When a plaintiff brings divers actions which might have been joined in one against the same party and which are first in order for trial at the same term of court, or divides an account which might all have been sued for in one action and commences successive actions upon parts of the same or brings more than one action on a joint and several contract, he shall not recover costs nor have execution running against the body of the same defendant, in more than one such action, unless the court, after notice to the defendant and hearing, shall otherwise direct.