Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	good_a	seed_n	word_n	4,972	5	5.3021	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26347	The necessity of the pouring out of the spirit from on high upon a sinning apostatizing people, set under judgment, in order to their merciful deliverance and salvation as it was delivered in part, upon 21. 9. 1678 being a general fast throughout the united colonies of N.E. / by William Adams ...	Adams, William, 1650-1685.; Torrey, Samuel, 1632-1707.; Flint, Josiah, 1645-1680.	1679 (1679)	Wing A499; ESTC W34144	49,745	57

is with his word in the dispensation of it and what workings of the word there are upon and in the hearts of hearers What impression the Word of the Gospel laboured in takes Whether it tends to hardning or softning whether it be a seed sown upon good ground or as seed thrown by the way side or hath only some lighter impressions Particularly 1. What subduing of hearts and wills is wrought by it What strong holds pulled down what vain refuges discovered what sinful pleas taken off thereby Do we see those that are Enemies to Christ falling down before him when he rides forth conquering and to conquer by his word Psal 110.2 The Lord shall send the Rod of thy stringth out of Zion The preaching of the Gospel accompanyed with the mighty working of the Spirit of Christ is the Rod of strength or the strong Scepter whereby Christ doth mightily subdue and govern his people Jacks in loc And where there is a presence of the Spirit accompanying the dispensation of the Word it will subdue hearts 2. What heart-breakings and Soul-meltings there are under the Word of God How does the hammer of Gods word wielded by the Spirit break the rock in pieces Jer. 23.29 Is not my word like a hammer that breakth the rock in pieces Does the word divide betwixt the joynts the marrow pierce to the discerning of the inward thoughts and intents of the heart Do men and women sit trembling under the hearing of Gods word Are their Souls plainly and wholly laid open to be wounded and bealed by the word of God Does the word move and work kindly and sweetly upon the heart to perswade to draw to instruct to correct to awe to unite the heart to God Does it fully unravel our own woven webs kindly humble us and make us fall all to pieces as in our selves that we have no kind of thing to take to and does it sweetly allure and work up our hearts to an earnest hearty and thankful devolving the whole weight and concernment of our restless helpless Souls upon the everlasting Arms of a tender and gracious Father in Christ Jesus Does it bring us to clasp about a strong gracious and faithful Redeemer and Saviour as who will hold there and not let him go because else we shall perish Or is it so that the heat of Gods word dispensed will not thaw or melt our frozen hearts how oft soever they are held to this fire Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord 3. What affection there is to the word of God What love to longing for and desire after it Is it the delight joy and rejoycing of persons to be hearing reading and practising according to the holy word of God Is it as it was with David Psal 119.97 Oh how love I thy Law Psal 42.1 2. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O God My Soul thir steth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God Psal 84.2 My Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. Or are we little affected to and our hearts little drawn out after the word of God 3. Consider What tenderness of heart and heart-smiting for sin there is among us Where there is much of the grace of the Spirit the heart will be tender and such a mans heart will smite him upon every offence against God and upon every appearance of his anger As Josiah's heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord upon the hearing of what God speake against Judah 2 King 22.19 And Davids heart smote him upon his inconsiderate rash actions 1 Sam. 24.5 and 2 Sam. 24.10 Now what of this heart tenderness and grief and mourning for sin and Gods anger is there among us Does the least transgression or miscarriage wound and grieve the Soul Is a vain thought a trouble Is an hypocritical frame or inclination a grief Any appearance of evil disquieting that the least corruption cannot be born without crying to God for deliverance Or can persons bear away with lighter and lesser evils and it may be grosser miscarriages also Let sin go without lamenting or bewailing it or being much concerned about it be loose in their lives and ungirt in their Religion and yet full peace 4. Consider What lively vehement outgoings of Soul to God in prayer there are among us What of humble and holy access freedome and familiarity with God in seeking him Doe persons even Christians freely easily and as it were naturally pour out their Souls to God Can they by Faith take hold of God and wrestle it out with him and not let him go till he bless them The spirit of grace is a spirit of supplications also Zech. 12.10 Or is it so that many neglect calling upon God wholly others do it in hypocrisie many in meer formality and even Christians themselves find it exceeding difficult to get up their hearts at any time to any earnestness or suitableness in this duty 5. Consider what concernment of Soul there is for the glory and work of God among us Are we deeply engaged in heartily taken up about and diligently labouring in the promoting of Gods work and procuring of his glory Is it our chief care and principal endeavour that the work of Christ may be upheld continued and transmitted to posterity Is every one in his place and capacity thoughtful and careful about this in good earnest that it may be done Or are we no whit or little concerned about the glory and work of God among us Are not our own concernments minded more If we can look to our selves let Christ look to himself and his work as the Apostle complains Phil. 2.21 All seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christs Are there few upon whose hearts doth rest the care and sollicitude what will become of the Lords work It is the property of such as inherit any good measure of a true Gospel spirit to seek the glory of God These are some of the motions and operations of the Spirit which we are to observe in our selves and others and by which we may be directed to discern the times what God is doing or about to do and what is like to become of us When these things shall be we may look for good times If there be much of these things there is good hope if little little hope if none no hope Only we may here as alwayes elsewhere reserve to God his absolute Soveraignty in working Be we never so bad he may of his Soveraign grace save or at least spare us Or be we never so good he may of his Soveraign power and dominion and in perfect Justice also hold us under affliction in this life But according to ordinary dispensation we may expect that he will be with us as we be with him As