Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	word_n	world_n	year_n	387	4	4.3522	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07288	Saint Peters chaine consisting of eight golden linckes, most fit to adorne the neckes of the greatest states, nobles, and ladies in this land, as the chiefest iewell of true nobilitie: and not vnfit for the meaner sort. Digested into eight chapters, and published by R.M. minister. With a praier annexed to the end of euerie chapter.	Mavericke, Radford, b. 1560 or 61.	1596 (1596)	STC 17683; ESTC S112697	95,593	198

saluation therefore none but Gods elect do beleeue Here further we learne that faith is not giuen vs in respect of any righteousnes merite Faith is not giuen for our owne worthines or desert that is in vs but of God his free mercy as well to the Iewes as to the gentils to the Grecian and to the Barbarian to the bond and to the free to male and female wheresouer throughout the whole world dispersed as many as be elected vnto saluation Now although man knoweth not the time No time set when wee shal be called when yet certaine it is that euery one of the elect shal be called one time or other according as God in his diuine prouidence hath appointed For as he chooseth whom he wil so those whome hee hath chosen hee calleth vnto faith by the ministerie of his word and effectual working of his holy spirit when it pleaseth him vnlesse by his secret worke according to his euerlasting counsel and election hee call them in their infancie to himselfe out of this world before they come to yeeres of discretion Heereuppon it is that he calleth some in their youth some in their middle age and some not before olde age some at the dauning of the daie some at the Math. 20. 3 4 5 6 third houre some at the sixt houre some at the eleuenth houre so long as the time of this present life indureth and this light of grace continueth so long the time lasteth of the heauenly calling Let no man or woman therfore despaire Let none despaire of their calling for he that is not called to day may be to morow or doubt of their saluation that are not yet effectually called for they knowe not howe soone they may be only let euerie one praie that when God doth call we may bee ready to yeelde our obedience especially let not the preachers and ministers of Gods word be discouraged though in a long time they see little fruit or their labors for faith many times which is planted by their preaching Faith many times couered as fire in the ashes doeth lie close hidde and couered as the fire in the ashes one daie when God will it shall breake out into flames of charitye and godlynes at least wise if the Gospell which we preach bee hidde it is hid to 2. Cor. 4. 3 them that perish as many as are ordained vnto saluation shall at one time or other yeeld their obedience and so eternally bee saued But because it falleth out often A comfort for weaklings times that manye of the deare children of GOD are verye much grieued yea almost plunged in the pitte of desperation when they heare that none but such as haue faith shall bee saued because they themselues doo not feele the heate of faith so effectuallie as they desire Therefore I haue thought it verye necessarye before I conclude brieflie to shewe that there are diuerse measures of faith some He that hath the least measure of true faith shal be faued greater and some lesser and that the least measure of faith if it bee true fayth sufficeth vnto saluation so shall none of Gods children I hope bee discouraged when sathan shall cast into their mindes the littlenes of their faith First euerie christian must holde for certaine that which Saint Paul teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians namely that there is one Lord and one fayth next Ephe. 4. 6 it is behoofefull for vs to knowe that this one faith is giuen to the faithful in diuers sundrye measures according as Saint Paule saith in the twelfth to the Romanes That Rom. 12.3 euerie one must vnderstande according to sobrietie according as God hath dealt to euerie man the measure of faith to some a greater measure is giuen to some a lesser Also the fruites of faith are not in all The fruites of faith are not alike in all the faithfull the faithfull a like as namely one fayth full man and woman hath and may haue more knowledge more loue more feare of God more hope more patience more brotherlie kindenes and so foorth then another hath according as hee hath receiued a greater measure of faith but yet the measure of faith by the good prouidence of God is so distributed and deuided that there are none of Gods elect to whome is giuen lesse then may suffice vnto saluation for the measure of faith doth contayne this in it selfe that there is a sufficient portion to euerie one hee that hath the lesser measure shall haue saluation with him that hath the greater And doubtlesse it is done by the speciall counsell and prouidence of God that one hath a greater measure of fayth then another for God hath so moderated all those thinges by his wisedome that to those whom hee hath appointed to endure many great battels hee hath giuen a larger portion of faith As to Ahraham Isaack To those whom God wil try most hee giueth most faith Iacob Moses Dauid and the like whom when hee would try by many trybulations and temptations he vouchsafed to bestow vppon them a greater measure of faith not that therby they should attaine vnto saluation rather then other that haue lesser gifts of faith but that they should serue to the furthering of Gods glory and that they might bee examples to those that are more infirme and weaker Now if any would knowe what the least measure of faith is that any man or woman can haue surely it is this when a man of an What the least measure of faith is humble spirit by reason of the litlenes of his faith doth not yet feele the assurance of the forgiuenes of his sinnes and yet is perswaded that they are pardonable and with his heart prayeth God that hee would pardon and forgiue them Now that such a one hath faith it is perceiued by the good desires Esa 57.17 and prayers which he maketh because such prayers and desires are testimonies of the spirit of God whose property is to stirre vp a longing and a lusting after heauenly Good praiers a token of true faith Rom. 8.26 thinges with sighes and groanes for Gods fauour and mercy in Iesus Christ and where the spirite of Christe is there is Christ dwelling and where Christ dwelleth 2. Cor 13.5 there is true faith howe weake so euer it be Moreouer faith though it bee but lyttle is the gifte and working of God proued by this saying of the Apostle Saint Paule that it is God that worketh both Phil. 2.13 the will and the deede therefore whosoeuer hath this good will and desire in him it is certaine that there is the presence and working of Gods holie spirite Nowe wee must not iudge of the grace of God by the absolute perfection or quantitie of faith but onely by the foundation whereuppon it resteth which foundation is the merites the obedience satisfaction and righteousnesse of the sonne of God imputed vnto

further proofe that no man by his owne naturall reach of wit and vnderstanding can iudge of the vertues and qualities of faith but onely such as are renewed and borne againe by the spirite of God Now then as I said is it any marueil that this precious Iewel of faith is so smally estimated slenderly accōpted of in the world of meere worldly carnal men Seing they haue no skil at al to iudge of the rare vertues and operation therof neither by meanes of the outward senses of their bodies nor yet by the force powers of their souls but are altogether like vnto the Cocke wherof the fable speaketh that seeing a precious Gem or Iewell lying on the donghill wished hee had had one graine of Barley for that precious Iewell because hee knewe not the price and vertue of the same and therefore did wish for that which serued best to the satisfying of his owne appetite and desire Seeing then the case thus standeth that most people are so miserably deceiued chusing with greedie earnestnes and desire and as it were with both hands apprehending the vaine transitory things of this life make small or none accompt but euen like filthie swine trample vnder their feete Gods Treasures contemned of worldly men those precious pearles of the worde of God of faith and free saluation purchased by the bloud of Christ to the high dishonouring of Almightie God to the endaungering of their owne soules to the great scandale or offence of other to the extreme griefe of hearte of each true faithfull and godlye Christian seeing the case thus standeth I say and these premises duely considered I haue thought it meete and verily agreeing with my calling to spend a litle time in contriuing these plaine and simple treatises of faith and the fruites thereof hereafter following to this end that partly by the helpe hereof if God giue a blessing thereunto but chiefely by prayer reading and hearing of Gods word preached the ignorant sort may attaine vnto the knowledge of faith and other misteries of God by grace which wee by our owne natural knowledge and vnderstanding are not able to attaine vnto and that also these rich gifts of God as faith the rest may be the better accompted of to Gods glorie and our eternall comfort and saluation .. And because it is the minde of the holy 2. Pet. 1 5. Ghost as Saint Peter noteth that all vertues whatsoeuer shold be linked vnto faith as the verye fountaine from whence they must spring therefore I haue made this my first Chapter wherein I will God assisting me in as briefe manner as I can declare and make plaine to those whose eyes it shall please the Lord to open what an excellent and precious Iewell fayth is as also what great profit commodity we receiue by it But here first of all intreating of fayth in generall it shall not bee amisse to make knowne what faith it is whereof I will intreate for there is a certaine Morall fayth or trust which we call fidelitie that ought to be betweene man and man and euen this is a vertue worthy of commendation ther is also an Historicall faith when we onely beleeue the bare Historie whether it bee humane or diuine without any further application of it vnto our selues and this faith is also in some sort worthy of due praise and there is a Temporary faith when some doe beleeue for a time as our Sauiour saith nothing Mat. 13.21 worthie to be commended but is like vnto that faith whereof Saint Iames speaketh that is dead in it selfe to speake nothing Iam. 2.17 of that fayth which is called miraculous because it hath ceased for the most part since the time of the Apostles Now it is not my purpose to entreate of any of these seeing they are gifts common What faith it is whereunto Saint Peter wold haue vertue ioyned to the good and to the bad neither doeth Sainte Peter meane to linke his Golden Chaine with any one of them for that wold disgrace his whole worke but that fayth which I mind to speake of is supernaturall diuine and heauenly far more glorious and excellent then can be comprehended as I haue already saide by the wit and naturall vnderstanding of man But what is it wil some say that you doe so commend Wilt thou know Surely it is that which thy tongue hath vttered a thousand times when thou hast said I beleeue in God And is this such a great matter will worldlings saye to beleeue in God Doth this onely thing deserue so great praise and commendation Yea verily But here beware A Caueat least thou deceiue thy selfe in the vnderstanding of the words for there be three things almost like in words but farre differing in true sence meaning namely to beleeue God to beleeue there is a God and to beleeue in God The deuils beleeue the first and the second that God is true of his promise which is to beleeue God and they also beleeue there is one God and no more and tremble as Saint Iames saith but they Iam. 2.19 beleue not the third that is in God which is as much as to embrace him for our good God and to rest repose our selues on him and his worde onely which is that true iustifying faith wherof I speake So then we must take heed as I said that we do not deceiue True faith beleeueth in God our selues thinking we beleeue verie well if we beleeue God and beleeue there is a God which thing indeede we ought also to do but we must goe further to beleeue in God that is to acknowledge him for our good God Sauior this is ment by saying I beleeue in God I beleeue I say not another for me for euery one shall be saued by his owne faith and not by anothers as the Prophet Habacuk saith The iust shall Haba 2.4 liue by his owne faith Furthermore to beleeue in 〈…〉 to beleeue in God the Father in Go●●he son in God the holy Ghost three persons in trinity one God in vnity of essēce And is it then so easie a matter to beleeue the trinity in vnity the vnity in trinity No verily flesh bloud doth not reueal these things vnto vs as Christ said vnto S. Peter Mat. 16.17 but onely God himselfe both by the outward preaching of his worde by the inward working of his holy spirit Wherfore Galat. 5.6 a true liuely and iustifying faith which euermore worketh by loue may bee thus A definition of a true liuely faith defined namely that it is a most certain sound perswasion of Gods great good will fauour towardes vs grounded vpon the truth of his free promises made vnto mankinde in his sonne Christ Iesus reuealed vnto vs by the preaching of his word and sealed in our harts by his holy spirite Thus then hauing briefly and plainely shewed what