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	holy_a	jesus_n	13,652	5	5.8822	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10921	A treatise of love. Written by Iohn Rogers, ministers of Gods word in Dedham in Essex	Rogers, John, 1572?-1636.	1629 (1629)	STC 21191; ESTC S105965	73,128	253

rather than with those inuite them and loue their company to chuse These be lukewarme Christians Neuters neyther the one nor the other of both sides of euery side but God can see them to bee Enemies and will set them on his left hand when it will not serue them to pleade that they neuer hated them or opposed them Let men looke well to this Point for there bee many that thinke well of themselues for good Christians that yet will be found of this number But as they can haue no sound peace to their Consciences so shall they neuer haue good name in the Church of God till it bee otherwise Fiftly and lastly let this bee a Consolation to all those whose hearts doe beare witnesse and their practice bewray that they truly loue the Saints they can haue no better signe of the grace of God or that they bee true Members of the Church here and shall bee inheriters of glory hereafter that they loue God be Christs Disciples and be translated from death to life Alwaies prouided that you deceiue not your selues in this point as no doubt diuers doe To thinke that because you loue some one or two choyce ones that you are a louer of Gods people though you neglect all the rest which is not so for whosoeuer loues any in truth loues the grace of God in whomsoeuer hee sees it rich or poore high or low Or because you loue some that bee of your Kinne or for some outward good qualification they haue or some common gift of learning eloquence or because they bee rich or bee such as haue done you some pleasure or may doe for if your loue bee set vpon Gods seruants for such by respects this is not the true Loue of the Saints But if you loue them simply for the worke of Gods sanctifying grace that yousee or hear to be in them though you neuer saw them nor neuer shall yet for the grace of God your heart is knit to them as Ionathans to Dauid or if you know and liue neare them● though they neuer did you any speciall good turne or be nothing to you outwardly and in the flesh nay though any such haue reproued you of some fault they haue seene in you yet you loue them for the Image of God that shines in them yea though you see heare or know some imperfections in them and things worthy blame yet seeing signes of synceritie you loue them notwithstanding are glad when they doe well and grieue at the contrary this is good Examine your selues by these things if you bee taken tardy then deceiue your selues no longer If your heart witnesse on your side by these tryals then be comforted and labour to encrease in this grace that so your euidence may be strong And the rather because this hath kept many from sinking in time of Temptation when all other euidences haue beene to seeke Thus much of the loue that all ought to beare to the People of God CHAP. 10. How true Christians should loue each other NOw I will adde yet one thing more and that is How true Christians should loue and carry themselues towards each other They ought to loue one another most entirely and more than they doe or can loue the common sort They must loue them as fellow-members of the same mysticall body whereof Christ is the head Now how do the members of the natural body loue sticke together and seeke the good of each other defend and tender one another reioyce in each others wel-fare and grieue at the contrary so ought the Members of the spirituall body much more if it were possible Wee cannot loue all thus for all are not fellow-members in this body of Christ. Secondly they must loue as brethren therefore the loue that is to bee betweene them is called Brotherly kindenesse 2 Pet. 1. 7. Therefore though some scoffing Ismaels deride this name and say Oh you bee of the Brethren yet wee are not to bee ashamed of this name seeing GOD so speakes Gods children be brothers and sisters they haue the same Father which is God the same Mother the Church begotten by the same immortall seed the Word of God nourisht with the same milke and meat of the same Word and holy Sacraments heires of the same Inheritance in Heauen by Christ Iesus A better Brother-hood than that of nature as much as the spirit is better than the flesh Yea and a more lasting Brother-hood that will last when this is vanisht away which lasteth onely for this fraile life of ours but the other abideth for euer Therefore our Sauiour Christ said Who is my Mother and who are my Brethren Naturall Brethren ought to loue dearely how much more we that are of a better kindred It s very pleasing to God our Father and to the Church our Mother that all their children should liue in loue as Psal. 133. 1. and a ioy to all the brothers and sisters As it is a ioy to any earthly Parents to haue their children loue well together and the contrary is very grieuous and they will mourne to each other There be two Boyes can neuer agree two Girles that loue not one another what will they doe when we are gone Now to loue as Brethren is this To haue Brotherly affections each to other inwardly and to declare the same outwardly by brotherly actions For the first we are bidden Rom. 12. Be affectioned to lòue one another as to weep with them that weepe to haue compassion of their miseries as Heb. 13. 9. As the Samaritan had compassion on the man that fell among Theeues And our Sauiour Christ had compassion on the spirituall miserie of the People Mat. 9. 36. St. Paul was affected with the miseries of the Iewes and tooke them deepely to heart Rom. 9. 1 2 3. So Nehemiah hearing of the distresse of the Church of the Iewes at Ierusalem though hee were well himselfe yet he so mourned for them as it was seene in his face The contrary is blamed Amos 6. No man is sorry for the affliction of Ioseph So to reioyce with them that reioyce as Luke 1. 58. yea though it were ill with ourselues As Paul in prison yet reioyced to heare of the welfare of the Churches These brotherly affections bee so necessary as all brotherly actions not proceeding from these are in no account with God As a man may giue all his goods to the poore and haue no loue and so bee but a tinckling Cimball 1 Cor. 13. As if a man should giue that hee might merit thereby or to purchase credit or for companies sake or with vpbraiding and from no compassion of the poore mans misery it would neither please God nor profit him that doth it So to admonish one which is a speciall duety of Loue but if done with twitting reproaching as glad they haue some matter against him it hath lost his grace and reward with God And herein the poore may shew as much loue to their

but its rare and he that hath it hath receiued it from the Father of lights and its a gift of Gods Spirit Look for it therefore from aboue Endeuoureth to doe c. So that howsoeuer loue is in the heart yet it lyes not still nor sits idle but is working like the good huswife Prou. 3. 1. both by words and deeds to soule and body therefore that loue that is all within in the heart and none in the hand and life is a dead loue a carkasse like the dead Faith that St. Iames speakes of that is without workes and like bad mens loue to God which is without obedience to his commandements Endeuoureth to doe c. Puts forth it selfe and doth what it can though not what it would creeps where it cannot goe wisheth it could grieues that it cannot giues two mites a cup of water c. And indeed what we do here is rather endeuour than any great matter that wre attaine to especially at the first And a true endeauour with increase God accepts Hos. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 28. 7. It commands all the powers and abilities of the soule to further the good of the Beloued to whom it wisheth all good therfore the eye sees the tongue speakes the foot walkes for the good and benefit of the party beloued Why Loue will haue it so The memory is a faithful remembrancer the minde plods and counsels the affections pursue all purposes and occasions for his helpe all other things neglected Why Loue will haue it so Nay patience is enioyned to beare all the wrong that such one doth compassion must pity all the wants that such one hath humility and modesty giue way to any thing that he requireth Why Loue will haue it so Loue is like the great wheele of the clock all are turnd about when that stirres it sets on worke all the other graces in the soule to their seuerall works To doe good So that loue doth no hurt its contrary to its nature whatsoeuer hurt is done to soules bodies goods names Loue may wash her hands of it as none of her doing but whatsoeuer good is done that is of her To doe good Loue contents not it selfe to doe no euill but labours to doe good the harmlesse yet vnfruitfull fig-tree was accursed Such onely as haue done good will stand on the right hand at the last day To all For though brotherly kindnesse bee to the Saints yet Loue 2 Pet. 1. 7. reacheth to all neare and farre off strangers enemies within and without the Pale of the Church Turkes and Pagans we must pray for them do them any good if they come in our way as the Samaritan did to the Iew fallen among theeues Luke 10. But especially to them that be nearest So God giues leaue nay cōmandement that loue begin at our selues and ours so proceed First seeke our owne saluation then others our owne bodily preseruation from danger then others First begin with our owne family 1 Tim. 5. 8. then to our kinred 1 Tim. 5. 4. then to our owne Towne then to strangers as farre as we can and God requires no more If any therefore hauing good gifts resort to other folkes houses to repeate Sermons and neuer doe any such duety among their owne company which I haue heard of some these are iustly to be suspected of pride and hypocrisie They also that in outward things preferre strangers before their owne kinred and kinsmen before children doe not well To bestow vpon Copes-mates that please them or spend on lewd companions or be surety for them or any other to the hinderance or vndoing of wife and family is not Loue but folly and cruelty Nearest also in the spirituall bond For wee must especially loue the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. Quest. Whether should wee loue our naturall or spirituall kinred best Answ. No doubt the Saints before our naturall kinred that be but carnall as our Sauiour Christ did Who is my brother He that doth the will of God he is my brother sister and mother yet wee must helpe our kinred whom Gods Word bindeth vs to prouide for as children and parents in their necessity though not godly before the Saints if both be in equall neede together because these be most specially committed to our care As a rich bad man and a godly poore man be at our house together I must loue the godly best and he must haue the highest roome in my heart but yet I may and must set the vngodly rich man highest at my table because God is the author of degrees among men and so the author of order not of confusion So is it in the other case of my naturall and spirituall kinred This is the vertue so oft commanded and so highly commended in the holy Scriptures commanded Rom. 12. 10. 13. 8. commended Col. 3. 14. called the bond of perfectnesse It binds vp all the dueties that wee owe to our neighbour which are many holds them together as the band doth the Fagot-stickes It makes euery duety easie as where this is not euery duety is irkesome nothing comes well off hand It ties societies together and families It s the strength of Kingdomes Cities Corporations and Villages Oh how it keepes out euill and sets vp good by it small things haue proued great and for want of it great things haue come to nothing In a Towne when chiefe men hold together what euill can stand against them what good may they not effect As on the contrary when some would pull downe houses of mis-rule and others to crosse them and out of spleen to them shall striue to vphold them when some would bring in the Ministery of the Word and others oppose it how must not the Deuill needes haue his throne in such a place In a Family when husband and wife both draw the right way Gods worship goes vp in that house children and seruants be well gouerned the outward state prospers But when they be diuided and disagree prayers be interrupted no good can get forward when one would goe to the Sermon the other is against it one would gouerne the children the other cockers them nothing can doe well for the band is broken that should hold all together and make all strong Euen seruants that agree not nay horses if they draw not together the worke cannot get forward 2 It s the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 8. Gal. 5. 13 14. 3 It s a very comely thing in the eyes of God and men onely hatefull to the Deuill to whose Kingdome this is a great enemy It s very precious and of most fragrant smell Also is very fruitfull in all good wheresoeuer it is as appeares Psal. 133. the whole Psalme 4 Loue is the beneficiall vertue other vertues benefit our selues but this doth good to others Faith drawes all from Christ to vs. Loue layes out all it hath for others good as the Sunne that shines forth his light to others hauing it