consider her wayes and be wise Prov. 6.6 7 8. I might be large in the prosecution of this but these instances may suffice to be as so many glasses to shew us how diligent and active and industrious we should be in our particular Callings and that God would have us busily working in our several places and stations for him Secondly From our selves 1. We are ever best when we are at work our hearts are never in better frame to go to God in duties of our general Calling then when we have been most conscientially careful in being diligent in our particular Calling We can then go with comfort to pray when we have been at work and never are we fitter to offer up this spiritual sacrifice then when sloth hath not seized upon us in our particular Callings And hence it is that these are coupled together Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. 2. We shall be pronounced blessed if we be found well-doing when our Lord cometh Matth. 24.46 and it is that that we would all desire after to be partakers of that blessedness who would not be found so at that day 3. We are not yet in heaven but on earth and therefore must attend on our outward occasions and businesses that we are called to When we come in heaven we shall rest from all our works here and be wholly imployed in serving God and praising him Rev. 22.3 4. we shall do Angelical work Seraphical work but while we are here we must be doing in ordinary work and it is a good work because commanded of God 4. We need many things for the outward man which by diligence in our ordinary Callings through the blessing of God are brought in to us Prov. 10.4 22. we get our daily bread by the labour of our hearts and hands food and raiment and physick and all necessaries by the Lords mercy are given in to us this way The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5.9 Gods crowning the year with his goodness his steps dropping fatness make our labours successful and bring in all outward blessings to us and therefore diligence in our Callings is that that God approves and looks for from every one of us 5. We are commanded to labour six dayes in the week Exod. 20.9 except upon extraordinary occasion as upon a Fast or by sickness we be hindred or by some other occasion that justly exempts us and keeps us necessarily from it we may not look at it as a permission onely but as a strict command and that calls upon us to be about our business and be doing in our particular Callings 6. We have Gods example in the first Creation set before us to follow he did his work in six dayes and then rested Exod. 20.9 and so would by his example have us to work and to trace his steps So that not onely Earth and Sea and Stars but Heaven it self calls upon us to labour and work diligently in our Callings Thirdly From our outward occasions and imployments 1. They are such as that we cannot serve God comfortably neither in our Bodies nor in our Spirits except we labour and attend our particular Callings and we are bound to serve him and glorifie him in both 1 Cor. 6.20 and how shall this be except we follow our imployments Meat will not fall into our mouthes except we labour Clothing will not be rained down from heaven upon us except we work for it and without these we cannot serve God neither with outward or inward man 2. These imployments in our Callings are such as that we cannot live without them Bread is called The staff of life Isa 3.1 and Clothing is the health of life and neither of these in an ordinary way can be had without labour 3. These imployments in our particular Callings are such as that we cannot expect the blessing of the Lord upon us The blessing of the Lord maketh rich but it is when the hand is diligent Prov. 10.4 22. otherwise there is no blessing of wealth or increase promised 4. These imployments in our particular Callings do fit us to come to God in spiritual duties and fit us for his coming to us either by death or judgement Luke 12.42 43 44. and this is worth something It was the speech of a faithful Minister now with God to one that he found working hard in his Calling Let me be found so doing when my Lord cometh 5. These ordinary imployments keep us from many sins and from many temptations to sin preserve us from many assaults of the Enemy that Idleness will expose us to As we see in Davids example 2 Sam. 11. if he had gone forth to war at that time or had been doing any thing that was good he would not have faln into such snares and sins as he did which idleness exposed him to Satan and his own corruption would not have so prevailed as they then did when he gave himself to that floth that we there reade of A diligent hand prevents the tempters coming or at least hinders him from overcoming Working in our Calling will either keep the snare from being laid for us or keep our feet from being taken by it And have we not cause then to be diligent and faithfully busie in our Calling 6. These labours and imployments preserve us from falling into other dangers and evils for God hath promised that his Angels shall have charge over us to keep us in our wayes Psal 91.11 Let a man but keep himself in his Calling and Gods Angels shall keep him They are Gods host and so long as they are about him a strong host is about him so that neither plague nor sickness nor any other evil shall come near him v. 10. he is safely guarded that hath such a military guard about him he need not fear any danger that hath these fiery charets and horses round about him 2 Kin. 6. These armies will never sly but will stand by us and shield off all dangers and all enemies and have we not good cause then to be in our Callings Cautions about our Imployments in our particular Callings 1. WE must take heed that love of the World set us not on work to be busie in our Callings for that is straitly forbidden 1 Joh 2.15 and such are not true to God but are called Adulterers and Adulteresses and are the enemies of God Jam. 4.4 and the greatest enemies that are to themselves for thereby they plunge themselves into many snares and temptations and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 10. If the love of the world be the great wheel that sets all a going and puts our hands to labour in our Callings we shall never please God nor benefit our selves or others by what we do this way The World is both an Harlot and a Witch and if we lust after the beauty of this Harlot and suffer
his wayes higher then our wayes and his thoughts then our thoughts Isa 55.8 9. Psal 103.11 and therefore we may well improve it to the utmost 5. He is infinite in mercy as well as in his other Attributes Psal 145.3 147.5 and therefore we may improve it what we can and as far as our finite natures can go this way 6. He delights in mercy Mic. 7.18 and that that he delights in that should we delight to improve to the utmost and he will also delight in our improvement of it as he did all along in Abrahams here Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have experience of his mercy to themselves and therefore improve it all they can in behalf of others Abraham found the Lord merciful to himself and therefore improves mercy for others 2. They are of a merciful disposition to others Righteous and Merciful men are coupled together Isa 57.1 Now being of a merciful disposition hence it is that they do improve the the Lords mercy what they can for them 3. Believers have a promise that being merciful they shall obtain mercy Mat. 5.7 and that themselves shall be no losers by it and therefore may well improve the Lords mercy for others 4. They know that it's Gods will that they should love mercy Mic. 6.8 and this way they shew their love of mercy in improving Gods mercy to others 5. They are good stewards of the manifold grace of God and this way shew it by improving the mercy of God in behalf of others as well as for themselves 6. They are like God and he is communicative and so are they in improving his mercy as far as may be for the good of others God is good does good Psal 119.68 and the further a sweet Fountain runs the better it is Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They often prevail for others as well as for Believers themselves Abraham missed not of one of his desires for wicked Sodom 2. Their Prayers if they should miss for others yet will return into their own bosomes Psal 35.13 3. Their Prayers pierce heaven 2 Chro. 30.27 4. They have a kinde of soveraignty with them Isa 45.11 5. They bring the Lord to our beck Isa 58.9 6. They are never in vain Isa 45.19 and is not such mercy worth the improving Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how full of love Believers are to others that are so willing to improve the Lords mercy so farre for their good Abraham desires mercy for Sodom if there were but twenty righteous found amongst them Faith and Love ever go together lodge in the same breast and take up together in the same heart 2. We see that Believers are not all for themselves but very desirous that others should partake of the Lords mercy with them Faith is a communicative grace and does not centre within it self Gal. 5.6 3. We see how precious Believers should be in our eyes for they are such as do all they can to make others partakers of Gods mercy Mal. 3.17 Jewels communicate their beauty to others as well as retain it within themselves 4. We see how Believers resemble God himself he is good and does good Psal 119.68 and so do they 5. We see that they that share in the Lords mercy themselves are not so content but would have others partake in it also and therefore so desire it for them 6. We see what love will be in heaven if Believers have so much here on earth there 's all love there 1 Cor. 13.8 7. We see that the Lords mercy is a rich Myne and Treasure seeing it may be so improved and Believers do so desire to improve it for others 8. We see what improvement we should make of Gods mercy to our selves 9. We see that Believers do well in fulfilling the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 10. We see what longings we should have after heaven for then the Lords mercy will be fully manifested Jude ver 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to those that share not in this mercy Vse 3. for Humiliation that we fall short in our duty this way Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To evidence our Faith this way 2. To improve his mercy for our selves 3. To look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life Jude ver 21. 4. To honour Believers 5. To Pray Luke 17.5 6. To give the Lord the glory of all his mercy Verse 31. And be said I will not destroy it for twenties sake Doct. XXV THat the Lord doth exceedingly condescend to his believing Suppliants in praying to him and improving his mercy in behalf of others So does the Lord here Abraham desires that if there be but twenty Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and God condescends to him in his request and sayes he will not destroy it for twenties sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suppliants 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is a God ready to forgive Neh. 9.17 Psal 86.5 and not to inslict punishment especially when sued unto by Believers See Exod. 32 11.-14 Numb 14 13-21 2. He prepares their hearts and then causeth his ear to hear Psal 10.17 He that gives heart-preparation he ever lends a listening ear 3. He provides for the Ravens when his young ones cry unto God Job 38.41 Psal 147.9 and if he come down so low as to hear them then sure he will not disdain to condescend to his believing Suppliants that sue to him in behalf of others 4. He gives the beasts their food ibid. and they make but an harsh sound they some of them roar as the Bear and Lion and some of them bray as the Ass and some of them bellow as the Ox and if he condescend so low as to hear such noises and voices how much more will he come low in hearing his believing Suppliants whoever they pray for 5. He is a God that is merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 and therefore hears them in behalf of whomsoever they sue for His Mercy and Grace makes him thus to condescend 6. He hears sometimes farre worse then they The Israelites murmured at the Red-sea yet Neh. 9.9 God heard their cry there to save them with a temporal salvation though afterward they were destroyed in the wilderness Jude ver 5. and if he would hear such much more will he condescend to hear his believing Suppliants on whose behalf soever they sue for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have much communion with him as we see in Enoch and Noah Gen. 5.22 6.9 and God will condescend much to those 2. They are accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 and what is it that they may not prevail for he will condescend much for their sakes 3. They please him Heb. 11.5 and such as so do may have any thing of him 1 Joh. 3.22 4. They ravish his heart Cant. 4.9 that one eye of their Faith wins his heart he is taken with it as a Lover is with the beauty of
workers and do evil with their lips though they move neither hand nor foot in the works that God calls them to labour in 1 Tim. 5.13 Idle persons are not idle in doing mischief but are busie in doing the Devils work but we must do Gods work and not the Devils except we would have the Devils wages rather then that blessed reward that God for Christs sake bestows upon us 3. We see that diligence in our particular Calling is that that God is well pleased with taking in the Cautions before spoken of Let Prayan usher in labour and labour with be very acceptable to God Abraham may go to his place and do what he hath to do when he hath been with God in Prayer It 's blessed work that we go about when Prayer hath begun the work the more we labour then the more smiles we have upon our labour from the God of heaven and when our Lord comes it will be happy for us to be found so doing yea if from obedience to God we are working faithfully we may with as much comfort die at that time as if we had been performing some dury in our general Calling Pray and work hear and work meditate in the Word and work do all so in the duties of our general Calling as that the duties of our particular Calling may be diligently attended to Calvin when full of bodily infirmities and pains would not intermit his labours because he would not be found idle when his Lord should come 4. We see what cause we have to be thankeful that God allows us and looks for it from us that we should labor in our particular Calling whereby we may get those things that are needful for the body for we cannot want these things for the outward man God is tender of our families comfort of our outward man would have us labour for that end and it is his mercy that he allows us to go about our ordinary imployment that we may have our necessary food and things convenient for the body Our bodies as they are part of Christs Purchase are dear to him and he would not have them want any thing that 's needful for them that we may with comfort serve him in our pilgrimage here and though they be but cottages of clay yet he would have them upholden though they be but the sheaths of our Souls as Daniel calls them Dan. 7.15 yet he would not have this sheath marred or mangled but kept in its beauty and comeliness and that it may be so he appoints us to labour that what may tend to the preservation of it may be brought in that the Soul and it while they are joyned together may glorifie God the more chearfully till death make a divorce betwixt them 5. We see that they that abide not in their Calling but step out of it are not safe but as Solomon sayes are in danger to be made a prey of Prov. 27.8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest so is the man that wandreth from his place A mans calling is his nest which while he keeps in he is safely protected in by God and his holy Angels but when he wanders from it Satan that subtile fowler will shoot at him and make a prey of him No safety like that that a man hath when he is in his Calling and no danger worse then that that he exposeth himself to when he steps out of it 6. We see that those Gentlemen that live without a Calling and minde nothing but their hawks and bounds and cards and dice and drunkenness and wanton dalliances are in an ill case and will be found so when the Lord comes God never intended that any mans recreation though lawful should be his occupation much less that his carnal Delights should be his Calling If they say They have enough and need not labour I say So had Adam in innocency being Lord of all the World yet then must labour Gen. 2.15 and after the fall though he had much land yet he was to labour more Gen. 3.19 Yea the second Adam Christ Jesus the Lord of heaven and earth would not live without a Calling Mark 6.3 and after he was in the Ministry how diligent was he Mat. 4.23 Acts 10.38 and are there any so great as he Let me say one word more It 's laid as a brand of Infamy upon those great ones to all generations that when others wrought hard they put not their necks to the work of their Lord Nehem. 3.5 Vse 2. for Terrour to idle drones that God calls to work 2 Thess 3.11 that work not at all or that slack their work how will they look him in the face who hath given to every man his work Mark 13.34 Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that work too little in their particular Calling as some in London and elswhere that would go from place to place to hear Sermons and neglect their Callings I say as Christ said in another case The one ought to be done and the other should not be left undone Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To diligence in our particular callings Rom. 12.11 we shall be more with God if we work more 2. To be ashamed of our former sloth 3. To bear mens reproaches 4. To think sadly of that Mat. 25.30 5. To charge idle persons to work 2 Thess 3.11 Verse 33. And the Lord went his way after he had left communing with Abraham c. Doct. XXXII THat Believers in praying to God are very familiar with him and he with them When they pray and the Lord makes answer there is a sweet colloquy and communing betwixt them For opening of which let me shew 1. How Prayer may be said to be a communing with God and Gods answers a communing with us 2. What manner of communing it is 3. Why God will vouchsafe to be thus familiar with us and let us be so familiar with him 4. The Vses Q. 1. How does it appear that our Prayer is a communing with God and that his Answers are a communing with us Let me speak to the first first That our Prayer is a communing with God A. 1. In that when we pray we draw near to God they that commune together draw near first one to another So Abraham drew near to God in Prayer and so communed with God But of that I have fully spoken in the first Note 2. In that when we pray we come to a reconciled God for else we could not familiarly commune with him Can two walk together except they be agreed sayes the Prophet Amos 3.3 We could not be familiar with God nor he with us except we come to a reconciled God in Jesus Christ 3. In that when we pray we walk with God so Enoch Gen. 5.22 24. Prayer was one path that he walked with God in Now they that walk together do familiarly commune one with another so it is between God and us 4. In that when we pray we
him God humbleth himself when he beholds the things that are done in Heaven when he looks at what the Angels and blessed Souls do for him in praising and yielding obedience to him but when he beholds what is done upon Earth by such as we are and accepts our prayers and grants us what we petition for Oh how low does he stoop and how does he humble himself that we may commune with him and he vouchsafes thus to commune with us and to be so familiar with us we may well say Who is a God like our God Psal 113.5 6. to be sure what ever our failings be and how short soever we fall of humbling our selves before him he exceedingly humbleth himself and condescends and comes very low to us 6. It is a gracious communing when we pray we utter gracious words grace is in our lips and grace bubbles from the fountain of our hearts as we sing with grace in our hearts Col. 3.16 so when we pray we pray with grace from our hearts and hence it is that these two are coupled together Zech. 12.10 a spirit of grace and of supplication The same spirit that is a spirit of supplication is a spirit of grace in us But when the Lord hears us and grants our requests and that way communes with us Oh how gracious is he to us Exod. 22.27 There are gracious communings between man and man sometimes so as that they are in heaven together upon earth but there are no such gracious communings as is between the Lord and us when we pray and he grants 7. It is a glorious communing Oh the divine lustre that is in our faces sometimes when we have been at Prayer Oh the glorious beauty that is then seen in our very countenances look as it was with Christ himself so it was with us it is said of him Luk. 9.29 as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered there was great glory seen upon it so it is with us sometimes when we pray there is a kind of heavenly glory sparkles in our faces and when he grants our requests and communâ—s that way with us Oh how glorious is he in his grace and mercy to us how gloriously does he dispense himself to us it is a glorious communing he glorifies himself and puts glory upon us thereby Q. 3. Why will God be so familiar with us and suffer us to be so familiar with him A. First From the Lord. 1. He is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 and they that are most loving will be most familiar with them that they love Now God being originally primarily eminently transcendently essentially everlastingly love to his believing ones hence it is that he is so familiar with them as to commune in so friendly a way with them Love is ever the efficient procreant and conserving cause of familiarity between man and man and Gods love is that that makes him so familiar as to commune with us 2. He is abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 and the more a man abounds in goodness the more familiar he will be to those that are dear to him he will commune with them and make himself very familiar with them and so it is with the Lord his abundant goodness makes him have sweet familiarity so as to commune with us though we be sinful dust and ashes 3. He is such an one as humbleth himself in an unparallel'd way Psal 113.5 6. and humble ones are very familiar with those they delight in Proud persons scorn to be familiar with their inferiours but humble ones will come low this way they will take their inferiours by the hand and talk commune familiarly with them how much more will God do it who does so humble himself that none may be compared to him therein 4. He is a Father in Christ Jesus to us and therefore will be familiar with us Fathers are familiar with their children will speak familiarly and commune with them and grant their desires so will the Lord familiarly commune with us and grant us our desires that we ask of him 1 Joh. 5.14 15. there 's no father on earth that will be so familiar with his children as he will be with us though there be such an infinite distance between him and us 5. He is an Husband to us Isa 54.5 and there 's no greater familiarity in the world then is between husband wife how much more then between the Lord and us he will vouchsafe to commune with us in giving in all we desire of him Esthers hushand which was a great Monarch so sweetly familiarly conversed with her that shee might have any thing that shee desired of him Esth 5.3 and what then may not we expect from the Lord that doth more familiarly commune thus with us then any husband in the world that is most dear to his spouse 6. He is our friend Cant. 5.19 and therefore is so sweetly familiar with us A friend will be very familiar so will the Lord be and give us all we sue unto him for Friendship carries familiarity ever along with it A friend is as dear as a mans own soul and lies next the soul and will be familiar whoever is not such a friend is the Lord he will be familiar with us and though he will be reserved to others and carry himself as a stranger to them yet he will be very familiar with his own But in the second place Why will he suffer us to be so familiar with him Ans 1. We are those that are a people near to him Psal 148.14 and though sometimes we were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Ephes 2.13 and will he not suffer us that are so nigh him to be familiar with him he will surely let us commune in a familiar and friendly way with him They that are near the King as they of the Council and Bed-chamber be they may speak familiarly to him and bring their Petitions before him so may we that are so nigh to the Lord. 2. We that are believers are they that finde favour in his eyes and to whom he holds out the golden scepter of his grace as that Kingd did to Esther Esth 5.2 and therefore may draw near and touch the top of the Scepter as she did and make our Petitions boldly and familiarly to him They that are in favour with a Prince may be familiar with him and He of his Princely grace will suffer them so to be how much more may we that are in favour with God who is infinitely above all the gracious Princes in the earth for grace and favour 3. We are they that he will admit to greatest and sweetest familiarity in another world that he will lay us in his everlasting arms and put us in his bosome no familiarity will be like that when we shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thess 4.17 and see his face and be transformed into his image 1 Joh. 3.2 Now God would give us a pledge
so it may well be the joy and rejoiceing of our hearts 3. If God vouchsafe to commune with us and let us commune with him then we begin Heaven upon Earth and have a taste of Heaven before we come there to commune with God is Heaven upon Earth they live in Heaven that have such familiarity with God though they be on Earth And as that gracious man said when he was to dye I shall change my place but not my company so it may be said of others that have had much fellowship with the Lord when they dye they change their place but not their company to go from one heaven to another from heaven upon earth in their communing with God here to Heaven in another World to be with him in glory forever And is not this sweetest comfort to the Saints that whereas the greatest number of men live in Hell upon Earth having fellowship with Devils Believers by being much with God are in a corner of Heaven upon Earth 4. It is great comfort to Believers that the time is hasting when as they have had sweet communings with the Lord here so they shall enjoy everlasting communion with him in glory It is but a little while and the time will be when we shall be ever with the Lord when a few dayes are come we shall have other manner of communings with him and he with us then now we have As Dr. Taylour sometimes said with rejoicing within two stiles and I shall be at my Fathers house so after a little time we shall go to God where we shall be better acquainted with him and be more familiar with him that though our communings together be very sweet here yet ere long we shall have sweeter fellowship one with another here we have some smiles and kisses and such communings as put us in Heaven but within a little time we shall have more after a few wearisome agitations and conflicts with enemies and troubles we shall rest in his armes and be alwayes in his presence and lye next his heart and what communings we shall then have together we shall then know when we come to the happy enjoyment of our God then all tears shall be wiped from our eyes all sorrows removed from our hearts all burthens taken from our shoulders we shall sigh no more nor weep no more nor feel pain any more nor sin any more no Devils shall tempt us no men ensnare us no bad company weary discontent afflict us no persecuters hunt us entangle us entrap us go about to ruine us but we shall be with God and he with us commune of high things and what we could not know in our child-hood we shall have revealed to us when we become men 1 Cor. 13.9 10 11 12. To end in a word or two more after we have been tossed with tempest a little while we shall come to the Haven after we have been in the battel we shall gain the victory after we have wrestled we shall win and wear the Crown and after a few embraces in the arms of God here in our fellowship that we have with him in this world we shall be clasped in his everlasting arms and be kissed and embraced by him to all Eternity Quest But how shall we come to know that this happy condition shall be ours Answ 1. By our Holiness Matth. 5.8 1 John 3.2 3. Holy here Happy hereafter Without Holiness we shall never see God Hebr. 12.14 but if we be holy in body and spirit we shall see him with comfort and have everlasting fellowship with him Holiness is the Beauty of Heaven for they are all holy there and none that are defiled come into the holy place Psal 24.3 4. No Leper was to come into the holy Camp of old even Miriam her self till she was healed must be shut out Numb 12.14 how much more then must all defiled leprous Souls be shut out of Heaven Look therefore to our Hollness 2. By our Vprightness of heart Psal 15.1 2. Hypocrites shall be cast out and rejected Mat. 7.23 they cannot escape the damnation of Hell Matth. 23.33 they heap up wrath Job 36.13 But they that are upright as they have good things in possession here so they shall be happy in another world as they walk surely here Prov. 10.9 so they shall be sure of a blessed state in glory 3. By our Obedience Matth. 7.21 Heb. 5.9 Disobedience brings destruction with it 2 Thess 1.8 9. but they that obey from the heart out of faith shall be saved Obedient Children inherit their Fathers Estate so shall we if we be obedient possess our Fathers Estate in glory 4. By our Victory over our sins and other Enemies Revel 3.21 Conquerours win the Crown and wear it They that over came in the Olympick Games got the Prize and had the Crown and they obtained but a corruptible Crown but ours will be an incorruptible one 1 Cor. 9.25 5. By our Patience in well-doing Rom. 2.7 Heb. 10.36 37. Constancy and Patience is ever honoured with the Crown Rev. 2.10 they that hold out without fainting in Running or Wrestling had the glory of the Reward that they strove for so shall we if we hold out to the end Matth. 24.13 Look to this therefore that we quit our selves like men and hold out to the last 6. By our love to God Jam. 1.12 if eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath entred into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him in Gospel promises here 1 Cor. 2.9 then surely no eye ever saw nor ear ever heard neither ever came it into the heart of man to conceive the things that he hath prepared for them that love him in another World in glory If we have so much in the conduit-pipe and cistern what shall we have when we are at the spring and well-head If we enjoy so much in the wilderness what shall we have in Heavenly Canaan If the first fruits be such what will the full harvest be If the gleaning grapes be such what will the whole vintage be Surely it will be with shouting and greatest joy and consolation Look we therefore to our love to God and let that fire never go out but like the fire of the Altar to burn continually let that light shine alwayes let that flood ever flow till it fall into the Sea of Eternity where we shall according to our finite nature love him enough We use to say Love me little and love me long but there we shall love him much and love him long to all Eternity and be like Solomon's friend that loves at all times and when all time is at an end FINIS Reader The Authors distance from the Press and difficulty of the Copy having occasioned the following Errata's thou art therefore destired thus to Correct them viz. PAge 7. line 11. for Isa 1.15 reade Ezek. 8.18 p. 13. l. 27. for act r. get p. 44. l. 18. for running r ruining p. 89. l. 10. for souls r. sorts p. 112. l. 29. for Justly r. Fully p. 132. l. 16. for day r. may p. 136. l. 11. for something r. sometimes p. 148. l. 17. for that r. the. p 157. l. 3. for Luke r. Mark p. 167. l. 3. r. we must do it p. 172. l. 11. r. not more bold then welcome to p. 212. l. 19. r. may they not p. 218. l. 14. for it r. them p. 302. l. 2. r. conscientiously p. 309. l. 3. r. Euchites p. 328. l. 16. r. Ezra
it 5. We shall finde our drawing near to God in this Duty a Pledge of our everlasting communion with him in another world Communion with God is Heaven begun and it will never cease till it fall into Eternity as the Rivers do into the Sea It is true our Communion with God is little here for what 's a little River to the Sea we are but now and then and but sometimes and but a little serious with him some acquaintance we have but not much but there is a time a coming when we shall ever be with the Lord 1 Thess 4.17 when we shall see his face Rev. 22.4 and be with him where he is Joh. 14.3 17.24 and be like to him and see him as he is And this everlasting happy Communion follows upon our drawing near to God here 6. We shall finde that when we draw nearest unto God we have most his Image upon us for so it is in Glory 1 Joh. 3.2 We shall be like unto him for we shall see him as he is and so it is in Grace 2 Cor. 3.18 Look as Moses by being with God brought some of Heavens beauty down with him not onely in his face but also in his heart some of the bowels of God toward a sinning people Exod. 32.31 32. so it is with those that draw near to God in Prayer the Image of God looks fresh upon them it is to be seen who they have been with their Fathers face is so conspicuously beheld in them 3. From the Duty it self 1. It is that that Christ Jesus often exercised himself in especially upon weighty occasions yea sometimes spent the whole night in Prayer to God Luke 6.12 and we need not be ashamed to follow him Souldiers follow their Leader Sheep the Shepherds so here Joh. 10.27 They follow me 2. It is that whereby we become Princes with God Gen. 32.28 Hos 12.3 4. and who would not prevail with God though he get an halting by it 3. It is that that makes us prevail with men Gen. 32.28 If we can but be Princes with God men shall never be too hard for us Impotency shall not overcome where Omnipotency yields 4. It is that duty that gains great things for us What is it that may not be obtained by Prayer of Faith it's a Key that opens all doors the door of Heaven Jam. 3.17 18. the doors of the Sea Exod. 14. Neh. 9. the doors of the barren womb 1 Sam. 1. What Treasures are there that Prayer cannot come at fetch away and bring in its hand to us 5. It is that that God delights in Cant. 2.14 Prov. 15.8 it is a kinde of harmony and musick and melody in his ears Other fathers love to see their children playing but our Father loves to see his children praying 6. It is that that we begin our spiritual life with Acts 9. and must not cease with us till we come to glory 7. It is that that will issue in praises in another world our Requests now will be Songs then Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what honour God puts upon Believers when they pray to him They draw near to him It is great honour to draw near to a Princes Throne to put up a Petition now and then and to stand or kneel in his Presence Oh what honour then is it to araw near to God and to come to his Throne to present our Supplications before Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords all are not so dignified it is the priviledge of Believers onely they are they that have this Kings ear and heart they may come without check or controll it 's their honour to be in his Presence there 's no Law to inhibite them from coming as was sometimes in the great Persian Monarchs Kingdome Esth 4.11 they may come when they will and as often as they will this King hath an ear open and an hand ready to receive their Petitions that they present to him 1 Joh. 5.14 15. When they come most frequently they are welcome most cordially when they draw near as Abraham here they have the honour to kiss the Kings Hand and to come at any time into the Presence-Chamber without reproof Such honour have all his Saints and so it is with every one that this King delighteth to honour 2. We see that Believers are Favourites and Friends of God that they draw near to God Abraham is thrice in Scripture called the Friend of God 2 Chron. 20.7 Isa 41.8 Jam. 2.23 and when any thing is often spoken of God would have us minde that The truth is none are such friends of God as Believers nay none are friends but they To them this King holds out the golden Scepter of his Grace There are some that are said to be near the King Jer. 52.25 and of Zabud that he was King Solomons friend 1 Kings 4.5 Oh but how near are Believers to God what friends are they to him that may come with their Petitions to him at any time without repulse No Favourites of Princes have more liberty then they have to come into the Presence of the greatest Majesty of Heaven Julius and Augustus had their Favourites and so had Tiberius his Sejanus that he did call Friend and would write to him pro amicitia out of the friendship that he bore to him but none like Believers for friendship and favour with God that can come with such boldness to his Throne of Grace and draw near when they pray to him 3. We see that God humbleth himself above all other Princes in the world that will vouchsafe to admit such as we be into his Presence and to come so near him It 's great humility in the great God to behold things that are done in heaven to have respect to the service that Angels bring before him but for him to behold things done on earth to look at our services and prayers to regard our petitions and to let us have any room in his heart and our requests to have any admittance to his Throne Oh! who is like to the Lord that dwelleth on high that thus humbleth himself for our sakes Ps 113.5 6. Princes will sometimes stoop toward their Subjects as David and others have done but none like God Some Princes will scarce be seen once in a year of their Subjects they take such State upon them but our God and King does not so we may draw near to him when we pray to him 4. We see that by nature we are far from God for it is of faith that we draw near to him by nature we care not for praying to him for it is by grace that we come with our suits and supplications to him we may thank grace that ever we get near him Nature puts us far from God as East and West are in their distances one from another as soon may Arctick and Antarctick Poles meet as God and Nature meet together Adam when fallen would never have come
at God but hid himself for ever if God had not sought him and found him out So it is with all Adams Sons they would shrowd themselves any where rather then come where God is Of all such men it is said They call not upon God Psal 14.4 it is from that which is supernatural that we draw near to him There is a Byass upon nature that carries us far from God till another Byass bends us strongly towards him 5. We see how precious Christ should be to us for he is that better hope whereby we draw near to God Heb. 7.19 there 's no coming to the Father but by him Joh. 14.6 but through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 3.18 and who then should be precious to us if not he 1 Pet. 2.7 He is the great Favourite of Heaven that brings us all into favour and brings us near God if ever we get near to him Favourites of Princes bring others into their Presence so does he bring us into the Presence of God and makes us and all our Prayers acceptable Eph. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.15 Oh what a price should we set upon him He should be the chiefest of ten thousand above all other beloveds Cant. 5.10 the Pearl of great price that we should sell all for Mat. 13.45 46. we should have none in heaven but him and none in the earth that we desire in comparison of him Ps 73.25 He is the richest Jewel in the world the fairest Flower in Gods garden the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God the Sun the bright and Morning Star the Day-spring from on high the Treasure of Heaven In a word He it is by whom we draw near to God and bring our suits before him to finde acceptance with him 6. We see what a precious grace Faith is 2 Pet. 1.1 not onely because we lay hold upon procious Christ by it for righteousness and life but because we draw near to God by it when we pray to him and therefore it is that faith is that that makes our prayers for us next to the Spirit which is the principal Efficient of them Rom. 8.26 The prayer of faith Jam. 5.15 and indeed that prayer is no prayer that hath not faith in it though never so well beset with compleat and neat flowers of goodly expressions these do not take with God it 's faith that carries all along sweetly in the duty that 's the sinews and strength the heart and life the cream and flower the choyce and best the marrow and fatness of the duty Oh how precious should we account of it then and especially because we draw near to God in prayer by it Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers They cannot draw near to God nor make any prayer to him to finde acceptance with him they may be near him with their lips but their hearts will be far from him they may compass him about but it will be with lies and deceit as God complains of old Hos 11.12 for it is by faith that we draw near to God Abraham drew near to pray and they that would do so must be heirs of his faith and walk in the steps of that faith that he put forth which is the father of us all Thou canst as well climb up to the Moon as go to God and make a prayer to him so as to be accepted without Christ without faith without Christ thou wantest the ladder and without faith thou wantest a foot to come to God by him No Unbeliever can make a prayer so as to be accepted Vse 3. for Humiliation that our prayers are so destitute of faith or at least we are of little faith as Christ speaks When the Sails of a Ship are full she goes on swiftly and if our Prayers were filled with faith how swiftly and sweetly would they bring in Rich Returns to us but a scant wind spoils the blessed market that we might make A little faith and a large prayer does not bring in that we look for it hinders our drawing near to God Vse 4 for Exhortation 1. To be thankfull to God that gives us admittance into his Presence and leave to draw near to him We would shew our selves thankefull for being admitted into an earthly Kings Presence and that we might have any near approach to him to put up any Petitions of concernment to him Oh how thankfull should we then be that the great God will vouchsafe to give us leave to come before him to put up as many Petitions as we will to him especially considering what we are and what we have been to him when time was Tit. 3.3 considering also what great things they are that we come to make suit for Pardon of sin Peace of Conscience Assurance of his love Heaven and Happiness which no Kings on earth can give we can never be thankfull enough to him for this Heaven and Earth should be full of our praises for this great favour 2. To love the Lord Jesus by whom we thus draw near to God Heb. 7.19 Eph. 2.18 We would for ever love that Favourite that brought us into the Kings Presence and presented our Petitions to him and got some great thing sealed and confirmed to us Oh what love then should Christ have from us that admits us into the Presence of God and presents our requests and mediates for us and sees all done that we desire of him Joh. 14.13 14. We can never love him enough As the Prophet said of Gods Infiniteness Isa 40.16 Lebanon is not sufficient to burn nor all the beasts for a burnt-offering so we may say All the fragrant spices and sacrifices of our dearest hearts love are too little are not sufficient for him that brings us so near the blessed God And though we cannot come off with so much love as he deserves for this yet let us do what we can and give him our hearts Prov. 23.26 And as it is with those that love either men or women they love the very ground they tread upon so let it be with us let us love the ground he treads upon those places that he comes most to Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house saith David and the place where thine honour dwelleth so should we 3. To honour Believers that are so honoured of God as that they may draw near to him They that are frequently in the Presence-Chamber of Kings on earth as Favourites be are highly honoured among men Oh what honour then should we put upon Believers that draw near to the blessed God They are indeed the honourable ones and the excellent of the earth which we should set our delight upon Psa 16.2 3. They are they that the King of Heaven delighteth to honour and when an earthly King honoureth any all his Servants will honour such so should we honour those that God honours by admitting them to draw near to him We should think honourably of them speak
went on in a way of obstinacy and hardned his heart against all Gods Words and Rods and it was his ruine Obstinacy is alwayes a forerunner of destruction A callous brawny heart speeds a man to perdition it lets in like an hole in a Bank a sea of Misery and drowns all before it Thus much for the quality of the sins that bring destruction let me now shew the kind of them Secondly When sins for the kinde of them are like Sodoms sins And what were they Ans 1. Pride Ezek. 16.49 in Apparel in looks in gate in carriage and behaviour in gesture in building and any other way expressed this is a sin that brings destruction with it Prov. 16.18 18.12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty the highest Towers come soonest down the highest Mountains are soonest shaken and so it is with the highest Spirits Isa 2 12-17 3 16-24 2. Excess in eating and drinking Ezek. 16.49 expressed in the phrase of Fulness of bread Our Saviour expresseth this sin of theirs Luk. 17.28 They did eat they drank that is to excess they were taken up with these things delighting in satisfying their sensual appetites and pleasing their palates and filling their bellies this was their trade that they were busied about and this fulness of theirs fitted them for destructeon and fatted them for the slaughter A belly full of meat and an head full of drink as it fills the heart full of sorrow so it brings destruction with it Phil. 3.19 Their end is destruction whose god is their belly 3. Fornication Jude ver 7. They gave themselves over to fornication which comprehends in it Adultery also Filthiness in both kindes and this was a fruit of their fulness of bread They that are full of meat and drink will be full of lust A full barrel will have a vent and a full belly will have a vent to filthy concupiscence and uncleanness A full Chest is soonest rifled and a full House soonest robbed and spoiled so when men are full of Creature-comforts they are soonest made a prey of by vile lusts that drown them in perdition and destruction 4. Vnnatural Vncleanness Strange flesh as it is called Jude ver 7. when men with men commit filthiness and women with women as the Apostle expresseth it Rom. 1.26 27. and this makes men ripe for ruine Strange lusts bring strange punishment strange fire kindled upon earth brings strange fire from heaven Fire naturally ascends but the fire that destroyed the Sodomites descended Gen. 19.24 the sin was strange and the destruction strange God proportions the punishment to the sin payes men in their own coin they have fire for fire and not onely so but strange fire for strange fiery lusts 5. Abundance of Idleness Ezek. 16.49 that addes fewel to the fire of lust Idleness is ever the incendiary of filthiness and where there is abundance of it there must needs be a great fire of it kindled which will burn to destruction it is as coals to burning coals and as wood to the fire that kindle the wilde-fire of lust that burns to hell fire it is like oyl to the flame of uncleanness which feeds it till it bring men to destruction Quaeritur Aegistus quare sit luxuriosus in promptu causa est desidiosus erat that man that is idle will be luxurious it breeds and feeds the fire of all filphy lusts which are a fire that burneth to destruction 6. Neglect of the poor and needy Ezek. 16.49 this is a destroying sin for which God took the Sodomites away as he saw good They that made so much of themselves and did so indulge their own sensual desires they minded not at all the poor amongst them but were hard-hearted and cruel to them and this is a sin that brings ruine with it 7. Conversing in and about worldly matters Luke 17.28 They bought they sold they planted they builded these were the things they were wholly imployed in and taken up with They minded earthly things and nothing else and their end is destruction that minde earthly things Phil. 3.19 These were the great things in their eye and heart and that brought ruine upon them and will destroy all those that set their mindes and hearts upon them Earth is the heaviest of the Elements and earthly-mindedness that that brings heavy destruction with it Quest 2. How will God destroy the wicked Ans 1. Speedily Psal 37.2 They shall soon be cut down as the grass They shall not live out half their dayes some of them Psal 55.23 God will make speedy dispatch with them Some die in youth whose life hath been among the unclean Job 36.13 14. There 's a flying Roll the Curse that comes speedily and is upon the wing and hastes the destruction of wicked men Zech. 5.1 2. As birds fly swiftly so they bring swift destruction upon themselves 2 Pet. 2.1 2. Suddenly and unexpectedly 1 Thess 5.2 When they shall say Peace and safety then sudden destruction comes See Prov. 29.1 24.21 22. How suddenly was the Host of the Assyrians cut off 2 Kin. 19.35 How suddenly was Sennacherib himself destroyed 2 Kin. 19.37 How suddenly was Haman destroyed when he least expected it his destruction came upon him on a sudden a storm ariseth on a sudden a Thunder-shower falls so here Bad News is brought suddenly when men think not of it so is destruction to the workers of iniquity 3. Dreadfully How dreadfully were the Sodomites destroyed Gen. 19.24 25. Jude ver 7. and they now suffer the vengeance of eternal fire How dreadfully was the old World The world of the ungodly destroyed by the universal Deluge Gen. 7.22 23. Sometimes there falls such a dreadful Rain as if Heaven and Earth would come together sometimes there breaks out such fearful flashes of Lightning and such dreadfull Thunder-claps are heard as are amazing to us So is the destruction of the wicked the storm falls dreadfully as well as suddenly upon them 4. Ignominiously So Haman was ignominiously destroyed and his ten Sons they were all hanged Esth 7.10 9.14 So Achitophel 2 Sam. 17.23 he hanged himself so Judas hanged himself burst in sunder and all his bowels gushed out Mat. 27.5 Acts 1.18 So Herod was eaten up of worms Acts 12.23 Thus Arrius that wicked Heretick that obstinately denied the Deity of the Son of God and far more himself died an ignominious death voiding out his bowels with his excrements See also 2 Chron. 21.18 19. 5. Everlastingly 2 Thess 1.9 Who shall be destroyed with everlasting destruction and that 's a pitiful destruction if it were but a temporal destruction it were the less matter but to be destroyed for ever who is able to bear that Jude ver 7. that 's the worst thing that can befall them that must undergo that destruction See Obad. ver 10. To have the life taken away is afflictive for a man will give all he hath for that Job 2.4 but what is this to
146.8 and will do very much for their sakes even for a sinning people and that 's a ground sufficient for godly ones to pray for them 5. He is kinde to the unthankeful and to the evil Luke 6.35 much more if there be Righteous ones amongst them and therefore have ground to pray for them 6. He is willing to hear the prayers put up to him in faith Psal 65.2 Mat. 21.22 as he was to hear Abraham in behalf of Sodom But of that more hereafter if the Lord will Secondly From the Righteous ones themselves 1. Their presence is delightful to him and may prevail much for those they live among Gen. 19.22 2. Their prayers are not lost that are put up for them they are accepted though they prevail not for such a sinning people 3. Their grief for the sins of such is taken notice of as Lots was for filthy Sodom 2 Pet. 2.7 8. 4. Their tears that they shed are bottled up Psal 56.8 and booked 5. Their sighs and cries are observed Ezek. 9.4 6. Their pains they take with them to make them better is considered of as Lots among the Sodomites Gen. 19.7 8. Now all these considered of what wonder is it that they plead with God that for the sake of such God would not destroy but spare a wicked place where such are as are in such esteem with God Thirdly From the Petitioners themselves 1. They are friends to God 2 Chron. 20.7 Isa 41.8 Jam. 2.23 and what or whom may not they prevail for 2. They are chosen ones Neh. 9.7 so was Abraham and God cannot deny the suits of his chosen ones 3. Their hearts are faithful to God Neh. 9.8 and such may prevail much for others their Prayers shall not be lost but be like the bowe of Jonathan that turned not back and the sword of Saul that returned not empty 4. They are in Covenant with God Neh. 9.8 and such cannot be denied he cannot say them Nay in any thing they sue for 5. They are obedient to God in difficult commands Heb. 11.8 17. and what may not such prevail for 6. They are men weaned from the world and live and converse much in another world Heb. 11.9 10. Such a man was Abraham and they that are such may get any thing they ask whoever they be that they make suit for All which being considered no wonder that they do so desire that God would not destroy but spare a wicked place especially for those good that peradventure may be found therein Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that the most excellent of Saints bear great good will to the worst of sinners Abraham that prime Believer wisheth well to wicked Sodom that it might not be destroyed and so dâ—â—â—â—w many a precious Saint pray for those that lin worse then ever Sodom did For sins committed under the Gospel exceed Sodoms wickedness they love those that hate them and out of love pray for them Such will not be brought to think that they love them yet they are many times got into a corner to pray for them even when they are tearing them with their tongues and speaking and doing all the evil they can against them For my love sayes David they are mine enemies but I give my self to prayer Psal 109.4 5. Godly ones are full of love even to their adversaries and wish well to them that wish no good but evil to them 2. We see how wickedly they do that so ill requite the Saints that wish them well that they are the men that are had in greatest abomination with them Prov. 29.27 Publicans will love those that love them Mat. 5.46 these therefore are worse then they who hate them that love them and persecute such as pray for them Deformed persons hate the greatest beauty so do these hate those that shew forth the greatest beauty of love to them in praying for them If Abraham had been in Sodom as Lot was they would have no more regarded him then Lot was regarded by them Such requital the best of Saints must meet with and look for from an evil world 3. We see what love there is in heaven if there be so much on earth Oh! how do the Saints love one another there if while on earth they love their enemies what inexpressible and inconceiveable love do they shew to their friends in heaven Love that is the bond of perfection will tye perfection to it self for perfect will our love to Saints and Angels be Here are sparks but there our love will be on a flaming fire here are little points but there our love will be in the full Circumference of it here are atomes and motes of it but there it will be in the fulness of it here there are but drops but there will be a Sea of it 4. We see what love there is in God himself that is Love it self 1 Joh. 4.8 He is the Everlasting Spring all that is in the Creature flows from him and this love he hath shewn to us when we were enemies to him Col. 1.21 Rom. 5.10 Ours is little but his is much Abraham may wish well to Sodom and a few other Cities more but Gods love is infinite he loves the whole world of his Elect Joh. 3.16 It 's great and large it 's a Sun a Sea and the Sun is not so full of light nor the Sea of water as he is of Love This Spring never dries this Light ever shines this Sun never sets this Sea never fails this Fire never goes out but warms our hearts and will warm them to all Eternity 5. We see how previous righteous ones be in the Lords sight that Believers dare for their sakes desire of God to spare the worst of sinners They are of great account and reckoning with him His Peculiar Treasure Psal 135.4 His Jewels Mal. 3.17 A special people to him Deut. 7.6 for whose sake Believers are so bold with God as to desire that the worst of men may not be taken away in their sins Surely they are such as he takes great delight and pleasure in they are his choice ones more precious then the gold of Havilah then the golden wedge of Ophir 6. We see what longings we should have to be for ever with him who loves his Righteous ones so as that he will spare the wicked for their sakes for so Abraham makes account in that he does so pray for them Wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty Righteous that are therein Oh how desireable should His Presence be that so tenderly loves his own that he will he kinde to the wicked for their sakes who would not long to be with him who is Love it self to die in the arms and bosom of the God of Love Vse 2. for Terrour to those that hate the Righteous that are in such high esteem with God they do procure their own ruine the sooner by it for for their sakes they are spared and not destroyed and
how will they look the Judge of all the Earth in the face that doth right another day 2. To Vnjust judges that though they know yet will not do right but deal unjustly upon their Seats of justice Psal 82 2-5 He that does right will have something to say to these one day and then they shall know it had been well for them if they had done right And though they have accepted persons yet he will not accept their persons how great and mighty soever they be Vse 3. for Humiliation for all that want of just dealing that is found amongst us in bargaining buying selling in breaking promises in dishonest dealings many wayes Oh that we could be ashamed of our wrong doings when shall it once be I blush to speak what was once said in one of our Pulpits New-England hath many godly men in it but but a few honest It was true in his sense though there can be no godliness where honesty is not joyned with it 2 Tim. 2.2 Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour and exalt the Judge of all the Earth that doth right Whom should we exalt if not him If other righteous Judges be lifted up in name and praise much more He that is the Great Judge that cannot wrong any but doth right to all 2. To us all to follow him and do right to all men that we have any dealings with in bargaining buying selling and in all our promises that we make let us be true and just in them though we lose by it we shall else never come in Heaven nor be true Members of the Church on Earth Psal 15.1 4. 3. To have no fellowship with them that deal unjustly they have no fellowship with Christ Psal 94.20 and therefore we are to have no fellowship with them 4. To give this Judge his right that does right to all give him his due in all the duties of love and faith and obedience that he calls for 5. To leave our cause with him when we are any way wronged he will do us right we need not seek to revenge our selves Prov. 20.22 6. To beware we wrong not fatherless ones for this Judge will plead their cause and do them right Prov. 23.10 11. 7. To do right to them that wrong us this Nature strives against but Grace must like oyle be above Prov. 24.29 8. To long for the day of his appearing when he will be sure to do right to all wronged ones Verse 26. And the Lord said If I finde in Sodom fifty righteous within the City then I will spare all the place for their sakes WE now come to the Lords first Answer that he maketh to Abrahams first Request viz. That if there were fifty Righteous found there within the City he would spare all the place for their sakes Whence we learn this Note in general in the first place which is Doct. IX THat the Lord is a God hearing Prayer and granting the desires of his Servants that sue to him Psal 65.2 1 Joh. 5.14 15. For opening of which let me shew 1. How it does appear that he is a God hearing Prayer and granting the desires of his Servants that sue to him 2. How he hears them and grants their desires 3. Why he hears and thus grants 4. The Vses Quest 1. How does it appear that he is a God hearing Prayer and granting the desires of his Servants that sue to him Ans 1. In that he is a Great King Psal 47.2 95.3 and they that are great Kings have open ears and inlarged hearts to grant the desires of those that sue to them Ask on my mother sayes Solomon for I will not say thee nay 1 King 2.20 What is thy petition Queen Esther and it shall be granted thee And what is thy request and it shall be performed to the half of the Kingdome Great Princes think it their honour thus to do Esth 7.2 how much more the Lord who is the Great King over all the earth 2. In that his Servants bless him for this Psal 66.18 19 20. When Princes are bountiful in granding the desires of their Suppliants they come off with great thanks and their inlarged hearts in thankfulness shews that he is a God hearing and granting the desires that they put up to him Great acknowledgements argue great favours great thanks great bounty 3. In that his Servants have this confidence 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and their confidence in him does not deceive them Confidence in an unfaithfull man is as a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt Prov. 25.19 it will deceive him as a broken tooth will him that eateth and a foot out of joynt him that goeth but confidence in the faithful God will never deceive a man but let him go to him in way of Request for any thing that he needs that stands with his glory and he shall have it 4. In that he hears the cry of the young Ravens Psal 147.9 and if so much more will he hear the cry of his Servants that sue to him Ravens are of the worst kinde of fowls of a devouring nature that feed of dead Carrion and are sometimes in want and after their manner cry to God and if he will hear such a croking cry as that much more will he hear the cry of his believing Suppliants and grant them what they sue unto him for 5. In that he is not sought in vain Isa 45.19 I said not to the seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Men may be sued unto and sought and desired to do this and that but such suits may be in vain and their expectations frustrate and they may get no grant of their desires and be as the Nobles little ones that came to the pits and found no water but returned with their vessels empty Jer. 14.3 and such men that they sue to may be like Jobs brethren that deceived him as a brook and as the stream of brooks which seem to promise something but perform nothing which vanish away by the heat and are consumed out of their place Job 6.15 16 17. Thus it is with men that are sought unto they will miserably fail those that sue to them and all their requests will be in vain But never any of the seed of Jacob sought the Lord in vain but found him a faithful God having an open ear to hear and an open heart and hand to give and grant the requests of those that sue unto him See Psal 145.19 6. In that he delights in our Prayers Prov. 15.8 The prayer of the upright is his delight Cant. 2.14 Let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice Now Prayer being so delightful to him being as it were sweetest musick and melody to him what wonder is it if he hears and grants all that we fue unto him for If Herod that was delighted in a dancing Minion would come off with whatsoever she should ask to half a Kingdome Mark 6.22 23. Oh! what will not the Lord
Requests that we put up to him There 's no friend that is kinde to us in granting our desires but we judge worthy of thanks Oh how thankeful should we then be to God that hears and grants what we seek unto him for Psal 66.20 It is the Lords Tribute that he looks for and if we would not grudge to pay the King his Tribute being a commanded duty Rom. 13.7 then we should chearfully come off with the Lords Tribute and pay it in holy Praises to him The truth is we do but bungle at it here and do it not workman-like but we shall one day do it better when we are joyned in this heavenly melody with that innumerable company of Angels and blessed Souls in glory But in the mean time we must be doing something this way for all his bounties to us and if not so well as we would yet we are to do it as well as we can and long for the time when we shall perform it better 4. We see that though we have but a few friends on earth yet we have One in Heaven that will not fail us There is a friend Solomon sayes that sticketh closer then a brother Prov. 18.24 and such an one is a rare jewel and hardly to be found but though he be not to be found on Earth yet God is such a friend and will hear and grant what we sue unto him for 5. We see the truth of that in Psal 73.28 It is good for me to draw near to God it must needs be so considering what a God he is that we go unto that hears our Prayers grants us all that we ask of him We make account that it 's good to go to a Father or Friend to make our wants known that we may have a supply Oh how good is it then to go to such a Father and Friend as God is 6. We see what cause we have to delight in the Lord that we may have the desires of our hearts granted to us Seeing he is so willing to grant let us take the way that he prescribes for this and that is by delighting in him Psal 37.4 He that delights in his friend may have any thing of him how much more may they that delight themselves in the Almighty 7. We see that we can never come off with love enough to him who is a God hearing prayer granting our requests to us We would think that man worthy of our love that granted our desires in asking but Oh what love should he have that gives us all that we desire of him Our love is but a little Rivulet and Stream but he deserves a full Sea our love is but a little spark but he deserves that it flame forth our love is but a drop but he deserves that it should be a full flowing Fountain that 's never dry 8. We see how unwearied we should be in duty and obedience to him that thus hears and grants How loyal are Subjects to Royal Princes when they come off bountifully to them How dutiful and obedient are Servants to their liberal Masters they are ready at hand to ride run go do any thing for them Oh how loyal should we then be to such a bountiful King and how dutiful to such a liberal Master as God is that gives us what we ask of him 9. We see how we may be followers of God by bearing the cries of poor afflicted ones and granting their desires so does God to us and so should we to them Ephes 5.1 There are those that turn away from the cry of the poor but they shall cry and not be heard But seeing God hears us if we would follow him we must hearken and come off liberally to them Luke 6.38 10. We see that none of our Prayers shall be lost that we put up to him none of them shall miscarry We may go to men with our Suits and be put off and turned away and our Requests may be slighted and made nothing of but God dealeth not so with us when we come before him in Prayer he hears and grants and gives to all liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 Some Princes have torn in pieces what their Petitioners have brought before them as the Emperour Valens did to one of his noble Captains that had done him great Service as Theodoret relates of him Lib. 5. Hist but our God never does so to his Suppliants but they have a comfortable answer and a liberal grant they go to a Throne of Grace and finde grace to help in time of need their Prayers come loaden with blessings and they return home bringing their sheaves with them Naomi complained that she went out full but returned empty but we go out empty to him and return full Vse 2. for Terrour to those that God will not hear they are none of his they regard iniquity in their heart Psal 66.18 they are sinners that delight in sinful wayes Joh. 9.31 they are loathsome to him blacker then Ravens in his sight for he hears them when they cry to him Vse 3. for Humiliation to the people of God that pray much and get no grant surely there is some great cause either they are not earnest enough cry not loud enough or else slack their pace and are not constant enough or have given God cause to be angry with their prayers Psal 80.4 or have not been so sincere as they ought or have had unfixed hearts and been full of wandring thoughts that have marred the duty or something or other hath stepped between them and mercy and it is good for such to search what is the cause and remove it that God may not go out of his wonted way but may shew himself a God hearing prayer Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour God and to give him this noble Title of his when we pray to him and say He is a God hearing prayer He delights to hear himself so spoken of and we that finde the comfort of it should delight to mention it to his praise We honour an earthly King with his Titles how much more then should we do it to this glorious King 2. To bring our Petitions to him he will not throw them away nor tear them in pieces nor cast them at his feet in disdain but will have them in high esteem hang them upon the file in Heaven remember them give a grant to them We may be encouraged to come to him who is a God hearing prayer 3. To be humble for who are we that he should hear our Prayers we deserve that when we cry and shout he should not hear us and that he should cover himself with a cloud that our Prayers should not pass thorow It is nothing in us that moves him to hear and grant it is all of his Free-grace 4. To hear those that sue to us and give them that that they stand in need of if it be in the power of our hand to do it Why should we
as often as they will they shall be heard God will not be weary of them nor of their suits 5. They pray fervently and fervent prayers avail much Jam. 5.16 Earnest suiters are ever speeders with men much more with the Lord he cannot tell how to turn them off or to be weary of them that pray earnestly though frequently bringing suit after suit before him 6. They pray sincerely Psal 17.1 their heart goes with their lips and he takes pleasure in sincerity 1 Chron. 29.17 Even good men delight in uprightness how much more the Lord and therefore he cannot be weary of such Prayers but must needs grant them Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are pure prayers so were Abrahams here so Job sayes My prayer is pure Job 16.17 2. They are pleasant Prayers Cant. 2.14 and how should the Lord then be weary of them He took pleasure in Abrahams frequent and renewed suits and therefore could not deny a grant to them 3. They are humble Prayers Abraham all along though bold in his suits yet was very humble and God takes it well to see us humble when we pray to him 4. They are zealous Prayers so were Abrahams here and this holy fire ever ascends and prevails when our Prayers are offered up with it 1 Kings 18.37 5. They are argumentative Prayers as Abrahams were and God is pleased when we argue the case with him in Prayer So did the woman of Canaan and got what she would 6. They are inwrought Prayers Jam. 5.16 such were Abrahams here he did not word it with God but what requests he made were inwrought and came from the heart and God was not weary of them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great encouragement we have to come with suit upon suit before the Lord for he is unwearied in granting the requests of his believing Suppliants how often soever they make their addresses to him Psal 65.2 So it is with them that come before gracious Princes when they finde them willing to grant what they sue for and are not wearied out with their Requests that they put up to them they will come again and again and venture upon their Clemency and bring suit upon suit and are encouraged to follow them with their supplications so it should be with us in our suits to a gracious God we cannot tire him out but he is unwearied in giving out grants to us 2. We see what cause we have not to be weary of well-doing Gal. 6.9 for if he be unwearied in granting our desires it were a shame for us to be weary of what he would have us do for him in such a way We are apt to be weary of any thing that is good and are soon tired out but Gods unweariedness in doing for us should make us blush when we are weary of that wherewith we may serve him or do good to others for his sake 3. We see how happy the state of the blessed Angels are that as they never yet trod a wry step but have been constant and unwearied in a way of obedience so they shall keep an unwearied course therein to all Eternity Psal 103.20 21. God hath been unwearied in his favour to them and they are unwearied in their duty to him and this is their height of Happiness 4. We see what longings we should have after that time when we shall be unwearied in our services and duties to him Here we are soon weary and tired out with what he calls for and tread many a wry step in what we do in way of duty to him but when we come in Heaven we shall never be weary more but shall praise and love and obey him to all Eternity This state we should long for and be weary of our weariness in our duties here 5. We see what our duty is to imitate and follow him in being unwearied in answering the desires of his poor ones that sue to us though they should come often to us and bring one Request after another to us if it be in the power of our hand we are to take pattern by the Lord himself and not to turn away our ears from their cries Prov. 3.27 28. 6. We see how unworthy we should count our selves of such a mercy as this is that God should be so unwearied in granting the Requests of his poor ones Who are we that we should bring suit upon suit before him and have all granted This should lay us low before him and we should judge our selves as Jacob did less then the least of all his mercies Gen. 32.10 7. We see what cause Believers have to exalt Grace that goes on in an unwearied course and way of granting what we sue unto him for Heaven and Earth Angels and Men may say Grace Grace for this What loud acclamations are made to Princes by their People when they make great Grants to them Oh what shoutings and loud acclamations then should we make for this great Grace of his towards us See for illustration of this Zech. 4.7 and Psal 149.6 8. We see what height of praise we shall come off with in another world for these large grants made to us here Here we do a little but we do but bungle at this duty of praise here we can cry like children for what we want but in Heaven we shall be men and perform our duty of praise to purpose There Songs will be in our mouthes and hearts and new Songs of praise Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers They get nothing for all this bounty they are weary of praying and God is weary of them and will not hear them Psal 66.18 Joh. 9.30 Vse 3. for Humiliation to the Saints that do not so often put up their Requests as they might nor bring suit upon suit as Abraham here did they miss of many a grant which they might have made over to them for God is unwearied in granting what we ask of him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To love the Lord that is so unwearied in giving out his grants to us What love would we not express to a man that should so do with us Oh! but God deserveth infinitely more 2. To be unwearied in our praises to him we can never do it enough nor long enough till the doors of Eternity be opened to us Psal 145.2 3. To follow him with suit upon suit we shall not lose our labour nor pray in vain This King is not he that can deny us any thing that we ask 4. To be followers of God in attending to all the just desires of friends or poor ones and not to be weary of doing them good Luke 6.30 we cannot follow a better pattern 5. To abound alwayes in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 according as he abounds in mercy to us in his frequent and renewed grants to us and his unweariedness in them 6. To be unwearied in every duty and service to him and men that he calls for from us
bold with him Isa 64.7 5. He makes account that such cast off fear as restrain prayer and are not bold with him Job 15.4 and Believers are loth to have that imputed to them for faith and fear go together Heb. 11.7 6. He alwayes makes us the more welcome the more bold we are with him when we pray to him Abraham lost nothing by taking upon him to speak unto the Lord and being further bold with him A bold friend findes hearty welcome from men much more from the Lord they that sue oftenest speed the best Secondly From our selves 1. We sue to a God who hath said that we shall not seek his face in vain Isa 45.19 and therefore may be bold with him and make further bold 2. We sue to him who hath given out that great word Isa 45.11 Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command me which none of us durst have thought of had not he spoken it 3. We sue to him that hath said Psal 81.10 that if we be so bold as to open our mouthes wide and enlarge our desires he will fill and satisfit them 4. We go to him who is the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 and therefore can supply us abundantly What cannot that God of all grace bring in to us All grace is more then Rich grace A man may be Rich and yet not have All but God is not onely Rich in grace but the God of all grace and therefore can make all grace to abound towards us 5. We sue to him who will never send us empty away who turns none away from his doors without relief His suiters shall never go sad away from him He sends the rich empty away that think they need nothing Luke 1.53 but filleth the hungry with good things 6. We go to him that hath said that Every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.8 and therefore we may be bold and further bold with him We may be bold to think that he will not be harder to us then he is to every one Thirdly From the nature of Believers boldness 1. It draws us nearer unto God and that God delighteth in we get near to the Throne of Grace 2. It makes a man go out of himself more and see what need he hath of supplies from Heaven and that 's a gracious frame of heart 3. It lets us see our own unworthiness Gen. 32.10 11. Luke 15.21 and that God takes pleasure in 4. It holds up our friendship with God and assureth us that we are his friends in that we make so bold with him Jam. 2.23 5. It is the very Suburbs and Gate of Heaven for they in Heaven can be holily bold with the Lord Dan. 4.17 6. It is a blessed fruit of Christs Ascension Heb. 4.14 16. Upon all which grounds Believers may be bold and further bold with him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a gracious God we sue to that we may be bold and further bold with in our requests that we put up to him He proclaimed his Name thus of old The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 2. We see that Believers have great interest in him that may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak again and again thus to him 3. We see that great is the friendship that is between God and Believing Souls Great hath been the friendship that hath been between some men but none like this between God and his believing ones 4. We see that to be bold with God and to be further bold with him in our requests that we put up to him is an argument that God is very near to us and we very near and dear to him 5. We see that surely we shall be near indeed to him in heaven when faith is turned into vision 6. We see that if we make so bold with him here in praying to him Oh what holy boldness shall we have with him when he clasps us in his Everlasting Arms and puts us into his Bosome to all Eternity 7. We see that though Believers are the modestest men that are yet they are the boldest men also for they can take upon them to speak to God and to be further bold with him 8. We see that no men nor Devils shall be able to dash them out of countenance for they can be bold with God himself 9. We see a reason of that in Ephes 6.16 That that makes us bold with God will make us victorious over the wicked one 10. We see how bold we should be in a good cause and for a good conscience as Peter and John Acts 4. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they cannot be bold this way though they make too bold with him by sin Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are not so bold with him as they may Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be holily bold 2. Believe 3. Fear him 4. Be friends to him 5. Apply Christs Ascension 6. Walk with him 7. Love Christ Verse 31. Peradventure there shall twenty be found there Doct. XXIV THat Believers in making suit to the Lord improve Gods bounty and mercy all that ever they can in behalf of others that they sue for Abraham found God merciful to Sodom that if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared the whole place for their sakes then afterwards if there had been five and forty then if there had been forty then if there had been thirty and had a grant so far and now having obtained so much mercy he improves it yet further to twenty Peradventure there shall twenty be found there he will try yet further what the Lord will do Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rom. 10.12 and that Riches of his mercy is inexhaustible we cannot empty the treasure of it nor draw the fountain of it dry it is a Spring that is alwayes full and therefore we may improve it all that ever we can A rich Myne may be digged into and a rich Treasure may be made use of and a full Fountain drawn So here 2. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think Eph. 3.20 and therefore we may improve it to the utmost and ask high of him Our desires are scant our thoughts are narrow to that large bounty and mercy that he can impart to us 3. He is such a full one that the whole earth is full of his mercy Psal 119.64 and that that fills the whole earth we may well improve for those that we pray for We may have enough of that that the whole earth is full of 4. His thoughts and wayes of mercy are not like our thoughts and wayes but as the heavens are higher then the earth so are
I will speak but this once 7. We see what a sad imprecation that is that we reade of Psal 109.7 Let his prayer become sin For Prayer-sins have great guilt in them and godly men of all other sins wish that they may not displease the Lord by them 8. We see what our duty is when we come to pray before the Lord to look to it that our prayers be pure and undefiled prayers that God may not finde any thing in them that may provoke him to be angry with us for them 9. We see that to displease God when we pray to him argues that we do not pray in faith for this prime Believer Abraham is very tender of displeasing him Oh sayes he let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once 10. We see that we may not wonder that unbelievers when they pray get nothing of the Lord Jam. 1.6 7. for how should they when they displease him when they pray to him Vse 2. for Terrour to those that provoke the Lord in praying to him they are unbelievers and in a state of damnation Mark 16.16 Joh. 3.36 if it be frequent Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that are not so tender of displeasing the Lord as they ought to be when they pray to him these forget Abraham their father and trace not his steps in a way of believing as they ought or at least come not up to that pitch of it that they should aspire after Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be ashamed of our Prayer-sins that so displease him Who would displease a Prince that petitions to him and looks for any great matter from him 2. To shew our selves Heirs of Abrahams faith by being tender of displeasing the Lord when we pray to him 3. To exalt Grace when the Lord accepts our Prayers and is not angry with us for them 4. To love the Lord for his regarding of them Psal 116.1 for our Prayers have their spots and are defiled the best of them 5. To take heed of those sins that displease God when we pray to him They have been formerly mentioned and need not be again spoken of 6. To long for the time when we shall displease him no more Verse 33. And the Lord went his way after he had left communing with Abraham And Abraham returned unto his place Doct. XXXI THat when Believers have been praying to the Lord and have received gracious answers to the requests that they have put up to him he then allows them to go about their other lawful occasions and businesses that they have to do So we see here after Abraham had ended his Prayer then the Lord went his way and Abraham returned to his place God allowed him to go about his ordinary occasions Though Prayer be an acceptable service and that that we should be frequent and serious in yet the Lord would have us do something else besides this and not spend all our time in this duty but fall to some other work As we must be fervent in Spirit serving the Lord so we must not be slothful in business Rom. 12.11 Our particular Callings must be attended as well as our generall we must have regard principally to the duties of Gods Worship but withall must look to our other Concernments in the matters of this life and holy duties such as Prayer is must give way to them Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From our selves 3. From our other outward occasions and imployments First From the Lord. 1. He hath enjoyned and appointed to every one that they should be in some Calling and that they should abide therein 1 Cor. 7.20 24. the greatest on Earth are not exempted The Magistrate is to attend to his great Work Rom. 13.6 the Minister to his Acts 20.28 2 Tim. 4.1 2. 1 Pet. 5.2 and so of the rest There 's none must think to live an idle life without a Calling he hath appointed to every man his work Mark 13.34 he is the great Lord and Master that hath set every one his task he will have us all be up and doing We must not any of us think to live and do nothing but to be busily imployed in our Callings for him 2. He hath of old shadowed out this to us under the Law the clean beasts were not onely to chew the cud but to divide the hoof Levit. 11.3 Now this dividing the hoof holds out our right dividing between our general and particular Calling and that one should not cross or interfere with another but diligently and carefully to attend the duties of both Our general Calling and the duties of it must not justle out our particular Calling nor our particular Calling must not justle out the duties of our general Calling but we must divide aright between them 3. He reproves Idleness in our particular Callings as in that Parable Mat. 20.6 and therefore would have us diligently employed and faithfully busie in our Callings that he hath set us in 4. He abhors Idleness being one of Sodoms sins which provoked him to rain fire and brimstone upon them to destroy them Ezek. 16.49 Gen. 19.24 and to send them to Hell to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire Jude ver 7. 5. He is ever at work himself he is alwayes doing working Creating work Providential work he is never idle but full of activity pure act Joh. 5.17 and therefore his will sure is that we should work The Servants must not be idle when the Master is at work So here 6. He hath put activity in the other Creatures The Angels how full of activity are they and therefore are described to have wings to fly with Isa 6.2 and they rest not day nor night but are alwayes busily imployed in Heaven and in Earth and where-ever their Commission is to do any work for the Lord. The Sun never stands still but is as a Bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoyceth as a strong man to run a race Psal 19.5 And the like may be said of the other Celestiall Bodies they are in continual motion and alwayes casting forth their influences The Sea is working constantly ebbing and flowing and bearing those great burthens of Ships and other Vessels upon its back and carrying them hither and thither from one Country to another and is in motion by producing such innumerable Creatures as are therein and by Leviathan playing therein Psal 104.25 26. The Earth though it stand still yet is it not idle being the Theatre of all the Acts that are done by the sons of men and specially because it is the breeder and feeder of all the active Creatures that are upon it and because it is unwearied in bearing seed and fruits and herbs and grass and corn c. The Springs and Fountains are ever working and bubling up their water The Bee is a busie and laborious Creature and so is the Ant that little Creature and therefore Solomon adviseth the sluggard to go to her to