put upon their heads yet soon withered but Heaven and glory will be fresh and flourishing as at the first so to Eternity But I forget my self am as in a wood or wilderness wherein I may loose or tire my self and the Reader the hints and intimations given for transitions and passings from common discourse to spiritual and Christian conference being well nigh in as great variety as the turnes and occurrences of providence are so that a gracious heart somewhat fitted by natural ingenuity but especially strengthened edged and sharpen'd by the Holy Spirit abiding in it makes well nigh every story or tale told every turne of Providence or word spoken to be as a bridge or boat to carry or waft over from discourse natural or moral to what 's supernatural spiritual and Heavenly And why should we imagine that the Devil and carnal hearts should be more dextrous and active in the advancing of vain and sinful talk then the Spirit of God and believers hearts are in the promoting and advancing of holy and Christian Conference especially considering that greater and stronger is the spirit which is in us and so for us Saints then the spirit which is in the world and so against us Saints 1 John 4.4 God is stronger then the Devil 2. 2 From Providence Having touched upon Christian ingenuity in turning common talke though lawful into spiritual which might be more for the use of edifying let me direct also to raise up good conference from the voice of God in providences smiling or frowning providences be they personal national or oecomenical and Universal such as concerne all mankind as the wayes of God working in a tendency towards the fall of Babilon or towards the rise of Zion in the conversion of the Jewes or the residue of the Gentiles yet in darkness worse then that of Egypt Take a few instances which may serve for those many hundreds which might be given 1. Are great deliverances vouchsafed to and bestowed upon us or others from sore fits of sickness from the Plague of pestilence from dangerous falls from perils by fire or water from bonds of imprisonments or from unreasonable and absurd men or from enemies in any kind full of malice and cruelty then let us provoke our selves and others to gratitude with that holy man What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 who made also a Psalm of praises when he was delivered from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul Ps 18. and excite our selves to answer those gracious ends which the Lord aimed at in delivering of us which was not to do abominations Jer. 7.10 but that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear to wit a slavish fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Luk. 1.74 75. This is the use God expects we should make not alone of that grand deliverance from the wrath to come but of those lower and lesser deliverances we enjoy here 2. 2 Death of others Again when the newes comes such or such an one is dead or dying the bell toles or rings out for him one it may be young and strong as likely to live possibly as any one you know doth not now pale death as it were take us by the hand and lead us into a deep and due consideration of our latterends which is our wisdome Deut. 32.29 and withal into a serious minding and reminding of our selves and others of our mortality how it is appointed unto men once to dye and after that the Judgment Heb. 9.27 as also of those two Eternities a black eternity of woe and misery which is the portion of sinners and that white eternity of joy and glory which is the gift of God through Christ to all the righteous who are by the bloud of Christ justified and by the Spirit of Christ sanctified and say each of us within our selves when I die as die I must and that I know not how soon whither will my soul go to Heaven or Hell and whereas I am now well O where shall I be an hundred years hence or a thousand years hence where for ever and ever and when Christ comes to judge the world in righteousness shall I be found among the goates on the left hand or among the sheep on the right hand of Jesus Christ Shall I be under that sweet and joyful sentence Come ye blessed c. or under that dolefull doome Depart from me ye cursed c. Matth. 25.34 41. It must be the one or the other therefore let us all look to it 3. 3 Any smart afflictions If Providence frown upon us or others in smart and sore afflictions near and dear relations as husband wife father mother child or friend being taken away by death sore diseases as the Stone Gout Dropsie Consumptions or the like or suppose molestations in estates by oppression and injustice from the men of the world or defamations by lies slanders and cruel mockings blotting and blasting our names and reputations â—ea what if it comes to imprisonment banishment or any cutting evil whatsoever such Providences cry aloud to us and bid us cry and call upon others Let patience have her perfect work Jam. 1.4 Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3.40 41. Let us get and keep that middle golden frame of spirit despise not or as the word imports do not little the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 Let us not so much desire the rod may be laid aside as that it may bud and blossome that so God may have his ends his gracious ends upon us which are for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness vers 10. Better the rod should lie on still in mercy then be laid aside in wrath and displeasure let not the bitter cup go out of thy hand 'till thou hast found the Sugar in the bottome to be sure it lies there because it 's a Cup in a Fathers hand 'T was an holy mans saying Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions It were easie to be very large and copious upon this subject not a woman delivered of a Child but it prompts to a discourse of regeneration and being born again and of Christ That Child which to us is born that Son which to us is given Isa 9.6 1665 1666 whose name is called wonderful Counseller c. We cannot call to mind that dreadful Plague of Pestilence one year and the dismal burning of the City the next our Childrens Children and after Ages cannot rehearse those black and horrid stories but that they must needs suggest to us and to generations to come how heinous and how abominable a thing sin is which incenseth the wrath of God who is the God
Person were rarely once only but twice in one day Thus this good man in labours more abundant in the morning sowes his seed and in the evening withholds not his hand so liberal he was of his spiritual Almes not knowing whether should prosper this or that or whether they both might not be alike good Eccl. 11.6 so that in imitation of the great Apostle by the power of the Spirit of God he even from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum fully Preached the Gospel of Christ So this excellent Minister of our Lord Jesus from Rickmersworth even round about unto the utmost borders of the County and into the neighbouring Counties also he was spending and being spent in the service of his great Lord and Master By all this the Reader may gather that our Doctor had not layne idle in the University 'till he was rusted and cankered away and fit for no further use in the house of God but as it was said of Joseph that his bow still abode in strength so it was with his parts memory and with his affections also and he was constant untill the act of uniformity imposed that general silence upon all nonconformist August 24. 1662. But yet neither after this time was he willing to be idle every week almost keeping one day as a private fast in his own or else in some other godly Ministers or Christian Family as to humble himself for his own sins so for the abominations that were in the midst of the land and it cannot be easily forgotten with what brokenness of spirit and with what a dissolved soul he would still take up some hours himself on those extraordinary occasions either in the word or prayer or both for indeed he was mighty in prayer as well as in the Scriptures as it is said of Apollo Having passed I think some two yeares his wife now labouring under some weaknesses and being weary with the burden of houshold affairs he retired to a Chamber or two in a private Family some miles distant where he was very useful he much inlightned and quickly leavened the habitation his Ministerial Gifts and graces were such as that indeed he perfumed the whole house As long as he lived there there was a Church alwayes in that house and I presume the govenour and children and servants do bless God for his presence and conference and exemplary conversation to this day and may they never loose the savour of the knowledg of Christ and the sense of the power of the world to come that he manifested and they were under during his abode with them From thence he removed to another private family and I believe his frequent removes were that he might have renewed opportunity of doing more good and God more service where he was entertained as an Angel of God This Family was near S. Albans in which Town from that time he was a great instrument in the hand of God for good to correct some extravagancies amongst some people there by his sober principles and great moderation of spirit and the noble exercises of self-denial and charity being no burden unto any but being crafty catching them with guile 2 Cor. 12.16 His last remove was to a place called Bovingden a little village and I question whether ever it had been mentioned in any story if this good man had not liv'd and ended his days there he was led thither by the invitation of a religious and very kind Gentleman freely accommodating him with all the conveniences of an habitation of his in that place But he once told me that whatsoever was saved that way he still expended proportionably in charitable uses making conscience to give it either in mony or books to the poor to this and the neighbouring places and I believe he hath destributed several hundreds of short Catechisms besides some dozens of little books of that great light of our age Entitled The call to the Vnconverted During his abode here he continued daily to attend the duty of the Family wherein he was instructing the souls belonging thereunto And if one or more of the poor of that place chanced to come in he would say they were welcome and that God came along with them and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them In this place he enjoy'd great privacy which he greatly priz'd and had be been born for himself alone he could alwayes have chosen to have liv'd thus alone How many worthy's in the world have prefer'd retirement to the greatest preferments in Church or State and have thought Scepters and Myters not worthy to be compared with it But he could not thus satifie himself that of Paul was often in his mouth Wo be to me if I preach not the Gospel he was of Calvins mind who would not his Lord should come and find him idle Wherefore he rode often to St. Albans or some other adjacent place and once or twice a year to London and Kingston and seeing he could not preach in a Church to many he would preach in a Chamber to a few T is not the place or company that commends our preaching to God What excellent Sermons have been preacht to despicable auditories and in very ordinary and contemptible places Pauls meeting place in Macedonia was the River side Acts 16.13 and his hearers a few of the weaker Sex Our Lord himself preacht a long Sermon once to one timorous man John c. 3. c. 4. and at another time in the open aire he preacht at large to one silly woman Thus this eminent servant of God like a torch or candle with lighting others consumed and wasted himself On the eighth of July Anno Dom. 1671. aetatis suae 71. he was seiz'd all on one side with the dead palsy by reason of which his speech much faild him so that he spake little and seldome A friend coming to visit him and asking him how he did he answered in the words of the Prophet In measure God debateth with me and in the day of the East-wind he stayeth his rough wind A while after he said to a friend that stood by him I neither fear death nor defire life but am willing to be at Gods disposal At another time he uttered these words very audibly I know that my redeemer liveth and by and by he repeated the fifth verse of the one and thirtieth Psalme in Meter Into thy hand Lord I commit My spirit which is thy due For why thou hast redeemed it Oh Lord my God most true He prest the by-standers so long as he was able to many wholsome duties As to make sure of Heaven in the time of health to keep their evidences fair and unblotted To remember and keep holy the Sabbath day of which he himself as you l find hereafter was a most careful observer When he could not speak himselfe he would desire others to read the Scriptures to him directing to the places which he most desired which were for the most part
he had constantly in his eye When he came among persons of Quality being himself well born well educated of a generous spirit and a chearful temper his company and converse was usually very acceptable to them which gave him an advantage to tell them as he would plainly though prudently of what he saw amiss in them to mind them of the vanity of the World of better things above and to put them as he often would upon good designs to shew their thankfulness to God for his mercy to them Nor was there a person so mean but he could and would readily and humbly condescend to him as knowing what precious souls dwell in the poorest houses of clay He spake to such alwayes in their own dialect and in a phrase they well understood trying their knowledge and feeling the pulse of their souls if he found them ignorant or unsensible he would endeavour to awaken them by laying plain Texts of Scripture before them for their conviction If he met with humbled and burdened souls or such as were babes in Christ he would gather them as lambs in his arms and gently lead them to the Wells of Salvation If at any time there hapned to be a mixt company at the Table with him some serious Christians some Professors at large his manner was to be very free and pleasant in discourse with them which caused them all to give great attention to him then might you have seen how ever and anon the honey dropt from his lips while the company were hanging on them how skilful he was in dividing the Word aright to every one his portion and how wise in winning of souls If he observed any to take the boldness from his innocent mirth and pleasant humour to incline to vain and frothy discourse he would very dexterously turn to some more profitable matter and as occasion was given afford a serious reproof tempered with much kindness and love to their souls which was usually well taken at his hand If his occasions required his stay a day or two at any place he seldom departed before he had Preached to the People He found by much and long experience that a plain way of Preaching was most effectual to the ends for which that Ordinance was appointed and therefore he constantly used it even in the College and Vniversity though he could easily have appeared in another strain had he preferred an aiery Reputation with some before the Work of his Master and the real advantage of others To conclude I hope that many who some time were and some who yet are members of that Society having felt his fatherly care heard his sound and pious instructions and seen his godly examples do and will endeavour to hold a conformity thereunto If any neglect or despise them let them know assuredly that God will require it at their hands A Dialogue OR A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A Minister and a Stranger As they were On the High-way together ABOUT Soul Affairs By Edmund Staunton D. D. LONDON Printed for Tho Parkhurst and are to be Sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel And at the Gilded Bible on London-bridge under the Gate 1673. A Dialogue or Discourse between a Minister and a Stranger as they were on the High-way together Minister FRiend Good morrow to you How far Travel you this way Stranger To such or such a place Min. I shall be glad of your company Str. And I Sir of yours Min. Little thought you in the Morning of meeting me or I of meeting you Str. True Sir Min. Well Friend since by the Providence of God we are brought together and must be accountable to God at death and judgment how we spend our time whil'st we be together shall we talk of what concerns the good of our Souls and of the Things of God Stranger Yes Sir with all my heart if you please Minister Friend What think you then that your Soul is Str. I think that my Soul is my breath because when a man's breath is gone then he dyeth and his Soul is gone also Min. True Friend when the breath departeth the Soul departeth also yet the Soul of a man is not his breath because 1. Beasts and the Fowls of the Air breathe also and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we have 2. Our breath is but the Air drawn in and cast out again and can you reasonably imagine first that the Air thus sucked in and blown out again should be the Soul or Souls of men or secondly that the whole Region of the Air should be the rational and immortal Souls of men or thirdly that our Souls come in and go out of our bodies as the Air we breathe in doth Stranger Truly Sir you have convinced me that the Soul is not breath whatever it be Minister What else do you think it is Str. I think it is my blood most likely Not so because 1. Beasts and Birds have blood in them as well as Men and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we Men have 2. If our Souls were blood then when our Noses bleed to speak familiarly with you our Souls would even out at our Noses or when we cut our fingers our Souls would run out at our fingers ends Min. Friend guess once more what your Soul is Str. Sir Is it not my Conscience Min. No Friend the understanding will conscience and affections as love hatred are the faculties and endowments of the Soul but not the Soul it self Str. You say well Sir I pray tell me then what my Soul is Minister Friend not to trouble you with any curious definitions the Soul of man is a spiritual substance endowed with reason immortal created and infused into man informeth inliveneth the body doth and acteth all in man the Soul seeth in the eye heareth in the ear speaketh in the tongue c. zach 12.1 God formeth the spirit of man within him Stranger I thank you Sir this is more than ever I heard of before Min. Well Friend having spoken something concerning our Souls shall we speak a little concerning God Str. Yes Sir I like your talk very well Min. What do you think God is Is he an old man or a young Str. An old man surely he hath been a long time Min. No God is neither a young man nor an old man Str. If God be not a man why do the Scriptures speak of God as having eyes ears hands and feet c Min. This kind of speaking is not proper but figurative speaking of God after the manner of men stooping to our understandings and capacities but the Scripture speaking plainly and properly saith God is a Spirit John 4.24 Stranger You say right Sir God is a Spirit Minister Well Friend Are not the Angels spirits too They are called ministring spirits Hebr. 1.13 What then is the difference between God and the Angels Str. God is the greatest and highest of all the
Prov. 14.14 2 Estimation with God 2. There 's a greater and higher remuneration then this even in the breast and bosome of God himself that good estimation they are of with him they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 3.17 All the world is his made preserved governed commanded by him but these are mine to wit in a way of special propriety my peculiar lot my treasure Exo. 19.5 Jer. 51.19 1. Pet. 2.9 my inheritance my jewels my children my spouse my beloved such honour and titles of honour have the Saints especially such as are active for God speaking often one to another 3 Signal advancement 3. God often rewards them even in this life by setting some signal token upon them of his love and favour which the men of the world cannot but take notice of There was a day when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another What that day was Mal. 3.16 or what they said is not clearly expressed but may be probably gathered from the Context and from the History of the Kings Reign in which he prophesied which lay down plainly how the affaires of Church and State were managed under their Reign and his prophesie But when doth God own them in the open face of the World not presently yet hath he a set time when he will appear for them vers 17. That day saith he when I make up my jewels which refers as most interpreters carry it partly at least to this life to wit in the day of his Churches Restauration and Reformation This is one way and one day of Gods making up his jewels in Church reformation when he turns again Zions Captivity when he maketh according to his promise Kings to be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers to his Israel When he giveth Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning and to his people Pastors after his own heart when purity of Doctrine Worship and discipline is set up and maintained the will and word of Jesus Christ in such a fair day Jewels will glister and sparkle and the Saints and Servants of the living God usually are advanced and become the heads and not the taile Though God seem to neglect his people yet he hath a day a set day wherein he will throughly plead Zions cause which is indeed his own cause Then shall the Lord of Hosts reign in mount Zion and in Jerusadem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 24.23 4 Sparing them 4. Such as speak often one to another God spareth them in his Fatherly indulgence towards them as a man spares his own Son that serves him Spares son and serves go together adoption and sanctification and find indulgence sueh God spares pardoneth their sins Ps 103.13 accepts their services though tainted with many defects and imperfections pittieth them in all their afflictions and temptations supports and delivers them accepts of their good meaning and endeavours the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 and sometimes remarkably spares them in the black and cloudy dayes of publick Calamity by the destroying sword in the hands of Angels or men in pestilences or warre And which notably sets off Gods love the Saints priviledge is that God so eminently sheweth himself on the side and behalf of his people that the ungodly world cannot but take notice thereof to their great admiration astonishment and terrour Mal. 3.18 13.14 15. vers 18. Then shall ye to wit the blasphemers return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not The Prophets retorts their blasphemies upon themselves making them their own judges and condemners therein Whose words were stout against the Lord who said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances who call the prond happy c. And thus God convinceth obstinate and rebellious sinners of their stupidity and Frenzies not to their Conversions but to their horrour and amazement and extorts acknowledgments from the worst of men not alone of his Soveraignty but of his wise administrations how that he is a gracious rewarder of the good as also a just and dreadful revenger of sin and sinners Psal 126.12 Thus when the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion they said among the Heathen The Lord hath done great things for them 5 Owning them at death and judgment 5. For the completing of this argument drawn from Gods gracious remuneration of Christian Conference he doth it not onely here but will do it more amply and abundantly hereafter as may be cleared from the words of Christ Beza at Pacet in Loc. Mat. 12.37 By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Justification stands here in opposition to condemnation and to be justified is to be absolved or declared just not to be made just Our words and speeches are the declarations and publications of what lieth latent in our hearts and so are signs and Characters of what we are good or bad as well as our deeds and actions and God hath a book of remembrance as well for what we speak as for what we do And when the book shall be opened Rev. 20.12 and the dead small and great shall stand before God and be judged according to what is written in these books then it will be known to all the world what good Commucations Gods people have had among themselves and that for their honour and renown before God the Angels and their fellow Saints to all eternity God is if I may so express it all-eye to see all the actions of men all eare to heare all the words of men and all hand to register and record all and not alone good works but good words also shall have a gracious recompence and reward of glory Oh that that 's the day Mal. 3.17 when God will make up his jewels those that spake often one to another compleatly fully then indeed the tyde shall turne the Scene Change the case and face of things shall so be altered as that the damned reprobates whilst howling and roaring among the Divels shall discerne little to their comfort much to their horrour between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not To these three arguments exciting to Christian Conference in reference to God his injunction or commanding of it his remunerations and rewards for it let me adde another The fourth Argument which should provoke us to be much in the duty of Christian Conference 4 Gods end in the variety of gifts bestowed is our answering therein Gods great end in his various distribution of gifts and graces to his Children which is that by gracious discourse and holy communication they might mutually impart each to other for their edification and spiritual advantage For the amplification thereof an apter similitude cannot be used then
his Commandment eyeing his glory and the good of the hearers telling them what God hath done for thy soul Ps 66.16 Be sure to offer up to God the Calves of thy lips a sacrifice of praises on that behalf In the evening look back on the day past and say what have my words bin this day if vain and idle be humbled and lye low before the Lord if at all gracious and savoury lift up thy heart to God in praises giving him all the glory Thus farr concerning our habitual preparations for Christian Conference Now touching actual execution when we are in company take these following directions which may fall under two heads Negative directions and positive 1. Negatives to be cautioned against and carefully avoided 1. As to the outward man that the body be not distempered and so indisposed for so spiritual a piece of service as Christian Conference is as by intemperance or excess in eating and drinking which hath a spice of gluttony or drunkenness in it when it unfits for duty or this duty among the rest Meats and drinks immoderately taken in fill the head with fumes and vapors and incline to sleep rather then discourse if the mouth take in too much the tongue is likely to send out too little as to Conference heavenly and spiritual The body is to soul as the instrument to the Musician let the Musician be never so skilful yet if the instrument be out of tune there 's like to be but little melody Though the head be full of good notions clear and strong the heart stored with grace and good affections yet a disordered body marrs the musick of holy discourse and Conference 2. 2 Inward man 1. Passion As to the inward man 1. Beware of irregular passions disturbances in the affections the lower part of the soul of man To instance only in anger griefe and fear Anger disposeth a man to speak too much and grief too little and fear not to speak at all or else in an abrupt and broken manner I remember in university disputations if the opponent could put the respondent or the respondent the opponent into a flame of anger or into a damp of pannick fear he would soon non-plus and gravel the Antagonist It 's much so in Conference though about matters of Religion violent passions obstruct and impede the understanding faculty in its clear and distinct actions and operations Passions when boiled up to an undue heat and height do no more befriend the intellect in it's reasonings and argumentations then foggs mists and clouds do the Sun in its shinings not at all they obscure and much darken the Sun and so doth passion reason 2. 2 Pride Beware of Pride high overhigh thoughts and conceits of our selves our sufficiency and ability 1. Pride usually is a great ingrosser takes up all the time and all the talk as if he were the only Rabby the Teacher Master all the rest fit only to be hearers and his Disciples inverting or perverting the words of the Apostle who bids us be swift to hear slow to speak Jam. 1.19 The proud man is slow to hear swift to speak 2. Pride is a deceiver speaking beside the condition or above the Capacity of the Company The reason is because the proud man is a self-seeker carried and acted by a principle of vain-glory and ostentation and therefore speaks what he apprehends himself best able to speak as what he hath lately heard or read though impertinent as to his present auditory or so sublime as to matter and language in School-distinctions and metaphysical notions and speculations as that the Company know not what he sayth or whereof he affirmeth An evil found among some publick Preachers sometimes who though they speak English preach as it were in an unknown Tongue much above the Capacities of the people who go away fill'd with admiration or the mans parts and gifts though nothing at all benefited as to edification or salvation yet wit and eloquence is good even in Conference provided it be without vain affection be clearly to be understood be disswasive from evil and perswasive unto good 3. 3 In reference to the whole man In reference to the whole man Beware of losing time precious time whilst you be in company not trifling or squandring it away in sinful silence or in vain and worldly talk much less in sinful and corrupt Communication the least minute of time being too good to be spent in idle words not tending at all to the glory of God or to the spiritual advantage of our selves or others A Heathen by the light of Nature could say Solius temporis sacra avaritia that of time alone there 's a sacred covetousness And the Apostle by the light of the Spirit saith that the redemption of time is a considerable part of our Christian wisdome walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 18. not as fools but as wise how so he adds redeeming the time c. redemption of time is laudable yea necessary for self-examination soul humiliation secret prayer reading and searching the Scriptures meditation when alone and for good discourse when we are with others 2. For positive directions take them then 1. Common discourse 1. Common discourse may be introductory to special and spiritual and interjectory cast in by the by as sauce to meat For instance it 's lawful in some cases a duty to discourse of things natural as of diet physick medicines for the preserving or restoring of health and strength in our selves or others to discourse of things civil and moral buying selling manuring of Land plowing sowing family concernments publick affairs of Nations and even this discourse may be in a sence spirituall in regard of principle and ends when it 's done with an eye to Gods commands receiving directions for the ordering and guiding of affairs with discretion one property of a man fearing God Ps 112.1 5. And to discourse touching the stateof Zion at home or abroad is not only lawful but an high and holy duty provided we doe not discourse it barely as Newes for so it leaves us as it found us but to provoke us to suitable affections of rejoycing with the sons and daughters of Zion when they rejoyce and weeping with them when they weep and to excite us to such holy duties as the present providence calls for at our hands as good Nehemiah asked Hanani Neh. 1.2 3. and the men of Judah concerning the Jews lost in the captivity and concerning Jerusalem and hearing that they were in great affliction and reproach and how the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire O how deeply was he affected therewith how did he lay it to heart when I heard these words I sat down and wept mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven vers 4. His prayer is upon record vers 5. to the end of the Chapter And withal when the