ABRAHAM'S Humble Intercession for SODOM AND The LORD' 's gracious Concessions in Answer thereunto Containing sundry MEDITATIONS UPON GEN. XVIII from VER XXIII to the end of the Chapter Wherein many things are spoken of concerning Believers drawing near to God and the Efficacy of their Prayers and how they may be Princes and Prevailers with God and with what boldness they may come before him and what ground they may get of him by their Prayers and what sweet communing they have with him With sundry other things worthy of our most serious thoughts helping us to be more Spiritual and Heavenly which may prepare us for that everlasting Communion and Fellowship that we hope to arrive at and come to in a blessed state of Glory by Jesus Christ By SAMVEL WHITING Pastor of the Church of Christ at Lyn in N. E. Jam. 5.16 The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 2.23 Abraham was called the friend of God Printed and Sold at Cambridge 1666. To the Reader MAny of the Patriarks and other holy men have been highly honoured and commended in Scripture for their several Excellencies Abel for his bounty in the service of God in bringing in his Oblation of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and it is therefore called A more excellent Sacrifice then Cain 's was Gen. 4.4 with Heb. 11.4 Enoch and Noah for their constant Communion with God and taking their holy Walks and blessed Turns with him in those evil times wherein they lived Gen. 5.22 24. 6.9 Isaac for his Chastity in keeping himself to one wife whom he did so tenderly love Gen. 24.67 Jacob for his Princely Power that he had with God by weeping and supplication and those holy wrestlings that he had with him Gen. 32.24 28. with Hos 12.3 4 Moses for his Zeal and familiarity with the Lord and for his Meekness in his own cause though 〈◊〉 holy fire for God's Exod. 32.19 20. Numbers â—â— 7 8. David for Thankfulness and Prâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 The sweet Psalmist of Israel 2 Sam. 23.1 Now though all these were famous Believers and so reported of by God himself Heb. 11. yet above all Abraham is most renowned for his Faith Heb. 11.8 9 10 17 18 19. and in the Epistles to the Romans and Galatians that Paul writ And this piece that is the subject of these following Meditations holds out no small part of his Faith and sweet familiarity and Prevailing Power that he had with God in the suits that he put up to him in behalf of those Righteous ones that he thought might be mingled with those vilest of Sinners The main drift of the Discourse is 1. To draw near to God in Prayer in a right manner that a gracious answer may be given in to our Prayers that so we may not pray in vain 2. To discountenance sin by the destruction that God will bring upon sinners both here and in another world without Repentance as we see in Sodoms Example 3. To bear up the heads and hearts of the Lords Righteous ones who live among bad Company that they shall not be burned in their fire but be instrumental to save the worst of sinners at least from temporal destruction as long as they continue with them To put all Believers upon fervent and im … Prayer for the worst of men if any considerable number of Righteous ones be found amongst them 5. To stir up the best to see their own vileness and to be very humble in drawing near to God when we pray to him 6. To meditate of Christ's being the Judge of all the Earth and plead with him to do right as being such a Judge and to consider what our duty is in our several places that must one day stand before this Judge 7. To besiege and beleaguer the Throne of Grace with suit after suit and to go away with all we can from God that is so ready to hear Prayer and to go as far as ever we can or dare in asking and to fear to provoke God then especially when we pray to him and to desire of God that he would not be angry with us nor with our Prayers 8. To go about our ordinary Employments when we have been with God as he allows taking in such Cautions as are duely to be observed 9. To be familiar with God and to commune sweetly with him in Prayer as he does with us in his gracious Answers Now what help may be afforded to these things by the following Treatise is with the Lord to give and with his Servants to pray for A Childe when lifted up upon a Giants shoulders may be carried for above his own strength A withered Hand may be stretched out if Christ say the word Weak things the Lord sometimes chuseth to bring mighty things to pass by If the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon go together what may not a little strength do An Host of three hundred men that lap water with their Pitchers and Lamps what an Army of Midianites may not fall before them I dare not say any thing of the Work nor of the success of the Work being in Gods hand onely shall pray That the blessing of the God of Heaven may go along with it That Christ may smile upon it and as Constantine would stoop so low as to kiss Paphnutius his Eye that he could not see with so that the Lord Jesus would be pleased to condescend so far as to give a sweet kiss of favour to this maimed Work I had not thought that any thing of mine should ever have seen the light more but the short Notes put forth before concerning that awfull Subject of The Last Judgement finding acceptance with some of the Saints here and with some elswhere though so unworthy of such a tremendous Subject yet I have adventured a little before I dye to set forth this as being the words of a dying man and of such an one as expects death daily if so be that such words may sink more deeply And if any Souls may be prevailed with to get nearer God and to have more sweet communings with his Majesty and prevail more through Christs Intercession by their faith in Prayer and thereby declare themselves the true and genuine Children of Abraham and my own heart be carried up more Heaven-ward and Christ-ward by it I have enough and shall judge that I have not lost my labour No words are lost no labour lost that bring us nearer God and nearer Heaven Reader The brief Heads of the following Discourse or at least the principal of them are hinted at in this short Epistle Reade them Learn them Pray for a blessing upon them distill them into the sweet water of the Practice of Godliness We know no more then we do The life of Reading is in the performance of our duty in what we learn Words are but empty sounds except we draw them forth in our lives Printed Books will do little good except
dares not ask any thing that is dishonourable to the Name of God but though he take upon him to speak to the Lord yet it is an holy boldness he requests for nothing but that that may well stand with holiness to desire and with Gods holiness to grant 8. It is a boldness full of love to those we pray for Abraham was bold with God but his love carried him out to make so bold with him he was earnestly desirous that Sodom might be spared and it was out of tender love to the Righteous that he thought might be amongst them Quest 3. Why may Believers be thus bold with God in praying to him Ans 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves First From the Lord. 1. He hath bidden us come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 2. He hath given Christ Jesus to be a great High Priest and one that is tenderly sensible of our infirmities and therefore encourageth us to be bold in our suits to him ver 14 15. 3. He hath shewed himself willing to hear Prayer as here to Abraham so Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come 4. He hath promised that we shall obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 We shall not lose our labour but have what we come for at the best time Secondly From Believers 1. They are friends of God as Abraham and therefore may be bold with him 2. They shall have all that they ask in Christs Name Mat. 21.22 John 16.23 3. They have an Advocate with the Father to plead for them 1 John 2.2 and that perfumes their prayers with his intercession Rev. 8.3 4. They are near to him and therefore may be bold with him Psal 148.14 Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They delight him Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 and therefore may be bold with him 2. They are better to him then all Ceremonies though never so costly Psal 50. 3. They come up as a memorial before him Acts 10.4 4. They are spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore we may well be bold with him in our prayers to him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how delightful Believers are to God seeing they may be so bold with him in the Prayers that they put up to him They that are bold with Princes as Favourites be are the delights of those Princes else they durst not be so bold with them So Believers must needs be Gods delight seeing they are and may be so bold with him in praying to him Cant. 7.6 How fair and pleasant art thou O love for delights Hence it is that the Lord calls his Church Hephzibah My delight is in her and Beaulah that is Married for as a Bridegroom delighteth over his Bride so he delighteth over his people Isa 62.4 5. They have his heart and are his delight they are the desire of his eyes and that which his heart is set upon It is so with a mans wife and much more with Believers that are espoused and married to the Lord. 2. We see what great honour God puts upon Believers that are and may be so bold with him Every one may not be bold with a King to present their Suits and Supplications before him they are honourable ones and such as he delighteth to honour that may be so bold as to take upon them to speak to him Oh how honourable then are they in the sight of God and how does he delight to honour Believers that take the boldness to take upon them to speak to the Lord They are the Noble ones and the great Peers of his Kingdome how-ever they be little in their own eyes and style themselves but dust and ashes yet they are great in his account and he styles them Excellent and Honourable ones Psa 16.2 3. and Prov. 12.26 farre above other men they are the Grandees in his Court and Kingdome 3. We see that when they come to glory they will be farre greater then now they are for here their honour is much veiled by sin they are black and the Sun hath looked upon them and their honour is stained by the afflictions they suffer the Devil and the World cast all the dishonour they can upon them as they did upon Christ Jesus as he sayes Joh. 8.49 but God honours them here and if so much more will he honour them when they come in Heaven Here they are bold with God and it is their honour so to be but no honour like to that when they shall be ever with him and see his face and by that Beatifical Vision shall be made like to him and bear the Image of the heavenly one 1 John 3.2 1 Cor 15.49 4. We see how marvellously the Lord condescends to dust and ashes that they that have that style may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak to the Lord Oh how low does he stoop to such no humility like his This is not the manner of men this is not the manner of great Princes to come thus low but God would teach them and teach us all to condescend and become low and shews himself a pattern of humility that we may be the more ashamed of our pride and learn to stoop of such a great one as he is Psal 113. 5. We see a reason why some Believers have made so bold with some great men in some cases and have spoken so freely to them as Dan. 3.16 5.17 2 Chron. 16.7 8 9. 25.16 They that may be so bold with God and take upon them to speak to him may be bold much more with men when called to it if with the potter then with the clay if with the great God in our suits to him much more with the greatest of men when there 's cause for it 6. We see that when at any time we are to pray to him we should alwayes bear this in our minde That we go to a gracious King and a kinde Father and therefore may be humbly and and reverendly bold with him as Abraham was We do not go to a Prince that will terrifie us with his looks that will fright us with his words that will drive us from his presence but to such an one as does encourage us to be bold with him in Christs Name He is that Friend at Court that we are more bold then welcome and that he will see to it that we shall have a gracious answer Joh. 14.13 14. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they are no friends of God and therefore cannot be bold with him they have no acquaintance with him but are strangers and enemies to him and how should they take upon them to speak to him Vse 3. for Humiliation 1. That we are too rude and come with less reverence then becomes us in his Presence with whom we have
sue for He is abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 and this way shews it It is observed of Solomon that he gave the Queen of Sheba all that she asked besides what he gave her of his royal bounty 1 Kings 10.13 and he honoured himself in so doing How then does God honour himself in giving us all our desire and what we ask there 's no Royal bounty like his he grants like a King and like Himself Other Kings have their Royal Grants but none such as his are Secondly From his Servants 1. They expect his hearing of their Prayers and a grant of their desires from him and wait patiently upon him and this gets a grant Psal 40.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry There 's nothing lost by patient waiting at the Courts of Kings the desires of such are granted at last much less is any thing lost by waiting upon the Lord he will come with a full hand at last and we shall have a full grant of what we sue for The Husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth and at length hath them so shall we by waiting have the precious blessings of Heaven brought in to us 2. They believe that they shall be heard and a Royal Grant bestowed upon them and this prevails Mat. 21.22 Faith is a Key that opens all Locks though Mercies should be locked up from us yet this Key will make way for the bringing them forth to us Knock and it shall be opened to you Mat. 7.7 The door of Mercy may be fast barred and locked but a knock by Faith will open it to us and open all the Treasures of his bounty for us that we may share in them 3. They are unwearied in their desires and that gets a grant The woman of Canaan would not be discouraged nor faint at so many denials and repuâ—ses but went on in an unwearied course of suing and pleading and this got a grant of what she asked and what she would Mat 15.28 They that are not weary in their desires may have what they will God cannot tell how to deny such If we be not weary of asking God will not be weary of giving and granting This crowns our Desires and brings in all to us We want not blessings so long as we want not knees to bow to him 4. They wrestle for a grant of their desires and so prevail and become Princes with God Gen. 32.28 and what that wrestling was we see Hos 12.3 4. They that wrestled in the Olympick Games if they got the Victory were crowned much more shall they be crowned with a Royal Grant from Heaven that wrestle and prevail with God 5. They ask according to his will 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and that prevails Our Requests when bounded within the compass of Gods will obtain every thing at Gods hand Esthers Petitions were bounded within the compass of the Kings will If it please the King and If I have found favour in the sight of the King grant me this and that Esth 5.8 7.3 and whatever she thus asked she had a grant of it So when we pray and frame all our Petitions according to his will he hears and grants all that we thus sue unto him for 6. They ask earnestly and fervently and that prevails Jam. 5.16 How earnest and fervent was Elias and what an answer had he from Heaven 1 Kings 18.36 37 38. Fervent Prayer like fire ascends to Heaven and gets a grant there of all we ask and of all that is the desire of our hearts we need never doubt of the speeding of our Prayers if offered up with this fire This Incense as it is Psal 141.2 will ascend to God and to his Throne and finde acceptance Thirdly From the Duty of Prayer 1. It is a Sacrifice Heb. 13.15 1 Pet. 2.5 and the Sacrifices that were offered up under the Leviticall Law were accepted and were of asweet smelling savour unto God and so is this of Prayer by Jesus Christ His Incense perfumes our Prayers Rev. 8.3 2. It is the lifting up of the Soul Psal 25.1 and this holds out desire and delight and earnest expectation and hope of having what is sued for as Deut. 24.15 the poor man is said to lift up his soul to his hire and wages which is translated He sets his heart upon it so in Prayer we lift up our soul to God to have those things we ask granted to us and such a lifting up of the soul to God gets a grant from him 3. It is compared to the Incense Psal 141.2 Let my prayer come before thee as the Incense now that was of a sweet savour and ascended upward So our Prayers are sweet to God and ascend unto his Throne are accepted and get a grant 4. It is compared to the Mincah or Offering that was boiled in the Frying-pan Psal 141.2 which was boiled in oyle and offered in the evening Our Prayers being boiled in the oyle of the Spirit and we praying in the holy Ghost Jude ver 20. these Prayers are accepted of God and get a grant of all we ask through Jesus Christ Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a broad difference there is between our God and the Idols that others pray unto Our God is a God hearing Prayer but Idols cannot hear Baal's worshippers 1 Kings 18.26 called from morning to noon saying O Baal hear us but there was no voice nor any that answered So Isa 16.12 Moab shall go to his sanctuary to pray but shall not prevail Idols have ears but they hear not Ps 115.6 but our God that we pray to hath an hearing ear and grants us all that we sue unto him for never any had cause to say that he turns a deaf ear to them when they pray aright his ears have alwayes been open to their Prayers 1 Pet. 3.12 2. We see what great encouragement we have to come to him Psal 65.2 we may go when we will and be sure to speed we may pray as often as we will and have our desires granted he will not turn away from us but give us what we come for Some Princes will chide away those that sue to them as Pharaoh did the oppressed Israelites Exod. 5.17 18. but our God that we sue unto never discourageth them that make suit and supplication to him but gives them all the encouragement that may be is found of them when they seek him when they search for him with all their hearts Jer. 29.13 they shall never go away empty from his doors but go loaden with their laps full with their hearts full and all their defires like the widows vessels 2 Kings 4.6 shall be filled full we shall never say we have gone to God but we have got something there 's a rich Treasury in Heaven and we have carried away not a little from it 3. We see what cause we have to bless the Lord for his bounty to us in granting our
that in our Prayers that we cannot see our selves He sees sin where we see none he hath a quick eye to look into the obliquities and iniquities of our Prayers A little blemish is seen in the face so if there be but any blot or spot upon the face of the duty his pure eyes spies it out Psal 44.20 21. there is not the least mote but he takes notice of not the least spot but his eye is upon and that wherein we think we do well he knows to be evil James and John thought they did well in desiring that they might do as Elias did to call for fire from heaven to consume those that would not receive their Master and ours but what sayes he to them Ye know not what spirit you are of He saw that that they thought zeal to be wilde-fire he knew that that which they judged to come from love to their dear Master was but a spark of their own kindling and no love in the bottom of it neither to Christ nor themselves much less to those men that they wished so ill to And may not Believers be justly afraid that God will be angry with such Prayers 2. He hath been angry with the Prayers of others and long angry Psal 80.4 and therefore they fear he may be angry with their prayers When Princes are angry with some that sue to them others are afraid that they may be angry with their suits also so it is in this case between God and us If a father be angry with some of his Children he may be angry upon the like grounds with the rest so may God and that may make the rest to fear that he may be angry with them 3. He withdraws himself sometimes from his people when they pray to him Lam. 3.8 44. and that 's a ground of his being angry at their prayers and this makes them afraid that he is angry with them Job complained of this Job 30.20 I cry unto thee and thou dost not hear me I stand up and thou regardest me not When a Prince withdraws from a Suppliant and regards him not it is a sign of his anger and he fears he is displeased with him so it is in this case between God and us 4. He sees that we too often restrain prayer before him and thereby cast off fear Job 15.4 and that makes him angry and when we consider of it that makes us afraid that he is angry with our Prayers that we are so slack in Solomon sayes As vineger to the teeth and smoke to the eyes so is a slothful messenger to him that sends him If our Prayers which are the Souls messengers be slothful and we slack our pace in them God will be displeased and we may well fear that he will be angry with them Secondly From our selves that pray 1. We sometimes distrust Gods power and that makes him angry and makes us afraid that he is angry with our Prayers Mark 9.22 he doubted of Christs power to heal his son 2. We sometimes distrust his will as the Leper did though he did believe his power Mat. 8.2 and that is a just ground of his anger and that that makes us afraid that he may be angry with our Prayers 3. We sometimes ask that that God resolves he will never give Thus Moses did that desired God that he might go over Jordan and see that good Land which God was angry with him for Deut. 3.25 26. Two things hindred the granting of his desire 1. God was provoked at the Waters of Strife and threatned he should not bring his people into that Land Numb 20.12 2. He appointed Joshua to be the man wherein was a mystery for he was a Type of Jesus Christ that brings us into Heaven that Canaan was a Type of Now for Moses to desire that that God upon such just grounds denied it could not but displease him and make him angry and so may we well fear that God will be angry with our Prayers when we desire that of him that he is resolved not to give us 4. We desire that sometimes that is not good for us and that will make God angry with our Prayers for no good thing he will withhold from us Psal 14.11 and 34.10 but if we ask any thing that is not good for us and he sees it will hurt us rather then do us good he will be angry with our Prayers Thus for Jonah to desire once and again that God would take away his life from him Jonah 4.3 8. which could not be good for him could not but displease him and when we ask that which is not good for us we have ground to fear that he will be angry with our Prayers 5. We sometimes desire that that will be hurtfull to others as it would have been to the Ninevites if Jonah had had that that he desired for then they had all been destroyed So James and John if they had had their desire what would have become of those non-entertainers of Christ Luke 9. and if we do so and desire the hurt of others may we not justly be afraid that God will be angry with our Prayers 6. They sometimes desire that that may be satisfaction to their own lusts as Jonah desired Ninevehs destruction rather then that they should be spared upon their repentance because his Credit lay at the stake having denounced the overthrow of it within forty dayes Here the lust of Pride was too predominant in the good Prophet Jonah 4.1 and can we wonder that God should be angry with such Prayers Pride stepping in to such a duty marres the duty and makes God angry Thus many will pray against such and such men wherein they vent their pride and passion and how can God be pleased with such Prayers they may well fear he will be angry with them If a man should be proud before a Prince when he comes to Petition to him would not the Prince be angry with such Petitions So here Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that there is no cause for us to glory in our prayers that we bring before the Lord for if we look seriously into them we may see cause to fear that God may justly be angry with them or if we our selves should not see such cause yet Gods pure eye cannot but see enough in the best Prayers we make for which he may be displeased with us There would be no standing if he should mark what we do amiss when we pray to him Ps 130.3 there will be some blot cleaving to the best service we present him the best fire will bring some smoke and soot and when our Prayers are most fervent with the fire of the Spirit they have some defilement like soot and smoke that comes from it 2. We see how humble we should be and how low we should lye before the Lord both before we pray and in prayer and after we have done the duty for we may well fear that
bold with him Isa 64.7 5. He makes account that such cast off fear as restrain prayer and are not bold with him Job 15.4 and Believers are loth to have that imputed to them for faith and fear go together Heb. 11.7 6. He alwayes makes us the more welcome the more bold we are with him when we pray to him Abraham lost nothing by taking upon him to speak unto the Lord and being further bold with him A bold friend findes hearty welcome from men much more from the Lord they that sue oftenest speed the best Secondly From our selves 1. We sue to a God who hath said that we shall not seek his face in vain Isa 45.19 and therefore may be bold with him and make further bold 2. We sue to him who hath given out that great word Isa 45.11 Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command me which none of us durst have thought of had not he spoken it 3. We sue to him that hath said Psal 81.10 that if we be so bold as to open our mouthes wide and enlarge our desires he will fill and satisfit them 4. We go to him who is the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 and therefore can supply us abundantly What cannot that God of all grace bring in to us All grace is more then Rich grace A man may be Rich and yet not have All but God is not onely Rich in grace but the God of all grace and therefore can make all grace to abound towards us 5. We sue to him who will never send us empty away who turns none away from his doors without relief His suiters shall never go sad away from him He sends the rich empty away that think they need nothing Luke 1.53 but filleth the hungry with good things 6. We go to him that hath said that Every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.8 and therefore we may be bold and further bold with him We may be bold to think that he will not be harder to us then he is to every one Thirdly From the nature of Believers boldness 1. It draws us nearer unto God and that God delighteth in we get near to the Throne of Grace 2. It makes a man go out of himself more and see what need he hath of supplies from Heaven and that 's a gracious frame of heart 3. It lets us see our own unworthiness Gen. 32.10 11. Luke 15.21 and that God takes pleasure in 4. It holds up our friendship with God and assureth us that we are his friends in that we make so bold with him Jam. 2.23 5. It is the very Suburbs and Gate of Heaven for they in Heaven can be holily bold with the Lord Dan. 4.17 6. It is a blessed fruit of Christs Ascension Heb. 4.14 16. Upon all which grounds Believers may be bold and further bold with him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a gracious God we sue to that we may be bold and further bold with in our requests that we put up to him He proclaimed his Name thus of old The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 2. We see that Believers have great interest in him that may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak again and again thus to him 3. We see that great is the friendship that is between God and Believing Souls Great hath been the friendship that hath been between some men but none like this between God and his believing ones 4. We see that to be bold with God and to be further bold with him in our requests that we put up to him is an argument that God is very near to us and we very near and dear to him 5. We see that surely we shall be near indeed to him in heaven when faith is turned into vision 6. We see that if we make so bold with him here in praying to him Oh what holy boldness shall we have with him when he clasps us in his Everlasting Arms and puts us into his Bosome to all Eternity 7. We see that though Believers are the modestest men that are yet they are the boldest men also for they can take upon them to speak to God and to be further bold with him 8. We see that no men nor Devils shall be able to dash them out of countenance for they can be bold with God himself 9. We see a reason of that in Ephes 6.16 That that makes us bold with God will make us victorious over the wicked one 10. We see how bold we should be in a good cause and for a good conscience as Peter and John Acts 4. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they cannot be bold this way though they make too bold with him by sin Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are not so bold with him as they may Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be holily bold 2. Believe 3. Fear him 4. Be friends to him 5. Apply Christs Ascension 6. Walk with him 7. Love Christ Verse 31. Peradventure there shall twenty be found there Doct. XXIV THat Believers in making suit to the Lord improve Gods bounty and mercy all that ever they can in behalf of others that they sue for Abraham found God merciful to Sodom that if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared the whole place for their sakes then afterwards if there had been five and forty then if there had been forty then if there had been thirty and had a grant so far and now having obtained so much mercy he improves it yet further to twenty Peradventure there shall twenty be found there he will try yet further what the Lord will do Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rom. 10.12 and that Riches of his mercy is inexhaustible we cannot empty the treasure of it nor draw the fountain of it dry it is a Spring that is alwayes full and therefore we may improve it all that ever we can A rich Myne may be digged into and a rich Treasure may be made use of and a full Fountain drawn So here 2. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think Eph. 3.20 and therefore we may improve it to the utmost and ask high of him Our desires are scant our thoughts are narrow to that large bounty and mercy that he can impart to us 3. He is such a full one that the whole earth is full of his mercy Psal 119.64 and that that fills the whole earth we may well improve for those that we pray for We may have enough of that that the whole earth is full of 4. His thoughts and wayes of mercy are not like our thoughts and wayes but as the heavens are higher then the earth so are
his wayes higher then our wayes and his thoughts then our thoughts Isa 55.8 9. Psal 103.11 and therefore we may well improve it to the utmost 5. He is infinite in mercy as well as in his other Attributes Psal 145.3 147.5 and therefore we may improve it what we can and as far as our finite natures can go this way 6. He delights in mercy Mic. 7.18 and that that he delights in that should we delight to improve to the utmost and he will also delight in our improvement of it as he did all along in Abrahams here Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have experience of his mercy to themselves and therefore improve it all they can in behalf of others Abraham found the Lord merciful to himself and therefore improves mercy for others 2. They are of a merciful disposition to others Righteous and Merciful men are coupled together Isa 57.1 Now being of a merciful disposition hence it is that they do improve the the Lords mercy what they can for them 3. Believers have a promise that being merciful they shall obtain mercy Mat. 5.7 and that themselves shall be no losers by it and therefore may well improve the Lords mercy for others 4. They know that it's Gods will that they should love mercy Mic. 6.8 and this way they shew their love of mercy in improving Gods mercy to others 5. They are good stewards of the manifold grace of God and this way shew it by improving the mercy of God in behalf of others as well as for themselves 6. They are like God and he is communicative and so are they in improving his mercy as far as may be for the good of others God is good does good Psal 119.68 and the further a sweet Fountain runs the better it is Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They often prevail for others as well as for Believers themselves Abraham missed not of one of his desires for wicked Sodom 2. Their Prayers if they should miss for others yet will return into their own bosomes Psal 35.13 3. Their Prayers pierce heaven 2 Chro. 30.27 4. They have a kinde of soveraignty with them Isa 45.11 5. They bring the Lord to our beck Isa 58.9 6. They are never in vain Isa 45.19 and is not such mercy worth the improving Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how full of love Believers are to others that are so willing to improve the Lords mercy so farre for their good Abraham desires mercy for Sodom if there were but twenty righteous found amongst them Faith and Love ever go together lodge in the same breast and take up together in the same heart 2. We see that Believers are not all for themselves but very desirous that others should partake of the Lords mercy with them Faith is a communicative grace and does not centre within it self Gal. 5.6 3. We see how precious Believers should be in our eyes for they are such as do all they can to make others partakers of Gods mercy Mal. 3.17 Jewels communicate their beauty to others as well as retain it within themselves 4. We see how Believers resemble God himself he is good and does good Psal 119.68 and so do they 5. We see that they that share in the Lords mercy themselves are not so content but would have others partake in it also and therefore so desire it for them 6. We see what love will be in heaven if Believers have so much here on earth there 's all love there 1 Cor. 13.8 7. We see that the Lords mercy is a rich Myne and Treasure seeing it may be so improved and Believers do so desire to improve it for others 8. We see what improvement we should make of Gods mercy to our selves 9. We see that Believers do well in fulfilling the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 10. We see what longings we should have after heaven for then the Lords mercy will be fully manifested Jude ver 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to those that share not in this mercy Vse 3. for Humiliation that we fall short in our duty this way Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To evidence our Faith this way 2. To improve his mercy for our selves 3. To look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life Jude ver 21. 4. To honour Believers 5. To Pray Luke 17.5 6. To give the Lord the glory of all his mercy Verse 31. And be said I will not destroy it for twenties sake Doct. XXV THat the Lord doth exceedingly condescend to his believing Suppliants in praying to him and improving his mercy in behalf of others So does the Lord here Abraham desires that if there be but twenty Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and God condescends to him in his request and sayes he will not destroy it for twenties sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suppliants 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is a God ready to forgive Neh. 9.17 Psal 86.5 and not to inslict punishment especially when sued unto by Believers See Exod. 32 11.-14 Numb 14 13-21 2. He prepares their hearts and then causeth his ear to hear Psal 10.17 He that gives heart-preparation he ever lends a listening ear 3. He provides for the Ravens when his young ones cry unto God Job 38.41 Psal 147.9 and if he come down so low as to hear them then sure he will not disdain to condescend to his believing Suppliants that sue to him in behalf of others 4. He gives the beasts their food ibid. and they make but an harsh sound they some of them roar as the Bear and Lion and some of them bray as the Ass and some of them bellow as the Ox and if he condescend so low as to hear such noises and voices how much more will he come low in hearing his believing Suppliants whoever they pray for 5. He is a God that is merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 and therefore hears them in behalf of whomsoever they sue for His Mercy and Grace makes him thus to condescend 6. He hears sometimes farre worse then they The Israelites murmured at the Red-sea yet Neh. 9.9 God heard their cry there to save them with a temporal salvation though afterward they were destroyed in the wilderness Jude ver 5. and if he would hear such much more will he condescend to hear his believing Suppliants on whose behalf soever they sue for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have much communion with him as we see in Enoch and Noah Gen. 5.22 6.9 and God will condescend much to those 2. They are accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 and what is it that they may not prevail for he will condescend much for their sakes 3. They please him Heb. 11.5 and such as so do may have any thing of him 1 Joh. 3.22 4. They ravish his heart Cant. 4.9 that one eye of their Faith wins his heart he is taken with it as a Lover is with the beauty of
desires both by his Commandment and Promise Psal 81.10 and what should then hinder 4. They are Princes with God Gen. 32.28 and being such they may well speak largely and ask all they can of him 5. They go to one that is both full and free Gen. 17.1 Jam. 1.5 and therefore they may well enlarge their desires all that may be 6. They are his choice portion Deut. 32.9 his garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 that he drops abundantly his blessings upon The rest of the world may be parched and dry as a wilderness but they drink of the dew of heaven and therefore may gape wide and enlarge their desires for those they make their supplication for Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are heard for much as well as for little 1 Jo. 5.14 15. 2. They are most accepted when the suiters ask most and when they speak as far as they can as Abraham here 3. They have prevailed with men and God is infinitely above men in giving liberally We reade of half a Kingdome that they have come off with Esth 5.3 Mark 6.23 but what 's that to what God gives Himself his Christ his Spirit his Heavenly Kingdome 4. They are none of them lost such Prayers are not turned away Psal 66.20 5. They are the Souls Ambassadors and they effect what they are sent about and negotiate great things for us 6. They sometimes prevail before they are put up and while we are speaking Isa 65.24 Dan. 9 20-23 All which considered what wonder is it that they speak as far as ever they can in behalf of those that they make supplication for Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the tender affection that is in believing suppliants to those they sue for they will go as far as ever they can in their desires for them 2. We see that Believers are onely they that can be bold with God 3. We see that faith and love are sweet concomitants and ever go together Gal. 5.6 4. We see what we are to do if we would make it out that we are true Blievers we must do as Abraham here did 5. We see what longings we should have for Heaven where Love will be in its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perfection 6. We see how far our desires should be enlarged for the distresses of our dear Country-men abroad 7. We see that in all our Prayers we are to go as far as we can with the Lord and put him to it in improving his mercy to the utmost We sue to a gracious God 8. We see what boldness we ought to use in suing to men in behalf of those that we petition for we may put them to it and ask freely of them for they are to be followers of God as dear children 9. We see what a precious grace Faith is that makes us so humbly bold with the Lord 2 Pet. 1.1 10. We see that surely Christ speaks much more for us the Merit of his blood Heb. 12.24 and his Intercession speak aloud for us Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they can speak nothing for themselves nor for others Vse 3. for Humiliation that we are so scant in our desires for others Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour God with whom Believers may be so bold 2. To honour Believers 3. To imitate their faith and love 4. To love the Lord Jesus that speaks good for us Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once c. Doct. XXVII THat the Lord is ready to hearken to the utmost of the desires of his believing Suppliants Abraham besought the Lord that if there were but ten Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and the Lord heard his desire to the utmost and gave it in to him and sayes I will not destroy it for tens sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is never weary of doing his people good though they follow him therefore with suit upon suit and go as far as they can in their desires yet they cannot weary him and therefore have the utmost of their desires given in to them We may weary men Prov. 25.17 but not him Isa 40.28 We sometimes are weary of him Isa 43.22 but he is not weary of hearkning to us 2. He can come up to the utmost of our desires He is an Almighty One Job 42.2 and therefore can give all that we desire of him 3. He hath put it into the hearts of some men to give to the utmost of what their Petitioners sue for as Solomon did to the Queen of Sheba 1 Kin. 10.13 and will not he then grant the requests of his Suiters to the utmost of what they desire of him He is more Royal in giving then all the Royal Kings in the world put all together 4. He hath commanded us to be liberal to our servants Deut. 15.13 14. and will not he then come off liberally to them that serve him and pray unto him surely he will come off to them to the utmost of their desires that they put up to him 5. He fills every living thing and satisfies their desires Psal 145.16 and will he not then give in to Believers the utmost of their desires and satisfie them He will surely do it 6. He saves to the utmost Hebr. 7.25 and therefore grants to the utmost what his believing Suppliants sue unto him for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. According to their faith they do receive mercy at the Lords hand Mat. 8.13 9.29 Now their utmost desires being put up in faith according to that faith those desires are given in to them to the utmost 2. They please him by their faith Heb. 11.5 and if so then surely he cannot but give them in their desires to the utmost that they bring before him What may not such have as please a Prince much more they that please God 3. They are they that are highly commended even by God himself How famously is Abraham spoken of and renowned for his faith Rom. 4. Gal. 3. and Heb. 11. and the Centurion Luke 7.9 and how should it be otherwise then but that the Lord should give them in their desires to the utmost 4. They are men after his own heart as is said of David that prime Believer Acts 13.22 and what may not such have 5. They are they that are familiar with him and keep up acquaintance with him Gen. 5.22 and he will give them the utmost of their desires 6. They are they that have power with God Hos 12.3 4. and therefore shall have to the utmost of their desires granted to them Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are argumentative prayers and they prevail to the utmost so were Abrahams here 2. They are holy prayers lift up with holy hands and an holy heart 1 Tim. 2.8 Psal 86.2 so were Abrahams here 3. They are prayers from a broken heart Hos
workers and do evil with their lips though they move neither hand nor foot in the works that God calls them to labour in 1 Tim. 5.13 Idle persons are not idle in doing mischief but are busie in doing the Devils work but we must do Gods work and not the Devils except we would have the Devils wages rather then that blessed reward that God for Christs sake bestows upon us 3. We see that diligence in our particular Calling is that that God is well pleased with taking in the Cautions before spoken of Let Prayan usher in labour and labour with be very acceptable to God Abraham may go to his place and do what he hath to do when he hath been with God in Prayer It 's blessed work that we go about when Prayer hath begun the work the more we labour then the more smiles we have upon our labour from the God of heaven and when our Lord comes it will be happy for us to be found so doing yea if from obedience to God we are working faithfully we may with as much comfort die at that time as if we had been performing some dury in our general Calling Pray and work hear and work meditate in the Word and work do all so in the duties of our general Calling as that the duties of our particular Calling may be diligently attended to Calvin when full of bodily infirmities and pains would not intermit his labours because he would not be found idle when his Lord should come 4. We see what cause we have to be thankeful that God allows us and looks for it from us that we should labor in our particular Calling whereby we may get those things that are needful for the body for we cannot want these things for the outward man God is tender of our families comfort of our outward man would have us labour for that end and it is his mercy that he allows us to go about our ordinary imployment that we may have our necessary food and things convenient for the body Our bodies as they are part of Christs Purchase are dear to him and he would not have them want any thing that 's needful for them that we may with comfort serve him in our pilgrimage here and though they be but cottages of clay yet he would have them upholden though they be but the sheaths of our Souls as Daniel calls them Dan. 7.15 yet he would not have this sheath marred or mangled but kept in its beauty and comeliness and that it may be so he appoints us to labour that what may tend to the preservation of it may be brought in that the Soul and it while they are joyned together may glorifie God the more chearfully till death make a divorce betwixt them 5. We see that they that abide not in their Calling but step out of it are not safe but as Solomon sayes are in danger to be made a prey of Prov. 27.8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest so is the man that wandreth from his place A mans calling is his nest which while he keeps in he is safely protected in by God and his holy Angels but when he wanders from it Satan that subtile fowler will shoot at him and make a prey of him No safety like that that a man hath when he is in his Calling and no danger worse then that that he exposeth himself to when he steps out of it 6. We see that those Gentlemen that live without a Calling and minde nothing but their hawks and bounds and cards and dice and drunkenness and wanton dalliances are in an ill case and will be found so when the Lord comes God never intended that any mans recreation though lawful should be his occupation much less that his carnal Delights should be his Calling If they say They have enough and need not labour I say So had Adam in innocency being Lord of all the World yet then must labour Gen. 2.15 and after the fall though he had much land yet he was to labour more Gen. 3.19 Yea the second Adam Christ Jesus the Lord of heaven and earth would not live without a Calling Mark 6.3 and after he was in the Ministry how diligent was he Mat. 4.23 Acts 10.38 and are there any so great as he Let me say one word more It 's laid as a brand of Infamy upon those great ones to all generations that when others wrought hard they put not their necks to the work of their Lord Nehem. 3.5 Vse 2. for Terrour to idle drones that God calls to work 2 Thess 3.11 that work not at all or that slack their work how will they look him in the face who hath given to every man his work Mark 13.34 Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that work too little in their particular Calling as some in London and elswhere that would go from place to place to hear Sermons and neglect their Callings I say as Christ said in another case The one ought to be done and the other should not be left undone Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To diligence in our particular callings Rom. 12.11 we shall be more with God if we work more 2. To be ashamed of our former sloth 3. To bear mens reproaches 4. To think sadly of that Mat. 25.30 5. To charge idle persons to work 2 Thess 3.11 Verse 33. And the Lord went his way after he had left communing with Abraham c. Doct. XXXII THat Believers in praying to God are very familiar with him and he with them When they pray and the Lord makes answer there is a sweet colloquy and communing betwixt them For opening of which let me shew 1. How Prayer may be said to be a communing with God and Gods answers a communing with us 2. What manner of communing it is 3. Why God will vouchsafe to be thus familiar with us and let us be so familiar with him 4. The Vses Q. 1. How does it appear that our Prayer is a communing with God and that his Answers are a communing with us Let me speak to the first first That our Prayer is a communing with God A. 1. In that when we pray we draw near to God they that commune together draw near first one to another So Abraham drew near to God in Prayer and so communed with God But of that I have fully spoken in the first Note 2. In that when we pray we come to a reconciled God for else we could not familiarly commune with him Can two walk together except they be agreed sayes the Prophet Amos 3.3 We could not be familiar with God nor he with us except we come to a reconciled God in Jesus Christ 3. In that when we pray we walk with God so Enoch Gen. 5.22 24. Prayer was one path that he walked with God in Now they that walk together do familiarly commune one with another so it is between God and us 4. In that when we pray we
at God but hid himself for ever if God had not sought him and found him out So it is with all Adams Sons they would shrowd themselves any where rather then come where God is Of all such men it is said They call not upon God Psal 14.4 it is from that which is supernatural that we draw near to him There is a Byass upon nature that carries us far from God till another Byass bends us strongly towards him 5. We see how precious Christ should be to us for he is that better hope whereby we draw near to God Heb. 7.19 there 's no coming to the Father but by him Joh. 14.6 but through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 3.18 and who then should be precious to us if not he 1 Pet. 2.7 He is the great Favourite of Heaven that brings us all into favour and brings us near God if ever we get near to him Favourites of Princes bring others into their Presence so does he bring us into the Presence of God and makes us and all our Prayers acceptable Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.15 Oh what a price should we set upon him He should be the chiefest of ten thousand above all other beloveds Cant. 5.10 the Pearl of great price that we should sell all for Mat. 13.45 46. we should have none in heaven but him and none in the earth that we desire in comparison of him Ps 73.25 He is the richest Jewel in the world the fairest Flower in Gods garden the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God the Sun the bright and Morning Star the Day-spring from on high the Treasure of Heaven In a word He it is by whom we draw near to God and bring our suits before him to finde acceptance with him 6. We see what a precious grace Faith is 2 Pet. 1.1 not onely because we lay hold upon procious Christ by it for righteousness and life but because we draw near to God by it when we pray to him and therefore it is that faith is that that makes our prayers for us next to the Spirit which is the principal Efficient of them Rom. 8.26 The prayer of faith Jam. 5.15 and indeed that prayer is no prayer that hath not faith in it though never so well beset with compleat and neat flowers of goodly expressions these do not take with God it 's faith that carries all along sweetly in the duty that 's the sinews and strength the heart and life the cream and flower the choyce and best the marrow and fatness of the duty Oh how precious should we account of it then and especially because we draw near to God in prayer by it Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers They cannot draw near to God nor make any prayer to him to finde acceptance with him they may be near him with their lips but their hearts will be far from him they may compass him about but it will be with lies and deceit as God complains of old Hos 11.12 for it is by faith that we draw near to God Abraham drew near to pray and they that would do so must be heirs of his faith and walk in the steps of that faith that he put forth which is the father of us all Thou canst as well climb up to the Moon as go to God and make a prayer to him so as to be accepted without Christ without faith without Christ thou wantest the ladder and without faith thou wantest a foot to come to God by him No Unbeliever can make a prayer so as to be accepted Vse 3. for Humiliation that our prayers are so destitute of faith or at least we are of little faith as Christ speaks When the Sails of a Ship are full she goes on swiftly and if our Prayers were filled with faith how swiftly and sweetly would they bring in Rich Returns to us but a scant wind spoils the blessed market that we might make A little faith and a large prayer does not bring in that we look for it hinders our drawing near to God Vse 4 for Exhortation 1. To be thankfull to God that gives us admittance into his Presence and leave to draw near to him We would shew our selves thankefull for being admitted into an earthly Kings Presence and that we might have any near approach to him to put up any Petitions of concernment to him Oh how thankfull should we then be that the great God will vouchsafe to give us leave to come before him to put up as many Petitions as we will to him especially considering what we are and what we have been to him when time was Tit. 3.3 considering also what great things they are that we come to make suit for Pardon of sin Peace of Conscience Assurance of his love Heaven and Happiness which no Kings on earth can give we can never be thankfull enough to him for this Heaven and Earth should be full of our praises for this great favour 2. To love the Lord Jesus by whom we thus draw near to God Heb. 7.19 Eph. 2.18 We would for ever love that Favourite that brought us into the Kings Presence and presented our Petitions to him and got some great thing sealed and confirmed to us Oh what love then should Christ have from us that admits us into the Presence of God and presents our requests and mediates for us and sees all done that we desire of him Joh. 14.13 14. We can never love him enough As the Prophet said of Gods Infiniteness Isa 40.16 Lebanon is not sufficient to burn nor all the beasts for a burnt-offering so we may say All the fragrant spices and sacrifices of our dearest hearts love are too little are not sufficient for him that brings us so near the blessed God And though we cannot come off with so much love as he deserves for this yet let us do what we can and give him our hearts Prov. 23.26 And as it is with those that love either men or women they love the very ground they tread upon so let it be with us let us love the ground he treads upon those places that he comes most to Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house saith David and the place where thine honour dwelleth so should we 3. To honour Believers that are so honoured of God as that they may draw near to him They that are frequently in the Presence-Chamber of Kings on earth as Favourites be are highly honoured among men Oh what honour then should we put upon Believers that draw near to the blessed God They are indeed the honourable ones and the excellent of the earth which we should set our delight upon Psa 16.2 3. They are they that the King of Heaven delighteth to honour and when an earthly King honoureth any all his Servants will honour such so should we honour those that God honours by admitting them to draw near to him We should think honourably of them speak
honourably of them do honourably by them put them in our hearts lay them in our bosoms give them all the honour that 's fit for men and under God let them have the highest room in our hearts who have this honour from God to draw so near unto God 4. To pray that when we come before him we may indeed as Abraham did draw near to him If we bring our Petitions near him and our hearts be somewhere else we do but mock God and do not draw near to him if our lips go and our hearts gad if our tongues waver and our hearts wander if our mouthes utter and our hearts scatter we do but lose our selves and lose the duty and all the good we might have by it Pray therefore for such an heart as David had Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed we have naturally unfixed hearts unstable hearts such hearts as will give us the slip and give God the slip but if we would indeed draw near to God we must desire a fixed heart 5. To long for heaven where we shall be near him indeed We have through his grace some near approaches to him especially when he makes us serious and lively in the duty even in this life but it is but a little yet whatever it is it is his mercy that we may come any whit near him as it is in Psal 148.14 that he shuts us not quite out of his presence but when we come in glory we shall be near indeed Oh! how near are the blessed Angels and blessed Souls in glory they have his ear they have his heart they are in his Presence-Chamber in his bosom lye near his very Soul no nearness like that which they enjoy and we shall in a state of glory and this we are to long and breathe for 6. In the mean time to be as near him as we can and as often with him as we may the oftner the better the more walks we have with him the more of the rayes of his beauty will be seen upon us the more frequent our addresses be to him the more of heavens glory will be put upon us God will be seen in our very faces something of God in our very countenances all that see us will say Doubtless these men have met with God and God hath met with them they have drawn near to him indeed there is such radiancy of the divine beauty upon them See Exod. 34.29 30. Vse 5. for Consolation 1. Against our loss of near Relations Brethren Sisters Fathers houses nearest and dearest Friends we in this Country have left these but if we can get nearer God here he will be in stead of all more then all to us he hath the fulness of all the sweetest Relations bound up in him We may take that out of God that we forsook in Father Mother Brother Sister and Friend that hath been as near and dear as our own Soul 2. Against loss of our own Country which is to be esteemed as a mans self Luke 4.23 and should be very dear to us but if we be put far from that and draw near to God all is well he will bring us to an heavenly Country and to that that 's better then what we left 3. Against loss of Life here which is dear to us and goes near to our hearts but if we get near God and have more frequent recourse to him by Prayer of faith his presence that we have enjoyed here is more then life We must have died where-ever we had been and if it be our lot to die in a strange Land we are not a whit the further off from God by it our Souls are as soon carried to heaven as if we had died elsewhere HAving shewed what Abraham did in drawing near to God in Prayer we come now to what he said and handle the words as they lye in the Text Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked Doct. II. THat even among the most wicked Sinners there may be found some Righteous This Abraham presupposeth and it was not without ground for Lot there was whom he knew to be a righteous man and so the Holy Ghost styles him 2 Pet. 2.7 8. There was Obadiah in wicked Ahabs Court 1 Kings 18.3 4. Prime Saints there were in cruel Nero's Household Phil. 4.22 at Pergamus where Satans Throne was there were righteous ones Rev. 2.13 So in the old World The world of the ungodly as it is called when all flesh had corrupted their wayes 2 Pet. 2.5 Gen. 6.12 there was a Righteous Noah Gen. 6.9 So Enoch in that wicked Age he lived Jude 14 15. a blessed man that constantly walked with God as the Hebrew Verb in the Conjugation Hithpael holds out and so Junius and Tremelius render it indesinenter ambulabat Some good there are among the worst and vilest among men some Corn among the Chaff some Wheat among the Tares some Gold mingled with the Dross some Sheep with the Goats some sweet Flowers and Herbs growing with the Weeds some fruitful Trees among Briars and Brambles Thorns and Thistles some Jewels among the Sands some Pearls among a multitude of Shells some gracious Saints among the Wicked Reasons 1. From God 2. From the righteous themselves 3. From the wicked 1. From God 1. He would leave the wicked hereby without Excuse that have had some good examples before their eyes some paterns of piety to follow and yet they would be vile when they had such eminent gracious ones amongst them This leaves them wholly without excuse they can make no apologie for themselves That Servant that is idle and riotous when his fellow-servants have been diligent in their work must needs have his mouth stopt his Master will take no excuse So our Master that is in Heaven will take no excuse from such as having good examples before them will yet be wicked when they might be better Mat. 25.24 25 26 27. 2. He makes these Righteous ones more eminent in holiness by living among such wicked ones Who so famous as Enoch and Noah were that lived among the wicked in their times who so eminent as Obadiah in Ahabs house who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 21.25 If we look into 1 Kings 18.3 it is said that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly What rare Jewels were found upon such a dunghill as Nero's Court Phil. 4.22 The most excellent of Saints have been found amongst the most wicked sinners their black makes the godlies white more conspicuous How eminent was Lot in Sodom 2 Pet. 2.7 8. their darkness makes the Saints light shine more brightly their deformity makes the Saints beauty more to be admired they often prove the rarest men that live amongst the worst of men 3. He permits them to be together till the harvest and at the end of the world he will say to the Reapers which are the Angels Gather up the Tares and binde
among Lions Sheep among Wolves Flowers among filthy Weeds the best of men among the worst We may not look to be all Jewels there will be shells with us that are good for nothing we cannot expect to be all Gold the dross will mix it self with it they that would see so pure a company as to consist of all Saints must go to Heaven for it Our Churches carry a fair face of Purity and they are called Golden Candlesticks the denomination being given from the better part Rev. 2.1 but God knows we are more dross then gold and little do we know what rottenness lies at many hearts if our insides were turned outward Oh what abominations would appear Many a comely face we may see and many a goodly semblance but what Truth there is in many God and their Consciences know and will discover in due time 3. We see what longing desires we should have for Heaven where there will be all Righteous ones for here good and bad are mingled together a few Pearls among a multitude of pebles here and there a Diamond among a number of baser stones one rare one among a thousand of the common sort but in Heaven they are all choice Jewels all Righteous all holy all precious as the gold of Ophir there is no mixture there none enter there that are defiled there are no weeds in that garden no chaff in that barn no Serpent gets into that Paradise no unholy ones ever come in Heaven But of this hereafter 4. We see that God will have wicked men curbed and restrained that they shall not be so wicked as they would be for they shall have some Righteous ones among them He will put a snaffle upon them to keep them in the Righteous shall reprove them and tell them of their sins and seek to shame them out of them so that they cannot be so bad as they would for these are darts and arrows that they shoot at them and strong â—urbs that they cannot be so headstrong in a way of wickedness as else they would 5. We see what a wonder of his Power and Grace it is that the righteous are preserved amidst the multitudes of wicked ones that the little Flock should be kept among such a company of Wolves and Lions that the Lambs are not devoured and eaten up and made a prey of by such beasts of prey that they should be in their company and safely kept this is one of the great wonders that God does and to think seriously of it will cause us to wonder at it 6. We see how justly God will one day judge wicked sinners for they have had some Righteous ones among them whereby they might have been better and therefore they continuing in their wickedness notwithstanding the help that God affords to them to better their condition their Condemnation must needs be very just Vse 2. for Terrour to those that have lived among the Righteous and got no good by them this will be the greatest cut to them when they come to die that is I remember in Cambridge a Thief there suffered death and this troubled his Conscience most That he lived in a Family once where he might have been better but was not Vse 3. for Humiliation That our sins have exposed us to live among such wicked sinners Atheists Papists Quakers Profane persons Sodomites Drunkards Whoremongers Scoffers Railers unquiet devils c. Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To bless God for our preservation among such 2. To do what good we can among them 3. To do as Lot did in Sodom 2 Pet. 2.7 8. 4. To breathe after other fellowship Doct. III. THat God will destroy the wicked but will not destroy the righteous with the wicked in the day of their destruction This Abraham plainly holds out in the words of the Text Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked where he makes account that the wicked shall be destroyed but that God will destroy the righteous with the wicked that he does seem to deny Wilt thou do it No surely thou wilt not do it it were very strange if thou shouldst So that this Interrogation hath the force of a Negation in it We will handle the first Branch first That God will destroy the wicked and then handle the latter Branch afterward For opening of the first Branch let me shew 1. When he will destroy them 2. How he will destroy them 3. Why he will destroy them 4. The Vses Quest 1. When will he destroy them A. First when their sins for quality are Sodoms sins 1. When their sins cry for vengeance and destruction Gen. 18.20 Crying sins bring destruction with them especially when the cry is great that 's alwayes a forerunner of destruction it is posting and hasting and will make no stop nor stay then it comes flying when sins are crying it comes galloping with all speed then there is no delay but it is near at hand and they shall know it 2. When their sins are grievous Gen. 18.20 of an heinous nature of a deep dye as well as of a loud cry When sins are as scarlet and crimson as the Prophet speaks Isa 1.18 staining and dying others then destruction comes Such were Sodoms sins that did destroy them Heinous Malefactors do not escape mens severest punishment how much less shall they escape destruction from the Lord that are heinous sinners 3. When their sins are come to the full so were the sins of Sodom they were at the height and full they were brim-full they had filled up their measure God stayes his hand till this and then he can stay no longer Gen. 15.16 Dan. 8.23 Joel 3.13 Rev. 14.18 19. The sharp sickle is thrust in when the grapes are fully ripe when the press is full and the fats overflow then is a time for the destroyers to come The Moon is never darkened and eclipsed but in the full so the darkness of destruction does not come but when sin is first come to the full 4. When their sins are universal so were the sins of Sodom Gen. 19.4 So Gen. 6.12 when all flesh had corrupted his way then it was a time for the Flood to come General sins bring general destruction with them If the Plague be in all places and be universal it brings great destruction with it Sin is the plague of the heart and if it spread it brings a sore destruction with it 5. When their sins are shameless and impudent so were they of Sodom Gen. 19.5 Isa 3.9 Jer. 6.15 8.12 Shameless sins are running sins when men are past shame they are past hope when they cannot blush they cannot escape when they have a Whores forehead they have the hire of a Whore and that is destruction 6. When they are stiff-necked Prov. 29.1 when no Counsels no Reproofs no Admonitions will work good upon such their destruction comes in amain upon them and speeds its way to them What destruction did God bring upon hard-hearted Pharaoh he
everlasting destruction 6. Remedilesly there 's no remedy but God must destroy wicked men he knows not how to spare them any longer 2 Chron. 36.16 Prov. 6.15 24.1 When the Disease is so desperate that there 's no healing for it the case is sad such is their case that are destroyed without remedy that no Balm can cure that no Medicine can do any good upon 7. Strangely so were the Sodomites destroyed fire descended contrary to the nature of it they had sinned contrary to nature by their fiery lusts and gone after strange flesh and were in a strange manner destroyed So Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and were destroyed in a strange manner Lev. 10.1 2. So Obad. ver 5. the Prophet cannot tell how to express Edoms destruction it was so strange he stands as it were amazed at it How art thou cut off See Job 31.3 8. Lamentably so as others shall bewail their destruction Thus the Prophets did lamentably bewail Moabs destruction Isa 16.9 Jer. 48.31 32. So Christ bewailed the destruction of Jerusalem Luk. 19 41-44 Thus Rome shall be destroyed lamentably so as all her Merchants and Traders with her shall bewail her bitterly Rev. 18. weeping and wailing and crying out for her lamentable destruction Quest 3. Why will God thus destroy the wicked Ans 1. From himself 2. From them First From himself 1. He is a just Lord Zeph. 3.3 and from that Justice does execute judgement upon them and destroy them Just Judges on earth will not suffer notorious persons to live how much more the just Lord 2. He is a God of purer eyes then to behold evil viz. without loathing and detestation and cannot look upon iniquity viz. with any approbation and this purity of his Nature puts him upon destroying wicked ones 3. He sees all their wickedness more open or more secret Jer. 7.11 23.24 Job 34.21 22. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves and therefore destruction shall be their portion 4. He is a God to whom vengeance belongeth Deut. 32.35 Psal 94.1 and the Lord God of Recompences will surely requite Jer. 51.56 Secondly From the wicked 1. They are devoted to destruction Jer. 12.3 Pluck them out as sheep for the slaughter prepare them for the day of slaughter 2. Their sins are very great and very provoking as the Sodomites sins were and such as God will not pardon 3. They are of so long continuance that he is weary of repenting Jer. 15.6 4. They do some of them sin against the holy Ghost as some of the Pharisees did Mat. 12.31 32. and that sin cannot be repented of Heb. 6.4 5 6. and for such there remains no more sacrifice but a fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10.27 Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the woful estate of wicked men living and dying such God will destroy them They may brave it for a season and flourish and seem to carry all before them and think to do great things against the Lord and his Saints but woe to them the reward of their hands shall be given them and this reward shall be destruction Isa 3.11 The Sodomites carried it highly against the Lord and braved it against just Lot Gen. 19. but within a little time showers of fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all Haman braved it against the Jews and thought to have destroyed them all but he procured his own destruction by it An high house falls sometimes with the weight of it so does an high and proud heart 2. We see that we have no cause to fret or be envious at them for they shall soon be destroyed Psal 37.1 2. Godly men are apt to it I was envious at the foolish sayes Asaph Psal 73.3 So Jer. 12.1 2. but there 's no cause if we consider their end Psa 73.17 18. Destruction is their deserved punishment See Psa 37.35 36. the highest Towers have the deepest falls so they that are in highest dignity Princes Favourites are not onvied because when they come down their fall is great so it was with Haman and with other Favourites Sejanus that Tiberius Caesar made such account of but when he came down his ruine was great And this sad Catastrophe have all wicked men though they may spread their Plumes for a little time and therefore there is no cause to fret because of the wicked nor to be envious at the workers of iniquity a sad blow at last kills them 3. We see what reason there is why we should not chuse any of their wayes Prov. 3.31 lest we have a minde to be destroyed with them They that go together in a way of sin ever go together to destruction except mercy step in to save some of them Prov. 13.20 A bundle of Drunkards a bundle of filthy persons as the Sodomites were a bundle of Blasphemers and so of the rest they shall be all bound up in bundles to be burned together They that chuse the same way go to the same sad journeys end 4. We see what a dreadful God we have to do with and what cause we have to fear before him that will thus destroy the wicked How should we fear before him Children fear when Slaves are beaten so should we 5. We see the great mercy of God to any of us that when we went on in a way of wickedness and deserved to be destroyed that yet he would spare us Psal 103.10 As no sinners were like us so no God is like him Mic. 7.18 How easily and justly might he have destroyed us and rendred to us according to our deserts his mercy hath been great that he hath not dealt with us as we have dealt with him and as we have deserved from him 6. We see that we need not be troubled when such men bring their wicked devices to pass and prosper in their way of evil for after all they must be destroyed when they have run their run they will come to ruine Psal 37.7 8 9. 7. We see how much better it is to cut off right hands and right feet and to pluck out right eyes sins as dear as these members rather then to be thus miserably destroyed Mark 9 43-46 Vse 2. for Terrour to all wicked ones how will they bear destruction when it cometh for if they continue and live and dye such there 's nothing else to be expected but destruction and were it onely to be destroyed out of the land of the living here it were something if it were a fruit of Gods displeasure but Oh the misery of those that are and shall be everlastingly destroyed no tongue can express nor heart can conceive what calamity there is in such destruction the wicked Sodomites now feel it Jude ver 7. Vse 3. for Humiliation that we pity them no more for how can we endure to see them so destroyed we would pity a
come off with to those that sue to him Whatsoever they ask shall be granted to them Mat. 21.22 Joh. 16.23 God will not be out-bidden by man what he is delighted with shall have a greater reward then any King on Earth can give Quest 2. How does he hear them and grant their desires that they put up to him Ans 1. Sometimes very speedily Isa 58.9 Thou shalt call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say Here I am which is a marvellous condescendency in the great God and hath more in it then I am able to express it is like that in Isa 45.11 as if Prayer had the command of the great God But withall it holds out his speedy answer of Prayer So Isa 65.24 while they are yet speaking c. Nehemiah got a speedy answer to his ejaculatory Prayer Neh. 2 4.-8 So Ezra had a speedy answer Ezra 8.23 So Elijah had a speedy answer 1 Kings 18.36 37 38 39. Prayer hath wings to fly speedily to heaven and to bring a speedy answer from heaven See Dan. 9.23 2. Graciously Exod. 22.27 When he crieth unto me I will hear for I am gracious As God is gracious to us many other wayes so in special manner in hearing our prayers and granting what we sue unto him for A Prince is gracious in granting the requests of his Suppliants so is the Lord in hearing and granting our requests Prayer of faith is crowned with favour from a gracious God 3. Justly so as to grant all that we sue unto him for Joh. 14.13 14. Mat. 21.22 He hath a full hand and a large heart and will fulfill the desires of them that fear him The Creatures the fuller they be the more they communicate of their fulness the Sun that is full of light and heat the Stars that are full of sweet influences the Sea that is full of water the Clouds that are full of Rain the Earth that is full of good fruits All these communicate of their fulness God is a full one and of his fulness we all receive He is infinitely full and therefore can and will fulfill all our desires and give a full grant to all our requests that we put up to him All the Creatures fulness is derivative and temporary but his is of and from himself and continues a full one to all eternity and therefore more communicative then any then all of them So as our Prayers get a full answer from him and a full grant of all we stand in need of 4. Sometimes wonderfully and to admiration How wonderfully did the Lord hear Joshua in the Suns standing still Josh 10.12 13 14. How wonderfully did he hear Hezekiahs desire in its going back ten degrees 2 Kings 20.4 How wonderfully did God answer Elijah in the two Captains with their fifties 2 Kings 1 9-12 God is a Wonder-working God and sometimes to admiration he hears the prayers and grants the desires of his Servants that seek to him We are not able to count what wonders have been done by Prayer That wonder of the Thundring Legions Prayer for Rain when the Emperour and his Army were in such distress which was obtained by their Prayer was a rare wonder indeed 5. He hears them constantly there 's no time that they come before him so as they ought but he hears and grants what they desire of him Psal 55.17 Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Let me come before him when I will I shall get an answer There are some Princes on earth that never deny their Suppliants but are all upon the giving hand That Emperour that said He never sent away any that came petitioning sad from him was such a Prince Now if Princes on earth will do 〈◊〉 us Oh how much more will God himself at all times grant that that we sue unto him for 6. Alwayes in time of need Heb. 4.16 Let us come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need God does all for us according to our need and when we need a grant of our Requests we shall be sure to have it Wise men will give where they see there 's need much more the wise God When we cannot tell how to be without a grant then a grant comes from Heaven when we know not what to do without it then it is given then the God of Heaven is liberal in his grants to us Quest 3. Why is the Lord a God hearing Prayer and granting the desires of his Servants Ans 1. From himself 2. From his Servants 3. From the Duty of Prayer First From himself 1. He hath promised that he will hear and grant Mat. 21.22 Joh. 16.23 and what he promiseth he will perform what he speaks with his mouth he will fulfill with his hand 1 King 8.24 Men often break their promises and belie with their deeds what they utter in their words but God cannot lie Tit. 1.2 and therefore what he speaks shall be done He will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips Numb 23.19 if he say that he will hear and grant he will make it good 2. He hereby encourageth all flesh to come to him Psal 65.2 They have many beggars at their doors that are bountiful givers Those Courts of Princes are thronged with Suiters where the Prince's ears are open to hear and their hands open to give So it is with Gods Doors many there are that lye at them and with his Court multitudes of Suiters throng to it with their Petitions when Gods ear is open to hear his hand open to give They are encouraged to come when he will not say them nay It is observed That that gracious Emperour Augustus had very many that made suit to him how much more then will our gracious God have many that will make supplication to him 3. He hereby bindes us the faster to himself in love and duty Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts saith Solomon and all look at themselves as much obliged to them that are bountifull in giving to them but Oh how much more does God oblige us to him by those liberal grants that he makes to us We are ready to say as David does Psal 116.16 Truely we are his servants we are his servants and desire that none may shew our selves more faithful then we That Traitor that Augustus was so kinde unto not only in pardoning his Treason but in giving him great things and preferring him to highest Honour look'd at himself as one that was deeply engaged and obliged to him and proved the most faithful and loyal Subject to him of all other ever after So does God binde and tye us to himself in duty and obedience by his bountifull grants that he makes to us 4. He hereby honours himself by having an open ear to hear and an open hand to give and grant what we
Saints upon the golden Altar prevails for any thing and hence it is that he sayes Joh. 14.13 14. and he repeats it twice I will do it I will do it Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great regard the Lord hath to the Prayers of his people put up to him that he will sometimes give them the very same thing that they ask of him Prayer of Faith is that that is very pleasing to him Cant. 2.14 and accepted of him 1 Pet. 2.5 or else he would never give us in kinde what we ask of him it is musick and melody in his ears or else he would not give us the same thing that we desire of him 2. We see with what alacrity and chearfulness we should come before the Lord in Prayer for we are sure to speed and sometimes to have the very thing that we seek unto him for it is but ask and have and who then would not be encouraged to pray to him The little Birds lift up their heads and eyes when they take in a drop or two into their mouthes Oh how chearfully then should we lift up our eyes to heaven to the God of Heaven that gives us not drops but that thing in kinde that we ask of him out of which we day drink abundantly and be satisfied 3. We see what wrong they do to themselves that restrain prayer before God Job 15.4 they miss of many a fair blessing that they might carry home with them yea in the things that they desire that they might enjoy They spare to speak and spare to speed they might have what they would did they bring their Petitions with them They need be careful for nothing could they in every thing make their requests known to God Phil. 4.6 Could men but pray and leave their Petitions with the Lord they might have what they desire given in to them but their restraint of prayer before him causeth a restraint of blessings that might be poured into their bosoms 4. We see that God mindes whatever it is that we pray to him for for he gives sometimes the very thing that we ask of him Princes may sometimes take their Suiters Petitions into their hands but afterward lay them aside and never look into them but our God does not so but he considers well what we speak in his ears and grants the very thing we pray for Prayer is of more reckoning with him then to lay aside the Petitions of his Suppliants and never regard what is contained in them Psal 102.17 5. We see how willing we should be to grant the desires in kinde that others make to us if we be able and have it by us this is to be like God himself for so does he to us Mat. 5.42 We fall short this way but we have no such pattern to imitate as God is and who would not be like to God It is the glory of a man the more he resembleth the God above it is an honour to him that comes nearest to him in Workmanship that is the rarest and choicest Artificer Oh what is it then to come up to that perfection in some measure that is in God himself it's a rare thing to be a follower of him 6. We see that if God give us all we ask in kinde then we are to suit our thanks according to the benefits bestowed upon us If he hath given us signal mercies so should our praises be we should render to him according to the benefits done to us Herein Hezekiah failed 2 Chron. 32.24 25. he was sick and prayed unto the Lord who spake to him and gave him a sign but Hezakiah rendred not according to the benefit done to him We must take heed of such Ingratitude Heathens could not bear unthankfulness Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris Oh how then should God bear it Our duty is to render parallel thanks to Gods benefits signal thanks for signal mercies It is a shame to be behinde in thanks to him who is so much before-hand in bounty to us in giving us the same things we ask of him 7. We see that if God do not give us alwayes what we ask there is some great cause for it either we have provoked him so that he will not Deut. 3.24 25 26. or else it is not good for us Psal 34.10 84.11 or else he hath some greater blessing to bestow upon us as to give Moses entrance into the heavenly Canaan though he might not go into earthly Canaan or else he hath at least that to give which is equivalent and that that may be every way as conducible to us as if we had the thing it self but ordinarily except in these and such like cases he gives us the very thing we ask of him 8. We see what love we owe to him for answering our desires in the kinde of them We would love him that gave us our desires that we asked what love then should he have All the Springs of our love are too little for him But we spake of that before and therefore give but a touch of it here 9. We see that if we inlarge our desires and ask much according to that in Psal 81.10 we may have those large desires granted as well as if we asked but little Luke 11.13 Jer. 33.3 It is all one with a Prince to give much as well as little and it is more to his honour to give liberally then sparingly Oh what honour is it then to him that ever comes off liberally and like himself 10. We see that if he give the same things we ask he hath not bound his hands but he can give more even that that we have not asked he did so to Solomon And if we ask the best things as he did we shall have other things cast in also Mat. 6.33 We go to one that hath enough by him and that hath will enough to come off royally and like a King Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not If they be full of these earthly things they never desire better things such shall get nothing in Spirituals and Eternals that ask them not and then what will their other things do them good Mat. 16.26 Vse 3. for Humiliation that we ask not enough in the best kinde for how rich might we be if we did it would come in abundantly and we should have the thing how great soever that we ask of him in stead of drops and buckets we might have great Rivers flowing in to us yea the Sea it self God himself Christ Jesus the holy Spirit might be ours Peace as a river Righteousness as the waves of the Sea and what not might become ours Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To give glory to him that gives us the same things we ask of him and something addes more Oh how bountiful a God do we make our addresses to his hand is full and so should our hearts and mouthes be of his praise 2. To be full of duty and
ere long must be all covered with dust Princes must return to their dust Psal 146.3 4. Prophets to their dust Zech. 1.5 the Wisest men to their dust Solomon slept with his fathers 1 King 11.43 the Holiest men to their dust 1 King 2.10 David slept with his fathers the Strongest return to their dust as Samson Judg. 16.31 and so it must be with us all and this we had all need seriously to think of and to prepare our selves daily for Job 14.14 3. We see how weaned we should be from all the greatest men in the world what they can do for us for they are but gilded dust they may think to raise us up but in the day of their death their hands are bound and their goodly thoughts perish Psal 146.4 We are therefore to enjoy their favour weanedly for when dust is laid in the dust what can that dust do for us 4. We see that in a way of well-doing we need not fear any man how great soever he is for he is but dust and ashes and how weak is dust and ashes before the wind if the wind of Gods displeasure do blow how easily is such dust scattered and brought to nothing Luke 12.4 Pharaoh Sennacherib Nebuchadnezzar Herod were great Persecutors but they were all dust so are all those that now rage against Gods people and why should we fear them that are but dust and ashes Isa 51.12 5. We see that there is no trust to be put in Princes nor in any son of man for he is as soon taken away as dust before the wind Psal 146.3 4. See how God curseth such Jer. 17.5 and how he pronounceth them blessed that trust in him ver 7 8. Who in his right minde would trust to dust and ashes which any blast will take away Man is dust and as easily carried away as the dust before the wind what folly then like this to trust in him It is as if a man should scrape a heap of dust together and there rest himself and the next puff of wind should presently blow it all away 6. We see what longings we should have for heaven for we are dust here and dwell in dusty houses and tabernacles so the Greek word signifies 2 Cor. 5.1 that house in heaven is made of better materials then dust that building is worth the dwelling in Here we dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust Job 4.19 but that 's a stately house indeed to be earnestly desired after 7. We see how humble we should be in all our holy addresses to God so was Abraham here I am sayes he but dust and ashes But of that in the next Point 8. We see that when our dearest ones leave us and are sometimes suddenly taken from us we may not wonder at it nor be too much troubled for they are but dust and ashes 1 Thess 4.13 14. 9. We see how admirable a workman God is that out of the dust hath formed such a beautiful work as Man is As he is wonderful in counsel so he is excellent in working Isa 28.29 No works are like his Psal 86.8 out of such matter to make such work shews the workman what he is 10. We see what a dreadful thing it is for a man to strive with his Maker How should dust and ashes resist the Omnipotent One Isa 45.9 yet thus do they that strive against his Saints and shall perish in so doing Isa 41.11 Vse 2. for Terrour to those that are Enemies to God How dare dust and ashes thus rebel against him that can as easily blow them all away as the wind drives the dust away Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are afraid of men more then God Isa 51.7 8 12. Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To look at our selves as we are and lye low before God when he afflicts 1 Pet. 5.6 2. To be very serious about our mortality and pray Psal 90.12 3. To lay the death of others to heart Eccles 7.2 Isa 57.1 4. To long to be there where dust shall not cleave to us and we dwell in a better house 5. To breathe after the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.44 Phil. 3.2 6. To hold up these dusty houses as long as we can 7. To beware of disputing Rom. 9.20 8. To come awfully before God in holy duties Verse 27. Which am but dust and ashes Doct. XIII THat it becomes believing Suppliants to be very humble and conscious of their own vileness when they pray before the Lord. So does Abraham here abase himself and lay himself low before the Lord in praying to him Thus the woman of Canaan did she fell at his feet Mark 7.25 Thus Solomon did he kneeled upon his knees 1 Kin. 8.54 Thus humble was David in offering to the building of the Temple 1 Chro. 29.14 16. Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort See also 2 Sam. 7.18 19. how humble he is in praying after God had promised that Solomon should build him an house with many other promises that by Nathan he made to him and his people Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lord God but thou hast spoken also of thy servants house for a great while to come and is this the manner of man O Lord God Humility as it becomes us at all times and therefore we are commanded to be clothed with it 1 Pet. 5.5 so then more especially it becomes us when we are to pray to him For opening of which Point let me shew 1. Wherein we are to express Humility in Prayer to him 2. Why. 3. The Vses Quest 1. Wherein are we to express humility Ans 1. In coming with awful reverence before him thinking reverendly of his Reverend Name Psal 111.9 and behaving our selves reverendly in his presence Psal 89.7 Men reverence the Thrones of Princes and behave themselves with great reverence before them when they sue to them so are we to do when we are to sue to the Lord. 2. In humble speeches to him of our own vileness So Abraham did here so Job did Job 40.4 Behold sayes he I am vile So Jacob did Gen. 32.10 I am less then the least of all the mercies and of all the truth that thou hast shewn to thy servant c. Humble speeches to great men do become us how much more do they when we come before the great God 3. In taking shame to our selves Thus did Ezra Ezr. 9.6 I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God Thus did Daniel Dan. 9.7 8. O Lord Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of faces c. So they in Jer. 3.25 We lye down in our shame and our confusion covereth us because we have sinned against thee If ever an holy blush becomes us then much more when we pray to him 4. In humble
to him that can give us what we ask of him and as often as we come with new suits to him He is a rich Prince and so full of royalty that he will give us our asking though we desire more then formerly Kings know how to rise in their grants as suppliants do in their suits so here 1 Pet. 3.12 2. We see what great encouragements we have to renew our suits and to ask more for God is willing to renew his grants as we do our suits and if we would have something more then we desired at first he is very willing to come off to us and to give us more Would any Prince on earth so do his Court would be full of suiters they would press in for audience and fill his doors and be much encouraged to come Oh how full of suiters should the Court of Heaven then be and what encouragement should they take to ask more and to come with new suits that have such a God to go to that will give more according as we ask and renew grants as we do our suits Psal 65.2 Jer. 33.3 3. We see how truly he is styled A God hearing prayer Psal 65.2 that does thus renew grants to his humble suppliants desires his ears are alwayes open to their desires Princes cannot alwayes attend the suits of their Subjects they have somewhat else to do but God though he be working other wayes creating work and providential work yet he hath an hearing ear to all our supplications and is not wearied out with our suits though renewed nor is his bounty spent though we ask more of him 4. We see what new songs of praise we should present him with for such renewed grants given in to us Renewed Mercies call for renewed thanksgivings and when God is willing to come off with more to us we should think it our duty to give more praise They that get much from a bountiful giver are abundant in thanks so should we to God Psal 71.14 15. the Angels and blessed Souls in glory that have received most are fullest of praises Isa 6.3 Rev. 4.8 5. We see what renewed obedience we should chearfully perform to him that renews his grants according to our suits New obedience as it is most acceptable so it is most suitable to come off with for new grants and new favours as it is that that God requires and prefers above sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 Jer. 7.22 23. so it is that that is meet to be given to the Lord. New bounties from men call for new service so do God's much more call for new obedience 6. We see what renewed love we should shew forth to him Princes binde their Subjects love to them by being bountiful to them in renewing their grants Oh what love then should we express to him that renews his grants and gives in more of his Royal bounty all is too little that we can do this way but if it were as full as the Sea is of water and the Sun of light and the Stars of influences we should freely give it all to him Mat. 22.37 Love as it makes us like to God who is Love it self 1 Joh. 4.8 so it is our duty to grow up in it more and more What do they in Heaven but praise and love and we should begin that here that is in its perfection there Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not and know not how to renew their Requests it is no wonder if these get nothing for how should they when they will not ask Jam. 4.2 Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that are too slack in renewing their suits and asking more at the Lords hands they deprive themselves of many a fair blessing and dam up the flowings of their own praises God might have more glory from them and they more sweets from him could they ask more and renew their suits Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be frequent in renewing our suits and asking still more and more as Abraham here did God is very ready to give more and to renew grants according as we make Requests to him Joh. 16.24 the more we ask in Christs Name the more we shall be sure to receive we may be straitned in asking but he cannot will not in giving 2. To sing new songs for all the renewed grants that he hath made to us If he hath come off liberally to us in granting more to us according to our suits let not us be sparing of his praises Every additional mercy calls on us to adde to our thanksgivings to him Every new mercy bespeaks for praise renewed from us A new Sute of Clothes becomes us and a new Set of Praise becomes us better Praise is comely Psal 147.1 but never more then when God gives in his answers to our Prayers and his new mercies with them 3. To imitate him in renewing grants to his poor ones and if they desire more let them have more Eph. 5.1 2. What pattern like him 4. To be Renewed in the spirit of our mindes and to be new creatures new men and women new favours call for this 2 Cor. 5.17 5. To renew our Covenant with the Lord as he renews his grants to us Nehem. 9.38 6. To long for heaven where we shall praise and love obey our God perfectly willingly chearfully constantly and after a new manner otherwise then we do now in a state of childhood Verse 29. And he spake to him yet again and said Peradventure there shall be forty found there and he said I will not do it for forties sake Doct. XVII THat Believers when God renews his grants to them do not cease asking but yet again follow him with their suits to obtain yet more favour from him Abraham here had his renewed grant That if there were but five and forty Righteous in the City it should not be destroyed for their sakes but he rests not there but still follows on to sue further That if there should be forty found the place might be spared for their sakes Believers like Beggars are not weary of asking but come again and again thither where their desires have been granted and where they have fared well and been kindly dealt with Courtiers that go to a gracious Prince and have their Renewed suits granted fear not to go again and again and to follow such a Prince with their suits for further favour So here Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From Believers 1. From the Lord. 1. He is Abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 the whole Earth is full of it Psal 119.64 and this Believers know and that makes them incessant in their suing to him and after his renewed grants to follow him with suits again and again 2. He is a Sun Psal 84.11 Now the Sun is that that gives out and communicates of its light and heat and influences that it is full of So does God He is a full one and hath enough to supply us with and therefore we
as often as they will they shall be heard God will not be weary of them nor of their suits 5. They pray fervently and fervent prayers avail much Jam. 5.16 Earnest suiters are ever speeders with men much more with the Lord he cannot tell how to turn them off or to be weary of them that pray earnestly though frequently bringing suit after suit before him 6. They pray sincerely Psal 17.1 their heart goes with their lips and he takes pleasure in sincerity 1 Chron. 29.17 Even good men delight in uprightness how much more the Lord and therefore he cannot be weary of such Prayers but must needs grant them Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are pure prayers so were Abrahams here so Job sayes My prayer is pure Job 16.17 2. They are pleasant Prayers Cant. 2.14 and how should the Lord then be weary of them He took pleasure in Abrahams frequent and renewed suits and therefore could not deny a grant to them 3. They are humble Prayers Abraham all along though bold in his suits yet was very humble and God takes it well to see us humble when we pray to him 4. They are zealous Prayers so were Abrahams here and this holy fire ever ascends and prevails when our Prayers are offered up with it 1 Kings 18.37 5. They are argumentative Prayers as Abrahams were and God is pleased when we argue the case with him in Prayer So did the woman of Canaan and got what she would 6. They are inwrought Prayers Jam. 5.16 such were Abrahams here he did not word it with God but what requests he made were inwrought and came from the heart and God was not weary of them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great encouragement we have to come with suit upon suit before the Lord for he is unwearied in granting the requests of his believing Suppliants how often soever they make their addresses to him Psal 65.2 So it is with them that come before gracious Princes when they finde them willing to grant what they sue for and are not wearied out with their Requests that they put up to them they will come again and again and venture upon their Clemency and bring suit upon suit and are encouraged to follow them with their supplications so it should be with us in our suits to a gracious God we cannot tire him out but he is unwearied in giving out grants to us 2. We see what cause we have not to be weary of well-doing Gal. 6.9 for if he be unwearied in granting our desires it were a shame for us to be weary of what he would have us do for him in such a way We are apt to be weary of any thing that is good and are soon tired out but Gods unweariedness in doing for us should make us blush when we are weary of that wherewith we may serve him or do good to others for his sake 3. We see how happy the state of the blessed Angels are that as they never yet trod a wry step but have been constant and unwearied in a way of obedience so they shall keep an unwearied course therein to all Eternity Psal 103.20 21. God hath been unwearied in his favour to them and they are unwearied in their duty to him and this is their height of Happiness 4. We see what longings we should have after that time when we shall be unwearied in our services and duties to him Here we are soon weary and tired out with what he calls for and tread many a wry step in what we do in way of duty to him but when we come in Heaven we shall never be weary more but shall praise and love and obey him to all Eternity This state we should long for and be weary of our weariness in our duties here 5. We see what our duty is to imitate and follow him in being unwearied in answering the desires of his poor ones that sue to us though they should come often to us and bring one Request after another to us if it be in the power of our hand we are to take pattern by the Lord himself and not to turn away our ears from their cries Prov. 3.27 28. 6. We see how unworthy we should count our selves of such a mercy as this is that God should be so unwearied in granting the Requests of his poor ones Who are we that we should bring suit upon suit before him and have all granted This should lay us low before him and we should judge our selves as Jacob did less then the least of all his mercies Gen. 32.10 7. We see what cause Believers have to exalt Grace that goes on in an unwearied course and way of granting what we sue unto him for Heaven and Earth Angels and Men may say Grace Grace for this What loud acclamations are made to Princes by their People when they make great Grants to them Oh what shoutings and loud acclamations then should we make for this great Grace of his towards us See for illustration of this Zech. 4.7 and Psal 149.6 8. We see what height of praise we shall come off with in another world for these large grants made to us here Here we do a little but we do but bungle at this duty of praise here we can cry like children for what we want but in Heaven we shall be men and perform our duty of praise to purpose There Songs will be in our mouthes and hearts and new Songs of praise Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers They get nothing for all this bounty they are weary of praying and God is weary of them and will not hear them Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.30 Vse 3. for Humiliation to the Saints that do not so often put up their Requests as they might nor bring suit upon suit as Abraham here did they miss of many a grant which they might have made over to them for God is unwearied in granting what we ask of him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To love the Lord that is so unwearied in giving out his grants to us What love would we not express to a man that should so do with us Oh! but God deserveth infinitely more 2. To be unwearied in our praises to him we can never do it enough nor long enough till the doors of Eternity be opened to us Psal 145.2 3. To follow him with suit upon suit we shall not lose our labour nor pray in vain This King is not he that can deny us any thing that we ask 4. To be followers of God in attending to all the just desires of friends or poor ones and not to be weary of doing them good Luke 6.30 we cannot follow a better pattern 5. To abound alwayes in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 according as he abounds in mercy to us in his frequent and renewed grants to us and his unweariedness in them 6. To be unwearied in every duty and service to him and men that he calls for from us
something may come or hath come from us for which God may be angry with our Prayers and when God hath any occasion given him to be angry we have cause to fall down humbly before him When a King is justly angry the Subject stoops and abaseth himself if a Father be angry all the Children carry themselves submissively so should we It is said of Henry the Eighth King of England That when he was angry as he often was the chief Peers of his Kingdome would stoop humbly to him how much more should we stoop humbly to the Lord when he is angry at our Prayers who is the great King over all the earth 3. We see the truth of that Rom. 7.21 When I would do good evil is present with me When we go to pray it is good that we do and a commanded duty but even then evil is present with us and we have cause to fear that something may or hath broken from us in the duty for which God may be angry with us When a man thinks to go a right step he takes a wry step that makes him stumble and fall when a man would give a right stroke his instrument sometimes slips and the stroke is wrong when a man would make good musick a String breaks or a Pegge slips and makes an harsh sound So it is when we pray and would tread right in the duty and strike a right stroke and make a pleasant sound like melody in the Lords ears then we tread awry and strike amiss and make such an harsh sound that God is not delighted but angry with our Prayers 4. We see that if we be afraid that God may be angry with our Prayers what cause then have we to fear that he will be angry with us for our other sins that we do too often provoke him with If he hath so much against us for our duties Oh what hath he then against us for our other evils in thought word and deed whereby he is displeased we should be afraid that he will be angry for these If he will be angry with wry steps and trips Oh how angry will he be for deep falls and great provocations if for spots we may fear his displeasure how much more for fouler sins A Schoolmaster if he see a Scholars blots in writing he will be angry but if he see him blurre and blot his hands and face and foul his clothes he will be much more angry So we have cause to be afraid of his anger for grosser evils if he be angry at our Prayers 5. We see what cause we have to breathe after an immortal estate in glory where neither we nor any of our services shall have any blot or spot upon us or them Here we are afraid that God may be angry at our Prayers and that he may see just cause for it our best duties being defiled but when we come in Heaven there will be no blot cleave to any of our services we shall give him no cause to be angry nor shall we fear his anger to be expressed toward us Here in our best duties we sin our beauty is stained our face gathers blackness we have something of Ethiopian hue some spots and speaks are upon us some wrinkles of the old man appear in the face of the best of our performances but in Heaven we shall be faultless Jude ver 4. without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 nothing shall then be seen upon us like a spot or like a wrinkle all our imperfections will then be done away there shall not be a wemme in our garment not a blemish in our face not a speck in our services not any blot cleaving to our hearts and hands there will be no deformity no infirmity no scar no scurf no mole nor any the least defilement shewing it self but we shall be all glorious within and without all fair in respect of Sanctification as well as of Justification all over bespangled and bedecked with those rich and royall graces of the Spirit as becomes such a place and such company as we shall ever be with then never a frown will appear in his face never a lowring look in his countenance never a wrinkled brow shew it self but all smiles and kisses and hearty embraces and amiable aspects of his favour and acceptance of what we perform to him and who would not long for such a day and such a time as this will be it will be the happiest day that ever our eyes saw the sweetest time that ever we could desire the joy of our hearts the Crown of our Glory the Light of our Life the Confluence of all our Comforts the Haven of our Desires after our tossings with tempest here the bright Sun-shine after our rain and storms and mists of darkness here When Paul and his company were tossed in the Adriatick Sea and no small tempest lay upon them neither Sun nor Stars appearing for many dayes and no hope left that they should be saved it 's said that they wished for the day Acts 27.20 29. So after all our troubles and tossings here we should wish for this day wherein we shall see the face of God and shall never see him angry with us any more This is a desireable day indeed 6. We see that if we be afraid that God will be angry with our Prayers here then how may they be afraid of that anger of his that will cast them into the bottomless pit for ever how should such be afraid of the wrath to come Gods anger burns hot here but Oh how will it burn in Hell it's inconceiveable unutterable we are not able to think what his anger will there be Moses in Psal 90.11 challengeth any to tell what this anger is Who knoweth the power of thine anger even when he smites his people here the power of his anger is not known Oh but if so who is able to tell what it is in another world who can tell how hot Hell is and what that Breath is that like a stream of brimstone kindles the fire of it 7. We see what need we have to get Christ to bear the iniquities of our holy things as Aaron did in type of old for the best of us may be afraid that God may be angry with our Prayers Our holy things even our pure prayers have something cleaving to them that we may justly fear God is displeased with and therefore great need we have of that great High Priest to bear as all our other sins so the iniquities of our holy things even of the holiest Prayers that at any time we offer up to God He is that Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1.29 and in him as our persons Eph. 1.6 so our spirituall sacrifices are acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 8. We see that if we may be afraid that God will be angry with our Prayers then may we much more be afraid that he will be
sins Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that too often give God cause to be angry with them as 2 Sam. 11.27 1 Kings 11.9 Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To get God reconciled 2. To pray for others that do provoke him 3. To bless God for Christ 4. To love Christ 5. To long for Heaven 6. To speak as Abraham does Verse 30. Peradventure there shall thirty be found there Doct. XXI THat Believers in every request that they make to God desire to get something more from God then formerly they have received Abraham desired before That if there were forty Righteous found in Sodom that the City might be spared and he had his desire in that given to him and now he prayes again he desires to get something more That if there be thirty found there the rest might be spared for their sakes Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves 3. From the Prayers they put up to him First From the Lord. 1. He hath enough by him to give us more when we ask of him and therefore we may well desire to get something more from him He is a full one and can fulfill the desires of them that fear him Psal 145.19 and if he would not have us send the poor away empty from us when we have it by us Prov. 3.27 28. then we may well desire to get something more from such an one that hath enough by him to give to us 2. He is a bountiful one Rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 and therefore in every request that we put up to him we may desire something more from him Petitioners that sue to bountiful Princes may expect more from them when-ever they come before them So we when we come before the Lord he sends none empty away 3. He calls upon us to open our mouthes wide to enlarge our desires to ask much of him Psal 81.10 and therefore we may well desire to get something more of him as often as we come 4. He loves his people Deut. 33.3 Psal 146.8 and they that love others are willing to give more and more to them at their asking and therefore such as come to them may well desire to get something more of them then formerly they have had So may we of the Lord. 5. He gives to all liberally and upbraideth not when we ask in faith Jam. 5.6 and therefore in every request that we put up to him we may desire something more then formerly we have received of him 6. He Rewards bounty in us abundantly Luke 6.38 and therefore we may well desire to receive bountifully of him and to desire that we may have something more of him in every request that we put up to him Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They are of a noble spirit themselves as Abraham Gen. 14.22 23 24. so Araunah 2 Sam. 24.23 and if they be so royal in giving then Believers may well look that God should be more Royall and desire more of him 2. They have large promises made to them Psal 81.10 Joh. 16.23 and having such promises they may desire when-ever they pray to him to get something more of him then formerly they have received 3. They are the desire of his eyes and the ravishment of his heart Cant. 2.14 4.9 and they that are such may in every request they make desire something more of him then formerly 4. They are his excellent ones Psal 16.3 and though they look at themselves as vile yet they are more precious and excellent in his eyes for that and may desire to get something more of him The more little we are in our own eyes the more esteem we are of in his 5. They are such as are purchased by his Sons Blood Acts 20.28 and what may they not desire in their requests of him 6. They are lovers of him Psal 69.36 and what may not they desire of him they may desire in all their requests to get something more of him then formerly Thirdly From their Prayers they put up 1. They are Odours Rev. 5.8 of a sweet savour to him through Christ 2. They are pure prayers Job 16.17 and offered up with holy hands and hearts Jam. 4.8 3. They are humble Prayers as Abrahams was here Luke 15.21 18.13 4. They are unfeigned desires and Prayers Psal 17.1 5. They are fervent Prayers Jam. 5.16 17. there 's fire in them 6. They are inwrought Prayers ibid. the heart is in them and being such Prayers no wonder if Believers in every request that they make desire to get something more then formerly they have had from the Lord. Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how in an holy wise bold Believers are with the Lord that desire something more in every request that they put up then formerly they have received It would be so with men and is so in our suits we make to God 2. We see that stinted Prayers enjoyned and no other then such to be used fall short of being Prayers of Faith for they ask for the same things and for no more then the Book sets down which have been asked a thousand times over not but that some requests may be the same if some new ones be put in with them for Christ said the same words sometimes in praying as well as in Preaching 3. We see that Faith looks at God as a bountiful and liberal giver Jam. 1.5 6. 4. We see that Believers think they can never receive enough from the Lord. 5. We see that the best of men are indigent men and stand in need of more and more supplies from the Lord. We are all of the craving hand here 6. We see what longings we should have here for the enjoyment of God in heaven where we shall be at the Well-head and never desiring more for here we are alwayes desiring more 7. We see what a full one God is that we make our requests unto Rom. 10.12 Joh. 1.16 8. We see the excellency of Believers above other men they have larger desires then others other men though they have not yet they ask not 9. We see that God hath never the less for all that we have of him for faith still desires more 10. We see that Believers though bountiful yet are covetous in an holy way they desire more Vse 2. for Terrour to those that have nothing and ask nothing Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that do not as Psal 81.10 Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To walk in the steps of Abrahams faith 2. To get something more in every Prayer 3. To long to be at the Fountain 4. To love him that is so full 5. To go often to him 6. To pray here with heart-prayers Verse 30. Peradventure there shall thirty be found there And he said I will not do it if I finde thirty there Doct. XXII THat what requests Believers put up to the Lord wherein they desire to get more from him he will give in to them they shall
have more still granted to them Abraham that had obtained for forty now findes that if there were but thirty found in Sodom God would not destroy it for their sakes Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From Believers 3. From the Requests they put up First From the Lord. 1. He is Abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 and scatters plentifully to those that desire to share in his bounty as Boaz did to Ruth that came to glean in his field Ruth 2.15 16. So doth the Lord when we desire to gain of him and get something more of him then formerly he is so abundant in goodness that he will let handfulls fall on purpose for us if we desire more we shall have more from him 2. As he is abundant in goodness so he does not grudge to give more to us when we desire it of him Men sometimes will grudge to give to them that they have been bountiful to before if they should ask more but the Lord is so free that though we ask more he will not grudge to give it in to us He that would have us in our bounty to do it without grudging 1 Pet. 4.9 will much more do it himself 3. He loves a chearful giver 2 Cor. 9.7 in our bounty he likes it that it should not be grudgingly or of necessity when we can do no otherwise for very shame but that we should come off with it with delight chearfully and gladly Oh how chearfully will he then come off to us in his bounty if we desire more we shall have more of him 4. He abhors a covetous spirit in men Psal 10.3 and if so he must needs give liberally himself so that if we will have more we shall have more 5. He hath given the greatest gift to us that ever he gave to the Sons of men and therefore he will not stick at other requests Rom. 8.32 6. He is never weary of doing good to his servants that sue to him we may weary men this way because they either cannot spare what we desire or have not a will to it but we cannot weary him because he is both able and willing to give in more to us according to our desires Secondly From the Believers 1. They are such as please him and what may not they have of him 1 Joh. 3.22 they may have more at their desire 2. They are his friends as I said before Jam. 4.23 and they may have more given in to them at their desire from men much more from the Lord. 3. They are his precious ones Faith is a precious grace 2 Pet. 1.1 and they are precious ones that partake in it and therefore he will not stick at giving them more at their desire 4. They are they to whom all things are possible Mark 9.23 and therefore he will not deny them any thing if they desire more they shall have more 5. They are they that do glorifie God Rom. 4.20 and he will not deny to give more to them that give glory to him 6. They are such as he hath promised to give all things to Mat. 21.22 Joh. 15.7 Thirdly From the Requests they put up 1. They are fervent and Jam. 5.16 that availeth much 2. They are humble and Psal 10.16 God hears such 3. They are hearty Psal 25.1 and such requests ever speed 4. They are sincere Psal 17.1 and such requests never miscarry 5. They are put up in Christs Name Joh. 16.23 and such requests he will grant 6. They are without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 Luke 18.1 and such requests are ever heard Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that we go to a God that is a bountiful giver for in every request that we put up to him we shall have more given in to us then we received before 2. We see what encouragement we have to pray in faith for never a time that we come to sue but we shall get something more then we had before 3. We see that Faith is highly prized of the Lord it makes an addition to what God hath formerly granted to us 4. We see that the richer we are in faith the more rich we shall be in what we desire of God he will adde something more to what we have had of him 5. We see that they that are most fervent in offering up Prayer to God are sure to have most granted to them 6. We see what high esteem we should have of true Believers they never go to God but they get more of him 7. We see what loads we shall have when we come to heaven 8. We see how loathsome to God they be that will give nothing to him of what he hath given to them Prov. 3. 9. We see that they that are penurious and niggardly in upholding his Ordinances are unlike God who gives like himself 10. We see what praise is due to him from every believing Suppliant Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they shall get nothing Jam. 1.6 Vse 3. for Humiliation for our want of faith and weakness of it when we pray Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To pray in faith Jam. 1.5 2. To expect something more when we pray 3. To honour him for his Bounty 4. To love this liberal one 5. To be liberal our selves to him and his 6. To abhor a niggardly spirit 7. To long to be with him Verse 31. And he said Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord Peradventure there shall twenty be found there Doct. XXIII THat they that are bold with the Lord in supplicating to him they are not ashamed to make further bold with him Abraham said once before that he had taken upon him to speak unto the Lord and to be bold in Prayer and now he makes further bold with him he sayes it over again Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From our selves 3. From the nature of Believers boldness First From the Lord. 1. He loves to see his friends bold with him So it is with some kinde-hearted men they love to see their friends bold with them and not once but often So does the the Lord who is kinde to his friends and farre more kinde then all the kinde-hearted men in the world put all together 2. He calls upon us to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace Heb. 4.16 not once but so often as we are in need and that encourageth believing Suppliants to make further bold with him 3. He will at any time give to importunate Suiters though they should seem to come unseasonably yet if they be bold and in an holy wise impudent so as to take no nay he will be free to give this is held out in that Parable Luke 11 5-8 Importunity does sometimes more then Friendship it self 4. He is displeased when we are not bold with him because we do not take him to be such a friend as indeed he is for if we did so judge we would be more