Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	receive_v	18,187	5	5.7163	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44394	Four tracts by the ever memorable Mr. John Hales of Eaton College. Viz. I. Of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. II. Of the power of the keyes. III. Of schism and schismaticks. IV. Missellanies.	Hales, John, 1584-1656.	1677 (1677)	Wing H268A; ESTC R223741	37,038	64

Men neither of Judgment nor Learning such are they of whom these Bodies do consist And are these Men in common equity likely to determine for Truth Qui ut in vita sic in causis spes quoque improbas alunt as Quintilian speaks Again when such Persons are thus met their way to procede to conclusion is not by weight of Reason but by multitude of Votes and Suffrages as if it were a maxim in nature That the greater part must needs be better whereas our common experience shews That Nunquam it a benè agitur cum rebus humanis ut plures sint meliores It was never heard in any profession That Conclusion of Truth went by plurality of Voices the Christian profession only excepted and I have often mused how it comes to pass That the way which in all other Sciences is not able to warrant the poorest Conclusion should be thought sufficient to give authority to Conclusions in Divinity the Supreme Empress of Sciences But I see what it is that is usually pleaded and with your leave I will a little consider of it If it be given out That Christian meetings have such an assistance of God and his blessed Spirit that let their Persons be what they will they may assure themselves against all possibility of mistaking and this is that they say which to this way of ending Controversies which in all other Sciences is so contemptible gives a determining to Theolgical Disputes of so great Authority And this Musick of the Spirit it is so pleasing that it has taken the Reformed Party too for with them likewise all things at lengh end in this Spirit but with this difference that those of Rome confine the Spirit to the Bishops and Counsels of Rome but the Protestant enlargeth this working of the Spirit and makes it the Director of private meditations I should doubtless do great injury to the goodness of God if I should deny the sufficient assistance of God to the whole World to preserve them both from sin in their Actions and damnable errors in their opinions much more should I do it if I denied it to the Church of God but this assistance of God may very well be and yet Men may fall into sin and errors St. Paul preaching to the Gentiles tells them That God was with them in so palpable a manner that even by the groping they might have found him yet both he and we know what the Gentiles did Christ hath promised his perpetual assistance to his Church but hath he left any Prophecy that the Church should perpetually adhere to him if any Man think he hath it is his part to inform us where this Prophecy is to be found That matters may go well with Men two things must concur the assistance of God to Men and the adherence of Men to God if either of these be deficient there will be a little good done Now the first of these is never deficient but the second is very often so that the Promise of Christ's perpetual presence made unto the Church infers not at all any presumption of Infabillity As for that term of Spirit which is so much taken up to open the danger that lurks under it we must a little distinguish upon the Word This term Spirit of God either it signifies the third Person in the blessed Trinity or else the wonderful power of Miracles of Tongues of Healing c. which was given to the Apostles and other of the Primitive Christians at the first preaching of the Gospel but both these meanings are strangers to our purpose The Spirit of God as it concerns the Question here in hand signifies either something within us or something without us Without us it signifies the written Word recorded in the Books of the Prophets Apostles and Evangelists which are metonymically called the Spirit because the Holy Ghost spake those things by their mouths when they lived and now speaks us by their pens when they are dead If you please to receive it this alone is left as Christ's Vicar in his absence to give us directions both in our actions and opinions he that tells you of another Spirit in the Church to direct you in your way may as well tell you a tale of a Puck or a walking Spirit in the Church-Yard But that this Spirit speaking without us may be beneficial to us oportet aliquid intus esse there must be something within us which also we call the Spirit and this is twofold For either it signifies a secret Illapse or supernatural Influence of God upon the hearts of Men by which he is supposed inwardly to incline inform and direct Men in their ways and wills and to preserve them from sin and Mistake or else it signifies that in us which is opposed against the flesh and which denominates us spiritual Men and by which we are said to walk according to the Spirit that which St. Paul means when he tells us The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh Rom. 7. so that we may not do what we list Now of these two the former it is which the Church seems to appeal unto in determining Controversies by way of Counsel But to this I have little to say First Because I know not whether there be any such thing yea or no. Secondly Because experience shews That the pretence of the Spirit in this sense is very dangerous as being next at hand to give countenance to imposture and abuse which is a thing sufficiently seen and acknowledged both by the Papist and Protestant Party as it appears by this that though both pretend unto it yet both upbraid each other with the pretence of it But the Spirit in the second sense is that I contend for and this is nothing but the Reason illuminated by Revelation out of the written Word For when the Mind and Spirit humbly conform and submit to the written Will of God then you are properly said to have the Spirit of God and to walk according to the Spirit not according to the Flesh This alone is that Spirit which preserves us from straying from the Truth For he indeed that hath the Spirit errs not at all or if he do it is with as little hazard and danger as may be which is the highest point of Infallibility which either private Persons or Churches can arrive unto Yet would I not have you to conceive That I deny that at this day the Holy Ghost communicates himself to any in this secret and supernatural manner as in foregoing times He had been wont to do indeed my own many uncleannesses are sufficient reasons to hinder that good Spirit to participate himself unto me after that manner The Holy Ghost was pleased to come down like a Dove Veniunt ad candida tecta Columbae Accipict nullas sordida Turris Aves Now it is no reason to conclude the Holy Ghost imparts himself in this manner to none because he hath not done that favour