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	name_n	son_n	14,571	5	5.9519	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75849	Satans stratagems, or The Devils cabinet-councel discovered whereby he endevors [sic] to hinder the knowledg of the truth ... wherein is laid open an easie way to end controversies in matters of conscience ... together with arguments to each book ... / by Jacobus Acontius ... ; as also the testimonies of some ancient divines, together with an epistle written by Mr John Goodwin ; and Mr. Duries letter touching the same.	Aconcio, Iacopo, d. 1566.; Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.; Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1648 (1648)	Wing A443A; ESTC R42404	127,449	159

for every man to believe to the end he may be saved viz. That he acknowledg the one only true God and him whom he hath sent Iesus Christ his Son being made man and that he believe that God hath raised him from the dead and that by his name he shal obtain salvation and that he place not his righteousness in the works of the Law But that he be verily perswaded that there is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved Now let us make enquiry what other thing there is that being inferred from these may be in like manner necessary to be known And forasmuch as the Scriptures teach that every man is liable to the severe judgment of God as being by reason of the fall of Adam born in sin and of such a natural constitution that he continually offends God and consequently guilty of eternal punishment and since they further teach that this world at length coming to an end all persons shal be raised at the last day the just unto eternal happiness the unjust and wicked unto eternal torments No man can understand what it is to be saved neither consequently what it is he should believe unless he have some tollerable knowledg both of his own condition of the Law of God and of Gods purpose to judg the quick and the dead For the Apostle declares that from the Law springs the knowledg of Sin and he should not have known Sin but by the Law But it follows not from what we have laid down that such a degree of knowledg either of the Law of God or of mans natural condition is necessary as that if any man shal err in the interpretation of some Commandment of God or in judging of the nature of man and the abilities thereof he cannot be saved Thus much only follows that a man ought to believe that he is liable to eternal condemnation and to trust he is freed therefrom by Christ and by his benefits ordained unto eternal blessedness Again seeing Paul says that they have no title to Christ who place their righteousness in the Law in the Law I say of God What shal we say of them who place their righteousness in the Laws mandates and inventions of men They may doubtless much rather be said to have fallen from the righteousness and benefits of Christ Semblably since the Scriptures teach that by the name of Christ alone we must hope for salvation it follows that he that shal hope for salvation by the name of the blessed Virgin or Peter or Paul or any Saint whatsoever hath no share in Christ Likewise it being a thing necessarily to be believed to salvation that Christ was raised from the dead and it cannot be understood that any is raised to life that was not first dead it follows that it ought of necessity to be believed that he dyed In a word forasmuch as our Lord hath commanded that all be taught the Gospel and baptized in the name of the Father Son and holy Spirit whose work this Faith is inasmuch as he opens our hearts and reveals unto us this goodness of God towards us both this command ought to be known and that it is the holy Spirit by whom we believe and by whom God dwels in us and whom we ought by incessant prayers to begg of God that he would bestow him upon us I confess ingeniously I cannot find any other points that I can from Scripture demonstrate and prove to be of necessary knowledg to the attainment of salvation If any man can shew any more there is nothing that I would sooner wish then to understand what ever other points there are over and above what we have laid down and to heare those Texts by whose authority we are obliged to acknowledg them for matters that ought of necessity to be known Now for us to reckon up particularly all such points as we judg not necessary to be known to the end a man may be saved there is no necessity neither were it convenient and it would be an endless work A right line is the measure both of right and crooked Only to the end that it may be the better understood when any points comes into question how it may be manifest to be either of necessity to be known or not of necessity we wil examine and couple of Doctrines to the end that as we shal try these all other may be tryed Sabellius as Vigilius Martyr Bishop of Trent relates did so acknowledg the Father Son and holy Spirit as that he would not have it to be understood that the Father was one person the Son another But he said that he who was the Father filled the womb of the Virgin and in that man whom he assumed is termed the Son when as not two persons but one Father is understood by both termes And he that thus understands the matter worships but one God Some man may therefore enquire whether or no this point be of such concernment as that it is necessary for him that would be saved not to err therein that is to say whether Sabellius holding such an Error could be saved or whether he ought absolutely to be reckoned for an Heretick as hitherto he hath bin ever accounted We have already proved that it is necessary that men should believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God But to believe that he is the Son of God is no to pronounce these words nor yet in thought to give unto Christ the title of Son of God but rather by a sincere faith to attribute unto him that which these words signifie Now the word Son signifies not any such thing I say the notion of that word is not such as that any person may be understood to be his own Son neither can the term Father be so understood as that any one should be his own Father but he is called a Son who hath for Father not himself but some other person and he a Father who hath for Son not himself but some other Forasmuch then as Sabellius did confound the Father and the Son and denied that they were two distinct persons it is very plain that he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God which it was altogether necessary for him to believe By which example we are taught that concerning such points as are propounded unto us by God as necessary to be believed we ought diligently to examine what the words signifie least retaining only a certain vain shadow of words we come to deny the things themselves by those words intimated let us labour to understand the words that we may sincerely embrace the things themselves Having examined this Tenet let us consider another point which as these times go is perhaps no less worthy of our knowledg There hath been a long and very Tragical controversie about the interpretation of those words Take this is my Body Let us consider therefore whether this be a matter of such consequence that therefore

be conversant in before we begin a dispute to the end we may neither our selves be moved nor move our adversary to passion A mans nobility Wealth Authority Reputations are the weapons wherewith Satan fights against him The grand combate in all disputes is with Satan The main quarrel is not so much the point in question as the Peace and Tranquillity and safety of the Church of Christ A disputant must take heed of being too wise in his own eyes No vice so hardly rooted out of a mans spirit as Arrogance A medicine against arrogance The top of humane wisdom to suspect a mans own wisdom and seek Counsel We cannot dispute with any person so despicable but look how much we think our selves wiser then him by so much he takes himself to be wiser then Vs The use of this Observation LIB II. IN the former book we have discoursed concerning unprofitable questions how they may be distinguished from profitable ones and how they ought to be avoided it follows now that we should declare what may befit a godly man to do if it shal appear that the business in Controversie be a matter of great weight And here doubtless if thou wilt give eare to Satan he wil endeavour to advance his designs exceedingly by thy means So that some error shall not be extirpated but spread abroad far and neer yea and become as it were the seed of many other errors so that contentions discords variance sects devastations and mighty hurliburlies shall thence arise and to the end he wil labour might and main that no moderate circumspect grave counsel may take place but that all things be transacted rashly without advice confusedly What now shal a Christian and prudent spirit do in this case Shal he think of obeying Satan and furthering his counsels Wil he make him his Counsellor and Captain Wil he not rather with all diligence of mind provide that all things be managed with the greatest discretion possible So that not a word as neer as may be shal pass which is not exactly fitted by reason and polished Wil he not weigh with himself again and again what is needful to be done Here here indeed is need of prudence resist the beginnings whiles the flame is yet smal if thou shalt let it alone a little while and give fuel to it likewise who shal be able to quench the Fire These things I say are to be foreseen in time If thou shalt hear any impious Doctrine what thinkest thou wil the speech of Satan be in thy heart He wil try peradventure if he can bring the Error in credit with thee also but if he find the doors shut on this side and shal thee another way O abominable wickedness wil he say O this fellow deserves that the Earth should open its mouth and swallow him up quick that durst once speak such abhominable words t is pity he were not burnt with fire from Heaven The basest and wickedest fellow that ever the Earth bare Is it possible that any man should so much as once think of such things much less account them true If thou give way to such thoughts as these what canst thou do or say which wil not occasion a thousand mischiefs Perswade thy self that the Spirit of God is not author of such councels but Satan Such thoughts are not fit to take away the evil but to increase it more and more and render it uncapable of all cure Somewhat else there is to be done to remedy this evil And first how knowest thou but that this man haply what ever he may seem to be is one of Gods elect whom God indeed hath suffered to fall out of some secret but most wise and loving purpose of his own that he may raise him again with much more glory whom did'st thou but know to be such an one could'st thou entertain any inhumane thoughts against him who is ordained to the possession of the glory of the Elect and to be an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven against thy brother against a member of Christ against a servant yea and a son of God But thou wilt say by this reason the Magistrate must suffer theeves robbers cut-throats and other criminal offenders for as much as all such may be of the number of the elect such as may in time be reclaimed I answer a godly and wise Magistrate when he punishes such like offenders he doth it not to satisfie his own hatred but executes that office whereunto he is called of God knowing that he is bound to obey Gods revealed wil whatever his own reason may notwithstanding prompt him unto Even as Abraham was ready at Gods command to offer his most beloved and most innocent son Isaac And in the mean time he omits no office of humanity towards such as are to be put to death But thou wilt say further Can the ears then o● that man which loves God hear accursed speeches against God and be no more moved then if they nothing concerned him I answer and grant that a man ought to be moved and vehemently moved in such a case but would not allow that motion to be a rash head-long zeal but a zeal guided by the most accurate reason not of Satans but of the Spirit of Gods begetting If thou hadst a brother or a son rather whom thou exceedingly lovedst thou couldst not see him catch a dangerous fall but especially in case he were therewith grievously wounded thou wouldst be much moved but with what kind of motion or affection So as to inveigh against him with harsh language to overwhelm him with revilings and reproaches Yea rather thou wouldst run to him and raise him up as gingerly as thou canst Thou wouldst bid him be of good cheer and leave nothing undone which might free him from or at least mitigate his pain Thou wouldst spare no pains and watch with him whole nights together And in case the anguish of his wound shal make him froward thou wilt nevertheless remit nothing of thy great tenderness over him Such would I have the motion of thy mind to be to be grieved at the fall of thy brother to be grieved that God is offended to be grieved for their sakes whom he hath mis-taught so a that they are in danger to lose their salvation But let the effects of thy griefs be that thou endeavor with all thy might either wholy to remove or to lessen the evil and that thou take heed again and again as in a business wherein thou canst not err without great danger that thou neither do or speak any thing which may increase the same nor of which thou canst not foresee some certain hope of profit and that thou wilt so order thy self that in case thou shalt at any time observe that what thou didst to a good end had a bad issue thou wilt be content with the hazard of thy reputation to correct thine Error Furthermore three things seem to require our consideration what course

but from God So Martha after that our Lord had told her that he was the Resurrection and the Life and that if any man beleeved in him though he were dead yet he should live and all that should live and beleeve in him should never dye She made answer I beleeve that thou art the Messias the Son of God who wer 't to come into the world And to the Thief who begged of Lord that he would remember him when he came into his Kingdom he gave this answer Luke 23. This I promise thee that thou shalt be with me this day in Paradise And the Eunuch after he had confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God Acts 8. he was baptized Likewise when four men carrying the pulsied man and endeavoring to bring him to be cured were not able to come near for the press but let him down in his bed through the roof into the midst before Jesus Jesus knowing their so great faith said unto the man Son thy sins are forgiven thee By which place we may conjecture what was the faith of that palsied person For he beleeved in all probability that that same man whose name was Jesus came from God and was in favor with God and therefore he hoped that by his means he might recover his health But that he knew all those things which the Church hath for a long time accounted as articles of Faith necessary to be beleeved to Salvation how likely a matter it is I leave it to every man to judg There are likewise many other texts to the very same purpose For to that same unclean woman that washed our Lords feet with her tears it was said Thy Faith hath saved thee The same was spoken to that other woman having the flux of blood who hoped If she might touch the hem of his garment she should be healed The same was done to that one of the ten cleansed lepers who returned thanks to God And Iohn says Hereby ye shal know the Spirit of God whatever spirit shal confess that Iesus Christ is come and that he is made man that Spirit is of God and again Whosoever shal confess that Iesus is the Son of God God abides in him and he in God Also Paul denies That any can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Spirit And forasmuch as Abraham is called the Father of Beleevers and we are taught chiefly by his example that Righteousness consists in Faith Truly it wil be labor wel bestowed to consider what that was which when he beleeved it was counted unto him for righteousness He was promised that he should be the Father of many Nations he was promised that happiness should betide to all the Nations of the world by his seed Finally he had the Land of Canaan promised to him and very great prosperity But of those points of Religion which it is judged every body is bound to know upon pain of damnation we read not a word Yea and the mystery of Salvation it self by his seed is very closely and obscurely promised And truly these are the only points which I find in the Scriptures recorded as necessary to be beleeved for the attainment of Salvation Let us now consider who they be unto whom in Scripture Salvation is denyed in respect of unbelief Unto the Apostles it was said in general terms Go ye through the whole earth publishing the Gospel to all persons he that shal beleeve and be baptized shal be saved but he that shal not beleeve shal be condemned Which words as is manifest by what we formerly said are not so to be understood as if he had said He that shal not rightly understand whatever you shal teach but shal in some point mis-interpret your words shal be condemned but by the word Gospel we must understand that same blessed message of redemption by the name of Christ He that shal beleeve that by the name of Christ he shal be saved he shal be saved he that shal not so beleeve shal be condemned In the same manner are those words of Paul to be expounded Gal 1. If any shal teach you different from what you have learned let him be accursed as if he should have said If any shal teach you that you must obtain salvation by any other way then by faith in the name of Christ let him be accursed Howbeit whosoever shal teach any thing otherwise then the Apostles taught although it be none of the principal heads of Religion yet is he so far forth to be accursed in as much as all false doctrine comes from none but the Devil the father of lyes But it is not presently to be concluded that such a person is quite out of the way of Salvation for our Lord rebuking Peter himself because he dehorted him from suffering death calls him Satan Iohn 6. More particularly our Lord says Vnless you shal both eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man ye shal not obtain life Which imports as much as if he had said Unless ye shal beleeve that I am the Son of God and that I am sent from God my Father and that you shal obtain Salvation by my Name you shal not obtain life And again Vnless ye shal beleeve that I am he ye shal dye in your sins 2 Iohn 2. 1 Iohn 4. And John says Who is a lyar but he that denies Jesus to be the Son And hereby shal you know the Spirit of Go● whatever spirit confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God But whatever spirit shal deny that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh Gal. 5. the same is not of God Paul adds If you be circumcised Christ shal profit you nothing And a little after Ye have no part in Christ who lace your righteousness in the Law ye are fallen from Grace And Peter there is no other name among men under heaven Acts 4. by which we can be saved By which testimonies of Scripture we are taught that such places as witness that he which beleeves that Jesus Christ is the Son of God shal be saved are not so to be understood as that if a man shal so beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as he beleeves that Iulius Caesar was the first who brought the Roman Commonwealth into bondage and made himself Emperor of Rome or any other matter wherein himself is not concerned that he shal be saved but that he truly beleeves that Jesus is the Son of God who beleeves it as a thing that concerns himself that is to say who beleeves that he whom we call Jesus is the Son of God his Jesus and his Christ that is his Savior and his King in whom alone he places all the hope of his Salvation Unless we shal admit of this interpretation neither Pauls nor Peters words will hang together These very few points are all that we can find expressed in Scripture as being necessary