his Fatherly affections chayned And marke it he wills us to call upon him importunately but so resteth not hee prescribeth us formes of prayer in his sacred word puts the matter into our hearts and the very words and tearmes into our mouths Hence it is that the spirit by the Prophet is called the Spirit of grace and of supplication Zach. 12. 10. Hence that also of the holy Apostle The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what wee should pray for as wee ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot bee uttered And hee that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8 26 27. Alasse faulty and guilty are wee all of us and durst not without warrant and enablement approach unto our God the troubles on us would even overwhelm us and as it were keepe us from so much as looking up were we not thus amiably invited thereunto Call upon me in the day of trouble What troubles of â—â—te have these three kingdoms under one Soveraigne been cast into Nay still are in and under Our sister Nation Ireland even weltreth in bloud and burneth in mutuall enragements none there secured of his life scarce for a moment and are not we or we ought to be surely even drowned in teares for them for them Yea and for our selves too who are in mutuall enragements and various suddaine uproares through our misaffections and misinterpretations and misconstructions of every thing bloudy mindednesse takes place in the most and the casting about how to entrap and enwrap one another in miseries is the common misery of us all what calumniations are vented printed uncensured unpunished what jealousies each gainst others are every where closely fomented Charity the badge of Christianity and coverer of what may be covered is from us exiled and who can bee most of all uncharitable is the thing every where laboured after By this shall all men know saith the patterne and Patron of Charity our Lord Iesus even by this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if yee love one another Iohn 13. 35. But with sorrow and shame enough too may it now be said All men by this may know We are none of Christs Disciples that wee hate one another So raging so outragious so notorious is our mutuall hatred Many knotts tye us none will hold us being one to another eye-soares if not heart-soares As strangers are our enter-viewers not as compatriots our conferences differences our * protestations detestations Reformation is intended deformation even in our Church assemblies and most remarkably there and unblushingly practised O! into what Schismes do we runne Into what Sects are we dissected Assunder are we rent one from the other yea where men rope together it is but in a sandy manner the least motion dissipateth parteth the sandily roped together and commotions not usuall in this age Amsterdam England Beloved who so is not troubled with these troubles hath no life no soule of Christianity at all left in him These and the like considerations as diverse others there are ought to incite us unto constant and instant prayer amidst them all in throngs upon us of these Nations at this time let us I say pray that from us they may yet timely be removed that the full and finall blow from heaven decide not our controversies in so much rancor steeped O! that it were come to the Character of the Church Christians Primitive age Corunum via una One heart one way and till it come to that troubles will involve us and when it comes to that to all the world about us may we be a President and an encouragement thereunto mee thinkes the many manifold and manifest preservations of our God should frame us all as one Man to bring this about to bee exemplary Christians to the whole world round about us I shall recite but a few yet these pregnant and of fresh memory and remarkable observation Can that Octogessimus octavus mirabilis annus that wondrous yeare of 88. ever be forgotten It was the yeare of Englands preservation and of Spaines and Romes abasement trouble was on us and we rid of trouble ere we knew it was so neare nor must the yeare 97. passe unremembred Spaine then had a second blow and England a second triumph As formerly the Armado stiled invincible was ruined so then were their forces and policies too shamefully defeated and the English fleete for another purpose designed brought upon them by the windes to sinke them into the waters or bring them Captivated unto our Land Those fell out in the dayes of the Maiden Queene famous Elizabeth for peace at home and victory abroad renowned The next fell out in King Iames his Reigne in the yeare 1605. The powder Treason was an hellish plot contrived most strangely Heaven went beyond hell in the businesse and providence outreached divellishnesse entangled them who long had the trap ready to have ruinated Protestancy for ever In the yeare 1639. were not these two Nations in one Island under one King the present breath of our Nostrils put upon a mutuall internecion and is not that turned into a most blessed reunion We are both the wonder the envie of Popish Territories God even then preserving us when we were ready to be seized on as a prey unto mercilesse teeth and to the Sepulcher throates of the Pontifician generation amongst us no stories can more represent the vigilancy of mercy over any people then can ours as David when hee was to encounter Goliah the stripling shepheard that Tower of flesh loaden with Armes and Instruments of death said He that delivered me from the Lion and the Beare will likewise from this uncircumcised Philistine deliver me so may we say He that delivered us from such and such troubles is the same still is willing and ready to deliver us from our troubles incumbent and imminent all these intricacies we are in and all the hovering and surrounding mischiefes what ever If our prayers can but lay hold on Gods promises no troubles can trouble us Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee Will deliver thee Gods promises are as good as performances they are Yea and Amen in Christ unto Gods glory 2 Cor. 1. 20. Yea in the giving forth Amen in the performance certaine constant most firmly firme for evermore Our welfare and Gods glory are enwrapped in them No marvaile then is it that Prayer is so effectuall with God when by the heart hand mouth of faith unto him presented in the Name of Our Lord Iesus Christ when thus we are enabled to pray no marvaile that our prayer is to purpose effectuall No marvaile that God hearing Himselfe in us upon that audience giveth us deliverance in a way and manner to the whole world remarkeable And observe with mee that the Commandement Call upon me includeth
encouragement in our Text Call upon me in the day of trouble Had not wee this gratious warrant with small comfort should wee life up our drooping heads out of these depths by solemne Covenant we Christians are the selected people of God drawne out of the Masse of corruption to be the heyres of salvation The scope of our faith and the ayme of our Christian hope is to be joyned unto the God whom wee seeke to be undistractedly and unseparably his for ever in the Lord Iesus this life of ours is but momentany the life beleeved and expected is the life of eternity this is but a breathing after that now in our attendance by faith and hope on that blessed day of eternitie which shall not have any nights interposition God hath not left us to our selves but communicates himselfe to us to uphold us in that attendance by His Word addresseth He Himselfe to us and by our Invocation is he unto us open Seeke ye my face is His expression to us thy face wee doe seeke is our hearts faiths returned answer and practice a blessed harmony in harmonious blessednesse Psalm 27. 8. In the prophesie of Hosea we find this in an accurate way of expression set downe Thou shalt call me Ishai and not Baali chap. 2. ver. 16. Ishai not Baali My Husband not my Idolized Lord God will have us intire not divided halfe his halfe not his halfe the Idoll of our hearts what ever that Idol bee mungrell Religion is to the onely true God abominable Now goe wee on with the Prophet verse 18. and so forward for I will take away the name of Baalim out of her mouth And they shall no more bee remembred by their name And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the Beasts of the field and with the fowles of the heaven and with the creeping things of the ground And I will breake the bow and the sword and the battle of the earth and will make them to lye downe safely and here comes in the Cordialnesse of the businesse I will betroth thee unto mee for ever yea I will betroth thee unto mee in righteousnesse and in judgement and in loving kindnesse and in mercy I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord And it shall come to passe in that day I will heare saith the LORD I will heare the Heavens and they shall heare the earth and the earth shall heare the corne and the Wine and they shall heare Iezreel and I will sow her to mee in the earth and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy and I will say to them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God Gods promises and our prayers thence make sure worke indeed none like it Without the Word of God and that sounding and resounding in our eares with the ministeriall application thereof to our hearts by the spirits operation wee should live and dye in the grossenesse of ignorance and without Prayer also in humble and fiduciall manner put up unto our God in the merits and mediation of Iesus Christ wee should be hopelesse helplesse destitute altogether of the consolations from above the heavenly consolations in the times of afflictions disturbances feares That prayer is a most important part of our Religious service to God ward appeares in this most clearely that the sacred booke of God under those appellations of prayer and Invocation comprehendeth even the whole service of God Let that among the rest be deepely weighed and pondred in our hearts Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved Acts 2. 21. Gods whole worship is contained under this one phrase to call upon God no duty of godlinesse is to him more acceptable no sacrifice in better part taken then is that the calling on the name of the Lord is the open profession of him without dantednesse Gen. 4. 26. Where ever Abraham the Father and patterne of the faithfull where ever he came there erected he an Altar and called upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 12. 7 8. The house of prayer is the name of Gods house and God gave it that name by his Prophet Isaiah and our blessed Iesus ratifies it Preaching we have here and Sacraments we have here but prayer gives it the denomination as the major service of God and both implying and including all the rest needs must we all if there bee any ingenuity of Christianity in us needs must wee acknowledge prayer to bee a matter of the greatest consequence even upon this consideration deeply volved and revolved in our hearts that every soule to heaven-ward setled makes the recommendation of his spirit into the hands of God his practice uncessant as being in no hands late but his that of Davids is by frequency made his Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Psal. 31. 5. Gods promises are the faithfulls encourgaments and in them presenting themselves to God acceptance is to them confidently assured Prayer is that hand which we reach and stretch forth unto our mercifull God to receive from him all his {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Saint Iames calls them all his givings and all his good gifts his good givings and his perfect gifts In the hand of faith prayer is a key Heaven it openeth unto us and from Heaven enricheth us with the best of treasures our wounds layes it open to the right curer of them the binder up and exquisite healer of them all up carrieth it and dispreads before our piteous God the sobbings and groanings of our disturbed hearts in an humble and holy familiarity that will have no denyall no repulse of that force it is with God when put forth a right that it makes the rods and scourges of Gods correcting hand even fall there out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 powerfully his fatherly affections and removeth his justly conceived indignations Prayer in parties and in Families well ordered is the customary sacrifice is the Morning and Evening perfume of the devoutly Religious Let my prayer writes David bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of mine hands as an Evening sacrifice Psalm 141. 2. Call upon me in the day of trouble Saint Paul utters it thus pray {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} without ceasing without fainting 1 Thes. 5. 17. What ever the troubles be Our Saviour thus Watch and pray that yee enter not into tentation Matth. 26. 41. As justly wee may and sufficiently wee cannot admire the goodnesse of our God daigning his word to addresse himselfe in speech to our capacities So are we to esteeme likewise that as an high and honourable favour that he will heare us in prayer and prayses approaching unto him giving way to our importunities nay even commanding us expresly to be importunate to such prayers yea only to such are his eares opened and
Christian must compose himselfe aright and bee ever readier to heare than to offer the sacrifice of fooles babling raw undigested prayers unto the GOD of awe and order In the third place know that prayers rightly modelled and moulded up will frame us to avoyd that defiler of all good exercises base hypocrisie It is before God that wee appeare in prayer whether it be in private or in publike alone in our closets or with others in our Families or in Church Assemblies God sees us heares us observes us there 's no dallying with him no deluding of him The Copy of a faire countenance and looks demurely composed cannot in his sight bee availeable whose eyes pierce all darknesse even that of hell and doe see through and through the thickest mantles and coverture of the closest hypocrisie even that which hypocrites in the very cabinets of their hearts cannot themselves discerne Further Prayer in conscience bindeth us that use it not to wrong any no not the easiest to be wronged to quit our hands speedily of what is others not our own Nay it importunes us to detest and abhorre even as hell all ravenous greedy oppressing courses None of which in whomsoever can possibly stand with the right profession of Christianity observe that expression of God in his Prophet Isai. 1. 15. When you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when you make many prayers I will not heare your hands are full of bloud In that consideration religious David said I will wash mine hands in innocency so will I compasse thine Altar O Lord Psalme 26. 6. Hence that exquisite counsell of Saint Paul advising us to pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubtings I Timothy 2. 8. Further yet prayer adviseth us to be rich to God-wards in the relievance of his poore Saints as now the distressed and dissipated Irish Protestants The ablest in power honour wealth is or ought to be a daily begging suitor unto God And can any think of God to be heard and answered in his petitions that suffers the godly to perish for want of their redundancies Suffers bleeding Ireland which makes our Kings heart bleed still to wallow and welter in bloud without stenching that bloudy issue Who so perish through want of our timely compassionate remedy their bloud I feare me will be put on our accompts against the reckoning day of the Doome finall Can our prayers worke our deliverance our eares and hearts rejecting the suites of bleeding Protestants or not seasonably relieving their almost desperate condition and humanely forlorne hopes The sentence is peremptory Prov. 21. 13. Who so stoppeth his eares at the cry of the poore hee also shall cry himselfe and shall not be heard On the contrary Blessed are the mercifull evermore blessed for they shall obtaine mercy Matth. 5. 7. Nothing so sure as their deliverance out of what ever troubles dangers cares feares In the fifth place Prayer it is that obligeth to diligence in hearing Gods Word and using aright the Sacraments of his Ordination For how thinke we that God will regard our prayers if we bee overly in the observation of his serious enjoyments will he receive our demands if we â—light over his commands if wee waite not constantly in his Sanctuary on his sacred behests and appointments Sixthly Prayer doth bind us all to the good behaviour one towards another nay more to the Reciprocation of enterchangeable Reconciliation in the occurrences of what ever differences and offences That passage is full and faire Matth. 5. 23 24. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and goe thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift If wee serve not one another in love which is an enjoyment Apostolicall neither our persons nor our prayers can please God When our Saviour had prescribed us a forme of Prayer he reassumeth and reinforceth that Petition in it Forgive us our debts as wee forgive our debtors for saith he If ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you but if yee forgive not men their trespasses Neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Matth. 6. 14 15. We have it thus related by Saint Marke chap. 1. verse 25. 26. When yee stand praying forgive if yee have ought against any that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses Hold we to this and we shall be happy in deliverances but if thus cordially and really we pecce not up in peeces shall we be like a Potters vessell gracelesse uselesse in all troubles remedilesse which God avert and bring us all into the right tune and temper of Christianity and regular charity I now passe on to the last parcell in our Text Our due returne of glory to our deliverer out of all troubles We are never right till God ingenuously bee acknowledged by us to bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the remover of evills and of whatsoever is good the gratious bestower What we do must all be done to the glory of God 2 Cor. 10. 31. To this end were all things made in all creatures God sets forth his glory and in them all will he be glorified light cannot be hid and God of lights is the Father and in them all is represented to be glorified by Men the Sonne of God became man he is God manifested in the flesh and for that manifestation never can we men glorifie our God enough By this hath God made his wisdome manifest in finding out a way to satisfie his Justice exactly without the least prejudice at all to his Mercy Nay His Mercy is most evident in his Justice his Sonnes death on the Crosse was the price of our Redemption and the purchase of Heaven for us who had merited hell by the heinousnesse of our transgressions To be glorified will God againe send his Sonne and in our nature too but glorified To bee judged and to death sentenced for our offences was his first comming to bee the visible Judge both of quicke and dead shall his second comming be To be glorified God sets up and takes downe whom hee pleaseth Kings and Kingdomes are at his disposall to the Kings of the earth is hee terrible writes the Psalmist Psalm 76. 12. And the Courtly Prophet is plaine The Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations utterly shall be wasted Esay 60. 12. To be glorified God remarkeably punisheth his owne transgressing people and at his owne house many times begins his judgement but ends in The ruine of his enemies Wee see that in part fulfilled and to the height at last shall it be made full As truely as I live all the earth shall bee filled with the glory of the Lord Num. 14. 21. Yet thinke not here beloved that God stands in need of being glorified by