Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A69542
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Two sheets for poor families ... by Richard Baxter.
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Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing B1441; Wing B1403; ESTC R6530
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11,669
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17
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The Second SHEET FOR Poor Families INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HOLY LIFE By Richard Baxter LONDON Printed by Robert White for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleet-street and for Nevill Simmons Book-seller in Kederminster 1665. The Second Sheet for Poor Familes INSTRUCTIONS FOR A Holy Life ALL is not done when men have begun a Religious life All Trees that blossome prove not fruitfull Colos 1.23 Hebrews 4.1 2 Pet. 2.20 1 Cor. 3. Gal. 3. 4. Matthew 13.41 18.7 and all fruit comes not to perfection Many fall off who seemed to have good beginnings And many dishonour the Name of Christ by their scandals and infirmities Many do grieve their Teachers hearts and lamentably disturb the Church of Christ by their ignorance errors self-conceitedness unruliness headiness contentiousness sidings and divisions In so much that the scandals and the fewds of Christians are the great impediment of the Conversion of the Iâ—fidel and Heathea world Phil. 3.21 Acts 20.30 by exposing Christianity to their contempt and scorn as if it were but the error of men as unholy and worldly and proud as others that can never agree among themselves And many by their passions and selfishness are a trouble to the Families and Neighbours where they live And more by their weaknesses and great distempers are snares vexations and burdens to themselves Whereas Christianity in its true constitution is a life of such Holy Light and Love Matth. 5.16 1 Pet. 3 1. 1 Pet. 2.15 1.8 2 Cor. 1.12 such Purity and Peace such fruitfulness and Heavenlyness as if it were accordingly shewed forth in the lives of Christians would command admiration and reverence from the world and do more to their conversion than swords or words alone can do And it would make Christians usefull and amiable to each other and their lâ—ves a feast and pleasure to themselves I hope it may prove some help to these excellent ends and to the securing mens salvation if in a few sound experienced Directions I open to you the Duties of a Christian life I. Keep still the true form of Christian Doctrine Desire and Duty orderly printed on your mâ—nds 2 Tim. 1.13 3.7 Heb. 5.12 Phil. 1.9 Rom. 15.14 that is Understand it clearly and distinctly and remember it I mean the great points of Religâ—on contained in Catechismes you may still gâ—ow in the clearer understanding of your Catechâ—smes if you live an hâ—ndred years Let not the words only but the matter be as familiar in your minds as the rooms of your house are Such â—olid knowledge will establish you against seduction and unbelief Eph. 4.13 14. Colosâ— 1.9 2.3 3.10 1 Tim. 6.4 and will be still within you a ready help for every Graâ—e and every duty as the skill of an Artificer is for his work And for want of this when you come among Infidels or Hereticks their reasonings may seem unanswerable to you and shake if not overthâ—ow your saâ—th And you will easily erre in â—esser poâ—â—â— and trouble the Church with your dreams and wranglings This is the calamity of many Professors that while they will be most censorious Judges in every controversie about Church-matters they know not well the Doctrine of the Catechâ—sm II. Live day'y by faith on Jesus Christ as the Mediator between God and you Iohn 17.3 Ephes 3.17 18. Matth. 28.19 Eph. 1.22 23. 4.6.16 Romans 5. 2 Cor. 12.9 Iohn 16.33 1 Iohn 5.4 Heb. 4 14.16 Col. 3 3 4. Acts 7.59 Being well grounded in the Belief of the Gospel and understanding Châ—ists Office make use of him still in all your wants Think on the Fatherly Love of God as coming to you through him alone and of the Spirit as given by Him your Head and of the Covenant of Grace as enacted and sealed by him and of the Ministery as sent by him and of all time and helps and hope as procured and given by him When you think of sin and infirmity and temptations think also of his sufficient pardoning justifying and victorious grace When you think of the world the flesh and the Devil think how he overcometh them Let his doctrine and the pattern of his most perfect life be alwayes before you as your Rule In all your doubts and fears and wants go to Him in the Spirit and to the Father by Him and Him alone Take him as the root of your life and mercies and Live as upon him and by his life And when you die resign your souls to Him that they may be with Him where he is and see his Glory To live on Christ and use Him in every want and address to God is more then a General consufed believing in him III. So Believe in the Holy Ghost as to Live and work by Him as the Body doth by the soul You are not Baptised into his name in Vain Gal. 5.16.25 Matth. 28.19 Iohn 16.13 Heb. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 8.9.13 Iohn 3.5 6. But too few understand the sense and reason of it The Spirit is sent by Christ for two great works 1. To the Apostles and Prophets to inspire them infallibly to preach the Gospel and confirm it by miracles and leave it on record for following ages in the Holy Scriptures 2. To all his members to illuminate and sanctifie them to believe and obey this Sacred Doctrine beside his common guift to many to understand and preach it The Spirit having first indited the Gospel doth by it first Regenerate and after Govern all true Believers He is not now given us for the revealing of new doctrines but to understand and obey the doctrine revealed and sealed by him long ago 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Iude 19 20. Ezech. 36.27 Isa 44.3 Rom. 8.1.5 1 Cor. 6.11 Zech. 14.20 As the Sun doth by its sweet and secret influence both give and cherish the natural life of things Sensitive and Vegetative so doth Christ by hâ—s Spirit our spiritual life As you do no work but by your natural life you should do none but by your spiritual life you must not only Believe and Love and pray by it but manage all your Callings by it For Holiness to the Lord must be written upon all All things are sanctified to you because you being sanctified to God devote all to Him and use all for Him and therefore must do all in the strength and conduct of the Spirit IV. Live wholly upon GOD as All in All As the first Efficient principal Dirigent Rom. 11.36 1 Cor. 10.31 2 Cor. 5 7 8. â— Iohn 3.1 Rom. 5.1 2 3. Matth. 22.37 Ephes 1.6 2 Cor. 5.19 Gal. 4.4 5 6. and Final Cause of all things Let Faith Hope and Love be daily feeding on Him Let Our Father which art in Heaven be first inscribed on your hearts that he may seem most amiable to you and you may boldly Trust him and filial Love may be the spring of duty Make use of the Son and Spirit to lead you
to the Father and of Faith in Christ to kindle and keep alive the Love of God The Love of God is our Primitive Holiness and specially called with its fruits Our Sanctification which Faith in Christ is but a Means to Let it be your principal end in studying Christ to see the Goodness Love and Amiableness of God in him A condemning God is not so easily loved as a Gracious Reconciled God You have so much of the Spirit as you have Love to God This is the proper guift of the Spirit to all the Adopted Sons of God to cause them with filial affection and dependance to cry Abba Father Know not desire not love not any creature but purely as subordinate to God! Without him let it be Nothing to you But as the Glass without the face or scattered Letters without the sense or as the corpse without the soul Call nothing Prosperity or pleasure but his Love Psalm 30.5 and nothing adversity or misery but his displeasure and the cause and fruits of it When any thing would seem Lovely and desireable which is against him call it Dung Psalm 63.3 Phil. 3.7 8. Matth. 16.23 2 Thess 3.5 2 Cor. 13.14 And hear that man as Satan or the Serpent that would entise you from Him count him but Vanity a Worm and dust that would affright you from your duty to Him Fear him much but Love him more Let Love be the soul and End of every other duty It is the end and Reason of all the rest but it hath no End or Reason but its Object Think of no other Heaven and End and Happiness of man but LOVE the final act and GOD the final object Place not your Religion in any thing but the Love of God with its means and fruits Own no grief desire or joy but a Mourning a Seeking and a Rejoicing Love V. Live in the Belief and Hopes of Heaven and seek it as your part and end and daily Delight your souls in the forethoughts Col. 3.1 2 4. Mat. 6.19 20 1.33 2 Cor. 4.17 18. 5.7 Luke 12.20 Heb. 6.20 1 Cor. 15.28 Ephes 4.6 1.23 Phil. 3.18.20 Ps 73.25 26. Iohn 18.36 of the endless sight and Love of God As God is seen on earth but as in a glass so is he proportionably enjoyed But when mourning seeking Love hath done and sin and enemies are overcome and we behold the Glory of God in Heaven the Delights of Love will then be perfect You may desire more on Earth than you may Hope for Look not for a Kingdom of this world nor for Mount Zion in the wilderness Christ Reigneth on Earth as Moses in the Camp to guide us to the Land of Promise Our perfect blessedness will be where the Kingdome is delivered up to the Father and God is All in All. A doubt or a strange heartless thought of Heaven is Water cast on the Sacred fire to quench your Holiness and your Joy Can you travel one whole day to sâ—ch an End and never think of the place that you are going to which must be intended in every righteous act either notedly or by the ready unobserved act of a potent habit When Earth is at the best it will not be Heaven You live no further by Faith like Christians then you either live for Heaven in seeking it or else upon Heaven in Hope and Ioy. VI. Labour to make Religion your pleasure and delight Look oft to God to Heaven to Christ to the Spirit to the Promises to all your mercies call over your experiences Psalm 1.2 3. 84.2.10 63.3.5 37.4 94.19 119.47.70 Isa 58.14 Psalm 112.1 Romans 14.17 5.1 3 5. 1 Pet. 1.8 Mat. 5.11 12. Psalm 32.11 and think what matter of high Delight is still before you And how unseemly it is and how injurious to your profession for one that saith he Hopeth for Heaven to live as sadly as those that have no higher Hopes than Earth How should that man be filled with joy who must live in the joys of Heaven for ever Especially rejoyce when the messengers of Death do tell you that your Endless Joy is neer If God and Heaven with all our mercies in the way be not Reason enough for a joyful life there can be none at all Abhor all suggestions which would make Religion seem a tedious inksome life And take heed that you represent it not so to others For you will never make them in Love with that which you make them not perceive to be delectable and lovely Not as the Hypocrite by forcing and framing his Religion to his Carnal mind and pleasure but bringing up the heart to a holy suitableness to the pleasures of Religion VII Watch as for your souls against this flattering tempting world Gal. 6.14 1 Ioh 2.15 16. Iames 1.27 4.4 5. 1 Iohn 5.4 5. Rom. 12.2 Gal. 1.4 Titus 2.12 Mat. 19.24 Luk. 12.16.21 16.25 Iames 1.11 5.1.2.4 Luke 8.14 Hâ—b 11.26 especially when it is represented as more sweet and delectable than God and Holiness and Heaven This world with its Pleasure Wealth and Honours is it that is put in the ballance by Satan against God and Holiness and Heaven And no man shall have better than he chooseth and preferreth The bait taketh advantage of the brutish part when Reason is asleep and if by the help of sense it get the Throne the Beast wâ—ll ride and rule the Man and Reason become a slave to Sensuality When you hear the Serpent see his sting and see Death attending the forbâ—dden fruit When you are Rising look down and see how far you have to fall His Reason as well as faith is weak who for such fool-gawds as the pomp and vanities of this world can forget God and his soul and death and judgement Heaven and Hell yea and deliberately command them to stand by What Kâ—owlâ—dgâ— or Experience can do good on that man who will venture so much for such a world which all that have â—â—yed it call Vanity at the last How deplorate then is a worldlings case O fear the world when it smileth or seems sweet and amiable Love it not if you Love your God and your salvation VIII Fly from temptations and crucifie the flesh Rom. 8.1.13 Gal. 5.24 Rom. 13.14 Gal. 5.17 Iude 8.23 2 Pet. 2.10 Eph. 2.3 1 Pet. 2.11 Mat. 6.13 26.41 Luke 8.13 and keep a constant Government over your appetite and senses Many who had no designed stated vice of worldly interest have shamfully fallen by the sudden surprize of appetite or lust When custome hath taught these to be greedy and violent like a hungry Dog or a lusting Bore it is not a flâ—ggish wish or purpose that will mortifie or rule them How dangerous a case is that man in who hath so greedy a Beast continually to restrain that if he do but neglect his watch one hour is ready to run him headlong into hell Who can be safe that standeth