Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	form_n	minister_n	set_a	2,081	5	10.7228	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65794	A method and instructions for the art of divine meditation with instances of the several kindes of solemne meditation / by Thomas White.	White, Thomas, Minister of Gods Word in London.	1672 (1672)	Wing W1835; ESTC R25814	99,155	336

24._o 63._o that_o this_o be_v a_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v evident_a because_o he_o go_v out_o into_o the_o field_n to_o perform_v it_o and_o have_v no_o other_o business_n there_o but_o this_o it_o be_v not_o say_v when_o he_o be_v in_o the_o field_n he_o meditate_a as_o if_o it_o be_v occasiona_fw-mi but_o to_o show_v that_o it_o be_v a_o set_a duty_n it_o be_v say_v that_o he_o go_v out_o to_o meditate_v 2._o it_o be_v command_v josh._n 1._o 8_o and_o this_o duty_n of_o meditation_n be_v set_v down_o as_o a_o chief_a mean_n to_o be_v sanctify_v of_o god_n for_o the_o keep_n of_o the_o law_n 3._o it_o be_v as_o a_o characteristical_a difference_n between_o a_o wicked_a man_n and_o a_o saint_n 4._o to_o consider_v in_o scripture_n and_o to_o meditate_v be_v synonima_n and_o the_o necessity_n of_o it_o appear_v in_o this_o because_o that_o the_o cause_n of_o sin_n be_v the_o want_n of_o consideration_n and_o not_o want_v of_o knowledge_n isa._n 1._o 3._o and_o it_o be_v not_o much_o for_o we_o to_o hear_v sermon_n nay_o though_o we_o be_v neverso_fw-it attentive_a it_o will_v not_o serve_v the_o turn_n psal._n 41._o 12._o it_o be_v more_o than_o to_o know_v for_o who_o be_v there_o almost_o in_o the_o world_n that_o know_v not_o that_o he_o must_v die_v but_o few_o be_v there_o that_o consider_v it_o deut._n 32._o 29._o 5._o the_o necessity_n of_o meditation_n appear_v in_o this_o that_o no_o man_n be_v convert_v without_o meditation_n for_o every_o one_o that_o be_v convert_v the_o method_n be_v this_o 1._o he_o hear_v the_o truth_n of_o god_n 2._o he_o be_v convince_v of_o they_o 3._o he_o consider_v and_o meditate_v upon_o they_o and_o see_v how_o much_o they_o concern_v he_o 4._o he_o be_v affect_v with_o they_o 5._o be_v thus_o affect_v it_o raise_v holy_a resolution_n of_o better_a obedience_n but_o it_o will_v be_v object_v alas_o i_o be_o not_o book_n learned_a how_o shall_v i_o perform_v this_o duty_n of_o meditation_n this_o be_v rather_o for_o minister_n &c_n &c_n ans._n 1._o i_o may_v say_v of_o meditation_n as_o it_o be_v say_v of_o the_o mathematics_n he_o that_o be_v a_o rational_a man_n and_o do_v but_o improve_v his_o reason_n though_o he_o have_v neither_o tongue_n nor_o art_n to_o help_v he_o may_v understand_v &_o grow_v to_o a_o extraordinary_a excellency_n in_o those_o art_n so_o he_o that_o have_v grace_n if_o he_o do_v but_o exercise_v and_o improve_v it_o though_o he_o have_v not_o learning_n will_v excel_v the_o learnede_a man_n in_o the_o world_n that_o have_v not_o grace_n in_o the_o duty_n of_o meditation_n it_o be_v not_o learning_n but_o devotion_n that_o enable_v a_o man_n to_o this_o duty_n 2._o can_v a_o man_n be_v a_o bless_a man_n without_o learning_n then_o he_o may_v meditate_v without_o it_o psal._n 12._o obs._n but_o it_o be_v a_o very_a hard_a duty_n ans._n 1._o that_o show_v it_o to_o be_v a_o excellent_a duty_n for_o the_o hard_a any_o duty_n be_v the_o more_o excellent_a the_o hardness_n consist_v in_o this_o that_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o our_o corruption_n and_o the_o more_o contrary_a any_o thing_n be_v to_o that_o which_o be_v bad_a it_o be_v so_o much_o the_o better_o 2._o can_v you_o expect_v any_o duty_n shall_v be_v easy_a at_o first_o be_v there_o any_o thing_n so_o of_o temporal_a thing_n which_o be_v of_o any_o excellency_n as_o write_v play_v on_o a_o lute_n etc._n etc._n 3._o because_o it_o be_v so_o powerful_a to_o mortify_v corruption_n sweet_a thing_n nourish_v and_o bitter_a thing_n purge_v therefore_o if_o you_o will_v only_o perform_v those_o duty_n that_o be_v delightful_a they_o will_v nourish_v not_o purge_v out_o corruption_n 4._o get_v but_o your_o heart_n inflame_v with_o the_o love_n of_o god_n than_o this_o duty_n will_v not_o only_o be_v easy_a and_o delightful_a but_o it_o will_v be_v a_o duty_n that_o you_o can_v tell_v almost_o how_o to_o avoid_v for_o it_o be_v as_o hard_a not_o to_o think_v of_o what_o one_o love_n as_o to_o think_v of_o what_o one_o hate_n bid_v the_o covetous_a man_n not_o think_v of_o his_o money_n or_o bid_v he_o think_v of_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n and_o he_o will_v find_v a_o equal_a difficulty_n in_o both_o indeed_o the_o love_n of_o god_n and_o desire_n of_o heavenly_a thing_n be_v get_v by_o meditation_n but_o when_o once_o our_o heart_n be_v inflame_v by_o meditation_n then_o our_o mediattion_n be_v inflame_v by_o love_n as_o a_o oven_n be_v first_o heat_v by_o fuel_n and_o then_o it_o set_v the_o fuel_n on_o fire_n and_o as_o with_o the_o fuel_n you_o must_v put_v in_o fire_n and_o blow_v it_o but_o afterward_o it_o kindle_v of_o itself_o so_o the_o difficulty_n of_o meditation_n be_v at_o first_o when_o there_o be_v but_o as_o it_o be_v a_o spark_n of_o love_n in_o the_o heart_n it_o will_v cost_v he_o some_o pain_n by_o meditation_n to_o blow_v it_o up_o to_o a_o flame_n but_o afterward_o the_o heart_n will_v be_v so_o heat_v with_o these_o flame_n of_o love_n that_o it_o will_v so_o inflame_v all_o the_o thought_n that_o it_o will_v make_v we_o not_o only_o easy_o but_o necessary_o to_o meditate_v on_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n 5._o the_o people_n of_o god_n general_o have_v find_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o difficulty_n in_o pray_v without_o a_o form_n at_o first_o many_o godly_a minister_n use_v a_o set_a form_n of_o prayer_n before_o their_o sermon_n not_o many_o year_n since_o and_o when_o they_o and_o priva●●_n christian_n come_v to_o pray_v at_o first_o without_o a_o form_n they_o find_v a_o strangeness_n and_o a_o unreadiness_n thereunto_o so_o it_o be_v in_o meditation_n christian_n be_v not_o use_v to_o it_o it_o will_v seem_v a_o strange_a and_o difficult_a work_n unto_o they_o but_o i_o may_v say_v of_o it_o as_o be_v say_v of_o the_o yoke_n christ_n grauè_fw-la cum_fw-la tollis_fw-la suave_fw-la cum_fw-la tuleris_fw-la thou_o will_v find_v it_o very_o delightful_a or_o at_o least_o very_a profitable_a ob._n but_o if_o it_o be_v such_o a_o necessary_a duty_n how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o it_o have_v be_v so_o general_o neglect_v by_o the_o people_n of_o god_n ans._n it_o have_v be_v practise_v by_o the_o people_n of_o god_n both_o in_o scripture_n as_o be_v prove_v and_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o the_o psalm_n of_o david_n be_v frequent_o nothing_o but_o meditation_n though_o not_o in_o this_o method_n and_o by_o many_o in_o our_o day_n 2._o it_o be_v a_o private_a closet-duty_n the_o omission_n nor_o performance_n of_o it_o can_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o and_o so_o the_o omission_n of_o it_o can_v not_o be_v reprove_v nor_o performance_n observe_v 3._o the_o direction_n and_o instruction_n for_o meditation_n have_v be_v general_o very_o abstruse_a and_o intricate_a chap._n v._o preparatory_a direction_n for_o the_o circumstance_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n 1._o for_o the_o place_n that_o must_v be_v private_a remote_a from_o company_n and_o noise_n isaac_n go_v into_o the_o field_n our_o saviour_n into_o a_o garden_n and_o david_n wish_v we_o to_o enter_v into_o our_o chamber_n and_o be_v still_o psal._n 4._o 4._o and_o our_o saviour_n bid_v we_o enter_v into_o our_o closet_n and_o shut_v the_o door_n the_o place_n must_v be_v such_o as_o must_v be_v remote_a from_o noise_n and_o company_n or_o any_o thing_n which_o may_v distract_v we_o in_o the_o duty_n and_o such_o a_o place_n that_o we_o may_v not_o be_v interrupt_v or_o force_v to_o break_v off_o before_o the_o duty_n be_v end_v it_o must_v be_v also_o private_a and_o remote_a from_o the_o observation_n of_o other_o so_o that_o we_o may_v neither_o be_v he_o hear_v nor_o see_v because_o there_o be_v divers_a gesture_n and_o expression_n which_o be_v not_o convenient_a for_o any_o one_o but_o god_n and_o one_o own_o soul_n to_o be_v privy_a to_o which_o of_o those_o place_n you_o find_v to_o be_v most_o advantageous_a to_o you_o in_o the_o matter_n of_o meditation_n you_o may_v choose_v 2._o for_o the_o time_n when_o the_o best_a be_v in_o the_o morning_n 1._o because_o it_o be_v the_o first-fruit_n of_o the_o day_n and_o the_o first-fruit_n be_v holy_a all_o the_o rest_n be_v fanctify_v 2._o because_o our_o thought_n be_v then_o not_o soil_v with_o worldly_a business_n will_v not_o be_v so_o subject_a to_o be_v distract_v 3._o because_o the_o body_n itself_o be_v more_o serene_a then_o after_o meal_n and_o this_o duty_n need_v a_o empty_a stomach_n not_o only_o because_o the_o head_n will_v be_v more_o clear_a and_o fit_a for_o meditation_n but_o also_o because_o many_o passage_n of_o meditation_n require_v so_o much_o intention_n of_o the_o mind_n and_o fervency_n of_o affection_n that_o they_o do_v hinder_v digestion_n 4._o because_o that_o

god_n command_v and_o whatsoever_o god_n command_v be_v his_o will_n further_o we_o may_v observe_v that_o it_o be_v not_o enough_o to_o do_v holy_a duty_n but_o we_o must_v love_v holy_a duty_n for_o the_o bless_a man_n do_v not_o only_o keep_v to_o the_o utmost_a of_o his_o power_n the_o law_n but_o delight_n in_o the_o law_n the_o commandment_n be_v not_o grievous_a but_o delightful_a to_o he_o a_o wicked_a man_n though_o he_o may_v pray_v yet_o he_o love_v it_o not_o a_o saint_n will_v not_o for_o all_o the_o world_n that_o god_n shall_v say_v to_o he_o you_o shall_v think_v so_o oft_o of_o i_o in_o a_o day_n it_o will_v be_v a_o great_a trouble_n to_o a_o saint_n that_o god_n shall_v forbid_v as_o it_o be_v to_o a_o wicked_a man_n that_o god_n command_v he_o to_o think_v often_o but_o pass_v by_o these_o i_o shall_v choose_v this_o observation_n as_o the_o foundation_n of_o the_o follow_a discourse_n viz._n that_o to_o meditate_v upon_o the_o word_n of_o god_n be_v the_o essential_a character_n and_o indispensible_a duty_n and_o constant_a practice_n of_o every_o one_o that_o be_v a_o true_a bless_a man_n and_o that_o this_o meditation_n on_o scripture_n may_v be_v the_o easy_a understand_v and_o practise_v i_o shall_v proceed_v as_o follow_v chap._n iii_o of_o the_o nature_n kind_n and_o difference_n of_o solemn_a divine_a meditation_n something_o seem_v necessary_a to_o be_v premise_v concern_v the_o nature_n of_o meditation_n what_o it_o be_v and_o how_o it_o differ_v from_o other_o act_n of_o the_o understanding_n that_o seem_v like_o it_o and_o how_o one_o kind_a of_o meditation_n differ_v from_o another_o else_o this_o treatise_n will_v be_v defective_a without_o it_o first_o for_o the_o nature_n or_o definition_n of_o divine_a meditation_n we_o may_v say_v that_o it_o be_v a_o serious_a solemn_a think_v and_o consider_v of_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n to_o the_o end_n we_o may_v understand_v how_o much_o they_o concern_v we_o and_o that_o our_o heart_n thereby_o may_v be_v raise_v to_o some_o holy_a affection_n and_o resolution_n second_o solemn_a divine_a meditation_n differ_v from_o occasional_a meditation_n 1._o in_o that_o occasional_a meditation_n be_v short_a like_o ejaculatory_a prayer_n which_o though_o they_o be_v as_o parenthesis_n in_o our_o worldly_a employment_n yet_o they_o signify_v more_o than_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o business_n we_o be_v employ_v in_o but_o meditation_n be_v general_o of_o long_a duration_n then_o ordinary_a solemn_a prayer_n 2._o such_o occasional_a meditation_n be_v thing_n that_o we_o have_v in_o transitu_fw-la or_o by_o the_o by_o and_o this_o that_o i_o speak_v of_o be_v a_o solemn_a set_a duty_n three_o the_o subject_n from_o which_o occasional_a meditation_n arise_v be_v very_o frequent_o thing_n artificial_a civil_a or_o natural_a indeed_o any_o thing_n that_o we_o see_v or_o hear_v but_o the_o subject_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v only_a thing_n spiritual_a three_o solemn_a divine_a meditation_n differ_v from_o study_n 1._o in_o respect_n of_o the_o subject_n wicked_a man_n study_v and_o godly_a man_n meditate_v and_o it_o may_v be_v the_o former_a study_v more_o than_o the_o godly_a nay_o it_o be_v the_o very_a distinguish_a sign_n between_o saint_n and_o other_o that_o they_o meditate_v in_o the_o law_n of_o god_n day_n and_o night_n psal._n 1._o 2._o and_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v a_o thing_n far_o more_o rare_a for_o a_o meditate_a christian_a to_o be_v a_o hypocrite_n then_o for_o a_o christian_n that_o spend_v much_o in_o prayer_n especicial_o if_o it_o be_v public_a 2._o in_o respect_n of_o the_o subject_a of_o study_n so_o solemn_a meditation_n differ_v from_o it_o for_o 1._o study_n be_v of_o all_o manner_n of_o thing_n whether_o natural_a civil_a or_o artificial_a or_o mathematical_a etc._n etc._n but_o meditation_n be_v only_o of_o matter_n that_o concern_v our_o eternal_a welfare_n 2._o the_o matter_n that_o be_v most_o knotty_a and_o difficult_a and_o general_o such_o as_o afford_v little_a spiritual_a nourishment_n as_o criticism_n crenology_n and_o controversy_n but_o the_o matter_n of_o meditation_n be_v of_o thing_n plain_a and_o of_o great_a spiritual_a advantage_n 3._o three_o the_o end_n of_o study_n be_v knowledge_n but_o the_o end_n of_o meditation_n be_v holiness_n if_o one_o see_v a_o learned_a man_n we_o may_v conclude_v that_o he_o have_v be_v a_o great_a student_n and_o if_o we_o see_v a_o godly_a man_n we_o may_v conclude_v that_o that_o man_n have_v meditate_a much_o four_o solemn_a meditation_n differ_v from_o contemplation_n in_o these_o several_a particular_n as_o 1._o contemplation_n be_v more_o like_o the_o beatificial_a vision_n which_o the_o angel_n have_v of_o god_n in_o heaven_n mediation_n be_v like_o the_o kindle_v of_o fire_n and_o contemplation_n more_o like_o a_o fire_n when_o full_o kindle_v the_o one_o be_v like_o the_o spouse_n seek_v of_o christ_n and_o the_o other_o be_v like_o the_o spouse_n enjoy_v of_o christ_n 2._o contemplation_n be_v one_o effect_n and_o end_n of_o meditation_n 3._o meditation_n be_v like_o the_o bee_n fly_v to_o several_a flower_n or_o like_a one_o smell_v to_o flower_n particular_o and_o contemplation_n be_v like_o the_o smell_a of_o they_o altogether_o in_o a_o nosegay_n or_o like_o the_o water_n that_o be_v distil_v from_o they_o all_o the_o spouse_n in_o her_o description_n of_o christ_n be_v like_a to_o meditation_n her_o conclude_a that_o he_o be_v altogether_o lovely_a be_v like_a to_o contemplation_n now_o there_o be_v four_o kind_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n according_a to_o the_o four_o several_a subject_n of_o it_o 1._o some_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v upon_o sermon_n that_o we_o hear_v which_o be_v a_o very_a useful_a and_o necessary_a practice_n for_o christian_n and_o it_o be_v better_a to_o hear_v one_o sermon_n only_o and_o meditate_v on_o that_o then_o to_o hear_v two_o sermon_n and_o meditate_v on_o neither_o neither_o be_v it_o necessary_a nor_o possible_a to_o set_v down_o a_o method_n for_o meditate_v on_o sermon_n since_o the_o method_n of_o sermon_n be_v so_o various_a i_o shall_v only_o say_v thus_o much_o in_o particular_a that_o the_o end_n of_o such_o meditation_n be_v neither_o only_a nor_o chief_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o fix_v the_o head_n and_o substance_n of_o the_o sermon_n in_o our_o head_n not_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o understand_v and_o be_v full_a instruct_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o point_n we_o hear_v preach_v upon_o but_o especial_o to_o work_v those_o truth_n advice_n &_o motive_n upon_o our_o affection_n that_o be_v propose_v to_o we_o in_o the_o sermon_n 2._o the_o second_o kind_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v when_o upon_o some_o providential_a occasion_n or_o upon_o some_o spiritual_a distemper_n or_o temptation_n or_o almost_o any_o thing_n of_o that_o nature_n we_o retire_v ourselves_o and_o pour_v out_o our_o soul_n in_o prayer_n and_o soliloquy_n which_o may_v not_o but_o in_o a_o very_a large_a sense_n be_v call_v prayer_n be_v mix_v of_o such_o various_a and_o differ_a part_n sometime_o speak_v to_o god_n and_o tell_v he_o how_o we_o stand_v affect_v to_o he_o and_o his_o ordinance_n sometime_o speak_v to_o our_o own_o soul_n chide_v encourage_v or_o instruct_v of_o it_o sometime_o speak_v to_o ourselves_o what_o we_o resolve_v to_o do_v what_o we_o intend_v to_o say_v unto_o god_n all_o which_o you_o may_v find_v in_o the_o 42._o psalm_n and_o many_o more_o of_o that_o nature_n both_o in_o that_o and_o many_o other_o psalm_n which_o may_v not_o proper_o be_v call_v prayer_n but_o solemn_a occasional_a meditation_n and_o the_o occasion_n of_o those_o meditation_n be_v often_o set_v down_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o psalm_n and_o they_o differ_v from_o those_o occasional_a meditation_n of_o which_o i_o speak_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o this_o chaper_fw-fr only_o in_o their_o duration_n and_o solemnity_n just_a as_o solemn_a prayer_n differ_v from_o jaculatory_a prayer_n and_o to_o set_v down_o any_o method_n for_o these_o be_v not_o convenient_a because_o they_o observe_v no_o method_n and_o differ_v very_o little_a in_o any_o thing_n else_o from_o that_o kind_n of_o meditation_n for_o which_o direction_n be_v set_v down_o in_o this_o treatise_n 3._o the_o next_o kind_n of_o meditation_n be_v upon_o some_o practical_a truth_n of_o religion_n many_o direction_n for_o which_o and_o instance_n of_o the_o same_o be_v set_v down_o in_o this_o treatise_n 4._o the_o four_o and_o last_o kind_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v that_o which_o be_v upon_o scripture_n which_o shall_v be_v the_o subject_n of_o the_o fourteen_o fifteen_o and_o sixteen_o chapter_n of_o this_o treatise_n chap._n iu._n that_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v a_o duty_n that_o this_o be_v a_o duty_n be_v evident_a 1._o from_o the_o practice_n of_o god_n people_n gen._n