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	lord_n	see_v	5,685	5	3.6798	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34673	The covenant of Gods free grace most sweetly unfolded and comfortably applied to a disquieted soul from that text of 2 Sam. 23. Ver. 5. : also a doctrinall conclusion that there is in all such who are effectually called, in-dwelling spirituall gifs [sic] and graces wrought and created in them by the Holy Ghost / by that reverend and faithful minister of Gods word, Mr. John Cotton, Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England ; whereunto is added, A profession of faith, made by the reverend divine, Mr. John Davenport, in New-England, at his admission into one of the Churches there.	Cotton, John, 1584-1652.; Davenport, John, 1597-1670. A profession of faith.	1645 (1645)	Wing C6424; ESTC R30971	35,301	46

continually dwelling in them by his holy Spirit begetting and nourishing in them faith hope love repentance obedience with peace and joy unto immortality but on the contrary limiting using restraining the reprobates his enemies by his mighty power as seemeth good in his divine wisdome and justice to their seduction hardening and condemnation till his appearing in glory with his mighty Angels to judge both quick and dead where he will be and separate all his elect from them for ever punishing the wicked with everlasting perdition from his presence and joyning together the godly with himself in endlesse glory 12. Concerning his Kingdome 2. In speciall That in the mean time besides his absolute rule in the world Christ hath here on earth a spirituall Kingdome in his Church which hee hath purchased and redeemed to himself as a peculiar inheritance into the body whereof he doth by the power of his Word and Spirit gather his heople calling them through the Ministery of the Gospel out of the world and from Idolatry superstition and from all works of darknesse to fellowship with Jesus Christ and by him with the Father and the Holy Ghost and with his people making them a royall Priesthood an holy nation a people set at liberty to shew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light and uniteth them together as members of one body in his faith love and holy order unto all generall and mutuall duties and instructs and governs them by those instruments and ordinances which he himself hath prescribed in his word for the edification of his body the Church 13. Concerning the Application of Redemption That the Holy Ghost is sent by the Father and the Son to make application of Redemption only to those whom the Father hath by his eternall Decree given to Christ and for whom Christ maketh intercession to his Father and whom the Father accepts in Christ unto fellowship of the everlasting Covenant of his free Grace having called them out of the world to fellowship with Jesus Christ by the Gospel made effectually to that end by the mighty power and operation of the Holy Ghost Which grace of effectuall calling is thus dispensed to a poor lost sinner awakened and humbled by the Law through the effectuall working of the spirit of bondage judging himself worthy to be destroyed for his sins and seeing himself utterly destitute of all help or hope of himself The Lord in the preaching of the Gospel by the powerfull work of the Holy Ghost revealeth the fulnesse and all-sufficiencie of that grace and salvation which is laid up in Jesus Christ as the only sutable good to him that hee also enableth him spiritually and savingly to apprehend Jesus Christ as given him of the Father And the same Spirit having thus enlightened him doth leave a supernaturall vertue and impression of Gods love upon the soul whereby the soul is drawn to close with Christ and with that grace of God in him so entirely that there is now nothing between Christ and the soul but it willingly parts with all things that hinder his enjoying of Christ and by this effectuall calling all that are brought to Christ are 1. justified that is absolved from sin and death and accounted righteous unto life for and through Christ apprehended received and relied upon by faith 2. They are adopted that is accepted for Christs sake to the dignity of Gods children They are also 3. sanctified that is really changed by degrees from the impurity of sin to the purity of Gods Image and lastly they are glorified that is changed from the misery or punishment of sin unto everlasting happinesse which begins in the inward sense of Gods love to them in Christ whence they have hope of glory boldnesse in accesse to God certainty of salvation peace joy unspeakable and it endeth in their full perfection in soul and body 14. Concerning a particular instituted Church and the Priviledges thereof That it is a company of faithfull and holy people or persons called out of the world to fellowship with Jesus Christ and united in one Congregation to him as members to their head and one with another by a holy covenant for mutuall fellowship in all such wayes of holy worship of God and of edification of one towards another as God himself hath required in his Word of every Church of Christ and the members thereof 15. Concerning the manner of gathering a Church That it is the duty of all Christians having renounced all false wayes of Idolatrous Antichristian and superstitious worship and of sin and the world as to instruct and govern their own families according to God so to joyn willingly together in Christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith and profession of their subjection to the Gospel of Christ to unite themselves unto peculiar and visible Congregations wherein as members of one body whereof Christ is the head they are to worship God according to his Word To this Church he hath given royall priviledges as the holy Oracles the Promises the Seals of the Covenant his presence love protection and blessing in a speciall manner here all that acknowledge him to be their Prophet Priest and King are to be inrolled amongst his houshold servants and to present their bodies and soules and gifts and solemn services for a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Being thus united they to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures being approved by the Church and appointed thereunto may and ought to teach publikely the Word of God by prophecying according to the proportion of faith for edification exhortation and comfort of the Church till such time as men may be had fit for such office or offices as Christ hath appointed to the publike Ministery of his Church and then they are upon due triall to proceed to the choyce and ordination of those officers according to God and then the officers are to dispense the seals of the Covenant viz. Baptisme to the seed of the faithfull in their Infancy and to others not yet baptized when by profession of their faith they are added to the Church And all of the Church that are of yeers and are able to examine themselves must communicate also in the Lords Supper in both kindes viz. Bread and Wine 16. Concerning the Sacraments That they are in the ordinance of God signs and seals of Gods everlasting Covenant with us representing and offering to all receivers but exhibiting only to true believers the Lord Jesus Christ and all his benefits unto righteousnesse sanctification and eternall life through faith in his name to the Glory and praise of God 17. Concerning the power of every Church That Christ hath given the power of chusing Officers and of receiving in or calling of any member to the whole body together of every Church and not to any one member apart or to more members sequestred from the whole or to any other Congregation to do it for them yet so as every Church ought to use the best help they can hereunto and the most meet member they have to pronounce the same in their publike Assemblies if they want Officers And to this censure and judgement of Christ duly and orderly dispensed every member of the Congregation yea and officer also how exellent or learned soever he be is subject Yet ought not the Church without great care and advice to proceed against such publike persons 18. Concerning the Communion of Churches That although particular Churches be distinct and severall Independent bodies every one as a city compact within it self without subordination under or dependence upon any other but Jesus Christ yet are all Churches to walk by one and the same rule and by all means convenient to have the counsell and help one of another when need requireth as members of one body in the common faith under Christ their only Head 19. Concerning Church-officers That Christ when hee ascended up on high gave gifts unto men and disposed of them in severall functions and for publike ordinary ministery he gave Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons helpers for the instruction government and service of his Church to the worlds end and that none may usurp or execute a Ministery in the Church but such as are rightly called by the Church whereof they stand Ministers and being so called they ought to give all diligence to fulfill their Ministery and to be found faithfull and unblamable in all things And that this ministery is alike given to every Church of Christ with like and equall power and commission to have and enjoy the same as God offereth fit men and means and the same rules are given to all for the election and execution thereof in all places which rules lawes it is not lawfull for those Ministers or for the Church wittingly to neglect or transgresse in any part And those Ministers thus chosen and executing their office faithfully every Church is bound to have them in singular love for their works sake to reverence them according to the dignity of their office which they execute and to provide for them that they be not entangled with the cares of this life according to the Law of Christ And this to do not as in way of courtesie or mercy but out of duty to them in the Lord and having hope in God that the resurrection shall be of the just and of the unjust of the just to the resurrection of life and of the unjust to the resurrection of condemnation 20. Concerning giving every man his due That unto all men is to be given whatsoever is due to them in regard of their office place gifts wages estate and condition endeavouring our selves to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men FINIS

it is translated directed Job 32.14 This Covenant was directed to David and the seed of David not left at randome but directed to fall aright upon some person as it were as once it was said of Joseph Deut. 33.16 Let the good will of him that dwelleth in the bush come upon the head of Joseph So shall this Covenant of Grace fall upon the heads of those for whom it is appointed Fourthly because it is set in order so is this word used Lev. 18. It is said to be set in order in regard of the grounds means ends parts and persons on whom it falls First for the grounds of it and they are manifest unto us first from the absolute and independent soveraignty God will do what seemeth him good in his own eyes hee will have mercy on whom hee will have mercy Rom. 9.15 Secondly Gods everlasting love Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared unto me of old say they yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love and therefore with mercy I have drawn thee Thirdly from his free Grace not respecting good or evill in the creature but the good pleasure of his will Secondly it is ordered in the means and they are such as do convey it unto us which are First the Lord Jesus Christ this Covenant was made with him from all eternity Ephes 1.3 Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Secondly in Christ and by Christ hath God the Father sealed it unto us by his holy and blessed Spirit Ephes 1.15 Thirdly by his Gospel hath he delivered it unto us 2 Tim. 1.10 Christ hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel and this is the Instrument whereby the grace of God is written in our hearts 2 Cor. 3.3 Thirdly in the ends of it the chiefest whereof is First that God might be glorified in his free love it sets forth unto us the riches of his grace Ephes 1.6 Secondly that Christ might thereby be glorified Joh. 5.23 Thirdly God hath appointed to glorifie himself in the salvation of his people Ephes 2.2 2 Tim. 1.9 Fourthly this Covenant is ordered in regard of the parts in the Covenant God promiseth First Grace Secondly pardon of Sin Thirdly subduing our rebellions Fourthly outward blessings Hee will not take away his love from us nor suffer his truth to faile Psal 89.33 34. For his love you may reade Jer. 31.3 where the Lord telleth his people that hee had loved them with an everlasting love So for pardon of sin Jer. 31.34 I will forgive your iniquities and remember your sins no more Likewise for subduing our corruptions Micah 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquities and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage hee retaineth not his anger for ever because hee delighted in mercy He will turn again he will have compassion upon us hee will subdue our iniquities and will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea So likewise for outward blessings Psal 84.11 The Lord is a Sun and shield The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will hee with-hold from them who live uprightly If outward blessings be denied to us yet will he not take away his mercy Psal 89.28 My mercy will I keep for evermore and my Covenant shall stand sure and so forward to the 34th verse of the same Psalme Fifthly it is ordered in regard of the persons to whom it is given Gal. 3.16 it was given to Christ and in Christ to every godly man Gen. 17.7 and in every godly man to his seed God will have some of the seed of every godly man to stand before him for ever Quest 3 But why is it called a sure Covenant Answ 1 In Gods eternall purpose it was first framed Ephes 1.4 5. it was everlastingly purposed with God Answ 2 Secondly in regard of the unchangeablenesse of it it cannot be broken it is unviolable and everlasting Psal 89.34 My Covenant I will not break nor alter the thing gone out of my mouth Quest But why is it said to be a sure Covenant Answ 1 Because God is unchangeable himself Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore yee sons of Jacob are not consumed Answ 2 Secondly in Christs perfect suretiship Heb. 7.22 Who was made a surety of a better Testament Answ 3 Thirdly in regard of the firmnesse of the Spirit of promise which sealeth up to us this Covenant and dwels in us Quest How may the Spirit be said to make it sure Answ In the sure word of promise that God hath made and confirmed it by an oath unto his children that by two immutable witnesses they might receive strong consolation Heb. 6.18 The Spirit of God is said to make it sure to us both by the Spirit of faith looking for salvation by another namely Christ Jesus Rom. 4.16 and by the Spirit of fear Hee will put his feare into our hearts that we shall not depart from him Jer. 32.40 And thus is the Covenant of God said to be sure Psal 89.34.36 My Covenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth I have sworn by my holinesse that I will not faile David So likewise a comfortable place have we in 2 Tim. 2.13 where the Apostle saith though wee believe not yet he abideth faithfull he cannot deny himself Quest What Reasons may there be given why wee should so support and comfort the hearts of Gods people when they see both themselves and their families thus disordered Reason 1 Because this Covenant is a soveraign and sufficient medicine to heal all our disorders and remove all our impediments what though wee on our part fail God hath sworn by his holinesse he will not fail Psal 89.35 It being a Covenant of Grace is not abrogated by our failing though wee remain unsetled yet God continues constant If his children walk not with him but rebell against him what will hee do They shall feel the smart of his displeasure but his loving kindnesse will he not take from them Psal 89.30 31 32 33. Reas 2 Though we and our families are disordered yet Gods Covenant is not but stands firm and sure the Covenant of God compassed about with our disorders fetches them in and cures them Reas 3 Thirdly whereas wee are unsetled and unconstant it may be wee can pray well to day to morrow our hearts are out of frame quite yet this Covenant remaines firme one and the same Reas 4 Fourthly we are unsetled and cannot stay nor keep our selves in any good way wee cannot lay sure hold on this Covenant of God yet notwithstanding it lays hold on us it comprehends us when wee cannot comprehend it and supports us through all But to come to the Uses of the point and in the First place Vse 1 it is a Use of much consolation to all such who are

have our eternall happinesse in the highest heavens Luke 12.32 Fear not little flocke it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you your inheritance Vse 1 First it may serve to prove a distempered passion of our spirits who cannot be perswaded Gods Covenant reacheth to us unlesse we prosper in the world wee should rather be men after Gods own heart as David See how David carried himself in the like case and condition he doth rest himself in Gods Covenant whether his house grow or grow not but we are of another spirit though wee know Gods Covenant is everlasting and sure yet unlesse our children be great ones and all may prosper in the world according to the desire of our hearts we think we have no favour in the Covenant of Gods grace alas all things are counted otherwise but as dry things like Manna which at length the children of Israel began to loath and hate As concerning the light afflictions which are but momentary herein wee should comfort our selves that God will temper all to our everlasting happinesse as in the issue thereof wee shall see This pride of nature was the sin of Human Est 5.13 all availed him nothing as long as Mordecai the Jew did not bow to him If other mens sheafs may not bow to ours then wee think all little worth besides but this is a grievous sin against God it argues a base estimation of the Covenant of Gods grace it is a sin to be reproved and rooted out Wee think because God doth not make our houses to grow and flourish that there is no contentment to be found in the Covenant of Grace This sin of pride was also in Hezekiah in shewing to the Babylonish men all his garments and precious Jewels Vse 2 Secondly we must learn to grow in the Covenant of Grace though we should never grow great nor rise high in this world nor in the things thereof we must rest satisfied in and by the Covenant of Gods grace If David think it sufficient so must we What though wee be neglected in the world and finde no contentment in outward things yet this may serve to quiet the hearts of Gods children that though they grow not much in the world yet having a part in the Covenant of Grace they need not to trouble themselves about any other thing that is wanting to them this condition is a happy condition Vse 3 Thirdly it may teach every righteous Housholder and Parent to take more care to leave a good covenant to their children and servants then any thing else If they have but this portion left to them they shall do well whether they grow and prosper in the things of this world or no God hath made a Covenant with the Parents and Housholders and it shall descend upon them so far as God doth order it Vse 4 Fourthly it may serve to help our faith in the desolations of the Churches abroad though they grow not but decay yet seeing God hath made a Covenant with their fathers and undertaken to do them good they will at length prove the better for it and God will make his Covenant good unto them all that God doth exercise them withall is that hee may do them good at length Gods Covenant being an everlasting Covenant their condition at last shall be a glorious condition Vse 5 Fifthly it may be usefull to all such who have part in the Covenant of God that undoubtedly at length it shall be well with them though God never make them nor theirs to grow in outward things yet they may rest upon the Covenant there is enough for them Rejoyce we then in this Covenant for it is an everlasting Covenant and let us make it our chiefest happinesse that wee have a part in it though wee and others seem not to our selves to grow yet wee shall grow so far as God sees it meet for us to grow although we for our parts perceive it not Isaiah 3.10 11. Say to the righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their own doings but wo to the wicked for it shall be ill with them for the reward of his hands shall he given unto him It shall be ill with Rome and her adherents the Covenant of Works shall be required at their hands A Doctrinall Conclusion That there be in all such as are effectually called and united unto Christ in-dwelling spirituall gifts of grace wrought and created in us by the Holy Ghost that is by the begetting whereof we are begotten and renewed to a spirituall life unto God and so become fit members of his Church The opening of the terms of this Doctrine BY gifts of Grace I mean holy qualities the same which Philosophers call vertuous habites or good dispositions whereby the faculties and affections of the soule which by corrupt nature are set upon a mans self and earthly things and cannot savour the things of God and so are said to be dead are hereby sanctified and lifted up to God and set upon him and heavenly things and so are said to be quickened and made alive to God Whence we are said to be begotten again to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 and the faith of the righteous is opposed to the dead faith of vain men Jam. 2.20 These gifts we say are wrought or created by the Holy Ghost because they are the fruits or effects of the Spirit of God in us Gal. 5.22 23. wrought by his Almighty creating power out of nothing Col. 2.12 Ps 5 1.10 and thereby making us spirituall men 1 Cor. 2.15 And fit Instruments for Gods spirituall service 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore every one of these gifts of grace whereby any faculty or affection of the soule is sanctified it is called the spirit of such a faculty or affection as the sanctified disposition of the mind is called The spirit of a sound minde 2 Tim. 1.7 The spirit of Faith is the gift of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 The spirit of love or of the fear of the Lord are the gifts of holy love and fear sanctifying such affections 2 Tim. 1.7 Isai 11.2 Further we say these gifts of grace are in-dwelling and abiding in every child of God effectually called and united unto Christ in as much as they are neither mortified and extinguished in us as some would have it by our union with Christ for mortification is of corrupt lusts or of the body of sin in us Col. 3.5 Rom. 6.6 not of the gifts of grace neither are these gifts of grace transient and passing away as they would be if they were meer actions of the Spirit proceeding and passing from us Nor are they abiding in the Holy Ghost though he abideth in us because no created gifts or qualities abide in him whatsoever is in him is himself but they are preserved in us by the Holy Ghost as they were wrought by him and are also by him increased and perfected in us against the day of our dissolution