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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	believe_v	prove_v	scripture_n	3,079	5	6.9180	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A97294	Some prison meditations and directions on several subjects viz. on [brace] the fall of man, the sufferings of Christ, repentance and faith, reproof and counsel, the holy Scriptures, prayer, love to mankind, sincerity, the vanity of the world, the benefit of affliction, heaven and hell / by Samuel Young, minister of the Gospel.	Trepidantium Malleus.	1684 (1684)	Wing Y88A; ESTC R43962	59,844	144

set closely to the work and let it prosper in thy hands that you may shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 But because the Scripture instructs us and contains the things about which we must instruct others I shall next speak of them CHAP. V. Of the Holy Scriptures MEDITATIONS GODS Works declare that he is but his Word only declares what he is and how he may be known and served If we see a Ship under Sail going towards its Port we ascribe not this to the wood the Ship is made of but to the skill of the Mariners whether they be seen by us or not If I see an Arrow run to the Mark I know it is shot off by a skilful hand whether I see that hand or not The Sun that great and glorious light knoweth its rising progress and going down and acts like an intelligent rational being which shews it is guided by a wise God As for Gods Providences which make some doubt his being Sir W. R. in his History of the World Chap. Of Predestination hath this saying of Gregory which he said was of great use to him Qui in Dei factis rationem non videt infirmitatem suam consideret et cur non videt rationem videat He that cannot see a reason in some of Gods Works let him consider his weakness and then he will see the reason why he sees no reason I conclude That the reason why many would hope they shall die like Beasts is that they desire to live like such Now the Scriptures contain a declaration of the Mind and Will of this God I will not determine how many Chapters every one should read every day any more than how much meat every one should eat every day Three Chapters a day the usual direction are too many for some and sometimes too few for others I am not perswading to much reading but serious reading And for young Beginners I think it proper that they be directed to the chief places in Scripture and well to understand them before they read the Bible in order The reading of Scripture with a good Comment is of great use to some persons and Families I know none for shortness and plainess like to Bishop Halls Paraphrase on the Bible DIRECTIONS 1. Come to the Scriptures as those that know a Divine Authority stamped upon them It is Gods Book read it as such It teacheth you the two things Austin would often pray for Vt cognoscam te ut cognoscam me That I may know Thee that I may know my self 2. Beg the assistance of the same Spirit in reading the Scriptures that the Pen-men had in penning them A Dial is nothing unless the Sun shine on it The Scriptures are nothing unless the Spirit illuminate our Understandings If you say what need then of Scriptures You may as well say what need then of a Dial The Spirit will make you humble and let you see your own Folly that the more you know the less you know Weems Christ Syn. In Athens in Greece the Students were the first year called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wise men the next year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lovers of wise men but ever after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fools the more they knew the more sensible they were of their Ignorance 3. Whatever Objections you have against Scripture be not satisfyed till you have silenced them To confirm your Faith remember what is said of Christ's Resurrection Had the Jews been able to shew the dead Body of Christ after the three dayes they had overthrown the Gospel Remember Pauls Conversion Acts 9. who left a life of ease for one of affliction Judas his betraying Christ proves that he knew Christ to be no Deceiver He had not hanged himself to have accused Christ had he not known his Miracles were real many of them were not done in a Corner the place named the Street and done before many people The Disciples conversed with Christ forty dayes after his Resurrection and saw him ascend into Heaven They preached this to the world when they knew this Doctrine would cost them their Lives and it was never pretended that in all their torments that any one of them confessed a Cheat Leviath Christ Pol. but rejoiced that they were going to that Christ whom they had thus seen and preached Mr. Hobbs though he is pleased to tell us that the Scriptures were in the hands of the Ecclesiasticks for about three hundred years after the Apostles he had done well to have proved it as well as said it yet saith he believed the Scriptures were not corrupted by them If there seem to be any Coutradictions in Scripture saith Morney we should do with Scripture as Scholars with Classical Authors If they meet with a hard Sentence they do not presently throw away the Book Morney de ver Christ Rel. but turn it this way and that way rather than say the Author wrote not sense or true Latine or Greek Discipulus praeceptorem praeceptor ignorantiam accusat The Scholar blames the Master the Master his Ignorance but neither blame the Author Many passages in Scripture History we cannot easily reconcile for want of knowing some Occurrences in those times I have in this case often made use of such a Meditation as this which one night came into my thoughts If two men writing the History of the Reign of our present King one should write that this year was the thirty fifth year of his Reign and the other should write that this was the twenty third year of his Reign A Stranger or some Beyond Sea would wonder at this different account and would cry out that there was a notorious Contradiction in these two Historians but we that know how Affairs have been in England know that both wrote true This is the 35th year of his Reign if we consider how long he hath Reigned de jure upon the death of his Father this is the 23d year of his Reign if we reckon how long he hath Reigned de facto or since his retnrn A young Grammarian might quarrel with his Grammar when he read of a Singular Number when Number must be at least of two Of a Conjunction Disjunctive and cry O Horrible Contradiction in Terms when there is a conjunction of words where there is a Disjunction of Sense If any say But a great part of Scripture we understand not I answer And a great part of Scripture you do understand VVhat can be more plain than those Scriptures against Sin and for Holiness I have heard of an Unchast Lady that was objecting the obscurity of the Scripture and that she could not understand it How Madam replyed one what more plain than this Thou shalt not Commit Adultery Consider again what did the Eunuch understand Acts 8.30 God helped him said Philip to him Vnderstandest thou what thou readest A good question How can I said he And Philip instructed him

the earth and did reverence to the King and said Let my Lord King David live for ever Adore the Lord God if he hath made your Children by his Grace Heirs of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken Give me leave by the way to bewail the great and common sin found among us That many children are sooner taught what Jupiter Mars and such Pagan Gods were than what Father Son and Spirit is Josiah when he was young 2 Chron. 34.3 enquired after the God of David his Father but many now when young after Heathen Gods Augustine of old complained of this Aug. Confes lib. 6. of hearing in Schools Joves Thundering and Adulteries and for giving an account of such things saith he Et ob hoc bonae spei puer appellabar I was called a hopeful Lad. Luther also complained that our Schools were more Pagan than Christian I referr the unsatisfied Reader to Pasors Preface to his Lexicon he observeth of Pythagoras his golden verses so much esteemed of and I fear accounted more golden by too many than our Saviours Sayings on the Mount how they begin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the Immortal Gods c. And as I have observed worse after I knew an Aged Famous Schoolmaster that after he had kept School about fifty years said with a very sad countenance That it was a great trouble to him that he had spent so much time in reading Pagan Authors to his Scholars and wisht it were customary to read such a Book as Duports Greek Verses upon Job rather than Homer and such Books I beseech School-masters if they must read such Authors do as they do that eat Mushromes or such dangerous meats use strong Correctives Shew Youth the vanity of the Pagan Religion and the excellency of the Christian Religion Perswade them above all things to be acquainted with the Holy Scriptures which alone can make them wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 when many vain books make many wise to Damnation If Children die what doth it signifie to say they were ingenious if they be graceless will Ingenuity save them They are as Thales Milesius that was gazing on the Stars minding their magnitude situation and influences when he should have been minding his way and so fell into the water and was drowned I pray God put it in the hearts of a wise Parliament to purge our Schools that instead of learning vain Fictions and filthy stories they may be acquainted with the VVord of God with Books containing Grave Sayings And learn in Prose or Verse the Histories of the Kings of England the chief Passages in their Reigns and some Maxims in Law and things that may make them truly wise and useful in the world I know I shall offend not a few in thus writing But let such remember my Authors before named Austin Luther Pasor and others that I might name and if I must have a Reprimand I am glad that I have such good company It is storied of the old Waldenses in France in the dark times of Popery R. his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they so instructed their Children in the great things of God that some Popish Doctors said that they learned more of the Doctrine of Salvation by talking with those Children than they did by the Disputations of great men There is another fault among us to be condemned the early and unnecessary sending of young men beyond Sea to see Countreys speak Languages before they have studied the grounds of our Religion and so are infected with Popery or Atheism I desire such before they send their Children away or the Children before they go to read Bishop Hall his Quo vadis a Book to which little can be added And then I hope they may be willing to stay at home How sad is it in most houses where the fear of God is not Of which it may be said what is said of Babylon Rev. 18.2 that they are a Habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spiri●● and the cage of every unclean and hateful Bird so many wicked persons and so much wickedness is in them that the serious Christian may sometimes say in the beholding of it what Job said in another case O that my grief were thorougly weighed and that my sorrow were laid in the ballance for then would it be heavier than the sand of the Sea That there is so much Lying Prophaning the Name of God and so much of unsavoury rotten communications in most families and among Children that when they are men and women these things become common to them That if it be then asked what Christ asked the Father about his Childs disease how long ago this happened to them the same answer may be given even from a Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 9.21 I now come to a few Directions DIRECTIONS 1. Cry to God for Bowels of Compassion toward Souls and for Dexterity in this work of Reproving and Counseling that you may say with Paul Rom. 9.1 2 3. I say the Truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience also bearing me Witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual Sorrow in my Heart for I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren my Kinsmen according to the flesh As if he had said I could almost be willing to perish for their sakes say with David Psal 119.158 I beheld the Transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy Word You Parents that are so tender of the Bodies of your Children be much more concerned for their Souls You that desire great Estates for them much more desire Heaven for them How many mind their Oxen Sheep and Swine more than the Souls of their Children Sauls Father Kish 1 Sam. 10.2 Gave over caring for the Asses saying What shall I do for my Son So be less concerned about the things of the World and say What shall I do for the Souls of my Children that it may be said of you as in Prov. 10.20 The Mouth of the Righteous is as choice Silver when you speak with tender Bowels of Compassion It is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Mat. 10.20 When God bad Moses to speak to Pharaoh and Moses Objected want of Eloquence said God Exod. 4.12 Now therefore go and I will be thy mouth and I will teach thee what thou shalt say That you may by your good Counsel overcome Satan as David by playing with his Musical Instrument made the evil Spirit to depart from Saul 1 Sam. 16.23 I know for some audacious Sinners it is better to be silent than reprove Hezekiah his command was prudent when Rabshakeh Blasphemed Isa 36.21 But the People held their peace and answered him not a Word for the Kings Commandment was saying Answer him not Let Prayer accompany the work of Exhorting Neh. 2.4 stand before the man as Nehemiah before the King and Queen praying to the God of

Here all met that some would part Here was Scripture for he read some of Isaiah his Prophesie Here was the Spirit that bad Philip go to him Here was the Preacher for Philip expounds all to him Who throws away a letter of great concern because he cannot read all nor understand all he reads it the oftner takes the more pains calls for help and glad to understand most of it when he cannot understand all If any plead We cannot read A good Woman in Queen Maries time that could not read got a new Testament went from house to house and desired others to read to her and soon got much knowledge Knowledge doth not get into the Soul by the Eye onely but by the Ear. Many understand the mysteries of their Trades that never read Books about them Many can tell what news is going that never look into Gazets or News-letters by hearing and considering I have saith God Hos 8.12 written to them the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing If any say I want time Can you find time to eat to sleep and not to look into the Word of God Some can find time to read vain books that can find none to read Scripture Tho' such are as Politianus that left reading the Scripture Morney de ver Rel. Christ and studied and disputed about such questions as these whether we should write Carthaginenses or Carthaginienses c. As insignificant are all other Studies when men contemn the Word of God 4. If you find Convictions from Gods Word lose them not as you have too often done Cain when terrified in his mind built Cities Saul called for Musick so some run to their profits and pleasures If a man had great Treasure about him and came by a dangerous way where many were robbed and he himself had some time been robbed how would he fear As the Lord liveth thou art the man Thou hast been many times richly laden with good convictions affections and purposes gotten from the Word of God the Cares and Temptations of the world have robbed thee and feek to do it again 5. Remember You that are Believers what Encouragement they had in Scripture you have and by them Josh 1.5 Heb. 13.5 God directeth and comforteth you Hos 12.4 5 6. where he speaks of Jacob Yea he had Power over the Angel and prevailed he wept and made supplication unto him he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Therefore turn thou to thy God Keep mercy and Judgment wait on thy God continually God by giving Jacob the blessing speaks to us to wait on God But to the Scripture we must add Prayer But of that in the next Chapter CHAP. VI. Of Prayer MEDITATIONS THE great Benefit and Comfort of Prayer we read of often in Scripture and the People of God find often by experience Family Prayer Psal 13.2 and Secret Prayer Acts 10.2 have been minded by the Saints of Old In Secret Prayer it is good to stop sometimes after some Confessions Petitions and Praises that the heart may be more deeply affected with them Never did any Believer pray in vain though sometimes it may seem long before God answer When Corn is sowen Rain comes Snow comes Prost comes and all seems to be lost but stay till the time of Harvest and there is a good Crop so after Prayer Temptations come sad Providences come and yet at last all is well When a Child of God is in Prayer he is not weary of God nor of the duty but weary of himself and the corruption of his nature of Satan and his Temptations but still may say How good is it to draw nigh to God! In Secret Prayer if unsuitable thoughts come of men or business pray about those things as occasion may be so will ye catch the Devil in his own craft He is not so wise but he may be outwitted He hath helped me by his Temptations to matter of Prayer thousands of times against his Will Directions in answer to a Question Q. But what if I have no heart to the work 1. Pray obedientially when you cannot pray comfortably God calls for Prayer wait on him in the face of all discouragements Obedience will make an unpleasant work pleasant 2. Remember that discomposure may quickly end in enlargement Abraham found his Ram on the Mount Gen. 22.13 and that in the Thickets So many find their hearts in Prayer not before and that in the midst of violent Temptations 3. Remember that many Prayers we reckon some of the worst God accounts as some of our best Prayers Great are the rewards for what some think to be dead Prayers We reckon the goodness of Prayer by composure of thoughts by affections but God by self-loathing and seeing nothing in our selves and duties but all in Christ Let us cry earnestly to our God Pagans have cryed aloud to their Gods 1 Kings 18.26 They cut themselves and leapt upon the Altars which they made If any say I know not how to pray in Secret I never yet did it I know not what to say Go to God and say so It is a good Confession Lord here I am come I would pray but know not what to say It may be given you in that hour what to confess and pray for and that with great melting of heart Ask the Experience of the people of God Love them but of that in the following Chapter CHAP. VII Of Love to Mankind MEDITATIONS LEt Brotherly Love continue Heb. 13.1 is in many mens mouths but in few mens hearts If we enquire who is our Brother Not the man nearly related or the man of the same perswasion or opinion onely but chiefly all of the Houshold of Faith How many men of several Parties are as Jews and Samaritans that have no dealing one with another We must love the Saints as rich so poor ones ignorant as well as learned the weak as well as the strong We must love the ungodly yea our Enemies Love is to be shewn in forgiving injuries in supplying necessities If any hate us we must love them if they deferve bad of us they and we also deferve worse of God yet God feedeth them cloatheth them Mat. 5.45 and shews them mercy If God will use them as his Rod to chastise us we must be content Who knows what wrath will do or where it will end It is storied of Pope Stephen that he so hated Pope Formosus that he caused his Body to be taken out of the Grave and cut off those Fingers that had blessed the Clergy and so made void all his Canons and Ordinances And he that came after him took measures somewhat like so that at last saith Platina Nihil enim aliud hi Pontifices cogitabant quam nomen dignitatem Majorum suorum extinguere and yet all these men were Infallible all the while Let Husbands and Wives resolve that their contentions shall not