Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	christian_a	miracle_n	true_a	3,451	5	6.0239	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53734	Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit as a comforter, the other, As He is the author of spiritual gifts ... / by ... John Owen.	Owen, John, 1616-1683.; Mather, Nathanael, 1631-1697.; Owen, John, 1616-1683. Discourse of spiritual gifts.	1693 (1693)	Wing O818; ESTC R2819	174,342	306

either Apostolical Office Power or Gifts The like may be said of Evangelists Nor have we any undoubted Testimony that any of those Gifts which were truly miraculous and every way above the Faculties of Men were communicated unto any after the Expiration of the Generation of them who conversed with Christ in the Flesh or those who received the Holy Ghost by their Ministry It is not unlikely but that God might on some occasions for a longer Season put forth his Power in some miraculous Operations and so he yet may do and perhaps doth sometimes But the Superstition and Folly of some ensuing Ages inventing and divulging innumerable Miracles false and foolish proved a most disadvantagious Prejudice unto the Gospel and a means to open a way unto Sathan to impose endless Delusions upon Christians For as true and real Miracles with becoming Circumstances were the great means that won and reconciled a Regard and Honour unto Christian Religion in the World so the Pretence of such as either were absolutely false or such as whose Occasions Ends Matter or Manner were unbecoming the Greatness and Holiness of him who is the true Author of all miraculous Operations is the greatest Dishonour unto Religion that any one can invent But although all these Gifts and Operations ceased in some respect some of them absolutely and some of them as to the immediate manner of Communication and Degree of Excellency yet so far as the Edification of the Church was concerned in them something that is Analogous unto them was and is continued He who gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists gave also some Pastors and Teachers And as he furnished the former with extraordinary Gifts so as far as any thing of the like kind is needful for the continual Edification of the Church he bestows it on the latter also as shall be declared § 3. AND these Gifts of the Spirit added unto his Grace in real Holiness were the Glory Honour and Beauty of the Church of Old Men have but deceived themselves and others when they have seigned a Glory and Beauty of the Church in other things And whatever any think or say where these Gifts of the Holy Ghost which are the Ornaments of the Church her cloathing of wrought Gold and her Raiment of Needle-work being neglected and lost and they think to adorn her with the meritricious Paint of pompous Ceremonies with outward Grandeur Wealth and Power she is utterly fallen from her Chastity Purity and Integrity But it is evident that this is the state of many Churches in the World which are therefore worldly and carnal not Spiritual or Evangelical Power and Force and Wealth the Gifts in this Case of Another Spirit under various Pretences and Names are their Life and Glory indeed their Death and Shame I deny not but that it is lawful for Ministers of the Gospel to enjoy Earthly Possessions which they do attain by any commendable way among other Men. Neither are they required unless in extraordinary Cases to part with the Right and Use of their Temporal Goods because they are so Ministers of Christ though those who are so indeed will not deny but that they ought to use them in a peculiar manner unto the Glory of Christ and Honour of the Gospel beyond other Men. Neither shall I ever question that wherein the Scripture is so express namely That those who labour in the Word and Doctrine should have a convenient yea an Honourable Subsistence provided for them according to the best Ability of the Church for their Work 's sake It is in like manner also granted that the Lord Christ hath committed all that Power which with repect unto the Edification of the Church he will exercise in this World unto the Church it self as it cannot without a Virtual Renunciation of the Gospel and Faith in Christ Jesus as the Head and King of the Church be supposed that this Power is any other but Spiritual over the Souls and Consciences of Men. And therefore cannot this Power be exercised or be any ways made effectual but by vertue of the Spiritual Gifts we treat of But for Men to turn this Spiritual Power to be exercised only by vertue of Spiritual Gifts into an external coercive Power over the Persons Bodies Liberties and Lives of Men to be exercised by Law-Courts in Ways Forms Manners utterly Forreign to the Gospel and all Evangelical Administrations without the least Pretence unto or Appearance of the Exercise of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost therein yea and by Persons by whom they are hated and derided acting with Pride Scorn and Contempt of the Disciples of Christ and over them being utterly ignorant of the true Nature and Use of all Gospel Administrations this is to disorder the Church and in stead of an House of Spiritual Worship in some Instances to turn it into a Den of Thieves Where hereunto there are moreover annexed earthly Revenues containing all Food and Fuel of corrupt Lusts with all things satisfactory unto the Minds of Worldly Sensual Men as a meet Reward of these Carnal Administrations as it is at this Day in the Church of Rome there all Use of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost is excluded and the Church is brought into extream Desolacion And although these things are are as contrary to the Gospel as Darkness to Light yet the World for many Reasons not now to be insisted on being willing to be deceived in this matter it is generally apprehended that there is nothing so pernicious unto the Church so justly to be watched against and rooted out as a Dislike of their Horrible Apostasies in the Corrupt Depravation of all Evangelical Administrations This was not the State this was not the Condition of the Primitive Churches their Life consisted in the Grace of the Spirit and their Glory in his Gifts None of their Leaders once dreamed of that new kind of Beauty Glory and Power consisting in numberless Superstitious Ceremonies instead of Religious Worship Worldly Grandeur instead of Humility and Self-denyal and open Tyranny over the Consciences and Persons of Men in the room of Spiritual Authority effectual in the Power of Christ and by vertue of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost § 4. THERE are many sore Divisions at this Day in the World among and between the Professors of Christian Religion both about the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel as also the Discipline thereof That these Divisions are evil in themselves and the Cause of great Evils Hinderances of the Gospel and all the Effects thereof in the World is acknowledged by all and it is a thing doubtless to be greatly lamented that the generality of them who are called Christians are departed from the great Rule of keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace He who doth not pray always who is not ready with his utmost Endeavour to remedy this Evil to remove this great Obstruction of the Benefit of the Gospel is scarce

defection from it in Seasons of Temptation and Persecution 3. It so teacheth as to give withall an Approbation of and Love unto the things that are taught These are the next Principle and Cause of Practice or the doing of the things that we know which is the only Cement of all the Means of our security rendring them firm and stable The Mind may discern Spiritual Truths but if the Will and Affections be not wrought over to love them and delight in them we shall never conform our selves unto them in the diligent exercise and practice of what they do require And what we may do on the solitary Efficacy of Light and Conviction without the adherence of Love and Delight will neither be acceptable unto God nor shall we be permanent and stable therein All other means in the World without the Love and Practice of the Truth will be insufficient unto our Preservation in the Saving Profession of it And this is the Characteristical Note of the Teachings by this Unction It gives and communicates with it the Love of that Truth wherein we are instructed and delight in Obedience unto what it doth require Where these are not however raised our Minds may be or our Understandings enlarged in the apprehension of Objective Truths whatever sublime Notions or subtle Conceptions about them we may have though we could master and manage all the Speculations and Niceties of the Schools in their most pretended accuracy of Expression yet as to the Power and Benefit of Religion we should be but as sounding Brass and tinckling Symbals But when this Holy Spirit doth in and by his Teaching breathe into our Hearts an Holy Divine Love unto and Complacency in the things we are taught when he enables us to taste how gracious the Lord is in them rendring them sweeter unto us than the Honey or the Honey-comb when he makes them our Delight and Joy exciting and quickning the practical Principles of our Minds unto a compliance with them in holy Obedience then have we that Unction from the Holy One which will both sanctifie and secure our Souls unto the End And hereby may we know whether we have our selves received of this anointing Some would fain put it off unto what was peculiar unto the Times of the Apostles and would suppose another kind of Believers in those days than any are now in the World or need to be though what our Saviour prayed for them even for the Apostles themselves as to the Spirit of Grace and Consolation he prayed also for all them who should believe on him through their Word unto the End of the World But take away the Promise of the Spirit and the Priviledges thereon depending from Christians and in truth they cease so to be Some neglect it as if it were an empty Expression and either wholly insignificant or at best intended somewhat wherein they need not much concern themselves and whatever it be they doubt not but to secure the pretended Ends of it in their Preservation from Seduction by their own Skill and Resolutions On such Pretences are all the Mysteries of the Gospel by many despised and a Religion is formed wherein the Spirit of Christ hath no Concernment But these things are otherwise stated in the Minds of the true Disciples of Christ. They know and own of how great Importance it is to have a share in this Unction how much their Conformity unto Christ their Participation of him and the Evidence of their Union with him how much their Stability in Profession their Joy in believing their Love and Delight in Obedience with their Dignity in the sight of God and all his Holy Angels do depend thereon Neither do we look upon it as a thing obscure or unintelligible that which no Man can know whether he hath or no. For if it were so a thing so thin aerial and imperceptible as that no Spiritual Sense or Experience could be had of it the Apostle would not have referred all sorts and degrees of Believers Fathers Young Men and little Children unto it for their Relief and Encouragement in the times of Danger Wherefore it evidenceth it self in the way and manner of its Acting Operation and Teaching before declared And as by those Instances they satisfie themselves as unto what Experience they have of it so it is their Duty to pray continually for it's Encrease and further Manifestation of it's Power in them Yea it is their Duty to labour that their Prayers for it may be both fervent and effectual For the more express and eminent the Teachings of this Anointing in them are the more fresh and plentiful is their Unction the more will their Holiness and Consolation abound AND whereas this is that by which as it immediately proceeds from the Holy Spirit they have their peculiar Dedication unto God being made Kings and Priests unto him they are highly concerned to secure their Interest therein For it may be they are so far from being exalted promoted and dignified in the World by their Profession as that they are made thereby the Scorn of Men and the Out-casts of the People Those indeed whose Kingdom and Priesthood their Dignity and Honour in Christianity their Approximation unto God and Christ in a peculiar manner consist in Secular Titles Honour Power and Grandure as it is in the Papacy may content themselves with their Chrysme or greasie Unction of their outward Ceremonious Consecration without much Enquiry after or Concern in this Spiritual Anointing But those who get little or nothing in this World that is of the World by their Profession but Labour Pain Travail of Soul and Body with Scorns Reproaches and Persecutions had need look after that which gives them a Dignity and Honour in the sight of God and which brings in Satisfaction and Peace unto their own Souls And this is done by that Anointing alone whereby they are made Kings and Priests unto God having Honour before him and a free sacred Access unto him I shall only add that whereas we ascribe this Anointing in a pecnliar manner unto the Holy Ghost as the Comforter of the Church we may easily discern wherein the Consolation which we receive by it doth consist For who can express that Satisfaction Refreshment and Joy which the Mind is possessed with in those Spiritual effectual Teachings which give it a clear Apprehension of Saving Truth in its own Nature and Beauty and enlarge the Heart with Love unto it and Delight in it It is true that the greatest part of Believers are oft-times either at such a Loss as unto a clear Apprehension of their own Spiritual State or so unskilled in making a right Judgment of the Causes and Means of Divine Consolations or so confused in their own Experiences or so negligent in their Enquiries into these things or are so disordered by Temptations as that they receive not a refreshing Sence of those Comforts and Joys which are really inseparable from this anointing But still it

the Apostle Paul who had received all these Gifts in the highest Degree and Measure affirms that by his Writing those to whom he wrote might perceive his Skill and Understanding in the Mystery of Christ. § 12. AND this was in an especial manner necessary unto those first Dispensers of the Gospel for how else should the Church have been instructed in the Knowledge of it This they prayed for them namely that they might be filled with the Knowledge of the Will of God in all Wisdom and Understanding Col. 1. 9. Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. Chap. 3. 18 19. Col. 2. 2. The means whereby they might come hereunto was by their Instruction who therefore were to be skilled in a peculiar manner in the Knowledge of those Mysteries which they were to impart unto others and to do it accordingly And so it was with them Acts 20. 27. Ephes. 3. 8 9. Col. 4. 2. Now although this Gift as to that excellent Degree wherein it was in the Apostles and those who received the Knowledge of Christ and the Gospel by immediate Revelation be with-held yet it is still communicated in such a Measure unto the Ministers of the Church as is necessary unto it's Edification And for any one to undertake an Office in the Church who hath not received this Gift in some good measure of the Knowledge of the Mystery of God and the Gospel is to impose himself on that Service in the House of God which he is neither called unto nor sitted for And whereas we have lived to see all Endeavours after an especial Acquaintance with the Mysteries of the Gospel despised or derided by some it is an Evidence of that fatal and fearful Apostasie whereinto the Generality of Christians are fallen § 13. FAITH is added in the 3d place To another Faith by the same Spirit That the Saving Grace of Faith which is common unto all True Believers is not here intended is manifest from the Context There is a Faith in Scripture which is commonly called the Faith of Miracles mentioned by our Apostle in this Epistle as a principal extraordinary Spiritual Gift Chap. 13. 2. Though I had all Faith so that I could remove Mountains that is the highest Degree of a Faith of Miracles or such as would effect miraculous Operations of the highest Nature This I should readily admit to be here intended but that there is mention made of working Miracles in the next Verse as a Gift distinct from this Faith Yet whereas this working of Miracles is every where ascribed to Faith and could not be any where but where the peculiar Faith from which those Operations did proceed was first imparted it is not unlikely but that by Faith the Principle of all miraculous Operations may be intended and by the other Expressions the Operations themselves But if the Distinction of these Gifts be to be preserved as I rather judge that it ought to be considering the placing of Faith immediately upon Wisdom and Knowledge I should judge that a peculiar Confidence Boldness and Assurance of Mind in the Profession of the Gospel and the Administration of it's Ordinances is here intended Faith therefore is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Freedom Confidence and Boldness in the Faith or Profession of the Faith which is in Christ Jesus mentioned by the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. 13. That is our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Confidence in Profession whose Beginning we are to hold fast and firm unto the end Heb. 3. 14. And we do see how excellent a Gift this is on all occasions When Troubles and Trials do befall the Church upon the account of it's Profession many even true Believers are very ready to faint and despond and some to draw back at least for a Season as others do utterly to the Perdition of their Souls In this State the eminent Usefulness of this Gift of Boldness in the Faith of an assured Confidence in Profession of an especial Faith to go through Troubles and Tryals is known unto all Oft-times the Eminence of it in one single Person hath been the means to preserve an whole Church from Coldness Back-sliding or sinful Compliances with the World And where God stirreth up any one unto some great or singular Work in his Church he constantly endows them with this Gift of Faith So was it with Luther whose undaunted Courage and Resolution in Profession or Boldness in the Faith was one of the principal means of succeeding his great Undertaking And there is no more certain Sign of Churches being forsaken of Christ in a time of Tryal than if this Gift be with-held from them and Pusillanimity Fearfulness with Carnal Wisdom do spring up in the room of it The Work and Effects of this Faith are expressed 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong So also Ephes. 6. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 1. And the especial way whereby it may be attained or improved is by a diligent careful discharge at all times of all the Duties of the Places we hold in the Church 1 Pet. 3. 13. § 14. THE Gifts of Healing are nextly mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To another the Gifts of Healings by the same Spiris So they are again expressed Ver. 28. in the Plural Number because of their Free Communication unto many Persons These Healings respected those that were sick in their suddain and miraculous Recovery from long or deadly Distempers by the Imposition of Hands in the Name of the Lord Jesus And as many of the mighty Works of Christ himself for the Reasons that shall be mentioned consisted in these Healings so it was one of the first things which he gave in Commission to his Apostles and furnished them with Power for whilst they attended on him in his personal Ministry Matth. 10. 1. So also did he do to the Seventy making it the principal Sign of the Approach of the Kingdom of God Luke 10. 9. And the same Power and Vertue he promiseth to Believers namely that they should lay Hands on the Sick and recover them after his Ascension Of the Accomplishment of this Promise and the Exercise of this Power the Story of the Acts of the Apostles giveth us many Instances Acts 5. 15. Chap. 3. 7. Chap. 9. 33 34. And two things are observed singular in the Exercise of this Gift As First That many were cured by the Shadow of Peter as he passed by Acts 5. 15. And again many were so by Handkerchiefs and Aprons carried from the Body of Paul Chap. 19. 12. And the Reason of these extraordinary Operations in extraordinary Cases seems to have been the Encouragement of that great Faith which was then stirred up in them that beheld those miraculous Operations which was of singular Advantage unto the Propagation of the Gospel as the Magical Superstition of the Roman Church sundry ways endeavouring to imitate these inimitable Actings of Sovereign Divine Power hath been a Dishonour to Christian Religion §

is that means whereby they shall be certainly Executed Now this must be either some work of God or Man If it be of Men and it consist of their Wills and Obedience then that which is said amounts hereunto namely that where men have once received the Gospel and professed subjection thereunto they will infallibly abide therein in a Succession from one Generation unto another But besides that it must be granted that what so depends on the Wills of Men can have no more certainty than the undetermined Wills of Men can give security of which indeed is none at all so there are confessed instances without number of such Persons and Places as have lost the Gospel and the Profession thereof And what hath fallen out in one place may do so in another and consequently in all places where the Reasons and Causes of things are the same On this supposition therefore there is no security that the Promises mentioned shall be infallibly accomplished Wherefore the Event must depend on some Work of God and Christ. Now this is no other but the Dispensation and Communication of the Spirit Hereon alone doth the continuance of the Church and of the Kingdom of Christ in the World depend And whereas the Church falls under a double consideration namely of its internal and external Form of its internal Spiritual Union with Christ and its outward Profession of Obedience unto him the Calling Gathering Preservation and Edification of it in both respects belong unto the Holy Spirit The first he doth as hath been proved at large by his Communicating Effectual Saving Grace unto the Elect the latter by the Communication of Gifts unto the Guides Rulers Officers and Ministers of it with all its Members according unto its Place and Capacity Suppose then his Communication of Internal Saving Grace to cease and the Church must absolutely cease as to its Internal Form For we are united unto the Lord Christ as our Mystical Head by the Spirit the one and self-same Spirit dwelling in Him and them that do believe Union unto Christ without Saving Grace or Saving Grace without the Holy Spirit are Strangers unto the Gospel and Christian Religion So is it to have a Church that is Holy and Catholick which is not united unto Christ as a Mystical Head Wherefore the very Being of the Church as unto its Internal Form depends on the Spirit in his Dispensation of Grace which if you suppose an Intercision of the Church must cease It hath the same dependance on him as to its outward Form and Profession upon his Communication of Gifts For no Man can call Jesus Lord or profess Subjection and Obedience unto him in a due manner but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. Suppose this Work of his to cease and there can be no Professing Church Let Men mould and cast themselves into what Order and Form they please and let them pretend that their Right and Title unto their Church Power and Station is derived unto them from their Progenitors or Predecessors if they are not furnished with the Gifts of the Spirit to enable their Guides unto Gospel Administrations they are no orderly Gospel Church Wherefore § 7. 6thly THE Communication of such Gifts unto the ordinary Ministry of the Church in all Ages is plainly asserted in sundry places of the Scripture some whereof may be briefly considered The whole Nature of this Work is declared in the Parable of the Talents Matth. 25. from ver 13. to 31. The state of the Church from the Ascension of Christ unto his coming again unto Judgment that is in its whole course on the Earth is represented in this Parable In this season he hath Servants whom he intrusteth in the Affairs of his Kingdom in the care of his Church and the propagation of the Gospel That they may in their several Generations Places and Circumstances be enabled hereunto he giving them in various Distributions Talents to Trade withall the least whereof was sufficient to encourage them who received them unto their Use and Exercise The Trade they had to drive was that of the Administration of the Gospel its Doctrine Worship and Ordinances to others Talents are Abilities to Trade which may also comprize Opportunities and other Advantages but Abilities are chiefly intended These were the Gifts where of we speak Nor did it ever enter into the Minds of any to apprehend otherwise of them And they are Abilities which Christ as the King and Head of his Church giveth unto Men in an especial manner as they are employed under him in the service of his House and Work of the Gospel The Servants mentioned are such as are called appointed and employed in the service of the House of Christ that is all Ministers of the Gospel from first to last And their Talents are the Gifts which he endows them withall by his own immediate Power and Authority for their Work And hence these three things follow 1 That where-ever there is a Ministry that the Lord Christ setteth up appointeth or owneth he furnisheth all those whom he employs therein with Gifts and Abilities suitable to their Work which he doth by the Holy Spirit He will never fail to own his Institutions with gracious supplies to render them Effectual 2 That where any have not received Talents to Trade withall it is the highest presumption in them and casts the greatest Dishonour on the Lord Christ as though he requires Work where he gave no Strength or Trade where he gave no Stock for any one to undertake the Work of the Ministry Where the Lord Christ gives no Gifts he hath no Work to do He will require of none any especial Duty where he doth not give an especial Ability And for any to think themselves meet for this Work and Service in the strength of their own Natural Parts and Endowments however acquired is to despise both his Authority and his Work 3 For those who have received of these Talents either not to Trade at all or to pretend the managing of their Trade on another Stock that is either not sedulously and duely to Exercise their Ministerial Gifts or to discharge their Ministry by other helps and means is to set up their own Wisdom in opposition unto his and his Authority In brief that which the whole Parable teacheth is that where-ever there is a Ministry in the Church that Christ owneth or regardeth as used and employed by him there Persons are furnished with Spiritual Gifts from Christ by the Spirit enabling them unto the discharge of that Ministry and where there are no such Spiritual Gifts dispensed by him there is no Ministry that he either accepteth or approveth § 8. ROM 12. 1 4 5 6 7 8. As we have many Members in one Body and all Members have not the same Office so we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another Having therefore Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us whether