Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	bring_v	great_a	lord_n	6,112	5	3.8538	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26870	A breviate of the life of Margaret, the daughter of Francis Charlton ... and wife of Richard Baxter ... : there is also published the character of her mother, truly described in her published funeral sermon, reprinted at her daughters request, called, The last work of a believer, his passing-prayer recommending his departing spirit to Christ, to be received by him.	Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1681 (1681)	Wing B1194; ESTC R1213	62,400	127

most to those who are best to me whether they have more or less of the Spirit To go no further it is now evident that I am a graceless person Though all these things be imperfect in the best and some are more wanting in one particular than in another yet where all their contraries are predominant as in me that person is told by this Sermon that they are none of Christs how much doth my behaviour at this time make this appear when I can with a hard heart and a dry eye and a steady hand declare my self at present heir of everlasting wo But the longest day will quickly come though I strive to put it as far from me § 4. It would be too long to recite a paper which I find next to this containing the great necessity of self-judging the reasons for it the rules for performing it and the due manner especially in dangers and before the Sacraments or any Conclusions of our state of Grace § 5. But these Convictions did neither die nor pass unto despair but to serious conversion yet put her to struggle hard against backwardness to secret duties and the forsaking of some vanities but presently God seemed sharply to entertain this returning soul. And while we were all rejoicing in her change she fell into a Cough and seeming Consumption in which we almost despaired of her life Mr. Iackson the Physician and my self seeing the case too hard for us described it to Dr. Prujean and Dr. G. Bates who both judged it a Consumption arising from the obstructions of the vessels in the Lungs and corrupting the tender adjoining parts and both prescribed her the same Medicines But all these and change of air long and breast-milk c. did no good I and my praying-neighbours were so sorry that such a changed person should presently b● taken away before she had time to manifest her sincerity and do God any service in the world that in grief they resolved to fast and pray for her For former experience had lately much raised their belief of the success of prayer They had lately prayed for one that seemed Demoniack that after some years misery was suddenly freed of that disease They had oft prayed for me in dangerous illness and I had speedy help I had lately swallowed a Goldbullet for a Medicine and it lodged in me long and no means would bring it away till they met to fast and pray and it came away that morning A young man yet living falling into a violent Epilepsie and after all means long remaining uncured they set to fasting and prayer in his hearing and the second day he was suddenly cured and never had a fit since God did not deny their prayers though they were without Book and such as some deride as extemporate I was not with them in any of these but lay-men that were humble praying persons only But I was with them at prayer for this woman and compassion made us all extraordinary servent and God heard us and speedily delivered her as it were by nothing or by an altogether undesigned means She drank of her own inclination not being directed a large quantity of syrrup of Violets and the next morning her nose bled which it scarce ever did before or since and the Lungs seemed cleared and her pulse suddenly amended her cough abated and her strength returned in short time CHAP. III. The workings of her soul in and after this Sickness § 1. SHE being of too timerous and tender a nature and the sharp work of her Repentance being yet upon her spirit for Death to come and seem to summon her away to Eternity at such a season and unsetled state must needs greatly encrease her fears when the strongest long experienced Christians find it no easie work to dye in peace and willing resignation But she had still a concealing temper which made it never the easier within § 2. When God had recovered her her Mother invited those that fasted and prayed for her to keep a Day of Thanksgiving for her Deliverance I asked her what she would have us give thanks for particularly And in the morning as we began she that was recovered gave us in this following Paper MY life hath been a life of very great mercies and these have aggravated my sin in overlooking them Some of those which God hath most affected my heart with I shall here mention but alas with a heart very insensible of the greatness of them 1. My Mothers restoration first I thank God did for and next for many Mercies of mine own Four times before this I have been delivered from great danger of death And now I desire to acknowledg his mercy in delivering me from this death threatning disease and that in answer to prayers I am here now in competent health to speak of the goodness of the Lord. 2. I desire to acknowledg it a mercy that God afflict me and though I cannot with the Psalmist say but now I keep thy statutes I can say before I was afflicted I went astray And how many great sins God hath prevented by this affliction I cannot tell but am sure that God hath dealt very graciously with me and I have had many comforts in my sufferings which God hath not given to many of his beloved ones 3. I desire to acknowledg Gods great mercy to me in bringing me to this Town under so useful means of Grace and that at such a time when I was even ready to engage in a course of sin and vanity beyond what I had formerly lived in This mercy is much greatned by the time for had the Lord brought me hither in Infancy and removed me at riper years the mercy would not have been so great And if I had gone longer on in a course of hardning sins it had been less than now it is 4. I desire to acknowledg it a great mercy that I want no outward thing but am enabled to be helpful unto others and have all the temporal mercies that I can well desire for my encouragement in the ways of God 5. I desire to acknowledg it a great mercy that God hath given me an interest in the hearts and prayers of so many of his faithful servants in this place 6. I desire to acknowledg it a great mercy that God hath made me the child of godly Parents and a child of many prayers 7. I desire to acknowledg it a great mercy which I can never be thankful enough for that God hath given me a heart in any measure willing to acknowledg his mercies and be thankful for them and that notwithstanding all that sin and Satan hath done to hinder it he hath made me desirous this day to give up my self and all that I have to him taking him only for my God and chief felicity And now the Requests that I desire you to make to God on my behalf are these 1. That he will give me a more thankful soul that I may praise

and trouble upon my spirits and well it may be so for the sins of this day have been very great My heart hath not answered the expressions of thanks which have been uttered by the mouths of those that spake them to God No no my heart hath not stirred and been drawn out towards my God! The thoughts of his love have not ravished my Soul Alas I scarce felt any holy spark to warm my Soul this day This day which was a day of the greatest mercy of any in all my life the day in which I have had an opportunity to give thanks for all the mercies of my life and thanks it self is a greater mercy than the rest All other mercies are to prepare for this This is the work of a glorified Saint even a Saint in heaven before the blessed face of God It 's his everlasting business to Sing the Songs of Thanksgiving and Praise to the Most High But my thoughts have not been filled with the sweet foretasts of this blessed work which I might have had this day O God I beseech thee forgive my sin and lay not my deadness to my charge but overlook all my transgressions and look on me in Jesus Christ my Saviour I am thine Lord and not mine own This day I have under my Hand and Seal in the presence of Witnesses nay in thine own presence who art Witness sufficient were there no eye to see me or ear to hear me Thou Lord that knowest all things knowest that I have devoted my All to thee Take it and accept my Sacrifice Help me to pay my vows Wilt thou not accept me because I do it not more sincerely and believingly O Lord I unfeignedly desire to do it aright O wilt thou strengthen my weak desires I believe Lord help my unbelief Thou that canst make me what I am not O make me what thou wouldst have me be In thee there is all fulness and to thee I desire to come by Christ. Wilt thou now cast me off because I do it not unreservedly Lord I confess the Devil tempteth and the flesh saith Spare something what let all go And I find in me a carnal selfish principle ready to close with the temptation But thou canst prevent and conquer all and speak death to these corruptions and bid the Tempter be gone It is thy pleasure here to suffer thy dear children to be tempted but fuffer not temptations to prevail against thy Spirit and Grace If temptation be like a torrent of water to smother quench or hide the flame yet wilt thou never let all the sparks of thy Grace be put out in the soul where once thou hast truly kindled it But Lord suffer not such floods to fall on my soul where the spark is so small already that it is even scarce discernible O quicken it and blow it up to a holy flame Most gracious God! O do it here who hast done it for many a soul O what have I said that I have a spark of grace why the least spark is worth ten thousand times more thanks than I can ever express and I have been dead and unthankful as is before confessed And is that a sign of grace Unthankful dead and dull I have been and still am but yet it must needs be from Gods gift in me that I have any desires after him and that this day I have desired to devote my self to him and that I can say I would be more holy and more heavenly even as the Lord would have me be Nay I do know the time when I had none of these desires and had no mind to God and the ways of godliness and do I not know that there be many in this condition who have no desires after Christ and holiness Here then is matter of comfort given me from him that doth accept the desires of his poor creatures even the Lord Christ who will not quench the smoaking flax nor break the bruised reed I see then that I have yet matter of rejoycing and must labour to be so humbled for my remaining sins as may tend to my future joy in believing but not so as to be discouraged and frightned from God who is longsuffering and abundant in mercy Rouze up thy self then to God my soul humbly but believingly repent that thou hast been so unthankful and insensible of the benefits this day received up up and lie not down so heavily God hath heard prayers for thee and given thee life and opportunity to serve him He hath given thee all the outward mercies thy heart can desire He hath given thee dear godly able friends such as can help thee in the way to heaven yea he hath set them to beg spiritual mercies for thee who prevailed for temporal for thee and oft for many others why then shouldst thou not watch and pray and wait in hope that he hath heard their prayers this day for thy soul as formerly for thy body They are things commanded of God to be asked and we have his promise that seeking we shall find It may be this night many of Gods dear children will yet pray for my soul I doubt not some will and shall I not be glad of such advantage I heard this day that I must not forbear thanks because the mercies are yet imperfect else we should never give thanks on earth Though therefore my Grace be yet but a spark and weak my body weak my heart sad all these administer matter of thanks and praise as well as of supplication Let me therefore keep close to both they being the life of my life while I live here and having daily need of supply from God let me daily be with him and live as in his presence Let him be the chief in all my thoughts my heart and life And let me remember to be earnest for my poor Relations and dear Friends and the Church and people of God in general And let me strive to keep such a moderate sense of sorrow on my soul as occasion requireth I have now cause of sorrow for parting with my dear friends my Father my Pastor He is by providence called away and going a long journey what the Lord will do with him I cannot foresee it may be he is preparing some great mercy for us and for his praise I know not but such a day as this may be kept here on his account The will of the Lord be done for he is wise and good we are his own let him do with us what he pleaseth all shall be for good to them that love God I have cause to be humbled that I have been so unprofitable under mercies and means it may grieve me now he is gone that there is so little that came from him left upon my soul. O let this quicken and stir me up to be more diligent in the use of all remaining helps and means And if ever I should enjoy this mercy again O let me make it appear that this night