Saviour saving me my high o Heb. 10. 21 Preist reconciling me my p Math. 13. 10 Prophet and Master instructing mee my q Iohn 11. 52 Pastor nourishing me that he may bee my wisedome r 1 Cor. 1. 30 righteousnesse sanctification and redemption mine Å¿ Philip 1. 21 advantage in lyfe and death that hee may bee All in all vnto mee Blesse mee with thine holy Spirit to bee t Iohn 14. 26 comforter rememberer my u Rom. 1. 4 sanctifier and directer Grant O LORD that I may labour most earnestly to â—ntertaine that good Spirit most carefully conscâ—entioâ—â—ly and continually Blesse me O LORD with earthlie Pray for temporary benefites benefites also according as thy wisdome shall think necessarie for mee I aske them for thy glory for the good of thy Church for my owne necessitie Let mee not want these giftes without the which I cannot well serve but bee so beneficiall to mee that I may bee rather helpfull and comfortable than chargeable to others But grant O Lord that I maye first y Math. 6. 33 seek the kingdome of Heaven and the righteousnesse thereof and then other thinges needefull shall bee ministred vnto mee O LORD teach mee to z Psal 90. 12 number Pray for the best things my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisedome teach mee to a Ephes 5. 15 redeeme the time which I haue foolishly and miserablie lost giue mee grace to be have my selfe as a b 1 Pet. 2. 11 pilgrime a stranger as a sojourner in this earth abstaining from those filthy lusts that fight against the Soule c Titus 2. 12 denying vngodlinesse Grant that I maye liue soberly quietly and godly d Rom. 12. 1 offering vp soule and body an holie living and acceptable sacrifice to thy Majestie LORD let me not fashion my selfe like vnto this world which will surely and suddainlie perish but grant that I may bee changed by renueing of my mind that I may proue and doe thy holy good-will which is perfite and acceptable that I may walke e Ephes 4. 1 worthy of that heavenly vocation wherevnto I am called O Lord giue mee the gift of perseverance that I maye persevere vnto the end that I may be f Math. 24. 13 saved LORD grant that I may be faithfull g Revel 2. 10 vnto the death that I may get the Crowne of lyfe Let h Psal 19. 14 the words of my mouth and the meditation of mine heart bee acceptabe to thee O LORD my strength and my Redeâ—mer Let my life and death bee pretious in thy fight and receaue me in thy rest that I may inherite eternall glorie and endlesse felicitie with thee in thine Heavenly Kingdome to remaine and reigne with thee for ever and ever So bee it even so bee it A DESCRIPTION OF TRVE PRAYER The seventh Chapter THus after the confession of our sinnes after bitter lamentation for the â—ame and earnest petition let vs come to a plaine description of prayer which may bee in this manner Prayer is a principall part A description of true prayer of GODS service wherein a true Christian leaving the earth in his heart and affections ascending into Heaven in his mind approaching vnto the throne of grace presenting him selfe before the glorious GOD hee conferreth and speaketh familiarly with his CREATOR hee offereth a spirituall sacrifice vnto his Majestie he wrestleth with the Omnipotent he giveth a comfortable victorie hee becommeth the a 1 Cor. 3. 16 Temple of GOD the holy Spirit dwelling in him and obtaineth every b Iam. 1. 17 good gift that is necessarie for him In the forsaid description I say Three reasons wherfore prayer is the principall part of Gods service that Prayer is a principall part of GODS service for three reasons first because vnder the name of invocation all the LORDS worship is comprehended as is written in the booke of Genesis Then c Genes 4. 26 began men to call vpon the name of the LORD that is at that tyme the Church began to The 1. reason bee manifest and to exercise the the LORDS publicke worshippe Againe it is said that in Canaan Abraham d Genes 12. 8 called vpon the name of the LORD that is hee served GOD openly and wholly altogether as the LORD appointed by faith obedience prayer and thankfulnesse Contrariely the heathen rebels reprobats atheists vpon whom GOD e Psal 79.6 will powre out his wrath are thus marked that they f Psal 79.7 haue not called vpon the name of the LORD that is they prayed not vnto GOD. Againe the Prophet complaineth that there g Isaiah 64. 7 is none that calleth vpon the name of the LORD as if hee should say there is none that worshippeth thee rightly so it is most manifest that whosoever doe pray truely hee then serveth his Majestie also who neglecteâ—h this duetie is a rebell to the GOD of glory Secondly by reason that prayer The second reason wherefore prayer is the principall part of Gods service is most honorable to GOD seing the supplicant doth ascribe most justly all his holy and true attribute to his Majestie acknowledging the same in all sinceritie let mee remember six of them briefly namely GODS omnipresence omniscience and his omnipotencie also his rememberance his goodnesse and his fidelitie The petitioner honoureth GOD as present every-where with his The true petitioner honoureth GOD as omnipresent owne in h Psal 91. 15 trouble chiefly and more to bee magnified than all mortall and miserable men for Abraham was not ever present with his beloved wife Sarah when shee was i Genes 12.14 taken to Pharaohs house and when Abimelech k Genes 20. 2 sent and tooke her Neither was Iaakob ever present with his owne sonne Ioseph when he was cast l Genes 37.20 in a pit and and after sold to the Ishmaelites Neither was David ever present with Abner but being out of his sight Ioab m 2 Sam. 3. 2 killed him Neither was St. Paul a teacher ever present with the Galatians for after his departure they o Galat. 1.6 were soone removed away vnto an other Gospell they were seduced and bewitched o Galat. 3. 1 that they did not obey the trueth But this is the glory of our GOD vpon whom wee depend and vnto whom wee pray that he is our husband who will marrie p Hosea 2. 19 vs for ever hee will never be absent from vs but at all occasions in every place present with vs so that wee shall not be defiled by the foule aâ—d q Zach. 13. 2 vncleane spirit and be vnspotted r Iam. 1. 27 in this filthy world That GOD is our Å¿ Math. 23. 9 Father to keepe vs continually that wee perish not in the t Iob 33. 24 pit of sin and damnation that hee is our everlasting King to delyver u Luke 1.
of exhortation for to all men is knowne your moderation Your Philip. 4. 5 light so shineth before them that they may see your good workes Math. 5. 6 and glorifie you Father which art in HEAVEN For which causes I haue presumed to present next to his Majestie this small treatise vnto your Wisedomes praying that your succeeding posteritie and all others of this Kingdome may bee earnest followers of your godly vertues and diligent imitators of your pious proceadings for GOD his glory the welfare of this Kingdome the good of your Citie your owne praise and eternall salvation in the LORD IESVS to whose grace and blessing I commend you for ever From Dysart the last of Maij. 1630. Remaining your W. most assured and affection at all power in CHRIST WILLIAM NARNE TO THE READER SOme Writers both Christian and Heathen doe make mention of Gyges his admirable ring August Erasmus in adagii Cicero valer Maximus affirming that by vertue thereof or of the stone therein he received 3 great commodities namely 1. Victorie over his enemies for when he pleased he became saith they invisible 2. He attained to an honourable marriage 3. He gained an earthly Kingdome and so became happie and fortunate This in my judgement may bee but a fable or a tradition without a sure ground or certaintie But thou mayest perswade thy selfe that this is a most certaine trueth a vndoubted veritie without all contraversie that true and earnest prayer is a most powerfull and pretious Pearle by helpe and vertue whereof thou shall surely saue thy a Act. 2. 40 selfe from this naughty crooked and vntoward generation thou shall subdue sinne and thy owne fleshlie corruption thou shall be able b Ephes 6. 16 to quench all the firie darts of Sathan and in c Rom. 8. 37 all thinges thou shall bee more than a Conquerour through him who hath loved thee from the beginning 2. Thou shall get CHRIST IEUS the prince of Glory to bee the husband of thy soule eternally thou shall be joyned in most happy marriage with him vnseparable and most comfortable thou shall become a d Ephes 5. 30 member of his most glorious body 3. Thou shall gaine a Heavenly Kingdome which cannot bee shaken thou shall be e Revel 1. 6 made a King vnto GOD and reigne with Christ in Heaven in all glorie and happinesse for ever and ever I pray thee then to receiue courteously and to possesse continually this Pearle of inestimable worth and commoditie that thou may receiue grace heere and glory in the life to come In through the merits of the LORD IESUS to whom with the Father and holy Spirit bee all honour power praise and Dominion forever ever Amen AD. LECTOREM QVI cupis horrendos Erebi vitare caminos Deliciis Domini perpetuòque frui Hunc lege perlectum decies imiture libellum Vespere nocte die corde precando Deum Quo duce per Christum vita potiere futura Hujus innumeris tu potiere bonis RICHARDUS WRIGHT The Table of this Booke Chap. 1 A Preparation to our confession Pag. 1 Chap. 2. A confession of our sinne and iniquitie Pag. 47 Chap. 3 A preparation to lamentation Pag. 80 Chap. 4 A lamentation for our woe and misery Pag. 138 Chap. 5 A preparation before petition Pag. 164 Chap. 6 A petition for grace and mercy Pap. 185 Chap. 7 A description of true prayer Pag. 206 Chap. 8. A great sinne not to pray Pag. 216 Chap. 9. A grievous punishment not to pray Pag. 228 Chap. 10 Of the good of prayer Pag. 251 Chap. 11 Of the difficultie of prayer Pag. 305 Chap. 12. Consolations for weake Christians Pag. 352 Chap. 13. Of the causes of prayer Pag. 377 Chap. 14. Of the necessitie of prayer Pag. 390 Chap. 15 Of the profite of true prayer Pag. 401 Chap. 16 Of the dignitie of prayer Pag. 407 Chap. 17 Of the force of prayer Pag. 414 Chap. 18 Of the circumstances of prayer pag 434 Chap. 19. Of the signes of prayer Pag. 450 FINIS THE PEARLE OF PRAYER MOST PRETIOVS AND POWERFVLL The first Chapter SEing by the a Psal 124. 8. helpe of the LORD GOD which made Heaven and Earth and by the gratious assistance of his holie Spirit wee are now of purpose to handle that most worthie and excellent matter the doctrine of b Iam. 5. 16. fervent and powerfull prayer It is not only expedient and comlie but also most profitable and necessare that everie one of vs in all humiltie and sinceritie in c Iohn 4. 24 trueth and spirit vnfeinedly first confesse our sinnes and iniquitie next deplore and lament our woefull estate and great miserie and thirdlie that we earnestly beg for grace and mercie Augustin Prius requirit Deus confessionem quam orationem But before wee come to this confession wee will declare three things whereof we must be certainly assured and throughly perswaded first that sinne and iniquitie cannot bee for ever covered next of the great good and profite of confession lastlie that there is a right maner thereof and this will bee for our preparation before confession There d Luke 8. 17 is nothing so secreet saith our SAVIOUR but it shall bee evident neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come to sight Sinne then cannot bee concealed In regard of GOD. but at some tyme must bee disclosed and that in regard of GOD of thy conscience of Sathan and of the nature thereof and of other creatures GOD himselfe against whom it is principally e Psal 51.4 committed and who therewith is highly offended and heavily f Sam. 11. 27 displeased IESUS CHRIST the Prince of Glorie who thereby is g Heb. 6.5 againe mocked and crucified the holy Ghost that sanctifying Spirit is therewith h Ephes 4. â—0 grieved i Thess 5. 19 quenched and k Act. 7.5 resisted even hee who l Iob. 12.22 discovereth the deepe places from the darknesse and bringeth foorth the shaddow of death to sight Hee will who seeth and knoweth all things revealeth wickednesse and m Hos 2.10 discovereth lewdenesse and no man can delyver out n Nehem. 3.5 of his hand show to Nations all filthinesse Againe the conscience cryeth and originall sinne that therein is written Of the conscience at length that o Revel 20.12 booke will be opened all faults vnrepented will bee manifested and the true testimony thereof which everie one hath had in his owne custodie can not bee denyed * Conscientia est codex in qua Chrysost in Psal 50. quotidiana peccata conscribuntur The conscience saith a father is a booke wherein our dayly sinnes are written together An other Ancient compareth the conscience to a contentious woman chyding oftentimes and clattering casting vp secreet sinnes having no discretion nor power to conceale things not to bee revealed Like Samsons wife who could not keepe secreet
si confessio praecurrat humana the revenge of GOD ceasseth if the confession of man preceedeth and in an other place he thus exhorteth Fatere peccata ô homo vt Idem lib 1. de interpellatione cap. 5. veniam consequaris dic iniquitates vt justificeris quid erubescis fateri ea in quibus natus es O man acknowledge thy faults that thou mayest haue pardon tell thine iniquitie that thou mayest be justified wherefore art thou ashamed to confesse these in the which thou art borne An other Ancient affirmeth Gregorius Nazianzen in oratione consolaorta de pacis silentio thus Magnum remedium malitiae est confessio fuga peccati that confession is a great remedie of maliciousnesse and a flight of sinne An other so speaketh Basilius in Hexamero homilia vndeci ma. Septuplam retributionem peccatoribus delatam remittet DOMINUS in hac vita per confessionem ac resipiscentiam à nobis placatus the LORD being pleased by vs in this lyfe by confession and repentance will forgiue that sevenfold retribution objected to sinners dicito peceata saith Chrysostome vt Chrysostom homilia 2. deleas dicito in hac vita vt requiem habeas tell thy sinnes that thou mayest put them away tell them in this lyfe that thou mayest get rest in an other lyfe Absque confessione Bernard 2 â—ep cap 14. justus judicabitur ingratus peccator mortuus reputatur confessio igitur peccatoris est vita justi gloria without confession the just is judged vnthankfull and the wicked is esteemed dead confession then is the lyfe of the sins and the glory of the just Moreover another writeth thus Confessio sanat confessio justificat confessio peccatis vemam donat omnis spes in confessione consistit in confessione locus misericordia est nulla est tam gravis culpa quae per confessionem non habeat veniam Confession healeth confession justifieth confession giveth pardon to sinnes all hope consisteth into confession in confession there is a place for compassion there is no fault so greevous but by confession it will bee pardoned But principally let vs giue attendance August pas sim in multi locis to Augustin in this point assevering Damnaberis tacitus qui possis liberari confessus being silent thou shall bee condemned who being confessed may be delyvered Againe Confessio malorum operum initium bonorum operum est the confession of evill workes is the beginning of good workes And furthermore Confessio nos humiles facit Confession maketh vs humble Confessio jungit nos DEO confession conjoyneth or vniteth vs to GOD Confessio judicat vivos confession declareth that wee are aliue now enjoying the lyfe of grace referved to haue eternall fruition of the lyfe of glory yea that Philosopher Seneca Seneca saith Somnium narrare vigilantis est vitia confiteri sanitatis indicium est It is a token of one awake to tell their dreame and of health to confesse their sinnes And not to bee too tedious in such trie testimonies for concâ—ution of the same wee will offer to your due consideration that fathers saying Ratio DEI inducendi August citante Spinaeo in lib depeccatorum confessione vt peccata nosira excuset ac tegatâ— ea est si ea detegamus ac nos ipsos accusemus nos ille evehit cum ipsi nos abijcimus nos justificat cum nos ipsi condemnamus obliviscitur peccatorum cum nos ipsi meminimus eorum denique nos in prctio habet cum nobis ipsi vilescimus nos invenit cum nobis ipsis perditi videmur pluriminos facit cum nos ipsos nihili facimus â—he mâ—ane most remarkable are the sentences to moue GOD that hee may excuse and cover cur sinnes is that if wee shall vncover them accuse our selues hee exalteth vs when wee cast downe our selues hee justifieth vs when we condemne our selues hee forgetteth our sinnes when wee remember on them Finalie wee are pretious vnto him when wee are vile in our owne sight hee findeth vs when wee seeme lost to our selues and he maketh much of vs when we make nothing of our selues Sicut sumus praecedit incendium sic flammam Similitude fidei charitatis praecedit peccatorum confessiâ— As smoake goeth Primasius in Apocalypsin before burning so confession of sinnes goeth before the flamme of faith and charitie Thirdly Experience showeth vs that the parient will declare his disease to the Physitian the wounded man will vncover his soares to the Chirargion the Client will manifest the weaknesse of his cause or action to his Advocate the poore Beggar will vtter his wants to the helping Passenger and cry pittifully and earnestlie for some support that the child will tell his necessitie to his loving parents that the oppressed subject will signifie his hurt to a gratious King or pittiefull Magistrate Now answere mee truely is not GOD thy perfite Physitian who will heale all thine q Psal 103. 3 infirmimities Is not CHRIST a faithfull r 1 Iohn 2. 1 Advocate who will defend thy right and bee thy reconciliation for thy sinnes to purchase an Heavenly Kingdome for thee Is not thy LORD a most liberall benefactor who Å¿ Iob. 22. 18 can fill the house of the wicked with good things at sometimes and will multiplie his t Hezek 36.11 benefites towards thee more than at the first Is not Hee the Father u 2 Corinth 1.3 of mercy and the GOD of all consolation Will not He satisfie x Psal 91. 16 thee with long lyfe and glorifie thee with salvation Is not He the King of y Isaiah 44. 6 Israell the LORD of Hostes and thy Redeemer Will not Hee looke z Psalm 102 19. 20 downe from the hight of his Sanctuarie out of Heaven Will Hee not behold the Earth that he may heare the mourning of his prisoners and delyver the children of death Wherefore then will thou hide thy woes and offences from him Wherefore will thou a Iohn 8. 24 die in thy sinnes and perish eternally in thine iniquities Why concealeth thou thy cancred corruption for thine owne destruction in b 2 Pet. 3. 47 the day of judgement and perdition of vngodly men or before that dreadfull day Why will thou vexe thine owne soule with continuall griefe and molestation When DAVID himselfe did hold his c Psal 32. 3. tongue his bones consumed fearefully his hand was vpon him continually his very moisture was turned into the drought of summer But when hee did not hide his iniquitie but acknowledged his trespasse then he got remission and so joy and consolation It is written of Creusa by an Ethnick that being troubled in Euripides in Iovem her minde and grievouslie perplexed in conscience to mitigate the extremitie of that vexation shee did vse the remedie of confession and shee did discover her secret fornicatios and did declare openly her whoordome that shee had
and not ruling in my heart powerfully and so many sorrowfull sinners a penitent Publicane may d Math. 21.31 goe to the kingdome of GOD before mee And trueth it is O LORD that I so stubbornely persevere in Malitiousnesse my wicked wilfulnesse that I will not put e Coloss 3.8 away nor f 1. Pet. 2. 1 lay aside my sinfull wrath my anger my envy hatred and maliciousnesse but I delight still to beare in my breast that fire which burneth mee to foster in my bosome that serpent which will sting mee and to keepe fast in my stomacke that poyson which will destroy mee without any regarde of thy wholsome admonitions or of myne owne safetie O righteous Iudge I confesse Intemperance that I doe delight too much for to satisfie the filthie lust of my vitiate nature for by the corruption thereof I haue walked g Rom. 13. 13 in gluttonie and drunkennesse in chalmbring and in wantonnesse and hath not cast away the workes of darknesse Moreover albeit LORD I Pride know assuredly that h Pet. 5. 8 thou resisteth the proud and givest grace to the humble and lowlie yet I doe remaine in my pride and arrogancie I i 2 Cor 8. 1 am puft vp k Isaiah 3. 18 haughtie when in the meane time l Barueh 2. 18 my soule should bee vexed within mee for the greatnesse of my sinne and iniquitie Covetousnesse and I weake in grace should goe crooked who am so wrapped in woe and miserie For I remember with feare and anxietie that I continue also in covetousnesse m Coloss 3. 5 which is Idolatrie which is the n 2 Tim. 6.10 roote of all evill and miserie this o Mark 4. 16 deceitfulnesse of riches hath entred in me subtillie it remaineth in my heart firmelie and chokes the word of GOD within mee It may at sometimes make mee mercilesse without pittie as was the rich p Luke 16. 19 Glutton at other times deceitfull without honestie as was q Genes 24.29 Laban and often hurtfull to my selfe without wisdome as was r 1 King 2. 48 Shimei But now LORD I am compelled to confesse that most abhominable Hypocrisie sinne of my dangerous and deadly hypocrisie O mercifull GOD I haue come Å¿ Isaiah 29. 13 neere thee with my lips and haue honoured thee with my mouth but I haue removed my heart farre from thee I am vtterlie astonied for that I haue spoken t 1 Tim. 4. 2 lyes with dissimulation and haue done deedes deceitfullie I u Psal 125. 4 haue turned aside by my crooked wayes I am plunged in this pudle I am almost drowned in this deluge of hypocâ—isie which is the bane of all grace pietie I by nature am like a beautifull apple rotten within who without helpe of thy Majestie will incontinent putrifie I am like a whyted tombe which x Math. 23. 27 appeareth beautifull outward but within is full of dead mens bones I am like that y Mark 11.13 figge tree which had leaues but no fruit And truely O LORD I acknowledge ingenuously Thou z Râ—â—â—l 3.2 haste not found my workes perfect before a Icrem 17.10 thee who searchest the heart and tryest the reines to giue to every one according to his wayes and according to the fruites of his workes O gracious GOD when I think and consider the infirmities imperfections Sinnes more than the sins of others and sinnes of thy owne servants and of others also where with thy Majestie was displeased and wherefore they were corrected punished their small faults their little and light sinnes if so their may bee any called doe aggrege the hainousnesse the great nesse and widenesse of my most filthie and scandalous sinnes and of my notorious and terrible transgressions Thy owne faithfull Moses b Deut. 1. 37 was chastened for his short misbeleeving at the waters of Meribah and Miriam an holy Prophetesse for c Numb 12. 18 speaking against her younger brother in the matter of his mariage and king Saul and his posteritie were deprived of his kingdome for d z Sam. 15.23 sparing olde Agag and some of the best bestiall yea an honest man of thy owne who did faithfully couragiously and duetifully discharge his calling and being seduced by an other old Prophet because of his eating of e 1 King 13.22 bread and drinking of water in a place forbidden hee did not come to the Sepulchre of his fathers but in the way was slaine by a Lyon Also thy servant Hezekiah who did vprightly in thy sight was proved for showing f 2 King 20.17 his treasure to the Babylonian Ambassadour And how fearefully was Ananias and Saphira punished for g Act. 5.3 keeping away a part of the possession which appertained to themselues and was once in their owne power The fault of Vzzah wherefore hee was slaine was the h 2 Sam. 6.6 putting his hand to the Arke and the holding it when the oxen did shake it The fault of the people of Bethshemesh O holy LORD GOD wherefore so many thousands perished was their i 1 Sam. 6. 19 looking vnto the Arke of the LORD The fault of Lots wife whom CHRIST commandeth vs to k Luke 17 33 remember was her looking backe to Sodome wherefore shee became a Pillar of salt and was made a fearefull spectacle of thy terrible indignation The fault of the Iewes was their l Numb 11. 5 rememberance of the fish and flesh pots of Egypt wherefore they m Cor. 10 5 were overthrowne in the Wildernesse Alace O LORD if my sinnes and offences were woyed n Dan. 5. 27 in the ballance they are more heavie and grievous more displeasant to thy Majestie and pernicious to my selfe I for a long season haue had within mee an evill o Heb. 3. 2 and vnfaithfull heart to depart away from thee the living GOD my infidelitie is of longer continuance and durance I haue not beene contented with my estate nor approved thy wise dealing towards me but hath p Exod. 16. 7 murmured and vttered my impatiencie I haue not mortified q Coloss 3. 5 my lusts and affections but I haue spared my strong sinnes which haue r Rom. 6. 11 had dominion over mee I haue fostered my pleasant and profitable sinnes albeit most dangerous and hurtfull vnto mee I haue drunken in iniquitie Å¿ Iob. 34. 7 like water aboundantly and I haue delighted my selfe to glutte t Psal 141. 4 in the delicates of the vngodly I haue beene puft u Habb 1. 14 vp with vaine glorie and ostentation I haue beene given to fraud and oppression I haue beene a bussie x 1 Tim. 5. 13 bodie and hath passed the limites of my vocation I haue beene given to curiositie and haue beene y Rom. 11. 20 high minded I haue looked frequently vpon sinne and the world with the which I
creature groneth with me also and travelleth in paine together vnto this present desiring to be delyvered from this bondage of corruption Seing it is so Haue not I forlorne miscreant the chiefe cause of all calamity great reason seriously to deplore my lamentable miserie to bewaile my deplorable estate and vnspeakable calamitie Haue not I reason to poure out r 1 Sam. 1. 15 my soule before thee and to walke Å¿ Isaiah 38.15 weakely all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Spirit And first O LORD I find Lament thy losse my selfe insufficient to lament duely the manifold and great losses sustained by mee through my default through my sinne and iniquitie If the childe of the Prophet sorrowed for a peece yron t 2 King 6. 5 for an axe head that fell into the river of Iordan and thus cryed to Elisha Alace Master it is but borrowed And no question O LORD that Pauls companions were then somewhat greived for the hurt and damnage they suffered in that dangerous navigation where they lost their lading u Act. 27. 10 and their ship also If thy servant King David mourned for the losse of his deare friend Ionathan with lamentation Woe x 2 Sam. 1.26 is mee cryed hee for thee my brother Ionathan very kind hast thou beene to mee thy loue towards mee was wonderfull passing the loue of women If thy servant Iacob y Genes 37.34 rent his clothes and did put sackcloth about his loynes and sorrowed a long season for his sonne Ioseph whom hee supposed to haue beene lost And if without doubt Naomi lamented greevously when her husband Abimelech z Ruth 1.3 died in a strange land And if Ieremiah sorrowed heavilie for the life of a good King because the breath a Lamen 4.20 of their nostrils the anointed of the LORD was taken in the nets of the enemie Yea Ioash King of Israel b 2 King 13.14 did weepe vpon the face of sicke Elisha If wicked c 2 Sam. 14.32 Absalon was no way contented when hee saw not his fathers face and if profaine Esau cryed d Genes 27.34 out with a great cry and bitter out of measure when hee wanted the blessing of Isaak Manasseh Manasseths prayer mourned for the losse of a worthie Kingdome Alace O LORD when I consider deligently the wonderfull great losse and damage which I haue sustained spiritually by reason of the multitude of my sinnes and iniquities I cannot deplore nor condignelie lament the same How is it possible to mee to sorrow sufficiently for that I haue lost that fine e Revel 3. 18 gold tryed by the fire enriching mee That f Revel 2.4 I haue lost my first loue beautifying mee I haue wasted the portion of goods which my father gaue vnto mee at my creation How can I bewaile my foolishnesse who haue done what in mee lyeth to losse the kindnesse of my first and best g Iohn 15. 15 friend so beneficiall and loving to mee Woe is mee because I haue h Revel 1. 7 pearced my deare Saviour I haue crucified i Heb 6. 6 againe the Sonne of GOD my most worthie k Ephes 5.32 husband and haue made a mocke of him How can I deplore my misery and great losse which I haue gotten by my rebellion against thee l Iere. 10. 7 O KING of all Nations vnto whom appertaineth the dominion for ever Who m Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in Hell eternallie How can I foolish creature lament my losse for not hearkning to thy Heavenly instructions and not receiving thy healthsome admonitions who is my n Math. 23.10 only doctor and my o Iohn 3. 2 teacher come from GOD I am much troubled because p Psal 101.29 thou hidest thy face from mee and for that the light of thy loving countenance doeth not shine vpon mee because by my sinnes I haue almost lost thy favour q Psal 30. 5 in which is life and felicitie and thy r Prov. 10.22 blessing which maketh rich and the Å¿ Math. 6.33 Kingdome of Heaven in regard whereof all the earth is but vanitie and meere miserie Now trueth it is O mercifull GOD that many haue sustained Lament thy povertie great losse and yet hath some good remaining behind but I am redacted to extreame povertie I may lament grievouslie because I t Revel 3. 17 am miserable and wretched poore and most indigent empty and naked That widow u 1 King 17.12 of Sarepta O my GOD was greatly impoverished and redacted to a meane estate She had not a cake but even an handfull of meale in a barrell and a little oyle in a cruse shee resolved after that it was eaten to haue dyed But O bountifull LORD thy wisedome knoweth that I poore wretch spiritually doe remaine in greater penurie I haue not of my selfe a sanctified thought an holy word no not a small teare one sorrowfull sigh x Psal 51 16 of a contrite spirit or broken heart For I truely know that in me in y Rom. 7. 18 my nature dwelleth no good thing at all I am like one who hath made shipwracke of all his goods I am like Lazarus z Luk. 16. 20 I haue nothing of my selfe not a morsell of bread not a cuppe of cold water but that which I get by crying and begging of thy Alsufficiencie Now Lament thy debt which is much worse O LORD I am not only thy poore beggar but also I am thy debter wonderfull great is my debt terrible is mine obligation and a Colos 2. 14 thine handwriting against mee is fearefull That b 2 King 4. 1 poore widow cryed for her earthly debt because the creditor would take her two sonnes to bee his bond men for the same I haue much more reason to cry and mourne to thee for my spiritual debt which without a discharge will take my soule from mee Alace Debt is easilie contracted but hardly removed O LORD it was easily and pleasantly contracted but it is like to bee with paine and difficultie removed Sathan hath deceaved mee he made it to seeme light and easie at the beginning but now it is too heavie and verie displeasant vnto mee and if I get not an acquittance from thine Alsufficient Majestie I c Math. 18. 34 will bee delyvered to the jaylors and cast into the prison out of which there is no foorth comming nor redemption In the meane season O LORD albeit I bee so drowned in debt Lament thy vnfruitfulnesse and miserie yet I remaine as d Math. 3. 10 a barren ground as an vnfruitfull tree woe is mee the axe is put to the roote in danger to bee hewâ—n downe and cast into fire which is vnquenchable I am O LORD by nature like that vnprofitable e Luke 13. 4 figge tree planted in thy wine-yarde Thou hast for many yeares suffered mee
lawes of regeneration in that l â—â—ch 13. 1 fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne and for vncleannesse Grant LORD that with indeavour and industrie I keepe my selfe pure and holy vnspotted m Iam 1. 27 of this wicked world that I may cast n Rom. 13. 12 away the workes of darknesse and so walke honestlie as in the day continually And seing O LORD like o â—sal 119.176 a Pray for conversion lost sheepe I haue gone astray and wandred farre out of that narrow way seeke thy servant and find mee turne me that I may turne convert p Ierem. 31.18 mee and I shall bee corverted turne mee O most mightie and mercifull GOD from the devill myne adversarie a q Iohn 8. 44 lyar and a murtherer who would deceaue mee and destroy mee to IESUS CHRIST my Saviour and r Ephes 5. 29 husband who will teach mee and glorifie Å¿ Psal 91. 15 mee turne me from t Coloss 3.13 darknesse to thy joyfull light from nature to grace turne mee from the broad u Math. 7. 13 way that leadeth to hell and damnation to the strait way which leadeth to Heaven and salvation turne mee from wickednesse to holynesse from wretchednesse to everlasting happines O my GOD draw x Cant. 1.3 mee after thee knit y Psal 86.11 and vnite my heart inseparablie with thy Majestie teach mee thy wayes to feare thine holy name continually to z Genes 17. 1 walke before thee and with thee consciensciously and be vpright in thy sight continually And for this effect O thou Al-sufficient GOD take a mercifull Pray for Gods good dealing with thine heart dealing with my faultie heart that the same which by nature sinne and Sathan hath locked with Lydias a Act. 16. 14 heart it may bee opened by thee who hath b Revel 3. 7 the key of David Grant that my narrow heart may bee c Isaiah 60. 5 enlarged to receaue within mee the LORD IESUS the King of glory O holy Heavenly Father soften e my hard and obdurâ—d heart with the oyle of grace with the precious blood of my Saviour d Iob. 23. 16 that it may receaue the impression of the image of CHRIST that I d 2 Cor. 3. 18 may bee changed into the same image from glory to glory Bow my stiffe e Ezech. 2 4 heart Encline it f Psal 119. 36 to thy testimonies and not to covetousnesse O LORD giue mee a wise and vnderstanding g 1 King 2. 9 heart that I may discerne betweene good and bad O LORD vouchsafe vpon mee an honest h Luke 8 15 and good heart that I may heare thy Word keepe it and bring foorth fruite with patience and O my GOD I most willingly giue i Prover 23 26 mine heart to thy Majestie requiring the same from mee beseeching thy goodnesse to take such full possession and governement of my heart that thou may k Rom. 9. 23 declare the riches of thy glory vpon mee a vessell of mercie that I may be most certainly perswaded a chosen l Act. â— 15 vessell appointed for honour and everlasting happinesse O my blessed Creator assure Pray for the grouth of all good mee that I am thine owne m 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandry Grant that I may bee as good n Math. 13. 8 ground to receaue the good seede of godlinesse and pietiâ— and to bring foorth fruite aboundantly that I may grow o 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour O LORD helpe p Mark 9. 24 my vnbeliefe and encrease my faith my loue patience zeale feare hope courage and all Christian vertues make my good â—orkes q Revel 2. 19 to be moe at the last than at the first O my most mercifull Fatherâ— Pray for the Lords presence Teach r Psal 27. 11 mee thy way and leade mee in a right path Forsake Å¿ Psal 38. 21 me not O LORD bee not far from mee my GOD Thou t Psal 27. 9 art my succour leaue mee not neither forsake mee O GOD of my salvation Though my father and my mother should forsake mee yet thou O LORD will gather mee vp Though u Psal 38. 10 the Light of mine eyes bee not myne owne my sight will faile mee my senses will departe from mee my soule will be separate from my body yet abide thou with mee continually O gracious GOD I most humbly intreate thy Majestie giue mee x Rom. 1. 24 not vp to my hearts lusts nor vile affections for that I will bee but a lost creature and of all most wretched and miserable But O LORD of thy vnspeakable Pray for God his blessing kindnesse and endlesse mercie vouchsafe thy Heavenly and spirituall blessings vpon mee O GOD blesse mee with the blessing of election that thou mayest chuse mee y Psal 65. 4 and cause mee to come to thee that I may be satisfied with the pleasures of thine holy Temple Blesse mee with the blessing of effectuall vocation that thou mayest call mee inwardly and powerfully to thee that I may answere and obey thy blessed calling and say heere z Genes 22 â— am I readie to doe thine holy will Blesse mee O LORD with the blessing of true sanctification that I may bee holy a Levit. 11. 24 as thou my GOD is most holy that I may keepe b Isaiah 56. 2 judgement and doe justice and restraine my hand from doing any evill Blesse mee with the blessing of spirituall joy and consolation that I may ever rejoyce c Psal 40. 4 in thee my LORD and walke in the light of thy countenance Blesse mee O my GOD with a setled purpose and resolution to serue thee continually that I may determine d Psal 119. 57 to keepe thy Words constantly Blesse mee with the blessing of true repentance through all my lyfe that I may e Revel 20. 6 haue parte in the first resurrection that the second death haue no power to hurt me Blesse mee with an happie end that I may die f Revel 14. 13 in the LORD and receaue the blessing of glory and inherite g Math. 25.34 the Kingdome prepared from all eternity As also O LORD I most humbly beseech thy goodnesse to blesse me with thine owne selfe to bee h Psal 16. 5 my lot and portion to bee the GOD i Psal 27. 9 of my salvation For whom k Psal 73. 25 haue I in Heaven but thee and I haue desired none in earth with thee Grant O gratious GOD that as l Psalm 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so my soule may pant after thee the living GOD vntill thou come to be favourable vnto me Blesse mee with CHRIST IESUS that he may be my m Heb. 7. 2 King governing mee my n Math. 1. 21
earth were formed from everlasting to everlasting hee hath beene thy GOD. Againe this divine care is not like the care of mortall men that hath paine and Attenuant vigiles corpus miserabile cuâ—ae Cura quoque interdum nullo medicabilis aâ—â—e trouble with it which weakeneth the bodie and vexeth the soule and can by no worldly meanes be well helped but it is an easie care with alsufficiencie of pleasure for hee that beareth h Heb. 1. 3 vp all things by his mightie Word may with all facilitie care for his owne and that particularlie therefore thou may thinke vpon this care most comfortablie Habebit curam tui qui fecit te quique habuit curam tui priusquam esses GOD who made thee will haue a care of thee who had a care of the before ever thou was hee will so regard thee that thou shall be a i Isaiah 62. 3 crowne of glorie in the hand of the LORD and a royall diademe in the hand of thy GOD. Secondly GODS care towards It is a great care thee will bee a great care if a mortall man will care for his inheritance to keepe the same this did k 1 King 21.3 Naboth who refused to sâ—ll his heritage to king Ahab much more wâ—ll the LORD care for the godâ—ie soules who pray to him he doth esteeme of them greatlie as the sanctified soule will cry vnto GOD thou l Psal 142. 5 art my portion so the LORD will answere aâ—d assure that soule that she is his m 1 Cor. 3.9 building his temple his husbandrie and pâ—rpetuall possâ—ssion Thirdly â—he LORDS care will bee mâ—st joyfull to thee and effâ—ctuall It is effectuall a fatherly care a princely care Seing hee is â—ur Heavenly Father yea the n Heb. 12. 9 Father of our spirits much more rich thaâ— Abraham who could not make all his children his heires for hee sent o Genes 25. 6 them away from him and Isaac himself also while hee was living but our most wealthie and heavenlie Father will make all his children also p Rom. 8. 17 his heires annexed with Iesus Christ Our heavenly Father is much more powerfull than David was who had no sufficient power to make all his sonnes Kinges but our liberall Father giveth vs q Pet. 1.14 an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not to all his children whom he careth for sufficientlie Haereditas non minuitur copia possessorum nec fit angustior numerositate Augustin cohaeredum sed tanta est multis quanta paucis tanta singulis quanta omnibus This inheritance is not diminished by abundance of possessours neither becommeth strait by number of coheires for it is as much to manie as few and as much to everie one as to all for he that is r Rom. 10. 12 Lord over all is rich vnto all that call vpon him and will giue everie one of his Saints a Å¿ Heb. 12. 28 Kingdome which can not bee shaken which endureth for â—ver and ever Now during the time of our pilgrimage whiles t 2 Cor. 5.6 wee are at home in our body and absent from the Lord and hath not attained to the present possession of that Kingdome 1. â—e will haue a care of our sustentation 2. a care of our preservation 3. a care of our instruction 4. a care of our consolation 5. a care of our marriage band 6. a care of our blessednesse and happinesse Behold u Math. 6 â—6 the fowles of the heaven for they sowe not neither reape nor carrie into the Barnes yet our heavenly Father feedeth them are we not saith our Saviour much better than they Did x Genes 28.2 Isaac care through his fatherly affection for Iacobs safetie will not GOD in greater affeâ—tion regarde the safetie of our â—â—ules who doe consecrate our â—â—lâ—es to his service Also if that royall Prophet was verie carefull to giâ—e good instruction and y Prover 4. 2 good doctrine to his wise sonne Salomon tender and deare in the sight of his parents will not our most wise and provident Father bee more carefull to z Isaiah 44. 3 poure his spirit and his blessing vpon his owne to a Ier. 31. 33 put his Law in their inward parts and to write it in their hearts and to giue b 2 Peter 1. 3 vnto them all thinges that pertaine vnto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called them to glorie and vertue Moreover hee is c 2 Cor. 1. 3 the GOD of mercies and the Father of all consolation he will haue a speciall care to comfort all his children in all their tribulation If Edna was carefull to comfort her daughter Sarah who d Tob. 7. 17 wiped away her teares and spake comfortablie vnto her much more our LORD who though e Psal 27. 10 father and mother should forsake vs yet wil hee gather vs vp will also comfort vs and providentlie prepare a better marriage for vs than f Genes 24. 3 Abraham did for Isaac namelie the King of glories owne sonne to be our husband who g Eph. 5. 25 will sanctifie vs nourish vs and cherish vs who will make vs honorable and happie for ever and ever 4. If thou shall invocat GOD Gods caâ—e is teâ—â—deâ— câ—m passionat arightlie hee will haue a tender and compassionate care for thee who h Iohn 3. 16 hath so loved thee that he hath given his first borne for thee who i Rom. 8. â—2 hath not spared his owne sonne but gaue him to the death for thee that k Iohn 4 9 thou mayest live eâ—ernally through him hee will take care of thee as of the member of his owne body thus l Zech. 2. 8 will the LORD of hosts say that hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his owne eye And if Zaleucus a ruler and law giver of Locris did so pittie his Valer maxim sonne found guiltie of the crime lib. 6. cap 5 of adulterie who therefore conforme to a constitution made by his Father should haue lost both his eyes and so bee deprived of all sight this Zaleucus did not spare himself but pulling out one of his owne eyes and another of his sonnes left the vse of seeing to them both and so behovâ—d himself a mercifull and pitifull Father and a iust or vpright Law-giver Also if Codrus a â—ing of Athens of great nobilitie and greater affection and pittie who for his subjects safetie did suffer yea seek death most willingly for when hee received a response of an oracle that his enemies the people of Peloponesus should bee victorious and rulers if they did not Virgilius in Fâ—logis kill the King of their adversaries Codrus deceived them for in the Aut Alconis habes laudes aut iurgia Codri habite of a beggar by chyding and vpbraiding hee provoked them to slay him and vnknowne to any hee died for his
for his vice as it is most conspicuous so it is most exemplarie and dangerous Secondly Seing thou art a King who is an absolute judge and at length attaine to that honour as to bee one who with CHRIST shall judge z 1 Cor. 6. 2 the world and the Angels in this world thou must of necâ—ssâ—â—ie judge thy selfe by summonding thy selfe who by nature art a fugiâ—iue by trying thy selfe delated by thine owne conscience by accusing thy selfe justly called culpable and by condâ—mning thy selfe truely found guâ—â—tie and by this meaâ—e thou shall be surely fred from the fearefull judgement to come for as the Scripture saith if wee would a 1 Cor. 11.31 judge our selues wee should not be judged narrowly by b Iames 2. 13 a mercilesse judgement into eternall condemnation for blessed bee our GOD the Father c 2 Cor. 1.3 of mercies and the GOD of all consolation hee is most vnlike that curst catiue Caligula who compelled his deputie of Iudea Petronius â—oseph antiq lib. 18 cap. 11 to giue out a sentence of death against his owne lyfe and to bee both judge and burrio to himselfe but it is cleane contrare in our favourable Father who will certainly absolue all that judge and condemne themselues Thirdly By praying fervently and by seeking d Math. 6. 33 the Kingdome of GOD principally thou will obtaine this favour and felicitie that thou shall get power and dexteritie to rule thy selfe arightly Wise Salomon sayeth very worthily hee who e Prov. 16. 31 ruleth his owne minde is better than hee who winneth a citie and what will it profite any saith Achâ—tophell who dyed miserably to put f 2 Sam 17. 23 his house in order and in the meane season to haue his heart out of order Or what will it availe thee with Elah f King 16. 9 King of Israell who commanded and ruled over many who being overcome in his stewards house with drunkennesse and intemperancie was slaine by his servants suddainly and so perished perpetually Or canst thou be content with Cocceius Nerva the 13 Romane Traheron in vitis imper atorum Emperour who dyed of anger taken against one Regulus a Senator hee guâ—ded others but could not containe his owne passion neither guide himselfe hee ended his dayes by choller and displeasure Or with Valentinianus the first who albeit he vanquished others Eâ—â—ugere cupidit atem regulum est vincere Pub. Minist lib. 4 Sic agitur censura sic exempla parâ—tur Cum iudex alios quod monet ipse facit yet hee could not vanquish his passion of anger through vehemenâ—â—e whereof an arterie bursted with in him and his blood did gush out of his mouth in such abundance that hee dyed shortly Or yet what will it profite thee albeit with renowned Attolus thou subdue whole Italie if with him thou thy selfe bee subdued with surfetting and venerie and spend thy dayes in shame and miserie Is it not much better and by infinite degrees more profitable and more honourable to be thy owne judge never to bee condemned to bee thy owne ruler never to be misguided to be King over thine owne selfe never to bee degraded nor deposed but ever to bee obeyed honoured and reverenced Fourthly If thou pray earnestly by this meanes an g 2 Peâ— 1. 11 entrie shall bee minisâ—red vnto thee aboundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our LORD and Saviour IESâ—S CHRIST If thou pray h 1 Thess 3.10 exceedingly thou shall bee furnished plentifully if thou lack wisdome i Iam. 1. 5 seeke it of GOD which will giue it vnto thee liberallie Sapientis â—st non â—am cuiâ—slibâ—trei prin cipium quam exitum providere August then thou will not so much looke to the beginning of any thing as to the issue thereof then thou will bee k Deut. 32. 29 wise and consider the latter end And thou shall haue wisdome both in thy learning and in thy life in thy lips and in thy heart As the sight is needefull for the Simil. Bion. Laer. lib. 4. cap 7 travelling bodie and strong walles for a besieged Towne as an expert commander to a fighting Armie as a skilfull pilote for a ventring Nauie So this wisdome and prudencie is most necessarie for everie true Christian desiring eternall selicitie for a prudent man seeth l Prov. 27. 12 the plague and hidâ—th himselfe when the foolish goe on still and are punished he m Prov. 19. 20 heareth counsell and receiveth instruction and iâ— wise in his latter end Secondly by praying thou will bee furnished with strength and courage and be indued with true magnanimitie which for rulers is most necessarie both for doing of good couragiously and for suffering affliction and paine patientlie Thus by true valour n Nehemiah o Nehem. 2. 20 did builde the walles of Herusalem neither was hee discouraged by the force or flatterie of o Nehem. 6. 1 Sanballat and Tobiah and other adversaries nor yet dismaied by the direction of the false Prophet Shemeiah Thus by the strength of GOD the Apostles rejoyced in their afflictions that they p Act. 5. 41 were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for CHRISTS Name So many faithfull Martyres as that notable Laurentius and a Euseb lib 5 cap. 3 hist Eccl. noble Roman Attalus who albeit they were tormented and rosted by a long small burning fire yet died most pleasantly and finished their course couragiously even deriding and victoriously triumphing over their fierce enemies and wretched tormentors Thirdly Thou hast by praying in consideration of thy sure Kingdome a good occasion of great joy and consolation in time of most bitter anguish and grievous afflictions so that thou may both say and doe with that royall Prophet In q Psal 94. 19 the multitude of the thoughts of mine heart thy comforts haue rejoyced my soule and when hee was in great sorrow his r Samuel 30.6 house and Towrâ— burnt with fire his wife and children taken prisoners and his owne people whose duetie it was to defend him intended to stone him being in grievous perpâ—exitie hee comforted himselfe in the LORD GOD. Consider rightly with thy selfe if thou bee in povertie heere that all Å¿ 1 Cor. 3. 21 things are thine yea the world is thine Though t Psal 34. 10 the Lyons lacke and suffer hunger yet if thou seek the LORD thou shall want nothing that is good If thou bee in sicknesse comfort thy selfe for that sicknesse u Iohn 1â— 4 is not vnto death but for the glorie of GOD for thy life and felicitie Indecde yet x Iohn 3. 2 it doth not appeare what thou shall bee and know that when CHRIST shall appeare thou shall bee like him in honour in health and happinesse eternally If thou bee put in prison and deteined in a dongeon bee of good courage and x Zach. 9. 12 turne thee to the strong hold thou prisoner of hope Albeit with
Ioseph thy y Psal 105. 18 feete bee helde in the stocks and thou laide in yrons yet in the appointed time thou shal be loosed delivered and exalted As Manasses was brought from â—etters from chaines from Babell to Ierusalem and z 2 Chr. 33.13 to his Kingdome or as Mathias a mightie and happie King of Hungarie was freed from prison and with great Vide SpinaeuÌ„ lib. 7. in metuÌ„ pompe and solemnitie caried to Buda the Metropolitan citie and there with contentment and acclamations of the people was joyfully crowned So the LORDS anoynted shall surclie come out of great a tribulation albeit hee bee in prison and the b Psal 18. 4 snares of death compasse him and the griefes of the graue caught him yea though hee were in the verie agonie and pang of death when natures debt must needs bee payed and this outward man dissolved our earthly c 2 Cor. 5. 1 house of this Tabernacle destroyed and soule and bodie separated yet let him remember with comfort that his light d 2 Cor. 4. 17 affliction which is but a moment causeth vnto him farre more excellent and eternall weight of glorie and that death it selfe is but GODS messinger Similit to call thee out of this wearisome world to the perpetuall possession of an Heavenly Kingdome as it would haue bene a great delight to David to follow the mâ—ssiâ—ger sent e 1 Sam. 16. â—â— to him by Samuel that of a sheepheard hee might bee the LORDS Annoynted King over Israel So death may be very welcome to thee who is the LORDS messinger to bring thee a f â— Peter 2.11 Pilgrime and g Psal 39. 12 Sojurne heere to his h Heb. 2. 11 rest to bring thee a miserable and contemptible creature to glorie and endlesse felicitie Lastly By heartie praying thou shall bee furnished with constancie and perseverance and so shall be comfortably and asâ—â—â—edâ—y perswaded that thou art not only a King into the LORDS house but also c Heb. 3. 6 the very house of CHRIST if thou hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope vnto the end This stabilitie in weâ—â—doing and continuance in goodnesse is most necessarie for thy Christian calling and â—oyall dignitie as the Patriarch laakob in his journey from Mesopotamia to Canaan his natiue countrey and to his earthly father Isaac was hindered with many impediments namely Laban behind him detaining him and determining to f Genes 31. 25 doe him evill Esau before him afraying and sore troubling g Genes 32. 7 him himselfe going more slowly and halting h Genes 32. 31 vpon his thigh yet hee continued constant in his intended course hee would not decline nor goe backward but did ever proceede and goe forward with true pietie and lawfull policie as is at length expressed in the same historie hee was much given to fervent prayer and earnest supplication and so wrestled i Genes 32.31 and prevailed vntill hee receaved a blessing by k Hos 12. 4 weeping and praying vnto him whom hee found in Bethell So thou in this thy warrefare and pilgrimage looking to Christ going to the land of Canaan the â—â—tie l Heb. 12. 22 of the living GOD the celestiall Hierusalem to m Heb. 12. 9 the Father of the living spirits that thou mayest liue thou will bee deteined with many stayes and crossed with many calamities for some tymes thou n Lament 1 19 shall call vpon thy lovers who will deceaâ—e theâ— somâ—tymes thou shall meete with false o 2 Cor. 11. 26 brethren who will annoy thee and bring thee in greater perrill the world like Laban will hinder thee the devill worse than Esau will tempt thee and p â—phes 6. 1â— Wresâ—le with thee craâ—â—â—â— flatterers like Achitophell Sam. 15. 12 desirous to betray thee will trouble thee thou will sometimes find thine owne hands weake and q Hebr. 12. 12 thy knees wearie thy r Math. 4. 6 selfe halting and fainting yet goe not backward but fordward hold on thy course with constancie runne thy Å¿ Heb. 12. 1 race with patience cry to GOD crane helpe of the Almightie implore GODS mercie and with sighs and teares that rare gift of perseverance which is most necessare for thy salvation and glory for as CHRIST cerâ—ifieth thee if t Math. 24.13 thou endure vnto the end thou shall bee saved for that effect aske GOD courage and constancie which is most necessarie Sicut oculis corporalibus necessaria Similit est lux vt suo fruantur fine ita omnibus praedestinatis ac vocatis ad regnum Coelorum necessaria est perseverantia aut sicut absque luce frustra aperitur oculus codem modo inaniter currit qui vsque ad vitae finem non perseverat As light is necessarie to the bodily eyes that they may enjoy their owne end so perseverance to all those who are predstinate and called to the Kingdome of Heaven or as without light there is no sight the eye is opened in vaine so in that same manner he runneth in vaine who doeth not persevere vnto the end of the race to his liues end By fervent prayer also thou shall bee indued with such discretion and dexteritie that carying thy selfe duetifully in respect of all in whatsoever estate sexe condition or degree they bee Thou will u 1 Thess 4.12 Principis est virtus maxima nosce suos behaue thy selfe honestly toward them that are without Thou will labour to know the conditions and to acquaint thy self well with thy owne friends for that is the chiefe duetie of a commander Thou will studie then if x Rom. 1â— 18 it be possible to haue peace with all men but knowing well that thou hast mortall and irreconciliable enemies thou will travaile with all the force of thy soule to scatter subdue and overcome them who goe about to tyranize over thee to bring thee to perpetuall slauerâ— aâ—d endâ—â—sse miserie A wise King saith Salomon scattereth y Prov. 20. 18 the wicked and causeth the wheele to turne over them A wise Christian will vse all meanes to punish his sinnes his most cruell and deadly foâ—s to smite them with a mightie destruction as z Iudg. 15.8 Samson the Philistims and so to doe with his corruptions as the Prophet speaketh of the Babilonians a Psal 137. 9 to put them to the sword to mortifie them with anger and indignation And yet perswade thy selfe that thou hast great neede of watchfulnesse and consideration of prayer and earnest supplication for this victorie over thy ghostly enemy â—â—onne and gotten with much travell tuâ—mâ—ilâ— trouble with vexation and much wrestling in regarde of the multitude might and maliciouâ—â—â—ssâ— of thy enemies considering thy owne sinnes also oâ—her soes who in number will be â—erie many as Bees or as the haires of our head they will bee also cruell in maâ—â—ce they having no
Malach. 1.6 Master If Absoloms e 2 Sam. 13.29 servants obeyed him an evill Master in an vnlawfull and wicked action farre rather art thou oblished to obtemperate thy good Master in a lawfull dead Absolom commanded that his brother Amnon should bee slaiâ—e GOD commandeth this service that thy soule may bee saved and therefore absolutely ought to bee obeyed Seeing moreover he is King Almightie who e Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell eternally and to giue thee a great reward for thy obedience and loyaltie when King David but desired to drinke of the water of the well of Bethlem three f 1 Sam. 25.15 of his subjects brake through the hoast of the Philistims and brought vnto him that water longed for thus they ventred their liues for Davids sake and for his plâ—asure And shouldest not thou much more willingly hazard thy life to giue vnto GOD obedience to doe his Majestie acceptable service Who Gods promise maketh also vnto thee most sweet and comfortable promises to deliver g Psal 50 1â— thee to h Psal 91. 1â— glorifie thee to satisfie thee with long life and to show thee his salvation He perfitly performed his promise given of a Kingdome not only to i 2 Sam. 5. â— David whom hee loved but also to k 1 King 11. 3â— Ieroboam an idolator whom hee hated l Iosh 23. 14 all his promises shall in due tyme vndoubtedly come to passe nothing shall faile thereof So hee promiseth if thou pray m Ierem 29.12 to him to heare thee if thou seeke him to be found of thee Againe when thou considerest CHRIST IESUS thy Saviour thou shall confesse that thou hast good CHRISTS example cause of prayer Consider thy redemer remaining in this earth hee n Math. 14.23 went vp into a mountaine alone to pray for a long-space of time In o Heb. 5. 7 the dayes of his flesh hee offered vp prayers and supplications with strâ—ng crying and teares Quòd si ille orabat qui sine pecato crat quantò magis peccatores oportet orare If hee prayed who was without sinne how much more behoueth it sinners for to pray His precept also and promises Christ his precept and promise is cause of prayer may cause thee to call vpon GOD Aske p Math 7. 7 saith Hee and it shall bee given you seeke and you shall find knock and it shall bee opened vnto you Moreover Seing hee q Heb. 9. 24 is entred into Heaven himselfe to appeare CHRISTS intercession now in the sight of GOD for thee to make continuall request and intercession for thee Hast not thou great reason to make request for thy owne selfe When the r Levit. 16. 17 high Priest went into the holy place to make atonement then the whole multitude of the people stood without in Å¿ Luke 1. 10 prayer while the incense was in burning Seing therefore thou hast t Hebr. 4. 14 a great high Priest which hath entred into Heaven even IESVS the Sonne of GOD who now is at the u Ephes 1. 20 right hand of the FATHER to make request and intercession for thee to procure thy peace and reconciliation hast thou not who are without in this earth great reason to continue thy selfe in earnest prayer and supplication to the end thou mayest obtaine eternall salvation Furthermore If thou desirest The desire of the grouth of the graces of Spirit a cause of prayer an increase of the graces of the holy Spirit that they may the more abundantly bee bestowed vpon thee thou hast cause to pray for the same more earnestly for thy Heavenly Father x Luke 11. 13 will giue the holy Ghost a greater measure of his gifts to thee that desireth him for the same Spirit is both the cause and effect of our prayer Scultet cap. 3 de precatione and petitions Secondly If thou take heede Cause of prayer Sathans power to the Devill thy mortall enemie thou will pray to GOD most fervently hee thy deadly adversarie y 1 Pet. 5. 8 like a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking to devore thee Hee is stronger than z 1 Sam. 17.4 Goliah desirous to destroy with firie a Ephes 6. 16 darts 2. He is much more craftie than b 2 Sam. 16.23 Achitophell by his wicked counsell and machinations plotting to supprise thee 3. Hee is more false than c Ierem. 41. 6 Ishmael promising to pleasure thee but will punish thee for ever 4. Hee is more cruell than Herod who slew d Math. 2. 16 the male children that were in Bethlehem but he would kill body and soule eternally 5. Sathan is more malitious than e Esther 3. 6 Haman who purposed to put to death Mordecay and all the people of his country So desireth the Devill to destroy thee and all thy of-spring and posteritie 6. Sathan is much more treacherous than Saul who albeit hee f 1 Sam. 18.29 verse 21 became alwayes Davids enemie yet in appearance of loue and familiaritie he gaue his daughter to him in marriage for to be a suare to him So Sathan although hee would giue the whole world to thee and although hee spake to thee the trueth and veritie yet it is ever his minde to hurt thee to ensnare thee and altogether to overthrow thee 7. He is restlesse and g Iob. 1.7 never ceasseth but with shamelesse impudencie with continuall celeritie and agilitie hee accuseth thee hee persueth thee for thy perdition and endlesse torment and destruction Seing then such is the strength craft crueltie deceate malitiousnesse The estate of the Church is a cause of prayer treacherie and vigilancie of thy spirituall enemie thou hast great cause to pray most earnestly and vncessantly Thirdly if thou consider other Christians of the familie i Galat. 6. 10 of faith thou knowing some yea too manie molested and vexed on everie side with k Zach. 1. 14 the foure hornes of persecution thou then shouldest bee sorie l Nehem. 1. 4 for Iosephs affliction and with Nehemiah fast and pray for the reproach and miserie of Hierusalem Certainly seeing thou art a member of Christs body the Church militant it is thy duetie to m Psal 1â—2 6 pray for the peace of Hierusalem when thou shalt see the graces of GOD multiplyed vpon thy brethren and them walking n Ephes â— 1 worthy of their Christian calling and living an holy life and godly conversation thou shouldest aske of GOD that thou thy selfe may become an earnest imitator of tâ—eâ—r good courses and true religion that GOD alwayes may bee more and more glorified his kingdome enlarged Satan and his power confounded and thy selfe surely perserved yea that the whole p Ephes 5. 23 spirit soule and body of all Saints may bee kept blamelesse vntill the comming of our Lord IESVS CHRIST Fourthly when thou shall behold
none can be f Iohn 14. 16 comforted confirmed nor glorified if I say this sanctifying Spirit be necessarie so also is prayer seing our g Luke 11. 13 Heavenly Father will giue the holy Ghost to them that desire him But if thou shall say that prayer is not so needfull because many evill doers haue gotten good gifts and haue not prayed arightly for the same as Cain h Genes 4 8 a vagabound and runnagate received strength Esau i Hebr. 12. 16 a profane person his fathers k Genes 25 2â— favour Naball a foolish man received l â— Sam. 25. 36 riches traiterous Achitophell m 2 Sam. 16.23 worldly wisdome wicked n Esther 3. 1 Haman worldlie honour cruell Iezabell o 2 King 9. 30 was faire and beautifull wretched p Luke 9. â— ludas had learning yea the gift of preaching and proud q Exod. 1. â— Pharaâ—h received an earthly Kingdome that these curst catiues did not pray nor call vpon the name of the LORD I answere albeit GOD r Math. 5. 45 maketh his sunne to arise both on the evill and the good and sendeth raine on the just and vnjust yet these be commoun and earthly benefits temporary gifts these will be but as Å¿ Rom. 12.20 coales of fire vpon their heads and aggravate their just condemnation but the godly who call vpon the LORD conscientiously they receiue true grace spirituall Heavenly and eternall blessings vnto their everlasting salvation OF THE PROFITE OF TRVE PRAYER The fifteenth Chapter ALbeit the Atheist whose candle shall bee put out who shall bee as stubble before the winde as chaâ—fe which the storme carieth away or as a Isaiah 1. 31 tow before the fire will thus foolishly say Who b Iob. 21. 15 is the Almightie that I should serue him and what profite shall I haue if I pray vnto him Yet let the faithfull Christian certainly bee perswaded that as godlinesse c 1 Tim. 6. 6 is great gaine so is prayer which procureth godlinesse Prayer is profitable for keeping of good it must be great gaine Vtilitas as the naturall Philosopher sayeth wisely est praesentium bonorum conservatio aut absentium Arist Rhetor. ad Aâ—exan comparatio aut malorum instantium propulsio aut futurorum incommodorum inhibitio hoc dividitur in corpus animam res â—ternas that is to say This is vtilitie the keeping of good things which are present the acquiring of good things which are absent or the holding off and propulsion of evill things which are neere and instant or the staying and inhibition of hurts and detriments to come and this is divided to the body soule and eternall things Prayer then is profitable for preserving true light and saving knowledge in thy minde least the divell blindfold thee and pluck out the eyes of thy soule that thou mayest haue d 2 Tim. 2. 7 vnderstanding in all things necessary and expedient for keeping holynesse in thine affection and in thy conversation for preserving of health strength riches good name children and posteritie for keeping of all publict and private good Secondly Invocation or calling vpon GOD is most commodious Prayer is profitable for purchasing good for purchasing of good things that are lost or absent If therefore thou e Revel 2. 4 hast lost thy first loue and hast lost that sweete familiaritie and acqâ—aintance which sometimes most comfortably thou hast had with thy GOD if thou hast lost his pretious pâ—â—sence his gratious favour his sanctifying Spirit peace of conscience health of body worldly honour earthly wealth deare friends loving children or what ever is beloved of thee True prayer is most profitable to recover all that GOD may lift vp f Psal 4. 6 the light of his countenance vpon thee that hee may vouchsafe his loue and favour vpon thee that againe thou mayest renue thy acquaintaince g Iob. 22. 25 and make friendship with thy GOD that thou mayest loue h Deut. 6.5 him with all thine heart soule strength and minde that thou mayest find the LORD alwayes i 2 Chron 15.2 with thee and thou with him that GOD may create k Psal 51. 10 a clcane heart and renue a right spirit within thee that all good things lost may bee restored vnto thee that the LORD l Iâ—b 42. 12 may blesse thy last dayes more than the first that thou maâ—est receiue whatsoever good thou requirest for this life or the life to come Thirdly Prayer is profitable for removing of punishment already Prayer is profitable foâ—â—emâ—ving of present 〈◊〉 â—â—s inâ—â—iâ—ted whither they be commoun judgâ—ments as sword â—â— famâ—â—e pestilence or particulare judgments m 1 King â— 37 and corrections for sicknesse â—anishment want and distresse Consider the example of David Hezâ—kiâ—h Manasse Samson and others Fourthly Prayer is profitable for averting plagues that are threatned Pâ—â—yer is profitable for averting of punishments threatned and denunced A plaine proofe heereof in the Ninivits when they did n Ioâ— 3.8 cry vnto GOD mightily the LORD enclined his eare mercifully and delivered them from that destruction which was denounced Againe an other man speaketh pertinently to this purpose that Vtilitas in continuá rei boâ—ae possessione consistit vtilitie consisteth in a continuall possession of a good thing Then prayer is most profitable for by the helpe thereof the blessed GOD shall bee thy o Psâ—l 16.5 portion thy lot thine inheritance aâ—d perpetuall possession thy everlasting habitation p Psal 90. 1 from generation to generation all things whether q 1 Câ—r 3. 22 thâ—y bee things present or things to come shall bee thâ—ne and thou Christs and Christ Gods thou shall surely haue a continuall pâ—ssession of GOD himselfe and r Rom. 8. 28 all things shall worke together for thy best True prayer assuredly is profitable for people of all age â—exe estate and condition at all times for ever mâ—st profitable for young Å¿ Genes 25 63 Isaak â—or old t Luke 2. 29 Simâ—on for n 1 Sam. 1. 10 Hanna a woman as for Eâ—canah her husband for rich King x 1 King 8â— 23 Aequâ— pauperibus prodest lâ—cupletibâ—s aequè Aequè neglectuâ—â— pueris senibusque nocebat Salomon as for poore Lazarus in time of health and in tyme of sicknes during lifetime and at thy dyâ—â—g day For if thou pray duâ—â—â—fully if thou heare GODS word â—â—â—gently then y Isaiah 48. 17 the LORD will teach thee to profit â—â—a 〈◊〉 â—â—â—e by the way thou shoâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 If the Apoâ—â—'e 〈◊〉 Iohn Marke to bee broâ—ght to him because hee waâ— proâ—â—â—â— z 2 Tim. 4. 11 vnto him to minister thâ—â— shoâ—'dest desire that thou may bee â—â—â—tinuallie pâ—â—â—e to 〈◊〉 which is most 〈◊〉 to minister vnto 〈◊〉 necessitiâ—s to mâ—â—â—rat all thine affaires to maâ—e thee happy hâ—ere and for eveâ— Amen OF THE DIGNITIE OF PRAYER The sixteenth
Chapter FAithfull and â—ervent prayer perswade thy selfe will bring to thee 1. True honour and dignitie 2. Nobilitie and generositie 3. A sure Kingdome and royall 4. A happie mariage and a blessed matrimonie First By true prayer as thou will bee delivered from the slaverie of Sathan and iniquitie that from hencefoorth a Rom. 6. 6 thou shouldest not serue sinne nor thy corrupt lusts and affections nor thy â—ilthie rotten b Titus 3. 3 pleasures so thou shall attaine true libertie thou shall bee c Iohn â— 36 made free indeed and Abrahams spirituall child Thou shall bee honourable preferred to see a citizen d Ephes 2.19 with the Saintes and of the houshold of GOD yea certainely thou shall bee advanced to such dignitie that thou shall become the LORDS secretarie The e Psal 25.14 secret of the LORD shall bee revealed to thee that feare him and doth pray to his Majestie he will show f Iob. 11.6 thee the secreets of wisdome and of thine owne salvation As the poore penitent g Luke 23.42 thiefe praying to CHRIST had more honour and vnderstanding and a better judgement in matters concerning GODS Kingdome than the whole body of the Iewes than the learned Scribes and Pharisees to his everlasting joy and consolation so thou by praying diligently shall get honour and dignitie aâ—d haâ—e comfortable knowledge of the LORDS mysteries and so shall haue more h Psal 199.99 vnderstanding than the Ancient than teachers yea in some measure thou shall bee like holy Daniell he prayed the i Dan. 2. 19 secreete to him was reveiled he k Dan. 2. 48 is made a great man and honoured so I say thou calling vpon GOD arightly shall become the LORDS secretarie and exalted to l 2 Tim. 1. 10 immortalitie of true honour and dignitie Secondly Albeit by nature corruption Prayer bringeth nobilitie m Iohn 17. 14 bee thy father and the woâ—me thy mother and which is worse in respect of sinne thou hast Satan to n Iohn 8. 44 be thy father when thou doest his lusts yet by fervent prayer thou shall haue GOD to bee thy father thou shall bee borne o Iohn 1. 13 not of blood but of GOD CHRIST will p Hebr. 2. 11 not bee ashamed to call thee his brother thou shall bee truely and continually noble for supplication a true token of religion and Christianitie ever yeeldeth the best reputation and nobilitie Generosa Christi secta nobilitat viros Cui quisquis servit ille verè est nobilis Prudentius The generous race of CHRIST nobilitateth men whoever serveth him is truely noble what ever their condition be in this world Is not Pietie the mother of prayer of greater power to nobilitate than Philosophie Now this is the testimonie of Seneca that Platonem non Seneca Epist 44. ad Lucull accepit nobilem Philosophia sed fecit Philosophie receaved not Plato a noble man but made him one Also Anacharsis of admirable wisdome when by reproach hee Stobaeus sermon 84. was named a Scythian hee thus answered I am so by birth and by kind but not so in my conditions manners and ingine hee would show that true nobilitie proceeded not from parentage but from vertue and industrie but much rather is of veritie that it commeth by true prayer and pietie Thirdly Prayer will make a By prayer thou will receaue a Kingdome King q Revel 1. 9 vnto GOD. Abraham was reputed and called a r Genes 2â— 6 Prince amongst strangers not for his land nor ample possession but for his godlinesse and devotion Thus King IAMES of blessed memorie present in the Church Patric Scharpius in Epist dedicaâ— ad illustrissimum Regem generall assembly protested publickly most worthily and wisely that he had farre rather be a Christian calling vpon GOD than an earthly King and no Christian his Majestie knew well that hee receaved a better and a surer Kingdome by holynesse and invocation than by heriâ—â—ge or succession So by holy praying thou will come to the pâ—rpetuall possession of an Heavenly Kingdome Å¿ Heb. 12. 28 which no wayes can be shaken it is an t 1 Pet. 1. 4 inheritance immortall and vndeâ—iled it fadeth not it is reserved in the Heavens for thee and so well keept and thou shall be well preserved for the same thou shall not u Iohn 10. 28 perish None shall pluâ—ke thee out of CHRISTS hand he will giue vnto thee eternall life Fourthly By prayer thou shall By prayer CHRIST shal bee thine husband be blessed with an honorable marriage as Isaaks x Genes 24. 12 marriage was comfortable which was begunne continued and ended by prayer so thou by calling vpon GOD shall get CRRIST to be thy husband who will make y Ephes 5 27 thee vnto himselfe a glorious spouse holy and without blame who will marrie thee z Hos 2. 19 vnto himselfe for ever in righteousnesse judgement mercie compassion and faithfulnesse who will continually remember a Ierem. 2. 2 thee with the kindnesse of thy youth and the loue of thy mariage Wise Mordecai without contraversie esteemed the marriage of b Esther 2. 17 Esther with Ahasuerus both honorable comfortable and profitable may not thou if thou be a considerate Christian esteeme thy marriage with CHRIST IESUS the King of Glory to bee much more profitable and honorable yea he will set a faire diademe vpon thiâ—e head and c Reveâ— 2. 10 giue to thee the crowne of life and make thee partaker of his Heavenly blessings for ever This marriage and happie conjunction hath sweetnesse stedfastnesse continuall durance without separation thou will delight d Psalm 37.4 thy selfe in the LORD if his promises e Psal 119 10â— bee sweet to thee as hony to thy mouth his presence who is thy husband will be most pleasant also vnto thee This honour will bee also durable for seing CHRIST f Philip. 1. 21 is the advantage both in life and death hee will bee thine husband honour and happinesse both in life and death continually The due consideration of true prayer should encourage thee to the fervent and frequent practise thereof notwithstanding it bee a Magnum iter ascendo sed dat mihi gloria vires Propert. lib 4 Et in immeÌ„sum gloria calcar habet Ovid. lib. 1 de Ponto worke of difficultie It is I say a farre journey to goe vp to Heaven c. as hath beene before declared more particulary yet let this profite and glorie be a meane to strengthen thee when thou art weake and a spurre to vrge thee when thou art wearie Worldly men by the instinct of nature know this to bee of trueth and veritie But now let vs consider of the force and efficacie of true Prayer OF THE FORCE OF PRAYER The sevententh Chapter GReat and wonderfull is the force of Prayer the effects thereof and the fruits are
Kingdome and the power and the glory for ever Thou o Psal 135. 5 may know that GOD is great and that the LORD is aboue all gods Whatsoever pleased the LORD that did hee in Heaven and in Earth in the Sea and in all the depths 3. He is of greatest kindnesse and affection that GOD p Iohn â— 16 so lâ—ued thee that hee hath given his only begotten Sonne for thee that thou beleeving in Him shouldest not perish but haue life everlasting q Rom. 8. 32 Hee spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for thee to death that thou mightest liue an happie and everlasting life Fourthly GOD is of greatest pittie and commiseration As r Psal 102. 13 a father hath compassion on his children so hath the LORD compassion on them that feare him CHRIST himselfe not his Disciples Å¿ Math. 15.32 had compassion on the multitude remaining three dayes with him and he did giue foode to them Christ himselfe had t Luke 7. 13 compassion on the Widow of Naim and restored to life her dâ—ad â—onne If a Heathen man Xenocrates pittied and preâ—eruâ—d a birde a Aelian lib. 13 de varia Histor Sparrow persued that came flying to him much more will our blessed GOD pittie and preserue all who resort to him and call vpon his blessed Name Fifthly The LORD 〈◊〉 most true to performe aâ— hiâ—â—â—â—mises hee u Psal 146. 6 keepeth his fiâ—â—litâ—e for ever If x 1 King 1. 30 David did faithfullâ— keepe his promise to Bathâ—â—hâ—ba 〈…〉 bestowed a kingdom◠〈…〉 â—on Salomon much more 〈…〉 Oâ—nipotent and 〈…〉 GOD giâ—e y Luke 12. 32 vnto his little â—lâ—â—k◠〈◊〉 everlasting Kingdome Sixtly GOD haâ—h a z Mal. 3. 16 〈◊〉 of rememberance written 〈◊〉 him albeit a a Isa 49. 15 Woman would forâ—â—â— her child which indeedâ— is 〈◊〉 â—rall yet the LORD will 〈◊〉 forget his owne for that were altogether impossiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 his b Psal 34. 15 eyes are ever looking vpon them â—is eares are open to their cry 〈◊〉 doeth graue them vpon the pâ—lmâ— of his hands and doeth set c Cant. 8. 6 them as a seale vpon his heart and a signet vpon his arme Wee reade that King Cyrus was of a good memorie who Plini Hist natur lib. 7. cap. 24. did call all his Souldiers by their proper names But hee was no thing in respect of GOD who counteth d Psal 147. 4 the number of the starres and calleth them by their names Seventhly The LORD is alwayes present with his owne to helpe them and holde e Psal 73. 23 them by their right hand though f Psal 27. 10 their father and mother should forsake them Yet the g Heb. 13. 5 LORD will never â—aile them nor forsake them Lastlâ— Our GOD is most constant For h Iohâ— 13.1 as much as hee loved his owne which were in the world vnto the end hee loved them With i Iam. 1. 17 him there is no variablenesse neither shadowing by turning The k Mal. 3. 6 LORD changeth not and therefore the sonnes of Iaakob are not consumed It is written to the praise of that Roman Fabricius that the Idenius Valer. Sunne would sooner leaue his naturall course than hee would forsake his honestie But it may be more truely spoken of our blessed GOD that the Sunne will sooner change hâ—s course than GOD will change his mercie which is constant and everlasting Thou shouldest only therefore pray to GOD and call vpon him for thou may doe so with jâ—â— true faith and a sure hope and perswasion to bee heard and regarded and rewarded Our Saviour thus promitteth by affiâ—mation l Iohn 16.23 Verily verily I say vnto you Whatsoever yee shall aske the Father in my Name hee will giue it you Oâ—serue the certaintie and generality of that gratious promise No Angell in Heaven no Saint vpon Earth no glorified soule is to bee adored nâ—r invocated for why should any with the reprobate serue m Rom. 12. 5 the creature forsaking the CREATOR who is blessed for ever Concerning the place of prayer thou mayest well follow the Circumstance of place rule of the Apostle Saying n â—im 2 8 I will that the men pray every where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting A place is either private or publict and so are prayers either priuate or publict any place was and is ever free for a supplicant The examples of CHRIST and of good men confirme this for Isaak o Genes 24. 6â— prayedin the feild Iaakob in p Genes 49. 18 his bed Moses q â—xed 15. 25 prayed in the Wildernesse Ioshua r Iosh 5. 14 neâ—re Iericho Elias Å¿ 1 King 18. 20 prayed vpon the mountaine Hezekias t â— King 20. 3 in his châ—â—nbâ—r The Prophet Iâ—râ—miâ— u Lam. 3. 55 in the low dungeon Ionas x Ion. 2. 1 in the â—ishes bellie Daniel y Dan. 6 11 in Babilon CHRIST prayed z Luk. 23. â—4 vpon the Crosse The Disciples a Math. 8. 25 in a ship Peter b Act. 10. 9 vpon the house and truely according to our Masters direction thou c Math. 6. 6 may enter into thy chamber and sâ—utte thy doore and pray vnto thy Father whâ—ch is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly August speaketh pertinently to this purpose In oratione non quaeritur August locus quantum sensus Hiâ—remias confortatur in carcere Daniel inter Leones â—xultat tres pueri in fornace tripudiant Iob nudus in sterquilinio triumphat Paradisum de cruce latro invenit non est locus vbi non sit Deus In prayer the place is not so much sought as the sense of feeling Ieremie is comforted in the prison Daniel amongst the Lyons rejoyceth the three Children doe dâ—nce in the firie fornace naked Iob triumpheth in the dung hill the Thiefe vpon the crosse findeth Paradise There is no place where GOD is not Yet notwitstanding thou oughtest with the two great Apostles Peter and Iohn resort into the d Act. 3. 1 temple which is called by our Saviour the e Luke 19. 46 house of prayer and there publictly in the assemblie of the godly call vpon GOD duetifully This is the fittest place where thou mayest pacifie GODS ' anger to obtaine his speciall favour and to receaue benefites from his mercifull hands As that Roman M. Coriolanus in time of his trouble and distresse Plutarch in vita Coriolia being of purpose to seeke the friendship aâ—d to gaine the kindnesse of Tullus Amphidius his great enemie a noble man amongst the people Volsci Coriolanus went to Autrum and entred into Amphidius house and there a supplicant did mitigat his wrath did receiue reliefe and protection So let every Christian who by nature is an enemie to the Almâ—ghtie if hee bee resolved to seeke reconciliation with GOD let him goe to