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	send_v	son_n	9,813	5	5.8866	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86600	Clavis exousiasichē [sic]: The key of ordination. Or, Missio potestativa. Oichonomichē: ministerial power: or, Authoritative separation of men to the work of Christ, a ministerial privilege.A sermon preached at the ordination of Mr. Thomas Porter Master of Arts, Mr. John Wilson, Mr. David Jenks, Mr. George Burraston, and Mr. Tho: Soley, at Whitchurch in the county of Salop. / By Aylmer Houghton, minister of the word at Prees in the said county.	Houghton, Aylmer.	1656 (1656)	Wing H2918; Thomason E1665_3; ESTC R208387	22,964	62

action of Divine Worship before the Lord. And fasted Addit Jejunium fasting is fixed to this duty Ut sciamus eorum mentes omni impedimento fuisse solutas ne quid obstaret Calvin To hold forth their firm resolution that nothing should obstruct the business they were about The Holy Ghost said That is by some prophetick spirit of Revelation to one or more of them with the consent of the rest Diodate The Holy Ghost that is spiritus sanctus God by his Spirit or God the third Person in the Trinity God said separate mee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sever them set them apart from other men and from all other imployments A Ministers Calling is not of men yet by men The Author of all holy Calling to the Ministery is only the Holy Ghost exclusively to all men but not to the other two persons in the Sacred Trinity They all equally concur in this external work It belongs to the Lord of the Harvest to call in Labourers into his Harvest but now by his Servants Nothing should be done in spiritual undertakings of such high concernment as this in my Text and as this day we are come about without this separation In the first plantation of the Church of God Moses and Aaron had a speciall charge given them to separate the Levits from among the Children of Israel and their cloathes must be washed and then presented as an offering to the Lord Numb 8.14 21. And their separation was twofold First Their initiation to their office at a month old and afterward the second time at the age of 25 years Numb 8.24 And this laudable and approved custome of severing separating of men from the rest of the multitude for the work of Christ hath been the practice of the primitive times of the Gospel and is still continued as the practice of the Church of Christ in these Gospel days and kept up as most suitable to the mind of Jesus Christ For this was the practice of the Apostles Acts 6.6 The Apostles set them before them and prayed and laid their hands on them and these prospered in their Ministery The Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul that is to be held in equall degree and to go forth with equal authority with us to the work of Christ Barnabas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 filius Consolationis See Act. 4.36 the Son of consolation Jerom gives the interpretation of this name filius prophetae the Son of a Prophet com●ositum est of the Hebrew word Bar et nabi Prophetae munus so Pafor And Saul an Hebrew word Schaul hoc est petitus and Paul that is pusillus and so called in vers 9. of this Chapter Paul signifies little to hold forth ut deus voluit ostendere per pusillum hunc et per vas hoc infirmum splendidam hujus mundi potentiam infracturam et per contraria agere That God would by this little and infirm weak instrument break the seeming power and greatness of this world and work by contraries Paul little to set forth the humility and lowliness of him whom the Holy Ghost had here called forth to the work of the ministery He was little in his own eyes God raiseth Work-men to his work out of the dust He plows and sows in low grounds these are they that oftentimes prove most fertile and fruitful Paul signifies also to cease thereby intimating hee had now ceased to persecute Hee was now called to work for Christ that formerly had been a persecutor of Christ Hee was now ceast and stopt from raging against Christ and now was to work for him Austine observes upon this Text that these two in my Text had bina nomina two names given them to hold forth the successe that should accompany their Ministery in the Church of Christ Their natures were changed with their names For the work whereunto I have called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad opus seu officium ad quod eos vocavi To the work or office to which I have called them Work labour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies such work as wears and wastes out all 1 Thes 5.12 wee beseech you brethren know them which work among you who waste and wear themselves away with work among you Gods Ministers are separated and sent to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 workers together with Christ 2 Cor. 6.1 whereunto I have called them This call in my Text was different from the call of others to this work it was not ordinary but extraordinary it was an immediate call which is not required in the call of others of Gods special servants It is not to bee expected ut nobis è coelo inclamet Deus That God should call from heaven to tell us who are to be separated for this work Hee who calls them doth inable them to the work they are called forth to work God Ministers now must have a mediate call The Holy Ghost sends and calls and the call of the Holy Ghost is twofold 1 Immediate 2 Mediate 1 Immediate as these in my Text. 2 Mediate by his servants But some there are who have no call either from God and his Spirit or by men his servants but runne on their own heads and on their own errands The Spirit of God complains against these Jer. 23.21 non mitebam prophetas et ipsi currebant non loquebar illis et ipsi prophetabant I have not sent them yet they ranne I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied but hee that set them on work must pay them their wages And our Saviour saith that he that comes not in by the door the same is a thief and a robber John 10.1 2 Some are called and sent of men but not of God as when Jeroboam made Priests of the lowest of the people 1 King 12.31 So Jason and Menelaus was ambitiously affected after the Priesthood and sought by all unlawfull means to procure it of Antiochus And so by favour and some indirect means or other heretofore many of bad learning and baser living have been thrust into the Ministery to the dishonour of God grief to the godly and ruine of many souls But blessed be God there is now care taken and God hath put it into the hearts of the supream Authority of this Church and Common-wealth not only to prevent this evill but to purge this evil not only to cast out but to keep out such buyers and sellers out of the Temple 3 But some are sent and called of God and by men as these in my text and so Timothy and Titus and others by the Apostles for how shall they preach till they be sent Rom. 10.15 And when they had fasted and prayed This was the form and order of the Church of Christ in such high undertakings in matters of such moment to address themselves to God in these duties Calvin Erasmus and others observe it was not so much for imploring God to give them prudence and

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigilant 1 Tim. 3.2 our work is either reading or praying or else meditating or sighing or groaning or mourning or studying your good and your life becomes some of our deaths with our daily and continual working Seventh This our work is a despised work it is the greatest work under heaven and the least regarded in the world subject to the scorn of wicked men and contempt of the world Eightly This our work is a dying work wee like Rachell dye in travel to bring forth Sonnes and Daughters to Jesus Christ It is our death that our work dies in any of our people Ah Christians how much of our work is like water spilt upon the ground It is heart-dying to us that our work dies in your hearts The Apostle Gal. 4.19 tells the Galaetians that hee travelled in birth till Christ were formed in them but alas how many false births and abortive births are produced by our work that hath wrought in some of our people only a form of godlinesse but not the life and power of it and this is a dying work both to them and us Ninthly This our work is a divine work It is the work of God in us by his Spirit Christ rules and calls our men here and there to this work to minister to the souls of men It is a work of divine and spirituall concernment to the souls eternity This is the first tearm in my doctrinal Thesis I shall be briefer in the rest The second tearm is what the inward call is by the Spirit The Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul I Answer This call is from God by his spirit and only known as I Humbly conceive by these three Requisites which if found in these our Brethren or in any else called forth to this work we may with an humble confidence be perswaded that they have this inward call and that the Holy Ghost hath said Separate mee these men for the work whereunto I have called them The first Requisite is Pure intentions 2 Pious affections 3 Personal qualifications First Pure and zealous intentions The first and highest Attractive that draws the thoughts and intentions of any to undertake this burden must be the glory of God and the edification of his Church to bring souls to Jesus Christ There must bee no consulting with flesh and blood about this weighty work If either profit or preferment honour or ease have any thing to do in our intentions as they have in too many then wee may conclude that such are not called by the Spirit Second Requisite is pious and cordial affections a godly affection to do good with our abilities we should have mountains of love in us and wear them all and wast them all away in love to Christ and to his people 2 Cor. 12.15 I will gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the lesse I am beloved Hee whom love calls to this labour is called of God and his work shall prosper Third Requisite is personal qualifications and those are three-fold 1 Humanity 2 Humility 3 Honesty First Humanity God sends not headlesse or heartless or handlesse men to this work for hee either finds them fit in some measure or makes them fit for this work And that First in Person Second in Parts both in life and learning They must have the indowments and the perfections of both natures the outward man as well as the inward man one called of God by his Spirit must be not only peritus in religione sed castus moribus not only skillful in the Doctrin of Religion but also regular in all civillities of humanity grace takes not nature away but regulates it refines it and reforms it Religion doth not throw civilities out of doors as some of the quaking faction do but entertains it as a suitable ornament to grace and as a necessary qualification for Ministers which requires they bee of a civil deportment to all men so far forth as may stand with the honour of their persons and places Secondly Humility Such as are called of God by his Spirit are humble they check and chide their own abilities by their own undervaluing of them They take this office and calling upon them cum timore et reverentia suscipere et se excusare with fear and reverence and excusing of themselves as unworthy and unable for it thus Moses Jeremy and others Thirdly Honesty Whom God calls by his spirit to this work must be of an upright life conversation towards all men both towards those without and within to good and bad Such as are called of God must not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only talk aright but walk aright hee must not only teach the way to heaven but tread and trace the way to heaven His Doctrin must bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A speech quickned with the actions of an upright life For there is no life in Doctrine where there is not Doctrine in the life Gods Ministers must teach the eyes as well as the ears of the people For we have not so much nor so great a work to do with their ears as with their eyes for their eyes are more intent upon what we practice than upon what we preach Boni mores praedicantium sal eorum Doctrinae The honest and upright life of a Minister is the salt that seasoneth all his doctrine The sins of Teachers are the Teachers of sin and a Minister of a dishonest life is the vilest creature in the world A Turk or Tartar a Jew or Jesuit Popish or Prophane are not so vile as such a one It is a fearful speech of Chrysostome of a wicked Minister Quis unquam Clericum lapsum penitentem vidit Who ever saw a Minister recover himself after his fall by repentance some not many and but very seldom But those who walk unblameably are called of God even those that have these pure intentions these pious affections and these personal qualifications of humanity humility and honesty we may with an humble confidence be assured that the Holy Ghost hath said unto us Separate me these men for the work whereunto I have called them The third Term in my Doctrinal Thesis holds forth the outward call by Separation Presbyterial Separation is an external call of persons to the work of Christ and a Ministerial privilege It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministerial Power And this Authoritive Separation is in the Ministery Acts 6.6 The Apostles prayed and laid their hands on them which we call Ordination or Clavis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Key of Ordination Election may belong to the people but in Ordination Pastors have been still actors and ordainers as Acts 1.26 6.6 Tit. 1.5 In this business there is onely required the silent approbation of the godly Election follows Ordination and is but an approbation of a called person to his Ministery to such a particular Congregation

The Juridical power is in the Presbytery to judge of and examine those who are to preach the Word of God that so false Teachers and Unworthy men might be kept from creeping into the Church of Christ For wicked men such as are meerly natural and prophane or hypocrites in heart would never consent to the call of a holy Minister of Jesus Christ And besides these are not capable in their choice to judge of such but may either out of prejudice or ignorance or out of a prophane heart deny consent to his Ministery whom God hath called and said Separate me such a one to the work whereunto I have called him For my part I cannot be perswaded or satisfied in this one thing that ever any one not called by the Church and that is out of office and orders and intrudes upon this holy calling should ever convert souls or bring any to heaven Dissenting judgements there are of some of our Brethren about this Separate me even concerning the form of this Separation and Ordination But I intend not to wade into this business or meddle with this Controversie Our practise is approved and sufficiently cleared to the satisfaction I hope of all here or of the most that desire unity and order in the Church of Christ and therefore I shall leave it with this one additional requisite belonging to it which is Probation 1 Tim. 3.10 Hiprobentur let them first be proved And this hath been our form of proceeding in setting apart and separating those whom hitherto we have laid our hands on and sent forth to the work whereunto they have been called and that both of their abilities and deportments And the rather For as a wise Master of a Family will not commit matters of moment to any one Servant till he hath first made proof of his ability to do it and also of his faithfulness in doing it Multo magis necessarium est eos probari quibus comittenda est cura sanctae Congregationis Hiperius Much more fit is it that those be tryed and proved to whom is committed the care of souls in the Church of Christ A word of the fourth Term which is the form of this outward call by Separation And when they had prayed Prayer is a duty for all undertakings of Christians especially in an undertaking of that nature and high concernment as this in my Text and as we are this day come about 2. By fasting This was a duty for extraordinary undertakings and more than ordinary occasions such as this is we are now about 3. By Imposition of hands which contains the species of their Consecration In conferring of holy Orders a double posture hath anciently been observed First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Imposition of hands in token of Consecration Acts 8.17 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holding up of hands in sign of confirmation Acts 14.23 And in this Ceremony is held forth the offering of them up to God for the work whereunto the Holy Ghost hath called them And this outward call though it be not of men yet it is by men and necessary to so holy a function And all such as come not in by this door are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new illuminates lately dropt out of heaven that yesterday were but Dolts and Dunces but to day are Doctors and Divines Yesterday with Saul were seeking their fathers Asses and to day are gotten among the Prophets 1 Sam. 10.16 like the Nightingale Vox preterea nihil a voyce and nothing else or like the Camelion all lungs and no heart All their learning is by Revelation they pray and preach and all by the Spirit whereas all are but the visions of their own hearts the fancies of distempered spirits and meer chymera's of sin-sick brains which they rather feign than know and foolish unstable souls rather follow than believe or trust But those called of God and by men are such as know God and themselves who have a feeling of that spirit who teacheth them to know God and God to know them and them to know themselves Of these the holy Ghost hath said to us Separate me these men for the work whereunto I have called them I have now done with the Doctrinal part of my Thesis and shall fall upon the Applicatory part and be brief in it I hava a threefold Errand from Christ to all here this day suitable to your threefold Stations Relations Places and Persons My first Errand is to you my Reverend Brethren and my self who have this Command in my Text enjoyned us To separate these our Brethren for the work whereunto they are called My second Errand is my Brethren to you who are this day to be Separated from other persons and imployments to this weighty work And my third Errand is to all of you Christian Auditors and Spectators to this Religious crowd and throng who are this day Spectators to behold and Auditors to hear how this work is performed both by them and us In all of which I hope you will be both Approbationers to approve it and Petitioners with us to the Throne of grace and help us by your prayers for a blessing on them And pray all your Amens unto it Reverend Brethren My first Errand and Word I have from Christ is to you and to my self All the excuse I shall now plead is I must be faithful to my Lord and Master Jesus Christ 1 Cor 4 2. You have called me forth to this work therefore give me leave to be plain and impartial in delivering the minde of Christ to us in this weighty business My first word to you and to my self is onely that which this Apostle gave to his beloved Timothy 1 Tim. 5.22 A charge that he gave him to keep himself pure and to lay hands suddenly on no man lest he be partaker of other mens sins To prevent this evil two things are required of us before admission of any to this weighty work 1. Circumspection 2. Sincere Affections First Circumspection That such onely be admitted as are in some measure fraught and furnisht with the sufficiencies of both men the inward and the outward man clad and cloathed with the indowments and perfections both of nature and grace Secondly Sincere affections That we be not transported with by-respects either of profit or of partiality If we neglect either of these we may make our selves partakers of other mens sins of the sins of others And that 1. By consenting to such 2. Or By concealing of such 3. Or By contriving for such 4. Or By commending of such to the work of the Lord who are not called of God to this work by his Spirit to this Ministerial Function I Remember a passage of Erasmas who stories of the Bishop of Utretcht who was son to the good Duke of Burgundie who had at one time three hundred who came to him for holy Orders He was resolved he would examine them himself and made tryal of their