Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	keep_v	peace_n	unity_n	7,015	5	8.9407	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32894	Christian unity exhorted to being a few words in tender love to all professing of Christianity in old England, the land of my nativity : wherein the difference between profession and possession of that which is really the substance of true religion, is clearly manifested : also, the great breach of Christian charity, caused by their furious contentions about formality : with a few words to the poor in spirit, concerning my opinion of a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus / by one who dearly loves all those whose conversation becomes Christ's Gospel.	One who dearly loves all those whose conversation becomes Christ's Gospel.	1678 (1678)	Wing C3950; ESTC R270	11,173	17

Christian Unity EXHORTED TO BEING A few Words in tender love to all Professing of Christianity in Old England the Land of my Nativity WHEREIN The difference between Profession and Possession of that which is really the substance of True Religion is clearly manifested ALSO The great Breach of Christian Charity caused by their furious Contentions about Formality With a few words to the Poor in Spirit concerning my Opinion of a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus By one who dearly loves all those whose Conversation becomes Christ's Gospel Ephes 4. Ver. 1.2 3. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Printed in the Year 1678. Moderate Reader 'T IS my hearts desire that all might come to know the difference between the Form and the Power of Godliness which is the only Foundation of true Religion not that I do in the least imagine that all are in ignorance but because I have observed that the generality of Christians are chiefly contending about the form and the greatest animosity that I ever heard or read of have been caused by their different Opinions in that matter Therefore according to the knowledge the Lord hath been pleased to bestow upon me 't is my Judgment that if the Power of Godliness were more exalted and the Form less regarded our love towards God and our Neighbor would be more augmented Reader I doubt not but some have written largely on the same subject however new fashions and new Books are most pleasing to the curious pallates of these times but I have found more of Controversie than true Piety in many of them for 't is most certain that Logick translated into Divinity hath set all Christendom on fire And he that can frame Syllogisms in the vindication of his Opinion is reputed the best Christian although he be but a cold well disciplin'd Thus hath true Religion imongst Christians so called been almost if not altogether eztinguished Christian fellowship confounded and Charity which no true Christian can want buried in oblivion Thus have they by their implacable contests about the Form disputed themselves out of the true knowledge of the Power of Godliness witness the sensuality earthly mindedness and lukewarmness that most Professors are possessed with Friendly Reader 't is not my desire to exasperate the minds of any for moderation is that which I chiefly aim at therefore I pray be impartial in judging what thou readest and when thy mind is retired thou wilt find a living sense in thy self of the truth of what is written then may we praise and magnifie the name of our God to whom Glory Honour Praise and Obedience is due now and for ever July 13th 1678. Christian Vnity c. WHen I consider'd the diversity of opinions amongst nominal Christians I could not but consult the cause which being found the effect was not strange for the Devil hath been that Jesuit which hath sown the feed of Division amongst men in former and latter Ages and where the Notion of a Diety is not totally extinguished the Creature is a framing to it self something that may have the form of Divine worship wherein perhaps may be perceived some seeming satisfaction which Induceth many to make a large profession of it but the Soul not being satisfied with shadows puts them on seeking something else that may be more fatisfactory so after many years Travel in the wilderness they return empty lamenting their lost time spent in that which profiteth not the sence of which causeth them to enter into a serious contemplation at which time the still voice of the spiritual Shepherd Jesus Christ whispers to the Soul if thou art thirsty I will give thee of the water of life freely after which thou shalt never thirst for it shall be in thee a Well of water springing up to everlasting life so all the faculties of the Soul shall be refreshed with Heavenly food for he is the Heavenly bread which alone can satisfie the hungry Soul he is the true living substance most to be desired all outward elementary substances can but gratifie the sensual part of man but such hath been the deplorable state of many Nations since the great Apostacy from that pure Spiritual worship so much exhorted to by Christ and his Disciples that the Lord hath suffered a Cloud of darkness to over-spread the understandings of the children of men so that they have been a long time groveling in the dark among the earthly Elements pleasing themselves with the Pictures of Divine worship making such great professions of the form they deny the power of Godliness and have destroyed thousands of each other because their Emblems of Divine worship did not agree in likeness how contradictory this is to a serious humble self-denying meek Spirit let the sober Reader judge Oh therefore 't is the desire of my Soul that every one that professeth the name of Christ should walk worthy of him Eph. 2.3 endeavouring with all lowliness meekness long suffering and forbearing one another in love to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace therefore way a with all striving and contending about matters that are only circumstantiall forbear imposing that on each other which cannot freely be received by either exclaim not against each other because your Opinions do not agree in all particulars but labour more and more after Unity rather then Uniformity let all Controversie be ended since it lies not in your power to bring each others mind into one mould desire earnestly of the Lord to mould them into one Ah dear Friends how helpful would you then be to each other in exalting the glory of God and ready would the Lord of life be to water you with his blessings that you may encrease more and more with love to each other and this certainly will destroy the design of the great Enemy of our Souls Salvation whose design hath been chiefly to cause Dissentions amongst us Oh that our moderation might be known to all men that Christian Fellowship may be renewed and our conference with one another more Heavenly that vain Disputations may be prevented Oh let us rather declare to each other what the Lord hath done for our Souls how he hath filled us with spiritual joyes How sweet are the streams of Divine love How exceedingly pleasant is the Sun-shine of his countenance how are all the faculties of our Souls ravished with his Beauty Oh then may not we declare these things to worldly men that their affections may be more Heaven-ward Dear Friends these are not hearsays cull'd out of Books of mens inventions but they are the precious fruits of Gods holy Spirit or as Paul said the tasting of the Heavenly Gift which is a living power from whence all our Spiritual comforts arise the

are made sensible of some gross evil which they have acted immediately they endeavour to stop the mouth of conscience either by hearkning to the Devils Lullabies viz. Libidian Songs or playing with his Rattles otherwise ride abroad in his Chariots of sensual pleasures in which they are frequently carried to the Gates of death so the destruction of body and soul is the sad consequence which certainly attends those who are as it were swallowed up of worldly pleasures But oh man who ever thou art that hast been hitherto led away by the Enemy of thy immortal soul who would willingly make thee his associate in eternal misery be perswaded and intreated to take especial notice of these following words first let not the Devil tempt thee to imagine that 't is too late to turn from the evil of thy ways because perhaps thou hast been an old sinner Secondly let not the propensity of thy corrupt will and affections to folly and vanity induce thee to think the time too soon Thirdly let not the multiplicity of thy sins which thou hast not in times past repented of affright thee for be assured at whatsoever time thou hearken'st to the still voice of Christs spirit in thy conscience which secretly rebukes thee and tells thee all things that ever thou didst thou shalt find thy heart sorrowful for sin and as thou keepest on thy watch thou shalt be brought more and more into a tender frame of spirit and thou shalt be enabled to turn from thy sin perfectly abhorring those things which formerly thou didst so much delight in and thou shalt assuredly receive pardon for all thy sins past be they never so many and great according to the words of Christ Jesus John 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you He that heareth my word and believeth in him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation for those sins which Christ pardons in this life shall never be charged to thy account any more Ezekiel 18.21 according to the words the Lord spoke to the Prophe● Ezekiell But if the wicked will turn from all the sins he hath committed and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye All his transgressions which he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him Now therefore thou mayst see what great encouragemet all persons have to turn from their sins Oh that these things were more seriously consider'd by all that profess Christianity they would certainly be more diligent in improving those golden opportunities which the Lord through his infinite love and mercy hath allowed them Friendly Reader for thy farther encouragement if thou wilt but take a walk with me in the withdrawing Room of holy Meditation thou shalt have a Soul-ravishing prospect into the Garden of Heavenly joy where thou shalt behold the streames of Grace flowing from the fountain of Divine love and thou shalt drink freely out of the springs of life which alone can satisfie the appetite of a thirsty Soul therefore be entreated and perswaded no longer to continue pleasing thy self in the dead Pictures of Religion which hath made thee ignorant of those spiritual enjoyments which alone belongs to the life and power of Christianity and for which reason many may be ignorant of what I now write therefore those that would be of the true Religion must stand no longer on the barren Mountains of profession but rather hearken to the voice of the spiritual Shepherd who will certainly lead them into the pleasant fields amongst the green Pastures wherein grows the flowers of Heavenly joy and through which runs the pleasant Rivers of consolation so that thou mayst with joy draw water out of the well of Salvation whereby thy soul shall be compleatly refreshed then shall all her faculties which have long languished for want of true substance be revived then shall she be fully sensible of the difference between her true teacher and leader and the false guides who had carryed her into the wilderness where she had been a long time afflicted with trouble and sorrow then will her bowels be filled with pity and compassion on all those who did formerly accompany her in her distressed condition and will be grieved that any should be so deceived as not to be perswaded to hearken to the same spiritual voice whereby they may partake of the same substantial food but rather choose to feed on the husk of Religion then to partake with her of those glorious refreshments which causeth her to be always praising and magnifying the name of the Eternal God at whose right hand are pleasure for ever more A few words to those who are totally ignorant of spiritual things That there are many in the Land of my Nativity who are totally ignorant of spiritual things I may boldly affirm but that 't is in the power of any mortal man to give them a spiritual discerning I utterly deny Notwithstanding it seems to me very expedient to remove all obstacles out of the way of the ignorant least their mis-apprehension of words cause a dis-satisfaction to the matter which otherwise being accompained with a Divine power might prove beneficial to them therefore according as the Lord enables me I shall endeavour to answer with all plainness those objections which are of most weight Obj. 1st First therefore it may be required how I understand Christ to be in all men Sol. I answer that according to the common acknowledgement of all Christians as he is God his Spirit is Omnipresent for the Heavens and Earth cannot contain him and if his ubiquity fills the Heavens and all Created beings then man being a Creature must in some measure receive of his fulness but more particularly as he is the Son of God the only Saviour of the World he is in all men though at the same time the fulness of the Godhead is in the Heaven of Heavens at the right hand of his Father for he doth communicate a measure of his spirit unto all every individual person in order to their instruction or reproof Joh. 16.7 8. Nevertheless I tell you it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not com ebut if I depart I will send him unto you and when he is come he will remove the World of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 14.15 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my nam● he shall teach all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said therefore 't is evident that Christ is by his Spirit in every man reproving and instructing them and bringing all things that he hath formerly said to their and our remembrance But for a farther demonstration I shall use this one comparison As the natural Son in in the firmament doth communicate its light to several parts of the world at one and the same time though