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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
lord_n day_n mercy_n sin_n 10,639 5 4.7599 4 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A65809 The practice of Christian perfection wherein several considerations, cautions, and advices are set down, for the perfecting of the saints, and completing them in the knowledge of Christ Jesus / by Thomas White ... White, Thomas, d. 1682. 1651 (1651) Wing W1852; ESTC R39071 46,849 191

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thick_a clay_n do_v thou_o ever_o pray_v with_o half_a that_o earnestness_n for_o grace_n as_o ambitious_a man_n do_v sue_v for_o place_n and_o preferment_n or_o a_o condemn_a man_n for_o a_o pardon_n do_v thou_o ever_o serious_o and_o from_o the_o very_a bottom_n of_o thy_o heart_n and_o soul_n say_v well_o by_o the_o blessing_n of_o god_n i_o will_v not_o speak_v a_o idle_a word_n nor_o employ_v myself_o in_o thing_n that_o profit_v not_o have_v thou_o say_v with_o david_n i_o have_v swear_v and_o i_o will_v perform_v thy_o righteous_a judgement_n psal._n 119._o 106._o or_o as_o in_o the_o 20._o or_o with_o the_o apostle_n i_o fight_v not_o as_o one_o beat_v the_o air_n but_o i_o press_v thorough_a towards_o the_o mark_n and_o forget_v the_o thing_n that_o be_v behind_o etc._n etc._n so_o that_o if_o thou_o shall_v say_v that_o one_o can_v live_v thus_o i_o say_v again_o there_o be_v no_o question_n thou_o can_v not_o live_v holy_o do_v no_o more_o than_o thou_o do_v neither_o the_o word_n of_o god_n nor_o any_o one_o that_o know_v the_o way_n of_o god_n ever_o say_v or_o think_v that_o thou_o can_v upon_o these_o term_n do_v any_o thing_n to_o purpose_n in_o the_o attainment_n of_o holiness_n for_o our_o saviour_n plain_o say_v we_o must_v strive_v to_o enter_v in_o at_o the_o strait_a gate_n and_o that_o many_o shall_v seek_v to_o enter_v in_o with_o such_o seek_v that_o come_v not_o to_o the_o height_n of_o strive_v and_o shall_v not_o be_v able_a if_o thou_o shall_v bid_v thy_o servant_n lift_v such_o a_o piece_n of_o timber_n and_o he_o shall_v go_v with_o his_o little_a finger_n to_o lift_v it_o and_o not_o be_v able_a shall_v tell_v thou_o that_o he_o can_v not_o lift_v it_o will_v thou_o not_o think_v that_o he_o mock_v thou_o in_o stead_n of_o obey_v thou_o so_o when_o we_o shall_v complain_v of_o religion_n that_o it_o be_v too_o difficult_a a_o thing_n we_o can_v attain_v it_o and_o yet_o we_o will_v not_o so_o much_o as_o touch_v it_o scarce_o with_o one_o of_o our_o finger_n may_v not_o god_n just_o say_v that_o we_o do_v but_o mock_v he_o and_o unjust_o murmur_v against_o his_o command_n complain_v of_o their_o difficulty_n when_o we_o never_o try_v in_o use_v the_o mean_n he_o have_v appoint_v we_o what_o may_v be_v do_v furthermore_o let_v we_o consider_v how_o far_o many_o of_o god_n servant_n who_o story_n be_v record_v in_o the_o sacred_a scripture_n have_v go_v in_o this_o way_n of_o perfection_n it_o be_v say_v that_o enoch_n walk_v with_o god_n and_o that_o noah_n be_v perfect_a in_o his_o generation_n and_o walk_v with_o god_n can_v we_o possible_o think_v that_o these_o expression_n import_v no_o more_o than_o that_o sometime_o when_o they_o have_v little_a or_o nothing_o else_o to_o do_v they_o spend_v their_o time_n in_o prayer_n and_o meditation_n of_o divine_a matter_n or_o that_o they_o do_v no_o more_o than_o usual_o man_n do_v in_o the_o morning_n spend_v some_o small_a time_n in_o prayer_n and_o then_o take_v their_o leave_n of_o god_n all_o the_o day_n as_o it_o be_v compound_v with_o god_n for_o two_o or_o three_o prayer_n a_o day_n but_o do_v it_o not_o much_o rather_o import_v a_o sweet_a constant_a and_o strict_a communion_n with_o god_n for_o doubtless_o enoch_n find_v so_o much_o sweetness_n in_o his_o walk_n with_o god_n that_o he_o can_v not_o be_v content_a with_o that_o communion_n that_o earth_n can_v afford_v he_o and_o of_o all_o the_o patriarch_n before_o the_o flood_n we_o read_v of_o none_o that_o live_v so_o few_o year_n upon_o earth_n as_o enoch_n do_v and_o doubtless_o those_o year_n which_o he_o do_v live_v be_v more_o tedious_a to_o he_o to_o be_v so_o long_o absent_a from_o the_o full_a fruitition_n of_o god_n then_o if_o he_o have_v live_v ten_o time_n as_o long_o and_o have_v not_o taste_v of_o those_o joy_n in_o comparison_n of_o which_o the_o pleasure_n of_o this_o world_n be_v but_o as_o the_o gall_n of_o asp_n what_o think_v we_o of_o abraham_n moses_n david_n and_o daniel_n with_o how_o much_o faith_n zeal_n meekness_n holiness_n breathe_n after_o god_n do_v they_o live_v what_o high_a expression_n of_o joy_n love_n and_o heavenly_a desire_n be_v there_o in_o the_o psalm_n what_o do_v we_o think_v all_o these_o holy_a example_n be_v set_v down_o in_o the_o scripture_n to_o find_v we_o matter_n of_o discourse_n or_o that_o the_o wisdom_n of_o god_n set_v down_o a_o idea_n of_o holiness_n as_o plato_n have_v do_v of_o a_o commonwealth_n or_o be_v they_o not_o set_v down_o for_o our_o imitation_n thousand_o of_o expression_n almost_o in_o the_o psalm_n we_o must_v make_v strange_a hyperbole_n and_o say_v they_o be_v but_o david_n rhetoric_n or_o else_o we_o must_v needs_o acknowledge_v that_o he_o be_v a_o giant_n in_o compariof_n we_o in_o spiritual_a matter_n o_o what_o heavenly_a spiritual_a frame_n of_o heart_n have_v he_o sure_o his_o righteousness_n in_o comparison_n of_o christ_n be_v but_o as_o filthy_a rag_n but_o in_o respect_n of_o we_o a_o glorious_a robe_n and_o now_o i_o pray_v what_o reason_n be_v there_o in_o the_o world_n why_o we_o may_v not_o live_v as_o holy_o as_o they_o but_o that_o we_o take_v it_o for_o grant_v we_o can_v and_o so_o never_o strive_v it_o be_v true_a to_o think_v ourselves_o holy_a than_o the_o mean_a saint_n be_v pride_n but_o not_o to_o strive_v to_o be_v as_o holy_a as_o the_o high_a saint_n be_v sin_n what_o mean_n have_v they_o to_o attain_v holiness_n that_o we_o have_v not_o they_o have_v prayer_n meditation_n read_v hear_v so_o have_v we_o if_o their_o prayer_n and_o meditation_n be_v more_o servant_n and_o more_o heavenly_a who_o must_v we_o blame_v god_n be_v not_o a_o barren_a wilderness_n unto_o we_o and_o his_o grace_n be_v as_o sufficient_a for_o we_o as_o for_o they_o they_o have_v circumcision_n and_o the_o passover_n the_o breast_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n be_v as_o full_a of_o grace_n as_o those_o of_o the_o old_a nay_o doubtless_o in_o respect_n of_o mean_n they_o be_v far_o more_o abundant_o glorious_a in_o our_o day_n then_o in_o they_o in_o respect_n of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o the_o mystery_n of_o salvation_n may_v we_o not_o say_v as_o our_o saviour_n do_v that_o of_o all_o that_o be_v bear_v of_o woman_n there_o be_v none_o like_o john_n the_o baptist_n and_o yet_o the_o least_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v or_o may_v be_v great_a than_o he_o and_o what_o enemy_n or_o hindrance_n have_v we_o that_o they_o have_v not_o be_v satan_n the_o flesh_n the_o world_n all_o or_o either_o of_o these_o not_o their_o enemy_n as_o much_o as_o we_o or_o have_v they_o better_a weapon_n and_o armour_n to_o fight_v against_o they_o than_o we_o have_v we_o have_v the_o armour_n of_o god_n they_o can_v have_v no_o better_o if_o you_o shall_v say_v you_o have_v a_o great_a family_n to_o provide_v for_o weighty_a affair_n and_o employment_n lay_v upon_o you_o and_o these_o be_v great_a hindrance_n in_o all_o these_o they_o exceed_v thou_o and_o yet_o they_o be_v no_o hindrance_n to_o they_o in_o comparison_n of_o that_o general_o they_o be_v to_o we_o abraham_n draw_v three_o hundred_o out_o of_o his_o family_n to_o deliver_v lot_n beside_o what_o man_n woman_n and_o child_n be_v leave_v behind_o job_n have_v also_o a_o great_a family_n he_o be_v a_o judge_n and_o a_o prince_n and_o yet_o notwithstanding_o in_o all_o the_o whole_a world_n there_o be_v none_o like_o unto_o he_o so_o david_n have_v a_o whole_a kingdom_n to_o look_v to_o beside_o continual_a war_n and_o yet_o how_o often_o do_v he_o pray_v every_o day_n how_o frequent_a be_v he_o in_o meditation_n without_o all_o question_n do_v we_o make_v it_o our_o business_n to_o entreat_v the_o lord_n for_o strength_n and_o grace_n to_o serve_v he_o be_v we_o frequent_a and_o servant_n enough_o in_o such_o desire_n do_v we_o seek_v for_o wisdom_n as_o for_o silver_n and_o search_v for_o understanding_n as_o for_o hide_v treasure_n we_o may_v do_v wonder_n in_o religion_n in_o comparison_n of_o what_o we_o do_v and_o if_o you_o shall_v say_v that_o all_o these_o you_o speak_v of_o be_v prophet_n i_o answer_v what_o then_o for_o the_o gift_n of_o prophecy_n be_v not_o gift_n of_o sanctification_n but_o of_o edification_n they_o may_v have_v be_v as_o holy_a and_o not_o have_v be_v prophet_n and_o they_o may_v have_v prophesy_v and_o yet_o be_v worker_n of_o iniquity_n but_o to_o return_v to_o what_o we_o speak_v sure_o if_o man_n have_v faith_n and_o that_o wrought_v by_o love_n as_o it_o shall_v do_v if_o we_o be_v as_o watchful_a over_o our_o way_n as_o we_o may_v be_v if_o we_o be_v
the_o sin_n of_o the_o wicked_a there_o be_v a_o book_n of_o remembrance_n write_v of_o all_o thy_o good_a word_n and_o there_o be_v a_o bottle_n to_o bottle_n up_o all_o thy_o tear_n now_o how_o easy_a be_v it_o for_o thou_o to_o cast_v into_o this_o treasury_n a_o thousand_o holy_a thought_n a_o day_n to_o what_o a_o numberless_a number_n will_v they_o arise_v to_o in_o few_o year_n and_o by_o these_o not_o any_o business_n be_v hinder_v thou_o may_v ride_v thou_o may_v eat_v and_o drink_v thou_o may_v sell_v and_o buy_v thou_o may_v walk_v for_o all_o they_o now_o if_o every_o holy_a thought_n do_v add_v something_o to_o thy_o grace_n here_o and_o to_o thy_o glory_n hereafter_o and_o since_o they_o do_v not_o hinder_v but_o sweeten_v and_o sanctify_v all_o employment_n why_o do_v thou_o not_o treasure_n up_o these_o against_o the_o day_n of_o the_o lord_n 5._o consid._n five_o consider_v serious_o the_o excellency_n of_o the_o scripture_n for_o we_o be_v not_o sensible_a enough_o of_o their_o worth_n nor_o do_v we_o firm_o nor_o feel_o enough_o believe_v that_o they_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n suppose_v that_o by_o some_o infallible_a argument_n it_o may_v be_v demonstrate_v that_o there_o be_v a_o prophet_n now_o in_o england_n with_o what_o extraordinary_a care_n and_o observation_n will_v you_o observe_v his_o word_n that_o he_o speak_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o lord_n if_o when_o thou_o wer●_z pour_v out_o thy_o soul_n before_o god_n humble_o beg_v of_o he_o that_o he_o will_v discover_v to_o thou_o more_o the_o thing_n that_o belong_v to_o thy_o peace_n and_o thou_o shall_v have_v a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n come_v unto_o thou_o as_o one_o do_v to_o cornelius_n or_o that_o our_o saviour_n shall_v himself_o speak_v to_o thou_o from_o heaven_n as_o he_o do_v to_o paul_n when_o thou_o shall_v say_v as_o he_o do_v lord_n what_o will_v thou_o have_v i_o to_o do_v with_o what_o reverence_n and_o attention_n will_v thou_o observe_v and_o what_o obedience_n to_o a_o tittle_n will_v thou_o give_v to_o such_o message_n will_v thou_o not_o mark_v every_o word_n and_o every_o syllable_n and_o will_v not_o vary_v from_o they_o one_o jot_n well_o thou_o shall_v give_v no_o less_o reverence_n nor_o obedience_n unto_o the_o word_n of_o god_n then_o unto_o they_o if_o thy_o friend_n speak_v to_o thou_o or_o write_v to_o thou_o so_o thou_o be_v sure_a that_o it_o be_v his_o hand_n they_o be_v both_o of_o equal_a authority_n with_o thou_o and_o why_o shall_v not_o the_o word_n of_o god_n immediate_o speak_v from_o heaven_n or_o write_v be_v so_o too_o of_o equal_a authority_n with_o thou_o to_o have_v a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n to_o tell_v thou_o what_o thou_o shall_v do_v be_v a_o strong_a temptation_n to_o pride_n but_o there_o be_v no_o more_o of_o reality_n in_o it_o to_o move_v thou_o to_o obedience_n than_o there_o be_v in_o the_o write_a word_n nay_o may_v i_o not_o say_v less_o for_o the_o word_n of_o god_n be_v the_o rule_n by_o which_o we_o must_v judge_n their_o message_n and_o not_o their_o message_n the_o rule_n by_o which_o we_o must_v judge_n the_o word_n of_o god_n for_o if_o a_o angel_n from_o heaven_n shall_v preach_v another_o doctrine_n let_v he_o be_v accurse_v now_o there_o be_v no_o reason_n thou_o believe_v the_o bible_n to_o be_v the_o word_n of_o god_n which_o we_o all_o profess_v but_o thou_o shall_v with_o as_o much_o care_n endeavour_v to_o understand_v and_o practise_v what_o therein_o be_v write_v if_o we_o will_v do_v but_o as_o luther_n do_v that_o he_o may_v understand_v rom._n 3._o 25_o 26._o fast_n and_o pray_v when_o we_o find_v any_o place_n of_o scripture_n too_o difficult_a to_o be_v understand_v or_o when_o we_o find_v our_o corruption_n so_o strong_a that_o we_o obey_v not_o when_o it_o be_v understand_v if_o we_o seek_v the_o lord_n by_o prayer_n and_o fast_v a_o duty_n general_o neglect_v and_o by_o some_o condemn_a though_o by_o the_o apostle_n commend_v and_o practise_v sure_o we_o shall_v both_o understand_v more_o of_o the_o mind_n of_o god_n and_o live_v more_o suitable_a to_o what_o what_o we_o know_v 6._o considerate_a six_o consider_v that_o howsoever_o we_o esteem_v it_o it_o matter_n not_o without_o question_n the_o enjoyment_n of_o god_n be_v infinite_a happiness_n for_o do_v but_o true_o and_o real_o consider_v wherein_o do_v the_o happiness_n of_o angel_n consist_v do_v it_o not_o consist_v in_o the_o vision_n fruition_n and_o union_n with_o god_n be_v not_o god_n their_o all_o and_o shall_v he_o not_o be_v we_o when_o we_o come_v thither_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o it_o be_v not_o so_o now_o nay_o it_o be_v so_o but_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o it_o be_v not_o so_o to_o we_o either_o the_o angel_n be_v deceive_v in_o make_v of_o it_o their_o happiness_n or_o we_o must_v be_v deceive_v in_o not_o make_v of_o it_o we_o we_o can_v have_v the_o face_n to_o say_v that_o if_o the_o angel_n know_v what_o pleasure_n there_o be_v in_o eat_v and_o drink_v and_o other_o vain_a and_o wicked_a pleasure_n of_o the_o word_n they_o will_v never_o spend_v their_o eternity_n in_o sing_v the_o praise_n in_o behold_v the_o face_n and_o admire_v the_o excellency_n of_o god_n yet_o though_o we_o be_v ashamed_a to_o say_v thus_o yet_o by_o our_o life_n we_o general_o hold_v forth_o this_o blasphemy_n and_o proclaim_v it_o to_o the_o whole_a world_n nay_o let_v i_o raise_v this_o one_o step_n high_o the_o blessedness_n of_o god_n wherein_o do_v it_o consist_v the_o creature_n be_v not_o his_o happiness_n but_o himself_o and_o if_o god_n be_v enough_o for_o himself_o shall_v be_v not_o be_v enough_o for_o thou_o of_o dust_n and_o ash_n his_o enjoyment_n of_o himself_o be_v his_o happiness_n how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o it_o be_v not_o thou_o god_n do_v command_v invite_v thou_o entreat_v thou_o to_o enjoy_v he_o nay_o indeed_o what_o be_v it_o that_o god_n require_v of_o thou_o but_o this_o even_o to_o admire_v love_n and_o enjoy_v he_o in_o the_o secret_a of_o thy_o soul_n thou_o will_v not_o thou_o prefer_v every_o trifle_n before_o he_o thou_o will_v go_v and_o see_v a_o carnal_a friend_n for_o carnal_a end_n rather_o than_o spend_v thy_o time_n in_o the_o enjoyment_n of_o he_o who_o be_v the_o praise_n and_o above_o the_o praise_n of_o man_n and_o angel_n to_o all_o eternity_n pray_v to_o he_o who_o only_o can_v discover_v his_o love_n and_o excellency_n to_o thou_o that_o he_o will_v make_v thou_o taste_v of_o this_o hide_a manna_n that_o he_o will_v draw_v away_o the_o veil_n before_o thy_o eye_n that_o thou_o may_v be_v no_o long_o ignorant_a of_o this_o truth_n that_o he_o will_v purge_v out_o those_o corruption_n out_o of_o thy_o heart_n that_o thou_o may_v relish_v and_o experiment_n the_o sweetness_n of_o it_o 7._o consid._n seven_o consider_v that_o we_o have_v three_o enemy_n the_o world_n the_o flesh_n and_o the_o devil_n consider_v this_o i_o say_v full_o and_o feel_o for_o few_o there_o be_v that_o live_v so_o much_o as_o a_o tittle_n of_o this_o truth_n or_o who_o live_v as_o if_o the_o world_n be_v his_o implacable_a enemy_n for_o do_v we_o not_o general_o into_o all_o our_o action_n put_v something_o of_o that_o poisonous_a ingredient_n viz._n a_o desire_n to_o please_v man_n and_o to_o get_v their_o good_a word_n and_o will_n we_o ought_v not_o to_o scandalize_v any_o one_o as_o much_o as_o in_o we_o lie_v we_o ought_v to_o be_v all_o thing_n to_o all_o man_n but_o it_o be_v that_o we_o may_v gain_v they_o to_o god_n not_o to_o ourselves_o if_o this_o truth_n be_v engrave_v on_o our_o heart_n that_o it_o be_v as_o possible_a to_o go_v to_o heaven_n and_o please_v the_o devil_n as_o go_v to_o heaven_n and_o please_v the_o world_n i_o say_v if_o we_o be_v full_o persuade_v in_o our_o heart_n of_o that_o truth_n we_o will_v neither_o wonder_v the_o world_n hate_v we_o nor_o endeavour_v that_o it_o shall_v love_v we_o we_o shall_v not_o endeavour_v nor_o cast_v away_o our_o pain_n to_o do_v that_o which_o be_v absolute_o impossible_a so_o then_o if_o we_o resolve_v to_o be_v christian_n we_o must_v neither_o fear_v nor_o care_n what_o the_o world_n can_v say_v of_o or_o do_v unto_o we_o and_o we_o shall_v in_o all_o our_o action_n of_o religion_n not_o so_o much_o as_o once_o bring_v it_o into_o our_o consideration_n to_o think_v what_o man_n will_v say_v or_o do_v unto_o we_o if_o we_o do_v so_o or_o so_o except_o it_o be_v by_o their_o dislike_n to_o help_v ourselves_o to_o know_v what_o be_v right_a for_o though_o it_o be_v not_o a_o absolute_a rule_n yet_o it_o be_v a_o general_a