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	heart_n	son_n	17,006	5	5.6134	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57271	Laying on of hands asserted: or, A plain discovery of the truth thereof under those several considerations, minded in the New Testament. 1. Upon persons for healing: with a brief discovery of that ordinance of Christ, (to wit) anointing with oile. 2. Upon persons to office. 3. Upon believers, baptized, as such: and that principle of Christs doctrine cleared, for their obedience: with objections answered to each particular. To which is annexed, a confutation of four chapters written by some person, or persons, in opposition to this principle of the doctrine of Christ, (to wit) laying on of hands upon believers baptized, as such; wherein the weakness of their reasons against the truth, is plainly discovered, and the truth further asserted, and vindicated. By VVilliam Rider, servant to the Church of Christ.	Rider, William, fl. 1656.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1444A; ESTC R217997	59,976	201

the Spirit is made good unto poor souls And this promise of the Spirit the Apostle doth annex unto faith and Baptisme as the right and portion of every believing obedient soul Acts 2. 38. Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit From which Scriptures it is manifest that the promise of the Spirit is made unto believers Baptized as such and therefore the Apostle in the 39 vers. doth apply it unto believers Baptized as such as their right and portion For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Which promise of God in general was the ground of the Apostles assurance of faith in this particular that God would give his Spirit in this his own appointment to his people So that a better ground to Act upon in any way or service of God we cannot have then the Word and promise of God is Therefore in the next place for your incouragement in this Ordinance consider these few things obedience to God is First that which makes a soul capable of knowing the mind of God therefore saith our Saviour to the Jews If you will do his will you shall know of the Doctrine 2. Obedience unto Christ is that whereby believers do enter friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ even as by their profession they do enter battle or wage war with the greatest Enemy Even the Dragon spoken of in Rev. 12. 17. who is there said to make war with the Woman and the Remnant of her seed which keep the commands of God and have the Testimony of Iesus Why so I say they do enter by their obedience unto Christ the greatest friendship that possible can be in the World Iohn 15. 14. You are my friends saith Christ if you do whatsoever I command you 3. There is much incouragement to this duty from the end of this Ordinance The Spirit of God is that the soul stands in continual need of yea the usefulness of the Spirit of God is very much discovered First in that it is the Teacher of the Saints the first Epistle of Iohn 2. 27. But the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as the anointing teacheth you Why it is the office of the Holy Spirit to be the Teacher of Gods people Iohn 14. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Secondly as he is their Teacher so he is their Comforter yea and their Remembrancer as in this 26 vers. So likewise he is their Guide and their Leader Gal. 5. 18. so he is their strength Ephes. 3. 16. yea by the Spirit they have boldness at the Throne of grace Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father So also it is their assistance at the Throne of grace Rom. 8. 26. saith the Apostle We know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit helpeth our infirmities Oh! how useful is the Spirit of God unto poor souls it 's a quickning Spirit and therein also it is very useful the people of God are apt to deadness and coldness in the things of God therefore saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortal bodyes by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Again it 's by the Spirit that we must mortifie corruption the deeds of the body as in the 13 vers. Many other particulars may be minded wherein the usefulness of the Spirit of God doth consist therefore let these considerations incourage us to wait upon God in this his way 4. We have incouragement to wait upon God in his way even in this Ordinance and that from the general promises in the Scripture Gal. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Luke 11. 13. 5. A fifth ground of incouragement may be drawn from the Reasons why the Spirit of God is given forth unto poor souls and that first from the souls being in Covenant with the Lord for among the many precious promises of the new Covenant this you shall finde to be one Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them this Reason the Apostle also Renders Gal. 4. 6. Because you are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son c. Secondly from souls obedience the promise is made unto such Acts 2. 38. 5. 32. such as walk in obedience shall certainly be partakers of the Spirit of promise 6. Another ground of incouragement I shall mention may be taken from the Necessity of the Spirits being given with it's gifts and fruits amongst the people of God and that may be 1. Either first for the Glory of God 1 Cor. 12. 3. Iohn 4. 14. Rom. 12. 11. 2. For the general good of the people of God according to these Scriptures 1 Cor. 12. 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal and so he goes on discovering in the 8 9 10. vers. the several gifts and fruits of the Spirit from whence proceeds the usefulness of the members of the body of Christ one unto another the Spirit of God dividing to every man severally as he will as in the 11. vers. So that the Eye cannot say unto the hand I have no need of thee Neither the head to the feet I have no need of thee vers. 21. and the Reason is given vers. 25. that there should be no schisme or division in the body but that the members should have the same care one of another read also 14. Chapt. 12 vers. and Ephes. 4. 12. 3. For our particular good and help according to these Scriptures Iud. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Gal. 5. 5. and the 16. Therefore now let these incourage you to make use of that means God hath appointed even this Ordinance wherein his people were made partakers of his Spirit Query But now some do Question What grounds we have that practise laying on of hands to separate from those who are Baptized for say they could you have Communion with us we could with you Answ. To which I answer and that first Considering the frames of your Spirits your denial of the truth calling it error and delusion a Doctrine from beneath an invention of the Devil that which is our own tradition a post we would set up by the posts of God that for which we have no better ground then the Common-prayer-book A new administration which never was either taught or commanded by Christ in all the new Testament

may be left without excuse Object But yet some will and do say The Apostles did lay on hands by vertue of a particular gift which God had given them to give the Spirit Answ. The Apostles did never lay on hands by vertue of those particular gifts they had received but by vertue of their ministerial office for laying on of hands being an Ordinance of Christ a way unto believers as Baptisme or other of his appointments The Apostles did never officiate in them by vertue of any particular gift neither any other Minister of the Gospel but by vertue of their ministerial office as they were called of God to administer in those wayes to his people and so did leaving the effect thereof unto God c. Object But some do say the Apostles by laying on of hands did give the Spirit Answ. First though this be one of their greatest Objections and Blocks against which they Stumble Yet our greatest opposers are herein divided for though some do affirm that the Apostles had power to give the Spirit yet others of them cannot so believe and who would think men of such parts and wisdome as they are should so affirm but that indeed the carnal minde of man will ever oppose the things of God 2. I answer and that positively that the Apostles by laying on of hands did give the Spirit of God no more in this Ordinance then Peter did in the preaching of the Word Acts 10. 44. While he spake the Word the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard it and they spake with Tongues and glorified God VVhy so it was that while Peter Iohn and Paul were exercised in this Ordinance even laying on of hands God gave his Spirit to his people But alas what is Peter Iohn and Paul but Ministers by whom they believed the one may Plant and the other VVater but it 's God that must give the increase 1 Cor. 3. 5 6. And surely this what gifts Christ is pleased to convey through Ministers is not by any power that is in them as is plainly discovered from Acts 3. 12. Neither was it ever in the Apostles power to give the Spirit of promise unto any man and so the Apostle plainly declares unto me in his answer to Simon Magus who certainly did think as too many do this day that the Apostles had power to give the Spirit and therefore he offered them mony for that gift or power the Apostle thereby seeing the corruption of his heart saith unto him Thy mony perish with thee because thou thinkest the gift of God may be obtained with mony Acts 8. 18 19 20. 3. Further take notice that this power or prerogative of giving the Spirit the Lord Jesus Christ alwayes keeps in his own hands he giveth it to whom he pleaseth as you may plainly see by these Scriptures Acts 2. 32 33. This Iesus hath God raised up whereof we are al witnesses therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit he hath shed forth this which you now see and hear Mark this he hath done it even this Jesus but not the Apostles And saith our Saviour Iohn 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter Even the Spirit of truth and in the 26 vers. But the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name the 15. 26. vers. But when the Comforter is come whom saith Christ I will send unto you from the Father Even the Spirit of truth Luke 11. 13. and Acts 5. 32. saith the Apostle We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey him By all which places it is plainly manifest that this power or prerogative of giving the Spirit the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father alwayes keep in their own hands c. 4. It is further ●anifest that it was not in the Apostles power to give the Holy Spirit of promise and that from the administration of the Ordinance Acts 8. 15. When Peter and John came down to Samaria they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit VVhich doth discover it was not in their power to give it but they prayed for them that so indeed God would give it to them according to his promise Again as it is manifest that this power belongs unto the Lord Jesus Christ he having received of his Father this promise of the Holy Spirit and so gives it forth upon his people So likewise we may observe that he also gives the gifts or operations thereof or the Spirit of God doth work and operate in poor Souls according to his wisdom For as there are members of the body of Christ so every member hath it's office given him of God this the Apostle plainly discovers 1 Corinth the 12 Chapter in the 4. 5 6 7 8 9 10. saith he There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit and there are differences of administrations but the same Lord and there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall for to one is given by the Spirit the Word of wisdome and so he goes on making mention of the gifts and operations thereof and in the 18 vers. thus declareth But now hath God set the members in the body as it hath pleased him again saith he in the 27. and 28. vers. Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first the Apostles secondly Prophets c. From all which as before we may minde that as the Spirit of God is given to every believing obedient Soul and this by the Lord so every ones gift or office likewise proceeds from him Again saith the Apostle Ephes. 4. 7. speaking of the Church But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Now if any should say How would this appear the Apostle makes answer vers. the 8. Because he ascended up on high he led speaking of Christ Captivity captive and gave gifts unto men and vers. the 11. it 's said he gave some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers and this for the good of the body of Christ and this work of Christ of giving his Spirit unto men to be continued so long as the Saints are to be perfected and the body of Christ to receive edification as we may plainly see from the 12. and 13. verses So that to say the Apostles had power to give the Holy Spirit or Spirit of promise is untrue absurd and ridiculous Object Again some there are who make this a great obstacle in the way thereby hindering poor Souls from their obedience even the Words of the Apostle Acts 8. 16. for as yet he

from hence I would Query by what rule of Christ it is that you could have Communion with us and the case being thus we can any longer Communicate with you For my part I must profess before the Lord and before the whole World that how to satisfie my conscience and maintain the truth of God in such Communion I know not if I could I should do it I know it 's that they reflect upon us that we want love to them as the ground why we cannot Communicate with them But the Lord he is Judge and he knows that it 's our love to the truth of Christ and the order he hath prescribed in his house that will not suffer us Especially as the case stands with them as is before minded And therefore if there be any love in them towards us let us be partakers of those weighty Reasons grounded upon the Word of truth which may convince us that it is our duty still to have Communion with them notwithstanding their opposition against this truth Object But by this some may say It seems that if they did not oppose the truth you could Communicate with them Answ. I answer No for we have no such custome neither the Churches of Christ Search the Scriptures and see if ever Christ left such a rule to walk by or that God allowed or approved of any such practise We are glad to hear where there is any so moderate as not to oppose it and it is not burden some to us to wait upon God in his way labouring their convincement and imbracing of the truth for it is that which is their duty as well as Baptisme and a part of the foundation of the house of God as well as repentance and faith and therefore to build with them without this principle in the foundation were to presume to do that we have no warrant for and to make a breach in that order God hath appointed and that in the very foundation of his service 2. I Answer that we have good ground to maintain separation from those though Baptized that deny this Ordinance of laying on of hands and that 1. Because we are Commanded to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 2 Thes. 2. 15. Therefore Brethren standfast and hold the Traditions which you have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle and herein were the Corinthians praised by the Apostle which is also written for our Example 1 Cor. 11. 2. Now I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you From whence it is manifest that to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered is that which is praise-worthy to the Saints well pleasing unto God and the will and minde of God unto his people But to Communicate with those that do deny the laying on of hands will put us out of that capacity this our experience doth witness to us VVe might speak much unto this of the opposition we had when I was in such a condition 2. Because from those persons who do not hold the Ordinances as they were delivered we are commanded to withdraw 2 Thes. 3. 6. Now we command you Brethren in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition you have received of us yea a good ground we have to observe this Command from their opposition in that they raile print speak and dispute against the truth calling it a Doctrine from beneath a counterfeit thing which gives us a good ground to observe the Apostles Exhortation 1 Tim. 6. 5. From such withdraw thyself and certainly as we are to withdraw from those who are evil in their Conversation so likewise from those who do declare against that which is part of the worship of God yea a foundation-principle of his service 3. Because laying on of hands is a foundation-Doctrine a principle upon which a right constituted Church of Christ is built Heb. 6. 1 2. A Doctrine which was not notionally as many say but practically imbraced by the first Churches as the Hebrews the Samaritans and the Ephesians which were exactly built according to the direction of Christ himself Now this is generally received that though there may be Communion with persons where differences are in circumstantials yet not where they are in fundamentals and for this reason those who are Baptized have refused Communion with the Independants because they erre in a fundamental point therefore they cannot build with them and is not this reason strong for us because laying on of hands is a foundation-Doctrine or principle as well as Repentance faith Baptismes and Resurrection and eternal Judgement therefore this being a foundation-principle we ought not to build with those who are destroyers thereof and therefore for this Reason we ought not to Communicate with them 4. Because they live in the Breach of and in opposition against a Command of God Even this beginning-word of Christ and so indeed to partake with them were to make our selves guilty of their sin Now that they are such that they do so live is plainly manifest by their writing printing preaching and disputing Thus opposing this Law oracle of God Heb. 5. 12. and as they do thus live in the Breach of a Command of God an oracle and a principle of Christ Doctrine so certain it is that we cannot have Communion with them without transgressing the Command of the Spirit of God where we are exhorted to withdraw from such 1 Tim. 6. 3 4 5. 5. Because where there is not an uniting in the principles of the foundation of the service of Christ there can be no safe or comfortable Communion for indeed Union is the ground of Communion Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed and saith our Saviour Wherein two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that you shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 18. 19. from whence it is plain that where there is no Union no Agreement there can be no fellowship no walking together no asking the Father for any thing for consider how can we ask the Spirit of God to be given and that according to his promise with or among them who do oppose the means to wit laying on of hands it's abomination unto them and therefore how can we have Communion with them or they with us Surely if things were rightly considered our separating from them will be found upon as good ground if not better then their separating from the Independants so called for wherein do they differ but in Baptizing the practise of Baptisme they deny not though not rightly performed nor applyed But the practise of laying on of hands upon believers Baptized as such is denyed by our opposers Object But now some may say Though I am satisfied that laying on of hands is an Ordinance of Christ yet they