within you blesse the Lord upon every manifestation of his goodness as well as desire blessings from him And thus have I gon over the parts and kinds of Prayer much work indeed I have told you of but the more work the better for the more grace is to be expected in order unto the performing of what is required I shall conclude with a very brief Application in two words 1. How sharply are they to be reproved that instead of praying with all prayer use no prayer but live in the almost total neglect of this duty 2. Be perswaded to pray with all Prayer All prayer that God has appointed he is ready to hear in all prayer the name of Christ may be used and the promises of God which are sure exceeding great and precious may be pleaded and how glad may we be that the Lord has appointed so many successful wayes of seeking him wherein he has consulted the variety of our conditions and necessitys So much for the second Doctrine That all Prayer is to be used D. 3. Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit Indeed all our worship of God who is a Spirit must be in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. 24. else 't is in truth no worship As the body without the Spirit is dead so dutys without Spirit are dead also In the handling of this point I shall first open to you what 't is to pray in the Spirit Secondly Lay down the reasons of the Doctrine Thirdly Answer some cases of conscience about praying in the Spirit Lastly make application First What 't is to pray in Spirit This as I have already intimated refers both to the Spirit of him that prays and also to the Spirit of God who helps to pray 1. This praying in the Spirti refers unto the spirit of him that prays and several things are here included 1. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with understanding I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. we must not only understand the words that are spoken but also and that principally the worth of those things which we Petition for we must likewise in some measure be acquainted with the All-sufficiency and Faithfulness of that God whom we pray to and with our own indigency that are the Petitioners The Athenians had an Altar dedicated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the unknown God Act. 17. 23. and they are said ignorantly to worship him and truly all their worship degenerated into superstition We must know the Lord and our selves what his promises and our own Needs are else prayer will be of no account 2. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with judgment discerning between things that differ There is as vast a difference between Sin and Holiness as there is between Deformity and Beauty There is as vast a difference between the Creature and the Creator as there is between the broken Cistern that can hold no water and the Fountain of living waters Jer. 2. 12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water There is as vast a difference between a state of Grace and a state of Wrath as there is between Heaven and Hell Now he that prays must be apprehensive of all this and a believing apprehension of it will make him earnest for the loving kindness of the Lord and that he may taste more and more of the Fountain of living waters and be cleansed from all defilements 3. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with intention of mind Abraham drove away the fowls that did light upon his Sacrifice Gen. 15. and so should we drive away the impertinent and sinful and troublesome thoughts that arise or are injected into our hearts when we engage in sprayer Our hearts cannot wander in the least but they are espied by him whose name is jealous We should therefore desire that the Lord himself who holds the wind in his Fists would seize upon our more unruly hearts and keep them close to himself in duty especially considering there are some kind of distractions that nullifie and make void prayer distractions that are not regarded not lamented not watched or striven against 4. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with spiritual affections The affections are the wings of the Soul and the Soul is carried either to or from any thing according as the affections are inclined The Apostle exhorting to seck the things that are above presently adds set your affection on things above Col. 3. 1 2. intimating we shall never seek the things above in good earnest unless our affections be placed on them Those affections that have evil for their object must spend their strength upon sin which is the worst of all evils Sin must be hated most perfectly sin must cause the deepest sorrow sin must be most feared and against sin the heart should rise with the greatest indignation Those affections that have good for their object as love desire and the like should run with a full stream towards God and those great things that are brought to light by the Gospel and promised in the covenant of grace The stronger and more spiritual our affections are in prayer the better success will follow 2 Chron. 15. 15. 'T is said of Judah that they sought the Lord with their whole desire and he was found of them 2. This praying in the spirit refers to the Spirit of God who helps to pray The Apostle Jude exhorts to build up our selves on our most holy Faith and to pray in the Holy Ghost Jud. 20. and so to keep our selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Now the operation or working of the spirit of God in prayer I shall explain in these particulars 1. The Spirit of God teaches Believers for what to pray he opens their eyes to understand the Word and to know what the Will of the Lord is W know not says the Apostle what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit makâ—th intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8. 27. 2. The spirit removes impediments to prayer he turns that love that naturally is in the heart to sin into hatred he causes the World that was Idolized to be contemned he cures that infidelity in reference to the excellency of spiritual things that the unrenewed Soul is full of as also that enmity against God and Holiness which was in the mind all the while 't was Carnal Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. the Fetters are knockt off the Clogs removed the Soul is brought out of Prison and is made free both unto the performance of duty and free in the
the Spirit may move unto more then ordinary plying of this work of Prayer And the Iron is by all means to be struck while 't is thus hot An extraordinary motion of the Spirit raised David out of his bed at midnight Psal 119. 62. At midnight I will arise to give thanks unto thee because of the righteous judgments So Act. 16. 25. at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them But here you must have a caution lest Satan get an advantage When the Spirit of God thus extraordinarily moves to pray he does sweetly and strongly incline the heart to comply with his motion there is a quickning heat goes along with his perswasions But Satans motions to pray at unwonted times come with a perplexing violence and burthensomeness upon the spirit but there is no disposing or enlarging of the heart unto supplication Thus the Egyptians of old required the tale of Bricks from the children of Israel but allowed not straw to make them with 4. We must Watch for all manner of Encouragements in Prayer and truly the Lord is not backward to give if we are heedful and forward to take encouragement The Lord encourages to prayer various wayes 1. By making us sensible what a priviledge access to the Mercy-seat is He causes us to be satisfied and delighted in his Presence and our hearts cry out Oh how good is it for us to be here This is none other then the Throne of Grace and this is indeed the Gate of Heaven 'T is good for me to draw nigh to God sayes holy David Psal 73. ult 2. The Lord encourages to Prayer by melting of the heart for sin he thaws the ice by the beams of his love Sense of unkindness and unsuitable carriage towards the Father of mercies causes plenty of Godly Sorrow and the heart hereby is exceedingly alienated from its iniquity 3. The Lord encourages to Prayer by enlarging the desires after himself makeing the Soul enamoured of him and altogether unsatisfied till it tast and see his goodness 4. By Intimations of audience The Lord said unto Daniel at the close of his Prayer O man greatly beloved Dan 9. 23. Christ answers the Woman of Canaan Great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Mat. 15. 28. When God after we have been earnest for pardon for Sanctification for grace to honour and to please him causes a peace and calmnesse in our Spirits and we have an hint that our petitions are according to his will and will be granted here is great encouragement in Prayer Now such encouragements should be watched for and laid hold on with the greatest thankfulness 5. We must watch for the returns of Prayer The Psalmist had been praying and he resolves he would hearken what God the Lord would speak that is by way of answer Psal 85. 8. In like manner the Church concluding that the Lord would at last hear resolves to wait for him Mic. 7. 7. Therefore will I look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will hear me If you watch not for returns of prayer you do not consider what you do or with whom you have to do in Prayer when you pray you take the name of God into your mouths and shall that be taken in vain when you pray you engage in an ordinance of God and shall that be used in vain What do ye imagine that Gods hand is shortned or his ear heavy and his bowels straitned Not looking after your Prayer dishonours him more then you are aware of He speaks to you and does for you in vain And this is the ready course to provoke him to keep silence and to shut his hand You are therefore with the prophet to stand upon your watch tower and to observe what God sayes to you Hab. 2. 1. Here one grand case of conscience is to be proposed and resolved How we shall know whether prayer be answered Ye or No and the blessings we have begged given as a return to our requesting for them I answer that Blessings are of two sorts Those that are peculiar to Saints those that are commune to the ungodly 1. There are blessings that are peculiar to the Saints Such as the sense of Gods love strength against corruption righteousness and true holyness peace of conscience power to run in the wayes of Gods commands without weariness and to walk without fainting If such blessings as these are prized and earnestly desired in prayer and after prayer are bestowed they may be concluded the fruit of Supplication In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me sayes David and strengthned'st me with strength in my Soul Psal 138. 3. he prayed for grace and spiritual strength and had it and concludes his prayer was answered Onely the Children of God long and beg for such blessings and if the Lords hand be open gives the blessings beg'd we may also conclude that his ear was open to the begging 2. There are Blessings that are commune to the ungodly as health food raiment relations prosperity removing afflictions and mercies of the like nature 'T is more difficult to know when these are given or continued as a return to Prayer but yet this-may be known in these particulars 1. Temporal Blessings are the fruit of prayer when they were begged not only of God but for God that they might be employed in his service and to his praise Joshua begged for victory over the Cananites but he had an eye to Gods great name which he knew would be dishonoured if Israel were overthrown Josh 7. 9. When we desire some estate that we do good with it and honour the Lord with our substance when we desire health and strength that we may be the more usefull and serve our generation arcording to the will of God and what we desired is bestowed surely Prayer is heard 2. Temporal blessings are the fruit of prayer when they are begg'd with an humble and holy submission and not asked as the principal things When we pray for daily Bread and the meat that perishes in such a measure as the Lord sees meetest to deal forth to us but our greatest hunger and thirst is after higher things even that meat which endures to everlasting Life and the waters of that Fountain that is alwayes flowing yet ever full 3. Temporal blessings are obtained by Prayer when they prove as cords to draw the heart neerer to God and effectually engage unto obedience David was brought very low the sorrows of Death compassed him he cals upon the Name of the Lord for deliverance Psal 116. 3 4. well deliverance is granted and what effect had it it makes him admire divine Mercy it strengthens his Faith it makes him cry out truly I am thy servant and resolve to walk before God in the Land of the Living Surely this deliverance came by Prayer and so himself was perswaded v. 1 2. I love the Lord
nothing too hard for thee The living God the everlasting King who dost what thou wilt in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath The high and lofty one inhabiteth Eternity whose name is Holy who dwellest in the high and holy Place and yet with him also that is of an humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the Contrite ones The God in whose hand our Breath is and whose are all our Wayes Thou madest the Earth by thy Power and hast established the World by thy Wisdom and stretched out the Heavens by thy Discretion Thou art very great thou art cloathed with Honour and Majesty and coverest thy self with light as with a Garment Thou only hast immortality and dwelleth in the light that no man can approach unto To thee belongeth Power and Glory and Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is Thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as Head above all Thou madest the Heavens and all their Hosts the Earth and all the things that are therein the Seas and all that therein is and thou preservest them all and the host of Heaven Worshippeth thee Thou art wise in Heart and Mighty in Strength who ever hardned himselfe against thee and prospered A God glorious in holiness of Purer eyes then to behold evil with delight and canst not look upon iniquity with any approbation The Devils tremble before thee and the Angels cover their Faces and cry out Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts Heaven and Earth are full of the majesty of thy Glory Thou art the Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Thou delightest not in the death of sinners but hadst rather they should turn from their evil wayes and live The God and Father of Jesus Christ and in him the Father of Mercyes the God of all Grace and Comfort A God ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy unto all that call upon thee thou hearest Prayers unto thee shall all flesh come Thy eye is upon them that fear thee and upon such as hope in thy Mercy a very present help in time of trouble Thy Mercy is in the Heavens and thy Faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds As a Father pittyeth his Children so thou pittyest them that fear thee Thou wilt not always chide neither wilt thou keep thine anger for ever Thy mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear thee and thy righteousness unto childrens children Thou art the hope of Israel and the Saviour of them in the time of trouble thou keepest truth forever The heavens shall vanish away like Smoak and Earth shall wax old like a Garment but thy Salvation shall be for ever and thy righteousness shall not be abolished Who is a God like unto thee that Pardonest Iniquity and passest by the Transgression of the remnant of thine heritage thou wilt not always chide neither wilt thou keep thine anger for ever because thou delightest in mercy Thou wilt turn again thou wilt have compassion upon us thou wilt subdue our Iniquities thou wilt cast all our Sins into the depth of the Sea A God to whom vengeance belongs who wilt reward them that hate thee whose power and whose wrath is against all that forsake thee A jealous God who canst not be deceived who wilt not be mocked Thou wilt ease thee of thine adversaries and avenge thee on thy enemies Who can stand before thine indignation who can abide in thy sight when once thou art angry Can our hearts endure or can our hands be strong when thou shalt deal with us let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the Earth wo be to him that contendeth with his Maker Thou searchest the heart and triest the reins and hast pleasure in uprightness There is not any creature that is not manifest in thy sight but all things are open and naked unto the eyes of that God with whom we have to do Oh that thou wouldst bow the heavens and come down draw night to us while we draw nigh to thee Thou humblest thy self to behold things don in Heaven the heaven of heavens is not able to contain thee and yet thou wilt dwell with Men. Thou art nigh unto us in all that we call upon thee for Let us find favour in thine eyes suffer us not to seek thy face in vain Lord hear my voice and let thine car be attentive unto the voice of my Supplication I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord Jehovah who am but dust and ashes what is man that thou art mindful of him whose dayes are as a shaddow whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Oh quicken us that we may call upon thy name and have a gracious regard unto us though we are prodigal children unprofitable Servants of polluted lips and hearts uncircumcised 2. Confession of Sin is to follow by which God is honoured our selves humbled and abased Original corruption is thus to be acknowledged What is man that he should be clean or he that is born of a woman that he should be righteous thou mightest abhor the sight of us and we have infinite reason to loath and abhor our selves Thou madest man upright but he hath sought out many inventions We were at first planted a noble Vine a right seed but now our fruit is evil the root bitter our grapes are grapes of Sodom and clustters of Gomorrah Our first Parents were created in thine Image which does consist in Righteousness and true Holiness but they were beguiled by the Serpent and forsock the Lord and we being in their Loyns sinned in them and fell with them in their first transgression Behold I am shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me We are born the children of VVrath the sons of Death the heirs of Hell and are dead in trespasses and sins There is a Law in our Members that warrs against the Law in our mindes and is quite contrary unto the Law of God And whensoever we would or should do good evil is present with us Our carnal mindes are enmity against God they are not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can they be VVe are wise to do evil but to do good we have no knowledge the blindness that is in our minds does alienate us from the Life of God Our Consciences are sleepy and unfaithful where is their tenderness and Authority they seldom check us and if they do such is our eagerness to sin we do not mind but disobey them Our hearts are the worst part in us they are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know them As a Fountain sendeth forth water so our hearts without intermission are casting forth their wickedness from hence proceed those evils that defile the man Our hearts are disobedient and unto every
THE SPIRIT of PRAYER OR A DISCOURSE WHEREIN The Nature of Prayer is Opened the Kinds of Prayer are Handled and the Right Manner of Praying Discover'd Several Cases about this Duty are Resolved From EPH. 6. 18. Praying Alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for All Saints Unto which is Added A Direction for the Attaining the Gift of Prayer That Family-Duty may not be Omitted nor Secret Duty discouraged through Inability of Utterance and Expression BY Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1674. To the Truly HONOURABLE LADY Hester LADY BLOVNT Mercy and Grace and Peace be Multiplyed Much Honoured Madam WHen I had the happiness to belong unto your Noble Family the Favours I received were Weighty ones and have left too deep an impression upon me ever to be worn off I never lived more free from Care Trouble then when I lived with your Ladyship Your Civility your Bounty your being so much concerned when I went away I must Remember while I have Memory 'T is very pleasing to me to reflect upon the Opportunities I had when I lived at Tittenhanger your Stately House not only of studying but of performing those Secret duties of Prayer and Meditation wherein Communion with God is so exceeding sweet that all sensual delights and pleasures are contemptible in comparison At that time the World was presented to me in the Gayest dress Your House Large and bravely Furnished your Gardens Delighful your Park and Walks hardly to be Matched your Table abundantly sumptuously Furnished Yet I must needs tell You That God was ten Thousand times more to me than all this When I sought him with my whole Heart and found him when I begg'd his Grace and had the Grace I begg'd for This This was it which made my life happy This made me Cheerful indeed onely I was sorry to see others take up and be so much transported with lower Pleasures Believe me Madam nay believe the Lord himself Religion and Joy are not inconsistent The wayes of Wisdom are wayes of Pleasantness and all the paths thereof are paths of Peace Though David had a Crown of pure Gold on his Head though he was Lord of such a Country which was then the glory of all Lands yet we find that God was his Joy and that was his Language Whom have I Heaven but Thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides Thee Whereas Solomon his son indulging his Flâ—sh and too much forgetting God did but hereby contribute to his own disquiet He made him great Works he built Houses and planted Vineyards he made Gardens and Orchards and planted Trees in them of all sorts of Fruit he made Pools of Water that the Trees might be the more Flourishing He had Servants Maidens Possessions of great and small Cattel above all that were before him in Jerusalem He gathered Silver and Gold and the peculiar Treasure of Kings and of the Provinces He had Men-singers and Women-singers and the Delights of the Sons of Men and Musical Instruments of all sorts Nay whatsoever his Eyes desired he kept not from them neither did he withold from his Heart any Joy How large an Inventory is here of what is gratifying to the Senses Yet in the midst of all he cryes out Behold all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no Profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 4 11. Madam I earnestly desire your Eternal welfare and also your present Joy And truly there must be Godliness not in the Form only but in the Power also or else you will be a Stranger to the pleasure of Christianity God is the Souls centre Rest is elsewhere in vain expected The more you acquaint your self with Him the more perfect your peace will be thereby good will come unto you These ensuing Sermons concerning Prayer I hope through the blessing of God may be a means to make Devotion much more servent And 't is not in vain to seek Him that is so willing to be sound and whose Sufficiency is such that he can satisfie your desires when they are most Enlarged That the Lord of Heaven would bless You and all the Branches of your Illustâ—ious Family and make all eminent for Piety and Holiness which will be your truest Honour and greatest Dignity is the Prayer of Madam Your Ladiships most humble and most obliged Servant Nathanael Vincent To the Readers especially them that were Hearers of these Following Sermons Beloved Brethren BEing about to Read a Book concerning Prayer how convenient is it you should begin with Prayer that you may read with profit Lift up therefore your hearts unto God and desire Grace to do what is made known to be your duty Gods Precepts are for your profit He is not capable of being advantaged for he is infinitely and eternally self-sufficient but you your selves will be benefited by your Obedience He requires you to come to the throne of Grace that he may impart his Grace and Mercy unto you that so much stand in need of it 'T is the property of Good to be communicative of it self And the Lord who is the Summum Bonum highest and chiefest Good does give most of all liberally Prayer is an Ordinance that He has appointed and 't is a great priviledge we are allowed to pour out our Souls before him His Hand is not shortned His Ear is not heavy we shall not be straitned in Him if we are not straitned in our own Bowels You that never have pray'd with any seriousness of Spirit should cry now with the greater fervency You have not one Sin pardoned not one Corruption mortified not one saving Grace wrought in your Hearts you have not the least part of your main work don no provision at all made for Eternity and another World It concerns you therefore to begg as for your Lives that God would reconâ—cile you to himself in Christ and make you new Creatures and become a Father and a Portion to you Now is the accepted time Now the Father of Mercies is upon the mercy Seat Now the Lord Jesus is willing to be your Advocate and to intercede for you Now the spirit of Grace is ready to help our infirmities Now forgiveness of sin and life and Immortality are freely offer'd nay you are intreated to accept them But it will not be thus alwayes shortly God will be inexorable the Advocate will be a judg to condemn and the spirit will withdraw for ever and the day of grace will be ended Oh therefore pray now for then 't will be to late to pray And for you that make conscience of this duty wrestle still with greater Vigour Those are the strongest Christians that are mightiest in praier He that prayes well will do all wel besides for by
but by him that is Alsufficient and when we cry to him we give him glory for it argues we believe his power and mercy which prove him able and ready to succour and relieve us 2. Prayer is to be performed unto God and to him only Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Unto Thee my God and my King will I pray says David Psal 5. 2. and v. 3. I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Gods Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his Ear heavy that it cannot hear He is able to do not onely to the uttermost of our desires but exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think Eph. 3. 20. The Papists dangerously corrupt holy worship by their sinful prayers to Angels and Saints and especially to the Virgin Mary Cardinal Bonaventure has blotted out the name of Lord in the Book of the Psalms and put in the name of Lady and teacheth Christians to ask the same things of the Virgin Mary which David asked for at the hands of God himself Under the old Testament we find that Believers directed their supplications to God himself and found him ready to hear and save and under the Gospel where the manifestation and communication of his Grace are more full and plenteous is there need to go to any other No no One God can supply our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Psal 4. 19. 3. Those that pray must be sensible Ignorance and unbelief and hardness of heart make the words of prayer a Mockery and Abomination They that pray therefore must be sensible of their sins of their needs of their unworthiness to have those needs supplyed finally they must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to 1. They must be sensible of their sins I acknowledge my Iniquities says David and my sin is ever before me Psal 51. 3. so Esa 59. 12. For our Transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Sin must be acknowledged with shame and sorrow else 't will separate between God and us and prove a Cloud through which our prayers will never pass There must be such a sense of sin as implies an hatred and weariness of it for if the heart out of love and liking of it has a regard to sin God ever will be deaf and his mercies restrained Psal 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer 2. They that pray must be Sensible of their needs All the posterity of Adam are needy how rich and full soever they conceit themselves The first man being a publick person had the whole stock in his own hand and having lost it has beggard his whole Progeny we are all come shore of the glory of God as descended from Adam we are flesh and in our Flesh dwelleth no good thing This must be understood and believed poverty of Spirit Christ commends and pronounces those that are thus Poor Blessed Mat. 5. 3. For they that perceive they are Wretched and Miserable and Empty and Naked will cry the louder to the Lord for gold try'd in the fire to enrich them and white raiment that they may be cloathed The poor man that is ready to starve for hunger how does he cry out Bread for the Lords sake Bread for he sees his need of it The condemn'd Malefactor how does he roar out for a Pardon because he sees his life must quickly go without it And were we but better acquainted with our wants Oh what strong crys would come from us that Sin might be forgiven that Grace might be wrought that Peace might be Spoken that Spiritual Maladies might be healed We all need these things as much and more then the hungry stand in need of Bread 3. They that pray must be sensible of their unworthiness to have their need supplyed Paul crys out he was less than the least of all Saints and Jacob that he was less than the least of mercies Job says Behold I am vile and I abhor my self We cannot lay claim to any thing as our due but Wrath and the Curse What-ever God bestows it must be reckoned given not of debt but of pure and free Grace Rom. 4. Daniel in prayer disclaims all merit in his Righteousness acknowledges that Confusion of face belonged to him and to Israel because of their Rebellions and says expresly we do not present our supplications to thee for our Righteousness but for thy great mercies Dan. 9. 18. We may beg indeed for the greatest mercles and the greater the surer we are to speed for God is most liberal of the greatest but at the same time must be sensible that the least mercy is too good for such evil ones as we are 4. They that pray must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and multitude of Mountains the firmest things on Earth will fail and deceive our hopes Truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Therefore David lays this charge upon his Soul to wait only upon God and to have all its expectation from him God will be seriously sought unto when we are under the power of this Conviction that no other helper can be found 4. It followes in the definition that those that pray must be believing Souls Faith is a Grace that is required in all their Duties if this be wanting God will not be honoured by our Duties nor our selves advantaged Though we hear never so often If the Word be not mixed with Faith it will not profit us Heb. 4. 2. and unless our Prayers are Prayers in Faith they will not be effectuall Those that pray indeed must be Believers 1. They must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. they must have right apprehensions of his gracious Nature and of his good Will towards men He is willing to be reconciled and has himself without being sought unto contrived a way how Sinners Peace may be made He sends Embassadours to them to treat about it And intreats those that have offended him that they would be no longer enemies by wicked Works He has declared that fury is not in him towards those that are desirous of Mercy and that he does delight in nothing more than in Compassion and that if any do understand and seek him he is more willing to be found than they can be eager to find him These things being rightly conceived encourage Prayer and Satan by suggesting the clean contrary staves off many from this Duty 2. They that pray aright must by believing be interested in Christ the Mediatour Christ is the Way and no man commeth unto the
pray one for another because God has commanded it it maintains love among them and the Strongest need the prayers of the Weaker How earnestly does the Apostle Paul beseech the believing Romans that they would strive together with him in their prayers to God for him Rom. 15. 30. But not a word of prayer directed to any departed Saint in Scripture And when Jacob was in distress and the Angels of God met him and he said this is God's Host but he begg'd nothing of them but wrestles with God himself and as a Prince prevailed 'T is a silly Objection that we use the mediation of great men when we have to do with Princes and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is to be used when we have to do with God for the Lord grants free access unto all if they use Christ as a Mediatour and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is needless We must pray you see in the Name of Christ and there are four things which we are to have an eye to 1. The satisfaction of Christ he has been wounded for Transgression he bare the Curse so that we may beg with confidence to be delivered from it He has made Peace by the blood of his Cross we have encouragement to beseech the Lord to be reconciled and that he would no longer be a Foe but a Father to us 2. We are to eye the purchase of Christ He has purchased all the blessings of the new Covenant Heaven it self is called a purchased Possession Eph 1. 14. Christ payd a price for it that it might be ours 'T is not only an act of Grace but an act of Righteousness in God considering what Christ has paid for to forgive Sin and to give Salvation 3. We are to eye the intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Our great high Priest is passed into the Heavens and his work is there to pray for Believers and his Father hears him always How can prayers miscarry that are backt with the intercession of such a one 4. We are to eye the strength of Christ and his assistance Rightly to pray is a matter of difficulty Christ by his Spirit is ready to help the infirmities of Believers so that notwithstanding all discouragement and opposition from within and from beneath they shall make something of this duty of prayer and obtain the blessing 7. In prayer there must be Thanksgiving for what has been already received Praise is the sublimest part of prayer Praise is a debt and how vast is the debt if we consider the multitude greatness freeness and continuance of mercies Praise sweetens prayer nothing more pleasing to God nothing more pleasant to our selves And to give thanks for benefits received is as effectual a way to prevail for more mercy as the most vehement and strongest cryes Oh therefore that all who pray would also praise the Lord for his â—oodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of men Psal 107. 8. Thus have I explained the definition and opened the nature of prayer to you In the second place I am to inform you what 't is to pray always this I have touched upon already but shall more fully speak to in these particulars 1. To pray always implies being always in a disposition and frame to pray when God requires it The heart must be reconciled to this duty and fall in love with it go to the Throne of Grace with alacrity much may be gotten at the mercy seat the unsearchable riches of Christ are unlocked and we may take as much as the hand of faith can grasp without being checked or upbraided The God whom we have to do with gives liberally and like himself Jam. 1. 5. The heart should be forward to pray and be weary of and through grace subdue move and more that evil which alas is present when good is about to be performed Rom. 7. 21. 2. To pray always implys laying hold of all opportunities to pray that are graciously vouchsafed to us Whenever there is a meet season and a motion to pray we should catch such an occasion by the fore-lock for when once 't is past 't is past recalling Stated times of prayer ordinarily should in no wise be neglected and when there are extraordinary calls to this duty they should by all means be heeded But here you must take heed of being imposed upon by Satan He is clearly for wearying you by spiritual extortion and pressing you to more of the external part of duty then God requires 'T will not be amiss to shew you the difference between Satans motions to pray and the Lords calling you thereunto 1. Satans motions are unseasonable when God calls to other duty When we in obedience to the Divine command are diligent in our calling of a sudden Satan will move to pray but by the unseasonableness of the motion we may discern whence it comes but the Spirits motions are regular 2. Satans motions to pray are unmerciful he would fain have Sinners not pray at all but if they will needs fall upon the duty he urges them to over doing and exacts so much as is apparently to the wasting and expending and destruction of nature and his design is to render prayer burthensome and at last to make it totally neglected But the Lord is merciful in his motions he requires that which is infinitely beneficial to the Soul and destructive austerities towards the body he no where requires 3. Satans motions to pray are commonly followed with some direful injections if they are not obeyed and what he injects has no Scripture-foundation He tells souls that they are Reprobate and will be damned if they do not what he unreasonably perswades whereas the word of God speaks no such matter Well then Satans motions are not to be minded 3. To pray always implies praying in every state and condition in Sickness in Health in Prosperity in Adversity prayer is to be used without prayer Sickness will be unsanctified and an uncomfortable load and if it be taken off 't will be in anger without prayer Health will be a judgment and only serve to encourage a neglect of the soul and another world Without prayer Adversity will be intolerable and Prosperity will be a snare and occasion forgetfulness of God and a daring to rebel against him No condition should cause a cessation of prayer for the Apostle says Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17. 4. To pray always implies Not to let fall any holy suite till it be granted We must not faint in prayer nor give over though we do not presently speed Luk. 18. 1. He spake a parable to them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint Impor tunity prevailed with an unrighteous Judge surely then 't will be prevalent with the Father of mercies God does not presently grant
unquestionably 2. Those that are strangers to prayer their mercies are not mercies indeed to them that threatning is fulfilled upon them Mal. 2. 2. I will send a Curse upon you and will Curse your Blessings Prayer will turn Curses into Blessings afflictions are part of the Curse inflicted because of sin but prayer alters the nature of them for the Sanctification of them being beg'd and granted they work together for the good of them that feel them Affliction yeilds the peaceable fruits of Righteousness to them that are exercised thereby says the Apostle On the other side where prayer is not blessings are a snare and the good things which are received work together for the harm and ruine of those that do enjoy them There is a spirit of slumber which has seized on them in the midst of their enjoyments and their Table their plenty their abundance becomes a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompence to them Rom. 11. 8 9. 3. Those that are strangers to prayer Satan is endeavouring their Ruine and there is none to hinder him Satan is said in Scripture to fill the hearts of the ungodly to keep possession of them and to work in the Children of disobedience The Devil is come down with great wrath and like a roaring Lyon he walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. and truly he finds abundant prey for most watch not at all pray not at all against him Those that pray not are led Captive by Satan at his pleasure and they do not care or desire to have his snare broken nor themselves recovered 4. Those that are strangers to prayer how certain is it that continuing as they are they will miss of those great things revealed in the Gospel since they count them not worth their seeking The Gospel informs us of the one thing necessary of the Pearl of price of the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and this is the Law that is established that they who would have these things must seek them They that seek them not understand not their worth nor their own need and therefore certainly and justly go without them 5. Those that are strangers to prayer are in danger of meeting with a deaf ear when crys are extorted by Calamity Oh read and tremble Prov 1. 26 27 28. I will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as â—â—hirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me The meaning is this that when crys are extorted meerly by distress and only the removal of Calamity is desired there being no true humiliation for sin nor desire to be reformed all such crys will be neglected If you will not seek the Lord while he may be found nor call upon him while he is near Isa 55. 6. when you cry in extremity he may be far off from you 6. Those that are strangers to prayer should consider that quickly the accepted time which they improve not will be past and then they shall beg but most certainly be denied We read in Scripture of Calls that no heed was given to When the foolish Virgins came after the door was shut and said Lord Lord open unto us Alas they speak too late the door was not opened but the reply is I know you not whence you are Mat. 25. 10 11 12. When the Rich man beg'd for a drop of water to cool his tongue being tormented in the flame this was not granted Luk. 16. 24 25 26. to intimate that not the least mitigation of torment in Hell is to be lookt for All at last will be ready to pray Lord open the door that lets into thy Kingdom and Glory Lord vouchsafe a little ease and respite in the midst of our excessive agonies and sorrows Oh but then God's ear will be shut eternally as well as Heaven gate and his mercy clean gone for ever What madness is it then to wast all our accepted time and not to come to the Throne of Grace before the day of grace comes to an end The second Use shall be of Caution Two things you are to be cautioned about 1. Take heed of resting in prayer it self in thâ— bare duty done Prayer is your security not in it self considered but because it leads you to the Rock that is higher then you Psal â—â— 2. Prayer puts you under the Lord's Wing and you are covered with his Feathers and his Truth becomes your Shield and Buckler They that rest in opere operato vainly imagining that speaking the words of prayer will help them they use prayer like a Charm and are unacquainted with the right manner of praying 2. Take heed of thinking that any kind of prayer will secure you and engage God for you Unbelieving prayers where Christ is not relyed on for Audience cold and careless prayers where the things pray'd for are not prized Hypocritical prayers where the heart is not indeed engaged will not reach God's ear will not fetch the blessing Sins bow will abide in strength notwithstanding these prayers nor will the strong holds of Satan be thrown down by them The third Use shall be of Exhortation unto this duty of prayer The Arguments to perswade you are these following 1. Scripture-Commands are very frequent which require this duty How often is prayer called for And not only the Lords Authority in these commands is to be regarded but also his goodness he does not require prayer that he may receive from us for he is so much above us that he needs us not nor our performances and so infinitely perfect that there can be no addition to the perfection of his being or his blessedness but therefore Lord call us to pray always Luk. 21. 36. to pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. to continue instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. in every thing by prayer and supplication to make our requests known unto God Phil. 4. 6. because he is willing to give what we need and to communicate that mercy without which we must needs be miserable 2. The efficacy of prayer should perswade to prayer He that bids you seek his face if your hearts eccho back Thy face Lord will we seek will in no wise hide his face from you nor put you away in anger Psal 27 8 9. By prayer you may prevail with God for his love and being interested in that nothing will be denyed That the efficacy of prayer may be evident I shall imitate the Apostle speaking concerning Faith Heb. 11. and reckon up the wonders that have been the effects of prayer By prayer Abraham had saved Sodom though the cry of their sins was so loud and great if there had been ten Righteous persons in it by prayer he obtained a Son from God when his Wife Sarah was past Child-bearing By prayer Jacob was
in prayer they are commanded by the Lords Enemies Sin the world and Satan do detain them The second sort of Reasons are why we must pray by the help of the Spirit of God His assistance is necessary 1. Because of our darkness we of our selves know not God nor his Will nor our own greatest Needs nor wherein lyes our great interest and truest happiness 2. Because of our deadness active we are as to sin but unto prayer indisposed the dead man must be lifted and carried for of himself he cannot stir We that naturally are without strength nay without life cannot lift up our souls to God unless the spirit lift them up to him 3. Because of the opposition that is made by the evil one When we come to the Mercy-seat the Devil makes nothing of taking the right hand of us he is ready to resist us as he did Joshua the high Priest Zach 3. 1. and we are not able to withstand him unless the Spirit of God who is infinitely stronger rebuke him for us 4. The Spirits assistance is necessary in prayer because of that natural aversness iâ— our own hearts unto what is good whereas we should hate the evil and love the good we hate the good and love the evil nay in the very best there is a law in the members which wars against the law of the mind and evil is present If the Spirit were not also mightily and graciously present there would be an utter inability as to prayer or any duty which God requires In the third place I am to answer some Cases of Conscience concerning the Spirit of Prayer 1. Whether all Believers have the Spirit of Prayer I answer that all true Believers have this Spirit For the spirit of Grace which all Saints have received is also a spirit of supplication Zech. 12. 10. and the Apostle expresly sayes if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his 2. Whether only Believers have the spirit of Prayer I answer The spirit of prayer is peculiar to Believers for where the holy Ghost does help the heart to pray he cleanses the heart from what before defiled it and turns the heart and the desires of it towards God so that that 's now the Language Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. Whether the Spirit of Prayer may not be lost I answer that the Spirit may be grieved by our corruptions when they prevail and when we grovv slothful and heedless hovv vve enter into Temptation and being grieed may withdraw his quickning and assisting influences But the Spirit is never quite lost by those that have been truly renewed by him He abides for ever where he has conseccrated any to be his Temple Joh. 14. 16. David after his fall says Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation to shew that his joy was lost but he prayes Take not thy holy Spirit from me to signifie that the Spirit was not quite departed though that departure was deserved and feared 4. May not persons excel in the gift of prayer that yet are void of the Spirit I answer in the affirmitive The gift of prayer may only serve to puff up professours with Pride how are such pleased in reflecting upon the repute they have gained by their enlargedness in expression And this pride is not checked is not abhorred The words of prayer may be used and a carnal worldly designe carried on Hypocrites aime at an eminency in gifts that they may pass for godly and under the cloak of Religion cover their wickedness and in their most enlarged supplications they aime at their own profit fame and are prodigiously destitute of the fear of God 'T is certain the gift of Prayer may be in the unsound hearted for even the gift of Prophesie which the Apostle prefers before other gifts we find in wicked men Mat. 7. 22 23. many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name Then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity 5. May not some that have the Spirit of Prayer be very weak in the gift of utterance I answer yes There was much of the spirit of prayer in Hezekiah when he chattered like a Crane or Swallow and mourned like a Dove Esa 38. 14. The Lord regards not so much the expression as affection and the heart may be sincere in its desires when not onely because of the strength of those desires but also through confusion there wants utterance Let not those therefore that are but weak in expression be discouraged for the heart may highly value Mercy and Grace and obtain both when prayer is but lisped and stammered forth by the Tongue Now follows the Application And Use 1. is of reproof which belongs 1. To them who pray indeed but their Hearts and Spirits pray not with them They put the Lord off with the bended knees the stretched forth hands the lifted up eyes the labour of the lips the fruit of their invention but all this while their hearts are not with him and their affections run a whoring after their vanities and iniquities The prayers of such dissemblers are dead prayers and truly are to be numbred among their dead works and their prayers being not minded by themselves how should God have regard to them unless it be to hate and punish them 2. They are to be reproved who make light of the Spirit of God and of his assistance in this duty of prayer They account the aid of the holy Ghost a needless a notional and imaginary thing Such never knew what 't is to wrestle with God what 't is to sigh and groan and be as it were in Travel till the blessings beg'd for are obtained Oh how impossible is it that Nature should rise thus high till the Spirit do renew and elevate it Use 2. Of Trial whether we have the Spirit of Prayer or no And this may be discerned by these following signs 1. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer by the Spirit have been convinced of sin Joh. 16. 8. he has discovered sin broken their hearts for it and 't is now become a load to them though before they loved it never so extreamly Before they hid sin now they lay it open in prayer before they excused it now they aggravate it and judg themselves worthy of Hell and Wrath because of it 2. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer are made to look unto Christ crucified Zach. 12. 10. I will pour out upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of supplication Then shall they look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn for him and be in bitterness as one is in bitterness for the loss of a first born Christ crucified is lookt upon by such with a weeping Eye because their sin was the cause of his sufferings and with an
invade To shew that state dislikes not easiness If I but lift mine eyes my suit is made Thou canst no more not hear then thou canst die Of what supreme Almighty power Is thy great arm which spans the east and west And tacks the centre to the sphere By it do all things live their measur'd hour We cannot ask the thing which is not there Blaming the shallowness of our request Of what unmeasurable love Art thou possest who when thou couldst not die Wert fain to take our flesh and curse And for our sakes in person sin reprove That by destroying that which ty'd thy purse Thou mightst make way for liberalitie Since then these three wait on thy Throne Ease Power and Love I value Prayer so That were I to leave all but one Wealth Fame Endowments Vertues all should go I and dear Prayer would together dwell And quickly gain for each Inch lost an Ell. Herb. pag. 95. Directions how to attain unto the gift of prayer and readiness of expression in that duty ALthough spiritual Gifts are granted unto Hypocrites and unsound Professors as well as to sincere Believers yet according to the Apostle we are earnestly to covet them 1 Cor. 12. ult Even these more commune gifts are imparted by the Holy Ghost himself and may be very profitable both to our selves and others Neither should it be the endeavour of Ministers only to excel in gifts but private Christians are also to labour after them and in a more private way to use them The gift of prayer I am now to speak of and this no Christian should be without Prayer is the Saints daily exercise therefore they should all be well skilled in the performance of this duty not only as to the internal but also external part of it As length of prayer is not to be affected for God has a regard not to the length but the life of it so neither are we to affect a constant variety of expression If we use always the same form we are in danger of formality and if we always endeavour after new words which we never before used as 't is a thousand to one whether we shall speak so properly so 't is to be feared that our prayers will be only the fruit of our phancy and invention and no more 'T is good to be in the middle between both extreams Many have exalted in this gift of prayer in these latter days and I know that many are troubled through the want of it Secret prayer upon this score partly is much difcouraged and prayer in the Family hindred wherefore having discoursed at large concerning the duty of prayer I thought it a piece of service unto Souls to direct them how this gift might be attained 1. Be well Catechized and instructed in the principles of the Christian Faith You must know the only true God and understand his Greatness and Holiness and Power and Mercy and Grace and Truth with his other Attributes and Perfections which are discovered in his word You must not be Strangers to your selves but be acquainted with the fall of Man into sin and misery and how you as well as others are by Nature the Children of wrath and in danger of being lost and undone for ever except you Repent and Believe the Gospel You must know the Lord Jesus Christ whom God has sent and understand the mystery of Redemption Salvation by him and it should be your endeavour still to know more and more of the Lord and of his will and the more understanding you are the more agreeable will your supplications be unto the word of God and you will be the better furnished with matter for your prayers 2. Take pains that your affections may be excited the more warm your hearts are your tongues will be the more like unto the Pen of a ready Writer Let your affections be stirred by the necessity and value of the things you ask and the infiniteness of those evils which you pray against Besides the God whom you direct your prayers to is nigh is ready to be found Nothing is too hard for him such is the Almightiness of his power his tender mercyes are a vast multitude he stands related and engaged to his people by a sure and everlasting Covenant 3. Pray for the gift of utterance for this very ability is from the Father of lights but after 't is obtained you must beware 1. Of Pride Herod after an elegant Oration giving not glory to God was struck dead by an Angel and eaten up of Worms and if you are pufft up after enlargedness of expression of prayer you know not what way the displeasure of God may break forth against you 2. Despise not those that want this utterance your tongues possibly may be better hung but their hearts may be in a far better frame than yours 3. Envy not them that excel you in the gift of Prayer Envy will grieve the spirit and dead your ownhearts be a torment to you If one member in the natural body do something that is excellent and be honoured all the members sayes the Apostle rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. And as it is in the Natural body so it should be in the Mystical body of Christ Since we are members of the same body we should rejoyce when any of our fellow-members do worthily and count our selves honoured in their honour and especially be glad to see Christ lifted up though upon others shoulders 4. Let not any Carnal design be carryed on If you aime at your own ends in your most enlarged prayers and are secretly covetous and selfish and impure as this shews you are abominably Hypocritical so 't is the way to have either your gifts blasted or to have a curse upon them so that you shall only disturb the Church of Christ and do harm not good by them 4. Frequency in prayer will bring you to a readiness therein As by writing you learn to write so by praying you will learn to pray Gifts are increased and augmented by the exercise of them as grace it self also by being acted grows more strong 5. Be well acquainted with Scripture expressions that language is best to be used in Gods ears which is the language of his own Spirit 6. Let there be an order and method in prayer for confusedness as it will be irksome to others with whom you joyn so 't wil have a great tendency to dead and discourage your own hearts Here I shall speak to all the parts of prayer and furnish you with expressions in reference to every one of them Seven parts I have mentioned Compellation of God Acknowledgment of Sin Deprecation of punishment Petition for Grace and Mercy Intercession for others Imprecation against others Thanksgiving and Praise 1. Begin prayer with Compellation or naming of God let his Attributes also be mentioned O Lord thou art God alone and there is none besides Thee The God of the spirits of all flesh there is
wherein they deal proudly shew thy self above them Arise O Lord and plead thine own cause and let all thy foes be made thy foot stool 7. The last part of prayer is Thanksgiving and Praise Lord thou art infinitely exalted above all blessing and praise Oh how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the Sons of men How precious are thy Thoughts unto me O God how great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more in number than the Sand. 'T is thou that hast made us and not we our selves our Bodies were curiously wrought by thee and all our Members were written in thy Book and thou hast been the former of our Spirits Thou hast given me a Tongue to speak and therefore it shall shew forth thy praise Thou hast given me a Soul capable of love and joy therefore it shall love thee and rejoyce in thee Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits I have been cast upon thee from the Womb and have hung on thee ever since I hung upon the Breasts How many unknown and passible and deserved evils have I been preserved from How many undeserved Mercyes have been showred down upon me Thou hast been my Shepheard O Lord so that I have wanted nothing all my days Many are blind that I meet withal but I see many are deaf but I hear many are dumb but my Tongue can speak many have lost their Limbs but all my Bones have reason to say who Lord is like unto thee my Limbs are sound and Sences perfect and I have the use of Reason when many are distracted and raving in Bedlam I see not the hurtful Sword neither do I hear the alarm of War when others are terrified and behold Garments roulled in Blood and their Souls are wearied because of Murtherers Thou sendest fruitful seasons and fillest our hearts with Food and gladness Thou Crownest the Year with thy goodness and they Paths drop fatness We are less than the least of Mercies therefore thy goodness O Lord is the greatter and more greatly to be admired Thanksgiving for spiritual Mercyes Oh the height and length and depth and breadth of the love of God in sending Christ into the World to be a Saviour Glory be to God in the highest on Earth Peace good will towards Men. O Wonderful that the Word should be made Flesh that He who was in the form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God should take upon him the form of a Servant and become obedient to Death that we might not die and perish for ever We blesse thee that our Ears do hear the joyful sound of the Gospel and that the day-spring from on high hath visited us to guide our Feet into the way of Peace Thy Sabbaths and thy Ordinances and the means of Grace are priviledges which we can never sufficiently value Thou callest upon us to turn and Livâ— and some can say thou hast made the Call effectual We were sometimes darknesse but now are we light in the Lord we were strangers but now Children we were dead in trespasses and sins but God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us hath quickned us together with Christ Thou hast cast all our sins behind thy back and we may rejoyce indeed because our names are written in the book oâ— Life Thou hast made a new Covenant with us ordered in all things and sure and all that we can desire or need is here promised The blessings of both Worlds thou hast engaged to bestow and this covenant is more firm thon the Ordinances of the Heavens The mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed the Heaven and the Earth shall passe away but thy kindness shall not deparâ— from us nor the Covenant of thy Peace be removed but abide for evermore Thanksgiving for Eternal Mercies Thy Salvation is near O Lord and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Time is wearing away apace and the Everlasting Kingdom is at hand 'T is but a little while and we shall be in thy presence where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Then our hope will be swallowed up in Fruition and our Faith in seeing of thee Face to Face We shall be made perfectly holy and compleatly happy we shall sin no more we shall sorrow no more but be at rest Eternally We shall be Crowned with Life and Righteousness and Reign with God in his Everlasting Kingdom Blessed be the Lord who hath given us Everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace of such an Inheritance where we shall to Eternity be admiring free Grace and making Heaven Ring with Everlasting Hallelujahs While I live I will praise the Lord and after Death I will begin to praise him in a better manner and never never give over praising Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we either ask or think according to the Power that worketh in us Vnto Him be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages and World without End Amen FINIS
that he spent day and night in nothing but eating no such matter but when the season or meal-time came he was present So to pray always is to pray whenever prayer is seasonable 3. A third question is What is meant by all Prayer Bullinger refers this to the intension of the mind saying that in this Duty there must be all possible devotion and intentness and servency of heart But Musculus understands Prayer of every sort and indeed all kinds of Prayer which God has appointed are needfull and the Lord is ready by the Communications of his Grace to encourage to the practice of this Duty in the full extent and latitude of it 4. Anotherquestion is this What are we to understand by prayer in the spirit Some refer this clause to the things asked as if we should slight all worldly enjoyments and ask only for those blessings that are spiritual 'T is confessed that spiritual blessings are to be most prized and to be begged with the greatest importunity but yet temporal mercies may also with submission be desired Daily Bread we are allowed to ask for and that Bread is sweetest and most blest that is the fruit of Prayer Others observe and rightly that this passage Praying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Spirit may have relation both to the spirit of God and the spirit of him that prays 1. It may have relation unto the Spirit of God The Holy Ghost makes intercession for Believers according to the will of God he helps their infirmities who of themselves know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26 27. 2. It may have relation unto the spirit of him that prays Prayer must be the off-spring of the heart or else 't will In Religione non sit quod cor non facit not be of any value or efficacy The spirit of a man must understand what and the worth of what is prayed for and the affections must be stirred in order to the attainment of it 5. A fifth question is what are we to understand by watching unto prayer with all perseverance We must watch over our hearts and watch for God and this must be with continuance unless we continue to watch and pray we may quickly enter and fall into temptation And since all militant Saints are in danger as well as we and stand in so near a relation to Christ and to us we should be much concerned for them so as to desire their safety and well-fare as our own There are six Doctrins which these words afford us 1. A Christians security lyes very much in praying always 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used 3. Prayer when rightly performed is supplication in the spirit 4. In prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient 5. We must persevere if we would speed in prayer 6. Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all the Saints as well as for oâ—r selves D. 1. I begin with the first of these Doctrines That a Christians security lies very much in praying always Although he be Armed from head to foot with the Armour of God which if any in the world is Armour of Proof yet he is not safe without prayer Saints in Scripture have lookt upon the Throne of Grace as their Asylum and Sanctuary and have come hither for refuge and strength in their troubles and temptations David when he perceived the deceit and hatred of his Adversaries who fought against him without cause says 't was his course and truly 't was a wise one to give himself to prayer Psal 109. 4. When his soul was among Lyons and he dwelt among those that were set on fire he then crys unto God most high unto God that performed all things for him Psal 57. 2. When the Apostle Paul was buffeted by the Messenger of Satan he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him and had this answer my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. Nay the very Captain of our Salvation Christ himself not only used the word of God in temptation and overcome the Devil by Scripture-weapons but also he was wonderfully servent in prayer Heb. 5. 7. In the days of his flesh he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I shall speak unto this Doctrin in this following order First give you a definition of prayer that you may know what ' t is Secondly Inform you what it is to pray always Thirdly Shew you why a Christians security lies in prayer Fourthly Give you some reasons why he should be always praying Fifthly Answer some Objections that are made against this Duty Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to give you a definition of prayer that you may understand the nature of it Damascen l. 3. de orth Fid. c. 24. give this description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is an assention of the mind unto God and asking those things which are convenient from him The mind must ascend as well as the voâ—â—â— and both must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be desired which the wise and gracious God sees Oratio est actus rationis practicae voluntatis desiderium explicantis ab a liis aliquid postulantis Aquin in 2. 2. qu. 83. art 1. convenient Aquinus defines prayer an act of the practical understanding explaining the desire of the will and requesting something from another which being applied unto God amounts to thus much that both the mind and will do act in prayer the mind makes known what the will desires Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thoe and my groaning is not hid from thee and then likewise there is an earnest craving to have this desire satisfied Psal 90. 14. Oh satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days But a more full definition of prayer is this Prayer is a Duty performed unto God by sensible and believing Souls in which they ask for things according to his will in the name of Christ with thanksgiving for what already has been received This definition I shall take in pieces and explain the parts of it 1. Prayer is a Duty 't is part of that homage and worship which we owe to God this is evident by the light of nature the Heathen Marriners cryed unto the Lord for preservation in a Storm Jon. 1. but 't is more evident by Scripture light commands to pray are frequent And he that does restrain prayer casts off the fear of God and says unto the Almighty Depart from me Job 21. 14 15. Prayer is a Duty for we are obliged to it by a precept and that precept is for our profit we need help from Heaven and our wants that are of greatest concernment to be supplied can be supplyed by none
119. 132. Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name Now though God be acquainted with our wants without our mentioning of them yet he will not look upon them so as to pitty and supply them unless we beg this pity unless we beg this supply When Israel groaned by Prayer unto God says he I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt that is I have lookt upon it with Sympathy and compassion and it follows I am come down to deliver them Act. 7. 34. Obj. 2. A second Objection is this Why should we pray since the God whom we have to do with is unchangeable can we work any alteration in him by our requests No the Scripture sayes with him is no variablenesse neither shaddow of turning Ans I answer Prayer makes not a change in God but a change in us it does not make him more mercifull and bountifull but disposes us for the receiving of his mercy and grace This notion you must all well understand that the design of prayer is not to make any alteration in God but to make an alteration in us that we may be fitted and made meet for those blessings which God has promised to give When God pardons any the change to speak properly is in the person pardoned he that before was an enemy is become a child Gods wrath is the same that 't was and his love the same that 't was only the person that before was out of Christ is now in Christ and is now loved whom before wrath did abide upon When we pray for grace and holynesse hereby we are more fitted for the receiving of it God alters not but we are altered oh much for the better when we are Sanctified This matter may be made more plain by this similitude Suppose a man ready to be drowned in the Sea a rope is cast out to him from a rock on the shore the man does not pull the rock nearer to himself or the rock stirs not but he pulls himself nearer to the rock and hereby he is saved God is our rock Prayer is our cord whereby we are drawn to him from whom alone Salvation is to be expected Obj. 3. A third Objection against prayer is this God has decreed what he will give and his decrees shall certainly stand firm and be accomplished He being infinitely wise in making them there cannot be imagined a reason why he himself should alter them and they cannot be altered by any other Ans I answer It must needs be granted that Gods decrees shall stand unmoveable but withall I add that he who has decreed to give grace and mercy has appointed prayer as a means to obtain them The means is subordinate to the end and comes under a decree as well as the end Therefore we are said to be elected or chosen to Holiness which does include the dutys of Holiness Eph. 1. 4. as well as to be ordained to eternal Life If God decrees a man shall live till he is 60 years of age he decrees that he shall use those means as food and the like which are necessary to the prolonging of his days And so God that does decree to give grace and pardon and glory decrees and appoints prayer and other duties to be performed After the Lord had promised much and declared his gracious purpose towards Israel to pardon renew heal and restore them He adds For all this will I be enquired of by the House of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. You shall find that God's decree has not made the Saints esteem prayer needless but encouraged them to fervency therein Daniel understanding by Jeremiahs Prophecy that after seventy years Judah should be brought back from the Babylonish Captivity prays the more earnestly that they might be set at liberty and that the Sanctuary might be shone upon which lay desolate Dan. 9. 2 3. And David when he understood that God purposed to build him an Hous pray'd that God would do as he had spoken Obj. 4. Another Objection is this Wicked men have small encouragement to pray since their prayers are styled an abomination Ans I Answer 1. Wicked men are blamed for not pâ—aying however Psal 14. 4. Have all the workers of Iniquity no knwoledge who eat up my People as they eat Pread and call not upon the Lord. Prayer is a duty which Wicked men have an obligation to and they sin in the omission of it 2. If Wicked men totally cast off Prayer 't is apparent whether they are going they are going further and further from God and making hast in the broad way that leads unto destruction 3. While they are praying though they pray sorriâ—y yet they are using God ' Ordnance and there is the greater likelihood that God may pitty them and give his spirit to work upon them Object 5. Another objection is this God himself says I am found of them that sought me not I am made manifest to them that asked not after me Rom. 10. 20 â—ns I Answer 1. This place is to be understood concerning the Gentiles call to whom without their seeking the Apostles were sent to publish the glad tidings of Salvation 2. Though the Lord does prevent us by his goodness and does first offer himself to us yet always when he gives himself he gives an heart to desire after himself First He makes us to open our mouths wide and then fills us Psal 81. 10. First He causes a spiritual thirst and then he gives us to drink of the water of Life freely Ho every one that thirsteth come to the Waters come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. No price is required only prayer and entreaty is to be used I come in the last place to the Application And if the Christians security lies so much in Praying Always The first Use is of Instruction concerning the extreme danger that Prayerless Souls are in 'T will be faithfulness and kindness to make such sensible of their danger therefore I shall a little stay upon it and manifest their peril in these particulars 1. Those that are strangers to prayer God is against them O dreadful what is God! and who are they who can stand before his indignation who can defend himself against that Arm that is Omnipotent The Mountains quake the Hills melt the Devils tremble before this God the whole world compared with him is but as the drop of the Bucket and the small dust upon the ballance and all the Inhabitants of the world are nothing less then nothing and vanity Esa 40. 15 17. Surely 't is fearful to have so glorious and great a God an Enemy But an Enemy he is unto all that count not his love and favour worth the praying for Those that will not intreat him to be reconciled 't is a sign they neither value his love nor fear his wrath and under wrath they are
delivered from the wrath of his Brother Esau Jonah by prayer out of the Whales belly and the three Children out of the seaven-times heated Babylonish Furnace By prayer David stayed the Plague so that it seized not on Jerusalem and caused the Sword of the destroying Angel to be put up into the Sheath again By prayer Elias stayed the Rain for three years and six moneths and by the same means opened the Bottles of Heaven that the Earth brought forth her Fruit By prayer he brought down fire which consumed the two Captains and their fifties that came to take him By prayer Joshua commanded the Sun and it stood still in Gibeon and the Moon in the Valley of Aijalon for the Lord hearkened to the voyce of a man and fought for Israel By prayer Daniel stopped the mouths of Lyons and came untouched out of the Den and by prayer Peter and Paul and Silas were delivered out of Prison Shackles Iron gates being but weak things to the power of supplications And what shall I more say for time would fail me as the Apostle speaks if I should tell of Samuel of Sampson of Jehoshaphat of the Prophets also and of the Apostles who by prayer procured thunder to destroy their Enemies out of weakness were made strong turned to â—â—ight the mighty Hosts of Adversaries the Dead they raised to life again made the Lame from the Womb to walk and leap healed Discases beyond the skill of art of Cure Behold prayers efficacy though performed by men of like passions with our selves this should perswade us to the love and practice of the duty 3. Who is it that would hinder you from prayer Who stands at your right hand to resist you certainly 't is an Enemy who is unwilling you should draw nigh to God because he knows 't is so good for you Psal 73. ult Your own hearts also are ready to draw back but this argues their egregious folly and desperate wickedness 4. What has followed upon the omission of prayer Has not this Omission ushered in sins of Commission have you not when you have neglected to cry for strength in your souls found your selves like Reuben unstable as water have you not easily been induced to do that which has fill'd the face of God with frowns and the mouth of Conscience with Reproaches On the other side has not prayer been with success sometimes have you not found encouragement grace at the mercy seat Oh do that which both bitter and sweet experience prompts you to 5. Prayer is an honourable employment in this duty you have admittance to the ear of the King of Heaven how high is your Company your fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1. 2. Though the Lord be high yet he hath respect unto the lowly he will regard the prayer of the most destitute and not despise it he allows you a freedom to pour out your complaints and to make known before him your troubles And what honour is this to have to do immediatly with God to have him so nigh to you in all that you call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. 6. Frequency and fervency in prayer will be a great evidence of your Regeneration and Adoption The Child when born crys and the Sinner when born again prays Of Paul 't was said as soon as he was Converted behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. 'T is the Spirit of Adoption that makes us cry Abba Father If we cannot be satisfied unless we approach unto God and value his favour and fellowship above all Earthly things and are chiefly desirous of those blessings which he never gives in wrath and having given never takes away again we may conclude from our spiritual breathing our spiritual life Now a good evidence of Regeneration what will it be worth in a day of trouble in a dying hour The last Use shall be of Encouragement to Believers 1. Their prayers are Gods delight Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the Wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight so Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voyce for sweet is thy Voyce and thy Countenance is comely We are pleased with the talk and requests of our Children though their language be lisp'd and broken And God is infinitely more indulgent then earthly Parents are or can be and much more willing to give good things than they Mat. 7. 11. 2. There are many reasons why the God whom Believers pray to should secure them 1. They are his chosen ones God pitch'd his love on them before the foundation of the world was laid 2. They are his Sons purchase he has bought them with a price shed his Blood for the Remission of their sins gave his Life for their Ransom 3. They are in Covenant with God he has engaged to be their God and surely he will be their Guard also 4. They are Vessels of mercy in whom he does design to glorifie his grace and love for ever Surely then he will heed these when they pray he will give them the good they need and save them from the evil which makes them flye to him for shelter I have done with the first Doctrine That a Christians security lyes very much in Praying Always D. 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used praying always with all prayer says the Text. Prayer is a duty of very great extent and the parts of it are admirably suited unto the present State and condition of a Christian and the divers kinds of prayer very well agree with the various circumstances wherein we are All the ways of seeking God shall be to purpose if he be but sought diligently and according as he himself has appointed for he tells us plainly that he sayes Not to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain Esa 45. 10. Two things I shall here insist on First I shall speak concerning the parts of prayer and shew you how all these parts are to be used Secondly I shall give you the several kinds of prayer and so perswade and direct you unto each kind that this duty may be performed in its utmost latitude I begin with the parts of Prayer and they are these 1. One part of Prayer is an humble compellation or naming of God Those titles that are given him in Scripture we must be acquainted with and such should be used as are most suitable unto the matter of our prayers and which have the greatest tendency to excite those gracious and spiritual affections which are required in our Supplications If we consult the prayers of Saints which are recorded in the Bible we shall find that God is called sometimes Lord sometimes Father sometimes the great and mighty and terrible God sometimes the King of Glory sometimes the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity whose Name is
unto prayer By the Word God speaks to you as by prayer you speak to him if you regard not Gods voyce how can you expect he should mind yours If you will not hear and obey â—he will not hear and grant what you request of him The Word should dwell richly in you Col. 3. 16. your delight should be in the Law of the Lord and in that Law should you meditate day and night Psal 1. 2. The Scriptures should be searched which shews they are a depth and all is not at first looking into them discovered you must seek here as for silver and search here as for hid treasure if you would understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 4 5. How enlightning how enlivening how cleansing and transforming is the word of God How sweet and desirable are the Lords testimonies When the Spirit becomes the expositor of Scripture and opens the eyes too to behold wondrous things out of Gods Law and affects the heart oh then there is such efficacy profit and sweetness as is beyond comparison 4. Be liberal in this duty of secret prayer Pray with a forward and with a free spirit grudg not the time you spend here for this is the best way of turning time unto a good account Be sensible how good it is to draw nigh to God for the promise is if you draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to you Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye Sinners purifie your hearts ye double-minded Now Gods drawing near implies his being reconciled to us his manifesting his power and grace for our help and supply Oh theâ—â—fore go unto God with an holy eagerness who is so ready to meet you and to satiate the weary soul and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. We must be much and often with God for this is the way to come to an acquaintance with him and the better we are acquainted with him the more we shall love him and be sensible of his love to us Hark to what is said Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee 5. In secret prayer be very particular ease your Consciences by a particular innumeration of your Iniquities and the aggravations which have heightned them Make known all your wants before that God who has styled himself God All-sufficient fear not that the Lord will be weary of hearing or be backward to give a gracious return When you are alone with God you may use the greater freedom of speech this being particular will contribute much unto your brokenness of heart with which the Lord is well-pleased and also unto your own sensing of your manisold wants and making of you meet to be supplied 6. Look after secret prayer Stand upon your Watch-Tower and observe what answer is given The Merchant hearkens after the Ships that he sends to Sea When a Petition is presented to a Prince you wait what Answer will be returned Be thus wise in prayer if you speed not find out the Impediment if you do speed be encouraged by answers to act Faith in God and to persist in prayer Because he has inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live says David Psal 116. 1. And let answers of prayer be matter of praise that Satan and Conscience may not accuse you of and God may not be angry at your ingratitude Thus of the Rules concerning secret prayer Now follow the Arguments to perswade unto it 1. Consider God sees in secret in secret places God sees for he fills both Heaven and Earth his Omnipresence is an evident demonstration of his Omniscience as he cannot be confined to any place so neither can he be excluded All things are open and naked before him Heb. 4. 13. And as his seeing in secret is matter of terrour to the Ungodly so of joy unto the Righteous David speaks both with wonder and with gladness Psal 139. 7 8 9 10. Whithef shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me In what secret corner soever you are God is with you all your sighs and groans your complaints and desires are taken notice of 2. Frequency in secret prayer is a great argument of Uprightness and Sincerity 'T is a sign you seek God himself when none but God knows of your seeking him What the Apostle speaks of the Jew may be applied unto the Christian He is not a Christian that is one outwardly but that is one inwardly not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not so much openly as in secret Rom. 2. 28 29. The praise of such is not of men but of God 3. Secret prayer is a marvellous way to thrive in grace and to grow rich towards God By this means Faith will grow exceedingly Love will abound and our Souls will prosper Some Trades-men keep a Shop and drive a Trade there and gain thereby but they have a secret way of trading which is not observed and by this they grow wealthy in a short space A Christian that is much in secret with God O how much does he gain such an one how good does he find the Lord how ready both to forgive and to give and he can set his Seal unto that truth that God is plentious in mercy unto all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. 4. Secret prayer is a means to fit for publick Ordinances They that are most upon their knees in the Closet will get most benefit in the Sanctuary The preparation of the heart is from God and he must in secret be sought unto to fit our spirits for solemn worship Those that before they come to hear pray that Gospel may come to them not in word only but in power also and the Holy Ghost and much assurance these are likely to find the Gospel working effectually and that 't is the power of God to their Salvation Rom. 1. 16. Those that before they come to the Table examine themselves alone beg that God would search them and are importunate for strength against every Corruption for all the fruits of Christ's sufferings for all the graces of the spirit are not likely to be sent away empty 5. Secret prayer is a means to keep the impression of publick duties upon the heart after the duties themselves are ended Your work is not over when publick Ordinances are over Has any sin been discovered and reproved you must go in secret and bewail it and cry out Lord let not this nor any iniquity have the dominion over me Psal 119. 133. Has any duty
been made manifest you should go in secret and cry Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and make me to go in the path of thy Commandments Psal 119. 35 36. Have any gracious and holy resolutions by the motions of the spirit with the word been made you must go alone and beg Keep this O Lord for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of my heart and establish my heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. 6. Secret prayer is the way to have special tokens of Gods love and those joys that a stranger does not intermeddle with Oh the sweet meltings and thawings of the heart for sin as 't is an abuse of mercy that are experienced in secret prayer Oh the visits that then the great Physician of Souls does make How suitably and gently does he deal with the wounded spirit what assurance does he give that he will in no wise cast out but give rest unto the weary and heavy-laden Mat. 11. 28. Oh what peace is spoken to the Saints in answer to prayer what sweet intimations are given and sometimes a plerophory and full perswasion of their interest in that love which is unchangable and everlasting Surely the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25. 14. 7. Consider God will reward openly This Argument Christ uses to enforce secret prayer Mat. 6. 6. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly As all secret wickedness shall at last be detected and punished so all secret piety and godliness shall be made manifest before the whole world at the Judgment day and the reward will be exceeding great and everlasting So much be spoken concerning prayer in the Closet 2. Prayer in the Family is to be insisted on And that Family-prayer is a duty may be evidently proved by these Arguments 1. The Apostle in the Text enjoyns all prayer and Family-prayer is one kind that holy men have used Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. and prayer is so principle a part of Divine Service that in Scripture 't is sometimes put for the whole Gen. 4. ult Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord that is in a more publick manner to worship him So of Cornelius 't is said that he feared God with all his House and pray'd unto the Lord always Act. 10. 2. 2. Families of Believers are styled Churches in Scripture and in a Church there is a joyning together in prayer other exercises of Godliness The Apostle Paul wishes grace and peace to the Church in Philemons House Phil. 2. 3. and v. 22. speaks of their joynt-prayers through which he trusted he should be given to them 3. The Family stands in need of blessings which they are together to beg for and to deprecate Family evils And for encouragement Christ has promised that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Now in Families-duties two or three are gathered together in Christs Name and his prefence may without presumption be expected 4. Wrath is threatned upon prayerless Families Pour out thy Fury upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Jer. 10. 25. I grant indeed that the word Families is of such a Latitude that it extends unto Countries and Kingdoms but if there be an obligation upon Countrys and Kingdoms to joyn in calling upon God surely then Familys more strictly taken are in no wife Exempted Having proved Family-Prayer a Duty I shall lay down some directions as to the performance of it 1. Be sensible that Prayer is a business of greater concernment than any wordly business whatsoever You are indeed to be diligent in your Callings that are particular but your general Callings is of greatest weight The general Calling is that which all are called to and what are all called to They are called to serve and glorifie God and to work out their own Salvation Prayer is a part of your Homage to the King of Heaven Much Spiritual and Eternal benefit is to be obtained by it therefore do it not as a by-business neither let every small matter cause the omission of it 2. Believe that success in your Callings depends upon the Lords Blessing the blessing of the Lord maketh Rich says Solomon and he addeth no Sorrow with it Prov. 10. 22. without thee t is in vain to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the Bread of carefulness Now Prayer for this blessing is the way to fetch it I grant indeed that many thrive in the World without Prayer but then Wealth is a Curse and a Snare to them 't is a weight that hinders them from ascending into the Hill of the Lord and helps to sink them into destruction and perdition 3. Let Prayer ordinarily be twice a day as under the old Law there was a morning and evening Sacrifice and let the whole Family joyn in it if it be possible since there are none but need prayer and may receive advantage by it 4. Let the Word of God be read when Prayer is made that not only you but your housholds after you may be acquainted with the Misterys of the Gospel and with the will of God Abraham communicated what he had learned from the Lord unto his Family he used his Authority and commanded his Children and his Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. 5. Take heed of customariness and formality in family-Worship engage always with a serious Spirit and in every Duty stir up your selves to take hold on God I conclude with the motives to perswade you to Family-Prayer 1. You that are Governours have a charge of the Souls that dwell under your Roof and must answer for them Therefore you are to pray with them to pray for them Else you will incur the guilt of the Blood of Souls and that will lie heavy You provide food for your Housholds for you are unwilling it should be said you are so much worse than Infidels as to suffer any to starve that dwels with you Oh what unmercifulness is it patiently to suffer those of your Houshold to go on in the way that leads to Damnation And not to call upon the Lord in their hearing that they may be saved 2. Families are the Seminaries both of Church and State And therefore as you desire the Church may be pure and the State Righteous look well unto your Families and let Religion flourish in them Reformation indeed must begin at Persons and if every one would mend one all would be reformed But from persons it must proceed to houses And if these were but once leavened with godlyness what holy Citys and what an happy Nation would there be 3. Consider Family-Worship has wofully been neglected of late in these declining times How many large consciences loose principles and loose practises are there to be found among us
Gospel and also promises to bestow 4. In prayer we are to watch over our Consciences that they perform their Office faithfully Their Office is to observe and condemn every miscarriage to urge unto a more spiritual manner of praying and to be restless and unquiet if prayer be omitted upon any slight pretence or the Male in the Flock be not offered to the Lord but a corrupt thing A tender Conscience is a blessing that can never be sufficiently valued this will cause the best to be given unto God this will not be satisfied till God approves and commends and what a Heaven follows upon prayer when the Lord himself and his Officer Conscience are both pleased But if you grow unwatchful over our Consciences and suffer them to fall asleep and become feared a thousand faults in prayer will be winkt at nay we shall be but little reproached for the total omission of it 5. In prayer we are to watch over our affections the more of affection in prayer the more pleasing the duty will be to God and the more pleasant to him that performs it There is enough in the Lord to draw forth the very strength of our affections How great is his goodness how able and powerful is his Hand to save how unsearchable are the riches of his grace Eye has nâ—t seen ear has not heard neither has â—â— entred into the heart of man what he has prepared for those that wait upon him Isa 64. 4. We are inexcusable if all this move not our affections We should watch and observe when our affections do but begin to incline towards former Lovers and then compare those Lovers and the Lord together that other things may be contemned and our souls may even break for longing after God 6. In prayer we are to watch over our outward man our tongues and sences must be lookt to our tongues must speak reverently considering God is in Heaven and we on Earth Eccles 5. 2. and we must have warrant from Gods own word for the words we utter before him Our sences must be guarded else at the ear or eye especially something or other may enter that may disturb prayer and hinder it from being so fervent and effectual You see what we must watch over In the third place I am to shew what we must watch for in prayer 1. We must watch for fit seasons to pray There are some times and seasons in which God is neerer than at others and more ready to be sound of them that seek him this the Prophet intimates Esa 55. 6. Seek â—e the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near These seasons of grace and love are carefully to be observed and improved to the uttermost When the Lord came so near to Jacob as to suffer him to take hold of him that was a special season and Jacob was sensible of it and wrestles lonâ— and with an holy vigour he keeps his hold and would not let go till he had got the blessing Gen. 32. 29. That also was a special opportunity when the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend Exod. 33. 11. Moses improves this and beggs for the Lords presence with him and with the people of Israel and having prevailed for this he adds further Lord I beseech thee shew me thy glory v. 18. Hereupon the Lord made his goodness to pass before him and proclaimed The Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering abundant in goodness and in truth keeping mercy for thousands fâ—rgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin 2. We must watch for Admonitions from Conscience unto Prayer When Conscience says Thou hast not yet prayed in secret now go and pour out thy heart before him that sees in secret Thou hast not yet pray'd in thy Family Call all of thy Houshold together and joyn in begging that the Lord would have mercy upon all Conscience is by no means to be dis-regarded but its admonition should be taken The Authority which the Lord allows to Conscience is great and its office is of a large extent Conscience is a Witness and a Judge and a Monitour As a Witness it takes notice of the evil which we do of the good which we refuse to do and likewise observes when we are careful of our duty As a Judg it acquits or condemns according as we have been either good and faithful or evil and sloathful Servants As a Monitour it tells us before hand of our duty and as we would avoid its Accusations and Reproaches we should not venture upon any sin which it crys out against nor neglect prayer or any other duty which it charges us to perform as we will answer it before God 3. We must watch for the motions of the spirit unto prayer When the Holy Ghost moves to this duty and his motions are heeded and obeyed we are to conclude that the same spirit which moves to prayer will assist in prayer 'T is a wonderful priviledge that the Spirit is sent unto the Churches and is speaking and striving for their good Every one should have an ear to hear what the spirit says Rev. 3. ult When the Spirit speaks concerning sin this is not the way therefore avoid it Oh do not this abominable thing which God haâ—es we must by no means consent to evil When the Spirit says concerning duty this is tâ—e way walk in it Esa 30. 31. we must by all means yeild unto that which is good If the Lord by his Spirit says Seek my Face with the greatest forwardness we should reply Thy Face Lord will we seek and he will not then hide his Face from us nor put his Servants away in anger The motions of the Spirit unto prayer are twofold Ordinary Extraordinary 1. There are more ordinary motions unto prayer 'T is the mind and will of the Spirit that our usual times for prayer of all sorts should be observed and though deadness and indisposition be never so great and our hearts draw back from the Throne of Grace yet we must go thither Experience teaches that where deadness at the beginning of prayer has seemed invincible yet of a sudden it has been removed and the duty has been carried on and concluded with more than ordinary enlargements The Israelites were commanded to go forward when they came to the red Sea they might have answered what would you have us march into the water and be drowned Well but forward they go and the water is dried up before them Exod. 14. So truly many times when about to pray there is great listlesness and many discouragements Yet we must go forward and engage in our duty and the Sea is dryed up before us these discouragements are removed 2. These are more extraordinary motions of the Spirit unto Prayer Upon some remarkable Providence either cross or kindness upon the hearing of some more than ordinary affecting Truths upon some special manifesttions by way of quickning and peace
make them mend their sluggish pace in duty he chastned them that he might hear louâ—er crys and have more serious prayers from them Use 2. shall be of Exhortation Be perswaded to watch in prayer Those that watch not at all pray not at all in Gods account those that watch most make most of prayer These Arguments I shall further use to second this Exhortation 1. The more watchful you are in prayer the better you will understand the Deâ—ils Enmity you will perceive his envy and his hatred and how loath he is that you should receive any distinguishing mercies especially at the Hand of God therefore he does so bestir himself that he may resist you and the better you know this Enemy the better armed will you be 2 The more watchful you are in prayer you will be more acquainted with your selves and with your own hearts you will more fully understand your wants and your spiritual plagues and the understanding of these is one good step to the supply and cure 3. The more watchful you are in prayer the more experimentally will you understand the loving kindness of the Lord you shall find that he deals bountifully Psal 116. 7. Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee God is certainly willing to give they that watch in prayer take notice what they receive and great joy 't is to behold the prayers which as Messengers we dispatched to Heaven return loaded with mercy Joh. 16. 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full So much for that fourth Doctrin In Prayer Watching is a necessary Ingredient D. 5. we must persevere if we would speed in prayer or prayer must be with all perseverance the words of the Text are not without Emphasis not only perseverance but all perseverance is required by the Apostle There should not be the least fainting but a vigorous persistance in our supplications Hark how the Apostle speaks in other places Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in prayer In speaking to this Doctrin I shall first tell you what 't is to persevere in prayer Secondly What kind of perseverance is required Thirdly Give you the Reasons of this perseverance Lastly Make Application In the first place what 't is to persevere in prayer 1. This perseverance in prayer implyes Resolvedness of Spirit against all opposition the resolution is not to be made in our own strength but in the power of Grace and then it will be firm and hold He that perseveres in prayer resists Satans endeavours to hinder him in this duty Though this Lyon roar upon him by fearfully Blasphemous thoughts though this Adversary buffet him by confused amazing and affrighting imaginations yet all his skill does not beat him off from prayer the more busie he finds Satan the more need he perceives of calling upon God And as the Devil cannot prevail by his more irksome temptation so as to cause an omission of prayer in like manner on the other side the more pleasing temptations are withstood When he speaks big words concerning sports and pastimes and the pleasures of sense when he talks at an high rate of worldly advantages that are to be pursued that he may divert and draw away the heart from prayer yet he that perseveres in this duty believes this lying and deceitful spirit in nothing Nay he retorts upon him and answers that therefore he prays that he may find true joy and greater sweetness in God than the Creatures can possibly yeild that therefore he prays because he has a mind to be rich indeed and to have a treasure in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where Thieves cannot break thorow nor steal Mat. 6. 20. And as for that opposition he meets with from within from the corruption of his heart which is indeed the greatest he bewails it struggles with it and crys out for the spirit of life to quicken and help him He is convinced of the necessity of prayer and the excellency of what is prayed for and opposition is but a whet to him that he may stir up himself to lay hold on God 2. This perseverance in prayer implies getting through all discouragements The more blind Bartimeus was discouraged by the people he cryed the louder Jesus thou Son of David have mercy upon me Mar. 10. 48. and his cry was heard according to his desire he had his sight restored The Woman of Canaan who came to Christ that her Daughter might be dispossessed of a Devil met with great discouragements but overcome them all Mat. 15. 21. 29. When first she utter'd her request Christ answered her not a word this one would have thought might have struck her dumb and made her conclude it vain to have spoken any more Oh no still she cryed after him whereupon the Disciples intercede for her Christ answers he was sent to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel here was a second repulse but neither did this discourage she comes and worships him and sayes Lord help me Christ replys it is not meet to cast the Childrens bread unto the dogs This was a third repulse and worst of all And yet she gives not over but pleads that though she were indeed no better then a dog yet crumbs might be given her And now she speeds and whatever she had a mind to was granted He that perseveres in prayer will not be discouraged Is his guilt great he replys that the Lords mercy will be the more magnified if he obtains a Pardon Is he much distemperd he replys the more will the skill of the great Physician be shewn in healing his Spiritual plagues Is he very unworthy he replys that the Prodigal upon his returning found his Fathers doors and his Fathers arms open though he came home in raggs having before wasted all his Substance among the harlots and in riotous living Though he is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked yet he says That Christ has ey-salve to make him see gold tried in the fire to make him rich and white raiment to cover him Rev. 3. 17. 18. 'T is a Mercy Seat 't is a Throne of grace he goes to and therefore discouragements are not invincible 3. This perseverance in prayer implies continual importunity Importunity is many times troublesom to Man but God is delighted with it Humility indeed becomes us in our addresses to him but yet we are allowed to be urgent to be instant to be pressing in these things which is according to the will of the Lord and he loves to see us so for it argues we value highly what we begg with importunity The unjust judg was prevailed with by the widdows importunity And will the Lord neglect importunate Prayer that has commanded and encouraged importunity and that is so righteous and so gracious He that perseveres in prayer follows the Lord with his