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	temple_n	7,031	5	7.9574	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90861	Innocencie appearing, through the dark mists of pretended guilt. Or, A full and true narration of the unjust and illegal proceedings of the commissioners of Berks, (for ejecting scandalous and insufficient ministers) against John Pordage of Bradfield in the same county. In which he is justly vindicated from the unjust and horrid aspersions of blasphemy, divelism or necromancie, scandal in his life, and all things else falsly objected against him by his enemies. Published for the clearing of truth, and the detecting of malice and subtilty, and for the prevention of all mispprehensions that may be caused by any scandalous pamphlets, and false relations of the proceedings in his case. As likewise for the information of all sober-minded Christians touching his judgement in many things of high concernment, and particularly concerning chastity, virginity, apparitions of spirits, visions, communion with the holy angels, the invisible worlds, magistracy, &c. / Written by the said John Pordage.	Pordage, John, 1607-1681.	1655 (1655)	Wing P2967; Thomason E1068_7; ESTC R210422	152,492	125

into a judicious Court for whose name and reputation may not be blasted if such libellous illegal things so long past should be received into Courts of Judicature as accusations to condemn them 3. Though that crime which my accuser would render me suspected for by this circumstantial Deposition had been ever so clearly proved yet the date of it being 9 or ten years since had put it quite out of the cognizance of the Commissioners not only by the Act of general pardon but also by another Law made particularly by the Parliament in reference to things of this nature which takes away all legal guilt from any persons that are not accused within a year after the commission of any such crime besides the Act to which the Commissioners are confined as their rule to judge of scandal was made many years since therefore I say they neither had nor have any power to take a business so long past though otherwise ever so criminal into their cognizance But notwithstanding these things the Commissioners sent a Summons for Mrs Flavel though they had no positive Charge against her In the answer to the third Article you may see a reason why she hath since been called by this name and after her appearance would have forced an Oath upon her and examined her to questions concerning her self but she as in justice she might refused to answer them alleadging that if any one durst lay any positive crime to her charge she would answer by the mouth of her Lawyer Whereupon the Commissioners threatned to send her immemediately to Prison though they durst positively accuse her of nothing Art 33. That he is a very ignorant and insufficient man for the work of the Ministry George Hastlet of Bradfield Weaver sworn and examined deposeth That he heard Dr Pordage in a Sermon in the Church of Bradfield about This Deponent I objected against as a Drunkard and so an insufficient Witness in things of such high concernment and as he confessed he wrote not down the particulars he here attests and so might easily mix truths and mistakes together as really he doth two years since deliver That it was a vain thing to trust in the bloud of him that died at Jerusalem 1600 years since or more unless it were acted in me or in thee for that was but in the Type the substance must be fulfilled in us and that Christ must be crucified in us we must have the Jews and Pilat to put him to death in us otherwise it was a vain thing to believe in him that died at Jerusalem 1600 years since without us Note As I own and imbrace the Historical birth life death and resurrection of Christ without us with the blessed effects of them clearly held forth in the Gospel so do I also believe the mystical birth death and resurrection of Christ in us according to the Scriptures Mat. 12. 50. Gal. 3. 1. Ephes 2. 5. And to say that both these are necessary to be known at least experimentally enjoyed by all that will be saved and that it is vain to depend upon the first without some sence and feeling of the last as it is to depend upon a notional justification without a real sanctification I say to averr this is not against nay altogether according to the holy Scriptures For we know that Christ Iesus is in us except we be reprobates and if we have not his Spirit we are none of his This Deponent further saith That the said Dr about a moneth since in Bradfield Church did deliver That doubtless the Apostles by that This is but the single testimony of an insufficient Witness as I hinted before Text Know you not that your bodies are the Temple of the holy Ghost did not mean these earthly bodies Note I never denied our elemental bodies to be the mediate Temples of the holy Ghost but the immediate for the immediate Temple of the Spirit is the Image of God in us which is renewed in righteousness and true holiness and may truely be called the Body of righteousness and life in opposition to that body of sin and death Rom. 7. 24. which hath many members Colos 3. 5. being the evil corrupt inclinations and habits of the old man This inward body which is the immediate Temple of the Spirit is called Rev. 16. 15. our garments which we are exhorted there to keep lest we walk naked and the armour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of light Rom. 13. 12. which we are there commanded to put on in opposition to the works of darkness which we are to cast off This may also be called our pure flesh in opposition to that sinfull flesh spoken of Rom. 7. 18. And as in the last there dwels no good thing so in the first nothing but good being it is the immediate Tabernacle of the Here was no concurrent testimony and so not a valid proof according to the Ordinance holy Ghost Ioel 2. 28. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh And this Deponent further saith The Dr did deliver That by that Text Gen. 18. 19. I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him c. was not meant the outward houshold of Abraham but his inward houshold his will and affections which he was Lord Paramount over and he quoted that Text in the last of Ioshua As for me and my house we will serve the Lord which he likewise said was the inward house and not the outward This was about two years since as far as this Deponent can remember and the Deponent saith he judged the same contrary to the mind of the holy Ghost Note Had the Commissioners allowed me so much time as to have brought in what evidence I could against this mans deposition I should have proved that in the tenor of my Ministry I never denied or rejected the historical and litteral sence of the Scriptures for which there can be no just ground * As in the forecited place where I said that by Abrahams houshold in the letter was meant his external houshold viz. his wife children and servants but in the mystery his internal viz. his mind will affections and inward motions But that I have usually joyned the litteral and allegorical interpretation together even as Paul doth Gal. 4. 24 25 26. which sweetly united cannot but make an amiable harmony And the Deponent mistakes in saying I excluded the History for I had before opened it in the plain Historical sence and afterward came to open it mystically in making a spiritually moral use of those Scriptures in applying them to the work of God upon the inward man Let the Reader further know That the Commissioners could not in justice take this as evidence against me because it was all brought the very day of my sentence I having no time allowed me to make my defence by the testimonies of some other that constantly hear me who might have certified this deponents

any other means then by Gods blessing upon our fasting and prayers I shall judge my self worthy of punishment but otherwise it is hard measure to be prosecuted and prejudiced for the malice of the Devil towards me inflicting what I was passive in and could not help especially by those who profess the Christian Religion and know that the God of heaven rules over all permitting and disposing of what ever comes to passe Art 14. That Mrs. Margaret Pendar doth think she was bewitched by them of Bradfield 1. Part. Ans Here is a long and tedious Relation in which truth and untruths are mixed together the whole structure of which Relation so far as it concerns me depends on this weak Basis and foundation That she thinks she was bewitched by them of Bradfield But what a sad thing is this for my accuser to impeach me for that which might endanger if true my Estate and life upon the thoughts of a discomposed maid because she thinks I sent those visions therefore I must be thus arraigned But for my part I do not believe she dare say so much less swear it having no ground at all for it 2. Part. Ans I shall briefly relate some circumstances which concern this business and may serve something to clear it up Before these visions of hers I had never seen her as I know of nor exchanged so much as a word with her in the time of her visions Mr. Daniel Blagrave whose servant then she was came for me himself to fetch me to his house to visit her To which motion I yielded being suitable to the Law of Christian Charity and when I came I had no conference with her but in the presence of Master and Mistriss Blagrave with others that were then present And from this visit there arose a rumor that I was a Conjurer and a Sorcerer which report was spread abroad by two that carry the name of Ministers of Christ Mr. Fowler and Mr. Ford the last of which so exceeded the bounds of Charity and Christian moderation as in his Sermon at the Assizes to call me a horrid blasphemer asserting that the Devil was as visibly familiar in my Family as my own servants and so excited the Magistrates to persecute me 3. Part. Ans As for those untruths which are mixed in the Relation I shall not trouble my self to answer them for I know when they come to be sworn to and to be cross-examined they will appear to be but the fulfilling of that wicked Maxim Calumniare audacter aliquid haerebit Calumniate and asperse boldly something will stick Which being a piece of Jesuitical policy hath been practised by my accuser in this confused Rapsodie of Articles Articles of one Francis Knight of Wallingford Art 1. THat some of Blewbery who spake against Marriage said they came then from my house Ans I hope I have enough to do to answer for my self what need the assertions of others be alleadged as Articles against me They spake against Marriage having lately been at my house therefore I must be guilty of it surely this Consequence is neither according to natural artificial nor divine reason Art 2. That my Chamber hath been filled with Spirits Ans I hope none will be so unadvised as to swear to this Article being Spirits are immaterial and cannot take up place or fill a room Art 3. That I Preached That Water-baptism was not an Ordinance of Jesus Christ Ans It was never so Preached by me all that I then affirmed was this That Water-baptism could not be proved to be the Ordinance of Christ by way of eminency so called from that Text of Scripture Mat. 28. 19. Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost for that Baptism may very well be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit which by the Disciples was instrumentally administred to all Converts yet I denied not Water-baptism to be a Gospel-Ordinance instituted by John as the chief Instrument under God from whom he received his Commission And that this was the sum of what I then Preached I can prove by Oath Art 4. That about 1653. I was commanded by my Angel or from heaven to give off Preaching and to take no more Tythes but that since I have had a dispensation Ans I believe no one that hath the fear of God before his eyes dare attest this Article by Oath which is here stated This is answer enough to such a thing which is meerly brought in as an odium by my accuser the more to prejudice me Art 5. That in July 1654. I was taken up into heaven c. Ans If Paul were now upon the earth he were in danger to be accused by my accuser for his rapture into Heaven or Paradice but this concerning me will prove but some idle dream created by some bodies fancy to make people wonder at me Art 6. That I cursed the people of Bradfield in my Pulpit and their posterity for ever c. Ans This Article was one of those heard and examined four years since by the Committee of Plundered Ministers from which I was acquitted by them these Witnesses viz. Richard Luington John Hambleton Mary Pocock Richard Holmes with four more attesting by Oath that I did not curse the people of Bradfield so as is expressed in the Article The Testimony of these Witnesses was this That they being present September 29. the Dr. expressed himself thus Bradfield is a place partly made famous partly infamous by reason of the false and lying reports that are abroad but I say Cursed be the tongue and the mouth that shall say That what is done by the power of God is done by the power of the Devil What one Parishioner is here cursed by me except any ones conscience accuseth him of the guilt of that forementioned Blasphemy Art 7. Concerning the little Horn mentioned Dan. 7. to be Christ This Article was four years since exhibited against me from which I was discharged by the Committee Richard Higs Iohn Higs and Richard Luington attesting on Oath that I paraphrasing on the seventh of Daniel and speaking on the little Horn said That some Interpreters would have the little horn in the letter to be meant of Antiochus Epiphanes a bloudy and persecuting Tyrant others think the little horn to be the Turk who is a great persecuter of Christians but in the mystery in regard of its power we will apply it to the power of Christ in a Christian who is often in Scripture resembled to the horn of David and to the horn of salvation and that upon three Considerations Consid 1. In regard that Christs power in the soul doth appear to be a little horn a small despised instrument to sense and reason for flesh and bloud look on it as a poor instrument in regard of bringing down the strength of sin in us Consid 2. In regard of sin and Satan who laughs the power of Christ in the soul

single eye of thy glory All things within and without stand naked and unvailed before thee being more then transparent to thy all-discerning sight I therefore appeal from mans day Iudgement and condemning Sentence to thy day Iudgement and acquitting voice from mans dark erroneous sight to thy penetrating clear all-seeing eye Thou knowest I am not guilty of these Blasphemies and horrid things laid to my charge Thou knowest that my solemn protestation is from the sincerity of my heart Thou knowest that it never entred into the intention of my soul to deny the holy Trinity or the Godhead of Christ whom I own to be God coequal and coeternal with the Father Thou knowest I am not guilty of holding that Christ was not perfect or that his righteousness is not a fruitfull powerfull everlasting righteousness or that his bloud is not cleansing meriting reconciling bloud Thou seest how my innocency in reference to these things is overshadowed with the dark clouds of false aspersions and undue accusations Othou bright Eye of Divine Glory dost not thou see and behold the innocent sufferings of my person name Estate and Family for thy sake Dost not thou know that I have been oft cast into the Den of Lyons and into the fiery Furnace of wrath and envy for thy names sake O gracious God how oft have I been reviled numbred amongst transgressors made as a scorn and odium amongst men looked upon as the off-scouring of the earth and now at last civilly put to death cast out of their Synagogues and by unjust entence ejected out of that Estate which was thy gift and all this for thy truth and life O blessed Majestie dost not thou behold the naked simplicity and simple innocency of thy servants spirit who to the utmost of his power resigns up his body soul and spirit to follow the righteous Law of Sanctity Purity and Virginity through the mortification of the sences the crucifying of the old man and the casting away of the body of sin in conformity to the cross death and resurrection of Christ that so at length by the supply and vertue of thy spirit there might be an actual conquest attained over sin hel and death O thou Eye of Eternity thou beholdest my will resigned to thine without moving this way or that as to the permanency of or freedom from these sufferings O my God thou knowest I can neither desire the continuing censures and condemnation of the world nor the justification of my person and thy cause from the mouthes of the just though in pure obedience to thy will calling me to it I have addressed my self to the higher Powers that they might be left inexcusable and have by writing exhibited the innocency of that life imbodied in flesh which by the envy and subtilty of Satan hath been so much levelled at and over-clouded by the mists and arrows of wrath and darkness And now I stand resigned in obedience to thy will the true rule of righteousness to continue a publick signe and witness-bearer of Christs sufferings and to be made yet more vile and contemptible for his sake who enduring the Cross and despising the shame now sits enthroned at thy own right hand O omniscient Majestie thou knowest we are neither the better nor the worse for the justification or condemnation of our fellow-creatures there is no satisfaction in man or the things of man therefore the spirit of thy servant flyes to thee like a dove into the true Ark of rest to be caught up into thy eye and to be taken into thy heart and bosom-love for in such union oft lies union of hearts union of wils and union of spirits there is satisfaction only O how my soul groans after this union with thee and presential enjoyment of thee O my God even to feed continually on the tree of life to live in the day and light of thy glory to see and behold the beauties of thy inmost holy habitation to eat yea to banquet on Christs flesh and to drink and that abundantly of his holy bloud to be replenished and drencht throughout with the wine and oyle of the holy Ghost for the full enjoyment of which thy servant shall continually wait upon thee retiring from the broken Cisterns of the Creature to thee the Fountain of all good to whom with thy eternal Son and holy Spirit be rendred of Saints Angels and all creatures glory praise and Halleluiahs for ever Now I have run through the substantials of my Appendix in which I have exhibited the reasons grounds and issue of my appeal the last of which hath been a denial of affording me a re-hearing whence I am forced to appeal to the just Judge of heaven and earth who will certainly render to every one according to his works even reward and honour to the innocent but judgement and disgrace to the guilty and though my adversaries may yet proceed to add iniquity to iniquity even to justifie by writing what they have most unjustly acted against me yet I shall have much peace in my conscience in what I have here done to shew impartially the truth of things however the prejudiced world steere their judgement of me which cannot but be very hard and injurious if they believe that late Named M. L. Register c. Though t is certain he never made the Pamphlet nor Epistle to it Pamphletier who reckons me guilty of Sorcery uncleanness blasphemy c. as though they had been proved against me referring the Reader to the whole proceedings which as he saies are shortly to be made publick Now if we may judge of these by their Praecursor I can expect nothing but such a misrepresenting of the proceedings as M. Ford produced before sentence and to be condemned for what I was accused of and for the horrid things exhibited against me which was the rule of the Commissioners proceedings as the Author of the Praecursor in page 5. expresseth in these words Who were to proceed secundum allegata exhibita as really they did for they gave sentence according to the crimes alleadged and exhibited against me not secundum probata or things legally proved and really by the false reports of some of the Commissioners since And by the bitterness and untruths of the Author of the Praecursor sentence concerning what hath been proved against me I cannot expect any thing better then to be represented guilty of blasphemy sorcery uncleanness Rantism and all things that may seem to make me vile and contemptible and worthy of death or See the Praecursor page 1. in the last notes upon the Epistle and pag. 3 at the latter part banishment But in reference to this I desire only the Reader seriously to weigh the proofs on both sides which have faithfully been transcribed by me from the Depositions together with those other evidences I produced to clear things which the Court would not admit of though in equity they ought to have done it I say I desire these may be seriously weighed together because it is unsuitable to that devoted silent life and way I desire to live in to make rejoinders and frame replies by way of contest and dispute being willing rather to enjoy my God in the retired silence of abstract contemplation and to lie under the reproaches sladers revilings and passionate censures of my adversaries then trouble my spirit with any more things of this nature especially in this time when Christ is entring into a severe Judgement with all Isa 66. 16. Isa 65. 18. flesh and making way for his coming in power and glory to make all things new and cause old things to be no more e remembred JOHN PORDAGE FINIS Reader Whereas by the sides of most Articles in the third Charge it is wrote not proved at all the sense is That nothing was said at all to prove them And further know that my affairs not permitting me to attend the Printing many faults have escaped the most considerable of which thou maist here take notice of ERRATA PAg. 5 r. Punietur l. 15 16. a fine for Government r. Parliament and for Parliament r. Government p. 7. l. 9. dele his l. 5 9. a fine r. Pendarvis p. 11. l. 12. r. the want p. 26. l. 2. r. chap. 3. l. 3. r. Rev. 12. p. 27. l. 8. a fine r. As it is here stated p. 30. l. 1. dele when p. 33. l. 11. for returned r. retired p. 36. r. further time p. 41. in marg d for is r. I am p. 41. l 8. a fine dele were p. 54. l. 6. a fine dele reserve p. 56. l. 7 ab Art 1. r. depose p. 68. l. 8. mid Paragh for word r. world p. 73. marg a r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marg f r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 74. l. 1. r. cloudy p. 77. l. 14. for persecution r. perfection l. 23. del out l 9. a fine for external r. eternal p. 79. l. ult r. your persecutions p. 80. l. 13. r. of by the Prophets l. 23. r. your kingdom p. 88. l. 9. for certified r. rectified p. 91. l. 6. ad fin r. that it is p. 92. l. 2. r and that p. 94. fig. 22. l. 2. r. the first p. 96. in marg del that p. 97. l. 22. r. could not do it p. 102. l. 6. a fine r. accuser p. 101. l. 3. r. know p. 107. l. 25. r. politie is contrived p. 113. l. 28 9. r. union of eyes

persecuting condemning and ejecting some of Gods precious Saints must unavoidably revolve and bring guilt upon you all because they act from your power and may be strained when you please But whatever you shall hereafter act in reference to this though many cannot but expect either the nulling or limiting the Ordinance by an Appeal I have discharged my conscience in presenting these things to be considered of in reference to your own happiness and the good of others who may by sufferings be concerned in it as also performed my duty as to my own Case in appealing to you and presenting my grievance in expectation of redress but whether the present necessity and justness of my cause did not call for more then a rejection of my due request let all sober Christians and your own consciences judge And I pray God this denial be not laid to your charge in the day of visitation And if you yet persist in the resolutions of granting me no Appeal and giving me wholly up to the oppression and cruelty of my enemies I shall appeal to the great Iudge of men and Angels resigning my self and Family into his hand who I hope will deal more mercifully with you in the time of his Iudgement then you have yet with me and mine in the time of our distress Which is the cordial and sincere desire of Your Servant in the love and under the Cross of Christ JOHN PORDAGE To my Judges the Commissioners and their Assistants the Ministers Gentlemen REmember Christs command Judge not that ye be not judged But ye have judged already and therefore must be your selves judged The same measure you have given me shall once be retaliated to you your selves when their unjust sentence and proceedings come to be weighed in the just ballance of the Lord who hath certainly a great controversie with those who pretend Iustice and call upon his name yet deal unjustly and persecute his nature appearing in his children I shall desire you therefore to forbear your persecutions as much for your own sakes as for those who do and may lye under the scourge of it for they will assuredly draw judgements upon you and cry aloud in the ears of Jehovah for due vengeance You know God did not bring that last and utter desolation upon the Nation of the Iews until they had filled up the measure of their sins by conspiring against and murthering Christ and his Disciples after his death under the pretence of zeal and Gods-service Now what is done to the least of his is done to Christ himself And are not you found doing the same work with those who killed the Prophets and stoned those who were sent to them For as much as in you lay you have slain those who are the annointed of Christ and so have condemned him in his members and overclowded him with all manner of reproaches and railing-accusations Remember the four Kings overthrown by Abraham and was it not because they had led captive one Saint even righteous Lot The Heathen Princes little thought what a prisoner they had they took him in the croud amongst the most wicked of People yet God was so tender of him that he was delivered and they that took him ruined being forced to part with his person and goods which they had unjustly taken away and many of them with their own lives For the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous and reserve the wicked to the day of vengeance O remember this you that drive so furiously against the pure Life of God imbodiea in his Saints Take heed lest this your persecution proves a National sin and brings guilt upon all who thorow mistakes or otherwise permit or countenance it how was Abimelech and his Family punished for his unjust though involuntary prejudicing of Abraham and how had the whole Nation suffered had he not repented and returned Sarah How graciously did God deal with Joseph after the execution of his Brethrens malice in preferring of him and making him a preserver to those who had dealt so cruelly with him And certainly the time is at hand when the Saints who have been judged and condemned for their Testimony to truth as Hereticks and evil doers shall judge the world and possess the kingdom and shall have power over the Nations to execute judgement and righteousness in the earth but I mean not in a fleshly way of force and violence with the material sword but in a spiritual manner by the power and Majesty of Gods Holy Spirit which must destroy Antichrist that man of sin that hath so long sate in the Temple of God as God This day will destroy and break your power by and from which you have unrighteously sentenced me And I may ask you for which of my good works have you condemned me Though I know you are ready to answer me as the Iews did Christ Not for thy good works but because thou art a Blasphemer Was not Christ thus judged as an evil doer though he never committed any evil Was he not condemned as a blasphemer and a Conjurer And was not the Civil and Ecclesiastical powers combined in his condemnation Pontius Pilate and the High Priest with the Scribes and Pharisees consenting to it Though the Magistrate was excited and drawn to it by the Ecclesiastical men and their adherents even as it was now And have you not said to the Civil powers O ye Ministers that it was expedient for me to be civilly put to death by Sentence and Ejectment or else the whole Nation and Tribe might perish and be brought into contempt And have you not followed the steps of your forefathers in thus arguing that if the Magistrate let me alone many would follow me and my Doctrine and so your Ministry and names would be eclipsed and disappear and did you not cry out to the Magistrates that if they let me go they were not Gods nor Caesars friends But you will say to me Do you make your self Christ God forbid I mean not so But this I say that every Saint being a member and so a part of Christ what is done to the least of his is done to him and therefore what you have acted against that life of Innocency purity and simplicity which by the grace of God dwells in me you have acted against the Christ the Son of God And therefore what can be said but that ye are the children and followers of those who killed the Prophets and slew those that were sent to them from God not sparing his onely Begotten Son who came to save them from their sins and transgressions But these persecutions brought judgements and desolations upon the Authors according as the Prophets and Christ himself praedicted and the event shewed and let me tell you to whom I write that if you follow this trade if you persevere in this way of persecution if you thus lay your hands on your fellow-servants and abuse them by scandals reproaches censures Ejectments and illegal