Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	flesh_n	law_n	mind_n	7,026	5	6.6163	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65878	The popish informer reprehended for his false information against the Quakers meeting in reply to ... An answer to a seditious libel, as he most falsly terms the late innocent declaration from the people of God, called, Quakers, against all seditious conventicles, &c. (wherein their innocency is cleared, and herein vindicated) : unto which is annexed, a brief recital of some accusations cast upon the said people, by one H. Thorndike, one of the prebends of Westminster, in his book entituled, A discourse of the forbearance, or the penalties which a due reformation requires.	Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.	1670 (1670)	Wing W1946; ESTC R20124	15,096	24

notorious Lyes and forgeries against the Quakers where he tells them of the Rebellion in Germany bringing it as an instance against us though most unjustly and impertinently As also his calling David George the first of our Sect which is a most manifest and absurd Falshood and Abuse for as History mentions of him he was about the year 1544 and held as recorded very blasphemous licencious doctrines as that he was Christ the Messiah and declared Polygamy or the having many Wive to be free and lawful And further it s said Embroyled the lower parts of Germany in Tumults which things both our righteous Principles and innocent Lives do utterly testifie against And as for John of Leyden who lived also about the same time who is said to have had his Meetings all in the night time he is represented as one of the same Principle to allow of the same gross evil of Polygamy whose extravigancies pride and presumption in his causing Wars and Disturbances and assuming Kings-ship as recorded of him our Religion and Example do also condemn as repugnant to the very Nature and Life of Christianity And besides where doth History or intilligent Persons relate that either David George John of Leiden or Cobs Faction were accounted Quakers in their time Do but see the malice and falshood of this Accuser and Informer thus to render such our Presidents whose Example we never followed and if he could nominate thousands of rebellious Persons doth it appear just in him to endeavour the prejudicing and instigation of the Rulers against such as are Innocent and Peaceable both in their Principles and Deportments Surely such cruel and partial Informers as this who hath no more sence either of the common good of the Nation nor what 's consistant with human Society nor yet of their Innocency whom he accuseth but would have People disturbed and persecuted for their Consciences upon his meer false suggestions and evil surmises would bring the Nation to a sad pass if they had their wicked wills who have neither Truth Reason nor hnman Pollicy in their seeking to blow up the Coals of Sedition Strife and Persecution amongst their Neighbours which is never like to compose differences in matters of Religion and Conscience but to make them wider and more incomposible Inform. There is Sedition and Rebellion implyed in the Doctrine you teach at your Conventicles You preach against Dignities and Titles of Honour calling them Antichristian contrary to the Scripture c. Answ. Here is an Accusation of an implicit Sedition and Rebellion in our Doctrine but no proof only a false Accusation added That we preach against Dignities which is a gross Slander for both Dignities and Dominion we own knowing that its Truth and Righteousness which only doth Dignifie and make Worthy and honourable it is Vertue and Wisdom makes honorable worthy and all Titles that are proper thereunto which truly express either the Virtue Dignity or Worth of Rulers and their Dominion we never opposed but flattering complemental deceitful Titles which tend but to please men and gratifie proud spirits we utterly deny as that which our Maker would condemn us for should we use them This Informer had dealt more ingeniously had he told us what those he calls Titles of Honour are which the Scripture commands and which he saith we call Antichristian Inform. To the King belongs Obedience you must obey his Laws and those either actively or passively but you are content with neither Whatsoever is commanded by Authority if it be not contrary to the Word of God must be obeyed actively and not passively Passive Obedience is only required when things contrary to the Word of God are commanded Answ. It is a false Accusation That we are content with neither for we obey both actively and passively Actively so far as stands with our Peace of Conscience in the Sight of God and otherwise we are passive as our patient suffering so deeply hath amply shewed Howbeit this Accusar hath implied That there may be Laws or Commands contrary to the Word of God it is well he will allow the Word of God any room in saying Whatsoever is commanded if it be not contrary to the Word of God it must be obeyed actively So then it follows that whatsoever is contrary must not for indeed the Word and Law of God are indispensable and God hath placed an equal and just Law of Reason in mans heart which neither Statute Presciption nor Custom ought to prevail against but if any be brought in against it they are to be holden for void and against justice and so no Laws according to Doct. Stud. Cap. 2. And no man of what estate or degree soever hath Power to dispence with God's Law 28 H. 8. And now what is according to the Law of God or not ac-according to it the prejudiced persecuting spirit is no meet nor competent Judge to be sure but the patient suffering Spirit and Mind that dwells in the true Light being qualified with Graces and Ornaments of the Spirit of God which are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against which there is no Law Gal. 5. Whereas the fruits of the flesh are contrary as Hatred Variance Emulation Stife Sedition Heresies c. above all which the Spirit of Truth and its Fruits are exalted and followed by the Children of Light who are born after the Spirit who are persecuted and oppressed only by such as are born after the flesh and herein are you malicious Persecutors manifest of what seed and birth you are see Gal. 4. 29. Inform. It is not necessary that all things commanded by Authority must have a command or president in Scripture for many things are left indifferent to the discretion of God's Vicegerents as Kings c. A Power is likewise in the Governours of the Church to impose such things as they shall find necessary to be observed in the publick Worship of God and this we may infer from those words of the Apostle The rest will I set in order when I come Answ. To the first part Nothing essential to the Worship of God can truly be deemed indifferent nor differently left to mens discretion for the Law of the Spirit of Life is the true and infallible Rule to Believers in the true Worship and mens judgements ought to be subject thereunto but as for this notion of things indifferent in the Worship of God it has been an inlet to much Idolatry and Superstition amongst Apostates and pretended Christians However it is a gross impiety as also an interfering with their own Principle for any to persecute others meerly for things which themselves deem indifferent which in moderation might better be dispenced with then rigorously to inforce them To the second part This Informer seems to set up a second sort of Governours in the Church besides or above Kings as having power to impose things in worship without either Scripture or President

words even so they relate not to the manner of living of the Alter but to the Lord 's Ordaining as even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1. or 9. 14. so the Gospel makes way for the true Minsters Maintenance which is not a forced Maintenance neither is it Tythes or Offerings for as is fully testified in Heb. 7. the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law the Sons of Levy who received the Office of the Priesthood had a Command to take Tythes of their Bretheren but this is ended as it is said there is a disanulling of the Commandment going before so this man might as well have accused the Apostle with failing to pay to God his Due as have accused us in the matter of Tythes seeing our Testimony is one and the same But this Informer shews himself to have little regard to Scripture whilst he can plead the discretion of Magistrates and imposition of Governours for things in matter of Worship which he hath neither Scripture Command or president for especially among the primitive Christians and Apostles Inform. His Worship in Spirit and Truth is but the lesser part of his due It is obedience God desires rather then Sacrifice or Worship God commands you to be obedient to Authority Answ. Let the Reader mark here how absurdly he reasons First implying a Worship of God in Spirit and Truth without obedience which cannot be for that Worship which stands in Spirit and Truth is Obedience for Truth admits of no disobedience Secondly his deeming the true Worship of God to be but the lesser part of his due and Obedience to Authority to be the greater herein he hath blasphemously set up an Authority above God and so man above his Maker for it is outward Authority his words intend but he is greatly mistaken for we in worshipping and obeying God in Spirit and Truth which is our principal Duty do not oppose nor resist any Authority or wholsom Laws which have a dependance upon the Authority and Law of God Where we said We do not meet to plot or contrive Insurrections Inform. We have but your bare word for it Answ. This is false you have more then our bare word viz. our innocent behaviour and harmless deportment evidently mani●ested through the many Afflictions Persecutions and Cruelties that we have patiently undergone since we were a People and all for the Testimony of our tender Consciences towards God therefore it is evident that we have but this mans bare word for proof that our Meetings are either seditious Conventicles or tending to Insurrection and if he were not wilfully blind he might see the contrary openly evinced by our Christian Conversation in the peaceable exercise of our Religion and Conscience Inform. It is true there is danger enough in your small meetings but much more in your greater meetings of hundreds for by lessning your meetings we may better secure both Church and State for ten or twelve can make no great disturbance in a place a Constable may suppress these but where five or six hundred more shall meet and finding an opportunity make an Insurrection may set a whole City on flames c. Answ. What danger hath this man seen in any of our Meetings either small or great we challenge him and all such malicious Informers in the World to prove any danger or hurt by us in our Meetings Besides has not he herein struck at the Parliaments allowing small meetings of four Persons above the Families besides all such as are under the age of sixteen years as i● therein they allowed of dangerous and seditious Meetings which we are confident they do not believe concerning us called Quakers And as for this Accusers judging our greater Meetings of hundreds to be much more dangerous and therefore would have them less●ed what ground or reason has he for his evil surmise in this seeing when our Meetings are large our doors being open many mixt people may come and behold us and our order that if we were of that ill mind as to contrive Evil or Sedition we could not have opportunity we should be the maddest Plotters that ever were if we should be so publick and obvious therein but the Lord has redeemed us out of all such occasions both publick and private we have given no occasion of either fear suspition or jealousy to our Persecutors in those matters it is their own guilt and envious persecuting spirits that attract fears and troubles the Witness of God persuing them for their injuries and injustice who afflict the Innocent and oppress the Poor and Needy for whose sake God will arise and plead their Cause Inform. Your antick tricks in your silent Meetings c. Answ. What antick tricks thou Slanderer and Scoffer though we have often waited in silence together upon God and received comfort and benefit therein from him by his Spirit wherein we wait and worship him And what hast thou against this thou bloody-minded Informer And what colour or pretence of Religious Exercise hast thou to inform against these harmless silent Meetings Where is the colour or pretence and what exercise provest thou therein that the Act takes hold of And what plotting or contriving hast thou ever heard or seen in any such Meetings or in any of our Meetings tending to set the City on flames And as for antick tricks if the Devil had not blinded thee and such as thou art thou mightest have made those ungodly Meetings at Play-Houses the subject of thy Information and not the innocent pious Meetings of the People called Quakers For is it not obvious what impudency antick whorish tricks and postures appear upon Stages at Play-Houses in and about the Cities of London and Westminster to draw out the mindes of People into vanity and a whorish spirit as Women without the appearance of Modesty or Sobriety in their behaviour and men dect in womens Apparel to be examples of whorish postures besides the many vain shews and sights to affect and gratifie the vain wonton eyes minds and spirits of Youth to draw them into impudency and debauchery such abominations as is a Reproach to the Profession of Christianity and a shame to the Nation And to that of Mal. 1. 11. In every place Incense or Offerings shall be offered unto my Name This Informer gives this meaning That this hath relation to the calling in of the Gentiles The Coming of Christ and Convertion of the Gentiles by his Gospel i. e. in every Country or Nation To which we say Why should we be deprived of this priviledge in our Country and Nation where so much of Christ and Gospel is profest But then he adds In places dedicated to my Name the publique Places of God's Worship his Houses dedicated set apart for his peculiar Service c. Reply But what Houses doth he intend are they Steeple-houses which were dedicated for the Mass were