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	speak_v	word_n	13,397	5	4.4123	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49773	Concerning marriage a letter sent to G.F. and with it a copy of an answer to a friends letter concerning marriage, and some queries and his reply to the answer and queries and an additional to G.F.s reply containing 13 queries concerning marriage, also the manner how the parties intending marriage are to go together / published by Benjamin Lawrence by the consent and advice of friends.	Lawrence, Thomas, 1645?-1714.; Lawrence, Benjamin.	1663 (1663)	Wing L684; ESTC R31690	11,646	18

have we Christ present with us the Word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart and God hath spoken to us by his Son and sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts and teacheth us to pray as we ought House and Land are the Inheritance of a Father said Solomon but a prudent Wife cometh of the Lord If any be staid of the Lord to desire his gift and believe God's answer that he shall have a prudent Wife then he may have such assurance also it may be of the person that Abraham's servant had even she that said Drink and I will give thy Camels drink and of the time as Jehosaphat and Elisha had to morrow 2 Chron. 20. to morrow this time 2 Kings 7. and also of the means an Angel as Tobias had Tob. from the 5. to the 13. chap. and as Abraham had for his servant God will send his Angel and thou shalt take a Wife for my son from thence And we are come to Mount Sion to the company of innumerable Angels The Angels are pure chast modest spirits and friendly without deceit who have joy in heaven when a sinner converteth and the Kingdom of Heaven is within you Whosoever hath a lustful lascivious false mind the good Angel will not stay with such The Angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear him sometimes contracted into one the Angel of the Covenant Peter's Angel An Angel slew one hundred and fourscore thousand of the army of Senacherib and so in times enlarged to be more two Angels three Angels seven Angels twelve Legions of Angels innumerable Angels who have the testimony of Jesus are Ministring Spirits whether in a visible form as to Abraham and Tobias or invisible as to Abraham's servant and Christ and in him to the heirs of salvation the honourable marriage out of transgression hath God Angels and all good men to encourage it Qu 10. Seeing there may be denials lets and intermissions before the finishing of Marriage and when it is finished to know certainly it was of God's stirring and of God's joyning may be a continual comfort then how may one retain this certain knowledge not lose his condition Ans Losing the condition cometh in going from the power of God lin 30. To hold this condition keep innocent a conscience void of offence to God and man When doubts arise temptations come and the many things cumber heed nothing but God and what is of God know nothing do nothing be nothing but what thou beest in God God all self nothing Enoch walked with God and he was not and when ye are clean through the Word which Christ hath spoken keep the watch against relapses lest they prove harder to cure then the first sickness If there be failings doubts will arise and trouble and questioning of several kinds as Whether there be such a Faith or whether such things whereof one hath been certainly perswaded was of God which might be truly so the stirrings of God not being diligently taken heed to nor stayed in but the mind drawn out into the many things hardness got up then followeth a divorce from all that communion and enjoyment Note This particular infallible assurance of faith concerns all other things as well as marriage as to have assurance of pardon of sin freedom from all sin perseverance in the truth deliverance out of trouble and that the Kingdom Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Most High freedom from wants streights poverty sickness and from the noisom pestilence Qu. 11. Whether one that hath attained to such assurance of faith may not lose it Ans The Jews did go into hardness of heart afterward there might be something stir of God at first l. 6. 10 11. the people of Israel believed the Lord and his servant Moses but afterward they hearkened not whose carkases fell in the Wilderness yet their faith at first was not from imagination nor fiction I said that thy house and the house of thy Father should walk before me for ever but now it shall not be so said the Lord to Eli for they that honor me I will honor Disobedience and unbelief may lose eternal life or any other blessing Qu. 12. Whether such as are of the true Religion may marry with others that have been trained up in a false Religion Ans The state of the Christians and Gentiles there may be something stirring from the Lord as particularly Hester lin 8 9. who was made Queen to a Heathen King Hest 2.17 and was a means to deliver her people and her Kindred from the bloody conspiracy of Haman Jacob married Labans Daughters Leah and Rachel and Rachel had stolne her father Laban's Idols Gen. 31.32 which Laban called his gods v. 30. Mahlon the son of Elimelech of Bethlem Judah married Ruth a Moabite and after him Boaz Ruth 4.10 and Solomon married Pharoahs daughter an Egyptian but she was perswaded to forget her Countrey and Fathers house and so did Ruth and Laban's daughters and came into the Land of Israel and the people that were in the Gates and the Elders said to Boaz The Lord make thy wife as Rachel and Leah which twain did build the House of Israel But what is all this to them who in the deceit not stirred of God for lust lucre and self-ends marry the daughters of men not converted to the true Faith The example of Hester may afford two considerations 1. That Friends of God know his secrets sometimes by extraordinary Revelations 2. That such examples are no presidents for the people of the World to follow no more then to go naked to take a wife of Whoredoms or offer up a sons life because Abraham and some of the Prophets did so Qu. 13. What may such do as are in the doubting who say in themselves Whether had I best marry or abide Whether had I best marry such a person or not Ans The state of the Christians and the Gentiles there may something stir from the Lord as particularly Hester l. 13. who having something stir from the Lord for good ends as followed she was perswaded to receive the love of King Ahasuerus a Heathen who loved Hester above all the women and she found grace and favour in his sight more then all the Virgins so that he set the Crown of the Kingdom upon her head and made her Queen instead of Vasthi and she had the counsel and consent of Mordecai who took her for his own Daughter Hest 2. and so she became a deliverer and Nursing-Mother in Israel while captive in Babylon So if any be perswaded infallibly of Gods stirring and Gods joining all doubts are resolved All friends every particular until til they be perswaded of Gods will certain and infallible concerning their marriage were better forbear and wait on God in his Light to receive his counsel how else do Friends differ from the World the Light is the

though not so clear at first it is a growing condition but in long tryal a false faith from imagination or a true Faith not continued in may fail This Query and Answer may charge such who blame others for not answering God's witness in them according to their perswasion when as the perswasion was from imagination only or if they had stirrings of God have not continued in the truth and waited for God's counsel and Gods time Note this one thing is to be noted especially although this doctrine of absolute and infallible assurance is here occasionally applyed to marriage it is also true in all other things prophesies promises and revelations things spiritual and temporal and all conditions prosperity and affliction Abraham had faith for a seed David for a Kingdom Jehosaphat for Victory the Centution for his sick servant the poor woman for cure of her issue and many the like in Scripture and have been of excellent use to many of God's servants when he hath called them forth to sufferings and tryals of any kind though they might not have so clear and distinct knowledge of it what it was at the present Surely said Jacob the Lord was in this place and I was not aware Qu. 8. How may one come to know this infallible assurance in himself and not be deceived Ans How may one come to know infallibly the Sun shineth but by his own light The state of the Christians and the Gentiles there might be something stirring from the Lord as particularly Hester lin 13. and this is the most infallible and deepest ground of knowledge the stirrings of God the light in every conscience in which while any abide they may be certain If ye abide in me saith Christ Joh. 15. read it But if any love to shut their eyes against what they know by affected ignorance through indulgence to several lusts such may say they have seen the sun shine and others tell them so but they may be deceived He that believes hath his witness in himself The Jews after they came out of Egypt did go together and hardness of heart got up l. 7. there might be something stirring of God at first lin 13. the time of discerning God's stirring to marriage clearly is after the coming out of Egypt out of darknes into light and they have put away the sin if any be perswaded in their minds that such a person is appointed of God to be a fit help then signifie so much to the partie who at present may feel no such thing nor it may be not in a long time after yet take it off and lay it there if after denials there be yet stirrings of God wait in that of God which stirs believe and submit a great mystery let go yet hold fast submission and assurance may stand together nay without submission assurance cannot stand Abraham submitted and offered up his only Son yet he was fully assured that he who had promised was also able to do it Note Although this doctrine concerning assurance of faith since the Apostacie have been denied by Preachers and Professors in the time of the beast and false Prophet yet it will stand over all their heads a truth according to Scripture Witness the examples of Abraham David the Centurion and many more who all received according to their faith the Lord may try and exercise his servants whom and when he pleaseth and when he gives such a faith he gives exercise Gods promises are ever true but oftentimes of long date 9 Querie Whether freedom from all sin and infallible assurance of Gods will be of absolute necessity to every particular that joyns in marriage Answ He that believes hath passed from death to life and so from the sin and overcomes the sin lin 23. 24. to have infallible assurance there is freedom from all sin to hunger and thirst and press after it to witness a growth to be sincere in heart and faithful to God in measure is of absolute necessity to marriage in the Lord. Who comes short of this are like Cain he went out from the presence of the Lord and knew his wife Secondly For the parties to have infallible assurance they are in Gods covenant do believe and are qualified as aforesaid to see in the light the thing is well-pleasing to God and to have unity with friends in the truth is of absolute necessity to Gods joyning in every particular but to have assurance that such a person is appointed of God to be a fit help is not of absolute necessity to every particular but to such only to whom God reveals the thing Note Let none wrest truth to their own and others hurt It hath not been said that every true believer hath such a particular faith of assurance in every particular thing nor are they condemned for not having such assurance but if any have the gift of faith and faint in the way he is condemned for his unbelief Matth. 14.31 O thou of little faith why didst thou doubt But if any being stirred of the Lord do desire such a blessing as Abraham did an Heir What wilt thou give me seeing I go childless or desire a deliverance as Jehosaphat did O God we know not what to do but our eyes are towards thee Or to desire longer life as Hezekiah did or that Christ's power might be manifest as Peter did God that stirred up such a prayer and hath given such a faith in his Word that is in the heart being continued in will most certasnly perform the thing Obj. Abraham had an Angel to tell him Sarah his Wife should have a son so have we Christ Jesus the Angel of the Covenant he sends forth Ministring spirits for the good of the heirs of salvation it were well mankind did better know the guard assistance communion and fellowship of good Angels Jehosaphat had a Prophet to tell him of the deliverance so have we a prophet of our brethren that God hath raised according to his promise by Moses the servant of the Lord and whosoever will not hear that prophet in such a case he shall be cut off from that enjoyment Hezekiah had a promise that fifteen yeers should be added to his life so have we a promise yea the same promise if the same spirit of the Lord open and apply it even for longer life God made a promise to Joshua I will not leave thee nor forsake thee the Authot to the Hebrews applyes it to all believers Heb 13.5 and all promises in Scripture are made good to every believer as God in wisdom gives them out of his treary If a man have the Bible in his house nay if he had all the promises in Scripture drawn up into a Catalogue if he have not the same spirit that gave them forth to open and apply them or any particular of them he is never the better for them all Peter had Christ present with him and Christ spoke to him to come on the water so

contend against it affirming that none can be free from sin on this side the grave and not only live in sin but profess they must do so if such marry their marriage is of the World in the fall out of the power of God and his image not as God joyns and though they may be faithful one to another yet they are not faithful to God out of the doctrine of Scripture are in the defiled bed their children unclean 2 Querie Whether the marriage bed be undefiled whilst any kind of sin remaineth Answ He that believes hath passed from death to life and so from the sin and overcomes the sin Turn to G.F. Letter pag 2. lines 23.24 To know marriage as it was in the beginning before man fell is a state before defilement was lin 27.28 and such as live in sin and say they never look to be otherwise in this life are not they in the defilement is not all sin defilement is not their bed defiled and all that they do to the unclean all things are unclean though they may be faithful each to other concerning bodily act Here the honourable marriage of Gods joyning out of transgression goes over the head of the Worlds marriages of mans joyning in the sin though they boast and mock at the simplicity of truth and them that live in it 3 Querie What is the difference between such as can witness freedom from sin and do keep the enmity under and marry and others that do not only live in sin but are in enmity against them that hold there is freedom from sin Answ The first are of Gods joyning both in the image of God out of the fall again lin 1.2 overcome the sin and marry as others do not as passive as it was in the beginning before defilement was lin 18.19 others joyn in their own wills and affections out of the power of God and his image not as God joyns but as man joyns have trouble in the flesh cares differing children unclean and many sad effects which are incident to all marriages in the fall 4 Querie Whether children of Parents who are both or either of them out of transgression are conceived and born in sin or are they clean and holy Answ There is a state where the believing wife sanctifies the unbelieving husband and the believing husband sanctifies the unbelieving wife else were your children unholy but now they are clean which is through the sanctification which is through the belief he that believer hath passed from death to life and so from the sin and overcomes the sin lin from the 17. to the 27. Is it a small thing to consider or did Parents seriously weigh what their children do inherit from them in the seed it might be a motive to throughout sanctification to all tender-hearted Parents for their childrens sake Zachariah and Elizabeth both were just before God and John was filled with the Holy Ghost from his Mothers womb God created one man and one woman out of transgression Mal. 2. that he might have a godly seed to replenish the earth and subdue it 5 Querie Whether deadness and losing the condition be not the more incident to some minding marriage Answ All deadness and losing the condition comes in going from the power of God lin 21. 6 Querie Whether children may not marry without consent of Parents and whether Parents may not give or deny their consent to their children in marriage Answ In the beginning God made them male and female whom he joyns together let no man put asunder lin 10.11 no not natural Parents but give their consent then answered Laban and Bethuel and said This thing is proceeded of the Lord we cannot say unto thee evil nor good Also spiritual Parents give their consent Paul gave his consent to the Apostles Bishops Ministers any if need so require let them marry But such marriages as man joyns not as God joyns Parents may deny their consent Paul denied his consent saying Be not unequally yoked with Infidels Isaac and Rebecca denied their consent and Isaac said unto Jacob Take not a wife of the daughters of Canaan and Jacob obeyed his father and his mother Gen. 28.7 Obey them that have the oversight of you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls be obedient to such as have given themselves to minister to the Saints and to all that help with them and labour All Friends that intend marriage take counsel of the ministers of truth not conclude marriage first and acquaint them with it after but be obedient to Parents that your days may be long in the land and the earth may be repelnished with an holy seed that may rule in righteousness who are obedient to their spiritual Parents cannot disobey their natural father and mother who are not to force their children to marry against their consent the Parents and kindred called Rebecca and said Wilt thou go with this man and she said I will go 7 Querie Whether any may know Gods will absolute and infallible concerning their marriage as whether such a person be appointed of God to be a a fit help forasmuch as some have been so perswaded yet failed Answ To know marriage as God joyns is to know it as it was before man fell lin 1. a certain knowledge this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh Adam knew Gods appointment Abraham knew Gods appointment and said God will send his Angel and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence Laban and Bethuel knew Gods appointment and said This thing is proceeded of the Lord for this cause Gods wil manifest Gods appointment Gods ordinance shall a man leave father and mother and cleave to his wife Some marry in their own wills and say it is Gods will Can any be obedient to Gods will and not know it or not know it certain this the Worlds Preachers and Professors cry none is infallible say they what then do they preach for to make people doubt or what shall any hear such for that cannot tell certain Who abides in the light are in the unity joyned to the Lord are one spirit one in desire delight and sweetness one will what man wills God wills if ye abide in me and my words abide in you saith Christ ask what you will and it shall be done unto you delight thy self in the Lord and thou shalt have the desire of thine heart not in thy own but in Gods time The Jews after they did come out of Egypt did go together there might be something stirring of God at first lin 4.12 the state of the Gentiles and the Christians there might be something stirring from the Lord as particularly Hester lin 13. Jews Gentiles Christians Gods stirrings have been in all generations and all Gods stirrings are absolute and infallible and that of God in every one which Answers is infallible and when any one is restored out of the fall his assurance may be infallible also