for the benefit that we enjoy by their examples counsels experience For all those who have been instruments of our good by their Prayers Writings Preaching c. 6. For Hopes of Glory for giving unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature Having according to his abundant mercy begotten us again unto a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us For lifting up the light of his countenance upon us which is better then life it self for any comfortable evidences of our own salvation CHAP. XXIX Of Occasional thanksgiving either for inward or outward mercies BEsides these several heads of thanksgiving by which we should be directed in our ordinary and usual course there are others likewise not to be neglected which are extraordinary and occasional according as our particular wants exigences may be In the Generall we are to be thankful for the successe of our prayers whenever God doth vouchsafe to hear and grant our requests either in the behalf of our selves or others that instead of rejecting of our services and casting them back as dung into our faces which we might justly expect He does vouchsafe to accept of them and to return them with a blessing more particularly upon any special Preservation either of the Soul Body Recovery either of the Soul Body Deliverance either of the Soul Body 1. In case of inward fears desertions temptations For that in the multitude of our sorrows his comforts have refreshed our soulâ— For that he hath restored unto us the joy of his salvation established us with his free spirit Delivering us from those deep waters that were ready to overwhelm our souls for bringing us out of an horrible pit out of the miery clay and setting our feet upon a rock freeing us from darknes and the shadow of death and breaking our bonds in sunder for keeping us in the houre of temptation 2. In the case of outward exigences and troubles for delivering us in journeyes that he hath been with us and kept us in our places whither we did go and brought us again in safety whereas many others have been overtaken with desperate mischiefs For defending us in common dangers oppressions for hedging us about with his favour and protection that he hath not called us away in the midst of our days but hath holden our soul in life not suffered our feet to slip for being our refuge in distresse and putting his everlasting armes under us for binding up our souls in the bundle of life for hiding us in the time of trouble in his pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle under the shadow of his wings for being a strength to the poor to the needy in their distress a refuge from the storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is a storm against the wall for breaking the bands of the yoke and the rod of the oppressors and delivering us out of the hands of them that served themselves of us for the comfort that we have had in all our tribulations For delivering us from sore paines and desperate sicknesses of body when we had reason to think and say that we should go down to the gates of the grave and be deprived of the residue of our years not see the Lord in the land of the living nor see man any more with the inhabitants of the world but our age is removed from us as a shepherds tent and we shall be cut off with pining sicknes from day even to night will he make an end of us yet then did he in love to our souls deliver us from the pit of corruption therfore will we sing songs unto him all the dayes of our life I will extoll thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up thou hast brought up my soul from the grave and hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing thou hast put off my sackcloth girded me with gladnes To the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee and not be silent O Lord my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath inclined his eare unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live He hath delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the Cup of salvation and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving I will pay my vowes unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people in the court of the Lords house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem I called upon the Lord in distresse the Lord answered me set me in a large place He hath chastned me sore but he hath not given me over to death I will praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits who redeemeth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and mercy CHAP. XXX Of the Amplification of mercies The Conclusion BEsides the Enumeration of mercies we may likewise finde abundance of matter for the Amplification or heightning of them which may be either in General Particular 1. In the general by their Multitude Greatnesse Continuance 1. From their multitude Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee If I would declare and speak of them they are more then can be numbred How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more in number then the sand 2. From the greatnesse of those mercies we receive which may appear by consideration of the Giver Receiver 1. The Giver the great God who is of infinite incomprehensible power The heavens are full of the Majesty of his glory of absolute perfection and alsufficiency in himself and cannot expect any addition from mans love or gratitude My goodnes extendeth not unto thee Now the greatnesse of the person doth adde a value to the favour 't is counted an honour but to kisse a Kings hand 2. The Receiver So vile and despicable in comparison of him as creatures So loathsom and abominable before him as sinners When we were nothing he took care of us since we have been worse then nothing Enemies he hath been pleased to pay a price for our reconciliation to him He is kinde to the unthankful and to the evil to those that do
of Prayer with the several degrees or ingredients of it are to be ascribed unto the Spirit of God as being the cheif donor of them 3. This gift of the Spirit is not barely by infusion but by assisting our endeavours by helping together with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 collaborantes adjuvat He helpeth together with and over against us so the Original word does properly signifie as when another man sets to his shoulder to bear a part with us in the lifting of any burden We must put forth our best endeavours and then we shall not want his assistance The Spirit of God do's ordinarily work by means and 't is an old rule in Divinity Habitus infusi infunduntur per modum acquisitorum Infused habits are usually wrought in us after the same manner as acquired that is gradually and not without humane endeavour and cooperation In the Primitive times indeed when the Church was in its Infancy then the teat was put into their mouthes they were extraordinarily inspired with these gifts by immediate infusions without the usual means of study and labour but that Mannah was only for the Wildernesse when other common wayes could not be made use of whereas when the Church is grown up to the estate of Manhood and is possessed of the Land God does now expect that we should plow and sowe and eat the fruit of the Earth in the sweat of our browes that we should serve his Providence and depend upon him only in the use of means and as children do not learne to speak distinctly but after many trials so neither can a Christian be able as he should to cry Abba Father till he has bestowed some time and experience in the learning of it CHAP. II. Two extreams that make men defective in this Gift Confining themselves wholly to set-formes Depending wholly upon sudden suggestions FRrom what hath been already said 't is easie to inferre that there are two extreams which usually hinder men from a proficiency in this Gift 1. When they so confine themselves to the help of books and particular set-formes as not to aime at or attempt after any farther improvement of their own knowledge and abilities in this kind 2. When men depend altogether upon sudden suggestions as if it were a quenching or confinement of the Spirit to be furnished beforehand with matter or expressions for this service Unto those that erre in the first kinde I would suggest these considerations First by way of concession As for those weaker Christians and new Converts who have not their hearts enlarged with an ability to expresse their own wants and desires 't is both lawful and convenient for such to help themselves not onely in their families but even in their secret performance of this dutie by the use of some good book or prescribed form untill by farther endeavour and experience they may attain unto some measure of this gift Such persons may perhaps finde oftentimes their own case and condition more pithily and affectionately set down in a prayer penn'd by another then they are able to expresse it themselves And if the use of such a form do prove a means to warm their affections and enkindle their graces certainly then it cannot be justly stiled a quenching of the Spirit 'T is not essential unto the nature of prayer that it be either read or rehearsed by memory or by immediate and sudden suggestion these things being such circumstantiall adjuncts as have not any absolute intrinsecall necessity or unlawfulnesse but rather that it be delivered with understanding and suitable affections with humility and confidence and an inward sense of our conditions Nor is there any great difference as they are considered in themselves betwixt repeating by memory and reading out of a Book the memory being but a kinde of invisible Book for the register of our thoughts though in this case it should be specially remembred that in the use of such prescript formes to which a man has been accustomed he ought to be narrowly watchfull over his own heart for fear of that lip-service and formality which in such cases we are more especially exposed unto This I thought good to premise for the removall of prejudice on the one hand But now in the second place for any one so to set down and satisfie himself with his Book-Prayer or some prescript form as to go no farther this were still to remain in his Infancy and not to grow up in his new nature This would be as if a man who had once need of crutches should alwayes afterwards make use of them and so necessitate himself to a continual impotence 'T is the duty of every Christian to grow and increase in all the parts of Christianity as well gifts as graces to exercise and improve every holy gift and not to stifle any of â—hose abilities wherewith God has endowed them Now how can a man be said to live suitable unto these rules who does not put forth himself in some attempts and endeavours of this kinde and then besides how can such a man suit his desires unto several emergencies What one sayes of counsel to be had from books may be fitly applied to this Prayer by book That 't is commonly of it self something flat and dead floating for the most part too much in generalities and not particular enough for each severall occasion There is not that life and vigour in it to engage the affections as when it proceeds immediately from the soul it self and is the natural expression of those particulars whereof we are most sensible And if it be a fault not to strive and labour after this gift much more is it to jeer and despise it by the name of ex tempore Prayer and praying by the Spirit which expressions as they are frequently used by some men by way of reproach are for the most part a sign of a prophane heart and such as are altogether strangers from the power and comfort of this duty Whereas 't is commonly objected by some that they cannot so well joyn in an unknown form with which they are not beforehand acquainted I answer that 's an inconsiderate objection and does oppose all kinde of formes that are not publikely prescribed As a man may in his judgement assent unto any divine truth delivered in a Sermon which he never heard before So may he joyn in his affections unto any holy desire in a Prayer which he never heard before If he who is the mouth of the rest shall through imprudence deliver that which we cannot approve of God does not look upon it as our Prayer if our desires do not say Amen to it If it be again objected that this ability of praying without Book may perhaps be fit for Ministers and such as are of more eminent learning and knowledge but is not to be expected from others I answer 't is true such persons are more especially concerned in this Gift and 't is the greater fault and shame
nature be put together and this should be observed in all the parts of Prayer Now the parts of Prayer may be Generally distinguished into these two kinds 1. Lesse principal Preface Transitions Conclusion 2. More principal Confession Petition Thanksgiving The first thing in a form of Prayer is the Preface which does chiefly consist of these particulars 1. The titles of invocation 2. Some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse 3. An expression of our purpose and desire to make our addresses to him in this duty 4. With the impetration of his assistance and attention Next unto the Preface any one of the three principall parts of Prayer may succeed either Confession Petition or Thanksgiving according as severall occasions shall require But in general and common use 't is most convenient that Confession should precede the other because it prepares for them and may serve to stir us up unto a true sence both of those mercies which we want and those which we have received Confession according to its proper latitude and extent does imply in it an acknowledgement both Of Sins by Enumeration Original in our Inward Man Outward Man Actual against the Law National Personal and Omission Commission Gospel Thought Word Deed. Aggravation of them in General Multitude Greatnesse Special the kindes of sin Particular the circumstances Punishments External in our Bodies Friends Estates Names Internal in respect of blessings Natural Spiritual Eternal of Losse Paiâ— Next to Confession Petition may succeed but for the better connexion of these two 't is requisite that they be joyned together by some fitting Transition The most natural and genuine matter for which may referre to some one of these heads Either 1. A Profession of our shame and sorrow in the consideration of our many sinnes and the punishment due unto them 2. An Expression of our desire to renounce our own righteousnesse to fly utterly out of our selves 3. A promise of greater care and strictnesse in our wayes for the future 4. A brief Application unto our selves of such mercies and promises as do belong unto those that believe and repent For the chief heads of Petition we are directed in the Lords Prayer that being given us as a Summary or brief Model wherein are conteined the most principal and necessary materials of all our desires That which is accounted the first Petition Hallowed by thy name doth more especialy concerne the chief end of all our desires namely the glory of God and is there set down to teach us what we are principally to intend and aime at in all those prayers that we make either for our selves or others The three next clauses do concerne the obtaining of good The first of them for the sanctifying of our hearts and natures into which we wish that his Kingdome may come The second for the obedience of our lives Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven The third for the necessities of this present life Give us this day our daily bread The three last Petitions do concern the removal of evil The first of them being against the evil of Sin Forgive us our trespasses The second against the evil of Tentation Lead us not into tentation The last against the evil of Punishment Deliver us from evil All of them being in the plural number Our Father and Give us and Forgive us c. which shews our duty to petition for others as well as our selves and then the whole Prayer is sealed up with this Argument For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Wherein we acknowledge that it is he alone who is able to grant our requests thereby teaching us to back our Petitions with such arguments as may serve to strengthen our belief concerning the successe of them So that according to this pattern the chiefe materials of our desires the order only being made more suitable to the precedent method observed in our Confession may be thus analyzed All Petition is either For our Selves Supplication Deprecation against the evill of Sin in respect of its Guilt Pardon Evidence Power Temptation by Our corrupt natures The Devill The World Punishment Comprecation for good Spiritual Sanctification of our natures in the Inward Man Outward Man Obedience of our lives by our Performance In all duties of Law Gospel Continuance In all duties of Law Gospel Increase In all duties of Law Gospel Temporal Provision for us Protection of us For others Intercession In General The Catholike Church In special Ordinary for the Nations Vncalled Infidels Jews c. the Nations Called Allies Oâ—rown Nation Occasional in times of Warre Famine Pestilence In particular Ordinary for all relations of Order Publike and Political Private or Oeconomical Freindship and Enmity Neighbourhood Occasional for the afflicted in Minde Body This part should be connected to the next by some such Transition as may fitly serve to seal up the one and begin the other which may be taken either 1. From our Confidence of obtaining the things we desire by our experience of those former mercies we have already enjoyed 2. From the danger of ingratitude in hindering the successe of our Petitions The cheif materials to be insisted upon in our Thanksgiving are reducible under these two generall heads Either Enumeration of mercies or Amplification of mercies Mercies to be Enumerated are either Ordinary Temporall Private concerning Generally the whole mans Being Nature Birth Education Preservation More particularly our Soules Bodies Freinds Names Estates c. Publick in respect of Healthful seasons Fruitfull seasons Peaceable seasons Spirituall Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Hope of Glory Occasionall for some particulars Preservation of our selves in soule body others in soule body Recovery of our selves in soule body others in soule body Deliverance of our selves in soule body others in soule body Amplified Generally by their Multitude Greatnesse in respect of Giver Receiver Continuance Particularly by their Circumstances Degrees Contraries The Conclusion should consist of some such Doxologies as may help to strengthen our Faith and leave some impression upon our affections This may serve for a Scheme of Method comprehending all the chief parts according to a fitting order for the regulating of our thoughts in this duty If there be any that should deny the use of Method and the like helps as being humane inventions such persons will not deserve an answer They may as well account the rules of reasoning and dispute to be unlawful reducing all to their own Enthusiasmes and so are not capable of being dealt with in any way of debate 3. The third thing to be enquired into is Expression which will of it self naturally follow upon such a preparation of matter and method But because the language of Canaan the stile of the holy Ghost is undoubtedly the fittest for holy and spiritual services with which for divers reasons we should labour to be familiarly acquainted therefore we should rather chuse where we may to speak in
is the Nation whose God is the Lord and the People whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance Verse 20. Ps. 35.27 Ps. 36.7 Our help and our shield Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant How excellent is thy loving kindnesse O God therefore shall the sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Verse 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures Verse 9. For with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light Psal. 46.1 Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 63.3 Whose loving kindnesse is better then life Psal. 65.8 Who maketh the out goings of the morning and evening to rejoyce Verse 9. Who visiteth the earth and watereth it and greatly enricheth it with the river of God Vers 10. Who maketh it soft with showers and blesseth the springing thereof Vers. 11. Who crowneth the yeare with his goodnesse and his paths drop fatnesse Vers. 13. Who cloatheth the pastures with flocks and covers the valleys with corne Psal. 66.9 Who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved Psal. 72.4 Who shall judge the poore of the people and save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressour Vers. 12 He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Vers. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy Vers. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps 37.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Ver. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal. 80.1 The shepherd of Israel Psal. 89.17 Who art the glory of our defence and in whose favour our horne shall be exalted Vers. 18. For the Lord is our defence and the holy one of Israel is our King Psal. 91.2 He is my refuge and my fortresse my God in him will I trust Vers. 4. He shall cover me with his feathers under his wings will I trust his truth shall be my shield and buckler Ps. 103.3 Who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases Vers. 4. Who redeemes our life from destruction who crowneth us with loving kindenesse and tender mercies Vers. 6. Who executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed Thou art good and thou dost good Ps 119 68 Ps. 145. Who is greatly to be praised and whose greatnesse unsearchable Who preserveth all them that love him Vers. 20. Isa. 40.11 Who shall feed his flock like a Shepherd and shall gather his Lambs with his armes and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young Isa. 51.3 Who will comfort Sion and build her waste places making her wildernesse like Eden and her Desert like the garden of the Lord so that joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody Vers. 5. Whose righteousnesse is near and his salvation gone forth whose armes shall judge the People the Isles shall wait upon him and in his arme shall they trust That pleadeth the cause of his people Vers. 22. Jer 14.8 The hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble Jer. 16 19. O Lord my strength and my fortresse and my refuge in the day of affliction to whom the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth and shall say surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profit Besides whom there is no Saviour Hos. 13.4 Acts 14 17 Who leaveth not himselfe without a witnesse unto all the Nations of the world doing them good giving them raine from heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladnesse Act. 17.28 In whom we live move and have our being Eph. 1 3. Who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2.4 Eph. 3.14 Who is rich in mercy The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named 2 Thes. 2.16 Our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 1 Tim. 4.10 1 Tim. 6.17 Hebr. 13.20 Who is the Saviour of those that believe The living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy The God of peace who brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of his sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant 1 Pet. â— 10 The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus Rev. 15.3 The King of Saints whose works are great and marvellous and his wayes just and true There may be divers the like expressions of each kinde collected from severall places of Scripture Of some or more of these the first and chief material of a Preface should consist These several kinds may be variously intermixed according as divers occasions shall require The Scriptures do afford sundry examples to this purpose Neh. â— 5 Dan 9.4 O Lord God of Heaven the great and terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Psal. 46.7 Isa. 43.3 The Lord of hosts the God of Jacob our refuge The Lord our God the holy one of Israel our Saviour Verse 14. The Lord our Redeemer the holy one of Israel Isa 45.21 Who is a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides him Isa. 49.26 The Lord who is our Saviour and Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. Isa. 54.5 Our Maker and our Husband whose Name is the Lord of Hosts our Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole Earth Our Father which art in Heaven Mat. 6.9 I have been the larger in the recital of such passages because they will not only afford us matter for a Preface but supply us likewise with divers proper Arguments upon several occasions for the exciting of our faith and fervency in the businesse of Petition II. The second Material in a Preface to be joyned with the former is some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse as that Gen. 18.27 we who are but dust and ashes Gen. 32.10 Lesse then the least of all his mercies Job 13.25 As leaves driven to and fro and as dry stubble Psal. 14.3 Altogether abominable and filthy Psal. 22.6 Wormes and no men Psal. 95.7 The people of his pasture and sheep of his hands Ps. 103.15 Whose dâ—yes are as grasse as the flower of the field so he flourisheth Verse 16. When the winde passeth over it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more Psal. 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonnâ— of man that thou makest account of him Verse 4.
Man is like to vanity his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away Isa. 2.22 Whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of Isa. 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and counted to him lesse then nothing Prodigal children unprofitable servants of polluted lips and uncircumcised hearts c. 1 Tim. 1.15 The chief of sinners III. III. An expression of our purpose to approach unto him in this duty That we do desire Psal. 95.6 To worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Num. 5.15 Num. 29.7 Jer. 17.17 To bring our iniquity to rememberance To afflict our souls in his sight To make him our hope and refuge in the day of evill To seek his face to meet him in his wayes To speak good of his Name To wait upon him in his Ordinances Psal. 65.4 To approach before him in his courts that we may be satisfied with the goodnesse of his house even of his holy Temple Psal. 66.2 To set forth the honour of his Name and make his praise glorious Verse 8. To blesse our God and make the voice of his praise to be heard Psal. 96.8 To give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name to bring an offering and come into his Courts Verse 9. Psal. 99.5 To worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse To exalt the Lord our God and to worship at his footstool Psal. 116.17 Verse 18. To offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving and to call upon the name of the Lord. To pay our vowes unto the Lord in the presence of his people in the Courts of the Lords house Ps. 138.2 To worship towards his holy Temple and to praise his Name for his loving kindnes and for his truth Ps. 145.5 To speak of the glorious honour of his Majesty and of his wonderous works IV. IV. A desire of his assistance acceptance and attention that we may be enabled to performe this duty in an acceptable manner with such holy affections as he hath required Rom. 8.26 Rom. 5.5 Isa. 64.7 That his good spirit may help our infirmities and make intercession for us That he would shed abroad his love in our hearts and stir up our souls to lay hold of him Ps. 51.15 That he would open our lips that our mouthes may shew forth his praise Isa. 45.19 That we may not seek his face in vain Ps. 80.18 That he would quicken us to call upon his name Verse 19. That he would cause his face to shine upon us and lift up the light of his countenance 1 Kings 8.28 Have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant and to his supplication to hearken unto the cry and to the Prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee to day Verse 30. Hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and when thou hearest forgive 2 Kings 19.16 Lord bow down thine eares and hear open Lord thine eye and see Neh. 1.6 Let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou mayst hear the prayer of thy servant Psal. 5.1 Give ear to my words O Lord consider my meditation Vers. 2. Hearken to the voice of my cry my King and my God for unto thee will I pray Psal. 18.6 That he would hear our voice out of his holy Temple and let our cry come before him even into his ears Ps. 19.14 That the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may be alwayes acceptable in his sight Psal. 27.7 Hear O Lord when I cry with my voice have mercy also upon me and answer me Ps. 55.1.2 Give ear to my prayer O God and hide not thy self from my supplication Attend unto me and hear me Psal. 88.2 Let my Prayer come before thee incline thine ear unto my cry Psal. 130 2 Lord hear my voice let thine ear be attentive to the voice of my supplication Psal. 141.2 Let my Prayer be set forth before thee as Incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Psal. 143.1 Hear my Prayer O Lord give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulnesse answer me and in thy righteousnesse Vers. 7. Hear me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit Isa 63.15 Look down from Heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory Some one or more of these Particulars may upon several occasions afford fitting matter for a Preface which is the first thing to be considered and inlarged in conceiving a form of Prayer CHAP. VII Confession of sins by enumeration of them and first of Original sin NExt to the Preface Confession does according to the more usual and ordinary course succeed The first thing to be confessed in the Enumeration of sin as is before expressed in the scheme of Confession is Original sin Whereas God at first made man upright he hath since corrupted himself by seeking out many inventions He planted our first Parents a noble Vine a right seed but they quickly turned into degenerate plants of a strange Vine So that we are transgressors from the wombe Being shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin A seed of evill doers children that are corrupters Branches of the wild Olive Being naturally dead in trespasses and sins Children of wrath bearing about us the old man A body of sin and of death A law of our members Being born only of the flesh Having sin that dwels in us And is alwayes present with us And doth so easily beset us This Originall sin hath been propagated to us both by Imputation Real Communication 1. By Imputation of Adams particular transgression in eating the forbidden fruit for we were legally parties in that Covenant which was at first made with him and therefore cannot but expect to be liable unto the guilt which followed upon the breach of it By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men 2. By reall Communication of evil concupiscence and depravation upon our natures which was the consequent of the first rebellion We were all of us naturally in our first Parents as the streams in the fountaine or the branches in the root and therefore must needs partake the same corrupted nature with them For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean And what is man that he should be clean or he that is borne of woman that he should be righteous This might justly make us more loathsome and abominable in Gods eyes then either Toads or Vipers or any other the most venomous hurtfull creatures are in ours and for this alone he might justly cut us off and condemne us though it were meerly for the prevention of that mischief and enmity against him which the very principles of our natures are infected with Though man were at first made little lower then the Angels being crowned with glory and honour having dominion over the other
That he would sanctifie to us the knowledge we have already attained that it may not be idle and ineffectual but may produce in our lives answerable obedience that we do not with-hâ—ld any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would open our hearts to believe all those truths revealed in his Word that he would inable us to take diligent heed lest there should be in any of us an evill heart of unbelief in departing from the living God That we may firmly assent unto his promises and threats and as we do professe our selves to believe in God so we may be carefull to maintain good works That we may not rely on such outward means as cannot help us but in all our wants and troubles we may place our chief confidence on him as knowing that he is infinitely wise powerful merciful both able and willing to succour us that when we know not what to do our eyes may be upon him That in our greatest exigences when we are in a state of darknesse and can see no light we may then trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon our God That we may still cast our burden upon him and abide under the shadow of the Almighty Committing our wayes unto the Lord Being careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplications make our requests known unto God who careth for us and will never leave or forsake us That we may labour to stirre up and strengthen our hope in him such hope as may be well grounded and will not make us ashamed of which we may be alwayes able and ready to give answer to every man that asketh us a reason That we may look more at the things which are not seen then at those things which are seen That in times of fear and danger we may fly for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us which hope may be as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast That no condition or temptation may make us cast away our confidence That we may give all dilligence to make our callings and elections sure To clear unto our selves the evidences of our own everlasting well-beings That we may love the Lord our God with all our heart with all our soul and with all our might so farre above that natural affection which we do bear to those other things whether father or mother wife or children brethren or sisters yea and our own lives also that we may be said to hate and despise them in comparison of him That our love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that we may approve the things that are excellent That we may delight in all those holy duties whereby we may enjoy communion with him That we may earnestly long and thirst after the enjoyment of him when we shall come and appear before him That he would make us Zealous and fervent in all holy duties resolute and couragious in standing to the truth not to be deterred by hopes or fears Not wronging any good cause either by our cowardize or indiscretion Not resting our selves in a luke-warm profession being neither cold nor hot but being valiant for the truth and fervent in spirit Alwayes zealously affected in a good thing Not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God to salvation considering what he hath said That if we shall be ashamed of him in this adulterous generation he also will be ashamed of us when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy Angels That we may rejoyce and glory in the LORD placing our chief happinesse in a spiritual communion with him Serving him with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart Delighting greatly in his Commandments Finding more happinesse in the light of his countenance then in the increase of corn and wine preferring his loving kindnesse before life it self That he would make us more heartily sensible of those many great favours which are continually multiplied upon us That he would draw up our hearts to heaven in the acknowledgement of his bounty and goodnesse that our souls may blesse him and our desires may be alwayes towards him that we may be ready to talk of his loving kindnesse and to speak good of his name endeavouring to expresse our gratitude by the readinesse and cheerfulnesse of our obedience Seeking to glorifie his name by bearing much fruit unto him That we may be patient under his afflicting hand as considering that he is the Author as well of the evil we suffer as of the good we enjoy And shall we receive good from the hand of God and shall we not receive evil The greatest judgement that can befal us in this life is farre lesse then our deserts 'T is the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions faile not And then besides he hath promised that all things shall work together for the good of them that love him And though the cup may be bitter yet it proceeds from the hand of a Father That we may count our selves happy in what we suffer for righteousnesse sake because the Spirit of God and the Spirit of glory resteth upon us That we may rejoyce and glory in our tribulations as knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Reckoning with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us That in all our sufferings we may trust in the living God committing our souls unto him who is their faithfull Creatour and righteous Judge That we may accept the punishment of our iniquity waiting upon God in the way of his judgements Being willing to put our mouths in the dust rather then to open them in murmuring against him Considering how unjust and unreasonable it is for a living man to complaine a man for the punishment of his sins And that it is rather meet to be said unto God I have borne chastisement I will not offend any more that which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him He does punish us lesse then our iniquities deserve Not dealing with us after our sins nor rewarding us according to our iniquities and we have no reason to repine at kinde and moderated corrections Though in some respects he hath chastened us sore yet he hath not given us over to death He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men and therefore we have great reason totally to submit and resigne up both our selves and affaires to be governed by his wise providence and to let the Lord do with us what
crown of righteousnesse which at the last day the Lord the righteous Judge will bestow upon all those that love his appearing That he would carry us on through faith unto salvation And because when we have reckoned all the duties we can we shall leave out many particulars therefore for the supply of those which we cannot specifie we may use some general forme answerable to that exhortation of the Apostle that whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise that we may think of and do these things Being blamelesse and harmelesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we may shine as lights in the world CHAP. XXIII Of petitioning for temporal good things Provision and Protection NExt to spiritual good things we are permitted to pray for those matters which concerne our Temporal well-fare answerable to tha◠Petition in the Lords Prayer Give us this day our daily bread under the expression of daily bread we are to understand all those particulars that are either necessary or convenient for our natural life in respect Both of Provision for us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates Protection of us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates 1. For our Souls that God would be pleased to blesse and continue to us the use of our wits and memories that he would give us power to enjoy these temporal blessings filling us with gladnesse of heart with peace and serenity of mind expelling from us all unnecessary cares earthly sorrows unprofitable dejections 2. For our Bodies that he would continue to us our health and strength the free use of our senses and limbs supplying directing blessing us in the use of all such means as shall conduce to our preservation and well-being 3. For our Callings that he would furnish us with wisdome and abilities suitable to our several vocations making us diligent and industrious in them whereby we may be enabled in our places to promote his glory and to be instrumental for the good of others Being just towards all men and ready to serve one another in love and because without his blessing it will be in vain for us to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the bread of carefulnesse Therefore we should likewise pray that he would blesse our endeavours and all that we set our hands unto Prospering the work of our hands upon us 4. For our Names that he would take care of our reputations restraining others from reproaching and slandring of us and restraining us from scandalous sinnes and appearances of evil that he would teach us to behave our selves so wisely and circumspectly that we may bring credit to our persons and professions growing in favour both with God and man That he would deliver us from those whose teeth are speares and arrowes and their tongues a sharp sword 5. For our Friends that he would raise up for us such as may be kindly affectioned to us blessing us in all our neere relations kindred families friends neighbours acquaintance continuing to us the help and comfort that we have by them 6. For our Estates in respect 1. Of Liberty that he would still preserve us in our wonted freedome from bondage captivity imprisonment 2. That he would be pleased to restore and continue that precious blessing of Peace both in our Nations Towns Families Conversations 3. That he would make us Plenteous in the fruit of our ground and in the increase of our cattel Crowning the yeare with his goodnesse opening to us his good treasures the heavens Putting a force and efficacy into their influences and fruitfulnesse into the earth that it may yeeld us the staffe of bread to strengthen our hearts That he would alwayes supply us with food convenient for us so much as may with sobriety serve to conveigh us through this earthly Pilgrimage In brief that he would be pleased to blesse unto us the things we have and bestow upon us the things we want And as we should beseech God to provide for us so likewise to protect us in all these respects more especially according to those divers seasons wherein our prayers are to be framed whether for the Day or Night For the Day is his the Night also is his he hath prepared the light and the Sun They continue still according to his Ordinances for all things serve him 'T is he that turneth darknesse into light and renues the face of the earth 1. For our morning addresses O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee we should herein petition for his protection of us the day following that he would watch over us for good by his fatherly providence and defend us from all those sins and dangers to which we are exposed that we may not be insnared by any of those temptations which we shall meet with That he would give his Angels charge over us to keep us in all our wayes That he would be pleased so far to afford us his assistance and direction that we may glorifie his name both in our Thoughts Words Actions and to this end that he would put good meditations into our mindes and holy desires into our hearts truth into our inward parts That he would set a watch before our mouths and keep the door of our lips that we offend not with our tongues That no corrupt communication may proceed from us but such as is good to the use of edifying and may administer grace to the hearers That amongst our other businesses and employments we may not forget that one thing which is most necessary But may be more especially careful about all such matters as may prepare us for our appearance before him and farther us in that reckoning which we are to make at the great day of accounts That we may walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Considering that God is about our paths and is acquainted with all our wayes Every thing being naked and open unto the eyes of that dreadful Majesty before whom all the world must be judged at the last day That we may redeem the time because the dayes are evill improving the present opportunity of our health peace and prosperity unto the best advantage of our spiritual wel-being In this our day considering the things that belong unto our peace That we may be wise and modest in our carriages humble and moderate in our passions temperate and sober in our diet diligent and cheerful in our businesse That he would give us successe in all our honest undertakings making us wise and prosperous 〈◊〉 them That the glorious Majesty of the
to the method proposed may be connected with the former by some fitting Transition which for the matter of it may consist of some such considerations as these 1. Our confidence of obtaining the things we petition for by our experience of former mercies though they are many and great things which we are suiters for yet when we reflect upon Gods continual bounty towards us and how much we do every day receive from him we have no reason to doubt of his favour but still to depend upon him in every condition 2. The danger of ingratitude in hindering the successe of our petitions He that is not careful to pay his old debts cannot expect so much credit as to run upon a new score Under the Law when any one came before God to make any special request for himself he was to bring with him a peace-offering that is an offering of thanks for the favours he had already enjoyed thereby to prepare himself for what he expected The matter of our Thanksgiving is reducible to these two general heads 1. The Enumeration of mercies 2. The Amplification or heightning of them 1. In our Enumeration of mercies those particulars before mentioned in our Confessions Deprecations Petitions will each of them administer some help both in respect of matter expression according as our conditions may be in respect of freedom or deliverance from those evils which we confesse or deprecate or the enjoyment of those good things which we have petitioned for and upon this account I shall not need to be so large upon this head as the former 2. The Amplification or heightning of mercies may be either in General by their multitude greatnesse continuance which is capable of a distinct enlargement by its self Or else in particular by their circumstances degrees contraries which are to be insisted upon in the mention of those particular mercies to which they belong In the Enumeration of mercies we are to take notice of those that are either Ordinary Occasional By Ordinary I understand such as we enjoy in our common course without relation to any particular necessity or deliverance these again are either Temporal Spiritual Temporal are those which concern our well-beings in this life as we are men whether in our Private Publick capacities The Private or personal favours which we are to acknowledge do belong either Generally to the whole man in respect of his being nature birth education preservation or more Particularly in regard of his Soul Body Friends Name Estate In the recital of the mercies which we enjoy we are not to be unmindeful of those common favours which are bestowed upon us in respect 1. Of our Creation and Beings that God did not suffer us to beswallow'd up in our primitive nothing 2. Our noble Natures that we were not made senslesse things but endowed with living souls Men and not beasts He might have made us wormes and no men of a despicable perishable condition whereas he hath created us after his own image but little lower then the Angels capable of injoying eternity with himself in the heavens Crowning us with glory and honour putting all things in subjection under our feet 3. Our Birth that we are free-born not slaves of generous not base and ignominious parentage that we were brought forth in a place and time of Religion He might have sent us into the world without the pale of the Church in some place of idolatry or ignorance amongst the blaspheming Turks or wilde Americans We might have been born in those bloody times of persecution and martyrdom And therefore we have reason to acknowledge it for a great mercy that he hath brought us into this world both when and where his Gospel hath been professed and flourished 4. Our Education by honest loving careful Parents and Tutors under good Magistrates pious Ministers in Religious families We might have been forlorn exposed to the wide world as many others are following the dictates of our own corrupt natures without any restraint upon us We might have been put under the Tuition of such Governours as by their Negligence Example Advice would have encouraged us in evil courses and therefore we ought to acknowledge it for a great mercy that we have had such Religious and ingenuous education 5. Our Preservation God might have cut us off in the womb and being children of wrath he might from thence have cast us into hell and therefore we have reason to praise him in that he hath covered us in our mothers womb where we were fearfully and wonderfully made and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Being cloathed with skin and flesh fenced with bones and sinews Where he granted us life and favour and by his visitation hath preserved our spirits He took us out of the womb and made us hope when we were yet on our mothers breasts We were cast upon him from the womb and he is our God from our mothers belly He might many times since justly have snatched us out of this world with our sins and fears upon us It is from the Lords mercies that we are not yet consumed because his compassions faile not There may be many now in hell who have not been so great sinners as we and therefore we are bound to magnifie his name for his good providence over us through the whole course of our lives That he hath hitherto made us to dwell in safety and watched over us in journeys sicknesses and common dangers whereby so many others have been surprized and swept away round about us For defending us under the shadow of his wings and protecting us by his blessed Angels more particularly for his preservation of us the Night Day past 1. The Night past for refreshing our bodies with rest and sleep For lightening our eyes that we slept not to death For bringing us to the light of another day and that notwithstanding those many opportunities which we have formerly abused It is a good thing to give thanks unto thee O Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O thou most high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night He might have made our beds to be our graves surprized us with our last sleep He might appoint wearisome nights for us so that when we lie down we should say When shall we arise and the night be gone and should be full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day When we expect that our bed should comfort us our couch ease our complaint then he might scare us with dreams and terrifie us through visions and therefore we have very great reason to praise him for our freedome in this kinde that when we lie down he makes our sleep sweet unto us 2. The Day past that he hath not given us over to the sinfulnesse of our own natures the subtiltie and malice of the Devil the
temptations of the world but hath by his good providence with-held us from many of those sins and dangers to which of our selves we were exposed There are many others in the world who have this day perhaps been surprized by some mischief or have fallen into some great sin and the same might have been our condition and therefore we have reason to be sensible of his favour in exempting us from it that he hath in any measure afforded us direction and successe in our affaires and not blasted our endeavours accompanying us in our goings out and comings in Because the Lord hath commanded his loving kindnesse in the day therefore in the night shall my song be unto him and my prayer unto the God of my life Next to these we may recite those temporal favours which do more particularly concern us either in our Soules Bodies Friends Names Estates 1. Our Souls in respect of our Vnderstandings Memories Consciences Affections that we were not made idiots or blockish we might have been possessed with stupidity and forgetfulnesse with madnesse and astonishment of heart with wilde and raving passions And therefore we have reason to be sensible of that great favour we enjoy in respect of the clearness of our understandings strength of our memories peace in our coÌ„sciences moderatnes in our affections c. 2. Our Bodies in regard of Health Senses Limbs That he doth not send upon us sore sicknesses and of a long continuance and make us Prisoners to the bed of languishing That he does not chasten us with strong pain upon our beds so that our life should abhor bread and our soul dainty meat That we are not tormented with grievous aches with loathsome diseases and sores that we have the free use of our senses not blinde or deaf or dumb c. that we are sound and perfect in our limbs not maimed or deformed as many others are whereby their condition is made very uncomfortable in comparison to ours 3. Our Friends that God hath inclined the hearts of others to shew us any favour that we do enjoy the acquaintance of such in whose society and converse we may relieve and refresh our selves amidst the maâ—y perplexities that we shall meet with 'T is the case of many others to be left in a forlorn and friendlesse condition with Ishmael to have every mans hand against them and therefore we have great reason to blesse God for raising us up friends and benefactors and continuing them to us 4. Our Names that he hath bestowed upon us any reputation in the hearts and reports of others and not given us over to such scandalous sins as would have made us a proverb and reproach that we are not Cains to kill our Brethren nor Amnons to commit incest nor Absaloms to attempt the ruine of our Parents nor Judases to murder our selves The seeds and principles of all these abominations being in our natures it must needs be acknowledged for a great mercy to be withheld from them That he hath in any measure restrained the malicious tongues of others from aspersing of us 5. Our Estates and therein for plenty liberty quietnesse suitablenesse God might have placed us in some needy slavish unquiet condition in some calling disproportionable to our inclinations and gifts and therefore we have reason to acknowledge his mercy in bestowing upon us competency of means freedom and seemlines of condition wherin we are not forced to flatter or borrow fitnes of calling c. That we have opportunity to serve the Lord our God with joyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart in the abundance of all things Whereas 't is the case of many others that they are forced to serve their enemies in hunger in thirst in nakednes and in want of all things There may be some poor Christians perhaps at this time under cruel restraint and imprisonment others it may be wallowing in their blood by reason of bitter and fierce persecutions for their bearing witnesse unto the truth of Jesus Other precious Saints of whom the world is not worthy may be now under great necessities wandering up and down in deserts and mountains being destitute afflicted tormented having not a place whereon to rest their heads Whereas 't is our happinesse that we are supplied with all things convenient for us having bread to eate and clothes to put on and many other particular favours which are renewed to us every moment the very continuance and commonnesse of which doth take away their observation And as we are thus to remember private mercies so likewise should we take notice of those temporal favours which concern the publike the peace plenty strength safety of the Nation wherein we live For that every one may sit under his own vine and fig-tree there being none to make us afraid That he hath not delivered us to trouble and astonishment and to hissing That whereas his anger and his fury hath been poured out upon other places upon man and upon beast upon the trees of the field and upon the fruit of the ground yet the overflowing scourge hath not come near us He might make us a reproach and a taunt and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about us Executing upon us judgment in anger and in fury in furious rebukes He might infatuate our Governours and mingle a perverse spirit in the midst of them This is the condition of other places and we have reason to praise him if it be not so with us In a more especial manner we ought to take notice of our freedom or deliverance from those sore judgements the sword the famine and the pestilence 1. For our Peace for delivering us from the hurtful sword that there is no breaking in nor going out nor any complaining in our street whereas he might whet his glittering sword and make his hand take hold of judgement till his arrows he drunk with blood and his sword to devoure flesh Yet he hath made peace in our borders so that violence is not heard in our land nor wasting or destâ—uction within our borders Whereas other countreys are made desolate so that their high wayes are untrodden and the travellers walk through by-ways the inhabitants of the villages cease Yet he hath been pleased to make us like the garden of Eden our Cities being fenced and inhabited and hath not taken away our peace from us his loving kindnesse and mercies 2. For our Plenty that he hath according to his promise called for the corne and wine and increased it and layed no famine upon us multiplying the fruit of the trees and the increase of the field that we do not receive the reproach of the famine amongst the heathen For crowning the year with goodnesse and making his paths to drop fatnesse 1. For bestowing upon us the former and the later raine moderately and in his season that he does
the fulnesse of Christ From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part may increase and edifie it self in love 2. Special Intercession may be either Ordinary Occasional 1. In Ordinary or common we are to pray for the Nations uncalled whether Jewes Infidels 1. For Jewes that God would perswade Sem to dwell in the tents oâ— Japhet that he would not forget his old loving kindnesse to his first-borne the seed of Abraham his friend that he would raise up the Tabernacle of David which is fallen and close up the breaches thereof And make Jerusalem a praise upon the whole earth That he would do good in his good pleâ—sure unto Sion and build up the walls of Jerusalem that he would open their eyes to see him whom they have pierced that the merit and not the guilt of his blood may be upon them and their children 2. For the uncalled Gentiles whom he hath decreed to salvation who are without the pale of the visible Church that God would wisit them with the Day-spring from on high send forth his everlasting Gospel amongst them and bring in the fulnesse of the Gentiles and make us all one sheepfold under one shepherd according to those many promises which he hath made to this purpose Amongst the Nations that are called we are to pray more especially for them to whom we are allied by Neighbourhood League Religion c. But chiefly for those of the houshold of faith the Nations and Families that call upon his Name Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoyce let them shout for joy because thou defendâ—st them let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee For thou Lord wilt blesse the righteous with favou wilt thou compasse him as with a shielâ— O continue thy loving kindnesse to them that know thee and thy righteousnesse to the upright in heart Let all them that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually The Lord be magnified Do good O Lord unto those that be good and to them that be upright in their hearts let peace be upon Israel But above any other we are to pray more especially for our own Nation the land of our nativity to which as we have a neerer relation so ought we to have a greater affection That God would pardon our crying sinnes purge out our corruptions heal our distempers that he would remove the judgements under which we suffer and prevent those which we have most justly deserved that he would continue to us the mercies we enjoy and bestow upon us the blessings we want That he would teach us to observe and understand his meanings towards us in all his publick dispensations that we may accordingly apply our selves to meet him in his wayes That he would sanctifie unto us every condition and make us wise by the example of others that we may be willing to learn righteousnesse when his judgements are abroad in the world To hear his rod and who hath appointed it as knowing that every judgement hath as well a noise to informe as a blow to correct and that if we will not amend by the sound of them upon others we shal feel the smart of them our selves· These are some of the general heads which ordinarily may be insisted upon and inlarged in our intercessions for National mercies upon occasion of any extraordinary want or judgement We ought in a more particular manner to frame our petitions according to the present condition of a people in regard of any publick necessity but chiefly in respect of those three principal judgements Warre Famine Pestilence 1. In times of Warre that he would take care for the interest of his own people and cause in the midst of all confusions That he would behold the tears of those that are oppressed and have no comforter that he would be strength to the poor and to the needy in their distresse a refuge from the storme a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storme against the wall That upon all the glory there may be a defence That he would consider their troubles and know their soules in adversity and not shut them up in the hand of their enemies That they may not any longer hear the sound of the Trumpet and the alarm of Warre That he would remove that judgment from them and let them not fall into the hands of men whose mercies are cruel He can make warre to cease in all the world breaking the bowe and cutting the spear in sunder And he hath promised a time when men shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks when Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation neither shall they learn Warre any more He is the great Peace-maker the Prince of peace who did finde out away hidden from ages and generations to reconcile the sinful world unto himselfe He can bring light out of darknesse and settlement out of confusion He can with a word of his mouth rebuke and alay the tempestuous windes and sea He can still the raging of the seas the noise of his waves and the madnesse of the people He can create peace where there is no pre-existent disposition or preparation towards it He can make the wrath of man turn to his praise and when he please he can restrain it That he would think thoughts of peace towards us and not of evil to give us an expected end That he would repaire the desolations that have been hereby occasioned that he would sow the wast places with the seed of man and of beast and as he hath formerly watched over them to pluck up and to destroy so he would now watch over them to build to plant To this purpose the book of Psalmes does abound with many petitions and complaints O let the wickednesse of the wicked come to an end but establish thou the just Shew thy marvellous loving kindnesse O thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust in thee from such as rise up against them Let not those that waite on thee be ashamed Redeem Israel O God out of all his troubles O God thou hast cast us off thou hast been displeased O turne thy selfe to us again Thou hast made the land to tremble thou hast broken it heal the breaches thereof for it shaketh Thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made them to drink the wine of astonishment Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him fly before him O deliver not the soul of the turtle unto the multitude of the wicked
forget not the congregation of the poor for ever O let not the oppressed return ashamed let the poor and needy praise thy name Arise O God plead thine own cause c. We are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us How long Lord wilt thou be angry for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire O remember not against us our former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them But thou O Lord art our God full of compassion gracious long-suffering plenteous in mercy and truth O turne unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the sonne of thine handmaid Shew me some token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me Arise O Lord and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come 2. In times of Famine We should pray that our land may yield us bread without scarcenesse That he would not send upon us the evil arrowes of famine nor break our staffe of bread Nor take away our corne in the time thereof nor afflict us with cleannesse of teeth When men shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry and shall eat on the left hand and shall not be satisfied but every man shall eat the flesh of his own arme When we shall pine away and be stricken through for want of the fruits of the earth When we shall eat bread by weight and with care and drink water by measure and with astonishment When the land shall mourne and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field and the fowles of the Heaven When the husband-man shall be ashamed and the vine-dressers shall howle because the harvest of the field is perished The fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stalls When we shall sowe much and bring in little when we shall eat and not have enough drink and not be filled cloath our selves and not be warme That he would according to his promise abundantly blesse our provision and satisfie our poore with bread That our Garners may be full and plenteous affording all manner of store That he would hear the Heavens and let them hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corne and the Wine and the oyle and that they may hear his people Now because Famine is usually occasioned either by immoderate raine or drought therefore in our intercessions against this National judgement we may frame our Petitions more immediately against each of these as necessity shall require 1. Against immoderate raine That God would remember the Covenant which he hath made and though our wickednesse be very great upon the earth so that he might justly repent that he hath made us and now again resolve to destroy us from the face of the earth yet he hath promised that he will not any more cut off all flesh by the waters of a flood neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth That he would give us the former and the latter rain moderately and not punish us with a sweeping rain which leaveth no food 'T is he alone by whom the windows of Heaven are opened who giveth raine upon the earth and sendeth waters upon the fields Who cloatheth the Heavens with blacknesse and maketh sack-cloth their covering Who calleth for the waters of the Sea and poureth them out upon the face of the Earth He maketh small the drops of water they poure down raine according to the vapor thereof which the clouds do drop and distill upon men abundantly He covereth the light with clouds and commandeth it not to shine He commandeth the clouds from above and openeth the doors of Heaven That he would so order all those things which are at his disposal as that the earth may yield her increase and all the ends of the earth may fear him 2. Against Drought That he would open to us the good treasures of Heaven and give rain to our land in its season and blesse the labour of our hands He is the Father of the rain and does beget the drops of dew The bottles of heaven are at his command to open and shut them as he pleases He bindes up the waters in thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them 'T is he that does stay the heaven over us from dew and the earth from his fruits Who doth with-hold the raine from us causing it to rain upon one City and not upon another It is by his command that the Vine-tree is dryed up and the Fig-tree languisheth and all the trees of the field are withered The seed is rotten under the clods the garners are laid desolate the barnes are broken down for the corne is withered the beasts groan and the herds of cattel are perplexed because they have no pasture and the flocks of sheep are made desolate 'T is at his command that the clouds do not raine upon us He makes the heavens over us to be brasse and the earth under us to be iron and the rain of our land to be powder and dust He causes the land to mourne and the herbs of every field to wither When the ground is chapt for want of rain when the plowmen are ashamed and cover their heads when the wilde Asses do stand in the high places and snuffe up the winde like Draggons and their eyes do faile because there is no grasse And therefore unto him it is that we must make our addresses for help and supply in all such exigences That when heaven is shut up and there is no rain because of our sins against him Yet if we shall pray unto him and confesse his name and turne from our sins when he afflicts us That then he would hear in heaven and forgive the sins of his servants and teach them the good way wherein they should walk and give rain unto the land which he hath bestowed upon them for an inheritance Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain or can the heavens give showers art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will waite upon thee for thou hast made all these things That he would open the windows of heaven and cause the rain