Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	paul_n	young_a	youth_n	23	3	7.9132	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90894	Christ exalted above all creatures by God his Father or A sermon preached before the Right Honourable, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England. (At their solemne fast, observed the last day of the last month called February 1649.) By Vavasor Povvell.	Powell, Vavasor, 1617-1670.	1651 (1651)	Wing P3081; Thomason E1332_4; ESTC R209110	26,418	99

not be with enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power Or further when our maine worke is to prepare a fine peece as they call it or a handsome quaint Sermon or Oration composed of Divinity History ancient sayings and witty sentences and all these neatly compiled and put together like a Posie and then delivered and acted like a Play then the blessed Word of God In the Primitive times and for two or three hundred years after Christ as a learned and godly man observed the Ministers of the Gospel spake as the Holy Ghost gave them utterance but when Antichrist began to prevaile that blessed plaine and ancient way of preaching was lest and lost and since even till now men have made a meere trade of preaching and it s become the fruit of study and brain-knowledge and the exercise of naturall gifts and parts rather then the breathings and teachings of Gods Spirit 2 Ministers declare that they have much of Selfe when they appropriate and assume to themselves a power over the Saints and Churches of Christ so as to give rules to them and to impose Lawes upon their Consciences 2 Cor. 1.24 but Paul having a more speciall Call professed That he had no dominion over the faith of the Saints but was a constant helper of their faith and joy but never exercised power but with the common consent of the Church where he was 3 Selfe appeares much in some Ministers by the contempt they shew to their brethren who are younger then they as esteeming them younglings and terming them upstart boyes that get up into Pulpits But let these men consider how unlike Moses they are who wished that all the Lords people were Prophets Secondly let this be considered by them that God hath not limited and confined his discoveries to old men but as Elihu said Job 31.8 9 There is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not alwaies wise neither doe the aged understand judgement Thirdly such men were once young themselves and Paul commands that no man should despise Timothies youth Lastly young men have the promise of the Spirit as well as old men Act. 2.17 Fourthly Phil. 2 21. Ministers for the most part seeke their owne things and not the things of Jesus Christ as the Apostle complaines and it may be said as the Prophet said Esa 56.11 That every man lookes to his owne way and for gaine from his owne quarter Fifthly and lastly There is another roote of bitterneste and appearance of Selfe in the hearts of Ministers the Lord root it out that we love men more because they are of our opinion then because they are Saints and friends of Jesus Christ Hereupon we make opinion and not union with Jesus Christ which ought to be the ground of communion and fellowship one with another Having briefly shewed wherein Selfe appeares in Ministers I now shall humbly take leave to speake to you who are Magistrates whom God hath made honourable and imployed in weighty and honourable undertakings This Selfe doubtlesse is among you also and if you would take the Candle of the Lord and search narrowly in your owne hearts you might finde this enemy harbouring and hiding himselfe in your breasts and bosomes And for a helpe herein consider 1 That Selfe appeares in those who desire and endeavour to creep and get into places of Authority for their owne private interests and gaine They desire their places more then they deserve them and they looke more after their places then their places want them An example hereof you may finde in Absolon and in his words 2 Sam. 15.4 O that I were said he made Judge in the Land that any man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me and I would doe him justice Many are like the bramble in Jothans Parable Judg. 9.15 that would rule over the Trees of the Wood but poore is the service and shelter of a Bramble fit only to stop a hole in a Hedge no better are some that seek and serve in places of trust See whether any of you are guilty herein or any of your Servants and under-officers where-ever this is found it is abominable and odious 2 Magistrates seeke themselves when they make the utmost advantage of their places when they have got into them 2 King 5.21 22. Elisha punished his Servant with the same plague or Leprofie which Naaman had ver 27. a just punishment as Gehazi the Servant of Elisha tooke advantage of getting for himself from Naa man when his Master refused denied it So the case may be with you that though you your selves scorn and despise bribes and gifts yet some of your Officers and Servants may take them but if you doe either winke at approve of or let such things goe unpunished in them God will impute the same to you as well as unto them Neh. 5.15 Who can say there is not a lye in his right hand Esa 44.10 take therefore that blessed Nehemiah for your example who would not suffer his Servants to beare rule over the people as former Rulers did because of the feare of God 3 This is a signe of much Selfe when men will comply with Saints and seeme to be religious out of policy to procure a good name and esteeme among men as it is said in the eleventh of Daniel the 34. vers That many should cleave to the people of God by flatteries A notable example hereof wee finde in Ezra the fourth Chapter and the second vers of some that came unto Zerubbabel and to the chiefe of the Fathers and said unto them Let us build with you for we seeke your God as yee doe c. But marke the answer But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the cheife of the Fathers of Israel said-unto them you have nothing to doe with us to build an house unto our God As for such polititians that come in the evening of the day and at the end of the worke for their owne ends God will discover and confound them with their basenesse and perfidiousnesse 4 Examine whether you keep and detaine in your hands that which is due unto others I doe not speake this in way of reflection or reprehension but in way of caution and examination therefore I beseech you look into your own hearts and see whether it be so or no with you for as you have many opportunities to inrich your selves in these dayes so you will not want temptations to improve them for your owne advantage but observe this that of all times this is not a time to be building our own nests for either shortly we are like to have enough or none at all and honest men shall either share all or be no sharers at all but I do not fear the latter Fiftly and lastly men do exalt themselves when they do oppose the glory of God and