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
A46888	The strong man armed cast out and his goods spoiled, or, The poor man sitting at Jesus's feet clothed and in his right mind being a true convert's testimony of the power of the Lord in turning the soul from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ... / formerly given forth in writing unto my relations and acquaintance the professors called Independents in Nottinghamshire, declaring the cause of my leaving their assemblies ... by James Jackson, formerly a parish priest and a teacher amongst the Independents and now ... made willing to take up the daily cross and walk with the despised followers of the Lamb in scorn called Quakers.	Jackson, James, fl. 1674-1708.	1674 (1674)	Wing J75; ESTC R34953	24,289	34

Thine Enemies shall be found Lyars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their High Placet Yet to make it appear more plain that this Light within which indeed is our Principle is the Truth and the Mighty Power of God for Salvation to all that believe in it and obey it will be further manifested by its Nature and Effects The NATURE of this Light It is a Living Immortal Unchangeable Undefiled Righteous and Perfect Principle of pure Holiness which never fell comply'd with or consented to any Evil But hath ever opposed and stood cross to the whole corrupt Nature Will and Affections of faln man For I know that all Adam's Posterity are by Nature faln under Guilt Pollution Condemnation and Darkness So that the Light I speak of is nothing of Man's Nature but of the pure Divine Nature even that Seed promised Gen. 3.15 yea the Son of God which is sent into the World that whosoever believe on him should not perish but have Eternal Life The EFFECTS of this Light When Christ was upon Earth John saw and bare record That he was the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World Yet the Lord said A greater Testimony have I then that of John for the Works that I do in my Father's Name they testifie of me So say we of him now he is spiritually the Light in man however sleighted rejected and undervalued by men yet is he chosen of God and pretious the alone Saviour of the World and the Works he accomplishes daily in the Souls and Consciences of men testifie the same wherefore if his Works be not such as none else can do believe him not Effect I. Hereby the Sinner is convinced judged reproved and condemned plainly and experimentally for all the Sins that ever he committeth of what Kind or Nature soever they be Come said the Woman of Samaria and I will shew ye a Man that hath told me all things that ever I did John 4.29 is not this the Christ Effect 2. The Fear of the Lord which is the Beginning of Wisdom is never truly placed in the Heart till this Principle be witnessed and owned for while a Man looks at God and Christ at a great Distance circumscribed in some Place beyond the Stars the Sinner rageth is confident but when the Mind Understanding is perswaded that the Pure Holy Righteous Omnipotent and Omnipresent Lord God is not only nigh him but within him also he is then brought into awful Apprehension of the most High forced to cry out with Job I have heard of thee before by the Hearing of the Ear but now mine Eyes have seen him by this Means the Mind is melted into much Tenderness and Brokenness and with the Prophet complaineth Wo is me for I am undone Now consider this all ye that despise the Light within Joh. 9.30 This is a Marvelous Thing said the Young Man that ye know not whence he is and yet he hath opened my Eyes since the World began was it not heard that any Man opened the Eyes of one that was born Blind Effect 3. Waiting humbly in this pure Dread Fear of the Lord Man's Insufficiency to answer the Requirings of the Holy Commandment is discerned but perfect Power and Strength in Christ the Light is discovered for indeed in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and standing up to the Manifestation of this Light the Judgment of the Lord is felt as a Refiner's Fire which throughly purifies and as Fullers Soap that leaves no Spot then the Soul knows that flaming Sword which kept faln Man out of Paradise but now discerns the new Birth which bears the Image of the Heavenly Nature the strong Man armed which before held Possession bound casting out and all his Goods spoiled by the Powerful Entrance of Christ into his Temple Effect 4. Waiting and abiding in this Light for Counsel and Teaching the whole Man being emptyed of his own Will and Wisdom standing singly and purely in the Will of the Lord ready to be disposed ordered and guided universally by the Light the Soul now thrives in the Fear and Love of God bringeth forth the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness and liveth in that Faith which purifies the Heart and getteth Victory over the World Sin and Death These Things with many other which might be mentioned do make it manifest that whoever deny despise and reproach the Light within deny God the Father of Lights despise Jesus Christ the Light Saviour of the World and reproach the Holy Spirit which maketh manifest and reproveth the Sins of Men Wherefore all ye Professors that look out for another Saviour remember the Answer of our Lord Jesus unto John Baptist upon the like Account Art thou he Luke 7.21 or shall we look for another Go saith Christ and tell him that sent you what you have heard and seen the Blind receive their Sight the Deaf hear c. Even the same in a spiritual Sense may be as really affirmed of the Light within hereby have the Eyes Ears and Mouthes of the Blind Deaf and Dumb been opened the Lame Lepers and the Dead cured cleansed and quickned and the Poor whom none of the Proud Covetous Clergy so called regardeth they by Vertue hereof have the Everlasting Gospel preached unto them and forever blessed are they who are not offended in the Light but love it believe in it and obey it in all things Object 1. But we are afraid of being deceived this is a new and strange Doctrine did ever Christ or his Apostles bid Men believe and obey the Light within Answ 1. Art thou not already deceived Consider therefore well thy Condition if thou art delivered out of the deceived State in which the greatest Part of the World yet remains art thou yet in a sinful transgressed Estate For the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression 1 Tim. 2.14 Answ 2. We that believe and abide in the Light know that we are not deceived neither seek we to deceive any neither fear we any deceiving us though indeed while we walked in the Imaginations of our own deceitful Hearts and warmed our selves by the Sparks of our own kindling that then as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so our Minds were corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Jesus in which State we see many yet to stand whom the Lord will undeceive in his own Time But Evil Men and Seducers will wax worse deceiving and being deceived Answ 3. Never fear Deceit in such who turn you to the Light whereby ye may discern betwixt Good and Bad Truth and Falshood plainly I would much fear that he had a Design to cheat me who leads into the Dark and denyes the Benefit of the Light Answ 4. Search with Freedom and examine throughly this Doctrine condemn it not unheard speak not Evil of any Thing unknown for so mayst thou soon condemn the Innocent and make thy self guilty Answ 5.

not ashamed to deny that Christ is come in the Flesh indeed both they and their Grandmother the Church of Rome are willing to confess that Christ was come but the Scripture is plain That every Soul that confesseth not that Christ is come in the Flesh the same is Antichrist 3. They fear not daily to Blaspheme the Holy Spirit of God but call it A Spirit of Delusion and A Spirit of Error and most presumptuously say of them that are sanctified guided taught and anointed by the Holy Ghost That they are led by the Spirit of the Devil 4. They trample under Foot the Blood of the Covenant counting it a Weak and Unholy Thing while they impudently affirm That the best of God's Saints yea if he had no purer Saints then they are cannot be free from sin whilst they breath upon Earth when the Scriptures witness that the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin 5. They preach another Gospel Now the Scripture is plain That if any man or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto us then what we have already received let him be accursed Gal. 1.9 Now how can ye believe that they are Ministers of the Gospel when they know not what the true Gospel is For saith Paul I certifie unto you Brethren that the Gospel which I preach is not after man for I neither received it neither was I taught it of man but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ But your Teachers deny any such Revelation in these dayes wherefore it is hereby evident that they are Thieves crept in some other wayes and bring another Gospel then that whereof Paul was a Minister as he witnessed to the Collossians Chap. 1.23 saying Be not moved from the Hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached IN EVERY CREATURE under Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In universa creatura whereof I Paul am a Minister And this is the Word of Faith which we preach even Christ the Word who is in thy Heart and in thy Mouth saith Paul Rom. 10. which all have heard and the Sound thereof is gone through the whole World But these men labour to pervert the Gospel and turn men from it saying That the Light of Christ in every man's Conscience is not the Substance of the Gospel nor the Power of God to Salvation 6. They have indeed a Form of Godliness but want the Power and well for them if that was the worst But they magnifie and cry up a Form and utterly reject despise and deny the Power which is the immortal Seed Christ Jesus the Light within and from such we are commanded to turn away Their Prayers and Sermons are made contrived studied and composed in their own Time Wills and Wisdom but are Strangers to the Life Power and Spirit of Prayer and deny that Christ speaks in any which is evident that he doth not speak in them They cry up and plead earnestly for Water-Baptism which Christ never Administred Instituted or Commanded to be Administred and yet they call it Christ's Ordinance Some saying Without this no Salvation and the rest say With such as wilfully neglect this have no Communion But if they had ever undergone and felt the Powerful Lively Purifying and throughly cleansing Efficacy of the Spirit 's Baptism they would know it sufficient without the Help of their Dead Cold Idolized Water-Works They are greatly affected with that Bread and Wine which after breathing upon by the Pastor is not Common but Be-sainted and so comes to be called the Lord's Supper It is evident hereby that they never did eat of that Flesh which is Bread indeed nor drink of that Blood which is Drink indeed Now it is certain that all Pictures Images Shadows Resemblances Figures and Representations which any people live in and plead for do clearly argue That they are destitute of the Power Life and Substance yea who●ely ignorant of his Living Presence in whom is hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge And as they believe in one at a great Distance from them out of their View and Knowledge so is it very convenient they think to necessitate these Carnal Ordinances to reduce their unmindful and forgetful Thoughts into more serious Remembrance till he come And yet these men will condemn the Papists though they be far short of their Devotion in this very Thing And so are they seen in the Light to be Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing ravened from the Life and Power of those Saints whom they are imitating upon the Stage of their Formal Profession Wherefore my dear Frieds Come out from amongst them and be ye separate lest ye be drunk with the Wine of their Fornication For verily the Lord is risen to plead his own Cause and be a swift Witness against these Sorcerers who are sporting themselves in the day time And as those Souldiers regarded not a Crucified Jesus so near them but their Minds were taken up in parting casting Lots for his Raiment so these men are so exercised in the Out-sides of Religion Ordinances so called and Worship that they are not at all concerned with the In-side which is the Life and Power of Godliness even Christ within the Hope of Glory Answ 5. And Lastly As I have plainly declared the Reasons of my departing from your Assemblies so shall I witness faithfully to the Truth as it is known and practised by the Holy People of God called Quakers with whom I now walk and of whom I declare and testifie First That they are built and rooted in upon the Right Foundation even Christ Jesus the Lord who is their Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption in whom alone they are justified by Faith and saved That Root from whence they receive Life Nourishment Power and Growth is the only Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles the Rock of Ages the Stone which your Builders and thei● Brethren the Priests ever rejected disallowed and set at nought which is Christ in us the Hope of Glory Whereupon it is evident that we differ in the Root from all the People in the World though of several Forms and Perswasions For plainly the Papists Prelates Presbyters Baptists and Independents though they all differ in their Forms Appearances and Circumstantial Opinions yet do they all agree and meet in one and the same Faith Foundation and Root The Words Writings Declarations and Testimonies of the Saints recorded in Scripture are the Foundation and Ground of all the Professing People in the World and all of them being Strangers to that one Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures are run into several Sects and Opinions as they do carnally understand and conceive they have Rule and Teaching in the Bible But however they will own no other Light Law Gospel Rule Revelation and Word of God but their Bibles But now this peculiar People whom the Lord hath gathered from amongst all the Babylonish Confusions and Divisions under Heaven are built upon the Foundation

of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone in whom all the Building fitly framed together groweth into an Holy Temple in the Lord. So that these receive immediate Light Life Power Teaching Guidance Rules Refreshings Revelation Peace and Satisfaction from that Word which was before the Worlds were made even that Life Power Foundation Root Spring and Fountain in and by which the Holy Prophets and Apostles were Quickened Enlightened Anointed Inspired and gave forth the Scriptures which is Christ Jesus the Word of God the Power of God the Son of God the Light Within the only Saviour of the World 2dly Their Faith is the Faith of the Son of God Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it It is not a Dead Historical Faith but the Spirit and Life of Faith and no less then the Resurrection and Life of the Immortal Seed Enlightening Quickening Reforming and Renewing the whole Man And this is that Faith by which Sin is subdued slain and mortified perfectly the Heart purified the World conquered the Soul sanctified justified and saved perfectly But the Faith of all others is an Unholy Dead Imperfect Faith it sanctifies but in part as they say and so will never save to the uttermost 3dly Their Knowledge is Spiritual and Experimental from the immediate Unction of the Holy Ghost what is known proceeds not from Hear-say but divine Revelation All that are born of the Spirit are taught of God and need not that any say Know the Lord for they all know him from the greatest to the least This is Life Eternal to know God who is Light yea the Father of Lights and that the Light within is the Son of God whom he hath sent so to know as to live and abide in his Light is Life Eternal And this is that Mystery which is hid from the Wise and Prudent and is revealed unto Babes for the World by all its Wisdom knows not God neither doth the Carnal Man though never so great a Schollar discern the things of God for they are Spiritually discerned And as Christ was Bodily in the World and the World knew him not no not the great Doctors and Leaders of those several Sects and Religions in that day as the Samaritans Herodians Scribes Pharisees and Sadduces they knew him not and therefore the man that was born blind wondred This is a Marvelous Thing saith he that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened mine Eyes It was never known that any man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind Even so it is now Christ is spiritually in the World and the World knoweth him not no not the Popes Prelates Presbyters Priests and Pastors of all the Religions in the World they know him not but say It is the Devil or at best but the Light of Nature and so they know not from whence he is yet hath he inlightned Thousands And it was never known that the Devil or Nature converted any to the Lord that have been Naturalized to Sin 4thly Their Humility which is the emptying of themselves of all their own Righteousness Wills Wisdom and Self-Exaltation and is a real inward spiritual Abasement and Subjection to the Life Power Kingdom of Christ Jesus manifested in Spirit ruling and dwelling in their mortal Bodies And so this True Humble Meek and Low Frame of Spirit proceeds from their experimental Knowledge of Christ's living Presence in them whereas they that know God and Christ only by Reading and Hear-say with a Literal and Historical Knowledge they are blown swell'd and puffed up with Airy Notions Vain Boastings and Self-Conceitedness 5thly Their Unity which consists not only in the Oneness of Opinion and Judgment but proceeds from Unity of Spirit And their Love one to another is not from a Natural but a Heavenly and Spiritual Principle It is not the Love of one man to another but it is the Love of God shed abroad in their Hearts which maketh them all of one Mind and all speak write and witness the same thing For as the Vital Spirits in the Natural Frame have its Operation through every Member it makes the Eyes Ears Tongue Hands and Feet to see hear speak work and walk and yet but one Soul that moves and quickens all through its speedy Entercourse into every Member and Part of the Body so is it here the Love Peace Concord and Unity amongst these is remarkable it flows from the Fountain of Love and influenceth the whole Body which makes them in all their Wayes Doctrine and Practice but as One Man And though but a Poor Weak Harmless Innocent and Inoffensive People are rendred through their Unity and Love as Terrible as an Army with Banners 6thly Their Patience is invincible To them is this Grace given Not only to Believe in the Name of Jesus but also to Suffer for his sake And as the Lord hath made them Blessed and Glorious Instruments in his Hand to do his Will so hath he made them contented to be perfected through Sufferings For though the Lord hath been especially present with them yet the World hath been especially against them not for their own sakes for they are the only Innocent and Harmless People upon Earth but for Christ's sake in them yea because there is more of God among these men then others therefore are they hated of all men and every where amongst all Religions evil spoken of for the World most hates where there is most of God therefore the Single-hearted may guess where there is most of God by observing where the greatest Hatred of the World lies 7thly Their Faithfulness to the Truth Wayes and Interest of Christ How have they gone up and down in Weariness and Labours in Hunger and Nakedness in Dangers and Deaths to bear a Faithful Testimony against the Sin Vanity False Worship and Abomination of the Times When did they shrink in the least or turn back from their Duty when Loss of Estate Liberty yea Danger of Banishment attended it When did they Deny their Master or his Commands or Betray his Interest before King or Counsel Table Judges Justices or Bishops by Subscribing Engaging Swearing Bowing or Complying to the Wills and Humors of men Nay they have witnessed a Good Confession and spoken of his Testimonies before all these and were not ashamed When did they meet at Night for fear of being seen or creep in at Back-Doors into Cellars Holes and secret Places to hide themselves from the Knowledge of the Adversary But the time would fail me to speak of their Self-denyal Temperance Sobriety Innocency Doctrine Order Worship their Spirit of Prayer and Watchfulness Holiness Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost The King's Daughter is all Glorious within and her Rayment is of pure Gold Therefore in Truth and Sincerity to them I will say Who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy Help the Sword of thy Excellency