64.7 I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe m Mark 9.24 and encrease my faith n Luk. 17.5 Seale me to the day of Redemption o Ephes 4.30 and shed abroad thy loue in my heart by thy holy spirit p Rom. 5.5 I humbly beseech thee q 3. For repentance Turne me O Lord vnto thee and I shall bee â—â—â—ned r Lam. 5.21 Create in me a cleaâ—â— heart O Lord and reneâ—â—â— right spirit within me Å¿ Psal 51.10 〈◊〉 take the stony heart out 〈◊〉 my body and giue me 〈◊〉 heart of flesh that I wiâ—â— walke in thy flatutes 〈◊〉 that I may be thy serâ—â—â— and thou mayst be my 〈◊〉 for euermore t Ezech. 11.19.20 u 4. For direction in our personall callings Aâ—â— whereas thou hast caâ—â—â— mee to this estate ... 〈◊〉 Good Lord grant 〈◊〉 grace therin to worketh 〈◊〉 which is good x Ephes 4.28 2 Thes 3.12 with qâ—â—â—etnesse and to eate miâ—â—â—â—owne bread shewing all good conscience that I may adorne the doctrine of God my Sauiour in all things y Tit. 2.15 and in as much as thy disciples must take vp the â—rosse and follow thee z Mat. 16.24 I way thee Deare Father strengthen mee with all might through thy gloriâ—â—â— powâ—e vnto all patiâ—â—ce and long suffering with ioyfulnesse a Col. 1.11 b 5. For perseuerance And because Satan as a râ—ring â—â—ion seeketh to deuour 〈◊〉 O my God tread down â—atan vnder my feet c Rom. 16.20 stablish me in euery good word and work d 2. These 17 and preserue my whole spirit soule and body blamelesse vnto the comming of our 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ c 6. For the Church Doe good thy good pleasure to 〈◊〉 on and build the mallâ—â—â— thy IerusaleÌ„ f Psal 51.18 Good 〈◊〉 preserâ—â— thy little flockâ—â— whom thâ—n hast prâ—â—â—â— the kingdome g Luk. 12.32 h Thankesgiuing I thâ—â—â— thee O Father Lord 〈◊〉 heauen and â—arth i Mat. 11.25 thâ—â— thou hast deliuâ—red 〈◊〉 from the power of darâ—â—â— and translated we into 〈◊〉 kingdome of thine 〈◊〉 Saâ—ue O Lord thou 〈◊〉 been my God from my â—â—â—ther â—wâ—mbe k Psa 22.10 Thou 〈◊〉 â—â—pt mee â—nto this dâ—â—â— thy prâ—â—â—dence thou 〈◊〉 giuen me bread to 〈◊〉 clothes to put on l 〈◊〉 28.20 I hâ—â—â—ly praise thy name and I beseech thee make me dwel 〈◊〉 safety m Psal 4.8 vnder the shadow of thy wings n Psal 17.8 this day or night through Ieâ—is Christ in whose name c. Or to whom with thee O Father Amen Thou maist also make vse of the Lords Prayer excellently to this purpose IT was giuen for a paterne and speciall direction to the Church vpon earth how to pray There can be no better direction for if wee require wisdome wisedome it selfe endited it if perfection it comprehends all the kinds of all things to be prayed for if order the method is diuine if perspicuous breuity so much could not by any onely-created vnderstanding be compacted into so little if force and power there can bee none more effectuall then that which Iesus Christ the Word of the Father hath left and commended to his Church If thou wouldest profitably vse it Obserue bese things 1 Learne throughto vnderstand it 2 Beare in mind the â—uerall petitions with â—â—e it order 3 Note downe in thy memory as thou wert before directed these graces thou crauest in â—uery petition giuing theÌ„ their proper place in thy booke in thy memory and in thy prayer 4 Fourthly take due knowledge of thy wants in euery petition vnder their seuerall heads setting downe the phrases and things thou meetest with al concerning them And specially note vpon thy heart and imprint in it the graces thou most wantest the wants which most doe trouble thee Principally meditate of those graces and labour to bee humbled with the feeling of those wants To helpe thee to spell 〈◊〉 this lesson out of the Lords Prayer After a description of God as before keeping the petitions with their order in thy minde thou maist enlarge theÌ„â—us The 1. Petition Hallowed be thy name 1 Heere thou maist how how God hath commanded and it is our dutie to glorifie his name in regard of our First Creation Secondly preseruation but specially in regard of our Thirdly Redemption 2 Then acknowledge First thy negligence and carelesnesse this way Secondly thy pride in seeking thine owne glory more then Gods Thirdly thy want of zeale Fourthly such sinnes whereby thou hast dishonoured God most causing his name thereby to be blasphemed Thirdly Desire grace the thou maiest chiefly in all thy thoughts words and deeds propound to thy self to glorifie God and to respect his glory more then euen the saluation of thy soule The 2. Petition Thy Kingdome come 1 Enlarge this by a mourning of thy soule vnto God for thy bondage vnder sinne and Satan amplified from the consideration First of our first Creation Secondly of our present traiterous and rebellious disposition by the power of originall sinne which hath wholly possessed all parts of body and soule 2 Desire that God would First rescue and redeeme thee out of the power of Satan and sinne Secondly that hee would by his spirit rule in thy heart casting out the strong man and diuiding his spoyles Thirdly that hee would make the affections subiect to the regiment of his spirit and renew thee according to his image Thou maist make this the place of repentance 3 Here thou maist remember the Church the kingdom of Christ The 3. Petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen 1 Here confesse and bewaile First thy readinesse to doe thine owne will yea the will of Satan making these the rule of thy life and not the will of God Secondly thy ignorance of Gods word which is the copie of his will Thirdly thy negligence in hearing of it Fourthly thy contempt shewed in continuance in knowne sins after admonition 2 Then desire grace First to denie thy selfe Secondly to vnderstand the word Thirdly to loue and reuerence it more Fourthly to make it the rule of thy life in as much as it is the scepter of Christs kingdome Fifthly that thy conuersation may bee in heauen after the example of the Angels Sixthly whatsoeuer be the will of God for thee to doe or suffer that thou maist alwaies with patience and contentation say Thy will be done The 4. Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread 1 Here acknowledge that thy life preseruation and all good things come from God 2 Confesse and bewaile thy First couetousnesse Secondly thy vniust dealing to enrich and maintaine thy selfe Thirdly Matth. 6. thy distrust in the good prouidence of God who feedeth the fowles clotheth the Lillies Fourthly thy earthly and worldly mind that cannot sauor ought but earth and earthly things 3 Then desire First the prouidence of God to watch ouer thee for thy preseruation and main
holy purpose of obedience i Psal 26.6 and 66.18 Esay 15.1 1. Tim. 2.18 1. Iohn 3 22. They must needs distrust to receiue that which they desire who purpose not to doe that which God requires The cry of our vnrepented-for sinnes is louder then the crie of our voyce As in a wound a plaister preuailes not while the iron remaineth within so neither praier while sinne rankleth within 5. Fifthly Reading I would aduise that before prayer there might be reading of a Chapter in the Bible or a Psalm if businesse permit both for the increase of knowledge and for the better calling home of the mind to the businesse in hand 6 Sixthly Meditation The Prayers called Eiaculations which are sudden liftings vp of the heart to God vpon manifold occasions occurring euery day come not within this consideration but set prayer requires sometime to be specially imployed this way As the Musitian first tunes his Instrument before he play vpon it so both the mind would be put in frame and the matter fore-thought when we petition to God Doe no temporall businesse rashly more especially when thou speakest to God bee not rash with thy mouth k Eccles 5.1 lest thou take Gods name in vaine which many times comes to passe by vaine repetitions by words idle improper and without sense when we dare so suddenly enter into this action Meditation therfore is necessary which must be fiue fold 1 Of the Maiesty of God no moue reuerence As mortall men endure not the sawcie and vnrespectfull carriage of suiters so GOD much more requires that wee should serue him in feare l Psal 2.11 as Dauid in feare will worship toward his holy Temple m Psal 5.7 2 Of his mercy power and truth to breede confidence for hee that doubteth receiueth not n Iames 1.7 3 Of the excellencie of the benefits we desire to make vs willing which are the fauour of God forgiuenesse of sin sanctification and eternall life 4 Of our own necessities and wants to make vs feruent for as tart sauces sharpē the stomack so the due pondering and sense of our wants whets off the dull bluntnesse of our affections and sets an edge on them to prayer 5 Of the words and whole frame of our speech that we may offer a reasonable sacrifice and pray with vnderstanding 1. Cor. 14.14.15 7 Seuenthly Religious fasting is a notable helpe to prayer and is often commended to vs in the Word which is either publike or priuat Priuate is a voluntary abstaining from dinner or supper or both as our bodies will beare and from all delicacies for one day or moe vndertaken to make vs the more fit for prayer and the seuere practice of repentance But this is a preparatiue and helpe for extraordinary not for ordinary prayer When there is occasion of this remember three things 1. The time of the vse of it 2. The ends of the vse of it 3. The conditions of the vse of it 1 The time is first either of some great calamity secondly or of extraordinary repentance for some speciall sinne thirdly or when we desire to obtain some speciall grace 2 The ends in fasting are two First a fitting our selues to prayer that we may be the more liuely and earnest Secondly that it may bee a helpe and a testimony of our sorrow for sinne and of our humiliation before God p Psal 35.13 3 The conditions are three 1 That it bee not superstitious for in it selfe it is no part of GODS worship The Kingdom of heauen is not in meat and drinke q Rom. 14.17 2 That it be not with the opinion of merit for whether we eate or eate not we are neither the more nor the lesse acceptable to God r 1. Cor. 8.8 3 That wee fast from sinne otherwise our fasting is Pharisaicall not regarded ſ Esa 58.5.6 Ier. 14.12 Thus much of preparation now of the other part which is execution In the execution or performance of this dutie of prayer I consider two things 1. The matter 2. The forme The matter of our prayers must bee onely that which is according to Gods reuealed will t 1. Ioh 15 14. the summe whereof is comprised in that diuine forme left vnto the Church by our Sauiour Christ called the Lords Prayer and may bee reduced to three heads 1. Gods glory with the remouing of the cōtraries 2. Our owne saluation with the remouing of the cōtraries 3. The vse of this life with the remouing of the cōtraries The forme is either 1. Inward or 2. outward First to the inward sixe things are requisite 1 Sinceritie of our desires that we pray not for fashion like hypocrites but with honest hearts 2 Feruency Such prayers obtaine u Iames 5.16 which he is not worthie to doe which askes in that manner as he cares not to receiue GOD loues an importunate begger Prayers are Incense which must be offered with fire 3 Faith whereby we certainely beleeue and expect the performance of our requests God is prouoked when we beg that which we looke not to receiue our faith is grounded 1 On the promise truth and power of him who hath promised 2 On the fatherly affection of God for if he bee our Father hee will much more then our earthly fathers giue vs good things * Luk. 11.13 3 On the merit of Christ which is infinite 4 Patience whereby we willingly submit our selues to Gods wil both in regard of the things we aske and of the time and meanes of receiuing Things that directlie concerne Gods glory and are necessary to saluation we must expect absolutely but things transitorie with this cōdition if God see them to be good for vs Better knowes the Physition what is good for the sicke then the Patient yea many times he blesseth vs exceedingly in not doing our will but his owne Wish not that to bee granted which thou wilt but labour thou to will that which it pleaseth God to grant It is lesse grieuous not to obtaine that which thou wilt then to will that which is not fit for thee to obtaine For the time we must not prescribe vnto God but waite vpon him 5 Perseuerance God sometime deferres the grāting of our requests not that he despiseth vs but for our exercise that we may be the more earnest till and the more thankfull when we haue receiued Things dearely bought are dearely esteemed Somtime God grants vs not that we aske but that which is better as in the example of Paul * 2 Cor. 12.7.89 Grace to stand in temptation is better then deliuerance And faith is a surer rule of our exauditiō thē our sense 6 Charity to pray for others as well as for our selues for the King and Queenes most excellent Maiesties and for their children and for all men y 1. Tim. 2.1.2 for our very enemies and persecutors z Mat. 5.44 as did our blessed Sauiour a Luk. 23.34 and
if we begge for grace to obey God according to his commaÌ„dements thus O that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes h Psal 119.5 5 Vowes and promises thus i Psal 51.12.13 Restore vnto me the ioy of thy saluation and vphold mee with thy free Spirit Then will I teach transgressors thy waies c. And againe k Vers 14. Deliuer mee O God and my â—ongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousnesse And againe l Vers 15. O Lord open thou my lippes my mouth shal shew forth day praise So also m Psal 119.33.34 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I will keepe it vnto the end Giue mee vnderstanding and I will keepe thy Law yea I will obserue it with my whole heart 6 Ingeminations thus Dauid also prayeth n Psal 94.1.2 O Lord God the Auenger O God the Auenger shew thy selfe exalt thy selfe O Iudge of the world c. And diuers others of this nature which a deuout hart will easily find out and to this purpose I am perswaded it s very helpesfull to be familiarly conuersant in the Psalmes because Dauid was a man of all other of inflamed affectionâ— and most excelling this way Hee that desires to make trial of this plaine direction and to profit by it may be much holpen by two things 1. Let him indeuour soundly to vnderstand the principles of Religion or else he shall neuer be able to tell what to aske of God 2 Secondly if he can write let him make a book of clean paper and in sundry leaues write in the top the particular parts of prayer with their seuerall branches allowing a whole leafe to each part branch and then whatsoeuer excellent speciall phrase or sentence hee readeth or heareth of any of those parts or branches let him referre it to his proper leafe and place Which course if it bee taken and these plaâ—â—s diligently studied and now and then reuised read ouer wil in my opinion much enable a man vpon any occasion to pray with vnderstanding either alone or with others to their desired comfort If any shall think this way to be too busie and to require too much paines I desire them to remember that no excellent thing can be attained without labour which how great soeuer it should be should not be grutched for the attaining a faculty in this exercise which is the refuge and refreshing of the soule one of the chiefest pieces of a Christians armour o Ephes 5.18 and the meanes whereby all good things are sanctified to our comfortable vse p 1 Tim. 4.5 Seuen yeere is holden but a conuenient terme to learne the children of men earthly manuall trades let not the childe of God account twice so long time to be too much to learne the heauenly Art of outward crying Abba Father Here follow some exampâ—â— of the rules of generall 〈◊〉 particular enlargement â—â—fore deliuered for a taste to a young beginner The general enlargement from a descriptâ—â— of God Description from and begging of Audience thus O q Title Almighty God the r Effect Creatour of heauen and earth and my most mercifull Å¿ Title Father in Iesus Christ which hast gratiously t Promise promised to heare thy children when they pray vnto thee O u Begging of Audience Lord I beseech thee accept heare and grant â—â—e supplication of thy â—â—ruant by Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 such like Examples of particular enlargement 1 Confession of sin may be enlarged first â—y the Adiunct 1. The adi iunct secondly by a distribution of sinne thirdly by the effects c. Thus O Lord I confesse that I am a vile sinner First being ashamed to look vp vnto heauen and vnworthy to liue vpon earth Secondly 2. Distribution for I am guilty of the sinne of Adam and more also I haue committed actuall transgressions without number in breaking thy most holy commandements omitting my duty and doing the contrary many sinnes of ignorance which I pleade not to excuse but to condemne my self who ought to haue knowne thy will and often of knowledge which wounds my soule to remember Thirdly 2. Effect O Lord in thy iustice I haue deferued such plagues both bodily and spirituall temporall and eternall which thy righteous omnipotency can inflict vpon abominable sinners Or such like 2 Petition for pardon may be enlarged First by an ingemination Secondly by the effects adorned with exclamation Thirdly by the contrary Fourthly by a testimony adorned with inrerrogation Fifthly by the meritorious cause Thus. First 1. Ingemination O Lord pardon O Lord forgiue O Lord be mercifull Secondly 2. Effects with exclamation blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man that obtaineth thy fauour Thirdly 3. Contraries O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant reward mee not according to my ill deseruing Turne away thine anger and make thy ioyfull countenance shine into my soule Fourthly 4. Testimony with interrogation is it not thy promise to pardon sinners that seeke thy fauour and to helpe them which call vpon thee O make good thy promise vnto thy seruant Deare Father for Iesus Christ his sake Fifthly 5. Meritorious cause remember his obedience his passion his blood the price wherby I am ransomed and bee reconciled remitting all mine offences or such like 2 Petition for faith may be enlarged First from the efficient cause Secondly from the contrary Thirdly from the effects adorned with vowing c. Thus First 1. Efficient cause O Lord I beseech thee worke in me by thy holy Spirit faith to beleeue the pardon of my sinnes It is not in my power to beleeue it must be thy worke in my soule Secondly 2 Contrary make mee to belieue good Father and helpe my vnbeliefe Thirdly 3. Effect with vowing grant mee a feeling of thy loue in my heart and that peace which passeth all vnderstanding then will I confidently come before thee and praise thee with ioyfull lips or such like 3 Petition for repentance may be enlarged First from the cause Secondly from a distribution adorned with exclamation Thirdly from the contrarie Fourthly from a comparison Thus First holy Father 1. The cause grant that my faith may shew it selfe in the sanctification of my life Secondly 2. Distribution with exclamation and to this end I humbly beseech thee renew in mee thy decaied image and giue me true repentance that I may turne from all my sinnes to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Make me to vnderstand mine owne vilenesse that I may earnestly pray for renouatioÌ„ Ah wretch that I am though I know my selfe to be an horrible sinner and that I haue tenne thousand times deserued damnation yet such is the flintinesse of my heart that I am not sensible of my dangerous and fearefull estate Thirdly 3.