> as lemmas

1560 Bible (Geneva) 1 Cor. xii. 10 And to another the operations of great workes: and to another, prophecie: and to another, the discerning of spirits.

1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures vi. 23 The gift of discerning of spirits..being..ceased in Gods Church, it becommeth a point of highest difficultie in the old, and new exorcising craft, by what meanes a man shall come to be certaine, whether the partie affected be possessed, or no.

1759 T. Edwards Doctr. Irresistible Grace ii. 179 The discerning of spirits; which..included the being able to distinguish, or discern, by what spirit they were actuated, who pretended to divine revelations.

1821 Maryland Gaz. & Polit. Intelligencer 3 May There is in Salisbury a Methodist preacher, who publicly professes to have the gift of prophecy and discerning of spirits.

1915 Tongues of Fire Sept. 7/3 Let us pray earnestly for the gift of ‘discerning of spirits’, that, recognizing the voice of God we may obey Him, and be kept from all deviations from the Way of Holiness.

2011 C. LaMattina Gift Holy Spirit xvii. 134 By the manifestation of discerning of spirits Paul knew that this girl was possessed and he received divine wisdom to cast out the evil spirit.