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	pray_v	prayer_n	13,124	5	6.7659	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36217	The second part of An apostate-conscience exposed being an answer to a scurrilous pamphlet, dated the 11th of April, 1699. Written and published, by F. Bugg, intituled, Jezabel withstood, and her daughter Ann Docwra reproved for her lies and lightness, in her book, stiled, An apostate conscience exposed, &c. By Ann Docwra.; Apostate conscience exposed. Part 2.	Docwra, Anne, 1624-1710.	1700 (1700)	Wing D1780; ESTC R214990	20,559	50

3. who shines in the Hearts of Men enlightning every Man c. John 1. 9. The true and right understanding of all Mankind is to come to the Light that shines in the dark Heart of fallen Man and to observe the motions of it for the Light of Christ shines in all Mens Hearts in some measure to Reprove for Sin and Exhort them to that which is Good it is given and sown or inspired into all Mankind and convincingly appearing at certain times and seasons This is an infallible Teacher that never deceived any Man and is sufficicient to bring all Mankind out of Darkness and out of their Sins that yield true obedience to it it works gradually in Man it reproves some Sins first and if they forsake them it shews them in order all their Sins and as they are obedient it still goes on more powerfully in its work until it hath put an end to Sin and brought Man to know the work of his Redemption so from all Iniquity Christ Jesus who is that true Light that showes to Man his Transgression puts an end to it and brings in the room of it everlasting Righteousness which is a blessed State and Condition But it is usual with fallen Man to plead that there is no Man without Temptations this may be true but it is no Sin to be tempted if they yield not to those Temptations Our Saviour Jesus Christ himself was tempted in the days of his Flesh upon Earth but sinned not 'T is Man's yielding to Temptations is the cause of Sin and it is their Iniquity that separates from the true knowledge of God and from Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to redeem Mankind out of Sin and not in Sin The Light Grace and Inspiration of the Almighty is that only which can teach Man his Duty to God and is one divine Principle in Man altho' it is declared under several Denominations and hath divers Operations according to 1 Cor. 12. 4. read the Chapter at large and you will find this to be true But some do say That these Gifts are ceased now that are spoken of in that Chapter and the work of the Ministry is from Books of Learned Men and not from Enthusiasts as they call those that Preach extempory from the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God as all ought to do Now I come to shew the Legerdemain that hath been used in this Nation by some of the Learned concerning this strange word Enthusiasm which they have frighted the Ignoranto People with making them believe that there is dangerous matter contained in it and of bad consequence in matters of Religion this strange word Enthusiasm is from a Greek word and signifies in English Inspiration I suppose none that understand Greek will deny this we read not of any Inspiration in the Holy Scriptures but what is Divine both in the Old and New Testament and the Scriptures are a good Witness against any Opposers see Job 32. 8. and 2 Tim. 3. 16. And tho' there be an evil Spirit Ruling in the Rebellious yet Inspiration is commonly taken for the Good But some do say That there is Fantastical Enthusiasm or Inspiration That which is Fantastical is not Real and they find no such Inspiration mentioned in the Holy Scriptures I wish that Men would not make themselves wise above what is written Their English Dictionaries says That the word Enthusiasm or Enthysiasm signifies an Inspiration or a Ravishment of the Spirit Divine Motion Poetical Fury this last Exposition is Babel indeed What Confusion can be more manifest than this to confound Divine Motions with Poetical Fury This shews what Darkness raigns in the World to Print such manifest Contradictions as if Divine Motions and Poetical Fury were one and the same thing but some will have it so and that the word Enthusiasm hath a two-fold Signification and that there is a Fantastical Enthusiasm or Inspiration we read of no such thing in the Scriptures of Truth We read of some possessed with evil Spirits but that did not proceed from Divine Inspiration but Satan's Temptations The Apostle says That every one is tempted when they are drawn away by their own Lusts and enticed James 1. 13 14 15. We read also of false Prophets and Deceivers in the Scriptures of Truth but our Saviour gives a true Character of them he did not call them Enthusiasts but said Ye shall know them by their Fruits Do Men gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles Mat. 7. 15 16. Luke 6. 44. These were a Persecuting People and much complained of in the Holy Scriptures in divers places both Magistrates and Priests which are sometimes called Watch-men as in Mic. 7. 4. he saith That the best of them is as a Bryar and the most upright as a Thorny Hedge The Church of England in their 39 Articles called The Faith and Doctrine of the Church of England they declare That the Scriptures are a sufficient Rule both of Faith and Manners see the 6th Article And further in the 20th Article they say That they must not expound one place of Scripture to make it repugnant to another c. If they keep to their Articles they will find no Enthusiasm or Inspiration in the Scriptures but what is really Divine Now I come to give an account of what some of the Learned have said concerning Enthusiasm or Inspiration wherein they are divided amongst themselves concerning it some say That it is a Disease in the Soul of Man and that the Soul hath Diseases as well as the Body That the Souls of wicked Men have no Health in them is certain but that proceeds not from Enthusiasm or Inspiration but from Sin and nothing but the Inspiration of the Almighty will Cleanse and Heal them Some others of the Learned say That Enthusiasm or Inspiration is a natural thing and neither good nor harm in it self and that some of the Poets of Old were such Rhetorical Enthusiasts that they believed they were Divinely Inspired it is likely they were so the Apostle Paul quotes some of the Poets to convince the Athenians that worshipped an unknown God and were much given to Idolatry Acts 17. 27. where he advises them To seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him tho' he be not far from every one of us For in him we live and move and have our being as certain of your own Poets have said For we are also his Off-spring c. This shews that these Poets had some knowledge reveal'd to them from God We do not read that they had their knowledge from the Scriptures then to make a Trade on as some do now-a-days Revelation or Inspiration proceed from one Fountain and is really Divine altho' some of the Learned have used their endeavours to debase Inspiration but let us see what the Church of England says in this case in their common-Common-Prayers first in the Collect for the Communion they Pray That God would cleanse their Hearts by the

Inspiration of his Holy Spirit c. I really believe that the Hearts of all Mankind cannot be cleansed by any other means but by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God And further in the Collect for the first Sunday after Easter they Pray for the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit that they may think those things that be good and by God's mercyful Guidance may perform the same c. This I am sure cannot be done but by the Inspiration of the Almighty And in divers of the other Collects they Pray for the Light and Grace of God also Certainly these Men that writ the Liturgy of the Church of England did believe that the Light Grace and Inspiration of the Almighty was Sufficient to Illuminate Inspire and Teach all Mankind or they would not have inserted it so plainly as they have done It were a work very unprofitable to Pray for that which is not attainable And further in the aforesaid Articles of the Church of England ye shall find in the 13th Article that they say That Works done before the Grace of Christ and the Inspiration of his Holy Spirit are not pleasing to God for as much as they spring not of Faith in Jesus Christ neither do they make Men meet to receive Grace c. This is a Truth that will stand for ever with all true Christians Let Men consider with themselves how they should come to the true knowledge of God and turn their Mind inward with a serious desire after Eternal Happiness and empty themselves of their imaginary Wisdom and wait upon God in Silence to obtain Wisdom of him from whom every good and perfect Gift comes which is not to be obtained but by God's Gracious Help and Assistance which will not be wanting on his part to bring them into Covenant with him under the most Glorious Dispensation of the Everlasting Gospel which is initiated under the New Covenant to be taught of God as the Scriptures of Truth do plentifully witness both in the Old and New Testament The Prophet Isaiah begins with these words Cease ye from Man whose Breath is in his Nostrils Wherein is he to be accounted of c. Isa 2. 22. And further the same Prophet says in chap. 45. 13. All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the Peace of thy Children Also the Prophet Jeremiah expresses himself fully concerning the New Covenant Jer. 31. 32 33 34. for shortness I shall repeat but part of it This is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People c. The same New Covenant is testified of at large in Heb. 8. 8. so to the end of that Chap. Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ confirmed it himself John 6. 45. saying As it is written in the Prophets They shall all be taught of God every Man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to me c. As many as are taught of God can set their Seals to this Truth as it is in Jesus But some have said That if the Quakers be under the New Covenant Taught of God What need have they of Men to Preach amongst them They who are in that Covenant need not be taught of Men saying Know the Lord whose Ministers teach as they are taught of him whose Spirit must not be limited from its own Ministry either in the Church or in the World as there are divers States so there are divers Ministrations suitable All Hearers are not come into that Covenant neither are all Israel which are of Israel and some are in Bondage to Sin still seeking after Deliverance and such have need to be instructed in order to turn them to the Light and to gather them to God and not to Men into outward Forms and Observations of Carnal Ordinances as many do at this day seeing all such Ordinances are put an End to under the New and Everlasting Covenant of Life and Peace with God Let none despise the Teachings of God under such vain Pretences as some have done to debase it or hide the weighty things of the Gospel from People for Wordly Interest and Profit keeping People always in Teaching that they may be always Paying them and bring them not to be Taught of God I have no enmity in my Heart against any but desire the good of all Mankind and that they may know the things belonging to their Peace before the day of God's Visitation be over with them If we look into the History of former Ages we shall find that the chief Obstructers of the Blessed Truth have been some of the Learned and are so still F. Malebranch that famous French-man in his Book intituled A Search after Truth says That Learned Men are most subject to Error and shews divers Reasons for it p. 75. Also in the Preface of his Book and several other places wherein are many excellent things worth the regarding In p. 121. he treats of the Divine Light and says It was God himself that inlightned the Wise Men in their Science which ungrateful Man calls Natural altho' it is derived to them from Heaven and brings divers places of Scripture to prove that the Light that all Men is enlightened withal is Divine and in many other places of his Book he writes to the same purpose This Man is said to be in Community with the Church of Rome but how his Book will rellish with them I know not because he writes much against the Errors of the Learned and Superstition also Altho' I do not approve of all that he hath written yet his Testimony of the Divine Light which he confesseth is the Light of the Mind and not of the Body Also his Testimony of God's Teaching in Man is worth the regarding and ought not to be slighted The Man that Translated this Book into English I suppose was a Protestant he was one of the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford as appears by the Title of that Book I have heard it much commended by some sober Clergy-men of the Church of England This Divine Light Grace and Inspiration of the Almighty hath been the Rule and Guide of the People of God called Quakers they are come under the New Covenant to be taught of God by that inward Principle of the Divine Life whereby all good People governs their Actions and such are come to the Everlasting Gospel so as they use no empty professing words without Life in their Praying and Preaching as some high Professors have done which are but as a decoy to catch the World making a Money-Trade of Religion such superficial words have no Substance in them altho' they be the most glorious Expressions that Man can invent yet they are but Pictures for the Ears as Images are for the Eyes and there may be as much Idolatry in the one as the other altho' they make their Phylacteries never so large yet it is but Will-Worship at best if it proceeds not from the Inspiration of the Almighty The Love of God constrains all true Christians to seek the good of others and I have no other ends in writing this Treatise but to put People in mind of their Eternal Welfare that they may seek after it and not to spend their precious time in the Vanities and Deceits of this present evil World but to come to seek after God in his Light with an humble and contrite Heart that they may be prepared to receive an Eternal Reward and to come to have a true Understanding of the holy Scriptures for they are a Sealed Book so that the Learned and Unlearned cannot understand them truly to make right use of them without the Inspiration of the Spirit of God this is witnessed by the People called Quakers in the Principles of their Religion called Truths Principles printed divers times within these 38 Years the last Impression printed 1699. and Sold by T. Sowle in White-hart-court in Gracious-Street These Principles treats of the Substance of true Religion in general Let none deceive themselves God will not be mocked For whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he reap also For he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Everlasting Life Gal. 6. 7 8. This is a real Truth for as the Tree falleth so it lyeth and as Death leaves them so Judgment will find them therefore it concerns all Men to make their Calling and Election sure and spend their time in exercising their Consciences void of Offence towards God and towards Man that they may lay down their Heads in Peace with God and injoy heavenly Peace and Prosperity both in this Life and the Life to come which is the Desire of my Heart for all Mankind that they may be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption and received into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God The 30th of the Month called October 1699. Ann Docwra ☞ Note Reader the Reason of the so long Delay of the Publication of this Answer was 1st Not the Author 's Omission but other Matters of greater Importance employing the Press that required more speedy Publication 2dly It being not so much known before as of late what Improvement the Adversaries make of the said Clamorous Book Stiled An Old Penitent 〈…〉 isciple c. and their Boasting for want of an Answer to it