Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	divine_a	feel_v	great_a	215	3	2.1569	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65377	A weeks work: shewing the whole duty of a Chritian Laying down in seven particular heads for the practise of the seven days of the week, what prayer is, how to use it profitably, wherein is shewed the true nature, power, and effects of vocal and mental prayer; with advice and instructions (for such as be ignorant in prayer and spiritual duty) how to attain to a true spiritual, effectual, and proficient way of praying. Very useful and requisite to be read in societies and families. To which is added seven copper-plates, suitable to each days exercise.	G. V.	1668 (1668)	Wing W1250AB; ESTC R220908	22,326	107

they are also full of compassion works of mercy and charity Spiritual and Corporeal they indeavour as near as they can to keep a clear Conscience and are desirous to serve please and praise God in all things And thus they are inflamed in Divine love I could heartily wish there were many more of this sort than there are however do you your endeavour to be one for his Grace will never be wanting to a willing mind TUESDAYS Exercise Satan tempteth Job Job 2. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils etc v 7. And he sat down among the ashes v 8. Then said his wife unto him dost thou still retain thine Integrity curse God and die v. 9. CHAP. III. Of the dignity and profit of Mental prayer Sect. 1 IN Mental prayer you walk a perfect way for you speak to God as What Mental prayer is to one near to you that gives ear to your Petitions or as one familiar Friend with another in great privacy or secresie Vocal prayer is used often without any particular attention but Mental prayer requires the attention and a serious application of the Mind inwardly or it is no Prayer in this when the Soul getteth within her self she begins to discover the strange works of God which are in Man unknown but to those that are by God illuminated in this as in a Looking-glass a Man discovers what he is and cometh to the true Knowledge of himself for there he sees how far he is from true Christian perfection Sect. 2 This knowledge of our selves is the ground and foundation of our Spiritual life in this a Man Foundation of spiritual life finds out what Vices and Passions do most domineer and molest him and the causes why he doth not Live in all things according to the Word of God and the right rule of Reason and what Remedies to apply to this great Evil. Here all the inward sore Diseases evil customs inclinations and disordered affections are perceived This is the School where we may be daily taught and instructed how to cure those Sores suppress those Vices mortifie those Passions regulate those Affections and Inclinations gain Virtue and please our Heavenly Spouse Sect. 3 Here we come to know the vanities unconstancies and uncertainty of the things of this Transitory life with a clearer World's vanity known sight of feeling than ever before which causeth the Soul to loath and contemn the World hate Vice love Virtue and seek after God above and therefore she resolves to change her Life and be no more what formerly she was her Eyes are opened she is illuminated and taught in this Prayer how all things created can give her no true content which makes her seriously desire and aspire to those things that are Eternal Sect. 4 For she begins to taste in this Tasts of Heaven Prayer of the content and joy of Mind which the true Servants of God enjoy in Heaven now she regards not the wisdome of this World but that which doth consist in subjection humility and sanctity of Life Sect. 5 Nay more then so in this The Devil and Natures deceit discovered Prayer the wiles and deceits of the Devil and the subtle and alluring excuses of Nature are discovered which are very hurtfull to a Soul that desires true perfection which must be had by the way of Mortification which the Devil and Nature do little affect Here the knowledge and love of God increaseth to a great heighth of the Soul which His Divine Majesty doth often visit and replenish with supernatural Graces and Comforts and by secret Influences of His Holy Spirit doth Elevate her far beyond her self to see know and feel with great content and joy what Tongue cannot express Sect. 6 To conclude in this Prayer we come to a true Vision of our A true vision of our wills Wills with the Will of God which is the highest we can attain to in this Life by our labour and industry through His holy Grace without which we can do nothing though many hath great Favours Visions and Revelations by his special Gift Oh what a happy thing this Prayer is O what a sweet Invention this is of our good God to bring Souls to his Knowledge Love and Familiarity as is said in the beginning that thereby with more facility and security they may gain that Glory for which they are Created This all ought to love desire and practise that desires endless Felicity and Happiness Sect. 7 Many there be who think it Christianity not difficult impossible or at least of great difficulty to attain to or gain this blessed Prayer but I do assure them they are very much mistaken though true it is that it cannot be had without some Industry and Labour of ours neither can a Man learn any Art or Science the first Day be it never so easie For experience ●eacheth all we see thousands of all sorts and Sexes given daily as we ought charitably to believe to this Exercise and practise of Mental prayer so that i● you intend to go forward in this Holy Exercise and acquire perfection you must not think i● difficult nor be dismayed if presently you gain it not for every thing hath a beginning and nothing is had in the World without labour Sect. 8 You know that a Man is seven Years an Apprentice before h● can profess himself expert in his Trade The Farmer or Husbandman in the depth of Winter cold frost and snow dry or wet taketh great Toyl and Labour and with much patience endureth and passeth all in expectation of a little Fruit in Summer or Corn in Harvest and perhaps get little or none and shall not we Labonr a little to gain this benefit or Art of Prayer and reap thereby the Fruit of Virtue and Life Everlasting Our labour is less in this then theirs the fruit and profit more certain than theirs and of greater value without any comparison than theirs Sect. 9 Be not therefore dis-heartned but as the Prophet saith come and taste of it that is Practise it Comfort offered and you shall see and feel how sweet and pleasing our Lord is to those that through Love do truly seek after him For if you be in Darkness come to him by Prayer and you shall be Illuminated if Thirsty there you shall drink abundantly of Divine Nectar springing as pure water from the Fountain of Life if Hungry you shall eat there of the Celestial food of Angels for there your Beloved hath his Table set with varieties of Dainties for all commers without exception and his Goblets of Wine of all pleasant and delightfull tasts placed thereon Sect. 10 If you be cold come to Prayer Divine heat and ye shall be made warm and comforted with the fire of divine Love Come I pray to this fair Garden and Paradise of pleasure and delight your self with the Beauty Varieties and sweet Odours of

she get no Gust she may take of another and so tasting of each 't is like shee 'l get content and satisfaction in some one of them to please her Pallat and sweetly refresh her self after her long Labour taken in discoursing seeking to find that Spiritual food and be sure to spend more time in the Affective parts then in the Preparative or Dispositive but if in any part you are moved to some pious Affection remain in it without inward words looking on the Object and affecting it as long as you can be carefull that your Affection through too much Fervour doth not drown or overcome the Understanding for when it is Vehement with too much sorrow or joy of Spirit do not force or forward it for that will stifle or choak the Spirit but either sweetly rest in it or divert your Mind on some pious Object for this as cold water cast in a boyling pot will asswage or qualifie that little pot of your Heart which is ready to run over with the too great heat of the Fire of Love which the Holy Ghost hath left burning in the Soul and Experience teacheth that all Violence or Force hurteth the Body hindreth the Soul's spiritual profit and causeth her to fear and loath to go to Prayer by reason of the pain she is put to in that forcing for fain she would enjoy totally what she loves and she forceth her self to this which cannot in this Life be had by all our endeavour possibly for it is not in our power but must come by God's holy Gift when he please Sect. 5 Also if you be in any great Arridity or driness of Spirit do not force your self but in your Desolation with humility Desolation in prayer acknowledge your self unworthy of any favour by reason it depends of the good pleasure of his Divine Majesty and is beyond our reach to have those comforts and feelings and esteem it a special favour as indeed it is to be admitted to his presence on any tearms to treat with him concerning your Reconciliation and Salvation having so often formerly offended and wronged him and give him very great and hearty thanks for this favour and benefit This is the true way and must be observed Sect. 6 If through weakness frailty Sins through weakness or negligence you fall or fail in the performance of your good purposes or commit some small Sins or imperfections be not impatient with your self for this afflicted many troubleth the Mind disturbeth dismayeth and dejecteth the Soul makes her forsake Prayer and keeps her from going on heartily in the Service of God a discontented and troubled Mind cannot Pray well Therefore in such Occasions let not your Passion sway but with all submission go to his Divine Majesty who is a more loving Father than a rigorous Judge confess your frailty and disability of which he is very sensible and well knows our weakness and will have us to understand and acknowledge it and that we of our selves can do nothing therefore must place our whole trust and confidence in his Omnipotent goodness who will give us the Victory over our selves if we be persevere in our holy Desires and his Service and not doubt of his assistance and help for he is so good that seeing your fidelity and desire to please him he cannot but reward it abundantly though he defers it for a while Children learning to go do get many falls by reason of their weakness yet crying to the Nurse with her help they always rise again even so you are but a Suckling as yet Learning to go in the way of Virtue and perhaps you get many falls then cry to God your good Nurse and with his holy Assistance and Grace you may rise again as often untill at length you may go without fear or any danger Sect. 7 It will also comfort you much in all these Aridities Desolations and Temptations to remember and call to mind how To take our Saviour's pattern our Saviour was sorely Tempted and had many Crosses inviting us to carry our Cross and follow him for he who doth not carry his Cross and follow me said he is not worthy of me that is to be my Disciple or gain my love and the favours I am wont to bestow on my true Servants The way of the Cross is the King's High-way to Glory and the Cross is the Livery of Christ our Saviour by this his true Servants are known from the Servants of Sathan and the Lovers of the World who for human policy doth dissemble and stop their Passion without Merit and others will not endure any trouble or cross for Virtue or the love of God or Human respect but must have their Humour though it be to fret in passion and chafe themselves with raging words and revenging thoughts to their ruin and undoing but in the way of the Cross the Servants of God ever did and still do follow him to his Kingdome of endless Felicities Sect. 8 Consider their Lives and Deaths that is able to encourage thee to go forward with great content and hope to overcome all Difficulties and to accept with patience all Crosses and Patience in afflictions Afflictions that shall occur as tokens of Love sent unto you by his Divine Majesty for whom he loveth he chastiseth Moreover he knows best what is convenient and fittest for every one and therefore he gives to some sensible Devotion with many sweet Tears in Prayer because they are weak Spirits and must be fed with those sweet Milk sops of Consolation others like Hirelings go to Prayer in expectation of a reward of some Comforts and Consolations which now and then they felt in Prayer and this doth forward them in the practise of Virtue more than the love of Virtue Sect. 9 Others for a long time have Poor souls nothing to feed on but the hard crusts of Temptations yet they go on very heartily for they do not value those sensible Devotions neither will they serve for Hire but as loving Children serve their Heavenly Father to please him by reason it is his business and like faithfull Subjects serve their King this is the Life of Saints these we must imitate if we desire virtue and true perfection these use the form of kneel in Prayer resisting vain Cogitations and do not for want of Consolations depart from Prayer or go not to it for they seek not their own content but do the will of God knowing that all theirs is to please and honour God conforming our will to his happen what may They that go in the beginning this way in the end will have Celestial comforts Sect. 10 Lastly when Prayer is ended Divert not your mind by outward objects do not suddenly divert your Mind by applying it to outward affairs but in what posture see you are in reflect strongly on what you did Pray call to mind the Benefits you thought upon the good resolutions and promises you made for

virtuous Flowers which there are seen and had for they to delight and ravish the Court of Heaven Sect. 11 If you be in any affliction or necessity come hither and delight thy self in our Lord who Delight in Christ is always present and call to him for he will grant thee the Petitions of thy heart Come to him he doth invite thee be not afraid nor ashamed for thy Face shall not be confounded but much joyed in His holy presence and comforted with his sweet Conversation In a word they are happy that give themselves seriously to this most blessed Exercise of Prayer but what it is and how to use and practise it you may see in the following Chapter WEDNESDAYS Exercise Isaiahs vision Isa 6. Then said I wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips etc v 5. Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me having a live cole in his hand which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar v. 6. And he laid it upon my mouth etc v. 7. CHAP. IV. What Mental prayer is and the parts thereof Sect. 1 MEntal prayer as I take Mental prayer explained it is a familiar reverential Colloquy Conference or humble discourse of the Soul with God not by outward words but inwardly in our mind declaring our necessities and wants and craving such things as we stand in need off this Definition of Prayer includes and supposeth the other which is an Elevation or Application of the mind to God For I must have a Man present before I can speak to him even so I must have God present by the Elevation or Application Elevation of the mind of the mind to him before I can discourse or speak with him But you may inquire how you may have God present I say his presence is framed by his Understanding as you shall think fit or most convenient for your purpose As our Saviour being a Child shaking with cold in the Manger or as a Man praying in the Garden sweating with water and blood or in any other form or manner that he Lived on Earth is glorious in Heaven or in the most blessed Sacrament where he is God and Man or by Faith supposing him to be within and without you as truly he is according to his Divinity which is every where in all things and in the most inward substance of your Soul and secret of your Heart Also when you are dis-heartned or not well able to keep his presence in your mind you may Pray inwardly in your mind Sect. 2 To the end therefore that you may proceed orderly and not confusedly in this Prayer observe the method or manner here Method of mental prayer set down by which you may dispose your self with due respect to appear before and speak with so High a Majesty and spend the whole time of Prayer with ease and profit This doth consist in the use of the parts in order Sect. 3 The parts of Prayer are five The parts of prayer to wit Preparations Meditation Thanksgiving Oblation and Petition every part of these hath its own Office and is of great importance to be well understood and observed Sect. 4 First then Preparation hath two parts the first removes all outward Impediments as to expel out of your mind the memory of secular affairs vain and idle thoughts and such as are not of God or tending to piety and devotion the other part procures an Introversion and Recollection of the powers of the Senses now free from the first worldly and vain Objects that all being at rest the Soul may the more seriously and attentively apply her self to her Negotiation with God with whom she intends to treat of as high matters as the business of her Salvation is which requires a carefull and diligent application without Destractions Sect. 5 For a Man that hath many imployments knowing that at a certain hour he is appointed to For audience with God have Audience of his Prince or King which he much desired about affairs of great consequence will somewhat before rid himself of all other Imployments so to dispose himself without trouble for that hour of Audience it is not enough that he rid himself of those occasions if he did not recollect to himself carefully to consider what he is to do and what to say unto the King this is very plain and reasonable he therefore having set aside all occasions he retires himself to his Closet giving directions to his Servants not to let any come at him least they disturb him then he there applieth himself seriously to consider the Greatness and Majesty of the Person he is to speak with the manner how to behave himself and salute the King and the matter he is to speak off to him in this the mind is totally applied in Recollection Sect. 6 In like manner the hour of Prayer is the hour appointed for you to get Audience and speak with your King the great King of Kings and Lord of all things a quarter of an hour or more … our … er before that time you must endeavour to put all Distractions and idle Cogitations as is said of what kind soever out of your mind for with those you are often too much imployed and busied but shun company retire your self to your Chamber and read pious and godly Books which are great helps Sect. 7 Then enter into the Closet of your Heart with all your power and senses as is said and there consider the Dignity of the Person you are to speak with the Consider God's dignity manner how and the matter you must speak of As thus I am to have Audience and speak not with a worldly Man but with the true King and Creator of Heaven and Earth that great God Omnipotent who giveth Beeing and Life to all Creatures in whose presence the Angels Cherubims and Seraphims and all the Celestial powers do tremble and shake if then to worldly Kings there must be so many Ceremonies Bowings and Kneelings used before a Man can speak to them as we daily see What must be done and what ought I to do going to speak with my God the King of so great Power Dignity and Majesty attended most Gloriously with many Quires of Evangelical Spirits whose Eyes will be altogether upon me observing what passeth Doubtless then I must come before him with great humility reverence and respect and so behave my self that I may do nothing displeasing to his Divine Majesty Sect. 8 Then the Matter you are to discourse of being resolved upon at the hour and place appointed Kneeling with great reverence do then feelingly Pray to that Great God in this or the like manner Manner of praying Come O Holy Ghost and fill our hearts with faithfulness and zeal and kindle them with the fire of thy Love send forth thy Spirit and they shall be Created and thou shalt renew the face of the Earth O what am I