Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	heart_n	holy_a	lord_n	17,551	5	3.7649	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57140	Gods fidelity, the churches safety opened in a sermon preached before the lord major, aldermen, and common-councel, at Lawrence-Jury Church, on Wednesday Septem. 15, 1658 : being a day of humiliation by them appointed / by Edward Reynolds.	Reynolds, Edward, 1599-1676.	1659 (1659)	Wing R1252; ESTC R32285	22,488	88

27. and therefore must needs be exceeding acceptable because Gods own heart is towards them and his love upon them as the woman of Tek●a her petition for Absolom was easily granted by David because his heart was towards him before 2 Sam. 13.39 and 14.1 2. Lastly the Lord hath promised his holy Spirit of Fear Love Grace Adoption unto his people by the help of which they are preserved from the dangers whereunto of themselves they are exposed Ezek. 36.27 Isai. 59.21 upon these and such like grounds it appeareth That because God is righteous and faithfull in his Covenant therefore we remain escaped And if it be here objected that the Promises are usually set forth as conditionall The Lord is with you while ye be with him and if ye seek him he will be found of you but if ye forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15.2 If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land Isai. 1.19 He that believeth shall be saved Mark 16.16 Ioh. 3.16 except ye repent ye shall perish Luke 13.3 We answer 1. Promises are in some places made absolutely which in others are conditionally expressed as Heb. 13. I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Ier. 32.39 I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever I will give them an heart to know me they shall be my people I will be their God they shall return unto me with their whole heart Ier. 24.7 If ye will obey my voice and keep my Covenant is a Condition in one place Exod. 19.5 a free promise in another ye shall keep my judgements and doe them Ezek. 36.27 The mercy of the Lord is towards them that fear him Psal. 103.11 There the fear of God is a condition I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me Ier. 32.39 there it is a free promise 2. The Lord doth not only give us good things under a condition but doth give the condition it self to his people compare Isai. 1.19 with Phil. 2.12 Acts 10.43 with Phil. 1.29 Ephes. 2.8 3. Precepts and Conditions are used as the vehicula of the grace promised Of our selves we can do nothing of those duties unto which Promises are annexed for all our sufficiency is of God who worketh all our works for us 2 Cor. 3.5 But the Precepts of the Word are the usual Instruments by which he worketh those things in us which he requireth of us Rom. 10.17 4 Conditionall Propositions do not imply that our performances work upon God to do what he had said as if the performance of duty were only ours and then the performance of promise alone his But they intimate the order and connexion which the Lord hath set amongst his own gifts some whereof he hath appointed to be antecedent dispositions and preparations towards others consequent upon them He that believeth shall be saved this is a conditional promise Faith the condition Salvation the Promise But we may not so understand it as if Faith were only ours and Salvation alone his But Faith is one Gift of God Antecedent to Salvation which is another Gift of God Now then since the Lord is righteous in all the wayes of his Judgements and secret providences we must for ever lay our Hand on our Mouth and put our Mouthes in the Dust and beware of Murmuring and Repining against him as if his wayes were not equall towards us Behold he taketh away who can hinder him who will say unto him what dost thou Iob 9.12 we may in our Prayers plead with God about his Judgements as Holy men have Jer. 12.1 Habak 1 2-4-13 But we may not quarrell at them nor murmure against them 2. When the Lord doth strangely vary his Providences towards a people and worketh unusuall changes and alterations among them stirreth up some helpes and then layeth them by calleth forth others and quickly revokerh them fitteth men for great actions and in the midst of those actions cutteth them off Our work here is not to censure either the Agent or the Instruments to charge the dealings of God either as unrighteous or as unreasonable but to reflect upon our selves and learn our unstedfastnesse in Gods Covenant by his diversifying of Providences towards us 1. Sometimes we over dote upon Instruments and deifie them as if God had no way to help us but one And then God breaks that Staffe when we lean too hard upon it to force us to leane upon his Name again 2. Sometimes we undervalue them and will not understand that God is doing us good by them as it is said of Moses Acts 7.25 and then God suspendeth his work which he was about to doe 3. Sometimes the hearts of the people are unprepared for mercies and then God doth not honour his Instruments with setling them Iehoshapbat was a good King yet he did not work a perfect Reformation the high places were not taken away and this the reason the people had not as yet prepared their hearts unto the God of their Fathers 2 Chron. 20 32 33. 4. Sometimes the guilt of old sinnes do remain uncleansed away as it is said of the iniquity of Baal-Peor Iosh 22.17 and in this case Instruments are too weak to divert wrath 2 Reg. 23.25 26. Never such a Reformation as Iosiah made about the eighteenth year of his reign and yet because the people returned but fainedly Ier. 3.10 within a few years after they were carried into Captivity Our Saviour was very near his Sufferings when they cryed Hosanna before him The Sun often shews biggest and shines brightest when it is ready to set The Candle blazeth most when it is in the Socket Many times dying men and it may be so with dying Churches have a lightning before death I speak not this to bode ill unto the Land of my nativity If any say it shal not be so but we shall still have Peace and Truth and Holiness flourish I will chearfully say as the Prophet did Ier. 28.6 Amen the Lord do so for this Land But withall happy is the man that feareth always Prov. 28.14 The sins of the people may weaken the hands of the best Instruments and make them unable to help us It is noted as a cause of wickedness that men have no changes Psal. 55.19 Ier. 48.11 But to be tossed and emptied and exercised with frequent alterations and our sent to abide in us still wanton under Mercies sullen under Judgements after all our Phisick to relapse after all that is come upon us again to break the Commandements this is a sad Symptome a great aggravation of our sin and justification of Gods Righteousness in all his dealings with us Again since the Lord is the God of his people and righteous to them in a way of mercy and fidelity We learn to acknowledge it a great Mercy and to glorifie God for it that we Remaine yet escaped that we may set up an Eben-Ezer and say thus far

Gods fidelity THE CHURCHES SAFETY Opened in a SERMON Preached before the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councel at Lawrence-Iury Church on wednesday Septem 15. 1658. Being a day of Humiliation by them appointed By EDWARD REYNOLDS D. D. LONDON Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for George Thomason at the Sign of the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard 1659. Amplissimis Praestantissimis Consultissimis Viris D. JOANNI IRETON Honoratissimo Domino Praefecto MAGISTRATIBUS UNIVERSIS TOTIQUE SENATUI Celeberrimae Florentissimaeque Civitatis LONDINENSIS Concionem hanc coram ipsis habitam Ipsorumque jussu publici Juris factam In Honoris debitae observantiae TESTIMONIUM D. D. E. R EZRA 9.15 O LORD GOD of Israel thou art righteous for we remain yet escaped as it is this day behold we are before thee in our trespasses for we cannot stand before thee because of this IN the former part of this Book we have a Narration of many great mercies of God to his people after their long and sore captivity 1. The Edict of Cyrus for return of the people building the Temple restoreing of the holy Vessels Chap. 1. 2. The pursuance of that Edict in the return of 49000 and upward Chap. 2. 3. The beginning of the restitution of Gods worship setting up the Altar offering Sacrifices laying the Foundations of the House with Trumpets and joy Chap. 3. 4. The special assistance and encouragement they received in the work by the Prophets notwithstanding the opposition of the adversaries Chap. 5.1 6 14. 5. The gracious Decree of Darius for promoting the building after it had been obstructed his Princely munificence thereunto the command given to the Enemies to be serviceable to the work the finishing and dedication of the House and keeping of the Passeover Chap. 6. 6. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra for further promoting the worship of God at Ierusalem his indulgence to Priests and Levites ordering of Magistrates and Judges Chap. 7. 7. The expedition of Ezra and divers others with this Commission The delivery of the Silver Gold and Vessels which the King his Counsellors Lords and all Israel had offered to the house of the Lord into the hands of twelve select men of the Priests the gracious preservation of Ezra and his company in their journey from the hands of those that lay in wait for them after they had solemnly sought God by prayer and fasting their safe arrival delivery of the offering to the House of the Lord success of the Commission Cap. 8. Thus far things went comfortably on and with good success notwithstanding the opposition and obstruction given to the work for a time by the Enemies thereof of which we read Chap. 4. But in this ninth Chapter we meet with a farre more dangerous obstruction then any had before been an horrible sinne committed by Priests Levites people wherein the hands of the Princes and Rulers had been cheif in mingling the holy seed in marriage with the people of those Lands contrary to an express command Deut. 7.1.3 Thou shalt not make marriages with them c. whereby the worship of God now newly restored was in danger to be speedily subverted again Deut. 7.4 Exo. 34.15 16. as we finde by the example of Solomon 1 Reg. 11.4 8. Hereupon Ezra is affected with zeal sorrow and astonishment ver 3 4 5. and unto him were assembled every one that trembled at the word of the God of Israel to humble themselves before God and to consult what is so desperate a case was necessary to be done for diverting that wrath which they had provoked ver 3 4. Ezra prepareth and composeth himself in a solemn manner to pray rends his garments falls on his knees spreads forth his hands stirs up his faith takes the fittest season the time of the Sacrifice when God might be minded by the blood of Attonement to recieve his prayer with favour ver 5. In the Prayer we have these particulars 1. His abasement of himself his shame and consternation of spirit a temper essential to true humiliation I will remember my Covenant saith the Lord and thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed Ezek. 16.60 61. and again you shall loath your sel●es in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed Ezek. 20.43 2. A general confession of their sinnes and the sinnes of their Fathers as Nehem. 9.34 Dan. 9.8 the greatness the growth the continuance of them Our iniquities are increased over our heads as Psal. 38.4 A Metaphor from the swelling of waters Psal. 124.4 5. our Trespasses are grown up to Heaven a further and stronger expression of the atrocity of them as 2 Chron. 28.9 3. An acknowledgement of the justice of God in the punishment of their iniquities on Kings Priests and people in captivity poverty and contempt ver 7. as Psal. 44 9-14 79 1-4 4. A thankful acknowledgement of restored mercies out of free and rich grace unto a small remnant of distressed Bondmen whom God had not forsaken in their Bondage but extended mercy unto who were 1. escaped out of their captivity 2. Setled in their own land as a naile in a sure place as Isa. 22.23 3. Comforted after their darkness and sorrow by lightning their eyes who had been long in Babylon as in a Dungeon Zach. 9.11 by reviving and giving them a resurrection who had lien in Captivity as dry bones in a grave Ezek. 37.12 4. Aided and assisted by the special favour of the King of Persia to set up the House of God and repair the desolations thereof ver 9. 5. Compassed about with his protection as with a wall from the violence of Enemies ver 8 9. as Isa. 26.1 Zach. 2.5 by all which considerations the greatness of their sinnes was exceedingly aggravated 5. A particular confession of the present sin under the guilt whereof they did now lye Wherein are considerable 1. A patheticall acknowledgement that they are wholly without excuse put to silence for guilt stops the mouth Mat. 22.12 Rom. 3.19 ver 10. 2. A full aggravation of it by severall considerations 1. It was against a severe Law provided in that very case Deut. 7.3 4. 2. Against the Equity of that Law the people were unclean abominable 3. Against the Promise annexed to the Law to eat the good of the Land 4. Against the Chastening hand of God which had been upon them 5. Against the Measure of those Chastisements they were punished lesse then their iniquities deserved 6. Against the great and notable Deliverance which God had wrought for them beyond their thoughts or hopes ver 11 12 13. 6. An implicite owning of the wrath of God which might in this case justly consume and make an end of them and leave them no remnant ver 14. 7. An acknowledgement of Gods gracious fidelity in not consuming them but patiently bearing with them and letting them remain escaped ver 15. Lastly the conclusion of the Prayer the same with the introduction into

63 16-19 Be not wroth very sore neither remember iniquity for ever behold see we beseech thee we are all thy people Isa. 64.9 Thou art righteous 1. In thy Iudgements and chastisements which thou hast inflicted upon us we cannot blame thy severity thou didst warne us before thou didst punish us thy Trumpet did sound before thy Rod did smite us 1. Thou art a Righteous Iudge when thou condemnest wicked men their mouth shall be stopped thou wilt overcome when thou judgest Psal. 51.4 Rom. 3.19 thou dost not wrong them for they shall receive according to their works 2. Thou art a Righteous Father when thou chastisest holy men thou dost not wrong them thou measurest and proportionest thy stripes not unto their sinnes but unto their strength dealest with them tenderly and suitably to their cases and conditions To purge them not to consume them thou hast a Rod for the Cummin and a Staffe for the Fitches and a wheele for the Bread Corn Isa. 28.27 28. thy Rod is Virga Hominum a Rod fitted to the condition of weak men 2 Sam. 7.14 and the Temptations wherewith thou sufferest thy Children to be tempted is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proportioned to the infirmities of man 1 Cor. 10.13 thou knowest our frame thou remembrest that we are dust Psal. 103.14 that our strength is not the strength of stones nor our flesh of brasse that we dwell in houses of Clay which are crushed before the Moth Iob 4.19.6.12 and accordingly thou dost in very faithfulness afflict to refine not to consume us 3. Yea when thy judgements are secret yet they are righteous when wicked men prosper and good men suffer when wicked men are the Fanne and good men the Corn when the Weeds flourish and the Corn is overtopped when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he when the affairs of the world seem to be out of course and every man out of his place All this while the Lord makes way for the revelation of his righteous judgements his work will be beautifull in its time all things will work together for good as Materials in a Building Ingredients in a Cordial Colours in a Table Rom. 8.28 The prosperity of the wicked will work to his ruine Prov. 1.3 the affliction of the righteous will work to his glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Thus righteous in thy judgements neither thine Enemies nor thy Children shall ever haue cause justly to complaine against thee Thou art righteous 2. In thy Covenant and promises If thou shouldest have dealt with us according to our provocations we had been consumed Lam. 3.22 Ier. 10.24 but thou hast remembred thy gracious promise to our fathers and therefore we are preserved Though our sins have forfeited mercy yet thy truth and faithfulness hath fulfilled it we owe not our remaining that we are a people we owe not our escaping that we are a free people unto any goodness of our own but unto the grace of the Covenant alone Gods truth and fidelity to his people that are in Covenant with him is the true ground of all their safety he doth not change therefore we do not perish who otherwise from the dayes of our Fathers are gone astray Mal. 3.6 7. his mercies are from everlasting to everlasting Psal. 103.17 from everlasting in predestination to everlasting in Glorification he gave grace and promised eternal life before the world began 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 before they were extant or had any being further then in the purpose of God on whom the grace was bestowed to whom the life was promised And what he did from eternity purpose he will not in time revoke for his gifts are without repentance Rom. 11.29 he doth by his faith and fear preserve his people through his power unto that mercy which he hath from eternity given them Ier. 32.40 1 Pet. 1.5 of themselves they fall dangerously and frequently from their own stedfastness and then the Lord doth chastise their wantonness with the Rod of a Father but doth not utterly take away his loving kindness Psal. 89 28-35 1. The Covenant and grace thereof is free and absolute not conditional and suspended upon the unstable will of man It is not of him that willeth or runneth but of God that sheweth mercy and sheweth it on whom he will Rom. 9 15-18 Between God the Father indeed and Christ as a second Adam the Transaction of the Covenant was wholly conditional he was to take from his Father a Commission in our nature to lay down his life and to take it up again to fulfill all righteousness to be made sinne for us to have our iniquities and the Chastisement of our peace laid upon him before he could see of the travel of his soul Yea he undertook not only for his own work but for ours By the preciousness of his blood he purchased and out of the plenitude of his Spirit he supplyeth unto us what ever grace is requisite unto our salvation But I say as to us the grace of the Covenant is thus farre free and absolute that no duties are required of us which are not as branches of the same Covenant bestowed upon us he hath promised to give a new heart and to put a new Spirit within us to take away the stony heart out of our flesh and to give us an heart of flesh and to put his Spirit within us and to cause us to walk in his Statutes to save us from all our uncleanness to cleanse us from all our iniquities Ezek. 36.25 26 27 29 33. and though he there tell us that he will be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe these things for them ver 37. yet we know it is he onely who poureth out the Spirit of Grace and Supplication whereby we make this inquiry of him Zach. 12.10 Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.26 True indeed it is that when we believe it is we only that believe and when we work it is we that work but our working is not the cause of his grace but his grace the cause of our working Certum est nos velle facere cum volumus cum facimus sed ille facit ut velimus ut faciamus And therefore the Apostle saith I laboured more abundantly they they all to note that the labour was his yet not I but the grace of God which was with me to note that the principle was God 1 Cor. 15.10 Thou hast wrought all our works in us saith the Prophet Isai. 26.12 The works are ours the strength is thine ours the heart and the hand that act thine the Spirit and grace whereby we act he doth not with-hold his love till our wills prevent him and move him to extend it but he doth out of his own free love frame our hearts unto the love of him and work the will in us which he requireth of us Phil. 2 12 13. we repent because he turns us he doth not turn to us because we first turn to