Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	repentance_n	sin_n	true_a	4,896	5	5.0189	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69535	The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by His Sacred Majesty as commissioners for the review and alteration of the Book of common prayer, &c. : being an exact account of their whole proceedings : the most perfect copy.	Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.; Commission for the Review and Alteration of the Book of Common Prayer.	1661 (1661)	Wing B1278A; Wing E3841; ESTC R7198	132,164	165

vary his request Gen. 18. But that 's not our case The Psalms and Prayers of David Solomon Hezekiah Asa Ezra Nehemiah Daniel and the other Prophets of Christ himself Joh. 17. are usually one continued speech and not like yours as we said before Why the repeated mention of the Name and Attributes of God should not be more pleasing to any godly person we cannot imagine or what burden it should seem when David magnified one Attribute of Gods mercy 26. times together Psal 36. Nor can we conceive why the Name and merits of Jesus with which all our Prayers should end should not be as sweet to us as to former Saints and Martyrs with which here they complain our Prayers do so frequently end since the Attributes of God are the ground of our hope of obtaining all our Petitions such Prefaces of Prayers as are taken from them though they have no special respect to the Petitions following are not to be termed unsuitable or said to have fallen rather casually than orderly Repl. As we took it to be no Controversy between us whether the mention of Gods Name is deservedly sweet to all his Servants So we thought it was none that this reverend Name is reverently to be used and not too lightly and therefore not with a causelesse frequency tossed in mens mouthes even in prayer itself and that tautologies and vain repetitions are not the better but the worse because Gods Name is made the matter of them It is not you that have expressed your offence as well as we against those weak Ministers that repeat too frequently the Name and Attributes of God in their extemporate Prayers And is it ill in them and is the same and much more well in the Common Prayer O have not the Faith or worship of our glorious God in respect of persons Let not that be called ridiculous idle impertinent or worse in one which is accounted commendable in others Do you think it were not a faulty crossing of the mind and method of Jesus Christ if you should make 6. Prayers of it he 6. Petitions of the Lords Prayer and set the Preface and Conclusion unto each as Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name for thine is the Kingdome c. and so over all the rest Yet we know that the same words may be oft repeated as David doth Gods enduring mercy without such tautological vanity when it is not from emptinesse or neglect of order or affectation But in Psalms or Hymns where affections are to be elevated by such figurative elegancies and strains as are best beseeming Poetry or Rapture we are not against such repetitions But if we may according to the Common-Prayer-book begin and end and begin and seem to withdraw again and make a Prayer of every Petition or two and begin and end every such petition with Gods name and Christs merits as making up half the form or near nothing is an affected empty tossing of Gods name in Prayer if this be not We are perswaded if you should hear a man in a known extemporate prayer do thus it would seem strange and harsh even to your selves There are besides a preparative Exhortation several preparatory prayers 1. Despise not O Lord humble and contrite hearts Which is one of the sentences in the Preface And this That those things may please him which we do at this present at the end of the Absolution And again immediately after the Lords Prayer before the Psalmody O Lord open thou our Lips c. Repl. Despise not O Lord humble and contrite hearts is not prayer for assistance and acceptance in that Worship suited to the duty of a people addressing themselves to God But it is recited as a Scripture invitation to repentance and that those things may please him which we do at this present are no words of Prayer but part of an exhortation to the people and O Lord open thou our lips comes after the Exhortation Confession Absolution and Lords Prayer and ergo is not in the place of such an Address as we are speaking of What will not seem to justify what we have a mind to justify and to condemn that which we have a mind to condemn This which they call a defect others think they have reason to account the perfection of the Liturgy the Offices of which being intended for common and general services would cease to be such by descending to particulars as in confession of Sin while it is general all persons may and must joyn in it since in many things we offend all But if there be a particular enumeration of sins it cannot be so general a confession because it may happen that some or other may by Gods Grace have been preserved from some of those sins enumerated and therefore should by confessing themselves guilty tell God a Lye which needs a new Confession Repl. If general words be its perfection it s very culpable in tediousnesse and vain repetitions For what need you more than Lord be merciful to us sinners There 's together a general confession of Sin and a general Prayer for mercy which comprehend all the particulars of the peoples Sins and wants We gave you our reason which you answer not Confession is the exercise of Repentance and also the helper of it And it is noe true repentance which is not particular but only general If you say that you repent that you have sinned and know not where or do not repent of any particular sin you do not indeed repent for Sin is not existent but in the Individuals And if you ask for grace and know nor what grace or desire no particular graces indeed you desire not grace at all We know there is time and use for general Confessions and Requests But still as implying particulars as having gone before or following or at least it must be supposed that the people understand the particulars included and have inward confessions and desires of them Which cannot here be supposed when they are not all mentioned not can the people generally be supposed to have such quick and comprehensive minds nor is there leisure to exercise such particular repentance or desire while a general is named And we beseech you let Scripture be Judge whether the Confessions and Prayers of the Servants of God have not been particular As to your objection or reason we answer 1. There are general Prayers with the particular or without them 2 There are particular Confessions and Prayers proper to some few Christians and there are others common to all It is these that we expect and not the former 3. The Churches Prayers must be suited to the body of the Assembly though perhaps some one or few may be in a state not fit for such expressions What a lamentable Liturgy will you have if you have nothing in it but what every one in the Congregation may say as true of and suitable to themselves Then you must leave out all