A26780:521
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the…
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who died June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his ageAn account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who dy'd June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his age
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If you would be able in words and Expressions of your own, without the help of a Form, to offer up Prayers to God, observe these following Rules of Direction, in the use whereof, by God's Blessing you may in time attain thereunto.
1. You must be throughly convinced that where such a Gift is, it is of great use to a Christian, both very comfortable and very profitable, and therefore very desirable, and worth your serious endeavours; this must first be, or else all that follows will signify nothing: For it is as the wise Man saith, Prov. 18. 1. Through desire a Man having separated himself, seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdom; that is, till we are brought in some good measure to desire the end, we shall never in good earnest apply our selves to the use of means, for the obtaining of it. It is a Gift that fits a Person to be of use to others in the Duty of Prayer, according as there is occasion, either in a Family or in Christian Communion. It is also of great advantage to our selves; For how can any Form (though never so exact) be possibly contrived, so as to reach all the Circumstances of my particular case, and yet it is my Duty, in every thing to make my Requests known to God.
1. You must be throughly convinced that where such a Gift is, it is of great use to a Christian, both very comfortable and very profitable, and therefore very desi•able, and worth your serious endeavours; this must first be, or else all that follows will signifie nothing: For it is as the wise Man saith, Prov. 18. 1. Through desire a Man having separated himself, seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdom; that is, till we are brought in some good measure to desire the end, we shall never in good earnest apply our selves to the use of means, for the obtaining of it. It is a Gift that fits a Person to be of use to others in the Duty of Prayer, according as there is occasion, either in a Family or in Christian Communion. It is also of great advantage to our selves; For how can any Form (though never so exact) be possibly contrived, so as to reach all the Circumstances of my particular case, and yet it is my Duty, in every thing to make my Requests known to God.