Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n
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B02851
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Characters in blood, or, A bleeding saviour, held out to a bleeding sinner. Wherein he may know whether he hath been called by, and followed after the leadings of the spirit. Being a draught of the spare-hours of a lover of the faithful. / by R. Dyer.
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1676
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Wing D2929A; ESTC R176041
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58,838
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the devil hath not forget his old trade of transforming himself into an Angel of light he can tell them 't is lawful to provide for their Family they are worse then Infidels that do not but this Nehemiah might have as many excuses as thee who ever thou art and yet Nehemiah would not leave the Lords work no he preferred the Lords work and esteemed it a great work this Christ would have all his children do Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness I and that 's the work that should be done in the first place before all other things try how 't is with thee if it be thus 't is a good sign thou art a child of God XXVI Hast thou in any measure overcome the World and dost thou seek the things above I put these together for they are of the same import 't is a sign thou art quickned with Christ if thou seek the things that are above and gett'st the world under thy feet this made Moses contenin the Treasures in Aegypt alas he valued it not Heb. 11.26 so John 1 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World and as they have overcome the World so they seek the things of another Paul would have the Corinthians live in the world like Men and Women of another World 1 Cor. 7.29 It remains that they that have Wives be as they that have none no why should they run away from them no that 's not the meaning but they should sit loose from them if God call for them be as willing to part from them in his fear without repining at Gods hand as if they had none at all And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it Note well the Apostle doth not say you shall have no Wives nor you shall not weep nor receive nor buy nor use this World no but take heed how you have and do things in the World as if the Apostle should say I would not have your hearts set on these things We should use the World to carry us to our Fathers House but we must take heed you rest not here Arise arise Man this world is not thy rest Get wings man and fly up live like men of another world in this world such a life as this did Paul live when he said Our conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Why Paul are not you among the Saints on earth among men on earth yes but converse in Heaven I trade about Heavenly things my thoughts Heavenly my affections Heavenly my conversation Heavenly my words they are Heavenly too they are such as are a Paradox to the Men of this world the men of the world speak of the world the world hear them but said the Apostle We are of God and they that know God hear us and they that are not of God heareth not us no poor Creatures they know not what we say 1 John 4.5 if you speak of God the world know not what you say these are out of their reach therefore Christ said to the poor blind Jews You do not understand my speech why because you cannot bear my Word in John 8.43 'T was a mistery that he speak to them therefore Paul saith 3 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned Talk to him of Meat and Drink and Sleep and ease and the pleasures and sports of this life and this he heareth and knoweth this is sensual not spiritual Jude 19. This his sence understandeth talk to him of a Kingdom that consisteth of Meat and Drink this he is willing shall be his Heaven but alas poor carnal man thou art mistaken The Kingdom of God consisteth not in Meats and Drink Rom. 14.17 But now soul hast thou overcome these sower things and is thy heart set on Heaven hast thou thy heart soaring aloft I am afraid the most professors of this age are great strangers to this and many other things that are the life of Christianity what ever specious pretences they may make yet their very practices speak it out to loud but if thou art one whose life is in Heaven then thou art one of wisdoms children For the way of life is above to the wise Prov. 15.22 XXVII Art thou a new creature then 't is a sign thou art in Christ Are all old things done away the old Companions the old lusts the old love of the folly of this world is turned into the love of Heavenly things 2 Cor. 5.17 It may be thou canst not shed tears so plentifully why man repentance doth not so much consist in that but is thy nature changed and dost thou abhor thy self as Job 42.6 Dost thou find in thee a hatred to thee way of wickedness that thou wast wont to love and a love to the things of God that of old thou wast wont to hate dost thou loath sin and loath thy self for sin 't is a good sign thou art in Christ it may be formerly thou wouldst not have this man to reign over thee but now give me Christ or else I dye formerly thou wer 't alive and active in sin But now thou art dead to sin and alive to God Rom. 6.11 Now you do not alow your selves willingly in any known sin Oh soul is well with thee thou art pure in heart though not perfect yet in part XXVIII Hast thou a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon thee when Paul was converted to Christ whom before he persecuted Ananias was bid to go and enquire for Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth why did he never pray before possible he might utter words before but he had not the Spirit of Prayer before there be many from the invention of memory or in a form seem to pray excellently that yet do not pray in the Holy Ghost Acts 9.11 And you know Jude speaks of praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost Men may as I said mumble over a form of words it may be I but a man cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost 't is the Spirit of God that will help souls to pray to confess sin and to plead promises the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groans that cannot be uttered he that hath the Spirit can come to God as a Friend and say Father I have need of such and such mercies I have need of strength against sin and such and such corruptions are like to overcome me he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God as Abraham was called the friend of God often times take one place for the rest that comes next to my hand 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God and say Lord such and such sins and corruptions are to hard for me
sin that grace may abouned But God makes the sins of his people serve to humble his people Oh saith the Church in Mic. 7.9 I will hear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Oh it makes a soul silent from complaining yea it humbles him and so it works for good to the Saint now soul is not this a comfort when all things shall work together for good to thee 4. Thou art honourable in the sight of God Isa 43.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight Precious by vertue of my Sons precious Blood and Covenant applyed by a precious Faith Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable A man in the sight of Men may be honoured I but he that is Christ's is honourable and precious Yea his very Blood shall be precious in Gods sight Psal 72.14 And is this no priviledge oh foul and doth it not comfort thee but I hasten to the next and as fast as I may towards a close of this 5. The things of this life are blessed to thee therefore David saith Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked The little the righteous man hath is as gold but what the wicked man hath is like dross what compare is there between gold and dross a little gold is much better then a great Mountain of Dross and Dung alas a wicked man when he is fullest is inneed he hath some little crevice that want's filling so Job saith Job 20.22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in strait's not only in his sufficiency but in the fulness of his sufficiency if a wicked man hath much substance yet there is a canker eat 's at the root and therefore as one observes a shilling will go as far with some as five will with some other but the righteous is blessed in this that his store is increased in the spending the little that the righteous man hath is like the handful of Meal in the Barrel and the Oyl in the Cruse that did increase in the pouring forth 1 Kings 17.12 Oh Sirs there is many a man that hath an estate and never enjoys it he knows not which way it goes but the little the Godly man hath increaseth and doth him good when he eat 's and drinks in the strength of his meat and drink like Eliah goes for many days and is not this a mercy but may some say you say that we have is blessed to us but we have but a very small pittance of these things below we are fed 't is true we cannot deny but 't is as we say but from hand to mouth to that let me add 6. The day is hastning that the righteous shall inherit the Earth Much Scripture looks this way I 'le onely hint a few Mark 10.30 Though a man loose all for Christ sake yet he shall receive an hundred fold I but when mark the next words Now in this time note that this time is meant the time of this life Matth. 5.5 The meek shall Inherit the Earth and if my Memory fail not no less then six times is the same thing hinted nay spoken plain in the 37. Psal how this shall be and when I shall not now stand to dispute but they shall enjoy peace in it and none shall vex and trouble them I 'le give you one Text not to trouble you with more Isa 32.17 18. The effect of righteousness shall be quietness and mark it this is meant of a time the Saints shall have here and if you observe it it is the time of Christ's Kingdom Verse 18. And my People shall dwell in a peaceable Habitation and in sure dwellings I but though your dwellings may be sure yet you may be disturbed no the next words saith in quiet resting places ah soul is not this comfort that thou shalt live in peace but I forbear any further proceeding on these things least they should not be born among the Godly themselves 't would be sad Sirs if any of you should fall short of this for want of faith in it but another priviledge is this 7. All your prayers shall be heard the wicked may pray as long as they live yea tell their hearts ake yet God will not hear them Esek 20.31 As I live saith the Lord I will not be enquired of by you you what you Verse 30. Them that have been polluted after the manner of your Fathers Hear this you that plead for the Whoredom of your Fathers which whoredom is meant Spiritual whoredom oh how many are there that go on in Idolatrons and in Ceremonious ways and can give no reason for so doing but because their Fore-fathers did so hearken what God saith to you that say thus did our Fathers and shall we be wiser then our Fathers God will not be enquired of by you or hear you when you pray to him for 't is all one but now Godly Mens prayers are heard I 'le give thee Scripture for on my word I desire to urge nothing on thee and if the Word speak it tremble man to doubt it or to contradict it Jer. 29.12.13 Then shall ye call upon me and pray to me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart Note that ye and you what you why you that are my people that are in Captivity Verse 14. Poor soul are you in Captivity and in Bondage and in a weary Land do Task-masters impose burdens upon you doth the scorching heat of affliction come upon you why the man Christ will be as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa 32.2 Nay doth the wrath of God begin to break out upon the world yet yet seek the Lord all ye meek of the Earth Why what if we do it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Zeph. 2.3 Is the Lords anger breaking in upon the Nation doth he begin to frown upon us with plagues why yet seek the Lord do others dye and go down to the grave apace why seek the Lord and ye shall live Amos 5.6 Wouldst thou have more comfort then this if thou wilt but seek him his ears are open to thy cry His ears are open to their prayers 1 Pet. 3.12 And are thy prayers heard and will not this comfort thee a while Stay but a little and he will give thee the desire of thy heart Psal 37.4 What 's that why that leads me by the hand to the top of all thy comfort which is the last 8. A Crown of Glory and to be for ever with the Lord art thou loaded with trouble and suffering here thou shalt have a Crown of glory shall outweigh all thy suffering for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with that glory Rom. 8.18 And our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far