The wickednesse of the world is a cause of Prayer the multitude of the wicked and vngodly sinners if Davids q Psal 119 130 eyes gushed out with rivers of water because they transgressed Gods commandement and did not keepe his holy Lawe then thou hast cause to powre foorth thy prayers when thou seest sinners continually offending God 2. When thou perceivest them desirous to defile and destroy thy selfe thou hast reason to beseech GOD to r Act. 2. 40 saue thee from the froward generation 3. When thou seest them walking in the Å¿ Math. 7. 13 broad way and working their owne destructions without remorse of conscience beeing t Ephes 4. 19 past all feeling thou hast cause with pitie and commiseration to pray for their amendement conversion and eternall salvation that their soule u Iob. 33. 30 may bee preserved from the pit and they illuminated in the light of the living that they x Psal 106. 5 may see the felicitie of his chosen and glorie with his inheritance Fifthly y Act. 20. 28 take heede to thy self Consider thy selfe and haue a respect to thy owne safeguard and happinesse if thou feare spirituall deadnesse thou hast cause to beseech GOD to quicken thee according to his loving kindnesse if thou knowest thy selfe to bee z Revel 3. 17 blind and ignorant thou hast reason to entreat God to open a Ephes 5. 18 the eyes of thy vnderstanding and b Psal 146. 8 to giue sight to thee who art blind if thou think thy selfe that thou art weake c Rom. 14. 1 in faith then call vpon GOD to increase the same if thou iudge thy selfe d Iob. 39 37 vile and filthy pray to God to wash e Psal 51.2 thee throughly and to clense thee from all thy iniquitie if thou be prosane poore e Revel 3. 17 naked diseased and in deformitie hast thou not verie great neede to pray for holinesse riches the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse health and that thou mayest ever appeare before the LORD in holie beautie Thou hast iust cause truelie to send vp thy supplications vncâ—ssantly if thou shalt arightly consider of thy danger and jâ—opardie thou remainest in as great danger spiritually as Isaac Daniel and Peter were into bodily The Patriarch Isaac being young was f Genes 22. 9 bound to the Altar vnder him was the wood to bee fire aboue his head the knife of his father to kill him no person was neere him to deliver him without question hee was then praying to God making earnest supplicatioÌ„ But thou by nature art bound and holden by g Prov. 5. 22 the cordes of thy owne sinne vnder thee is that everlasting fire g Isa 66. 24 which never shall bee quenched to torment thee aboue thy head is the sharpe h Ezech. 21. 9 sword of GODS justice ready to kill thee if thou looke about thee there is none neere thee to i Isaiah 63. 5 helpe thee thine owne arme cannot saue thee thou then in such perill hast cause to crye vnto GOD most instantly that it would please his goodnesse to deliver thee And as Daniel when hee was in danger in k Dan. 6. 16 the den of Lyons did pray earnestly vnto GOD by whom hee was preserved and his accusers punished â—o thou who may protest with the Prophet saying l Psal 57. 4 My soule is among Lyons seeing thou art in danger to bee devoured continually hast thou not great cause to pray fervently LORD deliver m Psal 35. 17 my desolate soule from the Lyons which would cruelly destroy mee Though thou art like n Math. 14. 30 Peter walking on the water when hee saw a mightie winde hee was affraid and as hee began to sinke hee cryed Master saue mee thou art now come vnto o Psal 69. 2 deepe waters the streames runne over thee thou art in danger of spirituall drowning thou art sinking in the sea of sinne thou will perish certainly both soule and body vnlesse thou crie and pray tymouslie that thy Master would be pleased to saue thee Sixtly If thou thinke wisely of The world is a cause of payer the worlds vanitie that all in this earth Vanitie p Eccles 1. 2 of vanities sayeth the Preacher vanitie of vanities all is vanitie thou hast occasion to pray earnestly that thou bee not bewitched with the vaine pleasures and allurements of the same that thou loue q Ioh. 2. 15.16 not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him for all that is in the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life is not of the Father but of the world which passeth away and destroyeth most fâ—arefully and certainly Thou hast most just cause to craue of GOD that thou be not filthily defiled nor polluted by the filthinesse thereof seing it is pure religion q Iam. 1. 27 and vndefiled before GOD to keepe thy selfe vnspotted of the world And that thou r Philip. 2. 15 may bee blamelesse and pure and the sonne of GOD without rebuke into the middes of a naughtie and crooked nation amongst whom thou mayest shine as a light in the world Lastly The necessitie dignity and vtilitie of prayer and that thou may walke Å¿ Ephes 4. 1 worthie of the vocation wherevnto thou art called may forcibly moue thee to perpetuall practising of this holy duetie OF THE NECESSITIE OF PRAYER The fourtenth Chapter GReat indeede and vnspeakable is the necessitie of Prayer which by some comparisons will clearly appeare and become manifest As the Samaritâ—nes had neede Prayer compared to a bucket of a bucket or some other vessell to draw a Iohn 4. 11 water out of Iaakobs deepe Well so all Christians haue neede of prayer to bring to them the living water of refreshing grace from that b Iohn 13. 1 fountaine odened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Hierusalem for sinne and for vncleannesse As a ladder is necessare for one that would climâ—e over a wall or that c Math. 5. 30 would assault to take a To an ladder sort so is prayer requisit for every one who desireth to ascend to Heaven by it one will take hold on the true ladder by whom hee may haue accesse to the Father Thirdly They that d Genes 28.12 goe downe to the sea in ships and occupy by great waters doth soone know To an anker how needfull an anker is to a shippe so as needfull is prayer to the soule The most sure anker in the Anchora â—utissima in tempeâ—tatibus fortunae est precatio quae defigitur sursum in Coelo vâ— anchoâ—a figitur deorsum in fundo maris tempests of estate is Prayer which is fixed aboue in Heaven as a materiall anker is cast downward in the ground
vs with CHRIST that being made members wee may be quickned and revived 4. ruling and l Rom. 8.14 governing vs who are vnruly and subject to wander and goe m Psal 119.167 astray like lost sheepe even leading vs in the right way to happinesse 5. comforting n Iohn 1. 16 vs in all troubles and afflictions and sealing o Ephes 1. 18 vs wavering in faith and assuring vs of our salvation Secondly to insist shortly in the comparison by this Spirit wee will become GODS o 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandrie to bring foorth fruit plentifully and constantly Thirdly by the helpe of this Spirit wee goe forward in the straite gate in the narrow p Math 7. 44 way that leadeth to life overcomming all impediments and enemies Fourthly when thou walkest through q Isaiah 43. 2 the fire thou shall not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee but thou by the Spirit shall bee refreshed joyfully and cooled comfortably Fiftly by this Spirit the Lord will fine r Mal. 3. 3 thee and purifie thee as golde and silver and separateth thy sinnes and drosse from thee Sixtly GOD by the vertue of his efficacious Spirit will raise thee vp when thou fallest When the holy Prophet Ezechiel saw that glorious and Heavenly vision hee Å¿ Ezech. 2. 2 fell vpon his face and the LORD said to him Sonne of man stand vp vpon thy feete and I shall speake vnto thee but of himselfe hee had no strength to arise vntill the Spirit entered into him and set him vpon his feete So it is with thee and the strongest Christian also thou hast no power to arise and stand vnlesse the Spirit enter into thee Sevently So u Psal 12. 7 the Lord will preserue thee from perishing or rotting from generation to generation for ever Eightly then hee will direct thee in the right course to Heaven that x Iob 17. 9 thou Who are righteous should holde on thy way and thou Whose handes are pure shall encrease thy strength Nyntly his Spirit will worke true saith in thee which y Act. 15. 9 Will purifie thy heart and make cleane thy conversation Tenthly hee will giue thee an heart z Ezech. 11. 19 of flesh and mollifie and soften the hardnesse and obduration of the same Lastly it will kindle the fire of grace within thee and inflame thee with an ardent zeale of GODS Glory it shall bee like the a Levit. 6. 12 fire burning on the Altar evermore never to bee put out or extinguished Seeing then such is the necessitie of the presence of the holy Spirit seeke the same most earnestly and continually Entertaine the same most carefully and conscientiously never b Ephes 4. 3â— grieue this Spirit by which thou art sealed vnto the day of redemption quench not c Thess 5 19 this holy Spirit by thy filthy sinnes and stubbornnesse for it will procure to thee endlesse joy it will worke in thee new life and regeneration and so bring thee to a sense of thy misery and to a deploration of thy calamitie Without the power and asistance of this Spirit thou can never bee revived and quickened As d Ezech 17. 9 the dry bones which were scattered and dispersed being conjoyned and having flesh sineues skinne but had no breath nor life vntill the Prophet did prophecie vnto the wind and life and breath came vnto the slaine and they stood vp vpon their feete a great armie So thou who by nature was e Ephes 2. 5 dead by sinnes will bee quickned by GOD in CHRIST by the breathing as it were of the wind of the holy Spirit thou shall line spiritually Now seeing it is so sure that without the Spirit thou knowest not f Rom. 8. 26 to pray as thou ought to doe seeke for the Spirit seeke for this Spirit which will quicken and helpe thy infirmitie and make request for thee with sighes that cannot bee expressed and then the words of thy mouth and meditation of thy heart shall bee acceptable in the LORDS sight Secondly Before thou canst truely lament thy wretchednesse Wakening be fore true lameÌ„ting and miserable estate thou must not only bee quickened with the life of grace but also awakened from thy deepe sleepe of sinne and securitie In this place wee will declare Godwilling foure things 1. The evill of such sleeping 2. Who doe sleepe and the difference betweene them 3. The meanes of awakening 4. The good thereof First the great evill that fearefull hurt which commeth by this sleepe can not bee sufficiently declared The evill of sinfull sleepe First The Talent given from Idlenesse GOD is not well vsed the LORDS gifts are not duely employed one when he is sleeping is g Math. 25. 26 that vnprofitable servant that carelesse â—â—gerer from whom that which he hath shall bee taken away hee is not worthie of any reward Secondly If naturall sleepe of Povertie the body bee an occasion of indigence and scarsitie for this is the saying of Salomon himselfe loue not h Prover 2â— 13 sleepe least thou fall into poverty open thine eyes and thou shall bee satisfied with bread much more that spirituall slumber of the soule is a cause of povertie lamentable and shamefull povertie proceedeth therefrom One i Revel 3. 17. will bee poore and wretched miserable and naked Qui modo dormit in cupiditatibus suis postea nihil inveniet in suis manibus Thirdly Shame and infamie followeth Infamie this security for the wise man he k Proverb 10.5 that sleepeth in harvest is a sonne that causeth shame hee is a child of confusion that sleepeth vntymously when he should bee diligent about his businesse If ignominy follow sleepe naturall it will rather follow spirituall When Noah after wine was sleeping hee l Genes 9. 22 was vncovered in the midst of his tents his shame and nakednesse was seene and told to others Our shame and filthy nakednesse will bee seene of the Almighty GOD and of his holy Angels and many others when we are sleeping in sinfull securitie Fourthly Our m Math. 13 2â— enemie that Polluion or an evill mixture envyous one while men sleepe will come and sow tares amongst the wheate in the husbandrie of our hearts If Abimelech did harme to the citie of Shechem when n Indg 9. 45 he sowed salt in it for a token of perpetuall detestation will not Sathan doe much more harme to a Christian when hee shall sow salt and tares in his soule evill thoughts and most wicked lusts to defile the same Fifthly Our vigilant adversarie Spoile of goods will also bee most diligent to bereaue vs of the gifts which wee haue alreadie receaved As that harlot tooke her neighbours living sonne and o 1 King 3.20 layde her dead sonne in her bosome so that deceaver will most craftily labour to make a living soule a dead soule in sinne and in
nature we are y Heb. 2. 15 subject to bondage and spirituall slauerie that wee may be delyvered from thence and z 2 Pet. 1. â—1 to strine that an entring may be ministred vnto vs abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of IESVS CHRIST our Saviour This is a pittifull and marveilous matter for wicked men will absteene from naturall sleepe to doe evill Vt jugulent homines surgunt Lucan lib. 5 Non meiam Marte parato Securos caepisse pudet cum coniuge somnos de nocte latrones Vt teispum serves non expergisceris autem Robbers and throat-cutters will rise in the night to kill men but wee will not absteene from spirituall sleepe to doe good wee will not awake from this securitie wherein we haue beene wrapped vp both a Tim. 4. 6 to saue our selues others with whom we haue to doe Fiftly When wee awake tymously wee b 1 Cor. 13. 34 will liue righteously and every one thus awakened delivered and strengthned and well exercised will at length say It c Galat. 2. 20 is not I that liue but CHRIST that liveth in mee We by waking and watching Keepe our garments will d keepe our garments we shall not walke naked our filthinesse will not bee seene and we shall bee blessed perpetually wee will bee happy and honorable Blessed e Luk. 12. 37 are these servants whom the LORD when hee commeth shall finde waking Thirdly As f Genes 28.17 Iakob awaking from his naturall sleepe where hee saw an Heavenly vision and receaved a comfortable promise and a favourable revelation was afraide so a Christian awaking out of his sinfull sleepe and security out of his deepe lethargie will haue great feare and terrour for GODS wrath and indignation for his owne danger and destruction and it will moue him greatly to make a pittifull mone and an heavie lamentation The feare of God is the best furnisher This holy and filiall feare is most requisite and necessarie for thee and that in three respects 1. because it is the best furnisher 2. the best counseller and 3. the best preserver First it is the best furnisher for the g Psal 3. 5 LORD will giue a portion to them that feare him nothing h Psal 34. 9 shall be wanting to them that feare GOD. This feare it will suppeditat Wisdome and furnish 1. wisdome it i Prover 1. 7 is the beginning of knowledge it k Ecle 1. 24. ibid. passim is the roote of wisdome it raineth downe knowledge and vnderstanding It filleth the whole earth v. 22. with all things desireable Secondly This feare will furnish Ioy. peace and l perfect health Thirdly Glory gladnesse and rejoycing and a joyfull crowne commeth therewith Fourthly It will bring courage Courage and magnanimitie thou needest not to feare what man can doe Though m Psal 46. 2 the earth bee moved though the mountains fall into the midst of the sea Though the waters thereof rage and be troubled and the hils shake at the surges of the same Though n Psal 27. 3 warre be raised against thee and though an hoste should encampe against thee thy heart needeth not to bee afraide yea though thou o Psal 33. 4 shouldst walke through the valley of the shadow of death and the devill p Ephes 6.16 throwing his firie dartes at thee thou hast not cause to feare an evill for the LORD is with thee his q Psal 138. 7 right hand will saue thee hee will r Psal 91. 4 cover thee with his wings and thou Å¿ Isa 40 11 shall bee sure vnder his feathers hee will carie thee in his owne bosome Et quid timeret homo in Dei sinn positus What should a man placed in GODS bosome feare And thus thou shall haue continuall courage thou shall be t Pror 28. 15 bold as a Lyon Fiftly This feare of the Lord shall furnish thee all good riches for u Isa 33.6 the feare of the LORD shall bee thy treasure and no x Math. 6. 20 theefe shall steale this treasure from thee Secondly This holy feare is The feare of GOD is the counseller the best counseller it will not with Sathan the world nor the flesh counsell thee to doe any wrong or evill 1. Not to any person although weaker than thou and in thy reverence thus Ioseph y Genes 50.15 a powerfull governour did not harme his base brethren being strangers 2. Not in any place David fearing GOD will not wrong Saul z 1 Sam. 24.17 in the caue 3. Not in any time abeit it were in an vniversall defection so Noah fearing GOD was a a 2 Peter 2. 5 preacher of righteousnesse to the vngodly world 4. Not for any cause No not for a Kingdome thus Ionathan fearing GOD came b 1 Sam. 23.17 and comforted distressed David and no wayes wronged him Againe this feare it will counsell thee c Titus 2. 12 to liue godly and religiously in this present world A godly father saith truely Connexa sunt timor religio nec Bernardus in sermone de donis spiritus potest manere alterum absque altero Feare and religion are knit together that the one cannot remaine without the other Thus if Cornelius d Act. 10. 2 feare GOD hee will be a devote man praying continually Secondly To doe the workes of charitie thus happie Obadiah e 1 King 18.13 who did feare the LORD from his youth when wicked Iezabell slew the LORDS Prophets he hid an hundreth of them and sed them by fifties in a caue with bread and water and the former Cornelius did giue much almes to the poore people Also it will counsell thee to suffer wronges patiently by this David endured f 2 Sam 16. 11 the contumelious injuries of Shimei Thirdly This feare is the best 3. Feare is the best preserver preserver of all grace and innocencie it is so to thy soule as the ballast is to the ship and as the Imocentiae custos omnium bonorum eyelids to the eyes and as an hedge to a garden saving thy soule from drinking in the sea of sinne preserving thee from thy devouring enemy delivering g Psal 91. 3 thee from the snare of the hunter and from sin and impietie keeping all righteousnes in thee Nemo nisi Deum Augustin timeat potest servare justitiam Surely this feare will guide and defend thee from yeelding to the tentation of fleshlie pleasure and sensuality as it did h Genes 39. 9 Ioseph from the filthy tentation of gaine and commoditie as it did i 1 King 5. 16 Elisha from yeelding to the tentation of worldly honour and dignity as did Moses who k Heb. 11. 24 refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter Timentis DEVM bona est Augustin anima à tentatione diabolica tuta the soule of one that
Malach. 1.6 Master If Absoloms e 2 Sam. 13.29 servants obeyed him an evill Master in an vnlawfull and wicked action farre rather art thou oblished to obtemperate thy good Master in a lawfull dead Absolom commanded that his brother Amnon should bee slaiâ—e GOD commandeth this service that thy soule may bee saved and therefore absolutely ought to bee obeyed Seeing moreover he is King Almightie who e Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell eternally and to giue thee a great reward for thy obedience and loyaltie when King David but desired to drinke of the water of the well of Bethlem three f 1 Sam. 25.15 of his subjects brake through the hoast of the Philistims and brought vnto him that water longed for thus they ventred their liues for Davids sake and for his plâ—asure And shouldest not thou much more willingly hazard thy life to giue vnto GOD obedience to doe his Majestie acceptable service Who Gods promise maketh also vnto thee most sweet and comfortable promises to deliver g Psal 50 1â— thee to h Psal 91. 1â— glorifie thee to satisfie thee with long life and to show thee his salvation He perfitly performed his promise given of a Kingdome not only to i 2 Sam. 5. â— David whom hee loved but also to k 1 King 11. 3â— Ieroboam an idolator whom hee hated l Iosh 23. 14 all his promises shall in due tyme vndoubtedly come to passe nothing shall faile thereof So hee promiseth if thou pray m Ierem 29.12 to him to heare thee if thou seeke him to be found of thee Againe when thou considerest CHRIST IESUS thy Saviour thou shall confesse that thou hast good CHRISTS example cause of prayer Consider thy redemer remaining in this earth hee n Math. 14.23 went vp into a mountaine alone to pray for a long-space of time In o Heb. 5. 7 the dayes of his flesh hee offered vp prayers and supplications with strâ—ng crying and teares Quòd si ille orabat qui sine pecato crat quantò magis peccatores oportet orare If hee prayed who was without sinne how much more behoueth it sinners for to pray His precept also and promises Christ his precept and promise is cause of prayer may cause thee to call vpon GOD Aske p Math 7. 7 saith Hee and it shall bee given you seeke and you shall find knock and it shall bee opened vnto you Moreover Seing hee q Heb. 9. 24 is entred into Heaven himselfe to appeare CHRISTS intercession now in the sight of GOD for thee to make continuall request and intercession for thee Hast not thou great reason to make request for thy owne selfe When the r Levit. 16. 17 high Priest went into the holy place to make atonement then the whole multitude of the people stood without in Å¿ Luke 1. 10 prayer while the incense was in burning Seing therefore thou hast t Hebr. 4. 14 a great high Priest which hath entred into Heaven even IESVS the Sonne of GOD who now is at the u Ephes 1. 20 right hand of the FATHER to make request and intercession for thee to procure thy peace and reconciliation hast thou not who are without in this earth great reason to continue thy selfe in earnest prayer and supplication to the end thou mayest obtaine eternall salvation Furthermore If thou desirest The desire of the grouth of the graces of Spirit a cause of prayer an increase of the graces of the holy Spirit that they may the more abundantly bee bestowed vpon thee thou hast cause to pray for the same more earnestly for thy Heavenly Father x Luke 11. 13 will giue the holy Ghost a greater measure of his gifts to thee that desireth him for the same Spirit is both the cause and effect of our prayer Scultet cap. 3 de precatione and petitions Secondly If thou take heede Cause of prayer Sathans power to the Devill thy mortall enemie thou will pray to GOD most fervently hee thy deadly adversarie y 1 Pet. 5. 8 like a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking to devore thee Hee is stronger than z 1 Sam. 17.4 Goliah desirous to destroy with firie a Ephes 6. 16 darts 2. He is much more craftie than b 2 Sam. 16.23 Achitophell by his wicked counsell and machinations plotting to supprise thee 3. Hee is more false than c Ierem. 41. 6 Ishmael promising to pleasure thee but will punish thee for ever 4. Hee is more cruell than Herod who slew d Math. 2. 16 the male children that were in Bethlehem but he would kill body and soule eternally 5. Sathan is more malitious than e Esther 3. 6 Haman who purposed to put to death Mordecay and all the people of his country So desireth the Devill to destroy thee and all thy of-spring and posteritie 6. Sathan is much more treacherous than Saul who albeit hee f 1 Sam. 18.29 verse 21 became alwayes Davids enemie yet in appearance of loue and familiaritie he gaue his daughter to him in marriage for to be a suare to him So Sathan although hee would giue the whole world to thee and although hee spake to thee the trueth and veritie yet it is ever his minde to hurt thee to ensnare thee and altogether to overthrow thee 7. He is restlesse and g Iob. 1.7 never ceasseth but with shamelesse impudencie with continuall celeritie and agilitie hee accuseth thee hee persueth thee for thy perdition and endlesse torment and destruction Seing then such is the strength craft crueltie deceate malitiousnesse The estate of the Church is a cause of prayer treacherie and vigilancie of thy spirituall enemie thou hast great cause to pray most earnestly and vncessantly Thirdly if thou consider other Christians of the familie i Galat. 6. 10 of faith thou knowing some yea too manie molested and vexed on everie side with k Zach. 1. 14 the foure hornes of persecution thou then shouldest bee sorie l Nehem. 1. 4 for Iosephs affliction and with Nehemiah fast and pray for the reproach and miserie of Hierusalem Certainly seeing thou art a member of Christs body the Church militant it is thy duetie to m Psal 1â—2 6 pray for the peace of Hierusalem when thou shalt see the graces of GOD multiplyed vpon thy brethren and them walking n Ephes â— 1 worthy of their Christian calling and living an holy life and godly conversation thou shouldest aske of GOD that thou thy selfe may become an earnest imitator of tâ—eâ—r good courses and true religion that GOD alwayes may bee more and more glorified his kingdome enlarged Satan and his power confounded and thy selfe surely perserved yea that the whole p Ephes 5. 23 spirit soule and body of all Saints may bee kept blamelesse vntill the comming of our Lord IESVS CHRIST Fourthly when thou shall behold