THE SECOND PART of the true watch CONTAINING THE perfect rule and summe of Prayer So plainelie set downe that the weakest Christian taking but the least paines may in a very short space learne to pray of himselfe with much assurance and comfort both to get strength to obserue the Lords watch and to helpe to turne away or at least finde comfort in the euils that are to come Luk. 21. 36. Watch and pray continually that you may be accounted worthie to escape al these things that shall come to passe and that yee may stand before the Sonne of Man Esay 62. 6. 7. Yee that are the Lords remembrancers giue him no rest AT LONDON Printed F. K. for Samuel Macham and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church yard at the signe of the Bul-head 1607. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY singular good Ladie L. ELIZABETH Countesse of Huntingdon OVR Sauiour hath not without good cause Right Honorable so oft called on vs to watch and pray ioyning these two together and warning his Disciples in their greatest dangers to watch and pray that they might not fall into temptation and also charging vs al to watch and pray continually that wee may bee accounted worthy to escape all the euils that shal come to passe and to stand before the Sonne of man because wee can neither watch vnlesse we pray to obtaine strength from the Lord by it nor pray with any comfort or power vnlesse we watch nor euer get assurance to escape the euils that shall come on the world much lesse the temptations of Satan and damnation of hell and appeare with boldnes before our Sauiour vnlesse we both watch and pray In regard whereof first my dutie to the Maiestie of God who prepared the watch against so needfull a time and after so graciously caused my poore desire therein to be accepted in his church hath encouraged me to endeuour to adioine vnto the watch this short directioÌ„ for praier as a secoÌ„d part vnseparable coÌ„panioÌ„ for the further good of his seruaÌ„ts of whoÌ„ sundry haue desired it at my hands And secoÌ„dly your Ladiships most fauourable acceptance of it being dedicated vnto my Honorable Lord perswading mee of your Honors vnfained desire both to obserue the same and walke in al the waies of the Lord haue imboldened mee to presume to offer this vnto your Honorable Ladiship both to testifie my dutifull thankfull affection to your Honor also and withall my feruent desire that you may both walke hand in hand all your daies in the selfesame narrow way of eternall life as being of the same heart and holy accord inabled thereunto by the spirit of the Lord obtained by continuall and instant prayer That so ye may shine as glorious lights together in the earth and after in the heauens aboue the brightnes of the Sunne for euermore This shall bee in the meane time your key into the palace of the Almightie and to the presence chamber of his glorious Maiestie whereby you may be admitted at al times to most familiar conference receiue immediate answers from his Highnes obtaine the riches and pleasures of his house with the most pretious iewels of his treasurie to adorne you farre more gloriouslie then al the pearle pretious stones of all the Princes of the earth all which shall vtterly vanish as the dimmest star when the brightnesse of your glory shall appeare You shall as Israel preuaile with your God haue his Angels and all the hoasts of heauen at your desire all being at a perpetuall league with you vanquish the diuels and put them to slight ouerthrow the plots of the wickedest and bee accepted for the Church subdue in your selfe each corruption bring euery thought into an holy obedience finde the Comforter at hand in all your trials the sweete voice of the Spirit making you with coÌ„fidence to call him Abba oh Father and giuing you most strong assurance of a kingdome and the life of the Angels in the very terrours of death And in a word you shall thus most happilie redeeme the daies of our vanitie and treasure vp in heauen abundantly against the time of the perfect accomplishment of your eternall triumph and felicitie Wherunto according to my perpetuall bounden dutie I shall alwaies striue during my life both by my incessant prayer and all other holy meanes which the Lord shall in mercie vouchsafe vnto mee his poore and vnworthie seruant And in this studie towards your eternall glory and happines I rest my selfe nothing doubting of your like honorable acceptation of this my poore endeuour howsoeuer penned in a most plaine and familiar stile not to delight the curious with an houres reading which I leaue to others but to helpe the honest heart that is desirous to learne of our Sauiour how to pray and conâ—inue therin in this life without fainting to reioyce and sing with the Angels for euer after when all others shall weepe and mourne and neuer find any comfort or release Your Honors in the Lord euer to be commanded IOHN BRINSLEY THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIan Reader containing a large and plaine direction to all the simpler sort how to vse this aright and an earnest exhortation to all sorts to giue themselues instantly to watching and prayer IT hath bin wished Christian and louing Reader that as I haue gone briefly thorow the Commandements and Articles of the faith to set downe the true watch so I would take some paines in like manner to go thorow the Lords Prayer to set downe the rule and summe of prayer for the further perfecting and our better performing the same watch Whereupon notwithstanding my great inabilitie in respect of many of my brethren yet considering the Lords former mercie who shewes his power in weakenes and that by this motion of diuers he seemes to require my poore labour in this also I haue attempted likewise to make triall herein the better to inable the simpler sort and to stir vp all sorts to this holy dutie of prayer that wee may obtaine strength from the Lord to keepe his watch more faithfully with innumerable other benefits procured by the same And the rather waying well into what dangerous times we are fallen wherein the greatest part as it is much to be feared in such a declining to Atheisme and generally to extreame coldnes or luke-warmenes do seldome or neuer pray priuately vnlesse perhaps they vse the Lords Prayer without vnderstanding And of those who vse to pray some although they pray much yet they do it verie superstitiously to the prouoking of the Lord and hurt of their owne soules insteed of receiuing any true comfort therein as all our popish sort doe Others haue a desire to pray but want abilitie or leasure as all our young and weak Christians A third sort droope in their troubles temptations and feares are at their wits end as Iacobs sons not knowing what way
the tokens of his wrath and despise him to the face scorning and hating nothing so much as a holy care to serue him according to his wil. Or what followes amongst men euē the most equal merciful after the third admonitiō at most but the due execution final expulsiō And whether we haue not iust cause to feare and seeke to pacifie his wrath Or whether hee may not most righteouslie cause his owne children to crie in feeling the miseries which haue not cried out in seeing the abominatiōs seeking to pacifie him and also whether hee may not iustly pluck the world frō vs which hath so bewitched plucked vs frō him And to conclude whether it be not much better that we each awake and meet him in time with intreaty of peace because he is so merciful thē to be awaked of him and crie day and night as his people in the Captiuitie when it is too late and he will shew no mercy vntill his work be accōplished vpō vs. Thus hauing presumed this second time to testifie my heart to al and my earnest desire of a heauēly vnion and all happines to Gods Church this our nation I take my leaue with my instant praiers that al Gods seruants may haue their eies open to see the necessitie of this work aboue al other their harts prepared to set thēselues forthwith hereunto which hath made me the longer in perswading vnto it The whole successe I leaue to his heauenly Maiestie whose this work is who hath long called vs al vnto the practise of it looking wondring that so few haue come to help and whose only arme hath helped vs hitherto wil for euer if we but only cry to him THREE PRINCIPALL points to be first learned and felt of euery poore Christian that intends to helpe in this worke of prayer the summe where of being in our hearts will bee as a continuall spurre and preparatiue to prayer and as the life and soule thereof 1. The necessitie of prayer 2. The speciall properties of them that can pray 3. The power of prayer rightly performed The necessitie of prayer 1 WE can neuer come to any assurance that we are in the fauour of God or his children before wee make conscience to practise this dutie daily for the spirit of prayer which makes vs to pray with sighes grones is the earnest and seale of our adoption and is giuen vnto vs so soone as euer Christ is made ours by faith and therefore in the meane time we stand in state of damnation and are theeues and vsurpers of that which we haue 2 We can haue no comfort that the things which we enioy shal be to our saluation but to increase and seale vp our condemnation seeing they are only sanctified by the word and prayer and for that we receiue them without giuing the Lord his due glory 3 We cannot looke to obtaine any one thing as a blessing of al those things which our Sauiour hath taught vs to pray for nor to turne away any one euil but by prayer for God hath ordained this to be the onely hand hereunto saying Aske and ye shall haue 4 Seeing euery worldling can speake to his friend for worldly things and euery child can and vseth to run to his louing father making his mone requests for whatsoeuer he would haue how can we imagin that God is our heauenly and tēder Father or we any thing but merely earth-wormes and worldlings vntill wee vse to run vnto him daily to beg of him heauenly things which wee continually and principally stand in need of 5 If we will be saued we must pray seeing our Lord and Sauiour who will saue only those that obey him and destroy all the rest hath so oft charged vs to pray and to pray continually as the importunate widow teaching vs also so plainly how to pray leading vs by the hand if we will be guided by him and made vs such gracious promises if we wil pray and contrarily describing the accursed Atheists to be such as call not vpon his name 6 Lastly the Lord our merciful God at this time especially cals vs all that are in any fauour with his Maiestie to steppe vp into the breach to stay his hand for being auenged for the generall ouerflow of iniquitie in all estates concerning which all naturall men could say long agoe that God must needes bring some terrible plague vpon our nation without speedie repentance which indeed hee had done sundrie times since but thrice aboue all other neuer to be forgotten had not his hand been wonderfully stayed and we notwithstanding since insteed of repenting haue growne much worse in euery kind of iniquitie being now become not only secure but also hardned in all our euill courses to make but a sport of sin and a scorne of al those who make any conscience to walk in the waies of the Lord so that hereby our sin must needs be increased to the vttermost and much more considering the Lords most miraculous deliuerances of vs his continuall threatnings and admonitions by his seruants proclayming his wrath warnings from heauen and earth a continued pestilence for so many yeeres together visiting euery corner of our Land the raging of the winds and waters to such a terror and desolation the sword set to our very hearts the graue prepared for vs by our enemies yet wee deliuered and sundrie of them throwne in as our ransome Now after al this and that in the cleare light of the Gospell with innumerable mercies besides sundry promises of our amendment wee waxing still worse and worse and now without all hope of recouerie how can it be but the Lord must needes waxe wearie with forbearing or what comfort can bee left vs but onely the instant prayers of Gods faithfull seruants either to stay his hand still or to secure vs to bee hid in the euill day If all this cannot awake vs yet this one thing well considered will vndoubtedly rouse vs as the certainest euidence of vengeance approching that those enemies by whō he hath so oft threatned vs to auenge his quarrell and whom we al know by long experience to thirst most greedily after our blood are againe increased in number pride and malice after the time that we had thought them quashed for euer rising or once daring to shew their faces againe that knowing their holie father the bloodie positions Machiauellian plots and practises of their cursed religion in all countries we must needes see our selues in imminent danger of vtter destruction euerie houre more then that mightie arme shal still protect vs which wee see to bee iustly stretched out against vs for our sinnes and the power of praier which hitherto hath staied it to be fearfully abated THE SPECIALL PROperties of them that can pray for as Iosuah told the
thy displeasure together with all other signes therof shewed from heauen and earth as the arming of the dumbe creatures against vs both winds and waters so strangely and furiously in so many places threatning vtterly to sweepe vs away in our deadly securitie for the great ouerflow of all iniquitie euerie where cause this to work so mightilie that we may all bee presently awaked out of our deepest securitie and seek by al meanes to appease thy wrath Oh Lord diddest thou not before that most secret bloodie and fierie conspiracie warne vs all frō heauen as thou diddest Ierusalem before her last destruction by a fierie tent directly ouer our heads inclosing vs all with pillers of most horrible darknes pillers of fire and pillers of blood foreshewing vs as by that which followed wee may iustlie deeme that bloody darknesse and fiery destruction that was towards vs Did not the hearts of many of vs tremble in the beholding thereof and in fearing some grieuous iudgment that was to come causing vs to flie to thee to seeke to hide our selues vnder thy wings And did wee feare without iust cause Had it not been effected indeed and we all chiefely our dread Soueraigne with all our heads and rulers inclosed in the most darke fiery bloodie tent that euer the world heard of in that most vnnatural and accursed massacre if thou our gracious and most tender Father haddest not heard the prayers of thy poore children which both before and at that very instant were humbled before thee and so thought on vs in mercy And shall we now be senselesse still in these signes tokens still entring in vpon vs as fearefully as euer any of the ten plagues vpon the Egyptians making the whole land to tremble at the very report of them Saue and deliuer vs from that iudgement of all other the heauiest that euer fall vpō the heart of man and whereby not onely the Egytians were prepared for their finall ouerthrow in the sea but also thine owne people Israel both before the great captiuitie and also before the last and vtter desolation of that natiō so oft threatned by our Sauiour that by hearing we should heare not vnderstand and seeing we should see not perceiue but haue our hearts made more fat and senselesse by all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance lest wee should be conuerted and thou shouldest spare vs. Oh open our eies that we may see in what state we stand and how farre this iudgement hath seased vpon vs already Conuert vs we shall be conuerted and neuer let vs as those whom thou hast vtterly destroyed harden our selues against the euident tokens of thy wrath denying or making light of them much lesse to oppose our selues against thee thy word and seruants Preserue vs from the outragious ouerflowings of the multitude which thou mayest iustly arme against vs in their ignorance like the furious waues of the raging seas for lack of our care cōscience to see thē taught to knowe thee and thine ordinances and to feare thy great and mighty name Let not the flouds of iniquity swallow vs vp Aboue all neuer leaue vs in their hands whose very mercies are cruelties that they should blaspheme thy great name to say where is now their God but let vs still fall into thy hands and deale with vs as it pleaseth thee for with thee is mercy and when thou smitest vs yet thou pitiest vs euer in wrath remembring mercie Though our prouocations be more hainous then we are able to expresse yet Lord heare the crie of thy seruants and let them stil preuaile with thee to stay thy hand Hast thou not sayd it and manie a time made it good euen vnto this very day that the innocent should deliuer the Iland doest thou not call for vs thy poore seruants to stand vp with Moses in the breach to stay thy fierce wrath because thou art a God of mercie and wouldest not destroy thy people most declaring the riches of thy grace in pardoning and sauing whole nations at the praiers of a few of thy poore seruants and giuing the wicked for their ransome Therfore oh good Lord we whom thou doest call to be thy remembrancers knowing that thou art still the same good God to thine as thou wast to Moses Abraham and Samuel and being assured that through thy Son we are as deare vnto thee as the apple of thine owne eie that thou canst denie vs nothing which we beg in his name which may make for thine owne glorie and good of thy people do humbly intreate thee to glorifie thy mercy that it may shine to all the world in pardoning the sinne of our Land turning the harts of all sorts speedily vnto thee to meete thee with an intreatie of peace but make all the vnplacable enemies of thy Church to feele thy hand and those chiefly who haue as Balaam and the Midianites caused vs with their wiles to prouoke thee to so fierce a wrath wherein we haue bin so oft and so lately almost vtterly consumed through our backslidings and rebellions against thee Get thy selfe glory vpon them as vpon Pharo in the heart of the sea that when thou hast deliuered vs ouerthrowne them as sundry times thou hast begunne and promised to accomplish we may sing the song of Moses thy seruant and all ages keepe a remembrāce of thine endlesse mercy Let euery one of vs be afraide of defacing or obscuring any part of thy glory and much more of seeking vainly our owne glory especially of robbing thy Maiestie by taking any part of thine honour to our selues as Herod being proud of thy gifts whereunto our sinfull natures are strongly inclined But aboue all keepe vs frō dishonoring thee by our euil example amongst the wicked and vngodly to cause them to blaspheme that glorious truth which we professe Make vs to account it our greatest honour to honor thee and the greatest dishonour and euill that euer can befall vs so much as in shewe to dishonour thee Strengthen vs to walke so vprightly that others seeing our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly father and that we may stop the mouthes of all the wicked bearing their reproch as a crowne vpon our heads So inflame our harts with a zeale of thy glory that our righteous soules may be vexed from day to day for all the abominations whereby thou art dishonored by Atheists Papists and all sorts of godlesse men And let vs be so farre off from dishonoring thee by being ashamed with Peter of thee and thy religion or any part thereof where we ought to professe it that in all places we may shewe it forth with all wisdome and boldnesse as that which is our chiefest glory gracing it with a holy conuersation that our Lord Sauiour may
able to cal him Father Rom. 8. 15. Comming in faith only in Christ in a true sense of our owne vnworthines In all humilitie being but dust and ashes yet with our hearts lift vp to heauen Wee must be brethreÌ„ tenderly affected towards all the childreÌ„ of our heauenly Father Zealous of our Fathers glorie aboue all things in the woâ—ld Seeking first the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes therof Making coÌ„science of euery tittle of the will word of the Lord. Labouring to depend wholly vpoÌ„ the Lords prouideÌ„ce and protection Trauelling vnder the burden of our sinnes Voide of malice vsing to pray for our enemies Fearing alwaies and watching lest wee should fall into temptation so suspecting all our waies Acknowledging euer his soueraigntie and how he disposeth al for his own glorie and the good of his elect Able in true faith with thaÌ„kfulnes to say Amen To giue vs assurance of Gods fauour Rom. 10. 12. Rom. 8. 15. 16. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. To haue all things sanctified vnto vs. To obtaine whatsoeuer we so pray for For the turning away any iudgement from our Land or procuring any blessing Ezech. 22. 30. Iob 22. 30. Deut. 20. 1. 3. 4. Heb. 12. 12. Ezek. 14. 14. Iudg. 5. 23. Prou. 28. 1. Esay 43. 1. 2. 3. * Let the desire of the two first petitions be euer in thy hart beg al other things for them only as being the end of all then shalt thou bee each way most blessed and aske what thou wilt so thou shall receiue it Esay 65. 24. 1. We must come trembling because of Gods glorious Maiesty And our ovvne vilenesse by nature 2. Yet in coÌ„fident boldnes as to our Father in Christ. 3. Onely in the name of Christ our Mediator 4. With thankfulnes for our happiestate in him Watch. ed. 2. p. 1. l. 1. 2. 5. Begging an increase of our assurance By more conformitie to Christ in knowledge Watch. pag. 88 lin 6. And al child-like affections Delighting in the presence of our Father 6. And an increase of our loue to al Gods children Chiefely as they more excell in vertue By praying for them as for our selues and delighting in their companies Begging most instantly our heauenly vnion to bee shevved in al duties Confirmed by all bonds of agreement And common interest And all contrarie deuices of our enemies confounded Which by our diâ—isioâ— seeke our ruine That we may neuer thinke our state good Vntill vve loue the brethren 1. Iohn 3. 14. 7. To grow in reuerence to our heauenly Father 8. And in heauenly affections And conuersations To declare our selues his children Watch. pag. 90. lin 9. And heaueÌ„ ours and all creatures at a league vvith vs for our good For this honour that God hath vouchsafed to vs to be his children 1. To seeke his honor in and aboue al things VVatch. p. 78. lin 17. 2. To haue our eies open to behold his glory shining in all his workes as his Creatures VVord Iudgement Mercie Watch. pag. 31. lin 17. 3. To be able to set foorth his praises belonging to him therein and haue a holy vse of them 4. Chiefely his glory manifested in our daies for vs and against our enemies First for vs in abâ—ndant mercies And then correcting vs faâ—herly for abusing his mercies to his dishonor So to bring vs to amendment After threatning vs by cruell enemies to take avvay all Bringing them to the execution Yet euer deliuering and auenging vs vvhen vve haue cried vnto him So as it had been enough to haue conuerted the most barbarous nation 5. To pray for grace euer to remember and acknowledge this And to see moreouer his anger kindled againe by increase of our sins with these bloodie enemies and their malice Without hope of leauing off vntill they haue their vvils And also witnessed by many fearefull signes Arming windes and vvaters against vs Threatning to sweepe vs avvay For our ouerflovv of iniquitie that we may be awaked and seeke to appease his wrath in in time That remembring our former vvarnings from heaueÌ„ and vvhat follovved the fierie tent spred ouer our heads VVee may not be senselesse in these tokens of his wrath seazing vpon vs as fearefully as any of the piagues of Egypt Chiefely to be saued froÌ„ that heauiest iudgement VVhereby both Egypt and Israel vvere prepared for â—estruction That we should be worse for all the meanes sent to call vs to repentance vntill the iudgement come that we may sâ—e our estate and turne And not harden our selues against the Lord. That vvee may neuer fall into the bloody enemies hands But still into the Lords Because hee pitieth vs vvhen hee smiteth vs. 6. To pray instantly that the crie of his seruants may preuaile As hitherto according to his promise Sith he cals vs novv to stand in the breach as Moses to stay his haÌ„d to declare the riches of his mercie sauing vs still at the prayers of a fevv And seeing he is still the same to vs as to Moses and Abraham And vve so deare to him that he can deny vs nothing Which may make for his glorie and our good To intreate him to magnify his mercie in pardoning and turning our hearts to meete him But to make his enemies to feele his hand who haue bin the causes of our sinne by their wiles To get himselfe glory vpon them as vpon Pharaoh As he hath begunne promised to accomplish to his euerlasting praise 7. That we may be afraid of obscuring his glory Seeking our owne glory or taking his honour to our selues 8. That we may not dishonour him by our sins But account it our greatest honour to honour him and contrarily 9. To honour him by our holy ensample To stop the mouthes of the wicked 10. To haue the zeale of Lot against the abominations of our age 11. VVith a bold acknowledgement of the Lord and euery part of his truth As being our glory That vvee may be acknowledged of him before all the vvorld to our ovvne euerlasting honor Seeing Gods glorie is in the inlarging his kingdome and doing his vvill 1. To pray for a free course to the Gospell which is the scepter of his kingdome and that it may be powerfull euery where 2. For Kings and Queens to be nursing fathers and mothers to the Church Chiefely to preserue is against the rage of all cruell enemies and to account this their chiefest dignitie 3. Especially to pray for our soueraigne raised vp for vs in place of our tender mother That hee may haue an abundant portion of Gods Spirit According to his high dignitie and charge And the deliuerances of the Church by him he may set himselfe to aduance Christs kingdome and Gospell Watch. pag. 43. lin 2. Procure the good of Gods seruants repressing the vvicked That vve may liue in al peace and godlinesse without feare affected towards him as the good people were towards Dauid Sound forth his praises And pray for him and his to
you may vse the helpe of the rules for direction and comfort in our examination pag. 13. All which with the graces we haue obtained in the Law and promises wee are assured of in the Gospell must needes cause the simplest to send forth most sweete prayers and thankesgiuings vnto the Lord. And so much for you that are desirous to pray Now to you that droope and faint vnder your seuerall troubles and temptations not knowing what to doe the Lord hath here shewed you plainly what you should doe Learne of Eliphas in Iob Acquaint your selues with your God search your sins by the true triall Make peace with him then you may lift vp your face to God make your prayer vnto him and he will heare you And his light shall shine vpon your waies When others are cast downe you shall be lift vp and God will saue the humble person Therfore continue in prayer wrastling with him let him not go before he haue blessed you hee will certainly doe it Proue and see Onely waite vpon the Lord in the way of righteousnes vntill hee send you comfort vsing all holy and warrantable meanes to helpe herein to serue his diuine and fatherly prouidence but bee afraid of so much as euer thinking of any indirect course as to do but the least euil to obtaine neuer so great a good and much more of rebelling against the Lord or his anointed and that authoritie which he hath set ouer you lest aboue all other your miseries you bring vpon you the terrors of an accusing conscience and procure vnto your selues most certaine wâ—e and endlesse damnation And thus much also for you that faint in your trials If you desire further aduice looke the watch pag. 127. You that are afraid to pray vsing the Lords praier as a praier because you cannot comprehend the meaning of it in so few words and for that the multitude abuse it accept my earnest endeuour to knit our hearts in one both by assisting you that you may haue the summe of the chiefe heads euer in fresh memorie as before your faces and that those who abuse it without vnderstanding may learne a more holy vse thereof If yet you say that you cannot so comprehend the full meaning of it and all things contained in it the like you may say as I take it of euery seuerall petition thereof and so we should vse none of them in our prayers at all For you beloued that sometimes were feruent in prayer but now are cold and heauie or altogether fallen asleepe I say not vnto you awake Behold froÌ„ whence you are fallen and the danger wherein your selues and the Church of God stand continually seeing our experience teacheth vs that there is but a haire bredth betweene vs and death especially if euer the Lord should leaue his anointed our Iosiah the breath of our nostrils for one minute into the enemies hand But only â— put you in mind of the speech of our Sauiour to his drowsie Disciples Sleepe hencefâ—â—th take your rest I beseech the Lord that I may neuer see that day But what meane all our prodigious signes and aboue all the worst that almost all are fallen asleepe in the midst of such inueterate and deadly malice with all sorts of grieuous sins increased to the vttermost to prouoke the Lord after so many bloodie practises and terrible forewarnings giuen so oft and gratiously to preuent the fierce wrath of the Lord with such sudden and insolent ouer flewings some of them in the middest and highest part of the Land where the people were altogether secure as not hauing the least thought of any danger by water which together with the former principally of the raging seas all must needs acknowledge to bee the finger of God If our sinnes had been so increased in the daies of popish blindnes they had been nothing in respect but now in such a glorious light wherin all of vs haue been conuiâ—ced so many waies and subscribed in our hearts to the truth of God and also doe generally still iustifie the good waies of God and yet for most part set our selues to trample all vnder our feete hating or scorning all that so walke how gratious dutifull and blamelesse soeuer they bee this must needs make our sins vnmeasurablie sinfull and aboue the sins of all other people And you that imagine you pray and are accepted of the Lord and yet liue in your vnmerciful oppression or any other such haynous sin may it not well be demaunded of you as the Lord doth of the people before the Captiuitie Will you sweare lie dissemble oppresse build your houses with blood commit adulterie drinke the blood of soules and all other euil and yet crie the temple of the Lord we are the seruants of the Lord and call vpon his name Will the Lord take a wicked man by the hand Can the hypocrite call on God in the day of his aduersitie No no you deceiue your own soules vntill you haue made peace with God by vnfained repentance and by Zacheus restitution peace with men Nay although you coÌ„mit not halfe these sins but liue in any one of them or any other like hath not the Lord saide you shall surely die for it What good then can your prayers doe when the Lord turnes away his eare as froÌ„ that which is abominable and will laugh at your destruction because you would not first harken vnto him to turne from your euill waies while he stretched forth his hands vnto you Therefore vnto you my deere brethren of all sorts and degrees who haue continued with our Sauiour hitherto in watching prayers and teares and yet at length begin with Moses to faint with long holding vp your hands or are in danger thereof I vnfainedly desire of the Lord that I may bee as Aaron or Hur to helpe to confirme your weake hands and wearie knees Let not your hearts faint The Lord our God is with vs while we are with him Let vs continue wrastling and weeping and become so much more instant and importunate as the sins dangers increase vrging him euer with his owne glorie the pride of his enemies and their blasphemies if euer they should preuaile together with his gratious promises loue and former mercies both to all his owne people in all ages and especially towards our selues declared hitherto in all our peace prosperitie miraculous deliuerances with continuance of the Gospell beyond all expectation Oh that all in the Land fearing the Lord and the tokens of his displeasure had hearts to performe but these three duties to his heauenlie Maiestie First that euerie one of vs would but learne to know our owne speciall faults and wants by carefull meditation in the law together with the sins and wants of the Church and Land and so to consider each night how we preuaile in reforming our selues and then frame our
praiers and thankesgiuing accordingly for each of our particular and principall sins are as Satan that stood at Iehosuahs right hand that our praiers cannot go vp vnto the Lord. And of all others that euery one whose conscience doe accuse them of crueltie towards their brethren would take away that crying sin of oppression crying louder for vengeance then al the sins of the earth besides which brought the floud of waters when the earth was filled with crueltie and brought in the fierce Babylonian to oppresse and spoile the great men in Iudea and to make those goodlie houses desolate which had formerly been built by the oppressions and spoiling of the poore which makes the poore to sigh being wearie of their liues whose sighes the Lord must needes heare and auenge when man regardeth them not which will so shut vp the bowels of the Lords mercie and compassion that hee will shew vs no more mercie but reiect all our praiers because we would haue no mercie of the poore no though Noah Iob and Daniel were amongst vs that they should but saue their owne soules and so must needs bring a fearefull desolation vpon our sinfull nation vnlesse it be speedilie redressed besides the blasphemies of the Idolatrous enemies of the Church of God and their braggs of their workes of mercie and pitie thereby mouing the people to a discontentednes to dislike of the religion of the Lord as being the breeder and nourisher of all such cruel and vnmercifull dealing though euen in this same bloodie sin they be as deepe as any other Secondly that all would learne of our Sauiour to pray as he hath commanded I haue this consident hope that the weakest Christian amongst vs hauing a good heart although he haue neuer been able to vtter his requests to God for himselfe or Gods Church would in few weekes but following this poore direction learne to pray in feeling with much comfort those who want good hearts would by this practise obtaine them Thirdly that wee would all ioyne to pray according to the two first petitions for the Church of God our Prince and Realmes with true vnitie therein and against all the enemies of them for then vndoubtedly we should neither neede to feare the practises of the Popes Seminaries nor diuels nor yet all the enemies of the world but only stand still with Moses and see what the Lord would still do for vs. Happie shall they be whom the Lord singles out vnto this worke to be if it were but as one of Gedeons three hundred for the perpetuall preseruation of the Church of God and their countrey But for the rest although they scape the Beare yet a Lion shall teare them in peeces for being deliuered with Gods sâ—ruants from the temporal iudgement the eternall wrath of God doth certainly remaine for them Wherefore giue me leaue to speake a little further vnto your soules in this important businesse if I may awake but some of you You that spend your liues in pleasures will you not be perswaded to spend some houres in this heaueÌ„ly work to talke with God for the sauing your owne soules and the people of the Lord Oh that you knew the vnspeakable sweetenesse that heerein you should find whereas in your vaine pleasures what can you looke for but intolerable bitternes in the end will not all these increase the wrath against vs whereas the changing them into prayers with fasting and teares would be as the sacrifice of Noah wherein the Lord would certainly smell a sauor of rest and as the repentance of Niniuie that hee that had compassion on the poore ignorant heathen would much more cause his face to shine still more bright vpon vs whom he hath vouchsafed so long the profession of his name Know it for certaine as the Lord hath giuen any of you mo of his outward blessings with them more time meanes to serue him so hee lookes for so much more time at your hands to be spent in instant prayer then of any other of the earth and so must your account be Do not the popish sort that liue in your bosoms obserue besides your extreame irreligiousnes how you neuer vse to pray priuately or with any deuotion and are they not hereby hardened to like far better of their owne blind superstition wherein they spend so much time in praier How will you answere your God for the blood of so many soules as hereby perish If you could bee perswaded which you will one day feele either in this life or when it is vtterlie too late that these all other your sins wherein now is your felicitie will bee as so many swords to peirce your poore soules and so many diuels to torment you eternally and your repentance death altogether vncertaine you durst not let one minute passe but would fall into bitter mourning for all your sinnes and for your time so ill spent and bee warned by our Sauiour to begin to watch and pray that you might escape all these miseries that will certainly come vpon you You also that haue filled your houses with the spoiles of the poore the earth with their cries the crie of your sinnes is gone vp into the heauens that the Lord threatneth to be auenged forthwith Let the counsell of Daniel to Nabuchadnezar be acceptable vnto you if you will escape the decree that is comming forth against you Breake off your sins by righteousnes and your iniquities by mercie towards the poore Repent and make restitution while you may Cease to do euil learne to doe well seeke iudgement releeue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widow as the Lord bids you by his Prophet Then you may pray and your praiers shall be heard though your sins were as crimson that is most bloodie sins yet they shall be made white as snow If yee consent and obey yee shall eate the good things of the Land but if yee refuse and be rebellious ye shall be deuoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Your oppressioÌ„s which haue pressed downe the poore vnto the ground will one day crush you into the bottome of hell and will be a loade heauier then the whole earth vpon you that you would giue all the world if you had it to be disburdened of them and at your death the iudgement threatned vnto Iehoiakim shall surely light vpon you that none shall lament or mourne for you to say ah Lord ah his glorie but all shall reioyce that the earth is eased of you and your remembrance shall remaine most vile and loathsome to all posteritie as the memorie of other oppressors doth before And for you that would neuer spare so much as one houre from your worldly businesses to priuate praier when God opens your eyes to discerne the true profit hereof aboue the other that hitherto you haue been meerely of
the world and vtterly without God howsoeuer you look to your worldly businesse you will looke to this businesse of the Lord and set your selues times of praier which the gaining of the world cannot make you to forget And in a word so many of you as can talke with men of any earthly matter and make any request for this present life for whatsoeuer you need and yet could neuer vtter so much as one speech no not in secret to your Father in heauē nor make any one supplication for any heauenly thing with feeling how can you thinke that euer you were touched with Zeale of Gods glorie or his kingdome or how can you imagine that you can be the children of the heauenlie Father or haue any interest in the Lord and his kingdome or be any thing but meere worldlings sauoring onely the world and it alone your portion hauing a world of miseries and torment remaining for you for euer Learne therefore to praie aboue all you will finde this a treasure ten thousand times better then all the wealth pleasures of the world For what you would haue this will vndoubtedlie procure you as far as shall be good and whereas all the honors pleasures riches and friends in the world can neuer giue you any true contentmēt nor adde one minute vnto your life this only will fill your hearts in heauenly contentation with abundant ioy and gladnesse and make you liue and raigne with Christ for euer in the heauens Now so many as acknowledge that thus indeede you ought both to watch and pray and yet but only giue these the reading without care to learne the practise of them or happily hauing some good motions or purposes to put them forthwith in practise or it may be haue begun well yet through your pleasures or worldly businesse or at least a carnall sloth and securitie leaue them off and returne to your old courses bee warned from the Lord for this will certainly be one further witnesse and conuiction against you then euer formerly you receiued and much better it had bin for you that you had neuer seene this way of life thus plainly and easily set before you and how you may either helpe to preserue the whole or at least escape your selues from the euils to come then after you haue knowne it and subscribed in your hearts to the truth and necessitie of it and happilie put your hands to the plow to looke backe againe Remember Lots wife if you be out of Sodome hie for your liues vntill you be safe in Zoar and being safe your selues learne to be as importunate with the Angell of the Couenant when you but thinke of the sins of the Land as faithfull Abraham was comforting and incouraging your selues in this that you are not alone but many with you and the Lord hath yet his ten righteous left in all quarters some that mourne and crie for all the abominations If in this attempt I haue failed of that I desire I humblie craue pardon and also that my good will may be accepted in this endeuour intended chiefely to helpe the simple Vouchsafe me your better direction and I shall willinglie follow it My desire is to labour herein also to bring this together with the watch to more perfection if I shall find it accepted and that it may bring the least good to Gods Church in which I desire not to liue one day longer then I may bee some way profitable I haue so oft made reference to the watch as to a maine ground of prayer and for that this is as a second part and an vnseparable companion thereof as the Apostle makes them Ephes. 6. and also that I neede not trouble you with oft repetition of the same things Cōcerning the present necessitie hereof that I may neither seeme ouer bold not yet to fearful of some grieuous iudgment without cause I desire of all sorts that you would examine it betweene the Lord and your owne consciences to whom I appeale and which I know will witnesse with me when I shall stand before the great tribunall your consciences I say not asleep in this deepe security but either throughly awaked by the law or as they were vpon the instant of the discouerie of the gunpowder plot or at any time before any of our great deliuerances fullie accomplished in the midst of our extreame dangers Remember but whether your hearts weare not then as my heart is now that if God had done with vs as he then threatned he had not been most righteous and wee iustlie deserued it Did not all hearts tremble in the acknowledgement of the truth of his Maiesties sacred speech in the Parliament house at that time And who would not haue confessed in any of these dangers that it had not been full time for each to haue betaken himselfe to this armour to haue run to God by instant supplication and stood vp in the breach and for euery one to haue learned to watch and pray And must not our case since be far more desperate wee hauing receiued thus our third most terrible admonition together with so many mercies still heaped vpon vs Let vs but thinke what wee haue done since that time to secure vs from the finall execution of his vengeance haue we not most fearefully increased the transgression going still many degrees backwards running from the Lord and suncken deeper in our rebellion insteed of turning to him according to our oft promises and his infinite mercy Besides our impudencie in sinning and our eating vp one another in euery corner and degree racking al things to the vttermost farthing and all commonly to maintaine pride and all excesse countenancing the lewdest in euery place disgracing and treading vpon the vpright that he that abstaines from euil maketh himself a prey Let but the shamelesnes of that one sin of quaffing condēned by the heathē in Assuerus Court in their greatest pomp and excesse that euer we reade of and registred in Gods book for that cause be witnes although we cānot imagin that euer it was practised in halfe so odious a maner as it is ordinarilie with vs euerie where in scorning the Lord to his face and sacrificing to Satan Our cloakes of Ciuility wil proue but Adams figleaues Inquire of your own hearts whether this be not the generall verdict of all whom God hath touched or who retaine any of their ancient feeling yea whether the very blind may not grope it that there was neuer such a declining to all loosenes opē prophanenes euen Atheisme heard or read of in any age where the Gospell was professed nor that sinne was practised with so high a hand And then answere plainly whether the Lord may not iustly get himselfe glory of vs in the declaration of his iustice and the power of his wrath against our sins seeing the riches of his mercies in sparing and deliuering vs haue made vs so far to exceede as to deny
are carefull to keepe our rankes and the watch of the Lord. That wee may continually pray in feeling Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill 12 Carrying alwaies a reuerent and thankfull acknowledgement of his absolute kingdome power and soueraigntie ouer all creatures that hee ouerrules both the rage of men and diuels and all other things in heauen and earth disposing all to his owne glorie and the saluation of his obedient subiects and children that we may be euer able to sound forth with thankfulnes For thine is the kingdome power and glory for euer and euer 13 Lastly wee must bee such true beleeuers as being assured that hee will graunt all that we beg as shall bee most for his own glory and the greatest good of his elect do rest our selues wholly vpon his fatherly loue being able in thankfulnesse euer to say Amen Lord let it be so as we doe assure our hearts it shal bee THE POWER OF true Prayer 1 WHen we are such sound Christians and vse to pray in this manner wee shall haue a certaine assurance that we are Gods children and in his fauour and such as shall be saued vndoubtedly for this is the Lords seale and the earnest of our inheritance 2 We shall haue a comfortable and sanctified vse of all things wee enioy 1. Tim. 4. 5. 3 We shall bee sure to obtaine whatsoeuer he hath taught vs to pray for so far as shal be for his owne glory and our good for the very forme of prayer containes a most gratious promise that so asking we shall obtaine otherwise our Sauiour would neuer haue taught vs to pray so assuring vs that if wee aske in faith we shall haue and that according to our faith it shall bee done vnto vs. 4 The seruent prayers of a few of vs being such as are described shall doe more for turning away any iudgement from the Church discouering and ouerthrowing the deepest plots of Gods enemies or for procuring any blessing to our Land then many of our valiantest souldiers and wisest polititians or then many thousands of our enemies hundred thousands of the wicked ioyning with them to prouoke the Lord by their sins can doe to bring a iudgement vpon vs. For wee know how many times that one Moses staied the Lords hand that he could not destroy his people and also that Eliah was the Chariots and horsemen of Israel yet were they men subiect to like passions that we are for our God is still the same of infinite compassion and therefore looke what Gods seruants haue been formerly able to doe by their praiers the same shall wee doe still so farre as shall be necessarie if we striue to walke in their steps So that we haue no cause to feare sith one of them alone could so farre preuaile with the Lord but that many of vs ioyning as an a mie to compasse the Lord about with our prayers and teares may much more ouercome his heauenly Maiestie if our hearts and hands be steadie with Moses especially he hauing shewed such tokens of his compassion and loue towards his chosen flocke amongst vs as neuer in any age more and now calling vs also to stand vp in the breach hauing assured vs that the innocent shall deliuer the Iland Therefore all of vs that feare the Lord must cheerfully each incourage one another to this dutie confirming the weaâ—â—e hands and wearie knees being certainly assured of this at least that though the Lords decree should bee gone forth against vs for all our exceeding prouocations and that hee would not spare the whole at our prayers whereof notwithstanding we may haue gratious hope to the contrarie if we can but find our harts feruently set to this dutie of prayer yet we shall saue our owne soules and the Lord will bee vnto vs as a sanctuarie whereas otherwise if such a iudgement come vpon vs as hath been so oft almost fully executed which the Lord in mercie still saue vs from we are all accessary to it who haue not sought in time to turne it away and accursed with Meroz because we came not to helpe the Lord against the mightie and so shall find nothing but feare and an euill conscience to chase vs whereas on the contrarie wee shall be strong and couragious as Lions whatsoeuer come to passe knowing that euen in the midst of the fire there he will bee with vs that the flame shall not so much as kindle on vs more then he wil dispose to his own exceeding glorie and our endlesse comfort and also in the flouds that they do not ouerwhelme vs. A MOST HEAVENlie and sure rule according to the whole Lords Prayer in order whereby wee may grow to strong assurance and much power in Prayer LIue alwaies as an obedieÌ„t child in the eye of thy heauenly Father humbled in the reuerence of his most holy and glorious Maiestie and in the sense of thine owne vilenesse and vnworthines to be called his childe longing vntill he take thee vnto himselfe into the heauens studying what way thou mayest honor him most in the meane time and that first by yeelding all obedience to the lawes of his kingdome and gayning moe thereunto attending continually what his diuine will and pleasure is concerning thee chiefely in thy particular calling and the charge committed vnto thee and then thou shalt surely find him God all-sufficient vnto thee more tender ouer thee then euer was father or mother performing vnto thee all his promises according to all thy petitions for this and for the better life and sealing vnto thee a plentifull assurance of the free pardon of all thy sinnes in the blood of his Sonne Iesus Christ and that he will saue thee from the tempter and all euill that they shall not hurt thee That thou shall be able with all ioy and thankfulnes to acknowledge vpon happie experience his absolute kingdome and power and so to giue him continually with all his holy Angels all glory praise and dominion resting thy selfe most fully satisfied in his onely loue and fauour for euer and euer THE SVMME OF all in other words most plainly for the vnderstanding of the simplest OBserue diligently the Watch of the Lord growing daily in the practise of euery CommaÌ„dement and faith in all his promises and keepe in thy heart a Catalogue or short summe of thine owne chiefe sins wants and infirmities together with the maine sins and wants of the Land and tokens of the Lords wrath due therunto gathered by wise obseruation according to the rule of the Watch and withall set before thee the infinitnesse of the Lords loue and compassion towards his with his speciall fauours towards thy selfe and then pray feruently in faith to thy heauenly Father looking stedfastlie at Iesus Christ thy Sauiour crying onely in zeale for his glorie and kingdome and thou shalt bee able to pierce the heauens
our selues but to all the world that wee are thine own children indeed giue vs hearts to loue all thy children being our brethren and sisters aboue all other for thy sake alone and euery one so much the more as they more liuely carry thy image in all holines excelling in vertue and so are more deare vnto thy heauenly Maiestie that we may euery day in all our prayers remember them as our selues begging alike for them all saying Our Father And that wee may delight in their companies onely as those with whom we shall coÌ„uerse together for euer in the heauens Knit all our hearts in this firme bond of brotherly loue that we may tenderly exhort releeue helpe comfort support the weakenesses one of another seeking by all meanes the edifying of others afraid of giuing the least offence to grieue and much more to hinder the saluation or turne any one out of the way of life Let this happie brotherhood and holy agreemeÌ„t in all the substance of thy truth which is able vndoubtedlie to saue our soules together with our ioynt profession to walke hand in hand in all the narrow way of life haue more power firmely to vnite vs then all the trash pompe or pleasure of the world with all the cunning of Satan or Antichrist can haue to diuide vs. Are wee not all that so walke thine owne children hauing thy Son our Sauiour thy Spirit our coÌ„forter and earnest for our ioint inheritance and glorie notwithstanding all our infirmitie and imperfections with some lesse diuersities in iudgement which must accompanie vs vntill we bee perfect in the heauens Confound therefore all the deuices of thine enemies that worke this euill among thine owne children to so great dishonor to thy heauenly Maiestie whereby our enemies insult ouer vs who haue conspired thus to worke our shame and to prouoke thee against vs to leaue vs into their haÌ„ds to our vtter ruin if it were possible Deare Father let vs neuer thinke our state to be good vntill vve carrie these hartie affections to al thy children studying to knit this bond of loue being able truly thus to pray Our father For hereby we know that wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren and vntill this time we abide still in death Which art in heaueÌ„ And whereas thou our Father art highly exalted in the heauen of heauens and there also hast prouided thrones for vs thy childreÌ„ after wee haue suffered a little humble vs euermore in the sense of thy greatnesse together with our owne basenes and vnworthinesse beeing but poore wormes crawling vpon the earth loaden with innumerable sinnes And yet withall lift vp our hearts alwaies vnto the heauens there to be conuersant with thee our heaueÌ„ly Father minding heauenly things especially in all our prayers longing there to behold thee face to face and that in the meane time while wee abide heere below we may be of such heauenly conuersatioÌ„s so vsing y e world as if wee vsed it not that the world may see that wee are not of it but pilgrims and strangers here and thy heauenly childreÌ„ and that our selues also may hereby grow vp to a strong assurance that heauen is ours all the ioyes thereof reserued for vs by our Lord Sauiour and all the creatures in heauen and earth at a league with vs to do vs good so far as shall stand with thine honor and our saluation euer readie to helpe in time of need Hallowed be thy name And seeing thou oh tender Father hast vouchsafed vs this honour aboue the greatest part of the word to bee thine owne children and heires of thy glorious kingdom wheras thou mightest iustlie haue left vs in our sinnes with all the wicked to euerlasting shame and perditioÌ„ Giue vs grace good Father to testifie our loue and thankfulnesse all the dayes of our life in studying in and aboue al things which way to honor thee Open our blinde eyes to this end to behold the glory of thy wisedome power goodnes and righteousnes shining in al thy workes euen in the basest creature in heaueÌ„ or earth and much more in thy heauenly word chiefely in all thy terrible iudgements executed vpon the enemies of thy Church therin reueiled with mercies towards thy children and which thou still shewest euery day especiallie towards our selues Make vs abâ—e to take euery occasion to consider of aright and set foorth the praises belonging to thee therein and haue a holie vse of them both in word deed y t by vs thy great name may be knowne magnified in al the world Aboue all set euer before our faces good Lord that wonderfull glory wherein thou hast been magnified in these our daies and before our daies in the euident declaration both of thy displeasure against vs of this sinfull nation and withall of thy mercy and tender care for vs and wrath against our enemies how for dishonoring thee by abusing thy Gospell which thou hast giuen vs with such peace and prosperitie as neuer nation knowne before thou hast not only corrected our grieuous transgressions and securitie as a tender Father with thy milder rods of dearth pestilence sundrie the like to bring vs to amendmeÌ„t and cause vs with more cheerefulnes to embrace thy Gospell and bring foorth the fruits of it but also raised vp against vs sundrie times most cruell enemies threatning not only the taking away thy Gospell but our vtter destruction also brought the enemies to the verie execution thereof because we would not serue thee with good hearts according to all thy mercies bestowed vpon vs and yet euer when we haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard vs as thou diddest thy people Israel and as thou diddest heare Iehosaphat against the Moabits and Ezechiah and Esay against the proud Assyrian and plucking them back in the instant hast taken vengeance for vs that we haue oft thought that they durst neuer haue risen against vs any more so as if the most barbarous nations of the earth had receiued but the least of our deliuerances with our meanes they vndoubtedly had repented long ago in sack-cloath and ashes as we for the present haue promised vnto thee Oh gratious Father inable vs alwaies to remember and acknowledge this and to see moreouer that thine anger is not yet turned away but more fearefully kindled against vs for that as our sins and prouocations are multiplied so these our bloody enemies insteede of decreasing or ioyning themselues vnto vs do still increase daily and their malice is become much more deadly against vs thy poore children without hope of leauing off vntill they haue wrought either ours or at least their own vtter ruine which in time they must needs effect Good Father cause this principal token of