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
A96371	A method and instructions for the art of divine meditation, with instances of the severall kindes of solemne meditation. / By Thomas White minister of Gods word in London.	White, Thomas, Presbyterian minister in London.	1655 (1655)	Wing W1847B; Thomason E1700_1; ESTC R209375	88,694	345

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 power_n out_o our_o soul_n in_o prayer_n soliloquy_n etc._n etc._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 different_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 to_o god_n etc._n etc._n all_o these_o you_o may_v find_v in_o psa_n 42._o and_o many_o more_o of_o that_o nature_n both_o in_o that_o and_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 set_v down_o ofttimes_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 chapter_n only_o in_o their_o duration_n and_o solemnity_n as_o solemn_a prayer_n do_v from_o ejaculatory_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 in_o this_o treatise_n direction_n and_o instance_n be_v large_o set_v down_o yet_o i_o think_v good_a to_o set_v down_o several_a instance_n of_o this_o kind_n of_o meditation_n have_v they_o by_o i_o be_v take_v from_o one_o who_o i_o suppose_v little_a thought_n that_o any_o beside_o god_n and_o himself_o know_v what_o he_o say_v 3._o the_o three_o kind_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n be_v those_o that_o be_v upon_o scripture_n the_o direction_n for_o that_o kind_n of_o meditation_n i_o have_v particular_o set_v down_o in_o a_o little_a manual_a entitle_v a_o directory_n to_o christian_a perfection_n and_o have_v pursue_v those_o direction_n in_o one_o instance_n set_v down_o in_o this_o treatise_n and_o will_v have_v set_v down_o more_o but_o that_o i_o be_v not_o willing_a it_o shall_v swell_v above_o the_o bigness_n of_o a_o small_a manual_a 4._o the_o four_o and_o last_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 many_o instance_n of_o which_o be_v set_v down_o in_o this_o treatise_n chap._n ii_o that_o 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 24.63_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 occasional_a 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 1.8_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 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 1.3_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 never_o so_o attentive_a it_o will_v not_o serve_v the_o turn_n psa_n 45.10_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 how_o few_o be_v there_o that_o consider_v it_o deu._n 32.29_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-learned_n 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 etc._n etc._n ans_fw-fr 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 and_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 psa_n 1.2_o ob._n but_o it_o be_v a_o very_a hard_a duty_n ans_fw-fr 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 the_o lute_n &_o c_o 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 than_o our_o meditation_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 sewell_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 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 private_a 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 it_o be_v say_v of_o the_o yoke_n of_o christ_n grave_a cùm_fw-la tollis_fw-la suauè_fw-la cùm_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

a_o method_n and_o instruction_n for_o the_o art_n of_o divine_a meditation_n with_o instance_n of_o the_o several_a kind_n of_o solemn_a meditation_n by_o thomas_n white_a minister_n of_o god_n word_n in_o london_n may_v 28._o 1655._o imprimatur_fw-la edm._n calamy_n london_n print_v by_o a._n m._n for_o joseph_n cranford_n at_o the_o sign_n of_o the_o phoenix_n in_o st_n paul_n church_n yard_n near_o the_o little_a north._n do_v it_o 1655._o to_o the_o reverend_n and_o my_o much_o honour_a brethren_n &_o father_n the_o presbyterian_a minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n within_o the_o province_n of_o london_n brethren_n and_o father_n i_o have_v long_o since_o serious_o consider_v since_o the_o church_n have_v be_v so_o much_o divide_v among_o we_o with_o who_o to_o close_v and_o where_o to_o fix_v and_o i_o have_v endeavour_v to_o observe_v both_o the_o public_a and_o private_a action_n the_o tenant_n and_o conversation_n of_o those_o minister_n that_o be_v of_o divers_a judgement_n and_o i_o do_v public_o profess_v that_o those_o minister_n which_o have_v and_o still_o do_v own_o provincial_a assembly_n be_v for_o their_o piety_n orthodoxness_n christian_a simplicity_n for_o their_o powerful_a spiritual_a frequent_a practical_a preach_a eminent_a these_o be_v the_o thing_n which_o long_o ago_o have_v make_v i_o cordial_o to_o honour_v you_o though_o since_o my_o intimate_a acquaintance_n with_o many_o of_o you_o have_v much_o increase_v and_o confirm_v my_o high_a thought_n of_o you_o and_o i_o think_v i_o may_v confident_o say_v that_o under_o the_o whole_a heaven_n there_o be_v not_o any_o city_n or_o nation_n to_o be_v find_v that_o may_v be_v compare_v to_o london_n and_o england_n for_o powerful_a spiritual_a practical_a preach_a and_o i_o may_v say_v that_o the_o ministry_n of_o england_n be_v the_o glory_n of_o the_o world_n and_o that_o london_n be_v the_o paradise_n of_o england_n yet_o though_o i_o have_v long_o honour_v you_o i_o have_v not_o have_v any_o opportunity_n to_o testify_v it_o therefore_o i_o think_v good_a have_v this_o small_a treatise_n to_o publish_v with_o it_o to_o publish_v how_o much_o i_o honour_v you_o though_o i_o be_o very_o sensible_a how_o little_a my_o judgement_n can_v add_v to_o the_o just_a esteem_n that_o the_o people_n of_o god_n have_v of_o you_o my_o desire_n and_o prayer_n to_o god_n be_v and_o shall_v be_v that_o as_o to_o your_o enemy_n you_o may_v be_v as_o john_n baptist_n that_o though_o they_o love_v you_o not_o they_o may_v fear_v and_o reverence_v you_o be_v awe_v by_o the_o image_n of_o god_n that_o appear_v in_o the_o majesty_n and_o power_n of_o your_o preach_v and_o in_o the_o holiness_n of_o your_o life_n and_o conversation_n and_o that_o all_o the_o people_n of_o god_n may_v more_o and_o more_o high_o esteem_v you_o in_o love_n for_o your_o work_n sake_n and_o that_o the_o doctrine_n which_o you_o preach_v from_o the_o word_n of_o god_n may_v be_v deliver_v with_o such_o evidence_n and_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirit_n that_o the_o mouth_n of_o gainsayers_a may_v be_v stop_v and_o that_o your_o life_n and_o conversation_n may_v more_o and_o more_o abound_v with_o such_o sincerity_n simplicity_n meekness_n gravity_n humility_n and_o christian_a prudence_n that_o the_o face_n of_o those_o may_v be_v cover_v with_o shame_n that_o speak_v evil_a of_o you_o these_o be_v the_o desire_n of_o he_o who_o be_v your_o fellow-labourer_n in_o the_o work_n of_o the_o lord_n thomas_n white_a a_o method_n or_o instruction_n for_o the_o art_n of_o divine_a meditation_n chap._n i._n what_o meditation_n be_v first_o it_o differ_v from_o occasional_a meditation_n such_o as_o these_o if_o one_o hear_v the_o clock_n strike_v to_o think_v with_o one_o self_n how_o many_o thought_n have_v i_o have_v of_o god_n this_o hour_n 2._o i_o be_o one_o hour_n near_o my_o grave_n and_o the_o lord_n only_o know_v whether_o i_o may_v have_v another_o hour_n to_o live_v or_o no._n 1._o these_o be_v far_o short_a like_o ejaculatory_a prayer_n which_o though_o they_o be_v as_o parenthesise_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 and_o this_o that_o i_o speak_v of_o be_v a_o solemn_a set_a duty_n 3._o the_o subject_a 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 meditation_n be_v only_o spiritual_a second_o it_o differ_v from_o study_n 1._o in_o respect_n of_o the_o subject_a wicked_a man_n study_v and_o it_o may_v be_v more_o than_o godly_a man_n wicked_a man_n study_v and_o godly_a man_n meditate_v nay_o it_o be_v the_o very_a distinguish_a sign_n between_o saint_n and_o other_o psa_n 1.2_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 time_n in_o prayer_n especial_o if_o it_o be_v public_a 2._o as_o for_o the_o matter_n of_o prayer_n and_o study_n they_o be_v very_o different_a 1._o study_n be_v of_o all_o manner_n of_o thing_n whether_o natural_a civil_a 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 we_o most_o study_n be_v those_o truth_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 chronology_n controversy_n etc._n etc._n but_o the_o matter_n of_o meditation_n be_v plain_a and_o of_o great_a spiritual_a advantage_n 3._o the_o end_n of_o study_n be_v knowledge_n the_o end_n of_o meditation_n be_v holiness_n if_o one_o see_v a_o learned_a man_n one_o may_v conclude_v that_o that_o man_n have_v study_v much_o if_o one_o see_v a_o devout_a holy_a man_n one_o may_v conclude_v that_o that_o man_n have_v meditate_a much_o three_o it_o differ_v from_o contemplation_n 1._o contemplation_n be_v more_o like_o the_o beatifical_a vision_n which_o they_o have_v of_o god_n in_o heaven_n like_o the_o angel_n behold_v of_o the_o face_n of_o god_n meditation_n be_v like_o the_o kindle_v of_o fire_n and_o contemplation_n more_o like_o the_o flame_a of_o it_o 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 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 one_o smell_v to_o flower_n particular_o or_o several_o and_o contemplation_n be_v like_o the_o smell_a of_o they_o all_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 therefore_o to_o conclude_v meditation_n 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 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 on_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 it_o then_o to_o hear_v two_o and_o meditate_v of_o neither_o but_o for_o set_v down_o a_o method_n for_o meditate_v on_o sermon_n be_v neither_o necessary_a nor_o possible_a since_o the_o method_n of_o sermon_n be_v various_a and_o they_o be_v to_o observe_v in_o their_o meditation_n the_o method_n of_o the_o sermon_n they_o meditate_v upon_o all_o that_o i_o shall_v say_v therefore_o in_o this_o particular_a be_v only_o this_o 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 substance_n and_o head_n of_o the_o sermon_n in_o our_o memory_n nor_o that_o we_o may_v the_o better_o understand_v and_o full_a be_v instruct_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o that_o point_n that_o be_v preach_v upon_o but_o especial_o to_o work_v those_o truth_n advice_n and_o motive_n etc._n etc._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 providentiall_a occasion_n or_o upon_o