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	son_n	speak_v	7,316	5	5.1967	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75965	The male of the flock, or A sermon preached at St. Pauls, before the right honourable, the Lord Mayor, and the right vvorshipfull, the aldermen of the city of London, Septemb: the 9th: 1655. By Benjamin Agas, minister of Cheneyes in Bucks.	Agas, Benjamin.	1655 (1655)	Wing A758A; Thomason E861_3; ESTC R206648	27,438	38

eager appetite as a Longing-Woman her much desired Morsel Again we should find as much sweetness in the Word and divine revelation as an elegant Palate in marrow and fatnes How sweet are thy words unto my tast yea sweeter then honey to my mouth Ps 119.103 So likewise in privat and secret to read pray and pour forth our souls to peform all Christian duties of meditation and self-examination c all these are to be done with strength of desires and fulness of delectation Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth himself greatly in Gods Commandements he doth what is his duty and delights yea greatly delights in what he doth so that in comparison he Loves and delights in nothing ease As for Wife and Children and the injoyments of this world he Loves them as if he loved them not yee know where I have the phrase 1 Cor 7.30 The rule is to rejoyce as if we rejoyced not to buy as if we possessed not to use the world as if we used it not Now this holy man of God observeth this rule having the maine stream of his affectious flowing forth to God and only some little out-lots to the things of this world God hath his heart and then he loveth in good earnest as it is said of Elias he prayed earnestly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he prayed in praying so they delight in delighting and love in loving and this love of God is like the rod of Aaron among the rods of the Magicians consuming and devouring whatsoever standeth in competition What we have spoken here more largely in the Explication we may find as shortly in the words of our Saviour John 4.24 They who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth Let this suffice for the first part of the Doctrine we now come unto the second viz why it must needs be detestable unto God if we do not sacrifice unto him the Male of our flock The first reason may be this Because it is so contrary to the way and method of God Confirmation so contrary to the rule and prescript of God provided in the case Let us see the Platform of Gods Ecclesiastes or Church-discipline chalked out to Israel in the Wildernesse and because we are to sacrifice wee 'l bring you to the Tabernacle where yee can see nothing base or common nothing refuse or vile but choice costly and pretious as could be had these dayes upon the earth Read over at your leisure the 25 26 27 28 Chapters of Exodus Let them bring gold and silver and brasse and blue and purple and scarlet and fine linnen and Goats-hair and Ram-skins died red and badgers-skins and Shittim-wood c. and let them make a sanctuary that I may dwel amongst them Every thing in this Sanctuary was very rich and costly either massy-●old or at lest select wood ov●r-layed with gold As the Ark the ta●le of S●●w-bread were shittim-wood yet over-layed with gold but the Cherubims and Mercy-seat were pure gold v ●7 18. c 25. So likewise the dishes spoons and covers ver 29. the candlestick tongs and snuffdishes ver 3● and 38. The oyl for the Lamp was to be pure olive chap 27 20. Now for Aron and his Sons the Priests who were to administer before the Lord Moses was commanded to array them most gorgeously Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy Brother for glory and for beauty and thou shalt speak unto all who are wise hearted whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that they make Aarons garments to consecrate him that he may minister unto me in the Priests Office and these are the garments which they shal make a brest-plate and an Ephod and a Robe and a broidered coat a mitre and a girdle c and they shal take gold and blue and purple and fine linnen c. chap 28.2 3 4 and 5 verses These for the Offering God required the first ripe fruits which we all know are stil the choice and the fairest the top ears of corn and the principal wheat If they brought an Offering of the increase of their flock it was to be a lovely Lamb without blemish Levit 1.3 if of the fruit of the field It was to be the finest of the flour and the kidnies of the wheat In one word yee may see what God saith unto Aaron Chap 2 I have given thee the best of the Oyl and the best of the Wine and of the Wheat and the first fruits which they shall offer unto the Lord Numb 18.12 Afterward in the dayes of Solomon when this Tabernacle grew into a Temple it lost nothing of its pompeous ceremoniousness but rather increased in glorie and became much more magnificent for David that great Warriour and most victorious Captain consecrated the spoils of many Crowns and Kingdoms to the House of God and much more super-added by Solomon his Son Certainly it was the goodliest pile and most stately structure that ere the sun beheld and all other things were in a just equippage The Priests the Levites the Sacrifices the Offerings the Altars Tables Vessels Vtensils and all the appurtenances all rich and costly and nothing common and forbid among them Now God in all these things did shew clearly as in an emblem that his service and worship was a thing most sacred and solemn that he did expect the best of man in all their approachings unto his Majesty and that nothing lesse should ever be accepted at his hands This likewise is his Law in the Third Commandement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vain The first Commandement sheweth who is to be worshipped viz. the only true God the Second after what rule viz divine revelation and not hnmane imagination the Third after what manner Thou shalt not take his Name in vain that is thou shalt not presume to intermeddle with God or his Worship after a slight and empty way bvt holily reverently most devoutly as is beseeming his sacred Majesty for the Lord will not hold them guiltless that is according to my Doctrine he will curse them The fourth sheweth the time of publick Worship and I rather mention it because of that appendent to it making cleer to our purpose Levit 19.30 Yee shall keep my Sabbath but that 's not all it follows and reverence my Sanctuary I will be sanctified in them that come near me and before all the people will I be glorified saith the Lord Levit 10.3 Let them make their addresses to me after such a worthy manner that glory and not dishonor may redound unto my Majesty by their service and homage and this makes way for the second ground of the point viz. The blind and the lame are a reproach unto God and do much derogate from the greatnes of his Majesty of this God seems to convince them in the words immediatly following my

I might fal as low as a Skul in a Kitchen and tel him that even among his dust and durt there is a Male to be offered unto God yea and such as God wil accept with a good wil in Christ Jesus On the other concerning Magistrates I might fly as high as the Head of the Nation but I aspire no higher than to the Head of this Auditory and Honorable Society and I shal only make bold to say over again the words of Paul Let him that ruleth do it with diligence for the Sacrifice in my Text cals me chiefly to speak of services immediatly and properly holy viz of Worship and adoration And to stir up your pure minds to perform these after the best manner give me leave to inforce the Exhortation by a few considerations As 1. Motives If they be not so done it frustrates one great end of all our services viz to ingratiate our selves with God now such an one becomes not the more gratious but the more odious by all his services my Text saith he is cursed and the more he doth in such a way the more accursed It is a most sad thing to loose our aim and expectation in a matter of such great concernment thou hast taken to thy self a form of godliness thou walkest the rounds of Religion and art pretty severe in thy way hereupon thou blessest thine own soul and thy heart is ful of hope and yet miserable wtetch when all is done God wil nor more accept thy person or look favourably towards thee than if thou hadst never performed any good duty in thy life Yee have brought me the sick and the lame should I accept it at your hands saith the Lord of Hosts in the Verse fore-going my Text. The question is a most vehement tie as if he had said I detest and abominate your Offering accept it I wil no more accept it than a doggs-head the price of an Whore or if you offered unto me swines-flesh yee may go on in this way and heap up services unto Heaven and yet at the last He throw you down to Hel. Oh this is a sad thing and seriously to be considered Thou hast been filling and filling all thy dayes but now what wil be thy reward in the end God kicks down the Vessel in a scorn oh how wil this sink thy soul in horror how wilt thou cry out in bitternes and anguish of heart Operam ●leam predidi I have lost all my work and I am lost God is infinitely above and knows it I am a great King and know my self to be worthy of the Male of the Flock and lesse I wil not accept Even our Grandees on earth look for great respect and indure not in the lest to be slighted or under-valued Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory being presented with a curious peece of Needle-work stood beholding and praising the Woman and her skil but quoth this vain-gorious fool and I can make a better if it please your Majesty and canst thou make a better said the Queen and do not I deserve that best and with that threw it down in a scorn and with-drew Even as Augustus Caesar if my memory fail me not being invited by a Pratrician of Rome but finding his provision not very extraordinary after supper whispered the Noble mans ear and instead of Thanks gave him a more regal check for his less civil entertainment Non putassem me tibi tam familiarem I thought you had not looked upon me as such an ordinary Fellow This is the great spirit of our mortal and dying Gods much more of him that ever liveth He knoweth his own peerless excellency and goodnes and accordingly beareth the grea test reverance and respect to his own sacred person and expects that others should do it too but takes it very il if man his Creature dos derogate from his greatnes by the littlenes of his reverence and respect in what he presents unto him God is infinitely above and knows it so man is infinitely beneath and should know it also wherefore let us consider 2 Our own vilenes and basenes how unworthy we are at the best to do service unto God yee know what the great Patriarch Abraham said while he stood near unto God I am but dust and ashes fitter to be trodden on then treated with 'T is our great priviledg that we may come near and be Officious unto so glorious and blessed a God if wise therefore we would set off our selves in the best dresse that we may find grace in his sight Joseph though called in hast out of the Dungeon to appear before Pharaoh first shaved and washed and changed his garments this he did more prudentially the more to commend his person to the King even so let us prize our priviledg of standing before the God of the whole earth and with the greatest care and complement commend our service unto God 3. How can we say we love God unless we offer the Male of our flock True Love is most noble generous neer of kin unto Heaven for God is love This high born off-spring scorns to be base even there where it might be bold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor 13.5 Love doth no unworthly or unseemly thing but if the blind and the lame be not unseemly for the highest Majesty judg yee wherefore Love wil not indure it but bringeth forth her fatted Calfe and furnisheth her Table with her choisest store Elkanah gave unto Peninnah and her Children portions but unto Hannah a worthy portion for he Loved her 1 Sam 1.5 her vertue fild his heart with Love and his Love fild her hands with bounty Love if any such thing wil force us to bring unto God a worthy Offering Love loves to abound and wil make us bountiful his Altars shal overflow with the fat of Rams and of Lambs and with Alexander the Great wee 'l scorn a few drams but throw on handfuls of incense upon those holy fires 4. If we serve not God after the best manner in time we shal be weary of God and of his service Yee bring the sick and the lame and yee say what a weariness is it the lesse they did for God and the more unworthily and the more tedious and cumbersome it was unto themselves Nothing more emasculates the spirit nothing more deadens the heart unto duty than a dul and lazie performance of duty whether publick or privat or secret As one speaks of secret prayer if it be done only in a formal way without life and spirit it wil strangely take a man off from praying so that in time he wil flie his closet and even loath his own Oratory The Ravens seeing their yong Ones now newly excluded callow and naked forsake and leave them to the dew of Heaven so we beholding the fruit of our souls naked and unlovely wil be as little pleased with our own devotions But duty done with life and love wil make a man in love

in evil wayes They have appetitum caninum and swallow down Hel at a bit as if they were afraid others should get the lest share of it besides themselves As I have seen an hungry Dogg swallow a bone without chowing for feare his fellow should come to touch it Oh how mad and how violent are wicked men in the prosecution of their Lusts shal not their excessive wickedness provoak us to exceed in goodness do we not serve a better Master are we not about a better work do we not expect a better reward when Job provided a sacrifice for the World 't was the Male of his flock and when we provide a sacrifice for our God shal it not be the Male of our flock God put us not off with Saints or Angels though he had store and choice but one better then all the only lovely Lamb in the Fold for brightness and perfection even his own dear Sonn He spared not his Son but delivered him up for us all Rom 8.32 what therefore shal we render unto the Lord gratitude wil answer I have nothing good enough but the best which I have sha● forever be at his service Which that we may do let us observe these following rules Let all our services be ordered according to the rule of the Word Meanes we may not presume to know above what is revealed To the Law to the testimonies we may expound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romans 12.1 by 1 Pet 2.2 where we have the same epethite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is there translated the milk of the Word and not reasonable Milk and then our sacrifice wil be the service of the Word viz according to the word of God Here we must stick otherwise we shal strangely vanish away in our own foolish imaginations and set up graven images which we all know is abominable in the eyes of God that service is peformed in the best manner which God saith is the best for God is sole Judg in this matter and not our foolish and fond opinions we may see groves and Idols a world of vanity and wil-worship in the world among all Sects and perswasions But while they take freedom to abound in their own sence doing what is right in their own eyes let us only do what is right in the eyes of God 2 Let all our sacrifices be offered upon the golden Altar Jesus Christ It is the Altar that sacrificeth the gift Mat 23.19 yea and inricheth it too and only makes it of worth and value Christ is Gods beloved Son in whom he is wel pleased and for his sake wil not quarrel with us or our Offering though we do not attaine unto the perfection of the Sanctuary yea the spots of our sacrifices are easily covered by his spotless righteousness so that God himself wil say here is an Offering according to my mind Where ever Christ is there God is fully satisfied for his eye is so taken with this lovely object that he cannot look off to see else-where what is done amiss 3. Time also and its opportunity is much to be observed for helping on this work especially there let us put our selves upon service when the good fit is upon us I intend soberly and seriosly when the spirit of grace moveth more sensibly upon the face of our souls warming and melting our affections and unkindling gracious desires in us and there are such golden seasons now strike while the iron is hot now to reading praying thanksgiving c for now thy hands wil drop with myrh and thy fingers with sweet smelling myrh O how holy are such breathings how seraphical such expressions how wil thy soul mount upward how near wil it come unto God! and thou whether in the body thou canst not tel or out of the body thou canst not tel 4. Keep a sacred reserve of the strength of thy Spirit and the best of thy affections for God and for his service and let them not consume and blaze out among the lying vanities of this world if we do not use the world as if we need it not we shal serve God as if we served him not There was a time when Solomon gave unto the Lord the Male of his Flock but when afterward he suffered his heart to be taken with si ver and gold with Wine and Women with Men-fingers and Women-fingers with Orchards and gardens and Vineards with Apes and Peacocks and all other the vainer delights of the Sons of men Solomon was another Man and now presently instead of a Male he offered unto the Lord a Corrupt thing The Lord said unto Moses Exod 30 34. take unto thee sweet spices and thou shalt make it a perfume a confection after the Art of the Apothecary tempered together pure and holy and as for the perfume which thou shalt make you shal not make unto your selves according to the composition thereof Whosoever shal make like unto that to smel thereto shall even be cut off from his people This was a sweet only to be smelled in the Sanctuary and not else-where upon paine of death so I conceive there are several aims and high breathings in our affections which are only for God but to spend them upon our selves would be the greatest sacriledg and moreover puts us upon an in possibility of performing the duty I have alwayes observed people high and hot in their pastimes and pleasure as low and as cold in their prayers and performances They who suffer themselves to admire Romances and Play-books and seldome seen to affect Sermons and Gods-Book but they hear and read with a certain kind of loathing and fastidiousness The reason is this the purer strength of their spirit is spent upon vanity and therefore feeble and weak in the things of solidity A tree running out in foolish excrescences the fruit is rare and little and that too of the basest sort In your common Limbecks the purer spirits being drawn out and gone nothing is left behind but a Caput mortuum fleam and dreggs Therefore we must be careful to keep in our spirits to moderate our Joyes and to check our desires and not to suffer our selves to love any thing beneath God with an excessive love midling affections are enough for these things as for those high breathings of soul let them wholly be sacrificed unto the Lord. Stop up the floud-gates that the pools may be ful when yee go unto God and now open all and let them flow as fast as they can the faster the better I love such a thing with all my heart a common saying but once a grave Christian replied not lesse piously than truly why for shame all thy heart for this trifle and that and for every vanity all thy heart must be for God else thou wilt have for God no heart at all To conclude Thou hast in thy flock a Male but if that be meat for thine own palate if that be consumed at thine own Table then when thou comest to offer thou wilt most certainly sacrifice unto the Lord a corrupt thing Gloria in exelsis AMEN POSTSCRIPT I Have under two or three Heads put in a little more filling which for fear of tediousness I thought good silently to passe over in the Pulpit B A.