haue singlnesse x Act. 2. 46 of heart as that poore peâ—itent thiefe at the beginning I thinke had but a meane measure of knowlegde faith charitie and repentance yet having sinceritie all these graces iâ—cresâ—d hee was accepted and with CHRIST shortly after was râ—ceaned in y Luk. 23. 43 Paradise So it will be with all GODS sincere servants although they haue but small beginnings yet the mcrease of their graces will bee plentifull and copious they shall surely grow z 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Saviour IESVS Lastly If thou be much troubled because of these manifold impediments Comforts agaiâ—st man◠〈◊〉 which doe hinder thee from this holy exercise thou hast sinne thou hast Sathan thou hast the world thou hast thy corruption and many crosses and great tribulation I reply shortly if CHRIST â—ee a Revâ— â— 31 on thy side who can bee against thee 1 In regard of thy transgfessions troubling thee thou hast an b 1 Iohn 2. 1 Advocate with the Father IESVS CHRIST the just 2. I regard of thy enemies thou hast a Chiâ—tane even CHRIST the Captaine c Iosh 5. 14 of the LORDS host 3. In regard of thy selfe of thy owne weaknesse and of thy owne vncleannesle thou hast also a good guider and governour to helpe thee and direct thee continually in all distresses and difficulties CHRIST IESUS is of all the Christ is the best Advocate for seven reasons best Advocate in seven respects of his Wisdome Power Holinesse Fidelitie Diligence Loue happie successe First Hee is a most wise Advocate Of his wisdome for d Colos 2. 3 in him are hid all the treasurs of Wisdome and knowledge seeing in him e Col. 2. 9 dwelleth all the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Wee read that of Anaximenâ—s that hee prudently procured the peace and safetie of the people Pausaâ—ias lib 1. 6 Lampsaceni for when Alexander the Great was highly offended against them and had threatned their vtter ruine and destruction and because they were favourers and protectors of the Persians against him the people being perplexed by feare and dargâ—â— did send this Anaximenes to the Conquerour to make request for them the King knowing the cause of his comming did sweare soâ—â—mnly by his great Oath that whatsoever hee required hee would doe the contrarie Then wisely replyed the Philosopher My petition is that thou O King wouldest kill the men of my Citie sell the women and children burne the Churches destroy the Citie and overthrow the same vtterly Alexander Veniam dedit Lampsacenis invitus having nothing then to say vnwillingly pardoned that people But our Advocate is f 1 Tim 1. 17 only wise Hee may declare g Amos 4. 13 vnto man what is his thought all creaturs are but fooles in câ—mparison with Him who of h 1 Cor. 1. 50 GOD is made vnto vs wisdome to teach vs true knowledge and discretion Secondly CHRIST is an Advocate of greatest strength and Of his power power for to i Math. 28. 18 him all power is given both in Heaven and earth Thus in him thou mayest haue great cause of gladnesse and rejoycing As a certaine old Souldier Macrobius lib. 2. Satut cap. â— being accused and so in danger was well hearâ—ened when hee got Augustus Caesar a mightie Monarch to be his Advocate for so without doubt hee was absolved and altogether delivered So thou albeit thou haue the Devill the k Revel 1â— 10 accuser of the Brethren to chalenge thee and accuse thee Yet having the most mightie Monarch IESVS whose l Dan. 7. 14 Dominion is an everlasting Dominion whose Kingdome is eternall and â—ever shall bee destroyed who m Math. 9. 6 hath authoritie in earth to forgiue sinnes who may easily rebuke and conâ—ound Sathan having him I say to bee thy Advocate and intercessour who n Rom. 2.33.34 shall lay any thing to thy charge it is GOD who iustifieth who shall condemne it is Christ who by his owne mighty power is risen againe who also at thâ— right hand of GOD maketh request for thee Thirdly CHRIST is most holy In respect of his holinesse aâ—d righteous one Advocate appeareth o Iohn 3. 5 that hee may take away our sinnes in him is no sinne neither p 1 Pet. 2. 22 was their guile found in his mouth It is written of St. Iames q Gal. 1. 19 the LORDS brother that hee was holy for his knees by oft sitting on them to pray did lose all sense of feeling also that he was righteous because for the excellencie Clemen Alex andâ—rinus Eusâ—bius lib 2 cap. 1 Epipha of his righteousnesse hee was called Iust that hee was so beloued of GOD that in a burning drouth when men and beasts with the vâ—hemenciâ— of heat were troubled when trees cornes and grasse were withered that by his prayer and supplication hee brought abundance of raine from Heaven yet hee as Helias â— was a man subject to the like passions as wee are he wanted not his infirmities hee was guiltie of originall and actuall sinne But IESUS CHRIST hee is an Advocate holy Å¿ Heb. 7 25 harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens Hee t Isaiah 53. 9 who did no wickednesse neither was deceate in his mouth He that beloved u Math. 3. 17 Son in whom GOD is well pleased by his mediation effectuall intercession will bring vnto thee his dew x Isaiah 26. 19 of grace as the dew of herbes whereby thy withered heart shall bee watered thy dry heart and barren shall bee refreshed and bettered and thou shall be GODS y 1 Cor. 3.9 husbandry to bring foorth fruite plentifuâ—ly whereof thou mayest bee comforted continually Fourthly Hee is such an Advocate In respect of his fidelitie which z Psal 146. 6 keepeth his fidelitie for ever Hee who a Iohn 14. 6 is trueth it selfe is most vnlike that false Ovid. lib. 3. Stephan and vnfaithfull Vlysses who did faine himselfe to be a friend and an Advocate to worthie Palamedes but hee filthily deceived and destroyed him but hee who is Amen b Revel 3. 14 the true and faithfull witnesse is also a true and faithfull Advocate on him thou may rely with sure hope and confidence Fiftly CHRIST is a most diligent Advocate for if Sathan day In respect of his diligence and c Revel 1â— 10 night accuse thee before GOD Hee d Hebr. 10. 12 who sitteth at the right hand of his Father for ever will continually day and night desend thee and make request for thee Sixtly CHRIST is a most loving In regarde of his loue Advocate who e Isaiah 53. â— hath borne thy sinnes who hath caried thy sorrowes who was wounded for thy transgressions As the Patriarch Iudah in tender loue and affection offered himselfe to
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
m Genes 22.13 sand which was vpon the sea shore and the starres of Heaven as it is to mee to number my innumerable offences and manifold enormities whereby I haue offended thy godly Majestie I 2 Great sins am compelled also O gratious GOD to confesse vnto thee that mine iniquities n Psal 25. 11 are great my wickednesse o Iocl 3. 13 is grievous it is also growne to a terrible hight it is mounted vp to the cloudes Nebuchadnezar but dreamed that p Daniel 4. 8 the hight of that tree which hee saw in aâ— vision reached vp to the Heaven but I am perswaded that my sinne is ascended higher It is come vp to q Revel 18. 5 Heaven and cryeth r Genes 18.20 vpon GOD for wrath and indignation against mee I doe acknowledge O Heavenly and mercifull Father that my 3 Heavie sins sinnes are wondrous weightie and infinitly heavie The Å¿ Psal 70.27 stones are weighty and the sand is heavie but light in respect of my iniquities for t Psal 23. 4 they are growne over my head and as a weightie burden they are too heavie for mee the iron thereof is importable Manasseh In the prayer of Manasses was bound downe with many iron bands that hee could not lift vp his head vnto Heaven I am bund downe with many heavie bands of sinne that I can not lift vp my heart to thee as I most earnestly desire to doe The people of Israell protested that u 2 Chron. 10.4 Salomons yoke was heavie and his servitude sore vpon them and prayed that it might be made lighter but LORD I find the yoke of sinne much more bitter and the slaverie thereof more intolerable I long to bee eased thereof The Israelites sighed x Exod. 2. 23 and cryed to GOD when they were kept vnder with the heavie burdens of the Aegyptians I haue greater cause O LORD to bee vexed and wearied with the burden of sinne which y Heb. 12. 1 hangeth so fast and presseth so sore downe which without helpe from thy Majestie would thrust my soule to the lowest hell I confesse O GOD that as my 4 Filthie sinne sinnes they are not few but many they are not small sinnes but great sinnes they are not light but verie heavie sinnes so they are most vile filthie and abhominable polluting and defiling mee both outwardly and inwardly in soule spirit and body It is trueth pitch z Eecles 13. 4 defileth him that toucheth it and mirie clay contaminateth him that walloweth in the same The excrements of men which thou most holy GOD commanded to be digged in a Deut. 23. 13 the graue and to bee covered with earth the dung of beastes doe not so defile the body as the excrements of filthie sinne hath polluted my soule and inward man The corruption of dead Carions and carkases b Levit 11. 39 made the handlers thereof vncleane but LORD my continuall doing of dead c Heb. 12. 1 workes hath made mee much more polluted and detestable in thy presence The Ammonites for their wrong to DAVID did d 2 Sam. 10. 6 stinke in his sight but LORD I am more lothsome in thy pure eyes I doe acknowledge before thee 5 Odious sins O e Genes 18.25 righteous judge of the whole world that my hainous sinnes makes mee odious vnto thy Majestie for I know well that thou hatest f Psal 5. 5 all them that worke iniquitie and even at this time my conscience cryeth to mee that I haue committed many enormities justly O LORD may thou hate mee and set g Psal 50. 21 all my sinnes in order before mee and therefore take vengance vpon mee most deservedly O my GOD I confesse also that Scandalous sin my sinnes are exemplary and scandalous I haue alace caused the h 2 Sam. 12. 14 enemies of the LORD blaspheme They i Rom. 3. 19 who obeyed not the word haue not beene wonne by my holy lyfe and conversation I haue not stopped but rather opened the mouths of the vngodly I haue strengthned them in their wickednesse and impietie as also I haue scandalized but not bettered the weake ones I k Levit. 19. 14 haue put a stumbling block before my blind brethren I haue caused them by mine evill example to goe astray and to fall into the pit I haue beene an offence to some litle ones that dwelt with mee Thou thy selfe O my SAVIOUR hath said it l Math. 18.7 must needs bee that some offences must come Many alace haue come by mee for the which without thy mercie I would be wrapped vp in woe and endlesse miserie I can not deny O most righteous 7 Pernitious sinnes judge but I must acknowledge of necessitie that my filthie faults and terrible transgressions are most hurtfull and pernicious to my selfe for weakning and wounding mee for binding and blindfolding me for sundering me from thee and swallowing mee vp in woe and calamitie I say with thy servant O m Psal 6. 2 LORD I am weake and feeble my sinnes haue made my strength to fall neither am I able to rise againe my n Psal 38. 4. 5.6.7.8 wounds are putrified and corrupt because of my foolishnesse I am bowed and crooked very sore my reines are full of burning and there is nothing sound in my flesh I am weakned and sore bowed I roare for the very griefe of myne heart I find O LORD that myne owne o Proverb 5.22 iniquities doe take me and Sathan by them hath caught me and I am holden with the cordes of sinne and by them the Devill is drawing mee vnto everlasting damnation And as the blind Aramits were p 2 King 6.19 led to Samaria so am I carried to hell and without spirituall eyes am brought to perdition without thy helpe and salvation for q Isaiah 59.2 they doe hide thy face from mee that thou will not heare they doe separate betweene thy Majestie and mee they will make mee alace to perish eternally to bee deprived of all comfort and glory and without true repentance to bee tormented continually in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which r Revel 21. 8 Originall sin is the second death And yet O LORD when I descend more deeply by thy assistance of thy grace into mine heart and narrowly examine my conscience I doe confesse in sinceritie that I am guiltie of originall sin I want that righteousnesse wherewith man was indued in his creation I haue a bent desire a bad inclination to doe evill wickednesse and abhomination Behold Å¿ Psal 51.5 I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne did my mother conceaue mee I t Rom. 7.23 see another law in my members rebelling against the law in my mynde and leading mee captiue vnto the law of sinne which is into my members O LORD this is the evill seede which bringeth foorth evill encrease This is the bitter
vnto mee pressing mee downe grievously and hindring mee from running the race of my spirituall journey They k Isaiah 1. 4 moue mee to goe backward from GOD in the broad way of impietie I confesse O LORD my ignorance Sinnes of ignorance and foolishnesse So l Psal 73. 22 foolish and ignorant am I I am as a beast before thee yea much worse than a beast For the m Isaiah 1. 3 Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters cribbe but I whom thou hast nourished whom thou hast brought vp and often-tymes preserved haue not knowne thee The sinne of infidelitie rightly to honour and worship thee as it becommeth mee But albeit n Math. 6. 3 thou hast never grieved mee I can not testifie against thee I o Ierem. 2. 5 never found iniquitie in thee Thou hast not beene to mee a p Ierem. 2. 31 and verse 12 barren wildernesse nor a land of darknesse yet I haue gone farre away from thee and haue walked after vanitie O yee Heavens bee astonyed bee affrayed and vtterly confounded I haue forsaken the Wel-spring of living water I haue turned my back vpon thee O my GOD who q Psal 84. 11 art my sunne and my shield for my illumination and direction for my consolation and my protection I r Psal 119. 170 haue gone farre astray from my sheepheard I haue runne away from my kynd Master I haue left my loving Father by my infidelitie by myne vntowardnesse and wilfulnesse Now O LORD I haue great Sinne of disobedlence cause to bee ashamed and to abhorre my selfe for my continuall disobedience and rebellion Å¿ 1 Sam. 15.23 which is as the sinne of Witchcraft when I consider the readie obedience not only of thy holy Angels thy Messingers t Psal 104. 4 and ministring spirits but also of other vnreasonable creatures the u 1 King 17. 4 foules of the Heaven the x Ionas 2 10 fishes in the sea the y Genes 6. 19 wild beastes in the field yea the z Numb 6. 32 dead earth the deepe a Exod 14 21 Waters the b Genes 10. 24 consuming fire are all subject to thy commandement and senselesse creatures yeeld thee obedience and doe thy holy will but alace O LORD I to whom thou hast beene very favourable and beneficiall to whom thou hast given sense and reason yea to whom thou hast given thy blessed Word to bee a rule to my lyfe and a Lanterne c Psal 119. to my steppes yet I haue remained refractarie and repining I abide rebellious and transgressing But now also O LORD I Sinne of ingratitude call to minde and sorrowfully I remember vpon my vile ingratitude and beastly vnthankfulnesse when I thinke seriously thereof I doe protest and proclaime vnfainedly that d Daniel 9. 7. righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee and to mee appertaineth open shame and confusion for I haue forgoten the e Deut. 32.18 mighty and gracious GOD that formed mee in whom I f Act. 17. 28. liue and moue and haue my beeing It is thought a fault in Pharaohs chiefe butler because hee did not remember Ioseph but forgot him Oh what abhominable cryme it is to mee that that I doe not thankfully remember IESUS my SAVIOUR because I forget CHRIST my redeemer the g Heb 1â— 2 Author and finisher of my faith my h Iohn 2. 1. advocat with my Father and my reconciliation for my sinnes Moreover This is shamelesse ingratitude in mee that I recompence not a good deede for an other bestowed but trueth it is O LORD that i Psal 16. 2 my well-doing extendeth not to thee who is the Allsufficient GOD of all perfection and felicitie but k Math. 25. 43 I show no kindnesse to any of thy Saintes as I am obliged to doe I know well that l 2 Sam. 9. 1 David did show great mercy and kindnesse to Mephibosheth lame of his feete for lonathans sake hee enriched the poore man and honoured the contemptible man but little kindnesse haue I showne to thy deare servants to the distressed members of the mysticall body of IESUS In regarde of them I haue had an m Esay 46. 12 hard heart a withered n Math. 12. 10 hand loftie o Psal 131. 1 eyes and a tyed tongue I would not truely pitty them nor helpe them nor looke vpon them compassionatly nor speake to them comfortably alace I am not like thy servant IOB who was eyes p Iob. 26. 15 to the blinde feete to the lame and a father to the poore I haue beene vncharitable and without pittie I haue not visited duetifully the fatherlesse and widow in adversitie Further LORD I confesse that I am come to the hight of the worst ingratitude for I q Prover 17.13 haue rewarded many times evill for good thy r Psal 3. 23 mercies are renued every morning vpon mee but my transgressions are multiplied against thy Majestie yea LORD when thou sendest downe thy benefites every moment to vphold mee even at that same instant I send vp my sinnes to anger thee O my Saviour I acknowledge that I doe dishonour and displease thee when thou art honouring and pleasing me I poore Catiue am wounding and pearcing Å¿ Revel 1.7 thee when thou art healing and preserving mee assuredly And further I thinke this to Stubburnesse to bee the heape of my wretchednesse that to all my haynous sins I adde stubbornnesse and yet doe remaine wicked and contumacious I t Deut. 9. 6 am stiffe-necked alace it feares mee that I am u Isaiah 48. 4 obstinate that my necke is an iron sâ—new and my brow brasse when thou cryest to mee I will not answere thee when thou speakest vnto mee I will not hearken to thee when thou denouncest threatning against mee I will not feare nor tremble x Isaiah 66 2 before thy Majestie When thou y Revel 3. 20 knockest at the doore of my heart mercifully I will not open to thee immediatly when thou commandest mee righteously I will not obey thee duetifully I will not forsake z Ierem. 13 23 my evill custome nor leaue my sinnes at thy direction but I still continue in them without any care of my salvation without any feare of my condemnation I doe yet continue negligent Idlenesse and idle a Math 1 20 all the day albeit I should not bee slouthfull but b Heb 6. 12 a follower of those which through faith and patience inherit the promise yet I remaine a sluggarde and remisse in my christian calling rather a foolish companion of slouthfull sinners than a carefull imitator of thy laborious servants As also I feare that I will not leaue my luckwarmenesse I am Luckewarmnesse afraide lest I bee luckwarme c Revel 3. 16 neither hote nor cold and content my selfe with indifferencie of religion and that my devotion bee in my tongue only
Act 16 25 with Silas were beaten wiih rods and thrust into an inner prison they prayed But O my GOD this spirituall dungeon wherein I am holden fast is farre more dangerous and deplorable How should I poore wretch weepe and sorrow for my mishappe and miserie Am y Iob 7 12 I a sea fish that thou keepest mee in ward When z Psal 4 1 shall I bee delyvered and set at libertie from my deepe distresse Now by my imprisoning O 12 Lamentthy weaknesse LORD I am become verie weake and by my wounds infirme I a Psal 38. 8 am weakned and sore broken I roare for the griefe of mine heart I goe mourning b Psal 66 2 all the day long LORD I am weake my bones are vexed I c Rom 14 1 am weake in faith I d 1 Cor 14. 20 am a child in vnderstanding I e Heb 5 13 am a babe inexpert in the word of righteousnesse I f Psal 22 6 am but a sillie worme and not a man a shame of men and contempt of the people I g Iob 13 52 am like a leafe driven to and fro and like the dry stubble I h Zach 3â— 2 am a burnt sticke a brande taken out of the fire I i Psal 119 141 am small and despised I k Psal 119 83 am like a bottle in the smoke There is no strength nor 13 Lament thy sicknesse beautie in mee poore miserable wretch Let l Psal 119. 169 my complaint come before thee for my great sicknesse and manifold diseases for my inward deafnesse I am alace like many of the obdured Iewes who m Act 7 57 stopped their eares and would not hearken to the Sermon of Steven Or like the deafe n Psal 58 4 adder which stoppeth his eare and will not heare to the charming of the inchauter I o Zach 7 11 haue often refused to hearken I haue pulled away the shoulder and stopped the eare least I should heare the law of GOD and the word O LORD of hoastes which thou hast sent in thy spirit by the Ministerie of thy Prophets I am like the Heathens Idoll I p Psal 115 6 haue eares but heare not Woe is me O LORD for my spirituall blindnesse I am like one of the vnrighteous Aegyptians I am q Wisdome 17 2 blind and bound in the bands of darknesse I r Isa 59 10 grope for the wall and I stumble at the noone day If Samson was sorrowfull for his sight and desired to be avenged on the Philistims Å¿ Iudg 16 28 because they did plucke out his two eyes and for that hee was a laughing stocke to them Haue not I a greater cause of sorrow and hatred against my sinnes which hath plucked out the eyes of my soule and made mee a gazing stock to all creatures Alace O LORD how can I pittifully eneugh make my moane vnto thee for the frowardnesse foolishnesse doublenesse and hardnesse of my filthie heart for it y Psal 101 4 is froward it z Eceles 1 33 is double and divyded it a Hos 10 2 is foolish impenitent b Rom 2 4 and earthly it c Ezech 11 19 is obdured hard and stome O my GOD I haue great reason to lament the spirituall leprosie of mine inward man I may most justly haue my cloths c Levit. 13 45 rent my head bare my lips covered and cry that I am vncleane If the bodilie leprosie of Oziah King of Iudah caused him d 2 Chro 26.21 to bee cut off from the house of the LORD and to lose an earthly Kingdome may not my spirituall leprosie separate mee from the societie of CHRIST from the communion of the Saincts and depriue mee of an Heavenly Kingdome But now O mercifull Father I want wordes to deplore my 1â— Lament for thy wickednes wickednesse and my e 1 Peter 2. 1 maliciousnesse the very roote and welspring of all my woe and miserie I delight to foster that serpent in my bosome which doeth sting me to carie that fire in my brest which doeth burne mee to keepe still on my stomach that poyson that will infect mee and destroy mee Alace miserable is my madnesse Should it not bee my principall care and my continuall indevoure Should not I take all possible paines to shake off that serpent as f Act. 28. 5 Paul did the viper to cast away these coales to vomite out that noysome poyson that I may liue and not perish eternally Yet LORD this is worse that I cannot condignelie complame 15 Lament thy stubbornnesse of my contumacie and stubbornnesse O my GOD I spake in sinceritie many g Isa 66. 4 times thou hast called but I would not answere thou hast spoken but I would not heare Many times Lord hast thou early h Ier. 11. 7 rysing protested saying obey my voyce but I am disobedient and refractorie Thou hast come to mee when I haue departed from thee Thou hast followed mee when I haue fled away from thee Thou hast stoode and i Revel 3. 20 knocked at the doore of my heart but I would not open vnto thee I haue not O LORD beene throughly moved with the loue of mine owne salvation I haue not beene arightly terrified with the feare of my condemnation I k Isaiah 66. 3 haue not trembled at thy Word or threatnings I haue not beene joyfull of thy sweet promises and consolations Alace O LORD and woe is mee l Isaiah 43. 4 I am obstinate and my necke is an yron sinew and my brow brasse I am senselesse of my sinne and past feeling Yea O LORD I am dead in my transgressions and putrifying in my abominations I haue m Revel 3.1 a name that I liue while I am dead I n 2 Tim. 5. 6 liue naturally but am dead spiritually O my mercifull Father I lament Lament thy curses bitterly that by nature I am subject to thine heavie curse and hath deserved thy terrible malediction in respect I n Ier. 11. 3 haue not obeyed the words of thy mercifull covenant in respect I o Mal. 1. 14 haue sacrificed to the LORD of hostes who art a great King whose name is terrible a corrupt thing a torne and vnworthie offering Albeit I had a male in my flock in respect I p Ier. 48. 10 haue done thy worke negligently in respect I q Isaiah 5. 20 haue beene wise in myne owne eyes and prudent in myne owne sight in respect I haue fled r Hos 7. 13 away and departed from thee my gratious GOD in respect I haue Å¿ Habb 2. 9 coveted an evill covetousnesse to mine house that I may set my nest on high and in respect I t Galat. 3. 10 haue not continued in all things that are written in the booke of the LORD to doe them Alace O LORD what shall I say to thy Majestie How can 17
Psal 26. 6 hands in innocencie and then compasse the LORDS Altar hee must put a Exod. 3. 5 off his shoes and cast b Heb. 12 1 away his sinnes and put c Rom. 13. 14 on the LORD IESVS and bee arrayed with his righteousnesse Thou must haue written on thine head HOLYNESSE d Exod. 39. 30 TO THE LORD and sanctifie e 1 Pet. 3. 15 GOD in thine heart and bee renued according to his glorious image and then send vp thy prayers into the Highest for it is most true that GOD f Iohn 9.31 heareth not sinners who continue in their sinne with delectation Fourthly to the end thy supplication may bee acceptable to Charitie the Almighty thou of necessicie also must haue towards thy neighbour true loue and charitie in the which if thou g Iohn 4. 12 dwell thou dwellest in GOD and GOD in thee So thou mayest know that thou h Iohn 3. 14 art translated from death to lyfe because thou lovest the brethren If thy soule i 1 Pet. 1. 22 bee purifyed in obeying the trueth through the Spirit thou will loue brotherly without faining then thou mayest pray comfortably without any Isiodor Etym. lib. 6. Nullum in vul nere proficitmedicamen tum si adhuc in eo ferrum sit sic nihil proficit oratio illius cuius adhuc odium in pectore vel do lus maneat in mente doubting As no salue nor medicament will profite or bring health to a wound if the yron remaine therein so thy petition will bee vnprofitable if hatred abyde in thy brest or deceite in thy minde If thou haue not the fire of GODS Spirit within thee and ardent affection to warme thee then doubtlesse thou shall haue the fire of malice anger and hatred which will consume thee If thou with Nahab k Levit. 10. 2 and Abihu offer strange fire before the LORD a fire may comeâ— out from the LORD to devoure thee and albeit thou wouldest l 1 Cor. 13. 3 giue thy body to bee burned and woâ—l lest feede the poore with all thy goods and hath not loue it profiteth nothing thy selfe thy prayer shall not bee regardâ—d nor acceptable to GOD neither profitable to thy owne selfe because as an ancient affirmeth Nihil est pretiosius DEO virtute dilectionis nihil desider abilius diabolo extinctione charitatis Their is nothing more precious vnto GOD than the vertue of loue their is nothing more desired to the devill than the extinguishing of charity Leaue l therefore thy offering before m Math. 5. 24 the Altar saith our Saviour goe thy way first be reconciled vnto thy brother and then come and offer thy gift and send vp to GOD thine humble supplication Fiftly thou who desirest to Sobrietie pray arightly thou must be endued with temperancie and sobrietie and so as CHRIST commandeth thee more conveniently thou will watch m Math. 26.41 and pray that thou enter not into tentation thou will bee n 1 Pet. 5. 8 sober vigilant and fit for prayer This vertue of temperance is the leader and moderatrix Temperantia est actionum auriga moderatrix of our actions Intemperancie will greatlie sunder thee from this holy duetie it is the greatest degree of filthy shame and miserie And therefore Xerxes after deliberation did Spinaeus in vo lupt lib. 5 inflict the highest punishment vpon the Babylonians when againe he subdued them after their rebellion hee did prohibite the vertuous exercises of arts and sciences and enjoynd them to giue themselues to idlenesse play banquetting and surfetting and to all luxurie and voluptuousnesse Take o Luk. 21. 34 heede therefore to thy selfe lest at any tyme thy heart bee oppressed with sursetting and drunkennesse and the cares of this lyfe least that day come on thee at vnwares Watch therefore and pray continually Ioyne p 2 Pet. 1. 5 therefore with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperancie which as the Philosopher affirmeth is Arist Ethic. lib. 6 cap. 5 Fervencie the preserver of all other good qualities and then surely q Iam. 5. 16 thou shall not be idle nor vnfruitefull in the knowledge of the LORD IESVS CHRIST Sixtly If thou wish thy petition profitable thou must pray with an vehement and earnest affection for r Genes 32. 28 the prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it bee fervent Remember well I beseech that all pious professors who hath s had power with GOD were ever most ardent in their requests Consider diligentlie and follow faithfully in the vttermost of all thy power the fervencie and ardor of good Kings David saith As Å¿ Psal 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of water so panâ—et my soule after thee O GOD and Hezekiah incline t Isaiah 37. 17 thine â—are O LORD and heare open thine eyes O LORD and see And godle Prophets Daniel crying O u Dan 9. 19 â— LORD heare O LORD forgiue O LORD consider and Habbakâ—k praying O LORD x Habb 3. 2 reviue thy works in the midst of thy people in wrath remember mercie But principally consider y Heb. 3. 1 the Apostle and high Priest of our profession CHRIST IESUS which in z Heb. 5.7 the dayes of his flesh did offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares Our blessed MASTER in a Luk. 22. 44 his most bitter and heavie agonie Hee prayed most earnestly with great fervencie and his sweate was like drops of blood trickling downe to the ground Many indeede doe mervell at that most illustrious George Castriot Abrahamus Scultetus in lib. de precat cap. 19. Scanderbeg the peerelesse Prince of Epirus in whom they write was so great ardor into fighting that the blood would burst furth out of his lippes but surely one hath greater cause to wonder at the fervencie of our SAVIOUR who was so vehement in praying that a bloodie sweate came not from his lippes only but also from his whole bodie in great abundance Follow then the ardent zeale and fervencie of thy Master and take good heede I beseech thee that thou doe b Ier. 48. 10 not the worke of GOD negligently least thou bee subject to GODS curse and miserie that thou c Revel 3. 16 be not cold nor luckewarme least CHRIST spue thee out of his mouth most shamefully Quomodo Cyprianus in sermone de oratione Domini te audiri à DEO postulas cum ipse te non audias How can thou require thy selfe to be heard of GOD when thou hearest not thy selfe by sloathfulnesse coldnesse or distractions But thou call vpon GOD with a vehement desire and earnest affection So did Samson for earthly water saving LORD d Iudg. 15. 18 shall I die for thirst more fervently shouldst thou pray for the water of the Well of life for thine aeternall consolation Seventhly Aboue all labour Sinceritie with continuall care and industrie
Shame will come to these that pray not shame and disgrace will come vpon thee yea thou l Psal 109. 29 shall be clothed with shame and covered with confusion as with a cloake may not the Almightie who i Iob 12. 21 poureth contempt on Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake soone set a k Genes 4. 1â— marke of infamie on thee to thy everlasting woe and miâ—erie who hath despised the riches of his mercie Consider now of two thinges Cause of shame 1. Thou hast great reason to bee ashamed 2. That this shame is a grievous punishment thou hast cause of shame 1. For thy nakednesse 2. For thy filthinesse 3 For thy vnthankfulnesse 4. For thy wickednesse and wretchednesse 1. Our first parents were ashamed of their nakednesse m Genes 3. 8 therefore they hid themselues from the presence of the LORD amongst the trees of the Garden 2. Iacobs sonne Iudah was ashamed of his whoordome and desired rather to want his seale n Genes 2â— 3â— his cloake and his staffe then to be blotted with that note of ignominie 3 The prodigall son was ashamed of his ingratitude and vnkindnesse when hee confessed that o Luke 15. 19 hee was no more worthie to be called his sonne 4 Daniel himselfe was ashamed for the sinnes of his people and the lamentable estate vnder the thraldome and captivitie he p Dan. 9. 7 with sackcloth fasting and ashes prayed protested that righteousnesse belonged to GOD and to them open shame and confusion Thus if thou pray not to the Almightie thou q Psal 49. 12 shall not continue in honour and dignitie but shame and disgrace will abide with thee seeing thou despiseth thy GOD so vnduetifully Againe Remember that sinne Sinne it is a great plague is a great iudgement which appeareth evidently both in this life and in the life to come not only by the testimonie of godly and wise men who as Salomon saith haue r Eccles 2. 14 their eyes in their head and Å¿ Eccles 10. 2 their hearts in their right hand who t Iam. 3. 13 are endued with true wisedome and knowledge and are u Prover 8. 10 prudent to vnderstand their owne way for David himselfe did thus pray remoue x â— Cor. 4. 13 Hisp magâ—â—s Ten 3. cap. 10 Livius from me shame u Psal 119.22 and contempt and the holy Apostle with all the Sainctes did truely complaine that y wee are made as the filth of the world the ofscourings of all things Thus Origen sonne to Leonides so renowned and respected in his life for many gifts which hee hadde receiued esteemed shame more heavie and grievous than death for from his childhood hee desired to die and to losse his life for the loue of CHRIST But hee so feared and eshewed shame that rather than his chast bodie should bee defiled with a filthie Ethiopian hee chose to offer incense to an Idoll which brought great sorrow and lamentation to him afterward But also of civill Ethnicks for Cato a naturall wise man choose rather to kill himselfe than render himselfe vnto Caesars power or with shame and Tullius 1. offic ignominie looke on his face which fact Cicero labours to defend albeit with little reason yea Saul desired rather to bee killed then by his enemies z 1 Sam. 31.4 mocked Also Decius a Romane Emperour a pitielesse persecuter a cruell monster being in battell vanquished by the Sâ—ythians and fearing to come vnder the reverence of the proud Barbarians to eshew that shame hee cast himselfe into a deepe pit where hee endâ—d his miserable life and wanted the honour of buriall Againe shame and ignominie is a great punishment in the life to come for the wicked shall rise to a Daniel 12. â— sâ—ame and perpetuall contempt Fifthly If thou pray not thou art a stranger from GOD and as They are spiritualy possessed who pray not an abominable atheist will be most severely punished for GOD not only will giue b Rom. 1. 24 thee vp to thy hearts lust but also will deliuer thee to the Devill to bee if not Augustin bodilâ— yet spiritually possessed Qui â—ult possidere terram videat ne â— ter ra possideatur A judicious father adviseth men to bee circumspect lest they bee possessed of the earth as it is certaine that the estate of that man who was c Math. 9. 32 dumbe and could not speake to man being bodily possessed by a devill was verie miserable but the case of that caâ—ine who is inwardly dumbe and can not speake to GOD being possessed by a devill spiritually is farre more pitifull lamentable thinkâ—st thou that bodily possession is very fearefull and a great plague assure thy selfe that spirituall possâ—ssion by the evill spirit is farre more grievous and fearefull Punishment for barrennes Sixtly If thou pray not thou art a fruitlesse corrupt d Math. 7. 17 tree and sâ—relie thy imminent judgment shall bee great and terrible iâ— shall bee inevitable and remâ—dilesse First Thy punishment will be very grievous much more heavie indeed then thou conceivest for the LORD hath a scepter c Psal 2. 9 of iron to crush thee hee f Isaiah 27. 1 hath a sore and great and mightie sword to smite thee Yea he g Math. 3. 10 hath an axe to hew thee downe Yea he h Ieremi 18. 7 will speake suddenly against a Nation or against a Kingdome to plucke it vp or to rootte it out If thou pray not he hath a i Revel 21 8 lake which burneth with fire and brimstone where he will for ever toâ—ment thee hee will not so deale with thee as he dealeth with the godly who doe incall vpon his name and pray to his Majestie for he will chastiâ—e them with a fatherly affection Though for k Isaiah 58. 7 a litle while hee forsâ—ke them if for a little season or for a moment he hide his face from them yet with great compassion hee will gather them and with everlasting mercy he will pâ—ttie them Certainly There l Ieremi 30. 12 bruising is not incurable their wounds are not for ever dolorous GOD will apply a plaster and there are medicines and helpe for them He will m Iere. 30. 11 correct them by judgement and not vâ—terly cast them off Hee will n 2 Sam. 7. 14 chasten them with the rod of men but his mercy shall not departe from them Secondly If thou neglectest this exercise of prayer thy punishment which is great wiâ—â— come vpon thee suddainly for iâ— thou o Genes 4 7 doest not well sinne lyeth at thy doore If p Luk. 3. 9 thou bringst not foorth fruite worthie of amendement of lyfe the axe is laide to the roote of the tree Nadab and Abihâ— were incontinently destroyed a q Levit. 10. 2 fire went from the LORD and destroyed them Nebuchadnezar r Daniel
hands vpon one who was dease and stammered in his speach but CHRIST did more hee did put his finger in his eares and did spit and touched his tongue and looking vp to Heaven hee sighed and said vnto him EPHâ—HATHâ— that is bee opened Some Ieves came to CHRIST for bodily nourishment because they z Iohn 6. 26 ate of the loaâ—es and were filled but â—ESUS bestâ—wed on them more even spirituall refreshment for their soules and offred them meate thâ—â— endureth for ever vnto everlasting life And thus it is most sure and certaine that GOD will vouchsafe more good vpon his Saâ—â—cts than they will require or aske of his blessed Majestie for as much as bountifulnesse and laâ—ge liberality is naturall and essentiall to his high honour and great glory Hee a Zeph. 3. 17 will quiet himselfe and rest in his loue He delighteth to doe good abundantly in all plentie and statelie royaltie We reade that when Perillus one of Alexanders friends asked him dowrie to his daughters the King commanded him to take fiftie talents Perillus answering that ten talents would be sufficient the King replyed Tibi quidem satis est tantum accipere mihi vâ—â—o non satis Seneca alâ—i plerique est tantum dare it is indeede sufficient to thee to recâ—aue so much but so much is not sufficient to mee to giue that King had a respect to his honâ—ur and not to the mans deservings Thy great and immortaâ—l King who â—aveth vnto thee Open b Psalm 81.11 thy mouth wide and I shall fâ—ll itâ— in giving he regardeth more his owne glorie and greatâ—â—sse than thy merits and worthinâ—ssâ— For c Isaiah 48 9 his names sake hee deferreth his wrath and for his praise will he refraine from it The LORD led d Isaiah 62.14 his people with his owne glorious arme divyding the waters before them to make himselfe an everlasting and glorious name Hee e Ezech. 20.44 will haue a respect vnto vs for his owne Names sake Hee will bee beneficiall vnto vs and not after our wicked wayes nor according to our corrupt workes GOD will giue to his owne a new heart and a new spirit he will put within them hee will gather them out of all countries and bring them to their land But thus f Ezech. 36.22 saith the LORD GOD. I doe not this for your sakes O house of Israelâ— but for my holie Names sake And surely in thy conscience thou may be fully perswaded and firmelie assured that thy most gratious GOD will g Dan. 9. 18 encline his eares to heare thy prayers that he will yeelde to thy desires and satiâ—â—ie thy requestes for three causes first because h Iohn 2. 1 thou hast an Advocate with thy Father CHRIST IESVS the just his i Math. 3. 17 beloved Sonne in whom hee is well pleased who k Hebr. 9. 24 appeareth now in the sight of GOD to make request and intercession for thee seing l Heb. 7. 25 he ever liveth hee is able perfectly to saue thee and to bring thee honour and felicirie Albeit Constâ—ntine the most worthie Emperor by his great moyen Theodoret. lib 1 cap. 24 Euseb â—â—b 4 and letters of recommendation made intercession for the Saints who were grâ—evouslie afflicted and by barbarous crueltie persecuted in the Kingdome of Persia when he did pleade the cause of innocent Christians who in great number were tortured vnto death and intreated their King Sapores to deale mercifullie to embrace them kindly it is yet vncertaine if the intercession of Constantine prevailed any thing or if any mitigation of that horrible persâ—cution was granted seing we reade that in Constantius his sonnes dayes vnder that same Barbarian it endured yet this is most sure and certaine that CHRISTS intercession will ever prevaile and bee effectuall seing m Isaiah 42. 1 in him GODS soule delighteth and whatsoever hee willeth GOD worketh whatsoeveâ— hee n Psal 2. 8 asketh GOD giveth and he will never gâ—t a refusall If his Father who loved o Iohn 17. 24 him before the fundation of the world vnto p Math. 28. â—8 whom is given all power in Heaven and in Earth who q Ephes 4. 8 ascended vp in high who led captivitie captiue and gaue gifts vnto men The second cause of thy sure certification that GOD will grant thy supplication is this For r Rom. 8. 26 that the spirit also helpeth thine infirmities for thou knowest not what to pray as thou oughtest but the spirit it selfe maketh request for thee with sighes which can not be expressed according to the will of GOD and hee that searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines knoweth 27. the meaning of the spirit and because thou art f Galat. 4. 6 the sonne of adoption GOD hath sent foorth the spirit of the Sonne in thine heart which cryeth Abba father who is as a learned man testifieth Hilarius Advocatus nobiscum perpetuâ— manens an Advocate for ever abyding with vs and as the t Iohn 3. 8 wind bloweth where it listeth so the SPIRIT effecteth whatsoever he requireth A third cause of thy vndoubted assurance that the Almightie will yeelde vnto thy petition is this albeit himselfe be the most worthie and mightie partie offended yet hee first seeketh thee yea by his u 2 Cor. 5. 20 ambassadours beseecheth thee to be reconciled with his Majestie As x Psal 103. 13 a father hath compassion on his children so the LORD hath compassion on them that feare him As the most gratious GOD is of vnspeakeable loue of great pittie and ardent affection so hee is omnipotent whose y Dan. 7. 14 Kingdome shall never bee destroyed who hath an everlasting dominion That mightie monarch Alexander gaue commandement to his Thesaurer for to bestow vpon Anaxarchas a Philosopher whatsoever hee should require who asked a verie great sowme which the Thesaurer hearing and beeing troubled declared the same to Alexander who thus answered Plutarch in apophtheg Recte facit sciens se habere amieum qui tantum dare possit velit Hee doeth well knowing hee hath a friend who both will and may giue so much As GOD is our friend so hee calleth vs his friends not only as Abraham z Isaiah 4â— â— GODS friends but also as his a Iohn â— 39 children which doe his workes The LORD as hee is good so is he great and aboue all GODS whatsoever pleaseth b Psal 135. 5 the LORD hee may doe in the Heaven in the earth in the sea and in all the depths the Omnipotent may giue what hee pleaseth no creature whatsoever may doe soe for the devill hee lyed and spake vntrueth when hee said all c Luk. 4.6 power and glorie of the earth was delivered to him and that hee may giue it to whom-so-ever hee will No man nor potentate in this Plinius lib. 7 cap. 2 Cicâ—ro Tuscul quaest lib 5.
them that fight against thee yet if thou continue to call vpon GOD fervently thou mayest well perswade thy selfe of the certaintie of this victorie for nec vulneratus nec prostratus nec conculcatus fraudaberis Lactant firmian â— victoria neither albeit thou bee wounded casten downe and trampled vnder-foote thou shall bee frustrated of the victorie for albeit thou bee slaine stoned p Heb. 11. 37 or hewen asunder dead and buried yet thou shall rise againe with CHRIST and triumph gloriously and remaine with him in perpetuall felicitie but of this more Godwilling when wee shal treate of the effect of prayer Lastly Albeit thou shall find sensiblie that thou art a strong Israelite that thou hast q Gen. 32. 28 had power with GOD and hast prevailed with men yet bee not secure and sloathfull farre lesse proude r Rom. 1â— 20 and high minded but labour carefully albeit with difficultie to builde an house for thy GOD who hath ever helped thee whose presence is most necessarie for thee When Moses was delivered from the bondage of Egypt and Pharaoh with his enemies drowned then hee remembred with thankfulnesse I Å¿ Exod 15. 2 will build a Tabernacle to GOD. When GOD did remember David mercifully and freede him from all his adversitie hee thus protested that hee t Psal 132. 4 would not suffer his eyes to sleepe nor his eye-lids to slumber vntill he had found out a place to the GOD of Iaakob an habitation to the mightie GOD of Israel So when thy GOD shall thinke vpon thee who art poore and needie and shall succour thee with his strength joyfully then labour thou carefully to prepare a place for thy GOD that he may delight to dwell with thee that u Revel 2. 6 his soule may never loath thee take paines that thou may bee x 2 Cor. 6. 16 the temple of the living GOD who hath given the victorie If these martiall men two great commanders and conquerours Plutarch Stephanus Alexander and Augustus did build or repare that citie called Nicopolis were carefull when they gained an earthly victorie to haue a remembrance and monument of that glorie Thou hast greater cause to build an house for thy God and adorne the same continually to proclame his praises publictly and with his Prophet to sing thankfully Blessed y Psal 144. 1. 2 be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hand to fight and my fingers to battell hee is my goodnesse and my fortresse my towre and my deliverer my sheild and my buckler in him will I trust but know this for a suretie that it shall bee a matter of great importaâ—ce and difficultie If Tatnai and Shetherboznai with Ezra 5. 3 their companions did labour to hinder the materiall temple from being built will not Sathan and sinne with the wicked world labour and indevoure to their vttermost to stay and impede the building reparing of that inward temple Secondly prayer is wonderfull Prayers difficle in respect of the parts thereof difficile in regard of the practising of all the parts thereof for it is a hard matter to make true confâ—ssion of thy sinnes and transgrâ—ssions Of confession with a contrite a Psal 51. 17 and broken heart with a faithfull and believing heart that thou may say sincerelâ— yet b Daniel 9. 9 compassion and forgivenesse is with the LORD and with an vpright and honest heart of purpose to c Ezech. 10. 3 make a covenant with the LORD for to d Ephes 4. 1 walke worthy of that vocation wherevnto thou art called Againe it is very difficile to Of Lamentation lament for thy sinne and iniquitie for to e Luke 22. 62 weepe bitterly with repenting Peter and to powre out thy f Psal 56. 8 teares in the Lords bottle into his owne register As it was a very hard matter to g Psal 105.41 open the Rocke and to cause h Ezech 17. 6 water come out of it so it is to soften the i Ezech. 11. 19 stonie heart and to bring out thereof the teares of godly sorrow and contrition which lead to repentance or conversion Moreover it is an hard matter to make a petition to the Almightie Of petition for if k Genes 44. 18 Iudah the Patriarch a man of wisdome courage and aâ—tion estâ—emâ—d it both difficile and dangâ—rous to make a petition to â—oseph for his innocent brother Benjâ—min thou may thinke it hard for thee to make request to the Almightie for thy selfe who art so guiâ—tie that thou mayest come to Heaven and felicitie seeing thou hast deserved hell and endlesse miserie Lastly because thou may m 1 King 2.44 know Of request for others the wickednesse wherevnto thy heart is privie and thy owne conscience condemneth thee for thy trespasse and iniquitie thou may well bee ashamed and thinke it hard to make request for others seeing thy selfe is most vnworthy and vngodly Thirdly The difficultie of this exercise evidently appeareth in regard the supplicant must of necessitie bee adorned with many other graces which must concurre to make thy prayer effectuall these Thou must haue patience were mentioned in the fist chapter praeceeding namely knowledge faith pietie charitie sobrietie fervencie sinceritie humility oportunitie constancie Good GOD how hard matter is it with so many gifts to bee endued as also to joyne n 2 Pet. 1. 5 other vertues with these rehearsed Giue moreover all diligence for to adde to the â—est of these properties true patience for thou hast great neede thereof that o Heb. 10. 38 after thou hast done the will of GOD thou may receaue the promise Behold p Iam 5. 7. 8 the husbandman waiteth for the pretious fruite of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill he receaue the former and latter raine so bee thou patient in prayer and settle thine heart for the comming of the LORD draweth neere who will heare thy request and grant vnto thee thy petition Furthermore thou must take diligent heede that thou at this action Thou must haue godlie anger flatter q Deut. 29. 19 not thy selfe in thine owne heart but thou must be very angry at thine owne selfe for thy manifold and filthie sinnes thou must haue this holy r 2 Cor. 7. 11 indignation if thou haue not this godly anger assure thy selfe thou shall not get the LORDS favour Lastly Remember thee that it Thou must vse good attention is a difficile worke to giue good attention in this action to keeps thine Å¿ Prover 4. 23 heart with all diligence that it bee not as t 2 Sam. 14.14 water spilt on the ground which can not bee gathered vp againe And as the lame man creeple from his mothers wombe gaue u Act. 3 5 heede and diligent attention to the Apostles Peter and Iohn when hee gotte health so doe thou in time of prayer that thou mayest
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
sonne when she receiued Samuel with thankfulnesse shee acknowledged the same and loued Samuel and praised GOD the giuer in her notable i 1. Sam. 2. 1 song Thirdly The LORD will delay thy petitions that thou may keepe his benefites with great care and watchfulnesse An Ancient sheweth the reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basilius in Asceti◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All which one possesseth with great travell and industrie he studieth to keepe the same diligently Fourthly For tryall of thy faith hope loue patience and constancie Thus holy IOB was exercised when seriously and continually hee had prayed Lastly For imitation that thou mayest bee content to follow other holy Saincts Did not David pray many tymes to bee delivered from the furie of Saul persecuting him Did not k 1 King 18.43 Helias send his seruant seven tymes to looke toward the way of the sea while raine did come vpon the earth Did not St Paul l 2 Cor. 12. 8 thrise beseech the LORD that the messenger of Sathan buffeting him might depart from him GOD delayeth thy petitions that thou mayed be well content to follow his best beloved servants Yet thou mayest be perswaded of this saying of the Father Deus quod concâ—ssurus est si differt non August aâ—fert quod promisit est fixum fallere non potest habet vnde faciat GOD which hee is to grant if hee delay it hee will not take it away it is sure which hee hath promised hee cannot deceine hee hath whereof hee may doe Againe If the LORD shall deny the requestes of his owne servants and giue them a refuâ—all then they may bee assured that their prayer is neither agreeable to his holy will and good pleasure nor yet profitable to themselves for their eternall salvation and so it is a great benefite and a good dâ—â—d done by GOD to them when things hurtfull are refused If a young ignorant babe would desire of his father a sharpe knife that would wound him or an hote candle that would burne him yet his loving and wise father would not giue the same that would bring hurt and paine to him Wee as Similit ignorant babes often aske of GOD things which wee suppose to be pleasant and profitable But our wiâ—e and loving Father m Psal 103. 3 having great compassion on vs knowing that they would be noysome and pernitious to vs in wisdome and mercie denyeth the same According to the judgement of an Ancient these are the causes wherefore thy requests are not ever granted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basilius in Asâ—etic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Often thou will say I haue asked and haue not obteined it is of trueth because thou hast prayed wickedly or insufficiently or inconstantlie or vnprofitablie which were not expedient for thee And surely it is of veritie Deus dabit quod petimus aut quod Benharelus Serm. 5. in quadrag nâ—verit esse vtilius GOD will giue vs these things which we seeke or which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. An other Ancient sayeth Saepè multos DEVS Isidorus lib. 3. de summo bono non exaudit ad voluntatem vt exaudiat ad salutem Often tymes the LORD heareth many not according to their will that he may heare them to their salvation Againe it is said Malâ— vsurus August eo quod vult accipere DEO potius miserante non accipit who is to vse wickedly that which he would haue he receaveth it not GOD rather having pitie vpon him And therefore think never that thy earnest prayers shall lack force and be fruitlesse albeit the LORD condiscend not to grant thy earthly petition yet trie and n Mal. 3. 10 proue thy GOD who will open the windowes of heaven vnto thee powre thee out a blessing without measure A Christian Poet writeth verie pertinently for this purpose in these most worthie verses Cùm DEVS effectum precibus non praestat iniquis Multum concedit quod nocitura negat Prosper Errantes voto non vult delinquere facto Iratus sineret quod prohibet placidus Discat felici supplex gaudere repulso Incipiatque animo pellere quod voluit That is When GOD giveth not an effect to thy wrongfull prayers he granteth muâ—h because he denyeth hurtfull things He willeth not these who goe astray in there wish to doe a fault by fact being aâ—gry he would suffer which being pacified he prohibiteth Let the supplicant learne to rejoyce by an happie refusall and let him beginne to put out of mynd which hee desired Thus of the force of prayer let vs consider of some necessarie circumstances OF THE CIRCVMSTANCES OF PRAYER The eightenth Chapter COncerning some circumstances of prayer we will speake of soure namely of the Circumstances of persons persons place tyme and gesture First Persons praying comfortably are the members of the bodie of CHRIST his holy a Heb. 3. 1 bretheren partakers of that Heavenly vocation Saints b 1 Cor. 1. 2 by calling who are vnder the covenant of grace with whom GOD c Ezech. 37.26 maketh an everlasting covenant of peace in whom d Rom. 8. 11 the spirit of the LORD dwelleth for e Rom. 8. 26 whom the spirit it selfe maketh request with sighes which can not bee expressed the chosen of the Church militant chiâ—fly in time of their trouble and â—ffâ—ction they will f Hos 5. 15 seeke then the LORD diligently with humâ—itie and with devotion â—n trouble g Isaiah 26. 16 they will visite GOD they will powre out a prayer when his chastning is vpon them The Godly 〈◊〉 can pray aâ—ghtly but the wicked vnâ—aithfulâ— and reprobatâ—s without h Ephes 2. 12 CHRIST alâ—ants from the commoun-wealth of Israell strangers from the covenants of promise which haue no hope Atheists in this world false Hypocrites what ever bee their profâ—ssion if they be of vngodly conversation howsoever they doe appeare to bee honourable wealthie or happie yet they can not pray to GOD duetifully neither praise his holy Name worthily Secondly Thou i Math. 4. 10 shall worshippe the LORD thy GOD and him ONELY thou shall serue Call vpon k Psal 50. 1â— mee saith the LORD in the day of thy trouble so will I delyver thee and thou shall glorifie mee The Almightie GOD who is alsufficient is onely to bee adored and invocated It thou knowest any of such knowledge and wisedome of such strength and perfection of of such loue and affection of such mercie and compassion of such trueth and fidelitie of such rememberance of such presence of such stedâ—astnesse and constancie then thou mayest call vpon him conscientiously Now most sure it is That l 1 Tim. 1. 17 GOD is only wise he knoweth m Psal 139.2 thy sitting and thy rysing all thy necessiâ—ies hee vnderstandeth thy thoughts a farre off Secondly GOD is Omnipotent most strong his n Math. 6. 15 is the