Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	prayer_n	spirit_n	supplication_n	1,486	5	11.4562	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07826	A treatise of the threefolde state of man wherein is handled, 1 His created holinesse in his innocencie. 2 His sinfulnesse since the fall of Adam. 3 His renewed holinesse in his regeneration.	Morton, Thomas, of Berwick.	1596 (1596)	STC 18199; ESTC S107028	195,331	462

and sayings the simplest man in the world could vse for a temporall commoditie how much more able would he be to call vpon God by prayer wherein there is farre more matter offred whether we regard the wretchednesse of the suter or the mercie and goodnesse of God But to returne to the matter in hande the third difference is that the carnall man prayeth very seldom yea for the most neuer but vpon some vrgent cause as when he is pinched with some grieuous crosse as sicknes or pouertie or when he is in some great danger as being in battaile on Land or in a tempeston the sea as we reade Ionas 1. 5. The Infidels in extream danger fell to praier These extremities will wring out of the most irreligious atheist some kinde of praier but not till he see that all other meanes do faile For till then he neuer thinketh on God But it is farre otherwise with the faithfull man for he praieth daylie hourly to the Lord he neuer wanteth matter of praying but taketh euerie occasion to pray if not openly and in wordes yet secretlie in his heart Yea the faithfull in all their dangers troubles miseries and affaires whatsoeuer do not put the means in the first and cheife place reposing their confidence therein but first they seeke for helpe at the handes of God and then trusting that he will giue a happie successe vse the meanes with all care and diligence Fourthly the carnall man doth not in praying vse either perseuerance in continuing his sute till it please God to heare him or yet patience in suffering with a quiet minde the delay of that which he desireth But if he be not heard at the first he straightway giueth ouer yea most commonly he waxeth so prophane and godlesse that he will neuer afterward pray to God tho he haue neuer so greate need and not resting herein he murmureth against God and in greate rage curseth all things that come in his sight or minde but the godly man is neuer wearied with calling vpon God but is content to tary the Lords leasure considering that God knoweth what is good for him better then he himselfe Fiftly the carnall man prayeth onely for temporall blessings as health peace riches honour and such other And if so be that he haue some knowledge of the life to come he will indeed desire that he may after this life be in heauen but you shall neuer heare him desiring to go in that way in this life which leadeth to heauen He desireth to be happy in the worlde to come but not to be holy and righteous in this worlde He would gladly be partaker of the ioyes of heauen but yet not with the condition of forsaking his earthly pleasures He thinketh it no wisdom to forgoe a certaine and present happinesse for that which will perhaps come but he knoweth not when neither can any man make him as he thinketh any good assurance of it but the faithfull man counteth all worldly pleasures to be as they are in deed but as drosse and dung in comparison of spirituall graces and therefore his prayers are cheifly of those things which concerne his eternal saluation Sixtly the carnall man prayeth onely for him selfe for his children and friendes by whom he may haue some temporall comfort or profit neuer remembring the affliction of Ioseph that is hauing no fellowe-feeling of the miseries of the church of God and of the particular members thereof whereas the faithfull desire the good of their brethren yea euen with their owne hurt if so it stand with the good pleasure of God Lastly which is the maine difference of all the carnall man prayeth without faith and therefore he cannot pray aright Rom. 10. 14. doubting as he hath good cause whether God will heare him or no whereas the faithfull man is vndoubtedly perswaded that God will graunt his desire if it be needfull for his saluation otherwise if it be some temporall blessing or some particular grace without the which he may be saued he knoweth that God will either graunt his request or make him plainely see and confesse that it is more for his good that his minde be not fulfilled in that behalfe Nowe for a conclusion we see howe greatly it behoueth euery one who would be accounted in the sight of God and man a true Christian to giue himselfe carefully to the attaining of this gift of prayer and to the performing of this dutie both by himselfe alone and also with his family especially if we do duely consider the manifolde commodities both temporall and spirituall which may be reaped by this meanes For as touching this present life hearty and feruent prayer comming from a faithfull man is health in sickenesse riches in pouertie safetie in daunger comforte in all aduersity yea it is all in all But farre more notable are the vses of it in regard of the spirituall life of our soules for prayer is the exercise of a mans soule as the worde of God is the foode and nourishment of it So that as a man cannot keepe his body for any long time in health strength vnlesse he vse some exercise yea although he doe fil it with meate and feede it most carefully euen so although a man doe heare the worde of God euery day preached vnto him yet vnlesse he do by this spirituall exercise of prayer drawe the sayd heauenly foode into the seuerall partes of his soule he shall sensibly feele his faith loue patience and all other partes of holinesse to decrease by little and little vntill at length they come to nothing yea as the exercising of the body doth not onely preserue it in the naturall vigour but also encreaseth the strength of it and keepeth it from sicknesse so by the dayly vse of prayer we shall finde that the Lord will encrease in vs all spirituall graces farre aboue our owne expectation or the opinion of any other And therefore let vs giue eare to the Apostles exhortation Eph. 6. 18. Take to you the helmet of your saluation which is the word of God and withall pray alwaies with all manner of prayers and supplications in the spirit and watch therevnto withall perseueraunce not onely for your selues but also for all saints Thus much of the duties of renewed filiall subiectiō which man oweth to God his heauenly father To the which one other duty of filiall subiectiō must be added to wit patience in regard of those manifold and grieuous afflictions wherewith God doth chastise trie and nurture his children For as the goldsmith intending to make pretious and excellent vessels fit for the vse of great kinges doth cast his gold into the fyre that so it may be come pure from all drosse so before that the faithfull can be vessels of honour fitte for the seruice of God in the kingdome of heauen they must be cast into the furnace of affliction and there be weaned from the vaine delightes and pleasures of sinne