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
A64954	Vasanos alēthinē, the true touchstone which shews both grace and nature, or, A discourse concerning self examination, by which both saints and sinners may come to know themselves whereunto are added sundry meditations relating to the Lords Supper/ by Nathanael Vincent ...	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.	1681 (1681)	Wing V400; ESTC R8823	153,137	370

blesses them they shall be blessed and promises they shall be filled Mat. 5. 6. Righteousness imputed is and that with very good reason prized by Believers and Righteousness inherent is earnestly desired they long to be made more holy more holy in heart more holy in all manner of conversation to have cleaner hands hearts purer they groan earnestly to be sanctified throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and to be established unblameable in holiness to the end Doest thou vehemently desire to be bettered by every mercy To be refined more and more every time thou art cast into the furnace of affliction And to become more holy by every Ordinance thou engagest in This Sacra Fames holy hunger is in thee and thou art blessed 6. Those are in a State of Grace who prize the Word of God at an high rate All that are born again desire as new born Babes the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Hark to our Lord. Joh. 8. 47. He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God With good reason do gracious Souls value the Word of God for it is the incorruptible seed whereof they are born again 't is the Food whereby they are nourished 't is the Physick whereby they are healed 't is the Cordial whereby they are revived 't is the Weapon wherewith they defend themselves against their spiritual Enemies Finally 't is the main Deed they have to shew for the heavenly inheritance If this Word of God be understood believed and received by thee in the love of it if thou desirest to be cast into the mould of the Word and in all things to conform to it if Davids language be thine Psal 119. 33 34 35. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes and I shall keep it to the end Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight This will argue that thou hast a good and honest heart indeed 7. Those are in a state of grace who have the Spirit of Prayer The Apostle Paul assoon as ever translated into this state has this Character Behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. 't is more than probable he had spoken the words of prayer many a time before while he was a zealous Son of the Jewish Church but now he prayed in Gods account now he prayed in the holy Ghost They that are hypocrites may excell in the gift of Prayer God may be much in their mouths and their expressions may be fluent and seemingly affectionate when yet he is far from their reins But the Spirit of grace and supplication is peculiar to the Saints Now such as have the Spirit of prayer their desires are drawn forth with greatest strength and fervour after Spiritual and eternal blessings They intreat the favour of God and fellowship with him with their whole heart they beg for the increase of Faith Fear and Love and every other grace and that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God and that being delivered from every evil work they may be preserved to his heavenly Kingdom Thus the Spirit makes intercession for them according to the will of God Rom. 8. 26 27. 8. They are in a state of Grace who love the brethren 1 Joh. 3. 14. Hereby we know we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren Now right love to the brethren is love with a pure heart and a good conscience 't is a fervent love 't is love to all the Saints though but poor in the world though of a different persuasion The image of God is loved wherever 't is found and the more of it is found 't is lookt upon as more lovely 'T is one thing to love the Saints because they are good natured because they are beautiful because they are bountiful because they are wise and discreet and 't is another thing to love them because they are holy And truly if the more holy they are the more we love them and the more plainly they deal with us by reprehension and advice in order unto our progress in sanctification and holiness the more and better we like them this is a clear and solid evidence of our being Saints our selves Moreover true Saints are of a publick Spirit they are concerned for the whole Church Militant and cry aloud that she may be preserved in purity unity and love and may more than conquer all enemies and come at last to be Triumphant 9. They are in a state of Grace who endure to the end and are not weary of well-doing He that endures to the end shall be saved says Christ and If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Joh. 8. 31. The sincerely Righteous ones not withstanding all difficulties oppositions trials tribulations hold on their way and they that have clean hands do wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. They fight the good fight of Faith to the last breath and by patient continuance in wel-doing they seek for glory honour and immortality and at last lay hold on eternal life Rom. 2. 7. Thus you have the Touchstone of the Word to prove your selves by And what this Word binds on earth is bound in heaven what this Word looses on earth is loosed in heaven If you continue in a state which this Word pronounces bad you will certainly be condemned but if your state be such as this Word declares good you will as certainly be acquitted rewarded and crown'd at the great approaching Day In the sixth place I am to inform you of the special seasons when this duty of self-proving is to be performed and the seasons are these 1. We ought to prove our selves before we engage in the ordinance of the Lords Supper There must be a Spiritual life or else there cannot be a fitness to be a guest at the Lords Table A dead Corps set at a Feast would be a frightful Spectacle to all there neither could a dead body eat any of the dainties prepared He that is dead in trespasses and sins is not a worthy Communicant for he wants the grace of Faith which is as the eye to discern the hand to receive and the mouth to eat the Lord Jesus who is the bread of life The Lords Supper is not an Ordinance designed to work the first grace for if 't were then none ought to be excluded the greatest Sinners are to be admitted to converting Ordinances and there would be no such thing as Excommunication in the Church of Christ But the design of it is to increase and strengthen and make more and more evident that grace which is already wrought Therefore we must prove what we are before we engage 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. But let a man examine himself and

Discourse of Excommunication The middle way of Predetermination Popery an Enemy to Truth by Mr. Sheldreck Dr. Dumoulins conformity of Independent Government to the Antient Primitive Christians Excommunication Excommunicated in a Dialogue between a Doctor of both Laws The Case of the Protestants in England under a Popish Prince A rebuke to Informers A modest Inquiry into Dr. Stilling fleet Historical mistakes The State of Blessedness An Answer to Dr. Stilling fleets Book by J. H. Liberty of Conscience in order to universal peace The Lords voice crying to England Life of Herod the Great A Manifesto or an Account of the State and differences between the King of Denmark and Norway and the Duke of Slesmick Phelps Innocencies reward Materials for Union A sheet of Union Rosses Mestogogus Poaeticus Phelps on the Revelations Gilaspys Ark of the Covenant Present State of New England Dr. Collings of Providence Froysells Sermons of Grace and Temptations Yarringtons Englands Improvement First part Idem second part Meaning of the Revelation by John Hayter The Morning-Lecture against Popery or the principal errors of the Church of Rome detected and confuted in a Morning-Lecture preached by several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Four useful discourses 1 The art of improving a full and prosperous condition for the glory of God being an appendix to the art of Contentment in three Sermons on Philip. 4. 12. 2 Christian submission on 1 Sam. 3. 18. Philip. 1. 21. 4 The Gospel of peace sent to the sons of peace in six Sermons on Luke 10. 5 6. by Jeremiah Burroughts Dr. Wilds Letter of Thanks and Poems A new Copy-Book of all sorts of useful hands The new World or new-reformed Church by Doctor Homes The Vertuous Daughter a Funeral Sermon by Mr. Brian The Miracle of Miracles or Christ in our Nature by Dr. Rich. Sibbs The unity and essence of the Catholick Church visible by Mr. Hudson Brightman on Revelations Canticles and Daniel Canaans Calamity The intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and the Church or the particular Beleiving soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chap. of Cant. by John Collins D. D. Large 8 vo The sure mercies of David by Nath. Heywood Heaven or Hell here in a Good or Bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent Closet-Prayer a Christians duty all three by O. Heywood A Practical discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of quenching the Sprit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwheile The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints mystical Union with Christ by Richard Stedman M. A. Sober Singularity by the same Author Heaven taken by Storm by Tho. Watson The Childs Delight together with an English Grammar Reading and Spelling made easie both by Tho. Lye Aesops Fables with morals thereupon in English Verse The Young-mans Instructor and the Old-mans remembrancer being an Explanation of the Assemblies Catechism Captives bound in Chains made free by Christ their Surety both by Tho. Doolittle Eighteen Sermons preached upon several Texts of Scripture by William Whitaker The Saints care for Church Communion declared in sundry Sermons preached at St. James Dukes-place by Zech. Crofton The life and death of Edmund Stanton D. D. To which is added a Treatise of Christian-conference and a Dialogue between a Minister and a Stranger Sin the Plague of plagues or sinful sin the worst of Evils by Ralph Venning M. A. Cases of Conscience practically resolved by J. Norman The faithfulness of God considered and cleared in the great Events of his Word or a second part of the fulfilling of the Scripture The immortality of the Soul explained and proved by Scripture and Reason to which is added Faiths-triumph over the fears of death by Tho. Wedsworth A Treatise of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word by George Swinnock M. A. A discourse of the original c. of the Cossacks The generation of Seekers or the right manner of the Saints addresses to the throne of Grace with an Exposition on the Lords-Prayer The administration of Cardinal Ximones An Essay to facilitate the Education of Youth by bringing down the rudiments of Grammar to the sense of seeing which ought to be improved by Syncrisis by Lewis of Totenham An Artificial Vestibulum wherein the sense of Janua Linguarum is contained compiled into plain and short sentences in English for the great ease of Masters and Expeditious progress of Scholars by M. Lewis Speculum Sherlockianum or a Looking glass in which the admirers of Mr. Sherlock may behold the man as to his Acuracy Judgment Orthodoxy A discourse of Sins of Omission wherein is discovered their Nature Causes and Cure by George Swinnock His Majesties Propriety in the British Seas vindicated Quakerism no Christianity or a through-Quaker no Christian proved by their Principles and confirmed by Scripture by J. Faldo Differences about Water-baptism no bar to Communion by Jo. Bunian The Dutch-dispensatory shewing the virtues qualities and properties of Simples the vertue and use of Compounds whereto is added the Compleat Herbalist Judg Dodaridge's laws of Nobility and Peerage Dinglys Spiritual Feast Solitude improved by Divine Meditation by Matth. Ranew A Murderer punished and pardoned or Tho. Savage his life and death with his Funeral sermon Hurst Revival Grace Buryes Husbandmans Companion help to holy walking Hanmers view of Antiquity Nomenclaturas Wases Grammar Vincent of Conscience Gouges Principles of Christian Religion Christian Direction Word to Saints and Sinners Young mans guide Christian Housholder Perrots Englands duty The Nonconformists vindicated Wadsworths remains Shepherdy Spiritualized Calamys Art of divine Meditation Faldos Quakerism no Christianity vindication of 21 Divines Small 8vo A defence against the fear of death by Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed by William Gearing The Godly mans Ark or a City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with Mrs. Moors evidences for Heaven by Edmund Calamy The Almost-Christian discovered or the false-Professor tried and cast by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian-freedom or a discourse shewing the extent and restraints of Christian-liberty by S. Bolton D. D. The sinfulness of Sin and fulness of Christ in two Sermons by Will. Bridg. A Plea for the godly or the Righteous mans Excellency The holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper A Treatise of self-denial All three by Tho. Watson The life and death of Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel VVinter A Covert from the Storm or the fearful encouraged in the day of Trouble Worthy-walking press'd upon all that have heard the Call of the Gospel The Spirit of Prayer All three by Nath. Vincent The inseparable union between Christ and a Believer by Tho. Peck A discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and vanity of them the sin and misery brought in by them by John Sheffield Invisible reality demonstrated in

for in his House Ordinances are administred that they may behold the beauty of the Lord and enquire in his Temple Ps 27. 4. Case 7. The seventh Case follows What are the lower degrees of true Grace Grace in Scripture being compared to a grain of Mustard seed which is indeed the least of all seeds that are sown in the field Mat. 13. 31 32. Hereby there is an intimation given us that Grace is but little in the first beginnings of it and because small 't is not so easie to be discerned Yet the least measure of true Grace being of far greater value and more precious than Gold that perishes 't is worth our while to bring it to the Touchstone that it may be proved and known Before I resolve the Case wherein I must be very wary lest the unsound presume and lest the sincere be discouraged I shall premise these particulars 1. True Grace has different degrees and the higher and lower degrees are vastly different from each other Such a difference as there is between a grain of Mustard-seed and the Plant grown up so that the Birds of the air may lodge in the branches of it Such a difference as there is between a new born infant and a man grown truely such a difference there is between weak and strong Grace and yet as the infant has all the parts which the man hath and is of the same kind with him so weak grace and strong grace are of the same kind and the weak is true and saving as well as the strong That there is a difference in the degrees of Grace is evident Some are babes and some are strong men Heb. 5. 13 14. Some are styled little children some young men and some are called Fathers 1 Joh. 2. 12 13. 2. True Grace is consistent with little knowledge in the things of God There may be a great measure of notional knowledge where there is no true Grace at all and there may be true Grace where there is a great weakness as to understanding The Disciples when first they were chosen out of the World and regenerated by the Spirit understood but little of the Gospel Peter himself would have disswaded Christ from dying not knowing that his blood was to be the price of the Churches Redemption Mat. 16. 21 22. The very Apostles themselves wondred what the Resurrection of Christ from the dead should mean Surely they had not then much light and yet they had true Grace And though these and such like great Articles of the Christian Faith are more fully revealed so that 't is necessary to salvation to know them yet in some heads the knowledge is but little where yet the heart is truly turned unto God and prizes Christ above all 3. Where there is true Grace there may be many doubts and fears Our Lord says unto Peter O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Mat. 14. 31. And unto all his Disciples he speaks thus Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith Mat. 8. 26. Faith they had and yet 't was little and this faith is own'd though accompanied with doubts and fears Doubting believers for ought I know are the far major part of them Sincere Souls are prone to be jealous of themselves and they apprehend how much it stands them upon to make sure work for Eternity Hereupon Satan and the remainders of unbelief take the advantage and they are still questioning their state and are full of fears that nothing is wrought in them but what is common unto Hypocrites 4. Where there is true Grace there may be much corruption I grant that Grace reigns wherever it is in truth and yet much Sin may remain though it be an underling thus the Oyl is at the top of the Vessel though the Water which is under it be a far greater quantity Grace is compared unto smoaking Flax now in the smoaking Flax there 's much of stench and cloudiness and but little heat and yet this heat is taken notice of and cherisht and the promise is Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory 5. Those that have true Grace may fall into Sins that are foul and scandalous and by such falls they break their bones disturb their peace and wound their Consciences and weaken themselves exceedingly so that they are the apter to stumble and fall again upon the next temptation When notorious Sins are thus committed by Believers Grace is at a very low ebb and yet the living Water which springs up to everlasting life so Grace is called is not quite dried up It is strange yet not so strange as true that righteous Lot who vexed his soul from day to day because of the Sodomites unlawful deeds should give way to drunkenness first though 't is not so strange that he should commit incest afterwards for he that is drunken knows not what he does Though he was delivered out of Sodom yet he carried but too much of Sodom within him in his heart David a man after Gods own heart yet in his heart there did kindle an impure and hellish flame of lust whereby Bathsheba was scorched and hurt as well as himself and which was the occasion of the death of poor Vrijah Now though David's joy was quite gone yet the Sanctifying Spirit was not clean departed though his operation was for a while suspended therefore he prays for the restoring of joy but that the holy Spirit might not be taken away Psal 51. 11 12. 6. Those that have true Grace may send forth such sad complaints as speak a nearness to despair Job cryes out The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my Spirit the terrors of God do set themselves in aray against me Job 6. 4. The Church complains Lam. 3. God hath set me in dark place as those that have been dead of old he hath hedged me about that I cannot get out and made my chain heavy he hath filled me with bitterness and made me drunken with Wormwood also when I cry and shout he shutteth out my prayer This was worst of all to be in a deplorable case and not to be regarded when crying for relief and pitty Eminent Saints have sometimes concluded themselves forsaken and forgotten no wonder if they that have weak Grace confidently affirm they have none at all and as peremptorily conclude they never shall have any These things being premised I am to tell you which are the lower degrees of true grace 1. A sense and weariness of hardness of heart argues some measure of true Grace it shews some life and softness when deadness and hardness is felt as a burthen Though hardness of heart was incomparably the worst of all the plagues of Egypt yet this Pharaoh and the Egyptians were never sensible of nor desirous to be delivered from it though other plagues they cry to have removed That 's true