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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	speak_v	word_n	3,147	5	4.0147	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09999	The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in fiue sermons vpon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.; Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635.; Davenport, John, 1597-1670.	1629 (1629)	STC 20251; ESTC S105990	87,396	182

holy man but an hypocrite goes betweene both hee would doe something at it but hee will not doe it throughlie And therefore if thou finde thou hast●…●…ubbered over this dutie from day to day that thou performest it in a negligent manner and perfunctorilie know that it is an hypocriticall performance and therefore when wee spend so much time in exhorting you to a constant course in this dutie still remember that you must performe it in such a manner that it may haue heate and life in it that it may be acceptable to God and do good to your own hearts to bring them to a more holie frame of grace and to a better temper then it may bee you found them in when you went about the dutie And if you obiect now I but it will cost vs much time to doe this Indeed one common cause amongst the rest that keeps vs off from the through performance of this dutie is this but to speake to that in a word remember this that the time that is spent in calling vpon God hinders you not in your businesse though it seem to hinder you and though it takes so much from the heape yet indeed it increaseth the heape as it is said of tithes and offerings bring them in and thinke not that because you ●…en the heape that you are poorer men no saith the Lord it will increase your store I will open the windowes of heauen and you shall haue so much the more for it so it is true in this case In other things you see it well enough You know the ba●…ting of the horse hinders not the iourney and the oyling of the wheele and the whetting of the sithe though there bee a stop in the work for a time yet as our 〈◊〉 saying is a whet is no let and the doing of this is no impediment Secondly put the case it were yet is it not the greater businesse what is it that you g●… by all your labours and trauailes if it bee riches it comes not into any comparison with grace and holinesse with that riches wherewith prayer makes you rich But say it bee some●… 〈◊〉 noble then that as learning and knowledge yet what is that to the renewing of Gods image in vs were it not better to spend time to get grace to make vs rich to God to make vs to get strength in the inward man to passe through all varieties of afflictions in getting that which is the chiefest excellencie of all others for is not that the best excellencie When Adam was in Paradise the having of Gods Image you know it excelled all other excellencies in the world and so it doth still and the more you pray the more you get of this image for a man of much praier is alwaies a man of much grace it much increaseth those spirituall gifts which are better then al the outward things you can get by your imploiment and diligence in them therefore I say though it doe spend you much time yet know as Christ said to Mary he that praies much though he be a great looser in other things yet he chooseth the better part Last of all consider this when thou commest to offer sacrifice to God wouldest thou offer that which cost thee nothing if thy continuing in prayer and spending much time in it should cost thee some disadvantage in thy affairs and should loose thee that which another gaines that thou gettest not so much knowledge as another man doth thou doest not so much in thy trade in thy businesse thou doest not set things in order as thou mightest haue done yet know this that it is great wisedome to make our service to God costlie to vs you know Dauids choise Shall I offer to the Lord that which cost me nothing and therfore he would needes giue the worth to 〈◊〉 the lebusue for that which he bought and therefore since it is to a good master that sees what you doe that knowes what it costeth and what losse you are at and withall that is willing and able to recompence it why should you shorten this businesse and post it over because of other occasions and other businesse that you haue to doe Oh but a man will say further I am willing to doe it but I am vnfit for it and it may be the longer I striue the more vnfit I grow To this I answer first in generall if thou doe it as well as thou canst though thou do it not so well as thou wouldest in this case God accepts the will for the deed when a man puts his strength to it when there is no indiligence in him when there is no lazinesse for in that case he will not accept the will for the deed but when a man doth his vtmost as those that would haue giuen more and could not their will was accepted for the deed in 2. Cor. 8. 12. I say when thou doest what thou canst when thou sparest no labour to get thy heart vpon the wing to raise and quicken it and to inlarge it in this dutie there God accepts it But againe I adde further there is an vnskilfulnesse in going about this dutie many times when we are not fit we thinke to make our selues fitter by spending time in thoughts and meditations before which I denie not but they may be profitable but yet this I will propound to you that the best way to fit our selues to this duty when we finde an indisposition vnto it is not to stay till we haue prepared our selues by meditation but to fall presently vpon the dutie I will giue you the reason of it because though a preparation is required for the performance of eues rie spirituall dutie yet the remote preparation is that which is intended and meant when we say we must prepare for if we speake of that which is immediate the very doing of the dutie is the first preparation to it For example if a man were to runne a race if he were to doe any bodily exercise there must be strength of bodie hee must be fed well that he may haue abilitie but the vse of the very exercise it selfe the very particular act that is of the same kind with the exercise is the best to fit him for it so in this duty of prayer it is true to be strong in the inward man to haue much knowledge to haue much grace makes a man able and fit for the dutie but if you speake of the immediate preparation for it I say the best way to prepare vs is the very dutie it selfe as all actions of the same kinde increase the habits so prayer makes vs fit for prayer and that is a rule the way to godlinesse is in the compasse of godlinesse it selfe that is the way to grow in any grace is the exercise of that grace It is a point that Luther pressed and hee pressed it out of his owne experience

THE SAINTS DAILY EXERCISE A Treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer Delivered In fiue Sermons vpon 1 Thess. 5. 17. By the late faithfull and worthy Minister of Iesus Christ IOHN PRESTON Dr. in Divinity Chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher of Lincolnes Inne IAMES 5. 16. The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much PSAL. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare my prayer LONDON Printed by W. I. and are to bee sold by Nicholas Bourne at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1629. TO THE READER Courteous Reader TO discourse largely of the necessity and vse of this peece of spirituall armour after so many learned and vsefull Treatises vpon this subiect may seeme super fluous especially considering that there is much spoken to this purpose for thy satisfaction in the insuing Treatise wherein besides the vnfolding of the nature of this dutie which is the Saints daily exercise and strong inforcement to it there is an endeavour to giue satisfaction in the most incident cases want of clearing whereof is vsually an hindrance to the chearefull and ready performance thereof In all which what hath beene done by this Reverend and worthy man we had rather should appeare in the Treatise it selfe to thy indifferent iudgement then to bee much in setting downe our owne opinion This we doubt not of that by reason of the spirituall and convincing manner of handling this Argument it will winne acceptance with many especially considering that it is of that nature wherein though much haue beene spoken yet much more may be said with good relish to those that haue anie spirituall sense for it is the most spirituall action wherein wee haue nearer communion with God then in anie other holie performance and whereby it pleaseth God to conveigh all good to vs to the performance whereof Christians finde most backwardnesse and indisposedness and from thence most deiection of spirit which also in these times is most necessarie wherein unlesse wee fetch helpe from heaven this way wee see the Church and Cause of God like to be trampled vnder feete Onelie remember that we let these Sermons passe forth as they were delivered by himselfe in publicke without taking that libertie of adding or detracting which perhaps some would haue thought meete for wee thought it best that his owne meaning should be expressed in his owne words and manner especially considering there is little which perhaps may seeme superfluous ●o some but may by Gods blessing be vsefull to others It would be a good prevention of manie inconveniences in this kinde if able men would bee perswaded to publish their owne works in their life time yet wee thinke it a good service to the Church when that defect is supplied by giving some life to those things which otherwise would haue died of themselues The blessing of these labours of his we commend vnto God the benefit of them vnto thee resting Thine in our Lord Iesus Christ RICHARD SIEES IOHN DAVENPORT THE SAINTS DAYLY EXERCISE THE FIRST SERMON 1. THES 5. 17. Pray continually THe Apostle here in the latter end of this Epistle heape●… vp many precepts together and therefore we shall not need to seeke out the dependance of these words vpon those that go before or those that follow after Reioyce evermore ●…aith he Pray 〈◊〉 in all things gi●… thankes for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus to you wards Wee are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Text 〈◊〉 this duty of of prayer 〈◊〉 co●… ended to vs and it is a commend from God himselfe delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be with our any great premises and reasons and indeed having therefore the more authority in it Pray Continually IN the handling of which we will do these three things First we will shew you what Prayer is Secondly why the Lord requires this at our hands for a man might obiect The Lord knowes my wants well enough he knowes my mind and how I am affected I but yet the Lord will haue vs to pray and to aske before hee will bestow it upon vs. And lastly what it is to pray continually For the first If we should define prayer in generall to you I would giue you no more but this description of it It is an expression of the mind to the Lord Sometimes by words sometimes without words but yet there must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and some opening of the will to him I 〈◊〉 is the generall But now to know what a rig●… 〈◊〉 is what such a prayer is as God accepts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue another 〈◊〉 which must haue 〈◊〉 ingredient●… into 〈◊〉 and so Prayer is nothing else but an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ering of th●…se holy ●…d good dispositions to God that ●…rise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirit 〈◊〉 the ●…generate part in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Christ Where you are to obserue this That the prayers that wee make a●…e divided into one of these two sorts First Some are such prayers 〈◊〉 are the expression of our owne spirits the voice of our owne spirits and there i●… nothing but flesh in them such prayers as any naturall m●…n may make to the Lord. And these the Lord regards not hee knowes not the meaning of them that is he do●…h not accept them Secondly There are prayers that are the voice of Gods own Spirit that is such as arise from the regenerate part which is within vs which is quickened and inlarged to pray from the immediate helpe of the holy Ghost These prayers are onely accepted And of these it is said he knowes the meaning of the Spirit That is hee so knowes it and sees it that also he accepts it Therefore you shall see in Hosea 7. 14. when they prayed and prayed earnestly yea they set a day a part for prayer they called a solemne Assembly And kept a fast yet saith the Lord plainly yee did not call vpon me when you howled vpon your bedd●… for saith he you assembled your selues for corne and for mine which any naturall man may doe And therefore saith he ●…t is but a ●…wling It is the voice of beasts to seeke for wine and oile and 〈◊〉 but he saith plainely you called not vpon ●…e when notwithstanding they spent a whole day in prayer But the meaning is that the Lord regard●… this as no prayer a●… all And therefore ●…o open a little this description vnto you for it is one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee haue to doe in the handling of this Text to describe to you the meaning of this precept what the nature of prayer is that you may know what kind of prayer it is that prevailes with God I say it is an expre●… of holy and good 〈◊〉 I vse that expression rather of dispositions then desores because the●…e is some part of prayer that stands in thanksgiving when you desire nothing at Gods hands but giue thanks

not this saith hee if you know the will of the Lord and doe it not your iudgement shall be greater so I say if any doe not practise this and it is a thing we are exceeding ready to forget or wee are ready to doe it in a for●…ll and in a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to doe it in good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to doe it therein commonly wee come short you know how great a sinne it was in the olde law to offer without a Priest in the 17 of Leviticus it is said there if any man brought his sacrifice though it were the best sacrifice and the choise yet saith the text ●…f he did not bring it to the priest and to the Altar but ●…ay his sacrifice else where without a Priest such a man was guilty of blood and was to be cut off from his people that is hee was to be cut off by the Priest by excommunication and after by the civill Magistrate You know it was Vzziahs fault to offer incense when it was proper to the Priest to doe it the same sinne wee commit when wee come to the Lord and thinke because wee haue repented and prayed fervently because wee thinke our hearts and spirits are in a good disposition because wee know no sinne of which wee are conscious for this cause wee thinke that wee shall bee heard It is true the Lord requires these quallifications in the partie when hee prayes but take heede of thinking to bee heard for this this is to offer without a Priest You must come thus to the Lord and say vnto him Lord I confesse notwithstanding all this I am vnvnworthy I haue nothing in mee why thou shouldest regard mee it cannot bee that either I or my prayer should be acceptable but I beseech thee take them at the hands of Christ our High Priest hee that is entred into the vaile he that takes the prayers of the Saints and mingles them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when a 〈◊〉 can really doe this wit●… dependance vpon Christ and come boldly in his name that is to offer a sacrifice to him and this we must carefully remember and therefore we see an excellent expression of this in Levit. 5. where this is made cleare to you that it is not any excellency in the person not any fervencie in the prayer not any purenesse or holinesse that is found in him nothing that come●… from man that causeth his prayer to to be acceptable but it is th●… priest in that place from verse 〈◊〉 to the 11. you shall finde there the law was that he that came to sacrifice must bring a sheepe or a she goate but if he were not so rich as to doe so he was able enough to bring two ●…tle doues if yet he were not able to doe that thē saith the text hee shall bring the tenth part of an Epha of fine flowre a very small thing and saith he let him giue this to the priest and he shall make an attonement for him and his sin shall be forgiven Whence I obserue this that it is not the goodnesse of the sacrifice the price nor the 〈◊〉 nor the excellency of that when they came with a thousand ●…ammes ●…nd so many sheepe and bullocks as you reade of many great sacrifices that were offered by the Kings yet the tenth part of an Epha of fine flower which was exceeding little this prevailed fully as much it shewes evidently that it is not in the sacrifice but the poorest and the 〈◊〉 and the meanest sacrifice will prev●… with God as well as the richest and the greatest What is the reason for saith he it is the priest that must offer it he makes it acceptable so in this case let the sacrifice bee never so meane yet if it be Christ that offers the sacrifice if it be commended to the priest and he offers it the Lord will accept it You shall finde that rule Levit. 5. 11. He that brings a sacrifice this caution was given he must put no incense 〈◊〉 it neither oyle But should the sacrifice be offered without incense no you shall finde in Levit 16. that alwayes the priest when hee entred into the holie of holies hee burnt incense that the cloud of that incense might cover the Mercy seat the meaning is this that when any man comes to offer a prayer to the Lord he can put no incense to it the priest onely hee must put in incense that is Iesus Christ only must offer the sacrifice wherein the Lord smells a savour of rest for the Lord expresseth himselfe in this manner as if he were disquieted for sinne and can take no rest now when Iesus Christ offers a sacrifice hee smells a savour of rest because it comes from him in whom he is well pleased so I say wee must be carefull t●…at wee remember wee come in the name of Christ. But you will say every man doth so and how shall we know it You shall know it by this if you haue boldnesse and confidence that is an argument that you looke not vpon your selues but vpon Christ. When a man i●… so exce●…ding ti●…erous and doubting and fearefull that 〈◊〉 dares not come to the throne of grace or if hee doe yet hee makes a great question whether he shall be heard or no this is too much looking to himselfe here the high priest is forgotten If thou come in his name there is enough to carry th●t out it will breede boldnesse in thee it will breede confidence if thou come in the name of Christ and offer vp thy prayers through him it will cause thee in every petition thou puttest vp to thinke thy selfe so much beholding to Christ that thou wilt be ready to say in thy heart whensoever any petition is granted thee I may thanke Iesus Christ for this When a man I say shall bee so much put vpon his score it will make him so much indebted to the Lord Iesus for his sinne that is remitted and this petition that he hath granted that his heart shall be more inlarged to thankfulnesse when he is able to consider the benefit of redemption and is ready to say with himselfe if Iesus Christ had not died if I had not had such an high Priest that hath entred into the very heavens as the Apostle saith Hebr. 9. 1● make intercession for mee I had lost this benefit I had never come to haue put vp a prayer to the Lord or if I had it should not haue beene heard But you will say to mee if wee be heard for Christ then though a man be sinful and though hee haue none of the precedent conditions though he haue not that holinesse that is required if the Priest make him acceptable why may he not hope as well as the most holy man I answer briefly though the Priest giue all acceptance to the sacrifice and our prayers are accepted through him yet that is not all there are two things besides