Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	world_n	worldly_a	worship_n	160	3	7.2937	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50182	A serious exhortation to the present and succeeding generation in New-England earnestly calling upon all to endeavours that the Lords gracious presence may be continued with posterity : being the substance of the last sermons preached / by Eleazar Mather ...	Mather, Eleazar, 1637-1669.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.	1671 (1671)	Wing M1179; ESTC R19402	30,717	39

in respect of the Lords Presence Jer 44.17 18. Then we had plenty of victuals and were Well and saw ro evil but since wanted all things have been consumed by the sword and by the famine They take notice of outward plenty and outward scarcity of abundance and plenty respecting things of this life but as to the Lords Presence with them not a word spoken of that As mens hearts upon serious consideration of the Lords nearness to or removal from them are affected or not affected therewith so is the Lord answerably abiding with or leaving of a People The Lord is farre gone when there is no enquiry whether he be gone or no. Oh what cause of awakening upon this account What is the stirring Enquiry of men in these dayes What is the solemn Enquiry that passeth from man to man from Plantation to Plantation from Generation to Generation Is this the Enquiry of the old and gray-headed Oh is the Lord with us as he was wont to be Is this the demand of the Rising Generation Have we as much of the Presence of God as our fathers before us had Do we live as near are we as much acquainted with God Is the same Spirit poured out upon us that was on them 2. When the Lord takes away the chief Instruments and Means of his Presence and gracious Blessing to a People When men have a minde to depart and remove their dwelling they will send away their Plate and such things as are of greatest worth and price with them so here Is not the Lord packing up the chief Goods he hath and removing them away when he takes away Props and Pillars this declares that he hath left the house and cares not much though it tumbles down Isa 3.1 3 8. When Ordinances are gone and they that should dispense them gone this is a sign that God himself is gone 2 Chron. 15.2 A Generall when he gives order to remove his Standard it is an evidence that he himself is resolved to go thence so it is here As such are pledges of the Lords Presence so their removal especially when there are not others of the like grace and holiness to stand up and fill their places declare that the Lord is upon his departure It went full ill with Israel when Joshua and the Elders that out-lived Joshua were gathered to their fathers It was a true and weighty speech of one viz. That the Deaths of godly Elders oft proves Deaths-day of Religion or at least the day of Deaths wound to Religion It s both a sign and an occasion of degeneracy and so of the Lords Spirit departing from a people There is a special hand of Gods Providence exercised in the decease of his Worthies It is either in great wrath or in great mercy If it awaken not to a Spirit of Mourning and Supplication unfeigned and universal Repentance it s a sure sign it s in wrath and speaks nothing but woe to that people Isa 57.1 The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come When the Kings special Favourites are dismissed from Court it s a token the King intends to remove from that place where his Majesty was wont to reside So when God dismisseth his righteous ones it is a sign that he himself will be gone ere long 3. When outward prosperity is unsanctified When the abounding of temporal blessings is accompanied with the abounding of sin Though prosperity in it self be of that nature that it is hand to judge of love or hatred presence on absence of God with or from a people thereby yet as it is attended or accompanied so it is evidential though not in it self yet in the effects and concomitants and consequents of it when prosperity falls on a people that have learned to want as well as to abound when creatures are means to convey divine favour from God and hearty obedience unto God then they are signs of the Lords presence with a people Joel 2.26 But when men have prosperity outward riches and know not what to do with them besides making gods of them this is a sign that the Lords gracious presence is not among a people when men lose Religion in the world and what they get in temporals they lose in Spirituals Psal 106.15 Outward prosperity is a worm at the root of godliness so that Religion dies when the World thrives Dent. 28.47 32.15 There is sometimes a palpable difference as to Holiness between a low under state and a flourishing thriving condition for the former see Zeph. 3.11 for the latter see Hos 13.6 Oh consider the time was when less of the world but was there not more of Heaven less Trading Buying Selling but more Praying more watching over our own hearts more close walking less plenty and less iniquity men lay aside old Prayer are almost afraid to put up the New-England Prayer Lord keep me poor and keep me humble In a word if I were to point out a people from whom God is going by one sure Character it should be this Such people as can make up that they want in God with the prefence of the Creature can stop the crannies and fill empty places of the Heart with Creatures and Creature-comforts they have not so much as they were wont to have yet can fill up the room of God with worldly delights though God be absent yet if they can get more of the world that serves turn Jer. 2.13 Hence mens hearts say How shall I live without my State Honour Peace Friendship but not How shall I live without God 4. When a Spirit of Division and Contention in matters of Gods Worship is the Spirit of the Times and thence Religion turns into Faction that is an evidence that the Lord is a leaving of a people The Lord cares not to dwell in a shaking tottering house long A Spirit of Love and Unity is an evidence of the Lords presence God is love and where love rules God dwells 1 Joh. 4.16 where Brethren live together in unity there the Lord commands the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133.1 3. Unity keeps God amongst a people 2 Cor. 13.11 but when Societies crack in pieces room is made for God himself to be gone What father loves to dwell among fighting and quarrelling children His voice to such is I 'le be gone untill you agree When a House is a-fire what wise man will continue therein Again a Spirit of Contention is an evidence of Gods anger and displeasure against a people Lam. 4.16 and speaks ruine each to other Judg. 9.20 23. Numb 21.28 29. especially when a blessing is taken away from the means of healing Jer. 14.18 Hence this evil follows upon such division that Religion is turned into Faction Godliness lyes in Parties and Siding and in this and that particular Apprehension As Jehu destroyed the house of Ahab and the Worshippers