Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	author_n	write_v	year_n	2,966	5	4.5239	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44141	A correct copy of some letters written to J.M., a nonconformist teacher concerning the gift and forms of prayer by Matthew Hole ...	Hole, Matthew, 1639 or 40-1730.; J. M. (John Moore), 1641 or 2-1717.	1698 (1698)	Wing H2408; ESTC R19302	77,888	204

much_o for_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o preface_n he_o tell_v we_o that_o little_a or_o nothing_o be_v ever_o write_v on_o this_o subject_a before_o he_o and_o seem_v to_o wonder_v that_o this_o excellent_a art_n shall_v be_v hide_v from_o all_o former_a age_n and_o reserve_v for_o his_o discovery_n in_o the_o latter_a day_n in_o the_o next_o page_n he_o repeat_v it_o again_o and_o say_v for_o ought_v he_o can_v find_v there_o be_v little_o write_v of_o it_o in_o any_o language_n in_o the_o close_a of_o the_o preface_n he_o speak_v home_o and_o make_v himself_o plain_o the_o first_o author_n of_o it_o for_o he_o tell_v we_o he_o draw_v up_o the_o substance_n of_o his_o book_n many_o year_n before_o he_o know_v so_o much_o as_o any_o one_o author_n who_o have_v former_o attempt_v this_o subject_a so_o that_o this_o be_v a_o mere_a novelty_n by_o the_o author_n be_v own_o confession_n and_o yet_o you_o think_v he_o have_v infinite_o oblige_v mankind_n by_o present_v the_o world_n with_o this_o singular_a gift_n but_o i_o think_v he_o have_v no_o such_o high_a thought_n of_o it_o himself_o in_o the_o latter_a and_o wise_a part_n of_o his_o life_n and_o will_v willing_o have_v recall_v this_o gift_n when_o he_o see_v what_o bad_a use_n be_v make_v of_o it_o but_o i_o shall_v give_v you_o a_o more_o particular_a account_n of_o this_o in_o a_o letter_n by_o itself_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n let_v we_o proceed_v second_o to_o inquire_v what_o may_v be_v the_o occasion_n of_o this_o distinction_n between_o the_o gift_n and_o grace_n of_o prayer_n and_o it_o be_v more_o than_o probable_a that_o this_o proceed_v from_o a_o unhapy_a mistake_v a_o readiness_n of_o speech_n for_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n there_o be_v indeed_o in_o some_o man_n a_o great_a faculty_n and_o readiness_n of_o speech_n whereby_o they_o can_v express_v themselves_o with_o great_a fluency_n and_o less_o hesitation_n than_o other_o and_o this_o as_o all_o other_o faculty_n of_o body_n and_o mind_n may_v be_v style_v the_o gift_n of_o god_n but_o that_o this_o be_v not_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n i_o shall_v prove_v to_o you_o by_o this_o argument_n the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n must_v be_v something_o that_o be_v peculiar_a and_o appropriate_v to_o prayer_n for_o else_o it_o may_v be_v the_o gift_n of_o any_o other_o thing_n as_o well_o as_o prayer_n but_o this_o readiness_n of_o speech_n be_v not_o peculiar_o appropriate_v unto_o prayer_n for_o we_o know_v it_o may_v be_v and_o daily_o be_v apply_v to_o many_o other_o subject_n and_o occasion_n as_o the_o lawyer_n discover_v it_o in_o plead_v and_o man_n of_o part_n daily_o show_v it_o in_o matter_n of_o common_a converse_n and_o observation_n and_o therefore_o the_o readiness_n of_o speech_n you_o so_o much_o talk_v of_o can_v be_v the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n beside_o if_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n shall_v lie_v in_o such_o a_o readiness_n of_o speech_n what_o shall_v they_o do_v that_o want_v it_o it_o be_v most_o certain_a that_o the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o christian_n have_v neither_o a_o readiness_n of_o mind_n to_o conceive_v nor_o a_o readiness_n of_o tongue_n to_o express_v for_o themselves_o such_o prayer_n as_o be_v sit_v to_o be_v offer_v up_o to_o the_o divine_a majesty_n what_o then_o shall_v they_o not_o pray_v at_o all_o or_o can_v they_o pray_v without_o the_o gift_n why_o say_v some_o in_o public_a let_v they_o attend_v to_o the_o minister_n word_n and_o pray_v by_o his_o gift_n that_o be_v let_v they_o be_v tie_v up_o to_o his_o word_n which_o though_o sudden_a and_o unknown_a to_o they_o beforehand_o must_v be_v a_o form_n to_o they_o and_o prefer_v too_o before_o the_o public_a deliberate_a form_n of_o godly_a man_n yea_o of_o the_o whole_a church_n compose_v and_o be_v not_o this_o a_o excellent_a way_n think_v you_o to_o preserve_v sober_a serious_a and_o true_a devotion_n and_o to_o help_v man_n to_o agree_v and_o speak_v the_o same_o thing_n in_o the_o public_a assembly_n but_o what_o shall_v they_o do_v in_o private_a why_o there_o you_o will_v have_v they_o try_v and_o practise_v and_o learn_v this_o art_n yes_o and_o whilst_o they_o be_v study_v and_o beat_v their_o brain_n about_o matter_n and_o word_n what_o will_v become_v of_o the_o heart_n how_o shall_v they_o watch_v that_o or_o excite_v those_o inward_a motion_n and_o desire_n that_o be_v fit_a to_o attend_v their_o petition_n since_o the_o mind_n can_v attend_v two_o such_o different_a thing_n at_o once_o i_o fear_v sir_n that_o some_o by_o try_v to_o practice_v themselves_o and_o hear_v it_o irreverent_o and_o rude_o practise_v by_o other_o have_v whole_o lay_v aside_o the_o duty_n and_o settle_v in_o a_o total_a neglect_n and_o carelessness_n about_o it_o these_o be_v some_o of_o the_o many_o doleful_a evil_n with_o which_o your_o notion_n of_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n be_v unlucky_o clog_v all_o which_o be_v wise_o prevent_v by_o place_v the_o gift_n or_o grace_n of_o prayer_n where_o it_o shall_v be_v viz._n in_o the_o heart_n and_o the_o pious_a motion_n and_o affection_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o thence_o persuade_v man_n not_o so_o much_o to_o rely_v upon_o their_o own_o ability_n as_o to_o make_v use_n of_o those_o many_o pious_a and_o excellent_a help_n both_o for_o public_a and_o private_a devotion_n with_o which_o the_o wisdom_n and_o piety_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n have_v so_o happy_o furnish_v they_o sir_n i_o have_v send_v you_o this_o to_o entertain_v and_o refesh_v your_o memory_n before_o your_o answer_n come_v which_o i_o shall_v earnest_o expect_v by_o the_o next_o i_o be_o sir_n your_o humble_a servant_n m._n h._n april_n 5._o 1697._o letter_n vi_o to_o j._n m._n sir_n i_o find_v by_o your_o last_o that_o it_o be_v as_o hard_a to_o please_v as_o it_o be_v to_o convince_v you_o for_o though_o we_o state_v the_o question_n last_o by_o your_o own_o definition_n of_o the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n and_o i_o think_v to_o hear_v no_o more_o of_o that_o yet_o now_o you_o be_v out_o of_o conceit_n with_o that_o too_o and_o complain_v still_o of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o question_n it_o be_v first_o put_v in_o new_a and_o vary_a word_n which_o be_v the_o main_a if_o not_o only_a difference_n between_o form_n and_o extempore_o prayer_n the_o former_a consist_v in_o the_o constant_a use_n of_o the_o same_o word_n upon_o the_o same_o occasion_n the_o latter_a in_o the_o change_n and_o variety_n of_o they_o where_o no_o occasion_n require_v it_o but_o that_o will_v not_o do_v thence_o we_o come_v from_o the_o word_n no_o the_o ability_n of_o expression_n and_o yet_o now_o that_o do_v not_o please_v neither_o for_o you_o say_v this_o be_v a_o mere_a logomachy_n or_o lis_n de_fw-fr nomine_fw-la a_o dispute_n about_o word_n and_o so_o it_o must_v necessary_o be_v whilst_o you_o place_v the_o gift_n in_o they_o what_o be_v to_o be_v do_v then_o you_o see_v this_o notion_n of_o you_o be_v a_o mere_a proteus_n or_o changeling_n that_o be_v still_o vary_v and_o change_v the_o scene_n why_o you_o must_v try_v again_o and_o see_v whether_o you_o can_v fix_v it_o upon_o something_o that_o be_v more_o constant_a and_o last_a for_o there_o be_v no_o building_n without_o a_o foundation_n nor_o no_o argue_n without_o a_o true_a state_n of_o the_o question_n if_o you_o will_v place_v it_o in_o the_o heart_n that_o will_v be_v a_o sound_n and_o safe_a bottom_n and_o a_o stable_a principle_n of_o devotion_n but_o whilst_o you_o put_v it_o in_o the_o tongue_n which_o be_v so_o slippery_a a_o member_n and_o daily_o give_v to_o many_o wind_n and_o turn_n you_o will_v never_o be_v able_a to_o fix_v it_o upon_o so_o unsound_a and_o uncertain_a a_o bottom_n you_o will_v have_v the_o question_n then_o state_v thus_o whether_o a_o ability_n of_o expression_n may_v not_o be_v call_v the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n or_o whether_o the_o inward_a desire_n and_o good_a motion_n of_o the_o heart_n do_v only_o deserve_v that_o name_n with_o all_o my_o heart_n provide_v you_o will_v take_v a_o answer_n and_o stand_v to_o it_o i_o say_v then_o that_o a_o ability_n of_o expression_n be_v very_o improper_o call_v the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n because_o the_o whole_a business_n of_o prayer_n may_v be_v do_v without_o it_o and_o that_o the_o pious_a motion_n and_o elevation_n of_o the_o heart_n do_v most_o proper_o and_o principal_o deserve_v that_o name_n because_o this_o be_v the_o very_a essence_n of_o prayer_n which_o be_v require_v to_o all_o sort_n of_o prayer_n and_o none_o of_o they_o can_v be_v well_o perform_v without_o it_o if_o you_o can_v but_o come_v to_o this_o it_o will_v be_v a_o fair_a step_n to_o a_o right_a understanding_n in_o this_o matter_n for_o

prayer_n can_v find_v from_o the_o authority_n of_o bishop_n hall_n i_o come_v now_o to_o see_v whether_o they_o be_v like_a to_o find_v any_o better_a from_o the_o authority_n of_o bishop_n wilkins_n this_o be_v your_o last_o refuge_n and_o if_o this_o prop_n fail_v your_o cause_n may_v be_v in_o some_o danger_n of_o sink_v what_o you_o allege_v from_o he_o be_v out_o of_o a_o book_n entitle_v the_o gift_n of_o prayer_n from_o which_o i_o find_v you_o transcribe_v many_o passage_n upon_o all_o occasion_n in_o that_o book_n the_o learned_a author_n endeavour_v to_o reduce_v free_a conceive_a prayer_n into_o a_o art_n a_o design_n as_o himself_o acknowledge_v that_o be_v perfect_o new_a and_o never_o attempt_v by_o any_o before_o he_o now_o that_o must_v be_v acknowledge_v to_o be_v a_o very_a considerable_a prejudice_n to_o the_o undertake_n for_o new_a device_n and_o invention_n in_o religion_n have_v be_v ever_o find_v to_o be_v very_o dangerous_a and_o all_o church_n have_v feel_v the_o mischief_n and_o inconvenience_n of_o such_o novelty_n he_o that_o walk_v in_o a_o new_a and_o untrodden_a path_n may_v easy_o lose_v his_o way_n and_o many_o by_o leave_v the_o ancient_a track_n have_v find_v themselves_o in_o the_o brier_n 6.16_o jer._n 6.16_o and_o therefore_o we_o be_v bid_v to_o inquire_v for_o the_o old_a way_n and_o to_o walk_v in_o they_o it_o be_v much_o more_o safe_a to_o keep_v in_o the_o beat_a road_n of_o antiquity_n than_o to_o seek_v out_o and_o wander_v in_o the_o by-path_n of_o innovation_n but_o to_o come_v to_o the_o book_n we_o find_v that_o great_a man_n in_o the_o preface_n wonder_v that_o so_o little_a shall_v be_v say_v or_o write_v on_o that_o subject_a to_o help_v he_o in_o his_o undertake_n now_o this_o wonder_n may_v soon_o cease_v by_o call_v to_o mind_n that_o all_o christian_a church_n in_o all_o time_n and_o place_n perform_v their_o public_a worship_n by_o set_a prescribe_a form_n and_o so_o as_o there_o be_v no_o use_n so_o neither_o be_v there_o any_o need_n of_o this_o artificial_a gift_n which_o be_v a_o sufficient_a reason_n of_o the_o silence_n of_o antiquity_n about_o it_o but_o when_o this_o art_n begin_v to_o be_v study_v and_o put_v in_o practice_n it_o soon_o become_v a_o instrument_n of_o division_n and_o be_v at_o this_o day_n one_o of_o the_o principal_a wiles_n and_o artifices_fw-la of_o seducer_n according_o therefore_o this_o great_a man_n find_v the_o bad_a effect_n of_o this_o new_a experiment_n in_o divinity_n and_o observe_v how_o greedy_o it_o be_v catch_v at_o and_o abuse_v by_o sectary_n think_v fit_a to_o abandon_v this_o new_a art_n without_o add_v improve_n or_o so_o much_o as_o correct_v the_o imperfection_n of_o it_o and_o he_o himself_o to_o his_o die_a day_n become_v a_o constant_a frequenter_a of_o the_o public_a prayer_n of_o the_o church_n and_o likewise_o according_a to_o the_o duty_n of_o his_o office_n strict_o keep_v his_o clergy_n to_o they_o but_o the_o better_a to_o clear_v up_o this_o matter_n you_o must_v consider_v sir_n the_o time_n of_o the_o write_n of_o that_o book_n together_o with_o the_o occasion_n and_o end_n for_o which_o it_o be_v write_v and_o than_o you_o will_v soon_o see_v what_o little_a stress_n be_v to_o be_v lay_v upon_o it_o for_o the_o time_n of_o write_v it_o it_o be_v when_o the_o liturgy_n and_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v by_o a_o prevail_a faction_n lay_v aside_o and_o all_o godly_a form_n of_o prayer_n decry_v at_o which_o time_n a_o whole_a deluge_n of_o error_n and_o new_a opinion_n break_v in_o upon_o we_o and_o by_o the_o help_n of_o free_a prayer_n be_v vent_v and_o spread_v abroad_o to_o the_o great_a increase_n of_o sect_n and_o schism_n among_o we_o by_o this_o mean_n man_n lose_v the_o reverence_n that_o be_v due_a to_o the_o divine_a majesty_n bespeak_v he_o in_o a_o loose_a careless_a and_o indecent_a manner_n and_o the_o solemnity_n of_o prayer_n be_v prostitute_v to_o vile_a and_o secular_a purpose_n now_o to_o remedy_v those_o evil_n this_o great_a man_n write_v this_o book_n to_o direct_v man_n in_o this_o duty_n when_o they_o be_v deprive_v of_o the_o assistance_n of_o form_n and_o to_o preserve_v if_o possible_a some_o sense_n in_o their_o prayer_n at_o a_o time_n when_o there_o be_v so_o little_a of_o it_o to_o be_v hear_v moreover_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o manner_n and_o model_n draw_v up_o by_o this_o reverend_a person_n for_o this_o purpose_n we_o shall_v find_v it_o in_o effect_n to_o be_v this._n when_o one_o sort_n of_o form_n be_v cry_v down_o he_o endeavour_v to_o bring_v up_o another_o that_o be_v when_o book-form_n be_v remove_v by_o the_o subtlety_n of_o design_v man_n 11._o p._n 11._o he_o endeavour_v to_o set_v up_o mental-form_n or_o repeat_v their_o prayer_n by_o memory_n which_o he_o style_v a_o invisible_a book_n for_o the_o register_n of_o our_o thought_n hope_v thereby_o to_o keep_v up_o that_o sense_n and_o seriousness_n that_o be_v requisite_a in_o this_o duty_n there_o be_v but_o little_a difference_n as_o he_o tell_v we_o betwixt_o repeat_v by_o memory_n and_o read_v out_o of_o a_o book_n that_o this_o be_v the_o main_a drift_n of_o the_o author_n in_o that_o book_n appear_v by_o these_o follow_a thing_n first_o 10._o p._n 10._o he_o forbid_v man_n to_o depend_v altogether_o upon_o sudden_a suggestion_n or_o effusion_n as_o if_o it_o be_v a_o quench_v or_o confinement_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o be_v furnish_v beforehand_o with_o matter_n and_o expression_n for_o this_o service_n 13._o p._n 13._o in_o another_o place_n he_o require_v they_o to_o prepare_v themselves_o by_o study_n and_o premeditation_n for_o this_o duty_n that_o be_v as_o appear_v by_o what_o be_v mention_v before_o to_o lay_v up_o both_o matter_n and_o word_n in_o their_o memory_n for_o the_o more_o decent_a and_o orderly_a performance_n of_o it_o again_o 18_o p._n 3._o 18_o he_o condemn_v leaun_a these_o thing_n to_o sudden_a infusion_n which_o occasion_n man_n bespeak_v god_n almighty_a in_o a_o loose_a and_o careless_a manner_n furthermore_o he_o will_v have_v they_o settle_v and_o compose_v their_o thought_n or_o fix_v these_o thing_n in_o their_o memory_n 19_o p._n 19_o for_o the_o more_o solemn_a performance_n of_o this_o duty_n that_o they_o may_v the_o better_o avoid_v all_o idle_a impertinent_a and_o wild_a expression_n the_o usual_a embellishment_n of_o extempore-prayer_n second_o 17._o p._n 17._o he_o condemn_v all_o affectation_n of_o vary_a word_n and_o phrase_n in_o prayer_n by_o which_o mean_v man_n become_v expose_v to_o empty_a vain_a and_o unseemly_a expression_n now_o you_o know_v sir_n that_o the_o great_a difference_n between_o form_n and_o free_a prayer_n be_v that_o in_o the_o former_a the_o same_o word_n be_v use_v upon_o the_o same_o occasion_n and_o the_o latter_a change_n phrase_n without_o any_o necessity_n and_o it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o the_o chief_a excellency_n of_o the_o conceive_a prayer_n of_o sectary_n lie_v in_o this_o vanity_n of_o variation_n which_o this_o great_a man_n severe_o condemn_v three_o he_o condemn_v all_o affecttaion_n of_o length_n which_o you_o know_v be_v one_o of_o the_o great_a ornament_n and_o attendant_n of_o free_a prayer_n 17._o p._n 17._o and_o to_o avoid_v this_o prolixity_n 19_o p._n 19_o he_o caution_n against_o all_o empty_a repetition_n and_o digression_n let_v we_o know_v 5.2_o eccl._n 5.2_o that_o god_n be_v in_o heaven_n and_o we_o be_v upon_o earth_n therefore_o our_o word_n shall_v be_v few_o four_o this_o author_n distinguish_v between_o pray_v in_o public_a with_o other_o 16._o p._n 16._o and_o pray_v secret_o betwixt_o god_n and_o our_o own_o soul_n allow_v man_n in_o secret_a to_o take_v a_o great_a liberty_n of_o enlarge_n themselves_o in_o their_o own_o expression_n which_o though_o not_o in_o themselves_o so_o significant_a and_o proper_a may_v yet_o suit_v their_o mind_n and_o serve_v to_o set_v forth_o their_o own_o immediate_a thought_n but_o in_o public_a prayer_n where_o we_o be_v the_o mouth_n of_o other_o and_o shall_v engage_v the_o affection_n of_o those_o that_o join_v with_o we_o there_o great_a care_n must_v be_v take_v that_o our_o expression_n be_v so_o proper_a and_o deliberate_a as_o may_v be_v most_o effectual_a to_o that_o end_n and_o for_o that_o purpose_n prefer_v premeditate_a form_n wherein_o matter_n and_o word_n be_v prepare_v before_o hasty_a and_o present_a conception_n in_o a_o word_n this_o reverend_a author_n place_n the_o great_a work_n and_o business_n of_o prayer_n 3._o p._n 2._o 3._o in_o the_o heart_n which_o he_o style_v the_o life_n and_o spirit_n of_o it_o and_o consequent_o the_o word_n be_v but_o the_o carkaess_a and_o shell_n of_o it_o add_v withal_o that_o it_o be_v not_o essential_a to_o prayer_n