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
A88877	The independants militarie entertainment. Or, Certaine reasons and arguments why independants ought not only to be admitted into the army raised for defence of church and state, but also both by law of God, nature, and nations, are required to put their hands to the plough of the kingdome. Together with the answering of such grand objections as tend to the contrary. / By W.L. Licensed, entered, and printed according to order.	W. L.	1645 (1645)	Wing L88; Thomason E278_28; ESTC R200023	5,891	8

same tone of Brownists Anabaptists Sectaries c. condemning all not of their owne opinion as men extremely prejudiciall in their very assistance of the State although the most godly and learned in the Kingdome viz. the Synod dare not condemne them Nay further in some sense I may truly say we are all Independants the Kingdome over for ever since Episcopacy was condemned and made shorter by the head no other discipline being setled in the Church wherein the great difference lyes every man doth that that is right in his own eyes and how long it may be thus who knowes 13. If we would have them cashered the Army why not also cast out of the Kingdome beleeve it he that is not fit to be trusted in the Army is in these dangerous times as unfit to live in a Commonweale he that is not with us is against us and he that is not thought fit to assist us must consequently be thought as unfit to live amongst us especially such men as hate neutralizing Yet I beleeve neither Parliament or Synod have any thoughts to deny them the liberty of free-borne subjects nor doe they I beleeve at all doubt of their honesty But as Independants accompt the Presbyterian godly so the Presbyterian accompts also of the Independant And if they be found fit to live in the Kingdome and men approved godly by those best able to judge why shall wee condemne them for unprofitable and unusefull members And although doubtlesse there are some nay too too many that thinke if Independancy be tolerated in the Kingdome it will be like Moses rod c. and therefore would gladly have it cast out of the kingdome Truly I say this should satisfie that it was Moses rod that devoured the rest and the rest were but the effects of inchantments And if we shall cast out Independants for their conscience sake by the same ground we may banish all Religion 14. They are men knowne to be lovers of Religion and Law all of them and as they have a birth-right in both they are bound both by the Law of God and Man of Nature and Nations to lend their assistance when these are indangered Besides they have both lives and estates to save or lose as well as others 15. Againe we have more need to encourage them to joyne with us then decline their helpe many of them already having laid downe Armes in reference to the Covenant and many never would take up Armes to fight for any cause or upon any termes at all holding it unlawfull these then that are willing resolved and men sufficiently knowne for their fidelity and courage should rather be incouraged then any way discountenanced 16. Consider who they are that are principall opposers of Independants and would so gladly have them outed the Army certainly none that are truly godly whatsoever they pretend for it is not that they are Independant but that they are godly they are envied it is the power of godlinesse aimed at and he that is now an enemy to Independants were there not one of them left in the Army would be as arch an adversary to Presbyterians so farre as the power of godlinesse is held forth in their conversation this I am confident of if men will sweare and swill drinke and drab as those that would have sway in the Armies have too long done and would still which can neither stand with the power of godlinesse or common honesty let them be Independant Presbyteriall Prelaticall or Popish all is one Birds of a feather would flock together Not that I condemn all now by course dismissed their commands and employments for I know many choice worthy gallant Gentlemen are outed by meanes of the new Modell I onely point at the prophane Atheisticall party for whose sakes the Army hath beene new formed and who are the only enemies of Independants and the power of godlinesse in whomsoever it is Q. But these Independants will not take the Covenant what should they doe amongst us why shall we trust them A. Many nay most of them have or will take it onely some few decline it in point of conscience questioning the lawfulnesse of pressing it upon them with all its circumstances yet men resolved without any such tye having a principle within them leading them to be true to their trust and no whit the more backward in their assistance And as a worthy Gentleman said once concerning forcing men to our publique Assemblies by reason of a complaint made against such as used private meetings on the Lords day quoth he let us force them to Church that make no conscience at all rather then force those that withdraw out of tendernesse So I say concerning the Covenant although many thousands both godly and consciencious have taken it and who doubtlesse will to their utmost endeavour to keepe it yet there are many thousands in the Kingdome that make no conscience at all what they sweare nor ever care to keep any Oath or Covenant whatsoever mists and milstones are alike it is good to impose it upon such with reasonable instruction concerning it but let us take heed of pressing it upon a tender conscience say not How shall we trust them for he that feares an Oath feares God and let him alone with his conscience he will wrong no man he will neither kill his King nor poyson his Prince nor blow up a Parliament his tenents are no way distructive to Church or State nay though he sweare not yet he will assist the kingdome to the utmost of his ability these take heed of offending one of those little ones that desire to walke according to their light Q. But they are principall causers of divisions in the Army by preaching and teaching they know not what they must be all Preachers forsooth although they have neither call to the Ministry nor parts to discharge that function hereby they poyson abundance of ignorant people with their errors and wrong Scriptures by their mis-interpretations A. For that generall charge of being causers of divisions it is no more then what formerly even from the beginning to this day hath been laid upon the back of Religion therefore was Eliah counted the troubler of Israel Paul a sower of sedition and indeed the profession of Christ hath ever beene cause of division therefore he saith he came to set the father against the son the mother against the daughter c. and it is necessary such offences should be that the approved may be knowne flesh and spirit light and darknesse godlinesse and impiety must needs be divided and thus it hath been and so will be to the end of the world in all Christian Kingdomes Churches nay and persons too the flesh lusting and warring against the spirit they are alwaies contrary Indeed for that men of weak or no abilities without any warrant or call from God or man do preposterously thrust themselves into publique dispensation of ordinances this is to be rather bewailed then pleaded for and I doubt not but that the Parliament and Assembly both will take care to prevent this enormity and to furnish our Armies with able conscencious Preachers and so also prevent the great mischief that often necessity brings with it yet I presume not one of forty doe take upon them publique administrations and why should we condemne all the rest for those as well may we cry downe all godly painfull Ministers by reason some were ignorant some prophane some superstitious many of them very sots fitter to serve swine then seed the flock of Christ yet I hope we reverence the godly learned of them and so though some few forget themselves in this making an Idoll of Ignorance as too many of us doe of Learning yet take heed of condemning the rest that are both wise and godly Neither must I condemn any man for exercising his talent in the place where God hath set him to his glory but with Moses heartily wish that all the Lords people were Prophets inabled for his worke knowing every Master of a Family every Commander in an armie according to his light received and the charge committed to him ought to improve it to Gods glory and the benefit of those related to him no man ought to hide his talent in his napkin or put his candle under a bushell but to pray with and for those committed to his charge to exhort and instruct them in the waies of God provided they deliver known practicall and received truths meddle not in things too high for them questions and disputations engendring controversie rather then tending to edification leaving things more darke and doubtfull to the godly learned and called by God and man to publique administrations know that the Scriptures are of that latitude that a Lamb may wade and yet the Elephant swim in their Ocean so shall men doe much good in their places and may by their praiets teares and Christian duty wrastle with God as usefully and profitaby as fight with an enemy for the peace and welfare of Church and Commonweale thus shall wee build with one hand and fight with the other Let us therefore blesse God for such Commanders and Souldiers and not envy them for their zeale But above all let it be our shame that swearing blasphemy drunkennesse and all maner of prophanenesse things out of question unlawfull and sinfull are suffered in our Armies while such practices as tend to the power of godlinesse are opposed and oppugned and who ever thou art that art an enemy to the Independants entertainment in the Army be silent till all prophane ones are cashiered and especially prophanenesse out of thy owne heart and conversation cast out plucke out thy beame first and then thou wilt see more clearly the mote if this course were taken few or none would either spurne at the power of godlinesse or despise the day of small things To conclude know this he that hath the least spark of true grace in his heart will not envie the power of godlinesse in any mans conversation whatsoever FJNJS