Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	believe_v	receive_v	unrighteousness_n	1,743	5	11.2223	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09024	Abba father: or, a plaine and short direction concerning priuate prayer Also, sundry godly admonitions concerning time, and the well vsing of it. By Elnathan Parr, minister of the word.	Parr, Elnathan, d. 1622.	1618 (1618)	STC 19312; ESTC S100366	23,147	146

holy purpose of obedience i Psal 26.6 and 66.18 Esay 15.1 1. Tim. 2.18 1. Iohn 3 22. They must needs distrust to receiue that which they desire who purpose not to doe that which God requires The cry of our vnrepented-for sinnes is louder then the crie of our voyce As in a wound a plaister preuailes not while the iron remaineth within so neither praier while sinne rankleth within 5. Fifthly Reading I would aduise that before prayer there might be reading of a Chapter in the Bible or a Psalm if businesse permit both for the increase of knowledge and for the better calling home of the mind to the businesse in hand 6 Sixthly Meditation The Prayers called Eiaculations which are sudden liftings vp of the heart to God vpon manifold occasions occurring euery day come not within this consideration but set prayer requires sometime to be specially imployed this way As the Musitian first tunes his Instrument before he play vpon it so both the mind would be put in frame and the matter fore-thought when we petition to God Doe no temporall businesse rashly more especially when thou speakest to God bee not rash with thy mouth k Eccles 5.1 lest thou take Gods name in vaine which many times comes to passe by vaine repetitions by words idle improper and without sense when we dare so suddenly enter into this action Meditation therfore is necessary which must be fiue fold 1 Of the Maiesty of God no moue reuerence As mortall men endure not the sawcie and vnrespectfull carriage of suiters so GOD much more requires that wee should serue him in feare l Psal 2.11 as Dauid in feare will worship toward his holy Temple m Psal 5.7 2 Of his mercy power and truth to breede confidence for hee that doubteth receiueth not n Iames 1.7 3 Of the excellencie of the benefits we desire to make vs willing which are the fauour of God forgiuenesse of sin sanctification and eternall life 4 Of our own necessities and wants to make vs feruent for as tart sauces sharpē the stomack so the due pondering and sense of our wants whets off the dull bluntnesse of our affections and sets an edge on them to prayer 5 Of the words and whole frame of our speech that we may offer a reasonable sacrifice and pray with vnderstanding 1. Cor. 14.14.15 7 Seuenthly Religious fasting is a notable helpe to prayer and is often commended to vs in the Word which is either publike or priuat Priuate is a voluntary abstaining from dinner or supper or both as our bodies will beare and from all delicacies for one day or moe vndertaken to make vs the more fit for prayer and the seuere practice of repentance But this is a preparatiue and helpe for extraordinary not for ordinary prayer When there is occasion of this remember three things 1. The time of the vse of it 2. The ends of the vse of it 3. The conditions of the vse of it 1 The time is first either of some great calamity secondly or of extraordinary repentance for some speciall sinne thirdly or when we desire to obtain some speciall grace 2 The ends in fasting are two First a fitting our selues to prayer that we may be the more liuely and earnest Secondly that it may bee a helpe and a testimony of our sorrow for sinne and of our humiliation before God p Psal 35.13 3 The conditions are three 1 That it bee not superstitious for in it selfe it is no part of GODS worship The Kingdom of heauen is not in meat and drinke q Rom. 14.17 2 That it be not with the opinion of merit for whether we eate or eate not we are neither the more nor the lesse acceptable to God r 1. Cor. 8.8 3 That wee fast from sinne otherwise our fasting is Pharisaicall not regarded ſ Esa 58.5.6 Ier. 14.12 Thus much of preparation now of the other part which is execution In the execution or performance of this dutie of prayer I consider two things 1. The matter 2. The forme The matter of our prayers must bee onely that which is according to Gods reuealed will t 1. Ioh 15 14. the summe whereof is comprised in that diuine forme left vnto the Church by our Sauiour Christ called the Lords Prayer and may bee reduced to three heads 1. Gods glory with the remouing of the cōtraries 2. Our owne saluation with the remouing of the cōtraries 3. The vse of this life with the remouing of the cōtraries The forme is either 1. Inward or 2. outward First to the inward sixe things are requisite 1 Sinceritie of our desires that we pray not for fashion like hypocrites but with honest hearts 2 Feruency Such prayers obtaine u Iames 5.16 which he is not worthie to doe which askes in that manner as he cares not to receiue GOD loues an importunate begger Prayers are Incense which must be offered with fire 3 Faith whereby we certainely beleeue and expect the performance of our requests God is prouoked when we beg that which we looke not to receiue our faith is grounded 1 On the promise truth and power of him who hath promised 2 On the fatherly affection of God for if he bee our Father hee will much more then our earthly fathers giue vs good things * Luk. 11.13 3 On the merit of Christ which is infinite 4 Patience whereby we willingly submit our selues to Gods wil both in regard of the things we aske and of the time and meanes of receiuing Things that directlie concerne Gods glory and are necessary to saluation we must expect absolutely but things transitorie with this cōdition if God see them to be good for vs Better knowes the Physition what is good for the sicke then the Patient yea many times he blesseth vs exceedingly in not doing our will but his owne Wish not that to bee granted which thou wilt but labour thou to will that which it pleaseth God to grant It is lesse grieuous not to obtaine that which thou wilt then to will that which is not fit for thee to obtaine For the time we must not prescribe vnto God but waite vpon him 5 Perseuerance God sometime deferres the grāting of our requests not that he despiseth vs but for our exercise that we may be the more earnest till and the more thankfull when we haue receiued Things dearely bought are dearely esteemed Somtime God grants vs not that we aske but that which is better as in the example of Paul * 2 Cor. 12.7.89 Grace to stand in temptation is better then deliuerance And faith is a surer rule of our exauditiō thē our sense 6 Charity to pray for others as well as for our selues for the King and Queenes most excellent Maiesties and for their children and for all men y 1. Tim. 2.1.2 for our very enemies and persecutors z Mat. 5.44 as did our blessed Sauiour a Luk. 23.34 and

tenance Secondly faith to rest vpon God in all estates not vpon the meanes Thirdly not to vse vnlawfull meanes Fourthly that God would blesse his gifts vnto thee and that thou mayst vse them soberly and comfortably Fifthly thou mayst here make vse of the direction concerning thy personall calling 5 Petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue c. 1 Here make vse of the confession of sin and petition for pardon for faith and repentance according to the former direction 2 Here also desire a charitable heart toward thy neighbours as thou desirest to bee forgiuen so to forgiue others and to be ready to grant the pardon thou crauest 6. Petition Leade vs non into tentation but deliuer vs from euill Here desire strength against Satan his tentations and against all things whereby thou mayst be drawne from faith in God and holy obedience making vse of that which is in the Petition for perseuerance according to the former direction And for conclusion as our Sauior concludes with a kind of praise to God so doe thou The heads of thankfulnes thou mayst make the graces which God hath giuen thee according to euery petition First for making thee in any measure studious of his glory Secondly for giuing thee his Spirit Thirdly for his word Fourthly for his prouidence ouer thee Creating Preseruing thee Fifthly for pardon of sinne Iustification Sanctification c. Sixthly for strength in any tentation If thou wilt bestow some time and study to practise according to this I cannot but be perswaded that thou shalt find much benefit which God grant To conclude I would admonish a learner of fiue things First enter not vpon the practise here commended till thou hast these generall proiects perfect in thy head or some other Secondly in the meane time make vse of some good praier-book and out of it get by hart such prayers as best befit thy deuotion and necessities or if thou canst not reade vse some others help to reade thē or repeate them to thee at least neglect not to say vpon thy knees reuerently the Lords prayer alwaies prouided that thou well vnderstand the meaning of euery petition or otherwise thou shalt take GODS name in vaine Secondly giue not ouer this course though thou findest it hard but ouercome the difficulty with thy diligence and paines To giue ouer a good exercise for difficulties argues idlenesse and sloth All good things are hard to vs because of our corruption and prayer of all holy exercises the hardest wee must force nature Children learne not to speake perfectly in a day or a moneth much lesse can wee crie Abba Father perfectly and distinctly vpon the sudden Redeeme some of the time thou bestowest vpon thy pleasures and vanities and bestow it this way it shal neuer repent thee Fourthly remember that the Pharisies could make excellent prayers and the Reprobate can ●●ie Lord Lord. A wicked man may attaine thus farre as to make prayers very notable but with feeling and in faith to cry Abba Father a wicked man cannot This is prayer and a certaine token of Adoption the other is not Fifthly labor to haue grace in thy heart and whatsoeuer thou askest in prayer practise in life He that prayes for the pardon of his sinnes and for grace to liue well and yet neither endeuoureth to auoid sin or to practise pietie mockes God and shall not goe vnpunished Liue as thou prayest that thou mayest liue euer So be it PSAL. 66.18 If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not beare me 2. TIM 2.19 Let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie Now to the only wise God who is able to doe aboue all wee aske or thinke the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost bee praise in the Church throughout all generations for euer Amen FINIS Short and godly Admonitions concerning Time and the v●● of ing●●●ered out of Eph. 5.16 Redeeming the Time because the daies are euill Here are two par●● An exhortation To 〈◊〉 d●e●● the Ti●● A reason Because 〈◊〉 dayes are euill Redeeming the time TIme is the measure of Motion Opportunity is that part of time which is fittest for our affaires This is meant here as it is the measure of good motions called also occasion season due time It is the beautie of things for euery thing is beautifull in his time a Eccles 3.11 Meates are welcomest when they are in season so a word spoken in due season is comely b Prou. 25.11 Euen a refreshing of the wearie soule c Esay 51.4 As some imprison truth in vnrighteousnes (d) Rom. 1.18 so doe they time (e) Hierome It is charitie to redeeme time by righteousnes Opportunitie of time is a rich commoditie the couetousnesse of it to doe well is an honest couetousnesse As Merchants f Augustine obserue carefully the seasons of buying in and venting their Merchandise so buy thou and redeeme time to doe good They that loose time are the greatest loosers and wastfullest prodigals for of all other possessions two may be had together but two moments of time cannot be possessed together This precious commoditie is most out of request with great and rich men who consume and mispend time as fast as their vnthriftie children doe their inheritances Idlenesse vanity and neglecting the pretious time is the disease of great and rich men as they say the Gout is these can find time to dally to court to be riotous c. but not to pray and serue God therfore for the most part they are most poore in the best things Time is the price of time when thy profit thy pleasure thy vaine delights thy lusts call thee after them exchange time for time As thou giuest thy money for meate and apparrell so giue these things to purchase the time of prayer and wel-doing Salomon saith Buy the truth g Prou. 23.23 but Pilate saith What is truth h John 18.38 so Paul saith buy the time but our profane wretches say What is time let vs spend it say they as though it were little worth Time is Gods creature he allowes thee no time to bee vaine and wicked but hee giues thee time that thou mayst repent and doe good Make thy aduantage of it Of the time thou bestowest in prayer singing of Psalmes reading the Scriptures and good bookes and in doing good it shall neuer repent thee But time otherwise spent wil one day torment thy conscience Thou must giue account for time on this moment depends eternitie of blessednesse if it be well of miserie if it be ill imployed It is great wisdome to know the time and to redeeme it i Eph. 5.15.16 The men of Isachar were in great account with Dauid because they had vnderstanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do so are they in great account with God k 1. Chr. 12.32 who regard and vse the season of well doing When a poore man