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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	word_n	work_v	world_n	1,222	4	4.2943	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61852	A voice from heaven, calling the people of God to a perfect separation from mystical Babylon as it was delivered in a sermon at Pauls before the Right Honorable the Lord Major and Aldermen of the city of London, on Novem. 5, 1653 / by William Strong ...	Strong, William, d. 1654.	1654 (1654)	Wing S6012; ESTC R686	21,131	40

his aim in all that he did Brevi efficiam ut anathema sit esse Papistam And we have the more need to be stirred up hereunto because since this Nation departed from Rome there were never greater attempts nor higher hopes to bring us back unto this spiritual Egypt then there are at this day To make this manifest I shall propose to you some of my observations upon the present times which seem to argue a tendency and inclination this way First A Universal unsetling of all things in Religion all the Principles and the Doctrines of Godliness are either denied or disputed though it be true Spiritus Sanctus Scepticus non est Luther which is to me a ground of fear that there is an intent to bring in another Gospel Antichrists Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that lye I dare not say I dare not think that this is the intendment of all those that go this way but surely it is finis operis though not operantis Yet I am not without fear that many do it designedly and speak lyes in hypocrisie to that very end when we look upon the rise of Antichrist we shall find that Satan before hand cast out of his mouth a flood after the woman which is interpreted to be the Arian heresie and abundance of corrupt Doctrines accompanying it which though they pass too and fro for some years yet all setled and were gathered into the Sea of Rome at last and it is to be feared Satan hath the same aim at this day though Magistrates and men in Authority may profess never so much against it Imperatores facti sunt Christiani sed diabolus nondum factus est Christianus August Secondly Consider the instruments that are abroad in the World we read of frogs sent out of the mouth of the Beast Rev. 16.13 that is by his especial command and commission and these go forth unto the Kings of the Earth in all shapes and we have cause to fear nay apparent ground to believe that besides the men of corrupt minds risen up among our selves there are many of those sent in among us it were well if we could look upon our Cities Army Navy yea Councels to be free and so much the rather it is to be feared because we see all antient Heresies revived Arians Macedonians Montanists Patripassians yea that conceit of Joachim Abbas Joachim Abbas docebat triplicem doctrinam à tribus personis dimanare doctrinam sc Legis à Patre doctrinam Evangelii quod consignatum habemus à Filio tertiam doctrinam à Spiriu sancto expectandam quam appellat Evangelium aeternum Daven in Colos Cap. 2. v. 2. that there is a Gospel of the Spirit another Gospel then that preached by Christ and to observe by what mean persons these doctrines are vented and yet all the antient Arguments used to maintain them A considering man observing this can hardly imagine but that there be some that do secretly and with the best advantage instil such things into them and that in an unobserved way for they are said to be spirits that is though they act very powerfuly yet invisibly their motions ways and practices are not known Thirdly Consider that constant pressing of liberty of Conscience which if granted must be universal for who hath power to lay a restraint upon one mans conscience more then another and therefore the Patrons of this opinion do plead for a toleration for Popery upon a Religious account and that it is no more to be imposed upon then any other perswasion as also that doctrine of Mariana the Jesuite Marian. c. 10. Cont. Volit l 2. Cap. 16. now so generally insisted upon and pleaded for Princeps nil stauat de Religione The Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion there were two Doctrines antiently which of necessity brought in Popery though a man knew-nothing else of that Religion sc That the true Church cannot err and that the Church of Rome is that true Church Now there are two other principles sprung up in the world First that the word in the heart and the Spirit working there is not to be tryed and examined by the word in the Book that being but a dead letter and for the Spirit to be examined by the word is a minoration thereunto Secondly as the word must not try the spirits of men so Magistrates have nothing to do with their Religion These two principles received lay all open to Popery or Atheism And if Popery as a Religion receive but a Toleration and the same Countenance that others do it being a Religion most agreeable to Nature as corrupt and so exactly fitted to it it will soon have the most followers for when Popery first appeared in the world the whole world wondred after it as it had done after Arianism a little before Fourthly Look to the Apostacy of the present age men falling from all things in Religion and with an impudent face denying deriding all the Scriptures the Trinity the Godhead of Christ his sufferings and satisfaction Justification by imputed Righteousness the Law of God as the Rule of Obedience and whatsoever Doctrines Christian Religion is built upon now we know that a great Apostacy did make way for Popery 2 Thes 2.3 God giving them up to believe a lye and by this means the man of sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lawless one was revealed and there is great cause to fear that the present Apostacy amongst us may have such a tendency for we see men fall from one thing to another untill they hold to nothing in matters of Religion such an Apostacy as I think I may without breach of Charity say that hath not been the like in any Christian Church since that great Apostacy before named and being thus become as it were an outward Court may we not fear that God should give us over to be trodden down of the Antichristian Gentiles again and not receiving truth in the love of it he should give us up to believe that lye Fifthly If we consider farther that Antichrist shall have yet a day for it the time of the killing of the witnesses being yet to come For they must Prophesie in sackcloth and ashes a thousand two hundred and sixty daies which is Contemporary with the whole reign of Antichrist which is two and forty months and if we take the beginning from the division of the Empire into ten Kingdoms The ten Kings receiving Power the same hour with the Beast I cannot find upon any account the time of their Prophesie in Sackcloth and Ashes to be fulfilled and if so their killing time and the insulting of the Antichristian party over their dead bodies because they were dead that tormented those that dwell on the Earth must be yet to come and that neer unto the time of Antichrists ruine and who knows yea hath not every one reason to fear that the present Apostacy and defection may lay the ground of and prepare

the spirits of men for such a Persecution Sixthly What means else that general revolting unto the Doctrines of Popery and Arminianism The spirits of Popery which the Jesuits being the Popes Janizaries have laboured most in and had great contests with the Dominicans about them before ever the name of Arminius was heard of in the world and that they are Symbolical and the passage easie from one to the other the examples of Bertius Tilenus Vorstius and many others do make manifest But we need not go abroad for instances We saw in Episcopal times that those that were most forward in receiving and propagating these Doctrines of the Jesuits they soon fell into the superstitions of Rome in all their ways of Worship and we have reason to expect that it should be so in our time also Those Doctrines being as infectious now as they have been in times past Seventhly What may a man think of that general endeavor that there is to take off the odium from Popery and Papists among us That courting of them associating and complying with them so that with too many a Papist finds more favor then a faithfull Minister of the Gospel Nay what means that general neglect of the observation of this day In perpetuam Pontificiorum ignominiam Nay why is it denyed by some and the Religious observance thereof as if it were not a thing plotted by them but rather fained by us Eighthly What is the meaning of that design now on foot against the Ministers of the Gospel and their maintenance both being so clearly laid down in the Scripture and the latter having been so fully proved by the Law Is it not to be feared that all this is because they are the men that are lookt upon to stand in the light and do hinder the bringing forth of some such accursed birth according unto the Politick Counsel of Contzen the Jesuite who exhorts them to take away those that are forward and hot men Zealous for truth Haeresiarchae doctores errorum Repub pellendi sunt una vice si commodè fieri queat sin minus sensim paulatim li. 2. Politic. ca. 18. modus reducendae verae religionis and then error for so he calls truth cui patrocinium deerit sine pugna concidet or at least they being removed those may be be brought in who are unable either to discern truth from error or to convince the gainsayer and so the blind leading the blind both may fall into the Ditch Ninthly That general outcry that is upon all Truths Ordinances and ways of Religion among us as Antichristian Our Churches Antichristian our Ministry Antichristian our Laws Antichristian c. For it is Satans manner when he would set up Antichrist indeed to blend all the things of Christ with the Name of Antichrist thus giving the Wine of her Fornication in a golden Cup For Antichrist must blaspheme Gods name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven neither hath this been a late design only for none of the Opinions or Practices that are amongst us are new but there was a book written many years ago Entituled Praemonitiones Christi Apostolorum de abolendo Christo vero per Antichristum Wherein the Doctrine of the Trinity the two natures of Christ his suffering in the flesh and his satisfaction unto God for sin All these are said to be Antichristian Doctrines and endeavoured to be censured under that Notion of a design of Antichrist to undermine the true Christ who saith the Author is Christ in the Spirit and not in the flesh Let none therefore be moved to hear every thing now termed Antichristian whether in Doctrine or practice according unto the licentiousness of men but rather fear lest under the name of Antichristian the things of Christ be cast off he who is truly Antichrist brought in who comes with all deceivableness of unrighteousness Tenthly When I consider also that general carelesness and inadventencie that is even amongst the people of God concerning these things a spirit of slumber and it is to be feared in Judgement being come upon them so that no man mourns under it no man lays it unto his heart I can remember when the Doctrines of Arminianism were revived in England by Mr. Mountagues Book what impression it made upon the spirits of the godly called then the Puritans of this Nation what mourning fasting praying writing there was against it but now even Godly men sleep whilst the Enemy sows these Tares This makes me to see need of pressing this exhortation that you come out that you keep out of Babylon Oh that the Lord would make it a Voice from Heaven to you For though there be many abominable Heresies Sects and Errors in this Land at this day and in this City Yet upon the forementioned grounds I am enclined to conceive that they all play small game but the Papists who insinuate themselves under all these Forms and thereby intend worse to us then a Powder plot if the Lord prevent it not and I am perswaded they had never greater hopes of it Use 2. But seeing God hath brought us out of Babylon what may we do to keep our selves from returning thither again Here I shall offer to you these few Directions as Preservatives First Receive the truth in the love of it 2 Thes 2.10,11 For this was the cause that did provoke God to give men up unto that efficacy of deceit at first Endeavor therefore to know and to be established in truth that you be not carried away with every wind of Doctrine and do not plead for truth as Lawyers plead causes by other mens evidences but get an experimental knowledge thereof in your own souls Consider it is the great depositum committed unto you to keep Buy it therefore and sell it not contend earnestly for the faith claim it as your inheritance for ever Secondly Let all those that fear God unite against this common adversary your divisions will always be his advantages their way having always been to fish in such troubled waters Captare tempor a impacata Rev. 15.1 though the Sea of glass be mingled with fire yet they that have gotten Victory over the Beast should stand together upon the same Sea with the Harps of God in their hands Commune periculum concordiâ pulsandum It is the observation of Bullinger several times in his Book de Persecut Eccles That because of the dissention of Brethren among themselves God did give them up into the hands of the Enemy ad abstergendum aeruginem quae quotidie magis as mag is crescebat Temporibus Aureliani Imperatoris c. Christiani optime inter se conveniebant sed ardens illud fludium imminutum dissentiones auctae sunt praecipue inter Episcopos doctores Ideoque Dominus passus est infideles Ethnicos manum Ecclesiae injicere Ita temporibus Constantini c. Yet let not this union be sinfull and unworthy unto that I exhort you not For Castam Christi sponsum decet casta concordia but you that agree in the Foundations the great things of Religion though in certain forms you differ or in truths of lesser alloy yet take Luthers Counsel to the Synod at Norinberg to silence your disputes untill a fitter opportunity Meum consilium est ut causam hanc sinatis ad tempus sopitam jacere hoc tempore enim animis sic affectis venenum est disputare And be sure in your diversity of opinion you endeavor to keep unity in affection Thirdly Suspect all new Doctrines For we are to enquire for the old way the good way that we may find rest to our souls we are to go forth by the steps of the Antient flocks Novelty hath always leaven in it the people of God antiently feared not only novel Doctrines or Tenents but new coined words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for with such false teachers use to come Felix Ecclesin cum nova de Deo dicere lascivia crederetur that Church is in a happy condition when all Novelties in Doctrine are suspected to be barely the fruit of wanton wits and prophane hearts Fourthly Take heed of hearing any of those that would bring in Popish leaven Your ears are not your own take heed what you hear itching ears seldom consent to true but ordinarily to unsound Doctrine 2 Joh. 10. If they bring not this Doctrine receive them not into your house bid them not God-speed Those common civilities which unto some strangers are a duty they cannot without sin be performed towards men that corrupt truths and hunt souls Fifthly Let Magistrates do their duty towards Religion It is Bellarmines Doctrine that they are Religionis defensores non Judices but you Right Honorable with the rest in Authority ought to Judge which is the true Religion and to endeavor to maintain it Christianity taking in all our relations and the Lord having promised Isa 49.23 That Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queens thy nursing Mothers that which is promised to the Church as a mercy Magistrates should make Conscience to perform as a duty Do you therefore afford favor and encouragement unto those that are good and be you a terror unto them that are evil Mark those that cause Divisions and raise Distractions among you Sixthly Give unto God the glory of the mercy of this day Let your Vials be gold and full of Odours The Enemies fall before the praises as well as the prayers of Gods people Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings he hath ordained strength Psal 8.2 which is rendred by Christ thou hast perfected praise Mat. 21.16 and this shall be powerfull to still the Enemy and the avenger I shall conclude all with that 2 Chron. 20.22 when they began to sing and to praise the Lord the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon Moab and Mounseir that they helped to destroy one another FINIS