Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	sin_n	soul_n	work_n	7,280	5	5.6981	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78144	A Christian standing & moving upon the true foundation. Or, A word in season. Perswading to sticke close to God, act eminently for God. In his present design a- against [sic] all discouragements, oppositions, temptations. Expressed in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monthly fast, Octob. 25, 1648. By Matthew Barker, M.A. late preacher of the Gospel at James Garlick-hith, London, and now at Morclacke in Surrey.	Barker, Matthew, 1619-1698.	1648 (1648)	Wing B772; Thomason E468_40; ESTC R10148	45,680	72

within from without or round about them and our Apostle might the better presse this upon others as having in so great measure attained it in his owne person as we read in Rom. 8. latter end Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation distresse nakednesse famine c. nay in all these things we are more than conquerers and then adds I am perswaded that neither life nor death principallities nor powers things present nor things to come shall ever be able to seperate us from the love of God c. He like a wise Commander espies out the utmost strength of his enemies and surveying them in their number in their nature in their severall kinds and he is not one whit moved or shaken but standing firm upon his foundation concludes against them all that they shall never be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ So in 1 Cor. 16. 3. Watch y●● stand fast in the Faith quit you like men He speakes in military language for Christianity is a fight lest your enemies surprize you watch if they approach to an encounter stand ●ast retreat not at all if it comes to an engagement quit your selves like men So in Ephes 6. 13. Therefore put on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whole Armour of Go● that yee may bee able to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand or having abolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strength of all enemies to stand First as good Souldiers they are to put on their armour next stoutly to make resistance and not to cease the fight till they had quite scattered their enemies and like conquerours keeping the field having done all to stand So often doth our Saviour encourage his Disciples to stand fast Matth. 24. 6. When you heare of warres and rumours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of warres see that you be not troubled Some Criticks observe that the word implies such a trouble as when Souldiers receive some sudden alarm what strange disquietments distraction confusion may then be seene but saith Christ be not you thus troubled let not these things amaze you or draw you off from the foundation of your repose and rest One place more I shall adde John 16. last These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheere I have overcome the world It is true you are to encounter with the troubles of the world but the world and every thing in the world that fights against your life and peace is overcome in me therefore be not you moved be of good courage notwithstanding all 1. For the clearing of the point we shal first shew you wherein a Christian is to shew forth his stedfastnesse of spirit 2. Secondly the way whereby God brings up the soule to it Then we shall acquaint you with the grounds and lastly apply all to our selves For the First a Christian is to shew forth this stedfastnesse in oppsition to those severall things which are apt to shake him 1. The First is the guilt of sin this hath brought many a precious soule under sad disquietments conflicts and agonies Job felt them and expresseth them Job 6. 4. For the arrowes of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God set themselves in array against me David felt them and elegantly describes them by that dismall appearance of things upon Mount Sinai at the delivery of the Law God came downe upon it in his Majesty and glory and then the Earth shooke the foundation of the hills moved there was seen also fire smoake and burning coales darknesse darke waters thunder lightning and thick cloudes of the skie All this the Prophet did finde spiritually in his own soul so dreadful and disquieting is the presence of God to the guilty conscience But now a Christian is to stand stedfast here to live above the feares of hell and wrath and amidst all that unworthinesse weaknesse sinfulnesse he beholds in himself yet to esteem himselfe in Christ perfectly righteous in the sight of God and so to be at peace The Apostle exhorts to this Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw nigh with full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience c. Nothing more unfits the soule to draw nigh to God than an evil conscience a conscience under the workings of guilt and feare of wrath not that we exclude mourning for sin such mourning as flowes from faith and calls not the soule off from the true foundation 2. The Second thing which is apt to disquiet the soule is the temptations of Satan he is an unquiet turbulent spirit and is still seeking to draw the soule off from the Centre of her rest and peace and though he cannot rob her of her inheritance in God yet he makes her to posesse it with as much trouble as he can Disorder and ataxy are the very basis of his Kingdom when every thing is brought backe to its proper place then doth his Kingdome fall Christ told his Disciples that Satan desired to winnow them as wheat Luke 22. 31. wheat is not winnowed without much moving and shaking Now a Christian is to stand fast against Satan to resist him stedfast in the faith to 1 Pet. 5. 9. 1 John 5. 18. keep himself that the wicked one may not touch him And thus he doth when he stands upon his foundation when he lives above with God and in God he hath Satan under his feet though he cast his fiery darts at him yet they are all quenched and hurt him not But when hee comes from his foundation and parlies with him and consents to his suggestions then is he wounded by him The Devill could not touch Christ because hee abode stedfast in the Godhead and the will of the Father hee set the Lord alwayes before him and kept Satan behind him Psal 16. 8. Mat. 16. 23 and so conquered Had our first parents done thus they had not fallen but they turning their eyes from God and his will and fixing it upon the temptation were bewitched and fell 3. The third thing that is apt to disquiet the soul is the Law When it was delivered the Earth shook the people trembled and Moses himselfe said I exceedingly feare and quake This is the naturall effect of the Law to cause earthquakes and shakings in the Soule When a poore Christian lookes upon the purity and strictnesse of the Law pointed with wrath curse against the least transgression as also the holinesse justice and majesty of the law-giver and his own vilenesse and filthinesse he is then ready to quake and tremble and say with those men of Bethshemesh Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God 1 Sam. 6. 20. But yet looking up to that free estate to which he is advanced in Christ having the Law with all its

Jesus 3. In respect of their Original vers 47. The first man is of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven The first man was earthly in his originall and all that we have received from him brings us not up above an earthly estate but the second Adam was the Lord from Heaven and so in him wee rise up into an heavenly estate Thus you have a briefe account of his skill in divine learning His skill in humane learning appeares as in the excellency of his stile so in the exactnesse of his method He first begins with his Prooem and there prepares the mindes of the people to entertain that heavenly discourse that he was to insist upon and this you have in 11. first verses Next we have the narration wherein he states the Question and layes down the subject that he was to speak to and that you have in the 12. verse Now if Christ be preached that be rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead As if he should say The Doctrine that we Apostles Ministers of Christ preach is that there shall bee a resurrection of the dead Now there are some among you whether of the Sect of the Epicures among the Heathens or of the Sadduces among the Jewes or of both some there are that deny it And whether they or we have the truth with us is the matter in controversie And next he proceeds to the confirmation wherein he doth prove his own assertion by many solid and undeniable arguments from the 12. verse to the 33. which would be too long to give a particular account of at this time After this he comes to the Confutation wherein he answers an objection and that we find in the 35. verse But some man will say How are the dead raised up and with what bodies doe they come This he answers by a double Metaphor The one is of Corn which by dying is quickned as you read 36 37 38. verses The other is from the severall formes and qualities wherewith God hath cloathed other creatures in nature as you read in 39 40 41. verses And then he further proceeds to the Illustration in the 42 43 44 verses wherein he unfolds and describes the nature and manner of the resurrection And lastly we have the Epilogus where he windes up all and makes a practicall application of his whole discourse Wherefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord as knowing that your labour is never in vain in the Lord. That we may rightly understand the ful Emphasis of the Text we must look back to the Context The Apostle having largely discoursed of the resurrection wherein he seeth both himselfe and all Saints raised up into a state of victory as he speakes in the 54. verse Death is swallowed up in victory like a Conquerour he doth perform these three things in the end of the chapter 1. He makes his triumph and sets his feet upon the neckes of his enemies O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory v. 55. 2. He offers up his sacrifice of praise to the God of his victory But thankes be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus v. 57. 3. He gives out his Orders for the right improving of his victory and that two wayes as wee read in the Text. 1. To a Christian stedfastnesse and resolution Be you stedfast and unmoveable as if he should say God hath made you Conquerours in Christ over Death Grave the Law Sin and all your enemies the victory is fallen on your side therefore now stand your ground-give not back stoutly maintain what you have won 2. To a spirituall activity and sedulity Alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord as if he had said Hath the Lord Jesus done such great things for you as to bring you up into such a conquering estate and is there such a glorious estate abiding you in the resurrection as before he had described therefore now esteeme no labour or travell too much to undergoe for him In the Text we have these two maine parts 1. A Loving Compellation my beloved brethren 2. A double Exhortation the one is to a constant unmovablenesse be yee stedfast unmovable The other is to a continuall motion alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. Both which are backt and inforced with a double Motive The first implyed in the first word the Adverb ●● wherefore seeing it is thus that there are such victories won and such hopes laid up for you therefore be yee stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord. The second is exprest in the last words as knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. What ever labour you undergoe either in standing unmovably upon your foundation or in your spirituall motion in the worke of Christ it is not lost labour not an empty worke your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Thus you have a briefe account of the Text. For the first part the Compellation we shall not insist upon it at all it being only to make roome in their hearts for the entertainment of the duties he commends to them That which wee shall therefore God assisting spend the time that yet remaines upon is the two Exhortations wherein he stirs them up to make a right improvment of the victory they had gotten in Christ The Motives we shall not particularly insist upon as intending to make use of them in the Application First then to the former Exhortation to a Christian unmovablenesse and constancy be you stedfast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a Metaphor either taken from a Basis or Foundation upon which the building will stand firme and stedfast So that the Apostle exhorts them to stand fast upon that sure foundation on which they were placed in Christ Or else from a Chaire or Seat in which a man sits firme without tortering or in danger of falling and so he exhorts them to sit quietly and stedfastly in that Seat of rest that Chaire of State that Throne of victory and glory which they were placed upon in the Lord Jesus The other word in this former Exhortation is unmovable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it signifies one that will not be moved from his place or standing The Apostle knew that many things would assault them to draw them off from their foundation and spirituall stability but saith he yeeld not a jot be unmovable like the Pole of the heavens or like a Rocke in the Sea be unmoved in the midst of all Thus from the first Exhortation we shall gather this Doctrine To stand fast with an unshaken spirit upon the true foundation is the wisdome and worke of Saints Doct. That as they are raised up into a full free firme and victorious state in Christ so here they are to live abide and reigne amidst all encounters all changes from

curses under his feet he is to stand fast not to feare but to bee as fully at peace in Christ as if there was no Law at all As Histories report of some Hills that stand up above the middle Region that those that are at the top may see it thunder and lighten and the clouds send forth storms and tempests upon the Region below them and yet they behold the Sunne cleare above them and enjoy a calm and serene aire round about them So though the Law like claps of thunder and flashes of lightning may amaze those that yet live in the lower Regions of the flesh and the world yet the Saints are set up aloft in Christ above the Law as a Covenant of Works live in an upper Region of light and peace when those that are below them are in darknesse terrour and trouble Rom. 3. 19. We know what things soever the Law saith it saith it to them that are under the Law 4. The fourth thing that is apt to disquiet the Soul is Death this is the King of terrors and makes stoutest hearts tremble yea there is no creature but flies from it armes against it and trembles before it But a Christian is to be stedfast here not to be afraid of Death though presented in the most dreadful shape he is not to decline his duty to bawk his station or tread one step awry that he may avoid it Of this temper was the Apostle Paul he saw Death daily before him in his way yet he goes on unmovably as you read Acts 20. 24. None of these things move me neither doe I count my life deare to my self that I may finish my course with joy And Chap. 21. 13. What mean you to weep and break mine heart for I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus When a man is brought to see that the loving kindnesse of God is better then Life and the fulfilling the Psal 63. 3. will of God better then all outward contentments and enjoyments then will he stand fast against the approaches of Death The fifth thing that is ready to disquiet a Christian is the world and that both in its Frowns and Flatteries First its Frowns when it musters up its reproaches losses crosses afflictions persecutions and sets them as in battell aray against a poore Christian when that malignant Spirit that is in the World breakes forth and acts to the utmost of its activity in opposition to the Saints and the present designe of God yet this ought no whit to move them or discourage them but are to goe on as freely and uprightly in the work of God and to be as confident of its prevailing as if there was no opposition at all Of this brave temper was the Apostle Paul The Holy Ghost did witnesse to him that in every Act. 20. 24 Citie bonds afflictions did wait for him yet saith he None of these things move me When God sent out the Prophets of old to prophesie against the Princes and the great men of the earth he commands them to stand fast against all opposition As when he sent out the Prophet Jeremy Jer. 1. 8. saith he Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee And in the 17 verse Thou therefore gird up thy loynes and arise and speak to them all that I command thee For behold I have made thee this day a defenced Citie an Iron pillar and brazen walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah against the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof c. Though the powers of the World acting in severall Spheares and running along in severall Channels doe come to unite in one Stream of violence to overflow the Saints yet they are to stand fast like Iron pillars and brazen walls without feare or flinching So he speakes to the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 2. 6. And thou sonne of Man be not afraid of them nor be not afraid of their words though briers and thornes be with thee and thou dost dwell among Scorpions Such armour of proofe is the spirit of a Christian to put on that he may be able without feare or prejudice to walk through the very midst of Briers Thorns and Scorpions 2. A Christian is also to stand fast aginst the flatteries of the world and these many times conquer where the other cannot Sampson could not be overcome by the power of all the Philistims yet was foild by the inticement of one Dalilah The Armies of Moab could not prevaile against Israel but the daughters of Moab could Num. 25. 1. 2. with their whorish alurements For a man to have the glory of the world set before him in its richest array as it was before Christ Moses and others yet to remaine stedfast not to move a step out of the way so much as to salute them or parly with them in his spirit this is a mighty worke and yet it is the duty of Saints So that as the Romans had this inscription upon their Targets nec spe nec metu neither by hope nor feare would they ever prove renegadoes or become unfaithfull So though the world presents it selfe to us in severall formes and complexsions sometimes to affright sometimes to ensnare yet a Christians worke is to stand stedfast against both 6. A Sixth thing that is apt to disquiet and to remove the soule from her foundation is the darknesse of divine administrations when God makes cloudes to be his chariots rides along in the dark quite out of the creatures sight when there appeares no harmony between Promises and Providences the word and workes of God And this either in the more internall or externall workes of the Almighty First internall when God doth alter his administrations to a poore soule when he shall frowne as a Judge who even now did smile as a Father When he shall cover his face with a dark cloud that even now shone forth with much sweetnesse and glory when the soule shall still follow God and yet God seemes to depart farther off when the soule shall cry and God seems not either to heare or regard but all his administrations speake that he loves her not ownes her not but intends to cast her off Now for the soule to be un shaken not to faint or be discouraged not to say Surely I have cleansed my heart in vaine I will goe back to my former lovers and as the Israelites Arise and make us Gods to goe before us for as for this Moses that brought us out of Egypt we know not what is become of him For the soule yet to beare up Exo. 32. 1. stoutly in confidence of the love of God and rather to rest upon and waite for a frowning chiding delaying God than to imbrace a smiling courting flattering world this is her worke and dutie And so in the more externall works of God to his Church abroad When

as the crown wherwith the work is rewarded though the work may be in vain as to men it finds no reward in the world but it meets with abundant recompense in the Lord. Thus we have the words briefly opened the Observations might be severall Onely one I shall speak to and under which the substance of the rest may be comprehended That Christians are to presse after a spirituall excellency in Doct. 2 the service of God To excell and be eminent in spirituall work We have a parallel place 1 Thes 4. 1. Furthermore we beseech you brethren c. as you have received of us how to walk so ye would abound more and more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word in the text which Beza translates Vt magis excellatis and notes upon it It a conemiai magis ac magis excellere ac vos ipsos quotidie superare And the French translation renders the words very fully Vous passier plus autre de plus en plus that you would passe on further from more to more Solomon compares the way of a righteous man to the shining Pro. 4. 18. light which shineth more and more till the perfect day A Christian like the Sun is daily to mount higher and shi●e brighter in the sphear of his spirituall activity For this we have Christ admiring his Spouse Cant. 6. 10. who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the moon clear as the sun she is shining forth still in a purer and brighter light and glory She is walking in the light as Iohn expresseth it that is she acts in light and makes a progresse 1 Ioh 1. in it also And Christ compares the kingdom of heaven to a seed that grows up into its perfection by degrees Mar. 4. 28. the earth brings forth first the blade then the ear then the full corn in the ear The first works and fruits of a Christian are weak and lowe and exceeding imperfect that he can scarse know them whether they be of the flesh or of the spirit as a blade of good corn is scarse discerned from a tare then it brings forth the ear Now his actions are more raised springing from higher acts of faith and love and clearly appear to spring from a Divine seed and spirituall root Lastly the full corn in the ear now his fruit is come to some perfection and maturity In the heavenly Academy there are three degrees First Tyrones novices babes in Christ newly entred Secondly proficientes those that have ascended to an higher degree and who are past the first principles and are moving towards perfection Thirdly perfecti who are arrived at the top strong men and dextrous in spirituall works now those of the first form are to aspire toward the second and the second to the third The Psalmist Psal 84. 7. seems to allude to this They go on from strength to strength it is in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 margin and so the originall will bear it from company to company from one form and company of Christians to another The French de bande eu bande every one of them in Sion appeareth before God It is said of Abraham Gen. 12. 9. that he journeyed going on still towards the South A learned Interpreter observes this upon it he journeyed towards the South which Ainsworth in loc is towards the Sun figuring his progresse in faith grace The Apostle presseth to this often as Hebr. 6. 1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God Not that faith and repentance are to be layed utterly aside but onely in the primi●ive and first acts of them and afterwards to put forth higher acts of both And this excellency in the work of God is to appear 1. In the matter of the work to be still undertaking higher and greater works for God As the work that Moses was upon to bring Israel out of Aegypt and Ioshua to bring them into Canaan and the Apostles to preach the Gospel among the Gentiles these were great works So Christians are to be still ingaging in works of greater eminency of a more publick nature more importance and difficulty 2. In the number of our works a Saints life is to be a continuall service God hath not tyed us under the Gospel to any number because he delights in free services and where there is a Gospel principle it constrains to act abundantly Love it is a short Tyranny as one cals it it sweetly Charron compels the soul to be industrious and active in the service of her beloved The vestall fire never went out so the fire of a Saints activity is to be alwayes flaming The more active a Christian is the more like Angels who are described Isa 6. 2. as alwayes flying yea the more like Christ whose meat and drink was to do his Fathers will yea the more like God who though alwayes at rest in himself yet alwaies in act yea activity it self 3. In the manner of our working which is the main 1. In doing our works with more simplicitie to do them purely for Gods sake when we look singly at God in them and da●e not appropriate either the service it self or the strength whereby we mannage it or the successe of the service to our selves but look upon God as all and our selves as nothing in them And therefore an ancient Writer perswading men to depart out of themselves bids them beware 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Philo in li. Quis rerum d●v●na●um haeres they appropriate not understanding apprehension quicknesse of sight any thing to themselves in their actions But to offer up and dedicate all these things to him who is the cause of all It is an easie matter to do works great in outward appearance but to do them with this simplicitie of spirit Hic labor hoc opus est this is Christianity indeed The Pharisees did great works for the matter of them gave great Alms payed Tithes of all built the Sepulchers of their fathers but because they wanted this simplicitie of spirit did them to be seen of men they stunk in the nostrils of God But the rule of Christ to his disciples is when thou givest an Alms let nor thy left hand know what thy right hand doth hide what thou doest even from thy self left the flesh assume glory 2. In doing them with more delight to rejoyce as a gyant to run a race to act with as great freedom in a work where God alone is concerned as where our own interests are the most deeply involued When we can rejoyce more in opportunities of service then in all outward contentments counting it an honour that God will make use of us in the meanest work 3. In doing them with more self-denyall when we can be content to lay down and wave our own interest that we

may do God service The more self-denyall appears in any service the more true excellency shines forth in it To be stiffe and inexorable in matters concerning common good and to be flexible and yeelding in his own private is the temper of a gracious heart 4. In doing them with greater bent and intention of spirit when the heart is carried out strongly in the work of God that no difficulties and opposition do discourage or stop Hezekiahs heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17. 6. not lift up with pride but resolution an heart soaring above dangers sufferings lowe and earthly interests Not slothfull in businesse but fervent in spirit serving the Lord saith the Apostle Rom. 12. 11. As the Angels called * Fervorem acumen ●ffer vescentiam inte●tae ac nunquam intermissae nunquamque decl●nantis motionis nomen Seraphim luculenter designat Dionys Areop de coelest hierarch cap. 7. Seraphims have their name from that burning heat of spirit wherewith they are carried forth to God and for God There are two words in Scripture most commonly used signifying a man Ish and Adam the latter comes from a word signifying earth and expresseth man in his dead corrupt and earthly state the former from a word signifying * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fire and expresseth man in his raised quickned state in Christ Christians then act not up to their renewed state in Christ when they are not carried forth Ignis Avenar with fervor of spirit in the work of God We shall onely make one Use of this and so conclude You see then Christians your duty before you Oh Vse then let you and I be daily advancing into an higher excellencie in the work of God In other things we are ambitious to excell as who shall have the greatest state who shall have the best repute among men who shall drive the greatest Trade who shall be best seen into his Art and Profession who shall be best skill'd in Mysteries and Sciences and shall we alone be sinfully modest and indifferent in the work of God are there any works so noble and attended with such plentifull incomes as these works are And doth not God deserve from you something that is excellent daily Or can you in the perfection of any works arrive at so much satisfaction peace and joy as in the perfection of spirituall works Or can your spirits ever be in their highest operation in any works save onely these Or are they ever imployed to the end for which they were created till they busie themselves in these works O that this might be all the strife contention among Christians not who shall get victory over each other and whose private opinion shall be most applauded but who shall most excell in the work of the Lord who shall put forth highest acts of faith and love and out-shine in a spirituall ●nd exemplary conversation And O that this was all the contention among Ministers not who shall get the greatest Livings who shall be most in favour with men or gain the greatest party but who shall be most laborious in the work of the Gospel who shall most deny themselves for God and win most souls to the Lord Jesus And O that this was all the contention among Magistrates not who shall most enrich themselves by the ruines of the State who shall carry on some private designe with greatest strength and successe but who shall shew himself most faithfull to his trust who shall be most sollicitous and sincere for the advancing the honour of God and the freedom and happinesse of the Nation such strife would reconcile us such contentions would make us all friends And you Right Honorable I shall addr●sse the residue of my discourse particularly to You have already done g●eat things we do acknowledge but if you sit down he●e England will be on this side that cure she needs and that happinesse she expects from You. Therefore still strive to excell not alone other Parliaments for so You have done already but your selves also daily Let your last works excell the first that it may never be said of you as the mother of Claudiu● Caesar said of him That Nature had begun him but not finisht him That you begun a good work and left it abortive and unfinisht Seneca speaks of some that they were semper victori alwayes about to live let it not be said of you that You were about to settle us and establish our Liberties but never did it And let there appear still more simplicity love self denyall and intention of spirit in all your actions that none may have occasion to say that you have any whit abared of your primitive integrity and zeal And to move you to this let me be bold to propound to You some serious Considerations 1. Consider how God hath excelled towards You he hath appeared for you and gone along with you after an excellent and extraordinary rate What Parl●ament or people before you can speak higher things and tell larger stories of the power and goodnesse of God then you may And hath he not exceeded of late do not the mercies and victories of a later birth bear a livelier image and clearer lileaments of God upon them then the former hath he thus excelled in his workings for you and will not you excell daily in your acting for him How often hath the Parliament of England been at the very brinks of the grave the proud waves have beset you round and you have been reacy severall times to be buried in a deluge of desolation ruine and yet God hath given you a new life from the dead and you stand upon your feet this day as rich monuments of the excelling mercy and providence of God to the joy and comfort of your friends and the terror and astonishment of your Enemies Now as it was with the Captain of our salvation after his resurrection he appeared in greater glory And as Herod said when he heard the fame of Christ John Baptist is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him So Sirs you having been al●eady as crucified and buried and now as risen from the dead Oh that we might now see more of God breaking forth from you and more mighty works shewing forth themselves in you 2. Consider how the eyes of all the Saints have been upon you not onely in England but even in all parts of the world to see what will be the issue of that work which is now in you hands And never did God more raise up the hearts of his people to pray for any society of men as for you and they are now looking how prayers are answered in you And oh that we might daily see you rising up in your actions and resolutions answerable to the height of our hopes and expectations from you 3. Consider seriously what precious blood hath been spilt for the advancing of that work you