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book_n find_v great_a time_n 2,975 5 3.1999 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A27009 The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ... Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. 1653 (1653) Wing B1373A; ESTC R17485 252,137 602

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this_o rule_n in_o any_o of_o your_o self-examinings_a it_o be_v the_o heart_n that_o god_n require_v my_o son_n give_v i_o thy_o heart_n prov._n 23.26_o if_o he_o have_v the_o will_v he_o have_v the_o heart_n he_o may_v have_v much_o of_o our_o knowledge_n and_o not_o our_o heart_n but_o when_o we_o know_v he_o so_o thorough_o as_o to_o will_v he_o unfeigned_o than_o he_o have_v our_o heart_n affectionate_a work_n of_o soul_n to_o god_n in_o christ_n be_v sweet_a thing_n and_o high_a and_o noble_a duty_n and_o such_o as_o all_o christian_n shall_v strive_v for_o but_o they_o be_v not_o the_o safe_a mark_n to_o try_v our_o state_n by_o 1._o because_o there_o may_v be_v a_o solid_a sincere_a intention_n and_o choice_n in_o and_o of_o the_o will_n when_o there_o be_v little_o stir_v perceive_v in_o the_o affection_n 2._o because_o the_o will_n be_v the_o master_n command_v faculty_n of_o the_o rational_a soul_n and_o so_o if_o it_o be_v right_a that_o man_n be_v upright_o and_o safe_a 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it_o 2._o you_o must_v understand_v and_o well_o remember_v that_o it_o be_v not_o every_o willingness_n that_o will_v prove_v your_o sincerity_n for_o wicked_a man_n may_v have_v slight_a apprehension_n of_o spiritual_a thing_n which_o may_v produce_v some_o slight_a desire_n and_o wish_n which_o yet_o be_v so_o feeble_a and_o heartless_a that_o every_o lust_n and_o carnal_a desire_n overcome_v they_o and_o it_o will_v not_o so_o much_o as_o enable_v they_o to_o deny_v the_o gross_a sin_n but_o it_o must_v be_v the_o prevalent_a part_n of_o your_o will_n that_o god_n must_v have_v i_o mean_v a_o great_a share_n a_o deep_a and_o large_a room_n than_o any_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n that_o be_v you_o must_v have_v a_o high_a estimation_n of_o god_n and_o everlasting_a happiness_n and_o christ_n and_o a_o holy_a life_n then_o of_o any_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n and_o also_o your_o will_n must_v be_v so_o dispose_v hereby_o and_o incline_v to_o god_n that_o if_o god_n and_o glory_n 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still_o you_o can_v delight_n in_o god_n i_o say_v again_o do_v but_o acknowledge_v it_o the_o great_a work_n that_o god_n require_v of_o you_o and_o make_v it_o your_o daily_a aim_n and_o care_n and_o business_n and_o then_o you_o will_v more_o easy_o and_o certain_o attain_v it_o but_o while_o you_o know_v not_o your_o work_n or_o so_o far_o mistake_v it_o as_o to_o think_v it_o consist_v more_o in_o sorrow_n and_o fear_n and_o never_o endeavour_v in_o your_o duty_n or_o meditation_n to_o raise_v your_o soul_n to_o a_o delight_n in_o god_n but_o rather_o to_o cast_v down_o yourself_o with_o still_o pore_a on_o your_o misery_n no_o wonder_n then_o if_o you_o be_v a_o stranger_n to_o this_o life_n of_o holy_a delight_n by_o this_o time_n i_o find_v myself_o come_v up_o to_o the_o subject_n of_o my_o book_n of_o the_o saint_n rest_v wherein_o have_v say_v so_o much_o to_o direct_v and_o excite_v you_o for_o the_o attainment_n of_o these_o spiritual_a and_o heavenly_a delight_n i_o will_v refer_v you_o to_o it_o for_o your_o help_n in_o that_o work_n and_o add_v no_o more_o here_o but_o to_o desire_v you_o through_o the_o course_n of_o your_o life_n to_o remember_v that_o the_o true_a love_n of_o god_n in_o christ_n and_o delight_n in_o he_o and_o thankful_a cheerful_a obedience_n to_o he_o be_v the_o great_a work_n of_o a_o christian_a which_o god_n be_v best_a please_v with_o and_o which_o the_o bless_a angel_n and_o saint_n shall_v be_v exercise_v in_o for_o ever_o and_o o_o thou_o the_o bless_a god_n of_o love_n the_o father_n of_o mercy_n the_o prince_n of_o peace_n the_o spirit_n of_o consolation_n compose_v the_o disquiet_v spirit_n of_o thy_o people_n and_o the_o tumultuous_a disjointed_a state_n of_o thy_o church_n and_o pardon_v our_o rashness_n contention_n and_o bloodguiltiness_n and_o give_v we_o not_o up_o to_o the_o state_n of_o the_o wicked_a who_o be_v like_o the_o rage_a sea_n and_o to_o who_o there_o be_v no_o peace_n lay_v thy_o command_n on_o 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out_o of_o these_o ruin_n do_v thou_o yet_o erect_v a_o city_n of_o righteousness_n where_o thy_o people_n may_v dwell_v together_o in_o peaceable_a habitation_n and_o in_o the_o midst_n thereof_o a_o temple_n to_o thy_o holiness_n let_v the_o material_n of_o it_o be_v verity_n and_o purity_n let_v the_o redeemer_n be_v its_o foundation_n let_v love_n and_o peace_n cement_v it_o into_o unity_n let_v thy_o laver_n and_o covenant_n be_v the_o door_n and_o holiness_n to_o the_o lord_n be_v engrave_v thereon_o that_o buyer_n and_o seller_n may_v be_v cast_v out_o and_o the_o common_a and_o unclean_a may_v know_v their_o place_n and_o let_v no_o desolate_v abomination_n be_v there_o set_v up_o but_o let_v thy_o people_n all_o in_o one_o name_n in_o one_o faith_n with_o one_o mind_n and_o one_o soul_n attend_v to_o thy_o instruction_n and_o wait_v for_o thy_o law_n and_o submit_v unto_o thy_o order_n and_o rejoice_v in_o thy_o salvation_n that_o the_o trouble_a spirit_n may_v be_v there_o exhilerate_v the_o dark_a enlighten_v and_o all_o may_v offer_v thou_o the_o sacrifice_n of_o praise_n without_o disaffection_n discord_n or_o division_n that_o so_o thy_o people_n may_v be_v thy_o delight_n and_o thou_o may_v be_v the_o chief_a delight_n of_o thy_o people_n use_v they_o may_v please_v thou_o through_o he_o that_o have_v perfect_o please_v thou_o or_o if_o our_o expectation_n of_o this_o happiness_n on_o earth_n be_v too_o high_a yet_o give_v we_o so_o much_o as_o may_v enlighten_v our_o eye_n and_o heal_v those_o corruption_n which_o estrange_v we_o from_o thou_o and_o may_v propagate_v thy_o truth_n increase_v thy_o church_n and_o honour_v thy_o holiness_n and_o may_v quicken_v our_o desire_n and_o strengthen_v we_o in_o our_o way_n and_o be_v a_o foretaste_a to_o we_o of_o the_o everlasting_a rest_n luk._n 2.14_o glory_n to_o god_n in_o the_o high_a on_o earth_n peace_n good_a will_n towards_o man_n ecles_n 12.12_o 13_o 14._o of_o make_v many_o book_n there_o be_v no_o end_n and_o much_o study_n be_v a_o weariness_n to_o the_o flesh_n let_v we_o hear_v the_o conclusion_n of_o the_o whole_a matter_n fear_v god_n and_o keep_v his_o commandment_n for_o this_o be_v the_o whole_a duty_n of_o man_n etc._n etc._n finis_fw-la