Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
B08425
|
Memorials of worthy persons (lights and ornaments of the Church of England.), the fourth decad. / by Cl. Barksdale.; Memorials of worthy persons. Decade 4
|
Barksdale, Clement, 1609-1687.
|
1663
(1663)
|
Wing B802; ESTC R9168
|
59,853
|
156
|
Dignitie his Majesty pleased to design me to his atâ—â—â—dance into Scotland where the great love and respect that I found both from the Ministers and people wâ—ought me no small envy from some of our own Suggestions were made to his Majesty of my plâ—usible demeâ—nour and doctrine to that already prejudicate people for which his Majesty after a gracious acknowledgment of my good service there done called me upon his return to a favorable and mild account not more freely professing what informations had been given against me then his own full satisfaction with my sincere and just answer as whose excellent wisdom well saw that such winning carriage of mine could be no hinderance to his great designs At the same time his Majesty having secret notice that a Letter was coming to me from Mr W. Struther a Reverend and Learned Divine of Edenborough concerning the five points then proposed and urged to the Church of Scotland was pleased to impose upon me an earnest charge to give him a full Answer to those modest Doubts and at large to declare my Judgment concerning those required Observations Which I spedily performed with so great approbation of his Majestie that it pleased him to command a transcript thereof as I was informed publickly read in their most famous University The effeâ—â— whereof his Majestie vouchsafed to signifie afterwards unto some of my best friends with allowance beyond my hopes 14. It was not long after that his Majestie finding the exigence of the Netherlandish Churches to require it both advised them to a Synodical Decision and by his incomparable wisdom promoted the work My unâ—orthinesse was named for one of the Assistants of that Honorable Grave and Reverent Meeting where I failed not of my best service of that woful distracted Church By that time I had staid two months there the unquietnesse of the nights in those Garrison Towns working upon the tender disposition of my body brought me to such weakness through want of rest that it began to disable me from attending the Synod Yet it pleased God the very night before I was to preach the Latin Sermon to the Synod to bestow upon me such a comfortable refreshing of sufficient sleep as whereby my spirits were revived and I was enabled with much vivacity to perform that Service But when notwithstanding all means my weaknesse encreased it pleased his gracious Majestie to call me off c. 15. After not many years settling at home it grieved my Soul to see our own Church sicken of the same disease which we had endeavoured to cure in our Neighbours Sides were taken and Pulpits every where rang of these opinions Now as one that desired to do all good offices to our dear and common Mother I set my thoughts on work how so dangerous a quarrel might be happily composed and wrote a little projest of Pacification gathering out of Bishop Overal on the one side and out of our English Divines at Dort on the other such common propositions concerning these five busie Articles as wherein both of them are fully agreed These reconciliatory papers were presented to his Majestie together with an humble motion of a peacesible silence to be enjoined to both parts in those other collateral needlesse Disputations These fell under the eyes of some grave Divines of both parts who pâ—oferd their hands to a ready subscription so as much peace promised to result out of that weak and poor enterprize had not the confused noise of the misconstructions of those who never saw the work crying it down for the very name sake meeting with the royal edict of a general Inhition buried it in a secure silence I was scorched a little with this flame which I deâ—ired to quench yet this could not stay my hand from thruâ—â—ing it self into a hotter fire 16. Some insolent Romanists pressed nothing so much as a Catalogue of the professions of our Religion to be deduced from the Primitive times and with the peremtory challenge of the impossibility of this pedigree dazled the eyes of the simple Whiles some of our learned men undertaking to satisfie so needlesse and unjust a demand gave as I conceive great advantage to the Adversary in a just indignation to see us thus wrongd by mistareing the Question betwixt us as if we yeelding our selves of another Church originally and fundamentally different should make good our own Eâ—ection upon the Ruines yea and Nullity of others and well considering the infinite and great inconveniences that must needs follow upon this defence I adventured to set my pen on work desiring to rectifie the opinions of those men whom an ignorant zeal had transported to the prejudice of our holy cause laying forth the damnable corruptions of the â—oman â—hurch yet making our Game at the outward visibilitie thereof and by this means putting them to the probation of those newly obtruded corruptions which are truly guilty of the breach betwixt us The drift whereof being not well conceived by some spirits that were not so wise as fervent I was suddenly exposed to the rash censures of many well affected and zealous Protestants as if a Remission to my wonted zeal to the truth attributed too much to the Roman Church and strengthned the Adversaries hands and weakned our own This envy I was fain to take off by my speedy Apologetical Advertisement and after that by my Reconcilor seâ—â—â—ded with the unanimous Letters of such Reverend Learned sound Divines both Bishops and Doctors as whose undoubtable Authority was able to bear down calumny it self Which done I did by a seasonable Moderation provide for the peace of the Church in silencing both my Defendants and Challengers in this unkind and ill-raised quarrel 17. Immediatly before the publishing of this Tractate which did not a little aggravate the envy and suspicion I was by his Majesty raised to be Bishop of Exeter having formerly with humble deprecation refused the See of Glocester earnestly proferd to me I entred upon that place not without much prejudice and suspicion on some hands For some that sate at the Stern of the Church had me in great jealousie for too much favour of Puritanisus I soon had intelligence who were set over me for Espials my waies were curiously observed and scanned However I took the resolution to follow those courses which might most conduce to the peace and happinesse of my neâ— and weighty charge Finding therefore some factious spirits very busie in that Diocesse I used all fair and gentle means to win them to good order and therein so happily prevailed that saving two of that numerous Clergy who continuing in their refractoâ—inesse fled away from censure they were all peâ—fectly reclaimed so as I had not one Minister professedly opposite to the antiently received Orders for I was never guilty of urging any neâ— impositions of the Church in that large Dioâ—ess 18. In the last year of presiding theâ—e after the Synodical Oath was set on foot which yet I did never
comparison of the moment of griefs here with the weight of joyes hereafter 14. When a just occasion calleth him out of his Parish which he diligently and strictly weigheth his Parish being all his joy and thought he leaveth not his Ministry behind him but is himself wherever he is Therefore those he meeteth on the way he blesseth audibly and with those he overtakes or that overtake him he begins good discourses such as may edifie interposing sometimes some short and honest refreshments which may make his other discourses more welcome and lesse tedious And when he comes to his Inne he refuseth not to joyn in prayer that he may enlarge the glory of God to the company he is in The like he doth in the morning using pleasantly the Outlandish Proverb Prayers and Provinder never hinder journy 13. Wherever he is he keeps God's watch that is there is nothing spoken or done in the company where he is but comes under his test and censure If it be well spoken or done he takes an occasion to commend and enlarge it if ill he presently laies hold of it lest the poyson steal into some young and unwary spirits and possesse them even before they themselves heed it But this he doth discreerly with mollifying and suppling words This was not so well said as it might have been forborn We cannot allow this Or else if the thing will admit Interpretation Your meaning is not thus but thus or So far indeed what you said is true and well said but this will not stand 16. He is in God's stead to his Parish and dischargeth God what he can of his promises Wherefore there is nothing done well whereof he is not the rewarder If he chance to find any reading in another's Bible he provides him one of his own If he find another giving a poor man a penny he gives him a tester for it if the giver be fit to receive it if he be of a condition above such gifts he sends him a good book or eâ—seth him in his Tiths telling him when he hath forgotten it This I do because at such and such a time you were charitable 17. The Country Parson values Catechizing highly He useth and prefereth the ordinary Church-Catechism partly for obodience to Authority partly for Vniformity sake that the sâ—me common truths may be every where professed He requires all to be present at Catechizing 1. For the authority of the work 2. That Parents and Masters as they hear the Answers prove may when they come home either commend or reprove either reward or punish 3. That those of the elder sort who are not well grounded may then by an honourable way take occasion to be better instructed 4. That those who are well groâ—n in the knowledge of religion may examine their grounds renew their vows and by occasion of both enlarge their meditations 18. Being to administer the Sacraments he is at a stand with himself how or what behaviour to assume for so holy things At Baptism being himself in white he requires the presence of all and baptizeth not willingly but on Sondaies or great daies He admits no vain or idle names but such as are usual and accustomed He saies that prayer with great devotion where God is thanked for calling us to the knowledge of his grace willingly and cheerfully crosseth the child and thinketh the Ceremony not only innocent but reverend instructeth the Godfathers and Godmothers that it is no complemental and light thing to sustain that place adviseth all to call to mind their Baptism often At the times of the Holy Communion he first takes order with the Church-wardens that the Elements be of the best not cheap or course much lesse ill-tasted or unwholsom Secondly he considers and looks into the ignorance or carelesnesse of his flock and accordingly applies himself with Catechizing and lively Exhortations not on the Sonday of the Communion only for then it is too late but the Sonday or Sondays before the Communion or on the Eves of all those daies 18. If there be any of his Parish that hold strange doctrines he uses all possible diligence to reduce them to the common faith The first meâ—ns he useth is prayer beseeching the Father of lights to open their eyes the second is a loving and sweet usage of them the third is the observation what is the main pillar of their câ—use whereon they rely as if he be a Papist the Church is the hinge he turns on if a Schismatick scandal These he hath diligently examined c. Vide Auctorem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 V. Dr JOSEPH HALL Bishop of Norwich See Vol. 1. Out of his Life written with his own hand D. Arthuro Charlett Rect. de Colinb How farre beyond a Picture is his worth Whome Pen nor Pencill truly can sett forth Behold his Reuerend FACE his better PART â—s left vngrau'd this was beyond all Art His holy Thoughts in sacred MEDITATIONS His rauisht SOVLE w th heauenly CONTEMPLATIONS Could not bee drawne Heere onely are his Lookes The Pictures of the rest are in his BOOKES â— Sampson Imprinted for Philemon Stephens Christopher Meredith 1628. VERA EFFIGIES REVERENDI DO NI IOSEPHI HALL Nâ—RWICI EPISCOPI This Picture represents the Forme where dwells A Mind which nothing but that Mind excells There 's Wisdome Learning Witt there Grace Love Rule over all the rest enough to prove Against the froward Conscience of this Time The Reverend Name of BISHOP is no Crime 2. My parents had from my Infancy devoted me to this Sacred Calling whereto by the blessing of God I have seasonably attained for this cause I was trained up in the publick School of the place After I had spent some years not altogether indiligently under the ferule of such Masters as the place afforded and had near attained to some competent ripenesse for the Vniversitie my School-master perswaded my Father that I might have my Education under an excellent Divine the Preacher of Leicester About which time my elder brother having some occasions to journy into Cambridge was kindly entertained there by Mr Nath Gilby Fellow of Emanuel Coll who for that he was born in the same Town with me and had conceived some good opinion of my aptnesse to learning enquired diligently concerning me and hearing of the diversion of my Fathers purposes from the University importunately dissuaded from that new course professing to pity the losse of so good hopes My Brother partly moved with his words and partly won by his own eyes to a great love and reverence of an Academical life returning home fell upon his knees to my Father and after report of Mr Gilbies words and his own admiration of the place earnestly besought him that he would be pleased to alter that so prejudicial a resolution that he would not suffer my hopes to be drowned in a shalloâ— Country-chanel but that he would revive his first purposes for Cambridge adding in the zeal of his love that if