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A76289 A briefe ansvver to R.H. his booke, entitled, The true guide, &c. Wherein are occasionally declared and proved by Scripture these particular things following: [brace] first, that the baptisme of water is a distinct baptisme from the baptisme of the spirit. ... Sixthly, in what sense some things related in Scripture are not Scripture, with divers other particulars occasionally spoken of. / By R.B. a well-wisher to the truth, and R.H. R. B., Well-wisher to the truth. 1646 (1646) Wing B159; Thomason E357_2; ESTC R16628 31,113 40

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further In Page 6. saying what Scripture have any to raile against the Parliament Answ Truly none that I know of nor any warrant at all to be unfaithfull toward them in the least who have been so carefull of our peace and safety and so faithfull towards us though some would have had it otherwise But R. H. would make the world beleeve that those that differ from his opinions and practices are such and therefore mentions divers opinions and among the rest this Interrogatory to render them as hatefull to the world as possibly he can as this Interrogatory especially must needs do if it were true but it may be he hath heard some that stand opposite to his opinions speake foolishly that way though for my part all those that I am intimate with stand to this day as cordiall and reall for the Parliament as ever as our neighbours can testifie But contrariwise I have heard of some of his opinion that have proved unfaithfull to the Parliament should I therefore take occasion to make mention of the actions of some few of his opinion to the world to render all of the same opinion odious yet this is the very drift of his mentioning this thing as may appeare to them that read his Booke But it may be he will say he doth but interrogate but he may know well that interrogations are either strong affirmations or strong negations and I thinke he will not say it is a negation but should I have begun and done such a thing so publiquely against them of his opinion I should have been thought at least a seducer unjustly endeavouring to draw the Parliament and well affected peoples affections from such His next things he mentions in the same page are Magistrates Masters and Fathers Verily I know none that are accused by R. H. that take away in the least from Parliament Masters or Fathers what God nature and this whole Kingdome hath invested them with severally from God but I never yet read in the Gospell of Christ Jesus that ever he gave any in the world power over the consciences of his people in matter of worship 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not the servants of men Col. 2.20 Why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances touch not taste not handle not which all perish with the using after the Commandements and Doctrines of men But marke the enmity of this man against them hee opposes hee would have them thought to bee such as cry downe superiority and inferiority and yet he knowes well they stand for all due subjection to Caesars Masters and Fathers as much as he if not more For we conceive all civill subjection to be due to such whether Heathens or Christians but if he will give to them that which belongs to God we are not bound to doe so too by his example we acknowledge no power in matter of worship above Christ Jesus who is the only Law-giver to his people whose government differs from Moses government even as his house differs from his Heb. 3.2 3 4 5 6. who was faithfull to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithfull in all his house And Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant but Christ as a sonne over his own house c. So that the Government of Moses house is as unfit for Christs house as a poore cottagers for a Kings house Besides Moses house yea even that whose State being shaddowish when Christ the body came the shaddowes must needs fly away as Solomon saith then to what purpose serve his proofes from the examples of the Kings of Judah more then of the Priests of Judah for the Government of Christs house unlesse they are understood spiritually and not according to the Letter For were not the Kings and Priests of Judah both types of Christ Jesus Now if he will more argue from the one than from the other let him shew his grounds from Scripture if he will argue from both as he must of necessity if he do from either then how wil he escape the Episcopall order even the Papall power of Rome it self which they raise up to the foundation of the Aaronical Priesthood But it may be R. H. is not throughly convinced of the truth and extent of the typicality of that estate nor the spirituality of the present Gospell state as the antitype of that Let him therefore a little consider first the Land is called holy Zach. 2.12 The glory of all Lands Ezek. 20.6 Emmanuels Land Esay 8.8 the typicall rest Deut. 12.9 10. Which when men beleeve they are said to enter into not that naturall Canaan but the spirituall rest Heb. 4.3 For we which have beleeved enter into rest c Besides Jerusalem when the Jewish state stood was the chiefest place of Gods worship unto which all men of that Nation were bound to resort three times a yeare according to the Law Exod. 34 23 24. Thrice in the yeare shall all your men children appeare before the Lord. So Psal 122. But now every where and in every Nation men may worship God if they worship him in Spirit and truth John 4.20 21 23. The houre commeth when ye shall neither in this Mountaine nor in Jerusalem worship the Father But the houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and truth Acts 10 35. In every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Secondly The people were separated from other people to God Levit. 20.26 I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that you should be mine But where hath God in the Gospell separated any whole Nation or Kingdome as a peculiar people but rather chuseth out to himselfe a people by the voyce of the Gospel not of all Nations but out of all Nations and tongues Rev. 5.9 Thou hast redeemed us by thy bloud out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation And is it not plaine that the spirituall Israel holy Nation and peculiar people as Peter calls them 1 Pet. 2.9 ●re the true Antitype of that Thirdly The Priesthood was typicall as may be seene at large Heb. 7 8 9 Chapters what was signified by it and how and in whom fulfilled Lastly To go no further though much more might be said the Kingdome of Judah was typicall to Christ according to that Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet till Shilo come So Hos 3 5. Afterward the children of Israel shall returne and seeke the Lord their God and David their King and shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter daies Ezek. 37.22 24 25 And I will make them one Nation and one King shall be King to them all ver 24. And David my servant shall be their King Amos 9.11 In that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is falne So Esay 9.6
11 12 13. They could swallow down impositions from men Gal. 6.12 which the true Servants of Christ could not do and this was because they desired to make a faire shew in the flesh and to avoid persecution as in the place before quoted appeares the true servants of Christ were accused of Heresie Acts 24 14. yea accounted Sectaries and seditious Acts 24.5 and under that notion of Sectaries they were every where spoken against Acts 28.22 and were accused of and charged with many things which could not be proved against them Acts 24.23 This I say that even as then so now is it the portion of Gods people But one thing I note in particular which is his calumniating the maintainers of free-Grace as if they were the Abetters of carnall liberty Truly I canot see how any that understand the Doctrine of Gods Free Grace aright can make such conclusions except Legalists or carnall Christians my reason is because the truest and most active principle of all holinesse in conversation is the right knowledge and experience of Gods Free-Grace and Love the which knowledge is no acquired thing as he conceives but is the free gift of God Ephes 1.17 18. and Luke 1.77 saving knowledge is there said to spring from the remission of sins and so it followes that saving knowledge is no more acquirable then Salvation it selfe or remission of sins And where as he complaines of thorny objections that indangers the pricking of their fingers I answer him as Jesus Christ did Saul afterwards called Paul It is hard for thee to kicke against the prickes Acts 9 5. so it is hard indeed to resist the Spirit of God whose comming is said to be in brightnesse and clearnesse of the Truth to destroy all Antichristian Tenents though they were esteemed never so Orthodoxe before 2 Thes 2.8 The Lord guide both him and me to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and there to rest and not as it is in any man or men whatsoever even as Saint Paul counsels Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ Ephes 5.1 A Briefe Amswer to R. H. his Book called The TRUE GUIDE FIrst he stiles his Booke the True Guide A speech very Emphaticall and seemes to me a Title too high for any sinfull Creature either to assume to himselfe or affixe to his writings for never did any one of the Apostles assume it but it was given only to Jesus Christ and to the Spirit of Truth First to Jesus Christ Revel 1.5 The faithfull witnesse And take notice of the word The three times in that verse Also it is given to the Spirit expresly Joh. 16.13 when he The Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all Truth John Baptist indeed was A burning and a shining light Joh. 5.35 but Jesus Christ was the true light Ioh. 1.9 and The way The truth and The life Ioh. 14.6 But if his Spirit had been infallible and he had titled his Book A True Guide in stead of The True Guide then might his Title have proved Orthodoxe I hope he will suffer his Epistlers termes which now must remaine Hererodoxe and must of necessity be degraded Further he saith the weakest Christ an may be able to discerne the true way of the Spirit of God c. By way of the Spirit I suppose R. H. chiefly intends the outward way of it and that especially in the publike Ministery as may appeare in his third distinction Pag. 1. and his so oft mentioning of it almost in every Page to the end of the Booke at least it is the chiefe thing in difference betwixt us and whereupon I shall chiefly insist Truly it is strange to me that R. H. his Guide should habilitate the weakest Christian to discerne the true way of the Spirit of God about the publike Ministry for that he chiefly drives at whereas the strongest Christians indued with far greater light about this point in controversie then ever yet R. H. saw are at a stand about it witnesse the strong Controversie yet on foot about that point of Ministery and Church-Government even amongst them of clearest light Which Controversie was not in the Primitive times after the giving of the Holy Ghost Acts 2. For during the continuance of those necessary members of the Church of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 the Apostolical Office Gifts which were infallible there was no place left for any difference among the Churches in that point it being a part of the truth of the Gospell revealed for if it were not so then by as good reason they might question the certainty of the whole Gospell as that part of it Witnesse likewise the flow comming in of the Synods Answer to the Parliaments Quaeries It followes from all false and erronious wayes Certainly R. H. must needs be indued with the gift of discerning of Spirits at least a gift not given to all in the Primitive Churches 1 Cor. 12.10 To another the working of miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of Spirits c. I wonder that we in this Towne living so neare him have reaped no better fruits of it having divers times both by word and writing desired conference with him in a loving way and could not obtaine it but were put off with this excuse he had a paine in his head by reason of which his memory was weake Truly had not his love to us been weaker then that he made shew of and seemed earnestly oft times to desire he would have dealt with us as brethren and not have given us the first fruits of it in a scandalous and lying Pamphlet published to the world but would either by word or writing first have taken counsell of the Word and Spirit in Matth. 18.15 If thy brother trespasse against thee go tell him his fault betwixt him and thee alone c. which all Christians that understand that place both in Old and New England confesse to be a rule observable not only betwixt particular Brethren but by Analogie betweene Churches themselves in case of difference But he leaves not only that way but also the more excellent way of Love as the Apostle cals it 1 Cor. 12.31 But covet earnestly the best gifts and yet show I vnto you a more excellent way compared with 1 Cor. 14.1 follow after charity which way of love is not only to be sought before but is indeed more excellent then all Ordinances and likewise the Prophets and Apostles examples who never published to the world the grievances or imperfections of the people of God 2 Sam. 1.20 Tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askelon c Mica 1.10 Declare it not at Gath c. Yet the Apostles in divers of their Epistles had to do with false Apostles and with scandalous and false Brethren But he knowing no world no Gath nor Askelon now in being takes this unbrotherly course to render us that differ in judgement from him as odious to the world as
place to his purpose save only in the generall to discover seducers from a True Guide but rather a false Christian from a true one and also is meant properly of a persecuting biting devouring Spirit Gal. 5.15 But if ye bite and devoure one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another Or in plaine tearmes a Legalist from a Spirituall man ver 18. but if ye are led by the Spirit ye are not under the Law a loving peaceable man from a van-glourious envious man ver 22.26 But had he been as well versed in the Scripture as in his old notes Saint John would have sufficiently furnished him with particulars for that purpose but that he thought it would make against him 1 John 4.2 3 4 5 6. Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every Spirit that confesseth not that Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world and so ver 5. They are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them we are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error but it may be he hath not heard that place so expounded and had he tooke notice also of Esay 57.19 I create the fuit of the lips c. he should have there read of a fruit of the lips as well as of the fruits of conversation else where which sense John proceeds in to discover seducers in the place before quoted But R. H. not being acquainted with it thought a generall discovery might passe but he finds in Scripture that Seducers come in Sheeps cloathing they seem to be holy in their conversation therefore the fruit of the lips seeme to be the most proper distinguishing character to know them by for neither he nor I can tell when we see things done agreeable to the Word that it is a fruit of the Spirit for all that we can see is but a Morall thing therefore Paul when he speakes of the fruits of the flesh saith they are manifest Gal. 5.19 but he doth not say the fruits of the Spirit are manifest verse 22. for they are not so easily known to us only the judgement of charity which is so much wanting in him towards us should be in us all towards them whose actions are according to the Word In Page 4. in his foure last lines in applying his Answer to a generall Question there propounded he mentions Christs Answer to the Disciples about their commanding fire to come down from Heaven c. Christ doth indeed as he saith reject their answer and good reason for it though it was not as he saith altogether contrary to the Word written for they had Elias for their example to justifie their demand 2 King 1.10 and so they had some Scripture to ground their demand upon but the Disciples being yet somewhat like R. H. of a Legall Spirit thinking the old Legall administration should continue and it may be stood somewhat prejudiced to the New-light like him But Jesus Christ whose will was to have the glorious Gospell and new Covenant go forth with new even Gospell administrations like it selfe forbad them their demand with utter dislike of it although it will not satisfie many mens spirits to this day and told them that the Son of man cause not to destroy but to save mens lives It followes Page 5. Therefore saith he if any shall perswade you to separate from the people of God or Ordinances c. Marke how he still goes on in begging of questions if he had proved who were the people of God and which were the Ordinances of God then we should have been better able to justifie a separation from him as he from Rome or to have renounced such separation if unlawfull yet let him know there is a lawfull separation as well as unlawfull as may appeare Acts 19.9 When divers were hardened and beleeved not but spake evill of that way before the multitude he departed from them and separated the Disciples so 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and be ye separate c. Else why doth he refuse to worship God as the Papists do but because of their corrupt Doctrine and humane inventions It followes Likewise if any shall perswade you from the publike Ministry and from the Sacrament Marke still how he beggs questions but let him be plaine what Ministry and Sacraments he meanes and prove them to be Gods and done in Gods way and he shall receive an answer for from such as are Gods and administred in Gods way we say the same as he doth Againe he mentions praying and giving of thanks I am perswaded there no true Christian so Atheisticall but doth as faithfully and constantly acknowledge in these duties as R.H. Next followes his question Page 5. May I be led with every one that brings Scripture His answer is No for none are readier to bring Scripture then seducers true which may be the cause that R. H. brings Scriptures so oft and gives the true sense so seldome Next followes his notes or difference first those that are deceivers saith he will practice many things that they have no rule in Scripture for I answer it is very true and this we can make appeare to R. H. that he himselfe doth so for what warrant out of Scripture hath he for a Church of Christ made up of all the world as if a worldly Sanctuary were still Gods Ordinance as if a typicall State were stil in being what Scripture hath he for a worldly worship and worldly Ministery for such as the Church is such is the Ministery and worship of it 1 John 4.5 They are of the world therefore speake they of the world and the world heareth them Such practices deny Christ to be come in the flesh 1 John 4.3 for he would have all that are borne into the world Sons of God whether they be new borne or no whereas the Apostle saith plainly not by our naturall birth but by our new birth we become the Sons of God Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the Sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus But marke his first proofe for his instance is 1 King 13. where the young Prophet following the advice of the old Prophet contrary to the command of God was slaine I suppose he here discovers notable ignorance for the Prophet there doth not go on his message by a Word ordinary and written but by an immediate Word from God and should have been taken off not by a mediate word and pretended as was that of the old Prophet nor by Scripture but by the same immediate Word that set him on worke Even as Abraham had the same immediate Word to stay his hand from killing Isaac that commanded him to
do it Now the Word written rather warranted the Prophet to eate for his health and forbad Abraham to kill but they had a word immediately from the same fountaine from whence the Word written first came which being written is a record and rule to all the Saints but it seemes R. H. would not have God himselfe nor the Prophets and Apostles in no case to goe a jot higher then the Word written In Page 6. He mentions three or foure things negatively the first is about Childrens Baptisme and some other things questioning what we have against them and because he thinkes nothing can be said against that point concerning the Baptisme of water let him take these few things into consideration First how he can warrant the baptizing of any with water by vertue of that commission Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost because the Apostles themselves that baptized with water before that commission was giuen could not baptize with this Baptisme till they were indued with power from one high Luke 24.49 Tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem till you be indued with power from on high Acts 1.4 And being assembled together with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but waite for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Secondly The baptisme of water was ever both before and after the giving of the Holy Ghost called Iohns Baptisme Act. 1.22 Beginning from the baptisme of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us Acts 18.25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in the Spirit he taught diligently the things of the Lord knowing only the baptisme of Iohn And Acts 19.3 4 He said unto them unto what were ye then baptized they said unto Iohns Baptisme then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptisme of repentance c. Thirdly And no other forme of words were used in that Baptisme but in the name of the Lord Jesus only Acts 8.16 For as yee the Holy Ghost was falne upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus Acts 19 5. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus For the baptisme of the Spirit was by laying one of the Apostles hands Acts. 8. ●● Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Fourthly The baptisme of the Spirit was not so much as signified by the baptisme with water as may appeare Acts 19.2 And he said unto them have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye beleeved and they said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost But if the Baptisme of the spirit had been the thing signified by the baptism with water the Baptizers would no doubt have so instructed the parties baptized or else they must be concluded to be either negligent or ignorant of their office But Paul did not so much as reprove those Baptizers for any such neglect but by laying on of Pauls hands they received the Holy Ghost Nay further This Baptisme of the Holy Ghost was a distinct gift of the Spirit from that which the Apostles and all other Beleevers receive by their union with Christ for the Apostles had those gifts and graces which were and still are common to other Beleevers by vertue of their union before this was given but this which is the promise of the Father they had not till Christ was ascended Iohn 7.39 This he spake of the Spirit which they that beleeve on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Iesus was not yet glorified Acts 1.5 Ye shall be baptied with the Holy Ghost not many daies hence Lastly S. Paul saith expresly it was no part of his commission 1 Cor. 1.15 17. but the Baptisme of the Spirit by laying on of hands was part of the Apostles commission Mat. 28.19 compared with Acts 8.18 Mark 16.15 16 17. If any object and say what doth the Baptisme with water signifie then I answer it signifies our remission of sins by the death of Christ Acts 2.38 Then said Peter repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins c. Rom. 6.4 And as for the subjects of this Baptisme of water I commend to R.H. his consideration Mr. Tombes his Book who is a Presbyterian as they are called and hath written largely upon that point whose Book yet remaines unanswered for any thing I understand to the contrary when R.H. hath answered him rightly he will satisfie many Christians who are at a stand and very much troubled about that point and when he hath positively proved his other things he speakes of and turned his interrogations into positive conclusions fully proved we shall then more particularly know what to answer to them In the meane time we will suffer him to make Quaerees and because he loves quaerees let him take this one not what he hath against but what he hath for any of his way to desire of the Parliament that which is inconsistent to the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome did ever any of those whom he calls perverse and obstinate people desire such a thing Let him also know that untill he hath positively proved his own practice he must be suspected for a seducer according to his own first rule And marke further how he swerves from his owne first rule for whereas he titles those deceivers that will practice that they have no rule from Scripture for he finding himselfe destitute of Scripture runs to the old Popish shift and makes Quaeries and saith what have you against such and such things but let him know that God hath Interrogations to set against his Interrogations which will overthrow them Esay 1.12 saying Who hath required this at your hands So that we have enough against a thing when we have nothing for it for positive positions and practices must have positive proofes for negative positions negative proofes suffice I do not a thing because I find it not written sufficeth Therefore the Jewes circumcised Males because there was expresse command for it and not Females because they found it not written and yet they had no expresse command against it So in the Law we read that the Priests were to beare the Arke on their shoulders Num. 4.15 1 Chron. 15.2 as was there expresly commanded but there was no expresse command against carrying it on a Cart only they had learned that of the Philistims 1 Sam. 6. but God made a breach upon them for it 2 Sam. 6.8 9. 1 Chron. 15.13 And so they learned to do it afterwards according to the Law of God 1 Chron. 15.14 15. And the children of the Levites bare the Arke of God upon their shoulders as Moses commanded according to the Word of the Lord. He interrogates yet