Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	let_v	pray_v	sick_a	2,056	5	9.3427	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87215	A treaty of pacification. Or Conditions of peace between God and man. / By H.I.	Isaacson, Henry, 1581-1654.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver.	1642 (1642)	Wing I1061; Thomason E1113_6; ESTC R202596	35,424	106

it selfe Act. 20 35. It is a more blessed thing to give then to receive He that hath a good eye shall be blessed for he giveth of his bread to the poore 3. Pro. 2● In regard of retribution from God to himselfe Come ye blessed c. Mat 25 36 4. In regard of a blessing upon his Posterity Psa 37.26 The righteous is mercifull and lendeth and his seede is blessed Ambrose writing upon this Text Blessed is he that considereth or iudgeth wisely of the poore saith I lle intelligit super pauperem qui lar gitur pauperi nam quid prodest misereri inopis nisi alimoniam eidem largiaris That man judgeth wisely of the poore that rele●veth him for what good doth it to pitty a poore man if thou givest him no releefe The effects of this vertue be many For 1. It makes a man beloved of God God loveth a cheerfull giver 2. It encreaseth his temporall estate 2 Cor 9.7 〈◊〉 4.18 His barnes shall be filled with abundance and his presses shall burst with new wine Pro. 3.10 Faecundus est ager pauperum citò reddit donantibus fructum saith A●g The poore mans land is fruitfull it quickly renders back fruit to the giver But Jerome in this point gives this caveat Sunt qui pauperibus parum tribuunt ut amplius accipiant quae magis venditio appellanda est quam eleemosyna There are some that give a little to the poore with expectation to receive more back but this may rather be called a sale then an Almes 3. It prolongeth life as the Apostle speaketh 1 Tim. 4.8 and cureth diseases as Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar Breake off thy sinnes by Righteousnesse and thy iniquities by Mercy to the poore Sit obsecro sanatio let there be a healing of thine error In Mat. S●●m 9. The great and strongest medicine saith Chrysost in Repentance is Almes for as in the prescripts of Physick among divers ingredients one is most predominant so in Repentance there is one which is Almes 4. By it the Bowells of the Saints are comforted as S. Paul speakes to Philemon Whereby God is honoured Phil 7. Pro. 14.31 The wiseman saith He honoureth his Maker that hath mercy on the poore 5. It encreaseth a mans friends Make ye friends saith Christ with the riches of iniquity 6. It strengtheneth Prayer Luk. 16 9. and is one of the wings that makes Prayer ascend to God Acts 10.4 Cornelius gave Almes and his Prayer came up to God For Prayer without Almes wants a wing to elevate it Frustra pro peccatis rogaturus manus ad Deum expandit In Mat. 12● qui has ad pauperes non extendit saith Rabbanus He holds up his hands in vaine to God for his sinnes that stretcheth them not to releeve the poore and Chrys Infirma est oratio In Mat. 5. quae eleemozynarum largitate non est munita That Prayer is weake that is not strengthened with Almes And he shuts the doore of Gods Mercy that opens not the bowells of Mercy to the poore It was one of the sins for which Sodome was destroyed Ezek. 16.49 that she did not strengthen the hands of the poore and needy I but some will say I have not much my selfe how then can I give much to the poore To this may be answered God lookes not upon the quantum how much but ex quanto out of how much thou givest Qui multum dat qui parum si aequa voluntas est aequalem habet M●rcedem He that gives much and he that gives little if the mind be alike shall have the like reward The Apostle tells us If there be a willing mind it is accepted 2 Cor 8.12 according to that a man hath The Widowes mites were more acceptable to God Mat. 12.42 then the Rich mens largo guifts For a cup of cold water shall not goe unrewarded Mat 10.42 8. The last but not the least Ingredient is Prayer which being joyned with the former duties will be able to prevaile with God for his supply in any thing we want and for his protection against any thing we feare Oratio si pura sit coelo penetrans Ang. vacua non redibit Our prayer if it be qualified as it ought pierceth the Heavens and will not returne empty For as Chrysostome saith Nihil potentius homine or ante In Mat. 6. Nothing is more powerfull then a man when he prayeth We may see it in one Example Moses ad bellum non vadit In Levit sed or at vincit Israel Moses went not to warre with the people of Israel but only prayes and the people overcame their enemies by the strength and force of his prayers The definition of Prayer is thus It is Piae mentis humilis ad Deum conversio fide spe charitate subnixa A turning of a pious and humble mind to God propped up with faith hope and charity The parts of it are many As Intercession Thanksgiving Invocation and Deprecation but because I have spoken of them formerly I shall onely touch againe the two last as most properly conducing and suiting with this subject of Repentance which are couched in a short but pertinent saying of one declaring the effects of Prayer Cass Per orationem venia peccatorum procuratur ira Dei suspenditur By Prayer pardon of sinnes is obteyned ther 's the effect of Invocation and Gods anger is deferred or averted that 's the effect of Deprecation 1. First for that part of the effect of Prayer which is remission of sin we have Gods promise If my people which are called by my name 2 Chro ● 14. shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked wayes then will I heare from Heaven and will forgive their sinne and will heale their Land Iob 33.16 So saith Elihu to Job speaking of a sinner returning to God by Prayer He shall pray unto God and he will be favourable unto him and he shall see his face with joy David was confident in this point Psa ●6 19● Verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer And in another place The Lord is ready to forgive 86.5 and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him And lastly S. James saith The prayer of faith shall save the sicke and if he have committed sins Iames 5.15 they shall be forgiven him 2. In time of danger and affliction or when any crosse lyeth upon men by reason of Gods anger for sinne the other part of Prayer is very prevalent to avert it Psa ●0 15. Iames 5.13 Wee have Gods promise for this also Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee And it is the counsell of S. James Is any afflicted let him pray We see the holy men of God ever used this recepit K. Hezekiah being in

danger of death 2 Reg 20.5 prayed and God tells him he had heard his prayer Johoaz being in danger of being over-run by Hazael K. of Assyria prayed and the Lord delivered him Daniel upon danger approaching 13 4. Dan. 6.10 prayed three times a day and the Lord heard him Jonas being in danger in the Whales belly Ion 2.1.10 in the sea prayed and God caused the fish to cast him out upon the dry land Acts 16.25 Paul and Silas being in prison prayed to the Lord and he forthwith delivered them David saith God will regard the prayer of the destitute of all help and not despise their prayer Ps ●●2 ●7 And this is the second benefit that comes by Prayer Now for the place of Prayer though it be to be made in omni loco as the Apostle enjoynes every where as by Daniel in the den Job upon the dunghill Jonas in the Sea our Saviour in a garden and Paul and Silas in prison yet is this duty more especially appropriated to two places I. Publick 2. Private 1. The Publick place is the great Congregation My praise saith David shall be of thee in the great Congregation ●sal 22.25.68.26 I will pay my vowes before them that feare thee And blesse ye God in the great Congregation 29.9.48.9 Which he expounds in other places to be the Church or Temple And which the Prophet tells us that God will have called Domus Orationis the house of Prayer Ecclesia est singularis fidelium uniuscujusque civitatis Congregatio saith Hugo Esa 56.7 There in deed it is that God desireth especially to be prayed too and where by the unity of many soules in prayer the greatest blessings may be soonest obteyned For publick prayer is compared to a storme of ha●le pjercing the Heavens and the Fathers say that the Amen in the Primitive Church was like a clap of thunder And thereupon S. Ambrose saith De Poe●●● Multi minimi dum congregantur unamines sunt magni multorum preces impossibile est contemni Many little ones being met unanimously become great and it is impossible that the prayers of many should be despised 2. Private is twofold 1. In a mans Family and every Pater familias father of a Family is bound not only to see that those which are under his government do frequent publike assemblies to performe the duties before mentioned but to see them do it in his private house also He must say with Ioshua Iosh 24.15 Ego domus mea I and my house will pray to the Lord. And at this exercise Christ hath promised his assistance Mat. 18. ●0 Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them The second is in Cubiculo Prayer must be in a mans closet 1. Which is either litterally taken as when a man retireth himselfe to pray to the Lord in some private place without disturbance 2. Or as the Fathers glosse upon that Text when thou prayest enter into thy closet Quae sunt ista cubicula Mat 6 6. c. what are these closets but the hearts of men according to that of the Psalmist Ps 4.4 Aug de s●r Dommi in monte Commune with your owne heart upon your bed And Ambrose saith Intellige cubiculum non inclusum parietibus c. You are to understand by the word closet not that which is enclosed with wals De Cain Abel c. 8. and wherin thy body is shut but the closet that is within thee wherin are inclosed thy thoughts This thy closet is every where with thee and is every where secret the searcher whereof is God and no other Now that our Prayers may be the more prevalent either in publike or private it is necessary that we observe these Rules 1. Our prayers must be offered to God the Father in the name and mediation and for the merits of his beloved Sonne Christ Jesus Mat. 3. ●7 Esa 41 1. Eph 3.11 in Whom he is well-pleased His elect in whom his soule delighteth In and by whom we have boldnes and accesse to the throne of grace Iob. 16.23 And whatsoever we shall aske the Father in his name he will give it us 2. They must be hearty from the heart and soul as Davids did Vnto thee ô Lord doe I lift up my soule Psal 25 1● and as he counsels others ye people powre out your hearts before him Psal 62.8 3. They must be offered with all humility like to the prayers of Abraham Gen 18.17.32.10 Behold I have taken upon me to speake unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes and to that of Jacob Non sum dignus I am not worthy the least of all thy mercies and to that of the Publican that would not lift up his eyes to Heaven Luc. 18.13 but stood à longè a far off and smote his brest saying God be mercifull to me a sinner 4. Fourthly with fervency For Quanto graviori miseria premitur tanto orationi insist●re ardentiùs debemus Greg. Mor. By how much the more grievously we are afflicted so much the more ardently we should betake our selves to prayer As the case stands with us Thess ● 17 we must pray without ceasing 5. Lastly we must offer our prayers to God only Chrysostome upon the words of the woman of Canaan to Christ Lord have mercy upon me saith vide prudentiam mul●eris Non regat Jacobum c. Observe the womans wisdome She prayeth not to James nor doth she intreat Iohn nor goes she to Peter nor any of the Apostles she fought no Mediatour for her suit So much briefly for the rules or directions in prayers Seeing then that in the first place Esa 59.2 our iniquities have separated between God and us Let us follow the Prophets counsell and take words unto us and turne to the Lord by Prayer and say unto him O Lord take away all iniquity Hos 14.3 and receive us graciously 2. And secondly in as much as this separation hath brought a just judgement upon us let us humble our selvs with another Prophet and say O Lord Dan 9.4 the great and dreadfull God keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him and keepe his Commandements We have sinned 5. and have committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled by departing from thy precepts and judgements Neither have we hearkned to thy servants the Prophets 6. which spake in thy name to our Kings our Princes and our Fathers and all the people of the Land O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face 8. because we have sinned against thee To the Lord belong mercies and forgivenesses Dan● 9.9 though we have rebelled against him O Lord 16. according to all thy righteousnesse we beseech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from this Land which is called by thy

Name because for our sinnes and for the iniquity of our Fathers we are become a reproach to all that are about us Now therefore 17 O God heare the prayers of thy servants and their supplications and cause thy face to shine upon us that are desolate for the Lords sake O our God 18 encline thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold our desolations For we doe not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesse but for thy great mercies O Lord heare 19 O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and doe deferre not for thine own sake O God for this Land and the people are called by thy Name Thus much for prayer And thus have we taken a view 1. Of our miserable condition by reason of Gods heavy hand upon us Secondly of the cause of his visitation which is our heinous sin and transgression 3. And lastly of the Cure which is to be wrought by repentance In which I have presumed ultra crepidam I confesse to act the Physitians part and to prescribe what ingredients are to be put to the making of the Dosis of Repentance secundum artem that it may worke with effect I dare say they may be taken safely there are no Minerals in it Nay let me tell you except they be taken there will be no hope of recovery And as much must be taken if not q.s. as our poore and weake nature enfeebled with the long custome of sin will beare not nicely or perfunctorily upon a knives point as a taste to see whither we can relish it or no but the whole Bole if we can and then by Gods blessing and assistance we shall nor need to doubt of the cure Probatum est it hath past the Test long since above 2000 years by Ahah and the Ninivites neither of them sound in Religion nor having all these Ingredients in their prescript and it hath bin practised and used with good successe divers times since Let us therefore speedily take it and no doubt but it will have the same effect theirs had One thing give me leave to adde that we must fully resolve our selves that Repentance is an Act not a speculative or theoreticall but a practicall duty Mat. 3.7 The Baptist tels us of an Ira ventura a wrath to come and gives us charge to repent with two active verbes 1. Agite Poenitentiam settle your selves to repent there is somewhat more in it then hearing or reading of it what it is for though that be unum necessarium yet is it not unicum the only necessary thing 2. 8. The other is facite or proferte fructus dignos poenitentiae doe or bring forth fruits worthy of Repentance and that to free us ab ira ventura propter peccat● praeterita from wrath to come for sins past It were to be wished that it were yet Ira ventura that it were to come but the more wretched our condition It is Ira accensa the anger of the Lord is kindled some have already felt the heat of it And let us tell our selves that we are no lesse sinners in this part of the Land then they that have already felt it Luc. 13 4●50 They upon whom the Tower of Siloe fell were not sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem Let us apply this to our selves and that which followeth in the next verse Except we repent we shall all likewise perish God hath long time tendered good Quarter good conditions of peace and we have still stood out in rebellion It is reported of Tamberlaine that when he besieged a City the first day he displayed a white flag before it and upon that day the besieged might have reasonable conditions If they yeelded not that day upon the second he set up a red flag and on that day they might have conditions but they were harder then the former And the third day the two former being rejected he hung out a black flag and then no conditions no quarter would bee granted So God hath displayed his white flagge of peace and we have carelesly neglected it and he hath now hung out his red flagge of wrath Harder conditions are come upon us Now though wee have been so obstinate to him and fearelesse of our owne misery hitherto let us quickly take hold of his conditions lest he hang out the blacke and dismall flagge to our utter desolation and destruction And let us even all of us in the publike Congregation and in our private Families and closets fall downe and humble our selves before Almighty God and implore his pardon and grace and let us truly repent us of our former sins with purpose of living better hereafter and no doubt but God will repent him of his wrath against us and say to his Angell Sufficit It is sufficient enough stay now thy hand If we turne from our sinnes he will turne from punishing us for them If we walke in the statutes of the Lord Luc. 〈…〉 he will give peace in our Land and we shall lye downe and none shall make us afraid 〈◊〉 shall the sword goe through our 〈◊〉 We shall have peace in our houses and peace to all that we have 1 Sam 25.6 The voice of ioy and salvation shall be in our Labernacles Ps● 8 15. We shall reioyce both young men and old together and our mourning shall be turned into ioy Nay God himselfe will rej●yce in our Land and joy in us his people and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in it Ier. 21 1● nor-the voice of crying Esa 65.19 He will reioyce over us to doe us good and place us in this land with stability The God of peace will be peace unto us Ien 32.41 Christ the Prince of peace will be our peace Rom 15.33 The Spirit of peace and unity Esa ● 6 Eph 2.14 Gal ● ●1 will keepe us in peace and love Lastly Eph 4.3 ● Reg. ●● 20 Rom 14.17 Luc 19.38 we shall not only live here in peace but we shall be gathered to our fathers and to our grave sin peace And after this life enioy everlasting peace we shall have peace and ioy in the holy Ghost here and peace in Heaven hereafter All which he grant us c. FINIS Poenitentiall Prayers LEt us redeeme the time Eph. 5.16 because the dayes are evill And let us repent Acts 3 1● and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiven us Let every one turne from his evill way Ion. 3.8.9 for who can tell if God will turne and repent and turne from his fierce anger that we perish not POnder our wordes ô Lord and consider our meditation Psal 51 Oh hearken unto the voice of our calling our King and our God for unto thee doe we make our prayers Oh God 22.20 We cry in the day time and thou hearest not and in the night season also we take no rest Thine indignation