Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	offer_v	sacrifice_n	thanksgiving_n	3,189	5	10.9292	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50246	A catechisme, or, The grounds and principles of Christian religion set forth by way of question and answer wherein the summe of the doctrine of religion is comprised, familiarly opened, and clearly confirmed from the Holy Scriptures / by Richard Mather, teacher to the church at Dorchester in New England.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1650 (1650)	Wing M1268; ESTC R43433	66,565	136

as also by other titles importing the same thing Q. VVhat are those other titles A. He is called Counsellor b Messenger c Doctor or Master d Apostle e Speaker f the Shepheard and Bishop of our soules g the faithfull and true witnesse h Q VVhat is the work of Christ as a Prophet A. To reveale and make known to his people the counsell and will of God Deut. 18. 18. Iohn 1. 18. 4. 25. 15 15. Matth. 11. 27. Q How doth he this A. Outwardly by such means as he hath appointed and inwardly by the teaching and illumination of his holy Spirit Q. VVhat are the outward meanes A. They are divers and sundry according as it pleased him i but chiefly they are the holy Scriptures k and the ministery of men appointed to speak in his name l Q. What is the teaching of the holy Spirit A. It is that inward work of the holy Ghost upon the soule whereby the outward teaching is made efficacious and powerfull for opening the understanding and humbling the heart to embrace the truth and will of God Iohn 16. 13. 14. 26. 1 Iohn 2. 27 Q. When hath Christ performed his office and function of a Prophet unto his people A. Both when he was upon earth in his own person m and also in all times and ages of the Church both afore his incarnation n and since his Assention into heaven o Q. How much of the will of God doth this Prophet make known unto his people A. All that is requisite for our Salvation Iohn 15 15. 4. 25. 16. 13. Deut. 18. 18. Q. What then is to be thought of all Doctrines Traditions Revelations and Ordinances which he hath not appointed A. They are all to be rejected and accursed p as being injurious to the perfection and fulnesse of the Propheticall office of Christ CHAP. 17. Of the Priesthood of Christ Q. IS Christ also a Priest A. Yes and is frequently so called Psal. 110. 4. Heb. 2. 17. 3. 1. 4. 14 15. 5. 5 6 10. 8. 1. 9. 11. Q Was he a Priest after the order of Aaron A. No but after the order of Melchizedek Psa. 110. 4 Heb. 7. 11 21. Q. How may that appeare A. Aaron was of the Tribe of Levi but Christ was of the Tribe of Iudah a and whereas Aaron had father and mother Christ as he was man was without a father and as God without mother b Q. How else A. Aaron and his successors being sinners had need to offer sacrifice first for their owne sinnes and then for the peoples but Christ being altogether without sinne did offer sacrifice onely for the people Heb. 5. 3. 9. 7. 7. 26 27. Q. Is there not some difference between the Priesthood of Aaron and Christs Priesthood in respect of the manner of entrance in the same and continuance therein A. Yes for Aaron and his successors were ordained without an oath but Christ with an oath c And whereas the Priests of the law died and had successors Christ hath an unchangeable Priesthood continuing Priest for ever d Q. How doe these priesthoods differ in respect of the sacrifices offered thereby A. The one offered the bodyes and blood of beasts but Christ offered up himselfe and so was both Priest and Sacrifice Heb. 9. 12 14 26. Q. Is there not some difference in regard of the number of their Sacrifices A. The Sacrifices of the Law were many because of their imperfections but Christ hath offered up himselfe once for all Heb. 7. 27. 9. 25 26. 10. 12 14. Q. What are the workes performed by him as a Priest A. Oblation or offering a Sacrifice e and making request or intercession for his people f Q. What was the Sacrifice which he offered A. Himself as he is man g his humane soule h and body i Q. VVhat kind of Sacrifice was this A. It was bloody or by blood k it was spotlesse l and perfect m and most pleasing unto God n Q. VVhat Altar did he offer this Sacrifice upon A. The Altar must need be heavenly as the Priest and Sacrifice were and the use of an Altar being to sanctifie the gift and therefore greater then it w and therefore it was not the crosse of wood but the Godhead of Christ which was the Altar on which he sacrificed himselfe x Q. Whether is Christ the only Priest unto God in these daies or are there not others who are Priests also A. All Christians are called Priests to offer up unto God the spirituall Sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving and the like y but to be a Priest to offer up a Sacrifice propitiatory is proper and peculiar unto Christ onely z Q. What acts doth Christ perform in making intercession for his people A. He appeares in the presence of God for them a presenting before God the vertue and value of his death and bloodshedding b with some expression of his will before God for their good c Q. In what manner doth he make this intercession A. Not with teares and words and prostrating of his body as he did on earth but in such a manner as is suitable to his state of glory Q. What are the benefits of this intercession of Christ A. Forgivenesse of sinnes daily continued and applied d with continuance in Gods favour e and acceptance of our imperfect services f Q. What are the benefits of this intercession A. Hereby believers are defended and secured against the accusations of all their enemies g with certainty of salvation in Heaven h CHAP. 18. Of the Kingly office of Christ Q. HAth Christ also the office of a King A. Yes for he is often expresly so called a and hath the ornaments of a King Q. What are those ornaments A. To sit upon a Throne b to weare a Crown upon his head c and to have a Scepter in his hand d Q. How is he King of his people as God onely or as man also A. Not as God onely but as Mediator God and man in one person Q. How is that proved A. Because he that was born and given to us hath the government upon his shoulders e and he that was crucisied is made Lord and Christ f now to be born and given and crucified cannot be said of God onely Q. How else may it appeare that Christ is King not as God onely but as man also A. Because the time will come when he shall deliver up the Kingdome to the father g but as God he shall reign with the father unto all eternity Q. Is any work of Christ as King anywhere expresly ascribed unto him as man A. Yea authority to execute judgement as a Kingly work and this belongeth unto Christ as man Iohn 5. 27. Q. Over whom

to grow unto more communion with his n body and blood and spirituall strength of grace thereby Q. Who ought to receive the Lords Supper A. Such members of the Church as are endewed with knowledge o spirituall affections p faith q repentance r love s and thankfulnesse t CHAP. 27. Of prayer and some other means of increasing faith Q. WHat is the generall nature of prayer A. Not onely a wish or desire after this or that for a man may have so much and never pray Iam. 4. 2. Q. VVhat is it then A. Prayer is an opening of the desire of the heart before God a whether it be by ffighes and groanes b or by words c and other means d Q To whom must we pray A. To him that knoweth the heart e and is almighty and so able to help f to him that is to be worshipped g and believed in h which is none but God Q. Whether must we pray to God directly and immediately or through a Mediator A. Onely through the mediation of Jesus Christ Iohn 146. 16. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 7. 25. Q. What are the parts of prayer A. Petition and Thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. 1 Thess. 5. 17 11. Q. What is Petition A. A prayer wherein we aske the preventing or removing of things hurtfull and the bestowing of things needfull Mat 7. 7 8 9 10. Q What is Thanksgiving A. A prayer wherein we desire that honour and glory may be given to God for what we have received i or do believe we shall receive hereafter k Q. Whether is not confession of our sinnes and miseries and vows and promises unto God parts of prayer A. They may be called adjuncts of prayer because they are to be expressed or understood in every prayer Q. How may that appeare A. By this because to come to God for mercy without an acknowledgement of our unworthinesse and misery and to desire him to perform what he requires of us is little better then a mocking of God Q. Are there any for whom we must not pray A. Yes we must not pray for the dead because we cannot do it of faith as having neither precept nor example nor any good warrant for it in the world Rom. 14. 23. Q. VVhy else may we not pray for the dead A. Because such prayers cannot availe at all but are altogether vain 1 Pet. 3. 19. Heb. 9. 27. Q. For whom else must we not pray A. We must not pray for the salvation of all men living universally for that is contrary to the revealed will of God l nor for any in particular that have sinned the sinne against the Holy Ghost m Q. For whom then must we pray A. For all other sorts of men now living n both our selves and others o whether they be friends or enemies p and for some that shall live hereafter q Q. Is there any rule of direction according to which we ought to frame our prayers A. Yes the whole will of God revealed for this purpose in the word r and that pattern of prayer given by Christ unto his Disciples s Q. Seeing God knoweth all our wants afore we pray and hath determined with himselfe what he will doe for us wherefore then should we pray A. Not to inform him as if he were ignorant of our estates for he understandeth our thoughts afarre off t nor to change his minde for his purpose is unchangeable u Q. Why then A. We are therefore to pray because God hath appointed prayer to be the way and means w whereby he will accomplish that which he hath purposed to doe for us Q. How must we pray that we may be accepted A. The persons praying must be righteous x humble y and upright z and the matter of prayer must be something lawfull and promised a Q. And what must be the manner of praying and the end aymed at therein A. The manner must be in sense and feeling of our wants b with faith c fervency d and perseverance e and the end must not be that we may consume it upon our lusts but for the glory of God f Q. What other means are there for the increasing of faith A. Diligent reading of the holy Scriptures g and serious meditation therein h with frequent and holy conference with others i CHAP. 28. Of the Church Catholike or Mysticall and the Difference between it and particular instituted Churches Q. WHo is the subject of Redemption or of all that deliverance obtained by Christ A. Not the blessed Angels because having never fallen they needed no Redeemer nor all the race of mankind for Christ would not pray for the world Iohn 17. 9. Q. Who then were redeemed by Christ A. He gave himselfe for none others but only for his Church Eph. 5. 25. Acts 20. 28. Iohn 10. 15. 11. 52. Q. What is meant by the Church in the holy Scriptures A. It is usually taken in Scripture either for the Catholique Church a which is called the Church mysticall or else it is taken for the Church instituted or particular Churches b Q. What is the difference between the catholike universall and mysticall Church and the instituted or particular churches A. They differ in their number for the catholike Church is but one Church one body c but of the other sort in the dayes of the new Testament there are many Churches d Q Wherein do they differ in respect of the matter A. The Catholike Church hath none in it but Saints and all true beleevers are in it e but particular Churches have some times many wolves within f and many sheepe without g though it ought not so to be Eph. 5. 23 25 26 27. Heb. 12. 23. Q. What is a third defference betweene them A. The forme which constitutes the Catholike Church is their union which Christ by faith h but the forme of the other is the bond of an holy covenant i to walk together in all the waies of Christ Q. Is there not some difference between them in regard of place A. Yes for some parts and members of the Catholike Church are now in heaven and the rest shall all come thither in Gods appointed time k but the members of particular or instituted Churches are all of them upon the earth for the present and some of them must never come in heaven l Q. What may be a fifth difference A. Whereas particular churches are visible to themselves and others also especially in times of peare m the Catholike church is properly a Church invisible Q How is that proved that the Catholike Church is invisible A. Because some parts thereof are now in heaven and those that are on earth never were nor will be all together that they might be seen Q. What may be a further