Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	heaven_n	miserable_a	sinner_n	7,000	5	10.1398	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34136	Common-prayer-book devotions, episcopal delusions, or, The Second death of the service-book wherein the unlawfulness (with advantage) of the imposition of liturgies ... is clearly and plainly demonstrated from the Scriptures ...	C. W.	1666 (1666)	Wing C5572; ESTC R35602	67,445	80

the Word of God Because it is too too plain and palpable a case that the Service of God performed by any other Liturgie than one of this calculation cannot be consonant to the holy Scripture Now then this being his meaning in the Minor Proposition his Argument with the largest indulgence of approbation and consent concludes nothing in favour of his Service-Book nor proveth that The Service of God performed by it is consonant to the holy Scripture For that there are some things contained in this Liturgie or Book which are contrary to precepts and directions found in the Word of God was shewed towards the beginning of this Discourse and might be proved in many more particlars than are there produced We need go no further than to the Letany so called of which such glorious things are spoken by this Author pag. 8. that he seems to adore the fulness of it as much as Austine did plenitudinem Scripturae the fulness of the Scriptures themselves and more generally the men of his inspiration are impotent in their Elogiums and commendations of this piece as if in it they saw the Service-Book in all her glory Yet unto him that shall weigh it exactly in the ballance of the Sanctuary it will I believe appear to be a very corrupt member and in which the unclean Spirit of Will-worship acteth his part in some things more childishly but in more more contradictingly to the right rule of Worship than in any other part of the Book Yea were there a diligent and narrow search made into it a just volumn might be made of the weak and unworthy things only with their sober and necessary explications that would be found in it First It is no good Omen that in the very Inscription or Title of it where it is ordered or commanded to be used on certain dayes as on Sundayes Wednesdayes and Fridayes there is a manifest contrariety to the Holy Scripture which reproveth and consequently prohibiteth the observation of Dayes and Times as well as of Moneths and Years Gal. 4.10 And why not on Tuesdayes and Thursdayes as well as on Wednesdaies and Fridaies Doubtless upon no better account than that on which Jeroboam offered upon the Altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth moneth even the moneth which he had devised of his own heart 1 Kings 12.33 If such devices as this be not the very quintessence and spirit of Will-worship I confess I have no understanding in the Mystery Again when it is commanded to be USED on Sundays c. the meaning of the word used as the use and practice allowed if not commanded also in those Churches or Chappels termed Collegiate interpreteth it is distributively either sung or said the like liberty being granted in these words concerning venite exultemus Now the Scripture in the New Testament maketh a slat opposition between praying and singing Jam. 5.13 Nor doth it speak any where of singing any thing but either of Psalms or Hymns or Songs Now then if the Letany be a Prayer one or many and not a Psalm Hymn or Song it cannot be sung with any consonancy to holy Scripture Thus we see the very door opening into the admired Letany is polluted let us vew the Fabrick it self a little we shall soon find more irregularities and pollutions here 1. How oft do they that pray by this Letany transgress our Saviours rule concerning Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 use no battologies or needless repetitions 1. When the Minister prayeth O God the Father of Heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners I desire to know 1. Whether this be an entire Prayer or a piece of a Prayer 2. Be it an entire Prayer or a piece of a Prayer Whether it is not intended that the People present should joyn with him in it and pray for the same thing when and whilest he prayeth If this be so and I presume that for shame it will not be denied then it is a battologie or needless repetition for the People immediately and as it were with the same breath to repeat or pray over the same words again O God the Father of Heaven c. So then according to this account if the Minister prayeth with the People as they pray with him our Saviours rule against needless repetitions in prayer is no fewer than four several times broken on both hands within the compass of the four first petitions or Prayers of the said Letany Or if such repetitions as these be not vain and needless and such as Christ prohibited I desire the great Master of this piece of devotion that he will 〈◊〉 Distinguish between repetitions and repetitions and define which are needless and which are necessary and then 2. Give us a substantial account that those mentioned are of the latter not of the former kind But to our Query If the words queried upon contain an intire Prayer why do not the People testifie their consent and desire to have it granted by saying Amen at the end of it as himself saith p. 14. that men are obliged to say unto such Prayers and as is more agreeable to holy Scripture 1 Cor. 14.16 rather then instead thereof to repeat the words of the Prayer Certainly there cannot be a more pregnant instance of a vain and needless repetition then this since the word Amen would signifie altogether as much yea the very same thing which this repitition doth If the said words be to be taken as a Petition onely and as a member and part of a Prayer why do the People interrupt the Minister in the midst of his Prayer seeming rather to affront and mock him by saying the same words after him then to express any seriousness of Devotion with him Therefore in this notion of the words there is in the Peoples repetition of them a manifest insurrection against that Apostolical Precept Let all things be done decently and in order Or is it decent and orderly that the Minister should not be suffered by the People to finish the Prayer which he hath begun without their interruption Again 2. This unchristian misdemeanour of battologizing is committed seven or eight times over in the repetition of these words by the People Good Lord deliver us For why should not the prolation of them onely once be as effectual for all needful ends and purposes as the making of so many sounds of the same words so nigh together But it is well as the case stands that the fond spirit of VVill-VVorship contented himself here with so few miscarriages in vain repetitions as seven or eight when as upon as good an account in reason he might have multiplied them to seventeen or eighteen or to a greater number at which stone being blind he stumbled soon after in prescribing these words We beseech thee to hear us good Lord to be repeated twenty or one and twenty times over within the compass of so much devotion as may be dispatched without making