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
A94757	A helpe to Christian fellowship: or, A discourse tending to the advancement and spirituall improvement of holy societie. Wherein the practise of it is commended, 1. In the communicating or imparting of their gifts and graces. 2. In their walking together in the ordinances of Christ. 3. In a mutuall serviceablenesse to one another. The particular graces necessary to the qualifying of Christians for it, are propounded. And an invitation unto it is urged by some motives from the benefit and pleasantnesse thereof. Applied to these times for the strengthening of mens hands in the happy work of reformation. By Samuel Torshell. Imprimatur, Charles Herle.	Torshell, Samuel, 1604-1650.	1644 (1644)	Wing T1937; Thomason E37_8; ESTC R11602	27,805	36

accountable unto God how we have layd out our knowledge our utterance our spirit of prayer our ability of discerning our experiences of God our tast of the promises our enlargements after prayer our improvement by conserence our comforts after private humiliation our strengthning by the Sacraments or what else might be instanced in for use of others How we got rid of such a lust how we mastered another temptation how we attained to such a facility in this or that duty There must be this commerce among them that are in this heavenly partnership Ephes 4.16 In this body fitly joyned and compacted every joynt must supply and there must be an effectuall working in the measure of every part to the encrease of the body According to this rule ver 29. the Apostle speaking in the same chapter of discourse and conserence admonishes the Ephesians not to suffer any corrupt communication to proceed out of their mouthes but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers We must lay out our gift of discourse or any other gift profitably with respect unto the wellfare of the whole CHAP. IV. Another exercise of Christian fellowship Walking together in the ordinances of Christ AS this fellowship is exercised in the commerce of gifts so there must be 2. Mutuall walking in the ordinances of Christ Mich. 4 5. A mutuall walking and holding hands in the ordinances of Christ There ought to be a joynt assistance for the confirming of one another in such a resolution as this to be taken up All people will walke every one in the name of this god and we will walke in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever For this I presuppose as a thing granted by all such whom the Lord avoucheth to be his peculiar people Deut. 26.17 18. that it lyes upon them to avouch the Lord to be their God and to walke in his wayes and to keep his statutes and his Commandements and his judgements and to hearken to his voice This is our covenant with God who hath entred into covenant with us which covenant we are unfaithfull in through the neglect of that help we might have from one another by mutuall watching remembrancing and exhortation I remember what a faithfull and experienced Divine Rich. Rogers 7. Treat hath related of the practise of some private men but able and godly professors who in the sense of their unanswerablenesse to the meanes made a covenant among themselves of watching over one another for their better walking together with God This is no novelpractise for besides the many presidents of the Antients this was not of yesterday for it was well neare threescore yeares since in the yeare 1588 if I remember right for I have not the Booke by me but the reader may there see the heads the rules and the forme of their agreement But to pursue the point in hand There may be a fellowship 1. In the hearing of the word quickning one another unto it helping the negligent to apply it taking forth the severall portions belonging to the different conditions and necessities of each praying for one another that it may be usefull and seasonable 2. In prayer for and with each other The Athenians sacrificed for none but themselves and their neighbours of Chios but Christians know a greater latitude of relations and doe also well know the great-benefit of putting their stock together See how St Paul speakes Eph. 6.18 19. Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints and for me And it seemes he had communicated his condition and present case unto them by Tychicus that he was in expectation to come before some great Tribunall in the cause of the Gospell In those times it appeares they used to transact one anothers affaires in the Court of heaven by prayer But there is one particular instance that I will not omit That fallings out and differences and jarrings may be healed by prayer which it may be is the meaning of that place in James Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another Jam. 5.16 that ye may be healed Let not the heart rankle when it is wounded by an offence but meet together and humbly acknowledge where the fault lyes and make up the matter before God as a witnesse of your mutuall sincerenesse and only able to search the bottome of the wound and to cure it I have knowne some blessed experiments of this and can tell when a probatum est was written upon it 3. Ezra 8.23 Esth 4.16 In fasting for the afflicting and humbling of the soul 60 Ezra and his men and Esther and her maids maintain'd communion together I have knowne some that for many yeares have strictly and duely obferved this course to the wonderfull improvement of their gifts and of their acquaintance with God Such fasting dayes Mar. 9.29 are soul-feeding dayes and soul-curing dayes Some diseases some lusts will go out no other way 4. In mutuall bemoanings confessions and openings of our sores and our wounds It may be when the Apostle saith Confesse your faults one to another Jam. 5.16 he meanes more then the acknowledgement of offences whereby a man hath sinned against his brother though that be a necessary and most usefull part of this fellowship and without which the heart will rankle and the sinne will remaine upon it unpardoned but also that Christians should bewaile their failings infirmities deadnesse unsavourinesse coldnesse narrownesse unfruit fulnesse or what ever the maladie be to one another to see whether others have been in the same case and what course they tooke and what remedy they procured Many perish through too much modesty and reservednesse 5. In the Sacraments joying in one another beholding their order and stedfastnesse of faith in Christ rejoycing together in the love of God feeding at the same table as those that shall meet and sit downe with Christ for ever in his Fathers house taking occasion to renew the covenant of love among themselves and laying down all grudges rancor prejudice uncharitable surmises c. for Christs sake and giving the right hand of fellowship cordially and unfainedly as those that find themselves to be all retainers to the same Master provided for with the same care purchased by the price of the same blood 6. Lastly to name no more though other particulars might be instanced In holy conference This this indeed is it that might much improve the meeting of Christians to whet upon one another the knowledge of the holy Scriptures to obferve among themselves and speake of the remarkeable passages of providence the great and holy wayes of God the things that he doth gloriously in their eyes In the Prophets time when proud scorners and profane spirited men talkt vainely and did even what they list then they that feared the

Father and with Christ of the multitude of them that believe of the household of faith or according to the tearmes of the description such as are joyned together in heart mind and affection being made one with Christ are at an agreement among themselves being borne of the same immortall seed nourished by the same breasts called by the same word gladly receiving it and continuing stedfastly in it interessed in the like pretious faith and ruled and guided by the same Spirit These are the subject of this fellowship none else are truely capable of it Profane spirited men no nor hypocrites neither though they croud in sometimes and take up roome cannot may not be acquainted with these joyes Such Canaanites are Merchants of this world they have nothing to doe in the house of the Lord of Hosts Zach. 14 2● Isa 26.2 Isa 35.8 These gates are to be open only to the righteous nation which keepeth the truth that they may enter in for this way is called the way of holinesse the uncleane shall not passe over it No bastard no Gibeonite no stranger no blemisht one is capable of entrance into this sacred Temple of believing fellowship None but sonnes and daughters of the Almighty citizens of the new Hierusalem free denizons of the glorious corporation of Believers are the right subject for such only have the spirit of Communion which unites the members of the Church as the Phylosophers say There is a soul of the world which holds together the parts of it The same spirit the same faith the same heart mind and affections are the sinewes muscles and ligaments which keep this body from loosening and falling asunder I commended the Primitive times and they had this spirit of communion the hundred and twenty that were at Hierusalem Acts 1.14 continued with one accord in prayer and supplication And I commended St Pauls longing after such society and he had the spirit of communion Who is weake saith he 2 Cor. 11.29 and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not And this mind he would have to be in all Christians Rom. 12. Rejoyce with them that doe rejoyce and weep with them that weep be of the same mind one toward another CHAP. III. The other part of the Description The exercising of Christian fellowship The mutuall exchange of gifts and graces MEN being thus qualified for fellowship The exercise of it The exercising of it is in these three things 1. A mutuall exchange and imparting of gifts and graces 2. A mutuall walking and holding hands in the Ordinances of Christ 3. A mutuall serviceablenesse to the bodies and foules of one another 1. A mutuall exchange of gifts and graces In the exercise of holy fellowship there must be a mutuall exchange and imparting of gifts and graces God hath dispensed variety of gifts unto his people all are not qualified alike There are some eminent graces that make the countenances of some Saints to shine Iob 1.8 Job was exemplary for singlenesse and plainenesse of heart Numb 12.3 2 King 22.19.23 25. Phil. 2.20 Moses for faithfullnesse and meeknesse Josiah for tendernesse and a melting spirit and for activity in the cause of Reformation Timothy for ministeriall diligence and a naturall care of the state of the flock Athanasius was prudent and active Cyprian zealous and vigilant Basil heavenly and of a faire sweet spirit Chrysostom laborious and without affectation Ambros resolved and grave c. The gift of Christ is grace according to measure He measures to such a one such gifts to another such to a third such and such as he pleaseth This I take to be the meaning of the Apostle Ephes 4.7 when he saith Vnto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ God gave the Spirit without measure unto Christ Joh. 3.34 considered in his humane nature when he was sent forth as himselfe speakes But we have it according to our scantling 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. and as he pleaseth to honor and entrust us To one is given the word of wisedom to another the word of knowledge to another faith to another prophecie to another the discerning of spirits to another divers kinds of tongues 1 Cor. 1.7 c. Thus every man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner and another after that One hath quicknesse of parts but not so solid a judgement another is solid but not ready and presentiall one hath a good wit another a good memory a third good utterance One is zealous but ungrounded another well principled but timerous one is wary and prudent another open and plain hearted one is trembling and melting another is chearefull and full of joyes God is a free giver and a most wise disposer that we may be ingaged to use his bounty to each others help The knowing Christian is to impart unto him that is weake in gifts and the other that it may be hath fewer notions but more warmth and fuller of love to those truths that he knowes 1 Cor. 12.21 is to impart of his heate to his knowing friend for the eye the knowing man cannot say to the hand the active man in Gods cause I have no need of thee The members must have care one of another the knowing men of the ignorant ver 25. yea the knowing men are to care for one another not envying the communicating of their notions for some truths may be more cleared and revealed to one then to another who is otherwise every way his equall in habituall knowledge The Christian that hath collected experiences or found out methods for the advancement of holinesse must not deny such knowledge to the body We must like it well that others may thrive as well as we God makes no Patentees nor will he endure any Monopolies Christians must drive an open and free trade They must teach one another the mysterie He that growes rich in notions or in graces must let others know the thriving way Tell your experiences and tell your conflicts and tell your comforts Make all that thou hast the bodies and all that the body hath thine Some say the Art of Medicine was thus perfected as any one met with an herbe and discovered the virtue of it by any accident he would post it up in some publike place and if any were sick or diseased he was laid in some beaten passage that every one might communicate the best receipt and so the Physitians skill was perfected by a collection of those posted experiments and receipts Of all things take heed of the napkin wrap not up the talent thorough envy for then thou art not fit for our great masters family 1 Pet. 4.10 But as every one hath received the gift even so must we minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God We are stewards for the use of our brethren and are

as that they might share among themselves the gaines and profits arising out of blind and seduced people In all ages The usefulnesse of it men have understood the usefulnesse of these Combinations which I take to be the meaning of that observation of the antient Sages Vnus bomo nullus homo omnes homines u num hominem const ituunt Rom. 12 5. 1 Cor. 12 12 13 14. That one man is no man and That all men make up but one man Which agreeth with that of the Apostle We being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another And with that which he speaketh more expresly in another place As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ for by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body and have been all made to drinke into one Spirit for the body is not one member but many He doth not say All the members are of one body but more significantly and fully to our purpose that they are one body And such a body Believers not only are by union with Christ but also ought to be by communion and fellowship with Christ The Antiquity of it and with one another Which fellowship the primitive Christians did excellently maintaine Concerning which St Luke gives a cleare testimony That such who gladly received the word and being baptised were added to the Church Continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine Acts 2.41 and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers For so I reade the words not as the Syriac Ambrose and the vulgar Latine render them That they continued in the Apostles doctrine and in the communion of breaking bread but as the parts are distinct in the Greeke Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They continued with much patience resolution and care and with much fervor and courage 1. In the Apostles doctrine in the profession of that faith which they had received from the preaching and ministery of the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. And in fellowship being all begorten by the same word and kept together by the power of it closing with it and finding the sweetnesse and use of it walking by it 3. And in the breaking of bread keeping up the constant and daily use of that ordinance which Christ had made for a memoriall of himself till his comming again 4. And in prayer weekly daily solemnly occasionally meeting together before God with their supplications This was the conversation of beleevers at Hierusalem they sweetly conversed together chearfully and friendly entertained one another and walked fruitfully in all the ordinances of Christ Neither was the conversation of other Churches unlike to theirs for to instance this point in the beleevers of Thessalanica it seems they preserved so sweet and so holy a correspondency that as touching brotherly love St Paul saith he need not write unto them 1 Thes 4.9 Oh that among the Christians of this age there were no need to write of this thing but now when the path which the old believers trod is so over-grown that the track and print of their footsteps is almost worne out Now when scarce a shadow of Communion is left among professors it is needfull to write of such a subject This then is the point which I would a little pursue That Believers as they have so they ought to have followship one with another CHAP. II. The main point confirmed The Relations of Believers The Description of Holy fellowship The Subject of it THat Believers ought to have fellowship one with another The Relations of Believers Exod. 26.3 6. Ephes 2.21 22. hath a full proofe thorough the Scripture Such are the Curtaines of the Tabernacle that must be coupled together They are the costly stones of the Temple which must hold up one another as in an arched building fitly framed together Gal. 6.10 Ephes 4.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 2.11 They are the holy Hicrusalem a City compact together Or if we respect closer expressions They are all of a family The Household of faith They are all of a body A body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth They are all of a blood and kindred Bretheren and sisters for Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren It was a part and is a fruit of Christs prayer I pray for them which shall believe on me thorough the word Joh. 17.20 21 22. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they may be one even as we are one It was the delight and longing of such as had the Spirit of Christ St Paul professeth so much to the Romanes Rom. 1.11 2 I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spirituall gift to the end you may be established and I may be comforted together with you by the mutuall faith both of you and me And why else was it that he so abundantly indeavoured to see the faces of the Thessalonians 1 Thes 2.17 19. with so great desire but that he might joy and rejoyce in them and with them as his crowne in the fruit of his ministery In a word let me name those arguments Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. which the Apostle hath laid up in one heape There is one body and one spirit and one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of all All having a joynt influence upon our indeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace I will not insist farther upon the proofe the point being practicall and undeniable it will be rather necessary to cleare and open what this fellowship is and what is requisite unto it I speake not here of the fellowship which we have with the Father 1 Joh. 1.3 and with his sonne Jesais Christ Nor of that communion which is had with the Spirit of the Father But of the fellowship which Believers ought to have among themselves And of this also in a generall consideration only not applying it to the controversie now under debate about the fellowship of Churches nor limiting it to that Communion and Relation between Pastors and their Congregations But intending to open what that trade of commerce is which Christians of all sorts and conditions ought to maintain and drive Give me leave therefore The D●scription of Christian tellowship according to the Notion in which I use it to propound this Description That The fellowship of Believers is a mutuall serviceablenesse and an exchanging of the gifts and graces of such as are joyned together in heart mind and affection holding hands and walking together in the ordinances of Christ I consider in this description the Subject of this fellowship and the exercising of it The Subject of it 1. The Subject of it Such as are of the body of Christ one with the

1 Pet. 3 7. Let them consider they are in a state that shadoweth out the mysticall and heavenly communion betwixt Christ and his Church Ephes 5. Let them worship God together help one another forward toward Heaven pray together be acquainted with one anothers bosomes and spirituall estates submit to each others advice yet let Manoah not disdain the words of his wife if she have made a better observation of God in his proceedings and the course of his providence Jud. 13.23 But chiefely let not Job omit to reprove his wife Job 2. if she speake like one of the foolish women Here widowes may recover and make up abundantly all the comfort and much more then they lost in their husbands caring for the things of the Lord being holy both in body and in spirit Here brothers and sisters and kindred may find themselves by the same name in an other and better relation 1 Cor. 7.12 Phile. v. 16. Here servants also are in some sense made the Lords freemen being not as servants but above servants as brethren beloved as St Paul would have Philemon to account Onesimus who was converted to the faith I cannot but mention it unto the honour of that famous man Mr Bruen of Stapleford who to use the phrase of Scripture had a Church in his house what respect he gave even to his servants that feared God counting and calling them brethren praying often with them and they also with him Here also friends acquainrance neighbours partners fellow-collegiates brothers of companies and in a word all that in any respect doe relate unto one another may have place and an occasion of a more close and holy correspondency But what shall I say how shall I invite men into this society If there were no other motives the very condition of the present times might be one How doe the times rage against all that are godly Lyons and wolves and Tygers and Foxes doe affociate themselves and are assembled into bodies into Armies Papists Prelaticall spirits Atheists profane scoffers rusting Cavaliers bloudy Inish are in bands together and in an agreement to roote out if not the name of protestancie yet the power of godlinesse Let even this make them that feare the Lord meet keepe pray and humble themselves together But we have also other motives 1. Tentations best resisted by fellowship We have other enemies besides evill men namely spirituall wickednesses whose temptations we shall be the better inabled to resist when our forces are united In respect of this order the Church is said to be Cant. 6.10 Terrible as an Army with banners Straglers and those that goe alone are often snatcht up They were scattered saith the Prophet Eze. 34.6 and they became meate to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered How easie is it to pervert one to Popery Familisme or any other dangerous error who neglects the benefit of others help But the knowing head and the honest heart may agree in this way to succour one another when tempted and assayled 2 Sam. 10.11 As Joab said to Abishai If the Syrians be too strong for me then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee then I will come and help thee So if pride be too strong for the knowing head let the plain heart admonish him and if the cunning seducer be too strong for the honest heart let the knowing head clearely informe him So shall there be a sufficient defence against the temptations both of lusts and errors 2. Hereby and in this way God shall be the better served God better served in fellowship Zeph. 3.9 Jer. 32.39 when a people of a pure language doe all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent or with one shoulder Therefore God hath covenanted to give his people one heart and one way that they may feare him And as if God could not be glorified where there is not an agreement among them that worship he thus prayes for the Romanes The God of patience and consolation Rom. 15.5 6. grant you to be like minded towards one another that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. The Saints are hereby mutually benefited Saints much benefited in fellowship Pro. 27.17 Iron sharpeneth iron so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend It may be Salomon meant it of angry words and passionate speeches but we may apply the phrases and language of the Aphorisme to a mutuall whetting of parts stirring up of gifts and enkindling of graces For in society all doe enjoy the good of all the foot hath the eyes light and the eye hath the service of the foot to walke Two are better then one because they have a good reward Eccl. 4.9 10 11 12. that is good fruit of their labour for if they fall the one will lift up his fellow Such as are spirituall will restore them that are fallen in the spirit of meeknesse But woe to him that is alone when he falleth either into temptation or after it into a desertion for he hath not another to help him up Again if two lye together then they have heate Did not Christ warme those in whose company he went towards Emaus But how can one be warme alone We grow cold and dull under the best helpes But how did Joash goe back from all his shewes and forwardnesse when Jehojada was dead We have yet one other instance in that place of Salomon If one prevaile against him saith he two shall with stand him and a three fold cord is not quickly broken A proverbiall speech usually applied in the commendation of society Moses Aaron and Hur made up together such a threefold cord Ex. 17 1● which was not easily broken thorough faintnesse and wearinesse in prayer The story is this when Israel fought against Amalek while Joshua with the Army were below in the battell Moses Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill where Moses was to hold up the rod of God as a signall and to pray At length when through continuance all day Moses fainted Aaron and Hur helped to sustain him and hold up his hands not only to hold forth the rod but in all probability joining with him in prayer assisting his fervency and as it is likely now and then suggesting matter of prayer and arguments So that with their help he continued all the day till the going down of the Sunne holding up the rod in the sight of the Army and lifting up his hands in prayer till Amalck was quite discomfited And into such a threefold cord Daniel also twisted himself in prayer for when by the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar all the wise-men or Chaldeans about the Court were to be put to death because they could not tell to the King his dreame and the meaning of it Daniel being educated in one