Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	bear_v	death_n	life_n	2,645	5	4.1699	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

matter by which he intends to benefit himself would not court him the best he could or at least give him that respect as well in Conversation as Salutation which to him is due according to his quality much more to a King when a Petition is presented to him For it is known in all Kingdoms with what low submission and respect and with how many bowings he is first saluted before the Petition be delivered and then how observant the Petitioner is of the King's gesture whilst he reads it how carefully doth he fix his eyes to see when he will look at him and how attentively and patiently doth he expect his answer Be you now Judge dear Christians whether wrong be not done to the King of Kings and Lord of all things when by those that go to speak and petition to him He is not so much regarded as a temporal King or worldly Man of mean degree for they scarce begin to pray when most irreverently they turn as we may say their back-●●●es to his Divine Majesty who is there attending to give audience to their request their mind busily speaking with the World and he left as a Cypher quite forgotten Oh foul abuse Oh great irreverence Oh unspeakable ingratitude A Prayer MY God how canst thou indure it My dearest Lord how dost thou bear with such rude and ungrateful people Verily thou art the God of patience and goodness the meanest Man of any fashion would not take the like affront at any others hands though somewhat beyond his degree O true Lover of our Souls what can they expect by such Prayers or rather by such Mockeries for though thou art most merciful and gracious and very willing to receive our Petitions and grant what we desire if we come to thee with that humble reverence and true confidence which is fitting and all ought to have in thee or with that respect and attention which they afford even to thy Creatures when thy great goodness and mercy is not regarded but they dis-esteem it and turn their hearts and minds from thee and when the Day of reckoning comes Doubtless thou wilt turn thy blessed face from them and they may hear to their cost Depart from me ye cursed into Hell for ever which is an Exclusion from the Joys of Heaven and the sight of God's Glory Eternally I beseech thee therefore my most gracious Lord that thou wilt prevent this my so great Evil and grant us most frail Sinners thy holy grace in this Life to forsake this great irreverence and continual abuse of thy Divine Majesty in time of our Prayer which through negligence and inconsideration we commonly fall into that thy sweet face may not be turned from us at the hour of Death nor we be forsaken by thee for all Eternity Amen MUNDAYS Exercise Noah entreth the Ark Gen. VII And the Lord said unto Noah came thou and all thy house into the Ark. etc. v. 1. Of every cleane beast take by sevens etc. v. 2. Of beasts that are not cleane and of fowles and of every thing that cre●peth etc. v. 8 there went in two and two etc. v. 9 CHAP. II. Of profitable Praying Sect. 1 FIrst dear Soul know that in your Conversation with God neither Rhetorical Heavenly conversation Eloquence subtilty of Wit nor great Learning is requisite but a plain humble and simple Declaration of what you intend for his Divine Majesty understands our intentions therefore it will be fitting whensoever we go to Prayer to have a certain intention and to propose to thy self some end for which you intend then to Pray that your Prayer may not be in vain As for example I will go to Prayer Example to give God thanks for his benefits bestowed on me as for my Creation Redemption and such like and in token of gratitude I will say such Prayers or spend so long time at my Devotions and confess with unfeigned unthankfulness for the love which our Saviour did bear towards me coming from Heaven to Earth to suffer what he did in his Life and Death to satisfie his Heavenly Father for the sins of such a vile wretch as I am and then purpose through his Grace to serve and love him ever after with more fidelity and sincerity than formerly and crave his holy assistance and grace to that end also at other times to obtain true sorrow repentance and forgiveness of your Sins likewise amendment of your Life or the over-coming of some vice or passion to which you are most inclined or to gain some virtue as patience humility love of your Neighbour chastity c. Moreover you may imploy your Prayers for the conversion of Sinners or any other thing that is commended to your Prayers or you intend to obtain of his Divine Majesty for surely it is much simplicity and ignorance in any to go to Prayer and speak with this so great a King and gracious a Lord and not know what about nor considering to what end Sect. 2 Therefore going to Prayer which it is as I said to speak to that great King and Lord of Heaven and Earth remember always Order of going to prayer to do and direct it for one of the former ends or the like which done in the place of Prayer suppose in your Mind that God is there present gloriously as truly he is accompanied and attended with many Quires of Angels that are always praising him with unspeakable reverence and love That he is there to give you Audience and know The presence of God your intent and request after this great submission and humility address your Petition to his Divine Majesty by devout Prayers inwardly remembring that you are speaking to him always indeavouring to have your mind well applied whensoever you go to Prayer and be carefull to reflect on what you do and how you Pray and if you find your mind wandring and not applied as it ought with humility try God's mercy for that irreverence This manner of proceeding in Prayer no doubt but doth please the Almighty God and he will not deny what you desire or grant you a better thing for this is the true way to pray with profit and it will bring you with facility to Mental prayer For indeed Vocal prayer so used is both Vocal and Mental and certainly God doth concur particularly God's concurrence with those that give themselves to Prayer granting them not onely many inward comforts and consolations but also such an exemplary Life that they are observed and beloved by most people for the inward Grace cannot but manifest it self in the outward works so that you may see them often visiting the Churches delighting to hear Sermons and Divine Service frequenting the Sacraments with much Devotion spending long time in Prayer with so great inward feeling that often outwardly the Outward sence of inward grace Tears abundantly flow from the inward sweetness They read good Books to keep in the little fire of Devotion

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