Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	form_n	prayer_n	prescribe_v	2,556	5	9.9248	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66029	A discourse concerning the gift of prayer shewing what it is, wherein it consists, and how far it is attainable by industry, with divers useful and proper directions to that purpose, both in respect of matter, method, and expression / by John Wilkins, D.D. ; whereunto may be added Ecclesiastes, or, A discourse concerning the gift of preaching by the same authour.	Wilkins, John, 1614-1672.	1653 (1653)	Wing W2180; ESTC R7133	129,988	242

which they might learn a set forme of petitioning The apprehension of their present danger will make them both importunate and eloquent in the desire of mercy And thus will it be in proportion with every one as he does apprehend his own necessity in respect of any want or danger To which purpose that g●ace of Humility will be of special advantage which is alwayes sensible of it's own need and poverty and the more it does receive by so much the more does it bemoan it 's own indigence Now when a man has brought his heart to this temper it will be most proper for him to lay aside all needlesse artifice or affectation behaving himself in his addresses unto God with the same plainnesse and simplicity as we use to do with men Let him seriously consider 1. What sins those are which if he were now to die would most affright his conscience Confesse them in particular aggravate and bewaile them 2. What that is he would chuse above all other things to desire of God if he were sure to have his wish Pardon Grace Perseverance Contentment Heaven Protection c. and let him beg each of these urging the promise to this purpose 3. How his condition does differ from others below him What blessing there is that he could least spare Others perhaps are wretchedly ignorant prophane necessitous sick c. whereas he is exempted and therefore ought to give thanks for each of these enjoyments And in in the mention of these he may poure out his thoughts in the most obvious expressions As suppose after this manner O Lord my God I am at this present guilty of such or such a sin which I have relapsed into notwithstanding my conviction and promises I desire to be humbled for it and to renew my resolutions against it and do earnestly beg thy mercy in pardoning of it thy grace to strengthen me for the future There is such a blessing I stand in great need of 'T is not in mine own power to procure it thou can'st easily and thou hast promised to bestow it c. There is such a mercy which I see other men want and this makes their condition sad and miserable and therefore I desire to be truly sensible of thy favour in my enjoyment of it Thus going over particulars in the most facil natural expressions and if new matter does not presently occurre a man need not therefore break off this exercise but may take some time to meditate and consider of his condition to recollect some other particulars 'T is not necessary that he should still keep on in this duty in a continued frame of speech I speak of our secret Closet-devotions betwixt God and our own soules for as for publick prayer wherein we are to joyn with others though but in a family we ought there to be more close and exact in our preparations as being to work upon the affections of those that joyn with us But I say in these private devotions a man may take a greater freedome both for his phrase and matter he may be sometimes at a stand and make a pause there may be many intermissions and blanck spaces in respect of speech wherein by meditation he may recover some new matter to tontinue in this duty Now to him that shall attempt it after this manner it will not be very difficult to pray in private without the help of books or prescribed formes And 't is not easie to expresse what a vast difference a man may finde in respect of inward comfort and satisfaction betwixt those private prayers that are thus conceived from the affections and those prescribed formes which we say by wrote or read out of books This will be one good way so to ingage the affections upon this service that they may go before and lead us on in the particular subject of our prayers in which frequent practice will make a man very expert especially if by observation he be furnished with a t●easury of the most proper matter and expressions to this purpose wherby when his affections are dull and indisposed he may be able to quicken them For as the affections when they are vigorous will guide us unto matter and expression so when they are heavy and dull then premeditated matter and expression will help to excite them these being of mutual efficacy and advantage But of this I shall have occasion to speak afterwards 2. Besides the sense of our own necessity 't is requisite likewise that a man should apprehend the possibility of receiving help and supply by this means A poor begger will with much patience and diligence attend that door where he is confident of obtaining an alms and till a man be thus perswaded he can never be earnest in his desires To this purpose that grace of faith is so often required for the right performance of this duty and for the strengthening of this God is pleased to give us leave to argue with him Isa. 1.16 18. He invites those that are washed and reformed to reason with him Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord c. Rogat efficacissimè qui causas rogandireddit That man does beg most powerfully who backs his requests with arguments And the Scriptures do afford us frequent examples of such humble and reverent expostulations wherein holy men have with many reasons pleaded their cause before God So Jacob Gen. 32 11 12. And Moses Exod. 32.11 22 And David very frequently Not that any of our arguments are able to move and alter him in whom there is no shadow of change But they may be effectuall in the strengthening our own faith and fervency which is the proper scope and end of them The usuall Topicks to this purpose do concern either God Our selves 1. The Arguments from Gods nature and Attributes are reducible to some of these heads 1. From his Power So Moses argues with him O Lord God who hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatnesse and thy mighty hand for what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy wo●ks and according to thy might I pray thee c. Thus Jehosaphat pleads 2 Chron. 20.6 O Lord God of our fathers art not thou God in heaven And rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee 2. From his Wisd●m and Providence Job 365. God is mighty in strength and wisedome Psal. 59.13 Let it be known that God ruleth in Jacob and unto the ends of the earth He is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.19 who maketh every thing beautiful in his time Eccles. 3.11 3. From his Justice Psal. 5.3 4. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord for thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with thee Psal. 143.1 Hear my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplication in thy