Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	heart_n	lord_n	prayer_n	8,251	5	6.2240	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96977	A collection of several passages concerning his late highnesse Oliver, Cromwell, in the time of his sickness; wherein is related many of his expressions upon his death-bed. Together with his prayer within two or three dayes before his death. Written by one that was then groom of his bed-chamber.	Walker, Henry, Ironmonger.; Harvey, Charles, 17th cent, attributed name.	1659 (1659)	Wing W370; Thomason E985_22; ESTC R207875	11,611	25

the Fatherlesse and the Distressed In which respect wee may say of him as Job of himself Chap. 31. 17. Or have eaten my morsel my self alone and the Fatherless hath not eaten thereof Hee did never eat his Morsels alone a great many living upon his allowed Benevolence who must otherwise have perished besides occasional distributions at home and abroad with his readinesse to promote by his authority and influence good works of this kind as well as by his own example for which the souls of thousands have blessed him even beyond the Seas 3 And lastly His closenesse of communion and converse with God not onely publickly keeping up and waiting on Gods Ordinances in the most solemn and set times of his worship with great Re-Reverence Attention and Intention of spirit But also on other extraordinary occasions when Gods providence called for it whereof hee was a strict observer in seeking his face with fasting and prayer and that with wonderful successe the Lord giving in visible Returns And this as I said not onely in a publick way but also in his family and especially in his secret retirements And indeed Prayer as one calls it was his daily exercise which hee never neglected notwithstanding all his weighty affairs yea the more weighty and urgent they were the more hee buckled to it and sometimes with such fervour of spirit that hee could not contain himself but with great breakings of heart send up strong cries with tears unto God heard when hee hath not known any to bee near him so that it may bee truly said of him that as hee was a man Abraham-like strong in Faith so like Jacob mighty in Prayer and as a Prince prevailing with God such as indeed in all respects this Nation was never before blest with to sit in the Throne however hee was judged and censured and lightly set by by many who were not sensible of our and their mercy and who yet in time may bee sensible if God prevent not of his Remove where his Prayers are turned into everlasting praises And thus godliness was the true rise of his greatnesse and the root out of which hee sprung into publick use and serviceableness whence as David saith of such a one Psal. 1. His leaf did not wither And whatsoever hee did in the main prospered even to the wonder and terrour of the world And the fruit he was eminently an Instrument to bring forth and designed more to do was that the cause of God and Reformation might prosper in these Nations yea as far as his head heart or hand could reach And although by the fall of this great Branch the whole at present is much clouded yet if those Branches still through Gods goodnesse remaining spring out of the same Root hee did as it is hoped and go forth in the power of that Spirit and principles in which hee was carried They shall also without doubt flourish and the Lord will make them to grow But if otherwise Faith fail the Spirit of prayer yet stirring cease and the work of Reformation run retrograde Or that Instruments fit faithful and fearing God should ever bee discountenanced and disused whom God hath hitherto owned and honoured And carnal men enemies to Gods work by fair pretences like Tobia and Sanballat creep in into their room our leaf will quickly wither yea there will bee a withering every way upon these Nations And we may fear our strength our glory and our God will leave us But our hopes are that God yet will do better for us according to his promise than at our beginning for hee can do it and continue his presence with us for our future good and the peace welfare and prosperity of these Nations if wee bee not wanting in our duty to God to those hee hath set over us and to one another And therefore O that God would put it into the hearts of all his People yea of all the People of the Land seriously sincerely and seasonably as Lam. 3. 40. to search and try our waies and turn again unto the Lord And then hee that hath torn will heal us and hee that hath smitten will binde us up and revive us again that wee may yet live in his sight Hosea 6. 1 2. And praise the Lord FINIS * Two in respect of the different Administration of the same Covenant of Grace but one as to the substance in Christ the Head and Mediatour of the Church from the beginning Behold his rejoycing Speaking to some by him * He did not mean that it was safe to sin no the laying hold of the Covenant implies Faith and Repentance which the Gospel requires with new Obedience

David not fearing the face of any Goliah nor the over-matching numbers and strength of Enemies Yea like those Worthies Heb. 11. did hee not by Faith suddue Kingdomes work Righteousness obtain Promises stop the mouths of Lions quench the violence of flames escape the edge of the sword out of weakness made strong wax valiant in fight and turn to flight the Armies of Aliens Although I will not say that his Faith alone had a hand in these successes yet not the least but all the people of God by Faith and Prayer had a great share therein which must vigorously bee kept up still if wee desire to prosper But this by the way being of publick concernment and better known to many others than my self And therefore to come nearer a few daies after the death of the Lady Elizabeth his Daughter at Hampton Court which toucht him nearly being then himself under bodily distempers forerunners to his sicknesse which was to death and in his Bed-chamber hee called for his Bible and desired a person honourable and godly then with others present to read unto him Phil. 4. 11. 12. 13. Not that I speak in respect of want but I have learnt in whatsoever state I am therewith to bee content I know both how to bee abased and how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to bee full and to bee hungry both to abound and to suffer need v. 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth mee Which read said hee to use his own words as near as I can remember them This Scripture did once save my life when my eldest Son died which went as a dagger to my heart indeed it did And then repeating the words of the Text himself declared his then thoughts to this purpose reading the 10th and 11th verses of Pauls Contentation and Submission to the Will of God in all conditions said hee 't is true Paul you have learnt this and attained to this measure of grace but what shall I do Ah poor creature it is a hard lesson for mee to take out I finde it so But reading on to the 13th verse where Paul saith I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth mee Then Faith began to work and his heart to finde support and comfort saying thus to himself Hee that was Pauls Christ is my Christ too And so drew waters out of the well of salvation Christ in the Covenant of Grace But a little nearer yet after his return to White-Hall his sicknesse increasing upon him hee was observed to bee in a very spiritual frame of heart and full of holy expressions catched up by one or other fearing God that were present as a hungry man doth meat A little whereof it was my comfort to meet with the very night before the Lord took him to his everlasting rest which were to this purpose following viz. Truly God is good indeed hee is hee will not there his speech failed him but as I apprehend it it was hee will not leave mee this saying that God was good hee frequently used all along and would speak it with much chearfulnesse and fervour of spirit in the midst of his pains Again hee said I would bee willing to live to bee further serviceable to God and his People but my work is done yet God will bee with his People Hee was very restlesse most part of the night speaking often to himself And there being something to drink offered him hee was desired to take the same and endeavour to sleep unto which hee answered It is not my design to drink or to sleep but my design is to make what haste I can to bee gone Afterwards towards morning using divers holy expressions implying much inward consolation and peace among the rest hee spake some exceeding self-debasing words annihilating and judging himself And truly it was observed that a publick spirit to Gods cause did breath in him as in his life-time so now to the very last which will further appear by that Prayer hee put up to God two or three daies before his end which was as followeth LORD Although I am a miserable and wretched Creature I am in Covenant with thee through Grace And I may I will come to thee for thy people thou hast made mee though very unworthy a mean Instrument to do them some good and thee service And many of them have set too high a value upon mee though others wish and would bee glad of my Death But Lord however thou dost dispose of mee continue and go on to do good for them Give them consistency of Judgement one heart and mutual love and go on to deliver them and with the work of Reformation and make the Name of Christ glorious in the world Teach those who look too much upon thy instruments to depend more upon thy self Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm for they are thy People too And pardon the folly of this short Prayer then for Jesus Christs sake and give us a good night if it be thy pleasure Some variation there is of his Prayer as to the account divers give of it and something is here omitted But this is certain that these were his Requests wherein his heart was so carried out for God and his People yea for them who had added no little sorrow to his grief and afflictions that at this time hee seems to forget even his own Family and nearest Relations And thus wee see in part something of the clearnesse and strength of his Faith in the Covenant of Grace and some tasts of the exercise thereof in a few of his experiences with the excellency of his spirit in prayer And that spiritual and publick frame of heart breathing forth in him even to the last period of his life whose name shall and will bee as ointment poured out notwithstanding the mouth of envy But further that we may see his Faith was not alone nor an idle Faith let us consider him in his other Graces and Excellencies in some observations of his Conversation in general which was worthy Imitation of the most eminent Saints And that since he arrived at that greatness unto which God raised him which caused no abatement in him considerable as usually it doth in men But rather as his power and opportunity was increased so his talents were drawn into exercise and usefulness 1 And first his Zeal for God his Cause his Truth his People and the good of men which in a manner as it was said of Christ did even eat him up Insomuch that he did not count his life dear to him nor any thing else so he might be usefull What else engaged him in and carried him through the great Work of God as a prime and choice Instrument for so many years together with so much stediness and constancy as to the true aim and scope thereof viz. Gospel liberty and Civil Right c. Notwithstanding many difficulties and

A COLLECTION OF Several Passages concerning his late HIGHNESSE Oliver Cromwell In the time of his Sickness WHEREIN Is Related many of his Expressions upon his DEATH-BED Together with his PRAYER within two or three dayes before his Death Written by one that was then Groom of his BED-CHAMBER Entered according to Order LONDON Printed for Robert Ibbitson dwelling in Smithfield neer Hosier-Lane end 1659. A Collection of several Passages concerning His late Highness Oliver Cromwell in the time of his Sickness wherein is related many of his Expressions upon his Death-bed HIs Highness being at Hampton Court sickned a little before the Lady Elizabeth died whose decease was on Friday the sixth day of August 1658. shee having lain long under great extremity of bodily pain which with frequent and violent Convulsion-fits brought her to her end But as to His Highness it was observed that the sense of her outward misery in the pains shee endured took deep impression upon him who indeed ever was a most indulgent and tender Father his affections being regulated and bounded with such Christian wisdome and prudence which did eminently shine forth in filling up not onely that of a Father but also all other Relations wherein hee was a most rare and singular example And no doubt but the sympathy of his spirit with his sorely afflicted and dying Daughter considering also his great burdens cares and labours in Government Hard censures bitter reproaches and unjust calumnies from friends the plots conspiracies and ingratitude of enemies of all whom hee better deserved Besides his deep sense of suffering Christians in other parts of the world as far as the Protestant Interest extended I say considering all this and much more which such a large heart and comprehensive spirit as hee had could and did take in It was enough to have deprest and sunk the stoutest and most undaunted courage in the world And I have often wondred hee was able to hold out so long But that hee was born up by a supernatural power at a more than ordinary rate whereby doubtless hee had held out longer as a mercy to the truly Christian World And to us in these Nations had wee been worthy of him and not sind him away Upon which account the Nation especially the godly and his own Family and personal Relations have great cause of self-reflection and humbling before the Lord in order to a Timely Return lest a worse thing befall us and the effect and consequence of this great blow of Gods hand prove worse than what wee at present feel or fear But I say his time was come and neither prayers nor tears could prevail with God to lengthen out his life and lend him longer to us although abundantly and uncessantly poured out on his behalf both publickly and privately as was observed in a more than ordinary way Besides many a secret sigh yet like Moses Cry more loud and strongly laying hold on God though neither perceived not heard by man than many vocal supplications All which the hearts of Gods people being thus mightily stirred up did seem to beget confidence in some and hopes in all yea some thoughts in himself that God would restore him And yet wee could not bee more desirous hee should abide than hee was content and willing to bee gone as hee exprest near his end knowing that there were better Mansions a better Kingdome and Inheritance a better Crown and a better Throne yea every way better things in Heaven provided for him as might bee gathered from his own expressions yea the whole course of his life exemplary conversation and close communion with God ever since his effectual calling and acquaintance with Jesus Christ observed many years by such as knew him and in the Lord had intimate acquaintance with him some whereof are living witnesses to this day But truly since God raised him to the Government the truth hereof hath so abundantly appeared that the mouth of envy its self must needs bee stopped And which things although hee be dead yet speak in the hearts of some his nearest and narrowest observers and may speak to the conviction of most professors of godliness and bee an excellent pattern to them especially such in great place and power as best acquainted with his temptations which through grace hee was enabled to bear and overcome in a great measure And truly wee may say that the one half of his worth as a great Christian and servant of God was not known to others and therefore little comparatively can bee said yet that little may be of much spiritual advantage to bee remembred and as a copy to be writ after seeing the original is taken from us and now in Heaven Therefore in order thereunto I shall onely set down a few Observations occasionally made of what past from himself at times before and in his sickness the whole as I said being but one letter of his name as an excellent Christian or a few fragments of what may bee said by others and I hope will for publick use this being onely a private Remembrance And first his great Knowledge in the Mysteries of godliness the depth soundness and solidity of his judgement being such that hee was enabled to discuss the greatest truths of God with so much clearnesse and evidence that few of any sort of men could match him to the great advantage of such as were so happy as the Queen of Sheba said to Solomon to stand before him his speech alwaies mixt with that humility and zeal and so peircing that it could not but leave some impression upon those that heard him And hath been to some of more than ordinary use to edification And indeed the excellency of his spirit lay principally in the wonderful insight hee had attained unto and clearness in the Covenant of Grace which doubtless as it was his greatest study as that wherein his All and the All of every Christian doth lye so it was his greatest delight to bee often speaking thereof that hearing him sometimes I have thought with my self if these things bee so that grace is so full so free to sinners to the greatest sinners what reason or room could there bee for unbeleef or what discouragement can there bee to any not to come and drink freely of this open-fountain onely mans will stands in the way until it bee over-powered by special grace the unsealing of that great secret of Gods election I say in these things hee was wonderfully instructed and able to instruct 2 But as was his Knowledge so was his Faith his head was not so full of the one as his heart was of the other that as Christ said to the woman of Canaan Mat. 15. 28. O woman great is thy Faith c. so it may bee said of him great was his Faith A taste of which I shall give as it was taken from himself on his death-bed speaking of the Covenant * They were two but put into one before the foundation

discouragements such as Paul met with in some sort 2 Cor. 11. 26. In Journeyings often in Perils of Waters in Perils of Robbers in Perils by mine own Country-men in Perils by the Heathen Irish in Perils in the City in Perils in the Wilderness in Perils in the Sea in Perils among false Brethren in Weariness and painfulness c. Known unto all much more than I can express it 2 Again His Zeal did highly appear in furthering the preaching of the Gospel in its Power and Purity by the great incouragement he gave to Godly Ministers And laying such a Foundation thereof that the Generations to come may reap the Benefit of it If we sin not away that greatest of mercies as we have cause to fear Besides what care did he take to remove hinderances out of the way by discountenancing and laying aside Idoll Shepherds such as were found ignorant and scandalous men Dumb Dogs such as were more ready to bark against Truth and Reformation than able or willing to speak for or promote the same Considering also the pains he took in his own Person in sifting and finding out mans worth or worthlesness for so great a work especially when his own Concernments did more immediately require the same which is known to most he being herein also a most rare example to succeeding Rulers and indeed the first of this Kind in so high state and Eminency 3 Again His love to the Truth unto which he was a faithful Friend Laborious in Contending for it Powerful in Conviction of the contrary and stopping the Mouth of Error Having often to do by reason of his great place with many men of erring Judgements as well as others the most obstinate of whom I have often heard him silence discountenance their errors with greatest detestation especially when of Fundamental Consideration as once dealing with some of the Quakers he rendred their opinions in the most dreadful and yet truest Character that ever I heard Saying they were such as took the Crown off the head of Christ disrobed him of his Priestly Garments and denied his Prophetical Office by setting up a spirit of their own in the Room of his by the whole utterly making voyd his Mediatorship who is God blessed for ever And that he had rather be buried alive under a heap of stones than in the least to countenance the same and much more which I have now forgot 'T is true his heart being tender to all men especially such as were peaceable he did not use that severity ordinarily towards them or others of that kind as was by some expected But what other consideration did therein sway him to so much Lenity I cannot tell neither is it for every one to know much less to judge but this we know that he was merciful to all 4 Again His Zeal appeared in laying much to heart the afflicted condition of Gods People under Persecution in other parts of the World and laying out his Power interest to the utmost he could for their succour and relief both by Arms and Alms whose sorrows and sufferings added not a little to the grief of his Soul and whom he carried much in his heart as appeared by his publique spirit to his dying hour and 't is sufficiently known 't was the Protestant interest so far as it had footing was mainly in his design in all his forein undertakings and not Riches Honour and Dominion which most Princes have in their eye And from which he did not withdraw notwithstanding discouragements in which Principle if other Protestant Princes and States were more firmly unite the Gospel-Cause against its enemies would in probability better succeed 5 His Zeal appeared in his love to Justice as the Scripture speaks of Job Chap. 29. 16. searching out the cause of the Widow the Fatherless and the Oppressed and yet no respecter of persons in Judgement as commanded Deut. 1. 17. Yee shall not respect persons in judgement but you shall hear the small as well as the great you shall not be afraid of the face of man for the judgement is Gods and the cause that is too hard for you bring it unto mee and I will hear it And Levit. 19. 15. Yee shall do no unrighteousness in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness thou shalt judge thy neighbour 6 Again His Zeal did shew forth its self in punishing of evil doers especially in his own family where loosenesse or prophanenesse durst not appear or if it did and came to his knowledge Davids Resolution Psal. 101. was also his that such should not dwell in his house but were cast out Besides his readinesse to countenance them that were good and did well according to that Rule Rom. 13. 1 2 3. Let every soul bee subject unto the higher powers For there is no power but of God The powers that bee are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves domnation For Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evill Wilt thou then not bee afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same It were too hard a task for any to reckon up all those Graces which did shine forth in him especially for mee And therefore I shall touch onely upon two or three more wherein hee was a most rare Example of Beleevers and an excellent Pattern for those in highest Power 1 And first His love to Saints to all Saints and that as such although of different Judgements Unto whom hee was a Father to protect them and care for their welfare a friend to favour them in all just waies and a peace-maker to reconcile them at least to carry things with that wisdome prudence and moderation towards them that so guiding them as it was said of Moses Psal. 78. 72. So hee fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands With the skilfulnesse of his hand in these dividing and divided times that their divisions through Gods mercy and blessing on his endeavors have not broken forth into a flame of all devouring contention as was feared by us and waited for by our enemies thereby securing our Peace to this day continued to us And truly had not God furnished him with extraordinary wisdome this way our condition had been in all likelikood very sad ere now bearing with the weak forbearing the froward and injurious and ready to forgive such as appeared in the posture of enemies against him upon the least appearance of penitency yea many times in hopes thereof endeavouring after the Command and Example of Christ to overcome evil with good to the wonder of most men 2 Again As his Love was great the like rarely to bee found in the times was live in so was his Charity to the Poor the Widow