Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A61192
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Solace for saints in the saddest times from the consideration of the happy temperature and lovely composure of all times and providences as to Gods glory and their good : held forth in a brief discourse on the first words of the Canticles / by Joshua Sprigg.
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Sprigg, Joshua, 1618-1684.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing S5075; ESTC R28871
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13,744
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53
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glory in the Ornament of all manner of ellegancies then prose As Metaphors similitudes tropes and figures and most amiable resemblances taken from Jewels spices and vineyards Orchards Gardens Winesellars and the chiefest beauties and greatest varieties of al the works both of God and man the Songs in Scripture are the elegantest parts of Scripture Moses and Deborahs Songs c. Agreeably the Administration of Christs Kingdom is full of elegancies and they that have spiritual eyes and eares that can try words do admire them what elegancies in bringing Israel out of Egypt it is said he bare them upon Eagles wings Deut. 32. Especially now in these latter days this part of the Song that is now fulfilling abounds herein What high strains of providence neat contrivances Every other work is an elegancy The actions of our enemies are nothing but Ironies they speak evil against us but it is intended against themselves The wicked is insnared in the works of his own hands the Bishops made Cyphers instead of making the Parliament so Look abroad amongst the Turks and Indians where Christ hath no visible Church nor people and there is no such needle-work of providence and so it hath been from the beginning Gods name therefore hath been great in Israel only in Israel The Lord Psal 76. 1 Psa 99. 2. would not have us think only that things are administred in a just way but in the most comely excellent and heroical way That which the wise Ladies of Sisera's Mother are supposed to say of Sisera's prey in Deborah's Song may be said of the administration or providence of Christs Kingdom the whole piece of it It is a prey of divers colours of divers colours of needle work of divers colours of needle work fit for the necks of them that take the spoyl Christ is not content to provide things wholsom but through the inlargedness of his heart he makes all toothsom for his Church we have not only meat but sauce For this way he hath chosen to make known his manifold wisdom and to unfold it Ephes 3. 10. And beloved that particular believers do not observe so much in Christs private administrations to them is long of their eyes There are Christians that should another write the history of Christ and their mutual carriages which are transient and little heeded by themselves perhaps they would admire them be exceedingly delighted therewith how Christ governs their spirits answers their prayers subdues their corruptions exercises their graces the lively and lovely touches in all these could they be described by a pen would even proceed to a ravishment of the heart of whoever should understand them The elegant ways that Christ hath to fall off and come on in his love his chastning and cherishing love Therefore let us not look with Vse such dismal apprehensions upon Christs administrations publike or particular It is I says Christ be not affraid so I say it is a Song therefore be not affraid Christs heart was in love in the original invention of it and so it is in the immediate and particular acting of things it is a love-song a marriage-song for so they were wont to have Songs at their weddings in former times and when the Churches marriage with Christ is solemnized who is now espoused then shal this Song be sung with understanding and unspeakable delight Vse 2. 2. Be not weary and impatient we do not use to be weary of hearing a delighful Song Songs have that advantage above prose that they steal away the eare with a great deal of pleasure Certainly if you did but heare the melody of this Song and did discern the curiousness of the composure I mean could you perceive the sweet spirituall strains of Divine working in and Philosophers say If we could hear the musick of the sphears we might live upon it for the Church and particular believers we should not need to crave your patience Why beloved if you do not understand nor admire it your selvs through your dulness and heavines yet give the Lord leave to sing out his Song have that civility and respect to him Christ is taken with it therefore there is great worth in it The long suffering of the Lord is salvation if it were not a lovely Song Christ would never doaze himself with singing of it 3. Let us sing this Song as we find the Church singing some parts of it Rev. 5. 9. 14. 3. and 15. 3. You may see there what the Song is and who they are that sing it such only as are redeemed from the earth i. either such as are truly sanctified or more strictly such as are redeemed from the earthly Kingdom of Antichrist and indeed none but such can see a beauty and a glory in the administrations of Christ none but such can rejoyce in them Therefore I call only upon such you that are the Lambs wife sing this Song with lightsome hearts observe all the ways of Christ with your spirits how he walks towards you in outward and inward things what strict measures and proportions he observes in your temptations that they be not above your mastery and in your comforts that they be not too strong for you neither observe the variety and change that is in your hearts temptations conditions conversations in Christs discoveries and manifestations of himself to you and Oh how amiable a sight it is to see brethren live together in unity but more admirable to see contraries c. This is the glory of Christs scepter it reconciles the Wolfe and the Lamb the Lyon and the Kid. how harmoniously these work together for your good and Christs glory when he makes himself the more welcom to you by keeping from you sometimes observe what musick his hand makes by touching contrary strings q he strikes a base and a treble together many times the publike note is high and thy particular low a spiritual mercy and an outward crosse strike together or an outward mercy and an inward temptation Observe how certain and unmoveable your happyness is the whole Song would be spoyled and run lame q if one particular that God hath determined should miscarry therefore your sins and infirmities shal not be able to hurt you nay these together with your afflictions are part of the Song I am black but comely I speak not this that you should slight sin or not watch against it no he that hath tasted of the grace of Christ will not sin that grace may abound though he loves that grace well Let us sing this Song with lightsom hearts with grace in our hearts David had Songs of pure adversity of his deep waters but here is more sweet then bitter in our conditions whether publike or private 1. Remember the burthen of the Song is Love so God loved his Church and so thy soul must be brought in at the end of every staff yea at the end of chastning Whom I love I rebuke and
Solace for SAINTS in the SADDEST TIMES From the Consideration of the happy temperature and Lovely composure of all Times and Providences as to Gods glory and their good Held forth in a brief Discourse on the first Words of the CANTICLES By JOSHUA SPRIGG M. A. sometimes Lecturer in Aldermary London LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1648. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY Honored good LADY the Lady Willougby Wife to the Right honorable the Lord Willoughby of PARRAM Madam WHen I determined to publish this Discourse Your Honour came first to my thoughts as in dedicating it to whom I could only acquiesce Not that Your Honour had any speciall title to it by hearing it or desiring it but my hope is there may be more providence in it then my own who am ambitious to seal up some testimony of the high esteem I have of Your Honour to whom I am oblieged as by so much Worthiness of Your own so by many favours received Madam I question not but you have your part in Afflictions as a Daughter of Adam and not the fewer as a Daughter of Abraham You may have need of a Cordiall and then Providence will be remarkable in sending This to you and I desire you may see your interest in this Consolation if you be strong and feel no sinking of Spirits it is through the Experience of this Truth which is here described Madam I have honorable thoughts of you and great desires on your behalf and therefore shall no longer by this intertainment keep you from swifter injoyments then while I commence this suite for you That as not a few have born away the fruitfulness of your Disposition in the sweetness of their own spirits so your Honour may be abundantly satisfied and refreshed from the gracious presence and appearance of the Lord in all his dispensations In this most humble tender of himself accept Madam Your Honors most affectionately devoted as much Obliged Servant JOSHUA SPRIGGE A VVORD TO THE READER THis Discourse being delivered some years since when the publike affairs appear'd most perplext and dangerous is now published upon the very same account and occasion it was first Delivered with some hopes it may be some way serviceable through the presence of Christ with it to demulce and asswage some to a quiet and peaceable Comportment with the present administration by discovering and setting before them a new and blessed face and Image in every even the worst state of things The ground and matter I work upon being those first words of the CANTICLES my project rises by rendring the title of the book not onely to the form of words but to the subject matter of it which viz. the matter being all variety of dispensation to the Churches may teach us a new Arithmetick to cast up Times and Things by The condition of many a Man is like a good Old Instrument that is hung up by the Wals as of no use for want of tuning onely or like a Lesson that is so musicall that onely skill is wanting to make admirable Musick of it where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Musick I have followed the Analogy or Resemblance of Divine workings and providence to a Song but in some generall Parallels only it might have been prosecuted through many more particulars The Discourse had not the successe to be Well-understood when it was delivered it may have the greater blessing to empty down upon the Reader The Order and Parts of the Ensuing Discourse 1. Introduction by shewing the occasion of this discourse viz. a project to comfort Saints in every appearance of things and the fitness of the subject for such a purpose 2. Explication 1. The ground and matter whereupon the Project stands viz. the Comparing the name of this book of Canticles with the subject matter of it 2. An inquirie into the subject matter of the book of Canticles 3. A report of the subject matter what it is viz. A Propheticall History and Historicall Prophecy of all the times of the Church 3. The Observation That this is a Song yea the Song of Songs 1. The Remarkableness of putting such a name on such a thing shewed in respect of the severall sad Notes that are in this Song 2. The proof of it yet to be a Song yea the Song of Songs 1. By the matter of it Variety it self 2. The form Vnitie 4. The Application and improvement of this truth 1. Information All Gods administrations to beleevers publique and particular are as a Song yea secondly a Song of Songs 1. A Song the Analogy opened in severall particulars 1. A Song consists of measured feet So all Gods administrations are foreseen weighed and measured though not alwayes the same measures and the reason of that difference assigned from the severall times and ages of the Children 2 It is a Song of Songs This applyed to Christs administration in three respects 1. The variety that is in it 2. The Rhyme or ending of all One thing rhyming to another and in the end all sounding alike even Love 3. The Elegancies and glorious contrivances that are therein 2. Dehortation 1. Not to look with such dismall apprehensions on Christs administration publicke or private however it appear seeing t is a Song 2. Not to be wearie and impatient 3. Exhortation 1. To sing this Song i. with lightsome hearts walk with God through all providences Motive 1. The burden of the Song is Love 2. the Contrivance is Gods for the glory of his dearest Son and his Spouse the Church 2. Exhort so to observe this Song i. the workings of Christ for us as to be turned into such a mind and such actions as please Christ 4. Direction To reconcile us to every Administration To that end let us 1. Compare the parts together 2. Cover the uncomely parts with cleanly notions 3. Consider our acceptableness to God in every change and condition CANT I. I. The Song of Songs MY design in choosing this Text is to occurr and prevent if it be not too late that weakness which the unbelieving fears of the people of God may bring them into of the like dangerous Consequence as the losing of blood and spirits The Cure of fear is Faith but for as much as to the exercise of Faith Men had need have cleer and composed spirits therefore have I pitched upon this Subject Saul was often troubled with an euil spirit a sickly hair-braind raging spirit and that which did him ease was Davids playing upon a Harp before him And Eliahs spirit being muddied as it were by passion cannot Prophesie til the mud was setled again by a minstrel 2 King 3. 15. The spirit of the world either carnal love or fear or any other passion is like the evil spirit that troubled Saul and Eliah and faith is as Prophefying Now when the hand of the Lord whereby