Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	eye_n	heart_n	see_v	6,000	5	3.4328	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80080	Gods unusuall answer to a solemne fast. Or, some observations upon the late sad successe in the west, upon the day immediately following our publique humiliation; in a sermon before the Honourable Houses of Parliament, on a fast specially set apart upon that occasion; in Margarets Westminster, Sept. 12. Anno MDCXLIV. By Th: Coleman, Preacher at Peters Cornhill London, a member of the present Assembly.	Coleman, Thomas, 1598-1647.	1644 (1644)	Wing C5051; Thomason E16_2; ESTC R17560	16,713	36

Habakkuk say the Jewish Expositors and the words are to be read by way of complaint Oh the man the man Habakkuk Habakkuk that strives with God! whom also they affirme to be that Watchman cap. 21. 7 8. that seeing horses approaching cryed out by reason of his amazement A Lyon These are terrible consequences and argue the answer to be terrible 5. The improvement If such terrible consequences may follow our prayers looke upon all these acts and answers with a right eye 1. There is a double consideration of Gods doings 1. An overly superficiall view of their outside 2. A serious wise searching after God in them 2. There are also two sorts of men imployed therein 1. The ordinary and common sort which look only upon the shell 2. The godly judicious hearts that see more in things then what appeares For these note these Scriptures Psal 145. 6. Men all men all sorts will speake of thy terrible acts can relate things done But I David will speake of thy glorious honour and declare thy greatnesse in them Psal 64 9 10. Some onely see them the terrible act it selfe and these flee away as amazed but others shall be able to hold forth the work of God in them because they consider wisely of his doings Job 18. 20. They that come after him shall be amazed at his day as they that went before him were affrighted A verse of a difficult if of any sense How can they that goe before be affrighted at that which followes they that come after the ordinary vulgar sort the hindermost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lowest sort they are amazed at the terrible things that oft come to passe but the Ancients 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and Wisemen they balance them weigh the occurrents and seeke by a serious view to finde out the thoughts of the Lord. Let this be our endeavour not being like the foolish Philistims and the Officers in their Army 〈…〉 8 when the Ark was brought into the host the Souldiers cryed out for feare Woe unto us who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods Who replyed the Officers Never feare these Gods for these are they that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues This God hath not another Arrow in his Quiver not another 〈…〉 Weapon in his Armory he spent all his Darts against the Egyptians or if any left upon the rebellious Israelites in the wildernesse Therefore be strong c. This their way was their folly Be we wise and minde c The second Proposition Such terrible consequences doe not at all intrench upon the righteousnesse of God God is true and as true so he doth afflict Thy judgements are righteous 't is Davids acknowledgement and of very faithfulnesse thou hast afflicted me Though we be punished yet remaines he faithfull and just and good And this righteousnesse of his is cleare even in such terrible answers Because they may be 1. According to our desires 2. According to our deserts 1. According to our desires I suppose in this passage Desires rectified and Prayers such as they ought to be and then terrible things may follow yet our prayers not by them crossed For observe In every right desire and prayer of faith there are foure things all which I gather from Psal 17. 1 2. 1. Howsoever our hearts are inclinable to decree a thing as Job speakes that is to fasten on the particular which we would have prescribing as it were to God how he should answer yet faith makes a secret reference thereof to the good pleasure of God and in that doth rest Heare the right O Lord though I faine would be answered thus yet if another kinde of answer be right in thy eyes give that for Heare the right Who knowes but this terrible occurrent was the right and so agreeable to the praier of faith 2. Heare me no farther in my praying cryes then as they proceed from lips not fained If there be dissimulation in my hand shut out my prayer And Hosea is punctuall in giving the Character of prayers proceeding from lips fained in Chap. 7. 14. 1. If heart and mouth agree not But they have not cryed to me with their hearts 2. If it be onely a generall confused inarticulate 〈…〉 supplication and deprecation praying or humbling themselves that they might not be single A praying frame is in request the fashion of the times But no particular fixed expresse mourning for such or such causes or consequents sinnes or miseries They howled 3. If onely for feare of evill They pray indeed but it is when they are ready to drop into Hell when they are on their beds of sicknesse and death lest they should be damned Vpon their beds 4. If it be onely for the baser and earthly part of the mercy for peace that their persons and estates may be safe for plenty that they may have enough They assemble themselves they troope together come with the people of God to Fasts and publique humiliations but it is for corne and for wine They look no higher 5. If they walk not in the strength of their prayers endeavoring holinesse afterward in the feare of God They rebell against me If this description lay hold upon our spirits and presents to our view the state of our hearts here in this terrible act is no crossing of our prayers because they proceeded from fained lips 3. This is my request Let the issue the consequent that followes upon my prayers appeare to be thy worke that thy hand is in it be it what it will be and I am satisfied Let my sentence come forth from thy presence Let that which is decreed upon for my prayer come from thee So that if God inables us to see his hand in this sad act it is according to our prayers Can we but see that it is a sentence came from Gods presence this terrible doing then is our answer 4. Let the uprightnesse of my heart be accepted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let thy eyes behold uprightnesse and I am contented If God doe any way evidence his acceptance of our duty to our spirits we shall see and say The duty and a day of prayer and such terrible consequents may stand together without any intrenchment upon the righteousnesse of God Goe thy way eate thy Eccles 9. meat with joy and drinke thy wine with a cheerfull heart for God now accepteth thy worke Thus this answer may be as we desire 2. According to our deserts If the answer be deserved then may God be righteous Is there not a cause why the most righteous God should answer us by terrible things Let me here according to my method and manner discover from Scripture causes of the successelesse proceedings of our Armies and lay them down positively leaving the particular application to every mans heart And I deduce them to three heads The sins of Former times Our Armies Our selves I. Of former times Hos 10.