pleasure to looke on her he m Genes 23.3 arose from the sight of the corps he made request and gaue money for a place to burie his dead wife from his sight 6 Putrefaction and rottennesse followeth death The bodie will Rettennesse returne to the dust and bee putrified albeit the n Genes 13. 16 Physitian embalmed Ioseph and put him in a chest yet they could not preserue his fraile flesh from putrifying o Exod. 13. 15. for Moses tooke but his bones with him from Egypt 7 A dead body becommeth loathsome and hath an evill smell A evill savour therefore Marke said of Lazarus whom CHRIST p Iohn 11. 39 did raise from the graue LORD hee stinketh already hee hath beene deade foure dayes Yet notwithstanding this naturall death bringeth not wretchednesse but rather happinesse to the bodies of the godly For their bodies being deade shall q Isaiah 57. 2 haue peace and shall rest in their beds for a time They r 2 Cor. 15. 42 43. 44 will be sowne in corruption but raised in incorruption They will bee sowne in dishonour but raised in glory They will bee sowne in weakenesse but raised in power They will be sowne naturall bodies but raised spirituall bodies Now the death of sinne will bring such senselesnesse that albeit the Å¿ Prover 23.35 wicked be striken yet they are not sicke albeit they be beaten yet they know not they haue no feeling nor paine of their misery their heart is dead within them and they are like a stone 2 This death it will bring such heavinesse so that the sinner cannot lift vp his soule to GOD it will be disquieted a Psal 42. 11 and cast downe within him 3 It will bring such weaknesse that one cannot rise inwardly vnlesse hee bee lifted one cannot stand vnlesse hee bee strengthned one cannot goe forward except hee bee borne in GODS bosome one cannot doe good except hee bee helped b Iam. 4. 6 neither resist the Devill or the smallest tentation except c Ephes 6. 13 14.15.16.17 18 he put on the whole armour of GOD. 4 Coldnesse commeth by the death of sinne and no wonder for as a father saith Frigus DEI est cum deserit peccatorem nec vocat Augustin nec aperit sensum nec infundit gratiam GOD leaveth that sinner hee calles not on him neither openeth hee his senses neither infuseth grace Hee remaineth like to the Salamander who as they say walking vpon the fire doth extinguish the same And d Hab. 1. 6 albeit hee cloth himselfe yet shall hee not bee warme 5 By this death of sinne one becommeth abominable and vglie in the eyes of the Almightie The LORD cannot endure to looke vpon such a one If hunger or bodily famine will make the e Lament 4.7 Nazarites who were purer than snow and whyter than milke and rudier than the red pretious stones to haue a visage blacker than a coale and to bee withered like a stocke will not this death bring greater blacknesse and deformitie it will surelie remoue all comelinesse and beautie If DAVID said in regarde of his afflictions hee was become a f Psal 71. 7 monster vnto many surely much more a sinner in respect of his transgressions appeareth a monster in the eyes of the Almightie Hee is g Titus 1. 16 abominable and to every good worke a reprobate 6 By this death a sinner becommeth like h Isaiah 14. 16 a carkase troden vnder foote such a one i Iob 13. 24 consumeth like a rotten thing and as a garment that is moth-eaten hee is corrupt and putrified 7 Yea k Ioel. 2. 20 his stinke shall come vp and his corruption shall ascend and his l Isaiah 34. 3 stinke shall come out of his body and the mountains shall bee melted with his blood But which is worst of all this death of sinne without regeneration bringeth the m Revel 21 8 second death which is eternall death anguish and tribulation Mors prima animam nolentem pellit de corpore Augustinus Mors autem secunda animam nolentem tenet in corpore The first death thrusteth the vnwilling soule out of the body the second death detaineth the vnwilling soule within the body Mors nulla major est quam vbi non moritur mors Idem surelie there is no greater death than when death dieth not This bringeth everlasting misery and perpetuall wretchednesse the aboundaunce of all affliction the want of all consolation Ingressus humanae conditionis miserabilis progressus humanae conversationis culpabilis Hugo de vilitate humanae conditionis egressus humanae dissolution is damnabilis The ingresse of mans condition is miserable the progresse of mans conversation is culpable and the egresse of mans dissolutionis damnable Now contrariwise if thou shall bee quickened with spirituall life thou shalt surely attaine to happinesse and felicitie then thou hast o Revel 20. 6 part in the first resurrection the second death shall haue no power over thee thou are blessed and holy thou shall bee nourished in this life and glorified in the life to come Resurgat in prima resurrectione qui non vult in secunda damnari Let him rise in the first resurrection who in the second would not be condemned 2 Thus thou living the life of grace shall bee nimble light and spirituall discerning al things p 1 Corin. 5. 14 seeking q Coloss 3. 1 those things which are aboue While thou art in nature thou art like an egge heavie and dead Similitudo Zanchii but in and by grace hatched thou art like a birde moving seeking and flying 3 Then the loue of GOD shed r 2 Cor. 5. 14 abroad into thy soule constraining thee to doe thy duetie shall strengthen thee for thy calling Å¿ 2 Cor. 12. 9 His grace shall bee sufficient for thee thou shall bee more strong than Goliah than Milo who with a Sam. 17. 5 stroke of his fist did kill a Cow than Polydamas who trusting to their owne strength died all miserably Franciscus Patricius lib. 2 de institutione reipubl but thou shall liue most happily overcomming the Devill thine adversarie Yea in t Rom. 8. 37 al things through CHRIST thou shall be more than a conquerour u Philip. 4. 13 through him thou shall bee able to doe all things necessarie 4 When thou enjoyeth that spirituall life thou shall be warme with the heate of the holy Spirit and of the x Malach 4. 2 sunne of Righteousnesse which shall arise vnto thee wherewith thou shall bee so inflamed that the extremitie of cold shall never prevaile against thee These fourtie Martyres who that father writteth in the dayes Basilius Magnus in 40 Martyros of cruell Licinius were cast into a pond of water all the night suffering the cold Northerne wind and their bodies being frozen and almost senslesse their soules remaining hotte with the
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND MOST CHRISTIAN PRINCE KING CHARLES OVR DEARE AND DRAED SOVERAIGNE LORD BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRItaine France and Ireland c. Most gratious Soveraigne THis is vsuall since naturall that any good earnestly desired when it is tyMously offered is then favourably received Did Isaak loue venisome that meate was acceptable to him Did King David a valiant warriour 2 Sam. 17. 8 affect victorie and renowne a sword in season was most steadable 1 Sam. 21. 9 vnto him Did Salomon delight in policie and stately building the wise worke-men and wood sent from Hiram was welcome vnto 2 Chron. 2. 13 hiâ—â— Did Iosiah rejoyce in holynesse and learning the booke of the Law which was brought to him 1 King 22. 10 hee heartily heard the same reade before him Did Charles the Great reverence and regarde rare knowledge Chron. Carion lib 〈…〉 alii all vertuous good counsell and direction then most worthie Alconius disciple to venerable Bede who well instructed the Emperour both in Divinitie and Philosophie was ever most lovingly and honorablie entertained by his imperiall Majestie and mee thinketh certainly that this of all tended most to his greatest honour and felicitie because it was spoken of him truely Carolus plus cum DEO quam cum hominibus loquitur Now this is most sure without any contraversie or contradiction that true prayer and earnest supplication is an incomprehensible and vnspeakable good seing it is 1 Cor. 3.9 Heavenly foode for sustentation a sharpe sword for victorie and protection which will make one GODS blessed building which will beget all pietie and all happie learning will bread saving knowledge and all Heavenly vertues wise counsell and good direction which will vndoubtedly bring one to everlasting glory and salvation For as much then your sacred Majestie GOD bee thanked doth delight your selfe in the Lord GOD continually who will giue Psal 37. 4. you your hearts desire for his owne glory and doth earnestly loue affect and vse frequently this most holy honorable and profitable exercise of prayer and invocation which will procure all spirituall and temporall blessings happinesse eternall praise and commendation I therefore most humbly with all submission and reverence entreate your most excellent Majestie to accept favourably this small treatise worthie indeede in respect of the matter albeit not so in regard of mee the weake author who ever shall most instantly beseech the Almighty to watch over your Majestie by his continuall and fatherly providence which is as a wall of fire round about Zach. 2. 5 you and to guard you by his mightie Angels who will keepe Psal 91.11 you in all your wayes and to giue you an happie successe in all your honourable enterprises and to compasse you with his favour as with a shield yea to vouchsafe grace Psal 5.12 and honour heere in this earth with glory and happinesse in his Celestiall Kingdome for ever From Dysart the 28 of May. 1630. Your Majesties most humble obedient and loyall servant WILLIAM NARNE AD Potentissimum Serenis SIMVM PRINCIPEM CAROLVM DEI GRATIA MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET Hiberniae Regem illustrissimum De vi praestantia orationis Carmen ENthea stelliferum penetrans oratio Coelum Iudicis aetherei pergit ad ora tui Te columem clarum cumulatum laude perenni Felicem Regem reddit eximium gemma rutilante modo ditabere miro Durabit firmum nobile stemma domus Hoc ense assuesces tu debellare profanos Armipotens magni muneris instar erit Hac clavi claudes Orcum reserabis Olympum Charus eris populo charior atque Deo Hoe libro doctus mysteria magna Tonantis Addisces factis magnus eloquio Hoc curru vectus trans ignea maenia mundi Ingrediere locos palmifer aethereos Sereniss tuae Majest humillimus addictissimus servus GUIL NARNE AD AMICVM FIDELEM VIGILANTEM PASTOREM ET ERVDITVM GVILIELMVM NARNVM CARMEN ORans exores qui sic ratione peroras Non deserta tua est 〈◊〉 diserta docens Hâc itur ad superos infra tollure restictâ Te monstrante peto quaeroque pulso viam Profice scribendo seribas quoque proficiendo Scribas vt prosis frairibus atque tibi Aliud DEsertum nactus Christi vt praecursor eremum Vtrumque at celebrem vos facitote locum Aliud CIrrha Helicon Pindus Parnassus Apollo Aganippe Castalij latices turbaque Pieridûm Haec me si faciant vatem divûmque Poetam Haud caenerem ingenio carmina digna tuo Nostra tuo ingenio si non sunt digna beato Sat scio sunt genio carmina grata tuo IO. MICHAELSONE TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND VVorshipfull Patrons OF THIS FAMOVS CITIE OF EDINBURGH DAVID AIKENHEAD MOST WORTHIE LORD PROVEST Iames Cochren William Reid Andrew Ensley Edward Edgar most just and faithfull Iudges Ioseph Marjoribanks Dane of Guild David Mackald Treasurer And to the whole Counsell within this flourishing Towne of EDINBVRGH wisheth Grace heere and Glory heereafter Wil. Narne SOmetimes Right worshipfull and reverend comming vnto your citie for performance of some necessarie dueties of my calling I did soone and clearly perceaue three most notable commendable and worthie vertues wherewith by the Almightie yee are truely beautifull and blessed First Pure religion and pietie Secondly Affection to your King and sincere loyaltie Thirdly A care of your commoun-wealth and countrey Your religion in whose bosome all other vertues are conteined which is the belt and bond that vniteth Religionis gremio omnes virtutes continentur Idoneus and knitteth the heart to GOD without the which men haue no more to doe with Heaven and Psal 86. 11 Si Relligio tollitur nulla nobis ratio cum Coelo est Lactant. institut lib. 3. c. 10 1 Cor. 15. 19 of all creatures they are most miserable doeth most evidently appeare by your frequent resorting to the house of GOD by your diligent hearing of his holy Word by the great respect and due regard yee haue of your faithfull Pastors and by your holy life and pious conversation conforme to the rule of the LORD his Commandements and shortlie by your rare charitie in these last and worst dayes of this dotting and decaying world extending it selfe to the depauperate and indigent members of the bodie of CHRIST Concerning your due affection to your supreame Soveraigne all who walke vpon your streetes may easily obserue the same What earnest desire you haue What preparation you haue made for his Majestie comming into this Realme And this is most certaine that you haue and will continue lovingly and willingly subject not for wrath only but much more for conscience Rom. 13. 5 sake according to Christian duetie Touching the third Your W. care for your commoun-wealth is so great and continuall so manifest and profitable that it is worthis of admiration commendation and imitation Heerein you neede no words
of exhortation for to all men is knowne your moderation Your Philip. 4. 5 light so shineth before them that they may see your good workes Math. 5. 6 and glorifie you Father which art in HEAVEN For which causes I haue presumed to present next to his Majestie this small treatise vnto your Wisedomes praying that your succeeding posteritie and all others of this Kingdome may bee earnest followers of your godly vertues and diligent imitators of your pious proceadings for GOD his glory the welfare of this Kingdome the good of your Citie your owne praise and eternall salvation in the LORD IESVS to whose grace and blessing I commend you for ever From Dysart the last of Maij. 1630. Remaining your W. most assured and affection at all power in CHRIST WILLIAM NARNE TO THE READER SOme Writers both Christian and Heathen doe make mention of Gyges his admirable ring August Erasmus in adagii Cicero valer Maximus affirming that by vertue thereof or of the stone therein he received 3 great commodities namely 1. Victorie over his enemies for when he pleased he became saith they invisible 2. He attained to an honourable marriage 3. He gained an earthly Kingdome and so became happie and fortunate This in my judgement may bee but a fable or a tradition without a sure ground or certaintie But thou mayest perswade thy selfe that this is a most certaine trueth a vndoubted veritie without all contraversie that true and earnest prayer is a most powerfull and pretious Pearle by helpe and vertue whereof thou shall surely saue thy a Act. 2. 40 selfe from this naughty crooked and vntoward generation thou shall subdue sinne and thy owne fleshlie corruption thou shall be able b Ephes 6. 16 to quench all the firie darts of Sathan and in c Rom. 8. 37 all thinges thou shall bee more than a Conquerour through him who hath loved thee from the beginning 2. Thou shall get CHRIST IEUS the prince of Glory to bee the husband of thy soule eternally thou shall be joyned in most happy marriage with him vnseparable and most comfortable thou shall become a d Ephes 5. 30 member of his most glorious body 3. Thou shall gaine a Heavenly Kingdome which cannot bee shaken thou shall be e Revel 1. 6 made a King vnto GOD and reigne with Christ in Heaven in all glorie and happinesse for ever and ever I pray thee then to receiue courteously and to possesse continually this Pearle of inestimable worth and commoditie that thou may receiue grace heere and glory in the life to come In through the merits of the LORD IESUS to whom with the Father and holy Spirit bee all honour power praise and Dominion forever ever Amen AD. LECTOREM QVI cupis horrendos Erebi vitare caminos Deliciis Domini perpetuòque frui Hunc lege perlectum decies imiture libellum Vespere nocte die corde precando Deum Quo duce per Christum vita potiere futura Hujus innumeris tu potiere bonis RICHARDUS WRIGHT The Table of this Booke Chap. 1 A Preparation to our confession Pag. 1 Chap. 2. A confession of our sinne and iniquitie Pag. 47 Chap. 3 A preparation to lamentation Pag. 80 Chap. 4 A lamentation for our woe and misery Pag. 138 Chap. 5 A preparation before petition Pag. 164 Chap. 6 A petition for grace and mercy Pap. 185 Chap. 7 A description of true prayer Pag. 206 Chap. 8. A great sinne not to pray Pag. 216 Chap. 9. A grievous punishment not to pray Pag. 228 Chap. 10 Of the good of prayer Pag. 251 Chap. 11 Of the difficultie of prayer Pag. 305 Chap. 12. Consolations for weake Christians Pag. 352 Chap. 13. Of the causes of prayer Pag. 377 Chap. 14. Of the necessitie of prayer Pag. 390 Chap. 15 Of the profite of true prayer Pag. 401 Chap. 16 Of the dignitie of prayer Pag. 407 Chap. 17 Of the force of prayer Pag. 414 Chap. 18 Of the circumstances of prayer pag 434 Chap. 19. Of the signes of prayer Pag. 450 FINIS THE PEARLE OF PRAYER MOST PRETIOVS AND POWERFVLL The first Chapter SEing by the a Psal 124. 8. helpe of the LORD GOD which made Heaven and Earth and by the gratious assistance of his holie Spirit wee are now of purpose to handle that most worthie and excellent matter the doctrine of b Iam. 5. 16. fervent and powerfull prayer It is not only expedient and comlie but also most profitable and necessare that everie one of vs in all humiltie and sinceritie in c Iohn 4. 24 trueth and spirit vnfeinedly first confesse our sinnes and iniquitie next deplore and lament our woefull estate and great miserie and thirdlie that we earnestly beg for grace and mercie Augustin Prius requirit Deus confessionem quam orationem But before wee come to this confession wee will declare three things whereof we must be certainly assured and throughly perswaded first that sinne and iniquitie cannot bee for ever covered next of the great good and profite of confession lastlie that there is a right maner thereof and this will bee for our preparation before confession There d Luke 8. 17 is nothing so secreet saith our SAVIOUR but it shall bee evident neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come to sight Sinne then cannot bee concealed In regard of GOD. but at some tyme must bee disclosed and that in regard of GOD of thy conscience of Sathan and of the nature thereof and of other creatures GOD himselfe against whom it is principally e Psal 51.4 committed and who therewith is highly offended and heavily f Sam. 11. 27 displeased IESUS CHRIST the Prince of Glorie who thereby is g Heb. 6.5 againe mocked and crucified the holy Ghost that sanctifying Spirit is therewith h Ephes 4. â—0 grieved i Thess 5. 19 quenched and k Act. 7.5 resisted even hee who l Iob. 12.22 discovereth the deepe places from the darknesse and bringeth foorth the shaddow of death to sight Hee will who seeth and knoweth all things revealeth wickednesse and m Hos 2.10 discovereth lewdenesse and no man can delyver out n Nehem. 3.5 of his hand show to Nations all filthinesse Againe the conscience cryeth and originall sinne that therein is written Of the conscience at length that o Revel 20.12 booke will be opened all faults vnrepented will bee manifested and the true testimony thereof which everie one hath had in his owne custodie can not bee denyed * Conscientia est codex in qua Chrysost in Psal 50. quotidiana peccata conscribuntur The conscience saith a father is a booke wherein our dayly sinnes are written together An other Ancient compareth the conscience to a contentious woman chyding oftentimes and clattering casting vp secreet sinnes having no discretion nor power to conceale things not to bee revealed Like Samsons wife who could not keepe secreet
Ioseph thy y Psal 105. 18 feete bee helde in the stocks and thou laide in yrons yet in the appointed time thou shal be loosed delivered and exalted As Manasses was brought from â—etters from chaines from Babell to Ierusalem and z 2 Chr. 33.13 to his Kingdome or as Mathias a mightie and happie King of Hungarie was freed from prison and with great Vide SpinaeuÌ„ lib. 7. in metuÌ„ pompe and solemnitie caried to Buda the Metropolitan citie and there with contentment and acclamations of the people was joyfully crowned So the LORDS anoynted shall surclie come out of great a tribulation albeit hee bee in prison and the b Psal 18. 4 snares of death compasse him and the griefes of the graue caught him yea though hee were in the verie agonie and pang of death when natures debt must needs bee payed and this outward man dissolved our earthly c 2 Cor. 5. 1 house of this Tabernacle destroyed and soule and bodie separated yet let him remember with comfort that his light d 2 Cor. 4. 17 affliction which is but a moment causeth vnto him farre more excellent and eternall weight of glorie and that death it selfe is but GODS messinger Similit to call thee out of this wearisome world to the perpetuall possession of an Heavenly Kingdome as it would haue bene a great delight to David to follow the mâ—ssiâ—ger sent e 1 Sam. 16. â—â— to him by Samuel that of a sheepheard hee might bee the LORDS Annoynted King over Israel So death may be very welcome to thee who is the LORDS messinger to bring thee a f â— Peter 2.11 Pilgrime and g Psal 39. 12 Sojurne heere to his h Heb. 2. 11 rest to bring thee a miserable and contemptible creature to glorie and endlesse felicitie Lastly By heartie praying thou shall bee furnished with constancie and perseverance and so shall be comfortably and asâ—â—â—edâ—y perswaded that thou art not only a King into the LORDS house but also c Heb. 3. 6 the very house of CHRIST if thou hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope vnto the end This stabilitie in weâ—â—doing and continuance in goodnesse is most necessarie for thy Christian calling and â—oyall dignitie as the Patriarch laakob in his journey from Mesopotamia to Canaan his natiue countrey and to his earthly father Isaac was hindered with many impediments namely Laban behind him detaining him and determining to f Genes 31. 25 doe him evill Esau before him afraying and sore troubling g Genes 32. 7 him himselfe going more slowly and halting h Genes 32. 31 vpon his thigh yet hee continued constant in his intended course hee would not decline nor goe backward but did ever proceede and goe forward with true pietie and lawfull policie as is at length expressed in the same historie hee was much given to fervent prayer and earnest supplication and so wrestled i Genes 32.31 and prevailed vntill hee receaved a blessing by k Hos 12. 4 weeping and praying vnto him whom hee found in Bethell So thou in this thy warrefare and pilgrimage looking to Christ going to the land of Canaan the â—â—tie l Heb. 12. 22 of the living GOD the celestiall Hierusalem to m Heb. 12. 9 the Father of the living spirits that thou mayest liue thou will bee deteined with many stayes and crossed with many calamities for some tymes thou n Lament 1 19 shall call vpon thy lovers who will deceaâ—e theâ— somâ—tymes thou shall meete with false o 2 Cor. 11. 26 brethren who will annoy thee and bring thee in greater perrill the world like Laban will hinder thee the devill worse than Esau will tempt thee and p â—phes 6. 1â— Wresâ—le with thee craâ—â—â—â— flatterers like Achitophell Sam. 15. 12 desirous to betray thee will trouble thee thou will sometimes find thine owne hands weake and q Hebr. 12. 12 thy knees wearie thy r Math. 4. 6 selfe halting and fainting yet goe not backward but fordward hold on thy course with constancie runne thy Å¿ Heb. 12. 1 race with patience cry to GOD crane helpe of the Almightie implore GODS mercie and with sighs and teares that rare gift of perseverance which is most necessare for thy salvation and glory for as CHRIST cerâ—ifieth thee if t Math. 24.13 thou endure vnto the end thou shall bee saved for that effect aske GOD courage and constancie which is most necessarie Sicut oculis corporalibus necessaria Similit est lux vt suo fruantur fine ita omnibus praedestinatis ac vocatis ad regnum Coelorum necessaria est perseverantia aut sicut absque luce frustra aperitur oculus codem modo inaniter currit qui vsque ad vitae finem non perseverat As light is necessarie to the bodily eyes that they may enjoy their owne end so perseverance to all those who are predstinate and called to the Kingdome of Heaven or as without light there is no sight the eye is opened in vaine so in that same manner he runneth in vaine who doeth not persevere vnto the end of the race to his liues end By fervent prayer also thou shall bee indued with such discretion and dexteritie that carying thy selfe duetifully in respect of all in whatsoever estate sexe condition or degree they bee Thou will u 1 Thess 4.12 Principis est virtus maxima nosce suos behaue thy selfe honestly toward them that are without Thou will labour to know the conditions and to acquaint thy self well with thy owne friends for that is the chiefe duetie of a commander Thou will studie then if x Rom. 1â— 18 it be possible to haue peace with all men but knowing well that thou hast mortall and irreconciliable enemies thou will travaile with all the force of thy soule to scatter subdue and overcome them who goe about to tyranize over thee to bring thee to perpetuall slauerâ— aâ—d endâ—â—sse miserie A wise King saith Salomon scattereth y Prov. 20. 18 the wicked and causeth the wheele to turne over them A wise Christian will vse all meanes to punish his sinnes his most cruell and deadly foâ—s to smite them with a mightie destruction as z Iudg. 15.8 Samson the Philistims and so to doe with his corruptions as the Prophet speaketh of the Babilonians a Psal 137. 9 to put them to the sword to mortifie them with anger and indignation And yet perswade thy selfe that thou hast great neede of watchfulnesse and consideration of prayer and earnest supplication for this victorie over thy ghostly enemy â—â—onne and gotten with much travell tuâ—mâ—ilâ— trouble with vexation and much wrestling in regarde of the multitude might and maliciouâ—â—â—ssâ— of thy enemies considering thy owne sinnes also oâ—her soes who in number will be â—erie many as Bees or as the haires of our head they will bee also cruell in maâ—â—ce they having no
The wickednesse of the world is a cause of Prayer the multitude of the wicked and vngodly sinners if Davids q Psal 119 130 eyes gushed out with rivers of water because they transgressed Gods commandement and did not keepe his holy Lawe then thou hast cause to powre foorth thy prayers when thou seest sinners continually offending God 2. When thou perceivest them desirous to defile and destroy thy selfe thou hast reason to beseech GOD to r Act. 2. 40 saue thee from the froward generation 3. When thou seest them walking in the Å¿ Math. 7. 13 broad way and working their owne destructions without remorse of conscience beeing t Ephes 4. 19 past all feeling thou hast cause with pitie and commiseration to pray for their amendement conversion and eternall salvation that their soule u Iob. 33. 30 may bee preserved from the pit and they illuminated in the light of the living that they x Psal 106. 5 may see the felicitie of his chosen and glorie with his inheritance Fifthly y Act. 20. 28 take heede to thy self Consider thy selfe and haue a respect to thy owne safeguard and happinesse if thou feare spirituall deadnesse thou hast cause to beseech GOD to quicken thee according to his loving kindnesse if thou knowest thy selfe to bee z Revel 3. 17 blind and ignorant thou hast reason to entreat God to open a Ephes 5. 18 the eyes of thy vnderstanding and b Psal 146. 8 to giue sight to thee who art blind if thou think thy selfe that thou art weake c Rom. 14. 1 in faith then call vpon GOD to increase the same if thou iudge thy selfe d Iob. 39 37 vile and filthy pray to God to wash e Psal 51.2 thee throughly and to clense thee from all thy iniquitie if thou be prosane poore e Revel 3. 17 naked diseased and in deformitie hast thou not verie great neede to pray for holinesse riches the white raiment of Christs righteousnesse health and that thou mayest ever appeare before the LORD in holie beautie Thou hast iust cause truelie to send vp thy supplications vncâ—ssantly if thou shalt arightly consider of thy danger and jâ—opardie thou remainest in as great danger spiritually as Isaac Daniel and Peter were into bodily The Patriarch Isaac being young was f Genes 22. 9 bound to the Altar vnder him was the wood to bee fire aboue his head the knife of his father to kill him no person was neere him to deliver him without question hee was then praying to God making earnest supplicatioÌ„ But thou by nature art bound and holden by g Prov. 5. 22 the cordes of thy owne sinne vnder thee is that everlasting fire g Isa 66. 24 which never shall bee quenched to torment thee aboue thy head is the sharpe h Ezech. 21. 9 sword of GODS justice ready to kill thee if thou looke about thee there is none neere thee to i Isaiah 63. 5 helpe thee thine owne arme cannot saue thee thou then in such perill hast cause to crye vnto GOD most instantly that it would please his goodnesse to deliver thee And as Daniel when hee was in danger in k Dan. 6. 16 the den of Lyons did pray earnestly vnto GOD by whom hee was preserved and his accusers punished â—o thou who may protest with the Prophet saying l Psal 57. 4 My soule is among Lyons seeing thou art in danger to bee devoured continually hast thou not great cause to pray fervently LORD deliver m Psal 35. 17 my desolate soule from the Lyons which would cruelly destroy mee Though thou art like n Math. 14. 30 Peter walking on the water when hee saw a mightie winde hee was affraid and as hee began to sinke hee cryed Master saue mee thou art now come vnto o Psal 69. 2 deepe waters the streames runne over thee thou art in danger of spirituall drowning thou art sinking in the sea of sinne thou will perish certainly both soule and body vnlesse thou crie and pray tymouslie that thy Master would be pleased to saue thee Sixtly If thou thinke wisely of The world is a cause of payer the worlds vanitie that all in this earth Vanitie p Eccles 1. 2 of vanities sayeth the Preacher vanitie of vanities all is vanitie thou hast occasion to pray earnestly that thou bee not bewitched with the vaine pleasures and allurements of the same that thou loue q Ioh. 2. 15.16 not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him for all that is in the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of the life is not of the Father but of the world which passeth away and destroyeth most fâ—arefully and certainly Thou hast most just cause to craue of GOD that thou be not filthily defiled nor polluted by the filthinesse thereof seing it is pure religion q Iam. 1. 27 and vndefiled before GOD to keepe thy selfe vnspotted of the world And that thou r Philip. 2. 15 may bee blamelesse and pure and the sonne of GOD without rebuke into the middes of a naughtie and crooked nation amongst whom thou mayest shine as a light in the world Lastly The necessitie dignity and vtilitie of prayer and that thou may walke Å¿ Ephes 4. 1 worthie of the vocation wherevnto thou art called may forcibly moue thee to perpetuall practising of this holy duetie OF THE NECESSITIE OF PRAYER The fourtenth Chapter GReat indeede and vnspeakable is the necessitie of Prayer which by some comparisons will clearly appeare and become manifest As the Samaritâ—nes had neede Prayer compared to a bucket of a bucket or some other vessell to draw a Iohn 4. 11 water out of Iaakobs deepe Well so all Christians haue neede of prayer to bring to them the living water of refreshing grace from that b Iohn 13. 1 fountaine odened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Hierusalem for sinne and for vncleannesse As a ladder is necessare for one that would climâ—e over a wall or that c Math. 5. 30 would assault to take a To an ladder sort so is prayer requisit for every one who desireth to ascend to Heaven by it one will take hold on the true ladder by whom hee may haue accesse to the Father Thirdly They that d Genes 28.12 goe downe to the sea in ships and occupy by great waters doth soone know To an anker how needfull an anker is to a shippe so as needfull is prayer to the soule The most sure anker in the Anchora â—utissima in tempeâ—tatibus fortunae est precatio quae defigitur sursum in Coelo vâ— anchoâ—a figitur deorsum in fundo maris tempests of estate is Prayer which is fixed aboue in Heaven as a materiall anker is cast downward in the ground