Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	holy_a	spirit_n	supplication_n	2,162	5	10.6010	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A18521	The consolation of the soule being an assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes, with the most notable promises of God conteined in holy Scripture, both in the olde and newe Testament: briefly expounded and applied, as hereafter followeth. With certaine examples woorth the bearing in minde, touching the great mercies of God, towards poore, and miserable sinners. ... Made by Iohn Chassanion, and englished by H. S. of Greyes Inne. Gent.; Consolation de l'âme sur l'asseurance de la remission des pechez. English.	Chassanion, Jean de, 1531-1598.	1590 (1590)	STC 5061; ESTC S118621	36,864	96

we haue of GOD that if wee aske any thing according to his will he will heare vs. And if we know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we shal obtaine that we haue desired of him WE cannot be in doubt when we come to God in our prayers grounded on his commaundements and promise but that we shall be heard and receiue such things as we want which condemneth those men that call vpon strange Gods yea on those which are no Gods and pray to those which are departed out of this life who can haue no certaintie of their prayers But wee must bee certaine that GOD doth hearken vnto vs when wee pray to him as wee are taught in his holy worde for he hath promised to giue and graunt vs such things as we aske him being necessary and conformable vnto his will which are the meanes whereby he vseth to doe vs good and to giue vs his grace in full and conuenient tyme. Rom. Chap. 8. ver 26. Likewise the spirite also helpeth our infirmities for wee knowe not how to pray as wee ought but the spirite maketh request for vs with sighings which cannot bee expressed but he which searcheth knoweth what is the meaning of the spirite seing he maketh requestes for the Saincts according to the will of God AS by the holy Ghost wee are lead to the true knowledge of our saluation so by it we are made certaine of the same being the seale and earnest of our inheritaunce which testifieth with our Spirite that wee be the sonnes of God in that wee hate all euill and on the contrary take pleasure in the lawes of the Lord. For it is the Spirit which comforteth vs in our affliction and strengthned vs in our weaknesse in making vs beare paciently the burden of our tribulation and aduersities in so much that our affections being at variance among themselues many tymes slowe to prayer are yet stirred vp by the holy Ghost who teacheth vs to stay our selues vpon the promises that we are to aske of God with desire and earnest affection of heart which cannot bee declared in wordes By this meanes are our prayers exalted to God and accoumpted iust and reasonable being made by the holy Ghost which is the Spirite of God God who acknowledgeth and accepteth that which is his and proceedeth from him by giuing vs deliuerance and adiudge vs vnto saluation Seing then that our prayers ought to bee ordered according vnto the will of God and done in such sinceritie and singlenes of heart we may comfort our selues in the vertue of his grace and operation of the holy Ghost To this is added that which the Apostle teacheth in this Chapter that by the spirite of adoption wee may boldly crye abba father In this maner then ought wee to aske in faith and certaintie without doubting as S. Iames exhorteth vs being founded vpon the assuraunce that wee haue of the fatherly goodnesse of God towards vs by the holy Ghost Parables similitudes of the grace mercie of God towards poore sinners which do repent them selues IT is manifest not onely by all the sayinges which heretofore are shewed and other places of holy Scripture to the same purpose touching the grace of God proffered vnto vs by the forgiuenes of our sinnes but also by certaine Parables and Similitudes which serue vs as promises and which our Sauiour Christ hath vsed for our comfort as we may reade in the 15. of S. Luke The first is of the Sheepe that went astray and was lost in the wildernes whome the Sheepheard seeketh earnestly and finding it taketh it vpon his shoulders bringeth it home and reioyceth more ouer that one then for the nintie and nine which he had in like sorte saith our Sauiour is it in Heauen for one sinner that repenteth him selfe Hath sinne then deceiued thee hath it caried thee away from the flocke of Christ and made thee stray from the right path Art thou in the middest of a Desert in daunger of a roring Lyon the enemie to thy saluation Withdrawe thy selfe betimes and recant of thy straying and goe to thy flocke least thou perish vtterly returne vnto thy soueraigne Sheepheard Iesus Christ which will bee gentle vnto thee neither stande in doubt but that he wil receiue thee if thou returne to him seing he goeth seeking and calling those which goe astraye to bring them into his fould and when thou art returned be not afrayde but be sure of thy saluation and reioyce for the Angels in heauen reioyce for thee Luke Chap. 16. ver 18. As a woman which hath lost a peece of siluer after she hath found it againe reioyceth so doth the Angels of God for a sinner which doth repent ALthough we lose our selues by our owne fault bee guiltie of our estraying from God yet for all this he houldeth vs so deare and precious and hath such care of vs that he will neuer forget vs but prouideth for our saluation bringeth vs to himselfe keepes vs as his owne euen as though he should keepe some excellent treasure for which the celestiall and heauenly Angels doe sing for ioye and gladnesse Luke Chap. 15. ver 11.12 BY the goodnesse of the father towardes his prodigall sonne our Sauiour sheweth the great clemencie of God our celestial father towards poore sinners which conuert themselues vnto him If by the lightnes and foolishnesse of our mindes and by the vanities of our harts we haue abused the goodnes of God either temporally or spiritually by our owne meanes are drawne from his commaundements in slouthfull and dissolute life and so fallen into confusion by feeling our pouertie and miserie let vs not feare to turne againe to our God with true humblenes acknowledging our misdeedes seeing he is gentle and mercifull he will receiue vs as his children he will clothe vs with his benefites and spirituall graces with all ioye and mirth By the Parable and Similitude of the Publicane acknowledging himself a poore sinner standing a farre of and thinking him selfe vnworthie to lift vp his eyes to heauen striking his breastes and bewayling that he had neglected the mercies of God our Sauiour makes vs certaine and perswades vs of the iustification and mercie for our sinnes if truely we feele our selues guiltie if we be beaten and humbled in our harts if we haue a true displeasure and are sorie that we haue offended our God if wee be so touched wee shall finde him gentle and quiet towards vs. Worthy examples touching the great mercie of God towards poore sinners ALthough many promises and excellent proofes be here set before vs as sufficient to quiet the conscience of euery one notwithstanding it shall be needefull to set forth some examples for more certaintie and confirmation of the same seeing that such examples and instructions do stirre vs vp the more to consider better of the matter Wherefore as in our first father Adam sinne began to appeare so in him also God shewed the

THE Consolation of the Soule being an assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes with the most notable promises of God conteined in holy Scripture both in the olde and newe Testament briefly expounded and applied as hereafter followeth With certaine examples woorth the bearing in minde touching the great mercies of God towards poore and miserable sinners When I am troden vnder foote thy mercies doth lift me vp againe Psal 94. Made by Iohn Chassanion and englished by H.S. of Greyes Inne Gent. Imprinted at London for Symon Waterson ❧ To the faithfull of the refourmed Church of Metz grace and peace through Iesus Christ our Lord. SEING it hath pleased GOD deare bretheren to make mee an Instrument wherby to declare his holy worde vnto you I thought it very needfull to present this little Booke wherein I entend not to teach any newe matter but to put you in mind of your saluatiō which you haue of long tyme knowne and doe daily heare to the end it may be the better rooted in your hearts And so much the rather seeing by this you haue at all tymes such meanes to reioyce and comfort your selues in God whereby we may gather very many good instructions in Gods schoole if we bee certainly perswaded of his grace and indeuour our selues both to obey him and to amend that we finde to be amisse in vs. Also we shall cōtinually lift vp our harts towards him that we may be partakers of his felicitie bountifulnesse the very ground of our saluation After which maner doe the children of God truely exercise them selues in meditation looke throughly into the vnspeakable goodnesse of him by whome they are saued through Iesus Christ euen with an vndefiled thought and hope Also it is requisite that there bee a true amendment of life agreeable both to the seruice obedience honor which we owe vnto him and to cal vpon him vnfaynedly All which are the chiefest points comprehended in holy Scriptures and here summarily spoken of for the confirmation of our faith and hope the full assurance wherof is as it were the foundation of all others cōsisting in the certaine perswasion which we ought to haue of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to which end also principally the preaching of the Gospell doth attende by reason whereof S. Paule calleth it the ministrie of reconciliation How happeneth it thē that the Cleargie men in our companie by an holie and religious custome euery Sonday in morning prayers declare the grace of God that is to say the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all true penitent Christians beeing necessarie for euery one to knowe Certainly principally for this cause that all may bee perswaded that their offences bee forgiuen them before God and that they bee reconciled vnto him and receiued into his grace what iniquitie soeuer they cōmitted And this certaine perswasion ought to be stedfast and deepely rooted in our hearts chiefly in the tyme of Calamities and great affliction whereunto the children of God are continually subiect hauing the obstinate and peruerse worlde their enemie which will neuer agree with them being set forward and inflamed by him which from the beginning is a murtherer and an aduersarie to all mankinde and neuer leaueth in rest those that giue themselues to the true seruice of their god but doth procure vnto them all hinderances and lets that he can and continually assaults them with mortall warres compassing them with euilles roūd about strangely oppressing them when they doe protract tyme. It may seeme then that for a tyme God doth giue them ouer and that he is very angrie with them and that he would vndo them and that they be lost but they hauing this ful knowledge that by his infinite bountie and clemencie he doth receiue them into his mercie and quiet orders See how they are reuiued and comforted and their consciences in rest And to this end is the worde of saluation giuen vnto them by the which God doth promise to be mercifull vnto them If then such a simple promise bee sufficient to make them certaine of his loue towards them how much more will it be when al other promises doe aboūd It is therefore for this cause that I haue gathered here a certain number of most singuler notes of the holie Scripture which consequently are added which are taken from one and the selfe same spring which shal be like towers strōg places most high to defend vs against the terrible and perilous assaults of the deuill and to put off from vs all incredulitie and mistrust That which I present vnto you welbeloued brethren I dedicate it to witnesse the good affectiō that God hath giuen me towards you wishing that more and more you may be stedfast and conformable in the faith and certaintie of the fatherly goodwill of our God We cannot but alwaies hope well of such a gentle and gracious father which haue looked on vs a long tyme with his owne eyes and hath visited vs as his owne only by the true happy light of his word and by excellent Shepeheards of which some are already receiued into perpetual rest with the Lord others serue him yet happely in other places he hath established the ministrie of his Gospell among you which you inioye at this present by his inestimable bountie although the blustringes of the tempestes lately past haue brought into many and diuers places some straunge troubles and calamities This good God neuerthelesse hath alwaies care to preserue you in such extremities that you haue continuall occasion to giue him thanks the very tokens and witnesses of your faith which may appeare in that that you neede not greuously to seeke for the nourishment of your soules three long myles farre from your houses neither in painfull and sorrowfull waies Continue alwaies therfore in this zeale for the glory of God and in the confidence of his goodwill and mercie towards you vnto the ende I desire those which bee slouthfull to come into the pasture of the Lord to consider what he sayth in this place when he sayth that his sheepe follow him and doe heare his voyce Ioh. 10. And what he sayth in an other place He which is of God heareth Gods worde Ioh. 8. I doe warne them therefore with my brothers and fellowes to be most affected in it not to bee giuen so much to the loue of the world to their vanities to the end that they maye not depriue themselues before they be aware from the celestiall goods and riches which are euerlasting Deare brethren I pray to our God father that in houlding you alwaies vnder the shadowe of his winges he may cause you to profite more and more in his holy knowledge and continually to fortifie you in his seruice and to replenish you withal the gifts of his holy Spirite to his honor and glory to your consolation Your humble and affected brother in the Lord. Iohn Chassanion ¶ The Consolation of the Soule being

he maketh vs knowe that we be his and adorneth vs with all the giftes of his holy spirite and putteth vs in hope of life euerlasting he sheweth manifestly by these that he doth not reward vs according to our deserts neither recompence vs as we haue deserued By nature therefore we doe nothing but offend yet for our vnhappines hee restoreth goodnes againe Wherefore it is sayde that there is great mercie with the Lorde true it is that sometimes hee correcteth vs for our wickednes but neuer chasteneth nor puni●heth vs according to our desertes no more then if he had not regarded them or as they had neuer bene cōmitted seeing then that he remits wholy forgiues vs by which it is sayd that the mercies of the Lord is ouer all his workes and his goodnes reacheth vnto the cloudes not that it endeth there for it can not be contayned in the Heauen of heauens but because in this world nothing can seeme higher then Heauen which is raysed aboue the earth by an incomprehensible distaunce as it is said in the Psal 36. that the goodnes of God reacheth vnto the heauens therefore it is added afterward that it is excellent it is ouer our heades it doeth ouerpasse our sight it is altogether to be marueled at this is the height the breadth the deapth of the loue of Christ which is spoken of in the 3. Chap. to the Ephes It is marueylous high and wonderfull to behold it reacheth to the deepes beneath there is nothing which the spirite of man can Imagine to bee greater but onely Gods loue and bountie towardes vs who from the highest Heauens from his celestiall and glorious throne vouchsafeth to come to the bottomlesse Pit of the earth to drawe vs from it and to make vs ascende● where hymselfe abideth it scatereth it selfe here and there in length infinite in breadth wonderfull so that among so many regions the people may feele the vertue of it in their hearts by the holy ghost and yet wee must knowe that God neuer vseth this clemencie to them which shewe themselues profayned and cōtemners of his grace but those which doe feare him and sheweth him honour and reuerence therein lyeth properly the greatnesse of the bountifulnesse of the Almightie This is againe shewed by a notable effect when it is sayde that hee casteth from vs our offences as for the wicked their malice doth not remoue but remaynes still lying euen at the gate as the Lord speaketh of the sinne of Cain Gen. Chap. 4. ver 7. concerning the offences of the faithfull although they be set before thē and that they doe present them selues oftentimes before the eyes of the soule as it happened to the Prophet when he said that his sinnes was continually before him Psal 51. ver 5. which is nothing vnto them but an exercise of true repentance to bring them vnto humilitie and after makes them more circumspect yet neuerthelesse in respect of Gods mercie they be all put away for he putteth them farre from him scattereth them abroade and casteth them behinde ●im neuer to be remembred againe Which is shewed by a comparison of the distaunce betweene the East and the West which is the farthest distaunce that can bee imagined vnder the Sunne euen so then as the East is farre from the West and the West farre from the East by a separation and great distance euen so farre GOD doth cast all our sinnes away from vs yea so farre that they cannot be perceiued or no more appeare thē that which is carried away from one ende of the world vnto the other And to confirme al that is spoken before God is in holy Scripture compared vnto a father which is mercifull vnto his children for as you see a father couer many of his sonnes imperfectiōs neither vseth such rigour and seueritie towards them as he might but spareth them as much as possiblie he can In like maner also God who is our great and celestiall father is moued with all pittie compassion towards vs and readie to forgiue vs all our sinnes so that wee feare to offend him neither doe abound in our iniquities Psal 130. If thou O Lord shouldst straightly marke our iniquities O Lord who should stand before thee but mercie is with thee that thou maiest be feared Let Israel waite on the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is great redemption and he shall redeeme Jsrael from all his iniquities THere is none of vs which are not in daunger to fall into eternall ruyne and destruction if God should looke narrowly into our sinnes and offences to examine them in seueritie and execute a iust punishment for them for there is no man that could stand before his tribunall Seate nor bee able to iustifie himselfe by his owne righteousnesse Therefore Dauid in his prayers and supplications to the Lord desireth him not to enter into iudgement with him as he had deserued Psal 144. ver 2. neither may this seeme straunge or spoken without speciall purpose but it is the same in substance which the author of this Psalm speaketh of here which is done for our consolation and trust that forgiuenes of our sinnes only cōmeth from the Lord neither doth he take any heede of them therby to condemne vs but he sheweth himselfe gentle and mercifull to vs which made the Prophet in conclusion to say That because there is mercie with God therefore he should be feared And that this might not be done in himselfe onely he stirreth vp all sortes of men and euery state and cōdition of nations to the due feare and true reuerence of his Maiestie thereby that high and lowe rich and poore one with an other might wholly giue themselues to serue him in thankfulnesse and heauenly melodie for the more he powreth on vs his boūtifull and mercifull liberalitie the more we are bound to him and ought to be much more desirous to serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of our life So that the forgiuenesse of our sinnes is ioyned with the honor and glorie of GOD and our obedience which ought to followe his grace not onely particulerly but also generally among all true Christians For for this cause Dauid doth giue certaine assuraunce vnto the Catholicke Church of GOD vnder the name of Israel saying that the Lord would deliuer Israel from all his iniquities and purge them from all their sinnes although the Church be not without sinne during the time that it is in this earthly perigrination but hath wrinckles and spots subiect to many infirmities and transgressions by whom it is as it were made captiue and brought into bondage yet God will deliuer it continually out of such miserie and by his infinite mercie forgiue it not some faults onely but all her iniquities how great soeuer they bee and of what number soeuer Vpon this hope then the Prophet exhorteth the Church to trust in the Lorde hoping in him in time of oppression when