Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	act_n	soul_n	spirit_n	2,370	5	4.9507	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85313	Presbyterial ordination vindicated. In a brief and sober discourse concerning episcopacy, as claiming greater power, and more eminent offices by divine right, then presbyterie. The arguments of the Reverend Bishop Dr Davenant in his determination for such episcopacy are modestly examined. And arguments for the validity of presbyterial ordination added. With a brief discourse concerning imposed forms of prayer, and ceremonies. Written by G.F. minister of the gospel in defence of his own ordination, being questioned, because it was performed by Presbyters.	Firmin, Giles, 1614-1697.	1660 (1660)	Wing F961; Thomason E1045_17; ESTC R208016	42,577	55

is an unlawfull Act. But the imposing Forms of Prayer on men already qualified is in great part a frustrating of one fruit of Christs Ascention Ergo it is unlawfull The major I think cannot be denied The minor One fruit of his Ascension was to give gifts to men Ephes 4.8 and as Gifts for Apostles so for Pastors and Teachers vers 11. among which Gifts I am sure Prayer is one and this Gift as he hath bestowed it variously so he bath eminently upon some men and without pride it may be spoken for it is a gift ergo free as eminently upon the English Ministry as any now this day in the world But the imposing of Formes of Prayers doth frustrate this gift of Christ for they are thereby hindered from the exercise of it there needed no gifts to have been conferred but upon those wh● compose the Formes of Prayer IV. Arg. 4 That Act which takes off a Minister from his duty is not lawfull But imposing of Forms of Prayer takes off a Minister from his Duty Engo Minor A Ministers Duty is to stir up the gift of God which is in him 2 Tim. 1.6 Unless you will say the Epistle was written to a Bishop and so doth not belong to Presbyters But there is no place to stir up the Gift of Prayer for he must read Prayer the effect of the gift of others V. That Act which directly fomenteth a corrupt frame Arg. 5 to which we incline is unlawfull Means and occasions of sin must be avoided But imposing of Formes of Prayers do directly foment a corrupt frame to which we incline that is laziness Ergo. Do but impose Homilies also to be read and a lazy heart will think you And why not Forms of Preaching as well as of Praying if hinder one gift why not the other A bare Form of Prayer doth not so directly foment laziness but the imposing and tying to it will VI. Arg. 6 That Act which exposeth the Ministers of Christ to contempt is unlawfull But the imposing of Prayers for Ministers to read expose them to conteinpt Ergo. Minor Ministers are supposed to be persons gifted above others and ought to be so I am sure notably doth Mr. Cartwright speak to this in his Comment upon Christs words to Nicodemus John 3. But for a Minister to read Prayers Prayer being a great part of his work is to do no more than a boy of eight years old may do and a reading Priest hath been the scorne cast upon Ministers VII Arg. 7 That Act which will keep away many and discourage the best worshippers of God I may add and does but nourish carnal and formal worshippers in their sin is unlawfull But so does this impossing of Forms of Prayer How many are there of Gods servants who walk holily with him whom he hath endued with the gift and spirit of Prayer even private men for these to come to the publick Worship of God and there to hear Prayers read over which their Children at home can do but they themselves can pour out their hearts to God without reading their Petitions will they not be discouraged I know and it is already proved many will not come as judging it unlawfull and others will be much discouraged that do come and why should Gods best worshippers be offended For others if they can but say after a Minister in a book will not question but they have served God as well as the best and in this their formal worship rest VIII Arg. 8 That Act which hinders the actings of the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people is an unlawfull Act. But the imposing of Forms of Prayer do hinder the actings of the Spirit in the hearts of Gods people Ergo. Major What the Word hath spoken of the Spirits helping the people of God in Prayer I need not mention the places are well known in the Old and New Testament But this hinders It is commonly answered The Spirit doth help in working the heart and affections into a sutable gracious frame fit for Prayer which may be though we use a Form of Prayer I deny it not but yet as the Spirit doth stirt up affections and sighs c. in the soul so those Affections would express themselves in other words than I finde in the Book I can tell if the Lord hath gifted me how to expresse my own desires and affections in my own words and the words oftentimes have a reflection and help to stirre up the affection more But when I am tyed to the words of other men I am straitened they will not serve to expresse what lies upon my heart and who is it that knows what the work of the Spirit of God and the workings of a heart are in prayer that will not soon finde these hindered by being tied up to other mens words 2. The Spirit doth not only help to the Grace of Prayer but the Gift of prayer and that is hindered be sure in these Forms altogether 3. The Method in Prayer use to be this 1. I feel my wants 2. My Desires are stirred up to get these wants supplyed 3. My minde frameth words to express those desires to God 4. Those words are uttered But in Formes of Prayers the heart must follow the words they are first in the other words follow and interpret my heart where Prayer begins I desire to know of these Imposers of Forms of Prayer whether if they sent a Servant on their Message and the servant is hail lusty and can go very well if another man should meet this servant who is going on his journey and force him to go with crutches which hinder him extreamly would you take it well Why do you force the servant of God in his work to use your crutches which are his hindrance in his Masters work he can go better without them I am afraid the bottom of this lieth here that many of our great men if you take away a Prayer-book know not how to pray wanting a praying heart and they think it some dishonour to them to have other men over whom they would tyrannize to exceed them in a gift of Prayer and so force men to their book that no difference might appear We leave these men to God Do not these Composers of Formes of Prayer suppose their Gifts to be better than any Ministers upon whom they impose their Forms If other Ministers can expresse the same Petitions in other words as well may be better more lively why are they hindered Do they know the Gifts of all Ministers do they know how the Spirit may assist them sometimes over other times To think your Gifts to be the best savours of such pride as becomes not a Christian Object But we finde Forms of Prayer in the Scripture Answ What will you inferr from thence Ergo Ordinary men now may impose their Forms of Prayer upon Ministers already gifted by God I deny your Consequence 1. Will you compare your Formes now composed