Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A86226
|
Herberts beleefe and confession of faith made in CLX articles. For th'instruction of his wife & children.
|
Herbert, William, fl. 1634-1662.
|
1646
(1646)
|
Wing H1537; Thomason E1207_1; ESTC R208783
|
30,491
|
60
|
or feele th' effects of Gods bountie LXXV I Beleeve that my flesh my verie flesh shall by the pow'r of Christ be then reunited unto my Soule never to be separated but to enjoy both together the fruits of Christs merits a perpetuall fulnes of joy which surpasses all conception expression of man my whole person being made so glorious that neither spirit nor flesh shall want any thing requisit to their full perfection LXXVI This glorious Resurrection being proper to the Elect is a free gift of God to the secret members of Christs bodie which is known by the name of Church I Beleeve then that God hath here a Church or assemblie of men call'd by his Spirit Word unto the State of Grace that this Assemblie is Christs spirituall mysticall Bodie LXXVII I Call it Spirituall for as Adam is the Head of the companie of carnall men who live after the flesh as being his Children engendred in his corruption so those who live after the Spirit are the blessed bodie of Christ who is their Head by Adopotion Redemption Sanctification or Renovation LXXVIII I call it likewise Mysticall or hid because Gods Election our Regeneration are not things subject to the eye so the Church is invisible her members being not seen as they are Elect though they be visible as men professing the true Religion by their holines manifesting their faith an effect of their Election I say their Holines 'cause LXXIX I Beleeve that Gods Church is Holie all faire and without spot yet not properly in her selfe for being compounded of men of whom the best is a Sinner this Holines of the bodie is as his Righteousnes Imputative God imputing unto the Church the holines of Christ which covers her impurities as Gods gifts are without repentance so LXXX I Beleeve this holines so inherent unto the Church that she cannot erre finally in those points of faith manners which work her damnation for though she admits some errors commits grievous sins yet she 's recall'd reformed by her Lover Lord so that her fall is not finall nor her sicknes to death LXXXI Her members then by which I understand onely th' Elect either never loosing or certainly recovering their donative integritie in faith all good workes Christ having promised her a subsistence or being till the end of the World I call her Infallible LXXXII And in this respect of continuation from the Worlds beginning unto its end because she 's not ty'd to places persons but is or may be spred through all nations consists of all sorts or degrees of persons I Beleeve her Catholique or Universall although sometimes she be contain'd in a litle compasse confin'd to a kingdome or Towne there being sometimes but few outward professors of the truth among them but few whose faith life be right for though many be call'd yet few are chos'n those manie who are thus call'd not chosen are often but a small number compard unto the rest who never heare Gods voyce know not his iudgements LXXXIII Which being true so considering the Church as Visible Invisible a Politique mysticall Bodie I allow her two Heads Beleeving her as a Civill Bodie subiect to Kings States under whom she subsists and so oblig'd to all their Lawes if iust that she sins against Christ her Invisible Head to denie them her Obedience LXXXIIII The Church which is likewise a Spirituall bodie the Assemblie of those faithfull persons who live walke after the Spirit must be subject unto Christ in all things for all his Lawes are iust there is no authoritie which on anie pretext may exempt her from her due Obedience to Christ her Husband Head Sunne LXXXV Considering Christ as a Husband the Church as a VVife I Beleeve her subject to him oblig'd to obey all his Lawes acknowledge him for her onelie Husband Lord adhere to him depend on him forsake all false lovers and seeke to please him in all things LXXXVI Considering Christ as a Head the Church as a Bodie I Beleeve there must be an union of the members with the head mongst themselves so that they all receive life from the head live among themselves in a holie union which is call'd Communion of Saints having Being Life Affections Actions Food Faith Hope common for certainly LXXXVII I Conceive Beleeve that all the members of Christs Church make but one mysticall Bodie Quickned by him Aiming as one man unto his glorie the preservation good of the Bodie Agreeing in the performance of the Heads commandements Breaking one bread feeding on his flesh the merits of his life death the graces of his Spirit Yeelding faith to his Word beleeving his promises Expecting his mercifull Rewards LXXXVIII This one Bodie of Christ having manie Members most fitly joyned together to grow up into him he hath for the edification of his Bodie for the collection perfection of all his Saints for the worke of the Ministerie given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers so sent manie labourers into his field Vineyard I then Beleeve that the Ministers of the Church must have from God their Commission either Extraordinarie or Ordinarie LXXXIX The Apostles Prophets Evanglists being Extraordinarie Ministers had I Beleeve an Extraordinarie Vocation seal'd by Gods spirit both inwardly outwardly inwardly by a great knowledge of his mysteries strong motifs to advance his glorie outwardly by a good life by the gifts of tongues miracles prophesies XC The Leviticall Law being abolisht the Gospel Preacht writ beleev'd by manie nations those holie men did die those gifts ceas'd then succeeded succeede Ministers call'd ordinarily examin'd by the Church concerning faith knowledge good life then elected confirmed for the right administration of the Sacraments predication of Gods Word to give their flockes what they owe them full instructions in faith good manners dissvasions from all sins exhortations to pietie all Christian vertues meanes of reconciliation with God men visits comforts in their miseries captivitie diseases death XCI These Ministers being Shepheards to feede the Church must discharge their dutie both in publick in privat both by examples counsels leading their flocks to greene pastures still waters taking care of a weake sheepe which cannot well follow the rest of that too which goes astray XCII These Ministers being likewise as dogs must watch over the flock least grievous wolves enter the fold yea least some of the Church arise speaking perverse things teaching false doctrines breaking the Communion of Saints For though the members of the Church cannot say one to another I have no need of you sith even the feeble members are necessarie that in love policie those members are adorn'd which are lesse comelie Yet XCIII I Beleeve
efficacie of the Sacraments but observing Christs Jnstitution in their words actions I relie on his promises for my present consolation future Salvation CVI. The outward matter of the Sacraments being VVater Bread and VVine are sanctify'd by prayers the VVord of God chiefly such words as containe the Institution of the Sacraments this Sanctification doth not consist in an alteration of the substance or qualities of the elements but in a change of their common use into a holie signification for being thus Sanctifi'd or set a part the water sprinkled the bread broken the wine powr'd both given taken eat drunke which actions with the words of Christs Ordinance promises are the formes of the Sacraments they represent spirituall things under corporall shapes the Water in Baptisme signifying the washing of my soule from all her filth sins by the bloud of Jesus the mollifying of my hard heart by the pow'rfull graces of his spirit the Bread Wine in the Lords Supper representing my Spirituall nourishment by the flesh bloud of Jesus the merits of his life death CVII And as this nourishment could not be represented by the signes if their substance should not remaine I Beleeve Professe that the bread wine in the Lords Supper retaine their whole substance as well as the water in Baptisme that it is against Scripture reason the nature of Sacraments to imagine anie substantiall alteration or annihilation of the signes in either of the Sacraments Then to fancie in them a corporall presence of Christ as is beleev'd by manie men is likewise 'gainst Scripture reason and the nature of all bodies although glorious for notwithstanding their agilitie impassibilitie glorie they are and must bee finit have their naturall length breadth and depth CVIII These two Baptisme the Lords Supper alreadie named twice are the onelie Sacraments which I beleeve Christ left unto his Church to represent her spirituall generation and refection for the faithfull find truly in their reception what the signes signifie their new birth unto Christ nourishment by him Besides these two I Acknowledge receive no other CIX Baptisme being the first not by its dignitie for they are both alike holie and excellent but by reason of its institution signification I Define it to be a Sacrament which by its matter applied with the forme represents seales unto us the remission of sins mortification of the flesh renovation of the Spirit and adoption in Christ who infusing his grace into our hearts changes our carnall affections into spirituall softens our stonie hearts purifies our corrupt nature CX Yet I say not that these things be alwayes done in Baptisme for considering that Abraham was justified in Gods covenant before he had receiv'd the signe of Circumcision a seale of the righteousnes of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcis'd I Beleeve that our Regeneration may be is wrought sometimes before Baptisme in men of discretion who have the right knowledge of God and faith in him love to him and sometimes long after Baptisme for God begets us when he will by the outward seed of his Word the inward notions motions of his Spirit and by degrees Sanctifies us CXI As this Sacrament is the first visible seale of Gods covenant it must not be denied them who desire it if their knowledge faith repentance and good life declare them fit to be receiv'd into Christs flock And since it is certain that Gods promises made to us belong likewise to our children whose God he promises to be whom Christ embrac'd and blest testifying that they have right in the Kingdome of heav'n and since again the Circumcision of the Jews which our Baptisme succeeds was ordained by God even for babes of eight dayes old CXII I Beleeve all the children of them who are probably thought to be in th' alliance of God may well receive the signe and seale of that covenant in which likewise they are and the earnest of that kingdome which by the grace of God and by vertue of his free promises doth belong unto them CXIII In the reception of this Sacrament we give our names to Christ become his Souldiers to fight under his white Banners of love humilitie sinceritie truth chastitie all vertues against malice hatred pride falshood lust and the foule troupe of all vices which warre 'gainst us under the black Standards of the Devill the World and Flesh Albeit then I confesse we deserve death to forsake Christs colors and turn to his our enemies yet being graciously recall'd by him if we return to him by faith accept the pardon he offers to sinners CXIV I Beleeve that after Baptisme we may Repent often and be receiv'd into favor by him who knowes what is in man and how the wisest erres the strongest falls the holiest sinnes and therefore assists his Elect with such effectuall grace that they cannot have mortall falls not commit the sin unto death that impudent wilfull and constant opposition or deniall of the Lords truth knowne by the testimonie of the holie Ghost convincing mans rebellious heart CXV Allowing Repentance and knowing it necessarie before the reception of either Sacrament in men of discretion I conceive it to be a true sorrow for all our sins begot in our hearts by Gods Spirit the filiall consideration of the infinit Majestie of our gracious God and loving Father offended by our sins which we truly detest resolving seriously never to displease our God willingly but to serve him faithfully in all things vowing to keepe his holie lawes make to our neighbours all possible and due satisfaction or restitution of name goods losses and to give them an information of the truth if we have misled them and withall begging Gods pardon which we beleeve he will grant for Christs sake for him freely granting ours to those who have offended us although they doe not desire it CXVI Who by Gods speciall grace hath this true Repentance with a solid Knowledge of him a right Faith of him to him in him Beleeving what he is hath reveal'd and promis'd yea applying unto himselfe his gracious promises wholly relying on them may most comfortably receive both Sacraments or having once receiv'd the first be often admitted unto the participation of the second concerning which this is my Faith that 't is CXVII A Sacrament in which by Bread Wine God represents to us our spirituall perfect nourishment preservation to eternall life by Christs Bodie and Bloud seales unto our soules his free frequent promises of remission of sin of everlasting life of his love protection by the merits of his sons obedience for certainely this Sacrament is a noble Token of Gods constant love towards us a sure Earnest of his glorie a knowne Seale of his promises a faire Remembrance of the disgraces paines