gainfull 3. In affectionate amplifications of 3 In affectionate amplifications of our vilenesse and of Gods grace our owne vilenesse and Gods mercy and excellency As beggars which use to make very lamentable relations of their owne miseries but yet giving their benefactors all their titles to the full So those in Psal 115. 1. ingeminate the expression of their owne utter unworthinesse Not unto us not unto us And the Publican in his prayer speaks of himselfe as a sinner none else such a one as he Luke 18. 13 14. So the Prodigall in his request to his father acknowledgeth his extreame and unparallelled sinne and unworthinesse Luke 15. 18 19. So those converts Jer. 31. 18 19. Do the like such like amplifications being as so many forcible arguments in their prayer with themselves to further compunction and contrition in them and with God to further their participation of the benefit of his compassions Out of the abundant heart-abasement the mouth speaks As pride is large in speaking for selfe so is humility in declaring against selfe 4. In framing all our pleas in our petions formâ pauperum in the manner of poor 4 In framing all our petitions formâ pauperum undone persons and pleading for mercy in regard of our extreame misery That wee are under wofull captivity and oppression not of Turks and such like but even of spirituall enemies of our soules corruptions of nature temptations of Sathan c. which are far more grievous That we have sustained losses in soule that are almost inreparable lost the goodly patrimony in our first parents of Gods favour and image which never can be sufficiently bewailed yea haply have lost that little light and life and comfort of grace through some ill course we tooke since the Lord set us up againe and trusted us with a new stock of grace yea are strangely runne behind hand with God yea we are extreamely in debt by our sinne to divine justice yea we are afflicted with many spiritual diseases and distempers and sorely wounded in our spirits through some sad foils of the enemies of our souls and in all wee are utterly insufficient to recover our selves yea and helplesse and shiftlesse in the very use of such means as might tend thereunto Wee see indeed that if we could believe that would succour us but yet are not able if wee could so earnestly wrestle for and breath after help of God in Christ we might have relief but see also that of our selves wee cannot doe so much but as wee are able through the might of God Wee tell him of our grievances and plead our miseries and spread them before him and his people if they may move to mercy and so wait his gracious leisure for the same Jeremiah pleads for mercy to him and his people because their backslidings were many Jer. 14. 7. David pleads for pardon because his sin is great Psalm 25. 11. and craveth mercy because a poor shiftlesse stranger and sadly gone to decay Psal 39. 12 13. So Psal 38. 1 2. intreateth the Lord to forbear to go on to afflict him because his arrows stick fast in him he is sorely wounded already ver 2. he is sick in body and spirit ver 3. he is already fallen under a burden that is too heavy for him ver 4. and ver 6. his back is already ready to crack under his pressures and so on with such like sad pleas taken from his forlorn condition he presseth God for mercy in that Psalm 5 In much inward brokenness and relentings 5. In heart brokenness therein of spirit Hence that smiting upon the brest in the Publicans prayer Luk. 18. 13 14. There there lay his sin and misery there was his wound and burden little did men think what he felt and saw Ah that brest of his how had it harboured rebellion formerly against God! his heart within was smitten for it whereof his brest smiting was but a shadow Psal 51. 17. A broken and contrite spirit is the all of his Sacrifice and prayer Surely that heart is low in prayer and brought down to the dust which is broken as it were to dust What ever speech humble ones have in prayer it is sure they have sighes attending If the Dove-like Spirit of Christ breaths in them they will bee breathing out Dove-like moanes and groans in the ears of God The Psalmist speaketh not so much of Gods hearing of the words of the humble as the desires he heareth the desire of the humble If they do fall short at any time through some occasional impediments of expressions yet broken hearted desires expressed in groans are present and stirring and they are to God as prayers Psal 10. 17. The groanings of the prisoners are the prayers of the afflicted and destitute Psal 102. 17 20. in Gods account 6 In a meek and quiet submission and 6. In a quiet submitting to the Lord amidst discouragements bearing all discouragements without quarrelling against God nay awfully clearing the Lord therein If rated like beggars if rebuked if upbraided if delayed if denyed yet putting up all contentedly The reproachful name of a dog moveth not the humble suppliant she taketh it very well and maketh good use of it and doth not mutiny against the Lord Jesus for it Mat. 15. 27. They in Judges 10. hear and bear and take all that well which the Lord in a holy upbraiding way speaketh Judges 10. 11 12 13 14 15. They yeild to all as so and just if worse with them from the hands of God then it is but yet with the leave of his mercy they crave his favourable acceptance of their request ibid. If humble ones come to Christ in prayer or otherwise surely they come with holy dispositions to stoop to any yoak and burden of Christ which he will lay upon them as wel as desire to have their own burdens taken off by him Matth. 11. 28 29. They may indeed plead with God why he carryeth it so towards them as Psal 22. 1 2. but they are clear in it that he cannot but carry it well albeit the particular cause they know not So Psalm 22. 3. But thou art holy and however it cometh about that such divine forsakings are occasioned yet still thou art holy and spotlesse and pure in all thy dispensations 7 In a real preferring others prayers before 7. In a real preferring others prayers before ones own our own Thus the humble Centurion in his request he had to make to the Lord Jesus he thought better of the Jewes prayers then of his own as being in his own sight a most unworthy Gentile Luke 7. 3 7. Not that under this pretence men should in a way of voluntary humility repaire to deceased Saints that is idolatrous humility yea even the madnesse of persons then living So Hezekiah preferreth Isaiahs prayer before his own and therefore sends solemnely to him to lift up his prayer in the case of Judah Isaiah 37. 1 2
love thee be like the Sun in its might If the Lord breath upon our hearts at his table or in his word the spirit of God draweth out our hearts to send some ejaculatory lift of praier either in way of petition or thanksgiving or the like When the Lord Jesus speakes effectually to Johns heart I come quickly thence springs his ejaculatory Amen even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Revel 22. 20. Christ effectually preaching that hard lesson of brotherly forgivenesse It caused that ejaculation from them Lord increase our faith Luk. 17. 1 2 3 4. with 5. If David hear that word twice that all power belongs to God Psal 62. 11. his spirit is elevated to make this short hearty speech verse 12. Also to thee O Lord belongeth mercy From the Angels lively discourse with Mary about Christ who was to be incarnate and to be formed in her her heart being warmed shee turneth her speech to the Lord who sent that his angel Be it to thy servant according to thy word Luke 1. 38. So then holy ejaculations are the very spirits of the spiritual workings of God or at the least wise from the Lords spiritualizing of his Saints in his providences or ordinances and therefore great in their excellency Let us add another infallible Argument of the excellency of this duty of ejaculatorie It s of choice respect with God praier and that is from the high esteem and real respects which God himselfe hath expressed thereof Habbacucks discourse chap. 3. though most what doctrinal and onely something mentioned in a short way of petition verse 2. and of praising God verse 18 19. yet as from the most excellent part in Gods account it is all called his prayer ver 1. The penitent thiefs ejaculation Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome is graciously owned and answered by Jesus Christ This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 41 42. The Publican ejaculatorily praying Lord be mercifull to me a sinner goeth away justified Luk 18. 13 14. yea that ejaculatory Apostrophe of Moses to God Ex. 5. end Why hast thou so evilly intreated the people yet hath its gracious returne from the Lord chap. 6. 1. Then said the Lord Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharoah The Israelites at the red sea were so afraid with a distrustfull fear that Moses bids them not to feare Exod 14 13. yet being thus afraid they cryed unto the Lord verse 10. 12. and both Nehemiah chap. 9. 9. and Joshua chap. 24. 7. testifieth that God heard that crie of theirs and put darknesse betwixt them and the Egyptians and drowned the Egyptians in the red sea David when in such a hurry of distrust that he said to God I am cut off from thy sight yet saith neverthelesse thou heardest the voyce of my supplications Psal 31. 22. the many short prayers which he then made Ejaculations are but short breathings of the Saints spirits but being breathed once they scarce ever expire in respect of the efficacies and issues of them These short speeches are as I may say best remembred their memorials are of a very long date with the Lord. That grey-headed ejaculation of Noah God perswade Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem hath had now hath and still will have its answer in the Gentiles of Japhets coming into the fellowship with the Church Gen. 9. 27. The day of judgement that day although not a season of praying yet of full answers of such like praiers made with respect to the day Pauls short prayer 2 Tim. 1. 18. The Lord shew mercy to the house of Onesiphorus at that day shall have then a full return At that day when the Saints treasures layd up in heaven shall bee opened these lesser peices shall have their weight worth and use when it shall bee said these and these have been the prayers of such and such of the Saints and these and these are the issues and fruits of them to such and such Thus much touching the excellency of The necessity of ejaculatory prayer by reason of Sudden straits such ejaculations now of the necessity thereof The Saints sudden straits require prayer but will not afford time for continued prayer Room now then for ejaculatory praier At this dead lift now Moses his cry will doe well Exod. 14. 15. Then Jehoshophat must hye to heaven when begirt with blood thirsty men in continued prayer hee cannot but by ejaculatory prayer he may 2 Chron. 18 31. Then Jehoshaphat cryed to the Lord. Scrabling is but a poore shift for David when known in the presence of the King of Gath 2 Sam. 21. 10 11 12 13. and when no place or space for solemne prayer then welfare ejaculatory prayer Psal 32. title with verse 4 6. I sought the Lord and he heared me this poore man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him Asa when to join battel thus cryed unto the Lord his God with marvellous successe 2 Chron. 14. 11. David in that strait prayeth against Achitophels counsels Lord turne Achitophels counsel into foolishnesse 2 Sam. 15. 31. and the issue sheweth it took 2 Sam. 17. 23. Moses among a company of murmurers Exod. 15 24. hath none fit to joyne in prayer in a more solemne way yet verse 25. though he spake nothing vocally hee cryed thus effectually he cryed to the Lord and he shewed him a tree to make the bitter waters sweet Philistins are upon the Israelites then is onely roome for Samuels ejaculatory crye 1 Sam. 8. 7 8 9. and Samueâ— cryed unto the Lord and he heard him Hezekiahs deadly sicknesse will onely give him leave to pray thus 2 King 20. 1 2 3 7. heâ— turned his face to the wall and prayed Oâ— Lord remember me c. Sudden and strong tentations disable David to make such continued prayer but hee will then make manâ— Tentations of these ejaculatory requests Psal 30. 22 Neverthelesse thou heardest the crye of â—â— supplications when I cryed to thee Great griefs and presages fill the Saints hearts and lay their speech but then their hearts burst forth into inutterable sighs groans whose meaning the Lord knoweth Rom. 8. 26. Surely Saints as men of tender consciences ever and anon offending indeed but Failings as frequently smitten in their hearts for it cannot but bee often put upon it in the interims of continued prayer to bespeak mercy and pardon whilest their hearts are thus afflicted 2 Sam. 24. 10. And Davids heart smote him for numbring the people and David said unto the Lord I have sinned c. I beseech thee take away the iniquity of thy servant And as sudden faults of ours so sudden stroaks of God put the Saints upon this 2 Sam. 24. When David saw the Angel smiting the people he said It is I that have sinned what have these sheep done Sudden injuries from men cause an injured Injuries Jepthah to make his short appeale to the Lord saying The
Stevens ejaculatory praier at his death Lord lay not this sin to their charge And assuredly many of the blinded Jews who ignorantly crucifled the Lord of glory fared the better for the ejaculatory prayer of Christ Father forgive them for they know not what they doe Luk. 23. 34. Witnesse the conversion of thousands of those who had a hand in crucifying the Lord Jesus Acts 2. 36 37 38 39 40 41. verses compared Other Saints likewise fare the better for this that the ejaculatory prayers of others of their brethren for them are acceptable prayers to God Onesiphorus will fare the better for the short prayer of Paul at the very day of judgment 2 Tim. 1. 18. The Lord grant that he may find mercy at that day How well then is it in all respects that God will have his Saints praying continually with ejaculatory prayer also 2. In that it is a service which the Lord Second Motive It is that upon which the spirit putteth us often by special motion of his Spirit put his saints upon oft times as well as by general command requireth the same Let me hear thy voice saith Christ to his people Cantiâ— 2. 14. To which the Church answereth in an ejaculatory prayer verse 17. Turne my beloved and be thou like a Roe So Cantic 8. 13. The Lord putteth them upon speaking to him Let me hear thy voice to which they returne an ejaculation ver 14. Make haste my beloved now it will not bee safe to neglect any such motions made by the Lord and by his spirit lest being grieved he withdraw from us 3. In that the most spiritual persons Third motive it is that which the choysest Saints practise much have been and are thus exercised in those holy ejaculations as was Christ as Luke 3. 21. When he was baptised he so prayed when those Disciples returned with that successe he lifts up his heart Luk. 20. 21. I thanke thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth So John 2. 27 28. Father glorifie thy name And so Luke 23. 31. Father forgive them for they know not what they doe So Matthew 26. 46. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me So Luke 23. 46. When to leave the world Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Thus David and Nehemiah and Moses and others who were most spiritual how oft were they thus praying 4. In that ejaculatory prayer hath prevailed Fourth Motive it s very prevailing with God with God for great things persons have been healed of plagues As upon such a prayer of Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30. 18 19 20. verses God hearkned and healed the people Wonders have been done by it as when upon such a Prayer of Isaiah the Sun goeth backward 2 Kings 20. 11. Isaiah cryed unto the Lord and the Sun went back ten degrees Such wonders were done hereby at the red Sea Nehem. 9. 9. as formerly was shewed Now in the second place consider of some Helps to pray thus 1 Heavenly mindedness Helps to help us this way 1 Get and maintain a spiritual frame of heart walk much with God in Meditation and the like and frequent occasion will be offered of such like talking with him A heavenly heart will be often lifted thus heavenward When Simâ—on was in such a frame then Lord lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace Luke 2. 29. So when John is in a like frame then Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Revel 22. 20. One Ejaculation or other ariseth out of the heart in such a frame and as a branch thereof get our hearts weaned from the things of the world be as one leaving the world and then an old Jacob will be mounting thus Gen. 49. 18 Lord I have waited for thy Salvation David who was a weaned child was much in holy Ejaculations so was Davids Lord who was so much above the world such have most to do in Heaven and therefore so oft moving that way 2 Get a humble soft heart sensible of sins and self emptinesse Broken hearts will bee often breathing out Ejaculatory sighs and requests The humbled Thief upon the Cross and Publican in the Temple had their Ejaculations 3 Keep in life and light as much as may 3 Sense of Gods love be the sense of the love of God in Christ when the Church is in Christs armes and as in his bosome then she hath her Ejaculatory request Set me as a seal upon thy arm c. Cant. 8. 5 6. This stirreth up holy love in us to God and that will be making ever and anon abrupt expressions of its desire to him Touching the third thing consider of these Cautions Cautions 1. That it bee not too seldom 1 Content not our selves that more rarely wee have some one lift this way but be ever and anon sending up some short requests unto the Lord foure times in one Chapter is Nehemiah doing thus upon several occasions 2 Look that we do it not in a Petitionary 2. That it bee not only in a Petitionary way way only but praising way as well So David Psalm 8. 3 4 5. When I see thy Heavens c. I said What is man that thou art thus mindful of him So Jesus Christ I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes Luke 10. 21. and John 11. 41 42. Father I thank thee that thou alwayes hearest me 3 Look that be not a bare formal cry 3. That it be not in an affected way for fashions sake a customary Lord have mercy upon me or Lord blesse me or the like in a morning or at going to bed resting therein as if now some goodly service were done or that sufficeth or a more forced out-cry to God occasioned from sudden terrors or distrusts and the like or an hypocritical semblance of a heart lift to heaven by an affected lifting up the eys when in others company or in a seemed squeezing out a hollow hearted sigh in stead of such cordial Ejaculations to which we have been all this while exhorting Lastly Look that none under this pretence 4 That it thrust not out Solemn praier lay aside the due and constant exercise of publick or private Praier in a more continued way Let not one duty justle out another Continued Praier in solemn manner is our duty as well as Ejaculatory Prayer as God willing we shall see in the following part of this Discourse we are the rather to make conscience of Ejaculatory Praier that we may be sit for solemn Prayer and we are so to pray in a continued Prayer as it may leave us sending up our after Ejaculations unto heaven CHAP. III. Touching more solemn and continued Prayer and particularly of Publick Prayer WE have spoken of Ejaculatory Praier proceed we now to consider of Solemn and continued Praier which is either Publick or Church Praier Private or Family Prayer Secret or Closet Prayer Begin
if by some awakening afflictions sent upon them they come to be roused yet it is too often their just doome to be earnest indeed but without any regard thereunto by the Lord. They shall cry but I will not hear Zeph. 7. 11. Isai 65. 13 14 But at best any degree of such a slighty spirit in prayer will become very grievous to us if truely gracious whence that way of complaint Isai 64. 7. There is none that calleth upon God no not one that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of Saddest heartgreifs God It is as grievous to such soules to have their spiritual joynts either bound or benummed as it is in a like case to men when their body hath its numb palsie when in prayer a gracious heart is ever reaching out to take an approaching mercy and then through a little incogitancy remisness the mercy is let slip and the advantage at that time lost it must needs bee grievous to the godly To the fourth Query Quest What means we should use to be Quest 4 importunate in prayer I answer get thee more abundant Answ knowledge of God and of our selves but Helps to importunity in prayer 1 Distinct knowledge of the Lord. especially acquaint our selves with Gods friendly and mercifull disposition towards us Luke 11. 7 8 5. verses compared Hee who was importunate for bread knew he was at a friends door like the Syrians hearing that the Kings of Israel were mercifull Kings this quickned them up to that earnestnesse in seeking their favour 1 Kings 20. 31. It will make a beggar earnest for an almes when he knoweth where a bountiful person liveth who is not wont to send any beggar away empty 2. Cherish wee hope of the Lords 2 Lively hope of mercy mercy to us Jonah 3. Let them cry mightily to the Lord verse 9. Who can tell if God will turne and repent the possibility that the Lord was within hearing and might open to the Ninivites made them knock so hard at his doore of grace 3. See wee bee sensible of our utter destitutenesse 3 Sense of our owne helplesnesse of what we are to ask of God and our shiftlesnesse to get it any other where or way Luke 11 3 6. Lend me three leaves for a friend of mine is come and I have nâ—thg to set before him Luke 15. 17 18 19. I perish for hunger I will arise and goe to my father and say make me as one of thy hired-servants Psal 143. 4. My heart is desolate within me ver 6. My soul thirsteth after thee When all other meanes and doors fail such spiritual beggars that one only door of grace is left for their reliefe or else they must famish how earnestly will it cause them to knock there Jer. 3. 21. A voice of weeping and supplication was heard verse 23. Truly in vaine is salvation hoped for from the hills Truely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel 4. Look that we account highly of the 4 High esteem of what is desired in prayer mercies we ask in prayer Prov. 2. 3. If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voyce after understanding verse 4. If thou searchest for her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure The Church was sick of love Cant. 5. 8. and useth all meanes to find him and no wonder her beloved was the chiefest of ten thousand to her ver 10. 5. Take we holy advantages of the gales 5 Opportunity of prayer and movings of the spirit in prayer and of Christs approaches to us opportunity helps importunity in prayer Mat. 20. 30. And behold two blind men sitting by the way side when they heard that Jesus passed by cryed out saying have mercy on us O Lord thou Sonne of David And verse 32. And Jesus stood still and called them and sayd what will you that I doe unto you verse 33. they say to him Lord that our eyes may be opened When Christ by his spirit calleth us to him puteth us upon asking and when hee stands still waiting to be gracious to us now let him not goe till hee blesse us When beggars come whilst a bountifull person is giving out his dole to the poore or in dinner time when victuall is stirring they will not away without something so if we perceive the Lord to bee on the giving hand put in hard for a blessing 6. Improve we former advantages gotten 6. Improve experiences of God in and by prayer I will cry to God most high unto God who performes all things for me when we see crying will doe it will put us on not to spare for crying Now in this holy search after experimental knowledge of Gods grace wee now and then light upon a smaller vain of such treasure we will not spare any pains in digging when in our daily woing of Christ in praier we meet now and then with a smile and kiss and love-token it will make us follow our suit close 7. Goe we about prayer as our onely 7. Make praier our only businesse businesse which then wee have to doe ingaging our selves to attend it Saints are spiritual solicitours by their calling as Saints That which made Abraham so urgent in his request Gen. 18. 27. is this Behold now I have taken upon me to speake to the Lord. 8. Chide we our selves sadly and bee wee seriously abased for any sleightinesse 8 Chide our selves out of sleightinesse in prayer at any time in prayer as the Prophet complaining thereof Isa 64. We have now called upon thy name nor stirred up our selves to take hold of thee and Isa 63. 17. Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy feare As Elisha was wroth with Joash for smiting but thrice and then staying 2 Kings 13 18 19. Saying thou shouldest now have smitten five or six times or as they did chide sleeping Jonah when hee should have been praying Jonah chap. 1. 6. Awake thou sleeper and call upon thy God So chide we our sleighty spirits to awaken unto prayer 9. Set we the examples of the most 9 Set before us the best examples of importunity in prayer importunate suppliants of God before our eyes James 5. 17. Elias prayed earnestly that it might not raine and it rained not a very dullard will pluck up his feet when he seeth how nimble his leaders are Lastly take heed of all such things as are enemies and impediments to Importunity Le ts to importunity in prayer 1 Inordinate desires after other things in prayer Such as are inordinate desires after other things we cannot to any purpose follow severall suits at once in severall Courts we cannot ply the worlds court and Gods too The messengers are sent out another way which should importune heaven and they cannot be here and there too whilst our winged desires are hasting after other things and booties we are slowest in moving heaven-ward with wings as Angels 2. Immoderate intentness
even upon our lawful occasions when our spirits are 2. Too much eagernesse upon lawfull things or occasions even rivited to our occasions they wil not be easily got free for prayer they must be even filed off againe no ordinary pulling at them will doe when we are too too busy all the day long in speech with such occasions they will be calling even in prayer for a word with us 3. Inconsiderate rovings of minde 3 A wandring minde before in the interims betweene our praying seasons when wee let our fleet thoughts flie hither and thither without restraint they will not be so easily lured by us and come at our call to become fixed in prayer 4. Admission of wandring thoughts in prayer and too easie yieldings to sleightinesse 4 Distraction in prayer therein they grow unmannerly bold when in the least entertained 5. Resting in graces and comforts 5 Resting in grace received received in and by prayer we are sure to become remisse in praying the next time if wee seed our thoughts too much upon what we got the last time we prayed or if sleighty once in prayer because secretly thinking to make amends the next time we shall be then also the more sleighty 6. Misgiving Apprehensions touching Diffidence God and his grace That thought Job 21. 15. What profit should we have if we pray to him maketh them carelesse of coming near the Lord. A petitioner must needs be heartlesse in his suit if he think that the King is wroth with him And a beggar hath no minde to stand begging at a known churles doore Quest To the last querie touching Quest 5 the markes of right and acceptable importunity in prayer Answ I answer wee may discerne Answ our importunity in prayer to be acceptable Marks of acceptable importunity 1 Selfe abasement in prayer when our importunnity is the importunity of a suppliant of a beggar in spirit when it is attended with much selfe abasement as the importunate Canaanite who looked upon her selfe as a dog Matth. 15. 26 27. Truth Lord yet the dogs take of the crummes under the table Importunate Abraham looketh at himselfe as dust and ashes Genesis 18. 27 29. 2. Answ When our hearts in prayer are Answ 2 well warmed fire hot then the end of prayer 2 Holy warmâ—h in prayer fervent prayer is attained when our hearts wax warme by it and the meanes is acceptably used then Gods ends in the use thereof are attained 3. When we are in speciall wise attent as to the work wee are in hand with 3 Holy waiting for an answer so to the successe thereof as that woman that besought Christ in an acceptable way of importunity you may see she lay at catch for she picketh out something for her holy advantage out of even that word which Christ let fall in way of Answer Matth. 15. It is not meet to take childrens bread and give it to dogs truth Lord yet the dogs take of the crums falling from their masters tables that prayer was full of holy pleas and so are importunate prayers Psalme 58. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. And the Prophet beleeveth it was acceptable verse 8. He will speak peace unto his people but withall he was in a lifting posture after his answer I will hear what God the Lord will speak 4. When we are as earnest and serious 4 Hearty prayses afterward in returning praises for mercies received and begged as we were in begging for them Luke 17. 12 13. The Samaritan among the other leapers he also lifted up his voyce with them saying Jesus Master have mercy on us and verse 15 16. he is as earnest and loud in his prayses and one of them when he saw he was healed turned back and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down at Jesus feet giving him thanks and he was a Samaritane and verse 19. Christ himselfe justifieth his importunity as a fruit of his faith Goe thy way thy faith hath made thee whole CHAP. II. Touching Opportunity of Prayer VVE come now to the second thing included in the Modification of this duty of prayer that it bee without ceasing Namely that we pray opportunely When Paul saith that without ceasing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he had remembrance of Timothy in his prayers night and day 2 Tim. 1. 3. He meaneth that upon all occasions and as he had any opportunity hee did remember him in his prayers Hee taketh all opportunities offered by the Lord to pray and omitteth them not he praieth without ceasing It is then the duty of all the Lords people to pray opportunely or to take all holy opportunities to pray unto the Lord. For the better handling of this duty consider these particulars First that it is seldome that any time is unseasonable for prayer Secondly that yet there is a time when the Lord will not listen to prayer no not of his owne people Thirdly that in mercy the Lord useth to offer unto his people opportunities and seasons of prayer Fourthly that the Lords people are bound to take or improve all such opportunities of prayer Touching the first very briefly that it is Prayer is rarely unseasonable at any time very rare that any time is unseasonable for prayer it appeares in this that the Saints are injoyned to pray alwayes Luke 21. 36 Ephes 6. 18. And this that the title of God is to be a God hearing prayers Psal 65. 1 2. O thou that art hearing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayers He is alwayes hearing the prayers of some of his people and ready to hear the rest Touching the second a little more largely Sometimes prayer is not so seasonable that there is a time when the Lord will not listen to prayer no not of his people so that praying at such times they pray out of due season It is not then so fit a time for them to pray As 1. When they are under offences unrepented 1 When the persons praying are under just offences of Matth. 5. 24. First be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift It is not seasonable for Jobs freinds to come to offer to God until reconciled to injured Job Job 42 78. If we are out with the favourites of the King of Saints it is not seasonable to come to the King with petitions It is not a season to seek peace with Christ the head when peace with his members is not sought If our heavenly Father should not hold off his respects to childrens requests who offend their brethren they would never seek to be reconciled 2. When any of them doe too willingly 2 When under some guilt of sin not actually repented of and contentedly remaine under the guilt of some known sinne against the Lord. Isai 1. 15. When you make many prayers I will not heare your hands are full of blood ver 16. wash you make you cleane put away the evil of your doings c.
by faith that sanctifieth them Exod. 29. 37. The best incense of our prayers needeth sprinkling with Chists bloud As was typed in that Exod. 30. 10. No intercourse twixt God and us but by the meanes of this blessed ladder whose foot is on earth and top reacheth unto heaven Gen. 28. 12. with Joh. 1. end A third branch of faith required in 8 In Gods promises prayer is faith in Gods promises especially in such promises as doe respect our personall and particular cases and complaints Jehosaphat in his prayer maketh use of a sutable promise respecting the present case about which he then besought the Lord 2 Chron. 20. 6 7 8 9. saying if when evill cometh upon us as the sword c. we stand before this house and in thy presence and cry in our afflictions unto theâ— then thou wilt hear and help When David also is to seek the Lord for mercy upon his house he improveth a promise of God made to that end 2 Sam. 7 27. For thou O God hast revealed it unto thy servants saying I will build thee an house therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee The Lord is so abundant as in goodnesse so in truth Exod. 34. 6 7. that at every paths end in the way of grace and race of godlinesse he hath placed some well of salvation some spring of consolation quickning and incouragement in Christ to goe therein without fainting All his Ordinances and precepts have their promises annexed to the faithfull observance thereof and no one ordinance hath more gracious promises made to the conscionable attendance thereupon then this of prayer This of prayer as it is that which in speciall putteth much honour upon God so the Lord hath honoured it with many goodly glorious incouraging promises now faith maketh use of this blessed treasury bequeathed in the Lords Testament to prayer or to his suppliants prayings Faith wisely layeth out and bestoweth this holy stock here and there in this and that case as need requireth hardly any prayer case to bee supposed but there are promises here and there scattered in the word of God which speak to that very case if not directly yet by necessary consequences Now by that grace of Faith the godly make sutable improvement thereof and where the case requireth drawing such spirituall conclusions from them as put them upon the pleading such holy maximes before the Lord the Lord seeth it meet to bound the peoples desires within these holy limits of his promises and it is faith that helpeth us to keep within compasse in our prayers And surely there is no language more sweet and acceptable to God then to speak to him in our prayers in this holy language of his spirit and word in his own language if we speak in our prayers no otherwise then the Lord himselfe speaketh in his promises there shall bee a sweet consort of voice begun by the spirit in the promises seconded by the spirit of faith in the Saints prayers and answered by God in his providences 4. The last branch of faith required in prayer 9. In Gods providences was faith in God his providences the Saints in their prayers mentioned in scripture have used thus by faith to improve the providence of God as Psal 22. 4 5. Our father 's called upon thee and were delivered Isai 64. The reall respects which the Lord beares to his peoples prayers are practically demonstrated in the providence of God providences of mercy respecting prayer cases are but the promises of God made thereto acted and executed Every such providence is an Oracle of God instructing or incouraging us Faith is a spirituall recorder in the soule and conscience sanctified it registreth writeth and noteth downe by the finger of the spirit on the table of the heart such observable and usefull passages and faith calleth for conscience to read them over as need requireth There are no cases now but what in substance have been heretofore there is nothing new under the Sun And the Lord in like cases cannot vary but ever carrieth it like himselfe so that faith makes great advantage hereof in prayer the spirit of God hee leadeth suppliants in the same track of holy requests for the substance of them and what wonder if the same answers and issues are may be must be by faith expected presidents in prayer cases as they are rules to us so are they arguments with God in our holy pleadings with him in our prayers for his mercy It is so with men in their Courts and pleas Presidents in such and such a Kings reigne in such a suite thus and thus issued according to such or such a Statute not repealed are casting matters in law suits and so it is verily in our suites in heavens Court for this or that reliefe which wee crave presidents of providences improved by faith are a currant Gospel plea. The second thing propounded comes The worke of faith in prayer now to be handled namely what is the worke and businesse of faith in prayer Prayer is called the prayer of faith James 5. 15. as if faith were and indeed is the chief instrument of the holy Ghost in the soules of the suppliants to doe all in prayer Let us instance in some particular good offices which faith doth do in and for the souls of Gods poor suppliants in this work and business of Prayer 1. Faith is a monitor to instruct and 1. It instructeth inform the soul truly and throughly of such things as are most sutable and helpfull to this holy work Hence we read of the Psalmist in his secret lifting up of his heart to the Lord in the night season he saith His reins instructed him Psal 16. 7. This knowing grace of faith in his heart was the Spirits instrument to teach him Faith is called the wisdom of the just Luke 1. 17. the wisdome of justified persons by Christ to which they were to be converted there spoken of and as other wisdome so this in speciall is profitable to direct our mindes and mouthes It is faith which giveth the soul the truest survey which it hath faithfully made of its emptinesse and needinesse It is faith which most fully and convincingly informeth the soul of the fulnesse and freenesse of the riches of Grace in God and Christ and of his sutableness to us considering our cases and conditions It is faith that telleth the soul of its interest and incouragements in the mercies of God and merits of Christ and in the Covenant of grace and any particular branch thereof so far as the same doth concern its perfect cases about which the soule comes to God in Prayer Faith in Prayer acteth as a Queen and 2. It injoineth as I may say a mother grace to order and injoyn and excite each praying grace unto its proper work therein When Faith is stirring it doth in a manner speak and charge Desire to do its office
2. 3. Thus did the Ninivites no body could tell they should bee delivered nor assure them of mercy if they did sue for it but yet none could tell the contrary none could say peremptorily they should perish without remedy If it be but a Who can tell it is a ground of mighty prayers and may cherish a spark of hope therein of successe Jonah 3. Isaiah must lift up his prayer albeit it be but a may be that God would hear the blasphemous speeches of Rabshekah against which he was to bend his prayers on Israels behalf 2 Kings 19. 4. A very peradventure of prevailing in prayer will set Moses a praying Exod. 32. 30. No Scripture telleth thee that thou art a cast-away many Scriptures give thee grounds of a may be at least of salvation Let that therefore raise thee though troubled sore to look and wait for a gracious answer of thy prayer 2. Labour to be stored with sutable Promises to your prayer cases it will bee our 2. Store up sutable promises to prayer cases wisdom to lay up such knowledge of such words of Grace Prov. 10. 14. Jehosaphat was not to seek of a Promise sutable to that he was to pray for 2 Chr. 20. Nehemiah had a like promise ready written on the table of his heart Nehem. 1. 8 9 10. And be we well acquainted with the Attributes of God which are vertually Promises and props to our faith in Prayer Moses in his prayer maketh use of them for that end Num. 14. 17 19. And the Saints oft elsewhere in the Scripture 3. Improve we former experiences both of our owne and others of the gratious 3 Improve former experiences dealings of God with us in way of prayer for meerly as well as otherwise they worke hope Psal 6. 9. The Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping he will heare my prayer Davids experience of Gods mercifull and faithfull performance of all the desires of his soul for him will make him cry to him with much confidence Psal 57. 1 2. Wee may not rest in mercies and blessings received but we may and must be incouraged from them to reach after and waite for more if we never had tasted of his goodness to us when we sought him yet were we to expect and waite for his gracious answer but tasting and seeing how good the Lord is by experience it is then a blessed thing to trust in him Ps 34. 4. 8. We may well trust him and rest on him as a God hearing prayers when we have tryed him to be such a one or else it will be a shame if speaking it in his word that he is such a one and then speaking it over sensibly in his workes that hee is such a one yet hee cannot be believed If any surely such as by experience know the name of God have proofe of that or any other title or Attribute or word of his wherein hee maketh himselfe knowne to us they will trust in him Psal 9. 10. Gratious answers of prayer given to the Saints are precious pledges of our interest in the covenant of grace and in God as our God and so we are to look at them and be encouraged by them Zach. 13. 9. We are also to quicken up our confident expectations of a gracious issue of our prayers from other experiences therein so the Saints used to do in their prayers mentioned in Scripture Psal 74. 1. 13 14. and oft elsewhere for indeed the Lord in giving answers of Grace to any of his children hath regard to the good and encouragement of them all that which the Lord did for and spake to supplicating wrestling Jacob Gen. 32. hee eyed others that were to come after him therein Hosea 12. 4. He had power over the Angel c. and there he that Angel the Lord himself spake with us not with him alone The regard which the Lord hath to the prayers of destitute ones is written and recorded for the generation to come to make a comfortable use thereof Psalm 102. 17 18. if one of Gods chosen ones fare well in their holy approaches to God the Prophet will put it plurally in the conclusion he draweth from thence Psal 65. 4. the former part of the verse compared with the latter part we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house 4 Improve we conscionably the Intercession 4. Improve Christs Intercession of the Lord Jesus for us When he was on earth he prayed for us as you may see in John 17. To bee sanctified by his Truth to be kept from the evil of sin Apostasie we pray for union and communion with the Lord Jesus such as is very strong comfortable and constant whilst we are here and the eternal enjoyment of the Lord Jesus in another world but fear lest our sins might intercept and frustrate our prayers but Christ telleth us and for our comfort that our joy may be full Joh. 17. 13. what is the sum of what hee intercedeth with the Father for on the behalf as of his Apostles so of all Believers vers 20 c. We will and must needs confesse that Christs prayers were without exception and that the Father alwayes heard him John 11. How well is it then for us that the Lord Jesus hath with acceptance prevented us and these mercies are already begged by Christ and granted of God to our hands Surely the Lord hath heard Christ in the desires which hee as Mediatour expressed to the Lord that we and our services and so our prayers might be accepted of which that in Isaiah 49. 8. is prophetically spoken compared with 2 Cor. 6. 2. we may well expect that in our holy approaches and makings out to God for mercy we come in a time of acceptance since the Lord hath heard Christ bespeaking of it if the Lord the rather honour the Lord Jesus because in the dayes of his flesh he made intercession for Transgressours Isaiah 13. 12. therefore shall he divide the spoil c. because he did so surely we may well expect the success thereof and to share in those spoiles if wee are strong and earnest wrestlers with God in his name for the same Solomons request for the grant of their prayers in their several cases which are mentioned 1 Kings 8. and which are granted chap. 9. 3. were shadowing Types of what the Lord will condescend to in all his suppliants cases at the request of this our blessed Solomon Psalm 72. but especially improve his present Intercession and appearing before God for us now in Heaven Heb. 7. 25. Look as whilst the people were praying without the Priest was offering Incense within the Temple Luke 1. 9. 10. So is Christ in that glorious Temple above appearing before God for us whilst we are a praying That was a shadow of this Heb. 8. 5. the Saints Prayers are committed to him there as his charge according to his Office to which the Lord hath appointed him to offer them up
with the Incense of his own meritorious sufferings Rev 8. 1 3. they cannot then but succeed well At that time when the Lord should be corporally absent from his Disciples hee made account that was a special speeding time in their Prayers John 16. 26 27. 5 Contemplate and let your spirits dwel 5. Contemplation upon the eight following particulars 5. Consider that God is a God hearing praiers much upon these considerations 1 What a sutable name the Lord assumeth and by his own dictate writing and seal alloweth to be challenged namely A God hearing Prayers Psalm 65. 2. Hearing prayer shewing it is his usual work his constant exercise his inseparable property nor saith hee whose prayers as excluding thine or the prayers of any other poor soul which in truth desire to seek him It is recorded of Augustus That he never sent away any Petitioner sad from him and dost thou think that the Lord of bowels that is rich in mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5 can or will 2 To whose requests the Lord hath given 2. Whose cries and praiers he doth hear at least some audience even to the rude moans of beasts and other dumb creatures Psalm 145 15 16. Job 38. 41. And as Christ reasoneth thence Luke 12. 14. God feedeth the Ravens and are not you much better then they So may I say here God heareth the Ravens cryes will he not hear the Righteous cryes It is but Righteous as well as an act of grace in him so to do Psal 145. 15 16 He filleth the desire of every living thing and ver 17. Is righteous in all his wayes No wonder then if as ver 18 19 he be nigh unto all such as call upon him to fulfil their desires The cryes of meer natural men as they are his creatures and in helplesse conditions look out to him for succor as many rude Mariners are so heard Psalm 107. 23 28 he will give some audience even to hypocrites prayers Psalm 78. 34 35 36 37 38. and surely he that out of his overflowing bounty will hear as far as he may such persons prayers they shall have that benefit of his common audience and providence albeit not of his peculiar and saving respects of grace He is not unwilling to hear his peoples requests when not so rightly principled as that noble Jew who would scarce believe without signes shewed yet was so heard in his requests for his son Joh. 4. 48 to 53. or if rightly yet not so throughly principled as Cornelius who yet was not so cleared in that great Article of faith then in question that that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah hence that Acts 11. 13 14. with Acts 10. 2 3 4 5. or if so principled yet at present under much distemper of corruption and yet when praying even then God hath overlooked all that and judged of them by their better part and taken their prayers then made kindly Such was Davids secret prayer at that instant when changing his behaviour or favour as if he had not been the man he was yet accepted Psalm 34. title with ver 4. Those that in their affliction are so distempered with infirmities of distrust or discontent it may be that they cannot speak freely to God in prayer but sigh yet heard Rom. 8. 18 26 27. Moses when in such a pet yet the Lord picketh out what he would have craved and granteth it Exod. 5. 22 23. compared with chap. 6. 1. and Numb 11. 11 12 13 14 15. with ver 16 17. their cry was with much distemper as appears by their words to Moses Exod. 14. 10 11. yet heard and granted and God the rather shewed all those after signes and wonders on the Egyptians in answer even to that distempered cry to him by the Israelites many whereof were truly godly see Nehemiah 9. 9 10. halting Jacob yet wrestling in prayer though lamely is heard yea when too curious in his inquiry Gen. 32. 28 29. yet is blessed in regard of his prayer before Sparks of grace amongst an heap of ashes are acceptable 3. Consider what kind of prayers have 3. What kind of prayers hee heareth found special acceptance with God such as have been rather sighs and groans then expresse prayers he hears the prisoners groans Psal 102. 20. the needies sighs Psal 12. 5. Such as have been but Ejaculatory liftings up of the soul unto God in mental desires Psalm 145. 18 19. Jonah 2. 1. Such as have been but a poor chattering and muttering of something in the ears of God Isaiah 38. 5 14. Such which have been but an abrupt and broken expression or two from a truly broken spirit as the contrite Publicans Be propitious to me a sinner Luke 18. 13 14. The converted Thief 's Lord remember me in thy kingdom Luke 23. 42 43. but a long look of the body and soul towards God They looked to thee and were not ashamed Psa 34. 4 5 And Jonahs look towards God in Christ typed by the Temple Jonah 24. 7. that took well with God yea Prayers of the Saints in a dream as was that of Solomons have found good acceptance 1 Kings 3. 5 9 10 11 12. after that Solomon awoke ver 15. Not that any should think it enough to sigh or groan and not utter their souls in words to the Lord but if like the Shunamite the soul of any be troubled within them that they cannot utter their hearts 2 Kings 4. 27. or like David so troubled in spirit that they cannot speak Psal 77. then it is comfortable to consider that yet in such cases sighs are successful Neither may any abuse what we said of the Publican and the converted thief and to content themselves to speak some few words constantly and there rest as if all were well no but if we are younglings in Christianity babes in Christ know that our heavenly Father also as other fathers do in theirs he delighteth as much and sometimes more in the broken language and lispings of his little ones and of his sick ones though elder in prayers craving this or that in their broken fashion and rather making signes for what they would have then able fully and plainly to express their mind to him then he doth in the more fluent expressions of sundry others not but that he useth in his owne season to inable such stammerers also to speak more plainly Isai 32. 4. 4 Consider what account God doth 4. Consider what esteem God hath of prayer make of his people they are his choice allowed Suppliants Zeph. 3. 10 his royal Priests 1 Pet. 2. 9. persons sequestrated for such holy ends Psalm 4. 3. Zach. 13 9. his beloved ones Hence that strong expression of Christ encouraging to expect hearing of our prayers I say not that I will pray to the Father for you namely as now whilst on earth for the Father himself loveth you John 10 26 27. as if that were that strong motive which
Temple now is a time if ever for Solomon to make his long prayer there 1 Kings 8. 10 11 12. 22. when we are filled with the spirit we may well continue pouring out prayer 5. When we are not like to live long Christ knowing he had but few dayes to 5. Of death not far off live spent the more time in prayer Luke 21. 22. compared with 1 Pet. 4. 7. now the end of all things is at hand at least to us in particlar therefore be sober and watch unto prayer If Heavens pleaders have but a little while allotted them they had not need loose any of that little time to plead in When such spirituall Merchants are shortly to go out of this country of trading so by prayer they had need bestow themselves to purpose When these travailours are so shortly to take their long journey home they had need improve every sand of Times hour-glass for the dispatch of the remaining part of their prayer-businesse here Sicknesse alloweth but little respit and free space for prayer Other work of the poor soul is so various then and perplexing that it taketh up the whole man to dispatch that And indeed when sincere ones have not long to live they are the fitter for prayer When the Saints are neer the Ocean of Eternity then the Rivulets of Grace in their soules wax stronger Weakly persons which are Godly are so often minded of Eternity and Perpetuity as times successours that they bare an Image of Perpetuity it is deeply Instamped upon them in their Spirituals Obj. But some will say shall not Suppliants then wander and vanish into forbidden Repetitions if they are long in prayer Answ 1. The Saints are and may be Repetitions in prayer lawful helped with such holy variety that unlawful Repetitions may be avoyded as might be evinced by many Reasons if need were 2. We distinguish of Repetitions in prayer some are lawful some are unlawful The Scripture frequently giveth us instances of lawful Repetitions as Amos 7. 2. 5. It is twice repeated by whom shall Jacob arise for he is small And in Solomons prayer 1 Kings he oft repeateth this clause then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and forgive c. vers 30. 39. c. of this sort of lawful Repetitions in prayer are these First such which are wrung from the strength of pinching necessities or temptations as when Christ was so hard bestead First which are wrought from extremities in the Garden he oft even a third time spake the same words Intreating his Father that if it were his will that the Cup might pass Mat. 26. 39. 42. 44. and chap. 27. 46. Eli Eli Lamasabachthani My God My God why hast thou forsaken me So Paul in a like sort besought God thrice in the same manner 2 Cor. 12. 7 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me like children in great pain when they are to tell where it is they iterate and reiterate this cry O here here here O here or like men in a ditch or among thieves iterating this out cry help help help or as prisoners in straits crying bread bread for the Lords sake bread a little bread for Christs sake or as it is with men when their house is on fire in the night they cry fire fire fire Secondly such Repetitions wherein the heart is carried out with equall Secondly wherein the heart is lively strength of feeling and holy affections at a third as at a first time so was Christ in his Iterated cryes He made supplication with strong crying and teares So Dan. 9. 17 18 19. often Iterateth O Lord hear when there is in a gracious supplicant so much strength of love desire and esteem and sutable wreachings after mercies begged that the soul is not content to speak once but it must speak it over and over againe As friends when commending some business of greatest weight to their friends care they will be often repeating be sure you forget me not in such or such a thing So is it here in making known our requests to God Or as it is with a cry uttered with greatest strength it causeth the Iteration of a like Echo so is it here when repetitions in prayer are the Echoes of strong cryes of spirit as it is when a Ball is banded with great strength it maketh many rebounds so is it when the heart is carried out with great strength of holy affections it is apt to make these holy rebounds of such repetitions or as a Bell which having been but then ringing doubles and redoubles its knoles from the strength put forth in its ringing So will the gracious heart be giving many reiterated lifts and those sounding out in like expressions of the lips in prayer Hence that reiterated desire of the Saints Psal 72. 19. Amen and Amen 3. Such Repetitions in prayer are lawful 3. Which spring from saith exercised which spring from some strong workings of saith in the expectation of mercies such was that Iterated cry and prayer Amen even so which is the sence oâ— the same Come Lord Jesus come quickly as believing Christs word then mentioned Loe I come quickly Revel 22. 20. So Psal 89. 50 51. the Psalmist concluding that God had heard his prayer saith Blessed be the Lord Amen and Amen such was that frequent repetition of Davids in his prayer to God to blesse his house as building upon the truth of his promise for that end of which see 2 Sam. 7. 25 26 27 29 thus is faith letting down the same bucket into the well which is presented to it when the believing soule heareth assuredly that its friend the Lord is within hearing It knocketh thus again and again in the same sort as before 4. Such repetitions in prayer which 4 Which spring from love spring from love or are accompanied with speciall delight and spirituall stirring of heart in the very mention thereof such was their reiterated cry in solemn worship of God Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Revel 4. 8. such straines of love and holy delight may often be reiterated in holy musicall divisions as I may call them albeit there be little variation Look as where a speech is pleasing a motion is wont to be made to heare that over again so here the spirit of Christ liking to hear us speak so very favourly and sincerely in this or that passage in prayer may bid us speak that again In sundry passages of the Saints prayers the holy Ghost in speciall manner spake in them and with them and such like double speeches of Gods Saints and Spirit speaking together may well be repeated But yet there are Repetitions in prayer Repetitions in prayer unlawfull 1 When affected which are unlawfull as 1. Such which are affected as streines of eloquence uttered in a Rhetoricall way Such were those of the Gentiles Matth. 6. 7 8. Vse not repetitions as the
said Lord I undertook not the journey upon my own head but thou badest me goe and I have thy word for a good successe and therefore I look thou shouldst beare me harmlesse and blesse me in this undertaking So Moses David Daniel and others their prayers are full of holy pleas And that we may strengthen this by two or three reasons consider Reasons 1 It s an argument of familiarity with God acquaintance and friendship thus to plead with God in prayer and therefore most suitable to this holy talking with God As men use to plead with such as they are most intimate withall so is it here Hence the Saints which have been men inward with the Lord to whom he hath made himselfe most known and opened his mind and bosome to them and they theirs to him they ever use the most pleas with God in their prayers What meere men more intimate with God then Abraham Moses and David and who pleaded it more stoutly freely with him then they did This is a branch of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we have through Christ and it being so deare a bought priviledge we may wel improve it to the utmost Ephes 3. 12. By whom we have free accesse with confidence Heb. 10. 19. By the blood of Jesus we have accesse with boldness unto the holy place 2. It will be an argument of fervency 2 Of Fervency and holy seriousnesse in our spirits in prayer to back the same with prevailing pleas As it is in all petitioners amongst men suing for things they most strongly desire 3. It will be an argument of our careful and serious minding and recording of 3. Of holy minding of Gods word and works what the Lord holdeth forth in his word or works for our encouragement in our prayers Hence when the Ministers of the Church are wished to be Pleaders in the Churches Case they are called Remembrancers Recorders and therefore men fittest to plead yea persons called to plead with the Lord for his people Esa 62. 6 7. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence Give him no rest c. and the Hebrew Affix doth shew their eminency in it the Word Mazkir there mentioned is for such a one who by his office did note down al the memorable matters of the King and used to suggest to the King seasonable Items of things to be done accordingly Esa 36. 3. 2. Sam. 8 16. But three or four things may be objected against the necessity of such pleading Objections against pleading in prayer Obj. 1. Jesus Christ is the common pleader and Advocate for his people 1 John 2. 1. If we sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous What need they then do any more then barely present their requests unto God in his name Answ True Christs office is to present our requests to God which we bring before him but withall also to perfume those holy pleaes with the odour of his merit and mediation The Lord Christ meant to pray the Father for them but yet will have the Disciples in his name to ask more to purpose then ever they had done Ioh. 16 23. 24. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name ask that is more freely and fully and strongly that your joy may be full yea he is an Advocate to sollicite and plead on our behalf as well our pleaes for what we sue for as the suits themselves Obj. 2. God is not as man hard but rather easie to be intreated as being much more merciful and wise then any of the sonnes of men whose wisedome from above is to be easie to be intreated Besides as men the more intire and sincere they are the more candid they are in ready answers to others desires which they may grant They will not assent to carry it otherwise then they intend no more will the Lord but as he is so will Mich. 7 18 Esa 65. 14 he shew himselfe to be ready to shew mercy and ready to forgive and therefore what need such a urging on pleading Answ True the Lord is thus ready to help and heare yet who more full of pleaes for his mercy then David the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost in ascribing this to God that he is ready to forgive and plenteous in his mercy to all that cal upon him Psal 86. 5. in that very place he pleadeth incline thine ear and hear why so for I am poor and needy vers 1. and preserve thou my soul why so for I am thy servant and trust in thee vers 2. c. Bee merciful to me O Lord why so for I cry to thee continually vers 3. And rejoyce the soul of thy servant why so for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Verse 4 which is backed with another argument from this very gracious disposition of God vers 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to shew mercy and rich in goodnesse to all that call upon thee This readinesse then to mercy must not hinder but further the Saints pleading in prayer and help to finde the more Argument whereby to plead with God therein Jesus Christ knew that his Father alwayes heard him Ioh. 11. 42. yet in that his solemne prayer recorded Ioh. 17. how many Arguments doth he use to strengthen his Petitions as to glorifie him verse 4. 5. Father glorifie thy Son why so The Houre or the Time is come Ibid And verse 4. 5. I have glorified thee on Earth And I have finished the work thou hast given me And now or therefore glorifie me c. V. 21. Let them be one in us why so That the world may know thou hast sent me V. 24. Let them be with me to behold my glory why so For thou lovedst me before the world was Surely God himself must needs be ready to do what himselfe willeth yet as one stirring up himselfe to act he argueth with himselfe Esay 51. 9. Awake Awake O Arme of the Lord why so Art not thou it that hast wounded the Dragon and verse 10. Art not thou it that hast dried up the Sea So Esay 63. 8. For he said Surely they are my people children that will not lye So he was their Saviour and Psal 12. 5. For the sighing of the poor and cry of the needy I will arise saith the Lord and set him at liberty from him that pusseth at him God glorifieth his readinesse to mercy in that we no sooner plead for it in our prayers but he sheweth mercy Esay 65. 14. Whilst they yet speake I will heare Psal 65. 2. O thou that art hearing prayers It is the Lord who prepareth our hearts in prayer and furnisheth them with holy pleas and it is the rather a pledge that he is ready to heare the pleas of his own spirit The Lord may and sometimes doth prevent his people with mercy Esay 61. 24. Before they call I will heare Yet ordinarily he will have us to
without measure or whip them to death Potters doe not use to conceive so deep a distaste against a poore vessel of clay as to rage against the same without all respect to their own credit or to their own workmanship and therefore surely thou our heavenly Father and Potter canst not wilt not doe thus Thus David pleads his Fashioning by God Psal 119. 73. Thy hands have made and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandements God himselfe maketh it an argument to himselfe why he wil bear his people Esay 46. 3 4. I have made and I will beare even I will carry and will deliver you And it is a prevailing reason with God not to contend for ever lest the soule should faile before me saith he and the spirit which I have made Esay 57. 16. so would God have this an argument to help the weakest faith to expect its desires above all its feares Esay 43. 1 2. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that frmed thee O Israel Feare not And so V. 7. For I have created him for my glory I have formed him yea I have made him And therefore surely the Saints may wel urge this in any like case in prayer 2. We may plead the imbecillity and We are fraile creatures frailty of our natures So Iob pleadeth for the speeding of Gods manifesting of his pardoning and reconciling grace to him Iob 7. 21. Why dost thou not pardon my transgression and take away mine iniquitie for now shall I sleep in the dust c. As if he had said Lord if ever thou intendest as I am perswaded thou dost to renew the former beams of thy favour and pardoning mercy thou hadst not need to defer too long lest it come somewhat too late for ere long I shall returne to my dust This is Davids plea in the like case Psal 39. 12 13. Keep not silence at my teares for I am a stranger with thee Spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I goe hence and be no more So Iob pleadeth this Iob 13. 25. Wilt thou break a leafe driven to and fro and wilt thou pursue dry stubble What credit it is to so great a Majesty as thou art to shew thy power against a poor leafe or to runne after a poor leafe which every puffe of wind whisketh hither and thither or is it any honour so much as to a man to be cutting and hewing a poor leafe which can make no resistance Thus Abraham pleadeth for Audience and patience in hearing him because he is but dust and ashes of little substance short continuance before the Lord if the Lord please now to heare him whilst he is before him he is not like to trouble him long it is but a very little and he is gone he is but weak and it is not much discouragement in denial of requests which he is able to beare Gen. 18. 27. And the Lord hath sanctified this plea as an argument to himselfe to shew his servants mercy Psal 103. 13 14. He pittieth those that feare him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but dust So Esay 57. 16. I will not contend for ever for the spirit should faile before me This prevaileth with the Lord not to charge too hard upon his poore people 3. Plead we the extremities of our miseries We are in extremities inward or outward our extremities being Gods opportunities of hearing and helping us Psal 27. 16. Have mercy upon me O Lord why so for I am desolate And Psal 143. 7. Heare me speedily O Lord why so my spirit faileth I have but a little spirit left O Lord to breath after thee and speak to thee let me not spend that in waste Lord my soule is dying away speak Lord answer Lord before I faint quite away A gracious answer Lord would even fetch life in me again and nothing else but that wil recover me and therefore heare me speedily a poor dying sinking fainting spirit O Lord I intreat thee So Psal 69. 12. Save me O God for the waters are come even to my soule I sinke in the deep mire where is no standing This plea in effect is thus Lord I am ready to drown if ever thou wouldst save a poor perishing servant of thine save me my troubles and temptations are too deep for me I am ready to sinke over head and eares in them and therefore Lord reach hither thy gracious hand and beare up my head above water least otherwise I miscarry but especially if such extremities continue the continuance of them may be pleaded Such is Hemans plea Psa 88. 14 15. Lord why hidest thou thy face from me I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up whilst I suffer thy terrours I am distracted and God maketh this an allowed plea to himselfe of shewing his people mercy in such a case Esay 42. 19 20. I have a long time holden my peace Now will I destroy and devoure at once And I will bring the blinde by a way they know not c. Christ the Angel useth this plea Zech. 1. 12. O Lord of Hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten yeers 4. Plead we our helplesnesse in our We are helples otherwise selves and in any other besides himselfe So Psal 22. 11. Be not far from me for trouble is neer for there is none to help So Ier. 14. 22. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause raine or can the heavens give showres Art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will wait upon thee for thou hast made all these things So 2 Chro. 20. 12. We have no might we know not what to doe but our eyes are unto thee Either then thou must help O Lord at this dead lift or else thine enemies will prevaile So Psal 60. 11. Give us help against trouble for vain is the help of man When people are in a perishing condition it must not keep them from making out to God but they must take this to bottom their requests upon for mercy their spirituall oppressours and oppressions must make them repaire to the Lord and that wil prevaile for succour from that great one the Lord Jesus They shall cry unto the Lord Esay 19. 20. because of the oppressours and he shall send them a Saviour and a great one and he shall deliver them Psal 72. 12. It is engaged concerning Christ the true Solomon He shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poore also and him that hath no helper He cannot forget the cry of his sucking shiftlesse babes that hang upon the breast and can no more shift for a living then a poore infant God himselfe urgeth his people to come to him with this plea in their mouthes Hos 14. 2 3. Take unto you words and say Take away all
iniquity and receive us graciously For in thee the fatherlesse finde mercy The like is done Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hils truly in the Lord our God is salvation So is the Lord himselfe moved hence to help his people Esay 63 5. And I looked and there was none to help and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation to me And Deut. 32. 36. The Lord shal repent for his servants when he seeth their power is gone 5. Plead the greatnesse of our sinnes not to keep us from mercy but to prevaile Our sins have been many and great for it Psal 25. 11. Pardon my sin why so for it is great Psal 41. 4. Heale my soule for I have sinned against thee Jer. 14. 7. Doe thou it for thy names sake for our backeslidings are many we have sinned against thee This is a strong plea when sincerely urged by an humble and contrite spirit It glorifieth God as one that is abundant in goodnesse rich in mercy and one with whom are forgivenesses and plenteous redemption and it honoureth Christ as infinite in mercy Hence also the Lord himselfe when he would stir up himselfe to choice acts of mercy to his poore people he first aggravateth their sin against him to the highest and then expresseth his royall act of grace to them So Esay 43. 22 23 24 25. Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast not honoured me with thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy sinnes and wearied me with thine iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my names sake The latter sort of pleas respecting our The good of Gods grace as Gods stirring us up to plead with him selves or the good of grace in us are 1. Gods own stirring us up to pray for such mercies When a petitioner can plead with God Lord I come not to thy blessed Court without thy sending for It was thou which appointedst me to come to thy doore of grace else I had not come thy Spirit moved me thy promise encouraged me so to doe and therefore O Lord I expect the fruit of my comming and request So David pleadeth 2 Sam. 7. 27 28. Lord thou saidest this and that touching my house and therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer And so Psalm 27. 7 8. He pleadeth Thou saidest seek my face and my heart answered Thy face Lord will I seeke And well may this be pleaded in that God useth not so to stirre up and strengthen us to seek him but when he intendeth to be found of us Psalm 10. 17. Thou wilt prepare the heart thou wilt bow thine eare to heare Jerem. 29. 11 13. Then shall ye seek me and finde me when ye shall search for me with all your heart And God maketh it an argument to himselfe that if he say to any inwardly as wel as outwardly seek my face he that speaketh righteousnesse cannot speak thus to them and frustrate their prayers and so bid them seek his face in vain Esay 45. 19. I said not to any of the seed of Jacob seek my face in vaine I the Lord speak right things If Ahashuerus bid his Spouse to ask surely he wil not faile to grant her petition Esther 7. 1. so here And as when Christ called the blind man to come to him to tell him his grievance it was truly said to him by them Be of good comfort rise for he calleth thee Mark 10 49. so it is in this case Secondly our waitings and the expectations Our waiting upon him of Faith which the Lord wrought in us may be pleaded That a King should occasion a petitioners expectation of bounty and faile him were not seemly it were strange Hence Asahs plea in his prayer for help Help Lord why so for we rest on thee 2 Chron. 14. 11. So Psalm 119. 66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge for I have believed thy Commandements And Psalm 25. 2 3. My God I trust in thee let me not be confounded And Vers 5. Lead me forth in thy truth For on thee doe I wait all the day And Vers 20. Let me not be confounded for I trust in thee And Vers 21. Let uprightnesse preserve me for my hope is in thee And Psalm 143. 8. Let me heare thy loving kindnesse in the morning for in thee is my trust And it is an argument with men such a one doth depend upon me and I have passed my word to doe such or such a thing for him and he commeth to meet me according to my own appointment at such a time in expectation of what I promised and therefore I cannot may not must not faile him So it is with God Esay 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusted in thee And Psal 10. 14. The poore committeth himselfe to thee Thou art the helper of the fatherlesse Thirdly we may in all humility The breaking of our hearts before him plead our heart-breakings and weepings in sense of want of mercies which we crave and our pantings and faintings after the same As Psalm 39. 12. Hold not thy peace at my tears And Psalm 51. David who groundeth all his pleas onely upon the free grace of the Lord Vers 1. Have mercy upon me according to thy loving kindnesse c. yet Vers 17. he pleadeth the brokennesse of his heart The Sacrifices of God are a broken heart a broken and a contrite spirit O Lord thou wilt not despise It is a moving argument with a compassionate father when his child craveth this or that with teares from him not then to deny him In such a case a father wil be ready to say alas my deare child thou shalt not blubber thy cheekes any longer come doe not thus mar thy face with weeping thou shalt have what thou cravest so doubtlesse is it with the Lord towards his children When Ephraim smites upon his thigh is ashamed and even confounded because he bare the iniquity of his youth Jer. 31. 19. how this took with God we may perceive by what himselfe replieth Vers 20. Is Ephraim my deare sonne is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I earnestly remembred him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. So Esay 38. 5. Isaiah is bid to goe to weeping Hezekiah and tell him from God I have heard thy prayer I have seen thy teares As if he had said to Isaiah Goe runne to yonder childe of mine bid him not weep so sore tell him he shall have his request So Psalm 6. 8. The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping And V. 9. The Lord hath heard my petition His prayer and petition it selfe spake and his tears also spake aloud in Gods ears and prevailed for
All things without God are finite too short a portraiture of an infinite Majesty In all comparisons there must be some proportion and equality Now unlesse we could equal God to any thing how can he be likened to it Esay 40. 18 25. 2. Look that we doe not goe about to 2. Prie not too far into his Deity comprehend in our minds his glorious Essence prying too far into his Majesty and the like his Godhead is one of the invisible things of God and must no further be reached after by our shallow and dark minds then as shining forth in the works and word of God Rom. 1. 20. If we goe any further we shall become vaine in our imaginations vers 21. Who can by search finde out the Almighty to perfecton Iob 11. 7 8 12. we should shew our selves in affecting such wisdome to be but vain men Ibid. Iacob when he was at prayer was a little too busie herein and too inquisitive after the name or nature of the Son or Angel of God and therefore is rebuked for asking his name yet his weaknesse is passed over and the Lord blessed him notwithstanding Gen. 32. 29 30. But rather in our approaches unto God conceive we of him in his back parts in his glorious Attributes Conceive of him as one not to be fully conceived by us and so pray to him with such apprehensions of him Moses did desire in prayer to have God to shew him his glory his invisible being and Majesty was too much for him to ask or to have answered God telleth him he could not see his glory and live mans finite underdanding and spirit would be swallowed up and confounded therein Exod. 33. 18 20. but his goodnesse and name of grace his back parts are fitter objects for Moses to contemplate upon and to behold vers 19. 25 compared with Chap. 34. 5 6 When God came down to his people that they might worship him Exod. 11. he came down in a Cloud that their prying eyes or spirits might be bounded the Altar of Incense where the Incense of prayer was to be offered was before the Vaile that was by the Arke of the testimony before the Mercy seat Exod. 20. 6. God would have his servants to behold and mind him in their prayers but yet his Mercy seat was covered with Cherubs wings they might not prie too far and indeed it is but an endlesse work we may weary our selves in this maze of the divine nature but make nothing of our work when we have done It is a fruitlesse bootlesse work no good commeth of it but amazement and discouragement we shall but reflect upon our selves as if we were very Atheists conceiving and believing nothing at all of God when we goe about to conceive more of him then is meet When at any time the Saints of God out of a witty kind of reasoning of their deceitfull hearts perswading that it is meet that we should conceive of God to whom we pray and the like which is in a sense true doe lance out in their slender skiffs or Canows into this vast Ocean without the Cord and Compasse of the Scriptures now if any gust of temptation arise as twenty to one but it doth how are they amazed and affrighted and know not where they are nor how to get safe ashore again having forgotten the work they intended at the first and commonly the work and businesse of prayer is for that time disappointed and left undone or as good being never at such a time performed to any purpose Besides the advantage we give to the enemy of peace and truth hereby which is great and if no worse thing follow yet we get a check from God for our labour as Jacob Gen. 32. 29. and Manoah are reproved for asking after the name of that Angel the Son of God which was secret Iudg. 13. 17 18. Why askest thou after my name since it is secret 3. Conceive not God absolutely as out 3. Think of him relatively as such or such a one to thee in Christ of Christ but as in Christ and so mercifull gracious and abundant in goodnesse and truth We must look as they of old to the glory of God in offering up our spirituall Incense but as in Christ considered as Mediator who is that Mercy seat for so the Hebrew Capporeth translated usually by the Septuagint by the word Hilasterion and approved by the Holy ghost Heb. 9. 5. which in Rom. 3. 25. is applied to Christ whom God hath set forth to be Hilasterion the mercy seat or mercifull Covering or propitiation for our sins or that Capporeth to which Gods Priests must look when offering their Incense of prayer Exod. 30. 6. 25. 20 21 22. compared We are not taught in the Lords prayer to look at or think of God absolutely but relatively as a father namely in Christ Our thoughts of God must be suitable to our worship of him in prayer which is a comming to God not immediately nor absolutely considered but in and by Christ Heb. 7. 25. Which eome to God by him 4. Let us not too much beat our thoughts about particular and personall apprehensions of God or conclude that we are 4. Goe not too far in personal thoughts of God Atheists in defect thereof but be satisfied in conceiving and believing that of him that he is and that he is a rewarder of such as seek him Heb. 11. 6. with such other generall apprehensions which serve to keep the heart humble awfull and attentive namely that he to whom we pray is such a God which seeth and knoweth all our secrets our thoughts wants and sins and the like that he is such an one that is with us whereever we are and that we are in him and live by him that he observeth what and in what manner we do any service before him that he is a very holy God that he is such a one which comprehendeth us albeit we cannot so fully comprehend him and that therein lieth our blisse Psal 139. 6. and so throughout the Psalm 2 Sam. 7. 20. Acts 17. 27 28 29. Fix we our minds somtimes upon God under one and sometimes under another of such like notions touching him and let the aw and impression of God either as one that is most holy or that is most wise or that is most mighty carry us as far along as the Lord helpeth and then consider of him under some one or other like notion and in our prayers carry that along in our minds as far as we can and if our spirits wax flat or slight notwithstanding try them with thoughts of God under some other notion as before mentioned 5. Look that we limit not God to our 5. Limit not God to our conceivings shallow comprehensions of him but in all our thoughts of him conceive of God as infinitely above all our conceivings as Agur did Prov. 30. 1 2 3 4. yet conceive of him to be
holy serving of the Lord how awful is a suppliant hee serveth the Lord with feare and trembling whilest praying how humble is he he is carefull to keep his distance even in talking thus with the Lord Gen. 18. Abraham then telleth the Lord he is but dust Prayer also in the intents and desires of the suppliant it is serving the Lord all that which a true suppliant fetcheth of God in Prayer if you resolve it into its last end it is service He prayeth for outward things as Jacob Gen. 28. For parts and gifts as Solomon 1 King 3. For life and health for deliverance out of divers afflictions outward and inward as Hezekiah Esay 38. and David oft but in all it is that he might serve the Lord and glorfie him the more thereby he cometh with a servantly spirit for mercy from God ready pressed to doe any work of his to attend any command of his Psal 123. 1 2. A praying frame is an obediential frame a command of God bringeth a true suppliant upon his knees and on his knees he wayteth for a command from him Prayer is called knocking namely at the door of Gods grace and mercy in Christ 9 Prayer a spiritual knocking as 't is called in scripture Matth. 7. Knock and it shall be opened unto you Prayer is a holy approaching and repayring to the door of mercy for all manner of supplies of grace which the Saints stand in need of the saints rest not in this that there is a dooâ— of grace that there is mercy for sinnerâ— to be had in Christ but they are conscionable in the use of this holy means of opening the same mercy is freely promised to thâ— people of God yet may none rush into the door of God under pretence that it iâ— open without knocking Ezek. 36. 25 26 27 c. The doore of grace is set very open I will poure clear water upon you c but verse 37. For this will I be sought by the house of Israel Prayer acknowledgeth the Lords prerogative royal In all thy wayes acknowledge him Prov. 3. True suppliants eye the Lord as a great God as well as gracious and therefore are willing to keep their due distances though the Saints be the friends of Christ and of God who may make in a holy wise bold with him yet it is holy manners to them not rudely to presse upon his favour or challenge this or that benefit of it without asking leave Indeed pinching extremities will make them put a good face upon it and not continue walking to and againe aloof off within some general veiw of mercy but to knock and knock again and again at mercyes doore to pray often for the opening thereof to them True suppliants are in haste of earnest and weighty affairs in their converses with the Lord they have much to do with him much to say to him much to receive from him and therefore they must they will knock they are sure that a gracious father of theirs is within yea within hearing and therefore they cannot but thus knock and pray True it is sometimes this door of grace seemeth to be shut against them in some displeasure but yet this maketh them the more earnest Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies Psal 77. 9. Luke 11 Trouble me not for I am in bed saith the friend within but yet see what prevailing importunity he useth so that for his importunity the friend riseth openeth and giveth what is desired What is Prayer but as spiritual knocking a special means of opening of the gate and door of Grace and so of all the lesser wickets as it were thereon depending Hence Psalm 119. 169. Let my cry come before thee saith the Psalmist and ver 170. Let my supplications come before thee as if he would say Open Lord to Prayer let it come in let not that stand without or as if it were a plea Lord Prayer is at the door therefore open So Psal 88. 2. Let my Prayer come before thee or come where thou art And Psal 55. 1. David prayeth that the Lord would not hide himself from his supplications Prayer it will come in where the Lord is will look him out as it were in all corners Psalm 66. 20. David blesseth the Lord that he had not turned away his Prayer Prayer standeth still at Gods door it will not away without its errand and answer Wisdomes out-doors even the Ordinances Prov. 8. 34. These are opened by Prayer Out-lary Gentiles fare the better this way for that Prayer Psalm 67. Let thy way be known among the people thy saving health among all Nations Matth. 9. end Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he would thrust out Labourers into his Harvest Prayer helpeth people to a fruitful Ministry Prayer helpeth to open the Ministers mouth openeth a door of utterance Colos 4. 3. Pray that God would open my mouth Prayer openeth a door of faith 1 Cor. 16. 8 9 The mystery of Salvation may be made known by it Ephes 6. 19. The Word may come to have an open and effectual passage into peoples hearts by it Hence that 2 Thes 3. 1 Pray that the Word may a have free course and be glorified c. The door of Liberty the Churches Liberties may be opened to the Prayer of the Saints as to Paul upon his Prayer Acts 11. Those strong and secret doors of death may be opened by Prayer Hence the Prophets raising of the dead child by Prayer 2 Kings 4. 32 33 34 35. So Jonah by Prayer had the belly of Hell the Whales belly and jawes opened to him to let him out Jonah 2. 9 10. By Prayer the doors of the womb as they are called Job 3. 10 are opened as in Hannahs case 1 Sam. 1. 15 16 20. and Rebecca's Gen. 25. 21. and Elizabeth's case Luke 1. 13 By prayer the doors of Heaven are opened If I shut heaven and my people pray c. I will hear c. 2 Chron. 6 26 and 7. 13 14. By prayer the Prison doors are opened as to Peter upon the Churches prayer Acts 12. 5 10. Secrets which otherwise are not to be opened yet are to be unfolded by prayer Dan. 2. 18 19. Then was the secret revealed upon prayer for the mercies of Heaven that way yea prayer will open even Hell gates as I may say as by Luthers Prayer one was recovered who had even given his soul to the Divel This kind of Divel goeth not out but by prayer and fasting Matth. 17 by fasting and prayer then even such a Divel is cast out and a poor man let go out of his possession As in other knocking there is a hand there are fingers which make a noise and help open the door so here there is a hand of faith which knocketh and that wil open that large gate and door of mercy and any of the lesser wickets depending Matth. 15. 28. O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as
thou wilt Come into all my Treasures of Grace and take even what thou desirest Godly desires knock and make a noise in Gods ears and he opens to them He heareth the desire of the humble Psa 10. 17. They will come in where the Lord is Psa 38. 9 Lord all my desire is before thee The Saints sighs make a noise at Heaven gates and God cometh forth to them For the sighing of the Prisoners I will arise saith the Lord. Psal 12. 5. and Psal 79. 11. Let the sighing of the prisoners come before thee room for the sighing of the prisoners Lord yea their very tears too make a loud noise at this door and they have their voice also in prayer Thou hast heard the voice of my weeping Psal 68. No wonder then that effectual prayer consisting of all these be indeed a knocking and meanes of opening of the gate and door of Mercy in Jesus Christ We pass by other names given to Prayer as that of seeking asking calling opening of the mouth wide running to the Lord for counsel referring ones case to him the like Come we now to give a description of Prayer Prayer is a spiritual and faithful opening of the heart to God in the name of Christ A general description of Prayer with an eye at seasonable help and relief from him By heart we mean thoughts desires affections these wants and weaknesses and sins to which the heart is privy and of which it is sensible We call it an opening of the heart in opposition to hypocritical covering and attempts to hide any thing from the Lord whereby their prayers become no prayers their Worship vaine whilst digging deep to hide the counsels of the heart from God Isaiah 29. 13 15. compared with Psal 119. 26. I have declared my wayes to thee that is prayed and thou heardst me Prayer is a shewing of God our waies or as the Hebrew word beareth a telling or counting them one by one as if we pray indeed when we do from our hearts deal plainly and punctually with God therein when we leave out nothing which we know by our selves untold before him even in a particular manner whether respecting our wants our sins or the like so Psal 38. 18. I have declared mine iniquity meaning all and each of his sins there were some more special sins sinnes which were chiefly his the Hebrew word signifieth a telling of some new thing Davids prayer and confession is not a high-way rode and some one track of confession but it is a telling him of any new fresh acts of sinne Jer. 20. 12 To thee have I opened my cause or prayed to thee Prayer is an opening of the souls causes and cases to the Lord the same word in another conjugation is used for uncovering making bare and naked Gen. 9. 21. The Saints in prayer do or should nakedly present their soules causes without all cover-shames or so much as a ragge of selfe or flesh cleaving to them All things are naked to him with whom Obs we have to doe he is privy to our secrets how is prayer an opening of the heart to him Suppliants are said in prayer to open Answ their hearts to God 1. In that they doe not dare not goe about to hide or desire that ought in their hearts should bee hid from the Lord. It is their desire he should and they are very glad that he doth know all their heart their hearts are ready to break when they through temptation or desertion want prayer vent 2. In that it is their desire and endeavour to present all within their hearts which God by a general eye of wisedome and omniscience seeth unto a more special energetical veiw of the eye of Gods compassion and love Psal 80. 14. Behold and visit this vine Psal 119. 132. Look upon mee as thou usest to doe on those that feare thy name Isay 63. 15 16. Looke downe from heaven c. where are the sounding of thy bowels c. 3. In that they doe thus in way of an ordinance of God which he doth eye and owne as opening of their heart to God Psal 62. 8. Poure out your heart to him or pray to him And albeit their hearts are open to God before yet not actually opened in this way of injoyned expressing the same till they do thus pray 4. In that when prayer is duly performed as their minds and hearts are uttered and poured out as before the Lords face Psal 62. 8. or before him so are they in lively manner quickned to behold Gods mercifull and energetical view of the same hence that perswasion of David All my desires are before thee Psal 38. 9. It is a spiritual opening Spiritual in respect of the efficient and working cause Gods spirit acteth and worketh therein It is prayer in the holy Ghost Rom. 8. 26. The spirit maketh intercession in us the spirit of praier is acted in it Zach. 12. 10. Prayer is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in-wrought our spirits also as acted and improved thereby are at work in it My God whom I serve with my spirit Rom. 1. 9. Our hearts are as water poured out to waft along each petition and confession or as oyle to anoint these messengers of the soul that they might flye the faster to Gods throne It is spiritual in the matter of it things of Gods Kingdome Matth. 6. 33. or if other things yet under a spiritual consideration as according to Gods will and for his glory Spiritual in the manner namely in a sublime and elevated manner of performance Isay 37. 4. Lift up thy prayer Spiritual in the end a calling upon God whereby he is exalted Esay 12. 4. Spirituall in the motive and ground-work a command of God requiring a promise in encouraging Thou saidst seek my face my heart answered Lord thy face will I seek Psal 27. 8. for thou revealedst to thy servant saying I will build thee a house therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer 2 Sam. 27. 27. Faithfull opening that is unfeigned without reservations c. Prayer from unfeigned lips Psal 17. 1. To God not to Saints and Angels which neither know our hearts nor can help us Isay 63. 16. Though Abraham know us not And it is to God not as into the aire or as at an uncertainty where or to whom In the name of Christ There is a holy renouncing of our selves and our owne worth and strength and a resting and trusting upon the Lord Jesus onely through whom we come to the throne of grace and for whose sake alone wee plead for and expect audience and acceptance yea and assistance With an eye to seasonable help Our Our eyes are unto the Lord until hee shew us mercy Psal 123. 1 2. Thus much concerning prayer in generall We might give sundry reasons to inforce Reasons why we must pray this duty Taken 1. From God absolutely and relatively 1 From God considered who is thereby
faith and love makes Paul echo forth the sound thereof in the ears of God by praying for him Philem 4. 5. And it would be good to keep a fresh memorial of others graces as Paul did of those in the Thessalonians whence it was that he was so earnest for them in his prayers 1 Thes 1 2 3. 3. Prize we grace in others as well as 3 Prize grace in others in our selves 2 Cor. 9. 14. And by their prayer for you which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you 4 Put we our selves in others stead So 4 Put we our selves in others stead Jesus Christ teacheth us in the Lords prayer to be our selves needing dayly bread and remission of sins and reseue from the evil of temptations if others be so So Moses Let the Lord go with us and pardon us Exod 34. 8 9. So Daniel puts himselfe in the number and case of such and such suffering ones Dan 9. 4 5. c. 5 Look we maintain an holy life in prayers respecting our selves When the root Keep lively in praying for our selves of a spirit of Prayer is kept fresh and springing it will be sprouting forth into all the variety of the branches thereof respecting others as well as our selves If that pipe be kept open it will be conveying waters of Grace to others houses and hearts as well as our own If the Spring Tide be up our neighbours creeks as well as ours will be supplyed with waters The supplies of the oyle of Grace from the Lord of the whole earth will be beneficial to the whole Candlestick the Church and the several Bowles and Lamps of it Zech. 4. 2 3 11 12 13. We cannot as members of this body sensibly think or speak for our selves but more or less we shall bee mindful of other parts and members of the body of Christ in special sort 6 Put wee one another upon praying 6 Put we one another upon it one for another Heb. 13 18. Pray for us saith the Apostle Lay open your cases one to another begging each others prayers Tell my Beloved saith the Church that I am sick of love Cant. 5 8. Many hands contribute this way even to a poor decayed Christian and will help him into a way of spiritual trading with God as formerly As many Simples put togethet will make soveraign Physick to recover a sick man so I may say of particular mens prayers meeting in one fâ—rther others souls welfare and health Some Favourites Prayers may help others who may be under some displeasure of the Lord to come into renewed terms of favour with him upon requests made for them Therefore as Mordecai will set Esther on work to intercede for him with the King and for his people so should we crave the prayers of such who are upon better termes possibly with the Lord then we our selves are at present God himselfe sends Jobs three friends under his present distastes for not speaking so rightly of him as Job had done unto Job who though he had miscarried yet had made his peace again with God and he must pray for them Job 42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Job must break the ice to clear their passage Even the injurious Gibeonites must in case blesse Israel or else they are not to look to speed so well from the Lord 2 Sam. 21. 1. 2 3 4. c. God will have all the members of Christ to see the need and use of other members even the meanest as the Church of Jerusalems daughters to tell Christ in their praiers of her condition Cant. 5. Touching the third thing the Marks Marks of praiers heard for others of our prayers speeding for others and that the favours shewed to others are fruits of our prayers are 1 When God stirreth up their hearts for 1. Others faith that we shall be heard for them whom we pray to be by faith perswaded that God will hear us for them Phil. 1. 19. For I know that it shall turn to my salvation through your prayers Philem. 22. For I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you When God doth thus send word before hand and give notice to his Saints what he meanes to do for them at the request of such or such of their brethren it is a pledg that the ensuing success was that way brought about 2 When God in the conferring of such 2 Others faith that we were heard for them and such mercies upon others doth secretly and strongly perswade them that they are the fruit of the prayers of such and such of his servants for them it is verily so indeed As when Paul is perswaded that his liberty and life restored and the gracious fruits thereof that they were the fruits of the Corinthians and others prayers a gift bestowed by the means of many and you also helping by your Prayers 2 Cor. 1. 10 11. As when a King shall send word to some Subjects of his that he hath done thus or thus for them because of the request of such or such of his Courtiers Or as a School-master shall tell his Scholers who begg'd their play day So here in such holy motions in others hearts the Lord signifieth to them that such or such a refreshment enlargement and succour in such or such temptations are issues of the requests of such or such of his servants for them 3 When God stirreth up injured persons 3. When they are the prayers of injured persons by them they pray for to pray feelingly and fervently for such as have wronged them as Job for his friends Job 42. 8 9. The Prayer of Christ for many of his Persecutors Father forgive them c. Luke 23. 34. It took well witnesse that blessed change wrought in many of them so soon after Acts 2. 36 37 38 39. This fruit of Divine love in the Saints argueth a root of it in the Lord himself toward such persons for whom they make such requests and such strong living currents and rivers of kindnesse and compassions argue an Ocean of the same bowels in God towards them such love speeches being dictated by the special motions of Gods Spirit are wont to be owned by the Lord. 4 When some are stirred up to earnest Prayer for some one or more for whom 4. When persons prayed for are praied for as well by many others as by us many others of the Saints unspoken to haply and unthought of do in like sort intercede with God When many help this way toward the bestowing of one and the same gift it seldom faileth 2 Cor. 1. 11 You also helping by your prayers viz. together with others in like sort stirred up in other places to pray for the same gift There is ever most of God in such unanimity and accord When the Spirit of the Lord doth thus tune many hearts as several Instruments to answer one another when the same Lesson of the Spirits setting
calleth upon the soule Go againe to him renew thy suits speak why dost not thou speak for a speedy answer and faith whispers the soul in the eare be not put off the Lord hath that by him for which thou comest it is not for his honour to bid thee goe and come againe to morrow when he hath that pardon and peace and grace by him for which thou comest yea Sathan and unbeliefe will be charging such present pay of spiritual debts or else to prison and therefore feares and jealousies are raised by them both in the Saints and many times will post and haste the soule upon desires of speedy resolutions and answers from the Lord what he meaneth to doe for them at these dead lifts 4. It consisteth in a strong resisting of 4 In a resolute breaking through discouragements in prayer discouraging suggestions whencesoever arising tending to beat the soule off from prayer If the answer from within be trouble me not I am in bed Luke 11. 7 8. yet the suit is continued and for importunities sake the friend ariseth and supplieth with bread If the angel say to importunate wrestling Jacob Let me goe nay I will not let thee goe till thou blesse me saith hee Gen. 32. 26 27 28. hee will hold his hold whosoever saith no. Exod. 32 11 12 13. Let me alone saith he to Moses or leave off thy prayer as the Chaldee paraphrase readeth it but the event shewed hee would not he did not let him alone Psal 80. 4. Though God carry it towards his people sometimes as angry yet they pray why art thou angry at the prayer of thy people Lamentations 3. when his prayer is shut out yet he knocketh Psal 61. 1 2. From the ends of the earth will I cry to thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher then I let his distances bee never so great hee is resolved to cry after the Lord and if he get but his head never so little above water the Lord shal hear of him Psal 69. 1 3. One would think his discouragements such as he were past crying any more the waters entred into his soule in deep waters the streams running over him hee sticketh fast in the mire where is no standing he is at the very bottome and there fast in the mire he is weary of crying yet verse 6 13. But Lord I make my prayer to thee and as he recovers breath so breathes out fresh supplications to the Lord if men or devils would be forbidding to pray as the multitude sometimes did the poore blind man to cry after Jesus yet as he so an importunate suppliant will cry so much the more Jesus thou Sonne of David have mercy on me Mark 10. 47 48. When distrust and distempers would bee pulling such a suppliant by the sleeves as he is going to the throne of grace and say what thou go thither alasse poor tattered creature wilt thou goe thus in thy raggs Hath the Lord nothing else to doe but to wait upon such as thou art Doest thou poore prodigal think that he will be spoken with by such an one as thou art Go pay thy debts first to divine justice thou knowest what an one thou art and hast been It is for such as are so fruitfull so faithfull so zealous so mortified so selfe-denying so sincere so serviceable to God and others such as have kept so close to God that have not runne into such and such sinnes against light such as can confidently stay upon God and not for thee who hast failed in all these to draw near to him yea but strength and importunity in prayer will gather strength by these pressings and oppositions these gusts wil but kindle the fire of holy desires and make them flame out the more in prayer and conclude that it concerneth the soul the more to beg and seek for mercy Sometimes the guilt of some special sin would stop the souls mouth this way but that also maketh it to roare out its complaints the more and presse the harder for pardon Sometimes the world in the occasions of it would withdraw the soul to speak a few words to it of concernment but importunity packeth that away with indignation Importunate David will chide out all manner of disquieting suggestions Why art thou disquieted within me O my soul Psal 42. 5. and break through an army of discouragements to speak to the Lord if he must swimme for it through a tempestuous sea of difficulties hee is at a point for that he will make his prayer to the God of his life verse 7 8. In this holy building-work opposition maketh not serious builders lay by their trewell but take their sword rather in the other hand ready to resist such as oppose it such holy beggars have no other trade to live upon but such begging it is even death to them to leave it 5. It consisteth in a patient bearing and 5 In submissive bearing crosse occurrences in praier overlooking adverse occurrences in our seeking of the Lord. Gen. 32 25. The Angel touched the hollow of Jacobs thigh and it was out of joynt as he wrestled with him but yet he muttered not hee mindeth his work and verse 26. I will not let thee goe except thou blesse me let him criple him and bruise him if he please but blesse him hee must ere they part The importunate Canaanitish woman doth not regard or any wayes stomack the taunt of Christ if it may be so called in his calling her dog It is not meet to take childrens bread and cast it to dogs but she owneth the worst name he can give her as her due Truth Lord saith she c. Matth. 15. 26 27. These people of Christ will be seeking of him Cant 5. 6. I sought him but could not find him I called upon him but he gave me no answer yea they bear it quietly yea but the watchmen and those upon the walls abuse his people verse 7. They put up that also but follow their suit for the recovering of Christs favour towards them ver 8. If you find my beloved tell him in your prayers that I am sick of love Such beggers winch not much for the barking yea or for some snaps of dog-like enemies to prayer nor care such beggars what they are secretly termed the worst name is welcome so that they may have but the almes of mercy for which they come They meet with many a wrinch and many a crush in pressing through crowds of discontentments with their petitions to their Kings gracious throne but earnestnesse of their desires makes them quietly to bear all In those soul wooings of Christ such like discouragements are all nothing if at last they may but winne Christ and gaine true spiritual conjugall fellowship with him if they find such a pearl they weigh not any cost they are at in seeking it If they may but gaine the passages of the streight gate to life they can
24 25 26. he maketh a request to Christ for his child but at first questioned Christs power saying If thou canst doe any thing help us and so long his request took not but being quickned up by Christs word to faith in his power that hee could doe any thing for them and to expect any thing from him in such a way of believing if thou canst believe namely that I can doe any thing for you all things are possible to him that so believeth then the man cryeth out with teares Lord I believe namely that thou canst do any thing for us and so getteth the blessing he prayed for where prayers are put up in faith believing all things are possible to the Lord believed in and attainable upon believing in him there all things are possible and attainable to such a faiths-request Sometimes the suppliants of God deale with God in prayer about intricacies where the determinations of the will of God seeme or are hid and obscure yea for such good things as come within the reach of his power and herein it were sad with them if faith in Gods power might not or did not relieve them Yea sometimes they deal with God about cases wherin the Lord cometh to expresse his will and mind to the contrary and yet faith in Gods Almightinesse putteth words into their mouthes and biddeth and incourageth them to speak and to pray to him and to try it out with him even in such cases When God telleth Moses that he will smite the people and disinherit them Num. 14. 11 12. Yet because Moses believed the greatnesse of Gods power which might else be dishonoured hee pleadeth that the nations will say that because the Lord was not able to bring them into the promised land therefore he slew them and then betaketh him to this hold Let the power of my Lord be great according as thou hast spoken the Lord is long suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity c. He looked at him as now able to fulfill the other part of his revealed will even to be a God pardoning his peoples sins This set the Ninivites a praying when yet God had said yet forty dayes and Niniveh shal be destroyed Jonah 3. 3 4 5. Yet for ought any knew to the contrary God might shew them mercy verse 8 9. who can tell if God may not turne and repent of his fierce anger that we perish not and their prayers tooke effect verse 10 God repented of the evill that he had said Besides true seekers of God are continually sensible of mighty adverse powers of darknesse against them so that if they had not faith in Gods almightiness overmatching those powers they would not pray without ceasing 5 Faith in the gracious nature and disposition of God as in his love mercy bounty compassion long-suffering goodnesse is required Nothing more usuall with the Saints in their prayers mentioned throughout the scripture then to set their faith on worke in prayer upon the gracious nature of God I need not mention the scriptures In this ocean faith can freely swim and bear up all the suppliants burdens and packets In this holy chancery court and court of grace it can have right in any cases which concerne the soule Nothing more sutable to the hungring and thirsting desires of suppliants and nothing more sweet and satisfying then the marrow and fatnesse of Gods loving kindnesse Psal 63. 1. to 5. The upright remember the love of the Lord more then wine Cant. 14. A poore suppliant seeeth here by an eye of faith the true riches which his soule needeth and that it is here ready for him that God is rich in mercy to all that call upon him So did David Psal 86. 41. This is a spirituall all-heale to the poore diseased wounded soule crying to God for cure therein it seeth and eyeth the particular salves that are most sutable to the severall sores of which it complaineth when the people of God are tossed with tempests of troubles and temptations as they were Isai 44. 11. yet they eye this as a sweet and safe harbour if they can but put in here they are sheltred in all weathers if they can but cast the anchor of faith and hope here they can ride it out securely and without hurt or losses from any windes which blow 6. Faith in Gods simplicity is required 6 In Gods simplicity Solomon in his prayer looketh at God as alwayes acting and all act one whose eyes were open night and day 1 King 8. 29 so the Psalmist Psal 65 2. and thou that art hearing ever hearing prayers to thee shall all flesh come The like faith in the eternity and immutability of God and in his faithfulnesse in what he is to his poore redeemed ones and in what he saith to them and doth for them in a way of grace and favour is needfull Habbakuk in his prayer maketh use of the eternity of God Hab. 1. 12. Art not thou from everlasting oh Lord my God my holy one wee shall not dye Nehemiah in his prayer improveth Gods faithfulnesse chap. 1. 4. O God that keepest Covenant and mercy for them that love him Those afflicted soules mentioned Psal 102. doe in their prayer improve by faith Gods unchangeablenesse Thou art the same and thy yeares have no end verse 24 25 26 27. The suppliants themselves and their cases vary much and suffer many changes but faith in these incourageth them to hold on in incessant prayer to the Lord. We might have instanced in the particulars of faiths improvements of the relative nature of God in prayer as that of a Father of a Saviour Redeemer and the like as is often mentioned in Scripture as Jer. 14. 8. Esa 63. 15 16 17. and 64. 8. c. but I shall forbear proceed we therefore 7. In the Lord Jesus to the second branch of faith required in prayer namely Faith in the Lord Jesus Heb. 7. 23. Christ is able to save such to the uttermost which come unto God by him Out of Christ God is a consuming fire and if we eye him as such a one only wee are driven from him rather than drawn to him Daniel craveth all things for the Lords sake Dan. 9. 17. David requesteth mercies of the Lord for his words sake or as in 1 Chron. 11. 9. for his servants sake the saints of old looked in their prayers towards the temple 1 King 8. 29 30. 35 38. So Jonah chap. 2. 4. Now the temple was a type of Christ Christ spake of the temple of his body Joh. 2. It was not enough for the Israelites to cry out of wounds nor for Moses to pray with them or for them but they must look to the brazen Serpent Numb 21. 7 8 9. which in Joh. 3. 13 14 15. is made a type of Christ Christ is the altar whereon wee offer all our spirituall sacrifices if acceptable Heb. 11. 12. And if we doe in offering them but touch this blessed altar
will farther his gracious audience of his servants prayers What will not love grant 5 Consider what account the Lord makes 5 What esteem he hath of his Saints prayers of his peoples prayers They are his delight Prov. 15. 8. as sweet musick in his ears Revel 5. 1. They are memorials before him ever in his eye minding him of what is meet to be done for his people Acts 10. 4. They are as a Recompence to him he liketh to be paid in his dues in prayers also Psal 116. 12 13. he thinketh we never pray enough John 16 13 14. Hitherto you have asked nothing namely in comparison open thy mouth wide Psal 81. Mercy accompanieth prayer if the Lord would turne away the one yet not the others pleas Psalm 66. 20. 6 Consider what measures the Lord 6. What measures he keepeth in his respects to praier keepeth in his respects to prayer He heareth sometimes before we call preventeth his people with goodnesse Isaiah 65. 24. Sometimes even whilst praying they have answers of grace ibid. Sometimes when his people seek him for pardoning grace and the manifestation thereof he sheweth mercy even above their thoughts Isaiah 55. 6 7 8 9. giveth them as above what they ask so beyond their thoughts and expectations Eph. 3. 20. Wherefore raise up our expectations in this way of seeking the face of God touching his gracious disposition to hear and help us and when we have got up our thoughts therein to the highest yet believe it he hath mercy and answers of grace for us above our thoughts 7 Consider what method God continually and infallibly useth in his respects to 7. What method he observeth in his respects to praier prayer namely first to incline hearts to be cordial and serious in prayer and then to give his promised mercies Psalm 10. 17. Jerem. 29. 11. 12. The nearer and surer mercies are the more praying motions and workings there are then in our hearts Both are to the same mercy as one works to help to pray and to hear prayer Mercy would not be at work with us in the one if the other part of God's mercies work were not to be effected Lastly That we may clear up our fainting 8. Consider the Parable Luk 18 1. to 9. spirits and drooping hearts in expectation of faith that our prayers shall not fail of good successe from God consider of that Parable of our Lord Jesus which he for this purpose propoundeth Luke 18. 1. ad 9. A Judge a man comes off to hear a poor suppliants request and will not God a Father do much more for his An unjust Judg hears and will not a just and righteous God hear the cryes of his poor ones One that was a hater and disregarder of men and of his own name yet hears and will not God and Christ hear whose delight is to be with men Prov 8. One that was utterly averse from hearing He would not hear one to whom asking was a trouble This widow troubleth me yet at length grants the request of her which sought to him How much more will the Lord to whom prayer is a delight and whose property it is to be hearing even ready to hear prayers surely he will hearken to his suppliants requests much more One that while he denyed and delayed his Petitioner considered it not till afterward Then he considered with himself and he cometh off How much rather will the Lord who wisely weigheth all circumstances and inconveniences in case of too long delay to hear Isai 57. 17. He will surely fulfil his peoples desires One that in granting his Petitioners desire meerly to avoid disquiet Lest she should weary him out with her out-cryes he hearkens and will not God who delighteth in mercy do much more for his precious ones One that is solicited by a certain widow one no way allyed to him coming to him without any other Intercessour to plead her cause yet he cannot deny her Petition and can or will the Lord deny his own deare children which come to him in the name of him in whom he is well pleased yea and have the Lord himselfe to intercede for him Touching the last thing propounded very briefly The Marks of one praying in faith Marks of praiing in faith are these 1 When a soul is borne up and carryed 1. Praying amidst discouragements on in praying amidst discouragements to pray If he pray without ceasing when yet there are so many things sometimes which may seem to occasion ceasing to pray save that he prayeth in faith When we are hindred and opposed in it by Satan and others yet a Joshuah stands before the Angel notwithstanding Satans resistance Zach. 3. 1. or like him in Mark 10. 47 48 51 52. we continue crying Jesus have mercy on us even when others would forbid us when we are delayed and held off from our desired answers and left in some deeps of affliction in the interim and yet trusting in the Lord in Prayer We will wait Psalm 136. 1 2 3 4 5. When the Lord is long silent yet we will not be silent but plead How long Lord Psal 13. 1 2. When denyed of God as the woman of Canaan as if we had no part in the mercy we ask it were not for us yet we continue asking Matth. 25. 25. 26 27. Surely there is faith emboldning thereunto verse 28. When we seem to be curbed and silently rebuked as the friend wished not to trouble his friend yet will not give over his suite Luke 11. Surely he thinks he speaks to a friend within or else he could not would not then continue asking 2 When we pray with some more then 2 Praying with boldnesse usual boldnesse and liberty of speech as sometimes in an awful and spiritual manner we are wondrous free to plead with God more then at other times now is faith stirring in such a Prayer 1 John 3. 21 22. Eph. 3. 12. 3 When we pray with a kind of delightful 3 Praying with heart calmness calmness and stilnesse of spirit not tossed like waves in prayer through the power of unbelief Jam. 1. 6. 4 When in setting our selves sometimes to pray to the Lord and petition him 4. Prayers turned into praises we are even ready to make a holy digression and diversion and turning our intended Petition into melting admiring praises of God as oft times spiritual Christians have experiences thereof surely then faith is stirring So Christ turning himselfe to approach to God John 11. 41 42. saith I thank thee Father that thou alwayes hearest me CHAP. V. Of Humility required in Prayer WE have entred upon the discourse of things propounded touching the conditions required for the incessant performance of the duty of prayer and have dispatched the first namely Faith And now we are to speak of the second condition thereto required and that is Humility It is the desire of the humble which the Lord heareth Psal 10. 17.
3 4. So the Church preferreth the praiers even of her young daughters not so well instructed as her self before her own in that Cant. 5. 8. And the Psalmist reckoneth the prayers of his fathers as far more excellent then his Psalm 22. 2 5 6. And the like did David in comparing his owne prayers with others Psal 34. 5 6. True it is Pride and Hypocrisie will counterfeit this as they that preferred Jeremiahs prayer before their owne and therefore so earnestly do seeme to desire it Jerem. 42. 2. and the proud false hearted Simon Magus doth the like in regard of Peters prayers Acts 8. 24. But this was but an extorted act wrested from horror of heart and others in a complemental way and for fashions sake or that they might seem to be humble persons may carry it thus too but it is not inwrought in their spirits Touching the second When humility Marks of humility in praier as saving in prayer may be called saving I answer first Negatively and then Affirmatively 1. Negatively 1 That expression of 1. Not to desire others praiers Humility is not alwayes saving when a person questioning the worth and validity of his own prayers doth desire the benefit of others prayers for then that act of Pharaoh in desiring Moses prayers and Jeroboam the Prophets prayers 1 King 13. 6 had been saving Nor 2. Is that alwayes saving when 2 Not in words to ascribe all our good to the Lord. one carryeth it so in prayer as ascribing all to the Lord in what good he partaketh of The unjustified Pharisee will in words attribute all to God that he is not as other men are Extortioner c. Luke 18. 10. 14. yet with a proud spirit disdaining others which in his esteem are not so good as himself 3. Not to be afraid to come before the Lord. Nor 3. Is that alwayes saving when one is fearful to come to God in prayer out of sense of great distance betwixt God and him as the slothful servant which durst not trade thus with God in prayer as well as otherwise Luke 19. 21. Or like him whom the fear of the Majesty Word Presence and Justice of God as a King striketh him speechlesse Matth. 22. 11. hee cannot dare not open his mouth to plead for his mercy Nor 4 Is that alwayes saving when any 4. Not meerly to make large confession of sin or mournful complaints to fast to be of dejected countenance to weep in praier prayer doth expresse several semblances of Humility as when any is large in confession of their sin as many of those that are brought in as confessing their sin in such a sort as Isaiah 59. 12 13. yet few or none of them savingly interceding and pleading with God in prayer hence that wonder that he found no Intercessour v. 16. or when any utter before the Lord many sad complaints of themselves and their misery and that in a mournful manner in their prayers in appearance they will roar like Beares and mourn sore as Doves as sundry of those did mentioned Isai 59. 11 16. and such like were many of them that did not savingly complain or bewail their sins albeit they did as Ezek. 7. 16. compared with the 17 18 19. and chap. 8. 18. Nor when persons set apart solemn dayes and that frequently for a more seemingly humble seeking of God in prayer as that proud Pharisee and unjustified person did fast twice a week Luke 18. 12. Nor when sad countenances and dejected looks are adjoyned in such solemne times of prayer There is an hypocritical affected sadnesse of countenance charged upon those false hearted professors in their dayes of fasting and praier forbidden to sincere ones Matth. 6. 16. No nor when teares and weepings are joyned to such prayers are they alwayes expressions of saving humility therein required albeit some of those were sincere yet surely some of that people which wept so sore upon that confession of sins made Ezra 10. 1. and in that solemn time wherein all Israel were gathered to Mispeh to pray 1 Sam. 7. 5 and there even poured out waters so abundantly did they weep on that fast day ver 6. were not sincere therein but many of them did it from common principles and not saving 2. I answer Affirmatively Humility expressed in prayer is then saving 1. When a gracious Christian abaseth But 1. Self abasement in prayer himselfe in prayer and is not meerly abased when he is a stirring agent by the lively power of the graces of God in him to abase himself he useth meanes layeth many Arguments together for that purpose and is not barely a Patient therein Thus did the Publican in his prayer he smote on his brest and that not to seem to be humbled but as one outward help to himself to be abased Luk. 18. 13. Hence the conclusion of Christ in ference to the humble manner of seeking of Gods face He that humbleth himself shall be exalted The Pharisee he layeth all such materials together in his prayer ver 11 12. as did rather tend to lift up his spirit which was high enough in it self and needed not such stirrups When humility is wrought in prayer as out of the fire yea gained out of much contrary opposition a Christian finding his heart senseless unaffected and unbroken he taketh such pains with his heart in prayer and wrestles so with God and his own spirit that it relenteth and melteth and falleth before God Thus did those of Ephraim they cease not bemoaning themselves and charging their stiffneckednesse and unbrokennesse so deeply upon themselves and pressing the Lord for a more serious and through bringing of their hearts to a relenting repenting frame Jerem. 31. 18. whilst that they prevail with God and their owne soules and are more throughly abased ashamed and confounded in their own sight before the Lord v. 19. 2 When a Christian is in a holy wise ashamed 2. Inward holy shame even to look God in the face before God in prayer even so much as to look him in the face That humble Publican that was so ashamed in his prayer in the sense of his extreme vileness and unworthinesse in himself he is justified Luke 18. 13 14. he thought earth and hell below were more sutable to his case and deserts and the judgement of God there and thence looketh downe thitherwards then heavens glory and grace Thus that precious Suppliant Ezra in his prayer professeth he was ashamed and blusheth to lift up his face to heaven Ezra 9. 6. Thus the Publican and converted Prodigall he is even ashamed to owne the name of a sonne to be called or be as an hired servant is too good for him he thinketh and speaketh so in his prayer Luke 15. 19. The woman that came to Christ she is even ashamed to come before him to behold his blessed countenance but standeth behind him Luke 7. 38. And she sped well in the desire of her
soul for the comfortable manifestation of her pardon shee secretly sought for Saith Christ verse 48 50. Thy faith hath made thee whole 3. When a man in or upon his prayer 3 A holy awe in and after prayer is affected and awed with much holy trembling thus that humble Suppliant in Luke 18. 13. He is even afraid to lift up his eyes to heaven durst not doe it such awfull rayes in the glorious purity majesty and excellency of the Lord did he behold by an eye of faith and he is justified therein verse 14. That godly Prophet in his Prayer Hab. 3. 1 2. and in the mention of divers things touching God his providence and proceedings his belly he saith trembled and rottennesse entered into his bones verse 17. Thence that believing Centurion after hee had sent to Christ to intreat his gracious presence and coming for the help of his servant as in a holy wise jealous of himself and what he had done whether he so unworthy an one had not made too bold with the Lord Jesus to desire him to come under his roofe he sendeth a second message therein professing his unworthinesse that Christ should condescend so far to the desire of so unworthy an one as he judged himself to be Luke 7. 3. compared with verse 6 7. 4. When a man in prayer is much in begging pardon of sinne and the reconciliation 4 Greatest earnestnesse in begging pardon of sin the benefit of Christs righteousnesse c. of his soul to God in Jesus Christ Thus the Publican justified in that way of prayer mentioned Luke 18. the maine and in a manner only matter of his desires was that God would be propitious to him a sinner for so the Greek word signifies or be reconciled to him and have mercy on him in covering all his sinnes in Christ the favour and mercy of God in Christ Jesus as a propitiation for sinnes is all in all with him When a child of God is in great afflictions of outward as well as inward man yet the favourable remembrances and mercifull respects of Christ to a poore converted sinner even in tortures it is all in all The converted thiefe desireth not to be saved or exempted from any justly deserved censures of God or man but onely favour with Jesus Christ Luke 23. 39 41 42. The other wretch was all for his owne ease and for to continue in the world he careth not for the favour of Christ as sometimes the Psalmist did Psal 63. 1 3. The loving kindnesse of God in any condition is better then life to live in the love and favour of Christ is more then ten thousand lives to him yea so the Lord will be mercifull to him in the maine of his soule hee careth not what becomes of his bodily life when called to sacrifice the same An humble child that cryeth out when he is whipped yet careth more for his fathers favour then is troubled about his whipping 5. When a Suppliant of God doth not propound to him in his prayer matters too 5 Praising of the least degrees or portion of mercy high for him things that are above his reach or his measure or his condition or his calling or the present necessity whereof he is sensible but he will bee glad of smallest mercy childrens crummes yea such as are to others refuse despicable blessings are in high esteeme with him in his desires crummes that fall from the childrens table she craveth in Matth. 15. 26. and is accepted and approved in the manner of her praying verse 28. Some children it may bee will scorne to have onely bread for their food in the fathers house but the humble Prodigal in his penitent motion which hee meaneth to make to his father will bee glad of that yea of the coursest of the houshold bread and fare in the house hirelings bread yea hee would bee glad to have of the refuse and leavings and spare even of hirelings bread Luke 15. 17. Make mee as one of thy hired servants namely in their allowances as well as services as one of them albeit as the meanest kitchin-boy as it were the poorest most despised cutter of wood and drawer of water c. Beggers ask but a piece of dry-bread a cup of small beer or water any old cast clothes and the like mercies and blessings in God his house which others it may be account too slightly of these humble suppliants wil highly prize and earnestly crave of the Lord and whatsoever they press after in spiritual blessings in Christ yet in temporals they use to be very modest neither poverty nor riches but Lechem Chukki the bread of his portion dimension that is the matter of humble Agars prayer Prov. 30. 7 8. So Jacob if God or prayer-wise O that God would give mee bread to eat and raiment to put on Gen 28. 20. In spirituals indeed they are still more needy and craving hunger and thirst after righteousnesse that is their most ordinary usual and continual daily desire like hunger and thirst the ordinary and daily affections in the body Matth. 5. 6. 6. When a Christian amidst all vilifiings of himselfe in prayer is ready to exalt 6 An acknowledgement of greatest love in smallest mercies the Lord and to acknowledge much love and mercy of God even in the smallest fruits and benefits thereof whatsoever stout vagrants and bedlams doe which will disdainfully cast scraps at their feet yet poore hunger-bitten beggers will not doe so but be very thankfull for smallest courtesies So it is here the guiding of a faithfull Eleazar in his way will make him bow his head in way of thankfulnesse to the Lord that so graciously answered his prayer therein Gen. 24. 48. O how will Gods humble Suppliants exalt and magnifie the Lord for blessings of a meaner nature even temporal as well as spiritual blessings as David for promised blessings to his house cryeth out who am I and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto 2 Sam. 7. 18 c. and 1 Chron. 24. 11 12 13 15 16. Hee exceedingly amplifieth the kindnesse of God to him and his people even in regard of temporall blessings hee wonders at the greatnesse of God his mercy to him and them even therein ibidem verse 14 15. And when such of God his Suppliants doe not fare so well at the doore of mercy as they could desire and as sometimes they have done yet they will not goe away muttering but even then will speake well of God and grace and mercy and the covenant and way of God c. The Psalmist in Ps 89. 49. cryeth out Lord where are thy former loving kindnesses yet concludeth verse 52. thankfully notwithstanding all the sad passages of providence before mentioned Blessed be the Lord for evermore Amen and Amen 7 When a Suppliant having prayed pathetically 7 Looking through all our meltings unto meere Grace for the successe with much fervency and brokennesse of heart
yet as one which seeth the emptinesse of his prayer even at the best he goeth out of that resteth not therein but as if he had not prayed in such sort he runneth to the Name of the Lord he looketh for nothing but from the rich and free grace of God in the Lord Jesus as Daniel Ch. 9. 3. 4. He is at it with God in such like humble prostrating his souls desires to him but in the close professeth the supplicaons which were presented though with much brokennesse of heart doubtlesse yet were not for any righteousnesse of their own whether of person or performances or prayers but for his mercies sake v. 18. And v. 17. desireth audience for the Lord sake for Christs sake And ver 19. for his name sake so Ezra albeit he had been weeping and casting himself down before God in praier Ch. 10. 1. yet ch 9. last he concludeth that he and the people in respect of themselves are before God in their trespasses and cannot stand before him by reason of the breach of covenant with God which he had then bewayled verse 14. Now touching the third thing propounded Humility required in prayer Because 1 Humble prayers speed best why this humility in prayer is required I answer briefly 1. Because prayers put up in and with such humility they doe ever speed best Mark 7. 29. For this saying go thy waies the divell is gone out of thy daughter for what saying namely that verse 26. wherein she taketh the name of a dog so quietly and meekly craveth the very portion of dogs in a manner the mercies slighted by the children The Lord will not look at what the proud bring to him but hath respect to the lowly to strengthen them with grace and peace in their soules Psal 138. 3. 6. to perfect all that concerns them verse 8. The lowly strangers see how the Lord welcomes them in prayer Isai 56. ver 6 7. The penitent Prodigall that speaks in such a vilifying way of himselfe to God his father Luke 15. 18 19. sees how royally and richly he is entertained by the Lord like as by that father verse 22 23. the costliest robes of grace and delicatest of mercy in Christ are readily brought forth to such greatest mercies are granted to such as pardon of sinne and the like Luke 18. 13 14. Yea in such a lively and convincing manner exhibited as that they shall carry it home with them the sight and light thereof shall stick by them he went home justified they shall in a holy triumphant wise carry home the garland of grace and peace for which they wrestled with God in praier wheras in defect of Humility no praiers nor tears of a proud Esau shal avail Heb. 12. 17. The Pharisees repair so diligently to pray to the temple is to little purpose whilst he doth not humble but rather exalt himself therein Luke 18. 10 14. God will not approve of any such mens persons or praiers and such a non-justified estate is a sad abasing of such ibid. as the gracious acceptance of the persons and prayers of humble ones in Christ Jesus is an high degree of honour and exalting to them 2. Because the servants of God are 2 Then are humble ones themselves never more themselves as such then when humble in a way of seeking the face of God When the converted Prodigall and Publican cometh to rights to himselfe then in that frame hee betaketh himselfe to this work Luke 15. 17 18 19. Assuredly penitent dispositions work then strongly zeal and holy indignation against sinne and our selves for it are then stirring then is faith and love doubtlesse active and putting forth themselves in our soules 3. Because an humble frame of heart 3 It putteth most honour upon God and Christ in prayer putteth most honour upon God and Christ and mercy and grace as all in all Agaâ— in that frame thinketh that it will put the largest heads and ripest wits in the world to it to conceive or express the glory of God in Christ Proverb 30. 2 3. compared with the 4 â—h And he wil magnifie the purity perfection and stability of his word verse 5. see verse 1 7 8 9. Asaph when in that frame of heart Psal 73. 22. then who but the Lord of heaven and earth with him and in his desire verse 25. and if such a poor soule get any mercy by praier of all others hee will use it best and give God the most glory of it and for it as might be shewed in divers instances 4 Because such a kind of spirit in 1. It fitteth us most for mercy prayer it doth fit us most for the mercies of prayer Hence it is compared to hunger which as it is good sawce to the body and prepareth it well for its meat so doth it fit the soul for its desired food of grace and mercy Hence is that opposition Luke 1. 53. betwixt the hungry and the rich and yet rich is rather opposed to poor because indeed the poorest in spirit the beggars in spirit are the most hungry Look as the emptying of a vessel fitteth it for being filled with precious liquor so humility by emptying the heart of all self-strength self-confidence self-sufficiency self-righteousnesse self-willednesse and self-conceit it fitteth the soul in prayer for what it doth pray for The heart of the humble is a prepared heart as to pray to God so likewise to receive and improve the mercies which it seeketh in prayer such an one is most flexible and ready both to use the best means to obtain the mercies desired and to walk worthy of them when obtained So Job 7. 20. I have sinned what shall I do to thee O thou Preserver of men As touching the last thing propounded Helps to humility in prayer namely What Helps and Means we should use to further such Humility required in prayer I answer 1. Set faith on work as we shewed at 1. Faith in the Lord. large the last Lecture Faith in Gods Promise and Providence made David pray so humbly as one not worthy to speak more to God or receive more from him 2 Sam. 7. 18 19 27. That made the Prodigal to throw down himself in such sort and humbly to seek his fathers favour considering in him a fathers bowels yea which possibly might move towards him he is apprehensive likewise that he hath all hee needeth and that moveth and furthereth him therein Luke 15. 17 18 19. So it is here the Publicans faith in that propitiatory merit and mercy causeth him so to speak as Luke 18. 13. It was faith that set the woman a begging in that humble and lowly as well as earnest manner Matth. 15. 26 27 28 The faith of that woman was the instrumental meanes of her salvation Luke 7. 50. that was the means of that her silent humble approach to the Lord ver 38. It is faith which taketh a true measure both of God and of
c. Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously c. chap. 2. 12 saith I will stand upon my Watch-Tower and will watch to see what he will say unto me He will use all pains patience and vigilancy to observe the issue of his requests and verse 2 he hath some answers The Lord said unto me Write the Vision c. verse 3 The vision is yet for an appointed time though it tarry wait for it and verily sooner or later faithful prayers do speed Isai 45. 19. I said not to the seed of Jacob Seek my face in vain Psalm 85. 8. I will hearken what God the Lord will speak for hee will speak peace to his Saints Micah 7. 7. I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will bear me God hath wisely appointed hearing times when answers are most sutable and grateful to his Saints and honourable to him and to his Grace therefore we may well attend the same Psalm 5. 3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning that is seasonably and in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will â—ook up None are Iosers by being the Lords waiting men or women The expectation of the poor shall not perish or fail for ever Psal 9. 18. 3 In that such watching and waiting 3. It s a sign of mercy towards us and of grace in us after our prayers it is a comfortable pledg of Mercy to us and Grace in us Answers of prayer are assuredly neer us when wee have hearts to wait for them earnestly and attentively Habakkuk standeth and sitteth not long upon his Watch-Tower is not long in that waiting posture without his answer as before shewed from Hab. 2. 12 13. The speaking Vision will come if we wait for it and they only whose faith telleth them that God will hear and will speak peace to his Saints they hearken they wait for him Micah 7. 7. Psalm 85. 8. It is a sign that we do truly and fensibly feel the pinching wants of mercy and that the desires of grace have some strength as well as truth in them when we are so industriously heedful and attentive in listning for answers of prayer they come not idling to mercies doors or as men who have no weighty soul businesses to dispatch for them well they might stay there as men do in a formal course of prayer but they would not wait Waiting Christians make not light of their prayers but look at them as precious in that they in such sort look after their returnes and the answers of such Messengers 4. In their answers of prayer which by this holy watch are met withall and 4. It s many wayes helpful to us in our praises faith and courage observed They are of all others most precious and useful to us they greatly inlarge to praise God and walk worthy of him Continue in prayer watching therein with thanksgiving Col. 4. 2. Who more thankful then such watching Suppliants who observe how and wherein God hath heard them Psalm 22. 24. When the afflicted cryed to him he heard verse 25. My praise shal be of thee and Psalm 116. 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice c. Answers of prayer heeded and observed greatly strengthen and arm a gracious person against Satans wily cavils and rebukes Hab. 2. 1. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I shall answer when I am reproved It s pity to see how many precious soules which out of ignorance or mindlesnesse of this duty of Watching or out of improvidence and negligence in oft reading over these lines of Gods love written and sent in are foiled in temptations Answers of prayer attentively observed they strengthen our faith for the future and much encourage us to pray in greatest straits and saddest hours Psalm 6. 9. The Lord hath heard my Supplication the Lord will hear my prayer Psalm 118. 56. I called upon the Lord in distresse and he answered me the Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me When we look not after our prayers both we and others also lose much of the benefit thereof Answers of Prayer are in Gods intent of publick use God spake with us say they when yet he spake with wrestling Jacob Hos 12. 4. Gods hearing of the prayer of the destitute concerneth all others in like case Psalm 102. 17 18. He will regard the prayer of the destitute ver 18 This shall be written for the generation to come Much sadder would the case of many an afflicted soul have been if godly David and others had not been watchful had not observed and by the Spirits guidance had not recorded the varieties of their prayer cases carriages conflicts comforts answers and issues 5 In that its the part of the more wise 5. It s our wisdom means of increase of experimental knowledge and judicious of the Saints so to do and that by doing whereof they grow most in experimental knowledg of the Lords giving As the wisest men with men are those that take most heedful observations of the carriages and issues of humane Transactions so are they the wisest and experimental knowing Christians who most attentively mind these holy Transactions betwixt them and God and God and them Hence the Psalmist among other passages speaking of manifold answers of prayer in Psal 107. 6. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he delivereth them so ver 13 19 28. he closeth the Psalm with this Who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. To conclude we would have God to mind our prayers and desires of answers wherefore look that we heed our answer of praiers if worth the waiting for Prov. 13. 12. When the desire cometh it is a tree of life Harvest answers of seed prayers will fully recompence our pains and patience and therefore as other seeds-men we may well wait for the precious fruit thereof Now for the third thing propounded Helps to such holy watching The Helps of such holy Watching are 1. Sobriety which is joyned to prayer 1. Sobriety watchfulness 1 Pet. 4. 7. Be sober and watch unto prayer Spiritual drunkards distempered persons with Lusts they regard not what they say even to God himself Such as are most moderate and mortified in their thoughts about common matters here below have little else to mind then their souls how they prosper in their holy converse and commerce with the Lord. 2. Bodily watchfulness both are aimed 2. Bodily watchfulnesse at under that Mat. 26. 40 41. Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation The eyes of the mind are hardly watching when the eyes of the body are scarce waking Now for this end use seasonable hours for prayer neither too early nor too late 3. An heavenly frame of spirit Angels are 3. An heavenvenly frame very vigilant Mat.
the unregenerate Jew and Gentile to bee under sin Rom. 3 9. he proveth it ver 11. by this out of Psalm 14. 2. There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God And Psal 14. 4. The workers of iniquity have it charged upon their very consciences as that which they cannot but know to be their sin that they call not upon God Do not the workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people as bread They call not upon God and Psal 10. 4. It s charged as the pride of the wicked The wicked is so proud that he seeketh not God The like charge see Jer. 10. 21. Hos 7. 7. Zeph. 1. 6. and Job 27. 10. The hypocrite that is blamed for ceasing to call upon God Will he alwayes call vpon God should rather have been blamed for calling upon God at all if it had not been any duty of his to pray To like purpose we might argue That the neglect of it by the Unregenerate as well as Regenerate Jewes is bewayled by Daniel as their sin ergo the contrary was their Duty Dan. 9. 13. All this is come upon us yet made we not our prayer to God Besides also if it had not been in it self good and a duty even for an Unregenerate person to pray but had been in it selfe sinful the Psalmist never need to have made that Imprecation against him in Psal 109. 7. Let his prayer be turned into sin Besides the Psalmist would never have urged God so to affright and persecute his enemies by his judgments that they might at length be forced to seek his name if it had been in it self sinful Psal 83. 15 16. Obj. Prov. 15. 8. The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Answ So is the Plowing of the wicked sin Prov. 21. 4. Not simply in themselvs for then an unregenerate man should not plow nor labour in his Calling yea he should not eat his meat nor sleep c. For to the impure and unbelieving is nothing pure Titus 1. 15 16. But it is so in respect of the defects of other qualifications required to the holy use and exercise of such things namely want of faith love to God repentance for sin c. Their Sacrifices were an abomination to the Lord Isaiah 1. 11 12 13 14 15. yet in themselves commanded duties and enjoyned to every Jew whether he were Unregenerate or Regenerate God once inabled Adam and in him all his posterity to call upon him and though hee and we in him are become Bankrupts and disabled to do that service and homage yet our Lord and Master may and doth require it of us and accounteth it our sin to neglect it It is every ones duty to understand and so to believee in God as well as to seek him but the omission of that Duty of understanding and believing God hindereth not but that the omission of that other duty of seeking God becometh a sin to every one Rom. 3. 9. 11. 2. An Unregenerate man may be strongly and largely carryed out in prayer as it s Unregenerate persons may be large in prayers said of them Psal 78. 36 37. who did but flatter God with their mouth for their heart was not right with him They sought God early ver 34. namely when he slew them when they were in fear of their lives So may profane Mariners be very earnest in prayer then Psal 107. 28. Cry unto the Lord. So Prov. 1. 27 28. When your fear cometh c. then shall you seek me early but shall not find me Those in Isai 58. 2 3. they joyned long and large prayers with their Fasts An hypocritical Pharisee could not spend his time in his Fasting dayes unlesse enlarged in prayer Matth. 6. 16. Those hypocrites that devoured widowes houses they had such a gift in prayer that they could be very large and long in prayers Matth. 23. 14. And for a pretence make long prayers 3 Unregenerate persons may bee full of praising and thankful expressions in their They may be large in praising God prayers The unjustified Pharisees prayer was rather a Thanksgiving Luke 18. 10 11 He prayed thus God I thank thee I am not as other men c. Those unregenerate ones among the Jewes also which cryed so earnestly Exod. 14. 10. they did sing as loud as Moses and Aaron Psal 106. 12 13. Then believed they his words and sang praises to him but not rightly for verse 13 but incontinently they forgat his works and waited not for his counsel verse 15. They lusted in the wildernesse and tempted God in the Desert of whom the Apostle speaketh 1 Cor. 10. 9. Onely lest what is now said may raise some doubt in the hearts of any truly Regenerate the example of the Differences betwixt the thanksgivings of the Unregenerate and those of the Regenerate Pharisees thankful Prayer will yeild matter of distinction and differencing of the Unregenerate person in his praises from the Regenerate 1 The Unregenerate person in his thanksgiving before God pretending to lift up God in his praises doth intend to lift up or exalt himself Hence Christ who knew the spirit of this Pharisee in his praises of God rendreth him thus Luke 18. 14. Whosoever exalteth himself 2 The main in their eyes and so in their thanks is some inherent excellency not those imputed mercies not Christ and his Righteousnesse and propitiation and the pardon of sin Gods favour acceptance c. No word of these in the Pharisees thanks but that I am not as others unjust I fast I pay Tithes c. They are the Saints whose hearts being most affected with those mercies do break out into cordial praiers for them 3 Such men use to rest in some common eminencies and excellencies above others The Pharisee passeth others he is not as other men and that sufficeth him no word of a serious petition for the supply of such or such wants of this or that grace or for the increase thereof or for the subduing of such or such corruptions Hee grounds his rejoycing upon anothers falling short of him upon others falls into such sins from which he is restrained as Gal. 6. 4. He shall have rejoicing in himself and not in another 4 Such men respect more the gift then the Giver and trust more in that then in him They trust in themselves that they are righteous when they say God we thank thee Luke 18. 9 11. compared They make the gifts their God and they adore and admire the Giver onely for the gifts sake and do not admire the gifts for the Givers sake as true Converts and Spouse like spirits use to do but harlot like they do otherwise 5 Such men are very ambitious in their thankful acknowledgments They make Gods praises but as a stirrup to get up into mens esteemes and as a bridg by which to convey to themselves humane praises Hence this Temple acknowledgement and in the most conspicuous
place of it 6. Such men will in the midst of their thanksgivings be with heart and mouth too sometimes censuring and putting contempt upon others falling short as they conceive of their excellencies yea albeit those others be better men then themselvs as this gracious Publicane was then the Pharisee so saith this seemingly thankful Pharisee God I thank thee I am not as this Publicane not such a varlet not such a wretch c. 3. Unregenerate men may be carryed out with some faith as well as fervency in their praiers As Luke 17. 12 13 14 3 They may pray with some kind of faith 15 17. The nine as well as the tenth who was truly gracious cry as loud as he and believe as strongly upon the word of Christ as he that the Lord Jesus had granted their request of healing and goe a great way to Jerusalem as men already cured to shew themselves to the Priest as the manner then was when yet they were not then actually cured they set forward in the journey upon that errand upon confidence of Christs word as if they had been cured at the very instant wherein he spake and yet not at that very instant but afterward even as they journeied towards Jerusalem from that part of Samaria were they actually cured As an unregenerate man one who hath not love may have the gift of the faith of miracles so as to remove mountaines 1 Cor. 13. 2. So may they exercise that faith in such a way expecting answers of prayer in cases of wonder They that cast out devils did it by invocation upon the name of the Lord accompanied with such â— faith for hearing them and helping them Mat. 7. 22. And in thy name cast out devils And as an unregenerate man may have that common temporary faith believe for a time Luke 8. 13. So may he for such a time act such a faith in prayer or the like albeit it be in matters onely of a common nature and not such as are properly saving as for clearing up pardon of sins subduing secret corruptions sanctifying of afflictions an holy rescue or issue from temptations or the like Touching the third thing propounded God may be said in some sense to heare their prayers praying with others I say God may in some sort and in some cases heare unregenerate mens prayers both such prayers as they put up to the Lord with others or by themselves alone Prayers put up by them with others may be heard in a saving way and manner by the Lord albeit not in a saving manner to themselves yet in a saving way to the Saints which joyne with them in the praiers which they put up Matthew chap. 3. 5 6 saith the Centurion came unto Christ beseeching him to heale his servant but Luke 7. 3 4 5. expoundeth it that he sent to the Elders of the Jewes to beseech Christ to doe it He joyned with them in the request it was his but it was presented by those proud hypocritical and unregenerate Elders who breathed none of the Centurions faith or humility as appears by their plea with Christ from the Centurions worthiness saying that he waâ— worthy that he should do this for him yet thâ— Lord Jesus heard graciously answered thâ— good Centurions hearty desire consenteâ— to the substance of the prayer They that presented the poore palsie man to Christ with a tacit desire of cure he had some oâ— them at least a faith of miracles for his cure but the man himself no doubt had a further desire even of his souls cure with the pardon of his sins and when Jesus saw their faith Mark 2. 5. he saith to the sick of the palsie as Matthew hath it chap. 9. Sonne be of good cheare thy sins be forgiven the mans grievous disease might trouble his freinds but this was his greatest trouble in the want of pardon of sins and his desire and faith was accordingly carried out and this soul mercy of his pardon and peace is given in as an answer in common to them all When he saw their faith he saith to the palsie man Son thy sins be forgiven thee Abiathar who proved a treacherous and bad man 1 Kings 2. 26. yet if he made inquiry of God for his counsel about distressed David 1 Sam. 30. 7 8. or about David in a strait 2 Sam 2. 1. God giveth a gracious answer for David who by him seeketh unto the Lord for his counsell and surely the desires of saith are acceptable to God and successefull whether expressed in others prayers wherein believers joyne or in their owne alone Psalm 145 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him The fruit of no one ordinance of God doth depend meerly and onely upon the worthinesse and goodnesse of such as chiefly act in it Christ authourised the twelve Disciples and Judas among the rest to preach the Gospel Matth. 10 4. 7. And so as that if they came to worthy ones humble soules ready to receive their doctrine their peace was to come upon them verse 13. If the house be worthy let your ptace come upon it even all kind of blisse to their souls also which you petition for in your prayers and hold forth in your preaching that shall come upon it Let the Preacher be unworthy himselfe yet if the hearers be worthy their peace cometh on them The Gospel and Gospel-ordinances are the power of God to salvation to the believing hearer and partaker be the Minister regenerate or unregenerate The cup in the Lords Supper is the Communion of the blood of Christ to the worthy receiver be the Minister whom the people called to dispense the same to them regenerate or unregenerate 1 Cor. 10. 16. and so in praier Gods compassions are to his peoples miseries for redresse whereof the prayer is made be the man that is the mouth of the people therein Godly or ungodly Notable is that example of wicked Jehonhaz 2 Kings 13. 4. Jehoahaz besought the Lord and the Lord heard him for he saw the trouble of Israel wherewith the King of Aram troubled them Nor would God ever shew such respect to prayers put up by unregenerate persons in behalfe of his people or any of them if it were as some say a sin to joyne with an unregenerate Minister Parent Master Husband c. in their prayer And since every Hypocrite how godly soever he is taken to be by the most judicious Christians yet he is an unregenerate person if an hypocrite and since he that we judge to be truly godly yet it s very possible he may be an hypocrite we cannot bee infallibly sure in any ordinary way of anothers saving estate but onely in the judgement of charity we may esteeme such or such a one truly godly so that if we sinne if we joyne in prayer with an unregenerate person we cannot assure our selves but that we sin in joyning with any other at all because we cannot ordinarily bee
so assured that another with whom we would pray is regenerrte and so a man must now turne an absolute separatist indeed As for other praiers which do more personally Praying by themselves also respect themselves and are uttered by themselves albeit the parties be unregenerate yet the Lord may heare the same the Lord as a Master grants the request of that hypocritical servant though not as a Father Matth. 18. 26 17. and verse 32. O thou wicked servant I forgave thee the debt because thou prayedst me c. So those rude They are then heard mariners crying in distresse are heard of the Lord. Psal 107. 28. So was mocking Ishmael heard in his cry Gen. 21. 17. God may and doth put forth wonderfull workes for persons which cry to him as they are the children of men albeit not as the children of God many of them Psal 107. 15 21 31. O that men would praise him for his wonderful works which he doth for the children of men Though those that sought him when hee slew them had not hearts right with God Psal 78. 34 36 37. compared yet he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity i. e. as to the punishment deserved by it even utter ruine he passed over that he destroyed them not utterly verse 38. God liketh also to owne the righteous causes even of unrighteous persons and to set himselfe against their affliction Job 34. 27 28. They have caused the cry of the poore to come to him and he hath heard their cry So Exod. 22. 22 23. Though many of the children of Abraham of Isaak and Jacob in Egypts bondage were themselves unregenerate yet they crying also were heard out of respect to their godly Ancestors and the covenant of God made with them Exod. 6. 5. I have heard the groanings of the children of Israel and have remembred my covenant Sometimes God heareth such persons prayers the rather that they may afterwards bee instruments of his peoples good and sometimes that he might the rather incourage all sorts to pray to him Psal 65. 2. O thou that hearest prayers to thee shall all flesh come Sometimes the persons at present unregenerate yet are elect and God in hearing them will look to his owne thoughts of prayer which hee hath towards them and so will be found of those which sought him not aright But in case the parties bee reprobates what hearing God doth afford to any prayers of theirs It is first in common things and such which at least are not properly In common not in things properly saving saving mercies unto them for so God heareth not sinners if any object that evil servants pardon granted upon his request Matth. 18. 32. I answer the Master forgave him the debt not simply but in respect of the consequent vassalage and imprisonment presently deserved by it Matth. 18. 25. or as some interpret the place to be spoken in reference onely to the maine intent of Christ that if a man forgive not his neighbour offending and begging his mercy God will never communicate to him any saving benefit of his mercy in Christ An implacable spirited Christian is at present in a state of damnation 2. The hearing which the Lord doth By God as a Master not as a Father lend to such is from his general providence and pity and rather as a Soveraigne and Master then from any particular grace and as a Father for so he heareth not sinners yea he heareth them rather to leave them without excuse and to take a fuller blow at them afterwards as in the case of that evill servant Matthew 18. the end 3. The Lord useth not to give any sutable They receive not Grace answerable grace as the success of their prayers so he heareth onely Saints and not sinners especially reprobates he changed not the servants heart with his condition Mat. 18. nor theirs Psal 78. 37 38 39. 4. God sometimes heareth them in They are heard in wrath displeasure and anger Hosea 13. 10 11. I gave them a king in mine anger Psal 106. 15. He gave them their desire but sent leannesse into their soule their soule is blasted they were hardned in pride and security thereby and the thing it selfe given is blasted to them in the use of it becoming a snare and vanity and in the deprivall of it vexation of spirit CHAP. II. Touching Distractions in Prayer VVE are now to proceed to other cases of Conscience arising in the incessant carrying on of the weighty duty of prayer The second case now to be handled is touching Distractions or Impertinent thoughts and workings of spirit which disturb and molest us in prayer wherein demand will be made of three things Touching 1 The Causes 2 The Cure Quest or remedy thereof 3 The successe of such prayers wherein such distractions are found Touching the first we say the causes General causes of distractions in prayer of such distractions are either such as are more generall or more particular The more general causes are two 1. Satan that enemy to prayer the Authour of all confusion and so of this confusion Satan of the spirit in prayer that fowle who stealeth away what is spoken to the heart by God in the word he is as busie to steal away the good motions of the spirit stirring us up to speak to God in prayer Satan is at hand to tempt when we are in hand with prayer If we will draw near to God in prayer we may expect the tempter to approach some way or other to disturb us by some sinister subtle suggestions or other Wee must resist the devil in such like distracting motions when we are drawing nigh to God Jam. 4. 7. Resist the devil and he will flee from you And verse 8. Draw near to God c. If wee will pray with all manner of prayer we had need be armed against such like wily assaults of Satan which tend to annoy us therin Eph. 6. 11 18. compared Look as Act. 16. 16 17 18. still when the Apostle and his company were to go to prayer the devil in his instrument the maid possessed maketh a disturbance with her impertinent speeches so is it here if the devil can help it some thing or other shall be set on work to breed distraction or occasion disturbance to us in prayer or he himselfe will be suggesting something to molest us 2. The unregenerate part of man When 2 The unregenerate part in man at any time we should doe any good whether it be to pray or the like evil will bee present with us as he complained Rom. 7. 21. When I would do good evil is present with me that sink of natural corruption will then especially cast out its unsavory smels when so raked into by holy humble acknowledgments and deprecations this dunghill will then be sending out his vapours even when the heart is heated and warmed in prayer by the spirit when a commanding power of
our selves and thereby furthereth such humility 2 Get our hearts filled with love to the Lord. Love is a stooping grace it will 2. Love to the Lord. make a Christian think meanly of all he saith or doth in behalf of Christ whom he loveth that he never speaketh nor doth enough for him Love will make a man amplifie his worth and excellency and glory and even be speaking well even the best of him and that wil surely make him carry it submissively to him as very loath to displease or dishonor him and when at any time a Christian wrongeth or offendeth the Lord Oh how will love occasion self-loathing and displeasure and distaste and trouble for it The Lord Jesus in giving that answer in that poor womans hearing Luke 7. 47. Her sins which are many are forgiven her for she loved much sheweth that love also set her on work in such humble and melting sort to expresse the secret desires of her soul unto him touching the conserving and clearing of her Justification ver 38. 3 Be we sincere in heart in our prayers 3. Sincerity which we make The sincere hearted Publican will humble himself in seeking of Gods favour by prayer when the leaven of hypocrisie will heave and puff up that Pharisee whilst he is praying Luke 18. Sincerity will make us in prayer speak all freely and ingenuously on the part of God and Christ in way of good and on our own part in way of our evil and emptiness it will make men of yeilding and flexible tempers and cause persons to be open and plain hearted with the Lord and that they shall not refuse or be unwilling to take any shame before God 4 Improve we the thoughts and serious 4. Thoughts of our need and Gods greatnes considerations of our needy conditions as likewise of the greatnesse of God The Saints are stiled such as are beggers in spirit Matth. 5 3. hungry ver 6. Luke 1. 53 Destitute ones Psal 102. 17. such as whose best habilements are rags Isaiah 64. 6. Clay vessels the Lord our potter ver 8. Dust Gen. 18. 27. and such like the consideration whereof kept those Saints of God as Abraham and the rest humble in their praiers When we look at this ragged condition of ours it will make us remember our selves and keep us humble in our Supplications 5 Spread we much our own and Ancestors 5. Thoughts of our Ancestors sins sins before the Lord when we are to pray And thus did Daniel chap. 9. thus did Ezra chap. 9. The very serious mention and meditation of an offence of a child of God against his Father will make a Regenerate nature begin to work and then will issue such holy blushes in the face of an ingenious Christian If through the wily slights of Satan and our deceitful hearts we should begin to gaze on our goodly feathers and have some risings of spirit in way of pride yet at the sight of this black foot of ours we should then assuredly fall in our spirits 6 Take we all holy advantages of such 6. Taking advantage of melting workings in our selves melting weeping plights in which we are sometimes above others Davids heart being in that humble plight upon occasion of a good word of the Prophet sent to him from God then David goeth in and prayeth and then he carryeth it so humbly 2 Sam. 7. 18 19 c. When Ezra upon the hearing of the evils among them was put into that abased frame Ezra 9. 3. then he falleth into that humble sort to pray before the Lord ver 5 6. c. So whilst Nehemiahs heart was even broken at the present hearing of the sad newes he forthwith setteth himself in solemn wise to pray and weep before the Lord Nehem. 1. 2 3. compared with verse 4 5. c. Albeit such melting desires and inclinations should haply be raised from other causes or spiritual miseries yet being stirring already they may the better be spiritualized There are times when we are so strangely stupified that scarce any thing will affect us but when affected seriously with any thing it is an advantrge if improved wisely to turn such waters the sluces being now opened into the right channel 7 In our secret approaches to the Lord 7. Premeditation spend some time in serious premeditations it will help to put us into a more serious frame of spirit and that is the next neighbour to an humble and sensible plight It will add plummets to fleety lofty spirits especially if we seriously consider of his Majesty and Soveraignty before whom wee come surely that will help to bring us on our knees The sight of the Kings Colours will doubtlesse make all but some presumptuous carelesse stout spirits to lower their sails even when they are going on full sail'd in prayer CHAP. VI. Of Sincerity required in Prayer HAving spoken in part of the third general thing propounded touching the conditions required to the incessant practice of this Duty of Prayer and therein handled two of those conditions required namely Faith and Humility we come now to a third namely Sincerity or Purity or Integrity The approved Suppliants are such as call upon God out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. such as call upon him in Truth Psal 145. 18. The prayer of the upright is a delight to the Lord Prov. 15. 8. Prayer that is pure Job 16. 17. For our better handling of this Requisite to prayer consider we 1 Wherein this Purity Integrity and Sincerity required in prayer doth consist 2 Why the Lord requireth it 3 What are the Marks of it 4 What Meanes and Helps there are to it 5 And lastly what Motives may stir us up to indeavour it To the first we answer That such Sincerity consisteth in these six or seven Sincerity consisteth things 1 In carrying on the whole business of 1. In praying as to God prayer as to God Whether we confesse our sins and miseries or crave redresse of them whether we ask such or such blessings or favours for our selves or others or whether we blesse the Lord for Grace already vouchsafed us for what else we do in Prayer we are to carry it with such awe and reverence as those which are speaking to God and with such intention and attention and observance as those that are now to deal with God and to keep our true distance neither heartlesly distrustful and dismayed and yet not heedlesly and presumptuously or malepertly bold with God Afraid of him yet not terrified by him sollaced in him therein yet trembling before him satisfied in him yet unsatisfied in continued desires of mercy from him resting on him yet restlesse and albeit restlesse as pressing upon him for mercies we need yet resting on him quietly for the same Having such apprehensions of God in the duty as befitteth him and as are sutable to us to the Duty to the present work and workings therein If we confess our
sins we are sensibly apprehensive of his Purity and Majesty offended thereby of his Goodnesse and Patience abused therby of his privity to them all in their circumstances of his sin-revenging Justice due thereto of his sole prerogative to pardon the same of his readinesse in Christ to do it We are seriously apprehensive of the vilenesse of such sins of our owne loathsom nature whence they did arise and our hearts rise up in holy indignation and detestation of them and our selves for them whilst we mention the same we bleed over them in our spirits could even tread upon our selves and take a holy revenge on our selves for the same and all the meltings and breathings of our spirits in the mention of our sins they are stil as to God When we mention such and such wants of such and such mercies we crave all is carried as to God We have sutable workings in our minds we eye him as full of all grace and mercy as treasuring up all that fulness in the Lord Jesus as willing and free to communicate the same as real in his Promises of the same and the like might be said in the rest Psalm 5. 3. David saith he will direct or orderly settle prepare and adress his prayer to the Lord. And Christ would have such as pray to pray to their Father which seeth in secret Matth. 6. 6. Job would order his cause before the Lord Job 23. 4. 2 In carrying on the whole business of 2. In doing it as from God prayer as from God as praying in the Spirit Eph. 6. 18. Praying in or by the dictate direction of the holy Ghost Jud. 20. Christians are to drive this holy trade with God but yet as with his owne talents and commodities Luke 19. 16. Lord thy pound hath gained ten pounds saith the good servant Wee should wrestle in and by prayer with God but as in and by his strength Hosea 12. 3. By the Lord will his people make mention of his name in prayer or any other ordinance of his Isai 26 13. 3. In carrying on the whole work of 3 In doing it as for God prayer as for God alone The Suppliants of God bring their prayer not as their offering so much as Gods offering Zeph. 3. 10. they do indeed lift up their prayer as did the Prophet Isai 37. 4. and their heart in prayer yet so as withal exalting God in both Hee is extolled with their tongue in their crying to God with their voyce Psal 66. 17. The Saints confesse their sins that God may be cleared in his proceedings Psalm 51. 4. Expresse his mercies in prayer not to set forth their owne praise and commendation as did the Pharisee Luke 18. 10 11 12. But that the Lord rather may be glorified and that the heart in the mention thereof may be awakened to give him glory and therefore they use in the mention thereof sensibly to immix the mention of their own vilenesse and wretchednesse If they request of God such and such mercies yet it is that the Lord may occasionally be the more honoured in granting the same to them whether the mercies bee of a spiritual or temporal nature Albeit the mercies they crave and immunitie from the miseries which they complaine of to the Lord bee the matter of their prayers yet not the sole motive Selfe is not the great wheel which setteth all the wheels of their hearts going nor is self the center in which those many lines of their spirits and prayers doe end and meet but rather the respect to the Lord and his name favour and presence these are all in all They are a generation not of falseseekers in their prayers but of seekers of the face of the God of Jacob. Psal 24. 6. and having pure hearts therein they doe not lift up their soules to vanity ver 4. The maine of their desires is that the Lord Jesus the man of Gods right hand may be glorified and that the mighty hand of God may be with him in his government and if he be exalted that shall and will ingage them the rather to bee thankfull to God for it Psal 80. 17 18. The making of the refused stone the head-stone of the corner is that wonder of grace in which they thankfully rejoyce Psal 118. 22 23 24. David wisheth that guilt removed not meerly because it lay as so sore and heavy a burden upon his conscience or that he would have ease of the terrours thereof but that in being eased and freed thereof he might bee the freer to sound forth the prayses of God Psal 51. 14. Hee would have his former joy againe not because he made any idol of his comforts and was all for comfort in his spirit for he is as earnest for a cleare and sound heart verse 10. But that he may be more active for God in giving some honour to him in other sinners conversion whom he had haply hardned by his sin c. verse 12 13. Hee would have his mouth opened verse 15. Not to bee more free and chearfull of speech but that his lips might set forth Gods praise The sons and daughters of God pray for preservation from or deliverance out of temptations and afflictions inward and outward as in the petition of the Lords Prayer but with a first and maine respect and desire that the name of God may bee hallowed sanctified honoured therein they pray for the remission of their sinnes and the comfortable manifestation thereof not meerly because they are damning but because detestable to them not because terrours to them simply but that God in his gracious and free pardon of them may have his name hallowed and for that cause doe they pray for all temporal blessings for them in their callings and conditions under the notion of dayly bread The Godly powre out prayers not so much as expressions of their desires of observance thereof from God as of obedience therein unto God Nor meerly as helping meanes of future but also as an homage of love for past mercy David will call upon God because hee loveth not himselfe but him Psal 116. 1 2. 4 In being as ready pressed to a serious 4 In like conscience of use of means use of all other meanes to obtain mercies prayed for and avoid miseries bewayled as to pray for the one and against the other Abel bringeth himselfe with his offering both are equally at the beck and service of God so did not Cain Gen. 4. 4. They offer themselves in with their prayers and such like service as the maine sacrifice willing to prove what is the holy and acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 1 2. And therefore no wonder they are pressed to use any holy meanes to further what they ask of God Their heart and hand is as I may say combined to and joyned with their tongues If they cry for wisedome they bring their instruments to dig and search for the precious mines thereof