Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	heart_n	spirit_n	word_n	12,735	5	4.2755	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77132	The description and confutation of mysticall Anti-Christ, the Familists; or, An information drawn up and published for the confirmation and comfort of the faithfull, against many Antichristian Familisticall doctrines which are frequently preached and printed in England: particularly in those dangerous books called Theologia Germanica, the Bright Star, Divinity and Philosophy dissected. / Written by Benjamin Bourne. Published according to order.	Bourne, Benjamin, fl. 1646.	1646 (1646)	Wing B3844; Thomason E349_21; STC 672; ESTC R201037	116,136	151

the truth of the letter bears witnesse to it self in the spirit the letter in it self is dead but the Spirit of that truth which is in the letter quickneth and giveth life The bare letter is but a History or a Relation yet it is a true relation For the Apostle saith that no lie is of the truth there is no lie in the truth consider it either in the letter or in the spirit We know that there are many lies cast upon the truth by him who is the father of lies but consider of truth in it self and no lie can be any part thereof for the Word doth imply this it could not be thus denominated if its nature were not according to its name The term light signifies the nature of light so the Name of God signifies the nature of God so the word truth signifies the nature of it the name of truth is truth and so is the nature of it too Now consider that nothing is so contrary to the inward nature and internall disposition of man as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word of God is contrary to all the principles of follie that are in the hearts of men Psal 14.1 2 3. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God this was a secret spirituall wickednesse that lay lurking in his heart he was a cunning fool he thought in his heart as the Familists do that that he would not often confesse with his tongue and although he loved this Atheisticall religion well yet he was not very willing to suffer for it The conclusion that I shall draw from this first verse is this that the wisest man in the world is a meer fool untill he be a Saint untill he leaves the wisdom of the world and those politick logicall doctrines which that wisdom teacheth and be filled with the wisdom of God So St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 2.13 that the doctrines and words of mans wisdom makes the crosse of Christ of no effect Chap. 1.17 The word of God the doctrine of a crucified Jesus is meer foolishnesse to them it is too holy too plain and simple for them to deal with if they should teach the truth as it is in Jesus and not mix their own words and corrupt imaginations therewith if they would declare the whole truth and keep back no part of Gods counsell what then why then their perfection must fall down to the ground Therefore you see how contrary the Word of God is to all the principles of mens hearts and contrary to all their practises too What will not what doth not many men do who are taken to be great Preachers of Christ I say what will they not do to exalt Babel to prefer their own bellies and outward estates before the Word of God they take it up in their Sermons in the sight of the people but lay it aside in their lives and conversations Fourthly no man could ever parallel any other book or writing to this Word of God but in all ages for all sorts of persons it hath been in one respect or other the foundation of all Writings Councils and Disputations whatsoever is or hath been under heaven concerning Religion there is but one truth as there is but one God which in the power and spirit of it is God Joh. 1.1 Chap. 5.32 Fifthly the Scripture is written for this end that it may be an occasion of offence and a stone of stumbling both to the Jews and Grecians and by this means their eternal destruction and to others a savour of life to eternall life 1 Cor. 1.23 24 25. 2 Cor. 2.15 16. Isa 8.14 Joh. 3.14 There is no writing that ever hath been besides this that hath been accompanied with such life and power by which it hath raised up and cast down saved and destroyed as this Word of God hath No word hath been such a discovery of the minde of the invisible immortall God unto men as this Word of God hath Joh. 1.18 Again what writing hath discovered the nature and condition that all men by nature are in unto men in such a manner as the Word of God hath Rom. 7.7 which proves that it was written by that Spirit that knows all hearts and all things 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. Reason it self tels us that it is impossible for any power to change the carnall stony lofty spirit of man but that power that is above all things and can do all things See Matth. 12.17 18 19 20. Christ by doing that which the Scriptures do declare to us did open that sealed book which none would undertake but the Lambe slain from the beginning of the world Revel 5.3 4 5 6. Isa 42.1 The Apostle saith that the Word of God is lively and mightie in operation sharper then any two edged sword and entreth through even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Hebr. 4.12 Some do object and ask what is here meant by this clause soul and spirit being that they are both taken for one and the same in Scripture Luke 1.46 47. Mary saith My soul magnifieth the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour To this I answer There are two interpretations upon this Scripture the first is that the soul of a man is not the spirit of him but it is his body in which his spirit is and from which it is divided And to prove this there are these Scriptures David speaking of Christ saith that his heart did rejoyce and his flesh did rest in hope because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave Now how can this be say they that the soul of Christ should be left there where it never was if it be not the body it implyes that it was there and if so then it must needs be mortall Act. 2.26 27. Psal 16.9 10. Gen. 3.20 A second interpretation is that by soul is meant the heart and spirit of a carnall man and by spirit is meant one that is regenerate To which they bring this Scripture 1 Thes 5.23 Now take it which way you will this must be granted that the Bible is the Word of God because these arguments are drawn from it and if there be any truth in either or both of them then is the Scripture that declares them a truth also The Word of God is powerfull in two respects first it is powerfull in it self and so it is the fulnesse or God Secondly it is powerfull in all its operations in respect of it self it is infinite the operations and workings of it is mightie as it is in the creature look upon the hearts and lives of those that have been ungodly and abominable see what a change there is all this doth declare the truth of the Word O what a fin it is for you that have been such and have been changed by the Word so to fall away from God as to deny his Word Just as if