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	law_n	sin_n	7,752	5	4.9628	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77553	The power of God overpowering the creature. Which power came upon me William Britten, the 3d. day of the 11th. month, (called February) 1659. not suffering me to depart my chamber, until I had promised the Lord to answer a book, which I had then never seen, and but once heard of; set forth by William Prynne in defence of tyths, &c. and to present the answer in print unto the governing power of England for the time being. But making delayes, and Fran. Spira-like, consulting with flesh and blood, the Lord terrified me in conscience for neglect, yet in mercy did set me (like Jonah) the second time upon the same work.	Britten, William, d. 1669.	1660 (1660)	Wing B4824A; ESTC R170818	27,030	51

and filled himself with the creatures but he kept under his body in subjection why 1 Cor. 9.27 lest having preached to others Paul should be a cast away 2 Cor. 2.17 Saith the old translator we are not as many which make Merchandise of the word of God c. Wherein it is evident how the true Apostles abhorred Preaching for hire yet having nothing in possession as to call their own but the Churches did supply their wants which Churches being in poverty 2 Cor. 6 10. they acted willingly therein first giving themselves to the Lord and then give unto the Disciples by the will of God 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 5. so it was not by the will of men but there was a willing mind vers 12.14 working that equality wherein the abundance of the teachers spirituals supplyed the hearers wants and the abundance of the hearers temporals supplyed the teachers wants 1 Cor. 16.1 2. At Corinth and Galatia they were taught to lay by in store of the collection of Saints how not as men compel'd them but as God had prospered every one and 2 Cor. 9.5 Paul exhorts to this bounty in giving not threatning or compelling but in a lovely Gospel manner as every man purposed in his heart to do it chearfully in which he commends them for their liberal distribution but gives the thanks to God who led them forth thereunto 2 Cor. 9.7 8 13 15. In 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Paul desires to present the Church a chast Virgin yet fears her adulterating therefore to stir them up in zeal he shews his love unto them and how he had robbed or neglected the service of other Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accipiens stipendium taking Wages Salary or corporal supplies of those other Chuches 2 Cor. ●1 7 8. yet did Preach or do service at Corinth Phil. 2.25 Epaphroditus the Phillippians Messenger did Minister to Pauls wants not pay him Tyths or a setled Maintenance and the Church did communicate to his afflictions sending once and again as a gift not upon a yearly bargain and contract but in time of need freely Phil. 4.14 c. 1 Thes 2.9 The Apostles laboured night and day rather than they would be chargable to any which holds forth four things ●irst they were far from Hirelings to Preach the Gospel Secondly they would not eat and live upon other mens labours Thirdly hereby it is evident that it is not unfit or unlawful for a Gospel Minister to work and take honest pains with his body 2 Thes 3.8 9. Fourthly they thereby left a President of those Virgin times unto us of their practise who were true Gospel Ministers and although they had a power from God to take of their hearers yet they would not do it because of leaving ●ood ensample to follow Heb. 12.1 c. And now seeing that Divine matter in Scriptures ●ords so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside ●ry weight c. is it not the Lords work to undo heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free Isa 58.6 and ●t ye break every yoak Let true Ministers look un● Jesus our Law-maker who endured the cross and ●s not asham'd of his poverty in temporals that so ●y may not faint in their minds but trust to him 〈◊〉 a Maintenance 〈◊〉 come next to answer such humane matter which ●illiam Prynne layes down for his plea to uphold ●ths and a setled Maintenance for Ministers ●n Page 20. He pleads if Ministers be poor they 〈◊〉 be contemptible and less authoratative to the peo● Answ He learn'd not this from Christ who me in poverty and so lived poor in temporals for riches and outward pomp is eyed by the world so ●hrist came in opposition thereunto yet bids us ●n of him Mat. 11.29 who left us these examples part of his sufferings which the Apostles like●e did partake of 2 Cor. 8.9 2 Cor. 6.10 yet in all this poverty many were ●de rich wherein Christ our Law-maker and his ●●ostles the Gospel Planters neither sought for ●es nor humane authori●y to insult over the people at Minister which seeks to be rich and bear autho● over the people Iam. 2.5 1 Tim. 6.8 c. hath not any Gospel warrant for practise neither doth God chuse rich men for 〈◊〉 outward pomp but the poor rich in faith yea Apostle bids the man of God flee those things as ●re being content with food and raiment 2 Tim. ●●ge 29. He reckons up large expenses of Books ●ols Education Terme of Years c. to fit men for ●inistry Answ All these make a carnal man no more ●tual than a new suit of aparrel will make a dead to live again indeed humane learning may do as a servant to attend in the spiritual work but ●ry unfit for mastership to command yet many strong opinions of it as if none were fit for the ●stry but humane learned men whereas Pauls ed●on at Gamaliels feet made him no Apostle b● call of God Acts 22.3 4. Neither was Moses 〈◊〉 from his Court breeding in Pharaohs House to Prophet but from being a Shepherd Deut. 34.10 Exod. 3.1.10 Page 41. And other places he much inveig●●gainst Souldiers Trades-men and Lay-me● Pre●ching terming them ignorant Asses understand not Rhetorick and Elloquence Answ In this he parallels the Jewish Rulers looked on the Apostles to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 4.13 Idiots ●norant and unlearned men calling the people confessed Christ accursed Iohn 4.48 49. as● the Pharisees and Rulers had believed on him proud rich flesh that was in power had ingros● wisdome of God unto it self and so held it unf● Fishermen and other Trades-men should first b● in Christ and then declare to others what th● learned or received from him In diverse Pages as 11.17 ●8 c. he pleads mutative justice how Ministers should have ●pence as o●her Merchants and Trades-men wh●ter and sell one commodity for another Answ See what breaks forth unawares 〈◊〉 describes his Trades-men who Merchandize letter what is learned by hearsay but lest 〈◊〉 be judged envious I shall leave his expressions juditious Reader Page 44. He tells us that Ministers are n● called by immediate inspiration of God b● study night and day for what they Preach Answ See how he is opposite to Scriptures Ioel. 2.18 Acts. 2.17 Mica 4.1 Ier. 31.33 which declare the abundant flowing forth of the Spirit in the latter dayes Gods mountain to be exalted and he writing his Law in Peoples hearts and all taught of God the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness and the false Prophets to be ashamed of their visions neither shall they wear a rough Garment to deceive Zech. 13.1 4. yea more is promised by the flowings forth of Gods Spirit which must be immediate from him to be done in these latter dayes than of any other times and the Apostle tells us Rom. 8.9 if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of

Luke 11.37 John 2.2 Luke 14. 1. Luke 19.5 Luke 19.31 Mat. 8. ●0 Nor did he claim either horse to ride upon or house to dwell in as his own all which pattern from him shews us if we are Gospe● Ministers how to wave the pomp and glory of the World which practise the Apostles followed wh● approved themselves the Ministers of God 2 Cor. 6 4 10. Yea Gods witnesses in the several ages were sufferers and went about as poor despised creatures yet of them the World was not worthy Heb. 11.36 37 38. Mat. 6.33 It is the duty of a true Minister to seek first th● Kingdome of God and trust unto his master for supplies who hath promised to add what is needful no● doing as the heathen Gentiles ver 24.32 taking care what t● eat drink c. looking for humane security to infor● his Salery before he sets upon the work and if o● living be small to study how a greater may be obtain for all these things are opposite to the Apostles practise who sought not the peoples wealth 2 Cor. 12.14 but their eternal welfare Object If some say Ministers having nothing for teaching but what is given them according to the Gospel manner that may make people worse which care not for teaching so they can save their Tyths Answ Although Gospel allows not Ministers to take maintenance of such filthy persons yet Gods Law authorizeth Magistrates to punish such offenders for their wickedness who sin presumtuously yea to make them as Israel did the uncircumcised to be drawers of water and hewers of wood Josh 9.21 be they rich or poor not suffering such to bear offices in the Kingdome and if godly persons only were put in office and authori●y and such Swearers Lyers Drunkards Whore-mongers and other beast-like people kept off and punished then Davids practise would be followed and a blessing follow upon the Na●ion yea Psal 101.1 c. then the one half of those nurseries and seed-plots of sin call'd Alehouses could not continue He useth Mal. 3.8 9. Wherein the Lord complains of the people robbing him in tyths and offerings upon which they were cursed and in Levit. 27.30 Tyths are called the Lords and Hag. ● 9 the curse is said to be upon the increase for neglect thereof also in Hag. 2.16 c. Answer As thus Tyths were the Lords and those that with-held them was said to rob God so were free gifts from Saints given to Gospel Ministers and others in want due unto Iesus Christ and owned by him as he evidently declares by the with holding or giving unto such as to himself saying I was hungry Mat. 23.35 c. Thirsty Naked a Stranger in Prison c. and thus you did unto me by which you may see First how Tyths were the Law-ministers pay and free gifts the Gospel Ministers pay Secondly How Tyths under the Law and free gifts under the Gospel are the Lords own Thirdly How those that with-held Tyths from the Priests or free gifts from the Gospel Ministers the Lord takes it as done to himself Fourthly How those Tyths and Gospel free gifts were never set forth by humane authority but God gave them to his Messengers by his own power under the several dispensations for their maintenance Fifthly How God never gave power unto man that one creature should Curse Fine Imprison or persecute another for refusing detaining or neglecting the payment of Tyths to the Levites or free gifts to Gospel Ministers but he reserved that to himself as the places before cited do evidently declare So that in all the Scriptures I find not any power God gave to man in setling a maintenance for Priests Levites or Gospel Ministers Ezek. 44.28 but the Lord did that work who being the Levites inheritance they had no possession in the Land nor humane Law to compel what God gave them nor did Christ give unto his Apostles any humane authority to enforce a maintenance from their auditors but they must go forth empty without money Scrip c. nor can we read of any in Scripture that assum'd a humane power to compel such things except Elies Sons of Belial 1 Sam. 2.12.16 He affirms in his Plea that Patryarchs gave Tyths before the Law and Page 53. tells us that then they vowed Tyths to God Answ The Scriptures speak no such thing For although Abel Noah Isaac and Jacob offered to God yet Abraham only paid Tyths Gen. 14.18 Heb. 7.1 c. in a voluntary way once unto Melchisedeck without any command to do it or to continue it yearly which free-will Act he did after the victory he obtain'd as Noah offered an offering after deliverance from the general flood Gen. 8.20 and so Noah and Abraham did hereby shew their thankful obedience to the Lord who gave them such deliverances as did those Converts when they had victory over sin and became Disciples of Christ in token of thankfulness they made their goods common to poor Disciples Acts 2.44 Acts 4.34 And as Zacheus when salvation was come to his house or heart to manifest his joy he gave to the poor and made restitution where he had been unjust Luke 19.8 all which actions of Abrahams giving Tyths Zacheus restitution and the Disciples community were a like free alike voluntary none of them forbidden to be continued nor none of them commanded to be imitated yet all were holy actions so that these things make nothing for a Gospel plea to settle Tyths or a yearly maintenance for Gospel Ministers neither was these works intail'd upon their posterity as Englands Tyths are said to be but left to the freedome of after generations also note how Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils taken by his Souldiery from the enemy so it was not of his own labour and of his Servants and Cattel whereby they had toiled in heats and colds all the year as Englands Tyth-takers do force it from many so that this free work in Abraham is neither warrant nor example for us to make a Law in our Nation to compel men by force and violence in paying the tenth of all their labour and increase unto a Ministry Yet these things and about the Jewish Tyths do much inlarge his book and of the Jewish warriers which gave of the spoils in time of Temple worship he seeking to model something from thence for us to imitate Heb. 9.9.10 not observing these gifts and sacrifices how they held until the time of reformation but if he had well weighed the Apostles discourse from Heb. 7.1 to Heb. 8.13 he might have seen the scope thereof to declare the excellency and clearness of Christs Kingdome Heb. 8.10 11. in the New Covenant wo● when all shall be taught of God Iohn 6.45 and he will write 〈◊〉 Laws in their hearts so that his teacher the anoint 〈◊〉 abideth within and there is no need of men to teac● 1 John 2.27 When by the Spirit of

his whence note if a man have this Spirit it must be immediate from God seeing man cannot give it but if he have it not then such a one cannot be a Minister of Christ for he is none of his therefore those Ministers not immedi●tely fitted and sent forth by this Spirit are not of God but of mens sending and how can they do the work of him that never set them When Christ called his Apostles then they followed him when he sent them forth to Preach they had authority to go and not before and when Paul was called of God Gal. 1 1 16. and had Jesus Christ revealed in him he conferred not with flesh and blood but went to preach the Gospel unto the heathen and we find no where that a cessation should be of this Spirit although the man of sin hath a long time darkned the truth and few have come forth in the persecuting times by this spiritual power yet the Lords Arme is not shortned nor his Spirit drawn back but he hath manifested himself herein by many called forth to warn and forewarn Rulers Governours and others in these latter dayes of which I am to give notice from the Lord That upon the fourth day of the third moneth called May last 1660. God shewed me that those Messengers called Quakers was sent forth by him and were to be owned as such Luke 9.1 Christ Jesus Commissionated His Twelve Apostles to Preach c. when he was with them in flesh yet they did not continue Preaching upon that authority after his death but received a new commission after his Resurrection when the vessel o● his body had been broken and the Spirit which filled it was to be shed abroad Mat 12.18 all power being given unto him he then authorizeth them as a risen conquerer to go forth yet they must not execute this commission until it was sealed by the Spirit of promise which he shed on them abundantly Acts 10.38 Ephes 1.13 Tit. 3.6 but this they must wait for at Ierusalem Acts 1.4 Acts 2.1 until the Lords time which they received at the day of Pentecost where we may observe how they waited in silence for this Spirit not running forth to Preach upon a humane call no not upon the first Commission although Christ gave it them but they must tarry for a new to Preach a Christ risen from the dead and risen by his spiritual power in their hearts when THE POWER OF GOD had overpowered the Creature At Page 60. He strives further to make their examples in time of Temple Worship to be presidents unto us as to have the Souldiers give the tenth of the spoile unto the Priests now as they did then telling us it was the opinion of Divines Councils and Canonists at his 70. Page Answ The opinions of those might be men that would share in the benefit thereof and such would seek their gain from their quarter pleading for their own ends Isa 56.11 but for this we have no Gospel example ye there may be a plot for if the Souldiers could be drawn to give the tenth part of the spoile unto the Priests then it was not for the poor farmer to contend seeing the Priests Power might equalize the Popes in Peters Keyes and Pauls Sword for what could not be effected for the Priests one way the Sword might compel it another way but everlasting praises be to God who hath kept England out of this condition Page 88. He terrifies people with fears and dangers if they refuse to pay Tyths alledging what befel Jeroboam in six evils for spoiling the Priests and Levites possession Answ He in so doing opposed the Law of God and so the Lord punished him accordingly but Christ gave us no law for such a Maintenance therefore our sin would be the greater if we should pay it and three evils would be committed as paralelling Jeraboams practise first he went the wrong way of Worship and so do those that own such to be Gospel Ministers which are not called of God thereunto yet force a Maintenance for them contrary to the Gospel practise Secondly He made Priests of the worser people and so do those that take such Ministers which are but carnally minded and Preach for gains Thirdly He shut out the Lords Priests and set up Priests of his own chusing and so do they that refuse Teachers called of God because they are Trades-men and set up of their own choice because they have humane learning All which caused ruin on Jeroboam's Posterity and this I am to give warning unto England's Powers that until Tyths and other oppressions be taken away and Gods Laws made our Laws both within us and without us the Lord will keep overturning and bring desolation if there be no amendment Page 113. He again sets forth his Ministry as Hirelings and that accordindly they should have Hire Iohn 10.13 Answ See his own confession and a Hireling careth not for the Sheep but for the fleece and gains yet we agree to maintain those Ministers which God sends and the Saints own being called and rewarded according to Gospel Law but to Force Compel Pull Tear Imprison Persecute c. about Religion to make Christians by bringing them into such a set form and then to do the like to hurry them into that form or else to punish those that refuse it was never taught us in Scriptures Page 138. He tells us there are three sorts of Priests First every sanctified Christian for his family Secondly The publick or national Priest Thirdly Christ Jesus Answ If a man be sanctified to act as a Priest in his Family where did God forbid him to do the like amongst other believers 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Revel 1.6 Rev. 5.10 the holy Ghost tells us how the sanctified ones are a royal Priest-hood which should shew forth Gods Praises yea Kings and Priests to Reign with him on Earth so the Lord makes no such distinction as W. P. doth but by the Holy Ghost informs us how all the Saints have liberty to prophesie or Preach one by one The Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anuntio or Praedico signifieth to Preach Shew Tell Publish or Declare and thus the Priest-hood of Saints should shew forth Gods Praises 1 Pet. 1.9 c. and this may be done two wayes First by speaking Secondly by writing and this W. P. would not have every sanctified Christian to do publickly but the Parish Priest should do it now according to his own law if none but parish Priests may shew or declare these things in publick then why doth he declare them publickly by writing see●ng he makes no such profession to be a publick Priest Thou art in excusable O man for where●n thou judgest another Rom. 2.1 thou condemnest thy ●elf Page 145. He pretends to answer William Thorps ●rgument how in the times of the Apostles and ●or 200. or 300. Years after they received no Tyths for Preaching but lived

c. of such adding something his old matter about Abraham and of Gods in●tuting them c. Answ This query is but Abbreivate of his long f●● about Abrahams paying Tythes c. which was 〈◊〉 answered before therefore I shall avoid Tautolog● only this I shall remind you of First how none Abraham ever paid Tythes before the Levitical 〈◊〉 being once done in a Voluntary way secondly how People in the World was ever commanded of God to ●y Tythes but the Jews only thirdly how the Vir●in Gospel Churchs never took Tythes of any or ●aid any nor demanded any fourthly how there was ●o kind of setled Maintenance then for any Gospel Mi●isters fifthly note how forcing unto forms and com●elling of Maintenance were all from Rome when the ●east like power got the Victory six●hly see how far William Prynne is from a Gospel plea that hath no Gospel whatsoever to prove that which he pretends 8. He queries of Faith and piety in Tythe refusers c. but ends with a farther misery then punishments and Banishment he also runs much upon Abraham voluntary act of giving Tythes questioning ●f opposers may not come to Hell Torments for ●t Answ Faith and piety consist not in a work opposite to the Gospel but these things he asserted before ●nd now he queries if it be not so yet thus much I may tell him that men may possibly seem to have Faith and piety yet be without it neither can he or ● know what Principle a man acts from in seeing his outside so we cannot tell him what Faith and piety is within others 9 He queries if Tythes opposing be not imagina●y fraud covetousness c. Answ To tell him this we must know mens hearts which God only can discover but if any act ●o or do deny them on that account I heartily wish ●hey were well known that the godly who cannot pay a forced Maintenance without sinning against the Lord and making a breach in his Royal Gospel char●er and wounding their own consciences might not ●e censured because some do dissemble 10. He queries what danger may come on the Na●ion if Tyths should be taken away yet ends with a scoff How such Tythe opposers may be inrold Saints in the Roman Kalender Answ To take away Tyths would be the like dan● as it was to tread on Dagons threshold 1 Sam. 5.5 or for K● Henry the 8. to take away the Popes Supremacy 〈◊〉 Monastries Abbies c. from Popish uses bu● terrifie People with dangers and fears is no t● thing for thus the Spies acted when Isreal should into Canaan Numb 13.32 which much dismaid the People 〈◊〉 so now we have many thus hindering the glorious ●berty of the Sons of God that like Israels adversar● at rebuilding of the Material Temple in formd t● were a rebellious People Ezra 4.4 12 13. Nehem. 2.17 Nehem 4.1 7. But God will have 〈◊〉 work done although Sanballat and other Enim● scoff at it Thus have I declared an answer according to t● Lords leading me forth in it I must deliver som●what more which God hath designed me to do 〈◊〉 five and twentieth day of the 3d. month cally May 1660. Ier. 18.3.4 O Powers of England the fountain of Gods M●cy is still open unto us and his work is upon the whe● wherein he makes men instrumental in turning 〈◊〉 about and hath tryed several parties in doing of i● when Prebitery had groaned for Liberty under pr●lacy he at last obtaind it but then he sought to 〈◊〉 up himself and thought much to grant that Liber● to his fellow Creatures which he groaned for und● another so he being laid by God set Independe● to work Hosea 6.4 who made a shew of righteousnes like Eph●im but as the dew it soon wasted and their day w● past also whereupon the Baptist party had their t●●● who proving self seekers like the former their d● soon ended 2 Sam. 15.4 yet all these c. before their day ca● to work at the wheel seemd to be wishing like A●solam O that I were made Judge in the Land 〈◊〉 note the proceedings how these made shews like Iehu 〈◊〉 Iehonadab but what was effected of that pretend● woful experience can Testifie thereof 2 King 10.15 29. Cor. 3 5. Iehu de●rted not from Ieroboams Idolatry nor did these ●ave their ptide and covetousness which is Idola●y As it is just with God to try men so thereby he ●aves them without excuse likewise it is his mercy Mat. 22.2 c. ●hen one proves unfaitfull or refuseth his spiritual ●ovision to call in others all which he hath done ●d now is your day to be instruments in his hand for ●ting forth his glory and doing his work look there●re to it and remember what many of you have ●ought upon in times past to do if ever you had such ●day see now and consider the things that belong unto ●●urs and our peace lest our case become as Ie●●salems Many talk of setling religion who under●●and it not Luke 19.42 but where or how can it be astablisht ●ithout if it be not setled within the heart and if it be ●ithin there is no man can mend it therefore it is not ●●tward Laws or inforcements to an externall form at makes a Christian and concerning Tyths if ●y man will voluntarily pay them still let him do it ●a if he will give half he hath to his Minister or ●ake his goods common any of these men may do they will so they do it freely for the Saints look ●●on a free ministry a free maintenance according 〈◊〉 the pure Gospel practise but what is otherwise is ●pure nor can all outward inforcements adde any ●ing of inward purity more then life can be detained ●hen it is expiring forth of the body As the Gospel manifestation of God is clearer so ●ints in this come to a more glorious Light Mat. 5.16 28. Iohn 4.23 being ●quired to walk in a more perfect obedience not ●ith a lustfull eye but a single heart no observation 〈◊〉 places but in spirit and Truth to walk in love using no filthiness jesting or foolish talking wh● in no lyers Eph. 2.4 Rev. 22.19 Mat. 7.12 c. shall have part in the blessed inh●tance therefore to be mindful of that Royall Law doing what we would be done unto And this is the sum of that message God hath set upon wherein may be observed how W. P. ple● opposite to the Gospel Letter and Practise there● I am to conclude That there is no Gospel Ple● Tyths nor any forced Maintenance for Minister● the Gospel THE END LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Rob● Wilson at the sign of the Black-Spread Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins near Aldersgate 1660.