Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	fire_n	young_a	zeal_n	26	3	7.5991	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04269	A seasonable discourse of spirituall stedfastnesse wherein, 1. it, and a relapse, with the heads, members. and degrees of both, are exactly defined. 2. The subiects, causes, and symptomes of the fearfull sinne of apostasie cleerely expressed. As also directions, incentiues, to recouer, re-inkindle the old-cold-declining zelot. Together with arguments, motiues, that the young, or strong standing convert may be in grace firmely established. By I.B. preacher of the word.	Barlow, John, b. 1580 or 81.	1627 (1627)	STC 1439.5; ESTC S120873	89,672	290

And as the dog to his vomit vnto his old sinnes he hath returned to doubt and stagger he is constrained But on the contrarie when he seriously considereth what change the Lord hath wrought in him what long experience he hath of his loving kindnesse what great things beyond his expectation he hath done for him how that he alloweth not what he committeth but of weakenesse not willfulnesse falleth into such such a sinne And that it is so and was so w th the best of Gods children then is ●e strangely ●xalted ●nd cry to with r●ioycing who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen Rom. 8.33 I thanke the Lord that in the law of my mind Rom. 7.25 I serue him though in my flesh I serue sinne 5 May grace for any season neither admit of augmentation or diminution Why not For Whatsoever is in the rule may be in the thing ruled or thus What is possible in the nature of things may come to passe Example A man may goe forward backward or stand still What then should hinder that a Christian may not neither increase nor decrease but hold what he hath A stone cast vp into the aire being at the point of its ascent presently descends Yet will it make some little stay though scarce sencible before its returne And why may not the like be in this Spirituall motion But not to goe forward is to goe backward True if we vnderstand it of the acts and exercise of grace or in that God requires a continuall growth vntill we giue vp an account of our talents else not For the habit may neither suffer increase not decrease for a very short season If it should not be thus would it not follow thar the spirits of iust men nor the blessed Angels should ever come to the period of perfection but still grow as we vse to speake in infinitum I am not ignorant how that some men be of a contrarie iudgement Let the wise iudge But what May not grace increase and a man not perceiue it Yes of certaine For desire of gaine may take away the sence of growth n●glect of casting vp our spirituall a●counts hinders the apprehensiō of graces increase a iealous suspicion breedeth doubt of what we haue And augmentation is not easily perceiued Infants grow yet are ignorant of it the haire waxeth white but not discerned And the Sunne ascends without perception So may it be in this supernaturall motion Eager minds weake iudgements suspicious persons and want of experience discouer not secret obiects see them not as in truth they are When fire is first kindled in a cottage there is much smoake little heate the one flies out at the doore chimney window and every crevise in the walls the other in the meane while is not apprehended Now tarrie but a verie short season and the reeke wasteth the flame increaseth so heere When the holy-Ghost sets this fire which is from heaven on the hearth of mans heart he on the sudden seemes to burne in spirit to haue zeale in abundance no sinne can stand before him notwithstanding he for the present hath but a sparke a small measure his coale rather smoaks than glowes Ancient house-keepers know the former so doe aged disciples the latter by experience Againe When grace is first infused the yong convert thinkes himselfe rich having not a drop before For he compares some with none which are the greatest opposits Now more being added to that he hath received the augmentation is not so easily perceiued because the inequalitie twixt some thing and somthing is not so great as that which is of something with nothing Giue but a pennie to the poore who before had none he now can better discerne himselfe to haue silver than the increase of his coine a farthing being added to it by reason of the more fell opposition in the dissentanie rules These questions being thus resolued the point remaineth to be applied Vse 1 In the first place it confuteth two kindes of people the Familist and the Papist The former holds that when a man is fullcome he is perfect as Adam our father was in Paradise And we say so too but then he must be considered after his fall not before it The latter maintaines how a man in the estate of grace may absolutely keepe the whole law of God doe workes worthie of merit yea of super erogation the which cannot be except we defend perfection here of sanctification But what saith the Evangelist I. Iohn 1.8 if we affirme that we haue no sinne be it actuall or original we deceiue our owne soules and the truth is not in vs. Wherfore if the Papists and familists will haue the first let them also take the second For why should they not Vse 2 And it serues at the second hand to reprooue these who instead of growth in grace grow in corruption True it is that many increase but it is in a contrarie subiect Psal 37.7 For are not some of vs such as the Prophets haue described Out faces shine our eyes stand out with fatnesse Our breasts are ful of milk Iob. 21.24 our bones of marrow Collops we haue in our flankes we be lustie and strong yet this were not to be condemned but that the causes thereof are evill as ease fulnesse of bread Ezek. 16.49 and abundance of idlenesse Another kind there be who be growne mightie to powre in strong drinke Isa 5.22 whose shapes are monstrous A short belt will not winde about their extēded bodies nor a suite of small size cover their vnfathomed shoulders These drinke soule-slaying healths till their heads grow heavie their hearts light and all who feare God grow ashamed of them Will you see a drunkard marching in his hellish colours His eyes water his nose runnes his tongue stammers and his breath stinkes his mouth drivels his lips quake his spittle fals and his feete stumble Bring him to the field he can neither plow nor sow to the market buy nor sell set him at the table there if he speake he spues lay him in bed he wallowes in his filthie vomit and as a Boare in a loathsome franke or stinking fly defiles himselfe O that th●se gracelesse men would learne that God for this kind of growth is growne angrie at them And that if they repent not and a mend they must another day will they nill they drinke whole violes of his purest wrath vntill they grow giddy-headed heavie-hearted and with Nabal and Belshazzar their damned brethren 1 Sam. 25.36 Dan. 5.26 Gen. 19.9 tumble into the bottomlesse pit of hell Others like Nimrod are growne mightie hunters not of the hare and deere for that so far as my iudgement leads me is commendable warrantable But of mens pursses places persons emptying the first possessing the second and persecuting the third for if Christians in preaching and professing of the Gospell doe but conioyne which th'apostle in-ioynes power with

the Garner as lead in the Cannons belly Who built the Iewes a Synagogue Made coates for the poore Refreshed Paul in bands Were they not persons furnished filled with the hot actiue mightie working powder of grace Consult and see Wherefore thou Embrio Thou Neo-phyt Who art formed in the Churches wombe graffed into the true oliue tree and now beginst to bud to flourish be not content with a meane stature an ordinarie growth but be thou enlarged And O thou Prodigall Luk. 15.13 Whose portion in part is spent come to thy selfe confesse thy fault returne to thy father be thou reconciled So shalt thou like that valiant Nazarit Iudg 16.22 29 recover thy decaied strength binde the wedding garment faster to thee lay hold on the pillers of promise pull downe Sathans throne and cast the gates of hell from off her hinges And thou growne● Christian I must raise thee to an higher pitch wind thee to the greatest period if possible of sanctification For thou art not to rest at an ordinarie degree of grace but to encrease like Noahs floud vntill all the vacuities of thy emptie channels be filled the tops of the aspiring hills mountaines be covered And the depth be vnmeasurable not to be sounded It were to be wished that every Christian could giue the like testimonie of himselfe Iob. 32.18.19 as doth Elihu I am full of matter my bellie is as wine which hath no vent it is readie to burst like new bottels Grow we should not onely in quantity of grace but also in the qualitie of it Our gifts are to be of a more ●ure and defecate nature When an apple comes to it bignesse we see it growes in colour taste and proceedes to a better rellish a more delectable temper and so it should must be with vs Christians Wherefore let no meanes be omitted which may further thee nor incentiues vnthought on that may provoke thee And first make it thy chiefest care daily imployment to crucifie the old-man with all his lusts Gal. 5.24 Smite him on the face none shall revile thee beate him blacke blew it s no breach of law Bray this foole in a morter stampe him to powder burne him into ashes and bereaue him of his life Or deale with him as it was done to the Levits concubine Iudg 19. force him to death cut him in twelue peeces send them into the coasts of Golg●tha And if no man will God shall commend thee reward thee for it But because when thou hast done thy best and worst some palme of this cursed Iezabell will remaine 2 King 9. some part of his skull vndevoured And some drops of his bloud not lapped vp yet for all this be not out of hart waxe not fainte in this quarrell but lay on load play the man stil As the Philistines by Sampson Iudg 16. plucke out his eyes shaue of his haire cause him to grinde in the mill of mortification and take away his strength Inioyne him to keepe a perpetuall fast creepe on his brest or with the serpent licke vp the dust and so fall into a sensible incurable consumption Stop his cares as Stevens auditors with David curbe him by a bit And like Agabus with the girdle of the word binde him hand and foote Suffer him not to kicke to spraule or moue a very finger to peepe listen or whisper For if he doe he will recouer renew his vigour and buffet the new-man Strangle all his ill motions at the conception burie them in the wombe Let not one of them haue a timely birth And if for all this as it is like enough he will be medling not brought to subiection then make him a Mendicant grant him a passe to beg Or if not so liue like the Monke in the order of idlenesse lazines may it please you consecrate him to Baal permit him to be his Priest that he may lash his scurvie skin lance his putrified flesh And at the last with Iudas become his owne executioner Doe thus for none but Sathan will mourne at his death seeke to raise him vp againe When this Saul is slaine then shall little David grow stronger and stronger fiercer and fiercer 2 Take further advise and be a companion to those who feare God haue all thy delight Psal 119 63. and 16.3 in the most excellent Christians The better the obiect is the more content it giues to the senses And is not the best of all things most to be desired When Christ talked with his Disciples Luk. 24.32 their hearts grew hot within them When Paul met Sylas Acts 18.5 he burned in spirit Will not the greenest billet fire with the drie And one flaming bavin kindle a thousand One who is strong in the grace of God by a secret operation conveieth as the loadstone into iron power and vigour into all who touch him His praiers conference gestures and whole carriage is it not like a costly banquet which calle●h foorth the fainting Spirits armes them with a fresh infused power as if a man had bin at the wine Doubtlesse the more we apprehend the worke of grace in any the more will it reviue the new-m●n in vs curb the old And by an over-ruling command binde all his lawlesse members to the peace Yong plants thriue not vnder dropping trees weake Christians grow not in lewd company such a fire warmes the hands cooles the heart kindleth the flesh quencheth the Spirit 3. And if by serious examination thou finde in thy selfe some raging corruption for as Abraham his beloued sonne each convert hath his darl ng sinne then vp with it by the rootes aboue all other To it with the mattocke of the law downe with it to the ground for such a weede vnmortified will nourish all the rest about it Want of wit in this kind of husbandrie makes the good graine of grace to grow slowlie looke lancke and leane When men would haue a rough field fitted for the plow will they not first rid vp the strongest trees And then fall to the weaker Therefore set vpon thy vnruliest lust fight not with small or great in the entrance of this battell but with the Prince onely Giue him not a blow and be gone But hack and hew vntill he fall on the ground 1 Sam. 17.51 For when this Giant is dead all the armie will faint be put to flight And with the turning of an hand be conquered overcome 4. Adde to all private and frequent prayer Secret meales make a fat body Closet-duties a w●ll-liking minde Will not the tender dew that falls in the silent night more refresh and cause the herbes to flourish than a great showre of wet in the stirring day For the one is lesse mingled with the sunne and winde of hypocrisie than the other And God like man giues the choicest richest gifts in secret Iam. 4.6 When thou hast this and thus done be humble in thine owne eye haue a low conceit of

but the vngodly Are without bonds in death except the transgressor Brethren infidelitie will raise in mans hart loose conceipts of God and of his nature almost perswade that seeing is not beleeving Had not the Prophet such thoughts as these Was he not almost by these Sophistications fallacies well neere turned out of the way Cast vpon his backe And runne the path of open profanesse Without doubt they stayed his steps for a time hindred his holy progresse Reade Psal 73. Per totum 4. Carnal confidence that is whatsoeuer we trust in except Christ Iesus The Iewes had Abraham for their father Moses to their master teacher Circumcision the seale of righteousnesse the Arke Temple Oracles all holy ordinances and worshipped at Ierusalem yet excluding Christ the true Paschall Lambe the Messiah premised What was al they did or had but a confidence in the flesh Was not Paul an Hebrew of the Hebrewes Of the kinred of Israel And of the tribe of Beniamin Circumcised the eight day Brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel And profited aboue manie Phil 3.3 a Pharisee by profession zealous towards God And lived after the most strict sect of that religion And what was all this Acts 26.5 Christ being denied of him but a fleshly confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified and truly sanctified haue an eye look back to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And may not a man effectually called perfectly iustified truly Sanctified haue an eye looke backe to such things Put some affiance in them whereby the better to confirme his Spirituall standing And if he doe what can it be but a carnall confidence And a step from grace Giue we an instance of this without exception What say you of the Galatians Would not they haue their workes concur with the obedience of Christ in the act of iustification And for this cause be they not sayd to haue ended in the flesh Gal. 3.3 Fallen from the grace of God This is a secret yet a certaine truth that a man may be carried away to place some confidence in his owne worthines and if he doe according to that degree he falle●h from Spirituall stedfastnes For Christ must be all in all Col. 3.11 else no setlednesse and therefore for this very thing we truly affirme that Rome is fallen from the faith and led away with the errour of the wicked 5. Weakenesse of grace To speake properly this is not a reall or positiue cause of declining yet by occasion may haue a finger in the businesse For grace as all other things is apt to conserue it selfe and no agent by intention of its owne diminution Put a small portion of fire into a bundle of greene wood will not the act thereof by its ouer-strong adversarie in some degree be weakned So grace being a little one corruption big and mighty and besetting it round why may it not also in part be extinguished Gal. 5.17 For flesh and spirit are contraries lodge in the regenerate person are alwaies quarelling whence it comes to passe that grace being vnequally matched is over-mastered and quenched though not totally cōsumed Yea doubtlesse were it not for the spirit of God who at al times stands by the new-man and in everie conflict as Eli the lampe with oyle 1. Sam 3. Ioab David with a new created power releeues him the old-man wold put out the cādle of his life cōquer overcome him 6. Want of knowledge experimentall When a tradesman hath a stocke followeth his calling seeth how customers come in hath daily doings whereby he augmenteth his substance gaineth great things and winneth reputation will it not animate put spirit and life into him to be constant in the execution of his vocation And so will it be with the experienced Christian When he can say by proofe Psal 6 9. the Lord hath heard my prayer performed his promise comforted me in trouble and to this day hath never failed or forsaken me he will goe on in the continuall practice of holy actions 1. Cor. 6.8 thorough good report and evill report without the least relaxation There is a misterie in godlines the which being learned will make a Christian stedfast immooueable When a man hath tasted of the good word of God savingly felt the power of the world to come and is familiarly acquainted with the ravishings of the spirit nothing can stay his steps hinder his progresse to the land of the living Doth not a tradesman know in the time of bargaining the worth of skill What when commodities are deere money will doe How sweet a thing it is to gather out of a great heape Not to be beholding or to take vpon trust of his neighbour And the same doth an experienced professed Christian He vnderstands the necessitie of faith and grace when God as I may say sets Christ and salvation to sale and how were he now without the treasure of the spirit constrained like the fiue foolish virgins to borrow of his acquaintance Mat. 25. in a day of dearth he were quite vndone Who is so vnwise but knowes that goods are alwaies profitable Money will can do manie things A diligent hand maketh rich Pro. 10.4 And to him who hath Luk. 8.18 shall be giuen But too few vnderstand the gaine of Godlinesse the vse of grace the purchase may be made therwith what credit such men haue with God and what promotion he will conferre vpon them who carefully seeke it conserue it Ignorance in this thing makes manie banke-rupts politicall spirituall Now the contrarie of all these we haue mentioned will be excellent helpes for the firme retention of grace receiued Wherefore keepe thy body in good plight feede on choice meates walke in pure aire vse moderate labour recreation And drinke a little wine 2. Tim. 5.3 to prevent thy corporall infirmities Consider how plants spread in a fertile soyle beasts feed fatter in a fresh pasture and in the vse of the lawfull meanes meanes all kind of creatures thriue prosper Col. 3.5 mortifie also fleshly lusts crucifie the whole bodie of sinne for in so doing 1. Cor. 9. vlt. thou shalt remoue rubs out of the way curb the Oldman binde him to good behaviour See in like sort thou increase thy faith and that will expell infidelitie consume it as fire doth subble and driue it out of the heart to dwell as Hagar in the wildernesse And shall not hope in Christ make the Newman lustie Strong Arme him against feare Foule despaire And in all assaults cheere vp his spirits Be sure to grow in grace For is not a feeble person subject to trip To stumble Catch a fall When able bodies hould out March valiantly Win the field In a word get experience of Gods dealing with the righteous what sound ioy there is in the

applie the Apostles phrase 2. Cor. 6.12 We are not made straight in God but in our owne bowels David could pen more Psalmes in time of warre than we haue leisure to read in these daies of peace Luk. 7.9 The Centurion in gleaning gathered more faith than we reape who haue the full harvest I speake it to thy shame henceforward make no such complaints but see what God doth for thy soule and let thy growth and the meanes be equall He who thus doth Rom. 2.4 doth well And whereunto the Lords bountifullnesse should I am sure ought to induce him III. Neither will I omit thee O thou decaied and declin ng Christian who hast wasted part of thy stocke diminished thy store What merchandise of more worth What gaine to the increase of grace Shall not then the losse be equall The dammage proportionable Will it not grieue the husbandman to see his tenderest plants wither The rankest corne become blasted Doth not a consuming body breed sorrow Presage death and what patient in such a case if not growne desperat seekes not recoverie The Prodigall Gamster doth he not sigh at his losse And with an eager mind play at get againe Shalt thou then suffer this precious treasure to waste Permit the buds of grace to pine Perish O see thou doe not so but seeke to the Physitian betimes take restoratiues to recover thy former health thy wonted strength Hos 2.7 Returne to thy first husband For at that time was it not better with thee than now What content comfort canst thou finde in praier that 's cold Short And not mixed with fervencie Will flesh halfe boyled delight the palate Nourish the body Hath not the Lord threatned Rev. 3.16 to spue the luke-warme Christian out of his mouth Can he away with a sluggard A non-proficient in his service Doth not our master expect to receiue his talents with advantage And shall not the idle servant be condemned Awake therefore Eph. 5.16 thou who sleepest stand vp from the dead And Christ shall giue thee light more increase of grace Consider how thou art fallen into what a pittifull case thou hast plunged thy soule And tye thy selfe to thy ancient taske vse a constant course in holy actions every day reade some portion of Christs loue-letters See his great affection how friendly he invites thee and be allured Psal 119.25 Call and cry Lord quicken me cause thy face to shine giue me the spirit of life and power restore me to the wonted ioy of thy salvation Psal 80.3 Psal 51.12 Wash thee seven times in the river Iordan bath thy selfe in the poole of repentance sing Psalmes in secret And get thee into the company of the strongest hotest Christians So shall thy flesh become as a childs the leprie of sinne weare away thy vigour returne thy hart waxe warme burne within thee Loue-songs no more inflame lust than the song of songs increase stirre vp grace What bangling kite with a loftie flier mendes not her pitch What fainting beleeuer with one who staggers not but will grow in fa th Suppose thou findest in thy selfe a backwardnesse to good duties Shall not the omission thereof make thee more vnfit the next season Vse limmes and haue limmes is our English proverbe vse grace haue grace a Christians experiment But if all this moue thee not to recouer thy decaied stock to do thy former workes then thus reason why may not I shrinke backe Retyre Proue an Apostate Or Iob. 31.14 how shal I answer God when he returns to iudgement Sure I am that if thou be his he will not long suffer thee to sit on thy lees but remoue thee from vessel to vessell How long Ier. 48.11 thinkest thou will the Lord indure thy lingring Brooke thy wambling Take heed lest one of these daies he boyle thee vp by some sharpe schorching fire of afflictiō What if the spirit of feare should re-fall thee 1 Sam. 16.14 The sword of thine enemie pierce thee The spreading plague infect thee The food of thy soule be taken from thee Or thou Amos. 8.11 by some foule publicke offence left to scandalize thy profession Then hast thou not spunne a faire threed Will not thy ill husbandrie prick thy fingers Shalt thou not goe mourning all thy life long And at the last leaue a weake evidence a feeble testimonie of thy soundnesse of thy salvation behind thee 1. Cor. 15.34 Awake therefore to do righteously Think and thinke againe of these things set them before the eye of thy soule Iudg. 16.3 So shalt thou as Samp●on when he saw the Philistines approach neere him gather thy forces together vp beg●n and f●●e for thy life IIII. Now in the conclusion I haue a word of exhortation vnto thee thou thou who hast kept what thou hast And n●t consumed the least mite of thy stocke Psal 87.4 Thinke not that this is all which G●d requireth of thee but grow still Proceed from strength to strength be rooted deeply grounded in the grace of Christ Iesus Col 1.23 and 2.7 Spreade thy branches farre and wide shoote vp and sprout on high be strong as an ell-boare Let no vacuitie as nature admits not any be in thy vessel but be filled to the brimme Be a mightie valiant man exceed the godly 1 Sam. 10 23. as much in this spirituall growth as Saul the common subiects in corporall who was higher by the head and shoulders Christians should resemble the most honorable of Davids worthies equall the first three Yea 1. Chro. 11 21. like the brethren of Gedeon every one be as the child of a king Iudg 8.18 A waster of his stocke is much condemned So is a Dwarfe in stature derided Shall we then decrease our heavenly substance Or with the North-pole be still at a stand Let the motion of other men somewhat incite thee provoke thee who are never satisfied Eph. 5.18 When Drunkards are filled with wine be thou with the spirit When thou seest an Elimas a Sorcerer full of the Devill with Barnabas Acts 13.9.10 be thou filled with faith and the holie Ghost When worldlings whose portion is in this life ayme at stately buildings Large possessions great ruffes cuffes let thy care and scope be to excell in this one thing necessarie Luk. 10.42 exceed them as much in grace as they thee in the contrarie graine For thus to doe is acceptable to God Mat. 16.28 profitable for thee For all men What if a man could winne the whole world yet want grace would it be any benefit vnto him Whereto may I compare him who hath much many things yet without grace But to a peece charged with shot not equalled with powder Will Can such a person discharge his calling Be liberall to pious vses No no his coine lyes rusting in his chest Luk. 7.5.9 Acts. 9.39 2 Tim. 1. vlt. his corne rotting in