Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	holy_a	scripture_n	speak_v	14,888	5	5.2608	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77378	The loyall convert, (according to the Oxford copy.) A convert will be loyall: or, some short annotations on this book; / by W. Bridges. Published by authority.	Bridges, W., fl. 1644.; Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. Loyall convert.	1644 (1644)	Wing B4483B; Thomason E257_2; ESTC R210047	51,595	31

THE LOYALL CONVERT According to the Oxford Copy A Convert will be loyall OR Some short Annotations on this Book By W. BRIDGES VIRG. Improbus haec tam culta novalia miles habebit Barbarus has segetes HOM. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quaeris uter melius Rex ne imperet anne Senatus Neuter quod saepe est si sit uterque malus Sin sit uterque bonus Numero praestare senatum Inque bonis multis plus reor esse boni Difficile est numerum forsan reperire bonorum Sic facile est unum saepius esse malum Et fuerit medius saepe inter utrumque Senatus Sed tibi vix unquam rex mediocris erit Consilioque malus regitur meliore senator Rex consultores sed regit ipse suos Alter ut eligitur populo sic nascitur alter Sors hic caeca regit certum ibi consilium Reader if thou wouldest read any more such Poetry as this See Thom. Morus Anglus where there 's much to this purpose Published by Authority LONDON Printed for Edward Husbands 1644. To the Honest-hearted READER READER I Here (a) When you have taken the Protestation to shew your self any thing for the searcher of hearts then I shal be perswaded to give you some credit and shall desire the honest hearted reader to think he hath to do with such a writer but such gentlemen as you seeme to me to be can take a solemn nationall Covenant and spit it up again and without conscience fall into that desperate Iesuited maxime That no promise is to be held with such whom you can soon call heretiques or schismatiques or any thing The Searcher of hearts hath a controversie with Covenant breakers I would you did read such places as Ier. 34.18.20 and would learn to applie them better then you have done any scripture that I can see in this treatise and yet I desire to see without prejudice protest before the Searcher of all hearts that I have no End either of Faction or Relation in this ensuing Treatise I am no (b) You do not know what you are nor indeed doth any carnall man He that doth not stand onely for the one thing Luk. 10.42 may and indeed at some time or other will fall into an any thing Better men than you have confessed that they did never think a man had need to be converted till they themselves were converted But you are even the same that thousands of your stampe are that is to say Sure service-book men and the worst of men moderate men falsely so called Lukewarmnes neutrality and ignorant pride with obstinacy see the wisdom of God concluding them inseparable Rev. 3.15.16.17 Papist no (c) Your sectary we know what it is viz. any one that is truly religious a reformation and a religion at large is the thing such as you love that is to say Sundayes no Sabbath and the book of liberty put into practise again Wakes Church-ales Rushbearings c. oh it was a merry world in those dayes upon which tearms I must say of your Peace as once the Father said Vbi non hoc bellum ibi pax diabolica Where there is not this strife namely between the better and worse part there 's a devilish Peace With this introduction commonly these men begin such pamphlets and they think they prevail much upon the readers affe●tion I say to the honest hearted reader look about thee In nomine Domini incipit omne malum Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light and so do his Ministers also If thou espiest this Protestation before the sound of his masters heels are behind him And he is a stone-cold formalist some Chrismas zelot as full of obstinacy as an egge is of meat one that will tell you he would be resolv'd but hee 's resolv'd aforehand of such a one let Solomon give the true character Prov. 26.16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit then seaven men that can render a reason Sectarie but a true Lover of Reformation and Peace My Pen declines all (d) That we shall leave to the judicious reader if there be not exceeding much of both bitternesse and deceit too judicent impartiales good reader have thine eies about thee and see without prejudice bitternesse of Spirit all deceitfulnesse of heart and I may safely in this particular with Saint Paul say I speak the truth in Christ and lye not my Conscience bearing me witnesse in the holy Ghost that I neither walk nor write in craftinesse nor handle the holy Scriptures deceitfully Therefore if thy Cause be (e) Our cause is the cause of Iesus Christ as hath been clearly and plentifully proved nor ever yet gainsaid but by sophismes lyes and quarrellings And that defensive warre the Parliament hath now a foot hath been sufficiently vindicated as is to see in the severall treatises to that purpose if we had to do with reasonable men Wherein good reader thou hast the question rightly stated without any Andabatisme which this Gentleman hath not either so much wit or so much honesty to do We desire him therefore to take the good counsell that he gives And in the name of Iesus Christ laying aside all willfull ignorance pride prejudice private interests and uncharitable censures to deal seriously and not so deceitfully with a truth of God Reader he knowes our question is not what he here sayes it to be for all his specious pretence We will therefore in these Annotations Christ willing search his severall scriptures and where they open God and thou be judge Reader we will not seek to shut We desire to consult not only with reason but with religion too Which in the power of it such men are sadly ignorant of And then to his last clause Let truth prosper though we perish and God be glorified though in our confusion We say Amen and So be it Iesus Christ in the name of Iesus Christ I adjure thee to lay aside all wilfull ignorance all prejudice all private respests and Interests and all uncharitable censures Deal faithfully with thy Soul and suffer wholsome admonitions Search the severall Scriptures herein contained and where they open a Gate climbe not thou over a Stile Consult with Reason herein exerciz'd and where it finds a mouth find thou an eare And let Truth prosper though thou perish and let God be glorified although in thy Confusion THE LOYALL CONVERT THe Kingdom of England that hath for many Ages continued the happiest Nation on the habitable earth enjoying the highest blessings that heaven can give or earth receive the fruition of the Gospel which setled a firme Peace which Peace occasion'd a full Plenty under the gracious Government of wise and famous Princes over a thriving and well-contented People insomuch that she became the Earths Paradise and the Worlds Wonder is now the Nurcery of all Sects her Peace is violated her Plenty wasting her Government distempered her People discontented and unnaturally embroyl'd in her

Aug. tract in Jo. 10. It may be this Gentleman would be ready to doe to me as he did to Ieremiah or as that other Zidkijah did to Micaiah for he smote him on the cheeke and said When went the spirit of the Lord from mee to speake to thee 1 King 22.24 For indeed some men thinke that none are in the favour of God so as they and that God hath given to none his graces in that measure that they though Christ knows they never knew what belonged to any saving grace or knowledg but Sir I must needs tell you you have made Augustines words true And such as you verifie that of the Apostle 1 Tim. 1.7 they would be Doctors of the Law and yet understand not what they speak neither whereof they affirme places to that purpose as would swell this Sheet into a Volume so that in a very short space I was so furnished with such strict Precepts backt with such strong Examples that my Iudgment was enlightned and my wavering Conscience so throughly convinced that by the Grace of that Power which directed me neither fear nor any By-respects shall ever hereafter remove me unlesse some clearer light direct me But above all the Rest a Precept and an Example out of the Old Testament strongly confirmed by a Precept and an Example out of the New setled my opinion and established my Resolution Pre. 1. (d) I could not have th●ught that a Royalist and one of so tender a conscience as this Gentleman would seeme to be would have quoted a text of the holy Scripture 1 with such perverting 2 And so strangly derogatory to that which hee seemes to be so earnest for For good Reader doe but mark well It pleaseth God to owne saith he Nebuchadnezzar for his servant we grant it but to do what amongst other things 1 To conquer that which is none of his 2 To be a scourge to the people of God 3 To destroy others a while till at length others destroy him Thus God may and doth owne the Devill for his servant for such services as these Sir you will have small thanks at Court for such parallels and comparisons as these we hope and pray yet that God hath appointed our gracious Soveraigne 1 To preserve our right and yours 2 To be a nursing father to Gods people 3 To helpe to save them which I le assure you Sir will venture their deerest bloods to save him you doe exceeding ill sir and I must tell you it is an unreverent and unbeseeming comparison But let us see what this Scripture containes 1 That to God belongeth the Kingdome Rule and Government of the whole world 2 He doth give the rule thereof even to the Beast of the field to whomsoever pleaseth him 3 That he hath lesse reason then a beast which doth not submit 1 To accept the punishment of his iniquity Levit. 26.41 2 And to seeke a place of hiding there where God will secure him For 2 great reasons are given hereof 1 Secret from the purpose of God and his decree I have given c. v. 6. 2 From the sinne of man which God doth intend hereby to scourge for a time for ●o the Lord tels them plainly verse 7. And therefore whosoever shall dare to strive or resist must now know it is no lesse then a disobedience and God-resistance The summe Your Land O ye Iewes heretofore yours while ye were mine and governed by your owne King I have now given away unto a strange King even the King of Babylon and the government shall be his over you all ye● and what yours is to the beast of the field Now your wisdome will be to submit to me and him yea to me in him that you may shevv your passive obedience if otherwise two mischiefes will ensue against you viz. 1 Severe punishments sword famine c. 2 And that untill they be wholy given into his hands hereupon a double exhortation is given 1 Do not heare expressed 2 Much lesse beleeve implyed those that say Ye● shall not serve the King of Babel and a binding reason ver 10. For they prophecie a lie c. Lastly the direction and promise ver 11. But now what doth this Text conclude 1 Hath God given away our Land and King to a forrainer Who sent you to preach this doctrine 2 They are commanded by God to this which is not our case 3 Thus you argue The people of Israel must not refuse the meanes of their safety how unlikely soever Therefore the people of England must not refuse the meanes of their slavery how unlawfull soever It s very well argued sir indeed But honest Reader marke a little and see what the Gentleman would conclude hence 1 Our King is as that King of Babel whom God hath appointed to do what he will 2 Our Parliament the people that will not obey therefore designed to fire sword c. 3 All the holy learned of the Land are dreamers enchanters sorcerers and men that prophecy a lie unto you 4 Therfore Countrimen put your necks under the yoak of the King and you shall remain still in your land occupy and dwell therein yes marry shall you and weare wooden shooes as the Pesants do in France Reader I appeale to thy soule is not here pestilent perverting Gods truth Do not such men torment and set on the rack 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods truth 1 Pet. 3.16 This is the first Precept with which this good man was so satisfied The first Precept out of the Old Ier. 27.6 where it pleased God to own Nebuchadnezzar his servant although a known Pagan a profest Idolater and a fierce Persecuter of all Gods Children concerning whom he saith v. 8. They that serve not the King of Babylon and that will not put their necks under his Yoak I will punish them with the sword Famine and the Pestilence till I have consumed them v. 9. Therefore hearken not to your Diviners and Prophets that say unto you You shall not serve the King of Babylon for they prophesie a lye unto you v. 10. But the nations that shall serve the King of Babylon and bring their necks under his Yoak those will I let remain in their own land saith the Lord and they shall till it and dwell therein Can there be a stricter Precept or could there be a more impious Prince And yet this Precept and yet this Prince must be obeyed nay sub poena too Upon the pain of Gods high wrath fully exprest in Famine Sword and Pestilence not only upon the People but upon the Priests also that shall perswade them unto disobedience (e) The 2 Precept is the old place Rom. 13.1 2 3. c. To this I answer that this Gentleman sure doth suppose that that he can say more then Doctor Fern or else he would never presse it so farre But I will not dare to suppose that I can say more than they which have given him answer Let the

of England in earthly glory no not Henry the 7. in riches nor Henry the 8. in works of reformation the evill counsells that are about him being taken from his throne we doubt nor the prosperity thereof The pulling of feathers from our garments to make pillows and put under the elbows is both the work and emblem of a parasite There were certain familyes in Africa saith my author which if they did but only commend trees beasts or children for the most part they never did thrive after it Gell. lib. 9. cap. 4. God blesse his Majestie and his from amongst ill tongues whom God hath crowned with graces above his fellowes A Prince whom for his Piety few Ages could parallel What Vices of the times have branded his Repute His Youth high diet strength of body and Soveraigne Power might have enclined and warpt him to luxurious vanity as wel as other Monarchs whose effeminacies have enerved the strength of their declining Kingdomes How many would have held it a Preferment to be Atturney to his Royall Lust or Secretary to his Bosome Sinne Yet he remaines a president of unblemisht Chastity He might have pleased and pampered up his wanton Palate with the choice of Curious wives to lighten Cares which wait upon the Regall Diademe Yet he continues the patterne of a chaste Sobriety He might have magnified his Mercy and sold his Justice to reward a Service in pardoning offences committed by those of neare relation yet He abides the example of inexorable Justice These and many other eminent Graces and illustrious Vertues can claime no Birth from Flesh and blood especially in those whose pupillages are strangers to Correction Nor is it safe Divinity to acknowledge such high Gifts from any hand but Heaven Which being so my Conscience and Religion tels me that Almighty God who is all perfection will not leave a worke so forward so imperfect but will from day to day still adde and adde to his transcendent Vertues till he appeare the Glory of the World and after many yeares be crowned in the World of Glory Martial lib. 8. Ep. 66. Rerum prima salus una Caesar Phil. 3.8 Rerum prima salus una Christus Post-script to the Reader NOw thou hast heard the Reader thou hast read these notes upon this unanswerable peece as they are pleased to stile it I appeale to thee whether this be not Scripture full of corruption and language which is nothing but Sophistry do not forget that the Devill quotes Scripture but our Saviour cites it right Mat. 4.3 4. c. He is the Iew that is one inwardly Rom. 2.29 And not he that praiseth himselfe is allowed but he whom the Lord praiseth 2 Cor. 10.18 Harmony of Scriptures without Corruption and the Language of Reason without Sophistry Thou hast not only heard Divine The Precepts and Examples too how impertinent thou hast seene Reader before be not cozened with a blind confidence Remember Solomons rule Prov. 14.15 The foole beleeves every thing but the prudent will consider his steps Precepts but those Precepts backt with holy Examples Neither those out of the Old Testament alone but likewise out of the New Being now no Matter left for thy Exceptions prevaricate no longer with thy own soule And in the fear of God I now adjure thee once againe as thou wilt answer before the Tribunall at the dreadfull and terrible day that thou faithfully examine and ponder the plain Texts which thou hast read and yeelding due obedience to them stop thine eares against all sinister expositions and remember that historicall Your rule for the exposition of Scripture is a fine one are you not asham'd of it Scripture will admit no allegoricall interpretations If any thing in this Treatise shall deserve thy Your answer you have had plainly Sir by direct Scripture and those your own too delivered from the pestilent perverting as is to see to all men not wilfully blinded Now therefore I retort your admiration and what you say to the Reader I say to you As you will answer before Gods Tribunall be not ashamed to vomit up your poyson you have given and taken and receive this Antidote Exod. 21.33 If a man shall open a well or dig a pit and not cover it againe the owner of the pit c. Read and apply with trembling There was a Bird in those Countries named Iustus because she alwayes hid her Excrements which shee knew to be exceeding hurtfull to men Phot. in Biblio I would you would get a Paddle and cover your dung Answer do it punctually briefly plainly and with meeknesse If by direct Scripture thou canst without wrestling refute my Error thou shalt reforme and save thy Brother If not recant thine and hold it no dishonour to take that shame to thy selfe which brings Glory to thy God 1 PET. 3.13 Be alwayes ready to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason with meeknesse and fear If the sonnes of Sion get advantage hereby to establish them in the present truth I have enough And let Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords have honour in this That great is truth and will prevaile Deo Trin-uni gloria There arose certaine of the Synagogue which are called Libertines but they were not able to resist the wisdome of the Spirit by the which he spake Act. 6.9 10. FINIS