Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	pray_v	spirit_n	supplication_n	6,826	5	11.2274	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51669	The spiritual vvorship exalted. Or A treatise concerning the worship and service of God shewing how uncapable men are in their natural and unconverted state of worshipping and serving God acceptably in this Gospel day. And that it is the light, grace and spirit of Christ revealed in men, which doth renew, fit, prepare and [q]ualifie them for performing that pure spiritual and acceptable worship which was instituted by our Lord, and practiced by his disciples and followers. As also several other things here inserted, worthy of observation. By a lover of truth, and wel-wisher of the souls of all men, George Myers.	Myers, George, 1653?-1714.	1687 (1687)	Wing M3174; ESTC R213894	43,291	111

Elders says unto them Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords ever Gods Heritage but being ensamples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. By all which recited Passages it is plainly manifest that the Apostles had a great eate not to be burdensome to any and that the Gospel of Christ might be preserved without Charge they were so far from compelling or forcing a Maintenance from such as did not own nor receive them that they forbore to make use of that Power which Christ allowed them even among such as did receive them It seems the Apostle Paul wrought with his Hands when he had an oportunity and exhorted the Brethren to be followers of him and mark them that walk so as they had them for an ensample Phil. 3.17 and there is small question but the rest of the Apostles were like-minded with him We see that Peter is so far from allowing the Elders to act by Constraint or to insist upon great Wages and Revenues for their Service that he quite opposes it in these words Not by Constraint not for filthy Lucre observe the Epithite that he bestowes upon Lucre nothing less then Filthy It seems he look't upon it as a filthy thing for such as were to Feed and Nourish the Flock of God and to take the oversight thereof that their Hearts and Minds should be so bent upon worldly Preferments and exercised in covetous Practices as to do what they did for filthy Lucre sake therefore he doth with much sharpness enlarge upon that matter in his second Chapter of his second Epistle as may be there seen at large Thus as it was the way of the Ministers and Servants of Christ in the primitive times to act according to the Precepts and Directions of our blessed Lord and to advise and exhort others thereunto and also to bear ' Testimony against such as tranfgress upon these accounts so also it highly concerns all those who pretend to be Ministers of Christ in this our day to search and try their ways and in the Light of Christ seriously to weigh and examine the matter whether they be truly called qualified and acted by the Spirit of Christ yea or nay if they be no question but they will manifest the same in Humility Meekness Self-denial Christian-forbearance Charity and Doctrine as also in acting according to the Directions of Christ and Practice of his People But on the contrary if any under that pretence be found in a Proud Lordly Covetous and Persecuting Spirit walking in the steps of those whom the true Prophets and Servants of Christ have always testified against it greatly behoves all People to beware of them according to the directions of our blessed Lord Mat. 7.15 16. Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing but inwardly they are ●●●●ning Wolves ye shall know them by their ●●uits Forasmuch as they have a shew of Christianity and so thereby are clothed with Sheeps clothing but being inwardly departed from the pure holy meek and peaceable Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ they endeavour to Persecute Tear and Devour them that are not willing to Feed and Relieve them and so therein they are ravening Wolves I do not hereby place any particular charge upon any but leave every one to see and know by their Fruits desiring that all those who are under those Circumstances and Qualities may come to Repentance and amendment of Life whilst the day of their Visitation lasteth otherwise all their pretences to Christianity or the ministerial Function will not rescue them in that day when the Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth doth recompence every one according to their Deeds Section XI Concerning PRAYER THat now which yet further remains to be considered is those other Duties and Services which are to be done and performed by true Believers either in private or in their publick Assemblies and upon this account shall mention that of Prayer which is very necessary for the People of God to be found in the practice of being a duty incumbent upon us and frequently commanded and exhorted unto in the holy Scriptures and as it is necessary for all those who are concerned in the Church of Christ in publick Testimonies and Declarations to be supplied and assisted in those Services by the Grace and Spirit of Christ even so also it is by the help and influence of the same Spirit that the People of God are enabled to pray acceptably unto him and without the help thereof in some degree or other true Prayer cannot be performed That the Spirit of Christ is absolutely necessary upon this account is clear even from the words of Christ Without me ye can do nothing Also the Apostle Paul saith The Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what me should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Sighs Groans that cannot be uttered and he that searcheth the Hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because be maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8.26 27. Again Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and Supplication for all Saints Ephes 6.18 And also in his Epistle to the Corinthians I will pray with the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 From whence several things are observable First That Gods People can do nothing that 's acceptable unto him without Christ and the help of his Spirit Secondly That of themselves they know not what to pray for as they ought Thirdly That it is the Spirit which helpeth such Infirmities and maketh Intercession unto God for his People Fourthly The way and manner of the Spirits Intercession with Sighs and Groans that cannot be uttered Fifthly That God graciously receives the Prayers of such as are offered and presented unto him by the Spirit forasmuch as Intercession is thereby made for them according to the will of God. Sixthly The Apostle being sensible of the acceptance and prevalency of such Prayers doth exhort the Ephesians to pray always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and to watch thereunto withall Perseverance Seventhly He gives an account how he himself will pray saying I will pray with the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding also Thus then as the Prayers of such who wait for and receive Divine Assistance do obtain Divine Acceptance so on the contrary the Prayers of wicked and ungodly men who receive not nor expect any such spiritual help but are acted by the Spirit of Error and Vanity can no way be acceptable unto God nor beneficial to themselves The Scriptures do afford us divers Testimonies to this purpose David says If I regard Iniquity in my Heart the Lord will not hear me Psal 66.18 Solomon says The Sacrifice of the Wicked

as no question but there is those Prayers and Devotions which are thus begun carried on and concluded in mans own natural Will Strength and Wisdom without the help and influence of the Grace and Spirit of Christ are of that number Object It s probable some may alledge That our Lord taught his Disciples to Pray and gave them a Form of Prayer Answ In answer whereunto I say That although he did so yet they were in some sort Disciples before he taught them not worldly men and his teaching them at that time is not an argument that every one in their own will and time can say that Prayer acceptably but we may rather infer from thence That as they then were not to pray as the Hypocrites and Heathen did but according as he taught them being then outwardly present with them even so his People are not to pray now as the Hypocrites and Heathen do but according as he teaches them being spiritually presents with them yet nevertheless that Prayer which he taught them as it was then so it is now very good and useful unto such as can express those Words there set forth in Truth and Righteousness Those who have received the adoption of Sons by vertue of the holy Spirit have right to call God Father and may say in Truth Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy Will be done 〈◊〉 Earth as it is in Heaven c. But on the contrary How can those who are Children of Wrath and subject to the power of Darkness truly call God Father How can they who are altogether unholy hallow the Name of God What will it avan such to tell of the coming of Gods Kingdom who daily rebel against that which would give an entrance thereunto How can those do the will of God in Earth who neither regard that which would enable them thereunto nor will believe that any such thing an be done Thus al tho wicke ungodly men may tell of Prayer yet in that state they are quite out of order and utterly uncapable of performing it acceptably until they have received the Spirit and have the help and influence thereof in some degree or other which thing yet leads me to this further observation If no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost as the Apostle positively affirms 1. Cor. 12.3 Then how can any truly call God Father but as they are in some measure acted by the Spirit of the Son. Howbeit I would have none to suspect that I do in the least intend hereby to discourage People in being diligent in Prayer and Supplication unto God Almighty but I would Caution and Exhort them in the Light of Christ to wait for the help and influence of his Grace and Spirit in such undertakings that so they may be enabled to perform those Duties acceptably before words be uttered unto the Lord let it first be considered how the Heart is prepared and from what root the words do proceed for it is not simply the words but the rise thereof that the Lord looks at in all our Services and Devotions before him And as those that fail in the Foundation do hazard the Superstructure even so where People fall wrong in the very ground of their Devotions their further proceedings therein will be in danger to prove Insignificant and Unsuccessful I do not say but that God who is rich in Mercy and waits to be gracious unto People doth and will pass by many Weaknesses and Imperfections upon these accounts yet none ought so to presume thereon as to make the particular acts of Gods Love and Condescension unto some and upon some accounts to be a general rule for all or to be an excuse or cover unto any for Disobedience and Rebellion it is certainly the duty of all to be diligent in Prayer and Supplication unto God and I cannot but exhort all People thereunto but then it does not follow that any shall attempt such performances or go about the same being unprepared by the Spirit of God for that thereby if they have been negligent in Prayer before they will be so far from mending the matter that they will incur a fresh censure therefore let it be the care of every one that goes about to perform the duty of Prayer to watch and wait upon God diligently for the help and concurrence of his blessed and holy Spirit in all such undertakings and also when they feel and witness themselves to be rightly disposed in Spirit for approaching before the Lord in Prayer and Supplication unto him let them consider themselves in his presence and be careful to appear in an humble and reverent posture of Body as well as Soul that is in a decent orderly and comely manner as much as well can be with bowed Knees Ephe. 3.12 1 Cor. 11.4 and men with uncovered Heads according to the Practice and Direction of the Apostle in those cases thereby shewing forth that holy Submission Reverence and Respect every way which we all owe to the Divine Majestly unto whom all Honour Glory and Praise is due world without end Section XII Concerning Singing of Pssalms and Artisscial Musick THe next thing to be considered is Singing of Pssalmes which is confest to be a part of Gods Worship and very acceptable as it proceeds from a true sence of God Love in the Heart and arises from the influence of the holy Spirit whereby the Lords People are led to breath forth unto God in a sweet and spiritual Harmony or in Words sutable to their present Condition but then on the contrary when vain minded People do go about to 〈◊〉 in their own will and time 〈◊〉 a for●al seigned and customary way 〈◊〉 having the knowledge of the motion and concurrence of the Divine Spirit and Word of Life in the Heart such Singing can no way be acceptable unto God nor beneficial unto those that use it for as it was in the case of Preaching and Praying so it is in this of Singing the holy Spirit is to be the chief and principal Author Mover and Actor in these respect Which thing will yet further appear if we consider the Words of the Apostle Paul upon this account Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing and making Melody unto the Lord Ephes 5. 18 19. And again Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Teaching and Admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord Col. 3.16 From whence it is manifest That those Songs and that Melody which the Saints and Children of God are to be sound in the practice of are to spring and arise from that which is pure and holy therefore it is to be observ'd that he tells them of being filled with the Spirit and of the Word of Christ dwelling richly

is abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 And again He that turneth his Ear from the Law even his Prayer shall be abomination Also the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah saith to the People of Israel that had forsaken the Lord and rebelled against his Spirit and so become a sinful Nation 〈◊〉 2 3.13 When ye spread forth your Hands I will hide mine Eyes from you yea when you make many Prayers I will not hear your Hands are full of Blood. Again we read John 9.31 We know that God heareth not Sinners but of any be a worshipper of God and doth his will him heareth And also 1. Pet. 3.12 The Eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous and his Ears are open to their Prayers but the Face of the Lord is against 〈◊〉 that do Evil. Thus it is plain that the Prayers and Sacrifices of Wicked and Sinful men have not been acceptable unto God which they remain'd in that state but rather an abomination unto him being not offered in sincerity of Heart nor under a right disposition of Soul and Spirit The Jews of old thought it sufficient for them if they did but pay their daily Sacrifices and offer their customary Oblations c. from thence concluding all was well but it prov'd not so for the Lord by the Prophet asks them To what purpose was the multitude of their Sacrifices and bids them bring no more vain Oblations Incense says he is an abomination unto me the new Moons and Sabbaths the calling of Assemblies is Iniquity even the solemn Meeting And again by the Prophet Amos he says Though you offer me Burnt Offerings and Meat Offerings I will not accept them neither will I regard the Peace Offerings of your fat Beasts And what was the reason of all this dislike Even because the People were Wicked and Sinful Therefore he says Wash ye make ye Clean put away the evil of your doings from before my Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless and plead for the Widow And then no question but they might be accepted As it was with the Jews in that state so its probable the case may be with many of those call'd Christians now who think is sufficient for them to be present at the reading over of Morning and Evening Prayers c. according to the common Form and Custom and yet do not rightly consider that their Hearts are polluted and deiled with Sin and Iniquity which no question will block up their way from Divine acceptance as well as it did unto Israel of old As for Sin it is a thing that cannot be Christen'd neither will the Righteous God own it in any let their pretence be what it will. It has always been the cause of mans Wo and Misery and of his Separation from God in all Ages and it s the same now where People remain in it and continue Impenitent and in Rebellion against the Reproofs and Counsel of the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves Your Iniquities saith the Prophet have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you that he will not hear Isa 59.2 They shall call upon me saith Wisdom but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1.28 It is not simply the calling upon God or making mention of his blessed Name that gains acceptance with him or draws down his blessings upon men but it is a calling upon him in Faith and in a rightly ordered and well-disposed Mind and Spirit For unto this m●n will I look saith the Lord even to him 〈◊〉 is Poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Isa 66.2 Again The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth he will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them the Lord preserveth all them that Love him but the Wicked will he Destroy Psal 145 18 19 20. Howbeit still although the Prayers of Wicked and Sinfull Men whilst they remain in Impenitency and Rebellion against God are not acceptable unto him yet nevertheless such as are polluted with Sin and Iniquity and do come to be secretly touch awaken'd by the Light and Spirit of Christ and are bowed down under the sence of their own Sinfulness unworthiness Misery Weakness for Inability such looking up to God and inwardly breathing forth secret Desires and Aspirations or uttering Words in Prayer and Supplication unto him for help and deliverance from under the bondage of Sin and Corruption the Lord God in his own due time will undoubtedly hear and answer the desires of such But still this does no way admit that wicked and ungodly men are capable of praying acceptably any otherwise then as they are toucht awakened and helpt by the Spirit of Christ and being truly bowed down under the sence of God goodness and their own unworthness are led to Repentance and so by the grace of God are drawn to supplicate his Name for Help and Deliverance We read that when the Apostle Peter exhorted Simon the Sorcerer unto Prayer h●● places Repentance before it saying Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee Acts 8.22 Again Repent ye therefore and be Converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19 From whence it is observable That as Repentance doth go before Prayer so also doth Repentance and Conversion go before blotting out of Sin. Now as to the Prayers of those who are high and lofty in Mind and Spirit and take delight in Sin and Ungodliness and to spend their precious time in Vanity Folly and Madness and also of those who may seem outwardly to be more demure yet spiritually rest in the gall of Bitterness against the Truth and in the bond of Iniquity there may seem to be little defference of their Devotions in the ground as to Divine acceptance so long as both sorts of People remain in Impenitency for the first can turn out of their vain Conversation or however suspend the outward act thereof for a little season and the other their worldly Discourse and so fall to repeat some few words of Prayer in a formal and customary way and immediately again even as soon as ever the words to God are out of their Mouths without any true regard to the Greatness and Majesty of him to whom they have even been making Supplication they 'l fall on again upon their former Discourse and many times as hath been observ'd upon Vain Idle and Prophane Talk so that without any distinction or waiting for divine help to perform their Duties to God they appear to be acted by one and the same Spirit upon both accounts Certainly If there be any such thing as vain Oblations and Prayers that God regardeth not