Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A59271
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A sermon preached before the people called Quakers in the park of Southwark on the 27th day of the 9th month, called by some Nov. 1687 : wherein is contained a word concerning the penal laws and tests / by a reverend and dearly beloved sister who came from Scotland to rejoyce with us for our liberty of conscience and leave her testimony at London.
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Reverend and dearly loved sister.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing S2635; ESTC R23610
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5,377
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9
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A SERMON Preached before the People called QUAKERS IN THE Park of Southwark On the 27th of the 9th Month called by some Nov. 1687. By a Reverend and Dearly beloved Sister who came from Scotland to rejoyce with Us for our LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE and leave her Testimony at London Wherein is contained a Word concerning the PENAL LAWS and TESTS PSALM CXXVI I When the LORD turned again the Captivity of Zion we were like them that Dream LONDON Printed for N. H. MDCLXXXVIII A SERMON Preached before the People called QUAKERS My Dearly Beloved IT hath been the earnest desire of my Soul to see you in the flesh to rejoyce together and congratulate that longed for Christian Liberty of Conscience which our King hath been pleased to grant unto all his Subjects Let no man heneceforth judge to the outward appearance nor pass sentence on a bare Possibility Truly about four years ago The Duke of York's Succession to the Crown was a Bug-bear of Inquisition that frightned three Nations out of their wits But like Sampson's Lyon and Riddle Out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong hath come forth sweetness This is the Lord 's doing and it is wonderful in our eyes Truly Beloved Brethren and Sistens tho' the Conscience cannot be compelled the Oppression and Tyranny we were under these several years by past was a great stumbling block in the way of our patience when the wicked and ungodly did rob us under pretence of Religion and threaten to knock us in the heads for Conscience sake imprisoning us because we did not pay to the Tithe-takers Hirelings Babie-sprinklers whatever they pleased Heli's Sons made the Lord's Offering to be abhorred because they did exact upon the people and took according to their own pleasure by force Paul could rather willingly work for his Living than be burdensom to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him Over-seer Therefore said to the Corinthians I will not be burdensom to you For I seek not yours but you But Thieves and Robbers who enter not at the door but climb up by the walls may invert the order and say I seek not you but yours Religion is â—â—t â—â—de a vaâ—â— to â—â—ver Villâ—nyâ— The Deâ—â— cloathed himself with Scripture wheâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—mpted our â—â—viour But he is mâ—â—t formidable when transformed to an Angel of Light. Demetrius and his demented Crew of Crafts-men could under a pretence of Religion and Love to their great Goddess Diana and her Temple oppose the doctrine of Christ and cry out Great is Diana of the Ephesians whilsâ—â—â—ey neither cared â—or her â—or he Temple either â—ut â—â—ly for their own gaiâ—â— The Jews 〈◊〉 the Prophet Jeremâ—ah's time could cry The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord yet did trust lying words that could not Profit Steal Murder commit Adultery and Swear falsly But the Lord's command to them was throughly to amend their waies throughly to execute judgment and leave off Oppression This is very applicable to these fat Bulls of Bashan and lean Kine of Egypt who have oppressed us these several years by past But since it hath pleased God who ruleth the hearts of Kings â—o deliver us from this Egyptian Bondage let us freely forgive them and pray for them lest being hardened in our own impenitency â—e be left in the Wilderness of our own weakness and be destroyed by the old fiery Serpent But above all things My beloved Lambs since God and the King have given us freedom of Truth let every one use his talent to the best advantage and laying aside all malice guile and hypocrisie sloth and covetousness stand upon his Watch-Tower waiting for the voice and coming of the Bridegroom of our Souls for the Devil is busier now and hath more advantage to gain ground upon us than when we were made cautious by the constant alarums of our assaulting Enemy Outward crosses drive a man to inward Piety and tranquillity of mind Sorrow is better than laughter saith Solomon for by the sadness of the Countenance the heart is made better The blood of the Martyrs was reputed the seed of the Primitive Church Hannibal's Army was indefatigable and by the Romans esteemed invincible till they gave themselves to ease wine and voluptuous diet Noah was not drunk whilst he was in fear of the flood building an Ark for his own safety Lot was not insnar'd in uncleanness whilst the wicked in Sodom daily vexed his Soul. Be watchful then my dearly beloved lest ye defile your Garments and the shame of your nakedness be seen The Conscience is The Holy of Holies which the great High Priest only doth enter It is the Candle of the Lord that giveth light to our path the primum mobile of the little world The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters when darkness covered the face of the Deep Even so the light of the Conscience shineth and giveth light to the inner Man tho no outward Sun Moon nor Star appear It is a Lanthorn which none can extinguish but he who beareth it Keep then your hearts with all diligence and Consciences void of offence towards God and Man. Above all things My Brethren Love one another Love is the Badge of Christianity and the mark of the true Church Appolyon the destroying King of the bottomless Pit dare not shew his face where true love is Love Life and Light are the Epethites by which God expresseth himself They are inseparable concomitants and where-ever they are God is not far off Love worketh no ill to his Neighbour therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law. It suffereth long and is kind it envieth not it vaunteth not it self it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth Beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things and in one word Love never faileth But be not deceived My dear Brethren and Sisters If any man love the World the love of the Eather is not in him Be merciful one to another for the merciful doth obtain mercy Rather suffer injury than be heard before those which are none of our Society Let never a persecuting spirit have dominion over you but learn of Christ to be meek and lowly Carnal weapons Instruments of Cruelty have no sympathy with the sword of the Spirit wherewith Christ overcame The Wicked One and reconcil'd the world to God again That man that walketh on Crutches is never strong in the Limbs A Religion by Law Established is horrible Non-sence Law and Gospel are repugnantia in adjecto they never agree well together 't is a Figurative Religion like hysteron proteron or a man walking backwards A Conscience regulate by human Power is like a Diamond set in Brass or a Glass with Iron Hoops a Fox keeping Sheep or a Malefactor made a Judge Paul appealed to Caesar and lost
his Head for his pains Therefore that Church that maketh the arm of Flesh her trust may be questioned whether she be the true Church or not Moses and Joshua tho they knew the truth of their Religion did not force the Children of Israel to accept of it but set life and death before them but the punishment of obstinacy they left to the Lord. Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God gives the increase He is a foolish Steward that hireth a Servant to his Master whom he knoweth he will not accept of How then can rational men force one another to accept of that Religion which they think true whilst they know that God accepteth none but those that come willingly He only can make people willing in the day of his power All the Host of Hell could not prevail with the Apostles yet soberly could they say The love of Christ constraineth us A Poet of my acquaintance compared a persecuting Church to A Golden Cup of Dragon's Poyson full Or Aaron 's Calf grown to Perillu 's Bull Which is made this or that or what you will As doth the State Affairs require it still A strange Hysteron Proteron Sad fate To see the Church the Basis of the State. Paul's Persecution tho it was zeal wrapt up in ignorance was a heinous sin before the Lord. None must do evil that good may follow He that would propagate and enlarge God's Church by Blood and Persecution is like one who under pretence of zeal would steal money to give the poor and so make his Theft the Author of his Charity The Church is Christ's Spouse the Bride the Lambs Wife he fought a duel with the Devil and Death for her his right is good Let him then be head of his own Body if any thing be interposed the Son of Righteousness is Eclipsed and darkness is over the whole Members Penal Laws and Tests are but the Patrons of Hypocrisie and the Sword of the Spirit of Antichrist Hob-goblings of Apostacy wrapt up in Sheeps Cloathing which at a distant seem innocent but approaching nearer found to be like revenous Wolves which frighten Men in the Kingdom of Darkness to sacrifice both Faith and Conscience to brazen fac'd Babylonian violence and humane power Let God then be Guardian of his own Church The Spirit of meekness is not a Spirit of outward violence but a still and calm voice One who was my Persecuter in a sober fit told me he never lik'd the Religion that was thrust in at a Man's Broad-side with the point of a Sword yet however it be the Devil is no gainer For the Palm of victory flourisheth best under the burden of Persecution when the Children of Men Lord it over God's heritage Be stedfast then and Waver not neither draw back whatsoever be your condition sweet Meats must be eaten with sour Sauce good Bees draw Hony from bitter Herbs the Rod and the Staff go well together outward Troubles are the Pravoes Spiritual which drive us within the line of the Church-militant The Lord thought it not fit to cast out all the Enemies of the Children of Israel in one year lest the Beasts of the field should prevail against them even so if we had no Temptations to drive us to the Throne of Grace and keep us on our guard we would become secure and confide in our own selves and our own bruitish and corrupt Natures would prevail against us Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole Duty of Man pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World. Let every one order his Conversation aright and strive to keep free from all known sin and to him that hath learned this lesson God will shew what further he would have done according to that of the King and Prophet David To him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Thus it is not Sayers nor bare Believers that are justified before God and to whom he giveth the Spirit of discerning to chuse the good and refuse the evil but What Man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the Way that he shall chuse Do not err then my beloved Brethren neither give heed to the various Opinions of Men of Corrupt Minds distitute of the Truth and tost aboue with the Wind of the Times changing their Doctrin for filthy Lucar's sake and unadvisedly contradicting their former Assertions The Gospel of Christ is but one and every good gift comes down from the Father of Light with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning Fix not your Faith to a future Contingency nor tip your belief with the turnings of Time a Poet exclaiming against this Evil saith The World 's confus'd whilâ—t in a loafty strain Each Fool doth Print the Notions of his Brain Neither give your selves to read idle Controversies though they be guilded with the Title of the Learned for by the Spirit of Antichrist under the Notion of Philosophy a falsifying Glass which can represent one thing in divers shapes the World is darkned and the key of Knowledg laid by and the Kingdom of Heaven shut up according to that of the Prophet Thy Wisdom and thy Knowledg it hath peruerted thee a Woman once going to be burnt at the Stake for being a Christian answered those who would by Arguments perswaded her to renounce her Religion I cannot dispute for Christ but I can die for Christ Be ready then like this Woman rather to suffer then by Seditious Arguments to give offence Finally My Beloved Lambs Let your Moderation be known unto all Men the Lord is at hand For he that walketh uprightly walketh surely Give no offence But submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whither it be to the King as supream Or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the Punishment of evil doers and for the Praise of them that do well Had our Noble and Heroick King stood out against that Principle that perswaded him to the Religion he now Professes he had been much to blame but now considering his Courage which hath leap'd over the Wall of Worldly Temptations and stumbling Block of the feat of losing his Crown and Kindom he is a greater Conquerour then Alexander the Great and more Powerful then any of his Ancestors It is the Lord's work and doing therefore let no Man grudge or repine For the Powers that be are ordained of GOD Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God. Therefore with the Apostle Honour all Men Love the Brother-Hood Fear God Honour the KING Be charitable in Opinion and Judge no Man especially these that are without Paul was much dejected to think that the Israelites his Kinsfolk should not be Saved but after serious and deep Meditation he cryeth out as with a Plaudite God hath shut them all up together in unbelief that he might have Mercy upon them all O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearehable are his Judgments and his Waies past finding out It is very observable that the Apostle telleth that after the Elected Israelites were sealed in the Fore heads be saw a great Multitude which no Man could Number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues which stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with White Robes and Palms in their hands Grace and Peace then be upon all the Israel of God and all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity for there is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond nor Free but Christ is all and in all Now to him whose Kingdom is Vbiquity and whose Duration is Eternity God all sufficient who only is able to keep you Spotless and present you before the Throne of his Grace with exceeding great Joy and do abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the Power that worketh in us he Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without end Amen THE END