Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A38683
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A dialogue betwixt a conformist and a non-conformist concerning the lawfulness of private meetings in the time of the publick ordinances, and of going to them ... published by N.E., for common benefit.
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Estwick, Nicolas.
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1668
(1668)
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Wing E3359; ESTC R14691
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16,643
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22
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and enjoyn'd the use of them hath not he high conceits of himself much of confidence and will in his worship and little of modesty that thinks himself wiser and his own inventions better than these is not yours Will-worship 4. I have been taught that Superstition can't be in a prayer or any external thing but that 't is in our minds it being an evil apprehension of God and so those that are against Common Prayer may be as guilty of Superstition as they that use it 5. I pray tell me and speak your conscience do you not think that if you should heartily joyn with the Minister in it if you should use the Confessions with true repentance for sin the Petitions with sincere desires for those good things they mention and the thanks givings with love and praises to God in your soul this would not be more pleasing to God than turning your back upon it and scoffing at it N. C. But they are such cold and formal prayers that I can't lift up my heart in the use of them C. Surely you are highly mistaken to think that good prayers can be formal or make you cold and dead in praying them 1. To pray by a form is lawful and good else why would our Saviour have left us a form why do we use Psalms do you not use a form for a Grace at Meals are not extempory prayers forms to the hearers for the hearers must no more vary from them least they be guilty of wandring thoughts than we from the Common-Prayer and some must use a form in their Families or not pray at all they having not good and ready inventions 2. I alway thought evil formality in prayer consisted not in a form of words but in a lazy formal temper of minde so th t if you be not serious in using Common or other prayers 't is you that are formal and not the prayers 3. Besides I finde and me thinks 't is reasonable that those words whose form and Emphasis I have considered of and apprehended before should at the using of them most readily when I have not time to meditate and most powerfully affect my heart by the way of my judgment and that extempory inventions do most usually but raise the affections by the force of the fancy as Poets Musicians c. finde by experience 4. I cannot believe that bate inventing and affectionate using of new words every time we pray is praying by the Spirit but certainly to pray by the Spirit is to exercise Charity Humility Faith Repentance and the rest of the Graces of the Holy Spirit in our hearts in prayer and seeing words are but to express our minds and that those Graces in out hearts may be exprest by a form of words I see not why he that prays by a form may not at least as well pray by or wish the Spirit as others N. C. Truly friend I finde I can't twice a day invent a new form fit to be pray'd in my Family and therefore do most usually use a form of words which I see my Children and Servants better understand than extemporary prayers But that which makes some of the Non-conformists think Common-Prayer unlawful is the Imposition of it C. Though I think out Governors may impose lawful things yet it not much concerns us to dispute that but whether we are to obey them or not and for this I would fain understand how that which was lawful for me to do before imposed should by being imposed become unlawful or when are we more bound to obey Magistrates than when they command lawful things Seeing their commands which are about lawful things take away only the liberty of our actions but not the liberty of our consciences which is properly Christian liberty the former is a due to our lawful Superiours the latter only a tribute to God therefore the French Protestant Church and the Dutch and all the Reformed Churches have Forms which they use in Publick N. C. But there are some things in the Common-Prayer that are unlawful and you have no Scripture for them C. I suppose you mean the Ceremonies Surplice Cross and Kneeling which have been enough disputed by others all that I will answer to you is that I must confess there is no express Scripture for them and yet I don't count them unlawful N. C. No! why I pray is it lawful for us to do any thing in the Worship of God that we have not Scripture for C. Yes for though there be no Scripture for them yet there is none against them and nothing is sin but what is forbidden and if you account them unlawful when there is no Scripture against them you are righteous over-much and add to Gods word N. C. Say you so I don't remember any plain place of Scripture against them but will think on one against the next time we meet C. Do I pray and think how small a condescention these would be in you o're the things strangled and bloud enjoyn'd to be forborn Acts 15. 29. And St. Pauls causing Timothy to be circumcis'd were N. C. But friend do you not see how all that are godly hate the Common Prayer and the Bishops and hear in private and is not this enough to induce you and I to do so too C. I pray ask your Minister whether there was any other Government in the Church then Bishops from the Apostles times till Mr. Calvins who liv'd about a hundred years ago I know you quarrel at our Bishops greatness but that alters not their Office and shall thy eye be evil because the King 's and his Predecessors hath been good to them is it any evil in thee to accept what is given thee I do believe that many that are against them are truly godly but I do not count it any part of their piety but their great mistake and when I consider that St. Paul saith Charity is the chiefest grace I am afraid there are too few of them truly godly because they are so full of scoffing railing envy and bitterness against Bishops and although our Saviour enjoyns us to love and do good to bless and pray for those that are our enemies yet they pray against their supposed enemies and 't is said will fast and pray whole days to beseech God to curse them Oh horrid the Devil would do thus too but that he knows 't is to no purpose Christians are enjoyn'd to pray for Heathen Governors and do they act like Christians that pray against Christian Governors Besides I never could like their calling themselves and their party the godly it savours more of Pharisaical Pride than Modesty and Humility N. C. But can you think that a people that pray and fast and hear so much are not the best C. Who prayed and fasted more than the Pharisees and than Cromwell and his Companions indeed Neighbour methinks there is more of Christianity in a modest obedience to Superiors in justice and charity to our Neighbours than
most abominable vices reigning in my soul particularly pride covetousness envy and malice censoriousness disobedience to Superiors and the like then I knew that my Religion was artificial void of inward life and I was astonisht and affrighted at my sad condition I went to our Minister whom I was convinc't God had set over me to instruct me and that therefore I was most likely to have direction from God by him I told him my condition and askt him what I should do to profit by the word He most compassionately entertain'd me though I had so slighted him and most gravely advis'd me 1. That I would lay aside all pride and conceitedness for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble want of doing this hath been a great reason why you have not profited by the word for you have not come with any design to learn from the Minister but to be a judge whether he preacheth well or not you have not come as a Disciple to a Master or as a child to a Father to be instructed but you lookt on the Minister not as Gods Ambassador and in Christs stead but as one to act a part and say a lesson and that his only end was to commend himself or please you and therefore you us'd in hearing to observe whether you were pleas'd or not and after hearing did not consider what you had been taught and what was your duty to do but only did either commend or discommend the Preacher was it not thus I told him I must acknowledge it was so you must proceeded he lay aside this the Pharisees were most unreachable by Christ because so conceited of their Knowledge and Piety they heard not to learn but to judge but the lower valleys are most refresht and made fruitful by rain's from Heav'n Therefore be sensible that the Minister is Gods Ambassador that the plainest truths are of greatest concernment and therefore most to be taught by your Minister and learnt by you consider them most and be not ambitious after high speculations and never reckon that you have learnt any truth enough till you find it hath subdued you into obedience to it I resolv'd to take his advice and pray'd him to go on 2. A second advice I would give you quoth he is that you do not hear meerly to be efected and pleas'd but make this the end both of your praying and hearing to live better so that when you hear the Minister speak against sin imploy not your self to hear how he will acquit himselfe what notions stories gingles phrases or elegancies he hath but raise up thy hatred against that sin by all the evil he tells thee there is in it and take and follow his advice how to resist and stand against it what ever duty thou hearest him preach of let the reasons be brings to convince thee 't is thy duty make thee resolve to practice it and follow the directions and helps he gives thee Thou must hear thy Minister not as we hear Musick only to be pleas'd but as a sick man doth a Physician in order to do what he is advis'd for his health And not striving to practice what we hear is the reason why the word no more profiteth for said he the spirit of God works upon us by us and then only are we most likely to have the helps of Gods spirit when we are endeavouring to do duties enjoyn'd there are two great benefits of the spirit Light and Strength 1. Light and conviction of our judgments and consciences this we may expect in hearing and praying but yet not unless we duly give up our minds to be taught by the spirit of God The second is strength to do duties and this the spirit gives us ordinarily not in bare hearing and praying but in doing those duties we heard and pray'd for grace to do so that we are as the widdows cruise of oil then we have increase from God when pouring out then more Talents given when we improve what we have so that thou must not hear and pray and then wait till the spirit gives thee strength but as soon as thou hast heard what thou art to do up and be doing work out by salvation for then and not till then will God work in thee and help thee do thus and I make no question but thou will profit by the word Sir said I I must confess I have been defective in this for I usually first expected impulses and a kind of force offer'd to my soul to do duties and thought it in vain to attempt conquering a lust till I were so furnish'd but you tell me I must first be striving eâ—se I can expect assistance and that in striving strength most ordinarily comes Have you any thing else you would advise me to 3. Yes said he I would not have you live in any known sin for that will estrange Gods holy spirit from you and I do earnestly advise you that you would nor trouble your head with the disputes of this age which you can't understand neither is it needful they being about trifles for whilst your thoughts and zeal are laid out about Ceremonies Discipline c. by the cunning of the Devil you become careless of and and heartless in your main concerns for trees that abound in Suckers are seldom fruitful Had not you spent your time a great deal better in endeavouring to give God your heart in Common-Prayer than in wrangling against it which insensibly raiseth bitterness of spirit had it not been better to have learn'd to love and as far as you could confcientiously to have obey'd your civil and spiritual Fathers and Governors than to rail and rage against them and scorn them is there not more of Christianity in hiding our Brothers infirmities than in insulting over them is it not a great deal better for you to mind judgment mercy and faith than to distract your thoughts with Mint Annice and Cummin I pray said he most affectionately with tears in his eyes pity the poor Church that is wounded and torn in pieces and no longer fill your head with those stories and complaints which the discontents of men suggest to you but let this be your great care to be good and to live well And if you joyn to these things most hearty and fervent prayers to God for his blessing who will most freely give his holy spirit to them that ask I dare warrant that you will profit by attending upon the word I did resolve to do as he had advised me and though I found it at first difficult and another kind of work than I had bin us'd to yet I find now it was the best advice that ever I had and now can profit by any preacher that doth but preach truth because I do not concern my self so much with who the man is what party or way he is of what affections or elegancies he hath in is Sermon as with the truths he taught and what God