We match Laodicea in Luke-warmness and what was said of langushing Sardis may be applied to us that we have a name to Live but are Dead Rev. 3. 1. In many Families all are stark stone Dead and there is a most impious and gross neglect of God and Duty and in other Families all are ready to dy lively services are rarely to be found Oh 't is high time to awake and vigorously to endeavour that in our houses the Lord may be served by all and that with all their Heart and all their Soul and all their mind and all their Strength I have done with Family-Prayer 3. Prayer in the publick Congregation and Assembly is to be spoken to Gods Temple of old was styled the House of Prayer Luk. 19. 46. because there his people met together to seek his Face Publick prayer is a great Ordinance and when rightly managed of great efficacy Now the Rules concerning publick prayer are these 1. These Prayers must be performed in a known Tongue that all may understand and be edified 1 Cor. 14. and they should be well expressed nothing that is raw unseemly or that borders upon nonsence or Blasphemy should be brought forth in the Assembly 2. Come at the very beginning To come late is both offensive to God and to serious Spirits and 't is to cheat and defraud your own Souls and when you are here let your gesture be reverent for God expects Worship and adoration from your whole man internal from Soul and external from the Body 3. Take heed of distraction when there are so many objects to divert you and your hearts are so exceeding slippery Remember Gods jealous Eye is fixed upon you and as he cannot be deceived so he cannot endure to be mocked by you Gal. 6. 7. 4. Take head of carnal desires in your publike Duties Let not your supplications be like â—hose of the Pharisees and Scribes of whom Christ sayes they made prayers onely for a pretence shew Luke 20. 47. The hypocrite is like the Birds of Prey which though they sore never so high towards Heaven yet their eye is still downward that they may catch something Be not seemingly devout in the Congregation that you may the more unsuspectedly be unjust in shops and secretly intemperate and unclean But be very sincere in your publick addresses unto God as knowing you have to do with him that sees not as man sees that judges not according to outward appearance but tries the heart and veins And to perswade you to this publike Prayer consider 1. God is hereby Acknowledged and Honoured His people hereby testify to the World that there is a Lord in Heaven whom they worship and from whom they have their expectation And indeed this is one reason of publick institutions that we may make a profession to the world whose we are and whom we serve 2. The Lord vouchsafes something to his people in the Sanctuary that elsewhere is not to be found David was in an admirable frame when he was in the Wilderness of Judah God was liberal to him both of Grace and Comfort but he is not satisfied because deprived of publick ordinances that were administred in the tabernacle therefore he crys out My Soul thirsteth for thee my Flesh longeth for thee to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 63. 1. 2. 3. The united prayers of many Saints togegether is stronger and more apt to pravail Uis unita fortior much fire together gives the greater heat and many waters joyned run with more violence and in like manner when a great congregation joyns together as one man to wrestle with God in prayer how Successful are they like to be Abraham alone had like to have prevail'd for Sodom but put the case there had been an assembly of righteous ones belonging to Sodom that had joyned with Abraham in prayer surely the City had been spared I have dispatched vocal Prayer which I divided into three kinds secret family and publick 2. In the second place I come to speak of Mental Prayer when the heart alone without the tongue is engaged Now this Mental prayer is two fold first more Solemn Secondly more Sudden and Ejaculatory 'T is lawfull and possible to pray alone with the heart in a more solemn manner truly in some places and in some circumstances words may not be so convenient to be uttered but where 't is convenient words should be used because 't is difficult to pray any while only in the heart and do it without roaving But Mental prayer that is more sudden and ejaculatory I shall a little dilate upon In this kind of prayer the Soul lifts up it self to God in some short desire and request Thus Moses cryed unto God Exod. 14. 15. and yet we read not of a word uttered Thus Nehemiah prayed when King Artaxerxes was speaking to him Neh. 2. 4. These holy ejaculations are the very breathings of the new creature they mightily help to keep down the lustings of the Flesh and to preserve us unspotted by the world or the unclean God of it but the heart hereby is kept close to the God of heaven Concerning this mental ejaculatory Prayer let these directions be observed 1. Let the heart frequently be sending up desires to God all true desires are observed are pleasing to him and shall be satisfied let these desires therefore be strong and principally after the greatest that is to say Spiritual blessings 2. In all your civil employments let your hearts ever and anon be thus engaged this will make and keep you Spiritual 't wil hinder your estrangment from God and your being ensnared by the unrighteous Mammon 3. Let every temptation at the very first be resisted by this kind of prayer thus watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation Mat. 26. 41. Oh sigh and groan to the God of all grace when you find Satan assaulting and a sinful and deceitfull heart ready to yeild that you may have grace to help in the time of need Heb. 4. ult 4. Let this sort of Prayer begin and end every duty sigh before for assistance and sigh afterwards for acceptance and that infirmities through Christ Jesus may be passed by and that you may obtain some Spiritual advantage by every ordinance 5. Begin and end every day with mental Prayer assoon as ever you awake there are many watching for your first thoughts Satan and sin and the world will have them if your Souls are not lifted up to the Lord. Let him be last likewise in your thoughts this is the way to lie down in Peace and Safety Psal 4. ult 6. Especially upon the Sabbath day ejaculatory prayer should be abundant you must not then think your own thoughts nor find your pleasures Holy desires should issue forth continually Sabbaths would be gainful seasons indeed were they but thus improved 7. Mix mental Praise and Prayer together Let your Souls and all that is
which after God is created in Righteousness and true â—oliness Make our hearts just after thy own heart and let them be inclined to keep thy Testimonies Put thy laws into our minds and write them in our hearts and be to us a God and make us a willing people in the day of thy power Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Pray for Faith Faith is the gift of God Oh let us obtain precious Faith from thee which is much more to be valued then gold that perishes Strengthen my assent unto every word that thou hast spoken that I may as firmly believe every threatning every promise every part of thy revealed will as I believe when the Sun sets 't will rise again the next morning Let me tremble at thy threatnings and not dare to venture upon any thing thou hatest Let my heart stand in awe of thy Word and let it be my constant inquiry Lord what wouldst thou have me to do Open my heart to give entertainment to the Lord of life and glory Oh that I may look unto Jesus as the Israelites stung in the Wilderness did unto the brazen Serpent and looking may be healed and saved Let me hear and be taught of the Father and come to Christ and receive him to be a Prince and Saviour to me Oh that Christ may be truly precious to me that I may count all things but loss that I may win the Lord Jesus Help me to value the exceeding riches of thy grace in thy kindness through Christ Jesus Be earnest for Love and other graces of the spirit Let my faith work by love and love constrain me to live unto thee Give me an heart to know thee more and circumcise my heart to love thee above all Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee Let not my heart run a Whoring from thee thou art infinitely worthy of my strongest love That I may love thee let me know I am beloved of thee Vnite my heart to fear thy name Oh that I may set thee alwayes before me and have an awful sence of thy power and presence and holiness and goodness upon my heart Never turn away from me O Lord to do me good and put thy fear into my heart that I may not depart from thee Fire my heart with zeal for thy glory let me stand up for God in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation let me never live either to be a shame to the Gospel or ashamed of the Gospel Deliver me from lukewarmness in Religion let me take heed of being neither hot nor câ—ld least I provoke thee to spew me out of thy mouth Make and keep me good even in bad times and because others dishonour thee without fear let me be the more careful to do that which pleases thee Thou didst preserve Lot in Sodom Noah in the old world the Saints that were in Nero's houshold Oh help me to keep my self unspotted from the world and let me chuse rather to go to Heaven with a few then to go in the broad way that leads to destruction with the greatest multitude Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed Lord make me Sincere and keep me Sincere and without offence until thâ— day of Jesus Christ Let me be upright before thee and keep my self from mine Iniquity Oh help me to lay aside every weight and the Sin that does so easily beset me Let this be our rejoycing even the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversations in the World In all Estates let us learn therewith to be contented Let us consider that Godliness with Contentment is great Gain Oh that we may know how to want and how to abound how to be sick and how to be well how to Live and how to Die Let us be able to do and suffer all things through Christ strengthening of us Let our Conversations be as becomes the Gospel help us to follow thee as dear Children to Live as the Redeemed of the Lord and to glorifie thee in our Bodies and in our Spirits For we are not our own but are bought with a price We profess Christ let us depart from Iniquity and walk even as he walked Not contenting our selves with the Form of Godliness without the Power of Godliness Let us not profess to Know thee and in Works deny thee but make us Zealous of good Works considering we are Created unto good Works which God has before oâ—dained that we should walk in them Help us to do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk Humbly with God Cleanse us from all Filthiness both of the Flesh and Spirit and help us to perfect Holiness in thy Fear Make us Consciencious in all our Relations and let it be our continual Exercise to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man Arme us against the Evil day let us never faint in Adversity nor be discouraged from following God by Persecution Let Christ and Truth be Dearer to us than our very Lives and let us count it both Wisdom and our Interest to throw all our outward Enjoyments Over board rather than make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience Petitions in reference to the Word O let thy Word be a Light unto my Feet and a Lamp unto my Path When I go let it lead me when I sleep let it keep me when I awake let it talk with me Give me the seeing Eye the hearing Ear the understanding Heart Make thy Word like Fire and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces Oh let thy Word he powerful to kill sin and to Convert the Soul unto thee Give the Preacher the Tongue of the Learned and let him divide the Word aright and let the Pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand Let Sinners be startled and converted and let Saints be edified and comforted and built up by the Word of thy Grace Let thy Spirit accompany Prophesying that dead Bones may live and they who have Life may have it more and more abundantly Make us Doers of thy Word and not Hearers only deceiving our selves Petitions in reference to the Sacrament We were given up to thee when Baptized in thy Name Oh break our Hearts for our Vnfruitfulness and help us now to be stedfast in thy Covenant We have been baptized with water Oh that we may be washed and sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Let the Ordinance of the Supper be earnestly desired let not thy Table be Contemptible Oh that we may prize that Bread of God that comes down from Heavâ—n and gives Life unto the World let us not labour for the Meâ—t thâ—t perisheth Wherefore should we spend our Money for that which is not Bread and â—uâ—
himself and Christ his Son We are to beg that His Name may be Hallowed from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same that his Kingdom may come And that all on Earth may do his Will and submit unto the Scepter of his Word 6. Another part of Prayer is Imprecation Some are such that we are to desire the Lord would fight against them The evil Angels we may pray that the Lord will rebuke them and pull down that Kingdom of darkness under which the most of men are held in Bondage In reference to men we must be more sparing in our imprecations or wishing evil to them David and the other Prophets are not examples for us to follow in this matter for they knew by a prophetick Spirit Gods intensions concerning the persons that they pray'd against The general Rule which we ought to follow is this Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you this is to resemble God Who maketh his Sun to rise on the Evil and the Good We are to beg rather the conversion than the confusion of our Enemies and supposing they are implacable and incorrigble we must desire rather that they may be hindered from doing harm by their designes and power than that harm may come to them even when we pray against Antichrist whom we find devoted in Scripture to destruction we must have no private grudg against the persons of any but our Eye must be at Christs Honour that in Popery is so much struck at and at the advancement of the Gospel and of Zion 7. A seventh part of Prayer is Thanksgiving The Lords prayer ends with a doxology or giving Honour unto God Mat. 6. 13. for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for Ever To praise is to speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Tongues of Angels All the Creatures that are visible are mute besides man He is the Worlds high Priest that should offer this Sacrifice of praise for all He is the Tongue of the Creation which should be sounding forth Gods goodness towards all How much does the Lord let forth unto us And shall we deny him the revenue of praise His Mercys are without number and his Love without motive and without measure When praise is offered he accounts himself Glorified Psal 50. ult therefore in every thing we should give Thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us 1 Thes 5. 18. Thus have I gon over the parts of Prayer and none of these parts are needless In the second place I am to give you the several kinds of Prayer prayer is twofold Vocal when the Voice and Heart are joyned together Mental when the heart only is engaged 1. I shall speak of Vocal prayer when Tongue and Heart go together in this Duty There are several reasons why the Tongue is to be made use of in Prayer 1. With our Tongues we are to honour God and when they are thus employed speaking to him or of him or for him then they are our Glory As there are sins of the Tongue so duties of the Tongue too and as the Tongue of the Swearer Blasphemer filthy and foolish Talker is harsh and hateful to God so the Tongue of him that prays sincerely is pleasant Christ tell his Spouse that her Voice was sweet and her countenance comely 2. In praying with others words are necessary Some must be the mouth of the rest unto God 3. Words especially Scripture Language help to excite and stir up our affections and they serve to keep the Heart more intent upon the Duty This Vocal Prayer is threefold first Prayer in the Closet secondly Prayer in the Family thirdly Prayer in the publike Congregation and Assembly Of all these I shall speak in order 1. Prayer in the Closet That secret Prayer is the Lords Ordinance is very evident Mat. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the Door pray unto thy Father which is in secret And as our Lord gave this Precept so he is our example in regard of secret Prayer Mar. 1. 35. And in the morning rising up a great while before Day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Jacob was left alone and wrestled with God and had the name of Israel given him for as a Prince he had power with God and prevailed Gen. 32. 24 30. Now if you would be fully informed what this wrestling was compare the forecited place with Hos 12. 3 4. By his strength he had Power with God yea he had power over the Angel i. e. the Angel of the Covenant and prevailed He wept and made Supplication to him Now for the better managing of this sort of prayer lot these rules be observed diligently 1. Affect privacy be as secret as possible though we are not to be ashamed of any duty and though our light is to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father in Heaven yet a Christian is to do much out of the sight of others As long as God's Ear is open to the most whispering prayers what need is there that any other ear should hear a word which we speak When there is a desire that men should take notice of our prayers God takes no notice of them unless of the Hypocrisie in them to abominate them therefore we have that caution from the Lord Jesus Mat. 6. 5. And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the Streets that they may be seen of men verily I say unto you they have their reward 2. Take the fittest time for secret prayer the morning especially is to be chosen though once more in a day at least it should be your ordinary practice to pour out your hearts in private before the Lord. My Voyce shalt thou hear in the Morning says David In the Morning O Lord will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psal 5. 3. If the Soul be serious in its address unto God in the beginning of the day 't is likely to have the more grace and strength to resist temptations and to walk with God all the day long 'T is better to be shorter in the Evening duties and larger in the Morning then the spirits are fresher and more abundant and the soul has not such clogs in its actings as it meets with when the body is spent and tyred But if something unavoidably fall out that you cannot pray at the time you desire and were wont be sure lay hold of some other opportunity and neglect not the duty altogether 3. Let the Word of God be lookt into and meditated on when prayer is made The Word will direct you quicken and encourage you
performance of it 3. The Spirit encourages unto prayer he lets Believers understand that now is the accepted time that now is the day of Salvaâ—ion 2 Cor. 6. 2. Wherefore he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in a day of Salvation have I succoured thee behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation Though the Lord should have been sought much sooner yet 't is not too late to seek him now he will be found by the hearty seeker such seeking shall not be in vain Deut. 4. 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 4. The Spirit enables Believers to act those graces that are required in prayer There are four graces especially that should be exercised in our supplications Humility Faith Love Patience 1. Humility The Lord has a special regard to the Humble whereas the Proud he knows afar of and has threatned to resist the Proud The humble soul has high and awfull apprehensions of God in prayer and mean very mean thoughts of it self Abraham was humble when he said Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Jer. 18. 27. Job was humble when he said Mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self The good Angels themselves are humble though never in the least offenders the Cherubins cover their faces with their wings and cry out holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole Earth is filled with his glory How vile then should we be in our own eyes who by our guilt are so obnoxious who have so many soul spots and stains upon our souls which are the effects of sin nay whose very Righteousnesses are but as filthy raggs Isa 64. 6. 2. Faith is to be acted in prayer and truly we may come with confidence to the Throne of Grace if we consider the power of God which is not only most Mighty but Almighty I am God Almighty saith the Lord to Abraham the Father of the Faithful He can do more for us than we can desire should be done for us Nothing is too hard for him and although all other helps fail he needs them not his Arm when alone can bring Salvation Isa 59. 16. This power of God may safely be relyed on for he is also full of mercy Psal 62. ult God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God also unto thee belongeth mercy David was encouraged by this in his supplications Psal 25. 6. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old And we have not only an intimation of Gods merciful nature but in his Covenant he has promised to shew mercy for this he delights in and Christ is the Mediatour of this Covenant so that 't is most sure Hark to the Apostle Heb. 8. 10. 12. This is the Covenant that I will make saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people for I will be merciful to their Unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more 3. Love is to be acted in prayer there must be a love to our Neighbour and they must from the heart be forgiven that have Tres-passed against us shall we think much of a few Pence when we are Debtors many thousand Talents But principally there must be love to the Lord expressed in prayer his favour and fellowship with him must be longed for the sâ—ul must thirst for God for the liviâ—g God as the chased Hart after the water-brooks 42. 1 2. And when he does manifest himself he must be rejoyced and delighted in and his grace admired whatever is received 4. Patience is also to be acted in prayer there must be a patient waiting in this duty a right understanding of Gods Wisdom and Faithfulness that he knows what and when to give and will do it in the best both time and measure will be a great means to cure our over-hastiness David is to be imitated who said I waited patiently for the Lord and he lost nothing by it for it follows He inclined his ear unto me and heard my cry Psal 40. 1. These are the graces which the Spirit enables Believers to act in prayer 5. The Spirit directs Believers unto Christ as the alone prevailing Advocate We are said to have access to the Father by the Spirit and through the Son Eph. 2. 18. The Spirit leads us to Christ as the Mediator who is the way unto God The Spirit shews that God having given Christ has opened through him the treasurâ—s of his grace and for his sake will give freely all things The Spirit still is turning the eye of the Believer towards the Lord Jesus and in prayer instructs us how to improve his relation to us who is bone of our bone flesh of our flesh and is become an Head and Husband to us How to improve his sufferings by which all that we need has been procured How to improve his Intercession which as 't is incessant so 't is never denyed and finally How to improve his Power and Authority for he can do what he will both in Heaven and in Earth He is the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Life and Glory he can give Peace and Life and Glory to whom he pleaseth 6. The Spirit makes Believers sincere in their aimes when they pray They design the Hallowing and Honouring of Gods Name as well as their own welfare They beg for pardon and grace not only because 't is good for themselves to have these but likewise because the Lord glorisies his grace and mercy and goodness in forgiving and healing and saving those that cry and fly to him Thus you see what 't is to pray in the Spirit and consequently it does not lye barely either in fluency of utterance or in variety of expressions or in multitude of words Now follow the Reasons of the Doctrine and they are of two sorts First Why our own spirits should engage in prayer 1. Because God is a spirit our Lord assigns this as a Reason why worship should be in spirit because God is a Spirit who is worshipped 2. He principally requires our spirits My Son give me thy heart Prov. 23. 26. And truly he does narrowly observe where our hearts are when we are at prayer and no wonder for our spirits are most capable of serving him To admire fear love trust in him these are the principal ways of worshipping him and this is done with the heart 3. Without our spirits prayer is but a mockery If when the Lord is honoured with the mouth the heart be far from him God says in vain do they worship me and I will not hold them guiltless And this you may observe that when our hearts are not engaged
the Spirit may move unto more then ordinary plying of this work of Prayer And the Iron is by all means to be struck while 't is thus hot An extraordinary motion of the Spirit raised David out of his bed at midnight Psal 119. 62. At midnight I will arise to give thanks unto thee because of the righteous judgments So Act. 16. 25. at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them But here you must have a caution lest Satan get an advantage When the Spirit of God thus extraordinarily moves to pray he does sweetly and strongly incline the heart to comply with his motion there is a quickning heat goes along with his perswasions But Satans motions to pray at unwonted times come with a perplexing violence and burthensomeness upon the spirit but there is no disposing or enlarging of the heart unto supplication Thus the Egyptians of old required the tale of Bricks from the children of Israel but allowed not straw to make them with 4. We must Watch for all manner of Encouragements in Prayer and truly the Lord is not backward to give if we are heedful and forward to take encouragement The Lord encourages to prayer various wayes 1. By making us sensible what a priviledge access to the Mercy-seat is He causes us to be satisfied and delighted in his Presence and our hearts cry out Oh how good is it for us to be here This is none other then the Throne of Grace and this is indeed the Gate of Heaven 'T is good for me to draw nigh to God sayes holy David Psal 73. ult 2. The Lord encourages to Prayer by melting of the heart for sin he thaws the ice by the beams of his love Sense of unkindness and unsuitable carriage towards the Father of mercies causes plenty of Godly Sorrow and the heart hereby is exceedingly alienated from its iniquity 3. The Lord encourages to Prayer by enlarging the desires after himself makeing the Soul enamoured of him and altogether unsatisfied till it tast and see his goodness 4. By Intimations of audience The Lord said unto Daniel at the close of his Prayer O man greatly beloved Dan 9. 23. Christ answers the Woman of Canaan Great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Mat. 15. 28. When God after we have been earnest for pardon for Sanctification for grace to honour and to please him causes a peace and calmnesse in our Spirits and we have an hint that our petitions are according to his will and will be granted here is great encouragement in Prayer Now such encouragements should be watched for and laid hold on with the greatest thankfulness 5. We must watch for the returns of Prayer The Psalmist had been praying and he resolves he would hearken what God the Lord would speak that is by way of answer Psal 85. 8. In like manner the Church concluding that the Lord would at last hear resolves to wait for him Mic. 7. 7. Therefore will I look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will hear me If you watch not for returns of prayer you do not consider what you do or with whom you have to do in Prayer when you pray you take the name of God into your mouths and shall that be taken in vain when you pray you engage in an ordinance of God and shall that be used in vain What do ye imagine that Gods hand is shortned or his ear heavy and his bowels straitned Not looking after your Prayer dishonours him more then you are aware of He speaks to you and does for you in vain And this is the ready course to provoke him to keep silence and to shut his hand You are therefore with the prophet to stand upon your watch tower and to observe what God sayes to you Hab. 2. 1. Here one grand case of conscience is to be proposed and resolved How we shall know whether prayer be answered Ye or No and the blessings we have begged given as a return to our requesting for them I answer that Blessings are of two sorts Those that are peculiar to Saints those that are commune to the ungodly 1. There are blessings that are peculiar to the Saints Such as the sense of Gods love strength against corruption righteousness and true holyness peace of conscience power to run in the wayes of Gods commands without weariness and to walk without fainting If such blessings as these are prized and earnestly desired in prayer and after prayer are bestowed they may be concluded the fruit of Supplication In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me sayes David and strengthned'st me with strength in my Soul Psal 138. 3. he prayed for grace and spiritual strength and had it and concludes his prayer was answered Onely the Children of God long and beg for such blessings and if the Lords hand be open gives the blessings beg'd we may also conclude that his ear was open to the begging 2. There are Blessings that are commune to the ungodly as health food raiment relations prosperity removing afflictions and mercies of the like nature 'T is more difficult to know when these are given or continued as a return to Prayer but yet this-may be known in these particulars 1. Temporal Blessings are the fruit of prayer when they were begged not only of God but for God that they might be employed in his service and to his praise Joshua begged for victory over the Cananites but he had an eye to Gods great name which he knew would be dishonoured if Israel were overthrown Josh 7. 9. When we desire some estate that we do good with it and honour the Lord with our substance when we desire health and strength that we may be the more usefull and serve our generation arcording to the will of God and what we desired is bestowed surely Prayer is heard 2. Temporal blessings are the fruit of prayer when they are begg'd with an humble and holy submission and not asked as the principal things When we pray for daily Bread and the meat that perishes in such a measure as the Lord sees meetest to deal forth to us but our greatest hunger and thirst is after higher things even that meat which endures to everlasting Life and the waters of that Fountain that is alwayes flowing yet ever full 3. Temporal blessings are obtained by Prayer when they prove as cords to draw the heart neerer to God and effectually engage unto obedience David was brought very low the sorrows of Death compassed him he cals upon the Name of the Lord for deliverance Psal 116. 3 4. well deliverance is granted and what effect had it it makes him admire divine Mercy it strengthens his Faith it makes him cry out truly I am thy servant and resolve to walk before God in the Land of the Living Surely this deliverance came by Prayer and so himself was perswaded v. 1 2. I love the Lord
make them mend their sluggish pace in duty he chastned them that he might hear louâ—er crys and have more serious prayers from them Use 2. shall be of Exhortation Be perswaded to watch in prayer Those that watch not at all pray not at all in Gods account those that watch most make most of prayer These Arguments I shall further use to second this Exhortation 1. The more watchful you are in prayer the better you will understand the Deâ—ils Enmity you will perceive his envy and his hatred and how loath he is that you should receive any distinguishing mercies especially at the Hand of God therefore he does so bestir himself that he may resist you and the better you know this Enemy the better armed will you be 2 The more watchful you are in prayer you will be more acquainted with your selves and with your own hearts you will more fully understand your wants and your spiritual plagues and the understanding of these is one good step to the supply and cure 3. The more watchful you are in prayer the more experimentally will you understand the loving kindness of the Lord you shall find that he deals bountifully Psal 116. 7. Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee God is certainly willing to give they that watch in prayer take notice what they receive and great joy 't is to behold the prayers which as Messengers we dispatched to Heaven return loaded with mercy Joh. 16. 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full So much for that fourth Doctrin In Prayer Watching is a necessary Ingredient D. 5. we must persevere if we would speed in prayer or prayer must be with all perseverance the words of the Text are not without Emphasis not only perseverance but all perseverance is required by the Apostle There should not be the least fainting but a vigorous persistance in our supplications Hark how the Apostle speaks in other places Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in prayer In speaking to this Doctrin I shall first tell you what 't is to persevere in prayer Secondly What kind of perseverance is required Thirdly Give you the Reasons of this perseverance Lastly Make Application In the first place what 't is to persevere in prayer 1. This perseverance in prayer implyes Resolvedness of Spirit against all opposition the resolution is not to be made in our own strength but in the power of Grace and then it will be firm and hold He that perseveres in prayer resists Satans endeavours to hinder him in this duty Though this Lyon roar upon him by fearfully Blasphemous thoughts though this Adversary buffet him by confused amazing and affrighting imaginations yet all his skill does not beat him off from prayer the more busie he finds Satan the more need he perceives of calling upon God And as the Devil cannot prevail by his more irksome temptation so as to cause an omission of prayer in like manner on the other side the more pleasing temptations are withstood When he speaks big words concerning sports and pastimes and the pleasures of sense when he talks at an high rate of worldly advantages that are to be pursued that he may divert and draw away the heart from prayer yet he that perseveres in this duty believes this lying and deceitful spirit in nothing Nay he retorts upon him and answers that therefore he prays that he may find true joy and greater sweetness in God than the Creatures can possibly yeild that therefore he prays because he has a mind to be rich indeed and to have a treasure in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where Thieves cannot break thorow nor steal Mat. 6. 20. And as for that opposition he meets with from within from the corruption of his heart which is indeed the greatest he bewails it struggles with it and crys out for the spirit of life to quicken and help him He is convinced of the necessity of prayer and the excellency of what is prayed for and opposition is but a whet to him that he may stir up himself to lay hold on God 2. This perseverance in prayer implies getting through all discouragements The more blind Bartimeus was discouraged by the people he cryed the louder Jesus thou Son of David have mercy upon me Mar. 10. 48. and his cry was heard according to his desire he had his sight restored The Woman of Canaan who came to Christ that her Daughter might be dispossessed of a Devil met with great discouragements but overcome them all Mat. 15. 21. 29. When first she utter'd her request Christ answered her not a word this one would have thought might have struck her dumb and made her conclude it vain to have spoken any more Oh no still she cryed after him whereupon the Disciples intercede for her Christ answers he was sent to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel here was a second repulse but neither did this discourage she comes and worships him and sayes Lord help me Christ replys it is not meet to cast the Childrens bread unto the dogs This was a third repulse and worst of all And yet she gives not over but pleads that though she were indeed no better then a dog yet crumbs might be given her And now she speeds and whatever she had a mind to was granted He that perseveres in prayer will not be discouraged Is his guilt great he replys that the Lords mercy will be the more magnified if he obtains a Pardon Is he much distemperd he replys the more will the skill of the great Physician be shewn in healing his Spiritual plagues Is he very unworthy he replys that the Prodigal upon his returning found his Fathers doors and his Fathers arms open though he came home in raggs having before wasted all his Substance among the harlots and in riotous living Though he is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked yet he says That Christ has ey-salve to make him see gold tried in the fire to make him rich and white raiment to cover him Rev. 3. 17. 18. 'T is a Mercy Seat 't is a Throne of grace he goes to and therefore discouragements are not invincible 3. This perseverance in prayer implies continual importunity Importunity is many times troublesom to Man but God is delighted with it Humility indeed becomes us in our addresses to him but yet we are allowed to be urgent to be instant to be pressing in these things which is according to the will of the Lord and he loves to see us so for it argues we value highly what we begg with importunity The unjust judg was prevailed with by the widdows importunity And will the Lord neglect importunate Prayer that has commanded and encouraged importunity and that is so righteous and so gracious He that perseveres in prayer follows the Lord with his
good work Reprobate Mercies do not melt them judgments do not break them and Oh how little have all the means of Grace mended them There is so much of pride of atheisin infidelity impurity earthlyness hatred of the Lord and Holiness stubornness obstinacy by nature in our hearts that we are not able to mention or conceive the thousandth part of it Oh what cause have we to be earnest for that new heart and that new spirit which is promised in thy new new Covenant We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are but filthy Raggs the corruption of our natures defiles our very best Duties Satan is not to be blamed so much for tempting as our hearts for yeilding unto his Temptation The best of us have as sinful natures as the worst of men Actual sin is to be confessed after this manner VVho can tell how oft he has offended who can understand his errours O Lord I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee for my iniquities are increased over my head and my trespass is grown up unto the Heavens VVho can number the Stars of the Sky the sands of the Sea or the days of Eternity or reckon up his sins in order before thee I was an early sinner a transgressor from the VVomb and have not left off sinning to this very day I have broken thy Laws though they are so holy just and good I have counted the yoak heavy though thy Commandments are so far from being grievous that they are more to be desired than the finest Gold and sweeter than the Hony and the hony Comb. How far have I been from loving the Lord with all my heart with all my soul with all my mind with all my strength Nay insteed of this I have been an hater of God and secretly wished there were no God to punish sin that I might have sinned with greater freedom I have been a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God Be astonished O ye Heavens at this for I have committed two great evils I have forsaken the Fountain of living waters and have hewn out unto my self Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water I have not worshipped thee in Spirit and in Truth without fear of thy jealousie I have mocked thee to thy Face I have been a meer Idolater for I have idolized the world and the things of the world which are vanity and have forgotten the alsufficient God days without number I have taken thy Name in vain and prophaned thy Sabboths which thou hast so strictly commanded I should remember to keep holy I have wofully failed in my Duty to my Neighbour though I ought and was bound to love him as my self I have sinned against the Gospel it self though it contain the best tidings that ever were brought unto the sons of men How shall I escape who have neglected so great Salvation I have out-done the very Devils themselves they never rejected mercy for 't was never offered to them they never refused a Saviour for no Saviour was ever sent to visit and recover them Lord I have not believed as I ought the report of the Gospel though it be so faithful and worthy of all acceptation How long have I lived without Christ without Hope and without God in the world Thou hast out-bid all others and hast offered infinitely better things than the world can thou hast offered pardon grace nay glory honour and Immortality and yet the offer has been despised I have been apt to count the Gospel foolishness though it be the wisdom of God and a Mystery which the Angels admire and desire to look into I have not hearkned to the Voyce of the great Prophet I have not reverenced thy Son who has spoken to me and therefore deserve to be cut off from among thy people Thy Son is a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconcilation for the sins of the people He has called upon me to come to him for rest but I would not come that I might have life His Righteousness is a perfect and everlasting Righteousness yet I have gon about to establish my own righteousness and have not submitted my self to the righteousness of God I have placed a carnal confidence in my own strength though it be but meer weakness and relied upon my duties though God might damn me for the best of them if he should be extream to mark what 's amiss in them The Lord Jesus is incomparably the best master but I have refused to obey I have called him Lord Lord but have not don the things that he sayes I have refused to take his Yoak upon me though his yoak be an easie yoak and his burthen so light a burthen his service I have not liked though 't is perfect freedom I have broke his bands asunder and cast away his cords from me I deserve to be dash'd in peices by his iron Rod who refused to submit unto the scepter of his word I have been called to repent and encouraged thereunto but have remained impenitent I have made my heart like an adamant stone and refused to be ashamed Sin was the cause of Christs sufferings it makes the whole creation groan 't is that which has murthered millions of Souls 't is the cause of all the horrour and despair and sorrows and torment which the damned undergo and yet how light a matter have I esteemed it Ah! fool that I have been to make a mock of sin and count it a pastime to do wickedly My sins O Lord are highly aggravated Light is come into the world but I have loved darkness more then light because my deeds are evil Thy will has been plainly told me and I have known my duty and yet have done the contrary and deserves to be beaten with many stripes I have had experience of the riches of thy goodness and forbearance and long suffering and yet all has not lead me to repentance When fair means prevailed not thou hast tried foul But though then hast smitten me I have not grieved thou hast even consumed me but I have refused to receive correction I have made my Face harder than a Rock and have refused to return The Spirit has striven with me but like a stifnecked wretch I have resisted the holy Ghost and thou mightest justly resolve he should strive no more with me We judg O Lord and condemn our selves in thy presence Thou really and truly hatest sinne in us as well as others Thou sparedst not the Angels that sinned against thee Thou sparedst not the Old World but didst bring the Floud upon them Thou didst turn the Cities of Sâ—dom and Gomorrah to ashes Nay thy Son himself was not spared when sin was laid to his charge Oh what a wonder of mercy is it that we are spared to this day We deserve the sorest of temporal Judgments Thou mightest appoint over us Terrour Consumption and the burning-Ague we have
deserved sore sicknesses and of long continuance and to fall by the Arrow of the deadly Pestilence Thou mightest make the Heaven as Iron and the Earth as brass and curse the Land that it shall not yeeld her increase and break the staff of bread whereby our lives are sustained Thou mightest bring the Sword that should avenge the quarrel of thy broken Covenant and cause them that hate us to rule over us We have deserved spiritual Judgments that the golden Candle stick should be removed out of its place that the light of the Gospel should be put out in obscurity and that the Sun of Righteousness should go down at Noon-day Thou mightest curse such barren Trees as we have been and say Never fruit grow on you more Thou mightest give us up to our own hearts lusts and say because I would have purged thee and thou wast not purged therefore thou shalt not be purged any more until I cause my fury to rest upon thee The very Vengeance of eternal fire is no more than our due We have deserved Hell and one of the hottest places there For Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah had they heard what we have heard had they enjoyed what we have enjoyed would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes 3. A third part of prayer is Deprecation of punishment It highly concerns us to pray against the evils that we fear and have merited by our sins Lord enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity O Lord who should stand but there is forgiveness with thee and plenteous redemption that thou mayst be feared Let not thy anger wax hot let not thy jealousy smoak against us We lye at thy foot and lay down our weapons and cry out for mercy The returning Prodigal was embraced by his Father he rejoyced saying This my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found O let the arms of thy Love O Lord be open to embrace us though we are not worthy to be called thy Children We pray against outward Calamities and if these are brought upon us let them be sanctified and then they may be reckoned among our choycest mercies But especially we deprecate spiritual judgments Do not punish sin with sin do not say let him that is filthy be filthy still let him that is unjust be unjust still Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone Do not give us up to blindness of mind to hardness of heart to a reprobate sence to strong delusions to vile affections Do not swear in thy wrath that we shall never enter into thy rest O Lord leave us not for woe unto us when thou shalt depart from us Do not abhor us O God for as thy loving kindness is better than life so thy displeasure is more bitter than death it self Oh deliver from future wrath which is most of all intollerable How shall we dwell with devouring fire how shall we be able to inhabit everlasting burnings How shall we be able to stand before the Lord when he shall be revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and disobey the Gospel who shall be punished with overlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Oh Lord grant that we may find mercy of thee in that great approaching when the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Thou that hast the keyes of Hell and of Death Oh unsting death and suffer me not to fall down into that lake which burns with fire and brimstone Let me never feel the gnawings of that Worm that dyes not nor be tormented in that flame that never shall be quenched Oh be not angry if I am importunate to have thy anger removed an eternity of misery is astonishing Oh save me from everlasting Damnation 4. A fourth part of prayer is Petition for Grace and Mercy Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me thorowly from my Iniquities and cleanse me from my sins Take away all our Iniquities and receive us graciously heal our back-slidings and love us freely and let thy anger be turned away from us Though we have made thee to serve with our sins and wearied thee with our Iniquities yet according to the Word that thou hast spoken blot out our Transgressions for thy own sake and remember our sins no more For thy name sake O Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great O Lord behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way but thou hast laid on him the iniquities of us all He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him Oh that by his stripes we may be healed He poured out his Soul unto the death and made intercession for the Transgressors Oh let transgressors be received into favour Justify us freely by thy grace through the Redemption of Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood Our sin has abounded let thy grace much more abound Beg for Adoption Oh that thou wouldst become a God in Covenant with us and a Reconciled Father to us and let us be the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty Let us be no more Strangers and Forraigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Send forth the spirit of thy Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Deliver us from fear and bondage and seal us up unto the day of Redemption Say unto us Souls I am your Salvation There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Satisfy us early with thy mercy Let thy spirit bear witness with our spirits that we are the Children and not only Children but Heirs Heirs of God joynt-Heirs with Christ unto the Inheritance that is undefiled and will never fade away reserved in Heaven for us Intreat that Repentance unto life may be granted Oh take away the heart of stone and give an heart of flesh Let thy goodness lead us to Repentance Let us not only have space but also grace to repent of the evils of our ways and doingâ— Cause us to remember them so as to loath our selves and turn to thee Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and so shall we be turned draw us and we shall run after thee Renew us in the spirit of our minds and help us to put on that new man
thy fold and cause them to hear the voice of the great Shephard As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so be thou round about thy people from henceforth and for ever And let not the gates of Hell ever be able to prevail against them Petitions for the Nation in which we live Let Truth and Peace be in England Scotland and Ireland Let the Gospel be continued and be made effectual to the turning of many unto righteousness Let Souls fly as a Cloud to the Lord Jesus and as Doves to the Windowes Let judgments be all sanctified let not Sword and Plague and Fire be all in vain but oh let our uncircumcised hearts be humbled and help us to accept of the punishment of our iniquities and to turn unto him that has been smiting us that thou mayest send abundant plenty and prosperity Let the King and our Rulers be blessed and Favour Religion and thy People and under them let us live quiet and peaceable lifes in all godliness and honesty Petitions for relations and those that are afflicted Oh that our brethren and kindred according to the flesh may have an interest in that love which thou bearest to thy people 'T is terrible to think of Children or yoak-fellowes or brethren their miscarrying to Eternity Oh therefore give grace where there is none and work more and more where thou hast already in some degree wrought it Sanctify outward affliction to all that are exercised thereby let them know thou chastizest them because thou lovest them and let it be their principal desire to be made partaker of thy Holiness Let them cast all their burthens upon thee and do thou sustain them Let the Fatherless find mercy with thee and make the widows heart to sing for joy because their Maker is their Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name Binde up the broken in heart and heal the Wounds which sin has made Do not contend for ever neither be alwayes wrath lest the Spirit fail before thee Succour them that are tempted and sho ten the chain of the evil One Shine into the souls of them that refuse to be comforted that sit in darkness and see no light and are ready to say will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more Many are the afflictions of thy people O Lord deliver them out of them all Suffer none to be tempted above what they are able Petitions for them to use that are wounded in their Spirits How long wilt thou forgot me O Lord forever Oh do not still hide away thy Face from me Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses Oh that my griefes were throughly weighed and my calamities lay'd in the ballances together for now they would be heavier then the sand therefore my words are swallowed up for the arrowes of the almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my Spirits the terrours of God do set themselves in array against me Oh do not cast me quite away from thy presence but heal those wounds which thou hast made and cause a calm where now the storm is so exceeding dreadful I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou preserver of men Oh do not set me as a mark against thee do not make me a burthen to my self Out of the depths have I cryed unto thee O Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Let not thy wrath still lie hard upon me do not afflict me with all thy waves Oh draw a weary and heavy laden Soul to the Lord Jesus who alone can give rest unto me Lord encourage my hope and help one to believe Christ was wounded that I might be healed he was bound that I might be set at liberty he was forsaken and deserted that thou mightest return to me He was exceeding sorrowful even unto death that I might partake of the joy of thy Salvation I fly not unto carnal means to divert and remove my sorrows the pleasures of the world and the advantages of it I perceive are empty and low things I mourn after God I long for God as the chased hart after the water brooks Oh satiate a weary Soul and replenish a Sorrowful Soul that will certainly sink unlesse thou support and dye away unlesse thou speak comfort 6. The Sixt part of Prayer is Imprecation against others Let the works of the Devil be destroyed and the Kingdom of the prince of darkness be thrown down Why should Satan lead captive at his pleasure the greater part of mankind and command so great a multitude of those Souls that are capable of honouring and serving thee Hast thou not spoyled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly triumphing over them Oh let not conquered enemies insult and prevail but let the Prince of this world be judged and cast out and let Souls by thousands and by millions be made free indeed Let Satans instruments have a rebuke given them and let no weapon prosper that is formed against Zion We desire not the woful day for thy enemies but we intreat that their hands may not be able to perform their enterprize against thy people and all their counsels may be carried headlong O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy self lift up thy self thou Judg of the earth render a reward to the proud Lord how long shall the wicked how long shall the wicked triumph How long shall they utter and speak hard things and all the workers of Iniquity boast themselves They break in peices thy People O Lord and afflict thine heritage The plowers plow upon thy peoples backs and make long their furrows O Thou that art the righteous Lord break asunder the cords of the ungodly Let great Babylon come into remembrance and give that Scarlet-colour'd whore who has been drunk with the blood of Saints blood to drink for she is worthy Her sins have reached unto Heaven Oh remember her iniquities She sayes in her heart I sit as a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow therefore let her plagues come in one day Death and mourning and famine and let her be utterly burnt with fire for thou art strong O Lord that judgest her Let not Popery prevail but all abhor that Religion which pleads for Idolatry and that is so exceeding bloody Oh when shall that prophecy be fulfilled Babylon the great is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul Spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird When shall the heavens rejoyce over her and the holy Apostles and Prophets because God hath avenged them upon her Let enemies to thy people become friends both to thy people and their own selves but if they are implacable make them to know they are but men and
but by him that is Alsufficient and when we cry to him we give him glory for it argues we believe his power and mercy which prove him able and ready to succour and relieve us 2. Prayer is to be performed unto God and to him only Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Unto Thee my God and my King will I pray says David Psal 5. 2. and v. 3. I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Gods Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his Ear heavy that it cannot hear He is able to do not onely to the uttermost of our desires but exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think Eph. 3. 20. The Papists dangerously corrupt holy worship by their sinful prayers to Angels and Saints and especially to the Virgin Mary Cardinal Bonaventure has blotted out the name of Lord in the Book of the Psalms and put in the name of Lady and teacheth Christians to ask the same things of the Virgin Mary which David asked for at the hands of God himself Under the old Testament we find that Believers directed their supplications to God himself and found him ready to hear and save and under the Gospel where the manifestation and communication of his Grace are more full and plenteous is there need to go to any other No no One God can supply our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Psal 4. 19. 3. Those that pray must be sensible Ignorance and unbelief and hardness of heart make the words of prayer a Mockery and Abomination They that pray therefore must be sensible of their sins of their needs of their unworthiness to have those needs supplyed finally they must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to 1. They must be sensible of their sins I acknowledge my Iniquities says David and my sin is ever before me Psal 51. 3. so Esa 59. 12. For our Transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Sin must be acknowledged with shame and sorrow else 't will separate between God and us and prove a Cloud through which our prayers will never pass There must be such a sense of sin as implies an hatred and weariness of it for if the heart out of love and liking of it has a regard to sin God ever will be deaf and his mercies restrained Psal 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer 2. They that pray must be Sensible of their needs All the posterity of Adam are needy how rich and full soever they conceit themselves The first man being a publick person had the whole stock in his own hand and having lost it has beggard his whole Progeny we are all come shore of the glory of God as descended from Adam we are flesh and in our Flesh dwelleth no good thing This must be understood and believed poverty of Spirit Christ commends and pronounces those that are thus Poor Blessed Mat. 5. 3. For they that perceive they are Wretched and Miserable and Empty and Naked will cry the louder to the Lord for gold try'd in the fire to enrich them and white raiment that they may be cloathed The poor man that is ready to starve for hunger how does he cry out Bread for the Lords sake Bread for he sees his need of it The condemn'd Malefactor how does he roar out for a Pardon because he sees his life must quickly go without it And were we but better acquainted with our wants Oh what strong crys would come from us that Sin might be forgiven that Grace might be wrought that Peace might be Spoken that Spiritual Maladies might be healed We all need these things as much and more then the hungry stand in need of Bread 3. They that pray must be sensible of their unworthiness to have their need supplyed Paul crys out he was less than the least of all Saints and Jacob that he was less than the least of mercies Job says Behold I am vile and I abhor my self We cannot lay claim to any thing as our due but Wrath and the Curse What-ever God bestows it must be reckoned given not of debt but of pure and free Grace Rom. 4. Daniel in prayer disclaims all merit in his Righteousness acknowledges that Confusion of face belonged to him and to Israel because of their Rebellions and says expresly we do not present our supplications to thee for our Righteousness but for thy great mercies Dan. 9. 18. We may beg indeed for the greatest mercles and the greater the surer we are to speed for God is most liberal of the greatest but at the same time must be sensible that the least mercy is too good for such evil ones as we are 4. They that pray must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and multitude of Mountains the firmest things on Earth will fail and deceive our hopes Truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Therefore David lays this charge upon his Soul to wait only upon God and to have all its expectation from him God will be seriously sought unto when we are under the power of this Conviction that no other helper can be found 4. It followes in the definition that those that pray must be believing Souls Faith is a Grace that is required in all their Duties if this be wanting God will not be honoured by our Duties nor our selves advantaged Though we hear never so often If the Word be not mixed with Faith it will not profit us Heb. 4. 2. and unless our Prayers are Prayers in Faith they will not be effectuall Those that pray indeed must be Believers 1. They must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. they must have right apprehensions of his gracious Nature and of his good Will towards men He is willing to be reconciled and has himself without being sought unto contrived a way how Sinners Peace may be made He sends Embassadours to them to treat about it And intreats those that have offended him that they would be no longer enemies by wicked Works He has declared that fury is not in him towards those that are desirous of Mercy and that he does delight in nothing more than in Compassion and that if any do understand and seek him he is more willing to be found than they can be eager to find him These things being rightly conceived encourage Prayer and Satan by suggesting the clean contrary staves off many from this Duty 2. They that pray aright must by believing be interested in Christ the Mediatour Christ is the Way and no man commeth unto the
pray one for another because God has commanded it it maintains love among them and the Strongest need the prayers of the Weaker How earnestly does the Apostle Paul beseech the believing Romans that they would strive together with him in their prayers to God for him Rom. 15. 30. But not a word of prayer directed to any departed Saint in Scripture And when Jacob was in distress and the Angels of God met him and he said this is God's Host but he begg'd nothing of them but wrestles with God himself and as a Prince prevailed 'T is a silly Objection that we use the mediation of great men when we have to do with Princes and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is to be used when we have to do with God for the Lord grants free access unto all if they use Christ as a Mediatour and therefore the Mediation of Angels and Saints is needless We must pray you see in the Name of Christ and there are four things which we are to have an eye to 1. The satisfaction of Christ he has been wounded for Transgression he bare the Curse so that we may beg with confidence to be delivered from it He has made Peace by the blood of his Cross we have encouragement to beseech the Lord to be reconciled and that he would no longer be a Foe but a Father to us 2. We are to eye the purchase of Christ He has purchased all the blessings of the new Covenant Heaven it self is called a purchased Possession Eph 1. 14. Christ payd a price for it that it might be ours 'T is not only an act of Grace but an act of Righteousness in God considering what Christ has paid for to forgive Sin and to give Salvation 3. We are to eye the intercession of Christ Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Our great high Priest is passed into the Heavens and his work is there to pray for Believers and his Father hears him always How can prayers miscarry that are backt with the intercession of such a one 4. We are to eye the strength of Christ and his assistance Rightly to pray is a matter of difficulty Christ by his Spirit is ready to help the infirmities of Believers so that notwithstanding all discouragement and opposition from within and from beneath they shall make something of this duty of prayer and obtain the blessing 7. In prayer there must be Thanksgiving for what has been already received Praise is the sublimest part of prayer Praise is a debt and how vast is the debt if we consider the multitude greatness freeness and continuance of mercies Praise sweetens prayer nothing more pleasing to God nothing more pleasant to our selves And to give thanks for benefits received is as effectual a way to prevail for more mercy as the most vehement and strongest cryes Oh therefore that all who pray would also praise the Lord for his â—oodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of men Psal 107. 8. Thus have I explained the definition and opened the nature of prayer to you In the second place I am to inform you what 't is to pray always this I have touched upon already but shall more fully speak to in these particulars 1. To pray always implies being always in a disposition and frame to pray when God requires it The heart must be reconciled to this duty and fall in love with it go to the Throne of Grace with alacrity much may be gotten at the mercy seat the unsearchable riches of Christ are unlocked and we may take as much as the hand of faith can grasp without being checked or upbraided The God whom we have to do with gives liberally and like himself Jam. 1. 5. The heart should be forward to pray and be weary of and through grace subdue move and more that evil which alas is present when good is about to be performed Rom. 7. 21. 2. To pray always implys laying hold of all opportunities to pray that are graciously vouchsafed to us Whenever there is a meet season and a motion to pray we should catch such an occasion by the fore-lock for when once 't is past 't is past recalling Stated times of prayer ordinarily should in no wise be neglected and when there are extraordinary calls to this duty they should by all means be heeded But here you must take heed of being imposed upon by Satan He is clearly for wearying you by spiritual extortion and pressing you to more of the external part of duty then God requires 'T will not be amiss to shew you the difference between Satans motions to pray and the Lords calling you thereunto 1. Satans motions are unseasonable when God calls to other duty When we in obedience to the Divine command are diligent in our calling of a sudden Satan will move to pray but by the unseasonableness of the motion we may discern whence it comes but the Spirits motions are regular 2. Satans motions to pray are unmerciful he would fain have Sinners not pray at all but if they will needs fall upon the duty he urges them to over doing and exacts so much as is apparently to the wasting and expending and destruction of nature and his design is to render prayer burthensome and at last to make it totally neglected But the Lord is merciful in his motions he requires that which is infinitely beneficial to the Soul and destructive austerities towards the body he no where requires 3. Satans motions to pray are commonly followed with some direful injections if they are not obeyed and what he injects has no Scripture-foundation He tells souls that they are Reprobate and will be damned if they do not what he unreasonably perswades whereas the word of God speaks no such matter Well then Satans motions are not to be minded 3. To pray always implies praying in every state and condition in Sickness in Health in Prosperity in Adversity prayer is to be used without prayer Sickness will be unsanctified and an uncomfortable load and if it be taken off 't will be in anger without prayer Health will be a judgment and only serve to encourage a neglect of the soul and another world Without prayer Adversity will be intolerable and Prosperity will be a snare and occasion forgetfulness of God and a daring to rebel against him No condition should cause a cessation of prayer for the Apostle says Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17. 4. To pray always implies Not to let fall any holy suite till it be granted We must not faint in prayer nor give over though we do not presently speed Luk. 18. 1. He spake a parable to them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint Impor tunity prevailed with an unrighteous Judge surely then 't will be prevalent with the Father of mercies God does not presently grant
delivered from the wrath of his Brother Esau Jonah by prayer out of the Whales belly and the three Children out of the seaven-times heated Babylonish Furnace By prayer David stayed the Plague so that it seized not on Jerusalem and caused the Sword of the destroying Angel to be put up into the Sheath again By prayer Elias stayed the Rain for three years and six moneths and by the same means opened the Bottles of Heaven that the Earth brought forth her Fruit By prayer he brought down fire which consumed the two Captains and their fifties that came to take him By prayer Joshua commanded the Sun and it stood still in Gibeon and the Moon in the Valley of Aijalon for the Lord hearkened to the voyce of a man and fought for Israel By prayer Daniel stopped the mouths of Lyons and came untouched out of the Den and by prayer Peter and Paul and Silas were delivered out of Prison Shackles Iron gates being but weak things to the power of supplications And what shall I more say for time would fail me as the Apostle speaks if I should tell of Samuel of Sampson of Jehoshaphat of the Prophets also and of the Apostles who by prayer procured thunder to destroy their Enemies out of weakness were made strong turned to â—â—ight the mighty Hosts of Adversaries the Dead they raised to life again made the Lame from the Womb to walk and leap healed Discases beyond the skill of art of Cure Behold prayers efficacy though performed by men of like passions with our selves this should perswade us to the love and practice of the duty 3. Who is it that would hinder you from prayer Who stands at your right hand to resist you certainly 't is an Enemy who is unwilling you should draw nigh to God because he knows 't is so good for you Psal 73. ult Your own hearts also are ready to draw back but this argues their egregious folly and desperate wickedness 4. What has followed upon the omission of prayer Has not this Omission ushered in sins of Commission have you not when you have neglected to cry for strength in your souls found your selves like Reuben unstable as water have you not easily been induced to do that which has fill'd the face of God with frowns and the mouth of Conscience with Reproaches On the other side has not prayer been with success sometimes have you not found encouragement grace at the mercy seat Oh do that which both bitter and sweet experience prompts you to 5. Prayer is an honourable employment in this duty you have admittance to the ear of the King of Heaven how high is your Company your fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1. 2. Though the Lord be high yet he hath respect unto the lowly he will regard the prayer of the most destitute and not despise it he allows you a freedom to pour out your complaints and to make known before him your troubles And what honour is this to have to do immediatly with God to have him so nigh to you in all that you call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. 6. Frequency and fervency in prayer will be a great evidence of your Regeneration and Adoption The Child when born crys and the Sinner when born again prays Of Paul 't was said as soon as he was Converted behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. 'T is the Spirit of Adoption that makes us cry Abba Father If we cannot be satisfied unless we approach unto God and value his favour and fellowship above all Earthly things and are chiefly desirous of those blessings which he never gives in wrath and having given never takes away again we may conclude from our spiritual breathing our spiritual life Now a good evidence of Regeneration what will it be worth in a day of trouble in a dying hour The last Use shall be of Encouragement to Believers 1. Their prayers are Gods delight Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the Wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight so Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voyce for sweet is thy Voyce and thy Countenance is comely We are pleased with the talk and requests of our Children though their language be lisp'd and broken And God is infinitely more indulgent then earthly Parents are or can be and much more willing to give good things than they Mat. 7. 11. 2. There are many reasons why the God whom Believers pray to should secure them 1. They are his chosen ones God pitch'd his love on them before the foundation of the world was laid 2. They are his Sons purchase he has bought them with a price shed his Blood for the Remission of their sins gave his Life for their Ransom 3. They are in Covenant with God he has engaged to be their God and surely he will be their Guard also 4. They are Vessels of mercy in whom he does design to glorifie his grace and love for ever Surely then he will heed these when they pray he will give them the good they need and save them from the evil which makes them flye to him for shelter I have done with the first Doctrine That a Christians security lyes very much in Praying Always D. 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used praying always with all prayer says the Text. Prayer is a duty of very great extent and the parts of it are admirably suited unto the present State and condition of a Christian and the divers kinds of prayer very well agree with the various circumstances wherein we are All the ways of seeking God shall be to purpose if he be but sought diligently and according as he himself has appointed for he tells us plainly that he sayes Not to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain Esa 45. 10. Two things I shall here insist on First I shall speak concerning the parts of prayer and shew you how all these parts are to be used Secondly I shall give you the several kinds of prayer and so perswade and direct you unto each kind that this duty may be performed in its utmost latitude I begin with the parts of Prayer and they are these 1. One part of Prayer is an humble compellation or naming of God Those titles that are given him in Scripture we must be acquainted with and such should be used as are most suitable unto the matter of our prayers and which have the greatest tendency to excite those gracious and spiritual affections which are required in our Supplications If we consult the prayers of Saints which are recorded in the Bible we shall find that God is called sometimes Lord sometimes Father sometimes the great and mighty and terrible God sometimes the King of Glory sometimes the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity whose Name is
unto prayer By the Word God speaks to you as by prayer you speak to him if you regard not Gods voyce how can you expect he should mind yours If you will not hear and obey â—he will not hear and grant what you request of him The Word should dwell richly in you Col. 3. 16. your delight should be in the Law of the Lord and in that Law should you meditate day and night Psal 1. 2. The Scriptures should be searched which shews they are a depth and all is not at first looking into them discovered you must seek here as for silver and search here as for hid treasure if you would understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 4 5. How enlightning how enlivening how cleansing and transforming is the word of God How sweet and desirable are the Lords testimonies When the Spirit becomes the expositor of Scripture and opens the eyes too to behold wondrous things out of Gods Law and affects the heart oh then there is such efficacy profit and sweetness as is beyond comparison 4. Be liberal in this duty of secret prayer Pray with a forward and with a free spirit grudg not the time you spend here for this is the best way of turning time unto a good account Be sensible how good it is to draw nigh to God for the promise is if you draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to you Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye Sinners purifie your hearts ye double-minded Now Gods drawing near implies his being reconciled to us his manifesting his power and grace for our help and supply Oh theâ—â—fore go unto God with an holy eagerness who is so ready to meet you and to satiate the weary soul and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. We must be much and often with God for this is the way to come to an acquaintance with him and the better we are acquainted with him the more we shall love him and be sensible of his love to us Hark to what is said Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee 5. In secret prayer be very particular ease your Consciences by a particular innumeration of your Iniquities and the aggravations which have heightned them Make known all your wants before that God who has styled himself God All-sufficient fear not that the Lord will be weary of hearing or be backward to give a gracious return When you are alone with God you may use the greater freedom of speech this being particular will contribute much unto your brokenness of heart with which the Lord is well-pleased and also unto your own sensing of your manisold wants and making of you meet to be supplied 6. Look after secret prayer Stand upon your Watch-Tower and observe what answer is given The Merchant hearkens after the Ships that he sends to Sea When a Petition is presented to a Prince you wait what Answer will be returned Be thus wise in prayer if you speed not find out the Impediment if you do speed be encouraged by answers to act Faith in God and to persist in prayer Because he has inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live says David Psal 116. 1. And let answers of prayer be matter of praise that Satan and Conscience may not accuse you of and God may not be angry at your ingratitude Thus of the Rules concerning secret prayer Now follow the Arguments to perswade unto it 1. Consider God sees in secret in secret places God sees for he fills both Heaven and Earth his Omnipresence is an evident demonstration of his Omniscience as he cannot be confined to any place so neither can he be excluded All things are open and naked before him Heb. 4. 13. And as his seeing in secret is matter of terrour to the Ungodly so of joy unto the Righteous David speaks both with wonder and with gladness Psal 139. 7 8 9 10. Whithef shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me In what secret corner soever you are God is with you all your sighs and groans your complaints and desires are taken notice of 2. Frequency in secret prayer is a great argument of Uprightness and Sincerity 'T is a sign you seek God himself when none but God knows of your seeking him What the Apostle speaks of the Jew may be applied unto the Christian He is not a Christian that is one outwardly but that is one inwardly not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not so much openly as in secret Rom. 2. 28 29. The praise of such is not of men but of God 3. Secret prayer is a marvellous way to thrive in grace and to grow rich towards God By this means Faith will grow exceedingly Love will abound and our Souls will prosper Some Trades-men keep a Shop and drive a Trade there and gain thereby but they have a secret way of trading which is not observed and by this they grow wealthy in a short space A Christian that is much in secret with God O how much does he gain such an one how good does he find the Lord how ready both to forgive and to give and he can set his Seal unto that truth that God is plentious in mercy unto all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. 4. Secret prayer is a means to fit for publick Ordinances They that are most upon their knees in the Closet will get most benefit in the Sanctuary The preparation of the heart is from God and he must in secret be sought unto to fit our spirits for solemn worship Those that before they come to hear pray that Gospel may come to them not in word only but in power also and the Holy Ghost and much assurance these are likely to find the Gospel working effectually and that 't is the power of God to their Salvation Rom. 1. 16. Those that before they come to the Table examine themselves alone beg that God would search them and are importunate for strength against every Corruption for all the fruits of Christ's sufferings for all the graces of the spirit are not likely to be sent away empty 5. Secret prayer is a means to keep the impression of publick duties upon the heart after the duties themselves are ended Your work is not over when publick Ordinances are over Has any sin been discovered and reproved you must go in secret and bewail it and cry out Lord let not this nor any iniquity have the dominion over me Psal 119. 133. Has any duty
been made manifest you should go in secret and cry Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and make me to go in the path of thy Commandments Psal 119. 35 36. Have any gracious and holy resolutions by the motions of the spirit with the word been made you must go alone and beg Keep this O Lord for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of my heart and establish my heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. 6. Secret prayer is the way to have special tokens of Gods love and those joys that a stranger does not intermeddle with Oh the sweet meltings and thawings of the heart for sin as 't is an abuse of mercy that are experienced in secret prayer Oh the visits that then the great Physician of Souls does make How suitably and gently does he deal with the wounded spirit what assurance does he give that he will in no wise cast out but give rest unto the weary and heavy-laden Mat. 11. 28. Oh what peace is spoken to the Saints in answer to prayer what sweet intimations are given and sometimes a plerophory and full perswasion of their interest in that love which is unchangable and everlasting Surely the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25. 14. 7. Consider God will reward openly This Argument Christ uses to enforce secret prayer Mat. 6. 6. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly As all secret wickedness shall at last be detected and punished so all secret piety and godliness shall be made manifest before the whole world at the Judgment day and the reward will be exceeding great and everlasting So much be spoken concerning prayer in the Closet 2. Prayer in the Family is to be insisted on And that Family-prayer is a duty may be evidently proved by these Arguments 1. The Apostle in the Text enjoyns all prayer and Family-prayer is one kind that holy men have used Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. and prayer is so principle a part of Divine Service that in Scripture 't is sometimes put for the whole Gen. 4. ult Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord that is in a more publick manner to worship him So of Cornelius 't is said that he feared God with all his House and pray'd unto the Lord always Act. 10. 2. 2. Families of Believers are styled Churches in Scripture and in a Church there is a joyning together in prayer other exercises of Godliness The Apostle Paul wishes grace and peace to the Church in Philemons House Phil. 2. 3. and v. 22. speaks of their joynt-prayers through which he trusted he should be given to them 3. The Family stands in need of blessings which they are together to beg for and to deprecate Family evils And for encouragement Christ has promised that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Now in Families-duties two or three are gathered together in Christs Name and his prefence may without presumption be expected 4. Wrath is threatned upon prayerless Families Pour out thy Fury upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Jer. 10. 25. I grant indeed that the word Families is of such a Latitude that it extends unto Countries and Kingdoms but if there be an obligation upon Countrys and Kingdoms to joyn in calling upon God surely then Familys more strictly taken are in no wife Exempted Having proved Family-Prayer a Duty I shall lay down some directions as to the performance of it 1. Be sensible that Prayer is a business of greater concernment than any wordly business whatsoever You are indeed to be diligent in your Callings that are particular but your general Callings is of greatest weight The general Calling is that which all are called to and what are all called to They are called to serve and glorifie God and to work out their own Salvation Prayer is a part of your Homage to the King of Heaven Much Spiritual and Eternal benefit is to be obtained by it therefore do it not as a by-business neither let every small matter cause the omission of it 2. Believe that success in your Callings depends upon the Lords Blessing the blessing of the Lord maketh Rich says Solomon and he addeth no Sorrow with it Prov. 10. 22. without thee t is in vain to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the Bread of carefulness Now Prayer for this blessing is the way to fetch it I grant indeed that many thrive in the World without Prayer but then Wealth is a Curse and a Snare to them 't is a weight that hinders them from ascending into the Hill of the Lord and helps to sink them into destruction and perdition 3. Let Prayer ordinarily be twice a day as under the old Law there was a morning and evening Sacrifice and let the whole Family joyn in it if it be possible since there are none but need prayer and may receive advantage by it 4. Let the Word of God be read when Prayer is made that not only you but your housholds after you may be acquainted with the Misterys of the Gospel and with the will of God Abraham communicated what he had learned from the Lord unto his Family he used his Authority and commanded his Children and his Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. 5. Take heed of customariness and formality in family-Worship engage always with a serious Spirit and in every Duty stir up your selves to take hold on God I conclude with the motives to perswade you to Family-Prayer 1. You that are Governours have a charge of the Souls that dwell under your Roof and must answer for them Therefore you are to pray with them to pray for them Else you will incur the guilt of the Blood of Souls and that will lie heavy You provide food for your Housholds for you are unwilling it should be said you are so much worse than Infidels as to suffer any to starve that dwels with you Oh what unmercifulness is it patiently to suffer those of your Houshold to go on in the way that leads to Damnation And not to call upon the Lord in their hearing that they may be saved 2. Families are the Seminaries both of Church and State And therefore as you desire the Church may be pure and the State Righteous look well unto your Families and let Religion flourish in them Reformation indeed must begin at Persons and if every one would mend one all would be reformed But from persons it must proceed to houses And if these were but once leavened with godlyness what holy Citys and what an happy Nation would there be 3. Consider Family-Worship has wofully been neglected of late in these declining times How many large consciences loose principles and loose practises are there to be found among us
within you blesse the Lord upon every manifestation of his goodness as well as desire blessings from him And thus have I gon over the parts and kinds of Prayer much work indeed I have told you of but the more work the better for the more grace is to be expected in order unto the performing of what is required I shall conclude with a very brief Application in two words 1. How sharply are they to be reproved that instead of praying with all prayer use no prayer but live in the almost total neglect of this duty 2. Be perswaded to pray with all Prayer All prayer that God has appointed he is ready to hear in all prayer the name of Christ may be used and the promises of God which are sure exceeding great and precious may be pleaded and how glad may we be that the Lord has appointed so many successful wayes of seeking him wherein he has consulted the variety of our conditions and necessitys So much for the second Doctrine That all Prayer is to be used D. 3. Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit Indeed all our worship of God who is a Spirit must be in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. 24. else 't is in truth no worship As the body without the Spirit is dead so dutys without Spirit are dead also In the handling of this point I shall first open to you what 't is to pray in the Spirit Secondly Lay down the reasons of the Doctrine Thirdly Answer some cases of conscience about praying in the Spirit Lastly make application First What 't is to pray in Spirit This as I have already intimated refers both to the Spirit of him that prays and also to the Spirit of God who helps to pray 1. This praying in the Spirti refers unto the spirit of him that prays and several things are here included 1. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with understanding I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. we must not only understand the words that are spoken but also and that principally the worth of those things which we Petition for we must likewise in some measure be acquainted with the All-sufficiency and Faithfulness of that God whom we pray to and with our own indigency that are the Petitioners The Athenians had an Altar dedicated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the unknown God Act. 17. 23. and they are said ignorantly to worship him and truly all their worship degenerated into superstition We must know the Lord and our selves what his promises and our own Needs are else prayer will be of no account 2. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with judgment discerning between things that differ There is as vast a difference between Sin and Holiness as there is between Deformity and Beauty There is as vast a difference between the Creature and the Creator as there is between the broken Cistern that can hold no water and the Fountain of living waters Jer. 2. 12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water There is as vast a difference between a state of Grace and a state of Wrath as there is between Heaven and Hell Now he that prays must be apprehensive of all this and a believing apprehension of it will make him earnest for the loving kindness of the Lord and that he may taste more and more of the Fountain of living waters and be cleansed from all defilements 3. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with intention of mind Abraham drove away the fowls that did light upon his Sacrifice Gen. 15. and so should we drive away the impertinent and sinful and troublesome thoughts that arise or are injected into our hearts when we engage in sprayer Our hearts cannot wander in the least but they are espied by him whose name is jealous We should therefore desire that the Lord himself who holds the wind in his Fists would seize upon our more unruly hearts and keep them close to himself in duty especially considering there are some kind of distractions that nullifie and make void prayer distractions that are not regarded not lamented not watched or striven against 4. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with spiritual affections The affections are the wings of the Soul and the Soul is carried either to or from any thing according as the affections are inclined The Apostle exhorting to seck the things that are above presently adds set your affection on things above Col. 3. 1 2. intimating we shall never seek the things above in good earnest unless our affections be placed on them Those affections that have evil for their object must spend their strength upon sin which is the worst of all evils Sin must be hated most perfectly sin must cause the deepest sorrow sin must be most feared and against sin the heart should rise with the greatest indignation Those affections that have good for their object as love desire and the like should run with a full stream towards God and those great things that are brought to light by the Gospel and promised in the covenant of grace The stronger and more spiritual our affections are in prayer the better success will follow 2 Chron. 15. 15. 'T is said of Judah that they sought the Lord with their whole desire and he was found of them 2. This praying in the spirit refers to the Spirit of God who helps to pray The Apostle Jude exhorts to build up our selves on our most holy Faith and to pray in the Holy Ghost Jud. 20. and so to keep our selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Now the operation or working of the spirit of God in prayer I shall explain in these particulars 1. The Spirit of God teaches Believers for what to pray he opens their eyes to understand the Word and to know what the Will of the Lord is W know not says the Apostle what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit makâ—th intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8. 27. 2. The spirit removes impediments to prayer he turns that love that naturally is in the heart to sin into hatred he causes the World that was Idolized to be contemned he cures that infidelity in reference to the excellency of spiritual things that the unrenewed Soul is full of as also that enmity against God and Holiness which was in the mind all the while 't was Carnal Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. the Fetters are knockt off the Clogs removed the Soul is brought out of Prison and is made free both unto the performance of duty and free in the