Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	know_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	191	3	9.6018	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64860	Christs counsell to poore and naked soules that they might bee well furnished with pure gold, and richly clad with white raiment : delivered in a sermon before the honourable House of Commons at their publique fast, in Margarets church in Westminster, Septemb. 29, 1647 / by Thomas Valentine ...	Valentine, Thomas, 1585 or 6-1665?	1647 (1647)	Wing V25; ESTC R5046	17,438	28

Sardis and Philadelphia set out the Churches that did not rest in some beginnings of Reformation but made better progresse Laodicea is the last and typifies a Church which having escaped Babell did rest in their Gifts Calling and Profession and did judge themselves rich whereas she was poore blind and miserable and this Church was in a middle way partly Romish and partly Reformed not very good nor extremely bad she did adhere and cleave too much to Rome and did please her selfe in her Pompe therefore she is taxed and secretly threatned to be spued out The Epistle to this Church begins vers 14. wherein is the preface or inscription containing the Person writing Amen the faithfull Witnesse the beginning of the Creation of God to the Angell of Laodicea The matter of the Epistle is First A discovery of the Sin vers 15.17 Thou art neither cold nor hot but luke-warme And thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and hast need of nothing Secondly The reproofe and threatning vers 16. Because thou sayest so and art luke-warme therefore I will spue thee out of my mouth Thirdly The counsell given and that is the Text which I have read Fourthly There is a gracious promise made to this Church vers 20 21. If any man heare my voice and open the doore I will come in to him and will suppe with him and he with me The forme of my Text is a Counsell The Matter is a Dutie which this Church is counselled unto First The Dutie is to buy Secondly The object of it or what we are to buy And that is set out three wayes First What it is And it is a three-fold Commodity 1. Gold 2. Raiment 3. Eye-salve Secondly What kind And they are excellent as appeares by the qualities of them 1. Tried Gold 2. White Raiment 3. Good Eye-salve This last is implyed Thirdly What use And that likewise is three-fold 1. To inrich us 2. To cloth us 3. To make us see The Sense of the Text. I counsell thee c. This manner of speech is not so frequent for God doth ordinarily command or reprove or instruct or threaten or promise and most things in Scripture may be referred to those heads But this Text hath another face and comes in another forme It is a counsell or wholesome advice to this Church which in the precedent verses is instructed reproved and threatned and here counsell is added to the former and in it you may discerne much Love and Wisedome Love desiring her good and advising her to a way that might prevent her Ruine Wisedome likewise appeares in that the Lord Jesus Christ offering to sell these Commodities doth not command us to buy them nor force us to have them but doth as men that bring their Commodities to the Market shew them and set them forth commend them but leave it to their owne choice to buy what they please yet if a friend come they will advise him to buy and give their word and pawne their credit for the goodnesse of the Commoditie So the Lord Christ would have you take his word for these Wares and to goe through with the bargaine and not want them any longer And that we may see reason to buy them consider what they are Gold Raiment and Eye-salve We are by nature poore here is gold to inrich us and we are naked here is raiment to clothe and cover us we are born blind and here is eye-salve to cure us gold for our estates raiment for our bodies eye-salve for the chiefe of our senses What pincheth more then Povertie What shames us more then Nakednesse What grieves us more then Blindnesse Here is a remedy for every of these Maladies here is a plaister for every wound and by the epithites given you may perceive that here are no drugs no counterfeit wares but all of the best the very best that Heaven can afford tryed gold pure raiment excellent eye-salve What more precious then tryed gold What more glorious then white raiment What better for a blind man then good eye-salve But I need not set forth the goodnesse of these Wares they will commend themselves Yet a word to tell you what they are if I can but there is some difficultie in that Laodicea was a true Church for it was planted in the Apostles times and Paul gave charge that his Epistle to the Colossians should be read in the Church of the Laodiceans and that they should reade the Epistle from Laodicea Col. 4.16 Therefore they had ordinances and we cannot conceive but that they were pure for those times did not admit of impuritie in the Ordinances of Christ We cannot thinke they wanted Officers for the Apostles would looke to that in all the Churches nor can we imagine they wanted Discipline and Government a Church Constituted so early in the first day of the Gospell could not but be well erected And in the reproofe of this Church they are not taxed for want of these or any of them nay they write to Paul as Calvin thinks and if there had beene such a defect in their Church the Epistle to the Colossians would not have supplyed that want for it speakes nothing of Government and he gives order it should be communicated to them Therefore according to the tenor and scope of the charge brought against this Church we may safely say that their graces and gifts were not so good so rich so right as should have beene for their works are challenged vers 15. I know thy workes and their zeale was not good it was not hot enough Therefore I thinke the constitution of the members of their Church was not good ●hey were not zealous not fervent in spirit and if that be a heat arising from many graces or if but one yet a defect therein proves a want and decay in others so that their graces were not golden but rather copper and Laodicea being a rich Citie and dealing in Merchandize they might rather looke after the materiall gold and after pure raiment for the body then these golden and silver graces The Chuch in the Constitution of it might be good yet the members resting in their Church-priviledges and in the abundance of outward things might be wanting in their graces the doctrine of faith might be pure and sound and yet the grace of faith might not be good and saving in them their worship might be pure and yet they not zealous for that God they worshipped In this great house of the Church of Laodicea the members many of them were not vessells of gold and silver but of wood and earth 2 Tim. 2.20 therefore they are justly reproved Other things might be faultie in this Church but I name this as being cleare and it will make way for our better instruction Let us begin with some Observations and first you may see plainly in your view from the beginning of the Text this to be offered 1. Observ That the Lord Jesus Christ doth not alwaies

command like a King but sometimes counsells like a Friend We read in Ephesi 3.10 of the manifold wisedome of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multiformis sapientia a wisedome that hath many faces and lookes variously sometimes God speakes like a King and sometimes like a Judge and sometimes like a Friend In precepts Authoritie in reproofes Anger in threatnings Severitie in counsells Love and care of our good most appeares To counsell one it is to propound something to his consideration that is fit for him to thinke of and usefull for him to doe and it supposeth some principles in a man whereby he is counselable and there is nothing to which we are counselled but the same things are also commanded onely the manner is more taking and the matter must be of importance else we take it not into consideration Prov. 22.20 Have I not written unto thee excellent things in counsells and knowledge To counsell us First It is a rationall way and fit to worke upon a man and God that tryes alwaies to doe us good takes this course to counsell us Hos 11.4 I have drawn thee with cords of a man and bands of love I have dealt with thee more humane for man is counselable but so is not a beast coge pecus you force a beast but man is to be perswaded speake reason and expresse love and you cannot be despised or sleighted reason cannot be gain-sayed though the man will not confesse he is conquered by your argument yet the understanding secretly must assent and love cannot be contemned the partie may but love cannot but when the Wise God shall speake reason and manifest his love we should not despise his counsell Nay many joyne together in this coonsell so the word imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to counsell with others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consilium quod aliqui simul ineunt God counsells you his Spirit counsells you his Messengers counsell you and your owne Consciences counsell you For as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a knowing together so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is conselling together divers sit in counsell together about the good of man and hereby it appeares how we should esteeme of the kindnesse of God the word is Mat. 12.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they held a counsell that was against Christ but the blessed Trinitie hold a counsell for the good of man Let us make man let us redeeme man and advise him for his good Secondly It is very fit and proper for the action of buying you shall not be compelled to buy the Commodities here offered but you shall use your reason whether a poore man should not doe all he can to get good gold and a naked man clothing But here I must needs explain this point lest we should thinke that a man were left to his owne liberty in the point of his conversion and this simile of counselling to buy must not be extended beyond the scope and we say That the will of man is over-ruled and over-powred by the Spirit of Christ so as it cannot but come in upon the offer of grace and the will is determined to one thing not left to it selfe to take or refuse what is tendered to it and it is no absurditie whatever Arminians thinke to say in the conversion of a sinner there is a violence offered to the corruption of the will and yet the will not wronged a suspending of the libertie of the will and no destroying of it If you consider a man affrighted out of his sinnes in a way of terrour as the Gaoler Act. 16.29 who came trembling you may say he could doe no other Suppose a man pursued by a Beare or any ravenous Beast if he have the use of his leggs and of his reason he cannot but runne away from the danger Hell frights the sinner Conscience flyes in his face and he cannot but come to Christ The propensitie and act of the creature may be suspended and not destroyed the Lyons could not devoure Daniel the fire could not burne the three young men God did suspend the act of those creatures but their natures were not destroyed for their enemies found the Lyons to be fierce and the fire to burne the will of man chooseth to come and cannot doe otherwise for it is moved and guided by a supernaturall power Thirdly God doth counsell us for in all things of any importance we take counsell here is more need and if we follow our owne counsells we perish Prov. 11.14 Where no counsell is the people fall but in the multitude of counsellers there is safetie Prov. 20.18 Every purpose is established by counsell and with good advice make warre If in other things we take advice and not this it shewes we are more carelesse of Heaven then our affaires on earth 1. Use Take counsell of him that is wise and reject it not leane not to your owne wisedome for that will destroy you A man that followes his owne thoughts in matters of Religion is sure to misse his way and lose his hope The counsell of God is good we cannot say so of the wisest man but his counsell is good at all times for he knowes all things and all events which no man doth Prov. 19.20 Heare counsell and receive instruction that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end 2. If we doe not we set up our owne thoughts and wisedome above Gods and we oppose Christs Propheticall and Kingly Offices 3. Grace makes us teachable and men should inquire what they ought to doe Act. 2.37 Men and brethren what shall we doe Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to doe And they obeyed and followed the directions of the Apostles David did blesse God for Abigails counsell 1 Sam. 25.22 32. And if we receive not the counsell of God we shall in the end bewaile our folly and read our misery arising from our own rebellious and desperate denyalls of grace and as the Pharisees received the counsell of God against themselves so doe many in these dayes I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire and while raiment ● Observ It is the wisedome of men to buy grace and the meanes of grace whatever they cost them Qualis emptio absque p●etto Quomodo hoc convenit magnificentiae Dei si emenda est illius gratia parum laudis habet sons cujus aquae venales ha●entur Obj. But how can wee buy What shall wee give to God for these rich Commodities And how can it stand with the bountie of God to sell them to us And how doth it under-value the grace of God when it is offered to sale Solut. For answer to this objection and for opening of the point propounded wee must know That the grace or favour of God cannot be bought at all And wee must distinguish between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the free grace of God his good will and pleasure which is from all eternitie and the

fruits thereof the gifts of the Spirit together with all the meanes by which the Spirit workes in the hearts of Gods Elect These latter are here offered to you to be sold not the former We cannot properly buy so as to give a valuable consideration for these Heavenly Commodities to buy is to give a price to the seller for which he makes over his right to you and puts you in possession of that which was his But properly we cannot buy so as to give a valuable consideration And that because First All things are Gods already unlesse it be your sinnes the Cattell upon a thousand Hills are mine saith God Job 41.11 Whatsoever is under the whole heavens is mine So that you cannot pay God with his owne for if I buy of a man I give him somewhat that is mine and receive of him somewhat that is his Secondly All things that we have are inferiour to grace and the meanes of grace they are but transitory and fading but Heavenly things are lasting and durable and there is no proportion betweene the largest offer of thousands of Rams and ten thousand Rivers of Oile and the least dram of saving-grace and we must not thinke that mony or mony-worth can purchase Heaven or grace nay to take off our thoughts the Lord tells us his mind Isa 55.1 Buy wine and milke without money But what must be done First Buy it with thy prayers and teares and tell the Lord thou hast need of them and cannot live without them Rome teacheth her children to buy grace with the improvement of parts of nature and to buy Heaven with their good workes and tell us of such perfection in some workes that the●e is no sinne in them but when they offer so largely God must trust them for they have no ready money but we teach our Chap-men to turne poore beggers and you may get more by begging at the hands of God then by working and yet we beg a stock of grace that we may goe to worke Secondly Buy it with thy labour and toile travell for it if thou hast it not at home the sonnes of Jacob goe i●to Egypt if there be no Corne in their owne Countrey and what paines men take to get the Commodities of the world they should doe more for Heaven in former times before this Parliament sate there was a great scarcitie the markets did rise there is now more plentie but the evill of the present times is that there is a price in mens hands and they have not hearts Thirdly It may be it will cost thy purse if with the Merchant in the Gospell thou hast found the Pearle buy it though thou sell all Mat. 13.46 and it would further your accounts if your Bills of expence for Building for Purchases for Portions nay for Sports and Recreations which rises to great summes you could bring in somewhat answerable for the Gospell and Religious uses Whatsoever it will cost thee breake not for price buy it at any Rate First It will inrich thee you may buy Land too deare and Gold too deare but grace and the meanes of grace cannot be bought too deare nay the dearer bought the better you will keepe it the better and esteeme it the more The more it costs a Christian to get Christ and obtain assurance of Gods love the better it is Prov. 3.14 The merchandise of wisedome is better then the merchandise of silver and the gaine thereof then fine gold more precious then the rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her Secondly It is of generall use for all persons and at all times when you shall throw away your gold and silver a dram of grace shall be in great esteeme and will comfort your soules Religion is not like a Souldier in time of Peace or a Chimney in Summer but of good necessary use at all times in prosperitie to teach you moderation in adversity to beare up your spirits in life in death it is a Crowne to you Thirdly This Bargaine proves better then was conceived temporall things seeme better then they prove and no man finds that in them which he imagined but spirituall riches afford more to the soule then at first was beleeved here that 's true It is naught it is naught saith the buyer but when he goeth apart he boasteth namely of his great pennyworth Prov. 20.14 Therefore be as the buyer in these particulars First find thy need of these Commodities let thy soule say to God give mee Christ and Faith or else I dye you must not so thinke or speake of any thing else Secondly See the goodnesse of them you cannot know the excellency of them till you be instructed and have experience you cannot see till you have this eye-salve and therefore no wonder if the Lord Christ offer his Commodities and put off but little because men know not the worth of them Thirdly No deceit in this bargaine you shall not be over-reached faire and plaine dealing to them that will buy the truth Rome sells you sophisticated and adulterated Wares and her Tradesmen have darke Shops and falfe Lights and will not have the people to know or be able to judge of these Commodities they must not looke into the Scriptures nor understand the Doctrine of Faith but take all upon their word and beleeve as the Church doth but the Text offers tryed gold And wee must try all things and hold that which is good Mat. 6.20 O●ponit Dominus caelam terrae qu●s●os vel 〈…〉 filios à terrenis ad veram Patriam destinat ubi debeant perpetuò manere Musc Quid minus ratione consentaneum est quam bona sua locare ubi vel sponte pereant vel rapiantur ab hominibus Fourthly Theeves cannot breake through and steale these Commodities As there is a greater excellency so more certaintie in them In all the troubles and persecutions in the world if you keepe your courage and resolutions and would not part with your riches neither Devills nor men can rob you of them you may have the gold and silver in your Chests taken from you by violence and your estates wrung out of your hands but your graces cannot be lost unlesse you consent to lose them and they being of so high a nature and so great worth get them whatever they cost you and keepe them carefully as you doe your gold First The more to perswade you to this consider further of this two-fold Simile of tryed gold and white raiment He that hath gold hath all things vendible he may have House Lands an Office Honour and Preferment and whatever of this nature he can desire for gold will procure it and gold vertually includes all things that are to be sold 1 Cor 3.22 So he that hath Christ and Faith and other graces hath all things Heavenly all are yours none can speake such Language as Beleevers other men may have a great deale Esau may have