Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	apostle_n	sin_n	word_n	4,593	5	4.4164	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45776	Levamen infirmi: or, cordial counsel to the sick and diseased Containing I. Advice concerning physick, and what a physician ought to be; with an account of the author's remedies, and how to take them. II. Concerning melancholy, frensie, and madness; in which, amongst other things, is shew'd, how far they differ from a conscience opprest with the sense of sin, and likewise how they differ among themselves. III. A miscellany of pious discourses, concerning the attributes of God; with ejaculations and prayers, according to scripture rule. Likewise an account of many things which have happen'd since the creation. To which are added several predictions of what may happen to the end of the world. The whole being enrich'd with physical, pious, moral & historical observations, delightful to read, & necessary to know. By D. Irish, practitioner in physick and surgery, now dwelling at Stoke, near Guilford in Surry, where he is ready to serve any person, to the utmost of his skill.	Irish, David.	1700 (1700)	Wing I1036; ESTC R221621	80,143	149

own Experience besides in all kinds of Temptations there is hopes Examples of a good Issue are frequent in each kind Yea tho' the Corporeal inhabiting of Satan is the greatest and fullest of Terrors yet the Evangelists testifie of many that have been Dispossest by the Powe● of Christ which Examples are writ for our Instructions against the like Afflictions which are Tryals only for a Time All God's Children have their Salvation founded upon his Eternal Decree of Mercy towards them 't is Published by the Preaching of the Gospel and is Written and Sealed in the Hearts of his Chosen by the power of the Spirit of Adoption which cryeth Abba Father and testifieth in Measure to some more and some les● according to the Dispensation of Grace There is no evident and undo●bted sign of Reprobation in any while they live because they may Repent only that Sin which is ●●lled the Sin against the Holy Ghost is not Pardon●●le and for which the Apostle forbids us to Pray This Sin against the Holy Ghost Divines expound 〈◊〉 be an open wilful Apostacy from God with a ●●alitious hate against the Profession of his known ●ruth Next unto this Sin is final Impenitence which ●●nnot be known till Death makes shew thereof and 〈◊〉 off all time of Repentance The first Example this kind was Cain who complained that his Sins 〈◊〉 greater than he could bear Such also was the ●●●guish of Esa● when he found no Repentance after 〈◊〉 had sold his Birth-right Saul if not a Reprob●te ●t was Possessed for the Lord sent an Evil Spirit to ●●crease his Torment but Iudas was wholly give● 〈◊〉 to Satan This notorious Traytor this heinous 〈◊〉 despairing Sinner before mentioned Executed 〈◊〉 Punishment upon himself which all Traytors ●●serve he took the Revenge due for the Betraying 〈◊〉 Innocent Blood upon himself with his own hands 〈◊〉 all whose Consciences are loaden with grievous 〈◊〉 feel the punishment they Merit in their own ●arts and many times are driven to cruel Despair ●n which nothing either more dishonors God or ●●ejudic●s Man Also the Prophane People of the ●orld that either know not Christ or know him 〈◊〉 vain outward Profession only if they finally con 〈◊〉 patterns of Iniquity they will prove in the 〈◊〉 dismal Examples of God's Vengeance But if 〈◊〉 greatest Offender Repent and turn to the Lord 〈◊〉 will wi●h Arms of Mercy receive and embrace 〈◊〉 Therefore do works worthy of Repentance 〈◊〉 beware you think no Sin greater than God's in 〈◊〉 Mercy since that Sin which is Unpardonable is only known to him from whom nothing is hi● hence in this as in all Misteries 't is the best way 〈◊〉 acquiesce and not to search into them further 〈◊〉 God hath Revealed by whose Oracles we are i●form'd that only one kind of Sin cutteth off all hop● of Salvation because it is of such a Nature that closeth up the Avenues of Repentance being 〈◊〉 height of all Iniquity even equal with that of 〈◊〉 Devils themselves who are shut out of God's fav●● for ever Now let us seriously consider whether you ha●● sinned against the Holy Ghost or not which if 〈◊〉 deed you have as your humour would lead 〈◊〉 where is the Renouncing of God's Religion whi●● you have hitherto profess'd and heartily embrac'● where is that Malice which procured this mischi●● what Persecution have you in word or deed 〈◊〉 against the Truth of God's Word what Sword 〈◊〉 you drawn against it what Volumes have you 〈◊〉 against sound Doctrine with a known and resol●● opposition to your own Conscience if your hum●●● be not able to alledge such Testimonies against 〈◊〉 self what have you to fear since this alone is tho●●● to be the Sin against the Holy Ghost Tho●● it is not certain since God has not any where 〈◊〉 what particular Sin it is therefore be 〈◊〉 too Cruel to your self least by final Despair 〈◊〉 prevent that Mercy you may by a timely Repenta●●● obtain Therefore dear Melancholicks I pray give 〈◊〉 these imaginary conceits of distrustful and danger prejudices against your selves and prepare your he●●● to receive the Comfort which the word of Pro●●ministreth unto you Remember that our Perfec● lyeth without us even in that unspotted Lamb 〈◊〉 ●esus whose Sacrifice is all-sufficient for all kinds of Sin This Perfection we are to hope for and attend the ●onsummation of the rudiments of Righteousness ●his and the advised consideration of God's Pro●ises in his Word with means used might easily ●elive● you and you may again as David was be ●esto●●d to the wonted Joys of the sweet Mercies of ●he Lord. ADVERTISEMENT This is to inform all Persons whom it may concern ●hat D. Irish doth and will if God permit in●truct his Son in the best and speediest way of curing Melan●holy and Madness And likewise those Luna●icks which are not Curable he will take them for ●erm of Life if paid Quarterly such and all others 〈◊〉 takes on Reasonable Terms allowing them good ●ires Meat and Drink with good attendance ●nd all necessaries far beyond what is allow'd at Bedlam or any other place he has yet heard of and ●heaper for he allows the Melancholly Mad and such ●hose Consciences are Opprest with the sense of Sin ●ood Meat every day for Dinner and also whole●ome Diet for Breakfast and Supper and good Table●eer enough at any time They have also good Beds ●nd Decent Chambers answerable to their Abilities ●ll which necessaries are daily allow'd and given ●hem according to agreement during the time a●reed for they are all carefully look'd after by ●imself at his House in Stoke near Guilford in Surry ●ein● a pleasant place and good Air and such as ●lease ●o be at Thorp his Son looks after them by his ●athers directions who comes every Tuesday to see them and instruct his Son in the true Method of curing such distemper'd People Note also That at Thorp any person may have at any time D. Irish's Medicines of his Son for any Distemper incident to Men Wome● or Children at reasonable Rates and eve●y Tuesday they may there also have D. Irish's Advice The Conclusion of this Treatise I shall not here give you an Account dear Country-men how to go through with the Cur● of Melanchol● by Medicines and other Means which I daily experience to be successful because I have no other Maintenance but my Practice therefore I shall conceal th●se Secrets and will not impart them to any Person whatsoever save only to my Posterity to whom if God send Life I intend to make expert in the Cure not only of this but of all other Diseases But ●s to you my intention was not to make you a Phisician or to give you a Warrant to adventure upon Practise as those do who attempt to Cure diseases by taking Medicines upo● trust out of any Book they meet with many of which Medicines are really insignificant or hurtful in most cases and many of them tho' good yet are

known to all Men in all Nations But here I desire and earnestly admonish every good Christian that he slight not the plain and simpl● manner of Stile in many places found in the Bible ●ince they are Evidences of Truth and not Patterns of Rhetorick There is no doubt but what we find ●n the holy Scripture is true though sometimes it ap●ears in a mean dress which indeed is one of the Pri●iledges of Truth when Falsities covet the flowers ●f Eloquence to hide their Shame The Bible con●ains the Words Works Acts and Judgments of the ●ost High 't is a Book that makes Fools of the crafty ●nd wise of the World when yet it is understood by ●he plain and simple as our Saviour saith The ●criptures are most high and precious Relicks a ●ountain which can never be Exhausted in them ●hou findest the Swadling-Cloaths wherein Christ lyeth to which the Angels directed the poor and simple Shepheards Indeed they seem to be mean silly Clouts but dear and precious is the Treasure in them for we have in them many Promises and God is faithful in fulfilling them in Christ from whom we have forgiveness of Sins and are delivered from everlasting Death God's Word is a Light that Shines in Dark places so that those that are shadowed by the greatest Cloud of Sin and Ignorance cannot miss being found out by its penetrating Beams and by them directed to the paths of Glory We see in the Example of Adams eating the forbidden Fruit how easie it is to be drawn into Sin and to forget God's Word and how hard a work it is to get hearts of Repentance by the long and hard task our Saviour had to make a Reconciliation with God for our Offences and if we were to be sav'd by our own Deeds and not by the Works of Christ we ●hould never attain Salvation Therefore Christ makes our task more easie saying Whosoever relies on me and believes in my Word shall have everlasting Life Some may ask what is here meant by his Word I Answer It 's Christus est Spiritualiter in Sacramen●●● The same that he spake at his Administring his last Supper when he said The words which I spake are Spirit and Life the flesh profiteth nothing whosoever eats thereof shall live for ever He Seal'd it with his Blood therefore it must be Truth Some may say How can we Eat this his Word Answer By laying it up with Faith in our hearts and leading our Lives answerable thereto which done after this life is ended we shall neve● Hunger no● Thirst more but shall Live and Reign with him fo● Ever The same is to be understood in Baptism but the Administring of the Sacrament of the las● Supper doth shew forth his Death till he comes again at which time he will Judge the World then happy will those be who hear his Welcome With a well done true and faithful Servant enter into thy Masters Ioy And now let us cry out Come Lord Iesus come quickly The Holy Scripture makes mention of sundry things done at certain hours of the day not agreeing with the hours of our Account as in Iohn 't is said The Rulers Son being healed of his Sickness at the Seventh hour his Ague le●t him And the Labourers that came into the Vineyard came at the Eleventh hour And in the Passion of Christ 't is Recorded That at the Sixth hour there was darkness over all the whole Earth And about the Ninth hour he cried with a loud Voice and so gave up the Ghost In which is couch'd some think a Mystery for Adam was Created as 't is supposed on a Friday about the same hour of the day as our Saviour Suffer'd Now to understand what hours these were know that the Iews divided their Artifici●l days into four quarters allowing to every quarter 3 hours and so began the first hour of the first quarter at the rising of the Sun and as they followed in order they call each hour of each quarter the first second or third hour so that the third hour of the first quarter they ca●led the third hour and the third hour of the second quarter they called the sixth hour whi●h was Mid-day called by us Twelve a Clock and the third hour of the third quarter they called the Ninth hour and the second hour of the fourth quarter they called the Eleventh hour and they called the Twelfth and last hour Eventide So that the Rulers Son healed at the Seventh hour with us called One of the Clock in the Afternoon and the Sixth hou● when Darkness was over the whole Earth was Mid-day called by us Twelve a Clock and their Ninth hour when Christ yielded up the Ghost is called with us Three a Clock in the Afternoon The Labourers that came into the Vineyard came at the Elenth hour about five a Clock in the Afternoon or an hour before Sun-set Likewise they divided each Night into four quarters called by them the four Watches of the Night the first three hours was the ●irst Watch during which time all the Soldiers both Young and Old of any fortified Town or Garrison were us'd to Watch. The Second three hours t●ey call'd the second Watch which was about Mid●ight at which time the young Soldiers only Watched And the third quarter of the Night containing also three hours was called the third Watch in it the middle aged Soldiers kept Watch. And the last three hours called the fourth Watch was about break of day in which the old Soldiers only Watched The day is accounted with us for payment of Money between Sun and Sun but for Indictments of Murder the day is accounted from Midnight to Midnight and so are Fasting days and Festival days as Sundays c. I will now give you after this Digression some Examples which fully prove the Omnipotence the Wisdom and Mercy and some other Attributes of God The first shall be an Instance of three most famous Conjunctions which the Scripture relate and which are all worthily wonderfully wondred at the like shall never happen again all being occasioned by the second Person of the Blessed Trinity his assuming Humanity which is a mystery wonderfully singular and singularly wonderful even to that degree that the very Angels saw it with Amazement The first Conjunction is of God and Man in Christ The second of a Mother and a Virgin in the Blessed Virgin Mary The third of Faith and the heart of Ma● in every Christian who truly Believe that a Virgin brought forth and became a Mother and though ● Mother yet that she notwithstanding remain'd a Virgin Another instance is God's fourfold bringing forth of Man as Learned Anselmus a holy Bishop of Canterb●ry Notes First he brought forth Man without the help either of Man or Woman in Creating Adam Secondly a Woman out of Man without the help of a Woman in making Eve Thirdly By the help of Man and Woman seen in the natural Production of Man Fourthly and lastly

establish'd here by the Royal ●uccession of One and Twenty Kings descended from ●he Loins of this Royal Prophet Sin whose proper wages is Death brought many Calamities strange Revolutions and in the End a ●●nal Destruction to Ierusalem The Convulsions and ●roubles of this City were many and violent before 〈◊〉 was utterly Ruin'd as namely by this Hake King ●f Egypt in Rehoboams days at which time the Con●ueror carry'd away much Treasure By Ioas King ●f Israel who in the time of Amazias brake down ●00 Cubits of the Wall it was besieg'd by Resin and ●ekek King of Aram and Israel whom God put back 〈◊〉 the Reign of wicked Ahaz By Zenecher King of ●ssur whose Host in Hezekiahs days the Angel of God ●estroyed By the Assyrians who took Manasia Cap●●ve By Pharaoh Necho who carried Iehoazar Pri●oner into Egypt And lastly it was Besieged by ●he Caldeans who both Burnt the Temple and defa●ed the City see Kings 23.25 It was after the Captivity Rebuilt by the returned ●ews yet so that in the days of Christ it rather seemed a place of Slaughter and a Den of Thieves than the Royal Seat of a King or the place of Holy Worship for having Slain their Prophets and Persecuted the Saints they lastly filled the measure o● their Iniquity by shedding the Blood of that grea● One even Jesus the Lord of Life who by sufferin● Death in Ierusalem sealed the Redemption of th● World fulfilled the Law changed their Sabbath and in a word put an end to the glory of the Place Soon after by the Sedition of the Citizens and th● Caesars cruelties it became so desolate that one Ston● was not left standing upon another but as in th● Destruction of Sodom so was it all Destroy'd 〈◊〉 Walls removed Mount Sion excluded and Calva●● taken the Name Ierusalem was changed for that o● Aelia an unclean Swine set over the chief Gate and the Iews forbid on pain of Death to look back upon the City In this state the Romans held it till the year o● Christ 615 from whose Empire the Persians ●ore i● and kept it the space of Twenty Two Years Th● Sarazens were the next that Conquer'd it in the yea● 637 and possest it 372 years till in the year 100● the Turks took it and immediately lost it to the Sultan of Egypt who enjoy'd it the space of 90 year● at which time being in the year 1099 the Christian● under their General Godfrey Bulloigne Conquer'd 〈◊〉 and under the Government of several Christia● Princes one of which was Richard the first King o● England who was King of Ierusalem it continued 〈◊〉 years that is till the year 1187 at which time it wa● Surpriz'd by Soladine King of Persia and by the Persians held 330 years when in 1517 it was invad●● and won by the Victorious Solimo the Turkish Emperor and in it to this day the abomination of Mahom●● is set up Thus is Sion become a plunged Field and Ierusalem a heap of Stones the Holy Land laid wast under the feet of the Heathen and the place of Divine Prayer made a Den of Dragons so that as it was foretold Neither in the Mountain of Samaria nor in Jerusalem is the place of holy Worship see Isa. 66.1 2. But every Spiritual heart retaining the Ark or Testament of God's Covenant in Christ is the Ierusalem and Temple wherein the Lord will dwell and where ●his Spi●it with ours as the two Cherubins on the Mercy Seat looking each towards the other will witness our Reconciliation by Christ our High Priest who is entred before us into the Holy of Holies even the highest Heavens into which Divine Mansion may he whom my Soul loveth say come In the mean while let us consider what the Angel said ●o the Women when he sent them away from looking into the Sepulcre with He is Risen he is not here did he not thereby dehort them and us from Burying ou● affections in Christ's Grave and admonish us rather to seek him where he is to be found At this day a gracious heart maketh every place a Ierusalem where God may as well and as acceptably 〈◊〉 Worshipped as upon Mount Olivet or Christ's Mount so Named because it was his Pulpit as the whole Land was his Text when he made that famous Sermon on the Mount This Son of Righteousness had all Palestine for his Zodiack and the Twelve Tribes for his Signs St. Hierom observeth as the Two Tribes which were first carried into Captivity so Redemption was first Preached in their Countries Likewise in former Ages there were the greatest Examples of God's Justice shown upon disobedient Sinners for Example Lots Wife for one farewell glance at Sodom was turned into a Pillar of Salt which may teach us to measure a Sin by the in●ini●eness of God who forbiddeth it 'T is observed the Land of Iudea became Barrenou● af●er ou● Saviours Passion of bringing ●orth their principle Commodities as Balm c. Whether because the Tipe was to cease when the Truth was come or because that Land was unworthy to have so Soveraign Bodily Physick grow in her where the Phisitian of the So●l was put to Death Another wonderful remarkable thing shown ●pon all the outward formal Jewish Worshippers soon after our Saviours Ascention as he had foretold was the destruction of that City and Land by which we are made sensible that there was never sorrow like the sorrow of that Land who made the Messiah a Man of sorrow If we consider the Siege of Jerusalem began at the time of the Passover when in a manner all Judea was inclosed in Jerusalem all private Synagogues doing their Duties to the Mother Temple so that the City then had more guests than Inhabitants Thus the Passover which was at first Instituted by God in Mercy to save the Israelites from Death was then used by him in Justice to hasten their Destruction and to gather the Nations into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his Anger as our Saviour had foretold them besides those who had bought our Saviour for Thirty Pence were themselves sold Thirty for a Penny whilst this Storm fell among the Unbelieving Jews it was calm among the Believing Jews that is those that were become Christians who forewarn'd by Christs Predicti●●● fled betimes out of the City to Pella a private place beyond Jordan which serv'd them instead of a little Zore to save them from the eminent Destruction of Sodom And now the chief Head of the scattered unbelieving Jews keep the meaner sort as well as themselves ●rom the use of the New Testament nay they will ●oone Curse it than look into it the which thing is the hindrance of their Conversion and Salvation And thus we leave them in a state most lamentable and much to be pitied Lastly It may justly seem admirable how senseless religions should gain so much ground on Christianity such having neither substance in their Doctrine nor winning Behaviour in their Ceremonies

to allure Professors for what are many Here●ies but the Scum of Judaism and Paganism yet like in growth to the River Nilus which is famous and well known for its overflowing Streams though hidden and obscure as to its Fountain It 's the Justice of God to deliver them over to believe Lies who will not obey the Truth You are here put to understand what diffe●ence of days there is betwixt the Christians Jewish and Turkish Sabbaths The Christians keep theirs the first day of the Week call'd Sunday The Jews on Saturday and the Turks on Friday in Scorn of Christ who was on that day Crucified The true Church is an Assembly or such a congregation as Believes things which do not appear neither may be comprehended in the Mind that is ●t depends only on God's Word what the same saith the true Church Believes without any addition giving honour to God and taking that to be true which in the Word is delivered unto them Isa. 5.3 As to the place where this true Church is I answer 'T is wheresoever God's Word is purely taught and the head Shepheard of this Church is Christ Jesus Since nothing more provokes the Wrath of God against us than the breaking and prophaning of his holy Sabb●th the observance thereof can never be sufficiently inculcated int● Mens minds for said the spirit of the Lord to our Fore-fathers If you will no● hea●ken unto my words and keep my Sabbath holy then wi●l I ki●dle a fire which shall devour the Palaces of Jerusalem and none shall quench i● Jer. 17. Ezek. 2● 26.31 God's severity has ●een remarkable on Jerusalem and upon the disobedient and wicked Prophaners of his Sabbath as may appear by many Instances The first Blow given to the German Church was on the ●ord's Day which they carelesly observ'd the day of the Lord will be a dreadful day to them that despise the day which Christ has set apart for the Zealous performanc● of Religious Duties It is Mark'd with a Memento above all other Commandments Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy On the Lord's Day we should go into God's sanctuary and Reverence the same see Levit. 19.30 We have God's hand and seal for our observing it see Act● 20.7.1 Cor. 16. ● 2. Rev. 10. God is pleased to esteem it his Glory to have many Beggers such are all Men in respect of him to meet at his House or Temple to pay their duty of Thanks and holy Worship for their all since they have all things of him Mat. 18.20 Psal. 42.4 Christ himself went often into the Synagogues and Peter and John went up into the Temple at the hour of Praper Acts 3.1 and 13.23 4. The Day which is to be Sanctify'd is not the seventh but the first day of the week for the Jews Sabbath was Buried in Christ's Grave so that the first day of the week is of Divine Institution and honoured with the Name of the Lord's Day in regard of its Author who rose that day in the Morning from finishing the amazing work of our Redemption upon 〈◊〉 day he brought forth his Living Water On this day he gave his Bread of Life his Body On this day h● met his two Disciples 'T was on this day that the Saints which slept arose out of their Graves On ●h●s day the Holy Ghost descended on the Apo●tl●● On this day Christ brought forth the light of his ●●ew Heavens and Earth by his powerful Resurrection On this day St. Iohn ●●d his glorious Revelati●n containing the Churches state till the dissolution of the World On this day Christ visited his dea● Apostles saying Peace b● unto you behold my 〈◊〉 and feet On this day he burst asunder the Bonds of Death and broke the Gates of Hell led captivity Captive trampled upon Principalities suddued Powers triumph'd over the Grave conquer'd Sin absolv'd the curse of the Law and trod down Satan Upon this day he still rides Triumphantly in the Chariot of his Ordinances conquering all Profane ●pposition cutting down high Thoughts and ●●bduing Sinners to himself Blessed is the Man that ●eeps the Sabbath unpolluted Isa. 56. vers 2. It i● likewise thought that his second coming will ●e on this day called The Lords Sabbath Day and blessed is that S●rvant whom he ●inds well doing when he cometh and since we know not in what hour of ●he Watch he will come whether at the dawning of ●he Day at Noon or at Midnight we ought there●●re with more care keep our selves upon the Watch ●●st he come upon us unawares and find us sleeping ●●r neglecting our Duty for which we may be cast ●nto ●nquenchable fire as unprofitable Servants and ●o be for ever shut out of Gods favour and presence ●or if on Earth we do not frequent his Divine pre●ence by assembling our selves together for the re●erent performing the Duty of Prayer he so oft has commanded us to observe 't is in vain to flatter ou● s●lves with the expectation of being admitted i●to his Presence hereafter Therefore l●t us here make our Salvation su●e that we may of his Goodness gai● admi●tanc●●ereafter into his glorious Presen●e which is only to be obtain'd through Chris● o●● Lord our only Saviour and R●deemer by o●ten asse●●●●ng ●ur selves togethe●●o give Thanks and offer ●erv●nt Prayers to the Lord in Christ's Name this I ●a● will be the only way to obtain our desire which God grant we may all Enjoy and Live and R●ig●●or ever with him to give Praise and Glo●y to his Holy Nam● for his gracious Goodness in Redeeming us to himself O! how happy will our stat●●hen be we shall only be employed to Sing Praise and Glory and Honour world without End ther● we shall possess the fullness of Joys and never fading Pleasure● resting for ever from our Labours an● singing with Sain●s and Angels new Praises to hi● Holy Name 'T was the charming hopes of thes● Cont●ntm●●ts which m●de t●e Apostles so o●● conclude With a Come Lord Iesus C●me quickly Amen Te●tullian was of Opinion that no Souls did enjoy the Beatifical Vision till the Resurrection at whic● time he supposed the order of Rising would be according to the degrees of Holiness Men had attain●d to in this Life And to make his Opinion th● more plausible he affirm'd the Resurrection woul● continue the Thousand Years of Christ's Reign upo● Earth so that the highest Rank of Christians in hi● opinion shall ri●e in the beginning of the said Term and all others Rise in their turn according to thei●●leg●●es of Piety and Wickedness and therefore 〈◊〉 said The most sloathful and negligent would be d●fer'● to the Conclusion being ●o be held in Prison till they pay the utmost Farthing for this Parable he ascribes to the Morae Resurrectionis that is They are not to rise from the Dead till towards the end of the Thousand Y●ars 1 Cor. 15. vers 23.24 The whole Chapter g●ves a large Account thereof Besides St. Iohn in his Revelations

refreshment may they freely come unto thee by hearing thy Word to Repentance that the Angels in Heaven may continually have occasion to rejoyce at their happy Conversion Luk. 15.7 Amen See Iames 5.16 Mat. 6.14 and Esa. 66.2 where you may Read what you ought to do if you would have God forgive you your Sins hear your Prayers and grant your Requests Prayer is a vehement desire of the heart to obtain something at the hand of God who look●● not upon the Face as man doth but beholdeth the 〈◊〉 neither doth he listen to the sound of the ●outh but ●o the fervency of the Mind Therefore Christians Praying have their affections bent towards God they ●lways hunger and thirst after Righteousness The ●rayer of him who humbleth himself is accepted as appear'd by the Publican Luk. 18.19 Psal. 50 1● Mark 13.3.3 Coloss. 4.2 Luk. 11.9 Ioh. 6.23 How excellent a thing it is for Man to converse with God! this joyns Man in Society with Angels thro' ascribing with them due Praise and Glory unto the Almighty Let nothing dismay a Christian from Praying unto God for the Prayer of the Righteous is the Key of Heaven the Prayer of the Godly doth ascend and the Mercy of God doth thereby come down therefore we will Sing Praise unto Thee O Lord for as thou hast been our Defence in the day of our trouble even so I beseech Thee to protect and save us everlastingly Amen Let us with St. Paul Heb. 4.16 come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy That is let us in confident assurance of God's readiness to help us make our Addresses boldly and chearfully to the Throne of his Grace upon all occasions suing to our bountiful God for the Relief of all our Necessities and let us consider when we are about to offer up our Petitions to God by Prayer what ou● necessities and wants are before we ask least throug● temerity we ask amiss His freeness to give ma● well make us bold to ask his power to supply us may give us hopes to obtain what is necessary for us and his greatness ought to make us temper our Addresses with Humility as for choice of Words and Elegant long Harangues let us not be too solicitous for God regards not Eloquence and long Harangues so much as the sincerity of those that invocate his Majesty Men chiefly mind the neatness of expression God the Truth and fervency of what is exprest We are commanded to Pray without ceasing which is best done according to Scripture Rules because no Method is comparable to that which God has laid down for us and Christ taught us When we groan under the weight of any Affliction we shall ever find help by calling upon God desiring the assistance of the Righteous to be joyned with us in Prayer For the Prayers of the Faithful availeth much their help we are admonish'd to desire by the Example of St. Paul who said to the Romans I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Iesus Christ's sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together wi●h me in your Endeavours and Prayers to God for me ●or the light of ●is Countenance and for assisting in every Duty Rom. 15.20 Some define Prayer thus An humble lifting up of the Heart or a pouring out of the Soul to God in the Name of Christ it is crying Abba Father As Scrip●ure is God's Letter wherein he openeth his Mind to Man so Prayer is Man's Letter wherein he expresses ●is Mind to God A thought can fly speedily to the utmost part of the Earth but Prayer in a Moment ascends to the highest Heavens 't is as it were a speaking Trumpet one end of which being fastened to Man's mouth it carryeth the Petitioning voice to God's Ear tho' spoken near so softly Prayer hath a twofold advantage of some other Duties in regard its Influence is Universal and to ●ts Exercise an opportunity is never wanting A Christian cannot always hear or read God's Word out he may Pray continually Every Saint is God's Temple and he that carries a Temple about him ●ay go to Prayer when he pleaseth A good Chri●tian need not be very nice in chusing a place for De●otion since to him every house is a house of Prayer ●nd every place he comes to an Altar whereon he ●ay offer up to God a Sacrifice of Prayer yet De●ency is not to be forgotten as far as circumstance ●ill allow since even by it we express a kind of Devotion to our God but many alass are so far from being curious in this point that they forget to pay at all this Duty tho' most necessary to the obtaining their Eternal Salvation If we are in doubts about our Spiritual Estate let us in Prayer go to God who is marvellous in Council are we in Affliction let us call upon him for help and he will not only hear us but also in his good time deliver us Do's any affliction seize our Bodies which endangers our lives or disturb our tranquility let us by Prayer call upon him at Midnight and he will make hast to help us tho' we are troubled exceedingly in a Moment he can give us quiet and rest nay tho' we should be encompassed with Enemies driven to the greatest of Necessities perplex'd with Doubts threatned with Dangers or like Peter falsly Imprisoned and watched narrowly Night and Day lest we should make an Escape yet Prayer as another Moses will go before us and so engage God on our side that he will vanquish our Enemies relieve ou● Necessities unfold our Doubts prevent our Dangers convert our Bondage into Liberty and guide us all the way thro' the Wilderness of this World 'till we arrive at the Spiritual Land of Canaan and be Enroled Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem where Christ is infinitely exceeding that Ierusalem where Christ was and whither the Devout Iews went once a year to Worship And here it will not be amiss nor I believe unacceptable to my Reader to give him some account of the Earthly Ierusalem and its many Revolutions so much spoken of in Scripture and other Histories This Ierusalem by some called the Holy City and Throne of God was antiently a Fort of the Iebusites upon Mount Sion not conquer'd by the valiant Ioshua but was fully subdu'd by the victorious Arm of David who Built thereon the City unto which was adjoyn'd Mount Moriah and therefore call'd the Daughter of Sion where Abraham would have offer'd his Son Isaac where David built his Altar and Solomon his Beauti●ul Temple of which great things are by all Histori●ns Recorded 'T is Scituate in the midst of Nations ●t was the place of Holy Worship from this Moun●ain which for many things is justly prefer'd before ●ll others did flow those Salutiferous Waters that gave Life where ever they ran from hence Christ ●ent his Apostles as so many Spiritual Fishermen to ●atch the Souls of Men. In this famous City stood ●he Throne of David