Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	duty_n	general_a	great_a	74	3	2.1258	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05962	Briefe directions unto a godly life wherein every Christian is furnished with most necessary helps for the furthering of him in a godly course here upon earth, that so he may attaine eternall happinesse in heaven. Written by Mr. Paul Bayne, minister of Gods Word, to Mr. Nicholas Iordane his brother.	Baynes, Paul, d. 1617.	1637 (1637)	STC 1627; ESTC S115502	73,675	254

in us which before lay halfe dead as wee may see in the example of Ester 3 Thirdly it reacheth out to us in our greatest neede the good things and gifts of God which our selves desire Matth. 7.7 4 The fourth and last property of prayer is that wee bring not with us the sins which will turne away the eares of God from hearing us such are any sinnes not repented of but lyen in secretly at the least and not renounced Prov. 28.19 Psal 7.4 These are the parts of prayer which if they be reverently and humbly adjoined together as they ought accompanied with the fore-mentioned properties if we be fallen they will raise us up if wee be heavie they will comfort us if we be dull they will quicken us they are a present remedy to the oppressed heart a preserver o● the godly life a giver of strength to the weake an especiall meane● to make a man live in every estate wherein God hath set him therefore prayer must needs be a strong and mighty help to the godly life for if we pray well and keepe ou● selves in case fit to performe thi● duty we shall not need to feare i● our life any great annoyance THe next helpe is reading th● generall rules for it are these 1 First that the bookes of Go● be not laid aside and neglecte● but read on ●s oft of every one 〈◊〉 may be otherwise much unsavorinesse unquietnesse unfruitfulnesse and uncheerefulnesse wi● follow even in the best 2 That all filthy lewd and wanton bookes yea needlesse and unprofitable be avoided 3 That in the Scriptures ther● be a constant going on in order and not here and there a Chapter and of other Authours rather let one or two be read well and often than many sleightly Now as concerning the manner of reading 1 It must be with hearty good will to learne and profit by it desiring God to prepare us with reverence c. 2 We must settle our selves for the time to be attentive and so to abandon the wandring of the heart as much as may be 3 Wee must be carefull to apply that which wee reade wisely to our selves as perswading our selves that all duties are commanded us all sins forbidden us and all promises to be believed of us likewise wee must looke that all exhortations and admonitions quicken us all reprehensions check us and all threats cause us to feare If reading be thus used it will many waies appease the conscience inlighten the judgement inlarge the heart relieve the memory move the affections and in a word draw the whole man unto God and therefore must needs with the rest be a singular helpe and furtherance to a godly and Christian life HItherto of ordinary helpes extraordinary are especally two 1 First Solemne thanksgiving 2 And secondly fasting with prayer more than usuall adjoyned The first is when in some rare and unlooked for deliverance out of desperate danger wee doe in most fervent manner yeeld praise to God for the same and rejoyce heartily in the remembrance and confideration of it tying our selves in a renewing of our holy covenant more firmely to the Lord and testifying both these by signes and unfained good will to our brethren All which are to be seene most clearely and lively in that most famous example of Ester and Mordecay Ester 9. It is to be used according to the occasion when the occasion of it belongs to a whole Church and is publikely performed it ought to be accompanied with the preaching of the Word for the quickening of the assembly If the occasion be private it is to be used privately with Psalmes praising of his Name and speaking of his workes and reading Scriptures tending to that end The second extraordinary help is fasting and this is a most earnest profession of deepe humiliation in abstinence with confession of sins and suppl●cations for the greatest part of the day at the least to God to turne away some sore calamity from us or for the obtaining of some speciall blessing It must be used according to occasions as the other but neither must be taken in hand without true repentance Now if we weigh the force and use of these exercises how the one raiseth up a joyfull recording of God his wonderfull kindnesse the other bringeth us low for our owne vilenesse more especially remembred Both of them doe exceedingly draw our hearts to more love and obedience to God wee must needs confesse them to be effectuall meanes for the setting us forward in a godly life NOw that a believer is defined the godly life described and the helpes thereunto adjoyned It remaineth in the next place to direct the weake Christian in the right use and applying of the meanes For those duties of godlinesse are not left to men sometimes to be practised and at other times to be neglected nor generally only but particularly in all their actions and every day and thorowout the day to be looked unto and regarded The meaning is not that the selfe-same particular actions and duties should be every day but yet that all evill be avoyded every day and such good done as in our calling and life shall be occasioned 1 First therefore to declare that the believer must have direction for his life every day out of Gods Word it is manifestly proved out of these places of Scripture 1 Pet. 1.17.4.2 Heb. 3.14 Luk. 1.75 2 The Scripture doth commend unto us a certaine course to walke in with God and a particular direction of our lives as may be seen Psal 119.9 Pro. 10.9 Gal. 6.16 And doe further require the same to be daily kept and followed of us Prov. 21.14 1 Tim. 5.10 Psal 119.97 Psal 71.15 Act. 24.16 c. 24.7 Psal 145.2 Therefore Christians must be guided by some daily directions in the leading of their lives 3 Furthermore so many parts of a daily direction as will sufficiently direct a man be enjoyned in the Word of God to be daily used as in the parts of it and the helpes unto it In prosperity Iam. 5.13 1 Thes 5.19 Iam. 2.23 In afflictions Iam. 1.5 2 Chr. 20.34 Lam. 3.27 Psal 32.6 2 Sam. 15.26 Luke 9.23 Deut. 33.12 Matth. 26.41 Among the helpes for Prayer Psal 55.16 119.164 Pro. 6.22 For watchfulnesse Psal 119.97 For reading Iosh 1.8 and as for publike hearing Prov. 8.33 Acts 2.46 4 B●sides if wee consider the danger that followeth the neglecting of this direction by taking unlawfull liberty that will be a reason to stirre us up unto the imbracing of this truth for first we are caught presently with the deceitfulnesse of sin some way or other Mat. 26.41 Heb. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.5 Prov. 28.13 2 Secondly GOD himselfe though he keepe his children from many evills while they desire it yet if they be secure hee leaveth them to themselves and doth punish their sinne as hee doth other mens 2 Sam. 7.14 2 Chro. 16.9 Prov. 10 9. Psal 89.3 and we all know that Satan watcheth all opportunities