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	truth_n	6,965	5	5.2320	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34784	The Covenant with a narrative of the proceedings and solemn manner of taking it by the honourable House of Commons and reverent Assembly of Divines the 25th day of September, at Saint Margarets in Westminster : also two speeches delivered at the same time, the one by Mr. Philip Nye, the other by Mr. Alexander Hendersam.	Henderson, Alexander, 1583?-1646.; Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.	1643 (1643)	Wing C6621; ESTC R3970	18,809	36

to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a reall Reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdomes in Truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the Peace and Tranquillity of Christian Kingdomes and Common-wealths The Proceedings of the Covenant with the manner of taking thereof by the Honourable House of COMMONS and the Reverend Assembly of DIVINES THe Commissioners sent from the Honourable Houses of Parliament to the Kingdome of Scotland having besides other weighty Affaires instructions to take into consideration whatsoever might be effectuall for bringing the two Kingdoms to a more neer Conjunction and Union there was a Committee of the Honourable Convention of Estates in Scotland and another Committee of the Generall Assembly of the Church designed to joyne with them in this great and necessary consultation in which after much agitation the result and conclusion was that a solemne League and Covenant taken mutually by both Kingdomes would be the most conducing meanes to such a happy Vnion Thereupon a form of Covenant by their Common assent was agreed upon and presented to bee read and considered of in the Generall Assembly where it had assent and approbation and was thence recommended to the Convention of Estates by an Order of the Assembly as followeth Edenb. August 17. 1643. Sess. 14. THe Assembly having recommended unto a Committee appointed by them to joyne with the Committee of the Honourable Convention of Estates and the Commissioners of the Honourable House of the Parliament of England Certaine Propositions presented unto them by the aforesaid Commissioners of the Honourable House of the Parliament of England for bringing the two kingdoms to a more neere Conjunction and Vnion received from the aforesaid Committees the Covenant under-written as the result of their Consultations And having taken the same as a matter of so publike concernment and of so deep importance doth require unto their gravest consideration Did with all their hearts and with the beginnings of that joy which they did finde in so great measure upon the Renovation of the Nationall Covenant of this Kirk and Kingdome All with one voice approve and embrace the same as the most powerfull meane by the blessing of God for setling and preserving the true Protestant Religion with perfect Peace in His Majesties Dominions and propagating the same to other Nations and for establishing his Majesties Throne to all Ages and Generations And therefore with their best affections recommend the same to the Honourable Convention of Estates that being examined and approved by them it may be sent with all diligence unto the Kingdome of England That being received and approven there the same may be with publick humiliation and all religious and answerable solemnity sworne and subscribed by all true Professors of the Reformed Religion and all His Majesties good Subjects in both Kingdomes Ar. Jhonston Cler. Eccl. From that Honourable Convention it obtained like approbation with a recommendation to the Kingdom of England as in this Order of theirs appeareth At Edinburgh 17. of August 1643. THe Noblemen Commissioners of Shires and Burroughs now convened having received the Covenant above-written from their Committee as the result of their consultations with a Committee of their generall Assembly and the Commissioners of both Houses from the Parliament of England and having taken the Covenant into their gravest consideration did with all their hearts and great expressions of joy and unanimity approve and embrace the same as the most powerfull meane by the blessing of God for setling and preserving the true Protestant Religion with a perfect peace in all his Majesties Dominions and propagating the same to other Nations and for establishing his Majesties Throne to all ages And being very confident that their Brethren in the Kingdome of England will heartily receive and approve the same Therefore according to the earnest recommendation of that venerable Assembly of this Kirk now thinks it most necessary for the good ends afore-said that it be sent into that Kingdome with all diligence that being received and approved by their Brethren there the same may be with all religious solemnities swerne and subscribed by all true Professours of the Reformed Religion and all his Majesties good Subjects in both Kingdomes Extract Arch. Primrose Cler. Conven. Some Commissioners also were sent from the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland with instructions for furthering the Covenant and the intended union of the Churches of both Kingdoms This Covenant being presented to the Honourable House of Commons and considered by them in the severall branches and Articles thereof was recommended to a Committee to be chosen of their own Members and sorne of the Divines of the Assembly together with the Commissioners sent from Scotland to the intent that some expressions might be farther explained and that the Kingdome of Ireland also might bee expresly taken into the same league and Covenant with us Which being done with great care and diligence by those Committees and Commissioners It was then read in the Assembly of Divines and afterwards in the House of Commons and received a most full and universall assent from the Members of both Nemine contradicente This form of Covenant was presented also to the House of Lords by whom likewise it was taken into consideration and approved of as fit to be entred into by the three Kingdomes On Friday the 22. of September it was concluded by the House this Oath and Covenant should be solemnly taken publikely in the Church at Westminster called Saint Margarets Church the Monday following by the House of Commons and the Assembly of Divines To which purpose an Order was sent to the Assembly from the House to give them notice thereof and that some of the Assembly be appointed to pray and to exhort for the more solemn celebrating of so serious and weighty a service The Assembly appointed Mr. Philip Nye to make the exhortation Mr. Iohn White to pray before and Mr. Dr. Gouge to pray after the exhortation The House met at the usuall place and thence went with their Speaker to the Church the Assembly also at the same time with their Prolocutor A Psalme being sung solemne prayer was made after the prayer an exhortation to the Honourable House and Reverend Divines encouraging

an Oath the Oath of Canonicall obedience as they called it You remember also with what cunning and industrie they endeavoured lately to make this Oath and Covenant more sure for themselves and their posterity And intended a more publike solemn and universall engagement then since Popery this cause of theirs was ever maintained or supported by And questionlesse Ireland and Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league with England But blessed be the Lord and blessed be his good ●and the Parliament that from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid a yoke have dashed out the very braines of this project and are now this day present before the Lord to take and give possession of this blessed Ordinance even an Oath and Covenant as solemn and of as large extent as they intended theirs uniting these three Kingdoms into such a League and happy combination as will doubtlesse preserve us and our Reformation against them though their iniquity in the mysteries of it should still be working amongst us Come therefore I speak in the words of the Prophet let us joyne our selves to the Lord and one to another and each to all in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten We are now entring upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment to us and to our Posteritie after us that ever was undertaken by any of us or any of our fore-fathers before us or neighbouring Nations about us if the Lord shall blesse this our beginning it will be a happie day and we shall be a happy people An Oath is a duty of the first Commandment and therefore of the highest and noblest order and rank of duties therefore must come forth attended with choycest graces especially with these two humility and feare Feare not onely of God which ought to be in an eminent measure Gen. 31. 53. Iacob sware by the feare of his father Isaac as if he covered to inherit his fathers grace as well as his fathers God But also feare of an Oath it being a dreadfull duty and hath this peculiar it s established by the Oath of God I have sworne that unto me every tongue shall sweare Isa. 45. 23. It s made the very Character of a Saint he feares an Oath Eccles. 9. 2. Humility is another grace requisite set your hearts before God in an humble obedient frame Deut. 6. Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serve him and sweare by his Name The Apostle Paul was sensible of this engagement even in the very act of this duty Rom. 1. 9. I call God to witnesse whom I serve in my spirit Although it be a work of the lips yet the heart and whole man must be interessed if we expect this worship to be acceptable Psal. 119. 108. Accept the free-will offering of my mouth and teach me thy judgements Also it must be done in the greatest simplicity and plainness of spirit in respect of those with whom we covenant We call God as a witnesse betwixt us who searcheth the heart With him is wisedome and strength the deceived and deceiver is his Iob 12. 19. He hath wisedome to discover and strength to punish if our hearts be not upright to our brethren in this matter Let us be contented with this that the words of our Covenant bee hands it may not be so much as in the desire of our hearts that they should become snares no not to the weakest and simplest person that joyneth with us In the whole worke make your addresse unto God as Iacob did to his father Isaac and let there bee the like feare and jealousie over your spirits Gen. 27. 12. My father peradventure will feel me and I shall seeme to him as a deceiver and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing I take liberty with more earnestnesse to presse this care upon you because I have observed Oathes and Covenants have been undertaken by us formerly and by the command of Authority the fruit wherof though great yet not answered our expectation the Lord surely hath beene displeased with the slightnesse of our hearts in the worke I beseech you be more watchfull and stirre up your hearts with more industry this day then ever before As it is the last oath you are likely to take in this kinde so is it our last refuge tabula post nat●fragium If this help us not we are likely to remaine to our dying day an unhappy people but if otherwise You will indeed sweare with all your hearts and seeke the Lord with your whole desire God will be found and give you rest round about 2 Chor. 15. 15. And having sworn and entred into this solemn engagement to God and man make conscience to doe accordingly otherwise it is better thou shouldest not vow Eccles. 5. As is said of fasting it is not the bowing down of the head for a day so of this solemn swearing it is not the lifting up of the hand for a day but an honest and faithfull endeavouring after the contents of this Covenant all our dayes A truce-breaker is reckoned up amongst the vilest of Christians 2 Tim. 3. 3. so a Covenant-breaker is listed amongst the worst of Heathens Rom. 1. 31. But he that sweareth and changeth not though he sweare to his hurt that is he that will keep his Covenant and Oath though the contents of it prove not for him nay possibly against him yet he will keep it for his Oaths sake such a one shall have his habitation with the most High and dwell in his Tabernacle Psal. 15. And as for you Reverend Brethren that are Ministers of the Gospel there is yet another obligation will lie upon you let us look to our selves and make provision to walk answerable to this our Covenant for the Gospels sake it will reflect a great aspersion upon the truth of the Gospel if we should be false or unconstant in any word or purpose though in a matter of lesse consequence as you can easily collect from that apology of Paul 2 Cor. 1. 17 18. how much more in such a case as this is if we should be found to purpose nay more to vow and covenant and sweare and all this according unto the flesh and with us there should be notwithstanding all these obligations yea yea and nay nay That we may all who take the Covenant this day be constant immoveable and abound in this work of the Lord that we may not start aside or give back or goe on uncomfortably there is a twofold grace or qualification to be laboured after 1. We must get courage spirits that are bold and resolute It is said in Haggai that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel Governour of Iudah and the spirit of Ioshua the high Priest and the spirit of all the remnant of the people and they came and did work in the house of the Lord the work of Gods house Reformation-work especially is a stirring work read Stories