Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	praise_n	young_a	youth_n	18	3	7.5784	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75800	The spirituall use of an orchard, or garden of fruit-trees. Set forth in divers similitudes betweene naturall and spirituall fruit-trees, in their natures, and ordering, according to Scripture and experience. The second impression; with the addition of many similitudes. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part.	Austen, Ralph, d. 1676.	1657 (1657)	Wing A4236; Thomason E915_8; ESTC R208885	172,355	230

I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. I also will laugh at your calamity and will mock when your feare cometh 3 Consid Difficulty and bitternesse of Repentance if delayed 3. The longer the worke of conversion and ingrafting into Christ is delayed the more difficult the worke will be it is more easie in youth then it will be afterwards While the Twiggs and sprouts of corruption are but young and slender they are more easily cut off bowed downe or kept under then they can be when they are growne old hard and strong Who can bend an old strong tree how hard is it to roote up a tree of many yeares growth and that in a great and firme Rock Such are the sprouts of corruption in the root or rock of corrupt nature The oftener sinnes are repeated the deeper impressions they make in the conscience although small in themselves Gutta cavat lapidem non vi●sed saepe-cadendo Light and small drops of water falling often make an impression even in a stone What then will many great crimson and scarlet sinnes doe Many youthfull sinnes of a high nature break the bones in repentance 4 Consid Shame of coming in so late 4. Though it be not a shame to come to God in old age yet it s a shame for a man that he came no sooner Is it not a shame for a Souldier to runne from his Commander and fight against him all his youthfull time while he hath strength and abilities and to come in old age when he is lame and decrepite and offer his service Is it not a shame for a man to give his strength and marrow to the Devill and offer the dry bones to God What a shame is it for a man to begin to learne his Letters and to spell at spectacle yeares To offer the blind the lame and the sick in sacrifice will it be accepted Mal. 1.8 Offer it now unto thy Governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts 5. Such as hearken unto Gods call early 5 Consider Clearer evidences of the love of God and in the spring of their yeares have usually most honour from God and clearer manifestations of his love than others such who give God their spring time their Virgin yeares they usually know more of the minde of God and of the Love of God than others Samuel was called of a Child 1 Sam. 3. and gave God his spring time and God manifested himselfe evidently to him he had many and cleare manifestations of the love of God The Prophet Jeremy Ch. 1.6 was called and sanctified from the womb and God revealed clearly his love to him and care of him he became a great Prophet and intimately acquainted with God God wrought upon the spirit of Joseph and ingrafted him while he was but a young twigg when he was but seaventeene yeares old he brought forth good fruit for he could not endure the the ill doings of his brethren but told his father of it Gen. 37.2 And we know what a darling Joseph was not only to his earthly father but also to his heavenly father who honoured him more then all his brethren and revealed many great secrets unto him He had not only tasts and draughts of the love of God but rather streames and rivers of it flowed in upon him all his life time Obadiah a man recorded in Scripture for one fearing God and that from his youth he was a choice and singular man in his daies he feared the Lord greatly 1 King 18.12 And the love of God towards him was seene in his love to God and his people in a time of great danger in preserving and feeding of them for none can shew forth cleare evidences of the love of God but those who are greatly belov'd of God The Prophet Daniel was a Young man when he began to feare God Dan. 1. and God shewed him manifold cleare evidences of his love God gave him knowledge and skill in all Learning and wisdome and in all visions and dreames vers 17. He had cleare revealations of the love of God in his Prayers and Praises to God immediately by his spirit and mediately by an Angell who was sent to tell him that his prayers were heard and that he was a man greatly beloved The holy Prophet David of a young Twig was ingrafted into Christ and he made God his trust from his youth Ps 71.5 Being taught of God from his youth vers 17. and thereby made a man after Gods own heart And whoever had sweeter communion with God and consequently clearer evidences of his Love then he expresseth in his Psalmes How great a Prophet was Iohn the Baptist who was filled with the Holy Ghost and sanctified from the womb a greater Prophet was never borne than he Luk. 1.15 Iohn the beloved Disciple began to follow Christ Early in his youth and Christ revealed secrets to him more immediately than to the rest of the Disciples He leaned on his breast and lay in his bosome he attained to a full assurance of the love of God which is the Consideration I here hold forth it is frequent in his Epistles We know we are of God 1 Joh. 4.13 14. 5 19 20. 1 Joh. 3.14 24. We know we are in him we know we are translated from death to life c. We know we know we know many such passages of assurance he mentions If Christians desire to enter into Heaven while they are on earth this is the way even to get into Christ early as soone as may be So we see such as are Ingrafted into Christ while they are young the love of God is more clearely and evidently discovered to them and secrets from God are revealed to them usually more than to others 6 Considerat Greater measures of grace and glory And lastly Such as are Ingrafted into Christ early in the spring of their yeares Such commonly attaine large growths and measures of grace if they live long and enjoy meanes and helps suitable A small measure of grace though but as much as a graine of Mustard seede If a man begin with it betime and husband it well according to the Counsell and wisdome of the spirit will improve and grow in many yeares to a large measure their Brook will become a River and their River will become a Sea Every Act of grace adds something to the habit so that the habits of grace are mightily confirmed by their frequent operations Such when they come to be old Disciples strong men in Christ fathers they have strong consolation full assurance Their graces increase from strength to strength from glory to glory by the spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3.18 And the more their Afflictions abound the more are their graces encreased being improved by the spirit of God and consequently the greater glory is laid up for them in the life to come 2 Cor. 4.17

Charets like a Whirle-wind vers 16. For the Lord will judg with fire and with his sword all flesh Now when shall this be even when the Lord will enlarge his Church when he will extend peace to Ierusalem as a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame Esay 66.12 When the isles a farre off shall declare his glory among the Gentiles and brethren shall be brought out of all Nations when the new heavens and the new earth shall be made the Church of God enlarged and beautified as we may see at large vers 19.20 c. The Prophet Jeremiah speakes likewise to the same purpose c. 23.19.20 Behold the tempest of the Lord goeth forth in wrath a violent whirles wind shall fall downe upon the head of the wicked and the anger of the Lord shall not returne untill he have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart Now when these things shall be we see vers 20. in the latter daies when God is enlarging his Church ye shall understand it plainely This God will doe that he may glorifie himselfe in shewing forth his power and justice towards his enemies love to his people This may informe us and give some light unto us why all the Vse 1 destructions confusions and overturnings which have beene in these Nations of late yeares have come to passe and what other Nations shall shortly find also The great husbandman is about the enlarging of his Orchard according to the many Prophesies and promises in his word Now therefore who or whatsoever hinders and stands in the way shall certainely be removed 2 Thes 2.7 The Lord shall consume him Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming Vse 2 As this is unspeakable consolation to the saints who are the goodly fruit-trees in this large garden so is the same cause of trembling and astonishment to all opposers of God in this his great worke Weeds and wild Plants in a garden that 's carefully ordered are not so sure of plucking up as these persons are of a downfall for God hath said it he will plant his Garden and enlarge it upon an high mountaine and eminent and then up goe the wild trees though never so high and beautifull Ezek. 17.24 Then all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought downe the high tree have exalted the low tree have dryed up the greene tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Vse 3 Thirdly yee that stand out and oppose the worke of God be perswaded to deliver your selves from destruction beware of hardnesse of heart in refusing to see and acknowledge the hand of God in his dispensations for as Pharaoh the inhabitants of Egypt Canaan and others were destroy'd in their opposition against the plantation of old so shall it be with all hardned sinners in these latter daies Those being but Types and shadowes of things that shall come to passe in these gospell times Heb. 10.1 The law hath a shadow of good things to come Not only as they shadow forth Jesus Christ but also the things of Christ in his Church Vse 4 And further Let this Caution Gods owne people It is to manifest and evident that even some of them doe in some respects oppose the worke of God we see what divisions and contentions there are amongst them about the things concerning the kingdome of Christ Now therefore take heed of opposing the mind of God for if he be displeased with those who help not the Lord against the mighty will he not be much more displeased with those that oppose him and are against him in any of his designes It may hinder them of much good which otherwise they might have received from God See Pag. yea it may provoke God to cut them off though his owne people The husbandman sometimes cuts off a Branch or cuts downe even a good tree when it is in his way and hinders any of his great workes so doubtlesse does the Lord with some of his owne people when through any worldly interest or corruption they oppose his designes Therefore take heede speake not neither act against God and his waies through mistakes be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.17 The eight and twentieth Observation in Nature WHen rare and excellent fruit-trees and fruits are first knowne there being but few of them they are more valued and esteemed then afterwards when they are multiplyed and growen common though the commodities are still the same in goodnesse as at first This shadowes out unto us That The constant enjoyment of the best things from God through corruptions makes them lesse noted and esteemed Proposition shadowed The nature of man is much taken with new things which having beene a while used and enjoyed are not afterwards of so much value with us though the things remaine in their former goodnesse and worth health peace and plenty and the best good things of this life yea the Ordinances of Christ society of the saints seasons and oportunities of grace spirituall priviledges are lesse observed and prized after a long enjoyment of them then at the first Though Manna was a pleasant bread Angels foode and the people of Israel were well pleased with it for a time yet afterwards they were weary of it Numb 21.5 Our soule loatheth this light bread When the people of God see the necessity and want of good things and earnestly pray and waite for them and at length God satisfies their desires and gives out the mercy longed for then they are much taken and affected with it their affections are raised and enlarged they put a price and value upon it greatly rejoycing in it and blessing God for it But after a certaine time of enjoyment the heart is lesse upon it the streames of affections are abated and run lower there is not that frequent notice taken of it neither when the mind reflects upon it at any time are the affections stirred as at the first when the thing was new Thus it is even in respect of the best and choicest things wee receive from God in this life even the sence and evidences of the love of God pardon of sin intrest in Christ Communion with the father and the sonne through the spirit These things after an habituall long enjoyment of them are lesse noted and lesse affect the heart then upon their first discovery so that God expostulates with his people about it he takes notice of it and observes the difference of the frame of their spirits what it hath beene and what it is afterwards Jer. 22. I remember the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousales c. when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse time was when we were first acquainted and thou didst take me for thy Lord and Husband thou didst expresse much love towards me and

will perfect it Phil. 1.6 The two and fourtieth Observatioo in Nature THose fruit-trees about which the husbandman tryes his skill most and about which he takes most paines if these are barren or bring forth naughty fruits they discredit him more then many others This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That God hath more dishonour by the sinnes of Professours than by the sins of others Persons who have interest in and relation one to another bring dishonour or Reputation one upon another according as they walke a man is commonly judg'd according to his associats or Companions soe doe the waies of the people of God or those who professe themselves to be so reflect upon God either for his honour or dishonour The sin of Elies sonnes brought more dishonour to God than the sinnes of many others because of their Relation to God in respect of their Office They made even the Offerings of the Lord to to be abhorred 2 Sam. 12.14 Many Professours through their Pride earthly-mindednesse and other offensive walking bring a reproach upon the Profession of Religion and consequently upon God himselfe Rom. 2.24 The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you When the enemies of God fee Professours walke scandalously and behave themselves unanswerable to their profession these things reflect even upon God James 2.7 do not they blaspheme that worthie name by which ye are called like as the heathen did of old Ezek. 36.20 They profaned my holy name when they said to them these are the people of the Lord which are come out of his Land Even so now some say in scorne of Professors when they walk contrary to the Gospell These are the people of the Lord these are the saints the Brethren c. And hereby they profane and blaspheme the name of God and bring reproach upon his waies and his Gospell By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of 2 Pet. 2.2 M Boulton saies That a dissolute Minister is a thousand times more pernitious than an hundred private men though practising villany in the highest degree So also in some proportion it may be said of any that make profession of the Gospell Vse 1 We may herein see the cause why God sometimes dealeth so sharply with his own people Eli David Solomon c. though eminently in the favour of God yet he punished their offences with the Rod and their iniquity with scourges which made them and their posterity smart for many generations after Vse 2 O let this move every one that nameth the name of Jesus to depart from iniquity every one that professeth the Gospell to be tender of the name of God to walk warily and circumspectly very many Professors give Offence and scandall by those two grand accursed Lusts of Pride and Earthly-mindednesse As their gifts and some outward advantages increase so usually Pride increaseth and discovers it selfe And as this filthy venomus Plant growes and increaseth in the soule it much hinders and keepes downe the Plants of grace where they are so that they become poore and feeble And as for Earthly-mindednesse which the Apostle calls Idolatry and the Roote of all evill Coll. 3.5 It is of all things most unbecoming those that professe to have their Treasure and inheritance in heaven O what a dishonour is this unto Jesus Christ as though there were not enough to be had out of the fulnesse of Christ to satisfy the soules of his people but they must come for supplyes to Creatures Out of all doubt those soules where this Lust prevailes have little or no Communion with God let them pretend what they will for love of the world is as a holy man saies the very Canker and Cut-throte of all heavenly-mindednesse So that proud earthly-minded Professors shame the Gospell and dishonour God more than others The three and fortieth Observation in Nature IF fruit-trees are Ingrafted while they are very young the worke is soone done and is scarse perceived afterwards whether it be ingrafted or no otherwise then by the fruits But if the worke be delay'd untill the trees are growen great and strong then the worke is more difficult and manifest afterwards not only by the fruits but also by some visible and apparent marks upon the tree This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed See Obser 60. and 62. Jer. 1.5 1 Sam. 3.19 1 Kin. 18.12 2 Tim. 3.15 That Conversion in youth is not so apparent as in elder yeares Some are called the first houre of the day and some the third some the sixt and some the last houre Mat. 20.1 2. Some are sanctified from the womb some early in their youth others after many yeares Now for those in whom the spirit of God beginnes to worke by meanes of Religious education in Child-hood and youth when they come to yeares they are usually subject to doubtings and feares about their spirituall condition more than others when they heare reade of some who have gone through straits and difficulties feares and terrors in their New-birth and cannot speak of any such thing out of their own experience This is usually a ground through their own weaknesse and Sathans subtilety of questioning their Estates Because the work of grace in these is begunne insensibly and growes up by degrees hardly to be perceived Mark 4.27 It springs up and growes they know not how But such as are converted after many yeares of living in a carnal unregenerate state these are converted with greater difficulty and more remarkably one contrary discovers and sets off another clearely and a sudden change of states makes the thing more manifest Any works that have small and weake beginnings and that go on but slowly and by degrees these make no noise are scarse perceived But works that have violent beginnings and are carried on with power and speede these awaken every mans observation The Jaylors Conversion was remarkable because there was a speedy change wrought from one state to another Act. 16. So also the Conversion of S. Paul was a manifest change Act. 9. The like of many others as both Scripture and experience shew us Vse 1 This may help to satisfy those who question their Conversion chiefly upon this ground for that they cannot declare as some others can how where and when they were first wrought upon who yet are certainly ingrafted into thē Stock Jesus Christ The spirit its likely beganne early with them and cast seed into their minds while they were but of tender yeares which grew up they knew not how as our Saviour saies Mark 4.27 The husbandman bended the Twig while it was young and tender and engrafted it and pruned and ordered it unto a comely Tree and made it fruitfull And the work then was done with more ease and lesse observation then it is usually afterwards Such as these must Labour to satisfy themselves and make their Calling and Election sure chiefly by trying of their fruits examining them by