Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	grace_n	love_n	soul_n	6,851	5	4.8704	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29368	The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference to 1. their services and suffering, 2. their consolations, and 3. their salvation and eternal glory : together with the excellency of the fear of God, the goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love, the wisdom of hearing the voice of the rod, repentance the only way to prevent judgements / delivered in several sermons by the late reverend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. William Bridg ...	Bridge, William, 1600?-1670.	1671 (1671)	Wing B4454; ESTC R19668	79,842	192

had may be Eclipsed Restore to me the joy of thy salvation Psalm 51.12 saith David his glory and comfort was eclipsed yea possibly a gracious soul may live a long time without comfort How long wilt thou forget yea forget me O Lord what for ever Psalm 13.1 I say a man may live a long time without any considerable comfort There is a time when God will try his people and see whether they will take comfort from his hand or from another hand it may be it may be so with you sometimes God may try whether you will wait upon him and believe in him and rest upon him for comfort 3. As a man may live long without comfort so it is not in the power of any thing on this side God and Christ to give comfort to a poor drooping soul this is the Lords prerogative I am the Lord that comforteth This is his name Father of mercies and God of all comfort and consolation and 2 Cor. 7.6 Nevertheless God that Comforteth those that are cast down comforted us c. It is Gods prerogative only to do it comforting work is creation work it is not in the power of the creature but of the Creator Isa 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heal him It is Gods work to comfort and not in the power of any other Man may be instrumental to comfort but it is none but God alone that can do the work But some may object and say can none but God alone comfort No none but God alone can rate off Satan If a great dog or mastiff be worrying a child or a sheep a stranger comes and strikes him and calls him off but the dog takes no notice of him but when the Master comes he rates him off presently none but the Master can do it So here it is none but God that can rate off Satan from worrying the poor drooping soul when it is under temptation none but God the Master It is not in the power of any creature but in the power of God alone it is in the power of none but the third person in the Trinity the spirit of God what needed the third person in the Trinity to have come into the world as he is now if any other could comfort As none can redeem but Christ the second person of the Trinity because the second person came from Heaven on purpose to redeem So none can comfort but God and his spirit because the third person came from Heaven to do it there is none but God alone that can comfort a poor soul That is the third particular 4. When God doth bestow comfort he bestows it and gives it in a way of free grace in a way of free love and grace See but how they go together in the Text Who hath given us everlasting consolation through grace I will give you one Scripture more to prove it and consider it well Job 33. you have there the draught of a mans Conversion First he goes on in his sin and all on a sudden God gives in a word to him at 14 15 verses For God speaketh once yea twice but man perceiveth it not In a dream in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men in slumberings upon the bed Then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction and then the soul is filled with horror of conscience as in verse 19. He is chastned also with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain And when God hath done thus then he justifies him and gives him faith and shews him true righteousness as in verse 23. If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness This is justification and when this is done then the Lord comforts him as in verse 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a childs he shall return to the days of his youth You see God comforts him in a way of free love and in the 26. verse He shall pray unto God and he will be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy for he will render unto man his righteousness God comforts in a way of free love he comforts how he pleaseth and as far as he pleaseth but whensoever he comforts it is still I say in a way of free love You may see it in Isaiah 65.14 It is said Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but you shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howl for vexation of spirit and thus also saith the Lord in the former verse Behold my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry behold my servants shall drink but ye shall be thirsty behold my servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed God comforts whom he pleases and as far as he pleaseth and it is all free out of free love John 14.20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and at verse 16. And I will pray the Father and he will give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever This work of comforting is properly the work of the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost breathes as the wind where it listeth and therefore I say comforts whom and how he pleaseth and all in a way of free love and free grace That is the fourth particular 5. Wherein is the love the free love of God manifested to us in the matter of our comforts I answer in many things I will pitch but upon three only 1. The greater he is that giveth and the greater the thing is that is given and the lesser or meaner the person is that the thing is given unto the more free is the love of him that gives and bestows the thing Now this comfort and consolation is a great thing it is a very great matter it is a birth of the Holy Ghost Is that a small thing It is part of the Kingdom of God Is that a small matter It is both duty and reward Is that small It is that which exceeds all the Joy of the world Lift up the light of thy countenance upon me Thou hast put more gladness into my heart more than in the time that their oyle and their wine Increased Psalm 4.7 Ask a poor drooping soul and he will tell you that it is a great thing for it comes from a great God Isaiah 57.15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I will dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite Ones Unto that soul that trembles unto that soul will God bring comfort and will be nigh unto him Now if a Prince should rise from his Throne to

through him So I say if there was as I may speak with reverence somewhat of the good pleasure of God in the old worlds condemnation why then should there not be free-grace in the souls Salvation Rom. 5.15 But not as the offence so also is the free-gift for if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God and the gift of grace which is by one man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many Thirdly God would have Heaven and Salvation to be of one peice he would have the work of heaven to be all the same Now there were many Angels that fell and many thousands that stood why how came they to stand that did stand more than the others that fell it was only by free grace they were Elect Angels Now men and Angels in heaven are of the same Quire and sing the same song and therefore those men that are fated O who are they why they are the Elect and they have great cause to glorifie the grace the free grace of God Fourthly God saves men in a way of free love and grace because none shall miss of Salvation As God will punish and condemn all the proud all the wicked that none shall escape So he will also save all that he hath a mind to save by free grace because they shall not miss of Salvation Fifthly God will save men in such a way as whereby he may be glorified to all Eternity and therefore he saves them in a way of free grace and love For what have we to praise God for in heaven but only for free grace free grace to glorify his name for that therefore I say God will save men in this way of free love and grace that he may be thereby glorified hereafter to all Eternity and thus I have done with the Doctrine Now go along with me a little by way of application First If we be saved by free grace if free grace and love be the foundation of our Salvation why should we not then stand cleer from all our own works as to the meritorious ends of them for grace and works are opposed and therefore faith as a work can neither Justify nor save I confess the Apostle saith work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling but what follows for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2.12 13. Secondly If we be saved by grace why should we not be tender of the grace of God of the name of God of the free grace of God and of the great name of God Are you saved by grace and will you turn grace into wantonness Oh my friends I say if you be saved by grace and by grace alone how tender should you be of the name of God and of the free grace of God Thirdly If we be saved by grace then we may here see the reason why many do take so much pains as they think for heaven and yet fall short of it and go to Hell why it is because Salvation lies under the conduct of free grace Some men abstain from sin that they may not be damned others perform holy duties read and hear c. That they may go to Heaven yea many strive and shall not enter because salvation is of free grace Fourthly If by grace ye are saved and that there is much of the free grace of God in our salvation why then should you doubt of it I confess it is a hard thing to have Assurance of your salvation and if you have it it is free grace to you more than to another and free grace is the founder of it if you have it But yet O soul if by grace we are saved let us not then doubt of it for it is most sure if you are saved by grace I say why doubt ye then O ye of little faith O Christians comfort your selves with these words It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12.32 It is his good will and pleasure it is in a way of free grace and love But you may say though it be in a way of free grace and love yet it may not be for me it may none of it be mine saith the soul Nay say not so but mark what an Inference the Psalmist makes and draws up from this General Psalm 130.4 5. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope and so in Psal 103. Speaking at large of the grace mercy and goodness of God in the 8. verse he saith The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy but what is the conclusion Bless the Lord all ye his hosts bless the Lord all his works Bless the Lord O my soul The very last words are bless the Lord O my Soul from the consideration of the freeness of the grace of God in general he draws up this Conclusion bless the Lord O my Soul But you may say Though God will save by grace yet surely all shall not be saved by grace shall all men be saved is God so free No all men shall not be saved for saith the Apostle Gal. 5.15 We through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but the new creature but shall not all be saved No saith the same Apostle Eph. 5.6 Let no man deceive you for no whoremonger nor unclean person c. hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God There is no place for unclean things in Heaven you know what the Apostle saith to the Galathians The inheritance is not to the bondwoman nor to her children So that I say that God doth not save all but those he doth save are saved by free grace But you would know who those are that are saved or that shall be saved for ever why thus briefly only to name things First Look who those are that are justified they shall be certainly saved Secondly Those that are willing to part with all for Christ and for the service of Christ they shall certainly be saved Mat. 19.29 And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Thirdly They that stand at Christs right hand here they shall be sure to stand at Christs right hand at the day of judgement and so be saved 2 Cor. 5.5 Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who also hath given unto us the earnest of his spirit he that hath wrought us for the self same thing it is the very same word which is used for work out your own salvation c. So that there is a working up of the soul unto eternal glory and if Christ hath wrought

and more one toward another But you may say further suppose there be a difference in the matter of our Judgements or opinions what shall we do to remove it Why First Be sure of this that you do not mistake the meaning of that Scripture which your judgement is founded upon It is said There was a division among the people because of Christ why for what was it what was the reason of it It was because of misunderstanding and for want of a right understanding of Christ So I say this division may come for want of a right understanding of the Scriptures upon which our judgement is grounded and founded But Secondly Consider O man whether you do not settle your judgement upon the judgement or opinion of any or upon the knowledge of another Hast thou faith saith the Apostle have it to thy self before God Rom. 14.22 But is not a man then to confess his faith before others when he is called to it Yes But the Apostle speaks here of lesser things if thou hast faith have it to thy self in little disputable things and do not rely upon others but look to thy self and give things a time in due time God will reveal saith the Apostle Thirdly if you desire this holy agreement then do what you can to keep union in the Ministry and between the Ministry It was not for nothing that our Saviour prayed John 17.11 21. Holy Father keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us It is not good for people to cry I am for Paul and I am for Apollo and I am for Cephas and the like this is the way to make division therefore do all you can to live in love and unity for love is of God and the contrary is of the Devil Fourthly Take heed of disputation what have we got this many years by disputation those that are weak are sooner brought in by humiliation than by Disputation Fifthly If after all this there do remain division among you by reason of your judgements or opinions then remember the Apostles rule and be sure to walk by it for saith he as we instanced before Let no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think soberly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith The Apostle directs us to live humbly and walk meekly one toward another and not to be rash or to think highly of our selves But further Sixthly If we would live in love and unity then let us look upon other mens infirmities in conjunction with their excellencies and their excellencies in conjunction with their infirmities and thereby the one will take away or hide the other Let us not pore only upon a mans infirmities upon his Euts as I may say he is a godly man but therefore if you would agree joyn his infirmities and his excellencies together and then look upon him Seventhly If you should meet with any provocation that may weaken your love one toward another then be sure to take that as an opportunity to exercise your patience and your love when you meet a beggar in the streets full of sores then you think you have an opportunity to exercise your charity to give something And so you should say when you are provoked by another to debilitate your love and affection you may say why now have I an opportunity to exercise my patience Again Eighthly If you will live in love and unity then you must resolve with the grace of God to love where you are not beloved let love rise above all difficulties labour for a Gospel spirit to love though you are not loved A Legal spirit is a fretful spirit saith Christ you know not of what spirit you are of labour I say after a Gospel spirit yea the spirit of Christ who was as a Lamb he opened not his mouth if you would live in love and unity then take heed of a Legal spirit and labour after this Gospel spirit Again Ninthly If you would agree together and live in love and unity then be humbled for the want of love to one another and take heed for the future of those things that hinder your love one toward another there are four or five of them observe them and take heed of them First Pride A proud man is much given to contention Secondly Passion For though a man dislikes and is sorry for what he hath done in his passion when it is over and though what he doth in his passion be one thing and what he doth in his serious consideration is another thing yet we are to take great heed of passion Thirdly Another enemy to love is strangeness strangeness ends in enmity when brethren and friends grow strangers one to another then they surmise things one of another and that destroys love and unity Fourthly Another is designing one against another true love knows no designs upon others no man can endure to have designs laid against him designing causeth anger enmity and hatred and hinders true love one toward another Fifthly Another is whispering a whisperer separateth true friends Pro. 16.28 But now if any one should come to me and tell me any thing against a brother I would not believe the whisperer till I had spoken with the other for a cause can never be truly known nor judged of till both parties have been heard speak Thus you may see the five things that hinder love that is Pride Passion Strangeness designing one upon another and hearkning unto whisperers Now as you desire to live in love and unity observe these things and take heed of them Tenthly Let me say to you holy and beloved brethren if you would love one another then forgive one another and live more unto God who loveth you live more to God lest he should turn his love to hatred and wrath against you 11. Strengthen your love to God himself the more love you have to God the more will you love others 12. If you would live in love and Unity then you must willingly take wrong and give up your right for peace sake and for agreement saith Abraham to Lot Let there be no difference between my heardmen and thy heardmen for we are brethren Now Abraham was the elder and therefore it was his right to have the choice but yet for peace sake he gives up his right and sayes to Lot Take what you will the right hand or the left there was a division between them and the Cananites were in the land and therefore it was no good time for them to be at difference one with another when the Cananites were in the land it was no good time then for good men to strive and therefore Abraham for peace sake gives up his right so I say for peace sake and for a holy agreement you should

accounts Read what the Psalmist saith Psal 31.19 O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee that thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the Sons of Men. Yea further if you truly fear the Lord The eye of God shall be upon you for good unto him will I look that trembleth unto him will I look that feareth saith the Lord. Again if you truly fear the Lord the Lord will delight in you Yea God will be a God unto you God will be a strong Tower to you and he will sanctify all unto you and to say no more They that fear the Lord shall want no good thing O what a blessed thing is it then to fear the Lord for from him God will with-hold no good thing and thus you see the Issue of this fearing of God Consider it consider I say the consequence and Issue of it and let it be so many motives to stir you up more and more to fear the Lord. So much shall serve for the Doctrinal part Now then by way of Application Here we may see what a sad excuse that will be which many make That say they do but as others do but Alas this is an excuse fit for the lips of those only who fear not God at all But Secondly If this Doctrine be true then here you may see who those are that fear God in truth there are many pretenders to it but we find here that those that truly fear the Lord cannot will not do as others do They will not do as others do in the matter of their choice in the matter of their worship nor of their calling nor in what they are intrusted with nor in their refreshments nor in their Afflictions nor in their right and propriety and if it be so how few are there that fear the Lord in Truth They that truly fear God say always as Nehemiah But so did not I because of the fear of God There are many that lie quiet under sins of Omission and under sins of Commission too but so will not I because of the fear of God Do others sin and do others act contrary to the will of God yet let us not do so but let us say with Nehemiah But so will not I because of the fear of God O therefore let me desire all to fear the Lord And for you that do fear the Lord be you comforted for comfort belongs to you Everlasting mercy belongs to you who fear the Lord Jer. 31.3 I have loved you with an Everlasting love But it may be some will say I am afraid I do not fear the Lord and so this comfort doth not belong to me why consider First Do you make conscience of what you do doth your conscience accuse you or not for what you do do you find conscience accuse or excuse Secondly Have you not sinned in the dark when none could accuse but God only and do you Act and walk and live and labour as if you were in the presence and sight of God if you do thus then you do fear the Lord And then it shall be well with you Eccles 8.12 Again Thirdly Do you run and speak one to another if so then this is to fear the Lord for it is said that they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Mal. 3.16 And Fourthly Do you truly desire to fear the Lord then look into Nehemiah and observe his spirit well and do accordingly And to say no more Have you had advantages to make you rich in this world and would you not take them because of the fear of God then certainly you have received free grace and you have the Spirit of God for this is a true sign that you have true grace in your hearts and that you are one of them that truly fear the Lord and therefore be you comforted for comfort belongs unto you everlasting mercy belongs unto you But it may be some will say Suppose I do not fear the Lord what shall I do that I may fear the Lord fear him as I should do fear him more and more For answer If you would fear the Lord in truth Then First Be humbled for want of this fear That man is not far from grace who is humbled for the want of grace a man will never be humbled for unbelief unless he be humbled for the want of it Secondly Go to God and beg of him to fulfil his promise God hath said I will put my fear into their hearts Now go to God I say and beg and desire him that he would make good this promise to you Thirdly If you would fear God in truth then observe what that is that is neerest and dearest to you and give that up to God You know Abraham offered up Isaac his only Son and saith God By this I know thou fearest me And further Fourthly If you would fear the Lord in Truth then worship God according to his own appointment take heed of mingling of Gods worship with any of mans Inventions for he that doth so feareth not God nor worshippeth him according to his own appointment And then Fifthly If you would fear the Lord in Truth then take heed of sinning when you have an opportunity Again Sixthly If you would fear God more than love the Lord more labour to strengthen your love to God Again Seventhly If you would have your fear strengthned more and more then study much the free grace of God in giving out his mercy to one more than to another Two in a field the one taken and the other left Two walking together the one taken and the other left If you would strengthen your fear study much the free grace of God Eightly If you would fear the Lord in Truth Live much in and study much upon dependance wholly upon God it is our great duty to depend upon God If a man be upon a high Tower and another holds him from falling by the hand only he will certainly be very fearful of offending him that holds him so why we are thus in the hand of God and our dependance is upon him for every thing how fearful ought we then to be of offending this God O study your dependance upon God more and more and Again Use the world as using it not deal with men as in the presence of God and when you are dealing with men be sure to deal with God before all the men of the world Again Let your eye be very much upon the Severity and Justice of God upon his severity and Justice consider Gods severeness to Adam in eating the forbidden fruit and his severeness to Moses for a word that for one word God would not let him enter into the promised land and consider his severity to David for numbring the people Yea Again consider That God cannot only destroy the body but soul and body too Therefore O man fear him that can destroy both body and soul when