5.13 14 15 c. Is any afflicted let him pray Again is any sick let him take the like course prayer will save them Hence the Apostle exhorteth 1 Tim. 2.1 That first of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obsecrationes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orationes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Postulationes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gratiarum Actiones 1. Supplications against evils 2. Prayers for good 3. Intercessions for others 4. And Thanks be for all 1 Kings good or bad Jer. 29.7 All these must be made and performed and that for all men i. e. All kinds of men Jewes Gentiles Bond Free Believers Infidels Friends or Foes Great men or mean ones publick and private Or all sorts and manners of men howsoever qualified or conditioned Especially for Kings 1. Because the most eminent and highest in Authority upon the well or ill management of whose Government much of the safety or danger of the Church Nation doth depend 2. If they be not so good men as we could wish them yet we must pray for them as Israel in captivity was to do for Babylon though not out of any special affection to such a State Yet in regard of our own interest and share in the common Rest and quietness of a Nation In which as in a Vessel wherein we are all Embarqued Jer. 29.7 Thus are Supplications and Prayers c. to be made for all Men. II. Of this you have a Cloud of instances a multitude of Examples that have led us the way in this practise of Prayer viz. Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and others mentioned in Scripture have been abundant in prayers both for themselves and others a few Examples may suffice instead of many David prayed seven times a day Psa 119.164 and praised God Daniel thrice Dan. 6.10 as also David did Psalm 55.17 Neverthelesse the great danger he was in by a Decree Anna served the Lord with fastings and prayer night and day Luke 2.37 continually as occasion was offered And our Saviour himself withdrew himself from other company and spent whole Nights in prayer to God besides his ordinary and daily Devotions Luke 6.12 to teach us vigilancy and perseverance in prayer Oh what should we do in this kind for our own Salvation seeing Christ hath spent whole Nights in prayer for us Ambrose in Luke l 5. c. 6. And how should we bewail our backwardnesse and sluggishness hereunto and herein And to this viz. To our frequent and fervent prayers we have as many promises performances in manner as we have Precepts and Presidents Commands and Examples Take a few Psalm 91.14 15. Because he hath set his Love upon me therefore I will deliver him and set him high he shall call upon me and I will answer him be with deliver and honour him Mark how love to God and prayer to him are conjoin'd and God enables us to pray and then answereth us Esay 65.24 Before they call I will answer and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear i.e. and I will be more forward to grant then they to crave more ready to answer then they to ask And did not God do thus by David Psalm 32.5 I said I will confesse c. and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin David was in the Future God in the preter tense Daniel 10.2 Daniel was mourning three full weeks an Hand touched him c. and told him that from the first day c. his words prayers were heard This was a good Hand of an Angel or Seraphim at the least Esay 6.6 7. and how good is that God who putteth forth such an Hand for the strength encouragement and comfort of his servants And that prodigal Son Luke 15.18 He is resolving to go to his father to submit and ask mercy the father saw yet a great way off had compassion ran and fell on his neck kissed him the Father made more hast to meet him with mercy then the Son did to seek it And are not these great encouragements to this Duty and is it not thus ever Before the time cited to you Daniel was praying c. and whiles he was so employed the Angel Gabriel flies to him with an Answer Dan. 9.20 to 14 So Acts 10.44 while Peter spake the holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word yea when he began to speak Acts 11.15 Christ hath confirmed these Promises of God with Amen Amen John 16.23 Verily verily c. Whatsoever ye ask in my Name c. So that you may make the case general which you have Psalm 34.4 5 6. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears c. This poor man cryed the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Thus every prayer-full man To these Precepts Presidents and Promises c. you may add Reasons and Arguments in respect of I. God himself because he is the God able to save and he alone 2 Kings 19.15 to 20. Thus Hezekiah prayed and mark the answer and the successe he had v. 2 of to 37. So David Psalm 63. throughout O God thou art my God c. Because he is good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon him Ps 86.3 4 5. to 11. This is the Nature of God Thou art good and dost good saith David Psa 119 68. Ergo we pray as he Arise for our help and redeem us for thy mercies sake Psalm 44.29 He is a God in covenant with us by a covenant of Grace Ps 89.3 I have made a covenant with my chosen c. Therefore we have recourse to him saying with the Church Esay 64.9 Behold we beseech thee we are all thy people II. Our selves and our own Estates How do our manifold wants in both 1. Spiritual and 2. Temporal Things which are continual call upon us for this Duty 1. In respect of temporal things how many miseries and sorrowes doth poor man meet with that all may say as David did Innumerable evils have compassed me about c. and I am poor and needy Ps 40.11 and have need therefore to pray as he there v. 11.13 17. With-hold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord c. 2. But if we have the affluence Abundance of all earthly blessings how soon may the Arm of strength be dryed up as Jeroboams was 1 Kings 13.4 and all things else turned and changed in us Our wisdom into phrensie or folly or bruitish madnesse Ahitophel 2 Sam. 17.23 Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4.31 33. and our best perfections turned into defects sight into blindnesse hearing into deafnesse memory into forgetfulnesse c. health into sicknesse wealth into want plenty into scarcity when God doth break the staffe of Bread Ezek. 4.16 By either 1. Preventing us of Bread Or 2. Changing the vertue of it and other food so that we shall eat and not be satisfied Hos 4.10 peace into trouble and life into death and if all these be
stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreading abroad her wings takes bears about her young upon them so the Lord alone did lead them c. He advanceth them to the high places of the earth fed them with the encrease of the Field with honey and oyl butter and milk with the fat of Lambs and Rams and Goats with the chiefest wheat and they drank of the purest wine And thus would he do by us all did not our sins turn away and withhold good things from us Jer. 5.25 Reasons of this point are in Respect of God our selves others the meanes used 1. God All souls are his Ezek 18.4 and most precious in his sight and in themselves he calls for the heart Prov. 23.26 and what profit is it to win the world and lose his soul Mat. 16 26. His glory is most advanced by winning souls which is a main motive to excite us to use our best art and skil to effect it The question will not be how much credit or profit but how many souls we have gained to God by the Gospel Thus in respect of God 2. Our selves Because it is for our Credit profit Credit see Prov. 11.30 The fruit of righteousnesse is a Tree of life and he that winneth Souls is wise That wins them to God from evil to good whether by councel or example or both the verse is an Allegory made up of familiar Metaphors of a Tree yea of life to which he is resembled a comparison drawn from Hunters Fishers and Fowlers 1. It is for the credit of trees to be like that tree Psalm 1.3 and those Eze. 47.12 Or that tree Dan. 4.10 11 12. which did so flourish were a shadow shelter and yielded so much fruit to many to sustain them and such an One is he that righteous man that winneth Souls such a Man is stiled a Tree of life in allusion to that Tree Gen. 2.9 and 3.22 because God hath planted them blessed them and enabled them to do much good to others 1. As to the similitude or comparison to Hunters Fishers c. Our Saviour when he called his Apostles stiles and makes them fishers of men Mat. 4.19 He taught them the Ministers dutie by their own trade as Psalm 78.71 72. like those fishers upon the holy waters Ezek. 47.10 the world is the Sea Unbelievers fishes Ministers the Fishermen the Gospel the Net Nor are any kind of fish sinners excepted from this fishing Gal. 3.28 See the Annotations on both places cited It is for the credit of the Fisher that he catch much c. Ap. If by Light and Life we gaine men to God Luke 5.5 6 7. John 21.3 like Salt do season the Souls of many This is the highest credit and comfort of a Pastor it is not applause credit or profit which they aim at but to gaine upon good ground this praise Quod artem norint animas ad Deum convertendi T. Cartwright James 5.19 20. For if any do err from the Truth and one convert him Esay 5.19 20. 2. Profit For this makes for the great good of the Teacher Dan. 12.3 They that be thus wise or such Teachers shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousnesse as the Stars for ever and ever they shall enjoy an incomprehensible and exceeding and eternal weight of glory a rich Recompence for all their labours 2 Cor. 4.7 3. Others This is the greatest good we can do for them viz. to win them to God for this delivers the captives of Sathan into the liberty of the sons of God that 's woful this a joyful and blessed Liberty 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Restores and revives men from Diseases Death the Graves of corruption unto light and life and perfect health raiseth from the dust and dunghil c. to the new Jerusalem from the lowest station to the highest condition Psalm 113.7 8. Ap. Should men do so by us we should valew the courtesie O be perswaded that he does you the best turn that aimes endeavours most for the good of your Soules 4. The meanes used the more it savors of kindnesser the more like it is to prevail Man should be so ingenious as to be won with Love rather then forced with Rigor Facilius ducimur quam trahemur we are more easily led then drawn and enforced when the hearer cannot but fee Love in the lookes of the Teacher affection in his Face compassion in his countenance and the zeal of his heart in his hearty expressions c. how can it but enter and pierce the heart and rend like Nailes fastened in a sure place and make him be perswaded that all is spoken for his good Sure where the patient is well perswaded of the love an skill of his Physitian the Potion is like to have the better working the physick to be the more prevalent Ap. So it is here all Councel will do the better and have the kinder working if you be but perswaded of the love and good will of the Teacher which indeed is inexpressible and unutterable ☞ For faithfull Pastors I am sure may proportionably make use of that saying of the Apostle Phil. 1.8 God is my Record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. A most affectinate expression conjoin'd with a serious attestation of Record of Almighty God who searcheth the heart and the most exquisite and Excellent Regulation of true Christian affection viz. that it was in the Bowels of Jesus Christ Not a carnal but a spiritual affection it was for Christs sake and because they were in him that he loved them so well and it was according to Christs to his mind and his example in whom are the most tender Bowels of affection and who therein as in all other Excellencies is the most absolute pattern of the utmost perfection see Mat. 9.36 You have heard the Point and the proof of it I do now descend to use Use is of Reproof and that to both sorts viz. To the Agents and Preachers when they are either too dull or diverted to a wrong course To the Patients or Hearers when they are either too hard or disaffected with what is cordially intended for their good 1. The Agents edge is too dull when Minister or others neglect this duty and have no respect to this winning way What opportunities have many upon the souls of their Friends c. and Neighbours which yet neglected and how many Ministers as well as others are as carelesse as Cain or Gallio the Deputy and as ready to ask the question with Cain Am I my brothers keeper Gen. 4.9 Acts 18.17 Ap. The Countrey rues this and many souls lost by this neglect But if you have a Form of publick worship and service of God if that be performed is it not enough and have not Ministers and people done their dutie sufficiently c. Answ I answer and I pray mistake me not for I am
and Separatist are nearest the Truth and most reducible to the Right For both which my hearty prayers to God are that he will add and abate to and from either of them whatsoever is wanting or superfluous that they may Brotherly conjoyn with the rest of the Church of God and may help to make up that holy happy harmony as may be for the honour of God the true peace and unity of the Church the everlasting salvation and abundant consolation of their owne and many other mens souls who will rejoyce to behold this good and pleasant prospect or thing that Brethren do well together in Unity Psal 133.1 Endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace and that upon the Apostles grounds Ephes 4.3 to 7. Obj. But if any should now object and say You have discovered so many Fanaticks i.e. men that walk after their own Fancies and vain imaginations c. As that where will you find the truly Catholick Christian the sound well-grounded and Orthodox Protestants as we call them by a latter but not so proper a Title Answ I answer that neverthelesse all that hath been spoken yet as in the great and terrible time of persecution in Ahab and Jezabels time God had a Reserve of seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal nor kissed him with their mouthes 1 Kin. 19.18 So I doubt not but God hath a Reserve of seventy times seven thousand in the Christian Reformed Churches that have not thus wildly wandred after their own inventions I. I could give you in a golden Roll of those Renowned Kings Recorded in the holy History to eternal Memory and of many other Christian Emperours Kings and Princes out of other Histories and experimentally till this very day in other Countreys and in our own Nation to his Majesty that now is whom God long preserve that have been and are Men and Women famous in their generations that are Foundations and Pillars to the Church of God the Nursing-fathers and Mothers the Amplyfiers and Establishers of Mount Zion Gods holy Hill Esay 49.23 c. that are and shall be glorious to all after-Ages and succeeding Generations till the end of the World when time shall be no more II. I could give you in a Catalogue of other Worthies of a second Rank Princes and Noblemen Statesmen and Courtiers that have been great Friends to the Prophets and Favourers of the people of God in the worst of times when the true Worshippers of God durst not appear because of persecution as well as in better Times when the Storme was over 1. Such were Obadiah in Ahabs Court who bid one hundred of the good Prophets by fifty in a Cave from Jezabels fury when she cut them off and there he fed them and supplyed them with Necessaries How few would do so in such a dangerous time 1 Kings 18.4 2. And what a man was Mordecai in Ahasuerus Court who studiously sought the welfare peace and prosperity of all the Jewes the people of God He improved his honour to this end a Renowned Pattern for all Noblemen Esther 10.3 3. Jeremiah the Prophet a man so tost in his time with troubles and perpetually persecuted yet he found some friends at Court viz. Ahikam the Son of Shaphan that had been one of good King Josiahs Princes and Counsellors and others of the Princes perhaps by his means Jer. 26.16.24 and also Ebedmelech the Aethiopian Jer. 38.7 to 14. who saved his life more then once in the Reigns of Jehojakim and unhappy Zedekiah 4. Not to trouble you with many instances the Church found some friends in cruel Herod's and cursed Nero's Courts and in the time of those ten terrible persecutions in the primitive times though but a few for fear c. 5. Luther and his Associates and Followers found many friends amongst the Princes of Germany the first Protestants 6. And the like upon search may be found in England in our Marian days Ap. All which Friends of the Prophets Pastors and people of God in such dangerous times you may be sure were neither Atheists Sensualists Timists or Fanaticks but the Noble Worthies of those Times who did improve their Dignity Authority and opportunities to preserve countenance and encourage the servants of God and not to discouroge and dash them quite as many in these times do III. I could give you in a long Albe or Record of many eminent Bishops Pastors and Doctors of the Church that have been resolute Champions of the Truth undaunted Adversaries of Antichrist the papacy and Errours thereof great encouragers of faithfull Preachers Zealous promoters of the power of godlinesse and prudent preservers of the peace of the Church by a due observance of such well-composed Forms of divine Service and other Rites established as are conducible thereto Some of which have washed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb and shall be cloathed in white with palms in their hands and all these shall walk with Christ in white for they are worthy Revel 3.4 5 c. And I could present you with a black Roll of Bishops that were ready for the black Rod of divine indignation c. being acted by Abaddon the Prince of Darkness the enemy of Mankind to the ruine and destruction of the Church and peoof God as much as in them did lye I know personal Faults are ill transferr'd to the Offices yet good Offices suffer for such ill managers of them I am well acquainted with the Name Office and practice of Bishops both Historically and Experimentally and I may know a Bishops Office as well as he knowes mine and if they be right as they ought to be they are Eminent lights and pillars of the Church but if otherwise they are most pernicious subverters and destroyers of it as too many have been Thus the Church in general this Church and Nation in particular have had Kings and Princes Noblemen and Statesmen Bishops and Doctors that have been luminaria mundi Lights of the World Stars of the greatest Magnitude Men most excellent and famous in their several Ages and Generations that were no Fanaticks IV. But no man can name or number the multitude of those faithfull and powerfull Pastors and Preachers of whom there is most use and by whom the Church receives the greatest benefit for most businesse is done by the light of lesser candles whilst Torches greater Lights are only for Festivals and Funenerals and Times of more Solemnity then others Neither can any man know how many true Converts like them Acts 2. and well grounded Christians like those of Antioch who were first so called Acts 11.26 There are in the Christian World who have rightly learned to fear God filially so as no to displease him sed contrà to honour the King and obey him in all things 1 Pet. 2.13 17. To reverence their faithfull Pastors and Teachers and to esteem them worthy of double honour 2 Tim. 5.17 To have
Respect to their Relations in several cases and to perform their duties accordingly both actively and passively To love their Nighbour as themselves yea as Christ hath loved them Mat. 19.19 c. 1 John 13.34 To be comformable in all things of Devotion Decency and Order that make for the peace and unity of the Church in which they live and of which they are Members To do justly and uprightly in all their dealings with Men in the Affaires of this World Micah 6.8 To walk circumspectly Regularly and sincerely in all things concerning their own Hearts and Lives In a word These are such Christians as have learned to walk so conscientiously as to have God before them whose Glory they aim at his Word by and within them which is the Rule of their practice and to have their End in their Eye which is that they do daily prepare for that they may have comfort in their Change and hope in their Death and a good Evidence of happinesse to all Eternity ☞ This is the progress of them that please God of whom you may say Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the End of that man is peace Psalm 37.37 A holy Life brings a happy Death and a gracious Conversation a glorious Condition Even so make us and come Lord Jesus Now all these being put together You see that we have found out a mighty multitude that are no Fanaticks and all these together viz. Emperours Kings and Princes Nobles and Statesmen the Peers of Nations Bishops and Doctors Presbyters Pastors and Teachers that have been pillars in Gods House painful Labourers in his Vineyard and faithfull Dispensers of his Oracles and Mysteries Together with all other true Believers and godly Christians who indeed are the only well-grounded Protestants and none else and all free enough from any of the Fancies and Furies above-named I say All these do jointly conduce to make up the sum of that innumerable multitude that stand before the Throne of God and minister unto him and are said to be one thousand thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand ten thousand of ten thousands Yea a great multitude which no man could number all which do fall down upon their Faces worshipping God and giving glory to him for ever and ever Dan. 7.10 Revel 5.11 c. I have done with the main Discovery of whose wayes do please God whose do displease Him I shall close this point of Doctrine viz. Doct. A Christians life is to be ordered so that he may please God with a few considerations to be had in everlasting Remembrance both to uphold you in the good wayes that do please Him and to prevent the contrary and that by this means viz. Do you seriously represent to your selves as if present before your eyes and as visible as other Objects are These things 1. The Lord in his Majesty purity and glory as he is represented Ezo 34. Esay 6. Job 42.5 6. Revel 1.13 and as present with you in all your Actions good or bad 2. The Wonders that God hath wrought on the behalf of them that please him as for Enoch Elijah Noah Abraham David and Daniel the three Children Prophets and Apostles c. And against those that persisted in displeasing him as against the old World Sodom and Gomorrah Aegypt and Babylon c. 3. Satan in his own shape when tempting you to any sin or to any practice dipleasing to God 4. This Devil in his proper practice of accusing for sin Revel 20.10 sparing neither good nor bad but urging to the utmost to procure desperation and damnation He that once spake placentia will now speak Terribilia 5. Death with all the dreadfull thoughts and terrours which do at-attend it and the issues or events thereof 6. Judgement with that great and last account which must be made at that day before the Judge of all the world 7. Hell as open before your Eys and the damned souls there in misery and torment crying out with Dives Luke 16.24 8. Heaven and that open also as to St. Stephen Acts 7.55 That you might behold Jesus standing on the right hand of God together with the dignity and felicity of glorious souls the Company and Society of Saints and Angels With the whole Assembly of God the heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12 22. All giving honour to him that sits upon the Throne for ever and ever As Rev. 5.8 9 10 11.12 13 14. For the benefit of their Redemption and eternal salvation purchased by Chrict ☞ Now these things thus represented and apprehended as visible and seen by us then apply them to what hath been taught and think seriously wiâ—h your selves 1. How the holy and glorious God doth love Purity and Uprightness both in the heart and life with which he is well pleased and how he hateth iniquity and every evil way 2. How marvellously he will preserve and save the lives and souls of his servants When the wicked shall be turned into hell c. with all their glory and pomp Psalm 9.17 Isa 5.14 c. 3. Such as so walk as to please God How well are they armed against the assaults of Satan in what shape soever as our Saviour was Mat. 4.1 to 12. Whereas others are unarmed like those Exorcists Acts 19.13 to 17. Who were overcome prevailed against and wounded by the devil 4. Such as please God in their ways how well are they armed against his bitter and virulent Accusations as well as Assaults Take Job for instance How spightfully though falsly did the Devil accuse him Job 1.9 10 11 12. c. as if Job had been a meer Mercenary that served God for prosperity only or for his health and ease but if stript of these That then Job would curse God to his face But how galliantly did Johs stedfastness and unchangableness in his course coufute the Devil to his face and make him appear a Lyar as he is John 8.44 2. And when his Wife would have perswaded or derided him rather to a change how well was he armed against her Temptation and how excellently doth he answer her Job 2.9.10 3. And when his friends did bitterly though ignorantly accuse him how excellently doth he ward them off and defend himself only with the lustre of his innocency and uprightness 4. Yea when God himself seemed to be his enemy and to write bitter things against him Job 13.26 And that the arrows and terrours of God were set in aray against him and that the poyson of them did drink up his spirit Job 6.4 For Job you may be sure did see the hand of God in all that did befal him through the Malice of the Devil the Weakness of his Wife and the ignorance of his friends Yet what then was his defence and resolution See Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him c. For my uprightness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as