had need be alwayes in an actual readiness to die No man shall die the sooner but much the easier and the better for preparing to die And therefore let us alwayes have our loins girt and our lamps burning As death leaves us so Judgment will find us and there fore we have very great cause to secure our interest in Christ a changed nature and a pardon in our bosomes that so we might have nothing to do but to die Except we prepare to die all other preparations will do us no good In a word Death is a change a great change 't is the the last change till the resurrection 't is lasting yea an everlasting change for it puts a man into an eternall condition of happiness or misery 't is an universal change all persons must pass under this flaming Sword That Statute Law Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return will Gen. 3. 18. sooner or later take hold on all mortals and therefore it highly concerns us to prepare for death And thus I have shewn you these Lessons that you are to learn by the Rod. The Lord grant that your souls may fall under those fresh those choice those full and those constant influences and communications of his holy Spirit as may enable you to take out those twenty Lessons that I have laid open before you I confess the Epistle is large but do but consider your own conditions and the present dispensations under which we are cast then I suppose you will not call it by the name of a tedious Epistle Dear Friends the following discourse on Closet-prayer I heartily recommend to your serious perusal I have many reasons to hope that when you have once read it over you will be more in love with Closet-prayer than ever that you will set a higher price upon Closet-prayer than ever that you will make a better and fuller improvement of Closet-prayer than ever yet you have done Consider what I say in my Epistle to the Reader labour so to manage this little Treatise that now I put into your hands that God may be glorified your own souls edified comfored encouraged in the wayes of the Lord and that you may be my Crown and joy in the great day of our Lord Jesus So 1 Thes 2. 19 20. wishing that the good will of him that dwelt in the bush may abide upon you and yours for ever I take leave and rest Dear Friends Your souls servant in our Dear Lord Jesus THOMAS BROOKS TO THE READER Christian Reader THe Epistle Dedicatory being occasionally so large I shall do little more than give thee the grounds and reasons of sending forth this little piece into the World especially in such a day as this is Now my reasons are these First Because God by his present dispensations calls more loudly for Closet-prayer now than he hath done in those last twenty years that are now past over our heads See more of this in the 16. Argument for Closet-prayer pag. 103 to p. 108. Secondly Because I have several reasons to fear that many Christians do not clearly nor fully understand the necessity excellency and usefulness of this subject and that many O that I could not say any live in too great a neglect of this indispensible duty and that more than a few for want of light erre in the very practice of it Thirdly For the refreshing support and encouragement of all those Churches of Christ that walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost c. especially that particular Church to whom I stand related Fourthly To preserve and keep up the power of Religion and Godliness both in mens houses hearts and lives The power of Religion and Godliness lives thrives or dies as Closet-prayer lives thrives or dies Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their Closets c. Fifthly Because Closet-prayer is a most sovereign Remedy a most precious Antidote of Gods own prescribing against the Plague that now rageth in the midst of us 1 Kings 8. 37 38 39 c. Sixthly Because every man is that really which he is secretly Never tell me how handsomly how neatly how bravely this or that man acts his part before others but tell me if thou canst how he acts his part before God in his Closet for the man is that certainly that he is secretly There are many that sweat upon the stage that are key-cold in their Closets Seventhly Though many worthies have done worthily upon all other parts of prayer yet there are none either of a former or later date that have fallen under my eye that have written any Treatise on this Subject I have not a little wondred that so many eminent Writers should pass over this great and princely duty of Closet-prayer either with a few brief touches or else in a very great silence If several Bodies of Divinity are consulted you will find that all they say clearly and distinctly as to Closet-prayer may be brought into a very narrow compass if not into a nut-shell I have also enquired of several old Disciples whether among all the thousand Sermons that they have heard in their dayes that ever they have heard one Sermon on Closet-prayer and they have answered No. I have also enquired of them whether ever they had read any Treatise on that Subject and they have answered No. And truly this hath been no small encouragement to me to make an offer of my mite and if this small attempt of mine shall be so blest as to provoke others that have better heads and hearts and hands than any I have to do Christ and his people more service in the handling of this choice point in a more copious way than what I have been able to reach unto I shall therein rejoyce Eighthly and lastly That favour that good acceptance and fair quarter that my other poor labours have found not onely in this Nation but in other Countryes also hath put me upon putting pen to paper once more and I hope that the good will of him that dwelt in the bush will rest upon this as it hath to the glory of free grace rested upon my former endeavers I could add other reasons but let these suffice Good Reader when thou art in thy Closet pray hard for a poor weak worthless worm that I may be found faithful and fruitful to the death that so at last I may receive a Crown of Life So wishing thee all happiness both in this lower and in that upper World I rest Thine in our Dear Lord Jesus THOMAS BROOKS Books printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head-Alley next to Cornhill NIne Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at St. Margarets New Fish-street 1 Precious Remedies against Satans Devices Or Salve for Believers and Unbelievers sores being a Companion for those that are in Christ or
a keeper of sheep Gen. 4. 2. Noah was a Husbandman Gen. 10. 20. The sons of Jacob were shepherds and keepers of Cattle Gen. 46. 34 c. And all the Apostles before they were called to the work of the Ministry had their particular callings By the law of Mahomet the great Turk himself is bound to exercise some manual Trade or occupation Solon made a Law That the son Plutarch in the life of Solon should not be bound to relieve his father when old unless he had set himself in his youth to some occupation And at Athens every man gave a yearly account to the Magistrate by what trade or course of life he mantained himself which if he could not do he was banished And 't is by all Writers condemned as a very great vanity in Dionysius that would needs be the best Poet. And Caligula that would needs be the best Oratour And in Nero that would needs be the best Fidler and so became the three worst Princes by minding more other mens businesse than their own particular calling But for a man to evade or neglect private prayer under pretence of his particular calling is a greeable to no Scripture yea 't is contrary to very many Scriptures as is evident by the many Arguments formerly cited Certainly no mans calling is a calling away from God or godliness It never entered into the heart of God that our particular callings should ever drive out of doores our general calling of Christianity Look as our general calling must not eat up our particular calling so our particular calling must not eat up our general calling Certainly our partilar calling must give place to our general calling Did not the woman of Samaria leave her water-pot and run into the city and John 4. 28 29. say come see a man that told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ Did not the shepherds leave their flocks in the field and goe to Bethlehem and declare the good tidings of great joy that they had Luke 2. 8 21. heard of the Angel viz. That there was born that day in the citie of David a Saviour which was Christ the Lord And did not Christ commend Mary Luke 10. 38 ult for that holy neglect of her particular calling when she sat at his seet and heard his word And what do all these instances shew but that our particular callings must give the right hand to the general calling of christianity Certainly the works of our general calling are far more great and glorious more eminent and excellent more high and noble than the works of our particular callings are and therefore 't is much more to lerable for our general calling to borrow time of our particular calling than 't is for our particular calling to borrow time of our general calling Certainly those men are very ignorant or very prophane that either think themselves so closely tied up to follow their particular callings six dayes in the week as that they must not intermeddle with any religious services or that think their particular callings to be a gulf or a grave designed by God to swallow up private prayer in God who is the Lord of time hath reserved some part of our time to himself every day Though the Jews Deut. 6. 6 7 8. were commanded to labour six dayes of the week yet they were Exod. 29. 38 39. Num. 28. 3. commanded also to offer up morning and evening sacrifice daily The Jews divided the day into three parts The first to Prayer The second for the reading of the Law And the third for the works of their lawful callings As bad as the Jews were yet they every day set a part of the day apart for religious exercises Certainly they are worse than Jews that spend all their time about their particular callings and shut closet prayer quite out of doors Certainly that mans soul is in a very ill case who is so entangled with the incumbrances of the world that he can spare no time for private prayer If God be the Lord of thy mercies the Lord of thy time and the Lord of thy soul how can'st thou with any equity or honour put off his service under a pretence of much business that man is lost that man is curst who can find time for any thing but none to meet with God in his Closet That man is doubtless upon the brink of ruine whose worldly business eats up all thoughts of God of Christ of Heaven of Eternity of his Soul and of his soul concernments But Eighthly lastly I answer The more worldly business lyes upon thy hand the more need hast thou to keep close to thy closet Much business layes a man open to many sins and to many snares and to many temptations Now the more sins snares and temptations a mans business lays him open to the more need that man hath to be much in private prayer that his soul may be kept pure from sin and that his foot may not be taken in the Devils trap and that he may stand fast in the hour of temptation Private prayer is so far from Psal 1. 2 3. Psal 127. 1 2. Psal 128. 1. 2. being a hinderance to a mans business that 't is the way of wayes to bring down a blessing from heaven upon a mans business as the first fruits that Gods people gave to him brought down a blessing from heaven upon all the rest Deut. 26. 10 11. Whet is no let Prayer and Provender never hinders a Journey Private prayer is like to Jacob Gen. 30. 27 30. that brought down a blessing from heaven upon all that Laban had Private prayer gives a man a sanctified use both of all his earthly comforts and of all his earthly business and this David and Daniel found by experience and therefore 't was not their great publick imployments that could take them off from their private duties Time spent in heavenly imployments is Deut. 28. 1 to 8. no time lost from worldly business Private prayer makes all we take in hand successful Closet prayer hath made many rich but it never made any man poor or beggarly in this world No man on earth knows what may be the emergencies or the occurrences of a day Prov. 27. 1. Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth Every day is as it it were a great-belly'd day Every day is as it were with child of something but what it will bring forth whether a cross or a comfort no man can tell as whilst a woman is with child no man can tell what kind of birth it will be No man knows what mercies a day may bring forth no man knowes what miseries a day may bring forth no man knows what good a day may bring forth no man knows what evil a day may bring forth no man knowes what afflictions a day may bring forth no man knows
of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications vers 12 13 14. And the Land shall mourn every family apart the family of the House of David apart and their Wives apart the family of the House of Nathan apart and their Wives apart The family of the House of Levi apart and their Wives apart the family of the House of Shimei apart and their VVives apart All the families that remain every family apart and their VVives apart Mark in the Joel 2. 28 29. Isa 44 3. last of the last dayes when men shall be generally under a greater effusion of the Holy Spirit than ever then they shall be more given up to secret prayer than ever There will never be such praying apart and such mourning apart as there will be when the Lord shall pour out most richly gloriously abundantly of his Spirit upon his poor people now every one shall pour out his tears and his soul before God in a corner to shew the soundness of their sorrow and to shew their sincerity by their secrecy for Ille dolet vere qui sine teste dolet He grieves with a witness that grieves without a witness Certainly the more any man is now under the blessed pouring out of the Spirit of Christ the more that man gives himself up to secret Communion with Christ Every man is more or less with Christ in his Closet as he is more or less under the anointings of the Spirit of Christ The more any man hath of the Spirit of Christ the more he loves Christ and the more any man loves Christ the more he delights to be with Christ alone Lovers love to be alone The more any man hath of the Spirit of Christ the more his heart will be set to please Christ Now nothing pleaseth Christ more than the secret prayers of his people Cant. 2. 14. O my Dâ—ve that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance is comely And therefore such a one will be much in secret prayer The more any man hath of the Spirit of Christ the more his heart will be set upon glorifying and exalting Christ Now nothing glorifies Christ more nor exalts him more than secret prayer and therefore the more any man hath of the Spirit of Christ the more that man will be found in secret prayer There are many persons who say they would be more in their Closets than they are but that they meet with many hinderances many occasions many diversions many temptations many oppositions many difficulties many discouragements which prevent them Ah Friends had you a greater measure of the Holy Spirit upon you none of these things should ever be able to hinder your secret trade Heaven-ward Had you a more rich anointing of the Spirit upon you you would never plead there is a Lyon in the way a Lyon in the Streets but were there a thousand Pro. 26. 13. Lyons between you and your Closets you would either step over them or make your way through them that so you might enjoy Communion with Christ in your Closets But Eighthly and Lastly As ever you would keep close to private prayer Be frequent in the serious Consideration of Eternity O see Eternity standing at the end of every Closet-Prayer and this will make you pray to purpose in your Closets O Sirs every work you doe is a step to a blessed or to a cursed Eternity Every motion every action in this life is a step toward Eternity As every step that a Traveller takes brings him forward to his journeys end So every step that a man takes in the secret wayes of Righteousness and Holiness such as Closet-Duties are they bring him neerer to his journeys end they bring him neerer to a blessed Eternity Look as every step the sinner takes in a way of wickedness brings him neerer to Hell so every step that a Saint takes in a way of Holiness brings him neerer to Heaven Look as every step that a wicked man takes in the wayes of unrighteousness brings him nearer to a cursed Eternity so every step that a godly man takes in a way of Righteousness brings him neerer to a blessed Eternity Zeuxis the famous Painter was so exceeding careful and curious in drawing all his Lines that he would let no Piece of his go abroad into the World to be seen of men till he had turn'd it over and over and viewed it on this side and that side again and again to see if he could spie any fault in it and being asked the reason why he was so curious and so long in drawing his Lines answered Aeternitati pingo I paint for Eternity O Sirs we all pray for Eternity we fast for Eternity we read for Eternity we hear for Eternity we wait for Eternity we weep for Eternity and therefore O how curiously how exactly how wisely how faithfully how carefully how diligently how unweariedly should we be in all our Closet-Duties and services seeing that all we do is in order to Eternity Friends you must all e're long be eternally blest or eternally curst eternally happy or eternally miserable eternally saved or eternally damned eternally accepted or eternally rejected And therefore what infinite cause have you frequently to shut to your Closet Doors and to plead mightily with God in in a corner for the lives of your poor precious and immortal souls that they may be eternally saved in the great day of our Lord Jesus O Sirs when any hinderances to Closet-prayer present themselves to you seriously remember Eternity and that will remove them It is related of one Pachomius that whensoever he felt any unlawful Drex de Eternit consid 8. desires to arise in his mind he was wont to drive them away with the remembrance of Eternity The same Author relates a story out of Benedictus Rhrexanus of an ungodly fellow who on a certain Ibid. con 5. night could not sleep who up on the serious Consideration of Death and Eternity and the damned lying in Hell could not be at rest but Eternity did still run in his mind faâ—n would he have shaken off the thoughts thereof as gnawing worms therefore he followed sports and pastimes and merry meetings and sought out Companions like himself and sat oftentimes so long at his Cups that he laid his Conscience asleep and so seemed to take some rest but when he was awakened his Conscience flew in his face and would still be a suggesting sad thoughts of Eternity to him of all things in the world he could not bear it to be kept awake in the night but so it happened that being sick he was kept awake one night and could not sleep at all whereupon these thoughts rise in him VVhat is it so tedious then to be kept from sleep one night and to lye a few hours in the dark
what temptations a day may bring forth no man knows what liberty a day may bring forth no man knows what bonds a day may bring forth no man knows what good success a day may bring forth no man knows what bad success a day may bring forth and therefore a man had need be every day in his closet with God that he may be prepared and fitted to entertain and improve all the occurrences successes and emergencies that may attend him in the course of his life And let thus much suffice for answer to this first Objection But Object 2. Secondly others may Obiect and say Sir we grant that Private Prayer is an indispensible duty that lies upon the people of God but we are servants and we have no time that we can call our own and our masters business is such as will not allow us any time for private prayer and therefore we hope we may be excused Sol. 1. First the Text is indefinite and not limited to any sort or rank of Private prayer is a duty that lieth upon Saints as Saints persons whether high or low rich or poor bond or free servant or master But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the door pray to thy Father which is in secret Here are three thou's thou thou thou which are to be understood indefinitely thou servant as well as thou master thou bond-man as well as thou free-man thou poor man as well as thou rich man thou maid as well as thou mistress thou child as well as thou father thou wife as well as thou husband Private prayer is an indispensible duty that lies upon all sorts and ranks of persons A man may as well say that that Pronoun Tu thou that runs through the ten Commandments Thou shalt have no other Exod. 20. 3 18. gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Six dayes shalt thou labour Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man servant nor his maid servant nor his oxe nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours c. relates to the rich and not to the poor to masters and not to servants to the free and not to them that are in bonds c. as he may say that the three thou's in the Text relates to the rich and not to the poor to masters and not to servants to those that are free but not to those that are bound but certainly there is no man in his wits that will say so that will affirm such a thing Doubtless this Pronoune Thou reacheth every man of what rank or quality soever he be in this world But Secondly I answer That the first the third the fourth the fifth the sixth the seventh and the eighth Answers that are given to the first Objection are here very applicable and O that all masters and servants were so wise so serious and so ingenious as to lay all those answers warm on their own hearts It might be a means to prevent much sin and to bespeak masters and mistresses to give their pious servants a little more time to lift up their hearts to Christ in a corner But Thirdly I answer If thou art a servant that hast liberty to choose a new Master thou wert better remove Psal 84. 10 Psal 120. 5. thy station than live under such a masters roof who is such an enemy to God to Christ to Religion to himself and to the eternal welfare of thy poor soul as that he will not give thee half an hours time in a day to spend in thy chamber thy closet though the glory of God the good of his own family and the everlasting happiness of thine own soul is concerned in it 'T is better for thee to shift thy master than to neglect thy duty 1 Cor. 7. 21. Art thou called being a servant care not for it but if thou mayest be made free use it rather Justinus the second Fmperours Motto was Libertas res inestimabilis Liberty is unvaluable We lost our liberty by sin and we affect nothing more than liberty by nature The Rabins say of Liberty That if the Heavens were Parchment the Sea Inke and every pile of Grass a Pen the praises of it could not be comprized nor expressed Labans house was full of Idols great houses are often so Jacobs tent was little but the true worship of God was in it 'T is infinitely better to live in Jacobs tent than in Labans house 'T is best being with such Masters where we may have least of sin and most of God where we may have the most helps the best examples and the choisest encouragements to be holy and happy The religious servant should be as careful in the choice of his master as the religious master is careful in the choice of his servant Gracious servants are great blessings to the families where they live and that master may well be called the unhappy master who will rather part with a gracious servant than spare him a little time in a day to pour out his soul before the Lord in a corner But Fourthly I answer If thou art a gracious servant then thou art spirited and principled by God to that very purpose that thou mayest cry Abba Father when thou art Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. 1 Cor. 6. 19. 2 Tim. 1. 14. alone when thou art in a corner and no eye seeth thee but his who seeth in secret If thou are a gracious servant then thou hast received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now he that hath this tree of life he hath also the fruit that grows upon this tree Gal. 5. 22 23. But the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance c. Now grace is called not the works of the Spirit but the fruits of the Spirit 1. Because all grace is derived from the Spirit as the fruit is derived from the root And 2. To note the pleasantness and delightfulness of grace for what is more pleasant and delightful than Cant. 4. 16. Chap. 6. 2. sweet and wholesome fruits 3. To note the profit and advantage that doth redown to them that have the Spirit for as many grow rich by the fruits of their gardens and orchards so many grow rich in grace in holiness in comfort in spiritual experiences by the fruits of the Spirit Now why hath God given thee his Spirit and why hath he laid into thy soul a stock of supernatural graces but that thou mayest be every way qualified disposed and fitted for private prayer and to
extraordinary Fourthly There is moral self which includes a freedome from gross hainous enormous wickednesses and a fair sweet harmless behaviour towards men Fifthly There is relative self which takes in our nearest and dearest relations in the flesh as Psal 45. 7 8 9 10 11. Wife Children Father Mother Brothers Sisters c. Now when a man comes thus universally to deny himself for Christ's sake and the Gospels sake and Religion sake then the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals him up unto the day of redemption This is a truth confirmed by the experiences of many Martyrs now in Heaven and by the testimony of many Christians still alive Seventhly Sacrament times are sealing times In that feast of fat things God by his Spirit seals up his love to his people and his covenant to his people and pardon of sin to his people and heaven and happiness to his people There are many precious souls that have found Christ in this Ordinance when they could not find him in other Ordinances though they have sought him sorrowingly In this Ordinance many a distressed soul hath been strengthned comforted and sealed I might give you many instances take one for all There was a gracious woman who after God had filled her soul with comfort and sealed up his everlasting love to her fell under former fears and trouble of Spirit and being at the Lords Supper a little before the bread was administred to her Satan seemed to appear to her and told her that she should not presume to eat but at that very nick of time the Lord was pleased to bring into her mind that passage in the Canticles Eat O my friends Cant. 5. 1. But notwithstanding this Satan still continued terrifying of her and when she had eaten he told her that she should not drink but then the Lord brought that second clause of the Verse to her remembrance Drink yea drink abundantly or be drunk as the Hebrew hath it my beloved or my loves as the Hebrew hath it All faithful souls are Christs Loves and so she drank also and presently was filled with such unspeakable joyes that she hardly knew how she got home Which soul-ravishing joyes continued for a fortnight after and filled her mouth with songs of praise so that she could neither sleep nor eat more than she forced her self to do out of conscience of duty At the fortnights end when God was pleased to abate her measure of joy she came to a setled peace of conscience and assurance of the love of God so that for twenty years after she had not so much as a cloud upon her spirit or the least questioning of her interest in Christ But Eighthly When God calls his people to some great and noble work when he puts them upon some high services some difficult duties some holy and eminent imployments then his Spirit comes and sets his seal upon them Jer. 1. 5. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctifyed thee and I ordained thee to be a prophet unto the Nations The Lord sending the Prophet Jeremiah to denounce most dreadful judgements against a rebellious people an impudent brazen-faced Nation he assures him of his eternal election and of his choice presence and singular assistance in that work that he set him about vers 8 17 18 19. Thus the Lord dealt with Peter James and John Matth. 17. 1 to the 6th and thus he dealt with Paul Acts 9 to 23. Ninthly When they are taken up into more than ordinary communion with God then is the Spirits sealing time When was it that the Spouse cried out My beloved is mine and I am his but when Christ brought her to his banquetting house and his banner over her was love Cant. 2. 16. 3 4 5 6. compared c. Tenthly and lastly When Christians give themselves up to private prayer when Christians are more than ordinarily exercised in secret prayer in Closet duties then the Spirit comes and seals up the Covenant and the Love of the Father to them When Daniel Dan. 9. 20 21 22 23. had been wrestling and weeping and weeping and wrestling all day long with God in his Closet then the Angel tells him that he was a man greatly beloved of God or a man of great desires as the Original hath it There was a gracious Woman who after much frequenting of Sermons and walking in the ways of the Lord fell into great desertions but being in secret prayer God came in with abundance of light and comfort sealing up to her soul that part of his Covenant viz. I will take the stony heart out of Ezek. 11. 19 20. their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes and keep mine ordinances and do them and they shall be my people and I will be their God And thus I have given you a brief account of the Spirits special sealing times Now mark This seal God sets upon all his wares upon all his adopted children for sooner or later there are none of his but are sealed with this seal God sets his John 3. 3. 2 Thess 2. 13. Heb. 12. 14. seal of Regeneration he stamps his Image of Holiness upon all his people to difference and distinguish them from all prophane moral and hypocritical persons in the World Doubtless the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost imprinting the draughts and lineaments of Gods Image of Righteousness and Holiness upon Man as a seal or signet doth leave an impression and stamp of its likeness upon the thing sealed is the seal of the Spirit spoken of in Scripture 2 Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity But to prevent mistakes you must remember that though the Spirit of the Lord first or last will set his seal upon every real Saint yet the impression of that seal is not alike visible in all for some bear this impression as Babes others as men grown up to some maturity All Gods adopted children bear this impression truly but none of them bear it perfectly in this life Sometimes this seal of Regeneration this seal of Holiness is so plain and obvious that a man may run read it in himself and others and at other times 't is so obscure and dark that he can hardly discern it either in himself or others This seal is so lively stampt on some of Gods people that it discovers it self very visibly eminently gloriously but on others it is not alike visible And thus I have made it evident by these seven particulars that all the children of God have the Spirit of God Now mark The Spirit of God that is in all the Saints is a Spirit of prayer and supplication Rom. 8. 15. Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba
another Hence t is that on the one hand he works some to cry up publick Prayers in opposition to secret Prayer and one the other hand he works others to cry up private Duties in opposition to all publick Duties whereas all Christians stand oblieged by God so to manage one sort of Duties as not to shut out another sort of Duties Every Christian must find time and room for every Duty incumbent upon him But Fifthly Love Christ with a more enflamed love O strengthen your love to Christ and your love to Closet-duties Lovers love Can 7. 10 11 12. much to be alone to be in a corner together Certainly the more any man loves the Lord Jesus the more he will delight to be with Christ in a corner There was a great deal of love between Jonathan 1 Sam. 18. 19. chap. 20. com and David and according to their love so was their private converse their secret communion one with another they were alwayes best when in the Field together or when in a corner together or when behind the door together or when lockt up together and just so it would be with you did you but love the Lord Jesus Christ with a more raised and a more enflamed love you would be alwayes best when you were most with Christ in a corner Divine Love is like a rod of Myrtle which as Pliny reports makes the traveller that carries it in his hand so lively and cheerful that he never faints or grows weary Ah Friends did you but love the Lord Jesus with a more strong with a more raised love you would never faint in Closet-duties nor you would never grow weary of Closet-duties Look as the Israelites removed their Tents from Mithcah to Hashmonah from sweetness Num. 23. 39. to swiftness as the words import So the sweetness of Divine Love will make a man move swiftly on in a way of Closet-duties Divine Love will make all Closet-duties more easie to the Soul and more pleasant and delightful to the Soul and therefore do all you can to strengthen your love to Christ and your love to Closet-work It was observed among the Primitive Christians that they were so full of love one to another that they could be acquainted one with another as well in half an hour as in half a year O Sirs If your hearts were but more full of love to Christ and Closet-duties you would quickly be better acquainted with them you would quickly know what secret communion with Christ behind the door means But Sixthly Be highly throughly and fixedly resolved in the strength of Christ to keep close to closet-duties in the face of all difficulties and discouragements that you may Psal 44. 17 18 19 20 meet withal A man of no resolution or of weak resolution will be won with a Nut and lost with an Apple Satan and the world and carnal relations and your own hearts will cast in many things to discourage you and take you off from Closet-prayer but be ye nobly and firmly resolved to keep close to your Closet let the World the Flesh and the Devil doe and say what they can Daniel was a man of an invincible resolution rather than he would om it praying in his Chamber he would be cast into the Den of Lyons Of all the Duties of Religion Satan is the most deadly enemy to this of secret Prayer partly because Secret prayer spoiles him in his most secret designs plots and contrivances against the Soul and partly because secret prayer is so musical and delightful to God and partly because secret prayer is of such rare use and advantage to the Soul and partly because it layes not the soul of open to pride vain glory and worldly applause as prayer in the Synagogue doth and therefore he had rather that a man should pray a thousand times in the Synagogues or in the corner of the streets or behind a Pillar than that he should pray once in his Closet and therefore you had need to steel your hearts with holy courage and resolution that what ever suggestions temptations oppositions or objections you may encounter with that yet you will keep close to Closet-prayer There is not any better Bulwark in the day or battel than an heroick resolution of heart before the day of battel Sanctified resolutions doe exceedingly weaken and discourage Satan in his assaults they doe greatly daunt and dishearten him in all his undertakings against the Soul That man will never long be quiet in his Closet who is not stedfastly resolved to seek the Lord in a corner though all the powers of darkness should make head against him O Sir Divine fortitude holy resolutions will make you like a Wall of Brass that no Arrows can pierce they will make you like Armour of proof that no shot can hurt they will make you like that Angel Mat. 28. 2. that rolled away the Stone from before the door of the Sepulchre they will either enable you to remove the greatest Mountaines of opposition that lye between you and Closet prayer or else they will enable you to step over them Lather was a man of great resolution and a man that spent much time in Closet-prayer And such another was Nehemiah who met with so much opposition that had he not been steeled by a strong and obstinate resolution he could never have rebuilded the Temple but would have sunk in the midst of his work Now he was a man for private prayer as I have shewen in the beginning of this Treatise Who more resolute than David who more for secret prayer than David the same I might say of Paul Basil and many others who have been famous in their Generations O Sirs Sanctified Resolutions for Closet-prayer will chain you faster to Closet-prayer than ever Vlisses his resolutions did chain him to the mast of the ship 'T was a noble resolution that kept Ruth close to her mother when her sister Orpah only complements her kisses her and takes her leave of her Be but nobly resolved Ruth 1. 10 20. for Closet-prayer and then you will keep close to it when others only court it and take their leaves of it In the Salentine Country there is mention made of a Lake that is still brim full if you put in never so much it never runs over if you draw out never so much it is still full The resolution of every Christian for Closet-prayer Plin. Hist l. 2. c. 103. should be like this Lake still brim full Tide life tide death come honour or reproach come loss or gain come liberty or bonds come what can come the true bred Christian must be fully and constantly resolved to keep close to his Closet But Seventhly Labour for a greater effusion of the Holy Spirit for the greater measure any man hath of the Spirit of God the more that man will delight to be with God in secret Zech. 12. 10. And I will pour upon the House
THE Privie Key OF HEAVEN OR Twenty Arguments for CLOSET-PRAYER IN A Select Discourse on that Subject With the resolution of several considerable Questions the main Objections also against Closet-Prayer are here answered Cautions propounded and the Point improved with several other things of no small importance in respect of the internal and eternal welfare of the Christian Reader Twenty special Lessons in the Epistle Dedicatory to some afflicted Friends that we are to learn by that severe rod the PESTILENCE that now rageth in the midst of us By THOMAS BROOKS Minister of the Gospel O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance is lovely Cant. 2. 14. LONDON Printed for and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head Alley next to Cornhil 1665. TO My Worthy and Esteemed FRIENDS Mrs. Elizabeth Drinkwater Mrs. Susan Bell. Mrs. Hannah Bourne Mrs. Mary Taylor Mrs. Anne White Mrs. Elizabeth Juxon Mrs. Rebecah Juxon Mrs. Mary Baxter Mrs. Deborah Shepherd Mrs. Anne Clemons Mrs. Mary Sionior Mrs. Anne Snell Mrs. Anne Ellis Mrs. Margaret Cutlèr Mrs. Patience Cartwrigh Mrs. Mary Shaw Mrs. Phillip Garret Mrs. Margaret Winfield Mrs. Hannah Pippet Mrs. Mary Chanlor Mrs. Mary Scot. Mrs. Katherine Vsher with their Husbands c. All Happiness both here and hereafter Honoured and Beloved in our Dear Lord Jesus I HAVE crowded your names together in one Epistle not from any want of respect unto you for I owe to each of you more than an Epistle nor because you are in one particular Fellowship for so you are not but partly because the Lord hath made you one with himself in the Son of his love and partly because the Lord at several times and in several wayes hath exercised you all in the Furnace of Affliction and partly because this Epistle may reach you all and speak to you all when I cannot or when I may not or which is more when I am not Dear Friends many and great have been the breaches that the Lord hath made upon your persons upon your neer and dear Relations and upon your sweetest comforts and contentments There is not one of you but may truly say with Job He breaketh me with breach upon breach Job 16. 14. God hath chastised you all round with various Rods and O that the Lord would help you all to hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it Now that you may give me leave a little to open and apply to your particulars that Mic. 6. 9. The Lords voyce cryeth unto the City and the man of wisdom shall hear thy Name Hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it The matter that I shall offer to your consideration from this Scripture will be not only of special concernment to your selves but also of high concernment to all sorts and ranks of men and women in this sad Day when the Sword devours on the one hand the Pestilence rageth on the other hand The Lords voice cryeth unto the City Tremelius turns it thus The voice of the Lord doth preach unto this City for what the matter is thy Name seeth Hear ye the Rod c. This City viz. Jerusalem and so consequently to all the Israelites for in this City all Offices and duties of godliness and humanity were more religiously performed or to be performed than in any other place because of the presence and majesty of God that was amongst them But thy Majesty seeth what wickedness is practised amongst them as is evident in the Verses following Cryeth The word is from Kara which signifies First To Cry aloud or to make a noise Isa 58. 1. Cry aloud there is Kara The word signifies to Cry so loud as that all may hear that have ears to hear Secondly The word signifies Openly to proclaim preach or publish a thing Exod. 33. 19. I will Proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee Here is the word Kara Thirdly The word signifies To Cry out Gen. 39. 15. I lifted up my voyce and cryed Here is Kara The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath nine other significations in Scripture but because they are not pertinent to what is in my eye I shall pass them by at this time And the man of Wisdom shall see thy name Vethushiia properly signifies Essence and therefore according to the Hebrew the words should be read thus And the man of Essence shall see thy Name c. that is he that is a man indeed he that is not a sot astock a stone Most men are men of folly and so not worthy of the name of men but as for such as are truly wise they shall see thy Name There is a great measure of spiritual Art of Holy and Heavenly Wisdome required both to enable a man to hear the voice of the Rod and to understand the language of the Rod This Wisdom is too high for a fool Prov. 24. 7. Shall see thy Name Now the Hebrew word here used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be better derived from Jare which signifies to feare than from Raah that signifies to see and so the words will run smoothly thus The man of wisdom or of essence shall fear thy Name considering that 't is majesty it self that cryeth and that he is immediately to deal with God himself and not with a poor weak mortal worm Hear ye the Rod. The word Hear is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shamang which signifies First To mark observe and attend to what is said Gen. 29. 33. The Lord hath heard that I was hated that is he hath marked it he hath observed it So here O mark the Rod O observe the Rod O attend to what is spoken by the Rod. Secondly The word signifies to understand what is spoken so Gen. 42. 23. They knew not that Joseph understood them In the Hebrew 'tis that Joseph heard them Now to hear the Rod is to understand what is spoken to us by the Rod. Thirdly The word signifies to believe a thing reported to be true so Exod. 6. 9. They hearkned not unto Moses that is they did not believe the report that Moses made Hear the Rod that is believe the report the Rod makes The Rod reports that of all evils Sin is the greatest evil and that of all bitters Sin is the greatest bitter O believe the report of the Rod. The Rod reports that God is angry that God is displeased Oh believe its report The Rod reports the creatures to be meer vanity and vexation of Spirit O believe its report The Rod reports our neerest and dearest comforts contentments and enjoyments to be mixt mutable and momentary O believe its report The Rod reports Sin to be vile and the world to be vain and Heaven to be glorious and Christ to be most precious O believe its report The Hebrew word hath three other significations but
if they do but hear Drums or Tabours sound about them Were not Job and Jeremiah Job 3. Jer. 20. such Tygres who in the day of their afflictions did more than curse the Day of their birth O what a bitter cup what a heavy burden was affliction to them Job 10. 1. My Soul is weary of my life Job 7. 15. My Soul chooseth strangling and death rather than life Psal 6. 6. I am weary with my groaning Psal 69. 1 2 3. Save me O God for the waters are come in unto my Soul I sink in deep mire where there is no standing I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me I am weary of my crying my throat is dryed mine eyes fail while I wait for my God Doubtless many good men have sat under Elias 1 Kings 19. 4. his Juniper wishing themselves out of the World if it might stand with Divine pleasure that they might rest from their sins and sorrows and be rid of their many burdens and bondages looking upon life little better than a Hell were it not for the hopes of a Heaven hereafter But Fifthly When Parents take up the Rod into their hands they will not lay it down till Rodolphus the Emperours Motto was Omnia eoe voluntate Dei All must be as God will have it And this should be every Christians Motto under the Rod. they have subdued the spirits of their Children and brought them to submit and to kiss the Rod and to sit still and quiet before them 'T is so here when God takes up the Rod he will not lay it down till he hath brought us to lye quietly at his feet Lev. 26. 40 41 42. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their trespas which they have trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary to me And that I also have walked contrary unto them brought them into the Land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then Will I remember my Covenant with Jacob and also my Covenant with Isaac and also my Covenant with Abraham will I remember and I will remember the Land When God takes up the Rod his Children must either bow or break they must say the Jer. 5. 3 6. Lord is righteous they must kiss the Rod of Correction or else destruction will come like a Whirle-wind upon them 'T is reported of the Lyon that he spares those creatures that fall down before him and submit unto him but as for those that endeavour to run from him or to contend with him those he tears in pieces 'T is just so with the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah as you may see in that Hos 5. 14 15. King Edward riding furiously Acts and Mon. in Edward I. after a servant of his that had highly displeased him with a drawn Sword in his hand as purposing to kill him seeing him submit and on bended knee suing for his life did not only put up his Sword but also spared him and received him into his favour The King of Kings will never put up his sword when once he hath drawn it till his People fall on their knees submit unto him God never left chastising of Ephraim Jer. 31. 18 19 20. till he had brought him to his bow till he had made him submit and kiss the Rod. But Sixthly Afflictions are called a Rod in respect of the hand that layes them on Though Affliction be a Rod it is a Rod in a Fathers hand John 18. 11. The Sword is in the Judges hand and the Cudgel is in the Masters hand but the Rod is in the fathers hand Heb. 12. 6 7 8 9. When Balaams Ass Num. 22. 29. offended him he wished for a sword to slay him But so doth not God when we doe most highly provoke him he doth not take up a Sword to slay us but only a Rod to scourge us and chastise us as indulgent Fathers do their dearest Children But Seventhly and Lastly Afflictions are called a Rod in regard of the ends to which they serve A Rod is not to kill but to cure 't is not for destruction but for correction When David gave a full commission to his Souldiers against Absolom 'T was not to slay him but to restrain him 't was not to ruine him but to reduce him to his former obedience The Application is easie We can as well live without our daily bread as without our dayly Rod. Now the ends of taking up the Rod are these First and more generally 'T is for the good of the child and not for his hurt 'T is so here God takes up the Rod but 't is for the good of his People Gen. 50. 20. But as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive Divine goodness did so over-master the plotted malignity of Josephs Brethren as that it made a blessed medicine of a most deadly poyson Jer. 24. 5. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel like these good Figs so will I acknowledg them that are carried away Captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the Land of the Chaldeans for their good When Israel was dismissed out of Egypt 'T was with Exod. 11. Gold and Ear-rings And when Judah was dismissed out of Babylon 't was with great gifts Jewels and all necessary Utensils So Rom. 8. 28. And Ezra 1. we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose This Text like Moses his Tree cast into the bitter waters of Affliction may make them sweet and wholsome to drink of But Secondly and more particularly The Rod is to make the Child sensible of his folly and vanity Pro. 10. 13. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found but the Rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding So 't is here God takes up the Rod but 't is to make his People sensible of their folly and vanity 't is to make them look up to him and to look into Conscience and to look out to their Conversations Schola Crucis is Schola Lucis Gods house of correction is his school of instruction his lashes are our lessons his scourges are our School-masters and his chastisements are our advertisements Isa 26. 9. Psal 94. 12 Pro. 3. 12 13. Job 36. 8 9 10. Hence both the Hebrews and Greeks express chastening and teaching by one and the same word Musar Paideia because the latter is the true end of the former according to that in the Proverb Smart makes Wit and vexation gives understanding Afflictions are a Christians Looking-Glass by which he may see how to dress his own Oculos quos peccatum claudit paena apperit Greg.
it did had he not for some years before been hunted as a Partridge in the Wilderness Nor the Three Children or rather the Three Champions would never have been fit for so high a Rule had Dan. 3. 29 30. they not been first cast into the fiery Furnace Nor Daniel for that exceeding high honour and glory and greatness to which he was exalted had he Dan. 6. 25 ult not been first cast among the Lyons And so had Esther never been a poor Captive-Maid she had never been a Queen and so had never been instrumental in the preservation of the Church of God in her day Heman was one of the best and wisest men in 1 Kings 4. 31. the World in his day and this God brought him to by training of him up in the School of Affliction as you may evidently see in that 88. Psalm That of the Apostle in 2 Cor. 1. 4. deserves to be written in letters of gold Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Mark that word able O 't is one of the hardest and noblest works in all Christianity to be able divinely to comfort others that are in troubles and yet by sufferings God fits and prepares his People for this noble and difficult service Luther was of Opinion that to comfort a distressed Conscience was a greater work than to raise the dead to life And yet by inward and outward sufferings God fits his People for this great work And thus you see in what respects Afflictions are compared to a Rod. The second thing I am to do is to shew you those special Lessons that you are to learn by the Rod or if you please by the raging Pestilence Now they are these The first Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to know what the particular message or errand is which the Rod hath to deliver to you in the day of your distresse and trouble Your first work is to do as David did in that 2 Sam. 21. 1. He humbly enquires of the Lord to know the particular reason why he sent a Famine amongst them You must do as Job doth Job 10. 2. Shew me O Lord wherefore thou contendest with me Job would fain know the reasons of the controversie between God and him One well observes on the Text that Job was very destrous to know whether God did afflict him for sin or for tryal not to satisfie his curiositie but his Conscience Elihu's counsel to Job must here take place Job 34. 31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Job it seems was yet in the dark as to the particular cause or reason why the Lord had so grievously afflicted him and therefore he is very importunate with God that he would graciously point out the sin for which he had so sorely smitten him Thy proceedings saith Job to my understanding seem to be very strange and severe I am more heavily afflicted than others and yet I do not know wherein I have sinned more than others Why I should be condemned and cast without a Tryal why thou art so hot against me and why thou hast multiplied so many unheard of miseries upon me and why thou hast so greatly subjected me to the saddest and sourest censures of others as if I were the worst of sinners and the basest of hypocrites I know not And therefore O Lord I humbly desire that thou wouldest not deal with me according to thy absolute Power but let me know the true grounds and causes of all my heavy sorrows and miseries And so he is at it again in that Job 13. 23. How many are mine iniquities and sins make me to know my transgression and my sin My plagues O Lord are unparalel'd if my sins are such let me know it saith Job My calamities transcend the calamities of all others if my sins do so let them not be hid from mine eyes O Lord. My load O Lord is heavier than others and therefore if my sins are greater than others let me see them let me understand them Infirmities and weaknesses I confesse do hang upon me they are inherent in me and they do too often issue and flow from me but as for enormities or wickednesses neither my censorious Friends nor yet my worst enemies no nor yet my own Conscience will ever be able to make any just or clear proof against me O Lord I have many spots upon me but if there be any upon me that are not the spots of thy People let me see them let me know them that I may abhor my self and justifie thee and that I may say my Friends are righteous in their censures and I have done wickedly before the Lord. Sometimes Afflictions are sent only for tryal and instruction and not at all for sin this is evident in the case of Job and in the case of the Blind man whose afflictions though they were very great and grievous John 3. 9. yet were they not for sin but for tryal Now though this be true yet it must be granted that Mic. 1. 5 10. commonly sin is the meritorious cause the procuring cause of all Afflictions Sin ordinarily is the Original and Foundation of all our troubles Amos 2. 4 5 6. and chastisements Psal 89. 30 31 32. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my Judgements if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandements Then will I visit their transgression with the Rod and their iniquity with stripes Jer. 2. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee and thy back-slidings shall reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast for saken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hosts Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities Quest But what course must we take what meanes must we use to find out that particular sin for which God corrects us or which hath brought the Rod upon us Answ 1. Observe what that sin is that thy Conscience doth most upbraid thee with and check thee for Conscience is Gods Preacher in the Gen. 42. 21. Chap. 50. 15 16 17. bosome Now observe what that particular sin is that Conscience doth most smartly and roundly correct and chastise thee for for 't is ten to one but that is the sin that hath brought the Rod upon thee The voice of Conscience and the voice of the Rod do usually eccho one to another 'T is very rare to find a difference between the language of Conscience and the language of the Rod. Conscience is Gods Deputy
that all diseases and sicknesses are limited by God in respect of the degrees to which they shall arise That God that sets bounds to the raging Sea and that saith unto it Thus far shalt thou go and no further that God sets bounds to all raging diseases and sicknesses and saith unto them thus far you shall go and no further He sets bounds to the Feaver he saith to it go and scorch and burn up such a body so much and no more and to the Dropsie go and drown such a body so much and no more and to the raging Pestilence go and weaken such a body so much and no more and to the Stone go and torment such a body so much and no more But Fifthly It is a very great point of Faith to believe that all diseases and sicknesses are limited by God as to their continuance God saith to one disease go hang upon such a man so many years to another go hang up such a man but a few years and to another go hang upon such a man but a year and to another go hang upon such a man but a few months and to another go hang upon such a man but a few weeks and to another go hang upon such a man but a few dayes and to another go hang upon such a man but a few hours c. and accordingly it cometh to pass But The eighth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to Gal. 5. 24. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Eccl. 1. 2. Prov. 23. 5. Jer. 45. 4 5 get more weaned and more mortified affections to all worldly comforts contentments and enjoyments A man never comes to experience so much of the emptiness the nothingness the uselesness the vanity the mutability the impotency the insufficiency and the uncertainty of all worldly comforts and enjoyments as when he comes to fall under the Rod. The constant cry of the Rod is Be dead to the profits pleasures honours and applauses of the world be dead to relations be dead to friends be dead to every thing below a living Jesus But The ninth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to get assurance of greater and better things than any this world doth afford That saying Heb. 10. 33 34. is as true as it is old viz. That the assurance of an eternal life is the life of this temporal life But having spoke so much of this particular in my Treatise on Assurance which is now in your hands I shall satisfie my self with this hint at present But The tenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is not to despise the Rod Heb. 12. 5. My Son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. The Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is translated despise signifies the littling of a thing O do not little the Rod do not lessen it do not slight it do not make a tush at it do not set light by it do not say I will not regard it he that doth shews himself rather to be a Roman than a Christian Now because there is such a desperate aptness proness in many to make light of the Rod it will be your wisdom seriously to lay to heart these four particulars First That it is an immediate hand of God and therefore not to be despised 'T is a Am. 3. 6. Deut. 28. 58 59 60 61. sad and sinful thing to despise the mediate hand of God but 't is more sad and sinful to despise the immediate hand of God But Secondly 'T is a mighty hand of God 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time Certainly Am. 4. 10. 11. Ez. 38. 22 23. that heart must be mightily wicked that dares despise the mighty hand of God But Thirdly 'T is an angry hand of God and therefore do not despise it Psal 90. 7. For we are consumed by thy anger and by thy wrath are we troubled Vers 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy Num. 16. 46. Ez. 33. 27 28. 29 Deut 29. 22. 23 24. 25 wrath Shall Devils tremble under his angry hand Yea shall they roar as the Sea under his 〈◊〉 wrathful hand as that Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports in that James 2. 19. And will you presume to despise his angry hand the Lord forbid but Fourthly and lastly Consider that it is a holy hand it is a just and righteous hand it is a faithful hand of God and therefore do not despise it Jer. 29. 17 18 19. Lev. 26. 25. Jer 14. 12 13 14. 15. 16 Psal 119. 75. I know O Lord that thy Judgmentt are right or righteousness and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Vers 137. Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy Judgments Certainly none but unholy persons will be so impudent as to despise Gods holy hand Well The Eleventh Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is not to be discouraged under the Rod Heb. â—2 Nor Jer. 27. 13. 2 Sam. 24. 10 17. faint when thou art rebuked of him First It is a Rod in a fathers hand and therefore do not faint under it Secondly God will do much good by the Rod and therefore do not faint under the Rod. Thirdly You could not have been without the Rod and therefore do not faint under the Rod. Fourthly The Rod that is now upon is not according to the greatness of Gods anger nor according to to the greatness of his power nor according to the strictness of his Justice nor according to the demerits of your sins nor according to the malitious desires of Satan nor according to the designes plots and contrivances of wicked and unreasonable men nor according to the extensiveness of your fears for you have feared worse things than you feel nor according to that Rod that hath been upon the Primitive Saints nor according to that Rod that many thousands of the precious sons and daughters of Zion are under in other parts of the world and therefore do not faint under the Rod do not be discouraged under the Rod. Fifthly by fainting under the Rod you will gratifie Satan reproach religion render your selves unserviceable and make work for future Repentance and therefore do not faint under the Rod. But The Twelfth Lesson that you 2 Chron. 32. 25 26. Lev. 26. 40 41 42. Mic. 7. 9. Lam. 3. 30. Luke 21. 10. are to learn under the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is humbly to kiss the Rod and patiently quietly to lye under the Rod till the Lord shall either give you a gracious or a glorious deliverance from it What is the Rod and what is the raging Pestilence to the horrors of Conscience to the flames of hell or to an everlasting separation
from the presence of the Lord and 2 Thes 1. â— 8 9. from the glory of his power And therefore put your mouths in the dust and be silent before the Lord. He that hath deserved a hanging if he escape with a whipping hath no cause to murmur or complain and we that have deserved a damning have little cause to murmur or complain of a whipping yea though it should be with a Pestilential-Rod But The thirteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is highly fully freely and signally to justifie the Lord and to think well of the Lord to speak well of the Lord under the Rod to that purpose consult these Scriptures Psal 119. 75 137. Neh. 9. 33. Ezr. 9. 13. Lam. 1. 3 5 7 8 10 4 15 18. Dan. 9. 12. 14. 2 Kings 20. 16 17 18 19. Jer. 12. 1 2. Psal 129. 17 18 19 20 21 22. Psal 22. 1 2 3. Psal 97. 2. But The fourteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is personal reformation When the Rod smarts the Pestilence rageth God expects that every man should smite upon his thigh and turn from the evil of his doings 2 Chron. 7. 13 14. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain or if I command the locusts to devour the Land or if I send Pestilence among my people If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray seek my face turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven will forgive their sin will heal their Land that is I will remove the judgments that are upon the Land I will confer upon my reforming people all those favours blessings that they stand in need of Consult these Scriptures Ezr. 10. 14 19. 2 Chron. 30. 8 9. And chap. 29. 8 10 15 16. But The Fifteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to make God your habitation your shelter your refuge Ponder seriously upon these Scriptures Psal 91. 2 9 10. Psal 90. 1. Psal 71. 3. Psal 57. 1. They dwell most safely most securely most nobly who dwell in God who live under the shadow of the Allmighty and who every day lodge their souls in the bosome of eternal loves But The Sixteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or the raging Pestilence is to set up God as the great object of your fear Psal 119. 119 120. Isa 8. 7 8 13 14. compared When the Judgments of God are either threatned or executed feared or felt it highly concerns us to lift up God as the main object of our fear we should fear the hand that layes on the Rod more than Job 13. 11. Jer. 36. 24. the Rod it self When God takes up the Rod when he draws his sword and when he shoots his Pestilential arrows amongst us O how highly doth it concern us to fear before him with a child-like fear with a reverential fear with a fear that fortifies the heart against sin and with a fear that fits the Soul for duty that draws yea drives the soul to duty But The seventeenth lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to expect Gods singular presence with you and his admirable protection over you Consult these Scriptures Isa 43. 2. Dan. 3. 24 25. Gen. 39. 39 40. Psal 23. 4 5. Psal 91. Isa 63. 9. Isa 26. 20 21. Ezek. 9. 4 6. God is above his people and beneth them Deut. 33. 25 26 27. He is under them and over them Cant. 2. 6. He is before them behind them Isa 52. 12. chap. 58. 8. He is on the right hand of his people and he is on the left hand of his people Psal 16. 8. Psal 121. 5. Ps 118. 15 16 Exod. 14. 22 29. God is round about his people Psal 34. 7. Psal 125. 2. And God is in the midst of his people Zech. 2. 5. Psal 46. 5. Psal 12. 6 O the safety the security of the poor people of God for God is above his people beneth them he is under them over them he is before them behind them he is in the front in the rear and he is round about them and in the midst of them But The eighteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to live every day in a fresh choice frequent excercise of grace Consult these Scriptures Psal 91. 2 3 4. Jer. 39. 17 18. Mic. 7. 7 8 9. Psal 40. 1 2. Hab. 2. 1 2 3 4. Jer. 30. â—1 That man that lives dayly in an exercise of grace that man lives every day in heaven on this side heaven what-ever affliction or judgment he is under The Ninteenth Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging Pestilence is to quicken up your hearts to seek the Lord by extraordinary wayes means viz. by fasting prayer Consult these Scriptures Num. 16. 46 ult Psal 106. 23 29 30. Isa 22. 2 3 4 5 12 13. Jon. 3. 5 ult 2 Chron. 12. 2 3 4 5 6 7. 1 Kings 21. 21 ult Joel 2. 12 13 14 15. 16 17. But The Twentieth and so the last Lesson that you are to learn by the Rod or by the raging pestilence is To prepare for death it is to be in actual readiness to dye Ah Friends every ach every pain every disease is one of deaths warning pieces There is not a head-ach not a tooth-ach not a gripe not a grief not a fall not a wrench not a plague-sore but is a divine warning to man to prepare to die 'T is a soleemn work to die and therefore we had need prepare to die 'T is a work that is to be done but once and therefore we had need prepare to do that work well that is to be done but once In this world we hear often pray often read often and meditate often eat often drink often Job 14. 14. Heb. 9. 27. and that which is worst we sin often but we must die but once Death will try all our graces all our experiences all our evidences all our comforts all our attainments and all our He that would see more of this may read my String of Pearls and the Funeral Sermon that is at the end of my Book of Assurance enjoyments and therefore we had need to prepare to die Though there is nothing more certain than death yet there is nothing more uncertain than 1. The time when we shall die 2. The place where we shall die And 3. The manner how we shall die as whether we shall die a sudden death or a lingring death or a violent death or whether we shall fall by the sword abroad or by famine or pestilence at home or whether we shall fall by this disease or that and therefore we
the soundness of their sorrow but also to shew their sincerity by their secresie they must mourn apart that their sins may not be disclosed nor discovered one to another Here they are severed to shew that they wept not for company sake but for their own particular sins by which they had pierced and crucified the Lord of glory In secret a Christian may descend into such particulars as in publick or before others he wil not he may not he ought not to mention Ah how many Christians are there who would blush and be ashamed to walk in the streets and to converse with sinners or saints should but those infirmities enormities and wickednesses be written in their fore-heads or known to others which they freely and fully lay open to God in secret There are many sins which many men have fallen into before conversion and since conversion which should they be known to the world would make themselves to stink and Religion to stink and their profession to stink in the nostrils of all that know them Yea should those weaknesses and wickednesses be published upon the house tops which many are guilty of before grace received or since grace received how would weak Christians be staggered young comers on in the wayes of God discouraged and many mouthes of blasphemy opened and many sinners hearts hardened against the Lord his wayes reproofs and the things of their own peace yea how would Satans banner be displayed and his kingdom strengthned and himself infinitely pleased and delighted 'T is an infinite mercy and condescention in God to lay a Law of restraint upon Satan who else would be the greatest Blab in all the world It would be mirth and musick to him to be still a laying open the follies and weaknesses of the Saints Ambrose brings in the Devil boasting against Christ and challenging Judas as his own He is not thine Lord Jesus he is mine his thoughts beat for me he eats with thee but is fed by me he takes bread from thee but mony from me he drinks with thee and sells thy blood to me There is not a sin that a Saint commits but Satan would trumpet it out to all the world if God would but give him leave No man that is in his right wits will lay open to every one his bodily infirmities weaknesses diseases ailments griefs c. but to some near relation or bosom friend or able Physitian So no man that is in his right wits will lay open to every one his soul-infirmities weaknesses diseases ailments griefs c. but to the Lord or to some particular person that is wise faithful and able to contribute something to his souls relief Should a Christian but lay open or rip up all his follies and vanities to the world how sadly would some deride him and scorn him and how severely and bitterly would others censure him and judge him c. When David was alone in the Cave then he poured out his complaint to God and shewed before him his trouble Psal 142. 2. And when Job was all alone then his eyes pour'd out tears to God Job 20. 16. There is no hazzard no danger in ripping up of all before God in a corner but there may be a great deal of hazzard and danger Eccl. 12. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 22. 12. Heb. 10. 6. Psal 126. 5. Luk. 14. 14. Matth. 25. 34 37. in ripping up of all before men Fifthly Secret duties shall have open rewards Matth. 6. 6. And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly So Vers 18. God will reward his people here in part hereafter in all perfection He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him in a corner They that sow in tears secretly shal reap in joy openly Private prayer shall be rewarded before men and Angels publickly How openly did God reward Daniel for his secret prayer Dan. 6. 10. 23 24 25 26 27 28. Mordecai privately discovered a plot of treason against the person of King Ahasuerus and he is rewarded openly Esther 2. 21 22 23. with Chap. 6. Darius before he came to the kingdom received privately a garment for a gift of one Syloson and when he came to be King he rewarded him openly with the command of his Country Samus God in the great Day will recompense his people before all the world for every secret prayer and secret tear and secret sigh and secret groan that hath come from his people God in the great day will declare to men and Angels how often his people have been in pouring out their souls before him in such and such holes corners and secret places and accordingly he will reward them Ah Christians did you really believe this and seriously dwell on this you would 1. Walk more thankfully 2. Work more chearfully 3. Suffer more patiently 4. Fight against the world the flesh and the devil more couragiously 5. Lay out your selves for God his interest and glory more freely 6. Live with what Providence hath cut out for your portion more quietly and contentedly And 7. You would be in private prayer more frequently more abundantly Sixthly Consider that God hath O Lord I never come to thee but by thee I never go from thee without thee Bern. usually let out himself most to his people when they have been in secret when they have been alone at the Throne of Grace Oh the sweet meltings the heavenly warmings the blessed cheerings the glorious manifestations and the choice communion with God that Christians have found when they have been alone with God in a corner in a closet behind the door When had Daniel that Vision comfortable Message that blessed News by the Angel that he was greatly beloved but when he was all alone at prayer Dan. 9. 20 21 22 23. And while I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy Mountain of my God yea while I was speaking in prayer even the man Gabriel whom I had seen in the Vision at the beginning being caused to flie swiftly touched me about the time of the evening oblation And he informed me and talked with me and said O Daniel I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding At the beginning of thy supplications the commandement came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly beloved Therefore understand the matter and consider the Vision Whilst Daniel was at private prayer God by the Angel Gabriel reveales to him the secret of his Counsel concerning the Restauration of Jerusalem and the duration thereof even to the Messiah and whilst Daniel was at private prayer the Lord appears to him and in an extraordinary way assures him that he was a man greatly beloved or as the Hebrew Chumudoth hath it a man of desires that is a man whom Gods desires are towards a man singularly beloved of God and highly
in favour with God a man that art very pleasing and delightful to God God loves to lade the wings of private prayer with the sweetest choicest and chiefest blessings Ah how often hath God kissed a poor christian at the beginning of private prayer and spoke peace to him in the midst of private prayer and fill'd him with light and joy and assurance upon the close of private prayer And so Cornelius is highly commended and graciously rewarded upon the account of his private prayer Acts. 10. 1 2 3 4. There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius a Centurion of the Band called the Italian Band a devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much Alms to the people and prayed to God alwayes He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth houre of the day an Angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him Cornelius And when he looked on him he was afraid and said what is it Lord and he said unto him thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God Vers 30. 31. And Cornelius said four dayes agoe I was fasting until this hour that is until about three a clock in the after-noon vers 3. and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me in bright cloathing and said Cornelius thy prayer is heard and thine Alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God Mark as he was praying in his house namely by himself alone a man in bright clothing that was an Angel in mans shape vers 3. appeared to him and said Cornelius thy prayer is heard he doth not mean only that prayer which he made when he fasted and humbled himself before the Lord vers 30. 31. but as vers 2 3 4. shews His prayers his prayers which he made alone for it seemes none else were with him then for he only saw that man in bright cloathing and to him alone the Angel addressed his present speech saying Cornelius thy prayers are heard vers 4 31. Here you see that Cornelius his private prayers are not only heard but kindly remembred and graciously accepted and gloriously rewarded Praying Cornelius is not only remembred by God but he is also visited sensibly and evidently by an Angel and assured that his private prayers and good deeds are an odour a sweet smel a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God And so when had Peter his Vision but when he was praying alone on the house-top Acts 10. 9 10 11 12 13. On the morrow as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the City Peter went up unto the house-top to pray about the sxith hour And he became very hungry and would have eaten but while they made ready he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a certain Vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air And there came a voice to him Rise Peter kill and eat When Peter was upon the house-top at prayer alone then he fell into a trance and then he saw Heaven opened and then he had his spirit raised his Mind clevated and all the Faculties of his soul filled with a Divine Revelation And so when Paâ—l was at prayer alone he saw in Acts 11 18. a Vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him that he might receive his sight Paul had not been long at private prayer before it was revealed to him that he was a chosen vessel before he was filled with the gifts Graces and Comforts of the Holy Ghost And when John was alone in the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ whither he was banished by Domitian a most cruel Emperor then he had a glorious Euseb l. 3. c. 18. Rev. 1. 9 ult Rev. 5. 1 to 9. sight of the Son of man and then the Lord discovered to him most deep and profound Mysteries both concerning the present and future state of the Church to the end of the world And when John was weeping in private prayer doubtless then the sealed book was opened to him So when Daniel was at private prayer God dispatches a heavenly messenger to him and his Errand was to open more clearly and fully the blessed Scripture to him Some comfortable encourraging knowledge this holy man Doctor Ames got his learning by privat prayer and so did Solomon his wisdom of God had attain'd unto before by his frequent and constant study in the word and this egges him on to private prayer and private prayer posts an Angel from heaven to give him a clearer and fuller light Private prayer is a Golden-key to unlock the mysteries of the word unto us The knowledge of many choice and blessed Truths are but the returns of private prayer The Word dwells most richly in their hearts who are most in pouring out of their hearts before God in their Closets When Bonaventure that seraphical Doctor as some call him was asked by Aquinas from what books and helps he derived such holy and divine expressions and contemplations He pointed to a Crucifix and said Iste est liber c. Prostrate in prayer at the feet of this Image my soul receiveth greater light from heaven than from all study and disputation Though this be a Monkish tradition superstitious Fiction yet some improvement may be made of it Certainly that Christian or that Minister that in private prayer lyes most at the feet of Jesus Christ he shall understand most of the mind of Christ in the Gospel and he shall have most of heaven and the things of his owne peace brought down into his heart There is no Service wherein christians have such a near familiar and friendly entercourse with God as in this of private prayer neither is there any Service wherein God doth more delight to make known his truth and faithfulness his grace and goodness his mercy and bounty his beauty and glory Bene orasse est bene studuisse Luther to poor Souls than this of private prayer Luther professeth That he profited more in the knowledge of the Scripture by private prayer in a short space than he did by study in a longer space As John by weeping in a corner got the sealed book opened Private prayer crownes God with the Honor and Glory that is due to his Name and God crowns private prayer with a discovery of those blessed weighty Truths to his servants that are a sealed book to others Certainly the soul usually enjoyes most communion with God Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus Never less alone than when alone said the Heathen And may not a Saint say so much more that hath communion with God Jer. 13. 1 2. in secret When a christian is
and his prevailing by praying Prayers and tears are not only very pleasing to God but also very prevalent with God And thus you see that this great instance of Jacob speaks out aloud the prevalency of private prayer See another instance of this in David Psal 6. 6 8 9. I am weary groanings all the night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my tears These are all excessive figurative speeches to set forth the greatness of his sorrow and the multitude of his tears David in his retirement makes the place of his sin viz. his Bed to be the place of his repentance David sins privately upon his bed and David mourns privately upon his bed Every place which we have polluted by sin we should sanctifie and water with our tears Vers 8. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping As blood hath a voice and as the rod hath a voice so tears have a voice tears have tongues and tears can speak There is no noise to that that tears in secret make in the ears of God A prudent indulgent Father can better pick out the wants and necessities of his Children by their secret tears than by their loud complaints by their weeping than by their words and do you think that God can't do as much Tears are not alwayes Mutes Cry aloud saith one not with thy tongue but with thy eyes Lam. 2. 18. not with thy words but with thy tears for that is the prayer that maketh the most forcible entry into the ears of the great God of Heaven Penitent tears are undeniable Ambassadors that never return from the Throne of Grace without a gracious answer Tears are a kind of silent prayers which though they say nothing yet they obtain pardon and though they plead not a mans cause yet they obtain mercy at the hands of God As you see in that great instance of Peter who though he said nothing that we read of yet weeping bitterly he obtained mercy Mat. 26. 75. I have read of Augustine who coming as a Visitant to the house of a sick man he saw the room full of friends and kindred who were all silent yet all weeping the Wife sobbing the Children sighing the Kinsfolk lamenting all mourning whereupon Augustine uttered this short ejaculatory Prayer Lord What prayer dost thou hear if not these Vers 9. The Lord hath heard my supplication the Lord will receive my prayer God sometimes answers his people before they pray Isa 65. 24. And it shall come to passe that before they call I will answer And sometimes while they are praying so it follows in the same verse And while they are yet speaking I will hear So Isa 30. 19. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear it he will answer thee And sometimes after they have prayed as the experiences of all Christians can testifie Sometimes God neither hears nor receives a prayer and this is the common case and lot of the wicked Prov. 1. 28. Job 27. 9. Isa 1. 15. Sometimes God hears the prayers of his people but doth not presently answer them as in that case of Paul 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. And sometimes God both hears and receives the prayers of his people as here he did Davids Now in this instance of David as in a glasse you may run and read the prevalency of private prayer and of secret tears You may take another instance of this in Jonah Jonah 2. 1 2 3 5 7 10. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fishes belly and said I cried by reason of my affliction unto the Lord and he heard me out of the belly of Hell cried I and thou heardest my voice For thou had'st cast me into the deep into the midst of the seas and the floods compassed me about all thy billows and thy waves passed over me The waters compassed me about even to the soul the depth closed me round about the weeds were wrapt about my head When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto thee into thy holy Temple And the Lord spake unto the fish and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land When Jonah was all alone and in the midst of many dangers and deaths when he was in the Whales belly yea in the belly of Hell so called because horrid and hideous deep and dismal yet then private prayer fetches him from thence Let a mans dangers be never so many nor never so great yet secret prayer hath a certain omnipotency in it that wil deliver him out of them all In multiplied afflictions private prayer is most prevalent with God In the very midst of drowning secret prayer will keep both head and heart above water Upon Jonahs private prayer God sends forth his Mandamus and the Fish serves Jonah for a ship to sail safe to shore When the case is even desperate yet then private prayer can do much with God Private prayer is of that power that it can open the doors of Leviathan as you see in this great instance which yet is reckoned as a thing not feasible Job 41. 14. Another instance of the prevalency of private prayer you have in that 2 Kings 4. 32 33 34 35. And when Elisha was come into the house behold the child was dead and laid upon his bed He went in therefore and shut the door upon them twain and prayer unto the Lord. Privacy is a good help to fervency in prayer And he went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth upon his mouth and his eyes upon his eyes and his hands upon his hands and he stretched himself upon the child and the flesh of the child waxed warm Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro and went up and stretched himself upon him and the child neesed seven times and the child opened his eyes Oh the power the prevalency the omnipotency of private prayer that raises the dead to Life And the same effect had the private prayer of Elijah in raising the widows Son of Zarephath to life 1 Kings 17. 18 ult The great prevalency of Moses his Private prayers you may read in the following Scriptures Num. 11. 1 2. And when the people complained it displeased the Lord and the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt among them and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the Camp And the people cried unto Moses and when Moses prayed unto the Lord the fire was quenched Moses by private prayer rules and over-rules with God he was so potent with God in private prayer that he could have what he would of God So Num. 21. 7 8 9. Psal 106. 23. Exo. 32. 9 10 11 12 13 14. Exo. 14. 15 16 17. The same you may see in Nehemiah Neh. 1. 11. compared with Neh. 2. 4 5
pride and prodigallity their simplicity into subtilty their sincerity into hypocrisie their charity into cruelty their chastity into chambring and wantonness their sobriety into drunkenness their plain dealing into dissembling their works of compassion into works of oppression and their love to the people of God into an utter enmity against the people of God! c. And what is the voice of all these crying abominations but every Christian to his closet every Christian to his closet and there weep with weeping Jeremiah bitterly for all these great abominations whereby God is dishonoured openly O weep in secret for their sins who openly glory in their sins which should be their greatest shame O blush in secret for them that are past all blushing for their sins for who knowes but that the whole land may fare the better for the sakes of a few that are mourners in secret But however it goes with the Nation such as mourn in secret for the abominations of the times may be confident that when sweeping judgements shall come upon the land the Lord will hide them in the secret Chambers of his providence he will set a secret mark of deliverance upon their fore-heads that mourn in secret for the crying sins of the present day as he did upon theirs in Ezek. 9. 4 5 6. Seventeenthly Consider That John 15. 14 15. the near and dear relations that you stand in to the Lord calls aloud for secret prayer You are his friends Now a true friend loves to visit his friend when he may find him alone and enjoy privacy with him A true friend loves to pour out his heart into the bosom of his friend when he hath him in a corner or in the field or under a hedge You are his favourites and 1 Sam. 20. Neh. 2. 1 2 3 4. what favourite is there that hides his secret from his prince do not all favourites open their hearts to their princes when they are alone You are his Children and what ingenious child is there that doth not delight to be much with his father Eph. 5. 8. 1 Thes 5. 5. 2 Cor. 11. 2. when he is alone when no body is by O how free and open are children when they have their parents alone beyond what they are when company is present You are the Spouse of Christ and what spouse what wife is there that doth not love to be much with her husband when he is all alone True lovers are alwayes best when they are most alone Cant. 7. 10 11 12. I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me Come my beloved let us go forth into the field let us lodge in the villages Let us get up early to the vineyards let us see if the vines flourish whether the tender grape appear and the pomegranates bud forth there will I give thee my loves The Spouse of Christ is very desirous to enjoy his company in the fields that so having her beloved alone she might the more freely and the more secretly open her heart to him As wives when they are walking alone with their husbands in the fields are more free to open their minds and the secrets of their hearts than they are when in their houses with their children and servants about them so 't was with the spouse Without all peradventure they have very great cause to question whether they are Christs real friends favourites children spouse who seldom or never converse with Christ in their closets who are shie of Christ when they are alone who never accustome themselves to give Christ secret visits What Dalilah said to Sampson Judg. 16. 15. How canst thou say I love thee when thou hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth the discovery of which secret at last cost him his life that Christ may say to very many in our dayes How can you say you love me when you never acquaint me with your secrets how can you say you love me when you never bestow any private visits upon me How can you say that you are my friends my faithful friends my bosom friends when you never in private unbosom your selves to me How can you say that you are my favourites when you can spend one moneth after another and one quarter of a year after anoâ—her and yet not let me know one of all your secrets when every day you might have my ear in secret if you pleased How can you say that you are my children and yet be so close and reserved as you are How can you say you are my spouse and that you lye in my bosome yet never take any delight to open your hearts your secrets to me when I am alone What Alexander said to one that was of his name but a Coward Either lay down the name of Alexander or fight like Alexander that I say to you Either be frequent in closet duties as becomes a Christian or else lay down the name of a Christian either unbosom your selves in secret to Christ as friends favourites children spouses or else lay down these names c. But Eighteenthly Consider that God hath set a special mark of favour honour and observation upon those that have prayed in secret As you may see in Moses Exod. 34. 28. And in Abraham Gen. 21. 33. And in Isaac Gen. 24. 63. And in Jacob Gen. 32. 24-29 And in David Psal 55. 16 17. And in Daniel Chap. 6. 10. And in Paul Acts 9. 11. And in Cornelius Acts 10. 2. 4. And in Peter Acts 10. 9 10 11 12. And in Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. 18 19. God hath put all these worthies that have exercised themselves in secret prayer upon record to their everlasting fame and honour The Persians seldome write their Kings name but in characters of Gold God hath writ as I may say their names in characters of Gold who have made conscience of exercising themselves in secret prayer The precious names of those that have addicted themselves to closet duties are as Statues of gold which the polluted breath of men can no wayes stain they are like so many shining Suns that no clouds can darken they are like so many sparkling Diamonds that shine brightest in the darkest night A christian can never get into a hole a corner a closet to pour out his soul before the Lord but the Lord makes an honourable observation of him and sets a secret mark of favour upon him Ezek. 9. 4 5 6. And how should this provoke all christians to be much with God alone The Romans were very ambitious of obtaining a great name a great report in this world and why should not Christians be as divinely ambitious of obtaining a good name a good report in the other Heb. 11. 39. world A good name is alwayes better then a great name and a name in heaven is infinitely better then a thousand names on earth and the way to both these is to be much with God in secret But 19thly Consider that Satan
Nabals nature and practise answer to his name 1 Sam. 25. 25. Let not my Lord I pray thee regard this man of Belial even Nabal for as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and folly is with him Nabal signifies a fool a sot a Churle it notes one that is void of wisdome and goodness it signifieth one whose Mind Reason Judgment Understanding is withered and decayed Now if you look into the story you shall find that as face answers to face so Nabals nature and practise did Eccho and answer to his name And why then should not our natures and practises answer to our names also We are called the Lords secret ones his hidden ones and how highly therefore doth it concern us to be much with God in secret Why should their be any jarring or discord between our names and our practises It is observable that the practise and carriage of other Saints have been answerable to their names Isaac signifies laughter Gen. 18. and Isaac was a gracious son a dutiful son a son that kept clear of those abominations with which many of the Patriarchs had defiled themselves a son that proved matter of laughter to his Father and Mother all their dayes So Josiah signifies the fire of the Lord and his practise did answerto his name witness the pulling down of Jeroboams 1 King 13. 2. Altar and his burning of the Vessels that were made for Baal and his pulling down the Idolatrous Priests whom the Kings of 2 King 23. 4 21. Judah had set up and his burning the Grove at the brook Kidron and his stamping it to powder and his breaking down the houses of the Sodomites and his defiling of the high places where the Priests had burnt incense and his breaking in pieces the Images and cutting down the Groves and filling their places with the bones of men c. So Joshua signifies a Saviour and his practise was answerable to his name Though he could not save his people from their sins yet he often saved them from their sufferings Great and many were the deliverances the salvations that were instrumentally brought about by Joshua as all know that have read the book of Joshua So John signifies gracious and his practise was answerable to his name he was so gracious in his teachings and in his walkings that he gained favour in the very eyes of his enemies By all these Instances and by many more that might be given you see that other Saints practises have answered to their names And therefore let every one of us look that our practises do also answer to our names that as we are called the Lords secret ones so we may be much with God in secret that so there may be a blessed harmony between our names and our practises we may never repent another day that we have been called Gods secret ones his hidden ones but yet never made conscience of maintaining secret communion with God in our closets And thus you see that there are no less than Twenty arguments to perswade you to closet prayer and to maintain private communion with God in a Corner The use and Application of all follows Is it so that Closet Prayer or Private Prayer is such an indispensible duty that Christ himself hath laid upon all that are not willing to lye under the the woful brand of being hypocrites then this truth looks very sourely and sadly upon these five sorts of persons First It looks sourly and sadly upon all those that put off secret prayer private prayer till they are moved to it by the Spirit for by this sad delusion many have been kept from secret prayer many weeks many moneths O that I might not say many years Though it be a very fit season to Isa 62. 1. Psal 123. 1 2 Gal. 4. 6. pray when the Spirit moves us to pray yet 't is not the only season to pray He that makes Religion his business will pray as daily for daily grace as he doth pray daily for daily bread Luke 18. 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without ceasing Ephes 6. 18. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Rom. 12. 12. Continuing instant in prayer The Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In every season as occasion and opportunity offers it self we must pray a Metaphor taken from hunting Dogs that never give over the game till they have got their prey A Christian must not only pray but hold on in prayer till he hath got the heavenly prize We are wanting alwayes and therefore we had need be praying alwayes The world is alwayes alluring and therefore we had need be alwayes a praying Satan is alwayes a tempting and therefore we had need be alwayes a praying and we are alwayes a sinning and therefore we had need be alwayes a praying and we are in dangers alwayes and therefore we had need be praying alwayes and we are dying alwayes and therefore 1 Cor. 15. 31 we had need be praying alwayes Mans whole life is but a lingring death man no sooner begins to live but he begins to die When one was ask't why he prayed six times a day he only gave this answer I must die I must die I must die Dying Christians had need be praying Christians and they that are alwayes a dying had need be alwayes a praying Certainly prayerless families are graceless families and prayerless persons are graceless persons It were better Jer. 10. 25. ten thousand times that we had never been born into the world than that we should go still-born out of the world But Secondly This truth looks sourly and sadly upon those that pray not at all neither in their Families nor in their closets Among all Gods Children there is not one possest with a dumb devil Prayerlesse persons are forsaken of God blinded by Satan hardned in sin every breath they draw liable to all temporal spiritual and eternal Judgements Prayer is that part of natural worship due to God which none will deny but stark Atheists Psal 14. 1. It is observable that amongst the That wicked men ought to pray and the grand objection against their prayers answered at large in my Treatise called The Crown and glory of Christianity from Page 326. to pag. 337. worst of men Turks and the worst of Turks the Moors it is a just exception against any witness by their Law that he hath not prayed six times in every natural day it being usual with them to pray six times a day 1. Before the day-break they pray for day 2. When it is day they give thanks for day 3. At noon they thank God for half the day past 4. After that they pray for a good Sun-set 5. And after that they thank God for the day past And
Prince that ever sat upon a Throne who was guided by an infallible spirit hath delivered it for a standing maxim above 2000 years agoe That the Righteous is more excellent Prov. 12. 26 than his neighbour When Solomon dropt this Aphorism from his royal pen there was not a man in the world that was legally righteous Adam all his posterity being fallen Psal 14. 1 2 3. Rom. 3. 9 10 11 12. Lam. 5. 16. from all their honour glory dignity and excellency into a most woful Gulf of sin and misery and therefore Solomon must be understood of him that is evangelically righteous He that is evangelically righteous be he Master or servant rich or poor bond or free high or low is more excellent then his neighbour And O that all masters would seriously consider of this that they may carry it no more so proudly so loftily so scornfully so frowardly so strangly so sowrly so bitterly so rigorously towards their pious servants as not to afford them a little time to pour out their souls before the Lord in a corner I have read of Ingo an ancient King of the Draves and Veneds who making a stately feast appointed all his Pagan Nobles to sit in the Hall below and at the same time commanded certain poor Christians to be brought up into his presence Chamber to fit with him at Aenaeus Sylvius cap. 20. Europ Aven lib. 3. Annalium his Table that they might eat of his kingly chear at which many wondering he told them That he accounted Christians though never so poor a greater ornament at his Table and more worthy of his company than the greatest Nobles that were not converted to the Christian faith for saith he when these Pagan Nobles shall be thrust down to Hell these poor Christians shall be my consorts and fellow Princes in Heaven Certainly this noble Prince will one day rise in Judgement against all sowre churlish Labans who carry it so harshly and so severely towards their gracious servants as Ephes 69. that they will not allow them a little time to wait upon God in a hole Why should not gracious masters give their gracious servants a little time for closet prayer now considering that they are sharers with them in all the fundamental good that comes by Christ in this world and considering that they shall be partakers with them in all the glory of another world The Every man hath two things to look unto more than all the world be side a body and a soul for the one ery one is either a Fool or a Physitian for the other either a Devil or a Divine saith one poorest servant in a family hath a soul more precious than heaven and earth and the greatest work that lies upon his hand in this world is to look to the eternal safety security of that for if that be safe all is safe if that be well all is well but if that be lost all is lost Every gracious servant though he be never so poor and mean yet hath he the image of God the image of the King of Kings stampt upon him and wo to him that shall wrong or despise or trample upon that image Certainly God himself is wronged by the injury that is done to his image The contempt and despite that is done to the image or coyn of a King is done to the King himself and accordingly he will revenge it If it was a capital crime in Tiberâ—us his dayes to carry the image of Augustus upon a Ring or Coyn into any sordid place as Suetonius saith it was what crime must it be in those masters who despise revile reproach scorn abuse and tread under foot such servants as have the image of the great God stampt upon their souls and all because they look God-ward Christ-ward Heaven-ward Holiness-ward Duty-ward Masters should never twit their servants in the Prov. 22. 2. Chap. 17. 5. teeth with their inferiority penury poverty misery mean parentage or servile condition but remember that these things are more the Creators pleasure than the servants fault and that that God that hath made the master rich and the servant poor can as quickly make the master poor and the servant rich God many times puts down Luke 1. 52. the mighty from their seats and exalts them of low degree Certainly no master nor mistress should dare to insult or triumph over such servants as have souls as noble as their own but they should seriously and frequently consider of Solomons Aphorisme The righteous though a servant though the meanest amongst all the servants is more excellent than his neighbour and accordingly give them a little time and liberty to converse with God in secret And O that all gracious servants would discover themselves to be more excellent than their neighbours by making more conscience of private prayer than their neighbours do and by being more in their closets than their neighbours are and by delighting themselves in their secret retirements more than their neighbours will and by redeeming some time for God for their souls and for eternity more than their neighbours do But Seventhly I answer That God is only the Lord of time Time is Hab. 2. 3. Dan. 11. 27. 29. 35. Job 7. 1. Psal 102. 13 Eccl. 3. 1. Dan. 2. 21 Isa 60. 22. Job 14. 14. more the Lords than 't is thy masters and therefore 't is no neglecting of thy masters business to take a little time daily for private prayer Times do belong to providence as well as issues and as God is the God of our mercies so he is the Lord of our times My times are in thy hands saith David Psal 31. 15. Not only the times of his sorrows but also the times of his comforts not only the times of his miseries but also the times of his mercies not only the times of his dangers but also the times of his duties were in the hands of God 'T is observable the Psalmist doth not say time but times in the plural to shew that every point and period of time depends upon the hand of God One complaining of those who say Come let us talk together to pass away the time with grief of spirit Bernard Serm. de tripl custod cryes out O donec praetereat hora c. O until the hour be gone O until time be past which the mercy of thy maker hath bestowed upon thee to performe repentance to procure pardon to gain grace and to obtain glory That servant that borrows a little time every day to seek the face of God in a corner borrows it rather of God than of his master and therefore why should his master swell or rage or complain considering that God never made him Lord of time But Eighthly I answer That servants should rather redeem time from their sleep their recreations their daily meals than neglect closet duty a day And certainly those servants that out of conscience towards
God and out of a due regard to the internal and eternal welfare of their own souls shall every day redeem an hours time from their sleep or sports or feedings to spend with God in secret they shall find by experience that the Lord will make a few hours sleep sweeter and better than many hours sleep to them and their outward sports shall be made up with inward delights and for their common bread God will feed them with that bread that came down from heaven Sirs was not Christ The Evangelist applies these words to Christ Mat. 12. 15 16 17 18. his Fathers servant Isa 4â— 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect or choice one in whom my soul delighteth or is well pleased I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles Christ is called Gods servant in regard of his humane nature and in regard of his office of Mediatorship and did not he redeem time from his natural rest rather than he would omit private prayer Mark 1. 35. And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Christ spent the day in preaching in healing the sick in working of miracles and rather than these noble works should shut out private prayer he rises a great while before day that he might have some time to wrestle with his Father in secret So Luke 6. 12. And it came to pass in those dayes that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God O sirs did Christ spend whole nights in private prayer for the salvation of your souls and will you think it much to redeem an hours time from your natural rest to seek and to serve him in a corner and to make sure the things of your everlasting peace The redeeming of time for private prayer is the redeeming of a precious treasure which if once lost can never fully be recovered again If riches should make themselves wings and fly away they may return again as they did to Job or if credit and honour and worldly greatness and renown should fly away they may return again as they did to Nebuchadnezzar If success and famous victories and conquests should make themselves wings and fly away they may return again as they did to many of the Roman Conquerors and others But if Sophocles Phocilides c. time whom the Poets paint with wings to shew the volubility and swiftness of it fly from us it will never more return unto us A great Lady of this Land on Queen Elizabeth her dying bed cried out Call time again call time again a world of wealth for an inch of time but time past was never nor could never be recall'd The Aegyptians drew the picture of Time with three heads The First was of a greedy Wolf gaping for time past because it hath ravenously devoured even the memory of so many things past recalling The Second Of a crowned Lyon roaring for time present because it hath the principality of all action for which it calls aloud And the Third was of a deceitful Dog fawning for time to come because it feedes fond men with many flattering hopes to their eternal undoing O that all this might prevail with servants to redeem time for private prayer And if my counsel might take place I should rather advise servants to redeem some time for private prayer from their sleep or lawful recreations or set meales c. than to spend in private prayer that time which their masters call their time especially if their Masters be unconverted and in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity and that for these five Reasons First Because this may be a means to prevent much Sin on the Masters side Masters that are in their unregenerate estate are very apt to storm and take on and let fly against God and Christ and Religion profession c. When they see their servants spend that time in private prayer or in any oother religious excercise which according to their understanding is their time and ought to be wholly spent in following their businesses Now gracious servants should have that honourable respect and that tender affection and that Christian compassion to their Masters souls as to do to the utmost all that lyes in them to prevent their Masters from contracting guilt upon their souls or from Jude 22 23. making work for repentance for hell or for the Physitian of souls The Persians the Turks and many Indians are so compassionate that they erect Hospitals not only for lame and diseased Men but also for Birds Beasts Dogs that are either aged starved or hurt O then what tender compassions should gracious servants exercise towards their Masters souls which are Jewels more worth then heaven and earth But Secondly Because this may be a means to convince the Judgments and Consciences of their Masters that there is some worth some excellency some sweetness c. to be found in private prayer and in other closet duties for when Masters shall observe their servants to redeem time for closet duties from their very sleep recreations dinner suppers they will be ready to conclude that certainly there is more worth more goodness more sweetness more excellency more glory more gain in closet duties than ever they have understood felt or experienced c. and that there very poor servants are better and more righteous than themselves Sotomen reports that the devout life of a poore Captive Christian woman made a King all his Family imbrace the Faith of Jesus Christ Good works convince more than Miracles themselves I have read of one Pachomius a souldier under Constantine the Emperor how that his Army being almost starved for want of necessary provision he came to a city of Christians and they of their own charity relieved them speedily and freely he wondering at their free and noble charity enquired what kind of people they were whom he saw so bountiful it was answered that they were Christians whose profession it is to hurt no man and do good to every man hereupon Pachomius convinced of the excellency of this Religion threw away his Arms and became a Christian a Saint Look as Husbands sometimes 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. are won by the conversation of their wives without the word so Masters may sometimes be won by the gracious carriage and conversation of their servants without the word The servants redeeming of time for private duties upon the hardest and severest tearms may be so blest to the Master that it may issue in his conviction conversion and salvation There is a may-be for it and a very may-be should be a sufficient encouragement for every gracious servant to do all he can to save the soul of his Master from going down into the infernal Pit But Thirdly Because the servants redeeming of time from his sleep recreations meals for
his own heart Look as the holy Spirit is not always a teaching Spirit nor always a leading Spirit nor always a comforting Spirit nor alwayes a sealing Spirit nor alwayes a witnessing Spirit nor alwayes an assuring Spirit to any of the Saints so he is not alwayes a supplicating Spirit in any of the Saints When he is grieved vexed quenched provoked he may suspend his gracious influences and deny the soul his assistance and what can a Christian then say or do But Secondly I answer Thou canst not pray but canst thou not sigh nor groan neither there may be the spirit of Adoption in sighs and groans as well as in vocal prayer Rom. 8. 26. The force the vertue the efficacie the excellency of prayer doth not consist in the number and flourish of words but in the supernatural motions of the spirit in sighs and groans and pangs and strong affections of heart that are unspeakable and unutterable Certainly the very soul of prayer lyes in the pouring out of a mans soul before the Lord though it be but in sighs groans and tears 1 Sam. 1. 13 19. One sigh and groan from a broken heart is better pleasing to God than all humane eloquence But Thirdly I answer Beg of God to teach thee to pray O beg the holy spirit that is a spirit of prayer God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Ezek. 36. 26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will takeaway the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them Ezek. 11. 19. And I will give them one heart I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication Now Gracious promises are Gods bonds and he loves to see his people put them in suit God expects Isa 62. 6 7. Isa 42. 25 26. that we should be his Remembrancers and that we should pray over his promises When he had promised great things to his people concerning Justification Sanctification Preservation he subjoynes Yet I will for this be enquired of by Ezek. 36. 37. the house of Israel to doe it God looks that we should spread his gracious promises before him as Hezekiah Isa 37. 14. did Seanacheribs letter God is never better pleased than when his people importune him in his own words and urge him with arguments taken from his owne promises Though God be a very affectionate father and a very liberal father yet he is not a prodigal father for he will never throw away his mercies on such as will not stoutly and humbly plead out his promises with him God loves to take state upon him and will be sought unto both for his giving in of mercies and for his making good of precious promises Thou sayest thou can'st not pray why can'st thou not goe into a corner and spread the Promises last cited before the Lord and tell him how much it concernes his honour glory as well as thy own internal eternal good to make good those gracious promises that he hath made concerning his giving of his Spirit to them that ask him and his putting his Spirit within them and his pouring out a Spirit of grace and supplication upon them We read of Tamar that when Gen. 38. 18 25. Judah her father-in-law lay with her she took as a pledge his signet bracelets and staffe and afterwards when she was in great distress and ready to be burnt as an Harlot she then brought out her staff and signet and Bracelets and said by the man whose these are am I with child and thereby she saved her life The promises are as so many rich Mines they are as so many choice flowers of paradise they are the food life and strength of the soul They are as a staffe to support the soul and they are as a signet and Bracelets to adorne the soul and to enrich the soul and therefore poor sinners should bring them forth and lay them before the Lord and urge God with them there being no way on earth to save a mans soule and to prevent a burning in Hell like this Concerning precious promises let me give you these eight hints First that they are truly propounded stated by God Mark 10. 30. Secondly That they shall certainly be performed 2 Cor. 1. 20. they being all made in and thorow Christ they are made first to Christ and then to all that have union and communion with him Sirtorius saith Plutarch paid what he promised with fair words but so doth not God Men many times say and unsay they often eate their words as soon as they have spoken them but God will never eat the words that are gone out of his mouth Isa 46. 10 11. My counsel shall stand and I will doe all my pleasure yea I have spoken it I will also bring it to pass I have purposed it I will also doe it Thirdly That they all issue from free grace from special love Hos 14. 4. from divine goodness Fourthly That they are all as Jer. 31. 3. unchangable as he is that made them Fifthly That they are all bottomed and Mal. 3. 6. founded upon the truth faithfulness and all sufficiency of God Sixthly That they are pledges and pawnes of great things that Heb. 13. 5. God will doe for his people in time Seventhly That they are most Heb. 6. 12. sure and certain evidences of divine favour and a declaration of the Num. 23. 19. heart and good will of God to his poor people Eighthly That they are the price of Christs blood Now how should all these things encourage poor souls to be still a pressing of God with his promises But Fourthly You say you cannot pray c. O that you would leave off objecting and fall upon praying If you cannot pray as you would nor as you should pray as well as you can Josephs brethren stood so long dallying delaying and trifling out the time that having a Journey to goe to buy corn they might have bought and returned twice before they went and bought once When Eliah called Elizeus he goes about the bush 1 Kings 19. 20. and he must needs goe bid his father and mother farewel before he could follow the Prophet O friends take heed of dallying delaying trifling going about the bush when you should be a faling upon the work of prayer What though
the Saints all things that is First He teacheth them all things needful for the salvation of their souls all things necessary to bring John 17. 3. them to heaven Secondly All things needful to life and godlyness 2 Pet. 1. 3. Thirdly all things needful to their places callings sexes ages and conditions Fourthly All things needful for you to know to preserve you in the truth and to preserve you from being deluded and seduced by those false teachers of whom he speaks vers 18 19 22 23 26. And certainly this is the main thing that John hints at in that expression The all things spoken of in Vers 27. according to the ordinary Scripture style must necessarily be interpreted only of all those things which are there spoken of But Sixthly They are all comforted by the Spirit Acts. 9. 31. They John 14. 16 26. and Chap. 15. 26. and Chap. 16. 7. walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat and driâ—k but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy-Ghost 1 Thes 1. 6. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the holy-Ghost Not that all Christians have alwayes actual comfort or actual joy O no For as the Air is sometimes clear sometimes cloudy and as the Sea is sometimes ebbing sometimes flowing so the comforts and joyes of the people of God are sometimes ebbing and sometimes flowing sometimes clear and sometimes cloudy Hudson the Martyr being deserted at the stake went from under his chain and having prayed earnestly was comforted immediatly and suffered valiantly So Mr. Glover the Martyr was deserted in Prison but as he was going to the stake he lookt back and cried out to his friend He is come he is come meaning the Comforter and so he laid down his life with joy Rachel wept and would not be comforted she gave so much way to weeping that she would not give the least way to comfort and so 't is many times with the choicest Saints My soul refused to be comforted Psal 77. 2. 'T is not my purpose at present to insist on the several wayes whereby the people of God refuse comfort and fall short of those strong consolations which God is willing that they should receive The Sun may operate where it doth not shine and a man may be in a state of salvation and yet want consolation a man may fear the Isa 50. 10. 2. Lord and obey the voice of his servant and yet walk in darkness and see no light There is no Christian but may sometime have trouble in his conscience and grief in his heart and tears in his eyes and fears and questionings in his soul whether God be his Father and whether Christ be his Redeemer whether Mercy belongs to him yea whether any Promise in the Book of God belongs to him c. Joy and comfort are those dainties Psal 30. 6 7. those sweet-meets of heaven that God doth not every day feast his people with every day is not a wedding day nor every day is not a harvest day nor every day is not a summers day The fatted Calf is Luke 15. 22 23. Eccl. 3. 4. Rom. 12. 15. not kil'd every day nor the Robe the Ring is not every day put on every day is not a festival day nor a dancing day As there is a time to sing so there is a time to sigh as there is a time to laugh so there is a time to weep and as there is a time to dance so thereis a time to mourn All tears will never be clear wip'd from our eyes till all sinbe quite taken out of our hearts But notwithstanding all this yet gracious â—ouls have alwayes sure and choice grounds of consolation they have the promises they have the first fruits of the Spirit they have union with Christ and they have right to eternal life though they have not alwayes sensible comforts The Job 13. 15. Psal 42. 5. children of God have alwayes cause to exercise faith and hope on God in their darkest condition though they have not alwayes actual joy and consolation The comforter alwayes abides with the Saints though he doth not alway actually comfort the Saints John 14. 16. The Spirit many times carryes on his sanctifying work in the soul when he doth not carry on his comforting work in the soul the Spirit many times acts in a way of humiliation when he doth not act in a way of consolation the Spirit many times fills the soul with Godly sorrow when he doth not fill the soul with holy joy The actings of the Spirit as to his comforting work are all of his own soveraign will and pleasure and therefore he may abide in the soul when he doth not actually comfort the soul But Seventhly The people of God These words saith Zanchy are a inetaphor taken from Merchants who having bâ—ught goods seal them as their own and so transport them to other places Eph. 4. 24. first or last are sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1. 13. In whom after ye believed ye were sealed by the holy Spirit of promise The nature of sealing consists in the imparting of the image or Character of the Seal to the thing sealed To seal a thing is to stamp the character of the Seal on it Now the Spirit of God doth really and effectually communicate the image of God to us which image consists in righteousness and true holiness Then are we truly sealed by the Spirit of God when the holy Ghost stamps the image of grace and holiness so obviously so evidently upon the soul as that the soul sees it feels it and can run and read it then the soul is sealed by the holy Spirit So Ephes 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption The Person of the Holy-Ghost is here set forth in the Greek with a very great energy such as our Tongue is not able fully to express Here are three words that have three Articles every word his several Article by it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Spirit not a Spirit and not holy but the holy nor of God but of that God 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts In these Scriptures you see that the Spirit is a seal Now a seal among men is First For secresie Secondly For distinction Thirdly For authority Fourthly For certainty A writing sealed is authentick and for ensureing In the three Texâ—s last cited if you compare them together you may observe these Six things First The Person sealing and that is the Father Secondly In whom in Christ Thirdly With what seal the Spirit of Promise Where are all the Persons in the Trinity making us sure of our inheritance Fourthly When after ye believed Fifthly
The End which is twofold 1. Subordinate and that is the certainty of our salvation 2. Ultimate and that is the praise of his glory Sixthly The Time how long this seal and earnest shall thus assure us and that is till we have the compleat possession of what it is an earnest To prevent mistakes and disputes about the Sealings of the Spirit on the one hand and to support comfort and encourage the poor people of God on the other hand let me briefly hint at the Spirits â—pecial sealing times As First Conversion times are often the Spirits sealing times Luke 15. 22 23. Upon the Prodigals return the fatted Calf is killed and the best Robe is put upon his back and the Ring is put upon his hand and shooes on his feet Some by the Robe understand the Royalty of Adam others the Righteousness of Christ And by the Ring some understand the pledges of Gods love Rings being given as pledges of love and by the Ring others understand the seal of Gods holy Spirit men useing to seal with their Rings Among the Romans the Ring was an ensigne of vertue honour and nobility whereby they that wore them were distinguished from the common people I think the main thing intended by the Robe and the Ring is to shew us that God sometimes upon the sinners conversion and returning to him is graciously pleased to give him some choice manifestations of his gracious pleasure and good-will and to seal up to him his everlasting love and favour And hence it comes to pass that some that are but babes in Christ are 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. 1. John 2. 12 13 14. Acts 9. 3 4 5 6. so diligent and active in religious duties and so consciencious and dexterous in the exercise of their Graces At first conversion God helps some of his people to read their own names written in legible letters in the Book of Life No sooner are some converted but the Spirit stamps his seale upon them Secondly Beleeving times are sealing times Ephes 1. 13. When they were in the very exercise of their faith when they were acting Rom. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 8. of their faith for so much the Original imports the Spirit came and sealed them up to the day of redemption He that honours Christ by frequent actings of faith on him him will Christ honour by setting his seal and mark upon him Thirdly Humbling times mourning times are sealing times When a holy man was askt which were the joyfullest dayes the comfortablest dayes that ever he enjoyed he answered his mourning dayes His mourning dayes were his joyfullest dayes and therefore he cried out O give me my mourning dayes give me my mourning dayes for they were my joyfullest dayes Those were dayes wherein God sealed up his everlasting love to his soul Job 22. 29. Isa 29. 19. When the Prodigal had greatly humbled himself before his father then the best Robe and the Ring were put upon him Luke 15. 17 24. There are none that long for the sealings of the Spirit like humble souls nor none set so high a price upon the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls nor none make so choice an improvement of the sealings of the Spirit as humble souls And therefore when mens hearts are humble and low the Spirit comes and sets the privy seal of heaven upon them Fourthly Sin-killing sin-mortifying sin-subduing times are the Spirits sealing times Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written that no man knowes saving he that receiveth it God will give to the victorious Christian a secret love-token whereby his soul may rest assured of the unspeakable love of God and of its freedom from condemnation White stones were of very great use among the Romans and among the Athenians and served to acquit the accused in Courts of Justice When Malefactors were accused arraigned and condemned in their Courts they gave them a Black stone in token of condemnation but when they were acquitted they gave them White stones in token of absolution And to this practise the holy Ghost seems to allude He that is victorious over Isa 56. 5. his lusts shall have a new Name that is better than the names of sons and daughters and he shall have the pardon of his sins writ in fair letters upon the white stone so that he may run and read his absolution The victorious Christian shall 1 John 1. 7. have assurance of the full discharge of all his sins he shall have a clear evidence of his Justification and a blessed assurance of his eternal Election all which are hidden and mysterious things to all but those that have experienced and tasted what these sweet meats of Heaven mean Among the Romans there were solemn feasts held in honour of those that were victorious in their sacred Games Now those that were to be admitted to those Feasts were wont to have their names written on white shels and white stones and by these Tickets they were admitted Now some think the holy Ghost alludes to this practise and so would hint to us a privy mark whereby victorious Christians may be known and admitted as bidden guests to the heavenly banquet of the hidden Manna according to Rev. 19. 9. O sirs when predominate lusts are brought under when bosom sins lye slain in the soul then the Spirit comes and seals up love and life and glory to the soul Fifthly Suffering times are sealing times Act. 7. 55 56 59 60. Rev. 1. 9 10. 2 Cor. 4. 15 16 17. The primitive Christians found Acts 5. 40 41 42. Psal 71. 20 21. Psal 94. 19. Rev. 1. 9 10. them so and the suffering Saints in theÌ„ Marian dayes found them so When the Furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a mans pardon in his bosom and his peace with God and his title to heaven When the world frowns most then God smiles most when the world puts their iron chains upon the Saints legs then God puts his golden chains about the Saints necks when the world puts a bitter cup into one hand then the Lord puts a cup of consolation into the other hand when the world cries out Crucifiè them crucifie them then commonly they hear that sweet voice from heaven These are my beloved ones in whom I am well pleased Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was in the right way to heaven And saith Ignatius It is better for me to be a Martyr than to be a Monarch Sixthly Self-denying times are the Spirits sealing times Matth. 19. 27 28 29. First There is sinful self which takes in a mans lusts Secondly There is natural self which takes in a mans arts parts gifts with Reason Thirdly There is religious self which takes in all a mans religious duties and services whether ordinary or
his own soul by perpetual poring upon his guilt When Guilt upon the Conscience works a man to water the earth with tears to make Heaven ring with his groans then it works kindly When the sence of Guilt drives a man to God to Duty to the Throne of Grace then it will not be long night with that man He that thinks to shift off Private Prayer under the pretence of Guilt doth but in that increase his own Guilt Neglect of Duty will never get Guilt off the Conscience But then there is an involuntary indisposition to private prayer as in a sick man who would work and walk but cannot being hindered by his disease or as it is with a man that hath a great chain on his leg he would very fain walk or get away but his chain hinders him Now if your indisposition to private prayer be an involuntary indisposition then God will in mercy in course both pardon it remove it Secondly There is a total indisposition to private prayer there is a partial indisposition to private prayer A total indisposition to private prayer is when a man hath no Jer. 4. 22. Chap. 44. 17 18 19. mind at all to private prayer nor no will at all to private prayer nor no love at all to private prayer nor no delight nor no heart at all to private prayer now where this frame of heart is there all is naught very naught stark naught A partial indisposition to private prayer is when a man hath some will to private prayer though not such a will as once he had and some mind to private prayer though not such a mind as once he had and some affections to private prayer though not such warm and burning affections as once he had Now if your indisposition to private prayer be total then you must wait upon the Lord in all his appointments for a changed nature and for union with Christ but if your indisposition to private prayer be only partial then the Lord will certainly pardon it and in the very use of holy means in time remove it But Thirdly and lastly there is a transient accidental occasional or fleeting indisposition to private prayer and there is a customary a constant or permanent indisposition to private prayer Now a transient accidental occasional or fleeting indisposition to that which is good may be found upon the best of Saints as you may see in Moses Exod. 4. 10 11 12 13 14. and in Jeremiah Jer. 1. 5 6 7 8 17 18. 19. and Chap. 20. 9. and in Jonah chap. 1 and in David Psal 39. 2 3. Now if this be the indisposition that thou art under then thou mayest be confident that it will certainly work off by degrees Isa 65. 2. Jer. 9. 3. as theirs did that I have last cited But then there is a customary a constant or permanent indisposition to private prayer and to all other holy Duties of Religion Now if this be the indisposition that thou art under then I may safely conclude that thou art in the very gall of bitternesse and in Acts 8. 21 22 23. the bond of iniquity and thy work lyes not in complaining of thy indisposition but in repenting and believing and in labouring for a change of thy heart and state for till thy heart thy state be changed thou wilt remain for ever indisposed both to Closet-Prayer and to all other Duties of Religion and godlinesse To see a sinner sailing Hell-ward with Wind and Tide on his side to alter his course and Tack about for Heaven to see the earthly man become heavenly the carnal man become spiritual the proud man become humble the vain man become serious to see a sinner move contrary to himself in the wayes of Christ and holiness is as strange as to see the earth fly upward or the Bowl run contrary to its own Byass and yet a divine power of God upon the Soul can effect it and this must be effected before the sinner will be graciously inclined and sincerely disposed to Closet-prayer And let thus much suffice by way of Answer to this Objection also Now for the better management of this great Duty viz. Closet-prayer I beseech you take my advice and counsel in these 11. following particulars First Be frequent in Closet-prayer and not now and then only He will never make any yearnings of Closet-prayer that is not frequent in Closet-prayer Now that this Counsel may stick Consider First Other eminent Servants of the Lord have been frequent in this blessed work Nehem. 1. 6. Let thine earnow be attentive and thine eyes open that thou mayest hear the Prayer of thy Servant which I pray before thee day and night So Daniel he kneeled Dan. 6. 10 upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did before time So David My voyce shalt thou hear in the morning and in the evening will Psal 5. 3. I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up So Psal 88. 13. But unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee So Psal 119. 147. I prevented the Psal 119. 164. dawning of the morning and cryed unto the Lord. So Psal 55. 17. Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud Yea he Exod. 29 38 39. Numb 28. 3. Mat. 6. 11. was Vir orationis for his frequency in it Psal 109. 4. For my love they are my adversaries But I give my self unto prayer Or as the Hebrew may be read But I am a man of prayer Of Carolus Magnus it was said Carolus plus cum Deo quam hominibus loquitur that he spake more with God than with men Secondly Consider the blessed Scripture doth not only enjoyn this Duty but it requires frequency in it also Luke 18. 1. 1 Thes 5. 17. Col. 4. 2. In the former part of this discourse I have given light into these Scriptures and therefore the bare citing of them must now suffice Thirdly Christ was frequent in Private Prayer as you may easily see by comparing of these Scriptures together Mark 1. 35. Mat. 14. 23. Luke 22. 39. John 18. 2. In my second Argument for Private Prayer you may see these Scriptures opened and amplified But Fourthly Consider that you have the examples of the very worst of men in this case Papists are frequent in their private Devotions And the Mahometans what occasion soever they have either by profit or pleasure to divert them will yet pray five times every day Yea the very Heathens sacrificed to Hercules morning and evening upon the great Altar at Rome Now shall blind nature do more than grace But Fifthly Consider you cannot have too frequent Communion with God you cannot have too frequent intercourse with Jesus you cannot have your hearts too frequently filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory and with that peace that passes understanding you cannot have heaven too frequently brought
beast in Sacrifice to the gods but when the beast was opened it was without a heart which the South-sayers looked upon as an ill omen 'T is a sad omen that thou wilt rather provoke the Lord than prevail with him who art habitually heartlesse in thy Closet-duties Of the heart God seemeth to say to us as Joseph did to his Brethren concerning Benjamin Ye shall not see my face without it It was the speech of blessed Bradford that he would never leave a Duty till he had brought his heart into the frame of the duty he would not leave confession of sin till his heart was broken for sin he would not leave petitioning for grace till his heart was quickened and enlivened in a hopeful expectation of more grace he would not leave gratulation till his heart was enlarged with the sence of the mercies he enjoyed and quickened in the return of praise My sixth advice and counsel is this Be fervent be warm be importunate with God in all your Closet-duties and performances James 5. 17. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much or as the Greek hath it the working prayer that is such working 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayer as sets the wholeman on work as sets all the faculties of the soul and all the graces in the Psal 55. 1. Psal 61. 1. Psal 64. 1. Psal 88. 1 13. Psal 119. 164. Jon. 2. 1 2. Joel 2. 13. Psal 119. 145 147. Psal 119. 20. soul at work the word signifies such a working as notes the liveliest activity that can be Certainly all those usual phrases of crying wrestling and striving with God which are scattered up and down in Scripture do strongly argue that holy importunity and sacred violence that the Saints of old have expressed in their addresses to God Fervency feathers the wings of prayer and makes them fly the swifter to Heaven An Arrow if it be drawn up but a little way flyes not far but if it be drawn up to the head it will fly far and pierce deeply So fervent Qui timide rogat docet negare saith the Philosopher prayer flyes as high as Heaven and will certainly bring down blessings from thence Cold prayers bespeak a denyal but fervent prayers offer a sacred violence both to heaven and earth Look as in a painted fire there is no heat so in a cold prayer there is no heat no warmth no omnipotency no devotion no blessing Cold prayers are like Arrows without heads as swords without edges as Birds without wings they pierce not they cut not they fly not up to heaven Such prayers as have no heavenly fire in them do alwayes freez before they reach as high as heaven But fervent prayer is very prevalent with God Acts 12. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies instant prayer earnest prayer stretched-out prayer prayer stretched-out upon the tenters as it were These gracious souls did in prayer strain and stretch themselves as men do that are running in a race they prayed with all the strength of their souls and with all the fervency of their spirits and accordingly they carryed the day with God as you may see in the following verses So Acts 26. 7. Vnto which promise our Twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night or rather as the Greek hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a stretched-out manner serving God day and night These Twelve Tribes or the godly Jews of the Twelve Tribes of Israel stretched out their hearts their affections their graces to the utmost in prayer In all your private retirements do as the Twelve Tribes did Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies seething hot God loves to see his people zealous and warm in his service Without fervency of spirit no service finds acceptance in heaven God is a pure act and he loves that his people should be lively and active in his service vers 12. Continuing instant in prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuing with all your might in prayer 'T is a Metaphor from hunting dogs that will never give over the game till they have got it Rom. 15. 30. That ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strive mightily strive as Championsstrive even to an Agony as the word imports 'T is a military word and notes such fervent wrestling or striving as is for life and death Col. 4. 12. Alwayes labouring fervently for you in prayer The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here used signifies to strive or wrestle as those do that strive for mastery it notes the vehemency and fervour of Epaphras his prayers for the Colossians Look as the wrestlers do bend and writhe and stretch and strain every joynt of their bodies that they may be victorious so Epaphras did bend writh and stretch strain every joynt of his soul if I may so speak that he might be victorious with God upon the Colossians account So when Jacob was with God alone ah how earnest Gen. 32. 24 27. Hos 12. 4 5. and fervent was he in his wrestlings with God! he wrestles and weeps and weeps and wrestles he tugs hard with God he holds his hold and he will not let God go till as a Prince he had prevailed with him Fervent prayer is the Souls contention the Souls strugling with God it is a sweating work it is the sweat and blood of the soul it s a laying out to the uttermost all the strength and powers of the Soul He that would gain victory over God in private prayer must strain every string of his heart he must in beseeching God besiedge him and so get the better of him he must be like importunate beggars that will not be put off with frowns or silence or sad answers Those that would be masters of their requests must like the importunate Widdow press God so far as to put him to an holy blush as I may say with reverence They must with an holy impudence as Basil speaks make God ashamed to look them in the face if he should deny the importunity of theirs souls Had Abraham had a little more Dor. Don. Fol. p. 522. Gen. 18. 22 23. of this impudence saith one when he made suit for Sodom it might have done well Abraham brought down the price to ten righteous and there his modesty staid him had he gone lower God only knows what might have been done for God went not away saith the Text till he had left communing with Abraham that is till Abraham had no more to say to God Abraham left over asking before God left over granting he left over praying before God left over bating and so Sodom was lost O the heavenly fire the holy fervency that was in Daniels Closet-prayer O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and
trade of Closet-prayer we shall never make any yearnings of Closet-prayer Look as they that get money by their Iron Mills do keep a continual fire in their Iron Mills so they that will get any soul-good by Closet-duties they must keep close and constant to Closet-duties The hypocrite is only constant in inconstancy he is only in his Closet by fits and starts now and then when he is in a good mood you shall find him step into his Closet but he never holds it Job 27. 10. Will he alwayes call upon God or as the Hebrew hath it VVill he in every time call upon God When they are under the smarting rod or when they are upon the tormenting rack or when they are under Isa 26. 16. Psal 78. 34. Zech. 7. 5. grievous wants or when they are struck with panick feares c. then you shall have them run to their Closets as Joab run to the horns of the Altar when he was in danger of death but they never persevere they never hold out to the end and therefore in the end they lose both their Closet-prayers and their Souls together It was a most prophane and Heil Mic. P. 376. blasphemous speech of that atheistical wretch that told God that he was no common beggar and that he never troubled him before with prayer and if he would but hear him that time he would never trouble him again Closet-prayer is a hard work and a man must tug hard at it and stick close to it as Jacob did if ever Ge◠32. he intends to make any internal or eternal advantages by it Daniel chose rather to run the hazzard Dan. 6. of his life than to give over praying in his Chamber 'T is not he that begins in the spirit and ends in the flesh 't is not he that Gal. 3. 3. Luke 9. 62. Mat. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 17. puts his hand to the plow and looks back but he that perseveres to the end in prayer that shall be saved and crowned 'T is he that perseveres in well doing that shall eat of the hidden Manna and that shall have the White Stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knows saving him that receiveth it Those precious praying mourning souls in that Ezek. 9. 4 6. that were marked to be preserved in Jerusalem were distinguished say some of the learned by the Character 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tau which is the J. Menoch Com. in Ezek. Cap. 9. 4. last of all the Hebrew letters to teach them that they must hold out and hold on to the end in well doing 'T is constancy in Closet-duty that crowns the Christian and commends the duty But would God have his people to cast off their callings and to cast off all care of their Relations and shut themselves up in their Closets and there spend their whole time in secret prayer O no Every Duty must have its time and place Eccl. 3. 1. and as one friend must not shut out another so one Duty must not shut out another The Duties of my particular calling as I am a man must not shut out the Duties of my generall calling as I am a Christian nor the Duties of my general calling as I am a Christian must not shut out the Duties of my particular calling as I am a man But that you may be fully satisfied in this case you must remember that a man may be said to pray alwayes First When his heart is alwayes in a praying frame Look as a man may be truly said to give alwayes whose heart is alwayes in a giving frame and to suffer alwayes whose heart is alwayes in a suffering frame For thy sake are Psal 44. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Jer. 9. 3. we killed all the day long And to sin alwayes whose heart is alwayes in a sinning frame So a man may be as truly said to pray alwayes whose heart is alwayes in a praying frame Secondly A man prayes alwayes when he takes hold on every fit season and opportunity for the pouring out of his soul before the Lord in his Closet To pray alwayes is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pray in every opportunity but of this before It is observed by some of Proteus that he was wont to give certain oracles but it was hard to make him speak and deliver them but he would turn himself into several shapes and forms yet if they would hold out press him hard without fear into whatsoever form or shape he appeared they were sure to have satisfactory Oracles So if we continue constant in our Closet-wrestlings with God if we hold on in private prayer though God should appear to us in the form or shape of a Judge an enemy a stranger we shall certainly speed at last O woman great is thy faith be it unto Mat. 5. 28. thee even as thou wilt and her Daughter was made whole from that very hour The Philosopher being asked in his old age why he did not give over Non progredi est regredi his practise take his ease answered when a man is to run a race of fourty furlongs would you have him sit down at the nine and thirtieth and so lose the prize the Crown for which he ran O Sirs if you hold not out to the end in Closet-prayer you will certainly lose the heavenly prize the Crown of Life the Crown of Righteousnesse the Crown of Glory To continue in giving glory to God in this way of duty is as necessary and requisite as to begin to give glory to God in this way of duty for though the beginning be more than half yet the end is more than all The God of all perfections looks that our Vltimum vitae should Finis coronot opus be his Optimum Gloriae that our last works should be our best works and that we should persevere in Closet-prayer to the end Rev. 2. 10. My eighth Advice and Counsel is this In all your Closet-prayers thirst and long after communion Cant. 3. 1 2 3. Psal 73. ult with God in all your private retirements take up in nothing below fellowship with God in nothing below a sweet and spiritual enjoyment of God Psal 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple The Temple of the Lord without communion with the Lord of the Temple will not satisfie David's Soul Psal 42. 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the Water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before God! The Hart as Aristotle and others observe is of all creatures most hot and dry of it self but especially when it is chased and hunted then it is extream thirsty The female is here meant
do defer Dan. 9. 19. not for thine own sake Look as there be two kinds of Antidotes against Poyson viz. hot and cold so there are two kinds of Antidotes against all the troubles of this life viz. fervent prayers and holy patience the one hot the other cold the one quickening and the other quenching and holy Daniel made use of them both Fervency to prayer is as the fire was to the spices in the Censor or as wings to the Bird or as oyl to the wheels and this Daniel found by experience God looks not for any James with horny knees through assiduity of prayer nor for any Bartholomew with a Century of prayers for the morning and as many for the evening but for fervency of spirit in prayer which alone carryes all with God Feeble prayers like weak pangs go over and never brings a mercy to the birth Cold prayers are still-born Children in whom the Father of spirits can take no pleasure Look as a painted man is no man and as painted fire is no fire so a cold prayer is no prayer Such prayers never win upon the heart of God that do not first warm our own hearts As a body without a soul much wood without fire a Bullet in a Gun without powder so are all prayers without fervency of Spirit Luther termes Prayer Bombarda Christianorum the Gun or Canon of Christians or the Christians Gun-shot The hottest springs send forth their waters by ebullitions Cold prayers make a smoak a smother Isa 1. 15. Ch. 65 5. in the eyes of God Lazy prayers never procure noble answers Lazy beggars may starve for all their begging Such as have a male in their flock and offer to the Lord a female Such as offer to the Lord the torn and the lame and the sick such as turn off God with their cold lazy sleepy and formal Mal. 1. 13 14. devotions are condemned cast and cursed by God David compares his prayers to incense and no incense was offered without Psal 141. 2. fire it was that that made the smoke of it to ascend 'T is only fervent prayer that hits the mark and that pierces the walls of heaven though like those of Gaza Isa 45. 2. made of Brass and Iron While the Child only whimpers and whines in the Cradle the Mother lets it alone but when once it sets up its note and cryes out right then she runs and takes it up So 't is with a Christian Psal 34. 6. This poor man cryed there is his fervency he cryed but it was silently and secretly in the presence of King Achish as Moses did at the Red-Sea and as Nehemiah did in the presence of the King of Persia and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles here is his prevalency So Latimer plyed the Throne of grace with great fervency crying out Once again Lord once again restore the Gospel to England and God heard him Hudson the Martyr deserted at the Stake went from under his Chain and having prayed fervently he was comforted immediately and suffered valiantly I have read of one Giles of Bruxels a Dutch Martyr who was so fervent in his prayer kneeling by himself in some secret place of the Prison where he was that he seemed to forget himself and being called to his meat he neither heard nor saw who stood by him till he was lifted up by the armes and then he would speak gently to them as one awaked out of a Trance So Gregory Nazianzen speaking Paulin. Epist lib. 1. Epist 4. of his sister Gorgonia saith that in the vehemency of her prayer she came to a Religious impudency with God so as to threaten heaven and tell God that she would never depart from his Altar till she had her petition granted Let us make it our businesse to follow these noble examples as ever we would so Prince it in prayer as to prevail with God An importunate soul in prayer is like the poor beggar that prayes and knocks that prayes and waits that prayes and works that knocks and knits that begs and patches and will not stir from the door till he hath an alms Well Friends remember this God respects no more luke-warm prayers than he doth luke-warm persons and they are such that he hath threatned to spue out of his mouth Those prayers that are but lip-labour are lost-labour And therefore in all your Closet-prayers look to the fervency of your spirits My Seventh Advice and counsel is this Be constant as well as servent in Closet-prayer look that you hold on and hold out and that you persevere to the end in private prayer 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without ceasing A man must alwayes pray habitually though not actually he must have his heart in a praying disposition in all estates and conditions Though Closet-prayer may have an intermission yet it must never have a cessation Luke 18. 1. And he spake a Parable unto them to this end that men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint or as the Greek hath it not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shrink back as sluggards in work or cowards in war Closet-prayer is a fire like that on the Altar that was never to go out day nor Lev. 12. 6. night 1 Thes 3. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly Paul speaks like a man made up all of prayer like a man that minded nothing so much as prayer So Ephes 6. 18. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance Calvin makes this difference between praying alwayes in the beginning of this Verse and praying with perseverance in the end of this Verse By praying alwayes saith he he exhorts us to pray in prosperity as well as in adversity and not to quit the duty of prayer in a prosperous estate because we are not driven to it by outward pressing necessities and miseries and by praying with perseverance he admonisheth us that we be not weary of the work but continue instant and constance in its performance though we have not presently what we pray for So that praying alwayes is opposed to a neglect of the Duty in its proper times and seasons and praying with perseverance is opposed to a fainting in our spirits in respect of this or that particular suit or request that we put up to God When God turns a deaf ear to our prayers we must not fret nor faint we must not be dismayed nor discouraged but we must hold up and hold on in the Duty of prayer with invincible patience courage and constancy as the Church did Lament 3. 8 44 55 56 57. compared Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving We must be constant and instant in Closet-prayer we must wait upon it and lay all aside for it He that is only in his Closet by fits and starts will neither glorifie God nor advantage his own soul If we do not make a