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	sin_n	6,442	5	4.4152	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32894	Christian unity exhorted to being a few words in tender love to all professing of Christianity in old England, the land of my nativity : wherein the difference between profession and possession of that which is really the substance of true religion, is clearly manifested : also, the great breach of Christian charity, caused by their furious contentions about formality : with a few words to the poor in spirit, concerning my opinion of a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus / by one who dearly loves all those whose conversation becomes Christ's Gospel.	One who dearly loves all those whose conversation becomes Christ's Gospel.	1678 (1678)	Wing C3950; ESTC R270	11,173	17

are made sensible of some gross evil which they have acted immediately they endeavour to stop the mouth of conscience either by hearkning to the Devils Lullabies viz. Libidian Songs or playing with his Rattles otherwise ride abroad in his Chariots of sensual pleasures in which they are frequently carried to the Gates of death so the destruction of body and soul is the sad consequence which certainly attends those who are as it were swallowed up of worldly pleasures But oh man who ever thou art that hast been hitherto led away by the Enemy of thy immortal soul who would willingly make thee his associate in eternal misery be perswaded and intreated to take especial notice of these following words first let not the Devil tempt thee to imagine that 't is too late to turn from the evil of thy ways because perhaps thou hast been an old sinner Secondly let not the propensity of thy corrupt will and affections to folly and vanity induce thee to think the time too soon Thirdly let not the multiplicity of thy sins which thou hast not in times past repented of affright thee for be assured at whatsoever time thou hearken'st to the still voice of Christs spirit in thy conscience which secretly rebukes thee and tells thee all things that ever thou didst thou shalt find thy heart sorrowful for sin and as thou keepest on thy watch thou shalt be brought more and more into a tender frame of spirit and thou shalt be enabled to turn from thy sin perfectly abhorring those things which formerly thou didst so much delight in and thou shalt assuredly receive pardon for all thy sins past be they never so many and great according to the words of Christ Jesus John 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you He that heareth my word and believeth in him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation for those sins which Christ pardons in this life shall never be charged to thy account any more Ezekiel 18.21 according to the words the Lord spoke to the Prophe● Ezekiell But if the wicked will turn from all the sins he hath committed and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye All his transgressions which he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him Now therefore thou mayst see what great encouragemet all persons have to turn from their sins Oh that these things were more seriously consider'd by all that profess Christianity they would certainly be more diligent in improving those golden opportunities which the Lord through his infinite love and mercy hath allowed them Friendly Reader for thy farther encouragement if thou wilt but take a walk with me in the withdrawing Room of holy Meditation thou shalt have a Soul-ravishing prospect into the Garden of Heavenly joy where thou shalt behold the streames of Grace flowing from the fountain of Divine love and thou shalt drink freely out of the springs of life which alone can satisfie the appetite of a thirsty Soul therefore be entreated and perswaded no longer to continue pleasing thy self in the dead Pictures of Religion which hath made thee ignorant of those spiritual enjoyments which alone belongs to the life and power of Christianity and for which reason many may be ignorant of what I now write therefore those that would be of the true Religion must stand no longer on the barren Mountains of profession but rather hearken to the voice of the spiritual Shepherd who will certainly lead them into the pleasant fields amongst the green Pastures wherein grows the flowers of Heavenly joy and through which runs the pleasant Rivers of consolation so that thou mayst with joy draw water out of the well of Salvation whereby thy soul shall be compleatly refreshed then shall all her faculties which have long languished for want of true substance be revived then shall she be fully sensible of the difference between her true teacher and leader and the false guides who had carryed her into the wilderness where she had been a long time afflicted with trouble and sorrow then will her bowels be filled with pity and compassion on all those who did formerly accompany her in her distressed condition and will be grieved that any should be so deceived as not to be perswaded to hearken to the same spiritual voice whereby they may partake of the same substantial food but rather choose to feed on the husk of Religion then to partake with her of those glorious refreshments which causeth her to be always praising and magnifying the name of the Eternal God at whose right hand are pleasure for ever more A few words to those who are totally ignorant of spiritual things That there are many in the Land of my Nativity who are totally ignorant of spiritual things I may boldly affirm but that 't is in the power of any mortal man to give them a spiritual discerning I utterly deny Notwithstanding it seems to me very expedient to remove all obstacles out of the way of the ignorant least their mis-apprehension of words cause a dis-satisfaction to the matter which otherwise being accompained with a Divine power might prove beneficial to them therefore according as the Lord enables me I shall endeavour to answer with all plainness those objections which are of most weight Obj. 1st First therefore it may be required how I understand Christ to be in all men Sol. I answer that according to the common acknowledgement of all Christians as he is God his Spirit is Omnipresent for the Heavens and Earth cannot contain him and if his ubiquity fills the Heavens and all Created beings then man being a Creature must in some measure receive of his fulness but more particularly as he is the Son of God the only Saviour of the World he is in all men though at the same time the fulness of the Godhead is in the Heaven of Heavens at the right hand of his Father for he doth communicate a measure of his spirit unto all every individual person in order to their instruction or reproof Joh. 16.7 8. Nevertheless I tell you it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not com ebut if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he will remove the World of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 14.15 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my nam● he shall teach all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said therefore 't is evident that Christ is by his Spirit in every man reproving and instructing them and bringing all things that he hath formerly said to their and our remembrance But for a farther demonstration I shall use this one comparison As the natural Son in in the firmament doth communicate its light to several parts of the world at one and the same time though

thousands of miles asunder and yet the body or whole proportion remains entire in the firmament without any diminution so doth the glorious Son of righteousness though sitting in his Kingly Throne communicates a measure of his own spirit to every-man to profit with all which spirit is oftentimes in Scripture called the Light of Christ Jesus which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world John 1.4 sometimes the Grace of God which teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to walk soberly and godly in this present world this is that which hath been often in the mouths of many though they did not 't is to be feared know what it was therefore whoever thou art that hast been in ignorance be it known to thee that the Grace of God which thou hast had many times in thy mouth is Christs own spirit which spirit hath many times restrained thee from committing wickedness for without thou couldest not so much as think a good thought much less do a good action for as Christ tasted death for every man he hath given this Heavenly gift to every man that they may be in a possibility of Salvation so that we are not condemned for want of grace but because we do not improve his gift of Grace for he commands us to nothing but what his Grace or Spirit will enable us to perform if we will but watch when it reproves or instructs us Obj. 2d Some will query thus how I shall know that I have this good Spirit why may not persons be deceived and be led by the evil Spirit whilst they imagine they are under the guidance of the good one Sol. If thou wilt but enter into a serious examination of thy self thou mayst call to mind some certain times when thou hast been under some great temptation to commit some wicked action at which time thou hast had a sence of somewhat in thy mind that caused a great unwillingness in thee to proceed and perhaps giving way to the temptation thou wert overcome after which thou hast had some terrour in thy self now therefore observe that which caused that unwillingness to commit the sin was Gods spirit and that which inclined thee to the sin was the Devils spirit so the Tree is known by the fruit therefore be satisfied at whatsoever time thou dost sind thy self under temptation the Spirit of Christ Jesus will be always ressisting if thou wilt yield obedience to it thou shalt sind power arising in thee to overcome the tempter and temptation by this means thou wilt come to be Spiritually acquainted with Christ and partake of his benefits so that he will be precious to thee for thou wilt be more in love with him then possibly thou couldest formerly and thou wilt certainly know the difference between his spirit and the evil ones because the one enclines thy heart at all times to good and resists evil and the other always enclines to evil and resists good so thou needst not fear being decieved if thou art watchful over thy own heart Friendly Reader these things I write to thee out of pure assection and tender regard I have to Gods Glory and the everlasting wellfare of thy poor immortal Soul and that thou mayest know the difference between profession and possession for there are many that profess the name of Christ who are altogether ignorant of him for though Christ is by his spirit in every man yet every man is not in Christ that is every one hath not taken his good spirit for their Guide and Teacher but have continued rebelling against it in so much that they have provoked him to take his good spirit from them and then not till then they may be accounted reprobates for the Lord of life is so merciful that he condemns nont but those who have abused his long-suffering and forbearance therefore it behoves every one to beware sinning out the day of Gods visitation in which the tender offers of his love and mercy ere extended to them FINIS