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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n wonder_n wonderful_a world_n 53 3 4.5815 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A26896 The Christians converse with God, or, The insufficiency and uncertainty of human friendship and the improvement of solitude in converse with God with some of the author's breathings after him / by Richard Baxter ... Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. Divine life. 1693 (1693) Wing B1222; ESTC R14884 71,442 184

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and_o detain_v by_o their_o impertinency_n i_o have_v form_v myself_o so_o long_o in_o these_o meditation_n that_o i_o will_v but_o name_v the_o rest_n and_o tell_v you_o what_o i_o have_v further_a to_o have_v treat_v on_o and_o leave_v the_o enlargement_n to_o your_o own_o meditation_n 8._o i_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o be_v weary_a of_o converse_n with_o god_n see_v it_o be_v that_o for_o which_o all_o human_a converse_n be_v regardable_a converse_v with_o man_n be_v only_o so_o far_o desirable_a as_o it_o tend_v to_o our_o converse_n with_o god_n and_o therefore_o the_o end_n must_v be_v prefer_v before_o the_o mean_n 9_o it_o be_v the_o office_n of_o christ_n and_o the_o work_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o the_o use_n of_o all_o the_o mean_n of_o grace_n and_o of_o all_o creature_n mercy_n and_o affliction_n to_o reduce_v our_o stray_a soul_n to_o god_n that_o we_o may_v converse_v with_o he_o and_o enjoy_v he_o 10._o converse_v with_o god_n be_v most_o suitable_a to_o those_o 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perfect_a manner_n then_o we_o can_v here_o conceive_v and_o therefore_o our_o holy_a converse_n with_o he_o here_o be_v the_o state_n that_o be_v like_a heaven_n and_o that_o prepare_v for_o it_o and_o all_o the_o heaven_n that_o be_v on_o earth_n it_o remain_v now_o that_o i_o brief_o tell_v you_o what_o you_o shall_v do_v to_o attain_v and_o manage_v this_o converse_n with_o god_n in_o the_o improvement_n of_o your_o solitude_n for_o direction_n in_o general_a for_o walk_v with_o god_n i_o reserve_v for_o another_o place_n at_o present_a let_v these_o few_o suffice_v direct_v 1._o if_o you_o will_v comfortable_o converse_v with_o god_n make_v sure_a that_o you_o be_v reconcile_v to_o he_o in_o christ_n and_o that_o he_o be_v indeed_o your_o friend_n and_o father_n can_v two_o walk_v together_o except_o they_o be_v agree_v can_v you_o take_v pleasure_n in_o dwell_v with_o the_o consume_a fire_n or_o converse_v with_o the_o most_o dreadful_a enemy_n yet_o this_o i_o must_v add_v that_o every_o doubt_v or_o self-accusing_a soul_n may_v not_o find_v a_o pretence_n to_o fly_v from_o god_n 1._o that_o god_n cease_v not_o to_o be_v a_o father_n when_o ever_o a_o fearful_a soul_n be_v draw_v to_o question_v it_o or_o deny_v it_o 2._o that_o in_o the_o universal_a love_n and_o grace_n of_o god_n to_o miserable_a sinner_n and_o in_o the_o universal_a act_n of_o conditional_a pardon_n and_o oblivion_n and_o in_o the_o offer_v of_o grace_n and_o the_o readiness_n of_o god_n to_o receive_v the_o penitent_a there_o be_v glad_a tiding_n that_o shall_v exceed_o rejoice_v a_o a_o sinner_n and_o there_o be_v sufficient_a encouragement_n