which they might learn a set forme of petitioning The apprehension of their present danger will make them both importunate and eloquent in the desire of mercy And thus will it be in proportion with every one as he does apprehend his own necessity in respect of any want or danger To which purpose that gâ—ace of Humility will be of special advantage which is alwayes sensible of it's own need and poverty and the more it does receive by so much the more does it bemoan it 's own indigence Now when a man has brought his heart to this temper it will be most proper for him to lay aside all needlesse artifice or affectation behaving himself in his addresses unto God with the same plainnesse and simplicity as we use to do with men Let him seriously consider 1. What sins those are which if he were now to die would most affright his conscience Confesse them in particular aggravate and bewaile them 2. What that is he would chuse above all other things to desire of God if he were sure to have his wish Pardon Grace Perseverance Contentment Heaven Protection c. and let him beg each of these urging the promise to this purpose 3. How his condition does differ from others below him What blessing there is that he could least spare Others perhaps are wretchedly ignorant prophane necessitous sick c. whereas he is exempted and therefore ought to give thanks for each of these enjoyments And in in the mention of these he may poure out his thoughts in the most obvious expressions As suppose after this manner O Lord my God I am at this present guilty of such or such a sin which I have relapsed into notwithstanding my conviction and promises I desire to be humbled for it and to renew my resolutions against it and do earnestly beg thy mercy in pardoning of it thy grace to strengthen me for the future There is such a blessing I stand in great need of 'T is not in mine own power to procure it thou can'st easily and thou hast promised to bestow it c. There is such a mercy which I see other men want and this makes their condition sad and miserable and therefore I desire to be truly sensible of thy favour in my enjoyment of it Thus going over particulars in the most facil natural expressions and if new matter does not presently occurre a man need not therefore break off this exercise but may take some time to meditate and consider of his condition to recollect some other particulars 'T is not necessary that he should still keep on in this duty in a continued frame of speech I speak of our secret Closet-devotions betwixt God and our own soules for as for publick prayer wherein we are to joyn with others though but in a family we ought there to be more close and exact in our preparations as being to work upon the affections of those that joyn with us But I say in these private devotions a man may take a greater freedome both for his phrase and matter he may be sometimes at a stand and make a pause there may be many intermissions and blanck spaces in respect of speech wherein by meditation he may recover some new matter to tontinue in this duty Now to him that shall attempt it after this manner it will not be very difficult to pray in private without the help of books or prescribed formes And 't is not easie to expresse what a vast difference a man may finde in respect of inward comfort and satisfaction betwixt those private prayers that are thus conceived from the affections and those prescribed formes which we say by wrote or read out of books This will be one good way so to ingage the affections upon this service that they may go before and lead us on in the particular subject of our prayers in which frequent practice will make a man very expert especially if by observation he be furnished with a tâ—easury of the most proper matter and expressions to this purpose wherby when his affections are dull and indisposed he may be able to quicken them For as the affections when they are vigorous will guide us unto matter and expression so when they are heavy and dull then premeditated matter and expression will help to excite them these being of mutual efficacy and advantage But of this I shall have occasion to speak afterwards 2. Besides the sense of our own necessity 't is requisite likewise that a man should apprehend the possibility of receiving help and supply by this means A poor begger will with much patience and diligence attend that door where he is confident of obtaining an alms and till a man be thus perswaded he can never be earnest in his desires To this purpose that grace of faith is so often required for the right performance of this duty and for the strengthening of this God is pleased to give us leave to argue with him Isa. 1.16 18. He invites those that are washed and reformed to reason with him Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord c. Rogat efficacissimè qui causas rogandireddit That man does beg most powerfully who backs his requests with arguments And the Scriptures do afford us frequent examples of such humble and reverent expostulations wherein holy men have with many reasons pleaded their cause before God So Jacob Gen. 32 11 12. And Moses Exod. 32.11 22 And David very frequently Not that any of our arguments are able to move and alter him in whom there is no shadow of change But they may be effectuall in the strengthening our own faith and fervency which is the proper scope and end of them The usuall Topicks to this purpose do concern either God Our selves 1. The Arguments from Gods nature and Attributes are reducible to some of these heads 1. From his Power So Moses argues with him O Lord God who hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatnesse and thy mighty hand for what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy woâ—ks and according to thy might I pray thee c. Thus Jehosaphat pleads 2 Chron. 20.6 O Lord God of our fathers art not thou God in heaven And rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee 2. From his Wisdâ—m and Providence Job 365. God is mighty in strength and wisedome Psal. 59.13 Let it be known that God ruleth in Jacob and unto the ends of the earth He is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.19 who maketh every thing beautiful in his time Eccles. 3.11 3. From his Justice Psal. 5.3 4. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord for thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with thee Psal. 143.1 Hear my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplication in thy
Scripture-expression To which purpose there are divers instances for each of the foregoing heads that may be observed and collected from severall books in Scripture All prohibitions and threats will administer both matter and phrase unto Confession and Deprecation All precepts and promises unto comprecation and thanksgiving Besides that it is easie to reduce the usuall expressions of other kindes to be proper and helpfull unto this purpose There are two extreams to be avoided in our Expression Namely Negligence Affectation 1. Negligence when men vent their thoughts in a rude improper unseemly phrase as if they had no awe upon their spirits and did not care how they spake 2. Affectation either of too much neatnesse and elegance or else of a mystical kind of phrase not to be found either in Scripture or any sober writer though much in fashion amongst some men in these times which it may be sounds well to vulgar ears but being reduced into plain English will appear to be wholly empty and to signifie nothing or else to be full of vain repetitions Each of these extreames will be apt to nauseat an intelligent hearer and is very unsuitable to the solemnity of this duty There are some Rhetorical ornaments and varieties in the manner of expression which may be very proper and powerful both for the expressing and exciting our affections such are these four 1. Exclamations which serve to set forth an affectionate wonder Psal. 31.19 O! how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall c. 2. Expostulations which are fit to expresse any deep dejection of minde So Psal. 77.8 Will the Lord cast us off for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone c. Psal. 80.4 O Lord God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry against thy people that prayeth c. Psal. 44.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and our oppression 3. Option Fit to set forth serious and earnest desires Job 6.8 O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for that it would please him c. Psal. 119.5 O that my wayes were so directed that I might keep thy statutes 4. Ingemination which argues eager and inflamed affections Psal. 94.1 2. O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy selfe lift up thy self thou Judge of the earth c. Dan. 9.19 O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do deferre not for thine own sake O my God He that will seriously endeavour and accustome himself to deliver his thoughts in a proper full significant expression and to be well acquainted with those many examples which the Scripture does afford to this purpose such an one may by practice and experience arrive to a good ability and readinesse in this kinde CHAP. VI. Concerning the most proper materials for the Preface HAving in the former Chapter laid down some directions in reference to the Order and disposition of parts to be observed in this duty I come in the next place to treat concerning the amplification of these severall parts and to shew how the Scripture will afford various matter for the enlargement of each of them So that any one who will be but carefull to collect any other apposite matter or observation that he shall meet with and amongst these to refer it under its proper head such a one may quickly be furnished with a very copious Treasury to this purpose The first thing to be thought of in composing a form of prayer is the Preface The most necessary and chief materials for a Preface were formerly specified to be four I. The titles of Invocation or the stile of salutation wherein we bespeak the person whom we pray unto who should be expressed by such divine compellations as may excite in our hearts either some or all of those affections that are more especially required in this duty These Compellations may consist either of 1. Gods Names or Titles 2. His Attributes or Properties 3. His Promises or Threats 4. His Works or wayes By all of which he hath been pleased after a more special manner to declare and make himself known In the choice of these we should select such as may be most suitable unto that frame and temper of minde required in that kinde or part of Prayer which we have occasion to insist more largely upon As the matter of fire is so it burneth saith the son of Syrach so from the divers meditations of God will arise divers affections towards him 1. The consideration of his infinite Power Wisdome Holinesse Justice Omnipresence Majesty c. is apt to produce in us reverence shame fear sorrow and the other affections of this nature which are most suitable to the businesse of Confession 2. The thought of his Mercy Truth Patience is fit to excite Faith and Hope and consequently is proper for the duty of Petition 3. The meditation of his bounty and goodness will provoke Love and Gratitude and is therefore fit to prepare us for Thanksgiving According as our thoughts are severally fixed upon any of these so may our affections be disposed and qualified in our prayers unto him To this purpose 't is convenient that we take special notice of those divine Titles and Attributes in Scripture which may be most suitable to such various occasions 1. Of the first kinde are such as these Ps. 24.7.10 The King of glory Isa. 1.24 The Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Rev. 19.16 The King of kings and Lord of lords Exo. 15.11 Who is glorious in holinesse fearful in praises doing wonders Num. 16.22 The God of the spirits of all flesh Deut. 4.24 Who is a consuming fire even a jealous God Deut. 10.17 The God of gods and Lord of lords a great God mighty and terrible which regardeth not persons neither taketh rewards Deut. 32.4 Whose works are perfect and his ways judgement A God of truth and without iniquity just and right 1 Sam. 4.4 1 King 8.27 The Lord of Hosts who dwelleth between the Cherubims whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot containe 1 King 19 15. O Lord God of Israel which dwelleth between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdomes of the Earth thou hast made Heaven and Earth 2 Chron. 20.6 Who ruleth over all the Kingdomes of the Earth in whose hand there is power and might so that none is able to withstand him Before whom no unclean thing should enter 2 Chron. 23.19 1 Chron. 28.9 Who searchest all hearts and understandest all the imaginations of the thoughts 1 Chron. 29.11 The Lord God of Israel to whom belongeth greatnesse and power and glory and victory and Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in
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
waters of the Sea that they may not passe over that they turn not again to cover the earth 10 Who sendeth the springs into the valleys which run among the hills 11 To give drink unto every beast of the field the wilde asses quench their thirst 13. Who watereth the hills from his chambers the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works 14. Who causeth grasse to grow for the cattel and herbe for the service of man that he may bring forth food out of the earth 19. By whose appointment the Moon hath her seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down 24. O Lord how madifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Ps. 111.9 Ps. 113.4 Holy and reverent is his Name Who is high above all Nations and his glory is above the Heavens Verse 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven Ps. 139.2 Who knows our down-sitting and our up-rising and understandeth our thoughts afar off Verse 3. Who compasseth our path and our lying down and is acquainted with all our wayes Psal. 145.13 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion endureth throughout all generations Verse 17. Who is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works Ps. 146.6 Who made Heaven and Earth the sea and all that therein is who keepeth truâ—h for ever Act. 4.24 Verse 7. Who executeth judgement for the oppressed and giveth food for the hungry Prov. 21.30 31. Against whom there is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsel from whom alone safety must come Eccles. 12.14 Who will bring every work unto judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Isa. 2.17 Before whom the loftinesse of man shall be bowed down the haughtines of men shall be made low Verse 19. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth Isa. 6.2 Before whom the Seraphims do cover their faces Isa. 28.29 Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working Isa. 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out the heavens with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountaines in scales and the hills in a ballance Isa. 40.15 Before whom the nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the ballance who taketh up the Isles as a very little thing Verse 17. All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanity 22. Who sitteth upon the Circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers that stretcheth out the heavens as a Curtaine and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in 23. Who bringeth Princes to nothing and maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity Isa 41.14 15. Who can make the worme Jacob to thresh the mountaines and beat them small and make the hills as chaffe Isa. 42.5 Who created the Heavens and stretched them out who spreadeth forth the earth and that which cometh of it who giveth breath to the people upon it and spirit to them that walk therein Isa. 44 24. Who formed us from the wombe who maketh all things who stretcheth forth the Heavens alone and spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe Verse 25. That frustrateth the tokens of liars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise men backwards and maketh their knowledge foolish 26. That confirmeth the word of his servants and performeth the counsel of his messengers Isa. 46.10 Who can declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done whose counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa. 48 12· Who is the first and the last whose hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and his right hand hath spanned the Heavens Isa. 50.2 At whose rebuke the sea is dried up and the rivers become a wildernesse their fish stinketh because there is no water and die for thirst Vers. 3. Who cloatheth the heavens with blacknesse and maketh sackcloth their covering Isa. 57 15· Who is the high and lofty one inhabiting eternity whose name is holy who dwelleth in the high and holy place Isai. 66.1 Who hath the heaven for his throne and the earth for his foot stool Jer. 10.10 The onely true and living God the everlasting King at whose wrath the earth doth tremble and the nations are not able to abide his indignation Vers. 12. Who made the earth by his power and hath established the world by his wisdome and stretched out the heavens by his discretion Jer. 11. â—0 The Lord of Hosts that judgeth righteously that tryeth the reins and the heart Jer. 17.10 Who giveth to every man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 23.24 From whom no man can hide himself that he shall not see him who fils heaven and earth Jer. 31.35 Who giveth the Sun for a light by day and the ordinances of the Moon and of the Stars for a light by night who divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar the Lord of Hosts is his name Jer. 31.17 Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arme and there is nothing too hard for thee Vers. 18. Thou shewest loving kindnesse unto thousands and recompensest the iniquities of the fathers into the bosome of their children after them The great The mighty God the Lord of hosts is his name 19. Great in counsel and mighty in work for thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sons of men to give to every one according to his works and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 51.15 Who made the earth by his power and established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out the heavens by his understanding Dan. 5.23 In whose hands our breath is and whose are all our wayes Dan. 7.10 Whom there are thousand thousands that minister unto and ten thousand times ten thousands stand before him Am. 4.13 The Lord God of Hosts who formed the mountains and created the winde and declareth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darknesse treadeth upon the high places of the earth Am. 9.5 When he toucheth the land it shall melt and all that dwell therein shall mourne Vers. 6. Who buildeth his storehouse in the heavens and hath sounded his troop in the earth that calleth for the waters of the sea and poureth them out upon the face of the earth Hab. 1.13 Who is of purer eyes then to behold evil and cannot look upon iniquity Rom. 4.17 Who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were Rom. 11.33 Whose judgements are unsearchable and his wayes past finding out Who is over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 1 Cor
is the Nation whose God is the Lord and the People whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance Verse 20. Ps. 35.27 Ps. 36.7 Our help and our shield Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant How excellent is thy loving kindnesse O God therefore shall the sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Verse 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures Verse 9. For with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light Psal. 46.1 Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 63.3 Whose loving kindnesse is better then life Psal. 65.8 Who maketh the out goings of the morning and evening to rejoyce Verse 9. Who visiteth the earth and watereth it and greatly enricheth it with the river of God Vers 10. Who maketh it soft with showers and blesseth the springing thereof Vers. 11. Who crowneth the yeare with his goodnesse and his paths drop fatnesse Vers. 13. Who cloatheth the pastures with flocks and covers the valleys with corne Psal. 66.9 Who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved Psal. 72.4 Who shall judge the poore of the people and save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressour Vers. 12 He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Vers. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy Vers. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps 37.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Ver. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal. 80.1 The shepherd of Israel Psal. 89.17 Who art the glory of our defence and in whose favour our horne shall be exalted Vers. 18. For the Lord is our defence and the holy one of Israel is our King Psal. 91.2 He is my refuge and my fortresse my God in him will I trust Vers. 4. He shall cover me with his feathers under his wings will I trust his truth shall be my shield and buckler Ps. 103.3 Who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases Vers. 4. Who redeemes our life from destruction who crowneth us with loving kindenesse and tender mercies Vers. 6. Who executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed Thou art good and thou dost good Ps 119 68 Ps. 145. Who is greatly to be praised and whose greatnesse unsearchable Who preserveth all them that love him Vers. 20. Isa. 40.11 Who shall feed his flock like a Shepherd and shall gather his Lambs with his armes and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young Isa. 51.3 Who will comfort Sion and build her waste places making her wildernesse like Eden and her Desert like the garden of the Lord so that joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody Vers. 5. Whose righteousnesse is near and his salvation gone forth whose armes shall judge the People the Isles shall wait upon him and in his arme shall they trust That pleadeth the cause of his people Vers. 22. Jer 14.8 The hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble Jer. 16 19. O Lord my strength and my fortresse and my refuge in the day of affliction to whom the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth and shall say surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profit Besides whom there is no Saviour Hos. 13.4 Acts 14 17 Who leaveth not himselfe without a witnesse unto all the Nations of the world doing them good giving them raine from heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladnesse Act. 17.28 In whom we live move and have our being Eph. 1 3. Who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2.4 Eph. 3.14 Who is rich in mercy The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named 2 Thes. 2.16 Our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 1 Tim. 4.10 1 Tim. 6.17 Hebr. 13.20 Who is the Saviour of those that believe The living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy The God of peace who brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of his sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant 1 Pet. â— 10 The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus Rev. 15.3 The King of Saints whose works are great and marvellous and his wayes just and true There may be divers the like expressions of each kinde collected from severall places of Scripture Of some or more of these the first and chief material of a Preface should consist These several kinds may be variously intermixed according as divers occasions shall require The Scriptures do afford sundry examples to this purpose Neh. â— 5 Dan 9.4 O Lord God of Heaven the great and terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Psal. 46.7 Isa. 43.3 The Lord of hosts the God of Jacob our refuge The Lord our God the holy one of Israel our Saviour Verse 14. The Lord our Redeemer the holy one of Israel Isa 45.21 Who is a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides him Isa. 49.26 The Lord who is our Saviour and Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. Isa. 54.5 Our Maker and our Husband whose Name is the Lord of Hosts our Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole Earth Our Father which art in Heaven Mat. 6.9 I have been the larger in the recital of such passages because they will not only afford us matter for a Preface but supply us likewise with divers proper Arguments upon several occasions for the exciting of our faith and fervency in the businesse of Petition II. The second Material in a Preface to be joyned with the former is some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse as that Gen. 18.27 we who are but dust and ashes Gen. 32.10 Lesse then the least of all his mercies Job 13.25 As leaves driven to and fro and as dry stubble Psal. 14.3 Altogether abominable and filthy Psal. 22.6 Wormes and no men Psal. 95.7 The people of his pasture and sheep of his hands Ps. 103.15 Whose dâ—yes are as grasse as the flower of the field so he flourisheth Verse 16. When the winde passeth over it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more Psal. 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonnâ— of man that thou makest account of him Verse 4.
Man is like to vanity his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away Isa. 2.22 Whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Isa. 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and counted to him lesse then nothing Prodigal children unprofitable servants of polluted lips and uncircumcised hearts c. 1 Tim. 1.15 The chief of sinners III. III. An expression of our purpose to approach unto him in this duty That we do desire Psal. 95.6 To worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Num. 5.15 Num. 29.7 Jer. 17.17 To bring our iniquity to rememberance To afflict our souls in his sight To make him our hope and refuge in the day of evill To seek his face to meet him in his wayes To speak good of his Name To wait upon him in his Ordinances Psal. 65.4 To approach before him in his courts that we may be satisfied with the goodnesse of his house even of his holy Temple Psal. 66.2 To set forth the honour of his Name and make his praise glorious Verse 8. To blesse our God and make the voice of his praise to be heard Psal. 96.8 To give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name to bring an offering and come into his Courts Verse 9. Psal. 99.5 To worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse To exalt the Lord our God and to worship at his footstool Psal. 116.17 Verse 18. To offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and to call upon the name of the Lord. To pay our vowes unto the Lord in the presence of his people in the Courts of the Lords house Ps. 138.2 To worship towards his holy Temple and to praise his Name for his loving kindnes and for his truth Ps. 145.5 To speak of the glorious honour of his Majesty and of his wonderous works IV. IV. A desire of his assistance acceptance and attention that we may be enabled to performe this duty in an acceptable manner with such holy affections as he hath required Rom. 8.26 Rom. 5.5 Isa. 64.7 That his good spirit may help our infirmities and make intercession for us That he would shed abroad his love in our hearts and stir up our souls to lay hold of him Ps. 51.15 That he would open our lips that our mouthes may shew forth his praise Isa. 45.19 That we may not seek his face in vain Ps. 80.18 That he would quicken us to call upon his name Verse 19. That he would cause his face to shine upon us and lift up the light of his countenance 1 Kings 8.28 Have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication to hearken unto the cry and to the Prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee to day Verse 30. Hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and when thou hearest forgive 2 Kings 19.16 Lord bow down thine eares and hear open Lord thine eye and see Neh. 1.6 Let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou mayst hear the prayer of thy servant Psal. 5.1 Give ear to my words O Lord consider my meditation Vers. 2. Hearken to the voice of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray Psal. 18.6 That he would hear our voice out of his holy Temple and let our cry come before him even into his ears Ps. 19.14 That the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may be alwayes acceptable in his sight Psal. 27.7 Hear O Lord when I cry with my voice have mercy also upon me and answer me Ps. 55.1.2 Give ear to my prayer O God and hide not thy self from my supplication Attend unto me and hear me Psal. 88.2 Let my Prayer come before thee incline thine ear unto my cry Psal. 130 2 Lord hear my voice let thine ear be attentive to the voice of my supplication Psal. 141.2 Let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Psal. 143.1 Hear my Prayer O Lord give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulnesse answer me and in thy righteousnesse Vers. 7. Hear me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit Isa 63.15 Look down from Heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory Some one or more of these Particulars may upon several occasions afford fitting matter for a Preface which is the first thing to be considered and inlarged in conceiving a form of Prayer CHAP. VII Confession of sins by enumeration of them and first of Original sin NExt to the Preface Confession does according to the more usual and ordinary course succeed The first thing to be confessed in the Enumeration of sin as is before expressed in the scheme of Confession is Original sin Whereas God at first made man upright he hath since corrupted himself by seeking out many inventions He planted our first Parents a noble Vine a right seed but they quickly turned into degenerate plants of a strange Vine So that we are transgressors from the wombe Being shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin A seed of evill doers children that are corrupters Branches of the wild Olive Being naturally dead in trespasses and sins Children of wrath bearing about us the old man A body of sin and of death A law of our members Being born only of the flesh Having sin that dwels in us And is alwayes present with us And doth so easily beset us This Originall sin hath been propagated to us both by Imputation Real Communication 1. By Imputation of Adams particular transgression in eating the forbidden fruit for we were legally parties in that Covenant which was at first made with him and therefore cannot but expect to be liable unto the guilt which followed upon the breach of it By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men 2. By reall Communication of evil concupiscence and depravation upon our natures which was the consequent of the first rebellion We were all of us naturally in our first Parents as the streams in the fountaine or the branches in the root and therefore must needs partake the same corrupted nature with them For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean And what is man that he should be clean or he that is borne of woman that he should be righteous This might justly make us more loathsome and abominable in Gods eyes then either Toads or Vipers or any other the most venomous hurtfull creatures are in ours and for this alone he might justly cut us off and condemne us though it were meerly for the prevention of that mischief and enmity against him which the very principles of our natures are infected with Though man were at first made little lower then the Angels being crowned with glory and honour having dominion over the other
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.
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
nature be put together and this should be observed in all the parts of Prayer Now the parts of Prayer may be Generally distinguished into these two kinds 1. Lesse principal Preface Transitions Conclusion 2. More principal Confession Petition Thanksgiving The first thing in a form of Prayer is the Preface which does chiefly consist of these particulars 1. The titles of invocation 2. Some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse 3. An expression of our purpose and desire to make our addresses to him in this duty 4. With the impetration of his assistance and attention Next unto the Preface any one of the three principall parts of Prayer may succeed either Confession Petition or Thanksgiving according as severall occasions shall require But in general and common use 't is most convenient that Confession should precede the other because it prepares for them and may serve to stir us up unto a true sence both of those mercies which we want and those which we have received Confession according to its proper latitude and extent does imply in it an acknowledgement both Of Sins by Enumeration Original in our Inward Man Outward Man Actual against the Law National Personal and Omission Commission Gospel Thought Word Deed. Aggravation of them in General Multitude Greatnesse Special the kindes of sin Particular the circumstances Punishments External in our Bodies Friends Estates Names Internal in respect of blessings Natural Spiritual Eternal of Losse Paiâ— Next to Confession Petition may succeed but for the better connexion of these two 't is requisite that they be joyned together by some fitting Transition The most natural and genuine matter for which may referre to some one of these heads Either 1. A Profession of our shame and sorrow in the consideration of our many sinnes and the punishment due unto them 2. An Expression of our desire to renounce our own righteousnesse to fly utterly out of our selves 3. A promise of greater care and strictnesse in our wayes for the future 4. A brief Application unto our selves of such mercies and promises as do belong unto those that believe and repent For the chief heads of Petition we are directed in the Lords Prayer that being given us as a Summary or brief Model wherein are conteined the most principal and necessary materials of all our desires That which is accounted the first Petition Hallowed by thy name doth more especialy concerne the chief end of all our desires namely the glory of God and is there set down to teach us what we are principally to intend and aime at in all those prayers that we make either for our selves or others The three next clauses do concerne the obtaining of good The first of them for the sanctifying of our hearts and natures into which we wish that his Kingdome may come The second for the obedience of our lives Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven The third for the necessities of this present life Give us this day our daily bread The three last Petitions do concern the removal of evil The first of them being against the evil of Sin Forgive us our trespasses The second against the evil of Tentation Lead us not into tentation The last against the evil of Punishment Deliver us from evil All of them being in the plural number Our Father and Give us and Forgive us c. which shews our duty to petition for others as well as our selves and then the whole Prayer is sealed up with this Argument For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Wherein we acknowledge that it is he alone who is able to grant our requests thereby teaching us to back our Petitions with such arguments as may serve to strengthen our belief concerning the successe of them So that according to this pattern the chiefe materials of our desires the order only being made more suitable to the precedent method observed in our Confession may be thus analyzed All Petition is either For our Selves Supplication Deprecation against the evill of Sin in respect of its Guilt Pardon Evidence Power Temptation by Our corrupt natures The Devill The World Punishment Comprecation for good Spiritual Sanctification of our natures in the Inward Man Outward Man Obedience of our lives by our Performance In all duties of Law Gospel Continuance In all duties of Law Gospel Increase In all duties of Law Gospel Temporal Provision for us Protection of us For others Intercession In General The Catholike Church In special Ordinary for the Nations Vncalled Infidels Jews c. the Nations Called Allies Oâ—rown Nation Occasional in times of Warre Famine Pestilence In particular Ordinary for all relations of Order Publike and Political Private or Oeconomical Freindship and Enmity Neighbourhood Occasional for the afflicted in Minde Body This part should be connected to the next by some such Transition as may fitly serve to seal up the one and begin the other which may be taken either 1. From our Confidence of obtaining the things we desire by our experience of those former mercies we have already enjoyed 2. From the danger of ingratitude in hindering the successe of our Petitions The cheif materials to be insisted upon in our Thanksgiving are reducible under these two generall heads Either Enumeration of mercies or Amplification of mercies Mercies to be Enumerated are either Ordinary Temporall Private concerning Generally the whole mans Being Nature Birth Education Preservation More particularly our Soules Bodies Freinds Names Estates c. Publick in respect of Healthful seasons Fruitfull seasons Peaceable seasons Spirituall Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Hope of Glory Occasionall for some particulars Preservation of our selves in soule body others in soule body Recovery of our selves in soule body others in soule body Deliverance of our selves in soule body others in soule body Amplified Generally by their Multitude Greatnesse in respect of Giver Receiver Continuance Particularly by their Circumstances Degrees Contraries The Conclusion should consist of some such Doxologies as may help to strengthen our Faith and leave some impression upon our affections This may serve for a Scheme of Method comprehending all the chief parts according to a fitting order for the regulating of our thoughts in this duty If there be any that should deny the use of Method and the like helps as being humane inventions such persons will not deserve an answer They may as well account the rules of reasoning and dispute to be unlawful reducing all to their own Enthusiasmes and so are not capable of being dealt with in any way of debate 3. The third thing to be enquired into is Expression which will of it self naturally follow upon such a preparation of matter and method But because the language of Canaan the stile of the holy Ghost is undoubtedly the fittest for holy and spiritual services with which for divers reasons we should labour to be familiarly acquainted therefore we should rather chuse where we may to speak in
4 5. Who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart Eph. 1.11 Who doth every thing according to the counsel of his own will Eph. 3.20 Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think Col. 1.16 By whom all things were created that are in heaven and earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers 1 Tim. 1.17 Who is the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God Ch. 6.15 The blessed and only Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords Vers. 16. Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see Heb. 4.13 In whose sight there is no creature that is not manifest but all things are naked and opened unto the eye of him to whom we have to do Heb. 13.8 Rev. 6.15 Who is yesterday to day and the same for ever At whose dreadful appearance the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men shall be willing to hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountaines Vers. 16. Crying to the mountaines and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. II. Invocations of the second sort are such Scripture-expressions as these Ex. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth Vers. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Neh. 9.17 Who is a God ready to pardon gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindnesse Psal. 9.9 Who is a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble Verse 10. Who will never forsake them that seek him Psal. 33.4 Whose word is right and all his works are done in truth Verse 18. Whose eye is upon them that fear him and upon them that hope in his mercy Verse 19. To deliver their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine Psal. 34.8 9. Who will not suffer them to want that fear and trust in him Verse 15. Whose eyes are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their cry Verse 17. To hear deliver them out of all their troubles Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Verse 22. Who will redeem the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate Psal. 36.5 Whose mercy is in the heavens and his faithfulnesse reacheth to the clouds Verse 6. Whose righteousnesse is like the great mountains and whose judgements are a great deep who preserveth man and beast Psal. 46 1. Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 65.2 The God that heareth Prayers unto whom all flesh should come Verse 5. The confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea Psal. 72.12 Who delivereth the needy when he crieth the poor also and him that hath no helper Verse 14. Who shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps. 103.8 Who is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Verse 9. Who will not alwayes chide neither will he keep his anger for ever Verse 10. Who does not deal with us after our sins nor reward us according to our iniquities Verse 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Verse 14. He knows our frame he remembers that we are but dust Verse 17. Whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children Verse 18. To such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandments to do them Ps 145.8 Who is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Verse 9. Who is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Verse 19. He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them Isa. 51.6 Though the heavens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall waxe old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner Yet his salvation shall be for ever and his righteousnesse shall not be abolished Isa. 66.2 Who hath great regard to them that are poor and of a contrite spirit and tremble at his Word Jer. 14.8 Who is the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble Ezek. 33.11 Who hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he should turn from his way and live Mich. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage who retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Verse 19. Who will turn again and have compassion upon us subduing our iniquities and casting all our sins into the depths of the sea Mat. 18.20 Who hath promised where two or three are gathered together in his name to be in the midst of them Rom. 2.4 Who does abound in riches of goodnesse and forbearance and long sufferance which should lead us to repentance Who is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 2 Cor. 1.3 Eph. 1.17 Who is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort The God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift doth come with whom there is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning 2 Pet. 3.9 Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance III. Divine compellations of the third sort may be derived from such Scriptures as these Neh. 1.5 Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Job 5.19 Who will deliver us in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch us Verse 20. Who in famine shall redeem us from death and in war from the power of the sword O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 Psalm 8.1 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world Psalm 18.2 My rock my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler the horne of my salvation and my high tower Verse 3. Who is worthy to be praised Ps. 19.14 Ps. 22.9 10 My strength and my Redeemer Who tookest me out of the wombe and hast been my hope and my God since I was upon my mothers breast Psal. 27.9 The God of my salvation Psal. 33.5 Who loveth righteousnesse and judgement and the earth is full of his goodnesse Verse 12. Blessed
forget not the congregation of the poor for ever O let not the oppressed return ashamed let the poor and needy praise thy name Arise O God plead thine own cause c. We are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us How long Lord wilt thou be angry for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire O remember not against us our former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them But thou O Lord art our God full of compassion gracious long-suffering plenteous in mercy and truth O turne unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the sonne of thine handmaid Shew me some token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me Arise O Lord and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come 2. In times of Famine We should pray that our land may yield us bread without scarcenesse That he would not send upon us the evil arrowes of famine nor break our staffe of bread Nor take away our corne in the time thereof nor afflict us with cleannesse of teeth When men shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry and shall eat on the left hand and shall not be satisfied but every man shall eat the flesh of his own arme When we shall pine away and be stricken through for want of the fruits of the earth When we shall eat bread by weight and with care and drink water by measure and with astonishment When the land shall mourne and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field and the fowles of the Heaven When the husband-man shall be ashamed and the vine-dressers shall howle because the harvest of the field is perished The fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stalls When we shall sowe much and bring in little when we shall eat and not have enough drink and not be filled cloath our selves and not be warme That he would according to his promise abundantly blesse our provision and satisfie our poore with bread That our Garners may be full and plenteous affording all manner of store That he would hear the Heavens and let them hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corne and the Wine and the oyle and that they may hear his people Now because Famine is usually occasioned either by immoderate raine or drought therefore in our intercessions against this National judgement we may frame our Petitions more immediately against each of these as necessity shall require 1. Against immoderate raine That God would remember the Covenant which he hath made and though our wickednesse be very great upon the earth so that he might justly repent that he hath made us and now again resolve to destroy us from the face of the earth yet he hath promised that he will not any more cut off all flesh by the waters of a flood neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth That he would give us the former and the latter rain moderately and not punish us with a sweeping rain which leaveth no food 'T is he alone by whom the windows of Heaven are opened who giveth raine upon the earth and sendeth waters upon the fields Who cloatheth the Heavens with blacknesse and maketh sack-cloth their covering Who calleth for the waters of the Sea and poureth them out upon the face of the Earth He maketh small the drops of water they poure down raine according to the vapor thereof which the clouds do drop and distill upon men abundantly He covereth the light with clouds and commandeth it not to shine He commandeth the clouds from above and openeth the doors of Heaven That he would so order all those things which are at his disposal as that the earth may yield her increase and all the ends of the earth may fear him 2. Against Drought That he would open to us the good treasures of Heaven and give rain to our land in its season and blesse the labour of our hands He is the Father of the rain and does beget the drops of dew The bottles of heaven are at his command to open and shut them as he pleases He bindes up the waters in thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them 'T is he that does stay the heaven over us from dew and the earth from his fruits Who doth with-hold the raine from us causing it to rain upon one City and not upon another It is by his command that the Vine-tree is dryed up and the Fig-tree languisheth and all the trees of the field are withered The seed is rotten under the clods the garners are laid desolate the barnes are broken down for the corne is withered the beasts groan and the herds of cattel are perplexed because they have no pasture and the flocks of sheep are made desolate 'T is at his command that the clouds do not raine upon us He makes the heavens over us to be brasse and the earth under us to be iron and the rain of our land to be powder and dust He causes the land to mourne and the herbs of every field to wither When the ground is chapt for want of rain when the plowmen are ashamed and cover their heads when the wilde Asses do stand in the high places and snuffe up the winde like Draggons and their eyes do faile because there is no grasse And therefore unto him it is that we must make our addresses for help and supply in all such exigences That when heaven is shut up and there is no rain because of our sins against him Yet if we shall pray unto him and confesse his name and turne from our sins when he afflicts us That then he would hear in heaven and forgive the sins of his servants and teach them the good way wherein they should walk and give rain unto the land which he hath bestowed upon them for an inheritance Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain or can the heavens give showers art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will waite upon thee for thou hast made all these things That he would open the windows of heaven and cause the rain
faithfulnesse in destruction Shall thy wonders be known in the dark or thy righteousnesse in the land of forgetfulnesse Hear my prayer O Lord give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my teares O spare me a little that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more seen I know O Lord that thy judgements are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Let I pray thee thy merciful kindnesse be my comfort let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live Thus does Job petition for himself Are not my days few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little before I go whence I shall not return even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death And thus the Prophet Jeremiah Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved for thou art my praise For the better strengthening of our faith and fervency in this desire there are such considerations as these He hath commanded us to call upon him in the time of trouble and hath promised to deliver us 't is in his power alone to kill to make alive to bring down to the grave and to raise up again He hath stiled himself the God of Salvation to whom belong the issues of death He can give powâ—r to the faint and to them that have no might increase of strength He has profest that the death of his Saints is dear and precious in his sight He hath promised to strengthen them upon the bed of languishing and to make their bed in their sicknesse He hath said that the prayer of faith shall save the sick He hath permitted us concerning his sons his daughters to command him thereby implying that in our intercessions for one another we may be as sure of successe as we are of those things which are in our own power to command To which may be added our former experience of his truth mercy in the like cases from all which we may be encouraged to come with boldnesse to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy in the time of need But if he hath otherwise determined and the days of their warfare be accomplished that then he would fit them for death and make them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of his Saints in light that they may be willing to depart and to be with Christ which is far better then still to be exposed to the evil to come to sinful temptations paines and diseases of the body troubles and vexations of the vain world especially considering that now death hath lost its sting and is swallowed up in victory And that it was the end of our Saviours passion to deliver them who through the fear of death have been all their life-time subject to bondage That neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come shal be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That by this means we must be brought to enjoy the beatifical vision of God the blessed company of innumerable Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect That he would be pleased to shine graciously upon them with his favour and reconciled countenance to fill their hearts with such divine joyes as belong unto those that are heires of a celestial kingdome and are ready to lay hold on everlasting life That this light affliction which is but for a moment may work for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory That when this their earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved they may have an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens That his blessed Angels may convey their soules into Abrahams bosome Now as in such cases we should thus intercede for others so likewise may we hence take fit occasion to pray for our selves That in the diseases and paines of others we may consider the frailties of our own conditions the desert of our own sins and may magnifie his special mercy in sparing of us so much and so long That we may be more seriously mindful of our later ends as knowing that he will bring us also to death and to the house appointed for all the living and that when a few dayes are come we shall go the way whence we shall not returne That we are but strangers and pilgrims in this world dwelling in houses of clay being here to day and not to morrow in the morning and not at night that our dayes on earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding our years passe away as a tale that is told Our life is but as a vapour that appears for a while and then vanisheth away coming forth as a flower that is suddenly cut down flying as a shadow that continueth not Our times are in the hands of God all our dayes are determined the number of our moneths is with him He hath appointed our bounds that we cannot passe Lord let me know mine end and the measure of my dayes that I may know how fraile I am So teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto wisdome That he would give unto us the Spirit of judgement whereby we may discerne the true difference betwixt this spanne of life and the vast spaces of immortality Betwixt the pleasures of sin for a season and that everlasting fulnesse of joy in his presence Betwixt the vain applause of men and the testimony of a good conscience That in the present days of health and peace and prosperity we may treasure up for our selves such spiritual strength comforts as may hereafter stand us in stead when we come to lie upon our death-beds when all other contentments shall vanish away and prove unable to help us when the conscience of well-doing in any one action shall administer more real comfort to the soul then all our outward advantage or enjoyments whatsoever That our conversations may be in heaven from whence we may continually expect the coming of our Lord and Saviour That all the dayes of our appointed time we may wait till our change shall come That since we all know and cannot but be amazed to consider of that dreadful day of judgement when every one must appear before the Tribunal of God to receive an eternal doome according to his works that therefore he would make us such manner of persons as we ought to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat that we may labour diligently to be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse CHAP. XXVII Concerning Thanksgiving by enumeration of Temporal favours THe third and last part of Prayer is Thanksgiving This according