Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	answer_n	lord_n	priest_n	1,813	5	10.4756	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33525	A practical discourse of prayer wherein is handled the nature, the duty, the qualifications of prayer, the several sorts of prayer, viz. ejaculatory, publick, private and secret prayer : with the necessity of, and ingagements unto, prayer : together with sundry cases of conscience about it / by Thomas Cobbet.	Cobbet, Thomas, 1608-1685.	1654 (1654)	Wing C4780; ESTC R29965	290,377	588

on the one hand when the Lord is silent or when the prayers of the Saints take not according to the desires of the Saints they observe it and acknowledge it as the Prophet Lament 3. 8. perceiveth that the Lord giveth not such gracious entrance and entertainement to his and the Churches prayers And Psal 80. 4 they observe the frowns of the Lord notwithstanding their prayers And Isai 26. 16 18 they observe that no such desired deliverances were wrought by their prayers On the other hand Paul he observeth how long the Lord was silent he kept true account how oft he sought God without answer given and then he mindeth the answer which at length was given 2 Cor. 12. 8 10. They that love the Lord Jesus their Spouse will look after their love-letters which they have sent and carefully attend and await the answer returned If our heavenly Father should by his spirit put the question in our hearts what we have done with our petitions where we have left them we may upon observation and knowledge answer that wee have left them in the hand of the Lord Jesus our elder Brother And if we be questioned how wee have disposed of our sacrifices we may confidently answer we have delivered them and left them in the hand of our blessed High-Priest and do await the successe 3 In a judicious eying examining and owning after gracious Items 3. In a judicious eying examining and owning of after Items or occurrents wherein an answer of our prayers is involved as in secret pacifying of the heart amidst his sad stormy griefe of spirit He thence gathered that the Lord had heard the voice of his weeping Psal 6 8 9. Hee observed that after he had prayed against his enemies plots and whispers they did not triumph in the attaining of their intended mischievous desires and gathers that the Lord did therefore hear his prayer Psal 41. 5 7 10 11. compared David observes the sweet quiet of spirit which he had after his prayer against the rage of his enemies and gathers thereby that the Lord hath heard him Psal 3. 1 4 5 6. Paul seeth and feeleth strength in and from the Lord against his temptations and gathereth therefore that God had heard his prayer against the same albeit the temptations were not removed 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. David being in a pit of feare and rescued and freed of his horrors and his spirit more established in the wayes of God he seeth that he waited not for his answer of prayer in vaine but that he got it at last Psalm 40. 1 2. he observeth how he is quickned and strengthned with the might of God in his spirit and by that perceiveth God had heard his cry Psal 138. 3 When before prayer he was as in outward distresse so in inward stresse and perplexity and after he had prayed he perceiveth how he is every way outwardly and inwardly enlarged he concludeth that the Lord hath heard him Psal 118. 5. and sundry other like instances might be given hereof As Lovers will be opening the boxes wherein are their Letters and reading as the superscription and direction on the outside so that which is written within so will the Saints be looking into the providences of God and see and hearken what they speak and what of Gods mind and grace in answer to their prayers they may perceive Or as Petitioners to earthly Lords will be enquiring of every one of his Attendants and Servants which comes from his presence after their Petitions have been carried unto them what the Lord saith touching their requests whether he hath read it how he accepteth it whether they bring not the answer thereof from him and the like So is it here Heavens Petitioners will be examining and enquiring into and of all after providences occurrent without them and motions made within What news from heaven 4 In a vigilant care to keep with us what 4. In a due care to keep the experimental successes of our prayers by us for our holy use answers and Trophees of prayer we have gained in safe custody and lively and fresh vigour sweetnesse and efficacy The Lovers of the Lord Jesus they wil keep such Love-letters and Answers by them and will ever and anon be reading them over with as much delight and content as at the first and haply at a second perusal and review they take notice of some precious pithy passages that at the first more cursory looking over they observed not and it may be at a third time still they perceive it breatheth more love and more in this or that pathetical expression then at a first yea or second view they were aware of Answers of prayer are like to friendly tokens of the Lords special love to them and how every vigilant friendly seeker of Jesus Christ he owning and looking over and over these bowed pieces of his coyn which at this or that time he hath sent them by such or such a good hand in such or such an Ordinance or Providence or work of his Grace How will they make conscience of keeping the love of the Lord Jesus ingraven upon their hearts if he was lately with them and spake kindly to them in prayer Oh how they will familiarize with him by reviewing and reviving and speaking over in their hearts his last expressions which he used a word spoken to them in mercy is carefully kept by them Luke 8. 15. incorporated into their very hearts James 1. 21 Hence also the Church who had so wished for Christs company Cant. 8. 1. O that thou wert as my brother c. verse 4. professeth her care to keep Christ with her and that nothing provoke him to be gone from her verse 4. I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem that you stir not up nor awake my Love til he please Paul long after that answer mentioned before 2 Cor. 12. 9. he kept the joy of it witnesse that joy of his in his tryals verse 10. Therefore I take pleasure in reproaches c. Reasons to move the godly thus to watch Reasons of watching after prayer 1. We are the Lords children subjects servants after prayer may be these 1. In that our condition is the condition of children subjects servants beggars and therefore we may well attend the good pleasure of our heavenly Father Lord and Master to give answer to our requests the poor are Expectants Psal 9. 18 David praying to the Lord as his King Psalm 5. 3. saith ver 3. He will look up Psal 123. 2. As the eyes of servants look unto their masters hand so our eyes wait upon the Lord c. 2. In that it is certain God will give an 2. It s certaine God will seasonably hear answer of grace to his Saints praiers albeit it may be long first yea in that the Lord oft-times deferreth his answers it the rather calleth for our waiting Habakkuk having praied against the Churches enemies chap. 1. 12 13.

upon 1. They are all the Guides charge the Masters of the family It was typed of old by that Exod. 16. 16. they were to provide Manna for all their housholds according to their eating Exod. 12. 4. they were to provide a Lamb for their houshold according to their eating So Levit. 16. 11 17. the Priests as Masters of their families were to offer up Sacrifice as for themselves so for the cleansing of their houshold sins David as a King prayeth with and for his people first that the Lord would bless them 2 Sam. 16. 18. but as a guide of his own houshold his care is to return thither to bless them 2 Sam. 6. 20. or pray for a blessing upon them verse 20. And hence by the blessing of God on such Godly care of guides of families as well as on other meanes families have become Churches Rom. 16. 4 5. The second Reason is taken from the proportion 2 They are in extraordinary family praier to be present with the guides of ordinary private Worship and seeking of God in an ordinary way to that of seeking the Lord in an extraordinary way Many causes might exempt sundry of the family in this case rather then in the other Yet in such a case Hester will have all the maids to fast and pray with her Est 4. 16 The whole families apart do also in an extraordinary manner humble themselves thus before the Lord Zach. 12. 10 12 13. The third Reason from the proportion 3 They must all attend the Guides in publick praier of our private Worship and seeking of the Lord in a private manner to that of seeking God in publick with our families All and every one as far any way capable are therein to be present as Deut. 12. 7. and 14. 26 and 16. 11. and other Scriptures shew and therefore also herein The fourth Reason Because the whole 4. They all share alike in family blessings family do or may share in the blessings upon the family and therefore it is meet they should joyn in family prayer and praises for them Both children servants and so journers were thankfully to rejoyce before the Lord upon this ground because God blessed his peoples Increase and the labours of their hand Deut. 16. 12. 14 15. The fifth Reason Because the whole 5. They are all lyable to family guilt houshold is something involved in the guilt of the sin of the guides who thereby trouble their houses Prov. 15. 27. as Achan did his Meet it is therefore that all of them should partake in the good gifts and services of their guides and with them seek to divert the evils which may else bring judgment on the family Quest Supposing some of the servants bee Quest ungodly must a godly Guide pray with them Answ 1. Care would be had that wee look out the faithfullest to dwell with us Answ 1 Psal 131. 6. 2 If others be cast upon us yet we are to joyne with them at this family Worship because they are not to be denied the help of any appointed Meanes which may further their Spiritual good as in publick so in private we may and must pray with and for all sorts who have not sinned a sin unto death as one means of their being saved 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. James 5. 16 17 18 19 20. A sinner may come thereby to be turned from the error of his way Only Prayer with such would be shaped in many particulars so as their particular cases may be laid open before the Lord. Quest Suppose some one of the family bee more obstinate and either refuse to joyn with Quest the Family or if present doth occasion usually wrath and disturbance there Answ 1. That rule 1 Thessal 5. 14. respects all in either relation and so Masters Answ 1 in theirs to admonish the unruly and when they have done to have patience towards all sorts as Ministers in their places towards their people are in meeknesse to instruct them that oppose themselves if peradventure God may give them repentance 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. So are Masters in their lesser Assemblies Christ the Master of his houshold as he calls himself Matth. 20. 25 did not refuse to pray with them though Judas was amongst his houshold Disciples and he knew him to be a Divel John 6. 70 71. 2 The help of the Magistrate is seasonably to be used if patience in the use of fairer means avail not for he is a terror to evil doers Rom. 13. 4. 3 If neither means work amendment such as make deceit their work and trade in lying ever and anon telling lies notwithstanding all meanes used to reclaime them should not abide in any godly Davids house Psal 101. 7. The Bond-servants child who will be scoffing at the promised Seed ad persecuting him must out with his mother and all from Abrahams family Gen. 21. 9 10 12. Quest What is to be done in case of occasional scattering of the Family as when many of Quest Jacobs family are occasioned to be in Dothan divers miles distant from the rest of the household or that Moses must be in Egypt and his family in Midian Exod. 18. 2 3 4 5 6. In answer hereunto let us shew some cases wherein it may be lawful for the Guides Answ of the Family to be absent from the whole or part of the family for a season Let us annex some Cautions about it To the first I answer Such absence may be lawful 1. When it is occasioned by zealous attendance on the means of Grace which they 1. Guides may be absent want where they are as when those of the Tribes are fain to travel far to the Worship of God at Jerusalem Psalm 84. 6 7. and Matth. 15. 32. Diverse there were for divers dayes absent from their families attending upon Christs Ministry and not reproved for it but encouraged to it as appears by the miraculous provisions made for them 2. When it s occasioned from the persecution by the enemies of Grace as those Priests and Levites were forced to flee from Jeroboams to Rehoboams jurisdiction there to provide for their families which shortly after followed them with other people 1 Chron. 11. 16 17. 3 When it is occasioned from personal Callings and Offices to be exercised in places distant from part of their families at least as those Levites and Priests leaving their suburbs and part of their families with their Flocks in their fields c. Numb 35. 2 3 4. Nehem. 13. 10 11. So Moses for a time disposed of his wife and children to be in Midian with her sons whilst he more fully attends his work in Egypt Exod. 18. 2 3 4 5 6. in which case Seafaring men of Zabulon Merchants and Mariners are encouraged by the Lord to rejoice in their goings out Deut. 33. 18. So military men albeit they had dedicated their houses to holy Services yea the rather because they had done it they must out

no extraordinary inspired prayer he prayeth against blaspheming Senacharib 2 Kings 19. 5 16 c. and verse 20. God heard his prayer which appeared ver 35 by the strange hand of God against him and his Army of 185000. who are cut off by an unusual stroak or plague of the angel and he himselfe in an unheard of manner is killed by his owne sons whilst he is worshipping in the house of his God verse 37. 2. When God bringeth upon such enemies speedy and untimely deaths and 2 Speedy and sudden judgements come on them not long after imprecations of the Saints made against them as that night after Hezekiah had so prayed the angel wrought that unheard of slaughter of the Assyrians and soon after that parricide is committed upon Senacharib himselfe Doubtlesse the Saints which made such earnest request for Peter did not forget Herod that bloodyman to intreat God to convert him or else to cut him off if ripe for it and Acts 12. 5. 23. you see it is not long after that in that unwonted way he cometh to his end by the stroak of an angel when the very next day Arius dieth by voiding his bowels as he went to ease himselfe it is a sure token that the prayer of that godly Bishop of Alexandria which hee made against him the night before did speed him Theodoret. Eccles hist lib. 1. cap. 4. When within five or six dayes after that fasting and prayer of the Jews wicked Haman is unexpectedly brought to his end surely God hath respect to his peoples requests in their mournings and this their enemy came to fal before them Hester 4. 7. compared according as the very night after Hesters feast that unexpected way was made by God in the kings heart for Hamans fall Chap. 6. When Achitophel within a day or two after David had prayed Lord turne the counsell of Achitophel into foolishnesse 2 Sam. 15. 31. compared with chap. 17. 1. 23 cometh to his end it evidenceth the same to be an issue of Davids imprecation it s a sign that God heard that cry of Moses against the Egyptians when that very day the Lord in a wonderfull manner overthroweth them Exodus 14. 13 15. 33. compared So when Jehoshaphat and his people solemnly and humbly request the Lord to judge those inhumane ingratefull enemies of theirs 2 Chron. 20. 2 3 4 5 10 12 13. and the very morrow after Grd doth in an unwonted manner bring ruine upon those enemies verse 16 17 22 23 24 25. compared all may safely conclude that those prayers speed them 3. When the manner of the ends which God bringeth upon such enemies against 3 Reproachfull ends befall them which his pray is reproachfull and shamefull as when a wicked Haman which a little before was the greatest in the kingdome cometh to be hanged upon a gallows Esther 7. 9 10. When the great Oracle of the people and Counsellour of state Achitophel cometh to so shameful an end as to dye by an halter yea to hang himselfe When that deputy King or Governour Herod hee cometh to so base an end as to bee eaten of basest vermine of lice so when wretched Arius cometh to so base an end it argueth that some godly Alexander hath told his errand to the Lord. 4. When the judgements God bringeth 4 When the very same judgements prayed for follow upon his enemies are the very same which his people desired against them in their prayers God doth not indeed alwayes hear his people in the very particular but in something equivolent yet sometimes he doth and when he doth so it the rather argueth the same to be an answer of prayer As when not alone a Prophet extraordinarily inspired prayeth against Judas in another enemy like him and the things desired are inflicted as Psal 109. and Acts 12. 18 19 20 compared But Jotham an ordinary man hee prayeth that five may come from Abimelech and devoure the men of Sechem and againe that fire may come from the men of Sechem and devour Abimelech and the issue presently afterwards answereth the same for both were instruments of each others ruine it is a sign that Jothams prayer sped them both Judges 9. verse 56 57 compared 5. If when persons prayed against are 5 They perish without being desired swept away without any desiring even of their associates to the contrary even they pity them not there is none no not of their companions in evill to shew them mercy all blessing from any hand almost is far from them Psal 109. 12. 17. The very wicked which drew them which counselled them to such treacherous enemy-acts against God and Christ cast them off without pity as the Priests and Scribes did cursed Judas in his saddest out-cries and troubles What is that to us they will not owne him nor his acknowledgement look thou to it Matth. 27. 4. Nay such enemies prayed against if the prayers be effectual will like those Ammonites help forwards one anothers ruines 2 Chron. 20. 10 11 12. with verse 22. c. Such bloody Shechemites so prayed against will help forward murtherous Abimelechs death and misery as he did theirs Judges 9. 56 57. PART II. 1 Thess 5. 17. Pray without Ceasing CHAP. I. Touching the modification of the exercise of Prayer and therein of Importunity in Prayer HAving dispatched the Discourse about the nature sorts and parts of Prayer We come to consider of the modification of the exercise of Prayer injoined and implyed in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implyeth praying importunely opportunely and indesinently Some Interpreters make account that Paul hath reference herein unto that speech of Christ Luke 18. 1 that men ought to pray always and not to faint namely through spiritlesness sluggishness or slightnesse so here pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without giving out giving over leaving off or intermitting any space of time which must needs imply importunate praying as that of the widowes plying that unjust Judg with earnest Suites for Justice notwithstanding any seeming discouragements or denyals And indeed such as pray importunately earnestly and servently when they do pray they in Gods intent and account do pray continually or without ceasing Now for our better handling this Duty of praying importunately consider we 1. Wherein importunity of Prayer consisteth 2. The Qualifications of it 3. The Reasons inforcing it 4 Some Helps furthering it 5 Some Marks discovering that importunity of Prayer which the Lord meaneth Touching the first Quere Wherein importunity Importunity of praier consisteth 1. In the utmost improvement of mind heart and the gifts and graces of the Spirit therin in Prayer of Prayer consisteth I answer It consisteth 1. In the extensiveness and intensiveness of the mind and heart and of each praying Grace of a godly Suppliant in his prayer Our new Translation rendreth that in Acts 12. 5. by a like phrase as this in the Text Prayer was made without ceasing but the word