Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A65901
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A general epistle to be read amongst friends in all their meetings
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Whitehead, John, 1630-1696.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing W1978; ESTC R30198
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6,717
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11
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which ye have escaped through the Power of Christ Jesus and also least ye be insnared by the Wicked One whom you have many times overcome for by Faith we stand not bearing the Root but the Root bears us whom it behoves to keep on our Armour of Light in which walking we have our Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace and the Helmet of Salvation and the Breast-plate of Righteousness the Shield of Faith and Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God by which we are enlightned to see the devices of Satan and his Wiles and Temptations whose deadly Malice is against us and therefore seeks to devour us or bring us into danger either by inward Temptations or outward Violence which he stirs up in this time of our Tryal and Adversity making use of those for Instruments that have dealt treacherously in the Land of Uprightness And therefore let us be circumspect in Word and Conversation committing our Way unto the Lord that weigheth the Mountains in Scales and the Spirits of men as in a Ballance who with the Breath of his Mouth will scatter the Chaff and disperse the Clouds of Darkness which would obscure the Glory of Gods heavenly Appearance as he hath done in Ages past and likewise in our days as many of you are Witnesses So having this Hope we faint not but believe the God of Peace will tread Satan under our Feet and through Christ's Power without whom we can do nothing we shall triumph over the wicked One and as the Love Goodness and Mercy of the Lord ye have obtained let the same freely run through you that by Patience Meekness Long-suffering and seasoned Doctrine ye may gather in the scattered and those which have halted through feebleness of mind by your diligent labour in your Monethly and Quarterly-Meetings and elsewhere may have stumbling Blocks removed out of their way and be confirmed and all the upright in Heart preserved in the Unity of the Spirit and Bonds of Peace and let Love abound in your Hearts one to another according to that old Commandent that Christ gave his Disciples for in that you may edifie one another But the Wrath of man works not the Righteousness of God And you Children who have known the Father through the Light of his beloved Son Christ Jesus who hath shined in your Hearts in whom you have believed that ye might receive Remission of Sins for his Names sake take diligent heed unto your selves lest you grieve the Spirit of God through which you have received the Adoption and are sealed unto the day of Redemption But watch and be sober-minded lest the Adversary that presents himself amongst the Sons of God when he comes from walking to and fro in the Earth get advantage against you and draw your minds out from the pure holy Seed whereby you are begotten into the love of God from which fervent Breathings and holy Desires and Godly Zeal springs up in broken tender and humble Hearts which thereby draws in daily nourishment that keeps you growing fresh and fruitful whilst you abide in a Holy Reverence and are devoutly given up to walk in the true Light Life of Jesus Christ who is both our Saviour and Preserver without whom we can do nothing well-pleasing unto God And therefore little Children that abide in him grow more fresh lively and fruitful than aspiring Spirits or lofty Branches that run out till they have lost their hold in the Root which should nourish them Oh! how soon do they become like Corn on the House top decay and wither when their Expectations are frustrate their Faith fails by which they should stand and their Desires grow weak and feeble their Love and Zeal cold for where Humility is wanting there is not a capacity of receiving more Grace for such who are lifted up are wise in their own Eyes and conceited that they lack nothing but abound in their own sence and are full of Words and have not a place in them to receive that Vertue which the Lord is ready and willing to communicate Therefore dear Children be not High-minded but wait upon God in Silence Humility and pure Fear that of his fulness you may receive Grace sufficient for you in all your Exercises and a Spring of holy understanding to deliver you from the Snares of Death for the Lord hath a regard unto you that fear him and think upon his Name in these trying dayes wherein The Proud are counted happy and those that work Wickedness are lifted up Therefore look not out nor be dismayed at what Man can do unto you whose Breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of but be faithful and valiant in keeping your Meetings to wait upon God and worship and serve him that made Heaven and Earth who knows how to glorifie his own Name and reward all his faithful Servants and Prophets and them that fear his Name small and great So when you see the Wicked flourish like a green Bay-Tree and live in Wealth and Pleasure Prosperity and Dominion let not your Hearts be troubled though with Rigour they rule over you and oppress you on every side for the Most High beholds it and hath an Eye open to the cry of the Poor and will deliver his Children out of the Jaws of the Devourers and give them a more sure Reward and everlasting Inheritance in the sight of their Enemies who thought their Life Bitter and their End without Honour but the Righteous enter into everlasting Life and the Wicked go into everlasting Punishment and the Gulf is fixed that they cannot change their Minds nor their State for their Torment endures forever but the meek and patient Sufferers and faithful Followers of Christ Jesus shall enter into their Masters Joy which is unspeakable and full of Glory And you that are Convinced and have a Profession of Truth from the knowledge of things comprehended in the Understanding from what you have heard and read and the advantages you have had by your Education it lies upon me to Exhort and Warn you to wait to possess the true Christian Life and take heed of resting satisfied with that which you have taken to your selves For it is the gift of God that is Eternal Life which is to be waited for in the Cross And also take heed that you confide not in your Ability to do any thing of your selves for that will be rejected till you know and inwardly feel the Seed of God and his work in your Hearts and this is the Word of God That you believe in the Light of Christ Jesus and be planted into his Death that dying together with him his Life may be made manifest in your mortal Bodies that both your Souls and Bodies may be capable of glorifying God in bringing forth the Fruits of his Spirit wherein he can delight for now is the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree and every Tree that bringeth not