Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	find_v	heart_n	lord_n	5,269	5	3.7260	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78144	A Christian standing & moving upon the true foundation. Or, A word in season. Perswading to sticke close to God, act eminently for God. In his present design a- against [sic] all discouragements, oppositions, temptations. Expressed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monthly fast, Octob. 25, 1648. By Matthew Barker, M.A. late preacher of the Gospel at James Garlick-hith, London, and now at Morclacke in Surrey.	Barker, Matthew, 1619-1698.	1648 (1648)	Wing B772; Thomason E468_40; ESTC R10148	45,680	72

is he that lives most directly upon his foundation lives in greatest conquest over his lusts and so most at liberty The second place of reason is from the Honour of Reason 2 Christ we cast a deep stain upon his glory when wee stand not fast 1. We dishonour him in his Sufferings yea in all his great transactions for us in the flesh when we stand not fast He hath sweat bled died rose again that he might bring us into a state of Conquest over all our enemies and having conquered them for us he calls us as Joshua did Josh 10. 24. the men of Israel in the type to set our feet upon their necks and triumph over them Now what dishonour is this to Christ if we shal flie before these enemies that he hath thus conquered You know of whom it was said Hanniball that he knew how to conquer but not how to use his conquests We improve not our victory aright if we stand not fast if we keep not those enemies still under us that have been conquered for us 2. We dishonour him in his Spirit that Spirit which was in Christ and brought him off with conquest in all his agonies conflicts and sufferings he hath given to dwell in the heart of every Christian that it might bring them up into the same victory When therefore we suffer our selves to be overcome we grieve we dishonour that victorious that * So that word may bee read 51. p. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 princely Spirit which dwells within us doth not this speak that there is more power in Satan to destroy then in this Spirit to save that he that is in us is lesser then he that is in the world 3. We dishonour him in his truth how doth the Gospel suffer when those that professe it stand not fast how doe the enemies of the Gospel triumph over the truth Religion Gospel all when Christians fall Lactantius professeth that he saw in Bithynia a chiefe Ruler boasting tanquam barbarorum gentem aliquam subegisset as if he had overcome some great Nation when he had made but one poore Christian renounce his profession which Lact. lib. 5. cap. 11. he had for two yeares stoutly maintained against all his tormentours And I remember it is an argument that he much insists upon to prove the truth of the Christian religion by viz. the constancy and unmovablenesse of Christians Eadem ubique patientia idem contemptus mortis c. 4. We dishonor him in his alsufficency as if he could not protect us against all evil and supply us with all good as if we might finde some good in the creature which is not in himselfe for if that we finde all fulnesse here why then doe we not stedfastly abide in him From the end of the Gospel there are three things Reason 3 that will much establish the heart faith hope and joy and the Gospel is said to be written to worke all these in us First joy 1 Joh. 1. 4. These things we write unto you that your joy may be full Secondly faith 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things we write that you may beleeve on the name of the Son of God Thirdly hope Rom. 15. 4. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope But there are especially three things revealed in the Gospel which will establish the soule John 16. ult 1 Cor. 15. penult 1. In the Gospel is revealed our conquest in Christ over all our enemies and may not this be a strong bulwark to establish the soule against all their assaults that she hath to doe with conquered enemies By this the Roman Generall sought to put new courage into the ●cipi● hearts of his Soldiers telling them Cum iis est vobis hodie pugnandum quos priori bello terrâ marique vicistis you are to encounter with those to day whom in a former battle you conquered both by Land and Sea 2. In the Gospel is revealed that sweet fellowship wee 1 John 1. 3. have with the Father and the Son And what will more tend to establish the soule in all conditions than this that shee is made one with power wisdome life and happinesse it self and beholding the infinite God giving himself to be her shield reward and portion As God to quiet the heart of Abraham when he had left countrie kinred lands all to follow him tells him Gen. 15. 1. I am thy shield thy exceeding great rewara Emptinesse is as fulnesse losse as gaine poverty as riches death as life nothing as all things to that soule that hath heard such language from heaven 3. In the Gospel is revealed the hope of our caling that inheritance imortall incorruptible undefiled reserved for us in the heavens 1 Pet. 1. 4. and this being seen will carry on the soule with stedfastnesse and invincible resolutions to the possession of it It was Canaan that the Israelites had in their eye that encouraged them to walke through the midst of the Sea through a land of drought of desarts and pits and the shaddow of death The recompence of reward Moses had in his eye which made him neither to decline by the flatteries of the Court nor the afflictions of the Church The incorruptible crowne was in the eye of Paul which made him not to faint in his race and to keep his body under and in subjection 1 Cor. 9. latter end yea to glory in the crosse of Jesus Gal. 1. 4. The joy set before Christ made him to endure the crosse and to despise the shame Heb. 12. 2. Thus you have an account of the Reasons The main part of the Sermon is yet behinde which lies in the bringing of all these thruths home to our owne hearts and that we now are addressing to in the strength of Christ From what hath bin said may not every soul here present Use 1 weepe mourne and bleed afresh before the Lord this day Could I have insisted upon any Point that speakes out so much to our shame and debasement that may lay us lower in the dust than this I am now upon who is there that may not take up a sad lamentation over the instability of his owne heart and its cursed declinings from the true foundation every day When men take an account of their stature in Christianity by the performance of some externall duties and the avoiding of grosse and scandalous sins by the goodlinesse of their profession c. They are ready to say as the young man in the Gospel Master what lack I yet But if they lay themselves in this Ballance measure themselves by this rule try themselves by this touchstone Oh how exceeding light short and corrupt will they be found This is that which God so sadly complaines of in his owne people Psal 78. 7 8. They are a rebelious generation a generation that set not their hearts aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God And ver 37. Their heart

may do God service The more self-denyall appears in any service the more true excellency shines forth in it To be stiffe and inexorable in matters concerning common good and to be flexible and yeelding in his own private is the temper of a gracious heart 4. In doing them with greater bent and intention of spirit when the heart is carried out strongly in the work of God that no difficulties and opposition do discourage or stop Hezekiahs heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17. 6. not lift up with pride but resolution an heart soaring above dangers sufferings lowe and earthly interests Not slothfull in businesse but fervent in spirit serving the Lord saith the Apostle Rom. 12. 11. As the Angels called * Fervorem acumen ●ffer vescentiam inte●tae ac nunquam intermissae nunquamque decl●nantis motionis nomen Seraphim luculenter designat Dionys Areop de coelest hierarch cap. 7. Seraphims have their name from that burning heat of spirit wherewith they are carried forth to God and for God There are two words in Scripture most commonly used signifying a man Ish and Adam the latter comes from a word signifying earth and expresseth man in his dead corrupt and earthly state the former from a word signifying * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fire and expresseth man in his raised quickned state in Christ Christians then act not up to their renewed state in Christ when they are not carried forth Ignis Avenar with fervor of spirit in the work of God We shall onely make one Use of this and so conclude You see then Christians your duty before you Oh Vse then let you and I be daily advancing into an higher excellencie in the work of God In other things we are ambitious to excell as who shall have the greatest state who shall have the best repute among men who shall drive the greatest Trade who shall be best seen into his Art and Profession who shall be best skill'd in Mysteries and Sciences and shall we alone be sinfully modest and indifferent in the work of God are there any works so noble and attended with such plentifull incomes as these works are And doth not God deserve from you something that is excellent daily Or can you in the perfection of any works arrive at so much satisfaction peace and joy as in the perfection of spirituall works Or can your spirits ever be in their highest operation in any works save onely these Or are they ever imployed to the end for which they were created till they busie themselves in these works O that this might be all the strife contention among Christians not who shall get victory over each other and whose private opinion shall be most applauded but who shall most excell in the work of the Lord who shall put forth highest acts of faith and love and out-shine in a spirituall ●nd exemplary conversation And O that this was all the contention among Ministers not who shall get the greatest Livings who shall be most in favour with men or gain the greatest party but who shall be most laborious in the work of the Gospel who shall most deny themselves for God and win most souls to the Lord Jesus And O that this was all the contention among Magistrates not who shall most enrich themselves by the ruines of the State who shall carry on some private designe with greatest strength and successe but who shall shew himself most faithfull to his trust who shall be most sollicitous and sincere for the advancing the honour of God and the freedom and happinesse of the Nation such strife would reconcile us such contentions would make us all friends And you Right Honorable I shall addr●sse the residue of my discourse particularly to You have already done g●eat things we do acknowledge but if you sit down he●e England will be on this side that cure she needs and that happinesse she expects from You. Therefore still strive to excell not alone other Parliaments for so You have done already but your selves also daily Let your last works excell the first that it may never be said of you as the mother of Claudiu● Caesar said of him That Nature had begun him but not finisht him That you begun a good work and left it abortive and unfinisht Seneca speaks of some that they were semper victori alwayes about to live let it not be said of you that You were about to settle us and establish our Liberties but never did it And let there appear still more simplicity love self denyall and intention of spirit in all your actions that none may have occasion to say that you have any whit abared of your primitive integrity and zeal And to move you to this let me be bold to propound to You some serious Considerations 1. Consider how God hath excelled towards You he hath appeared for you and gone along with you after an excellent and extraordinary rate What Parl●ament or people before you can speak higher things and tell larger stories of the power and goodnesse of God then you may And hath he not exceeded of late do not the mercies and victories of a later birth bear a livelier image and clearer lileaments of God upon them then the former hath he thus excelled in his workings for you and will not you excell daily in your acting for him How often hath the Parliament of England been at the very brinks of the grave the proud waves have beset you round and you have been reacy severall times to be buried in a deluge of desolation ruine and yet God hath given you a new life from the dead and you stand upon your feet this day as rich monuments of the excelling mercy and providence of God to the joy and comfort of your friends and the terror and astonishment of your Enemies Now as it was with the Captain of our salvation after his resurrection he appeared in greater glory And as Herod said when he heard the fame of Christ John Baptist is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him So Sirs you having been al●eady as crucified and buried and now as risen from the dead Oh that we might now see more of God breaking forth from you and more mighty works shewing forth themselves in you 2. Consider how the eyes of all the Saints have been upon you not onely in England but even in all parts of the world to see what will be the issue of that work which is now in you hands And never did God more raise up the hearts of his people to pray for any society of men as for you and they are now looking how prayers are answered in you And oh that we might daily see you rising up in your actions and resolutions answerable to the height of our hopes and expectations from you 3. Consider seriously what precious blood hath been spilt for the advancing of that work you

out of this lower region where she is alwayes restlesse into an upper region to live upon things invisible unchangable and eternal even his owne truth power wisdom goodnesse yea himself and now she is upon a firm * Basis a rocke that moves not Yea he brings her to live not alone above humane sense but even above divine The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Lord comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies a Basis sense not upon influences from God but upon God himselfe that she might be more fully established 2. Private ends making himselfe to be her end whiles a man is carrying on self-ends his motion must needes be crooked and irregular and the spirit must needs be distracted moving as it were to severall Centres like a needle betwixt two Loadstones that is drawne by both is quivering in the middle and moves to neither Now God crucifies it to these selfe ends making himself that ultimate end to which it singly moves subordinating all other ends to himselfe and so doth establish and settle it 3. Her own Will this is a root of bitternesse in the soule that takes away the sweetnesse of her rest in God This is that Castle which every man by nature keeps garrison'd against heaven and by it maintains a deadly Cesset propria voluntas non erit infernum Bern. fight against God himselfe and this clashing of mans will and Gods makes great tumults in the soule till God comes and crucifies this proper will and melts it into his own will and so makes peace As in Christ the humane will did subsist in the divine and carried it along freely in all things without reluctance so when God brings the will of the creature to subsist in and to bee acted by own will that it is now no longer what I will but what God wills in me and concerning me this harmony and marriage of wils doth fill the soule with peace and brings her to the very walls of Paradise * Omnē temporum difficultatem sciet legē ei naturae c. Senec. de vita beata Omnia tibi ex sententia cedent nihil adversum accidet nihil contra opinionem ac voluntatē Ibid. As Seneca speakes very high language for an heathen That a vertuous man not only patiently but Willingly beares all adversity and upon this account because he esteemes it to be the law of Nature and to such a man nothing falls out crosse or contrary to his will What he calls the law of Nature that we call the will of God which when we have brought our wills to comply with nothing falls out crosse or contrary to us and so the soule is compos'd and quiet in all the various dispensations of Providence to her Thus having explained these two particulars we shall next give you an account of the grounds upon which the point is built they are these three The first is from our own advantage The second is from the honour of Christ The third is from the end of the Gospel From our own advantage whiles the Soule stands fast Reason 1 upon her foundation she is in the Safest Fullest Strongest Freest state 1. Safest Never doth she catch hurt but by declining and moving from her Centre while she abides here the wicked one doth not touch her the world doth neither affright nor allure her But departing hence she is as a Biro from her Nest as a Coney from her Borough as a Man-slayer from the Citie of Refuge every sin masters her every temptation ensnares and conquers her The Name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous runneth into it and is safe or is set aloft as the word carries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pro. 18. 10. it when the soule is Castled and Towered in this Name then is she above the reach of every enemy Antichrist is the child of Apostasie he sprung out of the corruption of the Church and her restoring will be his ruine 2. Fullest The soule living upon her foundation is daily fed with the Strength Vigor and Vertue of the foundation and is passing and transforming into the nature of it 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. To whom comming as to a living stone you also as lively stones are built up c. The stones being laid upon this foundation are quickned by it into the same life This truth under another metaphor we read John 15. 5. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me you can doe nothing This abiding I conceive speakes out more then union with Christ by habituall faith viz. a continuall act of faith whereby the soul keeps close to him and lives upon him by this means receives such daily supplies of spiritual sap as makes her to abound with fruit Living besides the foundation is the reason that Christians for the most part live at so low a rate they live upon Creatures upon their own duties graces enjoyments and therefore are no fuller of peace strength and joy 3. The strongest state now is the soule able to encounter her greatest enemies now doth shee stand stoutly against the fiercest assaults they are but like Arrowes against a wall of Marble that make no impression but are beat back with violence As Darknesse can make no resistance to Light but scatters and flies before it so 1 John 1. 7. Rom. 13. 12. whiles a Saint walkes in the light and is drest up in his armour of light his enemies being all darknesse vanish before him and are overcome by him Sampson while hee kept his haire the token of his Nazariteship hee was strong and invincible when he lost this was conquered presently Every Christian is under the vow of spirituall Nazariteship Nazarite comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies to separate that is is one separate to God as the word imports whiles he keeps this vow lives as one separate to God out of the flesh and the world upon himselfe the true foundation he is a Gyant in spirituall strength and alwayes conquering but when he separates from God breaks his vow lives not according to the laws of his Nazariteship out of his own flesh and the world now is his strength departed and he is even as weak as another man What a building is removed from the foundation what a tree is without its root that is a Christian when he is departed from God 4. The freest state every degree that we move from the foundation we move into captivity and thraldome Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and when 2 Cor. 3. 17. we live in this Spirit which is to abide upon our foundation then are we free men and women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●hilo in lib. q d omnis probus liber The Heathens accounted onely vertuous men free men that had their lusts and passions under command surely if this be liberty as indeed it