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	zeal_n	zealous_a	292	3	9.5772	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91897	Christ the perfect pattern, of a Christian's practice, being the substance of severall sermons, about the Imitation of Christ. / Preached by the reverend and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, late minister of Mary Wolnoth London. Published by Sim. Ash, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1658 (1658)	Wing R1709; Thomason E1818_1; ESTC R209810	135,574	295

Baal how zealous were they 1 Reg. 18. 28. The Ephesians for their Diana what extraordinarie zeal when they perceived that by Pauls preaching against gods made with hands was like to overthrow their Religion they cryed for the space of two Iudg. 6. 28 29 30. houres together Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. 34. Motive 6. If you will be zealous for the House of God God will be zealous for your houses vid. 2 Sam. 6. 10 11. Obed Edom he had a zeal for the Ark when others were afraid of it God blesses him vid. Hag. 2. 18 19. If you will be dead and cold for the matters of God God will be cold for your civil concernments Motive 7. It s one of the best wayes to take off and abate the heat of enemies against the House of God The colder you are the more hot will they be and the more zealous you are the more cold will they be in promoting their designes 2. Rules for zeal 1 Your Zeal must be universal and that 1. In respect of things you must be zealous for everie part of Gods House for all and everie part of Truth against all and everie kind of corruption in Worship some are zealous against Schisme and Heresie but they have no great Zeal against superstition and humane inventions others have a Zeal against Superstition but they have not against Heresie c. This is not right heat vid. Psal 119. 104. Josiah his Zeal was against everie Corruption 2 Reg. 23. 4. ad 20. God commands him vers 25. Such was the Zeal of Christ also He leaves nothing behinde Sacraments Preaching Prayer 2. In respect of persons he that hath a right zeal for Truth will oppose all is contrarie to Truth in one person as well as in another in great as well as in small c. in a Friend as well as in an Enemie Zeal is like God in this there is no respect of persons with it Whosoever defiles the House of God let his Profession his Power be what it will Zeal will oppose him Zeal doth not hate error in a Prelate and love it in another c. Christ will throw down the Tables of the Money-changers whosoever they be that fit there c. 3. In respect of times True Zeal for Gods House hath no winter it burns in one Age as well as in another Manie men were verie zealous against corruption in Worship and Doctrine in the raign of Prelacie which now are cold against the same or worse corruptions in the raign of Heresie These were never truly zealous for Gods House Corruption of Truth and Worship is as bad one year as another c. 2 Zeal must be joyned with prudence and knowledge Rom. 10. 2. God hath given to man an understanding as well as affection Zeal without Discretion is rashness like mettle in a blinde Horse or a sharp edged Sword in a mad mans hand Those 4. Beasts Rev. 4. 8. which represent the Churches of the Gospel they had 6. Wings and they were full of Eyes a Christian must have Eyes as well as Wings Knowledge as well as Zeal Zeal with Knowledge saith one is like an Unicorns Horn in the hand of an Artist verie precious but Zeal without Knowledge is as the Unicorns Horn in the Beasts Head verie dangerous Zeal without Knowledge is like Pegasus without a Bridle or like an Offering without an Eye which God accepts not Lev. 22. 22. Mal. 1. 8. It s like Phaeton in his Fathers Chariot may burn himself and the World too 3 Zeal for Gods House must be confined within the Compasse of our Calling The Minister in his place the Magistrate in his the private person in his place 'T is a good glosse which Calvin hath on this Text. All must imitate Christ all must as much as in them lyeth preserve the Temple of God from defilement yet everie man must take heed that he go not beyond his bounds Non omnibus protinus licet flagellum arripere ut vitia manu corrigamus neque enim eadem nobis potest as data est nec idem injunctum munus Zeal out of its place is like fire in the Thatch Private Christians they must express their zeal by Prayer Teares Dispute complaining to the Church to the Magistrates where they are if they be such as care for Religion He that should being a private person do as Phinehas did and pretend zeal would be a murtherer or as Christ here did would be seditious c. 4 Our zeal for Gods House must be for the glorie of God not either to get our selves a name or to oppose men or to please others c. but meerly discharge of duty respect to Gods Honour This was the ground of our Saviours zeal make not my Fathers House c. Jehu lost all his zeal for want of a right end vid. 2 Reg. 10. He did verie much and he calls it zeal for God vers 16. but the truth is it was meerly for his own house and therefore God threatens Hos 1. 4. to avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu c. look well to this 5 It must be put out against private corruptions in your own case 3. Meanes to get zeal for Gods House 1 Consider often the worth and excellency of Gods House Truth Worship they are glorious things beauties of holiness Psal 110. 3. the glorie of God the glorie is departed from Israel c. 1 Sam. 4. latter end the Tabernacle of God with men c. 2 Beg much of the Spirit of God that spirit of fire the fire of the Altar came down from Heaven so doth the fire of zeal get much of that fiery Baptisme of the Holy Ghost c. vid. Acts 2. 3. 3 Be much in the Company of zealous persons he that kisseth the lips of the Servants of God who are zealous will get heat from them 4 Take heed of too much carnal policie This will make you but cold and dead for the Worship of God He whose zeal is extreme hot for outward things will be extreme cold at least luke-warm for the Worship of God a little Earth cast on a hot fire puts it out Mary Wol●oth Septemb. 30th 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 19. 47. And He taught daily in the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THere are five principal Passages or Stories recorded of Jesus Christ in this Chapter which is the best division can be made of it viz. 1 The story of the Conversion of one Zacheus a Publican a little man but a very great sinner this we have from the first verse to the 11th He came out of curiosity to gaze upon Christs person having heard the fame of his works and he did not only behold his Person but was converted by his Power we may note from his conversion 1. It s good to be in the way in which Christ travels Zach●us being in Christs way was apprehended by Christs power and made partaker of

others Are there many above you well but there are more below you c. If thou wert the lowest of all the Sons of men it were thy duty to be quiet but there are 1000. above thee in grace in service in obedience who are yet very far below thee in misery in sufferings Art thou weak others there are that lye bed-rid art thou in fear of a prison There are better then thou in close bondage Dost thou drink thy teares others there are who drink blood Art thou in the fire of persecution There are many in the fire of Hell 'T is our fault we are alwayes looking to them who are above us such and such they have friends they have liberty they are in high places they have not my crosses they feel non of my pains c. well but are there none in the World thinkest thou that esteem thy condition as happy in respect of theirs 'T is very good counsel the Apostle gives us That we would make our selves equal with them of low degree vid. Rom. 12. 16. If we would do thus in this matter it would through God go very far to the quietting of us There is much difference between the comparing of our spiritual and our outward condition with others In comparing our spiritual condition we should measure with the highest that we may be excited to growth but in comparing of our outward condition we should measure with the lowest that we may be preserved from repining 9. Frequent Prayer He that is seldom in prayer will be frequent in repining and he who is much in prayer will be very little in murmuring Prayer will allay heates of spirit Prayer will expel the venom of impatience Davids Prayer to God made his soul so silent under his sufferings vid. Psal 39. 9 10. In Prayer the soul hath a view of God which doth much quiet In Prayer the soul hath an interview of it self and a view of sin Prayer layes the soul low in it self Prayer kindles faith c. which sees an issue out of trouble c. 10. Be much in the Duty of Thanksgiving It is the Duty of a Christian to give thanks in every condition 1 Thes 5. 18. Now he that abounds in Thanksgiving will be preserved from impatience Impatience will take us off from hearty giving of thanks and giving of thanks will drive away murmuring Doth a Fountain send forth sweet waters and bitter at one place out of the same mouth proceedeth there blessings and cursings Jam. 3. 10 11. He that sees cause why he should give thanks will see no reason why he should murmur and he that can finde in his heart to murmur will hardly ever blesse God so heartily as he should where there is much of due blessing of God there will be little or none at all of murmuring which indeed is no better then cursing and blaspheming 11. Consider the Divine Calling Christians are under no troubles or sufferings but if they can see that they are called thereunto by the Lord the very Call of God may quiet their hearts This Direction the Apostle giveth as a Help to patience 1 Pet. 2. 21. Obj. But when doth God call a man to suffer Sol. When a man is in this Dilemma that either he must suffer or sin then doth God call him Vid. Job 36. 21. 12. Consider That if you do not suffer patiently you will lose all the benefit of your sufferings No suffering is acceptable with God but the patient suffering Vid. 1 Pet. 2. 20. No Christian would undergo sufferings and yet lose the benefit and acceptance of them 13. Meditate much upon the day of Death and especially of the Day of Judgement This the Scripture makes a very great Argument to quiet our hearts especially in such sufferings as are for the Cause of God Vid. Heb. 10. 36 37. Vid. Jam. 5. 7 8. 14. Take heed of anger and passion Passion will set the tongue on fire Vid. Eccles 7 8. The help to patience is Vers 9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry Anger is the bane of patience and such passionate ones are so far from this silent frame of heart that they are clamorous for anger and clamor are joyned together Eph. 4. 31. Object 1. But my afflictions are not single but many if it were but one affliction c. wave after wave Sol. 1. They are not so many as God could have layd 2. They are not so many as thy sins 3. They are not so many as the sufferings of Christ were c. 4. If they be many do not make them more by impatience This is the way to increase them 2d Object But I suffer from my friends from whom I have well deserved Sol. So did Jesus Christ. These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends 3d Object I know not how long they shall last Ergo. I cannot see to the further end of them c. Sol. 1. Let this the rather make thee silent Impatience doth but lengthen out your sufferings Every impatient Word or Act adds one link more to the Chain 2. Thy sufferings do not last so long as thy Glory that shall be eternal 2 Cor. 4. ult 3. Thy sufferings shall last no longer then shall be for thy good 4th Object But my affliction is in such a thing which is so dear and precious c. Any thing else I could have endured but this c. Sol. 1. If it were not in something very dear it would not amount to an affliction 2. Thy sins have been of the highest Nature Colour the deepest Dye Thy iniquity hath reached to the heart 3. All that God requires of us is to suffer what he inflicts We are not to choose our Crosse but to take up our Crosse That which God layes before us That is our crosse and we must bear it Jan. 21. 1648. Mary Wolnoth February the 11th 1648. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithfull to him that appointed him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THis Epistle was written to the scattred Hebrews who through grace had beleeved in the Lord and were now scattered by reason of persecution so the inscription shewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Author of it interpreters are of severall judgments some referring it to Luke others to Barnabas others to Clement others to some other of the Apostles The most generall and probable opinion is that it was written by Paul and that he suppresseth his name on purpose lest it should hinder the successe of his writing The Name of Paul was odious to the Jewes who were not converted they looked upon him as an Apostate from their Religion and he was also much suspected by some of the weaker beleeving Jewes who were yet too much addicted to the ob●ervation of the ceremoniall law therefore he doth de industriâ conceale his Name Amongst other reasons which doe probably evince Paul to be the Author of this Epistle these two are cogent

he will soon put to flight all opposers 2d Vse How unlike to Jesus Christ are the greatest part of Christians in our dayes we may take up sad complaints against sundry sorts of persons 1 There are some like Gallio that care for no such things as the worship of God They are Act. 18. 17. indifferent whether they have Religion amongst them or no if they have the worship of God they can be content and if the Tabernacle of God be removed they can bear it without grief it doth not much trouble their spirits though all the Synagogues of God in the Land be burnt up So they may enjoy their civil liberties have free Trading secure their Estates raise their Families fill their Treasuries with the good things of this life they are not much solicitous for the concernments of Religion or the worship of God They will not much dispute against Religion neither will they contend for it with any great life the presence of Religion is no great burden to them and the want of it is no great losse They will not repine if they have the Ark and they will not be greatly offended if they have it not if the Ordinances of God be in the Temple t is well and if the buyers and sellers there be t is not much amisse They stand in aequilibrio as to these matters if Religion dwell in their Coasts they will not thrust it out of doors and if it be removing they will not lament after it nor beg its continuance They are affected with these matters as some men are with their ordinary friends if they will stay with them they will not bid them be gone and if they have a minde to depart they will not desire their stay c. They are concerning Religion of that minde which Paul commands believing Husbands to be of towards their unbelieving Wives 1 Cor. 7. 13. 15. If she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away but if she will depart let her depart so they say and so they act concerning Religion and the Ordinances of God I have a few things to say to such They are not like the Gaderenes Matth. 8. 34. Nor are they like the two Disciples Luk. 24. 29. 1. Certainly they are not acted by the Spirit of Jesus Christ his was a fiery Spirit but theirs is a cold Spirit he had life they are dead 2. God hath threatned that he will spue such luke-warm Christians out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. They are just between Heaven and Hell They are like Ephraim Hos 7. 8. Half-baked The Prophet Elijah chides such halters as these 1 Reg. 18. 21. 3. The Ordinances of God are not very like to do much good upon the Spirits of such Christians The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11. 12. Heaven must be stormed or never entred 2 Others there are who are zealous against the worship of God and against Religion Some are very zealous for superstition the Traditions of their Fathers Unsawful and unwarranted Ceremonies and sinful Inventions of men in the worship of God such was Demetrius and his Associates Acts 19. 24. He was as hot for the golden shrines for Diana as if they had been the golden Plates of the Temple Great is Diana of the Ephesians Such were those old Idolaters with whom the Prophet Jeremiah had to do Jer. 44. 16 17. We will do as we have done We and our Fathers to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven They are grieved to see any endeavour to purge the waters of the Sanctuary from defilements Others are zealous for errors in Doctrine They would have an unlimited Toleration of all opinions and all kindes of worship in the Church of God The Woman Jezebel shall have liberty to vent her falsehoods as well as the Prophets of God to preach their Truths Antichrist shall have his Throne as well as Christ Altars shall be set up to the unknown God as well as to the true God the Ministers of Satan shall keep as free Markets as the Ministers of Christ the envious man shall have Field-room to scatter his Tares as well as the Seeds-men of the Gospel their wheat And if any of the Ministers of Christ out of zeal to Gods glory endeavour to whip out these abuses out of the Temple they are looked upon as firebrands Incendiaries by them who are the true Incendiaries They are reputed worse then Theeves because they disturb this Den of Theeves from nesting in the Temple of God They are looked upon as abominable because they would sweep out these abominations They are thought unworthy to have a liberty in the Kingdom because they will not proclaim a liberty to all these false wayes in the Church the Kingdom of Christ This zeal is certainly none of that which was in Christ It is Diabolical zeal like the unruly Tongue set on fire of Hell James 3. 6. Jesus Christ whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple and these lash such as would whip them out Jesus Christ was sore displeased with the Angel of Thyatira for suffering such corruptions Rev. 2. 20. and they are displeased with the Angels of the Churches because they will not tolerate such corruptions Jesus Christ would not have any bid God speed to such 2 Epist John 10 and they would have such embraced and encouraged Jesus Christ saith the mouthes of such as teach false Doctrines must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. And they are ready to stop the mouthes of such as would have these disturbed Jesus Christ layes a Command upon Ministers and Magistrates to apprehend these Foxes but they lay snares for such as would have them apprehended vid. Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes c. Answ By Foxes there we are to understand Hereticks and false Prophets as Ezech. 13. 4. they are Foxes for their subtilty therefore the Apostle calls them deceitful workers transforming themse●ves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 23. Now Christ would have these taken and rooted out The Church is to take them by censuring confuting and casting them out of the Church and the godly Magistrate is to take them by penal lawes civil punishments c. vid. Deut. 13. 6 7 8 9. which is again Zech. 13. 3. applyed to Gospel-times And that Law was given by Jesus Christ the Mr. Cotton Bloody Tenet washed c. p. 66. 67. Angel of Gods presence whom God promised to send with his People Exod. 33. 2 3. And that Angel was Christ whom they tempted in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10. 9. Therefore Jesus Christ appointed the civil Sword for a Remedy in such a case and hath not repealed it in the Gospel And accordingly the good Kings of Judah exercised this power Asa Joash Josiah and are commended for so doing Nor are only the greater and the worser sort of Foxes to be taken but even the little Foxes the lesser sort of errors