Civil Sword of God and man for their uncivil and unrighteous practices I ask further All seeming incivilities not to be lookt upon with one eye Whether or no some seeming Incivilities which the Light of Nature more fairly may condemn and hale before the Civil Tribunal yet may not be such and so Circumstantiated with Impressions from Heaven that they ought not so suddenly and easily to be condemned and punished but with a more tender and observant Eye be distinguished For not to instance in any disputable Acts which the holy Scripture and experience presents us with what shall be said to that very common and constant practise of Circumcision The practice of Circumcision a seeming Incivility commanded by God himself to the Iewes and now entertained by one of the greatest Empires of the World the Turks may not it be with faire probability argued to be against the light of Nature For Although the Iewes might plead The Institution of this Ordinance was from Heaven and the Lord of Nature That it was done in so solemn and Religîous a way that it was not performed with any lascivious or uncleane observations or gestures but with Horror and Pain and Bloodshedding and great Affliction of the outward man as we see in the Shechemites And lastly That it was attended with heavenly and mystical significations as a Type and Figure Yet not withstanding how was it branded and blackr with the Scorned and Jeers of the Nations insomuch that the very Sabbath the solemn worshipping of God one day in seven in a most religious acknowledgement of his most glorious Creating of this wonderful frame of the World in six was jeered from this very seeming Incivility of Circumcision Recutitaque Sabbata c. the Circumcised Sabbaths c. If Abraham had lived now in England one of the most zealous Nations of the World Abrahams Sacrificing of Isaak a seeming incivility for inflicting torments on others and being tormented for Religion and Conscience what would our rash Zealots have done with Abraham in case he had Sacrificed his son Isaac c. would they have examined the miraculous conception of the Child a s from Heaven and the reason that that most holy and most glorious hand that so miraculously and supernaturally gave him now call'd againe for him by a Voice miraculous from Heaven also would they have observed the Man so Holy and so Faithful his Addresses to the Act to Holy and so free from Passion from Designe c. Or if the Mother of the Lord Jesus had brought forth her Son amongst us So Maries bringing forth of Christ Iesus and it should have been acknowledged without

that yet beloved people And so consequently Whether all those bloody Persecutors Papists and Protestants who have used to draw this shaft out of this Quiver of Scripture whereby to pierce the tender heart of Christ Jesus yea and all that give a power to the Civil Magistrate in Spirituals from this Scripture Have not most ignorantly profaned this Prophecie and that to usurpation over the Temple of God the Consciences of Gods own people and to bloody violence against their Bodies although under a cloak of providing wholesome food for their children and prohibiting poyson c. Secondly I ask Whether there be not two sorts of Nurses literal and mystical Fathers Mothers Nurses distinguished and again of mystical two sorts Civil and Spiritual as also Whether there be not the same distinction of Fathers and Mothers who are distinct from Nurses c. And whether these Kings and Queens in Isa 40. yea and suppose all other lawful Magistrates must needs be understood to be spiritual Nurses such as Paul who was no King c. professeth himself to be being a Messenger of Christ Jesus to the Thessalonians and spiritual fathers and mothers such as he profess'd he was to the Corinthians and Galatians Or Whether here is not prophesied and promised to this People or rather whether is there not here prophesied and promised to these Saints whether literal or spiritual Iews that Kings and Queens shall put off their Lion-like and Lion ss-like nature towards Gods people and shall be as the Poets used to write good Kings ought to be shepherds of the people c. If this be not the true meaning I aske why is it said Wonderful honour that Kings and Queens shall yeeld to the Sain's verse 23 That these Kings and Queens shall bow down to these Iewes with their Face toward the Earth and like the dust of their feet which posture and practice seems not to imply a disrobing themselves of their civil Dignities and Authorities for that is it by which they shew such kindness to the Saints but rather their high esteem unto these Saints in heavenly and soul matters and that in spiritual respects they are so far from challenging to be Fathers and Iudges of what is wholesome food and poyson that they bow downe and kisse the feet of Christ Iesus in his Saints far more superiour in spirituals then themselves Thirdly Kings and Queens and all Magistrates essentially Civil and as a Master of a Ship c. I aske whether the Office of Kings and Queens c. be not in the ship of all Commonweals in the world meerly and essentially Civil just as the Office of a Captain or Master of a Ship at Sea who ought of all his Passengers to be honoured and respected paid and rewarded for his service But as to the Consciences of the Passengers whether Jews Turks Persians Pagans Papists Protestants c. whom he transports from Port to Port upon a civil account of payment and recompence I ask whether he go not beyond the Sphere of his Activity if he act by any authoritative restraining them from their own Worship or constraining them to his And whether he have any more to do but a shewing kindness and countenance according to the quality and temper of his owne Beliefe and Conscience Fourthly I ask Idolatrous and Popish Magistrates as lawful as c. Whether all Magistrates in the world of what quality and conscience soever be not as true and lawful Magistrates as he that is most truly Godly and Christian like as Idolatrous and Pagan Fathers Husbands Masters are as truly such in their Relations c Whether doth not the holy Testament of Christ Iesus acknowledge this the Lord Iesus both by his word and practice commanding obedience honour maintenance for their Civil relations and work sake Fifthly Whether Kings and Queens The People of each Nation the fountain of the Government of it and other Princes receive not all their Power and Anthority from the several and respective Peoples who call them and impower them to their several and respective Services Accordingly Whether it have not been declared by the Parliament that the fountain and original of all Authority and Rule is the People consenting and agreeing in their several Combinations by themselves or their Deputies for their better subsistence in Peace c. Power of judging in Spirituals detected to be but usurpation in Kings and Queens c. And consequently Whether have the Nations and People of the world in their meer natural and national capacities any one jot of Spiritual and Divine power with which to betrust their Magistrates and Officers And if upon due weighing in the Balance of the Sanctuary it be found that they have not Is not this chalenging of Spiritual power to judge and determine what is soul-food and soul-peyson I mean in a coercive way binding all souls and the very souls of them that sent them and who neither did nor could commit such Power unto them Is not this I say a soul-rape and tyranny and a meer policy of Satan deceiving too often honest and zealous mindes but most commonly acting the subtil Ieroboams and Nebuchadnezzars of the world to erect their State-Calves and Images c. Sixthly Admit some Kings Queens thus to have been impower'd by God in some juncture of time either for the Jews sake Few Magistrates in the world savingly know Christ Jesus or any of his people upon some especial and extraordinary account yet I ask What is this to all Kings and Queens and Magistrates in the world that it should be their charge duty and calling imposed upon them from Heaven when the counsel of God is revealed that as his flock is a little flock and that he appointed spiritual Pastors and Shepherds for the feeding of them so his holy purpose was to call few wise few noble few mighty to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus Seventhly If the counsel of Christ Jesus had been otherwise and that he had committed as is pleaded the judging of soul-food and poyson to the Kings and Queens Christ Jesus rarely sends godly Kings Queens c. c. since he wanted not power for all power in heaven and earth was his nor love and faithfulness for he laid down his life and poured out his heare-blood for his I ask Why in the first three hundred yeers under the Romane Emperours nor in the second and third three hundred under Emperours and Popes nor ever since he hath not been pleased to furnish the world with such Shepherds but rather permitted Wolves and Lions c. notwithstanding that he is pleased sometimes after long and sharp persecutions to stir up some blessed instruments as Rocks and Trees Fathers Mothers Nurses to refresh and shade and comfort and countenance his servants Eighthly When it hath pleased him graciously to call and change by his Word and Spirit any of the Wise and Noble and Mighty of the

and holding fast to the Death what he believes he hath received from the Father of Lights And yet better sit still then still rise and fall Have all the Spirit the Calling the Gifts the Life and the presence of God with them as those first Messengers the Apostles whose Successours Men yet pretend to be Were it not better for us to acknowledge The danger of our own Inventions in heavenly matters how poor how naked how blind how miserable we are and to listen to the holy Counsel of Christ Jesus c. to buy of him that blessed Gold and Eye-salve that white Rayment and fine Linnen that we may truely see and be truely rich and be truely glorious and beautiful then boasting of our Knowledge and Abundance and want of nothing we prove so grievous to the stomach of Christ Jesus that he vomit us with loathing out of his mouth Lastly I ask In case we had for unquestionable Fundamentals a Creed composed by the twelve Apostles of the Lamb That a Synod of heavenly Angels assembled and concluded of Fundamentals of Forms of Worship External force in Spirituals can onely pierce the outside Ordinations Ministeries Maintenance c. and all without the reach of a Curse for another Gospel Gal. 1. Yet I ask what rule can be produced from the Testament of Christ Iesus that these Forms these Prescripts must be imposed and beaten into not the Braines and Hearts of men which is impossible but into the outsides and knees of men with Swords and Staves that as Christ Jesus said of the Samaritans they might worship they know not what What reason of Christianity or Civility that the Talmud of the Iewes the Alcaron of the Turks and the Canons of all sorts of Popes must not be questioned What Scripture or Reason shall force a man to be a Scholar to a Teacher and force him to pay for his Teaching To trust his Ship with a Pilot and to pay him for his Piloting to trust himself with a Guide and to pay him for his Conduct when he believes that Teacher that Pilot are dangerously ignorant that Guide is blind c. The mystery and and tyranny of persecuting Teachers Yea further from whom he must receive all upon Trust and not dare in the very place and time of Teaching to propose his Doubt his Question his Objection or desire Explanation And I add What Christianity is that which commands that no Churches be gathered no Ministers chosen no Doctrine preached but what the civil Sword shall say is true and Orthodox Nay no Magistrate himself chosen nor any Civil Officer except he be of our Church our Way and Conscience as some say is the Mystery and Tyranny of New-Englands practice The two and twentieth Question If God was to be blessed for putting it into the Heart of a Heathen Magistrate to make Lawes for Religion Isa 7.27 Whether he comes not neer to a curse Quest 22 that would take out of the heart of a Christian Magistrate the advancement of true Religion and perswade him to give a Toleraration to the chiese Enemies of Religion Idolatry and Heresie Sure the Proposer highly esteems this Example of Erra 7. for Answ not content to mention it in the seventh Question he attempts to win it by Force and Storming indeed in a very stormy Language in this last Question To many Branches of the same hath been spoken As to the nature of Civil Magistracie essentially Civil all the world over As to the power of the Magistrates or Officers designed unto them by the people as but their Deputies either Legislative or Executive As to the perfection of Civil Magistracie in its self and in its kind not capable of Diminution or Addition by the Magistrates change of Religion to or from Christianity or any other Religion in the world As to Artaxerxes his fact Artaxerxes his favour to the Iewes not being moved out of any heart to the true Religion for neither did he or his people forsake their owne but out of a Conquering Terrour of God he shews just mercy to his captives and people he feares wrath to himself and his Sons from that God whose love and acquaintance he cared not for But I shall add with Christs help these few Queries First Whether this Supposition of making Laws to advance Religion and especially in a National way doth not overthrow and Evacuate one great end of the comming of the Lord Jesus which was to fulfil all those former shadowes of Temple Altar Priests Sacrifice c. to tear the veil to break downe the partition Wall and with the two edged Sword of his Spirit his Word to conquer poor sinners in a way of love National holiness and shadows c. abolished by Christ Iesus the body and substance For if Ezra's pattern of carrying Lawes and Authority from this King to force men to keep the Law of God in this Iewish Religion Iewish Nation be a president for all Nations where is the abolishing of the holy Nation holy Cities holy Temples Altars Priests c. Or ought we not if Christ Iesus be not come to have the Officers commanded by the King to be Tole free verse 24. the Priests the Levites the Singers the Porters the Nethinims or Ministers of the house of God If it be said The Morality of such a Law remaineth I ask Whether according to Heb. 7. there being a necessity of the change of the Priesthood there is not a necessity of the change of the Law also of that Law of Shadows the holy Land holy Temples holy Priests holy Swords c. I further ask If that people of God the figure of Gods Israel in after-Ages to arise in all Nations of the world if they had not been Captivated but had been in their owne Land and not restrained by force whether they ought not to have builded the Altar and Temple without the Kings command yea and against it Yea it is expresly said chap. 4. Gods people in Spirituals know no Caesar but himself and dear Son they were made to cease the building by power and Force yet they went on chap. 5. to build again at the instigation of Haggai and Zachary notwithstanding the prohibition of the King yet lying in force against them And lastly I ask If these things were not Examples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10. or Types figuring out the freedomes of Gods people who if not hindred by actual Force and Power ought onely to regard in Spirituals the Scepter and Sword and Crown of the Lord Iesus Christ Secondly I ask What Lawes this Artaxerxes made for the advancement of Religion Is not the first of absolute Freedome and Toleration to these poor captive Iewes Was there any Babylonian or Persian command to go up to Ierusalem any commanded to pay or to offer a peny toward this Expedition Yea were not the Iewes themselves absolutely free whether to go up to Ierusalem or stay in Babel