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	son_n	speak_v	11,770	5	5.4768	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89759	A pathway unto England's perfect settlement; and its centre and foundation of rest and peace, discovered by Capt. Robert Norwood. In this discourse you have cleared and proved, I. What government in its true and proper nature is; and the common errour thereof rectified. ... VI. That the laws, ordinances, &c. of our forefathers, are the onely rulers and governours of the English nation; ... VII. That neither parliaments, or any other, have any right, power, or authority to change, alter, suppress, or suspend the same; ... And in the conclusion, the nature of contracts, and the governments thereupon, made manifest and cleared.	Norwood, Robert, Captain.	1653 (1653)	Wing N1383; Thomason E702_16; ESTC R203007	38,577	71

Covenants as if they were but straws and swallow the breach of them as sweet morsels Let it be examined and weighed to him with whom I make a contract if I be true and real in it to him I give up my very true and real self so far and so much as that contract extends to during the time thereof and so if he give credit to believe and receive my contract I do therein and thereby make and beget a very true and real essence in and unto him with whom I do so contract and so he hath thereby made unto him as good an assurance of me to be his very true and real self in reference to those things contracted for during the terme of the contract as possibly it can be made and done Therefore if we have made and entered into Covenant and contract with any Let us faithfully and fully as we are able yea freely and willingly also make good and performe the same let our loss damage and detriment be what it will or can it is our contract and it must be kept if any detriment damage or inconvenience arise to us in it or by it that was our own fault and we must therefore bear it and let us not with Adam lay it upon another For certainly upon a due examination search and inquiry it will be found that our selves in very deed and in truth are the proper and true cause of all the calamities troubles sorrows afflictions miseries c. whatsoever call them as you please that at present are that ever did or ever shall come upon happen to or befall us In our self lieth and from our self ariseth and springeth forth the root seeds ground occasion and cause of whatever befalleth every particular man of us verily if it be rightly weighed and considered it will be found so Thy destruction is of thy self O Israel saith the Lord and so it 's said of Israelites in the case of the Gibeonites that they counselled not with the mouth of the Lord which would a man alwayes in all things do he would be alwayes and in all things safe and secure Nor will it be found I believe sufficient to say that the other party or parties performe not but break and falsifie with us we notwithstanding must hold keep and performe with them and nothing may must or can discharge and disoblige but the mutual consent of the parties Covenanted and contracted Wherefore I say Where when so much so far and so long as we may be free let us not be bound But if that we call necessity or conveniency occasion us to contract know assuredly that it very greatly concerns us to be exceeding circumspect very cautious and wary how or upon what grounds we do contract with whom for what use and uses to what ends and for what time Verily a man in this case of all the cases I know in the world had need have his eyes in his head to counsel with the Lord for it must or ought to be fully thorowly and perfectly done and performed and that with all willingness readiness and chearfulness of minde also Wherefore I should then desire when we do enter Covenants Contracts and Agreements with any that so much as we are able they may be very just right true and equal unto all concerned therein for assuredly in justness rightness or righteousness consists the all of man his life his strength his rest peace and happiness if you have not a just true and even center it is impossible you can be at case at quiet at rest and peace in it nor can it give full and perfect life and strength to the whole circumference if the foundation be not plain and level you cannot build a firm stable and lasting structure upon it God is just justice it self God is right or righteous he is righteousness it self We say there is the Father the Son and the Spirit and that these three are one and it is written of Christ the Son that he thought it no robbery to make himself equal with God God did certainly make manifest himself in or by three distinct workings or operations or as we say three distinct persons or in a threefold distinct way and manner of operating rather and these three as we say and say truely are but one God and certainly God is but one and in one or unity consisteth all all light life and strength So you see the Divinity subsisteth and consisteth in equality or oneness and indeed otherwise it could not be So doubtless mans being if he will be and have a perfect upright stable quiet peaceable being in reference to himself and others it must be in equality or oneness and the one is not nor cannot be without the other as it is in God or the Divinity who is the center and foundation to and pattern of all things that be and if the centers and foundations we make and lay be in and upon him they must be such also and if we build not upon him it is impossible our building can stand Let us therefore I beseech you all upon any occasion of Contracts minde this thing and be very careful and wary taking great heed lest we lay a ground and foundation a cause and occasion of emulations strifes and contentions of murmurrings repinings and complainings disquiets and discontents Verily he who thinks he may have the advantage that advantage he seemeth to have will certainly prove his greatest disadvantage as suppose I would make my self greater and higher as we use to speak then the rest in the Contract doubtless as I could make evidently to appear but that I hasten I give the greater advantage to the other by so much as I make my self greater or higher then he And verily I believe the time is not far off wherein there will or at least may be as much contest strife endeavour or desire to be little or low in the world as now there is to be great and high Mans wisdom is returning unto him and he returning unto it God is delivering the Creation from that bondage it hath so long lyen under into the most glorious liberty of his sons which it so earnestly groaneth for and is in pain and travail at this day being even in a readiness to bring forth he is bringing down as Isaiah excellently hath it all things that are high and lofty which are lifted up and exalted above their measure beyond their right and true bounds and limits And what is all this or what doth it mean and speak but onely that he is restoring all things to that which they were in the beginning restoring mankinde and all things together with him to their pristine or primitive glory beauty and excellency Wherefore then should any be troubled fear or be afraid at these tydings O that men would stand still a little whilst God is doing this thing Let us consider and understand what the rule or pattern is which we are to be made

A PATHWAY UNTO ENGLAND'S Perfect Settlement AND Its CENTRE and FOUNDATION OF Rest and Peace Discovered By Capt. ROBERT NORWOOD In this Discourse you have cleared and proved I. What Government in its true and proper nature is and the common errour thereof rectified II. What the proper Ruler or Governour unto all things is or where the proper seat thereof lies And that grand aberration in attributing Government to the Head reduced and proved the cause of all mis-governments III. That all Governours and Governments whatsoever are and of necessity must be circumscribed bound and limited IV. That in the beginning no man had Rule given him over another nor hath he by the Laws Ordinances c. of this Nation And by the way the excellencie and dignity of man discovered V. That Fathers as Fathers have inherently in them both from God and Nature the rule and government of their Children as their Children VI. That the Laws Ordinances c. of our Forefathers are the onely Rulers and Governours of the English Nation and so that general mistake of giving Government unto any whomsoever over any the people thereof detected VII That neither Parliaments or any other have any right power or authority to change alter suppress or suspend the same and so the onely certain and sure foundation upon which the people of this Nation can stand with both feet firm and stable that just and true centre in which onely they may all again securely meet unite and be united And in the conclusion the nature of Contracts and the Governments thereupon made manifest and cleared London Printed for Rich. Moone at the Seven Stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North door 1653. In Paules Church Yard Att The Richard To his Excellence The Lord General Cromwel SIR MAN who is made in the image and likeness of God brings forth the things that are good good in themselves and good in their season This ensuing Discourse is not tendered for protection for that which is Truth will protect it self I shall not plead for it let it plead for it self It offers no new thing to the world but brings forth and makes manifest what was of old even in the beginning They are vain empty trifling times I will endeavour to be so much the more stable serious and sober I call it Englands centre and foundation of rest and peace and it is so Will your Lordship finde it so let it then I beseech you be made so the blessing of it be upon you your children for ever I beg your Excellencies excuse of my boldness and plainness herein and your most serious consideration hereof I am a constant and unfeigned lover of a truely-upright and faithful servant to this English Nation and therein My Lord Your Excellencies in all meekness and readiness of minde to be commanded ROB. NORWOOD ENGLAND'S Return c. MEeting lately with several Printed Papers treating of Government and considering the various products differences and distractions of these our times I was not a little pressed in my spirit to speak or give forth my minde to publike view wherein I have greatly laboured under strong hope in the most ardent inmost desire of my most inmost soul for the full reconciling and uniting of all in one entire and perfect bond of peace and rest therefore hope I shall offend none but fo from my soul beg that it may be thorowly viewed well and truely weighed and considered and that with a perfect heart and upright minde The path we are to walk in hath not been troden these many yeers we will therefore endeavour to take the light along with us and to walk so much the more circumspectly easily and gently and the God of Jacob direct us in our way I know that much is seldom without much folly in a little there may be the less I shall therefore labour brevity and submit the ensuing Discourse of my immature yeers unto the judgement of my ancients I shall forbear to dispute the assertions arguments or advices of any in the point but leave them to the consideration of those they most properly concern and give the world my account of the matter without so much as possibly I may taking any account of theirs The matter to be treated of is Government Authority or Rule Wherein I desire we may all consider First What that we call Government Authority or Rule properly and truely is Secondly Upon what basis or foundation it may or can stand I care not to dispute of Government either this or that as Monarchy Aristocracie Democracie and the rest whether this or that or the other be best upon which there hath been so many Voluminous Disputes with little or no satisfaction either to the standers by or Disputants themselves Nor yet care I for too narrow an enquiry into the true Etymologie of the words Government Authority and Rule what their true import is or what they signifie and hold forth unto us neither into the two terms of absolute and limited Governours or Government I rather chuse in all things of this nature to shorten disputes by laying aside the Head that we may come to the Heart I like not therefore would not acquaint my self with those notional aerial Disputes in which men have been and are so much exercised like two accurate Fencers that come upon the Stage onely shew each others nimble activity curious fallacies and neat slights in the feats of Arms for verily I account it much belowe or unlike a man Man were he known would be found a more excellent and noble creature then to make so many vain motions and profers in so vain a manner or as others so many violent and strong motions many times also to so little purpose Let us then I pray like men descend into our selves leaving our heads behinde us and consider First what we are Then about what And thirdly for what we dispute or I had rather say enquire before we enter the Disputation or Enquiry First Let us consider we are men which very word man I never speak or think of but verily it makes me to make a pause and to consider and the more I do consider the more still I cannot but stand and consider Man what Man God's Image what God's Image the most excellent the most glorious noble and stable Piece in the whole Creation the very true image pattern and rule of all things and so lord of all Gen. 1. 26 28. Secondly I beseech you let us consider what we dispute about We often have many long tedious hot and fiery Disputes yea blowes and bloodshed too many times about meer Sayings one saith This is best or This is right another saith That is and a third and fourth a third and fourth thing when as if duely weighed and considered layd aright to its right Rule Man O Man where art thou O thou Rule of all things neither perhaps would be found good or right Oh therefore that Man would

the foundation nothing will nor can stand firm fast and steady which is not fully wholly and perfectly in and upon the first Now let us not be ashamed to confess and say with good old Jacob Hitherunto hath the Lord holpen us By him it is we have now recovered a sight of our desired rest discovered a plain cleer and fair foundation ground and basis for government or rule to stand upon and center in Ye the people of this Nation even ye English men by what names or titles soever now in these sad dividing times called or distinguished I do earnestly and heartily beg and beg and beg again again and again upon my bare knees of all and every one that you would make some pause and stop a while and so go down into your selves and seriously consider what is or may be the cause or the occasion of these our very much to be lamented breaches distractions and divisions we have had breach upon breach and breach upon breach and still we are more and more distracted and divided One man lays it here and another there and a third else where one upon this man another upon that man and a third upon a third but may it not be this That we have all of us broken and are departed from the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of our Fathers verily this is it that we are gone astray and have lost our way even the way our Fathers commanded ordained and appoynted to us what else meaneth and speaketh all these inquisitions or inquiries If they were onely inquiries they were good but Oh what meaneth those so many propositions almost every day published tendered and offered for Government the Land is everywhere full of them and thereby are we every day more and more distracted and divided in our selves and from one another Verily it extreamly troubles me surely men are not a little beside themselves What propound Governours or Governments Laws Ordinances and Constitutions to English men It is the highest attempt that I say not affront that ever was undertaken done or offered by any English man or men unto this English Nation What murder and destroy our fore-Fathers in their best most pure upright perfect innocent lively lasting being O monstrum horrendum reject despise contemn throw and cast away the foundation by them laid in the beginning of time upon which they and their childrens children after them have stood upon and centered in to this day I dare onely desire that we may obey the commands of the Lord and therein the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of our fore-Fathers Brethren that which stands fast upon or fixed in its center and foundation cannot possibly be removed or shaken behold out eys this day see this thing nor can it rest but is still tottering and shaking until it finde its center and foundation again and most happy is that man person nation or people that have thereunto attained and for ever happy if they keep there Now let us consider are we not all built upon the foundation of our Fathers If we have any foundation at all it must needs be so for there is not neither can there be any other laid by any Are not they our onely proper and true center foundation and resting-place They will not they cannot come unto us but we may nay we must return unto them and unto our selves in them if we will live and not die Here may English men even all English men thus miserably divided and distracted England meet together and unite and be united again even as one man One in and with our selves and one in and with our forefathers also for our forefathers and we in and with our forefathers Note and our forefathers in and with us will be found in the Laws Ordinances Customs and Constitutions mutually agreed firmly and strongly knit tyed and bound up together For as they in by and through them brought made and gave forth the very true real Essence and Being of their very true real and proper selves in which they would live as in the best truest liveliest and everlasting image of that their most real very true proper and unspotted selves to remain and abide to all generations for ever So we also did therein and thereby bring make and give forth the same very true real Essence and Being of our very true real and proper selves together in and with them as we were in their loyns as you shall have it proved by Scripture by and by and verily they were not without us nor we without them Here now is a conjunction and union indeed and to the purpose here is now light life and strength not to be lost or overcome mine eys wait to see this thing and shall not our eys see it and rejoyce in it even see all however now divided distinguished and distracted made thus one again in and with the Lord in and with our forefathers in and with our selves and one in and with one another The ancient Customs Laws and Constitutions of this Nation are they not our Fathers even our first fathers the birth-right and inheritance of us their children in which and unto which we were born and bred and I hope an Esau will not be found in Israel in England They are the Deeds Evidences and Legacies of our forefathers The last Will and Testament of our forefathers in which they have bequeathed themselvs unto us their children even their pure and unspotted mindes hearts and spirits that they might live in us and we in them from generation to generation for ever The things that we speak my brethren are no fancies or chimera's but they are certain undenyable Truths that will bear the fiery tryal and approach of the cleerest Sun that ever did or can shine and Truths of the highest and greatest concernment unto us of any thing in the world They are the ancient Land-marks of our Fathers and now our land marks our bounds and buttings and who may alter or remove them We know the penalty the woful curse that is pronounced against such and that he that breaks the hedge a serpent shall bite him And see we not this day even this day all these things made good before our eys How many Oh how many have been bit and stung and stung to death in this doing Verily I never knew read or heard of any people or Nation but when once they came to swerve let it be examined and depart from the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of their Fathers but they were by and by ruined undone and destroyed And it must be so and cannot be otherwise for they who depart their foundation cannot stand they who abide not in their center are lost and undone undenyably the Scripture throughout witnesseth this this thing and it must be fulfilled On the contrary that Nation or people who kept firm and fast to the Laws Customs and Ordinances of their Fathers and them inviolate kept fast in and upon their foundation and

and their very souls bless and pray for us Verily if this thing be but done all is done and then will peace and joy health strength life and salvation break forth mightily upon us and the glory of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will rest upon us walk continually with us and before us and no fear shall or can come nigh us the Heavens would then give down their rain and the earth which begins to be burnt up give forth its fatness Verily I am not in jest in this matter it is a business of the highest concernment to the Nation that can be and as the Lord God who made Heaven and earth lives before whom and in whose presence I now stand I do more earnestly beg this thing of every one whom it doth concern then I would or could do for my own life and the lives of all the particular neerest and dearest relations I have in the world And I beseech you think not that I am in some foolish pang or passion or that these expressions arise from a melancholy discontented minde and spirit no they are the words of soberness and words that proceed from the very heart and soul where verily these things lye deeply rooted I am my self upon all accounts whatsoever and I know what I speak in that which I have spoken Oh that I could but see some begin to move this way Surely they would be met and seconded by many I hope by all Verily there is no way to save and secure your selves and estates but this To ask mercy and pardon of the Lord and your brethren to make satisfaction and restitution wherein you have done amiss and it is good honourable and commendable in the sight of God and man and surely Englishmen are not I am sure were not in times past hard of reconciliation Verily I hope we shall all be found men of such nobleness of minde men of such honour men of so great and magnanimous spirits that we shall reckon and account it much besides and below our selves to be overcome with or by any injuries wrongs or affronts as we call them whatsoever but I trust we shall be found men of such and so great minds and spirits that we can easily and readily swallow up and drown them all in our own breasts and bosoms there to be buried so as never to rise any more Why Oh why may we not say to the greatest and worst of our enemies Live Oh come and let us again like brethren live and live together even we and our forefathers we in them they in us both all altogether in the Laws Ordinances Customs and Constitutions they have ordained appointed and commanded to us and all generations after us for ever for which so much blood of our forefathers hath been shed so many and so great hazards and adventures by them run so much witnessed to and contested for by many noble worthy true Englishmen and for which such and so great a hazard and adventure hath now again been run such may I not say as it were a Sea of blood shed and exceeding vast treasure spent for the defence or securing thereof and our selves therein This was the end this is the end and I trust none will be deceived of it but that all of all parties or interests whatsoever or howsoever now may I not say unhappily distinguished shall really and truly finde have it and know it so Wherefore I beg and beg again again and again that we may all now as one man joyn together for ever so to secure those the Laws Ordinances Customs and Constitutions of our forefathers and our selves and posteritie for ever hereafter in them that both our selves and ours may live in peace rest and happiness for ever after and no man or men whatsoever may once so much as dare to offer or attempt the least interruption alteration breach or violation thereof for he who touches them touches our lives wrapped up in them Verily it is greatly the honour nobility and excellency of a man to pass by offences and injuries Have we not broken one anothers heads and arms in breaking the Ordinances of our forefathers even broke one another almost quite in pieces Why let us piece and reconcile again like Englishmen for ever hereafter and away with those low base beggerly vile unworthy mercenary or mechanick-spirited men as we call them who are so far from this honour excellency and dignity of men or Englishmen that they have unworthily injured wronged oppressed cheated stoln robbed to satisfic their vain empty fond foolish appetites lusts pleasures We may not call these Englishmen untill they repent and return those who have been so far from saving and keeping whole preserving and protecting the Faith of the English Nation according to their power that they have as much as in them lay extreamly and most perfidioufly violated the same in all cases and upon all accounts whatsoever Which think you is the more noble honourable gallant excellent man he that thus injures wrongs and oppresses another man or he who bears swallows up buries and overcomes such oppressions wrongs and injuries Arise thou man Oh thou man of glory of excellency and of beauty thou Oh thou man of power of dignity and of strength and come and stand forth in the midst of us to save us and deliver us for we are nigh unto perishing He even he who cannot be moved with or by any thing or all things from his glory his dignity his excellency strength and stedfastness Come Oh come we who have been oppressed injured and wronged we will freely forgive it and forget it it shall no more be thought of by us but we will bury it for ever we will not so much reproach our selves and our Maker we will not so debase our selves nor defile our houses habitations and temples as to keep or harbour in them the low base vile contemptible unworthy dealings of other men towrds us and by us No we will surely retain our honour our glory our excellency and dignity unspotted unstained and undefiled we will so far as we are able forgive it also for our fathers friends and relations onely we beg pray and beseech for your own sakes that you will not let any thing lye upon your own score and accounts which is in your own power to remedy and help for you are of ourselves we are a body a Commonwealth and it is the Common-weal or Common-good that we defire and seek of which we hope you will continue members and can any member of the body be in danger and we not sensible Lord how can it be hence it is we so love and pity you Oh why should a farther breach be made amongst us He who hath the Wedge of Gold or the Babylonish Garment let it be done away if you have that which you cannot say with a perfect and upright heart in the fight of the Sun is justly duely truly honestly faithfully