Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	hypocritical_a	zeal_n	zealous_a	34	3	10.6813	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86730	Heaven ravished: or A glorious prize, atchieved by an heroicall enterprize: as it was lately presented in a sermon to the honourable House of Commons, at their solemn fast, May 29. 1644. By Henry Hall, B.D. late fellow of Trin. Coll. in Cambridge. Printed by order of the said House.	Hall, Henry, B.D.	1644 (1644)	Wing H340; Thomason E52_25; ESTC R1445	72,675	77

darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacob● the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator August● that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at

more and more strives if possible to get up a note above Elah sets himselfe no bounds counts all that he hath attained as nothing like the Apostle S. Paul whose zeale and covetousnesse and ambition in this kind was so beyond all measure super superlative that although he had already gotten the greatest measure of grace that ever any mortall man attained on this side of heaven yet he forgot it all and scarce thought it any competencie still pressing forward to an higher marke as if he would pre-occupate the state of glory and attaine even in this world unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.11 2. In the worship and Service of God and in the use of all the Ordinances publique and private the violence of a mans spirit workes much in this the Jewes have a rule That whatsoever a man doth in the solemn Worship of God he should stretch and straine his inventions to do it with all his might else it is not currant nor allowable with God and the Apostle requires the like Rom. 12.11 He would not have a man slight and formall but fervent in Spirit serving the Lord and the word notes an ebullition or boyling up of our spirits to the height The oddes is not great if any at all between the omission of duties altogether and the remisse performance of them seeing a man is a looser both wayes Acts of worship and devotion when they are livelesse and superficiall are like a bow slack bent which will not carry the arrow home to the marke S. Basil observes further That such slighting over duties is not onely unprofitable but hurtfull and prejudiciall to the State of the soule as tending onely to nourish an hypocriticall and barren formality There is nothing in the world more unbecomming the worship of God then such a slight wanton superficiall straine of spirit when a man playes with Religion and serves God as if he served him not It was Davids just praise that the Zeale of Gods House did eate him up Psal. 69.9 And he daunced before the Arke with all his might and when Michael scoffed at him for it I will saith he be yet more vile then thus for God 2 Sam. 6.14 22. Nor was Hezekiah behind him in this of whom to his everlasting honour it is recorded that 2 Chron. 31.27 In every worke which he began in the service of the house of his God and in the Law and in the Commandements to seeke his God he did it with all his heart and prospered The ancient primative Christians when they met and crowded together with one shoulder at their devotions were so earnest that they seemed to besiege the Throne of Grace and to raise a common strength to invade and make a riot upon God in their prayers and this saith Tertullian was a violence right welcome unto God Jacob was honoured and called Israel for this because he wrestled in prayer and by main strength prevailed like a Prince with God Hos. 12.3 4 5. Gen. 32.28 3. Nor is the violence either lesse acceptable or lesse necessary which we are to use for the Word and worship of God either to maintaine and hold it up when we have it or to restore and recover it if lost or endangered S. Jude held it necessary to write unto beleevers to stir them up {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints v. 3. and the angell of Pergamos is much commended for holding fast Christs Name and not denying his faith in a time of persecution Revel. 2.13 If wicked men would rob us of the Gospell take from us the Worship and Ordinances of God plunder us of our glory our crown our Salvation here we must hold fast what we have Revel 2.25 Not giving place by subjection no not for an houre Gal. 2.5 nor yeeld to betray one sillable unto them as Basils worthy resolution was we value not the truth of God nor set a right estimate upon his worship and Ordinances if we be not violently bent to maintaine and defend them to the last drop of our blood And if there be a famine of the Word a want or losse of any part or piece of worship it must be violently striven and contended for Solomon would have us buy the truth and not sell it Prov. 23.23 at any rate to purchase it at no rate to part with it a man that is rightly principled for heaven will venture through an Army of Philistims for water of life as Davids worthies did unto the well of Bethlehem the people would part with their very Jewells the most pretious things they had for the erecting the setting up of Gods Tabernacle David would not take an houres rest till he had prepared an habitation for the Arke Psal. 132.3 4 5. and because he set his affection upon the house of God he prepared for the building of it with all his might 1 Chron. 2 3 4 He thought it a thing unbecomming him to dwell himselfe in a house of Cedar when the Arke of God dwelt under curtaines and the Jewes in the sore famine and siege of Jerusalem brought ever the fairest and fattest Cattell for sacrifices though they were constrained themselves to feede upon Rats and Mice and other worse vermine they chose rather to pine and famish their own bodies that the Altars of God should be altogether unfurnished or take up with the worst and when the Tribunes complained for want of gold in the Treasury to offer to Apollo the Romane Matrons plucked off their chaines bracelets and rings freely offering them to the Priests to supply that defect in the service of their gods This certainly was a high straine of devotion in those Jewes and Heathens And what do you think of the Primitive Christians were not they also thus violent when they sold their estates and layd down the price of them at the Apostles feete to purchase the meanes of Salvation for themselves and others If the people of this land would bid so high for the rich pearl of the Gospell The Kingdom of heaven were ours 2. And as in procuring of helpes meanes and advantages for the attainement or advancement of the kingdom of God so in removing the lets and impediments this heaven-sprung-violence will work and bestir it self to the uttermost If the Gospell of Christ the Word of the Kingdom chance to be brewed with humane traditions or the Worship and Ordinances of God adulterated with spurious institutions and impure mixtures Quid non audet amor what will not a man of violence do or suffer What labour or cost will he spare What adventures will he not make What hazards not run rather them suffer if he can helpe it such pollutions He will set his shoulders with Sampson to the pillars of Dagons house and pull them down though himselfe be oppressed in the ruines he will cut down the