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	watch_v	2,594	5	9.9201	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54073	A touchstone or tryall of faith by the originall from whence it springs and the root out of which it grows : held out by way of expositions of the 12 and 13 verses of the first chapter of Iohn's gospel and of the six former verses of the third chapter which treat expressly about this point ... : to which is added The spirituall practice of Christians in primitive times.	Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.; Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679. Spirituall practice of Christians in primitive times.	1648 (1648)	Wing P1216; ESTC R27464	24,581	40

not to set up our selves by them but to perfect this unity to build up one another in Faith in knowledge and that so we may in all things grow up into Christ the head vers. 7. to 16. Secondly The World towards them we must walke wisely Chap. 5. 15. First taking heed of partaking with them in any evill nay of countenancing the least evill in them Chap. 4. 17. Chap. 5. 7. 11. Secondly redeeming the time from them as much as may be for converse with God Thirdly doing as much good as we can to them while we are with them both which are included in that phrase of redeeming the time vers. 16. Thirdly those in neare relations to us whether brought home to Christ or in their naturall condition we are to observe the strict Lawes of that relation we stand debtours to them in which wee are not to faile in towards them bee they superiour or inferiour how ever they act towards us Chap. 5. vers. 22. to the end of the Chapter and Chap. 6. to vers. 10. Our engagement to Christ does not set us free from our relations and duties in any kinde to men but onely layes a bond on him to furnish us with free spirits and power to fill up what wee owe in every relation Christ gives us not freedome from but freedome unto every thing that is of God 4. To stand upon our guard not to be driven from the sweetnesse of the Gospel nor from acknowledging and admiring God in every step of his love mercy wisdome power and grace nor from this walking worthy of the Gospel by any enemy any temptation or any thing that befals us in any kind Chap. 6. 10. 11. but to stand armed against our enemies who are spiritually mighty and lay the sorest temptatious and baits in spirituall things vers. 12. We are to stand armed thus 1. With an understanding having its light clear about it and with a will having an holy disposition ready to act in any kind God shall please to call it out unto vers. 14. To have an understanding ready to put forth it selfe knowing how to carry it selfe how to obey how to suffer how to embrace how to resist and a will graciously disposed to either whensoever God shall call it forth Our loynes commonly are ungirt our light is to seek our grace hangs loose about us that we are unfit to act for God at all much more unfit to doe it in the face of that opposition which we are still likely to meet with in every spirituall undertaking And for want of this piece of armour we lie open to our spirituall enemies 2. With an holy resolution to act for Christ according to that light hee shall give in to the conscience to meddle with no evill to omit no duty of any kinde this is that brest-plate that keeps the heart or conscience pure and safe vers. 14. when the Devill do●s not finde us resolved against sinne or resolved for duties bee it how it will with us hee commonly takes us in his snare 3. With affections taken with the sweet truths of the Gospel as pardon of sinne c. and ready to hold out these truths for the Gospel to make out its way into mens hearts vers. 15. Troubles and ●fflictions wee meet with within and without will quickly damp our affections if they bee not well fenced with these 4. With Faith over all these defending even these as well as our selves in other respects by Faith by Faith interposing the power of Christ between us and every enemy that may come to assault us in these or in any other respects that may come to ungird us and make us unfit to act to damp our holy resolution for God to deaden our affections towards the sweet truths of the Gospel which prepare the way for Christ or to wound us with any temptation whatsoever Faith is a true shield it defends both the person and the rest of his armour as we know a shield does the Devill cannot prevaile in any point against a believing soule vers. 16. Alas we can doe nothing our selves doe no good avoid no evill all our strength lies in trusting God with our selves in every condition and with every spirituall advantage and help hee hath given us to manage it as he pleaseth for us 5. With hope of salvation by grace both for eternity and from any present distresse in GODS time Because many seeming miseries may befall the believing soule contradictions to his Prayers Desires Faith yea to all the motions of GODS Spirit in him hee must have an helmet of hope vers. 17. as well as a shield of Faith And this will keep up his spirit that hee shall not feare looking up to GOD what ever befals him 6. With the sword of the Spirit the Word of GOD the living Word the Word which is Spirit and Life This will kill all false reasonings and every thing that exalts it selfe against CHRIST this will make enemies flye from the soule for they hate the Word of life they know it is their death and it will also make the soule it selfe subject unto CHRIST vers. 17. And all this and every thing else must bee done by Prayer vers. 18. wee can doe nothing not gaine this armour not put it on not use it all must be done by Prayer by intreating another to doe it for us wee cannot believe wee must pr●y for Faith neither can we pray we must believe for prayer we cannot doe either both must flow from the spirit and be done in the spirit praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit Oh how are we stripped when every motion sends us out of our selves to another and yet withall tells us wee are altogether unable to goe out of our selves or step the least step towards that other And wee must watch unto prayer catch opportunities to breathe out our hearts to GOD to doe that in us which he bids us doe not being discouraged with any difficulties but persevering in our requests for our selves and all the people of God vers. 18. Behold ô Christian thy spirituall employment thine easie and painfull employment easie to thy spirit painefull to thy flesh and as yet somewhat painfull to thy spirit also by reason of the cumberance of thy flesh the weaknesse of thy spirit the power and fury of thine adversaries FINIS