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	teach_v	word_n	7,479	5	4.2082	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56233	The poor mans progress and rest, or, the way of God with man passing through the wildernesse to Canaan In answer to a grand question demanded of the author whilst a prisioner in Jameses. Viz. What the manner of Gods dealing was with him in the severall dispensations that he had gone through; and also the ground of his practise, directed to one of the councel. And now published for the prevention of false suggestions against the said prisioner during his captivity. Wherein is clearly demonstrated, first, the false foundations that many thousands in this generation [ ] upon. Secondly, what the true foundation is with the ill consequences and absurditees of the contrary. Thirdly, the infallability of the this true foundation. Fourthly, the difference between living to Christ and living by him. ... Tenthly, some reasons to induce submission to imposition of hands. All made plain by scripture reason and experience. By William Pryer, a poor despised servant of Jesus, ...	Pryor, William.	1655 (1655)	Wing P4132A; ESTC R218357	9,493	14

The poor mans progresse and rest Or the way of God with man passing through the wildernesse to CANAAN In answer to a grand question demanded of the Authour whilst a prisoner in Jameses Viz. What the manner of Gods dealing was with him in the severall dispensations that he had gone through and also the 〈◊〉 of his practise directed to one of the Councel And now published for the prevention of false suggestions against the said prisoner during his captivity Where it is clearly demonstrated First the false foundations that many thousands in this generation build upon Secondly What the true foundation is with the ill consequences and absurdities of the contrary Thirdly The infallibilitie of this true foundation Fourthly The difference between living to Christ and living by him Fifthly What God gives to man absolutely and what upon condition distinguished Sixthly The abilities that God gives and who may claim them right Seventhly The extent of Christs enlightening man and also how the soul is put in a capacity to pray Eighthly How the soul layes steadfast hold on the promises Ninthly Some reasons in brief for opposing the Clergy in what is erronious Tenthly Some reasons to induce submission to imposition of hands All made plain by Scripture reason and experience By WILLIAM PRYER a poor despised servant of Jesus late prisoner at Jameses Isai 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony If they spake not according to the word it is because there is no light in them Printed for the Authour 1655. To the Reader The reason why I present this following Epistle to your view is partly from a sensibility of my undergoing the censures of some in reference to my late captivity and partly from the consideration of the ignorance of many thousands of the true foundation and the better enmity of others by reason of which mens hearts are stuft with divisions without profits in things of greatest concernment and supposing this small Epistle might be advantagious to the settleing the thoughts of some that yet remain unstable and the particulars in it may as well be profitable to thee as to me being witnessed in me by the eternall light and confirmed both by Scripture and reason I judged it my duty not to keep it secret especially being so eminently called to the work it self Now that which I only crave of thee is to read it with deliberation and without prejudice with the noble Bereans search the Scripture whether those things be so and if I speak not according to that word if it be a contrary doctrine receive it not but if agreable then despise it not because of the unworthinesse of the instrument and for what good thou gainest give God the glory which is all present from the unworthiest of the Lords servants and thine for the truths sake William Pryer Honoured Sir HEaring that something had been suggested to your honour as to my judgement and practise from the consideration of the appearances of old light in you I was engaged to give in this epitomie humbly craving your favourable construction and judgement as you find it consonant with truth I dare not say my former trading in those severall formes that I manifested to your honour I had been in was not the products of divine light for Gods way of manifestation is by degrees and he brings his people through the wildernesse of tryalls and temptations to Canaan yea many times through by waies that so their experience may cause them to break forth into admiration at his wonder bringing them through the belly of hell c. I shall therefore God willing manifest to your honour the manner of Gods dealing with me more particularly in every form My manner of education in my youth I believe was not unknown to you which was after the strictest manner of the then times with those commonly called puritans whose word was then to me as the prophet speakes as a very lovely song which begat in me a desire to teach and to know the way that the Lord hath excorpted which I was ignorant of and in my enquiring I had then presented that the holy spirit was the evidence of that way But when by a particular application I came to enquire whether I had this evidence yea or no and what was the tokens of it it was presented unto me by some that desire to pray and to be instant therein and to refrain from bad company and vices was certain tokens of it and thus I rested satisfied in such actions done and as my qualifications eb'd and flow'd so my comforts eb'd and flow'd and when clouded by sins I immediately questioned my condition ruminating upon a text that the foundation of God stands sure by which I was brought to conclude that I was not upon that foundation but upon my own righteousnesse which was filthy rags because so wanting which cast me into a sad condition to know the true foundation I desired But to pray for it I was averse yet frequent in reasoning according to my weak abilities and desirous to reason with all that seemed any whit religious amongst whom I received as I thought some glimps of comfort for a time from that of the Apostle viz. by this we know that we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren when I was confident I loved which bore me untill I began to consider who they were in whom the Apostle concludes that knowledge of translation and who the brethren were and then could easily conclude that I had not in my condition one dram of interest in that text not knowing by an infallible testimony the brethren nor my self qualified as the parties speaking and so by some instruments was carried to a text in John he that believeth shall be saved If I believed it was a certain testimony this I laid hold of untill my God was pleased to cast me upon the serious consideration of that wonderfull place of Paul 1 Cor. 5.11 For other foundations can no man lay save that which is laid which is Jesus Christ and if any man build upon that foundation c. from whence through goodnesse I came seriously to reason thus If I must build upon Christ only then my building upon my own believeing was matter for the fire for the day of tryall would declare it which put me upon a serious consideration what was the true way of building upon Christ to petition the Father for the discovery of it I trust not though I earnestly thirsted after it for I could not with confidence call God Father whilst contemplating upon this my God was pleased to let me hear that still voice of his directing me the way in generall that the only way of building upon Christ was to build upon his words which must judge us at the last day which set my cogitations on work what scripture told me I was of that number for whom Christ died it was presented to me that he died for sinners and I

in such legible characters whereby when men read they may understand Eph. 3.4 which comforts the hearts of the Lords servants filling them with all riches of assurance of understanding in their acknowledging the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ to the which acknowledgement the God of praise and love bring all those that set their faces Sion ward that in the rich enjoying of assurance may finish their course with joy he coming the earnest of their inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession when the righteous shall receive the end of their hope the salvation of their souls And so much in brief I was sollicited to signifie unto your honour touching the manner of Gods dealing with my poor soul now humbly craving your serious consideration of the particulars herein being willing to receive information wherein I see either in judgement or practise and the God of peace and love give you understanding in all his wayes which are pleasanter then all that this world can afford I shall only give you an account in a word or two of my practice in opposing the Clergy which I am sure you have had various reports of First I never spake to any of them by way of question untill they had done except two and what I said to those two was in vindication of present ordinances openly violated by them Nor I never laid hands upon any nor abetted any that did though I have heard so much hath been suggested to your honour but alwaies on the contrary desired peace and peaceable reasoning yet strongly endeavouring by reason to vindicate that which I apprehended to be truth The reasons of this my practise may it please your honour was these First I am commanded to follow the example of my dear Saviour and the example of his servants so far as they followed him I find him disputing amongst the Doctours and asking them questions and taking his opportunities of speaking amongst multitudes I find the servants as Stephen and Apollo and Silas and Peter following his example and it was Pauls manner Act. 17.2 to go in the Synogogues on the Sabbath day and reason with them 〈◊〉 of the Scripture which God is my witnesse besides many hundreds I have practised with much meeknesse though I have received many taunts and reproaches from them unbecoming men of their profession besides sundry of their endeavours to set the tumultuous about my ears as I am able to manifest yet I rendered them not evill though I have by their occasion often undergone stroakes buffetings and stoning and my garments torn from me all which I value not because I know my God hath registred my sufferings I gave no manner of unbeseeming retorts at O●ndle when Mr Resbury came into the publick place and called to Mr Morley a gentleman of Northamptonshire whilst preaching being then in the pulpit which was at that time free by act of Parliament uttering with a loud voice contumelious threatnings uncomely to be mentioned by any that professe the name of Christ but a patient suffering is comely to and amongst the people of God an adorning to the gospell of their profession to bear about alwayes in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus is their treasure in earthen vessels and therefore shall commit these the series of my understanding and practise to your serious consideration being willing through grace to go through good report and evill and to suffer any thing that God may have the glory and what of it deserves the light to let it have it which is all at present from him who is the unworthiest of truths lovers yet shall take leave to subscribe my self Your Honours servant for the truths sake William Pryer I know I shall be the wonder of the Churches abroad and of all others that have been witnesses to my opposing the doctrine of imposition of hands when they hear of my entring into the practise of it it may be some will censure me as unstable be it so I had rather be accounted unstable then stable in opposing truth and therefore shall briefly give to serious consideration the reasons of my submitting to imposition of hands now practised in many places upon all baptized beleevers First Because ever since I opposed it I have found a coldnesse growing upon me as to the things of God Secondly I have found a greater debility in my self to withstand temptations Thirdly because I could find no other way to claim that great promise of the gift of the spirit by which is convaid the assurance of all the other promises but by following the example of the holy men of God in that which did immediately proceed the enjoyment of the spirit Fourthly Because I find imposition of hands joyned to the doctrine of baptismes by a Conjunction copulative Heb. 6. and according to the practise of the Apostles immediately to proceed the enjoyment of the promise intealed upon the chearfull reception of the doctrine of baptismes of water and afflictions Fifthly I find it an interposed practise of the Apostles immediately after baptisme before the saints enjoying the spirit promised Sixthly Because mortification of sin guidance in the way of truth helps to prophecy directions to prayer all convai'd through the spirit which leads into all truth Seventhly Though I find some had the spirit without it yet I have no grounds to expect it but in Gods ordinary way of communication Eighthly Because I find imposition of hands kept alive successively from the Apostle through the darkest mists of popery even after baptisme was changed as to the right subjects by the subtilty of Fidus the priest this practise hath been ever since kept alive by the Bishops hands upon their couzened babes Ninthly Because I find a greater experience of the indwelling of God in those that practise it upon baptized believers then in the opposers of it more frequent in duties both at home and abroad more love in them one towards another more watchfull over one another more zealous for truth more sympathying one with another in sufferings If I had no other reasons to convince me of truth in the present practise of imposition of hands then I have experienced in these latter These only would have engaged me no longer to have opposed it Vale. William Pryer FINIS