Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	law_n	life_n	sin_n	22,698	5	5.7840	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44026	Innocency, though under a cloud, cleared By P.H. a poor prisoner, when almost sunk under pretended friends censures in the day of his sufferings. And also, a discovery of the comforts that attends innocency in a prison. As also, twenty four usefull particulars left by him for his children and friends, and being left in a friends hand for his relations, I could not but make them publick; judging it will be no loss to the author, and great gain to the reader, and justly give offence to none.	Hobson, Paul.	1664 (1664)	Wing H2274A; ESTC R222586	80,187	179

heart toward the High-way even the Way which thou wentest turn again O Virgin of Israel turn again to these thy Cities What! is there none for me None of this is mentioned but all laid aside to accomplish this rich admirable and unexpressible Love so it was done self-denyingly The fourth thing is For whom he gave him 1. He gave him for Sinners Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us And in 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am the chief 2. Ungodly Rom. 4.5 But to him that worketh not but beleiveth on him that justifieth the Ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness 3. For Enemies Rom. 5.10 For if while we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 4. The worst of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief 5. It was for the Rebellious and Blasphemers and such as caused others to blaspheme Psal 68.18 Acts 26.1 8.1 Tim. 1.13 O this heightens God's Love O rich Love God loves them that hate him The fifth thing is God's End in giving his Son 1. It was to reconcile poor lost Sinners to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 20. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Verse 20. Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And in Col. 1.20 And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Surely God doth highly prize this that he doth purchase it at so high a rate O see see poor Sinner it was not only to accomplish Reconciliation with him but us to him it was not his gain but our gain and his loss O what rich Love is here God seeks a way for us and then seeks to us 2. His End was to overcome and conquer that or them that would have destroyed us As first Sin Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death and in verse 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Secondly The Law Gal. 2.19 For through the Law I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Thirdly Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law Fourthly The World John 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace in the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World Fifthly The Devil In 1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil O what an End is that O reckon every End and they all end in one End for us poor Sinners 3. His End was To bring up poor Souls as into Union so into Communion with himself and Son in all their Light Life Love and Glory John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in Me and I in Thee that they also may be one in us that the World may believe that thou hast sent Me ver 22. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as We are one verse 23. I in Them and Thou in Me that They may be made perfect in One and that the World may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved Them as thou hast loved Me. Apply 1 John 1.3 and 1 Pet. 1.3 4 c. 4. His End was That we might have nothing to hinder our Faith and Confidence in Him in our appeals and approaches to him Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need And in Ephes 3.12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him O mind these Scriptures poor Soul if thou wantest Faith go O go in the Faith of Jesus It is and was God's great care that poor souls though never so poor might come to him with boldness without fear If any should demand the Reasons why God takes this way to manifest his rich Love by Answer For these Reasons 1st Reason There was an absolute necessity lay upon it for there was not another way to accomplish Salvation for Sinners and satisfie divine Justice Isa 63.5 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm shall bring Salvation c. And by this Free-Grace is displayed gloriously 2d Reason That it might appear as to be an act of God's Wisdom so singularly an act of Love which other wayes could not have been had not all other things in the world have been lost and overlooked 3d. Reason That all flesh may be silent and brought to lye down and confess it to be a work only of God in that none but God could have done it See Rom. 3. at large and see chapt 4. at large where this rich Work of Love is fully related and debated and this as a Reason asserted Now for the Improvements of this rich Soul-supporting Truth mind in these Uses 1st Use To inform us of the great Wisdom Love and Grace of God to poor Sinners which is so fully made out in this Act of God in giving his Son in this manner O go over all the Particulars and you must say with the Apostle O the heighth and depth of God's Love Ephes 3.18 19. Rom. 11.33 2dly To inform us what poor Man had been had God left him in his lost estate or left him to have found out a way to have saved himself 3dly If this be so as hath been fully proved of this rich admirable and unexpressible Love of God in giving his Son then this may assure us in general That God cannot nor will not withhold any good thing from us but with Christ will give us all things It 's the very use Paul makes of this Truth in Rom. 8.32 where he saith He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things O poor souls consider this and mind it

heat and lifting up must be from presence and yet sometimes this heat joy and liftings up may only arise from the unity of Light and Life for do but mind how Peace doth arise from a bare union of Light and Life if the Li●●● be but one with the Light and doth not cr●●● it that soul must needs have peace thou●● the Light may be but a deceivable Light 〈◊〉 if the Life cross it not Peace is maintained and many times such souls in such condi●●ons do conclude that their joy and peace from Presence Therefore it doth concus to know the Truth or Deceit of such J●●● Peace Confidence and liftings up you 〈◊〉 see the Truth and also the Deceits in what follows As 1. When the increase of Confidence and Comfort doth not crucifie or mortifie sin but leaves the soul or gives the soul as little power against sin as when it first found it unless it be restraint of sin not mortification 2. When the joy and comfort they in joy ●●●y it doth not increase more care in their ●atch but the heart growes higher and loo●er to that work both which you will see by ●●e difference Christ makes between the ●eart the Devil is cast out of and that the ●evil went out of Mat. 12.43 44 45. 3. When their peace and comfort by it ●●n and doth allow of private sins and both ●●●n subsist and stand together and if at any ●●e there be any trouble for such sins a lit●●● sorrow with some performance of duties 〈◊〉 lick it whole will end it without fresh ●●plication of Jesus Christ when as ano●●er heart cannot after so sinning have any ●ace but from a true manifestation of God's ●●ve in him Psal 51.8 9. Job 34.29 4. When the sence of propriety in God ●●kes them high and confident in mercies in ●●es of prosperity but in crosses or time of ●ress their confidence comfort strength ●●es Prov. 24.10 5. When the soul only takes comfort from or rejoyces in that part of Gods Word which speaks out comfort but not in that which crosses corruption and requires duty Now a true Joy Comfort and Confidence arising from a true sence and sight of propriety in God makes the soul to love and delight in each and all God's Words as well one as the other See Psal 119.57 70 72 77 97. Apply 114. with 127 128 167. 6. If it be true such a soul is made abl● by it to distinguish between the comfort● that flow from Presence and that which flow● from other things though it have an angelical stamp upon it Do but see and apply Exod. 33.23 with 13 14 15. and chap. 34.9 And so David 7. All false Joy and Comfort begins at wrong end as thus all that Joy and Comfort ariseth from sence and 't is sence onl● that gives light But true Joy and Comfor● ariseth from sight and that sight bege●sence So Moses Exod. 33.15 16. So D●vid Psal 116.10 and 43.5 That Chri●● intends John 10.4 5. A stranger they will 〈◊〉 hear 8. False Comforts and Joy will trium● over unseen sufferings but when seen a●● felt it fails and falls But true Joy Co●fort and Confidence from fight of Presenc● is most weighty and serious and chearfu● when suffering for God is seen and felt S●● David and the three Children and Daniel ●nd Paul and those in Acts 5. ult Rom. 5.1 〈◊〉 c. Now because some have with their false ●iftings up great gifts and parts and so not ●o easiely discovered I will add a few more to ●o these 9. Though they may be imployed in hear●ng or declaring such and such Truths yet do not in themselves savour what is said or what they say or declare See John 6.60 10. What ever such have that looks like ●ife yet it lasteth not long but is in a decli●ing posture like Ephraim Hos 7.8 9. and Mat. 13.20 21. 11. It 's more troubled at negatives than ●or want of affirmatives that is to say it 's ●roubled sometimes at things that are contra●y to life but seldom or never troubled for ●he want of life like the Pharises Luke 4. ● 39 40. So much to this particular In the next place I would lay down some ●rue signes or discoveries whether or no we ●ave the true promised Spirit the Scripture ●peaks of and they are as followeth 1. That heart that is truly inriched with ●he Spirit of God is very chearfully carried ●ut to comply and close with God in all its ●●ence and sufferings as Job Job 1.31 ●hap 40.5 43.5 So David 2. That heart by it is made capable to distinguish and know God or Christ's Call from all false calls or discoveries though in a night-season See Cant. 5.3 4. 3. To such a heart Presence is alwayes pretious but most pretious when it gives most power against sin Psal 40.1 2 c. 4. It enjoys nothing in its own account livingly and lovingly but when it enjoys Presence clearly Psal 73.25 26. 5. It fears no dammage nor danger when sin is from it and Presence is with it Psal 23.4 27.1 and 112.7 6. It makes the heart to make sweet applications of God's Love in and from the bitterest lashes and out of darkness applications of Light See Micah 7.8 see David 1 Sam. 30.6 2 Sam. 15.24 25. 7. It 's that which leads the Soul not only to but into the Spirit and Life of all Truth John 16.23 imitating-light life and grace only leads to but not into any truth 8. It never gives the soul a fresh view of Christ but it gives the soul a renewed participation of what is communicable by Christ John 16.13 14. 2 Cor. 3. ult 9. It never brings the soul sensible comforts but it livingly sets the soul at liberty not only to live and to love God but it transforms the heart into the Glory of what it injoys or beholds 2 Cor. 3.17 18. 10. That heart that is truly inriched with it it cannot live without it and if without it it is as a body without a soul and mind this that when that lies hid all comforts on this side God cannot make it live till it returns Job 34.29 There is many more but I do but hint at them and that by which God hath in measure satisfied my sould with If any shall object and say that they have felt these or most of these but they are so often eclipsed that they fear it cannot be right and they are often fearful that they had only a sight and taste of it and that God hath finally forsaken the soul I shall only let you know what hath been a comfort to my soul and is a testimony that it 's only Gods hiding his face and not a final forsaking Mind these things 1. If the soul be finally forsaken that soul is willing to be forsaken and not troubled at it but rather rejoyces in it 2. If finally forsaken there is an evil spirit presently possesses it as in Saul 3.

That heart that 's finally forsaken is not nor cannot be sensible that it is so but the contrary as Psal 13. 77.6 7. 4. They are not tender in point of sin but sin without sence As they in Rom. 2. 5. They do not nor cannot long for the returns of Presence for mind God never leaves a love and longing after Presence in a soul that 's finally forsaken if that be there there is Gods pledge to shew he will return 't is that that keeps possession for God till he comes see Isa 54. at large Jer. 31.18 19 20. There is many more but these also are such by which God hath comforted my soul in a time of dissertion Now there be some general Deceits relating to Conversion and the very body of Religion that I desire to leave to my Children and Friends and those Deceits are as follow 1. Deceit is When souls rest satisfied with something that 's like it and yet at that time and also before never passed under or know what it is to be inriched with the nature of the thing as thus Because Conversion is a change therefore any change because it 's a turning therefore any turning because it 's light therefore any light and because there is life and joy therefore if any it must be that Here was the young man in the Gospel deceived Mat. 19 20. And so the Pharises Luke 18.11 12. And so at the last day Mat. 7.22 2. Deceit is the resting satisfied with some thing that doth and must of necessity accompany the truth of the thing and at that time not see nor know it doth truly arise from the truth in them as the only cause as whether that love that comfort that zeal that sorrow that joy doth arise from the truth in them suitable to John 4.14 Rom. 5.4 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Pet. 1.5 6. 3. Deceit is When the soul doth rest satisfied in a bare saying or sight of the Truth both in nature causes and effects and yet then cannot witness either of them truly in themselves only things to be but not in himself in being like them in Jer. 8. apply 5 7 8 verses and Jer. 23.25 26 27. Rom. 2. 4. Deceit is When souls rest satisfied with their state though without witnessing the Truth truly within yet comparing them with themselves or some others that do more differ from the truth than they suitable to Jehu 2 Kings 10.15 and Luke 18.11 12. 2 Cor. 12. to the 17. 5. Deceit is When souls confidently affirm and are perswaded that they are truly inriched with the Truth and yet at that time they cannot witness those things that are unseparable concomitants of truth As First An universal conformity to Truth as David Psal 119.6 Luke 1.6 Secondly An universal Antipathy to all things contrary to it as in Psal 97.16 Psal 119.104 128.113 Thirdly A living growth in or growing up in the Truth Psal 92.12 Ephes 4.15 1 Pet. 1.22 2 Pet. 3.8 Fourthly A feeding upon it not that there is or will be a perfection in action or else no truth but where Life is in the principle there must be a growth in it and feeding on it these concomitants are or else that soul that lives in sence as it judges of having truth in it is deceived 6. When souls rest satisfied in the increase of some thing that doth accompany the Truth of Grace but see not nor have not an increase in the Power or Principle of Truth only in gifts or profession or outward conformity in their lives without or in language and rest there as if all were right 7. When a soul is brought to a sight of the want of Truth and a sight of the worth of Truth and so cries down the living without it and cries up the riches and glory of it and so rests satisfied in a bare seeing the want and crying up the worth and so contents its self in a bare sight and saying without witnessing that Power Riches and Glory in its own soul These Deceits are some of them that attend souls in relation to Conversion and the work of Grace within But there be some Deceits that attend Men Women in their external Walkings or Worshippings I will only hint a few As 1. When things though false yet in their outward appearance are named as God names such things in Scripture that are his true Appointments and so rest satisfied with the customary titles given to it and never search into the nature or truth of it as Preaching Praying Singing Baptism and breaking Bread c. because it is called so therefore it is so 2. Deceit is When the soul doth enjoy a true appearance or appointment and is taken up there in the bare appearance or appointment yet doth not know the true nature of it in its Life and Power 3. Deceit is When the satisfaction of and love to or delight in the nature of truth is only produced by and measured suitable to the measure of their performance or eloquence in it or the warmth and heat they draw from it and not from the light sence and true enjoyment of Presence But no more at this time Just at this time having a Letter from a Friend I shall leave off what I was going on in and in the next place answer that and therefore I think it necessary to write down the Letter it self and so go on in answering of it Octob. 9th 1663. Dear and pretious Brother YOU whom God hath made instrumental of much good to my soul for which I do bless God and do dayly pray that God would give you suitable upholds to carry you through all your sufferings with such patience as your sufferings call for I must confess in some sence they differ from most for not only I but many were at a stand to hear what Censures were passed upon you by such who appeared eminent for God But since I searched and saw they were false I am ashamed of my readinss to receive them These are to intreat your pains now you are confined to mind your promises in giving me the Heads of what you preached from John 3.16 and that from Phil. 1.23 24. about the Immortality of the Soul and a word or two what that Peace is that is purchased by Christ for Christians and whether a peculiar Grace or State and a word or two of the Difference between the Old and New Covenants In doing of which you will refresh the heart of Your loving Friend in the Lord. Now in answer to this Letter I shall begin with the Heads of what I declared of my apprehensions from John 3. the first part of the 16th verse For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son From the words many rich Truths may be observed but I shall first observe something in general You must mind that these words is a reason of what in the 15th verse is affirmed viz. That whosoever believes shall not perish but have