That he would sanctifie to us the knowledge we have already attained that it may not be idle and ineffectual but may produce in our lives answerable obedience that we do not with-hâ—ld any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would open our hearts to believe all those truths revealed in his Word that he would inable us to take diligent heed lest there should be in any of us an evill heart of unbelief in departing from the living God That we may firmly assent unto his promises and threats and as we do professe our selves to believe in God so we may be carefull to maintain good works That we may not rely on such outward means as cannot help us but in all our wants and troubles we may place our chief confidence on him as knowing that he is infinitely wise powerful merciful both able and willing to succour us that when we know not what to do our eyes may be upon him That in our greatest exigences when we are in a state of darknesse and can see no light we may then trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon our God That we may still cast our burden upon him and abide under the shadow of the Almighty Committing our wayes unto the Lord Being careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplications make our requests known unto God who careth for us and will never leave or forsake us That we may labour to stirre up and strengthen our hope in him such hope as may be well grounded and will not make us ashamed of which we may be alwayes able and ready to give answer to every man that asketh us a reason That we may look more at the things which are not seen then at those things which are seen That in times of fear and danger we may fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us which hope may be as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast That no condition or temptation may make us cast away our confidence That we may give all dilligence to make our callings and elections sure To clear unto our selves the evidences of our own everlasting well-beings That we may love the Lord our God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our might so farre above that natural affection which we do bear to those other things whether father or mother wife or children brethren or sisters yea and our own lives also that we may be said to hate and despise them in comparison of him That our love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that we may approve the things that are excellent That we may delight in all those holy duties whereby we may enjoy communion with him That we may earnestly long and thirst after the enjoyment of him when we shall come and appear before him That he would make us Zealous and fervent in all holy duties resolute and couragious in standing to the truth not to be deterred by hopes or fears Not wronging any good cause either by our cowardize or indiscretion Not resting our selves in a luke-warm profession being neither cold nor hot but being valiant for the truth and fervent in spirit Alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to salvation considering what he hath said That if we shall be ashamed of him in this adulterous generation he also will be ashamed of us when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels That we may rejoyce and glory in the LORD placing our chief happinesse in a spiritual communion with him Serving him with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart Delighting greatly in his Commandments Finding more happinesse in the light of his countenance then in the increase of corn and wine preferring his loving kindnesse before life it self That he would make us more heartily sensible of those many great favours which are continually multiplied upon us That he would draw up our hearts to heaven in the acknowledgement of his bounty and goodnesse that our souls may blesse him and our desires may be alwayes towards him that we may be ready to talk of his loving kindnesse and to speak good of his name endeavouring to expresse our gratitude by the readinesse and cheerfulnesse of our obedience Seeking to glorifie his name by bearing much fruit unto him That we may be patient under his afflicting hand as considering that he is the Author as well of the evil we suffer as of the good we enjoy And shall we receive good from the hand of God and shall we not receive evil The greatest judgement that can befal us in this life is farre lesse then our deserts 'T is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not And then besides he hath promised that all things shall work together for the good of them that love him And though the cup may be bitter yet it proceeds from the hand of a Father That we may count our selves happy in what we suffer for righteousnesse sake because the Spirit of God and the Spirit of glory resteth upon us That we may rejoyce and glory in our tribulations as knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Reckoning with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us That in all our sufferings we may trust in the living God committing our souls unto him who is their faithfull Creatour and righteous Judge That we may accept the punishment of our iniquity waiting upon God in the way of his judgements Being willing to put our mouths in the dust rather then to open them in murmuring against him Considering how unjust and unreasonable it is for a living man to complaine a man for the punishment of his sins And that it is rather meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him He does punish us lesse then our iniquities deserve Not dealing with us after our sins nor rewarding us according to our iniquities and we have no reason to repine at kinde and moderated corrections Though in some respects he hath chastened us sore yet he hath not given us over to death He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men and therefore we have great reason totally to submit and resigne up both our selves and affaires to be governed by his wise providence and to let the Lord do with us what
after he hath preached unto others he himself may not become a cast-away 2. For his Doctrine that he may study to approve himself unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth That he may preach the Word being instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine with meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth Feeding the flock of God not by constraint but willingly Not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde That he may speak as the Oracles of God That his doctrine may be in demonstration of the spirit and of power with uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity not as pleasing men but God who tryeth the hearts The People or hearers may be hereby directed to pray for a greater love and esteem of his Word as being the Ordinance of his infinite wisdome which he can make effectual for the Conversion and salvation of souls Considering that the fashion of this world passeth away Pleasures shall die and vanish Honours shall be laid in the dust gold and silver shall rust and canker but the word of God abideth for ever This alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to save our soules being that word by which we shall be judged at the last day That therefore we may value it above gold and silver finding a relish in it sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb That we may alwayes love the beauty of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth To publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and to tell of all his wondrous works This one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary That we may have a greater care to know and practise his will As new borne babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word to grow thereby That he would teach us so to prize and improve the present liberty and Sun-shine of the Gospel that we may be carefull in this our day to lay up for our selves a good foundation against the evil time That we may approach unto this Ordinance with such reverent and prepared affections as may become his more especial presence amongst us Considering our feet when we draw neer before him that he would over-awe our spirits with an holy fear and reverence in the apprehension of his presence and beholding of us who is a God of infinite holinesse and glorious Majesty that we may bow down our souls with a willing subjection unto every sacred truth That he would subdue the pride of our hearts Cast down every imagination that exalteth it selfe against him and bring into subjection every thought unto the obedience of Christ and because the Word of it selfe is but a dead letter and it is not in the power of any outward means the wisdome or preparation of weak sinful man to subdue the power of sin the Kingdome of Satan or to create men in Christ Jesus unto good works that therefore he would be pleased to accompany the outward means by the inward efficacy and operation of his Spirit Man can speak only unto the ear but he can speak unto the heart and 't is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us be so and he hath promised to meet such as desire to wait upon him and to remember him in his wayes That he would remove from our understandings the veile of ignorance and infidelity whereby we are made incapable of spiritual truths that he would take from our affections that natural pravity and malice whereby we are made enemies to spiritual notions that we may receive the truth not only in the light but in the love of it not with-holding any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would strengthen us against all temptations of Satan cares of the world hardnesse of our own hearts or what ever may hinder our profitable and saving hearing That he would take from us all irreverence distraction prejudice dulnesse in hearing of his Word and because it must redound either to the glory of his justice in our farther hardening and final condemnation or to the glory of his mercy in our conversion and salvation that he would therefore sanctifie it to our good that as the rain cometh down from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitful so the Word that goeth out of his mouth may not return unto him void but accomplish his good pleasure and prosper in that to which it is sent That it may be unto us sharp as a two-edged sword to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit the joynts and marrow discovering the very thoughts and intentions of the heart And because Paul may plant and Apollos may water but he only can give the increase That therefore he would be pleased to give a blessing and successe to his own Ordinance That his Word may be unto us a word of power converting the soul and making wise the simple that he would give unto us hearing ears and understanding hearts that we may believe and be saved That he would write his laws in our inward parts That he would open our eyes to behold the wondrous things of his law Incline our hearts to affect direct our steps that we may walke in the paths of his precepts Shew us thy wayes O Lord and teach us thy paths lead us in thy truth and guide us for thou art the God of our salvation Teach us thy wayes O Lord and we will walke in thy truth unite our hearts to fear thy name Shew us the way that we should walk in for we lift up our souls unto thee Teach us to do thy will for thou art our God Let thy good Spirit lead us into the land of uprightnesse That we may behave our selves with humility attention alacrity laying down all high thoughts fleshly reasonings stubborne resolutions being ready to receive with meeknesse the ingraffed word which is able to save our souls That we may enjoy communion with him in his Ordinances that he would fill us with all joy and peace in believing That he would sanctifie our judgements affections memories that we may apprehend and believe and affect and retain those sacred truths that shall be delivered That he would inlighten our mindes open our hearts soften our consciences compose our thoughts to attend unto his Word with meeknesse and faith receiving it into good and honest hearts with full purpose to walk answerably to it in our conversations That Christ may be formed in us that our hearts may be established in every good word
sinners To which may be added our aptnesse to slight and undervalue the thought of this Original corruption though it hath already brought so much mischief upon all mankinde wholly depraved us in our faculties and principles and spread a curse and deformity upon the whole creation CHAP. VIII The enumeration of actuall sins both Nationall and Personal against the Law and Gospel and particularly against the first Commandment IN the Enumeration of sins next to Originall we are to acknowledge our Actual transgressions which flow from the other as acts do from their habits These in the generall are distinguishable into sins National and Personal of Omission and Commission in thought word and deed the particulars of which do referre to some kinde of breach against the Law First Table Second Table Gospel and may properly be enumerated under those heads to which they appertain Every commandment having in it both a Positive Negative part and comprehending the obedience of the whole man But now because it may be sometimes convenient to make a distinct recitall of National sinnes therefore we ought to be observant and prudent in the choise of fitting matter to this purpose There are three things that will raise a sin to a publike guilt and make it become National 1. Common practice 2. Publick establishment or connivance 3. General insensiblenesse These are variously applicable according to the condition of several times both to offences against the first and second Table As Idolatry Superstition Heresie Prophanenesse Incouragement to wilde and desperate errors Ingratitude and unfruitfulnesse under publike and common mercies security and inadvertency under all those various dispensations that befall us inconsideratenesse of the day of our visitation and the things that concern our peace loathing of our spiritual Manna breach of our publike and solemn Engagements Blood-guiltinesse Cruelty Injustice Oppression Perfidiousnesse Bitternesse A spirit of Disobedience Confusion Giddinesse in respect of Civil order c. Hitherto appertain the iniquities of our fathers and of all publike orders and degrees of men Our Kings our Princes our Priests which ought upon some special occasions to be acknowledged and bewailed But these are not reducible unto any particular Catalogue because they do continually vary according to several times In the enumeration of Personal sins a man ought chiefly to insist upon those particulars whereof he is more especially guilty But withall he should know and upon severall occasions be able to reckon up the species and kindes of all sins These may best be discovered by looking upon the divine law according to its latitude and fulnes examining what is therein Injoyned Forbidden concerning either the duties of Piety towards God in the first Table or the duties of Charity towards our Neighbour in the second Table The first Commandment does forbid the not having Jehovah alone for our God and consequently the not knowing not believing not adhering not submitting to him The not behaving ourselves towards him in all respects as our God So that we sinne against this by ignorance when we do not labour after such a measure of knowledge in divine truths as is proportionable to the callings wherein we are the time and means which we have had When we do not desire the knowledge of Gods wayes Being content to sit in darknes and in the region and shadow of death Not endeavouring to acquaint our selves with his Power Majesty Justice Mercy Wisdome Unchangeablenesse and those other Attributes of the Divine nature Not searching the Scriptures proving the things that are more excellent When our knowledge is only literal and uneffectual not working answerable obedience in our lives when we are not careful to observe and consider and treasure up in our hearts those holy truths which at any time have been discovered to us But suffer them to slip from us by inadvertency or forgetfulnesse Not ruminating upon them or recalling them to minde according to our several occasions By Infidelity when we do not assent unto his law as being holy just and good Not labouring to strengthen our faith in his holy Attributes and Word Not so firmly believing his threats and judgements as to be humbled therby Or his Promises as to be invited by them unto newness of life By Diffidence not adhering to him with all our hearts not casting our burden upon him Not trusting him in the want of outward means full of carking and solicitous thoughts Apt to put our confidence in armes of flesh broken reeds lying vanities By want of Love not loving of him with all our affections and might preferring the love of our selves of pleasure riches honour and the like earthly vanities before the infinite and absolute good that may be found in him Suffering our shame worldlinesse security hopes fears dependancies want of leisure and such like poore respcts to seduce our affections from him and to hinder our communion with him Loving his creatures his enemies any thing rather then himself forsaking the Fountain of living waters and hewing out unto our selves broken Cisterns that will hold no water Spending our time and our money for that which is not bread and our labour for that which satisfieth not By want of zeale not being zealous for his glory in the forward and cheerful use of such meanes whereby it may be promoted in a fervent and resolute opposition of those things that may hinder it in an hearty sense and sorrow for those reigning corruptions either publike in the times or private in our own souls whereby it hath been abused wronging good causes either by our lukewarmnesse or else by our blinde indiscreet zeale By want of rejoycing in him not serving him with gladnesse of heart Not rejoycing in the Lord Not finding any such relish in his holy Word and Ordinances whereby they may seem sweeter then the honey and the honey-combe but rather counting his wayes grievous and burdensome unto us By Vnthankfulnesse for those great mercies which are freely bestowed upon us not rendering unto the Lord according to the benefits we receive failing in the acknowledgment of them letting them slip by us without any regard or notice Being too apt to ascribe Gods blessings unto our owne deserts and endeavours Sacrificing to our own nets Subject to forget his favours though he doth renew them every moment And amongst those few that we do take notice of and remember yet our thankfulnesse for the receipt of them is no way proportionable to our importunity in the want of them Expressing our slighting of them even in our very thanksgiving for them Not mentioning them with any hearty sense or affection Not willing to acknowledge them by charity towards his distressed members according to our abilities and opportunies But rather returning evil for good and hatred for his good will Like Jeshurun waxing fat and kicking with the heele Abundance
any man at all times fit for them I mention these onely as right-hand infirmities upon which profane men will be apt to take great advantages and to confirme themselves in their prejudices and therefore every prudent Christian should be watchful against them There is nothing more unsuitable to the solemnity of this duty to that reverence which we owe unto the divine Majesty then to bespeak him in a loose carelesse empty manner though God is not bettered by any thing we can give or do All our services being to him as nothing yet he is pleased to esteem of them by their commensuration to us if in respect of our abilities they are the best and with any thing below our best we cannot expect he should be satisfied All kinde of worship should proceed from a desire and study to honour God and therefore ought to be performed with our utmost care and abilities Under the Law men were bound to Sacrifice unto God the best of their substance and if sacrifice be a type of Prayer then also we are bound to pray unto him in the best manner and forme that we can invent and consequently in a premeditated form when that may be most effectuall to direct us in our desires and to stirre up our affections The multiplicity of our wants the unfaithfulnesse of our memories the dulnesse and slownesse of our apprehensions the common extravagancies of our thoughts will all require our best care for the remedy of them and premeditation may be a very proper means for this purpose Job speaks of chusing out his words to reason with God As it is amongst persons and things so it is amongst expressions too some are choise and beautiful others refuse and improper Now a man should be careful to select the fittest words to expresse himself in this duty And 't is a very solemn Caveat which the Wiseman gives Eccles. 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hastie to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few as if he should have said when thou dost approach before the Divine Majesty in the duty of Prayer be sure that thou first ponder with thy self the greatness of that businesse settle and compose thy â—houghts to the solemn performance of it Betware of crude tumultuary meditations of idle impertinent wilde expressions Take heed of all empty repetitions digressions prolixity for God is most glorious and wise whereas thou art a poor unworthy creature and therefore shouldest not dare to bespeak him without a great deal of fear and preparation Let thy words be few Not that brevity or fewnesse of words is the proper excellency of Prayer God is as little taken with that as with the length of them He is not wearied and tired as men are But because those that speak little do probably study and ponder more upon what they say And to this purpose 't is said that the wise Preacher sought out and gave good heed to find and to set in order acceptable words Eccles. 12.10 and of such words 't is said in the next verse that they will prove as goads and nails fastened by the Masters of Assemblies that is when they are deliberate and proper they will leave a strong and lasting impression upon the hearers If it be objected that set forms are properly helps of insufficiency and therefore should not be used by those that have abilities of their own It may be answered though set forms made by others be as a crutch or help of our insufficiency yet those which we compose our selves are a fruit of our sufficiency and may likewise prove a very great advantage for the more solemn performance of this duty especially in publike and with others both for the direction of our desires and exciting of our affections Though a man ought not to be so confined by any premeditated form as to neglect any special infusion He should so prepare himself as if he did expect no assistance and he should so depend upon divine assistance as if he had made no preparation If it be objected again that men ought to rely upon that promise Dabitur in illa hora Matth. 10 19. Take no thought what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same houre I answer 't is true when God does call men to extraordinary services of which that Scripture speaks he does accordingly fit them with extraordinary assistance But yet when men may use the common means 't is there a great presumption to depend upon extraordinary help That 's a remarkable saying of the son of Syrach Before thou prayest prepare thy self and be not as one that tempts the Lord. He that rushes upon this duty without using the common means of fitting himself for it does tempt God for to tempt God is to expect any thing from him without using the ordnary helps So our Saviour answered the Devill when he would have perswaded him to fling himself from the Temple when as there were stairs for descent Matth. 4.7 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And of this fault are those guilty who depend so much upon immediate infusion as to neglect all premeditation or previous studie If any should think that that phrase of the Apostle of praying with the Spirit does imply a totall resignation of a mans self to his immediate suggestions That may easily appear to bee a grosse mistake for in the very same place 1 Cor. 14.14 15. He speaks likewise of singing with the Spirit And I presume no man would think it fitting to rely wholly upon his bare infusions in the duty of singing without preparation both of matter and words too I have been the longer upon this subject because I would willingly remove those inconsiderate prejudices which some of good affections may be transported with in this point And that this holy duty might not so often suffer in the solemnity of it by mens presumptions and negligence in this kinde CHAP. III. Arguments or motives to excite men unto the labour after this Gift HAving thus discoursed concerning the nature of this Gift together with the two extreams which on either hand do so much hinder mens proficiency in it I shall in the next place briefly suggest some few arguments or motives to engage us upon the diligent enquiry after it 1. From the excellency of it in comparison to those other abilities which are so much valued and sought after in the world As for Manual trades men are content to bestow the labour of seven yeers in the learning of them And so for the Liberal Arâ—s you know what numerous and large volumes are written concerning them how much time and pains men will lay out in the study of them counting their labour well bestowed if after many tedious watchings they can attain to any kind of eminency in these professions And yet these things can onely accommodate us
the Earth is thine thine is the Kingdome O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all Vers. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all 1 Chron. 16.27 Glory and honour are in his presence strength and gladnesse are in his place Neh. 9.5 Whose glorious name is exalted above all blessing and praise Vers. 6. Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made Heaven the Heaven of heavens with all their Host the earth and all things that are therein the seas and all that is therein and thou preservest them all and the Host of Heaven worshippeth thee Vers. 32. The great and mighty and terrible God who keepeth Covenant and mercy Job 4.18 Who chargeth his Angels with folly Job 5.9 Who doth great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number Vers. 10. Who giveth raine upon the Earth and sendeth waters upon the Fields 11 To set up on high those that be low that those which mourne may be exalted to safety 12 Who disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot performe their interprize 13 Who taketh the wise in their own craftinesse and the counsell of the froward is carried headlong 14 So that they meet with darknesse in the day-time and grope in the noon-day as in the night 15 But he saveth the poor from the sword and from their mouth and from the hand of the mighty Job 9.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him hath prospered Vers. 5. Which removeth the mountaines and they know not which overturneth them in his anger 6 Which shaketh the Earth out of her place and the pillars thereof tremble 7 Which commandeth the Sun and it riseth not and sealeth up the starres Vers. 8. Which alone spreadeth out the Heavens and treads upon the waves of the Sea c. Job 15.15 Who putteth no trust in his Saints yea the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 26.6 Before whom Hell is naked and destruction hath no covering Vers. 7. Who stretcheth out the North over the empty place and hangeth the Earth upon nothing 8. Who bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them 9. Who boldeth back the face of his throne and spreadeth his cloud upon it 10. Who hath compassed the waters with bounds untill day and night come to an end 11. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproofe 12. Who divideth the Sea by his power and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud 13. Who by his Spirit hath garnished the Heavens and his hand hath formed the crooked Serpent Who is perfect in Knowledge Job 37.16 Vers. 22.23 With whom is terrible Majesty We cannot find him out he is excellent in Power and in Judgement and in plenty of Justice He respecteth not any that are wise of hâ—art Psal. 8.1 Whose Name is excellent in all the Earth who hath set his glory above the Heavens Psal. 33.6 By whose word the Heavens were made and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth Vers. 7. Who gathereth the waters of the Sea together as an heap and layeth up the deeps in store-houses 8. That all the Earth might fear him and all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him 10. Who bringeth the counsel of the People to nought and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect 11. Whos 's own counsel standeth for ever and the thoughts of his heart to all generations 13. Who looks down from Heaven and beholds all the sons of men 14. From the place of his habitation he looks upon all the inhabitants of the Earth 15. Fashioning their hearts alike and considering all their works Psal. 47 2. Who is the Lord most high and terrible a great King over all the Earth Psal. 57.5 Who is exalted above the Heavens and his glory above all the Earth Psal. 65.6 Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains being girded with power Vers. 7. Who stilleth the noise of the seas the noise of their waves anâ— the tumult of the people Psal. 66.5 Who is terrible in his doings towards the children of men Vers. 7. Who ruleth by his power for ever and his eyes behold the Nations Ps. 68.33 Who rideth upon the Heaven of heavens which were of old Psal. 72.2 Who shall judge the people with righteousnesse and the poor with judgement Vers. 11. All Kings shall bow down before him and all Nations shall do him service 17. Whose name shall endure for ever and be continued as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him and all Nations shall call him blessed 18 Who onely doth wondrous things Ps. 83.18 Whose name alone is Jehovah who is the most high over all the Earth Psal. 89.6 Who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord Vers. 7. Who is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all those that are about him 8 O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong God like unto thee or to thy faithfulnesse round about thee 9 Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them 10 Thou scatterest thine enemies with thy strong arme 11 The Heavens are thine the Earth also is thine as for the world and the fulnesse thereof thou hast founded them 13 Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thine hand and high is thy right hand 14 Justice and Judgement are the habitation of thy throne mercy and truth shall go before thy face Psal. 95.3 Who is a great God and a great King above all gods Vers. 4. In whose hands are the deep places of the Earth the strength of the Hills is his also 5 The Sea is his and he made it his hands formed the dry land Psal. 96.6 Before whom are Honour and Majesty and in whose sanctuary are strength and beauty Psal. 99.2 Vers. 3. Who is great in Zion and high above all people Whose Name is great and terrible for it is holy 4 Who loveth judgement and doth establish equity executing judgement and righteousnesse in Jacob. Psal. 103.19 Who hath prepared his throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all Ps. 104.1 O Lord my God thou art very great thou art clothed with Honour and Majesty Verse 2. Who coverest thy self with light as with a garment Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain 3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters and maketh the clouds his charet and walketh upon the wings of the winde 4. Who maketh his Angels spirits his Ministers a flaming fire 5. Who laid the foundations of the Earth that it sheuld not be removed for ever 9. Who hath set a bound to the
thee 2 An expression of our desire to fly utterly out of our selves to renounce all our own righteousnesse How should man be just with God if he should contend with us we could not answer for one of a thousand If thou shouldst be extreame to mark what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it but there is mercy and forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared thou knowest our frame and considerest that we are but dust frail infirme creatures and therefore thou dost not expect perfection from us if we could have no sin we should have no need of a Redeemer we are of our selves altogether impotent and unclean and our righteousnesse as filthy rags 3. A promise of amendment for the future Renuing our Covenant with God by fresh resolutions of astrict and holy conversation Professing our desire to fear his name and to be engaged to him by an everlasting Covenant never to depart from him again O that my wayes were so directed that I might keep thy Commandments alwayes O that thou would'st inable us to repent and be converted that our sins may be bletted out when the times of refreshing shall come It is the desire of our soules to walk more holily and humbly before thee for the future to keep a stricter watch over our own hearts and wayes 4. A brief application unto our selves of such mercies and promises as belong to those that believe and repent Though we have not expressed the dutiful affections of children yet God cannot renounce the tender compassions of a Father and if earthly Parents can give good things to their children will not he be much more ready to be gracious to his With the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption And we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sins He hath promised to hear and grant the requests that are put up in faith that he will have respect to those of an humble and contrite heart that those who do not hide their sins but confesse and forsake them shall finde mercy That he delighteth not in the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live That the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart he will not despise And now O Lord thou art that God and thy words be true and thou hast promised such mercies unto thy servants therefore now let it be unto us according to thy word We desire to lay hold on that word of promise that thou wilt heal our backslidings and love us freely that thou wilt not turn away from us to do us gond but wilt put thy fear into our hearts that we shall not depart from thee O think upon thy servants as concerning this word of thine wherein thou hast caused us to put our trust Truly our hope is even in thee 'T is the desire of our souls to seek after thee and to come unto thee and thou never failest them that seâ—k thee Of those that come unto thee thou puttest away none O be pleased to establish this word of thine unto thy servants and let them not be disappointed of their hope Though the wages of sin be death yet this is our comfort that the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Scripture is very copious in other pertinent expressions for each of these heads and to some of these the most proper matter for Transition is reducible CHAP. XVI Conrerning Deprecation of evill with several Arguments to back our requests of this nature THe chief heads of matter for Petition are summarily comprehended in the Lords Prayer as hath been shewed before All Petition is either for Our selves Deprecation Comprecation Others Intercession In petitioning for our selves the first thing to be explained is Deprecation which concerns the prevention or removal or lessening of evill The first evill to be prayed against is that of sin and therein we should deprecate both the Guilt Power 1. The guilt of sin is that imputation whereby we are obliged to the wrath of God and all the curses of the Law and therefore we have great need to pray that he would forgive us our debts That he would blot out our Transgressions as a cloud That he would open unto us the fountain for sin and for uncleannesse That he would have compassion upon us subduing our iniquities and casting our sins into the depths of the sea That we may be justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ That he would cleanse us from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit That he would blot out the hand-writing that is against us and take it out of the way nailing it to the Crosse of Christ. Of this kinde we have sundry Deprecations in Scripture So David Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions for thy names sake O Lord pardon mine iniquity for it is great Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions wash me throughly from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my sin Purge me with Hysope and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then Snow Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities O remember not against us our former iniquities help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name Deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name Take away all our iniquities and receive us graciously Heal our back-slidings and love us freely Now because this is one of the chief wants against which we should petition therefore we should endeavour to back our requests in this kinde with such Arguments as may serve to stir up our fervency and strengthen our faith in this desire 1. From the mercy of God who desires not the death of a sinner but at what time soever he shall truly repent hath promised to forgive him He hath commanded us to ask daily pardon as well as daily bread shewing thereby that as the best man shall continually need pardon so he is more ready to give it then we are to ask it He has intreated us to be reconciled unto him He does invite and call us when we are impenitent and therefore he will be much more ready to embrace and accept of us when we desire with repentance to return unto him He would not have us send our neighbour away empty when that which he
work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure 'T is not in our power to regenerate our selves for we are not borne of blood nor of the Will of the flesh nor of the Will of man that is not of any natural created strength but of God And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think 'T is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us to be so 2. He is willing and hath promised to give unto us a new spirit To put his law into our inward parts to write it in our hearts And if men that are evil know how to give good gifts to their children how much more shall our heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that aske him He hath professed it to be his own Will even our sanctification And he cannot deny us the performance of his own Will He hath promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousnesse shall be filled And therefore if he hath in any measure given us this hunger we need not doubt but he will give us this fulnesse likewise He hath said that he delights to dwell with the Sons of men and what reason have we to doubt the successe of our desires when we do beg of him to do that which he delights in 2. The next thing to be prayed for is the obedience of our lives answerable to that in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done one earth as it is in heaven And here likewise we are to petition for spiritual grace and ablities both to perform and to continue and to increase in all holy duties 1. For the Performance of them that he would lead us into the paths of righteousnesse That with simplicity and godly sincerity we may have our conversation in this world That denying all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we may live soberly righteously and godly in this present world That God would give us grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly feare That we may not any more be conformed unto this world That being dead unto sin we may live unto righteousnesse Not any longer spending the rest of our time in the flesh to the lustâ— of men but to the Will of God That the time past of our lives may suffice to have served divers lusts That for the future we may walk as obedient children not fashioning our selves according to the former lusts of our ignorance but as he that hath called us is holy so we may be holy in all manner of conversation To this purpose is that desire of David O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes and in another place Teach me to do thy Will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightnesse and elsewhere Shew me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy paths lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation Teach me thy wayes O Lord and I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to feare thy name 2. For our continuance in them That we may serve him without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives Being stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord Holding faith and a good conscience Patiently continuing in well doing without wearines as knowing that in due time we shall reap if we faint not Holding fast the profession of our faith without wavering that our hearts may be established with grace that amidst all outward changes and losses we may still hold fast our integrity Thus the Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that God would stablish them in every good word and work 3. For our Increase in them That God would make all grace to abound towards us That we alwayes having alsufficiency to all things may abound to every good work That we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse unto the glory and praise of God That forgetting those things which are behinde and reaching unto those things which are before we may continually presse towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God Thus doth the Apostle pray for the Hebrews The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight And Epaphras for the Collossians that they might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God CHAP. XVIII Of the several graces and duties injoyned in the first Commandment THe graces that we should pray for are many of them briefly summed up together in several Scriptures But for our more full and distinct apprehension of them they may be more particularly considered according to their distinct relations either to the Law Gospel The duties enjoyned by both these may be easily collected from those vices and failings mentioned in our Confession The first Table in the Law doth concern our duty to God The first Commandment doth enjoyn us to have Jehovah alone for our God that is in all respects to behave our selves towards him as our God So that by this we are directed to pray for these graces and duties viz. Knowledge and Belief of him Trust and Hope in him Love towards him Zeal for him Rejoycing in him Gratitude towards him Patience under him Obedience to him Fear of him Being humble before him Because it is not good that the soul should be without knowledge we should therefore pray that he would be pleased to incline our ears unto wisdome and apply our hearts to understanding That he would open our eyes to behold the wonderous things of his Law That he would give unto us the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of our understandings being inlightened we may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power That he would enable us to be more inquisitive after those sacred truths revealed in the Word more diligent to acquaint our selves with his holy attributes and works more mindefull of his Holinesse Justice Truth Power Omnipresence that he is about our paths and beds and acquainted with all our wayes He does search and know us understanding our thoughts afar off all things being naked and open in his sight That we may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding that we may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God that we may follow on to know the Lord.
seemeth good unto him That we may be constant universal sincere in our obedience Walking before him in truth and with a perfect heart and may do that which is good in his sight That in the generall course of our lives we may demean our selves in a setled regular way of submission and obedience having respect to all Gods Commandments Obeying from the heart the forme of doctrine delivered to us Following the Lord fully walking exactly and precisely before him That we may have not only the forme of godlinesse but the power also That we may sanctifie the Lord God of Hosts making him our fear and our dread considering that the end of all things is at hand when we must all appear before his dreadful tribunal every one to receive according to that he hath done in his body whether it be good or bad That we may be lesse afraid of other matters that cannot hurt us men that shall die and the sons of men that shall be made as grasse but may chiefly fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell Behaving our selves as being alwayes in his sight and presence as considering that our most secret bosome-sins which with such Art and care we have endeavoured to conceal from men are all of them naked and open in his sight before whom we must be judged at the last day That we may be humble before him ascribing nothing to our own power or merit That our hearts may not be lifted up to forget the Lord nor our mindes hardened in pride as considering that his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him And that if any man think himself to be something when indeed he is nothing he deceives himself That we may be clothed with humility counting it our safest defence and most comely ornament That we may not mind high things nor be wise in our own conceits Considering the basenesse of our Originall the many diseases and miseries which our bodies are liable unto the sinful and slavish condition of our souls our nothingnesse as creatures our vilenesse as sinners CHAP. XIX What are we directed to pray for out of the second Commandment THe second Commandment does enjoyn us to worship God after such a spiritual manner and by such holy means as is agreeable to his Nature and required in his Word So that from hence we are taught to pray for the direction and asistance of his Spirit in all our holy duties that he would work in us an holy frame and temper of heart without which 't is not possible for us to performe any acceptable service That he would quicken our affections to a greater fervency and delight in our attendance upon him That he would make us more careful in enjoying and increasing our communion with him by a conscionable observance of all those holy ordinances which he hath appointed particularly 1. Prayer 2. Ministery of the Word 3. Receiving of the Sacraments 1. That he would poure upon us the Spirit of prayer and supplication make us diligent and constant in our Publick Private devotions that we may accustome our selves to them with a greater forwardnesse and delight as being the chief means to ease our hearts of all troubles and sorrow to fill up our joy That we may be more solemn and reverent in our approaches before him as considering that we who are but dust and ashes vile despicable creatures are to speak unto that dreadful Majesty before whom all the world shall be judged at the last day That we may be more vigilant over our own hearts in respect of roving distracted thoughts which are so apt to interrupt us in this duty That we may stir up our selves to lay hold on God and set our faces to seek him Not pouring out words onely but our souls before him Serving him in our spirits Drawing near unto him with a true heart sprinkled from an evill conscience That he would be pleased to assist us and to accept of us in this duty Shedding abroad his love in our hearts Opening our lips that our mouths may shew forth his praise And then that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may be alwayes acceptable in his sight That we may confesse our sins with a greater sense and sorrow for them feeling in our selves a greater loathing and detestation of them Acknowledging our transgressions and setting our sins before us Abhorring our selves for them and repenting in dust and ashes That we may put up our petitions with a greater faith and fervency as being truly sensible of our own wants and those gracious promises which he hath made for the supply of them Drawing near in the full assurance of faith nothing wavering Asking such things as are according to his will That his Spirit may help our infirmities and make intercession for us and that he would remember the promise which he hath made to be nigh unto them that call upon him in truth and to fulfill the desire of those that fear him That we may give thanks with greater chearfulnesse and love and sense of his favours with such heartinesse and fervency as may be in some measure proportionable to our importunity in the want of mercies That we may be ready to speak the praises of our God whilest we have any being that our meditations of him may be sweet and we may be glad in the Lord. That we may retain a relish and taste of this holy duty in our mindes after the performance of it behaving our selves answerably in the course of our lives observing what return is made to our prayers Hearkening what God the Lord will say Considering the several wayes and dispensations of his providence towards us that we may understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. This Commandment does likewise concerne the duties which belong to that other Ordinance the Ministery of the word in reference both to Minister People The Minister may hereby be directed to pray that God would endow him with all those graces and abilities which may fit him for the discharge of his calling both in respect of his Life Doctrine that he may both save himself and them that hear him 1. For his Life That he may shew himself as a pattern of good works Of a blamelesse conversation not self-willed not soon angry Not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of good men sober just holy temperate gentle unto all men apt to teach patient Renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty Not walking in craftinesse but by manifestation of the truth commending himself unto every mans conscience in the sight of God Behaving himself as a steward of the mysteries of God Not seeking so much his own profit as the profit of many that they may be saved that
and way That our meeting together may prove for the better and not for the worse That we may after the hearing of it digest and settle it in our mindes by prayer meditation conference practice Expressing the power of it in our lives in all well-pleasing conversation and godlinesse Having our fruit unto holinesse that our ends may be everlasting life That he would prosper unto us the precious seed sown amongst us that neither the fowls of the aire devoure it nor the thornes choak it but that it may sinke down into our hearts and spring up in our conversations bringing forth in us the fruit of repentance and amendment of life that it may be effectual for the subduing of our sins the strengthning of our graces Transforming us daily into his Image from glory to glory That we may lead our lives in some measure answerably to the knowledge and means we have had as considering that to whom much is given of them much will be required That we may not receive his grace in vain Not being forgetful hearers but doers of the word That we may be able to say by experience It is good for us to be here and to wait upon God in his Ordinances That we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That he would lead us forward to perfection guiding us by his grace and after bringing us to his glory that in this life beholding his face in righteousnesse when we awake up in the resurrection we may be fully satisfied with his Image 3. Under this Commandment likewise are comprehended the duties that concern our reverent esteem and use of the Sacraments 1. For that of Baptisme That we may be truly sensible of the free mercy of God in making a gracious Covenant to us and our posterity and condescending so far unto our humane frailties as to afford us outward visible signes and seals of this Covenant to present that to our senses which ought to be apprehended by our faith That we may more frequently consider and esteem of this singular prerogative of our being actually admitted into his family and having his name put upon us That therefore we may resign up our selves wholly unto his good pleasure chusing him to be our Governour and our portion for ever that we may be more careful in observing that solemne Covenant which our Baptisme did engage us unto To forsake the Devill and all his works the vanities and lusts of the world and to continue faithfull in our service to him That this Ordinance may not be unto us onely an outward washing away of the filth of the flesh but the laver of regeneration working in us a good conscience towards God and may effctually seal unto us our adoption remission of sins and eternall life with all those promises that are contained in the Covenant of Grace that as we are received into the bosome of the visible Church and distinguished from those that are without so we may labour to walk as becomes this relation that the body of sin may be destroyed in us and his Image may be renued in us daily That we may serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our lives 2. For the Lords Supper That he would continue unto us our liberty unto that precious Ordinance raising our hearts to an higher esteem and love of it Quickening us to a more frequent attendance upon him in it with fervency and delight That he would prepare us for it assist us in it and make it effectual to us afterwards That he would furnish us with all those graces which may make us worthy Communicants at his holy Table Affecting our hearts with an holy awe and reverence upon our neer approaching unto him in this solemn Ordinance left we should be found amongst the guests at his Table without having the wedding garment That we may after a more special manner stirre up in our selves the graces of his holy Spirit impartially examining the condition of our own hearts how we stand to him in regard of knowledge repentance faith to men in respect of our love and chariity that we may renew our Covenant with him by fresh resolutions of strict and circumspect walking and that he would make good his Covenant with us in taking from us the guilt and power of our sins and in giving unto us a new nature with all those other priviledges that were purchased for us by the death of Christ which is herein represented At the receiving of this Sacrament that he would inable us to behave our selves with reverence and true devotion to use it as a sacrifice of praise unto him a memorial of Christs death for us and a means to confirme our faith in him That as we do by our senses receive the common element of bread and wine to our corporal nourishment so we may by our faith receive the body and blood of Christ to our spititual nourishment that he may live in us and we in him that this may renew in our thoughts the remembrance of Christs Death and Passion for us and our own duty of love and obedience to him that it may be a means to weaken our corruptions to strengthen our graces to renew us in the spirit of our mindes according to the Image of him that created us That we may afterwards labour to feel the benefit of it in our lives and conscionably to perform all those good resolutions which in the time of our preparation we have purposed and promised That we may be careful to examine our improvement by it in respect of growth in grace power against corruption comfort and inlargement of heart labouring to walk worthy of the grace of God herein profered and represented as becomes those who have received so great pledges of salvation CHAP. XX. Of the duties required in the third and fourth Commandment THe third Commandment does enjoyn the sanctifying of Gods Name By this we are directed to pray that he would enable us to bear a reverent and high esteem unto all his glorious Titles and Attributes his holy Word the Religion we professe his mighty works That we may fear that glorious and fearful name the Lord our God that we may sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts being more careful to observe and meditate upon his holy Attributes and Titles more solemn and reverent in mentioning his names and word upon every good occasion That we may be more conscionable in observing all those good promises and resolutions which we have made That we may walk worthy of that vocation wherwith we are called labouring by an holy life to adorn our profession and bring glory to his name That we may be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation amongst whom we may shine as lights in the world That he
would make our light so to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father who is in Heaven That we may never grieve the hearts or shame the faces of true Professors That we may walk honestly to those that are without behaving our selves so warily that we may never occasion his name to be blasphemed That with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men That they may be ashamed who speak evil of us and falsly accuse our good conversation That we may be more ready to observe and extoll his great power wisdome goodnesse so evident both in his making and governing of the world His various and manifold works that are done in wisdome More especially those particular passages of his providence which concern our selves That we may understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord O Lord how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this The fourth Commandment does enjoyn us to remember and to sanctifie the Sabbath Ordinary Extraordinary So that from hence we are taught to pray that God would teach us to esteem of the Sabbath as an holy honourable day set apart from common use consecrated to his peculiar worship and service that we may call it a delight finding a great pleasure and sweetnesse in those sacred duties that belong unto it That they may not seem tedious and irksome unto us especially since we all professe to wish and hope for such a blessed Eternity hereafter as shall be nothing else but Sabbath That we may always remember to fit our selves for the sanctifying of this day by laying aside all secular businesses and diversions endeavouring by Prayer and Meditation to put our hearts into such an holy frame as is required of those that desire to wait upon him in his Ordinances That he would be graciously present with all those assemblies of his Saints which do on that day meet together for his worship and service in any part of the Christian world That he would be pleased to assist and direct his Ministers that they may deliver his Word with plainnesse and power to the capacity of the weakest and conviction of the wisest That the people may receive it with meeknesse and faith that so it may accomplish that good work for which it is sent and mightily prevaile to the casting down the strong holds of sin the edifying of his Church and the making up the number of his Elect. That he would more especially direct and assist the Minister unto whose charge we belong to speak unto our consciences giving unto him the tongue of the learned that he may know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Being carefull to feed the flock strengthening the diseased healing that which is sick binding up the broken seeking that which is driven away and lost That he would give unto us Pastours after his own heart who may feed us with knowledge and understanding and that the work of the Lord may prosper in their hands That he would remove from us all irreverence distraction dulnesse prejudice in hearing of his Word That he would enlighten our mindes quicken our affections and strengthen our memories for the receiving and retaining of it That we may be careful of all those publick and private duties which concerne the sanctification of this day both in respect of our selves and those comitted to our charge Not doing after our own wayes nor finding our own pleasures nor speaking our own words But may consecrate our whole selves both souls bodies and services to his more especial Worship spending the whole day with chearfulnesse in the duties of Religion necessity and mercy And so for extraordinary Sabbaths Festivals Fasts 1. For occasional Festivals the solemne times of Joy and Thanksgiving That we may be careful to keep such times holy unto the Lord not resting our selves in external jollity and freedome but may seriously ponder the mercies which we celebrate endeavouring to have our hearts affected and inlarged with love and gratitude That our mouths may be filled with his praise that by our experience of his goodnesse we may learn to depend upon him and to be more confident in him in all future exigences exciting others unto this duty O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Endeavouring to expresse our thankfulnesse to him by our readinesse to relieve and supply his poor members Sending portions to those that have nothing that we may make the joy of the Lord to be our strength 2. For dayes of Fasting which are stiled Sabbaths in Scripture that we may not neglect this duty when we have any extraordinary call unto it that we may not satisfie our selves in the outward observance of it but may be most careful of the inward duties Renting of the heart afflicting of the soul Abhorring our selves and repenting in dust and ashes Remembring our evil wayes and doings which were not good and loathing our selves for them Being ashamed of our former works of darknesse Renuing our Covenants with God expressing a readinesse and zeale in the works of mercy and righteousnesse loosing the bands of wickednesse undoing the heavy burdens CHAP. XXI What we are directed to pray for in the second Table THe second Table does enjoin us to love our neighbours as our selves that is 1. We should not wish any evil more to others then to our selves 2. We should desire and as much as we can endeavour all good Natural Spiritual for others as we ought for our selves So that by this we are directed to pray that we may be kindely affectioned one to another with brotherly love without dissimulation Not in word onely and tongue but in deed and truth Loving each other with a pure heart fervently That our love may continue and increase abounding more and more towards one another and towards all men in knowledge and in all judgement As we have opportunity doing good unto all men but especially to the houshold of Faith That we may love our enemies and blesse them that curse us and pray for them that despitefully vse us and persecute us Considering one another to provoke unto love and good workes The fifth Commandment does injoyn the duties which concern the degrees and relations amongst men whether Superiours Inferiours By this we may learn to pray for all those graces and abilities whereby we may be fitted for the filling up of our several relations that we may be careful to acknowledge and observe that order which God hath appointed amongst men and to demean our selves towards them according to their places and degrees Gravely and modestly towards our Inferiours Reverently and dutifully to our Superiours Humbly and thankfully to our Benefactours Being kindly affectioned towards our Equals in honour preferring one another