ABBA FATHER OR A PLAINE AND short direction concerning Priuate Prayer Also SVNDRY GODLY ADmonitions concerning Time and the well vsing of it By ELNATHAN PARR Minister of the Word Rom. 8.15 Ye haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Ephes 5.16 Redeeme the time because the dayes are euill LONDON Imprinted by F. K. for Samuel Man and are to be sold at the signe of the Swan in Pauls Church-yard 1618. TO THE VERY HONORABLE and most worthy Lady the Lady Iane Cornwaleys wife to the very Noble and Religious Gentleman Master NATHANAEL BACON Esquire Grace and Peace PRaier is the true Christian proper element without which hee can no more liue then without fire Breath is the instrument of the life of the body Prayer is the breath of the soule I haue obserued in many a difficulty of this breathing which I haue endeauoured according to my simple skill something to remedie by this direction I humbly desire your Ladiship to giue it leaue to passe vnder your worthy Name I confesse it can bee no waies vseful to you but it may bee to weaker Christians who are yet as babes newly beginning to cry Abba Father Herein I present my thankfull mind to your Ladiship whose great fauours and encouragements my deserts can neuer equall I daily pray for your Ladiship that as God hath highly aduanced your Name on earth for godlinesse so he would in the time appointed glorifie your soule in heauen for the merits of your Iesus Your Ladiships deuoted seruant in all humble obseruance ELN PARR TO THE CHRISTIAN READER encrease of all good gifts TO condemne a set forme of prayer argues want of sobrietie and wisdome In publike prayers in the Congregation it is necessary to haue a prescribed forme called Liturgy or Diuine Seruice which for more ease of memory is to be read out of the booke The ancientest Fathers in the peace of the Church haue by their practice so iudged it many Councels haue approued it and the best reformed Churches follow it As for priuate prayer of one Christian alone it is more expedient that it bee vttered without a booke and the most compleat performance of that duty is when a Christian is able not onely to repeate and apply to his owne soule and conscience a prayer conceiued by another but also vpon fit matter and heads suteable to the occasion to conceiue and vtter prayers of his own Yet seeing there are many to whom God hath not giuen memory and vnderstanding fitting to expresse in a continued speech the desires of their hearts for such haue I written this direction The reason why I haue vndertaken this businesse considering there are so many good Prayer-bookes in euery mans hand is first because though it bee cōmendable to vse a booke yet it is more comfortable to pray of our selues whose wants may be such as that we shall hardly finde them sufficiently expressed in any booke for euery man is best acquainted with his owne heart Secondly a man may be cast into prison and his booke taken from him how vncomfortably must he needs passe his time if he cannot pray without his booke The booke cannot be vsed in the darke when we may haue iust occasion to pray The booke may bee forgotten or lost but if thou attainest this gift thou canst neuer loose it vnlesse thou loosest thy selfe For these reasons I commend this Treatise to thee which I could haue amplified further and it may be clothed it with a more elegant stile But I aimed at thy profit remembring that I directed beginners for whom shortnesse and plainnesse are most fitting If thou profitest by this which I heere propound to thee praise God and in thy prayers forget not him who hath at least endeauoured to further thee If thou profitest not yet I haue done my good will for the which I desire thee to loue Thy true friend in Iesus Christ Eln. Parr Abba Father OR A PLAINE AND short direction concerning priuate Prayer PRayer is a holy conference of a godly mind with God whereby beleeuing we aske things necessary and giue thanks for benefits receiued Prayer is either Mentall onely or Vocall also this 1. Extraordinary or 2. Ordinary this 1. Publike or 2. Priuate this 1. Lesse priuate with the familie 2. More priuate by one alone Publike is that which is vsed in the publicke Congregation by the Minister with the people Priuate is that which is vsed by priuate persons in priuate places of this is this present Direction It is a great blessing that God will vouchsafe to attend and receiue our deuotions poured forth in any priuate place Great Personages require places sutable to their Greatnes but thy great God respects not the place how meane so euer but the necessitie of his seruant Where there is a Ieremy a Daniel or a Ionas a dungeon a Lions den the belly of a Whale are godly Oratories But remember that neuer any man prayed well priuately who contemned or neglected the publicke prayers in the Church For the comfortable performance of this priuate seruice two things are to be considered viz. 1. Preparation 2. Execution Preparation is an holy and considerate fitting our selues for this dutie This is necessary in a threefold respect 1. Of the person before whom wee present our selues which is the Almighty 2 Of the importance of the thing it selfe which is a speciall part of diuine worship 3 Of the consequence of this duty which is the obtaining of things needfull for this and a better life Vnto this preparation seuen things belong 1 First a fit place which must bepriuat a Ma. 6.5.6 Christ himselfe went into a mountaine alone to pray b Ma. 14.23 and into a solitary place c Mar. 1.35 So Peter went vp to the vpper part of the house d Act. 10.9 not but that it is lawfull to pray euery where e 1. Tim. 2.8 But priuacy is to be chosen that being sequestred from company we may the more fully descend into our owne hearts and be the freer from ostentation and hypocrisie and from discursation and wandring of mind 2 Secondly a fit time All times are for this exercise f Eph. 6.18 1. Thes 5.17 euen the night is a sweet time for prayer as Dauids midnights practise g Psa 119.62 and our Sauiours whole nights spent in prayer h Luk. 6.12 Lam. 2.19 doe testifie Thou canst not alwaies but at certaine set times speake to great men but thou maist alwaies speak to thy God Yet for set and ordinary prayer some choise of time would be vsed I think it to be most comfortable to begin and end the day with praier as the ordinary sacrifice of the Iewes was morning and euening instituted by God 3. Thirdly a freedom of mind from thoughts of the world and the affaires thereof for earthly things are heauy and their thoughts depressing which hinder the ascēt of the mind to God 4 Repentance and a
if we begge for grace to obey God according to his commaÌ„dements thus O that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes h Psal 119.5 5 Vowes and promises thus i Psal 51.12.13 Restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and vphold mee with thy free Spirit Then will I teach transgressors thy waies c. And againe k Vers 14. Deliuer mee O God and my â—ongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousnesse And againe l Vers 15. O Lord open thou my lippes my mouth shal shew forth day praise So also m Psal 119.33.34 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law yea I will obserue it with my whole heart 6 Ingeminations thus Dauid also prayeth n Psal 94.1.2 O Lord God the Auenger O God the Auenger shew thy selfe exalt thy selfe O Iudge of the world c. And diuers others of this nature which a deuout hart will easily find out and to this purpose I am perswaded it s very helpesfull to be familiarly conuersant in the Psalmes because Dauid was a man of all other of inflamed affectionâ— and most excelling this way Hee that desires to make trial of this plaine direction and to profit by it may be much holpen by two things 1. Let him indeuour soundly to vnderstand the principles of Religion or else he shall neuer be able to tell what to aske of God 2 Secondly if he can write let him make a book of clean paper and in sundry leaues write in the top the particular parts of prayer with their seuerall branches allowing a whole leafe to each part branch and then whatsoeuer excellent speciall phrase or sentence hee readeth or heareth of any of those parts or branches let him referre it to his proper leafe and place Which course if it bee taken and these plaâ—â—s diligently studied and now and then reuised read ouer wil in my opinion much enable a man vpon any occasion to pray with vnderstanding either alone or with others to their desired comfort If any shall think this way to be too busie and to require too much paines I desire them to remember that no excellent thing can be attained without labour which how great soeuer it should be should not be grutched for the attaining a faculty in this exercise which is the refuge and refreshing of the soule one of the chiefest pieces of a Christians armour o Ephes 5.18 and the meanes whereby all good things are sanctified to our comfortable vse p 1 Tim. 4.5 Seuen yeere is holden but a conuenient terme to learne the children of men earthly manuall trades let not the childe of God account twice so long time to be too much to learne the heauenly Art of outward crying Abba Father Here follow some exampâ—â— of the rules of generall 〈◊〉 particular enlargement â—â—fore deliuered for a taste to a young beginner The general enlargement from a descriptâ—â— of God Description from and begging of Audience thus O q Title Almighty God the r Effect Creatour of heauen and earth and my most mercifull Å¿ Title Father in Iesus Christ which hast gratiously t Promise promised to heare thy children when they pray vnto thee O u Begging of Audience Lord I beseech thee accept heare and grant â—â—e supplication of thy â—â—ruant by Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 such like Examples of particular enlargement 1 Confession of sin may be enlarged first â—y the Adiunct 1. The adi iunct secondly by a distribution of sinne thirdly by the effects c. Thus O Lord I confesse that I am a vile sinner First being ashamed to look vp vnto heauen and vnworthy to liue vpon earth Secondly 2. Distribution for I am guilty of the sinne of Adam and more also I haue committed actuall transgressions without number in breaking thy most holy commandements omitting my duty and doing the contrary many sinnes of ignorance which I pleade not to excuse but to condemne my self who ought to haue knowne thy will and often of knowledge which wounds my soule to remember Thirdly 2. Effect O Lord in thy iustice I haue deferued such plagues both bodily and spirituall temporall and eternall which thy righteous omnipotency can inflict vpon abominable sinners Or such like 2 Petition for pardon may be enlarged First by an ingemination Secondly by the effects adorned with exclamation Thirdly by the contrary Fourthly by a testimony adorned with inrerrogation Fifthly by the meritorious cause Thus. First 1. Ingemination O Lord pardon O Lord forgiue O Lord be mercifull Secondly 2. Effects with exclamation blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man that obtaineth thy fauour Thirdly 3. Contraries O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant reward mee not according to my ill deseruing Turne away thine anger and make thy ioyfull countenance shine into my soule Fourthly 4. Testimony with interrogation is it not thy promise to pardon sinners that seeke thy fauour and to helpe them which call vpon thee O make good thy promise vnto thy seruant Deare Father for Iesus Christ his sake Fifthly 5. Meritorious cause remember his obedience his passion his blood the price wherby I am ransomed and bee reconciled remitting all mine offences or such like 2 Petition for faith may be enlarged First from the efficient cause Secondly from the contrary Thirdly from the effects adorned with vowing c. Thus First 1. Efficient cause O Lord I beseech thee worke in me by thy holy Spirit faith to beleeue the pardon of my sinnes It is not in my power to beleeue it must be thy worke in my soule Secondly 2 Contrary make mee to belieue good Father and helpe my vnbeliefe Thirdly 3. Effect with vowing grant mee a feeling of thy loue in my heart and that peace which passeth all vnderstanding then will I confidently come before thee and praise thee with ioyfull lips or such like 3 Petition for repentance may be enlarged First from the cause Secondly from a distribution adorned with exclamation Thirdly from the contrarie Fourthly from a comparison Thus First holy Father 1. The cause grant that my faith may shew it selfe in the sanctification of my life Secondly 2. Distribution with exclamation and to this end I humbly beseech thee renew in mee thy decaied image and giue me true repentance that I may turne from all my sinnes to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Make me to vnderstand mine owne vilenesse that I may earnestly pray for renouatioÌ„ Ah wretch that I am though I know my selfe to be an horrible sinner and that I haue tenne thousand times deserued damnation yet such is the flintinesse of my heart that I am not sensible of my dangerous and fearefull estate Thirdly 3.
64.7 I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe m Mark 9.24 and encrease my faith n Luk. 17.5 Seale me to the day of Redemption o Ephes 4.30 and shed abroad thy loue in my heart by thy holy spirit p Rom. 5.5 I humbly beseech thee q 3. For repentance Turne me O Lord vnto thee and I shall bee â—â—â—ned r Lam. 5.21 Create in me a cleaâ—â— heart O Lord and reneâ—â—â— right spirit within me Å¿ Psal 51.10 〈◊〉 take the stony heart out 〈◊〉 my body and giue me 〈◊〉 heart of flesh that I wiâ—â— walke in thy flatutes 〈◊〉 that I may be thy serâ—â—â— and thou mayst be my 〈◊〉 for euermore t Ezech. 11.19.20 u 4. For direction in our personall callings Aâ—â— whereas thou hast caâ—â—â— mee to this estate ... 〈◊〉 Good Lord grant 〈◊〉 grace therin to worketh 〈◊〉 which is good x Ephes 4.28 2 Thes 3.12 with qâ—â—â—etnesse and to eate miâ—â—â—â—owne bread shewing all good conscience that I may adorne the doctrine of God my Sauiour in all things y Tit. 2.15 and in as much as thy disciples must take vp the â—rosse and follow thee z Mat. 16.24 I way thee Deare Father strengthen mee with all might through thy gloriâ—â—â— powâ—e vnto all patiâ—â—ce and long suffering with ioyfulnesse a Col. 1.11 b 5. For perseuerance And because Satan as a râ—ring â—â—ion seeketh to deuour 〈◊〉 O my God tread down â—atan vnder my feet c Rom. 16.20 stablish me in euery good word and work d 2. These 17 and preserue my whole spirit soule and body blamelesse vnto the comming of our 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ c 6. For the Church Doe good thy good pleasure to 〈◊〉 on and build the mallâ—â—â— thy IerusaleÌ„ f Psal 51.18 Good 〈◊〉 preserâ—â— thy little flockâ—â— whom thâ—n hast prâ—â—â—â— the kingdome g Luk. 12.32 h Thankesgiuing I thâ—â—â— thee O Father Lord 〈◊〉 heauen and â—arth i Mat. 11.25 thâ—â— thou hast deliuâ—red 〈◊〉 from the power of darâ—â—â— and translated we into 〈◊〉 kingdome of thine 〈◊〉 Saâ—ue O Lord thou 〈◊〉 been my God from my â—â—â—ther â—wâ—mbe k Psa 22.10 Thou 〈◊〉 â—â—pt mee â—nto this dâ—â—â— thy prâ—â—â—dence thou 〈◊〉 giuen me bread to 〈◊〉 clothes to put on l 〈◊〉 28.20 I hâ—â—â—ly praise thy name and I beseech thee make me dwel 〈◊〉 safety m Psal 4.8 vnder the shadow of thy wings n Psal 17.8 this day or night through Ieâ—is Christ in whose name c. Or to whom with thee O Father Amen Thou maist also make vse of the Lords Prayer excellently to this purpose IT was giuen for a paterne and speciall direction to the Church vpon earth how to pray There can be no better direction for if wee require wisdome wisedome it selfe endited it if perfection it comprehends all the kinds of all things to be prayed for if order the method is diuine if perspicuous breuity so much could not by any onely-created vnderstanding be compacted into so little if force and power there can bee none more effectuall then that which Iesus Christ the Word of the Father hath left and commended to his Church If thou wouldest profitably vse it Obserue bese things 1 Learne throughto vnderstand it 2 Beare in mind the â—uerall petitions with â—â—e it order 3 Note downe in thy memory as thou wert before directed these graces thou crauest in â—uery petition giuing theÌ„ their proper place in thy booke in thy memory and in thy prayer 4 Fourthly take due knowledge of thy wants in euery petition vnder their seuerall heads setting downe the phrases and things thou meetest with al concerning them And specially note vpon thy heart and imprint in it the graces thou most wantest the wants which most doe trouble thee Principally meditate of those graces and labour to bee humbled with the feeling of those wants To helpe thee to spell 〈◊〉 this lesson out of the Lords Prayer After a description of God as before keeping the petitions with their order in thy minde thou maist enlarge theÌ„â—us The 1. Petition Hallowed be thy name 1 Heere thou maist how how God hath commanded and it is our dutie to glorifie his name in regard of our First Creation Secondly preseruation but specially in regard of our Thirdly Redemption 2 Then acknowledge First thy negligence and carelesnesse this way Secondly thy pride in seeking thine owne glory more then Gods Thirdly thy want of zeale Fourthly such sinnes whereby thou hast dishonoured God most causing his name thereby to be blasphemed Thirdly Desire grace the thou maiest chiefly in all thy thoughts words and deeds propound to thy self to glorifie God and to respect his glory more then euen the saluation of thy soule The 2. Petition Thy Kingdome come 1 Enlarge this by a mourning of thy soule vnto God for thy bondage vnder sinne and Satan amplified from the consideration First of our first Creation Secondly of our present traiterous and rebellious disposition by the power of originall sinne which hath wholly possessed all parts of body and soule 2 Desire that God would First rescue and redeeme thee out of the power of Satan and sinne Secondly that hee would by his spirit rule in thy heart casting out the strong man and diuiding his spoyles Thirdly that hee would make the affections subiect to the regiment of his spirit and renew thee according to his image Thou maist make this the place of repentance 3 Here thou maist remember the Church the kingdom of Christ The 3. Petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen 1 Here confesse and bewaile First thy readinesse to doe thine owne will yea the will of Satan making these the rule of thy life and not the will of God Secondly thy ignorance of Gods word which is the copie of his will Thirdly thy negligence in hearing of it Fourthly thy contempt shewed in continuance in knowne sins after admonition 2 Then desire grace First to denie thy selfe Secondly to vnderstand the word Thirdly to loue and reuerence it more Fourthly to make it the rule of thy life in as much as it is the scepter of Christs kingdome Fifthly that thy conuersation may bee in heauen after the example of the Angels Sixthly whatsoeuer be the will of God for thee to doe or suffer that thou maist alwaies with patience and contentation say Thy will be done The 4. Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread 1 Here acknowledge that thy life preseruation and all good things come from God 2 Confesse and bewaile thy First couetousnesse Secondly thy vniust dealing to enrich and maintaine thy selfe Thirdly Matth. 6. thy distrust in the good prouidence of God who feedeth the fowles clotheth the Lillies Fourthly thy earthly and worldly mind that cannot sauor ought but earth and earthly things 3 Then desire First the prouidence of God to watch ouer thee for thy preseruation and main
tenance Secondly faith to rest vpon God in all estates not vpon the meanes Thirdly not to vse vnlawfull meanes Fourthly that God would blesse his gifts vnto thee and that thou mayst vse them soberly and comfortably Fifthly thou mayst here make vse of the direction concerning thy personall calling 5 Petition Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue c. 1 Here make vse of the confession of sin and petition for pardon for faith and repentance according to the former direction 2 Here also desire a charitable heart toward thy neighbours as thou desirest to bee forgiuen so to forgiue others and to be ready to grant the pardon thou crauest 6. Petition Leade vs non into tentation but deliuer vs from euill Here desire strength against Satan his tentations and against all things whereby thou mayst be drawne from faith in God and holy obedience making vse of that which is in the Petition for perseuerance according to the former direction And for conclusion as our Sauior concludes with a kind of praise to God so doe thou The heads of thankfulnes thou mayst make the graces which God hath giuen thee according to euery petition First for making thee in any measure studious of his glory Secondly for giuing thee his Spirit Thirdly for his word Fourthly for his prouidence ouer thee Creating Preseruing thee Fifthly for pardon of sinne Iustification Sanctification c. Sixthly for strength in any tentation If thou wilt bestow some time and study to practise according to this I cannot but be perswaded that thou shalt find much benefit which God grant To conclude I would admonish a learner of fiue things First enter not vpon the practise here commended till thou hast these generall proiects perfect in thy head or some other Secondly in the meane time make vse of some good praier-praier-book and out of it get by hart such prayers as best befit thy deuotion and necessities or if thou canst not reade vse some others help to reade theÌ„ or repeate them to thee at least neglect not to say vpon thy knees reuerently the Lords prayer alwaies prouided that thou well vnderstand the meaning of euery petition or otherwise thou shalt take GODS name in vaine Secondly giue not ouer this course though thou findest it hard but ouercome the difficulty with thy diligence and paines To giue ouer a good exercise for difficulties argues idlenesse and sloth All good things are hard to vs because of our corruption and prayer of all holy exercises the hardest wee must force nature Children learne not to speake perfectly in a day or a moneth much lesse can wee crie Abba Father perfectly and distinctly vpon the sudden Redeeme some of the time thou bestowest vpon thy pleasures and vanities and bestow it this way it shal neuer repent thee Fourthly remember that the Pharisies could make excellent prayers and the Reprobate can â—â—ie Lord Lord. A wicked man may attaine thus farre as to make prayers very notable but with feeling and in faith to cry Abba Father a wicked man cannot This is prayer and a certaine token of Adoption the other is not Fifthly labor to haue grace in thy heart and whatsoeuer thou askest in prayer practise in life He that prayes for the pardon of his sinnes and for grace to liue well and yet neither endeuoureth to auoid sin or to practise pietie mockes God and shall not goe vnpunished Liue as thou prayest that thou mayest liue euer So be it PSAL. 66.18 If I regard wickednesse in my heart the Lord will not beare me 2. TIM 2.19 Let euery one that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitie Now to the only wise God who is able to doe aboue all wee aske or thinke the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost bee praise in the Church throughout all generations for euer Amen FINIS Short and godly Admonitions concerning Time and the vâ—â— of ingâ—â—â—ered out of Eph. 5.16 Redeeming the Time because the daies are euill Here are two parâ—â— An exhortation To 〈◊〉 dâ—eâ—â— the Tiâ—â— A reason Because 〈◊〉 dayes are euill Redeeming the time TIme is the measure of Motion Opportunity is that part of time which is fittest for our affaires This is meant here as it is the measure of good motions called also occasion season due time It is the beautie of things for euery thing is beautifull in his time a Eccles 3.11 Meates are welcomest when they are in season so a word spoken in due season is comely b Prou. 25.11 Euen a refreshing of the wearie soule c Esay 51.4 As some imprison truth in vnrighteousnes (d) Rom. 1.18 so doe they time (e) Hierome It is charitie to redeeme time by righteousnes Opportunitie of time is a rich commoditie the couetousnesse of it to doe well is an honest couetousnesse As Merchants f Augustine obserue carefully the seasons of buying in and venting their Merchandise so buy thou and redeeme time to doe good They that loose time are the greatest loosers and wastfullest prodigals for of all other possessions two may be had together but two moments of time cannot be possessed together This precious commoditie is most out of request with great and rich men who consume and mispend time as fast as their vnthriftie children doe their inheritances Idlenesse vanity and neglecting the pretious time is the disease of great and rich men as they say the Gout is these can find time to dally to court to be riotous c. but not to pray and serue God therfore for the most part they are most poore in the best things Time is the price of time when thy profit thy pleasure thy vaine delights thy lusts call thee after them exchange time for time As thou giuest thy money for meate and apparrell so giue these things to purchase the time of prayer and wel-doing Salomon saith Buy the truth g Prou. 23.23 but Pilate saith What is truth h John 18.38 so Paul saith buy the time but our profane wretches say What is time let vs spend it say they as though it were little worth Time is Gods creature he allowes thee no time to bee vaine and wicked but hee giues thee time that thou mayst repent and doe good Make thy aduantage of it Of the time thou bestowest in prayer singing of Psalmes reading the Scriptures and good bookes and in doing good it shall neuer repent thee But time otherwise spent wil one day torment thy conscience Thou must giue account for time on this moment depends eternitie of blessednesse if it be well of miserie if it be ill imployed It is great wisdome to know the time and to redeeme it i Eph. 5.15.16 The men of Isachar were in great account with Dauid because they had vnderstanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do so are they in great account with God k 1. Chr. 12.32 who regard and vse the season of well doing When a poore man