Selected quad for the lemma: body_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
body_n	nature_n	soul_n	unite_v	6,882	5	9.6339	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95926	The spirit of prayer, or, A discourse wherein the nature of prayer is opened, the kinds of prayer are handled, and the right manner of praying discover'd, several cases about this duty are resolved from Eph. 6, l8 ... : unto which is added a direction for the attaining the gift of prayer, that family-duty may not be omitted, nor secret duty discouraged through inability of utterance and expression / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.	1674 (1674)	Wing V421; ESTC R26350	87,998	210

pray one for another because God has commanded it it maintains love among them and the Strongest need the prayers of the Weaker How earnestly does the Apostle Paul beseech the believing Romans that they would strive together with him in their prayers to God for him Rom. 15. 30. But not a word of prayer directed to any departed Saint in Scripture And when Jacob was in distress and the Angels of God met him and he said this is God's Host but he begg'd nothing of them but wrestles with God himself and as a Prince prevailed 'T is a silly Objection that we use the mediation of great men when we have to do with Princes and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is to be used when we have to do with God for the Lord grants free access unto all if they use Christ as a Mediatour and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is needless We must pray you see in the Name of Christ and there are four things which we are to have an eye to 1. The satisfaction of Christ he has been wounded for Transgression he bare the Curse so that we may beg with confidence to be delivered from it He has made Peace by the blood of his Cross we have encouragement to beseech the Lord to be reconciled and that he would no longer be a Foe but a Father to us 2. We are to eye the purchase of Christ He has purchased all the blessings of the new Covenant Heaven it self is called a purchased Possession Eph 1. 14. Christ payd a price for it that it might be ours 'T is not only an act of Grace but an act of Righteousness in God considering what Christ has paid for to forgive Sin and to give Salvation 3. We are to eye the intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Our great high Priest is passed into the Heavens and his work is there to pray for Believers and his Father hears him always How can prayers miscarry that are backt with the intercession of such a one 4. We are to eye the strength of Christ and his assistance Rightly to pray is a matter of difficulty Christ by his Spirit is ready to help the infirmities of Believers so that notwithstanding all discouragement and opposition from within and from beneath they shall make something of this duty of prayer and obtain the blessing 7. In prayer there must be Thanksgiving for what has been already received Praise is the sublimest part of prayer Praise is a debt and how vast is the debt if we consider the multitude greatness freeness and continuance of mercies Praise sweetens prayer nothing more pleasing to God nothing more pleasant to our selves And to give thanks for benefits received is as effectual a way to prevail for more mercy as the most vehement and strongest cryes Oh therefore that all who pray would also praise the Lord for his ●oodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of men Psal 107. 8. Thus have I explained the definition and opened the nature of prayer to you In the second place I am to inform you what 't is to pray always this I have touched upon already but shall more fully speak to in these particulars 1. To pray always implies being always in a disposition and frame to pray when God requires it The heart must be reconciled to this duty and fall in love with it go to the Throne of Grace with alacrity much may be gotten at the mercy seat the unsearchable riches of Christ are unlocked and we may take as much as the hand of faith can grasp without being checked or upbraided The God whom we have to do with gives liberally and like himself Jam. 1. 5. The heart should be forward to pray and be weary of and through grace subdue move and more that evil which alas is present when good is about to be performed Rom. 7. 21. 2. To pray always implys laying hold of all opportunities to pray that are graciously vouchsafed to us Whenever there is a meet season and a motion to pray we should catch such an occasion by the fore-lock for when once 't is past 't is past recalling Stated times of prayer ordinarily should in no wise be neglected and when there are extraordinary calls to this duty they should by all means be heeded But here you must take heed of being imposed upon by Satan He is clearly for wearying you by spiritual extortion and pressing you to more of the external part of duty then God requires 'T will not be amiss to shew you the difference between Satans motions to pray and the Lords calling you thereunto 1. Satans motions are unseasonable when God calls to other duty When we in obedience to the Divine command are diligent in our calling of a sudden Satan will move to pray but by the unseasonableness of the motion we may discern whence it comes but the Spirits motions are regular 2. Satans motions to pray are unmerciful he would fain have Sinners not pray at all but if they will needs fall upon the duty he urges them to over doing and exacts so much as is apparently to the wasting and expending and destruction of nature and his design is to render prayer burthensome and at last to make it totally neglected But the Lord is merciful in his motions he requires that which is infinitely beneficial to the Soul and destructive austerities towards the body he no where requires 3. Satans motions to pray are commonly followed with some direful injections if they are not obeyed and what he injects has no Scripture-foundation He tells souls that they are Reprobate and will be damned if they do not what he unreasonably perswades whereas the word of God speaks no such matter Well then Satans motions are not to be minded 3. To pray always implies praying in every state and condition in Sickness in Health in Prosperity in Adversity prayer is to be used without prayer Sickness will be unsanctified and an uncomfortable load and if it be taken off 't will be in anger without prayer Health will be a judgment and only serve to encourage a neglect of the soul and another world Without prayer Adversity will be intolerable and Prosperity will be a snare and occasion forgetfulness of God and a daring to rebel against him No condition should cause a cessation of prayer for the Apostle says Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17. 4. To pray always implies Not to let fall any holy suite till it be granted We must not faint in prayer nor give over though we do not presently speed Luk. 18. 1. He spake a parable to them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint Impor tunity prevailed with an unrighteous Judge surely then 't will be prevalent with the Father of mercies God does not presently grant

share in our supplications 1. We are to pray for Saints of all Nations Prayer may reach them though never so far and the God we pray to is acquainted with every Saint in particular throughout the Universe knows what they all want and how to supply all their needs 2. We are to pray for Saints of all Perswasions as long as they hold the head and are dear to Christ notwithstanding their difference from us in opinion Surely notwithstanding this difference they should be upon our hearts to desire their good Oh that there were less quarrelling and disputation and more praying and supplication one for another and this would be a great means to unite and to heal breaches 3. We are to pray for Saints of all Conditions high and low rich and poor bond and free Male and Female Every Saint is a Jewel and a Jewel is not to be contemned though it lye upon a Dung-hill The meanest Saints are precious in the Lords eyes and we should have regard to them 4. We are to pray for Saints that are to be as well as those that are already The Jewish Church prayed for that of the Gentiles before it was gathered for their little Sister that had no Breasts Cant. 8. 8. The reason why our supplications should be for all Saints are these 1. Because of their relation to God They are all his Children and he has the love of a Father to them nay he is a thousand times more full of affection than earthly Parents can be If God love them we should and shew our love by our wishing their good especially considering how much the honour of God is concerned in them and how much his Name is glorified in their preservation 2. Because of their Relation to our Lord Jesus Should not we pray for them since Christ died for them He bought them with the price of his own blood Act. 20. 28. 1 Cor. 6. ult and they are all Espoused to him nay they are his Members those for whom he ever lives to make intercession surely then we also should intercede in their behalf 3. We should pray for all Saints because of our Relation one to another We are all begotten by the same Seed we are all begotten by the same Seed we are all Members one of another Rom. 12. 5. So we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another We are all animated by the same Spirit one of whose principal fruits is Love and Love should be expressed in prayer finally we are all Heirs to the same Inheritance Oh how importunate should we be that we may come all safely thither 4. We should pray for all Saints because all are engaged in the same War and are wrestling with the same Enemies We should beg therefore that all may be kept from the evil of the world that Satan may be trod under the feet of all that sin may be subdued in all and that all may at last be made more than Conquerours 5. All Saints are carrying on the same design the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom and Interest of Christ we should help one another by prayer that this great end may be attained Use 1. Of Consolation Saints have more prayers going for them than they are aware of Those that you never saw nor shall see in this world are concerned for you and are desiring that you may have that grace and strength which you need considering the difficulty of your work and your many Adversaries As every one should pray for all so all are praying for every one and this is matter of great encouragement Use 2. of Reproof to those that are of a private spirit who are all for themselves but Zion they look not after These have neither love to Christ nor to their own Souls upon a right score If they loved the Head they would be sollicitous for the welfare of the Body and if they truly desired the good of their own Souls they would have pitty to other Souls that are of equal value Use 3. Of Exhortation Be more frequent and fervent in praying for all the Saints This will be a great Argument that you are indeed Members of the Body of Christ when all your fellow-members are loved when you feel their sorrows and are concerned for their wel-fare 1. Pray for the Saints Vnity that they may be knit together in love their Beauty lies much in their Agreement and their strength in their being United But if a House or Kingdom be divided Division has a tendency to Destruction Christ prayed that his Disciples might be One as that which would serve very much to convince the world that God had sent him Joh. 17. 23. for the divisions of Saints is not the least cause of prevailing Infidelity and of mens questioning the very truth of Christianity 2. Pray for the Saints purity that the Church may be more and more cleansed and conformed to the holy Doctrin of the Gospel and like her holy Head the Lord Jesus 3. Pray for the Saints prosperity especially for those glorious and peaceable times after Antichrists ruine the calling home of the Jews when the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ 4. Pray for the Saints increase and in thus doing you are kind unto the world Beg that the Prince of darkness may lose and that Christ may gain more and more Subjects every day and that out of the quarry of mankind more may be taken which may be made lively Stones in the Lords Temple 5. Pray for the Saints support under all Oppressions for their perseverance to the end and that the Lord Jesus would hasten his second appearing when all his Church shall be Triumphant when Devils and the Reprobate world shall be confined to Hell and all the Elect shall joyn together in shouting forth Hallelujahs unto him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Thus have I finished this Argument of Prayer What are now your resolutions Shall there be prayerless Families still and any Strangers unto secret duty notwithstanding all that has been spoken May Pardon and Grace and Life and Salvation be all obtained for asking and will you not do thus much will you neither be earnest for others nor your own selves Shall none of the directions that have been given be followed Shall all the Arguments that have been used be unsuccessful Oh thou that commandest and hearest prayer O thou that helpest thy people to pray pour out the spirit of Grace and Supplication That thy Throne of Grace may be surrounded with Suppliants that there may be a great flocking to thy Mercy-seat and grace may be imparted abundantly to thy own glory through Jesus Christ the great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens and is at thy right hand for ever Amen and Amen Prayer OF what an easie quick access My blessed Lord art thou how suddenly May our requests thine eare