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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	affection_n	heart_n	lord_n	4,271	5	3.7550	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85659	Nehemiah's teares and prayers for Judah's affliction, and the ruines and repaire of Jerusalem. Delivered in a sermon in the Church of Magarets Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons upon the day of their monethly humiliation, April 24. 1644. By John Greene Master of Arts, late pastour of Pencomb in the countie of Hereford.	Greene, John, Master of Arts.	1644 (1644)	Wing G1822; Thomason E48_7; ESTC R14498	37,819	46

Neh 13. 17 1● and charging the Nobles of Judah with this sin of the people what evill thing is this that ye doe and profane the Sabbath day the profanation was by them ver 15. that trod wine-presses and brought in sheaves on the Sabbath day yet the Nobles not hindering it are charged with it and all the evils brought on their fathers and the citie ascribed to this sin They were my Meditations upon the comming forth of that book for that sinfull Libertie on the Lords day and I did not forbeare to expresse them when I too often heard in neighbouring Parishes drums beating up for a Morris or a May-poole on that day we had just cause to feare lest the Lord should punish that sin with beating up drums for a march on that day and the Lord hath brought our feares upon us how many marches have been on that day since the beginning of these wars I have long thought it one of the highest provoking sins of this land and me thinks the Lord would have us take notice of it as I presume many did that leading generall battell at Kineton on the Lords day could it doe lesse then lead this Kingdome to take notice of that generall leading sin the profanation of that day But I hope those many Ordinances for suppressing this profanenesse will be a good meanes through Gods mercie to quench our unnaturall flames if to good lawes which are the life of a State be added carefull execution which is the life of lawes I have done with the report and proceed to that it wrought in Nehemiah And it came to passe when I heard these words that I ver 4. sate down and wept and mourned certaine dayes One would think Nehemiah had little cause so to take on at the report of the affliction of the Jewes and Jerusalems ruines himselfe then injoying all the honour and content that the favour of the King and the palace Shushan could afford But alas Gratious and Religious hearts Observ 4. have compassionate and tender affections and they cannot easily put off the common miseries of Gods people the Lord himselfe is affected with them that is a sweet expression in the Prophet of the Lords love and pitie towards his people In all their affliction he Isai 〈◊〉 9. Iudg 10. 16. was afflicted but that in the book of Judges is beyond expression His soule was grieved for the miserie of Israel and surely there are none of the Lords people which are not in this partakers in part of the divine nature I cannot omit that of Esay Look away from Isai 22. 4. me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people and yet this when he did but Dan. 10. 2 3. foresee and foretell the spoiling to come So Daniel mourned three whole weekes and did eate no pleasant bread found no sweetnesse or delight in any bread or food that he took whilst his brethren the Isai 30. 20. Jewes fed as Esay expresseth it with the bread of adversitie and the water of affliction I dare not adventure to give reasons why it is and ought to be thus I shall only intreat you before I apply to take notice that Two sorts of Teares there are two sorts of teares required of Gods people one of Compassion another of Humiliation the former for the miseries of Gods people the latter for the sins of Gods people that brought those miseries both which like two streames falling into one channell met in good Nehemiah I might for our imitation commend severall instances of both take one or two for the first begin with that of Christ even when he rode in state and triumph towards Jerusalem he could not behold Jerusalem nor think of the Luk. 19. 36 37 38 41. 2 Ki. 8. 11 12. desolation comming upon it with dry eyes When he beheld the citie he wept over it Adde that of Elisha when he did but looke upon Hazael The man of God wept And when Hazael said Why weepeth my lord He answered Because I know the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Israel their strong holds wilt thou set on fire and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword and wilt dash their children and rip up their women with childe Imperiall historie Pedro Mexia translated by Edward Grimstone in the life of Iulius Caesar The same in the life of Charles the 5. Turkish history Kn●…es I might acquaint you with instances of compassion even towards enemies Julius Caesar pursuing Pompey into Egypt and there presented with Pompeys head he wept and at his returne to Rome refused to triumph for that victorie because over Citizens of Rome though in armes against him the like of Charles the 5th upon his great victorie over the French King at the siege of Pavia he strictly forbade all ringing of bels bonefires or any expressions of joy for his victorie because against Christians though his enemies yea even the Scythian Tamerlane when he walked amongst the slaine after a bloudie victorie against the Muscovites he accounted those Princes unhappie which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their owne honour protesting himselfe to be grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowfull tokens of his victorie And for teares of Humiliation how these in the dayes of solemne fasting required how the fasts of Gods people recorded in his Isai 22. 12. Joel 2. 12. Judg. 20. 26. 1 Sam. 7. 6. Esth 4. 3. Luk. 10. 37. book have been watered with these and what streames of mercie have issued from them hath been at large in a very fruitfull Sermon delivered in this place I will close both these with that of Christs upon the Samaritans compassion to the wounded man Goe and doe thou likewise Vse 1 And for the first we cannot want objects for teares of Compassion whether we look upon the plundered fired and bleeding condition of our brethren in Germanie Ireland and the most parts of our own Nation or which should more melt us the lamentable soule distresses of the remoter parts of our land those 〈…〉 Wales and the Counties adjoyning wherein there are 〈…〉 that in respect of the knowledge of God of 〈…〉 way to salvation know not the right hand from the left now the good Lord incline your hearts to a seasonable and speedie prosecution of that work which the Lord in mercie hath begun in some of those parts Nor if we look into our own bosomes our families our cities our countries our armies can we want objects for teares of Humiliation causes too many for every soul every familie to mourne apart and surely did our land weep more for ●in it would bleed lesse teares are the soules bloud did th●se run as they ought they might help to stay or turne the issue of bloud in our bodies so often a bleeding wound is stanched by opening a veine and turning the

bloud another way and I am perswaded was Gods house on these dayes of Humiliation more moistened with unfained teares of penitents our fields and dwellings would not be soaked and watered with so much bloud of the slain they are the expressions of Esay Isai 34. 7. Ezek. 32. 6. and Ezekiel full of awakening terrour if you please to read them and the Lord bring it to your hearts Vse 2 And let me intreat you to make use of your teares of Compassion for the miseries of this land to draw from you teares of Humiliation for the sins of this land How melting are many of us at the reading of some dolefull and lamentable relation which yet can read over and over the sad storie of their owne and the kingdoms sins without shedding a teare whensoever then your hearts are affected to expresse teares of compassion ●et them help to draw out teares of Humiliation do for this as those that coming for water to a Pump out of order first cast in water to fetch up water let your soules take in teares of compassion that they may be the apter to issue forth teares of Humiliation And surely I feare we have all cause to be more abundant in these of Humiliation if for no other sin but this our want of teares of reall compassion for those former 2 King 8. miseries the Church hath long endured remember what fetcht teares from that man of God when he lookt on Hazael it was not for any thing at the present done all runs in the future the evill that thou wilt do their strong holds thou wilt set on fire and yet could 〈…〉 have thoughts of this in his heart without teares in his 〈…〉 were then our teares of compassion for Germanie and Ireland wherein we have heard all these and worse have beene done their strong holds have been set on fire their young men have been slaine with the sword their infants have been dashed in pieces and their women with childe ripped up and many more unheard of cruelties have we read these with drie eyes with unrelenting hearts O labour we to see what great cause we have that our tears of Humiliation should be many if for no other reason but this because our teares of compassion have been so few That you may have both pray unto the Lord to give unto you tendernesse of affection a tender skin will bleed at the touch of a needles point Be Rom 1●●0 15 kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love weep with them that weep beg also broken hearts and wounded soules ● 1. 9. 1. a wound in the heart will usually bleed at the eye if the heart be full of bowels of pitie within like full vessels a small touch or shake will Fo●s 〈◊〉 est ●or ●●●punctum do●ens Cornel à l●p in ●oc ubi 〈…〉 make them run over without water in the head and heart will have a fountaine of teares in the eyes We upon such dayes as these offer as we think much to God offer our lips in prayer our eares in hearing our persons and presence in attendance of almost a whole day in his house and service but would you know why the Lord hath not hitherto so fully manifested his acceptance of these offerings in giving us what we have desired nay seem'd by withholding that to reject the other let me tell you I am afraid there hath been too little of that offered which I am sure the Lord will not refuse what that is David upon his owne experience will tell you The sacrifices of God ●re a broken spirit sacrifices in the plurall Psal ●1 17. because this in stead of all and all without this nothing and he goes on a broken and a contrite heart O Lord thou wilt not despise We of this land may truly complaine with the Prophet with some small variation We have seen the breaches of our Kingdome Isai 22. 9. that they are many breaches in our counsels in our armies in our affections in our estates I am perswaded all our breaches yet remaine great because our hearts are so little broken for those great sins that made them take we heed then lest the with-holding our teares of compassion from our brethrens distresses doe not close Gods bowels of compassion towards our selves and lest our land shedding so few teares for sin loose not yet much more bloud as the just punishment of our impenitencie and want of Humiliation for sinne Observ 5. But did Nehemiah rest in his teares for the afflictions of the people and the ruines of Jerusalem was his pitie only verball like that mercie rejected by the Apostle when to a brother or sister naked and destitute of daily food one shall say unto him Depart in Iam. 2. 15 16. peace be you warmed and filled and yet give them not those things which are needfull for the bodie had they only a returne of good words from Nehemiah I am sorrie to heare of your affliction and reproach that your wals yet remain broken downe and your gates burnt with fire but be of good comfort build your wals repaire your gates I wish it were in my power to relieve you and further the work No Nehemiahs heart was so really affected with their miseries and ruines as it put him upon the use of those means which if any would prevail for redresse of their miseries and these are two Fasting and Prayer such as never failed when used aright For incouragement to the first I might commend unto you the confidence that Gods people in all exigents placed in this and their Fasting comfortable successe that of Jehoshaphat set the enemies to kill one another that of Esther changed the heart of the King and reversed 2 Chron. 20. E●ther 4. 5. a bloudie decree neere execution Ezra more trusted to this for a Ezr. 8. 21 22 23 1 King 21. 27 28 29. 2 Chron. 12. 7 9 1● 14. safe convoy then to a band of the Kings souldiers Ahabs hypocriticall fast put off the judgement to his sons dayes Rehoboam and his princes halfe humiliation as I may call it brought same deliverance Shishak King of Egypt had onely power to plunder him of his treasures not altogether to destroy him our owne comfortable experience since our last fast blessed be our God will speake though we be silent And pitie it is that so powerfull a remedie through our miscarriage in it should loose its power that our monethly use of it should make it like the same Physick often used uneffectuall to us Give me leave therefore in few words to give you the principall heads of the doctrine of fasting and because in this I may deliver nothing which is not knowne to the most here present these may please whilst I speake it may be to some for information to suffer their thoughts to goe along with me in a way of examination remembring Joh. 13. 17. that of Christ If

such as are not willing to appeare openly in the cause of God when they may doe good will never heartily pray in private for the Churches good Secondly it is an easie help he that can do nothing else may pray the French have a Proverb He that hath no money in his purse let him have honey in his mouth if you have not abilitie estates enabling you to contribute or lend towards the maintainance of an Armie you may yet contribute your Prayers and lay out these for the Lords blessing upon the Armie you shall heare some of the meaner rank say were we in such a condition had we such an estate as these and these men have we would doe this and that which these and other rich men doe not take heed we have deceitfull hearts I would have you try them by this what doe you in that condition wherein you are even in this of Prayer Doe you herein what you can are you often on your knees earnest with God to pardon the sins of the land that his cause may prosper that the expectation of the Churches enemies may be disappointed that the Lord would give hearts unto all those to whom he hath given abilities to lay out their utmost for the furtherance of Gods worke certainly if ye be wanting in this let me tell you had you greater estates you would not do much I cannot thinke that he which will not use his tongue will to any purpose use his hands or purse Thirdly it is a lasting helpe thy strength thine estate may faile thou maist be many wayes disabled from yeelding that helpe in other wayes which thou desirest nothing can disable thee from this whilst thou hast an heart thou maist pray Lastly in what place soever you are you may by your Prayers ● Tim. 〈◊〉 8. Ephes 6 18. helpe the Church I will that men pray every where said the Apostle those Christians which have put upon them that piece of Armour Prayer may use it in their beds in their chambers in their shops in their privatest closets in a word that souldier which fights for the Church with his Prayers and all may be such where ever he is he still keeps file cannot in any place be out of his rank Well then seeing Prayer is of such excellent use and that whereby every one may help the Church let me speake to all of this as in Isai 65. 8. the Prophet one once did of that Cluster Destroy it not for there is a blessing in it O destroy not your Prayers by not using them aright it is a Cluster from whence may be pressed many sweet and comfortable blessings take we heed then lest by our not using them as we should they prove uselesse to us and to the Churches cause for which we use them the poorest and meanest amongst you may be instruments by this of great mercies to the people of God and to your own soules be carefull then what ever you doe not to destroy your prayers by your ill usage of them to helpe you herein give me leave to prescribe some few short and plain directions for the right use of Prayer and for your better improvement of this so excellent an helpe to the best advancement of the cause of God First Prayer that would prevaile with God must goe up with an humble and sorrowfull confession of sins and well grounded resolution to forsake them for certainly he that prayes to day and returnes to his former sins to morrow unprayes his prayers and they which fast and confesse their sins to day and fall to the practise of them to morrow though they may seeme to fast unto God to day yet indeed they feast the devill to morrow the Lord looketh for at our hands not alone the words of prayer but as I may call them the works of prayer and though on this day We may cause Isai 58. 4. our voice to be heard on high yet not casting off our iniquities our works of sin will outcry our words of prayer Let every one then I beseech you search into his owne soul and find out the sins ●e stands guiltie of and whenever he goes to prayer to preface unto his soule with that of the Psalmist If I regard iniquitie in my Psal 66. 18. heart the Lord will not heare me and not forget that of the Apostle I will that men pray every where lifting up pure hands for 1 Tim. 2. 8. Isai 1. 15. undoubtedly If God see impuritie in our hands we shall find little prevalencie in our prayers Prayer must goe up with fervencie heat and ardencie of affection Let my prayer come before thee as incense said the Psalmist and Psal 141. ● this never went up without fire you know who said it and upon what occasion The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man James 5. 1● availeth much effectuall and fervent joyned to teach us that our prayers the more fervent they are are alwayes the more effectuall the Geneva reads The prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent the more fervencie the more prevalencie in our prayers The souldiers of this Citie are commended for good fire-men that there be powder and shot in their muskets will doe no execution unlesse they give fire well O that we which are this day fighting with our prayers would labour for this fervencie in our prayers if they be nothing else but words they are but as the powder and shot in a Pistoll let there be no fire no fervencie of spirit they will never go off so as either to reach Heaven or the Churches enemies of all the foure Elements that of fire is neerest Heaven the more fire in any thing the higher it ascends heaven-ward cold sluggish prayers have so much earth in them that like the Grashopper if they mount a little upward they are presently downe again fall short of Heaven of all warlike engines your Grant does and fire-works are most deadly of all prayers those that have most fire most fervencie are most killing A third requisite in Prayer is Constancie and Perseverance not easily upon the Lords delay or seeming deniall beat off importunitie which is often offensive to man is alwaies pleasing to God commended Luk. 11. 5 8. 18. 1 5. it was by Christ in those two Parables of the friend at midnight and the widow with the unjust Judge We may not say of our approaches to God as Salomon of our neighbour withdraw Prov. 25. 17. thy foot from thy neighbours house or as in the Margent Let thy foot be seldome in thy neighbours house lest he be wearie of thee and hate thee no the oftener with God in his house in our own houses the more welcome the Lord will not say here is an unreasonable man and woman I can never be rid of them never at rest for them they are still following me praying and crying and seeking with every day a new suit

ye know these things happie are ye if ye doe them The day of our Fast should be observed as an holy day an holy Levit. 2● 27 28 30 31 32. Numb 29. 7. Joel ● 14. Nehem. 9. convocation no work to be done on that day it is called a Sabbath and in all respects to be kept with as much if not more strictnesse then the Sabbath sanctified and set apart for holy duties as praying reading preaching hearing confession of sin renewing of Covenants as in that whole Chapter of Nehemiah The continuance of the Fast a whole day from Even to Even Lev. 23 31. Jos 7. 6. Joshua and the Elders kept it till eventide All persons of all ages and conditions to observe it in Jehoshaphats 2 Chro. ●0 13. Jon. 3. 5. fast all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their wives and their children In Ninevehs fast all from the greatest to the least The outward speciall duties are 1. Abstinence from food so farre Ezra 10. 6. Esther 4. 16. as strength of nature will beare Ezra in his fast did neither eate bread nor drink water In Esthers fast a charge not to eate nor drink Abstaining from marriage comforts Let the bridegroome got Joel 2. 16. 1 Cor. 7. 5. forth of his chamber and the bride out of her closet that of the Apostle makes it cleare Forbearing better apparell the Easterne parts used upon the dayes of their fast to lie in sackcloth in Nehemiah's fast in Davids Nehem. 9. 1. Psal 35. 13. Ionah 3. 5. in that of Nineveh with other instances that might be added Abatement of our ordinarie sleepe so that of Esther applyed by our Divines requiring the continuance of the fast three dayes night Esth 4. 16. Ioel 1. 13. and day as also that of Joel lye all night in sackcloth And wherefore all these but to further the main dutie of the day the humbling and afflicting of the soule a dutie of such necessitie for that day as whatsoever soule it be that shall not be afflicted in Lev. 23. 29. that same day he shall be cut off from among his people And what will more humble the soule then the serious consideration of its unworthinesse to receive pardon of sin great mercies for the Church in generall for it selfe in particular then by its abstinence from all even the least outward comforts to professe its unworthinesse of any the least of these and surely we might by such meditations as these help to put our soules on the day of our Humiliation into an humbled frame We come Lord to beg this day pardon for our own sins and the sins of our Nation reconciliation for our selves for Kingdomes to intreat thy Majestie to give beautie for ashes the Isal 61. 3. oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse and we acknowledge these every way so needfull for our spirituall life as food and raiment for our naturall but Lord we professe our selves most unworthy the least of these and shall we not be humbled to think that we are altogether unworthy of any greater favour I have given you a small hint your private thoughts may more fully inlarge But are these outward observances and inward afflicting of the soule sufficient doe not we heare some in the Prophet complaining Wherefore have we fasted and thou seest not wherefore Isai 58. 3. have we afflicted our soules and thou takest no knowledge here you see is both fasting and afflicting yet no acceptance what 's more then to be done the Prophet will there tell you it is a forsaking of sinne for I will instance only in that without which whatsoever is done upon the day of our fast will neither have power with God nor bring comfort to our selves The Ninevites were very punctuall in the out-works of their fast The King came down from his throne put off his robes clothed himselfe with sackoloth there was crying mightily to the Lord neither man nor beast took any food questionlesse God took notice of all this yet when the Prophet comes to set down what moved the Lord not to bring upon them the destruction threatned he over-looks as it were all Ionah 3. 8. the rest and fastens upon this God saw their works that they turned from their evill way and so he repented of the evill that he said he would doe unto them and did it not and beleeve it our fasts will never doe that work for which we keep them till this be done now our soules are then truly afflicted for sin when sin is in our soules like a thorne in the joynt that will give no rest till it be out and surely were our putrified sores of sin once throughly cleansed I doubt not but the wounds of our land would soon be healed had the strong Physick which the Lord hath given our nation emptied it of the foulnesse and fulnesse of sin we should ere long have cordials of truth and peace and deliverance ministred unto us to conclude this could the Lord see England and Ireland turning from their provoking sins I doubt not but England and Ireland should also see God turning from the fiercenesse of his wrath Observ 6. The time hastens me to that other meanes of Nehemiahs helpe his Prayer another main duty required on this day of Humiliation 3. Incouragements to pray and I might be very large in shewing what severall great incouragements we have to use this helpe of Prayer in the behalfe of the Church I shall reduce them to three 1. in respect of God 2. of Prayer 3. of our selves In respect of God the Lord commands it nay looks for it for however God be willing to give yet it is his will that we shall aske what we desire to receive his promises of giving are made upon the condition of asking as that knowne place of Christ Aske and it Matth. 7. 7. shall be given you The Lord knowes what England and Ireland want and what every one of us stand in need of for our particular necessities and God wants not will to give us his Church what mercies he seeth wanting but yet he will be sought unto Indeed Psal 21. 3. we have cause to blesse God that of his free goodnesse he often prevents us with liberall blessings so reads the Geneva gives many unsought favours yet it is not safe to stay till God bestow mercies without asking many gratious promises are made in the Ezek. 36. 37. former verses to Gods people but thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to doe it for them You have not saith the Apostle because you aske not and assuredly James 4. 12. we want many blessings from God because the Lord hath not our Prayers for them The second incouragement is drawn from Gods power I prayed to the God of Heaven this assures that what Gods love makes him