Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	lord_n	rain_n	2,129	5	9.7306	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94266	A vvarning-piece for the slumbring virgins. Or, An alarm to the friends of the bridegroom, in some awakening meditations upon Christ's own watch-word, Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c. / By Geo: Scortreth, preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln.	Scortreth, George, b. 1612 or 13.	1657 (1657)	Wing S937; Thomason E1638_3; ESTC R209055	57,932	207

lively lovely companions joyned together by Christs own hand and would be linked together as with a chain of gold in every Christians heart Watching and prayer are mutually helpful and successeful First Watchfulnesse helps to lift up and keep up Prayer as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses Exod. 17.12 1. It helps us to opportunities of Prayer A slumbring spirit loses many seasons of Prayer sleeps out sweet breathing-times of supplication Where there is deep spiritual sleep there 's deep silence a dumb spirit is there The Sluggard is folding his hands to rest when he should be lifting up his heart with his hands unto God in the Heavens If we watch not Satan will make a prey of our praying-times the World will be stealing away our time and hearts too Our praying times are precious times our enemies envy them and of all times will be interposing when we are any thing disposed this way they 'l lose no time to make us lose our best times and if they can but take us off the duty of the day they get the day Now a watchfull Spirit will keep time with God in whose hands all our time is who ever sayes Nay It thinks much to lose one meeting with him he must not be put off what ever is put by Vigilancie helps much as to constancie and frequencie in prayer an awakened heart will cry with David morning evening and at noon It will prevent the dawning of the Morning and the Night watches such a Soul only can continue in prayer Psal 55.17 Psa 119.147.148 and pray continually that is continually upon its Watch. Besides as watchfulnesse helps to find out time for prayer so to chuse out the fittest when we are most at leasure for Heaven in the best posture for prayer As Jesus Christ was much at fasting and prayer and best at it so he watched seasons and secrecie for prayer Mark 1.25 Hee 's early at it and solitarie And as he counsels us to pray daily so he cautions us to pray duly solemnly and secretly Math. 6.6 But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father which seeth in secret c We should have nothing else to doe when we have to do with God in prayer T is work enough alone and he loves to have us much alone at this work A man that is wise for his Soul will watch a finding time in all his seekings and speak most to the Lord when ther 's most hopes he will be spoke with Psal 32.6 and he shall speed best Now a sleepie heart is for any time or no time 'T is apt to put God off with the least and last when it's Spirit 's low strength spent affections earthly when all out of frame no help at it no heart to it no time for it He neither looks for Gods Spirit in prayer nor at his own And thus the Lord of all must be served with anything or nothing by a sloathful servant whereas a vigilant soul watches Golden-Gospel-seasons when it may offer up incense in Golden censers When the heart 's ful as the Clouds then to be pouring it out when 't is as a bottle of new Wine wanting vent then to speak that it may be refreshed as Elihu did when the Spirit moves Job 32.18 19 20. when the heart is fixed when the affections are warme when most retired and inward These are the heavenly breatheing times with the awakened Virgins for this holy exercise These are the living lively Saints dayes for pure Spiritual recreation these are their extraordinary times on earth upon which they pray down more then ordinary blessings from Heaven 2. Watchfullnesse helps us to Importunitie in prayer A watchfull Soul is good at holding out with Gods sits up with him for him It will not keepe silence while God is silent It can take no rest and will give the Lord no rest till he heare in Heaven and speak to its heart Take an awakened heart upon deep conviction and how mightily will it cry unto the Lord saying Awake awake heare me speedily and How long Lord 'T is in great haste now Psa 40.1 Hebr. for an answer from Heaven and the more haste the better speed in this sense Now it cannot but wait in waiting pray with a prayer Jam. 5.14.17 Gr. cry all the day While its watch is up its soul is lift up that God would rejoyce the soul of his servant Psa 86.3.4 It s hard at work within at this heart-duty Now a slumbring spirit has soon done shortest prayers are sweetest to it It cares not for awakening the Lord lest he should awaken it It would be let alone and therefore 't will let him alone it likes well to give the Lord rest and it self too A sleepy heart cannot lift up the hands that hang down Heb. 12.12 and the feeble knees 'T is the awakened Soul which stretcheth forth the hand towards God whose eyes fail with looking up that wrastles with him as for life Jacob-like and will not let him go without a blessing Now importunity does much with God in prayer Luk. 18.1.7.8.82 Gr. Will not God avenge his Elect that cry unto him day and night I tell you sayes Christ who knevv his Fathers heart coming from his bosome he will Speedily assoon as may be Fervent prayer though long at it loses no time life and length in this duty will carry it at last It will not be put off not away till it has got an alms it has got the skill on 't and will not leave knocking till the door be opened It will have its will of God as one may say because it would have nothing but what God will What a great word was that from Christ to great faith and fervency in prayer Be it unto thee as thou wilt Mat. 15 28. Gr. Shee could wish no more and she must have no lesse 3. Watchfullness helps to idoneitie in prayer Awakened hearts are readiest to cry to the Lord and to heare him speak ' Its an instrument in tune to pray with such an heart God himself has prepared for himself and he will cause his eare to heare and prepare of his goodnesse for it too A Christian upon his spirituall watch may say My heart is readie O God my heart is readie Psa 10.17 'T is an excellent frame of spirit for any spiritual duty at any time A slumbring Spirit is most unfit for holy strivings and struglings with God none more indisposed to this stirring duty or lesse affected at it When the heart is asleep prayer is but a dream 'T is phansie works then not faith there 's onely a sound of words no sound words All 's but as sounding brasse or as a tinkling Cymball it makes no musick in Gods eare All 's to seeke in such a heart faith desires hope c it 's ever at a losse

hopes would there be of a spiritual resurrection to many poor hearts that are even dead and buried in the grave of securitie Secondly double your duty of Prayer Pray Pray 1. For a plentifull and powerful effusion of the Holy Spirit to counsel comfort our foolish fainting Spirit in this hour of temptation T is sad to behold since we have caused the good Spirit to withdraw his gracious influences how the glory is departed in a great measure from Churches ordinances communions c in most places may we not sadly sigh out that heart-breaking word Ichabob and say Where is the glory how many choyse Gardens of the Saints are withered since the Lord has withheld the spiritual dewes of Heaven How thin and lean is Jacob become and waxen pale since a famine of the Spirit has been amongst us How spiritlesse faithlesse heartlesse fruitlesse lovelesse are most Christians grown since we have slumbred and sinn'd away the spirit of faith life love power c How is the Gold become dimme the fine Gold changed now he that has the seven Spirits is turned aside from the Golden Candlesticks Oh it is high time then to begge as for life that the Spirit would come down as floods upon the drie ground that the Churches may be as watred Gardens and the Saints may grow up as willowes by the water courses oh let all the awakened Servants of Christ cry as with one heart and mouth Cant. 4.16 Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon the Gardens that the spices thereof may flow out that our beloved may come into his Garden and eate his pleasant fruits oh when when shall a precious box of oyntments be broken over us to fill our hearts with its savour Oh when will the spirit come down amongst us as a refiners fire or fullers sope Mal. 3.3 4. to purifie us as Gold and Silver that we may offer up pure offerings of righteousnesse which may be pleasant to the Lord as in the dayes of old Oh that we could wait in the Spirit as old Simeon did for the consolation of Israel for that power from on high that so strengthens weak hearts hands that the feeble may be as David for such an anointing with fresh oyle as may cause us to move swiftly and sweetly after Jesus Christ And we have many precious cords of love let down to pull at for this gracious Gospel-promise Joh. 14. 15 16 As the special promise of the Father of mercies to send the comforter oft repeated for our better assurance and he is faithfull that hath promised he will not deny his people long nor alwaies for he cannot deny himself And the effectual prayer of our Lord Jesus who never prayes amisse but is heard alwaies of his Father This was that sweetest myrrhe which dropt from the lips of Christ as he was ascending up to Heaven his greatest last Testament-promise of a double portion of his Spirit Now is it so much upon the Lords heart to bestow this peculiar blessing and should it not be much upon our heart to aske it especially being that glorious ministration which is to continue for the support supply and solace of the Saints till the appearance of Jesus Christ without which no outward administration can be effectuall 2. Oh Pray Psa 2.6.8 Pray that Jehovah would set his King upon his holy hill of Zion that the Heathen may be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession that the government may be upon his shoulder Isa 9.6 who is clothed with a vesture dipt in blood Rev. 19.13.16.14 and hath on his thigh a Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords that all things may be opened and shut by the Key of David Isa 2.11 17. The Lord is arising to shake terribly the Earth the loftinesse of man must be bowed down and the haughtinesse of men made low that the Lord alone may be exalted in his day Oh that the Sun of righteousnesse were at this height once there would be a glorious Sun-shine day indeed The God of heaven and earth has promised Heb. 12 26 27 28. he will once more shake heaven and earth to bring in that Kingdom that cannot be shaken and the things that shall remain and Heaven and Earth shall passe away rather then one tittle of his good promise shall fall to the ground The Fathers heart is all upon his beloved Son in whom his Soul delighteth to exalt Him highly Phil. 2.9 give Him a Name above every Name And shall not the hearts of his Children go in with him and work strongly that way It was for their sakes he humbled himself so low even to the death of the Crosse Oh how should their hearts break with longings that he may be extolled and be very high crowned with majesty and glory Why then let all the Lords Remembrancers make mention of this good thing promised Jer. 33.14 of which he loves to be put in remembrance before him night and day that Jesus Christ may take to himself his great power and reign On when shall the sounding of the seventh Angel be heard as the great voyces in Heaven all the world over saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 and he shall reign for ever and ever Cant. 3.10 Oh that King Solomon would send his Chariot that is paved with love for the Sonnes and Daughters of Zion that they may enter with joy and gladnesse into the Kings Palace how would their spirits revive within them and they would say It is enough 3. Improve the Spirit of grace to the utmost for the chaining up the unclean spirit Oh try what power you have with the Father of Lights to set his power on work to shake the powers of darknesse If Fervent Prayer lift up by the hand of faith bind Gods hand and put him to say Let me alone will it not overcome him to bind up Satan and to bruise him under the feet of his Saints shortly The Devill is come down with great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time He followes his Kingdom with greatest violence towards its period hee 's hot upon 't throwing with fury his fiery darts round about The Adder's poyson is boyling up to the height This enemy is comming upon us like a flood Oh 't is high time to set upon the gates of Heaven with an humble and holy violence knocking day and night till the holy Spirit come down with prayer and lift up a Standard against him The old Serpent has now above 5000. years experience upon his back hee 's now master indeed of his black Art Oh what multifariety and Variety in his methods what Subtletie and secrecy in his snares how destructive and obstructive are his devices and depths Oh when will the Angel come down from Heaven with that great chain and lay

by a strong hand through wonders of Providence Now when and where the Lord does much so much then and there he looks for much very much He may well call us to an account at such a time and say What doe you more then others Special mercy may challenge singular duty Math. 5.47 He has been at extraordinary charge and cost with us and he expects more then ordinary in our spirits and services T is not for us to serve him with that which costs us nought when we have cost him so deare one would think the weight of such obligations lying upon us should effectually awaken us to look up to Heaven for such a suitable and seasonable communication of his Spirit and grace as may more clearly informe us in that high and heavenly lesson most proper for the day and more fully enable us to take it out namely to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work Col. 2.10 c A low Spirit and lazie services are most unanswerable to high and mighty dispensations and will be most uncomfortable shall we do least for him when he has done most for us Has he watched over us and his eyes been alwayes upon us from the beginning of the yeare unto the end Deut. 11.12 and shall we slumber now like slothfull Servants as if we had neither eyes to see him working for us nor hands to work for him shall living mercies lie dead by us and we dying in the midst of them offering up the dead in sacrifice to the living God who has given us our lives for a prey shall we thus requite the Lord like a foolish people and unwise will it not be ill taken at our hands that we should be worst to him when hee 's best to us No wonder if he withhold his Spirit when we thus grieve tempt and quench it by a Spirit of securitie how can we look for other but that he should be taking away his Golden Candlestick Deut. 32.6 and the light too when so many do little else but play or sleep by it We must not think to lie alwaies sleeping with the breast i' th mouth he will be covering the blessed paps girt about with a Golden Girdle Application by way of Information 1. Is it a Gospel-duty to watch then see the necessitie of an awakening Ministrie in such a sleepie age as this there was never more need of awakened and awakening overseers to watch over us to lift up their voyce like a Trumpet cry to aloud and spare not Eccl. 12.11 saying Awake oh what need of goads and nailes to be fastened in our sides and upon our hearts by the masters of the assemblies from that one Shepherd 'T is time for wisdome to cry in the Streets Prov. 1.20 8.4 to utter her voyce in the chief places of concourse saying unto you O men I call c When the Virgins slumber thus both the wise and foolish 't will be a great mercy to have the Word of the Lord as a hammer at our doores yea as a fire within us and to feele the sword of the Spirit pricking us to the very heart o keep us awake in Spirit when so many are heavie with sleep there There was never more work then now for the Sons of thunder Ah that Spirit of slumber that is fallen upon this generation will make work enough for all the faithfull watchmen throughout the Nation And me-thinks the strong slumbrings of so many sleepie professors should exceedingly startle and awaken those that watch for Souls 'T is not for them to slumber of all others especially at such a time when so many lie sleeping round about them Oh woe woe to the blind Watchmen the dumb Dogs that cannot bark sleeping lying down Isa 56.10 loving to slumber who make beds of ease for bedrid spirits and sow Pillows to sluggards arm-holes who prophesie smooth things to a people that love to have it so that are all for easie prophesie or none at all Oh then let all the watchmen of the house of Israel whom the Lord hath set upon the Watch-Tower Watch and Pray and preach in season and out of season and give the people warning of this hour of temptation whether they will heare or whether they will forbear that they may deliver their own Souls and happily recover others also from the snare of the Devil who are asleep in his armes and taken captive by him at his will And let all the Lords people highly prize and heartily affect an heart-awakening searching quickening Ministrie and welcome that word most which comes most stirringly home and is most soundly set on by the power of the Spirit 2. Is it a Gospel-Duty to Watch then what a special mercy is it at this day to have an awakened heart The Keeper of Israel Watches very graciously over those he keeps watchfull 'T is no common favour to be kept alive at such a dead time sure the Father of mercies looks most sweetly to those Children and will smile most lovingly upon them whom he causes to lie broad-waken looking after him Oh blessed be his name that he reserves a little remnant by him waiting on him and for him What would become of us all if a few were not upon their watch would not the Lord awake to judgment were all asleep about him and none awaked to cry for mercy would not he lay about to purpose did not some hold his hands by lifting up their hands and hearts to Heaven Is he not readie to say Let me alone that I may consume them and is he not let alone by all but an handfull of wrastling Saints that have got within him would he not be gone think you but that his deare ones watch him cry mightily after him and will not let him goe Nay is he not going about to take his glory Spirit grace Gospel and all away with him 'T is well for us there are some watching waiting weeping about the bed of Solomon loath to let him goe valiant men Cant. 3.7 even the valiant of Israel Oh happie Souls that lie ever upon this heavenly watch who watch the more the rather because so many slumber It will goe well with them how ill soever things go for 1. They are neerest mercy of all other if any sweet influences fall from Heaven they are waiting with mouths wide open Job 29.23 as for the latter rain as of old they waited for Job If the Sun of righteousnesse arise they are like to see him first if his light shine their eyes are open and if his love breathe their hearts are open if good reports come to make the bones fat who but they will heare who are ever hearkening When ever the Lord shall open the door of hope they are next hand when the day breaks and the shadows flee away they 'l be the blessed spectators who watch more then they that watch for the morning

be closed with 1 Joh. 4.4 upon any terms For greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world And while we Watch and Pray our spirituall weapons will be mighty through God to bring down all the strong holds of the god of this world Luther was one of the most watchfull spirits in prayer we read of and he speaks of one of the highest experiences that we shall meet with That he was never tempted to Covetousnesse there was no fishing for his spirit with golden baits which was carried so high above the world in Faith and Prayer But alas Christians now adayes find the world a very great temptation a world of temptations in it How is the Moon got up to the heart in this our age that used to be under foot Rev. 12.2 to such as are clothed with the Sun Oh what hoarding up treasure on earth by such as seemed to be heires of Heaven as if their Heaven were upon earth and their hearts too How unbecoming is this to those that are born from above to live beneath themselves that ever so noble spirits of the blood-Royall should be so embased precious Sons and Daughters of Zion who were comparable to fine Gold should in this sense become as earthen pitchers How contrary is this to those heavenly principles of faith and love which should carry us as upon Eagles wings above the world towards heaven Oh where is the love of the Father where there is so much love of the World Have you ever tasted of the powers of the World to come who are thus brought under the power of the Creature What shall the Children of the Kingdom look no further live no higher then the Kingdoms of this World What called out of the World and at the Worlds call too These things could never be if watching and prayer had been kept up all this while with life and power 'T were not possible the World should steale upon the hearts of Gods people thus and steale them away too were they not asleep Now when prayer's down and the World up what a downfall will there bee They fall into temptation and asnare and into many hurtfull and foolish lusts which drown men in perdition Oh what a root of evil springs up where the World takes deep root how do they pierce themselves thorough with many sorrowes 1 Tim. 6 9 10. and choak the precious seeds of grace with these thornes and when the heart is overcharged with the inordinate love of this present World This soul-benumming Lethargie of carnal securitie will overspread it that we shall not feele this sin within us when it is even all over us what sense can we have of our living by Sense whiles Faith lies dead The love of the World will grow insensibly upon us if it can but lull us asleep in its Armes Secondly because we shall be indisposed to make any opposition in an hour of temptation if we do not Watch and Pray our temptations will grow stronger and we weaker in Spirit every day then other they will be as Gyants and we as Grashoppers to use the expression of the Spies And alas as we are so is our strength as Gideon said of Jether at the best but weaknesse and our spirituall enemies will gather up their strength to take the advantage of us when and where we are weakest How easily may they make a prey of us coming upon us vvhen vve are sore as Simeon and Levi did upon the Males Gen. 34.25 especially if vve consider 10. That the Strength of Israel has secretly vvithdravvn himself from his people vvhile their hearts have been asleep Num. 14 9. and novv their defence is departed from them and they are as bread to the devouring mouth of the hungry Lyon vvho never had a better stomack to them Sampson Judg. 16 19.20 vvho vvas so strong in the strength of God vvas as vveak as another man vvhen the Lord departed from him the Philistines may novv bind him as they please put out his eyes and make him grind it 'h Prison-house Ah since the Lord has turned his back upon a backsliding generation hovv are the strong become as bow and they that had the excellencie of dignitie and strength are as unstable as the water how miserably are they swallowed up of temptations on every side how easily lead captive by their corruptions at every turne And though they shake themselves somtimes as Sampson did and think to resist them as at other times alas they cannot do it for their strength is departed from them 2. That the Lord hath left them to themselves who have laid him aside and left off watching and prayer Now what can such naked men do in an hour of Temptation when they meet with the strong man armed must they not needs be spiritlesse like Saul in the day of distresse when he was left to his own Spirit 1 Sam. 28.20 and had no strength in him What a pittifull forlorn creature is that man whom God has given over and given up to himself even like a lamb in a large place Hos 4.16 as back-sliding Israel what more destitute and distressed where no Shepherd no flock how will it wander and lose it self The best of men in such a case are exposed to the worst of evills when David a man after Gods own heart was trusted but a while with his own heart how shamfully it deceived him and defiled him who would ever have thought that murthers and adulteries should have proceeded out of such a heart as his When Solomon Neh. 13 26. who was so beloved of his God was given up to himself how strangely was his heart changed within him and turned from the Lord God of Israel who had appeared to him twice even to strange gods 1 King 11.8 and strange wives The wisest of men when left to his own wisdom appears as one of the fools in Israel and whither does his shame go And good Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32.31 when the Lord left him to try him to know all that was in his heart what pride of heart does he discover though he had been so lately and so deeply humbled And though the Lord had newly emptied all worldly glory before his eyes 2 King 20.13 Yet he could not keep his eyes and heart off of the house of his precious things c. but glories in shewing all the treasures were faund there when he should have glorified God and shewed forth his wonders in bringing the Sun of his life back Isa 38. and the shadow upon the dyal of Ahaz c. Yea blessed Peter an holy Apostle of Jesus Christ when he trusted to his own strength and boldly professed above the rate of the rest of the Disciples Mat. 26 33 35. saying Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended and though I should die with thee yet will I