Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	life_n	light_n	soul_n	6,880	5	5.1250	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A56109	A testimony of truth given forth by a servant of the Lord, on the behalf of the despised servants, and professors of truth, who are made partakers of the heavenly power, which shakes the earth, and makes the inhabitants of the land to tremble, who are by the scorners of this generation called Quakers against the many lyes and slanders which the devil is the chief author of, arising forth of the bottomlesse pit, and vented forth by one James Livesey a professed minister of Christ in the county of Chester, but by his fruits is plainly manifested a minister of sin, and so of his Father who begat him, and sent him forth to oppose the living truth of God : but his folly is here manifested and declared to open view, that the simple and honest hearted may turn from him and all such deceitful workers, and may learn of Christ the light of the world, that their souls may live.	Parker, Alexander, 1628-1689.	1659 (1659)	Wing P386; ESTC R5756	31,699	39

flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against spiritual wickedness in high places but I shal pass by some of his chaffy stuff and leave it to be blowne away by the breath of the Almighty and so come to the next 4. Qu. Whether are Quakers witches Ans I answer no but the Lord hath raised them up by the power of his spirit to testifie against all the sorceries and witchcrafts and inchantments which are found amongst the Merchants of Babylon the black priests who have been clouded with blackness who have long beguiled unstable souls and made Merchandize of them such as led people from the Spirit of God were witches and bewitched the Galatians and such now in England who draw people from the light life and spirit within to carnal observances without such are they that bewitch and beguil poor souls Now whereas this opposer doth bring some Scriptures whereby his intent is to prove the Quakers witches but I shall examine them the spirit of God saith he sets out impostors to the life sometimes comparing them to deceitful Merchants who can set a fair glosse upon their false ware to which I say who are more deceitful then those Merchants of Babylon the covetous Teachers who heapes a great deal of fluff together nay sometime steal a Scrmon and set a fair glosse on it and sell it to the people and when they have sold it once over and received money for it yet they oftentimes sell it over and over again and so cheats and cozens the people then he alleadges 2 Pet. 2.3 they are said with fained words to make Merchandize of souls here he hath learned of his master the Devil to leave out part of the Scripture the Apostle saith thus and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make Merchandize of you this hits the pricsts and strikes very near them and the Apostle further marks them out spots they are and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings having eyes full of Adultery and that cannot cease from sin begniling unstable souls an heart they have exercised with covetous practices whether this toucheth the priests of Eng. or the Quakers I leave it to the wise in heart to judge Another Scripture alleadged 2 Cor. 2.2.17 for we are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ now how can those speak in Christ that denyes Christ in them and oppose his light within as the parish priests do and so are not like the Apostles Another Scripture I find quoted Eph. 4.14 that we hencefotrh be no more children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lay in wait to deceive But those called Quakers do not go about to draw people from God but to bring home to him that they may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus as in the 13. verse of the said fourth Chapter which the priests of England deny and sayes none can be perfect in this life and so deceive your souls by their slights and cunning craftinss Another Scripture alleadged by this opposer is 2 Tim. 3.8.9 but read from the beginning of the Chapter and there as in a glass thou maist read the Character of the parish Priests of England read the Chapter thorow and then try and let the light of Jesus Christ in thy conscience Judge without partiality Another Scripture is in Jude the 11. the words are these woe unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gain-saying of Core these are the several Scriptures which the adversary brings to prove the Quakers to be witches but to those whose eyes are in any measure opened there are not many such Scriptures that so nearly touchea the covetous priests and deceitful Merchants of England but their folly shall be made manifest to all in Gods day of light some other frothy things are spoken of by this adversary as tying of Ribbands or Bracelets about mens wrests oh horrible deceiti I am sure few people in all England do slight and cast off such bables more then we do and as for his speaking of falling into trances srantick postures grovelling on the ground soaming at the mouth and such like frothy stuff all this doth arise as smoke out of the bottomless pit which God will blast and hath already blasted for the Lord hath opened the eyes of thousands in this Nation to see the envy and wickedness of those who have invented such wicked lies against the people of God and they see and have found them lyars and God is causing the light to shine forth and the beauty of his people begins to appear which hath long been marred and stained by reproachfull lying and backbiting tongues Quest 5. Whether are the Quakers to be tolerated suffered or to be punished by the civil Magistrate Answ If the Priests might be judges they would soon have their hands in blood though little cause there is for it but onely their trade is like to go down and therefore if these men be suffered their Diana will fall they are nearly related to their brethren the Priests in the dayes of Christ who cryed out crucifie him crucifie him though Pilate a Magistrate sound no fault in him and as it was then so it is now the servant is not greater then his Lord we cannot expect better things from this wicked generation but sufferings and reproaches stocks and imprisonment but the Lord is our support and we magnifie his name that we are of that number who are counted worthy to suffer for his

through all the figures Tythes before the Law to Melchisedeck the similitude like the Son of God Tythes under the Law to the Levitical Priesthood and speakes of the change of the Priesthood and of the Law and disannulling the Commandement and in the beginning of the eight chapter sums up all in one now saith he of the things that we have spokn of and Tythes was one of the things this is the sum Jesus Christ who is a Priest for ever not after the order of Aaron but by the power of an endless life who is the end of all likenesses the sum of the signres Types and shadowes the end of the first Priesthood that received Tythes and the end of the Law and so an end of Tythes and all who take or pay Tythes now it is a denying of Christ to be come in the flesh and such are Antichristian and all Lawes and Statutes which are made by men for the payment of Tythes God will overturn and throw down and the true Christians who are subject to the Ordinances and commands of Christ cannot obey but testifie against such Lawes which have been made in the dark times of Popery which the Priests of England who deny the Pope in words yet are upholden and maintained by his maintenance which never any of the true Ministers of Christ did as this opposer doth in words confess that the Apostles took no Tythes but I shall leave this point and go on and leave Tythes and all set and forced maintenance to fall with the hireling and carnal-man-made Ministers And whereas this opposer and gain-sayer is speaking of expounding adding and giving meanings upon the Scriptures and brings the expounders of the Law and Paul confounded the Jewes and the like and then numbers himself amongst them and saith we are Christs Ambassadours when he is manifested to be a lyar a false accuser Preaching for hire and is one in nature with those blasphemers who said they were Jewes but were not as these say they are Ministers of Christ but are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that the Church of England is no true Church Answ That which is commonly called the Church which this opposer went about to prove to wit a place built with mens hands is no true Church neither are the Saints that meets in those Idolatrous places but a company of mixed people of proud covetous heady high-minded ones scoffers and scorners lyars and swearers drunkards and all manner of ungodly persons meets in those places and all the whole body of that worship which is maintained and practiced there is quit another thing then what was practiced in the true Church and so not the Church of Christ which is his body which he hath Redeemed with his own blood that he may present it without spot unto God not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that there hath been a night of a Apostacy ever since the dayes of the Apostles now the life is risen which guided the Apostles Answ There hath been a dark night of a Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and the sheep of the Lord they have been made a prey upon and have been scattered all this cloudy dark day not that the Lord hath not had a people through all ages even in the darkest times but they have been under great sufferings and great tribulations and it is also true that the life and spirit is again risen and the Almighty God by his power is bringing people back unto that which the deceivers and the Antichrists went from and the foundation of many generations is raised up and the Rock is witnessed amongst those who are the reproach of many people which shall dash to pieces all that strive against it time will make it manifest Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that the Scriptures are to be taken literally c. Answ The Scriptures are not of any private interpretation neither can any man by his learning or wit understand or open them but the same spirit that was within the holy men of God which moved in them and gave unto them an understanding must give unto people now a knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures and of the things of God and not another spirit Pr. There is an opinion amongst them that they ought not to swear at all no not when called before the civil Magistrate Answ We have Christ amongst us who is the truth who teacheth us in righteousness to let our yea be yea and nay nay in all things and we have the Scriptures of truth which testifie of Christ amongst us where it is plainly written in Mat. 5.33 34 35 36 37. and given forth as a command of Christ among many other things which he had been speaking of in that same Chapter speaking of things in old time which Christ ownes in their place but he gives forth Lawes in a more strict manner for example ye have heard that it was said by them of old time thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the Judgement But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his Brother c. shall be in danger of Judgement Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time thou shalt not commit adultery but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Mark these sayings here is mentioned what the Law faith and then what Christ saith who is the perfection of all things and so he goes on and saith again ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oathes but I say unto you swear not at all Mark these words as he spoke to the perfecting of other things so of this of swearing he doth not say that it was lawful to swear before a Magistrate as some say now but there is nothing more plain he puts an end to all swearing not onely of vain and frivolous oathes in common speaking but also all oathes whatsoever for as he spoke absolute in other things so in this for no doubt if an oath had been lawful to be taken in the Gospel times he would have mentioned it in this place but it is so far from holding forth such a thing that it is absolutely forbidden the Law saith thou shalt not forswear thy self but perform thine oathes to the Lord but I say swear not at all neither by heaven for it is Gods Throne nor by the earth for it is his footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither by thy head because thou caust not make one hair white or black but let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil so by this it is plainly manifest that Christ hath ended

Ministers are the Ministers of Christ Answ For satisfaction of the honest hearted I shall declare who are the true Ministers of Christ that is to say such as have received perfect gifts from God freely and are made Minsters by the will of God and sent forth by his power to turn people from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God who freely Minister as they have freely received who cover no mans gold silver nor apparrel but preach the word of God freely at all times and seasons as the spirit doth move and give utterance and many such there are amongst those that the scorners of this world do call Quakers who preach the Gospel of salvation freely not seeking money or maintenance and many within these few years in England by the power of this Ministry received from God have been converted from sin unto God Pr. Whether Jesus Christ have any especially designed for his work or none but himself the Prophet of his Church Answ Christ is the head of his body the Church and is the great Prophet and from him who is the head every member of the body receives nourishment and refreshment but I do own a Ministry ordained and sent forth by him for the perfecting of the Saints and for the edifying of the body until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man even to the measure and stature and fulness of Christ as I have said before Pr. When the Ministry of England began to be Anti-christian and how long it hath been so Ans The Antichristian powers of darkness hath raigned long and I question much whether ever the National Ministry of England were free from Anti-christianism though I do believe the Lord hath had many pretious people in it who in their time have stood faithful witnesses for God some have suffered death but the Ministry was never throughly purged from popery no not to this day but most things practized are Popish inventions as their Schools and Colledges where they make their Ministers little or nothing differing from the Papists Schooles and Colledges where they make their Ministers their maintenance by Tythes vicarage houses gleab lands c. even as the Papists do and many other things there are wherein they do agree so that it is hard to tell the time when it began but this I say in the night of Apostacy since the daies of the Apostles it begun Pr. What it is that renders them Antichristian taking of Tythes or what Ans Taking of Tythes is one thing that renders them so but there be many other things as their call into the Ministry and being made Ministers by the will of man and their set maintenance great sumes of mony by the year their doctrine and practices scarce any one thing is acted or done by them in all that which they call the worship of God as it was acted or done in the daies of the true Apostles and if it were so that they were found in the very practice of the Apostles yet not being led by the same spirit it is antichristian for the Christian worship was in the spirit and in the truth and all peoples nations though they may have all the words given forth from the spirit if they be not in the spirit and in the truth they be false worshipers and are Antichristian that professe Christ in words but have not the life of Christ within them more I might say as to these things but so much having been written already by others I shall proceed further only I take notice of three accusations against us that is 1. That we deny the Trinity of persons 2. The Divine authority of the Scriptures 3 And the Souls immortality to the two first I have already spoken and the Soul we say is immortal and so I leave the lyar to receive his portion in the lake of endlesse misery Rev. 21.8 Now I come to ●● particulars wherein this opposer goes about to cast an odium upon the Quakers bringing several things which he saith the Jesuites and Papists holds it seems he is well acquainted with them but what is that to the matter because the Devil believes there is a God shall not I believe truth because the Devils believes If Jesuites an I Papists Turks and Infidels hold any truth their holding of it shall not make me deny it but truth I shall own where ever I finde it and all Lyers and false accusers and that which is contrary to truth I deny but I shall come to the particulars and what concerns those whom he calls Quakers I shall speak to and what concernes the Jesuites and Papists let them answer for themselves if they will Pr. Jesuites have low base and vile thoughts of the Scripture it s with them a nose of Wax a dead letter no sufficient ground of Faith nor judge of controversies so Bellarmine c. so Quakers Ans That the Quakers have low base and vile thoughts of the Scriptures is very false and wickednesse it is to say so for we dearly own and highly prize the Scriptures and own them to be a true testimony of him who is the author and foundation of faith Christ Jesus but life is not to be found in the Scripture but in Christ who is the life and the quickning spirit who is the judge of all controversies according to the Scriptures Pr. Jesuites and Papists cries up salvation by the light and law of nature without the knowledge of Christ c. so Quakers Ans We say as I have said before salvation is by Christ who is the light of the world and lighteth every man that commeth into the world and not by the light and law of nature without the knowledge of Christ this charge is altogether false as to the Quakers as for the other let them answer for themselves Pr. Papists say the Church of England is no true Church They say the Ministry of England is antichristian and so Quakers Ans To both these I have spoken of before to which I refer the Reader Pr. Subesse Romano pontifici est de necessitate salutis No salvation for us unlesse we become Catholicks in their sence Quakers say we are all damned except we turn Quakers Ans We say this and it is no more then truth that except ye repent and be converted ye must all perish But as for the words as they are laid down they proceed from the wickednesse of his evil heart and are not true our way is Christ and this is the way of holinesse and is but one and there is none other and to this way must all come that are saved and must know trembling and quaking before all wickednesse be thrown down and truth and righteousnesse be set up therefore let none despise the power of God least ye be cut of in his feirce wrath Pr. Jesuits allow women to do the worke of the Ministry