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
A46652	A sermon preached before the King and Queen, at White-Hall, in November 1692 by William Jane ...	Jane, William, 1645-1707.	1692 (1692)	Wing J458; ESTC R3438	13,891	32

things that it attempts how it goes through against greater difficulties than the ways of vertue are encumbred with And we may be sure in the present Case that it will prosper in the thing it undertakes and unless men have a mind to be conquered and basely desert their resolutions they cannot miscarry This will prove an effectual remedy against the main mistakes errors and imperfections of our lives secure us from unsettledness and flitting from one thing to another and keep us stedfast in our duty fix and fasten us to our business It will confirm settle and stablish the fickleness and slipperiness of our hearts which without this are very various and changeable and like a ship without ballast ready to be overturned with every wind that blows against it It will preserve us from being faint and weary when we meet with any unexpected obstacles in runing the race that is set before us It will make our conversation all of apiece breed a constancy and unswaydness in our lives and actions make us firm and immoveable in the practise of religion to continue and persevere in our Course to add to our faith vertue and so onward to go from strength to strength until we appear before God in glory 2d A firm and well settled resolution will prove a powerful preservative against Satans temptations It will either discourage and dishearten them or else enable us to repel them The Devil hath but small hope to seduce and mislead a resolved Christian when he discerns men in earnest to stand upon their guard watch to avoid all opportunities and occasions to prepare and fortify against him there he will not stay to receive a baffle and disapointment he will leave off soliciting when he sees 't is to no purpose And surely if we survey and sum up all the forces which the Devil the world and the most dangerous enemy our own flesh are able to raise against us all means and devices stratagems and policies whereby they continually attempt to abuse and ruine us there is force enough in a holy resolution to frustrate and defeat them all For it is not here as in other wars where the bravest gallantry and resolution may be sometimes overpowred and vanquished But in our conflict with our Spiritual enemies we can never be conquered as long as we hold our resolutions unless we make a cowardly and dishonourable retreat or shamefully consent to our own overthrow For let the Devil do his worst let him discourage or allure assault and storm us we can never be vanquished if we will not yield Temptation puts on its strength according to the frame and temper of our wills and as long as we are unwilling all the Divels in hell cannot force us upon a sin Temptations may knock at our hearts but they cannot enter unless we open the doors and let them in When ever therefore thou findest thy self tempted to the commission of a sin especially thy bosom thy beloved sin the sin that does so easily beset thee which thy Soul delights in be assured that it comes upon Satans errand do not treat with it but call up all thy former Vows Oaths Covenants and resolutions say I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to live in obedience to my maker How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God Away from me ye wicked for I will keep the commandments of my God I am engaged by a solemn vow the strongest bond I can think of and have taken a Sacrament upon it never to admit that into my heart whereby I have been formerly betray'd If the devil further endeavor to fright thee with the Crosses and reproaches that thou art hereby exposed to that thou wilt probably suffer many things not very grateful and pleasing to flesh and blood say 't is no more then I look't for the Cross is no scandal to me I have sworn to fight manfully under Christs banner and to continue his faithful souldier and servant to my lives end I know well enough upon what terms I listed my self in his Service and I 'le not desert it whatsoever shall befal me These considerations with the assistance of Gods Grace will by degrees work thee up into St. Pauls resolution that neither life nor death things present nor things to come shall be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Collect for the 2d Sunday after Epiphany And thou O God that knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot alwaies stand upright Grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us thro all temptations thro Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory World without end Amen FINIS