upon you by virtue of the anointing and unction of the holy one that is upon you for that end to be the witnesses of Jesus Christ Rev. 11.3 4 5 6 and to open and shut Heaven by your prayers and to smite the earth with plagues as often as ye will to pray down the mighty Kingdome of Babel Rev. 11.15 which is Antichrist and to pray up the glorious and everlasting Kingdome of Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.22 13 to pray out these old Heavens and old earth wherein dwelleth wickedness and to pray in the new Heavens and new Earth wherein shall dwel righteousness peace This is an honour I say which the God of Heaven and Earth hath put upon you that ye should stand before the God of the whole earth Zech. 4.14 and be instrumental and influential in and about these great things And this honour can no man take from you this is a priviledge and honour given you from Heaven and 't is not in the power of all the devils in hell by tempting nor all the powers of earth by persecuting to take it from you they may cast you into prisons lay you in the darkest dungeons drive you into exile and banishment but still where-ever you are what-ever your outward condition be Heaven is open over your heads and the spirit of grace is nigh your hearts ye may have access to the throne of grace they cannot keep out the Spirit from you nor shut out your prayers from ascending before God if they will not suffer you to utter words 1 Sam. 1.13 15 Rom. 8.26 27 ye may pour out your spirits and sigh and groan inwardly and hee who searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the spirit I say ye may come freely and boldly to the throne of grace the way is open and none can shut it 't is a new and a living way not of works but of grace not by the blood of Bulls and of Goats but by the blood of Jesus neither your sins nor your enemies therefore can shut it if it were an old Covenant way of access by works and mans righteousness your sins might shut it and you not be able to enter into the holiest or if it were a way of access by carnal and external sacrifices your enemies might shut it and make the daily sacrifice to cease Dan. 8.11 either by denying you liberty or wherewithall to sacrifice But now seeing it is a new Covenant way of access not by works and mans righteousness but by free grace and Gods righteousness imputed by Faith to them that beleeve not by external sacrifice but by the blood and spirit of Jesus the Son of God lift up your heads and know that 't is not in the power of your sins or enemies to hinder your daily access to the throne of grace if you have Faith but as a grain of Mustard-seed and come in the exercise of that Faith by the blood of Jesus yee may ask and have prevail with God by prayer for all things whatsoever there is nothing too great or too good for God to bestow upon you he hath set you no bounds but bids you ask what you will And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer beleeving ye shall receive Let mee therefore close up this exhortation with the words of the holy Apostle Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh and having an high Priest over the house of God Let us draw near with a true heart and in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Use last Lastly And to shut up all O ye Israel of God who as Princes have power with him thus to prevail in Heaven that all things whatsoever ye ask in prayer beleeving ye are sure to receive give all the glory unto Jesus Christ and cast your crowns down at his feet and give glory to the Lamb through whom alone it is that ye thus overcome and prevail by Faith against all the powers of Hell and Earth Oh learn that new song Rev. 5.9 Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof not we are worthy but thou art worthy to have honour and glory and blessing and power As vers 12 13. for vers 10. Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred tongue and people and nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests Oh know and freely confess before Angels and men that it is not by your own holiness or righteousness that ye do any of these great things but by Faith in the name the blessed and holy name of Jesus let the same mind be in you that was in the holy Apostles Peter and John who when they had done a great work upon the impotent man who was lame from his Mothers womb which drew the eye of the people with great admiration towards them did humble and abase themselves that Christ alone might be magnified have all the glory of what they had done directing the eye and expectation of the people from them unto Jesus the Son of God Act. 3.12 Ye men of Israel why marvel yee at this Or why look yee so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk The God of Abraham Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus whom ye delivered up c. And vers 16. His name through Faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know Yea the Faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all Oh here is a choice and excellent spirit indeed here is the life and glory of Faith indeed to do great things in the name and strength of Christ then to give all the glory back again to him Oh ye Saints and Servants of God know that 't is not by your own power and holiness by your own Saintship and worthiness but by the power and holiness by the blood and righteousness by the mediation and intercession of Jesus that ye do any of these great things by Faith in prayer Therefore I say again and again give all the glory to Jesus Christ let nothing be given to faith nothing be given to prayer nothing be given or ascribed to your own Saintship or holiness but let all the glory be given to God and to the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne but the holy Angels the four beasts four and twenty Elders with all the heavenly host whose number is ten thousand times ten thousand are all about the throne not sharing the glory honor with Jesus Christ though they have been ministerially instrumental in the hand of Christ to accomplish these great works but giving all the glory to him and to him alone Rev. 5.11.12 13 14. And I beheld and I heard the voyce of many Angels round about the throne and the beasts and the Elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten-thousand and thousand of thousands Saying with a loud voyce worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honor and glory and blessing And every creature which is in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying blessing honor glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever And the four Beasts and the four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever Even so Amen And let all the Angels in heaven and all the Saints in Heaven and earth and all creatures persons and things be nothing be lesse then nothing be overshadowed and dis-appear that Jesus Christ the Lamb of God may be all in all and appear in his glory and shine as the Sun of righteousness in the highest heavens for ever and ever And let all the Saints and holy Angels who are but stars remember and know that they shine but with a borrowed light and therfore must disappear at the appearing of this glorious Sun that all the world may behold his face in Righteousness and the whole earth be enlightned with his glory Let him be true and every man a Lyer let him be holy and every man a sinner he must increase but we must decrease And let every Saint and servant of God say let every friend of the Bridegroom say This my joy therefore is fulfilled for this is the great end of the Saints access unto acceptance with the Father through Jesus Christ Joh. 14.13 And whatsoever ye shal aske in my name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son If God and Jesus Christ be hereby glorified we have our end our all The summ and scope and perfection of all our faith and hope of all our praying preaching hearing reading doing and suffering is this Isa 61.3 That he may be glorified In this therefore let us joy and rejoyce in this let our souls acquiesse and take up as in our spiritual center and Heavenly rest as in our Canaan our Heaven our all which is dearer and sweeter to us then our reputations estates liberties lives yea then our very souls then all our own concernments That Jesus Christ and the Father in him is glorified and exalted by the great things that he doth and will do in Heaven for his poor sinful and unworthy tempted and afflicted Servants here on earth Heb. 13.7 8. Considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever FINIS ERRATA IN the Epistle page 2. line 6. for form read from and page 4. line 11. read those In the Book p. 59. l. 12. r. life p. 75 l. 22. blot out the p. 83. l. 2. r. Non-Ordinancers p. 153 l. 13. r. Demonstration
constant Experiences The truth of Gods most holy Word and Promises 1 The truth of Gods holy word and promises do abundantly attest and bear witness to the mighty efficacy of Faith iâ— prayer great things are promised yea all things are promised to the prayers of Faith So in the Text And all things whatsoever yee shall ask in prayer beleeving yee shall receive This is the Word of Christ this is a gracious Promise of Jesus Christ to his Disciples here on earth and hee will be as good as his word hee is the faithful witness and the truth it self and therefore hee cannot lye he can as well cease to be God as cease to be true and faithful in his Word and Promises 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen i. e. truth and assurance or most sure and stedfast unto the glory of God by us So that God stands upon the truth of his Word and Promises as a great part of his glory and hee will have the glory of his truth what-ever comes of it hee will appear to be true in his Word and Promises yea in all his Promises to a jot and tittle there shall not the least jot or tittle thereof fail till all be fulfilled Mat. 5.18 For verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all bee fulfilled As if the Lord had said yee are apt to set light by my Word to question and doubt of the truth and certainty thereof but I assure you I stand so much upon my Word to have it fulfilled and made good to the utmost that if Heaven and Earth lay in one scale and the least iota or tittle of my Word in the other I would rather suffer Heaven and Earth i. e. the whole Creation to perish and come to nothing than that the least iota or tittle of my Word should fail till all be fulfilled So wonderfully doth the God of Truth stand upon his glory in this respect therefore all the Promises of God in him i. e. in Christ are yea and iâ— him amen because this is for the glory of God to be as good as his word and not to falsifie but to fulfill all his Promises Now many exceeding great and precious promises hath Goâ— made in Christ unto his people praying in Faith or exercising Faith in prayer Wee shall instance in one or two in liew of all the rest which being added to this of the Text may bee sufficient to give a full testimony to the truth in hand that so in the mouth of two or three witnesses this word may bee established The first that we shall instance in is that great Charter of heaven or promise made to the poor afflicted tempted and despised Saints and Churches of Christ here on earth Mat. 18.19 Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall bee done for them of my Father which is in Heaven The number of true Disciples is in many places very small it may bee two of a Family and one of a Tribe and the true Churches of Christ are for the most part but small and few in number especially compared with the false Church and Churches of Antichrist the Whore that sitteth upon many Waters Rev. 17.15 But O yee Saints and Churches of Jesus Christ let not the paucity and smalness of your number discourage you though the malice and rage of the ungodly may like the great water-floods keep good Neighbors one from another so that ye cannot assemble and meet together in that solemn and publick manner as yee could desire yet bee not discouraged do not think the Efficacy and strength of Prayer is thereby so diminished or weakned that yee cannot prevail in Heaven Col 25 You may bee present in Spirit when absent in body Your Prayers may meet in Heaven when your persons cannot meet upon Earth Rev. 8.3 You may bee cast into Prisons and Dungeons you may bee scattered and wander in the desart places in the dens and caves of the earth but here is your comfort Heaven is still open And let mee tell you from this Scripture yee may do and obtain great things in Heaven If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing they shall ask it shall be done for you in Heaven If two of you shall agree 't is not meant in a way of worldly policy and carnal contrivance but in a way of spiritual harmony and consent of soul arising from the unity of Faith and the anointing of the Spirit Rom. 8.26.27 teaching and guiding you in prayer to ask those things which are according to the will of God let the thing be what it will ask it in the Heaven above or in the Earth beneath let it be never so hard and difficult and in the eye of fense and reason even impossible yet it shall certainly be done for you and granted in Heaven Oh what a blessed charter what a glorious liberty is this granted to the children of God that by Faith in prayer here on earth they may have any thing even what they will done for them in Heaven And this is the priviledge of all those little ones that beleeve in Christ Mat. 18.10 and 14. compared with vers 19 20. This is not the priviledge of old Fathers and strong men onely but even of babes in Christ such as are little ones little in the worlds account and it may be little in the eye of other Saints but least of all in their own eye yet these little ones that beleeve in Christ how contemptible little and low soever they be on earth are honourable great and high in Heaven and may do such things by Faith in prayer as the greatest Monarchs and Princes upon Earth cannot do by their greatest force and power As will further appear in the second Scripture and word of Promise which for the proof the point wee shall also a little insist upon Isaiah 45.11 Thus saith the Lord the holy one of Israel and his Maker Ask mee of things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the work of my hands command yee mee Oh the admirable and infinite condescention of the great Jehovah who hath created the Heavens and formed the Earth and commandeth all the hosts of them That hee who commandeth Angels and ruleth in the Armies of Heaven and in the Kingdomes of men should suffer himself to be commanded by a hand-full of poor praying-souls here on earth and to have such power in Heaven as to command and dispose of the great works of providence yea the choisest and most admirable operations thereof which for their rarity and excellency are by way of eminency the works of Gods hands as the Egyptian Magicians said of that rare and admirable work of Gods singular power and providence in turning all the
and stretch out thine hand over the Sea and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground thorow the midst of the Sea And vers 22. The children of Israel went into the midst of the Sea upon the dry ground and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left Oh the admirable and marvellous strength and power of Faith in prayer that by it the waters of the Sea the depths of the Sea should be divided and made to stand upon heaps as a wall to Gods Israel and yet so it is Moses cryeth to the Lord at the Sea even the Red Sea and the waters are divided and become a wall to Israel in their passage towards Canaan on the right hand and on the left All which with many other blessed experiences of the Saints which might be instanced in do amount to a sufficient testimony and witness to the truth in hand and do abundantly evince the truth of this blessed promise of the Lord Jesus to his poor servants here on earth And all things whatsoever yee shall ask in prayer beleeving yee shall receive The grounds and reasons of the point upon which this great truth is established and wherein the evidence and demonstrations thereof do yet more fully appear are briefly these three Reason 1 The prayers of Faith or beleeving prayers of the Saints and servants of God here on earth are heaven-born They are influenced from Heaven by the conduct and guidance of the holy Spirit whose office it is to influence and manage the Saints in this great concern and work of prayer So that the things which they ask of God in prayer when they ask in Faith are not so much the fruit of the inward breathings and unfeigned desires of their own hearts and spirits as of the holy and blessed Spirit of grace breathing in them and teaching them to pray as they ought which of themselves they neither know nor can do Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what we should pray for as we ought But the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And hee that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God So that the holy Spirit of God doth not onely help and assist the Saints in the right manner of prayer exciting their graces quickening and drawing out their affections helping them to right ends and aims in prayer all which are also necessarily required but doth also suggest and teach them the very matter of their prayers how and what to pray for and ask of God both for themselves and others The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to pray for as wee ought But the Spirit it self c. So that the Saints are taught from Heaven what to pray for as they ought the Spirit of God from Heaven doth teach and assist them to pray here on earth according to the will of God And how reproachfully and blasphemously soever wicked and ungodly men do speak of the so called extemporary prayers of the Saints yet they are no less than heaven-born the things which they are taught by the Spirit of God from Heaven to ask of God in prayer And let wicked men know that in blaspheming the reproaching the prayers of the Saints they do blaspheme the Spirit it self But the Spirit it self maketh intercession c. Wicked and ungodly men who are ignorant of the Spirit of prayer do exceedingly magnifie and cry up their stinted forms and book-prayers because as they imagine composed and indited by holy and learned men and that with the deepest judgement and most serious consideration had of the things meet to be asked of God in prayer And do condemn the prayers of Gods Saints because as they judge in the darkness of their carnal mind which is alwaies enmity against God extemporary Rom. 8.7 rash and inconsiderate without any deep consideration and matter prepared before-hand but let such know that the best of their stinted Forms and Book-prayers are but indited by men on earth and on the other hand the prayers of Gods Saints and servants offered up in Faith though extemporary are indited by the Spirit of God in Heaven and given in immediately by the ministration of the holy Spirit who knoweth better what is meet to be asked of God in prayer extemporary than the greatest Bishops Doctors and learned men upon earth can do by their deepest consultation And let such resolve this question whether are most agreeable to the will and mind of God those prayers which are indited by the Spirit of God in Heaven and given in from above as all the prayers of the Saints are which they put up in Faith or those which are composed and imposed by the carnal wisdome and coercive power of men on earth contrary to the Word of God And let mee adde this one word more that the prayer of the poorest Saint though encompassed with utmost humane frailties and infirmities yet being breathed by the holy Spirit into his heart and breathed out again in Faith by the help of the same Spirit hath more of heavenly wisdome and true spiritual excellency in it than the most magnified and admired Form that ever was composed by the greatest Doctors and learned men in the world For Joh. 3.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit And again vers 31. He that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth hee that cometh from Heaven is above all As Jesus Christ came from Heaven and therefore was above all the Prophets and Apostles so also the Spirit of God cometh from Heaven and is above all the Doctors Bishops and learned men in the world in teaching as how and what to pray for as wee ought And hence it is that true spiritual and heavenly prayer is distinguished from all hypocritical shews and pretences of prayer by this character Ephes 6.18 Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit True prayer and supplication is alwaies in the Spirit And again Jude 10. Praying in the Holy Ghost The summe and close of the matter is prayers of Faith do come from God and therefore must needs prevail with God prayers of Faith are heaven-born and therefore must needs finde acceptance there Reason 1 The prayers of Faith or the beleeving prayers of the Saints and People of God do alwaies fall in with the will of God The stinted Forms and composed Prayers of formal Hypocritical pretenders to Religion do alwaies in one thing or other run counter to the will of God In the very matter of their petitions it being impossible that such as keep themselves to a stinted Form of Prayer and oblige themselves to use such a form of words in prayer and no others should avoid
from our sins in his own blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father therefore yee may come boldly to the throne of grace through the glorious intercession of Jesus your great High Priest Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that wee have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Vers 16. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace And again Ephes 3.12 In whom wee have boldness and access by the Faith of him 2. The services 2 Their services and spiritual sacrifices of the Saints which they offer up to God in Faith are acceptable to the Father through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Yee also as lively stones are built up a spiritual-house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Where observe that the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ is the procuring cause of all the Saints acceptation with God both as to their persons and as to their services which here are called spiritual sacrifice And yee Saints of God know that your sacrifices are not therefore acceptable to God because spiritual but because offered to God thorow Jesus Christ because sprinkled with the blood of Christ Now it is the nature and property of Faith to lead us out of our selves for acceptation Rom. 5.1 as well as for assistance unto the blood and righteousness Isa 45.24 and merits of Jesus Christ and Faith seeks its acceptation with the Father onely Gal. 2.19 20 and wholly through the mediation of Jesus the Son of God And therefore all the prayers of the Saints which are put up in Faith do come under the mediation and glorious intercession of Jesus and are offered up to the Father by the hand of Christ who is therefore called the Angel of the Covenant and said to stand before the Altar i. e. the Incense Altar because hee offereth up continually the prayers of the Saints with his own hand perfumed with the Incense of his own merits unto the Father Rev. 8.3 4. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer And there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the Throne And the smoke of the Incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand Oh needs must the prayers of Faith the beleeving prayers of all the Saints ascend up before God and prevail in Heaven which are offered up by the hand of this blessed Angel even Jesus who is before the throne And is there continually so that it is alwaies the time of Incense with the Congregation of Gods praying people for this blessed Angel is day and night before the Throne offering up their prayers with the pure Incense of his merits Jesus the Mediator and High Priest of our profession is alway within the vail carrying on this part of his Priestly office in Heaven Heb. 7.25 Seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them Use 1 If the Efficacy of Faith in prayer be such that the Saints may thereby prevail in Heaven And that all things whatsoever they shall ask in prayer beleeving they shall receive then woe be to all such as have the prayers of the Saints justly engaged against them It is easier to stand before the greatest Armies before the combined powers and policies of the greatest Monarchs and Princes in the world than to stand before the prayers of two or three poor Saints who pray in Faith and cry day and night to God for help against their wicked persecutors 'T is storied of the Champions and Worthies of the Old Testament amongst other worthy deeds and great things which they did by Faith That by it they put to flight the Armies of the Aliens and subdued Kingdomes Heb. 11.33 Who through Faith subdued Kingdomes stopped the mouths of Lions quenc hed the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in fight turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens By Faith i. e. by prayers of Faith for they cryed unto the Lord in their straits and under the great oppressions and tyranny of their enemies they prayed to the Lord for help against them And by Faith in prayer they obtained help from God against their persecutors Their enemies were wonderfully brought under mighty Kingdomes subdued and whole Armies strangely conquered and shamefully put to flight Sometimes without means Exod. 14.27 28 as Pharaoh and all his Host at the Red Sea Sometimes by weak and contemptible means Judges 4.21 as Sisera fell by the hand of a woman And King Herod that bloody persecutor Act. 12.23 dyed by Worms or Lice And the whole Army of the Midianites with the Amalekites and all the children of the East who lay upon the ground like Grashoppers so great was their multitude were put to flight by the dream of a Barley Cake tumbling into the Host of Midian Judg. 5.12 13 14 Sometimes by contrary means against the very Law of nature friendship and natural affection So proud and blasphemous Sennacherib fell by his own Sons Isa 37.38 whilst hee was worshipping in the house of Niseroth his God who were wonderfully over-ruled by the power and providence of God even against the Law of nature and religion to execute the wrath of God and avenge the cause of his praying-people upon this proud and wicked persecutor So also the children of Moab Ammon and Mount-Seir who were confederate against Judah were by the just judgement of God at the prayer of good Jehosaphat given up to such a spirit of division and hatred amongst themselves 2 Chron. 20.23 24 that they fully set themselves to destroy one another and ceased not till there was not one of them left Sometimes by preternatural and extraordinary means where ordinary means have failed Josh 10.10 11 Thus the five Kings and their Armies that fought against Joshuah were subdued and destroyed chiefly by hailstones from Heaven And thus the King of Assyria's Army consisting of an hundred and fourscore and five thousand Isa 27.36 were slain in one night by the hand of an Angel Thus the mouths of those greedy and roaring Lions were stopped by an Angel that they could not so much as touch Daniel Dan. 1.6.22 And the burning destroying power of the fiery Furnace so quenched by the glorious presence of the Son of God that it had no power so much as to singe the garments Dan. 3.25 26 27 or hair of the heads of those three Worthies Shadrach Meshach and Abednego So that the greatest Monarchs Princes Generals Armies and Kingdomes of the world have not been able to stand before the prayers of the Saints of God when they have prayed in Faith and cryed to the Lord for help against them Woe therefore be unto all those against whom
this therfore come into the hands of any prayerless souls know thou art yet without the spirit and so art none of Jesus Christs Rom. 8.9 Where-ever the Spirit of Grace is it is a Spirit of prayer Zach. 12.10 Dost thou feel the guilt of sin the want of pardon peace grace holiness thou wouldst not need the words of others to help thee in praying but thou wouldst know what it is for the spirit to help the proper and onely help in prayer thy infirmities and couldst bee no more satisfied with dry and empty forms then a hungry man with Air. If thou art a weak doubting soul and complainest of an unbelieving heart which is a good symptome here thou mayest meet with plain and spiritual resolves to thy doubts about the acceptance of thy prayer and the looking for answers thereof and what faith thou art to exercise on promises in order thereunto Yea all Saints may be further instructed in the efficacy and prevalency of prayer and to be encouraged that the Lord will not cast off a praying Generation that cry day and night unto him The Lord hasten to power forth the spirit of light and prayer upon his people and upon the world as the best sign of his own approaching to judge the earth In the waiting for which let all that have received the first fruits thereof be found at this day To which expectation Reader I commend thee and this spiritual treatise to thy perusal and it and thy self to the blessing made over to the seed of Jacob that wrastle it out with God and prevail over him The Saints do in a sense govern the World with Jesus Christ already by the spirit of Prayer that is in them making intercession in them according to Christs intercession in heaven and usually wee may know what God is about to do in the world by the prayers of his Saints especially in this last age of the world when their souls travel and are in pangs for Sions Redemption and the earth-quake to come into the Nations of the world till all the foundations of it as laid for the interest of Babylon and Antichristianism are shaken and out of course which the Lord will hasten in his time But I must break off and be-speak thy prayers for the Author and my self and all the Lords afflicted Ministers that are mourning in corners resting Thy Servant for Jesus sake Jacob wrestling with God and prevailing Matthew 21.22 And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer beleeving ye shall receive THis Text is brought in as an Epiphonema or Closing speech to the history of the fruitless Fig-tree which being cursed by Jesus Christ for its barrenness presently withers and is dried up v. 19. to the great admiration of the Disciples vers 20. which action as it was extraordinary and miraculous in its self so in the tendency thereof it was of extraordinary use to the Disciples and did carry along with it a double instruction First To beware of an outside formal Profession without spiritual fruit and a suitable conversation which is alway attended with the wrath and displeasure of God and is nigh unto cursing Heb. 6.8 Secondly To teach the great Efficacy and Power of Faith and what great things may be done thereby either extraordinary according to that dispensation of working miracles which was but for the time present and peculiar to some vers 21. for all had not this gift nor faith of miracles 1 Cor. 12.29.30 2. Or else ordinary according to the gift and force of prayer which is perpetual and common to all the Saints by which they have a constant and joynt access to the Throne of Grace in all causes whatsoever and may accordingly prevail with God provided they pray in Faith as in the Text. And all things whatsoever c. In this Text of Scripture there are two things principally taught and commended to our consideration 1. The Necessity of Faith in Prayer 2. The Efficacy of Faith in Prayer The first viz. The Necessity of Faith in Prayer is gathered from the word Beleeving which is brought in as a specifical and qualifying adjunct or necessary ingredient to all our prayers And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer beleeving ye shall receive The Necessity of Faith in Prayer is also gathered from other Texts of Scripture as Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must beleeve c. And again James 1.5 6. If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God c. But let him ask in Faith And look as the body without the soul is dead and useless and cannot perform the actions of a man So also Prayer without Faith is dead and unprofitable James 1.6 7 8. So that Faith is the soul and life of Prayer and therefore a necessary ingredient thereto 1. Quest or Case of Conscience But what kinde of Faith is that which is so necessarily and indispensibly required in all our prayers to God is it the Faith of Assurance or the Faith of Relyance seeing James saith it must be without wavering and in nothing doubting Therefore it would seem that there is required in all our prayers to God a Faith of Assurance yea of full and perfect Assurance which admits of no doubting or uncertainty of the mind in the thing asked and that a Faith of Relyance is not sufficient seeing that is alwaies attended with some doubting as in Esther If I perish I perish she relyed upon God in the use of means but yet was doubtful as to the success and event thereof Now if this Faith be not accepted in prayer then the prayers of most of the Children of God are ineffectual seeing most of them have not the Faith of Assurance That saying of the holy man James shall be cleared in its proper place Answ But in answer to the Question it is affirmed That although it be the duty of all Christians to press after the Faith of Assurance as that which tendeth exceedingly to their comfort and inward joy Yet where there is a Faith of Relyance i.e. the heart doth inwardly rest upon Gods alsufficiency mercy faithfulness truth c. yet with doubting and uncertainty of the mind whether the thing shall be done which is asked of God in prayer the prayer is accepted of God and shall certainly have a gracious return in due time But that we may be the more clear and distinct in our handling this point to the satisfaction and comfort of weak and scrupulous consciences we shall first give a brief description of these two kinds of Faith in their distinct and different natures that so the person who is scrupulous may the better judge of his Faith of what kinde it is And then wee shall by Scripture and experience make good our assertion viz. that a Faith of Relyance is accepted of God in prayer where the faith of Assurance is wanting Faith of Assurance described The Faith of Assurance
it is a most precious and powerful Ordinance of Jesus Christ for the Conversion Edification and Salvation of the souls of men but this Gospel may bee preached clearly powerfully and faithfully preached yet those unto whom it is preached have no fruit no profit by it for want of Faith Heb. 4.2 But the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Oh therefore when thou goest to hear the Word preached Christian beware that thou stirrest up the grace that is in thee and in particular this grace of Faith without which the Word preached will not cannot profit thy soul though the Apostles themselves yea though an Angel from Heaven should be the Preacher The fruit and benefit of the Word preached doth not depend so much upon the grace and gifts of the Minister as upon the Faith of the hearer So likewise prayer it is a most precious and powerful ordinance of Jesus Christ for the obtaining of all things that wee stand in need of at the hands of God The text it self speaks sufficiently unto this point Mat. 21.22 And all things whatsoever yeeshall ask in prayer beleeving yee shall receive And upon this very consideration some have called prayer the Key of Heaven but Faith is the hand which turns this Key Look therefore as the Key without the hand to turn it is useless so prayer without Faith is fruitless thou mayest therefore Christian pray and bee much in prayer and yet lose all thy labour unless thou actest thy Faith in prayer thou mayest bring thy Key of prayer to the gate of Heaven and yet finde it fast lockt against thee unless thou hast a hand of Faith to turn this Key Oh therefore beware and take heed that thou neglectest not to stir up and exercise thy Faith in prayer Oh how many praying-daies and fasting-daies have been lost to the people of God for want of Faith which onely guides us aright in prayer gives us a right frame of heart and right ends and aims in prayer as hath been already shewed 'T is a great Scripture which wee have in Zechariah to this purpose Zech. 7.5 When yee fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month even those seventy years did yee at all fast unto mee even unto mee Here wee have a praying people who were abundant and constant in this duty for seventy years together and that in the most solemn and strict manner joyning fasting with their praying and yet not accepted of God therein nor at all profited thereby and the reason is hinted they did not pray with a right frame of heart they had not right ends and aims in their prayers Did yee fast at all unto mee even unto mee and whence was it that they thus miscarried in prayer and had not true spiritual holy and right ends and aims in prayer but from hence that they prayed not in Faith they wanted the light and life of Faith and were not guided by the Word in their fasting and praying and so praying amiss lost all their labour James 4.3 Quest But how doth it appear that they prayed not in Faith Answ They looked not unto the word spoken by the former Prophets vers 7. therefore they prayed not in Faith 't is by Faith that wee look unto the Word of God so as to make it our rule now they obeyed not the Word and therfore prayed not in Faith Oh therefore Christian beware thou failest not in this in the exercise and activity of thy Faith in prayer thou hadst better fail in any thing than in this thou hadst better fail in the gift of prayer thou hadst better fail of words in prayer thou hadst better fail of the wisdome and excellency of speech in prayer thou hadst better fail of affection in prayer than to fail of Faith in prayer other defects and infirmities will bee passed by and covered Jam. 5.17 Heb. 11.6 where Faith is activeâ— but all other accomplishments and seeming excellencies will be despised where Faith is wanting 't is better for a man to want cloathes and all outward ornaments of the body than to want life life is the glory and excellency of the creature the poorest and most contemptible creature which hath life is more excellent than the most glorious creature that wants it hence faith Solemon A living Dog is better than a dead Lion Faith is the life of prayer the glory the excellency the strength of Prayer Other things are but the Ornaments of Prayer Oh Christian look not so much to the Ornaments as to the Life of thy holy duties lest God reject them as a dead carcasse Thirdly 3 Use Exhortation This may bee profitable for Exhortation 1 Unto Sinners If there bee such a necessity of Faith in Prayer that without it wee cannot Pray either acceptably to God or profitably to our selves or others as hath been at large declared and proved then doth it nearly concern every soul yet in the state of Nature and shut up or concluded under unbelief as all unregenerate persons are whether they bee Jews or Gentiles Christians or Heathens Prophane persons or Professors Rom. 11.32 chap. 3.9 to get out of that condition and to labour for true saving Faith in Christ 'T is true Faith is a Heaven-born Grace Joh. 5.40 Ephes 2.8 which grows not in Natures Garden 't is neither in the freedom of mans will to desire nor in the ability of his power to work Grace to produce and bring forth a work of true Saving Faith in himself but as the Apostle teacheth Phil. 2.13 It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Mat. 7.7 Joh. 6.27 Phil. 1.12 Nevertheless Sinner it is thy duty to strive in the use of all holy means and to look up unto God through Christ both to incline thy will and to give thee power from heaven to do his will The Miller cannot command a wind but hee can spread the Sails and wait upon the Providence of God for a gale The wind bloweth where it listeth so is every oâ—â— that is born of the Spirit Joh. 3.8 And if thou desirest to bee boâ—â— again thou must wait for those gales and thou must wait in the use of means And there is a â—blessing promised to them that do so Prov. 8.34 35. The Husband-man cannot command the Clouds but hee may observe the season prepare the Earth and sow the precious feed Jam. 5.7 and then patiently wait for the early and the latter Rain and he finds at Harvest his labour is not in vain There is a connexion though not of Causality yet of Instrumentality of the end to the means of mercy to duty of priviledge to practise of the Harvest to the Seed-time of Glory to Grace of Grace to the means of Grace As ever therefore thou wouldest attain the end which is Salvation thou must use the means Hee that will ascend to the last or
drug when there is such quick trading at the throne of Grace Great Merchants will empty their Ware houses and bring forth their richest commodity when they have a quick trade when the wants and necessities of their own or other Countries do give them advantage to put off with greater profit they will use the utmost diligence and industry and will lay out themselves to the utmost they will venture all their stock engage all their credit improve all their interest in such a season Shall men be so wise for earth and shall not the children of the Kingdome be as wise for Heaven O yee Saints of God yee are the heavenly Merchants who onely have this trade in your hands yee have interest in the heavenly Country and ye have a Factor there who is both able and faithful who will not fail to put off your prayers with the best advantage and procure you returns in the richest and best things of the Country which shall best answer your interest and profit here on earth And now yee have a most precious season 1. The wants and necessities of three great Nations whereof your selves are a part and in the peace whereof your peace is bound up do call aloud for the help of your prayers being under as great symptomes and tokens of divine displeasure and under as black a cloud of stormy wrath as any Nation wee read of in all the Word of God search the Scriptures and take a catalogue of all the characters and marks expressed there of a generation marked out for vengeance and try if they be not all found upon this generation this one excepted That the Lord of Hosts hath reserved unto himself a remnant And can you see all this and be silent have yee not so much charity so much bowels of compassion for your native Country Gen. 18.22 your children and posterity as Abraham had for Sodom as Lot for Zoar 2. The desolations of Mount Zion the captivity of Gods Ark the afflictions and troubles that are accomplished in your dear brethren who are like sheep appointed for the slaughter do call aloud for your most fervent prayers and strong cryes to bee sent up to Heaven incessantly that you give the Lord no rest till hee doth arise and have mercy upon Zion and turn the captivity of his people as streams in the South Can yee bee at ease in Zion and not regard the afflictions of Joseph Can yee behold Zion in travel yea crying out and in pangs to be delivered and not lend a helping hand 3. The ruinous case and condition of thousands of precious souls who are like to perish for want of vision to starve for want of the bread of life who wander from mountain to hill to seek the Word of the Lord and cannot finde it who cry out for bread and behold stones are given them instead of bread who ask for fish but are fed with Scorpions who seek water but finde none and their tongue faileth for thirst do also in their deep misery and distress cry out and call aloud to you oh pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers drive out loiterers that hee would raise up unto us a soul-searching a soul-saving Ministry and take away from us the heavy scourge and plague of a soul-murdering blind and superstitious Clergy for where the blind lead the blind both must fall into the ditch Oh yee Saints of God who only know the worth of souls who only can be truly sensible of spiritual evils and know both the worth and want of a true Gospel-Ministry can ye be silent and see such merchandize made of the souls of men by the greedy Merchants of Babylon Never was there a time from the foundation of the world in which the Saints had more advantage of doing great and eminent service by prayer for the poor Nations of the earth and for their dear brethren in sufferings and for the souls of men yea and for the whole Creation than at this day In which the Nations of the earth are so greatly distressed the minds of men perplexed and their hearts even failing them for fear and for looking after the things that are coming to pass on the earth yea the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain desiring to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God In which Zions consolation and Babylons confusion greatly hasteneth the time of Babels Tyranny and the Saints captivity is so near fulfilled and the times of refreshing a coming from the presence of the Lord and the time of the restitution of all things Oh ye Saints of God know that this is a pretious season let but your prayers meet together in the Angels hand who stands before the Altar to offer them up with his own Incense and then great and marvellous things will be done in the earth Rev. 8.3 4 5. THE Efficacy of FAITH IN PRAYER Matthew 21.22 And all things whatsoever yee shall ask in Prayer beleeving yee shall receive THe next thing observable in the Text and proposed to be handled in this Treatise is The Efficacy of Faith in Prayer Faith is a plenipotentiary grace it hath a kind of omnipotency in it it cometh with a full commission from Heaven to the poor Disciples of Christ on earth by which they may do and obtain great things with God yea all things whatsoever they shall ask in prayer they shall obtain by Faith The great God of Heaven will not cannot deny any thing to his poor servants here on earth which they ask in Faith Hee is faithful who hath promised and cannot deny himself the word is gone out of his mouth in righteousness and hee will not repent hee will not call it in again And all things whatsoever yee shall ask in prayer beleeving yee shall receive Oh here is a large commission indeed All things and all things whatsoever Here are no limits no bounds set to Faith in prayer Faith may ask what it will and have what it asks at the hand of God! Faith can but ask and have Faith doth but speak the word on Earth and it is done in Heaven the truth is Faith is a modest grace a prudent wise and sober grace that looketh at the will of God as her Rule and the glory of God as her ultimate end and aim in all things and therefore will not cannot desire or ask any thing contrary to Gods most holy will or cross to and inconsistent with his glory and therefore Faith hath the Key of Heaven committed to her and may go to the heap of mercy and take even what shee will Mat. 15.28 O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt The Efficacy of Faith in prayer and the mighty prevailing power it hath with God is sufficiently made manifest 1. In the truth of Gods most holy Word and Promises 2. In the Saints most precious and
this prayer looking to the Word and Promise of God made to Abraham Isaâ—â— and Jacob as his rule in asking and the glory of the Name of God as his great and ultimate end and by good argument and strength of reason shewing that to execute his fierce wrath in consuming his people would neither consist with his Covenant and Promise nor with the glory of his own great Name and therefore prayes the Lord to turn from his fierce wrath and repent of this evil against his people And by this prayer of Faith he prevails with God and delivers Israel from that consuming wrath and anger of God that was kindled against them so that they perished not in their iniquity as vers 14. And the Lord repented of the evil which hee thought to do unto his people Which famous prayer and intercession of Moses is recorded in the book of Psalms and mentioned as the onely means of Israels preservation from the consuming power of Jehovahs great wrath and fierce anger Psal 106 23. Therefore hee said that hee would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them Oh the prevailing power and efficacy of Faith in prayer that by one prayer of Faith a whole Nation should be delivered from so great a ruine Instance 2 Thus also righteous Lot by one prayer of Faith delivered Zoar from the common destruction and over throw of Sodom Gomorrah that very morning when fire was ready to come down from Heaven to destroy those Cities Gen. 19.18 And Lot said unto them oh not so my Lord Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight and thou hast magnified thy mercy which thou hast shewed unto mee in saving my life and I cannot escape to the mountain lest some evil take mee and I dye Behold now this City is near to flee unto and it is a little one O let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live This prayer of Lot was not without some visible tincture of humane frailty and weakness of Faith wherein hee offended in that hee accepted not the place which the Lord had appointed but chuseth another ascribing more to the place than to the power and good pleasure of God for his protection Nevertheless it being a prayer of Faith in which there was a real exercise of Faith in that hee beleeved God was able to spare Zoar and to make it a means of his preservation and more comfortable living than the desolate mountain and therefore prayes that the Lord would not send him to the mountain but rather let him flee to Zoar. In which prayer holy Lot was questionless guided by the Spirit of God to ask the preservation of that City which though visibly threatned and in danger to be destroyed with the rest yet was in respect of Gods secret will and purpose to be preserved and therefore the Lord did by his holy Spirit put it into the heart of his righteous servant Lot to ask that City In which request he is presently accepted and the life of that City granted at his petition vers 21. And hee said unto him see I have accepted thee concerning this thing that I will not overthrow this City for the which thou hast spoken Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither therefore the Name of that City was called Zoar. Oh the infinite and admirable condescention of the great and holy God to the weakness of a poor frail man that Lot should not accept the mountain which the Lord appointed him and yet that the Lord should accept Lot and spare Zoar which he had spoken for yet such is the holy indulgence of the heavenly Father to his praying children that when through humane frailty they cannot come up to his terms hee out of divine pity stoops and comes down to theirs and such is the efficacy prevailing force of Faith in prayer that God is even overcome thereby to grant his poor praying servants even what they will vers 21. See I have accepted thee concerning this thing that I will not overthrow this City for the which thou hast spoken Oh well was it for Zoar that Lot spoke to God for it The prayer of one just Lot delivers this wicked City from the common calamity and destruction of their fellow-sinners 2. The Saints and servants of God have prevailed by Faith in prayer for the pulling down most speedy vengeance and just judgements of God upon their malicious and ungodly enemies Thus zealous Elijah by prayer brings down fire from Heaven upon the heads of his proud and malicious enemies two several Captains and their fifties who in the pride and heat of their spirits came to do violence to the good Prophet 2 King 1.9 10 11 12 until by these examples of Gods severity the rest of that wicked party were reduced to some submission and moderation towards his faithful servant who in prophecying the death of the King of Samaria had not offended but done that which he was commanded and allowed of God to do And the same holy man Elijah by prayer prevails with God to shut the Heavens that it rained not for three years and six months so that wicked Ahab Jezabel and the ten Tribes were for their Idolatry and persecution of Gods faithful servants justly plagued with a three years famine 1 King 17.1 compared with James 5.16 17. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Elias was a man subject to like passions as wee are and hee prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months Thus also the holy Prophet Elisha prevails with God by Faith in prayer for the smiting of the King of Syria's Army with blindness 2 King 6.18 And when they came down to him Elisha prayed unto the Lord and said Smite this people I pray thee with blindness And hee smote them with blindness according to the Word of Elisha Thus also the two faithful witnesses under the New Testament which the Lord raiseth up to prophesie and bear witness against Antichrist 1260 daies that is all the time of the beasts reign and tyranny for so long hee is to continue Rev. 13.6 have power to pull down vengeance upon their enemies and to open and shut Heaven and smite the earth with plagues as oft as they will Rev. 11.5 6. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies And if any man will hurt them hee must in this manner bee killed These have power to shut Heaven that it rain not in the daies of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with plagues as often as they will See here what great power the Lord hath given to his witness-bearing Saints and servants under the New
this Rock upon which they must inevitably fall and split themselves that the things which they so ask must of necessity run cross to the will of God let them take what Form they will and stint themselves to the constant use of it as the Hypocrites do and experience will quickly teach them that in so doing they must contradict the revealed will of God in their petitions and therefore such prayers must needs be very fruitless But the prayers of the sincere children of God which are indeed prayers of Faith and the breathings of Gods own Spirit in them do alwaies concur and fall in with the will of God And as hee that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the spirit in the hearts of his children so the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Rom. 8.27 1 Cor. 2.10 11 Because hee i.e. the holy Spirit of God maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Faith looks at the will of God as her rule in asking and in things about which the will of God is revealed Faith will be positive and ask absolutely without an if but in things about which the will of God is yet secret and unknown Faith will ask with submission to the will of God Not my will but thy will be done is the language of Faith in such cases And it is as impossible for Faith to erre in this particular and to miss of the will of God in asking as it is for the Sun in the Firmament to mistake his way in his heavenly perambulation or for the waters of the Rivers to mistake their way into the Sea that they should not come into and coincidate with the Ocean Whatsoever therefore the Saints do ask in Faith they do ask according to the will of God whether it be secret or revealed For the rule which Faith looks at is an unerring rule viz. the whole light of Scripture-revelation And the conduct and guide by which Faith is directed in asking is an unerring guide even the holy Spirit of God Rom. 8.26 which perfectly knoweth and searcheth what is the mind and will of God in all cases whether secret or manifest And it is worthy observation how the poor Saints of God are oft times by a secret instinct and conduct of the Spirit guided in prayer to ask those very things of God which hee is about to do and bring to pass beyond what is revealed or made known As when Lot asked of God in Prayer the preservation of the City Zoar which was threatned and in visible danger of perishing in the common destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and yet was preserved by the prayer of righteous Lot who was questionless guided in his asking that City above any other Gen. 16.19 20 21 by the secret instinct of the Spirit who knew what was the secret will and purpose of God in that matter and therefore taught Lot to make intercession for it according to the will of God Thus also that holy woman Hannah when shee prayed for a Son and in the pouring out of her spirit to the Lord in prayer did before-hand dedicate and devote him to the Lord all his daies was questionless guided by a secret and special instinct of the spirit to ask of God that very thing that was in the heart and purpose of God concerning her and her Son though as yet secret and unknown 1 Sam. 1.10 11. Thus also the last Martyrs that suffered in the Marian daies were taught from Heaven by the secret conduct of the spirit to ask of God in prayer that they might be the last that should suffer in that manner and that the Lord would put an end to the afflictions of his people And were in that petition graciously heard and answered for presently the life of that wicked Queen was cut off by the hand of God And though many others were condemned and warrants issued out for the burning of them Fox Martiro vol. 3. p. 893. yet the tydings of the Queens death stayed the execution and those precious souls were according to their petition the last that suffered in that bloody persecution Whatever therefore the Saints do ask of God in prayer by the help of his holy Spirit and by Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ they do ask according to his will and therefore must needs prevail in Heaven and have such petitions granted and fulfilled on earth 1 Joh. 5.14 15. And this is the confidence that wee have in him that if wee ask any thing according to his will hee heareth us And if wee know that hee heareth us Whatsoever wee ask wee know that wee have the petitions that wee desired of him Reason 3 The prayers of the Saints offered up in Faith do fall under the blessing of the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ Heb. 4.14.16 that great High Priest over the House of God who is entred into the Heavens even Jesus the Son of God whose office it is to offer up the prayers of all the Saints with the spiritual incense of his merits whereby they do become acceptable to God It pertained to the office Exod. 30.6 7 Levit. 16.12 and was the custome of the Priests under the Law to enter within the vail and offer up the sweet Incense with the prayers of the Congregation who usually were without the door of the Tabernacle praying at the time of Incense Luke 1.8 9 10 And the time of the Priests offering up Incense was observed by the Congregation as a special time and season for prayer And all this was to typifie and point out something of the Priestly and Mediatorial Office of Jesus Christ Heb 6.19 20. and 9.24 who is now entred within the vail into the holy of holies i. e. the heavenly places themselves there to appear in the presence of God for us as a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck to offer up all the spiritual sacrifices and services of the Saints unto his Father with the sprinkling of his blood and sweet perfume and incense of his precious merits upon them whereby their persons though compassed with many sins and infirmities and their services though weak and imperfect in themselves are made infinitely acceptable and well pleasing unto the Father through him 1. 1 Their persons Their persons are made acceptable unto the Father through him Ephes 1.6 To the praise of his glorious grace wherein hee hath made us accepted in the beloved Oh ye precious Saints of God know that the acceptation of your persons with the Father stands not in your own Saintship and personal righteousness but in the imputed righteousness precious blood and merits of Jesus Christ which is made yours by Faith So that by the blood of Jesus ye are now made Kings and Priests unto his Father and may come to the throne of grace with acceptation Rev. 1.5.6 Unto him that hath loved us and washed us
the Elect of God do cry for vengeance day and night 'T is not in the power of the greatest worldly force and pollicy to secure them from the revenging hand of God No but such must certainly fall before the prayers of Gods Elect Luke 18.7 8. And shall not God avenge his own Elect which cry day and night unto him though hee bear long with them i. e. with the persecutors I tell you that hee will avenge them speedily Oh that therefore the Kings and Princes and Rulers of the Earth would bee wise and take heed how by persecuting and oppressing the People of God they constrain them to cry to Heaven against them 'T is blessed counsel which the Spirit of God gives by the mouth of his servant David Psal 2.10 Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed yee Judges of the Earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Kiss the Son lest hee be angry and yee perish in the way When his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him Use 2 What a great mercy and blessing then are the Saints and People of God to the Nations and Kingdoms and Countries where they live who as so many Princes or rather Kings and Priests have power with God and can by Faith in prayer prevail with him for any thing What a mercy was one praying Moses to the Nation of Israel Psal 106.23 when they had provoked the Lord to jealousie by the golden Calf What a great mercy was one praying Lot to the City Zoar Gen. 19.21 which should have been destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah had not Lot prayed for it What a great blessing was holy Jacob who was a great wrestler with God in prayer Gen. 32.24.28 and as a Prince had power with God and prevailed and upon that account had his name changed from Jacob to Israel what a mercy I say was hee to the whole Family of his Unckle Laban Gen. 30.27 whilst he sojourned there That speech of the Lord to King Abimelech and his People concerning Abraham a poor traveller and stranger who came but to sojourn in his Country for a time is very remarkable Gen. 20.7 Now therefore restore the man his Wife for hee is a Prophet and hee shall pray for thee and thou shalt live Wrath was gone out from the Lord against King Abimelech and his People And the prayers of Abraham a poor stranger prevail in Heaven for the life of Abimelech who otherwaies was but a dead man and for those in his house whose wombs were fast closed up because of Sarah Abraham's Wife Gen. 20.3.17 18 whom Abimelech had sinfully taken to him Their own sin not Abraham's sojourning had procured wrath against them And Abraham by prayer procureth sparing and healing mercy for them A sinning Court who daily provoke the Lord against themselves and subjects ☞ had need of some praying souls daily to intercede for them How great therefore is the errour of the wicked who look upon the People of God as the onely troublers of their Israel 1 King 18.17 and attribute the cause of all their calamities and troubles to the Lords faithful servants which they procure unto themselves by their own wickedness Justly therefore may the Lords People answer such Ahabs in the words of that old non-conformist and good Prophet Elijah 1 King 18.18 Wee have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers house in that yee have forsaken the Commandements of the Lord and thou hast followed Baalim 'T is not the zealous and conscientious non conformist that troubles the Court and Country but the Idolatrous and superstitious party who cast off the Commandements of the Lord and set up their own inventions Psal 106.29 Rev. 13.12 15 16 and as a greater aggravation of their wickedness would compel others to sin with them Oh that therefore the eyes of the Nations of the Kings and Judges of the earth were opened to discern aright and to see who are the troublers of Israel and who are the chariots and horsemen thereof Well! that blessed day is a coming wherein the Kings of the earth even shall hate that scarlet whore Rev. 17.16 17 tear her flesh burn her with fire even so Amen The good Lord hasten it in his due time and let all the Saints say Come Lord Jesus come quickly Well then whatever wicked men say whatever proud men say out of the blindness and hardness and unbeleef of their hearts yet the zealous and conscientious non-conformists are not the troublers of Israel 2 King 2.12 Rev. 16.13 14 but the Chariots and Horse-men thereof Are not the Kings enemies but his and their Countries best friends Rev. 19.19 20 21 and wicked men will be found at last to be the worst subjects and enemies both to their King and Country Let the Nations Kings and Princes of the earth therefore know that 't is their best interest to cherish protect and incourage a praying and a holy people though they cannot in all things conform to their laws and customs in the matters of Gods most holy worship about which the holy God is so jealous Exod. 20.5 Dan. 3.17 18. 6.10 and his people so truly and tenderly conscientious And the prayers of such a people shall prevail more in Heaven for their King and Country in order to their defence and safety than all the Chariots and Horse-men Souldiers Armies Power and Policy that the whole world can afford them Use 3 Then O ye Saints and Servants of the most high God who have received the spirit of Adoption and have an interest in Jesus 〈◊〉 great High Priest who is entred into the Heavens for us even Jesus the Son of God come boldly and daily to the throne of grace improve your interest in Heaven and try what faith and prayer will do there for the help of your native Country your poor afflicted brethren abroad in the world for the consolation and deliverance of Zion that City of God and for the confusion and destruction of mighty Babel that Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth who hath corrupted the whole earth with her fornications involved the whole Creation in such a woful bondage and thraldome and made her self drunk with the blood of Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Heb. 4.16 Come boldly I say to the throne of Grace Luke 18.7 and cry mightily to Heaven even day and night Isa 62.6 7 and give the Lord no rest till he doth arise Psal 87.3 and make his Jerusalem a praise in the earth and fulfil all those glorious things which are spoken of that City of God and execute all the judgements written against Babylon to binde her Kings in chains Psal 149.7 8 9 and her Nobles in links of Iron This honour have all his Saints O ye Saints this is an honour that the God of Heaven and earth hath put