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
A86056	The life of the apostle St Paul, written in French by the famous Bishop of Grasse, and now Englished by a person of honour.	Godeau, Antoine, 1605-1672.	1653 (1653)	Wing G923; Thomason E1546_1; ESTC R209455	108,894	368

then suffered and against such as might still befall them He told them of signes which should preceed the day of Judgement as first a general Apostacy that is the abandoning of the true worship of God Secondly the appearance of Antichrist whom he calls the man of sinne because he shall be the greatest of all sinners and shall draw almost all men to sin and to the greatest sin which can be committed If Heretick who say that the Pope is Antichrist would seriously consider the portrature of him as the Apostle sets him forth in this Epistle they would finde it very little Cohaerent with him and would be ashamed to believe so ridiculous a dream which the wisest and most learned amongst them with reason doe make but a jest Thus did Saint Paul labour for the glory of Jesus Christ both with his tongue and pen at the same time and did not let slip one minute of time whilest he was at Corinth which he imployed not in the Functions of his Ministry He departed thence having staied there eighteen moneths with Aquila and Priscilla his hosts but before he left Corinth he shaved his head for some reason which Saint Luke does not mention no more then he does the vow which he made to let his hair grow For the better understanding this place in the Acts of the Apostles I will tell you as it were in passing by that in the ancient Law there were two sorts of Nazareans that is to say men separated and consecrated to God The one of them were perpetual and the other but for a certain time according as their devotion invited them to make this vow both the one and the other were obliged to abstain from Wine and from any other Liquour that might cause drunkenness and to let their hair grow The time allotted for the vow of these latter being expired they were to present themselves at the door of the Tabernacle where they offered the sacrifice which was ordained for it They were shaved and their hair was burnt in the fire of the Sacrifice of Pacifical Oblations with many ceremonies which are set down in the Book of Numbers Now in the time of their Consecration if they happened to contract any pollution contrary to the law either by the touch of some dead body or that by change any died suddainly in their presence they were bound at the same instant to begin to shave their hair to finish it the seventh day and on the eighth day to offer the sacrifice ordained for their purification I therefore easily believe that Saint Paul having made this vow of the Nazareans to comply in some occasions with the weakness of the Jewes as he had circumcised Timothy to the end he might not scandalize them or for some other reason which St. Luke does not mention might by chance have met some dead Corps or touched some dead body and this having happened in the company of some Jews who were converted and observed the Ceremonies of the Law he shaved his hair at that instant remitting his offering sacrifice till he came to Hierusalem as in effect he did by the Counsel of Saint James and the Priests of that Church which we shall see in the Sequel of this History It is true some Authors say that Aquila made this vow and not the Apostle But Saint Hierome and Saint Augustine Bede and almost all Interpreters maintain that it ought to be understood of Saint Paul and I have in this followed the common opinion The Sea favouring Saint Paul he arrived safe at Ephesus and immediately went into the Synagogue of the Jews to declare the Gospell unto them They earnestly desired him to stay some time with them but he told them he could not desiring to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost at Hierusalem but if it pleased God he would return to see them He went a Ship-board and the weather being favourable landed at Cesarea in Palestine from whence according as some interpret the Book of the Acts he went up to Hierusalem He onely saluted the Church of this City and so went to Antioch of Syria There he made his aboad some time and having there given order in that which he thought necessary he went to visit the Churches of Galatia and Phrygia where he confirmed the faithful in their faith by admirable discourses and by new miracles At the end of this Voyage which lasted at the least a yeare he came back to Ephesus This City was very famous by reason of Diana's Temple which was accounted in the number of the seven Wonders of the World Asia built it in two Ages by a general contribution and it was a place cautionary for the Kings Princes and people of the East but Nero who seemed to be borne for the ruine of all noble things plundered all the riches of it and under the Empire of Galienus the Goths entirely ruined it The Idol of Diana was made of the wood of Vines and the Priests making use of the peoples simplicity brought them easily to beleeve that it was descended from Heaven The like thing was beleeved at Rome of a Buckler which for that cause was kept with great care The Apostle found at Ephesus twelve Disciples who were onely baptised with the Baptisme of John and had never heard the Holy Ghost once spoken of Some Authors beleeve that they had been instructed by this Apollo who came a little before to Ephesus and of whom Saint Luke speaking sayes He was an eloquent man and very well versed in the holy Scriptures that he knew the Doctrine of our Saviour and preached Jesus Christ with great fervour of spirit but that he knew no other Baptisme then that of John which is to say in my opinion that as yet he had onely received that Baptism Aquila and Priscilla finding him so well disposed taught him more particularly the verities of the Gospel which he presently declared to those of Corinth where he confounded the Jewes by the force of his discourse and by the authority of holy Scriptures which he officaciously alledged to shew them that Jesus Christ was the Messias For my part I believe that he and the others also of whom we speak received their baptisme at the hands of Saint John himselfe in Judea For it is certain that onely the Precursor did baptise and after him this baptisme was not practised as a thing necessary for those who believed in Jesus Christ However it was Saint Paul teaches his Disciples that he found in Ephesus John to have baptised the people with a baptisme of pennance ordeining them to believe in him who was to come after him and to whose faith he prepared them by this exterior Ceremony intended to mind them of their uncleanness and what necessity there was of an interiour parification which could not be done but by that Lamb which takes away the sinnes of the World in fine he tells them that the baptisme of Jesus Christ is a renovation of the soul by

obedience and without murmuring or replies glorifie the doctrine of Jesus Christ and let Infidels see it belongs onely to the Gospel to produce such servants Masters do not abuse the patience of your slaves nor continually torment them let not their ears be alwaies filled with threats and reproachfull language and much less use the staffe or whip Know you have all one Master who is in heaven who from thence sees in what manner you treat them and who makes no distinction of persons in his justice give unto them those things which are necessary have a due regard of them in their health and sickness and remember that he who neglects them is worse then an Infidel for even then he renounces his faith In baptism they are made your brothers they are called to the same inheritance and that little distinction betwixt you and them in the world will quickly vanish Virgins be carefull that you be as chast in your mindes as in your bodies Study onely to please our Lord who is your Spouse and who ought to be all things to you Shun all occasions that may withdraw you never so little from him Nourish your selves with praier and consider your bodies as an enemy of whom you must be alwaies in distrust Widdows if you have children let your care be employed in governing yonr families You are deprived of a great support in the loss of your husbands but God is called the husband of Widdows and if you put your trust in him you will not be forsaken prayer ought to be your daily and nightly entertainment and let the modesty of your attire be such as by it one may judge of the inclinations of your heart and the purity of your Widdowhood All that savours either of curiosity affectation or vanity is very ill beseeming your condition You ought to be retired and to love solitude In fine if you plunge your selves in delights what exteriour profession soever you make of piety devotion seeming to lead the life of the new man yet 't is certain you are dead in the eies of God Whilest the Apostle thus discoursed the night advanced nor were his auditors at all weary to heare so admirable instructions A young man called Euthicus heard him from a window a great while but at last surprised with sleep hee fell down dead from the third story This fearfull accident interrupted the Apostle but it was an occasion to conclude his Sermon with a miracle For he went down from the room and layed himselfe upon the dead body and by that sovereigne imbrace restored him to life Then presently he went up again and after he had eaten distributed the holy bread he spake to the faithfull untill the break of day and then took his leave His Companions went to a town called Asson near to Troad and thither he came to them by land as he had agreed There they re-imbarqued together and the first town they put into was Mytilen The next day they cast anchor before the Island of Chyo the third day before Samos the fourth in the harbor of Milletum He would not go to Ephesus fearing he might there be stayed and so hindred from keeping the feast of Pentecost at Hierusalem as he had designed notwithstanding he could not pass so near this great City where he had gained such glorious Conquests without informing himself of the condition of that Church since his departure For which cause hee sent unto the Priests who governed there to come and speak with him St. Irenaeus sayes that hee convocated the Bishops and Priests of the next adjacent places The text of St. Luke speaks nothing of it but if we will consider the forme of Ecclesiasticall Government in that time there is no doubt but by that word Elders or Priests the Bishop of Ephesus who was the chief of them was comprised This news was very welcome to them and after he had imbraced them all he spake in this manner Deare Brethren being so neare I could not pass by without giving my self the comfort of seeing you and withall to assure you the holy affection I bear you is alwayes residing firme in my heart You may remember in what manner I lived since the first day I came into Asia I had nothing in my thoughts but the service of my Master and the health of your Souls I have humbly delivered a Gospel of humility The persecutions which the Jews raised against me I have opposed onely with my praiers and tears nor did they at all abate my courage At all hours on all occasions in all places both in publique and private I have preached to them as well as to the Gentiles the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and the necessity of pennance In summe my conscience does not accuse me to have omitted any thing that might tend to your salvation At this time leaving my self to the conduct of the holy Ghost I am going to Hierusalem not knowing what in particular might befall me although in generall the Spirit of God assures me by prophetick revelations thorow all the Cities where I am to pass that I shall suffer many afflictions But I fear neither chains nor prisons nor other punishments which attend mee For I think I can endure all by the assistance of him that strengthens me and I do not regard the preservation of my life in comparison with the performance of my duty My sole ayme is faithfully to end my cariere and perform the charge which I have received of our Lord Jesus Christ to declare unto men the happy tidings of his grace I know you will see me no more and this being the last time I shall speak to you makes me beg with the more instance that you will imprint in your memories those things which I am now about to impart unto you God has raised you to the dignity of Bishops and Priests and do not think he has done it for the love of you It is for the good of his Church which you are to governe with diligence full of fidelity I will not lay before you many considerations to let you see the importance of this your duty and the horror of your punishments which will follow your negligence It is enough that I tell you this Church whereof the holy Ghost has made you Pastors to the end you govern it is the Spouse of Jesus Christ and he has shed his bloud for her You must know it is not enough to speak to the fa●thfull you must cry out you must urge them you must conjure them you must reprove them and be not affraid to be thought impor●une There are soules which are presently gained and others that are not purchased but by violence and must be healed by sharp remedies have great attention therefore zeal in your conduct that you may gain every one to God Regard neither condition wit riches nor the like which may make you desist or condescend to any thing that is base