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	scripture_n	19,615	5	6.1818	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53677	The church of Rome, no safe guide, or, Reasons to prove that no rational man, who takes due care of his own eternal salvation, can give himself up unto the conduct of that church in matters of religion by John Owen ...	Owen, John, 1616-1683.	1679 (1679)	Wing O727; ESTC R16357	32,804	52

this pretence For 1. All Believers are commanded themselves to examine and try all false Teachers Prophets and Spirits that are not of God Doctrines subverting the Faith and endangering the souls of men which is utterly inconsistent with that absolute universal Resignation of themselves unto the Guidance of the Church of Rome which is claimed by it See 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. 2. They are directed unto the Way Means and Rule whereby they must make this Trial and come unto the final determination in their own minds Isa. 8. 20. 2 Pet. 1. v. 19. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And this also is diametrically opposite unto that Resignation of themselves unto the Church of Rome which it requireth of them 3. They have a Guide promised unto them to give them an understanding of the Rule in the discharge of this Duty and to enable them to make a right and safe Determination thereon Joh 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2 26 27. These things are consistent with a Ministerial Guide such as is found in all true Churches wherein none pretend to be Lords of our Faith but only helpers of our Joy But with a Supreme Authoritative Guide requiring an absolute Resignation of our understandings and consciences unto it self they are altogether inconsistent This is the substance of our case and this is the Determination of it given us by the Holy Ghost Diversities and Divisions in Principles Opinions and Practices in Religion are supposed unto as great an height as they can beat at this day in the World Teachers speaking perverse things departures from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils Teachers not enduring sound Doctrine turning away mens Ears from the Truth and turning them unto Fables false Teachers bringing in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them many following their pernicious waies Spirits of false Prophets going out in the World the Spirit of Antichrist These things I say are all supposed and foretold in the Scripture In this case and state of things that we be not seduced that our souls be not ruined we are commanded our selves to try and examine all those who teach such things whether they be of God or no and by the Scripture we are to try them if we intend not to be deceived and undone for ever Unto the right understanding hereof a sure and faithful Guide is promised unto us to lead us unto all Truth so that no concernment of Religion is more plainly stated and as unto our Duty more expresly determined in the Scripture than this is It is so in a peculiar manner in the first Epistle of John the Apostle Before the end of his daies Divisions Errors Heresies began to abound in Christian Religion This he fully testifieth Chap. 4. 1 2 3 4. And Epist. the 2. 7. According unto his Duty he writes unto Believers to warn them of their danger with reference unto them that seduced them or attempted so to do chap. 2. 26. And he writes unto this purpose unto Fathers young Men and Children or professed Believers of all sorts degrees and endowments ver 12 13. and this not because they did not know the Truth but because they did know it and had experience of its Power ver 21. But in all the Directions he gives them for the discharge of their Duty so as that they might escape the dangers they were exposed unto there is not any one word any intimation that they should betake themselves unto the Guidance of this or that or any Church much less that which is called the Church of Rome But the summe of his Direction is that they should rely on the Vnction they had received from the Holy One or the Aids and Supplies of the Spirit of God to understand the Scripture in the Examination and Trial they were to make of all these things chap. 2. ver 20 27. But to preserve their Interest they tell us that these Precepts and Promises are given unto the Church and not unto individual Believers as though the Church were any thing materially but individual Believers and formally but a disposition of them into a sacred Order for their edification Man was not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath was made for man Believers were not made for the Church but the Church is made for Believers and is of no use but with respect unto their edification And to deny all individual persons to be the first object of all Gospel Precepts and Promises Churches in what sense soever you take them being so only as they are directive of their Faith and Obedience is to exempt their consciences from the Authority of Christ to turn them into beasts and to overthrow the Gospel Let men now who take care of their own eternal Salvation place themselves in their Thoughts in that condition which the present case and their own circumstances do place them in The World the Place where they live the People whereunto they do belong are filled with different Apprehensions Principles Opinions and Practices in and about Religion Some of these as those between the Papists and the Protestants have immediate influence into their eternal condition of Blessedness or Misery as both parties contend Dreadful disorders and confusions have followed and are like to follow these differences even in this World They will in this case find that it highly concerns them to take care that they be not deceived and thereby ruined eternally as multitudes are that they be not high-minded but fear A Guide is that which they are to look after that may carry them safely through all these difficulties and dangers Two immediately offer themselves unto them tendring the utmost assurance in these things which the nature of man is capable of in this world The one is the Pope or Church of Rome which requires no more of them but a blind submission unto its Guidance a way I confess to extricate themselves and to deliver them from all care about their own souls easie and facile if safe The other is the Holy Scripture with the promised Aids of the Spirit of God to lead us unto the understanding of it and the Truth contained in it But in this way it is required of men that they make use of their own Reason Understanding Judgment Diligence with fervent Prayer for Divine Assistance The present Question is Whether of these two Guides such Persons ought to betake themselves unto I am on the consideration of one directive Reason only others shall be afterwards spoken unto And this is that the Scripture which all acknowledge to be the Word of God to speak in his Name expresly supposing this case and all the circumstances of it before laid down doth thereon frequently direct and command us to make use of this latter Guide if we desire to be saved and doth no where no not once on a supposition of this case send us unto the Guidance of the Church or Pope of Rome or any other Church whatever