Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	angel_n	golden_a	incense_n	1,470	5	12.0788	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11845	The bearing and burden of the spirit wherein the sicknesse and soundnesse of the soule is opened, and eight cases of conscience cleared and resolved for the setling and comforting of perplexed consciences / by John Sedgwick ...	Sedgwick, John, 1600 or 1601-1643.	1639 (1639)	STC 22149.3; ESTC S4896	93,717	382

more pleasing such is the incongruity of spirituall services with carnall hearts and if that any joy and delight bee in them at all it is but false and vanishing Sixthly a Christian doth performe duties constantly such men have everlasting spirits in serving God and though there may be pawses and certaine cessations by reason of some intervenient accidents yet a totall and finall cessation in duty cannot overtake Christians grace in truth never dieth unto duty but holds out unto the very last in beleeving obeying and praying whereas an hypocrite according to his false and vanishing principles is mutable and inconstant in duty according to that speech Will Iob 27. 10 the hypocrite delight himselfe in the Almighty will hee alwaies call upon God sometimes hee may doe it but at all times he neither can nor will pray Seventhly a Christian doth act all required duties discreetly and wisely I meane with the observation of the rules and requisites and methods which wisedome it selfe doth declare unto men in and for the performance of duties such will principally doe those duties which are sutable and proper to themselves and falling in their relations and conditions and that within their owne orbe whereas hypocrisie wanders from its owne nest and doth prey abroad in other mens families but not at home in their owne families such will manage duties mooving on-ward in a just proportion they spend not all the time in duties of faith and duties of charity alone but so doe one act of godlinesse that they may doe another also one businesse doth not put by another with them as it doth with hypocrites who in doing of some duties hinder themselves in other in a word such are seasonable in doing duties though no time bee unseasonable for Christian duties yet all duties must not bee performed at all times Christians must heare when God requires them to heare and pray when God requireth them to pray Psal 1. 3. they must bring forth all their fruit in the season of it whereas the service of hypocrisie is fruit out of season such as are formall will bee comming to Church when others are going from Church they will pray when they should heare and reade when they should pray which maketh their service the sacrifice of fooles Eccles 5. 1. 4. That in the doing of Christian duties the bent of the heart is both observed and accepted of God you cannot forget the counsell of David unto Salomon Know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and a 1 Chron. 28. 9. willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee out of which place we gather that God doth behold the heart in duty and him that prepareth his heart to seeke him though he be not cleansed according to the 2 Chron. 30 19 20. purification of the Sanctuary shall bee accepted with him view well the sincerity of your performances and let it cheare you against your weaknesses 5. That Christians under weaknesse of performances must have an eye unto Christ who appeares for them in Heaven presenting all services done unto the acceptation of his Father learne to know that what we cannot do perfectly Christ did it for us his active obedience being imputed to us and though duties come from us in much weaknesse yet Christ makes up our duties as well as our persons a sincere heart must act duties a gratious God must accept duties a mighty Redeemer must present duties the Angell had a golden Censor and much Rev. 8. 3. incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the Saints upon the golden altar wee know that the acceptation of a Christians best services is in Christ alone and it is no life in our duties that can make them meritorious with God yea and it is no impotency in duties which can cause God to reject them if we by faith betake our selves to Christ In Christ there is sufficiencie of merit to cover all our selfe-blamed indispositions and to gaine the acceptance of all our sincere though weake performances CASE VI. Of fruitlesse endeavours MAn looketh for wages when hee hath done his work and if duty and service proove successelesse that hee finde no returne or recompence at all this is not a little grieving and sadding unto the Spirit we heare Christians thus complaining I have along time waited upon God in service I have beene conversant with him in his Ordinances many a Sermon have I heard many a Sacrament have I received I have humbled my soule before him in prayer and teares and fasting and I alas can find no returne of my prayers I cannot get any thing at Gods hands my corruptions are yet within mee I am still where I was and am no better and can doe no more then formerly my abilities are as little and my comforts as few as ever surely all is not well with mee and all is not even betwixt God and my soule how goeth his promise along with mee seeing I finde no performance to mee here the soule is musing and doubtfull To ease the soule under this distresse I shall propose these things 1. That no man shall doe the least service for God which shall be in vaine unto himselfe God is a good Master as hee sets us about the best worke so Mal. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. ult he will give us the best wages no man shall serve God for nought wee see that God taketh it ill when the Jewes charged him with neglect and irrecompence for their serving of him Mal. 3. 13 14 15. 2. That want of present wages must not dishearten Christians in the doing of their duties up and be doing and trust God for wages service and progresse in duties belongs to us their rewards and recompences belong to God wee must doe our part and not bee wearie in well-doing for in due season wee shall Gal. 6 9. reape if we faint not the husband-man is to plow the land and to sow the corne if he expect the harvest and so Christians must first doe their duties of hearing and praying and reading if they will have Gods wages 3. That unto our present doing we must add waiting and expectation Our eyes waite upon the Lord till he have mercy Psal 123. upon us saith David if beggars will not stay they loose their almes and if Christians will not waite they may loose their grants and why should wee not waite in all Gods promises there is such a truth which shall be performed and hee hath made many pretious promises unto waiting for the performance of his promises None shall bee ashamed that waite on mee Esa 49. 23. David waited upon God and hee enclined to him and heard his cry Psal 40. 1. 4. That the Lords answers of good shall at length recompence and equall all the services and patience of man how ever for