Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	good_a	work_n	work_v	6,969	5	7.2984	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06524	A treatise, touching the libertie of a Christian. Written in Latin by Doctor Martine Luther. And translated into English by Iames Bell; Von der Freiheit eines Christenmenschen. English	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.; Bell, James, fl. 1551-1596.; Leo X, Pope, 1475-1521.	1579 (1579)	STC 16996; ESTC S108948	46,058	126

vs. But in these our dayes we are taught by mens doctrines to séeke after nought else but deseruings and merites and the things which are our own haue made of Christ nought else but a sharp Lawmaker much more austere than Moses was Semblably the blessed virgin Mary did exhibite her selfe a singular president of the Faith aboue al others whiles after the manner of all other women she was purified according to Moses Law as it is set down in the 2 of Luke whereas being notwithstanding not bound to any such law nor néeded to be purified in any such wise yet she yéelded her selfe to the law of her own accord and of a frée loue vnto the law being made like vnto other women lest shée might seeme to offe● 〈◊〉 or despise them She was not therefore made righteous for that worke but being righteous before shee did this déed surely and without coactiō In like maner ought our workes to be put in vre not to the ●●nd to be iustified by them for as much as being iustified first by Faith it behooueth vs to worke all things fréely and cheerefully for our neighbours sake So also Paul did circumcise his scholler Timothy not because Timothy néeded to be circumcised vnto righteousnesse but left hee might offend or despise the Iewes that were weake in Faith and which as yet were not capable of the fréedome of Faith. But contrariwise when as the Iewes did vrge a necessity to be circūcised to righteousnes setting at naught the fréedome of Faith hee did withstand them and would not permit Titus to bee circumcised Galath 3. for as he would not willingly offend or contemne the imbecillitie or weakenesse of others in the Faith applying himselfe to their capacity for a time so likewise would hee not giue place to the will of stiffenecked Insticiaries when the liberty of Faith was like to suffer reproch or be despised kéeping the midway bearing with the weake for a season and alwayes setting himselfe against the indurate to the end he might conuert all in generality to embrace the liberty of Faith. With like affection must our workes bee employed that we tolerate the weaklings in Faith as the Apostle teacheth in the 14. to the Romanes but that with courage wée resist the inflexible vrgers of workes of the which wee will treate more at large hereafter Likewise Christ in the 17. of Mathew when tribute was demanded of his Disciples asked the question of Saint Peter whether the children of the Kingdome were exempt from paying Tribute and Peter affirming that they were did command him notwithstanding to goe to the Sea speaking these words Lest we giue them cause of offence goe and the Fish that first commeth to thy hands take and opening his mouth thou shalt finde a groate take the same and giue it for thee and me This example is very much auayleable for our purpose In the which Christ doth call himselfe and his Disciples frée and Kings sonnes which stand in néede of nothing and yet of his owne accord submitteth himselfe and payeth Tribute Therefore by how much this worke of Christ was necessary to Christ and profitable vnto righteousnesse and saluation euen so much are all the workes of his elect and faithfull auaileable to righteousnesse whereas they be all following after righteousnesse and freely performed onely to the necessity and example of others Of the same condition are the workes prescribed by Paul in the thirtéenth Chapter to the Romanes and in the third to Timothy That men should bee subiect to the higher powers and prepared to all good workes not because they should bee iustified thereby where as they bee righteous already through Faith but that by these they might both bée subiect to others and to the higher powers add of a frée loue yéelde humbly obedience to their will in the fréedome of the spirit Of this same sort ought the workes of all Colledges Monasteries and Priestes haue béene employed that euery of them might haue performed the workes of their profession and estate to this end that by these euery of them might exercise not righteousnes but the taming of his owne body yéelding thereby example to others who haue themselues also néede to chastise their owne bodyes Then also that they might expresse humble obedience to others applying themselues to their commandement of a frée loue hauing neuerthelesse a speciall regard alwaies to this onely to witte that through vaine confidence none of them presume to be iustified to merite or to be saued by them which thing is the proper and peculiar office o● Faith onely as I haue often said before Therefore who so were furnished wit● this doctrine might easily without danger wade in these infinite impositions an● traditions of the Pope of Bishops o● Mon●keries of Churches of Princes an● Magistrates the which some foolish pastors doe so obtrude vpon vs as though they were of an vnauoydable necessitie to bee performed for the obtaining of righteousnesse and saluation calling them commonly the iniunctions of the Church being in déede nothing lesse For a Christian man may deba●e with himselfe on this wise I will fast I will pray I will apply my selfe to all whatsoeuer is commanded by men not because I need to doe any of these to procure righteousnesse or saluation by them but because I will expresse mine obedience herein to the Pope to the Bishops to the Potentate and to the Magistrate or to my neighbour for example sake for this cause I will doe and suffer all things euen as Christ did worke and suffer many greater things for my sake whereof he needed not to doe any one being made for my sake subiect vnto the law when as in deede he was not vnder the law And although these things be exacted of me through the tyrannous force and iniurious tyranny of the Magistrates yet shall they be no preiudice to me so lōg as they be not against the glory of God. The premisses considered it is an easie matter for any man to iudge certainly betwixt the difference of all works and al lawes know skilfully who be blind and witlesse Preachers who be true faithfull pastors For whatsoeuer worke bée not directed to this only marke namely to be employed to the chastismēt of the body or to the dutiful cōsideration of the neighbor so that it enforce not any thing directly against Gods glory surely the work is neither good nor Christianlike And this is the cause that I feare me much very few Colledges at all any Monasteries Altars or any Ecclesiastical exercises at this day be not truly Christian that also as well those proper peculiar fastings as the petty prayers to certain Saints be not Christiā I feare me much I say that in al these things regard is had of nought else but that which appertayneth to our selues whiles we be thus minded that by meanes of these exercises our sins are cleansed saluatiō obtained

enquire of the person that maketh the works that glorifieth and bringeth foorth the works And the same is the very Fayth of the heart the head and substance of all our righteousnesse whereupon it followeth that the doctrine that teacheth the satisfaction of the law by meanes of works is blinde and perilous for as much as before all works it behooueth that all the Commandements bee accomplished and that works doe follow after this fulfilling of the law as wee shall heare more at large afterwards But to the end wee may more manifestly behold this grace which this our inward man doth possesse in Christ it is to be obserued that in the old Testament God did sanctify to himselfe the first borne of euery mankinde the first brith was wonderfully estéemed surmounting all other in double honour Namely in the Priesthood and in the kingdome for the first begotten brother was Priest Lord of all other vnder which shadow Christ was prefigured vnto vs the true and only first begotten of God the Father of the virgin Mary and the true King and Priest but not according to the flesh and the world for his kingdome is not of this world he raigneth and sanctifieth in spirituall and heauenly things which are righteousnes truth wisdō peace saluatiō c. Not as though all things of this world and of hell were not also in subiection vnto him otherwise how could he preserue and defend vs from them all but because his kingdome doth consist neither in them nor of them Euen so neither his Priesthood doth consist in outward pompe of apparell and gestures such as the humane Priesthood of Aaron was and as our ecclesiasticall Priesthood is at this day but in spirituall things by the which he doth make intercession for vs vnto God the father in heauen by a certaine inuisible office and there doth offer vp himselfe and performeth all things that behooued a Priest to doe Euen as Paul doth describe him by a figure of Melchisedech in his Epistle to the Hebrues Neither doth he only pray and make intercession for vs but also doth teach instruct vs inwardly in spirit with the liuely doctrine of his spirit which two are the peculiar properties of a Priest which also is figured in carnall Priests by praiers visible preachings And euen as Christ by his first birth did obtaine these two dignities so doth he impart and communicate the same to euery his faithfull spouse by the right of the foresaid mariage wherby they are al spouses whosoeuer are espoused to the husband And hereof commeth it that we all that beléeue in Christ are Priests and kings in Christ as in the first of Peter the second Chapter You be a chosen kindred a people of adoption a kingly priesthood and a priestly kingdome to the end you should shew forth his power who hath caled you from darknesse into his maruellous light which two are thus to be taken First as concerning the kingdome euery faithfull Christian through Fayth is so aduanced aboue all other things that in spirituall power he is become Lord ouer all so that none of all the creatures can doe him any harme at all Nay rather all things are made subiect vnto him and compelled to serue for his safety according to the testimony of Paul in the eight to the Romans All things doe worke together to the elect to good Likewise in the first to the Corinthians the third Chapter All things are yours whether it be life or death things present or things to come but you are Christs Not that to euery Christian all préeminence is giuen in bodily power to possesse and rule ouer all things which furious frensie hath bewitched many our Prelates euery where for this dominion is proper to Kings Princes and Potentates of the earth whereas the very vse and manner of our liues doth sufficently teach vs that we are subiect to all that we doe endure many tribulations yea euen die the death Nay rather by how much a Christian doth excell in Christianity by so much the more is he subiect vnto all inconueniences vexations and deaths as wee may easily sée in the very flower of the first borne Christ himselfe and all his holy brethren This power is spirituall which doth beare dominion euen in the middest of enemies and is mighty euen amiddest the very tortures which is nothing else in effect but that power is made perfect in weaknesse and that in all things I may make gaine for my safety insomuch that the crosse and death it selfe may bee compelled to serue for my behoofe and to worke my saluation and this is that high and notable dignity yea that true omnipotent power the spirituall kingdome wherein nothing is so good nothing so bad which shall not worke to my good so that I beléeue And yet haue I néed of nothing sithens only faith doth suffice to saluation but that faith may in the same exercise her force the dominion of her liberty Behold now this is that inestimable power and liberty of Christians So also we be not only most frée kings of all other but we be Priests also for euer which doth farre surpasse all kingdomes For through our Priesthood we are made worthy to appeare before God to plead and pray for other men one to instruct the other the things that are of god For these be the offices peculiar vnto Priests which can in no wise be committed to any vnbeléeuer Such a prerogatiue hath Christ obtained for vs that as ioynt brethren coheires and ioyntkings so also we should be vnto him ioyntpriests presuming boldly with confidence through the spirit of Faith to preach vnto the presence of God and to cry vnto him Abba Father and to pray for each other and to doe all things that we see to be executed figured by the visible and corporall function of the Priests But vnto the vnbeléeuer nothing serueth or worketh vnto good but hee is become seruant of all other to whom all things turne vnto euill because he doth wickedly employ all his endeauor for his owne behoofe and not to the glory of god And by this meanes he is neither Priest but prophane whose prayer turneth vnto sinne nor doth appeare before God because God doth not heare sinners Wherfore who is able to comprehend the preheminence of Christiā dignity which through her own kingly power executeth dominion ouer all things ouer death life sinne c. and which through her priestly glory is able to work all things in the sight of God because God doth bring to passe the things for the which he doth pray wish as it is written He shall worke the will of them that feare him shall heare their petitions shall saue them To this glory surely is no possible accesse by working but onely by faith and beliefe By the premisses may euery man easily perceiue

come And for this cause the Apostle in the eight to the Romanes doth call this the first fruits of the Spirit which we doe enioy in this life the tenth and fulnesse of which spirit we shall receiue in the life to come To this belongeth that whereof we spak before namely that a Christian man is seruant of all and subiect to all for in this that hee is frée hee worketh nothing but in this that he is a seruant hee worketh all things Now let vs sée how these two will stand together Albeit man bee sufficiently iustified by faith in the inward Man Spiritually as I sayd before enioying all that hee ought to haue sauing that hee must by daily encreasings enlarge this same faith and riches of grace vntill he be vnclothed of his flesh yet remayneth still in this mortall life vpon the face of the earth wherein he must of very necessity nourish his owne body and be conuersant amongst men And euen here now works doe begin to take their entrance Héere we may not giue our selues to idlenesse Here now we must apply our selues earnestly to exercise this body with fastings watchings labours and other moderate disciplines to bring it in subiection to the spirit that it may become obedient to faith and conforme it selfe to the inward man that it rebell not nor hinder the spirit following therein his owne naturall inclination if it be not otherwise tamed for the inward man being alike fashioned vnto God and created after the image of God through faith is both ioyfull and comfortable for the loue he hath to Christ in whom he is endued with so many good things whereupon in this only doth it occupy it selfe namely to serue the Lord with a frée loue with ioy and thanks Now whiles it is exercised in this course behold in her owne flesh it findeth a contrary will which trauelleth altogether to serue the world and to séeke the things that are her owne which the spirit of Faith cannot away withall nor is able to endure it and therefore with valiant courage attempteth to subdue and tame this rebellious will as Paul witnesseth in the seuenth to the Romans I am delighted with the Law of God in mine inward man but I see another Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my minde leading me captiue into the law of sinne And in another place I do chastise my body bring it into subiection lest whiles I preach to others I my selfe may be found a castaway And in the fifth to the Galath They that are of Christ haue crucified the flesh and the concupiscences thereof But neither we may do these workes in any wise being of the opinion that man may bee iustified through them in the sight of god For this false opinion is not tolerable in the eye of Faith which Faith is the only righteousnesse before god But in these workes wee must bee of the minde so to bring the flesh into subiection and to cleanse the euill concupiscences thereof that it may not bend the view of the eye to any thing else than to the mortifying of euill concupiscence and lust For when the soule is washed cleane through faith and made the dearling of Christ it would also desire that all things else yea and her owne body chiefely might be purged together withall to the end all things in her might loue and glorifie God together whereby it commeth to passe that man through an enforcing necessity of the flesh may not giue himselfe to idlenesse for that cause is constrayned to doe many good things to the end hee may bring his body into subiection And yet these works are not of such power as to bee able to worke mans iustification before god But man of a very pure loue doth worke the same to the seruice and obedience of God beholding in them nothing else than Gods good will vnto the which he would most willingly and dutifully yéeld alhumbie obedience in all things By this meanes euery man may easily direct himselfe how he ought most orderly as the saying is and most commodiously attemper his owne body for hée shall fast so much watch and labour to much as shall seeme most expedient for the taming of the wantonnesse and licentiousnesse of his body But those that doe vaunt to be iustified by works doe regard not the mortificatiō of the flesh and the lusts thereof but the works thēselues being of opiniō that if they do very many great good déeds they are thereby in good case are become iust therewith somtime hurting the braines and destroying nature vtterly or at least making it vnprofitable And this is a wōderful folly grosse ignorance of Christian life and of Christian faith to haue a will to bee iustified and saued by works without faith But to the end that which we haue said may more easily be conceiued let vs make demonstration therof by similitudes The works of a Christian man being iustified and saued through his owne faith by the mere and frée mercy of God ought to bee of none other value and estimation than the workes of Adam and Eue and all their children should haue bin in Paradise if they had neuer sinned of whom God spake in the second of Genesis on this wise God did place man whom he created into Paradise that hee might worke and manure the same But God created Adam iust and perfect and without sinne so that he should not haue néed to bee iustified and made perfect by any his owne worke endeauour and safe kéeping But to the end he should not be idle God enioyned him this worke to manure Paradise and to kéepe it which works had bin truly most frée wrought in respect of nothing but of Gods good pleasure only and not to procure righteousnes thereby wherewith he was fully endued already and which also should haue bin ioyntly in the creation of vs all To the same effect bee the workes of the faithfull beléeuer who through his owne faith being restored againe into Paradise and created againe of new néedeth no workes to become or made iust thereby But because he should not bee idle but manure his owne body and kéepe it he must doe such works of fréedome in respect of Gods good will onely sauing that is not yet fully created againe anew with perfect faith and loue which behooueth to be encreased daily yet not by force of workes but of their owne strength Take yet another example An holy Bishop consecrating a Church Bishopping children or executing some other parcell of his function is not himselfe consecrated a Bishop by force of those exercises nay rather vnlesse he had bin a consecrated Bishop before none of al these works could haue béene to any purpose but accompted rather childish altogether foolish and apish Euen so a Christian man being first consecrated by his owne faith doth worke good works indéed yet is