Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	lord_n	pray_v	prayer_n	4,629	5	6.6633	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43815	The best and worst of Paul, and his character in both conditions	Hill, Thomas, d. 1653.	1648 (1648)	Wing H2021; ESTC R25713	23,294	25

have said Never expect though you be called to oternall glory never expect that he that is a God of grace should make you perfect till you have suffered a while never think thou art undone though the world say thou art undone though God himself afflict thee never so severelie and whip thee with a smarting rod as here Paul had a thorn in the flesh because thou hast to deal with that God that loves thee more wisely better then thou canst love thy self that knows what is proper and good for thee more then thou knowest what is good for thy self he pitties thee he loves thee even as a father pitties his children Nothing more unhappie then the happinesse of those that go on in a sinfull course and the greatest temptation of all sometimes is to have no temptation when God shall rather lay the reyns upon our necks and leave us to our selves it is a signe he is angry with us and when he would undo a man indeed eternallie then gives him up to himself and leaves him to himself in the 81. Psal. 11. 12. you would have none of me you would not heare my voice I will give you up to your own hearts lusts and walk after your own counsels Self shall take you and lead you you would not be guided by me but when God loves a man then he will nip him and chide him for his sinfull courses There was given me a a thorn in the flesh b the messenger of c Sathan to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure Somtimes it costs Saints very dear to have sins prevented why Because they are so desperately inclined unto those sins and those sins so highly provoking unto God so contrary to the method of his proceedings to his glory to his Son and his kingdome to his Spirits if they being rooted so in these things it must cost them a whipping as it is with a scholler he may be ingenuous and a good scholler but if he be habitually radicated in some wicked course if the master loves him he will whip him and whip him again and again till he do reduce him and reclaim him What whip was this here that drew bloud from him a thorn in the flesh of this Expositours have severall interpretations some will have it to be the lust of uncleannesse that is not probable some will have it to be his originall corruption set on by the devill that seems more probable but there is a thorn given in the flesh therefore it must be somthing that God gives given in the flesh the messenger of Sathan to buffet me very learned men resolve upon this that Paul was reproached much by the false Apostles he was disparaged a man of mean presence as they conceived and it may be he had some imperfection in his speech somthing or other they did cast upon him to cloud him and as if he did live upon the people and rob them of their estates c. Now when the devill shall be let loose upon him with a new commission O here was a thorn indeed a thorn in his sides indeed the word is very emphaticall I cannot stay long upon it now here was that that the false Apostles came and buffeted him you Paul have undone the people and misled them c. they came as messengers of Sathan and God might give them a commission as he doth to the devill and wicked men by way of holy and wise permission and this is a thorn in the flesh why in regard of the painfulnesse and reproachfulnesse of it As you desire to prevent great and sharp afflictions watch against great sins and when God doth great things for you take heed you be not guiltie of great wantonnesse and so provoke him to turn your light in to darknesse your health into sicknesse your plenty into poverty your peace into terrour and instead of a spirit of revelation and consolation and those sweet discoveries and abundance of revelations you had take heed you provoke not the Lord to send a messenger of Sathan to buffet you and to delude your comfort from you have a kind of hell in your consciences For this thing I besought the Lord thrice it might depart from me It is the spirit of a Saint when he is under affliction then to seek the Lord and to seek him with importunity why the reason is this There is a divine instinct it is not only a prudentiall instinct that carries him towards God he knows all his riches lies there and all his strength is treasured up in Jesus Christ he is able to do nothing without Christ and therefore he will run to the throne of grace and there appeal to God in Christ pour out his soul represent his desires act that excellent place Phil. 4. 6. In nothing be carefull but in all things make known your requests with thanksgiving A Saint that is indeed taught of God doth as naturally move towards heaven in his streights as a piece of iron that is touched with a load-stone towards the North you cannot dissever them somtimes he may be forced to neglect prayer in a morning or this time or that time but it may be it brings him down on his knees and drives forth tears afterwards and he is never quiet till he is got to him center again to his right point till he is come to his wonted communion with God O acquaint your selves more and more with the life of faith and act that life of faith in prayer for what is prayer but the breathing of faith when the poor soul comes and lies at the feet of God and there pants and breaths out earnest desires before him and know this for your comfort the Lord not onely delights to bestow blessings upon his servants but he delights to have fellowship with his servants in prayer O that we could eccho back again and go to the Lord not only to obtain such mercies from God by praying but to enjoy him in prayer this would be heaven indeed Besought him thrice here was his importunity A praying Saint that is acquainted with God will not be satisfied till he hears from God he knows there is an holy violence in unportunate Prayers which is well pleasing It is good to besiege heaven with such an importunity as rises up to an holy impudence it is most acceptable to him who desires to see the face and hear the voice of his beloved Let us be much in prayer O pray importunately not sluggishly not lazily not formally the Lord humble us for such defects such omission such commission such defilements of our holy duties remember that woman of Canaan how she prayed in the 15. of Matthew Son of David have mercy upon me my daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil and when they would have sent her away O still she prayed when Christ gave her a discouraging