Heaven they should be begun ended followed after with Prayer And if you that are hearers would but help us herein by prayer 't would be in effect to help your selves If there were but more praying before you come to the Sanctuary that you might be taught to profit so many sermons would not be lost so much seed would not be sown in vain Prayer sets an edge upon the Word and makes it quick and powerful to kill Sin and keep off Satan Prayer works the Word into the Heart and being hid there 't is a mighty preservative against iniquity There is a Spiritual instinct in Believers to joyn Prayer with every Ordinance of God Because they know that Ordinances cannot secure or benefit them except the Lord concur and work along with them I have proved that a Christians security lies in Prayer In the fourth place I am to give you some Reasons why we ought to pray always 1. We should pray always because God is always ready to hear The Lords Ear is not heavy that it cannot hear Esa 59. 1. He hearkens after Prayer and looks down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there be any that understand and seek God Psal 14. 2. The Father is said to seek for right worshippers namely those that worship him in Spirit and in Truth Joh 4. 23. we have therefore encouragement as at all times to trust in him so at all times to poure out our Souls before him God is a Refuge for us Selah Psal 62. 8. Verily seeking of God in sincerity never was yet in vain and never will be God has heard sinners then when they perhaps have little thought he minded them When Ephraim bemoaned himself was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak was ashamed and confounded because of his evil ways and cry'd Turn thou me and I shall be turned says God I have heard him I have surely heard Ephraim Jer. 31. 18 19. â— and gives him to understand that he was a dear Son a pleasant Child and that he would surely have Mercy on him There is not a Tear but God has a Bottle to put it in nor a sigh but God observes it nor a true desire but he is ready to satisfy 2. We should pray always because Christ always intercedes Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them The prayers of Believers will be vvell seconded This Angel of the Covenant has incense sufficient to perfume and to make the Prayers of all the Saints at all times acceptable Christ in Heaven is alvvays presenting to his Father his Sufferings and by his Sufferings all that we pray for has been purchased His Blood therefore is said to speak in Scripture and it speaks better things than that of Abel Heb. 12. 24. The Blood of Christ cryes in Gods Ears on the behalf of those that pray which the Curse that Christ has born may be removed from them that the Sins for which Christ was wounded may be forgiven them and that out of the fulness of Christ they may receive and Grace for Grace 3. We should pray always because the Spirit is always ready to help our infirmities This Spirit Christ promised and according to his promise sent him and this Spirit is styled the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications Zach. 12. 10. for he gives grace and ability to make supplications acceptably And this Spirit abides with Believers alwaies Joh. 14. 16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter which shall abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you The Spirit is ready to instruct us what to pray for to remove the load of indisposition to this Duty to quicken our deadness therein to enlarge our hearts in desires after the God of all Grace to strengthen us to wrestle for a Blessing And truly God is not to be prevailed with but by the mediation of his Son and by the strength of his own Spirit 4. We should pray always because Satan is always forward to assault us Satan is compared to a Lyon in Scripture And Elian observes concerning the Lyon that if at any time he is beaten back he retires 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his face towards you as being readyupon the least encouragement to make another attempt In like manner Satan watches has his Eye always upon us and is ever forward to tempt and should not we be ever forward to pray Our whole Life is a time of Temptation Wicked Spirits are continually engaged against us We wrestle sayes the Apostle with Principalities and Powers with the Ruters of the darkness of this World with spiritual wickednesse in high places These Enemies are invisible so 't is more dificult to withstand them they are too subtile and too strong for us We had need therefore to pray without ceasing since they cease not endeavoring to bring us both to sin and ruine 5. We should pray always because corruption will quickly recruit and recover strength upon the least neglect of prayer Had David been praying when he was sleeping so long in the day time or after his nap had been ended had he gon to the throne of grace instead of idlely walking upon the roof of his palace nay when first he cast his eyes upon Bathsheba if he had then immediately lookt up to Heaven and cryed that that spark of concupiscence might have been extinguish'd before it set him in a flame his foul fall and the dolefull consequents of it might have been prevented But duty was neglected and lust took the advantage of that neglect and he was hurried into two as heinous Sins almost as can possibly be committed 2 Sam. 11. Experience shews us that if we omit or are slight in Prayer that day our passions are more easily stirred and our lusts get ground Thus Amaleck prevail'd when Moses hands began to hang down but when they were held up towards Heaven Israel had the better In the fifth place I am to Answer the Objections that are made against this duty of Prayer Obj. 1. The first Objection is this God knows our wants and dangers without our telling him What need is there then that we should make them known by Prayer Ans I Answer God may be said to know our Wants and Dangers two wayes 1. By the eye of his Omniscience and with this eye he sees all things and whether we pray or no he perfectly understands us and all the circumstances we are in He 〈◊〉 our path knows our thoughts after off and is acquainted with all our wayes Psâ—l 139 2 3. 2. God may be said to look upon our wants so as to have compassion upon us and without intreating this compassion how can it be expected Heark unto David
performance of it 3. The Spirit encourages unto prayer he lets Believers understand that now is the accepted time that now is the day of Salvaâ—ion 2 Cor. 6. 2. Wherefore he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in a day of Salvation have I succoured thee behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation Though the Lord should have been sought much sooner yet 't is not too late to seek him now he will be found by the hearty seeker such seeking shall not be in vain Deut. 4. 29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul 4. The Spirit enables Believers to act those graces that are required in prayer There are four graces especially that should be exercised in our supplications Humility Faith Love Patience 1. Humility The Lord has a special regard to the Humble whereas the Proud he knows afar of and has threatned to resist the Proud The humble soul has high and awfull apprehensions of God in prayer and mean very mean thoughts of it self Abraham was humble when he said Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord who am but dust and ashes Jer. 18. 27. Job was humble when he said Mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self The good Angels themselves are humble though never in the least offenders the Cherubins cover their faces with their wings and cry out holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole Earth is filled with his glory How vile then should we be in our own eyes who by our guilt are so obnoxious who have so many soul spots and stains upon our souls which are the effects of sin nay whose very Righteousnesses are but as filthy raggs Isa 64. 6. 2. Faith is to be acted in prayer and truly we may come with confidence to the Throne of Grace if we consider the power of God which is not only most Mighty but Almighty I am God Almighty saith the Lord to Abraham the Father of the Faithful He can do more for us than we can desire should be done for us Nothing is too hard for him and although all other helps fail he needs them not his Arm when alone can bring Salvation Isa 59. 16. This power of God may safely be relyed on for he is also full of mercy Psal 62. ult God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God also unto thee belongeth mercy David was encouraged by this in his supplications Psal 25. 6. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old And we have not only an intimation of Gods merciful nature but in his Covenant he has promised to shew mercy for this he delights in and Christ is the Mediatour of this Covenant so that 't is most sure Hark to the Apostle Heb. 8. 10. 12. This is the Covenant that I will make saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people for I will be merciful to their Unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities I will remember no more 3. Love is to be acted in prayer there must be a love to our Neighbour and they must from the heart be forgiven that have Tres-passed against us shall we think much of a few Pence when we are Debtors many thousand Talents But principally there must be love to the Lord expressed in prayer his favour and fellowship with him must be longed for the sâ—ul must thirst for God for the liviâ—g God as the chased Hart after the water-brooks 42. 1 2. And when he does manifest himself he must be rejoyced and delighted in and his grace admired whatever is received 4. Patience is also to be acted in prayer there must be a patient waiting in this duty a right understanding of Gods Wisdom and Faithfulness that he knows what and when to give and will do it in the best both time and measure will be a great means to cure our over-hastiness David is to be imitated who said I waited patiently for the Lord and he lost nothing by it for it follows He inclined his ear unto me and heard my cry Psal 40. 1. These are the graces which the Spirit enables Believers to act in prayer 5. The Spirit directs Believers unto Christ as the alone prevailing Advocate We are said to have access to the Father by the Spirit and through the Son Eph. 2. 18. The Spirit leads us to Christ as the Mediator who is the way unto God The Spirit shews that God having given Christ has opened through him the treasurâ—s of his grace and for his sake will give freely all things The Spirit still is turning the eye of the Believer towards the Lord Jesus and in prayer instructs us how to improve his relation to us who is bone of our bone flesh of our flesh and is become an Head and Husband to us How to improve his sufferings by which all that we need has been procured How to improve his Intercession which as 't is incessant so 't is never denyed and finally How to improve his Power and Authority for he can do what he will both in Heaven and in Earth He is the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Life and Glory he can give Peace and Life and Glory to whom he pleaseth 6. The Spirit makes Believers sincere in their aimes when they pray They design the Hallowing and Honouring of Gods Name as well as their own welfare They beg for pardon and grace not only because 't is good for themselves to have these but likewise because the Lord glorisies his grace and mercy and goodness in forgiving and healing and saving those that cry and fly to him Thus you see what 't is to pray in the Spirit and consequently it does not lye barely either in fluency of utterance or in variety of expressions or in multitude of words Now follow the Reasons of the Doctrine and they are of two sorts First Why our own spirits should engage in prayer 1. Because God is a spirit our Lord assigns this as a Reason why worship should be in spirit because God is a Spirit who is worshipped 2. He principally requires our spirits My Son give me thy heart Prov. 23. 26. And truly he does narrowly observe where our hearts are when we are at prayer and no wonder for our spirits are most capable of serving him To admire fear love trust in him these are the principal ways of worshipping him and this is done with the heart 3. Without our spirits prayer is but a mockery If when the Lord is honoured with the mouth the heart be far from him God says in vain do they worship me and I will not hold them guiltless And this you may observe that when our hearts are not engaged
in prayer they are commanded by the Lords Enemies Sin the world and Satan do detain them The second sort of Reasons are why we must pray by the help of the Spirit of God His assistance is necessary 1. Because of our darkness we of our selves know not God nor his Will nor our own greatest Needs nor wherein lyes our great interest and truest happiness 2. Because of our deadness active we are as to sin but unto prayer indisposed the dead man must be lifted and carried for of himself he cannot stir We that naturally are without strength nay without life cannot lift up our souls to God unless the spirit lift them up to him 3. Because of the opposition that is made by the evil one When we come to the Mercy-seat the Devil makes nothing of taking the right hand of us he is ready to resist us as he did Joshua the high Priest Zach 3. 1. and we are not able to withstand him unless the Spirit of God who is infinitely stronger rebuke him for us 4. The Spirits assistance is necessary in prayer because of that natural aversness iâ— our own hearts unto what is good whereas we should hate the evil and love the good we hate the good and love the evil nay in the very best there is a law in the members which wars against the law of the mind and evil is present If the Spirit were not also mightily and graciously present there would be an utter inability as to prayer or any duty which God requires In the third place I am to answer some Cases of Conscience concerning the Spirit of Prayer 1. Whether all Believers have the Spirit of Prayer I answer that all true Believers have this Spirit For the spirit of Grace which all Saints have received is also a spirit of supplication Zech. 12. 10. and the Apostle expresly sayes if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his 2. Whether only Believers have the spirit of Prayer I answer The spirit of prayer is peculiar to Believers for where the holy Ghost does help the heart to pray he cleanses the heart from what before defiled it and turns the heart and the desires of it towards God so that that 's now the Language Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. Whether the Spirit of Prayer may not be lost I answer that the Spirit may be grieved by our corruptions when they prevail and when we grovv slothful and heedless hovv vve enter into Temptation and being grieed may withdraw his quickning and assisting influences But the Spirit is never quite lost by those that have been truly renewed by him He abides for ever where he has conseccrated any to be his Temple Joh. 14. 16. David after his fall says Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation to shew that his joy was lost but he prayes Take not thy holy Spirit from me to signifie that the Spirit was not quite departed though that departure was deserved and feared 4. May not persons excel in the gift of prayer that yet are void of the Spirit I answer in the affirmitive The gift of prayer may only serve to puff up professours with Pride how are such pleased in reflecting upon the repute they have gained by their enlargedness in expression And this pride is not checked is not abhorred The words of prayer may be used and a carnal worldly designe carried on Hypocrites aime at an eminency in gifts that they may pass for godly and under the cloak of Religion cover their wickedness and in their most enlarged supplications they aime at their own profit fame and are prodigiously destitute of the fear of God 'T is certain the gift of Prayer may be in the unsound hearted for even the gift of Prophesie which the Apostle prefers before other gifts we find in wicked men Mat. 7. 22 23. many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name Then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity 5. May not some that have the Spirit of Prayer be very weak in the gift of utterance I answer yes There was much of the spirit of prayer in Hezekiah when he chattered like a Crane or Swallow and mourned like a Dove Esa 38. 14. The Lord regards not so much the expression as affection and the heart may be sincere in its desires when not onely because of the strength of those desires but also through confusion there wants utterance Let not those therefore that are but weak in expression be discouraged for the heart may highly value Mercy and Grace and obtain both when prayer is but lisped and stammered forth by the Tongue Now follows the Application And Use 1. is of reproof which belongs 1. To them who pray indeed but their Hearts and Spirits pray not with them They put the Lord off with the bended knees the stretched forth hands the lifted up eyes the labour of the lips the fruit of their invention but all this while their hearts are not with him and their affections run a whoring after their vanities and iniquities The prayers of such dissemblers are dead prayers and truly are to be numbred among their dead works and their prayers being not minded by themselves how should God have regard to them unless it be to hate and punish them 2. They are to be reproved who make light of the Spirit of God and of his assistance in this duty of prayer They account the aid of the holy Ghost a needless a notional and imaginary thing Such never knew what 't is to wrestle with God what 't is to sigh and groan and be as it were in Travel till the blessings beg'd for are obtained Oh how impossible is it that Nature should rise thus high till the Spirit do renew and elevate it Use 2. Of Trial whether we have the Spirit of Prayer or no And this may be discerned by these following signs 1. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer by the Spirit have been convinced of sin Joh. 16. 8. he has discovered sin broken their hearts for it and 't is now become a load to them though before they loved it never so extreamly Before they hid sin now they lay it open in prayer before they excused it now they aggravate it and judg themselves worthy of Hell and Wrath because of it 2. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer are made to look unto Christ crucified Zach. 12. 10. I will pour out upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of supplication Then shall they look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn for him and be in bitterness as one is in bitterness for the loss of a first born Christ crucified is lookt upon by such with a weeping Eye because their sin was the cause of his sufferings and with an
eye of dependance for all their expectation of Grace and Peace and Life is through Him alone 3. They that have the Spirit of Prayer are earnest for the fruits and graces of the Spirit that Love â—oy Peace Long suffering Gentlenesse Goodness Faith Meckâ—â—sse Temperance All which the Apostle enumerates Gal. 5. 22. 23. may be in them and abound and they are restless in prayer for the mortification of the deeds of the flesh for they consider what is said Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live 4. They that have the Spirit of prayer are enabled to go unto God as unto a Father Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Not but that doubts and fears may be in those that have the Spirit witnesse the Psalmist who cryed out will the Lord cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more is his mercy clear gon for ever And doth his promise fail for evermore hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercyes Psal 77. 7. 8. 9. But at length and truly it may be long first â—aith gets the better of unbelief Many that are the Children of God cannot always call him Father yet even then they go to him and are noâ—quite beat off from him and there is a Secret Trust that he has some gracious respect to them and by this they are encouraged still to persist in prayer Use 3 of Exhortation Prize and value the Spirit of Prayer as without his help you cannot pray to any purpose so he can make prayer mightily pravailing The Spirit will create an holy boldness in your accesse to the throne of grace he will enlarge your hearts in this duty which enlargements are not without sweetness and great satisfaction The Spirit will draw up and indite such petitions for you as will not be denyed and give some encouraging intimation of your being accepted and answered in the beloved Now if you would have the Spirit of Prayer follow these directions 1. Rest not in the bare gift of Prayer let it not satisfy you that you have a praying tongue and no more all your Supplications are but a flattering the Lord with your lips and a lying unto him with your tongues while your hearts are not right with him Psal 78. 36 37. 2. Be sensible of your need of the Spirit light and liberty life and liveliness are the effects of the Spirit good motions holy affections are his off-spring without him you will be like Pharaohs Chariots when the wheels were taken off and drive on heavily but he can make your Souls like the Chariâ—ts of Amminadib Cant. 6. 12. 3. Part with every thing that grieves the Spirit foster not any lust or inordinate affection that may render your hearts an unpleasant habitation to him 4. Frequently beg for the Spirit and Especially in secret this will be a sign that you indeed desire him Plead the promises which you find Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit unto them that ask him And what God has promised Christ died that he might purchase nay Christ has prayed that the Spirit might be bestowed Joh. 14. 16. And therefore you may pray with the greater encouragement and assurance Thus concerning that third doctrine that Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit D. 4. In Prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient Watching is a duty which the great Prophet Christ himself frequently pressed and the injunction is general What I say unto you I say unto all Watch Mar. 13. 37 He knew that a Spiritual Lethargie is a disease most incident But if at any time surely in holy duties this heedlesness and sleepyness does discover it self we had need therefore to rouse up our Spirits that are so sluggish naturally Deborah speaks to her self four times Awake awake Deborah Awake awake utter a Song Judg. 5. 12. We have need thus again and again to call upon our Souls to Awake and be Watchful when about to utter a prayer Watching and praying are joyned in Scripture and not only so but Watching is required in Prayer Col. 4. 2. Continue in Prayer and Watch in the same with Thanksgiving so 1 Pet. 4. 7. But the end of all things is at hand be ye therefore Sober and Watch unto Prayer In the handling of this doctrine I shall first shew what we are to Watch against in Prayer Secondly What we are to Watch over Thirdly What we are to Watch for Fourthly What manner of Watching is required in Prayer Fifthly Give the reasons why Watching is so necessary Lastly make Application In the first place I am to tell you What we are to Watch against in Prayer 1. We must watch against indwelling corruption There is a Law in our Members that wars against the Law of our minds and this Law in our members commands quite contrary to the Law of God This Law says pray not at all but especially forbids seriousness and fervency in Prayer and if not watchful this Law will sway and over-rule us and bring us into captivity to the Law of sin VVe had need look to our selves for when we have thoughts of doing good evil will be present with us Rom. 7. 21. and if care be not taken the evil will hinder our doing of the good Oh how deep is the corruption of our Nature How desperatâ—ly wicked is the heart of man How great are the remainders of sin in those that are most renewed And since the remaining Flesh still does lust against the Spirit this Flesh is to be narrowly eyed that it may be weakned checked else 't will spoil all our services 2. When praying we must watch against the evil One. Satan likes not to see us at the Throne of Grace because he knows has felt the sufficiency of that grace that believers obtain there I besought the Lord says the Apostle when buffeted by the messenger of Satan 2 Cor. 12. 8. and the power of Christ so rested upon him that Satan had no power unless it were full sore against his will to keep him humble and to hinder his being exalted above measure The Devil therefore might and main withstands us in Prayer and how many are his wiles that he may keep us off from this most advantagious Duty Sometimes he objects the difficulty of Prayer somtimes he says 't is needless to spend so much time therein sometimes 't is fruitless and that little comes of all our Cryes and Tears sometimes he proposes other business to be don that we may be diverted sometimes he threatens to appear to us that he may affright us from the Mercy Seat How busy is our adversary the Devil we should be acquainted
share in our supplications 1. We are to pray for Saints of all Nations Prayer may reach them though never so far and the God we pray to is acquainted with every Saint in particular throughout the Universe knows what they all want and how to supply all their needs 2. We are to pray for Saints of all Perswasions as long as they hold the head and are dear to Christ notwithstanding their difference from us in opinion Surely notwithstanding this difference they should be upon our hearts to desire their good Oh that there were less quarrelling and disputation and more praying and supplication one for another and this would be a great means to unite and to heal breaches 3. We are to pray for Saints of all Conditions high and low rich and poor bond and free Male and Female Every Saint is a Jewel and a Jewel is not to be contemned though it lye upon a Dung-hill The meanest Saints are precious in the Lords eyes and we should have regard to them 4. We are to pray for Saints that are to be as well as those that are already The Jewish Church prayed for that of the Gentiles before it was gathered for their little Sister that had no Breasts Cant. 8. 8. The reason why our supplications should be for all Saints are these 1. Because of their relation to God They are all his Children and he has the love of a Father to them nay he is a thousand times more full of affection than earthly Parents can be If God love them we should and shew our love by our wishing their good especially considering how much the honour of God is concerned in them and how much his Name is glorified in their preservation 2. Because of their Relation to our Lord Jesus Should not we pray for them since Christ died for them He bought them with the price of his own blood Act. 20. 28. 1 Cor. 6. ult and they are all Espoused to him nay they are his Members those for whom he ever lives to make intercession surely then we also should intercede in their behalf 3. We should pray for all Saints because of our Relation one to another We are all begotten by the same Seed we are all begotten by the same Seed we are all Members one of another Rom. 12. 5. So we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another We are all animated by the same Spirit one of whose principal fruits is Love and Love should be expressed in prayer finally we are all Heirs to the same Inheritance Oh how importunate should we be that we may come all safely thither 4. We should pray for all Saints because all are engaged in the same War and are wrestling with the same Enemies We should beg therefore that all may be kept from the evil of the world that Satan may be trod under the feet of all that sin may be subdued in all and that all may at last be made more than Conquerours 5. All Saints are carrying on the same design the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom and Interest of Christ we should help one another by prayer that this great end may be attained Use 1. Of Consolation Saints have more prayers going for them than they are aware of Those that you never saw nor shall see in this world are concerned for you and are desiring that you may have that grace and strength which you need considering the difficulty of your work and your many Adversaries As every one should pray for all so all are praying for every one and this is matter of great encouragement Use 2. of Reproof to those that are of a private spirit who are all for themselves but Zion they look not after These have neither love to Christ nor to their own Souls upon a right score If they loved the Head they would be sollicitous for the welfare of the Body and if they truly desired the good of their own Souls they would have pitty to other Souls that are of equal value Use 3. Of Exhortation Be more frequent and fervent in praying for all the Saints This will be a great Argument that you are indeed Members of the Body of Christ when all your fellow-members are loved when you feel their sorrows and are concerned for their wel-fare 1. Pray for the Saints Vnity that they may be knit together in love their Beauty lies much in their Agreement and their strength in their being United But if a House or Kingdom be divided Division has a tendency to Destruction Christ prayed that his Disciples might be One as that which would serve very much to convince the world that God had sent him Joh. 17. 23. for the divisions of Saints is not the least cause of prevailing Infidelity and of mens questioning the very truth of Christianity 2. Pray for the Saints purity that the Church may be more and more cleansed and conformed to the holy Doctrin of the Gospel and like her holy Head the Lord Jesus 3. Pray for the Saints prosperity especially for those glorious and peaceable times after Antichrists ruine the calling home of the Jews when the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ 4. Pray for the Saints increase and in thus doing you are kind unto the world Beg that the Prince of darkness may lose and that Christ may gain more and more Subjects every day and that out of the quarry of mankind more may be taken which may be made lively Stones in the Lords Temple 5. Pray for the Saints support under all Oppressions for their perseverance to the end and that the Lord Jesus would hasten his second appearing when all his Church shall be Triumphant when Devils and the Reprobate world shall be confined to Hell and all the Elect shall joyn together in shouting forth Hallelujahs unto him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Thus have I finished this Argument of Prayer What are now your resolutions Shall there be prayerless Families still and any Strangers unto secret duty notwithstanding all that has been spoken May Pardon and Grace and Life and Salvation be all obtained for asking and will you not do thus much will you neither be earnest for others nor your own selves Shall none of the directions that have been given be followed Shall all the Arguments that have been used be unsuccessful Oh thou that commandest and hearest prayer O thou that helpest thy people to pray pour out the spirit of Grace and Supplication That thy Throne of Grace may be surrounded with Suppliants that there may be a great flocking to thy Mercy-seat and grace may be imparted abundantly to thy own glory through Jesus Christ the great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens and is at thy right hand for ever Amen and Amen Prayer OF what an easie quick access My blessed Lord art thou how suddenly May our requests thine eare
Gospel and also promises to bestow 4. In prayer we are to watch over our Consciences that they perform their Office faithfully Their Office is to observe and condemn every miscarriage to urge unto a more spiritual manner of praying and to be restless and unquiet if prayer be omitted upon any slight pretence or the Male in the Flock be not offered to the Lord but a corrupt thing A tender Conscience is a blessing that can never be sufficiently valued this will cause the best to be given unto God this will not be satisfied till God approves and commends and what a Heaven follows upon prayer when the Lord himself and his Officer Conscience are both pleased But if you grow unwatchful over our Consciences and suffer them to fall asleep and become feared a thousand faults in prayer will be winkt at nay we shall be but little reproached for the total omission of it 5. In prayer we are to watch over our affections the more of affection in prayer the more pleasing the duty will be to God and the more pleasant to him that performs it There is enough in the Lord to draw forth the very strength of our affections How great is his goodness how able and powerful is his Hand to save how unsearchable are the riches of his grace Eye has nâ—t seen ear has not heard neither has â—â— entred into the heart of man what he has prepared for those that wait upon him Isa 64. 4. We are inexcusable if all this move not our affections We should watch and observe when our affections do but begin to incline towards former Lovers and then compare those Lovers and the Lord together that other things may be contemned and our souls may even break for longing after God 6. In prayer we are to watch over our outward man our tongues and sences must be lookt to our tongues must speak reverently considering God is in Heaven and we on Earth Eccles 5. 2. and we must have warrant from Gods own word for the words we utter before him Our sences must be guarded else at the ear or eye especially something or other may enter that may disturb prayer and hinder it from being so fervent and effectual You see what we must watch over In the third place I am to shew what we must watch for in prayer 1. We must watch for fit seasons to pray There are some times and seasons in which God is neerer than at others and more ready to be sound of them that seek him this the Prophet intimates Esa 55. 6. Seek â—e the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near These seasons of grace and love are carefully to be observed and improved to the uttermost When the Lord came so near to Jacob as to suffer him to take hold of him that was a special season and Jacob was sensible of it and wrestles lonâ— and with an holy vigour he keeps his hold and would not let go till he had got the blessing Gen. 32. 29. That also was a special opportunity when the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend Exod. 33. 11. Moses improves this and beggs for the Lords presence with him and with the people of Israel and having prevailed for this he adds further Lord I beseech thee shew me thy glory v. 18. Hereupon the Lord made his goodness to pass before him and proclaimed The Lord God merciful and gracious long suffering abundant in goodness and in truth keeping mercy for thousands fâ—rgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin 2. We must watch for Admonitions from Conscience unto Prayer When Conscience says Thou hast not yet prayed in secret now go and pour out thy heart before him that sees in secret Thou hast not yet pray'd in thy Family Call all of thy Houshold together and joyn in begging that the Lord would have mercy upon all Conscience is by no means to be dis-regarded but its admonition should be taken The Authority which the Lord allows to Conscience is great and its office is of a large extent Conscience is a Witness and a Judge and a Monitour As a Witness it takes notice of the evil which we do of the good which we refuse to do and likewise observes when we are careful of our duty As a Judg it acquits or condemns according as we have been either good and faithful or evil and sloathful Servants As a Monitour it tells us before hand of our duty and as we would avoid its Accusations and Reproaches we should not venture upon any sin which it crys out against nor neglect prayer or any other duty which it charges us to perform as we will answer it before God 3. We must watch for the motions of the spirit unto prayer When the Holy Ghost moves to this duty and his motions are heeded and obeyed we are to conclude that the same spirit which moves to prayer will assist in prayer 'T is a wonderful priviledge that the Spirit is sent unto the Churches and is speaking and striving for their good Every one should have an ear to hear what the spirit says Rev. 3. ult When the Spirit speaks concerning sin this is not the way therefore avoid it Oh do not this abominable thing which God haâ—es we must by no means consent to evil When the Spirit says concerning duty this is tâ—e way walk in it Esa 30. 31. we must by all means yeild unto that which is good If the Lord by his Spirit says Seek my Face with the greatest forwardness we should reply Thy Face Lord will we seek and he will not then hide his Face from us nor put his Servants away in anger The motions of the Spirit unto prayer are twofold Ordinary Extraordinary 1. There are more ordinary motions unto prayer 'T is the mind and will of the Spirit that our usual times for prayer of all sorts should be observed and though deadness and indisposition be never so great and our hearts draw back from the Throne of Grace yet we must go thither Experience teaches that where deadness at the beginning of prayer has seemed invincible yet of a sudden it has been removed and the duty has been carried on and concluded with more than ordinary enlargements The Israelites were commanded to go forward when they came to the red Sea they might have answered what would you have us march into the water and be drowned Well but forward they go and the water is dried up before them Exod. 14. So truly many times when about to pray there is great listlesness and many discouragements Yet we must go forward and engage in our duty and the Sea is dryed up before us these discouragements are removed 2. These are more extraordinary motions of the Spirit unto Prayer Upon some remarkable Providence either cross or kindness upon the hearing of some more than ordinary affecting Truths upon some special manifesttions by way of quickning and peace
because he hath heard my Voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear to me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live I have shewed you what we are to watch for in prayer In the fourth place I am to shew what manner of watching is required 1. Our watch must be very strict and this strictness will be acknowledg'd reasonable if we consider that prayer is a business of weight Life or Death Blessing or Cursing will follow according as we speed well or ill in prayer VVhen we come to the Throne of Grace we entreat for no less then the forgiveness of millions of offences the least of which if unpardon'd is sufficient to expose us to eternal condemnation we entreat for no less then grace and glory we deprecate no less then the anger of the Almighty and everlasting torments Surely we should be watchfull and full of care by all means to speed in a duty of such vast concernment 2. Our watch must be continued it must be before and in and after Prayer and all little enough 1. We must watch before prayer that every thing may Dimidium facti qui coepit habit Hot at be avoided and removed that may hinder the heart from preparing to have to do with God 't is not easie to enter rightly upon this duty 2. We must Watch in prayer Prayer is expressed in Scripture by the Metaphor of wrestling If the Wrestler watch not he prevails not but is easily foyld If we are not very vigilant all the while we are praying God whom we wrestle with will withdraw and we shall miss of the blessing and Satan that wrestles against us will presently fling us 3. We must watch after prayer We must trace our hearts and mark how they have behaved themselves we must observe and bemoan our failings and be thankful for assisting grace we must be the same upon our Leggs that we were upon our Knees and live according to our prayers In the fifth place follow the reasons why Watching is so necessary in prayer 1. God watches how this duty is performed and has denounced a Curse on those that do the work of the Lord negligently He narrowly observes where the thoughts are and how much of the heart and affection is in every prayer Hark to the Apostle Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things even the thoughts and intents of the heart where of he had spoken in the verse fore-going are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 2. Satan Watches in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isider Pelus l 2. Epist 24. a time of War there is the stricter watch Now our life is a warfare therefore we should be ever vigilant 1 Pet. 5. 8. Our Adversary the Devil goes about endeavouring to do all the mischief and to hinder all the good he can possibly Satan is very busie about us in prayer and if our unwatchfulness gives him but the least encouragement and advantage he presently spyes and takes it 3. Vnless we watch our hearts will deal treacherously they will start aside from God like deceitful Bows and the Arrow of Prayer will be far from hitting the mark but our Supplications will degenerate into meer formality whereas if we are intent and serious and do hoc agere mind our business while we are at prayer we shall undoubtedly make something of it I come at last to the Application Use 1. is of Reproof Two sorts of persons deserve and highly need as well as deserve a reprehension 1. The careless Hypocrite is to be Reproved The Scripture which has this preheminence above all other Laws that it binds the very Heart and Conscience does speak very terribly against Hypocrisy which is the hearts dissimulation and going away from God even when the external part of devotion is yeilded to him The folly of the praying Hypocrite will appear in these things 1. His Conscience is fast asleep in prayer and lets him even do what he pleases but this sleeping Lyon will at length awake at farthest Hell will awaken his Conscience and then 't will bitterly reproach him and never cease reproaching 2. The Hypocrite regards not the God he is praying to he is not awed by the Lords Majesty nor affected with his Mercy neither is he afraid of provoking him to jealousy but presumes upon God as if he were altogether such an one as himself Psal 50. 21 22. These things hast thou done and I kept silence and thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver 3. The Hypocrite regards not the things he is praying for nor himself that is concerned in prayer He is not Animus cujusque est quisque concerned for his soul which is most truly himself and though he prays for the favour of God for the Kingdom of God and deliverance from everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels yet he is so cold and heedless as if he were indifferent whether Heaven or Hell were his eternal abode 2. The drowsie and declining Saints are also to be reproved These having been once so thorowly awakened are more without Apology if they grow again unwatchful 1. The prayers of unwatchful Saints have very bad mixtures Oh the forgetfulness and fearlesness and weariness and mocking of the Lord that Believers under their declinings are to be charged with How neer do they come to the borders of unregeneracy how like are they to the unsound-hearted 2. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are very unprofitable Children they are but alas they improve not their Relation nor make serious application to their Father The Spirit is in them but they accept not of his strength and grace Prayer is not totally laid aside but little comes on 't because they do not vigorously engage in it 3. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are uncomfortable The Spirit is grieved by their carelesness and how can it be expected he should be a comforter to them Conscience is dis-satisfied and is continually grudging because they do not stir up themselves to lay hold on God when they call upon him Isa 64. 7. Much fear much bondage many secret gripes of spirit follow upon careless praying 4. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are so offensive that they may justly fear some stroke from God some smarting Rod to awaken the spirit of prayer in them Hos 5. 14. I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a young Lyon to the House of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue him Now what was the reason of this severity it follows v. 15. In their affliction they will seek me early He thrust the Spur into their side and made them bleed to
make them mend their sluggish pace in duty he chastned them that he might hear louâ—er crys and have more serious prayers from them Use 2. shall be of Exhortation Be perswaded to watch in prayer Those that watch not at all pray not at all in Gods account those that watch most make most of prayer These Arguments I shall further use to second this Exhortation 1. The more watchful you are in prayer the better you will understand the Deâ—ils Enmity you will perceive his envy and his hatred and how loath he is that you should receive any distinguishing mercies especially at the Hand of God therefore he does so bestir himself that he may resist you and the better you know this Enemy the better armed will you be 2 The more watchful you are in prayer you will be more acquainted with your selves and with your own hearts you will more fully understand your wants and your spiritual plagues and the understanding of these is one good step to the supply and cure 3. The more watchful you are in prayer the more experimentally will you understand the loving kindness of the Lord you shall find that he deals bountifully Psal 116. 7. Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee God is certainly willing to give they that watch in prayer take notice what they receive and great joy 't is to behold the prayers which as Messengers we dispatched to Heaven return loaded with mercy Joh. 16. 24. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full So much for that fourth Doctrin In Prayer Watching is a necessary Ingredient D. 5. we must persevere if we would speed in prayer or prayer must be with all perseverance the words of the Text are not without Emphasis not only perseverance but all perseverance is required by the Apostle There should not be the least fainting but a vigorous persistance in our supplications Hark how the Apostle speaks in other places Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in prayer In speaking to this Doctrin I shall first tell you what 't is to persevere in prayer Secondly What kind of perseverance is required Thirdly Give you the Reasons of this perseverance Lastly Make Application In the first place what 't is to persevere in prayer 1. This perseverance in prayer implyes Resolvedness of Spirit against all opposition the resolution is not to be made in our own strength but in the power of Grace and then it will be firm and hold He that perseveres in prayer resists Satans endeavours to hinder him in this duty Though this Lyon roar upon him by fearfully Blasphemous thoughts though this Adversary buffet him by confused amazing and affrighting imaginations yet all his skill does not beat him off from prayer the more busie he finds Satan the more need he perceives of calling upon God And as the Devil cannot prevail by his more irksome temptation so as to cause an omission of prayer in like manner on the other side the more pleasing temptations are withstood When he speaks big words concerning sports and pastimes and the pleasures of sense when he talks at an high rate of worldly advantages that are to be pursued that he may divert and draw away the heart from prayer yet he that perseveres in this duty believes this lying and deceitful spirit in nothing Nay he retorts upon him and answers that therefore he prays that he may find true joy and greater sweetness in God than the Creatures can possibly yeild that therefore he prays because he has a mind to be rich indeed and to have a treasure in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where Thieves cannot break thorow nor steal Mat. 6. 20. And as for that opposition he meets with from within from the corruption of his heart which is indeed the greatest he bewails it struggles with it and crys out for the spirit of life to quicken and help him He is convinced of the necessity of prayer and the excellency of what is prayed for and opposition is but a whet to him that he may stir up himself to lay hold on God 2. This perseverance in prayer implies getting through all discouragements The more blind Bartimeus was discouraged by the people he cryed the louder Jesus thou Son of David have mercy upon me Mar. 10. 48. and his cry was heard according to his desire he had his sight restored The Woman of Canaan who came to Christ that her Daughter might be dispossessed of a Devil met with great discouragements but overcome them all Mat. 15. 21. 29. When first she utter'd her request Christ answered her not a word this one would have thought might have struck her dumb and made her conclude it vain to have spoken any more Oh no still she cryed after him whereupon the Disciples intercede for her Christ answers he was sent to the lost Sheep of the house of Israel here was a second repulse but neither did this discourage she comes and worships him and sayes Lord help me Christ replys it is not meet to cast the Childrens bread unto the dogs This was a third repulse and worst of all And yet she gives not over but pleads that though she were indeed no better then a dog yet crumbs might be given her And now she speeds and whatever she had a mind to was granted He that perseveres in prayer will not be discouraged Is his guilt great he replys that the Lords mercy will be the more magnified if he obtains a Pardon Is he much distemperd he replys the more will the skill of the great Physician be shewn in healing his Spiritual plagues Is he very unworthy he replys that the Prodigal upon his returning found his Fathers doors and his Fathers arms open though he came home in raggs having before wasted all his Substance among the harlots and in riotous living Though he is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked yet he says That Christ has ey-salve to make him see gold tried in the fire to make him rich and white raiment to cover him Rev. 3. 17. 18. 'T is a Mercy Seat 't is a Throne of grace he goes to and therefore discouragements are not invincible 3. This perseverance in prayer implies continual importunity Importunity is many times troublesom to Man but God is delighted with it Humility indeed becomes us in our addresses to him but yet we are allowed to be urgent to be instant to be pressing in these things which is according to the will of the Lord and he loves to see us so for it argues we value highly what we begg with importunity The unjust judg was prevailed with by the widdows importunity And will the Lord neglect importunate Prayer that has commanded and encouraged importunity and that is so righteous and so gracious He that perseveres in prayer follows the Lord with his
Rock and the high God their Redeemer but as soon as the Lord ceased smiting they ceased crying they flattered with their Tongues and were unstedfast in his Covenant Psal 78. 34 37. This is the way to have affliction quickly return again and that with more of Gall and Wormwood or to have spiritual Judgments which are a great deal worse succeed temporal 2. Reproof belongs to them that pray for a little while while the Conviction is fresh and strong and the exhortation to this duty is still sounding in their ears but by degrees the Conviction wears off and the Exhortation is forgotten and then oh how do their hearts depart from God and what a task and tedious thing is Prayer to them But those foregoing convictions will very much aggravate their after omissions these omissions being given way to especially at first with such violence offer'd to their own consciences and resisting of the Holy Ghost who strives to make them persevere in Supplication 3. Reproof belongs to Apostates that somewhile made a great Profession none more forward to Pray than they but now they have thrown off this and other Ordinances of Christ being carried away either by a prophane or by an erroneous spirit 1. Many are carried away by a prophane spirit and having restrained Prayer even restraining Grace is taken from them they run out to all excess of Riot they are abominably vitious intemperate unclean unrighteous they declare to all that seven unclean spirits are entered into them and that their last end is likely to prove worse than their beginning They once indeed did know the Holy Commandment but are now turned from it and 't is happen'd to them according to the Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 21 22. 2. Many are carried away from Prayer by an Erronâ—ous spirit These not onely break the Lords Commands but perswade themselves they do well in it and endeavour to draw others to the like Transgression and hereby their guilt and danger is the greater Every one that speaks against Prayer or any other Ordinance of Christ as he strikes at Christs Authority who is King of the Church so he is deceived and made use of by the Devil to injure Souls by drawing them away from God and their Duty But it may be Objected that the Apostle himself sayes Col. 2. 20. Why are ye subject to Ordinances I answer the 21 ver following shews what Ordinances the Apostle speaks of namely the Ceremonial Ordinances Touch not Taste not Handle not he is not to be interpreted concerning the Ordinances of Christs Institution for in this very Epistle he does command that the Word of Christ should dwell richly in them Col. 3. 16. and that they should Sing â—salms with Grace in their Hearts to the Lord and that they should continue in Prayer Col. 4. 2. 4. Reproof belongs to them that limit God and conclude if they are not heard presently that they shall never be answered and so in effect say why should we seek the Lord any longer Vile and sinful creatures should not be so quick with God What if we tarry some time before we have the grace and comfort we beg If it comes at last is not the Lord gracious to a wonder Besides the Lord knows when 't is fittest to answer Prayer therefore it becomes us patiently to wait for his rightly timeing of his benefits is not the smallest part of them Use 2. of Direction how you may persevere in Prayer 1. Be exceeding jealous and afraid whenever you find deadness and formallity seizing upon you You know not whether it may grow The prognostick signs of an approching distemper easily perswade you to take preventing Physick Oh when you find your hearts out of order fear and go to your Physician to heal your hearts and reduce them to the right praying frame 2. Take heed of quenching the Spirit let your Ears be open to hear what he sayes to the Churches Rev. 2. ult Deliver up your selves wholly unto the Spirits conduct and guidance be lead by him from what wayes and in what wayes he pleases else he will be grieved and withdraw and if he does so alas your helper will be gon and your infirmities will hinder your perseverance in Prayer 3. Be sensible that all your prayers will be lost if now you should totally and finally give over that righteousness will be reckoned as none at all that is but like the morning Cloud and as the early dew vanishes away pray on therefore that all may not be in vain 4. Labour to be acquainted with the sweetness of prayer that you may have experience of those quickenings those enlargements those supports those ravishing delights that the Saints have found sometimes in prayer and then you will like the duty so well that you will not easily be drawn off from it 5. Depend upon Him that gives power to the faint and increases strength in them that have no might Isa 40. 29. He faints not neither is he weary and he alone can keep you from being weary in wel-doing As he only can help you when you cry so he alone can help you to hold on in crying 6. Cheer up your selves with this consideration that if you persâ—vere in prayer but a little while longer in Heaven all your prayers will be fully answered Remember that if prayer lasts as long as time lasts time will quickly be succeeded by Eternity and prayer will end in everlasting praises So much for the fifth Doctrine That prayer must be with all perseverance D. 6. The sixt and last Doctrin is this Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all Saints as well as for our selves therefore the Apostle adds in the Text and supplication for all Saints Here I shall first shew what Saints the Apostle speaks of and secondly why we should pray for them all and then give you the Uses First What Saints the Apostle speaks of The Saints are of two sorts Triumphant in Heaven Militant on Earth 1. Triumphant in Heaven and these do not need our prayers We need not pray that they may be eased of their loads for their burthens are removed and they are entred into perfect rest we need not pray that God would manifest himself to them for they see him as he is and not as here in a glass darkly nor that they may be freed from sorrow and defended from Enemies for their joy is full all tears are wiped away and they are past all danger They are made Pillars in the Heavenly Temple and they shall go no more out Rev. 3. 12 In all the Bible we find not one Petition for departed Saints They are with the Lamb Crown'd above and are above our supplications 2. Militant Saints on Earth and of these the Text speaks and to these the words are to be confined and truly all of them claim a
THE SPIRIT of PRAYER OR A DISCOURSE WHEREIN The Nature of Prayer is Opened the Kinds of Prayer are Handled and the Right Manner of Praying Discover'd Several Cases about this Duty are Resolved From EPH. 6. 18. Praying Alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for All Saints Unto which is Added A Direction for the Attaining the Gift of Prayer That Family-Duty may not be Omitted nor Secret Duty discouraged through Inability of Utterance and Expression BY Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1674. To the Truly HONOURABLE LADY Hester LADY BLOVNT Mercy and Grace and Peace be Multiplyed Much Honoured Madam WHen I had the happiness to belong unto your Noble Family the Favours I received were Weighty ones and have left too deep an impression upon me ever to be worn off I never lived more free from Care Trouble then when I lived with your Ladyship Your Civility your Bounty your being so much concerned when I went away I must Remember while I have Memory 'T is very pleasing to me to reflect upon the Opportunities I had when I lived at Tittenhanger your Stately House not only of studying but of performing those Secret duties of Prayer and Meditation wherein Communion with God is so exceeding sweet that all sensual delights and pleasures are contemptible in comparison At that time the World was presented to me in the Gayest dress Your House Large and bravely Furnished your Gardens Delighful your Park and Walks hardly to be Matched your Table abundantly sumptuously Furnished Yet I must needs tell You That God was ten Thousand times more to me than all this When I sought him with my whole Heart and found him when I begg'd his Grace and had the Grace I begg'd for This This was it which made my life happy This made me Cheerful indeed onely I was sorry to see others take up and be so much transported with lower Pleasures Believe me Madam nay believe the Lord himself Religion and Joy are not inconsistent The wayes of Wisdom are wayes of Pleasantness and all the paths thereof are paths of Peace Though David had a Crown of pure Gold on his Head though he was Lord of such a Country which was then the glory of all Lands yet we find that God was his Joy and that was his Language Whom have I Heaven but Thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides Thee Whereas Solomon his son indulging his Flâ—sh and too much forgetting God did but hereby contribute to his own disquiet He made him great Works he built Houses and planted Vineyards he made Gardens and Orchards and planted Trees in them of all sorts of Fruit he made Pools of Water that the Trees might be the more Flourishing He had Servants Maidens Possessions of great and small Cattel above all that were before him in Jerusalem He gathered Silver and Gold and the peculiar Treasure of Kings and of the Provinces He had Men-singers and Women-singers and the Delights of the Sons of Men and Musical Instruments of all sorts Nay whatsoever his Eyes desired he kept not from them neither did he withold from his Heart any Joy How large an Inventory is here of what is gratifying to the Senses Yet in the midst of all he cryes out Behold all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no Profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 4 11. Madam I earnestly desire your Eternal welfare and also your present Joy And truly there must be Godliness not in the Form only but in the Power also or else you will be a Stranger to the pleasure of Christianity God is the Souls centre Rest is elsewhere in vain expected The more you acquaint your self with Him the more perfect your peace will be thereby good will come unto you These ensuing Sermons concerning Prayer I hope through the blessing of God may be a means to make Devotion much more servent And 't is not in vain to seek Him that is so willing to be sound and whose Sufficiency is such that he can satisfie your desires when they are most Enlarged That the Lord of Heaven would bless You and all the Branches of your Illustâ—ious Family and make all eminent for Piety and Holiness which will be your truest Honour and greatest Dignity is the Prayer of Madam Your Ladiships most humble and most obliged Servant Nathanael Vincent To the Readers especially them that were Hearers of these Following Sermons Beloved Brethren BEing about to Read a Book concerning Prayer how convenient is it you should begin with Prayer that you may read with profit Lift up therefore your hearts unto God and desire Grace to do what is made known to be your duty Gods Precepts are for your profit He is not capable of being advantaged for he is infinitely and eternally self-sufficient but you your selves will be benefited by your Obedience He requires you to come to the throne of Grace that he may impart his Grace and Mercy unto you that so much stand in need of it 'T is the property of Good to be communicative of it self And the Lord who is the Summum Bonum highest and chiefest Good does give most of all liberally Prayer is an Ordinance that He has appointed and 't is a great priviledge we are allowed to pour out our Souls before him His Hand is not shortned His Ear is not heavy we shall not be straitned in Him if we are not straitned in our own Bowels You that never have pray'd with any seriousness of Spirit should cry now with the greater fervency You have not one Sin pardoned not one Corruption mortified not one saving Grace wrought in your Hearts you have not the least part of your main work don no provision at all made for Eternity and another World It concerns you therefore to begg as for your Lives that God would reconâ—cile you to himself in Christ and make you new Creatures and become a Father and a Portion to you Now is the accepted time Now the Father of Mercies is upon the mercy Seat Now the Lord Jesus is willing to be your Advocate and to intercede for you Now the spirit of Grace is ready to help our infirmities Now forgiveness of sin and life and Immortality are freely offer'd nay you are intreated to accept them But it will not be thus alwayes shortly God will be inexorable the Advocate will be a judg to condemn and the spirit will withdraw for ever and the day of grace will be ended Oh therefore pray now for then 't will be to late to pray And for you that make conscience of this duty wrestle still with greater Vigour Those are the strongest Christians that are mightiest in praier He that prayes well will do all wel besides for by
that he spent day and night in nothing but eating no such matter but when the season or meal-time came he was present So to pray always is to pray whenever prayer is seasonable 3. A third question is What is meant by all Prayer Bullinger refers this to the intension of the mind saying that in this Duty there must be all possible devotion and intentness and servency of heart But Musculus understands Prayer of every sort and indeed all kinds of Prayer which God has appointed are needfull and the Lord is ready by the Communications of his Grace to encourage to the practice of this Duty in the full extent and latitude of it 4. Anotherquestion is this What are we to understand by prayer in the spirit Some refer this clause to the things asked as if we should slight all worldly enjoyments and ask only for those blessings that are spiritual 'T is confessed that spiritual blessings are to be most prized and to be begged with the greatest importunity but yet temporal mercies may also with submission be desired Daily Bread we are allowed to ask for and that Bread is sweetest and most blest that is the fruit of Prayer Others observe and rightly that this passage Praying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Spirit may have relation both to the spirit of God and the spirit of him that prays 1. It may have relation unto the Spirit of God The Holy Ghost makes intercession for Believers according to the will of God he helps their infirmities who of themselves know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26 27. 2. It may have relation unto the spirit of him that prays Prayer must be the off-spring of the heart or else 't will In Religione non sit quod cor non facit not be of any value or efficacy The spirit of a man must understand what and the worth of what is prayed for and the affections must be stirred in order to the attainment of it 5. A fifth question is what are we to understand by watching unto prayer with all perseverance We must watch over our hearts and watch for God and this must be with continuance unless we continue to watch and pray we may quickly enter and fall into temptation And since all militant Saints are in danger as well as we and stand in so near a relation to Christ and to us we should be much concerned for them so as to desire their safety and well-fare as our own There are six Doctrins which these words afford us 1. A Christians security lyes very much in praying always 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used 3. Prayer when rightly performed is supplication in the spirit 4. In prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient 5. We must persevere if we would speed in prayer 6. Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all the Saints as well as for oâ—r selves D. 1. I begin with the first of these Doctrines That a Christians security lies very much in praying always Although he be Armed from head to foot with the Armour of God which if any in the world is Armour of Proof yet he is not safe without prayer Saints in Scripture have lookt upon the Throne of Grace as their Asylum and Sanctuary and have come hither for refuge and strength in their troubles and temptations David when he perceived the deceit and hatred of his Adversaries who fought against him without cause says 't was his course and truly 't was a wise one to give himself to prayer Psal 109. 4. When his soul was among Lyons and he dwelt among those that were set on fire he then crys unto God most high unto God that performed all things for him Psal 57. 2. When the Apostle Paul was buffeted by the Messenger of Satan he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him and had this answer my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. Nay the very Captain of our Salvation Christ himself not only used the word of God in temptation and overcome the Devil by Scripture-weapons but also he was wonderfully servent in prayer Heb. 5. 7. In the days of his flesh he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I shall speak unto this Doctrin in this following order First give you a definition of prayer that you may know what ' t is Secondly Inform you what it is to pray always Thirdly Shew you why a Christians security lies in prayer Fourthly Give you some reasons why he should be always praying Fifthly Answer some Objections that are made against this Duty Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to give you a definition of prayer that you may understand the nature of it Damascen l. 3. de orth Fid. c. 24. give this description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is an assention of the mind unto God and asking those things which are convenient from him The mind must ascend as well as the voâ—â—â— and both must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be desired which the wise and gracious God sees Oratio est actus rationis practicae voluntatis desiderium explicantis ab a liis aliquid postulantis Aquin in 2. 2. qu. 83. art 1. convenient Aquinus defines prayer an act of the practical understanding explaining the desire of the will and requesting something from another which being applied unto God amounts to thus much that both the mind and will do act in prayer the mind makes known what the will desires Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thoe and my groaning is not hid from thee and then likewise there is an earnest craving to have this desire satisfied Psal 90. 14. Oh satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days But a more full definition of prayer is this Prayer is a Duty performed unto God by sensible and believing Souls in which they ask for things according to his will in the name of Christ with thanksgiving for what already has been received This definition I shall take in pieces and explain the parts of it 1. Prayer is a Duty 't is part of that homage and worship which we owe to God this is evident by the light of nature the Heathen Marriners cryed unto the Lord for preservation in a Storm Jon. 1. but 't is more evident by Scripture light commands to pray are frequent And he that does restrain prayer casts off the fear of God and says unto the Almighty Depart from me Job 21. 14 15. Prayer is a Duty for we are obliged to it by a precept and that precept is for our profit we need help from Heaven and our wants that are of greatest concernment to be supplied can be supplyed by none
but by him that is Alsufficient and when we cry to him we give him glory for it argues we believe his power and mercy which prove him able and ready to succour and relieve us 2. Prayer is to be performed unto God and to him only Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Unto Thee my God and my King will I pray says David Psal 5. 2. and v. 3. I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Gods Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his Ear heavy that it cannot hear He is able to do not onely to the uttermost of our desires but exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think Eph. 3. 20. The Papists dangerously corrupt holy worship by their sinful prayers to Angels and Saints and especially to the Virgin Mary Cardinal Bonaventure has blotted out the name of Lord in the Book of the Psalms and put in the name of Lady and teacheth Christians to ask the same things of the Virgin Mary which David asked for at the hands of God himself Under the old Testament we find that Believers directed their supplications to God himself and found him ready to hear and save and under the Gospel where the manifestation and communication of his Grace are more full and plenteous is there need to go to any other No no One God can supply our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Psal 4. 19. 3. Those that pray must be sensible Ignorance and unbelief and hardness of heart make the words of prayer a Mockery and Abomination They that pray therefore must be sensible of their sins of their needs of their unworthiness to have those needs supplyed finally they must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to 1. They must be sensible of their sins I acknowledge my Iniquities says David and my sin is ever before me Psal 51. 3. so Esa 59. 12. For our Transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Sin must be acknowledged with shame and sorrow else 't will separate between God and us and prove a Cloud through which our prayers will never pass There must be such a sense of sin as implies an hatred and weariness of it for if the heart out of love and liking of it has a regard to sin God ever will be deaf and his mercies restrained Psal 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer 2. They that pray must be Sensible of their needs All the posterity of Adam are needy how rich and full soever they conceit themselves The first man being a publick person had the whole stock in his own hand and having lost it has beggard his whole Progeny we are all come shore of the glory of God as descended from Adam we are flesh and in our Flesh dwelleth no good thing This must be understood and believed poverty of Spirit Christ commends and pronounces those that are thus Poor Blessed Mat. 5. 3. For they that perceive they are Wretched and Miserable and Empty and Naked will cry the louder to the Lord for gold try'd in the fire to enrich them and white raiment that they may be cloathed The poor man that is ready to starve for hunger how does he cry out Bread for the Lords sake Bread for he sees his need of it The condemn'd Malefactor how does he roar out for a Pardon because he sees his life must quickly go without it And were we but better acquainted with our wants Oh what strong crys would come from us that Sin might be forgiven that Grace might be wrought that Peace might be Spoken that Spiritual Maladies might be healed We all need these things as much and more then the hungry stand in need of Bread 3. They that pray must be sensible of their unworthiness to have their need supplyed Paul crys out he was less than the least of all Saints and Jacob that he was less than the least of mercies Job says Behold I am vile and I abhor my self We cannot lay claim to any thing as our due but Wrath and the Curse What-ever God bestows it must be reckoned given not of debt but of pure and free Grace Rom. 4. Daniel in prayer disclaims all merit in his Righteousness acknowledges that Confusion of face belonged to him and to Israel because of their Rebellions and says expresly we do not present our supplications to thee for our Righteousness but for thy great mercies Dan. 9. 18. We may beg indeed for the greatest mercles and the greater the surer we are to speed for God is most liberal of the greatest but at the same time must be sensible that the least mercy is too good for such evil ones as we are 4. They that pray must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and multitude of Mountains the firmest things on Earth will fail and deceive our hopes Truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Therefore David lays this charge upon his Soul to wait only upon God and to have all its expectation from him God will be seriously sought unto when we are under the power of this Conviction that no other helper can be found 4. It followes in the definition that those that pray must be believing Souls Faith is a Grace that is required in all their Duties if this be wanting God will not be honoured by our Duties nor our selves advantaged Though we hear never so often If the Word be not mixed with Faith it will not profit us Heb. 4. 2. and unless our Prayers are Prayers in Faith they will not be effectuall Those that pray indeed must be Believers 1. They must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. they must have right apprehensions of his gracious Nature and of his good Will towards men He is willing to be reconciled and has himself without being sought unto contrived a way how Sinners Peace may be made He sends Embassadours to them to treat about it And intreats those that have offended him that they would be no longer enemies by wicked Works He has declared that fury is not in him towards those that are desirous of Mercy and that he does delight in nothing more than in Compassion and that if any do understand and seek him he is more willing to be found than they can be eager to find him These things being rightly conceived encourage Prayer and Satan by suggesting the clean contrary staves off many from this Duty 2. They that pray aright must by believing be interested in Christ the Mediatour Christ is the Way and no man commeth unto the
sometimes to try whether we duly esteem mercies and if we do we shall think them worth our while to pray still for them and wait till they are given 5. To pray always implies Not to give over praying while we are on Earth This Ordinance we must never be above for we always need to engage in it Our life is a continual warfare we have need to pray for defence and victory our knowledge and grace is imperfect we have need to pray for the increase of both and that we may be helped to press towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God Phil. 3. 14. In the third place I am to tell you Why a Christians security lies in prayer 1. Prayer engages God on a Christians side He promises to hear the cry of the Righteous ones and hearing their cry implies the engaging of his power and goodness for their supply and safety In prayer there is an acting of holy desires unto which satisfaction is assured and there is an acting of trust and faith and God will shew himself strong in the behalf of them that flie unto his Name as to a Tower of defence and rely upon his everlasting Arm. He that believes and has his expectation from the Lord shall not be ashamed The Apostle sticks not to say Whosoever calleth on the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 12. that is whosoever calls with faith and fervency Such calling engages God for us if He be for us who can be against us Rom. 8. 31. Our Iniquities though never so strong he can easily subdue the world and the God of the world are weak compared with the Almighty He can deliver from the evil world from the evil one from every evil work and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdom 2. Prayer Weakens the flesh with the affections and lusts of it Our great danger is from these homebred Enemies Our Lusts do war against our Souls 1 Pet. 2. 11. And the Apostle threatens Believers If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye Rom. 8. 13. What course does David take to obtain the Victory over his Corruptions he prays against them Cleanse me from secret faults Keep back thy Servant from presumptuous sins Let no Iniquity have the dominion over me Create in me a clean heart and uphold me with thy free Spirit These and such like were his crys and he did not cry in vain The Believer in prayer pleads that 't is for God's Honour to kill Corruption that 't is His declared Will even man's Sanctification that 't is His work to Sanctifie that He has promised to Sanctifie throughout in body Soul and spirit and he is faithful and therefore will do it 1 Thes 5. 23 24. He pleads that Christ died that he might Redeem and Purifie from Iniquity that he might cleanse his Church and present it unto himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 27. and such pleas are effectual to the obtaining of grace and mortifying the deeds of the body 3. A Christians security lies in prayer for prayer obtains better things than the world can boast of Let the world allure by its strongest baits and present unto the Christian the greatest gains the sweetest pleasures yet Blessings more valuable are to be gotten at the Throne of Grace The heart in prayer is taken up with the thoughts of and eagerly desires after the priviledge of Reconciliation and Adoption Communion with God and the Communications of his Grace and Spirit an eternal weight of glory a Crown of life an enduring substance fulness of joy and pleasures for ever-more Psal 16 ult These are the things above that in prayer are sought and what are things below in comparison The heart that is placed on these is the better armed against the world as long as spiritual and eternal blessings are sEcured the world is neither desired nor dreaded by it 4. Prayer is an underminâ—ng of Satan The powers of Hell have felt the force of this duty Christ commands his Disciples to pray when he perceived the Devil about to winnow them Luk. 22. 40. Pray that ye enter not into Teâ—ptaâ—ion If as oft as we are assaulted by the Tempter we did but look unto the Lord for grace to help in the time of need temptation would be very unsuccesful Two things are done in prayer against Satan By our confession of sins this Accuser is silenced by Petition Grace is obtaâ—ned â—o withstand him 1. By confession of sin this Accuser is silenced Satan is styled the Acâ—user of the Brethren and to shew how malicious and eager he is in his Accusations he is said to accâ—se them day and night before God Rev. 12. 10. But in prayer Believers bring bills of Indictment against themselves not only all that Satan can truly lay to their charge do they also lay to their own charge but also all that God has against them they acknowledge they cover not their sins but confess and aggravate them they blame and judge themselves and how earnest are they that sin confessed may be pardoned and purged away by the blood of Christ Now Satans mouth is stopt his charge signifies nothing for thus confessing sin and looking unto Jesus for Clensing as well as Atonement God is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness 1 Johâ— 1. 9. 2. By Petition Grace is obtained to withstand Satan The Apostle Paul when buffeted by the Devil falls to prayer and what answere has he The Lord said unto him my Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness And the Apostle is satified in this that the power of Christ did rest upon him 2 Cor. 12. 9. Prayer brings us to the God of Peace who has promisEd to tread Satan under our Feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. By Prayer Wisdom is derived from God and the more wise the Father of Lights makes us the better we understand the Devils wiles and his design is seen thorow which is to deceive to defile and at last to murther Souls And as Wisdom is increased so Faith and Love and Fear and other Graces by Prayer and the more we believe God the less credit shall we give the evil one the more we love God the more we shall hate that evil which we are tempted to The more we fear the Lord the more will our hearts be united to him and 't will be a matter of the greater difficulty to perswade us unto a departing from him 5. A Christians security lies in Prayer for Prayer is a great means to make every other Ordinance effectual for our safety and spiritual advantage The word of God and prayer are coupled together Acts. 6. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word Our Sermons which we preach unto you should be beggâ—d from
119. 132. Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name Now though God be acquainted with our wants without our mentioning of them yet he will not look upon them so as to pitty and supply them unless we beg this pity unless we beg this supply When Israel groaned by Prayer unto God says he I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt that is I have lookt upon it with Sympathy and compassion and it follows I am come down to deliver them Act. 7. 34. Obj. 2. A second Objection is this Why should we pray since the God whom we have to do with is unchangeable can we work any alteration in him by our requests No the Scripture sayes with him is no variablenesse neither shaddow of turning Ans I answer Prayer makes not a change in God but a change in us it does not make him more mercifull and bountifull but disposes us for the receiving of his mercy and grace This notion you must all well understand that the design of prayer is not to make any alteration in God but to make an alteration in us that we may be fitted and made meet for those blessings which God has promised to give When God pardons any the change to speak properly is in the person pardoned he that before was an enemy is become a child Gods wrath is the same that 't was and his love the same that 't was only the person that before was out of Christ is now in Christ and is now loved whom before wrath did abide upon When we pray for grace and holynesse hereby we are more fitted for the receiving of it God alters not but we are altered oh much for the better when we are Sanctified This matter may be made more plain by this similitude Suppose a man ready to be drowned in the Sea a rope is cast out to him from a rock on the shore the man does not pull the rock nearer to himself or the rock stirs not but he pulls himself nearer to the rock and hereby he is saved God is our rock Prayer is our cord whereby we are drawn to him from whom alone Salvation is to be expected Obj. 3. A third Objection against prayer is this God has decreed what he will give and his decrees shall certainly stand firm and be accomplished He being infinitely wise in making them there cannot be imagined a reason why he himself should alter them and they cannot be altered by any other Ans I answer It must needs be granted that Gods decrees shall stand unmoveable but withall I add that he who has decreed to give grace and mercy has appointed prayer as a means to obtain them The means is subordinate to the end and comes under a decree as well as the end Therefore we are said to be elected or chosen to Holiness which does include the dutys of Holiness Eph. 1. 4. as well as to be ordained to eternal Life If God decrees a man shall live till he is 60 years of age he decrees that he shall use those means as food and the like which are necessary to the prolonging of his days And so God that does decree to give grace and pardon and glory decrees and appoints prayer and other duties to be performed After the Lord had promised much and declared his gracious purpose towards Israel to pardon renew heal and restore them He adds For all this will I be enquired of by the House of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. You shall find that God's decree has not made the Saints esteem prayer needless but encouraged them to fervency therein Daniel understanding by Jeremiahs Prophecy that after seventy years Judah should be brought back from the Babylonish Captivity prays the more earnestly that they might be set at liberty and that the Sanctuary might be shone upon which lay desolate Dan. 9. 2 3. And David when he understood that God purposed to build him an Hous pray'd that God would do as he had spoken Obj. 4. Another Objection is this Wicked men have small encouragement to pray since their prayers are styled an abomination Ans I Answer 1. Wicked men are blamed for not pâ—aying however Psal 14. 4. Have all the workers of Iniquity no knwoledge who eat up my People as they eat Pread and call not upon the Lord. Prayer is a duty which Wicked men have an obligation to and they sin in the omission of it 2. If Wicked men totally cast off Prayer 't is apparent whether they are going they are going further and further from God and making hast in the broad way that leads unto destruction 3. While they are praying though they pray sorriâ—y yet they are using God ' Ordnance and there is the greater likelihood that God may pitty them and give his spirit to work upon them Object 5. Another objection is this God himself says I am found of them that sought me not I am made manifest to them that asked not after me Rom. 10. 20 â—ns I Answer 1. This place is to be understood concerning the Gentiles call to whom without their seeking the Apostles were sent to publish the glad tidings of Salvation 2. Though the Lord does prevent us by his goodness and does first offer himself to us yet always when he gives himself he gives an heart to desire after himself First He makes us to open our mouths wide and then fills us Psal 81. 10. First He causes a spiritual thirst and then he gives us to drink of the water of Life freely Ho every one that thirsteth come to the Waters come buy Wine and Milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. No price is required only prayer and entreaty is to be used I come in the last place to the Application And if the Christians security lies so much in Praying Always The first Use is of Instruction concerning the extreme danger that Prayerless Souls are in 'T will be faithfulness and kindness to make such sensible of their danger therefore I shall a little stay upon it and manifest their peril in these particulars 1. Those that are strangers to prayer God is against them O dreadful what is God! and who are they who can stand before his indignation who can defend himself against that Arm that is Omnipotent The Mountains quake the Hills melt the Devils tremble before this God the whole world compared with him is but as the drop of the Bucket and the small dust upon the ballance and all the Inhabitants of the world are nothing less then nothing and vanity Esa 40. 15 17. Surely 't is fearful to have so glorious and great a God an Enemy But an Enemy he is unto all that count not his love and favour worth the praying for Those that will not intreat him to be reconciled 't is a sign they neither value his love nor fear his wrath and under wrath they are
delivered from the wrath of his Brother Esau Jonah by prayer out of the Whales belly and the three Children out of the seaven-times heated Babylonish Furnace By prayer David stayed the Plague so that it seized not on Jerusalem and caused the Sword of the destroying Angel to be put up into the Sheath again By prayer Elias stayed the Rain for three years and six moneths and by the same means opened the Bottles of Heaven that the Earth brought forth her Fruit By prayer he brought down fire which consumed the two Captains and their fifties that came to take him By prayer Joshua commanded the Sun and it stood still in Gibeon and the Moon in the Valley of Aijalon for the Lord hearkened to the voyce of a man and fought for Israel By prayer Daniel stopped the mouths of Lyons and came untouched out of the Den and by prayer Peter and Paul and Silas were delivered out of Prison Shackles Iron gates being but weak things to the power of supplications And what shall I more say for time would fail me as the Apostle speaks if I should tell of Samuel of Sampson of Jehoshaphat of the Prophets also and of the Apostles who by prayer procured thunder to destroy their Enemies out of weakness were made strong turned to â—â—ight the mighty Hosts of Adversaries the Dead they raised to life again made the Lame from the Womb to walk and leap healed Discases beyond the skill of art of Cure Behold prayers efficacy though performed by men of like passions with our selves this should perswade us to the love and practice of the duty 3. Who is it that would hinder you from prayer Who stands at your right hand to resist you certainly 't is an Enemy who is unwilling you should draw nigh to God because he knows 't is so good for you Psal 73. ult Your own hearts also are ready to draw back but this argues their egregious folly and desperate wickedness 4. What has followed upon the omission of prayer Has not this Omission ushered in sins of Commission have you not when you have neglected to cry for strength in your souls found your selves like Reuben unstable as water have you not easily been induced to do that which has fill'd the face of God with frowns and the mouth of Conscience with Reproaches On the other side has not prayer been with success sometimes have you not found encouragement grace at the mercy seat Oh do that which both bitter and sweet experience prompts you to 5. Prayer is an honourable employment in this duty you have admittance to the ear of the King of Heaven how high is your Company your fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 1. 2. Though the Lord be high yet he hath respect unto the lowly he will regard the prayer of the most destitute and not despise it he allows you a freedom to pour out your complaints and to make known before him your troubles And what honour is this to have to do immediatly with God to have him so nigh to you in all that you call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. 6. Frequency and fervency in prayer will be a great evidence of your Regeneration and Adoption The Child when born crys and the Sinner when born again prays Of Paul 't was said as soon as he was Converted behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. 'T is the Spirit of Adoption that makes us cry Abba Father If we cannot be satisfied unless we approach unto God and value his favour and fellowship above all Earthly things and are chiefly desirous of those blessings which he never gives in wrath and having given never takes away again we may conclude from our spiritual breathing our spiritual life Now a good evidence of Regeneration what will it be worth in a day of trouble in a dying hour The last Use shall be of Encouragement to Believers 1. Their prayers are Gods delight Prov. 15. 8. The Sacrifice of the Wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight so Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voyce for sweet is thy Voyce and thy Countenance is comely We are pleased with the talk and requests of our Children though their language be lisp'd and broken And God is infinitely more indulgent then earthly Parents are or can be and much more willing to give good things than they Mat. 7. 11. 2. There are many reasons why the God whom Believers pray to should secure them 1. They are his chosen ones God pitch'd his love on them before the foundation of the world was laid 2. They are his Sons purchase he has bought them with a price shed his Blood for the Remission of their sins gave his Life for their Ransom 3. They are in Covenant with God he has engaged to be their God and surely he will be their Guard also 4. They are Vessels of mercy in whom he does design to glorifie his grace and love for ever Surely then he will heed these when they pray he will give them the good they need and save them from the evil which makes them flye to him for shelter I have done with the first Doctrine That a Christians security lyes very much in Praying Always D. 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used praying always with all prayer says the Text. Prayer is a duty of very great extent and the parts of it are admirably suited unto the present State and condition of a Christian and the divers kinds of prayer very well agree with the various circumstances wherein we are All the ways of seeking God shall be to purpose if he be but sought diligently and according as he himself has appointed for he tells us plainly that he sayes Not to the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain Esa 45. 10. Two things I shall here insist on First I shall speak concerning the parts of prayer and shew you how all these parts are to be used Secondly I shall give you the several kinds of prayer and so perswade and direct you unto each kind that this duty may be performed in its utmost latitude I begin with the parts of Prayer and they are these 1. One part of Prayer is an humble compellation or naming of God Those titles that are given him in Scripture we must be acquainted with and such should be used as are most suitable unto the matter of our prayers and which have the greatest tendency to excite those gracious and spiritual affections which are required in our Supplications If we consult the prayers of Saints which are recorded in the Bible we shall find that God is called sometimes Lord sometimes Father sometimes the great and mighty and terrible God sometimes the King of Glory sometimes the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity whose Name is
himself and Christ his Son We are to beg that His Name may be Hallowed from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same that his Kingdom may come And that all on Earth may do his Will and submit unto the Scepter of his Word 6. Another part of Prayer is Imprecation Some are such that we are to desire the Lord would fight against them The evil Angels we may pray that the Lord will rebuke them and pull down that Kingdom of darkness under which the most of men are held in Bondage In reference to men we must be more sparing in our imprecations or wishing evil to them David and the other Prophets are not examples for us to follow in this matter for they knew by a prophetick Spirit Gods intensions concerning the persons that they pray'd against The general Rule which we ought to follow is this Mat. 5. 44. But I say unto you love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you this is to resemble God Who maketh his Sun to rise on the Evil and the Good We are to beg rather the conversion than the confusion of our Enemies and supposing they are implacable and incorrigble we must desire rather that they may be hindered from doing harm by their designes and power than that harm may come to them even when we pray against Antichrist whom we find devoted in Scripture to destruction we must have no private grudg against the persons of any but our Eye must be at Christs Honour that in Popery is so much struck at and at the advancement of the Gospel and of Zion 7. A seventh part of Prayer is Thanksgiving The Lords prayer ends with a doxology or giving Honour unto God Mat. 6. 13. for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for Ever To praise is to speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Tongues of Angels All the Creatures that are visible are mute besides man He is the Worlds high Priest that should offer this Sacrifice of praise for all He is the Tongue of the Creation which should be sounding forth Gods goodness towards all How much does the Lord let forth unto us And shall we deny him the revenue of praise His Mercys are without number and his Love without motive and without measure When praise is offered he accounts himself Glorified Psal 50. ult therefore in every thing we should give Thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us 1 Thes 5. 18. Thus have I gon over the parts of Prayer and none of these parts are needless In the second place I am to give you the several kinds of Prayer prayer is twofold Vocal when the Voice and Heart are joyned together Mental when the heart only is engaged 1. I shall speak of Vocal prayer when Tongue and Heart go together in this Duty There are several reasons why the Tongue is to be made use of in Prayer 1. With our Tongues we are to honour God and when they are thus employed speaking to him or of him or for him then they are our Glory As there are sins of the Tongue so duties of the Tongue too and as the Tongue of the Swearer Blasphemer filthy and foolish Talker is harsh and hateful to God so the Tongue of him that prays sincerely is pleasant Christ tell his Spouse that her Voice was sweet and her countenance comely 2. In praying with others words are necessary Some must be the mouth of the rest unto God 3. Words especially Scripture Language help to excite and stir up our affections and they serve to keep the Heart more intent upon the Duty This Vocal Prayer is threefold first Prayer in the Closet secondly Prayer in the Family thirdly Prayer in the publike Congregation and Assembly Of all these I shall speak in order 1. Prayer in the Closet That secret Prayer is the Lords Ordinance is very evident Mat. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut the Door pray unto thy Father which is in secret And as our Lord gave this Precept so he is our example in regard of secret Prayer Mar. 1. 35. And in the morning rising up a great while before Day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Jacob was left alone and wrestled with God and had the name of Israel given him for as a Prince he had power with God and prevailed Gen. 32. 24 30. Now if you would be fully informed what this wrestling was compare the forecited place with Hos 12. 3 4. By his strength he had Power with God yea he had power over the Angel i. e. the Angel of the Covenant and prevailed He wept and made Supplication to him Now for the better managing of this sort of prayer lot these rules be observed diligently 1. Affect privacy be as secret as possible though we are not to be ashamed of any duty and though our light is to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father in Heaven yet a Christian is to do much out of the sight of others As long as God's Ear is open to the most whispering prayers what need is there that any other ear should hear a word which we speak When there is a desire that men should take notice of our prayers God takes no notice of them unless of the Hypocrisie in them to abominate them therefore we have that caution from the Lord Jesus Mat. 6. 5. And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the Streets that they may be seen of men verily I say unto you they have their reward 2. Take the fittest time for secret prayer the morning especially is to be chosen though once more in a day at least it should be your ordinary practice to pour out your hearts in private before the Lord. My Voyce shalt thou hear in the Morning says David In the Morning O Lord will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up Psal 5. 3. If the Soul be serious in its address unto God in the beginning of the day 't is likely to have the more grace and strength to resist temptations and to walk with God all the day long 'T is better to be shorter in the Evening duties and larger in the Morning then the spirits are fresher and more abundant and the soul has not such clogs in its actings as it meets with when the body is spent and tyred But if something unavoidably fall out that you cannot pray at the time you desire and were wont be sure lay hold of some other opportunity and neglect not the duty altogether 3. Let the Word of God be lookt into and meditated on when prayer is made The Word will direct you quicken and encourage you
unto prayer By the Word God speaks to you as by prayer you speak to him if you regard not Gods voyce how can you expect he should mind yours If you will not hear and obey â—he will not hear and grant what you request of him The Word should dwell richly in you Col. 3. 16. your delight should be in the Law of the Lord and in that Law should you meditate day and night Psal 1. 2. The Scriptures should be searched which shews they are a depth and all is not at first looking into them discovered you must seek here as for silver and search here as for hid treasure if you would understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 4 5. How enlightning how enlivening how cleansing and transforming is the word of God How sweet and desirable are the Lords testimonies When the Spirit becomes the expositor of Scripture and opens the eyes too to behold wondrous things out of Gods Law and affects the heart oh then there is such efficacy profit and sweetness as is beyond comparison 4. Be liberal in this duty of secret prayer Pray with a forward and with a free spirit grudg not the time you spend here for this is the best way of turning time unto a good account Be sensible how good it is to draw nigh to God for the promise is if you draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to you Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye Sinners purifie your hearts ye double-minded Now Gods drawing near implies his being reconciled to us his manifesting his power and grace for our help and supply Oh theâ—â—fore go unto God with an holy eagerness who is so ready to meet you and to satiate the weary soul and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. We must be much and often with God for this is the way to come to an acquaintance with him and the better we are acquainted with him the more we shall love him and be sensible of his love to us Hark to what is said Job 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee 5. In secret prayer be very particular ease your Consciences by a particular innumeration of your Iniquities and the aggravations which have heightned them Make known all your wants before that God who has styled himself God All-sufficient fear not that the Lord will be weary of hearing or be backward to give a gracious return When you are alone with God you may use the greater freedom of speech this being particular will contribute much unto your brokenness of heart with which the Lord is well-pleased and also unto your own sensing of your manisold wants and making of you meet to be supplied 6. Look after secret prayer Stand upon your Watch-Tower and observe what answer is given The Merchant hearkens after the Ships that he sends to Sea When a Petition is presented to a Prince you wait what Answer will be returned Be thus wise in prayer if you speed not find out the Impediment if you do speed be encouraged by answers to act Faith in God and to persist in prayer Because he has inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live says David Psal 116. 1. And let answers of prayer be matter of praise that Satan and Conscience may not accuse you of and God may not be angry at your ingratitude Thus of the Rules concerning secret prayer Now follow the Arguments to perswade unto it 1. Consider God sees in secret in secret places God sees for he fills both Heaven and Earth his Omnipresence is an evident demonstration of his Omniscience as he cannot be confined to any place so neither can he be excluded All things are open and naked before him Heb. 4. 13. And as his seeing in secret is matter of terrour to the Ungodly so of joy unto the Righteous David speaks both with wonder and with gladness Psal 139. 7 8 9 10. Whithef shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy Presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my Bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me In what secret corner soever you are God is with you all your sighs and groans your complaints and desires are taken notice of 2. Frequency in secret prayer is a great argument of Uprightness and Sincerity 'T is a sign you seek God himself when none but God knows of your seeking him What the Apostle speaks of the Jew may be applied unto the Christian He is not a Christian that is one outwardly but that is one inwardly not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not so much openly as in secret Rom. 2. 28 29. The praise of such is not of men but of God 3. Secret prayer is a marvellous way to thrive in grace and to grow rich towards God By this means Faith will grow exceedingly Love will abound and our Souls will prosper Some Trades-men keep a Shop and drive a Trade there and gain thereby but they have a secret way of trading which is not observed and by this they grow wealthy in a short space A Christian that is much in secret with God O how much does he gain such an one how good does he find the Lord how ready both to forgive and to give and he can set his Seal unto that truth that God is plentious in mercy unto all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. 4. Secret prayer is a means to fit for publick Ordinances They that are most upon their knees in the Closet will get most benefit in the Sanctuary The preparation of the heart is from God and he must in secret be sought unto to fit our spirits for solemn worship Those that before they come to hear pray that Gospel may come to them not in word only but in power also and the Holy Ghost and much assurance these are likely to find the Gospel working effectually and that 't is the power of God to their Salvation Rom. 1. 16. Those that before they come to the Table examine themselves alone beg that God would search them and are importunate for strength against every Corruption for all the fruits of Christ's sufferings for all the graces of the spirit are not likely to be sent away empty 5. Secret prayer is a means to keep the impression of publick duties upon the heart after the duties themselves are ended Your work is not over when publick Ordinances are over Has any sin been discovered and reproved you must go in secret and bewail it and cry out Lord let not this nor any iniquity have the dominion over me Psal 119. 133. Has any duty
been made manifest you should go in secret and cry Incline my heart unto thy Testimonies and make me to go in the path of thy Commandments Psal 119. 35 36. Have any gracious and holy resolutions by the motions of the spirit with the word been made you must go alone and beg Keep this O Lord for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of my heart and establish my heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. 6. Secret prayer is the way to have special tokens of Gods love and those joys that a stranger does not intermeddle with Oh the sweet meltings and thawings of the heart for sin as 't is an abuse of mercy that are experienced in secret prayer Oh the visits that then the great Physician of Souls does make How suitably and gently does he deal with the wounded spirit what assurance does he give that he will in no wise cast out but give rest unto the weary and heavy-laden Mat. 11. 28. Oh what peace is spoken to the Saints in answer to prayer what sweet intimations are given and sometimes a plerophory and full perswasion of their interest in that love which is unchangable and everlasting Surely the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25. 14. 7. Consider God will reward openly This Argument Christ uses to enforce secret prayer Mat. 6. 6. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly As all secret wickedness shall at last be detected and punished so all secret piety and godliness shall be made manifest before the whole world at the Judgment day and the reward will be exceeding great and everlasting So much be spoken concerning prayer in the Closet 2. Prayer in the Family is to be insisted on And that Family-prayer is a duty may be evidently proved by these Arguments 1. The Apostle in the Text enjoyns all prayer and Family-prayer is one kind that holy men have used Joshua resolves that he and his House would serve the Lord Josh 24. 15. and prayer is so principle a part of Divine Service that in Scripture 't is sometimes put for the whole Gen. 4. ult Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord that is in a more publick manner to worship him So of Cornelius 't is said that he feared God with all his House and pray'd unto the Lord always Act. 10. 2. 2. Families of Believers are styled Churches in Scripture and in a Church there is a joyning together in prayer other exercises of Godliness The Apostle Paul wishes grace and peace to the Church in Philemons House Phil. 2. 3. and v. 22. speaks of their joynt-prayers through which he trusted he should be given to them 3. The Family stands in need of blessings which they are together to beg for and to deprecate Family evils And for encouragement Christ has promised that where two or three are gathered together in his Name he will be in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Now in Families-duties two or three are gathered together in Christs Name and his prefence may without presumption be expected 4. Wrath is threatned upon prayerless Families Pour out thy Fury upon the Families that call not upon thy Name Jer. 10. 25. I grant indeed that the word Families is of such a Latitude that it extends unto Countries and Kingdoms but if there be an obligation upon Countrys and Kingdoms to joyn in calling upon God surely then Familys more strictly taken are in no wife Exempted Having proved Family-Prayer a Duty I shall lay down some directions as to the performance of it 1. Be sensible that Prayer is a business of greater concernment than any wordly business whatsoever You are indeed to be diligent in your Callings that are particular but your general Callings is of greatest weight The general Calling is that which all are called to and what are all called to They are called to serve and glorifie God and to work out their own Salvation Prayer is a part of your Homage to the King of Heaven Much Spiritual and Eternal benefit is to be obtained by it therefore do it not as a by-business neither let every small matter cause the omission of it 2. Believe that success in your Callings depends upon the Lords Blessing the blessing of the Lord maketh Rich says Solomon and he addeth no Sorrow with it Prov. 10. 22. without thee t is in vain to rise up early and to sit up late and to eat the Bread of carefulness Now Prayer for this blessing is the way to fetch it I grant indeed that many thrive in the World without Prayer but then Wealth is a Curse and a Snare to them 't is a weight that hinders them from ascending into the Hill of the Lord and helps to sink them into destruction and perdition 3. Let Prayer ordinarily be twice a day as under the old Law there was a morning and evening Sacrifice and let the whole Family joyn in it if it be possible since there are none but need prayer and may receive advantage by it 4. Let the Word of God be read when Prayer is made that not only you but your housholds after you may be acquainted with the Misterys of the Gospel and with the will of God Abraham communicated what he had learned from the Lord unto his Family he used his Authority and commanded his Children and his Houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. 5. Take heed of customariness and formality in family-Worship engage always with a serious Spirit and in every Duty stir up your selves to take hold on God I conclude with the motives to perswade you to Family-Prayer 1. You that are Governours have a charge of the Souls that dwell under your Roof and must answer for them Therefore you are to pray with them to pray for them Else you will incur the guilt of the Blood of Souls and that will lie heavy You provide food for your Housholds for you are unwilling it should be said you are so much worse than Infidels as to suffer any to starve that dwels with you Oh what unmercifulness is it patiently to suffer those of your Houshold to go on in the way that leads to Damnation And not to call upon the Lord in their hearing that they may be saved 2. Families are the Seminaries both of Church and State And therefore as you desire the Church may be pure and the State Righteous look well unto your Families and let Religion flourish in them Reformation indeed must begin at Persons and if every one would mend one all would be reformed But from persons it must proceed to houses And if these were but once leavened with godlyness what holy Citys and what an happy Nation would there be 3. Consider Family-Worship has wofully been neglected of late in these declining times How many large consciences loose principles and loose practises are there to be found among us
We match Laodicea in Luke-warmness and what was said of langushing Sardis may be applied to us that we have a name to Live but are Dead Rev. 3. 1. In many Families all are stark stone Dead and there is a most impious and gross neglect of God and Duty and in other Families all are ready to dy lively services are rarely to be found Oh 't is high time to awake and vigorously to endeavour that in our houses the Lord may be served by all and that with all their Heart and all their Soul and all their mind and all their Strength I have done with Family-Prayer 3. Prayer in the publick Congregation and Assembly is to be spoken to Gods Temple of old was styled the House of Prayer Luk. 19. 46. because there his people met together to seek his Face Publick prayer is a great Ordinance and when rightly managed of great efficacy Now the Rules concerning publick prayer are these 1. These Prayers must be performed in a known Tongue that all may understand and be edified 1 Cor. 14. and they should be well expressed nothing that is raw unseemly or that borders upon nonsence or Blasphemy should be brought forth in the Assembly 2. Come at the very beginning To come late is both offensive to God and to serious Spirits and 't is to cheat and defraud your own Souls and when you are here let your gesture be reverent for God expects Worship and adoration from your whole man internal from Soul and external from the Body 3. Take heed of distraction when there are so many objects to divert you and your hearts are so exceeding slippery Remember Gods jealous Eye is fixed upon you and as he cannot be deceived so he cannot endure to be mocked by you Gal. 6. 7. 4. Take head of carnal desires in your publike Duties Let not your supplications be like â—hose of the Pharisees and Scribes of whom Christ sayes they made prayers onely for a pretence shew Luke 20. 47. The hypocrite is like the Birds of Prey which though they sore never so high towards Heaven yet their eye is still downward that they may catch something Be not seemingly devout in the Congregation that you may the more unsuspectedly be unjust in shops and secretly intemperate and unclean But be very sincere in your publick addresses unto God as knowing you have to do with him that sees not as man sees that judges not according to outward appearance but tries the heart and veins And to perswade you to this publike Prayer consider 1. God is hereby Acknowledged and Honoured His people hereby testify to the World that there is a Lord in Heaven whom they worship and from whom they have their expectation And indeed this is one reason of publick institutions that we may make a profession to the world whose we are and whom we serve 2. The Lord vouchsafes something to his people in the Sanctuary that elsewhere is not to be found David was in an admirable frame when he was in the Wilderness of Judah God was liberal to him both of Grace and Comfort but he is not satisfied because deprived of publick ordinances that were administred in the tabernacle therefore he crys out My Soul thirsteth for thee my Flesh longeth for thee to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Psal 63. 1. 2. 3. The united prayers of many Saints togegether is stronger and more apt to pravail Uis unita fortior much fire together gives the greater heat and many waters joyned run with more violence and in like manner when a great congregation joyns together as one man to wrestle with God in prayer how Successful are they like to be Abraham alone had like to have prevail'd for Sodom but put the case there had been an assembly of righteous ones belonging to Sodom that had joyned with Abraham in prayer surely the City had been spared I have dispatched vocal Prayer which I divided into three kinds secret family and publick 2. In the second place I come to speak of Mental Prayer when the heart alone without the tongue is engaged Now this Mental prayer is two fold first more Solemn Secondly more Sudden and Ejaculatory 'T is lawfull and possible to pray alone with the heart in a more solemn manner truly in some places and in some circumstances words may not be so convenient to be uttered but where 't is convenient words should be used because 't is difficult to pray any while only in the heart and do it without roaving But Mental prayer that is more sudden and ejaculatory I shall a little dilate upon In this kind of prayer the Soul lifts up it self to God in some short desire and request Thus Moses cryed unto God Exod. 14. 15. and yet we read not of a word uttered Thus Nehemiah prayed when King Artaxerxes was speaking to him Neh. 2. 4. These holy ejaculations are the very breathings of the new creature they mightily help to keep down the lustings of the Flesh and to preserve us unspotted by the world or the unclean God of it but the heart hereby is kept close to the God of heaven Concerning this mental ejaculatory Prayer let these directions be observed 1. Let the heart frequently be sending up desires to God all true desires are observed are pleasing to him and shall be satisfied let these desires therefore be strong and principally after the greatest that is to say Spiritual blessings 2. In all your civil employments let your hearts ever and anon be thus engaged this will make and keep you Spiritual 't wil hinder your estrangment from God and your being ensnared by the unrighteous Mammon 3. Let every temptation at the very first be resisted by this kind of prayer thus watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation Mat. 26. 41. Oh sigh and groan to the God of all grace when you find Satan assaulting and a sinful and deceitfull heart ready to yeild that you may have grace to help in the time of need Heb. 4. ult 4. Let this sort of Prayer begin and end every duty sigh before for assistance and sigh afterwards for acceptance and that infirmities through Christ Jesus may be passed by and that you may obtain some Spiritual advantage by every ordinance 5. Begin and end every day with mental Prayer assoon as ever you awake there are many watching for your first thoughts Satan and sin and the world will have them if your Souls are not lifted up to the Lord. Let him be last likewise in your thoughts this is the way to lie down in Peace and Safety Psal 4. ult 6. Especially upon the Sabbath day ejaculatory prayer should be abundant you must not then think your own thoughts nor find your pleasures Holy desires should issue forth continually Sabbaths would be gainful seasons indeed were they but thus improved 7. Mix mental Praise and Prayer together Let your Souls and all that is
within you blesse the Lord upon every manifestation of his goodness as well as desire blessings from him And thus have I gon over the parts and kinds of Prayer much work indeed I have told you of but the more work the better for the more grace is to be expected in order unto the performing of what is required I shall conclude with a very brief Application in two words 1. How sharply are they to be reproved that instead of praying with all prayer use no prayer but live in the almost total neglect of this duty 2. Be perswaded to pray with all Prayer All prayer that God has appointed he is ready to hear in all prayer the name of Christ may be used and the promises of God which are sure exceeding great and precious may be pleaded and how glad may we be that the Lord has appointed so many successful wayes of seeking him wherein he has consulted the variety of our conditions and necessitys So much for the second Doctrine That all Prayer is to be used D. 3. Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit Indeed all our worship of God who is a Spirit must be in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. 24. else 't is in truth no worship As the body without the Spirit is dead so dutys without Spirit are dead also In the handling of this point I shall first open to you what 't is to pray in the Spirit Secondly Lay down the reasons of the Doctrine Thirdly Answer some cases of conscience about praying in the Spirit Lastly make application First What 't is to pray in Spirit This as I have already intimated refers both to the Spirit of him that prays and also to the Spirit of God who helps to pray 1. This praying in the Spirti refers unto the spirit of him that prays and several things are here included 1. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with understanding I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. we must not only understand the words that are spoken but also and that principally the worth of those things which we Petition for we must likewise in some measure be acquainted with the All-sufficiency and Faithfulness of that God whom we pray to and with our own indigency that are the Petitioners The Athenians had an Altar dedicated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the unknown God Act. 17. 23. and they are said ignorantly to worship him and truly all their worship degenerated into superstition We must know the Lord and our selves what his promises and our own Needs are else prayer will be of no account 2. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with judgment discerning between things that differ There is as vast a difference between Sin and Holiness as there is between Deformity and Beauty There is as vast a difference between the Creature and the Creator as there is between the broken Cistern that can hold no water and the Fountain of living waters Jer. 2. 12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water There is as vast a difference between a state of Grace and a state of Wrath as there is between Heaven and Hell Now he that prays must be apprehensive of all this and a believing apprehension of it will make him earnest for the loving kindness of the Lord and that he may taste more and more of the Fountain of living waters and be cleansed from all defilements 3. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with intention of mind Abraham drove away the fowls that did light upon his Sacrifice Gen. 15. and so should we drive away the impertinent and sinful and troublesome thoughts that arise or are injected into our hearts when we engage in sprayer Our hearts cannot wander in the least but they are espied by him whose name is jealous We should therefore desire that the Lord himself who holds the wind in his Fists would seize upon our more unruly hearts and keep them close to himself in duty especially considering there are some kind of distractions that nullifie and make void prayer distractions that are not regarded not lamented not watched or striven against 4. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with spiritual affections The affections are the wings of the Soul and the Soul is carried either to or from any thing according as the affections are inclined The Apostle exhorting to seck the things that are above presently adds set your affection on things above Col. 3. 1 2. intimating we shall never seek the things above in good earnest unless our affections be placed on them Those affections that have evil for their object must spend their strength upon sin which is the worst of all evils Sin must be hated most perfectly sin must cause the deepest sorrow sin must be most feared and against sin the heart should rise with the greatest indignation Those affections that have good for their object as love desire and the like should run with a full stream towards God and those great things that are brought to light by the Gospel and promised in the covenant of grace The stronger and more spiritual our affections are in prayer the better success will follow 2 Chron. 15. 15. 'T is said of Judah that they sought the Lord with their whole desire and he was found of them 2. This praying in the spirit refers to the Spirit of God who helps to pray The Apostle Jude exhorts to build up our selves on our most holy Faith and to pray in the Holy Ghost Jud. 20. and so to keep our selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Now the operation or working of the spirit of God in prayer I shall explain in these particulars 1. The Spirit of God teaches Believers for what to pray he opens their eyes to understand the Word and to know what the Will of the Lord is W know not says the Apostle what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit makâ—th intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8. 27. 2. The spirit removes impediments to prayer he turns that love that naturally is in the heart to sin into hatred he causes the World that was Idolized to be contemned he cures that infidelity in reference to the excellency of spiritual things that the unrenewed Soul is full of as also that enmity against God and Holiness which was in the mind all the while 't was Carnal Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. the Fetters are knockt off the Clogs removed the Soul is brought out of Prison and is made free both unto the performance of duty and free in the
the Spirit may move unto more then ordinary plying of this work of Prayer And the Iron is by all means to be struck while 't is thus hot An extraordinary motion of the Spirit raised David out of his bed at midnight Psal 119. 62. At midnight I will arise to give thanks unto thee because of the righteous judgments So Act. 16. 25. at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them But here you must have a caution lest Satan get an advantage When the Spirit of God thus extraordinarily moves to pray he does sweetly and strongly incline the heart to comply with his motion there is a quickning heat goes along with his perswasions But Satans motions to pray at unwonted times come with a perplexing violence and burthensomeness upon the spirit but there is no disposing or enlarging of the heart unto supplication Thus the Egyptians of old required the tale of Bricks from the children of Israel but allowed not straw to make them with 4. We must Watch for all manner of Encouragements in Prayer and truly the Lord is not backward to give if we are heedful and forward to take encouragement The Lord encourages to prayer various wayes 1. By making us sensible what a priviledge access to the Mercy-seat is He causes us to be satisfied and delighted in his Presence and our hearts cry out Oh how good is it for us to be here This is none other then the Throne of Grace and this is indeed the Gate of Heaven 'T is good for me to draw nigh to God sayes holy David Psal 73. ult 2. The Lord encourages to Prayer by melting of the heart for sin he thaws the ice by the beams of his love Sense of unkindness and unsuitable carriage towards the Father of mercies causes plenty of Godly Sorrow and the heart hereby is exceedingly alienated from its iniquity 3. The Lord encourages to Prayer by enlarging the desires after himself makeing the Soul enamoured of him and altogether unsatisfied till it tast and see his goodness 4. By Intimations of audience The Lord said unto Daniel at the close of his Prayer O man greatly beloved Dan 9. 23. Christ answers the Woman of Canaan Great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Mat. 15. 28. When God after we have been earnest for pardon for Sanctification for grace to honour and to please him causes a peace and calmnesse in our Spirits and we have an hint that our petitions are according to his will and will be granted here is great encouragement in Prayer Now such encouragements should be watched for and laid hold on with the greatest thankfulness 5. We must watch for the returns of Prayer The Psalmist had been praying and he resolves he would hearken what God the Lord would speak that is by way of answer Psal 85. 8. In like manner the Church concluding that the Lord would at last hear resolves to wait for him Mic. 7. 7. Therefore will I look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of my Salvation my God will hear me If you watch not for returns of prayer you do not consider what you do or with whom you have to do in Prayer when you pray you take the name of God into your mouths and shall that be taken in vain when you pray you engage in an ordinance of God and shall that be used in vain What do ye imagine that Gods hand is shortned or his ear heavy and his bowels straitned Not looking after your Prayer dishonours him more then you are aware of He speaks to you and does for you in vain And this is the ready course to provoke him to keep silence and to shut his hand You are therefore with the prophet to stand upon your watch tower and to observe what God sayes to you Hab. 2. 1. Here one grand case of conscience is to be proposed and resolved How we shall know whether prayer be answered Ye or No and the blessings we have begged given as a return to our requesting for them I answer that Blessings are of two sorts Those that are peculiar to Saints those that are commune to the ungodly 1. There are blessings that are peculiar to the Saints Such as the sense of Gods love strength against corruption righteousness and true holyness peace of conscience power to run in the wayes of Gods commands without weariness and to walk without fainting If such blessings as these are prized and earnestly desired in prayer and after prayer are bestowed they may be concluded the fruit of Supplication In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me sayes David and strengthned'st me with strength in my Soul Psal 138. 3. he prayed for grace and spiritual strength and had it and concludes his prayer was answered Onely the Children of God long and beg for such blessings and if the Lords hand be open gives the blessings beg'd we may also conclude that his ear was open to the begging 2. There are Blessings that are commune to the ungodly as health food raiment relations prosperity removing afflictions and mercies of the like nature 'T is more difficult to know when these are given or continued as a return to Prayer but yet this-may be known in these particulars 1. Temporal Blessings are the fruit of prayer when they were begged not only of God but for God that they might be employed in his service and to his praise Joshua begged for victory over the Cananites but he had an eye to Gods great name which he knew would be dishonoured if Israel were overthrown Josh 7. 9. When we desire some estate that we do good with it and honour the Lord with our substance when we desire health and strength that we may be the more usefull and serve our generation arcording to the will of God and what we desired is bestowed surely Prayer is heard 2. Temporal blessings are the fruit of prayer when they are begg'd with an humble and holy submission and not asked as the principal things When we pray for daily Bread and the meat that perishes in such a measure as the Lord sees meetest to deal forth to us but our greatest hunger and thirst is after higher things even that meat which endures to everlasting Life and the waters of that Fountain that is alwayes flowing yet ever full 3. Temporal blessings are obtained by Prayer when they prove as cords to draw the heart neerer to God and effectually engage unto obedience David was brought very low the sorrows of Death compassed him he cals upon the Name of the Lord for deliverance Psal 116. 3 4. well deliverance is granted and what effect had it it makes him admire divine Mercy it strengthens his Faith it makes him cry out truly I am thy servant and resolve to walk before God in the Land of the Living Surely this deliverance came by Prayer and so himself was perswaded v. 1 2. I love the Lord
request he will not let him alone till he has a pardon and that pardon Sealed He will not let him alone till his lust which are the worst of Spiritual enemies are kill'd till more grace is granted of which he cannot have too great a measure Take notice of Davids importunity Psal 119. 145 146 147. I cryed with my whole heart hear me O Lord I will keep thy statutes I cryed unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies I prevented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy word my eyes prevent the night-watches c. He cryed and cryed and cryed again before the dawning of the morning and in the night watches Behold how urgent he was in prayer 4. This perseverance in Prayer implies an holy insatiableness after God and desiring still more though never so much be obtained Indeed there is a great obligation upon us to be thankful for the least measures of grace but we are not to be contented with the greatest but still longing for more Though David enjoyed so much of God and had such a sense of his loving kindness which was better then life and experienced that communion with the Lord which was more satisfying then marrow and fatness Yet we find him still following hard after God Psal 63. 8. My Soul followeth hard after thee thy right hand upholdeth me And indeed the more we taste and see how gracious the Lord is it cannot but increase our longing and raise our thirst to a greater vehemency The Apostle Paul though he had attained to so much Yet he says I forgot those things that are behind and reach forth unto those things that are before and presse towards the marke for the prize of the high calling of God Phil. 3. 13 14. 5. This perseverance in Prayer implies a continuing to engage in all the kinds of Prayer There should be a constant and daily course of Prayer even unto the end of life and if at any time by weakness or otherwise the course be necessarily interrupted Our hearts at least then should be working towards God as being sensible that He is our all all our hope is in him and all our help is from him 'T is an happy thing so to habituate and accustom our selves to prayer as to make it become natural to us and to esteem it as necessary as our very breath In the Second place I am to tell you what kind of perseverance is required 1. In this perseverance there should be no interruptions Daniel rather then his course of praying before his God and giving thanks should be interrupted chose to adventure the losse of dignity his Princes favour and his own life besides And that God whom he served continually did deliver him Dan. 6. Daniel resolves to open his mouth in Prayer God sends his Angel and stop the mouths of the Lyons that they did not hurt him And as carnal fear should not cause the omission of prayer so neither any prevailing corruption and deadness Still the Lord is to be sought unto and served 2. In this perseverance there should be a continuaâ— endeavour to excel and do better to pray with more and more Spirituality and liveliness 'T is a sad sight to see children as weak now as they were several years ago We conclude there is some bad humour that oppresses nature and causes that Weakness and is an impediment to their growth 'T is thus and more Sad to see Christians stand at a stay and perform duties no better now then some years ago they used to perform them If there is still the same deadness the same unbelief the same wordly-mindedness distractions which were wont to be it argues the Spirit is kept under by the flesh its prevalency We are not only to do more then others but to do more then our selves The Lord requires us and truely gives ample encouragement to be not only stedfast and unmoveable but also to abound in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. The path of the just should be like the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. All our duties are motions homeward and Heaven is our home And the nearer home the swifter should our Spiritual motions be In the Third place follow the Reasons why prayer should be with perseverance 1. Divine commands are very expresse not only to perform the duty but to continue in the duty In the text not only praying is injoyned but praying always and with all perseverance and 1 Thes 5. 17. Pray without ceasing Gods word of command should cause us perpetually to stand in awe we must not dare to cease doing that which he would have us without ceasing employed in 2. The Lord perseveres in attending and enencouraging therefore we should persevere in praying His eye is continually upon his people eye and ear and heart and hand are all open and if we open our mouths wide we shall be filled Psal 81. 10. 3. The Lord is as worthy to be sought unto still as sought to at all therefore we should continue in seeking him Though our expectation from other things be never so high yet upon trial we shall discover their emptinesse and vanity but the more we know God and the greater experience we have of him the more we shall behold his fulnesse and how good 't is to draw near to him Israel went a Whoring after other lovers but found her mistake and resolves to return to her first husband for then 't was best with her Hos 2. 7. Gods service is such as no fault at all is really to be found therein and therefore to leave that Service is very unreasonable 4. We are far from attaining all that is attainable by Prayer Clearer discoveries there may be of God there may be much larger communications of Grace there may be more of peace and joy therefore it concerns us to wait on the Lord still and not to grow weary of our attending 5. This present world is full of enemies and snares Therefore we should continually have recourse to the God of all Grace that grace may be proportioned to our work and to our danger The world is evil and the evil one is very active to draw us to evil and he has a strong and numerous party within our own Souls even all the remainders of corruption surely unlesse we persevere in prayer and thereby engage him for us who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jud. 24. we shall not persevere to the end and be saved The Application follows Use 1 of reproof which belongs 1. To them that pray in a time of distresse and affliction but after that is removed and their slavish fear allayed they quickly give over Thus the children of Israel when God slew them then they sought him they returned and enquired early after God they remembred that God was their
invade To shew that state dislikes not easiness If I but lift mine eyes my suit is made Thou canst no more not hear then thou canst die Of what supreme Almighty power Is thy great arm which spans the east and west And tacks the centre to the sphere By it do all things live their measur'd hour We cannot ask the thing which is not there Blaming the shallowness of our request Of what unmeasurable love Art thou possest who when thou couldst not die Wert fain to take our flesh and curse And for our sakes in person sin reprove That by destroying that which ty'd thy purse Thou mightst make way for liberalitie Since then these three wait on thy Throne Ease Power and Love I value Prayer so That were I to leave all but one Wealth Fame Endowments Vertues all should go I and dear Prayer would together dwell And quickly gain for each Inch lost an Ell. Herb. pag. 95. Directions how to attain unto the gift of prayer and readiness of expression in that duty ALthough spiritual Gifts are granted unto Hypocrites and unsound Professors as well as to sincere Believers yet according to the Apostle we are earnestly to covet them 1 Cor. 12. ult Even these more commune gifts are imparted by the Holy Ghost himself and may be very profitable both to our selves and others Neither should it be the endeavour of Ministers only to excel in gifts but private Christians are also to labour after them and in a more private way to use them The gift of prayer I am now to speak of and this no Christian should be without Prayer is the Saints daily exercise therefore they should all be well skilled in the performance of this duty not only as to the internal but also external part of it As length of prayer is not to be affected for God has a regard not to the length but the life of it so neither are we to affect a constant variety of expression If we use always the same form we are in danger of formality and if we always endeavour after new words which we never before used as 't is a thousand to one whether we shall speak so properly so 't is to be feared that our prayers will be only the fruit of our phancy and invention and no more 'T is good to be in the middle between both extreams Many have exalted in this gift of prayer in these latter days and I know that many are troubled through the want of it Secret prayer upon this score partly is much difcouraged and prayer in the Family hindred wherefore having discoursed at large concerning the duty of prayer I thought it a piece of service unto Souls to direct them how this gift might be attained 1. Be well Catechized and instructed in the principles of the Christian Faith You must know the only true God and understand his Greatness and Holiness and Power and Mercy and Grace and Truth with his other Attributes and Perfections which are discovered in his word You must not be Strangers to your selves but be acquainted with the fall of Man into sin and misery and how you as well as others are by Nature the Children of wrath and in danger of being lost and undone for ever except you Repent and Believe the Gospel You must know the Lord Jesus Christ whom God has sent and understand the mystery of Redemption Salvation by him and it should be your endeavour still to know more and more of the Lord and of his will and the more understanding you are the more agreeable will your supplications be unto the word of God and you will be the better furnished with matter for your prayers 2. Take pains that your affections may be excited the more warm your hearts are your tongues will be the more like unto the Pen of a ready Writer Let your affections be stirred by the necessity and value of the things you ask and the infiniteness of those evils which you pray against Besides the God whom you direct your prayers to is nigh is ready to be found Nothing is too hard for him such is the Almightiness of his power his tender mercyes are a vast multitude he stands related and engaged to his people by a sure and everlasting Covenant 3. Pray for the gift of utterance for this very ability is from the Father of lights but after 't is obtained you must beware 1. Of Pride Herod after an elegant Oration giving not glory to God was struck dead by an Angel and eaten up of Worms and if you are pufft up after enlargedness of expression of prayer you know not what way the displeasure of God may break forth against you 2. Despise not those that want this utterance your tongues possibly may be better hung but their hearts may be in a far better frame than yours 3. Envy not them that excel you in the gift of Prayer Envy will grieve the spirit and dead your ownhearts be a torment to you If one member in the natural body do something that is excellent and be honoured all the members sayes the Apostle rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. And as it is in the Natural body so it should be in the Mystical body of Christ Since we are members of the same body we should rejoyce when any of our fellow-members do worthily and count our selves honoured in their honour and especially be glad to see Christ lifted up though upon others shoulders 4. Let not any Carnal design be carryed on If you aime at your own ends in your most enlarged prayers and are secretly covetous and selfish and impure as this shews you are abominably Hypocritical so 't is the way to have either your gifts blasted or to have a curse upon them so that you shall only disturb the Church of Christ and do harm not good by them 4. Frequency in prayer will bring you to a readiness therein As by writing you learn to write so by praying you will learn to pray Gifts are increased and augmented by the exercise of them as grace it self also by being acted grows more strong 5. Be well acquainted with Scripture expressions that language is best to be used in Gods ears which is the language of his own Spirit 6. Let there be an order and method in prayer for confusedness as it will be irksome to others with whom you joyn so 't wil have a great tendency to dead and discourage your own hearts Here I shall speak to all the parts of prayer and furnish you with expressions in reference to every one of them Seven parts I have mentioned Compellation of God Acknowledgment of Sin Deprecation of punishment Petition for Grace and Mercy Intercession for others Imprecation against others Thanksgiving and Praise 1. Begin prayer with Compellation or naming of God let his Attributes also be mentioned O Lord thou art God alone and there is none besides Thee The God of the spirits of all flesh there is
deserved sore sicknesses and of long continuance and to fall by the Arrow of the deadly Pestilence Thou mightest make the Heaven as Iron and the Earth as brass and curse the Land that it shall not yeeld her increase and break the staff of bread whereby our lives are sustained Thou mightest bring the Sword that should avenge the quarrel of thy broken Covenant and cause them that hate us to rule over us We have deserved spiritual Judgments that the golden Candle stick should be removed out of its place that the light of the Gospel should be put out in obscurity and that the Sun of Righteousness should go down at Noon-day Thou mightest curse such barren Trees as we have been and say Never fruit grow on you more Thou mightest give us up to our own hearts lusts and say because I would have purged thee and thou wast not purged therefore thou shalt not be purged any more until I cause my fury to rest upon thee The very Vengeance of eternal fire is no more than our due We have deserved Hell and one of the hottest places there For Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah had they heard what we have heard had they enjoyed what we have enjoyed would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes 3. A third part of prayer is Deprecation of punishment It highly concerns us to pray against the evils that we fear and have merited by our sins Lord enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquity O Lord who should stand but there is forgiveness with thee and plenteous redemption that thou mayst be feared Let not thy anger wax hot let not thy jealousy smoak against us We lye at thy foot and lay down our weapons and cry out for mercy The returning Prodigal was embraced by his Father he rejoyced saying This my Son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found O let the arms of thy Love O Lord be open to embrace us though we are not worthy to be called thy Children We pray against outward Calamities and if these are brought upon us let them be sanctified and then they may be reckoned among our choycest mercies But especially we deprecate spiritual judgments Do not punish sin with sin do not say let him that is filthy be filthy still let him that is unjust be unjust still Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone Do not give us up to blindness of mind to hardness of heart to a reprobate sence to strong delusions to vile affections Do not swear in thy wrath that we shall never enter into thy rest O Lord leave us not for woe unto us when thou shalt depart from us Do not abhor us O God for as thy loving kindness is better than life so thy displeasure is more bitter than death it self Oh deliver from future wrath which is most of all intollerable How shall we dwell with devouring fire how shall we be able to inhabit everlasting burnings How shall we be able to stand before the Lord when he shall be revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and disobey the Gospel who shall be punished with overlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Oh Lord grant that we may find mercy of thee in that great approaching when the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Thou that hast the keyes of Hell and of Death Oh unsting death and suffer me not to fall down into that lake which burns with fire and brimstone Let me never feel the gnawings of that Worm that dyes not nor be tormented in that flame that never shall be quenched Oh be not angry if I am importunate to have thy anger removed an eternity of misery is astonishing Oh save me from everlasting Damnation 4. A fourth part of prayer is Petition for Grace and Mercy Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Wash me thorowly from my Iniquities and cleanse me from my sins Take away all our Iniquities and receive us graciously heal our back-slidings and love us freely and let thy anger be turned away from us Though we have made thee to serve with our sins and wearied thee with our Iniquities yet according to the Word that thou hast spoken blot out our Transgressions for thy own sake and remember our sins no more For thy name sake O Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great O Lord behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way but thou hast laid on him the iniquities of us all He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him Oh that by his stripes we may be healed He poured out his Soul unto the death and made intercession for the Transgressors Oh let transgressors be received into favour Justify us freely by thy grace through the Redemption of Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood Our sin has abounded let thy grace much more abound Beg for Adoption Oh that thou wouldst become a God in Covenant with us and a Reconciled Father to us and let us be the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty Let us be no more Strangers and Forraigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Send forth the spirit of thy Son into our hearts crying Abba Father Deliver us from fear and bondage and seal us up unto the day of Redemption Say unto us Souls I am your Salvation There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Satisfy us early with thy mercy Let thy spirit bear witness with our spirits that we are the Children and not only Children but Heirs Heirs of God joynt-Heirs with Christ unto the Inheritance that is undefiled and will never fade away reserved in Heaven for us Intreat that Repentance unto life may be granted Oh take away the heart of stone and give an heart of flesh Let thy goodness lead us to Repentance Let us not only have space but also grace to repent of the evils of our ways and doingâ— Cause us to remember them so as to loath our selves and turn to thee Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and so shall we be turned draw us and we shall run after thee Renew us in the spirit of our minds and help us to put on that new man