Scripture-expression To which purpose there are divers instances for each of the foregoing heads that may be observed and collected from severall books in Scripture All prohibitions and threats will administer both matter and phrase unto Confession and Deprecation All precepts and promises unto comprecation and thanksgiving Besides that it is easie to reduce the usuall expressions of other kindes to be proper and helpfull unto this purpose There are two extreams to be avoided in our Expression Namely Negligence Affectation 1. Negligence when men vent their thoughts in a rude improper unseemly phrase as if they had no awe upon their spirits and did not care how they spake 2. Affectation either of too much neatnesse and elegance or else of a mystical kind of phrase not to be found either in Scripture or any sober writer though much in fashion amongst some men in these times which it may be sounds well to vulgar ears but being reduced into plain English will appear to be wholly empty and to signifie nothing or else to be full of vain repetitions Each of these extreames will be apt to nauseat an intelligent hearer and is very unsuitable to the solemnity of this duty There are some Rhetorical ornaments and varieties in the manner of expression which may be very proper and powerful both for the expressing and exciting our affections such are these four 1. Exclamations which serve to set forth an affectionate wonder Psal. 31.19 O! how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall c. 2. Expostulations which are fit to expresse any deep dejection of minde So Psal. 77.8 Will the Lord cast us off for ever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone c. Psal. 80.4 O Lord God of Hosts how long wilt thou be angry against thy people that prayeth c. Psal. 44.24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and our oppression 3. Option Fit to set forth serious and earnest desires Job 6.8 O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for that it would please him c. Psal. 119.5 O that my wayes were so directed that I might keep thy statutes 4. Ingemination which argues eager and inflamed affections Psal. 94.1 2. O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy selfe lift up thy self thou Judge of the earth c. Dan. 9.19 O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do deferre not for thine own sake O my God He that will seriously endeavour and accustome himself to deliver his thoughts in a proper full significant expression and to be well acquainted with those many examples which the Scripture does afford to this purpose such an one may by practice and experience arrive to a good ability and readinesse in this kinde CHAP. VI. Concerning the most proper materials for the Preface HAving in the former Chapter laid down some directions in reference to the Order and disposition of parts to be observed in this duty I come in the next place to treat concerning the amplification of these severall parts and to shew how the Scripture will afford various matter for the enlargement of each of them So that any one who will be but carefull to collect any other apposite matter or observation that he shall meet with and amongst these to refer it under its proper head such a one may quickly be furnished with a very copious Treasury to this purpose The first thing to be thought of in composing a form of prayer is the Preface The most necessary and chief materials for a Preface were formerly specified to be four I. The titles of Invocation or the stile of salutation wherein we bespeak the person whom we pray unto who should be expressed by such divine compellations as may excite in our hearts either some or all of those affections that are more especially required in this duty These Compellations may consist either of 1. Gods Names or Titles 2. His Attributes or Properties 3. His Promises or Threats 4. His Works or wayes By all of which he hath been pleased after a more special manner to declare and make himself known In the choice of these we should select such as may be most suitable unto that frame and temper of minde required in that kinde or part of Prayer which we have occasion to insist more largely upon As the matter of fire is so it burneth saith the son of Syrach so from the divers meditations of God will arise divers affections towards him 1. The consideration of his infinite Power Wisdome Holinesse Justice Omnipresence Majesty c. is apt to produce in us reverence shame fear sorrow and the other affections of this nature which are most suitable to the businesse of Confession 2. The thought of his Mercy Truth Patience is fit to excite Faith and Hope and consequently is proper for the duty of Petition 3. The meditation of his bounty and goodness will provoke Love and Gratitude and is therefore fit to prepare us for Thanksgiving According as our thoughts are severally fixed upon any of these so may our affections be disposed and qualified in our prayers unto him To this purpose 't is convenient that we take special notice of those divine Titles and Attributes in Scripture which may be most suitable to such various occasions 1. Of the first kinde are such as these Ps. 24.7.10 The King of glory Isa. 1.24 The Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Rev. 19.16 The King of kings and Lord of lords Exo. 15.11 Who is glorious in holinesse fearful in praises doing wonders Num. 16.22 The God of the spirits of all flesh Deut. 4.24 Who is a consuming fire even a jealous God Deut. 10.17 The God of gods and Lord of lords a great God mighty and terrible which regardeth not persons neither taketh rewards Deut. 32.4 Whose works are perfect and his ways judgement A God of truth and without iniquity just and right 1 Sam. 4.4 1 King 8.27 The Lord of Hosts who dwelleth between the Cherubims whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot containe 1 King 19 15. O Lord God of Israel which dwelleth between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdomes of the Earth thou hast made Heaven and Earth 2 Chron. 20.6 Who ruleth over all the Kingdomes of the Earth in whose hand there is power and might so that none is able to withstand him Before whom no unclean thing should enter 2 Chron. 23.19 1 Chron. 28.9 Who searchest all hearts and understandest all the imaginations of the thoughts 1 Chron. 29.11 The Lord God of Israel to whom belongeth greatnesse and power and glory and victory and Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in
the Earth is thine thine is the Kingdome O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all Vers. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all 1 Chron. 16.27 Glory and honour are in his presence strength and gladnesse are in his place Neh. 9.5 Whose glorious name is exalted above all blessing and praise Vers. 6. Thou even thou art Lord alone thou hast made Heaven the Heaven of heavens with all their Host the earth and all things that are therein the seas and all that is therein and thou preservest them all and the Host of Heaven worshippeth thee Vers. 32. The great and mighty and terrible God who keepeth Covenant and mercy Job 4.18 Who chargeth his Angels with folly Job 5.9 Who doth great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number Vers. 10. Who giveth raine upon the Earth and sendeth waters upon the Fields 11 To set up on high those that be low that those which mourne may be exalted to safety 12 Who disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot performe their interprize 13 Who taketh the wise in their own craftinesse and the counsell of the froward is carried headlong 14 So that they meet with darknesse in the day-time and grope in the noon-day as in the night 15 But he saveth the poor from the sword and from their mouth and from the hand of the mighty Job 9.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him hath prospered Vers. 5. Which removeth the mountaines and they know not which overturneth them in his anger 6 Which shaketh the Earth out of her place and the pillars thereof tremble 7 Which commandeth the Sun and it riseth not and sealeth up the starres Vers. 8. Which alone spreadeth out the Heavens and treads upon the waves of the Sea c. Job 15.15 Who putteth no trust in his Saints yea the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 26.6 Before whom Hell is naked and destruction hath no covering Vers. 7. Who stretcheth out the North over the empty place and hangeth the Earth upon nothing 8. Who bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them 9. Who boldeth back the face of his throne and spreadeth his cloud upon it 10. Who hath compassed the waters with bounds untill day and night come to an end 11. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproofe 12. Who divideth the Sea by his power and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud 13. Who by his Spirit hath garnished the Heavens and his hand hath formed the crooked Serpent Who is perfect in Knowledge Job 37.16 Vers. 22.23 With whom is terrible Majesty We cannot find him out he is excellent in Power and in Judgement and in plenty of Justice He respecteth not any that are wise of hâ—art Psal. 8.1 Whose Name is excellent in all the Earth who hath set his glory above the Heavens Psal. 33.6 By whose word the Heavens were made and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth Vers. 7. Who gathereth the waters of the Sea together as an heap and layeth up the deeps in store-houses 8. That all the Earth might fear him and all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him 10. Who bringeth the counsel of the People to nought and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect 11. Whos 's own counsel standeth for ever and the thoughts of his heart to all generations 13. Who looks down from Heaven and beholds all the sons of men 14. From the place of his habitation he looks upon all the inhabitants of the Earth 15. Fashioning their hearts alike and considering all their works Psal. 47 2. Who is the Lord most high and terrible a great King over all the Earth Psal. 57.5 Who is exalted above the Heavens and his glory above all the Earth Psal. 65.6 Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains being girded with power Vers. 7. Who stilleth the noise of the seas the noise of their waves anâ— the tumult of the people Psal. 66.5 Who is terrible in his doings towards the children of men Vers. 7. Who ruleth by his power for ever and his eyes behold the Nations Ps. 68.33 Who rideth upon the Heaven of heavens which were of old Psal. 72.2 Who shall judge the people with righteousnesse and the poor with judgement Vers. 11. All Kings shall bow down before him and all Nations shall do him service 17. Whose name shall endure for ever and be continued as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him and all Nations shall call him blessed 18 Who onely doth wondrous things Ps. 83.18 Whose name alone is Jehovah who is the most high over all the Earth Psal. 89.6 Who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord Vers. 7. Who is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all those that are about him 8 O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong God like unto thee or to thy faithfulnesse round about thee 9 Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them 10 Thou scatterest thine enemies with thy strong arme 11 The Heavens are thine the Earth also is thine as for the world and the fulnesse thereof thou hast founded them 13 Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thine hand and high is thy right hand 14 Justice and Judgement are the habitation of thy throne mercy and truth shall go before thy face Psal. 95.3 Who is a great God and a great King above all gods Vers. 4. In whose hands are the deep places of the Earth the strength of the Hills is his also 5 The Sea is his and he made it his hands formed the dry land Psal. 96.6 Before whom are Honour and Majesty and in whose sanctuary are strength and beauty Psal. 99.2 Vers. 3. Who is great in Zion and high above all people Whose Name is great and terrible for it is holy 4 Who loveth judgement and doth establish equity executing judgement and righteousnesse in Jacob. Psal. 103.19 Who hath prepared his throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all Ps. 104.1 O Lord my God thou art very great thou art clothed with Honour and Majesty Verse 2. Who coverest thy self with light as with a garment Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain 3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters and maketh the clouds his charet and walketh upon the wings of the winde 4. Who maketh his Angels spirits his Ministers a flaming fire 5. Who laid the foundations of the Earth that it sheuld not be removed for ever 9. Who hath set a bound to the
waters of the Sea that they may not passe over that they turn not again to cover the earth 10 Who sendeth the springs into the valleys which run among the hills 11 To give drink unto every beast of the field the wilde asses quench their thirst 13. Who watereth the hills from his chambers the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works 14. Who causeth grasse to grow for the cattel and herbe for the service of man that he may bring forth food out of the earth 19. By whose appointment the Moon hath her seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down 24. O Lord how madifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Ps. 111.9 Ps. 113.4 Holy and reverent is his Name Who is high above all Nations and his glory is above the Heavens Verse 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven Ps. 139.2 Who knows our down-sitting and our up-rising and understandeth our thoughts afar off Verse 3. Who compasseth our path and our lying down and is acquainted with all our wayes Psal. 145.13 Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his dominion endureth throughout all generations Verse 17. Who is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works Ps. 146.6 Who made Heaven and Earth the sea and all that therein is who keepeth truâ—h for ever Act. 4.24 Verse 7. Who executeth judgement for the oppressed and giveth food for the hungry Prov. 21.30 31. Against whom there is no wisdome nor understanding nor counsel from whom alone safety must come Eccles. 12.14 Who will bring every work unto judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Isa. 2.17 Before whom the loftinesse of man shall be bowed down the haughtines of men shall be made low Verse 19. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth Isa. 6.2 Before whom the Seraphims do cover their faces Isa. 28.29 Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working Isa. 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out the heavens with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountaines in scales and the hills in a ballance Isa. 40.15 Before whom the nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the ballance who taketh up the Isles as a very little thing Verse 17. All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanity 22. Who sitteth upon the Circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as Grashoppers that stretcheth out the heavens as a Curtaine and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in 23. Who bringeth Princes to nothing and maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity Isa 41.14 15. Who can make the worme Jacob to thresh the mountaines and beat them small and make the hills as chaffe Isa. 42.5 Who created the Heavens and stretched them out who spreadeth forth the earth and that which cometh of it who giveth breath to the people upon it and spirit to them that walk therein Isa. 44 24. Who formed us from the wombe who maketh all things who stretcheth forth the Heavens alone and spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe Verse 25. That frustrateth the tokens of liars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise men backwards and maketh their knowledge foolish 26. That confirmeth the word of his servants and performeth the counsel of his messengers Isa. 46.10 Who can declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done whose counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa. 48 12· Who is the first and the last whose hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and his right hand hath spanned the Heavens Isa. 50.2 At whose rebuke the sea is dried up and the rivers become a wildernesse their fish stinketh because there is no water and die for thirst Vers. 3. Who cloatheth the heavens with blacknesse and maketh sackcloth their covering Isa. 57 15· Who is the high and lofty one inhabiting eternity whose name is holy who dwelleth in the high and holy place Isai. 66.1 Who hath the heaven for his throne and the earth for his foot stool Jer. 10.10 The onely true and living God the everlasting King at whose wrath the earth doth tremble and the nations are not able to abide his indignation Vers. 12. Who made the earth by his power and hath established the world by his wisdome and stretched out the heavens by his discretion Jer. 11. â—0 The Lord of Hosts that judgeth righteously that tryeth the reins and the heart Jer. 17.10 Who giveth to every man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 23.24 From whom no man can hide himself that he shall not see him who fils heaven and earth Jer. 31.35 Who giveth the Sun for a light by day and the ordinances of the Moon and of the Stars for a light by night who divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar the Lord of Hosts is his name Jer. 31.17 Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arme and there is nothing too hard for thee Vers. 18. Thou shewest loving kindnesse unto thousands and recompensest the iniquities of the fathers into the bosome of their children after them The great The mighty God the Lord of hosts is his name 19. Great in counsel and mighty in work for thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sons of men to give to every one according to his works and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 51.15 Who made the earth by his power and established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out the heavens by his understanding Dan. 5.23 In whose hands our breath is and whose are all our wayes Dan. 7.10 Whom there are thousand thousands that minister unto and ten thousand times ten thousands stand before him Am. 4.13 The Lord God of Hosts who formed the mountains and created the winde and declareth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darknesse treadeth upon the high places of the earth Am. 9.5 When he toucheth the land it shall melt and all that dwell therein shall mourne Vers. 6. Who buildeth his storehouse in the heavens and hath sounded his troop in the earth that calleth for the waters of the sea and poureth them out upon the face of the earth Hab. 1.13 Who is of purer eyes then to behold evil and cannot look upon iniquity Rom. 4.17 Who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that be not as though they were Rom. 11.33 Whose judgements are unsearchable and his wayes past finding out Who is over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 1 Cor
any man at all times fit for them I mention these onely as right-hand infirmities upon which profane men will be apt to take great advantages and to confirme themselves in their prejudices and therefore every prudent Christian should be watchful against them There is nothing more unsuitable to the solemnity of this duty to that reverence which we owe unto the divine Majesty then to bespeak him in a loose carelesse empty manner though God is not bettered by any thing we can give or do All our services being to him as nothing yet he is pleased to esteem of them by their commensuration to us if in respect of our abilities they are the best and with any thing below our best we cannot expect he should be satisfied All kinde of worship should proceed from a desire and study to honour God and therefore ought to be performed with our utmost care and abilities Under the Law men were bound to Sacrifice unto God the best of their substance and if sacrifice be a type of Prayer then also we are bound to pray unto him in the best manner and forme that we can invent and consequently in a premeditated form when that may be most effectuall to direct us in our desires and to stirre up our affections The multiplicity of our wants the unfaithfulnesse of our memories the dulnesse and slownesse of our apprehensions the common extravagancies of our thoughts will all require our best care for the remedy of them and premeditation may be a very proper means for this purpose Job speaks of chusing out his words to reason with God As it is amongst persons and things so it is amongst expressions too some are choise and beautiful others refuse and improper Now a man should be careful to select the fittest words to expresse himself in this duty And 't is a very solemn Caveat which the Wiseman gives Eccles. 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hastie to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few as if he should have said when thou dost approach before the Divine Majesty in the duty of Prayer be sure that thou first ponder with thy self the greatness of that businesse settle and compose thy â—houghts to the solemn performance of it Betware of crude tumultuary meditations of idle impertinent wilde expressions Take heed of all empty repetitions digressions prolixity for God is most glorious and wise whereas thou art a poor unworthy creature and therefore shouldest not dare to bespeak him without a great deal of fear and preparation Let thy words be few Not that brevity or fewnesse of words is the proper excellency of Prayer God is as little taken with that as with the length of them He is not wearied and tired as men are But because those that speak little do probably study and ponder more upon what they say And to this purpose 't is said that the wise Preacher sought out and gave good heed to find and to set in order acceptable words Eccles. 12.10 and of such words 't is said in the next verse that they will prove as goads and nails fastened by the Masters of Assemblies that is when they are deliberate and proper they will leave a strong and lasting impression upon the hearers If it be objected that set forms are properly helps of insufficiency and therefore should not be used by those that have abilities of their own It may be answered though set forms made by others be as a crutch or help of our insufficiency yet those which we compose our selves are a fruit of our sufficiency and may likewise prove a very great advantage for the more solemn performance of this duty especially in publike and with others both for the direction of our desires and exciting of our affections Though a man ought not to be so confined by any premeditated form as to neglect any special infusion He should so prepare himself as if he did expect no assistance and he should so depend upon divine assistance as if he had made no preparation If it be objected again that men ought to rely upon that promise Dabitur in illa hora Matth. 10 19. Take no thought what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same houre I answer 't is true when God does call men to extraordinary services of which that Scripture speaks he does accordingly fit them with extraordinary assistance But yet when men may use the common means 't is there a great presumption to depend upon extraordinary help That 's a remarkable saying of the son of Syrach Before thou prayest prepare thy self and be not as one that tempts the Lord. He that rushes upon this duty without using the common means of fitting himself for it does tempt God for to tempt God is to expect any thing from him without using the ordnary helps So our Saviour answered the Devill when he would have perswaded him to fling himself from the Temple when as there were stairs for descent Matth. 4.7 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God And of this fault are those guilty who depend so much upon immediate infusion as to neglect all premeditation or previous studie If any should think that that phrase of the Apostle of praying with the Spirit does imply a totall resignation of a mans self to his immediate suggestions That may easily appear to bee a grosse mistake for in the very same place 1 Cor. 14.14 15. He speaks likewise of singing with the Spirit And I presume no man would think it fitting to rely wholly upon his bare infusions in the duty of singing without preparation both of matter and words too I have been the longer upon this subject because I would willingly remove those inconsiderate prejudices which some of good affections may be transported with in this point And that this holy duty might not so often suffer in the solemnity of it by mens presumptions and negligence in this kinde CHAP. III. Arguments or motives to excite men unto the labour after this Gift HAving thus discoursed concerning the nature of this Gift together with the two extreams which on either hand do so much hinder mens proficiency in it I shall in the next place briefly suggest some few arguments or motives to engage us upon the diligent enquiry after it 1. From the excellency of it in comparison to those other abilities which are so much valued and sought after in the world As for Manual trades men are content to bestow the labour of seven yeers in the learning of them And so for the Liberal Arâ—s you know what numerous and large volumes are written concerning them how much time and pains men will lay out in the study of them counting their labour well bestowed if after many tedious watchings they can attain to any kind of eminency in these professions And yet these things can onely accommodate us
which they might learn a set forme of petitioning The apprehension of their present danger will make them both importunate and eloquent in the desire of mercy And thus will it be in proportion with every one as he does apprehend his own necessity in respect of any want or danger To which purpose that gâ—ace of Humility will be of special advantage which is alwayes sensible of it's own need and poverty and the more it does receive by so much the more does it bemoan it 's own indigence Now when a man has brought his heart to this temper it will be most proper for him to lay aside all needlesse artifice or affectation behaving himself in his addresses unto God with the same plainnesse and simplicity as we use to do with men Let him seriously consider 1. What sins those are which if he were now to die would most affright his conscience Confesse them in particular aggravate and bewaile them 2. What that is he would chuse above all other things to desire of God if he were sure to have his wish Pardon Grace Perseverance Contentment Heaven Protection c. and let him beg each of these urging the promise to this purpose 3. How his condition does differ from others below him What blessing there is that he could least spare Others perhaps are wretchedly ignorant prophane necessitous sick c. whereas he is exempted and therefore ought to give thanks for each of these enjoyments And in in the mention of these he may poure out his thoughts in the most obvious expressions As suppose after this manner O Lord my God I am at this present guilty of such or such a sin which I have relapsed into notwithstanding my conviction and promises I desire to be humbled for it and to renew my resolutions against it and do earnestly beg thy mercy in pardoning of it thy grace to strengthen me for the future There is such a blessing I stand in great need of 'T is not in mine own power to procure it thou can'st easily and thou hast promised to bestow it c. There is such a mercy which I see other men want and this makes their condition sad and miserable and therefore I desire to be truly sensible of thy favour in my enjoyment of it Thus going over particulars in the most facil natural expressions and if new matter does not presently occurre a man need not therefore break off this exercise but may take some time to meditate and consider of his condition to recollect some other particulars 'T is not necessary that he should still keep on in this duty in a continued frame of speech I speak of our secret Closet-devotions betwixt God and our own soules for as for publick prayer wherein we are to joyn with others though but in a family we ought there to be more close and exact in our preparations as being to work upon the affections of those that joyn with us But I say in these private devotions a man may take a greater freedome both for his phrase and matter he may be sometimes at a stand and make a pause there may be many intermissions and blanck spaces in respect of speech wherein by meditation he may recover some new matter to tontinue in this duty Now to him that shall attempt it after this manner it will not be very difficult to pray in private without the help of books or prescribed formes And 't is not easie to expresse what a vast difference a man may finde in respect of inward comfort and satisfaction betwixt those private prayers that are thus conceived from the affections and those prescribed formes which we say by wrote or read out of books This will be one good way so to ingage the affections upon this service that they may go before and lead us on in the particular subject of our prayers in which frequent practice will make a man very expert especially if by observation he be furnished with a tâ—easury of the most proper matter and expressions to this purpose wherby when his affections are dull and indisposed he may be able to quicken them For as the affections when they are vigorous will guide us unto matter and expression so when they are heavy and dull then premeditated matter and expression will help to excite them these being of mutual efficacy and advantage But of this I shall have occasion to speak afterwards 2. Besides the sense of our own necessity 't is requisite likewise that a man should apprehend the possibility of receiving help and supply by this means A poor begger will with much patience and diligence attend that door where he is confident of obtaining an alms and till a man be thus perswaded he can never be earnest in his desires To this purpose that grace of faith is so often required for the right performance of this duty and for the strengthening of this God is pleased to give us leave to argue with him Isa. 1.16 18. He invites those that are washed and reformed to reason with him Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord c. Rogat efficacissimè qui causas rogandireddit That man does beg most powerfully who backs his requests with arguments And the Scriptures do afford us frequent examples of such humble and reverent expostulations wherein holy men have with many reasons pleaded their cause before God So Jacob Gen. 32 11 12. And Moses Exod. 32.11 22 And David very frequently Not that any of our arguments are able to move and alter him in whom there is no shadow of change But they may be effectuall in the strengthening our own faith and fervency which is the proper scope and end of them The usuall Topicks to this purpose do concern either God Our selves 1. The Arguments from Gods nature and Attributes are reducible to some of these heads 1. From his Power So Moses argues with him O Lord God who hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatnesse and thy mighty hand for what God is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to thy woâ—ks and according to thy might I pray thee c. Thus Jehosaphat pleads 2 Chron. 20.6 O Lord God of our fathers art not thou God in heaven And rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee 2. From his Wisdâ—m and Providence Job 365. God is mighty in strength and wisedome Psal. 59.13 Let it be known that God ruleth in Jacob and unto the ends of the earth He is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.19 who maketh every thing beautiful in his time Eccles. 3.11 3. From his Justice Psal. 5.3 4. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord for thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickednesse neither shall evill dwell with thee Psal. 143.1 Hear my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplication in thy
nature be put together and this should be observed in all the parts of Prayer Now the parts of Prayer may be Generally distinguished into these two kinds 1. Lesse principal Preface Transitions Conclusion 2. More principal Confession Petition Thanksgiving The first thing in a form of Prayer is the Preface which does chiefly consist of these particulars 1. The titles of invocation 2. Some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse 3. An expression of our purpose and desire to make our addresses to him in this duty 4. With the impetration of his assistance and attention Next unto the Preface any one of the three principall parts of Prayer may succeed either Confession Petition or Thanksgiving according as severall occasions shall require But in general and common use 't is most convenient that Confession should precede the other because it prepares for them and may serve to stir us up unto a true sence both of those mercies which we want and those which we have received Confession according to its proper latitude and extent does imply in it an acknowledgement both Of Sins by Enumeration Original in our Inward Man Outward Man Actual against the Law National Personal and Omission Commission Gospel Thought Word Deed. Aggravation of them in General Multitude Greatnesse Special the kindes of sin Particular the circumstances Punishments External in our Bodies Friends Estates Names Internal in respect of blessings Natural Spiritual Eternal of Losse Paiâ— Next to Confession Petition may succeed but for the better connexion of these two 't is requisite that they be joyned together by some fitting Transition The most natural and genuine matter for which may referre to some one of these heads Either 1. A Profession of our shame and sorrow in the consideration of our many sinnes and the punishment due unto them 2. An Expression of our desire to renounce our own righteousnesse to fly utterly out of our selves 3. A promise of greater care and strictnesse in our wayes for the future 4. A brief Application unto our selves of such mercies and promises as do belong unto those that believe and repent For the chief heads of Petition we are directed in the Lords Prayer that being given us as a Summary or brief Model wherein are conteined the most principal and necessary materials of all our desires That which is accounted the first Petition Hallowed by thy name doth more especialy concerne the chief end of all our desires namely the glory of God and is there set down to teach us what we are principally to intend and aime at in all those prayers that we make either for our selves or others The three next clauses do concerne the obtaining of good The first of them for the sanctifying of our hearts and natures into which we wish that his Kingdome may come The second for the obedience of our lives Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven The third for the necessities of this present life Give us this day our daily bread The three last Petitions do concern the removal of evil The first of them being against the evil of Sin Forgive us our trespasses The second against the evil of Tentation Lead us not into tentation The last against the evil of Punishment Deliver us from evil All of them being in the plural number Our Father and Give us and Forgive us c. which shews our duty to petition for others as well as our selves and then the whole Prayer is sealed up with this Argument For thine is the Kingdome the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Wherein we acknowledge that it is he alone who is able to grant our requests thereby teaching us to back our Petitions with such arguments as may serve to strengthen our belief concerning the successe of them So that according to this pattern the chiefe materials of our desires the order only being made more suitable to the precedent method observed in our Confession may be thus analyzed All Petition is either For our Selves Supplication Deprecation against the evill of Sin in respect of its Guilt Pardon Evidence Power Temptation by Our corrupt natures The Devill The World Punishment Comprecation for good Spiritual Sanctification of our natures in the Inward Man Outward Man Obedience of our lives by our Performance In all duties of Law Gospel Continuance In all duties of Law Gospel Increase In all duties of Law Gospel Temporal Provision for us Protection of us For others Intercession In General The Catholike Church In special Ordinary for the Nations Vncalled Infidels Jews c. the Nations Called Allies Oâ—rown Nation Occasional in times of Warre Famine Pestilence In particular Ordinary for all relations of Order Publike and Political Private or Oeconomical Freindship and Enmity Neighbourhood Occasional for the afflicted in Minde Body This part should be connected to the next by some such Transition as may fitly serve to seal up the one and begin the other which may be taken either 1. From our Confidence of obtaining the things we desire by our experience of those former mercies we have already enjoyed 2. From the danger of ingratitude in hindering the successe of our Petitions The cheif materials to be insisted upon in our Thanksgiving are reducible under these two generall heads Either Enumeration of mercies or Amplification of mercies Mercies to be Enumerated are either Ordinary Temporall Private concerning Generally the whole mans Being Nature Birth Education Preservation More particularly our Soules Bodies Freinds Names Estates c. Publick in respect of Healthful seasons Fruitfull seasons Peaceable seasons Spirituall Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Hope of Glory Occasionall for some particulars Preservation of our selves in soule body others in soule body Recovery of our selves in soule body others in soule body Deliverance of our selves in soule body others in soule body Amplified Generally by their Multitude Greatnesse in respect of Giver Receiver Continuance Particularly by their Circumstances Degrees Contraries The Conclusion should consist of some such Doxologies as may help to strengthen our Faith and leave some impression upon our affections This may serve for a Scheme of Method comprehending all the chief parts according to a fitting order for the regulating of our thoughts in this duty If there be any that should deny the use of Method and the like helps as being humane inventions such persons will not deserve an answer They may as well account the rules of reasoning and dispute to be unlawful reducing all to their own Enthusiasmes and so are not capable of being dealt with in any way of debate 3. The third thing to be enquired into is Expression which will of it self naturally follow upon such a preparation of matter and method But because the language of Canaan the stile of the holy Ghost is undoubtedly the fittest for holy and spiritual services with which for divers reasons we should labour to be familiarly acquainted therefore we should rather chuse where we may to speak in
4 5. Who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart Eph. 1.11 Who doth every thing according to the counsel of his own will Eph. 3.20 Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think Col. 1.16 By whom all things were created that are in heaven and earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers 1 Tim. 1.17 Who is the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God Ch. 6.15 The blessed and only Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords Vers. 16. Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see Heb. 4.13 In whose sight there is no creature that is not manifest but all things are naked and opened unto the eye of him to whom we have to do Heb. 13.8 Rev. 6.15 Who is yesterday to day and the same for ever At whose dreadful appearance the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men shall be willing to hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountaines Vers. 16. Crying to the mountaines and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. II. Invocations of the second sort are such Scripture-expressions as these Ex. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth Vers. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Neh. 9.17 Who is a God ready to pardon gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindnesse Psal. 9.9 Who is a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble Verse 10. Who will never forsake them that seek him Psal. 33.4 Whose word is right and all his works are done in truth Verse 18. Whose eye is upon them that fear him and upon them that hope in his mercy Verse 19. To deliver their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine Psal. 34.8 9. Who will not suffer them to want that fear and trust in him Verse 15. Whose eyes are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their cry Verse 17. To hear deliver them out of all their troubles Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Verse 22. Who will redeem the soul of his servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate Psal. 36.5 Whose mercy is in the heavens and his faithfulnesse reacheth to the clouds Verse 6. Whose righteousnesse is like the great mountains and whose judgements are a great deep who preserveth man and beast Psal. 46 1. Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 65.2 The God that heareth Prayers unto whom all flesh should come Verse 5. The confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea Psal. 72.12 Who delivereth the needy when he crieth the poor also and him that hath no helper Verse 14. Who shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps. 103.8 Who is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Verse 9. Who will not alwayes chide neither will he keep his anger for ever Verse 10. Who does not deal with us after our sins nor reward us according to our iniquities Verse 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that feare him Verse 14. He knows our frame he remembers that we are but dust Verse 17. Whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him and his righteousnesse unto childrens children Verse 18. To such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandments to do them Ps 145.8 Who is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy Verse 9. Who is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Verse 18. Who is nigh unto them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth Verse 19. He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them Isa. 51.6 Though the heavens shall vanish away like smoke and the earth shall waxe old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner Yet his salvation shall be for ever and his righteousnesse shall not be abolished Isa. 66.2 Who hath great regard to them that are poor and of a contrite spirit and tremble at his Word Jer. 14.8 Who is the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble Ezek. 33.11 Who hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he should turn from his way and live Mich. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage who retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Verse 19. Who will turn again and have compassion upon us subduing our iniquities and casting all our sins into the depths of the sea Mat. 18.20 Who hath promised where two or three are gathered together in his name to be in the midst of them Rom. 2.4 Who does abound in riches of goodnesse and forbearance and long sufferance which should lead us to repentance Who is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 2 Cor. 1.3 Eph. 1.17 Who is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort The God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift doth come with whom there is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning 2 Pet. 3.9 Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance III. Divine compellations of the third sort may be derived from such Scriptures as these Neh. 1.5 Who keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Job 5.19 Who will deliver us in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch us Verse 20. Who in famine shall redeem us from death and in war from the power of the sword O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 Psalm 8.1 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world Psalm 18.2 My rock my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler the horne of my salvation and my high tower Verse 3. Who is worthy to be praised Ps. 19.14 Ps. 22.9 10 My strength and my Redeemer Who tookest me out of the wombe and hast been my hope and my God since I was upon my mothers breast Psal. 27.9 The God of my salvation Psal. 33.5 Who loveth righteousnesse and judgement and the earth is full of his goodnesse Verse 12. Blessed
is the Nation whose God is the Lord and the People whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance Verse 20. Ps. 35.27 Ps. 36.7 Our help and our shield Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant How excellent is thy loving kindnesse O God therefore shall the sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Verse 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures Verse 9. For with thee is the fountain of life and in thy light shall we see light Psal. 46.1 Our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal. 63.3 Whose loving kindnesse is better then life Psal. 65.8 Who maketh the out goings of the morning and evening to rejoyce Verse 9. Who visiteth the earth and watereth it and greatly enricheth it with the river of God Vers 10. Who maketh it soft with showers and blesseth the springing thereof Vers. 11. Who crowneth the yeare with his goodnesse and his paths drop fatnesse Vers. 13. Who cloatheth the pastures with flocks and covers the valleys with corne Psal. 66.9 Who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved Psal. 72.4 Who shall judge the poore of the people and save the children of the needy and shall break in pieces the oppressour Vers. 12 He shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper Vers. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy Vers. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight Ps 37.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Ver. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal. 80.1 The shepherd of Israel Psal. 89.17 Who art the glory of our defence and in whose favour our horne shall be exalted Vers. 18. For the Lord is our defence and the holy one of Israel is our King Psal. 91.2 He is my refuge and my fortresse my God in him will I trust Vers. 4. He shall cover me with his feathers under his wings will I trust his truth shall be my shield and buckler Ps. 103.3 Who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases Vers. 4. Who redeemes our life from destruction who crowneth us with loving kindenesse and tender mercies Vers. 6. Who executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed Thou art good and thou dost good Ps 119 68 Ps. 145. Who is greatly to be praised and whose greatnesse unsearchable Who preserveth all them that love him Vers. 20. Isa. 40.11 Who shall feed his flock like a Shepherd and shall gather his Lambs with his armes and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young Isa. 51.3 Who will comfort Sion and build her waste places making her wildernesse like Eden and her Desert like the garden of the Lord so that joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody Vers. 5. Whose righteousnesse is near and his salvation gone forth whose armes shall judge the People the Isles shall wait upon him and in his arme shall they trust That pleadeth the cause of his people Vers. 22. Jer 14.8 The hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble Jer. 16 19. O Lord my strength and my fortresse and my refuge in the day of affliction to whom the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth and shall say surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profit Besides whom there is no Saviour Hos. 13.4 Acts 14 17 Who leaveth not himselfe without a witnesse unto all the Nations of the world doing them good giving them raine from heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladnesse Act. 17.28 In whom we live move and have our being Eph. 1 3. Who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 2.4 Eph. 3.14 Who is rich in mercy The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named 2 Thes. 2.16 Our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 1 Tim. 4.10 1 Tim. 6.17 Hebr. 13.20 Who is the Saviour of those that believe The living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy The God of peace who brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of his sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant 1 Pet. â— 10 The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus Rev. 15.3 The King of Saints whose works are great and marvellous and his wayes just and true There may be divers the like expressions of each kinde collected from severall places of Scripture Of some or more of these the first and chief material of a Preface should consist These several kinds may be variously intermixed according as divers occasions shall require The Scriptures do afford sundry examples to this purpose Neh. â— 5 Dan 9.4 O Lord God of Heaven the great and terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Psal. 46.7 Isa. 43.3 The Lord of hosts the God of Jacob our refuge The Lord our God the holy one of Israel our Saviour Verse 14. The Lord our Redeemer the holy one of Israel Isa 45.21 Who is a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides him Isa. 49.26 The Lord who is our Saviour and Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob. Isa. 54.5 Our Maker and our Husband whose Name is the Lord of Hosts our Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole Earth Our Father which art in Heaven Mat. 6.9 I have been the larger in the recital of such passages because they will not only afford us matter for a Preface but supply us likewise with divers proper Arguments upon several occasions for the exciting of our faith and fervency in the businesse of Petition II. The second Material in a Preface to be joyned with the former is some general acknowledgement of our own unworthinesse as that Gen. 18.27 we who are but dust and ashes Gen. 32.10 Lesse then the least of all his mercies Job 13.25 As leaves driven to and fro and as dry stubble Psal. 14.3 Altogether abominable and filthy Psal. 22.6 Wormes and no men Psal. 95.7 The people of his pasture and sheep of his hands Ps. 103.15 Whose dâ—yes are as grasse as the flower of the field so he flourisheth Verse 16. When the winde passeth over it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more Psal. 144.3 Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the sonnâ— of man that thou makest account of him Verse 4.
making us wanton and contemptuously to spurne at his laws Lading and wearying him with our sins whilest he does continually heap upon us his unwearied mercies By our Impatience under those small crosses that are justly inflicted upon us Not behaving our selves humbly and cheerfully under Gods fatherly chastisements Not accepting the punishment of our iniquity though it be much lesse then we have deserved Not bearing the indignation of the Lord as considering how we have sinned against him Being subject to murmuring and repining to fainting and despaire to seek help and deliverance by unlawful means By want of submission and obedience unto him according to our duty and profession very inconstant in our holy services temporary and by fits subject to backslide and revolt upon every slight temptation Our goodnesse being as the morning cloud and as the early dew which passeth away Not Vniversall in our obedience but partial and by halves apt to pick and chuse in our duties according as they may best suite with our own humours and the course of the times not having respect to all his commandments Not hating every false way Not hearty and sincere in our performances doing them with all our might but Hypocritically Perfunctorily Negligently By our not fearing of God according to the infinite power justice majesty of the divine Nature or according to those manifold sinnes whereby we have provoked his wrath Behaving our selves with much security and inadvertency under all the various dispensations of his providence as if we our selves were not at all concerned in them Not regarding the works of the Lord nor considering the operation of his hands still going on after the imagination of our own hearts as if we had made a Covenant with death and with hell were at an agreement very apt to promise to our selves peace and impunity though we do still persevere in our wonted rebellions very subject to slavish worldly fears of men that shall die and the sons of men that shall be made as grasse Forgetting the Lord our Maker who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth Not grieving when he strikes us refusing to receive correction though he does consume us making our faces harder then a rock and refusing to return By not demeaning our selves humbly before him according as our own vileness and the greatnesse of his mercy does require Behaving our selves in our general course as if we were desirous to live without God here and content to be annihilated hereafter so we might but in this world enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season CHAP. IX Sins against the second Commandment THE Second Commandment does concern the Manner and Means of Gods worship Against this we sinne not onely by representing and worshipping of him in Images but also by entertaining grosse mis-conceits of the divine nature by mixing any will-worship superstition or our own inventions with his service when we do not serve him after such a way as is agreeable to his nature and required in his word that is not in spirit and truth Not with uprightnesse sincerity cheerfulnesse 1. It will here concern us to examine how exceedingly we have failed in the manner of those good duties which we have attempted How much aversenesse there is in us from setting about them How much distraction and benummednesse of spirit in the performance of them How much impotency and wearinesse in the Continuance of them How much pride unspiritualnesse formality want of relish deadnesse uncomfortablenesse there is mixed with our best services Serving God with feigned lips Drawing neer to him with our mouthes and honouring him with our lips when our hearts are far from him Resting our selves in the meer outsides of duties when we do not enjoy any Communion with God in them 2. We ought to examine our failings in respect of the means or kindes of divine worship Our carelesnesse to keep our selves close in a constant holy communion with God by the right use of all his sacred Ordinances 1 Prayer both Private Publike 2 Ministery of the Word 3 Receiving of the Sacraments 1. Our Negligence in setting any solemn time apart for our secret devotions betwixt God and our souls Omitting them upon every trivial occasion or slight pretence of businesse Our carelesnesse in the private observance of this duty with our families and neer relations and in publike with the Congregation Our approaching before God without that preparation reverence or attention as becomes such vile creatures speaking to so great a Majesty Regarding iniquity in our hearts not calling upon him in truth Flattering him with our mouthes and lying to him with our tongues when our heart is not right with him Not Confessing our sins with that sorrow shame and confusion of face as having thereby so much dishonoured his glorious name and endangered our own salvations Being rather apt to cover our transgressions with Adam by hiding our iniquity in our bosome Or if we do acknowledge them yet we are not careful to forsake them but do still go on in a continuall round of confessing and committing committing and confessing again Failing very much in the Matter of our Petitions not asking those things which are according to his will Apt to make our prejudicate opinions and passionate wishes the subject of our Prayers instead of the holy and unchangeable will of God For the manner of them not with faith and fervency as being truly sensible of our own wants or as if we did really beleeve this duty to be an effectuall means for the supply of them Not tenderly affectionate in our forgiving of others or our interceding for them In our thanksgiving not mentioning the favours we have received with any such hearty sense of them as may stir up in our souls cheerfulnesse love gratitude Not praising God with our whole hearts and all that is within us Coming before him with customary devotion rather to satisfie the scruples of a natural conscience then out of any true love to this duty it self or experimental evidence of comfort to be had by it our hearts being apt to wander from him even whilest we are speaking with him to think but lightly of him whilest we pretend much honour to him Not retaining any taste or relish of these duties after they are ended Not living suitably to them Not taking notice how God does answer our Prayers in the several passages of his Providence towards us 2. For the Ordinance of Preaching the Minister does herein offend by being negligent and slothful in his calling not preaching with that constancy faithfulnesse simplicity judgement authority courage demonstration of the Spirit as he should The People by neglecting to hear and read the Word according to their severall opportunities By not preparing themselves for this holy exercise Not coming unto it with hungring and thirsting desires and loving
down at noon and darkning the earth in the clear day Surprizing us with sad confusions when we think our selves most secure and happy Turning our feasts into mourning and our songs into lamentation bringing sack-cloath upon all loines and baldnesse upon every head making us to eat our bread with carefulnesse and to drink our water with astonishment If he should deny us his creatures when we want them take them from us when we have them withhold his blessing from attending them debarre us from the comfortable enjoyment of them sending upon us cleannesse of teeth The evil arrows of famine breaking the staffe of our bread taking away our corne in the time thereof making the heaven over us to be brasse and the earth under us to be iron If he should raine fire and brimstone down upon us if he should afflict us with hunger and thirst and nakednesse and the want of all things if he should send a rust and canker upon our estates making an hole in the bottome of our bags by which our gaines should insensibly drop away and slip from us if he should curse us in the city and in the field in our basket and in our store in the fruit of our land and the increase of our cattel in all our endeavours and the works of our hands Feeding us with the bread of affliction and with the water of affliction Giving us to drink the cup of trembling and the dregs of the cup of his fury Stretching out upon us the line of confusion and the stones of emptinesse if he should make the portion of our cup to be snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest 2. Internal punishments are those that concern the soul and inward man either in respect of blessings Natural Spiritual It were but justice if God should take from us our wits reasons memories If he should smite us with madnesse and astonishment of heart Giving us the hearts of beasts making us become raving and desperate or stupid and brutish if he should deprive us of our inward peace and quietnesse giving us a trembling heart and sorrow of minde Scaring us with dreams and terrifying us with visions Making our guilty consciences to fly into our faces to gnaw upon the soul with fierce and restlesse accusations to fill the thoughts with terrours and amazement It were but justice if he should deprive us of all his holy Ordinances sending upon us a famine of the Word Removing our Teachers into corners so that our eyes cannot see them making the night to come upon us wherein we should not have a vision that it should be dark unto us that we cannot divine that the Sun should go down over our Prophets and the day be dark over them that the Seers should be ashamed and the Diviners confounded all of them covering their lips because there is no answer of God If he should reject all our holy services hide himself from us when we seek his face stopping his ears when we cry unto him laughing at our calamities and mocking when our fear cometh if he should fling our Prayers back into our faces with a curse in stead of a blessing if he should take our confessions as an evidence against our selves and condemne us out of our own mouths If he should subtract the means of grace and not any longer continue the proffers of mercy to those who have so much undervalued and abused them If he should cause his grieved Spirit to retire from us and finally give us over to our own desperane hardnesse and impenitency to vile affections to a seared conscience and a reprobate sense whereby we might be continued in our evil courses till the day of his vengeance 3. Eternal punishments are such as concerne our immortal conditions after this life They are either of Losse Paine 1. The punishment of losse does consist in being for ever banished from the blessed presence of God and the joyes of heaven In being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2. The pain of sense does consist in those most exquisite and unexpressible torments which shall be inflicted on the damned set forth in Scripture by everlasting fire utter darknesse the worme that dyes not ond the fire that is not quenched Chaines of darknesse The blacknesse of darknesse for ever The lake of fire burning with brimstone It were but justice if God should cut us off with swift destruction snatching us out of the land of the living with our sinnes and feares upon us and cast us into those regions of darknesse those black and cruel habitations where there is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth If he should take vengeance upon us in flaming fire making us to drink the wine of his wrath which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation Tormenting us with fire and brimstone in the presence of his holy Angels Should God deal with us according to our deserts it would have been much better for us that we had never been borne He might justly inflict upon us all the plagues of this life and eternal torments in the life to come There is nothing could remaine for us to expect but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation to devour us It were easie to amplifie each of these heads from those many curses and judgements denounced in Scripture which are all of them appliable to this purpose as being the desert of sinne The serious consideration and application of these things will very much conduce to the exciting of such affections in us as do become the duty of confession CHAP. XV. Of the proper materials for a Transition whereby Confession and Petition may be annexed THus much briefly concerning the Matter and Method to be observed in our Confession That which should succeed next unto it is Petition But for the better connexion of these two 't is requisite that they be joyned together by some fitting Transition The most natural materials for which may be referred unto some of these heads 1. A profession of our shame and sorrow in the consideration of our many sins and the punishments due unto them A readinesse to loath our selves for our abominations To judge and condemne our selves that we may not be condemned of the Lord. A willingnesse to set our sins ever before us as considering that though the acts of them be past yet the guilt and the danger may be present and that there may be many now in hell who have not been so great sinners as we Of this kinde is that speech of Ezra O my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee And Job I abhorre my self and repent in dust and ashes And Daniel O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face because we have sinned against
after he hath preached unto others he himself may not become a cast-away 2. For his Doctrine that he may study to approve himself unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of truth That he may preach the Word being instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine with meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth Feeding the flock of God not by constraint but willingly Not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde That he may speak as the Oracles of God That his doctrine may be in demonstration of the spirit and of power with uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity not as pleasing men but God who tryeth the hearts The People or hearers may be hereby directed to pray for a greater love and esteem of his Word as being the Ordinance of his infinite wisdome which he can make effectual for the Conversion and salvation of souls Considering that the fashion of this world passeth away Pleasures shall die and vanish Honours shall be laid in the dust gold and silver shall rust and canker but the word of God abideth for ever This alone is able to make us wise unto salvation and to save our soules being that word by which we shall be judged at the last day That therefore we may value it above gold and silver finding a relish in it sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb That we may alwayes love the beauty of his house and the place where his honour dwelleth To publish with the voice of Thanksgiving and to tell of all his wondrous works This one thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary That we may have a greater care to know and practise his will As new borne babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word to grow thereby That he would teach us so to prize and improve the present liberty and Sun-shine of the Gospel that we may be carefull in this our day to lay up for our selves a good foundation against the evil time That we may approach unto this Ordinance with such reverent and prepared affections as may become his more especial presence amongst us Considering our feet when we draw neer before him that he would over-awe our spirits with an holy fear and reverence in the apprehension of his presence and beholding of us who is a God of infinite holinesse and glorious Majesty that we may bow down our souls with a willing subjection unto every sacred truth That he would subdue the pride of our hearts Cast down every imagination that exalteth it selfe against him and bring into subjection every thought unto the obedience of Christ and because the Word of it selfe is but a dead letter and it is not in the power of any outward means the wisdome or preparation of weak sinful man to subdue the power of sin the Kingdome of Satan or to create men in Christ Jesus unto good works that therefore he would be pleased to accompany the outward means by the inward efficacy and operation of his Spirit Man can speak only unto the ear but he can speak unto the heart and 't is as easie for him to make us good as to bid us be so and he hath promised to meet such as desire to wait upon him and to remember him in his wayes That he would remove from our understandings the veile of ignorance and infidelity whereby we are made incapable of spiritual truths that he would take from our affections that natural pravity and malice whereby we are made enemies to spiritual notions that we may receive the truth not only in the light but in the love of it not with-holding any truth in unrighteousnesse That he would strengthen us against all temptations of Satan cares of the world hardnesse of our own hearts or what ever may hinder our profitable and saving hearing That he would take from us all irreverence distraction prejudice dulnesse in hearing of his Word and because it must redound either to the glory of his justice in our farther hardening and final condemnation or to the glory of his mercy in our conversion and salvation that he would therefore sanctifie it to our good that as the rain cometh down from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it fruitful so the Word that goeth out of his mouth may not return unto him void but accomplish his good pleasure and prosper in that to which it is sent That it may be unto us sharp as a two-edged sword to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit the joynts and marrow discovering the very thoughts and intentions of the heart And because Paul may plant and Apollos may water but he only can give the increase That therefore he would be pleased to give a blessing and successe to his own Ordinance That his Word may be unto us a word of power converting the soul and making wise the simple that he would give unto us hearing ears and understanding hearts that we may believe and be saved That he would write his laws in our inward parts That he would open our eyes to behold the wondrous things of his law Incline our hearts to affect direct our steps that we may walke in the paths of his precepts Shew us thy wayes O Lord and teach us thy paths lead us in thy truth and guide us for thou art the God of our salvation Teach us thy wayes O Lord and we will walke in thy truth unite our hearts to fear thy name Shew us the way that we should walk in for we lift up our souls unto thee Teach us to do thy will for thou art our God Let thy good Spirit lead us into the land of uprightnesse That we may behave our selves with humility attention alacrity laying down all high thoughts fleshly reasonings stubborne resolutions being ready to receive with meeknesse the ingraffed word which is able to save our souls That we may enjoy communion with him in his Ordinances that he would fill us with all joy and peace in believing That he would sanctifie our judgements affections memories that we may apprehend and believe and affect and retain those sacred truths that shall be delivered That he would inlighten our mindes open our hearts soften our consciences compose our thoughts to attend unto his Word with meeknesse and faith receiving it into good and honest hearts with full purpose to walk answerably to it in our conversations That Christ may be formed in us that our hearts may be established in every good word
crown of righteousnesse which at the last day the Lord the righteous Judge will bestow upon all those that love his appearing That he would carry us on through faith unto salvation And because when we have reckoned all the duties we can we shall leave out many particulars therefore for the supply of those which we cannot specifie we may use some general forme answerable to that exhortation of the Apostle that whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise that we may think of and do these things Being blamelesse and harmelesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we may shine as lights in the world CHAP. XXIII Of petitioning for temporal good things Provision and Protection NExt to spiritual good things we are permitted to pray for those matters which concerne our Temporal well-fare answerable to tha◠Petition in the Lords Prayer Give us this day our daily bread under the expression of daily bread we are to understand all those particulars that are either necessary or convenient for our natural life in respect Both of Provision for us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates Protection of us in our Soules Bodies Callings Names Friends Estates 1. For our Souls that God would be pleased to blesse and continue to us the use of our wits and memories that he would give us power to enjoy these temporal blessings filling us with gladnesse of heart with peace and serenity of mind expelling from us all unnecessary cares earthly sorrows unprofitable dejections 2. For our Bodies that he would continue to us our health and strength the free use of our senses and limbs supplying directing blessing us in the use of all such means as shall conduce to our preservation and well-being 3. For our Callings that he would furnish us with wisdome and abilities suitable to our several vocations making us diligent and industrious in them whereby we may be enabled in our places to promote his glory and to be instrumental for the good of others Being just towards all men and ready to serve one another in love and because without his blessing it will be in vain for us to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the bread of carefulnesse Therefore we should likewise pray that he would blesse our endeavours and all that we set our hands unto Prospering the work of our hands upon us 4. For our Names that he would take care of our reputations restraining others from reproaching and slandring of us and restraining us from scandalous sinnes and appearances of evil that he would teach us to behave our selves so wisely and circumspectly that we may bring credit to our persons and professions growing in favour both with God and man That he would deliver us from those whose teeth are speares and arrowes and their tongues a sharp sword 5. For our Friends that he would raise up for us such as may be kindly affectioned to us blessing us in all our neere relations kindred families friends neighbours acquaintance continuing to us the help and comfort that we have by them 6. For our Estates in respect 1. Of Liberty that he would still preserve us in our wonted freedome from bondage captivity imprisonment 2. That he would be pleased to restore and continue that precious blessing of Peace both in our Nations Towns Families Conversations 3. That he would make us Plenteous in the fruit of our ground and in the increase of our cattel Crowning the yeare with his goodnesse opening to us his good treasures the heavens Putting a force and efficacy into their influences and fruitfulnesse into the earth that it may yeeld us the staffe of bread to strengthen our hearts That he would alwayes supply us with food convenient for us so much as may with sobriety serve to conveigh us through this earthly Pilgrimage In brief that he would be pleased to blesse unto us the things we have and bestow upon us the things we want And as we should beseech God to provide for us so likewise to protect us in all these respects more especially according to those divers seasons wherein our prayers are to be framed whether for the Day or Night For the Day is his the Night also is his he hath prepared the light and the Sun They continue still according to his Ordinances for all things serve him 'T is he that turneth darknesse into light and renues the face of the earth 1. For our morning addresses O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my soul thirsteth for thee my flesh also longeth after thee we should herein petition for his protection of us the day following that he would watch over us for good by his fatherly providence and defend us from all those sins and dangers to which we are exposed that we may not be insnared by any of those temptations which we shall meet with That he would give his Angels charge over us to keep us in all our wayes That he would be pleased so far to afford us his assistance and direction that we may glorifie his name both in our Thoughts Words Actions and to this end that he would put good meditations into our mindes and holy desires into our hearts truth into our inward parts That he would set a watch before our mouths and keep the door of our lips that we offend not with our tongues That no corrupt communication may proceed from us but such as is good to the use of edifying and may administer grace to the hearers That amongst our other businesses and employments we may not forget that one thing which is most necessary But may be more especially careful about all such matters as may prepare us for our appearance before him and farther us in that reckoning which we are to make at the great day of accounts That we may walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Considering that God is about our paths and is acquainted with all our wayes Every thing being naked and open unto the eyes of that dreadful Majesty before whom all the world must be judged at the last day That we may redeem the time because the dayes are evill improving the present opportunity of our health peace and prosperity unto the best advantage of our spiritual wel-being In this our day considering the things that belong unto our peace That we may be wise and modest in our carriages humble and moderate in our passions temperate and sober in our diet diligent and cheerful in our businesse That he would give us successe in all our honest undertakings making us wise and prosperous 〈◊〉 them That the glorious Majesty of the
forget not the congregation of the poor for ever O let not the oppressed return ashamed let the poor and needy praise thy name Arise O God plead thine own cause c. We are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us How long Lord wilt thou be angry for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire O remember not against us our former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them But thou O Lord art our God full of compassion gracious long-suffering plenteous in mercy and truth O turne unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the sonne of thine handmaid Shew me some token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me Arise O Lord and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come 2. In times of Famine We should pray that our land may yield us bread without scarcenesse That he would not send upon us the evil arrowes of famine nor break our staffe of bread Nor take away our corne in the time thereof nor afflict us with cleannesse of teeth When men shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry and shall eat on the left hand and shall not be satisfied but every man shall eat the flesh of his own arme When we shall pine away and be stricken through for want of the fruits of the earth When we shall eat bread by weight and with care and drink water by measure and with astonishment When the land shall mourne and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field and the fowles of the Heaven When the husband-man shall be ashamed and the vine-dressers shall howle because the harvest of the field is perished The fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stalls When we shall sowe much and bring in little when we shall eat and not have enough drink and not be filled cloath our selves and not be warme That he would according to his promise abundantly blesse our provision and satisfie our poore with bread That our Garners may be full and plenteous affording all manner of store That he would hear the Heavens and let them hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corne and the Wine and the oyle and that they may hear his people Now because Famine is usually occasioned either by immoderate raine or drought therefore in our intercessions against this National judgement we may frame our Petitions more immediately against each of these as necessity shall require 1. Against immoderate raine That God would remember the Covenant which he hath made and though our wickednesse be very great upon the earth so that he might justly repent that he hath made us and now again resolve to destroy us from the face of the earth yet he hath promised that he will not any more cut off all flesh by the waters of a flood neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth That he would give us the former and the latter rain moderately and not punish us with a sweeping rain which leaveth no food 'T is he alone by whom the windows of Heaven are opened who giveth raine upon the earth and sendeth waters upon the fields Who cloatheth the Heavens with blacknesse and maketh sack-cloth their covering Who calleth for the waters of the Sea and poureth them out upon the face of the Earth He maketh small the drops of water they poure down raine according to the vapor thereof which the clouds do drop and distill upon men abundantly He covereth the light with clouds and commandeth it not to shine He commandeth the clouds from above and openeth the doors of Heaven That he would so order all those things which are at his disposal as that the earth may yield her increase and all the ends of the earth may fear him 2. Against Drought That he would open to us the good treasures of Heaven and give rain to our land in its season and blesse the labour of our hands He is the Father of the rain and does beget the drops of dew The bottles of heaven are at his command to open and shut them as he pleases He bindes up the waters in thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them 'T is he that does stay the heaven over us from dew and the earth from his fruits Who doth with-hold the raine from us causing it to rain upon one City and not upon another It is by his command that the Vine-tree is dryed up and the Fig-tree languisheth and all the trees of the field are withered The seed is rotten under the clods the garners are laid desolate the barnes are broken down for the corne is withered the beasts groan and the herds of cattel are perplexed because they have no pasture and the flocks of sheep are made desolate 'T is at his command that the clouds do not raine upon us He makes the heavens over us to be brasse and the earth under us to be iron and the rain of our land to be powder and dust He causes the land to mourne and the herbs of every field to wither When the ground is chapt for want of rain when the plowmen are ashamed and cover their heads when the wilde Asses do stand in the high places and snuffe up the winde like Draggons and their eyes do faile because there is no grasse And therefore unto him it is that we must make our addresses for help and supply in all such exigences That when heaven is shut up and there is no rain because of our sins against him Yet if we shall pray unto him and confesse his name and turne from our sins when he afflicts us That then he would hear in heaven and forgive the sins of his servants and teach them the good way wherein they should walk and give rain unto the land which he hath bestowed upon them for an inheritance Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain or can the heavens give showers art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will waite upon thee for thou hast made all these things That he would open the windows of heaven and cause the rain