The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit c. and that in Psal 34.18 The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart It must needs be so for they pray in humility of heart before him 7. We see that they that are truly godly cannot but be humble in Prayer it is their property and they look at it as their duty so to be 8. We see that they that flant it in their Prayers with quaint words and curious expressions they know not what faith and godliness mean it 's ill in Preaching so to do 1 Cor. 2.1 2 4. but much worse in Prayer Eloquent Beggars are not regarded by men much less flanting Beggars before the Lord. Vse 2. for Reproof 1. Of those that use such gestures in Prayer as savour not of humility and reverence sitting sleeping gazing upon vain objects some have much to answer for the two latter both which argue high contempt of God and being frequent great profaneness of heart 2. Against those that confess not their own vileness and unworthiness nor so abase themselves as humble Suppliants ought Vse 3. for Exhortation To pray in humility Motives 1. Such are justified ones and thereby exalted Luke 18.13 14. 2. Such gather upon God and gain upon him Gen. 18. from 24 to 33. as Abraham 3. Such shall have difficult things done for them Mark 9 24.-29 4. Such shall be saved out of all their troubles Psal 34.6 5. Such are the friends of God Jam. 2.23 Helps 1 Be apprehensive of Gods greatness 2 Grow in faith nothing humbleth us more then it 3 Look to the multitude of our debts 4 Be poor in Spirit such pray humbly 5 Be sensible of the Lords mercy we are never more humble then when most apprehensive of that 6 Gather what we can against our selves daily Vse 4. for Examination whether we pray in humility Marks 1 Humility is free and full in confessing particular sins 1 Chron. 21.17 2 It aggravates sin Ezra 9.6 7 13. 3 It changeth all sorts with sin Dan. 9.7 8 10 11. 4 It bears hard words Matth. 15.27 from others 5 It layes load upon our selves Psal 73.22 6 It makes us silent before the Lord Job 40.4 5. 7 It makes us loath and abhorre our selves Ezek. 36.31 Job 42.6 Verse 27. Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes Doct. XIV THat Believers are and may be bold with the Lord in praying Thus was Abraham bold with God here Behold sayes he I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord c. For opening of which let me shew 1. Wherein this boldness does consist 2. Why they may be so bold with the Lord in praying to him 3. The Vses Quest 1. Wherein does this boldness consist A. 1. In speaking freely all that we have to say to him So the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holds out Heb. 4.16 it properly signifies A liberty to speak all that we can speak or A freedome to speak all our minde Men may sometimes cut us off and make us break off before we have spoken all we would and bid us forbear as 2 Chron. 25.16 Amaziah did to the Prophet but the Lord would have us so bold with him as to speak all we have to say in his ears he will not interrupt us or break off our speech but give us liberty to speak all our minde to him That 's the first 2. It consists in an humble taking upon us to speak in his Presence so did Abraham here sayes he I have taken upon me though but dust and ashes to speak to the Lord that is I have been bold to speak to him or I have freely begun to speak to him as the Hebrew word is sometimes taken 3. It consists in seeking to gather and gain upon God in our requests that we put up to him Thus bold was Abraham here he seeks to gain upon God in his addresses to him as we shall shew more hereafter if the Lord will 4. It consists in coming frequently and as often as may be into his Presence They that go often into the Kings Presence are bold with him as Favourites use to be so they that are often with the Lord are bold with him So were Enoch and Noah that had their constant walks with God Gen. 5.22 24. 6.9 5. It consists in our familiarity and acquaintance with God and in that fellowship and friendship that we have with him Job 22.21 1 Joh. 1.3 Abraham was the friend of God Jam. 2.23 and so was bold with him A friend to a man will take more boldness upon him then a stranger so they that are friends of God 6. It consists in asking great things of him That man is bold with his Prince that desires great things of him as sometimes a Prince's Favourite will thus bold may Believers be with God they may ask great things of God even the holy Ghost himself Luke 11.13 Quest 2. What manner of boldness is it wherewith Believers may be bold with him Ans 1. An humble boldness they may be humbly bold with him Abraham takes upon him to speak to the Lord but acknowledgeth in an humble manner that he is but dust and ashes Petitioners that are bold with their Princes yet they ask upon their knees for what they have a desire to have So here 2. It is a familiar boldness we may be familiarly bold with him Abraham familiarly communed with God and God with him Gen. 18.33 3. It is a reverend boldness we pray to him as to a Father and therefore must give him reverence as other Children do to their Fathers Heb. 12.28 Let us have grace whereby we may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear 4. It is a comely boldness we must not be rude in his Presence but pray in comely manner beseeming the Presence of the great God They that Petition to Princes carry themselves in a beseeming manner and according to the Majesty they come before So must we we may be bold with the Lord in praying to him but so as to consider who we are before and who we have to deal with we do it so as becomes such a Majesty as God is Thus Abraham did he was bold but he was not rude 5. It is a boldness that keeps it's distance Abraham was bold with the Lord but looks at him as Jehovah as the Lord infinitely above him that was vile and base dust and ashes So may we be bold in praying to him but look that we know our distance we must look at God as he is and look at our selves as we are 6. It is a boldness that exalts Gods grace that we may be so bold with him Abraham in all the boldness that he used aimed at this that the grace of God might be exalted in not destroying but sparing Sodom that wicked place and people Such should our boldness be 7. It is an holy boldness Abraham does not
will make a full supply of all our spiritual wants when we shall enjoy what we desired here and farre more 6. Till we come to the blessed satisfaction that we shall have in glory let us be exhorted to renew our Requests daily and having sped well in some of our suits let us ask more We go to a full Fountain to a rich Treasure that Phil. 4.19 can supply all our wants by Jesus Christ Verse 28. And he said If I finde forty and five there I will not destroy it Doct. XVI THat the Lord is willing to grant the renewed Requests that Believers bring before him and when they ask more they shall have more given in to them Abraham desires here That if there were five and forty Righteous found in Sodom the place might not be destroyed and God gives him a gracious Answer to this new Petition If I finde forty and five there I will not destroy it Gideon renewed his Request about the fleece and that request was granted as well as the former Judg. 6.39 40. He knows how to make new grants as well as other Princes do If Kings Subjects renew their Requests and get renewed Grants then his faithful Subjects much more Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suiters and Suppliants 3. From the Grants themselves First From the Lord himself 1. He is Rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 and having enough by him how can he but renew his grants and give more when we sue and seek unto him for it Rich men give according to their quality and condition so God that is rich in mercy 2. He is a great King Mal. 1.14 and will give according to the state of a King and they as I said that are Kings on earth stick not at renewed Grants and how then should he that is the great King over all the earth Psal 47.2 3. His Mercies are new every morning Lam. 3.23 the Sun is not oftner seen by us then his Mercies they look us in the face every day The Light of the day does no more fail us then his mercies do The Morning is not oftner renewed upon us then his mercies are and therefore what new grant is there greater then the former that we may not have from him if we seek it of him 4. He treads never a step but that that is paved with mercy All the paths of the Lord are mercy to them that fear him and to them that keep his Covenant Psal 25.10 His paths that he comes in towards us in his Ordinances in his Providences they are all beset and bespread with mercies and therefore what new mercy it is that we would have and what more then formerly we have had for our selves or others he is willing to give in to us 5. He hath commanded us not to withhold from others that which is their due when it is in the power of our hand to do it Prov. 3.27 and if so then sure he will not withhold any thing from us if we seek it of him though it be new seeing it is in the power of his hand to do it He would not be out-bidden and out-vied by man he would not fall short in a way of kindness and goodness of any of the sons of men 6. He is a God hearing prayer Psal 65.2 he is alwayes at it Other Princes have their times appointed to hear their Suiters their set times and dayes of audience to hear Ambassadors but God is alwayes hearing his Suiters and be it that our Prayers be the Souls Ambassadors yet he puts them not off but is alwayes hearing and therefore what new Requests we come with we may get a grant from him of them Secondly From his believing Suppliants 1. They are his Loyal Subjects he is King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and Loyal and faithful Subjects may get their Grants renewed much more may his 2. They are his Servants Psal 116.16 and Servants of Princes such as they are that are of the Bed-chamber as they are wise to take their time to renew their suits so they have the Kings ear and a new Grant signed and sealed to them and shall the Servants of God fare worse then the Servants of Princes Surely no. 3. They are in favour with him and accepted of him Eph. 1.6 and what new Grants have not they that are in favour with Princes and shall not we much rather that are in favour with God Brutus with Julius Mecenas with Augustus Sejanus with Tiberius what might they not have had of these great ones and if so what new grants may not the Saints have of him that hath made us accepted in the beloved 4. They are his Friends Jam. 2.23 and any friend will get a new grant and have more for asking what can God deny us then that seek for new favours and new grants from him 5. They are his Followers Eph. 5.1 they imitate him in his Virtues and Excellencies and such may have any thing of him Similitude works us up to the height we love those that resemble us so does God and we may have what we will of him if we be like to him 6. They please him and therefore may have what they will of him Joh. 15.7 1 Joh. 3.22 let them renew their suits as often as they will he will renew his grants as often to them and if they would have more they shall have more Thirdly From the renewed grants themselves 1. They are easily made by him it is as easie with him to give more as less to renew twenty as well as one He can do every thing Job 42.2 2. They are quickly and speedily done they are sometimes granted before they are asked Isa 65.24 Dan. 9.23 3. They are cordially given in with all his heart and with all his soul Jer. 32.40 41. and what should hinder their coming in then to us 4. They tend to his honour he hath the glory of them given to him Lam. 3.23 he hath new songs for his new mercies Psal 40.3 5. They binde us to duty and obedience New Grants made by Princes oblige the Subjects to duty and obedience so these grants from God 6. They are greatly indearing our hearts to God Princes by their liberality endear their Servants to them so does God His love to us begets our love to him 1 Joh. 4.19 It is observed of King James That he bound those he loved unto him by granting them some Request that they made suit for which he thought bound their love to him so does God by his grants endear our hearts to him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a full-handed and open-hearted God we have to do with that both can and will give us more for asking and make renewed grants to us We do not come to a poor Prince but to one that is rich and full and hath great things to give and if we renew our Requests he can easily and speedily renew his grants We make supplication
bold with him Isa 64.7 5. He makes account that such cast off fear as restrain prayer and are not bold with him Job 15.4 and Believers are loth to have that imputed to them for faith and fear go together Heb. 11.7 6. He alwayes makes us the more welcome the more bold we are with him when we pray to him Abraham lost nothing by taking upon him to speak unto the Lord and being further bold with him A bold friend findes hearty welcome from men much more from the Lord they that sue oftenest speed the best Secondly From our selves 1. We sue to a God who hath said that we shall not seek his face in vain Isa 45.19 and therefore may be bold with him and make further bold 2. We sue to him who hath given out that great word Isa 45.11 Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command me which none of us durst have thought of had not he spoken it 3. We sue to him that hath said Psal 81.10 that if we be so bold as to open our mouthes wide and enlarge our desires he will fill and satisfit them 4. We go to him who is the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 and therefore can supply us abundantly What cannot that God of all grace bring in to us All grace is more then Rich grace A man may be Rich and yet not have All but God is not onely Rich in grace but the God of all grace and therefore can make all grace to abound towards us 5. We sue to him who will never send us empty away who turns none away from his doors without relief His suiters shall never go sad away from him He sends the rich empty away that think they need nothing Luke 1.53 but filleth the hungry with good things 6. We go to him that hath said that Every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.8 and therefore we may be bold and further bold with him We may be bold to think that he will not be harder to us then he is to every one Thirdly From the nature of Believers boldness 1. It draws us nearer unto God and that God delighteth in we get near to the Throne of Grace 2. It makes a man go out of himself more and see what need he hath of supplies from Heaven and that 's a gracious frame of heart 3. It lets us see our own unworthiness Gen. 32.10 11. Luke 15.21 and that God takes pleasure in 4. It holds up our friendship with God and assureth us that we are his friends in that we make so bold with him Jam. 2.23 5. It is the very Suburbs and Gate of Heaven for they in Heaven can be holily bold with the Lord Dan. 4.17 6. It is a blessed fruit of Christs Ascension Heb. 4.14 16. Upon all which grounds Believers may be bold and further bold with him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a gracious God we sue to that we may be bold and further bold with in our requests that we put up to him He proclaimed his Name thus of old The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 2. We see that Believers have great interest in him that may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak again and again thus to him 3. We see that great is the friendship that is between God and Believing Souls Great hath been the friendship that hath been between some men but none like this between God and his believing ones 4. We see that to be bold with God and to be further bold with him in our requests that we put up to him is an argument that God is very near to us and we very near and dear to him 5. We see that surely we shall be near indeed to him in heaven when faith is turned into vision 6. We see that if we make so bold with him here in praying to him Oh what holy boldness shall we have with him when he clasps us in his Everlasting Arms and puts us into his Bosome to all Eternity 7. We see that though Believers are the modestest men that are yet they are the boldest men also for they can take upon them to speak to God and to be further bold with him 8. We see that no men nor Devils shall be able to dash them out of countenance for they can be bold with God himself 9. We see a reason of that in Ephes 6.16 That that makes us bold with God will make us victorious over the wicked one 10. We see how bold we should be in a good cause and for a good conscience as Peter and John Acts 4. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they cannot be bold this way though they make too bold with him by sin Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are not so bold with him as they may Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be holily bold 2. Believe 3. Fear him 4. Be friends to him 5. Apply Christs Ascension 6. Walk with him 7. Love Christ Verse 31. Peradventure there shall twenty be found there Doct. XXIV THat Believers in making suit to the Lord improve Gods bounty and mercy all that ever they can in behalf of others that they sue for Abraham found God merciful to Sodom that if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared the whole place for their sakes then afterwards if there had been five and forty then if there had been forty then if there had been thirty and had a grant so far and now having obtained so much mercy he improves it yet further to twenty Peradventure there shall twenty be found there he will try yet further what the Lord will do Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rom. 10.12 and that Riches of his mercy is inexhaustible we cannot empty the treasure of it nor draw the fountain of it dry it is a Spring that is alwayes full and therefore we may improve it all that ever we can A rich Myne may be digged into and a rich Treasure may be made use of and a full Fountain drawn So here 2. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think Eph. 3.20 and therefore we may improve it to the utmost and ask high of him Our desires are scant our thoughts are narrow to that large bounty and mercy that he can impart to us 3. He is such a full one that the whole earth is full of his mercy Psal 119.64 and that that fills the whole earth we may well improve for those that we pray for We may have enough of that that the whole earth is full of 4. His thoughts and wayes of mercy are not like our thoughts and wayes but as the heavens are higher then the earth so are
his wayes higher then our wayes and his thoughts then our thoughts Isa 55.8 9. Psal 103.11 and therefore we may well improve it to the utmost 5. He is infinite in mercy as well as in his other Attributes Psal 145.3 147.5 and therefore we may improve it what we can and as far as our finite natures can go this way 6. He delights in mercy Mic. 7.18 and that that he delights in that should we delight to improve to the utmost and he will also delight in our improvement of it as he did all along in Abrahams here Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have experience of his mercy to themselves and therefore improve it all they can in behalf of others Abraham found the Lord merciful to himself and therefore improves mercy for others 2. They are of a merciful disposition to others Righteous and Merciful men are coupled together Isa 57.1 Now being of a merciful disposition hence it is that they do improve the the Lords mercy what they can for them 3. Believers have a promise that being merciful they shall obtain mercy Mat. 5.7 and that themselves shall be no losers by it and therefore may well improve the Lords mercy for others 4. They know that it's Gods will that they should love mercy Mic. 6.8 and this way they shew their love of mercy in improving Gods mercy to others 5. They are good stewards of the manifold grace of God and this way shew it by improving the mercy of God in behalf of others as well as for themselves 6. They are like God and he is communicative and so are they in improving his mercy as far as may be for the good of others God is good does good Psal 119.68 and the further a sweet Fountain runs the better it is Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They often prevail for others as well as for Believers themselves Abraham missed not of one of his desires for wicked Sodom 2. Their Prayers if they should miss for others yet will return into their own bosomes Psal 35.13 3. Their Prayers pierce heaven 2 Chro. 30.27 4. They have a kinde of soveraignty with them Isa 45.11 5. They bring the Lord to our beck Isa 58.9 6. They are never in vain Isa 45.19 and is not such mercy worth the improving Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how full of love Believers are to others that are so willing to improve the Lords mercy so farre for their good Abraham desires mercy for Sodom if there were but twenty righteous found amongst them Faith and Love ever go together lodge in the same breast and take up together in the same heart 2. We see that Believers are not all for themselves but very desirous that others should partake of the Lords mercy with them Faith is a communicative grace and does not centre within it self Gal. 5.6 3. We see how precious Believers should be in our eyes for they are such as do all they can to make others partakers of Gods mercy Mal. 3.17 Jewels communicate their beauty to others as well as retain it within themselves 4. We see how Believers resemble God himself he is good and does good Psal 119.68 and so do they 5. We see that they that share in the Lords mercy themselves are not so content but would have others partake in it also and therefore so desire it for them 6. We see what love will be in heaven if Believers have so much here on earth there 's all love there 1 Cor. 13.8 7. We see that the Lords mercy is a rich Myne and Treasure seeing it may be so improved and Believers do so desire to improve it for others 8. We see what improvement we should make of Gods mercy to our selves 9. We see that Believers do well in fulfilling the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 10. We see what longings we should have after heaven for then the Lords mercy will be fully manifested Jude ver 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to those that share not in this mercy Vse 3. for Humiliation that we fall short in our duty this way Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To evidence our Faith this way 2. To improve his mercy for our selves 3. To look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life Jude ver 21. 4. To honour Believers 5. To Pray Luke 17.5 6. To give the Lord the glory of all his mercy Verse 31. And be said I will not destroy it for twenties sake Doct. XXV THat the Lord doth exceedingly condescend to his believing Suppliants in praying to him and improving his mercy in behalf of others So does the Lord here Abraham desires that if there be but twenty Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and God condescends to him in his request and sayes he will not destroy it for twenties sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suppliants 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is a God ready to forgive Neh. 9.17 Psal 86.5 and not to inslict punishment especially when sued unto by Believers See Exod. 32 11.-14 Numb 14 13-21 2. He prepares their hearts and then causeth his ear to hear Psal 10.17 He that gives heart-preparation he ever lends a listening ear 3. He provides for the Ravens when his young ones cry unto God Job 38.41 Psal 147.9 and if he come down so low as to hear them then sure he will not disdain to condescend to his believing Suppliants that sue to him in behalf of others 4. He gives the beasts their food ibid. and they make but an harsh sound they some of them roar as the Bear and Lion and some of them bray as the Ass and some of them bellow as the Ox and if he condescend so low as to hear such noises and voices how much more will he come low in hearing his believing Suppliants whoever they pray for 5. He is a God that is merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 and therefore hears them in behalf of whomsoever they sue for His Mercy and Grace makes him thus to condescend 6. He hears sometimes farre worse then they The Israelites murmured at the Red-sea yet Neh. 9.9 God heard their cry there to save them with a temporal salvation though afterward they were destroyed in the wilderness Jude ver 5. and if he would hear such much more will he condescend to hear his believing Suppliants on whose behalf soever they sue for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have much communion with him as we see in Enoch and Noah Gen. 5.22 6.9 and God will condescend much to those 2. They are accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 and what is it that they may not prevail for he will condescend much for their sakes 3. They please him Heb. 11.5 and such as so do may have any thing of him 1 Joh. 3.22 4. They ravish his heart Cant. 4.9 that one eye of their Faith wins his heart he is taken with it as a Lover is with the beauty of
that eye that he beholds his heart is inclosed in that eye 5. They are they that are very dear to Christ Mat. 12.49 50. what may not they have of him 6. They are such as this King delighteth to honour and they may have great things done for them Joh. 12.26 See for illustration Esth 6.6 7. Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are the breathings of his Spirit he endites them Rom. 8.26 will not God condescend to do much for them 2. They are the Requests of the Spirit ibid. and shall not the Spirits requests be heard will not God condescend far to these 3. They are the groanings of the Spirit ibid. when they cannot speak he helps them to groan and he hears groans as well as words Psal 102. 4. They are as Incense Psal 141.2 and the smoke of that went upward 5. They are Odours sweet in the nosthrils of God Rev. 5.8 6. They are perfumed with Christs Intercession Rev. 8.3 and will not God condescend far and do much for these Prayers Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what condescendency we should use to those that are suiters and petitioners to us we should be followers of God herein and come off to them in their desires and condescend all that ever we can to them we cannot have a better pattern to follow Ephes 5.1 2. We see what a gracious God the Lord our God is that does so farre condescend to his believing Suppliants when they sue to him in behalf of others No gracious Prince like him that stoops so low and comes off so largely to them that sue to him 3. We see what encouragement we have to improve Gods mercy in suing to him in behalf of others for he condescends very farre to us when we speak in their behalf he smiles upon our desires and gives the thing we sue for we cannot ask any thing but we have it 4. We see who must have the glory of what he grants in so farre condescending to us in behalf of others it is not from any worthiness of us that sue or of those that are sued for but of his grace and mercy and he must have the glory 5. We see the great humility of the Lord that stoops so low to poor vile dust and ashes it should make us wonder at it Psal 113.5 6. no humility like this of the great God towards such earth and clay as we are 6. We see how precious Believers are in his eyes that thus condescends to them in granting what they ask of him in behalf of others and in coming down so low to their desires for them Surely they are his Jewels as he styles them Mal. 3.17 and very precious to him 7. We see that Believers Prayers are like sweet Odours for else God would never condescend so low as he does to them in hearing them for others as well as for themselves 8. We see how low we should come down to him in every thing that he calls us commands us to perform The very least of his Commandments we should stoop unto and be willing to say Here I am Lord Command what thou wilt and through thy grace and help I will do it 9. We see that we may well stoop to him in a way of suffering what he calls us to if it were to lay our neck to the Block for him if it were to be Whipt and Rack'd for him if it were to be spitefully used and scorned and spat upon and scoffed c. we may well bear it for him that condescends so farre to us Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers he will do nothing in such a way for them Vse 3. for Humiliation That we too much forget others in our Prayers that we might prevail for Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To love the Lord that thus condescends to us 2. To praise him Psal 66.20 3. To long to be with him 4. To do and suffer any thing for him 5. To be humble when we come before him Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once Peradventure ten shall be found there And he said I will not destroy it for tens sake WE are now come to speak of Abrahams last Address that he makes to the Lord and of the gracious Answer that he receives from him In the former we have 1. His renewed desire that God would not be angry 2. His modest insinuation that he will speak but once more In the latter we have the Lords acceptance of what he desires of him even when he came down so low as to desire mercy for them if there were but ten Righteous found amongst them I will not destroy it for tens sake Doct. XXVI THat believing Suppliants will speak as far as ever they can or dare to the Lord in behalf of those that they make supplication for So does Abraham here he goes as far as ever he could or durst even to sue for mercy for them if there were but ten righteous found amongst them Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He gives them leave to be very bold with him Heb. 4.16 and therefore they go as far as ever they can or dare with him If a man give another leave to be bold with him he will try him so far as may be So God giving us leave to be bold with him hence it is that we may go as far as we dare with him 2. He delights to see his children asking largely of him Fathers love to have their children asking of them as far as they dare and so does the Lord our Father and that makes us so willing to ask so far of him 3. He hath the bowels of all the dearest Relations in him and what is to be found in all of them is infinitely more to be found in him and therefore we may be willing to speak as far as we can to him 4. He puts us on to ask great things of him and would not have us confined to our own narrow desires Jer. 33.3 and Believers are willing to put him to it and try him to the utmost 5. He exceeds our desires gives us more then we ask as he did to Solomon 1 Kings 3.13 and therefore we may speak as far as we can or dare to him 6. He is displeased when we scant our desires to him Look as the Prophet was angry with the King of Israel in sparing to smite on the ground 2 Kings 13.18 19. so the Lord will be angry when we spare to speak we might have more if we would speak more Secondly From the believing Suppliants 1. They finde grace in his sight as it is said of Moses Exod. 33.12 and who may speak freely and largely if not they 2. They have found by experience that God bath come off largely to them and therefore cannot scant their desires to him 3. They have encouragement to enlarge their
is to sue to him and makes him lay by his Petition so here 4. We are apt to make an insinuation of our modesty that we would not go beyond due bounds in asking and this makes us cease petitioning before the Lord leaves off to grant So did Abraham here he was a modest suiter I will speak sayes he yet but this once So do modest suiters to men that would give more if asked and so do we to the Lord. 5. We are apt to think that we may be too bold in asking and that will cause us to cease our suits They that make over-bold with Princes are not wise and sometimes get a frown for it Thus Abraham though he was bold with the Lord yet he was afraid he might be too bold and therefore gave over suing before the Lord gave over granting 6. We are far short even the best of us of those bowels of mercy and compassion that are in God We are made partakers of the divine Nature according to our measure 2 Pet. 1.4 but fall short and as far short as finite creatures do of the Infinite One in those Perfections that are in him and in particular this of Mercy and therefore though our bowels may work us up to desire much yet it is nothing to what is in the Lord himself ours are mites but his Talents ours are atomes and motes but his like Mountains ours like a candle but his like the Sun ours little rivulets his like the great Sea Now then his bowels being so full and large and ours so scant it is not to be marvelled at if we leave off petitioning before he leave off granting Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how exceedingly we are engaged to the Lord for his mercy in that he stops not our mouthes in praying to him but lets it appear that we leave off petitioning before he leaves off granting he might justly turn away our prayer and his mercy from us but his Name is for ever to be praised for it that he does it not so David sayes Psal 66.20 and so are we to say and count our selves indebted to him that will not deny us in any thing that we sue for but so long as we pray gives us in our desires and lets us leave suing before he leave granting We are never able enough to exalt his Name for it 2. We see what an amiable and bountiful and royall One we have to do with that ceaseth not to grant our desires that we put up to him but we leave off suing before he ceaseth giving It is not thus with men it is not thus with Princes for though they come off royally to those that are in favour with them and sue to them yet they put a period to their grants but our God is more royal then they for he does never cease giving before we cease asking 3. We see what narrow hearts we have and how contracted our desires are that we have sooner done asking then he hath in giving that we leave off petitioning before he leave off granting We are not straitned in him but we are straitned in our own bowels our hearts are not enlarged as God would have them but we give over first we are weary first God would be willing to hear more of us but we are willing to leave off and to speak no more or else God would not be tired out with our requests how many soever they be that we put up to him 4. We see how abundantly he will satisfie us in a state of glory that is so willing to fulfill our desires here that we leave off suing before he leave off granting There will be all satisfaction there if he have more to give here then we ask then surely when he gets us there we shall have our fill of him the desires of our hearts shall be abundantly satisfied if he stream out here beyond our desires what Rivers will flow in upon us there if here he be above our desires and hath more to give then we to ask Oh how will the Sea break in upon us to overflow all the banks and bounds of our desires there will be a spring-tide coming in amain upon us there 's that there that will be good measure pressed down shaken together and running over If God hath more to give then we ask here Oh what Eternall springs and full Seas of satisfaction shall we there swim in and like the Leviathan play and sport in it to all eternity Our desires are strait and narrow here but there as they are enlarged more abundantly so they shall be abundantly filled and every corner of them brim-full Psal 16.11 17.15 and therefore what longings and breathings should we have after Heaven Our hearts are strait and narrow here but there they shall be large and be in a capacity to take in more then ever we could here We ask a little here and cease but there we shall receive in more then ever we asked or thought Eph. 3.20 We petition for a few things and then give over but then when we are in a state of glory our Souls will be capable of taking in more abundantly then ever they could let out in their desires here 5. We see that if we have no more then we have we cannot fasten any blame upon God he is clear The King and his Throne are guiltless the fault is ours that we leave off asking before he leave off granting We might have more if we asked more our desires are short when the Lords hand is long our Petitions are at an end when his grants end not we give over speaking in prayer before he hath done answering even the best of men have sooner done in their suits then the Lord hath in his royal gratuities did we stretch out our desires more we should finde his loving kindness more stretched out to us and further put forth in the extent and latitude of it Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not at all what can they look for from the Lord If Believers leave off petitioning before he leave off granting and end their suits before he make an end of giving what will become of those that never beg in their suits to him There are multitudes in the world that never put up a serious request to him and if they never get any thing of him what cause have they to complain Jam. 4.2 Vse 3. for Humiliation that we are so short in our desires and so straitned in our asking we strip our selves of many a fair blessing that we might win and wear we deprive our selves of many a royal grant that we might have sealed and confirmed God would do more for us if we asked more of him he hath a full hand and a large heart but we have narrow hearts and straitned desires in suing to him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To pray for enlarged hearts in prayer it must come from Heaven as every other good and perfect gift
honourably of them do honourably by them put them in our hearts lay them in our bosoms give them all the honour that 's fit for men and under God let them have the highest room in our hearts who have this honour from God to draw so near unto God 4. To pray that when we come before him we may indeed as Abraham did draw near to him If we bring our Petitions near him and our hearts be somewhere else we do but mock God and do not draw near to him if our lips go and our hearts gad if our tongues waver and our hearts wander if our mouthes utter and our hearts scatter we do but lose our selves and lose the duty and all the good we might have by it Pray therefore for such an heart as David had Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed we have naturally unfixed hearts unstable hearts such hearts as will give us the slip and give God the slip but if we would indeed draw near to God we must desire a fixed heart 5. To long for heaven where we shall be near him indeed We have through his grace some near approaches to him especially when he makes us serious and lively in the duty even in this life but it is but a little yet whatever it is it is his mercy that we may come any whit near him as it is in Psal 148.14 that he shuts us not quite out of his presence but when we come in glory we shall be near indeed Oh! how near are the blessed Angels and blessed Souls in glory they have his ear they have his heart they are in his Presence-Chamber in his bosom lye near his very Soul no nearness like that which they enjoy and we shall in a state of glory and this we are to long and breathe for 6. In the mean time to be as near him as we can and as often with him as we may the oftner the better the more walks we have with him the more of the rayes of his beauty will be seen upon us the more frequent our addresses be to him the more of heavens glory will be put upon us God will be seen in our very faces something of God in our very countenances all that see us will say Doubtless these men have met with God and God hath met with them they have drawn near to him indeed there is such radiancy of the divine beauty upon them See Exod. 34.29 30. Vse 5. for Consolation 1. Against our loss of near Relations Brethren Sisters Fathers houses nearest and dearest Friends we in this Country have left these but if we can get nearer God here he will be in stead of all more then all to us he hath the fulness of all the sweetest Relations bound up in him We may take that out of God that we forsook in Father Mother Brother Sister and Friend that hath been as near and dear as our own Soul 2. Against loss of our own Country which is to be esteemed as a mans self Luke 4.23 and should be very dear to us but if we be put far from that and draw near to God all is well he will bring us to an heavenly Country and to that that 's better then what we left 3. Against loss of Life here which is dear to us and goes near to our hearts but if we get near God and have more frequent recourse to him by Prayer of faith his presence that we have enjoyed here is more then life We must have died where-ever we had been and if it be our lot to die in a strange Land we are not a whit the further off from God by it our Souls are as soon carried to heaven as if we had died elsewhere HAving shewed what Abraham did in drawing near to God in Prayer we come now to what he said and handle the words as they lye in the Text Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked Doct. II. THat even among the most wicked Sinners there may be found some Righteous This Abraham presupposeth and it was not without ground for Lot there was whom he knew to be a righteous man and so the Holy Ghost styles him 2 Pet. 2.7 8. There was Obadiah in wicked Ahabs Court 1 Kings 18.3 4. Prime Saints there were in cruel Nero's Household Phil. 4.22 at Pergamus where Satans Throne was there were righteous ones Rev. 2.13 So in the old World The world of the ungodly as it is called when all flesh had corrupted their wayes 2 Pet. 2.5 Gen. 6.12 there was a Righteous Noah Gen. 6.9 So Enoch in that wicked Age he lived Jude 14 15. a blessed man that constantly walked with God as the Hebrew Verb in the Conjugation Hithpael holds out and so Junius and Tremelius render it indesinenter ambulabat Some good there are among the worst and vilest among men some Corn among the Chaff some Wheat among the Tares some Gold mingled with the Dross some Sheep with the Goats some sweet Flowers and Herbs growing with the Weeds some fruitful Trees among Briars and Brambles Thorns and Thistles some Jewels among the Sands some Pearls among a multitude of Shells some gracious Saints among the Wicked Reasons 1. From God 2. From the righteous themselves 3. From the wicked 1. From God 1. He would leave the wicked hereby without Excuse that have had some good examples before their eyes some paterns of piety to follow and yet they would be vile when they had such eminent gracious ones amongst them This leaves them wholly without excuse they can make no apologie for themselves That Servant that is idle and riotous when his fellow-servants have been diligent in their work must needs have his mouth stopt his Master will take no excuse So our Master that is in Heaven will take no excuse from such as having good examples before them will yet be wicked when they might be better Mat. 25.24 25 26 27. 2. He makes these Righteous ones more eminent in holiness by living among such wicked ones Who so famous as Enoch and Noah were that lived among the wicked in their times who so eminent as Obadiah in Ahabs house who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 21.25 If we look into 1 Kings 18.3 it is said that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly What rare Jewels were found upon such a dunghill as Nero's Court Phil. 4.22 The most excellent of Saints have been found amongst the most wicked sinners their black makes the godlies white more conspicuous How eminent was Lot in Sodom 2 Pet. 2.7 8. their darkness makes the Saints light shine more brightly their deformity makes the Saints beauty more to be admired they often prove the rarest men that live amongst the worst of men 3. He permits them to be together till the harvest and at the end of the world he will say to the Reapers which are the Angels Gather up the Tares and binde
everlasting destruction 6. Remedilesly there 's no remedy but God must destroy wicked men he knows not how to spare them any longer 2 Chron. 36.16 Prov. 6.15 24.1 When the Disease is so desperate that there 's no healing for it the case is sad such is their case that are destroyed without remedy that no Balm can cure that no Medicine can do any good upon 7. Strangely so were the Sodomites destroyed fire descended contrary to the nature of it they had sinned contrary to nature by their fiery lusts and gone after strange flesh and were in a strange manner destroyed So Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and were destroyed in a strange manner Lev. 10.1 2. So Obad. ver 5. the Prophet cannot tell how to express Edoms destruction it was so strange he stands as it were amazed at it How art thou cut off See Job 31.3 8. Lamentably so as others shall bewail their destruction Thus the Prophets did lamentably bewail Moabs destruction Isa 16.9 Jer. 48.31 32. So Christ bewailed the destruction of Jerusalem Luk. 19 41-44 Thus Rome shall be destroyed lamentably so as all her Merchants and Traders with her shall bewail her bitterly Rev. 18. weeping and wailing and crying out for her lamentable destruction Quest 3. Why will God thus destroy the wicked Ans 1. From himself 2. From them First From himself 1. He is a just Lord Zeph. 3.3 and from that Justice does execute judgement upon them and destroy them Just Judges on earth will not suffer notorious persons to live how much more the just Lord 2. He is a God of purer eyes then to behold evil viz. without loathing and detestation and cannot look upon iniquity viz. with any approbation and this purity of his Nature puts him upon destroying wicked ones 3. He sees all their wickedness more open or more secret Jer. 7.11 23.24 Job 34.21 22. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves and therefore destruction shall be their portion 4. He is a God to whom vengeance belongeth Deut. 32.35 Psal 94.1 and the Lord God of Recompences will surely requite Jer. 51.56 Secondly From the wicked 1. They are devoted to destruction Jer. 12.3 Pluck them out as sheep for the slaughter prepare them for the day of slaughter 2. Their sins are very great and very provoking as the Sodomites sins were and such as God will not pardon 3. They are of so long continuance that he is weary of repenting Jer. 15.6 4. They do some of them sin against the holy Ghost as some of the Pharisees did Mat. 12.31 32. and that sin cannot be repented of Heb. 6.4 5 6. and for such there remains no more sacrifice but a fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10.27 Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the woful estate of wicked men living and dying such God will destroy them They may brave it for a season and flourish and seem to carry all before them and think to do great things against the Lord and his Saints but woe to them the reward of their hands shall be given them and this reward shall be destruction Isa 3.11 The Sodomites carried it highly against the Lord and braved it against just Lot Gen. 19. but within a little time showers of fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all Haman braved it against the Jews and thought to have destroyed them all but he procured his own destruction by it An high house falls sometimes with the weight of it so does an high and proud heart 2. We see that we have no cause to fret or be envious at them for they shall soon be destroyed Psal 37.1 2. Godly men are apt to it I was envious at the foolish sayes Asaph Psal 73.3 So Jer. 12.1 2. but there 's no cause if we consider their end Psa 73.17 18. Destruction is their deserved punishment See Psa 37.35 36. the highest Towers have the deepest falls so they that are in highest dignity Princes Favourites are not onvied because when they come down their fall is great so it was with Haman and with other Favourites Sejanus that Tiberius Caesar made such account of but when he came down his ruine was great And this sad Catastrophe have all wicked men though they may spread their Plumes for a little time and therefore there is no cause to fret because of the wicked nor to be envious at the workers of iniquity a sad blow at last kills them 3. We see what reason there is why we should not chuse any of their wayes Prov. 3.31 lest we have a minde to be destroyed with them They that go together in a way of sin ever go together to destruction except mercy step in to save some of them Prov. 13.20 A bundle of Drunkards a bundle of filthy persons as the Sodomites were a bundle of Blasphemers and so of the rest they shall be all bound up in bundles to be burned together They that chuse the same way go to the same sad journeys end 4. We see what a dreadful God we have to do with and what cause we have to fear before him that will thus destroy the wicked How should we fear before him Children fear when Slaves are beaten so should we 5. We see the great mercy of God to any of us that when we went on in a way of wickedness and deserved to be destroyed that yet he would spare us Psal 103.10 As no sinners were like us so no God is like him Mic. 7.18 How easily and justly might he have destroyed us and rendred to us according to our deserts his mercy hath been great that he hath not dealt with us as we have dealt with him and as we have deserved from him 6. We see that we need not be troubled when such men bring their wicked devices to pass and prosper in their way of evil for after all they must be destroyed when they have run their run they will come to ruine Psal 37.7 8 9. 7. We see how much better it is to cut off right hands and right feet and to pluck out right eyes sins as dear as these members rather then to be thus miserably destroyed Mark 9 43-46 Vse 2. for Terrour to all wicked ones how will they bear destruction when it cometh for if they continue and live and dye such there 's nothing else to be expected but destruction and were it onely to be destroyed out of the land of the living here it were something if it were a fruit of Gods displeasure but Oh the misery of those that are and shall be everlastingly destroyed no tongue can express nor heart can conceive what calamity there is in such destruction the wicked Sodomites now feel it Jude ver 7. Vse 3. for Humiliation that we pity them no more for how can we endure to see them so destroyed we would pity a
upon their Seats of Justice but there is no errour in him no obliquity no iniquity with the Lord no accepting of persons nor taking of gifts 2 Chron. 19.7 Bribes may blinde men and lead them out of the way of righteousness but God regards not gifts he cannot be blinded by them though men may He cannot erre in judgement 6. A Pitiful Judge Some Judges on Earth have been so pitiful as that they never condemned any but they have wept over them but no Judge on earth like him for pity See how he wept over Jerusalem when he foresaw her judgement afar off Luke 13.34 7. A Royal Judge such a Judge as is a King Mat. 25.34 Other Judges may be great men but they are not Kings but he is a King sitting in judgement 8. An All-seeing Judge that knows all hearts Rev. 2.23 and therefore cannot be deceived with vain pretexts and put off with excuses that have nothing in them 9. A Patient Judge that will hold on judging till the work be ended Hence the day of Judgement is called The great day as in other respects so in regard of the length of it as Junius observes which holds out the Judge's patience in seeing all done before he end the work Quest 4. Why is he the Judge of all the Earth Ans 1. From the Father who 1. hath designed him to this work Acts 17.31 2. Knows when it will be Mat. 24.36 3. Hath committed all judgement to him Joh. 5.22 4. Aims at the honour of the Son in so doing ver 23. 2. From Christ himself 1. He hath suffered and is therefore thus honoured Phil. 2.8 9.2 He had the promise of this made to him long before he suffered Isa 53.11 12. 3. He is the one Law-giver and therefore the whole Scripture is called The word of Christ Col. 3.16 and being the Law-giver it 's meet he should be Judge also 4. He is our Advocate with the Father and is called Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 and the more righteous he is the fitter he is to be the Judge Obj. But how did Abraham know him to be the Judge of all the Earth so long before his Incarnation Ans 1. Why not as well as Enoch that was long before him Jude ver 14 15. 2. Abraham was called the friend of God Jam. 2.23 and had it revealed to him as we reveal much to friends 3. The Lord knew not how to hide other secrets from him Gen. 18.17 and therefore not this 4. Abraham was an heavenly-minded man Heb. 11.10 that had in his eye a blessed state of glory and could not but know that there was a judgement to come and that He it was that was the Judge of all the Earth Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the great dignity that the Lord Christ is exalted to after his deep humiliation He is the Judge of all the Earth the Father highly honours him After sufferings comes the greatest dignity they usher in glory Luke 24.26 the Father as a reward of his deep abasement advanceth him to this height of honour to be Judge of all the Earth 2. We see that all the Earth had need stand in awe of him for he is the Judge of all the earth especially all wicked ones of the earth Guilty Malefactors fear their Judge so should all the guilty ones of the earth fear this great Judge and not onely they but others also that expect favour from him Psal 4.4 3. We see that the greatest Kings and Judges of the Earth had need be wise and submit themselves to him that is the Judge of all the Earth Psal 2.10 11 12. for he will one day call them to an account and they must stand before the Judge of all the Earth He respecteth not the person of Princes but will call them to the Barre of his Tribunal as well as other men They are all the work of his hands and he will be a Judge to them all He will make no difference between Silks and Leather between Cloth of Gold and the vilest Raiment Men may make difference between great ones and others but the Judge of all the Earth cannot will not they must bow the knee to him as well as other stoop to him kiss him and make obeisance to him 4. We see that the Patriarks of old did not onely know that there was to be a day of judgement but had serious thoughts and meditations of it and knew who the Judge of all the Earth was Thus Abraham and Enoch the seventh from Adam even in the beginning of the world prophecieth of the End of the world and of the Day of Judgement Jude ver 14 15. and if they had such serious thoughts of that day how much more should we upon whom the ends of the world are come We are upon the last hour as John calls it 1 Joh. 2.18 and therefore our thoughts and looks and longings and breathings should be after that and we should meditate much of this Judge's coming They that have but a short time to think of a serious matter had need to think intensely and seriously of it so we of the Judges coming 5. We see what preparation we should all make to meet the Judge at his coming There is great preparation for the coming of other Judges at the Assize Oh how then should we prepare for his coming who is Judge of all the Earth especially considering that the time is short that is allotted to us They that have a great work to do and a very little time to do it in had need bestirre themselves so had we in this solemn work of fitting our selves for the coming of this great Judge we should not let him finde us without our dress but be in readiness Mat. 24.44 A Spouse prepares for her Husbands coming so should we for Christs coming 6. We see that all the Earth have need to make Supplication to their Judge All sorts and ranks of men upon earth had need desire and earnestly intreat that he may be a merciful Judge to them and in this day of grace that they may find grace in his sight There are those that at the Assize will supplicate the Judge and earnestly cry Good my Lord Good my Lord shew mercy to a poor Prisoner but they speak too late So at the last day there will be those that will say Lord Lord and intreat for mercy Mat. 7.21 22 23. but the time is past they come too late and so finde no favour That that we must do in this kinde must be done while the day of grace lasts as it is 2 Cor. 6.2 Heb. 3.7 If the door be shut if the date be out it is not Lord Lord open unto us that will serve the turn Vse 2. for Terrour to all the Earth that have no interest in this Judge that do nothing but provoke this Judge and cast reproach upon him how will they do to stand before him in the great day of his appearing
obedience to him We owe him ten thousand thousand and thousand of thousands more then ever we can here pay him 3. To long for the time when as he overflows to us in bounty so we shall to him in love and duty 4. To pray without ceasing we shall be no losers by it we shall have the thing we ask 5. To be liberal our selves we have an example worthy our imitation 6. To be little in our own eyes for who are we that he should thus condescend to us Verse 26. And the Lord said If I finde in Sodom fifty righteous within the City then I will spare all the place for their sakes Doct. XI THat the Lord is so full of love to his Righteous ones that he will spare a multitude of wicked ones for their sakes Sodom was a City that had many in it and they were sinners above the ordinary sort but if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared all the place for their sakes Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his Righteous ones First From the Lord. 1. He is a Merciful God he Proclaimed his Name so of old Exod. 34. The Lord The Lord God merciful and such a God as delighteth in mercy Mic. 7.18 and therefore though such sinners and righteous ones deserve no such thing as mercy yet it is meet that he should have his delight Malefactors deserve nothing but punishment but if a Prince delight in mercy and will spare them who hath any thing to say against it but that he may take his delight so here 2. He hath promised that for the sake of his Righteous ones he will deliver great places Job 22.30 He will deliver the Island of the innocent and his Promises are sure words If a King say that he will do a thing it shall be done it is irrevocable he will not call back his word how much more will the Lord make good his promises they are all faithful words and stand fast for ever 3. He hath said that he could do nothing so long as any Righteous ones have been in wicked places his hands are as it were bound and tyed Gen. 19.22 and therefore he will do much for their sakes He knows not how to smite while they are there If the place be never so bad it must be spared till they be gone If he bury any Jewels it shall not be among such dunghill sinners they shall lye down in their graves with honour 4. He orders it in his Providence that when he hath any evil to bring upon a place he takes away his Righteous ones before that evil come Isa 57.1 Austin was taken away before the City where he lived was taken by the Goths and Vandals Parcus was removed by death before Heidelberge was surprized by Spinola and his Souldiers Mr. Whately of Banbury was translated to a better plaee before the Town was taken in the late Wars And all these were removed a little before such judgements came The Corn is gathered into the barn before the Swine are sent into the field so the godly are taken away before any remarkable judgement come which shews how favourable the Lord is to his Servants and that great and sinful places are spared while they are there with them 5. He looks at his Righteous as such as the world is not worthy of Heb. 11.38 for they keep off judgement from the world though they be so vilely and unworthily used in the world They are the props and pillars of the world under God if they were all gathered in the world would soon be burned into ashes and would be on a flaming fire They are they that keep up the whole Fabrick of the Earth and under God keep it from ruine and dissolution 6. He abhors and abominates the workers of iniquity and therefore if he spare them and destroy them not it is for the sakes of the Righteous that are among them it is not for any good will that he bears to the wicked he would soon make an end of them if there were not some amongst them that his Soul takes pleasure in Shells that are good for nothing but to be cast away are regarded for the Pearls that are in them So here Secondly From his Righteous ones 1. They pray for the places they live in that the Lord would be pleased to keep off judgements and continue mercies to them and these Prayers of theirs prevail God cannot tell how to deny the suits that they present before him Lot for Zoar Gen. 19.20 21. Their Prayers are so delightful to him Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 that even places devoted to destruction shall be spared for their sakes the smoke of the incense of their Prayers ascends to God and to his Throne and so prevails that Gods anger cannot so smoke against those places as otherwise it would certainly do were it not that God had such regard to the Prayers of his Righteous ones in their behalf 2. They are vexed with their filthy conversation and tormented day by day with their unlawful deeds 2 Pet. 2.7 8. and this affliction of their souls that they suffer among such wicked ones God hath special regard unto and for the sake of such mourners will spare those places while they continue among them 3. They by their presence keep off the stroke of Gods vengeance Great is the power of the very company of godly ones to bear off and shield off a judgement when it is ready to fall upon a wicked place Evil men do not think so but they shall know it when the righteous are removed from them Isa 57.1 4. They are very tender of his Name and therefore he will so tender them that for their sakes he will do great things yea for a sinning people How tender was Lot of the glory of God that could not endure to hear and see what he did without vexing his righteous soul from day to day and did not God accept him for the sparing of Zoar 5. They keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight and therefore can prevail with him for any thing 1 Joh. 3.22 even for the sparing of a very wicked place and people They that please Princes may have any thing of them that they desire how much more they that do those things that are pleasing to the Lord 6. They delight themselves in the Lord and therefore he will give them the desires of their hearts Psal 37.4 whatever it is that they desire though it be in behalf of a wicked place and people yet even that desire shall be granted to them Such a place and people shall be spared for their sakes 7. They are a people near unto him Psal 148.14 and therefore he will do much for them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what honour God puts upon his Righteous ones that will for their sakes spare wicked places and the worst of people Great is the respect that God bears to them
that for their sakes will not destroy those that are devoted to ruine and destruction It is an honour to finde acceptance with God our selves but to be so much in favour with him that others of the worst sort should fare the better for our sakes this is great grace and favour and high honour put upon us Well may it be said He exalteth the horn of his people the praise of all his Saints Psal 148.14 2. We see how glad evil men may be that they have any Righteous ones living amongst them for it is for their sakes that they are spared were they but once removed from them which they hate and persecute they should quickly see what God would do with them and what wrath would break out against them but Righteous ones stay his hand from striking and hinde his arm from smiting keep back judgements and he is so gracious that he sayes He will spare such wicked ones for their sakes Such as are wicked sinners may think it well for them that they have some Righteous ones among them to stand in the gap and make up the hedge for them or else their destruction would overtake and overwhelm them speedily 3. We see how out of measure sinful they be that are enemies to them and do them all the despite they can in word and deed that are such friends to them that for their sakes God spares them and will not for the present destroy them while they are with them that are the Lords righteous ones Oh the unkindness and deep ingratitude that is in such men and how they will answer it another day it belongs to them seriously to consider of See Psal 109.4 5. 4. We see that they must needs rush into great danger that malign and hate the Righteous and requite evil for good to them Psal 109.5 6. Satan stands at the right hand of such and it is worthy to be had in memory that Solomon speaks He that rewardeth evil for good evil shall not depart from his house Prov. 17.13 Oh that such would consider of this that forget God and what their duty is to Righteous ones It 's bad to requite evil for evil and forbidden Rom. 12.17 but to requite evil for good this is that that argues great wickedness and will bring the severest wrath with it But many men are too willing to undo themselves and theirs that go this way 5. We see how thankeful the Lords Righteous ones should be to him for whose sakes he is willing to spare a wicked people Were it that they had but so much mercy shewed to them to be spared themselves it would be that that they have cause for ever to be thankeful for but that the Lord should extend this further mercy to them that others that are the worst of men should be spared for their sakes this calls for greatest thanks See Gen. 19.19 20 21. 6. We see what great delight we should have in the Lord that so delighteth in his Righteous ones that for their sakes he will spare the worst of places and the worst of men We would delight in a friend that so delighteth in us as to spare others for our sakes Oh how then should we delight in the Lord Psal 37.4 7. We see that surely God will not cast away his own people that will for their sakes spare the worst of men They may think so in time of temptation as some have Psal 31.22 Lam. 3.18 Jonah 2.4 but they need not fear it for he that hath them in such esteem that others fare the better for their sakes how can it then be that he should so forsake them as to cast them utterly out of his sight 8. We see that the prayers of the Righteous that they put up for others are not lost for they keep off judgements even from the wicked themselves how bad soever they be There 's great energie and efficacy in the prayers of Righteous ones Jam. 5.16 But I would but give a touch of this we have occasion often to make mention of it 9. We see what love Righteous ones should come off with to the Lord that for their sakes will spare a multitude of the worst of men We cannot think what love we own him if our hearts were as full of it as the Sea is of water it were far too little for him The love of Angels is too scant for him how much more ours which is but a mite to their talents a drop to their rivers 10. We see what longings we should have to enjoy him for ever that hath such respect to us here that for our Prayers and Presence the worst of men shall escape that destruction that they could not otherwise look for Oh who would not be with him that is so full of love and sweetness to us here His steps as they drop fatness here so they will pour out love and sweetness there Vse 2. for Terrour to those that hate the Righteous that live with them and are never well but when they are joring at them how would such do if they were all gone mischief upon mischief would surely come upon them they should see that to their cost the Righteous were taken away from them Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that say God is gone utterly from them and hath forsaken them Say not so for the Righteous please God so that they prevail for others and if so God will not utterly cast them off Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour the Lord that thus honours us as for our sakes to spare even wicked men Princes are exalted when they spare grievous Malefactors for their sakes that sue to them how much more should the Lord be exalted by us that does thus of his grace for our sakes 2. To do any thing for his sake that he calls for from us that does so much for our sakes to others The most difficult work we should come off with for his sake Heb. 11.8 17 35 36 37. 3. To give up our selves and all we are and have to him Does he for our sakes spare wicked places then let us be wholly his 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 4. To love him heartily that out of love to us does not onely spare us but others also for our sakes Mat. 22.37 5. To be without fear of the hatred of wicked men for the mischief of it for rewarding evil for good will fall upon their own pates 6. To long for everlasting enjoyment of him If he so favour us here while we are among evil men what will he do when we come in Heaven Vse 5. for Consolation 1. That he will not cast away any Righteous ones alwayes as Psal 77.7 8 9. 2. That if he esteem them so here much more in glory Verse 27. And Abraham answered and said Behold now I have taken upon me speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes IN these words we have Abrahams second humble Address to the Lord in further interceding
to him in behalf of Sodom wherein he labours to gain something more of the Lord that though there were not so many as fifty Righteous within the City yet there might be five and forty and therefore intreats that he would not destroy the place for lack of five There are sundry Notes to be observed hence Doct. XII FRom the Style and Title that he gives to himself is this That men yea the best of Believers are but dust and ashes Job 17.14 I have said to Corruption Thou art my father to the Worm Thou art my mother and my sister Eccles 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was Quest 1. In what respects are men yea the best and greatest of them said to be dust and ashes Ans 1. In regard of the first Originall of mans body Gen. 3.19 Hence Elihu sayes Job 33.6 I am formed or as the Hebrew hath it I am cut out of the clay Our bodies are pieces of Clay and we out of the earth are fashioned and formed and cut out into that form that God hath put upon us we sprung from the earth and thence we had our first beginning All of us are Terrae filii dust is the matter that our bodies are made of Gen. 2.7 2. In regard of our last resolution Gen. 3.19 Vnto dust thou shalt return Our bodies must go to dust though they have been never so curiously fashioned and never so much imbroidery bestowed upon them as it is Psal 139.15 yet to dust all the fairest beauty must go and be covered with earth and assimilated to that out of which it was first taken Hence the bodies of the greatest Princes are laid in the dust and are said to go to their earth Psal 146.3 4. and of all it is said Eccles 12.7 The dust shall return to the earth as it was 3. In regard of our vileness dust and ashes are vile things so are we vile Joh styles himself so Job 40.4 Behold I am vile not onely by reason of sin which is the worst vileness but in regard of the meanness and baseness of our Nature that we carry about with us Hence we are compared to the vilest things Job 25.6 Man that is a worm and the son of man that is a worm that one word signifies an Earth-worm and the other a Belly-worm both which are vile and hold out our vileness to us 4. In regard of the contemptibleness of our estate dust and ashes are contemptible things every one treads upon them so contemptible are we unworthy to be looked upon unworthy to be trod upon by the Lord unworthy to come where he is unworthy of the least of his mercies Gen. 32.10 even such as may be justly ashamed and blush to lift up our faces unto him Ezra 9.6 Jer. 3.25 Dan. 9.7 8. 5. In regard of the foulness of our estate dust and ashes are foul things they leave a kinde of soil and filth behinde them so is our state by Nature we are all defiled as an unclean person or thing and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags Isa 64.6 Hence the Psalmist and the Apostle after him describing the condition of natural men sayes They are altogether become filthy stinking as it is in the Hebrew Psal 14.3 there is a dusty soil upon us all 6. In regard of our unprofitableness dust and ashes are little worth unprofitable things such are we and we must say so Luke 17.10 Say sayes Christ we are unprofitable servants Hence the Apostle describing the condition of all natural men sayes They are altogether become unprofitable Rom. 3.12 good for as little as the dust under our feet Vnprofitable unto God Job 22.2 35.7 unprofitable to other men how little good do we to them we may be ashamed of it that we do so little unprofitable to our selves we can destroy our selves Hos 13.9 but any way to do good to our selves it is not in our power by nature to do it 7. In regard of our fickleness and inconstancy dust and ashes are blown away with every wind so are we by nature driven away by every wind of doctrine Eph. 4.14 and with every puff of wind of favour and applause of men as Haman was and with every wind of Satans temptations so that we are as dust and ashes hurled up in the air and scattered with all winds that blow against us 8. In regard of the sudden change of our estate dust and ashes are suddenly removed from the place they were in so is man suddenly removed from one state to another from prosperity to adversity from health to sickness from life to death how many sudden changes do we see made as if like dust and ashes men were suddenly hurled out of their place and state who but Haman one day with the King and within a little after hanged upon the gallows Esth 7.10 Such vicissitudes and changes there are on a sudden as if the dust and ashes flew up into the air all on the sudden with a fierce wind 9. In regard of the ignominiousness of our estate To be laid in the dust is to be ignominious Psal 7.5 Let him lay my honour in the dust that is Let me become most ignominious Our style therefore being dust and ashes it holds out this That our condition is while we are here to be laid low hence we are sometimes laid as low as the dust by affliction and are said to put our mouthes in the dust Lam. 3.29 How low was Job brought The greatest man in the East was brought to sit in the dust yea ignominiously to scrape himself upon the dunghill 10. We are dust and ashes in regard of the fothleness and weakness of our condition Dust and ashes have no power to resist any wind that blows and truly such feeble things we are unable to resist any wind of temptation any tempest of persecution How many fall away in these times Alexander Judas Demas yea all forsook Paul he saith 2 Tim. 1.15 4.16 Puffs of persecution and favour puffs of wealth and honour which are but as wind these feeble men have no power to resist but are carried away with them as dust before the wind Luke 8.13 2 Tim. 4.10 14. Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how little in our own eyes we should all be for when we look biggest and have the most lofty eyes and have the most goodly thoughts of our selves we should then reflect upon our selves and give our selves a check and curb and say We are but dust and ashes and why should such dust so exalt it self It well becomes poor dust and ashes to be humble and lay it self very low the richest and most honourable dust hath done so Psal 131.1 2. and the wisest of the dusty sons of men have done so Prov. 30.2 and so should we 2. We see how many serious thoughts we are to have of our mertality and of our returning to the dust for we are dust and ashes and
ere long must be all covered with dust Princes must return to their dust Psal 146.3 4. Prophets to their dust Zech. 1.5 the Wisest men to their dust Solomon slept with his fathers 1 King 11.43 the Holiest men to their dust 1 King 2.10 David slept with his fathers the Strongest return to their dust as Samson Judg. 16.31 and so it must be with us all and this we had all need seriously to think of and to prepare our selves daily for Job 14.14 3. We see how weaned we should be from all the greatest men in the world what they can do for us for they are but gilded dust they may think to raise us up but in the day of their death their hands are bound and their goodly thoughts perish Psal 146.4 We are therefore to enjoy their favour weanedly for when dust is laid in the dust what can that dust do for us 4. We see that in a way of well-doing we need not fear any man how great soever he is for he is but dust and ashes and how weak is dust and ashes before the wind if the wind of Gods displeasure do blow how easily is such dust scattered and brought to nothing Luke 12.4 Pharaoh Sennacherib Nebuchadnezzar Herod were great Persecutors but they were all dust so are all those that now rage against Gods people and why should we fear them that are but dust and ashes Isa 51.12 5. We see that there is no trust to be put in Princes nor in any son of man for he is as soon taken away as dust before the wind Psal 146.3 4. See how God curseth such Jer. 17.5 and how he pronounceth them blessed that trust in him ver 7 8. Who in his right minde would trust to dust and ashes which any blast will take away Man is dust and as easily carried away as the dust before the wind what folly then like this to trust in him It is as if a man should scrape a heap of dust together and there rest himself and the next puff of wind should presently blow it all away 6. We see what longings we should have for heaven for we are dust here and dwell in dusty houses and tabernacles so the Greek word signifies 2 Cor. 5.1 that house in heaven is made of better materials then dust that building is worth the dwelling in Here we dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust Job 4.19 but that 's a stately house indeed to be earnestly desired after 7. We see how humble we should be in all our holy addresses to God so was Abraham here I am sayes he but dust and ashes But of that in the next Point 8. We see that when our dearest ones leave us and are sometimes suddenly taken from us we may not wonder at it nor be too much troubled for they are but dust and ashes 1 Thess 4.13 14. 9. We see how admirable a workman God is that out of the dust hath formed such a beautiful work as Man is As he is wonderful in counsel so he is excellent in working Isa 28.29 No works are like his Psal 86.8 out of such matter to make such work shews the workman what he is 10. We see what a dreadful thing it is for a man to strive with his Maker How should dust and ashes resist the Omnipotent One Isa 45.9 yet thus do they that strive against his Saints and shall perish in so doing Isa 41.11 Vse 2. for Terrour to those that are Enemies to God How dare dust and ashes thus rebel against him that can as easily blow them all away as the wind drives the dust away Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are afraid of men more then God Isa 51.7 8 12. Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To look at our selves as we are and lye low before God when he afflicts 1 Pet. 5.6 2. To be very serious about our mortality and pray Psal 90.12 3. To lay the death of others to heart Eccles 7.2 Isa 57.1 4. To long to be there where dust shall not cleave to us and we dwell in a better house 5. To breathe after the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.44 Phil. 3.2 6. To hold up these dusty houses as long as we can 7. To beware of disputing Rom. 9.20 8. To come awfully before God in holy duties Verse 27. Which am but dust and ashes Doct. XIII THat it becomes believing Suppliants to be very humble and conscious of their own vileness when they pray before the Lord. So does Abraham here abase himself and lay himself low before the Lord in praying to him Thus the woman of Canaan did she fell at his feet Mark 7.25 Thus Solomon did he kneeled upon his knees 1 Kin. 8.54 Thus humble was David in offering to the building of the Temple 1 Chro. 29.14 16. Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort See also 2 Sam. 7.18 19. how humble he is in praying after God had promised that Solomon should build him an house with many other promises that by Nathan he made to him and his people Who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lord God but thou hast spoken also of thy servants house for a great while to come and is this the manner of man O Lord God Humility as it becomes us at all times and therefore we are commanded to be clothed with it 1 Pet. 5.5 so then more especially it becomes us when we are to pray to him For opening of which Point let me shew 1. Wherein we are to express Humility in Prayer to him 2. Why. 3. The Vses Quest 1. Wherein are we to express humility Ans 1. In coming with awful reverence before him thinking reverendly of his Reverend Name Psal 111.9 and behaving our selves reverendly in his presence Psal 89.7 Men reverence the Thrones of Princes and behave themselves with great reverence before them when they sue to them so are we to do when we are to sue to the Lord. 2. In humble speeches to him of our own vileness So Abraham did here so Job did Job 40.4 Behold sayes he I am vile So Jacob did Gen. 32.10 I am less then the least of all the mercies and of all the truth that thou hast shewn to thy servant c. Humble speeches to great men do become us how much more do they when we come before the great God 3. In taking shame to our selves Thus did Ezra Ezr. 9.6 I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God Thus did Daniel Dan. 9.7 8. O Lord Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of faces c. So they in Jer. 3.25 We lye down in our shame and our confusion covereth us because we have sinned against thee If ever an holy blush becomes us then much more when we pray to him 4. In humble
dares not ask any thing that is dishonourable to the Name of God but though he take upon him to speak to the Lord yet it is an holy boldness he requests for nothing but that that may well stand with holiness to desire and with Gods holiness to grant 8. It is a boldness full of love to those we pray for Abraham was bold with God but his love carried him out to make so bold with him he was earnestly desirous that Sodom might be spared and it was out of tender love to the Righteous that he thought might be amongst them Quest 3. Why may Believers be thus bold with God in praying to him Ans 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves First From the Lord. 1. He hath bidden us come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 2. He hath given Christ Jesus to be a great High Priest and one that is tenderly sensible of our infirmities and therefore encourageth us to be bold in our suits to him ver 14 15. 3. He hath shewed himself willing to hear Prayer as here to Abraham so Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come 4. He hath promised that we shall obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 We shall not lose our labour but have what we come for at the best time Secondly From Believers 1. They are friends of God as Abraham and therefore may be bold with him 2. They shall have all that they ask in Christs Name Mat. 21.22 John 16.23 3. They have an Advocate with the Father to plead for them 1 John 2.2 and that perfumes their prayers with his intercession Rev. 8.3 4. They are near to him and therefore may be bold with him Psal 148.14 Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They delight him Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 and therefore may be bold with him 2. They are better to him then all Ceremonies though never so costly Psal 50. 3. They come up as a memorial before him Acts 10.4 4. They are spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore we may well be bold with him in our prayers to him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how delightful Believers are to God seeing they may be so bold with him in the Prayers that they put up to him They that are bold with Princes as Favourites be are the delights of those Princes else they durst not be so bold with them So Believers must needs be Gods delight seeing they are and may be so bold with him in praying to him Cant. 7.6 How fair and pleasant art thou O love for delights Hence it is that the Lord calls his Church Hephzibah My delight is in her and Beaulah that is Married for as a Bridegroom delighteth over his Bride so he delighteth over his people Isa 62.4 5. They have his heart and are his delight they are the desire of his eyes and that which his heart is set upon It is so with a mans wife and much more with Believers that are espoused and married to the Lord. 2. We see what great honour God puts upon Believers that are and may be so bold with him Every one may not be bold with a King to present their Suits and Supplications before him they are honourable ones and such as he delighteth to honour that may be so bold as to take upon them to speak to him Oh how honourable then are they in the sight of God and how does he delight to honour Believers that take the boldness to take upon them to speak to the Lord They are the Noble ones and the great Peers of his Kingdome how-ever they be little in their own eyes and style themselves but dust and ashes yet they are great in his account and he styles them Excellent and Honourable ones Psa 16.2 3. and Prov. 12.26 farre above other men they are the Grandees in his Court and Kingdome 3. We see that when they come to glory they will be farre greater then now they are for here their honour is much veiled by sin they are black and the Sun hath looked upon them and their honour is stained by the afflictions they suffer the Devil and the World cast all the dishonour they can upon them as they did upon Christ Jesus as he sayes Joh. 8.49 but God honours them here and if so much more will he honour them when they come in Heaven Here they are bold with God and it is their honour so to be but no honour like to that when they shall be ever with him and see his face and by that Beatifical Vision shall be made like to him and bear the Image of the heavenly one 1 John 3.2 1 Cor 15.49 4. We see how marvellously the Lord condescends to dust and ashes that they that have that style may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak to the Lord Oh how low does he stoop to such no humility like his This is not the manner of men this is not the manner of great Princes to come thus low but God would teach them and teach us all to condescend and become low and shews himself a pattern of humility that we may be the more ashamed of our pride and learn to stoop of such a great one as he is Psal 113. 5. We see a reason why some Believers have made so bold with some great men in some cases and have spoken so freely to them as Dan. 3.16 5.17 2 Chron. 16.7 8 9. 25.16 They that may be so bold with God and take upon them to speak to him may be bold much more with men when called to it if with the potter then with the clay if with the great God in our suits to him much more with the greatest of men when there 's cause for it 6. We see that when at any time we are to pray to him we should alwayes bear this in our minde That we go to a gracious King and a kinde Father and therefore may be humbly and and reverendly bold with him as Abraham was We do not go to a Prince that will terrifie us with his looks that will fright us with his words that will drive us from his presence but to such an one as does encourage us to be bold with him in Christs Name He is that Friend at Court that we are more bold then welcome and that he will see to it that we shall have a gracious answer Joh. 14.13 14. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they are no friends of God and therefore cannot be bold with him they have no acquaintance with him but are strangers and enemies to him and how should they take upon them to speak to him Vse 3. for Humiliation 1. That we are too rude and come with less reverence then becomes us in his Presence with whom we have
to him that can give us what we ask of him and as often as we come with new suits to him He is a rich Prince and so full of royalty that he will give us our asking though we desire more then formerly Kings know how to rise in their grants as suppliants do in their suits so here 1 Pet. 3.12 2. We see what great encouragements we have to renew our suits and to ask more for God is willing to renew his grants as we do our suits and if we would have something more then we desired at first he is very willing to come off to us and to give us more Would any Prince on earth so do his Court would be full of suiters they would press in for audience and fill his doors and be much encouraged to come Oh how full of suiters should the Court of Heaven then be and what encouragement should they take to ask more and to come with new suits that have such a God to go to that will give more according as we ask and renew grants as we do our suits Psal 65.2 Jer. 33.3 3. We see how truly he is styled A God hearing prayer Psal 65.2 that does thus renew grants to his humble suppliants desires his ears are alwayes open to their desires Princes cannot alwayes attend the suits of their Subjects they have somewhat else to do but God though he be working other wayes creating work and providential work yet he hath an hearing ear to all our supplications and is not wearied out with our suits though renewed nor is his bounty spent though we ask more of him 4. We see what new songs of praise we should present him with for such renewed grants given in to us Renewed Mercies call for renewed thanksgivings and when God is willing to come off with more to us we should think it our duty to give more praise They that get much from a bountiful giver are abundant in thanks so should we to God Psal 71.14 15. the Angels and blessed Souls in glory that have received most are fullest of praises Isa 6.3 Rev. 4.8 5. We see what renewed obedience we should chearfully perform to him that renews his grants according to our suits New obedience as it is most acceptable so it is most suitable to come off with for new grants and new favours as it is that that God requires and prefers above sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 Jer. 7.22 23. so it is that that is meet to be given to the Lord. New bounties from men call for new service so do God's much more call for new obedience 6. We see what renewed love we should shew forth to him Princes binde their Subjects love to them by being bountiful to them in renewing their grants Oh what love then should we express to him that renews his grants and gives in more of his Royal bounty all is too little that we can do this way but if it were as full as the Sea is of water and the Sun of light and the Stars of influences we should freely give it all to him Mat. 22.37 Love as it makes us like to God who is Love it self 1 Joh. 4.8 so it is our duty to grow up in it more and more What do they in Heaven but praise and love and we should begin that here that is in its perfection there Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not and know not how to renew their Requests it is no wonder if these get nothing for how should they when they will not ask Jam. 4.2 Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that are too slack in renewing their suits and asking more at the Lords hands they deprive themselves of many a fair blessing and dam up the flowings of their own praises God might have more glory from them and they more sweets from him could they ask more and renew their suits Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be frequent in renewing our suits and asking still more and more as Abraham here did God is very ready to give more and to renew grants according as we make Requests to him Joh. 16.24 the more we ask in Christs Name the more we shall be sure to receive we may be straitned in asking but he cannot will not in giving 2. To sing new songs for all the renewed grants that he hath made to us If he hath come off liberally to us in granting more to us according to our suits let not us be sparing of his praises Every additional mercy calls on us to adde to our thanksgivings to him Every new mercy bespeaks for praise renewed from us A new Sute of Clothes becomes us and a new Set of Praise becomes us better Praise is comely Psal 147.1 but never more then when God gives in his answers to our Prayers and his new mercies with them 3. To imitate him in renewing grants to his poor ones and if they desire more let them have more Eph. 5.1 2. What pattern like him 4. To be Renewed in the spirit of our mindes and to be new creatures new men and women new favours call for this 2 Cor. 5.17 5. To renew our Covenant with the Lord as he renews his grants to us Nehem. 9.38 6. To long for heaven where we shall praise and love obey our God perfectly willingly chearfully constantly and after a new manner otherwise then we do now in a state of childhood Verse 29. And he spake to him yet again and said Peradventure there shall be forty found there and he said I will not do it for forties sake Doct. XVII THat Believers when God renews his grants to them do not cease asking but yet again follow him with their suits to obtain yet more favour from him Abraham here had his renewed grant That if there were but five and forty Righteous in the City it should not be destroyed for their sakes but he rests not there but still follows on to sue further That if there should be forty found the place might be spared for their sakes Believers like Beggars are not weary of asking but come again and again thither where their desires have been granted and where they have fared well and been kindly dealt with Courtiers that go to a gracious Prince and have their Renewed suits granted fear not to go again and again and to follow such a Prince with their suits for further favour So here Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From Believers 1. From the Lord. 1. He is Abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 the whole Earth is full of it Psal 119.64 and this Believers know and that makes them incessant in their suing to him and after his renewed grants to follow him with suits again and again 2. He is a Sun Psal 84.11 Now the Sun is that that gives out and communicates of its light and heat and influences that it is full of So does God He is a full one and hath enough to supply us with and therefore we
cannot come too often to him in our suits and this puts us upon it to follow him with our requests and to speak to him in Prayer yet again as Abraham did here 3. He hath not stinted us nor put any bounds to our lawful desires but hath bidden us ask what we will and as often as we will to ask great things and many things Jer. 33.3 Joh. 15.7 and this encourageth Believers not to stint themselves or to say to themselves Hitherto we will go and no further and when we have got this and that and the other we will ask no more 4. He hath promised that we shall have all we ask according to his will 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and therefore we may well go again and again to him and not give over though we have got our renewed suits granted to us Princes promises encourage Subjects Addresses to them as we see in the Promises of Ahasuerus to Esther and Herods to his Dancing Minion how much more then will Gods promises encourage us in our prayers to him 5. He desires to hear us speaking to him Cant. 2.14 Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice and if he desire this we may well be encouraged to come again We may well let him have his desire that lets us have ours 6. He takes pleasure in our often coming Cant. 2.14 Sweet is thy voice Our Prayers are musick and melody in his ears Hence also the Prayers of Believers are compared to Incense Psal 141.2 and that had a fragrant sweet smell Such are Believers Prayers they are sweet-scented fragrant savour well in his nosthrils they are delightsome to him and this may well put us upon it to follow him with our suits that are so acceptable to him in Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Secondly From Believers 1. They are and may be bold with God as I said before and from that holy boldness do go again and again to him Heb. 4.16 They that have leave to be bold with Kings as Favourites have may go as oft as they will to them and though they have got their renewed grants yet they will come again so it is with Believers that are in favour with God 2. Though they have many desires granted and many of their suits hearkned to yet their wants are many still and will be while they are in this world and if some be supplied yet they need more and therefore cannot but come again We are made up of wants and when we have got something we need more when this and that favour hath been brought in to us still we are lacking something further and therefore cannot but go to him again for supplies Phil. 4.19 3. They know they go to a liberal one that gives to all liberally Jam. 1.5 and therefore though they have received this and that and the other benefit from him yet if they speak yet again and ask on he will not deny them and this puts them on to sue for further favour 4. They do not use to deny their friends that sue to them though they come often and therefore cannot but judge that they fall infinitely short of God who is rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 and this puts them upon it to go often to the Throne of Grace and again and again to ask for further favour though they have prevailed in their suits before 5. They have engaged themselves to call upon God as long as they live Psal 116.2 and this obligation of theirs puts them upon it to make frequent addresses to him and though they have got their desires in some things yet they cannot there make a stop but must ask further as Abraham here did 6. They are the more welcome the oftner they come and the more suits they bring Some men will say to their friends That the oftner they come the more welcome they be and some say it feignedly and others in truth and reality but however it is with men it is so with God he is best pleased with us when we are most frequently with him we are most welcome to him when he hears us oftnest with him It 's said of Enoch that walked constantly with God Gen. 5.22 and followed his suits hard that he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 and so it is with them that come again they are welcome and that puts them upon coming Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that Believers are restless in their motions towards the Lord they are like the Heavenly Bodies that cannot stand still Though they have got much at the Lords hands by bringing their suits before him yet they cannot rest there but must try the Lord yet further and get something more their Suits must go on their Prayers must not have bounds set to them but when new grants have been made yet they must pray further and speak yet again as Abraham here did That man that ceaseth Prayer though he hath got much walketh not in the steps of the faith of Abraham or at least keeps not pace with him in a way believing 2. We see that Believers have great interest in God for they make many suits to him yea when they have got much yet cannot stop there but will ask for more and try the Lord for more grace be given in to them Great is their interest in Princes that can do so and such and much more is Believers interest in the Lord God is theirs and therefore they are emboldened to ask so much of him Psal 119.94 118.28 3. We see that they that sit still and quiet themselves in grace received and do not come again as need is but restrain prayer as they cast off fear Job 15.4 so they are not of the faith of Abraham for though he had suit after suit granted yet he sued still and spake yet again 4. We see that a Believers restless motion in praying comes near Angelical work for the Angels cease not night nor day in praising God Rev. 4. and Believers here cease not to call upon God and though they have obtained much yet they rest not there but must have more and who would not be like the Angels who would not follow those Celestial Spirits it is a rare thing to imitate those glorious Heroes and to serve our King like those noble Courtiers that wait continually upon him and alwayes behold his face 5. We see what longing desires we should have to be in Heaven where we shall be alwayes in his Presence and never cease serving of him Rev. 22.3 4. Here we do something like the service of God there in that we cease not our suits to him onely here is the difference that what we do here is imperfect service and we have our clogs and hindrances in what we best do but in Heaven as we shall be more constant so we shall never be interrupted in our service nor have any clog or hindrance at all and therefore we should long for that blessed place
as often as they will they shall be heard God will not be weary of them nor of their suits 5. They pray fervently and fervent prayers avail much Jam. 5.16 Earnest suiters are ever speeders with men much more with the Lord he cannot tell how to turn them off or to be weary of them that pray earnestly though frequently bringing suit after suit before him 6. They pray sincerely Psal 17.1 their heart goes with their lips and he takes pleasure in sincerity 1 Chron. 29.17 Even good men delight in uprightness how much more the Lord and therefore he cannot be weary of such Prayers but must needs grant them Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are pure prayers so were Abrahams here so Job sayes My prayer is pure Job 16.17 2. They are pleasant Prayers Cant. 2.14 and how should the Lord then be weary of them He took pleasure in Abrahams frequent and renewed suits and therefore could not deny a grant to them 3. They are humble Prayers Abraham all along though bold in his suits yet was very humble and God takes it well to see us humble when we pray to him 4. They are zealous Prayers so were Abrahams here and this holy fire ever ascends and prevails when our Prayers are offered up with it 1 Kings 18.37 5. They are argumentative Prayers as Abrahams were and God is pleased when we argue the case with him in Prayer So did the woman of Canaan and got what she would 6. They are inwrought Prayers Jam. 5.16 such were Abrahams here he did not word it with God but what requests he made were inwrought and came from the heart and God was not weary of them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great encouragement we have to come with suit upon suit before the Lord for he is unwearied in granting the requests of his believing Suppliants how often soever they make their addresses to him Psal 65.2 So it is with them that come before gracious Princes when they finde them willing to grant what they sue for and are not wearied out with their Requests that they put up to them they will come again and again and venture upon their Clemency and bring suit upon suit and are encouraged to follow them with their supplications so it should be with us in our suits to a gracious God we cannot tire him out but he is unwearied in giving out grants to us 2. We see what cause we have not to be weary of well-doing Gal. 6.9 for if he be unwearied in granting our desires it were a shame for us to be weary of what he would have us do for him in such a way We are apt to be weary of any thing that is good and are soon tired out but Gods unweariedness in doing for us should make us blush when we are weary of that wherewith we may serve him or do good to others for his sake 3. We see how happy the state of the blessed Angels are that as they never yet trod a wry step but have been constant and unwearied in a way of obedience so they shall keep an unwearied course therein to all Eternity Psal 103.20 21. God hath been unwearied in his favour to them and they are unwearied in their duty to him and this is their height of Happiness 4. We see what longings we should have after that time when we shall be unwearied in our services and duties to him Here we are soon weary and tired out with what he calls for and tread many a wry step in what we do in way of duty to him but when we come in Heaven we shall never be weary more but shall praise and love and obey him to all Eternity This state we should long for and be weary of our weariness in our duties here 5. We see what our duty is to imitate and follow him in being unwearied in answering the desires of his poor ones that sue to us though they should come often to us and bring one Request after another to us if it be in the power of our hand we are to take pattern by the Lord himself and not to turn away our ears from their cries Prov. 3.27 28. 6. We see how unworthy we should count our selves of such a mercy as this is that God should be so unwearied in granting the Requests of his poor ones Who are we that we should bring suit upon suit before him and have all granted This should lay us low before him and we should judge our selves as Jacob did less then the least of all his mercies Gen. 32.10 7. We see what cause Believers have to exalt Grace that goes on in an unwearied course and way of granting what we sue unto him for Heaven and Earth Angels and Men may say Grace Grace for this What loud acclamations are made to Princes by their People when they make great Grants to them Oh what shoutings and loud acclamations then should we make for this great Grace of his towards us See for illustration of this Zech. 4.7 and Psal 149.6 8. We see what height of praise we shall come off with in another world for these large grants made to us here Here we do a little but we do but bungle at this duty of praise here we can cry like children for what we want but in Heaven we shall be men and perform our duty of praise to purpose There Songs will be in our mouthes and hearts and new Songs of praise Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers They get nothing for all this bounty they are weary of praying and God is weary of them and will not hear them Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.30 Vse 3. for Humiliation to the Saints that do not so often put up their Requests as they might nor bring suit upon suit as Abraham here did they miss of many a grant which they might have made over to them for God is unwearied in granting what we ask of him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To love the Lord that is so unwearied in giving out his grants to us What love would we not express to a man that should so do with us Oh! but God deserveth infinitely more 2. To be unwearied in our praises to him we can never do it enough nor long enough till the doors of Eternity be opened to us Psal 145.2 3. To follow him with suit upon suit we shall not lose our labour nor pray in vain This King is not he that can deny us any thing that we ask 4. To be followers of God in attending to all the just desires of friends or poor ones and not to be weary of doing them good Luke 6.30 we cannot follow a better pattern 5. To abound alwayes in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 according as he abounds in mercy to us in his frequent and renewed grants to us and his unweariedness in them 6. To be unwearied in every duty and service to him and men that he calls for from us
from it as may be so Believers desire of God that the smoke of his anger may be removed from them 4. It is set out to us under the notion of red wine that is full of mixture of that which doth intoxicate Psal 75.8 and is without mixture of any thing that should allay and make it better to be endured Rev. 14.9 10. so those two places are reconciled Now who would not desire to be freed from such a Cup of wine that is so full of mixture to intoxicate and kill and is without mixture of that that should allay and take away the sharpness and deadly strength of it Such a Cup of wine is Gods anger and therefore Believers may well pray that he would not be angry with them 5. It is compared to wormwood and gall Lam. 3.15 19. both which are bitter things and the anger of God is that that makes affliction so bitter Now wormwood and gall are such things as every one would decline Oh then much more will the Saints decline the anger of God and pray that he would not be angry with them when they pray to him 6. It is held out under the notion of a Bear robbed of her whelps and of a Lion and Leopard Hos 13.7 8. and these are fierce and tearing Creatures When God is angry he compares himself to such Creatures as are fierce and deadly renting and tearing in pieces what they meet with Now who would not desire to be delivered from a Lion and Bear robbed of her whelps and from a Leopard that watcheth to destroy and if the Lords anger be like the fierceness of these Beasts of Prey there is great reason that Believers should pray that he would not be angry with them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that the anger of the Lord is a dreadful thing for else Believers would not so pray to be delivered from it If the Kings wrath be as the roaring of a Lion Prov. 19.12 and as the messengers of death Prov. 16.14 and whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20.2 Oh what is it then when God is angry Nahum 1.6 Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger His fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Men make nothing of it to provoke him but they shall know what his anger means and what it is to stirre up this Lion that will so roar and rent and tear and kill and devour they shall finde it a dreadful anger farre above any Kings anger whoever he be 2. We see the wofull estate of those upon whom the wrath of God must abide for ever Joh. 3.36 If Abraham prayed so that God would not be angry with him surely they are in an ill case that must abide by it to all eternity and who is able to undergo the severity of his displeasure If his wrath be kindled but a little there 's no enduring of it Oh how shall they then be able to endure it in the extremity of it to all eternity It 's an hot hole where the Bellows blow in a furnace of Iron or Copper Oh but what an hot hole is Hell then which the breath and anger of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone kindleth for ever 3. We see what a mercy it is to be delivered from the heat of his anger for Believers pray that God would not be angry with them surely therefore it is a mercy when such a shower falls not upon us when this wrath is not poured upon us like fire for there 's no fire burns so hot as that and this deliverance is by our Redeemer Rom. 5.9 Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him He quencheth this fire and puts out all the sparks of it He dries up this Sea and stills all the raging of it He hath himself drunk that Cup of Red Wine full of mixture of that that killed and without mixture of what might allay it that we might never drink it 4. We see what love we owe to Christ Jesus that delivereth us from the wrath to come 1 Thess 1.10 Oh who should have our hearts but he where should our love be laid out but upon him We would love one that plucked us out of the fire that pulled us out of the Lions mouth that got us out of the paw of the Bear that rescued us from the Leopards teeth and claws and if so what love is he worthy of that hath plucked us out of the fire of Gods anger and when it hath roared upon us like a Lion and hath watched over us as the Leopard to make a prey of us then he hath stood up to rescue us No love ever like his herein and no love should be above ours to him back again 5. We see that his favour must needs be very sweet if his anger be that that is to be prayed against Life is sweet and in his favour is life Psal 30.5 yea better then life Psal 63.3 This life is sweet but his favour is above it there 's no sweetness to be equalled or compared with it The favour of a Prince is as the dew upon the grass Prov. 19.12 which makes it revive and flourish in its greenness and beauty Oh what then is the favour of God it must needs make us grow and flourish in viridity and greenness If his anger be that we are to desire to be delivered from then his favour is that that we are to be delighted in and is to be desired after 6. We see that they that provoke God to anger are the greatest enemies to themselves for Believers that are their own friends pray that the Lord would not be angry with them If he that provoketh a Prince sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20.2 how do they sin against their own souls that provoke God to anger There are no such enemies to themselves as such men be And truly we have so many enemies abroad that we had not need be our own enemies Vse 2. for Terrour to those that are to bear this anger for ever Godly men are so afraid of kindling this fire that they pray against it as Abraham here does Oh! but how will they do that are to suffer it to all eternity If it be better to dwell in a corner of the house then with an angry woman in a wide house Oh how will they do that are to endure Gods anger If a continuall dropping in a very rainy day and an angry woman be alike that will wear a man if he were a stone Oh how will they endure the anger of God that is not to be dropped but poured out upon them for ever and ever Job when he felt but a few drops of this cried out Is my strength the strength of stones or is my flesh of brass Job 6.12 Oh what stones and brass had they need be that are to bear his anger to
desires both by his Commandment and Promise Psal 81.10 and what should then hinder 4. They are Princes with God Gen. 32.28 and being such they may well speak largely and ask all they can of him 5. They go to one that is both full and free Gen. 17.1 Jam. 1.5 and therefore they may well enlarge their desires all that may be 6. They are his choice portion Deut. 32.9 his garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 that he drops abundantly his blessings upon The rest of the world may be parched and dry as a wilderness but they drink of the dew of heaven and therefore may gape wide and enlarge their desires for those they make their supplication for Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are heard for much as well as for little 1 Jo. 5.14 15. 2. They are most accepted when the suiters ask most and when they speak as far as they can as Abraham here 3. They have prevailed with men and God is infinitely above men in giving liberally We reade of half a Kingdome that they have come off with Esth 5.3 Mark 6.23 but what 's that to what God gives Himself his Christ his Spirit his Heavenly Kingdome 4. They are none of them lost such Prayers are not turned away Psal 66.20 5. They are the Souls Ambassadors and they effect what they are sent about and negotiate great things for us 6. They sometimes prevail before they are put up and while we are speaking Isa 65.24 Dan. 9 20-23 All which considered what wonder is it that they speak as far as ever they can in behalf of those that they make supplication for Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the tender affection that is in believing suppliants to those they sue for they will go as far as ever they can in their desires for them 2. We see that Believers are onely they that can be bold with God 3. We see that faith and love are sweet concomitants and ever go together Gal. 5.6 4. We see what we are to do if we would make it out that we are true Blievers we must do as Abraham here did 5. We see what longings we should have for Heaven where Love will be in its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perfection 6. We see how far our desires should be enlarged for the distresses of our dear Country-men abroad 7. We see that in all our Prayers we are to go as far as we can with the Lord and put him to it in improving his mercy to the utmost We sue to a gracious God 8. We see what boldness we ought to use in suing to men in behalf of those that we petition for we may put them to it and ask freely of them for they are to be followers of God as dear children 9. We see what a precious grace Faith is that makes us so humbly bold with the Lord 2 Pet. 1.1 10. We see that surely Christ speaks much more for us the Merit of his blood Heb. 12.24 and his Intercession speak aloud for us Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they can speak nothing for themselves nor for others Vse 3. for Humiliation that we are so scant in our desires for others Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour God with whom Believers may be so bold 2. To honour Believers 3. To imitate their faith and love 4. To love the Lord Jesus that speaks good for us Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once c. Doct. XXVII THat the Lord is ready to hearken to the utmost of the desires of his believing Suppliants Abraham besought the Lord that if there were but ten Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and the Lord heard his desire to the utmost and gave it in to him and sayes I will not destroy it for tens sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is never weary of doing his people good though they follow him therefore with suit upon suit and go as far as they can in their desires yet they cannot weary him and therefore have the utmost of their desires given in to them We may weary men Prov. 25.17 but not him Isa 40.28 We sometimes are weary of him Isa 43.22 but he is not weary of hearkning to us 2. He can come up to the utmost of our desires He is an Almighty One Job 42.2 and therefore can give all that we desire of him 3. He hath put it into the hearts of some men to give to the utmost of what their Petitioners sue for as Solomon did to the Queen of Sheba 1 Kin. 10.13 and will not he then grant the requests of his Suiters to the utmost of what they desire of him He is more Royal in giving then all the Royal Kings in the world put all together 4. He hath commanded us to be liberal to our servants Deut. 15.13 14. and will not he then come off liberally to them that serve him and pray unto him surely he will come off to them to the utmost of their desires that they put up to him 5. He fills every living thing and satisfies their desires Psal 145.16 and will he not then give in to Believers the utmost of their desires and satisfie them He will surely do it 6. He saves to the utmost Hebr. 7.25 and therefore grants to the utmost what his believing Suppliants sue unto him for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. According to their faith they do receive mercy at the Lords hand Mat. 8.13 9.29 Now their utmost desires being put up in faith according to that faith those desires are given in to them to the utmost 2. They please him by their faith Heb. 11.5 and if so then surely he cannot but give them in their desires to the utmost that they bring before him What may not such have as please a Prince much more they that please God 3. They are they that are highly commended even by God himself How famously is Abraham spoken of and renowned for his faith Rom. 4. Gal. 3. and Heb. 11. and the Centurion Luke 7.9 and how should it be otherwise then but that the Lord should give them in their desires to the utmost 4. They are men after his own heart as is said of David that prime Believer Acts 13.22 and what may not such have 5. They are they that are familiar with him and keep up acquaintance with him Gen. 5.22 and he will give them the utmost of their desires 6. They are they that have power with God Hos 12.3 4. and therefore shall have to the utmost of their desires granted to them Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are argumentative prayers and they prevail to the utmost so were Abrahams here 2. They are holy prayers lift up with holy hands and an holy heart 1 Tim. 2.8 Psal 86.2 so were Abrahams here 3. They are prayers from a broken heart Hos
12.4 and Psal 51.17 they prevail 4. They are importunate prayers so were Abrahams here and they are granted to the utmost Luke 11.8 5. They are modest prayers I will yet speak but this once sayes Abraham 6. They are awfull prayers Oh let not the Lord be angry sayes Abraham And such prayers shall be heard to the utmost of our desires Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great encouragement we have to pray and not to faint Luke 18.1 for God grants their desires to the utmost that are believing Suppliants Abraham had to the utmost of his desires granted to him 2. We see that the Lord is a full Treasury and rich Store-house of all we need and will give us in all our desires that we ask of him 3. We see how dear Believers are to the Lord that have all granted that they ask even in the full latitude of their desires 4. We see how unwearied we should be in granting the desires of those that sue to us God is not weary of our desires and he is our Pattern to follow 5. We see what cause we have to think that we can never be obedient enough to him that comes up to us in the utmost of our desires that we put up to him 6. We see what cause we have to trust him to the utmost in all stresses and straits in all troubles and in sixes and sevens of them when they come thick upon us when they come rolling one in the neck of another like the waves of the Sea now it 's good trusting him to the utmost that grants our desires to the utmost Lam. 3 54-57 7. We see what cause we have to love him to the utmost that fulfils our desires to the utmost no love is sufficient for him Psal 116.1 8. We see what reason we have to stick to him to his Truth and Testimonies Josh 28.8 Psal 119.31 to his Christ and Cause to the utmost for he grants our desires to the utmost 9. We see that we may well suffer to the utmost for him the utmost scorns wrath fury flames rage of enemies persecutors devils against us for he grants the utmost of our desires to us 10. We see that we may well praise him to the utmost we can never do it enough Neh. 9.5 Hence David calls up Angels to this when his Soul and all within him could not reach it Psal 103.20 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they get nothing Vse 3. for Humiliation that we pray not as Abraham did Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To joy in him 2. To delight in him 3. To long to with him 4. To do all we can for him 5. To prize him Psal 7.10 Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once c. Doct. XXVIII THat even the best of Believers leave Petitioning before the Lord leave granting So did Abraham here when he came so low as to desire that if there were but ten Righteous in Sodom the place might not be destroyed and had a gracious answer given in to him he then ceased to ask any further and left off suing before God left off giving Had he gone yet lower and desired for five whatever the Jewish Rabbins say for ought either they or I know God might have granted his desire in that also Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers First From the Lord. 1. He hath not stinted us nor set any bounds to our Prayers that hitherto we shall go and no further and here our desires shall stay though he hath so bounded the Sea Job 38.11 yet he hath not so limited and bounded our Prayers but if we ask in faith and desire any thing according to his will he heareth us Matth. 21.22 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and therefore we must needs leave off suing before he leave off granting 2. As he hath set no bounds to our Prayers so he hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from us Psal 66.20 Men sometimes do so to those that ask of them but God never does we may go as often as we will and for what we will if it be lawful that we ask and may receive it and therefore we leave off asking before he leaves off to give 3. He could not else take this noble Title to himself to be A God hearing Prayer Psal 65.2 if he should not be as ready to grant as we are to ask if he should cease to grant before we cease to ask that Title would be blotted out but he will be ever known by that Title it is his Name and though some men have forgotten their own names yet he will never forget his but will have it known all the world over that he is A God hearing Prayer 4. He findes fault with us that we ask no more Isa 43.22 Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but hast been weary of me O Israel and 64.7 the Prophet complains There is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee and if this displease him so then sure we leave off to sue before he to grant 5. He encourageth us to ask by his Promises that he makes to us Mat. 7.7 8. Joh. 16.23 As Solomon said to Bathsheba Ask on my Mother for I will not say thee nay 1 Kin. 2.20 So the Lord does encourage us to ask on and if so then it is not he but we that fail if we ask not we leave off petitioning before he leave granting 6. He hath his doors ever open his Mercy-seat and Throne of Grace ever set up that we may repair to Heb. 4.16 and therefore our desires fail sooner then his will to grant because his doors are never shut nor his Mercy-seat never barred up but we may go to it when we will Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. We have narrow hearts and our desires are scant and are not so full as his hand is in giving He opens his hand wide but we shut our hearts Narrow mouth'd vessels receive in little though it rain abundantly such vessels are our hearts were they more open and more capable to receive we might have more but the narrowness of our desires and hearts makes us leave off petitioning before he leave giving even Abraham himself though he had a larger heart then other men yet had it more straitned then Gods hand was to give 2. We are apt to stint our selves and to set bounds to our desires I will speak yet but this once sayes Abraham here And we stinting our selves hence it comes to pass that we sooner cease to make our requests then the Lord to give out his grants 3. We are afraid that he may be angry with us for asking him so much as Abraham here was and that shortens our desires and bars up our requests so that we have sooner done petitioning then the Lord hath in granting The fear of a Princes anger stops his mouth that
must Jam. 1.17 Joh. 3.27 He can open these narrow bottles and enlarge these straitned hearts we cannot do it but he can Psal 119.32 2. To love the Lord when he gives us to enlarge our desires in prayer to him when these wheels are going then we shall strike right as a Clock does when we slack not in our way we shall come to our happy journeys end 3. To obey him Psal 119.32 chearfully speedily strongly constantly as is in running a race 4. To praise him for an enlarged heart in prayer for our selves or others for that hest hearts are apt to be too strait 1 Sam. 2.1 5. To pray without ceasing upon all occasions 1 Thess 5.17 for when we have done all we can we shall sooner cease suing then he granting 6. To admire and adore the Royalty of God that would do more if we could ask more A Kings Royalty is admired 7. To long for Heaven where we shall praise him with enlarged hearts for his large grants 2 Cor. 5.6 7. 8. To do more for others then they desire of us Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once c. DOCT. XXIX THat Believers when they pray to the Lord dare not be over-bold with him but modestly sue to him to grant what they desire of him I will speak yet but this once sayes Abraham He had made very bold with him in going from step to step till he came to the lowest step that he durst go and now in modesty he will go no further but leaves off suing any more he will ask for Ten but there he will make a stop Reasons 1. From the Believers 2. From their Desires 3. From the Lord that they have to do with First From the Believers 1. They know who God is and who themselves are and therefore dare not be over-bold with him He is a great God and they vile dust and ashes and how should they dare to press too much upon him Mean men dare not be too bold with their Superiours how then can we that are Believers that are infinitely below the Lord make too bold with him Mephibosheth was lowly before David when he looked at himself and all his fathers house to be but dead men and therefore thought he had no right to cry unto the King 2 Sam. 19.28 So Believers judge themselves and therefore cannot tell how to be too bold with him 2. They are men of ingenuity and modesty for faith ever keeps down the heart and makes it low and is opposed to pride Hab. 2.4 We see it in the Centurion how humble and modest he was and it was his faith that made him so Luke 7.7 8 9. and therefore dare not be over-bold with him Humble ingenuity dare not ask too much of men much less be too bold with the Lord. 3. Believers are wife and prudent men and therefore faith is called wisdome Luke 1.17 and they would not shew themselves wise if they should be over-bold with the Lord. Wise men will not be too bold with Princes much less they that are truly wise make too bold with the Lord. 4. They are such as think themselves unworthy of the least of his mercies Gen. 32.10 and therefore cannot tell how to be too bold with him 5. They are afraid that the Lord may be angry with them So the Text. And that makes them to be so humbly modest with him But of that more in the next Note 6. They are friends of God Jam. 2 23. and they though they may be bold with their friends yet will not be over-bold with them So here Secondly From their Desires and Prayers 1. They must be bounded within the compass of Gods will 1 Joh. 5.14 and if we should be over-bold with him we should go beyond those bounds and that Believers will not do 2. They must be humble desires Psal 10.17 and they would not be such if we should be over-bold with him 3. They must be serious and sincere desires not slight and formall and if so then we must not be too bold with him A serious Petitioner will ask modestly of men so they that are serious will be modest in their suits to the Lord Psal 17.1 4. They must be holy desires and holiness and over-much boldness will not stand together Jam. 4.8 the more holy any man is the more modest and humble he is 5. They must be earnest and fervent desires Jam. 5.16 and no man that is over-bold with man can be earnest in his suit much less he that is too bold with the Lord. 6. They must be inwrought desires Jam. 5.16 the heart must be in them lip-labour will not be accepted Jer. 12.2 Now they that are over-bold with the Lord cannot speak in their desires from the heart nor have any hope that such desires shall be accepted Thirdly From the Lord that we have to do with 1. He is a great God and a great King above all gods Psal 95.3 and it no way becomes the best of men to be over-bold with such a great One as he is but to be modest in our addresses to him 2. He is a good God Psal 136.1 and willing to give us that which is good for us Psa 84.11 and therefore it 's no way fit for us to take too much boldness upon us there 's no need of it 3. He is such a God as can be angry at our Prayers when we keep not within his bounds but make too bold with him Psal 80.4 4. He is very mereiful in granting to the utmost our lawful requests that we put up to him and why should we strain him and screw him up higher we would not do so with men how much less should we with the Lord Exod. 34.6 5. He is a God that respects the lowly Psal 138.6 and such modest suiters are lowly ones 6. He wants neither will nor power to give what is meet and therefore though we may be humbly bold with him yet it 's no way fit for us to press upon him or to be over-bold with him we would not do so to the best friend we have in the world Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the sweet ingenuity that is in true Believers who though they can be bold with the Lord in their Prayers that they put up to him yet they dare not press too far nor make too bold with him So it is with an ingenious man to his friend that he hath many kindnesses from he will not press him overmuch nor make too bold with him in his requests but knows how to give his desires a stop and to speak no more and so it is with Believers when they have asked and gotten much they dare not press upon such a friends kindness but will stop as Abraham here does and say I will speak yet but this once 2. We see that Believers are modest and humble ones they can be bold in their suits to the
should be tender of it too and tender of putting any dishonour upon him by displeasing him We would beâ—ender of displeasing a Prince So here 6. He is tender of displeasing us of sending us sad away from his Presence when we pray to him and therefore when we pray to him we should be very tender of displeasing him We would be tender of displeasing any that were dear to us So here Secondly From the Believers 1. They are his Children and Children are tender of displeasing their father so are they and so should they be especially when they pray to him and come with their last request in that duty before him Gal. 3.26 2. They are his friends Jam. 2.23 and friends are tender of displeasing one another so here 3. They are his Spouse Cant. 5.1 and a Spouse is tender of displeasing her Husband especially when she is to ask any thing of him and any great thing So should we 4. They are very familiar with him and he With them As I shall God willing shew when I come to the last Verse of this Chapter and they that are intimately familiar they are tender of displeasing one another So here 5. They are the Apple of his Eye that he cannot endure a touch of Zech. 2.8 and if so how should they endure to touch him by displeasing him especially when they pray and desire some great thing of him 6. They are such as he hath rebuked Kings for so tender they have been to him Psal 105.14 15. and may they not then be very tender of displeasing him especially when they pray to him and ask high of him Thirdly From the Requests themselves 1. They are such as we hope to gain most by as Abraham here did that came up so high as to desire to prevail in his suit if there had been but ten found in that great place and this made him to be so tender of displeasing the Lord that he prayed unto 2. They are such Requests as make triall of his Bounty and Mercy most and whereby we put him to it to condescend very far to us in granting our requests and therefore we ought to be tender of displeasing him 3. They are such Requests as whereby we are most bold with him and therefore may well suspect our selves that we may over-speak and so displease him 4. They are such requests as are for great matters and are great requests and we are poor worms vile dust and ashes and therefore may and ought to be tender of displeasing him in so asking 5. They are such requests as are put up by them that are less then the least of his mercies Gen. 32.10 and therefore they may suspect that they may be too bold and so displease the Lord. 6. They are such requests as are rare and seldome put up we reade but of this onely man that went thus step by step in his requests Abraham was the onely one no other before him nor scarce any since and therefore he might justly fear that he might displease the Lord in what he did Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the sweet disposition that 's in believing suppliants when they come to pray before the Lord they are very tender of displeasing him they would not willingly do any thing at any time that should move him to displeasure but especially when they pray to him and make their last Request to him they would not then provoke him they would then have a smile of his face they would then have a kiss of his mouth they would then have an answer of peace they would then have a sweet shine from heaven they would then have fair weather over head they would not have a cloud arise upon them nor any frown appear in the Lords brow nor any wrinkle in his face at their Prayers but are very tender of displeasing him So was Abraham here when he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak but this once 2. We see that when a Believer is in a praying frame he is then in an awfull frame Gods dread Majesty and his consciousness of his own sins put an holy awe into his heart and make him afraid that the Lord may be displeased with him Prayer is an awfull Ordinance and they that are most earnest in it as Abraham here was they are most awfully afraid and most tender of doing any thing in the duty especially in the close of it that might displease him that they pray unto 3. We see that if we would make it out that we are Believers we must be tender of displeasing God as at all times so then more especially when we pray to him and in the close of our Requests that we present the Lord with So did Abraham here and if we would evidence we are his children so must we Faith and fear go hand in hand lodge in the same breast together dwell in the same heart together where the one is there is the other that man in whose heart faith is is ever afraid and tender of displeasing God especially then when he makes his last and greatest request to him 4. We see what a mercy of God it is to any of us that we have hearts stricken with fear of displeasing God especially when we pray before him for thereby he evidenceth to us that we are Believers for so Abraham did he was tender of displeasing him in praying to him and especially in his last words that he spake in suing to him in their behalf that he prayed for He would not have the Sun set in a Cloud at Even 5. We see that the displeasure of God is that that is to be feared above all other things Some there are that fear man but there 's a snare in that Prov. 29.25 Some there are that are afraid of Princes and what they can do against them but they are in Gods hand Prov. 21.1 and he knows how to be terrible to them Psal 76.12 Some are afraid of Persecutors but they can but kill the body Luke 12.4 Some are afraid of evil spirits and the very supposal of the sight of them makes even good men afraid sometimes Mat. 14.26 and some are in great fear where no fear is Psal 53.5 But these are all vain fears and like Bug-bears to fright children with but the displeasure of God is that that is to be feared above all things So godly men have thought so Abraham judged that was so tender of displeasing him Oh let not the Lord be angry sayes he and then he cared not who else were angry 6. We see that to displease God then when men pray to him is that that is and ought to be most loathsome to every gracious heart Oh! he would not then do any such thing willingly for a world it 's a burthen to displease him at any time but then to do it when they pray is that that is most abhorring to them Oh let not the Lord be angry sayes Abraham and
consider her wayes and be wise Prov. 6.6 7 8. I might be large in the prosecution of this but these instances may suffice to be as so many glasses to shew us how diligent and active and industrious we should be in our particular Callings and that God would have us busily working in our several places and stations for him Secondly From our selves 1. We are ever best when we are at work our hearts are never in better frame to go to God in duties of our general Calling then when we have been most conscientially careful in being diligent in our particular Calling We can then go with comfort to pray when we have been at work and never are we fitter to offer up this spiritual sacrifice then when sloth hath not seized upon us in our particular Callings And hence it is that these are coupled together Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. 2. We shall be pronounced blessed if we be found well-doing when our Lord cometh Matth. 24.46 and it is that that we would all desire after to be partakers of that blessedness who would not be found so at that day 3. We are not yet in heaven but on earth and therefore must attend on our outward occasions and businesses that we are called to When we come in heaven we shall rest from all our works here and be wholly imployed in serving God and praising him Rev. 22.3 4. we shall do Angelical work Seraphical work but while we are here we must be doing in ordinary work and it is a good work because commanded of God 4. We need many things for the outward man which by diligence in our ordinary Callings through the blessing of God are brought in to us Prov. 10.4 22. we get our daily bread by the labour of our hearts and hands food and raiment and physick and all necessaries by the Lords mercy are given in to us this way The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5.9 Gods crowning the year with his goodness his steps dropping fatness make our labours successful and bring in all outward blessings to us and therefore diligence in our Callings is that that God approves and looks for from every one of us 5. We are commanded to labour six dayes in the week Exod. 20.9 except upon extraordinary occasion as upon a Fast or by sickness we be hindred or by some other occasion that justly exempts us and keeps us necessarily from it we may not look at it as a permission onely but as a strict command and that calls upon us to be about our business and be doing in our particular Callings 6. We have Gods example in the first Creation set before us to follow he did his work in six dayes and then rested Exod. 20.9 and so would by his example have us to work and to trace his steps So that not onely Earth and Sea and Stars but Heaven it self calls upon us to labour and work diligently in our Callings Thirdly From our outward occasions and imployments 1. They are such as that we cannot serve God comfortably neither in our Bodies nor in our Spirits except we labour and attend our particular Callings and we are bound to serve him and glorifie him in both 1 Cor. 6.20 and how shall this be except we follow our imployments Meat will not fall into our mouthes except we labour Clothing will not be rained down from heaven upon us except we work for it and without these we cannot serve God neither with outward or inward man 2. These imployments in our Callings are such as that we cannot live without them Bread is called The staff of life Isa 3.1 and Clothing is the health of life and neither of these in an ordinary way can be had without labour 3. These imployments in our particular Callings are such as that we cannot expect the blessing of the Lord upon us The blessing of the Lord maketh rich but it is when the hand is diligent Prov. 10.4 22. otherwise there is no blessing of wealth or increase promised 4. These imployments in our particular Callings do fit us to come to God in spiritual duties and fit us for his coming to us either by death or judgement Luke 12.42 43 44. and this is worth something It was the speech of a faithful Minister now with God to one that he found working hard in his Calling Let me be found so doing when my Lord cometh 5. These ordinary imployments keep us from many sins and from many temptations to sin preserve us from many assaults of the Enemy that Idleness will expose us to As we see in Davids example 2 Sam. 11. if he had gone forth to war at that time or had been doing any thing that was good he would not have faln into such snares and sins as he did which idleness exposed him to Satan and his own corruption would not have so prevailed as they then did when he gave himself to that floth that we there reade of A diligent hand prevents the tempters coming or at least hinders him from overcoming Working in our Calling will either keep the snare from being laid for us or keep our feet from being taken by it And have we not cause then to be diligent and faithfully busie in our Calling 6. These labours and imployments preserve us from falling into other dangers and evils for God hath promised that his Angels shall have charge over us to keep us in our wayes Psal 91.11 Let a man but keep himself in his Calling and Gods Angels shall keep him They are Gods host and so long as they are about him a strong host is about him so that neither plague nor sickness nor any other evil shall come near him v. 10. he is safely guarded that hath such a military guard about him he need not fear any danger that hath these fiery charets and horses round about him 2 Kin. 6. These armies will never sly but will stand by us and shield off all dangers and all enemies and have we not good cause then to be in our Callings Cautions about our Imployments in our particular Callings 1. WE must take heed that love of the World set us not on work to be busie in our Callings for that is straitly forbidden 1 Joh 2.15 and such are not true to God but are called Adulterers and Adulteresses and are the enemies of God Jam. 4.4 and the greatest enemies that are to themselves for thereby they plunge themselves into many snares and temptations and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 10. If the love of the world be the great wheel that sets all a going and puts our hands to labour in our Callings we shall never please God nor benefit our selves or others by what we do this way The World is both an Harlot and a Witch and if we lust after the beauty of this Harlot and suffer