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
A95842	An antidote against sorrovv, in order to the obtaining of sanctified joy. An excellent treatise first written in French by N. Vedelius, then translated into Latine by Gallus Pareus, and now into English, by Cadwallader Winne, M.A.	Vedel, Nicolaus, 1596-1642.; Winne, Cadwallader, b. 1622 or 3, translator.	1650 (1650)	Wing V167; Thomason E1421_1; ESTC R209478	59,453	229

my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope in God for I will yet praise him who is the helpe of my countenance and my God Psal 42.12 CHAP. VI. The sixth ground or reason is that afflictions themselves yield matter of joy BUt what doe I say not onely the benefits but the evils of this life commonly so called that is to say adversities which thou endurest as long as thou dwellest in these tents of Kedar yield matter of joy which is a riddle which the Philistines of this world cannot resolve The Nazarites and children of God are onely sensible that there is hony in the Lion and sweetnesse in affliction This lesson is very necessary to every one and in it selfe most excellent for thereby wee are taught to look upon afflictions undauntedly and entertaine them not onely with contempt as the Philosophers teach but with a merry countenance with pleasure and gladnesse which without comparison is farre more laudable and excellent than stoicall contempt and prond disdaine which cannot long endure the brunt of greater evils but will in short space be foiled and put to flight with shame Now mans understanding is not capable of this doctrine unlesse it hath first knowledge of the goodnesse lying hid under the deformed vizard of afflictions which con●…sts herein that the affictions which God layeth upon his elect are the meanes whereby they obtaine the possession of eternall happinesse and those unspeakable good things which are prepared for them so that their end is most excellent of inestimable value even heavenly life and glory which neither eye saw nor eare heard nor the heart of man can conceive That thou mayest perfectly understand this doctrine it is necessary that thou consider the divers sorts of afflictions which God sendeth to his children wherof commonly they make two one sort is of those afflictions which are common to the godly with the children of this world as diseases poverty or the like The other sort is of those afflictions that are proper unto such as undergo the crosse of Jesus Christ or persecution where with the faithfull for the profession of the Gospell are assaulted by their enemies but to speak properly if we look upon afflictions as they out wardly appeare unto us there is not any affliction proper all are common but if we consider their intrinsecall forme which gives them their being and essence there is not any common but all are particular and proper for their extrinsecall forme consisteth in that which is grievous and carries with it anguish of heart as poverty as hath beene said diseases banishment imprisonment all which are common to the godly with the children of this world insomuch that there is not any affliction which may not as equally befall them both for what have we not common saith one of the Fathers as long as we are in this world with the children therof and as long as wee are here below wee are joyned with other men by the bonds of this corruptible flesh but in spirit we are separated from them so that till this corruptible shall bee clothed with incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortality we ascend to God the father all the discommodities of the flesh are common to us with them If the earth be barren famine makes no distinction between any if a City or Town be surprised by the enemy all are brought into captivity and when the clouds with-hold their raine all are compelled to endure this drought and when the rocks split the ship asunder all without exception endure the same wrack failing of eyes burning agues and the perfect health of all the members are common to us with them as long as we are clothed with the same common flesh in this world As touching that which gives essence to the afflictions of Gods children it is opinion according to Philosophy But Gods word corrects this opinion teaching us that it cannot give unlesse an imaginary and putative essence thereunto Their true essence then is that which God himselfe gives them who wills that some serve for to chastise his elect correct their vices some serve for to trie their faith and other vertues and others tend to this end that they may beare witnesse to his heavenly truth Now as there is not any affliction of Gods children but hath reference to one of these so they are of that nature that they never befall the wicked since hee is not their father neither trieth hee them in that whereof they are destitute neither honoureth them so faire as to make them witnesses of his truth which they are ignorant of or cannot away with To speak properly then the faithfull man hath not any affliction common with the unregenerate if wee respect as wee ought its true being neither any particular affliction if we consider its outward forme and species And this wee must observe by reason of the fruit and consolation which redound thereby to God's children as shall bee seen hereafter There are three sorts of afflictions wherewith God exerciseth his children chastisement triall and Martyrdome of all and each of which we say that they procure to the godly inestimable good things glory especially and eternall life That the verity hereof may the better be perceived let us first as to what concerne chastisement compare prosperity and adversity Who knoweth not that whereas prosperity should be a spurre to excite and hasten us with more alacrity to the marke of our high calling and to render thankes unto God in such sort as is meet that is to worship and love him with more affection and to glorifie him in all our thoughts words and actions who knoweth not I say what it doth instead of all this It corrupteth us the blame is ours and brings forth such effects as it ought not to produce It is true the godly man offends God in his adversity through murmurings diffidence and other sinnes but hee recollects and returnes unto himselfe assoone as with David hee entreth the sanctuary but this is little or nothing to that he doth in the time of prosperity for if adversity hath kill'd her thousand certainly prosperity hath kill'd her ten thousand It is prosperity that breedeth carnall security forgetfulnesse of God confidence in humane affaires pride prophanation love to this world contempt of Gods word and sacraments It suffocates godly zeale and extinguisheth fervency of prayers it burieth and hideth the fire of faith under the ashes of carnall concupiscences and affections In a word the summer of prosperity engendreth a numerous swarme of flies that is to say vices which waste and make desolate the garden of the Lord This point needs no proofe the Scripture being plentifull herein and every mans experience witnessing it to be the way to eternall condemnation and not to life wherfore that God may bring into the right way one that is as a miserable wandring sheep hee takes him his pastorall staffe not smiting him on this side otherwhile on

his promise It robs God of his fatherly care he hath of us infringing that hope which should be reposed in him Hence the Apostle joynes it with diffidence saying That yee sorrow not as others which have no hope 1 Thes 4,13 It makes him ungratefull blotting out his remembrance so many corporal and spirituall blessings whereof hee hath had experience by Gods goodnesse which if hee would thinke upon he would not suffer himselfe to bee carried headlong thereby And because his mind is fixed upon evill his affliction also being either real or imaginary he makes little or no reckoning of Gods benefits but buries them in oblivion not without an execrable brand of ingratitude It makes him not to imploy all the faculties both of his body and soule in Gods service with such a measure of zeale as is meete Serve the Lord saith the Prophet David with gladnesse and come before his presence with a song Psal 100.2 Thou shalt rejoyce in thy feast c. Seven dayes shalt thou keep a solemne feast unto thy Lord thy God and therefore shalt thou surely rejoyce Deut. 16.14,15 This alacrity in serving God cannot even in the least degree be performed by him nay hee is as remisse in all the actions of his life as he is negligent in Gods service And thus thou seest how hainously he offends God In relation to his neighbour hee is suspicious unaffable unmannerly testy contentious whereby hee renders himselfe vitiously deformed hatefull and odious In relation to himselfe it makes him to incurre no lesse reproach and ignominy than filthinesse for generally it argues the weaknesse of his understanding joyned with foolishnesse yea beastlinesse and declares him to be besides himselfe whereby it happens that hee judgeth foolishly of the cause of his sorrow and embraceth falsehood instead of truth Hence the Apostle joynes it with false opinion saying No sorrow for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous Heb. 12.11 where wrong judgement is taxed which accompanieth it particularly it makes him ignorant of his owne condition and to take at least for a time no consideration of himselfe for being call'd hereunto to wit to be a joyfull heire of the Kingdome of Heaven by the right of Adoption coheire with Jesus Christ and Lord of all the Creatures he ought not to make his firme aboad in this world neither to place his happinesse therein but as a sojourner to travell to his heavenly Countrey Wherefore he should alwayes go forward not stand still much lesse retreat backe but despising the world and all the concupiscences thereof couragiously to remove all obstacles hindring him thither and to place his happinesse in God of whose love whosoever is once perswaded doubts not but hee will lead him by his fatherly providence in this desart and pilgrimage Wherefore he should carry with him a high generous and undaunted spirit which is altogether becomming the sonnes of the King of Kings This he should have continually before his eyes and diligently and seriously consider thereupon how wisely then would hee order his life and conversation with what happinesse would hee live in this world But sorrow as a deadly phrensy buries all these things in oblivion so that it makes one forget his originall and estate his owne name nay himselfe It makes him wholy bent upon this world miserably torturing himselfe for the losse which hee either sustaines or feares to be of honours riches pleasures or the like as may be seene in that young man who when he had heard he should sustaine the losse of his riches went away sorrowfull leaving Jesus Mat. 9.22 which discovered him to be desperately enamoured of this world and to seek his abode and solace therein whereas hee should seek for tranquillity in Heaven and felicitie in God It comes to passe that he is pensive upon any occasion disordering afflicting macerating and suffering himselfe to be easily missed out of the way to his heavenly countrey In a word he is like a foolish traveller who being given over to commit innumerable fooleries can never attain to his journeyes end And there is another sort of foolishnesse discernable in him for after he hath once wandred out of the King of heavens high-way hee so misgoverns himselfe as that without any circumspection he takes hold of every thing which even at the first blush offers it selfe to his view He is not contented to bee exercised with more waighty occasions and afflictions but as if his life were not miserable enough of it selfe he fabricates to himselfe daily new miseries so that he will be sorrowfull upon any ridiculous vile and slight matter whereof if hee bee questioned by a certain Jonadab a faithfull friend Thou being the Kings sonne why art thou leane from day to day 2 Sam. 13.4 Certainly he will not be lesse ashamed to confesse the cause of his sorrow than Amon was of the intended detestable incest Hee is vexed at one small word though well spoken yet taken by him in ill part or if one speak amisse hee will interpret it to be worser He will be so farre moved by an oblique aspect by a vaine and counterfeit Messenger by a slight fault of his Maid-servant and man-servant as to forget all the benefits he possesseth in heaven and earth which is a thing unbefitting him who is the sonne of the King of Kings and heire of the Kingdome of heaven Besides sorrow discovers in him another kind of foolishnesse in that hee reduceth thereby the soule in subjection to the body which should governe the body and it onely be ruled by a diviner spirit And wereas hee should rather oftentimes suffer set light by and in some measure concoct it he out of a kind of brutish selfe-love had rather be miserable than happy of a crazed than found mind Moreover it shewes him to be abject and destitute of a generous and heroicall spirit which resides in the hearts of the children of God neither endeavours he with such a courage as is fit to remove the obstacles which in this life hinder him from the attainment of the kingdome of heaven but stoopeth to the difficulties that withstand him he is of a vile abject spirit and as much as in him lyeth renounceth his owne right thereunto Further the deformity thereof shewes it selfe by externall symptomes It makes him to be of a heavy countenance poring upon the earth oftentimes to weep not unlike a silly foole or soft woman otherwhile his speech failes him or his tongue faultereth yea by his silence he speaks his infamy He abandons the societie of men hiding himselfe in corners even as the malefactor to escape the sight of the magistrate It impaires his good name or reputation and especially when the cause inducing him thereunto is unknowne or of no reckoning thereupon he renders himselfe suspicious that hee hath committed or is about to perpetrate some heynous sinne but this suspicion is oftentimes false as may appeare by Ely the Priest who thought Anna

for thee and enter into that joy which cannot be taken from thee The consideration I say of thy present past and future condition should induce thee to bee contented with that state and station which God hath allotted thee Let others rejoyce that they are rid and recovered from some dangerous disease poverty or some other adversity wherewith thou art now possessed Thou hast through Gods grace escaped thousand dangers and miseries which without comparison surpasse all the calamities of this world Let others boast in the multitude of their riches others wax proud of their gay apparell and dignities what are all these things compared with the Majesty of the child of God and coheire with Jesus Christ Let others feed themselves with vaine hopes that of glory and future happinesse will never give thee the lurch wherefore take heed of murmuring against God beware thou sayest at any time that hee deales severely with thee Doth he deale severely with thee who hath conferred upon thee such honours who heapeth upon thee so many benefits doth hee deale roughly with thee who reserves for thee for the time to come such ample felicitie Let that speech therefore of our Saviour to Saint Paul sound continually in thy eares or rather in thy heart my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 and in all adversities which daily happen in this world seeke ease refreshment and comfort by contemplating Gods grace for a Kings favour I say the King of Kings favour is as dew upon the ground Prov. 19.12 CHAP. IV. The fourth ground or reason consists in the corporall benefits conferred by God THe ineffable dignity of spirituall grace as hath been said should bee just cause to remove from thee sorrow wherewith thou art possessed But wee have not as yet mentioned all Gods benefits bestowed upon thee his grace and goodnesse resting not in the above-mentioned benefits but tending and extending themselves further for with his right hand of spirituall benefits he imbraceth thee his left of temporall being under thy head so that thou hast experience of what the spouse of Christ wisheth to her selfe saying His left hand should bee under my head and his right hand should embrace mee Cant. 8.3 Neither is hee satisfied to quicken thee with spirituall life and provide thee food and rayment as also communicate with thee unspeakable benefits and honours but hee goeth further he deales with thee as a loving earthly father doth with his children in their minority suffering them to play and use all manner of ratles that they may with more pleasure passe away their infancy Thy heavenly father deales no otherwise with thee for he bestows upon thee so many temporall benefits the sweetnesse whereof should exhilarate thee and overcome that bitternesse of spirit which now pines thee away The benefits that thou enjoyest are of two sorts some particular strictly so called which howsoever many doe enjoy yet they are not conferred upon each singular person and some common which concern all that can read this little book so that none hath cause to complain or cast an envious eye upon his brother Hath God I beseech thee more especially honored thee than an infinite multitude of men Art thou perchance through his grace sprouted out of a royall illustrious famous noble stock or at least of an honest family or neerly allied thereunto As for thy calling and state God perchance hath singled thee out to be a leader and King over his people and subjected to thy empire and power nations and chosen thee to bee his vicegerent and assistant here on earth or art in the number of the Gods that is to say a magistrate to distribute judgement and justice to those that are committed to thy charge to protect the innocent defend the widow orphan and stranger to condemne the guilty and punish the evill doer In briefe or perchance hee hath given thee that honour whereby many are become subject unto thee But if thy function bee not politicall God perchance hath constituted thee to be Christs steward in his house the Church to distribute to his family heavenly food to preach his word to be an overseer of his flock a very eminent honour and good work as the Apostle speaks or art perhaps of some other honest calling as employed in merchandise factorship or some other lawfull occupation or art of good odour through Gods favour not onely amongst thy owne Countrey-men but amongst forreiners in respect of magnanimity strength vertue wisdome or learning for a good report maketh the bones fat Prov. 15.30 Because he that is in good esteeme reapeth pleasure and profit And therefore a good name is father to bee chosen than great riches Prov. 21.1 Or hath hee over above these things bestow'd upon thee the goods of this world commonly so called to wit riches commodities lands possessions vineyards fields houses or the like blessings which continually hee poures upon thee And if thy yearly revenues be not answerable to thy will God like that good Caleb deales with thee for after he hath given thee barren land hee gives thee the upper and nether springs Judg. 1.15 hee blesseth thy labours and employments for thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be Psal 128.2 And hee filleth thee with the finest wheat Psal 147.14 Hee gives thee not onely so much as sufficed the Apostle to wit food and rayment which will nourish thee and thy family but hee bestowes upon thee more than thy necessities require yea oftentimes in abundance so that he deales graciously with thee so as thou mayest not onely live without penury and want but succour thy poore brethren with almes proportionable to thy power aswell to the advancement of Gods glory as to the good of thy countrey Hee communicates with thee riches and meanes whereby thou mayest not onely bring up thy children in good and honest discipline and sciences but especially in the feare of God advancing them to bee thy equalls in dignity or to a higher pitch of honour leaving them after thy decease in such sort as they bee not constrained to depend upon other mens mercies or compelled by poverty to want education and so become miserable men Or hath hee blessed thee in a happy matrimony by joyning thee to a meet helpe I mean thy bedfellow no lesse fruitfull than honourable inriched with divers endowments of the body but especially those of the soule vertue wisdome stayednesse and modesty Or hath hee made thee a father or mother to a family so that thy wife is as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table Psal 128.3 Or are they strong in body and sound in understanding increasing in stature dayly before thy eyes but especially in the feare of God as tender plants of Gods garden And doe they profit by thy instructions chastisements and corrections yeelding thee comfortable hope for the future Or are they