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
A49461	The good and faithful servant set forth in a sermon preached at Hatfield Broad-Oake in Essex, August 2. the day before the funeral of Mr. John Warren, sometime minister of the gospel there. Now published with some small additions, and a brief account of his life and character. By Henry Lukin.	Lukin, H. (Henry), 1628-1719.	1696 (1696)	Wing L3474A; ESTC R218826	22,563	42

of Workmanship to devisecunning works to work in Gold Silver and Brass Exod. Chap. 31.2 3. But the Women also that were wise hearted did Spin with their hands and brought that which they had Spun of blue purple scarlet and fine Linnen Exod. 35.25 Paul was as a wife Master-builder 1. Cor. 3.10 but Aquilla and Priscilla Tent makers were his helpers in Christ Jesus Rom. 16 3. and there were Women which laboured with him in the Gospel Phil. c. 4. v. 3 not by Preaching but by Teaching good things to younger persons Titus 2.3 to their Children which is a great help to Ministers and such as are more fit to hear the Word with profit as Petty Schools fit Children for Grammar Schools so they may relieve encourage protect such as are capable of doing other service 1 Tim. 5.10 Rom. 16.4 and hereby we may be fellow-helpers to the Truth 3 John v. 8. And Ministers could do little in City or Country in propagating the Gospel if they had not others to help with them As the liberal man devises liberal things Isa 32.8 so we should devise and cast about what we may do any way or in any capacity for the furtherance of the work of Christ We should not only honour the Lord with our substance Prov. 3.9 but we should say in truth to him what is ordinarily said in complement to others that all that we have is at his service as all things are of him so it is fit all things should be to him Rom. 11.36 As it is said Exod. 31.6 In the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded th●e What any have is from God and it is that they may imploy it in his service He that had but one Talent was punished because he did not improve it he did not spend it as the Prodigal did his Portion among Harlots or in riotous living but hid it in the Earth and returned it to him again Match 25. verse 25. It is not enough that we do not embezel our Lord's goods or that we do no hurt therewith as it is said Celata virtus paulo distat abinertiâ unknown or concealed Virtue differs little from ignorance or idleness and I do not account it much to a man's praise to have it said of him that he is a Man of unknown worth It is true sometimes as folly is set in great dignity so the Rich sit in low place Eccles 10.6 Where the opposition teaches us to understand it of those that are Rich in Virtue Wisdom Noble Endowments this is an evil under the Sun and an Errour that proceeds from Princes not to advance men according to their worth and in such a case men have not occasion or opportunity for putting forth themseles or shewing what is in them If some very Learned man were confined to some obscure Country Village he would not have much occasion to shew his Learning or if a man have Prudence Courage Conduct to qualifie him for serving his King and Country in Councel or Camp but by Law is made uncapable thereof he may be as a lighted Candle under a Bushel and sometimes again a mans modesty may over awe him that he doth not put forth himself which is better than boasting of a false gift Pro. 25.14 or through vain glory to take all occasions to make ostentation of our own worth or ability trading for our selves with our Lords gifts as Gehazi that would get something by the Cure which was wrought on Naaman 2 Kings 5.20 We must take heed of thinking the service lost that we do for God wherein we do not pocket up some applause or praise for our selves Remember the Leprosie that cleaved to Gehazi and the end of Herod that gave not glory to God Acts 12.23 Those that Minister must do it as of the Ability which God gives them that God in all things may be glorified 1 Pet. 4.11 We must not do as Israel that trusted in her beauty and plaid the Harlot because of her renown for that beauty which was perfect through that comliness which God had put upon her Ezek. 16.14 But on the other hand we must not through a sly and secret pride refuse to trade because we have but one Talent or to put forth our selves because we have no more to make shew of there is a good sense of that scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter what thou knowest is nothing unless others know that thou knowest it for we have not received it for our selves as the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 and as the rust of silver and gold will be a witness against those that have treasured it up James 5.3 So the hiding of mens gifts that is not improving them will be charged upon them But what then will the end of those be that abuse their gifts in this Case he that is not with Christ is against him Mat. 12.30 because he hath received his gifts to imploy and improve in his service as he that is listed in a Princes service and receives his pay is against him if he stand neuter or does nothing much more if he fights against him If God give a man Riches and he make use of them to oppress the poor Jam. 2.6 or to make provision for the Flesh to fill the lusts thereof Rom 13.14 spending it on Pride or Voluptuousness If God have given men Power or Interest that is if they either be in Authority themselves or can make an Interest in such as are so and take advantage thereby to crush the Fatherless or the poor it is that which Job durst not do for destruction from God was a terrour to him and by reason of his highness he could not endure Job 31.23 If God give a man Learning and Knowledge and he set himself therewith to oppose the Truth and Cause of Christ and to maintain and support an evil Cause against Christ If be give a man quickness of wit and parts and he make use of it to ridicule Religion and expose those that are most strict and conscientious in the profession of it or to defraud and over-reach his Neighbour If he give a man strength and ability of body which he might have used to good purposes in the service of God or of his Country and he spend his strength in Luxury and debauchery Pro. 5.11 23 29. We may ask them as Cyprian doth those that used Painting and such Arts how they can look upon God when they are not as he made them but as their own lusts have deformed them This is like taking the Corn and Wine and Oyl and Silver and Gold which God had given to Israel and preparing it for Baal an abominable Idol Hosea 2.8 And if the unprofitable Servant that hid his Talent shall be cast into outer Darkness sure the wicked Servant that abuses his Talent to the

The Good and Faithful SERVANT Set forth in a SERMON Preached at Hatfield Broad-Oake in Essex August 2. the day before the Funeral of Mr. JOHN WARREN Sometime Minister of the Gospel there Now Published with some small Additions and a brief Account of his Life and Character By HENRY LUKIN LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower End of Cheapside 1696. THE Good and Faithful Servant Matthew 25.21 His Lord said unto him Well done thou good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. AS it was said of the Woman that came with a Box of Ointment of Spikenard to pour on the head of Jesus before his Death She did what she could she came aforehand to anoint his Body to the Burying she took the best way that she could think of to express her affection and respect to him Mark 14. v. 8. So I am come aforehand anticipating a little the Funeral of our dear Friend to do what I can to improve so sad a Providence for the benefit of his surviving Friends and to spread abroad and preserve the sweet savour of his Name which is as a precious Ointment Eccles 7.1 when he is gathered to his Fathers As under the Old Testament God multiplied Visions and used similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 So under the New Testament Christ spake very often to the Multitude in Parables Matth. 13.34 This being a very useful way of teaching Some call Images Laymens Books because they suppose they represent things so clearly and plainly to the meanest capacities but tho' God is a Spirit and requires Spiritual Worship yet he hath thought fit to represent spiritual things by natural so that as it is said The invisible things of him are seen clearly from the Creation of the World Rom. 1.20 And if we do undersland that of the time ever since the Creation yet the words following are to be understood of the Works of Creation But not only the things that are made represent to us God's Eternal Power and Godhead but all things that are done or transacted in the World serve to represent spiritual things to us And while we have such a Teacher as Christ to instruct us in the resemblance that is betwixt these things they may be of much use to us to help our understandings and memories to quicken our affections and to invite and draw our thoughts to heavenly things so as we can hardly be about any worldly business but we may take occasion from thence to raise up our minds to heavenly things which is a great advantage to us because we have so little command over our thoughts and because all our actions have their first rise from our thoughts out of the heart proceed first evil thoughts and thence murders adulteries fornications c. Matth. 15.19 Before I proceed further I will premise that in similitudes the Scripture is very brief and concise so that there is not only an omission sometimes of the note of similitude which doth frequently occur in Scripture but the Protasis and Apodosis as they are called are confounded together and not set exactly one against another or explained one by the other as Prov. 11.22 A fair Woman is not as a Jewel of Gold but Beauty in a foolish Woman as a Jewel of Gold in a Swines snout So John 3.8 He that is born of the Spirit is not like the Wind but in the business of Regeneration the Spirit works freely invisibly yet effectually as the Wind blows Sometimes that only which belongs to the Protasis or former part of the similitude is expressed without that in the latter part of the similitude which answers thereto as Luke 12.35 Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning We need not busie our selves to find out what are these loins that should be girt and those lights that should be burning for those expressions belong to the persons that we should be like to As those that wait for their Master 's coming from a Wedding should not only be up and have their Cloths on but should have those Garments girded about them which were much like Morning Gowns which they could not well either run in or do service in unless they were girt about them as you may see by 1 Kings 18.46 and Luke 17.8 So they should not only have their lights or lamps by them but have them ready lighted that they might not make their Masters stay when they knocked till they were prepared to wait on them but that they might open to them immediately So we should not only be in a Habitual preparation for Death by being in a state of Grace but in an Actual preparation for it having our Evidences for Heaven ready our hearts weaned from the World a clear prospect of suture Glory and being always so employed as Death may not surprize us idle or doing that which is evil I have spent so many words on this thing because it may be of use to us for the right understanding of this Parable out of which the words of the Text are taken wherein he instructs his Disciples how they thould carry themselves in his absence the time of his Departure from them being now at hand We have this Parable differently set down here and in Lu. 19.12 For it is here in the Evangelists as it is in the Books of Samuel Kings and Chronicles in the Old Testament what is omitted in one Book is set down in another so that put together they make the History more compleat therefore the Greek Translators of the Old Testament call the Books of Chronicles Paralipomena or praetermissions because many things are added in them which were omitted in the foregoing Books In Luke he plainiy foretells what he should meet with from the Jews and how he should be rejected of them But in both he is compared to one going from home and leaving his Servants Luke saith a Noble man going to receive a Kingdom He must indeed be a great Man that gave so many Talents to his Servants to Trade with till he came back again The Parable plainly shews that he gave to some more to some less according to their places and abilities Luke saith Pounds but the Evangelists have regard rather to the sense and meaning of Christ than to his words they both imply that he gave different summs of money or portions of goods Now when they come to give an account of the improvement of what he had committed to their trust the first had doubled his Stock or what he was trusted withal and here in the Text we have his Lords approbation of what he had done and his liberal rewarding of his diligence and faithfulness It was but little in comparison which he had trusted him with but he should be Ruler over much as he that had been faithful in the

know what shall be done to those whom he delights to honour that manifold Wisdom which could find out a way to save Sinners without any injury to his Law or Justice Eph. 3.10 can prepare that happiness for them which will make him to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all those that believe 2 Thes 1.10 There are two ways whereby we may make some conjecture at the Joy of Heaven First By the Joy or Pleasure which we see men take in these worldly sensitive Objects when there is an innate instinct desire appetite and senses suited to that goodness which is in any Creature then it is to us as the Loadstone to the Iron which draws it to it We could not enjoy the fragrant scent of a Flower without the fence of smelling and those that want that sence may well wonder what it is that makes men delight so much in sweet smells and to use a plain similitude if such an one were to buy but a pair of Gloves they would observe the matter of them the fashion or making of them and the colour of them but they could not value them for their rich perfume which doth so much enhance or raise the price of them So others are entranced in Pleasure by the ravishing melody of Musick which is nothing to those that want the fence of hearing and so the most charming Beauties are nothing to those that want the fence of seeing or where desire fails as the wise man speaks through the decays of Nature and declining Age Eccles 12.5 But all the Glory of this World is no more to the Joy of our Lord than the Husks which the Swine fed upon was to the Entertainment which the Prodigal had in his Father's house there we shall have the most excellent Objects and we shall perfectly enjoy them when our understandings are perfectly enlightened to know what is the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1.18 and our affections perfectly renewed so as to follow hard after God Ps 63.8 as one said not panis Domini but panis Dominus so there will be not only Gaudium Domini the joy of the Lord but Gaudium Dominus the Lord our exceeding joy Psal 43.4 and there will not be only Glory prepared for us but we shall be prepared for Glory Rom. 9.23 we shall be made meet to be partakers of an Inheritance with the Saints in light Col. 1.12 There were two things which made Solomon a competent Judge of what was to be found in these Earthly things His Riches whereby he was able to purchase or procure the best of what this world could afford and his Wisdom whereby he was able both to draw out the quintessence or vertue of every thing and to make a Critical Judgment of it Eccl. 2.1 9. So in Heaven there will be the most excellent Objects as Mr. Baxter said a little before his death that place Hebr. 12.22 c. did deserve a thousand thousand thoughts there we shall see God as he is 1 John 3.2 We shall be fit to be admitted into that general Assembly and to joyn with them in that Divine service wherein they serve him day and night Rev. 7.15 without saying What a weariness is it our hearts will be fixed to sing and give praise Ps 108.1 We strive sometimes to wind them up to make melody to the Lord Col. 3.16 but as when a Lute or Viol is tuned the pegs will loosen and the strings slacken and spoil the melody so when we would lift up our hearts to God they sink down again but they will not only be prepared but fixed Secondly We may make some conjecture at this joy by the fore-tasts which we have of it here where we walk by faith and not by sight 2. Cor. 5. ver 7. but tho' we see him not yet believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory 1 Pet. 1.8 It is that which we cannot express and is full of Glory as that power whereby a Christian is strengthened to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness enabling him to bear long affliction with joyfulness is a glorious power Col. 1.11 If we may be filled with all joy and peace in believing Rom. 15.13 what will it be to see as we are seen If these are such strong consolations that some drops of them will revive our languishing Spirits in the greatest afflictions 2. Cor. chap. 8.2 what will it be to drink of the River of his pleasures Psal 36.8 when we shall have no affliction to allay the sweetness of it The joy that Christians have had here hath been sometimes as much as they could bear but here we are but as persons which begin to recover their health and so find some savour and relish in what they eat and drink but in Heaven we shall be as those that having more fully recovered their health and appetite take pleasure in eating and drinking and taste the sweetness of their meat and drink Further as I told you it is the joy of our Lord or that which was set before him to encourage him against his sufferings and he will not only come again and receive us to himself that where he is we may be also Joh. 14.3 that we may behold the Glory which the Father hath given him but he gives the same Glory to them which the Father hath given him Joh. 17.22.24 as they suffer with him so they shall be glorified together Rom. 8.17 18. To him that overcomes Christ will grant to sit with him in his Throne as he also overcame and is set down with his Father in his Throne Rev. Chap. 3.21 We have a glimpse of this Glory in the transfiguration of Christ Matt. 17.2 c. his face did shine as the Sun and his whole body was so illustrious that it darted a brightness through his garments and there were two of the general Assembly with him Peter was so taken with it that he thought it was good for them to be there but this continued only a little while it is liketheir joy was allaid by the discourse about his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem Lu. 9.31 but now this is already accomplished He hath suffered isentered into his glory we shall go bewith him which is far better than to be here Phi. 1.23 For the Application of this let us observe and consider what we have received formerly in the Apostles times all were not Apostles nor all Prohpers nor all Teachers nor all workers of Miracles all had not the Gift of healing all did not sp●●k with Tongues nor all Intepret 1. Cor. Chap. 12.29 30. So now all have not Riches Power Interest Learning Wisdom But every one hath something wherewith he may some way promote the Service and Interest of Christ and do good to others When the Tabernacle was made Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom in understanding in knowledge and in all manner