Lament thy condemnation I excuse my selfe before thee I cry vnto thee pittiefully My condemnation u Hos 13.9 commeth of my selfe but my salvation is from thee only It x Lament 3.22 is of thy mercie that I am not alreadie consumed because thy compassions faile not thy mercies are renued vnto me every morning Albeit O most mercifull GOD thou y Pet. 2.4 5. 6 spared not the Angels that sinâ—ed but cast them downe to hell and delyvered them to the chaines of darknesse to be keept into damnation Neither spared thou the old world but brought in the flood vpon the vngodly and turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes thou condemned and overthrew them perpetually yet LORD it hath pleased thee of thy goodnesse to spare mee into this present tyme who am worthie of that same punishment and condemnation O LORD like z Isaiah 8. 14 a crane or a swalow so should I chatter and as a doue mourne before thee I am like a Psal 102. 6 Policaâ—e of the wildernesse I am like an Owle of the deserts I am as a Sparrow alone vpon the house tops Oh! that b Ier. 9. 1 myne head were full of water and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for my miserie and iniquitie O c Psal 42. 7 LORD all thy waues and floods are gone over me Sorrow for sinne grievous calamitie hath so choaked me that I can not more speake to thy Majestie Let my secreet sighes and my salt teares and d Psal 19 14. the meditation of myne heart bee alwayes acceptable in thy sight O LORD my Strength and my Redeemer A PREPARATION BEFORE PETITION The fift Chapter ALthough the due and diligent practise of the promises of humble coâ—â—ession and bitter lamentation may verie forcibly vrge thee to earnest petition yet for preparation to the same consider diligently what graces and good gifts are absolutelie necessarie to prepare thee arightly that thou mayest be a true and sinceere supplicant vnto the LORD Now lest a Iames. 4.3 thou aske amisse and receiue not lest when thou stretchest out thy hand the Lord hide his eyes from thee and though thou b Isaiah 1. 15 make many prayers yet God will not heare thee leâ—t thy c Prover 28. 9 prayer it selfe bee abhominable Lest albeit thou d Prover 1.26 call yet the LORD laugh at thy destruction and mocke when thy feare commeth Thou must take much diligent heede with earnest indevour that in some measure thou bee indued with these good gifts that are absolutlie requisite to the end that thy prayer may bee effectuall and comfortable vnto thy selfe the want whereof will make thy petition to be effectlesse yea to be but abomination Therefore come on and consider with mee carefully what graces must accompanie thy petition and convert as it were the same to Heaven First thou must haue knowledge Iraeneus lib. 15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iustin Mar. quaest 1. dâ— gent. saving knowledge Cognitio Dei renovat hominem The knowledge of GOD will make thee a new creature It is the greatest good to man It will bring thee to salvation for this e Iohn 17. 3 is life eternall to know the LORD to be very GOD and whom hee hath sent IESVS CHRIST Thou shouldest not be a Samaritan to worship that which thou knowest not Content not thy selfe with worldlie wisdome which is but sensuall f Iam. 3.15 and divelish Bee not like an * Basilicus Owle blinde in the day but seeth somewhat in the night A people that is of no vnderstanding hee that made them shall haue no compassion on them and hee that flamed them will haue no mercie on them Shortly if thou knowest not CHRIST thou shall never with Christians cry to CHRIST but with the Iewes thou shall kill him and crucifie g Act. 3. 17 Faith him Fides est seala à terra in Coelum Ambros Fides est lumen animae ostium vitae fundamentum salutis arternae Chtysost Secondly Thou must haue true justifying faith This is the ladder of Iaakob from earth to Heaven This is the light of the soule the dâ—â—â—e and foundation of life cternall This is the golden port by which the KING of Glorie entreth into our mynde This is the first word of a Christian I BELIEUE This is the eare by which we heare CHRIST our good d Iohn 10. 11 Shepherd the eye by which with MOSES we e Heb. 11. 27 see him The mouth by which we doe receiue the tongue by which wee pray to him saying Abba f Rom. 8. 15 Father This faith procureth our adoption that wee are g Iohn 1. 12 the sonnes of GOD This maketh vs the habitation of CHRIST that hee will h Ephes 3. 17 dwell in our hearts It is the hand whereby we take hold on him the i Luke 2. 28 armes by which with Simeon wee embrace our Saviour CHRIST and then wee pray to GOD and praise his Majestie Now as this was a great point of wisedome in Themistocles that when hee came in the presence of his enemie Admetas King of Molossi hee tooke the Kings sonne in his armes and then made his petition to Admetus of whom Thucydides Chytraeus hee received favour and kindnesse So thou if thou desire to k Iam. 4. 8 draw neare to thy GOD to goe l Hebr. 4. 16 boldly vnto the throne of grace and present thy selfe before him from whose m Revel 20.11 face both the earth and Heaven shall flee away It shall bee greatest wisedome for thee to take CHRIST IESUS in whom the n Math. 3. 17 Father is well pleased into the armes of thy soule and then make thy petition to the Almighty who will delyver o Psal 91. 16 thee glorifie thee and show thee his salvation otherwise thy supplication yea thy selfe shall bee like Cains p Genes 4. 5 offering wherevnto the LORD will haue no regarde because without q Heb. 11. 6 faith it is impossible to please GOD and whatsoever is not of faith is sinne and will procure but a punishment from him who is the just r Psal 94. 1 Avenger Thirdly Studie most carefully and continually to be graced with true holynesse and pietie without the t Heb. 12. 15 Sine pictate virtues non possunt esse in hac vita which no man shall see the LORD in mercie in the lyfe to come and without it there can bee no vertue in this present life If u Psal 66. 18 I regarde wickednesse in my heart saith the Psalmist the LORD will not heare mee If the Leviticall Priests of necessitie vnder paine of death were ordained to wash x Exod. 30. 28 themselues with water when they did goe into the tabernacle much more must the Preist Evangelicall wash y Ierem. 4. 14 his heart from wickednesse and his z
obtaine health and salvation Fourthly and finally Wonderfull Thou shall find â—undry im pediments great is the difficultie of prayer in regard of these stayes and impediments that will meete with thee partly in respect of Sathan thine adversarie Surely as hee x Thess 2. 18 hindered the Apostle Paul from going to the Thessalonians much more will hee striue to his vttermost power to hinder thee from going to thy GOD and from making of prayers and supplications and as Amalek y Ezech. 17. 8 faught with Israell when they were in their journey to earthly Canaan so much rather will the devill fight against thee with all his force and firie z Eph. 6 16 dartes when thou art in thy journey and making humble prayer and petition Againe partly in respect of thy selfe for with the Disciples thou shall find thy eyes a Math. 26.43 heavy thy selfe subject to sleepinesse and with Moses thy hands b Ezech. 17. 12 heavy thou will let them fall downe and thy knees c Heb. 1â— 12 weake that thou can not endure of thy selfe vnlesse thou bee strengthned Thus farre of the wonderfull great difficultie of prayer now it is meete to giue some consolations that thou be not too much discouraged and dismayed CONSOLATIONS FOR WEAKE CHRISTIANS The twelfth Chapter FOR as much as the weake Christian a a 1 Cor 14.20 child in vnderstanding vpon the deepe meditation of the difficulty of praying may bee heavily perplexed and greatly discouraged and with feare sorrow and bitternesse of minde thus reason if so it be that true prayer bee so hard a worke to doe it is impossible for mee to performe the same Surely I say as a faithfull Messinger b Iob. 33. 23 a wise interpreter is very rare one of a thousand who can declare to a man his righteousnesse so a feeling petitioner is also very rare who with a wounded conscience complaineth in this poynt of his owne weaknesse and of the Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima â—igno difficultie of this exercise But of a great number if one be found who is exceeding sorrowfull that he can not pray powerfully as hee desireth to doe and therefore lamenteth bitterly and is troubled c 1 Sam. 1. 15 in spirit inwaâ—dâ—y when hee considereâ—h that dâ—fficultie and these many impediments which trouble him I most humbly and earnestly intreate GOD who d 2 Cor. 1. 4 comforteâ—h his owne in all tribâ—lation to maâ—e me aâ—â—â— to comfort these that are in this afflâ—ction and â—o giue them some conteâ—tment in this tribuâ—ation Now first if thou complaine that thy heart is tyed and so fixed into this vaine world so that as A comfort to a Christian coÌ„plainiâ—g that he cannotleaue the world Moses e Heb. 11. 27 forsooke Egype so thou can not forsake this present world I say it is of trueth and veritie thou can not doe it boldly yet if thou labour to leaue it spiritually it is verie well for thee and if as Hadad the Edomite in Egypt enjoyed honour pleasure and plentie taking f 1 King 11. 22 nothing yet would not remaine there but in any wayes would goe to his owne country so if thou abiding in this earth where is g Ecles 1. 14 vanitie and vexation sinne and transgression and wearie of this world which h 1 Iohn 5. 19 lyeth in wickednesse shall in some measure haue thy conversation i Philip. 3. 20 in Heaven seek those k Col. 3. 1 things which are aboue beg for the helpe of GODS Spirit that the LORDS power l 1 Cor. 12. 9 may bee made perfect in thee that he who did separate m Gal. 1. 15 thee from thy mothers wombe and who did separat the n Genes 1 4 light from darknesse may also giue thee grace to o 2 Cor. 6. 17 come out from among the wicked and separate thee to himselfe that thou mayest sit p Eph. 2. 6 together with the Saints in such Heavenly places prepared for thee before the foundation of this world was laide Secondly If thou bee sorrowfull that it is too hard for thee yea altogether impossible â—or to goe vp to Heaven yet I may bee Comfort to one who cannot ascend to Heaven bold to persâ—ade thee that thy Saviour ascended q Ephes 4. 10 farre aboue all Heavens to fill all things He will r Psal 37. 24 put his hand vnder thee Hee will Å¿ Iohn 12. 32 draw thee to himselfe If there bee force and veâ—tue in that Similit Plinius August pretious stone the Magnet to draw heauie yron to it assuredly there is much more stâ—ength in CHRIST IESUS to draw t Cant. 1. 3 thee vnto him to knitte u Psal 86. 11 and vnite thine heart vnto him that thou mayest feare his holy Name And Similit Aâ—isâ—ot Zanâ—hius if there bee power in the naturall Sunne by the hotte vigour thereof to dâ—aw vp from the sea and earth vapours and exhalations to the mid region of the aire experience and Naturalists teach the same Certainly there is much more power without comparison in the SONNE x Mal. 4. 2 of Righteousnesse CHRIST IESVS to draw vp thy heart and affection vnto the third Y Heaven He in his owne tyme will giue grace and furnish strength to thee that thou shall say with DAVID z Psal 25. 1 Vnto thee O LORD lift â— vp my soule and â— lift a Psal â—21 1 vp my eyes aboue the mountains vnto thee O LORD from whence mine helpe commeth I b 1 Tim. 2. 8 lift vp to thee pure hands without wrath And c Act. 4. 24 I lift my voyce to GOD to pray to thy Majestie to praise thy holy Name as it becommeth mee Thridly If thou thinke it both dreadfull and dangerous for thee Comfort for a Christian to draw neerâ— to GOD. who art filthie who art guiltie who art as chaffe before the fire and dust d Gen 18. 25 and ashes before the wind for to approach and appeare before GOD who e Iob. 15. 15 found no stedfastnesse in his Saincts and in whose sight the Heavens are not cleane not f Iob. 25. 4 the Moone nor Starres I answere thee albeit that bee of veritie yet thou may come before his Maiestie with courage and thou may be well hearted to goe boldly g Heb. 4. 16 vnto the throne of grace for these reasons 1. because hee h Math. 11. 28 calleth vpon thee favourably who art weariâ— and laden as the Patriarchs were i Genes 45. 3 astonied at Iosephs presence because of their sinne against him and of their evill conscience yet when he said to them come k neere vnto me they came neere 2. As Ahasuerus l Esther 5. 2 held out his golden scepter to Esther fearing danger she found faâ—our so the breaking m Ierem. 10.7 of the nations holdeth
trespasses During Samsons sleepe one p Iudg. 16. 19 did shaue off his seven lockes of his head and tooke away his consecrate haire then his strength was gone from him yea the LORD for a season departed from him therefore the Philistims his enemies they tooke him they put out his eyes and bound him with fetters and hee did grind in the prison house so while a Christian is sleeping Sathan will bee most readie to spoile him of his strength and other gifts wherewith hee was endued Sixtly By such sleepe man becommeth most vnlike to GOD Vnlikenesse to GOD. whom hee should most of all resemble for the keeper of Israell will q Psal 122. 4 neither sleepe nor slumber GOD r Iob. 28. 24 beholdeth the ends of the world and seeth all that is vnder Heaven ruling and governing all things by his mightie providence his eyes are looking his eares patent his hand sustaining continually and Å¿ Psal 104. 27 giving foode in due season to every creature wherefore his servants should studie to show themselues to be obedient children of their good Creator to bee lyke to him in holynesse in righteousnesse and in watchfulnes That every one may say t Psal 25. 1 vnto the LORD I lift vp my heart and I u Psal 123. 1 lift vp my eyes O LORD to thee that dwelleth in the Heavens and I x 1 Tim. 2. 8 pray every where lifting vp pure hands I will altogether with all vigilance and diligence consecrate my selfe soule and bodie vnto the LORD his service and y Rom. 6.13 giue all my members to GOD as weapons of righteousnesse 7 Death and destruction will Destruction ensue therevpon if that younge man Eutychus z Act. 20. 9 fallen into a deepe sleepe and overcome therewith fell downe and with that fall he died whom the Apostle Paule raised vp and restored to life againe Sisera a Iudg. 4 21 a valiant man being fast a sleepe was killed by a woman as b Iudg. 8. 11 the hoste of the Midianits which were carelesse was easily destroyed in the night Chedarlaomer with the rest of the Kinges and their victorious armie being c Genes 14.15 secure sleepie and drunken as Iosephus writeth were surprized and smitten Wee Antiquitatiud lib. 1. cap. 1. Franc. Patric de inst reip Herod read that Spargastes sonne to Thomyris queene of the Scythians and all his armie being buried in sleepe and wine was destroyed by Cyrus Thus if so many hath beene overthrowen in sleepe naturall many moe haue perished while they haue beene sleeping in sinne and securitie Yea wee read that a weake Plinius and contemptible enemie will overcome and kill a strong adversarie being a sleepe for albeit the Crocodile an hudge and a savage Serpent bee of great strength yet a very weake beast of a little more quantitie than a ratte while the Crocodile sleepeth creepeth in at the mouth of the strong fish it goeth downe to the bellie and lacerateth the same the Crocodile dieth and it escapeth No maruell then that Sathan who is strong and subtill get advantage to overcome and overthrow weake men especially when in securitie accompanied with infirmitie These and moe being the discommodities of that fearefull sleep namely 1. idlenesse 2. indigence 3. infamie 4. pollution 5. losse 6. vnliknesse to GOD and 7. destruction It is much to bee wondred and much more to bee pitied that Alace so many should so carelesly continue in their let hargie Heere in the third place wee Who do sleepe A difference betweene the godly and the wicked will breefly declare who they are that sleepe 1. The godlie sleepe 2. The wicked also but with this maine difference albeit while the d Cant. 5. 2. bridegroome tarieth both the wise Virgins and the foolish Virgins slumber and sleepe yet the wise haue oyle in their lampes even faith in their soules but the foolish are emptie and haue not the oyle of grace in their hearts Againe the faithfull sleepe most vnwillingly they are sorrowfull for their slumbring hee sleepeth but his heart waketh and it is oftentymes that hee f Numb 15.27 sinneth through ignorance so they sleepe But the wicked hee doeth g Numb 15.30 presumptuously hee sleepeth willingly as h Prover 15.21 foolishnesse is a joy to him so sleepe is a pleasure and delectation This may be esteemed a wonder in Gippius that Romane Lucilius apud Beraldum who would desire yea faine himselfe to sleepe and swore that his owne wife might play the harlote more easilie and commit adulterie But it is verie vsuall to many calling themselues Christians who desire to sleepe that their soules may the more readily commit great whoredome i Hos 1. 2 departing from the LORD a most pittifull and marvellous matter Few men will sleepe naturally to prostitute their wiues but many will sleepe spiritually to prostitute their soules Fourthly Let vs consider by what meanes and how wee are awakened 1. by GODS Word 2. by his rodde 3. by his benefites 4. by the operation of his holy Spirit First The Word is a cleare light that shineth k Prov. 4. 12 in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in our hearts it is a Lanterne to our feete and a light to our paths that l Psal 2. 9. the way of righteousnesse may shine as the light which shineth more and more vntill the perfite day The Word of the LORD is his m Numb 10.2 voice Which is mightie and glorious like the silver trumpets which were vsed for the assembling of the congregation Now shall the light so long tyme shine in thine eyes and shall this voice and trumpet so long tyme sound in thine eares telling thee with many cryes and advertisements that thou sleepest in a most perillous place as n Prov. 23.34 one that sleepeth in the top of the mast in the midst of the sea 2. In a most dangerous case having moe cruell enemies in this wildernesse compassing thee round about for thy confusion than DAVID had in the wildernesse Maon where hee sleeped not but made o 1 Sam. 23. 36 haste to get from the presence of Saul pursuing him 3. In a most short and troublous time when other Saincts some of them are sore working for p â— Cor. 9. 24 their penny some of them are fast q Heb. 12. 4 running for their prize some are praying and weeping in calamitie some are fighting for victorie some are suffering and resisting r Act. 21. 13 vnto blood striving against sinne readie to die and giue their lyues for the name of the LORD IESVS for to obtaine an incorruptible Crowne of glorie What now art thou I pray thee doing Is this a fitte tyme to sleepe in yea the Heavens are swiftly moving the sea vncessantly flowing and ebbing the earth is now decaying All creatures Å¿ Rom. 8. 22 together are groning Our
of the Sea it will worke hope which e is an anker to the soule both sure and stedfast and it entreth into that which is within the vaile Fourthly A Messinger is sometimes f Psal 107. 23 very needfull and requisite To an Messinger So e Genes 32. 3 â—aacob had neede of them â—o send to his Brother Esaâ— when hee desired reconciliation with him So the g Iosh 10. 6 men of Gibeon had neede of a messenger to send to Ioshua for their preservation from the Amorits fighting against them The people also of Iabish Gilead when Nahash the Ammonite besieged 1 Sam. 11. 3 them and would accept of no other condition but to plucke out their right eyes they had neede of messingers to send to all the coasts of Israel for their deliverance from that hurt and shame Thus that distressed Adherball a vnfortunate King of Numidia Multa pollicendo being besieged in his Citie Cirta by his malicious and vnnaturall Brother Ingurtha with many promises did require two messingers to declare his perplexed estate to the Senat of Rome and yet received Salust in bello Iugurâ—â—ino no reliefe nor comfort for all his care and request But thou Christian Reader hath as great necessitie of Prayer which is a a most faithfull and diligent messinger if thou desirest reconciliation with thy good elder Brother IESUS CHRIST if thou require preservation from inâ—umerable sinnes if thou seekest deliverance from the Devill thy mortall enemie if thou wishest victorie over thy owne inbred corruption let thy earnest request be a speciall messinger to thy Heavenly Father from whom every i Iam. 1 17 perfect gift commeth Fifthly As a Charet is requisit for a long journey Candaces k Act. 8. 27 her To a Charet chiefe governour had need of one whâ— hee came from Ethiopia to Ierusalem to worship And for a tempestuous season that l 1 King 14. 44 the raine stay not a charet is also requisite So in thy journey towards the Kingdome of Heaven to l the celestiall Ierusalem prayer is most requisite and necessarie as a charet to carie thee As Elijah m 2 King 2. 11 was taken vp to Heaven bodily in n Eccles 48. 9 a charet of firie Horses so thou spiritually by fervent prayer and holie meditation in thy soule will ascend vnto the Citie of the living LORD Sixtly As the sling o 1 Sam. 17.50 and stone were needfull to David to smite To Armour and overcome Goliah his enemie so is prayer needfull for thee that thou may resist p Iam. 4. 7 the Devill and hee will flee from thee It is the most excellent peace of the q Ephes 6. 13 whole Armour of GOD that thou may bee able to resist in the evill day seing it is both offensiue and defensiue for destruction of the adversarie and for thy owne preservation because it is grounded vpon the word of GOD which is the r Ephes 6. 17 sword of the spirit it is most offensiue and because it proceadeth from true faith it is a sheild Å¿ Ephes 6. 16 where-with thou may quench all the firie darts of the wicked it is most defensiue and so most necessarie and expâ—diâ—nt Seventhly As a key is needfull for To a doore opning of a shutdoorâ— so is prayer necessarie for the opning the shut doore of thine heart for opning of Å¿ Act. 14. 27 the doore of faith vnto thee and for opning t Coloss 4 3 the doore of vtterance vnto thee yea for opâ—ing of the Oâ—atio â—â—stâ— est clâ—â—â—s Coeli Auguâ—t doore of Heaven vnto thee that thou u Ephes 2. 18 may haue enterance vnto thine holy and Heavenly Father to remaine with him in eternall glory and â—elicitie Eightly In the meane tyme of To Samson his haire thy warfare and pilgrimage heâ—re vpon this earth as Sampsons consecrated x Iudg. 16. 17 haire was most needfull for him for victorie libertie safetie for his honour and dignitie while he did keepe his haire hee was victorious true sound and honourable but when he was shaven and wanted the haire of his consecration he became weake so was soone overcome hee was a bouâ—d slaue he was blinded he was by them disgraced and mocked Even so true prayer is as necâ—ssarie for thee for by it thou shall bee stroâ—g viâ—torious and more y Rom. â— 37 than a Conquerour thou shall bee frâ—e as a puissant King thou shall be safe and sound gâ—orious and honourable before GOD and all people Ninthlie If rayment be needfull To many necessare things to cloth thee if foode bee necessare to sustaine thee if water be requisite to wash thee if gold and pearle bee fit to adorne thee if thou haue neede of balme and salue to heale thee if thou haue neede of good companie to comfort and giue contentment vnto thee then fervent prayer is more necessare and requisiâ—e for thee for to the helpe thereof thou shall receiue spirituall foode even the bread y Iohn 6. 4 of life the body and blood of CHRIST that meate which endureth to eternall life thou shall get that white z Revel 3. 18 raiment of Christs righteousnesse to cloth thee that thy filthie nakednesse shall not bee seene thou shall get the water a Zach. 13. â— of the fountaine of David to purge thee from pollution and vncleannesse thou shall obtaine fine b Revel 3. 18 gold to enrich thee that ring x Luke 15. 22 and pearles to decore thee thou shall get good and sufficient salue healing balme better than the balme of Gilead to cure thee thou shall haue the companie of holy y Psal 54.7 Angels to keepe thee to comfort and content thee in all thy crosses and calamitie to carie z Luke 16. â—2 thy soule to Abrahams bosome and to everlasting felicitie 10. If naturall life be necessare so is prayer more necessare whereby Prayer is necessarie as life naturall life is prolonged and spirituall yea eternall lyâ—e is obtained Holy Daniel albeit he had determined a Dan. 1. 8 in his heart that hee would not defile himselfe with the portion of the Kings meate yet he was throughly resolved even with the perrill of his lyâ—e to pray to his GOD continually and openly No decree no statute no prohibition no punishment could deteine b Dan. 6.10 him from that holy duety but no commandement no exhortation no commoditie nor example can moue to send vp prayers to his glorious Majestie If thou pray GOD Almightie will keepe his promise assuredly And c Iohn 2. 25 this is his promise that he hath promised thee even that eternall lyfe Lastly If the holy Spirit without Prayer is necessarie for the holy Spirit the which none can d Iohn 3. 5 be borne againe and renued none can bee instructed none e Rom. 1. 5 sanctified
that riddle which hee did put foorth to the Philistimes but p Iudg 14. 17 told the same to the children of her people Lyke Fulvia a whoorish woman Salust bello Catilin who declared the secreets of her foolish lover Cneius a noble Roman he a dissolute and luxurious young man This conscience is as a thousand Consâ—ientia mille resteâ— witnesses to tell the trueth and veritie of all our proceedings and as Seneca saith O te miserum si contemnis hunc testem that thou art miserable if thou contemne this witnesse Moreover Sathan a malicious q Math. 4. 3 Tempter entysing thee to doe Sathan evill hee is a shamelesse and impudent r Revel 12.10 Accuser judicially and openly challenging thee laying thy cryme to thy charge to condemne thee hee who was not ashamed to accuse patient JOB an Å¿ Iob. 2. 10 vpright and just man that feaved GOD and eshewed evill as an hyrling or hypocrite will he not more boldly accuse others farre inferior in pietie in sobrietie and in righteousnesse who are t Iohn 9. 24 borne in sinne and conceived in wickednesse Some rulers and governours full of envy did accuse u Dan. 6. 24 Daniell wrongouslie where fore they were punished deservedly But Sathan more full x Revel 12. 12 of wrath and envy doth declare and accuse sinners more earnestlie as Tertullus an oratour â—ppeared against St. Paul y Act. 24. â— and accused him vehemently so the Devill a more deadly adversare will stand vp against a sinner seeking his perdition more carefully For that evill z Math. 13.19 one and envyous is most vnlike a certaine other famous oratour Demosthenes who being commanded by the people to accuse a certaine man hee refused so to doe and when the whole multitude did straitly vrge him he arose and said yee shall haue mee a counseller to you against your will but not a calumniator nor an accuser Sathan is not so but most promptly and readie ever willing for to charge and accuse the LORDS most faithfull and conscientious servants It is written of one Fimbria Cicero pro Roscio Amerino Stephanus a most impudent and audacious accuser who summond Scaevola to vnderly the law because hee did not receaue the whole weapon within his whole bodie albâ—it it may bee thought he was grievously wounded with the poynt thereof But the Devill that malicious deceaver much more bold and shamelesse who durst presume to accuse the blessed GOD to our first a Genes 3 Parents of envy and malice he will be most eager and intentiue to cast vp in thy teeth thy most secreet and filthie sinnes to challenge impudently thee for the same for thy conviction and condemnation Besides these the nature of sin declareth plainely that it cannot Of the nature of sinne be kept close and secreet perpetually For sinne is an evill b Math. 13. 25 seede or tares sowne by the enemie while men sleept it will not appeare at the first but afterward when the blade will spring vp sinne is a debt which for a season may be committed and conteined but at length will be devulgate and craved That c 2 King 4. 1 son of the Prophet in the dayes of Elisha by all during her lyfetyme tooke order with his creditors his debt was not so well knowne as afterwards it was when hee was dead then his burthen better appeared his wife then a widow was vexed by the helpe of the Prophet shee was releeved So this fearefull d Math. 6. 12 debt sâ—nne for a short season I say may bee cunningly obscured but afterwards will bee open and manifest Sinne 3. is a Tempestuous wind who can hide e Proverb 27 16. it it is like oyle in the right hand it vttereth her selfe Sinne 4. is thift or murther which may bee done and committed but will be punisht publickly and exemplarlie when f Hos 4. 2. by killing and stearing men breake out Sinne 5. is a fire which for a space may bee covered with ashes and shortly will kindle and burne violently and shall g Iob. 31. 12 devoure to destruction and shall roote out all encrease the smoake whereof will mount vp to HEAVEN as the smoake of Sodom which Abraham saw Sinne 6. is as an heavie sicknesse or secreet corruption for a tyme lurking but afterward will spreâ—d and h 2 Timoth. 2. 17. fret as a Cancer It is lastly like a treacherous enemie who at last will vtter his malice and crueltie albeit he appeared to bee thy compainion thy i Psal 55. â—3 21. guid and thy familiar his words softer than butter and more gentle than oyle yet these will proue swords to kill thee and to be mortall and malicious enemies to destroy thee And surely k Genes 4. â— Cains parricide and crueltie and l Hebr. 12. 18. Esawe his profainesse Pharaoh m Exod. 1. 10 his oppression Saras n 1 Sam. 15. 5 covetousnesse Hamans hautinesse Achitophels treason Iezabels atheisme Manasses sorcerie Iudas â—is thift Ananias hypocrisie Demas worldlinesse all shall bee in their owne time openly delated clearely detected evidently published and seveerely punished Finally other creatures will discover Many creatures doe vtter their sinnes secreet sinnes and be witnesses against the same whether they bee creatures that hath no sence or lyfe for the o Habb 211. stone shall cry out of the wall and the beame out of the timber shall answere it and crie for a curse and woe against iniquitie and Zophar speaketh most p Iob. 20.27 truely that the Heaven shall declare the wickednesse of the vngodly and that the earth shall rise vp against him the Heaven defiled the earth burdened and other senselesse creatures defiled polluted they q Rom. 8. 22. groane and travell together and they complaine of the inhabitants of this earth or whither they be living creatures without reason as Salomon saith that the r Eccles 10. 20. foule of the Heaven shall carie the voice of the curse against it and that which hath wings shall declare the matter albeit it bee but in thought in thy bedchalmber Thus the Crowes did detect the Ex Erasmo in Proverbiis Ibici grues secreet murther of the Poet Ibicus Also the Crowes brought to light the death of a certaine Ausonius Ibicus vt periit vindex suit altiâ—olans grus man who travelling was killed by Robbers these whom he did take for witnesses was the occasion of the manifestation of that murther and of the deserved punishment inflicted vpon these malefactors Likewise the swallowes did so molest and trouble one Bessus as Plutarch reporteth Plutarch that hee was compelled to confesse his most vnnaturall and abhominable parricide wherefore hee was worthily tortured The histories record that many Blondus Read the theater of Gods îudgements Ah miser siquis multum periuria celet Sera tamen tacitis pâ—na â—enit
lawes of regeneration in that l â—â—ch 13. 1 fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne and for vncleannesse Grant LORD that with indeavour and industrie I keepe my selfe pure and holy vnspotted m Iam 1. 27 of this wicked world that I may cast n Rom. 13. 12 away the workes of darknesse and so walke honestlie as in the day continually And seing O LORD like o â—sal 119.176 a Pray for conversion lost sheepe I haue gone astray and wandred farre out of that narrow way seeke thy servant and find mee turne me that I may turne convert p Ierem. 31.18 mee and I shall bee corverted turne mee O most mightie and mercifull GOD from the devill myne adversarie a q Iohn 8. 44 lyar and a murtherer who would deceaue mee and destroy mee to IESUS CHRIST my Saviour and r Ephes 5. 29 husband who will teach mee and glorifie Å¿ Psal 91. 15 mee turne me from t Coloss 3.13 darknesse to thy joyfull light from nature to grace turne mee from the broad u Math. 7. 13 way that leadeth to hell and damnation to the strait way which leadeth to Heaven and salvation turne mee from wickednesse to holynesse from wretchednesse to everlasting happines O my GOD draw x Cant. 1.3 mee after thee knit y Psal 86.11 and vnite my heart inseparablie with thy Majestie teach mee thy wayes to feare thine holy name continually to z Genes 17. 1 walke before thee and with thee consciensciously and be vpright in thy sight continually And for this effect O thou Al-sufficient GOD take a mercifull Pray for Gods good dealing with thine heart dealing with my faultie heart that the same which by nature sinne and Sathan hath locked with Lydias a Act. 16. 14 heart it may bee opened by thee who hath b Revel 3. 7 the key of David Grant that my narrow heart may bee c Isaiah 60. 5 enlarged to receaue within mee the LORD IESUS the King of glory O holy Heavenly Father soften e my hard and obdurâ—d heart with the oyle of grace with the precious blood of my Saviour d Iob. 23. 16 that it may receaue the impression of the image of CHRIST that I d 2 Cor. 3. 18 may bee changed into the same image from glory to glory Bow my stiffe e Ezech. 2 4 heart Encline it f Psal 119. 36 to thy testimonies and not to covetousnesse O LORD giue mee a wise and vnderstanding g 1 King 2. 9 heart that I may discerne betweene good and bad O LORD vouchsafe vpon mee an honest h Luke 8 15 and good heart that I may heare thy Word keepe it and bring foorth fruite with patience and O my GOD I most willingly giue i Prover 23 26 mine heart to thy Majestie requiring the same from mee beseeching thy goodnesse to take such full possession and governement of my heart that thou may k Rom. 9. 23 declare the riches of thy glory vpon mee a vessell of mercie that I may be most certainly perswaded a chosen l Act. â— 15 vessell appointed for honour and everlasting happinesse O my blessed Creator assure Pray for the grouth of all good mee that I am thine owne m 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandry Grant that I may bee as good n Math. 13. 8 ground to receaue the good seede of godlinesse and pietiâ— and to bring foorth fruite aboundantly that I may grow o 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour O LORD helpe p Mark 9. 24 my vnbeliefe and encrease my faith my loue patience zeale feare hope courage and all Christian vertues make my good â—orkes q Revel 2. 19 to be moe at the last than at the first O my most mercifull Fatherâ— Pray for the Lords presence Teach r Psal 27. 11 mee thy way and leade mee in a right path Forsake Å¿ Psal 38. 21 me not O LORD bee not far from mee my GOD Thou t Psal 27. 9 art my succour leaue mee not neither forsake mee O GOD of my salvation Though my father and my mother should forsake mee yet thou O LORD will gather mee vp Though u Psal 38. 10 the Light of mine eyes bee not myne owne my sight will faile mee my senses will departe from mee my soule will be separate from my body yet abide thou with mee continually O gracious GOD I most humbly intreate thy Majestie giue mee x Rom. 1. 24 not vp to my hearts lusts nor vile affections for that I will bee but a lost creature and of all most wretched and miserable But O LORD of thy vnspeakable Pray for God his blessing kindnesse and endlesse mercie vouchsafe thy Heavenly and spirituall blessings vpon mee O GOD blesse mee with the blessing of election that thou mayest chuse mee y Psal 65. 4 and cause mee to come to thee that I may be satisfied with the pleasures of thine holy Temple Blesse mee with the blessing of effectuall vocation that thou mayest call mee inwardly and powerfully to thee that I may answere and obey thy blessed calling and say heere z Genes 22 â— am I readie to doe thine holy will Blesse mee O LORD with the blessing of true sanctification that I may bee holy a Levit. 11. 24 as thou my GOD is most holy that I may keepe b Isaiah 56. 2 judgement and doe justice and restraine my hand from doing any evill Blesse mee with the blessing of spirituall joy and consolation that I may ever rejoyce c Psal 40. 4 in thee my LORD and walke in the light of thy countenance Blesse mee O my GOD with a setled purpose and resolution to serue thee continually that I may determine d Psal 119. 57 to keepe thy Words constantly Blesse mee with the blessing of true repentance through all my lyfe that I may e Revel 20. 6 haue parte in the first resurrection that the second death haue no power to hurt me Blesse mee with an happie end that I may die f Revel 14. 13 in the LORD and receaue the blessing of glory and inherite g Math. 25.34 the Kingdome prepared from all eternity As also O LORD I most humbly beseech thy goodnesse to blesse me with thine owne selfe to bee h Psal 16. 5 my lot and portion to bee the GOD i Psal 27. 9 of my salvation For whom k Psal 73. 25 haue I in Heaven but thee and I haue desired none in earth with thee Grant O gratious GOD that as l Psalm 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so my soule may pant after thee the living GOD vntill thou come to be favourable vnto me Blesse mee with CHRIST IESUS that he may be my m Heb. 7. 2 King governing mee my n Math. 1. 21
Saviour saving me my high o Heb. 10. 21 Preist reconciling me my p Math. 13. 10 Prophet and Master instructing mee my q Iohn 11. 52 Pastor nourishing me that he may bee my wisedome r 1 Cor. 1. 30 righteousnesse sanctification and redemption mine Å¿ Philip 1. 21 advantage in lyfe and death that hee may bee All in all vnto mee Blesse mee with thine holy Spirit to bee t Iohn 14. 26 comforter rememberer my u Rom. 1. 4 sanctifier and directer Grant O LORD that I may labour most earnestly to â—ntertaine that good Spirit most carefully conscâ—entioâ—â—ly and continually Blesse me O LORD with earthlie Pray for temporary benefites benefites also according as thy wisdome shall think necessarie for mee I aske them for thy glory for the good of thy Church for my owne necessitie Let mee not want these giftes without the which I cannot well serve but bee so beneficiall to mee that I may bee rather helpfull and comfortable than chargeable to others But grant O Lord that I maye first y Math. 6. 33 seek the kingdome of Heaven and the righteousnesse thereof and then other thinges needefull shall bee ministred vnto mee O LORD teach mee to z Psal 90. 12 number Pray for the best things my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisedome teach mee to a Ephes 5. 15 redeeme the time which I haue foolishly and miserablie lost giue mee grace to be have my selfe as a b 1 Pet. 2. 11 pilgrime a stranger as a sojourner in this earth abstaining from those filthy lusts that fight against the Soule c Titus 2. 12 denying vngodlinesse Grant that I maye liue soberly quietly and godly d Rom. 12. 1 offering vp soule and body an holie living and acceptable sacrifice to thy Majestie LORD let me not fashion my selfe like vnto this world which will surely and suddainlie perish but grant that I may bee changed by renueing of my mind that I may proue and doe thy holy good-will which is perfite and acceptable that I may walke e Ephes 4. 1 worthy of that heavenly vocation wherevnto I am called O Lord giue mee the gift of perseverance that I maye persevere vnto the end that I may be f Math. 24. 13 saved LORD grant that I may be faithfull g Revel 2. 10 vnto the death that I may get the Crowne of lyfe Let h Psal 19. 14 the words of my mouth and the meditation of mine heart bee acceptabe to thee O LORD my strength and my Redeâ—mer Let my life and death bee pretious in thy fight and receaue me in thy rest that I may inherite eternall glorie and endlesse felicitie with thee in thine Heavenly Kingdome to remaine and reigne with thee for ever and ever So bee it even so bee it A DESCRIPTION OF TRVE PRAYER The seventh Chapter THus after the confession of our sinnes after bitter lamentation for the â—ame and earnest petition let vs come to a plaine description of prayer which may bee in this manner Prayer is a principall part A description of true prayer of GODS service wherein a true Christian leaving the earth in his heart and affections ascending into Heaven in his mind approaching vnto the throne of grace presenting him selfe before the glorious GOD hee conferreth and speaketh familiarly with his CREATOR hee offereth a spirituall sacrifice vnto his Majestie he wrestleth with the Omnipotent he giveth a comfortable victorie hee becommeth the a 1 Cor. 3. 16 Temple of GOD the holy Spirit dwelling in him and obtaineth every b Iam. 1. 17 good gift that is necessarie for him In the forsaid description I say Three reasons wherfore prayer is the principall part of Gods service that Prayer is a principall part of GODS service for three reasons first because vnder the name of invocation all the LORDS worship is comprehended as is written in the booke of Genesis Then c Genes 4. 26 began men to call vpon the name of the LORD that is at that tyme the Church began to The 1. reason bee manifest and to exercise the the LORDS publicke worshippe Againe it is said that in Canaan Abraham d Genes 12. 8 called vpon the name of the LORD that is hee served GOD openly and wholly altogether as the LORD appointed by faith obedience prayer and thankfulnesse Contrariely the heathen rebels reprobats atheists vpon whom GOD e Psal 79.6 will powre out his wrath are thus marked that they f Psal 79.7 haue not called vpon the name of the LORD that is they prayed not vnto GOD. Againe the Prophet complaineth that there g Isaiah 64. 7 is none that calleth vpon the name of the LORD as if hee should say there is none that worshippeth thee rightly so it is most manifest that whosoever doe pray truely hee then serveth his Majestie also who neglecteâ—h this duetie is a rebell to the GOD of glory Secondly by reason that prayer The second reason wherefore prayer is the principall part of Gods service is most honorable to GOD seing the supplicant doth ascribe most justly all his holy and true attribute to his Majestie acknowledging the same in all sinceritie let mee remember six of them briefly namely GODS omnipresence omniscience and his omnipotencie also his rememberance his goodnesse and his fidelitie The petitioner honoureth GOD as present every-where with his The true petitioner honoureth GOD as omnipresent owne in h Psal 91. 15 trouble chiefly and more to bee magnified than all mortall and miserable men for Abraham was not ever present with his beloved wife Sarah when shee was i Genes 12.14 taken to Pharaohs house and when Abimelech k Genes 20. 2 sent and tooke her Neither was Iaakob ever present with his owne sonne Ioseph when he was cast l Genes 37.20 in a pit and and after sold to the Ishmaelites Neither was David ever present with Abner but being out of his sight Ioab m 2 Sam. 3. 2 killed him Neither was St. Paul a teacher ever present with the Galatians for after his departure they o Galat. 1.6 were soone removed away vnto an other Gospell they were seduced and bewitched o Galat. 3. 1 that they did not obey the trueth But this is the glory of our GOD vpon whom wee depend and vnto whom wee pray that he is our husband who will marrie p Hosea 2. 19 vs for ever hee will never be absent from vs but at all occasions in every place present with vs so that wee shall not be defiled by the foule aâ—d q Zach. 13. 2 vncleane spirit and be vnspotted r Iam. 1. 27 in this filthy world That GOD is our Å¿ Math. 23. 9 Father to keepe vs continually that wee perish not in the t Iob 33. 24 pit of sin and damnation that hee is our everlasting King to delyver u Luke 1.
74 vs out of the hands of all our enemies who would destroy vs that hee is our instructor who x Revel 1. 18 liveth for evermore who y Math. 28. 20 is with his owne alwayes vntill the end of the world so teaching them that they shall never bee finally forsaken deceaved nor destroyed Secondly By praying thou acknowledgest that the LORD The petitioner honoureth the Lords omniscience searcheth z Ierem. 17.10 the heart and tryeth the râ—ines that GOD a Psal 139. 2 vnderstandeth thy thoughts a farre off that all b Heb. 4. 13 creatures are manifest in his sight that all things are naked and open in his eyes with whom thou hast to doe Albeit Ioshua knew not the distresse of the c Ios 10. 6 Gibâ—onites vntill hee was advertised and that great Prophet knew not the griefe and vexation of the d 2 King 4.27 Shunnamite vntill it was vttered neither did the Apostles themselues know of of the death of e Iohn 11. 13 Lazarus vntill they were informed GOD who filleth f Ierem. 23.24 the Heaven and earth in prayer is glorified that hee throughly easily and exactly knoweth all secreets both in Heaven and earth that he perfectly knoweth the distresse danger trouble and all the calamities of his Church Thirdly Who calleth vpon the In prayer God is praised as Omnipotent LORD honoureth his Majestie as Omnipotent protesting that hee doâ—th g Psal 115. 3 whatsoever hee will that hee who delyvered David h Psal 69. 2 out of the deepe myre From i Psal 18. 4 the snares of death and from the cords of the graue That hee who presâ—rved these three young men in the k Dan. 3. â—6 firie fornace and his Daniel l Dan. 6. 22 in the den of lyons and also brought m Ionas 2. 10 Ionas from the sea out of the fish belly and Peter n Act. 1â— 7 from the prison will also in his Almightie power delyver his owne from all perills and desperate danger and glorifie them with his salvation for ever Fourthly The pious petitioner In prayer God is praiâ—ed for his rememberance will in this service praise GOD for his holy o Psal 97. 12 rememberance and that his Maker will never bee vnmindfull of him although men may forget as the butler p Genes 40.23 Ioseph as the Sechemits q Iudg 9.17 Gideon and as Ashuerus r Esther 2. 22 forgot Mordâ—cai who deserved well of him by discovery of a dangerous treason yet albeit a man doth forget himselfe in the night tyme while hee is sleeping yet the LORD will nâ—ver forget his owne servants but will ever bee mindfull of them to doe good vnto them continually Fiâ—thly by praying thou will acknowledge The petitioner acknowledgeeth Gods good nesse the riches q Rom. 2.4 of the Lords bountifulnesse thou will honour his great r Nehem. 9.25 goodnesse and will also Å¿ Psal 138. 2 praise his Name because of his loving kindnesse thou will magnifie his t Psalm 36.7 excellent and manifold mâ—rcies and compassions because with him is favour and plentifull redemption Psal 130. 7 Sixthly by praying thou believest in thy LORD and honourest God his sidelitie is praised in praâ—er him as most constant true and faithfull that hee u Psalm 146.6 keepeth his fidelitie for ever If God gaue goodes and performed his promise to profane Esau whom hee x Rom. 9. 13 hated the y Genes 27.39 fatnesse of the earth was promised to him hee afterward is increased in z Genes 36.7 riches his substance is great and his succession ample much rather may the chosen and elect be assured of the performance of all his promises for most surely no a Iosh 23. 14 thing shall saile of all the good thinges which the Lord promiseth but all shall come to passe Thirdly Prayer is a principall Prayer is most profitable part of Gods service seeing it is most profitable to the supplicant 1. thou shall get b Psal 91. 15 deliverie from all evill thou shall bee c Math. 1. 21 saved from all thy sinnes 2. thou shall get plentie of all good and if thou d Deut. 28. 47 servest not GOD with joyfulnesse with a good heart in the aboundance of all things therefore it is just with GOD to giue thee to thine enemie to serâ—â— him in hunger and thirst in nakednesse and in neede of all thinges 3. Thou shall get a perpetuaâ—l blessing for if Salomons e 1 King 10. â— seruants who stoode before him were happie doubtlesse the servants of God with whom is fulnesse of selicitie shall be more blessed and happie 4. Yea thou shall receiue the holy f Luke 11. 13 Ghost if thou desire him if thou seeke him to teach sanctifie and guide thee for ever 5. Thou shall receiue a Kingdome which shall never bee shaken thou shall bee made partaker g Luke 12. 32 of the godlie nature Christ shall bee thy head thou shall bee h 2 Pet. 1. 4 flesh of his flesh of his bones a member i Ephes 5. 39 of his body conjoyned with him for ever But because wee will Godwilling afterward speak more of the profite of prayer in the tenth chap. following wee continue the discourse thereof for the present let vs considder some necessarie conclusions clearely aâ—ysing from the description 1. It is then evident that it is a great sinne to neglect prayer 2. Then it will bring a great punishment 3. That it is good to pray 4. Of the difficultie of prayer of these in order FINIS A GREAT SINNE NOT TO PRAY The eight Chapter WHoever thou be of whatsoever estate sexe or degree that dost not pray nor call a Psal 53. 4 vpon GOD thou art miserable and wretched b Prover 1. 27 thy destruction shall come like a whirlewind affliction and anguish shall come vpon thee sâ—ddainlie and most certainlie Thy miserie is great in regard of thy great sinne and grievous punishment thou vnhappie wretch who will not seeke the Lord while Isaiah 55. 6 hee may bee found nor call vpon him while hee is neere thou art guiltie of most manifest and hainous sinne d Rom. 6. â—â— the wages whereof is death the end whereof is doolfull damnation and I beseech thee to consider heereof with earnest and continuall meditation Thou sinnest I tell thee fearfully because thou neglectest and omittest the performance of duetie which is frequently prescribed Thou giveth a refusall to GOD of that gift which most ioyfully thou should giue thou reiectest and castest off the LORD who most willinglie should bee received thou despisest the Almighty who most principally should bee honoured thou art not onlie an alianâ— e Ephes 2. 12 from the commonwealth of Israell and a stranger from the covenants of promise but also thou art a meere Atheist without Christ without GOD in
hands vpon one who was dease and stammered in his speach but CHRIST did more hee did put his finger in his eares and did spit and touched his tongue and looking vp to Heaven hee sighed and said vnto him EPHâ—HATHâ— that is bee opened Some Ieves came to CHRIST for bodily nourishment because they z Iohn 6. 26 ate of the loaâ—es and were filled but â—ESUS bestâ—wed on them more even spirituall refreshment for their soules and offred them meate thâ—â— endureth for ever vnto everlasting life And thus it is most sure and certaine that GOD will vouchsafe more good vpon his Saâ—â—cts than they will require or aske of his blessed Majestie for as much as bountifulnesse and laâ—ge liberality is naturall and essentiall to his high honour and great glory Hee a Zeph. 3. 17 will quiet himselfe and rest in his loue He delighteth to doe good abundantly in all plentie and statelie royaltie We reade that when Perillus one of Alexanders friends asked him dowrie to his daughters the King commanded him to take fiftie talents Perillus answering that ten talents would be sufficient the King replyed Tibi quidem satis est tantum accipere mihi vâ—â—o non satis Seneca alâ—i plerique est tantum dare it is indeede sufficient to thee to recâ—aue so much but so much is not sufficient to mee to giue that King had a respect to his honâ—ur and not to the mans deservings Thy great and immortaâ—l King who â—aveth vnto thee Open b Psalm 81.11 thy mouth wide and I shall fâ—ll itâ— in giving he regardeth more his owne glorie and greatâ—â—sse than thy merits and worthinâ—ssâ— For c Isaiah 48 9 his names sake hee deferreth his wrath and for his praise will he refraine from it The LORD led d Isaiah 62.14 his people with his owne glorious arme divyding the waters before them to make himselfe an everlasting and glorious name Hee e Ezech. 20.44 will haue a respect vnto vs for his owne Names sake Hee will bee beneficiall vnto vs and not after our wicked wayes nor according to our corrupt workes GOD will giue to his owne a new heart and a new spirit he will put within them hee will gather them out of all countries and bring them to their land But thus f Ezech. 36.22 saith the LORD GOD. I doe not this for your sakes O house of Israelâ— but for my holie Names sake And surely in thy conscience thou may be fully perswaded and firmelie assured that thy most gratious GOD will g Dan. 9. 18 encline his eares to heare thy prayers that he will yeelde to thy desires and satiâ—â—ie thy requestes for three causes first because h Iohn 2. 1 thou hast an Advocate with thy Father CHRIST IESVS the just his i Math. 3. 17 beloved Sonne in whom hee is well pleased who k Hebr. 9. 24 appeareth now in the sight of GOD to make request and intercession for thee seing l Heb. 7. 25 he ever liveth hee is able perfectly to saue thee and to bring thee honour and felicirie Albeit Constâ—ntine the most worthie Emperor by his great moyen Theodoret. lib 1 cap. 24 Euseb â—â—b 4 and letters of recommendation made intercession for the Saints who were grâ—evouslie afflicted and by barbarous crueltie persecuted in the Kingdome of Persia when he did pleade the cause of innocent Christians who in great number were tortured vnto death and intreated their King Sapores to deale mercifullie to embrace them kindly it is yet vncertaine if the intercession of Constantine prevailed any thing or if any mitigation of that horrible persâ—cution was granted seing we reade that in Constantius his sonnes dayes vnder that same Barbarian it endured yet this is most sure and certaine that CHRISTS intercession will ever prevaile and bee effectuall seing m Isaiah 42. 1 in him GODS soule delighteth and whatsoever hee willeth GOD worketh whatsoeveâ— hee n Psal 2. 8 asketh GOD giveth and he will never gâ—t a refusall If his Father who loved o Iohn 17. 24 him before the fundation of the world vnto p Math. 28. â—8 whom is given all power in Heaven and in Earth who q Ephes 4. 8 ascended vp in high who led captivitie captiue and gaue gifts vnto men The second cause of thy sure certification that GOD will grant thy supplication is this For r Rom. 8. 26 that the spirit also helpeth thine infirmities for thou knowest not what to pray as thou oughtest but the spirit it selfe maketh request for thee with sighes which can not be expressed according to the will of GOD and hee that searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines knoweth 27. the meaning of the spirit and because thou art f Galat. 4. 6 the sonne of adoption GOD hath sent foorth the spirit of the Sonne in thine heart which cryeth Abba father who is as a learned man testifieth Hilarius Advocatus nobiscum perpetuâ— manens an Advocate for ever abyding with vs and as the t Iohn 3. 8 wind bloweth where it listeth so the SPIRIT effecteth whatsoever he requireth A third cause of thy vndoubted assurance that the Almightie will yeelde vnto thy petition is this albeit himselfe be the most worthie and mightie partie offended yet hee first seeketh thee yea by his u 2 Cor. 5. 20 ambassadours beseecheth thee to be reconciled with his Majestie As x Psal 103. 13 a father hath compassion on his children so the LORD hath compassion on them that feare him As the most gratious GOD is of vnspeakeable loue of great pittie and ardent affection so hee is omnipotent whose y Dan. 7. 14 Kingdome shall never bee destroyed who hath an everlasting dominion That mightie monarch Alexander gaue commandement to his Thesaurer for to bestow vpon Anaxarchas a Philosopher whatsoever hee should require who asked a verie great sowme which the Thesaurer hearing and beeing troubled declared the same to Alexander who thus answered Plutarch in apophtheg Recte facit sciens se habere amieum qui tantum dare possit velit Hee doeth well knowing hee hath a friend who both will and may giue so much As GOD is our friend so hee calleth vs his friends not only as Abraham z Isaiah 4â— â— GODS friends but also as his a Iohn â— 39 children which doe his workes The LORD as hee is good so is he great and aboue all GODS whatsoever pleaseth b Psal 135. 5 the LORD hee may doe in the Heaven in the earth in the sea and in all the depths the Omnipotent may giue what hee pleaseth no creature whatsoever may doe soe for the devill hee lyed and spake vntrueth when hee said all c Luk. 4.6 power and glorie of the earth was delivered to him and that hee may giue it to whom-so-ever hee will No man nor potentate in this Plinius lib. 7 cap. 2 Cicâ—ro Tuscul quaest lib 5.
compassion strong and mightâ—e they being principalites and powers and worldly governours Briefly By the helpe of prayer thou will behaue thy selfe discreetly and wisely towards all thou will comfort b Thess 5. 14 the feeble minded beare with the weake If c Galat. 6. 1 any bee fallen into any fault or distres thou who art spirituall will restore such a one with the spirit of meeknesse considering thy selfe lest thou also bee tempted Lastly When thou prostrates and presents thy selfe before GOD Regia â—rede mihi râ—s est succcurrere lapsis and ferventlie dost incall vpon his blessed Name thou may bee perswaded in thy owne conscience that thou art a pious a devote Priest vnto GOD and that the LORD will furnish thee with these gifts and graces needfull for the discharge of so holy a function First With saving wisedome and knowledge and c 2 Pet. 3. 18 so thou will both grow in this knowledge and thy lippes shall preserve the same thou shall d Mal. 2. 7 bee a teacher in Israel and a e Iohn 2. 10 strengthner of thy brethren Without this knowledge a man is not teachable as a swallow which as the naturalistes writâ—th is indocill and cannot be brought to learne hee is blind and without Plin Nat. hist lib. 19. cap 32 Sacerdos sâ—ne literis tauquâ— navis absque vâ—lis eyes like the seawinkle hee is vnprofitable like a ship without sailes he is beastly more brutish than the f Isa 1. 3 oxe than the asse knowing his owner and masters cryb hee is wretched and miserable as a g Isa 27. 11 people of no vnderstanding hee that made them shall haue no compassion on them and he that formed them shall haue no mercie on them Secondly With this gift of prayer praying continually thou shall not pray for thy selfe only but also for others This did Moses h Exod â— 2 who stood before the LORD in the gape Thus did Samuel saying i 1 Sam. 12. â—â— GOD forbidde that I should sinne against the LORD in not praying for you So did David for the people and CHRIST made this his speciall duetie k Iohn 17. 20 praying for all beleâ—vers This giâ—t of prayer is the key of Heaven if prayer ascend GODS mercie will descend vnto thee Thirdly By praying as the LORDS Priest thou shall l 1 Pet. 3. 9 loue blessing and hate cursing thou will not render evill for evill neither rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise blâ—sse knowing that thou art therevnto called that thou shuld bee the heire of blessing thou will blesse GOD and his Saincts not in wordes only but also in works Noli gloriari as an Ancient â—elleth si lingua benedicas vita meritis maledicas Rejoyce not August if in thy words thou blesse and in thy life and conversation curse but if thou loue blessing thou shall be n Galat. 3. 9 blessed with faithfull Abraham Fourthy By prayer thou shall entertaine the holy Spirit as the Levâ—ticall Priests vnder the law behoved to o Leuâ—t 6. 13 keepe the fire ever burning upon the Altar and never let â—t goe foorth but feade it carefully and continuaily So preserâ—e thou the fire of GODS grace vpon the Altar of thy heart and bee thou most watchfull and solicitous that thou never p 1 Thess 5. 19 quench the Spirit Lastly Thou will bee heartly content to haue the LORD thy portion and habitation For q Deut. 10. 19 as the Levits had no portion in the land of Canaan but dwelt in tents and r Psal 119. 57 the LORD was their portion So thou being a Priest to GOD and praying duetifully to his Majestie thou will not seeke so much to haue any inheritance vpon this â—arâ—h as to desire Å¿ Psal 16. 6 that faire heritage in Heaven where thou shall haue food and raiment Thou will be content knowing thou brought nothing t 1 Tim. 6. 7 into this world and it is certaine thou can carie nothing out of it and during the short tyme of thy momentaniall life thou will abide in CHRIST and bring soorth much fruite and then u Iohn 15. 7 aske what thou will and it shall be given to thee for GODS glory and thy eternall felicitie Wee will speake more God-willing of the good which is gotten by earnest prayer when wee shall declare the vtilitie efficacie necâ—ssitie and effects thereof but first of the difficultie of this divine exercise of prayer OF THE DIFFICVLTIE OF PRAYER The eleventh Chapter SVch is the a Revel 2. 15 depth of the deceite of the Devill a lyar from the beginning who can transforme himself into an angell of light that most frequently and lamentably hee deludeth and deceaveth an infinite number of people of all sortes in making them to dâ—â—me yea rather to dreame that that service which is most painefull wâ—ightie laborious of greatest importance and difficultie to bee most light easie of small effect and greatest facilitie as the worke of faith of repentance and prayer But bee not decâ—aved by the illusions of thy false enemie giue great diligence for â—shewing and espying his craft and machinations For all they to whom the secreets of the LORD is revealed who haue their eyes in their heads who haue their hearts at their right hands who haue their witnesse in Heaven who are prudâ—nt in spirit they know full well by proofe of experience they will acknowledge with sorrow and heavie displeasure that it is a most hard and difficult thing to pray arightly and to caâ—l vpon GOD in spirit and veritie This vnknowne difficultie will appeare more cleare and evident to all in a fourefold respect or consideration first in respect oâ— the verie aâ—t of prayer it selfe secondly in regard of the parts of prayâ—r thirdly in respect of all those gâ—aces which of necessiâ—ie must â—â—ncurre to adorne the true supplicant Lastly by considering of these manifold impediments that are multiplyed for the hindering of such a profitable and godlie exercise First then in the aâ—t of prayer it is most certaine thou shall surely find sundrie if thou pray aâ—â—ghtly dâ—ffiâ—ile and laborious workes let vs consider of some of them In true and acceptable prayer the first worke is a departure from the world or a separation of our hearts from this earth The second is the ascension of our mynd to Heaven the third worke in prayer is an approaching to GOD and a presenting of our â—elues be fore his glorious and sacred Majestie the fourth is a speaking and conference with the most high holy and wise GOD the fift an offering or oblation to GOD the possessor of Heaven and earth who is of greatest perfection and sufficiencie The sixt an combate or wrestling with the Almighty The seventh a prevailing or an obtaining of the victorie The last a building of a temple to GOD all these are workes of turmoile and difficultie The world is like Egypt b
not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto beastes Surely thou must fight against Lyons cruell men like Nero against foxes craftie men like Herod against bulles strong men as that Egyptian whom Benaiah slew a man of great stature and strength and against l â— Sam. 23.21 dogs shamelesse and impudent men like Doeg yea against subtile serpents false flattering and betraying men as Ahitophell This is an hard matter but also honourable for as faith an holy Father Milites suos CHRISTVS August reges appellat CHRIST calleth his souldiers Kings and will giue to them an everlasting Kingdome But if thou say I find worldlings to bee my friends and not my foes I hope to get good and favour by them I answere The In Carrinensi Hispaniae agro â—ons est aurei coloris omnes ostendens pisces nihil extra illam aquaÌ„ à caeteris differentes Plinius natur hist lib. 2. cap. 103 wicked of the world are like the fish of that river which is in the countrey Carrinensus in Spaine they appeare to be like gold in the water but taking them in thy hand thou will perceaue them neither in nature or colour to be any wayes discrepant from other fifties So the vngodly will seeme not to fight against thee but to favour thee not hurtfull but profitable to thee yet looke to them narrowly and bring them to the touch of trueth and veritie thou shall confesse all is not gold that glistereth thou shall trie at length that they are false friends ever hurting thee and fighting against thee Yet if thou affirme I haue sensible proofâ— of the contrarie that I smell and taste sweenesse in them I answere that this world is like a Paâ—ther that carrieth with him a sweete sent but an vgly face â—linâ—natur hist lib. â— cap. 17 the one entycing beastes to sollow him the other affrighting them from him therefore craftilie hee hides his head till assuredly the prey bee in his power to destroy the same So this world will show foorth a faire colour and giue a pleasant tast and smell at the beginning and allureth many to follow to embrace the same but it hideth the end thereof which is deceaving and destroying for the whole m Iohn 5. 1â— world lyeth in wickednesse and therefore fighteth against vs to bring vs to death and wretchednesse vnlesse wee bee helped by IESUS CHRIST who sayeth to his diâ—ciples Be n Iohn 16. 22 of good comfort I haue overcome the world Secondly How hard is it to fight against thine owne filthy and faultie flesh thy corruptions sinnes and terrible transgressions these are the o Exod. 17. 8 Amalekits hindring thee in the way to Heavenly Canaan These p 1 Sam. 11. 1 are the Ammonits besciging thee who will agree with thee vpon no other condition but to thrust out thy right eye to bring shame and paine vpon thee These are the Cananits q Iosh 23. 13 a snare and destruction vnto thee a whippe to thy side and a thorne in thine eyes These are like the governours of r 1 Sam 23. 12 Keilah traitours to David readie to betray thee and to delyverthee to the devill thine enemiâ— These thy sinnes are as the Å¿ Rev. 9.7.8.10 locusts like horses prepared for the battell they promise honour and victorie but will giue shame and miserie for they haue on their heads as it were crownes like vnto gold they promise friendshippe and favour their faces beeing like vnto men they promise profite and pleasure for they haue haire as the haire of women but yet bee not deceived looke and consider their teeth and their tailes their teeth are as the teeth of lyons to devoure thee their tailes are like a Scorpions to sting thee and to annoy thee Thou must striue against them at all times but chiefly at prayer for then they will striue to separate t Isaiah 59. 2 you betweene you and your GOD to blind-solde thee to cast thee into the pit of eternall perdition Thirdly as when u Zech. 2. 1 Iehoshua stood before the Angell of the LORD Satan stood at his right hand to resist him so when the devoute Christian shall x Psal 42. 2 come and appeare in the presence of GOD the devill wiâ—l drawe neere to molest and fight against him But it was more easie for young David y 1 Sam. 17. 3â— to overcâ—me Goliah albeit others as Saul said hee was not able who was but young to goe against a strong man of warre than it is to a Christian by himselfe to foyle Satan and put him to flight who never ceaseth sed Gregori lib. 18 moral viventem accendit ad vitia morientem trabit ad tormenta while one liveth hee stirreth him to vice when hee dieth hee draweth him to torment Fourthly which without doubt is yet more difficiâ—e in prayer thou must wrestle with GOD himselfe as did z Gen. 32. 24 Israel so must all true Israelites thou must a Hos 12. 4 haue power over the Angell by weeping and praying Now consider I beseech thee if there be betweene such parties any appearance of equalitie What is maâ— fraile flesh a b Isaiah 41. 14 weake wâ—rme a c Nehem 13 17 sillie grassehopper a fading flowre a decaying dreame d Psal 90. 5 grasse from â—ithering dry stubble light e Psal 1. 4 chaffe which the wind driveth away Againe â—he other partie is GOD Almighâ—ie who f Amos 5. 9. 6 buildeth his spheres in the Heavens and hath laid the foundations of his globe of elements in the earth whose g Psal 29.47.8 voice is mightiâ— and glorious that divideth the slammes of fire and maketh the wildernesse to tremble the h Iob 29. 11 pillars of Heaven quake at his reproofe i Iob. 9. 7 the Sea by his power is made calme and hee smiteth the pride thereof yea hee commandeth the Sunne and it riseth hee closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet Behold all k Isa 40. 15 nations before him are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the dust of ballance they are as nothing and they esteemed of him lâ—sse than nothing even vanitie â—et thou who art so filthy aâ—d weaâ—e by nature must striue and wrestle with the Almightie by l Heb. 5. 7 prayer and supplication by strong crying and teares and so only thâ—u must fight while thou get the viâ—torie and prevâ—ile with thâ— Crâ—ator and m Rom. 8. 37 in all these things thou will bee more than a conquâ—rour through him who loveth thee so plentifully freely and continuallie But seventhly thou shall finde it most painfull and laborious to gaine such a notable and comfortable victorie for nothwithstanding of all thy travailes and turmoyle GOD n 1 Cor. 15.57 himselfe must giue the victorie through Iesus Christ thou must o Iohn 5.4 bee borne of GOD if thou purchase victorie to overcome the world and
innumerable and vnspeakable This strength may bee knowne in some maner by these comparisons of wyne of an horne and of the word First Wine is of great force it a Iob. 32. 19 will make new bottles to burst â—rayer strong as wine it b Psal 104. 15 maketh glad the heart of man Wine hath a purging c Luke 10. â—4 and healing power to cleanse and cure filthie wounds This was the sentence of the wise man How d 1 Esdr 3. 18 strong is wine it turneth every thought into joy and gladnesse so that one remembereth no maner of sorrow nor debt It hath also as experience proveth a refreshing power which causeth one e Isaiah 55. 1 that thirsteth to buy it But prayer is of farre greater strength it will breake f Psal 107. 14 bandes a-sunder it will bring an g Act. 16. 26 earthquake and make the fundation of a heavie house to shake Prayer will bring gladnesse and comfort to h 1 Sam. 1. 1â— Hannah when her husband can not comfort her she pouring out her soule before the LORD looked no more sad but exceedingly rejoyced It hath a purging and curing power to heale all the wounds and i Psal 103. 3 infirmities of the soule it will not only bring to thee forgetfulnesse but also forgivenesse of debt which is true blessednesse for Blessed k Psal 32. 1 is he whose wickednesse is forgiven and whose sinne is covered it will bring refreshment to thy thirstie and â—orrowfull soule to thy great joy and everlasting contentment Secondly Prayer â—ay be compared to an horne as the royall Prayer compared to an horn Prophet prayed so hee protested saying Thou l Psal 92. 10 shall exalt mine horne like the Vnicornes Naturalists write of the Vnicornes horne that it hath three properties Reade B. Couper of Gallâ—way vpon the fift chapt of the Revelation 1. That of all others it is the most strong firme and solide 2 That it is most beautifull and pleasant 3 That it is most profitable as being a soueraigâ—e preservatiue against all poyson So prayer will procure to the inward strength and true fortitude that thou shall m Ephes 6.11 bee able to stand against the assaults of the Devill thou shall overcome the world aâ—d prevaile against thy enemie and subdue sin and all thy iniquities so it will bring beautie to thee that thou shall bee verie pleasant and n Câ—â—tic 4. 1 faire and o Psal 45. 13 all glorious o Psal 45. 13 within and it will bring vnspeakable profite to thee as hath beene declared to thee alreadie Thirdly As the word of GOD Prayer is powerfull as the Word is of admirable force and power So is fervent prayer grounded vpon the Word verie operatiue and powerfull The Word of the LORD is like a p Ier. 23. 29 fire which burneth and like an hammer which breaketh the stone The q Heb. 4. 1â— Word of GOD is liuely and mightie in operation and sharper than a two edged sword and entereth thorow even to the dividing a-sunder of the soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart So prayer is forcible as a fire to burne and consume away the drosse of thy sinne it is powerfull to breake and bruise thy r Ezech. 11.19 stonie hard heart It is like a sword wherewith with CHRIST thou shall prevaile against thy enemies as the sword Å¿ Iud. 7. 20 of GIDEON was powerfull to destroy the Midianits and to preserue himselfe and the â—sraelites so is prayer verie powerfull for thy preservation for thy adversaries destruction Wee reade that in the Battell at Pydâ—a Mar. Cato Sonne to Read the consent of â—me great Cato fighting valiently hee lossed his sword that fell out of his hand suddenly amongst his enemies which hee tooke so griâ—vously that comming to his companions hee prayed them to helpe him that hee might recover his sword protesting hee thought it greater honour for him to die there Prâ—â—er is more to be regarded than a matrial sword and to losse his life than living to want his sword wherevpon a number of his faithfull friends assisting him by their courage and valour did so scatter the enemies that the sword of Cato was found againe to his great joy and contentment Now if that man made such an accoumpt of an earthly or materiall sword how should a Christian esteeme of prayer a Heavenly and spirituall weapon by the helpe and vertue thereof thou will attaine to honour happinesse and eternall salvation The great efficacie and strength The force of prayer in divers respects of prayer is most cleare and evident in regard of the effects thereof 1. In respect of creatures without sense or fealing the speedie Sunne t Iosh 10. 12 did stand still and stay his swift motion by the power of the prayer of Ioshua The swelling sea was u Exod. 14. 21 divided and made dry land by the cry of Moses The x Numb 16.31 ground claue a-sunder and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed vp Korah and his familie by the request of that same holy man y 1 Sam. 7. 10 a great thunder scattered and smote the Philistimes by the force of Samuel his supplication The raine z Iam. 5. 17 was restrained from the earth for three yeares and sixe months Then hee a 1 King 18.45 prayed againe and the Heavens gaue raine the earth broght foorth her fruite Secondly In respect of creatures without reason and vnderstanding Prayer prevailed against the teeth of b Deut 6 22 Lyons the sting of c Numb 21. 9 Serpents the venome of a d Act. 28. 5 Viper the multitude and swarmes e Exod. 8. 21 of flies frogs and lyce as may bee seene in the sacred storie Thirdly In respect of men whither cruell as Esau craftie as Achitophel hautie as Haman many as the f Isa 38. 36 host and armie of Senacherib Fourthly In respect of the most wicked spirit and powerfull which goeth g Math. 17. 21 not out of one but by prayer and fasting Fifthly In respect of good Angels when devout Cornelius h Act. 10. 30 prayed an holy Angell from Heaven was sent to him for his instruction direction and eternall salvation Sixthly In respect of the holy Ghost as when CHRIST i Luke 3. 21 did pray the Heaven was openâ—d and the holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a doue vpon him So when a Christian prayeth fervently the blessed Spirit will come vnto him inwardly will assist him comfortablie and direct him continually As when the faithfull Apostles were k Act. 3. 4 all with one accord in one place vndoubtedly praying to GOD they were all filled with the holy Ghost and were fitted for their publict charge and holie ministration So when the true Christian shall call
Kingdome and the power and the glory for ever Thou o Psal 135. 5 may know that GOD is great and that the LORD is aboue all gods Whatsoever pleased the LORD that did hee in Heaven and in Earth in the Sea and in all the depths 3. He is of greatest kindnesse and affection that GOD p Iohn â— 16 so lâ—ued thee that hee hath given his only begotten Sonne for thee that thou beleeving in Him shouldest not perish but haue life everlasting q Rom. 8. 32 Hee spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for thee to death that thou mightest liue an happie and everlasting life Fourthly GOD is of greatest pittie and commiseration As r Psal 102. 13 a father hath compassion on his children so hath the LORD compassion on them that feare him CHRIST himselfe not his Disciples Å¿ Math. 15.32 had compassion on the multitude remaining three dayes with him and he did giue foode to them Christ himselfe had t Luke 7. 13 compassion on the Widow of Naim and restored to life her dâ—ad â—onne If a Heathen man Xenocrates pittied and preâ—eruâ—d a birde a Aelian lib. 13 de varia Histor Sparrow persued that came flying to him much more will our blessed GOD pittie and preserue all who resort to him and call vpon his blessed Name Fifthly The LORD 〈◊〉 most true to performe aâ— hiâ—â—â—â—mises hee u Psal 146. 6 keepeth his fiâ—â—litâ—e for ever If x 1 King 1. 30 David did faithfullâ— keepe his promise to Bathâ—â—hâ—ba 〈…〉 bestowed a kingdom◠〈…〉 â—on Salomon much more 〈…〉 Oâ—nipotent and 〈…〉 GOD giâ—e y Luke 12. 32 vnto his little â—lâ—â—k◠〈◊〉 everlasting Kingdome Sixtly GOD haâ—h a z Mal. 3. 16 〈◊〉 of rememberance written 〈◊〉 him albeit a a Isa 49. 15 Woman would forâ—â—â— her child which indeedâ— is 〈◊〉 â—rall yet the LORD will 〈◊〉 forget his owne for that were altogether impossiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 his b Psal 34. 15 eyes are ever looking vpon them â—is eares are open to their cry 〈◊〉 doeth graue them vpon the pâ—lmâ— of his hands and doeth set c Cant. 8. 6 them as a seale vpon his heart and a signet vpon his arme Wee reade that King Cyrus was of a good memorie who Plini Hist natur lib. 7. cap. 24. did call all his Souldiers by their proper names But hee was no thing in respect of GOD who counteth d Psal 147. 4 the number of the starres and calleth them by their names Seventhly The LORD is alwayes present with his owne to helpe them and holde e Psal 73. 23 them by their right hand though f Psal 27. 10 their father and mother should forsake them Yet the g Heb. 13. 5 LORD will never â—aile them nor forsake them Lastlâ— Our GOD is most constant For h Iohâ— 13.1 as much as hee loved his owne which were in the world vnto the end hee loved them With i Iam. 1. 17 him there is no variablenesse neither shadowing by turning The k Mal. 3. 6 LORD changeth not and therefore the sonnes of Iaakob are not consumed It is written to the praise of that Roman Fabricius that the Idenius Valer. Sunne would sooner leaue his naturall course than hee would forsake his honestie But it may be more truely spoken of our blessed GOD that the Sunne will sooner change hâ—s course than GOD will change his mercie which is constant and everlasting Thou shouldest only therefore pray to GOD and call vpon him for thou may doe so with jâ—â— true faith and a sure hope and perswasion to bee heard and regarded and rewarded Our Saviour thus promitteth by affiâ—mation l Iohn 16.23 Verily verily I say vnto you Whatsoever yee shall aske the Father in my Name hee will giue it you Oâ—serue the certaintie and generality of that gratious promise No Angell in Heaven no Saint vpon Earth no glorified soule is to bee adored nâ—r invocated for why should any with the reprobate serue m Rom. 12. 5 the creature forsaking the CREATOR who is blessed for ever Concerning the place of prayer thou mayest well follow the Circumstance of place rule of the Apostle Saying n â—im 2 8 I will that the men pray every where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting A place is either private or publict and so are prayers either priuate or publict any place was and is ever free for a supplicant The examples of CHRIST and of good men confirme this for Isaak o Genes 24. 6â— prayedin the feild Iaakob in p Genes 49. 18 his bed Moses q â—xed 15. 25 prayed in the Wildernesse Ioshua r Iosh 5. 14 neâ—re Iericho Elias Å¿ 1 King 18. 20 prayed vpon the mountaine Hezekias t â— King 20. 3 in his châ—â—nbâ—r The Prophet Iâ—râ—miâ— u Lam. 3. 55 in the low dungeon Ionas x Ion. 2. 1 in the â—ishes bellie Daniel y Dan. 6 11 in Babilon CHRIST prayed z Luk. 23. â—4 vpon the Crosse The Disciples a Math. 8. 25 in a ship Peter b Act. 10. 9 vpon the house and truely according to our Masters direction thou c Math. 6. 6 may enter into thy chamber and sâ—utte thy doore and pray vnto thy Father whâ—ch is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly August speaketh pertinently to this purpose In oratione non quaeritur August locus quantum sensus Hiâ—remias confortatur in carcere Daniel inter Leones â—xultat tres pueri in fornace tripudiant Iob nudus in sterquilinio triumphat Paradisum de cruce latro invenit non est locus vbi non sit Deus In prayer the place is not so much sought as the sense of feeling Ieremie is comforted in the prison Daniel amongst the Lyons rejoyceth the three Children doe dâ—nce in the firie fornace naked Iob triumpheth in the dung hill the Thiefe vpon the crosse findeth Paradise There is no place where GOD is not Yet notwitstanding thou oughtest with the two great Apostles Peter and Iohn resort into the d Act. 3. 1 temple which is called by our Saviour the e Luke 19. 46 house of prayer and there publictly in the assemblie of the godly call vpon GOD duetifully This is the fittest place where thou mayest pacifie GODS ' anger to obtaine his speciall favour and to receaue benefites from his mercifull hands As that Roman M. Coriolanus in time of his trouble and distresse Plutarch in vita Coriolia being of purpose to seeke the friendship aâ—d to gaine the kindnesse of Tullus Amphidius his great enemie a noble man amongst the people Volsci Coriolanus went to Autrum and entred into Amphidius house and there a supplicant did mitigat his wrath did receiue reliefe and protection So let every Christian who by nature is an enemie to the Almâ—ghtie if hee bee resolved to seeke reconciliation with GOD let him goe to
the LORDS owne house and there to beg his favour and blessing with earnestnesse with all humilitie and submission that hee may receaue mercie grace and consolation Not thinking that the Church will make his prayers more holy and acceptable but that in such a place hee shall haue fitter occasion and moe motiue of servent supplication As also that the conjunct prayers of the faithfull in a sweet harmonie sent vp to our Heavenly Father will bee more powerfull and effectuall to procure a blessing For if f Math 18. 19 two sayeth our Saviour agree vpon earth any thing whatsoever they desire it shall bee given them of my Father which is in Heaven And an Ancient saith Non aeque exoras cum solus Dominum obsecras atque cum fratribus tuis â—st enim in hoc plus aliquid videlicet concordia conspiratio copula amoris charitatis Thou doest not alike obtaine thy desire when alone thou prayest the LORD as with thy brethren for in this there is some more namely concord conspiration a coniunction of loue and charitie Quod quis apud seipsum precatus accipere non poterit hoâ— cum multitudine precatus accipiet Quare quia etiam si non propria virtus tamen concordia multum potest That which one within himselfe praying could not obtaine praying with a multitude hee shall receiue the same wherefore because albeit his proper vertue availeth not yet concord availeth much Thus in the dayes of M. Aurelius when the whole Romane armie was in great danger and extreame necessitie through thirst Vide histor Magdeburg and scarsitie of water the Christian Souldiers with one consent instantly praying so prevailed with GOD that hee sent incontinently sufficient raine for the refreshment of their companie and fire-flaughts for the destruction of the adversary The Emperor perceived this clearely and did write the same to the senate immediatly St. Ierome compareth this conjunct praying of the LORDS congregation to an thunder-clap of great noise and Basill to the roaring of the sea of a loud sound Thirdly touching the tyme of Circumstance of tyme. prayer let vs hearken the holy Scripture Christians ought g Luke 18. 1 alwayes to pray and not to waxe faint pray h 1 Thess 5 17 continually continue in i Rom. 12. 12 prayer againe continue k Colos 4. 2 in prayer and watch in the same furthermore in l Philip. 4. 6 all things let your request bee shewed vnto GOD in prayer and supplication More particularly let it be thy first care with David m Psal 5. 4 in the morning to direct thy prayer vnto GOD and to waite vpon his blessed Majestie to n Psal 57. 9 awake right early to pray and to praise GOD duetifully Euening o Psal 55. 17 and morning and at midde tyme of day to make a noise As vnder the Law GOD commanded his people to p Exod. 28. 38 present vpon his Altar a continuall offering and to offer a dayly morning and evening sacrifice a lambe of a Pray in the night yeere old So the LORDS servants in the new Testament should at the least send vp their morning and evening sacrifice of prayer yea in the night tyme they will call vpon the LORD fervently and protest with the Prophet With n Isaiah 26. 9 my soule haue I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within mee will I seeke thee in the morning And with King DAVID My o Psal 63. 6 soule shall bee satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lippes when I remember thee on my bed and when I thinke vpon thee in the night watches Againe p Psal 11â— 62 At mid-night will I arise and giue thankes and to pray to GOD because of his righteous judgement But in this place thou must be advertised that the error and heresie The Euchites condemned of the Euchites who thought that wee should doe no other thing at all neither exercise any calling but pray ever neglecting all other labour is to be eshewed Let it bee thy chiefe care and indevoure with Enoch q to walke with GOD to liue conscientiously and godly with Abraham r Genes 5. 22 to walke before GOD to liue vprightly and with David Å¿ Genes 17. 1 to set the LORD alwayes before thee and that t Philip. 1. 27 thy conversation be alwayes as it becommeth the Gospell of CHRIST IESUS Fourthly As for thy gesture and behaviour in tyme of prayer The circumstance of gesâ—ure it is free to thee in thy owne option and power so it be with decency and reverence thou may prostrate thy selfe and fall downe vpon thy face So did Moses u Numb 16.22 and Aâ—ron when they did pray for the safetie of the congregation of Israel So did Ioshua x Iosh 5. 14 when CHRIST tolde him that hee was come as a Captaine of the LORDS Host So our Saviour y Math. 26. 39 when his soule was heavie in His great agonie Thou may stand vp vpon thy â—eete thus did the servant z Genes 24.15 of Abraham Thus did CHRIST a Iohâ— 11 41 also this likewayes did the b Luke 18.3 Publican in the Temple Thou mayâ—st humâ—le thy selfe and bow thy knees as c 1 King 8. 54 Salomon as d Act. 7. 6 Steven the Martyre as St. e Act. 26 â—6 Paul as the f Mark 1. 40 Leper as our blessed g Luke 22. 41 advocate and Redeemer Thou mayest lift vp thine eyes to Heaven as h Psal 121. 1 passim David in many places as CHRIST i Math. 14 1â— alibi Himselfe the paterne of all godlynesse And albeit some were of such a foolish opinion that kneeling in tyme of devotion was and is onely vnlawfull and that standing in that service is onely acceptable Yet Agnoclytae Damascen de haeresia thou will bee soone perswaded if thou bee truely informed that a k Psal 51.17 contrite spirit a broken and a vpright heart shall never bee despysed whatsoever thy behaviour bee before GOD who is the searcher of all heartes OF THE SIGNES OF PRAYER The Ninetenth Chapter BEcause a great number of people is thus miserably deceived who doe imagine in their owne conceat that they pray to GOD duetifully and acceptablie when as notwithstanding seeing they a Prover 28.9 turne away their eare from hearing of the Law their prayer is abominable Therefore in the last place let vs briefly consider some sure signes and true tokens whereby a Christian may know assuredly if hee prayeth to GOD arightlie I reckon fiue of them principally First Heavenly wisedome and Wisedome discretion for if according to Salomons saying Hee b Prover 13.20 that walketh with wise men shall bee wise much more he that often walketh and talketh with the most wise GOD shall attaine to true wisedome and vnderstanding c Psal
bee a strong confession if thou desires to haue strong i Hebr. 6.18 consolation to vphold thee in the day of tentation then also vse a strong confession of thy sinnes and transgressions never goe about to extenuate thine offences but rather labour to aggrevate and to aggrege the same 1 In regarde of the person against whom thou hast offended who hath beene so patient h 2. Pet. 3.9 in sparing a guiltie malefactor and would not thee to perish but to come to repentance and is so bountifull and mercifull towards thee whose mercies i Lament 3.21 faile not but are renued every morning Who k Exod. 34. 6 is strong gratious slow to anger abundant in goodnesse and trueth who l Psal 68. 19 ladeth thee dayly with his benefits who so loved thee that hee m Rom. 8. 32 spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him to death for thee and for thy redemption and for thine eternall glorification 2 Of IESUS CHRIST who made himselfe of no reputation but humbled n Philip. 2. 8 himselfe to the death of the crosse for his affection towards thee who o Revel 1. 5 shed his pretious blood to wash thee and to make thee a King and Priest to GOD. 3 In consideration of the season the p Rom. 13. 12 night is past the day is at hand that thou hast sinned when salvation was neere thee in the revelation of his glorious Gospell when his light hath shined clearely before thine eyes when his trumpet hath frequently fearefully and comfortably sounded in thine eares that thou hast not only trespassed in q Act. 17. 30 the time of ignorance which GOD regarded not but after so many instructions admonitions reprehensions counsells and consolations comminations and commandements in the contrarie 4 In consideration of the occasion or matter wherefore thou hast so transgressed for so small aâ—d base thing for some r Genes 25.33 pottage with Esau to sell thy birth-right or for a cuppe Å¿ Iudg. 4. 14 of milke with Sisera to lose thy lyfe or for some beastes with Saul t Sam. 15. 28 to bee deprived of a Kingdome not earthly or temporary but Heavenly and eternall for a triffle for vanitie and perishing pleasure a short and filthie delectation to losse GODS favour to bee plagued with his anger to destroy thine owne soule to bee miserable for ever confesse thy sinne vehemently that GOD may the more pittie thee 15 In thy confession transferre 15 An accusing confession not thy faults vpon others to lay the blame vpon them or cleareing and excusing thy selfe for now they be many like that foolish man of whom Seneca speaketh Seneca de tranquillitate animi who having a fore foote and so crooking he imputed the cause of his limping to the sharpenesse of the way and not to the thorne pricking his foote within or like one that is sea-sicke ascribing the cause of his diseasâ— to the swelling of the sea and not as the trueth is to the corrupt Simile humors of his owne stomack or like that blind woman Harpasta Seneca epistola â—0 who would not bee perswaded of her owne blindnesse but found fault with the house wherein shee remained as being voide of light and over dark So I say with too many it is who in their spirituall crookednesse their inward sicknesse and in their owne spirituall blindnesse would lay the fault vpon other outward occasions but not vpon themselues But in thy confession charge thine owne selfe for thy transgressions blame thine owne selfe and thine inward corruption accuse thy selfe principally and only with DAVID It u 2 Chron. 21. 17. is I even I that haue sinned but these sheepe what haue they done By such confession thou will obtaine the free absolution of GOD and stop the devils mouth from thine accusation 16 Lastly let thy confession 16 A punishing confession be without flattering of thy selfe and let it bee with some holy indignation and with a desire to take some punishment x 2 Cor 7. 11 of thy selfe for thy foolishnesse For thy beastlinesse with IOB abhorre y Iob. 42. 6 thy selfe in dust and ashes with the Prophete IEREMIE smite thine owne z Ierem. 31. 19 thigh and say what haue I done with the Publican knock thine a Luke 18. 14 owne brest with St. Paul beate thine owne body and bring it into subjection Thus thou hast more than reason to take heede most diligently and carefully that thou confesse thy sinnes arightly and in due maner or else know for a surety that thy confession will be altogether improfitable and never comfort thee without the forsaid conditions in some measure bee keept therein and first of all labour to get a sure notice and exact knowledge of thy secreet sinnes and privie corruptions of thy predominant profitable as thou dreames and pleasant vice Take travell with all industrie to try them with the b Proverb 20 27 light of the LORD with the Lanterne c Psal 119. 115 of his Word by searching d Zephan 2. 1 thy selfe narrowly by e 1 Cor. 11. 28 examining by f 2 Cor. 13. 15 prooving thy selfe most accurately and continually and thereafter goe to a sinceere humble and most serious confession and prying into thy selfe profoundly bee perswaded that thou cannot confesse thy sinnes sufficiently Thus farre for preparation come now to thy right confession as it shall please GOD to helpe thee and strengthen mee to further thee PSAIME 102. 6. I am like a Pelican of the Wildernesse A CONFESSION OF OVR SINNE AND INIQVITIE The second Chapter ALmightie GOD and most mercifull Father Now I thy poore servant am heere a Act. 10. 33 present before thee and it is of trueth thou seest b 1 Sam. 16. 7 not as man seeth for man looketh only to the outward appearance but thou ô GOD beholdest mine heart and searchest c Ierem. 17. 10 my reines thou vnderstandest d Psal 135 2 my thoughtes a farre off I take thy selfe to record O Lord GOD e Numb 27.16 of the spirits of all flesh that I desire greatly to confesse my sinnes in sinceritie humilitie and tymouslie as it becommeth mee to doe And I acknowledge before thee who knowest the hearts f Act. 1. 24. of all men that my transgressions are many they g Psal 49. 12 are moe 1. Many sins in number than the haires of my head my trespasses are multiplied before thee as the h Isaiah 40.12 waters As the waters in the deludge were encreased exceedingly to i Genes 7. 18 drowne the old and wicked world so are my sinnes to destroy mee everlastingly Certainly it was easier to Ioab to k 1 Sam. 24. 9 number the thousands of Israell than it is for mee to number the millions of mine iniquities It was as easie for Abraham to number the l Genes 13. 16 dust of the earth the
m Genes 22.13 sand which was vpon the sea shore and the starres of Heaven as it is to mee to number my innumerable offences and manifold enormities whereby I haue offended thy godly Majestie I 2 Great sins am compelled also O gratious GOD to confesse vnto thee that mine iniquities n Psal 25. 11 are great my wickednesse o Iocl 3. 13 is grievous it is also growne to a terrible hight it is mounted vp to the cloudes Nebuchadnezar but dreamed that p Daniel 4. 8 the hight of that tree which hee saw in aâ— vision reached vp to the Heaven but I am perswaded that my sinne is ascended higher It is come vp to q Revel 18. 5 Heaven and cryeth r Genes 18.20 vpon GOD for wrath and indignation against mee I doe acknowledge O Heavenly and mercifull Father that my 3 Heavie sins sinnes are wondrous weightie and infinitly heavie The Å¿ Psal 70.27 stones are weighty and the sand is heavie but light in respect of my iniquities for t Psal 23. 4 they are growne over my head and as a weightie burden they are too heavie for mee the iron thereof is importable Manasseh In the prayer of Manasses was bound downe with many iron bands that hee could not lift vp his head vnto Heaven I am bund downe with many heavie bands of sinne that I can not lift vp my heart to thee as I most earnestly desire to doe The people of Israell protested that u 2 Chron. 10.4 Salomons yoke was heavie and his servitude sore vpon them and prayed that it might be made lighter but LORD I find the yoke of sinne much more bitter and the slaverie thereof more intolerable I long to bee eased thereof The Israelites sighed x Exod. 2. 23 and cryed to GOD when they were kept vnder with the heavie burdens of the Aegyptians I haue greater cause O LORD to bee vexed and wearied with the burden of sinne which y Heb. 12. 1 hangeth so fast and presseth so sore downe which without helpe from thy Majestie would thrust my soule to the lowest hell I confesse O GOD that as my 4 Filthie sinne sinnes they are not few but many they are not small sinnes but great sinnes they are not light but verie heavie sinnes so they are most vile filthie and abhominable polluting and defiling mee both outwardly and inwardly in soule spirit and body It is trueth pitch z Eecles 13. 4 defileth him that toucheth it and mirie clay contaminateth him that walloweth in the same The excrements of men which thou most holy GOD commanded to be digged in a Deut. 23. 13 the graue and to bee covered with earth the dung of beastes doe not so defile the body as the excrements of filthie sinne hath polluted my soule and inward man The corruption of dead Carions and carkases b Levit 11. 39 made the handlers thereof vncleane but LORD my continuall doing of dead c Heb. 12. 1 workes hath made mee much more polluted and detestable in thy presence The Ammonites for their wrong to DAVID did d 2 Sam. 10. 6 stinke in his sight but LORD I am more lothsome in thy pure eyes I doe acknowledge before thee 5 Odious sins O e Genes 18.25 righteous judge of the whole world that my hainous sinnes makes mee odious vnto thy Majestie for I know well that thou hatest f Psal 5. 5 all them that worke iniquitie and even at this time my conscience cryeth to mee that I haue committed many enormities justly O LORD may thou hate mee and set g Psal 50. 21 all my sinnes in order before mee and therefore take vengance vpon mee most deservedly O my GOD I confesse also that Scandalous sin my sinnes are exemplary and scandalous I haue alace caused the h 2 Sam. 12. 14 enemies of the LORD blaspheme They i Rom. 3. 19 who obeyed not the word haue not beene wonne by my holy lyfe and conversation I haue not stopped but rather opened the mouths of the vngodly I haue strengthned them in their wickednesse and impietie as also I haue scandalized but not bettered the weake ones I k Levit. 19. 14 haue put a stumbling block before my blind brethren I haue caused them by mine evill example to goe astray and to fall into the pit I haue beene an offence to some litle ones that dwelt with mee Thou thy selfe O my SAVIOUR hath said it l Math. 18.7 must needs bee that some offences must come Many alace haue come by mee for the which without thy mercie I would be wrapped vp in woe and endlesse miserie I can not deny O most righteous 7 Pernitious sinnes judge but I must acknowledge of necessitie that my filthie faults and terrible transgressions are most hurtfull and pernicious to my selfe for weakning and wounding mee for binding and blindfolding me for sundering me from thee and swallowing mee vp in woe and calamitie I say with thy servant O m Psal 6. 2 LORD I am weake and feeble my sinnes haue made my strength to fall neither am I able to rise againe my n Psal 38. 4. 5.6.7.8 wounds are putrified and corrupt because of my foolishnesse I am bowed and crooked very sore my reines are full of burning and there is nothing sound in my flesh I am weakned and sore bowed I roare for the very griefe of myne heart I find O LORD that myne owne o Proverb 5.22 iniquities doe take me and Sathan by them hath caught me and I am holden with the cordes of sinne and by them the Devill is drawing mee vnto everlasting damnation And as the blind Aramits were p 2 King 6.19 led to Samaria so am I carried to hell and without spirituall eyes am brought to perdition without thy helpe and salvation for q Isaiah 59.2 they doe hide thy face from mee that thou will not heare they doe separate betweene thy Majestie and mee they will make mee alace to perish eternally to bee deprived of all comfort and glory and without true repentance to bee tormented continually in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which r Revel 21. 8 Originall sin is the second death And yet O LORD when I descend more deeply by thy assistance of thy grace into mine heart and narrowly examine my conscience I doe confesse in sinceritie that I am guiltie of originall sin I want that righteousnesse wherewith man was indued in his creation I haue a bent desire a bad inclination to doe evill wickednesse and abhomination Behold Å¿ Psal 51.5 I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne did my mother conceaue mee I t Rom. 7.23 see another law in my members rebelling against the law in my mynde and leading mee captiue vnto the law of sinne which is into my members O LORD this is the evill seede which bringeth foorth evill encrease This is the bitter
The wickednesse of the world is a cause of Prayer the multitude of the wicked and vngodly sinners if Davids q Psal 119 130 eyes gushed out with rivers of water because they transgressed Gods commandement and did not keepe his holy Lawe then thou hast cause to powre foorth thy prayers when thou seest sinners continually offending God 2. When thou perceivest them desirous to defile and destroy thy selfe thou hast reason to beseech GOD to r Act. 2. 40 saue thee from the froward generation 3. When thou seest them walking in the Å¿ Math. 7. 13 broad way and working their owne destructions without remorse of conscience beeing t Ephes 4. 19 past all feeling thou hast cause with pitie and commiseration to pray for their amendement conversion and eternall salvation that their soule u Iob. 33. 30 may bee preserved from the pit and they illuminated in the light of the living that they x Psal 106. 5 may see the felicitie of his chosen and glorie with his inheritance Fifthly y Act. 20. 28 take heede to thy self Consider thy selfe and haue a respect to thy owne safeguard and happinesse if thou feare spirituall deadnesse thou hast cause to beseech GOD to quicken thee according to his loving kindnesse if thou knowest thy selfe to bee z Revel 3. 17 blind and ignorant thou hast reason to entreat God to open a Ephes 5. 18 the eyes of thy vnderstanding and b Psal 146. 8 to giue sight to thee who art blind if thou think thy selfe that thou art weake c Rom. 14. 1 in faith then call vpon GOD to increase the same if thou iudge thy selfe d Iob. 39 37 vile and filthy pray to God to wash e Psal 51.2 thee throughly and to clense thee from all thy iniquitie if thou be prosane poore e Revel 3. 17 naked diseased and in deformitie hast thou not verie great neede to pray for holinesse riches the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse health and that thou mayest ever appeare before the LORD in holie beautie Thou hast iust cause truelie to send vp thy supplications vncâ—ssantly if thou shalt arightly consider of thy danger and jâ—opardie thou remainest in as great danger spiritually as Isaac Daniel and Peter were into bodily The Patriarch Isaac being young was f Genes 22. 9 bound to the Altar vnder him was the wood to bee fire aboue his head the knife of his father to kill him no person was neere him to deliver him without question hee was then praying to God making earnest supplicatioÌ„ But thou by nature art bound and holden by g Prov. 5. 22 the cordes of thy owne sinne vnder thee is that everlasting fire g Isa 66. 24 which never shall bee quenched to torment thee aboue thy head is the sharpe h Ezech. 21. 9 sword of GODS justice ready to kill thee if thou looke about thee there is none neere thee to i Isaiah 63. 5 helpe thee thine owne arme cannot saue thee thou then in such perill hast cause to crye vnto GOD most instantly that it would please his goodnesse to deliver thee And as Daniel when hee was in danger in k Dan. 6. 16 the den of Lyons did pray earnestly vnto GOD by whom hee was preserved and his accusers punished â—o thou who may protest with the Prophet saying l Psal 57. 4 My soule is among Lyons seeing thou art in danger to bee devoured continually hast thou not great cause to pray fervently LORD deliver m Psal 35. 17 my desolate soule from the Lyons which would cruelly destroy mee Though thou art like n Math. 14. 30 Peter walking on the water when hee saw a mightie winde hee was affraid and as hee began to sinke hee cryed Master saue mee thou art now come vnto o Psal 69. 2 deepe waters the streames runne over thee thou art in danger of spirituall drowning thou art sinking in the sea of sinne thou will perish certainly both soule and body vnlesse thou crie and pray tymouslie that thy Master would be pleased to saue thee Sixtly If thou thinke wisely of The world is a cause of payer the worlds vanitie that all in this earth Vanitie p Eccles 1. 2 of vanities sayeth the Preacher vanitie of vanities all is vanitie thou hast occasion to pray earnestly that thou bee not bewitched with the vaine pleasures and allurements of the same that thou loue q Ioh. 2. 15.16 not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him for all that is in the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life is not of the Father but of the world which passeth away and destroyeth most fâ—arefully and certainly Thou hast most just cause to craue of GOD that thou be not filthily defiled nor polluted by the filthinesse thereof seing it is pure religion q Iam. 1. 27 and vndefiled before GOD to keepe thy selfe vnspotted of the world And that thou r Philip. 2. 15 may bee blamelesse and pure and the sonne of GOD without rebuke into the middes of a naughtie and crooked nation amongst whom thou mayest shine as a light in the world Lastly The necessitie dignity and vtilitie of prayer and that thou may walke Å¿ Ephes 4. 1 worthie of the vocation wherevnto thou art called may forcibly moue thee to perpetuall practising of this holy duetie OF THE NECESSITIE OF PRAYER The fourtenth Chapter GReat indeede and vnspeakable is the necessitie of Prayer which by some comparisons will clearly appeare and become manifest As the Samaritâ—nes had neede Prayer compared to a bucket of a bucket or some other vessell to draw a Iohn 4. 11 water out of Iaakobs deepe Well so all Christians haue neede of prayer to bring to them the living water of refreshing grace from that b Iohn 13. 1 fountaine odened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Hierusalem for sinne and for vncleannesse As a ladder is necessare for one that would climâ—e over a wall or that c Math. 5. 30 would assault to take a To an ladder sort so is prayer requisit for every one who desireth to ascend to Heaven by it one will take hold on the true ladder by whom hee may haue accesse to the Father Thirdly They that d Genes 28.12 goe downe to the sea in ships and occupy by great waters doth soone know To an anker how needfull an anker is to a shippe so as needfull is prayer to the soule The most sure anker in the Anchora â—utissima in tempeâ—tatibus fortunae est precatio quae defigitur sursum in Coelo vâ— anchoâ—a figitur deorsum in fundo maris tempests of estate is Prayer which is fixed aboue in Heaven as a materiall anker is cast downward in the ground