Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	fear_n	lord_n	wisdom_n	5,389	5	6.9425	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34064	A discourse upon the form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons, according to the order of the Church of England by Thomas Comber ...	Comber, Thomas, 1645-1699.	1699 (1699)	Wing C5464; ESTC R1808	281,164	522

ungrateful for what he hath already bestowed on them There is no reason why God gives the first Grace that is purely gratuitous but to infinite goodness it is reason enough to give the second grace to secure his first bounty for the good inclination and holy resolution must dissolve into air without his further grace to enable us to pursue and perform them So that all those who freely make this Promise need not be discouraged at the variety and difficulty of their undertaking but chearfully arise and be doing being well assured the Lord will be with them Secondly There is a space allowed for the People secretly to pray for these Candidates who are by the Bishop now recommended to be remembred in the private Devotions of every one in the Congregation for it is so much their duty to desire the Church may in general be supplied with good Pastors and their interest to be under the care of such that all of them who are present are obliged to pray for these now to be sent into God's Harvest and if any of them be a Relation or Friend to some of those who are to be ordained or be likely to live in any of their Cures then they will desire an opportunity to make some special requests to God for them particularly A Custom as ancient as 't is pious in the East 't is only used at the Ordination of a Bishop (a) Archidiaconus dicit ad Populum Tollite in altum mentes intellectum vestrum postulate misericordiam à Deo clemente pro N. Morin de Ordin Syror. p. 469. but in the West it is enjoyned when a Priest is Ordained and the old Gallican Form was (b) Vid. Mabill Liturg. Gallic l. 3. p. 307. The Bishop said to the People Brethren let us all joyn in one Prayer that he who is chosen for the help and furtherance of your Salvation may by God's merciful gift obtain the blessing of the Priesthood so that he may never be found unfit for his station but that by the privilege of his Office he may receive the gifts and virtues of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Which Form I do here transcribe because if any want fit words for this Secret Prayer he may be assisted by this ancient composure CHAP. VI. Of the Hymn called Veni Creator c. §. 1. THe Holy Ghost is that Person of the Blessed Trinity to which the distributing of the several Offices in the Church and qualifying the Persons for them is generally ascribed in Scripture (c) Acts xiii 2 4. Chap. xx 28. 1 Cor. xii 11. and upon that ground 't is fit a particular address be made to the Spirit before the Ordination which we do by the Hymn which begins Come Holy Ghost c. Concerning which I shall observe That it is said to have been composed by St. Ambrose and is placed among his Works as an Hymn for Pentecost (d) D. Ambros Hymn 32. Tom. 5. p. 353. Veni Creator c. and on that day it is annually used in the Roman Church (e) Breviar Clem. 8. p. 625. and was so of old for I have by me a very old Exposition of Hymns according to the Use of Sarum wherein this Hymn is explained by the Title of an Hymn for the day of Pentecost (f) Exposit Hymnor see usum Sarum fol. 30. Which Author tells us The matter of it is an invocation of the Holy Spirit the intention of the Composer was to beg of God to purge our Breasts with his heavenly Splendor and enlighten us with the graces of his Holy Spirit The benefit to us will be the securing us against visible and invisible Foes and uniting us to him for ever and ever Which short Paraphrase shews how proper it is on this occasion and therefore it was first inserted into the Office for Consecrating a Bishop (g) Finita Litania incipit Hymnus Veni Creator Form vet circ An. 1100. ap Morin p. 333. and with a later hand put into the Ordination of a Priest about 500 year ago (h) Vid. id ibid. p. 338. An. 1200. in the Roman Church and so it stands there to this day (i) Pontif. Roman p. 48. And the Protestants have so well approved of it that the Lutheran Churches begin their Office with the same Hymn (k) Veni Creator Spiritus reple c. Form Luther Lips 1624. And our Reformers translated it into Meeter in the larger way in King Edward the 6th's first Ordinal (l) See Spar. Collections p. 151. Since which time it hath been abbreviated and put into fewer words but to the same Sence as it stands foremost here And I shall explain it by a Paraphrase according to that Form to shew how proper it is for this very place A Paraphrase on the Veni Creator §. 2. Ver. 1. To thee O Blessed Spirit who dispensest thy Gifts to such as are to be admitted to Sacred Offices we address our selves and beseech thee to Come unto us O Holy Ghost to assist us in this great Work of making these thy Servants Pastors of thy Flock Do thou their and our Souls inspire with pious Resolutions and Grace to perform them And lighten their Minds and ours with all saving Knowledge which like Celestial Fire comes down from above shines on our Paths with pure Rays and directs us the right way to those blessed Regions from whence this Divine Illumination comes Ver. 2. As those who were to strive in the Grecian Games had a Master an Aleiptes to anoint their Bodies and especially their Joynts with Oyl to make them nimble vigorous and fit for Action (m) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lucinian ap Petr. Fabr. Agon l. 2. c. 2. p. 116. c. 5. p. 127. So to us Thou the anointing Spirit art the great Disposer of us all to our Spiritual Race who dost make our Souls fit for all duties by thy seven-fold Gifts (n) Isai xi 2. Vulg. Lat. addit pietatis inde Scholastici faciunt septem Dona S. Sancti that is by the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Council and Might the Spirit of Knowledge of the fear of the Lord and true Piety which thou dost impart freely and give in large measures to such as strive by serving thee for a never-fading Crown of Immortality Ver. 3. Let us and these thy Servants now receive Thy Blessed Vnction even those inlightning and healing Gifts compared to Oyl (o) Oleum bene S. Sancto comparatur quia ardens illuminat medicans sanat aquis infusum perspicuas eas reddit Rab. Maur. de institut Cler. l. 1. c. 30. but far exceeding it both in their Original which is from above and in their manifold use for to be anointed with this Heavenly Oyl (p) 1 John ii 27. is comfort to the dejected life to such as languish and fire to warm and inflame those who are remiss

the old Catholicks whose Title they usurp condemned a Impious and Detestable Lastly Though there are many Motives to make these Petitions there are only two expressed in this Collect but both are very cogent First The benefit of the People who have such a Bishop set over them as frequently Preaches and wisely Dispenses the Discipline intrusted to him he is an inestimable blessing to his Diocess his Clergy and Laity both are happy in so industrious prudent and faithful a Steward who gives all their Portion in due season and thereby promotes and secures the Salvation of many But 2ly This is not all for his Gracious Lord and Master Jesus Christ the Judge of all hath promised an Everlasting Kingdom of Joy to reward such Servants for all their Care and Pains (t) St. Matth. xxiv 45. So that earnestly desiring the Bishops Eternal Happiness we do earnestly pray he may have Grace to manage thus and methinks the very mention of it should enflame the pious Candidate with holy desires and firm resolutions to be diligent and faithful in the discharge of these Duties since 't is certain he shall be infinitely overpaid for all his trouble by the never-ceasing Joys of Heaven where no Stars shall shine so bright (u) Dan. xii 3. none so highly shall be rewarded (w) Matth. x. 41. as Prophets Righteous Guides of Souls and such as are the Happy Instruments of Turning many to God CHAP. IX Of the Solemn Words §. 1. REceive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Bishop c. and remember that thou stir up the Grace of God c. The Order of Priesthood is so near the Episcopal that the Words at the Admission to both are very much alike only because their Duty differs in some Points therefore the one hath the Spirit communicated for the Office and Work of a Presbyter the other for the Office and Work of a Bishop and since the power of Binding and loosing was given to the Candidate when he was ordained Priest that is not repeated now since every Bishop must pass through that Order first But instead of that Form here is added that reasonable admonition of St. Paul to Timothy To stir up the Grace of God that is now given them by the Imposition of Hands to which the reason of the Charge is annexed viz. because God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear but of Power and Love and Soberness The Consecrated Bishop ought firmly to believe he doth now receive the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit so far as is necessary for his Office as we have proved before (x) Disc on the Ordin of a Priest Ch. viii §. 2. and we see here St. Paul takes it for granted that Imposition of Hands did convey it to Timothy for he hath said God gave him the Spirit and his Grace by this Rite and his Successors in the Dignity have the same need and the same method is used now But least this Privilege should make them proud and negligent they are first put in mind that the gifts of the Spirit are like the Celestial Fire in the Jewish Temple which came from Heaven yet was to be kept alive by human industry and continual puting on of fresh fuel (y) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophil in 2 Tim. 1.6 7. Even these Gifts and Graces will be extinguished if those that have received them do not continually endeavour to quicken them by daily and devout Prayer diligent and constant Reading and Study and by being ever imployed in all sorts of good Works God doth not give them his Spirit to exempt them wholly from working but to engage them to co-operate with him and therefore it is St. Paul's Argument for our working out our own Salvation with fear and trembling because God worketh in us both to will and to do (z) Philip. ii 12 13. Yea he calls the omitting to do our parts receiving the Grace of God in vain (a) 2 Corinth vi 1. and our Saviour shews that Servant was condemned who only kept his Talent safe but did not improve it (b) St. Math. xxv 24 c. Such being like idle Saylors who lie in the Port but neither fit up their Vessel spread their Sails nor use their Oars when a fair Wind blows (c) Isidor Peleusiot lib. 2. Ep. 2. p. 126. Wherefore First they must beware of sloth and presumption and be perpetually stirring up the Gifts they have received But 2ly Least they should on the other hand doubt and despair of ever being able to surmount the difficulties of this weighty Employment they are told what kind of Spirit it is which they have received First Negatively not the Spirit of fear or of Bondage (d) Rom. viii 15. the dastardly Spirit of Slaves who serve their Lords for dread of Stripes and tremble at a like danger from other Hands No they have received a nobler Spirit and like Free-men go on courageously and serve from a principle of love and gratitude Hence 2ly Affirmatively they are told their Spirit is first the Spirit of Power which is mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and the casting down every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God (e) 2 Cor. x. 4 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunt loca arte munita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae natura muniuntur Vid. Veget. de re milit l. 4. c. 1. Filesac select lib. 1. cap. 7. A zealous Bishop endued with this Spirit of Power may boldly attack all the artificial fortresses of Argument wherein cunning Hereticks enskonce their false Opinions and shall pull down all the lofty brags whereby obstinate Sinners hope to secure their evil practices God will enable him to convince the former and convert the latter bringing the one by a right Faith and the other by a holy Life into subjection to Jesus Christ his Courage ought to be undaunted because his assistant is Almighty Secondly He hath received the Spirit of Love and Charity which will inspire him with a tender pity for the Souls of the Erroneous and debauched He considers their woeful delusion their encreasing guilt and imminent danger of Damnation and therefore he pursues them with Intreaties Arguments and Importunity as St. John did his relapsed young Man (f) Vid. Histor apud Euseb lib. 2. cap. 17. p. 68. not ceasing till if possible he hath brought them to a better mind Thirdly It is the Spirit of Sobriety and Prudence (g) 2 Tim. i. 7. Graec. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to distinguish it from the wild and giddy Spirit of Enthusiasts who have Heat without Light and Zeal without Knowledge (h) Rom. x. 2. The Spirit of God endues our Bishops with Wisdom to choose the fittest seasons properest Methods and the most seasonable ways of Application and enables him steddily to go on till at last by God's Blessing he hath gained his Point There are but

and divers Prayers with a brief Exhortation But of late they have added abundance of frivolous and superstitious Ceremonies and Benedictions which crept in while Ignorance and Error prevailed in all these parts of the World as is fully demonstrated by an exact Author (m) Antiqu. Recentior Officia Roman Collat. vid. ap Mason de Minister Anglican l. 2. c. 17. to whom I refer the Reader And I shall only note here that our judicious Reformers in compiling this Office as well as in the rest have cast away all the Roman Superfluous and Corrupt Innovations about blessing Vestments anointing delivering the Ring Pastoral Staff c. and so have reduced the substantial Part of it as nigh to the Primitive Forms as our Circumstances could bear but have enlarged it with divers pertinent places of Scripture and proper Questions as also with accurately composed Prayers So that now we may affirm our Form of Consecrating Bishops is the best and most adapted to the occasion of any Office extant in the World as will more particularly appear in the subsequent Discourses upon that which hath not been already treated of in the Former Offices CHAP. II. Of the First Collect. The Analysis thereof This Collect consists of Two Parts 1st An Introduction commemorating 1. That which Christ gave to his Apostles Almighty God who by thy Son Iesus Christ didst give c. 2. That which he enjoyned them and didst charge them to Feed the Flock 2ly The Petitions that are grounded on it 1. For the Bishops that they may Teach and Govern well Give grace to all Bishops the Pastors of thy Church that they may c. 2. For the People that they may obey them in both and grant to the People that they may obediently follow the same 3. For both that they may be finally saved that all may receive the Crown of Everlasting Glory through c A Discourse on the First Collect. §. 1. Almighty God who by thy Son Iesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many excellent Gifts and didst charge them c. Nothing can be more proper to begin the Consecration of a Bishop than the commemoration of those Gifts which Christ gave and that Charge he laid upon his Apostles the First Bishops of his Church the same Charge being incumbent upon Bishops now which was given to the Apostles and as they have their Duty they need some measure of their Assistance The Apostolical Office was only temporary while the Church was planting but the Bishops by their appointment were fixed to Feed and Rule it after it was Setled unto the end of the World Hence they were in all Antiquity counted the Successors of the Apostles and the Fathers call the Apostles Bishops (o) Apostolos i. e. Episcopos Praepositos Dominus elegit Cypr. Epist 65. Ipse enim imponens Manum Apostolis ordinavit eos Episcopos Aug. in N. Test Qu. 97. Tom. 4. p. 179. and as commonly give Bishops the Title and Name of Apostles (p) Apostolorum honorem possidentes habere nitentur meritum Hieron Epist 13. yea all Bishops were then stiled Apostolical and their Sees Apostolical Seats (q) Episcopatus dicitur Apostolatus Sidon Apollinar l. 6. ep 7. l. 7. ep 4. Et unusquisque Episcopus sedit in Apostolica sede Idem l. 6. ep 1. 4. Although of later times the Popes and Bishops of Rome have arrogantly made a Monopoly of those Titles But this right of Succession and community of Names being general doubtless it is very fit when any are to enter into this Venerable Order to commemorate first what Gifts God through Jesus Christ gave to his Apostles since we may reasonably believe so far as their Office and Duty is the same so far his Goodness and Bounty will move him to supply them also with Gifts suitable to their need He gave to his Apostles many excellent Gifts indeed which St. Paul enumerates viz. The Word of Wisdom and of Knowledge the Gift of Faith the Power of Healing and Working Miracles the Spirit of Prophecy the Skill of Discerning Spirits and of Speaking as well as Interpreting divers Tongues (r) 1 Cor. xii 8 9 10. Some of which were Miraculous and peculiar to that Age and therefore are now ceased but those of Wisdom and Knowledge and a sound as well as a strong Faith are still necessary and therefore permanent So that we may justly beg these Gifts for our Bishops so the Greek Church pray That God would strengthen their Bishops with the Grace of his Blessed Spirit as he strengthned his holy Apostles (s) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euchol in Ordinat Episc p. 303. which is a very natural deduction especially considering Secondly The Charge which Christ first gave to his Apostles viz. To feed his Flock These Words were spoke to St. Peter but in him the rest were intended yea all the Successors of the Apostles are obliged by this Charge as well as they (t) John xxi 16. Cum ei dicitur ad omnes dicitur pasce Oves meas Aug. de Agon Christi c. 30. and therefore both St. Paul (u) Act. xx 28. and St. Peter (w) 1 Pet. v. 1 2. repeat this Charge and Enjoyn the Bishops which they had chosen to Feed the Flock of Christ the Burden goes with the Honour to every Bishop that is or shall be Consecrated to the Worlds end And therefore we commemorate this as their present Duty and accordingly pray that this and every other Person who is called to so great a Charge may have grace to perform it very well In the Petitions we give Bishops the Title of Pastors of Christ's Church and our Lord himself first had both these Names being called the Pastor or Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls (x) 1 Pet. ii 25. He is the Chief Pastor (y) 1 Pet. v. 4. and they under him are also Pastors of their several Portions of Christ's Flock where they Preside in his Name and Rule by his Authority and for which at last they must render him an account (z) Singulis Pastoribus portio gregis ascripta quam ●ogat unusquisque rationem sui actus Domino redditurus Cypr. ad Cornel. ep 55. For while he was on Earth he Fed his Flock himself by his Preaching his Example his Exhortations and Reproofs and loved his Sheep so entirely as to die for them whence the Greek Church desires of God to make this Bishop an Imitator of his true Shepherd (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Euchol p. 303. And then only he deserves the same Name with his Great Master when he follows his Example in his fervent love of and diligent care for the Souls committed to his Charge Methinks the consideration of this sharing with Jesus in the Pastoral Office should make the Bishops very careful and faithful in executing the same for which they have such a Pattern and concerning which their All-seeing Master