Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A82111
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A Declaration of several members of the churches of Christ
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1654
(1654)
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Wing D618A; ESTC R176607
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10,836
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10
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of Christ in the present light and work of this Generation whilst the Wicked are exalted on every side and such as were cast by taken up again Isai 49.24 25. Jer. 13.17 be of God or no 4. Whether the violence and force flattery or any other ways which are used to compel any of us against our Consciences to prostrate to mens carnal interests and to sin against the light be according to their former pretended Principles or the Word of God 5. Whether their unjust and unchristian accusations of us in the face of the world are not full of loathsome and cruel lyes whiles they spread about That we are against Magistracie Ministery Propriety Ordinances and the like Whether it be so or no we appeal to him that judgeth righteously 6. Their vexing and rising up against the Spirit of God which they call an Impostor and the false devilish fanatick spirit of Black-Fryers or Alhallows-meeting speaking blasphemously against it and that frequently wherein we appeal to the Lord to judge Whether that Spirit that is among them leading to Pride Pomp Worldliness Carnality Lying Persecution and Blaspheming or that Spirit which leads us day and night to the duty of Faith Assembling Praying Preaching Exhorting and building up in the present Truth contested against by them and to Comforting Counselling and Quickning up one another every day to hold fast our Profession without wavering to Self-denying and Mortification that we may not minde the present world nor the vanities thereof whether this Spirit our infirmities excepted or theirs which acts them be of God and which is the devillish worldly and deluding spirit Isa 63.10 2 Pet. 2.7 8. 7. Is not pomp pride and vanity in Court and elsewhere now up again in some respects more then ever so much contested and inveighed against for so many yeers together by themselves and others Whether by these amongst other things they have not opened the mouthes of the Enemies to blaspheme Christ and his Spirit to reproach his Cause and to harden their hearts And whether they have not given advantage to Ch. St. or some others to invade us our lives our relations afresh by open Wars inundations of blood and mischief so as seems to make void and uneffectual many yeers Wars with vast treasure expence and blood 8. Whereas they say we are all for Wars and would have no Peace with the nations round about we appeal to God therein whether we are not for the best safest and lasting godly Peace and were it God's will could wish no more blood might be shed Although we would not willingly see a Peace worse then War made with the nations against the Word of God Safety and Liberties of the good people for which so many have bled both by land and sea and upon such terms too as makes more for the interest of some men then for the Publike or upon such Articles as might make us blush for shame at this time of the Day and after so many out-goings of God in the midst of us as have not so much as one Article for the Lord Jesus or his Saints that are in the present work of this Generation concerning Christs Kingdom or Interest to subscribe unto Num. 33.52 53. to the end Exod. 23.32 33 34. Chap. 12.13 Upon these and many other Grounds we are induced and are resolved in the strength of Christ to keep up the Altar * Josh 22.34 ED and continue our Appeal until the Lord doth answer in justice and yet in much mercy to his poor little remnant which we are perswaded will be speedily as Luke 18.7 8. And if men will yet needs blinde their eyes and harden their hearts we could wish it be not to their destruction yet we do bless our heavenly Father that hath opened our eyes and kept our feet from falling with them that we can so comfortably see the things that concern our best peace according to the Law and the Testimony in the sure Word of Prophecie Blessed be JEHOVAH Amen Amen 3. But thirdly and lastly for that we finde much Misunderstanding among some and Misrepresentations among most of the Fifth Monarchy or Kingdom of Christ in the Nations which the holy Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament do clearly and plentifully declare with a positive period to the Worldly Heathenish Laws Ordinances and Constitutions of men as they are now executed in the Nations of the world And whereas it is also upon the hearts of many of the choice servants of God that in this present Age the Lord JEHOVAH is setting up the fifth Kingdom as Dan. 2.44 7.22 26 27. Zech. 21. which shall not be left to other people but shall break in pieces all the four kingdoms and remain for ever and ever and that at this time when as the fourth Monarchy is partly broken in these Nations that Christ may be the onely Potentate the King of kings and of all Nations 1 Tim. 6.15 Micah 4.7 Zech. 9.9 10. Col. 1.16 Heb. 2.8 Rev. 11.15 17. Chap. 14. 19. Chap. 15.16 Now finding this the present Truth so much opposed by the National Rulers and their Clergie yea and by some godly people and Church-members accounted Orthodox who cannot endure this day of Christs coming We therefore are resolved according to the presence and assistance of the Lord with us to entertain a serious Consideration and Debate for the benefit of all others touching the premises viz. of the Laws Subjects Extent Rise Time Place Offices and Officers of the fifth Monarchy or Kingdom whereby the World must be governed according to the Word of God without the mixture as now is of Mens Laws and Inventions whether in respect of Magistracie or Ministery Church or Civil affairs which Debate we intend to hold once a week in this City of London And we desire our beloved brethren which are one with us in the present Truth and sufferings whether in Churches or out whether in City or Country that are enlightned to take special notice of it for this end that they may enjoy the like freedom with us in those Meetings and Debates as often as they please to come And if the Lord give us the liberty we do purpose to proceed with the Debate of it from this day onward until we have taken up a full and clear Narrative thereof so far as shall appear to us out of the Scriptures fit to publish to the view of all men that our Principles in that point of the fifth Monarchy may be fully known with desire to know what any of our Adversaries now against us shall have to say to us or to our Principles therein who are contented with all our souls the Lord knows to be convinced of any Errour or Mistakes by the Word of Truth But we think not imprisoning or persecuting us a competent or fit way to convince our consciences if we were in Errours as they pretend And although we need no Law of men to allow us this Liberty it being our Birth-right in Christ among Christians and so fully warranted by the Word of God and practice of Primitive Saints yet if we should condescend to the Captious of our times we could tell them The Instrument intituled The Government of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland in the five and twentieth Article declares That Liberty shall be given to discover and confute Errour and Heresie and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine All which the Engager fol. 46. hath promised in the presence of God to observe and cause to be observed to his power subscribed O. CROMWEL In the mean time men would do well to take heed of blaspheming reproaching Christ his Spirit and his Monarchy as they do daily for which our hearts are grieved within us and to search the Scriptures whether these things be so or no. For as the Lord Cromwel writes in his own Letter to the Kirk of Scotland The Word of the Lord may be to some a word of judgement that they may fall backward and be broken and snared and taken there may be a spiritual fulness which the world may call a drunkenness or giddiness Act. 2. O that we might beseech such in the bleeding bowels of Christ crucified before our eyes to think it possible they may be mistaken Though the Great Ones and Wise Ones Priests and Rulers Scribes and Pharisees and Orthodox Professors so accounted of the times were all on their side yet a little handful of the weak ones may have the Truth though but the despised persecuted truth on their side And we do in the tenderness of our hearts and affections to all that are faithful beg of them in the Name of the Lord Jesus who is coming to raign righteously and gloriously that they will have nothing to do with them that are guilty of so great sins lest partaking of their sins they partake also of their Plagues And we hope the Lord will enable us to undergo the sharpness of this Day for our dear Christ and his Cause through the Reproaches Imprisonments Persecutions unjust Charges uncivil Raylings or un-Gospel Carriages which 〈◊〉 have or are like to meet with whether less or more so we may drink out of Christ's Cup and pledge our Master who first drank to us the bitter Potion We shall close at present with our heartiest Prayers and Supplications That God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would in his due time cast down all those carnal earthly cruel and political Combinations of men of all sorts that would not have him to Reign over us but set up themselves and their own corrupted Interests in the room of that Scepter of righteousness which he hath given into the hands of his dear Son that he would by his Spirit resting and abiding upon you and us keep up all our hearts in a constant and patient waiting for his coming till he comes Even so come quickly Lord Jesus come quickly After this Copie is subscribed you are desired to return it with all speed possible to your affectionate friend and brother in our Lord Jesus