Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	form_n	prayer_n	use_v	5,241	5	6.1492	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09999	The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in fiue sermons vpon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.; Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635.; Davenport, John, 1597-1670.	1629 (1629)	STC 20251; ESTC S105990	87,396	182

as if we grow strangers to God as if we grow to a generall rebellion against him As put the case a childe commits a great offence against his father yet if hee runne away from his fathers house and grow a stranger to him that is more then the particular offence for a generall rebellion must needs be more then the particular and to giue over calling vpon God to breake off that course to grow a stranger to him to runne away from his house and as it were to be ready to giue over all his ordinances a constant course of obedience to him this is a generall rebellion is worse then the particular yea such carriage after sin committed moues God to anger more then the sin it selfe as many times the contemptuous negligent rebellious carriage after an offence moues a mast●…r a husband or a parent more then the particular failing though it were exceeding great Besides consider when a man commits a great finne he makes a great gap in his conscience he makes a great breach there and will you haue that breach lye open is not that very dangerous is not that the way to bring in more ●…in and to suffer those good things that are in the heart to steale out I will giue you but one instance for this You see St. Peter when he had committed a great sinne in denying his master and forswearing of him too yet because he came in presently and repented and sought pardon as you know hee did you see hee was preserved from running into further arrerages for hee made vp the gappe hee made vp the breach We see on the other side when David had committed that sinne with Batb●…eba and did not come vnto God as he should haue done to keepe his constant course in sacrificing vnto him in repenting and renewing his repentance and praying to him you know how many sinnes he fell into and likewise that was the case of Salomon you know to what a height hee grew by not comming vnto God at his first failing and therefore I say there is reason that wee should doe it though the sinne bee great wee ought to come in and to keepe our course constantly But may I not stay till I bee more fitted till my heart bee more softened and more humbled Beloved to st●…y in this case is dangero●… for the heart commonly growes more hard in continuance the conscience is more tender immediately after the sinne is committed then it is afterwards and when thou stayest for more humility thou findest lesse and therefore while the wound is greene and when the fire hath taken newly holde it is then best to quench it before the wound be festered before it hath continued long for the heart will grow worse and worse as it is Heb 3. 12. Take heede that you be not hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne the meaning is this when thou committest a sinne you thinke if you stay a weeke or a fortnight or a moneth you shall come in as well as at the first no saith the Apostle while it is to day come in that is doe it presently for sinne will deceiue you it will harden your heart before you bee aware it will make a distance betweene God and you it will take you off from him it will leade you further on and therefore take heede that your hearts bee not hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne that sinne doe not deceiue you and it will doe it before you thinke of it and therefore in this case you should doe as you doe with waters when waters breake out a little it is best to stop them presently if you suffer them they will make the breach greater till at length you be vnable to stop them so in this case when you have committed a great sin come in speedily But you will say what shall a man come into Gods presence who is most holy after he hath defiled himselfe with some great sinne is not this an vnreuerent thing I answer briefly it is very true if thou be bolde to come into Gods presence with the same d●…sposition wherewith the sinne was committed with a minde so fashioned and so framed in that case thou doest exceedingly provoke him this is a very high degree of pro●…unesse and therefore when we say thou must come in and keepe a constant course in prayer notwithstanding the meaning is you must come in with a disposition turned aside from your sinnes and brought home to God with a minde to abhorre that which is evill and to cleaue to that which is good there must bee this conversation of the minde to him thou must not come in with the same disposition that must be altered So much shall serue sor the answere to this case Another case is whether wee may vse a set forme of prayer and likewise whether it bee sufficient I need not say much to you for I thinke there is none here that doubt of it but that a set forme of prayer may be vsed you know Christ prescribed a forme you know there were certaine Psalmes that were prayers that were vsed constantly and therefore there is no doubt but that a set for me may be vsed wee haue that example for it And in the Church at all times in the primatiue times of the Church and all along to the beginning of the reformed ti●…es to Luther and Calvins 〈◊〉 ●…till in all times the Church had set formes they vsed and I know no obiection against it of weight One maine obiection is this That in stinted prayer the spirit is streightned when a man is tyed to a forme then he shall haue his spirit as it were bounden and limited that he cannot goe beyond that which is prescribed and therefore say they it is reason a man should be left to more libertie as he is in conceived prayers and not tyed to a strict forme To this I answere even those men that are against this and that vse this reason they doe the same thing daily in the congregation for when another prayes that is a set forme to him that heares it I say it is a forme to him for put that case that he that is a hearer that heares another pray suppose that his spirit bee more inlarged it is a straightning to him hee hath no libertie to goe out he is bound to keepe his minde intent vpon it and therefore if that were a sufficient reason that a man might not vse a set forme because the spirit is streightned a man should not heare another pray though it be a conceived prayer because in that case his spirit is limited it may be the hearer hath a larger heart a great deale then he that speakes and prayes so that there is a bounding and streightning and a limiting of the spirit And therefore that reason cannot be good Againe I answere though the spirit bee limited at that time

yet he ha●…h a libertie at other times to pray as freely a●… hee will in private and there●…ore he is not so tied but though at that time he be yet it is no generall tie at another time or immediately after he may be as free as he will in secret Aga●…ne I answere it is not a tye and a restraint of the spirit because there is a tye of words for the largenesse of the heart stands not so muc●… in the multitude and variety of expressions as in the extent of the affection now then the heart may be very large for all that though he be tyed in words yet there is not a tye vpon the affection that may be extended more in putting vp the same petition when another mans is more streightened therefore there i●… no tye and limit vpon that And this is enough to satisfie that that a set for me of prayer must be vsed But now if you aske whether that be sufficient whether a man may thinke if hee haue beene present at publique prayer which is a commendable thing to vse it constantly I say whether that be sufficient My Beloved this is a matter of some moment to consider what we ought to doe in this case for we may be deceived in it and I answer plainly it is not sufficient a man that i●… diligent in publique prayers that keeps them morning and evening if he thinkes now hee hath discharged his duty he is in a very great error and this is the reason because they are not sufficient Indeed they are to be vsed for God is worshipped in them and it is a more publ●…que worship and when God is honoured before many as a man when there are many spectators more honour is done to him it is a greater honour so it is when men ioyne in this worship And many other reasons there be but that is not the thing I am now vpon to commend it to you but I say it is not sufficient although it ought to bee done because there are many particular sinnes which cannot be confessed in publique prayer there are many particular wants which in publique prayer you cannot vnfold and open and expresse vnto the Lord. Againe the end of a set forme of prayer is to be a helpe for the private for the publique it is another case a helpe that one may vse that is yet exceeding weake a childe that cannot goe may haue such a proppe but we must not alway bee children we must not alway vse that helpe Besides we must consider this that there is no man that hath any worke of grace in his heart but he is inabled in some measure to pray without a set forme of prayer hee is able to expresse his desires to God in private one way or another there was never any man in any extreame want but he knew how to expresse himselfe where he had libertie to speake so it is in this case Besides the spirit of a man hath greater libertie in private there a man may powre forth his soule to the Lord as Ha●…a saith 1 Sam. 1. which in publique he cannot doe freely there are many particular mercies which he hath cause to be thankfull to God for Besides there is a particular paines that a man is to take with his heart from day to day which in the publike common petitions he is not able to doe for Beloved know this that the prayer that is required from day to day is not so much the performance of the dutie the doing of the taske but the end is to keepe the heart in order for if sinfull lust grow vpon it and 〈◊〉 and worldly mindednesse the end of this duty is to worke them out againe to renew repentance againe and when there is a forgetfulnesse of the covenant when grace growes weake when good desires begin to languish to renew and recover them to put fewell to them and this is not done by the performance of the publ●…ke onely and therefore I say though you performe it in your families and meete in the congregation you must not thinke that this is enough you are bound to a private performance of this duty Againe this is another case what a man is to doe in the private performance of this duty whether he be bound alwayes to vse his voice whether he be bound alwayes to vse such a kinde of gesture I answer this briefly for there is no great difficulty in these things and therefore I p●…sse them over for the gesture in publike there is more heede to be taken of that because it is a publike and open worship of God and therefore in publike the g●…ture is alway to be reverent You know how often it is repeated in the olde testament especially that they bowed downe and worshipped still Christ looked vp to heaven Paul kneeled downe and the rest with him and prayed and many such like expressions you haue mentioned in the Scriptures where you haue prayer mentioned in publike still you shall finde an expression of some reverend gesture and when we appeare before the Lord in the publike performance of this dutie especiall care must bee taken hereunto in the private the case is different there variety of gestures may be vsed I doe not see but all variety of gestures may be vsed there are many examples for walking and lying and sitting onely this is to be taken heede to that even in private as farre as may be the gesture be such as may both expresse the inward reverence in the heart and of the outward man but there i●… a libertie in that I thinke this is the best rule in private that the gesture bee vsed that doth most quicken and doth helpe the duty most Some gesture may bring a dulnesse and in disposition when another may quicken the body and make it more ●…it for prayer sometimes lying is inconvenient and sometimes more convenient and therefore in this case the best rule is to vse that ge●…ure which quickens most which helpes most the duty some gesture may breede a wearinesse in the body some may breede a dulnesse some are painfull to the body all this is a hindrance to the duty when the change of it may quicken and helpe Now for the voice I say for that as for the sture it is not simply required for God is a spirit and he will be worshipped in spirit men that haue eares and bodies they must haue men speak to them but God that is a spirit delights in that which is like himselfe and therefore all his eye is vpon the inward behaviour of the spirit Besides the spirit may speake to God when the voice doth not as you know the Angels speake to God and they speake one to another The Schoolemen haue great disputes about the speech of Angels but this they agree in that one Angel speakes to another after this manner when any one

shooting by another that is when Sathan interrupts him when he is diligent to hinder him in such a dutie in this case God chargeth it not vpō him and doth not cast vs off nor reiect our pray ers because of that but on the other side when this wandring of minde shall rise from meere negligence on our part from profanesse from want of reverence because we doe not intend holy duties as we ought we come not to them with that conscionablenesse with that carefulnesse as we should doe in this case now it is a great sinne this moues the Lord to anger when we performe the duty in that manner when we doe not so much as set our selues about it with our strength but suffer our mindes to wander without any resistance Or secondly when we our selues be the cause of it by admitting of loose thoughts by suffering our selues to be worldly minded by suffering an indisposition to grow vpon vs and not labouring to resist it and cast it off againe You know when an instrument is out of tune if the lesson be never so good that is played vpon it yet it is vnpleasant because the instrument is out of tune and whose fault is that so when thou commest to God and sufferest thy heart to be distempered before and doest not looke to keepe it in order that i●… thy sinno as well as thy profanes and neglect in the very time of the performance and by this you may 〈◊〉 how to iudge of wandring thoughts in the performance of this duty and likewise you may see how to prevent them the way to prevent them is to keepe our hearts in tune before to haue them ready as the wise man hath his heart at his right hand that is he hath it ready when he hath it to vse When a man is to vse his horse he doth not suffer him to runne vp and downe in the pastures wildly but will haue him vnder bridle so we should keepe our hearts in frame that they may be ready to doe vs service in such a holy dutie when wee haue neede of them Secondly we must be diligent when we come to performe the duty that though our mindes doe wander yet we may be ready to recall them presently to set our selues to it with all diligence so much for answering of this first case The second case is what a man is to doe when hee findes a great indisposition to prayer such a dulnesse and deadnesse in him that hee knowes not how to goe about the duty and hee thinkes if hee doe it it were as good bee vndone To this I answere briefly that in all such cases a man is bound notwithstanding to performe it let his heart bee never so much out of temper let there be never so great a dulnesse and deadnesse of spirit vpon him yet hee is bound to doe it But you wil say why but I am altogether vnfit I answere that a man by setting himselfe vpon the worke shall gather a fitnesse though he were vnfit at the first you know members that are benummed yet by vsing them they get life and heate and come in the end to bee nimble enough so it is with the heart in this case when it is benummed the very vsing of it makes it fit for the duty You know wood though it bee greene yet if it be long blowed at the length it will be dry and take fire so it is with the heart a man may be long about getting it on the wing yet with much adoe he may doe it and therefore he ought to doe this duty in such a case yea so much the rather because there is never more neede of calling vpon God then at such a time for then a man lyes most exposed to temptation then if any sinne come he is ready to bee overtaken with it he is vnfit for any thing and therefore if ever he haue neede to call vpon God it is at that time But you will say it may be God will not accept it I answere briefly if a mans heart be so indisposed that when he hath done all he can yet hee can get no life hee can get no heate in the performance of such a duty yet God may accept that prayer as well as that which is most servent And that you may vnderstand this aright you must take it with this distinction This dulnesse and deadnesse in prayer it comes from one of these two causes One is when God withdrawes his owne spirit that is withdrawes not his spirit altogether for there may be a helpe when we perceiue it not but when hee withdrawes the liuelinesse and quicknesse of his spirit and in this case if wee doe our dutie if wee doe the best wee can the Lord doth accept it though hee hath not vouchsafed such inlargement of our hearts though hee haue not powred out his spirit vpon vs in the performance of the dutie as at other times but he giues a secret helpe that perhaps we feele not nor perhaps is so great as at other times yet I say when it ariseth from his owne withdrawing of that fitnesse we are not negligent but we doe our best in this case God accepts the will for the 〈◊〉 as wee haue often said to you that rule alway holds good when the impediment is such as we cannot remoue when the dulnesse of spirit is such as it is not in our power to remoue when wee haue vsed our vtmost diligence in that case it is no hindrance and therefore it is a great comfort vnto vs that we haue vsed our diligence in this duty when we haue vsed our best to quicken our hearts though it be not done yet God accepts our prayers as well as if they were performed in a more liuely and fervent manner The next case is what a man is to doe after he hath committed some great sinne after he hath wounded his conscience whether then not withstanding he must come keep his constāt course in prayer morning evening whether he shall be so bold as to come into Gods presence afte●… he hath so exceedingly offended him To this I answere that a man is bound notwithstanding any sinne that he hath committed be it what it will be to keepe his course constantly in prayer and not to omit it not to keepe off not to deferre it And my ground for it is because this is a duty it is a charge that God hath layed vpon all to pray continually that is at the least twice a day as we shewed before to keepe a constant course in it now it is certaine our failing in one thing must not excuse vs in another When the dute lyes on vs wee haue no dispensation to be negligent in it and therefore we are bound to doe it Againe consider this that a particular offence doth not offend so much

hath a conceit in his minde of any thing with a will that another should vnderstand it and that God should vnderstand it that is enough for the expression of it so it is with the spirit of a man when he hath such a petition in his heart in his minde and there is a desire in his will that God should vnderstand that petition that is an offering it vp to the Lord it is as true a speaking to the Lord as when you deliver it by an outward voice for the spirit agrees with the Angels as it is a speech and as they speake one to another and to the Lord so doth the spirit of man though indeede the tongue be to be vsed as it is Iam. 3. 9. there with blesse 〈◊〉 God and therewith should we pray among others and before others and speake before others but when there is any cause to vse the voice in private it is this as farre as it may quicken the heart as I said of gesture and as farre as thereby wee may keepe our thoughts from wandring If the voice were not vsed perhaps thoughts would be subiect to more wandring and we should not be ready to take notice of them but they would slip before we are aware therfore when the voice is vsed it must be to keepe in the thoughts In some cases to omit the voice is more convenient when it may draw any other inconvenience but that is left to every mans particular case as 〈◊〉 shall finde the vse of it to ●…inder him or further him And so much shall serue for this Case FINIS THE FOVRTH SERMON 1. THRS 5. 17. Pray continually ANother case of Conscience in the businesse of prayer is wha●… a man is to doe when hee is in streight of time by reason of som●… w●…ighty b●…nesse that requires a 〈◊〉 and sudden dispatch and giues him not the leisure and liberty that otherwise he might haue had To this I answer you shall find that i●… Scriptures the prayers of Saints haue beene sometimes larger and sometimes shorter Our Saviour Christ you know sometimes spent a whole night in prayer Surely he did not take so much time alwayes and no doubt wee haue libertie sometimes to be larger sometimes shorter according as our occasions will permit But yet this you must remember that though the businesse be great yet that businesse that concernes the salvation of ou●… soules and the worship of God is greater And therefore except it bee a true strait this is still to be preferred for it is a businesse of greater moment and therefore you must giue a iust weight to your businesse and not to suffer every small businesse that comes in to thrust out this dutie for here you keepe not the due proportion but neglect the greater and take the lesse Besides doe you not say when you haue great businesse in hand that a man must haue a dining time and a sleeping time c Why may wee not say as wel●… A man must haue a praying time is it not as necessary You know what Iob saith you know the course that ●…e kept in reading the word for that is cleerely meant in that place It was more precious ●…o him then his appointed food that is he had rather omit his vsual●… meale●… for that he meanes by his appointed food then to omit a constant course in performing those holy duties Therefore I say it ought carefully to be tooke heede of that we omit it not except it be a very great streight if it be we may be short in it ●…od tyes vs not so exactly you see therein are not rules set downe in the Scriptures wherein we are tyed precisely to such an houre to such a time but God in mercie and in wisedome hath left it to our liberty onely you see this is the command Pray continually doe it exceeding much at the least keepe a constant course in it as wee heard before but you may bee shorter in it Now let these foure Cautions be observed First take heede that this straightning come not from your ill husbandry that is from your ill husbanding of time For if a man were carefull to redeeme time before it may be he neede not be put to such a strait as he is at that time when he is to performe this duty suppose you haue a iourney to goe that requires so much time and you must be gone early you may so husband the time before that you may get time for your iourney And for the performance of this duty and so for other businesse as I said in the morning when you should sequester your selues to performe this duty of prayer take heed that you be good steward of your time that you husband it well And likewise this is another part of husbanding your time that you let not that which is very pretious goe for things of small moment for that is ill husbandry You should redeeme the time and buy it with the losse of something You haue time to bestow in the waighty businesse of your calling in things that belong to the good of man much more should you in this that belongs to the worship of God And therefore if it may be redeeme it with some losse so you ought to husband it otherwise you redeeme not time as you ought This is the first Caution that ought to be observed to husband and redeeme the time well The second is if we bee straitned at any time recompence it an another time for if it be not a feigned excuse and pretence if you be straitned when you haue libertie you will bee carefull to spend mo●e time in it by that you shall know your sinceritie in it that it is true and that it is not an excuse and a putting off Moreover another Caution to be observed is that you take not too much businesse vpon you if you be straitned with businesse and therefore cannot be so large in the performance of this duty as otherwise you would if you take not too much vpon you your selues are the cause of it And therefore he that takes lesse he that spends more time in the things that belong to salvation he hath made the better choise As Mary made a better choise then Martha though her imployment were good Likewise as you must not pester your selues with too much businesse so likewise you must take care that your mindes be not too much intent vpon them for too much intention of mind vpon businesse causeth distraction in prayer and causeth vs post over over the dutie as well as too much businesse when a mans minde shootes it selfe too farre in businesse when it is too much occupied about it when it is too much intent when the soule cleaues too fast vpon the busines and cannot loose it selfe to the performance of spirituall duties which require freedome The last Caution is that the strait rise not from diffidence in