Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	hear_v	lord_n	pray_v	6,088	5	6.6801	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17419	The light of faith: and, way of holinesse Shewing what to belieue, and for what to striue together, earnestly contend, and suffer for in this contending age. And how to liue in all estates, conditions, and degrees of relation, according to this faith. In both, deliuering (as neere as might be, in the life of Scripture phrase:) only things necessary, as we meane to be saued, and auoiding vtterly things arbitrary, that distract, rather then direct a Christian. Collected out of holy Scripture by an vnworthy labourer in Gods vineyard, Richard Bifield pastor in Long-Ditton, in Surrey.	Byfield, Richard, 1598?-1664.	1630 (1630)	STC 4239; ESTC S107158	133,233	536

reason profit credit and the like The contrary was found in Iohanan and his confederates who promised all this to Ieremy but secretly resolued to try what the will of God was and to obey no further then it agreed to their wils Ier. 42 43. In hearing there is required 1 Attention of the ea●e bowed and inclined to heare Esa 55. 3. Of the eye if it may helpe affection as it doth Luk. 4. 28. Of the whole body as Mary Luk. 10. 39. Constantine the great would stand and heare though he were admonished of his Nobles not to doe it Such a composure or posture of body as may free from distraction expresse reuerence and helpe affection is required which will easily be framed ●f we marke the rules following namely 2 To heare as in Gods presence Act. 10. 33. 3 To heare as the word of the liuing God not as the word of a mortall man it then worketh effectually when it is thus mixed with faith 1 Thes 2. 13. Hab. 4. 2. 4 Prayer Oh thou that dwellest in the gardens the Companions heare thy voyce cause mee to heare it Cant. 8. 13. 5 Intention of the minde the thoughts not rouing and the vnderstanding busied 6 Retention of the memory obseruing that rule to be wise for himselfe Pro. 9. 12. 23. 19. He that so doth hath a good if not a great memory After hearing 1 Meditation and rumination in which worke three things are essentiall that we try the spirits prouing all things and holding fast that which is good 1 Ioh. 4 1. 1 Thes 5. 21. And that wee compare it and our selues together Psal 119. 59. I haue considered my waies and turned my selfe vnto thy testimonies and lastly that we obserue how gracious the Lord is in his ordinances what word soeuer he is pleased to sweeten to vs with the tast of his speciall goodnesse to note that chiefly 1 Pet. 2. 3. Psal 34. 6. 8. 2 The treasuring it vp for practise vpon all occasions Psal 119. 1● Thou must presently set vpon the doing of what thou hast heard and retaine it not for that day but for euer Which is easily done if wee turne it into action as Mat. 7. 24. else we deceiue our selues Iam. 1. 22. §. IX The second part of Gods worship viz. the receiuing of the Sacrament of Christs Body and Bloud THis holy ordinance of Of receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Christ instituted in memory of his death and passion for our sinnes doth present the grace and mercy of God the Father and of our Lord Iesus to the ●ast and sight of the beleeuer of which we may say Oh come tast and see how gracoius the Lord is Neare is our approach to the Lord of glory when we see handle taste him when we are made one with him when he liues in vs. Who is sufficient or meet for these things Yet who would not his part and lot should be in this businesse if thy question be what letteth me to bee part ker of the Lords Table I answere Thou and all other Christians baptised that are come to yeeres of discretion may and must oft euen as oft as the laudable custome of the Church in which they liue requireth communicate at this heauenly banquet and feast of fat things To all such our Sauiour saith Take Eate c. And nothing hindreth but thou ma●st with comfort draw nigh to this ordinance if thou follow the rules giuen to make thee a worthy Communicant They concerne thy preparation and vse thereof 1 For preparation foure things are to be looked vnto by The preparation him that would come and receiue to his comfort 1 His knowledge of the doctrine of saluation by Christ Of the nature and vse of this Sacrament that his heart be not through ignorance poysoned with superstition or contempt 1 Cor. 11. 23. Sacraments are seales of the righteousnesse of faith Rom 4. 11. It is then of absolute necessity to bee knowne what this righteousnesse of faith is it is the way of making sinners righteous before God by the righteousnesse of Christ the Son of God imputed to vs of God and receiued by beleeuing of vs euen the righteousnesse of Christ who being become man wrought our redemption by his bloud and was made sinne that wee might be made the righteousnesse of God in him And thus we should be iustified not by the workes of righteousnesse which we haue done Vnlesse this be knowne and beleeued in vaine shall we come to this ordinance where the seale is annexed to this and no other Couenant On the other side the nature and vse of this Sacrament must be knowne viz. that it is giuen on Gods part as a signe memoriall seale and meanes to conuey Christ and all the benefits of his death obedience and bloud shedding to the beleeuer and that it is on our parts a solemne renewing of our Couenant with God and of our intire association to the fellowship of the Saints 2 The practise of the duty of examination a reuiew of heart and waies to finde out our sins and to iudge our selues for them that we may come with true humiliation and may seeke particularly the support of Gods ordinances vnder our particular sinnes both the assurance of his loue in forgiuing them and the increase of strength against them 1 Cor. 11. 28. 31. 3 The forgiuing of others that haue trespassed vs in all things for any matter of reuenge malice or secret grudge a leauen that swels the heart and sowres the sacrifice and maketh it distastfull to the Almighty 1 Cor. 5. 7. 8. And here wee are bound to seeke reconciliation and offer agreement Mat. 5. 23. 24. 25. 26. 4 His hunger and thirst after the mercy of God and the grace of Christ there offered to be exhibited and assured to vs. Esa 55. 1. 3. Mat. 5. 6. 2 For the vse of this Sacrament Vse In the time of receiuing we are not onely to take to eate and to drinke the bread and wine Mat. 26. 26. but also 1 By faith to eate and drinke Christs body and bloud tendred verily and indeed in the words of promise This is my Body which Ioh. 6. 35. is broken for you and this is my bloud of the New Testament which is shed for you vnto which promise thou liftest vp the hand and openest the mouth of thy soule namely a liuely faith and thus feedest on his Body and Bloud suffering on the Crosse for thy sinnes Thy faith must discerne the Lords body that thou become not guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord esteeme not of that bread and that Cup as of ordinary bread and wine but as Sacramentall so that thou beleeue the presence of Christ and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer as the Minister giueth Bread and Wine to his body and exalting thy faith thou must beleeue he is giuen to thee also neither doth God delude thee 1

men for as for mee I will behold thy face in righteousnesse while I liue here and when I awake at the resurrection of the iust I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse Psalm 17. 14. 15. 16. 4 Oppose to the thoughts of the good thou mightest doe these s●uory meditations that God hath set thee thy time and he knoweth how long it is fit for thee to worke that he can prouide men endowed with spirit and power to effect what good he will haue wrought that thou maiest wound thy soule by miscarriage of weighty employments as well as honour God by the well-managing of them beware that vaine-glory or some vncleane affection put not forward this desire and know thy holinesse is not hindred but perfected by going to heauen 5 And for thy mis●e in thy familie I beware thou be not guilty of ascribing ought to thy prouidence wit poines or hand but to Gods blessing which can by thee and can without thee sustaine them in t●e●r necessitie 2 see that thou rest on the promises of God and referre them to him the faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. vlt. that heauenly father who knoweth wee haue neede of all these things of life Mat. 6. 32. That father of the fatherlesse and iudge of the widdowes cause 6 Oppose to the thoughts of the vilenesse of thy body the glory of the resurrection when this vile body of thine shall bee made like the glorious body of thy Sauiour Phil. 3. 21. whom thou shalt be hold not with other but with these same eyes though now thy reines should be consumed within thee by some loathsome disease When this corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortall shall put on immortality this naturall be raised spirituall this weake body raised in power and this body sowne in dishonour raised in honour 1 Cor. 15. 43. 53. Iob 19. 25. 26. 27. And to thy lying in the graue set 1 our Sauiours buriall who hath by his owne body laid in the graue perfumed thine and turned it from an hole of contempt into a garner to reserue the Lords purest graine 2 The nature of it what is it else saue a sweet rest in our bed Esa 57. 2. 3 The vnion and communion we haue with Christ is most neare and indissoluble Rom. 8. 38 He is now the God of Abraham Our very dust is yet in couenant with God and not dismembred from Christs body Mat. 22. 32. 7 For paines ag●nies and the kinde of death 1 Remember that all these were s●nctified to the Christian in the ignomini us and paine●ull death of the Crosse there they all lost their sting and poyson 2 All is yours life death by famine persecution sword 1 Cor. 3. 22. 3 God is your God and guide vnto th● death Psal 48. 14. 4 Take heed ●hou offend not against the generation of Gods children if by prosperity or aduersity thou conclude any man happinesse or misery before God How goeth it with the vngodly they prosper in the world they haue no bands in their death their strength is firme they are not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other folke In the meane while what is the estate of a Dauid let himselfe te●l All the day long haue I beene plagued and chastened euery morning Psal 73. 4. 6. 14. Being then setled in this perswasion that the Lord is thy shepheard say yea though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 1. 4. 8 For temptations terrors and angors know 1 That the Anointing abideth with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27. 2 Now is thy faith proued not to be temporary if thou canstrest on the word of promise when thou hast no sense and feeling but of terrours Heb. 11. 1. Iob 13. 15. 3 Thou hast heard of the patience of Iob Oh see what an end the Lord gaue to his trials for the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercies Iam. 5. 11. 9 For the vizar● if death present it selfe as the depriuer of happinesse it is cleane contrary rather is life so to the godly who while hee is present in the body is absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. 9. And all in life is full of vanity and vexation of spirit while we liue we are lyable to Gods corrections to the preuailing of sinne to the bewitching enticements of the world to the buffetings of Sathan But looke vpon death in Christ and not in Moses and it is comfortable as the finall close of all miseries to soule and body and as the doore and gate of all heauenly refreshings 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. Thus of the eare to bee ●r●ug●t vpon vs that we may ●●e happily the duties follow 2 Secondly when these diseases 2 By the care of duties are cured estampe on thy h●are the care of these duties which will keepe thy soule alwaies in an holy temper 1 Medi●ate seriously and frequently on death that thou maiest a●t●ine to that pitch of perfection to dye daily This produceth sixe rare effects 1 The flight ●f sinne Lam. 1. 9. 2 The contempt of the world 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. 3 Selfe-denyall 4 The right guidance of the present li●e 5 The true moderation of present ioyes 6 The right diuident dijudica●ion of a present and future life This shou●d bee beganne in our youth Eccles 12. 1. Iob 14. 14. 2 Meditate oft●n iudgement and hell and the glory of the heauen of the blessed 3 Practise the three theologicall vertues as they are called in Schooles ●aith in the premises hope of good things to come charity in making you friends of the vnrighteous Mammon 4 Haue alwaies an eye to those three gracious directions giuen by our Saui●ur Luk. 12. 35 36. 1 To haue your loynes girt ● corruption of nature and inward ●u●ls thence issuing so striuen against with strength of resolution that they may not hang about the feet of our soules in running the race of godlinesse 2 To haue your lampes in your hands burning that is our holy profession adorned with the shining light of good workes 3 To watch to prayer to the opportunities of wel-doing to the seasons of grace and against our corruptions 5 Remember Pauls Ethickes euery day to prac●i●e them ●●●t 2. 12. To deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts To liue godly righteously soberly Practise them with three duties 1 Prayer in speciall for preparation for death and deliuerance from the former diseases 2 Almesdee●s 3 Fastings as occasions shall be offered 6 Looke to the casting vp of thine accounts there chiefely order thy selfe for these two things Forgiuenesse of wrongs done to thee Satisfaction of wrongs done by thee When thou art in the very confines of death death standing before the doore then see these three duties of speciall moment 1 Thy reconciliation to God and here present the grounds of thy hope to thy able Pastor requiring his

doing some worke on that day then though the worke must be d●ne yet thou offendedst in thy neglig●nt preparation Thou m●st so contriue thy worldly affaires that they trouble thee not with cares nor call thee to labour but on the other side remember so to la●our that the day before the Sabbath may haue lesse imploym●nt then any other so thy worldly aff●yres shall no way incroach vpon the bounds of that day which the Lord hath 〈…〉 t a●art for himselfe nor breake into the Lords inclosure 3 To examine our selues for our sinnes especially those of the weeke repent washing euen our garments and drawing neare with the best holinesse we can get Gen. 35. 2 3. Psal 26. 6. Neh. 13. 22. We finde a fiue sold triall layed vpon the Christian He that would obserue this duety must keepe his Christian watch 1 Daily Psal 4. 2 Before the Communion 1 Cor. 11. 28. 31. 3 In time of humiliation publike or priuate when any heauie iudgement is sought to be remooued Lam 3. Zeph 2. 4 In the time of sicknesse when wee are summoned to leaue this world Esa 38. 5 Weekely before the Sabbath this here 4 To reforme all household iarres betweene husband and wife Parents and children Master and seruant for these hinder our prayers and Leauen our hearts and our Sacrifices Lev. 19. 3. 1. Pet. 3. 7. 1 Cor. 5. 8. Can God bee worshipped aright in his house when people liue not quietly dutifully and louingly in their houses Domesticall grieuances extend their infection to the pollution of Gods Sabbath Doe this thou dost prepare For the obseruation of the day when the Sabboth is come it must bee kept to this end there are charged vpon vs three duties first rest secondly the sanctification of the day thirdly the meanes of sanctifying the day 1 The first duty is that wee rest that day and so there is required a three-fold rest the rest of the body from workes of labour and worldly businesse in our particular callings and from workes of pleasures and recreations Esa 58. 13. the Lord saith that the Sabboth is then consecrated as holy when we neither doe our owne waies nor finde our owne pleasure nor speake our owne words vnder those words the finding our owne pleasure is condemned all recreations though they be honest and lawfull at other times vnlesse you call those onely recreations of which the Apostle Iames speaketh chap. 5. verse 13. If any be merry let him sing Psalmes To carry burdens and buy and sell on the Sabbath is to keepe the Sabbath of the men of Sabbathum Tyriorum Ashdod and Tyrus Neh. 13. 16. 20. 10. 31. God forbid it should bee heard of in Israel it would kindle an vnquenchable fire in our gates and deuoure our pallaces Ier. 17. 27. To rise vp to play and sit Sabbathum aureivituli downe to eate and drinke on that day were to keepe the Sabbath of the golden Calfe Exod. 32. 6. Obserua diem Sabbathi non carnaliter non iudaicis delicijs qui otio abutuntur ad nequitiam melius enim vtique tota die foderent quam tota die saltarent obserue the Sabbath day not carnally not with Iewish delights who abuse their leisure to naughtinesse for better it were no doubt they would digge the whole day then dance the whole day If you hold it vnfit to digge this holy Father S. Augustine holds it worse to dance that day The rest of the soule is required Sabbathum satan● from the workes of sinne which are euery way our owne workes Heb. 4. 10. and euery way seruile Esa 56. 2. Euill actions on this day are double iniquities such a Sabbath kept is a Sabbath for the Deuill The rest of cattell is required Sabbathum Boûm Asinorum that mercy may be shewed to the Beast and all occasions of mans labour may bee cut off for that day 2 The second duty is the keeping of the rest to sanctifie the day in workes of holinesse otherwise as bodily exercise profiteth little so bodily rest will profit as little What is rest enough is this a Sabbath or acceptable day to the Lord to goe fine and doe nothing Thine Oxe and Asse may keepe a Sabbath then as well as thou Diues himselfe could affoord that this precept should be morall Adde holinesse then to thy rest and rest that thou maiest be bound for the workes of sanctity but what are they They are the duties of piety and the workes of mercy The duties of piety are either publique or priuate the publique duties are these to heare and preach the Word with application to sing Psalmes to pray with the congregation catechising receiuing and administring of the Communion to be present at the administration of Baptisme and discipline this latter is a worke for the Sabboth though not for euery Sabboth The priuate duties haue either reference to the publique or are seuerally required those that haue reference to the publique are duties to be done before we come to the congregation or after Before wee come 1. wee ought to reade or heare the word read or to meditate on some part of it Blessed is the man in whose heart are thy wayes they goe from strength to strength euery one of them in Syon appeareth before God in thy walke to Gods house if thou wouldest be blessed Gods waies must be in thy heart 2. Wee must pray both for our selues and for the Minister for our selues our requests should be chiefly for these three things 1. for pardon of sinnes confessing and bewailing and laying aside malice guiles hypocrisies enuyings euill speakings and all superfluity of naughtinesse 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2. Iam. 1. 21. These sinnes will dis-sauour and dis-relish the milke of Gods word and keepe vs for feeling the sauing power and ability that is therein 2. For increase of grace 3. For Gods blessing on the meanes For our Minister our prayer should bee that hee may come to vs in the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospell of Christ Ephes 6. 19. Rom. 15. 29. these duties before After the publique assemblies is required 1. examination of our selues and our charge for our selues that practise of Dauid must bee ours I thought on my waies and turned my feet vnto thy testimonies Psal 119. 59. For our charge we should whet the doctrine vpon their hearts and set an edge on the word deliuered by familiar conference Deut. 6. 7. True it is conference with others may be betweene teachers and hearers Mat. 15. 16. and betweene hearers whether equals as in Mal. 3. 16. or superiours and inferiours as the King and the Subiect 2 King 3. 11. and master and seruant 2. The searching of the Scripture vpon that wee haue heard not receiuing the doctrine of a Paul vpon trust Act. 17. 11. 1 Ioh. 4. 1. 1 Thes 5. 21 But prouing all thi●gs and holding ●ast that which is good especially good for vs 3. Pondring it in our hearts