Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	according_a	devotion_n	great_a	48	3	2.1187	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A71231	Enter into thy closet, or A method and order for private devotion A treatise endeavouring a plain discovery of the most spiritual and edifying course of reading, meditation, and prayer; and so, of self examination, humiliation, mortification, and such most necessary Christian duties, by which we sue out the pardon of our sins from Heaven, and maintain an holy converse with God. Together with particular perswasives thereunto, and helps therein.	Wettenhall, Edward, 1636-1713.	1666 (1666)	Wing W1495B; ESTC R217163	97,436	340

parts of Scripture which may not edifie him so much as would the other so that haply Reading shall be a duller and lesse spiritual an exercise than it would be did he more wisely order it Yet hath it this advantage also that the Revelations of God and eternal life being still clearer in each succeeding part of Scripture I mean clearer in the Prophets than in the Law and in the Gospel than in either one months reading may make me see more into that of the former month and all lead me to the magnifiing of God for the present manifest revelation of his will These things being so it may haply conduce most to our private edification if we keep strictly to neither of these orders but observing the conveniences and inconveniences of each to our private purpose according to our Christian discretion frame to our selves one out of both which may have the commodities of both and incommodity of neither And that may be such as this To begin every Reading with a Psalm or where the Psalms are very long with a good portion of one taking the Psalms in their course This I therefore commend by reason of the exceeding usefullnesse of that book of Psalms for prayer it furnishing a man with petitions hymnes and ejaculations of all sorts and besides discovering very much of the hearty practice of Devotion and Godlinesse That being finisht in the morning to take in order as the books and Chapters lye such a portion of the Old Testament as my Christian prudence considering my own conveniences and occasions shall judge fit which where the matter affords more work for Meditation may be shorter where less larger In like manner at evening beginning with a like portion of the Psalmes take a part of the New Testament as it lyes in order greater of less according as beforesaid it findes my devotion work Some such course as this would I observe till I had read over the Holy Scripture twice or thrice with such care attention and meditation as shall presently be described by which time I should begin to be a little verst in it and to know what parts of Scripture I used to read with greatest Christian advantage which therfore afterwards I would read oftener than the other setting alwaies a mark at the name of each book as they stand in the Table at the beginning of my Bible when I had read that book over that so I might know how often I had read each lest I come too long to neglect the reading of any This as to the Order of my Reading Having now my work thus orderly before me it remains in the next place that I look to the best manner of doing it whither belong the following rules First that I endeavour to read with composednesse of mind and attention not onely to the sense substance or subject matter of what I read but as to the very expressions of it For that the very expressions of Scripture are not onely very usefull in prayer God loving to hear his children call upon him in his own language but do also many times carry in them such secret emphases and force as shall much comfort support aw and otherwise affect the heart which considers them Secondly that I be sure as I read to observe the scope and drift of the portion of Scripture which I read For as to particular passages it may so happen that the plain reader may many times scarce understand them they puzling ever learned heads but as to the sco● of the whole as to that which the Holy Ghost cheifly drives at th● may be commonly more easily understood and this being understood doth not onely ensure me o● so much benefit as I have understood of it but will give especial light unto those darker places whose meaning I do not so well conceive Thirdly That if ever I inten● this part of my devotion to wit my Reading should be acceptable to God or otherwise than a witnesse against my self I resolve upon the impartiall practice of what soever 〈◊〉 by reading find to be in Scripture commanded and eschewing of what soever I there find forbidden Such godly purpose will encrease my very knowledg For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Psal 25. 14. him and he will teach them his Statutes whereas other who bring not a resolution of such conscientious practice but bearly inquisitive diligence may come to be in a greater measure ignorant of his mind Chap. V. Of Meditation and the most edifiing course in it THese rules being thus observed and a certain portion of Holy Scripture thus read it will be proper for me in the next place to proceed to Meditation Now Meditation here I take not for the simple thinking of any thing divine which shall offer it self but for an orderly and serious consideration of the particulars following 1. Upon that portion of Scripture which I have read 2. Upon my own state and waies 3. Upon the prayers that is confessions petitions and thanksgivings which I am presently to offer up unto God Touching the first there are these three things for me to consider Frst If I have not as I read been able to understand the design and drift of the Holy Ghost in what I have read let me consider touching that and by a short reveiw of it comparing the parts or several materials spoken of and attending how they hang together endeavour to comprehend their substance and scope He reads to no purpose who reads not thus for it is not repeating the words of Scripture but understanding and digesting their sense and substance which is to be accounted reading the Scripture and one Chapter thus read is worth ten hastily run over Secondly If there be in what I have read any difficult or harder place which seems to contain any matter of practice or article of faith I mean which is likely to instruct me in any thing necessary to be believed or done in order to my salvation that let me consider and endeavour thereof to find the meaning As to those difficulties which concern controversies that is questionable opinions in divinity or inquiries into matters of meer knowledge or speculation such things which when they are known there is no end of them these may be very well overlooked by an ordinary person As for instance Reading Acts. 13 the last Paragraph or partition of the Chapter which begins vers 44. I find therein viz. vers 48. a certain difficult expression As many as were ordained unto life believed What believing and what life ie heaven and blessednesse mean I know but what ordained unto life means I doubt and truly need not much trouble my self to inquire Sufficient it is that I conclude from thence that all they who shall obtain everlasting life are believers not one unbelieving or ungodly person shall ever enter into heaven and therefore particularly that I resolve upon an honest cordial receiving of the Gospell as my duty if

consult Chap. III. Of the substance of every dayes private devotion To persons of leisure Reading Meditation and Prayer THe private devotion of every day will be different to particular persons according as their conditions differ from such who are servants or lead a servile life I mean all those who get their living by their daily labour whose abilities of mind are therefore meaner and and whose privacy more difficult from such I say no more than this may seem to be expected that both in the morning being risen and at night being about to lye down they in the fear of God fall down before him and pray unto him touching which directions will a non follow From those whose way of life being more liberal their abilities and opportunities are greater more may seem justly to be looked for according to that rule To whom Luk 12. 48. much is given from them shall much be required Speaking therefore to to such who have estates and leisure and so may have opportune privacy ●●suppose their daily private devotion cannot be compleat except consisting of Reading Meditation and Prayer Touching private Prayer it hath been before spoken and nothing now can by such whom the present consultation concerneth be said for the dispensing with it being it is even their duty who are of meaner qualily and capacity and therefore much more theirs who are of greater Touching Reading and Meditation if any suspicion arise it will easily be removed by those commands which enjoyn us that we Search diligently the Scriptures that John 5. 39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coloss 3. 16. the word of God dwell plentifully inus and by such Characters of righteous persons as that they are such whose delight is in the Law of the Lord and who meditate therein day and night And certainly such commands Psai 1. being capable to be intended or remitted I mean being to be construed with some regard and according to that general rule aforementioned to whom much is given from him much shall be required cannot but be interpreted to require greater and more diligent Searching that is more of Reading and Meditating upon Scripture from those who have greater opportunity and ability to do it than they do from others who are meaner in both Of such an one therefore who hath not time every day or if he haply have yet cannot read it may be thought he dischargeth his duty of searching the Scripture if in a way proportionable to his ability he endeavour to acquaint himself with Scripture to wit by a diligent attention to it and inquiring of it ashe hath conveniency when it is read on preached But of such an one who can read and hath time to meditate on what he reads and whom it may be it concerns to instruct others in the knowledg of Scripture as being over them of such an one I say being that more is required than of the other it cannot in reason be thought that he hath done his duty by bare attention unto Scripture read except he himself read and meditate therein And he will very hardly we may not fear to say not at all approve himself to be a Godly man if he behave not himself as Godly men did of old that is if he delight not in the Law of the Lord and therein daily meditate If I should doubt therefore whether it be strictly my duty day and night morning and evening to read the Scriptures and meditate I cannot doubt for I see plain evidence for it that it is a Godly mans Character one part of his practice as he is a Godly man to road and meditate if therefore intend to be a Godly man it must be my care and practice too Wherefore of these three Reading Meditation and Prayer seeing that none may be well omitted at least not ordinarily neglected it is requisite more particular consideration be had Chap. IIII. Of Reading the Holy Scripture The most edifying method and manner of Reading it consulted of BY Reading here I understand reading the sole word of God and this as it should constantly for the main at least if not ever have a place in my daily devotions in private so therein me-thinks will most conveniently take place in the beginning of them on this wise Being entered into my Closet for my devotions sake it becomes me first in all humility and out of the fear of God not out of custome to fall down before him and in short according to former direction to beg his blessing upon me and presence with me there presenting my self to worship before his majesty To which purpose the Form * Part. 1. Chap. 3. already delivered may be proper either for use or further direction according as I shall see sit This being done forthwith let me apply my self to the reading soine portion of the word according to my prefixed course And what course shall that be Modesty would presently answer The same which the wisdome of the Church hath prescribed for publick use And the truth is the Church consulting herein as she ought the edification of the people this order hath in this point the advantage of all other that it will lead us to read over all the most usefull parts of Scripture and those most frequently to wit the New Testament excepting onely some Chapters of the Revelation three times a year the Psalmes once a month the Old Testament excepting onely the two books of Chroni les which are for the most part extant in the Kings and Samuel and some other Chapters of other books cheifly relating to the Jewish state once in a year But then if we consider its complyance with our present designe it hath these two exceptions lying against it First that the portions of Scripture by that order to be read daily are greater than what every mans or most mens conveniency will afford time to read and meditate upon as it is supposed at present best for a devout Christian to do And then Secondly that by this means a considerable part of the Old Testament and some part of the New will be left out which parts are not questionless without their use though comparitively not so necessary for the publick commonalty as the other And to the Churches prescription it may be said that it was never the Churches intention to prescribe this order for mens Closets in private where she can neither take notice of their observing nor neglecting it but onely for publick edification and uniformity This order therefore being taken not to be so proper for our present purpose the next which will offer it self will be the natural order of the books in which they lye Now this though not liable to the exceptions which we found against the former being that nothing then will be omitted nor the Reader over burdened with too great a portion being he is left to himself yet hath this inconveniency that it will detain the observer of it a great while in those

the seventh day will scarce rest that seventh day unto God without distraction as seems to be suggested to us by those words Six daies shalt thou labour being put into the fourth Commandement much less will he be able to allow himself constantly more time in a week than a seventh day comes to to wit some part of every day and a considerable part besides of one of the six daies which is to be his fast to the service of God I would therefore have every man not to incumber himself in this world more than he needs must We should learn to know when we have enough and allow our selves some part of our time to enjoy as well as all to get But this is preparation very far off The first act of more immediate preparation for these my fasting daies will be prudently to contrive upon foresight and consideration of my weeks business what day or daies they are in which I can best spare time for this work and those daies or that day will be the fittest to be pitched upon in which I may the most freely converse with God without the disturbance which much business necessarily brings Besides the time spent in my ordinacy course of devotions which are not upon my fasts to be omitted under pretence of making amends for them or running them up into my penitentiary performances I cannot upon those daies when I allow least allow less than two hours and upwards to the peculiar work of my fasts So much time therefore at the least I say I must resolve such a day to devote Which being resolved upon it will be sit as a second act of my more immediate preparation in the devotions of the evening before to spend a petition or two in my prayers to God that he would by his gracious Spirit prepare me for the work which I intend the next day softning my heart and giving me to understand my errours that I may duely ●●ment them and truly amend them which petitions I may easily see a fit place to insert in my prayers And the day being come unto my morning devotions it will be expedient to add some such short prayer as this which follows O Lord who sees the purposes of all hearts and hast been privy to the intentions of thy servant touching calling himself this day to an account of his waies and humbling himself before thee for all his transgressions Be thou in mercy present to me by the preventings and assistance of thy grace that I may with a true heart and contrite spirit perform what I intend Grant that no worldly cares or business may so take off my mind from thee but that I may be able forthwith to return and without distraction to employ my whole soul in my designed devotions to the glory of thy Name my own amendment and comfort here and everlasting blessedness hereafter in and through thy Son Jesus Christ my Lord Amen And lastly my morning devotions being thus finished untill the time come that I have resolved to retire I must endeavour to converse and behave my self in my ordinary affairs so warily as that nothing may discompose disorder or disturb me no worldly design too much possess my thoughts according as above I have prayed Chap. VI. The order of Humiliation or Renitentiary Devotions Sect. 1. The entrance unto the work THat time being now come which I appointed to spend with God in my Closet I must religiously observe mine appointment For albeit the resolve was onely private and never proceeded without my own breast or closet yet hath God taken notice of it and it stands on record in his omniscience and by breaking these my private and as happily I may judge less material resolutions I shall soon learn to break my word and vows too in other matters both with God and man Coming therefore at my time appointed into my Closet I reverently kneel down before God and having the sense of his presence and all-seeing eye upon mine heart humbly begin in some such short prayer as is this which follows I Am come O Lord into thy presence upon work which no one hath more need to do than my self to consider my wayes and repent of my sins and turn to thee But I have an hard heart not apt to relent and dry eyes such at least which seldom shed tears for my sins O that thou would'st bow the Heavens and come down and melt my soul that it might kindly flow forth before thee in godly sorrow which might work repentance not to be repented of Open mine eyes and help me to see into mine heart B●ing my sins to my remembrance and set them in order before me that an holy shame and confusion may cover my face for them and thou beholding my contrition maist accept it and both pardon me and assist me hereafter by thy grace that I may live more godlily righteously and soberly in this present world and attain unto blessedness with thy self in the world to come through the merits of Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour Amen Sect. 2. Of Reading so as to fit my self for self-examination SOme such supplication being with a●l my heart made unto God I may haply find it not to be alwayes the best course forthwi●h to fall upon the examina●ion of my self For for this I shall be the fitter when awakened and made more attentive to my self by some other exercise It may be proper therefore to spend and hour in the reading some honest practical Book which treateth severally of those duties which we owe both to God others and our selves to wit upon that particular Book which knowing to be very good I have chosen and singled out to my self to read and practice such as are the never enough commended Doctor Hammond's Practical Catechisme or if that seem to any too difficult that excellent Book The whole Duty ●f Man And in reading hereof I must endeavour to read First with understanding so that it is not so much the repeating to my self the words as considering and digesting the substance of them which I must account reading of them I must therefore read and study the Book as Schollars do their Books and if there be any material thing which I do not understand mark it so that I may inform my self by advising with some more able person than my self Secondly I must read all with application to my self remembring that all this concerns me and endeavouring to see how it concerns me whether I perform the duty I read of as I should or how I neglect it c. By this means taking upon every of my fasting dayes a part my Book will in convenient season be read over which when it is it must not be thrown aside but read through again and again with the same diligence till I am perfect in it Nor ought the third or fourth reading of a good profitable and practical Treatise to be tedious or unpleasant to me for that Christian duties