good work Reprobate Mercies do not melt them judgments do not break them and Oh how little have all the means of Grace mended them There is so much of pride of atheisin infidelity impurity earthlyness hatred of the Lord and Holiness stubornness obstinacy by nature in our hearts that we are not able to mention or conceive the thousandth part of it Oh what cause have we to be earnest for that new heart and that new spirit which is promised in thy new new Covenant We are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are but filthy Raggs the corruption of our natures defiles our very best Duties Satan is not to be blamed so much for tempting as our hearts for yeilding unto his Temptation The best of us have as sinful natures as the worst of men Actual sin is to be confessed after this manner VVho can tell how oft he has offended who can understand his errours O Lord I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face unto thee for my iniquities are increased over my head and my trespass is grown up unto the Heavens VVho can number the Stars of the Sky the sands of the Sea or the days of Eternity or reckon up his sins in order before thee I was an early sinner a transgressor from the VVomb and have not left off sinning to this very day I have broken thy Laws though they are so holy just and good I have counted the yoak heavy though thy Commandments are so far from being grievous that they are more to be desired than the finest Gold and sweeter than the Hony and the hony Comb. How far have I been from loving the Lord with all my heart with all my soul with all my mind with all my strength Nay insteed of this I have been an hater of God and secretly wished there were no God to punish sin that I might have sinned with greater freedom I have been a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God Be astonished O ye Heavens at this for I have committed two great evils I have forsaken the Fountain of living waters and have hewn out unto my self Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water I have not worshipped thee in Spirit and in Truth without fear of thy jealousie I have mocked thee to thy Face I have been a meer Idolater for I have idolized the world and the things of the world which are vanity and have forgotten the alsufficient God days without number I have taken thy Name in vain and prophaned thy Sabboths which thou hast so strictly commanded I should remember to keep holy I have wofully failed in my Duty to my Neighbour though I ought and was bound to love him as my self I have sinned against the Gospel it self though it contain the best tidings that ever were brought unto the sons of men How shall I escape who have neglected so great Salvation I have out-done the very Devils themselves they never rejected mercy for 't was never offered to them they never refused a Saviour for no Saviour was ever sent to visit and recover them Lord I have not believed as I ought the report of the Gospel though it be so faithful and worthy of all acceptation How long have I lived without Christ without Hope and without God in the world Thou hast out-bid all others and hast offered infinitely better things than the world can thou hast offered pardon grace nay glory honour and Immortality and yet the offer has been despised I have been apt to count the Gospel foolishness though it be the wisdom of God and a Mystery which the Angels admire and desire to look into I have not hearkned to the Voyce of the great Prophet I have not reverenced thy Son who has spoken to me and therefore deserve to be cut off from among thy people Thy Son is a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconcilation for the sins of the people He has called upon me to come to him for rest but I would not come that I might have life His Righteousness is a perfect and everlasting Righteousness yet I have gon about to establish my own righteousness and have not submitted my self to the righteousness of God I have placed a carnal confidence in my own strength though it be but meer weakness and relied upon my duties though God might damn me for the best of them if he should be extream to mark what 's amiss in them The Lord Jesus is incomparably the best master but I have refused to obey I have called him Lord Lord but have not don the things that he sayes I have refused to take his Yoak upon me though his yoak be an easie yoak and his burthen so light a burthen his service I have not liked though 't is perfect freedom I have broke his bands asunder and cast away his cords from me I deserve to be dash'd in peices by his iron Rod who refused to submit unto the scepter of his word I have been called to repent and encouraged thereunto but have remained impenitent I have made my heart like an adamant stone and refused to be ashamed Sin was the cause of Christs sufferings it makes the whole creation groan 't is that which has murthered millions of Souls 't is the cause of all the horrour and despair and sorrows and torment which the damned undergo and yet how light a matter have I esteemed it Ah! fool that I have been to make a mock of sin and count it a pastime to do wickedly My sins O Lord are highly aggravated Light is come into the world but I have loved darkness more then light because my deeds are evil Thy will has been plainly told me and I have known my duty and yet have done the contrary and deserves to be beaten with many stripes I have had experience of the riches of thy goodness and forbearance and long suffering and yet all has not lead me to repentance When fair means prevailed not thou hast tried foul But though then hast smitten me I have not grieved thou hast even consumed me but I have refused to receive correction I have made my Face harder than a Rock and have refused to return The Spirit has striven with me but like a stifnecked wretch I have resisted the holy Ghost and thou mightest justly resolve he should strive no more with me We judg O Lord and condemn our selves in thy presence Thou really and truly hatest sinne in us as well as others Thou sparedst not the Angels that sinned against thee Thou sparedst not the Old World but didst bring the Floud upon them Thou didst turn the Cities of Sâ—dom and Gomorrah to ashes Nay thy Son himself was not spared when sin was laid to his charge Oh what a wonder of mercy is it that we are spared to this day We deserve the sorest of temporal Judgments Thou mightest appoint over us Terrour Consumption and the burning-Ague we have
THE SPIRIT of PRAYER OR A DISCOURSE WHEREIN The Nature of Prayer is Opened the Kinds of Prayer are Handled and the Right Manner of Praying Discover'd Several Cases about this Duty are Resolved From EPH. 6. 18. Praying Alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for All Saints Unto which is Added A Direction for the Attaining the Gift of Prayer That Family-Duty may not be Omitted nor Secret Duty discouraged through Inability of Utterance and Expression BY Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1674. To the Truly HONOURABLE LADY Hester LADY BLOVNT Mercy and Grace and Peace be Multiplyed Much Honoured Madam WHen I had the happiness to belong unto your Noble Family the Favours I received were Weighty ones and have left too deep an impression upon me ever to be worn off I never lived more free from Care Trouble then when I lived with your Ladyship Your Civility your Bounty your being so much concerned when I went away I must Remember while I have Memory 'T is very pleasing to me to reflect upon the Opportunities I had when I lived at Tittenhanger your Stately House not only of studying but of performing those Secret duties of Prayer and Meditation wherein Communion with God is so exceeding sweet that all sensual delights and pleasures are contemptible in comparison At that time the World was presented to me in the Gayest dress Your House Large and bravely Furnished your Gardens Delighful your Park and Walks hardly to be Matched your Table abundantly sumptuously Furnished Yet I must needs tell You That God was ten Thousand times more to me than all this When I sought him with my whole Heart and found him when I begg'd his Grace and had the Grace I begg'd for This This was it which made my life happy This made me Cheerful indeed onely I was sorry to see others take up and be so much transported with lower Pleasures Believe me Madam nay believe the Lord himself Religion and Joy are not inconsistent The wayes of Wisdom are wayes of Pleasantness and all the paths thereof are paths of Peace Though David had a Crown of pure Gold on his Head though he was Lord of such a Country which was then the glory of all Lands yet we find that God was his Joy and that was his Language Whom have I Heaven but Thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides Thee Whereas Solomon his son indulging his Flâ—sh and too much forgetting God did but hereby contribute to his own disquiet He made him great Works he built Houses and planted Vineyards he made Gardens and Orchards and planted Trees in them of all sorts of Fruit he made Pools of Water that the Trees might be the more Flourishing He had Servants Maidens Possessions of great and small Cattel above all that were before him in Jerusalem He gathered Silver and Gold and the peculiar Treasure of Kings and of the Provinces He had Men-singers and Women-singers and the Delights of the Sons of Men and Musical Instruments of all sorts Nay whatsoever his Eyes desired he kept not from them neither did he withold from his Heart any Joy How large an Inventory is here of what is gratifying to the Senses Yet in the midst of all he cryes out Behold all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no Profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 4 11. Madam I earnestly desire your Eternal welfare and also your present Joy And truly there must be Godliness not in the Form only but in the Power also or else you will be a Stranger to the pleasure of Christianity God is the Souls centre Rest is elsewhere in vain expected The more you acquaint your self with Him the more perfect your peace will be thereby good will come unto you These ensuing Sermons concerning Prayer I hope through the blessing of God may be a means to make Devotion much more servent And 't is not in vain to seek Him that is so willing to be sound and whose Sufficiency is such that he can satisfie your desires when they are most Enlarged That the Lord of Heaven would bless You and all the Branches of your Illustâ—ious Family and make all eminent for Piety and Holiness which will be your truest Honour and greatest Dignity is the Prayer of Madam Your Ladiships most humble and most obliged Servant Nathanael Vincent To the Readers especially them that were Hearers of these Following Sermons Beloved Brethren BEing about to Read a Book concerning Prayer how convenient is it you should begin with Prayer that you may read with profit Lift up therefore your hearts unto God and desire Grace to do what is made known to be your duty Gods Precepts are for your profit He is not capable of being advantaged for he is infinitely and eternally self-sufficient but you your selves will be benefited by your Obedience He requires you to come to the throne of Grace that he may impart his Grace and Mercy unto you that so much stand in need of it 'T is the property of Good to be communicative of it self And the Lord who is the Summum Bonum highest and chiefest Good does give most of all liberally Prayer is an Ordinance that He has appointed and 't is a great priviledge we are allowed to pour out our Souls before him His Hand is not shortned His Ear is not heavy we shall not be straitned in Him if we are not straitned in our own Bowels You that never have pray'd with any seriousness of Spirit should cry now with the greater fervency You have not one Sin pardoned not one Corruption mortified not one saving Grace wrought in your Hearts you have not the least part of your main work don no provision at all made for Eternity and another World It concerns you therefore to begg as for your Lives that God would reconâ—cile you to himself in Christ and make you new Creatures and become a Father and a Portion to you Now is the accepted time Now the Father of Mercies is upon the mercy Seat Now the Lord Jesus is willing to be your Advocate and to intercede for you Now the spirit of Grace is ready to help our infirmities Now forgiveness of sin and life and Immortality are freely offer'd nay you are intreated to accept them But it will not be thus alwayes shortly God will be inexorable the Advocate will be a judg to condemn and the spirit will withdraw for ever and the day of grace will be ended Oh therefore pray now for then 't will be to late to pray And for you that make conscience of this duty wrestle still with greater Vigour Those are the strongest Christians that are mightiest in praier He that prayes well will do all wel besides for by
that he spent day and night in nothing but eating no such matter but when the season or meal-time came he was present So to pray always is to pray whenever prayer is seasonable 3. A third question is What is meant by all Prayer Bullinger refers this to the intension of the mind saying that in this Duty there must be all possible devotion and intentness and servency of heart But Musculus understands Prayer of every sort and indeed all kinds of Prayer which God has appointed are needfull and the Lord is ready by the Communications of his Grace to encourage to the practice of this Duty in the full extent and latitude of it 4. Anotherquestion is this What are we to understand by prayer in the spirit Some refer this clause to the things asked as if we should slight all worldly enjoyments and ask only for those blessings that are spiritual 'T is confessed that spiritual blessings are to be most prized and to be begged with the greatest importunity but yet temporal mercies may also with submission be desired Daily Bread we are allowed to ask for and that Bread is sweetest and most blest that is the fruit of Prayer Others observe and rightly that this passage Praying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Spirit may have relation both to the spirit of God and the spirit of him that prays 1. It may have relation unto the Spirit of God The Holy Ghost makes intercession for Believers according to the will of God he helps their infirmities who of themselves know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26 27. 2. It may have relation unto the spirit of him that prays Prayer must be the off-spring of the heart or else 't will In Religione non sit quod cor non facit not be of any value or efficacy The spirit of a man must understand what and the worth of what is prayed for and the affections must be stirred in order to the attainment of it 5. A fifth question is what are we to understand by watching unto prayer with all perseverance We must watch over our hearts and watch for God and this must be with continuance unless we continue to watch and pray we may quickly enter and fall into temptation And since all militant Saints are in danger as well as we and stand in so near a relation to Christ and to us we should be much concerned for them so as to desire their safety and well-fare as our own There are six Doctrins which these words afford us 1. A Christians security lyes very much in praying always 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used 3. Prayer when rightly performed is supplication in the spirit 4. In prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient 5. We must persevere if we would speed in prayer 6. Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all the Saints as well as for oâ—r selves D. 1. I begin with the first of these Doctrines That a Christians security lies very much in praying always Although he be Armed from head to foot with the Armour of God which if any in the world is Armour of Proof yet he is not safe without prayer Saints in Scripture have lookt upon the Throne of Grace as their Asylum and Sanctuary and have come hither for refuge and strength in their troubles and temptations David when he perceived the deceit and hatred of his Adversaries who fought against him without cause says 't was his course and truly 't was a wise one to give himself to prayer Psal 109. 4. When his soul was among Lyons and he dwelt among those that were set on fire he then crys unto God most high unto God that performed all things for him Psal 57. 2. When the Apostle Paul was buffeted by the Messenger of Satan he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him and had this answer my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. Nay the very Captain of our Salvation Christ himself not only used the word of God in temptation and overcome the Devil by Scripture-weapons but also he was wonderfully servent in prayer Heb. 5. 7. In the days of his flesh he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I shall speak unto this Doctrin in this following order First give you a definition of prayer that you may know what ' t is Secondly Inform you what it is to pray always Thirdly Shew you why a Christians security lies in prayer Fourthly Give you some reasons why he should be always praying Fifthly Answer some Objections that are made against this Duty Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to give you a definition of prayer that you may understand the nature of it Damascen l. 3. de orth Fid. c. 24. give this description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is an assention of the mind unto God and asking those things which are convenient from him The mind must ascend as well as the voâ—â—â— and both must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be desired which the wise and gracious God sees Oratio est actus rationis practicae voluntatis desiderium explicantis ab a liis aliquid postulantis Aquin in 2. 2. qu. 83. art 1. convenient Aquinus defines prayer an act of the practical understanding explaining the desire of the will and requesting something from another which being applied unto God amounts to thus much that both the mind and will do act in prayer the mind makes known what the will desires Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thoe and my groaning is not hid from thee and then likewise there is an earnest craving to have this desire satisfied Psal 90. 14. Oh satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days But a more full definition of prayer is this Prayer is a Duty performed unto God by sensible and believing Souls in which they ask for things according to his will in the name of Christ with thanksgiving for what already has been received This definition I shall take in pieces and explain the parts of it 1. Prayer is a Duty 't is part of that homage and worship which we owe to God this is evident by the light of nature the Heathen Marriners cryed unto the Lord for preservation in a Storm Jon. 1. but 't is more evident by Scripture light commands to pray are frequent And he that does restrain prayer casts off the fear of God and says unto the Almighty Depart from me Job 21. 14 15. Prayer is a Duty for we are obliged to it by a precept and that precept is for our profit we need help from Heaven and our wants that are of greatest concernment to be supplied can be supplyed by none
Heaven they should be begun ended followed after with Prayer And if you that are hearers would but help us herein by prayer 't would be in effect to help your selves If there were but more praying before you come to the Sanctuary that you might be taught to profit so many sermons would not be lost so much seed would not be sown in vain Prayer sets an edge upon the Word and makes it quick and powerful to kill Sin and keep off Satan Prayer works the Word into the Heart and being hid there 't is a mighty preservative against iniquity There is a Spiritual instinct in Believers to joyn Prayer with every Ordinance of God Because they know that Ordinances cannot secure or benefit them except the Lord concur and work along with them I have proved that a Christians security lies in Prayer In the fourth place I am to give you some Reasons why we ought to pray always 1. We should pray always because God is always ready to hear The Lords Ear is not heavy that it cannot hear Esa 59. 1. He hearkens after Prayer and looks down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there be any that understand and seek God Psal 14. 2. The Father is said to seek for right worshippers namely those that worship him in Spirit and in Truth Joh 4. 23. we have therefore encouragement as at all times to trust in him so at all times to poure out our Souls before him God is a Refuge for us Selah Psal 62. 8. Verily seeking of God in sincerity never was yet in vain and never will be God has heard sinners then when they perhaps have little thought he minded them When Ephraim bemoaned himself was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak was ashamed and confounded because of his evil ways and cry'd Turn thou me and I shall be turned says God I have heard him I have surely heard Ephraim Jer. 31. 18 19. â— and gives him to understand that he was a dear Son a pleasant Child and that he would surely have Mercy on him There is not a Tear but God has a Bottle to put it in nor a sigh but God observes it nor a true desire but he is ready to satisfy 2. We should pray always because Christ always intercedes Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them The prayers of Believers will be vvell seconded This Angel of the Covenant has incense sufficient to perfume and to make the Prayers of all the Saints at all times acceptable Christ in Heaven is alvvays presenting to his Father his Sufferings and by his Sufferings all that we pray for has been purchased His Blood therefore is said to speak in Scripture and it speaks better things than that of Abel Heb. 12. 24. The Blood of Christ cryes in Gods Ears on the behalf of those that pray which the Curse that Christ has born may be removed from them that the Sins for which Christ was wounded may be forgiven them and that out of the fulness of Christ they may receive and Grace for Grace 3. We should pray always because the Spirit is always ready to help our infirmities This Spirit Christ promised and according to his promise sent him and this Spirit is styled the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications Zach. 12. 10. for he gives grace and ability to make supplications acceptably And this Spirit abides with Believers alwaies Joh. 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter which shall abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you The Spirit is ready to instruct us what to pray for to remove the load of indisposition to this Duty to quicken our deadness therein to enlarge our hearts in desires after the God of all Grace to strengthen us to wrestle for a Blessing And truly God is not to be prevailed with but by the mediation of his Son and by the strength of his own Spirit 4. We should pray always because Satan is always forward to assault us Satan is compared to a Lyon in Scripture And Elian observes concerning the Lyon that if at any time he is beaten back he retires 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his face towards you as being readyupon the least encouragement to make another attempt In like manner Satan watches has his Eye always upon us and is ever forward to tempt and should not we be ever forward to pray Our whole Life is a time of Temptation Wicked Spirits are continually engaged against us We wrestle sayes the Apostle with Principalities and Powers with the Ruters of the darkness of this World with spiritual wickednesse in high places These Enemies are invisible so 't is more dificult to withstand them they are too subtile and too strong for us We had need therefore to pray without ceasing since they cease not endeavoring to bring us both to sin and ruine 5. We should pray always because corruption will quickly recruit and recover strength upon the least neglect of prayer Had David been praying when he was sleeping so long in the day time or after his nap had been ended had he gon to the throne of grace instead of idlely walking upon the roof of his palace nay when first he cast his eyes upon Bathsheba if he had then immediately lookt up to Heaven and cryed that that spark of concupiscence might have been extinguish'd before it set him in a flame his foul fall and the dolefull consequents of it might have been prevented But duty was neglected and lust took the advantage of that neglect and he was hurried into two as heinous Sins almost as can possibly be committed 2 Sam. 11. Experience shews us that if we omit or are slight in Prayer that day our passions are more easily stirred and our lusts get ground Thus Amaleck prevail'd when Moses hands began to hang down but when they were held up towards Heaven Israel had the better In the fifth place I am to Answer the Objections that are made against this duty of Prayer Obj. 1. The first Objection is this God knows our wants and dangers without our telling him What need is there then that we should make them known by Prayer Ans I Answer God may be said to know our Wants and Dangers two wayes 1. By the eye of his Omniscience and with this eye he sees all things and whether we pray or no he perfectly understands us and all the circumstances we are in He 〈◊〉 our path knows our thoughts after off and is acquainted with all our wayes Psâ—l 139 2 3. 2. God may be said to look upon our wants so as to have compassion upon us and without intreating this compassion how can it be expected Heark unto David
119. 132. Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name Now though God be acquainted with our wants without our mentioning of them yet he will not look upon them so as to pitty and supply them unless we beg this pity unless we beg this supply When Israel groaned by Prayer unto God says he I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt that is I have lookt upon it with Sympathy and compassion and it follows I am come down to deliver them Act. 7. 34. Obj. 2. A second Objection is this Why should we pray since the God whom we have to do with is unchangeable can we work any alteration in him by our requests No the Scripture sayes with him is no variablenesse neither shaddow of turning Ans I answer Prayer makes not a change in God but a change in us it does not make him more mercifull and bountifull but disposes us for the receiving of his mercy and grace This notion you must all well understand that the design of prayer is not to make any alteration in God but to make an alteration in us that we may be fitted and made meet for those blessings which God has promised to give When God pardons any the change to speak properly is in the person pardoned he that before was an enemy is become a child Gods wrath is the same that 't was and his love the same that 't was only the person that before was out of Christ is now in Christ and is now loved whom before wrath did abide upon When we pray for grace and holynesse hereby we are more fitted for the receiving of it God alters not but we are altered oh much for the better when we are Sanctified This matter may be made more plain by this similitude Suppose a man ready to be drowned in the Sea a rope is cast out to him from a rock on the shore the man does not pull the rock nearer to himself or the rock stirs not but he pulls himself nearer to the rock and hereby he is saved God is our rock Prayer is our cord whereby we are drawn to him from whom alone Salvation is to be expected Obj. 3. A third Objection against prayer is this God has decreed what he will give and his decrees shall certainly stand firm and be accomplished He being infinitely wise in making them there cannot be imagined a reason why he himself should alter them and they cannot be altered by any other Ans I answer It must needs be granted that Gods decrees shall stand unmoveable but withall I add that he who has decreed to give grace and mercy has appointed prayer as a means to obtain them The means is subordinate to the end and comes under a decree as well as the end Therefore we are said to be elected or chosen to Holiness which does include the dutys of Holiness Eph. 1. 4. as well as to be ordained to eternal Life If God decrees a man shall live till he is 60 years of age he decrees that he shall use those means as food and the like which are necessary to the prolonging of his days And so God that does decree to give grace and pardon and glory decrees and appoints prayer and other duties to be performed After the Lord had promised much and declared his gracious purpose towards Israel to pardon renew heal and restore them He adds For all this will I be enquired of by the House of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. You shall find that God's decree has not made the Saints esteem prayer needless but encouraged them to fervency therein Daniel understanding by Jeremiahs Prophecy that after seventy years Judah should be brought back from the Babylonish Captivity prays the more earnestly that they might be set at liberty and that the Sanctuary might be shone upon which lay desolate Dan. 9. 2 3. And David when he understood that God purposed to build him an Hous pray'd that God would do as he had spoken Obj. 4. Another Objection is this Wicked men have small encouragement to pray since their prayers are styled an abomination Ans I Answer 1. Wicked men are blamed for not pâ—aying however Psal 14. 4. Have all the workers of Iniquity no knwoledge who eat up my People as they eat Pread and call not upon the Lord. Prayer is a duty which Wicked men have an obligation to and they sin in the omission of it 2. If Wicked men totally cast off Prayer 't is apparent whether they are going they are going further and further from God and making hast in the broad way that leads unto destruction 3. While they are praying though they pray sorriâ—y yet they are using God ' Ordnance and there is the greater likelihood that God may pitty them and give his spirit to work upon them Object 5. Another objection is this God himself says I am found of them that sought me not I am made manifest to them that asked not after me Rom. 10. 20 â—ns I Answer 1. This place is to be understood concerning the Gentiles call to whom without their seeking the Apostles were sent to publish the glad tidings of Salvation 2. Though the Lord does prevent us by his goodness and does first offer himself to us yet always when he gives himself he gives an heart to desire after himself First He makes us to open our mouths wide and then fills us Psal 81. 10. First He causes a spiritual thirst and then he gives us to drink of the water of Life freely Ho every one that thirsteth come to the Waters come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. No price is required only prayer and entreaty is to be used I come in the last place to the Application And if the Christians security lies so much in Praying Always The first Use is of Instruction concerning the extreme danger that Prayerless Souls are in 'T will be faithfulness and kindness to make such sensible of their danger therefore I shall a little stay upon it and manifest their peril in these particulars 1. Those that are strangers to prayer God is against them O dreadful what is God! and who are they who can stand before his indignation who can defend himself against that Arm that is Omnipotent The Mountains quake the Hills melt the Devils tremble before this God the whole world compared with him is but as the drop of the Bucket and the small dust upon the ballance and all the Inhabitants of the world are nothing less then nothing and vanity Esa 40. 15 17. Surely 't is fearful to have so glorious and great a God an Enemy But an Enemy he is unto all that count not his love and favour worth the praying for Those that will not intreat him to be reconciled 't is a sign they neither value his love nor fear his wrath and under wrath they are
unquestionably 2. Those that are strangers to prayer their mercies are not mercies indeed to them that threatning is fulfilled upon them Mal. 2. 2. I will send a Curse upon you and will Curse your Blessings Prayer will turn Curses into Blessings afflictions are part of the Curse inflicted because of sin but prayer alters the nature of them for the Sanctification of them being beg'd and granted they work together for the good of them that feel them Affliction yeilds the peaceable fruits of Righteousness to them that are exercised thereby says the Apostle On the other side where prayer is not blessings are a snare and the good things which are received work together for the harm and ruine of those that do enjoy them There is a spirit of slumber which has seized on them in the midst of their enjoyments and their Table their plenty their abundance becomes a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompence to them Rom. 11. 8 9. 3. Those that are strangers to prayer Satan is endeavouring their Ruine and there is none to hinder him Satan is said in Scripture to fill the hearts of the ungodly to keep possession of them and to work in the Children of disobedience The Devil is come down with great wrath and like a roaring Lyon he walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. and truly he finds abundant prey for most watch not at all pray not at all against him Those that pray not are led Captive by Satan at his pleasure and they do not care or desire to have his snare broken nor themselves recovered 4. Those that are strangers to prayer how certain is it that continuing as they are they will miss of those great things revealed in the Gospel since they count them not worth their seeking The Gospel informs us of the one thing necessary of the Pearl of price of the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and this is the Law that is established that they who would have these things must seek them They that seek them not understand not their worth nor their own need and therefore certainly and justly go without them 5. Those that are strangers to prayer are in danger of meeting with a deaf ear when crys are extorted by Calamity Oh read and tremble Prov 1. 26 27 28. I will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as â—â—hirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me The meaning is this that when crys are extorted meerly by distress and only the removal of Calamity is desired there being no true humiliation for sin nor desire to be reformed all such crys will be neglected If you will not seek the Lord while he may be found nor call upon him while he is near Isa 55. 6. when you cry in extremity he may be far off from you 6. Those that are strangers to prayer should consider that quickly the accepted time which they improve not will be past and then they shall beg but most certainly be denied We read in Scripture of Calls that no heed was given to When the foolish Virgins came after the door was shut and said Lord Lord open unto us Alas they speak too late the door was not opened but the reply is I know you not whence you are Mat. 25. 10 11 12. When the Rich man beg'd for a drop of water to cool his tongue being tormented in the flame this was not granted Luk. 16. 24 25 26. to intimate that not the least mitigation of torment in Hell is to be lookt for All at last will be ready to pray Lord open the door that lets into thy Kingdom and Glory Lord vouchsafe a little ease and respite in the midst of our excessive agonies and sorrows Oh but then God's ear will be shut eternally as well as Heaven gate and his mercy clean gone for ever What madness is it then to wast all our accepted time and not to come to the Throne of Grace before the day of grace comes to an end The second Use shall be of Caution Two things you are to be cautioned about 1. Take heed of resting in prayer it self in thâ— bare duty done Prayer is your security not in it self considered but because it leads you to the Rock that is higher then you Psal â—â— 2. Prayer puts you under the Lord's Wing and you are covered with his Feathers and his Truth becomes your Shield and Buckler They that rest in opere operato vainly imagining that speaking the words of prayer will help them they use prayer like a Charm and are unacquainted with the right manner of praying 2. Take heed of thinking that any kind of prayer will secure you and engage God for you Unbelieving prayers where Christ is not relyed on for Audience cold and careless prayers where the things pray'd for are not prized Hypocritical prayers where the heart is not indeed engaged will not reach God's ear will not fetch the blessing Sins bow will abide in strength notwithstanding these prayers nor will the strong holds of Satan be thrown down by them The third Use shall be of Exhortation unto this duty of prayer The Arguments to perswade you are these following 1. Scripture-Commands are very frequent which require this duty How often is prayer called for And not only the Lords Authority in these commands is to be regarded but also his goodness he does not require prayer that he may receive from us for he is so much above us that he needs us not nor our performances and so infinitely perfect that there can be no addition to the perfection of his being or his blessedness but therefore Lord call us to pray always Luk. 21. 36. to pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. to continue instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. in every thing by prayer and supplication to make our requests known unto God Phil. 4. 6. because he is willing to give what we need and to communicate that mercy without which we must needs be miserable 2. The efficacy of prayer should perswade to prayer He that bids you seek his face if your hearts eccho back Thy face Lord will we seek will in no wise hide his face from you nor put you away in anger Psal 27 8 9. By prayer you may prevail with God for his love and being interested in that nothing will be denyed That the efficacy of prayer may be evident I shall imitate the Apostle speaking concerning Faith Heb. 11. and reckon up the wonders that have been the effects of prayer By prayer Abraham had saved Sodom though the cry of their sins was so loud and great if there had been ten Righteous persons in it by prayer he obtained a Son from God when his Wife Sarah was past Child-bearing By prayer Jacob was
himself and Christ his Son We are to beg that His Name may be Hallowed from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same that his Kingdom may come And that all on Earth may do his Will and submit unto the Scepter of his Word 6. Another part of Prayer is Imprecation Some are such that we are to desire the Lord would fight against them The evil Angels we may pray that the Lord will rebuke them and pull down that Kingdom of darkness under which the most of men are held in Bondage In reference to men we must be more sparing in our imprecations or wishing evil to them David and the other Prophets are not examples for us to follow in this matter for they knew by a prophetick Spirit Gods intensions concerning the persons that they pray'd against The general Rule which we ought to follow is this Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you this is to resemble God Who maketh his Sun to rise on the Evil and the Good We are to beg rather the conversion than the confusion of our Enemies and supposing they are implacable and incorrigble we must desire rather that they may be hindered from doing harm by their designes and power than that harm may come to them even when we pray against Antichrist whom we find devoted in Scripture to destruction we must have no private grudg against the persons of any but our Eye must be at Christs Honour that in Popery is so much struck at and at the advancement of the Gospel and of Zion 7. A seventh part of Prayer is Thanksgiving The Lords prayer ends with a doxology or giving Honour unto God Mat. 6. 13. for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for Ever To praise is to speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Tongues of Angels All the Creatures that are visible are mute besides man He is the Worlds high Priest that should offer this Sacrifice of praise for all He is the Tongue of the Creation which should be sounding forth Gods goodness towards all How much does the Lord let forth unto us And shall we deny him the revenue of praise His Mercys are without number and his Love without motive and without measure When praise is offered he accounts himself Glorified Psal 50. ult therefore in every thing we should give Thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us 1 Thes 5. 18. Thus have I gon over the parts of Prayer and none of these parts are needless In the second place I am to give you the several kinds of Prayer prayer is twofold Vocal when the Voice and Heart are joyned together Mental when the heart only is engaged 1. I shall speak of Vocal prayer when Tongue and Heart go together in this Duty There are several reasons why the Tongue is to be made use of in Prayer 1. With our Tongues we are to honour God and when they are thus employed speaking to him or of him or for him then they are our Glory As there are sins of the Tongue so duties of the Tongue too and as the Tongue of the Swearer Blasphemer filthy and foolish Talker is harsh and hateful to God so the Tongue of him that prays sincerely is pleasant Christ tell his Spouse that her Voice was sweet and her countenance comely 2. In praying with others words are necessary Some must be the mouth of the rest unto God 3. Words especially Scripture Language help to excite and stir up our affections and they serve to keep the Heart more intent upon the Duty This Vocal Prayer is threefold first Prayer in the Closet secondly Prayer in the Family thirdly Prayer in the publike Congregation and Assembly Of all these I shall speak in order 1. Prayer in the Closet That secret Prayer is the Lords Ordinance is very evident Mat. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the Door pray unto thy Father which is in secret And as our Lord gave this Precept so he is our example in regard of secret Prayer Mar. 1. 35. And in the morning rising up a great while before Day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Jacob was left alone and wrestled with God and had the name of Israel given him for as a Prince he had power with God and prevailed Gen. 32. 24 30. Now if you would be fully informed what this wrestling was compare the forecited place with Hos 12. 3 4. By his strength he had Power with God yea he had power over the Angel i. e. the Angel of the Covenant and prevailed He wept and made Supplication to him Now for the better managing of this sort of prayer lot these rules be observed diligently 1. Affect privacy be as secret as possible though we are not to be ashamed of any duty and though our light is to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father in Heaven yet a Christian is to do much out of the sight of others As long as God's Ear is open to the most whispering prayers what need is there that any other ear should hear a word which we speak When there is a desire that men should take notice of our prayers God takes no notice of them unless of the Hypocrisie in them to abominate them therefore we have that caution from the Lord Jesus Mat. 6. 5. And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the Streets that they may be seen of men verily I say unto you they have their reward 2. Take the fittest time for secret prayer the morning especially is to be chosen though once more in a day at least it should be your ordinary practice to pour out your hearts in private before the Lord. My Voyce shalt thou hear in the Morning says David In the Morning O Lord will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psal 5. 3. If the Soul be serious in its address unto God in the beginning of the day 't is likely to have the more grace and strength to resist temptations and to walk with God all the day long 'T is better to be shorter in the Evening duties and larger in the Morning then the spirits are fresher and more abundant and the soul has not such clogs in its actings as it meets with when the body is spent and tyred But if something unavoidably fall out that you cannot pray at the time you desire and were wont be sure lay hold of some other opportunity and neglect not the duty altogether 3. Let the Word of God be lookt into and meditated on when prayer is made The Word will direct you quicken and encourage you
been made manifest you should go in secret and cry Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and make me to go in the path of thy Commandments Psal 119. 35 36. Have any gracious and holy resolutions by the motions of the spirit with the word been made you must go alone and beg Keep this O Lord for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of my heart and establish my heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. 6. Secret prayer is the way to have special tokens of Gods love and those joys that a stranger does not intermeddle with Oh the sweet meltings and thawings of the heart for sin as 't is an abuse of mercy that are experienced in secret prayer Oh the visits that then the great Physician of Souls does make How suitably and gently does he deal with the wounded spirit what assurance does he give that he will in no wise cast out but give rest unto the weary and heavy-laden Mat. 11. 28. Oh what peace is spoken to the Saints in answer to prayer what sweet intimations are given and sometimes a plerophory and full perswasion of their interest in that love which is unchangable and everlasting Surely the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25. 14. 7. Consider God will reward openly This Argument Christ uses to enforce secret prayer Mat. 6. 6. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly As all secret wickedness shall at last be detected and punished so all secret piety and godliness shall be made manifest before the whole world at the Judgment day and the reward will be exceeding great and everlasting So much be spoken concerning prayer in the Closet 2. Prayer in the Family is to be insisted on And that Family-prayer is a duty may be evidently proved by these Arguments 1. The Apostle in the Text enjoyns all prayer and Family-prayer is one kind that holy men have used Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. and prayer is so principle a part of Divine Service that in Scripture 't is sometimes put for the whole Gen. 4. ult Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord that is in a more publick manner to worship him So of Cornelius 't is said that he feared God with all his House and pray'd unto the Lord always Act. 10. 2. 2. Families of Believers are styled Churches in Scripture and in a Church there is a joyning together in prayer other exercises of Godliness The Apostle Paul wishes grace and peace to the Church in Philemons House Phil. 2. 3. and v. 22. speaks of their joynt-prayers through which he trusted he should be given to them 3. The Family stands in need of blessings which they are together to beg for and to deprecate Family evils And for encouragement Christ has promised that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Now in Families-duties two or three are gathered together in Christs Name and his prefence may without presumption be expected 4. Wrath is threatned upon prayerless Families Pour out thy Fury upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Jer. 10. 25. I grant indeed that the word Families is of such a Latitude that it extends unto Countries and Kingdoms but if there be an obligation upon Countrys and Kingdoms to joyn in calling upon God surely then Familys more strictly taken are in no wife Exempted Having proved Family-Prayer a Duty I shall lay down some directions as to the performance of it 1. Be sensible that Prayer is a business of greater concernment than any wordly business whatsoever You are indeed to be diligent in your Callings that are particular but your general Callings is of greatest weight The general Calling is that which all are called to and what are all called to They are called to serve and glorifie God and to work out their own Salvation Prayer is a part of your Homage to the King of Heaven Much Spiritual and Eternal benefit is to be obtained by it therefore do it not as a by-business neither let every small matter cause the omission of it 2. Believe that success in your Callings depends upon the Lords Blessing the blessing of the Lord maketh Rich says Solomon and he addeth no Sorrow with it Prov. 10. 22. without thee t is in vain to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the Bread of carefulness Now Prayer for this blessing is the way to fetch it I grant indeed that many thrive in the World without Prayer but then Wealth is a Curse and a Snare to them 't is a weight that hinders them from ascending into the Hill of the Lord and helps to sink them into destruction and perdition 3. Let Prayer ordinarily be twice a day as under the old Law there was a morning and evening Sacrifice and let the whole Family joyn in it if it be possible since there are none but need prayer and may receive advantage by it 4. Let the Word of God be read when Prayer is made that not only you but your housholds after you may be acquainted with the Misterys of the Gospel and with the will of God Abraham communicated what he had learned from the Lord unto his Family he used his Authority and commanded his Children and his Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. 5. Take heed of customariness and formality in family-Worship engage always with a serious Spirit and in every Duty stir up your selves to take hold on God I conclude with the motives to perswade you to Family-Prayer 1. You that are Governours have a charge of the Souls that dwell under your Roof and must answer for them Therefore you are to pray with them to pray for them Else you will incur the guilt of the Blood of Souls and that will lie heavy You provide food for your Housholds for you are unwilling it should be said you are so much worse than Infidels as to suffer any to starve that dwels with you Oh what unmercifulness is it patiently to suffer those of your Houshold to go on in the way that leads to Damnation And not to call upon the Lord in their hearing that they may be saved 2. Families are the Seminaries both of Church and State And therefore as you desire the Church may be pure and the State Righteous look well unto your Families and let Religion flourish in them Reformation indeed must begin at Persons and if every one would mend one all would be reformed But from persons it must proceed to houses And if these were but once leavened with godlyness what holy Citys and what an happy Nation would there be 3. Consider Family-Worship has wofully been neglected of late in these declining times How many large consciences loose principles and loose practises are there to be found among us
request he will not let him alone till he has a pardon and that pardon Sealed He will not let him alone till his lust which are the worst of Spiritual enemies are kill'd till more grace is granted of which he cannot have too great a measure Take notice of Davids importunity Psal 119. 145 146 147. I cryed with my whole heart hear me O Lord I will keep thy statutes I cryed unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies I prevented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy word my eyes prevent the night-watches c. He cryed and cryed and cryed again before the dawning of the morning and in the night watches Behold how urgent he was in prayer 4. This perseverance in Prayer implies an holy insatiableness after God and desiring still more though never so much be obtained Indeed there is a great obligation upon us to be thankful for the least measures of grace but we are not to be contented with the greatest but still longing for more Though David enjoyed so much of God and had such a sense of his loving kindness which was better then life and experienced that communion with the Lord which was more satisfying then marrow and fatness Yet we find him still following hard after God Psal 63. 8. My Soul followeth hard after thee thy right hand upholdeth me And indeed the more we taste and see how gracious the Lord is it cannot but increase our longing and raise our thirst to a greater vehemency The Apostle Paul though he had attained to so much Yet he says I forgot those things that are behind and reach forth unto those things that are before and presse towards the marke for the prize of the high calling of God Phil. 3. 13 14. 5. This perseverance in Prayer implies a continuing to engage in all the kinds of Prayer There should be a constant and daily course of Prayer even unto the end of life and if at any time by weakness or otherwise the course be necessarily interrupted Our hearts at least then should be working towards God as being sensible that He is our all all our hope is in him and all our help is from him 'T is an happy thing so to habituate and accustom our selves to prayer as to make it become natural to us and to esteem it as necessary as our very breath In the Second place I am to tell you what kind of perseverance is required 1. In this perseverance there should be no interruptions Daniel rather then his course of praying before his God and giving thanks should be interrupted chose to adventure the losse of dignity his Princes favour and his own life besides And that God whom he served continually did deliver him Dan. 6. Daniel resolves to open his mouth in Prayer God sends his Angel and stop the mouths of the Lyons that they did not hurt him And as carnal fear should not cause the omission of prayer so neither any prevailing corruption and deadness Still the Lord is to be sought unto and served 2. In this perseverance there should be a continuaâ— endeavour to excel and do better to pray with more and more Spirituality and liveliness 'T is a sad sight to see children as weak now as they were several years ago We conclude there is some bad humour that oppresses nature and causes that Weakness and is an impediment to their growth 'T is thus and more Sad to see Christians stand at a stay and perform duties no better now then some years ago they used to perform them If there is still the same deadness the same unbelief the same wordly-mindedness distractions which were wont to be it argues the Spirit is kept under by the flesh its prevalency We are not only to do more then others but to do more then our selves The Lord requires us and truely gives ample encouragement to be not only stedfast and unmoveable but also to abound in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. The path of the just should be like the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. All our duties are motions homeward and Heaven is our home And the nearer home the swifter should our Spiritual motions be In the Third place follow the Reasons why prayer should be with perseverance 1. Divine commands are very expresse not only to perform the duty but to continue in the duty In the text not only praying is injoyned but praying always and with all perseverance and 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without ceasing Gods word of command should cause us perpetually to stand in awe we must not dare to cease doing that which he would have us without ceasing employed in 2. The Lord perseveres in attending and enencouraging therefore we should persevere in praying His eye is continually upon his people eye and ear and heart and hand are all open and if we open our mouths wide we shall be filled Psal 81. 10. 3. The Lord is as worthy to be sought unto still as sought to at all therefore we should continue in seeking him Though our expectation from other things be never so high yet upon trial we shall discover their emptinesse and vanity but the more we know God and the greater experience we have of him the more we shall behold his fulnesse and how good 't is to draw near to him Israel went a Whoring after other lovers but found her mistake and resolves to return to her first husband for then 't was best with her Hos 2. 7. Gods service is such as no fault at all is really to be found therein and therefore to leave that Service is very unreasonable 4. We are far from attaining all that is attainable by Prayer Clearer discoveries there may be of God there may be much larger communications of Grace there may be more of peace and joy therefore it concerns us to wait on the Lord still and not to grow weary of our attending 5. This present world is full of enemies and snares Therefore we should continually have recourse to the God of all Grace that grace may be proportioned to our work and to our danger The world is evil and the evil one is very active to draw us to evil and he has a strong and numerous party within our own Souls even all the remainders of corruption surely unlesse we persevere in prayer and thereby engage him for us who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jud. 24. we shall not persevere to the end and be saved The Application follows Use 1 of reproof which belongs 1. To them that pray in a time of distresse and affliction but after that is removed and their slavish fear allayed they quickly give over Thus the children of Israel when God slew them then they sought him they returned and enquired early after God they remembred that God was their
invade To shew that state dislikes not easiness If I but lift mine eyes my suit is made Thou canst no more not hear then thou canst die Of what supreme Almighty power Is thy great arm which spans the east and west And tacks the centre to the sphere By it do all things live their measur'd hour We cannot ask the thing which is not there Blaming the shallowness of our request Of what unmeasurable love Art thou possest who when thou couldst not die Wert fain to take our flesh and curse And for our sakes in person sin reprove That by destroying that which ty'd thy purse Thou mightst make way for liberalitie Since then these three wait on thy Throne Ease Power and Love I value Prayer so That were I to leave all but one Wealth Fame Endowments Vertues all should go I and dear Prayer would together dwell And quickly gain for each Inch lost an Ell. Herb. pag. 95. Directions how to attain unto the gift of prayer and readiness of expression in that duty ALthough spiritual Gifts are granted unto Hypocrites and unsound Professors as well as to sincere Believers yet according to the Apostle we are earnestly to covet them 1 Cor. 12. ult Even these more commune gifts are imparted by the Holy Ghost himself and may be very profitable both to our selves and others Neither should it be the endeavour of Ministers only to excel in gifts but private Christians are also to labour after them and in a more private way to use them The gift of prayer I am now to speak of and this no Christian should be without Prayer is the Saints daily exercise therefore they should all be well skilled in the performance of this duty not only as to the internal but also external part of it As length of prayer is not to be affected for God has a regard not to the length but the life of it so neither are we to affect a constant variety of expression If we use always the same form we are in danger of formality and if we always endeavour after new words which we never before used as 't is a thousand to one whether we shall speak so properly so 't is to be feared that our prayers will be only the fruit of our phancy and invention and no more 'T is good to be in the middle between both extreams Many have exalted in this gift of prayer in these latter days and I know that many are troubled through the want of it Secret prayer upon this score partly is much difcouraged and prayer in the Family hindred wherefore having discoursed at large concerning the duty of prayer I thought it a piece of service unto Souls to direct them how this gift might be attained 1. Be well Catechized and instructed in the principles of the Christian Faith You must know the only true God and understand his Greatness and Holiness and Power and Mercy and Grace and Truth with his other Attributes and Perfections which are discovered in his word You must not be Strangers to your selves but be acquainted with the fall of Man into sin and misery and how you as well as others are by Nature the Children of wrath and in danger of being lost and undone for ever except you Repent and Believe the Gospel You must know the Lord Jesus Christ whom God has sent and understand the mystery of Redemption Salvation by him and it should be your endeavour still to know more and more of the Lord and of his will and the more understanding you are the more agreeable will your supplications be unto the word of God and you will be the better furnished with matter for your prayers 2. Take pains that your affections may be excited the more warm your hearts are your tongues will be the more like unto the Pen of a ready Writer Let your affections be stirred by the necessity and value of the things you ask and the infiniteness of those evils which you pray against Besides the God whom you direct your prayers to is nigh is ready to be found Nothing is too hard for him such is the Almightiness of his power his tender mercyes are a vast multitude he stands related and engaged to his people by a sure and everlasting Covenant 3. Pray for the gift of utterance for this very ability is from the Father of lights but after 't is obtained you must beware 1. Of Pride Herod after an elegant Oration giving not glory to God was struck dead by an Angel and eaten up of Worms and if you are pufft up after enlargedness of expression of prayer you know not what way the displeasure of God may break forth against you 2. Despise not those that want this utterance your tongues possibly may be better hung but their hearts may be in a far better frame than yours 3. Envy not them that excel you in the gift of Prayer Envy will grieve the spirit and dead your ownhearts be a torment to you If one member in the natural body do something that is excellent and be honoured all the members sayes the Apostle rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. And as it is in the Natural body so it should be in the Mystical body of Christ Since we are members of the same body we should rejoyce when any of our fellow-members do worthily and count our selves honoured in their honour and especially be glad to see Christ lifted up though upon others shoulders 4. Let not any Carnal design be carryed on If you aime at your own ends in your most enlarged prayers and are secretly covetous and selfish and impure as this shews you are abominably Hypocritical so 't is the way to have either your gifts blasted or to have a curse upon them so that you shall only disturb the Church of Christ and do harm not good by them 4. Frequency in prayer will bring you to a readiness therein As by writing you learn to write so by praying you will learn to pray Gifts are increased and augmented by the exercise of them as grace it self also by being acted grows more strong 5. Be well acquainted with Scripture expressions that language is best to be used in Gods ears which is the language of his own Spirit 6. Let there be an order and method in prayer for confusedness as it will be irksome to others with whom you joyn so 't wil have a great tendency to dead and discourage your own hearts Here I shall speak to all the parts of prayer and furnish you with expressions in reference to every one of them Seven parts I have mentioned Compellation of God Acknowledgment of Sin Deprecation of punishment Petition for Grace and Mercy Intercession for others Imprecation against others Thanksgiving and Praise 1. Begin prayer with Compellation or naming of God let his Attributes also be mentioned O Lord thou art God alone and there is none besides Thee The God of the spirits of all flesh there is