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	prayer_n	6,254	5	6.1558	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44542	A sermon preached at Fulham in the Chappel of the Palace, upon Easter-day, MDCLXXXIX, at the consecration of the Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert, Lord Bishop of Sarum by Anthony Horneck ...	Horneck, Anthony, 1641-1697.	1689 (1689)	Wing H2850; ESTC R8309	15,421	39

which hath been perform'd by one only and several Ancient Decrees and Constitutions there are that require Ordination of a Bishop by all the Bishops of the Province yet all this can have relation only to the ordinary course of things and where such plenty may easily be had Cases of necessity are not excluded here nor is that Ordination invalid where there is but one to bless the Party who is admitted to the Office in the Name of the Lord. Nor need we wonder that by the imposition of Hands the Holy Ghost even the Spirit of Power of Love and of a sound Mind should be conferr'd for as this Imposition of Hands is always seconded by Prayer which makes St. Austin look upon Imposition of Hands and Prayer to be one and the same thing So we know what Promises are made to fervent and importunate Prayer Luke XI 13 If ye being evil can give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him But It 's time I should in the last place shew III. How this gift is to be stirr'd up and what is the best and most proper way to do it In the original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as much as stirring up the fire or blowing the coals and making the fire burn that lies mingled with the ashes a word much used by Plato which hath made some fancy that the Apostle was well vers'd in Plato's Writings but there is no necessity for that Conjecture for the LXX make use of the expression and with their Translation it 's likely the Apostle was better acquainted than the Ideas of that Philosopher So that the Spirit of God conferr'd upon Sacred Persons by the Imposition of Hands is lodged in the Soul as the Treasure in the Gospel was hid in the Field which required digging and searching to make it useful It 's like Gold in the Oar which requires Melting and Cleansing and Purifying like a stock of money which requires Improvement by Trading like seed Sown in the Ground which requires Watering and other Labour and Industry to make it come forth and Grow and Spread and yield Fruit and strengthen man's heart This stirring up the Gift of God respects either the Means that are to be used or the Duty it self The Means hinted in this and the preceding Epistle are chiefly three Prayer Reading Meditating 1. Prayer Who can live without it Who can act or do any thing of Moment without the assistance of this Spiritual Engine Nature teaches Mankind to begin their Works of Concernment with God Grace therefore must be supposed to press this Duty infinitely more on you particularly the Heirs of Timothy's Office in order to this stirring up the Gift of God that is in you by the Imposition of Hands God that gives you Talents intends not that you should bury them in the Earth or lay them up in a Napkin but Occupy and Traffick with them and be gainers by them and to do this his help is necessary who gives strength to the Weak and Power to the Feeble and this help is not to be had without Importunate Cryes and Sollicitations These Prayers must have Fire it 's their fervour that unlocks the Secret Cabinet of the Almighty as Jamblicus Phrases it They must be in the Nature of Gorgonia's Devotions must even Storm and Threaten Heaven as it were so that God cannot withstand their Force and Power and such were the Prayers of Moses and Aaron and Samuel among his Priests that called upon his Name they call'd upon the Lord and he answer'd them Psal. XCIX 6 2. Reading This the Apostle expresly recommends to Timothy 1 Tim. IV. 13 in order to his stirring up the Gift of God. Reading What No doubt the Holy Scripture and therefore our Church prescribes delivering a Bible into the Hands of the Person upon whom Episcopal Hands are laid and the Maronites lay the Book of the Gospel upon such a Person 's Breast as the Nestorians in Syria do upon his back or shoulders not but that other Books are useful in their Times and Seasons but St. Paul knew what profit was to be got by Reading this Library of the Holy Ghost these Pandects of Christianity and being greedy after this Food of the Soul. The great examples you meet with here the Industry of Moses the Zeal of Elijah the Fervour of St. Paul the Vigour of St. Stephen the Courage of St. Peter the Assiduity of Apollo the Sincerity of Barnabas what are these but so many motives to stir up the Gift of God that is in you Add to all this the Glorious the Precious the Large the Sweet the Wonderful Promises Promises of Christ's Assistance Promises of Comfort of Support of Eternal Life and Glory which will animate and enliven and prompt you to blow up the fire of the Sanctuary and the Coal of the Altar that it may consume the Dross and Tin not only that which cleaves to your own Souls but that also which sticks to others that see and hear you and converse with you 3. Meditating This is also urged among the Means not to neglect the Gift of God 1 Tim. IV. 15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them The bare Reading will make no great impression Mediation digests and Rouzes the Soul from her Slumber This quickens the faculties sets all the wheels a going incites to Labour Prompts to Industry and moves and even compels us to imitate the great examples set down in the Word of God and to follow their Faith and Wisdom and Hope and Love and Charity Meditation is spiritual Seeing Seeing the Fight made Homer's Hero join in Battel Meditation surveys the Combats of the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Christ himself and from hence arise Incentives and Encouragements to stir up the Gift of God that is in you by the Imposition of Hands But in what doth the stirring up of the gift of God consist Chiefly in these Three particulars 1. Feeding the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the Flock This is St. Peters charge and we cannot well conceive how this Spirit or gift can be stirred up more profitably than this way for this end the Holy Spirit is bestow'd upon you that you should feed the Flock committed to your charge and cause it to be fed by persons not only Learned but Pious and Devout and such as have a great sense of God and of the worth of Mens Souls for this cause the Holy Ghost moves upon your inward Man that you should feed the Sheep by preaching the Word by your sweet and gentle Government and by your exemplary lives These will be Evidences and Arguments and Demonstrations that the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you that you walk after the