Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	saint_n	6,082	5	5.8116	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61284	Christianity indeed, or, The well-disciplin'd Christian the delight of Christ shewing how believers in Christ ought to go in and out each before other in gospel-order, governing and being governed as the children of one Father / by Fr. Stanley.	Stanley, Fr. (Francis), d. 1696.	1667 (1667)	Wing S5234; ESTC R37591	67,935	176

them to instruct them and convince them from the Scriptures and shew them the Laws they have broken that judge them trespassers and condemns them for transgressors 4ly shew them their sin in it's body and deformity the sad accidents and bad consequences that attend sin and to make them sensible of their iniquity from the evidence of Scripture-testimony say to the sinner Come see what you have done look upon your sin in it's aggravation how serpent like it darts and stings every one it reflects upon Gods honour it darts Religion stings the brethren disturbs your Inner-man gives an occasion of stumbling to the weak in profession it daunts the well-wishers and enquires after Religion and gives the enemies truth an occasion of rejoycing Fifthly To learn to know the offenders design for oft-times a design by an act intended may be worse than the action it self committed there may be Circumstances depending to be considered by which the Act may be much mitegated or aggravated as ignorance or wilfulnesse as in pretence of conscience or a design of disturbance as from a principle of Charity or in a course of subtilty the best of these Circumstances will make no justification for any evill action for that will be to countenance sin but the better circumstances are to have their mittegations in damages I mean in punishments and the other their aggravations 6. To observe the disposition capacity and temper of the person not to favour his sin but in order to gain an advantage upon the sinner some to save with compassion some with fear some with gentlenesse others with sharpnessei always tosort fit and direct all admonishions reproofs and corrections as may best suit with the offenders disposition and the demerits of his sin and transgression Seventhly To take the most convenient season as I have said things done in their season and order are like apples of gold in pictures of silver they are not only beautifull to the action but a disadvantage to the enemies design but beware lest while ye are about to heal some breaches you neither prevent nor disturb your selves in some other weighty and publick services and so let in Satan to make his advantages For a man must have some respect in matters of Government to three Estates The honour of God the quiet of Conscience and the peace of the Church Thus I presume to tender my Counsell and offer my Judgement and direction especially to such as have any trust and publick imployment over their brethren for men of wisdome honesty and sufficiency are most sensible of the Office and buthen of the place carefull of the Charge and apprehensive of the accounts they must make like men of discretion let them well observe the nature of their Office and the worthinesse of their places and judge for God according to the rule of his Word with all justnesse and gravity As one observing the Judges sit in the Judgement Seat while they were grave and just he thought they were gods but when they changed into lighenesse and fell into passion he concluded they were but men Let Christs Officers and Ministers act gravely justly and discreetly instructing themselves and others in their several obligations both as they are men and Christians As once a Governour of a Nation observed saith he I am King of Bodyes not of Souls a Commander of men not of Conscience And as our Lord himself hath taught us to distinguish of duties and to render every one their dues and to owe nothing to any man but love To honour our Lord Christ as the head of the Church and to respect civil Magistrates as the politick fathers of our Countries To conclude this point let me say to my brethren as once a Prince said to his son observing him to mind trifles said Come my Son leave trifles and mind the matters of the Kingdome So I say to my brethren and every Christian to leave the trifles of this World and mind the matters of Christs Kingdome Peace and Unity is the great end I have here designed and 't is a design God hath greatly blessed The Scholars in Christs Church ought to be Students for quietnesse and peace in the Churches The Lord hath not only commanded it but he prefers Peace before any other Sacrafice Mat. 5.24 2. He enjoyned his Disciples to seek peruse and prosecute Peace 3. 'T is further told us from the Lord without Peace and Holnesse no man shall see God 4. Such as pray for Peace shall be blessed with Prosperity 5. To the Councellors of Peace there shall be Joy 6. The makers of Peace are honored by being called Gods posterity 7. Peace is a fruit of Gods spirit and a Character of heavenly wisdome To hast God is the God of Peace and Christ is a Prince of Peace and the Kingdome of God is Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Thus are Saints to preserve Peace among them and the Peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep them Thus are Christians become concerned to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of Peace that is What the Spirit of God hath united formed and compacted together either in respect of Fundamentals Ephes 4.3 governing and perfecting Principles always to maintain the ancient Form and true Pattern of sound Doctrine and right Discipline That Truth and Peace may go hand in hand together be constant Companions and imbrace each other You may please to learn a Lesson from our experience in the Nation When we are at Peace at home then we see our Enemies are quiet abroad when we disturb and afflict each other by way of persecution it invites and emboldens our enemies of other Nations and in the midst of home-bred contentions we hold open a door to let in forreign adversaries Let Christians make spiritual application who are within the borders of the holy Nation to beware of Strife and Envy which makes way for the souls enemy but to maintain Concord and Unity which are as Bulwarks against the Adversary but let Union be made and Charity increase and have salt in your selves and be at Peace one with another and as a conclusion I would impose this one Obligation as the late Legacy of a dying man that the parties more chiefly concerned may seriously apply it and profitably improve it to Gods glory and their own felicity 'T is an Incumbent among Christians I wish it may never cease to keep the Unity of the spirit and Truth in the bond of Peace Seventhly and Lastly Some Directions given how to uphold and support Church-Government IN order to the preserving and supporting Church-Government the matter will charge every mans concernment both Offices and Members It invites them to their duties and obligeth them as Christians to discharge good consciences in all due concernments as they are under several obligations and become concerned in their respective places And First to my well beloved Brethren in the Lord whom God hath

sin against God the Author of Family-Government 'T is a sin against man which God hath appointed as his Vicegerent 'T is against their own father and so 't is unnatural and contrary to the light of Nature But let children humbly obey their Parents and see that they do their duties so may they expect in due time to inherit Gods promised blessings 5. Masters which also stand in the place of Superiours and may do much for God in their places and by that power and command they have under God and over their Servants by restraining them from vice and vanity and by giving liberty and incouragement in acts of Vertue and Piety Masters are to give unto their Servants that which is equall and just knowing they have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1.9 who respects not Persons but just and equall dealings They also are to forbear Threatnings and oppressings because whatsoever is measured to another by any man the same measure shall be measured to him back again 6. Servants ought to obey and submit to their Masters in all things as unto the Lord not only to the gentle and good but to such also of them as are froward not with eye service as men-pleasers but with singleness of heart as the Servants of Christ acknowledging their power by obeying their precepts striving toplease them wel in all things not answering again Tit. 2.9 10. nor purloyning walking in all honesty and shewing all Fidelity that in all services and by all means they may adorn the Doctrine of Christ in all things 7. And Lastly Let every one do their duties in their several Obligations whether Superiours or Inferiours I may adde to the rest Land-lords and Tenants who ought to deal faithfully each to other as unto the Lord. Land-lords are in such places and have great advantages to do good services if they do improve themselves for the Lord and give good Councel to their Tenants according to his Holy Word Let them remember although they are Landlords to men yet they are but Tenants and Stewards to the God of Heaven Who hath the disposing of all things who can increase and diminish at pleasure and gives and takesaway as he pleaseth as they expect Obedience Dues and Just accounts of their Tenants So the Lord the great Land-lord expects his Obedience Dues and just accounts as we stand his Tenants and Servants Let Tenants also deal faithfully and do equally in Justice Mat. 7.2.12 agreeable to the good Rule of doing as a man would be done by acting according to the laws of Righteousnesse towards God and the Principles of Uprightness towards men For whosoever shall make a breach upon the Rules of equity and equal dealing the Lord will requite them in Justice answerable to the Law of Retalliation But let Superiours know the limits of their Commands which is over Bodies and not Consciences Some Rules concerning private and personal Government EVery particular person is charged with a souls protection and it being a weighty imployment to be charged with a Souls Concernment Joh. 2.8 it being of a greater value than can be reckoned the gain and losse of it being more than the gain and losse of the whole World Let the former Rules be taken upon once again in order to personal Regulation For there we ought to begin the Foundation for the better accomplishing of the great work of Church-Reformation for although this come last 't is none of the least works to be done and that which pertains to every Christian man to set and keep things in order at home in this little World and more private Jurisdiction For 't is the greatest piece of Knowledge for a man to know the depth of himself and the highest Conquest for a man to overcome himself and the most excellent part of Government when a man can rightly order his own heart govern his own life and rule well his own spirit Prov. 16.32 'T is not only reported but experienced that Heart-work is the most difficult work to which we had need use all the means that may be allowed and to make use of all the helps that can be obtained 1. By Election As the Universal Lord hath set too great Lights to rule in the Universall World and hath appointed Guides and Overseers to enlighten and govern the Church of God so hath he been graciously pleased to make Heavenly provision to order and rule the Inner man and as the Lord in his matchless love hath freely sent his Son to ransome us from everlasting slavery so he hath freely given his Spirit to conductous towards eternal felicity Acts 5.32 Let every one then choose imbrace that means God hath Ordained for the obtaining and receiving Gods holy Spirit which with Reverence I may truly call The prime Overseer over the Soul he is the great Teacher Leader and Conducter of the Saints and whose Office may be fitly compared to the Office of an Overseer or Ruler He is the Christians guide to enlighten and direct them to sanctifie and comfort them to strengthen and confirm them to improve and quicken them to duties and likewise he helps our infirmities interprets our groans and presents our supplications and makes requests for Saints according to the will of God The bodies of Saints are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and the Tabernacle of God where he dwels and governs according to his word he helps us to mortifie our sins and is grieved at our Transgressions Thus is the Kingdome of Heaven within you agreeable as the Scripture hath exprest which consists of Righteousnesse Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost He also convinceth the World of Sin strives and waits upon man to correct and conform them the Gospel Order and holy Profession Jo. 16.13 and so guides the saints into all truth and shews them things to come Secondly Conscience may be called an Overseer in a more subordinate and limited sence which the Lord hath set in man which is the Epitome and Breviate of the World which will act for God and assist for the Souls spiritual good serving to rule and order the whole man even to regulate and Record every word and action The Office of Conscience is to oppose sin reprove sin condemn for sin and if the sinner be impenitent it terrifies and torments the sinner and like a faithfull friend first tell him of his fault secretly if he amends 't is forgiven by God freely but if not Conscience either discovers it to be judged here Rom. 2.15 or else bears witnesse against them at the Bar of Judgement hereafter But Conscience will do Justice in it's Office for it will excuse if guiltlesse and bear testimony to a mans simplicity and godly sincerity and upon every pious action it ministers joy to the Inner-man I may adde the light of Nature which I may call a help in this personal Government 1 Cor. 11.14 which in morall things will give information and