Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	heart_n	pray_v	prayer_n	4,517	5	6.8272	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02706	Peters enlargement vpon the prayers of the Church. By Master Harris	Harris, Robert, 1581-1658.	1624 (1624)	STC 12839.7; ESTC S120172	14,964	35

fit and to quicken make these vses of delayes and then if thy sute be not honest never begin it if it be never leaue it learne of husband men when they pull downe a tree or list at some blocke if they cannot stirre it they call in helpe if it come not at the first pull they pull againe if not then ha againe if not then ha once more at last they feele it comming and then it comes amaine learne of Elijah 1 Kin. 18.43 hee prayed for raine having prayed lookes about him nothing comes he prayed againe nothing comes hee prayed againe nothing comes at length O Master saith his servant I see a cloud but it is but little Is it a cloud then once more to it and by and by the heavens were masked with cloudes learne of these men Peter stickes in the dungeon one lifts he cannot stirre him try you saith he to a second to a third try a fourth a fist at length heaven stirres the chaines stirre and Peter comes in amongst them learne of Christ himselfe the widdow dealt with a Iudge not a Father Luke 18. a bad Iudge shee was alone a simple Orator yet she prevailes learne of beggers they haue no command no promise no acquaintance no Art and yet will stand it out the master chides the begger stands it out the dame chides he stands still the servants come and say they dare not serue him the children say we must not and yet he will not away O Lord helpe our faith how weake be we if having precept promise kindred Gods servants Gods Sonne on our sides we will be put off with a delay well as I said so long as a night an houre a minute is left pray one night may compasse that which an hundred before could not It followeth An Angell c. The Lord hath ever meanes at hand for his servants Doct. 4 comfort and deliverance if set on worke well might Peter say 2 Pet. 2. The Lord knoweth how to deliuer his c. He is never at a stand if they know how to pray he knoweth how to comfort In himselfe he is al-sufficient Reas 1 infinite in wisedome to invent meanes in power to act them and if need be Esa 4.5 to create more 2. He is the Lord of Hoasts the Lord of every creature if our worke lie in the Seas he is Lord of the Seas if on the Land he is Lord there if in Prison he beareth the keyes of every Gaole if heavens can helpe vs he commands them if winds if beafts if friends if strangers if foes if Angels the Lord hath the command of all persons things and places For comfort Vse 1 roule thy selfe vpon God cast thy care vpon him he will bring it to passe is thy burden povertie Psal 37. cast it vpon him and he will helpe it is it sinne feare sorrow whatsoever it be he can beare it and discharge thee Oh but I see no meanes This Sermon was made in the depth of the dearth I owe so much so many in my familie and no meanes This is as if they should haue said If we had a friend in the Court to moue Herod if a friend in the Watch to bribe him if in the prison to see him then something might be done but now all meanes faile vs. No no God hath meanes beyond our sight if men cannot doe it Angels can and shall and if no man will pay the Widdowes debt God will if no body else will feede Eliah 2 King 4. the Ravens shall what doe wee talke of meanes all meanes are shut vp in God Ob. O but my case is desperate Ob. it is not possible to helpe me Ans Now we shall haue a tale of impossibilities Ans And why not possible shall any thing be impossible to God Ob. O but there be an hundred blockes in my way Ob. Ans But what is in his way Ans that makes his way through the seas stones wood iron c Esa 43.16 goe to the prison there is a blocke a guard passe that guard there is a blocke a doore passe the doore there is another a chaine passe the chaine there is another an iron gate O but what of this if they can breake through all hinderances of vnbeliefe discouragements to prayer God will breake thorow these and a thousand more to their comfort O but God workes no wonders now Marke our Saviours callection from Manna to bread Mat. 4. Deut. 8.3 Esa 9.6 No his Name is wonderfull still his power as great as ever his wisedome as deepe as ever his promises as good his loue as much to his as ever our need as much our interest as good our Saviour as good all things stand as before if wee can vse former meanes we shall finde former successe and God will doe abundantly aboue all that we can speake or thinke wee haue the Lords promise for this Ephesians 3.20 and Esay 42.16 I will make darke light and crookednesse straight wee haue had our owne experience let any man that hath had any acquaintance with God and this holy dutie tell me when prayers were not succes-full when didst thou ever speake to thy heavenly Father but he did answere thee with some ease some comfort When didst thou ever pray but thy heart was thereby somewhat lightened and if thou canst not but say with David Psal 139.3 in the same day I asked I was thus far answered That my heart was strengthened Ps 139.3 doe not faile to conclude with David Though I walke in the midst of troubles yet vpon prayer I shall be revived 7. and God will perfect his mercies in me for ever 8. Thus wee haue dispatcht some meditations more we haue but they must be onely named as 1. Herod would but could not bring forth Peter to tryall and execution men be but men and must doe as they may for what they would doe against the Church nor they nor all the Divells in hell can doe 2. The Lord can giue sleepe and peace in any place at any time in any company 3. Gods best servants and messengers are sometimes yoaked with vilest offenders c. 4. Gods best creatures are the Churches servants Angels 5. Lastly the Lord can quickly shake his out of their chaines rags feares fetters c. But what doe I meane thus to exceede Brethren I would faine haue you more thirstie of your time doe you not waste it as others doe in idle impertinencies much lesse in surveying States and Kingdomes It is not for vs to sit vpon Crownes and thrones and to turne Statesmen it is for vs to be thankefull where God blesses and to be prayerfull when the Church labours to this end I haue sayd thus much to perswade you to the practice of what you know now your turne follows le ts see what will be done and how well you will improue time in speaking to God rather then to or of men ⸪ FINIS