but by him that is Alsufficient and when we cry to him we give him glory for it argues we believe his power and mercy which prove him able and ready to succour and relieve us 2. Prayer is to be performed unto God and to him only Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Unto Thee my God and my King will I pray says David Psal 5. 2. and v. 3. I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Gods Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his Ear heavy that it cannot hear He is able to do not onely to the uttermost of our desires but exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think Eph. 3. 20. The Papists dangerously corrupt holy worship by their sinful prayers to Angels and Saints and especially to the Virgin Mary Cardinal Bonaventure has blotted out the name of Lord in the Book of the Psalms and put in the name of Lady and teacheth Christians to ask the same things of the Virgin Mary which David asked for at the hands of God himself Under the old Testament we find that Believers directed their supplications to God himself and found him ready to hear and save and under the Gospel where the manifestation and communication of his Grace are more full and plenteous is there need to go to any other No no One God can supply our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Psal 4. 19. 3. Those that pray must be sensible Ignorance and unbelief and hardness of heart make the words of prayer a Mockery and Abomination They that pray therefore must be sensible of their sins of their needs of their unworthiness to have those needs supplyed finally they must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to 1. They must be sensible of their sins I acknowledge my Iniquities says David and my sin is ever before me Psal 51. 3. so Esa 59. 12. For our Transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Sin must be acknowledged with shame and sorrow else 't will separate between God and us and prove a Cloud through which our prayers will never pass There must be such a sense of sin as implies an hatred and weariness of it for if the heart out of love and liking of it has a regard to sin God ever will be deaf and his mercies restrained Psal 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer 2. They that pray must be Sensible of their needs All the posterity of Adam are needy how rich and full soever they conceit themselves The first man being a publick person had the whole stock in his own hand and having lost it has beggard his whole Progeny we are all come shore of the glory of God as descended from Adam we are flesh and in our Flesh dwelleth no good thing This must be understood and believed poverty of Spirit Christ commends and pronounces those that are thus Poor Blessed Mat. 5. 3. For they that perceive they are Wretched and Miserable and Empty and Naked will cry the louder to the Lord for gold try'd in the fire to enrich them and white raiment that they may be cloathed The poor man that is ready to starve for hunger how does he cry out Bread for the Lords sake Bread for he sees his need of it The condemn'd Malefactor how does he roar out for a Pardon because he sees his life must quickly go without it And were we but better acquainted with our wants Oh what strong crys would come from us that Sin might be forgiven that Grace might be wrought that Peace might be Spoken that Spiritual Maladies might be healed We all need these things as much and more then the hungry stand in need of Bread 3. They that pray must be sensible of their unworthiness to have their need supplyed Paul crys out he was less than the least of all Saints and Jacob that he was less than the least of mercies Job says Behold I am vile and I abhor my self We cannot lay claim to any thing as our due but Wrath and the Curse What-ever God bestows it must be reckoned given not of debt but of pure and free Grace Rom. 4. Daniel in prayer disclaims all merit in his Righteousness acknowledges that Confusion of face belonged to him and to Israel because of their Rebellions and says expresly we do not present our supplications to thee for our Righteousness but for thy great mercies Dan. 9. 18. We may beg indeed for the greatest mercles and the greater the surer we are to speed for God is most liberal of the greatest but at the same time must be sensible that the least mercy is too good for such evil ones as we are 4. They that pray must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and multitude of Mountains the firmest things on Earth will fail and deceive our hopes Truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Therefore David lays this charge upon his Soul to wait only upon God and to have all its expectation from him God will be seriously sought unto when we are under the power of this Conviction that no other helper can be found 4. It followes in the definition that those that pray must be believing Souls Faith is a Grace that is required in all their Duties if this be wanting God will not be honoured by our Duties nor our selves advantaged Though we hear never so often If the Word be not mixed with Faith it will not profit us Heb. 4. 2. and unless our Prayers are Prayers in Faith they will not be effectuall Those that pray indeed must be Believers 1. They must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. they must have right apprehensions of his gracious Nature and of his good Will towards men He is willing to be reconciled and has himself without being sought unto contrived a way how Sinners Peace may be made He sends Embassadours to them to treat about it And intreats those that have offended him that they would be no longer enemies by wicked Works He has declared that fury is not in him towards those that are desirous of Mercy and that he does delight in nothing more than in Compassion and that if any do understand and seek him he is more willing to be found than they can be eager to find him These things being rightly conceived encourage Prayer and Satan by suggesting the clean contrary staves off many from this Duty 2. They that pray aright must by believing be interested in Christ the Mediatour Christ is the Way and no man commeth unto the
performance of it 3. The Spirit encourages unto prayer he lets Believers understand that now is the accepted time that now is the day of Salvaâ—ion 2 Cor. 6. 2. Wherefore he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in a day of Salvation have I succoured thee behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation Though the Lord should have been sought much sooner yet 't is not too late to seek him now he will be found by the hearty seeker such seeking shall not be in vain Deut. 4. 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 4. The Spirit enables Believers to act those graces that are required in prayer There are four graces especially that should be exercised in our supplications Humility Faith Love Patience 1. Humility The Lord has a special regard to the Humble whereas the Proud he knows afar of and has threatned to resist the Proud The humble soul has high and awfull apprehensions of God in prayer and mean very mean thoughts of it self Abraham was humble when he said Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Jer. 18. 27. Job was humble when he said Mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self The good Angels themselves are humble though never in the least offenders the Cherubins cover their faces with their wings and cry out holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole Earth is filled with his glory How vile then should we be in our own eyes who by our guilt are so obnoxious who have so many soul spots and stains upon our souls which are the effects of sin nay whose very Righteousnesses are but as filthy raggs Isa 64. 6. 2. Faith is to be acted in prayer and truly we may come with confidence to the Throne of Grace if we consider the power of God which is not only most Mighty but Almighty I am God Almighty saith the Lord to Abraham the Father of the Faithful He can do more for us than we can desire should be done for us Nothing is too hard for him and although all other helps fail he needs them not his Arm when alone can bring Salvation Isa 59. 16. This power of God may safely be relyed on for he is also full of mercy Psal 62. ult God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God also unto thee belongeth mercy David was encouraged by this in his supplications Psal 25. 6. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old And we have not only an intimation of Gods merciful nature but in his Covenant he has promised to shew mercy for this he delights in and Christ is the Mediatour of this Covenant so that 't is most sure Hark to the Apostle Heb. 8. 10. 12. This is the Covenant that I will make saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people for I will be merciful to their Unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more 3. Love is to be acted in prayer there must be a love to our Neighbour and they must from the heart be forgiven that have Tres-passed against us shall we think much of a few Pence when we are Debtors many thousand Talents But principally there must be love to the Lord expressed in prayer his favour and fellowship with him must be longed for the sâ—ul must thirst for God for the liviâ—g God as the chased Hart after the water-brooks 42. 1 2. And when he does manifest himself he must be rejoyced and delighted in and his grace admired whatever is received 4. Patience is also to be acted in prayer there must be a patient waiting in this duty a right understanding of Gods Wisdom and Faithfulness that he knows what and when to give and will do it in the best both time and measure will be a great means to cure our over-hastiness David is to be imitated who said I waited patiently for the Lord and he lost nothing by it for it follows He inclined his ear unto me and heard my cry Psal 40. 1. These are the graces which the Spirit enables Believers to act in prayer 5. The Spirit directs Believers unto Christ as the alone prevailing Advocate We are said to have access to the Father by the Spirit and through the Son Eph. 2. 18. The Spirit leads us to Christ as the Mediator who is the way unto God The Spirit shews that God having given Christ has opened through him the treasurâ—s of his grace and for his sake will give freely all things The Spirit still is turning the eye of the Believer towards the Lord Jesus and in prayer instructs us how to improve his relation to us who is bone of our bone flesh of our flesh and is become an Head and Husband to us How to improve his sufferings by which all that we need has been procured How to improve his Intercession which as 't is incessant so 't is never denyed and finally How to improve his Power and Authority for he can do what he will both in Heaven and in Earth He is the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Life and Glory he can give Peace and Life and Glory to whom he pleaseth 6. The Spirit makes Believers sincere in their aimes when they pray They design the Hallowing and Honouring of Gods Name as well as their own welfare They beg for pardon and grace not only because 't is good for themselves to have these but likewise because the Lord glorisies his grace and mercy and goodness in forgiving and healing and saving those that cry and fly to him Thus you see what 't is to pray in the Spirit and consequently it does not lye barely either in fluency of utterance or in variety of expressions or in multitude of words Now follow the Reasons of the Doctrine and they are of two sorts First Why our own spirits should engage in prayer 1. Because God is a spirit our Lord assigns this as a Reason why worship should be in spirit because God is a Spirit who is worshipped 2. He principally requires our spirits My Son give me thy heart Prov. 23. 26. And truly he does narrowly observe where our hearts are when we are at prayer and no wonder for our spirits are most capable of serving him To admire fear love trust in him these are the principal ways of worshipping him and this is done with the heart 3. Without our spirits prayer is but a mockery If when the Lord is honoured with the mouth the heart be far from him God says in vain do they worship me and I will not hold them guiltless And this you may observe that when our hearts are not engaged
pray one for another because God has commanded it it maintains love among them and the Strongest need the prayers of the Weaker How earnestly does the Apostle Paul beseech the believing Romans that they would strive together with him in their prayers to God for him Rom. 15. 30. But not a word of prayer directed to any departed Saint in Scripture And when Jacob was in distress and the Angels of God met him and he said this is God's Host but he begg'd nothing of them but wrestles with God himself and as a Prince prevailed 'T is a silly Objection that we use the mediation of great men when we have to do with Princes and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is to be used when we have to do with God for the Lord grants free access unto all if they use Christ as a Mediatour and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is needless We must pray you see in the Name of Christ and there are four things which we are to have an eye to 1. The satisfaction of Christ he has been wounded for Transgression he bare the Curse so that we may beg with confidence to be delivered from it He has made Peace by the blood of his Cross we have encouragement to beseech the Lord to be reconciled and that he would no longer be a Foe but a Father to us 2. We are to eye the purchase of Christ He has purchased all the blessings of the new Covenant Heaven it self is called a purchased Possession Eph 1. 14. Christ payd a price for it that it might be ours 'T is not only an act of Grace but an act of Righteousness in God considering what Christ has paid for to forgive Sin and to give Salvation 3. We are to eye the intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Our great high Priest is passed into the Heavens and his work is there to pray for Believers and his Father hears him always How can prayers miscarry that are backt with the intercession of such a one 4. We are to eye the strength of Christ and his assistance Rightly to pray is a matter of difficulty Christ by his Spirit is ready to help the infirmities of Believers so that notwithstanding all discouragement and opposition from within and from beneath they shall make something of this duty of prayer and obtain the blessing 7. In prayer there must be Thanksgiving for what has been already received Praise is the sublimest part of prayer Praise is a debt and how vast is the debt if we consider the multitude greatness freeness and continuance of mercies Praise sweetens prayer nothing more pleasing to God nothing more pleasant to our selves And to give thanks for benefits received is as effectual a way to prevail for more mercy as the most vehement and strongest cryes Oh therefore that all who pray would also praise the Lord for his â—oodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of men Psal 107. 8. Thus have I explained the definition and opened the nature of prayer to you In the second place I am to inform you what 't is to pray always this I have touched upon already but shall more fully speak to in these particulars 1. To pray always implies being always in a disposition and frame to pray when God requires it The heart must be reconciled to this duty and fall in love with it go to the Throne of Grace with alacrity much may be gotten at the mercy seat the unsearchable riches of Christ are unlocked and we may take as much as the hand of faith can grasp without being checked or upbraided The God whom we have to do with gives liberally and like himself Jam. 1. 5. The heart should be forward to pray and be weary of and through grace subdue move and more that evil which alas is present when good is about to be performed Rom. 7. 21. 2. To pray always implys laying hold of all opportunities to pray that are graciously vouchsafed to us Whenever there is a meet season and a motion to pray we should catch such an occasion by the fore-lock for when once 't is past 't is past recalling Stated times of prayer ordinarily should in no wise be neglected and when there are extraordinary calls to this duty they should by all means be heeded But here you must take heed of being imposed upon by Satan He is clearly for wearying you by spiritual extortion and pressing you to more of the external part of duty then God requires 'T will not be amiss to shew you the difference between Satans motions to pray and the Lords calling you thereunto 1. Satans motions are unseasonable when God calls to other duty When we in obedience to the Divine command are diligent in our calling of a sudden Satan will move to pray but by the unseasonableness of the motion we may discern whence it comes but the Spirits motions are regular 2. Satans motions to pray are unmerciful he would fain have Sinners not pray at all but if they will needs fall upon the duty he urges them to over doing and exacts so much as is apparently to the wasting and expending and destruction of nature and his design is to render prayer burthensome and at last to make it totally neglected But the Lord is merciful in his motions he requires that which is infinitely beneficial to the Soul and destructive austerities towards the body he no where requires 3. Satans motions to pray are commonly followed with some direful injections if they are not obeyed and what he injects has no Scripture-foundation He tells souls that they are Reprobate and will be damned if they do not what he unreasonably perswades whereas the word of God speaks no such matter Well then Satans motions are not to be minded 3. To pray always implies praying in every state and condition in Sickness in Health in Prosperity in Adversity prayer is to be used without prayer Sickness will be unsanctified and an uncomfortable load and if it be taken off 't will be in anger without prayer Health will be a judgment and only serve to encourage a neglect of the soul and another world Without prayer Adversity will be intolerable and Prosperity will be a snare and occasion forgetfulness of God and a daring to rebel against him No condition should cause a cessation of prayer for the Apostle says Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17. 4. To pray always implies Not to let fall any holy suite till it be granted We must not faint in prayer nor give over though we do not presently speed Luk. 18. 1. He spake a parable to them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint Impor tunity prevailed with an unrighteous Judge surely then 't will be prevalent with the Father of mercies God does not presently grant
unquestionably 2. Those that are strangers to prayer their mercies are not mercies indeed to them that threatning is fulfilled upon them Mal. 2. 2. I will send a Curse upon you and will Curse your Blessings Prayer will turn Curses into Blessings afflictions are part of the Curse inflicted because of sin but prayer alters the nature of them for the Sanctification of them being beg'd and granted they work together for the good of them that feel them Affliction yeilds the peaceable fruits of Righteousness to them that are exercised thereby says the Apostle On the other side where prayer is not blessings are a snare and the good things which are received work together for the harm and ruine of those that do enjoy them There is a spirit of slumber which has seized on them in the midst of their enjoyments and their Table their plenty their abundance becomes a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompence to them Rom. 11. 8 9. 3. Those that are strangers to prayer Satan is endeavouring their Ruine and there is none to hinder him Satan is said in Scripture to fill the hearts of the ungodly to keep possession of them and to work in the Children of disobedience The Devil is come down with great wrath and like a roaring Lyon he walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. and truly he finds abundant prey for most watch not at all pray not at all against him Those that pray not are led Captive by Satan at his pleasure and they do not care or desire to have his snare broken nor themselves recovered 4. Those that are strangers to prayer how certain is it that continuing as they are they will miss of those great things revealed in the Gospel since they count them not worth their seeking The Gospel informs us of the one thing necessary of the Pearl of price of the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and this is the Law that is established that they who would have these things must seek them They that seek them not understand not their worth nor their own need and therefore certainly and justly go without them 5. Those that are strangers to prayer are in danger of meeting with a deaf ear when crys are extorted by Calamity Oh read and tremble Prov 1. 26 27 28. I will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as â—â—hirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me The meaning is this that when crys are extorted meerly by distress and only the removal of Calamity is desired there being no true humiliation for sin nor desire to be reformed all such crys will be neglected If you will not seek the Lord while he may be found nor call upon him while he is near Isa 55. 6. when you cry in extremity he may be far off from you 6. Those that are strangers to prayer should consider that quickly the accepted time which they improve not will be past and then they shall beg but most certainly be denied We read in Scripture of Calls that no heed was given to When the foolish Virgins came after the door was shut and said Lord Lord open unto us Alas they speak too late the door was not opened but the reply is I know you not whence you are Mat. 25. 10 11 12. When the Rich man beg'd for a drop of water to cool his tongue being tormented in the flame this was not granted Luk. 16. 24 25 26. to intimate that not the least mitigation of torment in Hell is to be lookt for All at last will be ready to pray Lord open the door that lets into thy Kingdom and Glory Lord vouchsafe a little ease and respite in the midst of our excessive agonies and sorrows Oh but then God's ear will be shut eternally as well as Heaven gate and his mercy clean gone for ever What madness is it then to wast all our accepted time and not to come to the Throne of Grace before the day of grace comes to an end The second Use shall be of Caution Two things you are to be cautioned about 1. Take heed of resting in prayer it self in thâ— bare duty done Prayer is your security not in it self considered but because it leads you to the Rock that is higher then you Psal â—â— 2. Prayer puts you under the Lord's Wing and you are covered with his Feathers and his Truth becomes your Shield and Buckler They that rest in opere operato vainly imagining that speaking the words of prayer will help them they use prayer like a Charm and are unacquainted with the right manner of praying 2. Take heed of thinking that any kind of prayer will secure you and engage God for you Unbelieving prayers where Christ is not relyed on for Audience cold and careless prayers where the things pray'd for are not prized Hypocritical prayers where the heart is not indeed engaged will not reach God's ear will not fetch the blessing Sins bow will abide in strength notwithstanding these prayers nor will the strong holds of Satan be thrown down by them The third Use shall be of Exhortation unto this duty of prayer The Arguments to perswade you are these following 1. Scripture-Commands are very frequent which require this duty How often is prayer called for And not only the Lords Authority in these commands is to be regarded but also his goodness he does not require prayer that he may receive from us for he is so much above us that he needs us not nor our performances and so infinitely perfect that there can be no addition to the perfection of his being or his blessedness but therefore Lord call us to pray always Luk. 21. 36. to pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. to continue instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. in every thing by prayer and supplication to make our requests known unto God Phil. 4. 6. because he is willing to give what we need and to communicate that mercy without which we must needs be miserable 2. The efficacy of prayer should perswade to prayer He that bids you seek his face if your hearts eccho back Thy face Lord will we seek will in no wise hide his face from you nor put you away in anger Psal 27 8 9. By prayer you may prevail with God for his love and being interested in that nothing will be denyed That the efficacy of prayer may be evident I shall imitate the Apostle speaking concerning Faith Heb. 11. and reckon up the wonders that have been the effects of prayer By prayer Abraham had saved Sodom though the cry of their sins was so loud and great if there had been ten Righteous persons in it by prayer he obtained a Son from God when his Wife Sarah was past Child-bearing By prayer Jacob was
nothing too hard for thee The living God the everlasting King who dost what thou wilt in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath The high and lofty one inhabiteth Eternity whose name is Holy who dwellest in the high and holy Place and yet with him also that is of an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the Contrite ones The God in whose hand our Breath is and whose are all our Wayes Thou madest the Earth by thy Power and hast established the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy Discretion Thou art very great thou art cloathed with Honour and Majesty and coverest thy self with light as with a Garment Thou only hast immortality and dwelleth in the light that no man can approach unto To thee belongeth Power and Glory and Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is Thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as Head above all Thou madest the Heavens and all their Hosts the Earth and all the things that are therein the Seas and all that therein is and thou preservest them all and the host of Heaven Worshippeth thee Thou art wise in Heart and Mighty in Strength who ever hardned himselfe against thee and prospered A God glorious in holiness of Purer eyes then to behold evil with delight and canst not look upon iniquity with any approbation The Devils tremble before thee and the Angels cover their Faces and cry out Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts Heaven and Earth are full of the majesty of thy Glory Thou art the Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Thou delightest not in the death of sinners but hadst rather they should turn from their evil wayes and live The God and Father of Jesus Christ and in him the Father of Mercyes the God of all Grace and Comfort A God ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy unto all that call upon thee thou hearest Prayers unto thee shall all flesh come Thy eye is upon them that fear thee and upon such as hope in thy Mercy a very present help in time of trouble Thy Mercy is in the Heavens and thy Faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds As a Father pittyeth his Children so thou pittyest them that fear thee Thou wilt not always chide neither wilt thou keep thine anger for ever Thy mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear thee and thy righteousness unto childrens children Thou art the hope of Israel and the Saviour of them in the time of trouble thou keepest truth forever The heavens shall vanish away like Smoak and Earth shall wax old like a Garment but thy Salvation shall be for ever and thy righteousness shall not be abolished Who is a God like unto thee that Pardonest Iniquity and passest by the Transgression of the remnant of thine heritage thou wilt not always chide neither wilt thou keep thine anger for ever because thou delightest in mercy Thou wilt turn again thou wilt have compassion upon us thou wilt subdue our Iniquities thou wilt cast all our Sins into the depth of the Sea A God to whom vengeance belongs who wilt reward them that hate thee whose power and whose wrath is against all that forsake thee A jealous God who canst not be deceived who wilt not be mocked Thou wilt ease thee of thine adversaries and avenge thee on thy enemies Who can stand before thine indignation who can abide in thy sight when once thou art angry Can our hearts endure or can our hands be strong when thou shalt deal with us let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the Earth wo be to him that contendeth with his Maker Thou searchest the heart and triest the reins and hast pleasure in uprightness There is not any creature that is not manifest in thy sight but all things are open and naked unto the eyes of that God with whom we have to do Oh that thou wouldst bow the heavens and come down draw night to us while we draw nigh to thee Thou humblest thy self to behold things don in Heaven the heaven of heavens is not able to contain thee and yet thou wilt dwell with Men. Thou art nigh unto us in all that we call upon thee for Let us find favour in thine eyes suffer us not to seek thy face in vain Lord hear my voice and let thine car be attentive unto the voice of my Supplication I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord Jehovah who am but dust and ashes what is man that thou art mindful of him whose dayes are as a shaddow whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Oh quicken us that we may call upon thy name and have a gracious regard unto us though we are prodigal children unprofitable Servants of polluted lips and hearts uncircumcised 2. Confession of Sin is to follow by which God is honoured our selves humbled and abased Original corruption is thus to be acknowledged What is man that he should be clean or he that is born of a woman that he should be righteous thou mightest abhor the sight of us and we have infinite reason to loath and abhor our selves Thou madest man upright but he hath sought out many inventions We were at first planted a noble Vine a right seed but now our fruit is evil the root bitter our grapes are grapes of Sodom and clustters of Gomorrah Our first Parents were created in thine Image which does consist in Righteousness and true Holiness but they were beguiled by the Serpent and forsock the Lord and we being in their Loyns sinned in them and fell with them in their first transgression Behold I am shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me We are born the children of VVrath the sons of Death the heirs of Hell and are dead in trespasses and sins There is a Law in our Members that warrs against the Law in our mindes and is quite contrary unto the Law of God And whensoever we would or should do good evil is present with us Our carnal mindes are enmity against God they are not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can they be VVe are wise to do evil but to do good we have no knowledge the blindness that is in our minds does alienate us from the Life of God Our Consciences are sleepy and unfaithful where is their tenderness and Authority they seldom check us and if they do such is our eagerness to sin we do not mind but disobey them Our hearts are the worst part in us they are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know them As a Fountain sendeth forth water so our hearts without intermission are casting forth their wickedness from hence proceed those evils that defile the man Our hearts are disobedient and unto every
unto prayer By the Word God speaks to you as by prayer you speak to him if you regard not Gods voyce how can you expect he should mind yours If you will not hear and obey â—he will not hear and grant what you request of him The Word should dwell richly in you Col. 3. 16. your delight should be in the Law of the Lord and in that Law should you meditate day and night Psal 1. 2. The Scriptures should be searched which shews they are a depth and all is not at first looking into them discovered you must seek here as for silver and search here as for hid treasure if you would understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 4 5. How enlightning how enlivening how cleansing and transforming is the word of God How sweet and desirable are the Lords testimonies When the Spirit becomes the expositor of Scripture and opens the eyes too to behold wondrous things out of Gods Law and affects the heart oh then there is such efficacy profit and sweetness as is beyond comparison 4. Be liberal in this duty of secret prayer Pray with a forward and with a free spirit grudg not the time you spend here for this is the best way of turning time unto a good account Be sensible how good it is to draw nigh to God for the promise is if you draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to you Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye Sinners purifie your hearts ye double-minded Now Gods drawing near implies his being reconciled to us his manifesting his power and grace for our help and supply Oh theâ—â—fore go unto God with an holy eagerness who is so ready to meet you and to satiate the weary soul and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. We must be much and often with God for this is the way to come to an acquaintance with him and the better we are acquainted with him the more we shall love him and be sensible of his love to us Hark to what is said Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee 5. In secret prayer be very particular ease your Consciences by a particular innumeration of your Iniquities and the aggravations which have heightned them Make known all your wants before that God who has styled himself God All-sufficient fear not that the Lord will be weary of hearing or be backward to give a gracious return When you are alone with God you may use the greater freedom of speech this being particular will contribute much unto your brokenness of heart with which the Lord is well-pleased and also unto your own sensing of your manisold wants and making of you meet to be supplied 6. Look after secret prayer Stand upon your Watch-Tower and observe what answer is given The Merchant hearkens after the Ships that he sends to Sea When a Petition is presented to a Prince you wait what Answer will be returned Be thus wise in prayer if you speed not find out the Impediment if you do speed be encouraged by answers to act Faith in God and to persist in prayer Because he has inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live says David Psal 116. 1. And let answers of prayer be matter of praise that Satan and Conscience may not accuse you of and God may not be angry at your ingratitude Thus of the Rules concerning secret prayer Now follow the Arguments to perswade unto it 1. Consider God sees in secret in secret places God sees for he fills both Heaven and Earth his Omnipresence is an evident demonstration of his Omniscience as he cannot be confined to any place so neither can he be excluded All things are open and naked before him Heb. 4. 13. And as his seeing in secret is matter of terrour to the Ungodly so of joy unto the Righteous David speaks both with wonder and with gladness Psal 139. 7 8 9 10. Whithef shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me In what secret corner soever you are God is with you all your sighs and groans your complaints and desires are taken notice of 2. Frequency in secret prayer is a great argument of Uprightness and Sincerity 'T is a sign you seek God himself when none but God knows of your seeking him What the Apostle speaks of the Jew may be applied unto the Christian He is not a Christian that is one outwardly but that is one inwardly not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not so much openly as in secret Rom. 2. 28 29. The praise of such is not of men but of God 3. Secret prayer is a marvellous way to thrive in grace and to grow rich towards God By this means Faith will grow exceedingly Love will abound and our Souls will prosper Some Trades-men keep a Shop and drive a Trade there and gain thereby but they have a secret way of trading which is not observed and by this they grow wealthy in a short space A Christian that is much in secret with God O how much does he gain such an one how good does he find the Lord how ready both to forgive and to give and he can set his Seal unto that truth that God is plentious in mercy unto all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. 4. Secret prayer is a means to fit for publick Ordinances They that are most upon their knees in the Closet will get most benefit in the Sanctuary The preparation of the heart is from God and he must in secret be sought unto to fit our spirits for solemn worship Those that before they come to hear pray that Gospel may come to them not in word only but in power also and the Holy Ghost and much assurance these are likely to find the Gospel working effectually and that 't is the power of God to their Salvation Rom. 1. 16. Those that before they come to the Table examine themselves alone beg that God would search them and are importunate for strength against every Corruption for all the fruits of Christ's sufferings for all the graces of the spirit are not likely to be sent away empty 5. Secret prayer is a means to keep the impression of publick duties upon the heart after the duties themselves are ended Your work is not over when publick Ordinances are over Has any sin been discovered and reproved you must go in secret and bewail it and cry out Lord let not this nor any iniquity have the dominion over me Psal 119. 133. Has any duty
eye of dependance for all their expectation of Grace and Peace and Life is through Him alone 3. They that have the Spirit of Prayer are earnest for the fruits and graces of the Spirit that Love â—oy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodness Faith Meckâ—â—sse Temperance All which the Apostle enumerates Gal. 5. 22. 23. may be in them and abound and they are restless in prayer for the mortification of the deeds of the flesh for they consider what is said Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live 4. They that have the Spirit of prayer are enabled to go unto God as unto a Father Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not but that doubts and fears may be in those that have the Spirit witnesse the Psalmist who cryed out will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more is his mercy clear gon for ever And doth his promise fail for evermore hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercyes Psal 77. 7. 8. 9. But at length and truly it may be long first â—aith gets the better of unbelief Many that are the Children of God cannot always call him Father yet even then they go to him and are noâ—quite beat off from him and there is a Secret Trust that he has some gracious respect to them and by this they are encouraged still to persist in prayer Use 3 of Exhortation Prize and value the Spirit of Prayer as without his help you cannot pray to any purpose so he can make prayer mightily pravailing The Spirit will create an holy boldness in your accesse to the throne of grace he will enlarge your hearts in this duty which enlargements are not without sweetness and great satisfaction The Spirit will draw up and indite such petitions for you as will not be denyed and give some encouraging intimation of your being accepted and answered in the beloved Now if you would have the Spirit of Prayer follow these directions 1. Rest not in the bare gift of Prayer let it not satisfy you that you have a praying tongue and no more all your Supplications are but a flattering the Lord with your lips and a lying unto him with your tongues while your hearts are not right with him Psal 78. 36 37. 2. Be sensible of your need of the Spirit light and liberty life and liveliness are the effects of the Spirit good motions holy affections are his off-spring without him you will be like Pharaohs Chariots when the wheels were taken off and drive on heavily but he can make your Souls like the Chariâ—ts of Amminadib Cant. 6. 12. 3. Part with every thing that grieves the Spirit foster not any lust or inordinate affection that may render your hearts an unpleasant habitation to him 4. Frequently beg for the Spirit and Especially in secret this will be a sign that you indeed desire him Plead the promises which you find Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit unto them that ask him And what God has promised Christ died that he might purchase nay Christ has prayed that the Spirit might be bestowed Joh. 14. 16. And therefore you may pray with the greater encouragement and assurance Thus concerning that third doctrine that Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit D. 4. In Prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient Watching is a duty which the great Prophet Christ himself frequently pressed and the injunction is general What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Mar. 13. 37 He knew that a Spiritual Lethargie is a disease most incident But if at any time surely in holy duties this heedlesness and sleepyness does discover it self we had need therefore to rouse up our Spirits that are so sluggish naturally Deborah speaks to her self four times Awake awake Deborah Awake awake utter a Song Judg. 5. 12. We have need thus again and again to call upon our Souls to Awake and be Watchful when about to utter a prayer Watching and praying are joyned in Scripture and not only so but Watching is required in Prayer Col. 4. 2. Continue in Prayer and Watch in the same with Thanksgiving so 1 Pet. 4. 7. But the end of all things is at hand be ye therefore Sober and Watch unto Prayer In the handling of this doctrine I shall first shew what we are to Watch against in Prayer Secondly What we are to Watch over Thirdly What we are to Watch for Fourthly What manner of Watching is required in Prayer Fifthly Give the reasons why Watching is so necessary Lastly make Application In the first place I am to tell you What we are to Watch against in Prayer 1. We must watch against indwelling corruption There is a Law in our Members that wars against the Law of our minds and this Law in our members commands quite contrary to the Law of God This Law says pray not at all but especially forbids seriousness and fervency in Prayer and if not watchful this Law will sway and over-rule us and bring us into captivity to the Law of sin VVe had need look to our selves for when we have thoughts of doing good evil will be present with us Rom. 7. 21. and if care be not taken the evil will hinder our doing of the good Oh how deep is the corruption of our Nature How desperatâ—ly wicked is the heart of man How great are the remainders of sin in those that are most renewed And since the remaining Flesh still does lust against the Spirit this Flesh is to be narrowly eyed that it may be weakned checked else 't will spoil all our services 2. When praying we must watch against the evil One. Satan likes not to see us at the Throne of Grace because he knows has felt the sufficiency of that grace that believers obtain there I besought the Lord says the Apostle when buffeted by the messenger of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 8. and the power of Christ so rested upon him that Satan had no power unless it were full sore against his will to keep him humble and to hinder his being exalted above measure The Devil therefore might and main withstands us in Prayer and how many are his wiles that he may keep us off from this most advantagious Duty Sometimes he objects the difficulty of Prayer somtimes he says 't is needless to spend so much time therein sometimes 't is fruitless and that little comes of all our Cryes and Tears sometimes he proposes other business to be don that we may be diverted sometimes he threatens to appear to us that he may affright us from the Mercy Seat How busy is our adversary the Devil we should be acquainted
because he hath heard my Voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear to me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live I have shewed you what we are to watch for in prayer In the fourth place I am to shew what manner of watching is required 1. Our watch must be very strict and this strictness will be acknowledg'd reasonable if we consider that prayer is a business of weight Life or Death Blessing or Cursing will follow according as we speed well or ill in prayer VVhen we come to the Throne of Grace we entreat for no less then the forgiveness of millions of offences the least of which if unpardon'd is sufficient to expose us to eternal condemnation we entreat for no less then grace and glory we deprecate no less then the anger of the Almighty and everlasting torments Surely we should be watchfull and full of care by all means to speed in a duty of such vast concernment 2. Our watch must be continued it must be before and in and after Prayer and all little enough 1. We must watch before prayer that every thing may Dimidium facti qui coepit habit Hot at be avoided and removed that may hinder the heart from preparing to have to do with God 't is not easie to enter rightly upon this duty 2. We must Watch in prayer Prayer is expressed in Scripture by the Metaphor of wrestling If the Wrestler watch not he prevails not but is easily foyld If we are not very vigilant all the while we are praying God whom we wrestle with will withdraw and we shall miss of the blessing and Satan that wrestles against us will presently fling us 3. We must watch after prayer We must trace our hearts and mark how they have behaved themselves we must observe and bemoan our failings and be thankful for assisting grace we must be the same upon our Leggs that we were upon our Knees and live according to our prayers In the fifth place follow the reasons why Watching is so necessary in prayer 1. God watches how this duty is performed and has denounced a Curse on those that do the work of the Lord negligently He narrowly observes where the thoughts are and how much of the heart and affection is in every prayer Hark to the Apostle Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things even the thoughts and intents of the heart where of he had spoken in the verse fore-going are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 2. Satan Watches in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isider Pelus l 2. Epist 24. a time of War there is the stricter watch Now our life is a warfare therefore we should be ever vigilant 1 Pet. 5. 8. Our Adversary the Devil goes about endeavouring to do all the mischief and to hinder all the good he can possibly Satan is very busie about us in prayer and if our unwatchfulness gives him but the least encouragement and advantage he presently spyes and takes it 3. Vnless we watch our hearts will deal treacherously they will start aside from God like deceitful Bows and the Arrow of Prayer will be far from hitting the mark but our Supplications will degenerate into meer formality whereas if we are intent and serious and do hoc agere mind our business while we are at prayer we shall undoubtedly make something of it I come at last to the Application Use 1. is of Reproof Two sorts of persons deserve and highly need as well as deserve a reprehension 1. The careless Hypocrite is to be Reproved The Scripture which has this preheminence above all other Laws that it binds the very Heart and Conscience does speak very terribly against Hypocrisy which is the hearts dissimulation and going away from God even when the external part of devotion is yeilded to him The folly of the praying Hypocrite will appear in these things 1. His Conscience is fast asleep in prayer and lets him even do what he pleases but this sleeping Lyon will at length awake at farthest Hell will awaken his Conscience and then 't will bitterly reproach him and never cease reproaching 2. The Hypocrite regards not the God he is praying to he is not awed by the Lords Majesty nor affected with his Mercy neither is he afraid of provoking him to jealousy but presumes upon God as if he were altogether such an one as himself Psal 50. 21 22. These things hast thou done and I kept silence and thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver 3. The Hypocrite regards not the things he is praying for nor himself that is concerned in prayer He is not Animus cujusque est quisque concerned for his soul which is most truly himself and though he prays for the favour of God for the Kingdom of God and deliverance from everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels yet he is so cold and heedless as if he were indifferent whether Heaven or Hell were his eternal abode 2. The drowsie and declining Saints are also to be reproved These having been once so thorowly awakened are more without Apology if they grow again unwatchful 1. The prayers of unwatchful Saints have very bad mixtures Oh the forgetfulness and fearlesness and weariness and mocking of the Lord that Believers under their declinings are to be charged with How neer do they come to the borders of unregeneracy how like are they to the unsound-hearted 2. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are very unprofitable Children they are but alas they improve not their Relation nor make serious application to their Father The Spirit is in them but they accept not of his strength and grace Prayer is not totally laid aside but little comes on 't because they do not vigorously engage in it 3. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are uncomfortable The Spirit is grieved by their carelesness and how can it be expected he should be a comforter to them Conscience is dis-satisfied and is continually grudging because they do not stir up themselves to lay hold on God when they call upon him Isa 64. 7. Much fear much bondage many secret gripes of spirit follow upon careless praying 4. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are so offensive that they may justly fear some stroke from God some smarting Rod to awaken the spirit of prayer in them Hos 5. 14. I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a young Lyon to the House of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue him Now what was the reason of this severity it follows v. 15. In their affliction they will seek me early He thrust the Spur into their side and made them bleed to