lawes of regeneration in that l â—â—ch 13. 1 fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne and for vncleannesse Grant LORD that with indeavour and industrie I keepe my selfe pure and holy vnspotted m Iam 1. 27 of this wicked world that I may cast n Rom. 13. 12 away the workes of darknesse and so walke honestlie as in the day continually And seing O LORD like o â—sal 119.176 a Pray for conversion lost sheepe I haue gone astray and wandred farre out of that narrow way seeke thy servant and find mee turne me that I may turne convert p Ierem. 31.18 mee and I shall bee corverted turne mee O most mightie and mercifull GOD from the devill myne adversarie a q Iohn 8. 44 lyar and a murtherer who would deceaue mee and destroy mee to IESUS CHRIST my Saviour and r Ephes 5. 29 husband who will teach mee and glorifie Å¿ Psal 91. 15 mee turne me from t Coloss 3.13 darknesse to thy joyfull light from nature to grace turne mee from the broad u Math. 7. 13 way that leadeth to hell and damnation to the strait way which leadeth to Heaven and salvation turne mee from wickednesse to holynesse from wretchednesse to everlasting happines O my GOD draw x Cant. 1.3 mee after thee knit y Psal 86.11 and vnite my heart inseparablie with thy Majestie teach mee thy wayes to feare thine holy name continually to z Genes 17. 1 walke before thee and with thee consciensciously and be vpright in thy sight continually And for this effect O thou Al-sufficient GOD take a mercifull Pray for Gods good dealing with thine heart dealing with my faultie heart that the same which by nature sinne and Sathan hath locked with Lydias a Act. 16. 14 heart it may bee opened by thee who hath b Revel 3. 7 the key of David Grant that my narrow heart may bee c Isaiah 60. 5 enlarged to receaue within mee the LORD IESUS the King of glory O holy Heavenly Father soften e my hard and obdurâ—d heart with the oyle of grace with the precious blood of my Saviour d Iob. 23. 16 that it may receaue the impression of the image of CHRIST that I d 2 Cor. 3. 18 may bee changed into the same image from glory to glory Bow my stiffe e Ezech. 2 4 heart Encline it f Psal 119. 36 to thy testimonies and not to covetousnesse O LORD giue mee a wise and vnderstanding g 1 King 2. 9 heart that I may discerne betweene good and bad O LORD vouchsafe vpon mee an honest h Luke 8 15 and good heart that I may heare thy Word keepe it and bring foorth fruite with patience and O my GOD I most willingly giue i Prover 23 26 mine heart to thy Majestie requiring the same from mee beseeching thy goodnesse to take such full possession and governement of my heart that thou may k Rom. 9. 23 declare the riches of thy glory vpon mee a vessell of mercie that I may be most certainly perswaded a chosen l Act. â— 15 vessell appointed for honour and everlasting happinesse O my blessed Creator assure Pray for the grouth of all good mee that I am thine owne m 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandry Grant that I may bee as good n Math. 13. 8 ground to receaue the good seede of godlinesse and pietiâ— and to bring foorth fruite aboundantly that I may grow o 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour O LORD helpe p Mark 9. 24 my vnbeliefe and encrease my faith my loue patience zeale feare hope courage and all Christian vertues make my good â—orkes q Revel 2. 19 to be moe at the last than at the first O my most mercifull Fatherâ— Pray for the Lords presence Teach r Psal 27. 11 mee thy way and leade mee in a right path Forsake Å¿ Psal 38. 21 me not O LORD bee not far from mee my GOD Thou t Psal 27. 9 art my succour leaue mee not neither forsake mee O GOD of my salvation Though my father and my mother should forsake mee yet thou O LORD will gather mee vp Though u Psal 38. 10 the Light of mine eyes bee not myne owne my sight will faile mee my senses will departe from mee my soule will be separate from my body yet abide thou with mee continually O gracious GOD I most humbly intreate thy Majestie giue mee x Rom. 1. 24 not vp to my hearts lusts nor vile affections for that I will bee but a lost creature and of all most wretched and miserable But O LORD of thy vnspeakable Pray for God his blessing kindnesse and endlesse mercie vouchsafe thy Heavenly and spirituall blessings vpon mee O GOD blesse mee with the blessing of election that thou mayest chuse mee y Psal 65. 4 and cause mee to come to thee that I may be satisfied with the pleasures of thine holy Temple Blesse mee with the blessing of effectuall vocation that thou mayest call mee inwardly and powerfully to thee that I may answere and obey thy blessed calling and say heere z Genes 22 â— am I readie to doe thine holy will Blesse mee O LORD with the blessing of true sanctification that I may bee holy a Levit. 11. 24 as thou my GOD is most holy that I may keepe b Isaiah 56. 2 judgement and doe justice and restraine my hand from doing any evill Blesse mee with the blessing of spirituall joy and consolation that I may ever rejoyce c Psal 40. 4 in thee my LORD and walke in the light of thy countenance Blesse mee O my GOD with a setled purpose and resolution to serue thee continually that I may determine d Psal 119. 57 to keepe thy Words constantly Blesse mee with the blessing of true repentance through all my lyfe that I may e Revel 20. 6 haue parte in the first resurrection that the second death haue no power to hurt me Blesse mee with an happie end that I may die f Revel 14. 13 in the LORD and receaue the blessing of glory and inherite g Math. 25.34 the Kingdome prepared from all eternity As also O LORD I most humbly beseech thy goodnesse to blesse me with thine owne selfe to bee h Psal 16. 5 my lot and portion to bee the GOD i Psal 27. 9 of my salvation For whom k Psal 73. 25 haue I in Heaven but thee and I haue desired none in earth with thee Grant O gratious GOD that as l Psalm 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so my soule may pant after thee the living GOD vntill thou come to be favourable vnto me Blesse mee with CHRIST IESUS that he may be my m Heb. 7. 2 King governing mee my n Math. 1. 21
creature groneth with me also and travelleth in paine together vnto this present desiring to be delyvered from this bondage of corruption Seing it is so Haue not I forlorne miscreant the chiefe cause of all calamity great reason seriously to deplore my lamentable miserie to bewaile my deplorable estate and vnspeakable calamitie Haue not I reason to poure out r 1 Sam. 1. 15 my soule before thee and to walke Å¿ Isaiah 38.15 weakely all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Spirit And first O LORD I find Lament thy losse my selfe insufficient to lament duely the manifold and great losses sustained by mee through my default through my sinne and iniquitie If the childe of the Prophet sorrowed for a peece yron t 2 King 6. 5 for an axe head that fell into the river of Iordan and thus cryed to Elisha Alace Master it is but borrowed And no question O LORD that Pauls companions were then somewhat greived for the hurt and damnage they suffered in that dangerous navigation where they lost their lading u Act. 27. 10 and their ship also If thy servant King David mourned for the losse of his deare friend Ionathan with lamentation Woe x 2 Sam. 1.26 is mee cryed hee for thee my brother Ionathan very kind hast thou beene to mee thy loue towards mee was wonderfull passing the loue of women If thy servant Iacob y Genes 37.34 rent his clothes and did put sackcloth about his loynes and sorrowed a long season for his sonne Ioseph whom hee supposed to haue beene lost And if without doubt Naomi lamented greevously when her husband Abimelech z Ruth 1.3 died in a strange land And if Ieremiah sorrowed heavilie for the life of a good King because the breath a Lamen 4.20 of their nostrils the anointed of the LORD was taken in the nets of the enemie Yea Ioash King of Israel b 2 King 13.14 did weepe vpon the face of sicke Elisha If wicked c 2 Sam. 14.32 Absalon was no way contented when hee saw not his fathers face and if profaine Esau cryed d Genes 27.34 out with a great cry and bitter out of measure when hee wanted the blessing of Isaak Manasseh Manasseths prayer mourned for the losse of a worthie Kingdome Alace O LORD when I consider deligently the wonderfull great losse and damage which I haue sustained spiritually by reason of the multitude of my sinnes and iniquities I cannot deplore nor condignelie lament the same How is it possible to mee to sorrow sufficiently for that I haue lost that fine e Revel 3. 18 gold tryed by the fire enriching mee That f Revel 2.4 I haue lost my first loue beautifying mee I haue wasted the portion of goods which my father gaue vnto mee at my creation How can I bewaile my foolishnesse who haue done what in mee lyeth to losse the kindnesse of my first and best g Iohn 15. 15 friend so beneficiall and loving to mee Woe is mee because I haue h Revel 1. 7 pearced my deare Saviour I haue crucified i Heb 6. 6 againe the Sonne of GOD my most worthie k Ephes 5.32 husband and haue made a mocke of him How can I deplore my misery and great losse which I haue gotten by my rebellion against thee l Iere. 10. 7 O KING of all Nations vnto whom appertaineth the dominion for ever Who m Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in Hell eternallie How can I foolish creature lament my losse for not hearkning to thy Heavenly instructions and not receiving thy healthsome admonitions who is my n Math. 23.10 only doctor and my o Iohn 3. 2 teacher come from GOD I am much troubled because p Psal 101.29 thou hidest thy face from mee and for that the light of thy loving countenance doeth not shine vpon mee because by my sinnes I haue almost lost thy favour q Psal 30. 5 in which is life and felicitie and thy r Prov. 10.22 blessing which maketh rich and the Å¿ Math. 6.33 Kingdome of Heaven in regard whereof all the earth is but vanitie and meere miserie Now trueth it is O mercifull GOD that many haue sustained Lament thy povertie great losse and yet hath some good remaining behind but I am redacted to extreame povertie I may lament grievouslie because I t Revel 3. 17 am miserable and wretched poore and most indigent empty and naked That widow u 1 King 17.12 of Sarepta O my GOD was greatly impoverished and redacted to a meane estate She had not a cake but even an handfull of meale in a barrell and a little oyle in a cruse shee resolved after that it was eaten to haue dyed But O bountifull LORD thy wisedome knoweth that I poore wretch spiritually doe remaine in greater penurie I haue not of my selfe a sanctified thought an holy word no not a small teare one sorrowfull sigh x Psal 51 16 of a contrite spirit or broken heart For I truely know that in me in y Rom. 7. 18 my nature dwelleth no good thing at all I am like one who hath made shipwracke of all his goods I am like Lazarus z Luk. 16. 20 I haue nothing of my selfe not a morsell of bread not a cuppe of cold water but that which I get by crying and begging of thy Alsufficiencie Now Lament thy debt which is much worse O LORD I am not only thy poore beggar but also I am thy debter wonderfull great is my debt terrible is mine obligation and a Colos 2. 14 thine handwriting against mee is fearefull That b 2 King 4. 1 poore widow cryed for her earthly debt because the creditor would take her two sonnes to bee his bond men for the same I haue much more reason to cry and mourne to thee for my spiritual debt which without a discharge will take my soule from mee Alace Debt is easilie contracted but hardly removed O LORD it was easily and pleasantly contracted but it is like to bee with paine and difficultie removed Sathan hath deceaved mee he made it to seeme light and easie at the beginning but now it is too heavie and verie displeasant vnto mee and if I get not an acquittance from thine Alsufficient Majestie I c Math. 18. 34 will bee delyvered to the jaylors and cast into the prison out of which there is no foorth comming nor redemption In the meane season O LORD albeit I bee so drowned in debt Lament thy vnfruitfulnesse and miserie yet I remaine as d Math. 3. 10 a barren ground as an vnfruitfull tree woe is mee the axe is put to the roote in danger to bee hewâ—n downe and cast into fire which is vnquenchable I am O LORD by nature like that vnprofitable e Luke 13. 4 figge tree planted in thy wine-yarde Thou hast for many yeares suffered mee
f Genes 44.33 be a servant for his brother Benjamin while with Ioseph hee was interceeding for him so CHRIST g Philip. 2. 7 made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme a servant and in his vnspeakable loue for thy sake became obedient vnto the death of the crosse that hee might bee thy most affectioned Advocate If Pylades so pleaded for his deare Ciceâ—o de amicitia friend Orestes that for the favour hee caried towards him before King Thoas hee was willingly content to lose his life and die for him much more will CHRIST who calleth h Iohn 15. 15 thee his friend pleade more lovingly for thee in respect hee hath i Iohn 10. 15 laide downe his life for thee Lastly CHRIST is a most happie Advocate for the cause In respect of the good successe was never lost which hee maintaineth that person never perished whom hee defendeth That woman k Iohn 8. 12 taken in the act of adulterie was accused but not condemned CHRIST being her Advocate who as hee most sufficiently and perfectly performeth his owne part so hee giveth strength and grace to his Client to behaue himselfe duetifully Albeit Cicero Plutarch in vita Ciceron in the defence of Milo by his wiledome and eloquence so moved and perswaded the Iudges that they were of purpose to absolue him but hee could not cause his Client to behaue himselfe humbly and therefore because of his proude carâ—age and for his arrogancie hee was condemned and banished Yet CHRIST being thy Advocate by his Spirit will so moue and perswade thee that thou shall continually and most willingly doe that which the l Mich. 6. 8 LORD requireth of thee even to doe justly to loue mercy to humble thy selfe greatly that thou may walke with thy GOD worthily he will bestow grace m Heb. 12. 28 vpon thee whereby thou mayest serue GOD that thou may please him with reverence and feare for ever and ever Secondly If thou be terrified in respect of thine adversaries fighting Christ is thy Chiâ—taine to presâ—rue thee against thee thou mayest be of good comfort because thou hast a strong Captaine and most valiant and expert Chiftaine even that Lyon n Revel 5. 5 which is the of tribe of â—udah to support and helpe thee Philip did say that an armie of Harts having a Lyon their governour Stobaeus sermone 52. is better than an armie of Lyons having a Hart their commander albeit thou of thy selfe bee weake and timorous â—et thy Captaine and defender is most couragious and valorous As Ioshua disconfited mightie Kings his enemies and made his people come o Iosh 10. 24 neere and set their feete vpon their necks so CHRIST shall p Rom. 16. 20 trode Sathan and all enemies vnder thy feete shortly and giue vnto thee a most notable and glorious victorie Thirdly If thou be dismayed because of thâ—â—e owne weaknesse Christ is thy good guide of thy slâ—â—pinesse of thy owne vncleannesse and of thine owne povertie and indigence yet rejoyce q 1 Thess 5. 16 continually hope r Psal 27. 14 in the Lord be strong and hee shall comfort thine heart for CHRIST shall bee thy governour and Master Å¿ Isaiah â—5 4 hee will show thee the path of lyfe and leade t Psal 16. 11 thee in the right way wherein thou shouldst walke and furnish thee with all necessarie good things CHRIST IESUS a most blessed guide is not like Iehonam the sonne of Carcah who guided the people from Iudea into Egypt where they u Ierem. 44.27 were consumed by the sword and by the famine vntill they were vtterly destroyed Neither is hee like Arimenes an Arabian Prince who circumveined Plutarch in vita Crassi Crassus and brought him to desert wildernesse and sinking sands where many of his armie were destroyed and his owne sonne killed Nor yet like a more guilfull guide Andromachus who led him to watrie ground and marrishes Ibidem where hee was compelled to render himselfe to the will of his enemie and then was slaine pittifully But IESUS hee is a most true and loving guide who will leade thee x Psal 23. 2 by still waters and make thee rest in greene pastures Hee will strengthen thee in weaknesse preserue thee in dangers comfort thee in miseries furnish thee in necessities hee surely will bring thee with Iacob from y Genes 31. 1 Sechem a place of perplexitiâ— to Bethel a place of peace and safetie hee will bring thee speedily from z Exod. 15. 27 Marah a station of bitternesse vnto Elim where are twelue fountaines of water hee certainly will bring thee from Egypt a place of slaverie to Canaan a countrie of plentie and libertie hee will turne thy shame to honour thy paine to pleasure thy sorrow to gladnesse thy miserie to happinesse he will make a Rom. 8. 28 all things worke together for thy best If b Isaiah 44.7 for a little while hee hath forsaken thee with great compassion will hee gather if for a little season for a moment hee hath hid his face from thee Yet with everlasting mercie will hee haue commiseration on thee If c Iohn 16. 33 in this world thou hast affliction content thy selfe with thy portion and perswade thy selfe that in CHRIST in due tyme thou shall haue peace and endlesse consolation But now let vs come to speake of the causes of prayer of the necessitie thereof of the profite of prayer of the dignitie thereof of some circumstances of the signes of prayer and of the force and efficacie thereof and that briefly and plainly as GOD of his good grace shall assist vs by his Holie SPIRIT OF THE CAVSES OF PRAYER The thirtenth Chapter SVrely thou hast many causes of fervent prayer 1. If thou looke to GOD Seven causes of fervent prayer thy Father If thou looke to â—â—sus CHRIST thy Saviour if thou looke to the holy Spirit thy saâ—ctifier 2 If thou looke to the Devill a lyar a and a Iohn â— 44 murtherer 3. If thou consider other Christians for whom thou shouldest pray and whose good example it becommeth thee to follow 4. If thou consider the wicked whom thou shouldest eshew 5. If thou take heede to thy owne selfe to thy necessitie and misery 6. If thou bebold the worldlie vanitie pollution danger and impietie 7. If thou shall remember the necessitie vtilitie dignitie and efficacie of prayer in the Chapters following all are causes of sufficient force to moue this holie duetie chiefly considering thy Christian calling First The Great and glorious GOD thy loving Father hee GODS command who is thy Father Master and King commandeth thee to b Psal 50. 15 call vpon Him in the day of thy trouble Now seeing Ioseph c Genes 38.14 obeyed his earthly father thou hast great reason to obey thy Heavenly Father who is also a most righteous and gratious d