Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	faith_n	grace_n	word_n	9,264	5	4.2777	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46916	Strength in Weakness or The burning bush not consumed Being an answer (formerly published under this title) to two letters written by James Naylor. To which is now added several other papers written since by the same hand (whereof one is intituled, The secret shootings of the wicked reproved.) With a reply thereunto, as also to the rest respectively. By J.J. Published at the request of some, for the satisfaction of others: and tendred to the serious perusall of the impartiall and un-prejudic'd reader.	Jackson, John, fl. 1651-1657.; Naylor, James, 1617?-1660. Secret shooting of the wicked, reproved.	1655 (1655)	Wing J78B; ESTC R216982	27,934	42

Strength in VVeakness OR The Burning Bush not Consumed Being an Answer formerly published under this Title to two Letters written by James Naylor To which is now added several other Papers written since by the same hand whereof one is Intituled The secret shootings of the wicked Reproved With a Reply thereunto as also to the rest respectively By J. J. Published at the request of some for the satisfaction of others and tendred to the serious perusall of the Impartiall and un-prejudic'd Reader Judge not according to appearance but Judge Righteous Judgement For With what measure ye meat it shal be measured to you again London Printed by J. Macock 1655. The Publisher to the READER FRiend before thou readest the insuing Letters mayst thou be advertised touching the occasion of their Publication This daughter of Abraham who is the Subject having been visited by many of the Persons distinguished and commonly known by the name of the Northern people at sundry times and in sundry manner of waies which occasioned as in her self much inquiry accompanied with many Prayers and Soul-searchings not without great and sore temptations from that terrible Adversary who was not wanting to help on the Affliction to the utmost which conflict was repeated and renewed as oft as opportunity was given by her new Visitors and hath produced in many persons whose eyes were fastned upon her much thinking and some speakings what is or would be the issue hereof having this opportunity of knowledge under her own hand I thought it was not sufficient for me to know how it stood with her Soul after all those bitter assaults and contests which she hath sustained by her Adversary and Enemy of her Peace both within her and without her but that those also who desire satisfaction herein may inform themselves hereby this is one reason why thou hast this trouble given thee but chiefly and above all that it might be testified to Sons and Daughters to small and great that notwithstanding all her Exercises and Tryals which have not been small yet her Bow is caused to abide in strength to the glory and praise of him on whom it is given her to beleeve and this is necessary to be known by those who desire to know it Touching the Letters themselves I wil not at this time say any thing but leave it to the most wise and holy God to direct the wife in heart to codsider them Farewel To her hand who is the Wife of James Noel these deliver FRiend a Seed is in thee which I own which hath kept thee tender in a measure of the fear for whose sake some openings of the Lords love thou hast had by which some hope thou hast had of the presence of the Father of love which hope was given for staying the mind till the light of the Covenant should appear to lead thee into the Covenant him to know and his face to see which is eternal life this was manifest in the time of thy tenderness to stay thy mind on him till the time appointed that the door of the Inheritance should be opened whereat to enter but in the mean time the fear being lost another principle hath catcht the hope into the comprehension and hath led thee out into the visible expectations of a thing to come so that instead of growing into that measure thou hadst till the day thou hast lost that which thou sometimes had and knows not where to come to it again thy imaginations being got betwixt which ever shut up the Kingdom and now thou stands a far off when thou should enter and not being joyned to that spirit which is able to try all things and hold onely to that which is good thou art afraid to be deceived yet hast thou not that which thy soul longs after to be deceived on but that which hath deceived thee puts thee in fear and this thou should see didst thou take Counsel where thy hope was first awakened and this I say to thee in the word of the Lord that Covenant must be broken to which thou art now joyned before ever thou see his presence whom thy soul longs after though there be nothing by that spirit that n●w rules in thee more feared and this that in thy conscience which is my witness thou shalt confess too at that day when the Book is opened A Lover of thy Soul James Naylor For the hand of him who is called James Naylor these are FRiend your writing I have I trust seriously considered of I therefore do the more wonder how thou durst adventure upon one thou knew'st not to lay such a heavy charge as thou hast done on me whose face thou never sawest a seed thou ownest in me which thou affirmest kept me in a measure tender for whose sake thou sayest I received some openings of the Fathers love to this I answer I find no seed can keep from sin nor make known the Fathers love to poor sinners but Jesus Christ the Scriptures bare witness thereunto Iohn 1. 3. 9. Matth. 11. 27. him once received is the onely true door of entrance and onely new Covenant-keeper and in those onely is and doth Christ Jesus make known himself unto and they alone which have so known him can truly bear testimony of this Truth your catching principle I let passe not knowing it by that name what thou meanest but in the holy fear of my God rejoyce in this that I am kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation yet nevertheless am still kept groaning waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of my body and so through Grace can this day testifie the gracious preservation my heavenly Father doth dayly visit me with a teaching leading power of his holy spirit whereby I find my self in the Kingdom of Grace not shut out as thou sayest by my comprehension nor vain imagination having received Union with that holy spirit in my measure do daily take counsel and try first my own deceivings which are within me and those also which are without which causeth me to turn away from so many who profess they are sent Messengers from the Lord great cause have I to take carefull heed from being deceived and fear it also when my onely fore-seeing Lord Jesus did so strictly forewarn and fore-tell what should come to pass in the last days Matth. 24. The good Lord I beleeve assuredly wil as he hath faithfully promised to my Soul break every yoak of sinfull Covenant in me 't is no grief of heart but true joy yea wonderfully more then my Pen at this season can express to feel and finde the increase of his grace in my soul with his peace which passeth mans understanding yea even thy deep censures for thy appealing to my awakened conscience I make my appeal already to him who alone is the alone Judge between thee and me that I know not any of thy charges to be true thou hast sent me written in thy Letter if now thou

ever Heb. 13. 8. being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13. 8. The Apostle witnessing in the second of the Cor. 4. 13. that he and others had received the same spirit of Faith with those who had been before reciting for testimony and proof hereof a passage of the Psalmes I beleeved therefore have I spoken we also beleeve therefore speak It is therefore not a new thing implyed in the word Now that God is doing but that which was from the beginning which doubtless every day shall be more and more perfected but especially then when that other Angel shall fly in the midst of heaven preaching the antient or everlasting Gospel to them that dwel on the earth and to every nation kindred tongue and people whose appearance shall be with great power the earth being enlightned with his glory which day the Lord hasten for his names sake and let all his people say Amen Against the appearance of which day the old Serpent the Devil is at work in the form of an Angel of light that he might seem to be the enlightner of the earth with a glory like unto the glory spoken of before if it were possible thereby to deceive the very elect under the great and specious shew and pretence of piety and sanctity And as no other cover or cloathing can become him pretending himself an Angel of light so no other shape or appearance can endanger the very elect they which are so indeed but such an appearance as this Therefore our blessed Lord Iesus speaking of the last times and forewarning his Scholars and followers touching false Christs and false Prophets which should arise saith If any man shall say unto you lo here is Christ or there beleeve it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. Behold I have told you before go not forth beleeve it not Math. 24. 23 24 25 26. but take you heed behold I have foretold you all things Mark 13. 21 22 23. Take heed lest any man deceive you Mark 13. 5 6. 2 Col. 8. 18. Luke 17. 23. Luke 21. 8. Take heed you be not deceived for many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and the time draweth near goe ye not therefore after them Great cause have therefore all the followers of the Lamb the true and only Lord Jesus to take heed how they heare and who they hear and whom they follow and go after trying the spirits whether they be of God forasmuch as many false spirits are gone into the world and the enemy is at work knowing he hath but a short time and his actings are not so much amongst us in the form shape of a Dragon by outward force and hostility as in the form of a Serpent saying now as of old to Eve yea hath God said It is necessary therefore that the witnesses and followers of Christ be jealous over themselves and over each other with a godly jealousie lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ provoking one another and stirring up one another that as we have received Christ Iesus the Lord that so we walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the Faith as we have been taught not being moved away from the hope of the Gospel And it is the desire of my soul that both the Reprover and others of his mind were at leasure to consider seriously and calmly whether the Serpent may not be at work in them and making use of them as once he did of Eve in her innocency and simplicity to bring about his end though they themselves may not be aware thereof Touching the Reprovers Paper it contains such a bundle of Arrows and they so sharpened at the Philistins forge that they are greatly provoking and can scarce be medled withal without begetting their like a most undesired and unpleasing return And were it not for the Truths sake that suffers and for the Reprovers sake that he may see what yet he sees not if God peradventure may give him repentance for his sinful rashness I should not trouble my self to write nor him to read these lines A few things amongst many I shall set free from his false glosses and the rest shall submit to further tryal knowing that he before whom all things are naked and will try the work by fire of what sort it is will manifest a righteous judgement in his day Reprover Hast thou not helped on the Devils kingdome with lyes for sayes thou her temptations afflictions and conflict was repeated and renewed so often as opportunity was given by her new visitors which visitors are these Letters which thou hast published But saith she I am no way troubled at thy continued charge Now how must this be devided betwixt you seeing the one at least must be the lyar both in this and divers other things I might instance but I delight not to rake into such filth Reply Thou that reprovest another judgest thou not thy self Is such a sentence in the Publishers paper as thou recitest and sayest he sayes Read it again and whereas thou sayest which visitors are these Letters which thou hast published art thou not reproved in thy self for as much as the Publisher saith that she hath been visited by many of the persons distinguisht and commonly known by the name of the Northern people at sundry times and in divers manner of wayes And these were the new Visitors of which the Publisher speaks for he speaks of persons not of Papers but leaves the Letters to speak for themselves using these words viz. Touching the Letters themselves I will not say any thing at this time but leave it to the most wise and holy God to direct the wise in heart to consider them For the Lyar and who it is doe but exercise a little patience and 't wil presently be out of all dispute and thou wilt see cause to say it repenteth thee of thy rashness and unadvised censure For the better clearing of which seeming contradiction take a few words from her own mouth whom thou so much disdainest calling her Daughter of disobedience it is a passage of a Letter sent me then when I received the Copy which is now printed I have enclosed another Answer to James Naylor when I was about it my soul was distressed much under this consideration it was pressed with strong cries to him who alone knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation to uphold my distressed soul under his heavy charge This merciful refreshing I received I will set him at liberty from him that puffeth at him or from him that would ensnare him so I desire to bless God and wait for the issue By this which is here declared its most apparent that the

then asks if it be in any one before they be born again manifest thy confusion and ignorance of the new birth 5. To thy fifth I say that perfection is Christ Iesus and his life made manifest in mortal flesh and self denyed dead and buried and there is no sin But thou that tells of going on to perfection and knows not what it is art going thou knowst not whether and stumbles at the light which should guide thee 6. To thy last that spirit is that which in fallen man lusteth after the works of the Devil and worldly things but receiving the light of Christ and by it being guided it comes to be redeemed from those lusts and joyned to God and receives his witness and so loves and serve him which before served Satan and the world Thus having Answered thine in as much plainnses as I can to the understanding of the meekest of the children of light I return these again to thee desiring the like from thee in as much plainness 1. Is the living word of God received or known in this life any other way but in spirit within or is it visible or invisible or can any have the Word of God who hath it not in spirit is the Covenant of God and his Kingdom within or without 2. Can there be any Redemption for the Creature with out Christ in them and is not he the only light and way to the Father in the creatures or can any come to God any other way but by his light was it sufficient before the Letter and what is the thing that must be added to it now to make it sufficient seeing its sufficiency is now questioned which never was before by any that professed him come in the flesh 3. Whether any who read the Letter without this light of Christ it them can find out the mystery of it or the way to the Father or do not all who have not learned first of that spirit wrest the Scriptuure to their own destruction or can any speak or walk according to the word who have not the light in them 4. Whether the Prophets the Christ or the Apostles did ever preach any other light but the saving light of Christ which is the true light which being beleeved and followed will lead out of darkness to the Father of light and was that light which John calls the true light the light of Christ and who they are that have not this light tendred to them and what is their condemnation or is any light of Christ 〈◊〉 of in the Letter not sufficient 5. Doth not the man of sin sit in the Temple of God within people till he be cast out and must not the light of Christ reveal him within 〈…〉 or 〈◊〉 the Letter 〈◊〉 reveal him within without the light or cannot the light of Christ within rev al him and the spirit of light cast him out without-the Scriptures 6. What is the inward man and what is the outward man spoken of in the Scripture and how doth the inward man renew though the outward man perish and what in the several food of each man and where it is to be found what is their several fruits and from what do they arise and can any redeemed one bring forth the same fruits that was before the fall or fruits better or fruits not so good and from what different ground shall they now arise in redeemed ones and whether the second Adam can recover to man in this world what was lost here in the first These being plainly answered people may know whether they be in the first Adam or in the second James Naylor Reply to the fore-going Paper FRiend he that is born of God in plainness and simplicity of his heart utters the things which he hath heard and learnt of him and can truly and honestly witness that as he beleeveth so he speaketh viz. plainly without warping or prevaricating not departing from the truth by any covers or glosses but speaks out of a sincere heart as before him whose eyes behold the secretest thought At the reading of thy paper in answer to mine of the 25th of the last moneth I was grieved yea and I am so to see such an appearance of a departing from the simplicity which was held forth to thee therein easily discernable by any ingenious person And it is to me out of doubt that whosoever reads thy late Paper and compares it with what it refers to will easily discern more then I am willing to say touching it however I am willing to point thee to some things among many and to advise thy further perusal thereof I pass by thy personal reflections are they not written in a book I mean all thy hard words and speeches Doest thou deal sincerely and plainly touching the person on whom thou wouldest father a lie not distinguishing between the words I am and I was is there not difference enough here may not that be my case this day or in present which was not so erstwhile wilt thou see a case Psalm 73. When I thought to know this it was too painfull for me untill I went into the Sanctuary of God then I understood c. was not enough said to have sufficed an honest heart and to have set him to rights in a matter so clear but I refer thee to what is said and leave thee Thou art very crooked in thy reply about visitors for its evident the Publisher spake of persons to have been the Visitors whom he calls such as were distinguished by the name of the Northern people which cannot be truly affirmed of Papers or Letters saving thy quibble about the distinction between Papers and Letters I dis-own the stistinction I mean honestly and plainly Thou art seen in thy confounding the Letters making one speak for another its plain where thou sayest its said Kingdom of God the Letters speak not so but sayes Kingdome of Grace It s obvious to every ones view that reads them Though thou sayest thou readest but of two Kingdomes in Scripture the Kingcome of God and the Kingdome of Sathan thou mayest read of a Kingdome of Heaven a Kingdome of Priests besides that of the Father and of the Son but least thou shouldst say these are comprehended in the first I insist not on them But what may that be where it is said Matth. 8. 12. But the Children shall be cast out into utter darkness the Children of the Kingdome if these be the Children of the Kingdome of God that sounds something harsh if of Sathan are they not in utter darknesse already Let it be considered what Kingdome this must be Thou sayest I heap up many of the Saints words whose condition I never learned of God I say to that but this let God be true though man be a lie hadst thou looked into that heap thou talkest on thou would'st have seen what is there witnessed and have found thy self reproved by plain evidence of Scripture and mayest do so still