Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	free_a	life_n	sin_n	5,436	5	4.6243	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A35667	Truth outweighing error, or, An ansvver to a treatise lately published by J.B. entituled, A confession of his faith and a reason of his practice, or, With who he can, and with who he cannot hold church-fellowship ... by John Denne ...	J. D. (John Denne)	1673 (1673)	Wing D1027; ESTC R11873	57,462	128

the moral Precept Evangelized is perfect But may not I herein use John Bunyan's own words and turn them against himself as one justly guilty of Fictions and Scriptureless Notions for where do you read in Scripture of the Law Evangelized Surely the contrary is often found and although James as it is urged by John Bunyan Chap. 2. prelling love which he calls the Royal Law and indeed was before the Law given upon Sinai 1 Joh. 2.7 urgeth it to be according to what was before written yet he doth not call the Law given upon Sinai the Royal Law or the Law of Liberty as J. Bunyan falsly pretends contrary to Paul's words who saith Gal. 4.24 It was a Law although as much Evangelized in his dayes as now which gendreth to bondage yea the Ten Commandments written in stone so exalted by John Bunyan he calls the ministration of death 2 Cor. 3.7 of condemnation vers 9. and placeth it in opposition to the ministration of the Spirit and of Righteousness which is the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ that needeth not have any recourse to the Law being in it self much more perfect as indeed the Law of Liberty which James intends As also Paul saith Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death Wherefore in short The Apostle James doth not as John Bunyan pretends exalt the Law given upon Sinai as the Rule of Communion but writing to the Brethren of the dispersed Twelve Tribes whom he well knew were zealous of the Law he endeavours thereby to convince them of their Duty as Christ did to the Jews Joh. 5.39 45. And Paul the Heathens by the words of their own Poets Acts 17.28 confirming the Truth by the witness of themselves Tit. 1.12 as I also often take occasion to do from J. Bunyan his own Confession although I should be as far from making his words the Rule of Truth as Paul the writings of the Heathen Poets which never were alleaged to that end yet J. Bunyan might as well affirm it as to say that James Chap. 2. calls the Law given upon Sinai the Law of Liberty which also he is pleased to avouch as the Rule of Communion pag. 82. alleaging the words of Paul I am under the Law to Christ which sure as he shunned naming the place he might have been ashamed to have instanced in this case it being only a Parenthesis in 1 Cor. 9.21 where Paul having declared his endeavours to gain many that it might not be thought John Bunyan-like he would wave Christ's Ordinances or pervert his Doctrine he tells us That in all this his condescention before spoken of he is not without Law to God but under the Law to Christ having as if he should have said great respect to his holy Ordinances which must not be violated by any means not the Law of Sinai for if himself may be heard he saith Gal. 2.19 That he was dead to that and that dead to him as is confirmed Rom. 7.1 2 3. by the Example of a Widow whose Husband is dead from whence the Apostle concludes vers 6. That we are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held whereupon sure it may be concluded of John Bunyan as Paul saith 1 Tim. 1.7 He would be a Teacher of the Law although he understandeth neither what he saith nor whereof he affirms although we know the Law is good if a man use it lawfully as farther appeareth in that Distich pag. 83. where he saith Communion is forbidden with such as live in the transgression of a moral Precept alleaging Paul's words 1 Cor. 5.11 If any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolator or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one no not to eat Paul saith not John Bunyan tells you if any man be not baptized or joyn with the unbaptized these saith J. B. are fictions and Scriptureless-notions Answ I must say to John Bunyan herein as was said to Peter Matth. 26.73 Thy speech bewrayeth thee If any man that is called a Brother c. They were Church-members whom these words were spoken of and already baptized by John Bunyan's own grant and therefore Paul needed not to say If any be unbaptized for there was none such amongst them but it seems there were some that so far degenerated from their Profession as to be guilty of some of the aforesaid Evils wherefore Paul tells them without the Law of Sinai they ought to be excluded from the Church for the Gospel of Christ Jesus permits none such wicked persons to be retained We say therefore Although upon Confession of Faith and submission to Baptism c. We ought to receive persons into Fellowship and Church-Communion according to the pattern of the Primitive Churches yet if any such shall be guilty of the aforesaid Evils they must be again separated according to the blessed Rule of Christ which Paul by the afore-said words intends wherein although he doth not say If any man be unbaptized c. having then no occasion for such words yet sure it is great impudence in John Bunyan to say they are Fictions and Scriptureless Notions Is it a Fiction to deny Communion with those that are disobedient to a Principle of Christ's Doctrine is that a scriptureless Notion Doth not the Scripture say If any man transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ whereof Baptism is a part he hath not God 2 Joh. 9. and v. 10. If any man come like John Bunyan and bring not that Doctrine he is to be rejected But to colour the design John Bunyan proceeds to tell the World pag. 83. That the Word of Faith and the Moral Precept is that which Paul enjoyns the Galatians and Philippians still avoiding outward Circumstances he might as well have said Baptism Hence therefore saith he when he had treated of Faith he falls point-blank upon moral Duties urging pag. 84. that in Christ neither Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but a new Creature and that peace is promised to as many as walk according to this Rule Gal. 6.15 16. Which Rule he would have you believe excludes Baptism and therefore he adds pag. 86. In Christ Jesus no outward or Circumstantial thing but a new Creature wherein he proceeds to tell us a fair tale from whence he concludes pag. 90. That seeing Baptism is no initiating Ordinance nor visible Character of a Saint no breach in a good and holy life nor intrencheth upon any man's right but his own Faith may be effectual without it and his life approved by the worst of his enemies he may keep the Law wherefore his friends should not dishonour God in breaking the Law Alleaging the words of James Chap. 4.11 Speak not evil of one another Brethren for he that speaketh evil of his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law From whence he reasons That the

the unbelief of any man is sin Ergo. The Major is plain for if they cannot believe it is no sin our Proverb saith Necessity hath no Law and the Scripture saith Where there is no Law there is no Transgression And it is true in this case as John Bunyan himself confesseth Laws themselves must give place sometimes for the profit of the Church pag. 111. I will not assent to that But for the proof of the Major I say if they must give place for the profit of the Church much more when necessity may be pleaded No King would account that a fault which his Subjects cannot help which is the case with men if they be blinded as aforesaid The Minor is clearly proved Joh. 16.9 The Spirit shall convince the World of sin because they believe not on me It seems it is such an apparent sin as men themselves shall be convinced thereof Arg. 3. If God doth originally so blind men Then some men shall be excusable at the Day of Judgment But no man shall be excusable at the Day of Judgment Ergo. The Major is undeniable for what better excuse than to say Lord thou didst so blind me that I could not hear or turn it was thy own act O Lord I could not any wayes help it I was bound in the fetters of determined blindness to do even contrary to mine own will that thy destiny might be accomplished this Calvin saith The Reprobate are not only held fast in God's fetters so as they cannot do as thy would but are also urged and forced by God's bridle to do as he would have them And again That Men have nothing in agitation that they bring nothing into action but what God by his secret direction hath ordered Calv. Instit lib. 1. chap. 17. sect 11. Chap. 18. sect 1. Wherefore O Lord how could I avoid my impenitency and incredulity and wilt thou punish me for that which I could not help even for that which is the effect of thy Almighty Decree that Lord be far from thee who hast declared Acts 17.31 That thou wilt judge the World in Righteousness This surely would be a sufficient excuse The Minor is proved Rom. 2.1 Rom. 3.19 Every mouth shall be stopped Thou art inexcusable whosoever thou art that judgest The truth whereof will hereafter through God's assistance be more abundantly demonstrated Thus the Error of John Bunyan's Faith is discovered and that the contrary may further appear I come now to shew you in vindication of our God his righteous dealings with mankind Wherein touching Election know That God hath from before the Foundation of the World chosen some in Christ Jesus to Eternal Salvation but not without respect to qualifications For though no qualification of ours was the efficient cause of our Election yet God having testified his good pleasure concerning Man in Christ Jesus whose Sacrifice he was pleased graciously to accept as a Propitiation for our sins in him he is pleased also to declare his acceptation of all those who shall obey his will declared in Christ Jesus not as any thing merited by us but the effect of his everlasting kindness wherein he was pleased to chuse unto Salvation all those whom he foresaw to continue obedient to his holy Will according to what is said Rom. 8.29 Whom he did fore-know he also did Predestinate c. determining that the rest should be damned because of their disobedience in not hearkning to his Counsel and not submitting to his holy Desires which are frustrated through their obstinacy thereby treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2.4 contrary to the good pleasure of God who endeavoured earnestly their Salvation Now this Election is warranted by the Scriptures as 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit Now what is the Sanctification of the Spirit but when the heart being enlightned by the Spirit of God is induced to accept of Grace offered and to walk suitable thereto And this being fore-seen the Apostle declares our Election to be according to the fore-knowledge of God in respect of those qualifications considered As Paul saith 2 Thess 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Now that cannot be without respect to qualifications which you see is through such apparent qualifications as is further plainly demonstrated in the considerations of the dealings of God with men in general wherein I shall shew you how God invites every man to obey his Will that they may be saved yea strives with them to bring them to Repentance and also waiteth long in expectation of the effects of the powerful working of his Holy Spirit in their hearts promising Salvation according to his everlasting purpose to all those that obey him and threatning damnation although with much lamentation to those that obstinately despise him which sure must needs be inconsistent with such an absolute Election as is pretended by John Bunyan Which therefore I shall proceed to do in order First shewing you the invitations of God there is no Prophet silent therein he calls by Ezekiel Chap. 18.30 Repent and turn from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine As if he should say Be not mistaken in your selves neither do ye mistake me as to think I have determined your destruction for if you repent you shall live Wherefore it is added vers 31. Cast away all your transgressions c. for why will you die O House of Israel God doth frequently call upon sinners yea rising up betimes and sending to procure their Repentance because he hath compassion upon them 2 Chron. 36.15 As Jeremiah witnesseth Jer. 25.4 The Lord sent unto you all his Servants the Prophets rising early and sending saying Turn ye every one from his evil way and from the evil of his doings Now to what purpose was all this if God had determined either their sin or their damnation But hear what Solomon saith Prov. 1.20 Wisdom crieth without she uttereth her voice in the streets she crieth in the chief place of concourse in the openings of the Gates in the City she uttereth her words saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and Scorners delight in their scourning and Fools hate knowledge turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you As it is further declared Chap. 8.1 Doth not Wisdom cry and Vnderstanding put forth her voice It is answered vers 2. She standeth in the top of the high places she crieth at the Gates at the entry of the City at the coming in of the Doors Vnto you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of men O ye Simple understand Wisdom and ye Fools be ye of an understanding heart Consider the gracious and general invitations of the God of Heaven he calleth and inviteth men to