Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	apostle_n	church_n	true_a	1,505	5	5.2874	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47146	The fundamental truths of Christianity briefly hinted at by way of question and answer : to which is added a treatise of prayer in the same method / by George Keith.	Keith, George, 1639?-1716.; Barclay, Robert, 1648-1690.	1688 (1688)	Wing K168; ESTC R14276	61,969	152

he_o he_o depart_v from_o they_o in_o so_o far_o and_o remain_v still_o in_o his_o own_o freedom_n although_o such_o who_o seek_v to_o limit_v the_o spirit_n by_o use_v set_a form_n may_v and_o do_v quench_v the_o spirit_n as_o unto_o themselves_o but_o they_o think_v there_o be_v no_o limit_v or_o quench_v or_o grieve_v of_o the_o spirit_n in_o the_o case_n because_o they_o believe_v there_o be_v no_o such_o gift_n in_o the_o church_n remain_v since_o the_o primitive_a time_n as_o to_o be_v help_v by_o the_o spirit_n to_o pray_v in_o word_n either_o in_o the_o conceive_n or_o utter_v they_o they_o grant_v indeed_o so_o far_o the_o help_n and_o assistance_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o acknowledge_v it_o altogether_o necessary_a to_o pray_v acceptable_o unto_o god_n that_o the_o holy_a spirit_n stir_v up_o our_o desire_n and_o affection_n and_o excite_v in_o we_o his_o own_o grace_n and_o the_o do_v of_o this_o as_o they_o say_v be_v a_o sufficient_a help_v of_o we_o by_o the_o spirit_n as_o well_o when_o a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n be_v use_v as_o otherwise_o but_o why_o do_v they_o believe_v there_o be_v no_o such_o gift_n remain_v in_o the_o true_a church_n see_v they_o general_o confess_v it_o be_v in_o the_o church_n both_o in_o the_o apostle_n day_n and_o some_o considerable_a time_n since_o they_o say_v it_o cease_v with_o the_o cease_n of_o the_o gift_n of_o tongue_n and_o miracle_n but_o what_o ground_n have_v they_o for_o this_o that_o be_v a_o bad_a argument_n that_o because_o some_o of_o these_o gift_n which_o be_v extraordinary_a and_o less_o necessary_a do_v cease_v or_o discontinue_v that_o therefore_o this_o allo_fw-la do_v cease_v with_o those_o other_o and_o see_v they_o do_v not_o profess_v to_o have_v the_o spirit_n or_o gift_n of_o discern_v whereby_o to_o know_v whether_o this_o gift_n be_v in_o the_o church_n or_o no._n how_o do_v they_o know_v but_o some_o have_v it_o and_o as_o they_o say_v the_o spirit_n be_v cease_v in_o respect_n to_o help_v we_o to_o pray_v in_o word_n so_o other_o do_v as_o confident_o say_v to_o wit_n the_o socinian_o and_o pelagian_n that_o it_o be_v cease_v in_o all_o other_o respect_n and_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o it_o either_o to_o help_v we_o to_o conceive_v word_n of_o prayer_n or_o excite_v our_o affection_n but_o that_o man_n by_o his_o free_a will_n help_v by_o the_o scripture_n without_o any_o immediate_a help_n of_o the_o spirit_n can_v pray_v sufficient_o both_o with_o good_a word_n and_o fervent_a affection_n and_o yet_o even_o these_o will_v say_v they_o be_v help_v by_o the_o grace_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o wit_n mediate_o and_o remote_o by_o mean_n of_o the_o spirit_n again_o why_o do_v they_o limit_v and_o stint_v the_o help_n and_o operation_n of_o the_o spirit_n only_o to_o the_o will_n and_o affection_n and_o to_o exciting_a the_o grace_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o we_o do_v not_o the_o spirit_n operate_v upon_o the_o understanding_n as_o well_o and_o as_o near_o and_o immediate_o and_o close_o as_o upon_o the_o will_n and_o affection_n be_v there_o not_o intellectual_a grace_n and_o gift_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o wit_n such_o as_o proper_o belong_v to_o and_o be_v seat_v in_o the_o understanding_n as_o well_o as_o such_o that_o belong_v to_o the_o will_n do_v not_o we_o read_v in_o scripture_n as_o well_o of_o the_o spirit_n of_o wisdom_n and_o knowledge_n counsel_n understanding_n as_o of_o the_o spirit_n of_o love_n and_o meekness_n etc._n etc._n and_o if_o they_o will_v grant_v that_o there_o be_v such_o intellectual_a grace_n that_o belong_v to_o the_o understanding_n as_o well_o as_o other_o that_o belong_v to_o the_o will_n shall_v not_o these_o intellectual_a grace_n be_v make_v fruitful_a by_o the_o spirit_n and_o understanding_n in_o who_o they_o reside_v and_o be_v place_v as_o well_o as_o these_o other_o in_o the_o will._n again_o will_v they_o not_o grant_v that_o the_o spirit_n help_v we_o to_o conceive_v word_n at_o least_o in_o meditation_n or_o will_v they_o confine_v we_o to_o see_v ☞_o form_n of_o meditation_n as_o well_o as_o of_o vocal_a prayer_n i_o suppose_v not_o see_v no_o such_o set_a form_n be_v yet_o extant_a and_o they_o themselves_o take_v liberty_n to_o their_o meditation_n upon_o religious_a matter_n and_o preach_v to_o the_o people_n these_o say_a meditation_n and_o yet_o i_o suppose_v they_o will_v reckon_v at_o time_n the_o spirit_n help_v they_o to_o conceive_v these_o meditation_n which_o can_v be_v conceive_v without_o word_n and_o further_o the_o word_n of_o these_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n whence_o come_v they_o have_v the_o spirit_n no_o influence_n upon_o the_o understanding_n of_o those_o man_n who_o conceive_v they_o to_o help_v and_o assist_v they_o in_o those_o conception_n if_o they_o say_v nay_o they_o will_v render_v the_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n of_o small_a value_n what_o the_o people_n in_o that_o respect_n but_o if_o they_o say_v the_o spirit_n do_v help_v they_o to_o form_v these_o conception_n of_o the_o word_n of_o their_o set_a prayer_n than_o such_o a_o gift_n be_v not_o cease_v in_o the_o true_a church_n for_o it_o be_v in_o these_o man_n who_o pen_v and_o conceive_v those_o prayer_n it_o may_v as_o well_o be_v in_o man_n now_o to_o conceive_v other_o word_n of_o prayer_n but_o 4._o pray_v by_o a_o set_a form_n not_o only_o tend_v to_o limit_v and_o stint_v the_o spirit_n and_o quench_v it_o in_o regard_n of_o its_o operation_n but_o also_o it_o tend_v to_o make_v the_o understanding_n and_o divers_a other_o faculty_n and_o ability_n or_o power_n of_o our_o soul_n and_o the_o intellectual_a grace_n and_o virtue_n seat_v and_o plant_v in_o they_o altogether_o barren_a and_o unfruitful_a in_o respect_n of_o prayer_n which_o yet_o ought_v to_o exercise_v the_o understanding_n as_o much_o as_o any_o other_o thing_n as_o paul_n say_v i_o will_v pray_v with_o the_o spirit_n i_o will_v pray_v with_o the_o understanding_n also_o for_o if_o the_o understanding_n be_v limit_v to_o a_o set_a form_n of_o word_n than_o there_o be_v no_o room_n nor_o place_n nor_o liberty_n leave_v for_o it_o to_o bring_v forth_o prayer_n in_o any_o other_o form_n the_o which_o seem_v very_o as_o absurd_a to_o i_o as_o who_o will_v limit_v the_o earth_n to_o bring_v forth_o only_o such_o a_o limit_a and_o determine_v number_n of_o form_n of_o vegetable_n flower_n and_o fruit_n and_o not_o only_o so_o but_o to_o limit_v she_o as_o to_o length_n breadth_n and_o depth_n of_o each_o form_n which_o we_o know_v be_v a_o impossible_a thing_n for_o the_o form_n of_o all_o live_n and_o grow_v thing_n must_v have_v liberty_n to_o spring_v out_o from_o their_o respective_a seed_n principle_n and_o cause_n otherwise_o they_o will_v not_o grow_v but_o wither_v and_o die_v and_o as_o the_o form_n of_o vegetable_n must_v not_o be_v limit_v and_o stint_v to_o such_o peculiar_a figure_n and_o dimension_n much_o less_o the_o form_n of_o animal_n and_o yet_o far_o less_o the_o form_n and_o figure_n of_o man_n body_n and_o face_n for_o among_o all_o the_o many_o million_o of_o mankind_n that_o have_v be_v or_o be_v upon_o the_o earth_n never_o be_v any_o two_o find_v but_o do_v more_o or_o less_o differ_v in_o outward_a form_n and_o figure_n in_o the_o face_n or_o countenance_n and_o sure_o as_o differ_v as_o man_n body_n and_o face_n be_v so_o much_o or_o rather_o more_o do_v the_o thought_n or_o conception_n of_o their_o understanding_n differ_v and_o to_o limit_v they_o all_o to_o one_o form_n of_o inward_a conception_n of_o word_n be_v as_o vain_a as_o to_o stint_v and_o determine_v all_o man_n to_o have_v one_o and_o the_o same_o form_n of_o visage_n or_o countenance_n and_o he_o who_o will_v go_v about_o to_o limit_v the_o figure_n of_o the_o child_n body_n and_o face_n in_o the_o mother_n womb_n to_o another_o shape_n and_o form_n than_o god_n and_o nature_n have_v design_v to_o have_v will_v do_v amiss_o and_o be_v occasion_n of_o cause_v the_o womb_n to_o miscarry_v and_o render_v it_o barren_a rather_o than_o any_o way_n to_o help_v it_o i_o know_v it_o be_v answer_v by_o some_o that_o the_o fruitfulness_n of_o the_o understanding_n may_v show_v itself_o in_o other_o exercise_n and_o performance_n whereas_o man_n also_o may_v use_v his_o gift_n free_o as_o in_o preach_v write_v conference_n etc._n etc._n but_o why_o not_o in_o prayer_n as_o well_o as_o in_o these_o other_o for_o to_o restrict_n yea_o and_o to_o hinder_v and_o stop_v the_o fruitfulness_n of_o the_o understanding_n and_o the_o intellectual_a grace_n seat_v therein_o in_o one_o respect_n be_v of_o a_o tendency_n to_o stop_v its_o fruitfulness_n and_o render_v it_o barren_a in_o other_o respect_n a_o woman_n that_o be_v with_o

that_o good_a effect_n to_o open_v the_o understanding_n and_o work_v holy_a affection_n in_o the_o soul_n of_o people_n it_o be_v sufficient_a to_o edification_n for_o where_o a_o thing_n be_v well_o understand_v a_o man_n need_v not_o concern_v his_o memory_n much_o about_o it_o as_o he_o who_o understand_v the_o reason_n and_o ground_n of_o rule_n and_o precept_n of_o art_n he_o can_v practice_v the_o thing_n belong_v to_o that_o art_n better_o with_o his_o understanding_n without_o think_v on_o those_o rule_n than_o he_o who_o only_o have_v the_o rule_n of_o art_n in_o his_o memory_n but_o understand_v not_o the_o reason_n and_o ground_n of_o those_o rule_n nor_o can_v these_o form_n be_v so_o edify_v as_o extemporary_a prayer_n by_o the_o true_a spirit_n of_o god_n because_o they_o can_v so_o universal_o in_o all_o particular_n reach_v to_o the_o various_a state_n and_o condition_n of_o people_n soul_n and_o to_o say_v that_o all_o the_o various_a state_n of_o people_n soul_n if_o there_o be_v a_o thousand_o of_o they_o be_v comprehend_v under_o the_o word_n of_o those_o general_a set_a form_n do_v not_o satisfy_v for_o as_o on_o the_o one_o account_v set_v form_n be_v too_o few_o and_o straight_o or_o narrow_a to_o reach_v all_o particular_a state_n and_o seasonable_a time_n so_o if_o general_n can_v serve_v these_o set_a form_n common_o use_v be_v too_o many_o because_o one_o only_o set_v form_n of_o prayer_n contain_v in_o a_o few_o word_n may_v in_o general_a reach_n to_o all_o people_n state_n and_o sure_o none_o do_v or_o can_v better_o do_v that_o than_o the_o prayer_n which_o christ_n teach_v his_o disciple_n and_o if_o man_n deny_v that_o they_o have_v any_o assistance_n of_o the_o spirit_n to_o help_v they_o to_o conceive_v these_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n which_o they_o use_v be_v it_o not_o better_a to_o collect_v together_o form_n of_o prayer_n out_o of_o the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n put_v all_o these_o word_n and_o sentence_n together_o which_o be_v most_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n or_o if_o belong_v to_o several_a purpose_n that_o have_v some_o fit_a connexion_n together_o and_o so_o the_o word_n of_o their_o prayer_n will_v be_v pure_a scripture_n word_n without_o any_o mixture_n of_o the_o word_n of_o man_n wisdom_n which_o be_v oft_o time_n very_o unsound_a 8._o they_o object_n that_o many_o who_o pray_v extempore_o contradict_v one_o another_o in_o thrir_fw-fr prayer_n ask_v contrary_a thing_n and_o therefore_o both_o such_o prayer_n can_v be_v from_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n which_o as_o it_o be_v one_o in_o nature_n so_o in_o operation_n ever_o agree_v and_o in_o unity_n with_o itself_o ans._n the_o whole_a weight_n and_o stress_n of_o this_o objection_n lie_v upon_o person_n and_o man_n and_o not_o upon_o the_o principle_n to_o refute_v or_o refe●_n it_o in_o the_o least_o and_o as_o for_o these_o who_o most_o common_o pray_v contrary_a one_o to_o another_o they_o be_v such_o who_o do_v not_o pretend_v or_o lay_v claim_n to_o pray_v by_o divine_a immediate_a inspiration_n but_o if_o both_o side_n shall_v lay_v claim_n thereunto_o and_o yet_o contradict_v one_o another_o in_o their_o preach_a or_o pray_v it_o only_o prove_v that_o the_o man_n be_v faulty_a sometime_o on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o sometime_o on_o the_o other_o and_o sometime_o they_o may_v be_v faulty_a and_o wrong_n on_o both_o side_n but_o the_o principle_n remain_v still_o unblamable_a nor_o have_v this_o objection_n more_o weight_n now_o than_o in_o the_o day_n of_o the_o true_a prophet_n of_o old_a against_o who_o the_o false_a prophet_n both_o preach_v and_o pray_v and_o pretend_v to_o be_v also_o divine_o and_o immediate_o inspire_v as_o well_o as_o the_o true_a and_o last_o this_o objection_n can_v be_v well_o enough_o retort_v for_o they_o who_o pray_v by_o set_a form_n may_v pray_v contrary_a one_o to_o the_o other_o the_o greek_a and_o latin_a church_n have_v both_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n and_o pray_v one_o against_o another_o as_o well_o as_o preach_v when_o that_o great_a zeal_n and_o schism_n come_v to_o be_v between_o they_o and_o how_o many_o preach_v against_o one_o another_o who_o pretend_v to_o scripture_n and_o good_a reason_n and_o also_o to_o good_a literature_n which_o yet_o be_v no_o just_a reflection_n on_o any_o of_o these_o three_o thing_n but_o only_o on_o the_o man_n or_o person_n who_o abuse_v they_o 9_o it_o be_v object_v that_o paul_n in_o his_o epistle_n use_v the_o same_o form_n of_o salutation_n and_o prayer_n both_o at_o the_o beginning_n and_o end_n of_o they_o frequent_o and_o therefore_o he_o can_v not_o be_v against_o set_a form_n who_o use_v they_o so_o much_o himself_o as_o grace_n mercy_n and_o peace_n from_o god_n our_o father_n and_o the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n at_o the_o begin_n of_o divers_a of_o they_o and_o at_o the_o end_n grace_n be_v with_o you_o etc._n etc._n answ._n these_o little_a short_a form_n be_v as_o be_v already_o say_v upon_o another_o occasion_n expression_n and_o signification_n of_o the_o prayer_n of_o aspiration_n and_o affection_n and_o not_o of_o that_o call_v discursive_a prayer_n which_o require_v divers_a sentence_n do_v not_o infer_v that_o set_a form_n may_v be_v use_v in_o discursive_a prayer_n for_o when_o the_o heart_n and_o affection_n be_v earnest_o and_o zealous_o bend_v and_o move_v to_o desire_v one_o only_a thing_n it_o may_v be_v express_v in_o one_o sentence_n and_o as_o oft_o as_o that_o affection_n be_v renew_v the_o expression_n of_o it_o in_o the_o same_o sentence_n as_o it_o free_o arise_v in_o the_o heart_n may_v be_v renew_v also_o but_o man_n find_v it_o not_o so_o in_o discursive_a prayer_n or_o other_o discursive_a exercise_n as_o when_o man_n at_o this_o day_n common_o write_v epistle_n one_o to_o another_o they_o retain_v some_o little_a common_a form_n of_o salutation_n at_o the_o beginning_n and_o end_n of_o their_o epistle_n which_o be_v commodious_a and_o not_o think_v strange_a not_o dislike_v but_o if_o a_o man_n yea_o if_o a_o schoolboy_n at_o school_n shall_v always_o write_v to_o his_o father_n or_o kindred_n the_o same_o word_n throughout_o without_o any_o alteration_n they_o will_v say_v he_o be_v a_o fool_n and_o void_a of_o understanding_n to_o be_v so_o barren_a as_o to_o have_v no_o new_a matter_n in_o his_o epistle_n even_o when_o daily_a occasion_n be_v give_v 10._o it_o be_v object_v that_o god_n be_v not_o delight_v with_o variety_n of_o word_n and_o novelty_n of_o matter_n and_o method_n in_o new_a style_n and_o flourish_n of_o trope_n and_o figure_n and_o be_v far_o unlike_o those_o squeemish_n stomach_n or_o delicious_a and_o lustful_a appetite_n who_o every_o day_n seek_v after_o variety_n of_o dish_n or_o else_o they_o can_v be_v satisfy_v at_o be_v the_o heart_n that_o he_o require_v answ._n it_o be_v true_a god_n be_v not_o delight_v with_o variety_n of_o word_n and_o sentence_n as_o man_n be_v or_o after_o the_o manner_n of_o man_n but_o yet_o he_o require_v that_o every_o man_n make_v use_n of_o the_o grace_n and_o gift_n which_o he_o have_v give_v he_o and_o they_o be_v the_o work_n of_o god_n and_o proceed_v from_o he_o he_o may_v be_v say_v to_o delight_v in_o they_o and_o in_o their_o manifold_a variety_n as_o he_o do_v in_o all_o his_o other_o work_n although_o not_o after_o the_o manner_n of_o man_n yet_o after_o such_o a_o way_n and_o manner_n as_o become_v his_o infinite_a greatness_n and_o perfection_n and_o though_o it_o be_v the_o heart_n that_o god_n main_o require_v and_o regard_v yet_o he_o command_v we_o to_o love_v and_o serve_v he_o with_o our_o whole_a man_n which_o be_v our_o reasonable_a service_n and_o we_o be_v to_o love_v he_o with_o all_o our_o understanding_n as_o well_o as_o heart_n as_o the_o scripture_n say_v and_o the_o best_a and_o most_o fruitful_a part_n of_o our_o understanding_n and_o all_o the_o gift_n belong_v to_o it_o our_o judgement_n reason_n and_o elocution_n may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v employ_v in_o his_o service_n and_o in_o this_o particular_a service_n of_o praver_fw-mi as_o holy_a man_n of_o old_a who_o use_v their_o understanding_n and_o reason_n and_o such_o elocution_n also_o and_o variety_n of_o expression_n as_o god_n have_v give_v they_o and_o so_o ought_v every_o man_n to_o do_v as_o the_o spirit_n of_o the_o lord_n lead_v he_o and_o work_n upon_o he_o and_o those_o gift_n he_o have_v give_v he_o without_o affection_n or_o stretch_v and_o strain_v beyond_o his_o measure_n and_o though_o we_o find_v no_o affect_a or_o artificial_a eloquence_n in_o word_n of_o man_n wisdom_n which_o be_v carnal_a and_o from_o below_o yet_o a_o true_a eloquence_n and_o excellency_n of_o speech_n be_v to_o be_v find_v in_o many_o place_n of_o scripture_n both_o