the Passover not a jot of old leaven but we must part with it Now this is the nature of leaven It is alwayes purging out and it will be purging out while we are here only the efficacy and strength thereof remaines not Then thinke with thy selfe is all new in me looke what naturall disposition I haue had looke what naturall lusts and desires I haue had see what acts I was wont to doe what old haunts and customes I haue had looke what old company I kept what old courses I tooke what my tract hath beene is all this altered and every thing become new for saith he it must be a new creature a new nature That is it is not enough for a man to haue a new course for a fit to haue new purposes and a new change that comes like flashes I say that is not enough you may haue many new thinges in you that may be in old hearts like peeces of new cloath in old garments that will doe thee no good at all the Lord regards not that like new wine in old vessells so it is where there are some new things that are good things in themselves in a carnall and old heart they are not fit for the heart and therefore they never stay long there So saith the text Put a new peece into an old garment and it makes the rent greater Therefore all must be new I say there must be a new nature that these new things may be there even as the severall creatures are in their severall elements as the elements are in their owne place as the plants are in their proper soyle as the branches are vpon their own roote For then they florish then they hold out then they continue Therefore see whether this vigor this efficacy this vertue hath gone out from Christ into thy heart whether it hath not only renewed all in thee but also hath given thee a new nature That is whether it hath wrought such a change in thee that all the wayes of godlines and new obedience become in a measure naturall to thee so that thou canst doe them cheerefully even as we heare and see and doe naturall actions and that thou dost them without wearinesse for you know things that are naturall wee are not weary of them And so thou wilt doe them constantly for what is naturall stayes and abides by us that it outgrowes and out-wearies what ever is in us beside Now hath there a vertue gone out from Christ that hath wrought all this in you that hath made all new hath not only done so but hath made it naturall to thee But you will say must it needs be so cannot Christ take and comprehend mee but there must bee this wonderfull change wrought who can bee saved then I haue then but little hope when I am vpon my death bed and then shall looke vpon my old nature and find no such worke as this wrought vpon me Beloved I beseech you consider this that there is a necessity of it It is so and it must bee so and except you have it you cannot be saved you see the words in the Scriptures are most cleare Whosoever is in Christ is a new creature Doe but consider whether it be so or no there must be withall a new heaven and a new earth You see that was the great promise that was to bee fulfilled in our times of the Gospell was it not a new preisthood was it not a new covenant hath not the Lord said there must bee a new heauen and a new earth That is new graces from heaven and a new company of men wrought on and changed by those graces Shall old Adam those that are borne of him shall they receiue a power from him to make them like to him to carry his Image to bee corrupt and carnall and sinfull as hee is And doe you not thinke that the New Adam the Second Adam shall haue as much efficacy in him to make those new creatures that are in him that come to him Certainly there is as much power life and vigor in the new Adam to change every man that is in him that comes to him and to make thē new creatures as in the old Adam to make them like him Besides hath not Christ said plainely I came not into the world to saue soules only that is not my busines alone though that was a great part of the businesse and errand for which he came into the world but saith he I came to purifie a people to my selfe zealous of good workes in the 2 Tit. Now if that were the end of Christs comming dost thou thinke that hee will loose his end And therefore its impossible that any man should be saved or haue part in Christ and that he should be in Christ and Christ in him except his heart be purified so as to be zealous of good workes If Christ dwell in thy heart thou mayst easily know it for dost thou thinke that Christ will dwell in a foule and uncleane place hath he not pure eyes And therefore it is certaine wheresoever he dwells that place must be a fit Temple for him to dwell in Wherefore of necessity he must cleanse thy heart he must fashion it and keepe it pure and cleane and sweet so as it may be a fit Temple for him and his Spirit to dwell and delight in Besides doth he not looke to his glory in all those that belong to him hee hath many eyes to looke upon them as it were there are many spectators men and Angells to see what they are and how they behaue themselues If hee should haue a company of men to belong unto him that are carnall perverse and worldly minded that haue crooked wayes like other men would this bee for his honour would it not bee said Like men like Master would it not reflect upon him Certainly it would and therefore the Lord so orders it that those whom he hath redeemed should bee holy in all maner of conversation Saith hee you must be as I am else it will bee for my dishonour As I am holy so every one of you must be holy in all manner of conversation Therefore let no man deceiue himselfe to thinke he can goe away and yet be in Christ and be saved through Christ and the mercies of God in Christ when there goes out no such vertue and power from Christ to change him to worke on him to alter him to make him another creature And therefore I beseech you in the examining of this for its a matter of great moment to consider with your selues if this be wrought in you or no whether you finde any experiment effect of this mighty power efficacy and vertue and let mee bring you a little to particulars Hath there gone out a vertue from him to enable thee to beleeue There is a faith required in the Deity there is a faith required in the Deity
be in such a distresse when neither King nor Queene could be able to helpe him or though they were able as she was in that case yet it might be sent and not delivered Now then consider what the Lord doth to vs Hee hath given us this priviledge he hath given us prayer as it were this Ring he hath given us that to use and tells us whatsoever our case is whatsoever wee are whatsoever we stand in need of whatsoever distresse wee are in doe but send this up to me saith he do but deliver that message up to me of prayer and I will bee sure to relieve you Now certainely what case soever we are in when we send up this it is sure to be conveyed wheresoever wee are Againe whatsoever our case is we send it to one that is able to helpe us w th a Prince many times is not able to do This benefit we have by prayer That whatsoever we aske at the Lords hands wee shall have it Now consider this great advantage which you have It is expressed 4 Phil. in these words Be in nothing carefull saith the Apostle And that you may see wee have ground for this generality In nothing bee carefull but in all things make your requests knowne unto God That is whatsoever your case bee I make no exception at all but whatsoever you stand in neede of whether it concernes your soules or your bodies your name or your estate yet be in nothing carefull This is a great matter There is none amongst you that heares me now but sometime or other he is carefull for something or other for which he is solicitous Now when a man heares such avoyce from heaven that the Lord himselfe saith to us Bee carefull for nothing doe no more but make your request knowne it is well enough I will surely heare in heaven and grant it It is a great comfort Beloved comfort your selves with these words and thinke this with your selves that this is that Charter and great Grant that the Lord hath given you and to none but you that what prayers you make to him hee heareth you But it will bee objected why is this said so generally That we must in nothing be carefull but in all thinges make our request knowne For then if a man were but a poore man it is but going to the Lord and asking riches and hee shall have them If a man were sick of an incurable disease it were no more but going to the Lord and hee should be sure to be recovered If a man hath an enterprise to bring to passe it is no more but goe to him and it shall be done what is the reason then that godly and holy men have not these things graunted to them To this I answer you must understand it with this condition even as it is with a Father I will prove it to you by that suppose he should say to his sonne I will deny thee nothing whatsoever I have I wil deny thee nothing but thou shalt have part in it Though he say no more yet we understand it with these conditions First that if his Childe shall aske him for that that is not good for him or if the child should refuse to have that done or pray his Father and say I beseech you do it not when the Father knowes it is good here the Father is not bound hee thinkes as for example if a Father sees his childe needes Physick it may be the child finds it bitter and therefore is exceeding loath to take it it makes him sicke and is irkesome unto him so that hee earnestly desires his Father that hee may be excused that hee might be freed from it In this Case the father will not heare him for hee knowes the Child is but mistaken On the other side if the Child aske something that is very hurtfull if he aske for wine in a feaver the Father denyes it him No saith he you are mistaken I know your desire is that you might have health and recover and this I know will hurt you though you know it not This the Father understands and therefore he puts in that condition So when the Lord saith In nothing be carefull but in all things make your requests knowne If you mistake the matter at any time and your prayer shall not bee the dictate of the Spirit so that yee alway make request according to his will but the dictate of your owne hearts and shall be the expression of your naturall Spirit and not the Lords Spirit In this case there is no promise of being heard and yet the Lord makes his word good Bee in nothing carefull but in all things make your request knowne Secondly a Father when hee saith to his Child I will deny you nothing but you shall have part in all that I have yet the Childe may carry himselfe so that the Father upon such an occasion may deny him and be ready to say unto him Well if you had followed your Booke if you had not runne into such disorders if you had not bin negligent to doe what I gave you in charge I would have done it In this case the Father withholds the blessing that hee will bestow upon his Child not because he is unwilling to bestow it but because he would thus nurture his Child hee useth it as a meanes to bring him to order So the Lord saith to Moses That because he had spoken unadvisedly because he had not honoured him before the people at those waters the waters of strife therefore the Lord tells him by the Prophet he should not goe into the good land And so he tells David that because he had sinned against him he would not give him the life of the Child So the Lord saith to us sometimes I will not graunt you this request for though I be willing to graunt it yet this is one part of the discipline and nurture that I use to my Children That such a particular request I will deny you for such an offence as worshipping of Idolls c. Beloved this is not a generall denyall and this is not for our disadvantage but it is a helpe to us it makes us better that sometime we should be denyed knowing hereby that it is denyed to us for our sinne that we may learne to come to the Lord and renew our repentance and to take that away that we may come to prevaile in our prayers with him Thirdly when a Father is willing to graunt it yet he will thus say to his Child Though I bee willing to doe what you aske at my hands yet I will not have you aske it rudely I will have you aske it in a good manner and a good Fashion For when wee come to call upon God and come in an unreverent manner in such a case the Lord heares not Or againe hee will say to his child I am ready to heare you but you must not aske in a negligent
the prayer of a Saint and the prayer of a wicked man it may be if you looke upon the petitions or whatsoever is in the prayer it selfe you shall finde some times the prayer of a godly man more cold and lesse fervent the petitions are not so well framed as the wicked mans yet because this comes from such a person the Lord regards it not you know the condition is mentioned Iames fift The prayer of the righteous man availeth much if it be fervent Now as this is required in the person so there is somewhat required in the prayer also that is that it be fervent and faithfull that it be fervent you have it in the same place The prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent that is it must be a prayer made from the sence of the misery that is in us and from the mercie of God when a man takes a thing to heart that he prayes for and comes with confidence to be heard for that makes him fervent This the Lord will have and also he will have it faithfull Iames the first when the Apostle exhorts them to prayer if any man want wisdome saith he let him aske it of God but then marke he carefully puts in this condition see that He pray in faith that is beleeue that it shall be done unto him now this faith includes repentance for no man can beleeve that he shall be heard except hee make his heart perfect with God If he allow any sinne in himselfe he cannot beleeve vpon any good ground therefore when I say it must be faithfull that also is included we must regard no wickednes in our hearts for in such a case the Lord heares not hee heares not sinners So that this you must remember First the person must be righteous and the prayer must be fervent and faithfull Secondly the other Condition you shall heare in the Text it must be according to his will you must not thinke whatsoever you aske if you aske it loosely at Gods hands that it shall presently be graunted you No saith hee it must be according to his will if you aske fire from heaven that is not according to his will and therefore you see they that aske it were denyed it with this reason you know not what you aske Likewise to sit at his right hand and at his left in heaven which was another request of the Disciples he puts them by with this You understand not what you aske of the Father and therefore it must be according to his will And that is the second Thirdly we must aske it in time in due season so the promise is true Knock and it shall be opened to you but you know the foolish Virgins knockt it was not opened to them what was the reason of it because they askt when the time was past for there is a certaine acceptable time when the Lord will be found and when that oportunitie is past he is found no more It is true that this life is the time of grace but God in his secret counsell hath appointed a certaine time to every man which is the acceptable time the day of grace therefore he saith unto them This day if you will heare this day if you will come and seeke unto mee if you will pray unto mee I will heare you when it 's past the Lord suffers not the doores to stand open alwayes his eares are not alwayes open therefore that condition must be carefully remembered you must aske in time It is a condition that should be carefully thought on by us For for the most part we fly to prayer as Ioab did to the Altar hee went not to it for devotion for then hee would have done it before but when hee was in distresse when hee was in extremity then he fled to it and therefore you know what successe hee had by it it saved not his life So we goe not to prayer for devotion that is out of love to God to do him that service but for the most part wee doe it out of selfe love when wee are in extremitie or distresse we passe the acceptable times he requires and we goe to him in a time of our owne For there is Gods time and there is our owne time Gods time is to come to him when we may doe him service in our youth in our strength in the flower of our graces Our time is to goe to him when we need him Will not a friend say when we never come to him but when wee have extreame need of him why doe you come now you were not wont to visit me before this is not out of love to mee Even the very same answer the Lord giveth Goe to your Idolls saith hee those that you served in the time of peace and see if they can helpe you The fourth and last condition is That wee referre the time the manner the measure of granting our petitions to the Lord. That is wee must not thinke to be our owne carvers to thinke if it be not granted in such a manner such a measure or such a time presently the Lord hath rejected our petitions No he that beleeves makes no hast That is he waites upon God he stayes himselfe upon God he is content to have it in that time in that manner and measure as best pleaseth the Lord For the truth is we know not our selves what is meete for us we are unto the Lord just as the Patient is to the physitian The patient is importunate with him for such things to refresh and ease him But the physitian knowes what best belongs to him and when to give him such things in what manner and in what measure So the Lord knowes best what to doe Many times he doth the same things that we desire though he doe it not in the same manner Even as the physitian he quencheth often the thirst with Barberries or with such kind of conserves what though it be not with drinke is it not all one so the thirst bee quenched Is it not all one whether a man be hindred from striking me or if I have a helmet to defend the blow Somtimes the Lord keepes not off the enemy but then hee gives us a helmet to keepe off those blowes to beare those injuries and evills that are done to us hee is a wise physitian hee knowes what manner what measure and what time is best therefore that must be referred to him Now these conditions being observed you must know that this great priviledge belongs to every Christian That whatsoever prayers hee makes on earth he is sure to be heard in heaven It is a wondrous priviledge that which wee have all cause to stand amazed at that the Lord should so farre regard the sonnes of men to grant them such a Charter as this no more but aske and have and whatsoever you pray for it shall be done to you But
not such an affection if you did not come to him in the name of Christ whom he loves in whom he is ready to grant whatsoever you aske if hee were not a friend to you yet for your very importunity he is ready to doe it As the unjust Iudge for that is the scope of the parable he had no minde to grant the widdowes request he had no Iustice in him to move him he had no mercy nor compassion yet for very importunity he graunted it Remember and observe the condition for this is commonly a fault among us when we goe to prayer we thinke that the very putting up of the prayer will doe it No there is more required than so As it is the error of the Country people when they heare say that such an herbe is good for such a disease they are ready to thinke that howsoever it be tooke or applyed it will heale the disease no it must be applyed in such a manner it must be used in such a fashion So it is with prayer you must not only doe the duty and therefore when we exhort you to it not onely to call upon God for men are ready enough to do that especially in the time of distresse but with these conditions I have named You knowe Gehazi when he had got the staffe of Elisha he went to the Child but it was not the staffe that could raise the child from death to life there was something more required So in prayer it is not meere prayer that will do it there is something else there must be other conditions that must be observed For we are wont to do with it as those Conjurers were wont to do with the name of Iesus they thought if they used the name of Iesus it was enough but yee know what answer the Spirit gives them Iesus we know and Paule wee know but who are yee so I say wee are wont to do in this case wee thinke it is enough to make our request and that is all No there is somewhat more required you must make your request in such a manner as ye ought Then I adde this further that when thou makest them in such a manner yet thou must not thinke to be heard for thy prayers sake that is another thing we are apt to faile in When wee have made fervent prayers and have beene importunate with the Lord wee thinke now surely we shall not faile No you must know this the promise is not made to the prayer but to the person praying You shall not finde throughout the whole scripture that any promise is made thus because wee pray fervently we shall be heard but it is made to the person praying the prayer is but the instrument but the meanes by which the blessing is conveyed to us is a meanes without which the Lord will not doe it for the promise is made to the party A cold prayer so there be no neglect in it so a man seeke the Lord and pray as well as he can it will prevaile sometimes as well as a fervent prayer Who indites the petition who makes the prayer fervent surely not thy selfe but the Holy Ghost he makes request in us sometimes he makes thee more fervent hee enlargeth the heart more sometimes againe the heart is more straitned in the performance of this duty but both may come from the same Spirit Not but that we have cause of much comfort when wee are able to pray fervently for this is a ground of our comfort that when we pray fervently it is an argument that the Holy Ghost dwels in our hearts and that our prayers are dictated by him it is an argument that our prayers come from a holy fire within And therefore fervent prayer may give us hope of being heard but yet it is not meerely the prayer but because it is an evidence that it comes from a right principle that it comes from the regenerate part and is made by the assistance of the Holy Ghost it is not the very fervencie that prevailes And therefore when you heare this that the Lord is ready to heare I say make that use of it be fervent in this duty remember the conditions and yet withall know that you are not heard for the very prayers sake but for Iesus Christ his sake He makes every prayer acceptable he mingles them with his sweete odours And if you object O but I am a man full of infirmities You know how it is answered in the Fift of Iames saith he Eliah when hee was heard he was a man and a man subject to passions and to the like passions that wee are As if he should say do not thinke that Eliah was therefore heard because he was an extraordinary Prophet for it was because the Lord had made a promise to him and hee comes and urges that promise to the Lord and therefore the Lord heard him So saith he should every one of you if you have the promise you may goe and urge it as well as Eliah did though you be subject to many infirmities Eliah was even so You know there are infirmities and passions expressed in the Scriptures that hee was subject to And this is the first use we are to make of it to be freqvent and fervent in this duty since wee have such a promise Secondly if wee have such a promise then wee should learne hence when we have put up our prayers at any time to make more account of them than wee doe for the truth is that we pray for the most part for fashion sake many a man saith thus with himselfe I will seeke the Lord if it doe mee no good it will doe no hurt but if wee made that account of our prayers as we should we would performe this duty in another manner but wee doe not make that account of them as we ought We thinke not with our selves that the prayers that wee make are surely heard there be many evidences of it what is the reason that when wee seeke the Lord we doe it so remisly that we have scarce leasure to make an end of our prayers we are so ready to hasten and goe about other businesse wee are ready to turne every stone to use all meanes to seeke the creatures with all diligence but who prayes to the Lord as hee ought to worke his heart to such afervent performance of that duty as he should men have scarcely leasure for it is usuall with them when they have businesse to doe and enterprises to bring to passe they are exceeding diligent to use all meanes and yet are remisse in the chiefe what is the reason else that wee see the doores of Princes and great men so full of suiters though there be porters set on purpose to drive them away but the gates of heaven are so empty It is indeed because we do not beleeve our prayers are heard wee do but make our prayers for fashion What is the