Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	hear_v	heart_n	pray_v	1,932	5	5.7672	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09958	The doctrine of the saints infirmities Delivered in severall sermons by John Preston Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of Emanuel-Colledge in Cambridge. And late preacher of Lincolnes Inne.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.; Goodwin, Thomas, 1600-1680.; Ball, Thomas, 1589 or 90-1659.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver.	1636 (1636)	STC 20219; ESTC S115062	47,226	230

purged inwardly they had no doubt a Substantiall though not a Ceremoniall cleansing according to that of the Apostle 2 Tim. 2. 21. If a man doe therefore purge himselfe from these he shall be a vessell unto honour sanctified and meete for the Masters use and prepared unto every good worke There 's none of us would have our meate come up upon a dirty Dish and much lesse God When David asked for some holy Shew-bread from the Priests he tels him withall that the vessels of the young men that were to carry it were holy 1 Sam. 21. 5. So must our hearts be when we adventure to draw neere to God And though we cannot here attaine a perfect purity but that corruption will still be mingled with our best performances yet that must be removed and laid aside that kept us back from turning to the Lord the rubbish of necessity must be removed that stops the building from going on 1 Pet. 1. 22 23. Seeing yee have purified your soules to the obedience of the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren c. Being borne againe c. That is seeing that original impurity that blocked up the soule from turning unto God is done away the heapes of muck and rubbish that stood where now the building is erected for that 's done alwayes at the first conversion of the soule to God and never fully doth returne 3. When it is softned and fitted to receave impressions when the Centurion by much dejection and prostration of his soule to God in secret had his heart so mollified that any thing would make a charracter or Print Hee tels Peter He was ready to heare whatsoever God should be pleased for to speake Act. 10 33. It 's not enough that the mettall be refined and purged from the drosse that before did cleave unto it unlesse it likewise be so softned as that it will accommodate it selfe unto the mold or stampe it shall be cast into and therefore it 's powred into that while it is soft and liquid So the Apostle Rom. 6. 17. argues They now were truely freed from the dominion and power of their former unregenerate estate because their Hearts did yeeld unto the stampe that was imprinted on them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As the mettall then is judged to bee sufficiently continued in the Furnace when it willingly receives the forme and figure of that which it is cast and poured into Thus Paul was melted by that Sunne of Righteousnesse that shone into his soule when hee was going upon other errands Acts. 9. 6. And he trembling and astonish'd saying Lord what wilt thou have mee for to doe as if hee should have said This fire of thy love hath now so thawed and melted my obdurate and kicking soule that it is prepared for any mould to receive what print soever thou shalt bee pleased for to stamp upon it put mee into whatsoever shape thou wilt I am now ready for any mold to be a preacher that have been a persecutor to suffer my selfe that have beene the cause of so much suffering to others formerly and therefore no marvaile if the Lord professeth he would looke to such alone Isaiah 66. 2. because onely such are fitted to bee wrought upon whereas unbroken and unmollified spirits submit to nothing but the word is as water spilt upon the Rocke that makes no manner of impression 4 The heart is then prepared for a duty when it makes the duty but a bridge to lead him unto God when it rests not in the deed but passeth by it and through it to God Yee have many very frequent in the outward acts of duty will heare and pray and fast and preach perhaps yet raise their soules no higher then the outward act alone Hos. 7. 14. And they have not cryed unto mee with their hearts when they howled upon their beds Therefore not with their hearts because not unto me or at least with hearts well qualified and fitted for that holy duty There were some it may bee among these people that came unto the Passeover to please the King because the King was pleased for to have it so and so they should but if they rested there and went no further their service would no be accepted neither were they included in Hezekiahs Prayer for hee onely prayes for them that sought the Lord God of their fathers not that sought the face of the Ruler or the favour of this godly King or any other bie and carnall end So Esa. 55. 6. Seeke the Lord while he may be found The duty is ordained to draw and to allure the soule to God no more but an opportunity that God and men may trade and have commerce with one another As Solomon did therefore build the glorious Temple to the Lord that he might dwell with men 2. Chron. 7. 12. But now if any rested in that Temple and went no higher he had no interest in any promise that was made unto it for the condition of the promise was that they should seeke his face ver 14. If my people which are called by my name shall humble them selves and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked way Then will I heare from heaven wil forgive their sin and wil heale their Land if they shall humble themselves and pray and seeke my face but if they prayed never so much and in their praiers had onely respect and aime unto themselves hee would not heare them It is a strange expression of the Prophet Amos 5. 25. 26. Have yee offered unto me Sacrifice and offerings in the wildernesse by the space of forty yeares O ye house of Israel Why what did they with the Tabernacle and all their furniture but accomodate their publicke service in the wildernesse no saies God Yee did it to your selves your ends and aimes were carnall sensuall and earthly in it and you had no profit by it as neither have many now a daies for want of disposing and preparing of their hearts for God aright And so wee have done with the first poynt observed from the Text. Wee are now to come unto the latter part and reason of this holy mans request which was there not being cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary which was a legal barre lett to stop them from the Passeover how upright and sincere soever they were Wherefore he labours by earnest prayer to remoove this barre great impediment and the Lord expresseth here his willingnesse to be intreated for the Lord heard his prayer and healed the people whence this will follow Where there is uprightnes and sincerity of heart Infirmities do not exclude from mercy this is apparant in the Text for hee prayes for mercy and hath it granted although they were not qualified as God required and may bee further proved From the wisedome of God who knowes what we can doe and will expect no more as a wise parent will not looke for so much from a